tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64669325815790814332024-03-13T23:18:31.422-07:00The Reading AddictReviews of some of the books that I have read plus musings about other topicsELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.comBlogger2458125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-82074096311829480022024-03-04T23:03:00.000-08:002024-03-04T23:03:15.626-08:00Love Furever by Gabbi Grey (ADULT title) Spotlight and excerpt<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMbE_z4NQfXVFcd0P5vljY7C_MSg8_ppjac0D7cHmzO3XvttNKRWlURIRjd_0PHQYCfZX63SJd4CYUg-e-jKxhr1E1hVDL_2YdT6phnhAvFWg15jN-_9gMkLNiLAPQuFOXyrNTIIQubO2nJtBJhk_fmop9JwTo-1UQtkcrSUtNBbCnaC_1mzsb7AmyTg/s2400/Love%20Furever%20ebook-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMbE_z4NQfXVFcd0P5vljY7C_MSg8_ppjac0D7cHmzO3XvttNKRWlURIRjd_0PHQYCfZX63SJd4CYUg-e-jKxhr1E1hVDL_2YdT6phnhAvFWg15jN-_9gMkLNiLAPQuFOXyrNTIIQubO2nJtBJhk_fmop9JwTo-1UQtkcrSUtNBbCnaC_1mzsb7AmyTg/s320/Love%20Furever%20ebook-cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><i>Love Furever</i></span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">ADULT</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> title</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Gabbi Grey</span></p><p>************************</p><p></p><h1><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Synopsis</span> </span></span></h1>
<br />Colin<br /> <br /> Being rejected by family hurt like hell, but I kept my head high, left my toxic relatives behind, and moved across the country to Gaynor Beach, CA. Luckily, I have great furry company. My French bulldog puppy, Widget, was dumped on me for not meeting my parents' ridiculously high standards either, so we're comforting each other. With a nice rental house and a new job, Widget and I were ready for a fresh start—until I got a devastating diagnosis. I can't take care of Widget properly while trying to save my own life, and I expect a long, hard road. I'll have to break both our hearts and put her up for adoption, for her sake. Right?<br /> <br /> James<br /> <br /> I’ve wanted a pet forever, but my family circumstances didn’t allow it. Now I’m away from my masses of relatives and on my own, and I’m ready to take on a furry companion. My friend, a guy who never says no to an animal in need, introduces me to Colin and his beautiful puppy Widget. I’m horrified Colin feels he needs to give her up just because he's sick, but I’m happy to take Widget as a temporary foster. I’m also happy to offer support to the new guy in town who is so very alone during a time of crisis. Helping someone in need comes naturally to me. But what if that temporary help turns into me wanting a forever relationship?<br /> <br /><i> This is a gay romance slow-burn novel about new beginnings, found family, unconditional love, and a puppy named Widget. This middle-angst story has a guaranteed happily ever after.</i><br /><br /><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/142608803-love-furever">Add it to Goodreads</a><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span class="a-text-italic"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> *********************</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><b>Exclusive excerpt:</b></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“And now you need to give Chambord up?”</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yet again, I nodded. “Yeah. I need to go up to LA regularly, and I can’t
leave her alone in the rental house. I suppose I should’ve looked for something
closer, but I didn’t want a big city, you know? Gaynor Beach was the right size
in the right location. Of course, I hadn’t realized how bad—” My voice broke
and I couldn’t go on. I struggled to keep my emotions tamped down. This
should’ve been easy. I’d barely had the dog two weeks. We weren’t bonded. Not
really. So I’d find her a new home, and—</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Sounds like you love her, though.” </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Which means giving her up. For her sake.”</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“There might be an alternative.”</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I blinked several times before meeting Arthur’s gaze. The day was
unusually cloudy, so I hadn’t worn sunglasses, and the light was making my eyes
water. “I don’t understand…”</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“What if I found someone to help you out? Who’d come and take Chambord
for walks? And watch her when you go to LA for treatment?”</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">My head swam. “That could last months. Years, if I don’t get a
transplant. Or I might die.” There, I’d said it. Admitted my greatest fear. I’d
always believed I’d be brave in the face of death, but I was only thirty-two
years old. I wasn’t ready to die.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You might not have a choice.</span></i></span><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Doesn’t mean I can’t fight.</span></i></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arthur placed a comforting hand on my elbow. “I have a friend. Great
guy. He’s been wanting to foster, but I think he’s a little commitment-shy, if
you know what I mean. He’s never had a pet, so he’s not sure he wants all that
responsibility, but he loves animals. When he comes over to my place, he’s
happy to hang out with them. Okay, except the snake.”</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“You have a snake?” That felt vaguely alarming to me.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“No, I <i>had</i> a snake. Someone abandoned one in a rental house when
they took off. Landlady knew me and asked me to take care of it. Poor thing was
in need of some care, which I provided. He now lives in a house not too far
from here. Great family. Responsible kids.”</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 35.3pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Responsible.</span></i></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Like I needed to be. “So you have a
friend who likes hanging out with pets? Hardly seems fair that he’d do all the
work and leave Chambord with me the rest of the time.”</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA">Links:<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C3RLR7RW">Amazon US</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://books2read.com/LoveFurever">Universal Book Link</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/love-furever">Kobo</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://books.apple.com/ca/book/love-furever/id6478398541">Apple Books</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-furever-gabbi-grey/1144948392">Barnes and Noble</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1525769">Smashwords</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p>***********************</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p>About the author:</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTsvy_Uh9Hf9PQsUQQ2nDnKwS6j1kVWa6Pybz6zrAcbGDtdWl1MXJg82ghPpJk35EPdjwA1ZndQjuavqQ1emIGU4fUQJIHWD68LUbLBTAz0luvT18uAtp1s4G_qQIw_DGiBJl9_ePJmhyphenhyphen1pYUXuLKEgt1VEulG-URtNXBhAyKSinRgGGn9qMpgz_7eRU/s3920/Ally%20after%20haircut%2004%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3920" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTsvy_Uh9Hf9PQsUQQ2nDnKwS6j1kVWa6Pybz6zrAcbGDtdWl1MXJg82ghPpJk35EPdjwA1ZndQjuavqQ1emIGU4fUQJIHWD68LUbLBTAz0luvT18uAtp1s4G_qQIw_DGiBJl9_ePJmhyphenhyphen1pYUXuLKEgt1VEulG-URtNXBhAyKSinRgGGn9qMpgz_7eRU/w154-h200/Ally%20after%20haircut%2004%202023.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in
beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the
nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her
early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances.
While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her
characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances
as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey">Newsletter sign-up</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://gabbigrey.com/">Website</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-78990086987635085702024-03-01T00:35:00.000-08:002024-03-01T10:32:45.886-08:00Happy Harry: A Magical Golden by Barbara Lampert (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-blast-happy-harry-magical-golden.html" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YZign4csTM_OcW1EF7F2NmPMKqbdtBpcOtAQsWUbHDd0OSSjJd2qlsEZPuqBarPoL2wUxQBAYd1NqkHxYDyRQwm1thS-0CTOeq4e69ZJ2QKuawEcBKeVAIKKb_mwiATsfNf_f4gNOm_7lSWLT74_jOk2T4g8tREifBKpqv-Kh20amUoWQC87BRPhgLE/s400/TourBanner_Happy%20Harry%20.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">Happy Harry: A Magical Golden</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Barbara Lampert</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In her dog memoir <i><b>Happy Harry: A Magical Golden</b></i>, psychotherapist Barbara Lampert, a lifelong dog lover, tells the story of her beloved Golden Retriever, Harry. Like her first dog memoir, Harry's story comes from her mostly uncensored daily journal and takes place in Malibu, California.<br /><br />Harry was a genuinely free spirit - wild, and very wolf-like. Did all this contribute to his being exceptionally happy? Perhaps.<br /><br />Harry was not only the happiest being Barbara's ever known, happy to the very core of him, but also the bravest. More than once in his life, Harry had to face true adversity, and each time, Barbara would look at him in wonder, not fully understanding how a being could be so brave and at the same time continue to be so happy.<br /><br />Harry literally pranced through life, with a joyous attitude that made being around him like magic. Barbara fell in love with Harry. And as you immerse yourself in Harry's story, it's likely you will too! Happy Harry is unforgettable!</span></div><br />
<p><br /><a href="https://www.happyharryamagicalgolden.com/happy-harry-a-magical-golden">Website</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>********************************** </p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Excerpt</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI2ZVnRahhy8ThYshlcD1B1mDg0anMTLb-aShwh7YhwjEVUlxfs4il_C68WSZ_J8PfxhhdEcg4aq9kSSi0rZTF8FuM7kkeKveyy9jlJ12gobtmm53dQJOxrKbsyGJFGefZoR8oJTTM2Z3z8DhzVZdXaFGOZMWL4a54S_bCK-7x9T0bGLvtBl6kXDwJ0o/s3200/BookCover_Happy%20Harry.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI2ZVnRahhy8ThYshlcD1B1mDg0anMTLb-aShwh7YhwjEVUlxfs4il_C68WSZ_J8PfxhhdEcg4aq9kSSi0rZTF8FuM7kkeKveyy9jlJ12gobtmm53dQJOxrKbsyGJFGefZoR8oJTTM2Z3z8DhzVZdXaFGOZMWL4a54S_bCK-7x9T0bGLvtBl6kXDwJ0o/s320/BookCover_Happy%20Harry.jpg" /></a></div></blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Harry had a girlfriend for a while when he was about four or five years old. Probably for a couple of years. Oh he didn’t see her every day, but for that two year-or-so stretch maybe once or twice a week. …<br /><br />
Roxie, a one-year-old Yellow Lab – the taller, leaner hunting type – was beautiful, energetic, and happy. Just like Harry. Roxie lived a few miles from our house, on the Point in Malibu. …<br /><br />
When Harry knew he was going to see Roxie, he would get so excited. He would pant, start running around, tail up, and on the ride over he would stand or pace in the back seat the whole time. So eager, such joy. And when we got there, he would literally go flying out of the car, with David at the other end of the leash. Tail up, full steam ahead. And Roxie, being just a year old and still quite a playful puppy, would go equally berserk when she saw Harry. They would sniff and kiss each other through the openings in the fence. …<br /><br />
Sometimes they would chase each other or run together, with the fence between them. David would run with them, since he had Harry on the leash. A few times Roxie’s owner came out and opened the gate to let Harry and Roxie be together. More kissing, chasing, tails up, sniffing. Both not believing their good luck. Both always bursting with joy the whole time they were together. Such a sight. …<br /><br />
Barney didn’t get nearly as excited as Harry about Roxie and didn’t interfere in their relationship. This was Harry’s territory. And it appeared Roxie only had eyes for Harry. …<br /><br />
It was always difficult to leave, because the whole time we were there Harry and Roxie were inseparable. Whenever Roxie’s owner would come out, we’d talk and laugh about the two lovebirds. It was wonderful seeing Harry and Roxie so happy. How he loved her…</span><br /><br /><br />Links:</div><div><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/49zZDDM" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br /><br /><br /><br />*******************************<br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /><br />
<b>About the Author:</b> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QSv3OltVyztjL8HCA7UW4rK3pL7NwP9ldZXrjvSFQY-X8SZjQO6toggjrz8ka4bdJY9Lu76kwyomkgZ6xZWQdD7Z-dRrCUgQlgkoPBa6OghPBiOIYJ4CHPlcldcz8Nc-BKef-SFAUJsqVrPYHkRbWN1QD2bECZXQS3BsyV51XDDd14tKoVadOduUe04/s1312/Author%20Image.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1312" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QSv3OltVyztjL8HCA7UW4rK3pL7NwP9ldZXrjvSFQY-X8SZjQO6toggjrz8ka4bdJY9Lu76kwyomkgZ6xZWQdD7Z-dRrCUgQlgkoPBa6OghPBiOIYJ4CHPlcldcz8Nc-BKef-SFAUJsqVrPYHkRbWN1QD2bECZXQS3BsyV51XDDd14tKoVadOduUe04/w200-h174/Author%20Image.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My passion is dogs! I’ve had dogs most of my life and hope to have at least one by my side always. Dog energy is the best! <br /><br />
I’m the author of two dog memoirs: Happy Harry: A Magical Golden and before that Charlie: A Love Story. Each about one of my Golden Retrievers. (I told you dogs are my passion!)<br /><br />
I’m a psychotherapist, licensed for over thirty years, specializing in relationships. <br /><br />
I was a flight attendant for nine years. And taught sociology at several universities. I have two master’s degrees and a doctorate.<br /><br />
Gardening is another love – not as much as dogs, but right up there! I see my garden as a work of art and garden as much as possible in my free time. I love being in nature.<br /><br />
I live in Malibu, California with my husband David and, you guessed it, our two wonderful Golden Retrievers, Oliver and Henry.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/barbara.lampert.50/">Facebook for book</a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/barbaralampertauthor">Facebook for author</a><br /><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@barbara.lampert5">TikTok</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/barbaralampert1">Instagram</a><br /><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/drbarbaralampert/">Pinterest</a><br /><br />
<br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">**************************</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">GIVEAWAY</span></b></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4832" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4832/" id="rcwidget_49vjg5x2" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="yiv5430384136MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-blast-happy-harry-magical-golden.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></p><p class="yiv5430384136MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="yiv5430384136MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p></div><div><br /></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-83241338360695970922024-02-26T00:30:00.000-08:002024-02-26T00:30:00.128-08:00Scruff the Pup and the Cracking of the Cocoa Pod by Katherine Udovicich (Spotlight, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6OdV9urXZ63DbMmXgLRa6E3ItcXC-ChfiS-zYOB43DgVxoankGOwosFLGosX-OVFABB8P-dE0vZcTHDVb8P1E4KC48yieqj03pNs76hXUT0ufGZnldj33xtzYb5GIgRE2HMtOJ9uSDKgB1ep2GFxMJVR75eEjOb5O6tLBZT2acFwDrDDTzCOrkChBn4/s1200/TourBanner_Scruff%20the%20Pup.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6OdV9urXZ63DbMmXgLRa6E3ItcXC-ChfiS-zYOB43DgVxoankGOwosFLGosX-OVFABB8P-dE0vZcTHDVb8P1E4KC48yieqj03pNs76hXUT0ufGZnldj33xtzYb5GIgRE2HMtOJ9uSDKgB1ep2GFxMJVR75eEjOb5O6tLBZT2acFwDrDDTzCOrkChBn4/s320/TourBanner_Scruff%20the%20Pup.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3wvZ8w7" target="_blank"><i>Scruff the Pup and the Cracking of the Cocoa Pod</i></a></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">by </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">Katherine Udovicich<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">GENRE</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">: Children's<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BLURB:</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hippity hoppity, Easter's on its way! Scruff
the pup is drooling in anticipation. But what will Scruff discover about
chocolate eggs when a-hunting he will go? Find out in this gratifying wag of a
tale.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPPcb5sqOLTPiKBgez1xF64BD4P2pGVXWy2QegeTMTDaw8DLBnC-sX3m7f6E0k2w4f5quyRFg5gNWXegkeBHHZFtjZ1okwANCaowGJCauWvyChDAYFl3gTnkhMwqk5nrVxQLjNW_yuxP_rdIoCt0UG_jyR3sNlDB3FUSvi88hkxOtySZG2Xhu0RIQKQo/s1252/BookCover_Scruff%20the%20Pup%20and%20the%20Cracking%20of%20the%20Cocoa%20Pod%20by%20Katherine%20Udovicich.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPPcb5sqOLTPiKBgez1xF64BD4P2pGVXWy2QegeTMTDaw8DLBnC-sX3m7f6E0k2w4f5quyRFg5gNWXegkeBHHZFtjZ1okwANCaowGJCauWvyChDAYFl3gTnkhMwqk5nrVxQLjNW_yuxP_rdIoCt0UG_jyR3sNlDB3FUSvi88hkxOtySZG2Xhu0RIQKQo/s320/BookCover_Scruff%20the%20Pup%20and%20the%20Cracking%20of%20the%20Cocoa%20Pod%20by%20Katherine%20Udovicich.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">EXCERPT</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Scruff is beginning to think that getting his paws on even a
teeny-tiny Easter egg might be too difficult.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then he remembers something—Mum and Dad encouraging the
children always to take on a good challenge.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suddenly, Scruff has an idea about how to score an Easter
egg from the kids. The pup knows he will be the underdog and, therefore,
hatches a plan—now ready to unleash!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First, Scruff engages the children in a game of chase ...
and lets them win.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Next, he performs all the tricks they’ve taught him, plus
one of his own: Scruff’s slick, quick ball-balancing trick.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then Scruff and the kids start a game of ruff and tumble,
and Scruff goes easy on them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Afterwards, the pup sits uncomplainingly as his messy hair
is brushed smooth; Scruff no longer feels like himself.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eventually, Scruff allows the children to dress him up as
the Easter Bunny! Such a cliché, he thinks, putting on a brave face.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite jumping through hoop after hoop and working like a
dog, Scruff does not get a single Easter egg.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From afar, he watches the kids enjoying mini chocolate eggs
filled with caramel. Fine, rub my nose in it, thinks Scruff. See if I care.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But he does care. And he doesn’t understand why the children
won’t share with him. They usually always share food with him under the table.
So, what is it about Easter eggs?</span><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Purchase links:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3wvZ8w7"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #103cc0;">Amazon</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://amazon.ca/dp/0228863740"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #103cc0;">Amazon.CA</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep?keywords=9780228863748"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #103cc0;">Booktopia</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/scruff-the-pup-and-the-cracking-of-the-cocoa-pod/9780228863748.html"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #103cc0;">Indigo Chapters</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scruff-the-pup-and-the-cracking-of-the-cocoa-pod-katherine-udovicich/1144264798"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #103cc0;">Barnes & Noble</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://www.walmart.com/search?q=9780228863748"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #103cc0;">Walmart</span></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtjlvlR_pPqljBAgckhYy_HZA9HUzlTlIyG6_wv3nkA1ZSNi7NMV9ZfSL_kq-Rr9OTO-6f8g2epb8RO2bU2ChGTm4kFQ4RJ3dq6tMN02VzV71SaOL-ad9TaVsoe58keEXHDGPQylVb9nxuxNnoLE2UltNMveSc6wN0jguob-UMz0KSaF4rmFQqACF6y0/s692/author%20image.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="413" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtjlvlR_pPqljBAgckhYy_HZA9HUzlTlIyG6_wv3nkA1ZSNi7NMV9ZfSL_kq-Rr9OTO-6f8g2epb8RO2bU2ChGTm4kFQ4RJ3dq6tMN02VzV71SaOL-ad9TaVsoe58keEXHDGPQylVb9nxuxNnoLE2UltNMveSc6wN0jguob-UMz0KSaF4rmFQqACF6y0/w119-h200/author%20image.jpeg" width="119" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 8pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Katherine
Udovicich has a background in primary teaching and education. She is from
Melbourne, Australia, where she completed a bachelor's degree in science and a
master's in teaching. Katherine's greatest joy is being a mum, and she is
passionate about promoting literacy development for all children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">CONNECT
WITH Katherine</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://katherineudovicich.com/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #103cc0; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Website</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">INSTAGRAM: Coming
soon<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"> ************************************ </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;"> </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><b>GIVEAWAY</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"> </span></p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4789" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4789/" id="rcwidget_ahgny5o7" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv9300761803MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-tour-scruff-pup-and-cracking-of.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv9300761803MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><div><br /></div><div> ************************************ </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
My review:<div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4.5 stars</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3wvZ8w7" target="_blank"><i><b>Scruff the Pup and the Cracking of the Cocoa Pod</b></i></a>, written by
Katherine Udovicich and illustrated by Madeleine Mae B. Migallos, follows young
Scruff as he tries his best to join his humans in enjoying chocolate Easter
eggs. He doesn’t understand why the senior dog in the family, Frog, keeps mentioning
the cocoa pod until Dad, the human, finally explains and makes both Frog and
Scruff happy with their own Easter treats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This sweet children’s book is beautifully illustrated and
teaches a very important lesson about keeping dogs safe, no matter how
persuasive they’re being. I was worried at first, because I was afraid Scruff
would find a way to share in the children’s treats, but I enjoyed reading about
his antics and his reasoning. I think it’s great that the explanation for not
sharing chocolate with dogs is given at both a level that children will
understand and at a more scientific level and I love the puns at the end of the
story. This is a great book for teaching and for just enjoying the cute
illustrations, and I think it would be useful as an educational tool throughout
the year, although it is centered on Easter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A copy of this title was provided for review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span> </span></p></div></div></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-88431769536603385322024-02-14T00:30:00.000-08:002024-02-14T00:32:54.682-08:00Murderous Means by Lida Sideris (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHODl6m2Kn7ujtnAIxfRLe5QI_ri5d4VdS6GkQZX8l-looo6POx9T7c3DtVxQWjUULW2EOavd4JwGNIhyTU3yOK2Mmz5Ys16FcyPtmVcEPL4uFGSUImANXlfWfJswhLeKRJuU49rT2aE7KHsp_9T4-5hMaZ09qz7tSNSm9F9A3Il4zTLBCspIR44Y7lo/s1200/TourBanner_Murderous%20Means.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHODl6m2Kn7ujtnAIxfRLe5QI_ri5d4VdS6GkQZX8l-looo6POx9T7c3DtVxQWjUULW2EOavd4JwGNIhyTU3yOK2Mmz5Ys16FcyPtmVcEPL4uFGSUImANXlfWfJswhLeKRJuU49rT2aE7KHsp_9T4-5hMaZ09qz7tSNSm9F9A3Il4zTLBCspIR44Y7lo/s320/TourBanner_Murderous%20Means.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3SUPbkq" target="_blank"><i>Murderous Means</i></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">by </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lida Sideris<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">GENRE</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">: Cozy Mystery<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">BLURB:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Corrie
Locke may not be the best rookie lawyer in Southern California, but when it
comes to catching a killer, she’s got the skills to bring a band of shifty-eyed
suspects to their knees.<br />
When the wealthy matriarch of the dysfunctional Means family dies in her sleep,
the family is convinced her death was anything but peaceful. They hire Corrie
to prove it, but the only evidence they have to go on is a psychic’s half-baked
vision that it was murder. To put the matter to rest, Corrie sets her sights on
proving the psychic is a fraud. After all, everyone knows psychics are
crack-pots, don’t they?<br /><br />
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">But what should be a simple investigation morphs into something deadly. The
deeper Corrie digs, the more bizarre clues are revealed, and a possible witness
is found dead. As tempers rise, it is up to Corrie to catch a killer…who’s
about to strike again.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn5ebo8OtFMjKf-LvD4Er-yS8LA0lj_IkpaVdnSF6oXVAaAMWYIaLGoKSN_eV0FQmwDqExsSzLrwo-_e-IodHQTEwzUsAjeuzkXfSXS7t_2v4mloyCiHcmjyulTX1Sqqfnv30XJWxsyE20AXsDTHWz1UbkYfUHpeOzRJUtN3MnbQ5Q9UUgt84ouGPIis/s2000/BookCover_MURDEROUS%20MEANS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn5ebo8OtFMjKf-LvD4Er-yS8LA0lj_IkpaVdnSF6oXVAaAMWYIaLGoKSN_eV0FQmwDqExsSzLrwo-_e-IodHQTEwzUsAjeuzkXfSXS7t_2v4mloyCiHcmjyulTX1Sqqfnv30XJWxsyE20AXsDTHWz1UbkYfUHpeOzRJUtN3MnbQ5Q9UUgt84ouGPIis/w213-h320/BookCover_MURDEROUS%20MEANS.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">EXCERPT</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tiny beads of pain crashed together in my head like bumper
cars made of steel. It felt like I’d emerged from a deep slumber. I lifted my
leaden head. I lay sprawled in the middle of a field. Did I lose consciousness?
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My fingers crept to my belt buckle, and I slipped the
Japanese throwing star into my palm, relishing the shuriken’s cold metal and
sharp points. I caught my breath. A flashlight illuminated the night. A dozen
goats huddled together a good thirty feet away, their backs to me. A deep voice
stirred the air. I couldn’t make out the words. Who was talking? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A large man stood near the goats, light beam in one hand,
while the other dangled a pistol. As he shooed away the livestock, I lowered my
head and stiffened. What was it Dad used to say? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A problem presents an opportunity to turn things around. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The guy trekked closer, stopping a few feet short of me. He
smelled faintly of tobacco and beer. Shoving aside the pain, I jumped to my
feet, only it was more like I heaved myself to a crouching position, shuriken
ready. I sucked in a breath and sprang forward, straightening up enough to
press my throwing star against his thick neck. Meanwhile, he stuck the muzzle
of his gun to my side. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Steady now, young lady.” His voice was a baritone growl
that rustled the weeds. His crinkly blue gaze lit up like sparklers. “I’m going
to lower my gun the same time you lower that sharp pointy thing. I know you
broke inside the house tonight, but I’m willing to give you a chance to explain
before I call the police.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Before you what?” I pressed the star deeper, a whisker away
from drawing blood. “Who are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lida-Sideris/author/B015FA7UU2?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true"><span style="color: #0b4cb4; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG57nEE9rl_j0yMILpJd27AkodG11P34xk4Tmc2k0tIxpuLb0emktReJgZdEO-bBANAMZzi5sF_NQ_xudBcxil7VY52uMV7uwIwR6E4Y2fLGOn5GOwRqksihfgQt6DB6lyzLighTQqOPpwa-FaXnVE-koPFKSMBL5LBhaJtCWpLZ7oZzzXKDqyjoGG_xU/s646/Author%20Image%20(21).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="562" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG57nEE9rl_j0yMILpJd27AkodG11P34xk4Tmc2k0tIxpuLb0emktReJgZdEO-bBANAMZzi5sF_NQ_xudBcxil7VY52uMV7uwIwR6E4Y2fLGOn5GOwRqksihfgQt6DB6lyzLighTQqOPpwa-FaXnVE-koPFKSMBL5LBhaJtCWpLZ7oZzzXKDqyjoGG_xU/w174-h200/Author%20Image%20(21).jpg" width="174" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lida
Sideris is the author of the Southern California Mysteries. Slightly edgier
than the usual cozy mystery, the series is loosely based on the author’s former
life, working as an entertainment attorney for a movie studio…kind of like her
heroine, Corrie Locke... except without the homicides. Lida is a recipient of
the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship Award and a 2x Killer
Nashville, Silver Falchion Award finalist. She lives in the northern tip of
Southern California with her family, rescue dogs, and a flock of uppity
chickens. To learn more, please visit </span><a href="http://www.lidasideris.com/"><span style="color: #103cc0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">www.LidaSideris.com</span></a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Links:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.lidasideris.com/"><span style="color: #103cc0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">www.lidasideris.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lidasideris"><span style="color: #103cc0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">https://www.facebook.com/lidasideris</span></a><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Twitter:
@lidasideris<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Instagram:
@lida_sideris</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lida-sideris"><span style="color: #103cc0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">BookBub</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>***********************</p><p><br /></p><p><b>GIVEAWAY</b></p><p> </p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4786" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4786/" id="rcwidget_zbbalm4d" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv2228517620MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-tour-murderous-means-by-lida.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv2228517620MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p class="yiv2228517620MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">***********************</span></p><p class="yiv2228517620MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv2228517620MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">My review:</span></p><p class="yiv2228517620MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">3.75 stars<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Murderous Means” by Lida Sideris is part of the ‘A Southern
California Mystery’ series, and features intrepid almost-official private
investigator Corrie Locke and her team as they try to determine whether a
sudden death is due to homicide. Using a variety of conventional and
not-so-conventional methods, the cast of characters look for clues in unusual
places while they try to figure out if an actual crime has been committed, and
if so, why.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This cozy mystery features a somewhat wacky crew of
investigators who definitely should not be underestimated. Although this book
can be read as a stand-alone story, I suspect that it would be less confusing
to read the prior book(s) in the series and get a feel for the dynamics of the
group and their outside-of-the-box techniques.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="yiv2228517620MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">I enjoyed working my way through the twists and turns of the
investigation even as I shook my head at some of the shenanigans and the way
these folks play fast and loose with the legalities. A few things strained my
credulity a bit, but it was fun reading the colorful descriptions of the characters
and locations. This author has a way with words that makes even serious crimes
entertaining, and I suspect the crew will soon be embroiled in even more adventures
in beautiful Southern California.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">A copy of this title was provided for review</p><p class="yiv2228517620MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p class="yiv2228517620MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><br /></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-21333748455955958792024-01-30T00:30:00.000-08:002024-01-30T00:30:00.175-08:00Clean Win by Kevin R. Doyle (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZZgfRMhXKdee6IXqyBEX1HPQObOnPorVKfx4SzyuaE0kgRiBMyr5F0k_cTcXFajhyphenhyphen8C7M_ebxZN_yq732Zd6bIqsanPeUv-r9K2umXffUofu-vxELE-kp7hjUo-meD3G0S60hCQHul6cTOPkdRb8P1IkxB8Rxr8H7tXsR4ooDxBpaZufw9pWHa1WuCc/s1200/TourBanner_Clean%20Win.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZZgfRMhXKdee6IXqyBEX1HPQObOnPorVKfx4SzyuaE0kgRiBMyr5F0k_cTcXFajhyphenhyphen8C7M_ebxZN_yq732Zd6bIqsanPeUv-r9K2umXffUofu-vxELE-kp7hjUo-meD3G0S60hCQHul6cTOPkdRb8P1IkxB8Rxr8H7tXsR4ooDxBpaZufw9pWHa1WuCc/s320/TourBanner_Clean%20Win.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3SaGZuI" target="_blank"><i><b>Clean Win</b></i></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">by </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">Kevin R. Doyle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">GENRE</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">: Mystery<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Laura Mosby is like a lot of young women, working in a job she
doesn't like, looking for a way out, and doing her best to enjoy her privacy.
When she dies a violent death at the hands of an intruder, it's at first
brushed off as a standard homicide. But when Lieutenant Santiago, the
supervising detective, comes across evidence linking her death to a local
politician, he begins to see the faint threads of a much nastier scheme.
Desperate to shield his people from potential harm, he turns to Sam Quinton,
full-time gym owner and part-time private investigator, to help solve Laura's
murder and help the police department evade the wrath of City Hall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6;">EXCERPT</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We sat there for another minute or two before I prodded the
cop. “Laura Mosby.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Right.” Santiago sat a little straighter, as if pulling
himself back on track. “We’ve got a possible suspect.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“From what the local news has reported, you’ve had more than
one possible suspect.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Santiago nodded. “A former boyfriend, another even more
former boyfriend, and a low-rent cousin who lives out of state.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But they were all dead ends. And now we’ve got someone new
to look at.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Which I’m guessing has something to do with why you’re
slumming enough to visit me this morning,” I said. “So why not get to it. Who’s
the new favorite?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Santiago looked away as he pressed his hands flat on his
thighs. Despite our not-so-hot relationship, I decided to give him the time he
needed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He looked back my way, his expression as calm and controlled
as I’d ever seen him.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Bob Marlow,” he said, so quietly I almost missed it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I blinked a couple of times, processing the name.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Bob Marlow,” I repeated a few seconds later.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah,” Santiago said, giving me half a nod.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“As in Mayor Bob Marlow?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Only a quarter of a nod this time, if that. “Yeah.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“As in recently-announced candidate for governor Bob
Marlow?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No comment this time, except for Santiago giving me a
dead-level stare.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, shit,” I said.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah,” Santiago said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Buy links</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://amzn.to/3SaGZuI" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/clean-win-kevin-r-doyle/1142741369">Barnes & Noble</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tIEDPwFwSBUFFgnFjbqVdV820R39LIhhlRpApml3lc7tlsJycvpFzHbcy4iJEbafTBwgj83jN5Apb2NvUiazEho0jQCGbB9aOZy8ICm3mQ0JGKy4halyBEegXJwyFTrsMnLSDjJqjZFs5OqNf68EDZc61Yka4Q_iGvUAyRlFcZFQlQ9p31zuuedBQOI/s1000/author%20image%20(20).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tIEDPwFwSBUFFgnFjbqVdV820R39LIhhlRpApml3lc7tlsJycvpFzHbcy4iJEbafTBwgj83jN5Apb2NvUiazEho0jQCGbB9aOZy8ICm3mQ0JGKy4halyBEegXJwyFTrsMnLSDjJqjZFs5OqNf68EDZc61Yka4Q_iGvUAyRlFcZFQlQ9p31zuuedBQOI/w160-h200/author%20image%20(20).jpg" width="160" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">A high-school
teacher, former college instructor, and fiction writer, Kevin R. Doyle is the
author of numerous short horror stories. He’s also written three crime
thrillers, The Group, When You Have to Go There, and And the Devil Walks Away,
and one horror novel, The Litter. In the last few years, he’s begun working on
the Sam Quinton private eye series, published by Camel Press. The first Quinton
book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamus award for Best First
PI Novel. The second book, Heel Turn,
was released in March of 2021, while the third in the series, Double Frame,
came out in March of 2022. The fourth Sam Quinton book, Clean Win, will be
released in March of 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://kevindoylefiction.com" target="_blank">Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kevindoylefiction">Facebook</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6473241.Kevin_R_Doyle">Goodreads</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p>**************************</p><p><br /></p><p>GIVEAWAY</p><p><br /></p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4770" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4770/" id="rcwidget_5qrwn37f" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>**************************</div><div><br /></div><div>My review:</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">3.75 out of 5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">“Clean Win” by Kevin Doyle is the fourth book in the ‘Sam
Quinton Mystery’ series. A reluctant request from the lead police detective in
a murder case embroils Sam in a complicated situation that may have far-reaching
political implications. The wily private investigator will have to use his knowledge
from both his prior career and his current ones to get to the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This mystery story features an engaging private detective,
intriguing secondary characters, and nice twists and turns as the investigation
proceeds. I enjoyed Sam’s insouciant attitude and quiet competence as he
interacted with folks from all walks of life. The allusions to previous
encounters makes me curious about the other stories in the series, but I had no
problem reading this as a stand-alone story. Sam’s previous career as a
wrestler gives an entertaining dimension to some of his encounters, and I like
that he has a (mostly) cordial relationship with the police. This was a fun
quick read, and I look forward to reading other stories that feature this
colorful investigator.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A copy of this story was provided for review</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-19407309902413825882023-12-19T00:30:00.013-08:002023-12-19T00:30:00.130-08:00A Curse of Magick by Diane Gallagher (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIh5XThc5iBHGvFipm5I-_MqqFJE9eKbC7LvseGzwHaWfl2ZBvEDjRzc8BzC5vDHCfQDFXCPi0OkMeGaPhStKUZAEkuqSrP0D_pNwitmmxQtO0FHoWrBU_AXBsFx_fDeNK5RNrwNuFrrP5zjIpDMGeoatE8UiHu90hYZav7JPmp6UYsAdRMcYvAcj_xE/s1200/TourBanner_A%20Curse%20of%20Magick%20.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIh5XThc5iBHGvFipm5I-_MqqFJE9eKbC7LvseGzwHaWfl2ZBvEDjRzc8BzC5vDHCfQDFXCPi0OkMeGaPhStKUZAEkuqSrP0D_pNwitmmxQtO0FHoWrBU_AXBsFx_fDeNK5RNrwNuFrrP5zjIpDMGeoatE8UiHu90hYZav7JPmp6UYsAdRMcYvAcj_xE/s320/TourBanner_A%20Curse%20of%20Magick%20.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>A Curse of Magick</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Diane Gallagher<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">GENRE</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">: YA Romance<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSy8wiYvmHMdC2pWmS2_iNrB1EFNTpviMw6FXwgrtAlboPSFxZez9WV-yioNBjID3F7VmelLmroIyYNM2q_o9vC-jfTP0CxSzPaJB7XNgeNFHDcWJvr3fcy-tMqLSVYBVSZhHIPe6T1u8NtjfWxoft028-Os199OGzpCfL1wIcUyOfdgRkYDRxFQeBmY/s2703/BookCover_A%20Curse%20of%20Magick%20front%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="1797" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSy8wiYvmHMdC2pWmS2_iNrB1EFNTpviMw6FXwgrtAlboPSFxZez9WV-yioNBjID3F7VmelLmroIyYNM2q_o9vC-jfTP0CxSzPaJB7XNgeNFHDcWJvr3fcy-tMqLSVYBVSZhHIPe6T1u8NtjfWxoft028-Os199OGzpCfL1wIcUyOfdgRkYDRxFQeBmY/w133-h200/BookCover_A%20Curse%20of%20Magick%20front%20(1).jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“A desperate princess, a handsome warrior, and an ancient magick
to determine their fate.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">As
daughter to the High King, love doesn’t come easily to Gráinne. Having turned
down hundreds of suitors, she is being forced to marry Finn, an old, ugly yet
powerful general. While outside the marriage hall, Gráinne bumps into Diarmuid,
Finn’s handsome foster son. From that moment, Gráinne knows if she is to have
any chance at love, he is the one she must marry. She begs him to take her away
from this unwanted wedding. When Diarmuid refuses, Gráinne, desperate, places a
curse on him; help her or die.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Diarmuid
is a warrior who only wants to serve loyally, but when the princess sets her
sights on him and casts her curse, he must make the most difficult choice of
his life. Does he help her, taking their chances with a vengeful Finn, or does
her refuse her, leaving her to her fate, and risking his own death?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">With
both their lives on the line, Gráinne and Diarmuid must fight to use Ireland’s
ancient magick to escape from Finn, either bringing them together in passion or
in death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A
Curse of Magick is a passionate tale of love, betrayal, revenge, and
redemption. A retelling of an ancient Irish myth, A Curse of Magick takes the
love and romance of Romeo and Juliet, and the exhilaration of King Arthur, and
mixes it together for a satisfying adventure all will love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EXCERPT</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Once the cave opened, Diarmuid grinned at Gráinne in the dim
light. The walls of the caves were lined with crystals. Even in the darkening
light of the sunset they twinkled and reflected the deep orange glow. Gráinne
gasped. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“Wait until you see it with a fire,” Diarmuid said. “I’m
going to go and gather as much dried wood as I can find. Wait here.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">As he left the cave, Diarmuid listened carefully. There was
no sound of Finn’s men. He didn’t expect another message from Oisin saying they
were on the move. He knew they were on their own now. He gathered up a tangle
of branches he found at the foot of a tree. He hauled them back into the cave
and dropped them in a heap on the cavern floor.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“Hand me that bag, will you?” Diarmuid pointed to a small
bag he’d left near Bran. “That’s the flint bag. We can never lose that, or we
will be in trouble.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“I know that,” Gráinne bit back. “I have my own. Look.” From
just under the collar of her dress she pulled out her own leather bag. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Diarmuid grunted and turned his attention to the fire. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">He piled the branches carefully so that air would draw from
below and used his flint to light the fire. As the fire sparked and took, the
light reflected against the crystals that covered the ceiling of the cavern,
making it look like a thousand tiny stars twinkled above them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“Oh, how beautiful!” Gráinne cried, pressing her hands
together beneath her chin. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“Yes, it was Angus that showed this to me. It is like
magick, isn’t it?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Gráinne nodded and smiled at Diarmuid, looking up at him
from beneath her lashes, her momentary ire forgotten. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b><a href="https://amzn.to/41vShOp" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Amazon: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(Kindle Unlimited)</span></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">AUTHOR Bio and Links:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEnjyvT1HwZx2jYVFEU4poEyQoOPsREibVa-R8oUdERdnwe3hUfWgNjDQs6NSZhGNvId1Fuu2-mJR_gPB-G5p2rUZNyxZ8-DcTEuXqLtNq2wcwf7-xQdQzNWePLQIShywPMcPrrBWvzyNz0eKpXGuLBUQnzyVzX1ne1K56wtnDkWfM5Drh-U_R2mXyIw/s1080/author%20pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEnjyvT1HwZx2jYVFEU4poEyQoOPsREibVa-R8oUdERdnwe3hUfWgNjDQs6NSZhGNvId1Fuu2-mJR_gPB-G5p2rUZNyxZ8-DcTEuXqLtNq2wcwf7-xQdQzNWePLQIShywPMcPrrBWvzyNz0eKpXGuLBUQnzyVzX1ne1K56wtnDkWfM5Drh-U_R2mXyIw/w200-h200/author%20pix.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Diane Gallagher
is a novelist and Druid priest. She is the author of three novels: <i><b>A Curse of
Magick</b></i>, <i><b>Greenwich List</b></i>, and the <i><b>Bastard of Saint Genevra</b></i>. She has long roots
stretching into her Celtic past, although she splits her life between two
islands—Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada, and Sicily off the toe of
Italy’s boot. She writes young adult romance based on ancient Celtic myths of
the powerful women of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. She currently teaches
creative writing at Cherry Hill Seminary.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://dianegallagherwritings.com/" target="_blank">Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dianegallagherwritings" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551870126755" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (Dark Curses of Celtic Women)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dianegallagherwritings/" target="_blank">Instagram</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/diane_writes" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Twitter</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CLcqpCjIM3A" width="320" youtube-src-id="CLcqpCjIM3A"></iframe></span></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;">***************************</span></p><p><b><span style="color: #444444;">GIVEAWAY</span></b></p><span style="color: #444444;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4744" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4744/" id="rcwidget_cmt6g2wt" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span><div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="yiv0952461084MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: #444444;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/10/book-blast-curse-of-magick-by-diane.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-81820580127455568512023-12-14T00:30:00.000-08:002023-12-14T06:04:55.365-08:00Sam Time by Donna Balon (VBT, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/08/fs-nbtm-sam-time-by-donna-balon.html" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpUV2x-dFWBP6HGHj8XokNSBzJL7MuzIDcg9ASQSkqCeMqATJoYK1agueJVVfabj_V-cyV3oJfPdUN_PDSx8OykGjjK6vvdbHkVasBWyGC19ktmF29Y9RVNZFq8dSe9_JVLBWt_ZdBtgddvpYJ1JG7Z8Kg1nOq0jYMwvFPG8hPgcJ4ds6eiAYkCYo5Bk/s400/TourBanner_Sam%20Time.gif" width="400" /></a></div><p> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Sam Time</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Donna Balon</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />When her fiancé is away on business, lonely Samantha Hunter despairs and absorbs herself in historical research. Her nighttime dreams being so vivid, Samantha believes she’s traveling to a past century. As she navigates the Victorian era rules of dos and even more don’ts, she charms Ulysses S Grant while struggling to maintain her present-day romance.<br /><br /></span><br />******************<br />
<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKC42IA53Btfpb_t_z0jqWMYXR1nS23zHTYfc40MvVgEh9jK0xxwUziy-Kf3OpHfg2dws6hJijwY4bfaBs6B2g4jEoTG9497qOJe6zacaM9nDG9ZyGvE6fKro81kLCb-L82TP69dLMxQqKh7zkz4Auz0RPjT9_M9KIXVWgENnN5vlE-bP5D2hLUM_tX8Q/s2700/BookCover_SamTime.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKC42IA53Btfpb_t_z0jqWMYXR1nS23zHTYfc40MvVgEh9jK0xxwUziy-Kf3OpHfg2dws6hJijwY4bfaBs6B2g4jEoTG9497qOJe6zacaM9nDG9ZyGvE6fKro81kLCb-L82TP69dLMxQqKh7zkz4Auz0RPjT9_M9KIXVWgENnN5vlE-bP5D2hLUM_tX8Q/w133-h200/BookCover_SamTime.jpg" width="133" /></a></div></blockquote><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><br /><br />
<b><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Excerpt</span></b></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
During the night, Samantha had a vivid dream. She was in a rural town wearing her Victorian-style dress. The weather was cool so she wrapped the crocheted afghan around her shoulders. And her sockless feet were cold in her slip-on shoes.<br /><br />
The few men she saw were in worn, soiled work clothes and walked with purpose. The so-called roadways were not paved but dirt paths. No cars or trucks, but horses and carts. A few wooden one-story buildings scattered here and there.<br /><br />
This must be a dream in which the clock has been turned back, Samantha thought. But where am I?<br /><br />
She strolled, aware she had not seen any other women. Pulling the afghan around herself snugly, she walked with her head tilted down to avoid catching the eye of any man in whatever this place was, glancing up often to learn more of her surroundings.<br /><br />
Then two women hurried toward her, each carrying a wooden bucket of water. Their cotton dresses hung to their ankles, with full skirts gathered at the waist of fitted bodices. Plain white cotton bonnets covered their heads, and shawls were wrapped around their shoulders. They looked at Samantha disapprovingly. Her dress was too fancy for this rural town. Moreover, she wasn’t wearing a bonnet or hat; a bare head was a means of solicitation by prostitutes. She hugged her body with the afghan, which served as a shawl to hide her uncorseted torso.<br /><br />
The dream seemed authentic. Despite her uneasiness, she thought, Enjoy the dream. If I don’t like it, I’ll wake myself up.<br /><br />
Around a corner, she spotted a few men in uniform. Soldiers. Maybe the army. This might be a small town next to an army fort, Samantha guessed. Still, not a good place for a woman.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Time-History-Professor-Befriends-ebook/dp/B0CB6XHV7V">Amazon buy link</a><br /><br /><br />****************************<br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />
<b>About the Author:</b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sIDhSWGLXhRHPacKHcVhNc3MnIZePE8oph-FAS0x5cE1edWkmbHPLdo0nBvHZYKfQVm4T8ueCMUHCSSDB3OLfpEOhv-eYcRp_ypx_72I-Q3l2Sd03K0fTJjc_oai6DvSKehvQinwNXWV4dI9jB0EAA_V7eW3m9DqbGTeQdlBoFZFm8WpNbLHTltSFH4/s2048/author%20image.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sIDhSWGLXhRHPacKHcVhNc3MnIZePE8oph-FAS0x5cE1edWkmbHPLdo0nBvHZYKfQVm4T8ueCMUHCSSDB3OLfpEOhv-eYcRp_ypx_72I-Q3l2Sd03K0fTJjc_oai6DvSKehvQinwNXWV4dI9jB0EAA_V7eW3m9DqbGTeQdlBoFZFm8WpNbLHTltSFH4/w133-h200/author%20image.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Author Donna Balon debuts <i><b>Sam Time</b></i>, a novel well-researched and professionally edited by quality talent from the publishing industry. Donna resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/41018186.Donna_Balon">Goodreads</a><br /><a href="https://samtimebook.com/about">Website</a><br /><a href="https://amazon.com/author/donnabalon">Amazon author page</a><br /><br /><br />
<br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">***********************************</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">GIVEAWAY</span></b></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4695" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4695/" id="rcwidget_n8sj469t" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Other stops on the tour can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/08/fs-nbtm-sam-time-by-donna-balon.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>
ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-18575259298595548912023-12-11T00:30:00.014-08:002023-12-11T00:30:00.158-08:00The Sexy Seven Supernaturals - Paranormal and Dark Short Stories for Adults by Luki Belle (VNBtM) GFP ADULT title<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm7R2RDeb0Vq4aQcgeL2VhafdozYJZ8ogFqSND13kbB_l7dedMdpJA3hO5hLTSFSvoHkEzxEfTq4JdoJeBfIWETSuuF9iRQx3FPoPHSOgmPaoJutRKWlHCvX73MltUd_To6rfoUqE4a4JCpSeoevLgU2bq1OWiwFGYyHC1bMi8DgLW3-2YONTsDE3Y-M/s1200/TourBanner_The%20Sexy%20Seven.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm7R2RDeb0Vq4aQcgeL2VhafdozYJZ8ogFqSND13kbB_l7dedMdpJA3hO5hLTSFSvoHkEzxEfTq4JdoJeBfIWETSuuF9iRQx3FPoPHSOgmPaoJutRKWlHCvX73MltUd_To6rfoUqE4a4JCpSeoevLgU2bq1OWiwFGYyHC1bMi8DgLW3-2YONTsDE3Y-M/s320/TourBanner_The%20Sexy%20Seven.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">It is my pleasure to share a guest post by author Luki Belle, who explains...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">What do you think is the strongest attraction about
the genre(s) you like to write in?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LB: I truly love this question! I am currently
focusing on paranormal, dark, fantasy and erotic genres. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The dark and the paranormal intrigue me because as a child I
was super scared of the dark, dark rooms, dark places, the night and along with
that, terrified of ghosts and anything that made noise without a cause :) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">As I grew older, I became fascinated by psychology and the
things that the mind can do subconsciously and consciously to stir the
unconscious essence in a person. I speak to this fascination in the author bio
of this book.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I also believe in the ability of the mind to manifest things
if the desire or distress is powerful enough and endures long enough. A key
part of this has to do with the power of observation or focusing on something
in day-to-day life which could be a physical thing, an emotional thing, or a
mental thought. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">In my paranormal themed stories, I explore the play between
paranormal entities and their interaction with mortal humans, the play of the
other worldly with the mind of the worldly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">When it comes to the dark and the erotica themes, I like to
explore the forbidden and the unknown through my characters. The gothic nature
of my stories is enticing to me because I would love to read my stories on gray
rainy days or by the fireside on a cold winter day. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The coziness of sensuality, the daringness of sexuality
combined with the bleak nature of a plot would make a good reading companion in
a perfectly comfortable home setting with a glass of fine wine and some
delicious chocolates! :) I like making my stories fit this profile for such a
reader.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The genre of fantasy and the paranormal gives me the
opportunity to create my own rules in the world I set up around my characters.
However, this can sometimes become challenging because I must be very detail
oriented to set up the rules, under all circumstances of interaction, with
paranormal or supernatural entities and the mortal beings in my stories. These
rules must be adhered to throughout the story for it to be compelling to my
reader. I like this challenge, it is that of an architect, my own virtual
world, like a dollhouse where imagination has no bounds, only the limits that I
create :)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>********************</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMnke9jyEUkDl5fKg6dT7py9LYSW-PgvQeyTszbtEKFhFV8k7tykwE6FC3c3hJM681_H9i6pDowBhiyYfa6dMyjF30E3f0HFZeKuqeI4ixgq6DheL7Ut8XEmnTGJ2H4n3fqYItORJY2olb94tUKJbL2JjEChATClsVo3Pi8Lt6Po4fSHeDwLf1jMPeps/s1200/BookCover_The%20Sexy%20Seven%20Supernaturals%20(Front%20Cover).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMnke9jyEUkDl5fKg6dT7py9LYSW-PgvQeyTszbtEKFhFV8k7tykwE6FC3c3hJM681_H9i6pDowBhiyYfa6dMyjF30E3f0HFZeKuqeI4ixgq6DheL7Ut8XEmnTGJ2H4n3fqYItORJY2olb94tUKJbL2JjEChATClsVo3Pi8Lt6Po4fSHeDwLf1jMPeps/w133-h200/BookCover_The%20Sexy%20Seven%20Supernaturals%20(Front%20Cover).jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;"><i>The Sexy Seven Supernaturals</i></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">ADULT title</span></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">by</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">Luki Belle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">GENRE</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">: Fiction - Short Stories, Fantasy, Paranormal,
Erotica<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BLURB:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">Seven
haunting tales of women, young female adults, and an adolescent girl whose
lives change irreversibly because of entities who come into the lives of these
female protagonists, mysteriously, invited by yearnings and distresses that
exist in these women and girls -<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />
1) <b><i>The Photo and the Letter</i></b>: Larissa, a heartbroken young woman, finds a
captivating photo of an elderly friend and becomes compelled to discover more
about the bitterly written letter that was addressed to the elderly woman, who
had a fascinating past.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">2)
<b><i>Strength of Feathers</i></b>: Vanessa, an orphan, who struggled her entire life to
survive and achieve professional success, decides one night to overcome her
fear of heights and her reluctance to be spontaneous when she meets an
enigmatic, wealthy woman who has ulterior motives.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;">3)
<i><b>The Aunt</b></i>: Anika, a teenage girl, niece of a notable and authoritative commander
of her nation’s army, finds herself in a precarious situation when at a bloody
crossroads of her nation’s history, she falls for a young, ambitious, and
ruthless military man from a long-rival nation, who is about to take over
rulership of Anika’s nation and her uncle’s army.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />
4) <i><b>Ravenous</b></i>: Sabrina, a young adult, daughter of a coalminer, is forced to
leave her hometown with her father and siblings. Her family is taken in by a
kind doctor who has mixed intentions for helping the homeless father and his
three children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />
5) <i><b>The Bride’s Matchmaker</b></i>: Mylakena, a young rural woman, comes to live in a
dynamic, metropolitan city with her uncle, when she falls for two handsome,
rich, and athletic young city men and realizes that her innocent infatuation
has severe consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />
6) <i><b>The Picture Ghost</b></i>: Elsa, a young adult daughter of a farmer, starts
attending college far away from her hometown. Her poor grades lead her to a
professor whose art collection draws Elsa uncomfortably close to an enigmatic
stranger from the past.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br />
7) <i><b>The Old Willow Tree</b></i>: Helen, a highly successful businesswoman, retires in a
foreign country where, while searching for a permanent home with a garden, she
falls in love with a stunning willow tree on a property that she desperately
wants to buy.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EXCERPT</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">6) <i><b>The Picture Ghost</b></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">When Eugene came into his teenage years, the merchant used
the handsome lad’s innocent charms to attract single, female guests at social
events. The women were made to believe by Eugene that his benefactor, the rich
merchant, was a lonely, generous, and warmhearted man. Thus, the adolescent
enabled several affairs under such pretenses, for the merchant. The man, never
having had the talent for pursuing women found in Eugene an indebted being who
was willing to do anything for the person who gave the boy education and
luxuries. Their relationship became so close that the merchant practically
bought Eugene from his father, telling the fisherman that his son no longer
wished to maintain ties with the village. To this Eugene did not raise much
objection. However, he may have been coerced to break all ties with his
biological father.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">7) <i><b>The Old Willow Tree</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The house belonged to an architect who had built many of the
prominent business structures in the country, including a famous public
greenhouse in their city that showcased exotic flowers and endangered trees.
The architect had designed his house and lived in it with his two sisters and
wife. The latter died at childbirth along with her baby. Following the tragic
event, the architect put his house up for sale. And then the facts became
stories. Helen could tell that the friend was adding his own imagination and
fabrications to what seemed to have happened next. However, one thing was
clear. At a certain point in time, the architect had given up or had decided
not to sell the house. The friend was certain it had something to do with the
property. Prospective buyers had rumored about feeling uncomfortable on the
premises and some had even heard a woman’s voice speaking to them and others
had heard a baby crying.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Buy links</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.96px; margin-bottom: 8pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sexy-Seven-Supernaturals-Paranormal-Stories/dp/1662939353/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1690072191&sr=1-2"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;">Amazon.com</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.96px; margin-bottom: 8pt;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sexy-seven-supernaturals-luki-belle/1143706192?ean=9781662939358"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div><br /></div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhclxVcRLLDEZJAYMBtDpEcB2PC9p24mnYFJZz79cf9foyk2xODzQQUZ8wUoqzvljSdiap8TKWJKrgvQ1PTdl4bRA0DUCDpvc9XFpwvUiPhJBxzuS6salOO59liN4s3ypRcnRHI0fSOE56rsOXB7KpLDf7fJFQRSFo7fDByhELNoh_Velh91i7alUz8SQ/s233/Author%20Image%20(19).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhclxVcRLLDEZJAYMBtDpEcB2PC9p24mnYFJZz79cf9foyk2xODzQQUZ8wUoqzvljSdiap8TKWJKrgvQ1PTdl4bRA0DUCDpvc9XFpwvUiPhJBxzuS6salOO59liN4s3ypRcnRHI0fSOE56rsOXB7KpLDf7fJFQRSFo7fDByhELNoh_Velh91i7alUz8SQ/s16000/Author%20Image%20(19).jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luki
Belle works in the media industry. Storytelling was a fixture from childhood
when she would listen to stories told by her grandparents, parents, sisters,
and cousins, who would read to her from diverse cultural fiction books. Scary
and ghost stories in particular, captured Luki as a child and led to her
fascination with the concept of feeling haunted or being haunted by something
or someone, whether desirably or whether uninvited. In the Sexy Seven
Supernaturals, Luki explores the amalgamation between the psychological and the
paranormal, enabled by the human mind through its power to imagine, visualize,
and yearn. The female characters in this book each have strong or subtle
conscious desires created or triggered by subconscious or unconscious distresses,
leading each of them to unexpected fates.</div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><b><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Websites</span></u></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%; margin-bottom: 8pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%; margin-bottom: 8pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Luki-Belle/100090188427853/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;"><span style="color: black;">Facebook</span></span></a></p>
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<span style="color: black;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4728" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4728/" id="rcwidget_xy0cngc5" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv1315710840MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; outline: none;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/09/nbtm-sexy-seven-supernaturals-by-luki.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv1315710840MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p><p class="yiv1315710840MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-6964018812599953112023-11-21T00:30:00.012-08:002023-11-21T00:30:00.143-08:00The Sea's Edge by Garth Pettersen (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHPZ_Ok4YYEMVW0WaiGEJITH5n0yoY-lbtF17dz9Cgl45pUCRKiUsCrmlzDY8ArgHljH_ZdIpptajZ1Rs0mKeRxebKRyyLt9IeN38Otz4PtlB0Qx7Snc19X3b2lZsazYTg3ifJvGtEssC6TeYB76O8r1yly_U1xuQ2IOQ1Sqw7fuCF9N8SIURq7s0k54/s1200/TourBanner_The%20Sea's%20Edge.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="1200" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHPZ_Ok4YYEMVW0WaiGEJITH5n0yoY-lbtF17dz9Cgl45pUCRKiUsCrmlzDY8ArgHljH_ZdIpptajZ1Rs0mKeRxebKRyyLt9IeN38Otz4PtlB0Qx7Snc19X3b2lZsazYTg3ifJvGtEssC6TeYB76O8r1yly_U1xuQ2IOQ1Sqw7fuCF9N8SIURq7s0k54/s320/TourBanner_The%20Sea's%20Edge.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">The Sea’s Edge<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">by </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Garth Pettersen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">GENRE</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">: Historical Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In 1030 C.E., Cnute, king of England, Denmark, and Norway, sends
Harald, his middle son, to the Kingdom of Dublin to meet with his Norse-Irish
allies. Harald’s mission is to coordinate an invasion of the northern Welsh
kingdom of Gwynedd, to replace King Rhydderch who is growing too powerful on
England’s borders. Harald is reluctant to be involved in affairs of state, but
agrees to go, even though his beloved wife, Selia, is unwell. Harald tells
Selia he will not have to take part in the fighting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">While
she waits for Harald to return, Selia and her friend Gudrun befriend a young
and attractive gleeman (poet-minstrel). When the gleeman is accused of a crime,
Selia seeks witnesses in his defense.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Harald
becomes involved in a conflict with Dublin’s neighbor, and to appease the king
of Dublin, he commits to leading their combined forces in the attack on Wales.
The plan is to replace King Rhydderch with Iago, the weaker King of Anglesey.
The more Harald learns of these monarchs, the more his allegiance leans toward
the man he has been sent to kill.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Will
Harald unseat a strong and just ruler to carry out his father/king’s commands,
or will he tread a more righteous road, which will destroy the life he and
Selia have built in England?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWf7y3oSvrQ462cxRHXRaYqGrrKGSxhIdEzJu-pOvT-EVxuWO-mYbaSA-J36mV567kcMMxhxb_-7i1lFAmi9apLQXHqGI84AWfvyhRlNqwsCRQ5y14bAYUPxH9yAQKhi7jrWsA3ScB31IpIrnUkcTVSWrf-YK1wZ4k7w45mBcqlobmeElnHrnH5t8jdg/s750/BookCover_TheSeasEdge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWf7y3oSvrQ462cxRHXRaYqGrrKGSxhIdEzJu-pOvT-EVxuWO-mYbaSA-J36mV567kcMMxhxb_-7i1lFAmi9apLQXHqGI84AWfvyhRlNqwsCRQ5y14bAYUPxH9yAQKhi7jrWsA3ScB31IpIrnUkcTVSWrf-YK1wZ4k7w45mBcqlobmeElnHrnH5t8jdg/w133-h200/BookCover_TheSeasEdge.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">EXCERPT</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The rain beat upon the thatch of Gwyn and Gudrun’s new hall,
running off in rivulets that wet-tapped the ground in a thousand places on each
side. The evening fire in the hall’s center warmed the occupants where they sat
upon benches finishing the evening meal. The woodsmoke rose just well enough to
find the smoke hole in the roof. The tang of the smoke was as natural as to
them as the smell of the brook trout caught that day. This night all savoured
barley-bread hearthcakes and a hearty pottage to which the fish chunks had been
added. With Gudrun, Meleri, Selia, and their guest, three hirelings and their
small families shared the meal. Two older children sat with Meleri. The
housecarls Gunnar and Geir joined the gathering, while Sture acted as wardmann,
watching through a watery curtain that dripped relentlessly from the roof of an
out-building.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Tell me, Trygve,” Selia said, scooping the pottage with her
chunk of hearthcake, “why are you known as Trygve det Kostbar, ‘Trygva the
Precious’?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The ale-scop finished drinking from the horn of ale that was
going round and passed it to another. “It is not always the best names that
attach themselves. Whether it was originally a jest, I know not, but where I
grew up in Jórvik, there was more than one Trygve. They say I was an attractive
and well-behaved child and folk called me “Precious.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Not because of self-love?” Selia shot a knowing glance to
Gudrun, who stifled a laugh.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“I...” Trygve began to speak but probably decided against
defending himself. “No, I think not.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“And what were the other Trygves called?” Gudrun asked with
a barely hidden smile.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Trygve Bent Nose,” Selia suggested.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Trygve Small Balls?” said Gudrun.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Trygve Cat Whiskers?” Selia added. By now the women laughed
with abandon and even the children joined in.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Trygve Dog Shit?” said the young boy, Cerdic.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">To his credit, Trygve the Precious laughed along with
everyone.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The jibing continued until everyone’s wits became stale and
the names less clever.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Well, Trygve,” said Gudrun. “It is a wise man who can laugh
when the jest targets him,”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“An ale-scop would soon be unwelcome if he took offence at
every fire he shared.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Buy Links:</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Pettersen_Garth/the-seas-edge.htm">Tirgearrpublishing.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J2VLQG3" target="_blank">Amazon </a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07J2VLQG3" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07J2VLQG3" target="_blank">Amazon CA </a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07J2VLQG3" target="_blank">Amazon AU</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/author/garth-pettersen/id1292516225" target="_blank">Apple</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/ie/en/series/the-atheling-chronicles" target="_blank">Kobo</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Garth%20Pettersen" target="_blank">Nook</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/gpettersen" target="_blank">Smashwords</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><br /><br />AUTHOR Bio and Links<br /><br /></b><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJUmjt5WFAJ_5d3b3cakgwun9vG65AO_rfoFYzYNB2unsWLRi4AnCpwhEBso98RWb3sh75eg2F0zrreq2j0JZgzzVtntYZVOrb2q6Dkb-Ccz_5brk0YUqB7MM58BDyFPaFfPe7-6EqShMiDHsnzJ-OHSNSBSK8p-EUAhYQDLAqT5IQPjrFxewJm-YxxI/s1200/Author%20image%20(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJUmjt5WFAJ_5d3b3cakgwun9vG65AO_rfoFYzYNB2unsWLRi4AnCpwhEBso98RWb3sh75eg2F0zrreq2j0JZgzzVtntYZVOrb2q6Dkb-Ccz_5brk0YUqB7MM58BDyFPaFfPe7-6EqShMiDHsnzJ-OHSNSBSK8p-EUAhYQDLAqT5IQPjrFxewJm-YxxI/w200-h133/Author%20image%20(18).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Garth Pettersen
is a Canadian writer living in the Fraser Valley near Vancouver, BC. When he's
not writing, he is riding horses or working on his acreage. Garth's short
stories have appeared in a number of anthologies and in journals such as Blank
Spaces, The Spadina Literary Review, and The Opening Line Literary 'Zine. His
story, River's Rising, was awarded an Honourable Mention for the Short Story
America 2017 Prize, and his fantasy novella River Born, was one of two
runners-up for the Windsor Editions (UK) Short Fiction Prize. Garth Pettersen's
historical fiction series, The Atheling Chronicles is published by Tirgearr
Publishing and books one, two, and three are available at most online outlets
(The Swan's Road, The Dane Law, and The Cold Hearth). The fourth book, The
Sea’s Edge, will be released in November, 2023.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.garthpettersen.com" target="_blank">Website</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/writeandride/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/garpet011" target="_blank">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p><p>***************************</p><p><br /></p><p><b>GIVEAWAY</b></p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4740" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4740/" id="rcwidget_1s5une1y" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv8026045931MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-tour-seas-edge-by-garth-pettersen.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv8026045931MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"> </span></p><p class="yiv8026045931MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">***************************</span></span></p><p class="yiv8026045931MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="yiv8026045931MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My review:</span></span></span></p><p class="yiv8026045931MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="yiv8026045931MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>
</b><br /><br /><span style="outline-color: initial !important; outline-width: initial !important;">4.5 stars </span><br /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="outline-color: initial !important; outline-width: initial !important;">“The Sea’s Edge” by Garth Pettersen is the fourth book in ‘The Atheling Chronicles’ series and provides a vivid picture of the harshness and struggles between the various kingdoms that were the precursor to modern-day England and Wales. Combining authenticity and a compelling story, the story gives insight into the character of Harald, son of King Cnute, as he faces multiple challenges while acting as his father’s emissary yet remains true to himself. </span><br /><br /><span style="outline-color: initial !important; outline-width: initial !important;">There is an extensive list of words and characters at the beginning of the story to help immerse oneself in the culture and language of this era, and the multiple threads of the tale give an in-depth picture of life during this time period. </span><br /><br /><span style="outline-color: initial !important; outline-width: initial !important;">This is not a story I would normally have read, but I am impressed at the author’s ability to make a complex and intricate history come alive. Although I have not read the other stories in this series, I had no problem becoming immersed in the story, and I love that the reader is given a chance to see the implications and difficulties in juggling the realities of survival with the idealism of beliefs. Those who are squeamish should be warned that there is a fair degree of violence and death, although nothing graphic. A story well worth reading if one has any interest in learning about the cultures and lifestyles of this time period. </span><br /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="outline-color: initial !important; outline-width: initial !important;">A copy of this story was provided for review</span></span><p></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-72351765829090548642023-11-16T00:30:00.009-08:002023-11-16T00:30:00.144-08:00If the Sun Spares Us by Brenda Marie Smith (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-JarsyraRTrbVq6PYQ32TUMO8Elwc4LviBek39tNaahNLIyjqxaDohcTcIzRbF-1_HkG1KxRUju9QAM4d_Rm7qDk28TqkOWp5CoBilKfVHd7iYXm1K0uKmDd5w6HD6xinpA_qgXMET7Wk0PlU0XpT2AptgfG3l3e8NijMAkwOO8RRm4aWFHanSIgfC4/s1200/Tour%20Banner%20_%20If%20the%20Sun%20Spares%20Us%20Review.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-JarsyraRTrbVq6PYQ32TUMO8Elwc4LviBek39tNaahNLIyjqxaDohcTcIzRbF-1_HkG1KxRUju9QAM4d_Rm7qDk28TqkOWp5CoBilKfVHd7iYXm1K0uKmDd5w6HD6xinpA_qgXMET7Wk0PlU0XpT2AptgfG3l3e8NijMAkwOO8RRm4aWFHanSIgfC4/s320/Tour%20Banner%20_%20If%20the%20Sun%20Spares%20Us%20Review.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3SL6lBo" target="_blank">If the Sun Spares Us</a></i></b></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Brenda Marie Smith<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">GENRE</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">: Post-apocalyptic thriller</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Two
years ago, a solar pulse destroyed modern life. Bea Crenshaw organized her
starving, suburban neighbors into a farming community. But now Bea’s gone, and
her grandchildren must carry her legacy forward.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In
the post-apocalyptic pressure cooker of Austin, Texas, 19-year-old Keno and his
younger cousins struggle to ensure their community’s survival even as they’re
forced to relocate to safer grounds. Northern Lights that don’t belong this far
south grow increasingly intense, making Keno fear what harm the sun will cause
next.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Even
worse, a marauding militia called the Raiders is closing in, led by a deranged
woman who preys on teenage boys. Despite Keno’s debilitating flashbacks from a
firefight, he and his wife have a new baby to protect. Though Bea is dead, her
spirit desperately searches for ways to shield her grandkids. When Raiders
target two neighborhood members, the only hope lies in the community’s
strength, Keno’s ingenuity, and the family’s fierce love for one another.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufH6ZiOWCqxnKofH_PuxDLAev2em0cRQagBuYib3YYllaiminoL4aV4zNFdSpXuJJETST_a209ItwBrLZWhWstq2s8slP1RIx82Jzhxcqc7656bLmHKzQRn-a7FW5neUA44aWpg7QuZhatMlw-nK0D6uCVKLQ5Ks6cSLsdzDNCNp3kg1j6RtXeZOugek/s1236/BookCover_IfTheSunSparesUs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufH6ZiOWCqxnKofH_PuxDLAev2em0cRQagBuYib3YYllaiminoL4aV4zNFdSpXuJJETST_a209ItwBrLZWhWstq2s8slP1RIx82Jzhxcqc7656bLmHKzQRn-a7FW5neUA44aWpg7QuZhatMlw-nK0D6uCVKLQ5Ks6cSLsdzDNCNp3kg1j6RtXeZOugek/w129-h200/BookCover_IfTheSunSparesUs.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">EXCERPT</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">In the next
second, thick neon bands of green light shoot into the sky like they’re spewing
straight out of the earth at the horizon, the aurora pulsing and soaring
hundreds of feet into the air toward the stratosphere. This is nothing like the
tame Northern Lights we’ve had off and on over the past year, but crazy-bright
and thick and enormous. None of it belongs in Texas. I stare at the lights,
getting dizzy from their movement and intensity.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The guys out on
the street whistle and shout… I close my eyes to get my bearings.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Residual
streaks of light burn my eyeballs and flash across my eyelids, then mutate into
the recurring, overly-vivid memories I can’t shake: flaming, screaming boys,
falling fiery trees, bursting Molotov cocktails, strafing assault rifles—a hand
slaps across my mouth and covers my nose, and Richie’s behind me, yanking me to
the ground, hissing, “Shhh! Shhh! Don’t scream.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“The End of
Days is upon us, and we’ve got work to do!” shouts the woman from the street.
“Head back north.” The feet start tramping around. “Jonesie, north’s the other
way.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Richie’s
pressing so hard on my mouth and nose he’s gonna suffocate me. My tears run
over his hand. Flaming bodies still flash before my eyes while green lights
burn in the sky overhead…</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I grab his hand
to yank it off, but he presses harder. I panic. Dude’s gonna kill me.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Buy Links</b> for the Braving the Light Series:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/47xPdmJ" target="_blank">IF DARKNESS TAKES US</a></b></i> (Book One):<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/46p5AkU" target="_blank">IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES</a></b></i> (Book Two<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3SL6lBo" target="_blank">IF THE SUN SPARES US</a></b></i> (Book Three): </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9pjibTeHW2-ITrzWZuZgw_htOADL_UlRwpUpEiVK5dFVaKlkGg9unHAI9YTMJbp_qWIiEvbhLFV82wDqN3YoJ3lGBKLgj4oJsHADDHJEDJ3LuTFf9N5fhAc6ixiMYcS9o6umNPm-GzH3vQywaD1vT61Dt-_IsFjmyEeekAXm3esSDrJEqg4-WJjwf8o/s1202/authorimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9pjibTeHW2-ITrzWZuZgw_htOADL_UlRwpUpEiVK5dFVaKlkGg9unHAI9YTMJbp_qWIiEvbhLFV82wDqN3YoJ3lGBKLgj4oJsHADDHJEDJ3LuTFf9N5fhAc6ixiMYcS9o6umNPm-GzH3vQywaD1vT61Dt-_IsFjmyEeekAXm3esSDrJEqg4-WJjwf8o/w133-h200/authorimage.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">BRENDA MARIE SMITH is attracted to stories where everyday
characters transcend their limitations to find their inner heroism. She lived
off the grid for years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by
midwives. A lifelong community activist, Brenda has managed student co-op
housing, produced concerts, and raised a small herd of boys. She and her
husband live in Kyle, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they
can count. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">SOCIAL MEDIA:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://brendamariesmith.com" target="_blank">Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://brendamariesmith.tumblr.com" target="_blank">Blog</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Twitter: @bsmithnovelist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJlLSnORIyoaygvZ1j49ZKw" target="_blank">YouTube</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">*****************************************</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> GIVEAWAY</span></p></div><div><br /></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4732" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4732/" id="rcwidget_xrlpu0on" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;">The tour dates can be found<a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-tour-if-sun-spares-us-by-brenda.html" target="_blank"> here</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">*****************************************</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My review:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">"If the Sun Spares Us" is a post-apocalyptic story that is compelling and inspirational,
reminding us that we can have hidden strengths that only arise when
circumstances force us to access them. The dynamics between various members of
the communities are a sobering comment on what happens when life is stripped
down to the challenges of survival and learning to work together. It would be
nice to have a little more depth to some of the secondary characters, and I
think that missing some of the backstory makes some of the interactions between
characters a bit more difficult to appreciate, but the story is intriguing
nonetheless. I like the mystical element of the grandmother’s connection with
young Mazie, and I’m rooting for the continued survival of this resourceful
family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A copy of this title was provided for review<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-14326807125053207952023-11-15T23:03:00.000-08:002023-11-15T23:03:08.286-08:00Breaking the BFF Pact by Gabbi Grey, Sofia Aves, Keighley Bradford, et al. curated by the New Romance Cafe (Breast Cancer Charity Anthology)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYes5rXjKP1PTyTHIribA02kZRiDTzvvlEKJoehLrpNRf4YvPsCZPT5ZZ5T0Mbc-XPOulat6IA7Tf1upnlaWw0Cf5nmm7D6FLL64v5N5b5dQqMYXmQvFIFar8p845RUo7BZkFJPVS40hmuGyHaXO2CAHzcZKtGd8PegJYc2keLnhK3ZOPp7nkDyoY1hHk/s466/BFF%20Pact%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="291" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYes5rXjKP1PTyTHIribA02kZRiDTzvvlEKJoehLrpNRf4YvPsCZPT5ZZ5T0Mbc-XPOulat6IA7Tf1upnlaWw0Cf5nmm7D6FLL64v5N5b5dQqMYXmQvFIFar8p845RUo7BZkFJPVS40hmuGyHaXO2CAHzcZKtGd8PegJYc2keLnhK3ZOPp7nkDyoY1hHk/w200-h320/BFF%20Pact%20Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Breaking the BFF Pact</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Best Friend's Brother Romance Collection</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Romance Café Collection Book 26)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">ADULT</span> titles</div><h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;"></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA">Synopsis<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">We all know the rule – Do not lust over your best friend’s sibling. But
what happens when you break all the rules? Will Breaking the BFF Pact get you a
happily ever after? Or will you lose it all?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Read titillating stories from USA Today best-selling and award-winning
romance authors in a spicy Best Friend’s Sibling collection curated by The New
Romance Cafe, with<b> <u>ALL proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation</u>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200600069-breaking-the-bff-pact" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Authors:</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">Keighley Bradford</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Serafina Jax</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Guinevere Jordan</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
A.R. Bell</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Michelle Moncrieff</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Katina J. Rose</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Melanie Greene</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Hannah McKee</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Chelle Pimblott</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Jewelz Baxter</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Bethany Monaco Smith</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Chele MacCabe</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Kat Long</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Jenna Daring</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Noa Camhi & Lashe’ Lacroix</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Heather Scarlett</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Sofia Aves</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Wynter Ryan</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Sarah Stein</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Harper Michaels</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Niki Trento</span><br /><span style="color: #0f1111;">
Tasha Blythe</span><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
Gabbi Grey</span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1e1915; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><b>The anthology will only be available for a
limited time.</b></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA">Links<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://books2read.com/tnrc2023breakingthebffpact" target="_blank">Universal Link</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3MKYdxc" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<h1><br /></h1>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Jeopardy</i> </span></span></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: small;">by </span></span></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gabbi Grey</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Tanner<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I’ve had a crush on my best
friend Nita’s brother for fifteen years. She's made it clear she doesn’t want
me hooking up with him, and he's never shown any interest. Until the night we
wind up in the pool alone together and then everything changes. Is he serious
about his interest in me, or will he want to forget in the morning? Have I
ruined everything with my best friend for one meaningless night?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Kade<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My life is perfect until the
moment I realize I’m attracted to my younger sister’s best friend. Now, my eyes
are open, and my need to get Tanner into my bed is impossible to resist. But
with my best friend warning me off and my sister giving me the evil eye, I'm
having second thoughts. Are my feelings for Tanner serious enough to lead to
forever?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">This is a 7k gay, best
friend’s brother’s romance short story with an interfering best friend, a bossy
sister, and the possibility of love becoming realized.</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<h1><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Exclusive Excerpt (with offensive language)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Prologue<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Tanner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Sometimes, love comes on
slowly. Gradually. Like a summer rain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Other times, it slams you
like a baseball to your nuts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Yeah, that was how it
happened to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">With Kade Nelson, my best
friend Nita’s older brother.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Nita and I were twelve years
old, and we sat in the stands at the field behind Mission City Collegiate. Our
football team was playing the team from Abbotsford—and beating them badly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Cameron, Kade’s best friend,
was the quarterback. Kade was the kicker. There might be a different name for
it, but all I knew was he came out and kicked the ball. He was lining up a shot
when some guy from the opposing team yelled <i>fag</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Kade missed the kick.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Nita stood and started
yelling at the ref.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Cameron launched himself from
the sidelines at the other player.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Kade’s coach ran onto the
field.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The two teams started
fighting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">I cowered. I knew. I knew
what that word meant. I knew <i>I</i> was a <i>fag</i>. That I liked boys and
wasn’t interested in girls. What I hadn’t known until that moment was that Kade
was gay. And, apparently, not just gay, but that he’d told other people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Nita didn’t appear surprised.
She was just plain angry. Now she yelled at the top of her lungs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">One kid near us jeered, and
she turned on him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Wisely, he decided now was
the perfect time to beat a hasty retreat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Within a few minutes, the
mayhem on the field ceased.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The boy, the one who’d yelled
the slur, was sent packing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">After a few minutes, the play
was reset.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Kade kicked the most amazing
field goal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">My heart constricted, and I
saw my best friend’s brother in a whole new light. My life was never the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><h1><span lang="EN-CA">Bio<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Gabbi Grey<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a name="_Hlk112209493"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.</span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-28992954351302749402023-11-06T00:30:00.120-08:002023-11-06T00:30:00.145-08:00Great Big Ocean Sky by Kelly Byrd (VBT, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjKGWBsCmSvXYk2A_zru42sT4yYsIPtCTo7z2JKvr1Z1GOn8aN7Qljlx53RVqG1US6VrmIIGUseMEbfEpgfbzo2TqBL7juqzYCUomyfYr4WD35M975IfU-wNEDRwFyRlPX3Fou9mKPBghHAkYasgPCczhLp4fbgpD2tqdZbkwCcg4OLAUzZrjYvKxpmo/s1200/TourBanner_GreatBigOceanSky.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjKGWBsCmSvXYk2A_zru42sT4yYsIPtCTo7z2JKvr1Z1GOn8aN7Qljlx53RVqG1US6VrmIIGUseMEbfEpgfbzo2TqBL7juqzYCUomyfYr4WD35M975IfU-wNEDRwFyRlPX3Fou9mKPBghHAkYasgPCczhLp4fbgpD2tqdZbkwCcg4OLAUzZrjYvKxpmo/s320/TourBanner_GreatBigOceanSky.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I'm delighted to share a guest post by Kelly Byrd, who explains about...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><b>Writing With a Child’s Heart </b></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Kelly Byrd </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Writing is such a part of my personality,
history, and persona I honestly don’t know what I would do without it. Stories
and characters have crawled around my mind since I was young. My mother, with
the best of intentions, asked the pediatrician if my army of imaginary friends
was normal or not. He told her that I was a child with a vivid imagination.
Which, as all three hundred of my imaginary friends could tell you, was very
true. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">When I was young, I had binders full of
scribbled stories shoved under my bed. Stories about my American Girl dolls,
stuffed teddy bears, my little brother’s obsession with hot dogs, soccer
practice, and everything else that was important to me at the time. I don’t
think I knew then that I wanted to write books for a living. Far from it—my
preferred careers ranged from teacher to microbiologist to country music star.
(All of those things fell through.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I’m telling you all of this, dear reader,
because I truly believe that we have to make an effort to hold on to the
passions that we were drawn to as children. We so often see expression, art,
dance—whatever you choose—as child’s play. As we get older, we forget that
creative part of ourselves because life is busy and full of demands, and
something has to go. We put down our passions in search of success or family or
whatever the case may be, and I think this is a tragic loss. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My Far From Home series, including <i>City of Lights</i> and <i>Great Big Ocean Sky</i>, pursues this idea. The heroes are on a quest
to help save the Everything, a magical force that originates by people living
and creating together. The adults are often blind to the kids' trials, as
grown-ups often can be, so it’s up to the
kids to restore the magical land of LeeChee to its full glory. They take
on the task with excitement, grit, and a fair bit of nerve. Whether or not they
complete the task is locked in the pages of the books. Enter into the tale at
your own peril. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Whether or not you decide to pick up a Far
From Home book is wholly up to you, but what I encourage you to do is to go out
and make something today. It doesn’t matter what. Write a paragraph about
something (or nothing), try a new recipe, draw a picture, or create a scrapbook
page. Whatever the muses speak to you, let it out. Get messy! Help the
Everything grow! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><br /></p><p>*************************</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><i>Great Big Ocean Sky</i></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">by </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Kelly Byrd<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">GENRE</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">: Mid-grade Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">BLURB:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Book Two of the Far from Home Trilogy</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
Catch up with Mary Jingo as she trains with her
friends in the Great Big Ocean Sky-side city of Festdelm. She may have survived
the danger in Luminos, the City of Lights, but new challenges await as she,
Teeny, Van Clare, Corb, Mikeala, and WindRunner continue their fight to save
the Everything. When a new Shadowlander comes to LeeChee, will Mary be able to
trust him—even if he is one of her closest friends?<br />
<br />
Join Mary Jingo and her motley crew as they travel
to the far ends of the world on their quest to save the Everything.<br />
<br />
As more of LeeChee falls under Thrall, Mary must
choose wisely. Whom will she trust? What bonds will endure? And... how did a
Yorkshire Terrier end up as a part of this crazy experience?<br />
<br />
The answers, dear reader, await inside as we set
sail on the Great Big Ocean Sky.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">EXCERPT</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WFBoGercAtKhE6fpNIrbbPIMG__9zxtyHUmvQDLN5HsEUxuzni3hMc_NTuOp5_bRZX5inoAHmnCK6rQUeZWl0VrJWSyH8ejki6lwDllaAS-O3F2CZUSvQRWoA91WO6tsQKZGO2CJ1h1qgRUlDBpXxcppD6aSwrlUDsUqYp7zNRdo-cT169-6ozSv8w8/s1280/BookCover_GreatBigOceanSky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WFBoGercAtKhE6fpNIrbbPIMG__9zxtyHUmvQDLN5HsEUxuzni3hMc_NTuOp5_bRZX5inoAHmnCK6rQUeZWl0VrJWSyH8ejki6lwDllaAS-O3F2CZUSvQRWoA91WO6tsQKZGO2CJ1h1qgRUlDBpXxcppD6aSwrlUDsUqYp7zNRdo-cT169-6ozSv8w8/w125-h200/BookCover_GreatBigOceanSky.jpg" width="125" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WindRunner shot into the air, following the great ‘Dragon
through the sky. Peregrina’s wake was strong and fast, and WindRunner put
himself in the center of her air stream. Mary looked around, sensing for the
other Thoughtdragons that had attacked the Garnet Revenge, but did not feel
them.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It doesn’t mean they aren’t nearby, WindRunner said.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Really?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Do not become overconfident with this power, Mary Jingo. The
Thoughtdragons are dangerous. Older even than my Kin. While I face the same
temptation as you—I am drawn to her great power—remember that Peregrina wanted
to be found. Otherwise, we would not have been able to follow her.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">That couldn’t be possible, Mary puzzled to herself. She had
known where Peregrina was. Mary had made this decision to follow Peregrina,
hadn’t she? A stab of doubt hit Mary in the chest. Had they walked into a trap?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Peace, Warrior, WindRunner said soothingly. Peregrina wanted
us to follow her. I don’t think she will harm you. I think she wishes to speak
with you. Or, that is what Mikeala said to me before we left the boat.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">You had a private Mindspan with Mikeala?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Yes. She told me I should take you if you wished to go.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Private Mindspans are rude when they are about someone else.
The Father says so.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">WindRunner laughed in her mind.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Suddenly, Peregrina stopped in midair and whipped around.
WindRunner dove to keep from running straight into her serpentine length,
ending their conversation. Peregrina beat her wings softly to stay stationary,
and WindRunner flew around until he was face to face with the great
Thoughtdragon.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mary’s stomach sank. The last time she had been face to face
in the air with someone like this, it had been the evil Mellie. She had won
that battle, but only barely. She was not certain she could win a battle like
that again. Peregrina was even more terrifying than Mellie. Her head was twice
the size of WindRunner. The Thoughtdragon only needed to barely open her mouth
to swallow them both whole.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">WindRunner sent courage through their bond, but Mary felt
his unease. He was being strong for her, just like she wanted to be strong for
him. Peregrina spoke then to them both, her voice rich, gravelly, and musical,
like a bass note dropped beneath a perfect melody.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Well, you followed me out here, Shadowlander. What is it
that you want?” She slithered her great head to the side as she said this, and
Mary felt and smelled the Thoughtdragon’s untamed power. It blotted out her
fear.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“I need your scales. Three of them. We need them in LeeChee.
The Everything is shrinking, and I am fighting with the Resistors. We are
trying to save it,” Mary said, breathing deeply. She spoke clearly and with
confidence. “Please help us, great Peregrina.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The ‘dragon shook her head and laughed.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Save it? Save the Everything with my scales? Child, in your
tiny mind, I might as well be the Everything. You cannot save the Everything
with the Everything. And that world, that island, has been pitiful and beyond
saving for many annuals now. Your Keeper is the size of a child. Don’t you see?
It is lost. Go home to your dark, dark world and leave us in peace. Your People
are causing the problem anyway.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“My People?” Mary responded, trying to hide the hurt in her
voice.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Yes—you Shadowlanders. The Everything is created in the
Shadowlands. It cycles up and up to places like LeeChee to be kept safe. Over
time, it drifts back down to the Shadowlands and the cycle continues, with the
ebb and flow of time. Do they not teach you anything in school down there?”
Peregrina paused and turned her livid golden eyes to WindRunner.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“And you, the Lumon’s son. Bound by oath to protect a girl
from the Shadowlands. Why have you done this?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“She can save us,” WindRunner blasted back.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Can she?” Peregrina replied with a grin on her giant mouth.
“How? It is the greed of her People that has caused the blight in your lands.
They don’t go outside anymore. They are trapped in their own heads, in their
own tribes. They don’t listen to each other. They hardly interact with anyone
who doesn’t think exactly how they do. How does one child heal rifts and tears
that are hundreds of years old? This is why the Everything shrinks. Do you not
know, WindRunner, son of Spearwing? Or are you all much too blind to see it?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Mellie is to blame for the Void. Mellie has been warping
the Everything to her own purposes,” Mary said, yelling across the distance.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Fool! Mellie was once like your precious Mikeala. As tall
as a mountain and charged with keeping the Everything and the flow of the
Cycles safe. She could no more turn the Everything into the Void than I can. It
is against her nature. But to regain her former strength and form, she may have
been tempted to help someone corrupt the Everything. The Void is powerful, even
if it is unnatural. She may be helping the flow of the Void, but no, no. She
did not create it.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Her scars,” Mary said to herself and WindRunner, thinking
of the marks that marred the woman’s face. “Her scars are from the Void.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Yes,” Peregrina said. Her hearing must be excellent to
perceive Mary over such a distance. “Yes. She has paid dearly in service to the
Void.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“You must help us,” Mary cried desperately. “Mikeala said
you brought me out here to talk to me. Help me. I know you can.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The giant Thoughtdragon swirled her body in the air in front
of Mary. Small flames burst from her mouth when she laughed. Mary could feel
their heat as they crackled in the air.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Why would I help you? As I said, the greed of your people
is what is causing LeeChee to die. It will grow dark and cold and fade, and me
and my kind will visit it no more. And your land will suffer, Mary Jingo. As we
have all suffered.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Please—you cannot let this happen.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“How dare you!” Peregrina boomed. Her jaws opened wide. “How
dare you accuse me of letting anything happen. It breaks my very being to know
that LeeChee will fall into darkness and the Void, but I cannot intervene. Your
People, you Shadowlanders, with your pride and your lack of imagination, your
desperation for profit. You will kill LeeChee. I allowed you to follow me here
because I wanted to see your face before I send you back to that darkened world
of the Shadowlands. You don’t belong in LeeChee, Mary Jingo. You will only make
things worse.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Peregrina dove towards Mary and WindRunner, spinning her
long body in the air and flapping her wings hard. WindRunner, always ready for
attack, spun out of the way, as Mary gripped the handholds. She cast for
Peregrina’s power, but found herself blocked from it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">WindRunner. She has shielded me. I cannot channel or
control.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Sensing Mary’s fear, WindRunner burst through the air, the
giant ‘dragon following swiftly behind. Peregrina was bigger, which WindRunner
used to his advantage, banking and turning quickly through the air, making it
hard for the Thoughtdragon to follow. Mary found herself dizzy and out of
sorts, casting about for ideas. WindRunner blasted a mighty caw at the
Thoughtdragon and watched as a jet of light shot from his beak and hit
Peregrina squarely between the eyes. She roared angrily, then continued her wild
pursuit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><b>Buy links</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8px; margin-bottom: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">This book will be on sale for only $0.99 in e-book format (please check price before purchase)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Great-Big-Ocean-Home-Book-ebook/dp/B0C5D1W7LP?crid=1KHLMRW2RHPMB&keywords=great+big+ocean+sky+kelly+byrd&qid=1695168069&s=digital-text&sprefix=great+big+ocean+sky+kelly+byrd%2Cdigital-text%2C300&sr=1-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=thereaadd-20&linkId=7585d69e5a76664e7245811264e06efc&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Amazon Kindle</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3silCPt" target="_blank">Amazon Print</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/great-big-ocean-sky-kelly-byrd/20069251?ean=9781736617458"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="color: black;">Bookshop.org</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/great-big-ocean-sky-kelly-byrd/1143479263?ean=9781736617458"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="color: black;">Barnes & Noble</span></span></a></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/great-big-ocean-sky-kelly-byrd/20069251?ean=9781736617458"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="color: black;">IndieBound</span></span></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><span style="color: #070909; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7CeqwzzlXKP9YG9pCY3OH2eB0Mdh1hmf9htMTp0jwUGUgAUWcj5sQugVylV90R6pmjq3xRSmCF632a7BNODCBJ26V6wwpdveomEIPM1tElioPgzNAf6YkDqvo3cDOdbkqYJlrXP-uJcut5cBRj86TKEtf5jF5axEIiZjZUV2F_nXpy-dXDDPI6wVRz0/w150-h200/author%20image%20(17).jpg" width="150" /></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #070909; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Stories have crept around the halls
of Kelly Byrd’s mind since she was a little girl. Not even the combined will of
her two loyal pups, her devoted husband, and all her house plants could keep
her from putting this story into the world. You’ll find this happy crew in
Nashville. Tennessee. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span style="color: #070909; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span style="color: #070909; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span style="color: #070909; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><a href="https://www.kellybyrd.com/"><span style="color: #0b4cb4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Website</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><a href="https://www.kellybyrd.com/blog"><span style="color: #0b4cb4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Blog</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/farfromhomeseries/"><span style="color: #0b4cb4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Instagram</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span style="color: #070909; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 8.25pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><br /></p><p>*********************************************</p><p><br /></p><p><b>GIVEAWAY </b></p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4745" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4745/" id="rcwidget_03jdigl5" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv0187824830MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/10/vbt-great-big-ocean-sky-by-kelly-byrd.html" target="_blank">here</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"></span></p><p class="yiv0187824830MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"> </span></p><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-51678720785164508452023-10-18T00:30:00.093-07:002023-10-18T00:30:00.150-07:00Phate's Mate: The Thelli Logs (Intergalactic Dating Agency) by A.M. Griffin (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFP ADULT title<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlUspYp4eKwUio9dACHXdPUuJolsYM3pBmyu-CYBN2BvOOAa04Iw0FEs8tYaLNqE_ElRMOUCE0iU95UFO8AQPygkeRZJTH2gJG48easSjAOhLFTSUkuBfygIy4rOFM894SUN2Sglr8fIwXVgD8XIJ5_sRCzcqm6KdwwwgmrhcLRVAOO2ogORKYtXVf8o/s1200/TourBanner_PhatesMate.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlUspYp4eKwUio9dACHXdPUuJolsYM3pBmyu-CYBN2BvOOAa04Iw0FEs8tYaLNqE_ElRMOUCE0iU95UFO8AQPygkeRZJTH2gJG48easSjAOhLFTSUkuBfygIy4rOFM894SUN2Sglr8fIwXVgD8XIJ5_sRCzcqm6KdwwwgmrhcLRVAOO2ogORKYtXVf8o/s320/TourBanner_PhatesMate.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Phate's Mate: The Thelli Logs </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">(Intergalactic Dating Agency)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">ADULT</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> title</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A.M. Griffin</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">GENRE</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">: Sci-fi Romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Peacekeeper. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When his shy neighbor knocked on his apartment
door, Phate’s mission to stay off the humans’ radar until the rescue team
arrived changed in a blink of an eye. He not only wants to tell this delectable
human about alien existence, but he also wants to take her back to Thelli with
him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Getting
to know her was proving difficult when his new mission involves joining a
dating app in an effort to see if humans are compatible enough to join the
Intergalactic Dating Agency.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
Workaholic. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tasha worked hard building her small business on Main Street and
didn’t have time for distractions. With a fire-cracker best friend and three
new mysterious neighbors, Tasha was finding herself thinking of something other
than her boutique for a change. But fate? Fate has a way of intervening, and
she finds out the hard way that she can’t run or hide from her feelings, especially
when distraction as fine as Phate lives right next door.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkfUqz8QYEi0ICZZgbYTxo2kN3N_FHRfsQhGeO5NP-nZZIYOGC8UzdQo_4D3ubDX3r-l4ZdXSJU2yw-6SJQbubCCd2fJ4_dMzhYxG3Y1HufhiGt4RiuormWXHAYeNauffqwjkvfAIchIpOHesP0R3XI_W8RtfPOzt5WS4agU1XCv8Q7oHuzYb8ermVLQ/s2775/BookCover_Phate's%20Mate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="1800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkfUqz8QYEi0ICZZgbYTxo2kN3N_FHRfsQhGeO5NP-nZZIYOGC8UzdQo_4D3ubDX3r-l4ZdXSJU2yw-6SJQbubCCd2fJ4_dMzhYxG3Y1HufhiGt4RiuormWXHAYeNauffqwjkvfAIchIpOHesP0R3XI_W8RtfPOzt5WS4agU1XCv8Q7oHuzYb8ermVLQ/w130-h200/BookCover_Phate's%20Mate.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">EXCERPT</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Would it be too much to ask to slip inside her
apartment without having to run smack dab into Phate unfolding his massive body
from a cab?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Yes. Because fate seemed to be playing a cruel trick
on her. Both versions.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">At seeing him exiting the cab, Tasha did what anyone
who had a crush on their sexy as hell neighbor would do. She cursed under her
breath, put her head down and hurried up the front steps, trying to make it to
the apartment building door while frantically hoping he didn’t notice her.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Tasha!” Phate called out just as her hand reached
the door.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Again. Fate was cruel. Oh, so very cruel.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tasha could pretend not to hear him and run inside,
but that would make her look…crazy, weird, scared? All of the above. Her heart
pounded against her ribs. She closed her eyes and tried to rein in her panic.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">One. Two. Three.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tasha swallowed. There was no need to behave this
way.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Get it together.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">She took a deep and steadying breath and turned to
greet him with a fake smile plastered across her face. “Heeeyyyy, you.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">He had on clothes that matched this time—somewhat.
She wasn’t quite sure if purple and orange normally went together, but on him
it looked as if a professional had styled him. He could never walk a runway.
His build was too big and bulky, and his gait was more predatory than
model-isk. And she loved it. All of it. The entire package.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">He walked toward her; brow crinkled. “Phate. My name
is Phate.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Eyes up, don’t look at his powerful legs. “I know. I
was just…”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">What? Was caught off guard by how fine he looked and
couldn’t get her hormones in check to act sane for two seconds while in his
presence?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Here, let me get this. I’m supposed to open doors
for females.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">He stepped around her to open the door, brushing his
body slightly against hers and giving her a nose full of his scent. A deep wood
smell tickled her nose and sent shivers down her spine, making her knees weak.
If she wanted to look at his face, she would have to take a step back and crane
her neck to see his eyes. He made her feel small and dainty and she liked it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">She plastered herself against the door, trying to
avoid any more touching and went through. “Um, thank you. Men don’t open doors
where you’re from?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">He entered behind her and tilted his head. The heat
of him was at her back. “There’s no need to. All doors are automatic.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">She chuckled nervously as she made her way toward
the elevator. “All doors are automatic? That’s a blanket statement.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">He stepped in line with her and shrugged. “They
are.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">She pressed the “Up” button and willed the elevator
to come as soon as possible.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“If there were manual doors, I don’t believe the
females on my—where I’m from—would appreciate being coddled like they do here.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The elevator dinged its arrival and opened. She
stepped inside and he followed. Her heart thumped as soon as they were enclosed
in the space together. His rich scent intensified.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Oh, God.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">She pushed the fourth-floor button. “They’re
progressive, are they?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">He tilted his head to the side, causing the blond
curls to sway in movement. Her fingers longed to wrap around a lock and play
with it. The elevator doors shut, and her stomach dipped as it rose.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“They’ve spent many years proving they’re just as
capable as the males. They wouldn’t appreciate being treated any differently
because of their gender.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Damn. That sexy voice.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“So, they don’t want or rather, need the door opened
for them? Do they like their chairs held out? Or what about the meals and
dates? Do they pay for them too?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Phate shrugged his massive shoulders. “We treat them
as equals. Who pays with their credits isn’t really a factor.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tasha pulled her eyebrows together. “Credits?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The elevator dinged and the doors opened.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Money,” he added quickly.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">She breezed through the door and made her way down
their hall.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Credits. Is that what money is called where you’re
from?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Yes.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“And exactly where are you from?” she pressed.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Not here.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">She chuckled. “I gathered that much. Your accents
gave it away. I can’t put my finger on it though. Maybe Greek?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Have you ever been to Greek?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tasha stopped at her door and frowned as she turned
to face him. “Do you mean, have I ever been to Greece?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">His face was serious as he nodded. “Yes, that.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">AUTHOR Bio and Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fQ_RS6647vG4xEff05bviAmjSM6ttdrtFNgrN9EtBVd-4i5p0FspcAurl23zTZKT8QdQ6NvPdwwmNnAggI4chDGMCVfrsAwcMZd78-3fiDyer16qvbrmUM67l-V0wQMe62ECMK0s2WMx2kDH5x260koq-_tj0WifTUqOjXLodfvygcii74jKjvp6vRg/s1658/author%20image%20(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1658" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fQ_RS6647vG4xEff05bviAmjSM6ttdrtFNgrN9EtBVd-4i5p0FspcAurl23zTZKT8QdQ6NvPdwwmNnAggI4chDGMCVfrsAwcMZd78-3fiDyer16qvbrmUM67l-V0wQMe62ECMK0s2WMx2kDH5x260koq-_tj0WifTUqOjXLodfvygcii74jKjvp6vRg/w130-h200/author%20image%20(16).jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">A. M. Griffin
is a mother of three, dog owner (and sometimes dog owned), a daughter, sister,
aunt and friend. She’s a hard worker whose two favorite outlets are reading and
writing. She enjoys reading everything from mystery novels to historical
romances and of course fantasy romance. She is a believer in the unbelievable,
open to all possibilities from mermaids in our oceans and seas, angels in the
skies and intelligent life forms in distant galaxies. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Where you can
find me:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amgriffinbooks.com/" target="_blank">Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Subscribe to my
</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/A.M.-Griffin/e/B00APK4V4G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Amazon page</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Email:
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> ***************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><b>GIVEAWAY</b></span></p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4717" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4717/" id="rcwidget_uwuyqap1" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv3979913200MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/09/blurb-blitz-phates-mate-thelli-logs-by.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv3979913200MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p class="yiv3979913200MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p class="yiv3979913200MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p class="yiv3979913200MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p class="yiv3979913200MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><br /></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-60194043236234938992023-09-25T00:30:00.092-07:002023-09-30T20:48:34.209-07:00A Voice Out of Poverty by Jillian Haslam (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCiJxjogR6I42iU3ty2FLgnXQ-l9vNaOLSqe_Mqi2s5vS33yI6xQYDx1SGIOKvlarJsbdCM47NtFtw_ChzTdNAP7u4XID1CetL-8IaZER5zykiedagv-mIOPmdeEPE6fS96GaGuqdukJo5XWcV1Q5N_3tvqwEiPqcDeLjjHaxebDavkELN3ZHExecx8k/s1200/TourBanner_A%20Voice%20out%20of%20Poverty_review.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCiJxjogR6I42iU3ty2FLgnXQ-l9vNaOLSqe_Mqi2s5vS33yI6xQYDx1SGIOKvlarJsbdCM47NtFtw_ChzTdNAP7u4XID1CetL-8IaZER5zykiedagv-mIOPmdeEPE6fS96GaGuqdukJo5XWcV1Q5N_3tvqwEiPqcDeLjjHaxebDavkELN3ZHExecx8k/s320/TourBanner_A%20Voice%20out%20of%20Poverty_review.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3t1UOCR" target="_blank">A Voice Out of Poverty</a></i><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">ADULT</span> title</div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">by </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Jillian Haslam<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">GENRE</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">: Memoir<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A woman’s ascent from devastating poverty and childhood trauma to
international standing as a prominent advocate for the poor and helpless.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">As
a young girl, Jillian Haslam saved a life. Herself tiny and aching from
malnutrition, she stood for hours at a tea shop, begging for a ladle of milk to
try and prevent her newborn sister from dying of starvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">From
the slums of Calcutta to the executive floors of a global bank, A Voice out of
Poverty offers an unflinching look at one woman’s journey from destitution to
success.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Throughout,
Haslam demonstrates an inexhaustible drive to rise above adversity and find
beacons of positivity in impossible circumstances. But her rise doesn’t stop at
the top; she returns to her roots again and again to extend a hand to those
left in the impoverished communities that she so narrowly escaped.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">British
by ancestry and born in India after its independence, Haslam and her family suffered
degradation and prejudice. They were forced to live on the streets, flee danger
in the middle of the night, and face persistent abuse and starvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This
treacherous environment is the backdrop of an unlikely story of resilience and
an unshakable family bond. From squalor and powerlessness, Haslam finds
countless moments of grace, community, gratitude, and love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A
Voice out of Poverty is a raw and inspiring memoir that shows how beauty can be
found in improbable places, and how “success” is not just the act of making it
through. Rather, it is the act of reaching back to bring others with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58948875" target="_blank">Goodreads link</a></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hWmP-oot5WsXg_RFhSgjDJ5Ackk-kO9FunmKUU8_saRm6sZn7vGA2y67f0QdNwbS890EgvMZIKxF4DFy4iBt1wBSqp7lww3NFzPH1qEecygNs-guEOE4k9OFgk7UWZmkk1Rp1cGNCEHLJjv5MZL51UMwE60cAkNnMQROv2n50aP-cQOJCqhm785yIOQ/s1207/Cover-A%20Voice%20out%20of%20Poverty_front%20only.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hWmP-oot5WsXg_RFhSgjDJ5Ackk-kO9FunmKUU8_saRm6sZn7vGA2y67f0QdNwbS890EgvMZIKxF4DFy4iBt1wBSqp7lww3NFzPH1qEecygNs-guEOE4k9OFgk7UWZmkk1Rp1cGNCEHLJjv5MZL51UMwE60cAkNnMQROv2n50aP-cQOJCqhm785yIOQ/w133-h200/Cover-A%20Voice%20out%20of%20Poverty_front%20only.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">EXCERPT</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">A bristly, grey rat jutted its head through a wide crack in
the peeling stucco wall, its long tail draped behind and hidden. It squinted
its beady eyes and sniffed the air, as a light drizzle started to dampen the
ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">A few feet away, an older homeless woman, sitting under a
precarious building canopy, shifted her eyes towards the rat, without moving
her head. A stray dog nestled next to her, one of three gathered snuggly around
her, bared its teeth, and growled at the rodent, without rising.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The woman swiveled her head in the rat’s direction and
shooed it away with a claw-like hand slicing the air. The rat withdrew,
vanishing inside the wall. The dog returned its head to rest on its paws and
closed its eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The drizzle turned into a light rain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">My mother and I took in the rat scene side by side as we
ambled down the street. My eyes remained riveted on the homeless woman. I
wondered if she had a family or young children like me. Then, the noisy
“pop-pop” of a Vespa flew near my eyes and broke my concentration, causing me
to pull my head back abruptly. I gripped my mother’s hand as tightly as I
could.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The rain was now steady but not enough to flood the crowded
streets or inhibit the pace of the fast-moving foot and vehicle traffic. I
looked up to see an old man pulling a rickshaw coming towards us. I stared at
him. His emaciated body looked as if his skin could peel off in thin layers,
like a stale onion. He stared at me, sharing his single black tooth. I held my
stare.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The rickshaw puller veered off the line of his path, forcing
a dilapidated scooter that packed an entire family to swerve near us. The
scooter splashed mud onto my legs and dress, and I started to cry. My only
proper dress was drenched with filth. I now would have to undress to underclothes
while it got washed. My mother stopped and crouched in front of me. I didn’t
hide my disgust.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><a href="https://books2read.com/u/3JnzxK" target="_blank">Buy links</a></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">AUTHOR Bio and Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3tBzPnb0-2LmGVRaqiZ9jNTxILGByzVOqYpQ_8T5ZB4KIq2ra6QC5HChNNIv-Frb4yD7kzZJgH_SF-2pGwPjma70yTdDGKtBgnGB_lNYET0v518JWfeF6kzMRkoaBYp5vzdw983s9LGG9vuFgXSKcvAkMBbpEG2s0AjOCw5xvVhsg_R49-AYJ4Mz9jA/s988/Author%20Picture%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3tBzPnb0-2LmGVRaqiZ9jNTxILGByzVOqYpQ_8T5ZB4KIq2ra6QC5HChNNIv-Frb4yD7kzZJgH_SF-2pGwPjma70yTdDGKtBgnGB_lNYET0v518JWfeF6kzMRkoaBYp5vzdw983s9LGG9vuFgXSKcvAkMBbpEG2s0AjOCw5xvVhsg_R49-AYJ4Mz9jA/w162-h200/Author%20Picture%20(1).jpg" width="162" /></a></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Jillian Haslam
was born in 1970 and raised primarily in the slums of Calcutta. Despite the
severe devastation of her family’s living circumstances, she completed her
education and landed her first major employment as a personal assistant to the
CEO at Bank of America in India.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Jillian rose
through the ranks, and Bank of America appointed her president of its Charity
and Diversity Network in India, where she spearheaded charitable work in four
different cities. This led her to receive three philanthropic awards from Bank
of America: the Star Recognition award, the Service Excellence award, and The
Individual Achievement award.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">In 2011, she
published the first version of her memoir, Indian. English, which chronicles
her life growing up amid dreadful poverty, abuse, and tragedy. The book sold
over 150,000 copies, mostly while she was on the speaking circuit. Her story
also incited interest from Hollywood and British film directors and producers,
leading to the development of a feature film.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Charitable
giving became Jillian’s life work. In 2012, she received the first runner up
award for The Asian Woman of the Year in the “Social and Humanitarian”
category. In early 2015, The Telegraph of Calcutta presented Jillian with the
True Legend award for her exceptional contribution to social and humanitarian
causes. In mid-2015, she was recognized as a finalist for the Role Model of the
Year award for her work delivering speeches in educational institutes across
the UK. In late 2016, she received an award for Excellence in Humanitarianism.
And, in 2017, she received her greatest accolade, the Mother Teresa Memorial
International Award.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Jillian became
a speaker in demand and is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). She has delivered
several TEDx talks, among other prestigious speaking engagements, on various
topics that flow from her life story. Jillian speaks on topics that include
entrepreneurialism, the power of the mind, and human resilience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">She has also
been featured on various TV networks, including Channel 5 and the BBC, and a
wide range of print media, including The Independent, The Pioneer, The Times,
The Telegraph, The Metro, Gulf News, and other major media outlets. Jillian’s
charitable work continues under the auspices of the Remedia Trust where she oversees
several separate charities: Ageing Smiles (for the elderly poor), Happy Hearts
(for children), Empowering Girls (for teaching various workable skills),
India’s Disabled (for building a mobile medical unit), E3 Growth (focused on
education, employment, and employability), and the Mother Teresa Project (for
women and single mothers).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Jillian
currently lives in London with her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Connect with
her here: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.jillianhaslam.com/">Website</a></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jillian.haslam">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/IndianEnglishTheMovie">Facebook: Indian English The Movie</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://twitter.com/JillianHaslam">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jillian.haslam/">Instagram</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> **************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><b>GIVEAWAY</b></span></p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4650" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4650/" id="rcwidget_euxuvtzr" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv7593944072MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; outline: none;">The tour dates can be found <a href=" https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/06/review-tour-voice-out-of-poverty-by.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv7593944072MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p><p class="yiv7593944072MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div>*********************</div><div><br /></div><div>My review:</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4.5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3t1UOCR" target="_blank">A Voice Out of Poverty</a></b></i> by Jillian Haslam is a sobering yet
ultimately inspirational memoir that details the author’s extremely humble beginnings
and the factors that made her into the success and role model that she has become. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This is a distressing and eye-opening insight into the harshness of life in a
poverty-stricken country combined with the reminder that we can be inordinately
cruel to one another or we can rise above ourselves and learn to extend kindness
in a multitude of ways. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">There are a few areas that I would have liked to have
had more clarity on, and those who are sensitive to mentions of abuse of all
kinds should read with caution, but I am reminded of one of my favorite axioms…that
we are who we are because of what we have experienced, and we can regret what has
happened, but if it hadn’t, we wouldn’t be the person we are today. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The author
is a very strong person, honed by a crucible of unimaginable experiences, and I
think that every person who reads her saga cannot help but be changed for the
better by learning from her example. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The following quotes from the book say it best…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />“This book is about prejudice and the sadness and suffering it causes. But it is, above all, about resilience and finding the mental strength to get back up every time the rug of life is pulled from under your feet.” <br /><br /><br />“My parents repeatedly extolled the value of gratitude, that we should be grateful for everything we had, for life was a blessing, no matter how sad the conditions or how prevalent the abuse and daily suffering.” <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />A copy of this title was provided for review</span><br /></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-18422073082714467982023-09-20T00:30:00.159-07:002023-09-20T00:30:00.141-07:00Eight Years Gone by Cate Beauman (Author's note, Spotlight, Excerpt, Review and GIVEAWAY) ADULT title<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx2Aj-LvQEopVWw4bufCUrR6ZjCPWHJodNysrudcEgciZzASlB3ClqJ3cDqLZSkFEn9khl_OsKS9OjpChfVAlrPowr6ZyXug5hzMszbhutsF2q1EzSTAGVX1bZGIAva9UWRUeBXfTcXhwvl0aOeF3Ly0pDZwDnN3akLCDvgQUITWfszoKDHgBmMhnAsM/s1838/02%20Eight%20Years%20Gone%20-%203D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1838" data-original-width="1458" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx2Aj-LvQEopVWw4bufCUrR6ZjCPWHJodNysrudcEgciZzASlB3ClqJ3cDqLZSkFEn9khl_OsKS9OjpChfVAlrPowr6ZyXug5hzMszbhutsF2q1EzSTAGVX1bZGIAva9UWRUeBXfTcXhwvl0aOeF3Ly0pDZwDnN3akLCDvgQUITWfszoKDHgBmMhnAsM/w159-h200/02%20Eight%20Years%20Gone%20-%203D.png" width="159" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Cate Beauman’s <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3PnTG47" target="_blank">Eight Years Gone</a></i><b> </b>Release Celebration!<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A note from the author:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I’m so
excited to share this new story with you! I love that Eight Years Gone feels a
little different from my other titles on the market.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For over a
decade, I’ve been a Romantic Suspense girl, but the last year has brought tons
of changes to my personal life. I’d say it’s entirely unrecognizable from
twelve months ago. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My husband
and I are officially empty-nesters (which I don’t love). We sold almost
everything we owned and moved into a 320-sq. ft. tiny house in an entirely
different state. My husband completely changed his career. And those are just a
few of the wild and whacky shenanigans that shook up my life as I’ve known it
for the last twenty-plus years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">But change
can be good. It allows us to grow and explore new things—including different
aspects of ourselves. Through this new beginning, I’ve discovered that I’m
ready to hang up my Romantic Suspense hat—at least for a little while—and focus
on Contemporary Romance. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">And with
that revelation, ideas for Jagger and Grace’s steamy second-chance romance
started playing through my mind. Their undeniable connection and chemistry made
it so fun to weave their story together. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I hope
you’ll love Eight Years Gone as much as I enjoyed telling it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Here’s to
embracing new beginning</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">****************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHx0_OP1akKTZ5waR-hLophXaWvz9iaWgGYEEeGj60jzalWjFkbXSdibERpzt1K7T6vMt4XZggeEYM7fMVcUbFT6ni35AQI5pFib7-jm0Nr4otXEm8_Wc7UuMGQCIvig5-rrYc0_9AXVTxpimqCOGT6mkVDMgwnhlrucX9uwVOf234fyVDd-GAdLueME/s2000/03%20Eight%20Years%20Gone%20-%20eBook%20Small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1253" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHx0_OP1akKTZ5waR-hLophXaWvz9iaWgGYEEeGj60jzalWjFkbXSdibERpzt1K7T6vMt4XZggeEYM7fMVcUbFT6ni35AQI5pFib7-jm0Nr4otXEm8_Wc7UuMGQCIvig5-rrYc0_9AXVTxpimqCOGT6mkVDMgwnhlrucX9uwVOf234fyVDd-GAdLueME/w125-h200/03%20Eight%20Years%20Gone%20-%20eBook%20Small.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>EIGHT YEARS GONE</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">ADULT </span>title</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> by</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Cate Beauman</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">RELEASE
DATE</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">: September
20, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">BOOK
DESCRIPTION</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A
steamy second chance…<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Jagger Tennyson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">never
had it easy, but that all changes when Dr. Steven Evans knocks on his front
door. Leaving poverty and hopelessness behind, Jagger creates a life he’s been
too afraid to dream of. But tragedy strikes late one night, and everything
falls apart. Jagger is forced to walk away, leaving the woman he loves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Grace
Evans grew up with wealth and privilege, but she’s no stranger to loss and
pain. When she meets the gorgeous boy from the wrong side of the tracks,
everything changes for the better. Grace has never loved anyone the way she
loves Jagger. But he vanishes on the night that nearly destroys her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Eight
years later, Jagger comes home, and nothing is how it was supposed to be.
Dreams were shattered, and trust was broken, but he wants to make things right.
He’ll do whatever it takes to fight for Grace, but proving he still loves her
won’t be easy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">When
tragedy befalls Grace again, Jagger can help her pick up the pieces. But can
Grace forgive the past?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> ***************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;">EXCERPT:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Jagger settled
his sunglasses in place as he stepped out of the shop’s short alleyway. He
passed Simplicity’s storefront as Grace opened the big glass doors in
anticipation of the day’s patrons. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> She paused
with her hand on the Open sign as their eyes met. Then she turned away, heading
farther into the shop. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “Damn,” he
muttered as he kept his pace steady on his walk down the pretty tree-lined
stretch of Main Street, barely paying attention to the fall flowers decorating
window boxes or the fact that a few of the stores along the block had changed
hands since the last time he’d been there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> He exhaled a
long, frustrated breath because the last twenty minutes had gone far worse than
he’d expected. Cornering Grace had been a bit of a dick move, but he hadn’t
known what else to do, especially after she’d locked him out. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> This entire
situation was boggy ground. Everything about the present was new territory.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Clenching his
jaw, he flared his nostrils, remembering how Grace had looked at him while he
followed her around the store—hostility and poorly guarded vulnerability. That
was new, too, and he didn’t like it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> He’d watched
her. When he pulled up at an empty spot by the coffee shop, he hadn’t realized
she would be sitting by the window with Christy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Initially,
he’d planned to walk over to Maggie’s place and find Grace there, but he’d
stared across the street instead, studying how easily Grace talked and laughed
with her longtime best friend. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> It was a shame
when that had changed. He’d known the exact moment when she spotted him—when
her eyes had grown huge with shock and her shoulders stiff with tension.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “Damn,” he
said again because things used to be so easy between them. He and Grace had
spent long stretches of each day together for the better part of five years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Occasionally,
they had argued or pissed each other off, but they’d never been able to stay
mad at each other for long. Laughter and fun had always followed apologies and
hugs—or a hell of a bout of sweaty makeup sex.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Clearly, those
days were over. But he rubbed at the back of his neck because even as he
thought it, he knew it wasn’t that simple. He’d seen the flash of desire in her
eyes—had heard the breathiness in her voice after he’d touched her. Time had
passed—years—but there was still something between them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> They needed to
have a conversation, even if Grace wasn’t necessarily excited about the idea.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Is there
really anything we need to say?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> He shook his
head as her last words to him stung. There was plenty to talk about because
Grace had her hands full. When he’d left her behind, her life was supposed to
have been better for it. She was supposed to have capitalized on her
opportunities and made her dreams come true. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> ************************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohADt3vlwCx5tuCoC0FuO3ippUKzDi1ROCbtFnFOgSO7F2FAQ6sM4skfaY2kErgSz_L9mNlf5OhZHWlYHOIb_MFx-CRrEt-dNaTfVWCqVfYZHlulLxWRPpqQhKoFmoj8W4zpD3EiIgIvV8AkmuqjCl7TBW2y-hyBdzpGsR6IV6lW17TGKGDZBWqrcv4A/s1200/06Q%20EIGHT%20YEARS%20GONE%20Promo%20Quote%20Graphic%20Cate%20Beauman.png.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1200" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohADt3vlwCx5tuCoC0FuO3ippUKzDi1ROCbtFnFOgSO7F2FAQ6sM4skfaY2kErgSz_L9mNlf5OhZHWlYHOIb_MFx-CRrEt-dNaTfVWCqVfYZHlulLxWRPpqQhKoFmoj8W4zpD3EiIgIvV8AkmuqjCl7TBW2y-hyBdzpGsR6IV6lW17TGKGDZBWqrcv4A/w320-h170/06Q%20EIGHT%20YEARS%20GONE%20Promo%20Quote%20Graphic%20Cate%20Beauman.png.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"><b><i>EIGHT YEARS GONE</i> </b>SOUNDTRACK</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I love
listening to music any time I write. I find that the right song at the right
moment helps me lock into my flow state. And that’s where the magic happens! These
were the songs that spoke to me as I told Grace and Jagger’s story:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"Wonderstruck" by Jane & The Boys<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"18" by One Direction<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"Longer
Than I Thought" by Loote ft. Joe Jonas<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"Ghost
Story" by Carrie Underwood<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"Hard
Sometimes" by Ruel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"Butter" by BTS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"For
Tonight" by Giveon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"My
Rose" (Luca Edit) by Luca and Emma Castellino <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"Anyone" by Justin Bieber<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Enjoy
the <i><b>Eight Years Gone</b></i> soundtrack at this Spotify <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1qKhrx0h57hMT0yqiZGnSq?si=f11a5e277b2f47bb" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">link</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> **********************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">About Cate
Beauman<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q65AmTueoLMJyLgLuLopX0SKwt-btD34Si5WmJHRr_JuGJmM3xfrrJtDAEVDyytrxKrN9nDBCZgCQEQTuyyUPXTCTDkaOHuLerwPg9PDJklDdkCWP8JwvhVRnQxjYrBVzlSUZJjdxqRMKw-ziR7ZqZ8bnrpbZkCfo6bdX-xIbAm5162tkGVAluPC6IU/s750/08%20Cate%20Profile%20Picture.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q65AmTueoLMJyLgLuLopX0SKwt-btD34Si5WmJHRr_JuGJmM3xfrrJtDAEVDyytrxKrN9nDBCZgCQEQTuyyUPXTCTDkaOHuLerwPg9PDJklDdkCWP8JwvhVRnQxjYrBVzlSUZJjdxqRMKw-ziR7ZqZ8bnrpbZkCfo6bdX-xIbAm5162tkGVAluPC6IU/w133-h200/08%20Cate%20Profile%20Picture.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Cate
Beauman is the multi-award-winning, international bestselling author of <i><b>The
Bodyguards of L.A. County</b></i> series and the <i>Carter Island Novels</i>. She is known for
her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense and contemporary stories.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Cate’s
novels have been named Readers’ Favorite Five Star books and have won the
Booksellers’ Best Award, Maggie Award for Excellence, the Holt Medallion Award,
two-time Aspen Gold Medal, two-time Readers’ Favorite International Gold Medal,
three-time Readers’ Favorite International Silver Medal, and the Readers’ Crown
Award.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Cate makes
her home in North Carolina with her husband and their St. Bernard, Jack.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://catebeauman.com/">Website</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.catebeauman.com/getmyfreebooks">Newsletter</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CateBeaumanAuthor/">Facebook</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/realcatebeauman/">Instagram</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM">Amazon Author Page</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cate-beauman">BookBub</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> **********************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">RELEASE CELEBRATION GIVEAWAY!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;">Win 1 of 3 Amazon Gift Cards </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">→</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><a href="about:blank"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0735126864/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;"> **********************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">My review:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I'm a little behind in my reading, but thus far, I'm engrossed in the story. The characters are compelling, and I was able to connect with them right away, and sympathize with them for the challenges they have faced. Full review to follow.</p><p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Goodreads: </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="about:blank"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6543858.Cate_Beauman</span></a></span></p>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-64917205842869487442023-09-11T00:30:00.077-07:002023-09-11T00:30:00.157-07:00A Fall of Light by L.J. Greene (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA8JguCsOye-P8RmZDVru9i2F8UtSMJ-WcF1aJYXrg8UyujEqtfayyKUc95p3XQLDPWiWbZtMj8qYDOupFvpE4y28oS_Djlp_86FDUygcTZw6qrUQsozBSyCFuQlkhDzswpqCox-U6oN995LBEdX1COBCwf_ljp7_l20brOcuo5uAxG6MbqoxwuRcM8g/s1200/TourBanner_A%20Fall%20of%20Light.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA8JguCsOye-P8RmZDVru9i2F8UtSMJ-WcF1aJYXrg8UyujEqtfayyKUc95p3XQLDPWiWbZtMj8qYDOupFvpE4y28oS_Djlp_86FDUygcTZw6qrUQsozBSyCFuQlkhDzswpqCox-U6oN995LBEdX1COBCwf_ljp7_l20brOcuo5uAxG6MbqoxwuRcM8g/s320/TourBanner_A%20Fall%20of%20Light.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/45Jnz5H" target="_blank">A Fall of Light</a></i><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">by </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">LJ Greene<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">GENRE</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">: Contemporary M/M Romance<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">LJ
Greene brings to life one of her most compelling characters: the sensitive,
eccentric, bass guitarist, Greg Van de Meer. A Fall of Light weaves together
the strands of Greg’s private and public lives—a shattering personal history, a
love affair with potentially disastrous consequences, and family bonds that are
stretched to their breaking point.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BLURB:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It’s
been fifteen years since Greg was outed by his fundamentalist father at age
sixteen and sent from home, with devastating consequences for both he and his
younger brother, Asher. Now unlaid ghosts from the past are stirring. With his
band’s success on the world stage, Greg’s life takes a complicated turn when he
develops a friendship with Louis Angel, an ex-Marine with a secret of his own,
and finds himself facing familiar threats from an unexpected source.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Strained
loyalties, a private affair, and Greg’s own guarded history collide dangerously
until a visit from an old foe forces him to confront past wounds and present
beliefs. Allegiances are called into question and he must decide whether the
secrets he’s fighting to protect are worth the life he’s finally ready to have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8IwXAtPBFD6tHXZ4YgHRmC4BirBWRlzEf55nV4knb9cN9VNQ9u_nifmQw0-WU_achzbjDlohg53oyFJ4bzvXc2sngiQD97I68IChrUmZbWiHWWBCM_h4-vQLa8IIVCEGevaEXsxghveN7RQFEUWJoTqYhiYvWoHltAAv_cL1p_MUNYEnuWKSWElIb3U/s1280/BookCover_A%20Fall%20of%20Light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8IwXAtPBFD6tHXZ4YgHRmC4BirBWRlzEf55nV4knb9cN9VNQ9u_nifmQw0-WU_achzbjDlohg53oyFJ4bzvXc2sngiQD97I68IChrUmZbWiHWWBCM_h4-vQLa8IIVCEGevaEXsxghveN7RQFEUWJoTqYhiYvWoHltAAv_cL1p_MUNYEnuWKSWElIb3U/w125-h200/BookCover_A%20Fall%20of%20Light.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">EXCERPT</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He’d forgotten. Not just what it felt like to be touched by
a man, but how much a part of him those desires truly were. He’d spent so much
of his life in wary vigilance, rarely being able to fully enjoy his sexuality
or even the fruits of his life. And he’d had so many blessings, but he was
always wary. It was exhausting to be so wary.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He closed his eyes, and just for a moment, let himself
imagine what it would be like to surrender to another person’s care. No, to
Louis’s care, specifically; not some other’s. To Louis’s willingness to take
care of him, to lean on him, as he seemed to want Greg to do. To be
himself—fully himself—and to trust Louis to accept him, warts and all.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Louis’s face was now turned away, half buried in the white
mounds of his pillow, his sleep-warm arms clutching it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m afraid, he explained to him, in his thoughts. I’m afraid
I’m going to fall . . . to get used to this, he corrected himself firmly, and
you’re going to decide that being with a man—or being with me—isn’t what you
imagined it to be. “I told you,” he whispered softly aloud, “I’m not a casual
person. And I’m afraid that I won’t be able to be casual about you.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A soft snore was his only answer. He leaned over, breathing
in the musky sweetness of that firm, smooth shoulder, and pressed a small,
loving kiss there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>Buy links:</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CB8THSD2/ref=sr_1_1" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-fall-of-light-lj-greene/1143748471">B&N</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6450971378" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Apple</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-fall-of-light" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Kobo</a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">LJ
Greene is a self-professed obsessive multi-tasker who writes boring stuff by
day and lets her inner romantic fly by night.
This California native is married to the most amazing man and has two
beautiful children, now old enough to read her books but still not interested
because of the ew, gross factor. She’s an avid reader of all genres with an
embarrassingly large ebook collection, and a weird penchant for reading the
acknowledgements at the end of a novel.
She’s also a music lover with no apparent musical talent, a travel
enthusiast, and a cheese connoisseur. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.ljgreenebooks.com">Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Twitter:
@authorljgreene<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> *******************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">GIVEAWAY</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> <a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4659" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4659/" id="rcwidget_d7yacxpa" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></p><p class="yiv2771055651MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv2771055651MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/07/review-tour-fall-of-light-by-lj-greene.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv2771055651MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></p><p class="yiv2771055651MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>*******************************</span></p>
<p>My review:</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">3.75 stars<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“A Fall of Light” by L.J. Greene follows the evolution of the
relationship that develops between a rock star with a troubled past and the man
who is supposed to make sure he is safe. In addition to the stresses of being
in the closet, there are also dangers from the past that threaten to undermine
everything these two are building together.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This adult contemporary gay romance provides encouragement
and inspiration for those who have to fight to overcome dysfunctional families
and censure from those who should support them. I love that these two find a
way to get past their insecurities and learn to trust each other, even as I
cringe at the betrayal and emotional blackmail that is all too familiar to
those of us who deal with toxic people. I was able to relate to the characters
easily and became invested in their journey, and I like the fact that some of
the others in the band seem to be destined to get their lives featured as well.
I hope to see this couple featured again some time, so we can catch up on what
they’re doing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A copy of this title was provided for review<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-27791189807664041802023-07-27T00:30:00.060-07:002023-07-27T10:08:17.032-07:00Making it Hard by Tanith Davenport (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFP ADULT title<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTV59jxBdzbjnesjCcftZ5N8HovdldQQVqytmQPKnKduX2f3VNziWJTq5aJat09-kUiVli-wUK_bi-gCmoAKQ6kO2YIdsbPCs89ncMx4usjtPzC5APObDkNIuqDBnz6w5VYw7EjHCEBOdif2ndGJJR0o41HhVpbUu0IQBXb_aaerNtpoeavsZAN2boqk/s1200/TourBanner_Making%20it%20Hard.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTV59jxBdzbjnesjCcftZ5N8HovdldQQVqytmQPKnKduX2f3VNziWJTq5aJat09-kUiVli-wUK_bi-gCmoAKQ6kO2YIdsbPCs89ncMx4usjtPzC5APObDkNIuqDBnz6w5VYw7EjHCEBOdif2ndGJJR0o41HhVpbUu0IQBXb_aaerNtpoeavsZAN2boqk/s320/TourBanner_Making%20it%20Hard.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3QccLbp" target="_blank">Making It Hard</a></i></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Tanith Davenport<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">GENRE</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">: Erotic romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BLURB:</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vlogger Angel Metzler likes to create content
on her two favourite things – rock music and classic cars. So when lead
guitarist Judah Kallam approaches her at a car show and asks her to do some
promotion work for him, she accepts – and when she notices someone filming them
as he’s flirting with her, she kisses him, hoping this will result in good
publicity.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="color: #222222;">Judah tells her he plans to quit his band Vegas Dreams
to go solo and is happy to get any publicity he can by any means necessary.
Irresistibly drawn to him, Angel agrees to make public appearances with him,
but knows it will go no further – she has made a private vow never to date
musicians, having been let down by too many in the past. But when the press
attention grows too much to handle, Angel and Judah are thrown closer together
and the heat growing between them tempts Angel to break her vow – but will
Judah still be interested when the promotion is done, or is she just a groupie
to him?</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZvtwRHq-R2rkYREGzDnIYCMDCN2z5xS6ggqz8C7P-5L1C8lvhNIt_FrG4ra2Opm0I-9xlRZVxe576EWHi0bhee8krp653ptFUII7yPVnIDmFNa9VStRe0II88BELjeegoHpGzxXYeHwPLq5XNragPlV9lcB427mOXV3MdnyVFQly2vDZdMMEgMKJRHw/s1280/BookCover_MakingItHard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZvtwRHq-R2rkYREGzDnIYCMDCN2z5xS6ggqz8C7P-5L1C8lvhNIt_FrG4ra2Opm0I-9xlRZVxe576EWHi0bhee8krp653ptFUII7yPVnIDmFNa9VStRe0II88BELjeegoHpGzxXYeHwPLq5XNragPlV9lcB427mOXV3MdnyVFQly2vDZdMMEgMKJRHw/w125-h200/BookCover_MakingItHard.jpg" width="125" /></a></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">EXCERPT</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The lead singer struck the crowd with a piercing look before
playing the first chord, and Angel held up her phone, ready to record. These
guys looked like they were going to be good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Vegas Dreams. She would have to fire up Google when she got
home. She would need some background information for her review. Names, album
titles, future plans.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Judging by the lyrics, their first song was called Never
Forever. She had never heard it before but the beat was infectious, and she
began to move to the music, letting it flow through her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">As a bridge began, the lead guitarist moved to the front of
the stage to start a solo, and Angel’s eyes widened as a wave of heat flooded
through her body.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">This guy was hot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">His dark hair was long, framing his face, his firm chin
accentuated by a goatee. Dark eyes stood out under heavy brows, a curved facial
tattoo of some kind—she couldn’t quite tell what—following the edge of his
cheek to disappear behind his ear. Skintight jeans hugged his hips, but his
chest was bare under his waistcoat, revealing a line of dark hair she
instinctively ached to follow with her tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“Sloane? What’s his name?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sloane paused, tilting her head in thought. “Judah, I think.
Judah something.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“Cute.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Turning back to look, Sloane scanned him for a moment before
shrugging.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“Meh. You can have him, I’ll take the lead singer.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Angel laughed. “Yeah, right. I’m not a groupie.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://books2read.com/u/3LjDQ1" target="_blank"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Universal buy link</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.4px; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.totallybound.com/book/making-it-hard" target="_blank">Totally Bound</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnioXuoQyeFEnpKDOAsmIRVHVYcrm2wBWIm4mhh0ctsyPnZjWan7PebWeUaxtSB5a0LvFSlxN0HZiSyhoBT4FlAhunqe7ixreqDL0BZcapd3tf6x83OAThesu7VOipInWgTOrQ7r9b_kZGIVf0m42YjIy0igTuIX3aPF7csGuw8Gvnv2kKMIejGeKX0kQ/s400/Author%20Image%20(1).png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnioXuoQyeFEnpKDOAsmIRVHVYcrm2wBWIm4mhh0ctsyPnZjWan7PebWeUaxtSB5a0LvFSlxN0HZiSyhoBT4FlAhunqe7ixreqDL0BZcapd3tf6x83OAThesu7VOipInWgTOrQ7r9b_kZGIVf0m42YjIy0igTuIX3aPF7csGuw8Gvnv2kKMIejGeKX0kQ/w150-h200/Author%20Image%20(1).png" width="150" /></a></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Tanith
Davenport began writing erotica at the age of 27 by way of the Romantic
Novelists' Association New Writers' Scheme. Her debut novel "The Hand He
Dealt" was released by Totally Bound in June 2011 and was shortlisted for
the Joan Hessayon Award for 2012.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;">Tanith
has had short stories published by Totally Bound, Naughty Nights Press and
House of Erotica. She loves to travel and dreams of one day taking a driving
tour of the United States, preferably in a classic 1950s pink Cadillac
Eldorado.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;">Tanith's
idea of heaven is an Indian head massage with a Mojito at her side.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/TanithDavenport">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/TanithDavenport">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue; mso-fareast-font-family: HelveticaNeue;"><a href="http://tanithdavenport.blogspot.com">Blog<o:p></o:p></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><br /></p><p>***************************</p><p><b> GIVEAWAY</b></p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4619" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4619/" id="rcwidget_l1afc2vc" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv8546219676MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; outline: none;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/05/review-tour-making-it-hard-by-tanith.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv8546219676MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p><p class="yiv8546219676MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">***************************</span></p><p class="yiv8546219676MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv8546219676MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">My review:</span></p><p class="yiv8546219676MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv8546219676MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">3.75 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3OyEbr1" target="_blank">Making it Hard </a></b></i>by Tanith Davenport centers around Angel, a
successful vlogger, who makes an unexpected connection with lead guitarist
Judah just as he’s ready for a major change in his life. When the lines between
their personal and professional lives blur, they have to decide if they want
the same things out of life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This adult contemporary romance novella is an entertaining
quick read, perfect for enjoying by the pool with an icy drink to counter the
sizzling heat outside and on the pages. I admit to being startled that Angel is
successful enough to have a receptionist, lol, but I enjoyed the glimpses of
classic cars and the interactions between the main characters. I thought it was
a little disingenuous for her to be surprised at the publicity she generated,
since that was her goal, but it was still fun to witness the rapid evolution of
the relationship. An entertaining story for a quick break.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="yiv8546219676MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A copy of this work was provided for review</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="yiv8546219676MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-43426502523808059482023-07-17T00:30:00.117-07:002023-07-17T00:30:00.145-07:00Reflections on the Boulevard by L.J. Ambrosio (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGaO4IG2hxqg1Wz5pajZoE1xQp9ZRfskx0XxvI3fPQCWpReYzpZZK5mIRg7pFgOvVXQdq0NWTuG40S0knUMZdzheGWv8W1FzrIs96eKBdHkLj-qdzimwJi8Z44ACR8RgDAhaEqV7yw9YHzgUpQfFKJk_XUVyh9Rqoe08EZgf_GfJFaSGyzv4rlC0swac/s1200/Tour%20Banner_Reflections%20on%20the%20Boulevard_review.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGaO4IG2hxqg1Wz5pajZoE1xQp9ZRfskx0XxvI3fPQCWpReYzpZZK5mIRg7pFgOvVXQdq0NWTuG40S0knUMZdzheGWv8W1FzrIs96eKBdHkLj-qdzimwJi8Z44ACR8RgDAhaEqV7yw9YHzgUpQfFKJk_XUVyh9Rqoe08EZgf_GfJFaSGyzv4rlC0swac/s320/Tour%20Banner_Reflections%20on%20the%20Boulevard_review.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>REFLECTIONS ON THE BOULEVARD</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Louis J. Ambrosio<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">GENRE</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">: Coming of age</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">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 protégé and journeys with him in a haphazard
adventure throughout America and Europe. In Michael's final journey in life,
each twist and turn of the road brings unexpected adventures. The journey taken
is one of joy, friendship, and discovery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchCEXBv8MUQYDkb-dk4giIutQ4s8_tDLVlrRu-Mg9nsgfr033qPHtxIDZ8sX3Co3lHZr6xdHmev3lx8XfU8qNkRED3hqp_4E1-tqqKGXPdszn9hbTmjFPvh2c5e2SDuVaoSlRYewASzA2LIf9v53w6PMX6_S5YpnllKrHwgXFve7wg6X798773c3XJuk/s1200/Cover_Reflections%20on%20the%20Boulevard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchCEXBv8MUQYDkb-dk4giIutQ4s8_tDLVlrRu-Mg9nsgfr033qPHtxIDZ8sX3Co3lHZr6xdHmev3lx8XfU8qNkRED3hqp_4E1-tqqKGXPdszn9hbTmjFPvh2c5e2SDuVaoSlRYewASzA2LIf9v53w6PMX6_S5YpnllKrHwgXFve7wg6X798773c3XJuk/w133-h200/Cover_Reflections%20on%20the%20Boulevard.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">EXCERPT</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">As
the ferry entered the river, one would barely know they were sailing. The
breeze brushed against his face; he saw the water pass him just as life had. He
looked at the stern of the ferry seeing all his relationships, career, and
spirituality disappear in an endless stream of the river, moving them away but
not forgotten. Michael felt as if the bow moving upriver was pushing towards
his future with the thrust of a young man stealing second base.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">From
the corner of his eyes, he saw a well-built, nice looking young man, nerdy,
longish dirty blonde hair that either needed cutting or a ponytail. He was
talking to himself, no, Michael thought, "he is talking on the phone.” But
no, the young man was actually talking to himself, or a bird. Suddenly, the
young man saw Michael and flashed a small smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Oh
no I have been here too many times; those moments are up the river,"
thought Michael. The young man approached Michael asking if he knew him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“I
could not imagine how," said Michael, in disbelief.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Yes,”
the young man said, “in the park near the university. You were always reading
on that same bench. I remember when the pigeons shit on your book and once on
your jacket; the whole bench was full of shit,” the young man said with a
slight devilish smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Right!”
said Michael. “Are you getting off here?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“In
the middle of the river, how could I?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“You
could always try," said Michael, with a slight but cold smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Buy links</b>:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-on-the-boulevard-lj-ambrosio/1143396462">Barnes and Noble</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3IfagQL" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/reflections-on-the-boulevard/id6448296429">Apple Books</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/reflections-on-the-boulevard">Rakuten</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1068548362">Thalia</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1384458?ref=draft2digital">Smashwords</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9798985965162_9798985965162_10020/reflections-on-the-boulevard" target="_blank">Vivlio</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4wgEy9npun0HXtftek8txqjchav_3e4JRVM8R6NpNUNw6UHpdsWIai8gwcXUdjU5bPxsXq9QhKye0gw6-L1sYF5fYtBucZO2Rv1hWFg4FlN3VgAg19ncOYk2r0KALeWdT3opb1i88iWemWai44TF2NoyYz6Mr3fpIqlNO2dSvzFuOQc0o1-v4P19XZ8/s1200/Author%20LJ%20Ambrosio%20Final%20Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4wgEy9npun0HXtftek8txqjchav_3e4JRVM8R6NpNUNw6UHpdsWIai8gwcXUdjU5bPxsXq9QhKye0gw6-L1sYF5fYtBucZO2Rv1hWFg4FlN3VgAg19ncOYk2r0KALeWdT3opb1i88iWemWai44TF2NoyYz6Mr3fpIqlNO2dSvzFuOQc0o1-v4P19XZ8/w200-h133/Author%20LJ%20Ambrosio%20Final%20Portrait.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">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 seven universities.
Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and
novelist over the course of his impressive career.</span></span><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor/">Instagram</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio">Tumblr</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/">Blog</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig">YouTube</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p>*************************</p><p><b>GIVEAWAY</b></p>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4613" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4614/" id="rcwidget_y8fg53vv" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/05/review-tour-reflections-on-boulevard-by.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*************************</div><div><br /></div><div>My review</div></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">3.5 out of 5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><b>Reflections on the Boulevard</b></i> by L.J. Ambrosio follows the
relationship that develops between Michael, a man who has had many experiences
in his full life, and Ron, the young man he reluctantly takes on as a protégé.
As they travel through life together, they discover that each can impart
knowledge to the other, despite Ron’s apparent unworldliness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This story is part travelogue, part philosophical reflection,
and part coming-of-age tale conveyed in a somewhat stream-of-consciousness
manner. The little details about the various places the men visit help the
locations come alive and allow the reader to armchair travel while the musings
about life and lessons learned encourage introspection. For those who are
concerned with such things, the point of view tends to shift somewhat erratically,
as do the tenses, but one is still drawn into the story of everyday life and
the wonderment that can be found in simple things that sometimes involve moving
out of one’s comfort zone. There are distressing elements of violence and loss
that form pivotal points in Ron’s maturation, and the story definitely has its
poignant moments that may require use of a tissue or two. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Although I did not read the story that preceded this one—“A Reservoir
Man”—and there is evidently going to be an additional story to complete the arc
of this trilogy, I had no trouble reading this as a stand-alone story. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A copy of this story was provided for review</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-86513422513291539772023-07-12T00:30:00.099-07:002023-07-12T00:30:00.142-07:00Single Parents Rock! by Jaret Martino (VNBtM, Excerpt, Review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU0NlbM5gVWJdemITuUZOyV90f2ej0HjQN1j1uAozJF-UNxn85C2VrYSOeMhEtm4qg0YrETF_-uEDTPN1u-D6yb65AF93uTAbAi13Wb81NIQ3x2zNpNmPhU5kYB-wVIFdSiuXrWEDjcavQSRldaeRV6StPRXSq0nBXVsk0hwu1grjdI3ynfXsaTH4iw0/s1200/TourBanner_Single%20Parents%20Rock!%20.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU0NlbM5gVWJdemITuUZOyV90f2ej0HjQN1j1uAozJF-UNxn85C2VrYSOeMhEtm4qg0YrETF_-uEDTPN1u-D6yb65AF93uTAbAi13Wb81NIQ3x2zNpNmPhU5kYB-wVIFdSiuXrWEDjcavQSRldaeRV6StPRXSq0nBXVsk0hwu1grjdI3ynfXsaTH4iw0/s320/TourBanner_Single%20Parents%20Rock!%20.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">Single Parents Rock!</span></b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Jaret Martino</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">GENRE: Children's Book</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BLURB:</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">From Award-winning actor, filmmaker, and founder, Jaret Martino, comes Single Parents Rock!</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">(Based On a True Story and Feature Film, DONNA: Stronger Than Pretty). Streaming</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">everywhere you buy and rent movies. A story about a creative, caring, and strong young girl</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">who has the most caring heart and see&#39;s the world in ways we can all learn from! Shay knows</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">just how special single parents are, and is excited to introduce you to the strong females in her</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">family! When Shay turned 5, her Mom and Grandma got to work on making her party extra</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">special! Shay is exuberant to invite her friends from school and just met a new friend Nala.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Through Shay's heart we see her embrace the world's differences with love. When her</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Grandma makes her a cape and a crown, she feels the magic and power of the long line of</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">strong women that surround her.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OuwmX_EgINOKXZiE1FLraoUaRNM8yvmAJC2JMpW-iKJPcilkMOtnHA12vmeflNnQyB0Vf5Y-ZkG3a2fLaxWfjqKQV6iJlBQoRWevydKg0QlwK-snw2usA-LK5sP3AnZ6KSdggweCZ7rTNsyAOWHhX1GisVPA9pzQxKjzA3yszo7smsUwzGcr9X0Vqmk/s800/BookCover_SingleParentsRock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OuwmX_EgINOKXZiE1FLraoUaRNM8yvmAJC2JMpW-iKJPcilkMOtnHA12vmeflNnQyB0Vf5Y-ZkG3a2fLaxWfjqKQV6iJlBQoRWevydKg0QlwK-snw2usA-LK5sP3AnZ6KSdggweCZ7rTNsyAOWHhX1GisVPA9pzQxKjzA3yszo7smsUwzGcr9X0Vqmk/w200-h200/BookCover_SingleParentsRock.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>EXCERPT:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOYnq8SNfqIWv_3dfsLQLmDTfbUhkDRsEgGf3Sd07XX1NzoxZKMP5tbqhMKiZ_GOQRrOvPFkbsDawsM3YR4NghtzWPFW9llCvkKDAKGUHlKRKVNHpIWh0R3kXfJ-QuIQPbmf64tAVqY_XbY6pHskADUA5gLSg4mzV0FbrJG7RKd3lZDRZzoGRxmIAIcY/s1310/Excerpt_3_SingleParentsRock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="1300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOYnq8SNfqIWv_3dfsLQLmDTfbUhkDRsEgGf3Sd07XX1NzoxZKMP5tbqhMKiZ_GOQRrOvPFkbsDawsM3YR4NghtzWPFW9llCvkKDAKGUHlKRKVNHpIWh0R3kXfJ-QuIQPbmf64tAVqY_XbY6pHskADUA5gLSg4mzV0FbrJG7RKd3lZDRZzoGRxmIAIcY/s320/Excerpt_3_SingleParentsRock.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><p><b>AUTHOR Bio and Links</b>:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc5_0LuRCELO0gTuqmQUx9V3ApQl59uN_prDSBIeR7uoZrofnf8HP_KskoNkIp14B8yNYjglP-yb_DGx4wLmCaskMuuCtYYj7QtprZTlzVePIzbNWfGnbbmT0Qz2rUc_I4V8xEEJIvWwHXOMkUh9eX7Ua-MIRgp3DjZsWX17lBXzgH6-6mJ97FowbReo/s1200/author%20image%20(15).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc5_0LuRCELO0gTuqmQUx9V3ApQl59uN_prDSBIeR7uoZrofnf8HP_KskoNkIp14B8yNYjglP-yb_DGx4wLmCaskMuuCtYYj7QtprZTlzVePIzbNWfGnbbmT0Qz2rUc_I4V8xEEJIvWwHXOMkUh9eX7Ua-MIRgp3DjZsWX17lBXzgH6-6mJ97FowbReo/w133-h200/author%20image%20(15).jpg" width="133" /></a></div><p>From Award-winning actor, filmmaker, and founder, Jaret Martino, comes Single Parents Rock!</p><p>(Based On a True Story and Feature Film, DONNA: Stronger Than Pretty). Streaming everywhere you buy and rent movies. A story about a creative, caring, and strong young girl who has the most caring heart and sees the world in ways we can all learn from! Shay knows just how special single parents are, and is excited to introduce you to the strong females in her family! When Shay turned 5, her Mom and Grandma got to work on making her party extra special! Shay is exuberant to invite her friends from school and just met a new friend Nala.</p><p>Through Shay's heart we see her embrace the world's differences with love. When her Grandma makes her a cape and a crown, she feels the magic and power of the long line of strong women that surround her.</p><p>To our Shay-Shine, as Grandma loved to call you. Continue to light up the world with your heart</p><p>and smile. Love, Uncle Jaret.</p><p><br /></p><p>To my loving Mother, Donna, who handled the role of Mom and Dad with such grace. Your</p><p>untimely passing only amplified your accomplishments as a teacher and parent and I will</p><p>continue to spread, unwaveringly, all your lessons and your every expression of love. Shay</p><p>Marie, your beautiful granddaughter, will always be reminded of the long line of strong Women</p><p>in her family, and of the bravery it takes every woman to make a life for herself and her children.</p><p>"Women have to be Stronger Than Pretty. We have to be warriors...you look like a warrior to</p><p>me." -from feature film DONNA: Stronger Than Pretty</p><p>Stronger Than Pretty LLC. Love Wins Productions, Distribution and Film Festival. Creating</p><p>awareness for subjects deserving attention.</p><p>For information about special discounts or bulk purchases, please contact:</p><p>info@LoveWinsProductions.net or (424) 279-4802</p><p>The Love Productions Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more</p><p>information or to book an event, please contact Jaret@StrongerThanPretty.com,</p><p>Maggie@MKMTalent.com or visit our website at <a href="http://www.LoveWinsProductions.net">www.LoveWinsProductions.net</a></p><p><a href="http://www.DonnaTheMovie.com">www.DonnaTheMovie.com</a> or www.<a href="http://JaretMartino.com">JaretMartino.com</a></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JaretMartino">Facebook</a></p><p><a href="https://www.twitter.com/JaretMartino">Twitter</a></p><p><a href="https://instagram.com/JaretMartino">Instagram</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>*******************************</p><div><b>GIVEAWAY</b></div><div><br /></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4618" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4618/" id="rcwidget_2asnxsx6" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/05/review-tour-single-parents-rock-by.html " target="_blank">here</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*******************************</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My review:</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">3.75 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">“Single Mothers Rock” written by Jaret Marino and
illustrated by Mery Pelacine is a children’s book that celebrates women and their
capabilities. Accomplishments of two different generations of single mothers
are highlighted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The vibrant illustrations and positive messages are great to
use to inspire young children to value their moms and themselves, and reminds
the reader that women are able to do a gamut of things, from repairing cars to planning
fantastic birthday parties for enthusiastic five-year-olds who are convinced
they can do anything they put their mind to. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I’m unsure why the
title uses “parents”, yet the text does not include single fathers, but perhaps
there will be an additional book that includes the other gender.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A copy of this title was provided for review<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-53443684718078009202023-07-10T00:30:00.070-07:002023-07-10T00:30:00.145-07:00The Place Beyond Her Dreams by Oby Aligwekwe (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/06/blurb-blitz-tour-place-beyond-her.html" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLvZf-kJgGmBtMOUZrdef02HjKeK1Har1Qlo1X3IDw2sNzsfHf4DwEQKtTwm3vFO9oQID_S_w9aGNF893fRsV-e2slNch3B7diRXp23E6yu9SpNaB78mFVSHfFV2YAU2JbWE_UwFIyOR8BwVGVwTDp44K7M_KB2DTJrKlgpgxLX42UQWb2E1AHSJc/s400/TourBanner_The%20Place%20Beyond%20Her%20Dreams.gif" width="400" /></a></div><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">The Place Beyond Her Dreams</span></b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oby Aligwekwe</span></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><b>2021 National Indie Excellence Awards Winner for Young Adult Fiction!<br />2021 Indies Book of the Year Awards Finalist for Young Adult Fiction!<br />2021 Best Book Awards Finalist for Young Adult Fiction!</b><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">“We are most courageous at our weakest; when we believe we have faced what we fear the most and have nothing more to lose.”<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Set against the backdrop of two warring towns, Oby Aligwekwe’s Young Adult debut—told from the viewpoint of her main character—is inspired by her West African heritage, fables, and spiritual beliefs. Ona’s journey reveals the power of choice, the true source of happiness, and, most importantly, the transformation one must go through to realize and eventually occupy their purpose.<br /><br />At the sudden death of her grandfather, Ona’s pain transports her to mystical Luenah—a place of infinite possibilities, free of turf wars and other ills that plague the earthly dimension she lives in. In Luenah, where her grandfather awaits her, Ona learns she is an Eri, one bestowed with unique intuitive and spiritual gifts passed down from generation-to-generation.<br /><br />On her 18th birthday, she returns to Luenah and is handed a box to deposit her "exchange" for love and happiness—her greatest desires. Burdened by her quest, Ona crosses paths with danger and heartbreak as the two men that love her dearly are viciously pitted against each other. As evil looms, she learns that dreams carry a hefty price, and no one is who they seem. Now, she must unmask the villain and save the one she loves, even at the risk of losing everything she holds dear.<br /><br /></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“Young adults and older readers will be enchanted by this fantasy's magic, romance, and life lessons.” (Booklife by Publishers Weekly)<br /><br /><br />
<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVukSXyH2bqaIsQCLXdyV7pq7PoFccyntl8KZuOPksEav8TXEESyYBlgOe2vOo37F17qEpVdiDoldHsdOWpcJxz5io9ljxDV4w9oJXtniOrJZYxK7inkpDoUe33dv9oM8HK1ohoO6JWd4C3UqfOH7_prN30aSEJSeRAioyuQk5jNAS1cUMMa7-Sc_e/s2400/BookCover_THE%20PLACE%20BEYOND%20HER%20DREAMS%20with.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVukSXyH2bqaIsQCLXdyV7pq7PoFccyntl8KZuOPksEav8TXEESyYBlgOe2vOo37F17qEpVdiDoldHsdOWpcJxz5io9ljxDV4w9oJXtniOrJZYxK7inkpDoUe33dv9oM8HK1ohoO6JWd4C3UqfOH7_prN30aSEJSeRAioyuQk5jNAS1cUMMa7-Sc_e/w200-h200/BookCover_THE%20PLACE%20BEYOND%20HER%20DREAMS%20with.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></blockquote><br />
<b><br /></b></div><div><b>Excerpt</b></div><div><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;">
ONE MONTH AFTER my eleventh birthday, the desiccating north-east harmattan winds blew a flurry of red dust and some dirt as I walked into my grandfather’s compound. I sprinted in the opposite direction as I feared the tornado would carry me away to some unknown land where I could never see my grandparents again. It subsided as quickly as it had started, but it left behind particles of dust and dirt, making it hard for me to see. I managed to observe the blockage caused by cars parked haphazardly on the road facing the compound and extending into our driveway. It then made sense why my school bus driver had asked me to alight a block from my home. I was not happy about the fact that I had to walk. The dust had turned my white stockings a reddish-brown, which meant I wouldn’t receive my usual compliments from my grandfather, who often marveled at how my clothes always remained so clean even after a full day at school. Every day, I removed my stockings during the break period and put them back on after I had played with my friends—that’s how important their cleanliness, and my grandfather’s praise, was to me. <br /><br />
I got closer to the gate and discovered there were more important things to contend with than my stockings. A throng of visitors was inside the compound, some seated on benches, others leaning on their cars, and several more whispering in little circles. No one had noticed when I walked in. I felt invisible and remained so as I crept by the men and women that blocked the entrance to the staircase and every single stair, all the way to the landing. <br /><br />
I pushed and shoved countless times until I finally made it past the hallway that led to my grandmother’s private parlor. Stopping for a moment to catch my breath, I started to hear crying; something had gone seriously wrong. <br /></span><br /><b>Buy links:</b></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Place-Beyond-Her-Dreams/dp/B0C5BN8RCG/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1684294212&sr=1-1">Amazon</a><br /><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Place-Beyond-Her-Dreams-Audiobook/B0C5BN2CW2">Audible</a><br /><br /><br />****************************************</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />
<b>About the Author:</b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqffXzgOazC-KvnNWWTG747l0TQ58UVoONNd2elsYPxYbeAGNOLsoAJtIW_1kIozHrrZ1hy6aqjkNw_2I8UoMSojr9I6Lhl604_w-5rvj6dJ9E_NWfYSz0XkWA3CXiH-ecR8W-IiX-zPs5gnP_pc8-jXj1oKpMUBHaUWCQWbpsxdMWhgIo04YJjMw/s5040/author%20image.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5040" data-original-width="3360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqffXzgOazC-KvnNWWTG747l0TQ58UVoONNd2elsYPxYbeAGNOLsoAJtIW_1kIozHrrZ1hy6aqjkNw_2I8UoMSojr9I6Lhl604_w-5rvj6dJ9E_NWfYSz0XkWA3CXiH-ecR8W-IiX-zPs5gnP_pc8-jXj1oKpMUBHaUWCQWbpsxdMWhgIo04YJjMw/w133-h200/author%20image.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Oby Aligwekwe is the award-winning author of<i><b> Nfudu</b></i>, <i><b>Hazel House</b></i>, and <b><i>The Place Beyond Her Dreams</i></b>—her third novel and Young Adult debut. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2021, <i><b>The Place Beyond Her Dreams</b></i> won the National Indie Excellence Awards in the Young Adult Fiction Category.<br /><br />
When Oby is not working on her day job or whipping up stories, she enjoys traveling to exotic locations and bringing pieces of her travel with her. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her family and supports her community through her charity Éclat Beginnings.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />
<a href="https://www.obyaligwekwe.com/">Website</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/obyaligwekweauthor">Facebook</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/obyaligwekwe">Twitter</a><br />
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/obyaligwekwe">Instagram</a></div><div><br /></div><div>********************************<br /><br /><b>GIVEAWAY</b></div><div><b><br /></b>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4625" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4625/" id="rcwidget_0i8i8b0c" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv1369431175MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; outline: none !important;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/06/blurb-blitz-tour-place-beyond-her.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv1369431175MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p class="yiv1369431175MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none !important;"><br /></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-25629778603471395402023-07-06T00:30:00.065-07:002023-07-06T23:25:09.758-07:00Point Blank by Morgan Brice (Spotlight. excerpt, and review)<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Point Blank Banner" class="size-full wp-image-13530 aligncenter" height="168" src="https://gayrmncereviews.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/point-blank-banner.png" width="320" /></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Point Blank</span></i></div></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Badlands, Book 6</span></h3><h1><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div></span><span style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by</span></div></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Morgan Brice</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: center;"><p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Sexy psychic Simon Kincaide and skeptical homicide detective Vic D’Amato are getting married--if the ghost of a murderous magician doesn’t get them first!</strong></span></p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: small;">Simon and Vic’s wedding is just a few weeks away, and they’re hoping for a little peace and quiet to wrap up work before their honeymoon, but nothing ever goes that smoothly.</span></p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: small;">Strange circumstances around the death of a retired stage magician suggest supernatural involvement, bringing Simon in on the case. The dark secrets of a long-ago resort hotel lead to a trail of unsolved cold cases that have a chilling similarity. Old scandals, malicious magic, and vengeful spirits expose a web of lies, deceit, and death that is headed for a reckoning.</span></p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: small;">Can Simon and Vic solve the murders, stop the ghosts, keep Simon’s mother from crashing the party, dodge last-minute wedding disasters, and still make it to the altar on time? Or will the shadows of Myrtle Beach’s haunted past ruin everything?</span></p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Point Blank is a fast-paced thrill ride MM paranormal romance packed with supernatural suspense, sinister sleight-of-hand, mysterious monsters, psychic visions, hot men, hurt/comfort, loyal friends, wedding planning, found family, ghosts galore, dark magic, and an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels.</em></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/175629483-point-blank">Add to Goodreads</a></span></h3><div><br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Point blank" class="size-full wp-image-13528 aligncenter" height="320" src="https://gayrmncereviews.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/point-blank.jpg" width="200" /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Exclusive from Point Blank</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;">From Chapter 4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;">Simon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;">“Picking up any interesting juju?” Vic asked as the three of them put on gloves and booties.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “There are multiple ghosts, and both light and dark energies,” Simon told them. “I also think that Sheldon knew he had objects with real magic—maybe even cursed—and took precautions. There are wardings on the house, and I suspect we’ll find more spell work inside.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “Do you think he was a witch?” As Ross had grown accustomed to Simon’s abilities, his initial reserve had given way to curiosity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “Whether or not he was trained, I’m almost positive he at least dabbled. That can be more dangerous,” Simon replied.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “You ready?” Vic met his gaze, taking his cue from Simon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “Yeah. Just stick close and don’t touch anything,” Simon warned.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> Ross unlocked the door and turned on the lights. Simon followed and paused just over the threshold with Vic behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “What?” Vic asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “Everything feels different inside than it did outside,” Simon replied. “I’m going to bet that Sheldon had some sort of perimeter set up around the foundation with salt and iron. All the energies are much stronger in here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “So the question is—did he want to keep something out, or make sure something didn’t get out?” Vic mused.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> Simon moved into the small entranceway and had to step around the downed armoire. “Maybe a little of both. There are people—and creatures—who could be drawn to a concentration of powerful objects like dogs to the smell of food.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “Well, that’s not creepy at all,” Ross muttered and fingered the amulet in his pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> Simon saw the overturned armoire and shivered, realizing how badly Vic might have been hurt if he’d caught its full weight. “Where did you see the ghost?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> Vic eyed the wardrobe like it was a snake, and pointed to the mirror where the ghost had appeared. “Here. I was jittery the whole time we were going through the house, so I won’t be surprised if you find more spooks.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;"> “Did you have the feeling we were being watched?” Ross spoke up. “Because I did. Told myself it was my imagination.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #a64d79;">“It wasn’t.” Simon examined the mirror closely without touching it, and gave the armoire a good look as well. He turned from side to side, taking in the magician’s hoarded treasures. “I’d like to walk through before I reach out to the ghosts. That should give me an idea of what we’re dealing with.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Ross dug in his pocket. “Here. Take these. We don’t have warning stickers for ‘cursed’ and ‘haunted’ things, but if you put a biohazard </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">label on or near something, no one is going to
touch it.”</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></p></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><p style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://getbook.at/PointBlank" style="font-size: x-large;">Universal Link</a></p></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="IG Tour Tile - Point Blank Teaser 1" class="size-full wp-image-13531 aligncenter" height="320" src="https://gayrmncereviews.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/ig-tour-tile-point-blank-teaser-1.png" width="320" /></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="IG Tour Tile - Point Blank Teaser 4" class="size-full wp-image-13532 aligncenter" height="320" src="https://gayrmncereviews.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/ig-tour-tile-point-blank-teaser-4.png" width="320" /></span></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join us over on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/gay.romance.reviews/" style="font-weight: normal;">Instagram </a><span style="font-weight: normal;">for more of </span><i>Blink</i><span style="font-weight: normal;">!</span></span></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can also enter the giveaway on our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gay.romance.reviews/">Instagram </a>post or <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57721/?">click here</a> for your chance to win an e-copy of your choice from Morgan or Gail's backlist!<br /></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="IG Tour Tile - Giveaway" class="size-full wp-image-13533 aligncenter" height="320" src="https://gayrmncereviews.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/ig-tour-tile-giveaway-4.png" width="320" /></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><blockquote><blockquote><h3><img alt="IG Tour Tile - Point Blank Teaser 2" class="size-full wp-image-13534 aligncenter" height="320" src="https://gayrmncereviews.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/ig-tour-tile-point-blank-teaser-2.png" style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;" width="320" /></h3></blockquote></blockquote>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" aria-label="image 1 of 1 in gallery" class="aligncenter" height="200" src="https://lilygblunt.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/img_3069.jpg?w=212" width="141" /></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span><strong>About the Author:</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic and urban fantasy, with less romance, more explosions.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>All of the modern-day Morgan Brice and Gail Z. Martin series crossover, so characters from one series appear in cameos and on page in important secondary roles in books from other series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but the more you read the more the expanded universe of friendships and connections becomes clear.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Morgan and Gail believe that paranormal elements make any story even better, and her worlds are full of ghosts, psychics, shifters, creatures, vampires, monster hunters, and magic.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>She's also a huge fan of the TV show Supernatural. (Chibi art by Kamidiox)</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Find Morgan at www.MorganBrice.com and her reader group at www.facebook.com/groups/WorldsOfMorganBrice</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>She's @MorganBriceBook on Twitter, @MorganBriceAuthor on Instagram, and can also be found on Bookbub, Goodreads and Pinterest (as GZMartin).</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">Find Morgan at <a class="text-blue underline focus-visible" contenteditable="true" href="http://www.MorganBrice.com" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">www.MorganBrice.com</a> and her reader group at <a class="text-blue underline focus-visible" contenteditable="true" href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/WorldsOfMorganBrice" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/groups/WorldsOfMorganBrice</a></div><span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She's @MorganBriceBook on Twitter, @MorganBriceAuthor on Instagram and TikTok, and can also be found on Bookbub, Goodreads, YouTube (as Gail Z. Martin) and Pinterest (as GZMartin). Join her newsletter here: <a class="text-blue underline focus-visible" contenteditable="true" href="https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f3v0s8" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f3v0s8</a></div></span><p></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="grr-tours-promo" class="size-full wp-image-1483 aligncenter" height="107" src="https://gayrmncereviews.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/grr-tours-promo.png" width="320" /></span></p>
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<div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My review:</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4.25 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">“<i>Point Blank</i>” by Morgan Brice is Book 6 in the ‘Badlands’
series and follows Vic and Simon as they try to solve a locked-room murder mystery
with a twist, plus survive to enjoy their upcoming nuptials. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This adult gay paranormal romance continues the adventures of
homicide detective Vic and his psychic partner/fiance Simon as they race to
solve a mysterious murder that seems to have ties throughout the small beach
community. Add pre-wedding complications and jitters, and the stress threatens
to derail their plans. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I have been reading the books in this fascinating series
since the beginning, and it’s so wonderful to see how their relationship has
grown, and touching to watch them work through the complications of family interactions
while they approach their special day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The chilling implications of the cold cases that are
uncovered are balanced by the camaraderie that has developed between the police
department and Simon and his paranormal contacts. It was fun to follow the
clues as they are revealed, especially with the twists of having informants who
are non-corporeal and Simon having his ancestor there to provide assistance
(and snarky comments). I think this story might be enjoyed by someone new to
the series, but it definitely will be more appreciated by those who have read
the other stories in this series. There are cameos by characters who star in
their own series, such as Badlands or Treasure Trail, and allusions to the fun
anthologies set at Caynham Castle, so those new to this author will have plenty
of new stories to savor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This is an excellent addition to the series, combining
thrills and chills and sentiment, and I look forward to reading about more
adventures experienced by this charismatic pair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A copy of this story was provided for review</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><br /></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-51005412296011888202023-06-27T00:30:00.083-07:002023-06-27T00:30:00.141-07:00Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuIQTb-fSegOYq8ho8t3z1AHg4fUxzNZxkqm4FGQrqZO7O6bA7ToRyyVXBxTTVHFunpi7vOh1lyD540CvAs45vy9kcSSjo-suAnY3B9vCgPSf34FgYPZAVuujXXD7r78TK7Nrh6I5sB5nLhf9ihLW2NfOrMPbv9NzoZN69TSB3Nm1R2lXTZBIM9XID88/s1200/TourBanner_Elvia%20and%20the%20Gift%20of%20Passion_Review.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuIQTb-fSegOYq8ho8t3z1AHg4fUxzNZxkqm4FGQrqZO7O6bA7ToRyyVXBxTTVHFunpi7vOh1lyD540CvAs45vy9kcSSjo-suAnY3B9vCgPSf34FgYPZAVuujXXD7r78TK7Nrh6I5sB5nLhf9ihLW2NfOrMPbv9NzoZN69TSB3Nm1R2lXTZBIM9XID88/s320/TourBanner_Elvia%20and%20the%20Gift%20of%20Passion_Review.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/43ZGVCY" target="_blank">Elvia and the Gift of Passion</a></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ruthy Ballard<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">GENRE</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">: Middle grade science
fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Adventurous ten-year-old Elvia is sick of her dull-as-dishwater
existence, suffocating under the stifling watch her overprotective parents. She
longs for a different life, with more freedom and fun. But she gets more than
she bargains for when she discovers an alarming family secret and is swept away
on an adventure 64,000 light years from Earth. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Tanzanian witch doctors,
child-eating lions, and submarine exploration on a two-mooned planet enliven
this science fiction fantasy adventure, the third in Ballard’s award-winning
Tales by Moons-light series.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5F-0a9F1Fh0xx36rbwgogGLZubXQFvPoO5m22L_525QMP6UY0sPR3GbEmtFUfaJ6hcRY9OzDq9aiKGYIcmGSEFZhm-aKhviuAimNgjsoo-PbVyR1WnCKhB5clqJdCK9YkGrOaY7U2jxM25B8DRLA8E0maaAcLk7QQBxF_CLd1bVt9rpnEK7tyCSL9Sc/s1237/BookClub_ElviaGiftPassion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5F-0a9F1Fh0xx36rbwgogGLZubXQFvPoO5m22L_525QMP6UY0sPR3GbEmtFUfaJ6hcRY9OzDq9aiKGYIcmGSEFZhm-aKhviuAimNgjsoo-PbVyR1WnCKhB5clqJdCK9YkGrOaY7U2jxM25B8DRLA8E0maaAcLk7QQBxF_CLd1bVt9rpnEK7tyCSL9Sc/w129-h200/BookClub_ElviaGiftPassion.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">EXCERPT</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">It was on an otherwise ordinary Friday afternoon in summer, two weeks
after her tenth birthday, that Elvia learned, with a thrill, that she was
someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Her mother’s carefully tended sunflowers— precisely pruned to four feet,
and not a centimeter taller— peeked through the sunny western windows as Elvia
eagerly sorted through the stack of mail that had just arrived. Her father’s
work papers, organized in neat rows, sat on a desk in a far corner, a symbol of
the carefully orchestrated life her parents liked to live. In Elvia’s
dull-as-dishwater home, every day was the same—safe and predictable. There were
rules: She could study the violin, but not play soccer. She could take a June
class in jewelry-making, but not join her friends at Copper Creek Camp, where
all the fun was. She could walk around town, but not ride a bike. She didn’t
even have a bike! For a child who longed to roam the world, and maybe live on
Mars one day, the list of forbidden pleasures was suffocating. There was only
one way out of her dilemma, and, as she pawed through the letters, she hoped
against hope that she’d find it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">The slender envelope, addressed to her, and her alone, was at the very
bottom of the heap. Her hands trembled with excitement as she tore it open,
sure it would explain why she had fiery red hair, while her parents both had
mousy brown. It would expose how an adventuresome girl like her got saddled
with parents who always hugged the safe shore, rarely taking her any further
than the local Shop ’n Save for a “great deal” on paper towels. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">The letter was from Quick Results, a DNA testing company operating out of
somewhere in Kansas. A few weeks back, when she’d seen an ad online, she’d
leapt at the chance. For just sixty dollars—her monthly allowance—she’d get
confirmation of the truth that, to her, was obvious: She’d been switched at
birth. Or perhaps she’d been kidnapped from her cradle and sold to Earl and
Sally Hill, her parents, who were desperate for a baby after losing her older
sister, Jane, to cancer, many years before. She didn’t ask herself why her
orderly, rule-abiding father and mother would swing a heartless deal on the
black market. Logic played no role in Elvia’s daydreams. It was the sense of
adventure they brought her that mattered: the sweet promise that someone,
somewhere, would rescue her from a life of crushing boredom.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></span></p><a href="https://amzn.to/43ZGVCY" target="_blank">Amazon buy link</a><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red;">The book is on sale for $0.99 for a limited time</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">AUTHOR Bio and Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscmdRW_l9TrJucUaGPmda6fS5InDACUWmFK08eg-WNZLLLL6Ldu_dehNBHM2fqr2tYrhtqnA7bSp7Ra9hFqx1KT5Cf9sbGr_OpINVZGrkuB76D3ugefUMh-Tok4eKjtp_UHsvo75j1GxSqJ8O3hRG7BwUXzW5u_rHPlpcKSzZ0Scs-UvLBnIfy4DdGmw/s1120/Author%20Image%20(14).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscmdRW_l9TrJucUaGPmda6fS5InDACUWmFK08eg-WNZLLLL6Ldu_dehNBHM2fqr2tYrhtqnA7bSp7Ra9hFqx1KT5Cf9sbGr_OpINVZGrkuB76D3ugefUMh-Tok4eKjtp_UHsvo75j1GxSqJ8O3hRG7BwUXzW5u_rHPlpcKSzZ0Scs-UvLBnIfy4DdGmw/w143-h200/Author%20Image%20(14).jpg" width="143" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Children’s book
author Dr. Ruth (Ruthy) Ballard is a scientist by trade who never thought she’d
be one. Intimidated by science as a kid, she almost gave up on pursuing it as a
career though she found it fascinating. Fortunately, a mentor stepped in and
showed her the way. Now, she’s passionate about doing the same for the next
generation of science shy, but creative, smart and capable kids. Her
award-winning science fantasy adventures lure children in with compelling
characters and entertaining, twisty plots that incorporate science in fun,
accessible ways. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">When Ruthy
isn’t writing, she is “Dr. Ruth Ballard,” a forensic DNA consultant and a
professor at Sacramento State, where she runs a forensic biology research and
training program while consulting with attorneys across the country on criminal
cases involving DNA evidence. She’s also a folk artist who loves to draw,
illustrates her own books, and enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and
their four dogs near their home on the Oregon coast.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Links:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvNsOhYVGUl_5pHLGyLG8NA">YouTube</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RuthyBallard/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Facebook</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.instagram.com/ruthyballard">Instagram</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16577223.Ruthy_Ballard">Goodreads</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ruthy-Ballard/author/B06Y6KVX5D">Amazon Author page</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p>*************************</p><p><br /></p><p><b>GIVEAWAY</b></p><p><br /></p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4600" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4600/" id="rcwidget_fvbm8u59" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; outline: none;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/05/review-tour-elvia-and-gift-of-passion.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">*************************</span></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My review:</span></span></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">3.75 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><b>Elvia and the Gift of Passion</b></i> by Ruthie Ballard follows
discontented ten-year-old Elvia who yearns to escape from her overprotective
parents and have adventures. An unexpected trip to Tanzania grants her wish in
a very unusual way.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This middle grade story is thought-provoking and fantastical
and a little macabre, and definitely not a plug for tourism to the country of
Tanzania. I enjoyed the overall journey as Tavia has her adventures and learns
about perception and caring for the feelings of others as well as herself. The
imaginative aspects of Urth and its inhabitants, the concept of “uppies” and “findlings”,
and the descriptions of the travel on Urth is vivid and compelling, and full of
fun twists and turns, and I had fun with the anagrams of various characters’
names. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Certain parts of the
story are disconcerting for me, including the nonchalant discussions about lion
(or other big cats’) predation upon children and the attendant responses, and
the challenges on the submarine were particularly relevant to today’s sorrowful
headlines. I am also disappointed that so many of the natives are two-dimensional
and were not shown in a particularly favorable light.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I think that kids will get a kick out of Elvia’s adventures
and will probably connect to that frustration with parents that make one wish
to trade them in for a better model. There are many lessons</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">, both scientific and ethical,</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> that are deftly
conveyed in a fun and entertaining manner, and I
hope that readers will be prompted to explore more about the concepts presented
in this story.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">A copy of this title was provided for review<o:p></o:p></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p><p class="yiv3172042433MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-12176778233179711962023-06-06T00:30:00.048-07:002023-06-09T22:02:37.757-07:00Love is All, Volume 6 by Gabbi Grey, et al. (Spotlight and excerpt)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6B81B65?&linkCode=li2&tag=thereaadd-20&linkId=bb1e976d132bba17396aa593aac1544e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0C6B81B65&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thereaadd-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thereaadd-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B0C6B81B65" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3J1uZbp" target="_blank">Love is All</a></b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><i><b>Volume 6</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Gabbi Grey,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">BL Maxwell, Chantal Mer & Susan Scott Shelley, Connor Peterson, Nic Starr, Sean Michael, Lee Blair, Xio Axelrod, RJ Scott & V.L. Locey, and Piper Malone</span></span></p><p></p><h2><span lang="EN-CA">Synopsis<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The sixth edition of LOVE IS ALL features ten
brand new stories from bestselling and award-winning authors, including BL
Maxwell, Chantal Mer & Susan Scott Shelley, Connor Peterson, Gabbi Grey,
Nic Starr, Sean Michael, Lee Blair, Xio Axelrod, RJ Scott & V.L. Locey, and
Piper Malone. They celebrate the universal human right that is to love and be
loved.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1e1915; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">All proceeds will go to three organizations that
support and defend LGBTQIA+ rights: the Unity Coalition, Out Memphis, and
Lucie's Place.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The anthology will only be available for a
limited time.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span class="eop" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Add it to </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><a href="about:blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Goodreads</span></a></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Excerpt – <i>Big Sky Boyfriend</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> by Gabbi Grey</span><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The day
Tate McCready walked back into my life was just an ordinary Friday. And I was
doing the same thing as I’d done pretty much every day since he left years ago<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white;">—surveying my pumpkin field to make sure things were growing
properly.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">A few things had
changed. I’d finally bought the greenhouses I wanted, and I was growing organic
bok choy.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Years.</span></i></span><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">F<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white;">ifteen years. One hundred and eighty months. Seven hundred
and eighty weeks. Five thousand, four hundred and seventy-five days.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Give or take.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">He’d left on the last Sunday
in August—headed to the big city of Toronto to attend an undergraduate business
program.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’d stayed behind to
attend the University of the Fraser Valley for agriculture.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">We’d been eighteen. So
goddamned young. I could barely remember that boy now.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">But I’d never forget the
grief he’d suffered. The nights he’d lain awake. The promised letter that’d
never come.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">So what the hell was
Tate doing here now? On my land? At one of the busiest times in my year? Those
pumpkins would be ready to be picked soon—just in time for Canadian
Thanksgiving and, of course, Halloween.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Seeing Tate nearly stole
my breath.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I fingered the inhaler
in my pocket.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">He advanced toward me
with slow, measured steps.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’d never seen him move
so deliberately. He was a mover. A strider. A man who hustled with great speed.
</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">We’d joked he moved at
the speed of a hare while I moved at the speed of a tortoise.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was very much a slow,
steady, and measured man. Had always been—would always be.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p>
</o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Hello, Wyatt.”</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><br /></p>
<h2><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA">Links</span></span> </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Universal Link: </span></span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="about:blank" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Universal link</span></a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3J1uZbp" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="about:blank" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">B&N</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="about:blank"><span style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Kobo</span></a></span></p>
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe; text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Charities<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="about:blank" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">https://www.unitycoalition.org/</span></a></span><span class="x193iq5w"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> is a Latinx and
indigenous organization in Florida that organizes and supports several LGBTQ+
arts, leadership, and awareness programs across Florida, including the Miami
Gay Chorus and the “Saber es Poder” campaign for HIV education and testing.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="about:blank" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">https://www.outmemphis.org/</span></a></span><span class="x193iq5w"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> offers direct aid and
support programs to queer and trans people in Tennessee. Regular events at the
center’s main facility include free HIV testing, trans ID workshops and
financial aid for name changes, community meals, and peer support and social
groups for both teens and adults. The organization also runs The Metamorphosis
Project, a program providing emergency support and transitional housing to
unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="x193iq5w"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">and </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="about:blank" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">http://www.luciesplace.org/</span></a></span><span class="x193iq5w"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> named for <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Lucie Marie Hamilton</span>, a young trans woman who died in 2009
— is a nonprofit in Arkansas that provides services to unhoused LGBTQ+ young
adults, including transitioning resources and grocery and rental assistance.
The group also runs a drop-in center with shower facilities and a community
closet for all members who have completed an intake form.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe;">Bios<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Gabbi Grey<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a name="_Hlk112209493"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a name="_Hlk112209493"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></a></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Xio Axelrod<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Xio Axelrod
is a USA Today bestselling author of different flavours of contemporary
romance. She also writes what she likes to call strange, twisted tales. Xio
grew up in the music industry and began recording at a young age. When she
isn’t writing stories, she can be found in the studio, writing songs, or
performing on international stages (under a different, no-so-secret name). She
lives in Philadelphia with one full-time husband and several part-time cats.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">RJ Scott<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">RJ Scott is
a USA TODAY bestselling author of over 140 romance and suspense novels. From
bodyguards to hockey stars, princes to millionaires, cowboys to military, she
believes that love is love and every man deserves their own happy ending.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">VL Locey<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">V.L. Locey
loves worn jeans, Dr. Who, Torchwood, belly laughs, yoga, reading and writing
lusty tales, walking, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and
coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.)</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">She shares her life with her husband, her
daughter, one dog, two cats, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">When not writing lusty tales, she can be found
enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, fresh
cup of java in hand.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Chantal Mer<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Chantal Mer
is an author and optimist. Her stories explore relationships and what it means
to be family. When she’s not writing about strong women, strong men, and strong
love, she can be found walking her adorable dog, volunteering at her kids’
school (in the library, of course), teaching at the local university, and
reading.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Chantal lives outside of Philadelphia with her
husband, kids, Toffee the Wonder Dog, and vicious cat, Gracie.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Susan Scott Shelley<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">USA Today
bestselling author Susan Scott Shelley writes stories with heat and heart,
where love always wins. Her romances give readers lighthearted and emotionally
satisfying escapes into happily ever after. In addition to crafting stories,
she is also a professional voiceover artist and enjoys lending her voice to a
wide range of projects.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and
is an avid fan of her hometown sports teams. Her favorite things include
running (honestly, it's more like jogging), sports (especially hockey), hard
rock (but will listen to anything from heavy metal to show tunes), and writing
about people from all walks of life finding their special someone.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Lee Blair<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Lee Blair
is a queer author from Oregon who writes low angst, funny, M/M contemporary
romance. She's constantly amused by the antics of her two ginger cats,
considers daydreaming about future trips to Scotland a part-time job, and is
obsessed with Schitt's Creek to an alarming degree.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sean Michael<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Often
referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while
still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his
days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing
about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe
crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings,
Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama
sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with
the soundtrack to "Chicago."</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A long-time writer of complicated haiku,
currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and
soap carving sex toys.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing
his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Connor
Peterson<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Connor
Peterson is a USA Today bestselling author of LGBTQ+ urban fantasy and dark,
paranormal romance, local to the Philadelphia, PA area. The madman behind
Deathspell and Temptation in Neon, Connor has also contributed to the story
cycle Red Phone Box - published by Ghostwoods Books - and the anthology
Nocturnal Embers - published by Crimson Melodies Publishing. He is also an
active participant in the Philadelphia writing community, and volunteers as a
municipal liaison for National Novel Writing Month.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Nic Starr<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Nic Starr
lives in Australia where she tries to squeeze as much into her busy life as
possible. Balancing the demands of a corporate career with raising a family and
writing can be challenging but she wouldn’t give it up for the world.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Always a reader, the lure of m/m romance was
strong and she devoured hundreds of wonderful m/m romance books before
eventually realising she had some stories of her own that needed to be told!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">When not writing or reading, she loves to spend
time with her family–an understanding husband and two beautiful daughters–and
is often found indulging in her love of cooking and planning her dream home in
the country.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Piper Malone<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Piper
Malone is an award-winning author of sweet and sexy romance.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Dog lover. Reader. Foodie. Coffee, please.</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">BL Maxwell<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">BL Maxwell grew up in a small town
listening to her grandfather spin tales about his childhood. Later she became
an avid reader and after a certain vampire series she became obsessed with
fanfiction. She soon discovered Slash fanfiction and later discovered the MM
genre and was hooked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Many years later, she decided to take the
plunge and write down some of the stories that seem to run through her head
late at night when she’s trying to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">BL Maxwell writes MM Paranormal,
Contemporary, Thriller, and Paranormal Fantasy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></h2>
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk112209493;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="eop"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #2b00fe; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><br /><p></p>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-6818925503169915872023-05-25T22:58:00.003-07:002023-05-25T23:02:06.410-07:00Unwillable: A Journey to Reclaim My Brain by Jackie M. Stebbins (Guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlMPfytlwb1dqXwdwvoTDt0pbSjkaQbprZZCeBEEaEOOxdBVhv8PiazQ5-iw0YIUBOSjGgYdv89k0SI_3tLV763LlAbw2vxfRDnfedhqq_B6vBIU_OYgx-hPdWRmGZCj-LGr1H4dvt1O-mKCI6VCT5tUX3jdPI2XM-RxNC3EYjtdxmeoqHK_NtNf-/s1200/TourBanner_Unwillable.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlMPfytlwb1dqXwdwvoTDt0pbSjkaQbprZZCeBEEaEOOxdBVhv8PiazQ5-iw0YIUBOSjGgYdv89k0SI_3tLV763LlAbw2vxfRDnfedhqq_B6vBIU_OYgx-hPdWRmGZCj-LGr1H4dvt1O-mKCI6VCT5tUX3jdPI2XM-RxNC3EYjtdxmeoqHK_NtNf-/s320/TourBanner_Unwillable.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">It is my pleasure to share an inspirational guest post by author Jackie M. Stebbins, who gives a glimpse of her journey to publish this memoir.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JMS: During my senior year in college, I specifically recall one
of my final classes where another student talked about her bucket list and that
she desired to someday write a book. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I remember scoffing at her a little under
my breath saying, “Puhh-leassse, that’s so cliché.” And for whatever legitimate
or spiteful reason I seemed to have, I always thought people were being trite
when they expressed that they, or someone they knew, should write a book. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I believe
it’s because since a very young age, I was focused on becoming a lawyer, and
never really committed myself to hobbies. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">From the time I read my first John
Grisham book in fifth grade, my heart was set on becoming a lawyer. Pursuing
the law is time intensive academically, mentally, and emotionally. All of my
waking hours and brain power seemed to go to family law, criminal defense,
civil litigation, running my law office, and being the best wife and mother I
could be when I was home. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">But in 2018, my life was completely upended when I
was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis (AE), a rare brain condition wherein
a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks her brain. AE sent me into
cognitive failure and it nearly stole my life. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">When my brain was turned back on
by intravenous steroids and I woke up, I realized that everything I knew was
gone, including my beloved career. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And suddenly, it was no longer trite or
trivial to write a book. It was the only thing that kept me alive in my darkest
days. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Writing my memoir, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/436bbvy" target="_blank"><b>Unwillable</b></a></i>, quite literally helped me survive
AE, recover from its devastating and traumatic onset, and rebuild my shattered life
into an author, blogger, podcaster, and motivational speaker. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I always go back
to my favorite quote from John Lennon: “Life is what happens when you’re busy
making plans.” Yes. Life happened to me. And it turned me into a “cliché”
author. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And I love every minute of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">*************************</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cwUCpRT5m6HUEb2oBldg-rUhc-b7DLVF9ARVlxs6HTxubA8oJ2d8cQw3xPRzaDHziud9Ll5zhEmOXKf7aPPRFRzvRReq--LjXS35k5qWo0sU3K6ut-G6FIMJehpgTyybY5ylvpgD_e736ZMd0-oNWDTWXGFyNx_cTn4He_68EPhE-dACCUMC4kTR/s1200/BookCover_Unwillable-PublishedFrontCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cwUCpRT5m6HUEb2oBldg-rUhc-b7DLVF9ARVlxs6HTxubA8oJ2d8cQw3xPRzaDHziud9Ll5zhEmOXKf7aPPRFRzvRReq--LjXS35k5qWo0sU3K6ut-G6FIMJehpgTyybY5ylvpgD_e736ZMd0-oNWDTWXGFyNx_cTn4He_68EPhE-dACCUMC4kTR/w133-h200/BookCover_Unwillable-PublishedFrontCover.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/436bbvy" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Unwillable: </span></a></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/436bbvy" target="_blank">A Journey to Reclaim My Brain</a></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">by </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jackie M. Stebbins<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">GENRE</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">: Memoir<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BLURB:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Jackie Stebbins’ UNWILLABLE is an inspiring
story of a brilliant woman’s battle with autoimmune encephalitis and the circle
of support--from loving family members to dedicated physicians--who helped
guide her through a hard-won recovery. Her story is as moving as it is
important and is destined to help so many others facing this condition.”</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
Susannah Cahalan author of NYT #1 Bestseller Brain
on Fire</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61125194"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Goodreads</span></span></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #674ea7;">EXCERPT</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I remember the moment it hit. It was like the physical
feeling of lightning striking me and an earthquake ripping through me all at
once. It had an instantaneous feeling of terror and destruction. The explosion
started in my brain and reverberated through my entire body. It caught and
spread like wildfire. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;">It is my memory that I sat upright in bed when it felt like
the lightning bolt struck my head. My hands and arms immediately started to fly
wildly and uncontrollably all over the place, as if I was trying to brace
myself while the earthquake tore through me. For just a second, I wanted to
scream out for help, but I couldn’t. I peed my pants. And after that, it all
goes black. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The memory I have is only an instant long, but I can still
feel the desire to scream. I can feel my arms moving so rapidly and
uncontrollably that they are almost screaming out too. It is the worst of all
the nightmares, all the terrors, and all the episodes I had in that bed for
those seven months, in a few split seconds.
</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><b>Buy links </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://amzn.to/436bbvy" target="_blank"> Amazon link</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unwillable-jackie-m-stebbins/1141495526"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0b4cb4;">Barnes & Noble</span></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tsb9VQgOCM0DT8weDTdPdz1T2Jm8SqsNqAvwekKT90hacuKhdacCl2S6xzbihroQML94WnSJeOSIByUub_dkjFUyRb7sP_AHihU651MYPm_tZiYR8NJKK1TmA8hoUshmOWRsy9s_4TZHfwDsuHLuzIZHWBpmYVqiZezG3LSAQPWcSaPF7bMjjHv3/s1165/author%20image%20(1)%20(2).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tsb9VQgOCM0DT8weDTdPdz1T2Jm8SqsNqAvwekKT90hacuKhdacCl2S6xzbihroQML94WnSJeOSIByUub_dkjFUyRb7sP_AHihU651MYPm_tZiYR8NJKK1TmA8hoUshmOWRsy9s_4TZHfwDsuHLuzIZHWBpmYVqiZezG3LSAQPWcSaPF7bMjjHv3/w138-h200/author%20image%20(1)%20(2).jpg" width="138" /></a></div><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 8pt; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Jackie
M. Stebbins was living her dream as a nationally recognized family law,
criminal defense, and civil litigator. But Stebbins’s career as a lawyer
abruptly ended in May, 2018, when she was diagnosed with a rare brain illness,
autoimmune encephalitis. Stebbins persevered to make a remarkable recovery and
turned herself into an author and motivational speaker. Stebbins is the author
of the <i>JM Stebbins</i> blog and host of the <i>Brain Fever</i> podcast.
Stebbins’s side hustle includes raising three lovely children with her
wonderful husband, Sean, in Bismarck, North Dakota, and in her leisure time she
can be found reading, trying to be funny, and aqua jogging.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Social
Media:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JackieMStebbins/" target="_blank"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;">Facebook</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://twitter.com/jmstebbs" target="_blank"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;">Twitter</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jmstebbs84/" target="_blank"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;">Instagram</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-stebbins-725081173/" target="_blank"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;">LinkedIn</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jmstebbs" target="_blank"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;">TikTok</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Websites:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><a href="http://jmstebbins.com">jmstebbins.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><a href="http://jmstebbins.com/blog">Blog</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><a href="http://unwillable.com">unwillable.com</a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p>
</p> ************************************<div><br /></div><div><b>GIVEAWAY</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_CUrTyqGD4KLCdarOREe2o5OeaeC8czu04euyJPmlUxVTVnLYSq2CkFCSmsRjTWNdmvDD5Sk4nv62k9SP_TYj9UkG_48f9hvCfM6RSmJocyIUuahWjn5Lrtcc92q0lrV9mCBt3s3Ih0WCjyHCYPb0uHqeoEQ7kG8PJ2Rr4Dqo07jOcijoq3qIhec/s1425/Prize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1425" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_CUrTyqGD4KLCdarOREe2o5OeaeC8czu04euyJPmlUxVTVnLYSq2CkFCSmsRjTWNdmvDD5Sk4nv62k9SP_TYj9UkG_48f9hvCfM6RSmJocyIUuahWjn5Lrtcc92q0lrV9mCBt3s3Ih0WCjyHCYPb0uHqeoEQ7kG8PJ2Rr4Dqo07jOcijoq3qIhec/w200-h113/Prize.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4571" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4571/" id="rcwidget_hpalpe4a" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div><div><p class="yiv4117402977MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; outline: none;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/04/vbt-unwillable-journey-to-reclaim-my.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></p><p class="yiv4117402977MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p><p class="yiv4117402977MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><br /></p></div></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466932581579081433.post-21766804144584539802023-05-22T00:30:00.046-07:002023-05-22T00:30:00.143-07:00The Not so True Adventures of Brandon, Josh, and Adam by Barry Fellinger (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96Vf3WWABh9ymkrrsw5av3GItvA6jSQ5y_rP0rDfJ38Y4h_g9n20eaUv2_9aHSsC71w1jMMLgnWql98kmKsNpkY5cy31eSPQy4ZBJ94F4I0h7Q3L7-G9GYkud75FmlsbApv_mMhMiIqY5x5oEXPuFzTkEO0sMZhdqZffx07nmtsqPw7d__mYOg-M_/s1200/TourBanner_The%20Not%20so%20True%20Adventures.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96Vf3WWABh9ymkrrsw5av3GItvA6jSQ5y_rP0rDfJ38Y4h_g9n20eaUv2_9aHSsC71w1jMMLgnWql98kmKsNpkY5cy31eSPQy4ZBJ94F4I0h7Q3L7-G9GYkud75FmlsbApv_mMhMiIqY5x5oEXPuFzTkEO0sMZhdqZffx07nmtsqPw7d__mYOg-M_/s320/TourBanner_The%20Not%20so%20True%20Adventures.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #d2ffe3; font-size: 13px;"> </span><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><i>The Not so True Adventures of Brandon,
Josh, and Adam</i></span></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">by </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Barry Fellinger<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">GENRE</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">: Children's Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">BLURB:</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Eleven-year-old cousins Brandon and Josh return home
safely at the end of their Almost True Adventure, only to discover that their
cousin Adam has been captured by the very same aliens from the Intergalactic
Council on Obedience to Parents they just escaped from!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Now the boys must figure out how to get back into
space, rescue Adam, and return home safely again!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">It's a Not So True Adventure full of action,
surprises, old friends, new enemies, frenemies, and what's that about doubles
troubles?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">A hilarious and once-in-a-while serious story of
past, present, and future antics, based on some of the three cousins' escapades
in real life!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauJirFCkepttpDGzoiyWFEwyvB0o1KmD4kCEsA5h0F-S37jUY0jIp1xrTVlVhcIiBMDWbWANEJiMROsV0uIqzLuN6sgARzK-Z1nSY098SBSwRDwbwp003APVXhYSdFTx1jQAffj92W4fJ_TJaozZIu9oEz796SeLSqbSIPKeqMOzVKpYYfAEa_yk6/s1280/BookCover_TheNotSoTrueAdventures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauJirFCkepttpDGzoiyWFEwyvB0o1KmD4kCEsA5h0F-S37jUY0jIp1xrTVlVhcIiBMDWbWANEJiMROsV0uIqzLuN6sgARzK-Z1nSY098SBSwRDwbwp003APVXhYSdFTx1jQAffj92W4fJ_TJaozZIu9oEz796SeLSqbSIPKeqMOzVKpYYfAEa_yk6/w125-h200/BookCover_TheNotSoTrueAdventures.jpg" width="125" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">EXCERPT</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Double Trouble OR WHICH COUSIN IS WHICH?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Oh, this is making my head hurt! Brandon is up
there, but it’s not me. But it’s the right Brandon who will know what to do.
But Josh is up there, but it’s not the right one, and he will be lost, and why
doesn’t this Josh . . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Brandon #2’s thoughts jumbled together as he tried
to think everything through. He was fast losing his appetite. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">His mind wandered as he began to pick away at his
food. <i>I mean, the one who should be with me is not, cuz this Josh is down
here. But the wrong Josh, though he certainly knows what’s about to happen,
which means he will refuse to eat the broccoli. But if Brandon up there doesn’t
realize he has the wrong Josh, that Josh will be kidnapped with him, but it
won’t be the right Josh. Then I will be stuck with the Josh, who lived through
this, and he will understand everything, so maybe that’s not so bad . . .</i>
By now Brandon’s head throbbed so much from trying to sort this all out in his
mind that he couldn’t concentrate on food anymore and put his head in his
hands. Then he looked up at Josh. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Josh,” Brandon spoke very low. “I understand.
You’re not the right one.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“What, dear?” asked Brandon’s mom, as Brittany
complained, ‘Mom, Brandon’s whispering secrets about me to Josh.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Am not,” snapped back Brandon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Um, Mom, I think Josh might be sick. I think he
should go to my room and lie down.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“But I’m fine.” Josh was now panicking,
understanding Brandon knew, but neither of them knew if the other Brandon
hiding with Josh’s double understood yet. They were waiting for this Josh to
come up, after all. Brandon needed the right Josh with him soon, but because he
had not been through this before, he wasn’t thinking about one super important
thing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“What about the tantrum?” Josh asked Brandon softly.
“If I don’t act up, they won’t come and then Adam is . . .” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">He stopped mid-sentence when he felt an unusual bump
like someone was trying to push him off his chair, strong enough that he nearly
fell off it and had to grab the table to keep his balance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Brandon,” Josh whispered again. “Did you feel
that?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“Feel wh—” Brandon started to say and then the phone
rang. Josh thought the last time that happened, they had been rounding the
corner to the kitchen when his Aunt Beth answered the phone, not seated at the
table. <i>That’s different,</i> he thought to himself.<i> Aunt Beth is sitting
at the table this time, but I guess we definitely did take longer upstairs.
Still, something strange is going on, though. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Brandon’s mom turned to speak to the three children
with a concerned look on her face. “That was your Aunt Patty,” she said,
catching her breath. “It’s about your cousin Adam. He got into some big
argument with his parents at the dinner table, and then he stomped off to his
room.”</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">AUTHOR Bio and Links:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Barry M. Fellinger resides in St. Thomas, Ontario, with his wife
Beth, and currently works as a director in health care and also teaches
leadership courses and seminars.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">He loves spending time with his adult children, grandchildren,
extended family, and friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">He enjoys reading, writing, watching superhero television shows
and movies, collecting comics, attending the occasional Comicon and, for
inspiration, relaxing in Sanctuary II, his comic book/man room.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">He has a few more books in the works which he hopes to complete
before or during retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Social Media</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/barry.fellinger" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.instagram.com/barryfellinger" target="_blank">Instagram</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></b></p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">********************</span><div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><div><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GIVEAWAY</span></b></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f4547" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4547/" id="rcwidget_5pdkxbc5" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span><div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The tour dates can be found <a href="https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/02/review-tour-not-so-true-adventures-of.html " target="_blank">here</a></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">**************************************</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My review:</span></span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">“The Not so True Adventures of Brandon, Josh, and Adam” by
Barry M. Fellinger describes the adventures of three cousins who get caught in
an unexpected side effect of Brandon and Josh’s previous experience with the
Intergalactic Council on Obedience to Parents. Despite their intermittent
squabbles in the past, the cousins must find a way to work together with their
alien friends and allies to solve the kinks in the space-time continuum that
they’ve inadvertently disrupted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This fantastical children’s story was a little confusing at
first, given the duplication of a couple of the main characters and the
references to previous occurrences which took place in another book. It’s no
surprise that the alien Derks discover there is an issue with having used time
travel on Josh and Brandon that causes a disruption of the timestream. The
adventures in which broccoli, of all things, figures prominently is a wacky and
imaginative tale that manages to touch on the complicated-yet-simple relationship
that a trio of eleven-year-old boys can have. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I love that the Derks are both fearsome and unthreatening,
and that this all starts because of defiant behavior that is being punished.
There are various lessons included in the story that are artfully blended with
unexpected twists and turns and unusual characters, and even the science
lessons are conveyed in an understandable manner. This is both a fun read and a
cautionary tale to remind one of the importance of…eating one’s broccoli (and respecting
one’s parents)!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A copy of this title was provided for review </span><o:p></o:p></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"></span></div>ELFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507018016608103452noreply@blogger.com4