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Chance Series
By J. Bliss
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
Synopsis Not By Chance Book 1:
Drew Rodd has the desire to escape the shadow of his parents and avoid following in the footsteps of his father and his destructive tendencies. At just twenty-four, Drew is promoted to Executive Director at Rival Tech.
Drew’s way of life involves a constant struggle with his father’s devious intentions and manipulations. He is always seeking to prick and prod Drew to advance and become a pawn to further his own success. Drew is determined to value his hate to get ahead professionally, but the beasts from his past keep lurking.
Jasmine Chance is in her last year of college, a challenge she chose after suffering through physical abuse and leaving home without ever looking back. She has done all she can to carry on toward graduating with her college degree, she believes a brighter future will keep her away from the nightmare that was her childhood. However, her life changes forever the day she met Drew.
A dinner party draws the two together in an electrifying way. After being preyed upon by their pasts, they stick together closely as a couple once their life circles out of whack. Will their electrifying romance be their saving grace or will it destroy them?
Synopsis Taking Chances Book 2:
This story follows Jasmine Chance who is lying in a coma after being brutally attacked by her mother's boyfriend. Andrew Rodd stays by her side during her recovery after the sudden trauma.
As she prepares for her new start in Paris, France she moves in with Drew and they fall in love, but it is not as easy. She's dealing with discovering what she wants and likes while facing the aftermath of her attack, family members that are attempting to make her life a living hell, and the news that her biological father has been in contact with her sister.
Being in a relationship with Drew seems impossible. Jasmine feels like she's never going to escape the ongoing drama of her past. Jasmine's new start feels like it's in jeopardy and she has to decide whether staying in Atlanta or following her dream of going to Paris is best.
Synopsis Last Chance Book 3:
After a traumatic attack, Jasmine Chance recovers from a coma and decides to take on the life she’s always longed for in Paris. While there she encounters a man from her past, causing her to re-evaluate what she truly desires.
As the love of her life, Andrew Rodd, is fighting for their relationship, his company is threatened, forcing him to choose between struggling to make things work with Jasmine and staying in Atlanta to uphold his business.
Will Jasmine find the balance between her passions, companionship, and the future of her business? Will Drew choose to maintain order in his company and remain loyal to his best friend or finally win the love of his life? Only time can tell if this will be their last chance.
Goodreads
Excerpt:
Not By Chance
Chapter Six
Jasmine
I catch sight of Victoria and Romel on the dance floor. I wait on the sidelines at the bar patrolling Victoria practically having sex on the dance floor. Drunk and horny college boys surround me, thinking I'm waiting to audition for them to take me as their sex fling. I shake my head at my chica, a person would suspect this chick is getting a degree in sexology. If they offered the degree, she would have enrolled in all the classes twice, she settled for business and anthropology with special emphasis in sociocultural anthropology. Perhaps, it supports why she has the urgency to study me and my different cultural patterns that are conflicting.
Surprisingly, I eagle-eye this gorgeous body on the dance floor. How could I not remember his body? I often enjoy seeing frat brothers get together to step, but this one was so sexy, dancing to music as if it was only for pleasure. I wonder if he does a private dance, because he looks as if he should be my graduation strip-o-gram, teasing me in every fashion of congratulations. I can’t believe I am at this bar imagining him as my private dancer, fuck! My panties are wet just by looking at him. The last time I did this was when I saw Drew eight days ago. Within seconds Victoria is yelling my name across the dance floor, but I am spellbound by my thoughts. She makes her way through the crowd, up to the bar, and bumps into me.
“Jasmine, why aren’t you dancing? I see you noticed Drew! Your exams are over, we are both graduation bound! You have no excuse!”
I attempt to speak over the loud music in response; not knowing if I hear her correct. “What are you saying?”
Victoria screamed from the top of her lungs, “The guy on the dance floor, that’s Drew!” I do everything to keep my composure. I don’t know how he has so much of a magical, physical power over me. “Oh, is it…he is leaving a lasting impression out there.” We both laugh. Victoria knows how I adore seeing men that are not afraid to strip. Hell, they expect all the dancing and teasing from women why is it so hard for a man to repay in the gift of teasing a woman.
“I will get Drew, stay right here!” Instead of Victoria returning with Drew, Romel grabs her on the dance floor as if she is fish bait. They are so in love and hot for each other. Seeing them is like a fairy tale in a book the way they are so in sync with one another. She manages to enlighten Drew of my location and he makes his own tunnel through the crowd.
He doesn’t speak instead he takes me by the hand insisting I dance with him. I slid my hand into the back pocket of his jeans, pulling his neck just enough so he can hear me. “Why don’t we get out of here instead?”
Drew whisks me on the dance floor as if I agreed to dance. “I would miss out on this opportunity to dance with you, if we did that.” Remembering how I witnessed him dancing, I know this won’t end in anything that isn’t naughty. He pulls me near him; his body motions like a wave in the ocean. He knows he is teasing me with the playfulness of his body rubbing me. He begins mingling the full length of his physique with mine, like an all over kiss of our bodies.
There is no doubt our attraction is building now that our bodies have surged amongst one another. His erection cushions against my body, encouraging a gripping sensation which bunches my skirt up my thighs as we grind. I can’t wait any longer. I put my hand upon his neck to pull his face closer to mine, just enough to hear me say, “I want you.”
Drew doesn’t notice anyone else. He picks me up and I’m yelling as he lifts me. “Excuse us!” He bumps into the girl we saw at the dinner party, Amelia. Her face looks like the swelling went down some, but you could tell she is still chasing glamour. I am in a tight grip, wrapping my legs around him, as we hustle to his car. Once we get outside the club, he rushes me in his SL Mercedes like the building is on fire. Drew sits me inside his car as if he was taking me to Grady Hospital. I am taken by how comfortable the two-tone leather seat is. This plush sensation is irresistible, how the hell is his car sexy? I feel like I’m on a couch drifting off to heaven. Sitting in the passenger seat with my skirt raised just below the kiss of my thighs, I unlock the door. As he sits in the driver’s seat his eyes look captivated by my thighs. He looks at me, adjusting the radio from his steering wheel and pauses. “Jasmine. Did you mean what you said on the dance floor?”
I straighten up my shoulders and look into Drew’s sultry eyes. “Yes, I want you.” He turns the volume to a moderate tone to the sounds of Thought You Should Know by Carl Thomas. I am taken by this man and his purposely romantic acts. It takes Drew ten minutes to get out of the crowded parking lot on to the freeway.
He looks in my direction. “I just thought you should know. You are so—beautiful, Jasmine.” I gulp a deep breath.
“Seeing you across the room in that dress…”
He pauses with a breath, aware of me batting my eyes as he compliments me. “Let’s just say you did more than catch my eye.”
We make it on the highway; he looks at me, unable to keep his focus on the road. Drew pulls the car over in a rush. “Jasmine, I can hardly wait.”
He reaches his hand until his fingertips touch gently down my face.
“You turn me on so much.”
His words with the melody playing in my ear are making love to me.
“Can I touch you?”
Hell yes! I whimper, “Yes.”
Drew begins enticing me between my thighs. He takes one of his fingers, swirling it around my inner thigh, until his fingers meet my wet lips below. I gasp, hauling in a breath; Drew slides another finger down until he reaches inside of me. I moan a harmony like a siren’s melody in an induced pitch.
“I should get to our destination.” Drew slides out of me. He takes his finger and slurps it in his mouth. Damn, this man is irresistible. He continues driving for the longest fifteen minutes ever. He reaches the exit of the freeway, stops at the light and leans over to kiss me, stroking his fingers within to match the circular motion of his tongue. I knew tonight was going up in smoke once he touched my French cut red panties.
***
Drew
All I could think of was my dick entering her wet pussy. I’d been building this up since I first set eyes on her at the lake. I park the car and jump across the hood of the car to open the passenger door. I grab Jasmine by the hand, lifting her in my arms and off her feet.
Once we make it to the elevator, I place her on her feet. I insert the key to open the elevator door. Pulling her in close, I take Jasmine’s bottom lip between mine and suck gently. Using the tip of my tongue as a paint brush, I trace the outline of her lips as if she was a painting. Her tongue dives from the seal of her lips as I wrap my lips around her tongue sucking passionately.
She looks me in my eyes; she can’t take waiting much longer. I hear this strange noise of a car driving off, tires squealing, and look back. I can’t see the car so I pay it no attention. I have never wanted to please a woman as badly as I want Jasmine. She is moaning, “I want you.” Hell, Jasmine is no tease tonight.
I insert the key in the lock and the door slides open. Jasmine stumbles back but I reach my hand out to grab her. I pull her in close. “I'll give you what you want. Lick by lick…then I’ll taste you. And hear you scream.” I press the button, to the lobby and the door closes. My finger caresses the curve of her ear, while we kiss slowly as I follow the motion of her lips and get lost in time.
The elevator door opens. We step out once we arrive to the lobby. The concierge tilts his hat once he sees me. “Jasmine, wait right here.” She looks at me with piercing eyes as if she is undressing me. “What is your license plate number?” By this time Jasmine’s eyebrow lifts. “I will send for your car to be towed from the club.”
Her face relaxes. “Diva Driving”
I walk over to the receptionist table and take a pen a paper that is lying on the counter to write. I pass the paper to concierge. “Call Shaun and ask him to have this car towed and parked in my third parking space.”
He tilts his hat. “Right away, Mr. Rodd. Have a good evening.”
The elevator chimes and its doors open. Jasmine steps in and I follow her. I insert my key and the door shuts, proceeding to ascend to the pent house. She steps close, her fingers pressing the right placket of my shirt. With heavy breathing, she places her left hand at the top of my shirt to unbutton it but I slap Jasmine's hand. “Naughty.”
She notices the bulge of my pants. “You want me now?” Jasmine bites her bottom lip inhaling the air. I look at her and fuse my lips with hers as she flicks open each button one by one. The lower her hands get the more my dick grows as if it is going to burst through the seam of my jeans. She moans as my hand slides to the lower part of her back. I jolt her body around up against the mirrored wall and the doors slide open.
“You are so beautiful.” I walk forward toward the foyer and she steps backward until we are no longer in the elevator. The door shuts.
I stare at the beauty of her golden honey skin for moments at a time. “Jasmine you are breath taking.”
The tantalizing fragrance of rose sets off a sensual feeling as I take in the sweetness of the air before I taste Jasmine. Her pleasing curves allure me into her luscious breast. “Your body is sexy.”
I listen to the sounds of her breathe as erotic pants sound off the wall.
The tip of my tongue traces the outline of Jasmine’s lips; slowly I grab her bottom lip and gently suck the edge of her sweet mouth. Her mouth slowly opens with a moan, as I wrap my full lips around her tongue with a passionate suck. Her moans grow, while my kisses trace her face.
I shove her against the wall and fall to my knees while gently kissing the layer of lace on her tight-fitting dress that stands between me and her skin. With each kiss I move her dress until it reaches to her waist. I can smell the lust of sex coming from her wet pussy and I look up at Jasmine. “Tell me what you want.” I grasp her knees and ease them apart. “I love the way you smell.”
Jasmine’s hands are fumbling around the top of my head. “Drew. Ahhh.”
“You like that.” I take my full lips and suck her thigh right beside her pussy, while moving my hand softly between her legs up to her panties. “You like that.”
“Mm-mm, Drew.”
I know I am working magic on her; she gasps for air while I lift her. “Tell me what you want, Jasmine.” I carry her to my leather S shaped sofa chair. Bending her body over the curve of the chair, I take a hold of her knees, easing them apart. I place my lips on the top of her panties, and slightly bite at them. “Tell me…” She still doesn’t answer. It’s like she’s intoxicated, and it is turning me the fuck on. I grab around from the curve of her ass and pull at her panties. “Tell me what you want, Jasmine.” I lick her inner thigh and move, twirling my tongue with intensity. I take one hand to prop her legs back together and Jasmine sounds off like a siren as I take off her panties. “Tell me.”
With a sexy sigh she says, “You…” She is panting with her words. “I want you.” My dick grows, digging into my zipper. It is taking everything in me to control myself. I stare in her eyes, “You are so sexy, Jasmine.”
I caress her arms, while I kiss her sweet neck. With each soft stroke of my fingertips upon her, she moves as if my touch electrifies her. Her breathing grows stronger as she speaks, “Drew, I want you.”
Purchase:
Amazon
Author Bio:
J. Bliss Influenced by, Maya Angelo, Terry McMillan, and her own mother's prestigious writing, J. Bliss began writing stimulating poetry at the age of thirteen. She dreamt of being an author and never gave up on the passion deep to write that she held within herself.
Her first novel originated from a past radio talk show she was the host of, based on many callers that spoke about having marital problems, most of which stemmed from a lack of intimacy. Drawing from her own experiences and struggles, she felt compelled to write Lovers of Convenience leading to Not by Chance.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
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A Soul Reclaimed
By Shayna Grissom
Publication Date: April 1st 2019 Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
Hell is divided into seven regions. The first region is designated for the purest of souls, the seventh is for the evilest. There was once a king of Hell, but the steward family has ruled for centuries.
Nora, the stepdaughter of the steward is undone when her mother and step-father take away her beloved tutor, Peter. When Nora confronts the steward and her mother, the discussion is heated and ends with the steward in inexplicable pain.
Shortly after, Nora finds herself in the Starry Wood. Peter told her of the perils within the forest, and it’s not long before the inhabitants of the wood find her.
A giant hunter named Aegis comes to Nora’s aid. He is drawn to Nora, compelled to protect her from the steward’s assassins, the giants, and the evil souls who escape the seventh region.
Together, they travel the seven layers of Hell to discover why the steward is so threatened by a teenage girl.
Goodreads
Excerpt:
He assumed the corset was the culprit of my breathing problems and tried to remove it. At first, he attempted to untie it, but when the laces didn't free me from the stills, he resorted to breaking the strings. Being free of the corset helped some, but it didn't stop the hyperventilation.
A knock at the cabin door only made things worse for Aegis. "Hello, this is the second mate, Mr. Torres. Is everything all right in there?"
Aegis opened the door and brought the man in. "I can't get her to stop doing that," he said in a panic.
"What were you doing to her?" the man accused.
"What?" Aegis realized what the man thought. I was half dressed and hysterical.
"No, I didn't touch her—I thought the corset was hurting her. She was upset and started making that noise, and I didn't know what to do."
Mr. Torres swung into action. He stepped into the bathroom and produced a bag. Aegis watched him suspiciously as he held it over my mouth and nose. After several inhalations, I could breathe normally. Working intermittently with the bag, I caught my breath. The pounding in my temples was so loud all I could do was close my eyes and shield myself from daylight.
Aegis sighed in relief. "Thank you so much. I didn't know what to do." The second mate seemed confused by that statement. "You've never seen her hyperventilate? Are you newly married?"
"No, not married—I'm her escort," Aegis said.
Mr. Torres didn't seem convinced.
"I am employed by her family to take her to the third region to stay with her aunt. Normally, her mother accompanies us, but her mother was sick."
The second mate approached my bed and kneeled on the floor beside me. "Miss, is it as he says?"
"I'm so sorry," I said. "I've never done that before. It's as he says. Aegis would never do anything to hurt me."
Mr. Torres nodded in satisfaction. "It's all right. I have six girls at home, so it's an everyday occurrence in my house."
I laughed despite the looming exhaustion. "That sounds like great fun. I don't have any siblings."
"Oh, well, you're welcome to pay us a visit. Our house is the one that everyone avoids in the fourth region."
"I thought that was Abigail's bed and breakfast," I teased.
Mr. Torres laughed. "We are Abigail's ugly stepchild. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
I shook my head.
"All right. If you need me, I'll be on deck," he said.
Aegis showed the man out while thanking him profusely. He closed the door and rested his head against it. For all his worry of trackers and outlanders, it must never have occurred to him that his biggest battle would be to protect me from myself.
Purchase:
Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo
Author Bio:
Shayna Grissom was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She currently resides in Seattle with her husband, two children, and her beloved pets. Shayna draws inspiration for her writings from binge-watching too many shows with far too much wine. She is a lover of the macabre, the strange, natural sciences, and films that feature vivid colors and imagery. Her favorite film director is Guillermo Del Toro, and her favorite books growing up were Anne Rice novels.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
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The Rule of Many (The Rule of One #2)
By Ashley Saunders
Published by: Skyscape Publication Date: May 7th 2019 Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Born to a death sentence in a near-future America, rebellious sisters herald a revolution—if they can survive.
Twins Ava and Mira Goodwin defy the Rule of One simply by existing. The single-child law, ruthlessly enforced by Texas’s Governor Roth, has made the sisters famous fugitives and inspirations for the resurgent rebellion known as the Common.
But the relentless governor and his implacable Texas State Guard threaten that fragile hope, as Roth consolidates his power in a bid for ultimate authority.
As Ava and Mira relinquish the relative safety of their Canadian haven to stand against Roth, new allies arise: Owen, a gifted young programmer, impulsively abandons his comfortable life in a moment of compassion, while Zee, an abused labor camp escapee, finds new purpose in resistance.
The four will converge on Dallas for a reckoning with Roth, with nothing less than their destinies—and the promise of a future free from oppression—on the line.
Disobedience means death. But a life worth living demands rebellion.
Goodreads
Excerpt:
MIRA
Limos and luxury cars line the extensive circular driveway, stuffed with partygoers ready for the welcoming bash. Mrs. and Mr. Cross have already arrived with much fanfare from their son and his doting employees. I wonder if Ciro’s sisters are here.
I hear him get on the microphone, introducing his unwitting parents onto the stage of the overflowing banquet hall, the governor of Alberta and the mayor of Calgary looking on from the front row.
Everything’s falling nicely into place. If only the man of the hour would show.
I look at my watch: 7:30 p.m. He’s late. Ava’s knee bounces furiously, as if she can shake out her anxiety.
“He’ll come,” I say.
From our hideout in the corner of the foyer, shadowed and easily overlooked, we have the best seats in the house. A perfect vantage point to see and be unseen. Ava scans the budding festivities through the glass walls on our left. I keep my eyes on the glass windows straight ahead, seeing past the dazzling flares from the cars’ headlights, holding out for the first glimpse of the president.
A string quartet begins to play, and an electric energy pulsates through the hotel, enlivening the crowd around us with a giddy exhilaration, and I can’t help but feel it too. Eager, I spring to my feet. I pace up and down our tucked-away corner, checking the time, watching Emery from across the room, waiting on her signal.
“Do you hear that?” Ava asks. She stares up at the ceiling. I move beside her as we listen to the muffled roar of whirling blades slicing the air somewhere above the building.
“A helicopter,” Ava says.
“He’s here.”
We look to Emery, who stands near the entrance, her gaze locked skyward. Guests file past as she removes a headscarf from her pocket, drapes the silk over her distinctive curls, and pulls it into a tight knot at the back of her neck. She folds her right arm over her chest, our cue to move.
I feel, rather than see, Barend steal into place behind us, our long shadow, as we push to the end of the foyer. Pawel detaches himself from the crowd and crosses our path as he follows Emery out the front door. “Lots of luck,” he whispers earnestly. Like luck has anything to do with it. It’s all up to us.
Our target is the oversized clock that consumes the entire wall alongside the vacant concierge desk. Ava stops before the number six, and we slip behind a false door and stride side by side down an empty staff hallway. Three right turns, two left, a final door, and we’re outside.
There are no lights behind the hotel and no people. The night is chilly and moonless, but we find the footpath we were directed to take and make our silent way to the small grove of trees just twenty yards out.
Ten paces in, Ava and I turn from the path and weave through the evergreens until we spot the narrow clearing that is to be our stage. We position ourselves in its center, shoulder to shoulder, and wait. Somewhere to our right, concealed within the trees and darkness, Barend stands guard.
When told of the plan, Emery immediately authorized the private rendezvous. She knows pleading our case face-to-face with the president is the only way. Cameras and screens provide a barrier, Emery said. The media paints you solely as American rebels. Let him see how human you are. With Pawel at her side, Emery is to meet and escort the president here, while Ciro entertains his parents and guests, keeping them safely ignorant inside the banquet hall.
The minutes tick off, and Ava starts to shiver from either the cold or nerves. Or is that me shivering? Ava and I brought no weapons with us, to show good faith. No guns, no knives. Just us, with our naked conviction and hope.
This could be our last stop, a final end to the endless chase. A place to plan and plot and devise our crucial counterattack.
Ava nudges me with a sharp elbow. She points to the trees in front of us. Two distinct shapes emerge, a faint silhouette floating behind.
“Ready?” I whisper needlessly. Ava tightens her jaw, and I ball my hands into white-knuckled fists. I take a big gulp of air and exhale slowly. My breath comes out in swirling smoke, reminding me of a dragon. There’s a fire inside me, and suddenly I feel warm and calm. One look from Ava and I know she feels it too.
We’re ready.
The outlines become faces and bodies. Emery appears first, then President Moore, with Pawel a few steps behind. I stare at Moore, transfixed, my eyes glued to the man who can grant us refuge.
He stumbles forward, as if his own eyes have not yet adjusted to the dark. I search his every feature, looking for any hint of surprise, or shock, or understanding. But his face, though startlingly attractive in the starlight, is blank. Indifferent.
“President Moore,” Emery says, “this is Ava and Mira Goodwin.” He looks at us cross-eyed, his round eyes squinting as he takes us in. We all stand motionless, awaiting his response.
“You don’t look identical to me,” the president finally states, his thin voice magnified in the still night air. “One of you’s slightly taller, the other rounder.”
The leader of the free world opens with an insult. My first reaction is to defend my identicalness. Surprising, when all I’ve ever wanted is to be seen as different from Ava.
“Sir—” Ava and I speak at the same time.
The president laughs. “Ah, there it is.” The ground spins as he turns to leave. “This conversation will be moved to a different setting. Just the twins and me.”
Barend detaches from the shadows. Pawel and Emery enclose my sister and me. Ava grabs my arm, her grip tight enough to bruise.
“We do not agree to any change—” Emery starts, but Moore shouts over her.
“Security!”
Everything shatters, all plans and expectations smashed to pieces.
A gunshot rings out, then two more.
“Run!” Emery yells.
The last thing I see is Ava’s face, twisted in fear and fury.
Then something covers my eyes. My mouth.
I’m thrown over a bulky shoulder, the deafening sounds of a helicopter growing louder with every footfall. With every one of my muffled screams.
I’m shoved against something solid. I reach out, arms flailing, but there’s no one beside me. Ava.
I feel the chopper lift into the sky. Two spinning blades taking me higher and higher away from Common ground.
Purchase:
Amazon
Author Bio:
Hailing from the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, Ashley Saunders and Leslie Saunders are award-winning filmmakers and twin sisters who honed their love of storytelling at The University of Texas at Austin. While researching The Rule of One, they fell in love with America’s national parks, traveling the path of Ava and Mira. The sisters can currently be found with their Boston terriers in sunny Los Angeles, exploring hiking trails and drinking entirely too much yerba mate.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
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Demon Magic and a Martini (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #4)
By Annette Marie
Published by: Dark Owl Fantasy Inc. Publication Date: April 12th 2019 Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Synopsis:
When I first landed a bartending job at the local guild, I didn’t know a thing about magic. These days, I’m practically an expert on the different magical classes, but there’s one nobody ever talks about: Demonica.
Turns out they have a good reason for that. My guild is strictly hellion-free, because who wants to risk life and limb to control the biggest bullies on the mythic playground?
Well, some people do, and now a demon has been loosed in the city. My three best friends are determined to slay it, but even badass combat mages are critically out-magicked. And that’s not all. The monster they’re tracking—it’s not hiding. It’s not fleeing. It’s not leaving a trail of corpses everywhere it goes.
The demon is hunting too. And in a city full of mythics, it’s searching for deadlier prey.
If we can’t unravel the demon’s sinister motivations, more innocent people will die, but finding the answers means digging into dark secrets … and learning truths I never wanted to know.
— Note: The three mages are definitely sexy, but this series isn’t a reverse harem. It’s 100% fun, sassy, fast-paced urban fantasy.
— THE GUILD CODEX: SPELLBOUND Three Mages and a Margarita (#1) Dark Arts and a Daiquiri (#2) Two Witches and a Whiskey (#3) Demon Magic and a Martini (#4)
Goodreads
Excerpt:
Six face-down cards were arranged in a circle. Sabrina gathered up the remaining deck and set it aside, then studied the six rectangles I’d selected.
“In this spread, we start with the card that represents your current situation.” She turned the top card, revealing a woman wearing a crown and holding a sword and a scale. “Justice. An ominous beginning ...”
Why was I not surprised that we were starting with bad news? “What does it mean?”
“You will need to make a decision soon—something that will irreversibly change your future. A choice you can’t come back from.”
Oh goody. Who didn’t love those kinds of decisions?
She touched the next card. “This one represents the cause of conflict.”
Flipping it, she frowned at the horned creature that dominated the card. A naked man and woman stood on either side of it, loose chains around their necks, the ends held by the beast.
My stomach sank to the floor. Under the illustration was the card’s name: The Devil. Sabrina tapped her cheek. “Hmm, not what I expected. Are you having issues with addiction,
Tori?”
“Uh, no.”
“What about a new obsession? An unusual fixation? Wanton temptation?”
“No, no, and no.”
She studied my face, then the card. “Could The Devil represent someone else in your life? Someone trapped by addiction or a compulsion of their own?”
The heavy weight dragging my innards to the earth’s core grew colder. I said nothing.
“Let’s see what the other cards reveal.” Her fingers nimbly turned the next one. The air rushed out of her lungs. “Oh.”
Even if her dismayed exhalation hadn’t been a dead giveaway, the card’s illustration was hardly inspiring: a heart impaled by three swords. How much did I want to bet the heart represented mine?
“The Three of Swords,” Sabrina whispered. “Heartbreak. Loss.” I pressed a hand to my hollow gut. “Is someone going to die?”
“Let’s keep going.” She hastily flipped over the next card, revealing a robed man holding a wand in the air. “The Magician! Yes, this is good. This means the loss you’re facing is within your control—you have the power to affect the outcome.”
That was encouraging, but also terrifying. “So, you’re saying ... I can maybe prevent someone from dying, then?”
She nodded and flipped over the second last card. “Oh, hmm. The Seven of Swords.”
“I got that card in my first reading. It meant ... betrayal? Because someone was deceiving me?”
“The Seven of Swords is the thief.” She pointed to the image of a man sneaking off with an armful of stolen weapons. “In this position in the spread, it speaks of you, not others. You are the thief.”
“I am not a—” I broke off, distracted by the thought of my Queen of Spades artifact. I had stolen that ... and my fall-spell crystal too.
“The thief keeps secrets and moves with stealth.” Sabrina considered the card. “Paired with the Magician, which is the power to enact your goals, this card is telling you how to reach the outcome you desire.”
“By stealing?”
She gave me a long look. “By embodying the virtues of the thief—caution, cunning, discretion, and deception.”
I wasn’t great at the first one, or the second, or ... well, any of those things. Lovely. I pointed at the last card. “That one is the outcome, right?”
Nodding, she touched two fingers to the back of the final card in the spread, then turned it over. A crumbling tower struck by lightning and lit by flames sparked recognition through me. I recognized it from my first reading.
“The Tower.” She sighed unhappily. “A foreboding omen. Chaos and upheaval are coming— soon. Even if you succeed, your life will irrevocably change.”
In the card’s illustration, a man and a woman had leaped from the burning tower and were plunging toward the dark abyss below. Gooseflesh erupted across my skin and I sucked in an unsteady breath. “Your cards never have anything good to say.”
She cleared her throat. “Well, I mean ... the Tower is also a card of redemption, so there’s that.”
“Oh, okay,” I replied sarcastically. “That makes it all better.”
Her gaze traveled across the spread, and she lightly touched the Devil card. “Do you know who the Devil represents?”
I studied the cards. The Devil holding a man and a woman in chains. A woman casting judgment. Two victims falling from a broken tower.
A heart pierced by three swords.
The tarot cards or the universe or whatever mystical force powered a diviner’s fortune telling was sending damn strong signals my way, and I could almost grasp it. The meaning hovered within reach—but the harder I focused on the elusive message, the higher my anxiety spiked.
Purchase:
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Author Bio:
Annette Marie is the author of Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it's not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
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The Perfect Dress
By Carolyn Brown
Publisher: Montlake Romance Publication Date: April 16, 2019 Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
In the small town of Celeste, Texas, Mitzi Taylor has never quite fit inside the lines. Nearly six feet tall, flame-haired, and with a plus-size spirit to match every curve, she’s found her niche: a custom wedding-dress boutique catering to big brides-to-be with big dreams. Taking the plunge alongside her two best friends, she’s proud they’ve turned The Perfect Dress into a perfect success.
Just when Mitzi has it all pulled together, Graham Harrison walks back into her life, looking for bridesmaid dresses for his twin daughters. A still-strapping jock whose every gorgeous, towering inch smells like aftershave, the star of all Mitzi’s high school dreams is causing quite a flush.
For Mitzi, all it takes is a touch to feel sparks flitting around her like fireflies. She can just imagine what a kiss could do. Graham’s feeling it, too. And he’s about to make that imagination of Mitzi’s run wild. Is it just a hot summer fling, or are Mitzi’s next designs for herself and seeing her own dreams come true?
Goodreads
Excerpt:
Mitzi rushed back to the sewing room, where the hum of two sewing machines filled the air. “Graham Harrison just came in the shop to set up an appointment for his two daughters. He said they only live a few houses up the street from us. He looked like a bull in a china shop sitting on that pink sofa. And of course he didn’t even recognize me, but I sure knew him the minute I laid eyes on him.”
At the mention of that name from the past, work jolted to a halt.
“All the girls in high school swooned over him, including Mitzi, but she hasn’t told us if he’s still as sexy as he was back then.” Jody took a bowl of salad from the fridge along with a plate of vegetables that she stuck into the microwave to heat.
“He’s aged very, very well, and I’m having cookies,” Mitzi said.
“Smart girl,” Fanny Lou said. “Life is short. Eat dessert first. So you had a little crush on Graham?”
“Everyone did,” Mitzi answered.
“Not me. I was always in love with Lyle,” Jody said.
“Well, according to what I heard at the church bake sale today, Graham moved his daughters here to Celeste because they were being fat shamed down in Greenville. One of them knocked a girl on her butt, blacked both eyes, and bloodied her nose with one punch. It was the last day of school and they said they were going to suspend her for the first two weeks of next year for fighting,” Jody said.
“She should get a medal, not suspended,” Mitzi fumed.
Fanny Lou took a gallon jug of sweet tea from the fridge. “Who all wants a glass?”
Three hands went up.
She filled four glasses with ice and then tea and carried them to the table. “I remember when he went to work for his dad at the Cadillac dealership—right after he and Rita got married. His dad gave him a job on the lowest level, and he had to work his way up. Rita was furious because she thought they’d get a big house and a new Caddy every year. Stupid woman figured since his folks had money that he had an open bank account.”
Paula took the ham and cheese containers from the fridge while Mitzi pulled a loaf of bread from the cabinet. “You eating with us, Granny?”
“I’ll eat with you and Paula, but I don’t want any of that stuff Jody is having. I don’t eat fake meat. I’ll eat what I want and die when I’m supposed to. Slice some of them tomatoes I brought in here earlier. And I’d rather have bologna instead of ham and mustard instead of mayo,” Fanny Lou answered.
“Me, too,” Paula said. “I want one like hers.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Mitzi set about making three sandwiches.
So Graham was divorced and raising girls on his own. Bless his heart for getting them away from a school that bullied them because of their size. Mitzi could relate to the girls. But then, so could Jody and Paula. She’d always figured that Jody adopted her own modern-day hippie style to combat those feelings of insecurity. Paula had retreated into superstition. Mitzi had just plowed her way through emotions and other kids, spending a lot of time in the principal’s office for fighting.
She pushed all that to the back of her mind, put the sandwiches on plates, and carried them to the table. “Y’all know that this job for Ellie Mae could turn into a big thing. I bet her older sister will be the maid of honor and her mother will want a fancy dress.”
“That’s what you’re in business for, isn’t it?” Fanny Lou said. “Man, this brings back memories. Friday night was bologna sandwich night when I was a kid.”
“Why?” Jody asked.
“Because Mama always cleaned house on Friday, and she didn’t have time to make a big meal,” Fanny Lou answered.
“Funny how an hour of beading takes forever and our noon hour goes so fast.” Jody pointed to the clock.
“Good Lord!” Fanny Lou finished off her sandwich and grabbed a cookie. “I’ve got an appointment with my CPA at one and it’s a fifteen-minute drive to Greenville. See you girls later. You have my permission to flirt with Graham, Mitzi.”
Mitzi’s cheeks began to burn. “I had a teenage crush on him. I’ve grown up since then.”
Fanny Lou winked as she headed for the door. “Paula, since you live with Mitzi, I’m putting you in charge of being sure she takes her birth control pills every morning.”
Mitzi felt even more heat in her cheeks. “Granny!”
“When you get old you get to say whatever the hell you want to.” Fanny Lou closed the door behind her.
Purchase:
amazon / B&N / IndieBound
Author Bio:
Carolyn Brown is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and a RITA finalist with more than ninety published books. Her genres include romance, history, cowboys and country music, and contemporary mass-market paperbacks. She and her husband live in the small town of Davis, Oklahoma, where everyone knows everyone else, knows what they are doing and when . . . and reads the local newspaper every Wednesday to see who got caught. They have three grown children and enough grandchildren to keep them young.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
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Spin
By K.J. Farnham
Publication Date: April 11th 2019 Genres: Suspense, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Jenna Kemp is a typical high school girl, complete with a loyal group of friends and a seemingly understanding boyfriend. But when the demons from Jenna’s childhood resurface, she’s suddenly spinning out of control–drinking, partying–anything to numb the pain of the past. After distancing herself from her friends and befriending an outcast, her friends and family start questioning and judging her choices.
But when Jenna doesn’t come home one night, her friends and family realize it’s more than just adolescent rebellion. Jenna’s mysterious disappearance proves that there’s more on the line than they realized. As they sift through a series of her personal diaries, the truth becomes terrifying. Will Jenna’s final diary entry reveal the greatest mystery of all–her whereabouts?
Goodreads
Excerpt:
The doorbell rings when I step out into the hallway. Not interested in telling another Boy Scout selling wreaths or popcorn to get lost, I ignore it and retrieve the money from my mom’s dresser. Then I shove the twenty in my pocket and head toward the bathroom, but the doorbell rings again, so I change course and run downstairs, realizing it might be Jenna. I peek through the living room blinds and see two people I never expected standing on my porch.
What the hell? Why are Keeley Simon and Delaney Burns here?
I move to the door and place my hand on the deadbolt, contemplating whether or not to talk to them. A definitive don’t answer echoes through my brain, but then my phone pings with a response from Sticks asking what I need, and I hear Keeley. Shh. Did you hear that? As if she isn’t perfect enough, she also has supersonic hearing.
Whatever. Might as well see what they want. Who knows? Maybe after the epiphany Jenna had last night, she told them everything, and they’re just here to thank me for being there for her when they weren’t. Or maybe instead of thanking me, they’re here to tell me to stay away from Jenna now that she’s decided to come clean about all the shit she’s been through. I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ll never be a candidate for best influence.
I unlock and open the door, then wait a few seconds for one of them to say something. But these Ugg-wearing princesses just stare at me, Keeley with her arms folded across her chest like she’s a prosecutor on some court drama and Delaney shifting from one foot to the other.
I sigh and ask, “What do you want?”
“Hey, Leighton,” Keeley says, unfolding her arms. She clears her throat. “We need to talk to Jenna. Is she here?”
So, they haven’t heard from Jenna?
“Nope. But I assume you already know that since Mrs. Kemp probably called you guys, too?” Acting like I don’t care has become my specialty, but at this moment, I’m actually worried. When her mom called earlier, I assumed Jenna might have slipped out for a run without saying anything or that she was with one of these girls or that asshole Dustin. But now I’m beginning to wonder where she is and if she’s okay.
“Look,” Delaney says, marching up onto the porch next to Keeley, “we all know she’s been hanging out with you every weekend lately. If you were a real friend, you’d admit she’s inside sleeping off a hangover.” She narrows her mascaraed eyes at me.
I narrow my eyes right back at her, irritated that even on a Saturday she makes herself look like a cover model and seething at the irony of her last statement. At least I know a friend’s ex is off limits. I’m about to fire back at her, but then I remember the point of their visit and go back to looking like I don’t give a fuck. “Like I told her mom, she’s not here. I haven’t seen her since last night.”
I close the door a little, eager to get back to Sticks to tell him I need a ride to the grocery store and possibly someplace else now. But the way Keeley and Delaney look at each other and then back at me, their expressions matching how I feel on the inside, causes me to pull the door wide open. “Come in and look for yourselves if you don’t believe me.”
Keeley walks right in, but Delaney hesitates.
“Are you coming in or waiting out there? I don’t care either way.”
She hustles past me without a word. I close the door and turn to find her standing hip to hip with Keeley in the middle of my living room. Hip to thigh, rather, since Keeley is about a foot taller than Delaney. “See?” I say, raising my hands. “She’s not here.”
They both scan every visible area, which includes an adjoining dining room, part of the kitchen, and a hallway that leads to the garage. These girls live in the privileged kind of neighborhood I used to live in with both of my parents, so I’m sure they probably think our townhouse is nothing special, but I don’t give a flying fuck. I’d rather live in a cardboard box in a ditch than in a five-thousand-square-foot house in a neighborhood where everyone has perfectly manicured lawns if it means I don’t have to sleep under the same roof as my dad. In the meantime, I take a seat on the furthest corner of the sectional from where they’re standing. The soft black leather makes a crinkling sound as I slide back onto the deep cushion, my eyes trained on them and their contradicting features—Keeley with her dark brown everything and Delaney with her blonde hair, blue eyes, and flawless porcelain skin. If Jenna stood between them, with her chestnut brown hair and olive complexion, the trio would look like they belong in an ad promoting interracial friendships.
Keeley sighs, begins pacing the room and says, “So, if Jenna isn’t here, then where is she?” She stops and looks from me to Delaney then back to me. “You said you haven’t seen her since last night. Where were you guys?”
“Here.”
“Where was she going when she left?”
“Look, I don’t feel right telling you two Jenna’s business. If she wanted you to know where she was going she would have told you herself.”
“Excuse me?” Delaney takes three quick steps in my direction, causing Keeley to grab her pint-sized friend’s shoulder, likely preventing her from doing something she’ll regret. I’m shocked as hell by this sudden outburst, but there’s no way I’ll show it. Instead, I pick at the frayed hole in the left knee of my jeans and wait for the right moment to tell these bitches to leave.
“We’ve been friends with Jenna since grade school! You? You show up THIS YEAR with your stupid hair, weird gauges, and depressing wardrobe. And, of course, Jenna befriends you because that’s her—always wanting to be nice, always wanting to help—or at least that was her.” She sniffles, causing me to impulsively glance up at her. A single tear trails down each of her cheeks as she continues her tirade. “And then, BAM, all of a sudden she starts acting like a completely different person. And I blame you, Leighton!”
Me? She blames me? Any bit of sympathy I may have been feeling for her has just gone out the window. “Fuck you. You’re clueless. And I’d like both of you to get the fu—”
“Leighton. Wait . . .” Keeley pleads, her hand falling from Delaney’s shoulder when Delaney collapses onto the couch and plants her face in her hands. “Can you just tell us where she went? Or even who she was with?”
I should. I really should. Because the more I think about where Jenna went last night, the more sick to my stomach I feel. But there are still explanations for where she could be now, so I can’t. “Sorry,” I say, shaking my head and pulling a lighter and one-hitter out of my hoodie pocket. “She can tell you herself.” I maintain eye contact with Keeley as I bring the pipe to my lips, light up, and inhale deeply.
“Wait, what are you—”
Delaney gasps, interrupting Keeley. “You’ve got to be kidding me! You have no idea where your supposed friend is, and you’re smoking weed?” she shouts.
I chuckle to myself as I recall Jenna telling me Delaney was the one who wanted the three of them to try smoking pot together for the first time. She’s even the one who bought the weed from Lou. But now that I’m doing it, apparently, it’s a mortal sin.
“Let’s just go,” Keeley says, shaking her head and motioning for Delaney to follow her to the door.
As soon as both girls are out on the porch, Keeley turns, still holding the screen door open as if she means to say something. But I’m done, so I close the inner door before she has a chance.
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Author Bio:
K. J. Farnham writes contemporary fiction for women and young adults. A former educator who grew up in the Milwaukee area, she now resides in western Wisconsin with her husband and three children.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
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Love, Again
By L.P. Dover
Published by: Loveswept Publication Date: April 9th 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
Sometimes all you need is a second chance.
Aubrey Reynolds is a small-town girl who’s made it big. A successful Hollywood director, Aubrey doesn’t have time to linger on what could have been. But when a routine blood test comes back with a false positive, she decides to take some time off to do the things she’s always wanted to do: taste the famous chocolate chip cookies at the Minnesota State Fair, hike the Grand Teton National Park, scuba dive in the Caribbean. But after Aubrey admits to herself what she’s really missing, she heads back home to Dusty Valley, Oklahoma . . . and the man she left behind.
Cole Haywood is a small-town fireman and that’s just fine with him. Sure, when the love of his life left their hometown to chase her dreams he was heartbroken and—he’ll admit—damn mad. But Cole would have never forgiven himself if he had held Aubrey back from success. So the last thing he expects after all these years is to walk into his favorite bar one night and find the girl he’s always loved—there—looking for him. Maybe now’s the time to make his dreams come true.
Look for more of New York Times bestselling author L. P. Dover’s captivating novels:
The Breakaway series: HARD STICK • BLOCKED • PLAYMAKER
The Second Chances: CATCHING SUMMER • DEFENDING HAYDEN • INTENDED FOR BRISTOL
Goodreads
Excerpt:
I always knew Aubrey’s path and mine would collide one day, but I definitely wasn’t ready for it. For years I closed myself off from my feelings, but the second she came into town, they all hit me in the fucking face. I’d seen her on TV, winning her many awards, but seeing her in person hurt on a deeper level. It killed me to walk away from her, but I was so damn pissed. Ten years of pent-up emotions that I hadn’t been able to deal with were bursting out of me. I didn’t know how to cope with it.
Pulling into my driveway, I slammed on the brakes and hopped out. My chest felt like it’d been ripped wide open. I stormed inside my house and went straight for the liquor, knowing it wasn’t the way to deal with the issue. Turning up the bottle of the whiskey, I gulped down a couple of chugs. It burned the whole way down to my stomach, but it took the edge off. I don’t know how long I sat at my kitchen bar, staring at the half-drunk bottle before my brother’s voice echoed from behind.
“Has she already driven you to drinking?”
I turned around, and there was my brother, standing in the kitchen doorway. Gaze narrowed, I slammed the bottle on the counter. “How could you not tell me she was in town?”
Bennett sighed and lowered his head. “I’m sorry. There was no time.” Then he looked over at me. “After I ran into her at the fair, I took her to where she was staying and we started talking. She told me the truth about everything. You need to let her explain.”
I threw my arms in the air. “Like it’s going to make me forget the last ten years.” When Aubrey said she was filled with regret and guilt, I was too. I’d hated myself for not doing what I should’ve done when she left. Grabbing the bottle of whiskey, I set it on the kitchen table and sat down. Bennett sat across from me, his accusatory stare right on mine. We both knew Aubrey wasn’t the only one to blame.
“You two have a lot of talking to do, brother,” Bennett said. “I understand if you’re mad, and that’s okay, but you owe it to each other to work this out.”
I shook my head. “We can’t just turn back time.”
Bennett’s lips pulled up in a sly grin, and he shrugged. “Maybe not. Then again, it might be best you move on for good. That way, I can have Aubrey all to myself. If you don’t want her, I’d be happy to take her off your hands. We both know I’m better looking.”
A feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time ignited in my veins. Jealousy. Bennett knew better than to take what was mine. And there it was . . . the stark realization hitting me upside the head. I’d tried to convince myself for years that I was over Aubrey, but in fact I was still in love with her, no matter how much I wanted to hate her for leaving. I hated myself more for not following her, even when she told me not to.
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Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
She loves to write, but she also loves to play golf, go on mountain hikes and white-water rafting, and has a passion for singing. Her two youngest fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, but her favorite to write is romantic suspense. However, she has found a new passion in romantic comedy, especially involving sexy golfers. Who knew the sport could be so dirty and fun to write about.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
REVIEWS! - MYSTERY THRILLERS
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I started a new job and what is more mysterious and thrilling than starting a new job? Reading a couple mystery thrillers! So this week, I have the following reviews for you:
📚Joseph Knox’s The Smiling Man (Aidan Waits Thriller #2) (2019 Crime Thriller) 📚Pamela McCord’s The Haunting of Elmwood Manor (2019 Middle-Grade Mystery)
From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
The Smiling Man (Aidan Waits Thriller #2)
By Joseph Knox
Publication Date: January 22, 2019 Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Synopsis:
From the bestselling author of Sirens, Detective Aidan Waits is on the hunt to find the identity of The Smiling Man. Disconnected from his history and careless of his future, Detective Aidan Waits has resigned himself to the night shift. An endless cycle of meaningless emergency calls and lonely dead ends. Until he and his partner, Detective Inspector Peter ‘Sutty’ Sutcliffe, are summoned to The Palace, a vast disused hotel in the centre of a restless, simmering city. There they find the body of a man. He is dead. And he is smiling. The tags have been removed from the man’s clothes. His teeth filed down and replaced. Even his fingertips are not his own. Only a patch sewn into the inside of his trousers gives any indication as to who he was, and to the desperate last act of his life… But even as Waits puts together the pieces of this stranger’s life, someone is sifting through the shards of his own. When the mysterious fires, anonymous phone calls and outright threats escalate, he realises that a ghost from his own past haunts his every move. And to discover the smiling man’s identity, he must finally confront his own.
Purchase:
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Review:
The Smiling Man is the second book in the Aiden Waits series by Joseph Knox. I, being the Aiden Waits novice that I am, was a little concerned when I first picked this book up, wondering if I needed to read the first one before jumping into this one. Luckily, I didn’t. While there are a few happenings mentioned that I assume happened in the first book, they are nothing vital to this story line. Anyone can pick up The Smiling Man and understand the entire story with no problems.
This police mystery takes place in England, so laws and jargon are a little different than those in the States, but the story itself if a complex one! There are so many people and different story lines involved that it was 1) hard to get bored and 2) easy to get lost. DC Waits would be working on one case one second and then all of a sudden he’d be working on another one that somehow or another would eventually tie back to the first case. Throw in his past showing up and you have a whole other story line to follow! While I know this is how real-life detective work (you can’t compartmentalize your cases and personal life into neat little chapters), I found the way Knox sowed the pieces of DC Waits’ life together was a bit rough, and needed some tailoring done.
The overall story was an enjoyable as a mystery can get. I was constantly trying to put the pieces together, always a step behind DC Waits due to his inside knowledge because of his badge. And I do have to say, the ending was one that I didn’t see coming together the way that it did! For one roughed up cop that probably needs to go to rehab and anger management, he really does have a great mind for puzzling out the mysteries of the policing world!
Dani's Score out of 5: 🍾🍾🍾🍾
The Haunting of Elmwood Manor A Pekin Dewlap Mystery
By Pamela McCord
Publication Date: March 1, 2019 Genre: Middle-Grade, Mystery
Synopsis:
Pekin Dewlap hasn’t seen a ghost since she was twelve. But she’d do anything to get them back. Starting a ghostbusting business with her two best friends, Amber and Scout, seems like the perfect way to accomplish her goal. Of course, playing with ghosts isn’t high on their wish list, so Pekin has to do some arm-twisting to get them on board.
Once committed, Pekin and her friends find themselves in deep, trying to solve the disappearance of fourteen-year-old Miranda Talbert. Miranda went missing in 1918, and her spirit has wandered the halls of Elmwood Manor for the last hundred years.
In the midst of finding Miranda, discovering her budding feelings for Scout, and consoling a terrified Amber, Pekin is met by an angry ghost set on thwarting her plans. Will the Ghosties be able to help Miranda, or will Pekin’s business die before she solves the mystery?
Goodreads
Purchase:
Amazon / B&N / Kobo
Review:
I was given a copy of Pamela McCord’s The Haunting of Elmwood Manor by Xpresso Book Tours for this month’s Mystery & Thrillers review, and I’m quite happy that received the copy! I always enjoy reading middle-grade stories, especially ones that I can share with my teacher friends and my nephew!
McCord’s story of Pekin and her friends, Scout and Amber, forming a ghostbusting business is one that I think many middle-graders will enjoy reading. There is enough excitement and mystery to it to keep the boys interested, and enough romance for the girls.
While I felt that some parts of the story may be a little intense (I got a little nervous reading it late at night with the creeks and shadows of my old house around me), I think the story overall had a happy tone to it. It is a story of the paranormal, but it’s also a story of being brave, growing up, and knowing when to ask for help. It’s a story of love, friendship, and helping others.
The Haunting of Elmwood Manor is a PG mix of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist, with the light hearted and ‘friends-first’ feel of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter. Perfect for any middle-grade reader who enjoys ghosts and the paranormal!
Dani's Score out of 5:🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
NEW RELEASE!
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The Promise of Us (Sanctuary Sound #2)
By Jamie Beck
Publication Date: April 9, 2019 Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:
Claire McKenna knows about loss. The bullet wound that ended her promising professional tennis career drove her to make a quiet life for herself working with fabric samples, chatting with her book group, and spending time with her parents in her sleepy coastal Connecticut hometown. Then there was the boyfriend who dumped her to pursue her adventurous childhood friend. Now, Claire’s business has hit a financial snag, but she’s up to the challenge. After all, she can survive anything. At least she thinks so . . . until her teen crush, Logan, returns to town with his sister, Claire’s traitorous friend.
Photographer Logan Prescott is more playboy than homebody. But his sister’s illness teaches him that there’s more to life than chasing the next thrill. Bent on helping her win Claire’s forgiveness, he turns his charm on Claire and offers her big bucks to renovate his multimillion-dollar New York City condo.
After years of playing it safe, Claire must now take some risks. The payoff could be huge, but if it all falls apart, can her heart recover from another loss?
Goodreads
Excerpt:
“What are you thinking?” Claire dropped her hands to the table.
Steffi shook her head, waving one hand. “Nothing.”
“Don’t lie. Is there another problem I’m not aware of?”
“No.” Steffi inhaled, held her breath, then exhaled slowly.
“I know of one project that would make a sweet profit and let you really stretch your talent. ‘Sky’s the limit’ kind of budget.”
Excitement lifted Claire’s spirit, straightening her spine. Anything that accelerated plans to open a retail outlet merited her attention. “Sounds amazing. What’s the catch?”
Steffi hesitated.
“Never mind. You won’t take it, so let’s move on.” Steffi spooned whipped cream into her mouth. “Oh! Molly says that Mrs. Brewster is thinking of remodeling her master bath.”
Mrs. Brewster’s late husband had left her comfortably well off, but you’d never know it. She clipped every coupon available to humanity—Claire had been behind her at the grocery store more than once. She put only two dollars in the collection basket at church each week, despite having enough money to leave more. And she gave out bite-size candy at Halloween. Bite-size!
“We can’t rely on Ryan’s mom as our major source of leads, and Mrs. Brewster spending big bucks on a remodel sounds improbable..” She leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Don’t make me beg. If you have a solution, I won’t dismiss it out of hand, I promise. I’m not an idiot. We need income. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the doors open.”
Steffi went still, her chin just above the mug held midair. “Whatever it takes?”
Claire’s hair stood on end, but she motioned “Let’s have it” with both hands.
Steffi hesitated. “How would you like to redecorate a high-end condo in Chelsea?”
“In the city?” Her entire body prickled painfully at the thought of putting herself in the midst of that chaos and danger. She’d already been one madman’s random victim. Manhattan teemed with crazy people, not the least of whom were the ones who drove their cars like heat-seeking missiles. “Who’d hire us instead of any of the premier designers there?”
Steffi met Claire’s gaze. “Logan.”
Claire’s tongue seemed to swell and turn sticky. Work with Logan … Her blood thickened like warm syrup. Tingles and terror all at once—a sensation she both loved and loathed. Her own brand of crazy. Maybe she did belong in New York, after all. “No.”
“You just said you’d do whatever it takes.”
“Not that. Never that.” Claire didn’t need to look into a mirror to know that her fair, lightly freckled cheeks now looked like someone had smeared them with ripe strawberries.
“As I suspected.” Steffi shrugged nonchalantly, as if she hadn’t just pulled the pin from a grenade and dropped it on the table. “So that leaves us a little tight until something else comes up. In terms of our social media presence, I just read an article …”
Claire heard Steffi talking, but the words ran together like white noise because Claire’s brain was still stuck on the idea of working with—no—for Logan Prescott. His obvious ploy made her want to laugh. Did he really think he could buy her forgiveness for his sister? Well, Claire would never, ever forgive Peyton. Not even if he paid her a million dollars to renovate his condo.
“Claire? Did you hear anything I said?” Steffi turned her hands out in question.
“Sorry.” She rubbed the scowl from her forehead. “I’ll find another way to turn up new leads. Working with Logan is a hard no.”
“Too bad. You’d have so much fun decorating his place. I’m sure he’d let you do whatever you wanted. Anything would be better than how it looks now. Guess he never cared before, since he was rarely around to enjoy it.”
Only a Prescott would own a million-dollar property that sat vacant as often as it was occupied.
“I’m not an idiot.”
“Did I call you one?” Steffi had the gall to look stunned.
“This has Peyton’s paw prints all over it. I’d bet my last penny that she put him up to it. I don’t know what I hate more, that she did it, that you took the bait, or that she knows we’re desperate for money.”
“It’s not a conspiracy. I mentioned that I felt bad about putting you in this situation because of this home. Logan tossed out the idea on the spot.”
“I can’t deal with the strings that would come with his offer.” Except now Claire couldn’t focus on anything else because thinking about Logan took up all the space in her head. If Peyton hadn’t stolen Todd, she might’ve pounced on a chance to work closely with Logan. Of course, then she wouldn’t have been free to act on her desire. Not that she had ever acted on it before Todd, either. The hawkish way Logan could stare at her turned her to jelly around him and—oh, just no. “I thought you finally understood that.”
“I do. That’s why I wasn’t going to say anything.” Steffi crossed her arms. “You forced me to tell you.”
True enough. Logan’s image flickered through Claire’s mind again, poking at the tender spot of her pointless longing, like always.
She shook her head, dislodging all thoughts of Logan. “I’ll catch up with Mrs. Brewster and pitch a proposal for her bathroom. But we also have to scrape together funds to advertise and update the website, and you need to scare up reno work pronto. Promise me we’ll earmark new revenue toward retail space—”
A knock at the door interrupted her monologue.
Steffi rose from the table and disappeared around the corner.
From the other room, Claire heard Steffi’s surprised voice say, “Oh, we didn’t expect you so early.”
“Hope that’s not a problem,” replied Logan, in his unmistakable baritone.
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Author Bio:
National bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold more than one million copies. She’s a Booksellers’ Best Award and a National Readers’ Choice Award finalist; and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing, she enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.
For fun tips, exclusive content, and a chance to win the monthly birthday reader box, please sign up for her newsletter at jamiebeck.com.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
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Tudor Rose
By W.H. Doyle
Publisher: Month9Books Publication Date: April 9th 2019 Genres: Historical, Young Adult
Synopsis:
In 16th-century England, two teenage best friends find themselves on an exciting journey from the country to the Queen’s court in the hope of being named ladies-in-waiting. But Sybille and Rose soon discover they aren’t the only girls who have their sights set on attending Her Majesty. The girls must compete against worldly and cunning opponents, among them mean-girl Avis and her entourage of back-stabbing co-horts, tipping the balance in their already-tenuous friendship.
Soon, the grand hall is more like the hallway of a prestigious finishing school, with girls fighting for the attention of a dashing, young earl, amid parties fueled by drinking and indiscriminate relations. As the tension between Sybille and Avis heats up, the focus on Rose wanes, allowing her to turn her attention to more important matters – like getting close enough to the Queen to learn her secrets.
But being close to the Queen is not without its challenges. And when rumors of Rose’s influence make their way around the castle, no one, not even the Queen, will be safe.
Goodreads
Purchase:
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Author Bio:
Author Bill Doyle was born in Michigan, and wrote his first mystery at the age of eight. He has gone on to write critically acclaimed and bestselling children's books, including stories of real-life war heroes in "Behind Enemy Lines: True Stories of Amazing Courage"; the pick-your-own-adventure "Worst Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Everest"; the historical fiction mystery series Crime Through Time; the Henry & Keats series including "Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie"; the Scream Team series about Bad News Bears-type monsters playing sports; and soon-to-be released series "The Prizewinners of Piedmont Place."
Additionally, Bill has served as editor at Sesame Workshop, TIME for Kids and SI Kids. He's written for LeapFrog, Weekly Reader, Rolling Stone, Comedy Central, National Geographic Kids, and the American Museum of Natural History. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the film school at New York University where he was taught by the likes of Arthur Miller and David Mamet.
Bill lives with two dachshund-headed canines in New York City, and you can visit him online at www.BillDoyleBooks.com.
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Seer
By Hettie Ivers
Publication Date: April 7th 2019 Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Synopsis:
Ten years ago, seers across the globe were wiped out, thrusting the supernatural world into figurative darkness.
When word spreads that the first new seer in a decade has been found, powerful forces will hunt her.
The dead will unite to defend her.
And a repressed sadist werelock will abandon his century-long vow of celibacy to claim her as his own.
Goodreads
Excerpt:
Lauren
He cleared his throat. “I want to ask a favor of you.”
Here we go. He suddenly looked nervous, which made me nervous. I fiddled with the strap of my bag, readjusting it on my shoulder. “So ask it.”
“I want you to stay away from the man you walked home with this afternoon.”
Of all the everloving—“You mean Michael?”
He nodded slowly. “He isn’t who he seems.”
“I only just met him today. We share a class.” Why was I on the defensive explaining myself? “With all due respect, it’s none of your business who I spend my time with.”
“I know,” he acceded after a pause, his jaw tightening. His hand clenched into a fist at his side.
He wanted it to be his business. The confirmation sent an unwanted thrill through me. I squashed it. He was moving away. He thought he was too old for me.
I should’ve just said goodbye to him and entered my suite then, but I didn’t want my time with Kai to be over—forever. Plus, I wanted to see how far I could push his jealousy buttons.
“There a particular reason you want me to stay away from Michael? Something you know about him you’d care to share?”
He hesitated before saying, “Michael works for someone I know. Someone I don’t trust.”
This was getting weird. Go inside, Lauren. “I don’t see what that has to do with me.”
“Nothing on the surface. But I believe you understand more than most that life is greater than what we often see on the surface.”
What did that mean? A nervous, scornful chuckle escaped me. “Next you’re gonna tell me that you and Michael are rival international spies, I’ll bet. Wait, let me guess: you’re here on a high-stakes espionage mission that somehow involves taking turns playing mind games with an unsuspecting college student.”
The mocking smirk slipped from my lips when the light above us began flickering like crazy again—as if Casper was trying to tell me something.
Kai spared an exasperated glare at the ceiling before returning his gaze to me and lecturing, “Lauren, there are limits to what spirits can know. Much like the living, spirits see what they want to see, fear what they want to fear. Always trust your own instincts and your own analysis. Otherwise, your abilities will prove worthless to you in life.”
My cheeks flooded with heat at his sharp—and most unexpected—words. My throat felt irrationally tight.
Kai wasn’t the first to call me out on my fledgling supernormal awareness. My grandmother, of course, along with her close group of seer friends, had known. A few random strangers had picked up on something different about me and had made comments over the years. Heck, a wacky gypsy woman had even approached my mom in the grocery store once when I was six and had tried to buy me off her for the future potential the woman had glimpsed in me. But somehow Kai knowing about my abilities and thinking me ill-equipped to navigate them felt humiliating.
I’d never asked for this. Never wanted it. It wasn’t my fault I’d inherited it—and that there were no great seers left alive to teach me how to use it.
But beyond the initial, knee-jerk embarrassment I felt at Kai possibly knowing my secret, there was also fear. Every muscle in my body had tightened with it. Because more than anything else, the one rule Granny Nina and my mother had always instilled in me was that it was dangerous for the wrong people to find out about my abilities.
Who constituted “the wrong people” was something Granny Nina had never been clear about, though. Which made it near impossible to gauge whether Kai was among them. Based on the frantic flickering and increased humming of the light bulb above, Casper sure seemed to have determined Kai was a danger to me.
“I’m losing studying time,” I made myself say. “I—I gotta go.”
I heard Kai sigh my name and then curse as I spun toward the door to make my escape. I didn’t even get the key up to the lock this time before he was on me, grabbing me from behind and turning me in his arms. Divested of my bag and keys so fast it was as if they’d vanished, I felt my feet come off the ground and my back hit the door. In a flash, it registered that he was actually finally going to kiss me!No one had ever swept me off my feet to kiss me before. I was so overcome by the sensation of his strong hands digging into my ass and sliding down the backs of my thighs as he maneuvered my legs around his waist that I didn’t have time to get nervous as his mouth descended.
His irises were neither blue nor brown but a dynamic, coalescing mix of the two as they captured my gaze. His lips brushed once. Then he paused for half a breath and pulled back until the tip of his nose was barely touching mine.
No way were we stopping this time.
My fingers slipped into the thick, soft hair at the back of his head, my nails raking against his scalp, pulling him closer as I leveraged my upper back against the door and pressed myself into him.
He reacted by growling and squeezing my ass hard enough to leave bruises before grinding his erection so forcefully into my center I thought I might fly apart on the spot.
At my gasp, his tongue filled my mouth, stroking deeply, claiming it completely.
And I was lost.
My arms wound about his neck and my thighs seized around his waist, my pelvis arching and rocking into him, seeking as much delicious friction as I could get as his tongue plundered my mouth and his hands punished my ass, squeezing and rolling the fleshy cheeks in his powerful grip like he was angry with them—with me.
I couldn’t bring myself to care what he might be so angry about. I couldn’t bring myself to care about anything for that matter—except for how good he felt devouring me.
I sucked hard on his tongue as it stroked inside my mouth, letting him know exactly what I wanted. Needed.
Boy, did I need it. Suddenly, I needed to feel the full breadth of him pushing inside me where I was so wet and desperately empty, the full weight of his body bearing down on me, every ounce of his strength crushing me, every inch of him filling me. And I needed it now like I needed air—like I’d never needed anything before.
The current of energy flowing between us was crazy. It felt just like … well, magic.
It was like the buzz of energy I often felt in my hands when I awoke in the middle of the night. Like the sudden push of otherworldly clarity I felt whenever I was about to get a strong vision or message.
And then it happened. Foreign images—disjointed at first, then more coherent—began flashing through my mind’s eye. Images that made my blood run cold and my state of arousal screech to a halt.
They were visions of a little white puppy being attacked by a pack of full-grown dogs. No, not dogs—wolves. Vicious adult wolves were tearing a little baby wolf apart.
Literally, tearing him apart. His bones were being crushed between their much larger jaws. His fur ripped open, his limbs torn asunder, his blood and innards splattered onto the otherwise pristine snow-covered ground as his shrill caterwauls of pain met the merciless growls of his attackers.I could hear the horrific sounds as clearly as if I was there, witnessing it.
For a moment, it felt like I was. Instinctively, I knew this wasn’t a vision of the future I was seeing. It was the past.
The torturous attack seemed to go on forever. And yet it was all over so fast—the pack of wolves leaving the broken white wolf pup to die alone on the frozen ground.
Only he didn’t—because he couldn’t die for some reason.
He couldn’t die.
It made no sense, yet somehow I knew that gruesome scene wasn’t the first or last time a pack of wolves had tried to end that poor little white wolf.
I was jolted back to present reality when Kai growled against my mouth and abruptly dropped me. Unable to regain my footing quickly enough, my back slid down the door and my ass collided with the hard floor—just as the light bulb flickering and humming above burst, sending shards of glass raining down.
Pale blue eyes were glaring down at me in disbelief. No, it was worse than that. Kai’s eyes were accusing, regarding me like I was some kind of a monster—like I’d just committed the most unspeakable sin.
Crap. What had I done? Sometimes I got so caught up in visions I lost track of what was happening in the present. I’d clearly done something to offend him. Then I noticed a tinge of blood staining his lip.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to … bite … you?” My statement of apology ended as a question when I tasted blood in my own mouth and felt the sting from a fresh gash as I ran my tongue over my lower lip.
I was the one bleeding. He’d bitten me.
“Have to go.” His tone was emotionless, his piercing eyes dazed. “You won’t see me again.”
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Author Bio:
Hettie Ivers is an accidental romance author who likes to escape the stress of her workweek with a good dirty book—preferably one that’s also funny. Her current career does not allow much time for creative smut writing, but she loves to write after hours and on weekends and strives to publish one to two books per year, as life permits.
To learn more about Hettie and the books she has written, please feel free to visit her website at www.hettieivers.com, sign up for her Newsletter, friend her on Facebook, or join her Facebook Group to keep in touch.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
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Venomous Heart (Eok Warrior #3)
By Mary Auclair
Publication Date: April 4th 2019 Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Synopsis:
After drowning his soul in blood, can this alien warrior be saved?
As the only doctor on Aveyn, Ava works day and night for the people she considers hers. Only… she’s not really one of them, is she? She’s a hybrid, a highly illegal creature created by Trade Minister Knut for his personal enjoyment. And she risks a fate worse than death if her existence is ever discovered by Prime Councilor Aav, the most powerful Matriarch in the Ring.
When a tall, arrogant, sapphire blue alien comes to Aveyn, it’s not long before headstrong Ava gets in trouble with him – the new Eok warrior in charge.
Arlen wants nothing to do with his new assignment on Aveyn. All he wants is to return to the violence at the Frontier and drown his broken heart in bloodshed. But he made a deal with his brother, the Commander-in Chief-of the Eok armies: a year of peace for a year of combat. So, Arlen comes to Aveyn fully intent on ruling all those who live there with an iron fist…
… all except a troublesome, gorgeous female whose purple eyes haunt his dreams. When the Mating Venom pushes him to the edge of madness, can Arlen learn to trust in his heart again, or is his soul lost to the bloodlust?
Goodreads
Excerpt:
She closed her eyes.
The scents became clearer as she kept her eyes closed. The water, pure and cold; the grass under her naked soles; and the flowers. The flowers, with their stubborn, extravagant love for life. How many times had she wished she was like one of those flowers? Blooming, happy, beautiful. Hundreds of times, thousands, she’d wished it. Every time Knut made her cry, every time Knut made her feel like she wasn’t truly a person.
“You shouldn’t come out here alone, especially at night.”
A male voice startled her and Ava turned quickly, holding the scalpel she had brought with her in front of her body defensively. A tall, broad figure stepped out of the deep shadows created by a series of bushes, a figure she recognized instantly.
“I could tell you the same thing.” Ava lowered her arm but didn’t withdraw it completely.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were following me.”
“I am following you.” There it was again, that humorless voice, all business and military.
It made her body tingle in all the wrong places, even though alarms bells rang in her head.
Ava watched warily as Arlen approached, completely undeterred by her weapon.
“How very stalkerish of you.”
He didn’t answer, just prowled closer to her with an uncanny, almost feline grace. The silver moonlight reflected off his head, making the markings on his skin even more apparent. A tiny thrill skittered across her skin at the sight of him and she pulled the sides of her cotton sweater more tightly around her body.
He was close enough now that she could see his features clearly, the harsh shadows from the cloudless moon playing on the angles of his face, giving him the appearance of an ancient,
long-forgotten deity. His pale eyes reflected the light, seeming almost entirely white as he stared down at her.
There was nothing soft about him. Not even the plump hardness of his lips as his mouth stretched into a humorless grin.
“Are you always this insolent?”
Arlen hovered above her, barely two feet away, and he was so tall she had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. His arms were bare in his sleeveless vest, rippling with muscles and covered with markings. He was a monument to strength and control, to this cold military authority she sensed in everything he did.
The tingling in her belly grew as she stared at those strong arms, that skin covered with markings that seemed as rough as it was soft. What would it feel to run her fingers along it? Her tongue?
Get a grip! What is going on with you?
“Maybe it’s just your Eok charm.” Ava forced herself to relax her posture but her arms refused to let go, and she still hugged herself. “Are you always this creepy?”
He shook his head at her sassy answer then his eyes went down to her scalpel. The corner of his mouth curved up slightly, and there was something in his gaze that wasn’t there before as he looked back up at her. It looked an awful lot like amusement.
“Do you plan on stabbing me? If so, I hope your arms are stronger than they look. It’ll take you all night to kill me with that.”
“Of course not.” Ava brought her arm down, suddenly feeling very foolish. What was she expecting, anyway? It wasn’t like she could fight off an Eok warrior with her scalpel. “I brought it with me for protection, that’s all.” She turned to the river, but she could feel Arlen’s gaze on her. “Nobody comes here, anyway.”
“Nobody but you.” He planted himself at her side and they stayed like that in silence for a while. When he finally spoke again, his voice wasn’t all business and efficiency, but a bit dreamy. “Did you come here often? Before?”
Ava’s arms tightened around her body and a sudden surge of emotions welled up in her throat. Aside from Uril, nobody asked her questions. Nobody cared what she felt. Why did he?
Or maybe she was just a fool to think he did.
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Author Bio:
Mary grew up in the quiet peace of a small rural village in the heart of Quebec, Canada. She spent her childhood chasing butterflies and catching frogs, playing in the mud and generally being as unladylike as she could.
She now write as much as her busy schedule allows to bring to life her inner world, filled with exotic planets, mysterious creatures and off course, hot, alpha heroes and the women who melt their hearts. When she's not writing, she can be found in the garden, walking her dogs or playing with fire in her kitchen as a part time hit-or-miss chef.
She loves to hear from her readers, so don't be shy and drop her a line! Sign up for the newsletter on her website to receive sneak peeks, exclusive bonus stories and special discounts!
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
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Lanterns in the Sky (The Starlight Chronicles #1)
By PS Malcolm
Publication Date: April 2nd 2019 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Everything was normal for Lucy Maisfer until the day a star fell from the sky and knocked her out. Upon waking, she comes face-to-face with Jason Woods, who also happens to be the mysterious new guy in her best friend, Valarie’s, life.
Then the strange dreams begin, and she learns about the Starlight Princess— who must not under any circumstance be reawakened. Driven to uncover the meaning of it, she finds herself caught up in a strange twist of events that eventually lead to bigger danger than she ever anticipated. Before long, Lucy is forced to make a choice between saving the world, or saving her best friend; only to discover that Valarie cannot be saved… that she has an even darker secret, and that her supposed star-crossed romance with Jason might not be so destined after all…
Goodreads
Excerpt:
Prologue
A pair of boots, complemented by the pitter-patter of bare feet, echoed through the empty, glimmering corridor. Hair rose on the fair skin of the brunette girl as a chill settled upon her. She wore fighting leathers and wielded a dagger. The chill on her skin was battered by a single, naked flame, flickering on the torch she held. It eradicated every shadow cast off the marble columns and towering archways surrounding them.
“Hurry! They’re catching up!” she insisted. Her other hand pulled a blonde girl in a lacy white nightgown along with her.
The girl in the leathers tried the nearest door— white and wooden with intricate gold detailing. The door handle simply rattled in its socket.
“Who is? What’s going on?” the other girl asked, her voice trembling. She shivered in her nightgown and brushed her hair from her eyes. Unlike the first girl, she hadn’t been expecting this—any of this—and had been safely tucked away in her quarters until the other girl had barged in to whisk her away.
The brunette turned to the blonde and looked her firmly in the eye.
“There isn’t time to explain,” she said darkly. Her severe words struck like ice, and all warmth seeped from the other girl’s chest as dread roped around her lungs.
The girl in the leathers tried the next door, which creaked open. They both hurried inside.
Looking around, the girl in the leathers remembered the first time she’d set foot in this room. It had been a much happier time. Now, the library looked as dark and dreary as she felt—books sat in their cases, watching tragedy unfold before them.
Three levels high, with bookshelves just as tall, the library was the most impressive part of the palace. But at night, it was a dark, forbidding maze, hiding secret passageways everywhere.
Those passageways would be the key to their survival.
The girl in the leathers tugged hard on a particular book, sitting in a particular bookcase, and the adjacent shelves began to slide away, revealing a tunnel.
“Do you trust me?” she asked, turning to the other girl, who frowned.
“Of course I do—”
“Well don’t. Don’t trust anybody. Just run.”
Frozen, the other girl struggled to make sense of the situation. Then, almost as though she remembered who she was, her authority started to thaw through the ice that had encased her, and a hard glare appeared on her face.
“I don’t understand—”
“There is no time! You must go!”
She hesitated. The last thing she wanted to do was run from the unknown, without a single reason why.
The girl in the leathers gritted her teeth. Knots formed in her stomach at the thought of what would happen if the other girl didn’t hurry up, and she cried,
“Go now!”
At last, the other girl caved and ducked into the secret passageway. The girl in the leathers watched her run until voices echoed through the corridor outside, followed by heavy footsteps. Her stomach twisted, and she quickly yanked on the book once more. The bookshelf groaned as it slid back into place, trapping the blonde in the dark unknown with a loud, final echo.
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Author Bio:
P.S.Malcolm (Pagan) grew up in Proserpine, Queensland-- a small, Australian country town on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. She was a storyteller from a young age and spent years perfecting her craft.
For two years, she juggled waitressing in tourist filled coffee shops while undertaking two degrees in Creative Writing online. She has always had an interest in writing, but never saw herself working in the industry until she made the choice to self-publish her debut novel, STUCK ON VACATION WITH RYAN RUPERT. Realizing that she loved the process of publishing her book, she pursued an internship at a publishing house and snagged a spot as Pen Name Publishing's Marketing Assistant.
In between interning and writing, Pagan opened her first business working as a freelance Marketing Strategist for Paperback Kingdom-- which helps indie authors with all aspects of their author careers.
Pagan also enjoys reading-- particularly fantasy and paranormal-- and is a passionate blogger. She reviews books that she has read on her personal website, and indie books on her business blog. Some of her favourite and most influential authors include Amanda Gernentz Hanson, A.G. Howard, Marissa Meyer and Michele Jaffe. She is a cat enthusiast, tea lover, and floral fanatic.
Her newest book, LANTERNS IN THE SKY, is set to be released by The Parliament House Publishing in Spring 2019.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
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Ruins of Fate (The Omni Towers, Prequel)
By Jamie A. Waters
Publication date: April 4th 2019 Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic
Synopsis:
One wrong decision, and the future will crumble…
Skye Levanthe traded everything she owned in order to secure a place for herself and her son, Veridian, in a scavenging camp.
But all contracts have an expiration date.
Desperate to obtain the resources they need to survive, Skye agreed to navigate the dangerous ruins of fallen cities to search for tradeable materials. When a strange storm forced Skye and her scavenging partner into forbidden territory controlled by The Omni Towers, a ruin collapsed, nearly taking their lives and destroying countless others.
Only one other person survived the ruin collapse: a mysterious young girl named Kayla.
Faced with the decision to save her son or abandon her new foster daughter to a terrible fate, Skye agreed to the only possible course of action—to go into exile and take on the Omni traders in their own den.
No one ever said survival would be easy.
And every choice has consequences.
Goodreads
Excerpt:
“You must find her. Hurry. She needs you.”
“There it is again. I don’t think—” Her voice cut off as the dim sound of a scream caught her attention. She grabbed Leo’s arm. “Someone’s out here. They’re trapped.”
Without waiting for a response, Skye ran out the exit and into a large thoroughfare. Rubble and building debris surrounded her, and she saw what Leo had been talking about. Dozens of store entrances surrounded her, and she listened, trying to determine the direction of the cries. An almost desperate urge to find them filled her, hastening her progress.
“Dammit, Skye,” Leo said from behind her. “This is too dangerous. If the ground shakes again, this whole place could come down.”
“Hurry, daughter of the sky. She’s almost out of time. You cannot let her die.”
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Author Bio:
Jamie A. Waters is an award-winning writer of science-fiction and fantasy romance. Her first novel was a winner of the Readers' Favorite Award in Science-Fiction/Fantasy Romance and the CIPA EVVY Award in Science-Fiction.
Jamie currently resides in Florida with two neurotic dogs who enjoy stealing socks. When she's not pursuing her passion of writing, she's usually trying to learn new and interesting random things (like how to pick locks or use the self-cleaning feature of the oven without setting off the fire alarm). In her downtime, she enjoys reading on her Kindle, playing computer games, painting, or acting as a referee between the dragons and fairies currently at war inside her closet.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
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My One (Halo #4)
By Kimberly Knight
Publication Date: April 2nd 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
The girl on the cruise ship was the one he’d always wanted …
The guy on the cruise ship was her Prince Charming …
After suffering a miscarriage, Avery and Nicole were ready to get married and put the pieces of their relationship back together again. They jetted off to Vegas to get hitched and had a dream come true honeymoon.
But getting married in Vegas was just the beginning of their journey.
When an unexpected tragedy reveals an unexpected truth, Avery and Nicole are left questioning everything they thought they knew about love, family, and trust.
Goodreads
Excerpt:
The sun had fully set by the time I stepped out of the bridal suite. It was a crisp night, but I was on cloud nine and the cold wasn’t phasing me. The white lights illuminated the courtyard, and I knew that just beyond the trees blocking my view of the gazebo, Avery was waiting for me.
Avery.
The man who I’d met on a cruise ship. The man who had fallen in love with me. The man who had cared for me through everything we’d been through in the short amount of time we’d been together.
The man who I loved more than anything.
“Are you sure about this?” Dad asked from beside me.
I looked up into his blue eyes that were like mine. “Never been this sure about anything else.”
“It’s not too late.”
“I know. But Avery’s the one. My one. The one who makes everything better.”
Dad stuck out his arm for me to hook mine in. “Then we better get you married.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
He kissed the top of my head, and I caught Jessica’s eye. I nodded to her and a few seconds later, “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri started to filter in from the speakers. Then I took my first step toward the man who I knew I would love for more than a thousand years.
The moment Avery came into view, dressed in a black tux with a white dress shirt, everything around me disappeared. I thought that only happened in romance novels, but it was true. It was him and me and no one else. The smile he gave me was the one I knew I could count on for the rest of my life. He made me happy, made me strong, and while I didn’t understand why we’d lost our baby, I knew that no matter what, we’d always have each other. He was my prince, and I knew that we’d eventually fill our castle.
Maybe we weren’t meant to start our family yet. Life was weird like that. Maybe God was waiting to give us one when Brooke and Easton decided to grow their family. Maybe I would get pregnant tonight. Maybe. I didn’t know the answers other than Avery Scott was my soulmate. He was the reason I got up each morning. The reason I breathed. We’d fought for this moment through the ups and the one down that still crushed me every time I thought about what we’d lost. But I knew there was a reason, and I was excited to find out what our future held.
Today was the first day of the rest of our lives.
I’d heard that saying before, but now, I understood what it meant. We were becoming man and wife. We were becoming Mr. and Mrs. Avery Scott. We were becoming one.
Dad gave me to Avery, and as I turned to look up into Avery’s azure eyes, he wiped a tear from my cheek. I hadn’t realized that I was crying.
“Don’t cry,” he whispered.
“These are happy tears,” I assured him. Anyone could make me smile, and people could make me cry, but it was Avery who made me smile with tears of joy in my eyes.
“Good, because I didn’t get cold feet,” he teased.
I smiled. “I didn’t either.”
The minister, who was not Elvis, began the ceremony. I wasn’t sure what he said because as far as I was concerned, Avery and I were the only ones in the courtyard. I stared into his blue eyes the entire time.
Avery cleared his throat and began to speak. “Nic, my beautiful bride, my one and only, today and every day I promise to love you, to honor you, to make you laugh. May the way I look at you and treat you reflect the truth that I’ve loved you since the first time I ever laid eyes on you in the middle of the ocean. You’re the light to my darkness, and I never truly understood what love was until I found you. You make me the happiest man in the entire universe, and today I vow that I will love you until my dying breath.”
More tears streamed down my face as all of his words sank in. I swallowed, trying to remember what I wanted to tell him. Finally, as I looked into the eyes I wanted to bare my soul to, I was able to find my words. “Avery, I searched for you my entire life. While I always wanted the fairytale that most girls wish for, I’ve realized that life isn’t always unicorns and rainbows, and I know that love isn’t always perfect. Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, and holding on and never letting go. Love is realizing that every hour, every minute, and every second was worth it because we did it together. We’ve had our heartbreak, but we made it through, and today I vow to you that I will love you through the good times and the bad. I will love you until the day after forever.”
The minister spoke again and we said our “I do’s.”
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Avery grinned, and the moment his lips touched mine, I felt the love, the passion, the desire. I was so thankful that we’d chosen to get married at a venue where the wedding wouldn’t last hours. I wanted to run down the aisle, hand in hand, and go directly to our suite where we wouldn’t leave until it was time for our week-long honeymoon. However, we had an hour to eat, drink, and be merry.
Purchase:
My One
Series
Author Bio:
Kimberly Knight is a USA Today Bestselling Author that lives in the mountains near a lake with her loving husband and spoiled cat, Precious. In her spare time, she enjoys watching her favorite reality TV shows, watching the San Francisco Giants win World Series and the San Jose Sharks kick butt. She's also a two time desmoid tumor/cancer fighter that's made her stronger and an inspiration to her fans. Now that she lives near a lake, she plans on working on her tan and doing more outdoor stuff like watching hot guys waterski. However, the bulk of her time is dedicated to writing and reading romance and erotic fiction.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.
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A New World - Conviction
By M.D. Neu
Publication Date: March 11th 2019 Genres: LGBTQ+, Science Fiction
Synopsis:
A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It’s home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who will soon be told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world, unless they had no other choice.
Todd Landon is one of these people, living and working in a section of the world called the United States of America. His life is similar to those around him: home, family, work, friends and a husband.
After the attack on San Jose, Todd is appointed to Special Envoy for Terran Affairs by the nentraee, a position many world leaders question. Undeterred Todd wants to build bridges between both people. However, this new position brings with it a new set of problems that not only he, but his new allies Mi’ko and Mirtoff must overcome. Will the humans and nentraee learn to work together despite mistrust and threats of more attacks by a new global terrorist group, or will the terrorists win? Will this bring an end to an already shaky alliance between nentraee and humans?
Goodreads
Excerpt:
Ceremony A New World-Conviction M.D. Neu © 2019 All Rights Reserved
In this excerpt Todd is getting ready to meet the full nentraee Speaker’s House for the first time. It is a tense moment between Todd and Vi-Narm and a moment where Todd learns that not all the nentraee may think as highly of him as Mi’ko, the vice-speaker, and Mirtoff, the speaker general do. I hope you enjoy:
Todd finished reviewing the details on the ceremony before leaving his quarters.
Ceremony. Bullshit! It’s not a ceremony but an interview in front of the full Speaker’s House. Why didn’t Vi-Narm tell me? She made it out to be no big deal.
He rushed down the hall, his cloak, the Kap’erin, billowed out behind him. Several Nentraee stopped and bowed as he passed. He turned the corner and checked his datapad for directions. His palms were damp. His heart pounded, and not from rushing.
Vi-Narm waited for him outside large ornate doors decorated with carvings of gold and silver. The surrounding light bounced off the metals, creating shimmering circles of light on the floor.
“Todd.” Vi-Narm offered a stiff bow, her cloak shifting about her shoulders.
Damn it.
He should have been more diligent, not assuming that all the reports she gave him were the only ones.
We’ll learn to work together. If I survive this.
“Hello, Vi-Narm,” Todd said as he searched for a hint of a friendly greeting, but her face was stern and her lips a straight line.
“We will go in the council chamber where the Speaker’s House will be in session.” She eyed him coolly. “Once they address us, you will present yourself and answer their questions to the best of your ability. The interview process is simple, so you should have no trouble. But, do not be fooled. This will also decide if they will accept you.”
“Wait. Accept me?” Todd tried to process while catching his breath. “What happens if they don’t approve of me? Mi’ko didn’t say anything about that.”
What happens if I can’t understand their broken English and answer the question wrong? God, I hope it’s in English.
“Then he must believe you will be fine and not want to worry you.” The slightest suggestion of a smile reached her lips.
Sweat broke out on his forehead. Vi-Narm had sent him file after file last night for review. “There was so much information to review, and some of it made no sense until I researched it further, taking more time.” He frowned. “It didn’t help that you’ve been sending me a ton of information. I haven’t been able to sort through it all.”
“It’s not my job to help you sort through what I send.” Vi-Narm’s voice was calm. Cold. “I send the document that are required for all your different tasks. It is your responsibility to organize them and go through them and be prepared.”
Todd shook his head and stared at the floor. He inhaled deeply and met her eyes. “I would’ve appreciated you pointing out the information that was important for today’s events. I could’ve focused on it.”
“Perhaps you should organize your time better, or is that a failing of your character?”
“But I—”
“It was in the report I send to you this morning,” she interrupted. “You did read it? Did you not?”
“Today? This morning? As in, while I was still in bed, or while I was getting ready for this interview?”
Or when I was on the toilet?
Trying not to sound as pissed as he felt, he checked his pocket watch. Since getting it, he kept it with him as a good-luck piece. Now, more than ever, he needed the luck.
“Vi-Narm, how could you send it this morning? I didn’t have a chance—you made it sound like this was only my welcome ceremony. That was my impression from… I didn’t have a chance to…”
She hates me. That’s why she’s doing this. She hates me and is determined for me to fail.
He saw a hint of a smile, and he was sure there was a brief twinkle in her eyes.
God, she’s a total bitch. With luck, she’ll trip and fall on her way into the chamber. That might loosen the stick up her ass.
He took a breath and held back the frown that was stalking his face. “I’ll do my best.”
She watched the chamber doors open. “Let us hope Mi’ko’s faith in you is well placed.”
The soft ticking of his watch reminded him why he was here.
I can do this.
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Author Bio:
M.D. Neu is a LGBTQA Fiction Writer with a love for writing and travel. Living in the heart of Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) and growing up around technology, he's always been fascinated with what could be. Specifically drawn to Science Fiction and Paranormal television and novels, M.D. Neu was inspired by the great Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, Stephen King, Alice Walker, Alfred Hitchcock, Harvey Fierstein, Anne Rice, and Kim Stanley Robinson. An odd combination, but one that has influenced his writing.
Growing up in an accepting family as a gay man he always wondered why there were never stories reflecting who he was. Constantly surrounded by characters that only reflected heterosexual society, M.D. Neu decided he wanted to change that. So, he took to writing, wanting to tell good stories that reflected our diverse world.
When M.D. Neu isn't writing, he works for a non-profit and travels with his biggest supporter and his harshest critic, Eric his husband of eighteen plus years.
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From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani
Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.