Archive for the ‘Excerpt’ Category

Murder At A Scottish Castle ~ A Scottish Shire Mystery by Traci Hall

Posted: January 29, 2024 in Cozy Mystery, Excerpt, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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Murder at a Scottish Castle: A Scottish Cozy Mystery
(A Scottish Shire Mystery) by Traci Hall

 


Murder at a Scottish Castle: A Scottish Cozy Mystery (A Scottish Shire Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Nairn, Scotland
Kensington Cozies (January 23, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496744373
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496744371
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C3WTZYGT

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USA Today bestselling author returns with the latest novel in a Scottish seaside cozy knitting mystery series featuring busy single mom Paislee Shaw, owner of a specialty sweater shop, knitting enthusiast, and reluctant sleuth who must untangle another murderous yarn!

With the summer days getting shorter in the seaside village of Nairn, the annual bagpiping competition at Ramsey Castle promises to be quite the end-of-season blowout. Paisley has snagged a special invitation from the Dowager Countess, who wants to showcase her cashmere goods in the castle gift shop, and she’s brought her son Brody, Grandpa, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace.

There’s a fierce rivalry between Robert Grant, the Earl of Lyon, and last year’s winner Jory Baxter, with Grant loudly vowing to show up the blowhard Baxter and claim clan bragging rights. But the reigning champion has barely put the reed to his lips when he turns red and collapses, soon to take his dying breath. DI Zeffer confirms foul play, suspecting the reed may have been poisoned.

With a murderer in their midst, the rest of Nairn won’t breathe easy until Paisley applies her sleuthing skills to make sure justice is served and the killer pays the piper . . .

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Enjoy this peek inside:

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Character Guest Post

Great Escapes Blog Tour Angus Shaw (Grandpa)

Murder at a Scottish Castle by Traci Hall

 

Five quick questions for Angus Shaw

 

  1. Profession?
  2. Clears his throat and adjusts his glasses. Retired fisherman. Now I work with me granddaughter, Paislee, at Cashmere Crush. She needs me.
  3. Married or single?
  4. I was married to the love of me life, Agnes Monroe Shaw. Willnae marry another.
  5. Greatest achievement?
  6. Me bairns, though two are now dead. It’s cruel to outlive your children.
  7. Greatest regret?
  8. The misunderstanding between me and Agnes, though I dinnae blame her for booting me out. Let this be a word of caution—take care ye dinnae get pished on your stag night.
  9. Life goals?
  10. At 76, it’s tae live long enough tae help Paislee with Brody. I’m in the best of health.

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Excerpt from Murder at a Scottish Castle:

The Shaws followed the non-melodic fits and starts of instruments being tuned to the left of the castle and a gigantic expanse of green lawn. Brody and Grandpa were on either side of her. Wallace, on her naughty list for chasing the squirrel, didn’t once tug against the lead in Brody’s hand.

They reached the edge of the field and Paislee paused in wonder at the explosion of bright hues. The sun broke from behind a cloud to shine on brass and metal fittings. Twelve bands were to compete, between eight and ten players, each with matching kilts in a variety of tartans.

“Well, isnae that something,” Grandpa said with amazement in his tone.

“It’s impressive.” Paislee smiled at a few familiar faces. Bagpipers, drummers, and the band directors gathered in clusters. Each group was here to perform their best.

Three stands had been erected for spectators and the band members who would sit and watch the others when they weren’t playing.

“Hey—there’s Jerry.” Grandpa stepped toward Jerry McFadden, member of Clan Campbell, sporting a kilt in green, blue, and black. When Jerry wasn’t delivering her yarn, he rocked the bagpipes. His light brown hair matched his thick mustache.

Jerry saw them and lowered his bagpipe. “Bonny day after all for the competition,” he said as they neared him. “I was a wee bit worried during the downpour this morning.”

“God’s way of giving the cows a bath,” Grandpa said sagely. “How are you part of the Campbell clan?”

Jerry placed his pipes at his shiny black brogues. “My mother is a Campbell cousin. Why do you ask?”

“Sorcha told us it was a rule,” Grandpa said.

“Sorcha, is it?” Jerry teased.

Paislee laughed when Grandpa turned red.

“She gave us a tour,” Brody said. “Mum’s got her cashmere in the gift shop.”

“Well, that is nice,” Jerry said.

“I hope it means I’ll need tae increase my order of cashmere.” Paislee smiled. “We’ll see. But today is not about that—today is about you and the competition. How are you feeling regarding the outcome?”

“Verra well.” Jerry leaned toward them. “We’ve mastered a new tune tae land the number one spot. I was voted by my mates tae be our soloist this year.”

“What aboot the other bands?” Grandpa asked. He gestured with his head to the musicians around them.

“The Grants will come oot strong too, due tae old-fashioned practice, but I think Clan Cunningham is rattled.” Jerry nodded to the stand at their right. “Jory Baxter and Clyde Cunningham were arguing over something.”

“Who is Clyde?” Grandpa asked.

Brody was jerked to the side as Wallace saw another dog—also on a lead, thank heaven. Paislee put her hand on Brody’s shoulder and arched her brow.

“Clyde Cunningham is the pipe major, or band director. He organizes the group and keeps tempo. He’s responsible for turning in the program tae the judges, and also the liaison between the band and the GHB, Great Highland Bagpipe, Council.” Jerry dipped his head toward a short man with copper hair in the Campbell tartan. “That’s Mattias Campbell, our pipe major. Keeps us in line. Though they dinnae play a physical instrument during competition they are crucial tae the performance.”

Brody couldn’t hide his eagerness to explore, so Paislee tapped Jerry on the arm. “Good luck tae you. Where will you be sitting? We’ll cheer you on.”

“This stand behind us. If you’ve a mind tae place a wager, I think we’ve got a guid chance at the win. Thanks!” Jerry picked up his pipes and joined the group around Mattias.

Paislee and Brody, with Wallace, went to the stands and scored a seat on the second row, near the end. There were three stands surrounding a circular field, with enough seating for two hundred.

“Can I go play, Mum?” Brody pointed to a group of other kids his age kicking a football around in the barren field, well within her eyesight.

“Sure. But leave Wallace here, please.”

Brody reluctantly handed her Wallace’s lead.

“Maybe you can take him later,” Paislee said.

“Okay!” Brody ran off.

Wallace chuffed as his boy joined the others and sat with his furry back to the bands. A protest? Paislee opened her handbag and dug around for a dog treat. “Here you go.”

Wallace snapped up the biscuit and swallowed, then returned to his vigil. She poured water into a popup water bowl and placed it in the grass for the dog along with a chew toy. She returned to her seat next to Grandpa, content that Wallace would alert her if anything happened to Brody and focused on the circular field.

At noon on the dot, judge Meri McVie stepped into the center field. She had a sharp, foxlike face and naturally orange hair, with brown eyes behind silver-framed glasses that gazed at the spectators steadily. White shirt beneath a black jacket, a blue and light-green kilt, and a badge attached to a ribbon around her neck proclaimed her position.

Meri blew her whistle to get everyone’s attention, though the competitors were ready to go. Each clan sat grouped together. The Campbells were on the first two rows below Paislee and Grandpa, along with Clan Buchan, Clan Lincoln, and Clan MacTavish.

Across from Paislee, Clan Grant took an entire two rows, and above them sat Sorcha and Cinda. Sorcha had changed her clothes and now wore a Grant tartan blazer over navy-blue slacks. Clan Douglas, Clan Sinclair, and Clan McKinley waited their turn. On the third stand was Clan Cunningham, Clan Cameron, Clan Graham, and Clan Fraser.

“Hello!” Meri said in clear voice. “Welcome tae this year’s Ramsey Castle Competition.”

Applause sounded.

The kids had come to the stands to see the beginning. Paislee gave Brody his water bottle and offered a granola bar that he declined.

“Let me go over the rules.” Meri read from a clipboard she held. “Each band will play for fifteen minutes or less, but no more. The songs must match what has been turned in to the judges. Myself, and Connor Armington.” The second judge was much older, seventy to Meri’s fifty, and his jacket didn’t quite button over his belly. “If they dinnae match that team will be disqualified.”

Murmurs could be heard on the benches.

“Last year’s champion will be the final act of the day. Clan Grant will perform second tae last, and Clan Campbell third.” Meri raised her pointed chin and lowered the clipboard. “This is my tenth year of judging this competition. Each year the talent gets better and better. It is my privilege tae announce the first of our twelve bands, Clan MacTavish!”

The clapping was loud as Meri left the grass to stand on the edge of the circle, her posture perfect. Connor also had a clipboard. The judges walked around as the band played and made various marks. The MacTavish kilts were red with sky blue and black, the shirts white, the jackets sky blue. They were a newer band and so had placed at the bottom to start.

Clan Fraser played next. The band’s kilts were a robin’s egg blue with red and gray, the jacket gray over a white shirt. It seemed that each outfit would have to be custom-made to fit the person and Paislee wanted a closer look at the way the arms fit for ease of movement, whether at the drums or the bagpipes. The horizontal and vertical patterns allowed for a large variety in the tartan.

The difference between a plaid and a tartan was the replicated pattern in the fabric at the vertical and horizontal ends tied to a specific clan, whereas plaid described a crisscross of any sizes or colors.

Finally, it was time for Clan Campbell: Jerry’s team. So far Meri hadn’t called anyone out for breaking the rules, though Paislee wouldn’t know. She thought everyone sounded wonderful, and her hands were sore from applauding so enthusiastically.

In the last four hours, Brody had come for water or snacks but mostly had stayed with his new mates. She admired how he could make friends like that. She’d always been shy.

Grandpa finished his water. “Shouldae brought me flask,” he said, smacking his lips. “Dinnae suppose you have anything stashed in that bag of yours?”

“I do not have whisky, Grandpa. That would be correct.” Paislee didn’t mind the occasional dram but wasn’t much of a drinker. Her vice was chocolate.

“That handbag is big enough for a whole keg,” he remarked.

She glanced at him, then back at the field. “I have an extra water bottle, if you’d like that.”

“No thanks. I’ll wait for the good stuff.” Grandpa scratched his bearded chin. “There will be the good stuff, eh?”

“Drinks will be served with the meat afterward, aye.” In years past, an outdoor eating area had been set up next to several large barbecues. There were kegs of beer and whisky both. Tea as well as coffee, and of course, cases of Irn-Bru, Scotland’s number one soft drink.

“I’d expect no less at a castle,” Grandpa said.

“Did you ever play the bagpipes, Grandpa?”

“A wee bit.” Grandpa touched the brim of this tam. “Enough tae know it’s best left tae the professionals.”

“Jerry called it a GHB.”

“Aye.” Grandpa pointed to Jerry as he took his position on the field with his bandmates. “The Great Highland Bagpipe. The leather bag collects air, they each have two tenor drones—the shorter pipes there, and the big one over Jerry’s shoulder is called a great drone.”

“I don’t see the reeds Sorcha was talking about,” Paislee said.

“Oh, you wouldnae,” Grandpa said. “They’re inside the instrument.”

“I had tae learn the recorder in primary, and so did Brody. P3.” Paislee smiled at Grandpa as she remembered the awful noise her son had made, and she’d been no better. “You’re lucky you weren’t with us then. It was a racket.”

Grandpa chuckled. “Do you think he’ll really want tae learn the drums?”

“I’m praying he’ll forget when he’s playing football next weekend,” Paislee said.

“That’s the way of it,” Grandpa agreed. “Lads have short memories.”

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About Traci Hall

From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone.

Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, co-written as Traci Wilton. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it’s her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.

Traci wants to hear from you!

Traci@TraciHall.com

Author Links: Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter-X / BookBub / Instagram / Website

Purchase Links

Amazon   Barnes and Noble    Apple    Kobo 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 23 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 23 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 24 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

January 24 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

January 24 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST – WITH EXCERPT

January 25 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 25 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 26 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

January 28 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 29 – FUONLYKNEW – CHARACTER GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 29 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Return To Lerici by Rachel Dacus

Posted: January 26, 2024 in Excerpt, fiction, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Return To Lerici organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Rachel Dacus will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Return To Lerici

by Rachel Dacus

 

 

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Synopsis

A suspenseful, uplifting story of second chances, family bonds, and redemption.

Sisters Elinor and Saffron rarely see eye-to-eye, but they agree that an unknown half-brother appearing in their lives can only spell trouble. The Greene sisters want to support their ailing mother, Betsy, as they gather in their cottage in Lerici, Italy. But they don’t want Betsy to keep searching for Baby Boy, the only name they have on faded adoption papers.

While the Greenes debate, Baby Boy finds them. A rough childhood has led Daniel to a life as a thief. When he learns of his connection to the wealthy Greenes, he decides to scam them. He goes to Italy and using a fake identity observes them at close range. Watching these people makes him ache for what he never had—a loving family.

Betsy is touched by the young man’s story and guesses their hidden connection. Discovering his true identity, she asks the family to help him. But Daniel’s shady past is catching up and putting the Greenes at risk. Should they bring their lost lamb into the fold—and can he claim his heritage if it endangers his family?

Enjoy this peek inside:

Elinor picked up the letter from the stack of today’s mail on the dining table. The return address was casella postale, a postal box with a number and no name. A clumsy advertisement? The lack of information made her curious enough to open it, though she knew it was going to be junk mail.

Dear Ms. Greene,

I know you have a lost relative, a half-brother your family abandoned. If you do not wish to have this dirty secret publicly revealed, you may send five hundred sixty-two euros by return mail, and nothing will ever be published. No scandal will ever happen if you pay me right now.

Yours sincerely,
A Well Wisher

Dread prickled through her scalp and dripped to her shoulders. She hunched them to shake it off. How wrong she’d been. This was no junk mail, it was aimed at her personally. There was a return address and a demand for money. A scam—but how would anyone know about Baby Boy? That was private, that was even sealed in a closed adoption. Betsy couldn’t find him with all her amateur sleuthing around.

Another chill ripped through her. This person must have hired a detective, but if so, why ask for so little? And why assume the family considered it a dark enough secret to pay to keep it concealed? Plenty of people had unplanned pregnancies that became children given up for adoption. Back in the days when Nathan was a professor at UC Berkeley, it wasn’t enough to pay to conceal, and certainly not an odd sum like this person was demanding.

Something smelled fishy. A “well wisher”? Seriously? And the phrase “by return mail” struck her as American. Yet the return address PO box was in Rome. It seemed more likely that a blackmail attempt would come from an American who had somehow discovered the existence of Baby Boy. Could it be from someone who had adopted the child and now wanted some sort of reimbursement? But the amount was ridiculously small. Blackmailers didn’t take the risk for so little. She knew that much from her addiction to crime dramas and mysteries.

This was one lame blackmailer, or … could it be from Baby Boy himself? Had he somehow found them?

About Author Rachel Dacus

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Rachel Dacus is the author of six novels, four time travel books in the Timegathering Series and two books of women’s fiction. She has also published four poetry collections. Rachel’s work has appeared widely in print and online, in journal that include Boulevard, Gargoyle, and Prairie Schooner. Her poetry is in the anthologies Fire and Rain: Ecopoetry of California and Radiant DisUnities: Real Ghazals in English. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Purchase Link: Amazon

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Rivers And Creaks ~ A Redwoods Country Mystery by Marc Jedel

Posted: January 6, 2024 in Cozy Mystery, Excerpt, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Rivers and Creaks: A Redwoods Country Mystery
by Marc Jedel

Rivers and Creaks has set this series off to a grand start. The ending has me very intrigued about the future of Andy’s Quilt House Inn. I am anxious to see what Mr. Jedel has planned for Andy and his new friends next…
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

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Rivers and Creaks: A Redwoods Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
BGM Press (November 30, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 227 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CNBGWSCK

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A grumpy innkeeper. A dead guest. Can he solve the locked-room mystery before his business crumbles into chaos?

In the heart of Redwoods Country, where even the towering trees whisper secrets, there’s an innkeeper who’s anything but welcoming. Meet Andy Shirley—a man who’s made grumpiness an art form, detesting both guests and life’s little inconveniences. Now a dead guest and a killer on the loose threaten not only Andy’s solitude but his livelihood.

His cherished wife’s memory keeps him tethered to the small-town bed and breakfast they dreamt of running together. When a guest is found dead in a locked room, can this retired copy editor use his meticulous attention to detail to uncover the truth and save his business?

Fearing this shocking event will deter future guests and buyers, Andy’s frustration intensifies as the sheriff shifts his focus to a higher profile case. Yet, amidst this turmoil, Andy’s even more shocked when the most unexpected event happens as he hunts for clues . . . he strikes up an unlikely friendship.

Rivers and Creaks launches the humorous Redwoods Country cozy mystery series. If you like cranky but lovable characters, classic closed-door conundrums, and light-hearted fun, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s laugh-out-loud tale. Imagine “Grumpy Old Men” merged with “Schitt’s Creek.”

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“Florida, here I come,” Juliet declared, her face brightening in anticipation. “Oh, and last thing, here’s the remote for the garage door.” She then swiveled and left the dining room with a final “Good luck owner.” Since we were right by the front door, she was gone in a jiffy.

Through the closed door, I could have sworn I heard her heels click together in a little leprechaun jump for joy.

On the heels of the front door closing, a man stumbled down the final few steps of the staircase and around the corner to where I stood. “Good morning,” he said through a huge yawn.

“Hmm,” I grunted as I gathered the disorganized pile of warranties, user manuals, and receipts Juliet had bestowed upon me as one of her parting gifts. What to tackle first?

“Didn’t sleep too well.” The man seemed compelled to explain his second yawn, not realizing I didn’t care. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties and a little taller than my nearly six feet, although his unkempt black hair made it difficult to tell for sure. He was in bare feet, wearing a pair of jeans and wrinkled shirt.

He seemed to wilt under my scrutiny. “I’m the groom. Xander Kagan.” He reached out his hand before retracting it when he noticed I didn’t bother to free up a hand from all the papers.

“Nervous?” I asked, not that I cared. My plan was to distract him while I stepped past. Pausing, I deposited the papers into a cabinet and shoved the door shut. I’d deal with those later.

“Guess so. Breakfast?” he asked.

“I already ate.” The Russian River Inn where I spent the night put out a good spread and started early. I’d been able to fuel up before this morning’s transfer of keys ceremony. That had worked well so I could prepare for my move-in and Juliet could get an early start for her long drive. I sure hoped the plumber would finish soon and leave me alone in my cottage. Between him and Juliet, I’d already had to deal with two more people today than I cared to.

“No, I mean for me.” Xander’s expression had turned puzzled.

“How should I know if you ate?” Like I was some sort of psychic.

“Did I hear her right?” He nodded toward the front door. “You own the place now?”

I took another step away. “Yeah, so?” His endless questions were trying my patience.

“Well, it is a bed and breakfast, isn’t it?”

Again with the questions. I frowned, wondering if he wanted praise for his reading skills. “Says so on the sign out front.”

“So, where’s my breakfast?”

The stairs made a lot of creaking sounds—yet another project to add to the list—and I glanced over as three more guests filed into the dining room.

Suddenly it hit me. They were expecting me to make them breakfast. Before she died that was supposed to be Catherine’s job. Feeling a hot prickling behind my eye, I steadied my breath and stared at the floor until I regained my composure. I jerked my thumb toward the kitchen behind me. “Help yourselves.”

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About Marc Jedel

Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. He credits his years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley for honing his writing skills and sense of humor. While his high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, these were just called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.

For most of Marc’s life, he’s been inventing stories. It’s a skill that’s served him well as both an author and marketer. The publication of Marc’s first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave him permission to claim “author” as his job. This leads to much more interesting conversations with people than answering, “marketing.”

Like his character, Andy, from the Redwoods Country Mystery series, Marc continues to grow older and would prefer not to run a bed-and-breakfast inn when he retires. Like his character, Marty from the Silicon Valley Mystery series, Marc now lives in Silicon Valley, works in high-tech, and enjoys bad puns. Like his characters Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake Mystery series, he grew up in the South and spent plenty of time in and around Arkansas. Like all his protagonists, Marc too has a dog, although his is neurotic, sweet, and small, with little appreciation for Marc’s humor.

Author Links: Website / BookBub / Facebook / Goodreads / LinkedIn / Blog / Amazon

Purchase Links – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 5 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

January 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

January 7 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

January 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 9 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 10 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 11 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

January 11 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 14 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

January 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

January 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Canada’s Kiddie Geography And History In ABC’s… by Marena Woodsit ~ Exclusive Excerpt And Giveaway

Posted: January 3, 2024 in Excerpt, giveaways, middle grade
Tags: , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Canada’s Geography And History In ABC’s organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Marena Woodsit will be awarding a a $15 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Canada’s Kiddie Geography And History In ABC’s…

by Marena Woodsit

 

 

Genre: Middle Grade / Non-Fiction

Synopsis

Who said geography and history can’t be fun? Marena Woodsit’s new book, Canada’s Kiddie History and Geography in ABC’s, points out various interesting facts and places in an easy-to-read style (H for history, G for geography) that will captivate children of all ages. A map and legend of the great country of Canada can help pinpoint where much of the facts take place along with fun and real life characters.

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Enjoy this exclusive peek inside:

LETTER O

 

G= Geography

 

H= History

 

G&H- O: represents both the province Ontario, and Canada’s capital city Ottawa. Ottawa is our country’s capital city where our government rules the country. Ontario has many lakes, forests, farmland and big cities like Toronto where people enjoy shopping, theatre and going up to the world’s tallest structure, the CN Tower. Toronto is Ontario’s capital city.

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About Author Marena Woodsit

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Ms. Woodsit, a retired teacher, has been writing for fun for years and is now publishing children’s books. During her time as a teacher she felt students needed more basic facts about their country, such as learning we had a queen, that the capital of our provinces and territories weren’t known and what some of our natural resources and wonders were. She has also helped with composing lyrics to a number of songs with her songwriting and performing friends. She loves travelling, swimming and taking care of her animals.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Goodreads

 

Purchase Links: Amazon / Amazon.CA / Booktopia / B&N / Walmart

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Seduction In Blood by Kim Allred

Posted: December 23, 2023 in Adult Fiction, Excerpt, giveaways, urban fantasy
Tags: , ,
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Seduction in Blood

by Kim Allred

 

(Of Blood & Dreams, #1)
Publication date: March 22nd 2022
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

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A thief. A vamp. A walk on the wild side.

Cressa Langtry is the best cat burglar on the west coast. But she owes a large debt to the wrong kind of people. Her only way clear is to steal something for the city’s notorious and ancient vampire – Devon Trelane.

Devon can’t forgive the one man who cost him a seat on the Council. But fate is on his side. For the price of a debt owed, he can have his very own thief. A woman with the skills to take down his greatest enemy.

It should be easy. A simple business arrangement—until it’s compromised by shared dreams. Dreams that turn dangerously prescient.

OF BLOOD & DREAMS is a slow-burn paranormal series filled with mystery, suspense, and a bit of lusty romance.
This series has a continuing storyline with light cliffhanger endings.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Devon.

His shirt was open halfway, revealing a smooth, powerful chest, and I remembered the feel of his pecs, his ridged stomach. Thick, wavy hair hung to his shoulders, giving the impression he’d just woken or had been caught in a summer breeze on his way here. His eyes didn’t glow the pure silver of his nature but the silver-blue of his heightened passion, and they caught me in their snare. I ran a tongue over my lips, pleased to see his fierce smile widen to reveal the tips of fangs. His hands balled into fists. He was never as patient as he claimed to be. Not when he knew what he wanted.

I waited. Let him come to me. I was surprised by his careful control as his steady march clearly shouted his intentions. The goosebumps raced across my flesh, and I felt myself grow wet. He knew how to tease. But still, I remained seated.

When he stood in front of me, I lifted my head and lost myself in his gaze. How many times had we played this game? And I never tired of them. Almost wept with the sweet promise of pleasure, the easing of the ache between my legs, and the strength of his arms as he held on tight.

Devon held out a hand, and I took it. He brought it to his lips, his fangs brushing against the warm skin. Then, he pulled me up, wrapping an arm around my waist as he slid his fingers down my neck, making me shiver. He bent down, burying his nose in my hair while his lips nibbled my ear.

“Cressa.”

The way he said my name never failed to heat my blood, full of desire and hunger with that touch of impatience. I smiled and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, feeling his muscles bunch as he lifted me so I could wrap my legs around his waist with my dressing gown hiked to my hips.

His body molded to mine, wrapping me in his spicy scent and making my skin glow with equal need. I ran a hand over his hair, grasping a handful to pull his head back so I could see the need in his gaze as I kissed him. His lips were molten hot, and he found no impediment as his tongue pushed through to meet mine, branding me.

I pulled him closer, wishing we were skin-on-skin and wondering why not. I tugged at his shirt as his lips moved to my neck. The scrape of his fangs re-energized the goosebumps, and I shivered.

He pulled back, and his eyes bored into mine, hot and greedy. “Are you sure, Cressa?”

My eyes popped open, and I jumped out of bed, tripping over the sheets and falling to the floor.

What the hell just happened?

Was that a dream? I sat on my ass and recalled the entire scene. It was so real. I touched my lips. They were damp, and I still smelled the roses and his spicy scent.

I dragged myself up and stumbled to a chair, not ready to return to bed. The whole dream, and yes, it had to have been a dream, was the most realistic and erotic I’d ever experienced. And with a vampire? Where had that come from?

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About Author Kim Allred:

Kim Allred lives in an old timber town in the Pacific Northwest where she raises alpacas, llamas and an undetermined number of free-range chickens. Just like her characters, she loves sharing stories while sipping a glass of fine wine or slurping a strong cup of brew.

Her spirit of adventure has taken her on many journeys including a ten-day dogsledding trip in northern Alaska and sleeping under the stars on the savannas of eastern Africa.

Kim’s series involve fantasy and romance in various flavors from her time travel Mórdha Stone Chronicles series to her paranormal romance Of Blood and Dreams series. And on the horizon…a new time travel series, Time Renegades mixing futuristic setting with medieval pasts…and Druids!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Next Stop, Boston by Iris Dorbian

Posted: December 5, 2023 in Contemporary Literature, Excerpt, giveaways
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Next Stop, Boston organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Iris Dorbian will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Next Stop, Boston

by Iris Dorbian

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Geri Randall’s life is turned upside down when her late sister’s fiance, Dez Deacon, a washed-up rock star, is named her guardian. Whisked away from the only life she knew and taken on a rock and roll tour, Geri is initially desperate to win Dez’s approval. That desire hits a sour note when Dez’s treatment of her becomes too much to bear. What ensues is a battle of wills between her and her temperamental guardian, a collision course that will push Geri to do the unthinkable to get what she wants.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

If there was one thing she’d learned with this tour, it was that time operated on a whole other scale. It wasn’t weird to go out and have a burger at two in the morning, or stay up until five, eat an early breakfast, and then crash until noon.

 

At first, she’d felt like a vampire, but after a month of this nocturnal schedule, she’d gotten so acclimated to the lifestyle, she wondered how she would ever be able to go back to a daily schedule that consisted of her going to sleep at ten o’clock at night, waking up at seven o’clock so she could arrive at school by 8:30, and be in classes until 2:30 in the afternoon. Then do it all over again the next day. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

 

“It’s a soulless existence,” Dez said to her a week into her attempt to adjust to life on the road. He was opining about the nine to five normies. “Absolutely brain-atrophying. These poor people are like ants. Hamsters on a wheel, doing the same thing over and over again. That’s why what we do is so important to these people. For two hours, Ger, we bring them the excitement and adventure that’s missing in their dull, defeated lives. We’re like saviors to them.”

 

Geri clicked on her personal photo gallery. She pored through an unending succession of shots of Dez, as well as shots she never would post on her account: various hotel rooms, desk clerks on phones or dealing with customers, piles of suitcases gathered in a mound in lobbies, regular people sharing drinks at a bar, working on their laptops. She loved the simplicity of these images, which captured life in hotels with an organic detail and vibrancy. She stopped at the bar shots, then zoomed in to snag a clearer view at the people in them. The barflies seemed to be swigging whiskey or scotch, she wasn’t sure—an alcohol connoisseur, she was not; however, she’d seen so many adults in her young lifetime down gallons of liquor, she might as well be.

 

She studied their features to see if Dez was right about these normies. No, he wasn’t. They didn’t look defeated at all, only tired.

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About Author Iris Dorbian

Iris Dorbian is an arts and business journalist whose bylines have appeared in a wide array of outlets that include Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Crain’s New York Business, Business Insider, Buyouts, Venture Capital Journal, Investopedia, Playbill, Backstage, Dance Magazine, Theatermania and Stage Directions, where she served as editor-in-chief for eight years. Her personal essays have been featured in HBO’s Inspiration Room, Boomer Magazine, Jewish Literary Journal, Diverse Voices Quarterly, and Gothesque Magazine. Having previously published “Great Producers: Visionaries of the American Theater” (Allworth/Skyhorse) “An Epiphany in Lilacs: In the Aftermath of the Camps” (original publisher: Mazo Publishers) and “Sentenced to Shakespeare” (Sunbury/Milford House Prss), “Next Stop, Boston” is her fourth book.

 

Book links: Amazon / B&N

 

Social Media Links: LinkedIn / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Muckrack / Website

 

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Method To Madness by Thomas Grant Bruso

Posted: November 21, 2023 in Excerpt, giveaways, Mystery
Tags: , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Method To Madness organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Thomas Grant Bruso will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Method To Madness

by Thomas Grant Bruso

 

 

Genre: Mystery / LGBT

Synopsis

Five years ago, Jack Ballinger was a police officer.

He has since moved from the small upstate New York town of Black Falls for greener pastures and a peaceful life alone in the Green Mountain State. Time has changed Jack — he is no longer the man he used to be. A significant challenge for him has been the heartbreaking loss of his boyfriend, companion, and one true love, Steve.

Now alone, Jack has yet to deal rationally with the immediate changes of his new life. After losing his partner, Jack drank heavily to numb the pain and forget his life-changing loss. Now, he must find a way to move forward without Steve and the life he built for himself. Joining an Alcoholics Anonymous group helps quiet the voices that still keep him awake at night. But something much darker has followed him to his life in the quiet corners of Vermont.

When Jack thinks he has buried the scars of his past, a new nightmare emerges. How far will Jack go to end the imminent evil in his life and kill it for good?

Trigger warning: this story addresses suicide and suicidal ideation.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

My work boots clipped across the newly polished floor, squeaking with each determined step toward the security guard’s office in the back of the mall. I didn’t usually get frightened, but after the week’s events of Jacob Adler’s murder and my recurring hallucinations, I was on guard twenty-four-seven. The wall I’d built after Steve died sent me into a tailspin. I lost my self-confidence to “live on — move on,” as Steve had put it. Getting out of bed was the most challenging part of the day, getting started. But not as difficult as being a suspect in somebody else’s murder.

I locked up in the office, hung my jacket on the wall peg along with my badge, fastened my uniform hat on top of my coat, and secured the building. I walked around the side of the shopping center to get to my truck, which was parked near the auto shop garage in the adjacent lot. My keys clanged against the side of my uniform work belt.

There was a crispness to the air as it gusted across my face.

When I reached my truck, I stopped and glanced at the imposing three-floor structure of the Rushford Shopping Mall. It had been a game-changer, I told myself. When my life was at its lowest, the job as mall security had saved me. Moving from upstate New York to Vermont and being hired at a stone’s throw distance from where everything had bottomed out of my life, life could not be better. I had to keep reminding myself that I was lucky. This was meant to be.

I was living. No – I was surviving the best way I knew how. The sharp gust of wind filled my eyes with a deep sadness.

I slipped my key into the driver’s side door. I jumped inside, cranking the station to a country song I knew Steve would roll his eyes at, but his enthusiastic expression brightened my mood. I sat in the quiet interior of my truck, my head falling against the headrest, my eyes closing to the welcoming solitude. I drummed my hands on the bottom of the steering wheel.

Then screeching tires peeled around the sharp curve of the parking lot where the lot met the edge of the road, and a song about lost love faded from memory. I opened my eyes and raised my head to tires squealing. In the rearview mirror, I glimpsed a vehicle idling behind me. I didn’t notice it at first, but the car blocked me. I adjusted my seat and stared out the rear windshield at the obscure figure behind the wheel. I couldn’t see their face, but the figure looked reedy and reached an arm out the open window, pointing at me.

I thought of the ginger-haired boy from earlier, recalling the incident on the escalator and in the restroom. Had he waited for me after hours, lurking in the parking lot, ready to scare me? My mind skipped over the events playing from earlier in the day. The incident in the men’s restroom, the smartass young man apologizing for his careless behavior, making wisecracking excuses for his friends, and blaming his actions on being an idiot. “I’m sorry, man. Really — we didn’t mean anything by it. We were being dumb sixteen-year-olds.” I remembered the sound of his laugh, a meaningless, sarcastic attempt at a reassuring apology.

I stared out into the night. The only light in the area illuminated from a lamppost wavering back and forth in the stirring wind. The mysterious driver’s gray hoodie concealed most of their face.

“You got a problem?” I yelled out the window.

A big, meaty palm rose in the air like a warning, a middle finger miming the shape of a gun, as in a caution or scare tactic.

“Prick.” I turned the key in the ignition, shifted my truck in reverse, and floored it.

The driver didn’t have much time to register my sudden actions, but he — or she — managed to switch pedals. The vehicle sped off, tires shrieking, seconds before I came a hair-fracture away from nicking the driver’s side door.

In the middle of the road, I shifted into DRIVE, and followed the vehicle at an unsafe speed. I was close behind him, noticing him reaching into the passenger side for something.

Racing through the parking lot, the driver took me on a twisty ride, swerving and taking sharp curves. I followed him for a few minutes through the winding lanes, leading around the mall’s perimeter to a larger parking area on the other side of the building.

I didn’t have time to register the events, my mind feeling scrambled and numbed from the chaotic commotion. I gripped the steering wheel and turned it sharply, the back tires screeching as I rounded the sharp bend, nearly smacking against the guardrail on my right.

I heard a gun going off. The driver was firing a round of shots out his window.

~~~~~

About Author Thomas Grant Bruso

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p style=”text-align: center;”>Thomas Grant Bruso knew he wanted to be a writer at an early age. He has been a voracious reader of genre fiction since childhood.

His literary inspirations are Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Jim Grimsley, Karin Fossum, and Joyce Carol Oates.

Bruso loves animals, reading books, and writing fiction, and prefers Sudoku to crossword puzzles.

In another life, he was a freelance writer and wrote for magazines and newspapers. In college, he won the Hermon H. Doh Sonnet Competition. Now, he writes and publishes fiction and reviews books for his hometown newspaper, The Press-Republican.

He lives in upstate New York.

Links: Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads / Facebook 

Purchase Link: Amazon

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ A Beast Within by Aidan Lucid

Posted: November 20, 2023 in Excerpt, giveaways, horror
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A Beast Within

by Aidan Lucid

 

Publication date: November 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Horror

Have you experienced true terror? For three criminals, they’re about to face it head-on!

Fresh out of prison, Jeremy vows to steer clear of a life of crime and clean up his act. But he quickly realizes that to the world, he will always be an ex-con and plunges back into his old ways. The perfect opportunity presents itself in the form of his best friend, Stephen, and his spunky girlfriend, Natalie.

After a failed bank robbery, Jeremy and his accomplices’ identities are made. So, they find refuge in the home of a typical Christian family. Their getaway should have been smooth sailing…after all it was three armed criminals against the wholesome Boyd family.

But the Boyds are hiding dark secrets of their own…

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Malcolm looked in his rear-view mirror at the car and its driver growing smaller by the second. “I feel bad about leaving him there.” He slowed to a stop, then shifted the stick into reverse.

“What are you doing? This is insane!” Helena protested as he reversed the Wagoneer.

“Yeah, but if anything happened to him, I’d never forgive myself. Besides, I can’t just drive past him.”

“Course you can. Just press the accelerator and go.”

He brought the Wagoneer to a halt a few feet from the Buick and yanked up the handbrake. “I won’t be long.”

“Malcolm. Malcolm!” Helena hissed as he got out.

The stranger stood staring at the front left wheel, not acknowledging Malcolm’s presence.

“Howdy, sir. Having car trouble?” he asked the chubby driver who appeared to be in his fifties.

“Got a flat. Can’t change it with my back.”

“I can do that if you like? Got a spare?”

“That’s mighty kind of you, fella. Uh . . . yeah, in the trunk.”

“Let me get my wrenching nut.” Malcolm opened his own trunk and took out the tool. He kneeled down and began unscrewing the nuts. “You from around here?”

“The next town a few miles ahead. You?”

“We live about three hours away. Hartford Town. Ever heard of it?”

“Never, sir. Thanks for doing this. I’m starvin’, I’m just waiting for my brother-in-law to come. Lazy bastard probably hasn’t even left the house yet.”

Malcolm chuckled. “Got one of those myself. Just don’t tell her I said that.”

“Yeah, God I’m hungry. Good thing you came along.”

As Malcolm continued to unscrew the nuts on the flat tire, he noticed the driver walk a short distance away from him. Next, he heard the cracking of bones and popping sounds, as if joints were being dislocated. Low grunts soon transformed into growls.

Malcolm turned to look at the man but stood up, his jaw hung in terror.

“What…the…fu—” he uttered while retreating slowly to the Wagoneer.

The stranger’s shoulders grew wider as his shirt tore. Black fur replaced the man’s chubby stomach.

“Holy crap!” Malcolm exclaimed.

The only reply he received was a quick snarl as the man turned around, no longer bearing a human face but a wolf’s instead. Sharp, yellowed teeth dripped with saliva.

Helena’s screams confirmed she saw it too.

“Hurry, Dad, get in,” David cried, as tears streamed down his pale face.

Malcolm threw the wrenching nut, hitting the beast on the forehead. It staggered back, shaking its head, momentarily dazed.

Malcolm dashed into the driver’s seat, his trembling hands fumbling for the keys. He jumped when the creature let loose a feral howl.

“Come on, start the damn car! David, honey, lock both doors and get down,” Helena said.

The werewolf started walking towards the driver’s door as the engine roared into life. As Malcolm pulled out onto the road, the beast ran after them, leaping into the air. A thud let them know he was on their roof.

“Oh, Christ. Lose him,” Helena shouted.

Malcolm let loose a few expletives as an enormous paw smashed into his window. He swerved left and right to throw the monster off. Malcolm then slammed the brakes.

The beast rolled forward, digging his claws into the metal to keep himself on the car. Malcolm feared that they were so sharp, if the werewolf reached the windshield, it would slice or tear off the roof.

“Crap,” cursed Malcolm as he drove again, unable to loosen the monster’s grip and knock it off.

The tormentor crawled up towards the windshield. When it was on the hood, the creature went on all fours. He reached back his arm, ready to smash into the glass.

“Oh no you don’t.” Malcolm slammed on the brakes again, catapulting the beast off the Wagoneer. When it hit the ground, the werewolf tumbled and rolled around before coming to a stop, its left arm bent out of shape.

All the Boyds stared on in disbelief. Helena glanced down at her skirt; shame washed over her face as a circular patch of urine soaked her crotch.

Malcolm gave another quick glance in the mirror. David’s face was whiter than normal, his eyes wide in horror. Malcolm grabbed his own right hand to stop it shaking.

They all jumped when the beast grunted again and raised its head, his bright green eyes locked menacingly on them.

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About Author Aidan Lucid:

Aidan Lucid began his author journey after a spiritual experience in 2002. Two years later, he sent several short stories, articles and poems to magazines and was published seven times that year. Having successfully completed courses in creative writing, writing for TV and radio, and freelance journalism, Lucid went on to have even more poems, articles and short stories appear in national and international magazines and anthologies over the years. Between 2019 and 2023, he published five books. Aidan is the author of a YA horror series titled, “The Hopps Town Series” and also a YA epic fantasy novel, – The Lost Son (Second Edition), the first in a YA fantasy quadrology – The Zargothian Saga. A few stand-alone stories have been released also. In his spare time, Aidan likes to listen to music (being a huge Elvis and Shakin’ Stevens fan!), read, go for walks and see the latest cinema releases with his wife, Claire.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

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Murder Before Dawn by Delta James ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: November 14, 2023 in Cozy Mystery, Excerpt, giveaways
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Murder Before Dawn

by Delta James

 

(Mystery, She Wrote, #1)
Publication date: November 3rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery

The only thing more exciting than a famous local author staying at the bed and breakfast is a real murder mystery.

Mystery novelist and member of the Mystery Writer’s Murder Club, Jessica Murdoch, heads off for a staycation at a bed and breakfast in her hometown of Badger’s Drift, Maine for some rest and relaxation. When a murder takes place in her luxurious suite, she figures it’s up to her to uncover the town’s secrets and find the killer.

Thorn Wilder, a seasoned detective in the Badger’s Drift Police Department, is assigned to investigate the murder. Thorn, an astute and methodical investigator, is familiar with Jessica’s work and quickly recognizes her as a potential asset in solving the case. Jessica finds herself irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic detective and becomes an unofficial consultant in the investigation.

Join Jessica Murdoch, Tracer, her faithful basset hound, and Thorn Wilder as they unravel the dark mysteries that lurk beneath the surface of this small town, and discover the shocking truth that lies at the heart of it all.

Murder Before Dawn is the first story in the Mystery, She Wrote series. Four mystery authors meet at a book conference and discover they all live in small towns in Maine. After a fabulous weekend together they decide to form the Mystery Writer’s Murder Club. They meet monthly at a different house to check out cold cases in the area, write, and relax. They soon discover the only thing more exciting than a good murder mystery book is an actual murder mystery.

If you like fast-paced mysteries with quirky characters, an inquisitive basset hound, and unexpected twists, you’re going to love the Mystery, She Wrote series.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Feeling much better about where she stood with Thorn as far as Thompson’s murder went, Jessica had the cop take her and Thorn back to her place to get her SUV. Upon hearing her enter the yard, Tracer, her beloved basset hound, came barreling out the dog door that had been incorporated into the back door.

Sudie followed close behind him, laughing. “He said you were back here, but I didn’t believe him. He always knows where his mama is.”

“Detective Thorn Wilder, this is my friend and housekeeper, Sudie. Sudie, meet Thorn.”

“Are you the one investigating what happened up at DeeDee’s place?”

“I am.”

“And you think Jessica had something to do with it? I wish Tracer was trained to attack; I’d have him bite you,” said Sudie.

“Not to worry,” said Jessica to Thorn. “The most Tracer would do is beat you to death with his tail or knock you down and drown you in drooly kisses. Other than that, he is completely harmless.”

“But that boy can track anything. If you need something followed, you get Jessica to lend you Tracer. He found a lost little girl last year. Everybody was so worried for her. By the time they caught up to him, he was bouncing and barking with her, and she was giggling away.”

“You trained your dog to track?” he said, kneeling down to offer his hand to Tracer to let him sniff it before giving him a tummy rub when the dog flipped over onto his back.

“It’s not hard with a basset. Their noses are the best in the business. They’re especially good at finding kids because they’re so non-threatening.”

Thorn stood up. “Are you saying that if we found some kind of scent item, we could use him to track something?”

“Not only that, you don’t have to have a scent item per se. If we let him sniff around that footprint, he’d probably be able to track where it went.”

“Good to know.”

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About Author Delta James:

As a USA Today bestselling romance author, Delta James aims to captivate readers with stories about complex,curvy heroines and the dominant alpha males who adore them. For Delta, romance is more than just a love story; it’s a journey with challenges and thrills along the way.

After creating a second chapter for herself that was dramatically different than the first, Delta now resides in Florida where she relaxes on warm summer evenings with her loveable pack of basset hounds as they watch the birds, squirrels and lizards. When not crafting fast-paced tales, she enjoys horseback riding, walks on the beach, and white-water rafting.

More about Delta, including a full list of her books and audiobooks, can be found at www.deltajames.com.

Her readers mean the world to her, and Delta tries to interact personally to as many messages as she can. If you’d like to chat or discuss books, you can find Delta on Instagram, Facebook, and in her private reader group https://www.facebook.com/groups/348982795738444.

If you’re looking for your next bingeable series, you can get a FREE story by joining her newsletter https://www.subscribepage.com/VIPlist22019.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

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Tentacle Tied by Zeina Khalem ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: October 30, 2023 in Erotic, Excerpt, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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Tentacle Tied

by Zeina Khalem

Genre: Erotic Short Story

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A cabin getaway gives one traveler more than she bargained for when she finds something lurking in the hot springs nearby…

This is an erotic 18+ mature short story featuring tentacles and sexual themes.

**Only .99cents!!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Author’s Site * Goodreads

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As I considered giving up on chasing that elusive peak, I noticed the tendrils of grass tangling around my ankles. I fluttered my legs to break free but they seemed to get tighter. The frustration broke through and I moved to sit up – except something tugged on my waist, keeping me anchored to where I sat.

I twisted around with a start only to feel the vines tighten around my calves and thighs, constricting my movements. Despite being just chest deep, being restrained underwater made me panic and I began to thrash. To my surprise, the tendrils emerged from the water with an undeniable will in their movement, as if they were limbs clinging to my own. I watched in shocked awe as the long, warm, thick appendages wrapped around my arms, while a thicker trunk tightened around my midsection.

 

I gave one last longing look at the spring, now rippling softly. Absently, I followed the ripples to a pair of dark eyes peeking from out of the water.

I gasped, tripped backward over a root, and scrambled to the tree line. Was I intoxicated again? Was it something in the air? A gas leak from a nearby mine? The eyes followed me but the figure did not move, its head poking out of the water up to the bridge of its nose.

The sound of my breath filled the clearing, hard and fast. Then it dawned on me that if this was a hallucination, a figment of my mind’s creation, then it couldn’t hurt me. Probably.

“Who… what are you?” I called across the clearing.

The creature emerged enough to speak over the water. “Rude.”

Though its voice was deep and quiet, I heard it as if from beside me – a deep, slow rumble that didn’t fill the clearing but vibrated through my body. I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“First, you wake me by rutting up against me. I was having the most remarkable dream before the interruption. Then, just as things get interesting, you run off like a frightened jackrabbit. Now, these rude questions. I have never understood you humans.”

“So you’re… not human.”

The creature stirred but I held my ground. It stepped closer, water trailing down its elongated chest and the curve of its belly before disappearing onto the surface of the pool. I swallowed hard. It stretched out its arm as if examining itself and leaned in a way that brought to mind a shrug. “I suppose I was human once.”

I stifled my next questions. What are you now? What made you this way?

“Is this your home?” I ventured instead, taking a step forward.

The creature stretched towards the banks of the spring. Its… their body was even longer than I realized, their torso ridged with muscles drawing my eyes down, lower until they were foiled by the reflection of the water. “I dwell here from time to time.”

I steeled myself and stepped forward again, balling my trembling hands into fists at my sides. Something deep and primal screamed at me to run, but a deeper curiosity compelled me forward still. The creature watched me without blinking, their facade as still as a stone. How many humans had they sucked in like this, to be consumed? Would I face ecstasy or oblivion if I kept going? Would it change a thing if I knew?

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What is something unique about you?

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I’m polyamorous, so that’s bound to make my idea of a happily ever after different than monogamous romances. Having practiced ethical non-monogamy for nearly a decade, being polyamorous isn’t this wild, strange thing to me. It’s just my life!

Just like any other relationship, sometimes my relationships can get hard. My partners and I have conflicts we must work through just like anyone else. But overall, I’d like to challenge the idea that non-monogamy must be inherently difficult. I’ve got an amazing polycule with partners and metamours whom I love. I wouldn’t want my life any other way.

So I try to reflect my polyamorous life in my works. Tentacle Tied is a short story and a bit of a dark romance, considering it involves, well, a monster. I won’t spoil anything, but I think the ending is purposefully open-ended in a way that reflects polyamory. For example, you may have a comet partner who only comes into town twice a year. You care for each other and set bounds and expectations for your relationship that work for both of you. Who wouldn’t want a sexy hot springs monster to visit whenever they need a good tangle?

What kind of world ruler would you be?

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In the deepest, darkest depths of my man-eating heart, I am the GIF of Galadriel proclaiming, “All shall love me and despair!” (Would I have turned down the ring and passed the test? Unclear!) Whose ego doesn’t wish to be adored and feared by all?

But I like writing about utopian societies – think Star Trek, not Middle Earth. A pansexual, socialist, post-scarcity, space-faring future sounds pretty rad to me, which is why I’m writing a sci-fi romance novel in that setting. The other alternative to this question would be me ruling the galaxy as a consciousness transferred into an all-powerful, algorithm-based AI that optimizes society. (Except, of course, such systems rarely work as intended.)

What can we expect from you in the future?

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I’m currently working on an anthology of sexy short stories titled Sexy Shorts! Two of the stories are free to read online on my website and I’ll be releasing more on my Patreon as I go.

The unofficial theme of the anthology is “On the Edge,” focusing on sexy situations that may happen barely outside of the public eye, falling just shy of exhibitionism. The two stories that are currently available to read are Up the Stairs and On the Beach.

I’m also working on a sci-fi romance novel set in a technologically advanced, post-scarcity future called Bound by Stardust that follows a mismatched Earther and Spacer through some galaxy-scorching adventures. Think Star Trek but significantly sexier, gayer, sluttier, and a little kinky to boot, with replicators, holodecks, and sexytimes in space!

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Tentacle Tied?

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Neither of the characters in Tentacle Tied has a name. I imagine the first-person narrator to be an independent, outdoorsy femme who has a long trail of well-worn hiking boots behind her and a camping setup ready in her trunk for her next weekend trip up the mountains. She’s not afraid to explore on her own, even into the woods where mysterious creatures may live. In other words, she’s not like me at all! (I’d be happy if I never camp again a day in my life.)

The tentacle monster, on the other hand, is a bit of a mystery. All the narrator knows is that the creature lives in a hot spring. You’ll have to read the story to learn more about them.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

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Tentacle erotica is a niche topic. I’ve actually never written this type of erotica before, but I really enjoyed being able to play within a new and unfamiliar set of scenarios and tropes.

I also really enjoyed diving into a character who’s neutral or ambiguous like the creature. The rules are different when you’re dealing with unfathomable monsters from the deep, you know?

Pen or typewriter or computer?

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My writing process involves a mix of handwriting and typing. I love handwriting first drafts because I get too obsessive with editing if I type. When I’m handwriting, I have to move forward because it’s a lot harder to edit while I write, especially if I’m working with pen and paper.

I also love the tactile feel of pen on paper, specifically extra fine sharpies. I have a couple dozen notebooks and legal pads filled with my scribbles. But eventually, I started handwriting on my tablet with a note-taking app. Even though the tactile feel isn’t the same on my tablet, I can organize all of my notes and drafts and keep working on them wherever and whenever I want.

I also enjoy handwriting first drafts because the act of transferring my handwritten draft into a typed document helps me do a first round of edits as I go!

What are you currently reading?

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I usually read romantic fiction, but recently I picked up a non-fiction book called The Art of Gathering, which considers why and how people gather.

I’ve always enjoyed hosting and organizing gatherings and events amongst friends. Whatever I know about hosting, I learned mostly from the women in my family – my mother, my aunt, and my grandmother. They gave me a solid foundation to build on, but The Art of Gathering goes deeper into the heart of what brings us together and how to best cater our gatherings to the kind of experiences we want them to be. The more I think about it, the more I realize just how pivotal gathering is to our lives – and the book delivers many gems of wisdom on the topic.

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Zeina lives in the wild west and marvels at the weather every day. She tries to avoid cliches but sometimes can’t resist. She likes pole dancing, drawing, and feminism.

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