Sunday, September 29, 2019

Beast's Beauty by Chirstina Wilder & Laney Kay (Release week blitz, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) ADULT title






 by 
Christina Wilder & Laney Kaye
ADULT title





Series:  Fractured Fairytales & Mangled Myths
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Independent
Publication Date:  September 20, 2019



Description:

A beauty stolen from Earth.

Gifted to an alien Beast.

Can love set them both free?


Amelia: Abducted by aliens and taken to their ship, my best friend and I are desperate to escape and return to Earth. I'm tossed into a cell with a reptilian alien and told I must satisfy him or they'll hurt my friend. I never thought giving in to his needs might satisfy my own...
Then they put me with a new beast and say we're going to compete in a deadly game called the Rampage. Alien Hunger Games anyone?
The beast is snarly and ferocious, and he could rip me apart with his tusks and claws. Yet in his eyes, I sense something vulnerable. Lonely. With hints of something I found with the other alien.
I'll do whatever I can to soothe the beast and convince him to help me win the Rampage. Because losing means death.

Jrecatoa: I was once a man, a Krakarian warrior.
That's all gone now. Hidden beneath this abominable exterior, far more Beast than man. Not only in appearance, either; because the scent and the sight of this female does things to me. Things that surely no man would ever feel.
Of course, I've wanted women before. Had women before.
But I've never needed them like this.
She's awoken my Hunger.
But maybe that's just as well--without the fury of the Hunger, neither of us has any chance of surviving the Rampage.



Beast's Beauty is book one in our new Scifi Alien Abduction Romance Series, Fractured Fairytales & Mangled Myths. Look for Book two, Minotaur's Mate, releasing soon!

Our alien romance series guarantees hot males, fierce women, steamy, on-the-page romance, and a satisfying happily-ever-after. Each book features new characters and can be read as a standalone though they may be more fun if read in order.





Saturday, September 28, 2019

Arctic Heat by Annabeth Albert (Spotlight, excerpt, and review) ANT ADULT title





Blog Tour Exclusive Q&A:
Q: Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

AA: Both characters, Quill and Owen, are special to me for different reasons. Quill, my grumpy park ranger, is special to me because he’s a more mature hero, but he’s also unaware of the extent of his own loneliness. Giving Quill the HEA he deserves was immensely satisfying. Owen, my optimistic new volunteer assigned to Quill, is special because he represents a character that I’ve wanted to do for a long time—one who survived a major medical scare and now has a second lease on life and is determined to make the most of each day.

Q: What was the inspiration for the story?

AA: My amazing critique partner and best friend, Wendy Qualls, came to me with the idea of how in remote areas, park rangers are often snowed in together for months at a time. I loved the idea immediately, and we started brainstorming. I brought in a lot of my favorite tropes—opposites attract, age gap, close proximity, building friendship, adventure, working together, and more as the plot started to take shape for me. Then later, I came up with the idea of making it series set in Alaska, and worked that plot bunny into the series. Book Three seemed to fit best for this one, so that’s where it landed, but initially it was the first plot bunny, and everything else sprang from that one.

Q: What is the key theme and/or message in the book?

AA: Love finds us where we least expect it, but most need it. Neither Owen nor Quill expects to find the love of their lives when they’re snowed in together for an Alaskan winter, but love has a way of finding people when they need it most and of healing old wounds and giving fresh courage. I really wanted to show how love can provide the best fresh start of all, even when we stay in the same place we’ve always been or when we venture thousands of miles out of our comfort zone—love finds those who need it most.

Q: What is the significance of the title?

AA: ARCTIC HEAT is actually the coldest book in the series—tons and tons of snow and snowed in fun. The heat totally comes from the chemistry between the main characters!

Q: If you had to describe the main characters in three words, what would those three words be?

AA: As the story opens, Quill is grumpy, lonely, and loyal. He’s grumpy about being assigned a new volunteer, lonely from long hours alone and with his BFF now assigned elsewhere, and he’s loyal to his job. Meanwhile, Owen is optimistic, fun, and adventure seeking. He’s an optimist who survived a health scare and now is seeking fun and adventure in Alaska.

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ARCTIC HEAT
by
Annabeth Albert

Series: Frozen Hearts #3

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date: Sept. 23 (ebook/audio), Oct 1 (print)

Length (Print & Ebook): 89,000 words

Subgenre: m/m contemporary romance/ action adventure m/m romance, interracial romance

Warnings: None.


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Book synopsis:

A lasting connection needs more than simply surviving a winter together—they’ll have to outsmart danger, let down their defenses and open their hearts.

Owen Han has a fresh lease on life—he’s kicked cancer’s ass and is roaring through his bucket list. The former investment banker hopes to find his next challenge in Alaska, volunteering alongside park rangers and fulfilling his childhood dreams of snowy winters and rustic life. Of course, those dreams did tend to feature big strapping mountain men in vivid detail…

Ranger Quilleran Ramsey would like to be anywhere other than dealing with newbie volunteers. And really, the only thing he needs less than a green volunteer “partner” is the flirty attentions of a buff city boy who doesn’t look ready to last a week, let alone an Alaskan winter. They’re all wrong for each other, even if Quill’s traitorous body enjoys the flirting more than it should.

As the weeks pass, the two snowbound men give in to temptation. But can their seasonal romance last until spring? For them to have a future together, each will have to trust the other…while hoping that the harsh elements and omnipresent dangers don’t destroy what happiness they’ve found in the moment.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

This book is approximately 89,000 words



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Excerpt:

“Tea for everyone. Then a hot shower and lots of blankets,” Owen declared as they entered the building, bossy streak making a blessed reappearance right when Quill really needed to not be the one thinking. If Owen had a plan, so much the better because Quill wasn’t good for much besides stripping off his gear, stowing his piece, stomping upstairs, and flopping into a kitchen chair. Owen draped one of the blankets from the couch around his shoulders before doing the same for himself, wearing it like a cape as he made tea. “Bourbon in yours? I found a bottle in the cabinet the other week.”
“Yeah.” Quill didn’t often imbibe, but he needed the burn of the liquor even more than any warmth-giving properties. The bourbon was there exactly for nights like this one where Quill had done his best and it still hadn’t been enough. Fucking universe and its random acts of cruelty.
After adding a healthy glug of liquor to each of their mugs, Owen shoved a cup at Quill. He also put a plate of cookies from the batch that got baked on the table. “Here you go. Eat something so the alcohol doesn’t hit too hard.”
“Feels like I should be the one taking care of you,” Quill admitted after he’d had a few sips of tea, let the warmth and burn work past the tightness in his throat and chest.
“We can take care of each other,” Owen countered, pulling his chair close to Quill’s. “That’s what we’re here for, right?”
A few hours ago, Quill would have argued that being alone was the best way to cope with something like this—find a way to push through and on to the next day either with the aid of some strong drink or just a restless night spent replaying the events until sleep did its thing, softened the edges of the awfulness. But when Owen grabbed his hand, squeezed, and looked at him with such compassion in his eyes, Quill couldn’t find it in himself to pull away.
“Yeah,” he said, even as he knew that he shouldn’t let himself come to need Owen like this, to lean on him. He and Hattie had always tended to retreat to their own corners after a hard shift, and he prided himself on being a strong man. Sure, accidents like this affected him as they would anyone, but he’d always tried to handle those emotions on his own. Harsh memories of his father’s comments about men who showed their feelings didn’t help any, but lately all those memories, all the family drama, seemed more distant. Less sharp.
And funny how without that mantle of a painful past, his present seemed somehow more hopeful, old wounds and past fears no match for Owen. In fact, they’d been on the verge of another disagreement when Owen had dropped everything to come help. And now here he was, taking care of Quill yet again. Owen simply didn’t seem to have it in him to hold a grudge too long. Quill would be a fool to pull away now, even if he knew the next night like this, the inevitable one after Owen left, would hurt that much more. But that moment, all he wanted to do was hold Owen close, take every comfort he offered from Christmas lights to hot toddies to underdone gingerbread to that strong hand of his, holding on when Quill needed it most.






\ 
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Meet Annabeth Albert:

\Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance series include the #FrozenHearts, #OutOfUniform, #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat, #RainbowCove and #PerfectHarmony series.
\
To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.



Connect with Annabeth:


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Giveaway

1 winner will receive paperback copies of ARCTIC SUN, ARCTIC WILD, and ARCTIC HEAT + a Swag Pack! 

Open Internationally, must be 18 to win.




a Rafflecopter giveaway




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My review:



4 stars


Arctic Heat by Annabeth Albert is part of her ‘Frozen Hearts’ adult gay romance series and centers on Ranger Quilleran Ramsey, whose orderly existence is upset by the presence of forthright volunteer Owen Han, who makes no secret of his attraction to the taciturn man who seems determined to resist any overtures.

I love the play on words of this series title, since these guys are literally dealing with frozen temperatures and all of the hazards attendant on folks out in that kind of weather, while there are the emotional implications as well. The contrast between the irascible Ranger who is already uncomfortable at having lost his regular partner and the newbie volunteer who wants to experience life to its fullest makes this a fun and touching story. I love being able to armchair travel as this author transports us to an entirely different way of life and paints vivid pictures of both the beauty and the dangers of the environment. The touch of diversity made the story even more attractive for me, and I enjoyed watching the evolution of the relationship that grew organically. I look forward to reading other tales that feature the fascinating men who are willing to brave the extreme temperatures of this part of the world.



A copy of this title was provided to me for review


Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The Perfect Lap by Sedona Hutton (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title







by 
Sedona Hutton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  Contemporary Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line?

AJ Ryan is a publicity nightmare. After a questionable photo surfaces and his biggest sponsor threatens to pull out, the NASCAR champion admits it might be time to hit the brakes. Thankfully, his new no-nonsense image consultant knows just where to start… too bad she revs his engine so loudly he can barely think straight.

Ella Fisher’s career is a welcome distraction from her poor taste in men. Fresh off another easily avoidable heartbreak, rehabbing AJ’s career is just the diversion she needs. But when the pulse-pounding client actually listens to her advice, Ella wonders if there’s more to the man behind the hot mess.

When Ella is granted guardianship of three boisterous children under the misconception that she and AJ are a couple, AJ surprises her by going along with the charade. Before long they find themselves in a make-shift family that feels more real than pretend.

As their professional relationship takes a hard turn for the personal, a single overheard conversation could make it all go up in flames. Will Ella and AJ’s romance hit the wall, or will love take the checkered flag?

The Perfect Lap is the second standalone novel in the Racing Hearts of Serenity romance series. If you like bad boys with a heart of gold, strong women, and love stories with a new age twist, then you’ll adore Sedona Hutton’s fun, sexy tale.

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EXCERPT

“I bet you have a beautiful smile,” he drawled, then lowered his mouth to hers.

She should have pulled away—she didn’t know this man from Adam. But everything inside her protested. After gazing into each other’s eyes, she felt like she knew him intimately.

His lips were warm and tingly, his kiss pure perfection…and he drew back way too quickly. He blinked those deep blue eyes and gave her a lazy grin. “I knew it.” He rubbed the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. “Beautiful.”

That’s when she realized she was smiling.

He rose, and she gave him a quick once over, taking in the sexy stubble on his face, the taut muscles of his chest, his lean physique. As good old-fashioned lust rolled through her like a quick-moving thunderstorm, she silently bemoaned her situation. This was a hell of a time to have a newly implemented man-ban.

“Keep smiling.” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he winked at her. “It suits you,” he added in that low, sexy drawl. Then he sauntered off.

Her breath caught as she spun around to gape at him. He’d just kissed her and now he was leaving? She contemplated calling him back, then reconsidered. She had other fish to fry.

Even so, she couldn’t stop herself from tracking his every move as he swaggered toward the party, his backside looking every bit as fine as the rest of him. Pressing a hand to her chest, she let out a slow exhale. Even though she was one-hundred percent committed to her man-ban, she could admit—at least to herself—that the sexy, charming stranger had intrigued her.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:



Author Sedona Hutton finds inspiration in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and curly-coated retriever. In addition to writing, she’s a Reiki Master and a certified Chopra Center Meditation instructor. She enjoys reading, yoga, gardening, and experiencing the great outdoors on boats, motorcycles, and Jeeps. Sedona pens a “Peace, Love, & Joy” blog on her website. Visit her at www.SedonaHutton.com, Twitter @SedonaHutton, Facebook @SedonaHuttonAuthor, and Instagram @SedonaHutton. 

Sedona’s debut novel, Cloud Whispers, was a Finalist in the 2018 Readers’ Favorite Contest, an Official Selection in the 2018 Summer eBook Awards for New Apple Literary, and Shortlisted for the Books Go Social Best Book of 2018.


Links:






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GIVEAWAY


a Rafflecopter giveaway



The tour dates can be found here




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My review:



3.75 out of 5 stars







The Perfect Lap by Sedona Hutton is part of the ‘A Racing Heart in Serenity Romance’ series and spotlights NASCAR driver AJ Ryan, whose on-track rivalry and stubborn attitude garner him an image consultant, Ella Fisher, who brings a lot of change into his life.  Ella is facing her own life challenges, but sexy AJ definitely makes her rethink some of her decisions, especially the “man-ban” she has instituted.



This adult contemporary romance has a nice combination of heat and sweetness, with a exciting taste of the NASCAR racing world as well. I like that each main character has had a special mentor whose teachings still guide them, as well as good friends who aren’t afraid to lend a helping hand or a slap to the head, as needed. It is lovely to see that Ella is in touch with her heritage and mystical nature, although I would have liked to see more of that, as well as getting a better idea of exactly what her various jobs entailed.  The heat between AJ and Ella is delicious, and it was great to see their relationship evolve.



For me, some of the events and solutions seemed a little too contrived. The scenes with the kids were touching, but the initial formation of the “family”, the solution to having living space, and even the property being available were just a bit too convenient. I wasn’t quite sure that AJ’s dysfunctional relationship with his family was resolved, and the big breakup conflict seemed a little awkward although I love that the others got involved.



There is a delightful small-town vibe with interconnecting characters that make this an entertaining story that stands alone with no problem, yet makes one curious about the other folks who make cameos in this tale. There are plenty of intriguing secondary characters, including a cuddly cat named Luna, who add to the allure of this tale and make one want to visit Serenity, and allow those peaceful vibes to sink in. Even though summer is over, I think this is a great beach read.


A copy of this title was provided for review.
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Saturday, September 21, 2019

BMW Ultimate Driving Experience!





Earlier this week I had the opportunity (again) to attend the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience (yep, I occasionally do something other than read and edit, lol). My hubby loves these cars, and is always researching them and pointing out what has changed in their body style. I, of course, drive him nuts when he talks about the cars we're seeing on the freeways by responding to his specific identification (make and model, and often, year) by asking what color car he's talking about, lol.






BMW (and other car companies) schedules a block of time (maybe a week?) every year or so, to allow enthusiasts to come out and ride in several models of cars. 


They set up a small track with lots of curves and small groups of drivers ride with a professional driver, who gives tips on what to focus on (their big mantra is to look where you want the car to go, some distance ahead) then allows each person to drive the course, while being tutored on when to brake, when to accelerate, which side of the course to aim for (while NOT running over the cones, lol), and once everyone in the entire cohort has a chance to do this...each person has the opportunity to try to get the best time with only the professional in the car. I, of course, fail to accelerate quickly enough, so I inevitably have the slowest time...but I DON'T run over the cones, lol.





This year, we were driving the new 3-series cars, and even better, they were BLUE! 




Image by lbrownstone from Pixabay






           




                            




There are other events, including the opportunity to test drive a myriad of cars on the street without having to deal with an aggressive salesperson and a day-long clinic on driving the M cars. I liked the couple of convertibles we tried out but we both agreed that it would take a bit of adjustment to get used to driving the electric car because it tends to stop the minute you take your foot off of the accelerator (we figured it really saves on brakes, lol). 




BMW Z4
Image by Leo Karstens from Pixabay




We've had the opportunity to do things like this with several makes and models of cars and it's a lot of fun, so if you ever have the time and access, I highly recommend it! Ask your local dealers if they have this kind of event and how to get on the notification list. They help sponsor it and are happy to have a contact, so they can be very helpful.






Thursday, September 19, 2019

Witches Protection Program by Michael Okon (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY)





by
Michael Okon



Wes Rockville, a disgraced law-enforcement agent, gets one last chance to prove himself and save his career when he’s reassigned to a 232-year-old secret government organization.

The Witches Protection Program.

His first assignment: uncover a billion-dollar cosmetics company’s diabolical plan to use witchcraft for global domination, while protecting its heiress Morgan Pendragon from her aunt’s evil deeds. Reluctantly paired with veteran witch protector, Alastair Verne, Wes must learn to believe in witches…and believe in himself.

Filled with adventure and suspense, Michael Okon creates a rousing, tongue-in-cheek alternate reality where witches cast spells and wreak havoc in modern-day New York City.


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

Excerpt

The narrator filled in more information. “It wasn’t until this land became my land that the government decided to create an organization to protect women at risk. The Davina Doctrine went against everything that the Willas stood for. Even though they ran the risk of persecution, the Davinas chose to work with law enforcement to expose the evil deeds of the rival sisterhood. President George Washington established secret legislation under Title VI of the Control Act of 1792. The law was enacted to protect the good witches that exposed the evil deeds of their sisterhood.”

The screen went dark. There was only a chair in the center of a dimly lit stage. A single spotlight focused on the top of the blond actress’s head. Wes was right; it was the actress he’d suspected. She had a hit sitcom and two Emmys, and there was some recent Oscar talk about her last movie.

“Yes. There are witches. Living among us. They are women who believe in using their power to protect love and life. And then there are some who use their powers for all the wrong reasons.”

The camera came to rest on her beautiful face. She winked saucily as she placed a triangular witch’s hat on her head. “Welcome to the Witches Protection Program.”

Alastair smiled broadly. “I love that part.”

“That was Jennifer Anis—”


Amazon


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About the Author:
Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling in his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

Webpage
Amazon Author Page
Email
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Snapchat

 



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GIVEAWAY
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions

Michael Okon will be awarding a $50 Amazon Gift Card, then 5 signed copies of the book (US ONLY) to randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway




The tour dates can be found here




Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Sophie Washington: Mismatch by Tonya Duncan Ellis (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT





by 
Tonya Duncan Ellis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Children's Middle Grade

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Game. Set. Match.

Sophie Washington is trying out for the tennis team, and she’s excited to get a chance to play with her good friends Chloe and Mariama. That is until wacky Coach Quackenbush matches her with school misfit, Mackenzie “Big Mac” Clark, and things quickly go downhill. Sophie has nothing in common with her partner, who does odd things like run off the court in the middle of practice, and she’s disappointed when Mackenzie shows no interest in the secret handshake she made up. After getting called out by the coach, being hit on the head with a tennis ball, and jokingly called the “most valuable player,” by mean older girls on the team, when she’s clearly not, Sophie’s ready to throw in the towel. Trying to fit in with the mean girls by making fun of Mackenzie behind her back makes things worse. Mackenzie starts skipping practice, and then gets sick at school, and Sophie realizes that there’s more to her doubles partner than meets the eye. What started out as a total mismatch could be the best partnership of all.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~



EXCERPT



To get us ready for our upcoming match against our rival school, St. Regis, Coach Quackenbush has us play practice matches. Valentina’s grandma has to work late and is picking her up at four-thirty this afternoon, and Toby and Nathan’s track practice was cancelled because their coach is out of town, so they come to watch us.

“Do good for me guys!” says Valentina from the nearby mini bleachers. “Let’s go! Vamanos!”

 “All right, we’ve gone over the rules of tennis earlier today, so you know how to keep score,” says Coach Quackenbush. He’s wearing a whistle around his neck and carries his usual clipboard. “I want you to play each other, and the team that wins two out of three games will be declared the winner. Since we only have three singles players, I’ll work with Kennedy while Lindsey and Jackie go against each other. All right. Let’s see how we do, team!”

“All right!” we all parrot.

“Good luck in your matches, guys,” Chloe says to the eighth-grade girls.

“We don’t need luck unlike you little sixth graders,” says Kennedy. “We have talent.”

She and the older girls flounce off to their courts.

“Whatever,” says Chloe with a roll of her eyes.

“They think they are ‘all that’ just because they were on the team last year,” says Mariama. “I’d love to beat them in a game.”

“Forget them,” I say and pick up a can of new tennis balls Coach Quackenbush left on the court for us. “Come on, let’s get going.”

 “Okay, let’s get started,” says Chloe. Her frilly red tennis skirt swings around her hips as she smacks the ball to us for the first serve. It bounces high in the air toward me.

“I got it!” I race forward.

“Mine!” Mackenzie comes over to my side of the court from the other direction. Surprised at her quick movement, I stumble.

Wham!

We run into each other. The ball bounces off my head, and I stagger to keep from falling.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Tonya Duncan Ellis is the author of the Amazon bestselling, Readers' Favorite "Five Star" rated, Sophie Washington children's books series, geared toward readers ages 8 to 12, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She has received awards for literary excellence, worked as a journalist and freelance magazine writer, and is a graduate of Centre College of Kentucky and Washington University in St. Louis.

The Sophie Washington book series recounts the adventures of a precocious African American preteen from Houston, TX and her diverse group of friends. Each funny and heartwarming story teaches lessons about friendship, responsibility, truthfulness and perseverance. Books in the series include Queen of the Bee, The Snitch, Things You Didn't Know About Sophie, The Gamer, Hurricane, Mission: Costa Rica,
Secret Santa, Code One and Mismatch.

Tonya loves to travel and has visited 49 American states and three continents, but some of her best journeys have been between the pages of a novel. As a girl she could always be found with a book in her hand, and reading is still one of her favorite hobbies. When she's not reading or writing, the author likes to ride her bike, swim, and spend time with her husband and three children. She lives in Missouri City, TX.





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GIVEAWAY


a Rafflecopter giveaway


The tour dates can be found here




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My review:





4 out of 5 stars



Sophie Washington: Mismatch by Tonya Duncan Ellis follows the young heroine as she joins the tennis team and learns how to partner with a girl who is not part of her immediate circle. Not only does Sophie have to learn the rules of a new-to-her sport, but she also has to learn to be a good team player.


This story is another fun addition to the collection of tales in the ‘Sophie Washington’ series. I love the way the stories are entertaining and keep the reader’s attention but also teach multiple lessons. This particular tale showcases ways that bullying can take place, touches on the challenges of having two working parents in the household, and explores team sports and some of the elements of good sportsmanship that need to be learned while also learning the rules of the game itself.

One of the reasons I enjoy this series so much is that there are many teachable moments in each book, and the overall theme of “be kind to each other” is deftly portrayed in an engaging manner. The diversity of Sophie and her group of friends provide additional depth as other cultures are briefly touched upon and it is also terrific to see the way Sophie’s parents are involved with and invested in their children’s lives. I look forward to reading about more of Sophie’s adventures.





A copy of this title was provided for review 






Saturday, September 14, 2019

A Crown of Iron and Silver (Soulbound #3) by Hailey Turner (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) ANT ADULT title





by 
Hailey Turner
Soulbound Series
Book III
 ADULT title



Publisher:  Self-Published

Release Date (Print & Ebook):  September 10, 2019

Length (Print & Ebook): 107,043

Subgenre:  LGBTQ Urban Fantasy

Warnings:  None



Blurb:

Never promise a life that isn’t yours to give.

New York City is decked out for the holidays, and Special Agent Patrick Collins is looking forward to a reunion with his old team when he gets assigned a new case. A human child is missing, and the changeling left in her place causes a prominent witch family to demand justice from the fae.

Meanwhile, continued harassment from the New York City god pack forces Jonothon de Vere to formally establish his own with Patrick. Doing so will mean a civil war within the werecreature community—a war they risk losing from the start without alliances. Making bargains with the fae is never wise, but Patrick and Jono have nothing to lose when a fae lord comes asking for their help.

The Summer Lady has been kidnapped from the Seelie Court, and if they can find her, Patrick and Jono will cement an alliance with the fae. But the clues to her disappearance are found in Tír na nÓg, and the Otherworld has never been kind to mortals.

Venturing past the veil, Patrick and Jono risk losing territory, time, and their very lives while searching for answers. Because the Queen of Air and Darkness knows they are coming—and the ruler of the Unseelie Court has an offer for them they can’t possibly refuse.


A Crown of Iron & Silver is a 107k word m/m urban fantasy with a gay romantic subplot and a HFN ending. It is a direct sequel to All Souls Near & Nigh. Reading the prior books in the series (starting with A Ferry of Bones & Gold) would be helpful in enjoying this one.








Excerpt:



Patrick put the grocery bags on the wet ground and dug out his cell phone, never taking his eyes off the werecreatures.

“Yeah?” Jono’s deep voice answered after the first ring, his English accent thick in Patrick’s ear. “You almost home, mate?”
“Downstairs. Got some unwanted visitors.”
Jono ended the call on his side of the line without saying a word, and Patrick put his phone away. None of the werecreatures had moved much, except maybe to huddle closer together under their umbrellas. The stormy weather was shitty, and it was cold, and Patrick really didn’t want to deal with pack issues out on the street. He didn’t want to deal with any of it right now, not after the day he’d had, but Patrick didn’t really have a choice
Less than ten seconds later, Jono yanked open the building’s front door and stepped into the storm. The long-sleeved gray Henley he wore was immediately soaked, as were his jeans. Patrick spared him a glance when he would’ve preferred to let his gaze linger. A wet Jono was always nice to look at, but keeping his eyes on the threat in front of them took priority.




Amazon link

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 Exclusive Q&A with Hailey Turner:

How do you do research for your books?
HT: A lot of reading! Especially for mythology. I have some books that I consult at home, sometimes I go to my local library, and I do a lot of online research.

Is writing your full-time career? Or would you like it to be?
HT: Writing is not my full-time career, and I’m one of those writers who really loves her day job, so I’m in no rush to try to make it a full-time career. Balancing two jobs can be tricky though, and some days I wish I only wrote full time! But I have no plans to do so at this moment.

Are you on social media and can your readers interact with you?
HT: I am on social media! I can mostly be found in my Facebook readers group, Hailey’s Hellions, where I post a lot of teasers and give updates on my books. I have an Instagram account where half the pictures are book-related and the rest are my cats. I love chatting with readers.








About Hailey Turner:








Hailey Turner is big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing. She’s been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story. Hailey loves stories with lots of action, gritty relationships, and an eventual HEA that satisfies the heart.






Connect with Hailey Turner:

Newsletter:  You can keep up with Hailey's future projects by joining her newsletter, where you can instantly download several free short stories.






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My review: 




4.5 stars

A Crown of Iron & Silver by Hailey Turner is the third book in the ‘Soulbound’ gay urban fantasy series that features werewolf Jonothon de Vere and Special Agent (and mage) Patrick Collins as they continue to deal with the challenges of establishing a god pack in another’s territory, investigating the cases that Patrick is assigned to, dealing with the capriciousness of the gods each is bound to, and becoming embroiled in a fae dispute. In other words, life as usual for them. Now to stay alive and keep everyone in their circle safe. Easier said than done.


I love the sense of responsibility that each of the main characters displays even with the constant provocation being sent their way. Not only are they becoming more comfortable in their respective roles and in their relationship, but also in their interactions with those they care for. Which makes betrayal all the more painful.

Although it is still a bit confusing to parse out the hierarchies among all of the different agencies that interact, it is nonetheless fascinating to watch the delicate dances that take place to both avoid stepping on toes while appeasing the higher-ups—mortal and non-human. One of the things I like most about this series is the way various pantheons are woven together into a multi-layered story that meshes modern society in New York, were-creatures, and fae society.  The meddling gods such as Fenrir and Hermes contrast nicely with other mythical beings such as Cu Chullain and Cailleach Bheur. Throw in an opinionated teen were-dragon who has selective hearing and a penchant for Pop Tarts, the Fae high courts, a mini-reunion between old teammates, and a young child who is not where it should be, and the action is engaging, fascinating, and so much fun.

The questions posed by the situations in this story kept me pondering well after I finished and I was intrigued by a new perspective on changelings. How does one ground a teenager who has to be reminded not to shift inside a building that will collapse on everyone? Who would win if the Greek and Norse pantheons form an alliance against the Fae?

There are several arcs that tie together the stories in this series, so although some of the problems presented in this story are more or less resolved and there is a happy-for-now ending, there are quite a few issues that are still pending. Despite this, I suspect this author has a bit of magic in the blood as well, because I am instantly drawn into this richly textured universe, and although I race through the story because I want to know what happens, I immediately start reading it again once I finish because there are so many vivid scenes I want to revisit. I think the secondary characters are almost as fascinating as the two main stars of the series and I look forward to visiting all of them again and anxiously await more adventures.


A copy of this story was provided for review