Archive for the ‘Anthology’ Category

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Spread: Tales of Deadly Flora

Edited by Rachel Clarke

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Synopsis

Green thumbs beware. Plants are beautiful, peaceful, abundant, and life-sustaining. But what if something sinister took root in the soil, awakening to unleash slashing thorns, squeezing vines, or haunting greenery that lured you in? Perhaps blooms on distant planets could claim your heart, hitch a ride to Earth on a meteor, or simply poison you with their essence. Imagine a world where scientists produced our own demise in a lab, set spores free to infect, even bred ferns to be our friends only to witness the privilege perverted. When faced with botanical terror, will humanity fight to survive, or will they curl and wither like leaves in the fall? Read ten speculative tales ripe with dangerous flora to find out.

Includes stories by: Alyssa Beatty, Katie Ess, Jen Mierisch, Josephine Queen, Lisa Fox, Katie Jordan, Melissa Mendelson, Andrea Goyan, Alex Grehy, and R.A. Clarke.

Foreword by: Holly Rae Garcia.

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MY REVIEW

The first thing I want to say about this anthology is brilliant. Positively astounding. The prose is excellent. The stories read like an artist painting on canvas. I was astounded by how compelling these tales were. Even though the subject might be dark, it felt like a light was shining when I read some of the passages.

I live in Alabama and we have this vine called Kudzu. It was brought in to help with erosion on the bluffs. They must not have done their research because the invasive species took over. It simply can’t be killed. Just keeps coming back. I often thought it would be great for a horror story. Something along the lines of The Ruins. That movie was terrifyingly brutal.  That said, I wanted to mention that while some of these tales are dark, they aren’t necessarily gory. It’s more of a let your imagination take you there, wherever that is.

Being a collection, I usually have a favorite. Though I don’t usually single it out in my review. I was hard pressed to choose just one this time. All of them blew me away. The forward by Holly Rae Garcia was equally captivating. As were the illustrations spreading between the stories.

I love anthologies. Especially in a genre I read voraciously, such as horror. They’re such a fun way to discover new authors, and I found several. Each of these author’s are true storytellers and I’d love to sit around a campfire and let them spin me a tale. Feel those icy fingers creeping up and down my spine.

5 STARS

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Edited by Rachel Clarke

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Purchase Link: Amazon

 

Social Media Links: Website / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook

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At the stroke of midnight, creatures of the realm come out to prowl. Gods, shifters, fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, alpha heroes, angels, demons, and so much more.

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Realm of Midnight

A Limited Edition Fantasy & Paranormal Collection

Genre: Paranormal Romance

with stories by

J.A. Culican, Elise Knight, Susan Stradiotto, S. Johnson, Yvette Bostic, R.L. Perez, Rose. K, Bobbi Jo Green, Samantha Peppercorn, Amanda Marin, Lissa Bolts, Reese Spenser, Charmaine Louise Shelton, Dora Blume, Crystal Dawn, Sara Sines, Bethany Strobel, Adam J. Ridley, CM Haines, Isla Starr, LA Kirk, Kinley Craine, Alana Ash, Scarlett Finn, N. Isabelle Blanco, Melle Amade, Jennifer Marcia, Jane Poller, Elsie Woods, April L. Moon, Victoria Liiv, Maggie Adams, Tabitha M Corvin, Camilla Isley, Audrey Rich, Miranda Herald, Angelique Anderson

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At the stroke of midnight, creatures of the realm come out to prowl.

Beyond the witching hour, darkness and light collide in this limited edition paranormal and fantasy romance collection. These sweet to spicy stories will sweep you off your feet and sate your fantasy cravings. Gods, shifters, fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, alpha heroes, angels, demons, and so much more.

Gargoyles watch silently over the realm where alpha shifters hunt, mighty dragons soar, dark fae wreak havoc, and powerful witches own the night. Enjoy numerous full-length novels, filled with paranormal creatures and fantasy romance. Heart-stopping heroes and alluring anti-heroes rule the land of midnight.

You won’t find these exclusive novels anywhere else, so don’t miss your chance. These USA Today and international bestselling authors as well as up and coming authors bring you more than 10,000 pages at less than a dime per book. This collection is a steal, but it will only be available for a limited time. Don’t miss your chance to enter the Realm of Midnight.

**Only .99cents!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

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A little bit about K.Rose 

 

I became an author mostly by accident. I was enjoying reading which I never really did until about 2018-ish, when I figured out that you can get free eBooks included with a Prime membership. Don’t hiss or boo; I am an avid reader now!

Don’t need KU, just Prime by the way. I came across a book that had a typo in it, and decided I would just Drop into the DMs on Facebook and tell them about it. They were so appreciative that I didn’t report it to amazon on the kindle app and I questioned why.

The explanation I got floored me. They can have their books basically banned for a little typo! And I happened to like that book, so we can’t have that. That author invited me to her ARC (advance reader copy) team, to hopefully catch these typos before they go to print.

She told her PA, or maybe other authors directly and I was invited to other ARC teams. Before I knew it, I wasn’t even picking out books to read anymore. I literally had enough books from one ARC to the next I didn’t have to choose which for me was great. I can be quite indecisive at times.

From there I was upgraded to some Beta, and even Alpha teams. And one day, one of the Authors invited me to do a rewrite of one of her books. I didn’t change the plot; I just rearranged some bits and changed the dynamic of one of the characters. This was a turning point for me.

On April fools, I designed a silly book cover with a butterfly and wrote a fake blurb and shared it with some of the beta teams I was on. They insisted I HAVE TO write this book and that blurb had them sold. So I did just that. I wrote my debut novel in record time. The Prophecy of the water Sprite just poured out of me and was published August 5th, 2021.

I chose to publish under the penname K. Rose because it is my name, just the short, short version, and because it looked a lot better on the cover of a book than the longer version did.

I did not even think twice about being self-published since all the authors I read for were as well. The heartache of being rejected after months and months of queries, and agent seeking, and all that mess that goes with traditional publishing just doesn’t seem fair, or nice, or healthy for my emotional well-being. So, I never gave it a second thought.

I have always been a firm believer in never put all your eggs in one basket, mostly because of my upbringing and the life I have lived teaching me lessons the hard way, and this made my decision to publish outside of KU for all my next manuscripts even easier. Though I can honestly say that I have spent far more money than I have made getting editing, covers, graphics, promotion, ads, and going to signings, I wouldn’t change any of it. I am having my own emotional rollercoaster of being an indie author, and I feel like you must accept the low points to appreciate the high ones.

Someday, if I keep working at it, maybe I can become financially stable doing this, but that isn’t why I do it. I do it because I have these stories to tell. I do it because it gives me a sense of worth, and pride…accomplishments that I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for such a great community of other creatives. There are still good people in the world. Fair, honest, trustworthy, wear their heart on their sleeve, caring people; and now that I am a part of this community good luck trying to get rid of me!

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a 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.

 

For the Love of Villains: Anthology

 

Publication date: October 13th 2023
Genres: Adult, Romance

I shouldn’t be falling in love…
Fear fuels my every move…the pulsating adrenaline tickling my spine.
I shouldn’t sacrifice safe and secure for dangerous and deranged…
I shouldn’t be attracted to morally corrupt…
Yet…
Arousal is coating my traumatized heart…
And I’m running right into the arms of the wrong person.
The 𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏.

Some of your favorite authors have teamed up to bring to you TWENTY-SIX new stories in every shade of morally gray you can think of. From mafia to bully, dark romance and age gap… you will find villains living in these pages.

𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒂𝒅?

Goodreads / Purchase

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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Pets in Space 8 tour banner.

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Pets in Space 8. Blast off into adventure with the eighth installment of Pets in Space, a dynamic anthology of 11 never-before-seen science fiction romance stories!

This blog tour is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours and the tour runs from 3 till 16 October. You can see the tour schedule here.

Pets in Space 8 book cover

Pets in Space 8
By R.J. Blain, Susan Hayes, Honey Phillips, Skye MacKinnon, Arizona Tape, Carol Van Natta, Tana Stone, S.J. Pajonas, Carysa Locke, JC Hay, Gail Koger and Elva Birch
Genre: Science Fiction Romance Anthology
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 3 October 2023

Blurb:
Join the PETS IN SPACE crew!

Blast off into adventure with the eighth installment of PETS IN SPACE, a dynamic anthology of 11 never-before-seen science fiction romance stories! Rocket through the multi-verses brimming with heart-pounding escapades, swoon-worthy romances, and the best pet sidekicks ever!

Each story will pull you into the far-flung corners of the cosmos with intrepid heroes and heroines you’ll want to cheer for as they fight to save their world and find their happily ever afters. You’ll adore the furry, feathered, and scaly friends who have come to help their brave human companions on their quests.

This limited-edition anthology includes novellas by some of the biggest names in science fiction romance including USA TODAY bestselling authors R.J. Blain, Susan Hayes, Honey Phillips, Skye MacKinnon, Arizona Tape, Carol Van Natta, Tana Stone, S.J. Pajonas, Carysa Locke, JC Hay, plus award-winning authors Gail Koger and Elva Birch.

The Pets in Space 8 authors continue their vital support of Hero-Dogs.org, the non-profit charity that provides trained service dogs for disabled U.S. veterans and first-responders.

So, grab your space helmet to discover adventure and love — buy Pets in Space 8 today!

Links:
Goodreads
Bookbub
Amazon
B&N
Kobo
Google Play
Apple

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Enjoy this Interview with the authors of Pets in Space 8

1) Tell us a bit about your story in Pets in Space 8?

– Tana Stone: When Tegan takes a job as a midwife for the galaxy’s only all-female bounty-hunting crew, she thinks the job will be simple. Deliver some babies, earn some credits, repeat. She doesn’t expect to make an unscheduled stop on the deadly planet that’s home to the Den of Thieves. But she needs medical supplies, and she’s assigned two brawny Dothvek barbarians to protect her, not to mention the ship’s shapeshifting pet glurkin, Pog. What could go wrong?

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: The Alien’s Falconer is a sapphic (f/f) romance between space pirate Georgia and spaceship captain Ellabee who she’s trying to rob. Caught in the battle of wills between the two strong women is Georgia’s alien parrot who will do his best to turn them from enemies into friends – and maybe more…

 

2) What was the inspiration for your story in Pets in Space 8?

– Carol Van Natta: Earlier this year, I went on three-week visit to Australia, and I fell in love with the Daintree Rainforest, west of the Great Barrier Reef. I’d already been planning my story, Stellar Drift, so I set all the action in a continent-sized rainforest on a colonized planet in the far future. The rainforest is lush, mysterious, and full of history, traits that are reflected the main character Sairy, a pilot who has many secrets. Forest ranger Houyen, determined to find the source of a fever that’s spreading, was inspired by the indigenous elders in Daintree who want to preserve the land and their way of life, while accepting that change is inevitable.

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: This book is part of the Aliens and Animals series, a sci-fi romance where each standalone novel includes some sort of animal. Captain Ellabee has appeared as a side character in the book 3, The Alien’s Farmer, and Pets in Space 8 was the perfect opportunity for us to write an entire story about her.

Until now, most of the animals have been from Earth (Highland cows, sheep, even a rhino) so we really wanted to come up with an alien animal for this book. Since Georgia is a space pirate, giving her an alien parrot seemed like the natural thing to do.

 

3) Introduce the main characters in your story in Pets in Space 8, and describe them in one sentence each.

– Carol Van Natta: In Stellar Drift, my story in Pets in Space 8, a forest ranger convinces a pilot to help him look for the source of a deadly fever that is spreading. Exploration pilot Sairy Sarvand has lived in the rainforest for the past three years, hiding from her past, until kind and sexy Ranger Houyen Albasrey asks for help only she can provide. Houyen can’t resist mysteries, whether it’s figuring out what’s causing a fever or wanting to get to know the elusive Sairy better.

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: Abducted from England by aliens as a teenager, Georgia has become a space pirate to survive. She’s accompanied by a parrot-like alien bird who echoes her words back to her, somewhat making up for her lonely existence.

Ellabee is the blue-skinned captain of her spaceship and commands her alien crew with ease. Don’t mistake her kindness for weakness though, she’ll stop at nothing to protect what matters to her.

 

4) What does the pet in your Pets in Space 8 story look like and what part does the pet play in the plot?

– Tana Stone: My pet, Pog, is a Lycithian shape-shifting glurkin. His natural form is a small, round puff of bright-green fur with tiny feet and little black eyes tucked into the fluff BUT he can shift into any form at will. This talent comes in handy when my story’s protagonists are running from dangerous mercenaries.

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: Aba, the resident alien parrot with four beady eyes, four wings, and both scales and feathers that change colour depending on his mood. He keeps our space pirate company when she’s alone, repeats unhelpful phrases, and blurts out all sorts of secrets.

 

5) What was the inspiration for the pet in your story for Pets in Space 8?

– Carol Van Natta: Kayala is a genetically engineered pet made to look like a big, scary gargoyle, the kind you can find on top of gothic castles in Europe. She was inspired by two rescued pitbulls owned by my friend. Despite the breed’s bad press, they’re two of the sweetest, most loving dogs you’d ever want to meet. And as I once knew a Great Dane that aspired to be a lapdog (only his head would actually fit in anyone’s lap), I gave that trait to Kayala as well.

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: We wanted to give our lonely space pirate Georgia a nice companion and what better than one that can talk back? Of course, since she’s in space, we needed something a little more exotic than a regular parrot, so that’s how alien parrot Aba was born.

 

6) If your story is part of a series, tell us how your story in Pets in Space 8 relates to the rest of the series.

– Tana Stone: My story, RESCUE, is part of my Barbarians of the Sand Planet series. Pog is a member of the all-female bounty-hunting crew (and the personal pet of the Lycithian shape-shifter and bounty hunter Bexli). He’s integral to the women’s bounty-hunting enterprise and scampers around their ship at will. When the crew takes on a midwife, Pog takes to her quickly, which is how he becomes enmeshed in the adventure.

– Carol Van Natta: Stellar Drift is set in my Central Galactic Concordance universe. There’s a big damn story arc going on in the main series that starts with Last Ship Off Polaris-G. It’s about evolution, rebellion, and romance, plus grand adventures and all sorts of space opera goodness. Stellar Drift and the stories I’ve written for previous Pets in Space anthologies are all standalone sidetrips (with pets!) that can be read in any order, with a few Easter eggs for fans of the main series.

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: The Alien’s Falconer is part of the Aliens and Animals series and it links back to the previous book in the series, The Alien’s Farmer. We don’t want to give any spoilers, but our space captain Ellabee plays an important part in bringing two people together and we spend a lot of time on her ship.

You can find out more about the series HERE

 

7) What do you like most about writing about pets?

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: We love pets, they’re wonderful companions. Everyone deserves one, even fictional people. Otherwise they get a bit lonely. And coming up with alien pets is so much fun!

 

8) Do you have any pets yourself? If so, tell us about them.

– Tana Stone: I have two dogs and three cats–all rescues! Our two dogs are lab mixes–one black and one yellow–and they are the first line of defense when it comes to deadly UPS and Amazon delivery trucks. Two of our cats are tabbies–one brown and one orange–and we got them as kittens less than a year ago. They love shredding upholstery and stalking flies. Our other cat is a neurotic calico who prefers to be seen and heard (and given treats) but not touched.

Carol Van Natta: I adore cats, and have been honored to share my home with quite a few over the years. My current feline companions are Captain and the Fluffbot. They’re rescued litter-mates, brothers, and a bonded pair, meaning twice the silliness because they’re still teenagers. Captain is a short-haired black kitty who ever-so-politely steals toys from my desk. Fluffbot is a medium-haired black kitty who likes supervising all the action from the highest cat tower available. They have informed me that my next Pets in Space story damn well better feature cats as the heroes. 😺

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: Yes, Arizona has a lovely cuddly dog called Fudgestick who snores loudly and keeps her company while she writes. Skye has a hyperactive kitten called Valkyrie who often can’t decide whether she wants to cuddle or nibble on her human. They’re still working on the question on who owns the keyboard.

 

9) What was your favorite part of writing your story for Pets in Space 8?

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: For Arizona, her favourite bits are the ones with the alien parrot Aba. He’s such a mischievous character and always causing trouble, which is right up her wheelhouse.

Skye liked writing the dynamic between the two main characters: they start as enemies, with both trying to outwit the other, but slowly realise they’re more similar than they thought and that what they feel for each other might be more than just animosity…

 

10) What’s next on your writing schedule? And what’s at the top of your to-be-read list?

– Arizona Tape and Skye MacKinnon: Skye is writing the third book in her Starlight Monsters series, My Big Scaly Alien Naga, an action-packed, spicy monster romance which is set to release early next year. She’s currently reading the latest releases in the Intergalactic Dating Agency, preferably paired with a large mug of tea and some dark chocolate.

Arizona is working on her paranormal romance series with fated mates (Crescent Lake Shifters) There are animals there too (bears and dragons), but they’re of the shifter variety!

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Pets in Space 8 graphic

Pets in Space links:
Website
Pets in Space® Facebook Readers Group
Twitter
Newsletter Signup

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Hero Dogs Charity

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Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space® authors have donated over $18,000 in the past seven years to help place specially trained dogs with disabled veterans and first responders. 10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space 8 will again go to Hero-Dogs.org. Open your hearts and grab your limited-release copy of Pets in Space 8 today and help this worthy charity! https://www.hero-dogs.org/

The Authors:
R.J. Blain
Susan Hayes
Honey Phillips
Skye MacKinnon
Arizona Tape
Carol Van Natta
Tana Stone
S.J. Pajonas
Carysa Locke
JC Hay
Gail Koger
Elva Birch

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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.

Brave Women at Work Lessons in Confidence tour banner

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Welcome to my stop during the book blitz for Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Confidence. Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Confidence is an anthology of women’s stories on the power of confidence at work.

This book blitz is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 27 June till 11 July. See the tour schedule here.

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Brave Women at Work Lessons in Confidence book cover

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Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Confidence
By Jen Pestikas, Hope Mueller, Dr. Cindy Girman, Dr. Belinda Hyppolite, Dr. Amanda James, Stephanie Joong, Dr. Praba Koomson, Dr. Zenobia Tantra and Maryilyn Vetter
Genre: Non-fiction/ Business/ Personal Development
Release Date: Late June 2023

Blurb:

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A group of powerful women impart their wisdom and share their experiences in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Confidence.

Believing in oneself and being confident is the foundation upon which success in business and personal lives is constructed. While building their confidence these women tackle doubt, depression, anxiety, Imposter Syndrome, uncertainty, and more. Each author forged their own path to confidence by setting aside fears and embracing their personal and professional power. This book provides the encouragement and motivation for you to grow your confidence and step into your greatest success and fulfillment.

Links:
Goodreads
Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“Believe you can and you’re half-way there.” — Theodore Roosevelt

As little girls, we are taught many things—be polite, be kind, be humble, be quiet, and do what you are told. These tenets follow us into high school, then college, then into the work force. We put in long hours at work, hoping someone will notice and eventually we might get recognized, or even promoted. We are polite and kind, even when we are uncomfortable or upset. We allow others to take credit for our ideas and often shrink in the face of opportunities or other challenges. We are missing a critical element of belief as Mr. Roosevelt says. We are missing confidence.

How do we manage the voice inside our heads that spews doubt, Imposter Syndrome, and fear? (Imposter Syndrome is a mistaken belief that one’s success is fraudulent or merely lucky.) Fear that we are not enough. Fear that we cannot possibly be the right person for the job. Fear that we can’t possibly balance it all. As a Hewitt Packard study states, “Men will apply for a job if they believe they meet sixty-one percent of the job qualifications; women will apply if they feel they meet one hundred percent.”

While women are not alone in facing Imposter Syndrome or doubt, they often censor their actions at work as a result. According to an article in the Harvard Business Review on self- promotion at work, “Men rated their performance thirty-three percent higher than equally performing women.” So, how do we grow our confidence and change the narrative?

We often learn confidence through personal and professional trials. Or perhaps we are fortunate enough to find a mentor or have family or friends that encourage us and reflect to us how talented, capable, and precious we are. Either way, we must make the decision to manage our inner critics to allow our true capabilities and gifts to shine. We must act in the face of fear. “We must feel the fear and do it anyway,” as Susan Jeffers, psychologist and author, states. And by walking through these challenging situations, we engender self-confidence. And the more we face our fear and inner critic head on, the more confidence we gain.

The great news is that confidence can be gained by taking one small and bold move each day. Like picking up this book! As you read Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Confidence, you will hopefully find comfort and solace in that you are not alone on this journey. Managing our self-doubt, Imposter Syndrome, and feelings of fear are part of the human condition. All the authors that have graced us with their stories have faced similar struggles. As you will read, the brave women in this book did not let their inner critic or fears define them. They learned what we do with these feelings and that is what separates us from the rest.

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Brave Women at Work Lessons in Confidence graphic.
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Jen Pestikas author picture

About Jen Pestikas:

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Jennifer Pestikas is an executive, podcaster, career and leadership coach, and author. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in financial services and currently works as the SVP, Business Development, of a Chicagoland credit union. Jennifer founded her podcast and her company, Brave Women at Work, in 2020. Her mission is to provide the education, resources, and inspiration for women to build confidence, speak up, get paid, and lead. Jennifer is thankful for the love and support of her husband, John, and her two daughters, Charlotte and Olivia.

Author links:
Website
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram

Hope Mueller author picture

About Hope Mueller:
Hope Mueller is a pharmaceutical executive, author, and small business owner. She is the founder of Hunter Street Press, a boutique publishing company focused on inspirational material that positively impacts readers, and C.L.I.M.B. Conferences, a retreat and conference organization that designs and operates highly curated events. Hope founded Hunter Street Charity, whose mission is to assist children and families during critical junctures in their lives. Hope loves traveling, exploring, and relaxing with her partner, Brad Mueller. Hope is proud of the strength and confidence of her four daughters and two grandsons.

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Author links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

The authors:
Dr. Cindy Girman
Dr. Belinda Hyppolite
Dr. Amanda James
Stephanie Joong
Dr. Praba Koomson
Dr. Zenobia Tantra
Maryilyn Vetter

 

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There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Confidence. 3 winners win a paperback copy of Hopey by Hope Mueller (US Only).

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

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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.

 

Pasko Na, My Love: A Holiday Romance Anthology

 

Publication date: December 6th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Family, heart, and a Merry Christmas Happily Ever After.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all ‘round Hacienda Luz bustled in celebration of Natividad Luz Moore’s 100th birthday.

A Filipino American woman of courage, strength, and heart, Lola Naty has touched the lives of many. Celebrities and politicians make merry, fine dresses and barong Tagalogs shimmer, and food and drink flow freely. And it’s all to honor family, tradition, and the very essence of that thing called love.

While Filipino ballads fill the chilly Northern California air, hearts throb and passions ignite as seven remarkable couples find love in all the right—or wrong—places.

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From acclaimed and bestselling Filipino American authors—Elle Cruz, Maan Gabriel, Maida Malby, Mia Hopkins, Sarah Smith, and Tif Marcelo—comes Pasko Na, My Love, a holiday romance collection that is sure to warm your heart and uplift your Christmas spirit.

  • Volcanic Love by Elle Cruz
  • My Only Love by Maan Gabriel
  • So It’s You by Maida Malby
  • Illicit by Mia Hopkins
  • Last Minute by Sarah Smith
  • The Deal by Tif Marcelo

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

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Volcanic Love by Elle Cruz

Sophie is a thirty-year-old with a wildly successful sex podcast. She has secretly been in love with Travis, her older brother’s best friend, for years. A mistake from the past tears them apart. Sparks fly when they when they see each other five years later during her grandmother’s one-hundredth birthday celebration. Sophie will have to put aside her insecurities to win back Travis’s heart so she can finally have the happily ever after she’s always dreamed of.

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My Only Love by Maan Gabriel

He’s on his way to the White House. She’s fighting for women’s rights on the streets of DC.

Ten years ago, Drew and Angelica broke off their engagement while in law school. They both attribute their failed relationship to young love and ambition. But when Drew begs Angelica to attend his grandmother’s 100th birthday and pretend for one week that they are back together, sparks fly between them. Is it pretend when the feelings from the past never truly went away?

The thing is, Angelica doesn’t want to be Senator Hizon’s number one. Selfish as it may seem, she wants to be his only one – his only love.

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So It’s You by Maida Malby

Vida and her maternal grandmother, Naty Moore, share a special bond—the same birthday on Christmas Eve, fifty years apart. This year, Lola Naty will celebrate her 100th birthday, and Vida plans to do everything to make sure her grand party goes off without a hitch. Even if that includes hiding the identity of the man she’s dating.

Rafa Balmaseda fell for Vida long before he became her grandmother’s physician. Ten years younger than her, he chafes at being kept a secret. When he pushes for a deeper commitment, will Vida continue to deny his role in her life? Or will she finally admit that they belong together?

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Illicit by Mia Hopkins

Event planner Eden Rosales and Catholic priest Nick Salgado reunite at Hacienda Luz and settle a score fourteen years in the making.

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Last Minute by Sarah Smith

Twenty-eight-year-old Ruby is in charge of catering the 100th birthday party of her grandmother. As the baby of her family, Ruby has grown up in the shadow of her older, more successful cousins, so she’s determined for her catered dinner to go off without a hitch. But when her head chef calls out with food poisoning the day of the party and sends chef Mason Waller as her replacement, Ruby is pissed. She’s loathed Mason ever since he screwed her over in culinary school five years ago. There’s still plenty of fire between these two … in more ways than one.

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The Deal by Tif Marcelo

Prodigal cousin Oliver Moore returns to Hacienda Luz to attend Lola Naty’s hundredth year birthday party only to find out that he’s not on the guest list from divorcée event planner Norah Sha. In catching him as he tries to break in, she feels sorry for him and makes a deal to sneak him in, both discovering Christmas can still bring forgiveness and new love.

 

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EmporiumofSuper copy

No plans for Halloween? How about reading Emporium of Superstition, a chilling collection by some of your favourite authors!

Emporium-of-Superstition-Kindle

Emporium of Superstition

Publication Date: October 5th, 2022

Genre: Anthology/ Horror/ Supernatural/ Fantasy/ Mythology/ Folk Tales

Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing

Heed the warnings, or you could be next.

A society of Old Wives’ comes together in this collection of suspenseful stories. In between these pages, twelve authors draw on ancient tales your grandmothers warned you about. From demons living amongst humans, to ghosts lurking in the shadows, and even gods looming above, these recountings will surely inspire a fright.

Open the book, turn the page, for it may be the last thing you do.

Emporium of Superstition is an anthology full of superstition, suspense, and horror. If you love Survive the Night by Riley Seger, Stephen King, Joe Hill and American Horror Story, then you’ll not want to miss this thrilling collection.

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PROLOGUE

This couldn’t be what her grandma had warned her of . . . It wouldn’t hurt to read just a few pages, right?

Melissa opened the dusty book. The first page had been written on. A single inscription ran across the page in red ink.

They are real.

“Melissa, honey,” her mom said, coming into the room with a teacup in hand. “I made you some . . . ” She paused near the door, eyes rounding. The cup tumbled from her hand, shattering on the wooden floor.

And an inhuman cry erupted from her mom’s mouth.

Available on Amazon

Authors in Order of Appearance

3D Mock

Candace Robinson:

Candace Robinson spends her days consumed by words and hoping to one day find her own DeLorean time machine. Her life consists of avoiding migraines, admiring Bonsai trees, watching classic movies, and living with her husband and daughter in Texas—where it can be forty degrees one day and eighty the next!

C. Vonzale Lewis:

My name is Carla Vonzale Lewis and I like my martinis shaken . . . never stirred.

Carla was born in Georgia, but please don’t mistake her for a Georgia peach. She’s more like a prickly pear. Speaking of being born, someone asked her recently if she remembered her birth. And she had to say, “Yes, I do remember that handsy doctor pulling me out into the cold. Right Bastard!!!”

Despite being born in the South, she grew up in California. Every once in a great while, she gets to experience all four seasons. But mostly, it’s just heat.

When not writing, Carla enjoys reading, binge watching shows on Netflix, and trying to convince her husband that getting a dog is a wonderful idea.

And one day, she will discover how many licks it actually takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.

 

Christis Christie:

Christis Christie lives on the east coast of Canada, in Nova Scotia. She gets most excited about diving into a new fantasy world while writing, but also loves a good supernatural plot. Tiss, as she is affectionately called by her friends, enjoys being creative in any way she can, so if she’s not writing, then she’s crocheting or she’s embroidering. Her favorite animal is the sloth, and her favorite retellings are anything Beauty and the Beast related.

Katya de Becerra:

Katya de Becerra is the author of genre-bending, critically acclaimed speculative novels, What The Woods Keep and Oasis. Her next book, When Ghosts Call Us Home, is forthcoming in 2023 with Page Street. Her short fiction appeared or forthcoming in various anthologies and literary magazines. She is currently co-editing a curated horror anthology This Fresh Hell (Clan Destine Press, 2023) which reimagines old horror tropes in new and unexpected ways. Katya has a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Melbourne, and for the past ten years she’s been working in academia as an educator and researcher. You can keep up to date with Katya’s writing and updates through her website.

Elle Beaumont:

Elle Beaumont loves creating vivid fantasy and science fiction worlds. She lives in southeastern Massachusetts with her husband and two children. When not writing or chasing around her children, she enjoys making candles. More than once, she has proclaimed that coffee is lifeblood, and it is how she refrains from becoming a zombie.

Jessica Cranberry:

Jessica Cranberry lives in the Sierra Nevada foothills with her family and spends days striking a balance between parenthood, teaching, editing/proofreading, and writing—suspense novels and eclectic short stories mostly. When she’s not doing those things, she’s reading, attempting to garden, or hiking around town. Her novel, IN THE TRAP, was published in the spring of 2022 with book two scheduled for release in 2023.

Kristin Jacques:

Kristin Jacques is an award-winning author of speculative fiction for teens and adults. She currently lives in small town Connecticut with her partner, sons, and two gremlins who think they are cats. When not writing, she is usually chasing her boys around or catching some excellent B horror movies. She is currently working on projects full of magic, mystery, and delight.

Marlena Frank:

Marlena Frank has always been fascinated by monsters, and now gets to write about them. She is the author of young adult fantasy and horror novels, short stories, novellas, and series. Many of her books have hit the Amazon bestseller charts, including her debut novel, Stolen, and her first short story collection, The Impostor and Other Dark Tales. In 2022, she will be kicking off her young adult dark fantasy series, The Wolves of Kanta, featuring mad scientists, hunters, and werewolves.

Although she was born in Tennessee, Marlena has spent most of her life in Georgia. She lives with her sister and two spoiled adopted cats. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Horror Writers Association and is an avid member of the Atlanta cosplay community.

She is an INFJ, a tea drinker, and a wildlife enthusiast.

Meg Dailey:

Meg has been editing independently for more than 10 years. She’s been a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association since 2017 and spent two years as Lead Editor of Anthologies with a small-press publisher. She is now an affiliate editor for the growing co-op Midnight Tide Publishing.

She’s an avid reader, self-diagnosed YA addict, and strong believer in the NA genre. Her TBR is ever-growing.

She also writes! Just . . . very slowly . . .

D.M. Siciliano:

DM is a lover of all things creative. A storyteller by nature, she first pursued her young dream of becoming a singing diva while living in Arizona. She soon found that stage life wasn’t the only form of storytelling she craved, so she dropped the mic and picked up a pencil instead. She still hasn’t given up on her diva-ness, and hopes her pencil stays as sharp as her tongue.

A dark sense of humor and curiosity for haunted houses and things out of the ordinary led her down the path of completing her first novel, Inside. Several other projects are constantly floating around in her head and her laptop daily, and sometimes keeping her up much too late at night. Occasionally, those projects are so dark and twisted, she needs to leave a nightlight on.

Originally from Massachusetts, she now lives in Northern California with her two fluffy furbabies, Cezare and Michaleto.

Leslie Rush:

Leslie Rush grew up near Philadelphia, spending much time at the Jersey Shore. She moved to El Paso and fell in love with the desert Southwest. Disguised as a history teacher, she spent years eavesdropping on her future readers. When she’s not in her classroom, Leslie can be found on the road with her husband, exploring the desert and the world of dreams.

Theresa Braun:

Theresa Braun has a Master’s degree in English literature and lives in South Florida where she has taught literature and writing for over 20 years. Traveling, ghost hunting, and all things dark are her passions. In 2018 Unnerving released her horror novel Fountain Dead, a coming of age ghost story. Her short works have appeared in The Horror Zine, Sirens Call, Hardened Hearts, Best Indie Speculative Fiction: November 2018, and Double Barrel Horror, Volume 3.

Book Tour Schedule

October 31st

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

@thechronicfangirl (Review) https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfangirl/

Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.com/

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FUONLYKNEW (Spotlight) http://fuonlyknew.com/

November 1st

@beastreader (Review) https://www.instagram.com/beastreader/

The Faerie Review (Review) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

Ecce.Libri (Review) https://eccelibri702630676.wordpress.com/

Book Reviews by Taylor (Review) https://www.bookreviewsbytaylor.com/

@calmstitchread (Review) https://www.instagram.com/calmstitchread/

November 2nd

@caffeinatedbibliophilia (Review) https://www.instagram.com/caffeinatedbibliophilia/

Jennifer Mitchell, Bibliolater (Review) https://www.jennifermitchellbooks.com

@better_0ff_read (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/better_0ff_read

@bookswithstacie (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/bookswithstacie/

November 3rd

@aliciareviewsbook (Review) https://www.instagram.com/Aliciareviewsbooks/

@ems_literarycorner (Review) https://www.instagram.com/ems_literarycorner/

@sofia_the_scholar (Review) https://www.instagram.com/sofia_the_scholar

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

November 4th

@books_inthecity (Review) https://www.instagram.com/books_inthecity/

@books.and.salt (Review) https://www.instagram.com/books.and.salt/

@itsabookthing2021 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/itsabookthing2021/

@wolfesbooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/wolfesbooks/

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That Which Cannot Be Undone

An Ohio Horror Anthology

edited by Jess Landry

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Beneath Ohio’s congenial midwestern facade lies a dark underbelly of urban legends, cursed sites, and unseen terrors. From a woman drawn to an underwater town haunted by its last resident to a killer desperately seeking to experience new life through the teeth of his victims, these eighteen stories all take place in the Buckeye State, some drawn from already-known accounts of strangeness and infamous settings, others completely the author’s invention.

Edited by Bram Stoker Award-winner Jess Landry, That Which Cannot Be Undone features works from new and established voices in horror, including Bram Stoker Award-winners Gary A. Braunbeck, Tim Waggoner, Lucy A. Snyder, Gwendolyn Kiste, and Kealan Patrick Burke, and New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Megan Hart.

Amazon * Goodreads

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The Editor, Jess Landry is a Canadian screenwriter, director, editor, and Bram Stoker Award-winning author. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including ALIENS VS PREDATORS: ULTIMATE PREY, and she co-edited the Bram Stoker Award- and British Fantasy Award-nominated anthology, THERE IS NO DEATH, THERE ARE NO DEAD. Find her online at jesslandry.com.

 

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

Today we are excited to share the release of Rescued. This anthology from New York Times and USA bestselling authors delivers a collection of contemporary romances filled with heat, heart and dog treats! The authors have rescue dogs and came together because of their beloved pups. They are donating release day sales to Roxanne St. Claire’s rescue charity.   

Rescued Release Day!!

 

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

What happens when 10 dog-loving romance authors get together and brainstorm? Why, books with rescue dogs, sexy heroes, dirty talking, and lots of dog treats, of course.

From Cynthia D’Alba – Hot Assets– A Dallas socialite must team up with a cop to save her rescued dog from a determined dognapper
From Donna Alward – Doggie on her Doorstep When Emily’s flighty cousin leaves her dog on Em’s doorstep, she enlists the help of the sexy grouch next door.
From Jenna Bayley-Burke – The Guy Next Door –Fourth grade teacher has the naughtiest dog, the punniest jokes, and perfect washboard abs…and now an angry neighbor with a busted fence thanks to his dog.
From Mandy Harbin– Rescuing Orion – When undercover FBI agents foster a dog to investigate a money launderer, ignoring their attraction becomes difficult with playing house with a cute pooch.
From Cindy Kirk – For the Love of Ivy – A city girl and the dog she rescues turns a sexy rancher’s life upside down
From Melissa Schroeder – Last Love – A single mom tries to avoid her one-night stand, but her dog, Houdini, keeps leading her to his door.
From Lexxie Couper – Who’s A Good Boy? – After meeting a feisty dog trainer and a 3-legged dog, the future PM of Australia questions his future and his life.
From Shana Gray – Dogs on A Plane- A heavy snow strands a bush pilot and socialite with a pack of love hungry pups. Who saves who?
From Laura Trentham –Nobody’s Hero – An ex-con tries to persuade an abandoned puppy and an innocent romance author he’s nobody’s hero.
From Tamlyn Black  Nobody But You – A grumpy cowboy has his world upended by his sister’s new BFF and the stray dog she brings to his door

Teaser from A Dog on Her Doorstep

 

Emily Janssen stood at the bottom of her driveway and stared at her front step. Even from fifty feet away, she could see that the black and-brown lump blocking her front door was a dog.

A big dog.

A big, hairy dog.

She wasn’t afraid of dogs, though she always took care when approaching one she didn’t know. That was just responsible. She was just… confused. Why on earth would a dog choose her front step? There was nothing to entice a pup to her townhouse. No other dogs—or cats, for that matter—or treats or toys or kids looking to play.

More was the pity, but who had time for all that, anyway?

The dog finally noticed her, sat up, and let out a deep woof accompanied by a swooshy, waggy tail.

She sighed, but couldn’t help but be charmed.

“Well, hello to you too,” she said starting up the driveway. “And who might you be? Aren’t you pretty?”

The swishy tail swished faster as the dog stood, and its back end started to wiggle. She recognized the breed easily. Bernese Mountain Dogs were lovely, but large. If this guy decided to jump up to say hello, she’d find herself on her butt. – Excerpt from Doggie on Her Doorstep by Donna Alward

 

Grab your copy: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

Release Day sales benefit Roxanne St. Claire’s rescue charity.   

Authors

Cynthia D’Alba, Donna Alward, Jenna Bayley-Burke, Mandy Harbin, Melissa Schroeder, Lexxie Couper, Shana Gray, Laura Trentham, Tamlyn Black, & Cindy Kirk forward by Roxanne St. Claire.

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Animal Prints On My Soul

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A Divas That Care Collection

by Candace Gish

Genre: Non-Fiction Animal Anthology

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Animals can be our heroes, our confidantes, our coaches, and our best examples of unconditional love. In Animal Prints on My Soul, we explore the human-animal bond through the experiences and stories of women. Featuring horses, dogs, cats, birds, and more, animal lovers will connect with these ordinary – yet extraordinary – stories of how animals impact our lives. Heartwarming, touching, and joyful, this book is a splendid gift for those who love animals. The stories of Healing, Connection, and Love & Loss also encourage us to pause and appreciate the wonderful gifts our animal friends bring us so we’ve provided deeper-dive prompts for those who would like to transform these blessings into inspiration for their own lives.

Contributors to Animal Prints on My Soul:


Healing

The Wisdom of Horses – Angie Payne
Whispers from an Angel – Daphne McDonagh
My Healing Journey with Animals – Diane Rose-Solomon
The Unicorn Search – Beth Lauren Parrish
Healing Beauty – Ginny Jablonski

Connection
A Friend by My Side – Marla Patrick
My First Best Friend – Deb Matlock
For the Children – Lorie Murphey
A Horse, a Boy, and Undying Love – Naomi McDonald
Lessons from a Red-Tailed Hawk – Linda Roberts
A Divine Communication – Esta Bernstein
What It Means to Be a Red Barn Horse – Alexis Braswell
Farm Girl Memories – Abigail Stimpert
When God Says, “Wait.” – Hannah Stimpert
Letting Go and Holding On – Donna Palamar
Gabriel’s Story – Sharon Dilley
26 Marathons and My Trainer – Jo Dibblee
Leadership in Flight – Haseena Patel

Love and Loss
Lead with Love – Kate Neligan
Spirit Animals – Stef Skupin
Country Life – Joyce Benning
Expectations: People vs. Dogs – Katherine Jensen
Becoming the Community Cat Lady – Kathy Lynn Mackison
Grief, Death, and Dying – Tracy Pierce
Horse, Heart, and Home – Ley-Anne Mountain
When Fate Brings You Fur Kids – Jean Brannon

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***Check out the Divas That Care Podcast with special author interviews HERE!**

https://soundcloud.com/divasthatcarenetwork/sets/animal-prints-on-my-soul

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The Wisdom of Horses

Angie Payne

 

The opportunity to care for that horse brought me out of some pretty dark places. I know I decided to stay on this planet because of him. I can recall moments of crying into his mane while he stood perfectly still, holding space, and I felt safe to allow the tears to flow. We would often go riding together for hours. It was the solitude and knowing I was safe, heard, and seen on those days together that saved me from my past. I will always be grateful for that beautiful being and his ability to keep me safe even when we found ourselves in tricky situations. While I was able to express my emotions to him, I wasn’t aware that what I had experienced was trauma I would struggle with for a long time. I did my best to keep my head above water and avoid depression, but, unfortunately, not talking about the sexual assault affected every relationship I had. As I look back, I realize I didn’t feel worthy, or of value, which made me sabotage the good in my life.

 

I’ve learned it’s only when we are ready to drop our walls that healing can really begin. It’s a place of vulnerability that we must be prepared to face, and it’s complicated. The walls drove my bus for a couple of years, and at times, I felt totally out of control because I didn’t have horses to regulate my emotions.

 

Opening up means there is a potential to be hurt, but learning to love and risking heartache, instead of never being open enough to experience love and connection, would be a significant loss. Along the way, I have been grateful to have wonderful mentors in my life, but most importantly, I thank the horses that have had my back along this journey called life.

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Candace Gish helps women open their eyes to the possibilities around them. As founder of the Divas That Care podcast community and network, Candace enjoys connecting with goal-oriented women committed to making a difference. She advocates for collaborative mentorship and strong, supportive groups of women converging to create change.

Her first Absolute Love Publishing book is Animal Prints on My Soul, and the Divas That Care community has been featured in all volumes of ALOVEDLIFE. Candace’s four daughters and husband inspire her every day. Visit divasthatcare.com.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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