Strung By ⟅R̫o̮s̫k͚e̫ Blog Tour! @RoskeChronicler @maryanneyarde @RoskeChronicler @coffeepotbookclub #CoffeePotBookClub

 

Book Title: Strung

Author: ⟅R̫o̮s̫k͚e̫ (Roske)

Publication Date: 22nd February 2022

Publisher: Conceptual Chronicler of Time

Page Length: 422 Pages

Genre: Literary, Historical Science-Fantasy Romance

Few in the world of Iodesh believe the Faye are more than legend—until an unwanted suitor captures one as Lady Lysbeth Haywood's bride price.

Presented with the Faye, Lysbeth is torn between her excitement to learn more about the legendary people, her dread at the possibility of a forced engagement, and her battle of attrition with Avon society.

It's worth the struggle, for as layers of the Faye's extraordinary mysteries are peeled away, their revelations—and Lysbeth's own role in them—reach farther than she ever thought possible.

Trigger Warnings: 

Mild self-harm, off-screen abuse, and brief on-screen violence.

Available on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: http://getbook.at/Strung 

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09T3NLGT6 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09T3NLGT6 

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09T3NLGT6 

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09T3NLGT6

 TUNE-UP 

(aka Prologue, Scene III)

Sky-blue silk rises and falls with Lysbeth Haywood's sigh; her matching eyes re-read the message held taut in her hands:

...how I pined over Spring Equinox. You spoke of your childhood fascination with Faye, and in the course of your speaking, the shapes of your mouth transfixed me. Ever hot did my yearni—

Ignoring the drivel on either end:

...a pigeon arrived from their ship. They have done it, My Lady! They have captured a being wrapped in silver! Not in five-hundred years has this been accomplished, if we are to believe the tales!

They have been instructed to dock at Limingten, where I will examine the cargo personally. If it is acceptable, I shall hasten to Lindenholt Manor with every intention of gifting this very rare creature. I will not attempt to hide my desire, sweet Lady, that this offering might induce your passions for me...

The parchment wrinkles in Lysbeth's grip as her gaze returns to the window of her sitting room.

Hers is a leisurely life, if somewhat dull. All the duller now, as most men of gentry and peerage are occupied with the Kingswar to the North. Unfortunately for Lysbeth, one gentleman was given leave from the fighting.

The Earl of Dorsit, referred to simply as Dorsit, had been preening and panting over her for the better part of a year, though he was hardly first. Lysbeth's height—nearing six feet—pleasing features, and polished mannerisms lend her an air of elusive refinement uncommon to those of twenty-three. Before the Kingswar, Avonleigh Lords with questionable views on compliments had taken to calling her a "jewel of the court." She'd been sure to meet their expectations: sitting pretty and silent in her setting, pointedly cold to their advances.

Dorsit is no exception. Lysbeth finds his personality as disagreeable as his attentions, but her opinion matters little, as he's never cared to acknowledge it, and her refined sense of propriety prevents her from dismissing him outright. Over Spring Equinox, the Earl had called on Lysbeth and her brother, Isaac, Marquess of Edenshire. Though she'd taken great pains to be civil, Dorsit's company was difficult to tolerate, and she'd soon fallen back on a subject which offered her repose from several disquieting events throughout her life: the debated existence of beings known to her countrymen as Faye.

As topics go, it was an unfashionable choice. Any Avon of good breeding would tell you the Faye belong to children and half-mad carousers. Thus, Lysbeth was sure to make an overzealous presentation, and Dorsit's premature departure suggested her plan had worked to put him off. Now she realizes her liveliness had spurred his affections instead.

She folds his ink and turns to a young woman reading in the middle of the room. "Anything?"

Elane closes the book in her lap. Its spine reads, Evidence for the Faye: A Collection of Accounts from the Dawn of Man. "No, the most recent records are the Spencish galleon and the burning of Corburg. Nothing we would've forgotten."

Resigned, Lysbeth joins her cousin on the couch. The veracity of Dorsit's far-fetched claims can't be determined until his arrival in two weeks. She'd, rather pointlessly, hoped something in the book might provide her with the truth now, sparing her the need for patience.

Though appearances of Faye are scattered across ages of historical record, their existence is disputed for two reasons: the outlandish descriptions of their physical appearance and abilities, and the frustrating peripheral events which always seem to accompany the main accounts—leaving just enough room to question their authenticity.

The encounters Elane has just mentioned are prime examples of the latter.

Five-hundred years ago, the seafaring nation of Corburg proudly claimed the capture of a Faye—or Syren, as the Corburgish called them. Within a month, a devastating fire swept across the capital where the Syren was said to reside. Corburg's much larger neighbor took advantage of the chaos and invaded before the ashes settled, ensuring the loss of any singed primary records through the ravages of their brief and brutal occupation.

Two centuries later, a Spencish patrol galleon set after a sparkle at the edge of Spencish waters. After hours of slow gains, the sparkle took the form of an unfamiliar vessel and deposited a small craft into the water. Despite the mothership's unanticipated surge of speed, the Spencish galleon pursued it for a time, returning later to find no sign of the scow. Though specifics of the account matched others before it, the report was largely discredited due to additional claims of a dragon's silhouette in the clouds.

Lysbeth bites her cheek.

"Please don't fret, Lys. Dorsit must be teasing you," Elane says, placing Evidence on an end table.

"I would agree, but then what could give him cause to so openly state his intentions?" She scans the message again and runs her thumb over the referenced line. "Here, 'that this offering might induce your passions for me,' he writes. You see? He seeks to extort my sense of obligation."

"Well, Dorsit is hardly a beacon of wit. Perhaps he's been fooled by his hired sailors? Or perhaps his men believe they've caught a Faye but in truth they..." Elane's brow knits.

"Precisely. How is one meant to mistake a Faye for anything else?" Lysbeth asks, waving the parchment. "Alder's descriptions were quite clear."

Were it not for Alder, the Haywood family's peculiar progenitor, it's unlikely any Haywood would've given the Faye much thought. After all, such rare and undependable accounts left little else to be said about Faye which hadn't already been said over millennia. Alder's own account, however, begged pardon from this rule.

Three centuries ago, Alder rose from Earl to Marquess, bringing the Haywoods into Avonleigh's elite peerage. Given the southern county of Edenshire and a new residence at Castle Lindenholt, his dutiful approach to Sovereign and soil was regrettably short-lived when, after his supposed loss at sea, Lindenholt passed to his wife until his young son came of age. Even today, such tragedies are common enough, though less common is the return of the lost decades later.

Thirty-four years after Alder's disappearance, he'd reappeared on Lindenholt's stone court offering vague explanations for his fated voyage and blaming his protracted return on a bout of amnesia. Rejoicing Lindenholt residents chose to muzzle the gift horse rather than pry its mouth, and the remaining nine years of Alder's life were merrily spent. It was a happy piece of Haywood family trivia, and would have remained so, had the letter Alder composed in secret not been found by his son after his death.

In truth, according to Alder, a Faye ship had spirited his own away to their homeland—where he'd lived in bliss until the desire to see his child once more compelled his return to Avonleigh. Alarmed by nearly every passage of the letter, Alder's son assumed his father's madness and kept the document a family secret. So it happened this account of the Faye—by far the most detailed—remains unknown to the world at large, passed down through generations of Haywoods as a source of great debate and whimsy among them.

"Yes, but Dorsit's sailors aren't privy to Alder's letter. His descriptions of Faye were humanlike, but they'd be searching for something from a Fayetale." Elane tilts her head to Evidence. "Something intelligent but inhuman, like a chimera or a shapeshifting demon."

"Aye, but the captured wears some manner of silver attire, just as Alder said," Lysbeth counters. Satisfied Elane's confoundment has reached suitable levels at last, she skims the message again. "'…examine the cargo personally.' Whatever they've found, Dorsit considers it more debris than intelligent being." She returns the letter to her lap indignantly. "Why should I be made to accept such a man? Even supposing his claim is true, would Father really secure a person as my price?"

"Considering tradition, he may not have a choice. And Isaac is liable to take Dorsit's view on personhood regardless." Elane cups her cousin's flexing fingers. "We'll find a way out if it comes to it, Lys, but we won't know anything for certain until Dorsit arrives."

⟅R̫o̮s̫k͚e̫ is Strung's diegetic author and illustrator. Its real-world counterpart began building the world of Strung at age 12 to disassociate from budding bisexuality and physical disabilities—and eventually traded adversity's escapism for inspiration.

 

 

Social Media Links:

Website: http://RoskeChronicler.com 

Twitter: http://Twitter.com/RoskeChronicler 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R%CC%ABo%CC%AEs%CC%ABk%CD%9Ae%CC%AB-Strung-104216285549770/

 Instagram: http://Instagram.com/RoskeChronicler 

BookBub: http://Bookbub.com/profile/Roske

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/roske 

Goodreads: http://Goodreads.com/RoskeChronicler 

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/03/blog-tour-strung-by-roske.html

Games in a Ballroom by Jentry Flint Book Tour!

Games in a Ballroom by Jentry Flint 

Publication Date: 5/3/22 

Trade Paperback

 ISBN: 9781629729930

 Retail Price: $15.99 

Page Count: 272

Synopsis: 

She was forbidden to love him. 

He only wanted her heart. 

Can a childhood game bring them together?

 London, 1815 Olivia Wilde has resigned herself to never finding a love match. Her father has insisted she marry a man with a title, but the men her father deems acceptable are either boring or are only interested in increasing their own diminishing coffers. With her future looking dismal, Olivia vows to enjoy the last few months of freedom with her childhood friends, including Emerson Latham. His devilish smile and flirtatious teasing stirs up feelings she knows she cannot entertain.

 Emerson is struggling to rise to his responsibilities after his father’s death. Though he is still learning his place, one thing he knows for certain is that he wants Olivia Wilde to be his wife. Emerson had long ago fallen in love with her quick wit, beauty, and passionate heart. Yet, without a title, he will never be permitted to court Olivia openly. But he has a plan that may give him a chance to court her in secret. 

As the Season kicks off, Emerson proposes a playful game of tag. Olivia’s friends are delighted by the idea, though Olivia is wary. After all, the game must be played in secret as they tag each other at dinners and balls. As the romance builds between Olivia and Emerson, so does the risk of being discovered. Not only are their reputations at stake, so is their safety if they are caught by Olivia’s strict father. Can their love find a happily ever after before the game ends?

About the Author:

JENTRY FLINT is a bookworm-turned-writer with the propensity to try just about anything. She has a true love of history and believes a good quote can fix most things. She lives in southern Utah with her husband and two daughters—who, naturally, are named after characters from books. 

Her favorite things in life are flavored popcorn, her grandmother’s purple blanket, and curling up on the couch to watch a movie with her husband. Games in a Ballroom is her debut novel. 

Advance Praise:

 “Debut novelist Flint puts her own clever spin on the classic Regency romance-think Jane Austen meets the movie Tag-in this delightfully fun read that not only delivers a sweetly satisfying love story but also illuminates the important role friends play in life. Teen fans of Austen-era romances will be all-in for Flint's playful debut.” —Booklist Available at these retailers (and more!)

 Goodreads

Indiebound

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

BAM

DB

Bookshop

Walmart

In the Middle by Carin Fahr Shulusky May 3, 2022, Book Blast and Giveaway!

 

In the Middle

by Carin Fahr Shulusky

May 3, 2022 Book Blast

Carrie Young had it all. She was a successful account executive for a small advertising agency and still managed to be a loving wife and dutiful mother until her mother fell suddenly ill. As the middle child, Carrie was never that close to her mother, but now she was needed to help with the overwhelming task of taking care of her seriously ill mother. The demands of hospitalization, doctors' appointments and daily care throw her once prefect life in near chaos. Disagreements with her siblings, her boss and her mother make her resentful of this new responsibility. The one bright spot is the chance to know her mother's stories of the depression and post war struggle as she never had before. Even as her once perfect life falls apart, she finds a purpose in it all.

 

Book Details

Genre: Fictional Memoir

Published by: Fossil Creek Press 

Publication Date: January 18, 2021 

Number of Pages: 198 

ISBN: '9781736241707 

Purchase Your Copy Today: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

 

Read an excerpt:

By this time, Mom was mobile enough to get to the doctor, or at least so the insurance company determined. This meant we could no longer get home visits paid by insurance, so Maria, John, and I had to find a way to get Mom through the gauntlet of doctors. Each organ of Mom’s body had its own doctor: cardiologist, neurologist, urologist, gynecologist, optometrist, dermatologist, podiatrist, and dentist. Everything was failing and in need of repair. I actually think we could take Mom to a different doctor every day of the week. As it was, we managed the most urgent needs and hoped for the best with the rest. Maria took Mom to the cardiologist, who was managing her medications and needed to take regular blood levels. I took Mom to the urologist because she was having urinary tract troubles, possibly caused by the medications prescribed by the cardiologist. John took Mom to the physical therapist, who could also no longer make home visits on insurance. Physical therapy was prescribed by the cardiologist to help her get more mobile. Each trip out required us to call her multiple times to remind her of the appointment, then we had to arrive nearly an hour early because she would invariably not be ready. Getting Mom ready for a doctor visit required finding clean clothes, inserting hearing aids, and getting her false teeth in place—and making sure she made a bathroom visit. Before leaving we would have to locate her insurance card, her checkbook, her purse, scarf, and coat. I’d pull my car up to her front porch through the lawn so Mom would have the least number of steps from house to car. Getting into the car was difficult to the extreme. Once I had Mom in the car, I’d load her walker and cane in the trunk. When we got to the doctor, we would have to reverse the process: get the walker out of the trunk and Mom in the door and find a place for her to sit while I parked the car. I’d run back in before Mom decided to try to find her own way up the elevator to the doctor’s office or some thoughtful person decided to help and I’d lose her. I thought it would be easier when we were finally in the doctor’s office until the nurse said she’d need a urine sample and handed Mom a cup. The idea of this eighty-two-year-old lady, who could hardly use the toilet herself and missed it most of the time, managing to actually get urine in a cup was so ludicrous I just burst out laughing. The nurse was not amused. She gave me an incriminating look, put the cup back and held up a “hat” that fit over the whole toilet seat. Still chuckling despite my best efforts to stop, I shook my head in agreement and lead Mom to the bathroom. The rest of the visit went fairly normal. Before I could go in with my mom, the nurse had to ask her if it was okay that this person—me—could come into the exam room. Mom looked puzzled. The nurse muttered something about privacy laws and we went in. No one noticed that I was holding my breath. I was terrified that Mom would say no. No one knew what would come out of her mouth next. If I didn’t go in, the doctor would surely get incorrect information and whatever the doctor told Mom would be lost. She could hardly remember having a doctor visit, much less what he said. But I couldn’t argue the point. What was I supposed to say? Hey guys, she’s half crazy. Why are you asking her? Not only would that get me nowhere, it would hurt Mom’s feelings. Whoever proposed the privacy laws surely doesn’t have aging parents. Fortunately, she said yes, so I could enter. The doctor discussed why she was having frequent urinary tract infections, which I’m sure went right over her head. Then he said, “We should see you back next month.” I want to shout, No, please no, but I said, “Is it necessary? I have to take a day off work to get her here,” I pleaded. Mom caught that too well and said, “I’m sure Maria will be glad to bring me.” Now, the thing I was trying so hard to avoid was out. I made a great effort to hide from Mom my frustration and anxiety over losing a day’s work. I didn’t want her to think my work was more important than her. I didn’t want to think that either, but there it was, always under the surface, in the deep dark places of my ambition. I had taken a half day off, left at noon, and didn’t plan to return to work. My boss would never understand this. Shopping with Mom on the Internet didn’t work out too well. Visualizing an item in one dimension just wasn’t working for her, so I thought we would try the old fashion way. I knew Mom wanted to go to Penney’s so I thought we would start there. I told Mom the mall had wheelchairs we could borrow, but she was so negative on that idea that I quickly let it drop. Even with Mom’s handicap parking pass, we couldn’t get close enough to the store, so I pulled right in front, got the walker from my trunk, and helped her in the store. It would have worked well if the store had any place to sit, but there was nothing. I told Mom to go on in the store and I’d catch up with her. By the time I had parked and caught up, she had already found two items she wanted: one for Maria and one for Katie. She next wanted to buy John a pair of shoes, so I helped her to the shoe department and she quickly found a pair of work shoes that she wanted. I made sure we had all the receipts tucked neatly in her purse. She wanted to find a new blouse for Christmas, so we made our way to an elevator and up to the next floor. She walked a small way and suddenly stopped. “I don’t think I can go any further,” Mom said. “I’m just worn out.” I knew this was a stretch, but I was hopeful. I asked the sales lady if there were any chairs in the store. To my surprise, she found a folding chair from the storeroom and brought it out for Mom. While Mom rested comfortably—more or less—in the chair, I brought her several styles and colors of shirts. She picked one and I purchased it for her. “We could go to another store if you would let me get a wheelchair,” I offered. “No,” she said firmly. “It’s not time for a wheelchair yet. I’ll get Maria to take me another day. I think I need to go home.” On the way home, we passed our favorite soft-serve ice cream store. “How about an ice cream cone?” I asked. “That sounds lovely,” Mom said. We could always agree on ice cream. We had a wonderful time eating our ice cream. I suppose I inherited my passion for the stuff from Mom. With the happy ice-cream high, we parted cheerfully. I carried all her purchases to her bedroom as directed and promised to return to help with Christmas decoration. --- Excerpt from In the Middle by Carin Fahr Shulusky. Copyright 2021 by Carin Fahr Shulusky. Reproduced with permission from Carin Fahr Shulusky. All rights reserved.

  

Carin Fahr Shulusky was born and raised in west St. Louis County. She attended the University of Missouri, Columbia, where she received a B.J (Bachelor of Journalism). After college she worked in advertising for GE and Monsanto. She was the first professional woman in her division of each. After 25 years in Marketing, she created her own firm, Marketing Alliance. She was president of Marketing Alliance, from 2002 – 2014. She is a past-president of the Business Marketing Association of St. Louis. Carin Fahr is married to Richard Shulusky. They have two grown children and one marvelous granddaughter. Grandma Carin has a life long love of cooking, even writing her own cookbook. In 2014 Carin retired to devote full time to writing. Her first book, In the Middle was inspired by her own battle to care for her beloved mother, Dorothy Fahr. Many of the stories Carrie Young’s mother tells her in In the Middle came from Carin’s mother. Carin is a lifelong member of, Pathfinder Church in Ellisville, Missouri, where she volunteers in early childhood.

Find Carin Online:

carinshulusky.com Goodreads Instagram - @cshulusky Twitter - @shulusky Facebook

 

Tour Host Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour and learn more!        

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

This is a giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Carin Fahr Shulusky. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

Thank you for your interest in this tour!

Find Your Next Great Read at Providence Book Promotions!

The Touch of Love by @WriterKyle Book Blitz and Giveaway! #XpressoTours @XpressoTours #KyleShoop #TheTouchOfLove

The Touch of Love
Kyle Shoop

(Senses of Love, #5)
Publication date: April 27th 2022
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance

Two Love stories.
One surviving WW2.
One surviving a separation.
Both fighting their own war.
But neither is willing to give up.
Because love is worth fighting for.

Alternating between the past and the present, The Touch of Love tells two intertwined love stories spanning generations. The first is set in modern times and tells the journey that Katie embarks on while being embroiled in a separation from her husband. The second is set in Poland during World War 2, and tells the story of Jakob, an orphan, who falls in love with a Jewish woman. Will either of these love stories survive the unforeseen battles awaiting them?

Present Day: While going thru old keepsakes in her grandfather’s attic, Katie stumbles upon two items which thrust her on a journey of discovery. The first is her old wedding dress, the sight of which still stings due to her recent separation. The second item is even more perplexing – an old black and white photograph of her grandfather during a war. The man with a deeply mysterious past. Knowing her grandfather’s days are limited, this photo sparks Katie’s journey to discover his past before his future runs out.

1939: Jakob and his brother are two carefree orphans deciding whether to join the Polish army when all of Europe is on the bring of World War 2. But Jakob’s decision is sealed the moment he meets Anna, a Jewish woman. Deciding he would rather fight for her survival than fight alongside his brother, Jakob embarks on a harrowing journey through the War, motivated solely by his unyielding love for Anna.

Can love survive the immeasurable tragedies of war?

The books in this series are standalone novels and may be read in any order.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

WARSAW, POLAND

AUGUST 1939

As the two brothers walked with naive swagger down the city as if they owned it, Ezra’s plan came spilling out with eager enthusiasm: “We’re going to join the Polish army.”

Jakob stopped immediately in his tracks on the Warsaw sidewalk. He didn’t care that they were in front of a restaurant with a large window full of patrons who would see their confrontation. For the first time that he could remember since his mother’s death, he found himself in stark disagreement with his older brother.

“No way,” Jakob said plainly.

This caught Ezra off guard, and he turned to see Jakob standing defiantly behind him. Frustration came barreling out of Ezra: “Well, we have to!”

“No way.” Jakob’s body language gave away that he wasn’t budging on the issue.

“Think about it, Jakob,” Ezra was now pleading. “War is right on Poland’s doorstep. Look around you. See all of this? This is just a facade. In a few short months, either Germany or the Soviets – if not both – will be invading. What you see around you won’t be here forever.”

“So, what if I want to enjoy it while it’s here – instead of running off to war?” As Jakob said it, he could see the light of Ezra’s plan die in Ezra’s eyes. Jakob knew it wasn’t just a plan he was spoiling – it was Ezra’s dream. And in the heat of their abrupt disagreement, Jakob let that spill out as an insult. “You’re the dreamer, Ezra. You always have been. And I’ve always followed you through your dreams. But this isn’t a dream. This is reality. And people die in war.”

Ezra knew that what Jakob just said was right – he was a dreamer. He always so easily got swept up into dreams and ambitions that he never stopped to realize their effect on his younger brother. But this time, that wasn’t the case. Ezra’s plan had been thought out extensively before divulging it.

Despite his natural inclination to give into the heat of their disagreement, Ezra’s tone calmed down. He loved his Jakob – like nothing else in the world. They’d been more than brothers since their parents’ deaths. They’d been friends. Confidants. Life rafts. Shoulders for each other to both cry and laugh on. So, in this moment, Ezra’s natural instinct toward conflict was overcome by his even stronger inclination to love his brother.

“I know, I know, Jakob. I’ve led you on some crazy paths since mom died.” Ezra then put his hand on Jakob’s shoulder to bridge the gap between them – both emotionally and physically. “But this isn’t about my dreams. It’s about what’s real.”

“And then what, Ezra?” Jakob’s tone was mellowing out. “We just hope to survive the war? Wouldn’t you rather go somewhere safe and let other people fight a war that isn’t ours?”

“We’d survive. Look at us – two orphans that don’t need much, who have always found a way to survive.” Ezra smiled at having just referenced their prior pointless disagreement about whether they were orphans. “And then afterwards, we’ll open an orphanage.”

This made Jakob chuckle out loud and playfully push Ezra in the shoulder. “Not funny. But I’ll think about the whole army thing.”

“No, I mean it, Jakob. Someone’s gotta show all the other orphans how to survive. Who better than you and me?”

Now that they’d made up, Ezra went to put his arm around his brother’s shoulder to keep walking down the Warsaw sidewalk. Ezra’s mind normally would be filled with dreams at this point, now that there was a glimmer of hope for them to enlist in the Polish army. But his dreams were immediately cut short. Jakob wasn’t moving.

It was as though he was frozen in place. Ezra quickly turned to look his brother in the eyes to see what the deal was. And for the first time, he saw dreams shining in Jakob’s own eyes. They’d always followed Ezra’s dreams, but now, for the first time, Ezra could instantly tell that Jakob had been struck with his own overbearing dream. The stark light beaming from Jakob’s glance emanated a look different than any other he’d ever seen his brother make before.

Ezra curiously followed his brother’s line of sight to see what had unexpectedly and wholeheartedly captivated Jakob.

Then he saw it. Or, rather – he saw her. Jakob was staring through the large restaurant window next to them, and at the lounge piano providing background music for the patrons. And seated at that piano was the centerpiece of not only Jakob’s attention, but what Ezra recognized as the centerpiece of Jakob’s very being in this moment. Behind the piano was, undeniably, a beautiful Jewish woman, whose blue eyes had met Jakob’s by happenstance, yet now was staring back at him with a consumption matching his.

Ezra knew it immediately by just observing the unspoken spark between his brother and the Jewish woman. Things were now going to be different for the two brothers.

Kyle Shoop is a multi-genre author of compelling stories. His new "Senses of Love" series is a romance series that provides rewarding and inspirational stories. The newest book - A TASTE OF LOVE - is now out! The books in the series may be read in any order.

Kyle is also the author of the Acea Bishop Trilogy, which is an action-packed fantasy series. All books in that series are now available, with Acea and the Animal Kingdom being the first book.

At a young age, Kyle was recognized for his storytelling by being awarded the first-place Gold Key award for fiction writing in Washington State. After spending several years volunteering in his wife's elementary classrooms, he was inspired to write the Acea Bishop Trilogy. He is now motivated to share the compelling stories in his new romance series. In addition to writing novels, Kyle is also an attorney.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

 

⁣⁣⁣⁣Eight Goodbyes by @annagomezbooks Book Reveal! #XpressoTours @XpressoTours

 

Eight Goodbyes
Anna Gomez

Publication date: January 31st 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Women’s Fiction

“A heart-wrenching tale of two people destined to be together. Simon and Tessa are fantastically portrayed as star-crossed lovers whose lives are worlds apart. Even those who are not fans of romance will enjoy the relationships, scenery, and beautiful prose of this book. Five stars!” ~San Francisco Book Review

One universe, nine planets, 204 countries, 809 islands and 7 seas, and I had the privilege of meeting you.” –Unknown

When Tessa Talman first meets Simon Fremont, not only is she attracted to him, she’s intrigued by how different their lives are. He’s a dedicated scientist, practical, pragmatic, and grounded. She’s a head-in-the-clouds romance author. As their relationship grows, they meet in places around the world, while continuing to live in different countries.

Though their feelings for each other deepen, their priorities remain the same. Simon is in a hurry to be financially sound and settle down, but Tessa is enjoying her freedom and newfound success. Neither is willing to give in, but as each goodbye gets harder, Tessa begins to wonder whether fame is the path to happiness, or if she has everything she needs in Simon.

Just as Tessa finds the courage to go after her own happily ever after, the unthinkable happens, separating them in ways she never imagined.

To move forward, she must let go of the past and determine once and for all if love is truly more powerful than the pain of goodbye.

“A beautiful story of a woman’s quest to open her heart and let love in. It made me want to travel and fall in love all over again.” ~Willow Aster, USA Today Bestselling Author

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

Anna Gomez was born in the city of Makati, Philippines and educated abroad. She met and married her best friend who whisked her away to Chicago over twenty years ago. She is Global Chief Financial Officer for Mischief and No Fixed Address, a consolidated group of advertising agencies. Gomez was recently selected for the 2020 HERoes Women Role Model Executives list, which celebrates 100 women who are leading by example and driving change to increase gender diversity in the workplace. Gomez has championed various ERGs for Black and API colleagues as well as resources essential to address challenges of ageism. She has sat on several boards, most recently serving as treasurer for Breathe for Justice and The Jensen Project, both focused on socio-economic issues, particularly violence against women and human trafficking.

Most recently, her novel MOMENTS LIKE THIS, co-authored with Kristoffer Polaha, was optioned for Film/TV. www.AnnaGomezBooks.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Hosted by:

Book 2 in the Kisses of Sorrow series by @mhb.author Book Blitz! #XpressoTours @XpressoTours #KissesofSorrow

 

Master of Death
M.H.B.

(Kisses of Sorrow, #2)
Publication date: April 28th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

One night.
Two futures.
Almost three years of repair.
Four beating hearts healing from pain.
Five lives forever tied.

Falling for my boss, Damon Dreygon, was never part of the plan.

I was meant to seek from him what my boyfriend, Harvey Stark, refused to give me–someone to kiss me, someone to touch me, and maybe even someone to heal my wounds.


Instead in Damon, I found a mentor. I found a dark prince minus the charming part. Most importantly, in Damon, I found my voice coupled with my own strength.

This was never supposed to hurt Harvey.
Damon and I were never meant to be together.

With each choice, an entirely different future greets me, yet a few things remain the same: we’ve all known pain, we’re all in need of healing, and we’ve all hurt each other in very different ways.

All I wanted was for this melancholy to disappear so that I could find peace.

But peace is hard to reach when you’re too busy chasing secrets.

Secrets I wish would’ve stayed buried.
Secrets that meddle with my dreams.
Secrets I’ll be taking to the grave . . .

Goodreads / Amazon

—

M . H . B . graduated law from a Canadian University. She loves spending time with her partner and her German Shepherd Dog. She has a passion for animals and enjoys the simple things in life: books, music, chocolate, sunny days, and overall wellness. When she is not writing, her mind is in another world, with a book in hand.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

Alternative Ulster Noir by Various Northern Ireland Authors Book Review!

 

by 

Simon Maltman (Goodreads Author),

Colin Bateman (Contributor ),

Stuart Neville (Goodreads Author) (Contributor ),

Sharon Dempsey (Contributor ),

Gerard Brennan (Goodreads Author) (Contributor),

 

Kelly Creighton (Contributor ),

James Murphy (Contributor )

Alternative Ulster Noir

… The Cops Are Comin’

A collection of seven new NI crime short stories inspired by NI music.
Enjoy a diverse anthology of work from some of the best NI thriller writers featuring Colin Bateman, Stuart Neville, Sharon Dempsey, Gerard Brennan, Kelly Creighton, and James Murphy. Curated and edited by Simon Maltman, with one of his own new stories included.

This collection was inspired by local artists including The Undertones, Van Morrison, Ash, Snow Patrol, Therapy?, and more.

About the Authors

KELLY CREIGHTON is the author of two standalone crime novels, two short fiction collections, and the DI Harriet Sloane series set in East Belfast. Kelly lives with her family in County Down, where she facilitates creative writing classes and teaches English as a Foreign Language.

SHE’LL BE HERE SOON by KELLY CREIGHTON Inspired by Goldfinger by Ash

COLIN BATEMAN is essentially the Godfather of NI crime fiction. An acclaimed novelist and screenwriter, his many credits include, Divorcing Jack, Mystery Man, Murphy’s Law and The Journey. Colin’s films have been shown at festivals in Venice and Toronto and he is a recipient of a Doctor of Letters from The University of Ulster for services to literature.

ASTRAL WEEKS by COLIN BATEMAN Inspired by Astral Weeks by Van Morrison

JAMES MURPHY is a Northern Irish crime writer. His works include the ‘Terror Trilogy,’ and he is currently working on a new series. James is also a podcast host and the radio presenter for Crime Scene on Belfast 247. James teaches crime writing workshops and is a teacher tutor with Edge Hill University and he is a former school principal.

HOW TO BE DEAD by JAMES MURPHY Inspired by How to be Dead by Snow Patrol

SHARON DEMPSEY is a Belfast based crime writer. The first in her new crime series, ‘Who Took Eden Mulligan?’ was published in 2021, by Avon Harper Collins. The second book in the series, ‘The Midnight Killing,’ was published on 17th Feb 2022. Sharon is undertaking a creative-critical PHD at Queen’s University, with reference to class and gender in crime fiction. She has published five novels and three non-fiction books.

HEAD GIRL by SHARON DEMPSEY Inspired by Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

GERARD BRENNAN is the author of novels, novellas and short stories. A Spinetingler Award winner, he has released through a variety of publishers, including being the first author published by No Alibis Press. Gerard is also a musician, received an MA and PhD in creative writing from Queens University, and is a crime fiction focussed creative writing tutor.

BLACK DOG SIN by GERARD BRENNAN Inspired by Black Dog Sin by Joshua Burnside

SIMON MALTMAN is the author of crime fiction novels, novellas and short stories. He is also a reviewer, musician and the lead guide for the crime tour, Belfast Noir. An established ‘Ulster Noir’ author, he also writes American-set high concept thrillers. His next book is titled, The Wolf Is At Your Door.

TRIGGER INSIDE by SIMON MALTMAN Inspired by Trigger Inside by Therapy?

STUART NEVILLE is the New York Times Bestseller of novels and short stories. An LA Times Book Prize winner, he authors series and standalone thrillers under both his own name and that of Haylen Beck. Stuart recently played Glastonbury Festival with his band, The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers.

HOLY DIVER By STUART NEVILLE Inspired by Holy Diver by Dio (Featuring Vivian Campbell)

My Thoughts

This crime anthology is a set of seven stories written by seven Northern Ireland thriller writers, each taking their inspiration from different music pieces. A collection of stories that is a real page-turner. I am not usually a fan of short stories but this collection is a fast read, at just 124 pages. I love anything to do with Ireland and its authors. So when asked if I wanted to review I jumped at the chance. 

That said, I found the stories to be very interesting, and well written. Lots of humor, terror and violence make for a compelling read! A very eclectic choice of stories, by Irish authors, for this short anthology! A fun concept having the stories revolve around music! Very entertaining!

I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.

Beast Charming by @grace_goodwin_author Book Blitz and Giveaway! #XpressoTours @XpressoTours #BeastCharming #GraceGoodwin

 

Beast Charming
Grace Goodwin

(Interstellar Brides Program: The Beasts, #5)
Publication date: April 26th 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction

One dance with this ‘prince’ could cost her a job.

Her freedom.

Her life.

Warlord Tane of Atlan is a warrior, not a prince.

So why is he wearing these ridiculous white pants and gold-trimmed jacket?

And gods help him, why are there hundreds of females in glittering gowns, circling like vultures, expecting him to dance?

The human producers of the Bachelor Beast television show thought this would be a good idea; dress up an unmated Warlord like a fairytale prince, invite hundreds of eligible human women to a ‘Cinderella Ball’, turn on their cameras, and record everything.

And then he sees her. His mate. The only female who can tame his beast.

But…

This princess wasn’t supposed to be at the ball. A borrowed ballgown. A stolen invitation. A friend in trouble. Everything is going according to plan…until she can no longer resist temptation.

Surely one dance won’t hurt?

Even a dance with a beast.

Don’t miss this wild and twisted Cinderella story.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

Warlord Tane, Miami Event Center, ‘The Bachelor Ball’

“I do not know how much longer I can endure.” I whispered the confession to Bahre where we stood in front of the raised dais. The fucker’s response was to laugh at me.

I discreetly elbowed him in his ribs, then turned to face the forty-seventh female being introduced to me.

“Warlord Tane, may I present…” Chet Bosworth, with his overly large teeth and puffed hair paused to look at the card he held in his hand. “Celine Legrand from Canada.”

“A pleasure,” I repeated, for the forty-seventh time. Leaning over, as I’d been instructed by Bahre’s beautiful mate, Quinn, I dutifully took the female’s small hand in mine and bowed at the waist. I believed the act was a waste of time. I knew, even before she had approached, that she was not mine. My beast knew as well. I had walked the room earlier, passed by the females as the lined up wearing their fine gowns, eager to enter and meet the beasts.

None of the female’s present was my mate. I already knew this truth and yet, I had to endure several more hours of Chet Bosworth and his pontificating nonsense.

My beast and I were losing patience.

As if on cue, Chet’s conspiratorial whisper carried to both me and the young Celine. “Hold your breath, people, as the alien, Warlord Tane, meets the next gorgeous woman in attendance. Celine Legrand traveled all the way from Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, more than sixteen hundred miles, for a chance to win this Atlan beast’s battle weary heart.”

The young woman blushed at Chet’s words. I released her with a gentle shake of my head. I did not need to tell these females they were not mine.

If this woman were mine, she would already be in my arms. More like, over my shoulder so I could carry her somewhere private and pleasure her properly.

Without a live television audience.

The young lady took a step back and then hurried away.

“Another strike out!” Chet smiled directly into the camera and winked at the lens. “That’s forty-seven in a row, my friends. Is true love in the air tonight? Will one of these women be the answer to a broken-hearted beast’s most fervent wish? Or will this lonely beast, this wounded veteran, who has already been rejected by his own people, be doomed to face the executioner?”

Grace Goodwin is a USA Today and international bestselling author of Sci-Fi and Paranormal romance with nearly one million books sold. Grace's titles are available worldwide in multiple languages in ebook, print and audio formats. Two best friends, one left-brained, the other right-brained, make up the award-winning writing duo that is Grace Goodwin. They are both mothers, escape room enthusiasts, avid readers and intrepid defenders of their preferred beverages. (There may or may not be an ongoing tea vs. coffee war occurring during their daily communications.) Grace loves to hear from readers.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Bookbub / Instagram / Newlsetter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

The Quarter Storm by Veronica G. Henry Book Spotlight! @Veronicawrites @thewordslinger

A practitioner of Vodou must test the boundaries of her powers to solve a ritual murder in New Orleans and protect everything she holds sacred.

Haitian-American Vodou priestess Mambo Reina Dumond runs a healing practice from her New Orleans home. Gifted with water magic since she was a child, Reina is devoted to the benevolent traditions of her ancestors.

After a ritual slaying in the French Quarter, police arrest a fellow vodouisant. Detective Roman Frost, Reina’s ex-boyfriend―a fierce nonbeliever―is eager to tie the crime, and half a dozen others, to the Vodou practitioners of New Orleans. Reina resolves to find the real killer and defend the Vodou practice and customs, but the motives behind the murder are deeper and darker than she imagines.

As Reina delves into the city’s shadows, she untangles more than just the truth behind a devious crime. It’s a conspiracy. As a killer wields dangerous magic to thwart Reina’s investigation, she must tap into the strength of her own power and faith to solve a mystery that threatens to destroy her entire way of life.

 

veronicahenry.net

Veronica G. Henry was born in Brooklyn, New York, and has been a bit of a rolling stone ever since. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise Workshop, a member of SFWA, and an Author Spotlight interviewer for Fantasy Magazine. Her work has appeared in various online publications. The author of the novel Bacchanal, she now writes from North Carolina, where she eschews rollerballs for fountain pens and fine paper. Other untreated addictions include chocolate and cupcakes. For more information, visit www.veronicahenry.net.

​