Giveway – Reasons Why Not To Date Public Enemy CEO by Melanie Munton @XpressoTours @melanie_munton

Reasons Why Not to Date Public Enemy CEO
Melanie Munton
(Shell Grove, #1)
Publication date: June 21st 2022
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

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

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

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

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

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

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Reasons Why Not to Date Public Enemy CEO

“All players place your bets,” the dealer announced.

“This seat taken?”

Mia knocked over her stack of chips at the proximity of that growl.

God bless the US of Aiden.

Craning her neck, her gaze instantly clashed with her boss’s. But not before it took a cursory glance down his shredded body in that precisely tailored tux. As if he wasn’t devastating enough in those crisp suits he wore every day, he had to go and drop all the panties in the room by sporting a getup that made him even yummier than James Bond himself.

His devilish grin said don’t worry, baby, it’s real easy to take off.

Or maybe that was her own libido talking. Which incidentally, was blazing to life like the town bonfire on the Fourth of July.

“Good evening, Ms. Sparks.”

That voice curled around her like the aromatic notes of decadence drifting out from a gourmet kitchen. “Evening, Mr. Beaumont.”

For all that’s holy, talk normally. Not like a porn star.

He briefly paused at the breathy quality to her voice before taking the seat to her left. He and the dealer nodded to each other as Mr. Beaumont threw out his bet. Mia scooted her chips forward, placing her much smaller bet. All of a sudden, she was nervous. It didn’t help that it felt like her pink clam was going to peek out the bottom of her short dress at any moment.

“Are you having a good time?” Mr. Beaumont asked as the dealer passed out each player’s first card.

Mia re-crossed her legs under the table when she felt a distinct thrum down in the region of her coochie. “Wonderful. You?”

“I guess we’ll see by the end of this hand.”

She smiled at that. He seemed to be in one of his slightly less cranky moods. If this was his version of laidback, she’d hate to see what an actual vacation looked like for him.

“You know, there are two different categories of blackjack players out there,” he mused, watching the dealer while speaking to her. “There’s the play-it-safers and the risk takers.”

The dealer finished distributing each player’s two cards, leaving Mia with the king of hearts and a five of diamonds, giving her a score of fifteen. Mr. Beaumont had an ace and a six, which would give him a score of either seven or seventeen.

As the dealer started with Ernie and Jewel, waiting to hear whether they would hit or stay, Mr. Beaumont propped his elbows on the table and turned to Mia. “Which one are you, Ms. Sparks?”

Normally, she was a play-it-safer all the way. The only occurrences she was ever a risk taker were when she had Maggie by her side, cheering her on. But why did she always need Maggie to help her throw caution to the wind? She was capable of raising her own sails and taking on open waters by herself. What was stopping her?

When the dealer turned to her, Mia kept her gaze trained on the man whose face she’d fallen asleep to nearly every night for the past two weeks. “Hit.”

Mr. Beaumont’s eyes gleamed with approval.

The dealer turned over her card, revealing the six of clubs. “Blackjack.”

As pleased as Mia was with her prize for leaping instead of lying down, that feeling didn’t begin to match her absolute joy at being the recipient of the first real, open-mouthed smile she’d ever seen from Mr. Beaumont. It was…exuberant.

“See? Sometimes risk yields the sweetest reward.”

Instead of standing with his seventeen, he hit for another card, which Mia couldn’t say she would have done. The dealer flipped over his card, revealing the five of spades, bringing his score to twenty-two.

Everyone around the table sucked in breaths, wincing in sympathy.

But he merely shrugged. “And sometimes you’re just left with shit.”

Mia tipped her head back and laughed. Boisterously, with her entire body. And damn, it felt amazing.

For all of his begrudging frowns and terse words, he did something to Mia whenever he was in her orbit. It was like she became hyperaware of every molecule, every atom, inside her body and especially, of the way they reacted to his presence. If she didn’t know better, she would say all the cells in her body had somehow become magnetized, and Mr. Beaumont was the ferromagnetic material they were drawn toward. Even if he irritated her at times, she still felt a kind of static electricity humming around her that never seemed to spark around anyone else. Even when she was having fun with her friends, no sensation she’d ever encountered came close to what she felt around this man.

Her body just…buzzed…around him.

“When was the last time you took a big risk?” she asked, collecting the chips she’d won. “Other than that hand, of course.”

He didn’t smile again, like she half expected him to. Instead, his expression sobered, his eyes filling with…resignation, maybe? He took a healthy pull of his scotch before answering. “Showing my face here tonight.”

Her grin slipped away and got absorbed by the depth of his sandy bottom eyes. Funny, because the color reminded her of shallow ocean waters, just near the shoreline. Not the rich navy blue in the middle of the sea. She suspected that much like the ocean itself, his eyes reflected the life teeming inside him. But he banked it for some reason, closed himself off to it.

“Then why did you come?”

His gaze ran over her hair, her eyes, her lips. “You said you’d be here.”


Author Bio:

Melanie grew up in the Midwest, but she loves living in the Southeast (where the beaches are!) now with her husband and daughter.
Melanie’s other passion is traveling and seeing the world. With anthropology degrees under their belts, she and her husband have made it their goal in life to see as many archaeological sites around the world as possible.
She has a horrible food addiction to pasta and candy (not together…ew). And she gets sad when her wine rack is empty.
At the end of the day, she is a true romantic at heart. She loves writing the cheesy and corny of romantic comedies, and the sassy and sexy of suspense. She aims to make her readers swoon, laugh out loud, maybe sweat a little, and above all, fall in love.
Go visit Melanie’s website and sign up for her newsletter to stay updated on release dates, teasers, and other details for all of her projects!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub


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Giveaway – Cinderlla Didn’t Live Happily Ever AFter by Anne E Beall @BeallRT @iReadBookTours


Join us for this tour from June 13 to July 1, 2022!

Book Details:
 
Book Title:  Cinderella Didn’t Live Happily Ever After: The Hidden Messages in Fairy Tales by Anne E. Beall
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+),  126 pages
GenreFeminist, Fairy Tales, Literary Criticism
Publisher:  Independent Publishing
Release date:  November 17, 2018
Content Rating:  PG + M. Some fairy tales are a bit gruesome but there is no bad language or explicit sex. 

 Book Description:

Did Cinderella live happily ever after? You might think so until you look more closely at the hidden messages in beloved fairy tales. In this book, fairy tales are analyzed in terms of the underlying messages about marriage, agency, power, suffering, and good versus evil, with a focus on how male and female characters differ in each of these areas. The analysis is a data-driven approach that provides clear evidence for the hidden messages in these beloved tales. The end conclusion is not whether fairy tales are good or bad but rather what messages they deliver about life, even if unintentionally.

Buy the Book:
Amazon
add to Goodreads

 

Meet the Author:

A leader in the field of market research and one of the few female CEOs in the industry, Anne E. Beall is the author of 10 books in business, gender studies, and mindfulness, including Cinderella Didn’t Live Happily Ever After: The Hidden Messages in Fairy Tales and The Psychology of Gender. Her book Heartfelt Connections was named one of the top 100 Notable Indie books in 2016 by Shelf Unbound, and she has published nearly a dozen business articles in noted journals. Her books have been featured in People Magazine, Toronto Sun, Hers Magazine, and Ms. Career Girl, and she has been interviewed by NBC, NPR, and WGN. Having received her PhD in social psychology from Yale University, Anne resides in Evanston, Illinois and is the founder of the market consultancy company Beall Research.

connect with the author:   website ~ facebook ~ twitter goodreads

Tour Schedule:

June 13 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
June 13 – Literary Flits – book review / giveaway
June 15 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
June 15 – Viviana MacKade – book review / giveaway
June 16 – Cheryl’s Book Nook – book review / giveaway
June 16 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / giveaway
June 17 – Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review
June 17 – Kam’s Place – book review
June 20 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review / author interview / giveaway
June 20 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
June 21 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
June 21 – Lamon Reviews – book review / author interview / giveaway
June 22 – Novels Alive – book review / giveaway
June 22 – The Girl Who Reads – book review / author interview / giveaway
June 23 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
June 24 – Chit Chat With Charity – book review / author interview / giveaway
June 24 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 27 – My Fictional Oasis – book review
June 27 – Books for Books – book spotlight
June 28 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
June 28 – My Reading Getaway – book review / author interview / giveaway
June 29 – Lisa’s Reading – book spotlight / giveaway
June 29 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
June 30 – Lynchburg Reads – book review / giveaway
June 30 – Library Lady’s Kid Lit – book review / guest post / giveaway
July 1 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
July 1 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
July 1 – Adventurous Jessy – book review / giveaway
 

Enter the Giveaway:

 

CINDERELLA DID NOT LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER Book Tour Giveaway

 


 
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Drifters is the third novel in the ThreeCon Series by Carmen Webster Buxton @CarmenWBuxton

Carmen Webster Buxton has kept the thrills running in her ThreeCon series.

Drifters

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“…value the journey more than the destination.”

I believe in that sooo much.

Jehan has a psy talent…he can open any lock…with no tools. Many find that a desirable talent that they which to possess ownership of, which puts him at such a risk his mother sends him to his father on the caravan.

Science fiction at its finest. The world building was vividly detailed, making it easy to visualize all the elements, from living conditions, dress, customs, and Carmen Webster Buxton has the ability to create individual characters that learn to function as a cohesive whole.

As we travel through the galaxies in the ThreeCon series, I loved visiting each distinct and individual world, meeting the characters and learning the valuable lessons of working together to make any world a better place, putting your best foot forward, and reaping the rewards of being your best self.

Human nature must make allowance for our frailties and missteps…after all, no one is perfect and no matter the age we can always learn something from someone or some place new. We need to keep an open mind.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Drifters by Carmen Webster Buxton.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In the far future, sixteen-year-old Jehan Amato lives on Menkar VII, a colony world only recently rediscovered by the rest of the galaxy. After a run-in with a dangerous gang that wants to exploit his secret psy talent for opening locks with his mind, Jehan is sent to live in a Drifter caravan with his estranged father. But though Jehan, who has lived in New Hope City all his life, is initially wary of the nomadic people and their unfamiliar customs, in the caravan he comes to learn things about his family and himself that will change his life forever.

ABOUT CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON

Carmen Webster Buxton

Carmen Webster Buxton spent her youth reading every book published by Ursula LeGuin, Robert Heinlein and Georgette Heyer. This combination of far-future worlds, alien cultures, and old-fashioned courting customs influenced her writing, especially in her ThreeCon series.

Carmen was born in Hawaii and experienced a peripatetic childhood, as her father was in the US Navy. Having raised two wonderful children, she now lives in Maryland with her husband Charlie, and a beagle named Cosmo. She writes science fiction (often including a romance, and mostly set in the far future), and the occasional fantasy.

Carmen has published many books:

WAKANREO SERIES
Alien Bonds
Alien Vows
Alien Skies

HAVEN SERIES
The Sixth Discipline
No Safe Haven

THREECON SERIES (can be read in any order)
The Nostalgia Gambit
Saronna’s Gift
Shades of Empire
Tribes
Worlds Apart

ALTERNATE HISTORY
King of Trees

YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION
Turnabout
Drifters

FANTASY
Where Magic Rules
Bag of Tricks
Hidden Magic

THE NAMELESS WORLD SAGA (coming in 2021)
The North Edge of Nowhere
Oaths and Promises

Carmen often blogs about ereaders, digital publishing, writing, and speculative fiction. Visit her blog to see what’s coming out next! To ask questions or to provide feedback on her books, send email to carmen.webster.buxton (at) gmail.com.

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MY CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON REVIEWS

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Giveaway – Cardinals by Ian Conner @XpressoTours

Cardinals
Ian Conner
Publication date: June 1st 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal

Nine Hundred years before Christ, God has cast his wife, Asherah, out of heaven and condemned her to roam the earth as the first vampire. Over the centuries, she created other vampires. There are also those that she left for dead but survived her attack without being completely turned into vampires. These survivors are called Cardinals. Scottish Countess Kellena Donnachaidh and Lady Suzette Allard, our protagonists, are among these cardinals. They are searching out Asherah for a final conflict.

Asherah has discovered a way back to heaven so she can exact her vengeance. Using the Amulet of Cassiel she can call the Flaming chariot of Israel to return to heaven and exact her revenge on God.

Now, 3000 years later, the Vatican and other groups are working to destroy Asherah and the vampires., fearing their own destruction if she ascends, simply want to stop Asherah using the Amulet of Cassiel to re-enter heaven. The race and intrigue to recover the Amulet is full of intrigue, betrayal.

A completely new twist on Stoker’s tale.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Shortly after, Yasmeen finished her call with Sharit, first-class boarded. Another round of the third degree at the gate and she was finally shown to her seat. The first-class flight attendant was Lebanese.

“Traveling can be such a trial for us these days,” she said.

The flight attendant returned with a large glass of orange juice.

“That is a beautiful niqāb!” she said, admiring the gold and lace.

“Thank you. That’s most kind and thank you for this,” motioning to the juice. “I’m famished.”

“We’ll serve dinner once we reach altitude. Enjoy your flight. I’m Nalia Khoury. Buzz me if you need anything at all.”

Yasmeen thanked her in Lebanese. Bringing smiles to both their faces. She took out a laptop and continued reading about the Scottish woman. The file was extensive. She started over at the beginning again. She frowned.

“Born 1283 AD.” she whispered.

Math was never her strong suit; lazily she used the computer’s calculator function.

Seven-hundred-forty years, nothing compared to Sharit’s two and half eons, but still impressive. she thought.

She stood suddenly, angrily turning to find a white-haired man staring at her. Yasmeen wished mightily her khopesh was at her side.

“Who is this guy?” she said to herself.

A plane was no place for a brawl. She knew.

“That explains the smirk on his face.” she said, yawning. Her privacy curtain closed. A moment later, there was a knock on her chair by the flight attendant.

“Is everything alright?” her new Lebanese friend asked.

“It seems I have gained a stalker.” Yasmeen looked back at the white-haired man.

“Hmmm, not our first complaint about him. Wait one moment.”

She disappeared into coach and a minute later she returned with what appeared to be an Air Marshall. They stopped at the white-haired man’s seat.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to come with me to coach for the rest of the flight, then to security when we land.” the Marshall said.

“But I didn’t…”

“We can do it the easy way or the hard way.” The Marshall told the white-haired man, flashing his cuffs at him. Blondie knew when he was beaten. He glared at the flight attendant and looked toward Yasmeen’s seat.

“Pal, she is not the problem. You keep your eyes back there. Don’t be giving her any dirty looks for doing her job. Go!” the Marshall said tersely.

After they left, the attendant shrugged her shoulder at Yasmeen, then returned to where Yasmeen was sitting.

“See, easy as pie. No more loutish behavior from him.”

“Thank you.” Yasmeen touched the attendant’s hand.

“Really, I appreciate you heading off trouble.”

“That’s one less goon to. I have to be nice, too. I hope you like steak. I’ll be back soon.” Nalia told her.

Yasmeen was truly relieved that the attendant headed off the confrontation. Sometimes her temper got the better of her. She gave up on reading and waited for dinner service. The smell of the meal filled the cabin. The attendant was right. The steak was excellent and the smell of the meal filled the cabin.

“Thank you, Nalia. That was a much-needed distraction.”

The attendant’s eyes lit up when Yasmeen used her name and she flashed a brilliant smile, too. Yasmeen was finally noticing how very attractive she was. Later, she came by after dinner.

“Are you staying in London or connecting?” she asked.

“I live there.”

“Oh, how wonderful! I have another three-day layover after this flight.” Nalia said with her brightest smile.

“Perhaps we could…” Nalia left the sentence unfinished.

Yasmeen smiled back just as brightly. The possibilities behind that unfinished sentence improved her mood substantially.

“I have some work when I land, but later I could meet you. Where are you staying?”

Nalia removed a slip of paper from her blouse pocket, placed it in Yasmeen’s hand, and then gently closed her fingers around it.

“I look forward to it.”

Yasmeen enjoyed the rest of her meal. Nalia visited several more times as Yasmeen read Kellena Donnachaidh’s files. Each time, Nalia found somehow to brush against Yasmeen. Be it a simple touch of the hand or reaching across Yasmeen. Each contact was like a jolt of electricity, destroying her concentration. It was like a game for Nalia.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re beginning our descent to Heathrow,” The Captain announced.

Yasmeen was so flustered by Nalia’s scent and touch that by the time that announcement was made she snapped her laptop shut and surrendered. She could remember nothing she read, only the scent of Nalia and the feeling of Nalia’s breasts brushing against her arms. Yasmeen took out her cellphone and called her boss.

“Is there anything you need from me after I arrive at Heathrow?” she asked Sharit Hagel.

“Why, Yasmeen Obiad, have you found a pleasant diversion?” Sharit asked.

“Diverting is exactly the word that I would use.”

Nalia looked directly at Yasmeen and rubbed her fingers together in a tsk, tsk manner, scolding her for using her phone as they landed. She smiled, laughing. Yasmeen smiled back as she explained to Sharit she would not be coming in when she landed.

“Describe diverting,” Sharit told her.

“Lebanese, 5’3, high cheekbones, cute as hell, smart, courteous, beautiful…”

“Alright, alright” Sharit interrupted. “There’s nothing so important it can’t wait until Wednesday. Be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Wednesday morning, 10:00 a.m.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Yasmeen said excitedly.


Author Bio:

Ian Conner is retired and spent most of his adult life as a Marine and Army Infantry Sergeant. Now living near San Diego California with his wife Bonnie, a cellist, and their two dogs, Cookie and Issabella. Conner spends his days fostering kittens, gardening, crafting beautiful stained glass and creating worlds on the page.

Conner has authored other novels The Price of Partisanship, The Long Game, Coopers Ridge, Solaris, Cardinals and Ghost Witch.

After a lifetime of destruction the thought of creating something tangible and lasting holds great appeal. He found art cathartic and a way to redefine himself both in his eyes and the eyes of others.

Website / Goodreads


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The Saga Continues in Cursed In The Dark by Scarlett West @iamscarlettwest

Cursed in the Dark (Fae Bureau of Investigation #3)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Cursed In The Dark by Scarlett West picks up where Hunted In The Dark left off.

Bullets flying.

Adalee is Medusalike. Her hair is her strength. She is maturing and learning to use her skills for the FBI. She has more confidence and assertiveness. As she develops her magic, the danger ramps up.

Her relationship with Damien ramps up too. I love her teasing banter with him.

The combination of fantasy, the paranormal/supernatural world with murder and mystery in a police procedural process is blended in a magical way. LOL

“Since we use our magic to heal, defend ourselves, or in daily use, we need to refuel. Faery feeds our magic from deep within the land, then we feed one another. It’s like an energy transfer through emotions, then physical touch…” That is why feeding through sex is the best…and most fun.

Adalee and Damien’s heat level is off the charts, entering the erotic zone.

It isn’t bad enough that they are doing their best discover who murdered the King and kidnapped the Fae and whoever is murdering their families, now she finds herself cursed. As the clock ties on her life, they struggle to solve the mystery and stay alive in the process.

Scarlett West has built a magical world, detailed and vivid in her creative descriptions. I grow to love her characters as they grow into a devoted group of crime fighting warriors. No holds barred.

Oh man, I need more…But I don’t have the rest of the series sitting on my ereader, like I had the first three. Can hardly wait for the final two books.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Cursed In The Dark by Scarlett West.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The dark Fae I risked everything to trust is still harboring deadly secrets.

Someone is brutally murdering Fae people, and my boss, Damien, forbids me to be involved in the investigations.

And yet, I can’t stay away.

From the case or Damien.

Even as fights break out between our rival clans, making it impossible to forge the relationship we both still desire, Damien still pursues me with a fiery passion in bed. But he rejected me, driving a cold wedge between us as he avoids making me his fated mate. Still, that won’t stop me from finding the killer.

Now, marked with a fatal curse that’s draining my life away, I don’t know what will kill me first: the dark spell…or Damien breaking my heart.

Readers who enjoy Karen Marie Moning, Laurell K. Hamilton, Amelia Hutchins, and Lindsay Hall, will love this dangerous and sexy urban fantasy.

Cursed in the Dark is a steamy, urban fantasy romance that is book three out of five. Scroll Up and One Click to start reading this hot paranormal romance today!

ABOUT SCARLETT WEST

Scarlett West

Scarlett West writes steamy, paranormal romance featuring sexy Fae. Deep characters and hot romance are her thing.

An avid reader and writer who will never stop dreaming, Scarlett has traveled to many countries and been on tons of adventures. She draws her stories from these places, life experiences, and her grand imagination.

Besides writing, she’s a hobby herbalist and a dancer. If she’s not by the computer typing these things up, she can be found in a forest, on a mountain, or by the ocean.

Scarlett West would like to thank her three F’s: Fans, Family, and Friends. Thank you forever for your support.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

MY SCARLET WEST REVIEWS

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Giveaway – Awakenings by L C Conn @GoddessFish @ConnLoraine

Awakenings by L. C. Conn

GENRE:   Fantasy

BLURB

Many generations have passed since Carling first faced Chaos’ rage. With each incarnation, his desire to find and claim her gifts grows.

Claire is just like any other 17-year-old, or so she thought. No stranger to tragedy and heartache, she finds comfort in her great-uncle and guardian, and her best friend, Adam. Her life is settling into a happy peace. Until one night everything she knew and trusted is turned on its head.

Spirited away in the middle of the night and thrust into a world of family secrets and hidden magical abilities, Claire discovers she’s not just any teenager and she’s being hunted by her best friend’s father. Claire must learn to harness her awakening gifts before an ancient evil finds her.

Can she master her Abilities before Marcus finds her?

EXCERPT

Claire crouched down where she was and pulled herself into a ball, praying that they would not spot her in the dim light. Her head was on her knees, and she could hear their footfalls come closer and closer. She prayed harder, embracing her legs tightly in her arms, trying to make herself smaller. The seconds dragged on and on as she promised every god she could think of and even her parents that if she got out of there, she would never do such a thing again.

Footsteps farther away from her brought her head up. The two men had passed her. Thanking her luck, she stood up and carefully made her way back to the door. From behind her, she heard one of the men swear.

“She has to be here somewhere. Go back and look,” one of them commanded.

It was at this point that Claire knew she had to get out of there quickly, and she started to run. Unfortunately, her pounding feet gave her away, and she could hear them call out and begin chasing her again. She made the door and slammed it behind her, leaping up the stairs two by two until she reached the entrance foyer and rushed to the door. She slammed her hand on the lock release button protruding from the wall and yanked the door open. Once outside in the back alley, she did not give the building a second look but continued to run.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Loraine Conn grew up on the outskirts of Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Her backyard encompassed the surrounding farmland, river, hills, and mountains which she wandered with her brothers and fed her imagination. After discovering a love for writing in English class at the age of eight, she continued to write in secret. It was not until much later in life that Loraine turned what she thought was a hobby, and something fun to do, into her first completed novel. Now married, Loraine moved from New Zealand to Perth, Western Australia in 2008, and became a stay-at-home mum. While caring for her family and after battling breast cancer, a series was born from a kernel of a dream. Loraine has now published the seven book fantasy series, The One True Child Series, and also the stand-alone Realm of Dragons, Fight for the Crown. Both the series and book have been released with the American based indie publishing company Between the Lines Publishing, under their Liminal Books branch, using the pen name L.C. Conn. She continues her career with many more stories waiting in the wings to be released, and even more ideas to be written.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

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Giveaway – Maddie Bloom & the Fae Academy by Emily Jenkins @XpressoTours

Maddie Bloom & the Fae Academy
Emily Jenkins
Publication date: June 21st 2022
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Welcome to Fae Academy, where if the Sluagh Sidhe lurking in the woods doesn’t get you, the homework just might…

Maddie Bloom is dreading sophomore year. Not only is her mom’s mysterious illness getting worse, but it’s also a brand-new year of her longtime bully to look forward to. Because who doesn’t love getting swirlies in the newly renovated girls’ bathroom? But then the accident happens. The one where she’s escaping said bully and accidentally summons a magical portal that drops her right into the foyer of a literal castle.

That’s when the big reveals start…

  1. Faeries exist.
  2. Maddie is half-fae. Which is how she ended up in Figstern’s Academy for Excellence, aka Fae Academy.
  3. And Maddie’s uncontrolled magic? It’s slowly poisoning her mom.

When she’s given the chance to stay and learn to control her gifts to save her mom, the choice is clear. But Maddie’s not exactly welcome at Fae Academy. Bullies exist even in the magical world, and don’t get her started on the vindictive hobgoblin or the disgraced prince of the Autumn Court.

Still, not all is what it seems at Fae Academy. And the more Maddie digs, the more secrets she uncovers. Secrets that could threaten her life, her mother’s life, and the future of the fae world itself.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

I flipped onto my back, spitting mulch from my mouth. I was seconds from pushing myself into a sitting position when the ground vibrated beneath me, courtesy of Sam’s rapidly approaching footsteps. Her bloodlust rippled through the air; that’s how excited she was to have me where she wanted me.

Get up! My inner voice yelled at me.

I listened, but instantly regretted it. Sharp pain shot through my torso from the impact of the fall, and my stomach lurched as Samantha leered down at me. She was way too close for comfort – to where I could distinguish freckles from blemishes.

I swallowed, heat rising to my face. I had a feeling my life was about to flash before my eyes.

But before I could reflect on the short, uneventful fifteen years that I’d walked this Earth, I saw a flash out of the corner of my eye.

I turned my head sideways, and a strange warmth spread over my body, engulfing me from head to toe.

To my left, the air was… shimmering.

I blinked. Once, twice, a third time, but it was still there. A twinkling, transparent curtain swaying in mid-air and luring me in. Calling for me. I’m not exaggerating, either.

I swear it was chanting my name repeatedly.

Meanwhile, in front of me, Sam was preparing to pounce like a predator.

Without thinking, without understanding what was going on, I dodged, rolling toward the strange, glistening air to my left. And somehow, the space swallowed me whole, swooping me out of the playground and away from Sam’s clutches just as she reached out to make good on her promise to make me pay for forcing her to run.

I caught one last glimpse of her stunned face.

And then she disappeared from my view.

Or was it me who disappeared?

Whatever the case, the world as I, Maddie Bloom, knew it, was gone.


Author Bio:

Hi, my name is Emily Jenkins. I’m a high school student and wrestle, and I also happen to be the USA National East Coast Jr Teen! After writing a children’s book about bullying in 2020 (Wrestling Girl Takes Down Bullies), I was inspired to keep creating stories—which is how the Maddie Bloom series was born.

In my free time, I love collecting socks, cooking, and sewing clothes for my dog.

He tears them up. It sort of breaks my heart. I sew more.

Yep, it’s a vicious cycle. 😀

Wanna keep up with my updates?

Sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/h3oXtL


GIVEAWAY!
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The First Two Books of the Symphony of Crowns and Gods by Brian A Mendonca #brianamendonca

Wedding of the Torn Rose and Gravity of Obedience by Brian A Mendonca were fabulous surprise reads. I loved them and hope I get a chance to finish the series.

Available in Kindle Unlimited

Wedding of the Torn Rose (Symphony of Crowns and Gods)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A forest. A monster. A princess. And a new opportunity for Kaine.

The princess of the Dorian Kingdom is scheduled to marry the Throatian prince, thus creating a alliance between the two kingdoms. Safety in number, seeing royalty thrives on war and chaos.

Kaine is from the Leila Kingdom and Princess Lydia is the Rose of the Dorian Kingdom.

Her marriage allows Lydia an Everlasting With. When Kaine finds out what she wants and wants to stop the wedding, but she convinces him it’s the only way.

A quick read that packs a punch and I am so happy that I have Book II, Gravity of Obedience, waiting on my the top of my reading pile. Wedding of the Torn does not end in a cliffhanger. It wraps up the story of Kaine and Lydia, but what is to come of their world is still up for debate.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Wedding of the Torn Rose by Brian A Mendonca.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Saving the princess was only the start of events that would change his life forever…

Kaine was down on his luck. The former merchant struggled with losing his job and now must make ends meet. Too bad he doesn’t know how. Frustrated, he sets off into the nearby forest to gather mushrooms. The woman’s screams were the last thing he expected. Kaine must act quickly to rescue the young woman before a monster that should not exist kills her.

His life only gets crazier from there. Kaine returns with Lydia, the daughter of the king, to her father’s castle where he unexpectedly finds himself in the king’s good graces. Confused and leery, Kaine reluctantly agrees to remain and help with Lydia’s younger siblings. Life could not have thrown him more.

Kaine is plunged into a world of magical intrigue, unrest, and political maneuvering. Each new event leaves him feeling out of place and, worse, dangerously exposed to a growing threat. The Darian Kingdom stands at the crossroads. Lydia’s upcoming wedding to the prince of the Throatian Kingdom will soon become the defining moment in Kaine’s life.

With the threat of war looming on the horizon, it is going to take every ounce of guile, cunning, and willpower for Kaine to survive, and, if he is fortunate, prevent the fast approaching storm from burning his world to the ground.

Wedding of the Torn Rose is a fast-paced fantasy adventure with mystery, action, and magic. Journey with Kaine as he attempts to prevent a war and save a kingdom in the first volume of the Symphony of Crowns and Gods series.

Gravity of Obedience

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Breeding farms. Loyalty circles. Blood Sacrifices. The Sorceress. The Red Knight.

The Throatians Mayan like in their religion, which I find fascinating. It rules their lives with an iron fist. Brutal. Savage.

I feel there is something going on behind the scens, something other than their blood thirsty god.

The Throatian king wants the Tears of Asura, magical stones.

Gravity of Obedience had so much intrigue. I love when an author surprises me, taking me to a place I didn’t see coming, leaving me wanting more…and there is more to come, because the story isn’t done. I can hardly wait. Please write faster Brian. 🙂

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Gravity of Obedience by Brian A Mendonca.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Nobody serves kings and gods without paying the price.

Prince Thane never imagined his life would change so drastically after an unexpected encounter with his father atop an ancient religious mountain temple. Facing the wrath of his god, he is called upon for blood sacrifices and resisting the conspiracy of a powerful sorceress intent on invading his homeland. Torn between impossible demands and his duty, the young prince struggles to understand what looms on the horizon. A conflict between religious faith and common sense rage within the prince, forcing him to question his god’s true intentions.

Thane’s life continues to spiral as he stumbles upon a mysterious invulnerable knight and follows him through a portal into another land far from home. Tensions mount as the involved kingdoms brace for the inevitable Wedding of the Torn Rose. Gripped by a series of decisions they don’t want to make, Thane’s royal family becomes mired in unending controversy.

Destinies collide as the fate of multiple kingdoms is revealed. Father, mother, and son must at last come to understand one another if there is to be any hope of righting their wrongs. Pushed to the edges of his sanity, young Prince Thane will need to overcome his doubts and do the unthinkable.

Gravity of Obedience is the thrilling sequel to Wedding of the Torn Rose. While this book is Volume II in the series, it is enjoyable even without having read Volume I. Reading Volume I first enriches the story of Volume II, but is not required.

ABOUT BRIAN A MENDONCA

Brian Mendonça is a writer, reader, and tech geek at heart. He’s always looking for new ways to get better at his craft, and he has traveled the world to see how the world is a melting pot of stories and cultures around us. He feels most at home when sitting in front of his computer, with a cup of coffee, and writing stories. When he’s not writing, he’ll be relaxing at home with his video games or watching re-runs of Friends or the Big Bang Theory. He often takes long walks outside while listening to podcasts. Brian is laid back, easy-going, and he loves helping people out. Brian is a native resident of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and recipient of a Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology (Bioinformatics emphasis) from University of California, Davis.

You can connect with him on social media using the below links. For the latest information on upcoming releases, sign up for Brian’s newsletter.

Website / Facebook / Bookbub

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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Giveaway – Finding Ruby Draker & Shadows In The Aftermath by Marianne Scott @MScottauthor44 @iReadBookTours

 

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I am so happy to share Marianne Scott’s latest novel, Finding Ruby Draker and to have her making an appearand on fundinmental.

Be Descriptive but not Overly Descriptive by Marianne Scott

Writers not only have to make readers feel like they are present in the scene, but have to entice them to stay and continue reading. I love it when I read a book and find myself transported into another world. The world around me vanishes as I turn the pages.

The necessary ingredient is vivid description. Readers need to identify with a situation in a story, to see and feel themselves in the scene. Here is where skillful crafting comes in, by choosing the right descriptive words to form subconscious pictures, kind of like a movie but in your mind. These sensorial vivid environments invite the reader to come inside.

It’s a fine line between too much and too little detail. Sometimes to provide all the visual information necessary, a writer can go overboard. Painting a verbal picture is more than pulling out your dictionary of adjectives and stringing them in front of every noun in your novel. Suppose you were describing an exotic garden where two people are about to meet. How would you go about describing such a visual and sensory place?

Imagine the overload of red, pink, white, and orange beds of exotic flowers, mixed among the dark green, chartreuse, emerald leafy, and grassy background of the garden. It’s a true testament to the meticulous obsessive dedication of the caretakers of Butchart  Gardens, all experts of maintaining such splendid beauty.

Oops! I think I just exhausted my reader. Excessive use of adjectives or other modifiers is not the answer. Choosing your descriptors is particularly important when you consider what your story is about and how much weight to lend to each detail. This garden could be the setting for an intriguing plot. Yet while this is important to make the setting as vivid as possible, the actual landscape is not part of the developing story.

Now consider the image as a place where an encounter with a villain is about to take place, the protagonist having been lured by a text message from a stalker to a specific spot for an exchange of information… or worse.

“Standing at the top of a staircase that led down to the noose-like pathway flanked by a patchwork of flower beds in bloom, Tamara scanned over the exotic specimens laid out over Butchart Gardens for signs of her stalker. She paused before descending into the colorful valley of plants and shrubs. Beyond the gardens, the mountains were framed by a misted sky. She shivered despite the warm morning sun while she verified the message on her cell phone. “Meet Maurice by the Sequoia grove past the totems.”

When describing a setting, adjectives are less important than capturing the essence of the setting through the context of the moment in the story. In “…the pathway flanked by a patchwork of flower beds,” the metaphor is more descriptive than the colors of the flowers. Also, “the noose-like pathway” is Fewer words might be more descriptive.


Join us for this tour from June 6 to July 1, 2022!

Book Details:

Book TitleFinding Ruby Draker by Marianne Scott
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  330 pages
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Publisher:  Friesen Press
Release date:  Original January 2016. Relaunch March 2022
Content Rating:  PG-13 +M. Occasional Profanity
 
Book Description:

Kathleen Jones has lived a protected and typical suburban life, nothing unexpected in her carefully controlled and planned existence. She’s about to complete her college degree and is ready to start a successful career but after completing her last exam she comes home to find her world has been turned upside down. Her home has been torched and her parents and little brother killed.

If that’s not bad enough, she is kidnapped and drugged unconscious by strangers posing as a police officers. When she awakes she discovers that everything has changed – her face, her name, and everything she believed to be true.

But things get worse. Hardly recovered from surgery, she is whisked away under the cover of darkness as more men storm the clinic with guns. It seems that the men who abducted her are not her greatest threat. Now on a private charter on its way to Nice, France, her abductors are calling her Ruby – Ruby Draker!

Finding Ruby Draker is a novel about knowing yourself, accepting change, embracing danger, and taking risks. You never know what life is going to throw at you.
 
 
Also Available for Your Spy Thriller Enjoyment! Marianne Scott’s New Release!
Book Details:

Book Title:  Shadows in the Aftermath by Marianne Scott
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  330 pages
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Publisher:  Friesen Press
Release date:  June 2022
Content Rating:  PG-13 +M. Occasional Profanity
 
Book Description:

Ruby Draker has found new strength and is ready to move on after Felix Szabo devastated the Draker estate in Nice, France. Three Drakers are dead leaving Ruby in grief and with thoughts of revenge. The Drakers are a family built of survivors; each rescued from Felix Szabo, a psychopath, who sought to murder his former agents at the CIA whom he believed betrayed him. The Drakers’ sole mission is to stop Szabo from adding more victims to his list, and although he also perished during the invasion, his legacy continues to haunt them. When the Drakers learn that Robert Draker, presumed dead since the shoot-out at Robert’s farmhouse, may be alive and at a rehab clinic in Portland, Maine, the Drakers know it could be a setup, but they have no choice but to try to find him and bring Robert home.

Shocked that Robert may be alive, the family head from France to America to find him. It’s only when they arrive in the west that they realize finding Robert won’t be as easy as they thought. Szabo has found a way to terrorize the Draker family, even after death. His outstanding debt with a Corsican crime family means the Drakers must now find and deliver a shipment of plutonium, which will likely be used by terrorists to create a nuclear bomb, to get Robert back. As Ruby struggles with the decision to save her brother or North America, she must also evade the CIA, who are trying to stop the Drakers from delivering the plutonium.
 
 
Meet the Author:

Marianne Scott is the Canadian author of four mystery thrillers and is currently finishing an edit on her fourth novel, a murder mystery. She has a BA and a Diploma in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, CA. She studied creative writing through Conestoga College and Humber College. She enjoys writing workshops such as those offered by Brian Henry, publisher of the blog, Quick Brown Fox, and One Lit Place, a writers’ hub by creator/editor Jenna Kalinsky. She has an author’s website and blog is the president of The Cambridge Writers’ Collective and is a member of the Guelph Genre Writers. In September of 2018, she completed a fourth-year course in Writing Fiction at the University of Guelph under the expert teaching of Lawrence Hill. Her novels, Finding Ruby Draker and Shadows in the Aftermath are self-published. She is actively seeking representation to break into the traditional publishing world with her third and fourth novels.  

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram

Tour Schedule:

June 6 – Mystery Review Crew – book spotlight of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / author interview / giveaway
June 6 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / guest post / giveaway
June 7 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway
June 7 – She Just Loves Books – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / giveaway
June 8 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / guest post / giveaway
June 8 – @booking.with.janelle – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER
June 9 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway
June 9 – Kam’s Place – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER
June 10 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / giveaway
June 13 – My Fictional Oasis – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / giveaway
June 14 – Literary Flits – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / giveaway
June 14 – Amy’s Booket List – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / giveaway
June 15 – Novels Alive – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER
June 15 – Novels Alive – book series spotlight / giveaway
June 16 – Bigreadersite – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / giveaway
June 16 – The Momma Spot – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / giveaway
June 17 – Novels Alive – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH
June 20 – Kam’s Place – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH
June 21 – Mystery Review Crew – book spotlight of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / guest post / giveaway
June 21 – fundinmental – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 22 – Literary Flits – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / giveaway
June 22- Amy’s Booket List – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / giveaway
June 23 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / giveaway
June 23 – My Fictional Oasis – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / giveaway
June 24 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / giveaway
June 24 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / giveaway
June 27 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / author interview / giveaway
June 28 –The Page Ladies – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH
June 28 – She Just Loves Books – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / giveaway
June 29 – @booking.with.janelle – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH
June 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – book review of FINDING RUBY DRAKER / giveaway
June 30 – The Momma Spot – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / giveaway
July 1 – Bigreadersite – book review of SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH / giveaway
July 1 – Books for Books – Book Series Spotlight
 
Enter the Giveaway:
 

FINDING RUBY DRAKER/SHADOWS IN THE AFTERMATH Book Tour Giveaway

 


 

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Cover Reveal for Blood and Chaos by Emma Dean @XpressoTours @emmadeanromance

Blood and Chaos
Emma Dean
(A Syndicate of Blood and Chaos, #2)
Publication date: January 20th 2023
Genres: Adult, Mafia, Reverse Harem, Romance

Two kingdoms: one of shadows, and one of blood.

Damien Chaos was a devil of his own making, and yet, somehow he found himself agreeing to a deal with Kira Cain instead of the other way around. She’d manipulated him into a position where the only solution was to do exactly as she wanted.

Shadow was his, but the cost was almost more than he could stand.

Kira Cain was going to be his wife, and the arranged marriage would put her at his side as his queen and equal.

The only problem was Damien couldn’t control her, and she already had Aeron and Kaito wrapped around her little finger. Things may not be going as planned, but there was no way he’d let anyone else f*cking touch her.

Dante would suffer for putting her in danger, and this time Damien wasn’t going to let it slide.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order


Author Bio:

Emma Dean is the autistic author of Draga Court and the Council of Paranormals. Juggling work, life, higher education, and a rambunctious toddler leaves little room for much else, but when she gets the chance she dives into a good book and likes to re-read the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop every year during Christmas.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


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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!