#Review: GRAVE MAGIC by Thea Atkinson

 

 5 of 5 stars

Whoa, hold onto your hats with this one because this series just keeps getting better and better. Brie nearly died in her last interaction with the black coven and when Parrish suggests she fake her death to give her a reprieve from being hunted by them, she reluctantly agrees. But...that sets a whole other sequence of events into motion and none of them are good. She thought she was protecting Layne, but news of her death sends him into a spiral that he may never recover from. Brie is running out of time. She has to find the secret to her magic and that path leads her into dangerous magic territory. Can she control the magic this time or will it send her into the depths of hell?

Ms. Atkinson does it again with this heart-stopping, action-packed story. There are so many twists and turns, you'll get fabulously dizzy trying to keep them all in your head while following Brie on her quest to find the answers she needs. I can't wait to read the next book!

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

#Review: NEVER MARRY A SCANDALOUS DUKE by Renee Ann Miller

 

4 of 5 stars

Ian McAllister, the Duke of Dorcester, never intended to marry, but when an indiscretion at masked balls has him caught kissing innocent Lady Sara, he has no choice but to offer for her. He offers her the one thing she truly wants and she accepts knowing that she will have the use of her dowry to continue to study her butterflies. What started out as a business deal starts to turn into something more. Could these two very different people find love in each other's arms?

I'm a fan of Ms. Miller and I loved that Sara was a bit odd, but not irritatingly so. Her intelligence and dedication to the study of butterflies were actually quite informative and I enjoyed how she won over Ian's wards with her pranks and attention. The author does a good job of teasing out Ian's backstory and why he is so driven by obtaining more wealth. Most of the story moves along well and the major conflict only comes at the end when Isabelle, Ian's former fiancee, shows up to wreak havoc on his life with Sara. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'm look forward to reading the next story in the series.

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

#Review: FOUR WEEKS TO SCANDAL by Megan Frampton

 

  3.5 stars

Gabriel Fallon travels to see the latest addition in his late father's gambling acquisitions-the former Holton manor, but he gets the surprise of his life when Octavia Holton shows up and claims the house is hers. Gabriel has the vowel that states Octavia's father gambled and lost the house to his father, but Octavia is positive that she is still the rightful owner. They make a deal--if Octavia can find proof she owns the house, Gabriel will leave. The deal ends in one month, but the more time they spend together, the more they wish the end of the deal would never come.

This was a different sort of romance with the heroine doing what most men would consider shocking-owning a gambling hell and making her own decisions about her life without relying on a man. I have mixed feelings about Octavia. She was rather rude and arrogant in the beginning, but there was definitely some growth in her character when she realizes there is no shame in asking for help. Gabriel on the other hand was so likeable and honorable that you couldn't help but fall in love with him. I loved the Greek mythology thrown into the mix and the secondary characters fleshed out the story nicely. Some parts of the story dragged a bit, but overall I was happy to see that Octavia and Gabriel finally found their HEA.

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

Blast: THE ACCIDENTAL DETECTIVE SERIES by Kris Bock

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kris Bock will be awarding Ebook copies of the first four books in the Accidental Detective Series - Something Shady at Sunshine Haven and Something Deadly on Desert Drive (out now), plus early copies of books 3 and 4, Someone Cruel in Coyote Creek (not available publicly until September 29, 2022) and Someone Missing from Malapais Mountain (not available publicly until February 28, 2023) - to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Accidental Detective book 1: Something Shady at Sunshine Haven

Injured in a bombing, Kate returns to her hometown in Arizona with new scars, a limp, and pain meds that give her brain fog. For the first time in her life, she's starting to feel her age (49), even though she's living like a teenager again: staying with her father, trying to understand why her sister resents her so much, and running into old friends who still think of her as Kitty.

Seeing her mother in an Alzheimer's unit is the hardest part – until an old friend asks her to investigate suspicious deaths at that nursing home. Is a self-appointed "Angel of Mercy" killing patients to end their suffering? Are family members hastening their inheritance? Is an employee extorting money and killing the witnesses? Kate uses her journalism skills to track clues, but the puzzle pieces simply won't fit. If Kate can't uncover the truth, her mother could be next on the killer's list.

Kate has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home?

The Accidental Detective book 2: Something Deadly on Desert Drive

Starting over at fifty might be hard, but it shouldn’t be deadly…

Still recovering from an injury that might have permanently derailed her career as an international war correspondent, Kate Tessler is living in her childhood bedroom and pondering her second act when another case lands in her lap. Kate’s father and his coffee group are worried. Their friend Larry married a younger woman who now insists he has dementia and won’t let any of his friends visit. They’re convinced that Larry’s wife and her two adult, dead-beat kids are out to steal his money. Can Kate help?

Soon Kate and her unusual gang of sidekicks are unofficially, officially investigating. But before they can dig out the truth, a murder raises the stakes. Now they need to prove Larry is both mentally competent and not a killer. They’ll have to find the real murderer—without risking their own lives in the process.

Praise Something Deadly

“I had such a lovely day reading your story. I could barely put it down. I am still in awe of how you manage to wrangle these three generations of sleuths without every going over the top or relying on stereotypes or cliches, and of course watching Kate start to come to terms both with her disability and potential inability to ever fully heal as well as her new life, aging, being back home again and reconnecting with her family—all while solving two crimes—definite multi-tasker! The story was so engaging and quite clever.” – Sinclair Jayne, author

Excerpt from Something Deadly on Desert Drive:

“Clarence can drive the getaway vehicle,” I said. “Dad goes to the front door. The rest of us will go around back. Joe can go first and scout out the yard, make sure no one is in back. Arnold and I will follow. Dad, give us a minute to get in position and then ring the doorbell.”

“How long do you think you’ll need to get Larry out?” he asked.

“Five minutes? That will seem like forever to you, but we may need every second.”

We couldn’t see the house well from where we were, but I pictured it in my mind. The front walk led up to an alcove. The front door was set at least five feet back in that alcove. No one at the front door could see the gate opening, but they might hear us if we tried to cross the rocky front yard, especially if Larry was confused and asking questions.

“We’ll stop inside the gate on our way out,” I said. “If you’re still arguing, I’ll call your phone. Make sure Pamela closes the door as you leave. Then we’ll all head for the cars.”

Dad pulled out his phone and tipped his head back so he could study the screen through the lower part of his trifocals. He tapped it a few times and stuck it in his pocket. “All right. I’ll feel it vibrate.”

“We used to have to pay good money for that kind of thing,” Clarence said.

“Clarence, turn the car around now,” I said. “When we come out, pull up to the house next to Larry’s. Stay out of sight of any of Pamela’s windows.”

“I’ll give them the slip!” Clarence said. “We’ll go on the lam. We’ll peach that gold digger and put her in the big house with a pair of silver bracelets.”

“You’ve been watching gangster movies again,” Joe said.

“Right. I always wanted to be a lookout man.”

“Concentrate, people. Everyone know the plan?” I looked at each of them. “Now, let’s kidnap your friend.”

About the Author:

Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance, many with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Get a free Accidental Detective short story and bonus material when you sign up for her newsletter. You’ll also get a free 30-page sweet romance set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café and a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat café novels

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Follow the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for our romantic comedy newsletter and get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. Or find the books on Amazon US or All E-book retailers

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Where to buy Something Shady at Sunshine Haven

Tule Publishing
Amazon
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Google Play
Amazon UK

Buy links for Something Deadly on Desert Drive

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Interview with Melanie Munton, REASONS WHY NOT TO DATE PUBLIC ENEMY CEO

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

Yes! Reasons Why Not to Date Public Enemy CEO is the first installment in my new Shell Grove rom com series. In this first book, we are introduced to the quirky group of friends this series will follow, and the small town dynamics that make up life in seaside Shell Grove, SC. Reasons Why follows a grumpy CEO, Aiden Beaumont, who just opened a five-star resort in the tiny town, which has basically turned him into Public Enemy #1. Mia is the hometown sweetheart who took a job at the resort, and doesn’t think Mr. Beaumont’s bite is as bad as his bark. Although, she’s certainly not opposed to being bitten… This is a grump/sunshine beach read that has heart, sexy times, and sweet summer vibes that’ll have you working up quite the sweat.  ;)

 

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover? 

I’m usually very involved in the making of each of my covers, probably to the point where my designer wants to punch me in the throat. LOL! But I had a very specific vision for the Reasons Why cover. However, since this was my first ever illustrated cover, I wanted to give my designer plenty of room for her creative process. She basically had only vague descriptions of the two characters to work with, and she killed it. I couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out. Check out L.J. Anderson at Mayhem Cover Creations if you’re shopping for your next cover!

 

Do you regularly send out a newsletter? How are you recruiting new subscribers? Do you have a reader magnet?

Yes, I do send out a monthly newsletter! Readers can sign up through my website at www.melaniemunton.com. Every so often, I’ll promote my website on Facebook and Instagram and usually get more subscribers that way. I also like to run giveaways and make signing up for my newsletter an entry option/requirement. That’s one of the best sources for gaining new subscribers, I’ve found. I also have the link “SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSETTER” embedded at the end of each of my books.

 

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

I get warmed up with music. Either the playlist I’ve created for the book I’m working on or music in the realm of the mood of the book. But once I’m actively writing, I’ve got the noise-canceling headphones on and the music off. Of course, I’ve had to learn how to compartmentalize and really block out all other background noises, like my daughter’s cartoons and toys. It definitely wasn’t easy in the beginning! But it’s kind of like making that free throw shot whenever you’ve got the entire student section screaming in your face. You block it all out, concentrate, and just get the job done. LOL!

 

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

I definitely have to do a good deal of outlining before I start any book, just to get the juices flowing. If not, I’m beating my head against my laptop within 5 minutes, trying to find direction. But sometimes I might get stuck on a middle or an ending, and that’s when I just let the writing get me there. Once I flesh out the scenes and characters, those blanks are usually filled in pretty easily. Oddly enough, I come up with some of my best ideas in the shower and right before I fall asleep at night.

 

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook ads, amazon ads, newsletters, TikTok] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

All of the above, though I’m still such a newbie with TikTok. I do not record myself doing anything (nooobody wants to see this makeup-less face that often), so that’s one I’m still trying to find my footing with. I have a monthly newsletter that readers can sign up for on my website and Facebook page. Amazon ads, check. Facebook/Instagram ads, check. BookBub ads are probably what I put the most effort and money into, as they are a great avenue for getting your book in front of a larger audience and tracking those click-through rates.

 

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book? Do you try to write every day or carve out certain times during the week? 

My four-year-old daughter is home with me every day (until she starts pre-school in August, whoop!), so being able to write at all can be challenging most days. When I’m knee-deep in a book, I’m writing every day, all day. When I’m split between two books, I like to devote my mornings to marketing and promoting the current one and my afternoons strictly to writing the next one. It can definitely be frustrating with all the distractions, but as long as I have a schedule/routine in place, things usually go a lot smoother. I still want to spend time with her while I have her here with me, so I typically assign a number of hours to each task. I’ll give myself a time limit to have everything work-wise completed by, and the rest of the afternoon/early evening is all focused on her.

 

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?

The beach and traveling! I’m completely at peace whenever I’ve got my toes in the sand and a book in my hand. Ever since I visited Taiwan in 2008, I’ve had the travel bug. I studied abroad in Spain in college, and did some backpacking across Europe while I was there. The last big trip the hubby and I took was a cross-country trip around Italy. Even though the traveling has slowed down some since our daughter was born and you know, COVID, we’re currently trying to plan our next big adventure!  

 

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?

Dogs or cats? Dogs all the way! We particularly love boxers.

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate, no question. I go coocoo for the Cocoa Puffs. 

Coffee or tea? COFFEE.

Talk or text? Depends on the person. Typically text. 

Day or night? Day. A hermit like me needs as much sunshine as I can get.

Salt or sweet? Salt. Chips are my kryptonite.

All-inclusive resort or Caribbean cruise? All-inclusive. Being stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean with that many strange people would give me hives.

Wine or beer? Certified wino right here.  ;)

 

What’s next for you?

I’ll be working on the Shell Grove series for the rest of the summer. Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis (Shell Grove #2) is my baby at the moment, and then I’ll dive right into the next one, Reasons Why Not to Date Your Best Friend. After this one wraps up, I’ll be visiting a new sexy, suspense-y series, Chicago Anti-Heroes, that I’m super psyched about.

  

Reasons Why Not to Date Public Enemy CEO

Melanie Munton

(Shell Grove, #1)

Publication date: June 21st 2022

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

What happens when the most hated man in town goes after everyone’s favorite girl-next-door?

Reason #1: Big, bad CEO Aiden Beaumont wears his grumpy mask every day like a badge of honor. Mia Sparks wants nothing more than to honk his nose or throw a pie in his face, à la The Three Stooges, just to see if he’s capable of smiling. Unfortunately, she can’t. Because he’s technically her boss, and she’d like to keep her gig at the new five-star beach resort for longer than two weeks.

Reason #2: Everyone in her small hometown of Shell Grove, SC hates the man. He brought big business to their little beach town, and as far as her fellow citizens are concerned, that makes him the devil incarnate. But he won’t be staying forever, which works for Mia. She doesn’t go for the flashy city types anyway. She’s quite happy living her quiet life in Shell Grove. The faster the cranky—albeit stupidly hot—CEO is out of her life, the better.

Reason #3: Every time Aiden frowns at her, it hits her like a thousand-watt smile. He has a language all his own, and it’s starting to make way too much sense to her. She can’t avoid him in a town the size of a postage stamp, and it finally hits her that…she doesn’t want to escape him. This always-irritated, too-serious businessman couldn’t possibly be the stable safe haven she’s been looking for. Could he?

Aiden knows there’s a million and one reasons to stay away from the sugary sweet Mia. But who runs away from sunshine after living their entire life in a secluded cave? And when someone from her past unexpectedly emerges and tries to drive a wedge between the two of them? All bets are off. Aiden has never lost a fight in the boardroom, and he’s not about to lose the fight for the woman he wants to deserve. He just has to prove to her that he’s not the PUBLIC ENEMY CEO everyone thinks he is.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:

Melanie grew up in the Midwest, but she loves living in the Southeast (where the beaches are!) now with her husband and daughter. 

Melanie’s other passion is traveling and seeing the world. With anthropology degrees under their belts, she and her husband have made it their goal in life to see as many archaeological sites around the world as possible.

She has a horrible food addiction to pasta and candy (not together…ew). And she gets sad when her wine rack is empty. 

At the end of the day, she is a true romantic at heart. She loves writing the cheesy and corny of romantic comedies, and the sassy and sexy of suspense. She aims to make her readers swoon, laugh out loud, maybe sweat a little, and above all, fall in love. 

Go visit Melanie’s website and sign up for her newsletter to stay updated on release dates, teasers, and other details for all of her projects!

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.99 SALE - THE DUKE AND THE BLUESTOCKING by Debra Elizabeth

 

Blurb:

Can the duke convince the one young lady who doesn't want to marry that he's perfect for her?

Miss Emma Bainbridge is in danger of being labeled a bluestocking much to her mother's horror. With her love of reading and outspoken opinions, her views on marriage are not hard to predict. The last thing she wants is to give up what little independence she enjoys to the whims and demands of a husband. She'd rather be a spinster.

William Davies, the Duke of Richmond, met Miss Bainbridge when he escorted her and her sisters to the British Museum. He was intrigued with her intelligence and zest for learning. She's a stunning beauty and would make a perfect duchess. But there's a big problem, Miss Bainbridge does not want to marry anyone, not even a duke. Somehow he must convince her that she's the perfect woman for him. Will she finally relent and let him ignite the passion lingering just below the surface?

Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B3Z2K7MR

#Excerpt: PROVOKING ODIUM by Cynthia Sax

Provoking Odium
Cynthia Sax
(Cyborg Unity, #1)
Publication date: June 21st 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction

A Beautiful Cyborg

While accompanying his leader on a mission, Odium, an E Model cyborg, hears a distress call over the communication lines. The voice on that message makes his circuits surge with energy and all his systems light up. He has to respond to the mysterious female, would risk his lifespan and the lifespans of everyone on board their ship to protect her.

A Human Female Others Call Beast

Briella gained her nickname due to her flying abilities, her fearlessness, and her scarred countenance. Her verbal-only relationship with the sexy cyborg who answers her distress call is a steamy yet short-lived fantasy. His kind is physically perfect, and she is…not. He will uncover that truth when…if they survive the attack upon her freighter.
***
Provoking Odium is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a human female intent on remaining mysterious, a cyborg warrior determined to uncover her identity, and an enemy seeking to destroy them both before they have the opportunity to meet.

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—

EXCERPT:

Briella should leave now, before Mohini and Odium met. Seeing the two of them together would tear her soul apart.

But then the doors opened, and the toes of two huge black boots became visible.

She lifted her gaze and her breath caught. That footwear was attached to an equally large male.

Odium was built like the warrior he was. The body armor barely contained his muscular form. Well-maintained weapons decorated the garment. His stance was strong. His hips were narrow. His shoulders were wide.

Desire hit Briella like a missile, almost knocking her over.

She’d researched E Models, had seen some of his kind on Mercury Minor, and she believed she knew what to expect.

But her overly active imagination had fallen far short of envisioning Odium. His hair was the blackest black. His skin was gray. Not one scar marred his countenance. His eyes were dark.

His face. Stars. His face.

All the cyborgs she’d met had been handsome. Odium, however, was Mohini-levels of beautiful. He was that exquisite female’s physical match.

Briella’s desolation escalated. She took a step backward.

Odium’s nostrils flared. He turned his head, gazed directly at her.

She froze in place. That was impossible. There were hundreds of beings stationed between them. He must merely be looking in her direction.

Seeking to test that theory, she shifted to the right.

His gaze tracked her.

Her warrior had somehow located her in the crowd.

Briella’s palms dampened. Her stomach knotted.

Others sought to speak to Odium. He didn’t look at those beings. His focus was on her.

It was heady, exciting, worrisome. She brushed her fingers over her goggles. They were in place, so her eyes were hidden.

He saw her scars. Those couldn’t be concealed.

But he couldn’t view the worst of her disfigurements, the part of her that had evoked fear and hatred in her kind, that made the toughest of warriors avoid her.

She could endure his perusal, could stand her ground and—

Mohini approached Odium.

His gaze flicked toward the female.

Her friend was impossible for any male to ignore. And her cyborg was certainly a male. He vibrated with vitality, with power.

Briella wanted him with every cell in her body.

Mohini appeared as enthralled with Odium. Her eyes glowed with interest. Her lips moved. Her friend’s words were too softly spoken for Briella to hear.

But she could imagine what was being said, and every flirtatious comment, every glance, every movement was a dagger stuck deep into her face. The pain, the torment lashed her again and again.

It was unbearable. Panic filled her. She couldn’t do this, couldn’t stand by passively and watch her friend seduce the male she wanted. That was beyond her capabilities.

She turned away from them and ran.

Author Bio:

For updates on characters and for very bad jokes, sign up for Cynthia's monthly newsletter at http://cynthiasax.com

USA Today Bestselling author Cynthia Sax is currently writing cyborg and alien romances with high heat levels. These stories are set in a shared dark, gritty, sometimes violent world. There is always a romantic happy ending between the main characters and this happy ending is FOREVER. But everyone else is in danger.

Her stories have been featured in Star Magazine, Real Time With Bill Maher, and numerous best of... top ten lists.

She loves writing fated to mate or instalove romances as this is her personal experience with love. She fell in love with her Dear Wonderful Hubby at first sight and 25 plus years later, they're still very much in love. This is what she wishes for her characters and for her readers.

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#Excerpt: INTO THE LION'S DEN by A.S. Green

Into the Lion’s Den
A.S. Green
(Secrets of the Northland Shifters, #1)
Publication date: June 15th 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

It’s not just Shifters who lurk in the shadows.

Mountain lion shifter Reese Fitzpatrick never expected to be running his father’s business–a luxury resort hidden away in Minnesota’s Northland. But when his father is killed by a hunter’s bullet, it’s up to Reese to keep his father’s legacy alive.

The job would be hard enough without the arrival of Sarah McAvoy, a mysterious woman with secrets of her own.

While she quickly has Reese’s mountain lion purring inside his skin, she’s also such an irritating distraction he wants nothing more than to snarl and bite her.

But Reese has more to worry about than an accidental reveal of his animal nature.

If he and Sarah can’t get past their differences, overcome the slow-burn of their sexual tension, and make the summer a financial success, the Fitzpatrick land could soon be covered in parking lots and strip malls.

Turns out, Reese’s father wasn’t the competent businessman he always believed him to be. And those vulture real estate developers are already hovering. Just waiting for Reese to fall.

That is, if the hunter who killed his father doesn’t return to get him first.

Fans of K.F. Breene and Kresley Cole will love this hot paranormal shifter romance!

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Only 99 cents for a limited time!

—

EXCERPT:

A growl rumbled through the air, coming from outside the barn wall. An icy trickle of fear slid through my veins, and the hair on my arms stood at attention, even under the warmth of my sweater.

I held my breath as paralysis locked my legs. I had to be imagining it.

But the growl rumbled through the wall again, low and ominous.

“Please, go away,” I whispered to whatever was out there. “Please, go away.”

Wild animals were supposed to shy away from humans, right? It wouldn’t come near me unless it was provoked. And I hadn’t done anything to provoke it.

Unless… Unless it called this abandoned barn its home?

Shit. I needed to get out of here. But I was too afraid to move. And even if I could run, that might only make things worse.

Slowly, I pulled my phone from my pocket and hit Reese’s number. After our argument and my declaration that I didn’t need his help, this call would be humbling. He’d probably call me a city girl and tell me I didn’t belong up here. But at least he’d have the necessary information to later find my body.

Reese didn’t pick up. Instead, I got his voicemail. When I heard the beep, I closed my eyes and whispered, “Reese. Help. I’m in an old barn not far from the lodge.”

A low, menacing growl responded from just outside, and through the cracks in the barn wall I could see a large tawny animal prowling along the exterior.

I whimpered, walking backward toward the farthest right corner of the barn. My shoulder ran into a prickly bale of straw. There were two stacked on top of each other, and I ran around behind them, crouching low.

I sat with my back to the bales, facing the rear wall of the barn and drawing my knees to my chest.

I wrapped my arms around my legs and said a little prayer.

But it was too little too late. The animal was inside the barn. Its rumbling growl was louder now, and I felt rather than heard the whispery vibration of large paws slowly stalking across the wooden floor.

Sunlight streamed through the open barn door and projected the shadow of an enormous mountain lion against the back wall. Perhaps the shadow was distorted, but it looked to be unnaturally large—maybe four feet high at the shoulder.

Its tail twitched, and it turned its head in my direction.

Oh god. I closed my eyes and laced my hands behind my head, curling into an even tighter ball.

More soft footfalls.

It was now on the opposite side of my hiding place, and it rubbed the length of its body against the bales of straw, putting a heavy pressure against my back.

I squeezed my eyes closed as I sensed it round the end of the barrier, then the beast’s breath brushed against my cheek.

My whole body trembled and I swallowed my scream as a warm tongue rasped the length of my neck.

Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author A.S. Green lives in chilly Minnesota and spends the all-too-short summers on Lake Superior, which is the muse for her paranormal and contemporary romances. She writes complex characters, action-packed plots, and snarky in-your-face banter. And, of course, loads of steamy love scenes.

When she's not writing romance, she's probably watching Outlander or pleading (unsuccessfully) with her husband to don the kilt she bought him last summer.

You can find her on most social platforms at @asgreenbooks. For the latest news - and to get your hands on exclusive content - subscribe to A.S. Green's newsletter today (asgreenbooks.com)!

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Interview with Kristen Jackson, AND TIME STOPPED

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

AND TIME STOPPED is a new release, and is the third book in the KEEPER OF THE WATCH series. It continues the story of dimension travelers Chase Walker and Alyx Eris, whose magical watches allow them to jump to each of the twelve existing dimensions during each month of their eighteenth year. Each world they visit varies in ways both big and small. This book takes place in Dimension 9, where Chase and Alyx go back to high school and deal with the very real issues of bullying and teen suicide. 

 

Do you have a favorite character?

Because this is a series, all the characters have become like family to me. However, Bo, the chimera hybrid pup Chase and Alyx brought with them from Dimension 8, is one of my favorite characters in this story. Animals are so much fun to write! I wanted to add a pet to the story because I’m a lover of pets of all kinds, and of course, I had to give him some special powers of his own! 

 

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

I queried lots of agents for this series, which is the only way to snag a big publisher, but despite interest from a couple of them I was unable to land an agent to represent this series. So, I dug in my heels, not willing to give up on this story, and decided to send out some queries to some small publishers. Black Rose Writing offered me a contract, and here we are! I have a children’s picture book which is published by another independent publisher, Schiffer Publishing, and I have one self-published sci-fi/fantasy novel and a self-published novella (the prequel to the series.) There are definitely pros and cons to all routes to publishing!

 

How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?

My first contract was for my children’s picture book, Jocelyn’s Box of Socks. The book is published with Schiffer Publishing, based in Pennsylvania (my home state!) It took about two years from the date I signed my contract until publication. My first published novel was book one in the Keeper of the Watch Series, with Black Rose Writing based in Texas. This was not, however, the first novel I had written. My first attempt at writing a novel was a middle grade novel entitled Snow Dog, which is still not published. 

 

Briefly describe your journey in writing your first or latest book. Have you joined any FB author groups to inspire and help you along the way?

When I first entered the publishing world, I joined as many FB groups as I could! They are very helpful in answering a broad range of questions, especially for beginners. I highly recommend having some kind of support group, and the most convenient way these days is on social media. 

 

 

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover? 

My publisher allows writers to be very involved in cover creation. The cover designer asked what my vision for the cover was…and then he added his creative expertise to make it all come to life! The cover wasn’t complete until I gave final approval, and I’m very pleased with the results. And Time Stopped truly has a cover that speaks to both the series and the storyline of this book.

 

Do you have an ARC review team? How did you recruit your reviewers? BookFunnel? Readerlinks? Booksprout?

When I feel the book is ready, I put it out there on social media and in my newsletter that I’m ready for beta readers to give feedback and answer a questionnaire so I can perfect the writing. After that, I join BookFunnel promotions, use Book Sirens, and NetGalley. These are all ways to generate early reviews, which is so important for pre-release promotions. There are also writing contests that you can enter, and sometimes a review is part of the entry. 

 

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

I like complete silence while I’m writing. Music can be too distracting for me…because I love music and will be enticed to sing along instead of focusing on the writing. I love to write in the early morning hours, the quietest time of the day. (I’m also a morning person, so you won’t catch me writing at night!) During spring, summer, and fall, I love to write at our cozy cabin in the woods. It’s so inspiring!

 

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

I have tried outlining my stories, but the characters are so insistent! They always take over, and sometimes the storyline goes in a different direction than I could foresee when I started writing. When I begin a new novel, I always have the basic idea where the story is going. I know the beginning, middle and end. The rest is up to the characters. 

 

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook ads, amazon ads, newsletters, TikTok] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

I have a Facebook page (@kristenjacksonauthor) which is the platform where I am most active in promoting my books. I am also on Twitter (@KLJacksonAuthor), Instagram (@krisjack504), LinkedIn, and Pinterest. I will run occasional ads, especially when a book releases or if it is on sale. I have a website and blog (www.kristenljackson.com), and I write a newsletter every few months. 

 

And Time Stopped: Dimension 9

Kristen L. Jackson

(Keeper of the Watch, #3)

Publication date: Kristen L. Jackson

Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy, Young Adult

After a smooth jump to Dimension 9, Chase, Alyx, and chimera pup, Bo, discover that this world’s peaceful existence only extends as far as the local high school. A different kind of battle wages there, and the identity of the school bully is a surprise they never anticipated. When Chase decides they have no choice but to enroll at Dune Harbor High and repeat their senior year, Alyx is less than thrilled. But the two soon discover the influence just one person can have over the decisions, lives, and even deaths, of those around them. While they try to prevent one tragedy, another one unfolds even as Chase unravels one more piece of his family history. What he discovers will leave him reeling, and his life will never be the same.

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Author Bio:

Kristen L. Jackson lives in Reading, PA, with her husband, two grown sons, and four large-breed dogs. She has been a teacher for over 20 years, and writing for children of all ages is close to her heart. Her debut novels KEEPER OF THE WATCH and MAGIC HARBOR (Books 1 & 2) are available now, as well as a novella, DIMENSION KEEPER, which is the prequel to the series. A children’s picture book, JOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKS, (2019 1st Place Pencraft Award Winner) is also available now. Kristen enjoys writing, reading, and spending time with her family at their cabin in the Pocono Mountains of PA. Follow Kristen on Social Media:

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#Review: DANCE OF LOVE by Meara Platt

 

  4 of 5 stars

This was another sweet story in the Book of Love series. Rafe and Auggie have an instant connection when she comes to Essex to take care of her elderly aunt after a fire destroyed her aunt's home. There's a mystery throughout the book of who and what has been going on with missing priceless art and stolen gems. Auggie's cousin seems to be caught up in the middle of the criminal activity, but it's up to Rafe to prove or disprove his involvement. Rafe's son Sam is adorable in the story and adds a sweet element to the romance between Rafe and Auggie.

While there's no real conflict or obstacles for Rafe and Auggie to overcome to reach their happily ever after, it was a sweet and pleasant read. I really enjoy these books and look forward to the next one in the series.

Interview with Erin Fulmer, CAMBION'S BLOOD

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

CAMBION’S BLOOD is the second in the series I began with CAMBION’S LAW. It follows the adventures and misadventures of Lily Knight, a half-succubus (or “cambion”) attorney in modern-day San Francisco. In CAMBION’S LAW, Lily raced to stop a murderer who targeted other succubi like herself and became entangled with the defendant accused of those murders, whom she believed to be innocent. In CAMBION’S BLOOD, she’s asked to hunt down a new supernatural threat—and this time, humans are the victims. She finds herself in a position of responsibility over a demon teenager who reminds her of her younger self and faces down a force determined to enact vengeance where the justice system has failed. Meanwhile, she must juggle her fraught relationships with the humans she cares about and the consequences of the choices she made in book 1. 

 

Do you have a favorite character?

Lily’s friend Daniela is probably my favorite character, although a new character in this book is a close second. I really enjoy the characters that challenge my heroine or push her to step out of her comfort zone. It’s always good to have a foil, especially one who brings good jokes along with life lessons. Danny and Lily also have an undercurrent of sexual tension between them that I enjoy, though Lily has a male love interest as well.

 

How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?

I got my first contract before I got my offer of representation! It was for Cambion’s Law and it was my first finished, polished novel. I had queried it with agents and small presses at the same time (which I later learned was not the best strategy), but agents weren’t biting while several small presses expressed interest. Someone explained to me that big publishing houses weren’t buying a lot of urban fantasy debuts these days, so when my editor, Heather McCorkle of City Owl Press, liked one of my pitches in a Twitter event, I decided to try my luck with her. Heather offered the same week I got into Pitch Wars, and then the following year, my agent offered on another project the same week I released my first book! I’m on submission to editors now with that manuscript so hoping the trend continues and I get an offer this week. Just kidding! (Or am I?)

 

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

I write most nights after dinner until 9 or 10 pm. Like most writers, I still have my day job, so evenings are really the only time I have for drafting. I thought I preferred absolute silence, but recently I got noise cancelling headphones and they are the BOMB. I can’t listen to any music with lyrics as it’s too distracting for my ADHD brain but listening to super chill instrumentals while writing is perfect. I also sometimes use focus assist apps on my browser if I’m having trouble pulling myself away from social media. I hate that it works but it does. If things are going well, I write an average of 1k words a day, but I don’t force myself to write every day because sometimes it just isn’t possible.

 

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

I usually try to outline, but I’m a pantser by heart so I almost always veer away from it in practice. At minimum, I do know how the story begins, what happens around the midpoint, and generally what happens at the end, but I improvise a lot in between. I made a detailed outline for my most recent project, but the reality is that I often find what I planned is not the most interesting way for the story to go. I update my outline as I write and it changes a lot from what it was at the start.

 

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

Yes! My books go to wide release which means you can order them through other retailers including Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, direct from the City Owl website, and at your favorite indie bookstore. In fact, requesting from your local indie is the best way to buy! You can also request it in ebook or print format at your local library. Online retailers for Cambion’s Law are here and retailers for Cambion’s Blood are here.

 

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

It can be challenging, yes. I basically have two full-time jobs at the moment: writing and my other job. Obviously, the other one is the main moneymaker so I can’t exactly quit, even if I wanted to. But with social media posts, designing promos, doing author takeovers, guest blogs, worrying over sales rankings, and all the rest that comes along with trying to stand out in a crowded market, it is hard to find time to write. Not to mention maintaining my own blog and my mentoring efforts, both of which are labors of love. I often wish for more time or the kind of sales that would justify quitting the other job. I truly do love my second job, the writing gig, and dream of doing it full-time. I even love doing the promo when I get to be creative with it. But times like now, when I’m ramping up promo, I’m not getting a lot of writing done.

 

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?

Too many, to be honest. I’m passionate about JUSTICE. I’m making fun of myself there, but the truth is that activism and advocacy is a big part of my life. That’s another reason I will probably never quit the day job, where I push governments to adopt anti-poverty policies and work on impact cases to improve life for people in need. 

 

This inevitably comes out in my online presence as a writer, too. I passionately believe our society should value creative work more highly—people are hungry for art, entertainment, books, content, but the creative economy depends so much on artists’ unpaid labor while most profits go to big corporations. I’m passionate about the urgent need to support diverse books and voices in publishing, about writers knowing their rights, and about fighting back against book banning campaigns.

 

I’m also a huge nerd who loves science, space, weather, technology, and all the weird, wonderful variety of life on Earth. I follow a lot of citizen scientists, animal rescuers, and sci comms folks on Twitter. I’m obsessed with birds and trees and sharing our world sustainably with other living things. 

 

Also, naps. I love a good nap.

 

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?

I have two cats I raised from tiny bottle babies, so I have to say cats though I also think dog love is one of the purest things in this world. I’m partial to both chocolate and vanilla depending on mood, but coffee is life. I prefer text to talking as I’m much more articulate with the written word and tend to lose my train of thought when speaking out loud. And I’m a night owl, although my very favorite times are the twilight spaces between night and day.

 

What’s next for you?

More books! At least, that’s the plan. I am just about finished drafting the third book in my Cambion series. After that, I’m probably going to take a break from writing urban fantasy and do something different. I like to jump between genres so I’m thinking of working on another science fiction project next. We’ll see what happens!

Cambion’s Blood
Erin Fulmer
(Cambion, #2)
Publication date: June 7th 2022
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Half-succubus attorney Lily Knight has blood on her hands.

Haunted by guilt, behind on her rent, and facing professional disgrace, Lily must figure out how to survive in the wreckage of her former life. To make ends meet, she accepts a contract job she never wanted but can’t seem to avoid—hunting another demon murderer. This time, the victims are human, and a shadowy government agency will reward Lily with a way out of her dire financial straits.

If Lily doesn’t solve the case before the news gets out, fear and hatred will put all demonkind at risk from the proverbial torch-carrying mob. But when a young succubus on the run from the authorities begs for her help, Lily faces a new conflict of interest—especially after the suspect, Eve, reveals her father is Lily’s old frenemy.

Now Lily must juggle the pressures of a high-stakes murder case, her complicated relationship with her “not-boyfriend” Sebastian, and responsibility for a wayward teenager as she races to find the real killer. Worse, the culprit isn’t just a demon, but a self-proclaimed goddess who will stop at nothing to carry out her bloody quest for justice. To stop the killings, Lily must confront that which she most fears: the truth about what went down with Eve’s father in the desert—and its consequences.

That is, if the goddess doesn’t get to her first…

Sequel to:

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Author Bio:

Erin Fulmer (she/her) is a public benefits attorney by day, author of urban fantasy and science fiction by night. She lives in sunny Northern California with her husband and two spoiled cats. When she’s not writing or working, she enjoys yoga, taking pictures of the sky, playing board games with friends, and napping like it’s an Olympic sport.
CAMBION’S BLOOD, the second book in her Cambion series and sequel to her debut urban fantasy CAMBION’S LAW, is out June 7 from City Owl Books.

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