Cherie Colyer's Blog, page 15
June 7, 2022
Book Tour & Giveaway: The Versipellis Mysteries by Rhen Garland
I'm thrilled to be a part of
The Versipellis Mysteries
by Rhen Garland Book Tour hosted by Silver Dagger. Rhen is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner. Be sure to leave a comment! Happy reading!
A Portrait of Death
The Versipellis Mysteries Book 1
by Rhen Garland
Genre: Historical Supernatural Mystery
A Victorian house party, a supernatural mystery, and two very special investigators.
England
1899
Immortal detectives Elliott Caine and Abernathy Thorne have spent centuries searching through time for the reincarnations of their murdered wives. As their quest continues, they use their many lifetimes of knowledge to solve Gothic mysteries that can be unsettling, and sometimes terrifying.
Never before have they been faced with a case like this.
The great and the good are gathered for the social event of the season, but the evening comes to a horrifying halt when the mutilated remains of two men are discovered artistically displayed in the portrait gallery. As Caine and Thorne begin their investigations, they uncover more than the usual murderous web of intrigue, espionage, and treason.
An ancient evil is stalking ever closer, intent on finding that which they seek.
Where does the mysterious agent Versipellis fit into the case? And who is the shadowy figure watching Caine and Thorne with such interest?
Find out who, when, why, what, and how in this very Victorian murder mystery; the first instalment in a new Gaslamp fantasy series that drips with elements of Gothic mystery, historical urban fantasy, and rather a lot of blood as we follow the exploits of immortal Victorian detectives Elliott Caine and Abernathy Thorne in the latter stages of the Victorian world.
"As soon as you start reading, it gets you hooked, and you just can't put it down."
"Wonderful twists and turns in the story line kept me wanting to read what happened next."
"A great debut novel from an author with an amazing imagination." - Katylou 1966
Amazon * B&N * Waterstones
Death In the Sound
The Versipellis Mysteries Book 2
Death and diamonds in the green heart of New Zealand.
New Zealand
1900
Responding to a desperate plea from an old friend, Caine, Giselle, and Thorne, accompanied by Veronique the Labrador, travel to New Zealand to investigate a simple case of blackmail that explodes into a far more shocking crime.
A Psychic, a dancer, and illusionists are amongst the honoured guests invited to a weekend party aboard a luxurious paddle steamer moored in the isolated grandeur of Milford Sound, where reclusive millionaire philanthropist Octavius Damant is determined to throw his daughter a twenty-first birthday party to remember.
The celebrations are cancelled, however, when a hideous murder is committed and the engines are sabotaged, trapping everyone on board with a killer willing to stop at nothing to achieve their evil schemes.
As the body count rises, Caine, Giselle, and Thorne must piece together a devilish puzzle involving extortion, desire, the reappearance of the fabulous Larkspur Diamond, and the return of a face from Thorne’s past.
Just when they feel they are beginning to unravel the case, the truth about events centuries earlier threatens to destroy everything they thought they knew about their own past lives.
Find out who, when, why, what, and how in this very Victorian murder mystery; the second instalment in a new Gaslamp fantasy series that drips with elements of Gothic mystery, historical urban fantasy, and rather a lot of blood as we follow the exploits of immortal Victorian detectives Elliott Caine and Abernathy Thorne in the latter stages of the Victorian world.
"Stephen King meets Agatha Christie" - Hammerhead
"An excellent plot with lots of unexpected twists and many multi-layered characters." - Katylou 1966
"Magical, mysterious and memorable." - The Northernreader
"Vibrant characters and dark deeds combine to produce a creepy, cleverly plotted murder mystery with exciting originality." - Jane Hunt
Amazon * B&N * Waterstones
The Shadow of Death
The Versipellis Mysteries Book 3
An horrific discovery leads to Caine and Thorne’s darkest investigation yet.
England
Christmas
1900
Fifteen years after a series of ritualistic murders drove the families of Cove to send their children away to safety, the survivors are returning to celebrate their first Christmas back on their island home…but the killer has also returned, and they have unpleasant plans for those who fled their reign of terror so many years ago…
When a murder is committed during the Yule archery shoot, Caine, Giselle, Thorne, Aquilleia, and Veronique the Labrador find themselves thrown into a terrifying Gothic mystery that involves sinister cultists, family secrets, hidden passages, and the horrifying reappearance of the abomination Filicidae: a malevolent being who kills for pleasure.
Hope is offered by one of their kind from Astraea, whose gift could be used to defeat the creature once and for all.
But unbeknownst to Caine and his friends, deep in the catacombs of Cove Castle, there dwells a nightmare…
Find out who, when, why, what, and how in this very Victorian murder mystery; the third instalment in a new Gaslamp fantasy series that drips with elements of Gothic mystery, historical urban fantasy, and rather a lot of blood as we follow the exploits of immortal Victorian detectives Elliott Caine and Abernathy Thorne in the latter stages of the Victorian world.
"The third book of the Versipellis mysteries is the darkest of the series so far and the best in my opinion." - Hammerhead
"Garland is a great storyteller in her genre of the Victorian whodunnit with a supernatural twist" - Katylou 1966
"The emerging details of the "other realm" shows the wonderful imagination of this author. I certainly can't wait for the next book in the series."
"Holmes meets Highlander via Hammer House of Horror!
Amazon * B&N * Waterstones
Rhen Garland is the author of the The Versipellis mysteries - a series of Gaslamp Fantasies set in the late Victorian, early Edwardian era that follow the adventures of immortal detectives Elliott Caine and Abernathy Thorne as they search through time for the reincarnations of their murdered wives...and solve a few murders along the way.I live in Somerset, England, with my book illustrating, folk-singing husband, approximately 5000 books, an equal number of ancient movies, and a large collection of passive-aggressive Tomtes. My achievements are more from the school of life, rather than that of College or University. My early years choice of reading material was rather suspect for my age. The first Agatha Christie I ever read was "By the Pricking of my Thumbs" when I was nine years old; a child of that age reading and enjoying a murder mystery about a child killer explains a great deal about the type of novel I write today.
When I was diagnosed with CFS at the age of thirty, I realised that I could either go mad staring at four walls all day, or I could try to apply what little parts of my brain still worked and have a bash at writing a murder mystery set in the 1920's...things didn't quite turn out the way I'd planned!
I thought when I finally started writing that my books would be genteel "cosy" type murder mysteries set in the Golden Era (I love the 1920's and 30's for the style, music, and automobiles), with someone being politely bumped off at the Vicar's tea party and the corpse then apologising for disrupting proceedings. Instead, the late Victorian era came thundering over the horizon armed with some fantastical and macabre plotlines and a complete refusal to accept the word "no"; it planted itself in my stories, my characters, and my life, and would not budge.
I watch far too many old school murder mystery films, TV series, and 1980s action movies for it to be considered healthy. No one will play movie quizzes with me anymore...further evidence of a misspent youth!
I love the countryside, Prosecco, tea, the cocktail hour (the pinnacle of the civilised world!), and the works of Dame Ngaio Marsh, Dame Gladys Mitchell, John Dickson Carr/Carter Dickson, Dame Agatha Christie, Sir Terry Pratchett, Simon R Green, and David and Leigh Eddings.
My books are Victorian in era, messy in their murders, creepy in their otherness, and will make you double check the windows are all locked before you go to bed. What's not to like about mysteries with a touch of Grand Guignol?
Find Rhen at the ChillerCon UK - Horror comes to Scarborough! (chillercon-uk.com) this week!
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon
June 6, 2022
Book Review: Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard
Game of Strength and Stormby Rachel MenardPublisher: FluxoksGenres: YA fiction, fantasy, mythology retelling, romanceRelease date: June 7, 2022A YA gender-bent Hercules retelling told in multi-pov.
About the Book
Victory is the only option.
Once a year, the Olympian Empresses grant the wishes of ten people selected by a lottery—for a price. Seventeen-year-old Gen, a former circus performer, wants the freedom of her father, who was sentenced to life in prison for murders she knows he didn’t commit. Castor plans to carry the island Arcadia into the future in place of her brother, Pollux, but only after the Empresses force a change in her island’s archaic laws that requires a male heir.
To get what they want, Gen and Castor must race to complete the better half of ten nearly impossible labors. They have to catch the fastest ship in the sea, slay the immortal Hydra, defeat a gangster called the Boar, and capture the flesh-eating Mares, among other deadly tasks.
Gen has her magic, her ability to speak to animals, her inhuman strength—and the help of Pollux, who’s been secretly pining for her for years. But Castor has her own gifts: the power of the storms, along with endless coin. Only one can win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.
Purchase Links
Flux | North Star Editions | Goodreads
Current promos on their websites:· 30% off fall release preorders using code SPRING22· Free shipping when you spend over $30
My thoughts
I’m a big fan of new twists on old myths, and this book didn’t disappoint. In this Herculean retelling, the residents of Olympia enter a lottery to be able to ask for a wish from the Empresses. Gen and Cas are among this year's winners. They both have something they want that they can’t get without their wish being granted. What they don’t expect is to be given a list of tasks to complete. The person who completes the most tasks will have their wish granted.
With strong, likable female leads and a cast of just as likable supporting characters, it was easy to devour the pages of this creative fantasy. The tasks are dangerous and difficult and are approached cunningly and with courage. Fans of mythology and fantasy are sure to enjoy this book.
Author’s note on the cover
If I could draw, this is what I would have created for the GAME OF STRENGTH AND STORM cover. I started writing this story three years ago, and over the course of drafts, I had developed pretty detailed images of Gen and Castor in my mind. This is them. This is exactly how I see them. Gen with her quiet defiance, and Castor about to light the world on fire. Standing back-to-back with their magical abilities on display, this looks like a poster for an epic fantasy battle, and that’s exactly what readers will find beyond this gorgeous cover!
Author Bio
Rachel Menard was born in New Jersey, raised in Arizona, and then relocated to Rhode Island. Throughout her life she has been a barista, college radio DJ, singer in an alt-country band, marketer, designer, and finally, a writer. Her short fiction has been featured on Cast of Wonders and her editorial work has been seen in Writer’s Digest. Game of Strength and Storm is her debut novel.
Connect with Rachel:Twitter: @MissusmInstagram: @menardrachelTikTok: @Rachel_Writes_BooksBlog/Website(s): www.rachelmenard.comGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17099185.Rachel_Menard
June 3, 2022
Book Tour & Giveaway: Ashes by M.K. Harkins
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the ASHES by M.K. Harkins Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Follow the tour and leave comments. The more you comment, the better your chances are of winning! Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: ASHES (Modern-Day Fairy Tale #1) Author: M.K. Harkins
Pub. Date: June 1, 2022
Publisher: M.K. Harkins
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 303
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle
Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!
Not your typical Cinderella story…
If she thought college applications were complicated, just wait until she catches feelings for the newest celebrity in town.
Ashley Adams doesn’t have time for haters. Already too busy dealing with dead bodies after her stepmother purchased a mortuary, she is ready to put the lid on her judgmental peers and finally bury her high school experience. But her focus is shattered when a charming pop-star-turned-student needs her help evading his crazed fans.
The last place heartthrob Harry James wants to be is back in school. Sentenced to finish his senior year after a case of accidental arson, the singer longs to return to the stage. But he never expected to meet a girl who could see through the fame to the real person inside.
Surprised by the chemistry between them, Ashley is shocked when Harry gives her the cold shoulder. But with his publicist forbidding him from dating her, Harry must choose between fame or love.
Can Ashley and Harry survive the turmoil threatening to tear them apart?
Ashes is a fun and snarky standalone YA romance. If you like captivating characters, emotional twists and turns, Fairies and Cinderella retellings, then you’ll adore MK Harkins’ fast-paced tale.
*Recommended for readers 13+ (Some mild swearing and off-page violence)
Reviews:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I'm no stranger to retellings of fairytales so my expectations were high. The story is beautifully written with a fresh and modern take on the characters, whilst retaining the true essence of the story." Goodreads Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A delightful mix of finding love in the modern world, with a bit of Fairytale magic mixed in. I thought the novel was beautifully written. There really weren't any plot holes that led to confusion. The elements of a Cinderella retelling were masterfully placed, but not necessarily made the center of the story." Goodreads Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "What a great read! Everything about this book made me want to keep reading! From the great characters, great story line and a Cinderella twist!" NetGalley Reviewer
Top 5 favorite scenes and why.
1.) When Harry races into the mortuary to avoid his fans. I always love when the characters meet. This scene had my heart pounding
2.) Their first date and the almost kiss. The build-up of tension is delicious.
3.) When Harry writes a poem on Ashley's desk using invisible ink asking her to the prom. Ahhh - romance!
4.) The first part of the prom. Karma is so satisfying.
5.) The end - I can't say why
About M.K. Harkins:
MK has always been a voracious reader. After hitting a dry spell of reading material, she decided to write the kind of book she'd like to read. This resulted in the creation of her debut novel, Intentional. (Award for Best Sweet Romance - eFestival of Words- August 2014)
Unintentional, Breaking Braydon, Taking Tiffany and The Reader soon followed. MK's newest, Famous by Default, an Amazon Bestseller, was released March 2017. The follow-up to The Reader, The Jack, published 2018. Next up- A series of modern-day fairy tales. We'll start with a Cinderella story: Ashes
Subscribe to M.K.’s newsletter!
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of ASHES, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
6/1/2022
Excerpt/IG Post
6/2/2022
Guest Post/IG Post
6/3/2022
Guest Post
6/4/2022
IG Post
Week Two:
6/5/2022
IG & TikTok Post
6/6/2022
Review/IG Post
6/7/2022
Guest Post
6/8/2022
Guest Post
6/9/2022
IG Post
6/10/2022
Review/IG Post
6/11/2022
Excerpt
Week Three:
6/12/2022
Review/IG Post
6/13/2022
Review/IG Post
6/14/2022
Review/IG Post
6/15/2022
IG Review
6/16/2022
IG Review
6/17/2022
Excerpt/IG Post
6/18/2022
Review/IG Post
Week Four:
6/19/2022
Review/IG Post
6/20/2022
Review/IG Post
6/21/2022
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog
Spotlight
6/22/2022
Review/IG Post
6/23/2022
Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Review/IG Post
6/24/2022
Review/IG Post
6/25/2022
Review
Week Five:
6/26/2022
Review/IG Post
6/27/2022
Review
6/28/2022
IG Review
6/29/2022
Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf
IG Review
6/30/2022
Review/IG Post
June 2, 2022
Salted Caramel Bliss with a Wedding Kiss
I'm delighted to share the first look at SALTED CARAMEL BLISS WITH A WEDDING KISS. I had planned on doing a big cover reveal, but the month of May slipped away from me and before I knew it I discovered the book is available for pre-order. So instead of delaying another day, I'm thrilled to show off the cover and blurb of this cozy romance with a paranormal twist.
Salted Caramel Bliss and a Wedding KissOne Scoop or Two Series
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Heat rating: PG13 Spicy (sex scenes fade to black)
Number of pages: 110
A kiss to remember...If only she could.
Roman Briggs built a life for himself in Siren’s Cove. He restored the Sugar Cones Ice Cream Parlor and turned it into a popular stop along the boardwalk. He has everything he needs until a certain blue-eyed woman wanders back into his life.
Seer and witch Peyton Woods isn’t sure why her latest visions feature a man and boy she’s never met. Determined to find out, she casts a spell that leads her to a small beach town in Maine and, to her utter surprise, the man who broke her heart eight years earlier.
Peyton's left with one question. Why didn't her magic show her him?
Add to Goodreads and Bookbub
Salted Caramel Bliss with a Wedding Kiss is part of The Wild Rose Press One Scoop or Two series. Each book in the series is a standalone book.
More on this exciting new title to come!
I'd love to hear from you. If you have a book, TV series, or movie recommendation for me, drop it in the comments.
Thanks for stopping by!
May 31, 2022
Book Blitz & Giveaway: Serenade by Morgan Shamy
I'm delighted to be a part of the Serenade by Morgan Shamy Book Blitz hosted by Xpresso Tours. Morgan Shamy is eCopies of the book to ten lucky winners!
Serenade
Morgan Shamy
(The Dark Nocturne, #1)
Publication date: May 31st 2022
Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Young Adult
St. Paul’s Academy of the Arts isn’t your usual boarding school…
When November Huntington is sent away to live with her long-lost family, she’s forced to attend a music school for the gifted—which wouldn’t be a problem if November were musical. She’s an athlete through and through, and hates being different.
The kids at the school don’t welcome her, they’re wary of her presence, especially Vincent, a brooding teenage boy involved with dark spirits, who can make time stop when he plays his piano. In fact, all her classmates are all obsessed with playing their instruments. And odd things happen when the do.
But something is off about the school. Deaths have occurred through the years, students showing up dead the same way November’s parents were killed—with their throats ripped out.
A killer is on the loose… November must figure out a way to stop whoever it is, balance her feelings for Vincent, and solve her parents’ past before she, too, is numbered among the dead.
The first in a Paranormal Fantasy Saga by debut author Morgan Shamy.
EXCERPT:
She started forward once more, silently cursing, when a soft melody drifted from the woods. The sound jarred her to a stop, and her heart suddenly spiked. She wasn’t alone. Someone was out here. The music drew closer, heightening. It was slow and haunting, tinkling, like a music box. It didn’t sound like music from a radio or phone. It moved through the trees, wrapping around the bushes, spreading out toward her. She could feel it all around her, soaking into her.
“Hello?” she asked, backing up a step. She squinted into the trees. “Hello?”
No one answered.
The music continued, and she wrapped her arms around herself, backing up further.
“Hello?”
Deep into the forest, a bright light appeared, small at first until it burst outward. The light seared her eyes, large and white, and she ripped her gaze away. A voice in the back of her mind screamed at her to run. The music continued to play on the air, soaring toward her. It was getting closer, becoming thicker, heavier.
This couldn’t be happening. She was having hallucinations. She needed to get out of here. She needed to find stability. Ground herself.
She pushed herself faster, her feet pounding on the forest floor. But the music slithered after her, brushing along her back, carrying with her as she ran.
“Stop!” she yelled. “Stop!” She continued to race, until she dropped to her knees. She covered her hands over her ears, squeezing her eyes shut. “Stop!”
In a blink, the music halted, and the light dissipated, but the music still echoed inside her head, hanging on the air. She stretched her eyes wide, her gaze darting side to side. She stayed frozen, her knees on the dusty ground. Her heart beat loud as the breeze picked up and tickled the hair off her face. Birds chirped, and the forest came alive again. She slowly lowered her hands.
Everything was normal. Everything was fine. She had been hallucinating.
She huffed out a frustrated breath and headed back down the trail, shaking out her arms. She was stupid to think someone had been after her, or to think she’d heard music or seen such a bright light, but the sweet melodic sound wouldn’t leave her alone. The melody lingered inside her head, weaving through her memory. Maybe someone had been there, and maybe she had been its target.
Author Bio:
Morgan Shamy is an ex-ballerina turned YA writer. She has been immersed in the arts since the young age of 4, where she performed various roles alongside a professional ballet company for over seven years, and has danced on prestigious stages like soloing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has taught hundreds of girls in her fifteen years of teaching, where some of her students have received full-ride scholarships to schools like School of American Ballet, the Harid Conservatory, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, to name a few.
Morgan discovered writing when her three-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. It was through that experience which instilled the need to share art and magic with children through words on the page.
Morgan is also an accomplished concert pianist. She was the first girl in Utah to receive the 75 pt. Gold Cup in the Utah Federation of Music in piano solo/concerto competition. Morgan currently lives with her X-Games gold-medalist husband and four children in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
May 26, 2022
Chatting with author C. Becker
I'm thrilled to welcome C. Becker back to my blog. The next book in the Euphoria Trilogy is now available.
One of my favorite ways to get to know someone is a speed round. Plus, C. Becker shared some photos with us.
Morning or night? Night
Favorite beverage? Water
eBook, paperback, or audiobook? Paperback
Plotter or Pantster? Plotter
BeachCake, cookies, or pie? Cake (chocolate)
Favorite thing to do to relax? Play piano & word games
Beach or mountains? Beach
Myrtle BeachNight on the town or cozy evening in? cozy evening in
Stilettos or flipflops or sneakers? Sneakers
Favorite song? Piano Guys Für Elise Jam
About the book
Saving EuphoriaAuthor: C. BeckerGenre: Romance ThrillerBlurbHailey Langley and her children struggle to cope with the shocking and mysterious death of her husband Mark. Her teenaged son is rebelling, and Hailey is dealing with physical and mental challenges as well.
Tom Parker, Hailey's former partner from the Special Crimes Agency, comes back into her life. He warns her to trust no one even as he tries to rekindle the flame that connects them.
Everyone has secrets, even Parker, and some of those from the past threaten to destroy the present. Hailey fights to move forward after losing Mark, but she needs to figure out if she can trust Parker and risk taking another chance on love.
Saving Euphoria is newly released as of May 9th.
Grab your copy Amazon | The Wild Rose Press | Barnes & Noble | iTunes |
Peek between the pages
He moved closer, his breath warming her face. “I don’t want to be a friend. I want more.”
Her eyes blurred. “It’s only been six months since Mark died.”
“Life goes on, Hailey. Mark’s gone.”
“Six months, Parker.” Tears burnt like acid splashing in her eyes. Six months was not nearly enough time to let go.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it that way.” Parker reached over and held her hand.
The tenderness in his touch made an instant connection to her heart. Ashamed at her heart’s betrayal, she yanked her hand away and wiped a tear off her cheek.
He held her hand again and whispered. “I love you, Hailey. I always have. Somehow, life or fate, or whatever it is you want to call it, got in our way. I kept my distance when you married Mark, but I never stopped loving you.” He tightened his grasp on her hand. “Now I feel like an idiot because I waited too long.”
“Parker, please. I’m not sure I even wantto get involved with someone again.”
“You’ve become so miserable. You’re a strong woman.” His face hardened. “Mark wouldn’t want you to waste your life grieving. He’d want you to go on—and at least try to be happy.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb. “I think deep down, you know it.”
Few people had her pegged so well. She bit her lip, “I do.”
Click here to learn about book one, Finding Euphoria.
About the author: Becker is the author of Finding Euphoria and Saving Euphoria. She is currently working on the third book to the Euphoria trilogy. As a medical technologist in a former career, Becker has never outgrown the attraction of using science in everyday life.
Becker enjoys hanging out with her family and Jack Russell, playing the piano, reading, and gardening.
Connect with BeckerWebsite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads
May 24, 2022
Book Blitz & Giveaway: Myracles in the Void by Wes Dyson
Myracles in the Void
Wes Dyson
(Myraverse)
Publication date: April 12th 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
There once were two children,
a girl and a boy.
One could create,
the other, destroy.
Within every heart lies the power to bond or break.
On an isolated port of floating garbage called Hop, Gaiel Izz and his sister, Lynd, never imagined they’d be able to change anything…
Not their nasty neighbors, not their hungry bellies, and especially not their missing father.
That will change when they discover the power of myracles — magic that either creates or destroys.
As the brother and sister set across Esa to bring their family back together, this power will either unite them or shatter their entire world to pieces.
It will all come down to what truly lies within their hearts…
Create or destroy?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
—
EXCERPT:
Chapter One – Unforgiving Hop
THE RED TIDE is COMING!
Water Level Low.
SPRYT SightingsHighly Expected.
Un-luck + Disaster ToAllWho Encounter.
BLOCK EVERYOPENING.
— Mayor Tanning
What a delightful sign to have hanging in front of one’s home — a mix of “watch out” with “you’re on your own.” But that’s living in Hop for ya, a’kay?
As a floating port in the middle of the sea, there weren’t any roads to or from Hop. On their own, indeed. But it wasn’t always so lonely. Fifty years ago, Hop was a bustling pitstop for the hundreds of trade ships sailing across the Domus Gulf every year. A place to “hop” from one side of the gulf to the other. Being a travel hub made it bursting with exotic goods and fresh ideas. But the wild waters of the gulf were hard to predict, and they only seemed to grow more dangerous over time. One shipwreck was enough to send thoughts and prayers, but after ten and twenty ships washed back blown to bits, it started to nip at the profits. Soon traders found alternate land routes that may have taken longer, but at least weren’t so death-y.
Practically overnight, Hop and its people were forgotten like a used hanky in a puddle. Trapped on a floating port amid the unfor‐ giving sea, a stagnant idea stuck to them — anything made would just be unmade. What was to stop anything they worked hard to build from falling to pieces like Hop did? Nothin’ lasts butsalt in yer ass became the most graffitied words on the splintering streets, a series of long planks called “Boards.” Was there any point in shining your shoes, doing your hair, brushing your teeth? They would all end up dirty, tasseled, and yellow. Undone, eventually. Was there any point in building relationships, then? Nothing lasts but the salt in their asses, indeed.
Just behind that friendly “red tide” warning sign on Boulie Board, a skinny wreck of a home rose from the battered planks. Its number, 76, was drawn large and wide on the front and side in “Hopper White,” a local specialty paint whose main ingredient was seagull poop. Nothing could be wasted in Hop, not even waste. The pieces that made up the home had a kind of widely used look about them, like maybe that wall had once been the barnacled belly of a rowboat, and before that, it was a sign that said HOP: POPULATION 600. Its door was a full fourteen shades of a should-I-touch-that sort of green and was cracked at the bottom up to the knob. Its two sea-weathered windows were small and narrow like suspicious eyes squinting at the neighbors. By Hopper standards, the Izz family actually had quite a fine little nest.
The only reason the Izz house somewhat outshined its raggedy neighbors was because of the family’s firstborn, Gaiel Izz. Gai liked to fix things when they broke. Something about broken objects made him queasy, compulsive even; a roar in the belly yapping at him to make it better. As for the things he couldn’t fix, he’d at least insist on putting a sheet of soggy newspaper over it or something. In fact, he patched so many holes in his clothes with newspaper that it became the dominant fabric. It crinkled as he walked.
One special night, this industrious fifteen-year-old was lying motionless on the floor in one of the home’s damp upstairs bedrooms. His right ear was practically suctioned to the floorboards as he listened carefully for any signs of movement downstairs. He’d been listening so long his ear had become a bright, throbbing mushroom. This night, he’d embark on his most ambitious fixing project yet — his twelve-year-old sister, Lynd.
While Gai may have been on the floor, he wasn’t out of bed. The floor was both of the Izz children’s bed. Many, many things floated by Hop in the strong currents, like sunken ship junk or garbage from far off Electri City on the mainland. But few were “cozy” materials for them to scoop out and use to make bedding. Since nothing came in or out of Hop, if a Hopper wanted something new, they’d best grab a scoop and pray to Zeea that whatever they needed happened to be floating by that day. Gai once scooped an armful of braided anchor rope and wove it into a nice blanket. He looked over at Lynd sleeping on it, snoring like a ship headed out to sea
— Twaahhh! Peaceful as she seemed, her little hands kept pulling at the fraying edges of the rope-blanket, almost like tearing it apart soothed her as a babe suckling their thumb would. She was definitely not a fixer like her brother. Truly, she was quite the opposite.
Author Bio:
Wes Dyson is a creative marketer and dog-daddy of four Pomskies living in Western MA. He loves classical music and earthy, grass-tasting tea.
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May 12, 2022
IG Book Tour & Giveaway: Possession by Andrea Hagan
I’m excited to be a part of the Possessions Instagram tour hosted by @hiddenhollowbooktours. To enter this one, you have to hop over to my Bookstagram Page.Possession (book 1)
Series: Memphis Magic
Author: Andrea Hagan
Release Date: March 31st, 2022
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Possession-Memphis-Magic-Book-1-ebook/dp/B09S5V8WRS/
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Steam Level: 5 - Descriptive Sex Scenes
Trigger Warnings: Mention of sexual assault
A kitsch witch holds a séance and accidentally summons a Cambion who unintentionally possesses her. You know, the classic boy meets girl story.
Blurb:
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I’m learning that lesson the hard way. My name’s Aubry Brooks, and here’s the thing—I’ve got myself a little possession problem.
Yes, I led a séance I had no business leading in the first place. No, I’m not a channeler, but let me explain. I was only trying to help a mother find her missing daughter, and then a cocky Cambion had the nerve to possess me! You’d think a clairvoyant kitchen witch would have seen this coming.
No need to panic. I can figure out a way to exorcise the half-Incubus Damion Blackmon, assuming I can withstand his seduction in the meantime. Oh, and he’s agreed to help me find out who killed my best friend. Deals with devils. I'm not sure if it's my soul or my heart that's at risk.
But don’t worry, my grandma was a voyeur in a past life and she'll catch you up to speed. In extremely graphic detail. A word of warning—do not let my aunt talk you into a juice cleanse. Nothing magic about that, I promise.
Welcome to the metaphysical shop Memphis Magic.
Andrea Hagan is giving away a signed paperback copy of Possession (US Only).
To Enter: click here to hop over to my Bookstagram page. Follow @bookish_cherie, @andreahagan.author, and @hiddenhollowbooktours, like the bookstagram post and comment, tagging a Bookstagram friend. See the post for more ways to enter.
May 10, 2022
Book Tour & Giveaway: The Omen of Crows Nest by Cathrina Constantin
The Omen of Crows Nest
Cathrina Constantine
Publication date: May 4th 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
No blood. No body. No murder.
That’s what the police found after Penelope spun her bizarre tale. In a hysterical state, she said her father was butchered and eaten by a mob of birds ~ in her bedroom.
They claim she’s crazy.
That she suffers from delusions.
Penelope is dead set on proving them wrong.
After being institutionalized for eight months, Penelope is out and more determined than ever to find answers to her so-called hallucinations. With her father’s untimely disappearance, she’s convinced her family is hiding something sinister.
THE OMEN OF CROWS NEST is the latest masterpiece by the award-winning author Cathrina Constantine, and is sure to leave fans of fantasy gasping!
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EXCERPT:
The electrodes in my brain were like a loop recorder, continuously dredging up the past. And problematic for the psychiatrist at Green Fields Sanitarium, who was in the process of rewiring me.
Bear with me as I digress: I witnessed the gruesome death of my father by a mob of birds. I know what you’re picturing: A scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s horror movie The Birds. Not exactly like the movie, it happened in my bedroom. An aberration that my brain conjured, so they say.
Gramma had reinforced Dad’s untimely disappearance to the police. After the thunderstorm he’d raced to catch a late flight. An overseas business trip. Lacking evidence of any misdeeds, no mutilations as I’d described, the police had nothing to go on besides a batshit crazy kid. I experienced a daymare, a delusion, and it hadn’t been the first time, so said Gramma.
Afterward, Mom spent a week in bed, purporting she had a bug. She couldn’t keep anything down and stopped eating. I noticed her yellowy sick skin and hair matted as if a brush hadn’t made contact in weeks.
Thirteen days passed at a snail’s pace since that night. I was in the library’s alcove, my daily vigil, half-expecting Dad to come strolling up the cobbled walkway. My fretfulness heightening because I’d spilled my guts to my best friend, Hillary, telling her everything. If she repeated it to anyone, the repercussions would come back to bite me.
Author Bio:
I am blessed with a loving family and forever friends. My world revolves around them.
I grew up in the small village of Lancaster, NY, where I married my sweetheart. I'm devoted to raising 5 cherished children, and now my grandchildren.
I love to immerse myself in great books of every kind of genre, which helps me to write purely for entertainment, and hopefully to inspire readers. When not stationed at my computer you can find me in the woods taking long walks with my dog.
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May 5, 2022
IG Book Tour & Giveaway: Flame & Chrystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
I’m excited to be a part of the Flame & Crystal Thorns pre-release Instagram tour hosted by @hiddenhollowbooktours. To enter this one, you have to hop over to my Bookstagram Page.
Flame & Chrystal ThornsSeries: Fae & Crystal ThornsAuthor: Kay L MoodyRelease Date: May 10th, 2022Tour dates: May 3rd - 9th, 2022Preorder Link: https://books2read.com/FlameandCTGenre: Ya FantasySteam Level: 2 - Romance but no sexShe vowed she'd never return to Faerie...but vows were made to be broken.
Blurb:As a human girl, Chloe is perfectly happy being back in the mortal realm where she belongs. She's even become the town apothecary. When a fae from her past shows up begging her to return to Faerie, she utterly refuses.
But then she finds out an angry group of mortals are using iron to hold an entire castle full of fae hostage. And of course, the hostages include Chloe's older sister and her sister's beloved.
Reluctantly, Chloe packs a bag for what is supposed to be a short trip to Faerie.
But the mortals are more powerful than she expected. To fuel them, they have weapons, flames, and revenge. They won't stop until they control every court in Faerie.
With the help of a new and mysterious magic and a devastatingly handsome fae companion, Chloe has to save Faerie before her sister and the other fae are killed.
Kay L Moody is giving away a signed Hardcover of Flame & Crystal Thorns + swag (US Only) or an unsigned Hardcover of Flame & Crystal Thorns from Book Depository + signed bookplate + swag (International Only)
To Enter: click here to hop over to my Bookstagram page. Follow @bookish_cherie, @klmoody, and @hiddenhollowbooktours, like the bookstagram post and comment which country you’re in. See the post for more ways to enter.
