Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 32
February 29, 2024
A Bewitching Thursday
Storm's Convergence by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3UZNi7I
A Riveting Paranormal Romance: SOUL MASTERS: The Hunting Grounds Review
#bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3TeQZ80
Author Stanislava Buevich Recalls Her First Halloween #HalloweenMemories #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/49Ti0Ud
Book Lovers Wanted!
Bewitching Book Tours is seeking book lovers who would love to host book tour stops on their Instagram, Facebook, TikTok accounts
https://bit.ly/3UqJ9t9 #seekingtourhosts #bookloverswanters
Michigan's Most Haunted Bridges
Dice Road Bridge in Hemlock
https://bit.ly/3SVb6Iv
#HauntedBridges #MichigansMostHauntedBridges
#HauntedMichigan #MichiganGhosts #GhostlyGetaways #MichigansGhostlyGetaways #HauntedTravel #GhostTravel #GhostTourism #HauntedTourism #DarkTourism
Five Tips for Querying Publishers and Agents with K.R. Gastreich #PNR #AuthorAdvice #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3uIIjgO
What they’re saying about The Hunter’s Daughter: “A GENUINELY CREEPY ATMOSPHERIC DEBUT. A propulsive store of crimes old and new, the power of memory and the darkness that dwells inside us all. You’ll be turning pages all night and searching the woods for dark shadows (which just might be the Forest God…)” - Jennifer McMahon
The Hunter’s Daughter by Nicola Solvinic from Berkley Publishing Group on sale May 14, 2024. Now available for pre-order: https://bit.ly/3YDcQHB
#nicolasolvinic #mysteryauthor #crimeauthor #thrillerwriter #criminology #criminologymastermind #crimefiction #crimethriller #crimenovels #detectivenovels #suspensenovels #thrillerbooks #murdermystery #mysteryseries #whodunit #mysteryreads #bookcommunity #mustread #bookrecommendation #bookish #booklovers #readinglist #bookclub #bestseller #newrelease https://amzn.to/48NTMdP
In the Kitchen with Stanislava "Stacy" Buevich #SalmonTarator #Recipe #IntheKitchen #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SOvlX5
Guest Blog- Storm's Convergence by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3wi4JG4
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Storm's Convergence by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy
Storm's ConvergenceDemon Storm Book 5Valerie Storm
Genre: Young Adult FantasyPublisher: Shadow Spark PublishingDate of Publication: 2/13/24Cover Artist: @GinkahederlingASIN: B0CRYQJRN1Number of pages: 313Word Count: 78962
Tagline: The Fire Witch ruined Kari's life once before Now she's back And she's not alone
Book Description:
The calm can only last so long.
Now a member of Freehaven's Council, Kari tries to put her past behind her and settle down in her new home with her ever-present Lord and love, Ari.
Cracks in her mind, parting gifts from the heart eater, make planning the upcoming Spring Festival a struggle, but Kari is determined to do her best, even after Guine departs the town.
When a mysterious child appears at the festival and marks Kari, all semblance of normalcy is banished.
A triple threat from her past awaits beyond the walls of Freehaven and options are thin. Not willing to spill any more blood, Kari takes it upon herself to stop them—with Ari by her side.
Amazon
Excerpt:
The girl grabbed the neckline of her shirt and jerked her closer withtoo much ease. Kari stiffened as the girl’s cheek touched hers.
“Funny wolf demon, hiding in this wretched town.” Her voice was low andcruelly amused. Kari tensed, prepared to jerk free and throw a fist, but thegirl hissed, “Ah, no, don’t move. There are many innocents here, though I wouldnot call demons innocent. I know you would not want them hurt.”
She suddenly realized the closeness of so many villagers, as if she’dbeen ripped out of reality and dropped harshly back into it again.
Kari bit back a growl. “Who are you?”
She knew, though, before the small girl laughed. The boastful yetrighteous arrogance of someone who believed truly and wholly in her cause—itcould be no one else.
“I feel your defeat. You’ve answered your own question.”
Kari’s throat was dry. “Ri…Riniko. What are you doing here? Why—”
“Since you’ve yet to heed our warning, I’m here to play a little game.”
“Kari!” Ari called.
Riniko’s small hands tightened. “Tell him to leave. We’re busy.”
She hesitated. Ari yelled for her again, and now she envisioned himpushing through the crowds, looking for where she’d gone.
“It’s fine,” she yelled back. “I…I’m helping someone. I’ll catch up!”
Riniko’s grip didn’t loosen. “Your boy is insistent.”
Kari turned her head with some difficulty, given Riniko’s grip. Thelittle witch traded, wrapping her arms around Kari’s neck with a giggle thatcracked against her eardrums.
Visible between passersby, Ari made his way to them. His brows raisedat the sight of the girl around her neck.
“Who is…”
Kari smiled, big and wide, and prayed he didn’t notice her tremblinglips. “She’s lost. I’m part of the Council, so she came to me. Go back to Rathikand Essie, I’ll catch up.”
Ari saw something in her face; his eyes constricted, his jaw pulsing,uncertain of what to do.
Please walk away, Ari. It’ll be okay this time. I promise.
When she did not say anything more, he relented. “Alright. Meet us overthere, okay?”
Kari nodded, jostling Riniko. Ari glanced between them, then joggedoff.
Riniko giggled again, quieter this time. “Good.”
Kari grabbed her around the waist and yanked her off. There wassomething insanely surreal about holding a small child in her hands, a childwhose eyes burned with unmatched cruelty and fire.
“What do you want?” she snarled.
Riniko wrapped too-small fingers around Kari’s wrists and met her eyewith a cool, even gaze.
“You know what we want. I’m only here to set the fire of action alittle higher for you.”
Her palms, pressed against Kari’s skin, warmed. Kari’s eyes widened, and shestruggled with the instinct to fling the small child away.
“We do not want to burn this entire village to the ground. Despite theway these villagers associate with demons, they are still good, innocentpeople. The demons can be excused as long as they remain thusly. But youcannot. You must come and face your fate.”
Her arms were burning; Kari bit back a scream. “I keep telling you, Idon’t want to hurt anyone! Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“Tell that to those poor people in the east. They probably thought youdidn’t want to kill them. But now they’re very, very dead.”
Kari staggered back. There were fewer villagers out now, less to seethis odd pair, but Kari dreaded what Riniko would do if even one was drawn tothem. She inched away from the square, edging toward an alley between twobuildings.
“Isn’t it enough that I died once? What more can you want?”
Riniko laughed. “Oh, yes, but Zina got cold feet. Superstition, Iguess. She couldn’t let it die with you. No, she believed it would go on,despite having no body. So here you are, her little pet wolf demon, but shewon’t be here to save you a second time.”
Cold feet? Let it die with her?
The burning on her arms increased, snapping her attention back toRiniko’s young-girl face.
“I’ll come to you,” Kari croaked. “Does that make you happy? I’ll leave andfind you.”
Riniko’s eyes lit up, though she did not remove her hands. The heatcontinued to rise until Kari thought she could smell her flesh cooking.
“Oh, do you promise?” Riniko asked, her voice girlish, sickeninglysweet. “Pretty please?”
“Please stop,” Kari whispered between her teeth.
Little hands lifted, releasing her from the agony of fire. Karitrembled, then froze as those hands touched her cheeks.
“It was easy to infiltrate this place, Kari. It would be even easier,now, to set it all ablaze. You remember my previous work.”
Kari’s hands around Riniko’s waist shook with the effort to not squeezeher into pieces. “You’re the monster, witch,” she snarled.
“It takes a monster to slay one,” Riniko responded. “Remember that ifyou decide to hesitate any longer. I’m tired of waiting for this final show. Mysisters have both seen that I was right and now it’s time to end this.” Rinikoraised her hands. “Put me down.”
Shaking profusely, Kari set Riniko on the ground, where the littlewitch-girl brushed off her plain, brown dress. She fluffed her hair, thenraised a finger to her lips.
“Remember your promise,” she said, then spun and skipped away into thedarkness.
About the Author:Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the path to sharing with other children & children-at/heart looking for a place to call home.
Blog https://rantsofawriter.home.blog/
Twitter https://twitter.com/valerie_storm
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Newsletter Sign-Up https://mailchi.mp/038f1013a6c2/valerie-storm
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February 28, 2024
A Bewitching Wednesday
A Riveting Paranormal Romance: SOUL MASTERS: The Hunting Grounds Review
#bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3TeQZ80
Storm’s Convergence by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3uOaL0U
Author Stanislava Buevich Recalls Her First Halloween #HalloweenMemories #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/49Ti0Ud
Book Lovers Wanted!
Bewitching Book Tours is seeking book lovers who would love to host book tour stops on their Instagram, Facebook, TikTok accounts
https://bit.ly/3UqJ9t9 #seekingtourhosts #bookloverswanters
Five Tips for Querying Publishers and Agents with K.R. Gastreich #PNR #AuthorAdvice #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3uIIjgO
What they’re saying about The Hunter’s Daughter: “A GENUINELY CREEPY ATMOSPHERIC DEBUT. A propulsive store of crimes old and new, the power of memory and the darkness that dwells inside us all. You’ll be turning pages all night and searching the woods for dark shadows (which just might be the Forest God…)” - Jennifer McMahon
The Hunter’s Daughter by Nicola Solvinic from Berkley Publishing Group on sale May 14, 2024. Now available for pre-order: https://bit.ly/3YDcQHB
#nicolasolvinic #mysteryauthor #crimeauthor #thrillerwriter #criminology #criminologymastermind #crimefiction #crimethriller #crimenovels #detectivenovels #suspensenovels #thrillerbooks #murdermystery #mysteryseries #whodunit #mysteryreads #bookcommunity #mustread #bookrecommendation #bookish #booklovers #readinglist #bookclub #bestseller #newrelease https://amzn.to/48NTMdP
Guest Blog- Storm's Convergence by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3wi4JG4
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases #Amazon #ad #CommissionsEarned
February 27, 2024
A Bewitching Tuesday
Author Stanislava Buevich Recalls Her First Halloween #HalloweenMemories #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/49Ti0Ud
INTERVIEW - YA HORROR - FALSE HAVEN by Rebecca Rook #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SX3xzP
Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds Soul Masters Book One K.R. Gastreich
#bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/48rmq3z
STORM'S CONVERGENCE: Demon Storm Book 5 (Valerie Storm)
#bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3wz2RJm
Book Lovers Wanted!Bewitching Book Tours is seeking book lovers who would love to host book tour stops on their Instagram, Facebook, TikTok accountshttps://bit.ly/3UqJ9t9 #seekingtourhosts #bookloverswanters
Five Tips for Querying Publishers and Agents with K.R. Gastreich #PNR #AuthorAdvice #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3uIIjgO
WIP It Real Good: Young Adult Horror Author Rebecca Rook + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3OPAcWs
What they’re saying about The Hunter’s Daughter: “A GENUINELY CREEPY ATMOSPHERIC DEBUT. A propulsive store of crimes old and new, the power of memory and the darkness that dwells inside us all. You’ll be turning pages all night and searching the woods for dark shadows (which just might be the Forest God…)” - Jennifer McMahon
The Hunter’s Daughter by Nicola Solvinic from Berkley Publishing Group on sale May 14, 2024. Now available for pre-order: https://bit.ly/3YDcQHB
#nicolasolvinic #mysteryauthor #crimeauthor #thrillerwriter #criminology #criminologymastermind #crimefiction #crimethriller #crimenovels #detectivenovels #suspensenovels #thrillerbooks #murdermystery #mysteryseries #whodunit #mysteryreads #bookcommunity #mustread #bookrecommendation #bookish #booklovers #readinglist #bookclub #bestseller #newrelease https://amzn.to/48NTMdP
Guest Blog- Storm's Convergence by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3wi4JG4
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases #Amazon #ad #CommissionsEarned
February 23, 2024
A Bewitching Friday
Five Tips for Querying Publishers and Agents with K.R. Gastreich #PNR #AuthorAdvice #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3uIIjgO
Guest Blog - Aestrangel the Fallen by Maria DeVivo #DarkUrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3OOO0Av
Storm's Convergence Demon Storm Book 5 by Valerie Storm #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3I93Lyv
Guest Post- A Sword of Blood and Roses Hunted by the Faerie Queen Book One by Jessica Ash - Dark Fantasy Romance - When the Queen of the Fae is after you, sometimes your best bet is falling in love with the enemy. #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/4bHQvPf
Aestrangel the Fallen by Maria DeVivo #DarkUrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SSympj
Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds by K.R. Gastreich
https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
Excerpt: Aestrangel the Fallen (The Aestrangel Trinity Part 1) by Maria DeVivo + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/48qPEzp
The World of Gnomes- Guest Blog with Jessica Ash #DarkFantasyRomance #bewitichingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SR2Gk4
WIP It Real Good: Young adult Horror author Rebecca Rook + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3OPAcWs
Guest Blog- Storm's Convergence by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3wi4JG4
REVIEW: Aestrangel the Fallen (The Aestrangel Trinity #1) by Maria DeVivo
"The author’s writing is addictive and the story is captivating."
https://eclecticreview.com/2024/02/20...
Book Lovers Wanted!
Bewitching Book Tours is seeking book lovers who would love to host book tour stops on their Instagram, Facebook, TikTok accountshttps://bit.ly/3UqJ9t9
#seekingtourhosts #bookloverswanters
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases #Amazon #ad #CommissionsEarned
February 22, 2024
A Bewitching Thursday
The World of Gnomes- Guest Blog with Jessica Ash #DarkFantasyRomance #bewitichingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SR2Gk4
WIP It Real Good: Young adult Horror author Rebecca Rook + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3OPAcWs
Interview - Aestrangel the Fallen by Maria DeVivo #DarkUrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3OTlbD5
False Haven by Rebecca Rook ~ #YA, #YoungAdult, #Horror, #YAHorror, #YoungAdultHorror #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3wzAnin
Storm's Convergence by Valerie Storm Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/49j7eqi
I'm excited to spotlight False Haven by Rebecca Rook. This is a new YA Horror novel. The book is currently available on Kindle and in paperback. Thank you #bewitchingbooktours for allowing me to be part of the tour. https://buff.ly/3O3D8Pq
Guest Blog- Storm's Convergence by Valerie Storm #YAFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3wi4JG4
Aestrangel the Fallen by Maria DeVivo #DarkUrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3I9EyUP
In The Garden with Rebecca Rook #InTheGarden #RebeccaRook #YAHorror #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3UMUxQ0
REVIEW: Aestrangel the Fallen (The Aestrangel Trinity #1) by Maria DeVivo
"The author’s writing is addictive and the story is captivating."
https://eclecticreview.com/2024/02/20...
A Sword of Blood and Roses by Jessica Ash #DarkFantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/49mzI2h
Book Lovers Wanted!Bewitching Book Tours is seeking book lovers who would love to host book tour stops on their Instagram, Facebook, TikTok accountshttps://bit.ly/3UqJ9t9 #seekingtourhosts #bookloverswanters
Meet Anna Koray, who escaped her father’s darkness long ago. Secretly the daughter of a serial killer, she’s now a decorated sheriff’s lieutenant.
The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic from
@berkleypub Pre-order Now https://bit.ly/3YDcQHBhttps://amzn.to...
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Interview - Aestrangel the Fallen by Maria DeVivo #DarkUrbanFantasy
What inspired you to become an author?
I don’t think it was any one specific thing, but more like a string of events that shaped my life. My dad was first and foremost the initial source of my inspiration. He read to me constantly as a kid, and eventually reading turned into him creating his own stories. It totally blew my mind. I wanted to emulate what my dad did, and wanted to be a master story-teller like him.
How did you come up with the title for your latest book?
Aestrangel came to me in a dream. I literally saw the letters form in my mind right before I woke up. A-e-s-t-r-a-n-g-e-l. It was so strange, yet made so much sense. I don’t remember the dream, but when I woke up, I wrote the word, and a poem just kind of flowed right after. That poem eventually became the basis for the entire story.
Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?
Aestrangel was the outlier, of course, because I usually start with a concept. A general idea with a basic premise and some characters to play their parts. From there, I come up with the title. Then once the title takes root in my mind, the story kind of fleshes itself out.
Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?
I always throw my personal experiences into the mix. I think it adds to the realism of the story, even if it’s magical or in a fantasy setting. There’s a lot of “me” in my pages, if that makes sense. And while I often embellish on those experiences, there’s always an underlying hint of reality.
Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?
Not necessarily genre, but structure. I’ve never written a graphic novel before, and I think I’m ready to dip my toes. I have a story that’s been brewing in my head for a little while now that would lend itself to the comic form. I’m not an illustrator, and the process of graphic novel scripts is so different from long-form novels, but I think I’m up for the challenge.
If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?
Aestrangel the Fallen is book one in the Aestrangel Trinity. Book 2, Aestrangel the Chosen sees the characters thrust in more morally ambiguous situations. The last book, Aestrangel the Risen, is due out sometime this summer. The third book really goes off the rails in terms of concept and content. But there are no surprises here. I literally tell you the ending in the Prologue of Aestrangel the Fallen. This series is the quintessential villain cycle.
What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I have a crush on Kenny Rogers. Yes. The country singer Kenny Rogers. But the pre-plastic surgery, robust, younger, Kenny Rogers. Circa “Islands in the Stream” Kenny Rogers. He was hunky.
What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?
This year, I have plans for four releases: Aestrangel the Risen in the summer, two in my Dawn of the Blood Witch Saga, and the re-release of my very first novel, The Coal Elf. I’m currently writing Book 6 in the witches, re-editing books 2 and 3 in The Coal Elf books, and in the planning stages of my comic. I’m doing all this while hitting the convention circuit for appearances and book signings and meeting readers and writers in this crazy, amazing community! 2024 is definitely shaping up to be jam-packed!
Aestrangel the Fallen The Aestrangel Trinity Part 1Maria DeVivo
Genre: Dark Urban FantasyPublisher: 4 Horsemen PublicationsDate of Publication: September 2023ISBN: 1644509261Number of pages: 240Word Count: 63K
Tagline: Hell hath no fury like an angel scorned!
Book Description:
Aestra, favorite teenaged angel of The Lord, has been sent to Earth to ensure that high school senior, Jake Parker, pursues the correct path. He is teetering between two options that may seem innocuous, but only one will lead him to positively impact the lives of millions of humans.
But what happens when the heart chooses love over responsibility? For Aestra, one fateful night will set into motion a chain of events unforeseen by even her infallible Creator.
Amazon Books2Read
Excerpt
From Chapter One: Learning the Ways
They tell me I should be dreaming by now, that the images and scenariosshould be well-embedded into my brand-new subconsciousness, but for me, allthere has been is color. No. That’s not right. When I close my brand-new eyes,all that consumes me are the shifting shades of grays and blacks, and I’m notsure if this is something I should be worried about or not. I’ve been in thishuman simulation environment for quite some time now, and I’m guessing thatpart of my “humanness” hasn’t kicked in yet. But I’ve heard the others talkingand describing their dreams, and I’m getting anxious for my first one. Revalia,the closest thing I have to what humans call a “best friend,” has told me thefabulous tales of her dreams. She says sometimes she doesn’t even want to wakeup. She says the images and sounds and smells are so overpowering, sooverwhelming, that when she wakes up, she desperately longs to go back to thatdreamy, lazy place between the conscious and unconscious mind. I wish I knewwhat she was talking about.
I know my lack of dreams worries Camael. He has told me many times thehuman experience is multi-pronged and multi-faceted, and in order for me tocomplete my calling, I must be immersed in the most basic of human functions.There’s no other way for me to complete my mission because there’s no other wayfor me to be a “believable” Guardian to the human I am assigned. And if I don’tcomplete my mission successfully, I will never move up the ranks and become aGuardian Angel. Camael is in a higher order of angels than I am—the Dominions.He’s my mentor, and it’s his job to prepare me for the journey that I’m aboutto embark upon.
Yes, I’m an angel—we all are: Camael, Revalia, the others, and me. But,my rank right now is that of angel—the lowest rung on the ladder. My goal is tomove up to Guardian, and hopefully beyond. It’s the natural progression for mykind, and I’m excited to serve the Creator (or God, as the humans refer to Him)and all of His glorious wonders.
There is no time—not the way humans divide time up at least. I’vealways existed, yet there are others and elders who were here in Ilarium beforeI was created, and since I’ve been given the ability to communicate in humanlanguage, it seems hard for me to put into words all the thoughts and feelingsthat I had before. Before, there was just love and peace and a willingness toserve and please, but now there is an actual lexicon, a vocabulary of tens ofthousands of words, that I’m still trying to figure out how to effectivelycommunicate and verbalize what’s in my heart. Never having had a heart before,it takes some getting used to.
We angels who are preparing for our callings have been thrust into a human-likeworld in order to become accustomed to the actual life of a human. The PowersThat Be have replicated the physical world and have created buildings andstructures for us, given us languages, infused us with feelings, and given usbody shapes all in preparation for our descent to Earth.
While angels are neither male nor female, I have the body of a womannow, and I will be assigned female attributes from here forward. I rather dolike the contour of the female form, I always have, and perhaps my partialitytowards women is what prompted the Creator to put me in a woman’s body. Mywings are more defined too; they are heavy on my shoulders with the featheredtips almost irritating the backs of my arms and legs. As the human notion oftime becomes more ingrained into our routine, the weight of my wings becomesmore and more cumbersome. Camael has said that the awareness of our wings wasimportant so when we lose them on our descent, the shock wouldn’t be so bad. Idon’t know; I’m still trying to understand all my teachings. Like how we’regoing to be given a set of human memories specific to us and our assignment,yet have all the knowledge of our angelic lives. The thought of blending thetwo perplexes me.
Thisleads me to right now. This time. This place. The unfamiliarity of it all.Camael says this is a school, and the human I am assigned to help goes to one.I know this. I’ve seen them, the humans. I’ve watched them from up high, butactually being in a school—the four white walls and chairs called desks filedin rows with children sitting at them—is quite an adjustment. I sit in thefront of a single aisle. We’re in alphabetical order, and I’m Aestra, so thatmeans I’m first in the row. Revalia is a few desks behind me. I turn my head totry to catch her attention, but she’s staring out the window, deep in whatCamael calls a “daydream.” I look at her a few seconds longer hoping my gazecan break her trance, but she’s too far gone, mesmerized in her human thoughts.The one disadvantage to being in this human shape is we angels can no longerfeel the thoughts and emotions of others without speaking them. If I had beenfree from this woman body, I would have been able to read Revalia’s mind, butthen again, if we weren’t in these human forms, Revalia wouldn’t be having suchthoughts as hypnotizing daydreams…
About the Author: Maria is the Author of the Amazon bestselling and award-winning series The Coal Elf Chronicles, the YA psychological horror series The Altered Experience, and the NA Urban Fantasy series The Aestrangel Trinity. When not writing about dark fantasy and horror, she teaches Language Arts and Journalism to middle school students in Florida. A lover of all things dark and demented, she takes pleasure in warping the comfort factor in her readers’ minds. Just when you think you’ve reached a safe space in her stories, she snaps you back into her twisted reality.
Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/mariadevivo
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February 21, 2024
A Sword of Blood and Roses by Jessica Ash #DarkFantasyRomance
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A Sword of Blood and RosesHunted by the Faerie Queen Book OneJessica Ash
Genre: Dark Fantasy RomanceDate of Publication: June 30, 2022ISBN: 9798201496227 ASIN: B0B1XQTX28 Number of pages: 322Word Count: 85,000Cover Artist: Firda Graphic
Tagline: When the Queen of the Fae is after you, sometimes your best bet is falling in love with the enemy.
Book Description:
Enemies to Lovers Dark Fantasy Romance...
He was supposed to kill me...Now I'm his prisoner.
I was supposed to hate him...Now I'm falling in love.
But neither love nor magic can save me. And Now time is running out.
When the Queen of the Fae is after you sometimes your best bet is falling in love with the enemy, even when he's your kidnapper…
Read all five books in Kindle Unlimited. Discover enemies to lovers romance like you've never read before.
Amazon
Excerpt:
Riding into the dry-as-bones mountains on the back of thepuca, Logan’s anger seared bitter in his chest. It rolled off him in waves,pulling thunder down from the sky. He toyed idly with the storm letting hisanger draw the danger of the lightning to him as he seethed.
Fifteen years away from his hounds. Fifteen years of Solanum’s running wild,the puca causing havoc wherever he went. Fifteen years of Logan’s life eatenaway in the hole of the queen’s dungeons.
And now he was to kill witches for the queen—a fact thatrubbed him raw.
Humans were amusing companions, why create trouble?Irritated with the brief flare of morality, he smothered it with brutal force.It didn’t fucking matter what he wanted. It never had.
Lightning cracked. The eerily silent hounds of the Dark Hunt tightened aroundhim, their tense glances and snapping teeth reflections of his flaringemotions.
He had no room for second thoughts tonight. The Black Queenhad given him no reason why she needed these witches killed, but if hesatisfied her it might give him his freedom. At the very least it would givehim some space. Maybe some time to figure out a way to stay out of thedungeons. And time to figure out how to truly extricate himself from her bloodydominion.
Because no matter what she had promised him, he knew, therewas no way she would simply let him go. Not after the way he had betrayed her.
Solanum tossed his head and bucked. “Quit squeezing myribs.” Lurid green faery flames leapt from his hooves, igniting short-livedcold fires in the dry Wyoming brush.
“Cease, horse,” Logan said, squeezing his legs a littlemore. Punching Solanum’s buttons felt good, really good. Just like his wrath atthe queen felt good. Justified.
The puca tossed his long mane into Logan’s eyes. “Lay off,or you’ll be eating dirt,” he snarled, nostrils flaring red in the dimminglight.
Solanum’s irritation put a hard smile on Logan’s lips. Hetightened his legs and drove the puca harder down the hill through the brewingstorm.
A hound pushed in too close. Solanum’s hoof lashed out,connecting with a solid thud. The hound’s yipe sounded inside Logan’s head ashe regained his balance, cursing the hound’s behavior and the puca’sintolerance.
He was back. The hounds would get used to him again. AndSolanum too.
Thunder crashed in the sky, following him down into theshadowed hills as he approached the witches’ lair. Nostrils burning from theozone, nerves tingling, he distracted himself with the dark moist wind,manipulating it to blow through the dry autumn brush like a child's tantrum.
He laughed, the spiteful wind stealing away the dark soundas cracks of thunder echoed off the mountains. He let the anger simmer and thelightning moved further away. He wasn’t free yet, and he wasn’t suicidal. Whathe was, was trapped. And it pissed him off, the frustration riding him like ahag.
What could he do when the queen changed her mind and refusedto release him from her service? What if the bitch thought she could use himthen put him back into her dungeons Underhill, calling him to her side like alapdog? He needed a way to show her there would be repercussions. He neededleverage.
In the distance, thunder rumbled. They tipped over the edgeof the valley in search of the witch. A wavering glow of candles shone abovethe last few rocks.
Almost there.
The telltale traces of a spell raised the hair on the backof his neck. He extended his Gift to perceive what he couldn’t yet see. Alabyrinth set by a single inexperienced witch. His lips twitched. As protectionit might have worked, had the Faery Queen sent her regular henchman. Unluckilyfor the witch, the queen had unleashed him. The Dark Huntsman.
He would kill the wench, and be done with this thing betweenhimself and the queen of the Tuatha De Danann. And when the queen refused torelease him? He’d deal with that when the time came.
The wind carried the hot dry smell of sage mixed with thesmell of fear and musky female. He inhaled the raw flavor of the witch, thetaste of her fear and anger and power, slid down his throat, easing his rage.
The anxious hounds shifted around him, sensing the proximity of their prey.Solanum rounded the rock.
And there she was.
The sight of her rocked him back like a blow, almostknocking him to the ground. And he realized—despite the stasis, fifteen yearshad been too long a time to be without a woman.
Glimmers of power limned her naked body and the silver bladeof the athame that gleamed between her breasts. Her legs were spread slightlyapart, tensed for battle. Long black hair crackled and lifted with static. Herexpressive face was poised on the edge of dilemma, her body caught between theneed to hold the spell and the need for action.
He paused to let the feel of power and woman roll throughhim.
Beautiful.
Unexpected.
Green, almond-shaped eyes widened. Her stance firmed, hershoulders pulled back, and her full breasts rose, nipples tightened with coldor fear. Something wild and raw he hadn’t felt in a hundred years stabbed lowin his gut.
His agenda changed.
The queen wanted to kill the witch. Why? His plan ofplacating the queen suddenly seemed weak. She’d never let him go withoutleverage, and here was leverage standing naked and lovely before him. He had anew plan.
Screw the queen.
***
Thunder boomed.
Trina glanced up the valley. The dying light made itimpossible for her to see much more than the silhouette of a horse and riderbarreling through the boulders and uneven terrain, tearing down the rockyhillside at an impossible speed. But no barrel racer would endanger their mountcareening down the mountain in a thunderstorm. Or ride a horse the color of theabsence of light with freakish red eyes. Only something truly inhuman wouldlight up her inner sight with that particular eerie blue glow.
The acid in her stomach rose into her throat.
An elven lord.
Oh fuck! I’m screwed.
She swallowed the fear down. Her trap, her best effort, allher hard work. Dumb. Stupid.
Pathetic. None of it would hold an elven lord—a full adultfae whose power would make her trap look like an art project. She wished shecould hide the evidence, like a small child wiping up the crumbs of stolencookies.
Horse and rider skidded and slowed in a shower ofricocheting rocks. The enormous red hounds flowed out, surrounding thelabyrinth as the cloaked rider and his dark mount advanced.
She held still, athame at the ready in sweaty hands,prepared to bolt if she had the chance. Her eyes flicked from the approachingrider, distracted by the lesser threat of the huge, sharp-toothed, yellow-eyed hounds encircling the labyrinth like silent sharks waitingfor the command to take their prey.
Her.
“Damn shame to kill you, witch.” His voice was smooth,well-aged whiskey with a hint of brogue.
“Then don’t.”
“What will you give me instead? A life requires a powerfulexchange. And I was sent for your death.”
Trina tried to keep her face even and not reveal her panic.She had nothing he could want.
Anything of true power that a fae like this one mightconsider valuable, was safely out of reach and driving down the road in thevan. Gone. Along with any reinforcements.
“How about honesty?” She offered in desperation.
“Funny girl.” The dark presence leaned forward, hisimpatient mount’s feet shifting on the gravel.
The nervous sweat on her back grew cold.
“Although I would enjoy taking the time,” his voice carriedeasily over the wind and thunder, “we shouldn't stand here bargaining. Thequeen awaits my report.”
The lord’s level tone distracted her and she was unpreparedwhen the horse moved. The pair crashed effortlessly into the labyrinth, cuttinga destroying swath across the short, brushy sage and heading for her at thecenter. Spectacular violent explosions burst into cascades of colored lights,as if her carefully constructed wards were merely firecrackers, instead of hugemagical grenades.
The overwhelming smell of crushed sage rose, and she sworethe evil-eyed horse laughed. She reached inside for what was left of her power,losing her grip on it when he leaned over and grabbed her arm. With no apparenteffort, he hoisted her up.
She scrabbled for a handhold in an effort to not fly over the horse into thewaiting sea of teeth and dogs. She tangled one hand in the long black mane andheld tight to her slippery knife with the other.
Strong arms wrapped in leather tightened around her, forcingher upright, her toes dangling sidesaddle. Everything happening too fast. Shebarely had a grip in the long black mane when the creature flexed under her andthey flew over the candles.
The flames blew out.
They landed on the other side of the labyrinth in a hardjolt. She slipped.
If I fall, I could run.
Before the thought had been and gone, her grip on the maneloosened. She slid to the side. Hot breath and the scrape of teeth on her anklewarned her, just in time. She yanked her foot out of range of the snappingjaws, and lost her balance. Making an instinctive grab for the mane with her righthand—she dropped the knife.
Her kidnapper growled and tightened his grip on her stomach.
She gasped for her voice. “Put me down!”
“I’m afraid it’s too late for that. I either kill you ortake you with me.” The sparkling black blade of his laughter cut deep into hersoul.
Accelerating faster and faster, they wove in and out of thetreacherous rocks in a mad, blurring rush up the side of the valley. If shefell off now and hit a rock, she’d be roadkill. She anchored both hands firmlyin the mane and leaned back into the solid chest of her attacker.
They raced on, licks of green fire lighting up the hillbehind them. A deep maw of black within purple mist formed ahead, transformingthe familiar landscape into a horror. The knowledge of where they headedslammed inside her brain.
Trina’s heart sped into a sharp staccato.
Words of denial formed in her constricted throat, gone longbefore she had a chance to know what they were.
Don’t make me go.
They rocketed to the top of the valley, the piranha houndsschooling tightly around them as they raced to the looming mouth of the portal.Steely muscles bunched and flexed under her.
Launching into the air, they flew into the mix of fogand darkness encased in the sound of her scream.
About the Author:Jessica Ash loves dragons, magic, and romance, and is lucky enough to write about all three while consuming boatloads of chocolate. Her favorite fantasy is taking a luxury cruise up the Rhine where she could stare at the castles along the water and dream of faery. She writes dark fae fantasy romance where evil queens are on the hunt and strong heroes and heroines fall in love.
Website: https://jessicaashbooks.com
Tik-tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorjash
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jessica-ash Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicaashromance
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/151835998-jessica-ash
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jessica-Ash/author/B0B2BHJ7R9
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February 20, 2024
A Bewitching Tuesday
REVIEW: Aestrangel the Fallen (The Aestrangel Trinity #1) by Maria DeVivo
"The author’s writing is addictive and the story is captivating."
https://eclecticreview.com/2024/02/20...
Guest Blog- False Haven by Rebecca Rook #YAHorror #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SNYzFc
Guest Blog - A Sword of Blood and Roses by Jessica Ash #DarkFantasyRomance #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/48DwJlf
Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds by K.R. Gastreich #PNR
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Storm’s Convergence Book Tour
The Fire Witch ruined Kari’s life once before…Now she’s back…And she’s not alone #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3uH5JmJ
A Sword of Blood and Roses Book Tour
When the Queen of the Fae is after you, sometimes your best bet is falling in love with the enemy. #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/48peboC
Clearlake by Stanislava Buevich - Upper Middle Grade/Teen Mystery Horror - Don’t go into Room 214 #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SHpUcl
Aestrangel the Fallen by Maria DeVivo Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3wlzFoV
SPOTLIGHT - DARK URBAN FANTASY - AESTRANGEL THE FALLEN by Marie DeVivo #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/49FwXZT
A Sword of Blood and Roses by Jessica Ash
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Rebecca Rook's Top Ten Favorite Horror Novels #YAHorror #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3I7msm8
Five Tips for Dating a Soul Master with K.R. Gastreich #PNR #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SXlCyI
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Book Lovers Wanted!
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"What do you want?” I screamed into the dark.
It wasn't an incantation; it was a demand.
Excerpt from The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic from Berkley Publishing Group. Now available for pre-order: https://bit.ly/3YDcQHB
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February 16, 2024
A Bewitching Friday
Rebecca Rook's Top Ten Favorite Horror Novels #YAHorror #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3I7msm8
When news of a mysterious blizzard hits, her fears are brought to a head: the witches have found her, & they're ready to end the blight of the Demonic Catalyst.
Storm's Convergence by Valerie Storm #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/49BV3ol
Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds (Soul Masters, Book One) by K.R. Gastreich ~ #ParanormalRomance #PNR #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3ONPdrX
Green Tips from Mayela, Protagonist of Soul Masters
Guest Blog- Virtual Book Tour-Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds by K.R. Gastreich #PNR
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Don’t enter Room 217! Moon and her friends race against time to escape Clearlake's sinister grasp. Will they make it out before it's too late?
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Five Tips for Dating a Soul Master with K.R. Gastreich #PNR #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SXlCyI
False Haven by Rebecca Rook #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3OHabZG
In the Kitchen with Stanislava "Stacy" Buevich #SalmonTarator #Recipe #IntheKitchen #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3SOvlX5
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He’s an arrogant incubus. She’s a witch and Firebrand warrior
Together, they prove opposites attract.
The Lawgiver’s Firebrand by T. M. Smith
https://amzn.to/49oHdpi
"What do you want?” I screamed into the dark.
It wasn't an incantation; it was a demand.
Excerpt from The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic from Berkley Publishing Group. Now available for pre-order: https://bit.ly/3YDcQHB
#nicolasolvinic #mysteryauthor #crimeauthor #thrillerwriter #criminology #criminologymastermind #crimefiction #crimethriller #crimenovels #detectivenovels #suspensenovels #thrillerbooks #murdermystery #mysteryseries #whodunit #mysteryreads #bookcommunity #mustread #bookrecommendation #bookish #booklovers #readinglist #bookclub #bestseller #newrelease
Free Book Friday
Do you feel overwhelmed and alone in raising your autistic child? Are you seeking solutions and empowerment on this journey?
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By Natalie Loveson
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