Giveaway & Review – Tasting Temptation by Aria Glazki @AriaGlazki

I am excited to have Aria Glazki, a long time blogging buddy and author, to fundinmental today to share her new release Tasting Temptation. I hope you are ready for some sweet lovin’, because Aria is going to tell us…take it away Aria…

Why Have Sex? (in Fiction)

Readers who are familiar with Mending Heartstrings might be shocked by the explicit scenes in Tasting Temptation. Those who’ve read my previous posts about writing sex shouldn’t be, because—as always—it’s all about the characters.

For Sabella and Kane (Mending Heartstrings), the relationship progressed in a more “traditional” manner. The two of them got to know each other, became comfortable together, and developed a sense of emotional intimacy before things ever became physical. Add to that the fact that Sabella especially is a bit more private about physical intimacy, and very little of her and Kane’s sexual relationship ended up on the page.

For Gina and Hunter (Tasting Temptation), everything is different. The start of their relationship is nothing but sex—and Gina is anything but shy. At first, these two don’t even know each other’s names. The one and only way they relate to each other is physically. So, of course, those moments are what the reader sees.

Naturally (this is a romance), Gina and Hunter’s relationship grows from that place of simple physicality. As the way they relate to each other changes, so too do the details of how they have sex. In fact, shifts in their approach to the other person, bits of feelings they aren’t ready to express, and more—all of it is visible first in these moments where they retreat to something as basic and as complicated as sex.

Were these scenes not included, or had they been glossed over, much—or maybe even most—of Hunter and Gina’s relationship would be lost. Rather than witnessing the development of their emotions, the reader would be left adrift amid disconnected snapshots culminating in a sense of intimacy that would feel unfounded, and false. So in this book, there is a fair amount of explicit sex, but no moment is gratuitous. Like with the other scenes, every moment when you see Gina and Hunter coming together is an integral puzzle piece contributing to the picture that is their story.

Thanks for sharing, Aria. It has been a pleasure having you visit! Congratulations on the new release and I wish you all the best.

Now…lets check out Tasting Temptation by Aria Glazki. Shall we start with the cover?

What do you think?

 tastingtemptation-glazki-ebookwebMY REVIEW

I love the pretty cover for Tasting Temptation by Aria Glazki. It is simple, yet hints at more than meets the eye. I think it perfectly portrays Gina, who is broken, and I want her whole again. Will she meet the man who can help her?

Tasting Temptation is Book II in the Foraging Forever series. I have read Mending Heartstrings, Book I, and wonder why I only gave it three stars after reading Gina’s story. I think because the characters are polar opposites and I can relate to Gina better than Sabella. Sabella is the goody two shoes kind of gal, while Gina is carefree and flirty with sexual innuendos lacing her dialogue. Her defenses are up and the walls are high, after being badly burned by a rich playboy and I wonder at the type of man that can heal her.

The story starts out hot and heavy and immediately grabbed my attention. To Gina, Hunter is a hot and sexy boy toy and I think I would like to play with him too. Gina meets him at the vineyard where her best friend, Sabella, is getting married. She kept telling herself the single life and casual sex with a yummy guy was for her. I think she is in for a wake up call. I think we all know what is to come, but at 18% into Gina’s story, I am hooked and loving every minute of it. We are getting to the heart of the matter and I am eager to see how it plays out.

Her past nightmare playboy has entered the picture and the abuse of wealth and privilege and his need for revenge creates an insidious evil that touches everyone who comes near her. I am so pissed at him that my anger brings tears to my eyes and I want to reach through my kindle and wreak my own havoc. I didn’t cry…until I was 90% into the story.

Novels that are strictly romance are not big on my hit list, but I love Gina and Hunter. Their romance left me as breathless as Gina was. Even though I know how Tasting Temptation will end, I can hardly wait to get there. I knew there would be a happy every after and Aria Glazki’s writing had me unable to quit until I reached it.

I received a copy of Tasting Temptation by Aria Glazki in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars

Tasting Temptation Blurb:
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After last summer’s failed attempt at romance, Gina is absolutely done with men. And especially with millionaires. She has a good job as a fashion editor and amazing friends, and she’s decided she needs nothing else. All she really misses is the sex. But that rush just isn’t worth the risk of being ensnared in another relationship. When the hot bartender at her best friend’s Sonoma wedding suggests some harmless stress relief, she takes him up on the offer. When it’s sufficiently satisfactory, she indulges in a repeat–for the road. When she learns he’s actually the wealthy owner of the vineyard, the mix of fury and fear is damped only by the knowledge that she never has to see him again.
Hunter Cavaliere is determined to honor his grandfather’s legacy, and so far, he’s right on track. The vineyard is thriving, he has plans for expansion, and his wines speak for themselves. The only thing missing is the right woman to share it all. But through his grandparents’ marriage, Hunter learned what true love is, and he’s unwilling to settle for anything else. A woman who judges him because of his money definitely isn’t high up on his list. Still, when circumstance unbelievably keeps bumping him into the intriguing brunette from Portland, he can’t shake the feeling that she is someone he should pursue.
Gina’s poised to run the other way, but one more taste of Hunter may just prove too tempting to resist.
 
BUY LINKS
 

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FPNK182

CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01FPNK182

Autographed print copies: ariaglazki.selz.com
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ABOUT ARIA GLAZKI
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Aria GlazkiAria Glazki’s first kiss technically came from a bear cub. Though no fairytale transformation followed, she still believes magic can happen when the right people come together—if they don’t get in their own way, that is. So now Aria writes heartfelt romances about relatable people overcoming real-world obstacles to build love that lasts.
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Social media links: 
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Check out her other stories and my review links below:

Mending Heartstrings

Mortal Musings

Life Under Examination

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Giveaway – Simply The Best Romance Novels

MBB_SimplyTheBest_TourBannerSimply The Best has such a fantastic selection of romance novels, I couldn’t resist sharing it with you. No matter what genre is your fave, you are bound to find it here.

Media Kit _BookCover_SimplyTheBestSimply the Best: A Collection of International Digital

Award Winning Romances

by L.A. Sartor, Laurel O’Donnell, Kathy L Wheeler, Dale Mayer,

Charity Tahmaseb, Cynthia A Clement

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GENRE:  Multi-genre

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BLURB:

This collection of multi-genre romances features winning novels from the International Digital Awards, including historical, suspense/thriller, short historical, contemporary, paranormal, and young adult. Simply the Best of all worlds!

BUY LINKS: 

Haunted by Death ~ Dale Mayer

Death haunts anthropologist Meg Pearce…In her last summer before college, an innocent camping trip ended in a friend’s disappearance…and destroyed her life.

Angel’s Assassin ~ Laurel O’Donnell

When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.

Be Mine This Christmas Night ~ L. A. Sartor

At Christmas, finding love and a family seems even more possible…unless you’re keeping a secret.

A Hunter 4 Rescue ~ Cynthia Clement

Worlds Apart. Joined by Love

A unit of elite alien warriors, known as Hunters, crash lands on earth and their leader is torn between getting his men to safety or protecting the human woman he has bonded with.

The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet ~ Charity Tahmaseb

Sometimes staying silent is the biggest lie of all

No one expects the girl who has mastered the art of keeping quiet to join the speech team. But Jolia does. When a crush-worthy rival offers to coach her in secret, she can’t say no. But secrets have a price, and this one might cost Jolia everything.

The Mapmaker’s Wife ~ Kathy L Wheeler

In the midst of his worn-torn country, love posed the greater danger.

A flippant proposal and an attack on her person finds one young woman married to the
mapmaker who only needs someone to take control of his ungovernable child. Feelings quickly shift into something less platonic and when the enemy gains vital secrets, her suspicions land her in jail.

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EXCERPT

from The Mapmaker’s Wife ~ Kathy L Wheeler

“Miss Ruthers?”

“Yes. It’s me, Mr. Williams.”

“Good heavens, you’ll catch your death.” He leaned over the edge, gripping the wood rail. She thought she caught concern, however fleeting. “You haven’t a coat.”

“No, Mr. Williams. I didn’t have much time, I’m afraid.”

“You’d best come in.” At his grim tone, she cast a glance to the bank of trees behind. “Now, Miss Ruthers. It’s freezing out.”

Clutching her torn shirt tighter with one hand, Elizabeth lifted her skirts with the other and trod up the wood stairs, head held high. Dignity was her only salvation. With a confidence she didn’t feel, she marched past him and into a kitchen a bit larger than the one she’d fled.

Dishes filled the sink and the floor needed a good sweeping. His limp seemed more pronounced as he filed in and hung the lantern on a hook next to the door. He shut it softly, staring at her all the while, arms folded over a broad chest.

The heat in the kitchen, after the cold night, seemed stifling and overwarm. His eyes moved over her, pausing at her throat where her frozen hand secured her shirt in a fist, rising back up to her damp hair, dripping puddles on the floor. She was so warm, she felt faint.

After a long pause, he asked, “Is there something you wish to tell me, Miss Ruthers?”

“I-I accept your proposal.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

This multi-author boxed set will be sold for $0.99 cents.

Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author known for her page turning plotlines and
heartwarming characters. A prolific writer, she specializes in Romantic Suspense, but also writes thrillers, comedy, and contemporary romances.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Award winning author Kathy L Wheeler loves travel, fantasy football, NBA and musical theatre. As an avid reader of romance and patron of the theatre, her main sources of inspiration come mostly from an over-active imagination. Kathy writes contemporary and historical romance, from sweet to spicy.

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

L.A. Sartor is a bestselling, award-winning author. She began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at L.A.’s insistence, wrote them down and L.A. illustrated them. As an adult, she writes suspense and action-adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays—she’s had a contracted adaptation!  She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date.  L.A. loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey.

Website / Facebook / Facebook Author Page / Twitter

Laurel O’Donnell is a best selling author and has won numerous awards for her medieval romances, including the International Digital Award and the Holt Medallion Award.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Charity Tahmaseb has slung corn on the cob for Green Giant and jumped out of airplanes (but not at the same time). She’s worn both Girl Scout and Army green. These days, she writes fiction (short and long) and works as a technical writer.

Website/blog / Facebook / Twitter

Cynthia Clement is an award winning author who began writing when she was a teenager. Her novels reflect her love of romance, strong honorable heroes, and suspense intertwined with the intriguing and unexplained.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

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GIVEAWAY

The authors will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via
rafflecopter during the tour.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER HERE

follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here.

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New Release – The Psycho Collection by @bonnierpaulson

Psychocollectionbanner

I love psycho serial killers!!!!

EVERYONE HAS A LITTLE PSYCHO INSIDE…

The Psycho Collection Box Set

IBOOKS
KOBO
KINDLE
NOOK
GOOGLE

PSYCHO INSIDE ME

I killed my first victim at thirteen years old – my age, not his. He was going to rape me, him and a couple of his friends. And so, I killed him. And then… I killed again. And again.

At seventeen, I’m killing four to six times a year – maybe more. Don’t stress out. I only go after the pedophiles and rapists. There are more out there than I could cover in a lifetime.

Saying I did this on my own would be selfish. Enforcing justice holds a glory all its own. But now, my lifelong friend and backup, Deegan, has been arrested. I have to decide if I want to give myself up and take his place or leave him with all the damning evidence. I don’t want to stop killing. But if I let him take the fall, I can’t kill anymore. And I need to keep doing that.

But the worst part of it all? I love him.

DICTATING DEATH

Samantha wants to love him.

Maria wants to kill him.

Dr. Luke Lawson has no idea that the girl he’s dating has split personalities fighting to control her body. Samantha must keep Luke safe at all costs.

If Samantha wins, Maria will die and disappear forever – taking Samantha with her.

If Maria wins, Dr. Lawson will die and she and Samantha will move on to the next doctor – the next kill.

But Luke is special.

He could save Samantha from herself… but only if Samantha can save him.

WATCH ME BURN

Levi

I’ve been in love and it hurts.

We hurt each other.

On purpose.

I can’t escape the guilt.

Megan

I don’t want to be just friends with Levi.

But I will be.

He’s been hurt before and I just want to be there for him.

Someone needs to be on his side.

Chelsea

Levi Cole is mine.

I want him.

She can’t have him.

She needs to die.

  • To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
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Review for A Thousand Yesteryears @MaeClair1 & Sin City @lucyfarago

Inside the Book:

 
 
Author: Mae Clair
Release Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Format: Ebook
MY REVIEW
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WOW  OMG, I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
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A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair is a story about tragedy in a small town. Murder, UFO’s, myths and legends kept me spellbound. Unputdownable!
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After reading A Thousand Yesteryears, I see why the title is so very appropriate. I love when it fits so perfectly.
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There is so much I want to share about A Thousand Yesteryears, so I must be careful not to “spoil” you. If you are a fan of myths and legends, creature features, tragedy that leaves the residents stuck in place, unable to move on, then A Thousand Yesteryears is a must read for you.
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Eve had lost her father and best friend to the collapse of the Silver Bridge (really happened) and had been gone since her mother took her away right after the tragedy struck. Now she’s back. Is it true…You can’t go back home again…or is home where the heart is?
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“You should leave before you get hurt.”

As she meets old acquaintances and begins to reconsider the direction her life is headed, the threats and danger begin. Eve will have some difficult choices ahead of her, if she can manage to stay alive.

https://usercontent2.hubstatic.com/11931249_f520.jpg

photo courtesy of angelwing314.deviantart.com

The legend of Mothman (rumored to live in Point Pleasant), the curse of Chief Cornstalk, UFOs, a collapsed bridge that killed many and a man that killed his share of victims. A Thousand Yesteryears is about the tragedies of the small town of Point Pleasant and the residents struggles to continue on with their lives.

A Thousand Yesteryears brings to light small town living. The longer Eve stays, the more she sees that her preconceived ideas and people she dismissed so easily in her youth will come to mean everything to her as she grows and opens her mind. Rumors and gossips…pranks gone wrong…

The more I read, the harder it is to stop, even for a moment. Eve has grown and developed into a caring, loving person, making new friends, finding lost love, grasping her Point Pleasant legacy with both hands, bravely searching for answers to the mystery and danger she found herself in because she refused to be run out of town.

Katie, what a wonderful, misunderstood girl who Eve’s Aunt Rosie took under her wing, mentoring and loving her as the daughter she never had. Caden, Eve’s childhood crush, who is so laden with guilt over his sister’s death on the bridge, that he cannot move on. All the other characters are just as complex and carry their own baggage, but once their personalities shown through, they found their place in my reading family. All except…

And Mothman…what can I say about Mothman. Not much because it will give too much away, but this is one myth that lives and thrives in the real town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
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Mae Clair’s writing created so much tension, that it took all I had not to skip ahead! The romance, mystery, myth and suspense kept me white knuckled, on the edge of my seat, talking to myself…oh no…hurry, hurry…must know. I gobbled the words like Lays potato chips and I know one Point Pleasant and Mothman book is never going to be enough. A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair can stand alone, but she leaves the characters wide open for more adventure.
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Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars
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You can check out the Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant West Virginia HERE.
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ABOUT THE BOOK

Behind a legend lies the truth…

As a child, Eve Parrish lost her father and her best friend, Maggie Flynn, in a tragic bridge collapse. Fifteen years later, she returns to Point Pleasant to settle her deceased aunt’s estate. Though much has changed about the once thriving river community, the ghost of tragedy still weighs heavily on the town, as do rumors and sightings of the Mothman, a local legend. When Eve uncovers startling information about her aunt’s death, that legend is in danger of becoming all too real . . .

Caden Flynn is one of the few lucky survivors of the bridge collapse but blames himself for coercing his younger sister out that night. He’s carried that guilt for fifteen years, unaware of darker currents haunting the town. It isn’t long before Eve’s arrival unravels an old secret-one that places her and Caden in the crosshairs of a deadly killer . . .

“Masterful, bone-chilling fiction…one intense thriller. A Thousand Yesteryears will keep you guessing, gasping and turning the pages for more.” —New York Times bestselling author Kevin O’Brien

 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpgB&N

Meet the Author:

Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, romance and elements of mystery. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.

Visit her website

 Inside the Book:
Author: Lucy Farago
Release Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Romance
Format: Ebook

There are some secrets even Las Vegas’s 24/7 glitter can’t hide. Lucy Farago’s dazzling new series ups the ante as a fiery stripper fights to protect an elite detective from danger–and both their killer pasts…

Living in the red-hot now is how Rhonda Deagan survives. Onstage, this sexy Goth stripper always stays on top, no matter how much her real-life dreams shatter. So why not risk a scorching fling with a gorgeous groomsman after her best friend’s wedding? Too bad Blake Cameron is in someone’s lethal sights. And saving this cool-headed investigator’s life just put Rhonda on the run with him–and on his personal, oh-so-seductive hit list…

For Blake, figuring out who doesn’t want him dead is easier than keeping his new raven-haired friend safe. The only way he can buy time to out-think their pursuers is to hide them both in the aristocratic world he thought he’d escaped. But there’s no escaping the incendiary attraction between him and Rhonda. Walking the knife-edge between desire, lies, and naked truth may be their best chance to live–if it doesn’t cut too deep to survive…

 

 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpgB&N

Meet the Author:

Lucy Farago knows there is nothing like a happy sigh at the end of a good book. With the encouragement of her loving husband, she wrote her first manuscript. An unpublished historical, it sits in a file on her computer, there to remind her how much fun she had learning the craft and becoming part of an industry whose books make you believe anything is possible. A big fan of Agatha Christie, she set out to write her first romantic suspense novel. Thrilled to be a published author, Lucy also teaches yoga, enjoys cooking, and saying what other people are thinking. In her fantasy world, her beautiful Siberian husky, Loki, doesn’t shed and her three kids clean up after themselves . Alas, that fantasy will never see fruition.

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Tour Schedule

 Monday, May 2 – Books featured at The Review From Here
Tuesday, May 3 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at 3 Partners in Shopping
Wednesday, May 4 – Sin on the Run featured at E-Romance News
Thursday, May 5 – Books featured at Harmonious Publicity
Friday, May 6 – Books featured at Literal Exposure
________
Monday, May 9 – Books featured at The Bookworm Lodge
Tuesday, May 10 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at Deal Sharing Aunt
Wednesday, May 11 – Sin on the Run featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner
Thursday, May 12 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at Celticlady’s Reviews
Friday, May 13 – Books featured at Write and Take Flight
________
Monday, May 16 – A Thousand Yesteryears reviewed at Fundinmental
Tuesday, May 17 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at Chosen By You Book Club
Wednesday, May 18 – A Thousand Yesteryears reviewed at Books and Needlepoint
Thursday, May 19 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner
Friday, May 20 – A Thousand Yesteryears reviewed at Stormy Night Reviewing
________
Monday, May 23 – Sin on the Run featured at Deal Sharing Aunt
Tuesday, May 24 – Books featured at A Title Wave
Wednesday, May 25 – Books featured at Voodoo Princess
Thursday, May 26 – Books featured at Bent Over Bookwords
Friday, May 27 – Books featured at The Literary Nook
________

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Giveaway – Forest of Demons @amoscassidy

A new voice in High Fantasy, Forest of Demons by Debbie Cassidy, is available for download today!

No one goes into the forest alone.

 No one steps off the beaten path.

 Nineteen-year- old Priya has lived in the shadow of the forest all her life. She knows the rules better than anyone. Do not go into the forest alone and never stray from the beaten path. Her village has lived in tentative peace with the inhabitants of the forest for decades, until the day that someone breaks the rules.

 With first blood drawn, Priya’s dreams of leaving for the Capitol are put on hold as the village goes into lockdown. The unbearable heat shifts to a bone-chilling winter and just as Priya thinks she will be trapped forever, two strangers stumble into the village with a fantastical story that will shatter all her conventions, freeing her at a horrifying cost.
Now Priya’s dreams are coming true, but in a way she could never have imagined, and the burden of protecting her people falls upon her shoulders. Will Priya succeed in delivering a message that could save them all?
From the dusty heat of a small village, to the icy grandeur of the Capitol, Priya must make an impossible journey.

 Freedom always comes at a price.

Grab your copy today!

Debbie Cassidy is a 35 year old multi-tasking ninja who lives in England, Bedfordshire, with her

three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuit s are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Debbie has been writing for eight years under the pen name Amos Cassidy with her best friend, Richard Amos, but Forest of Demons is her first solo venture, and the first book in a four book high fantasy saga.

You can connect with Debbie via her website at amoscassidyauthor.com. Check out her personal page and her other books under the pen name Amos Cassidy. You won’t be left without a great read while you wait for the next installment in the Forest of Demons saga.
Sign up to Debbie’s newsletter to get updates on her new releases: http://eepurl.com/bVywM5
Stalk Debbie Cassidy:
 
 Sign up to her Forest of Demons newsletter to get up to date information on new releases and take part in exclusive giveaways: http://eepurl.com/bVywM5
Sign up to the Amos Cassidy newsletter and receive two free novellas and information on new releases, exclusive giveaways and much more: http://amoscassidyauthor.com/amoscassidy-free-download/
GIVEAWAY:
$15 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
Ends 5/25
Giveaway is provided by the tour organizer, hosts are not responsible in any way. You must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.
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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Europa Awakenings by P R Garcia – A Must Read Epic Saga Giveaway

Europa Awakenings by Pam Garcia has an amazing cover that made me feel I had to have it. After reading the synopsis I knew I had to have it. I even enjoyed learning about Pam from her bio, be sure and check it out. Her commitment to the oceans around us makes me feel I have met a kindred spirit.

I realize this is a long post, put P R Garcia has so many wonderful things to share, I could not decide what to keep and what to discard…so I included it all! Sci-fi, fantasy, reality…you decide.

Let’s welcome P R Garcia and be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!

GUEST POST FROM P R GARCIA

EUROPA Awakenings in the first book in the EUROPA Series, a collection of six novels that addresses the question of “What happened to Atlantis?”  It is a new, fresh concept connecting the legendary city to *******’s ice moon, Europa and to the ancient city of Puma Punku in Bolivia, plus gives an explanation as to why the city was sunk overnight and what happened to the inhabitants.  (Hint:  They’re still here)

INSPIRATION FOR BOOK

EUROPA Awakenings came about as an inspiration while watching a documentary one uneventful day.  I am a big sci-fi fan and watch numerous shows about possible life on other planets and moons.  This particular day the documentary was discussing *******’s moon, Europa.  I had never heard of this moon and was completely enthralled.  She is totally shielded by a thick layer of ice and astrologists believe that beneath her ice there exists a moon-wide ocean that may contain simple life.  Immediately, I wondered why the life had to be simple?  Europa has been in existence almost as long as Earth has, so why couldn’t it contain complex-life?  Even sentient life?  And since it is a closed-environment, uninfluenced by anything in the universe, the possibilities could be endless.  That idea sparked the beginning of the Europa Series concept.  When I went to bed that night, my thoughts were still filled with the possibilities, thus causing me to dream about a race of intelligent beings, called Oonocks, who had to flee Europa and came to Earth – the Atlantians.  For the next few days the thoughts of Europa and the Atlantians filled my mind, as well as my dreams.  Unable to shake the thoughts, I sat down at my computer and began to type, hoping to possible write one book.   When EUROPA Awakenings was finished, I stopped typing, but the feeling that there was more of her story to be told plagued my thoughts.  I’m no working on book number ten.

Currently EUROPA Awakenings has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon and a 5 star rating on Goodreads.  (Which I consider very good since the Harry Potter Collection has a 4.5 star rating and the Star Wars Trilogy has a 4.6 rating.)  It received a 5 star Reader’s Favorite Rating.

A huge thanks to P R Garcia and I am very excited to share all her goodies with YOU, my readers.

coveror1with seal

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am AMAZED and BLOWN AWAY by the epic saga, Europa Awakenings by P R Garcia!

I was hooked from the beginning and putting down this almost 500 page novel was done with much reluctance, but my hands hurt from holding the book and my eyes are blurring, making the words almost unreadable. I read the book slower than normal, savoring the story unfolding page by page, experience by experience, good and bad, life and death and above all, love and sacrifice.

Atlantis was born from a need to hide…hide not just from their enemies, but us…humans. If aliens are watching us, walking among us, it would behoove them to be wary, secretive. I agree with P R Garcia’s writing, we humans kill what we fear.

Mermaids? No. Underwater creatures? Yes. Humans? Yes.

Europa has no idea she comes from Atlantis, from a alien race forced to leave their planet.

This is her journey of discovery.

The first threat comes from a source I figured out pretty quick. I pride myself on that. It also creates a great twist to the story.

I knew there would be a romance and I wondered where her boyfriend, Terrance would come from. Would he be alien or human? Does love conquer all? We shall see.

The characters are so much more than they seem, changing forms, sacrificing, always loving, doing their duty to protect…her. The characters and world building are complex and developed to such a point, I feel I am there, interacting with them. I feel their paralyzing terror, their need to protect at the cost of their own lives. I weep with those who mourn their fallen soldiers.

Of course, I love Europa and her soulmate, Terrance, a naive human that has no idea what he has stepped into, but goes all out just to be at her side. I don’t know if I can choose just one hero, but I love Jeanip. Loyalty and duty could be his middle name. With a protector such as Jeanip, I cannot help but feel they will survive, but will he?

As P R Garcia explains what happens when they return to the water to die, it makes me think of spreading a loved ones ashes on the water, allowing them to travel on.

Europa Awakenings contains so much action and adventure, the suspense and pacing so intense, the book is unputdownable.  Everywhere I look, there is another hint of danger. The sense of impending doom follows me through the pages. I know something is coming, I just don’t know when. More than once, P R Garcia caught me by surprise and I love that.

Europa Awakenings is a wonderful combination of the paranormal and supernatural, myth and folklore, fantasy and romance. P R Garcia took me to the depths of hell and brought me up to the light of the sun. I am at a loss for words to describe the elaborate and imaginative world and characters, on land and in water, that Pam has created. I am entranced, enthralled, amazed and astounded.

There will be much more of their story, but…for now…they are safe.

I am so happy that Book II is on its way!

I received a copy of Europa Awakenings by P R Garcia in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

ABOUT EUROPA AWAKENINGS

EUROPA Awakenings is the story of a young human who’s heard of Atlantis, but never given it much thought. All she knows is that she is going off to college and will, at last, be free of the strict security rules she must live by.  But her future is a delusion, her life a fabrication, a charade created to keep her from knowing the truth.  And what neither she nor her protectors know is that their family’s enemy has returned and is stalking her, waiting for his chance to end her life.

The day after her birthday, Europa’s perfect world is destroyed when JeffRa assassinates her mother, believing she was Europa. Seeking solace in her mother’s bedroom, Europa discovers an entrance to a secret attic where she finds picture of her parents hundreds of years old. But the most terrifying find is her mother’s diary. Inside, Queen Medaron wrote that Europa would be born human and never know who she really was. Unwavering in her attempt to learn the truth, she embarks on a journey of discovery, a journey of many dangers as JeffRa chases her, determined to personally end her life. Along the way, Europa will lose almost everyone and everything she loves, learn that shapeshifters are real and the powers of magical Orbs.  Somehow, through all of this, she must discover the truth of her past and awaken the queen inside her. To accomplish both, she has to learn and accept the true story of Atlantis, embrace the Oonock race and identify with what lies beneath the ice shield of Europa.

ABOUT P R GARCIA

When asked who I am, I usually tell people I am a not-too-grayed-haired old lady who, at the age of 61, was inspired to write a book.  The book turned into two, then three.  In three years I have written nine and am presently working on book ten.  All are full length novels, averaging 464 pages each.

In 2008, I moved from Michigan to Southern California.  Since I grew up along Lake Erie, I had a love for the water, so it wasn’t long before I could hear the ocean calling to me.  I began to volunteer on the whale watching boats as a naturalist through Birch Scripps Aquarium and the San Diego Natural History Museum.  It is there that I expanded my knowledge of cetaceans and other marine life, a knowledge and love I carried into the books.

MY DREAMS

To see my story play out on the big screen before I leave this world.  My other dream is to receive at least one hundred reviews on the books.  I welcome both favorable reviews and those with criticism.

For more information about the books, or me, visit my website:  prgarcia1.com.  There is an index on the web site showing the characters, as well as a listing of places and Oonock terms.   I have a YouTube video on EUROPA Awakenings at https://youtu.be/EvSVloULZ2I

I just recently updated the cover of EUROPA Awakenings to better reflect the story.  The cover now shows the red-haired Europa, with her sanctuary, Saint’s Isle, on the right had side, and the presence of large whale’s tail on the left.  The whale is key to her survival, but you’ll have to read the story to find out who he is.  The first chapter was also updated, so you will note that the paperback holds a release date of 2-27-2016, while the eBook maintains the original 12-9-2013 date.  They are both the same book.  Due to the significant changes in Chapter One, the paperback required a new ISB Number and a new release date.

 EUROPA Awakenings can be ordered through any bookstore or online on Amazon.  For exciting news about the ocean, cetaceans or important environmental issues, you can follow my Facebook page Europa Awakenings, which is just shy of 1300 likes.

Check out her website here.

GIVEAWAY

We have a fabulous giveaway to share with you. There will be two winners. P R Garcia is offering a signed copy to one US commenter and one ebook to another commenter, so International  is all good. Entry is easy…just leave your email and answer the question:

If anything is possible, what would you do first to help our oceans and the creatures who live there?

Giveaway will run from 4/5/16 – 4/19/16.

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Friday 56 #78 & BB #54 – Ten Big Ones @janetevanovich

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

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2016-02-25 05.16.31~~~

Next up on the shelf is Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich.

I have several of her books on my shelf, so I put them in the random generator and Ten Big Ones, a Stephanie Plum novel, popped out.

I love Stephanie Plum and her sidekick, Lula. Feeling down, pick up one of these babies and I think you will perk right up. 🙂

Ten Big Ones (Stephanie Plum, #10)

MY FRIDAY 56

“Fuckin’ A. Oh crap!” Snap. Snap.

“You gotta remember about fudge,” Grandma said.

Sally nodded. “Fudgin’ A.”

We all did a mental eeyeuuw. Fudgin’ A didn’t sound tasty coming out of Sally’s mouth.

(page 56 in hardcover)

MY BOOK BEGINNINGS

The way I see it, life is a jelly doughnut. You don’t really know what it’s about until you bite into it. And then, just when you decide it’s good you drop a big glob of jelly on your best T-shirt.

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS

“I’m Stephanie Plum. My mother says that I’m famous and have to set a good example. She’s right, but I’m from Jersey and truth is, I have a hard time getting a grip on the good example thing.”

Swing off the Jersey Turnpike and you’ll be in bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s neighborhood. You’ll know it because all hell will be breaking loose. Not that she looks for trouble – it just seems to follow her. In Ten Big Ones it explodes at a deli, and when Stephanie pegs a robber as a member of a vicious Trenton gang, they peg her as dead. Vice cop Joe Morelli fears she’s in way too deep – even with the help of crime-solving, cross-dressing, bus driver Sally Sweet, and Stephanie’s friend Lula riding shotgun as backup. With a notorious killer on her tail, Stephanie figures the best hideout is Ranger’s secret lair…
Original.

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I am a “cover girl”.

Which cover do you like best?

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Saturday Shorts Review – Water & Fire @DemelzaCarlton

Water & Fire is a prequel novella to the Ocean’s Gift series by Demelza Carlton. My introduction to the series was through a tour for Ocean’s Gift and I am happy to read Belinda’s story and get to know her better.

 

MY REVIEW

Recommended for Adults.

What do Belinda, Aidan and Lin have in common?

Belinda is a midwife at the Albany Regional Hospital in Australia. She handles things in a calm, matter of fact manner, not allowing anyone to know…

Lin delivers more than TLC at the hospital and I couldn’t help laughing when Belinda caught her bedhopping all over the hospital.

Aidan is an intern and…

The Nannup Tiger is a native species of Australia, thought to be extinct.

Fact or fiction? Fact, but..

I believe we’ll find out…

Water and Fire is a fun and romantic paranormal story that had me smiling and…well, I’ll leave that to your imagination. The reading is easy and the writing whimsical. At times the heat builds and the story turns sweet and sexy.

I love a good mermaid story and I read Ocean’s Gift before Water and Fire, so I had already met Belinda. I was happy to get more insight into her character.

Demelza shares hints of so much more sprinkled throughout Water and Fire, enticing me, the reader, to want to know more.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  4 Stars

My 5 Star Review for Ocean’s Gift

Ocean’s Gift made me teary eyed as I was left with the most awful cliffhanger imaginable…for a mermaid story. Alone…in the sea…

 

Ghostly Evil surrounds Celeste by Kristine Mason

Kristine Mason’s paranormal suspense novel, Celeste Files: Unjust, has an amazing cover. I love the feeling I get as I look at it. The waves crashing on the retaining wall do not scare me, but they do make my heart beat a little faster and my breath quicken.

I loved Celeste, Book I of the Psychic CORE series, and I was waiting for Celeste Unjust.

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Unjust-B&N

Add to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I recommend Celeste Unjust for adults.

I have read all Kristine Mason’s romantic suspense novels and I love her writing. It keeps me hanging on the edge of my seat. So Celeste and the Psychic CORE series are must reads for me. The action begins from the opening words and she does not let me go until the last one is read.

Celeste is a Ghost Whisperer. She has all the problems of us normals, plus the added stress and danger of the ghosts refusing to let her ignore them. Bad or good, she must acknowledge their presence. Her prior experience let her fearful, wondering if she would survive her next encounter.

Familiar characters appear and I am happy to see them. Not just for me, but for Celeste too. She will need all the expertise of the Above The Law CORE gang.

The cover may lull you into feeling this will be just a nice little ghost story, but the true horror begins on their vacation to the Everglades and catches a dead body.

Kristine Mason does not miss a beat in her venture into the paranormal and supernatural genre. I have come to expect evil, savage villains and this is a horror of the supernatural kind, where the evil literally seeps under Celeste’s skin, threatening not only her life, but her husbands and all those around her.

Celeste Unjust is a horror of a ghost story of possession by an evil man accused of murder and human trafficking. The pacing and suspense kept me dancing on my toes. Just when I thought I had all the answers, she did this…

Kristine even got me at the very end and I cannot help but smile at a job WELL DONE!

I rub my hands will glee as I anticipate Celeste Unforgotten, Book III of the Psychic CORE series.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Celeste Files: Unjust (Book 2 Psychic C.O.R.E.)—Kristine Mason

Dealing with the dead is murder…

Psychic Celeste Kain has two things on her mind, relaxing for a week in Florida with her husband, John, and making a baby. But a fishing trip turns her vacation into a nightmare when she reels in the body of a dead boat captain and accidentally unleashes an evil ghost who has one thing on his mind…revenge.

As the dead boat captain haunts Celeste, she looks deeper into his past and discovers that his murderer had done the world a favor. The ghost tormenting Celeste doesn’t see it that way and will go to any length to avenge his death. If Celeste won’t give him what he wants, he will take over her body and use her as a weapon…to kill her husband.

Celeste Risinski, the heroine of Shadow of Danger (Book 1 C.O.R.E. Shadow Trilogy), is back with her own series. Join her as she learns how to deal with being a wife, mom, baker and…psychic investigator.

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ABOUT KRISTINE MASON

AuthorPhoto_PerfectlyToxicKristine Mason is the bestselling author of the popular romantic suspense trilogies, C.O.R.E. Shadow and Ultimate C.O.R.E. She is currently working on her next trilogy, C.O.R.E. Above the Law, along with a series of Psychic C.O.R.E. novellas.

Although Kristine has published a few contemporary romance novels, she focuses most of her energy on her romantic suspense stories, which she loves for their blend of dark mystery/suspense and sexy romance. She is fascinated with what makes people afraid, and is famous for her depraved villains whose crimes present massive obstacles for her heroes and heroines to overcome.

Kristine has a degree in journalism from Ohio State University and lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. If she’s not writing, she’s chauffeuring kids, gardening, or collecting gnomes. Oh, and she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie!Connect with Kristine on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kristinemasonauthor, Twitter https://twitter.com/KristineMason7 or email her at authorkristinemason@gmail.com. You can also find out more about Kristine’s books at http://www.kristinemason.net

Blog Facebook Twitter  /  Goodreads Pinterest

MY REVIEWS FOR KRISTINE MASON’S NOVELS

Shadow of Danger  /  Shadow of Perception  /  Shadow of Vengeance

Ultimate Kill  /  Ultimate Fear  /  Ultimate Prey (review coming soon)

Celeste Files: Unlocked

Perfectly Twisted  /  Perfectly Toxic

All covers link to Amazon and I am an affiliate, BUT I cannot help but tell you. Kristine Mason is a master storyteller and I would highly recommend buying the book sets, because you will want to read them all! Except, I have yet to read the Reality TV series.

The Celeste Files of the Psychic CORE series are paranormal and supernatural novels that star Celeste, from the very first book in the CORE Shadow Trilogy, Shadow of Danger. I love the mix of psychics and ghosts, with murder and thrills. Check them out below.

Perfectly twisted is the beginning of another series, CORE Above the Law, that takes the characters even further than I thought they would go. I am LOVING it!!!



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Bette Lee Crosby’s What The Heart Remembers Review

Bette Lee Crosby’s What The Heart Remembers is Book III in the Memory House Collection. I have been a fan of Bette Lee’s work since I first began reviewing and blogging in 2012 and remain so, eagerly anticipating each new story.

I love the softness of the cover and will happily travel to Paris with Max. I am excited to learn her story.

Cover:  Damonza.com

Add me to Goodreads now

MY REVIEW

I was very excited to hear Bette Lee has another book for the Memory House Collection, What The Heart Remembers. The Memory House Collection is like a warm pair of arms on a cold winter’s night and I look forward to snuggling under my comfy blanket and beginning to read. I am very eager to learn Max’s story.

I feel these books can stand alone, and familiar characters occasionally return, popping in and out of the stories. Many have gifts, so it is no surprise they find each other and become close friends. 

Ophelia had expected the memories to stay with the house she had given to Annie, but you know what happens with expectations and assumptions. They don’t always turn out the way you plan. Max Martinelli would find out…and so would I.

Max’s story starts when she returns to the States from Paris, but Julienne never showed up as expected. Here we are with expectations again. Do we all do that? Do you? Do you put your life on hold…waiting? Max did. There is only one thing to do…a trip to Paris is in order.

But…you can never go back. Have you ever been to your school reunion or went to visit the house you lived in thirty years ago? Everything changes and life would be pretty boring if it didn’t, don’t you think?

This is one of those times that my expectations might have bushwhacked me. Maybe they were too high, but Max’s story fell a bit flat for me.

Max…what can I say about Max. I first met her in The Loft and she came across as a strong and confident woman, taking nothing from noone, independent and self sufficient. As I read on, to me, she came across as wussy and in denial, unwilling to see the truth. I know her trip to Paris will not turn out like she plans, but Bette always manages to put in a twist or two that keeps me on my toes, a way of spinning the tale to make me feel there is hope and a happy ever after for all of us.

Her books I’ve read have mostly been 5s with a 4 or two thrown in, but I was disappointed with this one. Maybe my expectations were too high. After all, expectations leave us open to disappointment. This is still a worthy book and one you will want to add to your Memory House Collection.

I never fear, there is always the next book…Baby Girl.

I received a copy of What The Heat Remembers by Bette Lee Crosby in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

CAN YOU TRULY TRUST THE MEMORIES OF YOUR HEART?

Max Martinelli spent her junior year of college in Paris, and fell in love. Julien was a wickedly handsome young man who was crazy in love with her, or so she thought. He was a free-spirited artist and she an aspiring architect—impressionable, young, and standing on the brink of womanhood.

That was over three years ago but the memory of him still haunts her. Max’s life is stuck on hold because she can’t stop wondering what would have happened if she had gone back. Was Julien simply part of the magic of Paris? Or was he meant to be her destiny?

After a New Year’s Eve party that ends in disaster and bad dreams, Max decides to find out once and for all. She is going to return to Paris and search for Julien. But will her search bring forever after happiness or a truth so ugly it will change her life forever?

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

Bette Lee CrosbyUSA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby’s books are “Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances.” – Midwest Book Review

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”

Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”

“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”

It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win twenty awards for her work; these include: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal, Reader’s Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award.

Crosby’s published works to date are: Blueberry Hill (2014), Previously Loved Treasures (2014), Jubilee’s Journey (2013), What Matters Most (2013), The Twelfth Child (2012), Life in the Land of IS (2012), Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011), Spare Change (2011). A Cupid inspired romance, Wishing for Wonderful, is scheduled for release in November 2014 and Book Three of The Wyattsville Series, Passing through Perfect, will be be available in January 2015.

MY REVEWS OF BETTE LEE CROSBY’S NOVELS

Esther’s Gift

The Loft

Passing Through Perfect

Memory House

Jubilee’s Journey

Blueberry Hill

What Matters Most

Spare Change

Cupid’s Christmas

Cracks In The Sidewalk

The Twelfth Child

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