Dariel Raye's Blog, page 3

“Once Upon Academy”

 

Once Upon Academy Vol 2
Breezy Jones, Cara North, Elle Klass, Marie Long, Valerie Puri
Publication date: January 7th 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

To kick off the end of our first semester, Once Upon Academy is hosting the annual Winter Ball. A night full of magic, love and happy endings.

Join the descendants of classic fairytale characters as they navigate the prestigious halls of Once Upon Academy. Get boujee at the most magical night of the school year and experience a fairytale kiss under the mistletoe.

It’s a night you don’t want to miss.

Add to Goodreads / Purchase

—

SNEAK PEEKS:

-Perle of Love-

His gaze averted to the table and his untouched tea. She wasn’t going to the ball if he wasn’t. Why is she punishing herself like that? Her words, so full of genuine care and compassion, stung the mixed emotions in his mind. He was still afraid to fully open up his heart to her—to be the vulnerable wolf his family thought. She was the last spark of goodness that warmed his heart. And yet, he didn’t want to lose her like he’d lost his family. Why was this so hard? “I… I can’t stay here anymore. I’m going to go back to the school.”

—

-Magic and Mice-

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A Wish too Dark and Kind by M.L. Blackbird

 

A Wish Too Dark And Kind
M.L. Blackbird
Publication date: November 1st 2021
Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Urban Fantasy

Among the immortals that inhabit our world, Arnaud Demeure is known as the man who can fulfill your one true wish or who can also conjure your worst nightmares.

Eight invitations are sent to eight immortals, and when Arnaud Demeure hosts a party, no one refuses his request. Why have they been summoned? Is it for a celebration or does a sinister fate await them? After all, in the ways of Magick, a party can also be a ritual to end the world.

As the mystery deepens, the attendees must overcome their personal grudges to unravel the threads of Demeure’s grand plan that has been centuries in the making. But, with one of the guests secretly working with their host to sabotage the group’s every move, it seems impossible to look behind the curtain to learn Demeure’s true intentions.

With each guest hiding dark secrets and darker intentions, will they be able to uncover Demeure’s mysterious motives or will the party prove to be the deadly nightmare that they each fear?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

The young sister ran through the silent city while the prophet waited for her to arrive. The old man knew she would come; he had seen her already. Hidden by the shadow of an old staircase, eyes fixed on the door, he tried not to get distracted by the creatures in his vision.

Thousands of them, maybe millions, all crammed within glass walls.

The youngest sat at the center of the glass prison. It was taller than the tallest mountain. It was quiet amid the frenzy of its brothers. Its head so high it saw beyond the ceiling of its prison, straight into the realm of the Eldest Lords. Light leaked from underneath its shaking, half-closed eyelids. It peeked into the future.

As the prophet watched them, the creatures stared at him from far away. He could see them, yet his mind could not make full sense of their shapes, only of a few features. A crowd of wings, fangs, stingers, and every piece of every animal he could think of, and some he had never seen, crawling on each other while human parts pushed their way through. The tall one, its eyes closed, hummed over and over.

“We are so close. It won’t be long.”

The others followed its chanting and moved back and forth in front of the glass holding them prisoners, just like animals expecting a bite of their prey.

The prophet almost missed the nun’s arrival. She ran up the stairs, hesitating as she put one foot on the first step.

Unseen, the prophet followed.

From the roof, he tasted the entire city. A forest of concrete and metal spreading in every direction, so much so that nothing existed if not within it. The sun blinded him, shining in white and gold. Dawn was a miracle. He stood still, in awe of the most magnificent city, and he almost forgot he had followed someone.

But there she was, the young sister, standing close to the balustrade, her arms raised to the sky, her shape dark against the sunlight.

The tall metallic tower pierced the sky and stabbed the sun, just like an arrow. The star bled, scattering its light all over the town.

White particles fell from the sky. Snow perhaps, or dust, he could not say. He dared to look up. The sky had turned dark despite the sun shining in it, light still leaking over the city.

In the cold air, no sound but the wind.

Nothing else made a noise. No sound of cars or their horns. No talking or music playing, no chirping of birds.

The prophet stood transfixed.

Cars were still on the asphalt, their lights on. Some stuck in place, some coasting along the streets. Many had slid, hitting nearby objects. Tombstones in an old graveyard, they lay against each other, against lampposts, or sat on the sidewalks.

Men and women, asleep, still clung to their steering wheels.

Their heads blasted out of the windshields or hung from the windows. Hundreds and hundreds of bodies covered the sidewalks and the streets. More must have been resting within the buildings, unmoving, untouched.

Here and there, white, black, and red stains, each tens of meters long, covered the streets—flocks of birds caught in whatever happened.

Nobody moved, nobody talked, everyone rested in this cemetery, testimony of a dark miracle.

The world had moved on. The city, now empty, stayed behind.

Paris was dead, and the Great Ones were free.

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Revenge De Los Muertos by Talis Jones

 

Revenge de los Muertos
Talis Jones
(Fifth Sun, #1)
Publication date: November 2nd 2021
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Selah’s biggest dilemma was trying to decide what to study in college. That is, until she stumbled across a clue to the grandparents she’d never met and hopped on a plane to Mexico where she would discover an entire hidden world of magic and monsters. Her best friend was a bruja, the Chupacabra was more than a myth, and she’d inadvertently caught the attention of the terrifying Blood King with beautiful golden eyes. What started as a two-week vacation quickly devolved into an adventure she might never return from.

Día de los Muertos had almost arrived and the monsters were on the hunt.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

 

 

EXCERPT:

Selah

“G’night,” Noa yawned finally before claiming the remaining bedroom next door.

I moved to shut my own door when Rafael prowled past, likely heading towards his own room at the end of the hall. At least I guessed it was his as it was the only door kept firmly shut. Seeming to sense my gaze, he pivoted and met me at the doorway. Leaning against the frame with his arms crossed he stared deep into my eyes almost as if searching for answers in there though he must not find them because a frown quickly tugged at his mouth.

“How did you and your friend meet?” he asked curiously.

My fingers fiddled nervously with the doorknob as a fond smile lit up my face. “School. We’ve gone to the same school since I can remember and she was always in my classes, sitting with me at lunch, wanting to be my friend. Noa is pretty direct. When she decides something, she makes it happen.”

“I can see that,” he nodded tersely.

Wanting to smooth things over, I thanked him. “I’m really very sorry about the mix up, but thank you for letting us stay. We really don’t mind finding a hotel tomorrow,” I assured him. “This is your home and we don’t want to intrude.”

Something I said, though I couldn’t guess what, caused his lips to twitch. “You are free to stay. I do not mind.” I arched an eyebrow and he released an amused huff. “Much,” he amended.

“Well, thank you,” I offered again. “You are very kind and generous to offer.”

“Not many would use those words to describe me,” he shook his head, his voice low enough that I wasn’t sure I was meant to hear him.

“Then they don’t know you,” I answered anyway. It was an impulsive response because I didn’t know him beyond his name and yet it felt right. Or maybe I was just a people pleaser like Noa teased me of being.

Even if offered in ignorance, my words made him pause. “Call me Rafi,” he smiled. Then with a shove off the door frame, he resumed prowling towards his room.

Leaning out into the hall, I called softly so as not to disturb Noa, “Goodnight, Rafi.”

He sent me a final glance. “Buenas noches, Selah.”

 

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“Target” by Tina Donahue

 

If you like dark mafia romances with a hero to die for, plus a smart heroine who also plays by her own rules, check out Target, book one in The Valesky Crime Family series. I had a blast writing it. I’m also offering a great giveaway during the tour.

_________________

 

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Target

The
Valesky Crime Family Book 1

by
Tina Donahue

Genre:
Dark Mafia Romance

A
Russian kingpin wants her dead… the only one who can stop it is the
man sent to murder her.

Toni
Flores loved her dream job working for a respected US senator until
he raped her. She’s determined to bring him to justice, no matter
the cost.

For
years, Dimitri Valesky, head of a Russian crime family in America,
has bought off those in government. Just like the senator responsible
for Toni’s assault. When she won’t keep quiet about it and risks
Dimitri’s business, he orders his stepson Michael to kill her.

Michael’s
a lobbyist not a mafia enforcer. He refuses the insane demand, but
Dimitri insists. The power he holds over Michael and his brothers is
absolute… or so he believes.

Rather
than murder Toni, Michael intends to romance her. Once he convinces
her to keep quiet about the Senator, she won’t be a target any
longer and Dimitri will back off on the hit. The plan falls apart and
now they are dodging mafia enforcers, bullets, and Dimitri’s
outrage.

Michael
and Toni fight to stay alive and save those dearest to them as they
also fall hopelessly in love.

This
is book one in the Valesky Crime Family series and has an HEA.

Publisher’s
Note: This contemporary dark mafia romance contains elements of
mystery, suspense, action, adventure, adult themes, and possible
triggers for some readers.

Add to Goodreads

Amazon
* Google
* Kobo *
Books2Read * BlushingBooks

Continue for Giveaway and More about Tina

 

 

Books-N-Eats: “Emma’s Dream” Book 1 – Morgan’s Run Series by M. Lee Prescott

 

 

 

M. Lee Prescott

Book: Emma’s Dream – Book 1 – Morgan’s Run Series

Price: permafree

 

 

 

A woman is the last thing on
Ben Morgan’s mind as he comes home to Morgan’s Run, his family’s ranch in
Saguaro Valley. Doctor’s orders, he’s home to heal, but the sooner he can get
back to Santa Barbara, the better. Then he runs into Maggie Williams on Main
Street, prompting vivid memories of a magical night, and Ben’s ailing heart
skips a beat. 

Father of her beloved five-year-old daughter,
the eldest of the Morgan sons is the last person Maggie expects to have crashed
into her car and back into her life. For years, she has struggled to forget him
and to make a life for herself and her daughter, Emma, the mirror image of a
father, who is unaware of her existence. Now, here he is, looking more gorgeous
than the day he ran out of town. Maggie swears Ben Morgan will never break her
heart again. 

 

“Maggie groaned and buried her head deeper, praying this was
all a bad dream. If she hadn’t had to make a quick run to the bank, she’d be at
work in the cool, dark stables. “Please just go. I’m fine.”

She could feel his heat, his nearness rattling her to her
core. A part of her longed to lean against him and draw comfort and strength
from his warmth, but the wiser half screamed danger. She kept still, hoping he
would disappear.

“You don’t seem fine. Look, I’m sorry.” Ben placed a hand on
her shoulder. It sent shivers of warmth all the way to her toes. “And I’m not
leaving until I’m sure you’re okay.”

Oh, no you don’t. Maggie stood and shook herself, stepping
away from his electric touch. She put on her sunglasses. Another second near
him and she feared she might actually swoon. His soft chestnut eyes regarded
her with obvious concern. Although he looked tired and thin, Ben Morgan was
still drop-dead gorgeous, in faded jeans and sneakers, his broad shoulders
straining the seams of a worn Stanford tee shirt.

“I’m fine, really. It’s been a crazy day and you caught me
at[…]”

Excerpt From: M. Lee Prescott. “Emma’sDream” Amazon Apple
Books

https://bit.ly/emmabookshelf

Social Media Links:

Website: www.mleeprescott.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/M.LeePrescottAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mleeprescottwriter/

Book Purchase Links:

Amazon Kindle: https://bit.ly/emmaamazon

B&N Nook: https://bit.ly/emmanook

iBooks: https://bit.ly/Emmaibook

Kobo: https://bit.ly/emmakobo

Google: https://bit.ly/emmagoogle

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Books-N-Inspiration: “Seeing Clearly” by Judythe Morgan

 

 

 

Seeing Clearly is proof-positive that
perseverance pays off. I began writing this story in 2008 and worked on it off
and on for twelve years. Never quite satisfied with what I’d created, I’d stuff
write a bit and stuff it away. The forced quarantine of the pandemic last year provided
the opportunity for focus and the completed novel is now available on Amazon
for Kindle and paperback.

The moral of my little tale is summed up by this quote from Robert
Marston.

“Eventually you’re going to reach the point
where just one more attempt, one more effort will bring real success. What a
shame it would be to give up just as you reached that point.”

 

A
widowed grandmother. An ex-cop. Her grandson’s kidnapped.

Drugs, murder and the child’s biological
father threaten their lives.

Will their search tear them apart or help
them see love clearly?

 

Ex-cop Dawson McKey is consumed by revenge after a cartel’s
bomb kills his twin sons. He trusts no one and vows payback. He refuses to get
close to anyone, let alone fall in love again. But widow Evie Parker challenges
his thinking. She’s raising her grandson after her only child and his wife die
in a suspicious car accident and it’s taking a toll.

Alarms go off in Dawson’s head when Evie receives
threatening emails concerning her grandson. Then Evie’s nanny disappears with
Evie’s grandson. He knows something is deadly wrong.

The search for the toddler pushes Dawson and Evie to their
limits. Can they see clearly enough to find the toddle and each other?

Buy Links

 

Kindle & Paperback: https:/www.amazon.com/dp/B08768ZJQX

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/seeing-clearly-by-judythe-morgan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53746639-seeing-clearly

Continue for Excerpt

Books-N-Eats: “Perfectly Honest” by Linda O’Connor

 

 

In Perfectly
Honest, Mrs. Davy looks after Sam’s house when he’s not there and fills
the fridge with meals that Sam can reheat. She makes a mean spaghetti sauce,
and both Sam and Mikaela love Mrs. Davy’s chocolate chip cookies. And she makes
a gluten free version!

 

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter,
softened but not melted

3/4 cup
packed brown sugar

½  cup granulated sugar

1 tsp pure
vanilla extract

Continue for complete recipe and Excerpt

 

Feature: Cursed Princess by Alexa H. Michaels

 

The Cursed Princess
Alexa Michaels
Publication date: October 1st 2021
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

A fresh and dark urban fantasy abounding with treacherous secrets, desperate fights, and an angsty romances that could ignite the pages.

I’m Kyra Baxter. Once, I was human—now, I learn it’s all a lie.
As the top student at my university and the best intern in Dallas, I thought my life was built in the clouds, and I was on top of the world.
But then…it all crashed hard.

A murdered friend.
A secret world.
A mysterious warrior.

It’s safe to say that the life I thought was solid will never rise from the rubble. It’s time to move on, and live the life I was always meant for–what I was born for. Except there are those who want to make sure that never happens. In fact, if I don’t move quickly, the enemy who I’d been hidden from is coming for blood.
The curse I bear has blocked my memories, so I’m left to blindly navigate this new world. And when a swarthy male saunters into my life, I’m forced to face a ghost from the past without knowing who he is and was, and what he wants.
He says he’s here to help.
He admits he’s keeping secrets.
As our attraction grows, all I know is that if I want to break this curse, I’m going to need his help. And unless I heed the warnings my late friend spent her dying moment’s telling me, everyone I know and love could end up butchered.
This curse could be the death of all those I hold dear.

If you like fierce heroines, powerful heroes, terrible secrets, and slow-burn romances, then read the urban fantasy The Cursed Princess, the first book in the Kyra Baxter Trilogy!

**This is the beginning of a trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger.

***Author’s note: this book is intended for a mature audience in terms of content, language, and passionate happily ever afters!

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

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Dragon Chains by Becca Brayden and Grace Goodwin

 

Dragon Chains
Becca Brayden & Grace Goodwin
Publication date: September 24th 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Dangerous. Tortured. Desperate. King Ryker of the Draquonir will make one last sacrifice to save his people and his kingdom before he loses control of the raging beast inside him. Dragon kind are dwindling, no longer able to hunt for their true mates in this contemporary, high-tech world.

Ryker must do something no dragon has ever done before; have a child with a human woman he has no desire to touch, a woman his dragon refuses to take as a mate. Arrangements have been made. A queen chosen. A loveless, chaste marriage of convenience. No passion. No dragonfire. Nothing but contracts and medical procedures to sire an heir. This is the only way his race will survive.

Katy Toure is tired of cleaning up her identical twin’s messes, but when her sister calls in a panic, unable to get to an important business meeting worth millions of dollars, Katy just can’t say no. All Katy has to do is walk out of her dead-end job, grab her sister’s passport, fly to Italy, pretend to be her sister for a few days, sign some contracts and take the vacation she’s always dreamed about.

No one will know she’s an imposter. No one ever knows.

But Katy has never tried to fool a dragon who scents his mate..

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

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Feature: “Demon Huntress” by Elizabeth Mason

 

Demon Huntress: Love Me To Hell And Back
Elizabeth Mason
Publication date: September 18th 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

A search for a cure. A journey fraught with danger. A fateful bond.

Determined demon-hunter, Maeve, must risk everything to obtain The Book of Raziel—a font of spells, divine magic, and ethereal knowledge—to cure her work partner of a deadly supernatural virus. And though she isn’t surprised to discover that the book is in the Garden of Eden, she is surprised to learn that the garden is situated in Hell!

Now Maeve faces her biggest challenge: fighting her inner demons¬, or be lost to the wanderlust of Hell forever.

Broken and reclusive, Ezra Virunas has one goal—kill the demon who stole the Sacred Seals, and, in return, he would regain his freedom. Never mind that Ezra has to use Maeve’s soul as bait to close the case, Ezra knows just how deceitful women can be, and he is convinced Maeve is no different. But he is mistaken, and despite fighting against it, her pure heart soon becomes a light to his darkened past.

As Maeve and Ezra’s bond deepens, so too does the danger awaiting them. Will they emerge from Hell unscathed?

Love Me To Hell And Back is a haunting tale of self-reflection and forgiveness.

Goodreads / Amazon

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