R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 114

BOOK BLITZ: In Your Eyes by Jayne Townsley #GIVEAWAY

In Your Eyes
Jayne Townsley
(Seasons of Love, #2)
Publication date: January 5th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Crystal Davis got her wish for the Crew’s long-awaited post-graduation trip. Sun and fun before focusing on her new career as a pediatric RN at St. Francis’ Children’s Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was just what she needed. Bonus? She met Troy Bennett, and she realized she wanted less frivolity in her life and a little more serious.

Troy Bennett is a man fighting the demons who tell him he is worthless every day of his life. Demons his mother conjured. He quiets them with alcohol and casual relationships, never allowing any woman to get close enough to him so he will never have to disappoint one. Then on the spur of the moment trip to Panama City Beach with his Ranger buddies, he sees the future he’s always been afraid to pursue exit a Jeep Wrangler at a local donut shop.

Just as Troy and Crystal are finding their footing, she gets the call she never thought she would earn: Crystal Davis is going to Hollywood to be a contestant on America’s Next Chart Topper. What started as a way to honor her murdered friend has now become her dream. Chasing her dream means leaving Troy behind for a bit, and she wonders if her absence will cause what they’ve built so far to come crashing down.

Chasing her dream also means she’s put herself in a place where she’s vulnerable to the side of Hollywood that no one wants to acknowledge. A place where people only care about her and Troy’s story for the audience while behind the scenes, evil, selfish people work to tear them apart.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“OK, girlie. Spill the tea,” Tina Reynolds said as soon as they entered the ladies’ room.

“I got the call, Tina.” Crystal watched Tina processing what she had said and saw when the lightbulb came on.

“THE call? From America’s Next Chart Topper?” Tina said excitedly.

“Yes. THE call. When the producers rejected me last year, it came by snail mail.”

Tina looked at her shrewdly. “Why aren’t you happier about this, Crystal? You’ve been working towards this goal for FIVE years!”

“I know, I know. I should be more excited. But I love my job at St. Francis, and Troy just told me tonight he’s in love with me. He’s been in love with me since we met in Florida. And you know about his struggles, and you’ve watched us fight for this relationship.”

“Crystal, Sweetie, I’ve been watching you fight for a lot of things since Hannah died. We’ve fought for some of those things side by side. I’ve never once regretted giving you Hannah’s guitar. Even knowing you didn’t play a lick, it felt right when I did it. You began taking lessons then added voice lessons. You took on Hannah’s dreams for yourself. You said you wanted to honor her, but it was more than honoring her, Crystal. And doing it for reasons outside of honoring Hannah is fine because as much as I think it’s incredibly kind, it’s more important for you to do it for yourself. I know Troy is important to you. I know the job is important to you,” Tina told her softly but firmly.

“But?” Crystal prompted. “I know there’s more.”

“There is. First, your job will be here when you get back, no matter how soon that is. Whether you go all the way to the end and get a recording contract that you decide you don’t want or whether you come home sooner because the judges obviously can’t recognize talent. Second, if Troy genuinely loves you, he needs to love all the parts of you and support you. Giving up your dreams for someone is a big deal, Crystal.”

“Except Troy doesn’t know about this, and it hasn’t factored into his feelings. I mean, maybe he wouldn’t have let our relationship get this far if he’d known I wanted to take off for Hollywood and someday move to Nashville. I shouldn’t have kept it a secret. The Crew doesn’t even know. Just you and my parents,” Crystal said, sitting down in front of the vanity.

“I get it. The opportunity is here, so now you’re second-guessing yourself. Is it because you think Troy won’t support you? Won’t understand? Or is he an excuse for you to not take a chance because you’re afraid of failing?” Tina asked pointedly.

“Ouch, Tina,” Crystal said, turning to look at her. “Say what’s on your mind.”

“We’ve always had that relationship since the day you came to see me after Hannah’s funeral. You made me make the same pinky-swear the Crew did. No lying to each other. Ever. Even if it hurt,” Tina reminded her.

“Maybe I am afraid,” Crystal said, turning to look in the mirror again. “Afraid this will change everything and me most of all. You know what they say about being careful what you wish for.”

“Do your parents know? What do they say?”

“Not yet. I only got the call about 30 minutes ago and haven’t had the chance to tell them.”

“Well, of course, I want you to get their advice, and their advice needs to carry more weight than mine. So, I’ll quit yammering at you until you talk to Lynette and Wayne. Except for one thing: Crystal Denise Davis, I believe in you. Whatever path you take, I believe in you, and I’m right here with you,” Tina said, reaching over to hug her.

“Thank you, Tina,” Crystal replied, hugging her back. “OK. I need to get back out there, settle Troy down, and make plans to start informing people. The Crew minus Rin are going to the zoo tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll fill them in while we’re there. In the evening, I’ll go over to Troy’s to have this talk with him.”

“I think all of that is a good idea. By the way, Girlie, did you know Troy could sing so well?”

“I had no idea, and it was kind of cool to discover we have something in common neither of us knew about. OK. Let’s powder our noses and pull ourselves together. We have a couple of hours left to celebrate this amazing day, and I’m not going to finish it looking like Moaning Myrtle,” Crystal said, opening her clutch to take out some makeup.

“Cowgirl Up,” Tina said.

“Cowgirl Up,” Crystal replied.

Author Bio:

Jayne Townsley lives with her multi-generational family in Northeast Oklahoma’s aptly named Green Country. A transplanted Okie from the Chicago suburbs, she has grown to love this state and its people with a passion, happily calling it home for the past 15 years.

Jayne shares her home with a rescued Shollie named Maui and two cats called Gamora and Nebula.

Jayne enjoys old-fashioned road trips and is in the process of planning one to tour Oklahoma’s Route 66. She is also something of a Disney World addict.

Run to You is her debut novel.

You can find her on the web at the following places:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest

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BOOK BLITZ: Smoke by Eden Butler #GIVEAWAY

Smoke
Eden Butler
(The Carelli Family Saga #1)
Publication date: December 15th 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Smoke Carelli lived by his own rules.

He wasn’t interested in normal.

He didn’t care about things like love and commitment, damn sure not marriage and forever.

But the second Maggie Ramirez parked outside his family’s restaurant, his life became a series of distractions he was learning to love. Maggie and her kid have shaken up his world and dislodged every hard and fast rule he’d ever made.

And when the demons from her past resurface, Smoke and Maggie may have to break more than their own rules to win their freedom.

But will it cost them everything and everyone they love?

The Carelli Family SagaBook One – SmokeBook Two – DarioBook Three – DanteBook Four – Toni

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

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EXCERPT:

The scent curling in my nose did something to my insides.

Something that made me stupid and reckless.

Something I knew that would lead nowhere good.

Smoke snaked a heavy arm around my waist, moving me closer to him. His sweet scent, his thick, muscular chest, and flat stomach pressed right against my naked body.

No, I told myself. I wasn’t here…not again.

“Smoke…” I ignored the way he moved his fingers down my back, cupping my ass like it was normal and something he did without thinking.

“Bella…hush…”

He was nearly asleep and languid; how he always got after he took me, especially when it was late. That hand lowered and he gave me a half pat, squeezing my ass like some sort of silent motion to quiet me.

Here, in this bed, with the smell of us perfuming the sheets, Smoke wasn’t the gangster this town knew him to be. He was soft, gentle, and he touched me like he wanted me. Like he couldn’t get enough. Like there was more between us than the stretch of our naked skin and the heat of our bodies moving together.

Eyes closed tight, I let myself have a second. I wanted to keep the moment, the stillness between us. I wanted to pretend that this was real. Me and Smoke, touching, him holding me, because it felt nice. Nicer to pretend like he wanted only me.

Then Smoke brushed his face against my shoulder, his lips wet, sigh lazy and kissed me there. Soft. Intimate.

He’d never done that before and I felt cherished almost…loved.

Mierda.

No. This couldn’t be happening.

My head always got a little fuzzy when I was around him. I couldn’t help it.

The light from the bathroom slipped out through the darkness and moved over his features, hitting the sharp, fine angle of his cheekbones and the full, thick curve of his mouth.

He was beautiful.

Strong, even laying against his pillow, turned toward me and his fierce, masculine features relaxed as he seemed to move between exhaustion and sleep.

There was something about him I could never keep away from. No matter how hard I tried.

And it wasn’t just him.

It was them.

Smoke, his parents, his brothers and sister. They’d all taken me and my boy in when they didn’t have to. Brought us in from the snowy Christmas night like it was their pleasure to know us. They’d given us a family. A home. They’d given me a job and a place to belong.

And Smoke? Even though when this all started six months ago, we agreed there could never be anything real between us, somehow I always ended up back here. In his bed, pressed against him, being owned and loving every second that I was.

But then I’d leave and go back to the apartment I shared with my son and my friend Vivian, the older woman Smoke had rescued from her abusive husband, and pretend like I hadn’t been in his bed again.

“There’s more there than either of you will admit,” Vi had told me the last time she’d caught me sneaking in from a night with Smoke. If she could see me now. God, she’d laugh at me.

I rubbed my face, thankful she was out of town for a few days, but even if she wasn’t, I wouldn’t confess a thing to her. Or myself.

Smoke Carelli was a dangerous man. That much I’d figured out for myself. I knew about his family and the family business they were in. It was his life and the danger in his line of work kept him from wanting more from me.

There were little pieces that were mine. Pieces of him that no one else got. And even if I did want all of them—which I didn’t, of course I didn’t, it was only the little pieces Smoke would ever give me.

That was the problem.

I wasn’t a little pieces kind of woman.

And I’d never let my son want less than he deserved either. His father never cared enough to want anything to do with Mateo. No matter how good Smoke was to us, I couldn’t let him do the same to my son. Problem was, he was an addiction. Every time I swore I’d stay away, he’d kiss me or touch me and I’d come right back.

Every single time.

He barely moved when I wiggled from his heavy arm and slipped away from the warmth of his large body. I wouldn’t stay all night like I normally did. Smoke probably wouldn’t notice anyway.

The floorboards creaked when I shimmied my jeans over my thighs and I jerked, half-turning and pulling away from Smoke’s grip on my arm as he reached for me.

“Where are you going?”

He was so long and tall he didn’t have to do more than stretch an arm toward me to keep me still. All that beautiful olive skin was on display—those corded muscles twisting as he brushed his fingers over my shoulders.

“I—” My mouth wouldn’t work. Not when Smoke stifled a yawn and played it off with his fingers scrubbing through his thick, black hair. There was a tempting scruff of stubble along his chin. Despite knowing I needed to tell him my plans to move to the city, there was an overwhelming sensation to rub that scruff over my bare breasts.

“Bella?” he said, moving his head as though he started to worry about why I was gawking at him while standing half-dressed in my jeans and unhooked bra. His attention went straight to my nipples when my black bra slipped off one shoulder, then Smoke leaned up, resting on an elbow as he pulled me toward him with a hand curled around my waist. “Get back in bed.” His voice was deep, raspy from sleep. That sound alone could make a teasing throb pulse between my thighs. Smoke knew it, seeming to use it to his advantage when I hesitated. “Maggie,” he whispered, saying my name like it was a filthy word only he got to use. This time his voice going deeper, his mouth right against my naked breast as he pushed my bra to the floor. “You don’t wanna leave me. Not yet.”

“I…hmm…I should go.” I curled against him, moving my fingers into his hair as he pulled my nipple between his lips. “Mierda…” There were warning shouts firing in my head. But Smoke Carelli was kissing me, again… touching me, again… and it felt good. It felt so damn good.

“You taste so sweet, bellissima…”

“We…shouldn’t do this…” I tried, but didn’t push him away, not when the suction on my breast tightened or when Smoke came to his knees to run his hands down the back of my thighs and to pull my jeans off completely.

“No,” he said, a laugh muddling the agreement. “You’re right.” He kissed me then, tugging my head up with his fingers moving at the back of my hair. “I shouldn’t be doing any of this, should I?” His kiss was deep, all teeth and tongue, leaving me breathless and punch drunk. “Or this?” Then Smoke moved me, tangling my legs around his hips, turning us. I went flat against the mattress and he settled my leg against his chest.

“What…are you…”

“Since you won’t let me sleep and you think you’re going to run out on me in the middle of the night,” he started, pushing on my free leg, stroking a finger along the inside of my thigh, “then I’m going to have to find something else to occupy my time.”

When he wanted something—anything—the man wasn’t above fighting dirty. Right then, Smoke was the dirtiest. He moved his hand up, that wide thumb brushing against my pussy, his smile freezing as he slipped his finger inside me.

“Still wet?” The rasp in his voice sounded a little desperate now.

I swallowed, still torn about telling him my plan. I could only nod, my attention frozen on his face.

His gaze slipped lower as he watched his fingers moving inside me. “This, this is a good way to occupy my time.”

“It…is…” My breath grew ragged, uneven and that weak fight inside my head tittered closer to the side that told me to forget any fight, any lingering notion that this thing between was leading nowhere, and to just enjoy myself.

But doing that, forgetting what would happen tomorrow, next week, or next year would do me no favors. It wouldn’t get me any further than where I’d been when I found myself stranded in this tiny town. “Smoke…we can’t…we have to stop this.”

He paused, his gaze moving to my face for half a second before he laughed. Smoke leaned over me, still touching me, watching my face closely even as he smiled.

“I’m serious…” I tried, but my words came out in a breathless, needy whimper when he pushed two fingers inside me.

“You don’t sound serious.”

“I…” Am, I told myself. That’s what I meant to say. I. Am. But Smoke slipped his fingers away from me, then slid his body over me and just like that, I forgot what I was supposed to be serious about.

Tomorrow, I told myself, holding onto those soft, lush sheets as Smoke moved his mouth on me, his tongue inside me, my legs over his shoulders.

Tomorrow I’ll be stronger. Tomorrow I’ll tell him we have to stop this. 

Author Bio:

Eden Butler is a writer of contemporary, fantasy and romantic suspense novels and the nine-times great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum.

When she's not writing or wondering about her possibly Jack Sparrowesque ancestor, Eden patiently waits for her Hogwarts letter, reads, and spends too much time in her garden perfecting her green thumb while waiting for the next New Orleans Saints Superbowl win.

She is currently living under teenage rule alongside her husband in southeast Louisiana.

Please send help.

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#EditingByRachel~2020 In Review

It was a slow writing year for many authors, which meant it was also a slow year on the editing front. Even so, these ladies worked hard on their books, and therefore deserve to have them shared with you all!

Hidden Truths by Jude Ouvrard

(Book 2 in the Truth or Lies series)

Released August 2020; 207 pages

Amazon Exclusive and in #KindleUnlimited

Sometimes it takes multiple heartaches before finding the one, and for Xander Martinez, it’s been one hell of a rollercoaster ride. So much so, he’s all but given up on the need to find love.

Life has other plans.

In order for him to see what’s right in front of his eyes, he’ll be guided over rocky roads and learn some hard lessons—forgiving family isn’t easy, memories of first love are hard to forget, forging loyal friendships is even harder, but finding true love is sometimes the hardest of all.

When an old flame comes back into his life, how willing is Xander to find out if his memories can become reality again? As he contemplates love and loss, past and future, and whether to rekindle his old teenage love story with Bailey, an important friendship grows stronger and lines begin to blur.

Charlie understands his confusion with love because she is dealing with the same issues. One failed relationship after another is only one of many things they have in common. Another is the unrest in their family life.

While he cherishes both women, there is more to life than romance. His friendship with Hart and Hunter has yet to be mended. A warning was decreed, their bond put on hold, and now, Xander and Hart still have issues to deal with. In addition, for the first time in a long time, Xander is feeling the pull of family, and realizing how much he misses them. Despite total relationship chaos, life must go on.

If Xander perseveres, he just might learn not only the meaning of friendship and family, but so much more.

Little White Lies (Book 1 in the Truth or Lies series)

An Unlikely Grave by Reily Garrett

(Book 4 in the Moonlight and Murder series)

Released December 2020; 232 pages

Amazon Exclusive and in #KindleUnlimited

It takes a predator to catch one.

Detective Brooke Bengert’s recent promotion includes a sharp learning curve with the discovery of a bizarre murder scene, a skeleton bound to a mountain treetop in her remote small town in Pennsylvania. Fate forces her to match wits with a clever serial killer, a chameleon who has selected his next victim. Brooke.

Josh Loughlin returns home after his overseas tour, having bought property with single-minded purpose, to build a refuge where veterans can rejoin polite society. Within days, a body is found a stone’s throw from his backyard. All evidence points to Josh.

Resisting their growing attraction, Josh and Brooke pool their resources with local detectives and their K9 partners to prove that determination and strength of will bind a family together.

Check out the rest of the series:

A Critical Tangent 

Pivotal Decisions

Seeds of Murder

Illicit Love by Maria Gibbs

(Book 2 in the English Love series)

COMING SOON

*We will be reworking book one, Is This Love?, prior to the publication of books two and three in 2021.*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Maria Gibbs is a multi-genre author who has loved reading and writing from a tender age. Escaping into or creating a world where someone can lose themselves in a story is what drives her. The common denominator between her books is the tug on the heartstrings effect. Heart-wrenching stories that make readers cry.

Amazon Author Page

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BOOK BLITZ: Enemies to Lovers: Series Starts Set by Brittni Chenelle #GIVEAWAY

Enemies To Lovers: Series Starters Set
Brittni Chenelle
Publication date: January 22nd 2021
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal, Young Adult

Their most dreaded rivals might be their greatest need. But with peril dogging their every encounter, will they give into dangerous desires?

Box set: 750+ pages of angsty enemies-to-lovers adventures with daring heroines and their foes destined to become forever partners.

Princess Charlotte’s whole world changed one morning over breakfast. With her mother announcing a rushed arranged marriage to a humorless prince, she’ll do anything to stop the wedding – including shooting him with an arrow. But after the kingdom is invaded and a sinister plot to capture her discovered, can she convince her unwanted suitor to help keep her out of enemy hands?

Reina Bennet won’t stop believing that she’ll eventually get her abilities. But when her childhood champion grows up into a smug superpowered bully, her escalating rivalry with her ex-friend gets them both kicked out of school. And after he ends up in a rebel group at their new academy, can she put aside her grudges for a chance at a fresh beginning?

Princess Sinna of the Shadow Court fears her fated mate means certain death. So when a magical ceremony reveals him as the powerful vampire king, she’s eager to prove she can be a worthy Hunter by killing him. But can she stop herself from falling hard as she tries to seduce him into a fatal embrace?

Enemies To Lovers: Series Starters Set is a kickass collection that includes the YA fantasy Kingdom Cold, the new adult fantasy The Fae & The Fallen, and the adult paranormal romance Chaste Blood. If you like strong women, diverse characters, and emotionally-charged conflicts, then you’ll adore Brittni Chenelle’s bestselling sensations.

Buy Enemies To Lovers: Series Starters Set to turn animosity into passion today!

Goodreads / Amazon

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Author Bio:

Brittni Chenelle is a USA Today Bestselling Multicultural Fantasy Author who specializes in multi-POV romances. She loves to explore the blurred lines between good and evil and believes wholeheartedly in a great story's ability to bring people together.

When she's not writing, she can be found at her home in South Korea where she spends far too much time consuming coffee, dark chocolate, and videos of animals doing human things.

 

Visit www.BrittniChenelle.com to browse her complete catalog, including upcoming books.

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#CookingWithRachel: Baked Greek Chicken

If you haven't figured it out by now, I tend to spend a lot of my free time watching cooking shows. They fascinate me. And, inspire me. After seeing this super simple chicken dish on Cook's Country, I made a couple of tweaks and we devoured the outcome. It is full of flavor and uses few ingredients.

Fresh herbs are always best if you have them available, but dry herbs work fine, too, as you can see in the photo above. Your choice of chicken is flexible, too. I had bone-in thighs in the freezer, but you could just as easily use breasts, or butcher a fresh bird and use all of it. The "trick" to making this recipe work is to place a few slash marks in the fleshier parts of the chicken so the marinade can really get in their and flavor the meat.

Marinade:

Olive Oil

Lemon Juice

Fresh Garlic

Parlsey, oregano, rosemary, thyme, salt & pepper

Mix ingredients, then add slashed chicken pieces, cover, and refrigerate at least thirty minutes, no more than three hours.

Here's where I tweaked the preparation a little bit. Instead of just baking the chicken by itself, I peeled and quartered golden potatoes along with some Brussel sprouts, and doused them in a little of the marinade as well. Once everything had a chance to get happy, the potatoes and sprouts went into the bottom of a baking dish and I nestled the chicken thighs in the veggie nest. Next step was to bake around 400 degrees (covered for the first 30-45 minutes, then uncovered until everything browns up).

Get creative with your sides. Don't like potatoes? Try carrots and a side of basmati rice. Play around with a mushroom melody. Maybe find a combo of root vegetables you like. The super lemony and herby marinade along with the chicken juices will make it all taste yummy! We also added a Greek salad (green leaf lettuce, spinach, green onions, Kalamata olives, tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, feta cheese, and Caesar dressing).
Bon Appetite!
@REHargrave
https://www.instagram.com/authorrehargrave/

BOOK BLITZ: Trust Me by Candace Hutton #GIVEAWAY

Trust Me
Candace Hutton
(A Manhattan Marriage Novella)
Publication date: January 22nd 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Brooke Anderson never pictured herself as a divorcee at twenty-eight. But when she mentions getting a post-nup to her husband Garrett after one deliciously sex-filled year, he promptly serves her with divorce papers. Admittedly, she could’ve told him about how her father left her and her mother homeless when she was young, and how she’s never been wired to trust anyone. Especially those closest to her. Now, all she wants to do is avoid anywhere he might be so she won’t have to face him again.

But she’s not the only one who can’t seem to trust.

Garrett Call grew up with parents who married for money and wants no part of a life that puts material possessions above love. He reinvented himself in college, complete with a new last name so he couldn’t be tied to his family’s lucrative business. He never even told Brooke the truth. Admittedly, he could’ve handled the issue of a post-nup better with his ex-wife. Maybe he didn’t count on how much he was going to miss having her in his life.

When their best friends’ wedding forces the exes to see each other again, a dangerous man from Garrett’s world threatens Brooke’s life. And they realize the only way to save themselves is to finally learn to trust each other.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Author Bio:

Candace Hutton was born and raised on books. She spent a great deal of her teenage years in libraries and bookstores and still tries to sneak off to them as often as possible. Some of her other favorite things are coffee, puppies, and the smell of rain. You can connect with her on Twitter @authorcandace

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BOOK BLITZ: A Warlock's Storm by Marie-Claude Bourque #GIVEAWAY

A Warlock’s Storm
Marie-Claude Bourque
(The Order of the Black Oak – Stories #1)
Publication date: January 21st 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

A WARLOCK’S STORM: A Seasoned Urban Fantasy Romance

Meet the Order of the Black Oak: a powerful order of modern-day warriors fighting evil to protect the ones they love.

When rugged warlock turned fisherman Reynolds Stanford finds himself stranded in a haunted New England harbor at the approach of a powerful tropical storm, he must battle more than sea monsters and revenants. The gorgeous female panther shifter sent to help him by his family is tugging emotions buried deep within his soul and he fears that while he might survive the night from the deadly assault on his ship, he may very well end-up losing his heart in the process.

If you love loyal tough guys with hearts, satisfying slow-burn paranormal romance and safe Happily Ever Afters, the Black Oak World is for you.

Fantastic series of action, magic and awesome romance. You will fall in love with the characters and feel you are right with them.

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EXCERPT:

Meet Rey…. (Her POV)

Reynolds Stanford was a tall strapping man. His shoulders were wide under the fitted white t-shirt now sullied from the slayed monster’s blood, his posture solid with the harpoon planted at his side.

Saira’s insides, still bristling from the shifting hormones, rumbled with lust. Her niece Kerala had forgotten to mention how hot the recluse warlock was.

“What the hell is this?” Rey glanced at the sea then back at her, his brows knitted in confusion. “Where did you come from?”

She shrugged, her lips still curled in gentle amusement at recalling his earlier shock of seeing her appear out of nowhere. “Your cousin Diesel sent me.”

“Diesel, huh?” His tone lightened as he shook his head and stored his harpoon by the hatch leading below. “I should have known, the boy likes his magic.”

“He thought you might need help.” Barely five minutes ago, she’d been standing inside a magical circle at Breaker Hall in Seaport while Diesel and his mother, both extremely powerful sorcerers, had performed the ritual that had sent her here.

When her niece Kerala—who also happened to be Diesel Stanford’s wife—had learned through her fishermen connections that their cousin Rey had decided to sit out the tropical storm in a haunted cove, Diesel had been worried for his safety. Saira had volunteered to help. She’d been visiting with the couple for a fortnight and getting bored.

From her perch on the top deck, she surveyed the perfect circle of bay in the last light of the ending day. The mounting surf crashed at the shore on high cliffs dotted with tall pines. The one narrow pebble beach was littered with small, broken derelict boats, their mismatched planks oddly jutted upwards in their final journey.

She shuddered and her smile vanished. “Devil Eye Cove. Doesn’t look like the friendliest place.”

Author Bio:

Marie-Claude Bourque is a Seattle-based author of gothic paranormal romance and the winner of the American Title V award with her first novel ANCIENT WHISPERS.

Her writing features modern-day fantasy skillfully weaved into infinitely romantic supernatural stories between smart strong women and complex passionate heroes.

Happily Ever After always absolutely guaranteed!

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B@@K REVEAL: Zealot by C. Vonzale Lewis #PreORDER

Zealot
C. Vonzale Lewis
(Blood and Sacrifice Chronicles, #2)
Published by: Parliament House
Publication date: November 16th 2021
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Nicole Fontane thought her demons were buried deep enough.

She was wrong.

A month ago, she and her crew barely escaped an evil cult of magick users and the blood oath they orchestrated—leaving their island vulnerable to further attack.

The Better Day Church is the one place to start ridding Tulare of the evil that plagues it, but the moment Nicole sets foot inside, memories resurface of an ancient religion deeply buried in the Louisiana bayou…along with an eerily familiar altar.

Now she’s forced to relive betrayal, the fight that almost cost her her life, and her demons making themselves known once more.

Her choices are limited: Either she uses her rare form of earth magick to appease the Young family and create a new god…or end up on the altar again.

If she can’t vanquish the demons from her past once and for all, her fate is not the only one on the line.

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Sequel to:

Author Bio:

Carla Vonzale Lewis likes her martini's shaken...never stirred. Though she was born in Georgia, please don't mistake her for a Georgia peach. She's more like a prickly pear. Speaking of being born, someone asked her recently if she remembered her birth, and all she had to say was, "Yes, I do remember that handsy doctor pulling me out into the cold. Right Bastard!!!"

Despite being born in the South, she grew up in the North. California to be exact. And every once in a great while, she gets to experience all four seasons. But mostly, it's just heat.

Her debut novel, LINEAGE, was released July 16, 2019 and she fully intends to ride that joy for the rest of her life.

When she's not concocting her next contemporary fantasy story, she enjoys reading, binge watching shows on Netflix, and trying to convince her husband that getting a dog is a wonderful idea.

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#RachelReviews: M. B. Feeney and Andie M. Long

 The Busker and The Barista by M. B. Feeney

Rare Breed Series Book 1

Release Date: January 2021; 266 pages

Ash Kane knows he’s a disappointment to his parents for not going to college. Instead, he splits his time between his band and busking outside a coffee house in Los Angeles. The cute part-time barista is just an added bonus.

When he finds out she hates the 90s alt rock he plays on the street, he makes a point of playing even more to get a reaction out of her, and relishes in her distaste.

When his band needs a new rehearsal space, they take over Camille Rogers' dad’s disused garage which she isn’t completely unhappy about, even if it means she needs to make more excuses to visit her dad and younger brother. The cute lead singer of the band in the garage is just an added bonus.

MY THOUGHTS:

Feeney's best work yet!

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2021

Verified Purchase

I absolutely adored this book. Ash and the gang, Camille and Leah, and a couple of really cool parents are well-crafted characters who bring this story of growing up and finding their way through a music filled world a smash. Bloody brilliant, Ms. Feeney!

Last Rites by Andie M. LongSisters of Andlusan Book 1

Released March 2019; 123 pages
Two worlds—Earth and Andlusan—collide when a car crash threatens to derail both.
Princess Mercy has recurrent nightmares of being a passenger in a crashing car. When her twin sister is discovered in her room trapped between planes due to forbidden magical travel, Mercy has only days left to save her life, while embracing the discovery that she is born of a family of witches.
Aaron Buckley lived through his brother's death. Except now Billy's somehow alive, and their mother's date clock says it's four days earlier. It's possible he's going insane, but he can't shake the feeling that the mysterious Thea, his brother's girlfriend, is connected to all this.
Mercy has to visit Earth and live as her sister to right her wrongs before it's too late. She has to pretend to be with Billy despite finding herself drawn to his moody older brother.
Aaron cannot understand why he now finds warmth where before he felt Thea's cold gaze. Now he's falling for his brother's girlfriend while trying to work out what the hell is going on…
*This book originally appeared in the boxset Rite to Reign.
MY THOUGHTS:
A mix of Frozen and Practical MagicReviewed in the United States on January 16, 2021Verified Purchase
This was a fun twist on magic, royalty, and finding true love. Humorous and sweet with some sexy time snuck in, Last Rites will take you to another world. Literally.

BOOK BLITZ: The Scent of Leaves by Kathryn Trattner #GIVEAWAY

The Scent of Leaves
Kathryn Trattner
Publication date: January 15th 2021
Genres: Adult, Fairy Tales, Retelling

Janet has always dreamed about leaving her small town behind and starting over somewhere fresh. The only thing keeping her going is a photography obsession and her film camera. For her, life is a series of late nights spent working at a local gas station and days earning a final college credit before graduation. But she’s been putting it off for so long she’s starting to feel like it might not happen.

One night Tom appears, charming and handsome, and going out of his way to get to know her. Suddenly he’s everywhere in her small town, appearing and disappearing at odd moments, creeping in on her days and nights. As they spend time together, Janet falling more under his spell each day, she begins to realize that reality is different around Tom. Small things begin to happen, odd occurrences turning into strange events, as Janet is pulled deeper into the mystery surrounding him.

In this modern retelling of the classic Ballad of Tam Lin the world is brought into sharp focus through the lens of a camera. The line between what is and is not real blurs, nature stealing in around the edges, and Janet comes to understand that there is more at stake than just a broken heart.

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EXCERPT:

Another night came and went, smelling like coffee and glass cleaner as she turned the convenience store over to Gary in early morning. The sun had yet to come up, a thin yellow line growing on the horizon, diffusing, and she eyed it as she walked toward her car, wondering what kind of day it would turn out to be.

“Where will you go now?”

She jumped, turning to see Tom leaning against the building.

“How long have you been here?”

“A minute or two. Ryan dropped me off. I was just behind Gary but didn’t want to come in and give you away. I was worried he’d tell your boss you have company every night.”

“Not every night,” she said, shrugging.

“Close enough.” Tom stepped forward, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, shoulders coming forward. “Where will you go?”

“Home.”

He smiled, “Would you like to do something besides go home?”

She could not help it, she smiled too, a creeping delight curling her toes. “Like what?”

“You drive. I’ll navigate.” He moved to the passenger side of her car, hand on the door, waiting for her.

Janet unlocked the car and got in, aware of him sliding in beside her, taking up more air and space than the little car had to spare. She turned it on and rolled down the windows, shooting him a look before backing out of the space. At the edge of the lot, where the street met the gas station, and all roads led away, she paused, waiting for the first direction.

“Left.”

She put the blinker on and turned.

Tom half turned to her, already smiling. “So, tell me what you want to be when you grow up.”

“What?” She laughed, glancing at him and away. The town rolled by, flat background to his intense stare.

“What’re you going to school for? I don’t think you’ve told me.”

“Graphic design.”

“And photography is part of that?”

“It can be but mostly I just stumbled into it.”

“And you love it?”

She smiled. “Yeah, I do.”

“So what’s your end goal then? In a year where do you want to be?”

“Not here.” The answer came out so fast, she hadn’t thought about it, just opened her mouth and there it was, hard and solid truth.

“This place isn’t so bad,” he said.

“You didn’t grow up here.”

“I think I would have liked it if I had.”

“You say that.”

“No really, I think it would have been nice.”

“Everyone here is still talking about how my mom left. It’s been twenty years and they’re still asking if I miss her. They still ask my dad if he’s heard from her. It’s like it happened yesterday for them, still gossiping about it. They don’t have anything better to do. To be fair though they’re also still talking about the one year the pickles exploded at the state fair.”

“She left?”

“Yep, when I was one.”

“I’m sorry.”

He sounded like he meant it, but she did not look at him, not wanting to see pity in his eyes. She stopped at a four-way intersection, looking each direction. “Which way?”

“Left,” he said without hesitation. He did not tell her where they were going. The sun touched her rear-view mirror, throwing light in her eyes, filling the car with reflections. The seen and unseen, the shadows and light dancing over their faces, hiding expressions and masking fears.

After a pause she asked, “What about you?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, in a year where do you want to be?”

“Somewhere with a stage.”

She laughed, “Yeah?”

He nodded. “I grew up in a big town with plays and movies rolling around in my head. I was in all the school plays and a few after high school in local venues. I did performance art in college.”

“You’ve graduated?” she asked.

“No. I’ve got a semester left.”

“Why’d you leave when you were almost finished?” She darted a look at him, watching his face shut down and close up, light shifting over his features.

“I had an offer I couldn’t refuse. It was too good.”

“But it wasn’t?”

He shook his head, turning to look out his window, silence growing between them like lichen, slow and spreading. She drove in it, skin prickling, head buzzing. The sun, though rising, seemed suspended above the horizon and they had crossed the town limits a few miles back. He had chosen farm fields and grassy valleys, open areas, instead of the dark closeness of the trees, the Nantahala National Forest in the other direction. Janet was not sure what else was out here, besides fields and woods, and eventually the next town.

“Here!” Tom shouted, pointing to the right.

“Where?” Janet looked around, fields and low hills rolling past, a few trees but mostly knee-high grass and rocks. But she caught sight of a narrow track leading away from the road, overgrown and faded.

“That dirt track there.”

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to get my car down that.”

The track was more of a path, overgrown and rutted, twisting out of sight.

“You can park on the verge and we’ll walk.”

She pulled over, checking the mirrors for traffic, the engine ticking as she rolled the car windows back up. The road belonged to them, the countryside full of bird song and morning light. She wished she had brought her camera last night, so she would have it now, so she would be able to capture the physical warmth shimmering and thrown up by the dewy grass. She held her breath for an instant, pulling it all inside, keeping it tight against her heart.

He looked at her, understanding, and the smile he gave her was swift but sweet.

“Come on.”

He swung out of the car and she followed, smoothing her shirt as she got out. She felt tired and greasy, the scent of stale coffee on her skin. In the already hot morning, sweat prickled along her hairline. She wished she had known he would be waiting, that she had worn a less faded work shirt and not the baggy jeans she reserved for days she did not care.

But he had not shown up the night before and she had wondered if she would see him again. Or if he would be gone just as suddenly as he had arrived, and realizing that, knowing it, made her realize she was hoping he would show up.

He took her hand as they left the paved road behind, twining their fingers together, pulling her toward the track with long sure strides.

“I come here a lot,” he said, looking down at her. “It’s quiet. I don’t get a lot of alone time generally.”

“No?”

She realized she did not know very much about him. As much as they had talked and he had talked, there was not much about his current situation that he shared. But she felt like she knew parts of him, accepting his presence beside her, wanting him with her.

A shake of his head, lips twisting into ruefulness.

They came around the curve, around the hill, and Janet stopped.

“I didn’t know this was here.”

Shielded from the road a clear pond sparkled in the hollow between hills. Water lilies floated on the surface, dark green leaves and brilliant white blooms. The grass was greener, the blue morning sky above the pond clearer.

“It’s spring fed. You can see where it bubbles up from the rocks in the deeper parts.”

“How did you find it?”

“Someone showed me. I had the same reaction you did. My mouth fell open and I just stood there.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“So are you.”

He smiled, pleasure pouring from him, washing over her. In that moment she would have jumped off a bridge with him. And with that feeling deep down inside she knew she would have flown.

Then he pulled her, jogging for the water, without pausing. She let herself go, following, until they ran into the pond, fully clothed, shoes and all, between waving blossoms and rippling lily pads. Janet laughed, throwing back her head, the sound of it bouncing back. It was cold and water up past her knees, chasing away the sweat from the hot morning. The sun felt different in the little hollow, like liquid gold, soft against her skin.

He kissed her, quick like a habit she never wanted him to break, the pressure of his mouth there and gone. He took her laugh with him, releasing it with his own, leaving her breathless and aware of their bodies, so close, and the quiet of the hollow around them.

“I think this place is magic,” she said.

“It must be. Give me your hands.”

She did and he held her at arm’s length, their arms stretched taut. “At the count of three fall back.”

“We’ll get soaked.”

“We’re already soaked,” he laughed, squeezing her hands tight. “Ready?”

She shook her head no but said, “Ready.”

“One, two–”

He fell back, away from her, his smiling face falling. She let herself go, surrendering to gravity, feeling weight and then water rushing in, filling ears and nose. The bottom of the pond was sandy beneath her hands, a little rocky, and not at all slimy like other ponds she had jumped into as a kid. She squeezed her eyes tight, holding her breath, floundering up. She wiped water from her eyes, pushed hair out of her face. She gasped and laughed.

Opening her eyes, expecting Tom and not seeing him, she turned, sloshing, searching her surroundings. The water rippled, like a stone had been tossed in, like a grown man had cannon balled into it. She waited, expecting him to pop up, gasping for air, slicking his hair back. Birds trilled, making her realize how quiet the hollow had been since they had first stepped into it. The water continued to ripple and move.

“Tom?”

She turned, scanning, brows coming together. The birdsong grew louder, grating, filling her head like a buzz saw. She sloshed forward, hands in the water, moving as if she could part it, feeling for Tom. It was so clear she could see the sandy bottom, the rocks, the water lilies.

The pond was empty.

Author Bio:

Kathryn Trattner has loved fairy tales, folk stories, and mythology all of her life. Her hands down favorites have always been East of the Sun, West of the Moon and the story of Persephone and Hades. When not writing or reading she's traveling as much as possible and taking thousands of photos that probably won't get edited later. She lives in Oklahoma with her wonderful partner, two very busy children, one of the friendliest dogs ever, and an extremely grumpy cat who doesn't like anyone at all.

Want to hear about the latest release? Sign up for my newsletter Magical Mundane Madness at kathryn.substack.com

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