Archive for the ‘Excerpt’ Category

 

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Someone—or something—wants Kellen out of town . . .

Kellen Brand’s inheritance comes as a monumental shock—

a rundown farm she doesn’t want and one paroled Watcher all her own.

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Cowboy Watch

The Watchers Book 1

by Petie McCarty

Genre: Paranormal Small-Town Romantic Suspense

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The Watchers Series—

Fallen angels cast out of heaven by the archangel Michael for coercing
with Satan to gain control. Some of these turncoats—duped late in the game by
Satan’s lies—doubled back to seek redemption for their unwitting
betrayal.  Offered parole in exchange for penance,
these Watchers are given the toughest bodyguard missions with little
leeway for success.
One last chance.
These are their stories . . .

Someone—or something—wants Kellen out of town . . .

Kellen Brand’s inheritance comes as a monumental shock—a rundown farm she
doesn’t want and one paroled Watcher all her own. Kellen’s
eccentric mother believed Watchers to be fallen angels seeking
penance by guarding individuals who had lost their way. Seriously? A Watcher?
Only her mother  . . .

Since Kellen vows no sane woman would choose to live in
Riverside, she’s on a mission to dump the old farm fast and to the first buyer
who comes along. Unfortunately for her, the only buyer is a
resort developer, spurned by a townful of objectors and one handsome cowboy—her
neighbor, Luke Thornton. Luke must block Kellen’s farm sale or risk exposure of
his own family’s secrets. He can ill afford his immediate and compelling attraction
to his new neighbor.

Someone is watching Kellen, but not who she thinks. Someone
deadly and intent on scaring her out of town. Or worse. Luke has a
hellish choice to make—step in and rescue Kellen from her threats, or to
protect his family, stand by and watch . . .

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**On Sale for Only $1.99 for a limited time!**

Amazon
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“Vera tells me she told you about the haunted cemetery,” Gerald called to her, as the front door jingled again.

“She did,” Kellen called back and placed a few candles in her basket.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you,” said a familiar voice from behind her.

If it was possible for a voice to leer, this one did. She slowly turned. “I don’t need any protection, Sheriff.”

Reilly maneuvered way too close for her liking and cornered her between the last two rows of shelves. “You never know what to expect here in West Virginia, right?” His voice dripped with sarcasm, and his rat eyes glittered like two black aggies.

A wave of apprehension chilled her skin. The evil eyes of the mean boy who threw dirt clods had changed to the leering eyes of a much larger and quite fearsome man. The mean boy was now the sheriff. If he threw dirt clods, who would she call?

He edged closer.

She stepped back and bumped into the last row of shelves. She felt just like the jackrabbit her dog once cornered in the barn.

“I can look out for you while you’re here, Kellen. Special-like.”

The way he said her name sent a shiver down her spine. She could feel the lower shelf jabbing into the back of her calves.

He took one more step. His sour breath invaded her space and she wanted to gag. Like David, she let this man get to her.

“Real special.”

She could hear Gerald talking to a customer. No help there.

Reilly reached a hand toward her face, and a fist snagged the sheriff’s wrist.

“She doesn’t need any protection,” a deep voice growled. “She has plenty.”

Luke Thornton had an iron grip on Reilly’s wrist, his knuckles white with the effort. Reilly tried to glare him into submission, but the steel-like glint in Thornton’s eyes forced the sheriff to blink. Thornton tossed off the wrist but stood his ground, edging a shoulder between Kellen and her assailant. For a brief instant, Kellen forgot how maddening Thornton was. She wanted to grab him and kiss him for saving her from the foul-breathed sheriff.

“Watch yourself, Thornton,” Reilly growled. “I run this county.”

“Not all of it, you don’t.”

Kellen took deep breaths to slow her racing heart. She blinked, and the sheriff was gone. Luke stood so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body, and that certainly didn’t quiet her pulse. She stared into his dark-chocolate eyes and held on to the breath she’d been so desperate to suck down only moments before.

“Are you all right?”

Was that worry in his eyes? For her? Oh, good heavens—she was still staring. He was asking her something. What was it? Oh yeah, was she all right?

She nodded.

Words were too much at the moment. Too many emotions. Panic at Reilly accosting her again after all these years and then discovering her knight in shining armor. Luke’s focused gaze had her heart fluttering and from more than fear. She couldn’t manage to release the air in her lungs.

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Petie spent a large part of her career working at Walt
Disney World—”The  Most Magical
Place on Earth”—where she enjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by
day and creating her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her
new series, The Cinderella Romances. She eventually said good-bye to
her “day” job to write her stories full-time.

These days Petie spends her time writing new Cinderella
series tales, her new The Watchers series, sequels to her regency
time-travel series, Lords in Time, and more contemporary romance standalones to
go along with her two previous releases—Any Fin For Love and Ambush
in the Everglades
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Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee
with her horticulturist husband and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy
who will make a cameo appearance in the upcoming Book 2 of The Watchers series,
Christmas Watch.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon
* Goodreads

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Enter to win either an Autographed copy of Any Fin for Love by
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Poseidon’s Daughters: Reckoning

by Reign Reeves Pearson

 

(Poseidon’s Daughters, #1)
Publication date: March 21st 2025
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Thriller

They trained her to be a weapon. Now, she’s turning the blade on them.Eirianwen was Poseidon’s crowning achievement—until she walked away from everything. She’s evaded them for years, carving out a life in the shadows, leaving behind the bloodstained world they forced her into. Now, the past she’s been running from has finally caught up. A storm-wracked night. A breach in her sanctuary. Someone is watching. Someone is waiting. And this time, they don’t just want her dead—they want her to doubt herself. They want the world to believe she’s lost her mind.

They’ve been watching her. Manipulating her. Preparing for her downfall.

Now, the elite organization that built her is coming to collect. Not to kill—to control. They don’t need to break her. They just need to make sure no one believes her when she starts screaming.They want her to understand that her escape, her freedom, was all an illusion.

Erased. Discredited. Untouchable.

But Eirianwen has spent her whole life surviving. And when the walls start closing in, she doesn’t run. She hunts.

Poseidon wants her desperate. Unraveling. Helpless.

They’re about to learn just how dangerous she can be.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Eirianwen ripped out the earpiece and slammed it onto the desk. Panic swirled at the edges of her mind, but she forced it down. Now wasn’t the time. She grabbed a larger bag from under the desk, slung it over her shoulder, and stormed out. In the closet, she set the bag aside, pressing a hidden panel on the side of her bed. A drawer slid open, revealing her arsenal. Her hands shook as she armed herself, snapping a knife into its sheath and loading a handgun with quick, practiced movements. Now, to find them. Moving swiftly, she ran through the house, slipping out the back door and straight into the storm-charged air. Sullivan’s workshop. If she was going to do this right, she’d need a shovel. She yanked open the heavy wooden door, eyes darting over the mess inside.Where the fuck is it? Why is this place always such a goddamn disaster?

A glint of metal under the workbench caught her eye. She crouched, snatched up a spade, and bolted back outside. The rain had started in earnest, cold drops slicing through the thick humidity. She sprinted to where the trackers last pinged, her boots sinking slightly into the softening earth, almost tripping thanks to a low spot. Looking back at the spot, it was all wrong. She knew something was buried there.

Gripping the shovel tightly, she drove it into the ground. The soil gave easily…far too easily. The clay should have been a nightmare to dig through. Someone had already done the work for her. Within moments, her blade hit something solid, and dread curled in her stomach. She dropped to her knees, clawing at the loose earth with bare hands until the objects were free. Her breath hitched. Six trackers. All of them. Cold, useless, and buried like a mockery of her own paranoia. Eirianwen sat back on her heels, mud caking her fingers as she stared at the pile in her hands. Someone knew.

Her cheeks burned hot, but the rest of her body felt frozen. Tears welled, spilling silently down her face as the questions flooded in. Why? Why would Sullivan do this? Had he done this? He wouldn’t put the kids in danger—would he? Where were they? How long had he planned this? Her stomach twisted. Then, her phone buzzed—a single notification. Hands trembling, she wiped her palms on her pants and yanked it from her pocket. Wi-Fi restored—a new alert. Someone had just crossed the perimeter.

“It better be Sullivan and the kids.”

Eirianwen exhaled sharply, swiping at the sweat and tears streaking her face. Standing, she brushed the dirt from her clothes as best she could, shoving the useless trackers deep into her pocket. She locked her phone and steadied herself. If the kids were with Sullivan, she needed to stay calm. Normal. They couldn’t see the weapons strapped under her clothing. At least the incoming storm gave her an excuse to rush them inside. She’d get them safe first—then she’d deal with Sullivan. She turned toward the tree line, heart pounding in her throat. The property was massive, and she had built the house at its farthest edge. Finally, headlights cut through the gloom. A vehicle emerged. Not Sullivan’s truck. A cold, electric jolt shot down her spine. Every instinct screamed at her.

No one came out here. No one. She had made sure of it. For years, she had meticulously crafted the illusion of a perfectly ordinary life. She knew everyone in town—just enough to avoid suspicion, but never enough to invite curiosity. A delicate balance of friendly but distant. She never gave anyone a reason to visit. She didn’t even use their real address! She picked up all of their mail and deliveries in town. So who the hell thought they had the right to pull up to her house? The SUV slowed to a stop, tires crunching against the gravel. The doors swung open in near unison, and two men stepped out. Sheriff Ford. Deputy Pines. Ford adjusted his jacket, his gaze steady, unreadable. Pines lingered a step behind, eyes sharp, scanning. Ford closed the gap between them and gave Eirianwen a curt nod.

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About Author Reign Reeves Pearson:

Reign Reeves Pearson is a writer, storyteller, and chaos enthusiast based in Houston, where she lives with her husband, four kids, and three cats who may or may not be plotting world domination. She thrives on Kopiko, rainy days, and an endless love for Final Fantasy VII and Dungeons & Dragons.

She’s been writing for as long as she can remember. But in 2019, a health scare forced her to take a hard look at her life, and the answer was clear: writing wasn’t just something she did. It was what she was meant to do.

Her debut novel and series, Poseidon’s Daughters: Reckoning, is her first and only planned adventure into sci-fi. Going forward, expect Southern Gothic chills, cosmic nightmares, and nostalgic ‘90s horror—all infused with her signature mix of heart, humor, and a touch of the macabre.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably dreaming up elaborate D&D campaigns, getting emotionally wrecked by Final Fantasy VII (again), or staring dramatically out a window while it rains.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram

 

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Sometimes the road to a fresh start has a few detours.

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Lines We Shouldn’t Cross

The Innocence Series Book 1

by Harper Reynolds

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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When they
first meet, sparks fly…but not the romantic kind…

Ella Westhoff is a marketing genius. But romance? Not her strong suit. So,
while she’s prepared to return to her small hometown and help her grandmother
successfully reopen her B&B, she will not fall for the grumpy landscaper on
the job—the one who so thoroughly annoyed her at first sight. That was the
plan, anyway…

Cooper Daniels isn’t cut out for love, either. His bitter divorce certainly
taught him that. One-night stands are all he’s willing to commit to these days.
Which means that even though he enjoys bantering with the brilliant Ella, he
knows he can’t be the kind of guy she deserves. No matter how much she makes
him wish he could be…

Somewhere between fresh starts and past hurts, business and pleasure, Ella and
Cooper might be able to claim a happily ever after. But only if they’re willing
to cross some lines along the way…

Lines We Shouldn’t Cross, book 1 in the Innocence series, is a sweet and
spicy, emotional contemporary romance. Download today and get ready to fall for
Ella and Cooper.

 

**Releases
March 20th!! Get it for On Sale for a limited time!**

Amazon
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Ella

 

This, this… guy! I stalk out of the dining room, fuming.

Of all the people for Pippa to rent the carriage house to, it had to be him. And now he’s living right next door, invading my sanctuary, the space I’ve always considered mine.

Why did he have to ruin my hope of living in the carriage house? There must be plenty of places available for rent in town. I sigh, trying to let my frustration go because bitching and moaning won’t change a thing.

I’d spent countless sleepovers there with my best friend, trading secrets, and dreams. Later, losing myself in romance novels, I’d imagined my own epic love story. Yeah, well, that had been a big naïve fantasy. Most guys turn out to be jerks—like my ex—not some swoon-worthy hero who sets my body ablaze while cherishing my soul. That kind of guy only exists between the pages.

Now, another real-life example of an arrogant jerk stands right there in the dining room, pouring wine as if he owns the place. His broad frame fills the space like a quintessential guy’s guy. His large hands tell a different story. Hands that could build barn walls or something, not pouring wine with unexpected gentleness. Strength and softness, wrapped in those sexy, veiny forearms. If he’d be anyone else, I’d be hopelessly flustered.

Fine, the man’s hot enough to melt steel, but that’s where my appreciation ends. His charm could strip paint of wood, and it’s just about as healthy to be around. He might have fooled Pippa, but not me. And now we’re supposed to work together? Fricking perfect.

In the kitchen, I muster a smile. “Need a hand?” The lasagna’s rich scent fills the room, promising comfort.

Pippa, beaming as though she’s crafted a culinary masterpiece, hands me a tray bearing the night’s first course. In the center, a mason jar filled with her homemade ranch dressing takes the spotlight amid the salad greens and a basket of still-warm bread.

“Could you bring this in?”

Her warm smile tells me she’s missed me and is happy I’m home.

“Of course.” I won’t rain on her parade, so I nod and smile. One quick taste of the creamy dressing first, then the breadbasket joins the greens as I steady myself to face Mr. Arrogance Next Door.

“Thanks, darling.” Pippa smiles. “I’ll be right there.”

Yes, please, I pray silently. I don’t care to be alone for even one minute with that infuriating man. I let out an inaudible sigh, part frustration, part resignation.

“Alright,” I say, forcing a cheery tone. With no excuse to dodge McCocky, I carry the tray out of the kitchen.

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I write the
kind of romance novels that blend sweet and spicy into something deliciously
real – stories that’ll warm your heart one minute and make you reach for a fan
the next. My characters are flawed souls who stumble their way to love with
enough emotional baggage to fill a cargo plane, but they’re worth every messy
moment.

Life handed
me my own romance novel when I fell for an American military man while living
in Germany. Now I’m living my happily-ever-after in a cozy Kentucky town, where
my European roots tangle perfectly with Southern charm. You’ll find me powered
by excessive amounts of coffee, testing ice cream flavors (strictly for
research purposes), and soaking up cuddles from my golden retrievers, Dakota
and Tucker.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok * Amazon

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Someone Had to Lie by Jack Luellen Banner

SOMEONE HAD TO LIE
by Jack Luellen
March 31 – April 25, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
THE JAMES BUTLER MYSTERIES

 

Some cases never let you go.

Reeling from the sudden death of a close friend, James Butler and Erica Walsh are pulled back into the shadow world of Mexican cartels and the CIA. Seeking to avenge the murder of their friend with only his haphazard notes to guide them, they puzzle through the possible connections searching for anything concrete. As they investigate his murder, and his notes, they find unsettling links between drug trafficking, American gangs, the CIA, and the opioid epidemic. Determined to find the truth hidden among cases they thought were long closed, Butler and Walsh call on friends and colleagues to help them survive the crosshairs that got their friend killed. With the threat spreading across more of their contacts, they must uncover the truth before they are buried in lies.

The James Butler mysteries from Jack Luellen seamlessly weave fact with fiction, introducing nonfiction material in the midst of fast-paced murder mysteries.

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Praise for Someone Had to Lie:

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“Jack Luellen crafts an intriguing tale, interwoven with proven facts about the deadliest drug in our society, Fentanyl. Someone Had to Lie takes the reader on an educational journey into the biggest cartels and Narcos in the world and provides a behind the scenes glimpse of cartel operations through his lead character James Butler. Gripping storytelling! A must read!” ~ Leo Silva, Author of Reign of Terror, Former DEA Supervisory Special Agent

Book Details:

Genre: Crime; Mystery

Published by: Torchflame Books Publication Date: March 11, 2025 Number of Pages: 294 ISBN: 9781611533705 (ISBN10: 1611533708) Series: The James Butler Mysteries, Book 2

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Torchflame Books

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Enjoy this peek inside:

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“Is that music playing in your office? You never listen to music at work?”

“I do on rare occasions.”

“That’s Alice Merton. How are you even aware of her music?” Erica asks, gobsmacked.

“I’m not, but I met Detective Torres at a Starbucks this morning and it was playing, and I liked it. I asked a Gen Z barista who the artist was and played it when I got in,” James says.

“I’m in shock.”

“I’m evolving,” James says, his words interrupted by the playing of the Johnny Rivers hit “Secret Agent Man” from his cell phone. “Alexa, off. Tim, hi, thanks for calling back. Erica is here with some information to share.” “Hi, Erica. What’s going on?” Tim says. “After we left the jail today, I went back to the office to work, and a few minutes ago, Belmonte called me to tell me that the DEA had been quote, ‘Requested,’ end quote to refrain from investigating or prosecuting Javier and that Javier was being moved to a different facility. Belmonte said the directive apparently came from the DNI. He called me from a burner phone and suggested we keep the circle of information as small as possible,” Erica explains. “Holy crap,” Tim says. “Any idea who could have that kind of juice?” James asks. “None in particular,” Tim says. “You didn’t tell anyone about meeting Javier?” Erica asks. “Of course not,” Tim replies. “Then how did anyone—” Erica begins. “I have no idea,” Tim interrupts. “One thing seems certain,” James says. “Aguilar was spot on. It is bigger than we knew.” *** Excerpt from Chapter 24 of Someone Had to Lie by Jack Luellen. Copyright 2025 by Jack Luellen. Reproduced with permission from Jack Luellen. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Jack Luellen:

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author

Jack Luellen is a Denver, Colorado, attorney with more than 30 years of experience. In practice, Jack has tried cases to courts and juries, and has written hundreds of briefs, motions, and memoranda, to state and federal courts, including federal courts of appeal and the United States Supreme Court. In 1990, Jack first started working on cases related to the 1985 kidnapping and murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena and has investigated the case in the years since that time. Jack’s investigations have taken him to foreign countries and included interviews with witnesses both notorious and infamous. This work has been the background to Jack’s upcoming novel Someone Had to Die. Jack is the proud parent of an amazing daughter and is a weekend warrior on the tennis courts.

Catch Up With Jack Luellen:

LuellenWriting.com Amazon Author Profile Goodreads BookBub Instagram – @luellen_writing Threads – @luellen_writing X – @jack_luellen Facebook – @Luellen Writing

 

Tour Participants:

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This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Jack Luellen. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

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Welcome to my stop in the virtual book tour for A Murder Of Convenience organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Kathleen Buckley will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

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

A Murder Of Convenience

By Kathleen Buckley

 

 

Genre: Historical Mystery

Synopsis

Ellen Cuthbert’s husband, Randolph, is now the Earl of Keswick’s heir. Their marriage is a sham, and Randolph’s mistress, Lydia, is present at the house party. When she is found murdered in a locked room, all the evidence seems to point to Ellen. And how could the murderer have escaped the locked room except by witchcraft? Sir Hugh accompanies his cousin, a magistrate, to the scene of the murder. They investigate, appalled to find their childhood friend Ellen appears to be the chief suspect. Hugh’s lack of prospects years ago prevented their marriage. Now if he cannot find the real murderer, there may be only one final service he can perform for Ellen to spare her a slow death at the end of the hangman’s rope.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

At the inn, they found the doctor had confiscated the landlord’s keys to the unused cellar storeroom “by order of the magistrate.” His sharp eyes twinkled as Seaton had given no such order.

“Otherwise the servants would be taking the customers down for a look at the poor lass at a penny a head, no doubt.” He had sent for his oil lamp to give enough light.

 “I will do surgery by candle if I must, but for something like this, there’s nothing to match whale oil.”

 “Excellent, Doctor, when even a small detail may matter.”

On a long table, wide enough to allow the oil lamp to be moved around Lydia Forsyth’s remains, the body lay curled in the same posture in which she had been found. Hugh and his cousin stood on either side of Lockhart. The woman might have been vivacious in life.

Death had wiped away every sign of intelligence, wit, and kindness.

The doctor ran his fingers over the right side of her skull. He took longer about it than many would have thought necessary, given that the blow had clearly been fatal. Hugh needed no medical training to know that.

 “She was struck at least several times with the candlestick, the blows not having fallen all in the same place. The murderer meant to make sure of her.”

“Do you mean to perform an autopsy?” The foreboding in Wallace’s voice made it plain he hoped the answer would be negative.

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About Author Kathleen Buckley:

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One day after coming home from first grade, Kathleen Buckley set about writing her own dictionary but quickly realized it would take too much time, so she read a book instead. Possibly Space Cat.

After a career which included customer service, light bookkeeping, working as a paralegal, and a stint as a security officer, she began to write as a second career, rather than as a hobby. Her first historical romance was written after re-reading Georgette Heyer’s Georgian/Regency romances for the tenth or twelfth time and wondering if she could do something like that. Apparently she could, as her eleventh will be released on 3/24/2025. As a change of pace, it’s a murder mystery, but still set in the mid-1700s (but still with some romance).

Warning: no bodices are ripped in her romances, which might be described as “powder & patch & peril” rather than Jane Austen drawing room. They contain no explicit sex, but do contain the occasional den of vice and mild bad language, as the situations in which her characters find themselves sometimes call for an oath a little stronger than “Zounds!”

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

Universal Buy Link

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

 

Lush

by Tinia Montford

 

Publication date: March 31st 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

Laurene King had it all: beauty, wealth, and a sexy secret affair with Reese Ashbourne— the brooding heir of her family’s sworn enemy.
But one reckless night shattered everything.

Tragedy struck. Laurene disappeared. And Reese was left with betrayal, unanswered questions, and scars he’ll never forget.

Now, Laurene is back, forced to return to the life she fled, but her homecoming comes with a cruel twist. Their families, teetering on the edge of ruin, have resurrected an old deal to save themselves: an Ashbourne and a King must marry—or lose everything.

Only this time, Reese is the groom. Not his brother.

Haunted by the past, Reese craves revenge as much as he still craves her. Trapped in a forced proximity neither can escape, their chemistry ignites—and so do their secrets.

But someone knows the truth about that night. The lies that tore them apart are unraveling, and the shadowy danger lurking in their luxurious world could destroy them both.

With their second chance at love and their families’ legacies hanging by a thread, Laurene and Reese must choose: bury the past or watch everything crumble to ashes.

The clock is ticking, and some truths are better left buried…

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

An Hour before the Accident

The laughter spilled from the main hall of the yacht club, bright and careless, tangled with the relentless thump of music. I should’ve been out there, smiling, toasting, pretending.

Instead, I’d been hiding in this bathroom for nearly twenty minutes, like it could stop the slow, sinking dread pooling in my chest.

Smile, Laurene! Smile!

Conrad’s great.

Really? my conscience said. He was great. Great for the family, great for appearances, great for everything except me.

The door opened and shut softly behind me.

“It’s over.”

I refused to look behind me. I couldn’t. If I did, I’d crack.

Instead, I focused on putting on my lipstick, the motion mechanical. I looked immaculate—perfect—the kind of woman my mother would smile at with pride. But I hated the color.

This fucking burgundy.

The same shade she shoved at me for every happy occasion, every moment she wanted to control. A color that screamed her. Everything she expected me to be. Everything I despised.

I met his gaze in the bathroom mirror.

He loomed there, his suit rumpled and tie slightly askew, his dark hair rebelliously unkempt. He looked the exact opposite of his brother—wild, unapologetic, dangerous. Everything I wasn’t supposed to want.

“Don’t look away.” Every word wrapped around me like a challenge, and that rebellious part of me strained beneath my skin. But he wasn’t asking. He was demanding.

And I obeyed.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

I wanted him here. I needed him. But I couldn’t have him.

“I could say the same to you.” In the dim light, his green eyes seemed almost black. “Shouldn’t you be outside? Smiling for the cameras? Pretending you don’t hate every second of this?”

“This”—I pointed between us—“ends now. Get out before somebody sees you.”

His eyes held mine, and the way he saw me, like he was stripping away every layer, every excuse, was almost too much.

I turned. “This isn’t a game, Reese. My mama would burn the entire town to the ground if she knew about us.”

“She doesn’t know.” He stepped closer. “I was careful. No one saw me. We still have the plan.”

“Please.” I had to get through this night without more tears. “Let’s…let’s just cut our losses. I—I don’t know if I can do it now.”

He was behind me before I knew it, his weight trapping me against the counter. I closed my eyes, my breath catching as his exhale grazed the sensitive skin of my neck, hot and tantalizing.

“Can we think of something else?” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “She always knows, Reese. You don’t understand—”

“What I understand,” he said, his voice sharp, “is that you’re miserable. You’re about to marry my brother, and you’re standing here trying to convince yourself it’s what you want. Believe in our plan or is that what you want, Laurene?”

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About Author Tinia Montford:

Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.

You can find Tinia at www.tiniamontford.com or on social media: @tiniawritesbooks

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / TikTok / Instagram / Amazon

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Rare

by Patrick De Moss

 

Publication date: March 1st 2025
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Some songs aren’t meant to exist.

When sixteen-year-old Emma receives a mysterious Beatles record—a cover of The Girl Can’t Help It, a song they never recorded, her life changes in ways she never imagined. Grieving her grandmother’s death and lost in the heavy fog of depression, Emma doesn’t expect much from the strange package. But the moment the needle drops, magic ripples through the world.

Angels shiver. Dragons stir in their hoards. Vampires feel an ancient hunger awaken. The song calls to them all, and it calls to Emma too. For the first time since her grandmother’s death, Emma feels something spark inside her: hope. But magic has a price, and the Dark has heard the song as well.

To protect the record, Emma must venture into the Hidden States of America—a surreal, shadowed version of the country where myth and reality blur. It’s a country shaped by the stories we tell and the secrets we keep, where ordinary towns hide extraordinary truths.

As Emma struggles to carry the song to where it belongs, she’ll have to confront her grief, face her deepest fears, and discover if she has the strength to resist the pull of the Dark.

From Patrick de Moss, the acclaimed author of Kings of Nowhere, comes a darkly magical tale of loss, courage, and the power of music to heal even the deepest wounds. This is a story that explores the fragile beauty of hope and the strength it takes to face the shadows.

Rare is a spellbinding modern fable. Every note of the song of this story echoes with both wonder and danger. Some songs can change the world. Some songs can change you.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Far, far away to the east, in New York City, where magic and power and rumor swirled in their own urban galaxy, a very ancient and powerful creature lived in the highest tower money could buy. While many of his kind lived and worked in the greater New York area, coiled around the rise and fall of stocks and bonds in an endless dance of power and wealth, he was by far the oldest in that den of snakes. He was old enough that his thick fingers still dreamed of worn gold coins and his body of piles of treasure beneath his scales. Now, of course, he slept only on damask of the finest quality, spread over a memory foam mattress—nowhere near as comfortable as cold hard cash.

That night, he was window shopping, his hungry eye roving over page after page of the most exotic goods Sotheby’s online could offer.

If one lived long enough, even the most exquisite meals tasted like ashes on the tongue; breathe often enough, and even bottled air from Everest smelled stale and flat. He could hardly be bothered to hide his own nature when he was alone—the secret theater of the Council and its Compact had been a bit of a thrill for a while, but Mr. Drake—just Drake to his friends—was getting bored.

He yawned, and his long, forked tongue spilled out, unfurling and flicking against his human nose. No one was around to see it, so he wasn’t breaking the Law, and besides, he missed all the parts of his true shape quite badly. Missed a herd of sheep’s eyes rolling in terror. Probably lamb again tonight, from that place on the other side of Broadway.

Mr. Drake’s lair took up the entire upper floor of his tall tower in the center of the city, wide rooms filled with the carcasses of kingdoms burned to the ground beneath his fearsome will. Company logos on banners from decades past, those battle standards of board members who had crumbled and fallen to their knees in merger upon acquisition upon merger. Darwin had certainly been on the money about the adaptation of species. In the face of adversity, Drake and the rest of his kind had thrived, but—

But he wanted to spread his wings high above his head, soar over the crescent moon, sweep down on farmland and gout flame from his throat; the glorious crescendo of a sun going supernova. Instead, he stoked another cigar, the smoke curling from his nose a pacifying reminder of who he had to be now.

His cellphone lit up, vibrating on the long cocobolo desk. Drake looked down at it with a grimace and tapped the screen with one stubby finger.

“Drake,” he said. “How do you have this number?”

“I have my ways, Old One.”

He was in the middle of pouring himself another whiskey, ready to tear this joker a new set of holes, when he recognized the voice and sighed.

“Old One, is it? When was your sweet sixteen, Morgan?”

“Oh well, you know me,” The Hollow Woman sounded far too cheery for his tastes. “Evergreen.”

Drake snorted.

“Isn’t it still daylight on your side of the world? Why don’t you go out and catch some rays, you old hag? Go get a tan. Would be good for the both of us.”

“Have it your way,” Morgan said sweetly. “Don’t trouble yourself with little old me, then.”

“I won’t,” he snarled, and hung up. Smoke was starting to waft down from the high ceilings, having pooled there in those short minutes on the phone. The AC here was top notch, of course, the best AC in the city, but nothing manmade could keep up with his kind’s distemper. He flipped through a few more pages on Sotheby’s, but quickly, rapidly stabbing his finger on the mouse. He tried to hum something to himself, and his phone buzzed again.

“All right. This is getting old pretty fast,” he said. “Spit it out already and go away. What do you want?”

“Want? Oh, darling Drake, not a thing. Not a single thing.”

He laughed, a deep rumble like an earthquake, the magma pushing up beneath the surface.

“Wanting is what you’re for, Morgan. Maybe you forgot?”

“Well, now. Maybe you’re not interested.” She was almost purring. Purring! “I’m sure one of your brothers will be.” And she hung up on him.

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit, he thought. The haze of smoke had curled down just above the surface of his cocobolo desk. If he wasn’t careful, he would trigger the alarms on the floor below again. He took a breath. He took another. I am a calm blue ocean, he thought to himself. I can be one with my feelings.

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About Author Patrick De Moss:

Playwright, poet, prose writer, as well as former gravedigger, hotline psychic, line cook, chef, waiter and a few other things in between, Patrick de Moss lives and works in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

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Welcome to my stop in the virtual book tour for The Search For Sasha Lockwood organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

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

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

The Search For Sasha Lockwood

by Thomas Grant Bruso

 

 

Genre: Horror / LGBT / Mystery

Synopsis

Something is stalking the campgrounds at Pine Hill Creek.

Rumor has it that local folklore about the notorious Bigfoot is responsible for the mystery of a missing young woman.

When eighteen-year-old high school senior Sasha Lockwood vanishes without a trace while camping with her friends, fear and horror sequester a small community. Local and federal law enforcement officers begin an exhausting twenty-four-hour investigation of seventy acres of vast forest, looking for the victim.

The tight-knit community is in an uproar, horrified by these unexpected events. An unrelenting sheriff’s department and a media-savage system doggedly interrogate Sasha’s parents and close friends.

What happened the night Sasha Lockwood disappeared? Is it real or part of a cruel joke? Is Bigfoot responsible, or is something sinister at play in the deep, dark woods?

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Silver Lake Woman Still Missing

Search efforts by Bedwell County Sheriff’s Department to locate local girl Sasha Lockwood, 18, continue after a 24-hour search and rescue mission.

Sheriff Joshua Bronson, with the help of his deputy sheriff, Wade Rosen, and state police, has combed the entire five-acre campsite of Pine Hill Creek in search of the young college girl who went missing during a camping excursion over the weekend.

Due to weather conditions, the search has slowed. It will resume when the snowstorm abates in the upstate New York region of Bedwell County.

Lockwood is described as 5-foot-6, 145 pounds, with green eyes and curly amber hair. Athletic, muscular build.

She was last seen on Saturday, October 15. A white Subaru was spotted in Silver Lake Woods, a half mile from where Ms. Lockwood and her friends were camping.

Bedwell County Sheriff’s Department and state police are asking for anyone with information to come forward or contact the Bedwell County Sheriff’s Department or state police.

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About Author Thomas Grant Bruso:

 

 

Thomas Grant Bruso knew he wanted to be a writer at an early age. He has been a voracious reader of genre fiction since childhood.

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

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

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

He lives in upstate New York.

Author Links: Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Blue Sky 

Buy Links: Amazon / B&N / NineStar Press

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For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Boo’s Blue Poo And Goo organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Toni Nelson will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

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

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Boo’s Blue Poo and Goo

by Toni Nelson

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Genre: Children’s Chapter Book

Synopsis

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‘Give a helping hand to someone in trouble today and you will be richly rewarded!’

Diamonte De Dazzle (owner of the world’s most famous department store) read her daily horoscope and was puzzled. Who was in trouble?

Who, what, why, when and where? How on earth could she help?

She then encountered Boo, a homeless blue cat, trying to escape from TCC, the horribly horrible Cat Catcher. Boo was the only truly blue cat on the planet, so TCC intended on cat-napping and exhibiting her to become rich and famous.

(Evil laugh from TCC . . .)

The combination of an eccentric department store owner, as well as TCC, two snobby socialites, plus a fashion event which is unexpectedly and thoroughly thrown into chaos, is life- changing.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The only happy time in Boo’s day was when she was peering into shop windows. Behind the windows always looked warm in winter and cool in summer. They were cheery, clean, bright, and safe, and a lone pussy cat could live there very happily. The sign on her favourite shop read: DIAMONTE’S DAZZLING DELIGHTS. It was an enormous store with squillions of floors. It seemed to reach up into the sky! It was so big that, once, when she’d looked up to see how high it was, she’d fallen over backwards … and still couldn’t see the top of the building.

The staff of Diamonte’s created beautiful window displays. Once, there was an enormous basket with a big toy cat sitting in front of a fireplace—Boo loved big cushiony couches with soft rugs and soft toys! How she dreamt of curling up and sleeping in that beautiful window. She sat for ages gazing in, imagining herself playing with the soft toys, rolling around, and sleeping peacefully in front of the fire.

Sometimes, she thought back to the day she’d bravely crept inside and had a quick peek. It was wonderful! Boo had never felt happier than the short time she’d spent inside Diamonte’s. It somehow felt just right.

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About Author Toni Nelson:

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Toni is Australian-born, considering herself extremely fortunate to have had parents who encouraged her love of books. Seventy years on, she is still an ardent reader.

(Thanks Mum and Dad.)

She enjoys writing, previously assisting in the production of a monthly community newspaper: The Bayswater Buzz.

This story is derived from a brief news report she watched some years ago, which has somehow morphed into this book.

She truly hopes you enjoy the story of Boo, the blue cat.

Website

Amazon / Booktopia / Waterstones / Abebooks / Walmart

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Small Footsteps

Fantasy

Date Published: January 16, 2025

 

 

Magic is in her blood…

The destiny of Innatraea is in her hands…

 

Can she rise to power, or will the forces against her prevail?

 

“Every legend begins with the small footsteps of ordinary
Innatraeans.” -Tavid the Traveler

 

Rosalie Sharone, one of the strongest magic wielders ever born, has been
waiting and training for this moment all her life. Orphaned as a baby, the
child prodigy was raised in the small farm town of Aliselle Falls, away from
suspecting eyes. Now she is a young woman ready to fulfill her destiny by
traveling across Innatraea to become an initiate of The Weavers, an ancient
and powerful order on the island kingdom of Sceotan. In doing so, she must
leave her adoptive mother, her first love, and her friends behind. Yet
emotional trials are not the only challenge awaiting Rosalie and those
closest to her. Weavers especially attract danger, and Rosalie will face her
share as she makes her way to her destiny. This is only the beginning of her
story however. Once on Sceotan, her magic and intellect along with The
Weavers’ influence across all of Innatraea will either make her the
most powerful woman in history or completely destroy her.

 

Power, sacrifice, and destiny collide—get your copy today and dare to
walk the path with Rosalie as she begins the journey to her ultimate
fate.

__________________

 

Innatraea Novella Two: Am’ayim

Coming July 26, 2025

“Ele o aiga uma e toto. O nisi e fananau mai i Di Asin.

Not all families a blood. Som a dem born inna Di Saalt.

 

Not all families are blood. Some of them are born in the Salt.”

-Am’ayim Saying

Rosalie has finally left the dangers of Aedonia behind in her quest to
reach Sceotan and the Weavers. She now embarks upon another leg of that long
journey aboard an Am’ayim vessel known as Di Ariela. Here, she will meet new
friends amongst the ship’s crew and face new threats and challenges, all
while still grappling with the loss of her mother and parting ways with her
childhood friends. Rosalie must now find the strength to go on alone and
become the woman she’s meant to be. But the twisting tides of destiny and
fate are tricky and may yet claim them all or unite them as her journey
across Innatraea continues. Destiny is no easy thing, though; fate may have
more in store for her than she ever imagined.

 

Amazon

About Author E.R. Zaugg

E.R. Zaugg has published several articles on being the parent of a
vulnerable child, won poetry contests, and been an avid reader and world
traveler for decades. His work is inspired by seeing the world and
encountering different religions, spiritual beliefs, and cultures in both
literature and actual journeys. These experiences have led to a body of
deeply poetic work that explores what it means to be human. The Innatraea
novella series highlights the value of vulnerable cultures, children, and
strong women, with the goal of imparting to its readers a greater
understanding and love of humanity.

 

Contact Links

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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