Don't Mess with Gracie by Carol Kilgore (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Don't Mess with Gracie

by

Carol Kilgore

The mysterious Mr. Ott is trying to intimidate Gracie Hofner into being his internal spy at The Bastion Group. She’s learned a lot about him through several sources, even using information provided by the pair of ghosts trying to save their granddaughter. But it isn’t enough. Mr. Ott is an expert in hiding his true identity.

Gracie isn’t as worried for herself as she is for her family, her friends, and her new tenant, Milo Porter. Her feelings for him have grown, but she can’t show them. Mr. Ott’s threats involve those she loves, and one friend has already been killed. Besides, she’s certain there is someone else in Milo’s life.

It takes Gracie and her growing support team to unmask Mr. Ott, but it’s what Gracie learns along the way that shows readers the wisdom of the advice Don’t Mess with Gracie.

This is the conclusion to The Amazing Gracie Trilogy—a story so big it takes three books to tell it. Gracie’s adventures begin with Jalapeno Cupcake Wench, continue with Bluebonnet Ballerina, and conclude here.

Excerpt:

“I’m so glad we were down here, Milo.” Cameron blinked a few times, as if she couldn’t believe what she saw. “She could’ve been killed.”

“No. She would’ve protected her head.”

I tried. How did he know?

Milo still held her shoulders, and now his fingers were making tiny circles above her shoulder blades. “We saw you in here and were coming in so I could introduce the two of you.”

“Nice to meet you, Cameron.” Gracie nodded. “I’m bleeding? Where?”

Milo took her hands before she realized she was moving them toward her face. “It’s not bad. Let’s go inside. I’ll fix you up.”

Cameron followed them. “Milo was a corpsman in the Navy. He knows what he’s doing. When I sprained my ankle a few years ago, he took care of it.”

“I don’t usually meet people like this,” Gracie said.

“Yeah she does.” Milo still held her hands in one of his.

Gracie turned to make a face at him. The quick movement made the ground wobble. “Whoa. I’m a little dizzy.”

“That’s all right.” Milo put his free arm around her waist. “You won’t fall.”

How was this happening? She was always the one in control. The person in charge. Yet Milo had stepped up when she needed someone, and she didn’t mind. That was it—she didn’t mind. She always minded when she lost control of a situation. Maybe I have a concussion.

Milo held onto her and led her out of the garage. He glanced at her car. “I like your new Jeep.”


The book will be on sale $0.99 from Mar 4-18. (Please check price before buying)
Beginning Mar 19, it will be regular price of $3.99. 

Amazon link


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About the Author:

Carol Kilgore is the award-winning author of the three books in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy: Jalapeno Cupcake Wench, Bluebonnet Ballerina, and Don’t Mess with Gracie.

In addition, she is the author of In Name Only, Solomon’s Compass, and Secrets of Honor, three standalone romantic suspense novels set along the Texas Gulf Coast.

She and her husband live in San Antonio, the setting for the Amazing Gracie books, with two quirky herding dogs who still require help opening the food bin and the door.

You can learn more about Carol by visiting her website and subscribing to her newsletter or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.




Carol is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.



Amazon Author Page


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GIVEAWAY

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Carol Kilgore will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


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The tour dates can be found here

One of One by S. R. Cronin (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

One of One

by S. R. Cronin

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GENRE:   science fiction/fantasy

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BLURB:

A young Nigerian telepath faces a crisis. After Somadina’s sister is forced into a frightening marriage, Somadina cannot find her sibling or even her thoughts. She seeks another telepath to help. 

What she finds is Lola, a busy Texan scientist who has ignored the disturbing phenomenon in her mind for decades, and has no intention of embracing this nonsense now. Yet these two have more in common than they know, and a powerful link will be forged. 

Once Somadina discovers her sister is a pawn in a dangerous political game, the stakes rise for everyone, including an ancient organization of telepaths compelled to intervene. Both women are stronger than they realize, and they have ignited the wrath of a fanatic willing to kill anyone to alter his nation’s future.

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EXCERPT

  

Then Lola's thoughts invariably wandered off to the bizarre situation with the woman Lola had agreed to help. It was disturbing how much she knew about this woman. She was younger and less educated. She lived somewhere far from Texas. Based on her not wanting Lola to leave Lagos, Lola assumed she was Nigerian.

She had a younger sister, and Lola was supposed to help locate her. She was worried for this sister, and puzzled as to why she could seldom sense anything from her when she was able to pick up information from so many others.

Why did the woman not know her own sister's whereabouts? Was the sister lost? Kidnapped? Had she run-away from home? All Lola could tell was that she was gone and could not be found.

The problem was Lola had not the faintest idea of how to find this sister. Except for the mystery woman and Jumoke, the engineer in Lagos, the most she could do was sense vague feelings from others. She lacked the skills this woman seemed to think she had, and she'd be quite happy if it stayed that way.

Yet, she’d made a promise to help. So Sometimes Lola tried to mutter comforting things back to the woman, because she didn't know what else she could do.

On rare occasion, she sat on the porch and thought about nothing at all. On one of those times, when her mind was blank, she heard an elderly gentleman's voice in her head.

Lola? Little Lola Conroy? Good heavens dear, is that you?

Lola searched her mind for knowledge of an older man who might have known her by her maiden name.

It's okay honey. You're fine. I didn't mean to startle you. It's okay. She could almost see an elderly man backing out of her mind with great care.

Good grief, she thought. Now what?

Amazon link

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sherrie Roth grew up in Western Kansas thinking there was no place in the universe more fascinating than outer space. After her mother vetoed astronaut as a career ambition, she went on to study journalism and physics in hopes of becoming a science writer.

She published her first science fiction short story long ago, and then waited a lot of tables while she looked for inspiration for the next story. When it finally came,  it declared to her it had to be a whole book, nothing less. One night, while digesting this disturbing piece of news, she drank way too many shots of ouzo with her boyfriend. She woke up thirty-one years later demanding to know what was going on.

The boyfriend, who she had apparently long since married, asked her to calm down and  explained how, in a fit of practicality, she had gone back to school and gotten a degree in geophysics and spent the last 28 years interpreting seismic data in the oil industry. The good news, according to Mr. Cronin, was that she had found it to be entertaining and ridiculously well-paying. The bad news was the two of them had still managed to spend almost all of the money.

Apparently she was now Mrs. Cronin, and further good news was that they had produced three wonderful children whom they loved, even though, to be honest, that was where a lot of the money had gone. Even better news was that Mr. Cronin turned out to be a warm-hearted, encouraging sort who was happy to see her awake and ready to write. "It's about time," were his exact words.

Sherrie Cronin discovered that over the ensuing decades Sally Ride had already managed to become the first woman in space and apparently had done a fine job of it. No one, however, had written the book that had been in Sherrie's head for decades. The only problem was, the book informed her it had now grown into a six book collection. Sherrie decided she better start writing it before it got any longer. She's been wide awake ever since, and writing away.

Author Social Media Links


Twitter 

Facebook

Goodreads


Amazon author page 

Amazon 46 Ascending series page

Blogs:

46 Ascending

Face Painting for World Peace

Fire Dancing for Fun and Profit

Treasure Hunting for a Good Time

Leaving the Nest to Touch the Sky

Touching the Sky to Save the World

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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

One of One by S. R. Cronin follows Lola Zeitman, a pragmatic scientist who becomes drawn into a remarkable world that involves her tapping a mental capability that she would be skeptical of if she hadn’t experienced it herself. She makes an inexplicable mental connection with a young Igbo woman in Nigeria and discovers a world she’d never imagined. Entangled in a political and cultural struggle, Lola must reconcile perception and reality and find a way to change the world…one person at a time.

This book almost defies categorization because it blends science, speculative fiction, an overview of cultural mores in a non-U.S. country, and suspense. The thought-provoking scenarios and depiction of life in a third-world country are juxtaposed with things we take for granted, including a well-monitored birth in a technologically advanced hospital. The careful buildup to explain how a naïve young woman ends up the captive of a sadistic terrorist is horrifying and dismaying even as her sister’s efforts on her behalf are a tribute to the bond of love. There are a number of dangling threads that I am still curious about but I understand that there are several other books in this series and perhaps some of the puzzles are resolved there. Those with triggers should be warned that there are some very distasteful elements of torture described and for me, there are gaps and jumps in time that were a little confusing.

I have always been fascinated by the idea of psychic phenomena and I was definitely drawn into the universe that this author created. I’m a bit disappointed that the organization seems to move so slowly and look forward to finding out more about their activities and members. I think this is a story that will expand readers’ minds in more ways than one and that it reminds us that we are truly a global community. I’m glad to have another story in this world on my TBR pile and look forward to another thought-provoking tale.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

Contests, giveaways, and scavenger hunts

Those of you who live in an area that observes Daylight Savings Time, don't forget to adjust your clocks!



Several fun contests going on right now...

Night Owl Reviews has the Love is in the Air Giveaway 2019


Romance Books 4 Us has a monthly contest


The Romance Reviews' 8th Anniversary Party is going on now!




Of course, now that I'm trying to post, I can't find all of the freebies I've been taking advantage of all week, lol, so I'll update as I come across them.


Author Tracy Cooper Posey is offering

KISS ACROSS TIME (Kiss Across Time: Book 1) A Vampire Menage Time Travel Romance

Author Kayelle Allen has multiple freebies on her website (click on the "Free" tab)


Romance Novel Giveaways
has multiple giveaways (scroll down the page)

The Kindle Book Review has a Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway
(clicking on the link gives ME an extra entry, so thank you!_

A little warmth for those in colder climes...

Just thought I'd share a reminder of why folks like this side of the continent so much. We had a lovely lunch and the weather was such a contrast to the thunder and lightning two days prior that I had to take a picture! I hope those of you in the colder states are staying safe and warm.

The Rising by Morgan Brice (Spotlight, guest post, and review) GBP ADULT title

It is definitely my pleasure to share a guest post by author Morgan Brice (Gail Z. Martin). I have had the wonderful opportunity to read several of her books and I am always delighted to see she has published a new story!

The Long and Winding Road...to Publication

by 

Morgan Brice

Under my Morgan Brice name, I’m new to publishing urban fantasy MM paranormal romance. But under my Gail Z. Martin name, I’ve been published in urban fantasy, epic fantasy, steampunk, comedic horror and nonfiction for twelve years. What a long, strange trip it’s been!

My first-ever book (under my Gail name) was The Summoner, the first in my Chronicles of the Necromancer epic fantasy series. That book took twenty years to write. I came up with the characters when I was in college, wrote drafts all the way through graduate school and my early married years, and came back to it on and off in between having three children, multiple moves, and various job changes.

My first publisher was a medium-sized British press, and I did eight books with them. Later on, I also published with a Top 5 New York/London press, with whom I did six books. Along the way, I had short stories in more than 40 anthologies in the US/UK, mostly with small presses. Then in 2018, we made a big shift. We stopped working with the big publishers, took back a couple of contracts, added the Morgan Brice UF/MM/PNR books, and went mostly indie.

I say ‘mostly indie’ because we’re still doing three series with Falstaff Books, a NC-based small publisher, and we have contracts with Recorded Books/Tantor for the audio books of the new indie novels we’re releasing. And when I say ‘we’, it’s because my husband, business partner and frequent co-author, Larry N. Martin, is in the business full-time with me, and we collaborate on everything.

Writing/publishing has become a cottage industry at the Martin house. Our adult kids often beta read for us and help spread the word. At this point, most of our friends are authors, the ones we hit the road with when we go to conventions. Larry handles a lot of the important back-end stuff and the first round of editing, which is how we’re able to do as many books a year as we do. Vacations tend to include book location scouting and research. Dinner conversation usually revolves around plot twists and edits. We have learned, when eating in restaurants, to watch our volume when discussing how to kill someone.

I’m still writing under the Gail name, with a slate of upcoming epic and urban fantasy releases this year, as well as planning to have quite a few new books under the Morgan name. The decision to use the pen name for the romance came about because my Gail books have no explicit sex and the Morgan books do, and I didn’t want to give anyone a heart attack if they picked up something they weren’t expecting! We also publish some series as co-authors under both the Gail and Larry names, and some books just come out under Larry’s name.

I often get asked for advice for aspiring authors. The first thing is to learn your craft. I steer people to the books on writing and publishing by Writers’ Digest Books. They’re good, solid fundamentals. Next, keep writing. The more you write, the better you get at it. Ask for feedback, and look for ways to do better each time. But most importantly, never give up. This is a tough business, and it can take a while to break in. Don’t ever give up. Believe in yourself and your stories, and hang in there. After all, it took me twenty years to become an ‘overnight’ success!

Thank you for having me as a guest! I hope folks will check out The Rising and the whole Badlands series, as well as my Witchbane books. 

You can also stay in touch by joining my Facebook Group

Or following me on Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail)  where I post photos of places and people who inspire my books. I’m also on Twitter: @MorganBriceBook and you can get a free Badlands short story (Restless Nights)  and sign up for my newsletter here.

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The Rising

 (Badlands, Book 2)

by
Morgan Brice
ADULT title

Cover Artist: Natania Barron

Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, MM paranormal romance

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Release Date: February 13, 2019

Can be read as a standalone

Add on Goodreads

Blurb

A big storm is brewing, there’s a killer on the loose, and the ghosts of Myrtle Beach are restless. Psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his sexy cop boyfriend, homicide detective Vic D’Amato have their hands full helping the Grand Strand brace for rough surf, driving rain and high winds as a winter storm roars toward shore.

Everyone’s on edge, and rumors are rampant about sightings of Blackcoat Benny, a ghostly omen of danger, and worse, the Gallows Nine, the spirits of nine infamous criminals hanged back in the 1700s, a harbinger of disaster. Rough tides wash the wreck of an old pirate ship into shallow waters, high winds threaten to damage an old mansion with a dark past, and the citizens of the beach town hunker down to ride out the storm.

As the skies grow dark and the sea turns wild, several men from prominent local families end up dead under suspicious circumstances. Simon’s premonition confirms Vic’s gut feeling—the killing is just getting started. As Simon tries to reach out to the spirits of the murdered men to help the investigation, he’s attacked by malicious ghosts that don’t want anyone getting in the way of their long-overdue vengeance.

With the storm hammering the coast, and new victims piling up, Simon is certain that the sins and secrets of the past are coming due, and that the murders have a supernatural link. Vic and Simon race to stop the murders against an unholy deadline, but as they battle rising tides and risen ghosts, can they save the intended victims without getting trapped themselves.

Trigger Warning: Mentions of suicide (not main characters)

Excerpt

Grand Strand Ghost Tours didn’t just arise from Simon’s passion for myth, legend, and folklore; it was rooted in his abilities as a psychic medium. Sure, the ghost tours were largely entertainment, but Simon also gave private psychic readings and conducted séances by appointment. Along with the books he wrote about ghosts and the speaking engagements he provided for local organizations, Simon had managed to create a thriving business. He leaned against the railing, enjoying a moment of contentment.

Or maybe, the calm before the storm, a little voice in the back of his mind warned.

His phone buzzed, and Simon pulled it from his pocket and smiled. “Hey. Miss me?”

“Always.” Homicide lieutenant Vic D’Amato’s voice was a husky rumble. “I just wanted to check what time you finish up tonight. Figured it was my turn to pick up dinner.” The tone in Vic’s voice promised far more than food, and Simon felt the anticipation go right to his dick.

“I should be finished around seven. It’s off-season, so no tours on Mondays. You have a busy day lined up?” Simon asked as he started walking toward his favorite coffee shop.

“Not yet, and I’m hoping it stays that way,” Vic replied. “It’s never a good thing when we’re busy.”

“Let me know if you hear anything official about the storm. I’ve heard six different forecasts, and I haven’t even gotten coffee yet.”

“Sure thing—but don’t expect anything dependable yet. We’re too far out.”

Simon knew how changeable forecasts could be so close to the ocean. Still, Myrtle Beach had barely gotten back on its feet after the last hurricane, so the news of another severe winter storm—hurricane or not—had everyone on edge.

“Be careful out there,” Simon said, letting his voice drop to a growl. “I love you.”

“Love you, too. Stay out of trouble.”

Despite the forecasts, Simon couldn’t help feeling a spring in his step after talking with Vic. They’d been together for less than a year, but Simon was finding it more and more difficult to remember what life was like before meeting his handsome homicide cop. Vic had officially moved into Simon’s retro blue bungalow after the holidays, and while they were still working out their new living situation, Simon had never been happier.”

“The boardwalk might not be busy, but Le Mizzenmast, Simon’s favorite coffee shop, was always bustling. The locals called it Le Miz, not to be confused with the musical. The building had previously been a pirate-themed attraction, and when Tracey Cullen took over, she couldn’t afford to remodel, so she just incorporated the pirate decor into her theme and went with it.

“Hi, Simon!” Tracey called with a wave from behind the register. “You want the usual?” When Simon nodded, Tracey turned to her barista. “One Dread Pirate Roberts and a mocha please!”

Simon took his place in line, remembering how he and Vic had met right here, waiting for coffee. Simon had taken one look at Vic’s muscled body, his dark brown eyes, and the ink on his arms and felt an instant attraction. After all these months and several hair-raising adventures, the magnetism had only gotten stronger. Being in love felt wonderful, and Simon resolved to enjoy every minute of it.”

Excerpt from:  The Rising: A Badlands Novel.

Buy Links

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Kobo

Nook/B&N

About the Author

Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.

On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.

Other books include Witchbane, Burn, Dark Rivers, and Badlands. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!

Author Links

Blog/Website

Facebook Group

Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail)

Twitter: @MorganBriceBook

Sign up for my newsletter and never miss a new release

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Giveaway

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My review:

4 stars

The Rising by Morgan Brice follows detective Vic D’Amato and psychic medium Simon Kincaide as they deal with a series of mysterious crimes plaguing Myrtle Beach. Danger escalates as both the weather deteriorates and the death count rises and both men struggle to find a solution that doesn’t require paying the ultimate price.

This gay urban fantasy thriller is part of the ‘Badlands’ series and provides chills and heat as the main characters continue to explore their intense connection and cope with the inimical spirits that are plaguing the town. I’m delighted that these two are adjusting to each other and deepening their relationship but for some reason I felt there was too much repetition as they came to terms with the fact that each has a dangerous profession, and for me, a couple of the intimate encounters, while sizzling, seemed almost gratuitous. Despite that, the mysterious deaths, hostile work environment, troubling visions, and gradual unfolding of the history behind the shipwrecks and the events on land all combine to provide a shivery and fascinating story that also provided cameos by the striking Gabriella and Miss Eppie as well as folks from one of the author’s other series.

These stories provide both an intriguing look at a picturesque and historical town and a believable foray into the world of the paranormal. I think those who enjoy exploring the possibilities of using psychic powers to assist in police detective work with the added bonus of following a couple of charismatic guys should definitely give this tale a try.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

No Cowboys No Angels by Petie McCarty (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

No Cowboys No Angels

by 
Petie McCarty

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

A cozy romantic mystery with suspense, Book 1 from The Mystery Angel Romances series. An angel hidden in every book . . . it's up to the reader to figure out who.

In No Cowboys No Angels, Kellen Brand's inheritance turns out to be a whopper—one dilapidated farm in West Virginia and one guardian angel!

Since Kellen is convinced no sane woman would choose to live in Riverside, she vows to sell her farm and quick. Her handsome neighbor Luke Kenyon must block the farm sale or risk exposure of his family's secrets. While Kellen has located one potential buyer, she faces a town full of objectors. Someone is trying to frighten her off, and Luke is forced to step in and rescue her more than once.

Unfortunately, Kellen can't seem to stay out of trouble. She stumbles onto a clandestine hazardous-waste-dumping operation next to her farm, and she prays Luke has one more rescue up his sleeve. It's her only hope of staying alive.

Unless her mother really did leave her a guardian angel . . .

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EXCERPT

Slowing near the tree line to get her bearings, Kellen pulled over at a spot where the bank jutted out over the water. She climbed out of the car and scanned the shoreline. To her right, the slope flattened out and provided easy access to the water. The Tanawoc River maintained a good current, sending soggy leaves and debris speeding past in its flow. Grassy hills rolled back from the opposite riverbank, and she wondered if the Clandestine Mining Company still owned all that property.

A familiar aroma wafted up from the river, a combination of humus, plant material, microscopic plankton, and a touch of fish. Unable to stop the smile slowly stretching across her face, she untied her sneakers, rolled up her jeans, and slipped into the icy water. She immediately gasped and felt her smile deepen to a grin. She remained in the soothing current for a long time, taking in her surroundings as she watched trout dart in and around the submerged rocks to grab their plankton lunch.

A horse whickered behind her, then came the telltale creak of a saddle. Too close for comfort. The back of her neck prickled. Ankle deep in the water, she couldn’t make a decent sprint for the car, and Kellen regretted her impulse to visit this deserted stretch of riverbank.

Easing around, she spied the towering silhouette of a powerfully built man astride a huge black stallion no more than ten yards away. The rider’s face lay shadowed beneath a wide-brimmed Stetson. The cowboy made an impressive and, at this moment, intimidating sight—a throwback from the frontier days of the Wild West.

The horse whickered again and sidestepped away from the edge of the embankment, forcing the cowboy to twist around to keep her in sight. She could feel his dark eyes scanning every inch of her. The intensity in his gaze raised goosebumps on her arms, and a tiny shiver vibrated up her spine. Trapped here along the edge of the river, she felt vulnerable yet strangely unafraid. Would he come any closer?

A horn blared up on the highway, and she jumped with a yelp. The big horse reared at the sound of her cry, and Kellen caught a brief glimpse of the cowboy’s dark eyes, eyes that could stare right through to a girl’s soul. She scrunched her own eyes shut and forced herself to breathe. When she opened them, the rider was gone. Had she imagined him? Another mild shiver rifled up her spine. No, the fearsome rider was definitely real.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Petie spent a large part of her career working at Walt Disney World—"The  Most Magical Place on Earth"—where she enjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by day and creating her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her new series, The Cinderella Romances. She eventually said good-bye to her "day" job to write her stories full-time. These days Petie spends her time writing sequels to her regency time-travel series, Lords in Time, and her cozy-mystery-with-romantic-suspense series, the Mystery Angel Romances.

Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her horticulturist husband and a noisy Nanday conure named Sassy who made a cameo appearance in No Angels at Christmas coming April 2019. 

Visit Petie's website or her Facebook page.

BIO Social Media:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

BookBub

Pinterest

Amazon author page

LinkedIn

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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

No Cowboys No Angels by Petie McCarty is a mystery with romantic, paranormal, and western elements. The challenges that Kellen Brand faces when she returns to the town where she experienced such privation as a child are not just the difficulty of facing her bad memories and selling the family homestead, but her attraction to her sexy neighbor, Luke, and the ties and relationships that seem to pick up right where they left off twenty years ago. When danger escalates, Kellen can only hope that the guardian angel her mother bequeathed her is still on the job.

This story is the first book in the ‘Mystery Angel Romances’ series and has quite a combination of elements. Of course I loved the sexy cowboy hero who has a little trouble smoothing over his abrupt mannerisms when dealing with the woman he sees as a big-city snob. Kellen was a little frustrating with her hot and cold mannerisms toward the town, her former classmates, and her exasperating neighbor—not to mention her incurable nosiness and propensity for jumping to conclusions—but she does have redeeming qualities.

There are several very dramatic scenes that keep the tension escalating and poignant issues that both main characters are dealing with that give the story depth and emotion. Certain details are inconsistent to me, such as whether a cabin has an attic, whether a benefactor would donate expensive equipment but be obtuse to the lack of lunches for the kids, or even how a certain bad guy ended up in the right place at the right time, but that didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the tale. Overall, this is a fun and romantic story that leaves one with a warm fuzzy feeling and reminds us of how important faith can be.  

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

 

Star Marque Rising by Shami Stovall (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Star Marque Rising

by 
Shami Stovall

ADULT title

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GENRE:   Science Fiction

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BLURB:

The future is governed through a genetic hierarchy—superhumans at the top, humans and defects at the bottom. 

Clevon Demarco, a genetically modified human, has a cocksure attitude and the combat skills to back it up. With his unparalleled skills, he makes his living as a ruthless gunrunner on a shady space station near the edges of the quadrant. Stronger, faster, and wittier than most sad sacks, no one even comes close to Demarco’s abilities—until he crosses paths with the captain of the notorious Star Marque, Endellion Voight.

Captain Voight arrests Demarco and offers him a choice: go to a prison planet for his crimes, or join her starship, the Star Marque, working as mercenaries for the superhumans. But she didn't pick him at random. She has a plan to become a planet governor; a title no human has held since the superhumans won the war. It doesn’t matter the cost—assassinations, extortion, blackmail—she’s determined to claw her way to the top.

All Captain Voight needs is Demarco’s help to carry out her machinations, and she’ll give him everything he’s ever wanted in return.

A fast-paced space opera for those who enjoy Old Man’s War by John Scalzi, Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds, or anything by Robert A. Heinlein.

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EXCERPT

Before I said anything, a fish—a koi fish, of all things—floated through the air in front of me. I jumped back and hit the closed door, seconds away from grabbing the thing and killing it with my bare hands.

           

“The fuck is that freak-fish-thing?” I said, word-vomiting as I stared down the demon fish.           

Sawyer chortled. “I’m going to get a lot of good sound bites from you, aren’t I?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

She tapped on her PAD, and the comms replayed me saying, “The is that freak-fish-thing?”

“Answer the damn question.”

“The fish is named Blub. He’s my only family in the universe.”

“Blub?”

The fish swirled around the air, its mouth opening and closing in rhythm, like a heartbeat. The black eyes of the creature matched the black spots of its scales, and both shimmered whenever they caught the light. Its face had a single red splotch that glittered no matter the lighting, creating its own dim bioluminescence.

Four bloated sacs jiggled on its back.

“How is it floating?” I asked.

“Blub produces helium,” Sawyer said. “When the sacs get too full, he releases some of the gas, and then descends.”

The fish let out a quiet toot, toot, toot and fluttered in the air until it was at head-level with Sawyer. She stroked the animal’s head, and it wiggled—was it happy?—and then it circled Sawyer, like a moon in orbit.

“So, it farts helium,” I said.

“Yes. He farts helium.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Shami Stovall relies on her BA in History and Juris Doctorate to make her living as an author and history professor in the central valley of California. She writes in a wide range of fiction, from crime thrills to fantasy to science-fiction. Stovall loves reading, playing video games, entertaining others with stories, and writing about herself in the third person.

Twitter: @GameOverStation

Facebook: SAStovall

Website

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My review: 

 

4.25 stars

Star Marque Rising by Shami Stovall follows Clevon Demarco, a shady denizen of Capital Station who somehow crosses paths with Endellion Voight as she pursues her goal to be a governor, despite not being a superhuman. Her ship, the Star Marque, is staffed by a disparate combination of individuals who are assisting their captain on her juggernaut path, but each of them has a hurdle that may be insurmountable, especially since not all of the obstacles are external. Clevon is introduced to a whole new set of challenges, ethically and physically, and must make decisions that may change the worlds, and not necessarily for the better.

This exciting science fiction story introduces an intriguing society that is a bit disconcerting, given all of the genetic manipulations and the hierarchy that has resulted. The twists and continuous action keep one invested in this story that is unpredictable and has fascinating characters who tend to be a little off the norm. Those who are squeamish should be advised that there is definitely violence, and it is noteworthy that the story definitely leaves the door open for a sequel. I enjoyed meeting the unusual beings (e.g. Blub the fish) but I definitely am curious about the backstories and amazed (and dismayed) at the ruthlessness displayed. Kudos to the author for creating such memorable characters who shift one’s perception of them. Hopefully, a sequel is in the works and some of the dangling threads will be tied off. I look forward to discovering what new adventures this imaginative author will chronicle.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review