Archive for December, 2021

Kissing Charlie by Elsa Winckler ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: December 9, 2021 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways
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Kissing Charlie
Elsa Winckler

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(Unexpected Love, #1)
Published by: Inkspell Publishing
Publication date: December 7th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

One Kiss Will Change Their Lives Forever

Bowen therapist Charlie Wilson is not interested in men or relationships. Her only concern is making sure her sister Lindsay is safe.

But then billionaire Logan Johnson walks into her rooms and stirs powerful feelings inside of her. Logan’s perfectly knotted tie is a clear indication free-spirit Charlie should steer clear of him at all costs.

They are complete opposites, so why does he keep coming back to see her?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“How did you hurt your back?” Her voice was cool, and she wasn’t meeting his eyes.

“While hiking,” he said curtly. He was in pain; it didn’t matter what the hell happened. “Tell me about this Wowen, Bowen, whatever the hell you call this cr—therapy.”

She gave him a cool look. “It’s called Bowen Therapy.”

“Bowen Therapy,” he said, his gaze on her mouth.

“The guiding principles of the technique were established by Tom Bowen during the 1950s. It focuses on the whole person, not just the condition. In other words, it treats the cause, not only the symptoms. It helps the body to heal and restores the balance by shifting the body from your innate ‘fight or flight’ system to a more natural state of calm.”

He watched her as she studied his body. She was holding something in her hand. Damn, she had yet to touch him, but he was struggling not to react to her nearness. The fact that he was lying on his back wasn’t helping, either.

“Natural state of calm? With you doing strange things to my body?” he grumbled, only realizing the ambiguity of his words when they hung in the air around them.

Her lips twitched.

“Oh, you think this is funny?” he snarled.

“I think you’re in pain. I think you like being in control and at the moment, you’re not. That’s why you feel the need to lash out. But it’s fine. I often have children throwing tantrums.”

“I’m not throwing a tantrum, damn it…” He tried to sit up straight, but a pain shot up his back, and groaning, he had to slowly lie down again.

“The movements in Bowen Therapy,” she continued as if he hadn’t interrupted her, “are very distinctive and are used on precise points on the body. It involves moving the soft tissue in a particular way. I will use a rolling-type movement, using my fingers, hands, or sometimes my elbow. It will create a focus for the brain by stimulating the nerve pathways and tissue. I work on only a small area, depending how far your skin can move. What you may find strange—”

“This whole damn day is strange. I don’t know what the hell my mother was thinking,” he muttered.

Author Elsa Winckler

I write love stories because I love reading them. I like the heroines to be feisty, independent and headstrong. And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity and should of course, be gorgeous!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Beauty And The Deceased ~ A Resale Boutique Mystery by Debra Sennefelder

Posted: December 8, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Beauty And The Deceased

A Resale Boutique Mystery

by Debra Sennefelder

 


Beauty and the Deceased (A Resale Boutique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lyrical Press (December 14, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 191 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1516111036
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1516111039
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B092LH3FBZ

Kelly Quinn’s Long Island consignment shop offers high style at secondhand prices—but when a body is found on the beach, she needs to start hunting for a wolf in sheep’s clothing . . .

Kelly is thrilled when she gets a visit from a cousin she hasn’t seen in years. Becky’s cosmetics company is taking off, and she just might have laid the foundation for a big-money buyout. It’s a time to celebrate—but Kelly is heartbroken when a killer puts an end to their happy reunion during a mysterious midnight meeting near the shore.

Despite multiple warnings to steer clear, Kelly starts shadowing a variety of suspects both inside and outside the beauty business—when she isn’t busy filling the racks of the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique with lots of new inventory from a local shopaholic. Gossip and accusations are flying, but there’s no glossing over this ugly crime, and she’s going to make sure the culprit faces justice…

Enjoy this peek inside:

Kelly Quinn knew three things for sure her first full summer back home in Lucky Cove. One – summer people were good for business. Two – reconnecting with her cousin was just what she needed to help deal with…well, see number three. Three – getting over a breakup is hard when you see the guy practically every day.

She leaned closer to the mirror and applied a swipe of her new favorite lipstick, Beachy Nude by Define Beauty. The up-and-coming cosmetics company had been her cousin’s brainchild. Becky Quinn’s obsession with makeup in her teen years had paid off.

Kelly dropped the lipstick into her vintage Gucci clutch she used as a cosmetics bag. It had been a little treat to herself after the breakup from her boyfriend. Luckily the consignment website she purchased it from had a payment plan. She grappled around for her concealer and finally found the tube.

Dabbing on the Define Beauty’s concealer, she knew something else for certain. And it made her belly quiver.

Family secrets that bubbled below the surface could suddenly erupt, swallowing everyone involved. Including someone like her who only knew merely about the secret.

Too bad her concealer didn’t work on things like heartbreaks and secrets. She would have purchased a vat full.

A dramatic meow drew her attention from the dresser’s mirror to the floor where her

orange cat, Howard, sat staring up at her. He meowed again and ratcheted up the drama that time. She glanced at her watch and sighed. Right on time.

The furball had a schedule, and heaven forbid there was any deviation. After all, his first nap of the morning would be after breakfast.

“Okay, okay. I’m almost done.” She stepped back from the dresser and gave a final look at her outfit. She nodded approvingly at her gray wide-leg linen blend pants topped with a black cotton shell and block-heeled sandals. It was a fashionable yet comfortable outfit for the day ahead. Before she opened her shop, The Lucky Cove Resale Boutique, she had an appointment with a new consignor. According to the woman’s sister-in-law, who worked with Kelly, Camille Donovan had a ton of clothes to sell.

Kelly’s lips curled up into a smile. She loved clients like Camille. And she needed more of them.

Another meow, this time louder and more urgent, alerted Kelly to her cat’s growing impatience with her dawdling. Over time, she’d learned to decipher his various sounds and body language. It would have been a whole lot easier if he’d come with a manual when she inherited him from her granny. Manuals would have helped with the boutique and her apartment too. Oh, and she couldn’t forget relationships. A how-to guide on how to repair broken relationships would have been beneficial. Alas, there was no handbook on life. It looked like she, along with everyone else, was learning as she went along.

She zipped the cosmetics bag and carried it out of the bedroom with Howard right on her

heels. When she stopped at the small table in the hall between the coat closet and the door, he

gave her a questionable look.

Exactly who owned whom?

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About Debra Sennefelder

Debra Sennefelder is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery.

Her first novel, THE UNINVITED CORPSE (A Food Blogger mystery) was published in 2018. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.

Born and raised in New York City, where she majored in her hobby of fashion buying, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in retail and publishing before becoming a full-time author. Her writing companion is her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih Tzu, Connie.

Author Links: Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Instagram

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kensington – Kobo 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 1 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

December 2 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

December 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 3 – Dear Reader – REVIEW

December 4 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

December 6 – My Journey Back – GUEST POST

December 7 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

December 9 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST

December 9 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

December 12 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

December 13 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 14 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

 

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The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: December 7, 2021 in giveaways, Romance
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for The Romance Formula organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Alicia Leigh will be awarding a paperback copy of The Romance Novel Formula to 3 randomly drawn winners 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 and for more chances to win.

The Romance Formula

by Alicia Leigh

The Romance Novel Formula: How to Use the Complete Structure of True Love for Your Breakout Romance Novel by [Alicia Leigh, A.K. Leigh, Leigh Hatchmann]

Synopsis

Is there a secret formula for writing a successful romance novel? Backed by research and professional expertise, The Romance Novel Formula provides everything you need to take you from idea to first draft of your breakout romance novel.

Join best-selling romance author and academic researcher, Alicia Leigh, as you discover:

*How to take your love interests on the “lovers’ journey” – inclusive of ALL types of romantic relationships: ménage, alien, LGBTQI, polyamory, etc.
*A unique five-act structure to make your story easy to write and manage.
*The specific story “beats” exclusive to the romance genre (and which other books on writing typically exclude).
*The story and character arcs necessary to classify your book as romance.
*How to avoid stereotypes by focusing on archetypes.
*Popular romance tropes.
*Essential writing techniques.
*Advice on dialogue.
*The most common writing mistakes . . . and how to avoid them.
*Goal, motivation, and conflict.
*Fear, need, and flaw (what are they, and do you need them?).
*Much more!

Complete with checklists and over 30 writing exercises, The Romance Novel Formula is the new essential romance writing guide for aspiring and experienced writers, plotters and pantsers, and professional researchers.

Enjoy this peek inside:

Does The Romance Novel Formula work best for “plotters” or “pantsers?”

Both! If you are a plotter, you can use it to outline your novel. If you are a pantser, you can use it after you’ve finished your first draft to make sure you have everything where it needs to be. Of course, you can also do something in between those two options. The point is to find what works for you. If you are new to writing, you might not have heard of these terms, so I will give you a quick explanation here. For those who already know, feel free to skip ahead. A plotter is a writer who plans every stage of their writing. They plot and outline every important part of their story before they write it. James Patterson is a famous plotter. This approach can stop you from running into trouble as you write because you always have a clear direction to go. On the other hand, it can also stifle your creativity and make it difficult when a character goes off script (which happens). A pantser is a writer who writes by the seat of their pants. In other words, they go wherever their ideas, the story, or the characters take them. Stephen King is a famous pantser. This method can be great for those who revel in the creative side of storytelling. However, with no clear plan, the ideas can dry up and manuscripts can go unfinished. As you can see, there are benefits to both. Though some people will try to convince you one is better than the other, the fact that so many writers are successful using either method tells you they are equally valid options. In case you are curious, I am a plantser (just what you want, another unfamiliar term!). This means I utilize aspects of both plotting and pantsing in my writing. You can feel free to do the same.

About Author Alicia Leigh:

Alicia Leigh is a bestselling non-fiction author, international-selling romance author, identical triplet, writing coach, and hot chocolate addict.

She uses her postgraduate degrees in counseling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology and editing from Macquarie University to create believable, three-dimensional characters. Her certificates in forensic science and forensic anthropology from the University of Strathclyde add layers to the realistic crime elements in her stories. She has completed her master’s degree in writing at Swinburne University and is currently embarking upon her PhD in Creative Arts (writing) at Central Queensland University.

When not writing, reading, coaching, studying, or enjoying nature, she can be found having fun with her three gorgeous children (plus one laid-back dog and one hypersensitive guinea pig).

She is active on social media and encourages readers and writers to interact with her there. She writes romantic fiction novels under the pseudonyms A.K. Leigh and Leigh Hatchmann.

Website

*Fall in love … with Leigh*

Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page

Buy links:

Amazon
Amazon Au
Amazon UK
Amazon CA

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The Sherwood Proof by Kristee Ravan

Posted: December 7, 2021 in Fantasy, giveaways, middle grade
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On Tour with Prism Book Tours
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The Sherwood Proof

 

(The Lily Sparrow Chronicles #3)

 

By Kristee Ravan
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Middle-Grade, Fairy Tale, Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 569 Pages
November 23, 2021 by Kristee Ravan

Lily Sparrow has finally created an equation for being a good princess.
Things are adding up and making sense, and she’s even growing a
measurable amount more excited about her future. But unexpected
variables keep being tossed into her equation:

1. Carole Claus is facing her first hurdle as Santa. She needs Lily’s help.
2. Lily’s Half-Birthday–an important Smythian tradition–is coming up, requiring her to find time to prepare for it.
3. Her algebra teacher has an unusual (and stressful plan) for Lily.
4. Lily remains convinced that her mom is hiding something from her.
5. The investigation into the traitor is an on-going source of stress and tension at work for Lily and Calo.
6. Oh, and Calo’s still betrothed to Su’Sauna, making life difficult and confusing all around.

Will Lily be able to place these variables securely in her equation?
Will the Sparrow family find a way to convince their critics they are
good for the Kingdom? Or will everything fall apart–subtracting all the
good will Lily has already earned from her citizens?

(Affiliate links included.)
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Enjoy this peek inside:
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Carole didn’t budge.

“Go on.” Corrie pushed again.

Nothing.

“Carole?” I asked. “What’s going on?”

“You do it, Lily.” Her voice was a whisper.

“Do what?”

“Go talk to him. Feel him out or something.”

“What?!” That eggnog lip gloss was affecting her brain.

“Please.”

“Carole, you’re being crazy right now. What am I going to say to him? I don’t know how to talk to boys.”

“Also,” Eric put in, “I’m not comfortable with the Princess being that far away from me.” He looked through the shelves again. “It’s over thirty feet.”

“Nothing is going to happen, Eric,” I protested.

“Kara gave me specific instructions for these outings. We cannot be sure that—”

“Enough, Eric,” Corrie spoke up. “No one’s going to risk Lily.” She turned to Carole. “It’s a lot. I get it. I’ll go talk to him.”

I looked at Corrie, stunned. She knew how to talk to boys? When did she learn that formula?

“Wait!” Carole grabbed Corrie’s arm just before she stepped into the aisle. “Take this.” She shoved a candy cane into Corrie’s jacket pocket and held up an identical one. “It’s a listening device,” she explained. “So we can hear what he says.”

“Where did you get that?” I asked as we watched Corrie approach Mikey.

Carole shrugged. “We use them for surveillance at the North Pole.”

“I thought you used the Showglobe for that.”

“Hush, Algebra. She’s talking!”

“Hi!” We heard Corrie say through the candy cane. We watched as she stood next to Mikey.

“Hey,” he said. He looked up at her.

Corrie cleared her throat. “Um, can I borrow your notes from class this morning?”

“You’re not in my class.”

She laughed nervously. “No, I know. They’re for my friend, who is in your class. She’s in that class. Your history class, she’s in that class.”

“You look really young. Are you in high school?”

“Bye!” Corrie dashed back to our shelf. “It did not go well,” she whispered to us.

“We heard.” Carole sounded discouraged.

We all bent to look through the shelf again. “He’s gone,” I pointed out.

“You dropped this,” a voice behind us said.

We all jumped. Eric hit his head on the shelving.

Mikey’s face was dark as he held out the candy cane.

Excerpted from The Sherwood Proof by Kristee Ravan, Copyright © 2021 by Kristee Ravan. Published by Kristee Ravan.

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Other Books in the Series


About the Author

Kristee Ravan lives in Oklahoma with her husband, daughter, and pet fish, Val (short for Valentine). She wanted to be many things as she grew up including a general, an artist, and an architect. But she never bothered to say, “I want to be a writer when I grow up.” She was always writing stories and thought of herself as a writer anyway. She sent her first story to a publisher in the sixth grade. (It was rejected – in a nice way.) When she is not making up stories in her head, she enjoys reading, juggling, green smoothies, playing dollhouse with her daughter, and hearing from her fans. You can contact Kristee at the Facebook page for her Lily Sparrow books: The Lily Sparrow Chronicles.

 

Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway

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Three winners will receive a print copy of The Sherwood Proof (US only)

Ends December 15, 2021


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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Mimi Lee Cracks The Code ~ A Sassy Cat Mystery by Jennifer J. Chow

Posted: December 6, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Mimi Lee Cracks The Code

A Sassy Cat Mystery

by Jennifer J. Chow

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Mimi Lee Cracks the Code (A Sassy Cat Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (November 30, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1984805037
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1984805034
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08XQ2T9BS

One of BookRiot’s Best Upcoming Cozy Mysteries for the Second Half of 2021!

 

When murder follows Mimi Lee to her romantic island getaway, she puts on her best sleuthing hat with her sassy cat in tow in this adventurous cozy mystery by Jennifer J. Chow.

 

Mimi Lee just found an extra perk to being a pet groomer at Hollywoof (other than cuddling animals all day long, that is). Pixie St. James, one of Mimi’s clients and the investor behind Hollywoof, has offered her and her boyfriend, Josh, a getaway at her vacation home, nestled on beautiful Catalina Island. With the island just outside of Los Angeles but still far enough from the hustle and bustle, Mimi, Josh, and their cat Marshmallow (who, of course, wouldn’t be caught dead in a dingy pet hotel) are excited for their relaxing stay.

 

That is, until Pixie’s last renter, Davis D. Argo, turns up dead. Mimi and Josh’s romantic getaway immediately turns into an enormous buzzkill, especially when Pixie asks Mimi for help. The police suspect Pixie, and Mimi knows a thing or two about wrongful allegations. Mimi figures it couldn’t hurt to snoop a little since she’s already there, and soon discovers that a valuable item is missing. Except Pixie isn’t the only one in the neighborhood who has been robbed. There is something strange happening on the island, and Mimi won’t stop until she finds out what it is.

 

About Jennifer J. Chow

Jennifer J. Chow is the Lefty Award-nominated author of the Sassy Cat Mysteries. The first in the series, Mimi Lee Gets A Clue, was selected as an Overdrive Recommended Read, a PopSugar’s Best Summer Beach Read, and one of BuzzFeed’s Top 5 Books by AAPI authors. She’s active in Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Crime Writers of Color. Connect with Jennifer online at www.jenniferjchow.com.

Author Links: Website / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

 

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Penguin Random House – Bookshop – Kobo – IndieBound 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 30 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

December 3 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

December 6 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

December 8 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 10 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

December 12 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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Type X by M. A. Phipps ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: December 6, 2021 in Dystopian, giveaways, YA
Tags: , ,
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Type X
M.A. Phipps
(Project W.A.R., #2)
Publication date: March 26th 2021
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult

Feared by many. Frightened of few. Torn between humanity and the monster she’s become.

When Wynter surrendered to the DSD two years ago, she thought she was protecting her friends. Lured by the promise of a cure, she hoped she might finally be rid of her devastating disease or, at least, be on the path to controlling it. But Dr. Richter was never interested in curing her.

With a collar around her neck keeping her unstable powers in check, Wynter is transformed into an unstoppable weapon. Compelled to do the State’s bidding, she kills without feeling, remembering nothing of the people she gave herself up to protect. Her only thought is to obey.

When a mission goes wrong, triggering suppressed memories, Wynter finds herself determined to piece together her past. But as she uncovers the truth, she realizes it’s no longer clear who the real enemy is, and with the threat of war looming, she must again make a choice. Can she escape her role in the impending destruction?

Or is she doomed to remain a monster forever?

TYPE X is the second book in the Project W. A. R. trilogy, which readers have compared to The Giver, Divergent, and The Hunger Games!

“This series is a must-read for dystopian and YA readers.” ★★★★★

“Twists at every chapter will have you thinking and rethinking about the way things will play out and even then you will never see it coming!” ★★★★★

“Amazing story that leaves you begging for the next one.” ★★★★★

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

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Enjoy this peek inside:

A heavy wind slams into the side of the helicopter, jerking the metal carcass with rough, repetitive jolts, which threaten to send the gargantuan carrier aircraft spiraling to the ground. The two dozen Enforcers around me don’t seem to take much notice of the turbulence, their expressions drawn, eyes fixed straight ahead, like robots that have been programmed to concentrate only on the specified task laid out before us.

Propping my head back against the vibrating wall, I focus on the roaring drone of the rotors, listening intently to the constant whir. Steadied by the deafening hum, I drag in a deep breath and let my eyes drift closed, my heart rate evening out as I distance my thoughts from what awaits when we land. More than anything, I wish my consciousness could remain in this state of calm in-between forever. Here, reality is but a dim afterthought.

Unfortunately, such blissful escape isn’t an option.

I push out an exasperated breath through my nose and peek open my eyes, scowling at the tingle creeping over my face. Even without looking, I can tell someone’s watching me. The burning touch of wandering eyes is a far too familiar sensation by this point—that unavoidable curiosity that seems to go hand in hand with what I am now that my existence is public knowledge.

Hell, after this long, I’ve grown to expect it.

Looking up, I narrow my eyes into slits, glaring at the Enforcer strapped in the seat directly across from me. He doesn’t glance away, which intrigues me considering how skittish others tend to become in my presence. Especially the newer recruits who have only heard stories of my unfathomable power.

Based on this particular soldier’s appearance, I’d be willing to venture a guess and wager he’s barely older than me. Perhaps we’re even the same age, although twenty is unusually young for an Enforcer. Then again, the State is at war. The rules for registration have likely been eased to help expand our ranks for the battles ahead.

If only these soldiers knew how little their presence in this war even matters.

Typically, registration age begins at twenty-five, so the person in question has to work within their designated career for a minimum of six years before they can make the conscious choice to become an Enforcer—a decision not to be made lightly given everything the individual would be sacrificing. For one, service to the State is for life, which means no reneging and going back to your previous career, not to mention that Enforcers all reside in the barracks in Zone 5, which means surrendering any previously assigned living quarters. Secondly, Enforcers aren’t allowed to enter partnerships or have families of their own and all existing familial ties must be severed. This rule is in place to prevent deviant forces from ransoming loved ones to gain access to intel or admission to prohibited locations that an Enforcer would be able to access. Not that such an eventuality is even really a threat to the State. Enforcers are nicknamed Loyalists for a reason, and they live and breathe devotion to the governing body. The good of the State must always come first.

To them, nothing and no one else matters.

The young soldier’s dark eyes scan over my throat before meeting my gaze again, his pupils blown wide with the same fear written all over his face. The metal ring around my neck chafes against the skin of my collarbone when I shift in my seat. As the Enforcer quickly looks down at the floor, I grasp what it is he’s truly afraid of.

The irony of the situation would be amusing if it wasn’t so damn maddening. The battle we’re about to fly into poses far more danger to the Enforcers aboard this aircraft than I do, and yet, I’m the one he’s second-guessing. Or maybe, he’s simply doubting the effectiveness of my collar.

I breathe in, holding back a mocking laugh.

Don’t worry, I’m tempted to say to him. You aren’t the one who needs to fear me.

 

Author M. A. Phipps

M. A. PHIPPS is an American author who resides near the ocean in picturesque Cornwall with her husband, daughter, and their Jack Russell, Milo. A lover of the written word, it has always been her dream to become a published author, and it is her hope to expand into multiple genres of fiction.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

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GIVEAWAY!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:
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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.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

What Happened To Coco by V B Furlong ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: December 5, 2021 in giveaways, thriller, YA
Tags: , ,
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What Happened to Coco
VB Furlong
Publication date: December 4th 2021
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

When a girl disappears, long-buried secrets resurface…

Coco is missing. Her room’s a mess, and her phone is left behind in her dorm at Lainsbury Hall School

Ella, Coco’s childhood best friend, is desperate for her to return, although she knows that if she ever sees Coco again, there’ll be a lot of explaining to do.

Bea knows that her new group of friends attracts drama, and she thinks she has the last shred of common sense between them all. Only, if that was true, she would leave Genevieve, her toxic ex, well alone.

Conrad is confident that Coco will return safe and well. Only, the way his secrets are unravelling, he’s worried he won’t be when this is all over.

Harrison and Coco are the perfect couple. Everyone knows that. But looks can be misleading. Even the smartest boy in school can make a terrible mistake.

In order to navigate the web of secrets and lies that Coco leaves behind, her circle of friends needs to unravel a few of their own.

But the question remains: What happened to Coco?

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

In the misty darkness lit only by a blue streetlamp, Ella knew that she was not alone. She turned and saw the faceless figure far down the drizzly street. It came towards her at speed. It didn’t seem to be moving, but she knew that it was gaining on her. She started to run, but her legs would not move. She was stuck, as though in quicksand.

When she dared check over her shoulder once again, the figure was only about five steps away, and she could see raspy breaths escape the black silhouette in a wispy white cloud. The scene whirred in front of Ella as she pulled on her legs, sobbing, begging them to move. But they would not. All she could hear was the breathing, slow and rattling, as though it was the figure’s very last. Four. Three. Two.

It was the skeletal hand on her shoulder that woke her. In the darkness of her room, she was alone. She turned her alarm off and felt uneasy in the silence. She was soaking wet, her back from sweat, her face from tears.

She washed her face, hardly daring to open her eyes and look into the mirror above the sink. She felt watched, hunted. As she brushed her teeth, she turned on all her lights and opened the dreary brown curtains that Lainsbury Hall School had placed in all the dorms. But even in her bright vanity lamps that took over her dressing table, drowning her in bright white light as she did her make up, her eyes darted around the corners of her mirrors, checking all angles of the room in the reflection for the faceless spectre. She was not herself today. Then again, she hadn’t been herself yesterday, either.

Author V B Furlong

VB Furlong is a trainee lawyer and writer of young adult novels living in Berkshire, UK. She wrote her first “novel” at aged ten and has not stopped since then. Through her writing she aims to explore many of the issues she faced herself growing up, in the hopes that others facing the same issues feel some solidarity. Her friendships are a huge part of her life and consequently is a major theme in her writing, exploring the way in which we interact with each other, especially in difficult times.

Originally from Mumbles, Swansea, VB Furlong enjoys the sun and the sea, and walking her three dogs across the cliffs. These walks have offered her inspiration for many pieces of writing, including What Happened to Coco which she is excited to introduce as a coming of age boarding school thriller.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

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Slayed By Souvlaki ~ A Callie’s Kitchen Cozy Mystery by Jenny Kales

Posted: December 5, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Slayed By Souvlaki

A Callie’s Kitchen Cozy Mystery

by Jenny Kales

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Slayed by Souvlaki (A Callie’s Kitchen Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Independently published (October 30, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 267 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8750257041
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09H56VYN7

Greek vacations can be murder! Recipes are included in this cozy mystery set in the Greek Islands.

 

Callie Costas can’t believe she is finally traveling to Greece with her significant other, Detective Ian Sands. However, this isn’t your average voyage: Callie’s father has invited a slew of colorful family members to his beautiful childhood village to celebrate his recent marriage. Callie is especially delighted to be reunited with her Greek “Aunt Sweetie” aka Glykeria.

 

The Costas family’s Greek getaway turns to Greek tragedy when murder turns up on the menu at the seaside restaurant of her father’s friend, Dimitrios. A restaurant employee has been killed and Dimitrios is a prime suspect.

 

With a hodge-podge group of tourists and villagers to round out the suspect list, can Callie help her father clear his friend’s name, before the killer skewers her?

 

 

About Jenny Kales

Jenny Kales is the author of The Callie’s Kitchen Mystery Series, featuring Greek-American Calliope Costas, feisty food business owner and amateur sleuth, who lives in a scenic Wisconsin town with colorful characters — and a high murder rate! Each book contains several delicious recipes, both Greek and American. Callie’s latest adventure, SLAYED BY SOUVLAKI is the 5th Callie’s Kitchen Mystery series and was released in October 2021.

Jenny is an avid reader, cook and baker and she’s addicted to reading and British TV mysteries. She lives just outside of Chicago with her husband and is the mom of two daughters and one cute but demanding Yorkshire terrier. She’s hard at work on additional writing projects including more Callie’s Kitchen Mysteries and a new series releasing in 2022.

Author Links: Facebook / Website / Twitter / Instagram

Purchase Link: Amazon

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Murder In The Christmas Tree Lot ~ A Tory Benning Mystery by Judith Gonda

Posted: December 4, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Murder In The Christmas Tree Lot

A Tory Benning Mystery

by Judith Gonda

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Murder in the Christmas Tree Lot (A Tory Benning Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beyond the Page Publishing (November 17, 2020)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 230 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1950461858
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1950461851
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08LQY49YM

Landscape architect Tory Benning returns in a holiday mystery tied up with a bow!

Still struggling with the death of her husband, Tory Benning is doing her best to get into the festive spirit of the holiday season, but when her landscaping company’s email is hacked and there’s a break-in at the office, it’s enough to make her see red. And then the unthinkable happens, when the owner of a specialty food truck is brutally slain at the company’s Christmas tree lot, and Tory finds herself mired in murder once again.

With a long list of suspects—including an untold number of revelers disguised in Santa suits, seasonal employees handling tree sales, and even a vengeful jilted suitor—the police investigation grinds along slowly and methodically. But as Tory begins piecing together clues on her own, she finds she’s the target of a menacing stalker who may be out to do more than just scare her. Refusing to be intimidated, Tory vows to nab the culprit, even if it means that catching a Christmas killer has become her lot in life . . .

About Judith Gonda

judith gonda

Judith Gonda is a mystery writer and Ph.D. psychologist with a penchant for Pomeranians and puns, so it’s not surprising that psychology, Poms, and puns pop up in her amateur sleuth mysteries featuring landscape architect Tory Benning.

Author Links: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads / BookBub / TikTok

Purchase Links:  Amazon   B&N   Kobo    Google   Bookshop 

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Killer Words ~ A Mystery Bookshop Mystery by V.M. Burns

Posted: December 4, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Killer Words

A Mystery Bookshop Mystery

by V.M. Burns

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Killer Words (Mystery Bookshop)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – North Harbor, Michigan
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (November 30, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496728971
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496728975
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08Y65TD1X

Bookstore owner and mystery writer Samantha Washington comes to the aid of the cop who once arrested her own grandmother . . .

Sam and Nana Jo are back in sleepy North Harbor, Michigan, where Sam is eagerly awaiting the publication of her first book. In search of more immediate excitement, Nana Jo hits the casino with her fellow Shady Acres Retirement Village gal pals—but they get more than they bargained for when they witness Detective Bradley Pitt decking mayoral candidate John Cloverton.

As Sam well knows, mystery novels are full of brilliant detectives, genius sleuths, and hero cops. Detective Bradley Pitt—aka “Stinky Pitt”—is another story. In the past, the dull-witted detective has mistakenly accused members of Sam’s family for crimes they didn’t commit. Now, it’s his turn: when Cloverton turns up dead, he’s arrested. With his predilection for polyester, Pitt has been wanted by the fashion police for years, but Nana Jo knows her former elementary school math student would never commit murder—it doesn’t add up. Somebody’s framed the flatfoot to take a fall, and Sam and Nana Jo must step in to restore the reputation and good name of Detective Pitt.

About V.M. Burns

V.M. Burns was born and raised in the Midwestern United States. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers Association of America, Thriller Writers International, is on the national board for Sisters in Crime. She currently resides in the warmer area of the U.S. with her two poodles. Readers can visit her website at http://www.vmburns.com

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

Purchase Links

Amazon      APPLE    Barnes&Noble     Books-A-Million    Bookshop.Org    Google     KOBO

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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