A J Cosmo writes some of the best children’s illustrated stories, with vibrant covers that are sure to catch a child’s eye. They have a simple message for the youngsters and the story is sure to enthrall them. The fabulous illustrations are a bonus to add to a child’s delight. I always wondered where my socks vanished to and now I know. I love how the main character finds a solution to the sock problem that makes everyone happy.
What happens to all those socks that go missing? Monsters eat them of course!
2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders will love the easy to understand writing and the colorful illustrations!
(3K words, 7 illustrations)
ABOUT A J COSMO
A.J. Cosmo’s stories are crafted to help parents teach their children simple everyday lessons in an easy to understand manner. By artfully marrying beautiful illustrations and language, children are challenged to explore his magical worlds. Written for the transitional reader, A.J.’s stories allow your child to develop and master a new level of reading.
A deadly, incurable disease creeps silent through Chattanooga. And its victims aren’t random. When inexplicable human rabies cases appear in Tennessee, disease ecologist Letty Duquesne jumps at the chance to trace the virus back to its source. But the closer Letty gets to finding the outbreak’s origin, the further someone will go to stop her. With an unwanted promotion threatening to take Letty far from the field work she loves, this outbreak feels like her last chance to make a difference. It’s not something she can ignore, especially now. The spillover of zoonotic diseases to the human population is on the rise and violent animal attacks — like the one that killed her sister — are becoming all too common. Something in nature has gone very wrong. Local authorities would rather she go home, but Letty can track a source animal like no one else. With the help of disgraced detective, Andrew Marsh, Letty follows the virus’s epidemiological trail. But her every move is watched. And the source animal is closer than she thinks. Inhuman Acts is a pulse-pounding thriller. Gripping and intricately paced, Brooke L. French’s debut novel will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Book Details: Genre: Thriller Published by: Black Rose Writing Publication Date: September 29th 2022 Number of Pages: 310 ISBN: 1685130356 (ISBN13: 9781685130350) Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
ABOUT BROOKE L FRENCH
Brooke L. French is a recovering lawyer turned writer who lives with her husband and sons between Atlanta and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. She spends most of her days gleefully researching and writing about fatal viruses, terrorism, and murder.
In late March London, I
decided to begin a new life. All of the people who I cared for were gone.
Headed off to find something new, I made my way through the busy streets.
Beggars lined the route to the Atlantic transport.
Stepping to the ticket
window, I asked, “where is the boat headed?”
“America,” He
answered.
“One, please!”
I said, handing the man my money. He gave me a ticket and asked my name.
“Randis Blackburn.”
He wrote my name along with the other ship passengers.
“Age?”
“22.” seems
like a good number. After all, my age was unbelievable.
I was waiting for my
turn to board the ship. Watching the ship’s two giant smokestacks as they
puffed angrily. Parents said goodbye to their children, knowing they might
never see them again. A child smiled, waving frantically. I waved back. Her
smile was sweet, intentions pure. The feeling of life surged through me. Would
I have the strength to leave if I had a child?
“Excuse me,”
a quiet voice said, breaking me from my thoughts. I stepped to the side,
apologizing for being in her way. “Is that yours?” she asked, looking down
at an old worn brown trunk that sat at my feet.
“No,” I
answered, gazing into her deep green eyes. I was frozen in place by the depth
of her stare. There was something familiar about her; I couldn’t say what. She
bent down, picking up the lock in her hand. She turned the key, opening the
lock. She let out a sigh of relief as she pulled open the trunk.
The smell of wild roses
filled the air around me. She turned and smiled at me quickly before shutting
the lid. The scent of roses hit me once again. Locking the trunk and standing
to her feet, she held her lacey gloves that she had taken from the chest in her
pale hands. With a smile, she said,
“Good day,
sir.”
“Please, Call me
Randis,” I stuttered out.
“You are?” I
asked as I took her hand, slowly lifting it to my lips and kissing her warm
hand gently. I looked up to see her rosy cheeks. I had made her blush.
“Sarah.” She
said in a nervous voice.
“Nice to make your
acquaintance, Sarah.” Holding her hand in mine, I said, “Safe
journey.”
“Same to you,
Randis,” she said, pulling her hand from mine.
As she walked away, I
felt that a part of me was now missing. I felt so alone, more alone than I ever
had, as she disappeared into the crowd.
Vampire Musings
Articles and Short Stories
Compiled by Bertena Varney
ASIN : B0B2QJ5FQC
Publication Date: May 29, 2022
Print Length: 259 pages
Book Description:
Join 16 vampire fans and writers from around the world for their musings on vampire music, movies, fun facts, and even mesmerizing short stories. This book will make you feel like you are in a room with friends discussing the various vampires that each of you love spanning from aristocratic vampires, to primal monsters, to the Twilight vamps. So, sit down in your comfy chair, turn on the vampire music provided in this book, pick up that Bloody Mary, and escape to a world full of vampires.
There is a recount of the life of Anne Rice, reviews of books, movies, and television shows, a look at vampires as religious figures, romantic stories, and traditional stories of the vampire.
Each of these stories holds intrigue for fans of creatures of the night.
Contributors include: Audrey A’Cladh, Azurdee Garland, Bitten Twice, Bertena Varney, Carrie Rogers, Isabella Gibbons, Jacqueline Gibbons, Kathryne LeFevre, Kyle Germann, Mary Jackson, Matthew Banks, Phaedra Walker, Roxanne Rhoads, Selah Janel, Simon Bacon, and Stavros Cockrell.
These contributors range from a 12-year-old actress, to college professors, librarians, paranormal romance authors, and even those that live the life of a vampire.
The cover art was created by Stavros while showcasing the model Xamie wearing fangs from Kaos Kustom Fangs, LLC. The model is both alluring but dangerous. She is a great representation of the book and the various stories that are told within.
Vampire Musings is the 11th vampire book written, compiled, and/or published by Bertena Varney, M.A., M.Ed. This book is an anthology of articles and short stories from academics and fans from around the world. The topics range from Anne Rice’s Life Chronology, vampire detectives, vampire art, vampire films, modern short stories of vampire romance and traditional gothic reads of tortured souls.
Bertena is a former Assistant Professor of Sociology and is still working in higher education.
She has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Morehead State University in sociology, criminology, history, and education. She spent these educational years studying pop culture.
She has been a guest speaker for multiple conventions including:
– Pop Culture Association National Conference in Washington DC
– Pop Culture Association Regional Conference in New Orleans
– Conjuration- A Harry Potter Convention in Atlanta, GA
Detective Owen Morrison had saved her brother’s life. Though they are not together, Tina Thomas is still in love with him. They had broken up two years ago and, now, she is walking into the police station to thank him. He is the only person she had ever been herself with and she thought he had loved her too, but…
Tina and her sister Tiffany own Double Trouble Sweet Treats and she had baked the cupcakes she was bringing to Owen herself. His favorite, chocolate with strawberry inside, with chocolate flavored whipped cream. MMMMM. Sounds super yummy to me.
Could he forgive her for keeping secrets? She didn’t do it to hurt him.
I love Jade too. She is Tina’s brother’s girlfriend.
Closing In is heavy in the romance department, though I do feel a sense of menace lingering on each page as they rekindle their relationship.
HE is watching. HEwill make a move on her, it’s just a matter of when. I love looking at things from the villain’s perspective. I find it fascinating. His thoughts are unrealistic, obsessive. It shows how perverted, twisted, and truly terrifying a stalker can be. Love, I don’t think so. And, when HE doesn’t get what he wants?
I found repetition, but it is an ARC, so ‘they’ will most likely clean that up. The first half of the book is deep into the romance, then we start getting into the good stuff, the things I really look forward to.
Both Jane and Amanda write some easy reading romance stories that have entertained me for hours. Some lighter, some darker, but I have enjoyed them all. Keeps me coming back for more.
I love, at the end of the book, Jane Blythe and Amanda Siegrist share who wrote whose POV in this fabulous collaboration.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Closing In by Jane Blythe and Amanda Siegrist.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The past is closing in on them, and they’ll only survive if they learn from their mistakes.
Tina Thomas was betrayed in the worst possible way and doesn’t know how to trust anymore. The last thing she wants is more eyes watching her, so she hides her pain. Problem is, in doing so, she lost the best thing to ever happen to her—the man she loved. Now she’s being gifted with a second chance, but she could lose it all if she can’t find the courage to share what she’s been hiding from everyone for years: an obsessive stalker who plans to never let her go.
Two years is a long time to be without the person you love, but Detective Owen Morrison is focused on catching a killer, not rekindling a lost love. He’s moved on. Or so he thought. Tina jumping back into his life has him rethinking everything that happened between them. Except he senses she’s still hiding something. This time, however, he isn’t going to let doubts and insecurities ruin their second chance. After all, whatever the problem is, he can solve it…if she’ll let him in. But the closer he tries to get to the truth, the more Owen starts to fear Tina’s secret may be far deadlier than he could have ever imagined.
The entire Conquering Fear Novel series: (Each book can be read as a standalone.) Drowning in You (Book 1): Carter and Rose Out of the Darkness (Book 2): Miles & Jade Closing In (Book 3): Owen & Tina
↝ Trigger warning – Graphic violence and themes of sexual assault ↜
ABOUT JANE BLYTHE
USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!
Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)
I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.
Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*
**images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**
Hi Everyone.
Mr Wonderful talked me into a trip to Biloxi. We had a great time and the weather was…HOT! We came home with more than we went with and that is always a good thing.
Woo Hoo…Another Threecon Sci/Fi novel by Carmen Webster Buxton. I have loved exploring the worlds she has created, so I am really looking forward to The Nostalgia Gambit. I love the creative cover and I wonder what…or who…the red pawn represents.
Carmen Webster Buxton comes up with some of the best, most unusual characters. Tychon Altair Damiano is the star in The Nostalgia Gambit. He doesn’t know who his father is, seeing his mother’s ‘career’ made it hard to figure out. He is a fence, dealing with stolen goods, and has spend some time in prison. His friends consist of hookers and thieves, until…
Carmen Webster Buxton writing has created a world of vast richness, with detailed glimpses into life on a planet of the future. I find it fascinating, getting lost in the detailed descriptions.
When I started reading, I thought, I know it will be good, but how can Carmen come up with something new and exciting. I am a blood and guts kind of girl. I love reading about serial killers, vampires and shapeshifters, but have found science fiction taking a larger piece of the pie than ever before. It’s because of authors like Carmen.
Threecon is like our United Nations, though there are no nations, only planets. To join, you must be a unified planet. One for all and all for one. The Palatinate, Kallisto’s ruler, was determined to join Threecon. Good for him. I’ve spent several novels visiting other planets and loving every minute of it. I find the Threecon world Carmen has created fascinating. Even more so the characters, and their interactions. They come alive on the pages, drawing me in, becoming involved in their life, as if they are real. I empathize and sympathize with them…at least most of them.
I loved The Nostalgia Gamibit by Carmen Webster Buxton, another unique and highly entertaining read!
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Far future science fiction: Tychon Damiano makes a living, of sorts, fencing stolen goods. He’s especially proud of dealing in items stolen from rich aristos. On the other hand, the hookers and lowlifes in Prime, the largest city on Kallisto, are his friends. They send him enough business to keep himself fed and clothed, and help him stay one step ahead of the law. And then one day Ty walks into the wrong bar and finds his life forever changed. Now he lives a life of luxury in a palace, with fine food on the table, servants to wait on him, and a virtual girlfriend on tap. There’s only one problem. Ty can’t leave.
ABOUT 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.
Book Title: Waiting in the Wings: How to Launch Your Performing Career on Broadway and Beyond by Tiffany Haas Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 273 pages Genre: Non-Fiction Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Release date: April 23, 2019 Content Rating: G for everyone.
Book Description:
Tiffany Haas knows how to make it on Broadway. After 72 rejections in a row she finally landed a role in Broadway’s long-running smash hit Wicked and later became “Glinda the Good.” Now she wants to share her advice for starting and nurturing a career in the theater. Waiting in the Wings is the essential guide for anyone who wants to have a theatrical career, whether they’re complete newbies or already have some professional credits.
Based on everything she learned on her journey to New York, including 10 years on Broadway, Tiffany shares the information that you need to succeed in theater. Everyone’s path is a little bit different, but the principles for success are always the same. With advice on auditions, how to become the performer they want to hire, developing relationships with cast mates, finding a reputable agent, the importance of reputation, and the best way to shape and build your career, Tiffany covers every aspect of the business. You’ll learn what it takes to be successful and where to best spend your time and effort as you navigate the “great mystery” of pursuing musical theater.
In an industry that is famed for its insider secrets, Tiffany draws back the curtain, giving readers the knowledge and tools they need to follow their dreams. If you’re one of those people Waiting in the Wings for a big Broadway career, Tiffany Haas’s book is the one resource you need to land a big role, stand in front of those footlights and let it go!
A Virginia native, Tiffany is a talented Broadway performer, concert vocalist, choreographer, author, designer and passionate entrepreneur and former Miss Ohio. In addition to her impressive 10-year career as “Glinda” in the Broadway and National Tour production of Wicked, she was the dance captain for the Tony Award-winning Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. She is the author of Waiting In The Wings: How to Launch Your Performing Career on Broadway and Beyond and Founder & Artistic Director of Destination Broadway, the premier musical theatre training program for young aspiring performers. Throughout the years, her evolving career has spanned Broadway, Symphony concerts, pageants, and sharing her many talents with others through teaching. Tiffany’s students can be seen on The Disney Channel, Sesame Street, National Tours, Broadway, Radio City Music Hall, and are currently studying at some of the most prestigious conservatories and universities in the country.
Force of Nature Skye Warren & Amelia Wilde Publication date: September 6th 2022 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Carter Morelli survived a violent childhood and dangerous missions. After he emergency lands the small aircraft, he faces something even worse: having someone depend on him. Geologis June Porter wants to study rocks. She didn’t plan to be stranded on a deserted island.
They aren’t alone on the island. A man hides among the broad leaves. He’s almost feral, this man. But he provides them shelter and food.
There are secrets in his hidden cabin. Desire, too.
Carter doesn’t want to care about the bookish, beautiful June.
But he doesn’t like this strange man’s interest in her, either.
Simmering chemistry wars with the need for survival.
Will they be found before they give into temptation?
Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance. Her books have sold over one million copies. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.
Amelia Wilde is a USA TODAY bestselling author of steamy contemporary romance and loves it a little too much. She lives in Michigan with her husband and daughters. She spends most of her time typing furiously on an iPad and appreciating the natural splendor of her home state from where she likes it best: inside.
Amelia is a USA Today best selling author from northern Michigan. Be her friend!
This second chance romance is full of twists and turns, emotional reunions, and drama perfect for anyone addicted to romance. Regan “Rae” Murphy has zero interest in romance and even less in love. One heartbreak in her life was quite enough, and she has no desire to get wrapped up in the sticky tendrils of love again. She thought she’d left all those messy feelings and entanglements in her past when she moved to Charlotte from Charleston, especially the devastatingly handsome portion of that past, who was wearing nothing but a towel when she walked out on him. His betrayal was the reason she left and is the reason she keeps her heart safely tucked away. But when her best friend, Kez, asks Rae to be her maid of honor, Rae reluctantly puts aside her own feelings about forever.
Love is in the air on Kez’s wedding day, and it smacks Rae right in the face when her ex, Van, appears-and he looks just as good in a tux as he did in a towel. For Kez’s sake, Rae agrees to bury the hatchet somewhere other than between Van’s shoulder blades. He makes it his mission to get Rae to hear him out-something she refused to do before she left him. The pull to listen is strong as the hope she’d buried deep within her starts to rattle its way free. Maybe everything between them hadn’t been one giant, intricate lie. But to get the chance to show Rae what they had was real, Van’s going to have to earn it. This second chance romance is full of twists and turns, emotional reunions, and drama perfect for anyone addicted to romance.
ABOUT E F DODD
A fan of all things Halloween, but terrified of scary movies. Lover of fresh flowers, with the notable exception of carnations. Don’t expect a woman to be flattered by the same flowers you paid $1.00 for back in junior high on Valentine’s Day. I’m a true romantic, which is to say I find flaws unexpectedly beautiful and think life is at its best during the in between moments you don’t find on FaceBook or Instagram. I’m lucky enough to share my life with someone who agrees reclaimed is better than new, antiques always trump contemporary and it’s a close call who should be saved first from a burning building – us, or our English Bulldog. I’m new to the writing game, but I love it and the respite it provides not just me, but also, I hope, my readers.
GENRE: Clean Contemporary Women’s
Fiction – Christian
BLURB
They
started out as strangers…but didn’t stay that way for long…
A devoted granddaughter
willing to do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe. Strangers who meet during the worst of
conditions and become friends in the midst of chaos. Unexpected romance under the most unlikely
circumstances. A puzzling mystery with
its roots in historical events that took place centuries ago. And a storm that
hides an ominous purpose that could change all their lives forever.
Sara knows before she
walks into her grandparent’s home that her grandmother’s greatest fear will
never be the storm or the threat it poses but instead the unknown that lays
just beyond her front door. She knows too its cause and grieves that there is
nothing she can do to change it.
Throughout the years of
his career John has covered numerous battlefields including those that are a
result of nature’s unyielding tempest.
He fears this might be the worst one yet.
Mel didn’t expect to
spend more than a few days in the large house where they’d taken refuge. She figured the storm would pass by and then
they’d be off to their next assignment.
The last thing she expected was David Payne.
Despite the fact that
Lance was the bane of her teenage years, Tish knows that without the help of
her father’s assistant, that the trip to North Carolina likely would have been
a lot more challenging than it was. She’d been unequivocally terrified but his
presence gave her strength she didn’t realize she had. She wasn’t certain how she felt about that…or
him…or that he no longer irritated her the way he used to.
When Gary arrived at
his family’s home in the mountains of North Carolina, he’s relieved that Sara
and her grandparents along with their elderly friends are already there. But he
is unable to take an easy breath until Tish finally arrives with Lance…and is
not at all surprised at what he hears from Lance about their trip and the
potential dangers they’d just barely been able to avoid.
He’s determined to do
everything he can to keep their location safe…and unknown. Their knowledge,
skills, and ingenuity are their greatest defense. For a time they would have to
depend on themselves…it hadn’t take long to discover that the storm was never
their greatest threat…but what is could change all their lives for the
immediate future…or longer.
“If you enjoy uplifting and heartfelt women’s fiction, young and older heroes and heroines filled with courage and compassion as they share joys and triumphs, and united they face and overcome tremendous challenges and tragedy, this book is for you.”
NOTE: The book is on sale for
$0.99.
EXCERPT
“You didn’t know?”
John wasn’t about to pretend that he had no idea what she
was talking about.
“It was pretty obvious that Ben spent a lot of his spare
time with his nose in the books, but I figured it was towards a journalism
degree.”
He stared out into the darkness. He could hear the trees moving with the wind
in the distance but beyond that he couldn’t see a damn thing. “I had no clue about the rest of it.”
And that he knew was on him.
He’d never made the effort to learn more about the young man in all the
months that he’d been working with him.
“Grandma has a way about her. In the right situation, people talk to her
about things they usually don’t with anyone else,” Sara said quietly.
“Sounds like it,” John said as he thought about what he’d
heard. People lost loved ones over the
course of their lives. There was no
getting around that one.
But from what they’d just heard Ben had lost everyone. That wasn’t normal and he knew no matter how
well-adjusted Ben appeared, it couldn’t be easy no matter how long ago it had
been. He was only…John sighed
deeply. He didn’t even know how old the
kid was.
“It explains how good he is with Grandma and the rest of
them,” Sara said into the quiet that had again fallen between them.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Jacie
Middlemann lives in Texas with her husband and a couple of cats who believe
they rule…and sometimes they do.
When she’s not
watching classic sitcoms or working on a needlework project for one of her
kids, she loves to read women’s fiction and sometimes a good mystery suspense.
