Posts Tagged ‘giveaway’

Ask The Girl by Kim Bartosch ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: September 9, 2022 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, thriller
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I am so excited that ASK THE GIRL by Kim Bartosch is available now and that I
get to share the news!

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If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the
details below.

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This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $10 Amazon GC’s courtesy of Kim & RockstarBook Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 

Ask The Girl

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by Kim Bartosch

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Pub. Date: September 6, 2022

Publisher: Woodhall Press

Formats: Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 110

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Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks audio, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

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Nobody believes sixteen-year-old Lila Sadler, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Nobody believes that Lila’s sister Rose is possessed by the ghost of Katy Watkins. As Rose’s health worsens each day, the only way to save her is to uncover the awful truth of Katy’s death so many years ago.

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And nobody knows what happened to Katy on October 31, 1925. Not even Katy. Unaware that she was murdered, Katy has wandered for a hundred years in complete ignorance, until the day she meets Rose and Lila.

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Together Lila, Rose, and Katy must confront their demons to escape this hell. But will they be able to escape? Can they forgive the unforgivable?

 

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Excerpt:

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PROLOGUE

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Katy

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THE EARTHY AROMA of decay nestles in her nose. She spits out a mouthful of soil. Her teeth are gritty and  she grinds her jaw as she digs in the dirt with a stick.  Digging deep so the message will
remain until next  time. The stick breaks. 

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“Damn!” She throws the stick. Her companion, a  black dog with a white star patch, sniffs the air then  growls. 

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Katy stops. “Coyote, are they here?” 

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The dog whines, stands, and begins to pace. The  leaves whisper as a cool breeze passes through. High pitched screeches and the click of gnashing teeth echo  in the distance. 

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Coyote barks.  

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Katy’s heart drops in her chest. She doesn’t have  much time. She claws at the ground; her nail tears off  and blood mixes with the dirt, but she does not stop. 

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Coyote barks and barks and barks. Katy digs and  digs and digs. 

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  She needs to finish. She needs to make sure the message remains so that it will be here for her next  time. So she will find it and remember. 

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Coyote barks. Katy digs. The wind howls. It whips around her. The loose dirt stings her face and eyes.  Tears stream down and she chokes back a sob.

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Time freezes into silence. Nothing moves. 

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The wind stops. 

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Coyote stops barking.  

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Katy stops digging and looks up.

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A loud thump shakes the ground, followed by a low watery growl. The smell of rotten eggs linger. “Come, Coyote!” Katy’s foot slips in the loose soil as  she pulls herself up and runs. Coyote bolts
ahead. The creature chases her and the dog.  

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  It flies over her message but does not disturb the soil. 

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Ask the girl.

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CHAPTER 1

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Lila

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I WAS TOLD every person experiences three deaths.   The first is when the body stops working. The second is when you’re sent to your grave. The third is in the future, when the last person  who remembers you dies, and speaks your name no  more. 

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My father has died twice but still lives on in my heart. But this doesn’t comfort me. 

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I pressed my forehead against the cold glass as  I stared out the car window. Trees and buildings  whizzed by, sending a wave of nausea through my  body. I inhaled deeply, pushing it back along with a  deep ache of loss. No more late-night movies. No more  corny jokes about how I’m not allowed to date. No  more childhood home as the car pulled onward to our  new lives in Missouri with my aunt and uncle. 

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A furry black blur dashed out from behind a  billboard sign. “Mom, watch out!” 

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The car lurched as Mom and Rose jumped from my outburst. “Lila, what is it?”

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I waited for the thump, but instead only heard the steady rhythm of tires on pavement. I whirled around,  expecting to find a flattened animal out the back window—but nothing. “Didn’t you see it?”

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“See what?” Rose asked, peeking out the back. “I think it was a cat or dog?” 

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“I don’t see anything.” Rose turned back around.  Her head was shaking as she nestled her earbuds into  her ears. She thinks I’m making things up, again. I  know she thinks I’m being the dramatic,
unreliable  older sister. The sister she can’t count on, who stirs up trouble and starts fires. But I didn’t start the fire. No one believes me that I didn’t do it. I was just at the  wrong place at the wrong time. I
tried to explain that  to Mom and Rose, but they didn’t believe me. But it’s  been that way ever since I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. When people know, they treat you differently,  even your
family. 

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“Whatever it was, I missed it,” Mom said. Her eyes  met mine in the rearview mirror. “Lila, are you okay?”   “I’m fine.” She thought I made it up too. “Sure?”

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  “Mom, I’m fine,” I said. 

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Mom held up her hands. “Okay, okay.” 

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The car went silent. 

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Rose turned up her music, blocking me out. Mom  gripped the steering wheel so tight her knuckles  were white as sun-bleached driftwood. She mumbled  to herself, sighed, and clicked on the car’s
blinker.  It ticked loudly, announcing our descent onto the Parkville exit. 

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The car turned down Main Street, lined with old Western-style brick buildings. Ancient homes perched  on the bluffs and cliffs above the town. On the other  side, a muddy, choppy river flowed a
few hundred feet from the road.

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“This place hasn’t changed much,” Mom said. Rose squirmed in the front seat as she stared wide eyed out her window, her phone held up as always,  recording a video. “I can’t wait to do my documentary.  I found out that this town has a ghost!” 

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“Well, there’s a lot of history in this town. That’s for sure.” Mom drove the car slowly up Main Street.  “Too much history,” she mumbled. Mom caught her  reflection in the rearview mirror and fixed
her hair frantically. She had the same blonde hair as I did, but  her eyes were a brighter green.

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Aunt Theresa and Uncle John are nice but a little  different. They’re complete opposites—my aunt, a true  Midwest lady who hugs, kisses everyone, and makes the  best baked goods ever; my uncle, a rough, tattooed, bald  biker who tells long stories about his good old days. We  only saw them once a year, which was enough for me.  Now I have to figure out how to live with them. 

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We drove through downtown Parkville and entered  a subdivision of colonial-type homes sitting high on  steep hills above the road. Tall oaks and maple trees  shaded the street and sidewalk where
families in  shorts and T-shirts walked their dogs, rode bikes, and pushed baby strollers. Eventually the houses became  fewer and Mom turned onto a small gravel road with  a sign that read, “Cooper’s Inn.” The road wound up,  and our small car groaned as it climbed the steep hillside. The trees closed in around the driveway but  soon opened up to a grand three-story Victorian home  with a broad wraparound porch and four spiraling  pillars, much like Juliet’s tower. 

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“Wow!” Rose was gazing out of her window. The  house rested on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River,  rolling hills, bluffs, and some of the town. “I always  love the view here.”

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My aunt waited at the back door with a warm  smile and waved as we pulled up. Her long dark  hair sprinkled with gray blew into her face when she  stepped outside. She wiped her hands on an apron
dotted with flour and dough before tucking her hair behind her ears. Mom and Rose went to greet her,  but I walked to the back of the car to get my bags to  avoid the hugs and pinched cheeks. A flash of bright light appeared out of the corner of my eye. Near the  forest, small globes of light
floated around the trees. I squinted to get a closer look. 

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“Yoo-hoo, Liiilaaa!” My aunt walked toward me,  arms wide open. My heart dropped and my chest  tightened, bubbling up against the urge to scream or  cry uncontrollably, but I knew I had to get this
part  over. So I closed my eyes and let my aunt drown me in  her arms.

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  It will be fine, Lila. 

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Relax.

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Breathe.

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About Kim Bartosch:

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Kim is a young adult writer of
paranormal mysteries and thrillers. She is fond of ghost stories and has experienced many hauntings during several paranormal investigations. She has contributed many articles regarding travel, hauntings, and more on various sites. Kim has been on several ghost hunts across the U.S. with her sister. She photographed a
ghost at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

As an advocate for Autism and Bipolar Disorder, Kim offers her support to many charities and programs, such as Joshua Center and Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). Kim feels
there aren’t enough programs for mental disabilities. Her goal is to give as much help to set up these organizations for success so individuals, such as her autistic son and bipolar sister, will have the support they need.

Kim is an avid member of the Society of Children Book Writers & illustrators (SCBWI.org) contributing her time to many events and conferences.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 

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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.

Just Like Family by Barbara Casey ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: September 8, 2022 in giveaways, Romance
Tags: ,
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Just Like Family

by Barbara Casey

 

Publication date: July 28th 2022
Genres: Adult, Romance

All in one day, thirty-five-year-old Hallie Marsh learns that the man she loves, works for, and is living with has found someone else-and that she no longer has a job, a place to live, or a car since she crashed it into a hedge. Her feelings of rage and desire for revenge are soon replaced by a fascination with her new neighbors-four peculiar, elderly people who decide to buy an old run-down estate, fix it up, and live in it “just like family.”

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Hallie’s heart raced as she walked briskly past the other offices to the executive suite at the end of the corridor. Since Jeff had sent word asking to see her, it must mean that he was finally finished with that project he had been working on day and night for the past several weeks and that he needed her as much as she needed him. She knew his divorce had just been finalized, although he hadn’t told her yet. She had called the courthouse downtown and found out on her own. He was probably just waiting for the right time to tell her. Over a romantic dinner at one of their favorite places. Or maybe he would take her somewhere for the weekend. He enjoyed surprising her. And there was the awards banquet tonight. He hadn’t mentioned that to her either, but naturally he would want her to go with him. In real estate circles, it was the event of the year. Even though it was supposed to be a secret, everyone knew that Jeff was getting the Salesman of the Year Award again. So much to celebrate and what better way than to make love in his office now.

“Mr. Darnell is expecting you, Ms. Marsh.”

Hallie smiled at the secretary, hoping that her demeanor was that of a public relations director going into a meeting with the president of the company and not of a woman who was going to make love to her boss in his office at four o’clock in the afternoon. “Thanks, Mary,” she said shifting her notebook in an exaggerated movement from one hand to the other, feeling slightly self-conscious. She suppressed the urge to giggle, something she frequently did whenever she felt self-conscious, and walked past the secretary’s desk. On the other side of the ornate double doors was Jeff’s office, a large multi-functional room that had both a southern and eastern exposure.

Jeff was standing with his back to her, looking out one of two mullioned, floor-to-ceiling windows, the one facing the intracoastal waterway. Hallie quietly closed the door and locked it. The desire she felt for him was tremendous and had somehow managed to gravitate to an area the size of a baseball between her naval and vulva. Without saying anything she unbuttoned her navy blue coatdress, silently applauding the fact that she had decided to wear it today since it was so easy to take off. Then she walked up behind him, slipped her arms around his waist, and pressed her body into his back. “You can’t imagine how much I have missed you,” she whispered when he turned around. She eagerly sought his lips as she loosened his tie and began unfastening the buttons on his shirt, completely forgetting the self-consciousness she had experienced moments earlier. He did that to her. Things she wouldn’t normally do under any other circumstances, she felt no inhibitions in doing with Jeff.

“Hallie, I need to tell you something.” Jeff held her trembling hands in his but she continued with the buttons, stopping only when she reached the buckle on his belt. She pulled his shirt loose from his trousers and opened it, exposing his bare chest. Then she tenderly kissed his neck, working her way down his chest and stomach with her mouth and tongue.

“Hallie, please. Stop. We have to talk.”

Hallie looked up into Jeff’s face, breathless and flushed with desire. Curiously at that moment she remembered seeing somewhere in a magazine two similar photographs side by side, the caption under one of them reading, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

Author Barbara Casey

Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency, established in 1995, representing authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014 Barbara became a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in true crime and other cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her three cats who adopted her.

Website / Goodreads

 

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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.

Ghosts In The Closet by PJ McIlvaine ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: September 7, 2022 in giveaways, Historical, middle grade, Mystery
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Violet Yorke, Gilded Girl: Ghosts In the Closet

by PJ McIlvaine

Genre: Middle Grade Historical Paranormal Mystery

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She sees ghosts…but are they malevolent or friendly?

Poor little rich girl Violet Yorke has seen ghosts for as long as she can remember, but no one believes her.

Not stodgy Grandmother, who took charge of the heiress after her parents were killed in a failed robbery. Nor kind-hearted Aunt Nanette, or Uncle Bertie, a charming rogue. Not even the patient Hugo Hewitt, Violet’s godfather and trustee of her vast fortune.

Everyone dismissed the child’s insistence about ghosts as a harmless eccentricity—until the night her bedroom caught fire. Violet was promptly sent overseas, fueling her anger and resentment.

Two years later, a rebellious twelve-year-old Violet is on her way back to Manhattan on the doomed Titanic. As the ship sinks into the deep Atlantic Ocean, she’s put in a lifeboat by an apparition who rescued her from the clutches of a jewel thief. Presumed lost at sea, Violet shocks everyone by crashing her own funeral.

Following Violet’s recovery, Grandmother has grand high society designs for the girl, but Violet has other ideas. She’s determined to uncover the secret of what really happened to her parents. Then there’s the mystery of the moon-faced boy at gloomy Dunham Hall and his connection to the ghost on Titanic. Also hot on Violet’s trail is the jewel thief, the specter of her murdered governess, and a vengeful ghost lurking in Violet’s childhood home.

Being a poor little rich girl in 1912 Gotham isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in this delightfully dark and droll supernatural historical fantasy.

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Author Interview
.Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell me something about yourself and how you became an author?I’m an extremely prolific, writing in multiple genres from kid lit to adult to Amazon wish lists. I knew I always wanted to write novels, but it wasn’t until my mother passed away that I returned to my first love–prose–after devoting many years to screenwriting. I still have a couple of original screenplays in me, but right now, I’m loving what I’m doing, feeling passionate about what I’m writing, and manifesting good things with a little help from the universe.  

 

What is something unique/quirky about you?

I hate mint, mint anything. I have a thing about toilet paper. I buy in bulk and always carry a roll in the car for emergencies. I don’t eat out. 

 

Tell us something really interesting that’s happened to you!

Back in June, I won a sweepstake to go to a movie premiere in New York City, two nights at the Plaza Hotel, all expenses paid.  At first, I thought it was a scam, but it turned out to be real! My husband and I had a great time and it taught me a valuable lesson: not everything you click on social media is fake or bogus.

 

What are some of your pet peeves?

Slow drivers, hot soda, loud fireworks at midnight, whining, bad puns, people who don’t pick up their dog’s poop, and overbaked brownies. 

 

Where were you born/grew up at?

I was born in Elmhurst, Queens, NY, but grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. It was considered the boonies back then. No car, no malls, no internet, no cell phones, no computers. How did we survive?

 

If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?

With my family at the beach eating gooey pizza and sipping an ultra-thick chocolate milkshake while listening to John Hyatt, Steve Earle, CSNY, Springsteen, and hits of the 60s. 

 

Who is your hero and why?

Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird. He knew right from wrong and wasn’t afraid to speak up. He embodied what a good father and citizen should be. We need more Atticus’ in the world. 

 

What kind of world ruler would you be?

Kind but firm with no zero tolerance for fools. 

 

What are you passionate about these days?

My writing and my family. I still get worked up about politics and such, but it’s hazardous to my health, so I try to limit my anger to a manageable level.  

 

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I watch old movies and gritty international mysteries and thrillers. I’m a sucker for Nordic noir. 

 

How to find time to write as a parent?

I’m a grandparent now, but I’ve learned that you make the time. I wouldn’t be as prolific as I am if I didn’t. I write every day, even if it’s only a sentence or a paragraph. Is it hard? Of course. But it’s also being disciplined and highly motivated. If you can find time to brush your teeth twice a day, you can write something.

 

Describe yourself in 5 words or less!

Passionate, determined, stubborn, headstrong, positive, optimistic, loyal. Okay, that’s seven words. 

 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Since I was a small child. I used to write comic books and neighborhood newspapers with my brother. I may have toyed with different careers when I was younger, but writing has always been my first love and passion. 

 

Do you have a favorite movie?

If I’m honest, too many to name, BUT–in comedy, hands down. IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD. I have to watch that movie at least once a year and it still cracks me up. 

 

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

#SeaweedGirl, my middle-grade eco-mystery fantasy, would make a great family movie. It’s got it all: a messy family, an unreliable narrator, secrets and mysteries galore, and a new take on merfolk. 

 

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

Lone Wolf.

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PJ McIlvaine is a prolific author/screenwriter/writer/journalist.

PJ is the author of the AmazonUS best-selling VIOLET YORKE, GILDED GIRL: GHOSTS IN THE CLOSET (April 2022, Darkstroke Books), her debut middle-grade supernatural historical mystery adventure about a sassy poor little rich girl/Titanic survivor who sees ghosts in 1912 Manhattan.

PJ’s debut picture book LITTLE LENA AND THE BIG TABLE (May 2019, Big Belly Book Co.), with illustrations by Leila Nabih, is about a determined little girl tired of eating with her annoying cousins at the kid’s table, only to discover that the grown-up big table isn’t much better. Her second published picture book, DRAGON ROAR (October 2021, MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing), illustrations by Logan Rogers), is about a lonely, sick dragon who has lost his mighty roar and the brave village girl who helps him find it again. PJ is also under contract with Oghma Creative Media for a series of Creature Feature picture books (2023-2024) and with Orange Blossom Books for her debut Young Adult alternate history adventure THE CONUNDRUM OF CHARLEMAGNE CROSSE set in Victorian London (Fall 2023).

PJ is also a co-host and founding member of #PBPitch, the premiere Twitter pitch party for picture book creators.

PJ has been published in numerous outlets including The New York Times and Newsday. PJ also does features and interviews for The Children’s Book Insider newsletter.

Also, PJ’s critically acclaimed Showtime original family movie MY HORRIBLE YEAR with Mimi Rogers, Karen Allen, and Eric Stoltz, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy.

PJ lives in Eastern Long Island with her family along with Luna, an extremely spoiled French Bulldog, and Sasha the Psycho Cat.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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$20 Amazon Giftcard – 1 winner (WW),

Print Copy of book with Magnets & Bookmarks – 2 winners! (US only)

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Cutter Kauai Sea Adventures Series by Edward M. Hochsmann ~ Excerpts and Giveaway

Posted: September 6, 2022 in Action/Adventure, Contemporary Literature, giveaways
Tags: , , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for the Cutter Kauai Series organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Edward M. Hochsmann will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

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

Dagger Quest

by Edward M. Hochsmann

Genre: Action / Adventure / Contemporary

Synopsis

An aging Coast Guard patrol boat is all that stands between the world and nuclear annihilation!

The world is on the brink of war, with NATO mobilizing to counter a Russian threat to Poland and Lithuania and leaders openly discussing war options. In the midst of the crisis, a Russian bomber collides with a U.S. fighter off Florida causing the accidental launch of a nuclear-tipped hypersonic missile.

A Coast Guard cutter on a routine patrol finds a drug-laden sailboat smashed and adrift north of the Florida Keys. The boat’s damage is from a near miss by the Russian missile which has not harmlessly flown deep into the Gulf of Mexico as initially thought, but crashed somewhere in the Keys.

The Coast Guard crew is in a race against a vicious and powerful international crime syndicate to find and recover the Russian nuke before its discovery can trigger a nuclear war.

Exploring the friendship and teamwork of a typical ship’s crew, in the face of unexpected and hazardous challenges, Dagger Quest provides a fast-paced, taut story – excellent fare for both sea adventure and military thriller fans.

Enjoy this peek inside:

Ben’s first encounter with the 252 Syndicate ends in a high-speed chase through Key West, Florida:

Ben slowed and veered right onto Flagler with a screaming of tires and modest fishtailing as he straightened on the new path. Their pursuers also swung in behind them from Roosevelt a few seconds later.

“Floor it!  We’ll be hanging a right on Tenth in ten blocks, same tactic. Keep hitting that horn!”

Ben stayed on the horn, dodging through traffic at speeds approaching fifty miles per hour.

“Counting down,” Simmons said, “Fourteenth, Thirteenth, twelfth, Eleventh, slow down and prepare to hang a right, NOW!”

Ben executed another tire-squealing turn and straightened out, heading north on Tenth, gunning the engine and leaning on the horn.

“Stand by to hit the brakes!” Simmons shouted. “Steady, steady, NOW, hit the brakes!”

Ben stood on the brake pedal, tires shrieked, and the anti-lock braking chattered. After skidding to a stop in the middle of the street next to a large lagoon, Simmons shouted, “Get down!” He opened both doors on his side of the car, using the rear door for cover.

Ben dropped behind the seat as their pursuer began screeching to a stop. Suddenly, there was a tremendous crash with the sound of tearing metal and followed by a large splash. Simmons shut the doors and said in a normal tone, “OK, let’s roll. Back to the base, nice and easy.”

Ben shot up and saw several figures in combat gear with guns drawn running forward from an SUV stopped in the middle of Tenth Street. The car chasing them was coming to rest upside down in the lagoon. “WHAT—THE—HELL!” he shouted at Simmons.

“Come on, friend, we need to move it. It’s handled. We’re clear now, so stay law-abiding all the way, please.”

Ben stared at him for a few seconds, then pressed the accelerator. The engine raced briefly, and then, with shaking hands, Ben shifted into Drive.

“See, you’re a natural,” Simmons said with a smile. “You didn’t even realize you shifted into Park.”

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Caribbean Counterstrike

Synopsis

Mission: Five days to destroy the enemy in the Caribbean before a catastrophic weapon is unleashed—but all he can think about is the woman he left behind…

The deadliest nerve gas ever made has fallen into the hands of a murderous Caribbean drug cult. The criminal 252 Syndicate has the gas in a secret lab on an oil rig servicing ship, but the ship has been taken for ransom by the Salinas Cartel in a violent drug war. The U.S. can’t use airstrikes and calls on Coast Guard Officer Ben Wyporek to lead his crew through a risky covert raid on the Salinas cult’s fortified island base. He accepts the assignment, but remembers a previous lethal encounter with the 252s and struggles to say goodbye to the love of his life, Victoria Carpenter.

Ben and his crew aboard the stealth-equipped Cutter Kauai must sneak into the harbor and tow the ship away. But if Kauai is detected and defeated, death by gas or at the hands of vicious adversaries will follow. Now, every decision Ben makes will determine the fate of his entire crew—and the chances of reuniting with Victoria.

This second book of the series builds on the friendships and teamwork of Kauai’s crew, this time in the face of several challenging missions and one potentially lethal encounter. It is a worthy sequel to Dagger Quest that sea adventure and military thriller fans will enjoy.

Enjoy this peek inside:

An amusing incident occurs during a test and evaluation session at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center:

They had repeated the cycle enough times to get a reasonably rich dataset when something went awry. A defect in one canister’s fins created a “wobble” in flight that caused it to fall behind its companions. When the dispersing charge fired, it was just forward of the speeding RHIB and doused it and its occupants with two-and-a-half gallons of bright blue paint. Lee closed the throttle slowly to bring the boat to a smooth stop, took off her paint-coated sunglasses, and said, “Everybody OK? Give me a thumbs up!”

After getting a thumbs-up from both passengers, Lee shook off her hands, put them on her hips, and glared at DeChamps.

“I think some of our projectiles might need adjustment,” the engineer said, squinting up at Lee while holding his paint-fouled glasses.

“Ya think?” Lee replied.

“Kauai-One, Kauai, report!” her radio barked.

“Kauai, Kauai-One, direct hit by blue paint, no damage or casualties,” Lee replied.

“Kauai-One, Kauai, roger, cancel operation and return to ship.”

“Kauai, Kauai-One, WILCO, out.” Lee took a deep breath and turned to Connally. “Sean, carefully help Mr. DeChamps with his glasses.” She swished her sunglasses clean in the water beside the RHIB, then sat back down at the helm. Once Connally had helped DeChamps with his glasses and both were seated again, Lee opened the throttle and headed back to the patrol boat. I’ll bet the cameras got an awesome shot of this. I’m SO looking forward to seeing it again, and again, and AGAIN!

While operating the boat crane, Jenkins left the RHIB at the deck rail after the crew climbed out so the paint could be hosed off before returning to its cradle. The XO met them there with an armful of sodas—he knew they would be dried out after a couple of hours in the sun. He was always doing thoughtful things like this, unlike any other officer Lee had ever served with, and it was the thing she liked most about him.

“So, Petty Officer Lee,” he said with a perfectly straight face as he handed her a can of Coke. “I think we need to get you some vacation time. You’re looking mighty blue.”

Ha, ha, ha! So, it starts already! Lee paused after taking the Coke and replied, “Thanks, sir. You know, XO, you’re wasting your talents here on the bounding main. You should run a comedy podcast!”

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Bravely and Faithfully

Synopsis

A New Captain’s First Patrol Turns into a Fight for Their Lives

Young Coast Guard Lieutenant Haley Reardon has not even gotten her feet on the ground on her new patrol boat command when she finds herself and her crew supporting a dangerous covert mission. They must insert and retrieve a Defense Intelligence Agency operations team trying to seize a transnational criminal syndicate boss from a small Caribbean island controlled by a front company of the Chinese government and protected by a superior military force.

A honeymoon period would be lovely, but, as always, the world gets a vote.

Can Haley avoid leaving the DIA team to their fate, when attempting to rescue them could destroy her crew and boat and lead to war?

This third installment of the series conveys the humor, friendships, and teamwork of Kauai’s crew from the previous books, with a new series of exciting actions from search and rescue to combat. The crew and their new skipper must come together for the toughest mission they have ever faced.

Enjoy this peek inside:

 Kauai is fleeing Ile Ste. Michel, with a powerful Chinese Navy gunboat in hot pursuit:

Another burst landed and detonated off the starboard side, and Hopkins ordered a course change to the right. Haley knew their luck would not hold for long—as soon as the gunboat captain realized what they were doing, he would go to rapid-fire. She selected UHF and keyed her microphone. “Starfish One Seven, Orchid Actual. Where’s that help? Over.”

“Orchid, Starfish One Seven. I’m on with a flight of F-16s from the 93rd. They’re three minutes out, over.”

“One Seven, Orchid Actual, roger, tell them to step on it! Out.”

Hopkins had just altered course to the left again, and the game went on for two more salvos. Then, as Haley feared, the Chinese captain tried a long burst. The twelve shells missed, falling on both sides. Two were close enough to pepper Kauai with shrapnel, sharp pings ringing through the Bridge like hail on a tin roof.

Their luck ran out on the next burst: one shell exploded on the left side of the mast, knocking out the EO camera and showering the Flying Bridge with shrapnel. Another struck the special operations boat and started a small fire. The fire itself was not an immediate danger to the ship, but it provided a beacon that brought hell down on them. Shells were bursting on the rear of the superstructure and in the water around Kauai. The bridge crew huddled behind what cover they could find as the windows in the rear doors shattered and debris scattered around them. As they kneeled together between the command chair and the FC3 console, Haley looked into Ben’s face and, seeing the same fear she had, reached out and gripped his hand.

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About Author Edward Hochsmann

Edward Hochsmann is the pen name of a retired U. S. Coast Guard search and rescue and law enforcement professional. The veteran mariner, aviator, college professor, and defense analyst has added “author” to his list of experiences. Ed likes reading, police procedurals, contemporary music on the road, and classical music in the office. After a career traveling from Australia in the west to Italy and Germany in the east, Ed has settled into a quiet life in the Florida Panhandle to focus on writing (and not shoveling snow!)

Ed has two novels published right now (plus one launching in August 2022) in the Cutter Kauai Sea Adventures series about a Coast Guard patrol boat assigned to “special” missions. Dagger Quest takes place in the Florida Keys and involves an aging Coast Guard patrol boat dragooned into a search for a lost Russian nuclear weapon in a time of international crisis. The second, Caribbean Counterstrike, features the same patrol boat and crew, now with equipment and training upgrades, sent to recover a deadly nerve gas from a murderous Caribbean drug cartel. Bravely and Faithfully has Kauai, under a new captain supporting a covert raid on a Caribbean island held by the Chinese.

Ed’s second series, C6S: Patrol Force deals with a combined defense establishment and constabulary for a galactic economic empire called the Confederation of the Six Systems (C6S). Ed has published two novellas and a novel-length collection late last year.

 

Stay connected with Ed: Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Bookbub

Purchase Dagger Quest on Amazon / Purchase Caribbean Counterstrike on Amazon

 

 

 

Purchase on Kobo: Dagger Quest / Caribbean Counterstrike / Bravely and Faithfully

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Vampires And Villains ~ The Magical Mystery Book Club by Elizabeth Pantley

Posted: September 5, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Vampires And Villains

The Magical Mystery Book Club

by Elizabeth Pantley

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Vampires and Villains: The Magical Mystery Book Club
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Independently Published (September 1, 2022)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 219 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B3WN3Z9M

Paige and her joyful Aunt Glo have learned that the home they inherited comes with a magical library. They put together a book club group of loveable kooks to explore the magic.

 

They’ve recovered from their first book journey, and they all agree on their next book which takes place on a cruise ship bound for Hawaii. Problem is, they were so excited about the cruising idea that they didn’t read the entire blurb on the back of the book. (“It was entirely too long,” explains Zell.) Once on the ship, they meet a charming and likable man who blends seamlessly into their motley group. Too bad they don’t know why he’s so scarce during the day but shows up to join them every evening for dinner, drinks, and a show. When a dead body shows up on board, their new friend is labeled a suspect. Can they help him out by finding the real murderer? Or is he the real murderer? The book club will need to solve the case to get off the ship, out of the book, and back to their home.

 

About Elizabeth Pantley

Elizabeth Pantley says that writing the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series is the most fun she’s ever had at work. Fans of the series say her joy is evident through the stories she tells. Elizabeth is also the internationally bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the beautiful inspiration for the enchanted Destiny Falls world.

Author Links: Goodreads / Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Blog

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 1 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

September 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 2 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 3 – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – SPOTLIGHT

September 4 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 7 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

September 7 – fundinmental – REVIEW

September 8 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 9 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

September 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – Nadaness In Motion – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 12 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW

September 14 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

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All The Broken Girls by Linda Bond ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: September 4, 2022 in giveaways, thriller
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All the Broken Girls

by Linda Bond

August 22 – September 16, 2022 Virtual Book Tour

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Synopsis:
When one falls

Crime reporter Mari Alvarez was never able to solve her mother’s murder ten years ago. But when a woman is gunned down on the doorstep of her West Tampa neighborhood, Mari can’t shake the eerie sense of connection.

The others will break

Now there have been two murders in two days. Each crime scene awash with arcane clues―and without a trace of DNA from the killer. And for each victim, a doll. The first is missing an eye. The second is missing a heart. But are these clues leading to the killer…or messages for Mari?

Unless she plays the game…

Caught up in a maelstrom of Old-World superstition, secrets, and ties to her own past, Mari has only one option. Put the puzzle together before someone else dies―even if it destroys her career. But there’s no escaping the hungry spider’s web when it’s been made just for you…

 

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller

Published by: Entangled Publishing, LLC Publication Date: August 23rd 2022 Number of Pages: 368 ISBN: 1649372140 (ISBN13: 9781649372147)

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:
I’m running fifteen minutes late after driving my Abuela Bonita to her doctor’s appointment. But that’s not bad, actually, for Cuban time. Of course my statement high heels click on the uncarpeted floor like my abuela’s disapproving tongue and all I can think of is that silly commercial with the tagline “Wanna get away?” Except I can’t escape. It’s my first day back at the TV station after two weeks at home with no work and no pay. I’m still on probation, and I need this job like I need water and air. Speaking of which, the thought makes me notice how parched my throat is and I’m afraid my voice will crack when I talk. My lungs are so empty I’m not sure I can deliver any story pitches, even if my job depends on it. Which, it does. Reporting is in my blood. But my paycheck—also a necessity. I rub my right wrist. The red rope bracelet is there. The pea-sized, black gemstone dangles from it. I roll the azabache charm between my fingers, silently going through my routine: twist the stone three times to the right, three to the left. Six times in all. My lucky number. I swear I’ll never go to a crime scene again without the charm. I’ve learned my lesson. Asi es. Truth. That’s how it is. I pull out the chair across from Mr. Payton and accidentally scrape the floor. It’s loud. Que escandalo! More stares cut my way. The air conditioning kicks up a notch, but that means nothing to the sweat rolling down my back, sliding into the most inconvenient places. I ignore the wet tickle and stand even taller before taking a seat. My boss drills me with that intense stare that says everything he’s not allowed to vocalize for fear Human Resources will reprimand him. “Thanks for joining us, Ms. Alvarez.” “Had to drop off my grandmother at her doctor’s office. She doesn’t drive.” I sit and twist the water bottle on the table until the label faces me. I look at El Jefe and force the corners of my mouth up. Abuela Bonita always told me, no matter what’s going on inside, you can win over the world with a warm smile. “Let’s continue.” Mr. Payton looks at Paul Johnson, our political reporter. Paul clears his throat. “As I was saying, the governor is going to hold a press conference on the opioid crisis at a local…” I cross my ankles to keep my leg from bouncing. It’s clear my boss doesn’t trust me anymore. Not since my serial killer story got the station sued. I catch the ambitious, crime reporter wannabe eyeing me from the right corner of the room. Bet she’s dying to know what happened to warrant my suspension. She probably already knows. Secrets don’t stay secrets for long in a newsroom. What the hell had gone wrong? Abuela Bonita calls it mala suerte. She insisted I wear the azabache bracelet today to ward off the bad luck following me. I find the charm again and twist. I will fix this. Don’t know how. But I will repair my damaged reputation. “Alvarez?” I flinch in my seat. “You have anything to add to the meeting?” El Jefe taps his engraved pen on the table in a slow, rhythmic pattern. “Well, Mr. Payton.” He likes it when we use his last name. “I thought I’d do a feature on a young girl in New Tampa Hospital who needs a kidney transplant.” “That from the crime beat reporter?” I hear the words he isn’t speaking. “I know.” I answer in my head. “Eleven Emmys, and I still messed up that last crime story, didn’t I?” Out loud I say, “She’s an artist—truly amazing gift— and she’s willing to auction off her paintings to raise money so people can get tested to see if they’re a match. We could save her life by sharing her story.” My boss nods but says, “Busch Gardens is showing off a new baby sloth this evening.” My cheeks burn. I sit back. The heat floods down into my chest. “A baby sloth?” I’m pretty sure this is what a public castration feels like. “We have enough crime, corruption, death, and destruction today. We need something positive after Weather. Sloth baby it is. Can’t go wrong with baby animals,” he says. Can’t get the station sued again, you mean. “You’re on that, Alvarez.” “Gracias.” I close my eyes and visualize a sloth picking at El Jefe’s bushy, needs-to-be-cut eyebrows with those two big claw-like toes. In slow motion, of course. “If our viewers see what I’m envisioning, they’re going to love it.” I smile. Warmly. Whatever. It will keep me employed for at least one more day. My sister Izzy and Abuela are counting on me. My phone goes off. I look down, fumbling it as I try to flip off the ringer. “Sorry. Sorry.” It’s not someone calling. It’s my home RING security camera alerting me. My pulse takes off like an F-16. Someone is at our front door. My heart stalls. And falls. “An important source?” El Jefe asks. A scoff from the right corner of the room. “Baby sloth police calling?” Crime reporter wannabe gets the room laughing. Wannabe must have missed her café con leche this morning. I join the laughter and wink at her, despite the slow scalding heat I’m feeling. Abuela Bonita also taught me you get more with honey than vinegar. “No. No. Sorry.” Just my sister’s boyfriend of the week, who is not supposed to be at our house. I shake my head. “Alvarez?” My spine straightens. “Yes?” “You can take the new photographer, Chris Jensen.” That pulls me back to the moment. “But I always work with Orlando.” A big eyeball fills the RING camera at the front door, but it isn’t Izzy’s new boyfriend. His eyes are as blue as the Florida sky. Isabella’s are dark brown, so dark you can’t tell where the pupil ends, and the iris begins. Izzy pulls back and yells at the RING camera, “Stop spying on me! De conseguir una vida!” My younger sister is telling me to get a life of my own. Snickers flicker across the room. Every hair on the back of my neck rises. The audio on my iPhone is still on. Wanna get away? I glance at my friend Kiara. She smiles and shakes her head. I appreciate her support. Time to turn the sound off my iPhone. “Everything okay?” El Jefe’s features remain constant. He doesn’t chastise me for my sister’s outburst, even though she interrupted his busy news meeting. “Yes sir, I’m fine.” Wait till I get home, Isabella Alvarez! “I’m fine.” He nods, but his eyes narrow. I sit through one of his nerve-wracking, wish-I-knew-what-he’s thinking pauses. He says, “You can take Orlando.” I exhale. El Jefe is throwing me a peace offering, I think. Or maybe he believes I can’t even handle an animal story with the newbie photog, so giving me Orlando is like tossing out a safety vest. Wow. Two weeks ago, I would have rolled my eyes at the insult of such an easy, nonrelevant assignment. I would have been deeply offended by the shade of making sure I had a veteran babysitter with me. Tonight, I’m grateful for it. Even though I know I can’t possibly screw up a baby sloth story, right? *** Excerpt from All the Broken Girls by Linda Bond. Copyright 2022 by Linda Bond. Reproduced with permission from Entangled Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Linda Hurtado Bond
Linda Bond

By day, Linda Hurtado Bond is an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist. By night, she’s an author of James Bond like adventures and heart-stopping thrillers. Linda met her husband Jorge on assignment in Cuba, twenty-some years later they’ve raised a doctor, a nurse, a pilot, a paramedic firefighter, and an aspiring psychologist. A breast cancer survivor, she’s active in the Tampa community raising money and awareness. When not working she finds time for her passions, her husband Jorge, world travel, classic movies, and solving a good mystery. Visit Linda at lindabond.com.

Catch Up With Linda Bond: www.LindaBond.com Goodreads BookBub – @lindahbond Instagram – @authorlindahurtadobond Twitter – @AuthorLindaBond Facebook – @authorlindabond

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!  

 

GIVEAWAY:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Linda Bond and Entangled Publishing, LLC. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

 

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For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Black Magic ~ Shadow Of The Pack by Nicole Austen

Posted: September 3, 2022 in Fantasy, giveaways, middle grade
Tags: , ,
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Black Magic

Shadow of the Pack Book 1

by Nicole Austen

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

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The once-powerful and proud Willow River pack is struggling. But when a special litter of pups is born, hope of a bright future returns. Mala, born different, will never be given a chance to prove that she can be anything other than the runt of the litter. Some say her differences may even put the pack at risk. Now, her parents worry how the rest of the pack will react. Will they mistreat her? Will they fear her? But Mala doesn’t think she’s a threat to anyone, least of all her own family. Before Mala can change the hearts and minds of her pack, she must find out once and for all exactly why she is so different. In her search for the truth, Mala discovers something surprising about her pack and herself. Could she be the one wolf who changes everything?

Amazon * B&N * Google * Month9Books * Goodreads

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Chapter 1

 

It was dark in the valley by the stream.

Rain fell in a never-ending sheet of frigid droplets. Lightning flashed, occasionally striking one of the trees in the forest and setting it ablaze, a rapid claw slash of fire which was quickly extinguished by the rain. The heavy wind roared, an invisible force sweeping through the trees, uprooting the ones with the weakest roots.

Inside a hole dug into a small hill near the stream was a shivering wolf.  She crouched at the back of her den, head lying flat on the damp soil, fur draped in shadows. Lightning streaked her pale gray pelt with brightness, momentarily illuminating yellow eyes wide with terror. Her name was Lora.

She wasn’t shivering from the cold. Wolves had thick coats, and hers was especially dense, as her ancestors were from the far north. In winter, she was as bushy as a bear, and her tail streamed out behind her like a wild horse’s when she ran.

Lora shivered because she was giving birth.

All she could hear was howling wind, battering rain, and cracking thunder. And for a moment, she felt alone. She knew her pack was just outside the den, waiting and worrying, but in her pain, she couldn’t sense them. She felt only the warm, sweet brightness of oblivion tearing harder and harder at her mind.

As her vision flickered and dimmed, the thought of her mate and daughter pulled her away from the light and back into the darkness of the world.

Outside the den, three wolves paced, paws slapping against the thin fingers of water that rolled down the hill to the stream. Their ears were pricked, though they could hear nothing but the storm, and their eyes glowed in the darkness as they watched the small entrance to the hole in the ground where Lora was birthing her pups. A fourth wolf stood in front of them, larger than his packmates, quiet and still.

This wolf was a magnificent creature, though his fur hung limp and wet from the rain. He was dusty brown with streaks of copper and gray, like a sheer cliff face. His back was heavily flecked with color, his belly almost white. He seemed to slump just a bit, as though the burden of leading his pack for three long years was weighing him down. His eyes were the color of springtime leaves, and now they were narrowed to slits as he stared unblinkingly at the den.

This was Alric, Lora’s mate, the alpha male and leader of the Willow River pack.

Another thin web of lightning partitioned the sky, striking a tree in the forest. Alric turned his head and watched as the fire blazed for a moment, glowing like a torch in the rain, before the water snuffed it out in a haze of smoke.

The storm was wreaking havoc on the entire valley. The forest on either side of the den site was constantly assailed by lightning, its trees blown over by the wind. On the other side of the stream, the meadow where the herds often grazed had been reduced to a muddy wasteland, pockmarked with holes where the elks’ sharp hooves had penetrated the ground’s sticky surface.

The den itself had been dug into the side of a hill facing the stream, with a long stretch of open area between it and the willow trees that lined the water’s edge. The fronds of the willows were tossed about in the ever-changing wind, desperately clinging to their trees as the storm whipped them through the air like thin, leafy banners. Their trunks were submerged in a foot of water, bending but never breaking.

In the five years Alric had lived, he had never seen a storm like this. It had to be the work of the ancestors. They sent storms and famines to show their displeasure and brought clear days and elk herds when they were happy. If they were angry at Alric and his pack, what did that mean for Lora and her pups? Would the ancestors steal their lives, rip them away from their packmates like willow fronds ripped from their trees?

Alric pricked his ears, listening for a sign. But he could hear nothing over the wind and rain. He could smell nothing above the scents of fire and water and his packmates’ fear. And he felt alone.

Alric had been leading the Willow River pack for nearly three years. All the wolves obeyed him, even his mate Lora, though she was older than him and probably wiser. But it was the alpha male, not his mate, who led the pack. And his strongest son would follow him. That was the way it had been for generations, the Old Way.

On the surface, the Old Way was a collection of laws, ceremonies, and customs that governed the lives of the wolves that followed it. But it was also a system of belief, an entire way of thinking, all guided by a strict adherence to the will of the ancestors.

Alric’s father had taught him to respect the ancestors, to heed their signs and follow their laws. Some neighboring packs did things differently, but they had always been Alric’s enemies. The North River and Mud Lake packs had been rivals of Willow River for generations. They had cast aside the ancient customs of the wolf and betrayed the ancestors, proving their depravity time and time again. The new leader of the Mud Lake pack had gone so far as to exile her own father.

The thunder crashed again, like the horns of rutting bull elk cracking together in a rhythmic dance for dominance. Alric shivered, then reminded himself that he had to remain perfectly still. A leader who wanted to keep control of his pack could not appear weak.

One wolf was watching Alric with hard golden eyes, as though already plotting his downfall. Alric sensed the hostile gaze and whipped his head around, glaring at a black male with a white patch on his chest. Hawk. The alpha rumbled out a low growl. It had been three seasons since Hawk joined the pack, a summer, fall, and winter of growing animosity. Hawk was already the pack’s beta, Alric’s second in command, but he wasn’t content with his position. He wanted more.

Alric’s bright green eyes stood out like shining emeralds in the darkness. Hawk looked away. He wasn’t ready to challenge the alpha male. They waited on the birth of his litter now, but should Alric die before producing an heir, Hawk would become the new leader. And the storm was not an auspicious sign for the alpha’s pups.

Alric watched as Hawk’s eyes narrowed to slits. He knew his beta wasn’t loyal to him, but Hawk was the only other male in the pack. The benefits of having a strong second-in-command outweighed the risks. For now.

A piercing yip sounded from within the den, louder than the wind and rain, cutting through Alric’s mind like a tooth. His ear twitched.

Beside Alric, a small gray and silver female whined, her thick fur clinging to her ribs like sap to tree bark and her ears pinned back. Her eyes were the same color as Alric’s, bright green, but they were glazed over with fear.

Irritated, Alric turned to the female and shoved his ears forward, baring his teeth. That was all it took for her to quiet down.

This wolf was Rynna, Alric’s daughter and the sole survivor of Lora’s first litter. She had her mother’s unusual fur, not a hint of brown or red in it, only a bluish, misty sheen. She stared down at her paws, wondering if Lora would live.

After what had happened the past two springs, no wolf was sure.

Memories bombarded Rynna: wet splinters digging into her paws, a cold current dragging at her fur, fear and pain, and the sound of her siblings’ whimpers from somewhere behind her, out of reach.

All three of her brothers had died. And the year after that, Lora had given birth to just a single stillborn pup. Rynna could still hear her father’s sorrowful howling.

Rynna wondered what Alric would do if Lora failed again. An alpha female was only just past her prime at six years of age, but Lora was now a weaker wolf than most. Like many alpha females, she led the hunt, and she had been kicked countless times by elk. She had also barely survived two births, and an illness had almost claimed her life the previous winter. She walked with a wavering in her step, like a strong gust of wind could blow her away.

Alric glanced first at Rynna, then at the den. He knew why Rynna was worried. He would have to find a new alpha female if Lora was unable to give him the male heir he so desperately needed. The favor of the ancestors was crucial to their survival. If he were forced to abandon the Old Way, the long-dead wolves in the sky would not be pleased.

Their fate was already in doubt. There were four wolves waiting in the dark outside the den, and they were each as silent as a shadow. They and Lora were all that remained of the Willow River pack, with only one pup surviving to adulthood over the past two years. Alric was thankful for Hawk and Wyanet, the dispersal wolves who had joined his pack. Without them, he and Lora and his timid daughter would have to hold down a territory far too big for them to defend.

Finally, the wind began to fade, and the thunder sank into the distance. The willow fronds, no longer in the storm’s grasp, swayed gently on their branches as though nothing had happened. One, torn from its branch by the wind, landed as soft as a feather at Alric’s paws. The only sound now was the gentle patter of rain. No noise came from the den. Alric couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. His fear kept him frozen.

And then a dappled gray and silver head emerged from the hole in the ground. Lora’s pale eyes were dull with exhaustion, but there was a hint of triumph there as well. Her ears were pricked up and her tail held aloft and wagging, signaling that all was well.

The pack suddenly came alive. All of them, even Alric, began shivering with excitement, wagging their tails and spinning in circles like they were pups themselves. Joyful whimpers filled the clearing, and playful paws slapped against the muddy ground as the wolves danced. Their belly fur still dripped, and raindrops still drummed thick and fast on their skulls, but they hardly noticed. Rynna and Wyanet, the pack’s young subordinate females, began a game of wolf tag, which was enthusiastically joined by the two males.

None of them went near the den. None of them dared. Lora would drive away any wolf who got too close to the den before the pups were ready to emerge. This was an Old Way tradition which Alric had no choice but to respect. It would be three weeks before he would meet his offspring.

Lora would leave her pups only to feed off previous kills, or pack members would drop choice bits of meat at the den mouth for her. In her absence, Alric would lead the hunts.

For Willow River’s alpha male, it would be a long three weeks.

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Nicole Austen is a 19-year-old writer from Los Angeles. A lifelong love of animals and fantasy inspired her to begin writing Black Magic when she was thirteen years old, a draft of which won a National Scholastic silver medal for novel writing in 2019. Black Magic was published by Month9Books on August 30, 2022. Besides writing, Nicole loves hiking, playing piano, and spending time with her family and dog. She currently attends college in Boston.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

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Emerald Eyes by Aurelia Yates ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: September 2, 2022 in giveaways, Romance, suspense
Tags: , ,
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Emerald Eyes

by Aurelia Yates

 

Publication date: August 30th 2022
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

After the death of her mother and losing her job, Sarah realizes there’s nothing keeping her in the small town where she grew up, and she travels to New York to stay with her best friend. Upon her arrival, she literally falls for a sexy, dark man with mesmerizing emerald-green eyes.

Chance encounters continue to bring them together, and Sarah finds herself drawn into a sinful world she’s never known. Wilder is unlike any other man, and although she tries, she can’t resist him or his dominating temperament.

Try as she might, Wilder will not let Sarah escape him, and with a stalker coming after her, he is determined to protect her with everything he has—even when he has to punish her in the bedroom for disobeying his commands.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

I’m about to ask my driver to go to Red when all of a sudden, I spotted her in the window. She’s coming out of the building. It’s at that moment I feel as if I am not breathing. Time seems to stand still as I moved closer to the vehicle’s window. I can see she is just as I remember—stunning. Her hair is down, and the wind is lightly blowing it, giving off the illusion that she is floating. She’s wearing a smile that would brighten the Devil’s day. I take in the sun-dress she is wearing, the slightly fitted top of the dress showing the outline of her full breasts. Instantly, my soldier in my pants comes to attention. Then, as my smile appeared, it disappeared.

When she turned around to look back at the front door, a young man appeared. He takes her by the hand, then leads her down the sidewalk. My jaw goes stiff. My vision started to fade. I wanted to murder that mother-fucker for touching what’s mine. Before they get out of my view, I take a picture, then send it to Blaze.

“Blaze, find out all the information you can about this fuck-tard.”

Blaze sends back a text. “On it.”

Seeing Sarah with another man makes my blood boil. I’m enraged. I don’t want any man touching what is mine. I tell Finn, my driver, to follow the pair but to stay discreet. A couple of blocks, later they entered a coffee shop. Through the dingy front window, I see their silhouettes as they sit down in a booth at the front of the shop. I’m barely able to make anything out because the windows look so grungy. I shiver to think how clean the shop actually is.

I’m observing their interaction, trying to see if she is into him. When he reached over to take her hand, I checked out. I feel the anger seeping through me like I’m about to blow. I know the outcome will be catastrophic. I sensed my body moved but can’t stop my actions. It’s when I opened the door to the coffee shop that I realized where I’m at.

I squinted my eyes as I looked upon him. The man she is sitting across is holding her hand. He noticed me and his eyes rounded, as if he sensed I’m about to rip his appendages from his body. Sarah turned in her seat to face me. I’m in motion to start making my way over to her. I feel my phone vibrate. I take it out, viewing the caller ID—Blaze. Fuck!

Author Aurelia Yates

Aurelia writes contemporary romance and enjoys reading it just as much! She lives in Alabama with her husband, daughter and fur babies. She spends most of her time taking care of her loved ones And plotting stories. Excited to begin this new journey, she’s looking forward to sharing her stories.

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Bride Of The Corpse King by Emily Shore ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: September 1, 2022 in Adult Fiction, Fantasy, giveaways
Tags: , ,
16

 

Bride of the Corpse King

by Emily Shore

 

Bride of the Corpse King: A Hades and Persephone Retelling by [Emily Shore]

Publication date: September 1st 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

~From Bestselling Kindle Vella Author Emily Shore

“I will have you on my throne. And worship you like the goddess you are.”

Flowers have followed Isla Adayra her whole life. Things are no different in the City of the Dead.

After volunteering to be Bride of the Corpse King to save her family, Isla sets a course to woo the God of Death. From seducing him with her corpus roses to accepting his mark of Death, Isla must keep him from reaping her soul.

With Death in his cursed form, the Corpse King, Allysteir, meets his match with Isla and her passion. It isn’t long before his feeble heart falls for the girl who eats forbidden fruit and grows roses and thorns from her flesh. But could she truly tempt Death? And break their land’s Curse?

For fans of A Touch of Darkness comes a dark and rapturous fantasy retelling starring a brooding and tortured Corpse King and a heroine strong enough to conquer the God of Death…

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

~~~~~~

 

Author Emily Shore:

As a bestselling Kindle Vella Author for fantasy romance, I love to feature strong, badass heroines, dark, tortured love interests, spicy romance, and queer inclusivity. My past work includes a Top 100 YA anti-trafficking dystopian: The Uncaged Series.

After finding my voice late 2020, I am celebrating my newer debut works. Bride of the Corpse King: A Hades and Persephone Retelling and Bride of Lucifer are my top Kindle Vella books. Learn more at “Emily’s Vella Verse” on FB or connect with me on any social media pages, especially Tiktok!

An abuse survivor and trained advocate, I’ve worked as an awareness speaker all over Minnesota including the MLA and MEA conferences attended by hundreds of educators and librarians. As a recently out and proud bisexual feminist, my passion through my advocacy work and writing is to celebrate and normalize queer characters, showcase trauma-overcoming themes, and to empower female audiences, including my two daughters.

Please subscribe to Emily’s newsletter at – www.emilybethshore.com – to keep up with my series projects, author promos, and contests to receive fun prizes!

Emily lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two daughters. When not writing enemies to lovers with sex positive and empowered females smashing the patriarchy, Emily is pursuing grad school for domestic abuse advocacy.

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Wrapped Around My Heart by Heather Alexander ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: August 31, 2022 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: ,
7

 

Wrapped Around My Heart

by Heather Alexander

 

(The Kincaid Brothers, #1)
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication date: August 29th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Savvy New York designer, Emma Cole, inexplicably falls through time and into the arms of the most intriguing man she’s ever met—Wyatt Kincaid, a hunky cowboy living in 19th century Montana. Their attraction is instantaneous, but the secrets they each carry may keep the two apart.

When a mysterious string of fires set off a chain of events, the couple must come together to uncover the perpetrator.

Fate brought them together through time, but will their love be strong enough to keep them united through the centuries?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

A sudden crash outside the garage sounded like a car wreck at high speed or, more precisely, a head-on collision. The ground beneath Emma’s feet shook. She lost her balance and stumbled toward the door. Outside, she expected to see a horrible motor vehicle accident and bodies strewn everywhere.

But there was no crash.

No cars.

No one.

Nothing else, except the house and…

She turned back to the garage. Her breath caught in her lungs. What had been the spotless three-car garage was now a two-story wood barn. A buckboard sat to the side. A tall windmill towered behind the wood structure; on the opposite side, a horse grazed in a paddock.

And one very tall and handsome man with piercing blue eyes that rivaled the Montana sky stood before her. His thick blond hair caressed his forehead. He wiped his hands on a rag, then tucked it into the side of his denim overalls. His rolled-up shirt sleeves exposed tanned muscular forearms. Where did he come from?

She glanced at the house, at him, then back again, and trembled involuntarily. The house had suddenly changed. It looked different—the roof had shingles. Smoke billowed out of the chimney, the smell filling her head.

“Ma’am?” The man’s gaze swept over her from head to toe; a gentle smile touched his lips. Something akin to recognition flickered in his eyes. “Are you…lost?”

Who is this guy, why is he here, and how the hell did my life just get turned upside down?

 

Author Heather Alexander

Heather Alexander writes time-travel, contemporary, and historical romance.

Since she was a child, Heather has been fascinated with time-travel stories and the Old West. After visiting several ghost towns in Montana, she was inspired to combine the two and wrote her first time-travel romance, Wrapped Around My Heart. A Long Island native, she now lives in the south with her family and spends all her free time with her two beloved fur babies. She is currently working on the next book in the Kincaid Brothers series. More information about Heather and her writing is available at booksbyha.com.

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