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[arnoldjaime13]

Release Day Blitz- CHILDREN OF SOLO by #AndrewDHMoore With An Excerpt & A $10 Amazon GC & Book #Giveaway!

I am so excited that CHILDREN OF SOLO by Andrew D.H. Moore is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours and a finished copy of the book courtesy of Andrew. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

  About The Book:

Title: CHILDREN OF SOLO

Author: Andrew D.H. Moore

Pub. Date: April 18, 2025

Publisher: World System Books, LLC

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 722

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/CHILDREN-OF-SOLO

Buy direct from Andrew! https://books.by/adhmoore 

The God of Creation is missing, but pirate captain Adi Crestone has more immediate problems. Caught between her criminal past and her maternal instincts, she struggles to protect her son from the Blood Queen. Buffeted by inner demons and external foes, she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice for freedom and family, all while navigating treacherous alliances that force her to confront her own past. Theo Vanguard is an Imperial naval officer entangled in familial duty and political machinations. Trapped between his personal desires and his noble father’s expectations, he is captured by pirates and descends into the seedy underbelly of the city of Solvigant. Where he reveals a world of survival and sacrifice. Dreams of adventure beyond the mundane inspire young Ion Rucinare to run away from home, only to find himself thrust into a perilous quest that could alter the fate of the World System. His yearning for acceptance and belonging is complicated as he grapples with newfound magical abilities and the harsh realities of life on the dying moon Xys. Caught between the Empire, ruthless gang leaders, and enigmatic gods all vying for power, Adi, Theo, and Ion’s paths converge in a high-stakes search for a powerful artifact, Apyreon, which grants the wielder the very power of the gods themselves. Will each find their place in a universe teetering on the brink of chaos?

Excerpt:

“She wants me to acquire an artifact.” Adi paused and considered how far she wanted to go with the truth. She didn’t want to put Xander in too untenable a position, nor did she want to engage his instinct toward heroism at the gravity of her task.

“Where is it?”

“It’s here in Solvigant. Stuart Royal has it.”

“The leader of the White Rabbits?”

“The one and only.”

“No mean feat. Royal and his goons are well protected in the Warrens. I understand the city watch has little presence there.”

You have no idea, Adi thought.

“What does she want with the artifact? What is it?”

“No idea,” Adi lied, “The Blood Queen does not share her plans with low level indentures.”

“I suppose you need money?”

Adi nodded.

“Of course you do.” He sighed and his defensive bulwarks returned. “If only you’d asked for help before letting Ajax clamp that hideous thing around your neck, then we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

We? Adi started to say it aloud but stopped. He was entangled in her mistakes. “Despite your ideas to the contrary, I have some pride.” Xander held up his hands in surrender. Adi pressed on, though it hurt her to say it. “I know how much you’ve sacrificed for me, and if we weren’t worried over Lucas’s safety I wouldn’t ask now.”

She hoped Xander couldn’t detect her lies. She really needed money to locate Apyreon. There would be bribes to pay, gear to assemble, and, gods, she needed a stiff drink. Her mind strayed back to Stella’s Echo and Iris’s pallet.

“Do you really think Sasha Riven will let you go when she holds so much power over you?” Xander asked.

“What choice do I have?”

Xander sighed. His shoulders slumped. “How much do you need?”

“One hundred gold spyres ought to do it.”

His eyes widened. It wasn’t a huge sum, but it wasn’t a small one either.

“Finding a magical astrolabe in a corrupt city of millions isn’t cheap,” Adi said, “And I’ve lost all my gear.”

Xander shook his head. “There is another way around all this.”

“No, Xan, we’ve been over this. We’re not betrothed anymore.” Adi adjusted her collar, which suddenly chafed.

  About Andrew D.H. Moore:

Andrew Moore lives in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado. He is an avid writer of stories and rider of bikes. Andrew's love of fantasy blossomed early when he fell in love with such books as Redwall by Brian Jacques and the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. He graduated with honors from Indiana University with undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Classical Literature. He completed a post-baccalaureate at the University of Pennsylvania before obtaining his Master's in Classical Archaeology from CU Boulder. He worked as an archaeologist and scholar in Germany, Greece, Turkey, and Jordan. In Colorado, Andrew taught philosophy, history, and literature at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, before leaving formal academia to pursue a passion in brewing beer. His brewery brainchild, The Intrepid Sojourner Beer Project, closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, but not before winning many awards both domestic and international.

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Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours, International.

1 winner will receive a finished copy of CHILDREN OF SOLO, US Only.

Ends May 13th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- BLOOD BETRAYAL by #EricRichardson With The Book Playlist & A #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BLOOD BETRAYAL by Eric Richardson Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: BLOOD BETRAYAL

Author: Eric Richardson

Pub. Date: August 12, 2024

Publisher: Troubador

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 398

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/BLOOD-BETRAYAL 

A BRAVE NEW WORLD – AN ULTRA VIOLENT NEW WORLD ORDER Brought up in the violent gangland life since birth brothers Mat and Nic take the reins from their father as his successor and become the gangland bosses of East London. Mat gets involved in the illegal drug trade after laundering millions of dirty money from Brinks Mat. He becomes Pablo Escobar’s main European cocaine distributor propelling the Hunter gang into the stratosphere of an untouchable crime syndicate. But all of this comes at the ultimate price. In a world filled with serial killers, Yardies and Ultra-Violent radical feminists, who can you trust? Set against the backdrop of East London in the 1980s with systemic police corruption, racism and poverty, juxtaposed with beautiful women, decadence and the Docklands Development. Blood Betrayal is a gritty and darkly humorous story and the first in a duology.

    INSERT YOUR POST OR REVIEW HERE!

    About Eric Richardson:

Eric Richardson is an ex con who did a long stretch in prison. Started writing since release and has turned his life around & published a darkly humorous gangland thriller.

  Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours, International.

Ends March 18th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/3/2025

@jodysbookishhaven

IG Post

3/3/2025

Two Chicks on Books

Interview/IG Post

3/4/2025

Creativewriringwithdrnagle.com

Guest Post/IG Post

3/4/2025

A Dream Within A Dream

Guest Post

3/5/2025

Frugal Freelancer

Guest Post/IG Post

3/5/2025

Daily Waffle

Excerpt

3/6/2025

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

3/6/2025

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

3/7/2025

@kimbartosch

Review/IG Post

3/7/2025

Readwithrolo

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

3/10/2025

@alexandriavwilliams_

IG Review

3/10/2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

3/11/2025

@lexijava

IG Review/TikTok Post

3/11/2025

@thepageladies

IG Review/TikTok Post

3/12/2025

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Post/TikTok Post

3/12/2025

Sera(@reading._everyday)

IG Review

3/13/2025

@callistoscalling

IG Post

3/13/2025

Lifestyle of Me

Review

3/14/2025

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

3/14/2025

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- THE QUEEN'S REAPER by Cole Hopkins With An Excerpt & A $100 Amazon GC #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE QUEEN'S REAPER by Cole Hopkins Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: THE QUEEN'S REAPER

Author: Cole Hopkins

Pub. Date: January 7, 2025

Publisher: Cole Hopkins

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 628

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-QUEENS-REAPER

Read the book for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership! 

"In this debut fantasy, a legendary assassin seemingly aligns himself with a young princess determined to claim her throne... Remarkable characters headline this epic tale of duty, treachery, and never ending battles." --Kirkus Reviews Are some men born evil, no chance of redemption from the moment they draw breath? Perhaps, perhaps not. Grim doesn't seem to think so, and yet, he knows better than to believe that knowledge alone would curb a cruel man's intent... Even if that man is himself. He's made a life, no a legend, out of hunting and killing the conceited nobles of Harth. His sword always answering to the highest bidder. This isn't because he desires to walk the bloodstained path laid out before him, at least not usually. To him, he's merely playing the hand he was dealt. Using the skills of his dark and convoluted past as a means to provide for and protect the one thing he holds most dear--the only thing he holds dear--in this world. The shadow of the woman he loves... But what will Grim do when that shadow is taken from him? Ripped from his grasp and exploited against him. Will he answer the demands of those who have betrayed him so completely, even if to do so means to perform the unthinkable, throwing the Kingdom of Harth into a spiral of chaos it's not likely to survive? Well, of course. It's not like he gives a damn about the kingdom anyway... right?

  Grab the series now!

  Chapter: 1

Greet the Reaper

            Grim slid through the shadows like a specter. The hour was late, and the moon sat high in the night sky. In spite of that the streets of Everharth bustled still. This was the city that never stopped after all—the capital of the Kingdom of Harth. The crown jewel of the West…

Grim had spent most of his adult life here, and here was where he had mastered his profession—killing. He was an assassin by trade and a damn good one, too. Taking his time to remain completely undetected, he crept from one back alley to another, always on the move. Sometimes a group of city denizens would walk within inches of him and not notice his presence.

The assassin was so stealthy, obsessed with perfecting his art, he would avoid alerting even the local drunks who roamed the capital’s dark streets at night. And not just drunks, but horses and livestock as well. Anything with a pulse was a challenge for the dangerous man to overcome.

His target this night was a nobleman—as was often the case—by the name of Orven Ogle. He was not a particularly rich man, though certainly better off than most of the poor souls who roamed the streets alongside Grim this night. What was this Orven guilty of?

The assassin had no idea. He rarely asked those kinds of questions. Easier to let his imagination convict his victim than hear the truth of why these pathetic noble’s peers might want him dead. Grim almost chuckled out loud at that thought. The noble lords and ladies of Harth were a petty bunch and hardly needed a good reason to want someone dead. All that mattered to Grim was that they paid him sufficiently for the deed.

Although, this particular contract had managed to pique his curiosity. The man who wanted Orven dead was not another noble, but a godly man—a rather revered Father of the Cathedral of Thondel. It wasn’t uncommon for the church to be involved in nefarious business, Grim thought, but assassinations were a bit extreme for them. No matter, he had been paid to do the job and that was exactly what he was going to do.

Pushing the thoughts from his mind, the assassin continued his silent trek through Everharth’s Water District, until he came to the base of the wall surrounding Orven Ogle’s villa. The wall stood twice Grim’s height and was made of strong, thick stone, likely mined from the caverns that snaked through the mountains just south of Everharth.

The assassin wore no armor, other than an iron gauntlet on his left hand, and sturdy, flexible leathers which were complimented by a heavy black riding cloak. Grim briefly considered unfastening the cloak and scaling the wall without it but decided against that course of action when he saw a trio of torch-bearing guards round the corner of the villa, some forty yards away. Their torchlight blinded them to his presence for the time being, but Grim knew that would not be the case for long.

Not waiting to be discovered by the guards, the assassin quickly and quietly took a step back, before launching himself at the wall and half running half climbing, pulled himself atop the thick stone barrier. He made almost no noise during his ascent and the trio passed underneath him, completely unaware of his presence.

Grim quickly surveyed the interior of the villa before him. Directly beneath him was a large courtyard, dimly lit by scattered torches, which were all burning extremely low. On the far side of the courtyard was the main building, a large two-story complex, surrounded entirely by an elegant patio on the ground level, and a high-ceilinged deck atop that.

From where he crouched, Grim could make out six guards: two in the courtyard, two more by the front door, and the last two patrolled the balcony. Without a second thought, the assassin slipped down the wall on the inside of the villa and disappeared into the shadows cast by the dying torches. Within moments, he was pulling himself up one of the elegantly designed pillars that supported the second-story deck. At the top of the pillar the assassin waited, hanging from only his fingers, and bracing himself with his toes.

After several seconds, the first of the two guards on the deck passed above Grim. The guard was tired and likely thinking of dawn, which was not far off, when he would be able to return to the comfort of his bed and finally get some sleep. The man marched passed without suspecting a thing.

With little effort, Grim pulled himself up onto the deck and moved to open the window across from him. Locked. Knowing he had less than a minute before the other guard turned the corner, the assassin pulled out a small pouch containing his lockpicking tools and deftly went to work. After only a few tense seconds, the lock clicked open and Grim slid through the window, quietly closing it behind him.

            Orven Ogle sat alone behind his large oaken desk, playing a game of chess against himself in the light cast by the many candles that dotted his personal study. The room was covered with books, both old and new. They filled shelves all along the walls and even sat in piles on the floor. He was filled with many regrets that night, but perhaps the greatest of all was the fact he would never have the chance to read all those books. To learn their secrets and envision the glorious tales their storied authors had to tell.

Orven was moving the white queen’s knight when he suddenly felt another presence in the room. He had heard nothing, and when he looked out over his desk, he saw nothing, but he knew he was no longer alone. Swallowing his rising dread, he called out into the darkness, “Show yourself, assassin. I know you are there.”

As if Orven’s words had summoned him out of thin air, the assassin confidently strode forward into the light. Grim was a tall man, olive skinned and dark haired. He sported a full beard that looked to be meticulously maintained and well-trimmed. His hair, although long, was also well kept and hung down just past his jawline. The man’s eyes were dark gray and intimidating, and his facial features were strong and angular, reminding Orven very much of a predator’s.

All and all, the assassin struck quite a handsome figure, and somehow it put the nobleman at ease, knowing he wouldn’t be butchered by some leering thug looking to make a copper. This man was no thug. No, this was a true assassin. One Orven knew well—or rather, knew of. The nobles called him Grim. He was distinguishable by his tall, lean figure, and his unique black gauntlet and intricate sword.

Orven eyeballed that sword now. This was the weapon that would ultimately end his life unless the assassin had some other method in mind. It was a long weapon, almost too long to be an assassin’s blade, but the hand-and-a-half sword fit the tall man well. Hanging diagonally from his waist, it cleared the ground with several inches left to spare. It was the handle of that weapon that truly identified Orven’s soon-to-be killer.

The grip was long enough for the assassin to hold with both hands and simple enough in design. The pommel at the end of the hilt, however, was painstakingly carved into the figure of a wolf’s head, and the crossguard was decorated with tiny reliefs telling the story of one of Harth’s mightiest legions.

“My lord,” the assassin greeted. “The hour is late. You should be in bed.”

“Hard to sleep knowing death courts you.” Orven replied, almost chuckling at the hopelessness of it all.

“Death courts us all, my friend,” Grim responded, in a tone dripping with disinterest. He stalked toward one of the bookshelves in the chamber and began sifting through the spines of the many novels housed there. “The key is to die of old age before it catches you.”

Orven released a shaky sigh. “I suppose that is an opportunity I won’t be granted this night?”

“No,” Grim admitted, finding a book that caught his interest. “I’m afraid not.”

Nodding in reservation, Orven asked, “How much?”

Glancing up from his book, Grim replied with mock surprise, “My lord, my loyalty cannot be bartered for. It would ruin my reputation.”

“I don’t mean to buy you out. I haven’t the money left for it,” Orven declared. “I mean how much is he paying you, how much is my life worth?”

Grim chuckled. “Seventy gold coins, a small fortune. Though, the church is infamous for overspending their followers’ hard-earned gold.”

“Seventy gold coins,” Orven mused. “Is that really all my life sums up to?”

“Yes,” Grim confirmed, placing the book back on the shelf and presenting Orven with his undivided attention. “Or at least, Father Bezind seems to think so.”

“Tell me,” the assassin continued. “And I know this is a bit unprofessional, but what does someone have to do to make a man so devout as Father Bezind want them dead?”

“I put out a hit on him first,” Orven admitted. “I nearly emptied the family vault to pay for some mercenaries from the Oval Islands to kill him.”

This drew a raised eyebrow from Grim. “Hiring men to kill members of the clergy, that is an interesting way to spend your family’s fortune…”

Orven’s calm demeanor finally diminished, and he stood up, outraged. “Members of the clergy?” the nobleman scoffed. “What a jest! They’re liars and hypocrites, all of them. They take and take, until there’s nothing left. Then they try to take more! And for what? Hope? The chance of a better afterlife? Unlikely.”

Orven’s sudden outburst had Grim on edge, and he glanced toward the door, wondering who else might have heard the angry nobleman. “Lower your voice, my lord, I implore you.” The assassin whispered rather dangerously.

“What does it matter?” Orven smirked. “My fate will not change. It seems I am to die regardless.”

“There are many different ways to die,” Grim warned. “Some much more painful than others. I get paid the same, either way.”

Taking the hint, Orven lowered himself back down into his chair, glaring daggers at the assassin.

“Obviously, the mercs failed,” Grim continued. “Even a pompous fool like you should have anticipated that, so why do it? Why forfeit your life so knowingly?”

“You want to know why I did it?” Orven asked, his voice once again filling with rage. “I did it because I had to. I did it, because that bastard had to be made to pay for what he did to my little girl, Aleigh.”

“What did he do to your girl?” The assassin asked, his demeanor suddenly darkening.

“He forced himself on her,” Orven said, through gritted teeth and teary eyes. “He forced himself on my little girl, five nights ago, when she was staying late at the cathedral for one of her lessons. And this wasn’t the first time. He’s done… things to her before. He said it would help her be closer to Thondel. That it would secure our family a place in High Hathborn—in the afterlife.” He paused, holding back sobs. “So, you see, assassin, I did what I did, because I had no other choice.”

Grim seemed very distant then, as if he was reliving an old memory, or was simply lost in thought. “We do what we must.” the assassin finally declared. Slowly, he began drawing his hand-and-a-half sword.

Orven finally broke into sobs and lowered his head, defeated. Grim walked around the large wooden desk. He stood behind the nobleman and placed the tip of his blade on Orven’s collar, just above the man’s heart. The noble was prepared for death then in that moment, but the assassin hesitated and leaned down to whisper into Orven’s ear, “May it comfort you, Orven Ogle, to know that Father Bezind is not long for this world either.”

The nobleman sucked in a shaky breath between sobs and even managed a triumphant little smirk before Grim’s sword plunged down into his heart, killing him in an instant. The assassin stood there for a moment before removing his sword and wiping it clean on Orven’s fine pajamas. As he placed the sword back into its sheath, he heard a quiet voice from the door to the study.

“Father? Father is that you?”

Grim felt his heart sink. In walked Aleigh, Orven’s daughter.

“Who are you?” she asked, her panic growing as she took in the scene before her. “What have you done to my daddy?”

Grim knew what he had to do, but for some reason he could not force his body into action. The little girl before him was young indeed. No more than twelve years old. Even though she was recovering from what appeared to be the bruising of a black eye, he could tell she would grow up to be a very beautiful woman.

What would that future look like now that he had robbed her of her father, and that sick bastard, Bezind, had robbed her of her innocence? The assassin knew he should kill her, if not to protect his own vile skin, then for mercy’s sake alone, but he could not do it. He related to this little girl, and he saw some of himself in her as he looked her in the eyes and witnessed the hatred and fear that was rising within her.

“Why did you kill him?” she demanded, her voice cracking as she choked down tears. “Why did you kill my father?”

“I’m sorry,” was all Grim could offer as he rushed out of Orven’s study.

“Stop!” Aleigh yelled, grabbing the assassin’s cloak as he passed her and attempting to hit him—to hurt him in some way.  “Stop! I hate you—I hate you!” she screamed. “Guards, he killed my father! Guards, help!”

Her screams soon became incoherent and Grim grabbed her hands, yanking them away from his cloak before shoving her to the ground. He took one last look at the broken little girl, before charging down the stairs and rushing toward the front door. Aleigh’s screams haunted him the whole way and he knew his cover was already blown. It seemed he would be fighting his way out.

The assassin drew his sword as he approached the door and kicked it open with all his strength. The door flew open, and the guard who had been attempting to open it was launched back down the small set of stairs leading up to the patio of the villa.

“Intruder!” the second guard shouted. “Intruder in the house!” He charged straight at Grim, kite shield leveled, hoping to bowl the assassin over.

Grim was filled with anger and unsettling emotions from his encounter in the house with Aleigh and her father, and he channeled that now, into nothing but pure rage. Quick as a viper, the assassin sidestepped the charging guard, and brought his sword down in a powerful vertical slash that chopped the man’s shield arm off at the shoulder.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Grim grabbed the now screaming guard by the face and slammed him into the wall of the house, before shoving him into the first guard, who had recovered and was moving to join the fray. Both men fell backwards, but before the assassin could finish them, the guards from the upstairs balcony crashed through the front door, and advanced toward the intruder.

Realizing the confined balcony favored the guards with their overwhelming numbers, Grim leaped off the patio and into the courtyard, where two more guards were waiting for him. Both the guards from the balcony and the initial door guard followed him out into the courtyard. The man whose arm he had severed remained on the patio, motionless and quiet.

Five on one Grim thought. It was a fair fight. But in the silence before the ensuing clash of steel, the assassin could hear Aleigh’s incoherent screams of grief coming from the inside of the house, and they wounded him more than these doomed men’s blades ever could.

Unwilling to wait for his adversaries to go on the offensive, Grim lunged toward the man on his right, launching a storm of blows the guard couldn’t hope to defeat. Overwhelmed, the man tried to fall back behind his fellows on either side of him, but the assassin was too quick. Slashing him across the knee with a crooked swing that brought his longsword above his head, Grim stepped to the side as the man fell. The assassin brought the blade back down in a clean slash decapitating the helpless guard.

Grim was being pressed from all sides now, and he had to fall back into a defensive stance to defeat the remaining four guards’ aggressive blows. Twirling his blade, the assassin picked off the first three guards’ sword strokes with simple deflects. On the fourth guard’s swing, he grabbed the end of his long blade with the iron gauntlet and caught the guard’s blade just above the intricate crossguard of his legion sword.

The assassin slammed the wolf headed pommel of his weapon directly into the guard’s forehead, before shoving the man’s sword down low, and thrusting his own blade back up into the man’s gut. Quickly disengaging from the dying man, Grim reset into a defensive stance where he waited for the next attack.

Realizing they were outmatched, the guards slowed the fight down and began to attack less aggressively. One man started a slow chop for the assassin’s head, but Grim saw it for what it was—a simple feint to distract him from the dangerous thrust of the man’s sword behind him.

Without missing a beat, Grim stepped forward and kicked the man squarely in the chest, before quickly rotating back around to knock the true threat of the other guard’s thrust aside with his iron gauntlet. The now unbalanced man was an easy target for the assassin, and he made short work of him, stabbing the guard under his outstretched sword arm, and viciously ripping the blade free to parry the slash of the third guard. The man was hardly ready for the brutal counter and fell to the ground when Grim deftly kicked the man’s legs out from under him, finishing him with a powerful two-handed downwards thrust.

Now there was only one guard, and he had recovered from Grim’s kick and was running for the main gate. Suddenly it swung open and the three guards patrolling outside the villa came rushing in. The fleeing man found renewed hope and quickly turned to meet Grim’s onslaught. The sound of steel on steel rang out in the early morning air before three of the guards fell dead.

The fourth was actually quite skilled and was putting up a decent fight. Unfortunately for him, quite skilled was not nearly enough to keep him alive against Grim, much less defeat the man in one-on-one combat. After a particularly fast exchange of blows, the assassin disarmed the man with a wicked slash to the fingers and finished him with a second slash across the throat.

As that last guard toppled to the ground, Grim took a few steps back. His skin glistened with sweat in the early dawn light. He threw his head back, inhaling deeply and catching his breath. Feeling his breathing return to normal, the assassin glanced around the courtyard, taking in his handiwork. The scene before him was gruesome indeed. The nine men’s bodies lay torn and bloodied all about the entrance to the villa.

These guards didn’t have to die, Grim thought. They were soldiers—not so different from himself. But so be it. The assassin refused to let their deaths eat at his conscience…

Grim could hear the birds beginning their morning songs, and he knew it was time to move. He had already spent far more time in Orven’s villa than he should have, and the sun peeking over Everharth’s distant walls was another, not so subtle, reminder.

The assassin collected himself and prepared to leave, when he heard a shout from behind him, shattering the overwhelming silence of the crisp autumn morning.

“Murderer!”

Grim turned, knowing what he would see, but still hoping, praying to whatever god might be listening, that he would be wrong—that somehow, he would see someone else, something else, anything else, standing there. There was no god, in High Hathborn or anywhere else who answered the assassin’s prayer. There stood young Aleigh, still wearing her pajamas. They were covered with, Grim could only assume, her father’s blood and she held one of the guard’s arming swords. The girl pointed it directly at him.

“You killed my father and all of his guard’s, but you won’t kill me!” Aleigh’s eyes were red, and her cheeks were streaked with tears. Despite that she stood defiantly across the courtyard from the assassin, unafraid.  “Fight me, you murderer,” the young girl shrieked. “Fight me!”

Grim just shook his head and turned to walk away. He had killed this little girl’s father for money, and he had killed all his guards in self-defense. Men who had families of their own—little sons and daughters who would grow up never knowing their fathers. He had killed countless innocents to make it as far as he had in life, and he was content being that monster. But to kill this little girl? For some reason, that was a monster he could not be—denied being.

“I’ve seen your face,” Aleigh desperately screamed. “You have to kill me, or I’ll turn you in to the legions!”

Grim paused. She was right. She had seen his face, and it was because he had been sloppy. Maybe he already killed this girl when his arrogance allowed him to charge through this villa like a foreign invader…

Suddenly, Aleigh rushed forward, her eyes burning with hatred, as she leveled her sword for Grim’s gut. Hardly thinking, the assassin caught the sword’s short blade with his gauntleted left hand and knocked the weapon down and out of Aleigh’s grasp. Without slowing at all, the young girl pulled out a kitchen knife she had been concealing in her sleeve and stabbed it directly into the side of Grim’s leg.

Cursing in surprise and pain, the assassin reflexively backhanded Aleigh away from him and grabbed the knife, yanking it out of his leg and dropping it to the ground. Consumed by a fury he could not suppress, Grim readied his sword to finish off the little girl and end both of their suffering. The moment he raised his weapon, the assassin instantly regretted it, and he hesitated as he looked upon Aleigh, lying on the ground with a fresh nosebleed. She looked back up at him with such intense loathing, that he thought he could almost feel the pain she wished so dearly to inflict on him.

“I’ve seen your face,” she quietly said, for a second time.

Grim wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t kill her, even if that’s what she truly wanted now. He would not grant her that wish. The assassin’s sword was still raised when he heard a horn sound out from the gateway to the villa. That was a legion horn!

“Fuck,” Grim muttered under his breath.

“Fire!” came the cry from an officer standing just outside the main gate.

Grim heard the clicks of crossbows and he reflexively spun, grabbing his heavy riding cloak, and flaring it out behind him as he turned. Three bolts were stopped, catching, and hanging in his cloak. A fourth managed to punch through the thick leather and nail him in the shoulder. A fifth flew past him, dangerously close to his wounded leg and hit Aleigh square in the chest, drawing a pained shriek from the young girl. Grim looked down at the child, likely mortally wounded, and then back up at the advancing legion of men, marching into the villa five abreast, silver armor adorned with embossed eagles.

The assassin fled. Sprinting to the back of the complex before the crossbows could be reloaded and clambering up the wall, to drop painfully to the other side. Grim knew his way around the Water District well, and quickly lost any pursuit by taking back alleys, rushing through people’s yards, and eventually taking to the rooftops, where he finally slowed to evaluate his wounds.

The kitchen knife had been fairly dull and not ideal for stabbing, and the crossbow bolt had barely managed to pierce the hardened leather cuirass, probably thanks to his little cloak trick. Grimacing, the assassin ripped the bolt out and smelled the tip. Not poisoned, as he had suspected. Poison, for the most part, wasn’t really the legion’s style after all. Which brought him to his second question—what was the legion doing here? There was always at least one Harthian legion in the capital, but very rarely did they patrol the Water District, and in such force!

Normally each district of the city, five in total, was protected and laws were enforced by their own garrison of soldiers. A much smaller and far less trained group of men than a legion, but effective, nonetheless. The regalia worn by the soldiers at the Ogle’s villa indicated that they were a part of the Legion of the Eagle. A legion that was supposed to be camped out to the north of the city, defending from naval raids led by the Oval Islands.

This turn of events disturbed the assassin greatly, but even more so, he couldn’t shake the image of Aleigh, pinned to the ground by a crossbow bolt. The missile hadn’t been slowed by his cloak at all, and Aleigh wore no armor to deflect the shot. She was likely dead. The thought should have comforted him. It was the fate she had wanted. The fate he had been too weak to give her. Her death conveniently tied up his only loose end…

Grim was far from comforted by the thought. Instead, he felt guilty. A guilt he was all too familiar with. The child’s death rested heavy on the assassin’s shoulders, and he dwelled on it for many hours that morning. He waited for the bustling crowds of Everharth to take to the streets, so he could slip away to collect his payment from Father Bezind...

    About Cole Hopkins:

Cole was born in Tennessee in 1996. His love for fantasy started at a very young age, fueled by the many movies, video games, and of course books he enjoyed all throughout his youth and still to this day. He loves chess, cars, and soccer-- the latter of which is a passion he shares with his wife, Lindsey. Together the two recently welcomed their daughter Cecilia into the world. The three now live happily in Northern Kentucky, along with their two Black Labs, Ziggy and Eevee.

Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card, US Only.

1 winner will receive a signed finished copies of THE QUEEN'S REAPER SAGA, US Only.

Ends March 11th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/24/2025

The Eclectic Review

Excerpt/IG Post

2/24/2025

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

2/25/2025

Daily Waffle

Excerpt/IG Post

2/25/2025

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

2/26/2025

@sudeshnablogs

Excerpt/IG Post

2/26/2025

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

2/27/2025

Frugal Freelancer

Excerpt/IG Post

2/27/2025

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

2/28/2025

Haney Hayes PR

Review/IG Post

2/28/2025

@dana.loves.books

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

3/3/2025

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

3/3/2025

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

3/4/2025

@kimbartosch

Review/IG Post

3/4/2025

@thepageladies

IG Review/TikTok Post

3/5/2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

3/5/2025

Ilovebooksandstuffblog

Review/IG Post

3/6/2025

More Books please blog

Review/IG Post

3/6/2025

Readwithrolo

IG Review/TikTok Post

3/7/2025

@alexandriavwilliams_

IG Review

3/7/2025

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- MEMOIRS OF A HOUSEHOLD DEMON by @Ben_Logsdon_363  With An Interview and a #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the MEMOIRS OF A HOUSEHOLD DEMON by Ben Logsdon Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: MEMOIRS OF A HOUSEHOLD DEMON

Author: Ben Logsdon

Pub. Date: February 18, 2025

Publisher: Red Nova Books LLC

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 385

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/MEMOIRS-OF-A-HOUSEHOLD-DEMON

Get a signed paperback with swag at the Red Nova Bookstore!

Read the book for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership! 

For a demonic spirit, Yuriel had scored the perfect assignment—a cozy house in suburbia, a young drug addict with an openness for possession, and all the marijuana brownies they could eat. With a selfish human like Paul, temptation was easy. Too easy. Maybe that’s why Yuriel found it so much more entertaining to spy on the Torres family next door. Something about them and the love they shared kept him coming back for more. Especially their precocious four-year-old daughter, Eva, and their guardian angel, Sarai. But when Yuriel’s obsessions bring tragedy to the family, he begins to discover an emptiness in his soul he never knew was there, yearning for a shot to make amends. Enlisting the help of Sarai and his angelic counterpart, Goldie, he embarks on a mission to heal the grieving and earn his way back into Heaven by doing the unthinkable—tempting Paul to do good. As old comrades and a hellish past come back to haunt him, Yuriel must fight to unravel the question: If angels can fall, why can’t demons rise? Set in modern-day Southern California, Memoirs of a Household Demon is a tale about redemption, overcoming weakness and loss, and finding the courage to do what’s right. Its blend of action, humor and heart offers an insightful look into human behavior and spirituality through the lens of an immortal being. Memoirs of a Household Demon is both a standalone story and the first full-length novel in the Gray Spirits series. You do not need to have read other works to enjoy this story, though the prequel novella, Prelude of a Guardian Angel, is available now on Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

    Chapter 1

A Typical Morning Possession

The fifth circle of Hell wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Countless tormented souls floundered across the muddy surface of the River Styx. They scratched and kicked, drowning each other, their anguished wails echoing off the greater cavern walls. A soothing atmosphere, I suppose, but the sheer monotony of it all was my own ration of torture. Where was the thrill? The conquest? This place was nothing compared to the evergreen chaos of the mortal realm above.

“Hey, Yuriel!” A crooked figure approached me at the water’s edge, his long, tattered cloak matching my own. He offered a cat o’ nine tails in his claw, gesturing over his shoulder to a crowd of wandering humans in business attire. “Did you wanna join the welcoming party?”

I glanced at the whip with a muted cringe, turning my gaze back to the sea of writhing bodies. “Maybe next time. My mortal should be waking up soon, and I don’t want to be late for work.”

“You sure? This newest batch of politicians just arrived from a plane crash. They still think they’re in D.C.”

A worthy temptation, but I shrugged it off, slipping from my perch atop a mound of skulls. “Give ’em a few extra lashes for me, will ya? I’m on the clock.” I stretched out my hand and tore open a swirling portal of purple flames. Its flickering glow sent shadows dancing across the surrounding wasteland, beckoning me into the dark tunnel beyond.

Grinning farewell to my cohort, I launched myself headfirst into the void. Wind whipped through my pitch-black robes and hair, excitement swelling within me at the speck of light twinkling in the distance.

Earth, my own personal playground.

That’s how I always saw it, anyway. After all, back then, I was just a regular demon. A devil. Or as we liked to be called, “celestially challenged.” It was our job to compete with Heaven’s army of jack-booted nerds for influence over humanity. While they enticed people to do good, we were supposed to inspire…well…a different kind of good. The funner kind. True, it typically ended with souls getting dragged to Inferno, but everything comes with a catch. We had to tempt mortals despite existing on a plane they couldn’t see, hear or touch. Any of us that weren’t up to snuff faced the shame of lesser tasks like torturing timeshare salesmen or grooming hellhounds.

In my case, I actually enjoyed the challenge. It helped me escape the boredom constantly threatening to drive me insane. At least it would if there was any challenge to be had. My latest assignment was a slovenly man-child from the twenty-first century. A guy by the name of Paul Meechum. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice having someone with pretty much no inhibitions to speak of, but I needed to feel something. Anything.

I finally emerged from the other end of the tunnel, drifting through a second ring of purple fire into the morning light of Paul’s living room. The portal sealed shut behind me, my boots touching down onto the ratty carpet as I surveyed my domain.

The house was still littered with last night’s pizza boxes. Used underwear and other sweat-stained laundry decorated the furniture. I’m sure the stench of weed and body odor would’ve been unbearable had we demons been blessed with a sense of smell. As expected, the junkie himself sat zombified on the couch, tripping on his latest dose of opioids in a tank top and cargo shorts. I strolled over and plopped down at his side, putting my feet up to watch the TV when an all-too-familiar groan echoed from the kitchen behind us.

“Returning so soon, foul beast?”

I tilted my head back, addressing my divine counterpart with a condescending grin. “Morning, Tinkerbell. Up for another fun-filled day of being a loser?”

Paul’s angel stormed into the living room, his eyes glowing brightly. “My name is not Tinkerbell. Be thou gone, wretched fiend!” He raised a hand over his head, materializing a gilded sword into his grasp. A flick of his wrist ignited the blade with a pale white flame, its tip sizzling through the air as he leveled it in my direction.

The two of us stared at each other, the angel trying his hardest to intimidate, but between the flowing white robes and his perfectly braided gold hair, I just couldn’t take him seriously.

“What the Heaven do you think you’re doing?” I laughed. “Put that thing away, Blondie. We both know you can’t kill me any more than I can kill you.”

The angel lowered his blade with a sigh. “Such a cruel truth.”

He dissipated his weapon in a burst of light, the glow fading from his eyes as he trudged over and sat on the other side of Paul. The human continued giggling at the ceiling, completely unaware of our little confrontation.

“My name is not ‘Blondie’ either,” the angel added.

I casually stroked my goatee. “Does it look like I care? You’re one of Daddy’s golden boys. That’s all I need to know. Besides, we’ve been at this for twenty-five years and you’ve never bothered giving me your real name.”

“Hmph!” The angel stuck his nose in the air, folding his arms. “An evil cur such as thee doth not deserve the honor of knowing.”

“Okay then, ‘Goldie’ it is,” I shrugged. “Look at us, squabbling like a married couple in front of junior here. Might as well let him join the party…”

Goldie watched in horror as I levitated from my seat, centering myself above our stupefied human. My spirit twisted and stretched into a tendril of darkness, then plunged through the top of Paul’s head, spreading to fill his appendages like fingers in a glove.

All at once, the rush of physical sensations washed over me, his body awakening to my command. I swept my newly claimed hands across the couch’s fabric, every stitch of thread a symphony against my bare skin. Beyond the din of the TV, an outside world flooded my ears with such delicious clarity. Birds chirping. Dogs barking. A lawnmower in the distance. My vision, though slightly blurry, was still so powerful and vivid. But the smells. Let’s just say the contents of Paul’s living room were every bit as putrid as I’d imagined.

“Leave the mortal be!” Goldie cried. “Fight it, Paul! Resist the power of the Dark One, I beseech thee!”

“Paul can’t hear you,” I said, curling his lips into a wicked grin. “He never does. His consciousness is buried under a fog of poison.”

Goldie pounded his fist on the lumpy cushion beside him. “Why dost thou find such pleasure in the corrupting of mortals? Is the spreading of misery thine only joy?”

I marshaled the strength in Paul’s legs, lifting myself off the couch. His muscles should’ve been simple enough to control, but the drugs in his system left them sluggish and rubbery. “How many times have I told you, Goldilocks? Your master denied my kind a chance at mortality. By casting us out, we’re doomed to remain forever numb to the physical world. That’s why we make mortal pleasures our own, temporary as they may be. What else can I say? We like to live vicariously.”

“Thou art nothing more than a parasite,” Goldie hissed. “A creature devoid of all hope and purpose. Thou blamest the Father for thy fallen state, but the choice to rebel against Heaven was thine.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You think you’re better than me? You chose eons of service to these selfish, snot-nosed humans. And for what? The promise that you’d one day become one of them? That you’d live out your brief, insignificant life with the very real chance that you’d fail and be claimed by Inferno? The best you could hope for is to die bereft of any earthly pleasures and resume your slave labor as an angel once again.”

Goldie furrowed his brow. “I would be welcomed back into Heaven. Back into the Father’s presence.”

I stared at the angel, forcing a renewed smirk onto Paul’s face. “Is that so? Don’t you have to be born first? Are you even sure that’s gonna happen? You’ve been waiting for thousands of years. What makes you expect that’ll change any time soon?”

“Silence.” Goldie looked away, his voice shaking with frustration.

“No, I think you’re going to stay right here…”

Goldie covered his ears. “I said silence!”

I leaned forward, bringing my face only inches from his. “Don’t you see? This is your fate. To be forgotten like the rest of us. Despite all you’ve ever done to fight against Hell, you’re already there.”

“ENOUGH!” Goldie sprang from the couch and erupted into a blinding white light. The sheer force of his anger threw me backward against the wall, knocking the wind from my borrowed lungs. “Release Paul at once or I’ll—”

“Or you’ll what? Burn my demonic spirit to ash? Send me back to Inferno just to regenerate and return good as new? Futility aside, Paul’s heart is too close to the darkness for you to overpower me. Even if you could, you’d have to go through him to do it. Thing is, I don’t think you’ve got the guts. You wouldn’t dare lay a finger on a poor innocent mortal, would you? Fortunately for me, I actually enjoy the pain.” I clenched a fist and made Paul slug himself square in the jaw.

The angel’s light quickly faded to reveal the most amusing wide-eyed stare.

“You don’t like that, do you?” I chuckled. “Stand down or your precious Paul gets it.” I underlined my threat with another punch to the face.

Goldie winced, reaching out in supplication. “Stop that. Please.”

“What? You want more?” At this point, I had Paul going at it with both fists. “Quit hitting myself! Quit hitting myself!”

Then, to my surprise, a new voice shouted over me. “Dude, what the fuzznut are you doin’ over there?”

I froze mid-punch, realizing too late that Goldie and I weren’t alone. We exchanged glances, peering down the hallway to find a young man around Paul’s age trudging through the empty beer bottles.

James “Slim Jim” Peot. He wore a filthy bathrobe over his boxer briefs, tangles of rusty brown hair peeking out from beneath his wool beanie. For some annoying reason, Paul had a habit of letting this gangly bum sleep over in the laundry room and eat all our food. It probably had something to do with Slim’s virtually infinite supply of drugs and booze, but considering his strange lack of both an angel and a demon, there was only one thing I knew for sure—he was a lost cause.

“Oh, hey, Slim,” I said, sheepishly lowering my fists. “I was just…um…waking up.” Trying to impersonate Paul during a possession was always an issue for me. Good thing he was usually so wasted that nobody knew his real personality in the first place.

“Interesting method you got there,” Slim replied, scratching his head. “Is punching yourself some kind of new morning ritual?”

I nodded confidently. “Heck yeah. The doctor says, ‘a good punch a day keeps the sleepies away.’ Really gets the blood pumpin’, you know? It’s great for getting past a hangover.”

Goldie may have been invisible to Slim, but I could still see the angel facepalm out of the corner of my eye.

“Dude, that’s awesome,” Slim said, actually believing me. “It’s like an alarm clock for your face. Let me try.” He gave his chin a savage right hook, knocking himself back into the hallway onto his belly.

“Well done,” I said, stifling a laugh.

Slim groaned on the floor. “Son of a—come on, Paul, how could you do this to me?”

I shrugged. “Just trying to give some helpful medical advice, dude.”

“Nah, man, not that…” Slim reached under a pile of beer bottles and pulled out a hand-rolled cigarette. “You left a perfectly good phatty on the ground, brah!” He flopped onto his back, whipping a lighter from the pocket of his robe. After sparking a quick flame, he put the joint to his lips and took a nice long drag. “Acapulco Gold…and is that a hint of Sour Diesel I detect? Good stuff.”

I tapped Paul’s foot, no longer amused by Slim Jim’s antics. “Hey, ‘brah,’ I’m glad you’re enjoying the vintage, but unless you’ve brought me something fresh, I’m gonna need you to pack it up and—”

Slim threw his hand in the air to cut me off. “Say no more, dude. Ol’ Slim Jim’s got ya covered.” He picked himself up and sauntered into the kitchen, his recovered joint hanging from his lips. “You’re not feeling quite yourself right now, are you, Paul? I can tell.”

“Y-you can?”

Slim paused to shoot me a knowing glance. “Of course, dude. You’ve got a burnin’ case of the ‘hangries.’ But don’t worry. I brought just the thing.” He reached under the counter, presenting a large glass cake pan covered in aluminum foil. “Ta-da!”

I raised my hands in surrender. “Okay, you got me. What’s on the menu?” I hobbled to the kitchen bar, pulling up a stool as Slim placed his offering in front of me. He carefully peeled back the aluminum cover, revealing a neatly sectioned grid of chocolatey brown squares. The mere scent of them was enough to get Paul’s mouth watering. “Sweet Lucifer, are those—?”

Slim nodded with a chuckle. “That’s right, my dude. Behold my incredible, edible pot brownies.”

“Oh, it’s go time.” I scooped up two brownies at once, greedily shoving them into Paul’s gullet. As a demon, the sense of taste was an amazing experience no matter what my host was eating, but the combination of weed and fudgy goodness was almost more than I could bear. Every bite was pure ecstasy and I made sure to let Goldie know. “Mmmmm, yes. That’s the stuff. Yes! More!”

Slim stared at me with eyes wide, clearly disturbed, yet pleased by the reception of his culinary masterpiece. “So…I guess you like them?” He drummed his fingers together, anxiously waiting to grab a brownie for himself. “You mind if I…?” Slim tried to reach into the pan, recoiling in shock as I slapped his hand away with a menacing glare.

“MINE,” I said in a deep demonic growl.

He retreated to the far end of the kitchen counter, trembling in dismay as I continued to gorge. An animalistic urge had taken over Paul’s body, demanding to be fed, driving me into a frenzy. It wasn’t until the pain of fullness hit me that I finally stopped scarfing.

“Now can I have one?” Slim asked timidly.

I sat back and glanced down at the pan. Its only survivors were half a brownie and some drool-coated crumbs. I let loose a reverberating belch, then nodded with a smile. “Yes. Yes, you may.”

Slim reached out and snatched the half brownie, clutching it like a frightened squirrel.

I peered at the clock above the oven. 8:46 AM.

Almost time for the weekly festivities next door. I knew it wasn’t the best move to leave my human while he was awake. Under normal circumstances, it would risk my angelic rival getting the upper hand on me, allowing him to counter my influence without restraint. But Paul was far from normal. In minutes, I’d already met his daily quota for gluttony and selfishness. How much good could he get into with only a few hours to himself?

With a swift jolt, I popped my spirit free of Paul’s head and landed in the living room beside Goldie. The angel scowled, muttering something as I started for the exit.

“How long will it last?”

I paused, cupping a hand to my pointy ear. “Come again?”

“This game thou playeth. Toying with the souls of others. How long before victory loses its savor? What happens when the last drop of satisfaction evaporates from thy tongue?”

The question gnawed at me for a moment, finally prompting a mischievous grin. “I guess I’ll simply have to find a new game.”

I turned to get one last look at the humans before heading out. Slim Jim was hunched over the remains of his cake pan, licking up the crumbs while Paul stared at him in dazed confusion. Neither had the slightest clue as to what had just happened, oblivious to my ultimate form of dine and dash. Even now, I think back on that morning with the most fervent affection. My only care in the world was the next good time as I passed through the nearest wall into the front yard.

      About Ben Logsdon:

Ben Logsdon grew up in Yucaipa, California, where he learned the subtle charm of small towns and nerd culture. He’s been a saxophone player, a driving instructor, a sci-fi connoisseur, a mechanical engineer and also a lover of cocktail shrimp. After serving a Christian mission to the country of Panama, he picked up Spanish and developed a penchant for storytelling. Since then, he’s started a writing platform (Red Nova Books, @rednovabooks) and authored multiple books in the genres of urban fantasy and science fiction. Ben enjoys playing tennis, watching anime and keeping up with the latest video games. If he isn’t spending time with his wife and three kids, he’s probably out back pitching ideas to his adopted Calico cat. 

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  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of MEMOIRS OF A HOUSEHOLD DEMON & swag in a book box, US Only.

Ends March 11th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/24/2025

The Eclectic Review

Excerpt/IG Post

2/24/2025

Two Chicks on Books

Interview/IG Post

2/25/2025

Daily Waffle

Excerpt/IG Post

2/25/2025

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

2/26/2025

@sudeshnablogs

Excerpt/IG Post

2/26/2025

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

2/27/2025

Frugal Freelancer

Excerpt/IG Post

2/27/2025

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

2/28/2025

Haney Hayes PR

Review/IG Post

2/28/2025

@dana.loves.books

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

3/3/2025

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

3/3/2025

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

3/4/2025

@kimbartosch

Review/IG Post

3/4/2025

@thepageladies

IG Review/TikTok Post

3/5/2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

3/5/2025

Ilovebooksandstuffblog

Review/IG Post

3/6/2025

More Books please blog

Review/IG Post

3/6/2025

Readwithrolo

IG Review/TikTok Post

3/7/2025

@alexandriavwilliams_

IG Review

3/7/2025

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- THE MAN by @AvishaiEl With An Excerpt & a $10 Amazon GC #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE MAN by Avishai El Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: THE MAN

Author: Avishai El

Pub. Date: November 14, 2024

Publisher: Avi

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 162

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/u/m0NDEW

An AK-47 and a series of premonitions. Will it be too late? What is he doing here? Is she safe? Vaughan Mystique is on the run of a lifetime. Will she live?

  Excerpt:

1 

WHO IS VAUGHAN? 

H er gorgeous golden toned skin glowed under the sunlight as she pulled the curtains open to invite the daylight in. Her flowing black hair resembled raven feathers as it flowed past her shoulders. She felt forever grateful to be living in her ideal setting, a basement townhome in Willow, Utopia. A home she had dreamed of since she was just a girl. This two-bedroom basement town home had a contemporary and modern, yet minimalistic vibe, complimenting her personality. Vaughan Mystique was a force to be reckoned with and although she was just 26, she had her life mapped out in front of her. Her home had dark maple hardwood floors the color of black licorice throughout. There were white walls in every room, giving the whole place a fresh glow. Each room was spacious with 9-foot ceilings. This was exactly what she needed as it brought a sense of calmness and serenity. She thought it was beautiful. Her appearance matched its beauty in many ways. Vaughan had a striking, remarkable, and distinct look. Her eyes resembled slanted diamonds, and her lips were plump and full.

Her hourglass shaped body caught the attention of many along with her slender build. An all-black outfit and a signature vegan leather jacket was a staple in Vaughan’s wardrobe and something she would wear almost every day during the cooler months. She had very few friends because the pain from previous betrayals ran deep. She maintained contact with a few relatives and loved them dearly. While Vaughan was a kind and genuine soul, she didn’t easily fit in and was heavily misunderstood by people. 

Vaughan was a tough, cerebral, and extremely intuitive woman who wanted to be celebrated, not tolerated. She found bliss at her new location; it was everything she could have wanted. For one year she worked at a gun shop. It was not everybody’s idea of a good job, but she loved everything about it. It was a newly renovated shop near an industrial park, in a small white building. There were unfinished cement floors throughout and weapons were neatly stocked. This place had 7 feet ceilings, and it naturally smelled of gunpowder, but there was also a strong aroma of Frankin cense. Vaughan’s curious affinity for guns made her work experience more enjoyable, more than she anticipated at first. She and the owner became good friends over time. He was like a father figure to her, the type of man who was always nearby when she needed him, day or night. She adored him for all his sensitive qualities. 

His name was Antonio Barteluth and he was an older man in his 60s. Antonio was tall and stocky with thick, black hair that was gelled back. He had an olive complexion, and his attire consisted of mostly gray t-shirts with jeans for comfortability. Sometimes he would wear a black blazer over his t-shirt. Every time a customer would walk in, he would ask Vaughan, “You good?” She would always reply with a straight face and say, “Yeah I’ll be okay.” One day a customer walked in and was looking for an Avtomat Kalash nikova, which is an AK-47. Vaughan thought it was odd because they hadn’t sold those assault rifles in years. 

It was almost ominous of where her life was headed. As she went in the back to grab it for the customer, she was startled by a man’s head in her peripheral. She jumped back and almost fell back into the wall. She felt his eyes burning into her, sensing her fear which she tried incred ibly hard to hide. Her breath caught in her throat, and she dared to look up. Nothing. Nobody. He was gone. Was it a vision? Was it a premonition? Was it reality? The questions raced through her mind at an uncomfortable speed, clashing into one another. Vaughan had 4 hours left to work, she just had to pull herself through it and stop over thinking. Maybe it wasn’t something to worry about. She then grabbed the rifle, the rifle case, and went back up to the front of the store. 

Before she handed the man the rifle case with the rifle inside, she priced him out. Once he paid, he thanked her and left. Vaughan finally had the chance to be by herself, but she wondered if she would prefer to be surrounded by people to feel safer. No matter what she tried to think about, she couldn’t shake the spine-chilling feeling of being watched through the window. “That was so weird,” she whispered to herself in confusion. The time soon came around to leave. He said, 

“Right, I better go and get some rest,” she said. “Alright. Get you some rest and take the day off tomorrow.” 

“But…” Vaughan tried to reply. 

“No, buts…” Antonio said with a polite smile. 

“This isn’t a battle I can win, is it? I’ll be off then. See you soon,’ Vaughan finally accepted his nice gesture. Vaughan got in her black 2008 Land Rover Range Rover and drove home. 

Immediately after returning home, she took a long, relaxing, and soothing bath to detox after a stressful day at work. She eventually dropped off to sleep in the tub. By the time she awakened it was 4 am the next morning, so she got dressed and laid down in the bed feeling a little more relaxed than the night before. Vaughan knew something wasn’t right. It hadn’t happened to her in years, why now? She chewed her bottom lip anxiously, hoping it wouldn’t last as long as last time. For the first time in a while, she felt relieved to be wide awake. She almost wanted to pray that it wouldn’t happen again. The dreams she had as a child caused too much strain on her emotions, knowing whatever she dreamt of became her new reality was beyond disturbing at a young age. 

Vaughan remained baffled, wondering why the universe would want her to go through such a terrible ordeal again. The dreams terrified her as a child, and they carried on into her teenage years and she tried her best to suppress them. She thought they were gone but to her surprise, they had returned more sinister than ever. All she could see was his face – the man from the window. 

Vaughan shuddered in her sleep, feeling the panic as though it was real and happening right now. He aggressively ran towards her, attempting to clasp her into his arms. She yelled and screamed at him, begging him to let her be, but his expression darkened, and she knew he would not leave her alone. Then she saw it. The sharp, steel knife he had grasped in the palm of his hand. Maybe this was it. She felt the panic thumping in her chest, causing her breath to quicken. She had to get away. Vaughan picked up her pace, jogging far in front of him in the hope that she would lose him eventually. But there he was, right beside her. He threw her to the ground, and she saw her impending doom; the knife slowly coming down towards her face. Was this the end? 

She jolted awake, her forehead dripping with sweat, she grunted with fear. She then felt breathless and afraid for her life all of a sudden. Vaughan was relieved to see her room and the man was nowhere to be seen. She realized what had happened and she began to take slow, deep breaths to compose herself from the awful nightmare she was forced to endure. With trembling hands, she reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the half empty glass of water. The feeling of it gliding down her throat awakened her a little more. 

Not long later, the realization kicked in that she was back to where she used to be with no escape. 

“No, no! This cannot be happening! The dreams are back! The dreams are back!” She yelled to herself, gently rocking back and forth as she felt her world fall apart around her. This was startling for Vaughan because suddenly, she remembered what was deeply forgotten until now. Something inside her mind had risen back to the surface, something she fought hard to keep buried for years. In her mind, all those years of peace had gone down the drain. She intuitively knew that they were there to stay. Vaughan had always been a special and gifted child. She knew things and saw things that not everyone was able to see. There were times where she had tried to blend in but in the end, she didn’t want to. She felt special that she had abilities that nobody else had and nobody could take them away from her. But then there were other times, disturbing times, where vivid, dark dreams consumed her. She never thought she would have to go through it again. 

While a child’s first sentence was usually ‘Mommy and daddy I love you’, Vaughan’s first sentence would have been, ‘Mommy and daddy I see dead people.’ Vaughan was able to see the dead and when she was in her early years, told her mother that weird things were happening around the house. The lights would flicker on their own, the chairs would move, and objects would float in the air by themselves. 

Her mother was very compassionate and didn’t think Vaughan was weird. In fact, she believed her and reassured her that she would be okay. Her mom’s name was Flower, and she knew what Vaughan was experiencing firsthand because she had the sight as well.

    About Avishai El:

Avishai El is an international best-selling author of I Made It Out and the Power of Why Book Series. She is an international, professional speaker, and host of the most blunt holistic health podcast, Avi Unfiltered. She is a Spiritual Medium and Holistic Health Coach who empowers people to fulfill their purpose and destiny on this planet.

Teaching others the holistic lifestyle utilizing nutrition, lifestyle, and spiritual methods is her passion. Avishai has worked with women all over the world and has helped them lose weight, change their mental health for the better, develop businesses, and reverse several diseases. She has won an award for educating hundreds of people on the benefits of essential oils. Hospitals have entrusted her to be on hospital papers as a holistic nurse for cancer patients. People come to her when they are in a health crisis and Avishai has saved lives using holistic therapies. She is one of the top 10 wellness coaches in the world and leading expert in the field of neuroscience. She is a neuroadvocate and traumatic brain injury survivor who does speaking engagements to educate and empower others on those topics. As an avid vegan she heavily promotes the plant- based, vegan lifestyle. The planet and Human Rights mean everything to her as she affirms everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. She comes from ancient ancestry and is currently in the process of learning her native languages: Latin, Moorish Latin (Modern Day Spanish), Chaldean (Modern Day Hebrew), Arabic, and Amharic. Astrology and medical research on an array of topics geek her out and is something she thoroughly enjoys studying. She regularly writes for Brainz Magazine and is a freelance UX copywriter for various businesses. Black, white, and grey are her go-to colors and the minimalistic life- style brings her so much peace. She is multitalented and when she’s not writing, speaking, coaching clients, or running her many businesses, she is doing some form of interior design, graphic design, honing in on her innate makeup skills, randomly playing violin, singing, doing comedy, and so much more.

https://linktr.ee/avishaiel

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours, International.

Ends November 30th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/11/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post/IG Post

11/12/2024

Daily Waffle

Guest Post

11/13/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

11/14/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

11/15/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

11/16/2024

Sudeshna Loves Reading

Excerpt

Week Two:

11/17/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

11/18/2024

TX Girl Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

11/19/2024

AJ Johnson Bookgamer200

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/20/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/21/2024

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

11/22/2024

@fiction._.fuss

Review/IG Post

11/23/2024

@alexandriavwilliams_

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Three:

11/24/2024

Fyrekatz

Review

11/25/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- THE ELECTRIC GOD AND OTHER SHORTS by Michael Perone With An Interview & A #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE ELECTRIC GOD AND OTHER SHORTS by Michael Thomas Perone Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: THE ELECTRIC GOD AND OTHER SHORTS

Author: Michael Thomas Perone

Pub. Date: October 14, 2024

Publisher: Wheatmark

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 251

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N   

A small town becomes obsessed with television—to the point of madness. A cheerful innocent confronts the harsh reality of the world and is forever changed by the experience. A struggling author begins receiving strange messages on the paper he uses to write. A bullied, brilliant teen is put through the wringer of his high school and comes out the other side insane. A detective of the future discovers he may be investigating his own untimely demise—and that of the world’s.

These and one more dark fable await you from the imaginative mind of the award-winning author Michael Thomas Perone. Part fractured fairy tales, part nightmare fuel, The Electric God and Other Shorts follows characters who struggle to remain sane in an insane world and features stories that will keep you up at night, wondering what might be lurking in the shadows.

    Excerpt from The Electric God and Other Shorts

The drops of blood plopping onto Bill’s steering wheel were so large, they made a sound upon impact. Bill tried fruitlessly to divert his mind from the searing agony that heightened with each pump of his heart. Picturing his destination, Park City Memorial Hospital, he ignored the pain that wrestled for his attention as more blood leaked from his broken body. At once, Bill felt a booming crash directly behind him, and his car popped a wheelie, the front two wheels spinning in the air. When they met the street again with a resounding screech, Bill’s fears were confirmed after he looked over his ailing shoulder. A Model-Z purposefully rammed his bumper, and another muscle car was close behind. 

“What is this, the karma police?” Bill asked himself. Two shots, one from each speeding car, alerted Bill of their intentions, and he shot back through the open driver’s side window, his ammo filling the sky but not striking any targets. An enemy bullet ricocheted off his trunk with a cartoonish Ping! sound, and another connected with one of Bill’s back tires. He continued driving, considering the flat a triumph since they were short one more bullet and it didn’t kill him. Another round burst his rear window in a spectacular splash of glass. Now Bill was a sitting duck. To avoid the incoming shots, he swerved erratically across the road, with bullets whistling by and one almost grazing his ear. 

“How many freakin’ guns do they have?” Bill asked. He checked his own supply: his barrel was empty. “This just keeps getting better,” he muttered between gritted teeth. Resorting to Plan B, Bill slammed his brakes as the twin pursuing cars rushed past, one on each side. He then pulled a sharp left against traffic, the oncoming cars blasting their horns and veering out of the way. Bill was forced to take the longer, scenic route to the hospital. When he finally arrived, he hid his car behind a nearby stationery and stumbled into the emergency ward, half unconscious.

    About Michael Thomas Perone:

Michael Thomas Perone is an award-winning author who has written for The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, Long Island Voice (a spinoff of The Village Voice), and The Island Ear (now titled Long Island Press), among others. Online, he has written for Yahoo!, WhatCulture!, and other websites that don’t end with an exclamation mark. His debut novel, the action-adventure Danger Peak, was the recipient of multiple awards, including The Fall 2022 BookFest Award in the category of Young Adult – Action and Adventure. His follow-up, the coming-of-age/sci-fi mindbender Déjà View, won First Place at the Spring 2024 BookFest Awards in the category of Young Adult – Literary and Coming of Age. It was also a finalist of The Eric Hoffer Book Award. He currently works as a Senior Editor and lives on Long Island with his wife and two daughters.

Sign up for Michael’s newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

  Giveaway Details:

10 winners will receive a finished copy of THE ELECTRIC GOD AND OTHER SHORTS, US Only.

Ends November 19th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/4/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Interview/IG Post

11/4/2024

Daily Waffle

Guest Post

11/5/2024

TX Girl Reads

Guest Post/IG Post

11/5/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

11/6/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

11/6/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

11/7/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

11/7/2024

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

11/8/2024

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

11/8/2024

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

11/11/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

11/11/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/12/2024

@fiction._.fuss

Review/IG Post

11/12/2024

AJ Johnson Bookgamer200

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/13/2024

Books and Zebras

IG Review

11/13/2024

@thepageladies

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/14/2024

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

11/14/2024

Fyrekatz Blog

Review

11/15/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

11/15/2024

Deal sharing aunt

Review/IG Post

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- THE MAGICAL JOURNEY OF JOHN AND ADELE by Ancius M. Murray With An Excerpt & A $10 Amazon GC #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE MAGICAL JOURNEY OF JOHN AND ADELE by Ancius M. Murray Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: THE MAGICAL JOURNEY OF JOHN AND ADELE

Author: Ancius M. Murray

Pub. Date: January 28, 2024

Publisher: Troubador Publishing

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 280

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-MAGICAL-JOURNEY-OF-JOHN-AND-ADELE

John and Adele have been together for over two decades and have a son. Their relationship has been on a downhill trajectory for many years.

One evening, en route to their annual holiday destination, they run out of fuel in a remote location. To whom can they go for assistance? Suddenly, in the darkness, their lives take an unexpected turn. They meet three mysterious but benevolent strangers who offer to help them. In observing Adele and John, they pose to the couple an unusual challenge that seeks to address the core problems in their marriage. John and Adele find the proposal odd but intriguing. While it may have advantages, it could be risky and dangerous. But unresolved emotions and unhealed wounds, as well as long-buried memories can also have hazardous and unpredictable consequences. Will they dare to accept this challenge or not?

This unique novel, while aimed at taking a fresh perspective on relationships, is uplifting, relaxing, and is meant to be enjoyed.

  The story of Ancius M. Murray 

– An Irish-Lithuanian trio using collaborative storytelling to provide a  toolkit for improving relationships

HOW THE AUTHORS MET

Marija and Mary Catherine were nominated by the Lithuanian and Irish governments to  attend the prestigious French Government School to study public administration in  Paris. At the same time Darius was working on his doctoral thesis in the Commission for  Atomic Energy there. They came together at an international reception and a strong  connection was formed. Each of them had an interest in cultural exchange outside of  their work and this cemented their friendship.

DECIDING TO WRITE

When they had finished their studies, they returned home but still stayed in regular  contact. They had a strong desire to work on an interesting artistic project as a team,  again outside of their professions. Twelve years later, inspiration struck. They hit on the  idea of writing a novel together. They would write a story about an ordinary couple  deciding to address once and for all the very serious problems in their relationship. 

Everyone has observed couples who are no longer happy in each other’s company.  Many separate without realizing the potential of their relationship and are quite often  left feeling very sad or bitter. The writers were sensitive to this and felt they had  something to say on the subject. 

But at the same time the three writers wanted the story to be soothing and pleasant,  where the characters’ only stress was confronting their own relationship. The dream-like  context of the novel supports them in this goal, but the readers have no idea if the  couple will stay together. 

THE WRITING PROCESS 

The next step was embarking on the practical aspects of this writing project. Linguistic  considerations were to the forefront. The authors used French as their working language  in speaking to each other on Zoom since the friendship between them had been  established in that language, and then wrote in English. Editing and developing a  recognisable and relaxing literary style was their challenge.

All three wrote simultaneously in diOerent countries with a general theme decided on in  advance. The writing was done on weekends and evenings after work. Sometimes they  travelled to each other’s countries to bring the chapters together and read to each  other. They analysed everything together line by line to be sure it represented the ideas  they wanted to communicate to the reader.

Darius was the designer of the novel’s setting and gave direction on chapter content. He  was also responsible for the computer work and all the technical details concerning the  manuscript.

Marija’s expertise with legal texts assisted greatly in avoiding repetition and in creating a  smooth, believable narrative. Making sure that character motivation was clear and  logical as well as in line with toolkit guidance being provided was her domain.

Mary Catherine provided the descriptions of nature and the scents and sounds  perceived by the characters. She created the emotional atmosphere for the different  scenarios in the story and reviewed the literary style evolving within the text. 

This work has lasted four years.

It was definitely not an easy task. They experienced writers’ block, as well as obstacles  in the story route. Sometimes they found it difficult to find a way through for the  characters to the novel’s conclusion that was meeting everyone’s expectations.

Then, after a break in the work and coming back to it with a fresh perspective, one of the  three writers would suggest a new direction that would resonate with the other two. That  was when they felt the magic of combining their contributions and moving forward, as  any single author would who pens a story and has no doubt of its value, direction, and  purpose.

Some chapters of this book were written individually by each author. After reviewing  them together, they were incorporated into the main story. Other chapters written as a  group were knitting sentences word by word into the tapestry that is now their novel,  'The Magical Journey of John and Adele’, a mixture of mystery, fable, and relationship  guide.

  Excerpt:

1 

In the Dark 

The beams of two headlights crossed the darkening sky which  hung over the motorway. An old silver hatchback streamed  through the hills rising towards the mountains, and through  sparse woods. The traffic emerging from the city had been left  behind hours before, and occasional passing cars were the sole  sign of human civilization in this remote countryside. 

Two passengers in their late forties, a man and a woman,  

were travelling in the car. Their boredom and the silence  between them seemed to be in tune with the monotonous sound  of the raindrops that were beginning to fall from the grey sky  and onto the windscreen. A brochure on the back seat, depicting  a luxurious spa nestled in a sunny mountain valley, seemed in  sharp contrast to the dull and dreary atmosphere inside the car. 

“John, there should be a filling station in a mile or so,”  

said the woman. “Are you sure we’ve enough fuel to get to our  destination?” 

“Don’t worry, Adele,” the man replied automatically, obviously lost in thought. Then, looking at her, he said  mockingly, “Why don’t you just tell me the truth? You want to  stop to buy some useless trinket, like a fridge magnet for your  endless collection, or one more coffee mug that says, ‘I love  Paris’. You want to do that, don’t you?” He smiled sarcastically. 

Adele did not want to venture further into territory that would lead to an unpleasant argument. She turned her head to  the window. 

Ten miles later, John took an exit heading to the mountain  

road. “Look, there we are. Only fifty miles before we reach the  paradise promised in your precious brochure,” he announced in  a bored tone. 

They continued to drive, observing the still, melancholic  

landscape. The disappearing light as the sun set made it seem  even sadder and more forlorn. 

Adele leaned towards John and looked at the dashboard.  

“Hold on, doesn’t this small yellow light mean that we’ll run out  of fuel soon?” she asked. 

“Don’t worry,” John said once again, firmly this time. But he  

was unable to hide the anxiety in his voice. 

The steep and winding road seemed to be intent on  

exhausting the worn-out car and its nearly empty petrol tank. A  second light, this one red, lit up on the panel. 

“Damned car!” yelled John. “This old engine burns petrol  

like a monster!” 

“John, I told you we should have filled the tank at the last  

station we passed! Why is it always like this? Can’t you deal with  a simple problem? You fill the tank; you drive the car!” Adele  crossed her arms and fixed her angry gaze on the road. 

“This so-called ‘simple problem’ could have been solved  

if you hadn’t dragged your feet over buying a new, more fuel efficient car, and despite us getting several very good offers, you  didn’t want to sell this thing!” John cut in, unwilling to admit his  negligence in not planning ahead for petrol. 

He accelerated, determined to continue the journey to its end. But the end came more quickly than he had planned: it  came at the next corner. The car spluttered several times before  John managed to pull it into a small area off the road. Then it  stopped still. They had run out of fuel. 

    About Ancius M. Murray:

Ancius M. Murray is a collective pen name for an Irish-Lithuanian team (a physicist, a lawyer, a creative writer) who met by chance, and collaborated on this novel over the course of four years.

Sign up for Anicus’s newsletter! Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Website | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours, International.

Ends October 15th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/30/2024

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

10/1/2024

Daily Waffle

Excerpt

10/2/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

10/3/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

10/3/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

10/4/2024

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

10/4/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

10/7/2024

TX Girl Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

10/7/2024

Sudeshna Loves Reading

Excerpt

10/8/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

10/8/2024

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

10/9/2024

Deal sharing aunt

Review/IG Post

10/9/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

10/10/2024

@shaunasbookjournal

Review/IG Post

10/10/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/11/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

10/11/2024

@just_another_mother_with_books

IG Review

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- THE END OF THE WORLD by @hsgilchrist With An Excerpt and a #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the  THE END OF THE WORLD by H.S. Gilchrist Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: THE END OF THE WORLD

Author: H.S. Gilchrist

Pub. Date: February 5, 2024

Publisher: Dystopian Sunrise Press

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 474

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-END-OF-THE-WORLD

The End of the World is coming! In a broken future governed by the oppressive Technocrats and their parasitic technology, enslaved warrior Animkii's mind is a battleground for control. After an act of sabotage shatters her bondage, she faces a dire mission: ridding herself of the invasive tech implanted inside her before it consumes her remaining humanity. Seeking salvation, she forms an uneasy alliance with Mica Stone, a troubled black-market recycler, whose dreams hold the power to awaken an ancient alien god known as the After Lord. Fleeing the bloody machinations of the After Lord's dark cult, Animkii and Mica embark on a perilous odyssey that takes them out of the dystopian depths of the undercity and into the remote and icy Witherlands. There, amidst the ruins of an ancient world, they face a force that hungers for more than just flesh and bone. With reality crumbling and Earth's survival at stake, a battle between two worlds begins, leaving Animkii and Mica to confront the ultimate question: can they retain their humanity in a world on the brink of oblivion, or is the end of the world inevitable?

  Excerpt:

“Why did you help me kill your own followers?”

“So you could realize your potential.” There was amusement in his voice. “Their deaths are not something to mourn. They were a gift. You freed them from their humanity.”

“Freed them?” Mica's tone soured. “Spare me the lies—I'm not one of your deluded cultists. What do you want from me?”

She knew she’d made a mistake the moment her insolence rang out in the hallowed hall. A living darkness seized her, wrapping itself around her body like a great serpent, constricting her breath and slamming down on her insubordination. She crumpled to her knees and when she looked up, she found herself directly in front of the gargantuan body, though a moment ago she’d been yards away from it.

Until now, evil had been a loose concept to her, applied equally to the Technocracy, to Pandora, to the cartels that corrupted the undercities, and to the mad cultists of the After Lord. Now, she tasted true evil in this nightmare’s presence, felt it like a poisonous breath in her lungs asphyxiating her.

“The one who chained me here never knew he left behind a key,” spoke the dread voice, the surrounding space visibly rippling with the force of the god’s presence, proof of his mastery over this terrible place.

“I don’t know anything about a key,” she said. Her stomach twisted into knots as she forgot the real world in her terror of this one. “I just want to go home. If I knew where it was, I’d tell you.”

“It sits in your blood,” he said. “You will be the bridge between worlds for me.”

As he spoke, her body rose from its kneeling position, a puppet pulled up by its strings, her brain made dizzy from his suffocating intrusion. Black blood dripped from her fissured skin, the cracks oozing the tainted fluid everywhere, bleeding over from that world into this one. Every part of her wanted to resist the After Lord’s control, but she remembered Samiel’s life depended on her cooperation and she forced herself to submit to the so-called god’s influence, even while defiant tears prickled her eyes.

Controlled by the entity’s will, her hand reached out to lay itself against the sharp-toothed maw of the serpentine monstrosity, and she felt the unnatural chill of his breath stir the hairs on her arm. Her hand continued to slide across his snout, following the coil of his neck to reach the terrible, bloodless gash there. A shudder rolled through her body as she watched her blood dribble down her arm and onto the lips of that great wound.

  About H.S. Gilchrist:

H.S. Gilchrist’s ambitions of becoming a real-life Indiana Jones (degree in Anthropology) spurred her love for world cultures and history but conjured no realistic job prospects. So, she set aside the thrill of chasing ancient curses for the rigors of a twenty-year career in information technology, where she’s worked as both a technician (“I fix broken stuff”) and a data analyst (“I save management a lot of work”).

Outside of work, she's gently nudging her daughter toward embracing her inner nerd (with some success). And in those rare quiet moments, she pens the adventures she's always dreamed of experiencing.

To follow my book-writing adventures and see some fun character art, check out my website: https://hsgilchrist.com and subscribe to the newsletter.

  Website | Twitter | Bluesky | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, International.

Ends February 27th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/29/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Interview/IG Post

1/30/2024

Jaime's Book World

Excerpt

1/31/2024

Kountry Girl Bookaholic

Guest Post/IG Post

2/1/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

IG Post

2/2/2024

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

2/5/2024

A Dream Within A Dream

Guest Post

2/6/2024

@fiction._.fuss

Guest Post/IG Post

2/7/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Guest Post/IG Post

2/8/2024

Writer of Wrongs

Guest Post

2/9/2024

@anitralovesbooksanddogs

IG Review

Week Three:

2/12/2024

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

2/13/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

2/14/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

2/15/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/16/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

Week Four:

2/19/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

2/20/2024

Confessions of the Perfect Mom

Review/IG Post

2/21/2024

The Guild

Review

2/22/2024

Books and Zebras

IG Review

2/23/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- DEJA VIEW by @dangerpeak With An Excerpt & #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DEJA VIEW by Michael Thomas Perone Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: DEJA VIEW

Author: Michael Thomas Perone

Pub. Date: October 6, 2023

Publisher: Wheatmark

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 275

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/DEJA-VIEW  

Twelve-year-old Bobby Dalton doesn't want to grow up. All his life, he has relied on the imaginary games of childhood with his best friends Joe and Max to get him through the tough times. But this all changes when his Seventh-Grade class buries a time capsule to commemorate the end of the 1980s. Now Bobby is being haunted by visions: ghostly doppelgangers of himself, his friends, and others. He calls them "déjà view." Are these visions real, or has his imagination finally gotten away from him? And if they're real, what do they want? Bobby needs to figure this all out to survive his childhood…and his life.

From the author of the award-winning Danger Peak, Déjà View is a darkly funny coming-of-age dramedy with a sci-fi twist, cranked up to eleven. But even more, it's at once a pulse-pounding thrill ride and a haunting portrait of paranoia, mental illness, and the unbearable sadness of growing up.

    Déjà View Excerpt

 by Michael Thomas Perone

 I picked the following excerpt from my new novel, Déjà View, because for one, I just think it’s funny, but also, it’s the first sign to the reader that things are not quite right in Bobby’s world, and it foreshadows the strangeness to come. Finally, this excerpt reinforces the major theme of my book, which is the death of childhood.

 An hour later, Bobby’s guests were seated around a table in the party room, devouring towers of pizza. Bobby and his friends had a front-row seat to the stage of Chuck E. Cheese’s band, an assortment of animatronic animals: a chicken, a dog, some kind of purple monster that resembled McDonaldland’s Grimace, and, of course, Chuck E. himself. Bobby often wondered why anyone would make a rat the mascot for their kid-friendly pizza restaurant; it seemed unsanitary. It mattered little, though. He came for the food and games, not the dinner entertainment. Every year, these robotic animals would mortify him by crooning “Happy Birthday,” their voices becoming craggier as the robots got older, worn from singing over a thousand birthdays to over a thousand boys and girls.

 “Mom,” he asked, leaning in conspiratorially so his friends couldn’t hear, “can we skip the Chuck E. song this year? I’m getting a little too old for it.”

 “It’s tradition, sweetie,” she replied in a singsong voice to keep up appearances. Before he could respond, Chuck E. came alive, as if possessed by some ancient curse.

 “Hey everyone!” it began. “I hear it’s somebody’s birthday!” Derrick and Joe, seated next to each other, offered sardonic, golfer’s applause. The twitchy robot tried reaching for its guitar as his “bandmates” grabbed their own respective instruments. But the twitching suddenly became a trembling as the robot’s arms flailed past his guitar and bonked the chicken, who in turn bumped into the dog. Now all four automatons were shaking as if caught in their own personal earthquake.

 “Uh, is this part of the show?” Derrick asked Joe.

 “Nah,” Joe replied. “I think Chuck E.’s had one too many birthdays.”

 An announcement came over the loudspeaker that there were some “technical difficulties,” but the perverse show continued unbidden. At once, a comet of sparks burst out of the robotic rodent’s back; for a split second, it resembled a flame-spitting sprinkler. Bobby briefly wondered if the thick red curtain behind the performers would catch fire, but fate was kind, and the sparks receded. In the throes of its last herky-jerky movements, Chuck E. finally keeled over and died, its head collapsing onto the floor with a clunk to stare directly at Bobby with one glowing dead eye.

  “Hep-pee...burth-dee...,” the mangled voice managed to eke out one final time. Bobby stared in horror as the beloved childhood mascot bit the big one. He was never a huge fan of these robot shows, but he never meant to attend Chuck E.’s funeral. Bobby turned to the end of his table to spy Derrick and Joe snickering to each other in a private conversation, and he felt an aloneness he had never experienced before.

    About Michael Thomas Perone:

Michael Thomas Perone is an award-winning author who has written for The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, Long Island Voice (a spinoff of The Village Voice), and The Island Ear (now titled Long Island Press), among others. Online, he has written for Fatherly, Yahoo!, WhatCulture!, and other websites that don’t end with an exclamation mark. His articles for WhatCulture! covering the world of entertainment alone have been viewed over 374,000 times, and his expertise on critical writing in the music industry has been cited on Wikipedia and featured in national press kits. He currently works as a Senior Editor in Manhattan and lives on Long Island with his wife and two daughters. For more information, please visit www.michaelthomasperone.com.

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Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of DEJA VIEW, US Only.

Ends December 12th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/27/2023

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Blog Spotlight

11/27/2023

Rockstar Book Tours

Excerpt

11/28/2023

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

11/28/2023

@allyluvsbooksalatte

IG Post

11/29/2023

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

11/29/2023

A Backwards Story

Excerpt

11/30/2023

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

11/30/2023

@dharashahauthor

IG Post

12/1/2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

12/1/2023

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

Week Two:

12/4/2023

Sandra's Book Club

Review/IG Post

12/4/2023

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

12/5/2023

Character Madness and Musings

Guest Post

12/5/2023

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

12/6/2023

The Momma Spot

Review

12/6/2023

Callisto’s calling

IG Review

12/7/2023

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

12/7/2023

@anitralovesbooksanddogs

IG Review

12/8/2023

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

12/8/2023

@froggyreadteach

IG Review

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- INTERGALACTICA by @francoptrotta With An Excerpt & #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the INTERGALACTICA by F.P. Trotta Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: INTERGALACTICA

Author: F.P. Trotta

Pub. Date: July 3, 2023

Publisher: F.P. Trotta

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 477

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/INTERGALACTICA

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!

The first book from the Brazilian space opera series now in English! It's launch day for NASA's long-awaited manned expedition to explore Jupiter's moon Europa! Neuropsychiatrist Amanda awakens after months in a coma caused by acute meningitis... Along with two patients, they discover themselves to be key pieces in an ever-growing puzzle involving an underground geopolitical corporation called The Firm, which plans to sabotage the mission, taking advantage of a new technology to hijack the ship and set a course for a habitable planet located seventeen light-years away from Earth. Originally released in Brazil in 2016, the Intergalactica book series moved thousands of physical and digital copies in Portuguese. Discover a new Earth as you journey to the stars in the first volume of F. P. Trotta's saga. ‘Recipient of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award�� --- What people are saying about F. P. Trotta and INTERGALACTICA: ★★★★★ "In the same league as Brandon Sanderson." ★★★★★ "Very action oriented. Can probably be easily adapted for TV or film." ★★★★★ "With unexpected plot twists and a strong female protagonist, this book keeps you engaged and entertained from start to finish."

  EXCERPT

 “Consider the odds. If you multiply the number of stars in our galaxy by the number of galaxies in the Universe, you get approximately a gazillion stars. That’s a 1 followed by twenty-four zeros. And there could be even more than that! The chances that we are the only living organism in the universe... To me, thinking we’re unique is pretentious. It’s a matter of days. I’m sure anyone who discredits this is in for a rude awakening soon. Even though we’ve just started the fourth decade of the 21st century, there are still many people who are oblivious to these truths.”

            “These are probably the same ones that still believe in the supernatural.” said Stryker, laughing ironically.

            “I figured of all people you would believe in most of these things? In the paranormal, in the spirit world, I mean.” asked Ripley.

            “Oh, please” answered Stryker. “With all the technology available today, millions of digital cameras and video cameras, billions of photos and millions of hours of recorded footage, yet not one real image of a being or anything remotely paranormal has ever been confirmed. Nothing, zilch.” he looked down, shaking his head slightly in disbelief. “But some people want to hold onto the belief in the paranormal as though it’s any different to say goblins, angels or wizards...none exist, but people still believe this tripe. We have simple people wandering around abandoned facilities at night with EMF and digital recorders trying to convince themselves that a tapping sound is a lost soul back from the dead, or the scratchy inaudible sound recorded is a voice from beyond the grave” he laughed. “If you believe in ghosts and spirits you truly have a child’s view of the world.” Ripley seemed thrown off by Stryker’s skeptic speech and immediately stood up, talking back at him:

            “How can you say that, Stryker? After what you witnessed Amanda go through?” she asked, looking at him incredulously.

            “Oh, Stryker.” sighed Amanda. She then looked at him squeezing her eyes, as if she could see through him. “You’re attempting to approach a nonsensical subject with strict rationality. The world isn’t so black and white. Your clinical view of everything is your downfall. For as much as science has advanced, we’re still in the dark about most of life’s mysteries and not one human soul on this planet can tell you what actually happens after you die.” she said. Amanda then stood up and started prancing around the room, talking to all:

            “Once you accept that you’re an insignificant, inconsequential blip on the radar of time--one of billions of people to have come and gone in a few million years--and humble yourself with the idea that all you truthfully know about the universe is what other, greater men have told you from their own observations, then maybe you won’t act so pompous as to declare you know all there is to know about a subject that has managed to stay in the forefront of society since time immemorial.” she paused for a moment and went on. “It isn’t just country kooks and attention-seeking nutters that believe they’ve seen a ghost or had a paranormal experience. There are many learned men who would stand up to your scrutiny as upright characters, such as presidents, who have claimed to have seen spirits. Trying to lock down such a persistent, widespread phenomenon into this ”This is this, therefore that is that“ rationality is just silly. We exist in a world where we have no idea why we're even here, and things in your daily life operate on a scale of normality that you’ve grown accustomed to, never mind the fact that several centuries ago many things you do would be considered ”magic“ or ”abnormal.“ The torchbearers who brought us electricity, telephones, and computers have managed to push the darkness of ignorance back only so much, but you’re making the mistake of thinking you can see the entire cave beyond the small circle of light.” said Amanda.

  About F.P. Trotta:

A love for space operas with controversial and adult themes along with a hint of lovecraftian horror are F. P. Trotta's specialty - originally published in Brazil in Early 2016, the Intergalactica book series went on to move tens of thousands of physical copies in portuguese and is currently the only ongoing space opera franchise published in Brazil.

  Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours, International.

Ends October 17th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/25/2023

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

9/25/2023

Jaime's Book World

Excerpt

9/26/2023

jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

9/26/2023

Writer of Wrongs

Guest Post

9/27/2023

@jael_and_jenessa_reads

Guest Post/IG Post

9/27/2023

Cara North

Guest Post/IG Post

9/28/2023

@allyluvsbooksalatte

IG Post

9/28/2023

@hodophile_z

IG Post

9/29/2023

 #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Blog Spotlight

9/29/2023

Meet The Fultons

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

10/2/2023

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

10/2/2023

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

10/3/2023

Jaime_of_gryffindor

IG Review

10/3/2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

10/4/2023

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

10/4/2023

Gryffindorbookishnerd

IG Review

10/5/2023

The Momma Spot

Review

10/5/2023

bookgirlbrown_reviews

Review/IG Post

10/6/2023

@froggyreadteach

IG Review

10/6/2023

the original B00K nerd

Review/IG Post

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- REFLECTIONS ON THE BOULEVARD by @authorlambrosio With An Excerpt & #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the REFLECTIONS ON THE BOULEVARD by L.J. Ambrosio Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: REFLECTIONS ON THE BOULEVARD (Reflections of Michael Trilogy #2)

Author: L.J. Ambrosio

Pub. Date: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Film Valor

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 195

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/REFLECTIONS-ON-THE-BOULEVARD

Michael's story continues from "A Reservoir Man" (2022) where we find him teaching at a university ready to retire. He unexpectedly meets a young man named Ron who becomes his protege and journeys in a haphazard adventure with him throughout America and Europe in Michael's final journey in life, each twist and turn of the road bringing unexpected adventures. The journey taken is one of joy, friendship and discovery.

Grab book 1, A RESERVOIR MAN now!

  Excerpt:

“How long will the trip last? I thought I would be in Transcendental amazement by now.”

Michael was a little shocked. “Ron, we have only been driving for 2 hours.”

Michael explained to him that they would drive US 80 until they reached the borders of Nebraska and Wyoming, so he had to settle in. The corn fields were right down the road. Passing the corn fields, Ron observed how peaceful everything was. Michael suggested they pull over and park the car for a while.

While just sitting in the car, Ron saw two figures in the field, a man, and a woman. They suddenly disappeared among the corn and, from above, you could see the corn stalks shake violently. Ron chuckled.

“Oh God, looks like those people are doing it! It almost looks like he is doing it to the corn stalk!”

Michael tried to change the subject, “Look at those birds” he said, quickly. Ron was still caught up in his imagination. A few moments passed as Michael tried to rest his eyes and prepare for the next stretch of road. Suddenly he heard Ron crinkling a wrapper to a candy bar, which jarred him back to the moment. Michael sat listening to Ron crunch; he nearly threw it out the window.

“Can you not chew so loud, Ron?” “Sorry. I love these things.” A moment passed; the corn stalks were calm now. 

    About L.J. Ambrosio:

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a 20 Amazon Gift Card, International.

1 winner will receive a finished copy of REFLECTIONS ON THE BOULEVARD, US Only.

Ends August 8th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/24/2023

Rockstar Book Tours

Excerpt/IG Post

7/24/2023

Jaime's Book World

Excerpt/IG Post

7/25/2023

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

7/25/2023

The Book Junkie Reads . . .

Excerpt/IG Post

7/26/2023

Sadie's Spotlight

Excerpt/IG Post

7/26/2023

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt/IG Post

7/27/2023

Cara North

Excerpt

7/27/2023

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

7/28/2023

@secretrhs05

IG Review

7/28/2023

The Momma Spot

Review

  Week Two:

7/31/2023

Nerdophiles

Review

7/31/2023

Fire and Ice

Review/IG Post

8/1/2023

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

8/1/2023

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

8/2/2023

@allyluvsbooksalatte

IG Review

8/2/2023

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

8/3/2023

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

8/3/2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

8/4/2023

@froggyreadteach

IG Review

8/4/2023

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- SONGS FROM THE HEART by @YsReffitt With An Excerpt & #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SONGS FROM THE HEART by Y.S. Reffitt Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: SONGS FROM THE HEART

Author: Y.S. Reffitt

Pub. Date: February 14, 2023

Publisher: Y.S. Reffitt

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 348

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!

After living with heart disease and depression the last five years, Rayna is ready to crack open the protective shell her parents created for her. While she is trying to live life to the fullest, she meets Nick, the singer/songwriter for a local band. Electricity ignites. Rayna will not let her heart failure determine her life. But will it change the path she chooses to take when her world comes crashing down?

  Book Trailer:

Excerpt:

One 

“Rayna I can’t believe I let you do that?” Anna said as she  ran her hands through her hair and shook her head. I laughed. “Like you could have stopped me.” I took my bag  from Anna and dug for my wallet. 

“I just know that your mom would freak out if she knew I  went along with this.”  

I put my money and ID back in my wallet and threw it in my  bag.  

“Do you see my mom?” I looked around the perimeter.  “You didn’t go along with anything. I made the decision  to go parasailing and I’m glad I did. It was exhilarating.” I  wrapped my arm around Anna’s shoulder and smiled at her as  we walked. The soz sand under my bare feet energized me. 

“Why would her mom be mad at you?” Dave looked over  at Anna as he raised up from grabbing a shell from the sand. I drew my eyes down at Anna and shook my head. “Because  my mom is a worry wart, she pleads with Anna to keep me  safe.” I laughed hoping that Dave wouldn’t ask more questions. 

“So what was it like being up in the air like that?” Anna  asked.  

At least she was trying to change the subject.  

“It was awesome” Dave said with a grin.  

“It was Anna. You should try it with us next time.” “Hot a chance.” Anna said.  

Be all laughed and continued our short walk back to the  house.  

“So how was it?” Rick asked when we made it to his beach  spot. 

“Awesome” Dave and I answered in unison. Be both  laughed. Rick laughed at us for answering together. “You’re back.” Travis said as he walked down the steps from  the house. he smiled at us more at Anna but he looked at all  three of us. His eyes glistened when he smiled at her.  It warmed my heart and made me smile seeing these two fall for each other hopefully one of us could live happily ever after. 

“Come on Rayna you’re my partner” Dave said. he pulled  my hand toward a setup Jeld in the sand. 

“What do you wanna play?”  

“Bucket ball. That’s what they played while we were gone.  Rick and Jeff are undefeated. We have to beat them” “And you think we can do that?” 

“You said you played sports in high school. Bell this is just  like basketball and beer pong put together.” Dave picked up  a ball. 

“You just toss this ball down there into one of those buckets.  If you get the ball in the bucket the other team has to remove  the bucket. Just like beer pong.” 

“I’ve never played beer pong.” 

“What?!!” Dave looked at me like I was an alien. “What do you mean you never played beer pong? Didn’t you just  graduate college?” 

“I did, but I did most of it online. Remember I told you I just  moved out of my mom and dad’s and moved in with Anna.” 

“So you never went to parties?”  

“no, I didn’t”. I took a breath and braced myself for his  laughter. ,e didn’t laugh. ,e just looked confused. “Let’s get this game started” Dave yelled. 

Dave didn’t pry. I liked that about him. I wasn’t sure what  to expect when I met him a few days ago. ,e made me feel  comfortable. 

ffe2 and Rick hurried over to their buckets and picked up  the balls. 

“Losers first” jeff yelled. 

“I’ll show you loser” Dave said. “Go ahead Rayna.” I tossed  the ball and missed. Dave tossed his and missed. Rick and ffe2  harassed us. The game went on for a while. Sut in the end  Dave and I beat them.  

“Who is the loser now?” Dave chuckled. 

Jeff flipped Dave the bird and walked toward the house.  Dave laughed again and put the balls in the bucket.

“Guys we need to get ready if we’re gonna play the show  tonight.” Rick pointed at his watch. 

“Always the slave driver.” Dave shot back at him with a grin. Be gathered our things and started for the house. “Five me that stuff.” Dave threw his towel over his shoulder  and took my bag from my hands. 

“Thanks.” Food looking and a gentleman. I locked arms  with Anna as we followed the guys up the steps to the house. The guys quickly showered and dressed.  

“Be need to get the equipment set up and do sound check  so we’ll see you later” Rick yelled as he opened the front  door.  

I stuck my head out of my room. “Okay see you there.” “Bye Rayna. I’ll see you in a few hours.” Dave waved at me.  I waved back."

I showered and dressed. Anna’s music blared from her  room. She was making the final touches to her makeup when  I walked in. 

“You look fantastic! That leather mini skirt shows off those  long tanned legs. I love it! You’re gonna give someone a heart  attack looking like that!” Anna said.  

I smirked at her and did a little spin. Dressing up in sexy  clothes did make me more optimistic. “Thanks.” I grinned at  her. “You look kinda fabulous yourself.” 

“Thanks! I hope Travis thinks so too.”  

I shook my head at her and smiled. “Let’s go see Travis.” I  joked. 

Anna put her mascara down and grabbed her purse from  the sink. She followed me out the front door to the car. I  drove almost a mile. 

“We could have walked you know. My heart won’t fail from a little walk.” I gave Anna a disapproving look as I locked the car doors. 

Anna grimaced at me. “Walk in heels and break a sweat after  all the hard work on our hair and makeup? HeverN4 A look of  astonishment on her face. 

I laughed and locked arms with her as we walked across the  street toward the club. My phone rang. 

“It’s my mom Anna. Hold on a minute. Hi mom.” I held up a Finger to Anna. 

“Rayna! You didn’t call me back.” 

“I know mom! I’m sorry. Anna and I lost track of time and almost forgot about the show tonight”

“Rayna be careful being out with only Anna.”

“Mom! We are here with Rick and his friends, we aren’t alone. I have my mace.” I smiled at Anna. “Remember, you  raised a smart girl.”

“I know Rayna. I worry too much I guess. Your fragile condition doesn’t help my nerves. I will always worry. Text when you get back to the house so I know you are in. Be safe and I love you. Enjoy yourself.” 

“I will. I love you too mom. And tell dad I love him.” I hung  up the phone and put it in my small leather purse. I grabbed  Anna’s arm and gave her a big smile. “Let’s go have some fun  girl.” 

The club was nearly packed. We paid the cover charge and pushed our way through all the young faces toward the stage to find Rick. People were everywhere. Some played pool while others gathered around the bar or tables causing a sea  of unrelenting chatter. You could hardly hear yourself think.  After looking for a few seconds I spotted him. 

“Hey Rick!” I yelled over the music coming from the juke1 box. he glanced over his shoulder and waved us over to the side stage. 

“I wondered where you two were!” Rick said. He continued  hooking up cables and wires to speakers and lights. “I thought  maybe you got lost!” Rick teased. “The band is gonna start in about ten minutes. I reserved a table for us up front.” He yelled  over the noise and pointed to a table close to the stage. 

“We had to make ourselves beautiful, Rick” Anna grinned at Rick. 

“And you both are. I’ll fetch you two beautiful ladies a soda,  be right back.” 

“I can’t wait until the band starts. I’m so excited for you to  see them. You should have gone with me when I saw them a  few months ago!” Anna stated. 

“I wanted to! But you know I wasn’t up to par then, and when I’m fatigued, it’s hard to force myself out of the house. My  doctors figured my medicine out now. And that helps with the  fatigue. I’m ready to start having some fun before it’s too late. I mean, all that money my grandfather left me, I need to spend  some right.”

“Hey! We’re not going to talk about sad things tonight. We’re  gonna have a wonderful time tonight and the rest of the week.  When Seer starts playing, you’ll be ready to get your groove on and be free of all the worry,” Anna said. She sounded like  she was barking orders to me. But I understood she only  volunteered encouraging words. 

The band took the stage and started to play an interesting  guitar riff, my attention was perked. I enjoyed rock music and  loved to lose myself in the rhythm. And Anna was right. The  guys looked amaWing6 all of them.  

“Woooooooo!” Anna yelled and clapped her hands. I could feel the drum and the guitar pounding in my chest.  Anna always gave off incredible vibes. I gave her an evil grin  and she knew I was ready to have fun. 

The band finished the first song and the singer, Dave’s brother that I hadn’t met yet, introduced the band members. His voice came out low and sexy when he sang. You wouldn’t think that deep raspy sound would come out of such a young  looking face. He was cute, but the drummer Dave was the best looking in my opinion. Dave’s skin tone was the same as the  singer’s, but Dave’s hair was shorter. The singer’s eyes were darker and when he smiled, he exposed straight white teeth.  Anyone could tell they were brothers. 

“I see that smile. I told you the band was awesome?” Anna smirked. “And we get to spend the entire week with those fine looking guys.” 

I smiled at Anna and raise my glass of coke to give her a toast as the band started playing a slower tune. It sounded just as  amazing as the first song. The band played a few more songs  and I grabbed Anna’s arm and dragged her to the dance floor with the others that decided they liked the music. I felt free and young instead of the old grumpy cat I had become in the  last few years. I enjoyed this carefree experience. Anna and I slowly moved to the front of the stage as we danced. We  danced to every song. 

As I glanced up at the band, I made eye contact with the  singer, Nick. Hs deep brown eyes were shockingly intense.  When our eyes locked something happened that I’d never experienced before. It was like I had known him all my life. I couldn’t pull my eyes away. A magnet kept pulling my eyes  to his. 

I thought I’d given up on guys because of the heart break with the last one, but if he would step on the stage right at that moment and asked me to leave with him, I would have.  I never believed in love at first sight, but I thought I might be  experiencing it right there in the club in front of hundreds of people. I continued moving to the music, but I sensed I was in a trance. Nick turned his eyes away and released the trance  he pulled me into. He had some kind of power over me. 

The band finished the song and the crowd roared.  “Thank you everyone for hanging out with us tonight!” the singer said and took a bow. “We’ll be playing on the other side  of town in a few days if you want to come join us again.”  I brought my thoughts back to reality and glanced at Anna.  She was looking at me with a confused expression. He walked  over to our table and stood by our chairs. I had never been drunk, but I bet it felt something like this. 

“RaynaC are you okay? You look goofy,” concerned, Anna  examined my face. 

I kinda smiled at her not knowing if I was okay. “I’m not  sure. I’ve never experienced that before. 

“What! What haven’t you experienced before?” Anna demanded as she squeezed my arm. 

“This instant attraction to someone, like I would follow  them around the world.... like I have known them for years.  Like....” 

“Your soul mate? I saw you two lock eyes. I knew something  was happening.” Anna let go of my arm. 

“Sssshhh, they’re coming over here,” I whispered to her.

Anna gave a little squeeze to my hand with a big smile on  her face. Rick led the group of guys. They all walked toward  us with immense confidence and huge smiles on their faces, except the singer Nick. His face showed annoyance. Travis walked directly to Anna and stood by her. Dave chose the spot beside me and Nick beside him. Rick did formal introductions. 

“This is Nick Perry, our singer and Dave’s brother. Nick, these beautiful ladies are Anna Cass and Rayna Taylor.”

“Hi,” Anna and I said at the same time. 

“Hi,” Nick repeated as he threw his hand up to wave. He moved his eyes away quickly not acknowledging me. He leaned on the table with one elbow and glanced around  at the crowd. his white tank top showed off his dark skin and defined biceps and shoulders. The soft hairs on his chest stuck out of the top of his shirt. I glanced at him again, but he still  wouldn’t meet my eyes. I felt as if I had a stupid little girl crush  on someone that didn3t even know I existed. Maybe he was pretentious. 

I could sense Nick looking at me and I peeked up and  smiled. he forced a smile and looked away again. Everyone  talked and laughed around the table, but my mind was elsewhere. My stomach churned with those butterflies and my skin rippled with electricity having Nick so close to me. I  wanted to reach out and touch his skin. Touch the tattoo of a  cross on his shoulder. 

“We better pack this stuff up and get it in the van,” Nick said.  “I’m not feeling so good.” He chugged his water, turned, and hopped back into the stage to begin the tear down. 

“Yeah, let’s get this stuff together and head back to the house where we can relax and hang out. It has been a long day.” Travis said. 

Travis, the lead guitarist, and Anna hadn’t stopped talking since the band finished playing. 

“I better help.” Dave winked at me as he stood up to go to help take stuff down. 

Dave had the same dark mysterious eyes as Nick, but I  noticed every detail in Nick’s face. It was so beautiful. He  tucked his long, shaggy, brown hair behind his ears. Even though he didn’t smile but once, I couldn’t stop looking at him as he worked to clean the stage. 

“Let’s help them load up.” Anna bought me out of my hypnotic state. 

Anna and I wound up black cords and carried them out to  the van. Nick was already in the van packing things. He took the cords from me and our skin touched. The electricity from our skin touching was too much. He jerked the cord from my hand in haste. Our eyes locked again. I wanted to jump into the van and press my lips against his. He made me nervous, but it didn’t matter. The way I felt around him was intoxicating.  It was different than anything I ever experienced. I couldn’t figure out what this feeling was. It scared me. 

“Thanks,” Nick said. I blinked out of my trance. He quickly looked away. He didn’t smile this time. he appeared annoyed. That’s when I bolted and almost ran back into the bar. I finally desired someone again. A warmth rose through my body so intense it scared me and he barely said more than one word to me. It must have been wishful thinking  on my part because I had been out of the dating loop. Why did he act like I was just any other girl; like he wasn’t interested in me? I could have sworn some kind of connection was between us. I bumped into Anna as I walked stupefied across  the wooden door of the club. 

“What’s up Rayna? You seemed dazed.” Anna said as she  gave me a confused look. 

“He ignores me….like I don’t exist!” I said. My frustration must’ve been obvious. 

Anna took my arms and led me to the table. She pushed me to my seat.  

“Nick avoided my eyes and he only said like one or two words to me. And these butterflies won’t stop dancing in my  stomach.” 

“I knew it. You both had a weird expression on your faces.  Like you are entranced,” She swooned. 

“I’m not......... entranced with him,” I stuttered, “just dazzled.”  I scrunched my nose and grinned. 

“Remember when we were little and Johnny liked you? Remember when he used to annoy you and we figured out he  was just trying to get your attention?”  

I shook my head yes remembering. 

“Older boys act goofy too when they like a girl, instead of annoyance, it’s avoidance. Get to know him a little more  and you’ll see. I can tell that he likes you. You make him uncomfortable. That’s why he’s avoiding your eyes,” Anna said.  She did make me feel a little bit better. 

We followed the guys back to the house in the car and  talked about it some more. Anna kept coaching until she had  me smiling again. When we walked into the kitchen for a  drink, we saw the guys outside on the deck goofing around.  It looked as though they were giving Nick a hard time.  

Anna and I walked out onto the deck. The sound of the ocean filled my ears. The waves beating on the shore were one  of my favorite sounds. The ocean breeze blew my hair around  my face. I looked over at Nick while he stared out at the dark ocean. He resembled a Greek god standing there. I wanted to  walk over and touch him. But he seemed unapproachable and untouchable, far away in his own world. 

“Hey guys, you got here quick,” Anna said. They all glanced up and smiled at us. Everyone started talking about the night  and how amazing the band played. Nick said few words. “I’m gonna head to bed.” Nick said. 

“What?” Dave and Rick said. They looked at Nick in shock. “I’m not feeling well. I must be tired from the plane and  playing tonight.” Hick said. 

“Catch you in the morning?” Dave -questioned. “Yep, goodnight everyone.” Nick wave his hand and hurried  into the house. 

“He’s off tonight man,” Travis said. “He hasn’t acted right since the middle of the show when I played that long riff. What’s the matter with him?”

“He usually is the last one to bed and the life of the party.”  Dave said. “But tonight, he was just plain goofy.”

“He’s probably just tired. He told me he wrote an entire song on his plane ride down here. Hopefully tomorrow you  girls will see the real Nick. You’ll love him.” Rick explained. I thought I already did. The guys just told me what I guessed. He was acting strange. This made me feel even bleaker. “Did you like the band tonight?” Dave asked. He took a drink of his beer. 

“Yes, you all did an awesome job. I love all the songs.” I said. I gave him a reassuring smile. 

“Nick writes all of our music. When he was still in the Marines, he had already written a lot of the lyrics. When he  got out, we had lost our lead singer and we asked him to sing  for us.” Dave said. 

“How long has the band been playing?” I asked as I watched  Anna laugh while she listened to Travis, Jeff, and Rick talk  about something I couldn’t hear. 

“We’ve been together for about a year now. Be made an album with help from some of our friends about a month ago.  It turned out amazing.”  

“I wanna buy one.” I smiled 

“I’ll find you one tomorrow morning.” He grinned.

“Sounds good.” 

“Rick said you just graduated from college too. What did  you study?” 

“I studied journalism. I hope to find a job in editing. I love books.” I gave him a frivolous smile because most people think  I”m crazy for liking books so much. 

“Maybe I could market some of your books that you edit. I  graduated with a marketing degree. Maybe it can help with  marketing the band.” Dave laughed. 

Even though I thought Dave was the best looking in the  beginning and he was giving me quite a bit of attention, I  couldn’t stop my mind from thinking about Nick. I looked at my watch and saw that it was midnight. I excused myself and went into the house to put myself and my crazy mind to bed.  As I got dressed for bed, I still couldn’t figure Nick out and couldn’t drive the way he affected me out of my head. Just thinking about him lying down in a bed on the floor above me gave me goose bumps. I dozed off to sleep with Nick hanging  onto my dreams. 

    About Y.S. Reffitt:

Author of Songs from the Heart. Her debut novel is set to be release on February 14th, 2023. She graduated from West Virginia University with a Master of Arts in Reading. She works as a Reading Specialist. She lives in West Virginia with her husband and two sons.

Sign up for Y.S.'s newsletter (Scroll to the bottom of the page)

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours, International.

Ends February 28th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/13/2023

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

2/14/2023

@jael_and_jenessa_reads

Review/IG Post

2/14/2023

Book Reviews by Alison

Review/IG Post

2/15/2023

Books and Kats

Excerpt

2/15/2023

Read Dog Reviews

IG Post

2/16/2023

The Momma Spot

Review

2/17/2023

iamjustanothersoul

Review/IG Post

2/17/2023

Books With A Chance of Traveling

Review/IG Post

 Week Two:

2/20/2023

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

2/21/2023

@thrillersandhistoricalfiction

IG Review

2/21/2023

@carlysunshinebooks

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic

2/22/2023

@traceyreadsandrambles

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/22/2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic

2/23/2023

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

2/24/2023

Emily Ashlyn

IG Review/Facebook Post

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- DESIGNED BY DESTINY by @mayatylerauthor With An Excerpt & A $25 Amazon GC #Giveaway! @Tirgearr, & @RockstarBkTours

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DESIGNED BY DESTINY by Maya Tyler Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About The Book:

Title: DESIGNED BY DESTINY (Fairy Godmothers Incorporated, #1)

Author: Maya Tyler

Pub. Date: November 15, 2022

Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 216

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo

After a painful break-up in university, Bethany Clarke has sworn off love to focus on her career. From her humble South Side beginnings to her position as an architect intern at a prestigious Chicago firm, she's proven to be a hard worker and is proud of her accomplishments. In three years, she’ll be a fully licensed architect which is more important to her than anything else.

Confirmed bachelor Nicholas Grey is more than the playboy perpetrated by the tabloids. Now his position as CEO of the architecture firm Grey & Company is on the line, and his mother’s interference is making things more difficult. Nick’s committed to his work, but, in order to be taken seriously, he needs to land a huge project. A stable personal life will help guarantee the contract. Fairy Godmother Faye Delmore hears Nick’s plea and steps in to help. Posing as a publicist, she suggests a strategy to polish his public image, which includes convincing Beth to play his wife. Faye knows Nick needs the huge project to save his job, but she also knows he needs Beth in his life. What happens when you add a fairy godmother who loves playing matchmaker into the equation? A future designed by destiny.

  Excerpt:

Nick resisted the compulsion to pace in the foyer of his apartment. Beth was in her room getting ready, and he knew she’d need help with her zipper. His hands felt clammy. He wiped them against the black trousers of his tailored wool gabardine suit. It wasn’t nerves. Not about Beth, anyway. She was a nice girl. Not his type. Ergo, he wasn’t nervous. There was some other explanation for the electric zing running through his body at the thought of seeing her again.

 When he’d heard that thud come from Beth’s room last night… Well, it worried him more than he’d like to admit. And, while he was on the topic of stuff he’d rather not admit… At the time, he’d been standing by his door, hand hovering above the knob, contemplating about going to her. The way she’d supported him with his mother… They’d felt like a true team. And then, they’d had a moment, right? It felt like a moment. An intense, surreal, out of time moment when they were both drawn to each other. But he’d moved away even though he’d wanted… well, it didn’t matter what he wanted if Beth didn’t feel the same. And he couldn’t be certain of her feelings. After he helped with her zipper, she’d rejected him. But did she back away then because he’d backed away before?

 A series of steady clicks against the marble tile announced Beth’s presence. He swallowed his disappointment. “You didn’t need help with your zipper?”

 She smiled broadly, explaining with animated hand motions how she’d used a metal coat hanger to zip up her dress.

 His disappointment morphed into marvel at her ingenuity.

 “You’re staring. Do I look okay?” She turned around in a slow circle, tilting on her heels in a dramatic end of the runway-type pose.

 “Yes, beautiful.” He caught her hand, drawing her closer, smiling smugly when he heard the quiet catch of her breath. She wasn’t immune to him. He leaned in, inhaling her light perfume, ghosting his lips along the column of her slender neck. Her pulse thrummed erratically under his touch.

 “Nick.” She took a step back. “There’s no one watching now.”

 Her words had the effect of a cold bucket of water. Caught up in the moment, he’d temporarily forgotten their more-business-than-pleasure arrangement. “Practice.” He offered her a rehearsed lopsided smile. “So you don’t jump like a rabbit every time I’m near.”

 Smiling back, she seemed to accept his quipped response. He looped her arm with his, coaxing her closer as they waited for his private elevator. Waves of anxiety radiated from her tense body. That wouldn’t do. Anyone with half a brain paying even the slightest bit of attention to them would spot the ruse.

 Nick moved his hand to the small of her back, tugging her closer. When she looked up to question his action, he pressed his lips against hers. He felt her muscles tense under his touch. Instead of retreating, he redoubled his efforts, deepening the kiss until Beth surrendered to his amorous assault. The fight in her floated away as she sunk into his embrace. She returned his kiss as ardently as he ever could’ve imagined. He knew a passionate woman lived beyond the surface, the

professional armor she showed the rest of the world. Suddenly, kissing her was more important than anything else. He wanted to unzip her dress, the task he’d been cheated of, and bare her luscious body to his intense perusal. He didn’t care about the world outside this room—his company or his obligations.

  Beth’s hands pressed against his chest, curling into his dress shirt. He was glad she felt comfortable enough to explore his body. Thoughts of hers had plagued him since Vegas. The honeymoon had been too short, but there was no need to rush things now. If she felt the same as he did—

  About Maya Tyler:

Maya Tyler is a multi-published author of paranormal romance novels and blogger at Maya’s Musings. An avid reader, Maya writes the books she loves to read—romances! Her paranormal romances come with complex plot twists and happily-ever-afters.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, listening to music (alternative rock, especially from the 1990s), practicing yoga, and watching movies and TV.

Subscribe to Maya’s Newsletter!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, International.

Ends November 15th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/31/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Guest Post/IG Post

10/31/2022

Author Z. Knight

Guest Post/IG Post

11/1/2022

@meetcuteromancebooks

Guest Post/IG Post

11/1/2022

Sadie's Spotlight

Guest Post/IG Post

11/2/2022

The Momma Spot

Guest Post

11/2/2022

Jazzy Book Reviews

Guest Post/IG Post

11/3/2022

Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf

IG Review

11/3/2022

The Real World According To Sam

Review/IG Post

11/4/2022

The.bibliophile.michelle

IG Review

11/4/2022

A Dream Within A Dream

Guest Post

Week Two:

11/7/2022

My Cat Reads

Review/IG Post

11/7/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

11/8/2022

@allyluvsbooksalatte

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/8/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

11/9/2022

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Review

11/9/2022

Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf

IG Review

11/10/2022

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

11/10/2022

Bookdreamr

Review/IG Post

11/11/2022

Jael Just Reading

Review/IG Post

11/11/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post/IG Post

[arnoldjaime13]

🎡 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑! 🎡 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉, 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒚... 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓… Shadow Lands, the Sixth and final book in Author Stacey Marie Brown's Savage Lands Series is 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐎𝐎𝐍! BLOGGER/READER SIGN UP ↳ https://bit.ly/ReleaseSavageLandsBook6 PREORDER & RELEASE DATE ↳ COMING SOON! ADD TO GOODREADS ↳ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59763002-shadow-lands GOODREADS VOTE ↳ https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/171255.Most_Anticipated_PNR_2022 ··· BOOK INFO ··· Title: Shadow Lands Series: Savage Lands Series #6 Author: @StaceyMarieBrown Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy Release Day: TBA Designer: @jay_aheer ··· ABOUT THE BOOK ··· 𝑰 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒚 ... 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔. With Brexley on the run and Istvan rebuilding his power in the Ukraine, Warwick and the group are dealing with the bloody aftermath of the prison escape. When their hideout is attacked, they flee, heading for Kyiv to destroy Istvan and track down Kovacs— Warwick’s sotet démonom. ::: For more info on Shadow Lands or The Savage Lands Series, head to @TheNextStepPR ! Link in BIO! ::: #ShadowLandsCoverReveal #StaceyMarieBrown #ShadowLands #SavageLandsSeries #ParanormalRomance #UrbanFantasy #RomanticFantasy #BookSix #TheNextStepPR #SeriesFinale #paranormalromancebooks #paranormalromancereaders #paranoramalromanceseries #paranormalromancereads #paranormalromancelovers #fantasyromancenovels #fantasyromanceauthors #fantasyromancereaders #paranormalromancebooks #paranormalromancereaders #paranoramalromanceseries #paranormalromancereads #paranormalromancelovers #BookJunkie Hosted by @TheNextStepPR Never miss a promotion with TNS again → https://www.thenextsteppr.com/work-with-us https://www.instagram.com/p/CaiOkQEPoLp/?utm_medium=tumblr

[arnoldjaime13]

Posted @withregram • @aghoward_writes Happy Friday! As promised, here is #ShadesofRustandRuin so we may bask together in all the eerily glorious details (see my linktree to view entire high-res image)! Thanks to Marcela Bolívar (@tropicalgloom) for this atmospheric #coverart! ARC #giveaway info, synopsis, and pub date below... 🖤 ••Synopsis•• Phoenix “Nix” Loring knows her family is under a Halloween curse. When she was three, her parents tragically died on October 31st. Eleven years later, her twin sister Lark suffered a similar fate. 🎃 Ever since, Nix has battled survivor guilt. She can’t even find comfort in Clarey, Lark’s boyfriend and the one person who understands her pain, because Nix’s hidden feelings for him go far beyond friendship. All that remains are her sketches, where she finds solace among the goblins and faeries in her imaginary world of Mystiquel. When her depression starts affecting her ability to see color, Nix all but gives up on her art, until her uncle goes missing on Halloween day. Hot on his trail, Nix and Clarey step through a portal, becoming trapped inside a decaying version of their town filled with Nix’s own sketches come to life. ⚙️ As Nix and Clarey search for her uncle within the sinister and dangerous world of Mystiquel, Nix discovers there’s more to her family curse and otherworldly artwork than she ever imagined—and unless she can solve the Goblin King’s maze before the clock strikes midnight, her life won’t be the only one the curse claims next. ⏲️ A.G. Howard’s thrilling new fantasy--full of romance, twists, and betrayals and set in a gritty, #steampunk-inspired world--will hit shelves this September 6, 2022! 🎉🍂 (preorder links on linktree) 🖤 ••Giveaway•• ARC giveaway on prior post (link on linktree). It's running through Mon, Feb 21 (11:30pm central); only entries there count. 🥳 Thanks for celebrating w/me! More reveals & giveaways on the horizon! ••• #coverreveal #GoblinMarket #Labyrinth #bookstagram #GoblinKing #aghowardbooks #aghoward #books #bookcover #authorsofinstagram #portalfantasy #bookannouncement #yalit #yafantasy #Mystiquiel #beautifulbooks #marcelabolivar #bloomsburyya https://www.instagram.com/p/CaIQ7vVPD9h/?utm_medium=tumblr

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour: BFF: A STORY ABOUT BULLYCIDE by Lindsey G. P. Bell With An Excerpt & $10 Amazon GC #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BFF: A STORY ABOUT BULLYCIDE by Lindsey G. P. Bell Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About the Book:

Title: BFF: A STORY ABOUT BULLYCIDE

Author: Lindsey G. P. Bell, Katena Utena (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: July 23, 2020

Publisher: Lindsey G. P. Bell

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 256

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Thirteen-year-old Abby and her father have just moved from a leaky old sailboat in California to an inherited mansion in South Carolina, and Abby does not fit in. This is the story of the summer adventures she shares with new best friend, Hollis, and two boys from their class rescuing an injured heron. But when school begins, Abby is shocked to learn that Hollis is a bullied outcast…who, pushed to the limit, takes her own life—a phenomenon known as bullycide. BFF attempts to portray that being targeted doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you, suicide is NOT the answer, and if you’re struggling, tell as many people as necessary until you get help. You are interesting and worth it.

Reviews:

"Both adult and teen readers will be moved by this poignant story and find it a valuable resource in discussing and countering bullying. Great for fans of Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places, Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why."- BookLife by Publishers Weekly

“5 Stars!”- Readers’ Favorite

“BFF: A Story About Bullycide touches on the perils of teen depression, bullying, and suicide. Told in Bell’s lyrical and unique voice, this story is a compelling read for teens and parents of teens.”- Leigh Medeiros, Author of The 1-Minute Writer

“As a mom I was concerned about the appropriateness for my children, but upon completion of BFF found myself wanting all kids to read this to understand the gravity of their actions. Bell takes a subject that can be controversial and weaves a beautiful story. You will fall in love with the main character and be immersed in every page. I would recommend this book to everyone—adults and children alike!”- Anneliese Tomlinson, CFI and mother of two teenagers

Book Trailer:

Excerpt:

250ish-word excerpt from BFF: A Story About Bullycide

By Lindsey G. P. Bell

  Excerpt from Abby’s reflecting on Hollis’ suicide from the end of the Epilogue/book:

I never had another friend like Hollis. Though I think I sensed I never would on the first day when we shook hands. And when I think back, all I see in people like Lexie Cross, Ava Finn, and Leah Montgomery is the fear and emptiness that they were desperately trying to fight off by coming after us. There was nothing wrong with Hollis or me. We were the lucky ones, the ones who could have the time of our lives sitting up all night in the middle of nowhere waiting for a bird. And even if people thought we were ugly, fat, weird, disabled, too smart, too slow, too short, too tall, too poor, too freckled, too skinny, the “wrong” religion, the “wrong” color, the “wrong” sexual preference, the “wrong” gender, flat-chested, too booby, sexually active, hyperactive, or just plain annoying, we had each other. And if we had just stuck together, things might have ended differently.

There’s so much I wish I could go back and tell Hollis on that fateful night. At thirteen, school and Lexie felt like they would go on forever, but the older I got, the faster the days passed. I’ve been out of school now much longer than I ever had to be in it, and I’ve been able to fill my orbit with some really kind, adventurous, creative, funny people who understand and appreciate me.

There really have been countless thrill-and-three-quarters moments peppered into these many years, but the thing I’m most grateful for is the opportunity to share my story. I can’t undo the painful things that happened to me, but maybe by choosing to stick around I can use them to help somebody struggling down Hollis’s and my old path see that suicide is a mistake.

If only Hollis had told someone that she was considering it….

She would have loved all of this.

  About Lindsey G. P. Bell:

Lindsey G. P. Bell’s life has been as exciting and full of adventure as one of her books.  Born to a father named Peter and a mother called Wendy, she was very nearly named Tinker Bell. It was the first of many bullets she would go on to dodge. 

  As a young child in Washington, D.C., her great loves were the Smithsonian Institution’s museums of Natural History and Air and Space. Ms. Bell’s earliest life dreams were to someday live in a natural history museum and fly airplanes. 

  Ms. Bell attended Pepperdine University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts.

  While working in wildlife rescue, a friend introduced her to the now-late Grizzly Man, Timothy Treadwell. Tim and Ms. Bell began dating, and he invited her to join him camping with the wild brown bears, foxes, weasels, wolves and moose in the remote Alaskan wilderness. There, her love of seaplanes and all things natural shone. She was blessed to swim with wild bears, have mother bears (sows) nurse their cubs nearby (they purr!), and play something akin to Capture the Flag with red foxes. After spending portions of two summers in the wilderness with Tim, she embarked on three solo expeditions whereupon she’d spend her nights copiously journaling the day’s adventures. This felt like living in a natural history museum, and the discipline of writing daily led to penning her first children’s book.

  Ms. Bell went on to earn her pilot’s license and sea-plane rating, and soon realized her true love lay in flying aerobatics (spins, loops, rolls…). 

  After dabbling in weathercasting, acting, and improv, Ms. Bell began poking the stand-up comedy bear. Though she enjoys writing the material more than performing it, she can still occasionally be found around Los Angeles at open mics.

  In addition to BFF: A Story About Bullycide, she’s completed drafts of seven children’s books, a novella, and three non-fiction volumes detailing her Alaska expeditions.  Between 2004 – 2006 she co-wrote a screenplay about the late Grizzly Man with Rebecca Dmytryk. An article about it appeared in the November 16, 2006 edition of the Malibu Surfside News. Her spoof essay on The Lorax was published in the October 2013 edition of Writer’s Digest. And in 2019, her short story The Call, The Call of Duty, and The Call Home placed ninth (out of fifty finalists) in the Inspirational category of the Writer’s Digest Annual Contest. She is currently working on a thriller.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/31/2022

Rockstar Book Tours

Kickoff Post

1/31/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

2/1/2022

YABooksCentral

Guest Post

2/1/2022

@meetcuteromancebooks

Excerpt/IG Post

2/2/2022

Mythical Books

Guest Post/IG Post

2/2/2022

Log Cabin Library

Excerpt

2/3/2022

BookHounds

Guest Post/IG Post

2/3/2022

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

2/4/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

2/4/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktour

IG Post

Week Two:

2/7/2022

More Books Please blog

Review/IG Post

2/7/2022

Thoughts on Books

Review/IG Post

2/8/2022

@coffeesipsandreads

Review/IG Post

2/8/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Review/IG Post

2/9/2022

Coffee and Wander Book Reviews

Review/IG Post

2/9/2022

Wottaread

Excerpt

2/10/2022

@enjoyingbooksagain

Review/IG Post

2/10/2022

Prison Wife Reviews

Review/IG Post

2/11/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

2/11/2022

Jaime's Book World

Excerpt

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour: BFF: A STORY ABOUT BULLYCIDE by Lindsey G. P. Bell With An Excerpt & $10 Amazon GC #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BFF: A STORY ABOUT BULLYCIDE by Lindsey G. P. Bell Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  About the Book:

Title: BFF: A STORY ABOUT BULLYCIDE

Author: Lindsey G. P. Bell, Katena Utena (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: July 23, 2020

Publisher: Lindsey G. P. Bell

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 256

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Thirteen-year-old Abby and her father have just moved from a leaky old sailboat in California to an inherited mansion in South Carolina, and Abby does not fit in. This is the story of the summer adventures she shares with new best friend, Hollis, and two boys from their class rescuing an injured heron. But when school begins, Abby is shocked to learn that Hollis is a bullied outcast…who, pushed to the limit, takes her own life—a phenomenon known as bullycide. BFF attempts to portray that being targeted doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you, suicide is NOT the answer, and if you’re struggling, tell as many people as necessary until you get help. You are interesting and worth it.

Reviews:

"Both adult and teen readers will be moved by this poignant story and find it a valuable resource in discussing and countering bullying. Great for fans of Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places, Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why."- BookLife by Publishers Weekly

“5 Stars!”- Readers’ Favorite

“BFF: A Story About Bullycide touches on the perils of teen depression, bullying, and suicide. Told in Bell’s lyrical and unique voice, this story is a compelling read for teens and parents of teens.”- Leigh Medeiros, Author of The 1-Minute Writer

“As a mom I was concerned about the appropriateness for my children, but upon completion of BFF found myself wanting all kids to read this to understand the gravity of their actions. Bell takes a subject that can be controversial and weaves a beautiful story. You will fall in love with the main character and be immersed in every page. I would recommend this book to everyone—adults and children alike!”- Anneliese Tomlinson, CFI and mother of two teenagers

Book Trailer:

Excerpt:

250ish-word excerpt from BFF: A Story About Bullycide

By Lindsey G. P. Bell

  Excerpt from Abby’s reflecting on Hollis’ suicide from the end of the Epilogue/book:

I never had another friend like Hollis. Though I think I sensed I never would on the first day when we shook hands. And when I think back, all I see in people like Lexie Cross, Ava Finn, and Leah Montgomery is the fear and emptiness that they were desperately trying to fight off by coming after us. There was nothing wrong with Hollis or me. We were the lucky ones, the ones who could have the time of our lives sitting up all night in the middle of nowhere waiting for a bird. And even if people thought we were ugly, fat, weird, disabled, too smart, too slow, too short, too tall, too poor, too freckled, too skinny, the “wrong” religion, the “wrong” color, the “wrong” sexual preference, the “wrong” gender, flat-chested, too booby, sexually active, hyperactive, or just plain annoying, we had each other. And if we had just stuck together, things might have ended differently.

There’s so much I wish I could go back and tell Hollis on that fateful night. At thirteen, school and Lexie felt like they would go on forever, but the older I got, the faster the days passed. I’ve been out of school now much longer than I ever had to be in it, and I’ve been able to fill my orbit with some really kind, adventurous, creative, funny people who understand and appreciate me.

There really have been countless thrill-and-three-quarters moments peppered into these many years, but the thing I’m most grateful for is the opportunity to share my story. I can’t undo the painful things that happened to me, but maybe by choosing to stick around I can use them to help somebody struggling down Hollis’s and my old path see that suicide is a mistake.

If only Hollis had told someone that she was considering it….

She would have loved all of this.

  About Lindsey G. P. Bell:

Lindsey G. P. Bell’s life has been as exciting and full of adventure as one of her books.  Born to a father named Peter and a mother called Wendy, she was very nearly named Tinker Bell. It was the first of many bullets she would go on to dodge. 

  As a young child in Washington, D.C., her great loves were the Smithsonian Institution’s museums of Natural History and Air and Space. Ms. Bell’s earliest life dreams were to someday live in a natural history museum and fly airplanes. 

  Ms. Bell attended Pepperdine University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts.

  While working in wildlife rescue, a friend introduced her to the now-late Grizzly Man, Timothy Treadwell. Tim and Ms. Bell began dating, and he invited her to join him camping with the wild brown bears, foxes, weasels, wolves and moose in the remote Alaskan wilderness. There, her love of seaplanes and all things natural shone. She was blessed to swim with wild bears, have mother bears (sows) nurse their cubs nearby (they purr!), and play something akin to Capture the Flag with red foxes. After spending portions of two summers in the wilderness with Tim, she embarked on three solo expeditions whereupon she’d spend her nights copiously journaling the day’s adventures. This felt like living in a natural history museum, and the discipline of writing daily led to penning her first children’s book.

  Ms. Bell went on to earn her pilot’s license and sea-plane rating, and soon realized her true love lay in flying aerobatics (spins, loops, rolls…). 

  After dabbling in weathercasting, acting, and improv, Ms. Bell began poking the stand-up comedy bear. Though she enjoys writing the material more than performing it, she can still occasionally be found around Los Angeles at open mics.

  In addition to BFF: A Story About Bullycide, she’s completed drafts of seven children’s books, a novella, and three non-fiction volumes detailing her Alaska expeditions.  Between 2004 – 2006 she co-wrote a screenplay about the late Grizzly Man with Rebecca Dmytryk. An article about it appeared in the November 16, 2006 edition of the Malibu Surfside News. Her spoof essay on The Lorax was published in the October 2013 edition of Writer’s Digest. And in 2019, her short story The Call, The Call of Duty, and The Call Home placed ninth (out of fifty finalists) in the Inspirational category of the Writer’s Digest Annual Contest. She is currently working on a thriller.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

  Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/31/2022

Rockstar Book Tours

Kickoff Post

1/31/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

2/1/2022

YABooksCentral

Guest Post

2/1/2022

@meetcuteromancebooks

Excerpt/IG Post

2/2/2022

Mythical Books

Guest Post/IG Post

2/2/2022

Log Cabin Library

Excerpt

2/3/2022

BookHounds

Guest Post/IG Post

2/3/2022

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

2/4/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

2/4/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktour

IG Post

Week Two:

2/7/2022

More Books Please blog

Review/IG Post

2/7/2022

Thoughts on Books

Review/IG Post

2/8/2022

@coffeesipsandreads

Review/IG Post

2/8/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Review/IG Post

2/9/2022

Coffee and Wander Book Reviews

Review/IG Post

2/9/2022

Wottaread

Excerpt

2/10/2022

@enjoyingbooksagain

Review/IG Post

2/10/2022

Prison Wife Reviews

Review/IG Post

2/11/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

2/11/2022

Jaime's Book World

Excerpt