Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 29
March 30, 2022
#Review: A SPINSTER BY THE SEA by Grace Burrowes
4 of 5 starsAugustus, Duke of Tindale, never expected nor wanted to be the duke. He was happy being a solicitor and he was very good at it. Feeling like a fish out of water in London Society, he accepts an invitation to attend a house party in Brighton where he discovers Miss Anne Baxter is also there. Augustus was the best man to the man who left Anne standing at the altar. Anne is in Brighton licking her wounds after being jilted for a second time. When she sees Augustus, she finds herself a friend in the stoic duke. Can these two wounded souls find happiness together?
This was a sweet slow-burn romance between Augustus and Anne. I loved how honorable Augustus was while he tried to help repair Anne's reputation. Their banter was sweet especially as they built sandcastles on the beach. With some twists and turns that were cleverly done, Augustus and Anne finally find their happily forever after. I'm sorry to see this quartet end as I've enjoyed all the stories by Ms. Burrowes and Ms. Ridley.
I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
March 29, 2022
#Review: A RELENTLESS RAKE by Anna Harrington
4 of 5 starsAlexander Sinclair, Earl of St James, has been tasked with investigating mathematician Henry Everett to uncover his involvement with the revolutionary group Scepter. Alex loses track of Henry and so decides to follow his sister, Olivia, the prim and proper headmistress of a girls school. Olivia lives her life as a proper young lady while hiding a terrible secret that could cause her school to lose their patrons forcing the school to close. When Alex confronts her about Henry's activities, Olivia doesn't believe her brother could be be involved in such a nefarious group. Now Scepter is targeting Olivia and Alex must do everything in his power to keep her safe and protect his own heart as well.
This was another intriguing book in the Lords of the Armory series. I really liked Olivia. She was the brilliant mind behind Henry's math projects, but because women can't be recognized in that way, she has to settle for Henry taking all the credit. Facing the accusation Alex makes against Henry, Olivia finds herself drawn to the handsome rake. Alex was an intriguing character as well. I loved the banter between him and Olivia especially when he was the "masked man." That certainly raised the sexual chemistry between these two. The cast of secondary characters were well done and I can't wait to see what happens when Alex's half brother Captain Reed pursues another lead in their quest to bring down Scepter.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
March 22, 2022
#Review: HOW TO BE A WALLFLOWER by Eloisa James
3 of 5 starsAmerican Jacob Astor Addison is in London to buy the premier theatre costumier Quimbys to enhance the string of theatres he owns. However, he soon meets Cleo Lewis, an heiress in her own right, who quickly outbids him for the company. Jacob is not one who is used to being thwarted so he sets out to convince the seamtress owner and Miss Lewis that his is the better offer. Cleo Lewis is used to men who throw their weight around, but she won't let Jacob buy Quimbys and move the operation to America. Jacob and Cleo make a deal that if Jacob can convince her, his offer is better, then Cleo will relent. What these two don't realize is how easily a friendly foe can become so much more.
I'm on the fence with this book. I started it a few weeks ago and couldn't get into to it so I set it aside for a bit. I thought the beginning was slow and while tidbits about the theatre were interesting, I thought the story got bogged down with too many details. I liked Cleo--she was a strong and independent business woman who had no plans to marry and let a husband rule her life. I thought the way Jacob went about wooing Cleo was quite clever, but I didn't feel any sizzling chemistry between the two. For me there was too much of Cleo's inner voice trying not to be like her mother. When I picked the book back up again, I was glad to finish it and see how things were resolved, but I'm not sure if I'll be reading any more in this series.
I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
March 21, 2022
#New Release: ZEALOT by C. Vonzale Lewis
Zealot
C. Vonzale Lewis
(Blood and Sacrifice Chronicles, #2)
Published by: Parliament House
Publication date: March 22nd 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Nicole Fontane thought her demons were buried deep enough. She was wrong.
After barely escaping the blood bath of the Harvest ritual, Nicole and her vigilante compatriots learn that there are others practicing blood magick on Tulare Island.
Hired to rid the island of the remaining blood magick users, Nicole and her allies come face to face with The Better Day Church and the mysterious Young Family, whose nefarious behavior is well known on the island. The murky organization stirs old memories of a cult buried deep in the Louisiana bayou—flickers of Nicole’s traumatic past and the altar she barely escaped.
But when Nicole receives an invitation to the Young family’s private residence to attend a secret meeting with The Daughters of the Vine—an elusive sect of women led by Gavina Young—she knows there is no escaping her fraught history with cults.
The invite is clearly a trap, but it’s also an opportunity to take down the church. Nicole soon learns that the sickness lurking behind the walls of the Young family’s manor runs far deeper than the banal allure of blood magick. The church’s matriarch harbors a predatory interest in Nicole’s power—barely disguising her desire to harness it.
Nicole must unravel the mysteries of her newfound abilities, or her first job may be her last. Worst of all, she may end up on the altar again.
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PRAISE FOR ZEALOT:
“For those who read Lineage, be prepared for Zealot’s wild ride…The twists were great, the writing fabulous…It’s a sequel not to be missed!”
– Candace Robinson, Best Selling Author of the Faeries from Oz series.
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“Ms. Lewis kept us on a fast track with everything that was happening.”
–Rita Smith, Goodreads Reviewer
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“Could. NOT. Put. It. DOWN!!!”
–Kelli Lea, Goodreads Reviewer
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“This story is full of exciting twists, turns and mystery sure to suck in many avid readers.”
–Elizabeth Chapson, Goodreads reviewer
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“A definite must read.”
–Thomas Lake, Goodreads reviewer
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“I love this series.”
–Shell Moore, Goodreads reviewer
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“Lacing magic and demons, the author takes us on a freefall ride of terror and violence as Nicole and her friends take on the monsters that hide and feed on the innocent.”
– Dave Wickenden, Author of Homegrown
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MEET SOME OF THE CHARACTERS!
Author Bio:
My name is Carla Vonzale Lewis and I like my martinis shaken… never stirred.
Carla was born in Georgia, but please don’t mistake her for a Georgia peach. She’s more like a prickly pear. Speaking of being born, someone asked her recently if she remembered her birth. And she had to say, “Yes, I do remember that handsy doctor pulling me out into the cold. Right Bastard!!!”
Despite being born in the South, she grew up in California. Every once in a great while she gets to experience all four seasons. But mostly, it’s just heat.
When not writing, Carla enjoys reading, binge watching shows on Netflix, and trying to convince her husband that getting a dog is a wonderful idea.
And one day, she will discover how many licks it actually takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
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GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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WIN a bundle of Fantasy & SciFi books!
Today, I have a fun surprise to share with you...
I’ve teamed up with 30+ fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of Sci-Fi & Fantasy books to 2 lucky winners!
Oh, and did I mention the Grand Prize winner gets a BRAND NEW eReader?😁
You can win my novel THE SILVER CROSS, plus books from authors like JC Andrijeski and Robyn Peterman.
Enter the giveaway by clicking here 👉https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/march-2022/bb-scifi-fantasy/
Good luck and enjoy!
March 16, 2022
#Review: RITUAL MAGIC by Thea Atkinson
5 of 5 starsHold onto your hats for this one because there's no time to even take a breath! Brie is once again embroiled in things she has no control over and when a newly hired shop girl turns up dead, Brie realizes that she's in for the fight of her life. She's convinced the Black Coven killed the girl, but Layne isn't on board and neither is the ME Parrish. However, this latest murder isn't the only thing on Brie's mind. She's dealing with her feelings for Layne--should she trust him or not? One minute he's so cold and the next is giving her smoldering looks that melt her insides. What's a girl to do?
I have to admit that my favorite character in this story is Parrish. She's a wise-cracking medical examiner, but she's also become Brie's best friend although Parrish would never admit to such a thing. Heaven forbid Parrish show any sentimental crap like that!
In any case, be prepared for the whiplash effect because there are plenty of twists and turns and surprises at every turn. Be sure to carve out enough time to read this one as you won't want to put it down. Oh boy, I can't wait to see what's in store for our girl Brie as she just tries to stay alive, something that's not quite so easy these days.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
Interview with Alyssa Roat, MORDIZAN
My most recent book is Mordizan, book two of The Wraithwood Trilogy. It’s a contemporary YA fantasy featuring Arthurian legend, shadow magic, grand libraries, dark dungeons, secret passageways, and espionage.
Do you have a favorite character?
My favorite character in this book is the protagonist, Brinnie, a quiet bookworm who is thrust into a world of magic, court intrigue, battle, and ominous new depths to her own power. I think a lot of fellow readers can relate to her and wonder how we would handle going from reading about legends to suddenly being in one.
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
I’ve gone the traditional publishing route. I signed with an agent, who negotiated my contracts with my four most recent publishers, although I’m currently unagented after she retired. Not looking forward to the query trenches again, haha.
How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?
I went to college for a degree in Professional Writing. At the beginning of my junior year, I was interning for a literary agency and one of the agents fell in love with the first book in the Wraithwood trilogy and offered to represent me. It took about a year to land a contract, and it wasn’t for the original book. However, Wraithwood did end up being contracted a while later. Today, about three and a half years after first being signed with an agent, I have ten books published or under contract.
What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?
For agents, what connections do they have? Who have they sold to? For publishers, what is their distribution? Do they have a track record of integrity? Do they release quality books? I’ve turned down some contracts from publishers I didn’t feel comfortable with. I’d rather wait and/or not publish a book at all than release something I don’t feel proud of.
Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
For now, I’m sticking with the traditional route. I have two more books after Mordizan contracted for 2022, as well as two re-releases this fall that were acquired by a new publisher. After that, I have three more releases in 2023, one of which is the third and final book in The Wraithwood Trilogy. After that, we’re back to the query trenches looking for a new agent!
Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
This is kind of a funny answer. I do have a critique group, but a lot of my books have been published before they have a chance to read them. There just isn’t time! My deadlines come up too fast. (Don’t worry though, the publishers put everything through plenty of edits and proofreads.) I love them and have improved because of their feedback, and they’re always there to encourage me.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I always listen to music, and I have specific playlists or genres I associate with certain books. Since I work full time, I write whenever I get the chance, usually in short spurts here and there.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
Definitely! You can find my books pretty much anywhere books are sold—Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Target, Walmart, Waterstones, Books-a-Million…and usually if you ask your local indie store or your library, they can order it for you.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
I love reading, of course. Does my crazy cat Kookoo count as a passion? I also love nerding out about pop culture, hanging out with equally nerdy friends, and playing TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons.
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Mordizan
Alyssa Roat
(The Wraithwood Trilogy, #2)
Publication date: March 15th 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
The bane of Mordred, the son of Mordizan, and a millennia-old prophecy—together they may provide what Brinnie needs to defeat the world of magic’s greatest threat.
More than a year has passed since Brinnie left Wraithwood, never expecting to see it again. But when Mordred captures her sister, she is thrust back into the world of magic. She flees to Wraithwood, where she learns of a prophecy located in the dark wizard capital of Mordizan that reveals the identity of “Mordred’s bane,” something that could destroy Mordred for good.
Brinnie agrees to a rendezvous with Mordred to exchange herself for her sister, going undercover at Mordizan as a spy to find the prophecy and Mordred’s bane. There, she weaves a complicated web of secrets, lies, and tenuous friendships. She makes an unexpected ally in Marcus Vorath, son of the Master of Mordizan, who fears the implications of Mordred’s growing power. But in Mordizan, friends and foes may be one and the same.
In the midst of court intrigue, battle, ominous new depths to her power, and searching for Mordred’s bane, Brinnie struggles to draw the lines. How far is she willing to go to destroy Mordred? And how much of herself is she willing to give up along the way?
Author Bio:
Alyssa Roat grew up in Tucson, Arizona, but her heart is in Great Britain. She has worked in a wide variety of roles within the publishing industry as an agent, editor, writer, and publicist. With 250+ bylines and 9+ books under contract in genres ranging from YA chat fiction to fantasy to sweet adult romance, you could say she dabbles in a bit of everything. Her name is a pun, which means you can learn more about her at www.alyssawrote.com or on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as @alyssawrote.
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GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
#Review: LOVE LETTERS BY THE SEA by Erica Ridley
4 of 5 starsMr. Patrick Gretham, is the man of business for the powerful and wealthy Earl of Edgewick. Whatever the Earl wants, it's Patrick's job to get it for him. When the Earl sets his sights on Siren's Retreat in Brighton as an ideal place for a new gambling hell, Patrick sets out to secure the property. He's also excited to finally meet the secret pen pal he's been corresponding with and hopes they have as much in common as their letters suggest. Deborah Cartwright is the brains behind the success of Siren's Retreat. She makes sure all her guests have the best romantic experience while there and many guests find true love enhancing the reputation of the inn. Can these two find love or are they on a collision course that will destroy them both?
I thoroughly enjoyed this last novella in the quartet. A secret pen pal was such a clever way for both Patrick and Deborah to have a relationship before they met. While their growing attraction to each other becomes obvious, their devotion to the secret pen pals continues to shine through. This was a slow-burn romance with only a few kisses, but I loved that Patrick and Deborah appreciated all of their other qualities as well. I'm sad to see the series end and would have happily read many more stories about Siren's Retreat.
I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
March 15, 2022
#Review: AN AFFAIR BY THE SEA by Erica Ridley
4 of 5 starsOrphaned and talented pianist, Miss Allegra Brown, has been counting down the days when she'll finally inherit her trust and be out from under her tyrannical uncle's control. For as long as she could remember, her uncle has used her as an unpaid servant/governess/companion for her two cousins and to escape the drudgery, she has made up and embellished stories about a fake suitor, the pirate Captain L’Amour. Unbeknownst to him, solicitor John Sharp, who has traveled to Brighton to scout out a tea shop and fulfill his dream of becoming a chef, bears an uncanny resemblance to the make-believe captain. A comedy of errors soon plays out as Allegra and John embark on a fake courtship, but what happens when their feelings no longer feel fake?
This was a most enjoyable novella by Mr. Ridley. I loved the sweet banter between John and Allegra as each has something to teach the other about taking the ups and downs of life and turning them into something wonderful. Allegra's cousins added some light comedy to the story as they want John and Allegra to find their own happily ever after. I did think Allegra's uncle got away with his cruelty without any comeuppance though. That would have made me happy if he was made to pay in some way.
I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
March 12, 2022
#Review: A TRYST BY THE SEA by Grace Burrowes
4 of 5 starsVergilius, Viscount Summerton, has spent the last 9 years waiting for his wife Penelope to give him a clue, any clue, that she wishes his company once more. Since a tragedy early in their marriage, the two have spent their time in polite co-habitation, but Vergilius wants more. Penelope believes her husband doesn't want her anymore and she's determined to set them both free from this misery, but her plans go awry when Vergilius does something totally unexpected. Can they come to terms with the past and forge a new life together?
This novella was quite a sad story of loss, miscommunication and family interference. Throughout the story, both Gil and Penelope finally tell each other the truth about their feelings of abandonment. The author does a good job of pulling you into the book from the opening page. There's no fancy entertainments in this story, just the outpouring of two wounded hearts. I wish there had been an epilogue showing them happy in the future. That would have made for a more satisfying ending for me.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
