Daily Archives: May 11, 2022

Review – Desecrated Essence by C A Rene @IndieSagePR #CARene

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Warning: This is not for the faint of heart. The characters have issues, the sex is raw, graphic, including rape, bondage…

Desecrated Essence has another beautiful cover for the Desecrated Duet series by C A Rene, though the story inside is dark and tormented, as are the characters.

Desecrated Essence (Desecrated Duet Book 2)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Desecrated Essence is the second book in the Desecrated Duet series. For me, Desecrated Essence takes erotica to a whole new level.

We are three months later than the end of Desecrated Flesh, the first book in the series.

I started reading Desecrated Essence as soon as I finished Desecrated Flesh. The characters fascinate, disgust, and frighten me. Psychopaths and sociopaths walk around us, never showing their true colors. Here, you will see them. Understand them? Probably not.

Pleasure and pain. Dark…I found these characters so deep, dark and primal, I cannot put into words what I felt as I read, yet I couldn’t stop reading. I am so disturbed that I have to know how their story ends.

I know I keep repeating myself, but I don’t even know what to say about Kailey…and the rest. Sex, sex, sex. I am worn out just reading about it. I am getting bored and kinda grossed out by all the sex, yet I am waiting to see what the Monster wants.

I know there is more to story about the guys, how dangerous they are. They do come from mob families.

I do love reading about dark, depraved characters, but these guys are so far gone, I don’t think any of them can be saved. To say they have mental issues is putting it way to mildly They are brutal, savage, murderous, yet, like all criminals, they do have a code of their own.

I had trouble writing the review for the first book, Desecrated Flesh, and I am having an equally hard time writing a review for Desecrated Essence.

If you like to wallow in the dangerous, brutal world of sexual degradation, come on in.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Desecrated Essence by C A Rene.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

What happens when your only source of warmth and light leaves you?
The dismal shadows once kept at bay, begin to seep back in and coat everything the light once touched. All feeling becomes saturated in their inky grasp and escape becomes impossible. She left me here in the dark, alone and awaiting the impending destruction.

Who do you turn to when you feel all is lost?
His presence isn’t welcomed, and his anger scorches my insides, but at least he never leaves. Now that I’m truly alone, his claws sink deep and trying to flee would be futile. We are one, him and I. There’s nothing I can do but watch the storm clouds roll in.

How do I warn them if the warning is me?
I can’t control him once he has something in his sights, his determination knows no bounds, and his wrath is an addiction I know too well. There’s no stopping the lightning if you don’t hear the thunder.

ABOUT C A RENE (from her website)

Copy of me_edited_edited.jpg

First off… Call me Chrissy!​

I’m so glad you’re here, whether it’s because you found me from reading my books or hit a link, I’m just ecstatic you decided to check me out. 

In my books you will find complete inclusivity and I refuse to be kept in any specific box. I write across all genres and dabble in just about everything.

To keep up with all new releases and teasers for all my upcoming books, you can follow me on any social media platform!

Lover of all things dark. I love to read it, write it, own it, eat it, whatever it. My addictions include Coffee, books, and WINE, in that order.

Website / Facebook / Bookbub / Instagram

MY C A RENE REVIEWS

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Giveaway – Oath Breaker by River Starr @XpressoTours @river_starr

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Oath-Breaker
River Starr
(Shadow Pact, #1)
Publication date: May 5th 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

No one survives their meeting with the Angel of Death—except for me.

After being accused of rallying citizens to revolt against him and breaking the rules of engagement with demons to save my best friend—guilty as charged on both accounts—the Angel of Death demands to personally oversee my sentencing in his obsidian castle of demons and death.

I’m done for. This is the end. But my death won’t be in vain—I’ll die a martyr to the Paladins Order’s cause, and I’ll rescue my best friend at the same time. She’ll be safe and the paladins will pick a new leader. They’ll thrive and continue the fight.

Or so I think. When judgment day arrives and I’m knelt before the Angel of Death, with his onyx eyes, his ebony hair, and his seductively imposing stature, my soul doesn’t leave me.

It soars.

Because when I dare to look the Angel of Death in the eyes, everything changes. And what unfolds in my anger and vengeance’s stead is a thread of events I never could have foreseen.

I survived my meeting with the Angel of Death. But can I survive his love?

OATH-BREAKER is the first of a M/F paranormal demon romance duology full of steamy goodness.

Goodreads / Amazon


GUEST POST

I am a lover of book covers and am always curious how a cover gets chosen for a book. So, I would like to welcome River Starr to tell us about her cover for Oath Breaker.

Oath-Breaker and its sequel Oath-Maker were fun books to work on covers for! I worked with one of my favorite artists on trying to find a blend between the romance and action readers are to be promised. Working with cover artists on covers is one of my most favorite parts of being an indie author. What artists can do by bringing the story and characters to life is truly amazing.

For Oath-Breaker, I knew I wanted both main characters portrayed on the cover as well as the background to contain a castle. Throw in some wings and Ayla’s celestial sword, and we have the cover that exists today!

The cover for Oath-Maker includes a bit of a change… but you’ll have to check out Oath-Breaker for how it comes to be!

Thanks so much, River, for making an appearance on fundinmental,

Author Bio:

River Starr writes books that help you escape, especially fantasy romance full of magic and supernaturals. Favorite things: coffee, wine, chocolate, and a heavy dose of books to chase away the dark… or invite delicious darkness in.

Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!
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  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Eating These Foods Makes Me… by Kalifa Rodriguez @GoddessFish

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I no longer have any little ones in my home, but I am always looking for ways to stay healthier for myself. I appreciate you dropping in and sharing this simple suggestion, Kalifa.

Nutrition Hack: Using fruits to replace sugar

Hello! My name is Kalifa, I’m a registered dietitian, certified breastfeeding specialist and the author of Eating These Foods Makes Me… I have a passion for everything nutrition, food and a healthy lifestyle. One thing I’m constantly noticing in my career is the re-occurring issue I notice many of my clients struggling with and that’s the adverse health outcomes having excess sugar in their diet is causing them to experience.

In our westernized diet, sugar is one of the top nutrients we tend to inadvertently consume in excess amounts, and it can be very challenging to cut down. The problem is too much sugar in our diet promotes the onset of many health-related issues and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. So today I’ll share 3 quick and easy tips on how you can swap out the refined sugar and use fruit instead.

1st off, the sugar found in our foods and drinks comes in various forms.  Fruits contain natural sugars, which are a mix of sucrose, fructose and glucose, but primarily fructose. I often suggest using fruits whenever possible to achieve the sweetness you desire as a healthy nutrition hack. For example, berries (raspberries, blackberries and strawberries) are quite low in sugar compared to other fruits and sometimes just a handful added to your cereal, yogurt or pancakes is all you need to satisfy a sweet craving as opposed to sprinkling on the sugar, honey or syrup. 

For those of you who love pastries and baking, you can actually use banana, papaya or even apple sauce as a sugar swap. Put any of these fruits in a blender and pulse until a smooth consistency, and there you have it, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, you can use ½ cup of the puree.  Figs and dates are also great sugar swaps and provide the added benefits of fibre and minerals such as potassium, calcium and iron. 

Lastly, the hot summer weather is just around the corner so you and your little ones might be craving a sweet treat to cool down, why not get the kiddos involved by making their own 3 ingredient fruit sorbet ice-cream. You can take almost any fruit you want and transform them into a delicious and refreshing treat. Raspberry, Pineapple, Peach and Honey Melon are our favourites! Simply peel and cut up your fresh fruit into cubes then freeze them. If you’re using smaller fruits like berries skip this step and freeze them whole! Once frozen, add your fruit and a small amount of lemonade, orange juice or apple juice to your ice-crushing blender or small food processor. Feel free to add some ripened banana to make it taste a little sweeter. Keep in mind this sorbet is best eaten immediately because unlike traditional store-bought sorbets, which contain high amounts of added sugar which acts as interference for freezing resulting in a softer/scoopable texture even at freezing temperatures, this homemade one has way less sugar therefore if stored in the freezer it will harden.

Remember, there are always ways to improve our nutrition by simply being open-minded to trying different alternatives!

Thanks so much for sharing, Kalifa. I hope others found this as helpful as I did.

Eating These Foods Makes Me… by Kalifa Rodriguez

GENRE: Children’s Non-Fiction

BLURB

Is your kid a picky eater? Do you want your child to enjoy eating a variety of foods? Reading can be a proactive way to introduce your little one to the amazing world of nutrition! In this book, readers will explore healthy foods and learn how key nutrients benefit the body. These pages repeat positive affirmations that will empower and build your child’s mindfulness about the foods they eat.

It is never too early to instill life-long healthy eating habits. Happy reading! Or should I say, happy eating!

EXCERPT

Eating these foods makes me… Strong.

These foods give us protein which builds our muscles and bones to make us strong!

Fun Learning Activities to Promote Healthy Nutrition

1. Using paper and crayons or coloured pencils, draw a rainbow, and then draw a fruit or vegetable that is the same colour as each colour of the rainbow. You can even use this book for ideas. Remember to eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables (at least 5 servings) each day! How many have you eaten today?

2. Do you like to play any sports or games? Do you like to walk to the park? Help your parents choose and prepare an energizing snack before the next game or walk to the park.

3. Eat your water? That sounds silly! Did you know that some fruits and veggies such as celery are mostly made up of water and can also help to keep you hydrated? Can you think of any others? Now try adding those slices of fruit or even cucumber to your water bottle to give it some pizazz.

4. Try introducing interactive sensory play for preschoolers (age 3 and older). Gather a variety of beans, nuts, or seeds on a tray or in a bowl with a spoon. Under adult supervision, let the preschooler feel, grab, and scoop the legumes, nuts, and seeds. See if the toddler can separate them based on different colours, sizes, and textures while the adult names each food and talks about how these foods make us strong from the proteins and smart from the healthy omega fats.

These foods give us protein which builds our muscles and bones to make us strong!

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Kalifa Rodriguez is a registered dietitian and certified breastfeeding specialist. She currently works as a clinical nutritionist in Montreal, Canada. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in nutritional biochemistry, she went on to complete a master’s degree in human nutrition and dietetics at McGill University. Kalifa is passionate about promoting healthy lifestyle choices through nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness. She also hopes to leave a positive impact in the community through her work by giving nutrition education sessions to community groups and organizations. Kalifa and her husband are parents to their delightful toddler, who is the inspiration for this book.

CONNECT WITH KALIFA RODRIGUEZ

  • WEBSITE – Kalifa Rodriguez (kalifarodriguezbooks.com)
  • FACEBOOK – Kalifa Rodriguez Books | Facebook
  • INSTAGRAM – Kalifa Rodriguez M.Sc, RD, CBS (@the.nutrition.connection)
  • YOUTUBE – Power of Nutrition – YouTube
  • GOODREADS – Kalifa Rodriguez (Author of Eating These Foods Makes Me…) | Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS EATING THESE FOODS MAKES ME…                     

  • AMAZON.COM – https://amazon.com/dp/0228860911
  • AMAZON.CA – https://amazon.ca/dp/0228860911
  • INDIGO CHAPTERS – https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/eating-these-foods-makes-me/9780228860914-item.html
  • BARNES & NOBLE – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eating-these-foods-makes-me-rd-cbs-rodriguez-m-sc/1140561192
  • BOOK DEPOSITORY – https://www.bookdepository.com/Eating-These-Foods-Makes-Me-Rd-Cbs-Rodriguez-M-Sc-Madeleine-Migallos/9780228860914
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  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!