#Excerpt: FLASH POINT by Luna Joya

Flash Point
Luna Joya
(Legacy Series, #5)
Publication date: June 29th 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Banish the demon, stop the prophecy, and do not fall in love. Easy, right? Yeah, not so much.

Mina Donovan is a woman of many talents. Fire elemental, psychic, Legacy witch, magical asset for an FBI paranormal task force…she does it all. Her latest struggle? Not crushing on her sexy best friend. Logically, she knows they can’t be together. Too bad her heart has never bothered with logic.

The friend zone is the last place pyro expert Josh wants to be with Mina. Not that he has any choice in the matter. A witch hunter falling for a witch? Not smart. He’ll just have to learn to ignore his attraction to the gorgeous woman who already owns so much of his heart.

If Mina and Josh have any hope of finding their way to happily ever after, they’ll have to banish an all-powerful demon and take down an evil magical organization. Oh, and they’ll also have to figure out how to stop the prophecy that warns a dragon will consume Mina.

It’ll take more than magic to fix this supernatural dilemma.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Chapter One

The staked witch burst into flames. Mina swore and jumped clear of the blaze. By the powers, she’d lit the wrong target with her elemental magic.

Again.

At least it’d only been a mannequin.

The camera above the door blinked a steady red, a judgment of her failure. Her boss could be watching right now. Or worse—her sisters.

Embarrassment sent hot tingles across her skin, and her pulse thudded louder in her ears than the massive fan above. Why couldn’t she control her powers?

If this had been one of her video games, she’d wield her magic with precision worthy of a stupendous title. Something inspiring. Something enviable. Something that would make her, Mina Donovan, legendary.

Second spare to the heir of a ruling witch family? Yeah, not so much.

Reality sucked in every supernatural way. Or at least it had these last few weeks.

Her actual targets—giant cotton balls tacked to a wall across the room—mocked her with their bright white while the mannequin and its formerly Mean-Girls-esque you-can’t-sit-with-us designer threads burned like a tiki torch.

“You missed.” Of course her district attorney sister picked that moment to walk into the room. Delia was everything Mina wasn’t—accomplished, distinguished, polished. Never mind how her sister’s blue-eyed, blonde-haired dressed-to-the-elevens flawlessness compared to her own frizzy-curled, height-deprived, rolled-out-of-bed look. “Unless you’re practicing to light one of us up like a witchy sparkler?”

“Hardly.” Being recruited to a secret FBI task force right after college had seemed cool. But it should’ve come with a neon warning: “All loved ones may be collateral damage.” Last night, her oldest sister and baby niece had almost died. Not her fault entirely, but that didn’t ease her guilt. Or help her get a grip on her powers. The now flaming mannequin was proof of that. “What happened to safety cones and boring bulls-eyes for training? Whose idea was it to put humanish targets in here anyway?”

“The boss’s. A13 wanted to test your aim so you won’t torch us out in the field. After this little demonstration, I’ll be sure to stay out of the line of—”

“Don’t say it.” Mina jabbed the button for the secondary exhaust system to blast out her know-it-all sister’s opinions as much as smoke. If she’d heard one bad fire joke, she’d heard them all from her snarky sisters.

The roar of the combined fans wasn’t enough to shut Delia up. “Good thing this place is retrofitted for magical elements training. One wrong spark in LA, and the whole city burns.”

Not the reminder Mina needed right now. She changed the subject. “Who decided on the witch hat and the giant demon dummy?” Red-sequined horns sparkled in the light from the fire.

“My fiancé has a sick sense of humor. You started that little inferno. You going to put it out?”

“Yes.” She hoped. But when she pulsed a thread of magic toward the mannequin, the flames shot higher than its pointed hat.

“Did you mean to make the fire worse?”

“Yep.”

Delia’s yeah-right look was a speed dial straight to Mina’s self-doubt.

If the place had been made of anything but concrete, the fire would’ve raced across the room taking everything out. As it was, black circles spread in a messy scrawl on the ceiling.

Mina closed her eyes. The orange glow burned behind her lids, a flashing pyrotechnics show that didn’t help her maxed-out stress levels. With a deep breath, she imagined darkness where there was light. When she dared a peek, the fire was gone. Thank the powers.

“Quick work.” Delia sounded almost impressed. “Maybe we should race sometime.”

“Right, except if you’d used your air element, we’d both be unconscious. Me from oxygen deprivation and you from magic drain.” Petty, but true.

Delia’s powers would have her blonde butt on the floor within seconds—the price of her whirlwind-slinging element. Then the designer diva would be pissed off that she’d gotten soot on her suit. The tornado-tosser looked anything but amused. “Okay, super witch.” Which sounded like a not-so-subtle reference to another word ending in –itch. This was big sister bossiness at its worst. “Care to hit any of the real targets now? I thought you’d been working on this during your training sessions.”

“Don’t you have something better to do? Like making out with your fiancé? Since that’s all I see you doing these days when you’re training.” Mina wiggled her fingers in air quotes with the last word.

“Jealous?”

“Nope.” She totally was. Legacy daughters—those witches born to rule the witch Senate—were traditionally forced into arranged matches for powerful bloodlines and big bank accounts. But not her sisters. No. They’d each risen above that to find true freaking love. “So why don’t you get back to your guy instead of interrupting me?”

“Don’t be such a brat. I was just checking on you.”

Because Mina was the screw-up baby sister. Not as bad as their brother, but he’d set the bar low. As in conspiring with the Revelare, a demon-led organization looking to overthrow the witch Senate—that kind of low. “I can do this by myself.”

Author Bio:

Luna Joya writes sexy hexy romances in the award-winning Legacy Series.

Fluent in sarcasm and penal code, Luna prosecutes by day and writes at night. She loves history, especially Los Angeles and Hollywood lore.

A survivor of traumatic brain injury with steel body parts, she lives in SoCal with her combat veteran husband and their two-pound terror of a rescue pup.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

 

 

 

#Excerpt: THE MOON SHADOW by K. Rea

The Moon Shadow
K. Rea
(The Wolfrik Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: February 3rd 2021
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

AN EXILED WOLF.
A VAMPIRE PRINCE.
A LOVE THAT WILL BRING A COURT TO ITS KNEES.
——————————————-

When Evelyn Wolfrik, an exiled wolf-shifter, walked into a Court of Shadows nightclub she had one plan — find the vampire that executed her parents, put a dagger in his heart, and get out.

Being caught by Aiden Kensley, the dark vampire prince, before she could exact justice wasn’t part of the plan. Now that the little wolf is in his hands, Aiden refuses to let her go….

With a wolf rebellion rising, if Evelyn makes one wrong move the Court of Shadows, her people, and her heart could be lost forever.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

One second [Aiden and Jude] were huddled in the semidarkness; the next, a ring of fire surrounded them. Then their swords were aflame

Musicians beat out a rhythm on the drums. Jude and Aiden touched blades briefly, then, as the music shifted, so did they. They turned into two men fighting tooth and nail against each other, with each other, for each other. One went high, the other low; their sparring a dance. They went round and round. The flames circled higher and closer than I expected. Still, they dueled. I saw as Jude stumbled. Jolie gasped, and one of Jude’s swords went flying. The crowd cheered as his other sword was also knocked away with a flick of Aiden’s wrist.

Jude stepped away from Aiden. Aiden stepped back in turn, allowing Jude to back away unscathed. Jude melted into the darkness, yet Aiden’s swords kept moving, never stopping. The fire appeared to engulf him but didn’t stop. His swords spun and danced around him, giving him the illusion of wings made of flame until suddenly they were gone. The entire circle pitched into complete darkness and silence as the drums ended. The crowd cheered, I alongside them as my eyes adjusted to change in light.

The black figure that was Aiden strode toward me. With the swords in his hands, sure-footed, unmarked, and smelling of hot metal, he wrapped his arms around me carefully and kissed me soundly. The clapping and delight from the fae around us rose into a happy ruckus. He slipped into his shirt, then maneuvered us through the fae to the other side of the clearing, away from the bonfire and into the shadows…

Author Bio:

K. Rea is a part-time romance writer and full-time mom. When she isn't writing or playing with her daughter, she's reading and crafting. She lives with her husband and family in Florida.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

 

 

N.N. Lights Bookheaven CHRISTMAS IN JULY FETE featuring A VISCOUNT'S HEART FOR CHRISTMAS

 

I'm thrilled to be participating in N.N. Lights Bookheaven event with my Christmas book, A VISCOUNT'S HEART FOR CHRISTMAS, at a sale price of ONLY .99

An innocent young beauty, a seasoned spy and a mystery in the north that rages out of control sending their worlds on a collision course no one could foresee.

Charles Bainbridge, Viscount Edgerton, is the regional spymaster and has no time for a wife. His work for the Home Office is a top priority for him, that is, until he meets Lady Courtney Darkin, the sister of his best friend the Duke of Wetherby. The last time he saw her, she was running wild, her pigtails flying behind her at the duke’s country estate. She wasn’t a little girl anymore and Edgerton felt like a thunder bolt had struck him when he first laid eyes on her. But he wasn’t the only one with an eye on the young beauty.

Lady Courtney Darkin is excited to come to London in preparation for her debut Season. There would be teas, musicals, dinners and balls—everything she’s been dreaming about for years. The first time she meets Lord Edgerton, however, her knees go weak. She’s smitten. No man had a right to be so beautiful—like a marble statue come to life. Can Courtney melt the tough exterior Lord Edgerton shows the world and open his heart to love?

 Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Viscounts-Heart-Christmas-Book-Innocence-ebook/dp/B08LCP8XTH

One lucky reader will win a $75.00 Amazon gift card. Enter to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Amanda Deich, BECOMING BROOKLYN

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

BECOMING BROOKLYN is a contemporary YA novel with a superpower/sci fi element. It’s book one of a four-book series that follows the story of 9/11 babies who find out they’ve inherited superpowers from their deceased parents, powers their parents used saving people on that horrible day. 

 

Here’s the blurb:

Eighteen-year-old Brooklyn Blackburn never knew her father.

Rex Blackburn died in the 9/11 attacks five months before she was born. And even though she never met him, she always daydreamed about what he must have been like before he died. In her mind, he was a hero.

 

Little did she know.

 

Brooklyn learns that her father had been a member of an elite military, anti-terrorism task force, made up of a very select group of people. The Army believes she inherited his same gifts, and suddenly Brooklyn is invited to train at West Point. She and five other 9/11 babies learn to hone their abilities in order to protect our nation.

 

While they’re training for war, war comes for them.

Do you have a favorite character?

I love Brooklyn and identify with her in many ways, but my favorite character is probably Liam. His superpower is healing, and while he makes the readers’ hearts beat a little faster, he heals them, too, with his sweet and protective nature.

 

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

I was introduced to Sarah Anderson by a mutual friend. After I told her about the novel and Brooklyn’s personality, she said “yes” to the project immediately! I told her I wanted to honor the 9/11 victims with the dust jacket and hard cover design, and she listened and executed my vision beautifully. I may be a bit biased, but BECOMING BROOKLYN’s cover still makes me pause to study it a bit further. It’s my favorite.

 

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I don’t belong to an “official” critique group, but I had two editors and around ten writers or beta readers (who I knew would give me hard truths) read it and offer feedback. I wanted everyone  to have the very best version of BECOMING BROOKLYN in their hands when they read it. Her story is very important to me, so I wanted to make sure I did it justice by having it studied thoroughly for any mistakes.

 

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

I prefer to write to silence, but truly, in my case...beggars can’t be choosers. With two kids and a job teaching and coaching, I have learned to be flexible and write anywhere rather than demand perfect conditions.

 

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you? I typically write to an outline, but I’m not scared to go a different direction if the characters tell me to.

 

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

Absolutely. I hired two: one for content and the other for copy. Readers deserve the best!

 

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

Yes. BECOMING BROOKLYN is available online anywhere books are sold. If it’s not in your local bookstore or library, I’d love for you to request it so it can be found there, as well!

 

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?

I adore my husband and kids. They will always be my home. I also love teaching and playing and coaching volleyball. I have the very best core group of friends a girl could ask for, so any time I can sneak away with them for a few hours or even a couple days, I do. They remind me of truth and the gifts and  power I carry. They have incredible gifts, too, and I learn from them every day.

 

What’s next for you?

At the moment, I’m writing the next portion of Brooklyn’s story. She and her friends are headed out of the country and very much into uncharted waters, using their gifts to save not only each other, but quite possibly the world.

Becoming Brooklyn
Amanda Deich
Publication date: January 5th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Eighteen-year-old Brooklyn never knew her father. Rex Blackburn died in the 9/11 attacks four months before she was born.

And even though she never met him, she always dreamed about what he must have been like before he died. In her mind, he was a hero.

Little did she know.

After an attack at a 9/11 memorial gala, Brooklyn learns her father had been a member of an elite, anti-terrorism, military task force, made up of a very select group of people who had superhuman abilities. On the day the towers fell, he died using his power to save people.

The Army believes she inherited his gift, and Brooklyn is invited to train at West Point in order to hone her skills. Knowing deep down she is different than anyone else her age and wanting to learn more about a father she never knew, she readily agrees to become a cadet at the prestigious military academy.

She and five other 9/11 babies strengthen their superhuman abilities and spend weeks preparing themselves for their future in the army, fighting terrorists at home and abroad. And in the process of training, they identify with their deceased parents in a way they never knew they could.

Brooklyn knows she’ll go to war someday, but when terrorists find out about the group’s gifts, they don’t bother to wait.

They bring the war to West Point.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Author Bio:

Amanda Deich is an author out of Littleton, CO. In her non-writer life, she is a teacher and coach to hundreds of kids, and she is a mama to two. If you meet her, she'll talk Jesus and identity like no one's business.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

 

 

 

#Review: DISCOURAGING THE DUKE by Alexa Aston

 

  4 of 5 stars

Miles Notley never expected to become Duke of Winslow and when he returns home from the war he's in for a surprise. Emery, the stewart's daughter is actually the one managing the duchy because her father is failing. He greatly admires her. That admiration turns to something more and he wants Emery to become his duchess but she feels there is too much difference in their station in life. Can Miles convince her that he cares nothing for her rank and that he wants to marry her?

I was on the fence about this book whether to rate it 3 or 4 stars. I would have preferred a 3.5 rating because I thought the opening chapters about Miles's childhood were very well done and gave a great foundation for each of his "Terror" friends. It did take quite a bit into the book to get to adult Miles though. I liked Miles. He cares about his tenants and servants and treats everyone well. Emery was a interesting character. I liked that she was smart and could run the duchy keeping it profitable by herself. The romance between Miles and Emery was a little too rushed especially on Miles's part. Upon meeting her, he immediately knew he wanted to marry her. I would have preferred a bit more slow-burn type of romance for them. The villain came way too late in the book to really have the impact it should. It would have been better for the story if he had been woven in sooner. That plot twist helped explain his mother's behavior.

I liked the idea of the "Terrors" and look forward to reading more of their stories. I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

Interview with Tricia Leedom, PIECES OF EIGHT

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

Pieces of Eight (The Lost Souls’ Treasure Series Book One) is the first book in a new a brand new planned six book series. The fun, fast-paced action-adventure is set in Key West and the Caribbean and is centered around a treasure hunt. It’s set in the same world as my first three books, The Key West Escape Series, with some familiar secondary characters popping up and even getting their own storylines.

 

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?

My minor characters are always trying to take over things. That is partly how this series came about. Several minor character from my first series are finally getting their own stories.

 

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

Yes, I tell writers who are just starting to query, expect a lot of rejection, but don’t let it discourage you. You need a thick skin for this. And, if you do get a yes, make sure it’s the right fit for you. I received this advice when I was first starting out, and so far, it’s worked for me. I love my publisher, and I’ve had a terrific experience working with Firefly Hill Press.

 

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

Before I got my first book contract, I met several published authors who told me their third book was their first book to be published. I don’t know if this was sheer coincidence, but the first book I got published happened to be my third novel as well. The first two books were historical romance novels. My third book was contemporary romantic adventure. I believe the reason it took me three books to get a publishing contract is because I continued to hone my writing skills, I learned to accept criticism and used it to make my writing better, and I also tried writing something completely different and out of my comfort zone. Overall, it took me eight years of serious pursuit to get published. The secret is to keep learning and don’t give up.

 

What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?

When I first started querying, I had hopes and dreams of finding a big agent or publisher but as reality sank in and I received responses like “Your book is great, but we already have a book similar to yours on our list…But reach out to us if you get another offer and we’ll see what we can do.” I realized that going with a smaller publisher who was really enthusiastic about my book and supportive of me as a writer might be a better fit. There have been so many other benefits to going with a smaller publisher… I get a more say in the cover design and how my book are promoted. And I get more personal attention from my publisher. It’s a true partnership and creatively very rewarding.

 

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?

I am currently under contract for my current book and all six books in The Lost Souls’ Treasure series.

 

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

I prefer silence when I’m writing. I’ll usually put on one of those relaxation videos where it’s raining or snowing in some exotic location.

 

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

I outline my stories, but I also listen to the characters. If the story takes me in a slightly different direction, I go with it and then modify the outline as needed. For Pieces of Eight, I used Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat plotting method. It’s something I’ve always wanted to try and it worked great. I really kept me on track and kept the story tight, but at the same time I didn’t feel like it stifled me creativity at all. It saved me weeks of editing time. I plan to use this method for the next book in the series as well.

 

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

My publisher is also my content editor. After she completes her content edit, I do a second edit and sometimes third edit. Then the book is sent to a professional proofreader/editor who line edits and looks for consistency errors. The book then goes to a beta reader for a read through and my publisher reviews it one last time. At this point, I usually choose to stay out of it, because I’m a bit of a perfectionist, I know I’ll want to keep “fixing” things that don’t really need to be fixed. For me, that’s the hardest part about being an author, knowing when to step away and letting a book be finished.

 

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

My books are also on sale on iBooks, Kobo, Google, and Nook.

 

Pieces of Eight
Tricia Leedom
(Lost Souls’ Treasure, #1)
Published by: Firefly Hill Press
Publication date: July 13th 2021
Genres: Adult, Adventure, Romance

From the author who whisked you away on a wild escapade in The Key West Escape Series comes a sexy, adventure-packed spin off. Follow Mitch Thompson and his team of misfits as they find danger, intrigue, and romance on the hunt for the legendary Lost Souls’ Treasure…

Former special ops aviator Griffin Dodge spent two years working on a marine salvage crew based out of Key West after his military career abruptly ended.
The only person he let himself get close to on the Salty Dog Crew was a woman called “Bug.” They couldn’t have been more different – the former all-star golden boy from the Midwest and the scrappy French circus performer turned salvage diver – but she became his best friend. Griff was happier than he’d been in a long time, but when his first love called to say she wanted him back, he caught the next flight out of town.

A year later, Bug still resents Griff for ghosting her and the crew after he left. She’s furious when he shows up out of the blue to do a favor for her boss. It doesn’t matter that Griff is single again or that he’s sorry, she hates that she’s stuck flying shotgun to Martinique beside the guy who abandoned their friendship and betrayed her trust.

The trip was supposed to take two days tops. Just enough time to meet with an artifact collector who claims to have the missing pages of a diary that could lead them to The Lost Souls’ Treasure. But when the deal goes south, and Griff and Bug are caught breaking and entering, they’re forced to escape up the side of a volcano where the lava isn’t the only thing about to bubble over. The tension between them erupts into an unexpected night of passion that leaves them both uncertain about what comes next.

While Griff starts to question if settling down in the suburbs still fits the man he’s become, Bug isn’t so sure she’s willing to open her guarded-heart to the only man who’s ever broke it.

When a rival treasure hunter hellbent on beating the Salty Dog Crew to the treasure takes Bug hostage, Griff realizes his future plans won’t matter, if he can’t bring his best friend home alive.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:

TRICIA LEEDOM enjoys traveling to exotic destinations and having torrid love affairs with hot, dangerous men… even if it’s only in her own mind. When she’s not writing romantic adventure novels, she reads voraciously, tweets compulsively, and fangirls over a TV show based on her favorite book series. Tricia earned her BA in Creative Writing from The University of Tampa and her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her favorite authors include Diana Gabaldon, J.R. Ward, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Karen Robards, and Johanna Lindsey. She lives in Southwest Florida with two very spoiled dogs. Follow Tricia on Twitter and Instagram @tricialeedom

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

 

#Excerpt: DAUGHTERS OF HADES by Dani Hoots

Daughter of Hades Collection
Dani Hoots
Publication date: November 22nd 2020
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult

What would you do with the dichotomous power over life and death? For Chrys, apparently, it was to stay cooped up in the Underworld all her life. She wishes she could leave and see what the human world is all about, but her Father would never allow it, as she was never supposed to be born. If Zeus found out, she would be sent straight to Tartarus. So she has stayed in Hades’ palace all her life, her only friends being a punk whom she convinced her father was a genius tutor, and a demigod who she may or may not have almost kissed (father would be so mad if he found out).

After a huge fight with her mother Persephone, Chrys decides she can’t take it anymore and has to travel to the human world, since her mother loves it so much more than she seems to care for her own husband. With her two best friends, Chrys travels through Oceanus and finds herself in London, England. Ready to experience what it was like to be human, Chrys decides they can stay for a couple of days before having to return.

Nothing could go wrong in that short of time, right?

This is the entire Daughter of Hades Collection:
Endangered (Book 1)
Engaged (Book 2)
Entangled (Book 3)
Enchanted (Book 4)

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

—

Only 99¢ for a limited time!

—

EXCERPT:

Hello and welcome to the Underworld. My name is Chrys, and I am the daughter of Hades. May I take your coat?

I really wanted to say that to the group of recently deceased that stepped up to my father, begging him not to send them to Tartarus, the place of eternal torment—pretty much where all the bad people went. Beside Father was Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Aiakos, the other judges of the dead. I sure as Cronus didn’t want to be judged by that deadly trio. First off, they had been here longer than I had, since Zeus appointed them, and although nothing really ages here after death, they seemed to be older and grumpier than ever before. And I, unfortunately, had to witness today’s session of pleas because “I needed to learn the ins and outs of the business in case anything ever happened.” At least, that is what my father, Hades, kept telling me.

Father sat there, quiet, as the three stooges (that’s what I called them in my head, if they ever found out, I would be in so much trouble) examined the next contestant. The man before them was on the fence of being sent to either Tartarus or the Asphodel Meadows, which was why he was being judged. I already knew my father’s decision, since he was quite predictable when it came to judging people.

It would be Tartarus.

Father always took a long while, as if his decision hadn’t already been made. He could have finished judging today’s deceased already if he didn’t take his time about it. It annoyed me tremendously, which I knew he could tell as I sat there nervously fighting with my dress sleeves.

One of the men went down on his knees. “Please, have mercy on me. I never meant to do those things, had I known— “

“Had you known, you would have been perfect, right?” Hades interrupted with a scowl. “Done everything you could to be in paradise? There are no second chances here, the gods have given humans a chance to obey them, a chance to live in paradise. It is not our fault you don’t see the signs.”

I let out a brief yawn, trying to cover it with my hand, but my father noticed right away and gave me one of his cold looks. I tried my hardest to sit up straight, to appear as though my mind hadn’t drifted off to thinking about meeting up with my friends Huntley and A.J., or what I told Father was “being tutored about modern Earth affairs” by these friends of mine. Really, we just hung out and tried not to get into trouble.

Tried was the key word there.

“Tartarus. Send in the next one,” Hades ordered.

Author Bio:

Dani Hoots is a science fiction, fantasy, romance, and young adult author who loves anything with a story. She has a B.S. in Anthropology, a Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning, a Certificate in Novel Writing from Arizona State University, and a BS in Herbal Science from Bastyr University.

Currently she is working on a YA urban fantasy series called Daughter of Hades, a YA urban fantasy series called The Wonderland Chronicles, a historic fantasy vampire series called A World of Vampires, and a YA sci-fi series called Sanshlian Series. She has also started up an indie publishing company called FoxTales Press. She also works with Anthill Studios in creating comics through Antik Comics.

Her hobbies include reading, watching anime, cooking, studying different languages, wire walking, hula hoop, and working with plants. She is also an herbalist and sells her concoctions on FoxCraft Apothecary. She lives in Phoenix with her husband and visits Seattle often.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest

GIVEAWAY!

Hosted by:

 

 

 

#Review: WHEN A DUKE LOVES A GOVERNESS by Olivia Drake

 

3 of 5 stars

Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin, feels out of his depth when it comes to his young daughter. How can a 4-year-old child disrupt a household so badly? When his wife dies in childbirth, Guy sailed the world gathering specimens for his scholarly pursuits, leaving the infant in the care of his in-laws. But when he is thrust into the role of Duke by the deaths of his father and older brother, he returns to England to take up the mantel and the care of his daughter. He's now in desperate need of a governess for Sophy as she's driven away too many of them with her bad behavior. When Tessa James appears to apply for the position, Guy is suspicious of her qualifications, but hires her anyway. Little did either of them know, their lives would be changed forever.

I've read other books by Ms. Drake and have enjoyed them. I was on the fence with this one though and had to suspend belief right at the beginning that a duke would hire a governess with such sketchy qualifications. I did love the interactions with Tessa and Sophy as she taught the little girl that not everyone will leave her especially her father. The mystery "The Carlin Curse" that ran through the book wrapped up quickly when the villain spills all his secrets to Tessa thinking he'll get away with another murder. I thought the romance between Guy and Tessa took a backseat to the mystery in this book. The newly discovered family relations was a nice touch bringing Tessa's life full circle back to her dead mother.

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

 

 

#Excerpt: CATWALK by Nicole Gabor

Catwalk
Nicole Gabor
Publication date: July 6th 2021
Genres: Coming of Age, Young Adult

Eighteen-year-old, shy, suburban aspiring model Cat Watson suddenly has it all as the New York fashion world’s new “It” girl and she thinks she has everything she ever dreamed of—until she realizes be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

Leaving her good-girl image behind, Cat quickly learns things aren’t always what they seem on the catwalk, and she’s faced with a decision that will change her life forever.

WILMINGTON, Delaware, May 12, 2021

When 18-year-old Catherine Watson disobeys her parents and ditches her Ivy-league acceptance to start fresh as an aspiring model in New York City, a chance encounter with fashion world bigwigs gives her a world-class agent plus a boyfriend she only dreamed about. But as she navigates the fickle world of modeling, she realizes that to get ahead, she’ll have to leave herself behind—but is it worth it? Catwalk is an expertly written tale of first love, coming of age, and high-fashion, from award-winning author and editor Nicole Gabor, inspired by her own experiences as a runway model.

In her suburban hometown, Catherine had what most would consider a charmed life: a 4.0 GPA, a good-guy boyfriend who had his whole life planned out down to the two kids, two dogs, two-car garage—and it scared her to death. She wasn’t ready to follow a traditional path to a paint-by-numbers existence. She longed for adventure, for a life less…ordinary. When Catherine moves away to pursue her modeling dream in New York City and moves in with Jon-Michelle “Jonnie” who tackles the newly-named “Cat” as “her next project,” she revels in her newfound career, thinking “this is what it’s like to be young and beautiful in the greatest city in the world.”

“At that moment, it hit me. I was a mere mortal in a room full of demigods: actors, actresses, bygone legends of the stage and screen; men and women who had traipsed down red carpets all of their lives, whom the rest of the country, no, the world, had pined for, had paid to know the secrets of. Here I was standing among them, cavorting with twenty-first century royals.”

Cat meets Seth, a beautiful and kind but troubled New York scenester, the son of a ‘70s fashion model icon who fatally overdosed during her prime, and she feels strangely protective. She wants to save him like he saved her on her first night out on the town in New York City’s gritty yet swanky meatpacking district club scene.

When Cat is “discovered” by the one and only Philippe Borghetta, the hottest fashion designer in the pages of Vogue magazine, she thinks she has it all. Her life is thrust into an alternate universe, where star-studded cocktail parties, casting calls, go-sees, and nightclub openings revolve around her like constellations. She tries to play the part. Her former self, “Catherine,” was now a shadow of who she was and what she was becoming.

Cat thinks she’s finally gotten what she wanted all along—a chance to start over, a redo, a refresh. But as the lines blur between who she once was and who she wants to be, she’s reminded of her mother’s words, “Sometimes the things that are most worth fighting for are the things you already have.” Cat finds she has to make a decision that will change her life—and possibly the modeling world—forever.

Drawing on her own experiences in the fast-paced fashion model industry, former model and author of more than twenty children’s books, Nicole Gabor masterfully weaves a timeless story of self-discovery, coming of age, and the heartache of first loves. Catwalk is her debut young adult/new adult novel, available July 2021 wherever books are sold.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

My parents stared at me from across the kitchen table, stunned. They looked as though I’d just told them that our 12-year-old lab, Holly, had died.

I watched the wrinkles on my mother’s forehead get deeper and darker, and it seemed like she was aging right before my eyes. Was her hair turning gray? I once heard that former First Lady Barbara Bush’s hair turned gray overnight from the shock and grief of losing her baby daughter.

But I was not dead, or even dying. I was alive, and in the flesh. And I had just told my parents that I, Catherine Watson, their only daughter — the one with the 4.0 grade point average who my stay-at-home mother hoped would become a successful career woman, and my father secretly wished would follow in his footsteps as a lawyer — was not going to college after all.

I was, in fact, moving to New York City. To be a fashion model.

As I spoke, my letter of decline to the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Sciences was signed, sealed, and on its way to the admissions office. My mother cried and said that I was breaking her heart. My father yelled and said that I was ruining my life. Part of me feared they were right. To be honest, I couldn’t believe I’d actually gotten up the nerve to send that letter. I’d always listened to my parents, did the “right” thing. Never cut class. Been teacher’s pet. Made curfew. But I was sick of following the rules.

With my high school graduation just behind me, the idea of more school — only to be followed by an office job that would imprison me within four gray walls — was something that I couldn’t succumb to yet, if ever.

I was ready for adventure, for excitement, for a life less … ordinary. And I had a hunch that plenty of people stuck to the safe roads, so maybe, just maybe, I could make it on a path where everyone else wasn’t taking up so much space.

Of course, it did seem an odd choice. I’d always been so ashamed of the attributes that could, quite possibly, make me a model. Lanky and lean at 6 feet tall, I had a way of sticking out in the hallways, towering over most of the female (and many of the male) teachers. Growing up, I’d tried everything I could to blend in, to bulk up, to deny my stature: I drank milkshakes. Dressed in layers. Only wore flats. Avoided stretching in gym glass. Never stood next to the short boys in line.

But then, one day, something happened. My mother took me to Victoria’s Secret in Philadelphia to pick out my first fancy grown-up bra for my birthday. I was eying the “extreme lift” padded pushups (which I was sure would jumpstart my love life), when a woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted to be a model. Just like that.

“She just turned 14,” my mother said, looking a bit puzzled and slightly irritated. “I think she’s a little young, don’t you?”

“She’s perfect,” said the older woman, who was in her sixties and dressed far more fashionably than my 45-year-old mother.

She couldn’t possibly be talking about me, I thought. Is this some sort of practical joke? A sick, twisted joke? I looked around expecting to see some mean girls from school, but the place was virtually empty. I turned back around, feeling my face flush.

“You … you think I could model?” I stammered.

“I think you’re wasting your talent if you don’t,” she said. “Here’s my card. Call me when your mother changes her mind.”

But she never did. And neither did my father. Despite all my begging and pleading. My parents said that high school was more important, that getting into college was more important. That anything was more important than “aspiring toward such a frivolous pursuit.”

So I did what any girl in my situation would do. I stomped up the stairs, slammed the door, and screamed and cried into my pillow. But for the first time in my life, I felt like something special. Someone special. And my parents were not going to take that away from me.

Author Bio:

Nicole is a published author of more than 20 children's picture books and an award-winning health writer and editor. Her debut young adult/new adult fiction novel Catwalk is inspired by her experiences living and working in New York City as a model. She's also a freelance writer at Highlights for Children and a senior editor at KidsHealth.org, the web's most-visited site for children's health. She lives in Delaware with her husband, three children, and their Goldendoodle named Ginger. Learn more at www.nicolegabor.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook Group / Twitter / Amazon / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

S

 

 

#Review: THE PROMISE OF LOVE by Meara Platt

 

5 of 5 stars

 

General Augustus MacLauren is an important man to the Crown, a man of the world used to negotiating peace treaties across the continent, but he's no match for the country miss, June Farthingale and her Book of Love. Augustus and his men stop at an inn on their way home to Scotland before he's to report back to Vienna. June and her 2 sisters want to try out some of finer points in this special book and choose Augustus as the test frog. June has no idea she's just met the man of her dreams, but will she be able to convince Augustus they're fated to be together before he leaves? And will Augustus merely follow his lower brain or will he see June for more than just her beauty?

Ms. Platt has delighted readers with her Book of Love series and while this is book 10 in the series, it is easily a stand alone story. I absolutely loved the banter between Augustus and June as they each try to interpret the different passages in the book. An inexperienced young woman versus the battle weary general--who will win? And does winning mean you've found your true love or just your latest distraction? These are the questions that need to be answered. Throw in mischief, mayhem and attempted murder and you've found your latest read from Ms. Platt. It is such a delightful book and I absolutely love Augustus. He's such a honorable man, but June is a determined miss. She's chosen Augustus and that's the end of her search for love. I was only sorry when the book ended. I wanted it to go on and on. I can hardly wait until the next book.