Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Happy 2020!

Image by Markéta Machová from Pixabay



Here's hoping the new year is filled with peace, joy, and laughter...




And that you never bite off more than you can chew!

Image by Markéta Machová from Pixabay




But, if you do...

Here's hoping there will be someone there who has your back!



 Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Happy Holidays to all!





Image by Oli R from Pixabay






No matter which aspects of the holiday season you are celebrating, I wish you joy and peace and good times!



Thursday, December 19, 2019

Salvaging Love by Sara Ohlin (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title






by

Sara Ohlin




Animals aren’t the only thing that need rescuing when a sexy veterinarian encounters a hot-headed attorney…

Perfectly content saving animals at her clinic in a charming but run-down neighborhood, veterinarian Ellie Blevins slams into new landlord, Jackson Kincaid, who plans to turn her beloved block of buildings into condos.

Intrigued by Ellie, hot-shot defense attorney Jackson gives her one month to convince him not to put his gentrification plans into progress. Attraction soon sizzles between them, but when Jackson makes his desires known, Ellie’s vulnerable heart doesn’t know what to think.

She wants to trust the sinfully handsome Jackson, just as he wants to gain her trust, but finding their way to love isn’t easy when her traumatic past and his criminal clients could sabotage their relationship for good.

Can the enchanting veterinarian and the brooding attorney fight the demons from the past…and build a new future?

*****************************




Excerpt

“It’s not a bag of bones. It’s a block of old, historic buildings that need love and care,” she began. But standing there, taking in his polished rich-man strength, it was futile to convince him of anything. “You know what? Deal me the death blow now. I’d like to review the lease I signed before I throw in the towel and start looking for a new space and a new home, because I can tell there’s no way you and I will ever be on the same page.”

“New home?”

“What?” she said.

“You said, ‘a new space and a new home’?” “I live in the apartment above the French Connection Bakery. Mr. and Mrs. Heely have owned it for twenty-five years.” There she was, exhausted-sharing again. And there he stood intense-staring. She closed her eyes at the craziest, weirdest conversation she’d ever had, and realized Chewie was asleep on her chest with his tiny head nuzzled in her neck. Oh, soft love, she thought, if only people were more like dogs, so trusting, kind, and loving.

“One month,” he said.

“One month to be out of—”

“I’ll give you one month to try to convince me.”

“I… What?”

“You spend time with me for the next month. We get to know each other, and you can state your case.”

“Spend time with you?” Is he insane?

“You said you wanted to try to convince me to change my mind.”

“Oh,” she whispered.


Buy Links

Totally Bound
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
iBook
Google Play

***************************



About the Author:
Puget Sound based writer, Sara Ohlin is a mom, wannabe photographer, obsessive reader, ridiculous foodie, and the author of the contemporary romance novels, Handling the Rancher, Salvaging Love and the upcoming contemporary romance Seducing the Dragonfly.

She has over fifteen years of creative non-fiction and memoir writing experience, and you can find her essays at Anderbo.com, Feminine Collective, Mothers Always Write, Her View from Home, and in anthologies such as Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak about Healthcare in America, Take Care: Tales, Tips, & Love from Women Caregivers, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Although she’s the author of many essays about life, grief, motherhood and the connections we make through delicious food and shared meals, Sara loves creating imaginary worlds with tight-knit communities in her romance novels. She credits her mother, Mary, Nora Roberts and Rosamunde Pilcher for her love of romance.

If she’s not reading or writing, you will most likely find her in the kitchen creating scrumptious meals with her two kids and amazing husband, or perhaps cooking up her next love story.

She once met a person who both “didn’t read books” and wasn’t “that into food” and it nearly broke her heart. You can learn more on her website.

Website
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
BookBub
Goodreads





*********************

GIVEAWAY

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. 

Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Other Magic by Derrick Smythe (Release blitz, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) PTPR







 by 
Derrick Smythe

Passage to Dawn series




Genres:  Epic fantasy, Coming of age
Publisher:  Dorean Press
Publication Date:  December 1, 2019



Just $0.99!
(please check price before purchase)
Amazon





About the Book

 
Darkness stirs in a world that is ill-equipped to confront it.
A prophesied king is born, but not all will benefit from his foretold conquests.In a realm where only clerics are permitted to practice magic, Kibure, a mere slave, draws the attention of much more than just his master after wielding an unknown force in a moment of desperation. In a twist of fate, Sindri, the priestess hired to strip Kibure of his power, defies the law, revealing designs of her own. But trust is in short supply in a land ripe with deceit. This wayward pair will have to work together if they hope to evade capture at the hands of the Empire’s most potent wielders.


Halfway around the known world, Prince Aynward’s knack for discovering trouble drives him deep into conspiracies within which he does not belong. Too arrogant to accept counsel, he will have to learn the hard way that some actions have consequences that cannot be undone…





 **********************




 Excerpt:



THE OTHER MAGIC
A Passage of Dawn Novel
© 2019 Derrick Smythe



“How dare you! I am your—”
Another blast of energy split the air. Grobennar used his own powers to deflect the blow, but the sheer volume of energy was too great and he was still thrown back into the wall. He landed with a thud, then groaned.
“You are my servant!” Magog’s voice became a growl. “I am not yours to command. You have forgotten your place.”
Never before had Magog lashed out like this. His powers were as of yet still manifesting, still growing, but already he commanded strength unknown to any mortal man. Magog could easily kill him if he wished, and Grobennar now feared that in his anger, he just might. He forgot the physical pain of the attack on his body, and the great blow to his ego.
“I—I am sorry, My Lord.”
The voice in Grobennar’s mind interrupted his already strained thoughts. “You’re not alone with the God-king. I sense the life-essence of another; a wielder.”
Grobennar collected himself and rose, forgetting the danger posed by the unpredictably obstinate God-king. It was still Grobennar’s duty to serve and protect. Perhaps the God-king was right about the coming of the Dark Lord’s agent. Grobennar drew in Klerós’s power. Then he spotted movement to his right. He summoned more, ready to strike—
“What are—how dare you!” Magog yelled.
Grobennar ignored the oblivious Emperor as a form materialized from the shadows cast by ceiling-high drapes in the corner of the room. Grobennar shouted, “Get down!”
Grobennar extended a hand, readying to strike. Just before he released a bolt of searing energy, the shadowy shape stepped into the light and spoke. Grobennar recognized the voice with revulsion, relaxing his magic with reluctance.
Mazi Rajuban. A member of the High Council and long-standing opponent of both Grobennar and his more conservative faction within the Council. “Peace, brother. I was asked by the God-king to be in attendance for today’s meeting.”
Jaween spoke into Grobennar’s mind, “Have I mentioned that I do not care for this man?”
Nor do I, thought Grobennar wryly to himself.
His own anger reignited. That’s what Rajuban wishes. Grobennar forced himself to relent. “Of course. The God-king is wise to seek the wisdom of a member of the High Council. Yet perhaps this is a matter for the collective wisdom of the High Council to discuss in its entirety.”
The God-king bellowed, “The High Council is fickle, paralytic, and incapable of action!” Lowering his voice, he added, “You are right about assembling the Council. But it will not be to initiate discourse. You will inform them.” He raised his voice once more. “You will inform them that the time has at long last come to begin preparations for the Purge. The enemy stirs! We too must shed our idle position.”
Grobennar knew better than to disagree. He had somehow lost favor with the God-king, and Rajuban’s attendance here served as an answer to the question of how.
“Yes, Lord. It shall be done.”
Rajuban smiled. “You are wise to see the wisdom of the God-king’s words. He has been tightly leashed for far too long. The time has come for him to realize his true destiny as avatar to Klerós, praise be his name.”
“Oh he’s good. I can’t help but hate him, but his politics are praiseworthy. Perhaps we might torture and kill him later?”
Grobennar ignored Jaween, instead looking to Magog, nodding. The decision had been made. Rajuban had defeated him in this bout.
“Of course. This is well. Klerós guide the both of you.”
That snake had maneuvered behind his back to gain the ear of the God-king. He would need to tread very carefully.
Grobennar bade the God-king farewell, refusing to acknowledge Rajuban, then stalked out of the room as quickly as possible. He considered his next course of action, though there wasn’t much to consider. He had no choice but to call a full assembly as instructed.
Grobennar entered his own chambers and melted into the chair beside his bed, mentally exhausted.
“So. This purge. That means war, right? I will be able to persuade our enemies?”
Grobennar picked up a quill and ink from the small table to his left to begin writing out a list of preparations. “Yes, the Purge means war. I suspect you’ll have plenty of chances to persuade, you might even see some killing.”
“Ooh-ooh-ooh. Yes, persuading and killing! I know your mood is a touch soured from earlier, but this really does call for celebration. A small feast, perhaps? That might lighten your mood, as well.”
Grobennar ignored Jaween.
“Did you write that down?”
Grobennar continued to work on his list.
“Are you ignoring me again? You know it hurts my feelings when you ignore me.”
Grobennar reached up and removed the pendant from his neck and tossed it onto his bed a few paces away, limiting the strength of the spirit’s connection to him. “I need to think,” he said through clenched teeth.
He wondered if perhaps secreting the forbidden spirit from the debris all those years ago had resulted in more trouble than it was worth. He heard a sound in his head that was disturbingly not like weeping, yet he knew from his time with Jaween that this was precisely what the spirit was intending to communicate.
He sighed. “I’m not ignoring you, Jaween. You can stop the crying. I just need it quiet in order to think.”
Jaween’s mood elevated. “So that sounded like real crying this time, didn’t it?”
Grobennar rolled his eyes. “Closer than ever before.”
It was going to be a very long day.




Just $0.99!
(please check price before purchase)
Amazon



 **********************

GIVEAWAY

 

To celebrate the release of THE OTHER MAGIC by Derrick Smythe, we're giving away signed paper copies to three lucky winners!




GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open to US shipping addresses only. 
Three winners will each receive a signed paperback copy of The Other Magic

This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Derrick Smythe. 
Giveaway ends 12/31/2019 @ 11:59pm EST.  





 **************************

About Derrick Smythe




DERRICK SMYTHE resides near his hometown in Upstate New York with his wife, two daughters, and their dog, Magnus. When he is not working on his next novel, he enjoys finding any and all reasons to be outdoors. Listening to audiobooks while seated upon the throne of his riding lawn mower is a favorite and when the snow falls, Derrick eagerly transitions to snow-blowing his driveway with the same dual-purpose in mind.

Derrick's debut novel, The Other Magic, is the first installment of his Passage to Dawn series, an epic fantasy set in the World of Doréa.




Website  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon




















Tuesday, December 17, 2019

One Woman Only by Dee S. Knight (Spotlight, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) RBC ADULT title








One Woman Only

The Good Man Series, Book 2

by
Dee S. Knight

ADULT title


Blurb:  As one of a set of triplets, Jonah always feels the need to make his individuality known. So where his brother Daniel is serious and completely focused, Jonah shuns commitment. Where his genius brother Mark is hailed in the scientific world, Jonah hides beneath a car, tinkering. Thing is, being different isn't all it’s cracked up to be. It takes a woman—the right woman—to make him see that a "good man" can always be a better man. 
Release date: November 2019 
Words: 80,310 
Publisher: Nomad Authors Publishing 
Genre: Erotic romance, HOT






 



Excerpt:

 
 
"May I have this dance?"



Kelly turned at the sound of Jonah's voice behind her. Dinner had ended. All three of the boys had given best man speeches and Eve had even given a very creditable matron of honor speech, considering she had only known Marilyn and Caleb a short time. Lots of toasts had been raised and finally the live band had struck up the music. Caleb led his bride onto the floor for a foxtrot—a dance more than half of the guests had no idea how to do, including her.



Facing Jonah she sighed inwardly at how scrumptious he looked. Sure, his face was pretty much displayed on his brothers' heads, too, but there was something different about Jonah. His nose was just a little crooked from when Bobby Hendricks had broken it in ninth grade and his eyes held an especially bright sparkle when he smiled. Maybe… Well, she didn't know what caused the difference between Jonah and his brothers. Whatever it was, she had never been fooled by the so-called identical nature of the identical triplets. She'd wanted to be his girl since elementary school. Thought she would be in high school. And then she’d forced every last thought of him from her mind from senior year on.



Until now.



"I don't know how to foxtrot."



He shrugged. "Who does except those over fifty?" He glanced at his folks, still alone on the dancefloor, although a few couples were wandering out to join them now. "We can pretend."



She mentally compared standing on the sidelines alone now that Mama Rio left the party, or being held in Jonah's arms. Smiling, Kelly held out her hands. "Just don't step on my toes, Jonah Goodman, or there'll be hell to pay."



"Yes, ma'am." Together they walked onto the dancefloor. He took her right hand in his left and placed his right hand on her waist. Fortunately for them, the music changed to a slow tempo. Kelly laid her head on Jonah's shoulder, and he tugged her closer as they swayed to the music.



"This is nice," he murmured.



"Yes it is," she replied. So very nice. He smelled good. Beneath the light citrus fragrance of his aftershave was a slight whiff of pure man with maybe a twinge of motor oil or something so Jonah it brought tears to her eyes.



He rubbed a path up to her shoulder blades and gave a squeeze. "You fit me perfectly, Kelly."



"I do?"



"You sure do. I think our hearts can feel each other beat."



Kelly chuckled. "Smooth talker. Face to face like this our hearts are on opposite sides."



"Hey! I'm trying to be romantic here."



She sighed. "Keep on. It's appreciated."



"You smell…good."



She felt his smile. Raising her head she gave him a mock glare. "Watch it with those pregnant pauses, buster."



He used his hand to press her head back to his shoulder. "You do smell good, though. This isn't the same perfume you wore in high school. That was—"



"Lilac," they said at the same time. Once more she raised her head to look at him. "How did you remember that?"



"I remember much more than you might think." He turned her and moved her closer to the door onto the patio. "Each spring when lilacs are in bloom memories come flooding back. Does that surprise you?"



"More like shocks me," she said, grinning. And then she laid her head on his shoulder once more, finding she liked it more and more there in his arms. She stepped slightly closer and his arm tightened about her.



"Well, after a while I thought lilac seemed too girlish. I like the vintage scents, so in college I wore Wind Song. Then Shalimar was the scent Brad liked me to wear." She felt Jonah stiffen when she mentioned her ex, and really she didn't blame him. "But when I grew up enough finally to take charge of my own life, I started wearing Chanel No 5. A complex fragrance for what I hope is a complex woman."



"It suits you. Complex and beautiful." He kissed her temple. "Want to step outside for a minute?"



"Sure. It is a little warm in here."



On the patio, they could hear the sounds of the people from the television networks packing up equipment, chatting and laughing. Stars shone brightly in the clear night sky. Wood smoke from someone's fireplace wafted through the air and static electricity fairly crackled in the crispness of the autumn air.



"This is my favorite time of year," Kelly said. "The heat of summer is gone and winter nights curled up with a hot drink and blazing fire are ahead."



"Not me. I'm a summer boy all the way."



"A hothead you mean?" she teased.



"Oh, I'm hot all right." He waggled his brows at her. Kelly laughed.



"I do seem to remember that about you."



"You used to be pretty hot yourself. Still are." He leaned in. His eyes flicked down to her lips. 

 Kelly sucked in a breath. She should stop him, she really should.


-->

 One Woman Only Buy links:

  
 


*******************


About the Author: 

 A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex. 

Writing was so much fun Dee decided to keep at it. That's how she spends her days. 

Her nights? Well, she's lucky that her dream man, childhood sweetheart, and long-time hubby are all the same guy, and nights are their secret. 

For romance ranging from sweet to historical, contemporary to paranormal and more join Dee on Nomad Authors. Contact Dee at dsknight@deesknight.com. 




 Dee's Social Links:  

Website
Blog 

Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon 
Newsletter
LinkedIn






 
****************************



♥♥ GIVEAWAY ♥♥



Dee is giving away an ebook of Only a Good Man Will Do and a $10 Amazon card during the tour. 


Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. 

Remember you may enter every day for your chance to win. You may find the tour locations here






a Rafflecopter giveaway




 
 

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Drone by M.L. Buchman (Spotlight, excerpt, and review) ADULT title



(NTSB Military technothriller)
Miranda Chase series
by 
M.L. Buchman (aka Matt Buchman)
ADULT title





"Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more." - Publishers Weekly
“Superb!” – Booklist starred review
“The best military thriller I’ve read in a very long time. Love the female characters.” – Sheldon McArthur, founder of The Mystery Bookstore, LA

 

Blurb:
A US Air Force C-130 transport plane, bearing top secret cargo, lies shattered in the Nevada desert at Groom Lake. China’s prototype fifth-generation jet fighter goes missing.

Far above, a US supersonic, stealth drone flies a very lethal Black Op. The CIA, the US military command, and the secretive National Reconnaissance Office are all locked in a battle for control of the nation’s future.

Miranda Chase, the National Transportation Safety Board’s air-crash savant, lands in the center of the gathering maelstrom. Burdened with a new team and a polarizing personality, she must connect the pieces to stay alive. And she must do it before the wreckage of her past crashes down upon her and destroys US-China relations forever.

***********************



Excerpt:



Miranda turned very slowly; she’d never faced a weapon before.

She could shoot one well enough, though she’d never enjoyed it particularly. Living in a very isolated area as she did between assignments, it was occasionally necessary to put down an injured animal herself. It still made her cry every time. So beautiful and free in life, then—bang!—gone forever. Just like every victim in a plane crash she’d been unable to prevent.

“I said no goddamn photographs. Now give me that thing.” General Harrington tipped the weapon slightly to indicate her tablet.

The pumping adrenaline made her even more hyperaware of details than normal. Every bit of grit shifting under the sole of her boots was a moment of individual assessment until she came face-to-face with the tiny black hole at the end of the barrel, which seemed to expand until it filled the world.

Now her heartrate was escalating toward panic and her palm went sweaty holding the tablet.

She glanced over the barrel at the scowling general’s face. This time when her eyes refocused on the tip of the barrel, the black hole had returned to its normal size—small, black, and utterly void of feeling.

Before she could decide on the best course of action, a tall blonde came toward them from the landed helicopter—slightly behind the general’s field of view. She could have blindsided him easily. Instead, she scuffed her boot loudly by kicking a thorny scrub brush.

The general flinched and redirected his aim at the newcomer, which caused the blonde to do little more than arch an eyebrow.

“Now isn’t this just so interesting.” Her accent was thickly Australian. She remained at perfect ease as she circled around to stand close beside Miranda.

The handgun tracked her closely.

“Now general, I don’t want to be telling you your job, but is this really the best course of action? First, if you do manage to shoot me, there will be a whole mess of paperwork just pilin’ up higher than Uluru—that’s the big red rock at the center of Australia, by the by, just in case you’re not from around about there—which is a lot of paperwork. Shooting a civilian is very bad form. Even worse, firing on the IIC of the NTSB Go Team investigating your crash would make your motivations appear maybe a tiny bit suspect to people. People you probably don’t want suspecting things about you. However, far more importantly, me former mates in the SAS—that’s the Australian Special Air Service, not my Brit brethren—would be sorely disappointed if I was to let either of those scenarios happen.” She stood as casually as if she was chatting with a friend.

Miranda inspected her more closely.

She was five-ten and looked remarkably fit. Which would be appropriate for coming from the SAS. Australian Special Operations might not be Delta Force, but they were very elite military. Miranda had no idea what she was doing here, but the woman appeared far better prepared to deal with a weapon-bearing general than she herself was.

Her hands—Miranda always noticed hands—were strong and had a wide variety of calluses. The most prominent were on the webbing between thumb and forefinger. Miranda tried flexing her own hand through several positions that different tasks might require, but none of them seemed likely to create such a mark. Unless…

Miranda formed her hand as if she was firing a pistol. Yes, each shot would make the weapon buck against the webbing between thumb and forefinger, which matched the observed data. Just how much did someone have to shoot to create a callus there? Obviously, this woman could answer the question.

“So, mate. I’m asking myself, ‘Holly’—that’s my name, so it’s how I typically address myself—‘Holly, should you break one or both of the general’s hands as you take his weapon?’ For the moment, you may consider that an idle question while you consider the next part. As an extra add-on service, I’d be glad to shoot you with it after I rip it from your bleeding fingers. Just a graze, mind you, so that you could claim you struggled manfully before a Sheila took away your personal weapon and spanked you with it.”

The general’s expressions shifted through a wide range during Holly’s speech. The anger appeared to dissipate, replaced by suspicion and several other emotions that Miranda couldn’t identify. But at Holly’s final threat, the anger had definitely returned.

Miranda looked at her watch.

Her motion had the general returning his aim to her own chest.

Not her best move.

But she saw that they’d already wasted eleven minutes since she should have started her investigation—which would never do. She pushed the barrel aside and stepped into his personal space. He stumbled back.

She’d have to remember this tactic.

He snapped off the safety with a sharp click as if that was somehow more threatening than the black hole at the end of the barrel.

It was.

She began swallowing compulsively.

Maybe this wasn’t her best idea after all.

But, damn it, there had to be limits. She ignored the weapon and followed through with the initial impetus that had sent her forward. Bending down, she photographed an object that she’d spotted when looking down at her watch. It had been partly under the general’s boot.

“What’s that?” He didn’t lower his aim, so it was now pointed where her head had been. Failure to track her as a target? Reverting once more from aggression to confusion. She really didn’t understand people. Or perhaps he was just a pile of inconsistencies, shifting before she could analyze one moment from the next.

Miranda selected a pair of needle-nose pliers from her vest and delicately lifted the disk of metal, shaking it lightly to clear the dirt. Then she held it up in the general’s face, just inches away.

“Hey!” he stumbled back another step, his weapon swinging down to point at the ground.

“This is the dial card for an aircraft’s analog compass.”

The helicopter that had delivered the blonde former SAS soldier and a man who remained in the background took off again, forcing Miranda to shout.

“Normally I would ask myself what force could possibly move such an object so far from its point of impact. However, now that you’ve stepped on it, I must ask if it was bent by the force of the crash and thrown this far. Or, if your interference with the site has misplaced and damaged what may have been a key piece of evidence in my investigation. Now move your vehicle back fifty meters and leave me alone. And tell your pilots to stop flying over my crash site.”

She turned away and carefully bagged the compass dial.

It took her three tries as her hand was still shaking with a fury she was unused to. The fear…had been too familiar; an emotion she’d worked very hard to leave behind. Apparently not.

The fact that the dial face had come from a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and had been sitting in the desert for at least fifteen years based on the scaling and edge corrosion was of little relevance to her. It made her point. Besides, she didn’t have one of this generation in her collection—bent or otherwise.





 ***********************

 (Note from ELF: Be advised that this is much darker than some of the other series by this author. I have been informed that things have been toned down slightly from the version I read, but please be aware of possible triggers)


My review:


4.25 stars





Drone by M.L. Buchman is an intense thriller that introduces Miranda Chase in the debut novel for her series. A mysterious aircraft crash in a very restricted area is Miranda’s newest assignment, but not only is she stymied at every turn in her quest to perform her duties, she is also saddled with a new team. There are mysteries underlying the mysteries, but careful analysis may be the clue to uncovering a shocking revelation that will reverberate around the world.







I will start by offering a trigger warning. Those who are sensitive to scenes of sexual abuse should be aware that there are multiple references sprinkled through the story. Personally, I had to step away from the book a couple of times, but I AM glad that I finished the story because it is an entertaining and compelling tale, and I like Miranda and would like to read more of the series. I was disturbed by the initial allusions of abuse that set up the background for a couple of the women, and although I understood that some of this was to lay the groundwork for motivation…I was sickened by the multiple descriptions of power inequity.



Fortunately, I did continue. As usual, this author introduces complex characters who are adept at confounding and fascinating both one another and the reader. There are multiple points of view, with a glimpse of the power games that nations play, and a thought-provoking demonstration of the price that many pay for machinations that may be part of a very long game. There is a nicely contained mystery that unfolds even as we come to know the major players in this particular story but there are also dangling threads that undoubtedly will come into play in subsequent stories. Those who enjoy intricate and intense spy thrillers as well as wonderfully competent and insightful heroines should definitely give this book a try and get pulled into an entertaining new series.





A copy was provided for review

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Inheritance by Gail Z. Martin (Cover reveal) GBP




Deadly Curiosities series, Book 4

by

Gail Z. Martin


Cover Artist: Lou Harper

Release Date: October 22, 2019

Genre/s: Urban fantasy with romantic elements. 

(Note—Characters from my Morgan Brice (MM paranormal romance) books make several key appearances in this book. 

Also, a long-time committed MM couple figure prominently in the plot).

Trope/s: Established relationships, strengthening commitment, supportive partners, protective partners

Themes: Friendship, found family, loyalty, family always has your back, trust

Heat Rating: 0 - 1 flame (No sex, kissing/hugging for MF and MM characters)

Length: 66 000 words/ 222 pages

It is the fourth book in the series but can be read as a standalone.


  





Can Cassidy and her friends find the demon box, stop the killer ghosts, and break the Pendlewood curse before Beckford’s murderous cousins and the vengeful demon destroy them all?


Blurb

Cassidy Kincaide runs Trifles & Folly in modern-day Charleston, an antiques and curio shop with a dangerous secret. Cassidy can read the history of objects by touching them, and she teams up with friends and allies who use magic and paranormal abilities to get rid of cursed objects and keep Charleston and the world safe from supernatural threats.

Caribbean ghosts terrorize Charleston and start racking up a body count. Then Beckford Pendlewood, the heir to a powerful family of dark warlocks, shows up raving about a bound demon locked in a lost box and begs sanctuary. Can Cassidy and her friends find the demon box, stop the killer ghosts, and break the Pendlewood curse before Beckford’s murderous cousins and the vengeful demon destroy them all?

Buy Links 




Excerpt

From Chapter 1

“I have a problem antique I’d like you to take a look at.” The man on the other end of the call sounded rattled. I recognized his name—Alfred Stone, from Stone Auctions—but I didn’t think we had ever spoken, let alone met.

“What kind of ‘problem’ does it present?” I asked. A number of possibilities came to mind. “Questionable provenance? Not sure how to authenticate?”

“I think it’s trying to kill me.”

Well, damn. That kind of problem. “All right, Mr. Stone. Try to stay calm.”

“I just told you, it’s trying to kill me. I heard you…know…about these things. Please, help me.”

Across the store, Teag Logan glanced up to make sure everything was all right. I nodded, and he went back to helping a customer.

“I can come now. Are you at the showroom?”

“Yes. Thank you. And…please…hurry.”

I ended the call and sighed. This might be the first time Alfred Stone had an antique try to kill him, but that made it just another day here at Trifles and Folly.

I’m Cassidy Kincaide, and I own Trifles and Folly, an antique and curio shop in historic, haunted Charleston, South Carolina. The shop has been in my family for more than three hundred years. While we’re known as a great place to buy high-quality antiques, the shop is also a cover for the Alliance, a coalition of mortals and immortals who save Charleston—and the world—from supernatural threats. I’m a psychometric, which means I can read the history and magic of objects by touching them. Teag is my assistant store manager, best friend, and sometimes bodyguard—and he’s also a talented Weaver witch. Sorren, my business partner, is a nearly six-hundred-year-old vampire. Together with some other friends with very specialized abilities, we do our best to keep the world safe from dark magic and things that go bump in the night.

“Problem?” Teag asked when the customer left.

“I’m not sure,” I replied. “Alfred Stone just called—from the auction house. He says he’s got an item that’s trying to kill him.”

“You want me to go with you?” Teag pushed a lock of dark hair out of his eyes. His skater-boy haircut and skinny jeans made him look younger than his late twenties. “Maggie can handle the store.”

On cue, Maggie—our lifesaver of a part-time associate—waved to agree from the other side of the store. She was sporting a new bright pink streak in her short gray hair, and it matched her sweater, a reminder—as if I needed one—that she believed in taking risks and living large.

I reached up to slick my humidity-frizzy strawberry blond hair back into a ponytail and shook my head. “Let me go see what the problem is, and I’ll figure out what to do from there. It’s not far away, in case I need to give a shout.”




 
  
About the Author 

Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, SOL Publishing, Darkwind Press, Worldbuilders Press and Falstaff Books. Recent books include Convicts and Exiles, Sellsword’s Oath, Inheritance, and Night Moves. With Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of the Spells Salt & Steel, Wasteland Marshals, Joe Mack and Jake Desmet series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance including the Witchbane, Badlands and Treasure Trail series. Recent books include The Rising, Flame and Ash.





Social Media Links





 



 



 




********************


GIVEAWAY


Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win 

one of three $10 Amazon Gift Cards