Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 107
December 14, 2021
Meet the Author Video Vicki-Ann Bush - Alex McKenna and A Winter’s Night #YA #Paranormal #LGBTQ
Alex McKenna and A Winter’s NightAlex McKenna SeriesBook ThreeVicki-Ann Bush
Genre: YA, Paranormal, LGBTQPublisher: The Parliament HouseDate of Publication: December 14, 2021ISBN: 9781736981900ASIN: B091BG72FGNumber of pages: 296Word Count: 78,682Cover Artist: Shayne Leighton Machova
Book Description:
For a minute everything in Alex McKenna’s life was perfect. He only had one year left of high school, his girlfriend Margaret, was the love of his life, and he couldn’t ask for a more supportive family.
His psychic powers were growing and he was learning more and more about his family’s ability as Strega witches. Yup…things were good.
Until the night it all fell to pieces.
As Margaret lay in the hospital after a serious car accident, her disembodied spirit searches for a way back to the living. Alex is desperate to save her and the victims of his next case. An ominous being haunting the hospital and stealing the souls of infants and the elderly, sending them straight to hell.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/hmx90EHXEho
Amazon BN Parliament House Press
Excerpt
“I love you.” Margaret leaned in and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Our usual spot?” Alex said coyly.
“Of course.”
Alex lingered as he watched the little green Hyundai pull away. A cold tickle ran along his left arm. He pushed the sleeve of his hoodie up to the elbow. A scant number of bumps cascaded from his bicep—goosebumps. He quickly surveyed the area. No sign of any afterlife activity. Maybe you’re just cold, McKenna. He chuckled to himself. Dismissing the incident, he scurried into the comfort of forced heat and a billowy comforter.
Nestled tightly under a pile of covers that adorned his bed, he slid his arm out and quickly checked it again. The goosebumps were higher and now mapped their way over most of his
arm to his shoulder. Something was going on, and it wasn’t just from the chill of a winter’s night in Floral Park, New York. Ever since he could remember being aware of his connection to the
dead, his goosebumps served as a sort of warning. Whenever he encountered a spirit or something was about to happen, they’d stand at attention and alert him. The size and severity were the key. The worse they were, the bigger the issue. Tonight’s warning system started to worry him. They’d grown considerably in the past hour, indicating danger.“Jacob, can you let me see you?”
The precocious six-year-old materialized. He was sitting in the chair at Alex’s desk.
“I knew you were here.”
“How? Goosebumps?”
“No. Well, yes, but no.”
“You’re silly, Alex.” Jacob giggled.
“I knew you were here because I smelled peanut butter. You playing with Wilby again?”
“Uh…”
“I’ll take that as a yes. And I do have goosebumps, but they’re not from you. Something else is going on, but it hasn’t revealed itself to me yet. You hear anything or see anything different lately?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, buddy, thanks. And stop hiding the peanut butter from Wilby. You’re making him crazy. Besides, when he gets the Know and can see you, he’s gonna want to get you back.”
“But it’s fun. And I think he knows it’s me.”
“I’m sure he does. But he can’t see you yet, and that’s not nice. Get it?’
“Yeah.” The little boy twirled in the chair.
“Goodnight, Jacob.”
“Goodnight, Alex.”
Alex rolled over to his side and faced the wall. The looming feeling of dread had left him restless and unable to fall asleep. He decided to try a technique his great gram had taught him. Closing his eyes, he imagined a large, two-story house with a wraparound porch in the country. He was sitting on the steps facing the backyard. An old-fashioned clothesline ran the length of the yard from the detached two-car garage to one of the posts supporting the porch roof. Stark white cotton sheets were clothes pinned to the line and gently waving in a light breeze. The sun was bright but not hot, and Alex held a cool glass of lemonade—homemade, not that powder, store bought imitation. He took a sip. The chilled sourness coated his throat, quenching the thirst he wasn’t aware of. It felt good. Looking up to a canvas of baby blue and white puffs, he smiled. Life was perfect.
His eyes grew heavy and fluttered gently. He took a deep breath and sighed. The weight of sleep pressed softly on his limbs, spreading peacefully over the rest of his body. He tilted
his head to let a brush of warmth paint across his cheek. This was a good place. A safe place. As his breath slowed, he turned on his back and wriggled slightly into the curves of the mattress.The night was taking him.
“Babe?”
Startled, Alex abruptly sat up.
“Margaret?”
“Yeah. I feel weird.”
Alex rubbed the impending sleep from his eyes and turned toward the bedroom door.
“Where are you? The room is too dark. I can’t see you.”
“I’m right here in front of you.”
“Hang on.” Alex reached for the chain on a small lamp sitting on the end table by his bed. Yanking on the brass string, the 25 watts emanated a soft halo of dim light. “Okay, stop messing with me. Where the hell are you? Are you in the closet?”
“No. Alex, I’m right here. I’m scared. I don’t feel right at all.
What the fuck is going on?”
The runaway train racing along his veins acted like a puppeteer pulling the strings. Alex leapt out of bed. The slick, newly waxed oak floors would normally make him wince in the
dead of winter. The extreme temperature piercing the pads of his feet and travelling along the muscles in his calf was the reason he normally slipped on a pair of thick socks, but not tonight. He barely felt the sub-zero temperature razor his flesh as he pivoted around, searching for his love.“Alex, look at your arms.” The little boy pointed.
“Jacob, what are you doing?”
“Please, Alex. Your arms.”
Alex unzipped his hoodie, swiftly pulled it from his body, and threw it on the bed. Extending his arms in front of him, he stepped closer to the light. The bumps had gathered in a tight pattern completely covering every space of smooth flesh. He lifted the front of his tank; the same formation had taken over his belly and chest.
“Margaret! Where the fuck are you?”
“Alex, she’s standing right beside you.”
“You can see her, Jacob?”
“Yes.” The boy squeaked.
“Wait. Jacob?” Margaret asked.
“Margaret, can you see Jacob?” Alex’s voice cracked.
“Yes.”
“No, no, no.” Alex paced the room. “Babe, what’s the last thing you remember?”
About the Author:Originally from New York, Vicki-Ann currently resides in Nevada. Writing Young Adult paranormal, she finds inspiration from events that have been in her life for as long as she can remember. Inheriting the sensitivity to the supernatural from her family, they continue to be an endless source of vision.
Released in September 2019 from The Parliament House, Alex McKenna and The Geranium Deaths. The first book in a YA, Paranormal, LGBTQ series, that features a seventeen-year-old, transgender boy with paranormal abilities.
Book Two, Alex McKenna and The Academy of Souls debuted October 2020.
Vicki-Ann has several titles that have received Reader's Favorite Five Star seal, as well as the 2017 and 2018 winner of, 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading. Most recently, Alex McKenna and The Geranium Deaths, received the Gold medal in the Readers Favorite Book Awards for Young Adult, Paranormal.
Amazon Author Page https://amzn.to/3klBUQo
Author Website http://www.vickiannbush.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/VickiAnnBush
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vickiannbush
Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/authorvickiannbush
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VickiAnn.Bush.Author
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2947321.Vicki_Ann_Bush
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A Bewitching Tuesday
TODAY AT 12 PM – 4 PM
Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
https://www.facebook.com/events/14855...
The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh #WritingAdvice #AuthorAdvice #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/12Sl50HalYA
The Haunting of Black River Forest by Jaydeep Shah - Book Blitz
https://www.jazzybookreviews.com/2021...
As Above, So Below Box Set by Loren Rhoads - Book Tour + Giveaway
https://www.jazzybookreviews.com/2021...
Amy Winters-Voss Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
http://paranormalists.blogspot.com/20...
Release Day Blitz The Haunting of Black River Forest Jaydeep Shah #Horror #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/hs0w50Halhg
Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza & #Giveaway ~ Top Ten Christmas Drinks and Grinch Punch Recipe by Scarlett West @iamscarlettwest, Author of Stolen in the Dark, a Fae Bureau of Investigation Novel #UF #Romance #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/ZLXI50HalTx
Book Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ Scattered Legacy (Annalisse Series, Book Three) by Marlene M. Bell @ewephoric ~ #Mystery #Suspense #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Awue50HalRF
The Haunting of Black River Forest by Jaydeep Shah - Horror - A spine-chilling story in which adventurers struggle to survive on the land of a cold-blooded psychopath who enjoys slashing humans. #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/aPf350Halpa
Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza: Santa’s Destiny by Tami Lund + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/uwKM50HalPb
JAsmine Moon's Holiday Spritz Cookies #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/40jI50HalFP
Book Spotlight ~ Beyond Atlantis: An Epic of The Ancient Americas by Lucius Beauchamp ~ Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/oUAo50HalCe
Release Day Blitz The Haunting of Black River Forest Jaydeep Shah #Horror #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/WgF650HalvH
Alex McKenna and A Winter’s Night Alex McKenna Series Book Three by Vicki-Ann Bush - YA, Paranormal, LGBTQ #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/QwOb50Halo1
Rogue Unbroken by Angie Day #YAUF #YoungAdult #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/c15L50Hall5
Release Day Blitz The Haunting of Black River Forest Jaydeep Shah #Horror #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Cpxv50HaliC
Release Day Blitz The Haunting of Black River Forest Jaydeep Shah #Horror
The Haunting of Black River ForestJaydeep Shah
Genre: HorrorPublisher: Jaydeep ShahDate of Publication: 12/14/2021ISBN: 978-1-7349826-3-3ASIN: B08V4ZY7QYNumber of pages: 86Word Count: 8611Cover Artist: Jaydeep Shah
Tagline: A spine-chilling story in which adventurers struggle to survive on the land of a cold-blooded psychopath who enjoys slashing humans.
Book Description:
A forest of blood and corpses. The land of a cold-blooded psychopath.
In Black River Forest, it’s best not to wander too far off the beaten track. There’s no telling what you might find.
Mia and Oliver have long wanted to explore the forest, and one cold, rainy October day, a week before their fifth anniversary of the day they met, they finally make the trip.
But they’ve heard the rumors as well. The haunting. A psychopath hidden somewhere amidst the towering trees. Too many missing. Too few answers.
It’s only rumors, though. Stories. And stories can’t hurt you. Yet as Mia and Oliver venture deeper into the Black River Forest, they’ll soon discover that there’s more haunting this quiet woodland than hikers and bears.
The psychopath is very real. And he’s excited to meet them.
From Jaydeep Shah, author of Tribulation, the first book of the Cops Planet series, “The Haunting of Black River Forest” is a bloody, spine-chilling story best read with the lights on.
Kindle US
Kindle UK
Kindle CA
Kindle AU
Excerpt 1:
Oliver looked around in terror, believing the bear had attacked someone nearby and that they once again would be in danger.
“What the hell was that?” he asked.
“The scream came from that way,” said Mia, pointing to the right.
They slowly walked to the trees alongside the path. They saw the ground sloped down to the valley. Mia tried to take one more step forward to have a clear look, but Oliver pulled her back before she could slip.
The three of them stood by the trees and looked around to find the source of the scream.
A few seconds later, what they saw made their hair raise in horror.
Mia’s hands flew to her mouth as a scream tried to make its way out. She was looking at a man thrusting a machete in a teenage boy’s gut and dragging it horizontally to the right and then to the left with all of his force.
“So, the psychopath story is real?” said Mia.
The boy’s severed body lay on the ground beside the bank. Next to him lay a girl’s body. Blood was streaming from her stomach.
“Yes. The psychopath is real,” said Oliver. “I hope we return safe and alive.”
The killer bent, having finished with the boy, bent down to the girl, and started to take off her clothes. There was an X symbol cut into her stomach and a hole near the belly button. It seemed like the killer first had thrust the knife into her stomach and then carved the X symbol.
The killer checked the girl’s pulse and then held a hand under her nose as if to check for breath.
“Dead bitch!” he said.
He looked around.
The trio was frozen in silence in the trees, hidden from sight. They were lying on the ground, taking a position of concealment just like a sniper as they watched in trauma from the top of the valley.
Oliver grabbed his hair, perhaps feeling some type of pressure in his brain. Trying to stay silent, he walked away, slowly. He stumbled as if he would lose consciousness.
He leant against a tree across the path, bending forward to be sick at its roots.
Petrified, Jany remained lying on the ground, gaping at the killer, who was perhaps preparing himself to have intercourse with the corpse.
Mia stood up, keeping behind a tree to stay hidden. She looked at Oliver and Jany with tears flowing down her cheeks. She tried to speak but couldn’t let the words out of her mouth.
She took a deep breath. Then she cleared her throat.
“Jany!” she said in a croaky voice.
Jany remained the same, unresponsive.
Mia cleared her throat once more.
“Jany,” she said, her voice clear but soft, as she was afraid the killer would hear her, despite him being down in the valley. She bent and gently shook Jany, holding her by the shoulders.
Jany opened her mouth as if about to scream, but Mia swiftly clasped her mouth.
“Don’t! He’ll hear us!” she said.
Jany stared at her for a moment and then nodded. Mia took her hand from her mouth.
“Get up!”
Jany stood up and followed Mia toward Oliver.
“We will die. He will find us,” said Jany. She was speaking too loudly, panicked. “I hope my friends are safe.”
“Be brave, Jany,” said Mia, swallowing the fear. “Think positive. Just stay together, and we will find a way out of the forest.”
All the while, Oliver stood watching them. For a moment his terror had paralyzed him. He had no answer, no solution, only the storm of horrifying thoughts of their death in his mind.
Oliver took a deep breath and removed a water bottle from his backpack. He drank a few sips.
He cleared his throat. Then he said, shifting his look between Mia and Jany, “Mia is right. We can get out of here.” He paused. “We must hurry and try to find a way back to our original path before dusk.”
A silence fell for a bit as the trio exchanged a look, nerves clear on their faces. They looked around them at the different paths.
“Where did we come from?” asked Mia.
“I’m not sure. I was so scared,” said Oliver.
“And everything looks the same to me,” added Jany quickly, looking at the paths on either side, both covered with branches and leaves littered from the storm.
Mia unzipped her backpack and slowly, quietly pulled out her axe, still glancing around for signs of movement. “Alright! Let’s go this way,” she said, adjusting her backpack back on her shoulders.
They set off up the chosen path, but Mia grasping the axe strongly.
Just a few steps on, Jany slipped on some wet leaves. She fell and let out a scream that rang through the air.
Oliver scanned the area in a panic.
Mia swiftly helped Jany back up.
Jany hissed in pain as she stood, clearing the dirt from her scratched elbow while Mia brushed off the dirt from her clothes.
“I hope he hasn’t heard your scream!” said Oliver.
Jany and Mia looked toward the valley, following his eyes.
They waited for a few more seconds in stillness.
The psychopath didn’t appear.
“Keep moving!” said Oliver in a very soft voice, only audible to Jany and Mia.
They resumed their walk.
After a few minutes . . . Mia began to feel that someone was following them. She looked through the corner of her eye, but she could only see trees.
The hair on the back of her neck prickled as her senses still signaled someone’s presence.
She stopped.
All the while, Oliver and Jany kept walking hurriedly without glancing back.
Mia turned around slowly. Still no one, only the emptiness of the forest. When she was sure she couldn’t see anyone, she turned back and strode on to catch up with Oliver and Jany.
About the Author:
Jaydeep Shah is an avid traveler and the author of gripping horror, thriller, and romance stories. As a bachelor’s degree holder in Creative Writing, he aims to entertain as many as people he can with his stories. He is best known for Tribulation, the first book in the “Cops Planet” series.
In addition to those books, The Shape-Shifting Serpents’ Choice, Jaydeep’s first young adult flash fiction written under his pen name, JD Shah, is published online by Scarlet Leaf Review in their July 2019 issue. Currently, he’s endeavoring to write a debut young adult fantasy novel while working on a sequel to his first apocalyptic thriller, Havoc.
When Shah is not writing, he reads books, tries new restaurants, and goes on adventures.
Website: https://www.jaydeepshah.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/imjaydeepshah
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/jaydeepshah
Newsletter Signup: https://www.jaydeepshah.com/newsletter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jaydeepshah
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jaydeep-shah
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imjaydeepshah/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imjaydeepshah
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/imjaydeepshah/_created/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jaydeepshah
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 13, 2021
Jasmine Moon by Celia Breslin - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
The Best Ever Holiday Caramel Candy, aka Grandma Eddie’s Caramels
I love to share this recipe every year for the holidays for the obvious reason that these treats are, hands down, the best caramels I’ve even tasted.
Every winter holiday season, I love to share my grandmother’s recipe for the best caramels on the planet. They make a fab holiday treat and-or a delicious holiday present. Note: they’re so good you’ll want to make them year-round. Happy Holidays!
Xoxo,
Celia
RECIPE: Grandma Eddie's Caramels
1 can sweetened condensed milk (Grandma’s pick: Eagle Brand)
2 cups white sugar
2 cups white Karo Syrup
1 stick of butter (1/4 lb.)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix together the first three ingredients (milk, sugar, syrup) in a large bowl.
Melt the butter in a large heavy kettle, pour in the mixture and bring to a boil.
Stir continuously while mixture boils until it reaches the temperature of 245 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer (can take up to 25 minutes).
Note: If mixture overcooks, candy gets too hard.
Once the 245-degree temperature is reached, remove kettle from stove.
Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, then pour mixture onto a large, buttered cookie sheet or flat pan.
Jasmine MoonBlack Hills WolvesCelia Breslin
Genre: Paranormal RomancePublisher: Decadent PublishingDate of Publication: June 3, 2016ISBN: 9781683610458ASIN: B01GKB9WMONumber of pages: 108Word Count: 36,400Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde
Book Description:
Tech mogul and workaholic Wolf Evan Luparell has little time for distractions but takes a break for his brother’s wedding in South Dakota. When asked to escort another wedding attendee from the airport to Los Lobos, he agrees. Then he meets the curvy spitfire, and she ignores him.
Designer and Wolf Mina Carver didn’t mean to be rude to the handsome, glowering man claiming to be her ride, but she was busy working. Now she must endure a ride to the Black Hills with the cranky but sexy Dominant Wolf. Unexpected mating energy sparks between them, but still—should she dismiss, or kiss him?
Kisses win and they agree upon a no-strings fling. But with each wedding activity throwing them together, and their powerful chemistry and mate compatibility complicating matters, can two workaholics truly have their fun then walk away?
Amazon UK Amazon US BN Bookstrand
Google Play iTunes Kobo Smashwords
Excerpt:
Evan tipped his head and eyed the ceiling. Prompt replies, punctual people. Striking deals and hitting deadlines. These items made his world tick. Not loitering around a miniscule airport pulling a Waiting for Godot moment on infinite repeat for a no-show, flakey designer from California.
God grant him patience and balls of steel when he showed up without the designer and the all-important wedding dress, because his future sister-in-law Darci would certainly be unhappy. […]
He took a deep fortifying breath and froze. Airport smells assailed his senses—the sharp tang of bleach and lemon-scented cleaners, […] coffee, donuts, fried fast food, and under it all, the distinct musk of wolf.
Female wolf.
She smelled damn good. His wolf perked up, and his legs propelled him toward the empty baggage claim, where one bright-pink suitcase covered in Hello Kitty stickers sat, unclaimed, on the unmoving L-shaped conveyor belt. Her scent, stronger here, socked his gut, and his gaze shot to the corner.
The chaos around the woman stunned him silent. Large, paper coffee cup, half-eaten banana, and a quarter of a powdered doughnut perched on a brown paper bag next to her. Crumbs splattered the linoleum and the woman’s long-sleeved blue blouse in a thick layer of white, sugary dust. On her other side, two pink garment bags lay like corpses, along with a bubblegum-pink unzipped duffel as long as her outstretched, denim-clad legs. Some of the bag’s contents—pads of drawing paper and large swaths of fabric—protruded over the opening, the fabric splaying over her legs in a rainbow-colored blanket. Her feet peeked out of the mess, encased in sparkling pink UGGs. Good grief, sequins? She smacked her shiny boots together in a poor imitation of Dorothy and bobbed her head from side to side in time to some music only she seemed to hear. Her shoulder-length red hair, the color of ripe dark cherries—his favorite fruit—gleamed under the harsh airport lighting and curtained most her face from his view, save a pert nose and small chin, both speckled with a generous amount of freckles.
He’d always liked freckles.
Clearing his throat, he stepped closer, but she didn’t flinch in surprise or look up. Her attention remained on the tablet on her lap, the stylus between her pale, freckled fingers swiping without hesitation over her screen. […]
He positioned himself right in front of her wiggly, booted feet. “Excuse me, J—”
“Sh.” She raised her arm and flicked her hand in the universal get lost gesture.
He gaped at her. “Excuse me?”
Another wave of her hand while her stylus streaked across her tablet screen with the other. “Not interested.”
Nice voice. Low and husky. Her attitude, on the other hand… “But—”
“Go away.” Her velvet voice carried a stubborn edge.
In other circumstances, he would’ve admired her strength. But he’d wasted copious amounts of time hunting for the clearly inconsiderate and irresponsible female. “Fine. Get your own damn ride to Los Lobos. Jasmine.”
About the Author:
Celia lives in California with her husband, daughter, and two feisty cats. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and has a particular fondness for werewolves, vampires, and the Fae. When not writing, you’ll find Celia exercising, reading a good book, hanging with her family, or indulging her addiction to fantasy TV shows and movies.
Web site: http://www.celiabreslin.com/
Blog: http://www.celiabreslin.com/blog/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/celiabreslin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeliaBreslinAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CeliaBreslin
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/celiabreslin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celiabreslin/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bxqwRL
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A Bewitching Monday
INTERVIEW WITH VICKI-ANN BUSH (A WINTER'S NIGHT) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/kLFt50H9mr7
The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh #WritingAdvice #AuthorAdvice #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/GAfO50H9mJq
Author Guest Post with Lucius Beauchamp, Beyond Atlantis #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/4uZN50H9mur
Scattered Legacy by Marlene M. Bell [Excerpt] #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/kmCM50H9mGq
The Adventures of Super Alert Dog Gail Morin #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/wEE350H9mHT
Santa’s Destiny by Tami Lund - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/8yCN50H9mE5
Rogue Unbroken Legends and Shadows Saga Book Three by Angie Day - Kate can’t touch anyone without causing pain. To save herself and her family, she must challenge Alec, who is ready to tear her life apart. #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/CMXZ50H9mzR
SCARLETT WEST (STOLEN IN THE DARK) SHARES HER HOLIDAY COOKIE RECIPE!
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/7sfF50H9mq2
Tomorrow TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021 AT 12 PM – 4 PM
Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
https://www.facebook.com/events/14855...
As Above, So Below Box Set by Loren Rhoads - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/nbU950H9msF
December 12, 2021
Amy Winters-Voss Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
Greetings! My name is Amy Winters-Voss and I write urban fantasy based on Japanese mythology. Today I get to share about the culture of one of the places I love most—Japan.
New Year's Day in JapanThe big winter holiday in Japan is New Years. It's an official government holiday and many businesses are closed from December 29th through January 4th. It's a hectic but fund time filled with New Years office parties, putting out special decorations such as a stack of rice cakes with an orange or a bundle of pine and bamboo tied with straw, the annual cleaning of the house from top to bottom, feasting on traditional foods, the temple bells ringing in the New Year, giving kids a red envelope with cash, surprise bags (where the contents aren't known before hand) purchased at retailers, fireworks displays, watching the first sunrise of the year, and visiting the local shrine or temple.
Why not the Lunar New Year?Unlike much of Asia, Japan doesn't celebrate the Lunar New Year anymore. Though it used to. Many aspects of China's scholarship were imported to Japan about the 6th century—from the symbol based writing system to the lunar calendar. That changed in 1873 when the Meiji Era government, in its sweeping changes to modernize and be recognized by the West as a major power, adopted the Gregorian calendar. Events were shifted to match. Thus, Japan celebrates New Years on January 1st.
What about Christmas?Japan doesn't celebrate Christmas like the west. It's not a time of family gatherings, gift giving, and big holiday feasts. Instead, Christmas Eve is considered a romantic day. It's not a government holiday. Though, you'll can see Christmas light displays. And through a clever marketing ploy, KFC became very popular on Christmas and Christmas Eve.
New Years CardsOne of the most popular traditions is sending New Years cards, called nengajo, to family and friends, expressing gratitude to those who have helped you during the year. The post office puts in extra effort to ensure that these special greetings are delivered early on the morning of January 1st.
Let's Make a New Years CardEven though Japan doesn't follow the lunar calendar any more, they still enjoy reference the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac. 2022 will be Year of the Tiger, so it will be a popular theme for cards. Mt. Fuji is also a popular icon on cards.
I've collected a few designs from Freepik (one of my favorite graphics places) that you can download for free and print on cardstock.
https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/2...
Here are some of the common greetings in kanji and kana (the Japanese writing system), a Romanized version so you can see how it's said, and an English translation.
明けましておめでとうございます。[Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.] - Happy New Year 昨年はお世話になりました。[Sakunen wa osewa ni narimashita.] - Thank you for all your support last year. 今年もよろしくお願いします。[Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.] - I'm looking forward to the goodness of our continued friendship/relationship. (for relationship here, think work or office).If you are sending your card to Japan write 年賀 (Nenga) on it so the Japanese post office will know it should go with the new year's cards. Cards sent to Japan should get to the local post office by December 25th to be guaranteed to arrive on New Years Day.
What are your favorite New Year's traditions?
Excerpt:
“To make things worse, yesterday I heard you’re covered in irezumi tattoos. Nonogawa may be in the sticks, but we all know what that means here.”
I blink. Why are little old ladies so rude?
“Well? Are you?” she presses.
While I deserve the disdain, I don’t want my boss to take heat for me. “Ma’am, the community respects Satou-san. I’ll do my best for his sake.”
She draws out the syllables. “You dodged.” As she crosses her arms, her sharp eyes shift to a predatory glint. “If you won’t answer, roll up your sleeve. I know yakuza ink when I see it.”
My head swivels. Satou, where are you? Make your vicious aunt heel. She’s really causing my hackles to raise, but I don’t want to do anything stupid. “Ma’am?”
In the Hiragi clan, I was good at remembering names, because the alternative could be costly. What did Satou say her name was? Oh yeah—Nakamura Hisako, the town’s beloved matriarch. When I was yakuza, I would have never let a little old lady corner me. But I’m caught flat-footed because I can’t use any of the in-your-face phrases that bubble up to get her to lay off. I haven’t done a damned thing to her. What gives?
So, I take a deep breath. No attitude. “Nakamura-sama, it’s becoming more common in the cities. People keep ‘em out of sight to avoid the stigma.”
As if I’ll tell this biddy the full truth. Later, I can scream rebellion in gokudou drawl all I want. But her outburst is the proverbial piano hanging overhead, threatening to crash down on the little hope I have in this town.
At twenty-four, I should have a high school diploma and a college degree or employment experience. This is my only chance. Suck it up, Umeji. So, I bow deep. “I apologize that my tattoos offend. If I could turn back time, I’d not have done it. How may I help you?”
Harrumphing, she turns on her heel with the grace of a ballerina, leaving me with some serious heartburn. Hiro, my big brother in the Hiragi clan, had taught me to ferret out everything that seemed out of place. How does an old lady move that fast?
When I finish stocking, I grab my baseball-style jacket with its embroidered fox on black and gold silk and beeline it to Satou. Just my luck, his aunt beats me there.
I wait behind her and examine my shoes. Faint reflections of fluorescent lights show on the tile floor.
“That tattooed punk is bad for business.” She points, doubtless aware of how rude she’s being. “He dares to flaunt his past wearing that rebel jacket, instead of considering this store’s reputation. I’ve heard all manner of rumors. Mark my words, Kazuo, people will stop shopping here.” Full-to-the-brim grocery bags strain her arthritic knuckles.
While Nakamura’s concern is understandable, does she care that this ‘rebel jacket’ is the only one I own? I was fortunate someone dropped it by the penitentiary after emptying my apartment. My fists clench, pulling on the stitches from yesterday’s wound. Why does this town love her, anyway?
About the Author:Amy is a former programmer turned author after her first trip to Japan in 2017. Now she writes Japanese myth-based urban fantasy to reconnect with the country and culture that captured her heart.
She lives in South Dakota with her supportive husband, two wonderful kids, a mellow old cat who adopted the family, and three wily and crazy ferrets.
https://amywintersvoss.com
https://liminalchronicles.com
https://go.amywintersvoss.com/news
https://www.goodreads.com/amywintersvoss
https://twitter.com/amywintersvoss
https://www.facebook.com/amywintersvoss/
https://theshyredfox.tumblr.com/
https://www.twitch.tv/shyredfox
https://www.instagram.com/amywintersvoss/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 10, 2021
A Bewitching Friday
Guest Blog -The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh #WritingAdvice #AuthorAdvice
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/YObl50H7U2J
Let’s Talk Warrior Princesses with Jo-Anne Blanco #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/p71T50H7U0y
SPOTLIGHT - YA PNR LGBTQ+ - ALEX MCKENNA AND A WINTER'S NIGHT (Alex Mckenna, #3) by Vicki-Ann Bush #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/RUgm50H7THe
Book Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ Rogue Unbroken: Legends and Shadows Saga, Book Three by Angie Day @angiedayauthor ~ Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, YAUF #BewitchingBookTours
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2021/...
HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA w/EXCERPT - URBAN FANTASY - STOLEN IN THE DARK (Fae Bureau of Investigations) by Scarlett West #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/yWag50H7TYk
Santa’s Destiny by Tami Lund - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/t51y50H7TWB
A VISIT WITH CELIA BRESLIN (JASMINE MOON) *HOLIDAY SPRITZ COOKIE RECIPE BONUS*
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/hrWR50H7TNL
As Above, So Below Box Set by Loren Rhoads [Excerpt]#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/B50m50H7TIw
INTERVIEW WITH MARLENE M. BELL (Scattered Legacy) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/aU5H50H6XbR
INTERVIEW WITH JO-ANNE BLANCO (The Fata Morgana Series) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/PkYE50H6190
10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer- The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh #WritingAdvice #AuthorAdvice #Giveaway #BookGiveaway
https://serenasynn.blogspot.com/2021/...
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021 AT 12 PM – 4 PM
Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
https://www.facebook.com/events/14855...
Scattered Legacy by Marlene M. Bell - Book Tour + Giveaway
https://www.jazzybookreviews.com/2021...
December 9, 2021
A Bewitching Thursday
INTERVIEW WITH MARLENE M. BELL (Scattered Legacy) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/aU5H50H6XbR
Giveaway, Guest Post & Excerpt for Santa’s Destiny by Tami Lund @RoxanneRhoads #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/nsJ850H6XaF
Rogue Unbroken by Angie Day - Book Tour + Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/7khq50H6X6M
As Above, So Below Box Set by Loren Rhoads - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/HcFm50H6WY9
Alex McKenna and A Winter’s Night by Vicki-Ann Bush Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/cfpU50H6WUw
Deck the Halls with Book Holiday Extravaganza: Stolen in the Dark by Scarlett West #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/IFNv50H6Xe1
Rogue Unbroken Legends and Shadows Saga Book Three Angie Day #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/TQPG50H6X5P
HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA w/EXCERPT - PNR - JASMINE MOON (Black Hills Wolves) by Celia Breslin #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/fm7u50H6X2T
Beyond Atlantis: An Epic of The Ancient Americas
Lucius Beauchamp #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/LZTR50H6WZL
HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA w/EXCERPT - RISE: THE LIMINAL CHRONICLES by Amy Winters-Voss #bewitchingbooktorus http://ow.ly/gylW50H6X1m
From psychology to urban fantasy - Rogue Unbroken (Legends and Shadows Saga #3) by Angie Day #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/UYRA50H611r
10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer- The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh #WritingAdvice #AuthorAdvice #Giveaway #BookGiveaway
https://serenasynn.blogspot.com/2021/...
INTERVIEW WITH JO-ANNE BLANCO (The Fata Morgana Series) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/PkYE50H6190
The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh #WritingAdvice #AuthorAdvice
http://www.roxannerhoads.com/2021/12/...
The Fata Morgana Series by Jo-Anne Blanco
https://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/202...
December 8, 2021
A Bewitching Wednesday
From psychology to urban fantasy - Rogue Unbroken (Legends and Shadows Saga #3) by Angie Day #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/UYRA50H611r
INTERVIEW WITH JO-ANNE BLANCO (The Fata Morgana Series) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/PkYE50H6190
Guest Post & Giveaway - Santa's Destiny by Tami Lund #bewitchingbooktorus http://ow.ly/4JJc50H6134
The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/EITj50H60YV
Holiday Guest Post with Celia Breslin (Jasmine Moon Tour) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/ZKGM50H60Xv
Holiday Recipe - Crumb Cake
https://midnightmusingswithbertena.bl...
Stolen in the Dark
Fae Bureau of Investigation
Scarlett West #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/xPxL50H61gh
Alex McKenna and A Winter’s Night by Vicki-Ann Bush #YA #Paranormal #LGBTQ #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/WyFV50H60UG
The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/wlQw50H61bL
Beyond Atlantis: An Epic of The Ancient Americas by Lucius Beauchamp #Atlantis #Fantasy #Adventure #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/qbBW50H60RQ
10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer- The Romance Novel Formula by Alicia Leigh #WritingAdvice #AuthorAdvice #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/rAua50H553v
She’s a mediocre witch…and an even worse shifter.
Shifting Summer: Mane Shift Book 2 by Laura Bickle
https://amzn.to/2YqYHm3
#NewRelease #OnSale #UrbanFantasy #Shifter #ShifterFantasy #Witches #Shifters #LauraBickle #NewBook #AmReading #WhatToRead
As Above, So Below Box Set by Loren Rhoads - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/W5po50H54J6
Supernatural Dating Tips with Angie Day #YAUF #YoungAdult #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/fZcv50H47cL
far more than his freedom... Rise: The Liminal Chronicles #1 by Amy Winters-Voss #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/fNtz50H54Rr
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021 AT 12 PM – 4 PM
Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
https://www.facebook.com/events/14855...
As Above, So Below Box Set by Loren Rhoads - Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza http://www.roxannerhoads.com/2021/12/...
December 7, 2021
Scattered Legacy by Marlene M. Bell #Mystery #Suspense
Scattered LegacyAnnalisse Series Book ThreeMarlene M. Bell
Genre: Mystery - SuspensePublisher: Ewephoric PublishingDate of Publication: 11-4-2021ISBN ebook: 978-0-9995394-7-7 ISBN Print: 978-0-9995394-6-0ASIN: B09HRCTBXJ Number of pages: Print 352 Word Count: 84,610Cover Artist: Isabel Robalo
Tagline: The Truth Has Claws
Book Description:
To outsiders, the relationship between Manhattan antiquities assessor Annalisse Drury and sports car magnate Alec Zavos must look carefree and glamorous. In reality, it’s a love affair regularly punctuated by treasure hunting, action-packed adventure, and the occasional dead body.
When Alec schedules an overseas trip to show Annalisse his mother's birthplace in Bari, Italy, he squeezes in the high-stakes business of divesting his family’s international corporation. But things go terribly wrong as murder makes its familiar reappearance in their lives – and this time it’s Alec’s disgraced former CFO who’s the main suspect.
Accompanied by friend and detective Bill Drake, Annalisse and Alec find themselves embroiled in a behind-closed-doors conspiracy that threatens the reputation and legacy of Alec’s late father – linking him to embezzlement, extortion, and the dirty business of the Sicilian Mafia. The search for the truth sends the trio straight into riddles, secrets, and an historic set of rosary beads. Annalisse leads Alec toward a discovery that is unthinkable, and events that will change their futures forever.
Scattered Legacy is the third in Marlene M. Bell’s thrilling Annalisse series, which weaves romance, crime, and historical mystery into addictive tales to instantly captivate fans of TV show Bones or Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/dVRdjq2L3_I
Excerpt From Chapter Four:
The reception area is completely empty, and there’s a smell like metal in damp dirt circulating overhead. Farther in, the ceiling fan is hovering on high speed, and the windows are open.
A dead body inside a warm office leaves an unmistakable odor behind, as did the body Ethan found inside the stall at Walker Farm. Decomp is one smell that sticks with you forever. Adding to the office creepiness, who chose the interior’s decor? We’re surrounded by limestone walls painted an ugly shade of ochre, slightly more yellow and definitely more unappealing than the building’s exterior. The rooms will need another coat of fresh paint to cover a harsh stench known to stick to the walls like cigarette tar does.
No one is nearby, not even the receptionist.
The office cubicles are silent but for a few flapping papers. Not a single desk phone is ringing.
It’s like the office decided to have a fire drill midday, and the employees left their computers on and didn’t bother to close folders—open to anyone passing by. Frames holding pictures of sweethearts and children stand by as guardians for the people who are absent from their high-back swivel chairs.
Officer Raffa returns and mutters in heavy Italian brogue, “Il signore is waiting for his… avvocato difensore.” He points to the room with a closed door. “Come, Mr. Zavos. Your friends stay here.”
“Josh is in there waiting for his defense attorney. Back soon.” Alec touches my arm and looks aBill, sending him a private message.
Alec’s led to a side office, and the solid door closes behind them.
“Is Alec signing autographs, or should I even worry about what’s going on in that room?
Has Josh been here the entire time messing with evidence?” I ask Bill.
“Alec’s prepared for all contingencies. I’m surprised they haven’t taken Jennings down to the station by now.”
A few minutes later, Alec emerges by himself. “They weren’t going to allow us to talk to Josh, but I persuaded him. It shouldn’t be much longer.”
For what feels like an eternity, we sit in ladderback pine chairs with brown cushions while Alec keeps adjusting his watch. I don’t know what Alec had to promise the officer. Autographs are fine with me, but if he had to pay him off, I’d rather not know.“I hope Brad is parked in the shade somewhere.” Alec looks at his watch for the eighth time in twenty minutes and turns to me. “Now that we’re here, they seem to be in no hurry to get rid of us. I’m sorry, Anna. Hold on a little longer.” His smile is an honest one full of regret.
I’ve heard the sentiment from him so often it doesn’t even register with my brain anymore. We both have a lot of work to do in the I-promise-to-do-better department.
The closed door at the back wall opens, and a guy pokes his head out, surveying the room. He’s fiftyish and, with his reading glasses, reminds me of Gen’s studious accountant.
Alec pivots, and his earlier smile vanishes.
“That’s Jennings,” Bill says quietly.
“Yes.” Alec waves to draw the man’s attention.
A confused Josh looks at us and then the floor as if he’s embarrassed. Eventually he settles his eyes on Alec. “I wasn’t sure you’d come. My attorney should be here soon. Come back to the conference room.”
Bill asks Alec, “Is it okay to go on ahead?”
Alec must have compensated the officer well to allow us entry this close to the crime scene.
“Let’s get this over with.” Alec seems queasy.
The three of us move through the aisle between desks and toward the room with a door left open for us. Josh has already gone inside. For someone who wants Alec’s help, he sure doesn’t appear happy or grateful for his effort. A huge effort. This had better not be Josh’s way of buying himself out of the woman’s death. The disgrace of being fired from Signorile after Pearce’s tragedy has to hurt his pride.
There’s news of a deadly virus moving through Europe, and the typical handshake is no longer being used between business execs.
Bill lifts his arm and catches himself. “Mr. Jennings? My name is Bill Drake, an associate of Mr. Zavos. You’ve asked to see him, and we also have some questions for you on another matter.”
“Wonderful.” The man in a sweaty, slept-in polo isn’t thrilled with us staring him down. There’s frost in the room as testosterone flies between glances. No one wants to be the first to break the sheet of ice forming around the presumed blue-eyed killer. Alec hasn’t made any assumptions yet until we talk to him, but Josh’s cool facade feels calculated to me. A superior to Alec, or something like that. For an innocent, I don’t like his peculiar behavior in the presence of a man who’s here to keep his neck from a noose.
“I asked to see Alec. Who are the rest of you?”
He’s behind a chair, using it as a shield to save himself from a CEO who wants to take his livelihood from him again. Or is it because he’s guilty of ending a woman’s life?
Alec pulls out the chair for me, and we all sit at the long conference table with a fancy letter F embellished in the center.
Josh’s temples bead with sweat, and he’s wringing his hands next to a wool felt fedora hat with a band. They seem to be popular in Italy. The guy’s bloodshot eyes and dark circles are sure signs of insomnia and stressing to the max. Wet ovals hang beneath the armpits of his beige shirt.
Alec’s unshakable gaze lands on Jennings, who abruptly turns away.
This meeting isn’t opening well.
Bill addresses Josh. “We don’t have a lot of time. Authorities aren’t thrilled with us questioning you, but they were… let’s say, swayed. Tell us what happened here?”
“She was tied and tortured in my office after I left night before last. I opened the building in the morning at seven and found her lying on her side, strapped to a chair and wrapped in wire near my desk. Lots of blood.” Josh holds a paper towel over his mouth, then uses it to wipe away perspiration. “When I left the building, she was in the conference room. I have no idea how she ended up in the office. Maybe the cat went in there.” He slides the fedora into his lap.
“Who is she?” Alec asks.
“Benita Alvarez.”
About the Author:
“Mystery at a killing pace”
Marlene M. Bell is an award-winning writer, artist, and sheep breeder who resides in beautiful East Texas. Her renown sheep photographs grace the covers of many livestock magazines.The third book in the Annalisse Series releases in 2021. Scattered Legacy is an international mystery with light touches of romance. Stolen Obsession and Spent Identity, books one and two, received numerous awards including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery in 2020. Her mysteries can be found at marlenembell.com.
Marlene also writes children's books. Her first children's picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! is based on true events with Natalie from the Bell’s ranch. It's a touching story of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb. Mia and Nattie is honored to be a Mom's Choice Gold Award winner.
Marlene shares her life with her husband and a few dreadfully spoiled horned Dorset sheep: a large Maremma guard dog named Tia, and cats, Hollywood, Leo, and Squeaks. The cats believe they rule the household—and do.
Newsletter Sign Up: https://www.marlenembell.com/books
Blog: https://www.marlenembell.com/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ewephoric
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/marlenembell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlene.bell.3194/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17642396.Marlene_M_Bell
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marlene-m-bell
a Rafflecopter giveaway
