Tuesday, October 31, 2023

blackloop by Sarah Holding #YA #SciFi #Romance

 

YA Sci-Fi Romance

Date Published: 10-31-2023

Publisher: Firehorse


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A freak electro-magnetic pulse leaves 17-year-old Bo and six other teenagers trapped inside a building in the British seaside resort of Blackpool, desperately trying to work out what just happened, why they can’t get out, and how to survive the weirdest weekend of their lives.

Dealing with each other’s egos and issues is nothing compared to the fallout unleashed by the solar event, because hidden beneath the building they discover it has activated a powerful energy device called blackloop.

As blackloop starts affecting everyone and everything in its vicinity, can Bo, who’s still grieving the loss of her mum, summon the courage to confront her fears, realise she’s falling in love, and make a move on Karim before it’s too late?


About the Author

Sarah Holding is a children's and YA author and poet, known primarily as a climate fiction writer. She is the author of six books: SeaBEAN (2013), SeaWAR (2014) and SeaRISE (2014), Chameleon (2020), How to Write a Poem (2021) and blackloop (forthcoming, 2023). She has been featured on Guardian Children’s Books, BBC Radio Scotland and given over 500 talks and creative writing workshops. Her books are now being taught in primary schools across the UK.


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Publisher Links

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Thursday, October 26, 2023

New /release: BRAZEN by @carol_burnside #westernromance

 


Blurb

Because of a secret not hers to tell, spinster Rachel must marry quickly, and Angus is the first man who comes to mind. He’s a hard worker and strong. She’s seen him eyeing her and senses hunger in his gaze. Rachel goes to Angus, the local blacksmith, alone at night and asks him to marry her.

Although eager to accept her brazen offer, Angus is suspicious, thinking it's some kind of prank and she's been put up to this to embarrass him. After all, what would a lady like Rachel want with the likes of him? His work is hot and dirty, and his lineage doesn’t exactly have the pedigree ladies look for.

When he realizes she’s sincere, his heart won’t let him refuse her, but even the road to a quick, convenient marriage isn’t smooth. Angus keeps his feelings for Rachel hidden. After the ceremony, Rachel finds a distance she can't bridge…until tragedy strikes.

Will they ever find the courage to declare their love, or will their stubborn need to protect their hearts prevail?

Shorter blurb:

Harboring a family secret, spinster Rachel seeks out Angus, the blacksmith, alone at night and requests he marry her. Despite suspicions regarding her motives, he’s lonely and admires Rachel. He agrees to a quick wedding, but the road to happiness is marred by more secrets. Then tragedy strikes. Will they find the courage to bridge the distance between them in time to save their marriage?

UBL:  https://books2read.com/Brazen-MBN1

Excerpt

Angus had finished washing the last of his supper dishes when he heard a soft knock at his back door. Who the devil could that be?

He opened it cautiously, seeing the hem of a fancy lace-and-lemon dress in the slice of light from his doorway, quite similar to the one he’d seen Miss Dunn wearing tonight. Of course, it wouldn’t be her.

“Who’s there, Miss? Show yourself.”

“It’s Rachel Dunn, Mr. Brody.” Her voice held a slight tremor, but she made no move to obey him. “May I speak with you?”

His heart thumped faster upon hearing her soft reply. Rachel here? “And John? Is he with you?”

“I come unchaperoned with a matter of some importance.”

She risked her reputation to speak with him? “I see.”

But he didn’t see, couldn’t fathom why she would seek him out. The fact that he was this close to her, alone and having a conversation, stunned him.

“Might I gain entrance before someone happens along and sees me, Mr. Bro—”

“Angus. My name is Angus.” His breath hitched at the thought of hearing his given name pass her lips. Calling himself all kinds of a fool, he stood aside. Rachel rushed past him like a flash of sunshine, and he shut out the night.

Her gaze darted around the room much like a rabbit seeking the nearest escape route. Angus stifled a sigh and moved from between her and the door. His size frightened most women.

The oil lamp he’d placed on the bedside table threw a dim glow around the room. He turned up the wick, enough that he could see color had risen high in her cheeks.

“Oh, dear! This is your…”

“Uh, yes.” He grabbed the lamp and gestured to the doorway on the opposite wall. “The kitchen is through there. I’m sorry. This is a shotgun house. I built my room at the back, as far away from the heat of the smithy as I could get.”

And he was running off at the mouth. Not his finest hour.

She turned to him with a tight smile. “Not your fault I turned up unannounced at the back door.”

Damn, but she was a pretty thing with her large, upturned eyes and high cheekbones. Not a short bit of fluff that hit him mid-chest like most, but willowy. Sturdy and soft at the same time.

“Nice place you have here, Mr. Bro—” She pressed her lips together. He held his breath. “Angus.”

“Thank you.” He praised whatever had sent her to his door.

 

 


Author bio & web/social media links:

Carol Burnside is an award-winning author of "Sizzling romance with heart and humor." Her personal second-chance-at-love story resulted in an enduring marriage to her high school sweetheart. They reside in the Texas hill country, where Carol enjoys visiting wildlife from her covered back porch. Like any true southerner, she drinks tea in some form year-round. Carol's novel length manuscripts have placed in numerous contests and won several, including the prestigious Maggie Award for Excellence. She also writes as Annie Rayburn.

Amazon reviews say Carol's books are:

"Highly captivating!" "intriguing and a wonderful read" "Emotional and heartwarming" "Engaging!" and "Great reading!"

 

Carol blogs on her website at www.CarolBurnside.com. Connect with her via Facebook / Newsletter / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+ / Threads / IG



Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Starlight Bender by Sofia Nedic #Fantasy #Giveaway

 


BLURB:

Imani Stone has a secret—she possesses an ancestral power to bend starlight.

Having grown up in the lush, magical hills surrounding the ancient city of Lumenor, she is no stranger to star-gazing, potion-making, or tarot-reading. However, in the time of civil war in her city, Imani must hide her power to avoid being recruited by the queen’s legions or killed by the ruthless rebels. But everything changes once the city learns of an incoming army of warriors threatening to destroy Lumenor and steal their starlight crystal. Imani is met with a choice—remain in hiding and help her family or risk everything and join the queen’s legions.

But does she have what it takes to be a legionnaire?

Can she help save Lumenor, or will she be the cause of its demise?

EXCERPT:

The dwindling luster of three moons had broken through the fog, enkindling the hills, until black clouds coasting from the north began to cast their shadow over the Mounds.

“Another bad omen,” Mother whispered, gazing up and shaking her head. Her midnight-colored eyes reflected the fading flecks of gold in the skies, the silver braid that fell over her shoulder glinting with sapphire cuffs.

I rolled my eyes. “Come on Mother, it’s only the sky!”

The growing absence of light didn’t matter anyway—I could make the trip to Zana’s house with my eyes closed. I built a deep bond with the hills of Lumenor at a young age, playing hide-and-seek and chase-a-thief with Zuri over the years. I knew their cold river streams and blue rock bones more intimately than my own body in some ways.

Mother paused at the base of the next hill. “I don’t need to remind you to watch your tongue regarding…“ She peeked over her shoulder to make sure we were alone. “Regarding you know what.”

I sighed. “You don’t need to say it every time. I know.”

  




AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sofia Nedic is a Slavic immigrant living in Austin, Texas with her husband and pup. She is a tech and fantasy nerd, and an avid enjoyer of ancient history, spirituality, and alchemy. When she is not working or crafting stories, she is exploring nature, reading books, visualizing her daydreams through AI art, or immersing herself in tarot and astrology.

Sofia visualizes the scenes and characters from her stories with AI art on her Instagram @starlight_bender.

 Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Starlight-Bender-Archives-Book-ebook/dp/B0C9V599K3/ref=sr_1_1

  

GVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER 

Sofia Nedic will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


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PYRO by Harley Wylde #MCromance @changelingpress

 

(Hades Abyss MC, Book 10) (Mississippi Chapter)

A Dixie Reapers Bad Boys Romance

 

Motorcycle Club Romance / Suspense / Age-Gap

Date Published: October 27, 2023

Publisher: Changeling Press LLC


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Roe -- My world turned upside down about a year ago. I need a fresh start, and since my dad and brother are both part of the Hades Abyss MC Missouri chapter, they decide to send me to their brothers in Mississippi. I don’t really care as long as I’m anywhere but here. I’d thought things would be different. Until I end up in trouble and scared to death. Sometimes it’s the people you least expect who stab you in the back. I don’t know if I’ll make it out of this one alive.

Pyro -- The moment I saw her, I knew she was meant to be mine. I tried to keep my distance and give her time to adjust to her new home. Best laid plans and all. I’ve claimed her, my Pres is pissed, her dad and brother are even angrier, and to make matters worse my past may have caught up to me. Now Roe is in danger, and I want to set the world on fire. Once I find her, none of the bastards responsible are getting out of there alive. I’ll show them exactly how I got my name, and make sure everyone knows to never touch what’s mine.

 

WARNING: Recommended for readers 18+ due to adult situations, language, and violence. Guaranteed happily ever after, no cliffhanger, no cheating.

 


EXCERPT


Copyright ©2023 Harley Wylde

 

Marauder’s daughter had been with our chapter of the club for the last three months, and to most people it probably appeared she was doing well. Except I wasn’t most people. From the first moment I saw her, Roe had absolutely captivated me. Everyone thought Cotton was chasing after her out of a sense of obligation. After meeting her, I had to wonder if he hadn’t fallen head over heels in love with her. The fact she didn’t share those feelings meant it didn’t really matter. I personally hoped she decided to stick around for a long time.

Stone came up and lightly punched me in the shoulder. “I see you’re still stalking her. You know, you could just man the fuck up and go say hi. Ask her out for dinner. Take her to a movie. Something other than lurking in the shadows and watching her every move. I’ve heard women aren’t really into creepers.”

“What the hell would you know about it? When’s the last time you went on a date?”

Stone snorted. “Fair enough. Still, I’m not too sure Marauder would like the way you follow his daughter around.”

He was probably right. Just the same, I didn’t plan to back down. What if something happened to her when she went into town? She’d been harmed inside the clubhouse at our Missouri chapter. I didn’t understand why no one else seemed concerned about her well-being. Did none of them notice her smile never reached her eyes? More than once, I’d noticed the way she pressed her hand to her belly.

I was nowhere near as good at computers as Wizard and the other hackers, but it didn’t mean I was unable to dig up information when I needed it. Roe had probably thought there wouldn’t be a paper trail if she paid for her clinic and ER visits in cash. It hadn’t been too difficult to discover the paperwork for her miscarriage. Either she’d never told her father and brother, or they were catering to her and letting her pretend it didn’t happen. Seeing as how she tried to hide everything, I was betting they had no clue what she’d been through. Had she even told Cotton?

The club could continue treating her as if nothing were wrong, but I knew differently. She had tried to bury her pain deep, and only those observant enough could see how much she was hurting. I watched as she got into her car and headed for the front gate. I gave her time to clear the entrance before getting on my bike and following at a distance. My Harley-Davidson wasn’t exactly quiet. There was no way she didn’t hear me. This wasn’t the first time I’d tailed her into town and it wouldn’t be the last.

Roe parked outside of the local diner and went inside. I took the open spot next to her and watched through the window as they seated her at a booth directly in front of me. She didn’t glance my way. The way she played with the sugar packets on the table belied her anxiousness. Anyone else in the club would have given her space. Something told me that was the last thing she needed. I headed into the diner and took the seat across from her.

A waitress came over and set two menus on the table. “What can I get the two of you to drink?”

“Sweet tea for both of us,” I said. Yeah, I knew her drink preferences, as well as her favorite foods.

The woman wrote it down and hurried off, leaving the two of us alone. I opened a menu and placed it in front of Roe before picking up the other one. I may know what she’d most likely order, but it didn’t mean I wanted her to realize it. Even after we placed our food order, she still hadn’t acknowledged my presence.

I leaned back in the booth and stretched my legs out under her seat, crossing my feet at the ankles. A faint smile twitched her lips. At last, I’d gotten some sort of reaction out of her.

“You’re like a giant cat,” she said.

“Does that mean you’re going to pet me?”

That time I got an actual smile out of her. Her gaze finally met and held mine. We hadn’t had many chances to talk before now. She had mostly kept to herself.

“Sorry, but I don’t pet strays.”

I placed my hand over my heart and winced. “Ouch. Talk about a direct hit.”

Some would say I’d been very much like a stray cat, following her around and keeping my distance. Except I hadn’t done it for myself.

“If you’re anything like my dad and brother, that didn’t even remotely put a dent in your ego. I think you’ll survive.”

I wanted to keep her talking, but I wasn’t sure what topics to discuss. I knew she liked audiobooks, coming to this diner, and going to church on Sundays. Other than the food part of all that, I couldn’t really relate. When it came to books, I preferred reading them. As for church, I’d probably burst into flames if I were to walk through the doors. It would probably be a good idea to never tell her how I got the name Pyro, especially since the first thing I ever set on fire was the house of God. Not the one she attended, but I didn’t think it would matter.

“Did my dad or brother pay you?”

“I’m afraid I don’t follow,” I said.

“Oh, but you do, and that’s precisely why I asked the question. Are you supposed to be guarding me or something?”

And here I thought she’d been completely unaware. The fact someone kept tailing her would have been obvious. None of our motorcycles were quiet. I hadn’t realized she knew it was me, unless she only meant this one specific time.

“Maybe I just took it upon myself to make sure you stayed safe.”

“Does that mean you’re worried the same thing will happen to me again?” she asked.

I wasn’t sure how to answer her. Did I think it was likely someone would drug her drink at the clubhouse? No. For one, she never went there. And second, I was certain she’d already learned her lesson about being careful with her drinks at a bar. Of course, that didn’t mean I thought any of it had been her fault.

“There’s trouble all around us every day, and I don’t necessarily mean the club. You could step off a curb while looking at your phone and get hit by a car. Someone could snatch your purse or hold you at gunpoint to rob you, if not something worse. So no, I don’t think the exact same thing will happen, but it doesn’t mean this world is a safe place either. The thought of you being hurt doesn’t sit well with me.”

Her gaze softened marginally. The waitress approached and set our drinks on the table. Roe smiled up at her and said a soft thank-you. We placed our order and I took the time to study the woman sitting across from me. Sure, I’d been watching her since she’d come to our club, but I hadn’t had an opportunity to sit so close to her until now. From the first moment I saw her, I’d thought she was beautiful. When she’d gotten out of her car, I’d noticed the unevenness of her hair before I took stock of anything else. It looked so butchered I knew she had to have done it herself. Less than twenty-four hours later, Phoebe had gone with her to a salon, and she’d come back with a cute and sassy style that hung longer in the front than the back. It suited her.

I’d been curious about what happened to make her cut her hair off in such a way. We’d been told she asked to stay with us in order to have a fresh start. I had to wonder if the combination of her miscarriage and Cotton constantly hounding her had finally pushed her to the breaking point.

“You’ve been here about three months now and haven’t seemed to have much luck finding a job. Then again, I don’t think you’ve been looking all that hard.”

She shifted in her seat. “And your point?”

“I just find it interesting. We were told you needed a new start in a new town. So far it’s looked more like you’re hiding. It can’t be from Cotton because I’m sure he knows exactly where you are. The Missouri chapter said you’re a good girl and don’t have any enemies. The only thing I can figure you’d have to run from is yourself.”

She twisted the glass of sweet tea in front of her. I could see she had a lot on her mind, and I wished she’d open up and share. If she only wanted someone to listen, then I’d be happy to do it. Or if she needed advice, I’d do my best. It was difficult to get her to talk about herself much less her problems, according to Phoebe. I couldn’t very well tell her I knew about the miscarriage.

 


About the Author

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.


Author’s Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: @harleywylde

Author on Twitter: @HarleyW_Writer

 

Publisher on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @changelingpress

 

Preorder Today


RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

A Lesser God: Reason Else Demise by Don Hackett #HistoricalFiction #Giveaway



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Don Hackett will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

As a young man, Dion Athamas was spiritually summoned to rapture then tenured god status. He had been endowed with all the benedictions to achieve sacredness: a devout flock, the power to heal and a covet for control. He also held a deep desire and ability to influence justice and universal liberty. The setting: the fictional town of Forgedmont, Mississippi, in the 1950s. Against great opposition he strived to become a new-age god; the earth was his oracle. He found faith-based conviction to be lacking in reason and truth. He chose to maintain an instinctive path to holiness. Regrettably for him and his followers, there were a great many roadblocks. He was forced to face off against the church, community, prejudice, family and scheming dreams influenced by fallacious spirits, all set forth to hamper his ascension to divinity.


 


Read an Excerpt

The initial offering consisted of free passage through the congested celestial gateway, subsequently entry into divinity, and then finally god status. For some unexplained reason, I began to believe that the apparition was the embodiment of my father. Even though I knew little about my dad, there was a hint of correlation between my nature and the manner of the apparition. Whoever’s spirit the spectre represented, they had a message for me, and the message profoundly detoured both the course of my life’s philosophy and my spiritual motivation. You might not want to hear what I have to say, but I have a powerful yen to share my story with anyone willing to listen.

This is what the spirit communicated to me before he left. As I sat bewildered in my bed, the genial spirit mindbogglingly informed me that I possessed the capacity to become an authentic god. That if I chose to focus on becoming a god, I had all the blessings within me to do so. The spirit spoke of my pure grace and the assured potential for me to grow mercy within my heart and the hearts of others to boundless dimensions. He assured me that becoming a god was entirely within the art of the possible. He promised that I would receive obscured assistance as I braved my mission, and he besought me to always question the morality of the modern world and snub those without deep, benevolent ideals.

About the Author:I have been writing poems and short stories for most of my life. It was not until I retired from my government position working with Special Needs individuals that I was able to focus on writing full time. The treatment of Special Needs people fostered in me a search for the explanation for the absence of morality in mankind. I have degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of Calgary, Alberta.

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJXBLWKZ/ref=sr_1_1
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tw6639Hac

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Saturday, October 14, 2023

Magic in Errors by Sneha Babu #mystery



Mystery

Date Published: 10-14-2023


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His world. Her world. My world. Your world. It's all the same, yet entirely different. It's nothing but another one of God's oxymorons laughing at us. Some people spend their entire life waiting for an epiphany. While some live.

Sneha Babu’s debut novel Magic in Errors unravels a story showing how the Universe works in beautiful and heart-breaking ways—beginning with a neon-colored hair tie. Over the course of a few days, this seemingly insignificant accessory passes through the hands of six people; strangers, lovers, friends, and enemies. Every encounter sets off a chain reaction of events, forever altering their lives in ways they never could have imagined.

Amidst their unique struggles, a slum boy, musician, policeman, celebrity, movie agent, and businesswoman grapple with the struggle to truly live rather than merely survive. Their lives intertwine in intricate ways, as they confront devastating choices, experience powerful emotions, and endure lasting tragedies, even long after one of them murders another.

What lessons can the world teach us? Does it always pay to be kind? How could someone be connected to a person they have never met? How can a hair tie change the course of someone’s life? Find out in Magic in Errors.


About the Author

Born and raised in India, Sneha Babu is a 25 year old STEM major, co-founder of a feminist media company by day and author by night. A few years ago, she plotted the trajectory of this story during a discrete mathematics class (there was a flow chart involved). Sneha did not know it then but she had created something that would go on to heal her future self. From trying to solve the climate crisis to smashing patriarchy, her life is an endless rollercoaster of daring dreams.

 

Contact Links

Website

Instagram

 

Purchase Links

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Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Balancing Entropy by M.H. Cali #RomanticSuspense #Giveaway



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M.H. Cali will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC plus a special edition paperback copy of the book (which includes a physical copy of the novel, an exclusive signed and numbered bookplate, an original sketch inside the book by Laurie Ya, the artist who made the cover, and drew the interior illustrations, and assorted merchandise including coasters, stickers, a tote bag, and more) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour (INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When life catches up with young and brilliant investment banker Lucas Blake in the form of anonymous threats, his existence is exactly what he always wished it could be.

Or is it really?

He can barely remember what his true aspirations looked like a decade ago. All he knows now is that everything he worked so hard to build could crash down in a split second if whoever is blackmailing him decides to act on it.

To make matters more complicated, the team he ends up hiring to silently find the culprit of those menaces includes Raven Collins. A woman Lucas lost touch with, but who he still can't get out of his head completely even years after having met her.

As the race to keep him out of harm's ways unfolds, he enters a journey of self-discovery that might very well make him question the core of his life choices.

When greed, power, and old ideals pair together within a perfect storm is it possible to come out of it unscathed?

Can one's principles thrive in a system that seems to bend even the strongest minded to its will?

Lucas and Raven are about to find out for themselves.


Read an Excerpt

This exchange feels smooth. He’s effortlessly flirting with her.

Maybe Lucas didn’t change a whole lot, after all.

But back in Greece there were a ton of unspoken things between them.

They never talked in depth about their families or their friends. They weren’t together long enough to notice the other’s quirks either.

It was fun and easy. Exactly like they had agreed on.

Now they’re not on vacation. They’re in each other’s real lives with all it entails.

There’s no more carefree sentiment of a fleeting adventure.

No matter where things lead them this time around, she knows he’s Lucas Blake. One of the managing directors of a very important and well-known investment bank.

Similarly, he knows she’s Raven Collins; a lawyer who clearly moved to NYC at some point and who’s working on his case.

There’s no hiding behind inconsequential circumstances because everything would reset the minute they would part ways at the airport.

This is tangible. It could lead them somewhere, or nowhere fast.

She breathes in, deciding to reorient the exchange.

R: What are you doing?

She takes another sip of her rosé.

L: Watching the basketball game with a friend. You?

She shifts her stare at the TV for a second to check the score.

R: Same, but alone.

She watches the game for a beat until she gets a new message.

L: Cheers🍻

A picture of Lucas’ hand raising a bottle of beer in front of a screen where the game is playing is accompanying the text.

She smiles absentmindedly.

She takes a similar picture with her glass of wine, extending her feet on the table to get them in frame before curling her legs under herself, and putting her glass back on the table.

R: Cheers🥂 I’m surprised you don’t have season tickets.

L: I would be too busy to attend most days. You look very cozy. Only missing a cat in your lap.

Raven smiles sadly.

R: I had one. She passed away last year. I miss her presence in my condo every day.

She presses ‘Send’ and then stares at what she just told Lucas.

She never confessed to anyone that she was still feeling the loss of Toast—her white tabby rescue cat.

It somehow felt right to share it with him just now.

L: I’m sorry, Raven. I personally always wanted a dog, but you know how it is when we work long hours…

R: I totally get it. Toast was very independent, so it was easier. She definitely put life into the apartment.

L: Such a great name. Something tells me it has a fun meaning.

She feels oddly thrilled that he is interested in that particular story.

R: It did. First off because of her fur coloring, but mostly due to my annoying toaster at the time.

L: You had an infernal toaster?

R: Yeah. It kept burning toasts. No matter the setting it was on, the bread would come out of it dark as the night. I didn't take the time to go buy a new one for weeks so when I adopted Toast it was still there.

She sends the message intuitively before typing the rest and gets an instant reply.

L: Let me guess. Your cat was a fan.

She cackles.

R: My cat was the ONLY one who absolutely loved it. She would jump on the counter and wait until it was done so she could eat it. She was a rescue who just got to the shelter the morning I adopted her. I decided to wait a bit before naming her when she got to my apartment, so it was the perfect opportunity to use one of her quirks.

L: You're amazing. I'm sure Toast lived her best life with you.

She stares at her phone for a moment.

She could honestly chat with him like this for hours.

But he’s with a friend, and she considers that she took enough of his time for now.

R: I’ll let you watch the game with your friend. It was fun conversing with you a little.

L: You can keep texting me. Mark is also spending a lot of time on his phone messaging his newest crush.

She smiles but keeps her resolve.

R: Good night, Lucas

L: Good night, Raven 🙂

She puts her phone next to her, getting lost in the game for an instant.

The last thing she expected was to sense a sure serenity upon casually chatting with Lucas.

It has been a well needed breath of fresh air in her day.

If this short discussion was any indication, working with him should be enjoyable.

About the Author:
M.H. Cali is my pen name. From as long as I can remember, writing has been my biggest creative outlet. There are tales that take hold in my brain, and I have to write them. Which means that when it happens, I sit down and do just that.

The world is complex and flawed, and so are the characters inhabiting the universes I build. In my fiction novels, I thrive fleshing out stories that explore multiple themes within. If you ever read any of my works, you’ll notice that I love writing layered characters, having a diverse cast, and that to me quiet moments are just as important—if not more—than action-packed ones.

Storytelling is all about balance in the emotions and events throughout the narrative. It's my motto.

If I manage to make you feel what the characters are going through, live the events with them, and wonder what is going to happen, then I succeeded.

If you ever give my stories a chance, I hope you enjoy!

Master link for all socials, website & more: http://bio.site/MHCali

Website: http://mhcaliwrites.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/40661999.M_H_Cali
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C9LB1FC7/about
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhcaliwrites/
Twitter (mostly inactive nowadays): https://www.twitter.com/mhcaliwrites
Bluesky handle (for those over there): mhcaliwrites.bsky.social

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WYLDE by Marteeka Karland #MCromance @changelingpress

 

(Iron Tzars MC)


Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense, Age Gap

Date Published: October 13, 2023


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Danica -- Wylde’s an incorrigible flirt. I know he acts like he’s a player, but I’ve seen another side of him. Kids from all over the area flock to him because he’s Wylde -- the guru of all things electronic. He has endless patience with the teens looking to learn his skill in video games, but he has none with adults. I love his twisted, sarcastic sense of humor, and that streak of protectiveness he shows on occasion. He’s wicked smart and I love watching him use his intelligence and his wit. Plus he’s hotter than sin. So I flirt back.

Wylde -- I’ve got it bad. I come to the coffee shop just to be near Danica. The tiny barista has more heart than most people I’ve met. But she’s the kind of woman who’ll want forever, and that’s not me. But when I realize the danger she and her sisters are in, I’ll do whatever’s necessary to keep them safe. Once Danica knows what I’m capable of, I know she’ll run screaming into the night, and I’ll never see her again.

 

WARNING: Wylde features a protective hero, a determined heroine and includes graphic violence and adult situations that may be triggers for some readers. Eventual happy ending and no cheating, as always.

 


EXCERPT


Copyright ©2023 Marteeka Karland

 

Wylde

“I’ll take a double ristretto with iced vanilla double shot and organic chocolate brownie decaf, please.”

The line behind me groaned.

One guy grumbled from behind me, “Some of us got places to be!”

“Yeah,” someone else volunteered. “You shouldn’t get something so complicated when the line’s so long.”

I just grinned, loving the disgruntled mutterings. Did my heart good. “It’s amazing what you can wait for when you’re, you know, early. My recommendation to people in a hurry is to start earlier. Then you’re not in such a rush.” I leaned in over the counter for a stage whisper at the woman getting ready to serve me. “Too much stress can lead to gas.”

The young woman gave me a star struck smile, eating me up with her eyes and actually licking her lips. What can I say? I have that effect on women. Even if this one was a little young for my tastes.

“That was a… double… uh… and vanilla… decaf?” She graced me with a dreamy smile. The girl had no clue what she was doing, but I wasn’t about to push her. Mainly because I saw the one person in the whole place who could make this situation better.

Danica James stepped behind the counter as she tied her apron around her slender waist. She rolled her eyes, giving me a look that said I was being a drama queen again. Instead of saying anything, she pulled out a big mug with the coffee shop’s logo on it and filled it full of black coffee.

“Anything else, Wylde?”

I grinned as I paid for the cup and the coffee. “Nope. Thanks, Danica.”

She raised an eyebrow, glancing at the tip jar pointedly. “Just put the tip in, Wylde. See how it feels.”

Yeah, we had a thing going. And I always waited until she said it before I put in my tip. She always said it.

“What? Is that it?”

“Asshole.”

Yeah, the groans behind me were amusing as shit.

“You’re welcome.” I threw up a hand and headed back to my table where I’d set up my laptop for the morning. I loved coming here. Not for the glacially slow Internet or the stimulating company that amused me so much. Hell, I didn’t even come for the coffee, though it was the best in town. No. I came for Danica James.

The woman was sin and sex with a snarky attitude. She knew my drink as well as my moods and accommodated both. If I were the kind of man looking for a woman for my own, it would probably be Danica. Not only was she beautiful and sassy, but she was kind, as well. I’d seen her giving out the leftover pastries to a few homeless people who hung out a couple of blocks from Henry’s Coffee Shop on multiple occasions. I’d also seen her paying for them out of her tips so her boss didn’t get in a twist. I made sure to contribute as much as I could and not look like a creepy stalker. I also was pretty sure she knew what I was doing.

An hour later, I was banging away on a Discord channel I frequented, helping noobs learn to play Fortnite. The other barista approached me, a big smile on her face. She’d loosened a couple of buttons on her top so I had a good view of her cleavage. Which, I admit, was a pretty good view. But she wasn’t my style. Mainly because she was star struck by my good looks, tattoos, and quite possibly my Titan GT77, but I didn’t think so. She might surprise me, but didn’t strike me as the computer geek type.

“Hey, Wylde.” She smiled and set a large black coffee next to my empty mug. “Want me to freshen up your mug?”

I glanced at the cup she’d just set in front of me. “I think I’m good. I’ll come to the bar if I need something.” I smiled to take the sting out, but honestly, I could care less if she got offended. She wasn’t stupid… exactly… she was just young and thought she could lead guys around by their dicks. I’d seen it a few times since she started. I’d also overheard her telling her girlfriends she could get me into bed with a crook of her finger. I had to chuckle at that.

Her smile faltered. “I was just being nice.”

I sighed and looked up from the chat session I was in. Normally, I’d have my headphones on using voice chat, but it was crowded and I didn’t want to disturb anyone. I could be a bastard, but I wasn’t a complete asshole. Most of the time.

“Look, kid. I’m sure you’re nice and all, but you ain’t my type. Tell your friends I’m gay or something if you think it will help you save face. But I’m not interested. ‘K?”

All right. So maybe I was a complete asshole. Wasn’t the first time. Wouldn’t be the last.

The girl stomped her foot. “You don’t have to be so rude.” Then she turned and flounced off.

“Making friends, I see.”

Danica grinned at me from where she was wiping down a table while Little Miss Thang had moved back behind the bar. She glared furiously at me before going back to her phone.

I grinned at Danica. “I do my best.”

She snorted. “Right. You do your best to piss as many people off as you can. Pretty sure you think they’ve made pissing people off an Olympic sport, and you’re determined to win gold.”

I barked out a laugh. Which got Little Miss Thang back to glaring at me. Only now, her anger spilled over to Danica. That wasn’t happening. I met her gaze while I continued my conversation with Danica. The look I gave her was probably not very pleasant.

“Well, you know what they say. Better pissed off than pissed on. I mean, that’s not really my thing, but I could do it. Honestly, though, she didn’t take the hint so I had to go the not-so-subtle route.”

“Just be careful of your coffee if Jordan serves it. Not saying she’d put laxative in it. Not not saying it either. Or maybe salt.” She looked off, as if pondering which would be worse. “I think I’d prefer the laxative.”

I sketched her a two-fingered salute and we both went about our business. It was one of many reasons I liked Danica. She knew when to leave a man alone, and she didn’t throw herself at me either. Hell, I knew she wanted me. What woman wouldn’t? But she never let on like she did. Which, I’ll admit, was part of the draw. It was also the reason I didn’t pursue her. Once the chase was over, I’d get bored and she’d get hurt. That was the last thing I wanted.

 

 

About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited, vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts (which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with Marteeka's latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her website. Don't forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you with a potpourri of Teeka's beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

 

Author on Instagram & TikTok: @marteekakarland

Author on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/experiencethemagicmk

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

 

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Friday, October 6, 2023

THE PROPHECY by Phil Asmundson #YA #SciFi

 

The Tuar Tums Trilogy, Book One


Young Adult Sci-Fi

Date Published: February 25, 2021

 

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The coming battle has been foretold by the myths of the Indigenous Americans of the Arizona desert for generations.

Now, in the modern world, Alexa has celebrated twelve birthdays without her father, and on the eve of her sixteenth, he mysteriously returns with a gift she never imagined and a story of alien worlds beyond our own.

Can Alexa and her friends unlock the secrets of the Southwest, millions of years in the making?

Can they stop the threat from a planet thousands of light-years away?

In this “can’t-put-it-down” young adult sci-fi fantasy, a battle for the future of planet Earth, itself, is waged, and only a teenage girl can save them, now.


About the Author

Phil Asmundson has taken an unusual path to publish his first book—the first of a trilogy no less. He was an outdoor kid who built not only miles of trails through the woods but also created adventures that lived only in his mind. After a 33-year career at Deloitte & Touche, he began researching Southwest myths, discovered the Tuar Tums' legend, and brought them to life. He’s always had a passion for science and is fond of saying, “True science is indistinguishable from magic.” Phil and his wife, Kim, live in Arizona, where they own Deep Sky Vineyard and spend their nights looking at the stars.


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Tuesday, October 3, 2023

The Amber Menhir by Jonathan N. Pruitt #Horror #Politics

 

The Shadows of the Monolith: Book One

 

Fantasy, Grimdark Fantasy, Horror, Satire, Politics

Date Published: October 3, 2023

Publisher: Spinner Loom Press


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“A GRIPPING DARK FANTASY THAT IMMERSES YOU IN A WORLD OF DEADLY POWER POLITIC AND CORRUPTION.”  Richard Moriarty – The Sun

 

With each new dawn, the celestial body known only as ‘Calamity’ draws closer – and with it the end of the world. Humanity’s only hope from oblivion rests in the menhirs, towering bastions of scholarship and imagination which cast long shadows across the lands. The scholars within the menhirs devote themselves selflessly to the discovery of new magic that will help avert the impending apocalypse … or so the masses have been made to understand.

  In a society divided between those with occult potential and lay citizens, Tara Langcraw is recruited into the Amber Menhir with great interest. The long-awaited heiress of a bloodline bearing the rarest of the six magical disciplines, time manipulation, she is expected to flourish within this noble citadel of learning, as are her friends and fellow recruits, Roland Ward and Peony Bianchi.

They soon find, however, that those who fail to meet expectations, or who dare to challenge the prevailing order, put more than their marks on the line. For the menhir squirms with rivalries, and those who stand against the status quo may not stand for very long.


 

JONATHAN N. PRUITT

The Amber Menhir, book one of The Shadows of the Monolith series, marks the debut of high fantasy author Jonathan N. Pruitt. A lifelong educator who has taught around the world, Pruitt enjoys spinning spellbinding tales of dark magic and political intrigue. When not toiling away on writing projects, Pruitt can be found traversing about the great outdoors. For more information, visit www.TheShadowsoftheMonolith.com.

 

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