Thursday, December 31, 2020

Last of 2020

Hello. Happy New Year('s Eve)! I hope this post finds everyone that is reading it healthy.


2020 Goals: It is safe to say that I literally did not accomplish any goals that I have set for this year. 

Books in 2020: Out of the three books that I named in this post, I completed two of them. 

Holiday Post: So much for a "busy 2020". I hope 2021 will be a little busier.



Post Rewind 

- I just didn't want this to be in my first 2021 Sunday Post (hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer ).

📌 16th = WWBC #12: Last Challenge of 2020


Goodreads ðŸ“š 

- I wasn't planning on starting a new book until January. Obviously I changed my mind.



Currently Reading

📖 Dream Wide Awake (by: C.J. Zahner) = page 23



This post didn't turn out like I thought it would, but .... you know.





Wednesday, December 16, 2020

WWBC #12: Last Challenge of 2020



 It has been a while since I participated the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge.  There are a few Challenges that I wanted to do, but I missed.

- August 5th = My Favorite Tropes of X Genre

I am mostly into romance. 

When talking specifically of the the characters, so far I have always love the broken, aloof hero. There is usually a reason for the lack of emotional connections to other characters. 

- August 19th = Favorite Book or Movie Quote and Why

Grandmother: I don't drink anymore. 

(Rest of family reacts surprised)

Grandmother: I don't drink any less either. 

This is from the movie "While You Were Sleeping".

It would be so easy to be set up to use this quote in real life.

- October 14th = Re-reading Book... Why or Why not

I re-read parts of books once I finish them. Of course this would depend on how much I enjoyed the book.

- November 4th = Favorite Songs or Musicians 

My favorite band is Aerosmith. My favorite (non band) musician is Billy Joel.

- December 9th = A Profession in a Book I'd like to try

In the book called, Irish Magic, the main female character is in public relations.  I watched I show in which that was the case. I always thought it would be so cool to say something like " I have a meeting with the people from....." or "I just won over this account".


*** The Wednesday Weekly Blogging challenge is hosted by http://www.longandshortreviews.com/wednesday-weekly-blogging-challenge


*** I found that site at Goddessfish Promotion


Sunday, December 13, 2020

Sunday Post #62: Last Singleswag of 2020


 

This is November's and December's Singleswag Unboxing. 




Love the stars and moon combo


Always pretty pieces


Guess I could use a new wallet 


I admit that I am not sure what this is for


Now you can't tell me these don't make you want to take a long bath.



Always love when socks are included in the box



This will save on towels 


Hopefully I will get more use out of this calendar than  my 2020 calendar. 


This was going to be my last Singleswag, but thing chance.  So I hope you all somewhat enjoy blog posts like this one.


Post Rewind

📌 December 4th = Blurb Blitz: Please Don't Divorce Me

📌 8th = Release Blitz: You Had Me at Hockey


Goodreads

📚 As far as this year's Goodreads Challenge, I decided to forfeit.

Currently Reading

📖 tbd in January

*** If you don't have anything to say about this week's topic, you can comment on any other part of the post or just say "hi".


*** I am always having to edit many of my posts.  If I made any grammar mistakes, I will eventually fix them.

*** The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer



Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Release Blitz: You Had Me at Hockey

Can a spirited, down-to-earth influencer get an uptight hockey player out of his shell?

You Had Me at Hockey, an all-new sexy sports romance from USA Today bestselling author Kelly Jamieson is available now!

Josh
I am a warrior. That’s been my motto since I recovered from a near-death accident when I was younger. Now I enjoy my nice, settled life in Dallas playing pro hockey—a boring life is better than being dead. I’m not a party guy or an adventurer; I like my routine and peace and quiet. So being traded to New York is the worst possible change that could happen. And meeting unfiltered and fascinating Sara Carrington throws my life into even more chaos.

Sara
I’ve been considered weird my whole life, which is why I’m still a virgin, but I’ve turned it into a career with my YouTube videos. Who knew people would love watching me talk about my zits, taste-test meatless burgers, and try to learn TikTok dances! Now I’m launching a podcast. Getting hockey star Josh Heller as a guest will help gain listeners for sure. I expect a bearded jock with no teeth and nothing to say, but I get a hot as H- E-double-hockey-sticks grouch with a surprisingly dirty mind. My mission to make him laugh is successful, but I want to know why he’s so uptight underneath that panty-dropping smile. Maybe I can teach Josh to have some fun . . . and maybe he can teach me a thing or two along the way. . .

Download your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kIyi91
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/YouHadMeatHockey
Nook: https://bit.ly/3ecVOZE
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3kFszAU
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3mxk1N2
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3jFPTgJ

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2JewCpX

About Kelly Jamieson
Kelly Jamieson is a USA Today bestselling author of over fifty romance novels and novellas. She writes the kind of books she loves to read--sexy romance with heat, humor and emotion. Her writing has been described as "emotionally complex", "sweet and satisfying" and "blisteringly sexy". She likes coffee (black), wine (mostly white) and shoes (high!). She also loves watching hockey. She is the author of the popular Heller Brothers Hockey series, Aces Hockey series, and the Rule of Three trilogy.

Connect with Kelly
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3oqDFet
Instagram: https://bit.ly/37x0pTe
Amazon: https://amzn.to/33MTofY
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/33Njsb2
BookBub: https://bit.ly/39LQaxm
Website: https://www.kellyjamieson.com

Friday, December 4, 2020

Blurb Blitz: Please Don't Divorce Me



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Vickie Hall will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Whether your decision was made by you, or made for you, it is within your control to make the right decisions for your children.

Vickie’s parents divorced when she was only nine, wedging her in the middle of a dispute many kids face every day. It still remains one of the toughest times of her life. As she shares parts of herself and other people’s experiences with you, she hopes you will be better prepared to make good choices for your children.

“Please Don’t Divorce Me” is candidly written as a parent’s guide from a child’s perspective aiming at fostering a healthy transition and minimizing hurt for what is already a difficult time in a child’s life.

Divorce is not pretty, but it doesn’t have to be ugly either.

Choose children, love, and happiness above all else!

Read an Excerpt

Your children want to feel confident that the love you have for them is going to remain the same. They do not want to hear negative things about their other parent. They will need to meet with a counselor or confide in someone they trust. Changes are inevitable, but explain the changes and help work through them. Children want to see your face and speak to you in between visits. They want to maintain relationships with all family members. Regardless of what they say, they do want a complete family again.

About the Author:





Vickie grew up in a small town in Louisiana. She graduated with a degree in Business Administration and played in the college marching and symphony bands to foster her love for music since fifth grade. Vickie has been married for over twenty two years to the love of her life and best friend. She and her husband have two sons. They have shared in the joys and tears of raising boys and refer to themselves as the “A-Team”. One is going to college in the fall and “half” of the empty nest will begin! Her youngest son is in high school.

By day, Vickie has enjoyed a 24-year career in contracts management and operations and by night has written many poems and cards and scrapbooks to capture fun memories. She loves spending time with family and friends!

She is known for and recognized by many traits, but freckles, red hair, loud sneezes, compassion, love and laughter tops the list. She is also the Co-founder and President of Krewe de Halcyon, a social organization dedicated to positively impacting the community and embracing the Louisiana tradition of Mardi Gras (one of her favorite holidays!)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vickie.s.hall
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freckles__74/

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Please-Dont-Divorce-Vickie-Hall- ebook/dp/B08LP4VHHM/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Sunday Post #61: Just a Re-cap 8



I was a little behind on my blogging. By a "little" of course I mean a lot. So I just thought I would do a re-cap for this week.

Post Rewind

📌 September 21st = Cover Reveal: Her Last Love

📌 22nd = VBT: Nick Bancroft Mystery Series

📌 23rd = Book Blurb: Return of the Wolf

📌 October 3rd = Release Tour: Sunsets & Somedays

📌 11th = Release Tour: Beast

📌 16th = Cover Reveal: Deal Breaker

📌 22nd = Book Blast: The Madness of Mercury

📌 23rd = Book Blast: Sympathy for the Devil

📌 24th = Cover Reveal: Game Winning Goal

📌 November 9th = NBtM VBT: Wired by the F.B.I

📌 10th = Book Blast: Apophis

📌 12th = [double post day] VBT: The Budda and the Bee ... Release: Game Winning Goal

📌 14th = Cover Reveal: Second Start


Head's Up

🔼  quite a few belated posts


Goodreads

📚 A Duke is Never Enough (by: Darcy Burke) = moved to "read" shelf

📚 Game Winning Goal (by: Kay Gordon) = moved to "read" shelf

Currently Reading

📖 tbd (any suggestions?)

*** If you don't have anything to say about this week's topic, you can comment on any other part of the post or just say "hi".


*** I am always having to edit many of my posts.  If I made any grammer mistakes, I will eventually fix them.

*** The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer


Saturday, November 14, 2020

Cover Reveal: Second Start

We are so excited to share the cover for the upcoming release, Second Start by S.E. Rose. Check out the fantastic cover for Second Start, a must-read second chance romance from the upcoming Holiday Springs Resort series! Title: Second Start Author: S.E. Rose Release Date: 11/20/2020 Series: Holiday Springs Resort, # 5 Tropes/Genres: Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance Will a former Olympic athlete and budding musician get a second chance at their happily ever after? Brittany Evans and Tyson Mitchell were the “it” couple in the Poconos. Until their own dreams and goals got in the way. With broken hearts, they both left their town while doing their best to never look back. But, when a skiing injury and a failed singing career bring them both back home, they find that their feelings may not have iced over after all. Fate has brought them together again, but if Tyson wants to win back Brittany’s heart, he’ll have to prove that she’s the only dream that matters. Escape to the romantic paradise of Holiday Springs and warm-up with your next happily ever after.

Pre-Order Second Start Today!

Add to Goodreads!

About AUTHOR

USA Today & International Bestselling romance author, S.E. Rose lives near Washington D.C. with her family. When she's not wrangling her cats or keeping up with her kids, she's plotting her next story. She loves all things wine, coffee, and cats. In her non-existent free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, binging on her favorite shows, and reading, especially if it's a good mystery or comedy.

Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

About the Holiday Springs Resort Series

Nestled deep in the mountains of Pennsylvania, Holiday Springs Resort promises to bring the heat this winter! Join Forever Write PR and seven amazing authors as they take to the slopes on the adventure of a lifetime and find their happily ever afters. From hot bartenders to brooding exes, Holiday Springs Resort is the place to be. Each story features a brand new couple and a fun trope to love from our amazing line up of authors including: second chance romance and best friend's sibling to jilted brides and friends to lovers. Your holiday wonderland won’t be complete without a widower, office, and enemies to lovers romance. We’ve got a remarkable line of up must-read romance authors including, A.M. Williams, Julie Archer, Kim Bailey, Moni Boyce, S.E. Rose, Stacey Lewis, and B. Ivy Woods. Follow the Holiday Spring Resort series on Facebook for more on release dates, cover reveals, and exclusive book news https://www.facebook.com/HolidaySpringsSeries/ This series and all promotional events are brought to you by Forever Write PR - Forever your source for all your writing needs. https://www.facebook.com/ForeverWritePR/

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Release: Game Winning Goal Game winning Goal

As a die-hard hockey fan, Cheyenne doesn’t expect to fall for the injured pro from her favorite team; Kamden is determined to get back on the ice before his career is over. Can Cheyenne and Kamden’s love prove tha koit there is more than just scoring goals? Readers will fall in love with this sports romance from Kay Gordon. The 425 Madison series is complete with season three; GAME WINNING GOAL is live on 11/9!

Cheyenne

Life was good. I had a great job, amazing people surrounding me, season tickets to see my favorite hockey team play, and a cat that I could cuddle. Although it didn’t seem glamorous, I was happy. But when the shy, handsome, and somewhat awkward hockey player slid into my life, I realized that I could be happier. I wanted to be more than just content with life.

Kamden

I knew I wanted to be a hockey player from the moment I put on my first pair of skates. I played

hard for the Titans, proving that I belonged on the top line. But just when I finally made it, an injury took me out of the game. While feeling sorry for myself and waiting to heal, I met the bubbly, beautiful, and smart pediatrician who brought me to my knees. She made me see that there was more to life than scoring goals. A love of the game helps bring these two together and onto a path towards a different kind of love.

Cheyenne and Kamden’s road isn’t as smooth as ice, though. What happens when Kam’s recovery isn’t easy and his position on the team is threatened? Cheyenne has to figure out how to break down his defense and Kam has to realize that he might not always be the one to score the game-winning goal.

After all, 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love.

Read Game Winning Goal today!

Add to Goodreads!


Exclusive Excerpt

Copyright @Kay Gordon 2020

An older man was telling us all about how he’d once considered buying a hockey team, and I was doing my best to feign interest. I let my gaze wonder, so I could people watch, though, and I did a double-take when I caught sight of a woman speaking with a small group of people.

She was wearing a dark purple dress that fell to the floor and long sleeves that went to her wrists. The fabric dipped low on her chest, teasing at the cleavage underneath. The dress was tight at the waist, though, and showed off every curve she had. Her blonde hair had big curls in it, and the tips looked like they reached her shoulders. She appeared to be about three or four inches shorter than me, but I was willing to be everything I had that she had on some killer heels under that dress.

It wasn’t just the way she looked that caught me, though. It was the way she held herself. She was smiling as she spoke, and it was obvious that she had every man around her eating out of her hand. They laughed at whatever she was saying, and she appeared to be enjoying herself.

She was captivating.

“What do you think, Mr. Matlock? Do we have a chance at a repeat of the cup?”

I reluctantly peeled my eyes away from the woman to focus on the man in front of me. With a fake smile on my face, I shrugged.

“I think there’s always a chance. We have plenty of time to turn it around.”

When I glanced back at the woman, I saw that she had removed herself from the group she was with and was heading toward the silent auction table.

“Excuse me for a moment, will you?” I didn’t wait for anyone to reply before walking away.

The woman was looking at one of the lots that included a hot air balloon ride when I walked up. I cleared my throat and fought against shoving my hands into my pockets– a nervous habit of mine.

“A hot air balloon ride, huh?” I wanted to cringe at the lame words leaving my mouth, but I couldn’t stop them. “I’d probably faint before I left the ground.”

The woman looked up at me with a polite but disinterested smile on her face that told me she thought my line was cheesy, too. “Afraid of heights?

When her emerald green eyes met mine, recognition and realization dawned on me.

It was the woman from the game.

“Cheyenne.”

Read Game Winning Goal today!


About Kay Gordon

Kay Gordon is a married mother of two living near the west coast. She spends her days teaching young, impressionable minds in public school and evenings typing away furiously once her children are in bed. Her favorite genres to read are Contemporary Romance and New Adult/College romance, although she rarely denies a good paranormal or dystopian! When she's not teaching or writing, Kay loves to spend time with her family. They're all a bunch of nerds who can quote Disney movies and Star Wars quickly!

Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub


About the 425 Madison Series

Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Rounding out the summer with some hot city nights and coasting into fall with more cool characters at this famous high-rise, 425 Madison is returning for a third season!

With some familiar faces and some brand new residents - you'll be sure to find an author you love and a trope to ignite your taste buds after all 425 Madison IS the perfect place to fall in love!

We’ve got an amazing line of up must-read romance authors including, Lauren Helms, Allie York

J Marie, Kay Gordon, Marcie Shumway, Aubree Valentine, S.L. Sterling, and Fiona Tulle

Prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.

Season One and Two feature stories from some of your favorite romance authors: Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Allie York, Aubree Valentine, Kay Gordon, Lauren Helms, Sylvia Kane, Katy Ames, KC Enders, Marci Shumway, and C. Lesbirel. All these authors came together, each with a standalone romance for you to enjoy. Covering all of your favorite tropes each tale offers you something new, something different.

Make sure to follow the 425 Madison Avenue Facebook page for more on release dates, cover reveals, and author spotlights. For exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and news subscribe to our 425 Madison newsletter!

Facebook | Newsletter

Catch up on the first two seasons, available exclusively in Kindle Unlimited!


My Review  

This was the first 425 Madison series book I read. I wanted to read this book because the main male character is a hockey player.
As a hockey fan, I was a little disappointed. There was less hockey action than I expected. As a romantic, I loved the relationship between Kam and Cheyenne.

Rating: 😀😀😀😀

*** I voluntarily requested to read and review an arc of this book via Book Funnel.
 



VBT: The Buddha and the Bee


The Buddha and the Bee: Biking through America's Forgotten Roadways on a Journey of Discovery

by Cory Mortensen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Memoir

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Life-Changing Journey...

...But this is NOT a typical blah-blah-blah memoir

Planning is for sissies. A solo bike ride across the country will be filled with sunshine, lollipops, rainbows, and 80 degree temps every day, right? Not so much. The Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, an alkaline desert, and the Sierra Nevadas lay miles and days ahead. Disappointment with unrealized potential, and the thirst for what’s next drew farther away in the rotating wide-angle shockproof convex rear-view mirror.

&I will ride my bike down a never-ending ribbon of asphalt wearing a backpack.&

Cory Mortensen began his bike ride across the United States from Chaska, Minnesota, to Truckee, California, without a route, a timeline, or proper equipment. Along the way, he gained more than technical skills required for a ride that would test every fiber of his physical being and mental toughness. Ride along as he meets “unusual” characters, dangerous animals, and sweet little old ladies with a serious vendetta for strangers in their town.


Humor ■ Insight ■ Adventure ■ Gratitude ■ Peace


From long stretches of road ending in a vanishing point at the distant horizon, to stunning vistas, terrifying close calls, grueling conditions, failed equipment, and joyous milestones he stayed the course and gained an appreciation for the beauty of the land, the genius of engineering and marvel of nature.

~~~~~~~~~~~~



Excerpt:

CHAPTER 7

DAY SEVEN

AUGUST 28, 2001

Today’s Ride: Ogallala, Nebraska - Sterling, Colorado Today’s Distance: 90 Miles

Though the Oregon Trail Motel didn’t offer breakfast, it did have coffee and a stack of foam cups in the front office.

I wasn’t that hungry, still pretty bloated from the beer, noodles, and MSG I had for dinner.

Hanging around the motel sipping cups of watered-down coffee, watching as the sun rose over the dusty town, bustling with early morning activity, I waited for the coffee to do its trick before checking out.

When nature called, I preferred a bathroom with an abundant amount of toilet paper over squatting behind a tree. I waited on the curb outside my door.

Perhaps a conversation regarding bowel movements wasn’t classy this early in the morning, but real nonetheless. When you found yourself reading a book about someone biking cross-country, you might otherwise ask yourself: Where did they go to the bathroom whilst out on the open road?

If the sudden need to shit arose on the road, you could only hope there was a bush, tree, or berm to hide behind. The other option was to keep walking as far away from the road as you could until you were out of sight, or at least blurry. Of course, without the proper equipment (toilet paper), things could get messy. You might find yourself sacrificing a sock. Personally, I had a dresser drawer of mismatched cycling socks at home.

Public options, if you were lucky enough to be in a town or city when things started moving, were:

Restaurants: Now,  I would stay clear of anything fancier than  a Cracker Barrel. The best were fast food joints, as the bathrooms were typically really clean and out of sight of the counter (so you could get in and out without running into an employee).

Truck Stops: If you came across one of those truck stop fortresses like a BP or Bosselman, take it. Nobody would give you two looks, even if you were dressed in Lycra. The bathrooms were surprisingly clean, and there was typically an abundance of stalls.

Gas Stations: You knew you were in trouble when you asked the attendant for a key and he said the bathroom was outside around back. Check to see if there was any toilet paper in the room before starting. You might find rust stains on the sink and toilets surrounded by a lake of urine. The whole process would become an exercise in squatting. By no means did you want to make any sort of physical contact with anything in that room. Lift the seat with your shoe, flush the toilet with a hand wrapped liberally with a paper towel. It was probably best to find a tree.

So, you could see why I opted to wait before I left Ogallala.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR :



Cory Mortensen has ridden his collection of bicycles over a million miles of asphalt, dirt, mud, and backroads. In addition to the cross-country journey detailed in this book, he has traveled to over fifty-five countries, cycled from Minneapolis to Colorado solo to raise money for children born with congenital heart defects. He’s completed sixteen marathons on five continents, and survived three days of running with the bulls in Spain.

Cory is a certified Advanced PADI diver, and has enjoyed taking in life under the waves in locations all over the world. In 2003, he took time off from roaming, and accidentally started and built a company which he sold in 2013. That same year he married his best friend and explored the state of Texas for two years. The couple sold everything they owned, jumped on a plane to Ecuador and volunteered, trekked, and explored South America for sixteen months before returning to Phoenix, Arizona, where he works as a consultant and is soon to be a bestselling author.

The Buddha and the Bee is his first memoir in which he shares how a two month leave of absence redefined his life’s trajectory of sitting behind a desk and his decision to break society’s chains so he could live life on his terms.

Website: www.TheBuddhaAndTheBee.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY 

Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway

rafflecopter


Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Book Blast: Apophis



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Raj Anand will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

January, 2022: A dark monstrous twin-headed apparition – Apophis – feverishly races past the expanse of the Milky Way galaxy and bolts to the edge of the solar system. Recklessly accelerating, the sinister rock-dyad enters the gravitational keyhole of the blue planet and continues its resolute inebriated journey – to soon arrive with an apocalyptic impact on Earth.

December, 2012: Five sentient beings born in different cities – New York, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Azores Islands and Istanbul, discover amongst haunting memories of their phantasmal past lives, that it is their destiny to save humanity from the evil forces unleashed by the alien fiends – the Skyllats.

And now, the reincarnated 9-year-olds must rely on their shared, ancient wisdom to prepare humanity for the war across the galaxy that is imminent.

A Note from the Author:


Writing Apophis over these past five years, has been a cathartic inner-journey that rippled across my life. It extracted all of my patience, diligence and life-learnings of my past 52 years lived on this orphic blue bubble, as it floats across a conscious Universe.

Now its journey complete, it was launched a few days ago on several platforms across the world. And I am left exhausted, numbed and humbled by this Initiation.

I acknowledge that it is a book that I have NOT written, for it was willed from me – by the Universe. And now, it is like a child set free – floating away – ready to choose its own path, life-journey and future.

Where it goes from here?

It is for the Universe to decide.

I did, what was willed of me to do…

All I can promise the reader is a book imbued with a magical wisdom. A restlessly paced story that transports you across time, teamed up with five children along their phantasmal, breathtaking journeys.

These 9-year-olds the reincarnations of ancient philosophers, including Confucius, Plato, Buddha, Ptah Hotep and a mysterious another.

Happy Reading!

Read an Excerpt

30.45506N, 130.48804E
Isso Town, Yakushima Island, Japan
January 19, 2022 (0700 hours)
“Peter, what is their present position?” the 1.7-meter-tall Claire with a sharp nose and radiant blue eyes inquired, “Quelque chose d’autre a signaler – do you have anything else to report?” She adjusted her glasses, pushing back her long brown hair.

“Herodotus has crossed into the belt, and is travelling at a speed of 346,000 kilometers per hour,” Peter replied, seated next to the astrophysicist, “I am amazed, Claire, how well the mission has progressed so far.”

Their Command and Control Centre located in a narrow peninsula, beyond Mount Yahazudake on Yakushima Island was housed several floors below an old island home that camouflaged its true purpose.

“You really doubted them? Incroyable!” smiled Claire, when she was interrupted by her secretary with an urgent message.

“It is my job to question and doubt,” grinned Peter and turned around. But Claire had already stepped into a high-speed elevator, climbing seven levels up.

A stoic Colonel Yoshimoto dressed in a dark gray suit and a black tie, stood inside a glass partitioned conference room, studying a large photograph of a Mongolian shaman staring ardently at the moon. The rustic house with rice paper screen walls or shoji, that separated the inner office from the outer living area, was capped with a gray shingled sloping roof supported by polished wooden trusses.

Colonel Yoshimoto bowed when Claire entered and addressed him, “How are you, Koki San? I don’t believe we had a meeting scheduled. In fact, I was about to leave for a connecting flight to New York from Kagoshima.”

“We are aware of your flight to New York, Claire San.” Colonel Yoshimoto spoke apprehensively. “So, I shall be brief. About two days ago we received an unexpected signal from the Sentinel Observatory. We have modelled it several times and have arrived at conclusions…that we frankly find deeply disturbing.”

About the Author:

Savinder Raj Anand is an architect and has been teaching Architecture & Design at various Universities in India for more than 12 years. A long-distance runner with a wanderlust to explore the world, and write stories that traverse across diverse cultures. He lives in Goa with his daughter, a dog, and two cats.

Inspired by his then 18-month-old daughter – when she quoted Socrates – while they together sat in a children’s bookstore in Bangalore (LIGHTROOM) in early January of 2015, he has completed this – his first book – as she turns 7 years old.

Website: https://www.rajanandbooks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rajanandbooks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rajanandbooks/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXPA0eY42VQ

The book is FREE November 5 to December 5.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Apophis-Folds-Darkness-First-Chronicles/dp/1648508979/ref=sr_1_1
Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/Apophis-Folds-Darkness-Raj-Anand/dp/1648508979/ref=sr_1_1
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apophis-Folds-Darkness-First-Chronicles/dp/1648508979/ref=sr_1_1
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/apophis-into-the-folds-of-darkness
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Raj_Anand_Apophis_Into_the_Folds_of_Darkness
Notion Press: https://notionpress.com/read/apophis-into-the-folds-of-darkness-1339326
FlipKart: https://www.flipkart.com/apophis-into-folds-darkness-first-book-kleos-chronicles/p/itm7dbd182022818

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 9, 2020

NBtM VBT: Wired by the F.B.I

Wired by the F.B.I.

by Glenn Painter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  Mystery/Suspense, Thriller

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Christian Romano lives his life as a con-artist, burglar, drug dealer, and a ladies' man, using his good looks to con wealthy women out of jewels and money. When he is arrested and jailed in one of the most violent jails in the U.S. (Cook County in Chicago), a steamy affair begins with a nympho female jail guard. When he loses control of the romance, Christian must end the affair by reporting her to Internal Affairs. It turns out that she is already under suspicion for supplying drugs to various gang members inside the jail. He has to decide if he is &rogue& enough to help set her up for arrest. Meanwhile, the FBI wants to recruit Christian to gather information against a sadist ex-cop, Scott Mason, who has been arrested for murder. The risk? Christian must wear a wire and testify. The reward? Witness protection for Christian and his girlfriend and a modification of his prison sentence. Will Christian risk his life for a chance at freedom? Will the female sheriff &get even& with him? Or will his life end at the hands of the jail's drug lords or a lunatic former cop?

Excerpt:

Something’s wrong, my intuition told me, as I stepped out of the stairwell and into the chaotic frenzy of the main hallway running under Division One of the Cook County jail.

Sergeant Ricky Walsh opened the heavy, rusted steel door leading to the death trap—that is A-B stairwell—then turned to me. “Romano, take the stairs down four flights to the bottom, I will meet you there.”

There are four sets of stairs that lead to the main boulevard on the first floor. They are legendary for the infamous men who have been butchered there, the bloodstained walls are a testament to the violence that is the norm in this building. As I begin my descent down the narrow and poorly lit stairwell, the thought hits me: At least half a dozen men have been stabbed in this exact place. The words taunt me as I step slowly down the stairs so that Walsh will have time to beat me to the first floor in the old, decrepit elevator.

When I finally make it down, I breathe a sigh of relief. But it is not Walsh waiting at the huge, steel door I am to exit. Instead of the old mick—who looked and walked like a bulldog with his perfectly groomed hair and mustache—it was one of the lackey guards. They would often hang out on the main floor waiting to proposition some poor woman coming to visit her man. I open the door and step through quickly, not wanting to arouse suspicion. But my heart hangs in my throat.

During my trip down the stairwell, the heavy steel recorder slid down my pant leg, stopping on top of my right foot. The ACE bandage, meant to hold it in place, was also dangling and ready to pop out for everyone to see. Panic set in as my mind processed a million thoughts, but I couldn’t break my stride.

It was common knowledge that this is where inmates often came out stabbing when sent to attack a guard by one of the gang bosses. Looking past the guard, I saw Sergeant Walsh bearing down on us as fast as his stubby legs would carry him.

“Hey Walsh,” I said, “the food poisoning is getting worse, I’m gonna puke all over this guy.”ng around to see what was going on. These guards tolerated zero bull, especially from a smart-ass like me.

I decided that it was quicker and easier to shove the recorder under the waistband of my jail pants and pray it would stay. After splashing water on my face, I poked my head out.

Walsh fell right in line with my cover. “We’re going to the hospital, come with me!” he bellowed.

I exited the closet, pushing the recorder into my torso as we walked past another guard. We traveled down the long hallway. Once we were far enough out of earshot, Walsh found an unoccupied attorney visiting room. As he opened the door, I scurried to the far corner.

“The hallway is clear!” Walsh yelled.

I pulled the recorder from my waistband and looked at it with disdain. Then I wrapped it tight with the ACE bandage. Although the long recording wires had to be reconnected and it only took a few moments, it felt like forever.

Then it hit me: I’m wearing a wire against one of the most violent hitmen Chicago has ever known, and this prick had been a Chicago cop. He probably knows every person who works in this jail. Getting whacked in a place like this costs less than a carton of cigarettes. What the hell have I gotten myself into? But there was no backing out, and I still had to get back to my tier.

Walsh looked at me, his brow furrowed. He quietly asked, “You alright, kid?”

“I better be. I signed a deal with the devil, and it’s time to pay up.”

I drew in a deep breath as we headed to the hospital, so we could sign in and make it look legit.

How did my life get to this point? I wondered as I followed Walsh. Growing up in Chicago, I was exposed to police corruption, murder, drugs, gangsters, and sex, oh yes, lots and lots of sex.

I had no clue of what awaited me, but my unsavory legacy was about to go down in history like crap down a toilet.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Glenn Painter is single and lives in Central Florida.  He became interested in writing at an early age but did not make it his career until 2014 when he published his first book, Beyond the Sentence.

Glenn has written this story from the notes by the man who actually lived it.  However, extensive research was also require in order to make the story factual.

Glenn has also founded a company, ‘Prisoner Civil Right Services.’  He is an advocate for incarcerated individuals who have had their rights violated.  He is in constant contact with these individuals, their families and the council.  Most of his stories are inspired by ‘factual events’ that have happened to these individuals.  This makes his stories both fiction and non-fiction.

Glenn says that writing is very challenging, and you must love the trials and tribulations that come with it.  He believes that patience, perseverance and determination are required essentials to see a book through to being published.  The journey is just as important as the destination.

Website


Interview #4


Q/And weird things you do when you’re alone?

When I think of ideas that are humorous, I repeat them and ‘laugh out loud’. People think this is weird, but it works for me.


Q/What is your favorite quote and why?

My favorite quote is “success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts”.

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

I like this quote because it has all of my ‘live by’ beliefs wrapped up in one belief ‘patience, determination, and perseverance.  These are all connected and are the elements in being a successful writer.


Q/Who is your favorite author and why?

My favorite writer is F. Scott Fitzgerald.  He had a unique style.  His novels were gripping and intriguing. He had a way of drawing the reader into the book and feeling like they were part of the story. The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books.


Q/What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing”

The most important element in writing is a ‘unique technique’, ‘great flow from one instance to another’.  Also, ‘a great sense of humor’ is a plus.  By instilling this quality in your writing, you will provide ‘laugh out loud moments’ that will give your book flavor and keep your readers wanting more.


Q/Where did you get the idea for this book?

I was contacted by the individual who lived it.  After hearing his story, I decided to investigate the details and felt it would make a great book.  He sent me an outline which was a ‘bunch of rants.’  I

made several trips to Chicago for research, and interviews to complete the manuscript I created.



Giveaway




Saturday, October 24, 2020

Cover Reveal: Game Winning Goal

The final book in the beloved 425 Madison Ave is nearly here! Check out the amazing cover for GAME WINNING GOAL by Kay Gordon, a must-read sports romance!

Cheyenne

Life was good. I had a great job, amazing people surrounding me, season tickets to see my favorite hockey team play, and a cat that I could cuddle. Although it didn’t seem glamorous, I was happy. But when the shy, handsome, and somewhat awkward hockey player slid into my life, I realized that I could be happier. I wanted to be more than just content with life.

Kamden

I knew I wanted to be a hockey player from the moment I put on my first pair of skates. I played

hard for the Titans, proving that I belonged on the top line. But just when I finally made it, an injury took me out of the game. While feeling sorry for myself and waiting to heal, I met the bubbly, beautiful, and smart pediatrician who brought me to my knees. She made me see that there was more to life than scoring goals. A love of the game helps bring these two together and onto a path towards a different kind of love.

Cheyenne and Kamden’s road isn’t as smooth as ice, though. What happens when Kam’s recovery isn’t easy and his position on the team is threatened? Cheyenne has to figure out how to break down his defense and Kam has to realize that he might not always be the one to score the game-winning goal.

After all, 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love.

Pre-Order Game Winning Goal today!

Add to Goodreads!


Want to jump into 425 Madison Ave now?

Don’t miss Two For Holding, Kay’s other book featured in the first season!

 

Read Two For Holding, Porter & Savannah’s story!


About Kay Gordon

Kay Gordon is a married mother of two living near the west coast. She spends her days teaching young, impressionable minds in public school and evenings typing away furiously once her children are in bed. Her favorite genres to read are Contemporary Romance and New Adult/College romance, although she rarely denies a good paranormal or dystopian! When she's not teaching or writing, Kay loves to spend time with her family. They're all a bunch of nerds who can quote Disney movies and Star Wars quickly!

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About the 425 Madison Series

Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Rounding out the summer with some hot city nights and coasting into fall with more cool characters at this famous high-rise, 425 Madison is returning for a third season!

With some familiar faces and some brand new residents - you'll be sure to find an author you love and a trope to ignite your taste buds after all 425 Madison IS the perfect place to fall in love!

We’ve got an amazing line of up must-read romance authors including, Lauren Helms, Allie York

J Marie, Kay Gordon, Marcie Shumway, Aubree Valentine, S.L. Sterling, and Fiona Tulle

Prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.

Season One and Two feature stories from some of your favorite romance authors: Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Allie York, Aubree Valentine, Kay Gordon, Lauren Helms, Sylvia Kane, Katy Ames, KC Enders, Marci Shumway, and C. Lesbirel. All these authors came together, each with a standalone romance for you to enjoy. Covering all of your favorite tropes each tale offers you something new, something different.

Make sure to follow the 425 Madison Avenue Facebook page for more on release dates, cover reveals, and author spotlights. For exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and news subscribe to our 425 Madison newsletter!

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Catch up on the first two seasons, available exclusively in Kindle Unlimited!