Monday, August 30, 2021

In Daylight and Darkness by Dana Ardis (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT




In Daylight and Darkness

by 

Dana Ardis

 

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GENRE:   Romantic Fantasy

 

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BLURB:

 

Lots of kids have imaginary friends, but Kate had an entire imaginary world to visit when she was a girl. When she keeps insisting that her friends are real, she ends up in an institution, where she is forced to put that part of her life behind her. Shortly after Kate turns eighteen and leaves Bayshore Psychiatric to start a normal life, her old friend Cor returns, transformed from the boy she loved into a handsome but guarded stranger. His world is darker than the fun and games she remembers from childhood and he warns her that the monsters there can hunt her now that she lives on her own. If she’ll come back to his world long enough to learn the magic she needs to defend herself, he’ll agree to stay out of her life. He’s only imaginary, but it gets harder and harder for Kate to think of saying goodbye.

 

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EXCERPT

  

The sun set without any trouble. For the second night in a row, I didn’t see anything I wasn’t supposed to. I pushed the cold cup of coffee away, relieved.

           

Then Cor walked through the door of the diner.

 

After everything I’d gone through, part of me still wanted to rationalize why no one stared as he walked to my table despite his tangerine hair and his long, black coat. Maybe he stood out less in my sketchy neighborhood. Maybe people assumed his impossibly bright hair came out of a bottle.

 

No. No one else could see Cor because he didn’t exist. I couldn’t make excuses for him anymore. By now, I knew better than to think imaginary friends were harmless.

 

I didn’t want to see him, but I couldn’t quite ignore him, either. He stopped just outside the range of comfortable conversation, his golden eyes not quite meeting mine.

 

If I’d meant to ignore him, I should have stayed in my apartment, taken my sleeping pill like usual, and been out like a light before the sun had slipped beneath the horizon.

 

“Cor,” I said, his name familiar on my tongue, though I’d sworn I’d never say it again. His narrow shoulders relaxed just a bit at the fact I didn’t say his full name, as a stranger might have.

 

“Kate.” He spoke so softly, the name almost sank beneath the level of diner chatter. Or the sound of the blood pounding in my ears. He slid in to the opposite side of the booth.

 

He’d never been shy like this as a child.

 

The last time I’d seen him, five years ago, he’d been hardly more than a kid, spindly with sudden growth, stricken by my disbelief. It unsettled me to see him recast as this nervous stranger. His face was long and lean, his features angular and stark, handsome but subtly inhuman. His alien eyes, yellow-hazel with a vertical pupil like a cat’s, had changed the most. I didn’t recognize the hardness in them at all.

 

I was not prepared to have him sitting here, real as real, toying with the salt shaker.

 

 

Amazon link

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 


 

Dana Ardis grew up surrounded by books and decided she likes it that way, pursuing a career in public libraries. Now she writes her own books, creating the rich worlds and vibrant characters that tugged at her imagination as a child.

 

In addition to writing, she loves art, board games, travel, and anything to do with dogs.

 

 

To connect on social media, find me at:

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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My review:

 

 

 

4.5 out of 5 stars

 

In Daylight and Darkness by Dana Ardis is the first book in the ‘Worldwalkers’ series and centers around Kate (Katen), who is finally trying to live independently after dealing with the aftermath of being hospitalized to “cure” her of the fantasy world that she spent much of her childhood playing in. Unfortunately, Cor (Coraven), one of the figments of her childhood imagination, insists on warning her that she’s in danger, so she has to find a way to distinguish truth from fiction before the monsters become all too real.

 

This exciting and enthralling fantasy romance with urban fantasy elements was such a fun story that I hated to get to the end. The world-building was intricate and believable, and I definitely want more stories that feature all of the intriguing characters and types of beings that populate this tale. I connected with the heroine quickly, and I ached at her confusion as she dealt with the challenges that were worsened by the treatments for her supposed condition.

 

The tension continues to ramp up as gradually more and more of the world called Kuyen is revealed, but just enough to whet one’s appetite for more in-depth glimpses. I look forward to getting to know some of the secondary characters better and seeing more of the dangling threads tied up, especially because of the “happy for now” ending. I appreciate the author’s revelations at the end, and thought she did a deft job of weaving some of her experiences into the tale and providing realism. I’m delighted to find a new fantasy author to follow and anxiously await more tales featuring this fascinating couple.

 

A copy of this story was provided for review

 

 

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Romance for Haiti (Auction to raise funds)

 



A fundraising auction to aid those impacted by recent events in Haiti is going on right now.


For more information, please visit this link.


My small contribution is at this link.

The romance community is always filled with generous folks, so thank you in advance for anything that you can do to help!





Thursday, August 26, 2021

Luna's Adventures Series by Stephanie Hewitt (Spotlight, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

 


 

Luna's Adventures Series

by Stephanie Hewitt

 

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GENRE: Children's

 

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BLURB:

 

Book 1: Where did Luna go?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luna is a cheeky and playful big black dog with lots of curly-wurly hair who likes to explore and play. One day, Luna gets a little bit stuck somewhere . . .

 

Where did Luna go?

 

Come and explore with Luke to help find Luna.

 

 

 

Book 2: Luna Loves Biscuits

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luna is a cheeky and playful big black dog with lots of curly-wurly hair who likes to explore and play.

 

Luna really loves her special dog biscuits. One day Lilly leaves Luna's special dog biscuit jar open.

 

Will Luna be a naughty dog or a good dog?

 

Let's find out.

 

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EXCERPT

 

In the creaky, leaky old kitchen, the sneaky plan to get Luna’s special dog biscuit jar was coming together.

 

Luna and Ollie made a treasure map of ideas to get the dog biscuit jar down from the kitchen bench.

 

The sneaky plan was ready.

 

In the creaky, leaky old kitchen Luna was beginning to feel a bit bad. If she took all the dog biscuits from her special jar, would her best friend Lilly get mad?

 

If Lilly got mad, then Luna would be sad, especially if Lilly never gave her any more beautiful dog biscuits ever again. Luna did not want to make Lilly mad.

 

Luna really loves her dog biscuits, but Luna loves Lilly more.

 

PURCHASE LINKS   

 

BOOK 1: Where did Luna go?

 

Amazon print

Amazon Kindle

Bookshop

Barnes & Noble

Book Depository

 

BOOK 2: Luna Loves Biscuits

 

Amazon print

Amazon Kindle

Bookshop

Barnes & Noble     

Book Depository

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 


 

Hi, I’m Stephanie Hewitt! I am a new Australian children’s author.

I am the mother of two toddlers. I love writing stories for my children and others that they will enjoy.

 

 

 

 

CONNECT:

 

Website

Facebook 

Instagram

Goodreads 

Twitter

  

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GIVEAWAY

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The tour dates can be found here
  



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4 stars

 

Where did Luna go? by Stephanie Hewitt follows the search for a “big black dog with curly wurly hair” who isn’t in any of her typical locations.

 

This fun children’s story celebrates the bond between a kid and a pet, and does a great job of showing the hide-and-seek interaction throughout the house. I think this cute book will stimulate a child to ask questions and may even make them want a Luna of their own.

 

 

A copy of this story was provided for review

 

 

4.25 stars

 

Luna Loves Biscuits by Stephanie Hewitt explores the challenge of being faced with an ethical decision as demonstrated by a “big black dog with curly wurly hair” who really wants some of her favorite biscuits, even when her human isn’t there to give them to her.

 

This delightful children’s book does a great job of teaching a lesson while providing a fun and stimulating story. I like that Luna thinks about her actions even though her doggie friend tempts her to do something she shouldn’t, and the conflict between getting something she really wants and not being naughty is nicely demonstrated.

 

A copy of this story was provided for review

Thursday, August 19, 2021

I Am Awesome by Patricia Brioux (Spotlight, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFP

 


 

 

 

I Am Awesome

by Patricia Brioux

 

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GENRE:   Children's

 

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BLURB:

 

I Am Awesome is a story that invites ALL children from ALL backgrounds to practice daily affirmations to promote positive thinking and recognize self-worth.

I am KIND, I am BRAVE, I am ME, and I am AWESOME!

ALL HEARTS are BEAUTIFUL!

 

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EXCERPT


 



PURCHASE LINKS    

 

Amazon.CA  

Amazon.com (print) 

Amazon.com (e-book) 

Barnes & Noble 

Book Depository

 


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Patricia Brioux is not a New York Times, Amazon Top 100, or a USA Today bestselling author, but she is the daughter of two rock-star parents, the youngest of six kids, and the FUN aunt to eight crazy little kiddos who just love to keep her on her toes. This is her first published literary work, and to be honest that both excites and terrifies the heck out of her. Through this process she hopes to learn, become more confident, and, who knows, maybe one day work alongside some of the greats like Nora Roberts, Kennedy Ryan, and Kelly Elliott.

 

CONNECT WITH PATRICIA BRIOUX

 

Website

 

Goodreads

 

Instagram

 

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 GIVEAWAYS

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

I Am Awesome by Patricia Brioux

I Am Awesome

by Patricia Brioux

Giveaway ends September 19, 2021.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway


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My review:

 

3.75 of 5 stars

 

 

I Am Awesome, written by Patricia Brioux and illustrated by Floyd Yamyamin, is an inspirational children’s book that is filled with vivid drawings that demonstrate positive affirmations using a variety of young cultural representatives.

 

I love the encouraging images that are colorful and intricate and will be excellent conversational gambits, and it’s fantastic that the characters are so inclusive . I think a short introductory paragraph aimed at older readers might be helpful because I was confused when I first started the book, thinking I had missed a page to explain what was going on. For me, some of the scenarios aren’t quite self-explanatory without the words, so that seems a bit contradictory to the book starting without an introduction, but perhaps the book is designed to evoke questions. This is a lovely and thoughtful book that is short enough to keep the attention of young children, and a great tool to promote positive self-images and inclusivity.

 

 

 

A copy was provided for review


Friday, August 13, 2021

Held for the Stud by Vonna Harper (Spotlight, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) ADULT title


 

 

Held for the Stud 

ADULT title

by
Vonna Harper

Word Count: 42,592
Book Length: SHORT NOVEL
Pages: 180

GENRES:

 BONDAGE AND BDSM
EROTIC ROMANCE
FUTURISTIC

Add to Goodreads

 

 

Book Description

A man determined to have his way. A woman in need of taming. The battle begins.

One look at the big, half-wild stallion and Asha vows to ride him. One look at the beautiful stranger sneaking toward his newly acquired stud and Banner vows to teach her that he’s in control.

Banner is a soldier, a man who has experienced little beyond weapons and war, but he and the men he’s responsible for need more than conflict. Otherwise they’ll lose what’s left of their humanity. He turns abandoned ranch land into an escape and offers it to battle-weary fighters.

Nothing will stand in his way, especially not the slight, determined woman who insists that only she can handle Koko. He won’t allow her to risk her life. When she disobeys, he disciplines her. Repeatedly.

Asha loathes the man who brought her, naked, to her knees, but her body isn’t listening.

Reader advisory: This book includes references to sexual harrassment, PTSD and war injury. There are elements of corporal punishment and dubious/ambiguous consent.

 

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Excerpt

What I wouldn’t give to ride him.

His energy and power everywhere, me becoming part of him. Heat, endless heat. Wild all the way to his core. His body in absolute control. No fear or doubt. Potent.

Even with her heart’s jagged pace warning she might be having a stroke, Asha continued to stare at the prime example of maleness. She’d seen unwavering confidence before. Hell, she was pretty damn confident herself. But this…

Not wanting to miss a moment of this rare experience, she willed herself not to blink. The object of her admiration was far enough away that she doubted the stallion was aware of her, but even if he locked his dark eyes on her, she’d go on staring open-mouthed at him. She had no choice.

You don’t have to chase after them, she silently told the stud. Females will always do whatever they think it takes to convince you to breed with them. You can be selective. You assess and most times reject because you know there’ll always be another. Only the best will do.

Sweat pooled at the base of her throat while another kind of moisture soaked her panties’ crotch. From first glance she’d known she couldn’t be objective about him, but she hadn’t realized her reaction would be so primal.

She’d caress that sleek dark flesh, run her fingers through long, coarse hair, climb onto his back and ride him until there was nothing left of both of them.

As if reading her thoughts, the stallion stared at her, a front hoof furiously attacking the ground. He wasn’t quite coal black, but close, with a tail that swept the ground and a rich, thick mane. Do it, he seemed to say. Take the chance.

“You’re tempting me.”

He whinnied, the sound sharp. His muscles repeatedly knotted as he continued his attack.

“There’s a mare in heat somewhere, isn’t there? You sense her. Maybe you smell her.”

Barely aware of what she was doing, Asha jammed her hands in her jeans’ back pockets. The gesture tightened the fabric against her crotch and brought her attention back to herself. “Is that it? You’re primed for breeding? You can’t think of anything else. Hot blood runs through you all the time, keeping you keyed-up. You’d service an entire herd if they let you.”

Head high and thick neck arched, the stallion pranced closer. There was a wooden fence between them, but even if it hadn’t been there, she wouldn’t have shied away.

“You don’t intimidate me. That’s because it’s possible I know more about how you’ll behave than you do. I respect you, but you need to do the same.”

The animal stopped and again beat at the ground. He shook his head, eyes showing more white now.

“You want to run, don’t you? Gallop without this corral hemming you in. Work off some of that energy. Believe me, I get it.”

Head now cocked to the side, the stallion seemed to be considering her proclamation. She took him to be a little over sixteen hands high and probably thirteen hundred pounds, the majority of it muscle. The way his coat shone, people who didn’t know horses would assume he got a lot of grooming, but his hooves were ragged, his mane and tail tangled.

“I’m guessing your coloring has a lot to do with why you were picked for stud service. At least I’m pretty sure that’s what’s going on. That’s why you aren’t out with the herd.”

Frowning, she fingered the lock on the corral door. She’d been looking for him since she’d ventured onto the mysterious place known as Escape, her attention initially drawn to whistles and thuds. Thanks to her career, she’d concluded she was listening to an agitated or aroused horse. The sounds and air of energy had drawn her magnet-like to this remote section of the acreage.

“It probably doesn’t matter to you, but I’ve been listening to you for a while, feeling you in my muscles and bones, letting you command me.”

Command. Yes, that was what it had been. Like a starving woman with the scent of something on a barbeque filling her senses, she’d made the decision to let instinct have its way with her. She had no business being here, but who would run her off? At what she understood was over a hundred acres, chances were she was the only human on most of them. It hadn’t been called Escape for long. A lot of mystery surrounded who owned it. She figured farmers or ranchers acquired the land which was dotted with a couple of barns and a sprawling older house.

Not that she should give a damn.

Command.

Pushing her hair out of her eyes—someday, maybe, she’d figure out how to contain the auburn mass that reached the middle of her back—she gripped the top board and gave the stud her full attention. She wanted him, to own and ride him, to love him and earn his respect. She’d slip a rope around his muscled neck and guide him to a tree stump or boulder. Using his mane for leverage, she’d half haul and half boost herself onto him. She’d settle her crotch on his broad back and tighten her thighs against testosterone-filled muscles. She’d weave fingers made strong from a lifetime of physical labor into his mane, lean forward and whisper in his alert ears.

“Run for me. Race the wind. Gather your legs under you and take us over the fence. Free both of us. Gallop until your lungs heave and I’m hoarse from screaming my delight.”

Her breath snagged, her cheeks burned and her muscles bunched in reaction to what she was certain the stallion was capable of. Her already charged pussy got into the act, muscles clamping down. Her nipples hardened and she gave up trying to close her mouth.

As if reading her thoughts, the stallion pranced even closer. He was all sexual energy, every inch of him leaving no doubt that he’d been created to excel at one task. She’d seen more stallions than most people, but there was something outstanding about this creature.

“You’re making me crazy.”

She should ask herself if she really wanted to confide in the stallion, but right now it was too much effort. She started to drop to her knees in preparation for wriggling under the fence when a shiver of sensation along her spine stopped her. Was someone watching? Assessing and judging her? She looked left, right, behind her and as far into the distance as she could. She didn’t see anything worthy of alarm but she’d been in enough precarious situations that she knew better than to dismiss what her nerves were trying to tell her.

To hell with it! Touching the stallion was more important.

Breathing quickly, she wriggled under the fence. As she straightened, the stallion pranced back.

“You can’t be afraid of me. I know it isn’t that. You just have trouble containing all that energy. God, but you’re magnificent. Devil and angel in one package.”

Talking took too much effort so she concentrated on wiping dirt off her jeans. Thinking she probably wouldn’t see anyone today, she hadn’t bothered with a bra, but then she rarely wore one. She was a C-cup, which meant people would notice, but bras weren’t worth the expense when being true to herself meant so much. Her untethered breasts and hard-as-hell nipples were clearly visible under the wear-softened cotton T-shirt.

If she were one for introspection this would be when she’d question why she’d decided to spend her day off exploring Escape. However, between being more than a little worn down from the long hike and her reaction to the stallion, she wasn’t sure she knew what she was thinking.

“Do you know what the phrase sex appeal means?” she asked the stallion. “What a woman is trying to get a man to understand when she tells him she’s turned on? Going by my less-than-extensive experience, I’m not an expert when it comes to putting out the right vibes.”

She clamped down on a chuckle. Her suspicion that some man might have his eye on her right now had twisted her thinking a bit. So she wasn’t as experienced regarding the opposite sex as she’d like people to believe. That was her business and had nothing to do with the moment. If a man was watching, he could come to his own conclusion. It wasn’t as if she had to have anything to do with him.

She again slid her hands into her back pockets. Fabric tightened.

“I don’t know if I’m going to sleep tonight. I’m also not sure I care. Damn, but you’re beautiful. One of a kind.” She paused as a surge of something hot ran through her. “Right now, I’d give anything to be a mare.”

As if agreeing with her, the big, black, glistening creature stretched out a densely muscled neck. Holding her breath, she dragged her right hand out of her pocket and extended it toward him. Warm, moist air caressed her fingers and sent a fresh frisson of excitement into her.

“Will you let me ride you? I didn’t bring a bridle or saddle, but I’ve ridden bareback more times than otherwise. As for a bridle…”

The thought of pushing a metal bar between those white teeth made her shudder. She didn’t want to command him in any way. As long as she was astride him, he’d be in control. She’d trust him not to throw her, to know she preferred a canter over a trot and a gallop over everything else. Together they’d run like the proverbial wind and win every race.

The stud drew her fingers into his mouth. She embraced the moment.

“I know you. I think in some regard I always have.”

Tears she didn’t know she had in her burned. Blinking repeatedly, she struggled not to let them loose. When they continued to threaten, she withdrew her damp hand and stroked his neck where muscles and veins pulsed. Maybe she could go from standing flat-footed to being astride him on will alone. She tightened a hand around the rough mane and crouched in preparation for springing. Nothing else mattered. In one or two seconds she’d—

“Don’t even think it!”


Buy Links
 

Choose Your Store
First For Romance

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author 


Vonna Harper

What prompts a mild-mannered mostly law abiding woman to write erotica and erotic romance, a lot revolving around BDSM and capture/bondage? Is it the complex issue of taking or giving up control?

Vonna Harper doesn't know and she has given up trying to find the answer. It's enough that many readers are drawn to what some call the dark side. All she asks is that readers understand she writes fiction--a brand of fiction she finds fascinating.

Vonna has lost count of the number of books, novellas, and short stories she's written. What she has no doubt of, it's a hell of a ride.

You can follow Vonna on Facebook.

 

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Giveaway

Enter and get a FREE romance book from the author!

Vonna Harper's Held for the Stud Giveaway

ENTER HERE AND GET A FREE EBOOK FROM THE AUTHOR!

 

Notice: This competition ends on 24th August 2021 at 5pm GMT. Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.