The Devil's Saturnalia Series: Hellbound 6 by Alexa Piper New Release Blitz!

 

Title:  The Devil's Saturnalia

Series: Hellbound 6

Author: Alexa Piper

Publisher: Changeling Press LLC

Release Date: December 9

Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 149 pages

Genre: Romance, Action Adventure, BDSM, Dark Fantasy, Paranormal, Romantic Comedy, Urban Fantasy , Christmas, Dark Desire, Elves Dragons & Magical Creatures, Gay, Magic, Murder Mystery

Add to Goodreads

While in Scotland for Lionel’s magic training with Hades, a murder case compels the Devil and his necromancer to stick around a little longer. Lionel, who still cannot control his demigod magic properly, doesn’t mind a murder investigation, because that is something a necromantic police consultant like himself knows how to handle.

Except, the investigation doesn’t go at all as Lionel thought it would. And when he decides he wants to open up to Lucifer, finally, that doesn’t go exactly as Lionel had feared either, but some surprises are good surprises, especially when Saturnalia is just around the corner.

Lucifer is delighted. He has his boyfriend, who finally opens up, and his boyfriend is all his, at least through the holidays. That much attention is exactly what Lucifer loves, and the holiday season would be entirely perfect -- if it weren’t for an old enemy who is out for vengeance.

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2022 Alexa Piper

Demigod magic was different from human magic. I understood that. Why my half-human status and my limited grasp on the not-human magic in me required me to be dropped into either an oubliette or a dried-out well like today, I had no fucking clue. But Hades, god of the underworld, brewer of whiskeys, and also my mostly cryptic magic teacher, had declared it necessary, and so here I was.

The oubliette back in November, some three weeks ago now, hadn’t been so bad, actually. I’d freaked out at first, but my Awesome Demi-Human Sled Dog Magic™ had just been there and ready, as if the breaking of the minotaur’s labyrinth a few days before had excited the magic. As if it hadn’t quite settled down yet and was still there to please. The rocks making up the walls of the oubliette had shifted easily to give me handholds, and I’d simply climbed back up, leaving the cold, damp darkness behind.

But the well was just a hole I was stuck in. It was fucking dark down in this well shaft, and since it was the middle of December, it was also fucking cold. “I’m a skilled necromancer,” I mumbled into the grayish semi-darkness. “I am a competent police consultant, and I can raise and kill zombies with my mind. How in the fuck did I get here?”

I smelled woodfire and spices on the air, and my heart picked up a beat. “Babe. You can’t kill a zombie. They’re already dead as a prerequisite. You de-animate them.”

Lucifer, my teleporting boyfriend and also the Devil, was standing on the frozen ground of the well’s bottom right next to me. I felt his body heat. I was sure he looked amazing with his kitty-cat fur hair just perfect, though I couldn’t really see that. Night fell early in the harsh Scottish winter, and Hades had dropped me into the well around noon. I mean, he’d gently lowered me down, but still. I’d been starting to feel like that creepy girl from that Japanese movie. I could barely see anything in this dry and frozen hole in the ground, and I’d started contemplating a future in which I got to haunt people by crawling out of their TV at them.

“What are you doing down here?” I asked the devilish boyfriend unit, my teeth chattering slightly. I actually wanted to melt into him and seek his warmth against his chest, but I didn’t want him to think I was needy. No, that was wrong. I didn’t want to think I was needy. I did need him. I knew that, deep down inside, but it was scary. Most of my feelings for Lucifer scared me these days, and most of the time, I wasn’t sure how to handle myself and my needy ass around him.

Sometimes, he tied me to his bed and took all control and power away from me, handling my ass for me, and then, it didn’t matter, and everything became easy. When he got to do to me what he wanted and wouldn’t take any objection, he also gave me just what I needed but didn’t know to ask for. I had come to that truly freaky realization while tied to one of the bed posts of the four-poster bed in the guest room we shared in Persephone’s castle, Lucifer’s dick in my mouth, and I would have liked to call the realization mind-shattering. It hadn’t been. It had just come, and then Lucifer had, and I had swallowed, and he’d taken care of me after, kissed me and rubbed me down like a horse fresh off the track, and it had felt so good.

So, consequently, shit had gotten only scarier with him.

“I am here to get you, babe. Unless you are getting yourself out?”

I scoffed and kicked the wall of the well. “I would have by now if I could. Being stuck in a well sucks. Why the fuck would you think I’d stay down here if I could get out by myself?”

Lucifer came closer, cupped my cheek. “The chthonic side of your heritage should drive you to enjoy this. Being below the earth.”

“Ah,” I said, because what the fuck. “Hades hasn’t mentioned that. He was talking about Kringle again.”

Lucifer was caressing the side of my mouth with the pad of his thumb, not quite stroking my lips. If I turned my head, I could suck his thumb. It would be that simple.

“Who’s Kringle?” the Devil asked.

Purchase

Changeling Press LLC | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

For one week only, get book #1 in the Hellbound series, The Devil's Necromancer for only 99 cents! Purchase at Changeling Press and all other major ebook retailers.

Alexa Piper (she/her) has a lot of characters living in her head and wanting their stories told. Many of these people get snarky and won’t stop complaining if Alexa is too slow writing them, which means that for this author, sleep is a luxury. Consequently, Alexa is a coffee addict, but she is sure she has it under control (six cups of coffee are normal in a morning, right? Right!?)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $10.00 Changeling Press Gift Code! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtue by @idabradyauthor Release Tour! @IndiePenPR @the_real_ida @indie_pen_pr

Savannah loves sex. If she’s not doing it with her gamer boyfriend, Arcas, she’s daydreaming about it, preferably with a 19th century duke. She embarks on a year-long journey of sexual exploration, documenting her experiences in her online blog. When Savannah’s conservative past threatens her newfound freedom, will she find the courage to stay the course? Fans of Shayla Black, Tessa Dare, and the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn will love Virtue by Ida Brady, a spicy, seductive, enemies-to-lovers, alpha/virgin, disability, erotic romance.

Buy Now From Your Favorite Retailer!

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3EN4pkk

Barnes & Noble → https://bit.ly/3TQn6Im

Apple → https://apple.co/3ghg69Q

Kobo → https://bit.ly/3AtwFGr

Universal → http://bit.ly/3HbQMNl

Savannah loves nothing more than a good romp in the sack. If she’s not doing it with her paraplegic gamer boyfriend, Arcas, she’s at the very least daydreaming about it, preferably with a duke from the 19th century. Her overactive imagination means she can’t help but fantasize about the R-rated pastimes of the peerage, adding her own scintillating scenes to her favorite historical romance, Love and Honor.

By day, she dreams about the commanding Duke of Maddern and his seduction of Miss Emmaline Collins, the innocent, headstrong beauty whose heart he broke long ago. By night, she embarks on a year-long sex challenge: to experience and document her wild bedroom antics in her online blog, Sexcapades.

But when her conservative past threatens her newfound freedom, Savannah must find the courage to stay the course. Hovering between Regency England and modern-day Melbourne, she begins a journey of sexual exploration that no one had seen coming.

Not even her trusty little Rabbit.

Add to Goodreads!

Excerpt
Copyright 2022 Ida Brady

Savannah stroked the spine of the book, a smile playing at her lips.
It was her umpteenth time reading Love and Honor, a classic nineteenth-century romance and all she could think about was why the Duke of Maddern didn’t bend Miss Collins over his desk and show her just how proud he could be.
She could picture him in the library now, stalking towards Emmaline, demanding she lift her skirts.
Her imagination beckoned along with her desire.

The Duke followed Miss Collins into the library, his cock straining against his breeches. He shut the door behind him firmly, the sharp click reverberating through the empty room. Time was limited. Flustered and uncertain, Emmaline’s chaperone, an older, unmarried relative, had accepted the Earl’s offer to dance. He owed Lord Stanton a great sum for the diversion.

The moon was particularly bright this evening, piercing through the windows, illuminating the beauty of the woman before him. All softness had faded, though the years had not been unkind. There was a haunting beauty to her visage, a sadness that shadowed her graceful movements. For as long as he could remember, she had conducted herself as a lady. Indeed, she was, if not for the inconvenience of her father’s station, a lady in every respect. She would always be so in his mind.

Was he in his cups, or were her lips an even darker shade of peony than he remembered? Even with her brow pinched and her mouth downturned, she stirred a long-forgotten feeling inside.

He knew it was not right to be alone with her in this fashion. Even still, he would chase this woman to the most exotic, far-off continents.

“I’ve been thinking about you since Mrs. Perryweather’s play.”

He watched as one round shoulder lifted in nonchalance. Despite the casual gesture, her eyes shimmered with unspoken thoughts.

Once he had been privy to such musings, but no longer.

“Is that so, Your Grace? I thought you were rather occupied.”

Maddern had been overrun by young ladies eager to make his acquaintance. He was quite a catch according to the meddling mammas. Yet not one of the simpering ingénues had stirred his appetite.

He knew what they said. After all, he was a duke with a considerable fortune. A duty, he found, that was akin to a hangman’s noose. Maddern was weary of doing what was expected. None of it mattered if he didn’t get what he truly desired.

The woman standing before him.

Miss Emmaline Collins.

She was stubborn and impertinent. Bold in her manner. And she harbored a hatred for him that had not dissipated over time. He intended to bring her to heel, perhaps over his bended knee. The image was too illicit to fathom, but once it had taken up residence in his head, he was determined to make it a reality.

“Don’t play coy with me. I am not a fool,” Maddern rumbled.
“One must not laugh at the noble Duke. He is, after all, such a jovial, candid man.”
“Lift those skirts, wench, and I will show you the real meaning of candid.”

About Ida Brady

Ida Brady writes spicy contemporary and erotic romance that packs all the heat! From humour, to heartbreak, to happily ever after, you're guaranteed a steamy read with all the tropes. Enemies to lovers, billionaire, virgin, menage...you name it, she writes it!

Ida is a lover of chocolate and thunderstorms. When she isn't trying to tame her intractable curls, she's running after her little ones, usually with a book in hand. Ida lives in the hustle and bustle of Melbourne's CBD with her Irish husband and their out of control collection of books. She sometimes daydreams about having a huge library in her home but will settle for stacking novels in the kitchen drawers instead.

In her past life, Ida taught VCE Literature and English to a gaggle of teenagers. While she misses their enthusiasm, she sure as hell doesn't miss marking papers. You might find her dancing the Argentine tango in her spare time, which isn't often these days. She loves travelling with her family, observing strangers at cafés and getting lost in a good story.

Sign up to my newsletter for exclusive content, giveaways and competitions!

Want to hear more?

Visit: www.idabrady.com

Follow: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub | TikTok | Newsletter

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

As Played by Gods Series: Briar Constance, Book One by Tallie Rose New Release Blitz! @ninestarpress @indigomarketingdesign #LGBTQIA+

Title:  As Played by Gods

Series: Briar Constance, Book One

Author: Tallie Rose

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: 12/06/2022

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Female/Female

Length: 93400

Genre: Fantasy, LGBTQIA+, Fantasy, contemporary, bisexual, gods, blood magic, faerie, witches, politician

Add to Goodreads

The gossip rags’ favorite witch, disaster and occasional historian Briar Constance is hearing voices.

Ever since political playboy, Soren Savros, asked her for help in finding the lost spell book of a Goddess, she’s been hearing the deity’s whispers. Which means she might finally be on the brink of living up to her family name.

Then Briar meets Lillia, who is beautiful, mysterious, and maybe a little dangerous. Briar is immediately intrigued.

But Lillia has a secret, one that frightens the Goddess and leaves Briar questioning everything.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Played by Gods

Tallie Rose © 2022

All Rights Reserved

The cash register at the front of the shop dinged and Briar groaned. Another customer meant another sale. One more thing to add to the lists of Godsforsaken numbers sitting in front of her. Owning a bookstore was supposed to be fun. That was the lie she had told herself when she’d seen the place for sale and bought it on a whim.

Her financial advisor had vehemently disagreed, but he never had anything good to say. Too many books. Too much makeup. How can an old diary cost so much? The last one had been worth it; she’d pay any price to add to her collection. So what if she hadn’t found any answers in that book either? The history of her magic was out there, somewhere. Waiting.

Her phone vibrated and she snapped the ledger shut. The numbers could wait—and keep waiting—until she called the family accountant.

Just got a haircut. I’m a block away. See you soon.

Briar swiped her finger, dismissing the message. “Ursula, can you get me a coffee from across the street? The books are killing me.”

Ursula’s heart-shaped face appeared in the doorway of her office, her red hair a shock against the brown wood. “Double shot?”

Briar nodded her agreement. “Sorry, I know you’re not a secretary.”

She waved away Briar’s concerns. “My friends think this is the coolest job in the city.” Her heels clicked against the polished floorboards.

So much wood. Briar had hoped it lent an air of formality to the shop when she bought it but now she worried it was stuffy. Her condo barely had any wood at all. It was all modern, bright-white walls, terrazzo floors, and gleaming steel surfaces.

Steel. At least she supported the family.

She reached under her desk, pulled her heels on, and fluffed her blonde curls in the reflection of the photos she kept on her desk. More mascara? No, not to blow someone off.

The door opened and the bells were quickly stifled. The shimmering light of Evaria’s magic was visible above the shelves and Briar’s whole body tensed. Evaria’s black hair was indeed newly cut, and her stilettos made her almost as tall as Briar. A feline smile pulled at her lips as Briar stepped into view. “Darling.”

“You know I have employees. Occasionally even customers.” Briar leaned against the front desk. “The whole storefront is glass.”

Evaria’s smile only grew. “I have a burning desire for a new book.” She crossed the space between them with cultivated grace. Briar had never seen anyone move like her. It was what had drawn her to Evaria at the fundraiser a year ago.

The fundraiser her husband had been throwing.

Briar stepped away from Evaria and back into the rows of books, shielding herself from the view of anyone passing by. “If you’re looking for a book, we recently got several new titles in.” She reached for a thriller.

Evaria’s hand darted out and caught her wrist. Briar froze as Evaria smirked. “Stop it.”

“Evaria…” She’d worn yellow, like she had when they first met. Briar stepped closer, her feet moving against common sense. Evaria dropped her hand from Briar’s arm to her hip. The touch snapped Briar back to reality. “No.” She pulled away. “It’s not right.”

“You can’t be serious.” Evaria’s expression darkened, storms brewing behind her blue eyes. “You knew I was married when you led me into that storage closet.”

Briar rubbed her temples. “So if I make a mistake I’m never allowed to correct it? He’s a senator. The scandal would be enormous.”

Evaria blew out a long breath. “The scandal would be mine. Not yours.”

“That’s bullshit, Eve. My aunt just bought Corsco. It cost a not-so-small fortune. You watch the news. They’d love to plaster both our faces in little boxes. Maybe if you leave him…”

Evaria raised her eyebrows. “Oh, are we getting married? Will I live in your condo and go to clubs with you on the weekend?”

Why had she ever thought Evaria would do the reasonable thing? Briar pressed her palms against her eyes and sighed. “You’re fucking phenomenal, Eve, but…I didn’t think you’d ever call again after that night.” Why did she do this to herself? There were so many people in the world and Briar wanted things—so many things. She was smarter than this, better than affairs and drunken nights she could barely remember.

Evaria’s laugh rang out, echoing off the walls of the shop. “Sorry, Briar. I thought we were having fun,” she scoffed, knocking into Ursula as she left.

Turning, Ursula watched her leave. “She looks familiar.” She handed a cup to Briar.

“She’s Senator Jakobson’s wife. Look, I’ve got an errand to run. Can you handle things for an hour or two?”

Ursula glanced once more toward the door. “Yeah. Avi should be in soon. Take all the time you need.”

Purchase

NineStar Press | Books2Read

Tallie Rose lives in Charleston, SC with two kids, five cats, two goldfish, and one dog. She spends her spare time thrifting, watching bad TV, and reading books.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $50.00 NineStar Press Gift Code!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Billionaire’s Arrangement by @amelie.s.duncan Book Blitz! #ameliesduncan #TheBillionairesArrangement #XpressoTours @XpressoTours⁣

The Billionaire’s Arrangement
Amélie S. Duncan

(The Kept Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: December 11th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Paul Crane is rich, brilliant, and powerful. And I belong to him, body and soul…

I came to New York City to study design and build a life for myself. I was young, naive, and the last thing I was looking for was love.
I needed money for my family and the medical bills that threatened us into poverty. I didn’t have time to worry about my loneliness,
to fill that cold empty spot in my heart…

At first, it seemed like Paul was the answer to all my problems. But after he rescued me from a desperate situation,
I soon discovered Paul had demons of his own.

Paul wasn’t looking for a lover… He wanted a companion, a kept woman. And I was captivated by his charm, lavish gifts, and trips to Paris.
And his touch awakened my desires, passions I had never dreamed of.

But the closer we get, the more I begin to wonder. What happens when our arrangement comes to an end…

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

I dropped the napkin, and Paul reached down to retrieve it, covering my hand with his on my lap. The sensation of his touch was electric, sending a current up my arm that broke into goosebumps. He smiled at me but smoothly ordered a replacement, which was promptly given to him. I could only stare, gobsmacked by his confidence and command of those around him.

I quietly pointed out a few selections on the menu. Since the most I ever drank was a glass of warm rum over Christmas, I turned down wine. When the time came to order, Paul selected everything I said I liked and asked them to box the extras for carryout.

“Mr. Crane, what are you doing?” I whispered.

“A small gift for joining me for lunch,” he whispered back in an amused tone and then winked at me.

Butterflies exploded in my stomach, and I covered the goofy grin I knew I had on my face. Of course, I had no idea how I’d fit the extra food in my room and the dorm hall fridge. I mentally noted to donate what I couldn’t eat to the other students on my floor.

No one at the table batted an eye at us. To me, we seemed odd together, me in a knit dress I made and tights and him in a polished, pressed business suit.

I had no idea to what I owed my fortune, but I chalked it up as one of the oddities of life in New York City and figured I’d never see most of Paul’s employees again. So, I gave myself permission to eat heartily and clear my plate. Hell, I would have licked my plate of grilled steak and chocolate cake clean, but he glanced my way a few times, assessing me. Our legs brushed, and a tingling sensation went through my body. I clenched my thighs and tried my best not to give anything away. But Paul was perceptive. I believe he knew the effect he had on me.

Amelie S. Duncan writes steamy, sexy stories. Her inspiration comes from many sources including her life experiences and travels. She lives on the West Coast of the United States with her husband.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Amazon

GIVEAWAY!

$25 Amazon gift card + signed copy of The Billionaire’s Arrangement

a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

 

Love Tools by Isobel Reed Virtual Book Tour!

 

Contemporary Romance

What happens when the king of casual meets the queen of picking the wrong men?

Lily is running. From a dead-end job, a neurotic mother and all the losers she dared to date. Moving halfway across the world to Bluestone County seemed like a good idea at the time. So did reopening her estranged father’s hardware store. But now she isn’t so sure.

Small town living has its perks though. Wide-open space, clean air, and sexy cowboys. Well, one sexy cowboy. Jake. Who also just so happens to be the new bane of her existence. At least when he’s not talking, she can admire the view.

Jake is the king of casual. The love of his life has always been his ranch, and that was fine with him. He never really saw the point in long-term. But all that changes when a mouthy, blonde sasses him into oblivion. He should have known she’d be trouble as soon as he laid eyes on her. Now it’s too late. She’s all he can think about. All he has to do is convince her that he’s finally the right man.

Excerpt

Lily stared at the boarded-up windows and took a deep breath.

There was no turning back now. Pulling the keys from her handbag,

she unlocked the door and followed the creaking sound of the floorboards

into the dimly lit store. 

To her surprise the shelves were still stocked and brimming with power

tools, each item covered in a layer of dust that had already started to make

its way up her nostrils. 

“What the hell are you doing here Lily?” she muttered to herself as she

ran her fingers across the counter. 

To get this place up and running, it was going to be more work than she

ever imagined. She just hoped the apartment upstairs was in better condition. 

After exploring the shop floor, she went to find out. She followed the

beige hallway into the living room, taking a seat on the squeaky leather

sofa and looking around. The space was depressing. Habitable but

depressing, nonetheless. 

How could he have lived here for so long, and it still feel so empty? 

Furniture was sparse, and other than the chair she sat in, the only other

items that remained were a flatscreen TV, a scratched wooden coffee table

and a small shelving unit scattered with a few books and a couple of picture

frames. 

She looked over at the kitchen adjoining the living room and noticed some

basic appliances. It felt strange to be in his space. His home. Surrounded

by his things. Was there a right way to feel? 

Isobel was born and raised in London.

She still lives along the River Thames with her husband and

her substantial book collection. Ever the hopeless romantic,

she fell in love with the genre from a young age and was

inspired to write her own stories.

When she's not feasting on romantic comedies or binge reading

her hoard of contemporary romance novels, Isobel is writing. 

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/isobelreedbooks

https://www.instagram.com/isobelreedbooks/

https://www.isobelreed.net/

https://www.amazon.com/author/isobelreed

https://www.goodreads.com/Isobel_Reed

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/isobel-reed

AMAZON:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJZ1QW41

KOBO:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-tools

BARNES & NOBLE:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-tools-isobel-reed/1142547867

APPLE:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6443957300

GOODREADS:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63105785-love-tools

BOOKBUB: Love Tools: Bluestone Series: Book One by Isobel Reed - BookBub

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mine to Protect by @emilymyersauthor Book Blitz!#emilymyers #MinetoProtect #XpressoTours⁣⁣⁣ @XpressoTours⁣

 

Mine to Protect
Emily A. Myers

Publication date: December 1st 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Mafia, Romance

From award-winning author, Emily A. Myers, comes a standalone, full-length Mafia Romance novel.

Alister Amato is rich, powerful, and feared by all who know the truth. He’s the Blood King, a mafia boss with a lust for blood and an infinite reach. Everything in me screams I should stay away. But when my Organized Crime Task Force is called to investigate the slaughter of a rival criminal syndicate, I know that isn’t an option. The way the men were killed is something I’ve only seen once before—eighteen years ago when my mother was murdered and I was orphaned. I don’t know how my mother wound up in the clutches of the mafia. But, after all this time, I will stop at nothing to discover the truth. Even if it means aligning myself with the dangerous, mysterious, and undeniably handsome, Blood King.

They call me King, but I am nothing but a prisoner. The world of darkness I belong to has stolen everything from me—my mother, my sister, my happiness, my freedom. Most of all, it has stolen my ability to love. If it weren’t for my sister, Sophia, I would walk away from the throne I never wanted and let New Orleans burn. But even that would not set me free. My name and my blood have placed a target on my back and cursed anyone who stands beside me to the same fate. Which is why when FBI agent Ariana Valentine weasels her way into my life and heart, I do everything I can not to fall for her. My love is a death sentence. And, after everything this world has taken from me, I won’t let it take her too. Even if it means I have to walk away from the only woman I’ve ever allowed myself to love.

STANDALONE – DUAL POV – ITALIAN MAFIA – FORBIDDEN LOVE – SLOW BURN

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

From Alister’s POV:

With each passing year, my family loses a member. My mother was killed when I was sixteen during a botched hit meant to take out my entire family. My father died last year, nearly twenty years after my mother. Unlike the bullet that took her from, cancer was his poison. And my sister Cara, she was taken in the night from her dorm room shortly after my father died and I came to power. The rest you already know. Except, perhaps, one thing, the most important thing. Why?

Why would someone put a hit on my family? Why would my eighteen-year-old sister be ripped from her bed, sold into sex slavery, and killed? It’s because of our blood. We are the Amatos, the gatekeepers of the criminal underworld stretching from the Texas border all the way to the Florida Keys. For the innocent, we are the only thing standing between them and full on anarchy. Though, they wouldn’t know it. For those privy to this world of darkness to which I unfortunately belong, we are royalty. And like the kings and queens of the past, we are flush with wealth and connections carefully attained by our ancestors and modern-day business deals that help keep our illegal drug trade secret. Our wealth and reputations accompanied by our unique network of connections in Mexico, the Caribbean, Chicago, and New York City make us targets of those looking to make a name for themselves among the world’s most dangerous and vile. But what was once a powerful and untouchable dynasty is now only a brother and sister desperately trying to survive.

Emily A. Myers is an award-winning author of romantic suspense. Her first novel, The Truth About Unspeakable Things, was a First Place winner for the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) Clue Award (2021) for suspense/ thriller fiction. The Truth About Unspeakable Things was also a finalist for the CIBA Chatelaine Award (2021) for romance and a semi-finalist for the Somerset Award (2021) for contemporary fiction.

Emily followed up her stellar debut with a sequel, completing the Unspeakable duet, and has now branched into Mafia Romance with her latest release, Mine to Protect.

When not writing, Emily enjoys traveling, devouring the latest Netflix series, and scouring the shelves of Sephora.

To keep up with her, follow her on Instagram @emilymyersauthor or subscribe to her mailing list --> https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c8v0x4

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok / Amazon / Mailing List

GIVEAWAY!

Print copies of all 3 of Emily’s books (Unspeakable duet plus Mine to Protect)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen Book Review! #NetGalley @algonquinbooks @michellegallenauthor #FactoryGirls

 

A funny, fierce, and unforgettable read about a young woman working a summer job in a shirt factory in Northern Ireland, while tensions rise both inside and outside the factory walls.

It’s the summer of 1994, and all Maeve Murray wants are good final exam results so she can earn her ticket out of the wee Northern Irish town she has grown up in during the Troubles—away from her crowded home, the silence and sadness surrounding her sister’s death, and most of all, away from the simmering violence of  her  divided  community.  And  as  a  first  step,  Maeve’s  taken  a  summer  job  in  a  local  shirt  factory  working  alongside  Protestants  with  her  best  friends,  kind,  innocent Caroline Jackson and privileged and clever Aoife O’Neill. But getting the right exam results is only part of Maeve’s problem—she’s got to survive a tit-for-tat paramilitary campaign, iron 100 shirts an hour all day every day, and deal with the attentions of Andy Strawbridge, her slick and untrustworthy English boss. What seems  to  be  a  great  opportunity  to  earn  money  before  starting  university  turns  out to be a crucible in which Maeve is tested in ways she may not be equipped to handle. Seeking justice for herself and her fellow workers may just be Maeve’s one-way ticket out of town.

Bitingly  hilarious,  perceptive,  and  steeped  in  the  vernacular  of  its  time  and  place, Factory Girls is perfect for fans of voice-driven stories with bite, humor, and realism, such as the Netflix series Derry Girls and novels by Douglas Stuart, Roddy Doyle, and Anna Burns. 

I was born in County Tyrone in the mid 70s and grew up during the Troubles a few miles from the border between the ‘Free State’ and the ‘United Kingdom’. The border between these territories dominated all our lives. In the late 1960s, 19 roads criss-crossed Donegal and Tyrone in our local area. By the 1970s, just one ‘official’ road was left usable after the British Army blew up and barricaded the ‘unapproved’ roads and bridges. This campaign dramatically impacted communities on both sides of the border throughout my childhood and teens.

My Thoughts

Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen is a story of an 18-year-old girl, Maeve Murray who lives in a Northern Ireland town. She is waiting for her grades, GCSEs to arrive that will enable her to move to London to study journalism.

The story takes place in 1994 during the "troubles" of the time where the Catholics and the 'prods', Protestants, are at odds. There are bombings going on that the people of NI take as a given. It has been going on so long that it has become the norm. This conflict went on for 30 years so this time frame for the novel fits right in.

Maeve and her best friends, Caroline and Aoife get a job at a shirt factory and move in together in an apartment. Maeve wants to make enough money so she can go to London. This factory employees both the Catholics and Protestants which at times can be a challenge for both sides.

The boss, Andy Strawbridge is a good-looking guy, and he knows it and uses it to his advantage. To get the girls he wants and further his future prospects. He has his eyes on Maeve for sure. She is not sure if she wants the attention or not. After watching Andy, the girls determine that he is not on the up and up. His treatment of the women he employs is disrespectful to say the least.

This book reflects the troubles between the Irish, British, the Catholics and the Protestants and the IRA. There is mention of the conflicts between these factions, told straightforward but with a bit of humor. This summer has the girls partying a lot after work hours. There is sadness in the story also because Maeve's sister had committed suicide and Maeve is trying to understand the reasons which can make her bitter at times.

I found that I liked Maeve, even though she was pretty brash, and her colorful language added to the humor in the story even though the 'troubles' was anything but humorous. This was an extremely dangerous time for the people of Northern Ireland.

The author's writing definitely reflected this conflict and how the people lived during this time. Written with knowledge and humor made the story flow, otherwise I think it would have been difficult to read. I love reading books by Irish authors and this one is one of the best I have read in a while. I give it 5 stars!

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