Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Book Blast: The Flames of Soulflare


 



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. La Kayshal will be awarding $10 PayPal gift to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



Dragons fear prophecy, and love may be the final weapon in this dark, multi-POV Romantasy perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and From Blood and Ash.

Feared as the harbinger of doom, Everin Haydon is stolen, broken, and reforged by magic into a living weapon bound to a Dragon Council that calls its tyranny justice.

Across the realms, Lord Tynan, the Demon of Darkness and Chaos, returns. His awakening marks the coming of the three days of darkness, and he tears through realms to reclaim what fate binds to him, the Hell’s Fire Dragon.

But one question remains. If the demon rises, where is the immortal meant to stop him?

As the dragon world waits for divine intervention, Everin must decide whether she remains a weapon or becomes the fate of the realms.


Read an Excerpt

The moon hung quietly above Helldreth Fort, its pale glow spilling through the tall windows and brushing the chamber with soft silver. A cool breeze drifted in and stirred the white curtains, their edges sweeping lightly across Everin’s skin. She pulled her silk gown closer, grateful for the warmth of the room. It felt comforting, far more so than the terrible, dark place she had left behind.

Her steps carried her to the mirror in the corner. The reflection staring back looked thinner, as if her body had been carved down to something she hardly recognized. The neckline of her nightie dipped too low to her liking, drawing her eye to the faint scars across her chest. The lamp light traced their uneven lines, pale and unsettling.

She touched them gently. Everin barely remembered how or when she got the scars. She pulled the outer robe around her until it covered more of her chest. At least the scars were low enough to stay hidden unless she wore something too revealing.

A sound of footsteps behind her made her turn.

Tariel Fenwick, her first love, stood at the doorway.

Everin froze for a moment. He looked different—stronger, more defined, more man than the boy she remembered. His dark hair rested just above his shoulders with two thin braids at the sides of his head, framing a face sharpened by a faint stubble. His amber eyes, once so warm, now carried a deeper, shadowed intensity. His shirt hung open across his chest, revealing sculpted muscle that rose with each slow breath, and a leather gauntlet, more like an open finger glove, hugged his left hand like a seamless extension of his skin.

Her gaze lingered longer than she meant it to. He saw that. A slow, knowing smirk touched his lips.

She straightened quickly. “We need to talk, Tariel.”

“Yes,” he replied, approaching her, “but not now.”

“There is a lot I want to understand,” she said quietly. “So much I don’t remember.”

“Later.” He reached her, lowering his voice. “I’ve long waited for this moment with you.”

He stepped closer.

She stepped back.

“You waited for me?” she whispered, searching his face.

“I did,” he said. “More than you know.”

He brushed a fingertip along her arm. She stiffened but felt a flicker of the old pull toward him, a warm memory trying to surface. Her eyes drifted briefly to his lips, those that she had kissed in the past, before she forced herself to look away.

His smirk deepened. “Are we shy now, Everin?” he murmured, amusement warm in his voice.

About the Author: La Kayshal is an Australian writer of romance, YA, and children's fantasy novels. She lives with her husband, daughter, and a playful Malshi puppy in the coastal plains of the Sunny State.
br> Her debut novel, The Lost Crown, is an adventure romance set in the exotic landscapes of India. She also created the much-loved Sylph Series, a whimsical children’s collection that introduces readers to the amazing world of Sylphs, with each book carrying a gentle moral lesson. A lifelong fan of wizards, magic, dragons, swords, and elementals, she poured all these passions into her YA fantasy Ariston Baker in the Weird Picture Book, a fast-paced journey filled with realms, riddles, action, and adventure.

Her latest project is the Hell’s Fire Dragon duology, a romantasy series filled with dragons, magic, and high-stakes conflict. Book 1, The Flames of Darkness, begins the story, followed by Book 2, The Flames of Soulflare.

Website: http://lakayshal.wixsite.com/my-site-1
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kaysreads1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakayshalbooks
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaKayshal
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lakayshalbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/La.Kayshal/
X: https://x.com/LaKayshal

Friday, November 14, 2025

Book Blast: Hippie Mermaid



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joanne Guidoccio will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



From sea to shore, betrayal follows her wherever she goes.

On Christmas Eve, psychic Kendra Adams reveals the secret she’s hidden for decades—she was once Rosina, a mermaid torn between sea and shore. Betrayed in her ocean kingdom and desperate to escape banishment, she persuades a politician to smuggle her into the human world. But freedom on land comes at a cost, as she soon finds herself ensnared in another web, this one spun by the politician’s power-hungry sister.


Read an Excerpt

The human laughter startled me. It sounded so foreign, unlike anything I had ever heard before. I followed the sounds and turned my gaze toward four large humans approaching us. Up close, they were frightening, almost menacing, in their dark garments. I took note of their varying appearances. Two had light brown hair and blue eyes, while the other pair sported dark hair and dark eyes. Intent on observing the darker pair, I didn’t notice the other two men eyeing me.

“Hippie mermaid!” yelled one of the men with light-colored features.

All the men glanced in my direction. I felt myself reddening as I met their liquid eyes and wide smiles. There was interest there, and some other emotion or feeling I had never seen before. For a split second, I was flattered by their attention. And then I recalled what Mama had said. I must let Annabella choose first.

Annabella did not give me a chance to react. She beckoned to the man who had spoken, and he reluctantly turned away from me. Rosetta claimed the other light-haired man, and Lisetta chose one of the dark-haired men. I watched as they moved to separate rocks along the shore.

The remaining man approached. As his features came into closer focus, I realized he was older than the others. Not by much, but there were white hairs sprinkled in the darkness, and his face crinkled as he smiled. “I guess I won this mermaid lottery.”

My eyes widened in surprise.

He laughed and shook his head. “You could have had any of us. You didn’t have to end up with me.”

“But I’m not a Bella or an Etta. I’m an Ina.” There was no point in hiding my rank. I had never been embarrassed by it, and after hearing about Aunt Lina’s punishment, I knew “Honey, I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re the prettiest of the group. You just don’t know it yet.”

About the Author:



Joanne Guidoccio enjoyed a rewarding career teaching mathematics, business, and co- operative education courses before retiring to pursue writing. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, she writes paranormal romances, cozy mysteries, and inspirational stories from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Website: https://joanneguidoccio.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joanneguidoccio
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/joann eguidoccio.bsky.social
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest. jca/guidoccio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aut horjoanneguidoccio https://ww w.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneg uidoccio
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Joanne- Guidoccio/e/B00FAWJGCG

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Hippie-Mermaid-Joanne-Guidoccio- ebook/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Hippie-Mermaid-Joanne-Guidoccio- ebook/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F VHQ2T3N
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/ B0FVHQ2T3N

br> my place.

Goodreads: https://ww w.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneg uidoccio
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Joanne- Guidoccio/e/B00FAWJGCG

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Hippie-Mermaid-Joanne-Guidoccio- ebook/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Hippie-Mermaid-Joanne-Guidoccio- ebook/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F VHQ2T3N
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/ B0FVHQ2T3N

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

VBT: The Fate of Our Union



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

GENRE: Fantasy

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

BLURB:

A mountainous thundering bull breaks up battling tribesmen, summoning three struggling youths, as an insidious unseen enemy turns tribes against tribes—pitting rich against poor, sons against fathers, and men against gods. Its insatiable hunger for division threatens to plunge mankind into a dystopian realm ruled by man-eating wolves.

A miraculous seven-headed horse, a symbol of unity, assembles the struggling youths of extraordinary origin into a journey of self-discovery. There Sunu the Saxon Poet, Rufus the Roman Stoic, and Keresaspa the Sarmatian Priestess must overcome pride, aversion, and unforgiveness; there they must learn from historical heroes, philosophers, and amazingly similar gods to battle the unseen monster and its rising wolfmen.

Fated to part ways to face the demons at home, Sunu, Rufus, and Keresaspa must reunite as they bring divided peoples together to fight the source tearing everyone apart. They must heed the divine wisdom of the seven-headed horse and justly wield the seven magic weapons they’ve mysteriously been given to overcome the unseen enemy and understand the higher purpose of the mountainous thundering bull.

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



EXCERPT:

Sunu meets the seven-headed, winged horse, Long Ears (CH 4 of The Fate of Our Union).

Sunu’s breath caught in his throat as he stared at a white stallion with seven handsome heads, spreading a glorious pair of wings. It towered at twenty-one hands, and its seven heads encircled its neck like temple pillars; one faced forward, one angled to the left, one angled to the right. A head was on each side, while two in the back angled left and right. “You are the one we’re speaking to,” its pink lips uttered under black nostrils, the words echoing in Sunu’s ears like a divine melody.

“It’s as if all seven were as one!” Sunu imagined the sacred horses merging, gazing breathlessly as they surrounded the seven-headed, winged stallion inside the birch grove. His heart raced in suspense, his eyes wide with wonder, as he awaited its next move.

The stallion’s seven heads repeated, “As one.”

“I’ve heard of a horse with eight legs.” Sunu imagined Woden’s horse, Sleipnir. “But never one with seven heads . . . that can speak . . . and has wings!” Visually high, Sunu gaped at every beautifully mane-draped head under the dreamily feathered wings.

The stallion’s forward-facing head replied in a deep, resonant voice, “It’s time you heard.”


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

AUTHOR:

Hildebrand Hengest Hermannson’s deep-rooted fire for Indo-European culture and Western Philosophy ignites his first novel, The Fate of Our Union, the inaugural piece in a planned series. His work draws inspiration from the national epics The Saga of the Volsungs (Norse), Mahabharata (Indian), Aenid (Roman), Odyssey (Greek), Táin Bó Cúailnge (Celtic), and Shahnameh (Iranian), weaving these rich cultures into original stories featuring fantasy world-building, dynamic characters, and intricate plots and themes. His Wild Hunt of thought breathes life into his spiritual, ethical, and cultural interests, inspiring us all to strive for imperishable virtue.

Website


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

GIVEAWAY 

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

Rafflecopter


Friday, December 30, 2022

Book Blast: Siba - The Eternal Quest

 



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.













 

An epic journey of adventure, heroism, and self-exploration through the eyes of a teenage boy named Siba.

Siba’s life takes an exciting turn when his pet parrot takes him to a magical forest. He explores the mysterious forest-dwellers and the precious ancient wisdoms of the fantasy world when a sudden tragedy jeopardizes life on earth. To save the world, he must embark on a legendary journey to the Pole Star.

Siba encounters many mythical creatures and numerous thrilling challenges that jolt him to his core. They leave burning questions in his mind about the world and his own existence. He must dive into the dark labyrinths of his mind, for the last hope of saving humanity seems to be hidden there.

Can he solve the mysteries of the mystical world and his inner world? Can he complete his journey to the Pole Star and save the world?

A perfect blend of fantasy, mysticism, and spirituality that explores the answer to the eternal question – Who Am I?


Read an Excerpt

“Watch your left!” shouted the leader of the golden eagles. Before the angel could maneuver to his right, blinding lightning struck across the dark clouds, just missing his left wing. The very next moment, deafening thunder numbed everything. The angel and the accompanying eagles held their nerves and pushed through the expanding wall of clouds. The leader of the eagles anticipated growing dangers and feared they would get lost. He yelled, “I can’t help you if I can’t see where we are going. The storm is escalating into a tornado. We won’t be able to withstand these powerful winds for long. Everyone, move up above the thunderstorm. We’ll resume our journey from there.”

The angel and the eagles listened to the leader’s call and flew up above the clouds. Looking down on the thundering clouds, the leader took a deep sigh of relief. He quickly turned his head toward the others to check their condition. “What happened to your wings?” the shocked leader screamed at the angel.

The angel looked instinctively on his sides. There were no wings but flapping arms. A sudden gush of panic infused in him as he realized he was just a boy and not an angel. Right away, the horrified boy fell into the dark mushrooming clouds, screaming from the bottom of his gut. His arms and legs kept flailing in despair until he disappeared into the dark swirling storm.

About the Author:B. Singh grew up in a small city, Chandigarh, located near the foothills of the mighty Himalayas in northwest India. Since his childhood, he has always had an inquisitive mindset. He doesn’t settle for the pre-existing answers if they don’t make sense to him. Instead, he explores, experiments, and finds the answer himself. He has traveled across India from north to south not only for his education but also to explore different cultures and values. To continue his journey of exploration, he moved from India to Canada. After graduating from the University of Windsor, Canada, he conceived the idea of compiling his learnings in the form of a spiritual fantasy book. This well-crafted and awe- inspiring adventurous journey into a fantasy world is full of chiseled gems of wisdom that will enrich the lives of every human being on earth.

Instagram
Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, December 9, 2022

Book Blast: Blood of the Hunted

 



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

The Resistance Is Rising

Weylyn, Olwen, and other members of the marginalized and subjugated group known as the Tóráin are trying every day to gain equality and freedom. Their enemies, which consist of vile human monarchs, their soldiers, and a masked witch assassin known only as The Dove, continue to tighten their grip around the necks of the Tóráin.

Leading The Resistance, Weylyn and Olwen endure many trials that test them physically and mentally, relying on their loved ones to keep them from losing hope. They both wish to see a time of equality and peace, but to achieve that requires more than what they have. Desperation leads The Resistance to find new allies all across the continent of Kosavros with the goal of finally defeating their oppressive Their fight for freedom and respect leads Weylyn and Olwen down paths that open their eyes to new dangers, both involving themselves and the rest of the world. However, they do not waiver. For the Tóráin are known for their resilience, and they have already endured much. What comes next will be hard, but they’re ready to fight for their lives. Together.


Read an Excerpt

It was rare to hear someone sing a song in our language. One, because most soldiers liked to arrest you for doing so, and two, because not many even knew our old ways of speaking anymore. Once the hunting of the Tóráin was over, humans made sure to strip away whatever connection we had to our homeland. They tossed everyone under the age of twenty into schools to be taught the common language. Some were even forced to learn their country’s native tongue as well. If you spoke our language in public, you were beaten or imprisoned, or both. Some families resisted this aggressive conformity and taught their children Séúbua as well as many other things.

My mother was a stubborn sprite, and her mother was an even greater pain in the ass. They were both smart enough to keep such things secretive, but they taught my siblings and me as much as they could about our old home. Songs, recipes, stories; everything was taught in our language. I used to quietly sing for my parents when I was young, and when I got older, I became brazen and sang at bars and inns that called themselves safe havens for the Tóráin. It was risky to sing these songs in public, even in a place that claimed to be safe, but I still did it. I felt proud to do it. I stopped a long time ago though, and my reason for doing so was clawing to the forefront of my mind.

About the Author:
Marc R. Micciola lives in Ontario, Canada with his two dogs Rielly and Ace. He has a great passion for hockey, movies, and books. He possesses a book collection consisting of a multitude of fantasy stories. Many of these novels are from his favorite authors: Mark Lawrence, George R. R. Martin, Tom Lloyd, and J. R. R. Tolkien. His prize possessions are his two replica swords from the Lord of the Rings films and his growing number of fountain pens. When Marc isn’t writing, he’s spending time with his dogs, his family, and his friends. Photography and wood art are overseers.

other things that Marc enjoys doing. Marc’s goal when writing any book is to put together a story that is enjoyable, emotional, and intriguing. If the words on the page make you feel something, then this author feels he’s done his job.

Website
Twitter

Buy the book at Amazon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, October 31, 2022

VBT: Searching



by Rachel Graves

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

GENRE: Urban Fantasy 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

BLURB:

A dragon terrified of being discovered by the government, Ravenna Drake is constantly on the 

move. When the woman who raised her gets cancer, Ravenna trades her nomadic work 

restoring black market magical goods for a steady job. But her cautious life ends after her name 

is found at the scene of a werewolf murder.

Dr. Ian Chen, a sorcerer bonded to a powerful relic, works for the government treating 

supernatural citizens. He insists on investigating when his patient’s body is discovered 

completely drained of blood. His search leads him to the beautiful but frustrating Ravenna 

Drake, who refuses to stay away from the case or follow his instructions.

As more bloodless bodies surface, threats from secret societies and corrupt politicians force the 

dragon and the sorcerer to work together. If Ravenna and Ian can’t catch the killer, the people 

they love the most may be the next to die.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 



EXCERPT

His foot reached out to blur the circle and the ghost changed. Agony forced every other emotion 

aside. He couldn’t breathe, a heavy weight settled on his chest. Panic set in as he wheezed, his 

heart racing the way hers had raced. Was he experiencing her last minutes or just panicking at 

the emotions? Could he trust himself? Darkness started to crowd the edges of his vision. Not 

enough air. Sweat broke out along his back. Somewhere, Cloak was saying something, but he 

couldn’t hear it over the pounding of blood in his ears. He was going to die here. The blackness 

got closer.“No.” The flood of emotions stopped immediately, as Drake stepped in front of him. “That’s not

how this works. You don’t get to scream at him.”

His head throbbed, stinging like acid dripping down his face, but he could breathe again. The

darkness receded. The first thing he saw was Drake moving into the center of the stain, acting

as if the blood wasn’t there.

“I’ll give you enough energy to manifest, but start screaming again and I will end you, even if we

haven’t heard a damn thing you’ve got to say. Understand?” She paused, then reached her

hand out. A shaft of sunlight came in through the window and her hand seemed to glow. Then

the end of it disappeared, replaced with a chest. The shape grew outward, a filmy light turning

into a woman. The process took less than a minute, and he heard the sheriff whisper to God.

“Dr. Chen, she can talk to you now.” Drake said it with a very deliberate emphasis on the word

talk. Whatever the ghost intended, it wasn’t going to stand up to her. A deep surge of gratitude

coursed through him.

~~~~~~~~~~



 AUTHOR :

Rachel Graves writes mysteries that blend the supernatural with steamy, sexy scenes. Her work

explores the many shades of gray found between the lines of right and wrong. Rachel's books

focus on strong heroines who take charge of their own fate, their friends, and their families.

Rachel is a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and uses research skills

honed getting a graduate degree in psychology to seek out rare folklore and magical creatures.

Her writing incorporates popular monsters like vampires and werewolves as well as diverse

creatures like selkies and yuki onna. Rachel has lived in a cursed town, taken far too many

ghost tours, and counts down to every Halloween starting in November. You can read short

stories and learn more about her on her

 Website


Giveaway

Thursday, August 5, 2021

VBT: Dragon(e) Baby Gone



GENRE: Mystery Fantasy

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


BLURB:


Diane Morris is part of the thin line separating a happy, mundane world from all of the horrors of the anomalous. Her federal agency is underfunded, understaffed, and misunderstood, and shed rather transfer to the boring safety of Logistics than remain a field agent. When a troupe of international thieves make off with a pair of dragon eggs, Diane has no choice but to ally with a demon against the forces looking to leave her city a smoldering crater. Facing down rogue wizards, fiery elementals, and crazed gunmen, its a race against time to get the precious cargo back before the dragon wakes up and unleashes hell.


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



Excerpt:


Modern times gave way to a general idea that reason and logic were enough to stop something from dragging you into the sewers and wearing your skin to protect itself from daylight. Its easy to see why: it doesnt happen to a lot of people, therefore it must not happen. I see it all the time, people who say things like Ive never seen a ghost, so they must not exist.


Oh yeah? Because if spirits did exist, theyd all be tripping over their ghost dicks to haunt you? Do you understand the preternatural forces that conspire, the circumstances that line up, to create any kind of ghost? Let alone one that shows up in your room at night and moans about revenge or betrayal or rattles some chains and teaches you a valuable lesson about being selfish?


Well, theres no such thing as Bigfoot. All those pictures are super blurry and grainy, they say, their voices nasally and snobby, like all the knowledge of the world is pumped directly into their tiny brains through their tiny phones. Go stand out in a remote Colorado forest one night. Turn off your phone, open your eyes and ears, and wait. When you feel those eyes watching, and when you know, deep in that primitive monkey brain, way, way down inside, that theres more than just the animals you have names for sharing that clearing with you, then you can call me to tell me that theres no such thing as Bigfoot.


That is, if you live to turn your phone back on again.




Author:

Robert Gainey is a born and raised Floridian, despite his best efforts. While enrolled at Florida State University and studying English (a language spoken on a small island near Europe), Robert began volunteering for the campus medical response team, opening up a great new passion in his life. Following graduation, he pursued further training through paramedic and firefighting programs, going on to become a full time professional firefighter in the State of Florida. He currently lives and works in Northeast Florida with his wife and dogs, who make sure he gets walked regularly. Robert writes near-fetched fantasy novels inspired by the madness and courage found in everyday events.

Website


My Review

It was the blurb that first attracted me to this book. The main female character is a federal agent. I just think it would be so cool to be an agent of some sort. Based on the blurb, I am expecting use of at least one of the four basic elements.

There was plenty of talk about paranormal and supernatural species. I wouldn't mind having a "cait sith" as a pet.

While I don't know if this book is supposed to be (at least partially) a comedy, there were line that I felt were clever and even funny.

I have enjoyed other books published by The Wild Rose Press. This one was no exception.


Rating: 😀😀😀😀😀


*** I voluntary requested to read and review this book.


Giveaway

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

Rafflecopter



Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Book Blast: This Tale is True



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Deborah Adams will be awarding a $25 Visa gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

They don’t make goddesses like they used to….

For eons they ruled, but modern times have been rough on the ancient deities— their temples collapsed, their worshippers wandered off, and their purposes were made redundant by industry and technology. And the Fates aren’t finished with them yet.

Mere days before the annual renewal of their immortality is to occur, the goddess of youth disappears. Without her and her restorative nectar, time and age will catch up with the goddesses. In the blink of an eye, they will shrivel and die, leaving the world to fend for itself, unless a skeptical mortal can find a way to save both worlds.

combines the humor one expects from Adams with magical realism and a dash of literary fiction, resulting in a boisterous read that pushes back against the boundaries of genre.

“Deborah Adams offers goddesses in peril and a protagonist who dares all to save the immortals in a wild, wacky, and wonderful romp. Imaginative, creative, fabulous fiction.” ~ Carolyn Hart, author of the otherworldly Bailey Ruth series

Read an Excerpt

“A squirrel in the toilet is not an omen.” Cybil felt this bore repeating. “It’s just a rodent whose curiosity proved to be more than it could handle.”

Evie, her roommate and current audience, unlocked their apartment door and stepped inside, then closed the door and engaged the deadbolt as soon as Cybil had joined her. Pre-emptive security was important to Cybil, and she’d worked hard to instill good habits in her new roommate. Despite her trusting nature, Evie tried to comply with Cybil’s insistent rule about staying safe, although Evie was certain that the real dangers in this world could not be restrained by man-made mechanisms.

“I never said the squirrel was an omen,” Evie insisted.

“You didn’t disagree when the wacky witches were putting forth that very notion,” Cybil reminded her. “If you don’t speak out against the nonsense, you are in tacit agreement.”

“They have a right to believe whatever they like.” Pushing back the hood of her purple velvet cloak, Evie ran the fingers of one hand through her nut-brown hair. “And surely you can see why they thought it had meaning. It’s hard to believe the squirrel just happened to pop up in Belinda’s toilet at the very moment we invoked the Great Goddess.”

“It’s harder to believe that a goddess of Hera’s standing would send her RSVP through a bushy-tailed rat.”

“You never know,” Evie said with sincerity. “Goddesses don’t think or act like mortals.”

“I daresay you’re right about that,” Cybil conceded.

About the Author:
Deborah Zenha Adams, recipient of the Macavity and Flair Awards, is an author, a naturalist, and a yoga educator. In {This Tale Is True}, a work of magical realism, she unveils the fate of ancient Roman goddesses as they struggle to survive in the 21st century.

The seven novels in her Jesus Creek mystery series were published under her own name, and other works appear under a variety of pseudonyms. She is also the author of numerous short stories and essays.

She has been a guest lecturer at numerous events, including Southern Festival of Books, Appalachian Studies Conference, Warioto Regional Library Board of Trustees Conference, Southeastern Booksellers Association, Georgia Library Association Convention, Emory University, East Tennessee State University Writers Program, and many others. She is a lifetime member of the Southern Literary Coalition.

Deborah-Zenha is available for interviews, speaking, and author events. Her signature workshops include Write Your Memoir (even if you aren’t a writer) and Write Your Yoga Memoir.

Learn more about the author and her books on her website.

Website: http://www.Deborah-Adams.com

{This Tale Is True} is available from your favorite local bookstore, as well as online stores.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998494097/ref=as_li_tl
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wanderings-of-a-naturalist-in-india-andrew-leith-adams/1102064407
Books-a-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/this-Tale-True/Deborah-Adams/9780998494098
Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780998494098
Kobo: http://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/this-tale-is-true

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Book Blast: The Edge of All Worlds


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enter to win a physical copy of the paperback of Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds (continental US only). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Carson of Venus is back in the first novel of groundbreaking Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe series!

When a mysterious enemy attacks his adopted nation of Korva, Earthman Carson Napier discovers his own arrival on Venus years ago may have unknowingly triggered the strike. The invaders' trail of death and destruction leads Carson and his beloved princess Duare headlong into battle against a seemingly invincible, primordial race. But that is not Carson's only challenge, for an uncanny phenomenon has entangled him with two strange individuals from beyond spacetime. Will Carson be able to solve the mysteries of his past and the enigmatic visitors before the entire planet descends into chaos?

Also includes the bonus novelette "Pellucidar: Dark of the Sun" by Christopher Paul Carey, introducing Victory Harben, the ERB Universe's newest heroine:

The very principle of physics behind the Gridley Wave has mysteriously failed, cutting off all communication between the hollow world of Pellucidar and the outer crust, and now inventor Jason Gridley must seek help from his brilliant young protégé, Victory Harben. Together they recover timeworn records from deep in the ruins of a dead Mahar city, hoping to use knowledge of Pellucidar's former reptilian overlords to jumpstart the Gridley Wave. But when their experiment goes terribly wrong, Jason and Victory suddenly find themselves drawn into the inscrutable machinations of an ancient evil.

THE FIRST UNIVERSE OF ITS KIND

A century before the term "crossover" became a buzzword in popular culture, Edgar Rice Burroughs created the first expansive, fully cohesive literary universe. Coexisting in this vast cosmos was a pantheon of immortal heroes and heroines--Tarzan of the Apes, Jane Clayton, John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Carson Napier, and David Innes being only the best known among them. In Burroughs' 80-plus novels, their epic adventures transported them to the strange and exotic worlds of Barsoom, Amtor, Pellucidar, Caspak, and Va-nah, as well as the lost civilizations of Earth and even realms beyond the farthest star. Now the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe expands in an all-new series of canonical novels written by today's talented authors!

Read an Excerpt

“You should not have come here,” Yron interrupted. He looked over my friends and then opened his mouth repeatedly, as if he were straining for air. “You should turn around now and go back home in that strange flying vessel of yours.” He waited, as if he truly expected us to go.

Duare broke the awkward silence. “We are here to ask for help, or at the very least, some information.”

“I have none of that,” Yron said.

“Help or information?” I asked.

“Neither. Both.” The jong appeared flustered by the request, and by our very presence. I wondered why our appearances here had so obviously upset this usually cunning and devious leader. Had I known that it was Yron we were dealing with, I certainly would have thought twice about meeting with him so far down in his own element.

“What are you doing out here?” I asked. Yron and his people lived thousands of miles to the north in the city of Mypos, so what had prompted them to establish such a far-flung outpost? And who had built it? I had been to Mypos and seen firsthand the fish-people’s poor sense of art and architecture. They certainly hadn’t constructed this outpost on their own.

Before Yron could respond, Ero Shan stepped forward and demanded to hear anything that Yron knew about Nalte and the strange soldiers who had taken her. Duare interjected and described the creatures we had encountered, their craft, and how they had absconded with our companion.

Yron looked anxious, if his rapidly flapping gill slits meant anything, and said, “It sounds like you’ve run afoul of the Linneauns.”

Copyright © Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. All rights reserved. All logos, characters, names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Used by permission.

About the Author:
Matt Betts worked for years in radio as an on-air personality, anchor and reporter. His fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. His work includes the steampunk novel, Odd Men Out, urban fantasy crime novel Indelible Ink, and his recent cryptid/horror novel White Anvil: Sasquatch Onslaught. His current release Carson of Venus: The Edge of all Worlds continues a series begun by Edgar Rice Burroughs.



Sales links:

ERB: https://bit.ly/3cmkrAU
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RFrcGa

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Betts_Matt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattbettswrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbetts_author/
Website: http://www.mattbetts.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, March 9, 2020

VBT: The Prophecy


The Prophecy
by Erin Pemberton

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

GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy

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

BLURB:

In a land plagued by war, King Dorvin and Queen Shiara are expecting their first child. They are excited until the good fairies tell of a prophecy; that their daughter is the key to winning the war against the Shadow tribes. To protect her, mages of the kingdom create a tower to keep her and her guardian hidden until her eighteenth birthday. When Ella turns 18 she leaves the tower, only to find that her parents are dead and the Shadow tribes now control the kingdom. Trained as a warrior, and aided by the good fairies, Ella must now bring her subjects together and prepare for the final war.

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




Excerpt :

“You love her, don’t you?” Jack asked quietly, his eyes never leaving Erek’s.

“Does it matter? She and I can never be together.” The sadness of this truth rang through Erek, nearly making him fall to the floor and weep. He’d waited his whole life for her. “You love her as well.”

Jack nodded his head. “Where does that leave us? What are we going to do?”

Erek feeling more tired and older than his twenty-five years replied, “It leaves us fighting for the same thing. Once this is all over, we’ll figure out the rest. For right now, we need to be content that when one of us isn’t around watching over her, the other is.”

Jack ran a hand over his newly shaved head, his eyes turned to the floor and nodded.

Erek looked at him, seeing so much of himself in this man of light. The same eyes, the same stature, the same look. Even their movements and choice of haircuts were the same. Right down to the chin strap they both wore. Erek never thought of it before, but it were almost if they were the same man. “Do you think, if we lived in another world, that we might be the same person? Me being the darker side and you the lighter?”

Jack looked up at this, his eyes wide and his mouth set in a straight line. “I’ve thought it several times actually. There are times when I’m convinced I passed by a mirror when I see you.”

Erek nodded before turning back to look at the storm brewing. He heard Jack quietly head down the stairs, leaving him to his thoughts. Ella would be safe in Jack’s hands when Erek was no longer there to protect her. He was sure of it. If Jack felt anywhere close to the way he felt, Erek knew she would be loved the way she deserved.

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




Author Bio and Links:

I’m just a small town girl, living in Ohio and making up worlds for my characters to live in. A preschool teacher by day, I live with my amazing husband while dreaming of walking hand in hand with him on the beach just searching for seashells. Together, we have five incredible kids, who are starting to make their way in this world as they take on college, high school, and elementary school. I love Christmas, the beach, seashells, painting, reading anything fantasy related, and in my very little spare time, creating new worlds for others to enjoy. 


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

Q and A with the Author:

*** Did you use any of your own experience as inspiration?
The only thing that I used in this story from my own life is my husband’s characteristics. Both my main male characters, Jack and Erek, are based off of my husband, Jason. I would watch some of his movements or mannerism during different times like when he was angry or tired and have Erek or Jack do the same thing. They even have his looks. Shaved head and a chin strap (it’s style for facial hair). Of course, now my husband has a full beard, but the story was finished by the time he grew that. The rest of the book is based loosely on Rapunzel.

*** On average, how long does the writing process take?
Because I have such a lack of time due to the fact that I love spending time with my husband, have five kids, and a full time job, with a couple of part time jobs on the side, it will sometimes take me a year or more to write a book. I just don’t have the time to do it and when I do have time, sometimes it’s just nice to sit and do nothing.

*** When did you realize you wanted a career in writing?
I don’t really see this as a career, but more of a hobby. Getting published was just something that was on my bucket list of things to do and that was added when I was in high school. I attempted to write a book then. It was a sad excuse of a story, but I was proud of it at the time. Now, I have it hidden away!

*** If you weren’t an author, what other career paths would you have taken?
I actually am a teacher who is in the process of becoming the preschool supervisor, which is kind of like a vice principal. But what I would really like to do is lounge on a beach some place and open an ice cream shop or something along those lines. Maybe I’ll take writing on full time then.

*** Out of the characters that you created, who is your favorite?
I love my main character Ella, but Erek is my favorite. He went against everything that made him, him and did what was right for the woman he loved.

*** What advice would you give to someone looking to be a writer?
It’s not easy and it’s a lot of work, before, during, and after. If you’re willing to put in the work and the time, it’s definitely worth it in the end.

*** What kind of research (if any) was required for any of your books?
Because my books are based on fantasy, I make the rules. I get to make up the worlds, the names, the moves, the magic, etc… For that reason, there really is no research needed on my end. I just go with the flow and the directions my characters lead me.

*** How long after you finish a book do you start another one?
I usually start coming up with ideas before I finish writing one. However, I won’t start writing a new one until I have completed and found a home for the previous book. I’m organized that way.
~~~~~~~
Giveaway

Erin Pemberton will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.




Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Cover Reveal: Of Flame and Fury









Today I am happy to share the cover reveal for Of Flame and Fury, Cecy Robson's newest Weird Girls novel. This is the ninth novel in the Weird Girls urban fantasy series, and the third in the Flame series featuring sister Taran Wird. If you haven't met this sassy, hot-headed, loudmouth sister yet you'll want to dive in and begin the series. Action-packed, fans of this series will tell you, it's addictive and you'll find yourself rooting for these flawed but lovable characters.

。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆ Of Flame and Fury 。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆ Cover Design by: Sarah Hansen @Okay Creations


Of Flame and Fury
Weird Girls #9, Flame #3
Release Date: February 25, 2020

Add to Goodreads

Pre-order your copy: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo 

Taran Wird, the loudmouth mistress of flame and lightning, didn’t want to attend the formal gathering of the supernatural elite. She did so only to help to unite the supreme beings in attendance in one common goal: protecting Taran’s sister, Celia. Celia is pregnant with alpha werewolf Aric Connor’s child, the same child prophesized to save the world from uprising evil. Evil wants this child dead before he is born and, more importantly, before he can grow strong enough to stop it. Taran and her werewolf lover, Gemini, put plans in place to protect Celia. Master Vampire Misha Aleksandr and his clan also swear their allegiance to Celia and vow to keep her from harm. The witches even cast protection spells around the manor to curse anyone with malintent who enters. Nothing was supposed to go wrong, except everything did. Creatures that shouldn’t exist stalk the grounds and invade the premises, and every curse meant to shield the guests turns against them. No one counted on the powerful being who arrived uninvited. But he’s here, manipulating the magic enclosing the estate to work in his favor. As body counts rise and allies become enemies, chances are Celia won’t survive the night. But evil never counted on how hard Taran Wird would fight, even at the expense of her life.

。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆A Teaser Just for You.... 。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆

“Emme,” I call out. I frown when the hall darkens and she appears to walk further and faster away from us. “Emme, don’t go without us.” She takes off, running. “Em,” Bren hollers. “God damn it, wait!” Emme rounds a corner and disappears into yet another hall. I pick up my pace, passing a small meeting room. Emme is moving fast, too fast. What’s happening to her? My steps to falter when the light scones dim further. I turn around, the rooms we passed are gone. There are no doors or windows, only a long corridor covered with dark paneling remains. Everything feels off and I can no longer hear the gentle strut of Emme’s feet. “Bren?” I say. “She’s gone,” he says. “I know, but—” “She’s been gone a while,” he interrupts. He takes a long whiff. “That wasn’t her.” “Excuse me?” I look back where I thought I last saw her. “Then, who was that?” “Not Emme,” he says, the muscles along his jaw tensing. He clasps my left arm. “Come on. We have to find her.” I double back and into a wall. “What the fuck?” Bren snaps. The hall narrows, swallowing what used to be the way out in darkness. Bren’s head jerks up. “Did you hear that?” “I don’t hear anything,” I respond. It’s the truth. There is no sound. Just me and Bren and our increasing breaths. “What do you hear?” I ask, keeping my voice low. He closes his eyes, listening hard, the rise and fall of his chest growing more pronounced. A light whisper of wind rustles from the darkness, intensifying into a pained moan as it reaches us. “Aw, hell,” Bren says. “Stay with me, okay?” “Ah, sure,” I say, trying to remain calm and more than failing. I turn around when something stirs behind us. “Do you think the spells are just surging now that Celia has arrived? They’re meant to keep her safe. Maybe they’re reacting to her presence.” I whip around. The wall is gone. And so is Bren. I inch backward, my motions dimming the lights further. My right arm shoots up, lighting like a torch and sparing me from the blackness encasing me. The sound of splintering wood has me lowering my arm. I jump when thin rivers of blood trickle toward my feet. Blood is never a good sign. It leads from bad to deadly every damn time. Most would run at the sight. Me, being me, and knowing there’s no other recourse, I follow the tiny rivers. I move carefully, not wanting the thickening fluid to touch me. Dark magic is particularly nasty and usually requires a sacrifice. This blood signifies more than death, it’s a trigger to whatever will fire next. My light strobes in and out, in tune with my accelerating heart rate, and against the tiny rivers that expand into widening pool. The horrible silence resumes, adding an extra dose of eerie. Don’t be afraid, I tell myself. It’s quiet. That’s all. I don’t manage to convince myself. Not when the moaning resumes with the next step I take. It starts out low, almost imperceptible, swelling in volume until it’s loud enough to muffle my rattling teeth. The temperature drops absurdly low. The chill of death is here, expanding quickly, mingling with spirits and dark magic, and determined to drag me to hell. Son of a bitch. I reach another wall, another dead end. I release a breath, cursing when more moans join the first, these much higher pitched and much, much closer. Frozen fingers drag down my spine. I turn around, ready to blast whatever is touching me only to stop dead. The streaks of blood are moving, swirling in freakish directions to form letters and words. N-Y-T-E-S… My light shakes from my violent trembles. A-R-E… The letters darken to black, smearing the wooden floors. C-O-M-I-N-G I jolt when something crashes on the level above. I don’t wait for more of this twisted spelling bee. I take off in a sprint, shaking my right hand. “Get us to Celia,” I tell Sparky. “Get us there now.” I just miss crashing into a wall that materializes in front of me. I shake my arm harder. I don’t typically order Sparky around. It’s not something I can do. As connected as we are, she’s practically a separate entity with her own set of rules I’ve yet to figure out. “Come on, girl,” I insist. “Celia needs us.” More by instinct than anything Sparky does, I spin, startling when a new set of words form along the wall. NYTES HAVE COME

Pre-order your copy: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo 

About Cecy Robson

CECY ROBSON is an international and multi-award-winning author of over twenty-five character driven novels. A registered nurse of eighteen years, Cecy spends her free time creating magical worlds, heart-stopping romance, and young adult adventure. After receiving two RITA® nominations, the Maggie Award, the Award of Excellence, and a National Reader’s Choice Award nomination, you can still find Cecy laughing, crying, and cheering on her characters as she pens her next story.

。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆ Giveaway。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆ 



Enter to win a $25.00 Amazon gift card and eBook copy of Sealed with A Curse, book one in the Weird Girls series.

a Rafflecopter giveaway