Thursday, December 31, 2020

#Review: THE PRINCESS AND THE ROGUE by Kate Bateman

 

  4 of 5 stars

Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, stumbles upon Anya in a brothel of all places. When he attempts to engage her services, Anya tells him she's not a worker there. What she didn't tell him was that she was the Russian princess Anastasia who went missing a year ago in Paris. When Seb foils a kidnapping attempt of Anya, he agrees to protect her at his Tricorn gambling establishment. Anya feels the undeniable attraction between the two of them, but refuses to tell him who she really is. When he eventually discovers her identify, he feels betrayed by her secrets. Can they finally get beyond the betrayal and confess their love for each other?

This is the 3rd book in the Bow Street Bachelors and I was looking forward to reading Seb's story. I loved Seb. He was so loyal and competent although his constant scowling got a little old. As far as Anya is concerned, I had mixed feelings about her. She is supposed to be a smart young woman and yet she runs away from Paris with only her maid and a few jewels. Being a princess why wasn't there guards or advisors or anyone who could protect her from Petrov? That was a big plot hole for me that there wasn't anyone she could turn to for help. I absolutely loved the dowager. She was a hoot!

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.




Tuesday, December 29, 2020

#Review: HER WICKED MARQUESS by Stacy Reid

 

5 of 5 stars

This is the first book I've read by Ms. Reid and what an introduction to her utterly enthralling writing. Nicolas St. Ives is a man haunted by what happened to his childhood friend, Arianna. He's made it his mission to punish those men who were responsibility for what happened to her. He's playing a long game--10 years of plotting and angling himself to be the architect of their ruin. He's almost done with the revenge game, but he is distracted by the utterly fascinating Lady Maryann Fitzwilliam, a feisty wallflower that he can no longer overlook. He longs to make her his, but his enemies are watching and if they know she is important to him, he fears they will strike against her. Can he give up his revenge for the woman he loves?

Wow, what a riveting story this is! Ms. Reid is a master storyteller revealing bit by bit what makes Nicolas tick. Her descriptions bring scenes to life and I was hooked from the beginning. I loved Maryann. She was so brave and strong and the interactions between her and Nicolas were intriguing. A word of warning--there are numerous graphic sex scenes in this book for those readers who do not care for this in their stories. I will definitely look for other books by Ms. Reid.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

 


 

Sunday, December 27, 2020

#SALE .99 THE DUKE'S FORBIDDEN LOVE by Debra Elizabeth

 


THE DUKE'S FORBIDDEN LOVE
Age of Innocence, Book 4
 
Miss Amelia Beckwith should be over the moon with happiness when the Earl of Lincoln proposes. Unfortunately, the handsome earl is not who he appears to be in public.  She is desperate to escape Lincoln’s cruelty and has only one option left to leave the nightmare behind—RUN.

Racing back to his estate during a horrific thunderstorm, James Harlow, the Duke of Warwick, spots a young woman walking along the road when a bolt of lightning startles her. She tumbles down the ravine and lays like a broken doll at the bottom. Warwick rescues her and with the help of his staff nurses her back to health. There’s only one problem—the woman who has captivated his heart has lost her memory and cannot tell him who she is or where she comes from. Can he find out the identity of this delicate beauty before fate steps in and ruins everything he loves?

Amazon link:

Read for FREE with KindleUnlimited


Reviewer’s Comments:

5 stars - I thoroughly enjoyed the tale & look forward to reading more from this author, Amazon customer

5 stars - It was truly a lovely, whimsical, delightful, enjoyable read!! This book was a quick, fast paced story that truly captured the historical romance genre essence. That is one thing that I truly love about Debra Elizabeth’s writing! Her extensive amount of detail and research applied to her work shows not only the respect she has for her writing, but also her dedication to the genre, Amazon customer

4 stars - I thought it was pretty good. I liked the characters, the setting and the sweet romance, Amazon customer
 

 

Thursday, December 24, 2020

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, December 2020


  'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
 
  When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

  The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.  
 
  
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

 

  His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

  He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

  He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;


 

Monday, December 21, 2020

#Review: A DUKE IN SHINING ARMOR by Loretta Chase

 

4 of 5 stars

I recently read "Ten Things I hate About the Duke" and didn't realize it was the second book in the series. I was curious what had happened with Ripley and Lady Olympia and bought this book. What a fun read. I loved Ripley. He was always trying to do the honorable thing and things just got more and more complicated. Ms. Chase reveals Olympia's personality a little at a time keeping the reader engaged from the opening page to the last. I can't wait to read Blackwood and Alice's story next.



Saturday, December 19, 2020

#Review: FOREVER YOUR DUKE by Erica Ridley

 


5 of 5 stars

Alexander Borland, seventh Duke of Nottingvale, holds an annual Christmas party, but this year he's going to choose a bride on the last day. His mother has invited all the eligible young women including Lady Gertrude. The only downside was that Gertrude would be accompanied by that spinster hoyden Cynthia Louise Finch. Society had decided years ago that Cynthia Louise was not marriage material. When she finally stopped trying to fit in and follow the rules, her life became so much better. She would be a disaster choice for Nottingvale and his mother reminds him throughout the fortnight party of that fact. How long can Alexander and Cynthia Louise deny their feelings just to please the ton?

I loved this book. Cynthia Louise was such a fun character and of course Alexander had to be so straight-laced and proper. Opposites attract and these two tried hard to convince themselves that Alexander should marry Lady Gertrude who was the perfect young woman who followed the rules. Once Alexander let Cynthia Louise tempted him to just have fun for once, he knew she was the only woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Ms. Ridley was very creative with this story and I read it in one sitting. I'm sorry to see the series end because I enjoyed all the stories in that fairy tale town of Christmas.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
  

 


 

Friday, December 18, 2020

#Review: COURTING DANGER by Kerrigan Byrne

 


5 of 5 stars 
 

I haven't read any of the previous books in this series so I had no preconceived notion of who Nora was before. This book starts out with a bang--literally with Nora dying from a gunshot wound from her husband. What a way to keep the reader engaged!

I felt so bad for Nora. She was selfless with her actions regarding Titus although Titus never knew why Nora pushed him away. Nora's father was a piece of work--hated him from beginning to end. Although the book mostly focuses on Nora, Ms. Byrne teasing out the back story for how Titus became the esteemed doctor he was. There were lots of twists and turns in this book and the ending was a surprise--not the HEA but how Nora and Titus finally got the chance to be together despite dark forces keeping them apart. I can't wait to read Mercy and Felicity's story. Those two are a hoot!

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.


 

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Interview with C.S. Hale, ALL BAGS GO TO CLEVELAND


What are your favorite TV shows?

I have about 70 set to record on my DVR. As an elementary teacher, I always have grading to do, and it doesn’t seem like such a chore if I’m watching something while I grade. I recently fell in love with The Last Alaskans. I love shows that show creativity, such as Project Runway and the baking championships on the Food Network. I love mysteries such as Vera and Endeavor. NCIS became a favorite after my dad died in 2008. It had been one of his favorites, and I can’t believe that I didn’t check it out until after he was gone. I had watched Grey’s Anatomy since the first episode but stopped last year when it became too political for me. I watch TV to escape. I don’t need to see the woes of the world on the small screen as it sits in my classroom every day. And I will cry the day The Blacklist goes off the air. Raymond Reddington is one of my favorite characters of all time. Talk about your byronic hero! Just when you think you’ve figured things out, they change again.

 

What is your favorite meal?

I don’t have one. I love food and what I crave changes depending on my mood and the season. All Bags Go to Cleveland allowed me to indulge that through semi-foodie Dave. I could wander Union Square Market and have him cook for me any day. Or the Belgian place. *drools* Angela’s favorite Belgian restaurant is next door to the hotel I stayed at in NYC. My niece finally became embarrassed that we ate there so much. I even subjected my oldest son to meals there when we went to NYC for his audition to the Royal College of Music. He ended up choosing a different school, but the trip was worth it for the food.

 

If you were to write a series of novels, what would it be about?

 Well, I currently have four series. Two are still in the drawer (an urban fantasy series where those who have had near-death experiences are stalked, and a fairytale retelling series). My Bánalfar series follows a woman from 400 years in the future who is forced to crash land on an alien planet that it is against the law to contact as they have only a medieval Earth level of development. And Cleveland is the first of three books that follow the lives of gremlins (not the furry things from the movie) and other magical creatures. I’m already at work on Ghost Chilis Are Real and will follow that with Angela’s cousin Julia’s story.

 

Is there a writer you idolize?

If so who? I love writers who can create worlds that you can absolutely lose yourself in. C.S Lewis was an early favorite. Katherine Kurtz greatly influenced who I am as a person, as well as my world view. I can get utterly lost in a Stephanie Meyer novel. Janet Evanovich and Darynda Jones are great when you need to laugh out loud. C.J. Redwine builds fabulous worlds but leaves a path of death in her wake. Seriously, there are memes about her and everything. (Love you CJ!) And my critique partner Bethany Adams does the most amazing deep POV. I wish I could write like her, but she doesn’t know how she does it.

 

How did you come up for the title of this book?

Cleveland was born at a writer’s conference where I was seated next to agent Andrea Brown’s husband. We had been talking travel and he asked, “Why is it that when your luggage is misdirected, it always goes to Cleveland? Why do all bags go to Cleveland?” I knew immediately that there was a book there. His question was begging to be a title. Three days later, I had the answer to Dave’s question and gasped out loud as I was driving through a roundabout.

 


 

BLURB:

 

Angela Grimalke appears more blonde bombshell than the gremlin she is. But there is no denying her supernatural truth after her clumsiness gets her fired from her modeling career. Forced to work for her family’s upscale airline, she spends her days slinging luggage and wishing her parents would get off her back about finding a nice gremlin guy to settle down with. 

 

Relationships were the last thing on her mind, not that her family would accept that. 

 

For Dave Ford his frequent business travel made it next to impossible for him to find a woman who could tolerate his chaotic schedule. Which is why he appreciates Angela. Neither of them are looking for love, but Dave feeds Angela's addiction for chocolate while she provides him with the chaos to keep him on his toes.

 

However, as Angela’s parents bombard her with a parade of "eligible" gremlin men at their weekly family dinners, she finds herself torn between who she longs to be and her family’s expectations. Will she give in and live the life of magic they want for her? Or risk it all by to confessing to Dave that she isn’t human?

 

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FVDJL54

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Catherine “C.S.” Hale has been writing fantasy since she could hold a pencil. When not holed up in a comfortable corner writing all her books out by longhand, she can be found somewhere by the sea, enjoying tea and pastries.

 

Website: cshalebooks.com

 

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CatSHale

 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorcshale

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 




Tuesday, December 15, 2020

#Sale .99 THE UNEXPECTED WEDDING by Debra Elizabeth

 

Blurb:

Lady Elizabeth Tyndale has endured a string of bad dates. She’s not sure if sharing her opinions and business sense scared potential boyfriends away, but what’s the point of having an opinion if she never expresses it? When her brother and sister-in-law invite her to join them on a trip to San Diego, she reluctantly agrees. Besides, what does she have to lose? She’s certainly not burning up the dating scene in England.

Computer Programmer Jackson ‘Jack’ Stanfield doesn’t date much. He’d rather bury himself in code because computers are simple, but people are complicated. When his college buddy invites him to a BBQ, Jack reluctantly agrees to attend. He’s not prepared for his intense reaction when he meets Elizabeth Tyndale. Can the British beauty draw Jack out of his shell and open his heart to love?

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Wedding-Loving-Billionaire-Book-ebook/dp/B07XY8KQC5

Customer Reviews:

5 stars - I enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. It had laughs and sorrows and a Clean romance which I appreciate in a book. It flowed seamlessly from one scene to another. Characters were well defined and the writing was very smooth and unpretentious. Very enjoyable book. Amazon customer

5 stars - I absolutely loved this book!!

It was truly a lovely, whimsical, delightful, engaging, heartwarming, romantic read!!

This is the third book I’ve read from the talented writer, Debra Elizabeth. About two and half years ago, I had the privilege of reading her book, “The Accidental Wedding,” which is Book One of The Loving a Billionaire Book Series. I totally loved it, so I was very excited to read her latest work, “The Unexpected Wedding,” which is Book Two of The Loving a Billionaire Book Series.

This book is a light, easy to read, enjoyable book that just swept you off your feet and transported you into a beautiful, charming, HEA story!! I could not put the book down!!
Amazon customer
 


 

Excerpt:

Jack walked toward the back door. When he was almost there, he saw a vision—a stunning young woman with blonde curls cascading down her back. When she turned at his approach, the last rays of the sun enveloped her silhouette, giving her an ethereal dreamy quality. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and he felt the breath leave his body as he stood staring open-mouthed. He’d never had such a reaction to a woman before. It was new and an unnerving experience.

“Did you want something?” she asked.

Jack continued to stare, totally captivated by this woman and her beautiful cornflower blue eyes. He knew she was talking, but he didn’t hear a word, just a lyrical melody.

The young woman waved her hand in front of his face. “Hello, can I get you something?”

That broke his trance and Jack felt heat climb up his neck. “Huh? Oh god. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to stare,” he stammered.

“It’s quite all right. Now do you want something, a beer perhaps?” she asked.

“You’re British?”

The young woman’s eyes traveled down to her feet and back up again before she looked at him. “Last time I looked, yes,” she chuckled.

What an asinine thing to say!

 “Shall we start again?” she asked. “I’m Elizabeth and you are?”

Jack gave himself a mental shake. “Oh, please forgive me. I’m not used to making a complete fool of myself before I’ve even uttered a single word. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Elizabeth. I’m Jackson, um Jack, that is.”

“Well, Jackson um Jack, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Now, would you like a beer?”

He chuckled. “Yes, please. That would be good.”

 


 

 

 


Monday, December 14, 2020

Interview with Fred Tippett II, WOMEN IN WHITE

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

My latest book is actually my debut novel. It’s called THE WOMEN IN WHITE, and it’s a YA Mystery novel featuring a sixteen-year-old boy named Greg Chase as the lead. Greg is a wunderkind whose heightened observative powers have earned him a role as the New York Police Department's youngest ever civilian consultant. He’s had—and loved—that job for about a year, but he’s forced out of it when his actions contribute to the inadvertent killing of a suspect in one of his cases. Greg goes back to school, but he doesn’t stay out of trouble for long. He quickly gets into a relationship with the new girl, Mel Locket, only to learn that she’s actually the prime suspect in the murder of her former friend and classmate from her last school. The police, Mel's therapist, and even her own mother think she did it. Greg, however, comes to believe that they’re off base and that Mel is actually innocent. And being naturally unable to let the matter rest, he sets out to prove her innocence by any means necessary.

 

THE WOMEN IN WHITE is part of a series—the first in a series of YA Mystery novels called “Greg Chase Mysteries.” Assuming positive reader response to this one, there will be many more!

 

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?

It was largely about wanting to retain full control of the characters and the general world that I had created. When you go down the traditional publishing route, you essentially sell a substantial portion of your book rights to a publisher. And until you’ve hit enough success that your voice carries sufficient weight with that publisher, the publisher has a large degree of say regarding the direction that you can take future stories in the series or even if you CAN CONTINUE the series.

 

I just mentioned that I envision WOMEN IN WHITE as the first of several Greg Chase Mysteries. I didn’t want to lose the power to continue the story that I started in book one, and I saw VERY many ways that that could happen if I took WOMEN IN WHITE down the traditional path.

 

If the book didn’t sell well traditionally, the publisher likely wouldn’t want to buy and publish yet more stories in that universe—meanwhile, because the publisher would own a great deal of the rights, I likely wouldn’t be able to just write a new Greg Chase story on spec and publish elsewhere. Or the publisher might be willing to buy future Greg Chase stories but might not want me to take them in the direction that I desired.

 

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

For me, it all starts with an idea. If I like the idea, if I think it has good potential as a book, I’ll get it down in outline format.

 

While I’m outlining, I do prefer absolute silence. But once I’m done outlining, as I’m writing my first draft from that outline, I’m okay if things are a bit louder. I still enjoy the relative quiet even then, but I don’t absolutely require it.

 

Once I’ve gotten a good first draft down, I tend to take a step back from that particular book and world for a little while (usually one or a few months) before picking it back up again to complete additional drafts (the third of which is usually done with the help of a proofreader/editor). And during those additional drafts, I do again tend to want absolute silence. Writing a first draft from an outline (particularly outlines as detailed as I make them) is relatively easy. Outlining the whole story and completing the editing process is hard and requires quite a bit of focus.

 

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

I outline. ALWAYS. I am very much the type of person who needs to know where the story is going before I commit to writing it. In my mind, it’s the only way to be certain that I’m writing a book as opposed to, say, a short story or even maybe TWO books that need to be split up.

 

That being said, there are exceptions. I do see an outline more as a general road map than an undisputable bible. I always get to the general storytelling ending that I’d planned, but sometimes not in the way that I’d originally intended. Sometimes, as I’m writing from my outline, the characters or the story will lead me in a different direction. Sometimes, they or it will take a minor detour from what’s written in the outline but ultimately get right back onto that preplanned path.

 

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

I was actually fortunate enough that I didn’t have to! I happen to have a very good personal relationship with a sterling editor who offered to do the job as a courtesy (and in exchange for my giving him some technical advice regarding launching his own debut novel). He went through my book chapter by chapter and edited for such things as grammar, typos, sentence structure, etc. But he also gave me a large amount of very good advice regarding the general nature and story structure of WOMEN IN WHITE. I think that the overall work truly benefitted from it all—and hopefully, my readers will too!

 

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

I have a limited-time exclusivity deal with Amazon, so for the moment, THE WOMEN IN WHITE is exclusively for sale there (in both Kindle and print form). However, those who visit my website (fredtippett2.com) can easily access the book on Amazon via several well-placed links.

 

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

My book is most extensively marketed on my personal website (fredtippett2.com)—and anyone who wants the fullest picture of my authorship or what WOMEN IN WHITE is about should check it out! (I also offer some exclusive tie-in content there!) I heavily promote via my Instagram and Twitter accounts (both @fred_flinstone8) as well. And I’m currently going through a very arduous process of conducting interviews with some book blogs and shopping copies of THE WOMEN IN WHITE to others for public reviews.

 

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Well, fortunately enough for me, the manuscript for my next book has actually already been written for quite a while now! I drafted it back in early 2018, and I’ve been furiously editing and proofreading it since! I will say, though, that it has required a not insubstantial amount of commitment to stick to my plans for editing that manuscript while also handling the necessary duties associated with marketing WOMEN IN WHITE. I spent plenty of time making sure that the launch for WOMEN IN WHITE was just right. But now that it’s been released, it’s taking my spending even more time to make sure that the book takes off in the way that I so desire.

 

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Be sure that it’s what you want. That’s about as succinctly as I can say it.

 

I think there’s a bad rumor out there that self-publishing is basically the easy way out for authors who don’t want to put in the time or the work to perfect their craft so that they can get an agent and publish traditionally. But in reality, the exact opposite is the truth. Granted, you do have some free riders who just want to pump out a book fast and who don’t care about the quality of their work. But for those who actually want a future and a fanbase as self-published authors, choosing that route means choosing a MUCH harder path than traditional publishing. It means finding your own GOOD editors and proofreaders, designing covers that will unequivocally draw potential readers in (or paying someone to do it for you), and doing your own marketing plus self-promotion.

 

There are perks—and once you succeed, the rewards are comparable to (and debatably better than) those of the traditional route. But until you do succeed, the work is likely going to be at least twice as hard. And as you’re starting out, the fruits of your labor are almost certainly going to be incremental, not exponential.

 

What’s next for you?

Well, as of right now, I’m in the final stages of editing my next novel. It too will be a YA Mystery novel, though this one will feature a strong female protagonist, as opposed to THE WOMEN IN WHITE’s Greg Chase. I’m hoping to release this novel next year—either via traditional publishing or independently through Trinity Power Productions LLC, my own content creation company.

 

Author bio:


Fred Tippett, II, is the author of the Young Adult Mystery novel THE WOMEN IN WHITE, which released on Amazon in November 2020. Fred currently lives in Alabama, though he is a Washington-DC-barred attorney. He holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Pennsylvania—and primarily uses his legal education to bolster the credibility of police procedural elements for his novels.

You can find Fred at @fred_flinstone8 on Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Friday, December 11, 2020

#Review: THE HEART OF LOVE by Meara Platt

 


4 of 5 stars
 

Robert MacLauren has loved Heather Farthingale the first time he set his eyes on her, but there was a problem. She was engaged to a marquess which was her childhood dream to marry into a title. As much as Robert wanted to steal her away, Heather had not said she had feelings for him and had procrastinated for months to avoid reading the Book of Love. She denied her feelings for Robert and instead focused on her upcoming marriage to Lord Tilbury, but is she making a huge mistake and condemning herself to a loveless marriage?

This book was so cute. I loved Robert. He was so honorable even though he loved Heather, his pixie, to distraction. She was the one for him and he'd never love another. As with the other books in the series, there are repeat appearances by many of the characters in previous books. Heather's character was young and that definitely helped with the predicament she found herself in. The author does a great job of teasing out the ending. Could Robert convince Tilbury to release Heather from their betrothal or would he suffer for the rest of his life with a broken heart?

I voluntarily read this advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own. 


 

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Christmas Gift Ideas: Edge of Your Seat--POLITICAL THRILLERS by Mark Terry

Are you looking to find a gift for someone who's impossible to buy for? Here's some ideas by author Mark Terry. I've read a few of his books and they will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

 

Blurb:

When political fixer Austin Davis is hired by Congresswoman Julia Lancaster to investigate her son's death, he knew it was going to be nothing but trouble. Secret Service agent Jeff Lancaster died when a group of white supremacists attacked a visiting dignitary. The FBI, Secret Service and Homeland Security were all over the case and what was there to investigate, anyway? But if there's one thing Austin knows from working for politicians, everybody has secrets. And if you dig, you're going to find dirt. He just hopes the secrets he uncovers don't get him killed.

"Terry writes like Lee Child on steroids."--Lansing State Journal

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0875N3SBQ


Blurb:

A serial killer known as the Chemist has ravaged the city of Chicago, finally stopped by Lieutenant Sandra Beach. Now, only days later, she is approached by Dr. Derek Stillwater, Special Agent with Homeland Security.

There were three victims of the Chemist who were copycats.

Together, Stillwater and Daniels, with the clock ticking, will hunt an international assassin called the Ronin, before he can murder his final victim.

But Ronin has two more assignments—take out Stillwater and Beach!

Includes the Derek Stillwater short story, "BLACK RUSSIAN."

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/DIRTY-BLOND-Derek-Stillwater-Thriller-ebook/dp/B07FJMZYFM

Here's the link to all of the Derek Stillwater books.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0749T67PC

Author bio:


Mark Terry is the author of the Derek Stillwater thrillers, THE DEVIL'S PITCHFORK, THE SERPENT'S KISS, and THE FALLEN, as well as several standalone thrillers, including DIRTY DEEDS, CATFISH GURU, and DANCING IN THE DARK. 

Born in Flint, Michigan in 1964, he graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in microbiology and public health, which has informed his Derek Stillwater thrillers and other fiction. After spending 18 years working in clinical genetics, he turned to writing full time. 

When not writing or reading, Mark Terry is a gym rat, lifting weights, biking, running, kayaking, studying Sanchin-Ryu karate, and playing the guitar. Otherwise he spends his time with his wife and two sons in Michigan

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

#Excerpt: THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Alexandrea Weis

The Christmas Spirit
Alexandrea Weis
Published by: Rosewind Books
Publication date: October 27th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

“Ghostly occurrences and ancient folklore make this feel like a modern, romantic twist on A Christmas Carol. ~Library Journal

SOMETIMES IT TAKES ONE BROKEN HEART TO HEAL ANOTHER.

Courtney Winston is a writer on a deadline. Eager to finish her book and get over a recent break-up, she ditches Christmas with her family and retreats to a secluded cabin in the mountains.

Appliances rarely work, and cell service is spotty, but Courtney senses there is more to her rustic rental—something dark and haunting.

Then Peter, the attractive Stone Mountain Lodge owner, and a meddling cook, Mrs. Finn, keep coming around, shattering her peace and offering advice on how to fix her heavy heart.

Courtney grows closer to Peter, but Mrs. Finn warns her of his troubled past. Undaunted, Courtney sets out to win him over. But being with the brooding stranger may end up costing her more than she ever imagined.

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EXCERPT:

Peter collected the chopped wood and set it on top of the pile against the house. Then he went around a corner, still not looking at her.

She waited on the step, refusing to go after him, but not mad enough to head inside and get out of the cold.

When he returned, he had three more heavy logs in his arms. Peter dumped them by the stump, keeping his eyes on the wood.

“Good morning,” she said, unable to stand the silent treatment any longer.

He ignored her and set one of the logs on the stump. He lifted his ax, centering the blade over the wood.

The ax came down, perfectly splitting the log in two. He worked methodically as he retrieved one of the halved pieces.

Another thunk cleaved the wood into smaller portions.

“Are you still mad about me beating you?”

He collected the pieces and brought them to her woodpile, keeping quiet.

She folded her arms, growing annoyed.

“I didn’t do anything to you that isn’t done a hundred times a day in any hockey rink across the country.”

He picked up another log and set it on the stump.

The heat in her cheeks rose. “Was leaving me in those woods your way of getting even? Well then, congratulations. One cheap shot deserved another.”

He lifted his ax and ran his hand up and down the handle. “I didn’t leave you. I made sure you could follow me back.”

“Am I supposed to be grateful to you for scaring me to death?”

He poised the ax blade above the log. “You’re not dead. Not even close.”

A loud crack reverberated as the ax drove into the wood.

A slither of satisfaction coiled through her when the blade got stuck halfway through the log.

With one arm, he picked up the ax and slammed the jammed log against the stump, but the stubborn log held on. Peter’s cheeks reddened as he raised the ax again and kicked at the determined chunk of wood.

“You need to sharpen your ax,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

He finally looked up at her. “What would you know about chopping wood?”

She smirked. “I know a dull tool when I see one.”

Her point made, Courtney turned back into the cabin, leaving him to stew.

But the moment she shut the door, it flew open. He stood in the doorway, the vexation in his eyes mirrored the knots in her stomach.

He put his hands on the doorframe, digging his nails into the wood. “I’m not mad about the game. I’m not a child.”

She pulled her robe closer. “Then why are you acting like one?”

The harsh lines in his brow softened. “I should never have come to you. I should have stayed away and left you alone in this cabin.”

Her first reaction was to balk at his confession, but then the meaning behind his words sank in, hitting her harder than any blow from his ax.

“Is that why you ran off the other day? Because you regretted knowing me?”

“I could never regret that. You have been a shining light in my very dark world.”

Author Bio:

Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, PhD, is a multi-award-winning author, screenwriter, advanced practice registered nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable.

Weis writes romance, mystery, suspense, thrillers, supernatural, and young adult fiction and has sold approximately one million books. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans where she is a permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and rescues orphaned and injured animals.

She is a member of both the International Thriller Writers Association and the Horror Writers Association. www.AlexandreaWeis.com

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