Murder: Double or Nothing by Lida Sideris (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Murder: Double or Nothing

 A Southern California Mystery

by

Lida Sideris

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GENRE: Mystery

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BLURB:

Corrie Locke, newbie lawyer and daughter of a late, great PI, is learning the ropes at the Hollywood movie studio where she works--and where things are never what they seem. Life imitates art when a fictional murder attempt turns real--right before her eyes.

With more than a little help from friends and a crazy movie legend, Corrie trips down a trail littered with wisecracks, mysterious messages, and marginally legal maneuvers to track down the killer. Meanwhile, clues keep disappearing and Corrie makes an enemy whose deadly tactics keep escalating. Will her impromptu sleuthing skills be enough to catch the mysterious assailant before he takes her down?

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EXCERPT

  

He pedaled the bicycle hard and fast down the narrow, deserted alley, stealing glances behind him. It was a late, warm Friday afternoon somewhere on the eastside of Los Angeles where police protection was scarce and hoodlums plentiful. Two and three story buildings huddled together on both sides of the rider. Graffiti stained the walls.

Hunched over the handlebars, the cyclist whizzed past a dented metal dumpster, unsettling newspapers and milk cartons pressed against a doorway. The collar of a gingham dress shirt stuck up beneath his red pullover and a backpack flopped behind him. Chuck Taylors clinched his nerdiness, as did the argyle socks. He looked fresh out of a computer lab, on his way to the library. There was nothing unusual about him, if you didn’t count the bulging eyes, gritted teeth and heavy panting. His expression belonged on a trapped animal.

A black sedan barreled around the corner, tires grinding and coughing up pieces of asphalt. Leaning his torso out of the passenger window, a muscular guy in a white T-shirt clutched a revolver. He aimed at the cyclist, fired three times and missed.

The rider angled around a corner and skidded to a stop. Dropping the bicycle on its side, he stumbled over the upturned wheel moments before the car crushed the bike beneath its fat tires, spitting out a tangle of metal and chrome. The car parked, and two thugs spilled out. They raced after the cyclist, guns drawn. The nerd careened toward the side of a brick building and jumped up, arms outstretched above his head. The silver cuff around his wrist glinted as he grabbed the bottom rung of a fire escape ladder, legs flailing wildly. The ladder creaked and swayed. He’d barely started the climb when the hoodlums fired. And missed again.

“Oh, brother,” I whispered.

The nerd scrambled onto a landing and dove through an open window.

Amazon link

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lida Sideris' first stint after law school was a newbie lawyer's dream: working as an entertainment attorney for a movie studio...kind of like her heroine, Corrie Locke. Lida lives in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, rescue dogs and a flock of uppity chickens. She was one of two national winners of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship Award for her first book.

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GIVEAWAY

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My review:

4 out of 5 stars

Murder: Double or Nothing by Lida Sideris is part of the ‘Southern California Mystery’ series that features attorney and sleuth Corrie Locke, whose job at a movie studio shifts from the legal work she was hired for to investigating a murder using everything she was taught by her late father. Aided and abetted by her friends and allies and complicated by the powerful actress she’s ostensibly working for, Corrie follows a serpentine path in search of a killer who may also have her in his or her sights.

This mystery story is a romp that is more of a cozy mystery despite being set in the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles and some of its surrounding cities. The breezy but determined techniques utilized by Corrie to achieve her goals are entertaining and impressive, and her sidekicks definitely liven up the action with their expertise and unconventional techniques. There are plenty of red herrings and a fun sprinkling of movie studio glitz and misdirection with a bit of international flavor thrown in.

I haven’t read the other stories in the series, so some of the backstory had to be inferred, but I had no trouble reading this as a stand-alone story. I would have liked a bit more depth to some of the secondary characters and I thought some things were a little too easily ignored or swept over but this is still a fun light read. There are a few dangling threads that are apparently part of the series arc but I enjoyed getting to know this heroine and her stalwart assistants and I was particularly gratified to learn that she is feisty as well as tenacious, even if she is a little wishy-washy in the romance department, lol. I look forward to seeing what other sticky situations she gets herself into and out of.

A copy of this title was provided for review

 

A Woman's Persuasion by Jeanette Watts (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title

A Woman's Persuasion

by

Jeanette Watts

ADULT title

What would you do for a second chance at a perfect love?

Anne's privileged family forced her to break off her romance with Freddie Wentworth, an Air Force pilot; they didn't approve. Almost eight years later, Freddie is back in her life. Can they rekindle an old flame? Or is there too much hurt and misunderstanding in the way?

 




Excerpt:

She looked in the mirror at the result of eight years of self-neglect and self-hatred, and she didn't like what she saw. She wished Freddie could have looked at her and seen that she had improved over the years. It didn't even need to be about her physical appearance. If she would have had three Master's Degrees and a PhD to her name, or a Pulitzer Prize, or an Oscar for Best Screenplay, or a byline in The New Yorker, that would have been something. But she had nothing to show for all the intervening years.

She wondered if Freddie had said the words out of spite, calculating that Henry and Louis would repeat them to her, or they were merely said honestly, not thinking that they might get repeated back to her. She could only assume that Freddie expected the hurtful words to reach her ears. Freddie had not forgiven her.

Well, could she blame her? Her feebleness of character, her inability to stand by her loved one in the face of adversity, wasn't something Freddie would respect. Being in a relationship with a soldier in military service took dedication and courage, not weakness and timidity. Anne couldn’t blame her for being hurt, even disgusted. She was not worthy of the love Freddie had offered her.

The eyes that looked back at her in the mirror confirmed what she already knew. She was going to have to change. It was too late with Freddie, but she needed to be a person she could respect. She wanted her self-respect back.



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About the Author:

Jeanette Watts was happily writing historical fiction when she got the idea for her first Jane Austen-inspired novel, Jane Austen Lied to Me. Going to a JASNA event to work on selling that book, she attended a lecture that asked, "Why does everyone rewrite Pride and Prejudice so much more than her other novels? Why doesn't anyone rewrite Persuasion?"

So she had to...









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GIVEAWAY


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The tour dates can be found here 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Image by Graham Hobster from Pixabay

To all who are celebrating...may you have a peaceful and well-fed holiday!

I give thanks for all the blessings I have received this year, and hope that each of you has plenty to be thankful as well. I appreciate each and every one of you who takes the time to visit my blog and I thank you for your comments and support!

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Love and Linguistics by Tara Lain (Spotlight, review, and GIVEAWAY) EDP ADULT title

Love and Linguistics

(Movie Magic Series, Bk 2) 

by 

Tara Lain

ADULT title

Blurb:

In his neighborhood, El Martin stands out, and that can be life threatening. Against the odds, he’s managed to graduate high school and then master IT. Now he’s desperate to get a good job to free his drunken dad and himself from the control of gang leader M2 and the drugs he sells. But with his piercings and his slang-ridden speech, El looks and sounds like a Bronx gangbanger, and potential employers won’t give him a second look. So when El hears about Henry Fairhaven, PhD, linguistics researcher and wealthy New York socialite, El takes his life in his hands to escape from M2 and ends up sleeping in the stairwell at Henry’s building, hoping to learn how to speak.

To Henry, who wants to prove himself as a scholar and not merely a rich dilettante, El isn’t only the most beautiful man he’s ever seen—he’s also the key to getting a paper published on Henry’s ground-breaking linguistics methods before a competitor beats him to the punch. But Henry doesn’t tell El the truth, and El thinks Henry’s helping him because he cares.

El’s dreams collide with Henry’s ambitions at the elegant Met Gala, where El captivates a prince of Silicon Valley. But the real collision comes when M2 tracks El down and Henry has to choose between the validation he craves and a future with the man he’s come to love.

Read Chapter 1 Here

Available for Purchase at

Dreamspinner | Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Kobo | Nook | iBooks

About the Author

Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters – and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn’t believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her best-selling stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes — the beautiful boys of romance —  and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara’s characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara’s creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Likely a Gryffindor but possessed of Parseltongue, Tara loves animals of all kinds, diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers. She also loves to hear from you.   

You can find Tara at Lain

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Bookbub | Amazon Author Page |

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Giveaway

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Presented by

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My review:

4.5 stars

“Love and Linguistics” by Tara Lain is a contemporary gay romance story that follows El Martin as he struggles to break free of the shackles of his background as a gangbanger. Being chosen by noted linguistic researcher Henry Fairhaven as his next project makes El dare to hope that he may be able to create a new life—if he can avoid betrayal and stay alive.

This second story in the ‘Movie Magic Romances’ series is a sweet and sexy retelling of the Pygmalion/My Fair Lady story with a multicultural flavor. I love the twists on beloved scenes from MFL (and spent much of the story humming several songs from the original musical, lol). The author did her usual great job of creating characters who grab our hearts and make us root for their happy ending. Even though I knew what to expect, I was still disappointed by the heedless disregard of poor El after his triumph. The hint of danger added to the allure of this story and I was kept spellbound until the exciting end. A fun and entertaining tale!

A copy of this story was provided for review

When You Close Your Eyes by Roxanne D. Howard (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title

When You Close Your Eyes

by

Roxanne D. Howard

ADULT title

Dreams are the perfect shelter for fantasies, safe havens to step inside without changing our daily lives. For Lark Braithwaite, all that is about to change. During the last six months, Lark has dreamt of a mysterious Irish lover who knows what she wants and gives her exactly what she needs. In her waking life in busy London, things aren't as ideal as her long-term relationship with her controlling fiancé Charles has hit a dry spell.

When Lark is called home to Oregon for her father's funeral, she comes face to face with the demons from her past, but she never expects to meet her dream lover in the flesh. Niall O'Hagan steps straight out of her fantasies and into her life, and the powerful connection they share rocks her foundation. Although she's dealing with the bitterness of her fiancé's betrayal and his jealousy, Niall soon stirs Lark's awareness of her superficial existence and reawakens her sexuality....and her soul.

From PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY:

"Howard (The Longer They Last) explores the concept of fated love in this skillfully woven contemporary erotic romance. Lark Braithwaite, an American in London, is living with her British fiancé, Charles Chase, when she starts dreaming of a sexy mystery man with an Irish brogue. After Lark gets word that her estranged father has died and she returns to her Oregon hometown for the funeral, she meets the dream man in the flesh: he's her parents' widowed lawyer, Niall O'Hagan. Lark quickly falls in love with Niall, struggling to decide whether she should follow her heart or the commitment she's made to her fiancé-a decision that gets easier when Charles shows his true and ugly colors... Explicit sex scenes crackle with heat, and Howard's characters invite readers to come in and get lost on the pages with them as the plot hurtles toward a shocking, but not unbelievable, climax involving Lark's father's past and her future. Erotic romance fans will devour Howard's suspenseful and heart-filled story."

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Excerpt

If the kiss had stayed careful and guarded, she might have continued to question it. But the blindfold disappeared. She’d fallen asleep. Her eyes flew open, and he was there. Oh, my God. He was there! Heated eyes watched her. Rakish dark hair fell over his forehead as he breathed hard, and the morning sun lit up the world behind him. She shuddered and took a deep breath to speak, but his hands moved to cup her face. He held still and closed his eyes as his lips took her mouth. Right then and there, she knew with crystal clarity this was real. This was the weight of a real man on top of her, clothed. He smelled citrusy and freshly laundered. What in the hell is this?

How did he get here? He was only her dream lover.

Or was he?

Confused beyond all comprehension, Lark didn’t have any time to contemplate a single thing. His lips delivered a breath-stealing, soul-shattering kiss, and then they were all over each other. This, ah, this she knew. Lark hooked her ankle over his, put a hand on his shoulder, and tried to rid him of his jacket as she drew him closer. She fisted his hair as he devoured her mouth. He tasted the same as her dream lover, and she put her tongue in his mouth to savor more of his tangy sweetness. They both made noises they never had in her dreams, breathy gasps and blasts of air as their mouths met and separated as they sought new angles and depths to their passion.

He made a disgruntled sound as he tried to get more comfortable in the cradle of her hips over the hindrance of clothes. This wasn’t a dream. He nibbled on her lower lip as she opened her mouth to tell him to stop, but then he carried her away in the undercurrent of his large, warm hands, which caressed the skin of her stomach beneath her hoodie and T-shirt. She continued to accept his kisses but pawed her zipped-up sweat jacket. Okay, so she was still clothed. He was rock hard against her, and he ground his hips into her. A disbelieving grunt escaped his lips. Lark shivered at the jolt that went through her.

“Wh— Mmm. Whoa. Stop,” She managed against his mouth. She furrowed her eyebrows and scrutinized him as he breathed in and out. He braced himself on the weight of his hands above her, his bright green eyes bearing into hers. His face was the face of her dreams—the sensual bowed lips and cleft chin, the built body, and the thick hair. His hair… She blinked. His hair was cut at the nape and styled for a day at work. She glanced at his clothes.

“Um, why are you wearing a suit and tie this time?” She squinted against the sunlight. Please, God, let this be a dream. He moved his head and put her in shade.

Amazon


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About the Author:

Roxanne D. Howard is a U.S. Army veteran who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and English. She loves to read poetry, classical literature, and Stephen King. Also, she is an avid Star Wars fan, musical theater nut, and marine biology geek.

Roxanne resides in the western U.S., and when she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children. Roxanne loves to hear from her readers, and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.








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GIVEAWAY


a Rafflecopter giveaway



The tour dates can be found here

Roxy's Recovery by Kim Breyon (Spotlight, excerpt, and review) ANT

Roxy's Recovery

by

Kim Breyon

Blurb:

As the newest veterinarian in the small town of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Vaughn Winters doesn't have time for relationships. He is too busy healing injuries and establishing his reputation as a trustworthy vet. But when a strange man waves him down on a stormy night seeking help for his injured dog, Vaughn simply can't refuse.

Obviously homeless and with no means to pay for Roxy's medical care, Vaughn throws caution to the wind and strikes a deal with the hesitant stranger that would allow Roxy the time to heal and provide some much needed TLC to his property as well. As the days pass, Vaughn's curiosity grows. Alex's dedication to the job is as surprising as the sexy tats hidden beneath his rugged clothes. What could have pushed this kind, hardworking man to the streets, or cast such dark shadows in his otherwise bright blue eyes?

Will six weeks be enough time to earn Alex's trust? Or will asking questions cause him to tuck tail and run as soon as Roxy is able?

Roxy's Recovery is a 61k standalone contemporary romance involving two men, a meddling sister, and a seriously sassy pug.

 

 

Excerpt:

I was quickly distracted by how the evening light coming in through the window cast a warm glow on Alex’s face. He had a light speckle of freckles across his nose and under his eyes that I hadn’t noticed before, and I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone had ever kissed them before. I certainly would if ever I had the chance.

When I didn’t look away, he gave a soft laugh. “You know, that’s twice in one hour I’ve caught you staring. I’d say it’s a new record.”

I huffed. “Like you even notice how much I check you out.”

 The corner of his mouth turned up. “Oh, I notice, Vaughn. Like every time you peek out the window or slow your steps when you go outside for something? Believe me, I notice.”

 I turned a little crimson. “Whatever. I think you’re hot, so sue me.”

 “Oh, that’s not what I’m afraid of,” he said innocently.

 I blinked, trying to make sense of what he was saying. “What are you so afraid of, then?” I asked, suddenly dying to know. “Because frankly, I’ve been trying to figure you out for a while now. If you’re interested or not, I mean.”

 “I am,” he admitted without thinking before setting his sandwich down and looking out the window. “I just can’t, though.”

The finality in his voice caught me off guard; it sounded less like he was rejecting me and more like he was refusing himself something.

 “Why?” I asked again.

It was a long moment before he replied, his voice low and almost inaudible. “I’m here for Roxy, Vaughn. I don’t want to do anything that would ruin this for her.”

I furrowed my brows. “Ruin what? At making a full recovery? She’s going to be fine. I’ve told you that.”

He still didn’t look at me, idly playing with a piece of bread while he continued to stare out the window.

And then, like a punch to the gut, it hit me what he was truly afraid of.

“You think I’ll kick you out?” I asked, stunned. When he didn’t respond, I tried again. “I would never do that to you, whether or not something happened between us.”

He still didn’t look at me or even acknowledge that he’d heard me, so I reached for his hand. 

“Okay?” I insisted.

After a long pause, Alex shifted in his seat, causing his legs to accidentally squeeze mine under the table. He immediately jerked away, but to my relief, he didn’t pull his hand away. Instead, he turned his over so he could link our fingers together and gave me a nervous smile.

 “I was starting to believe that,” he said, his attention on where our skin touched. “But… it helps to hear it.”

Book Links: 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link | Goodreads

More from Kim Breyon:

Check out Kim's Against All Odds Series. 

 

Back to You

(Against All Odds, Book 1) 

by Kim Breyon

One of you, one of me…



 As a private investigator, I have a perfect record when it comes to closing cases…as long as you don’t count the only one that ever really mattered to me.

 Even after a decade, the memory of the foster boy I once shared a room with continues to haunt my dreams. For five years, Riley helped me laugh when there was so little in our lives to laugh about. His gentle touch and stormy gray eyes were the only thing that could calm the swirling and turbulent thoughts and emotions within me.

 But in the blink of an eye, the safe harbor my best friend provided was ripped from my life without warning or reason. His unexplained disappearance set sail to a lonely and hopeless journey. Now, I am no more willing to let the memory of my best friend go than I am ready to give up the search for him, as hopeless as it may seem to those around me.

 And then a client asks me to locate a stolen treasure box. Clues have me heading from the city of Atlanta to a small, picturesque town in South Carolina called Reedsport. There, I hope to find the missing box; what I never expected was to find something else that I’d been missing for far too long. Could I have finally found a beacon of hope that would lead Riley Tanager back to me?

Book Links: 

Amazon US | Everywhere Else | Goodreads | BookBub

And Then You 

Against All Odds, Book 2

by Kim Breyon

 

 

Love is a risk... but a risk worth taking.

JAKE

I knew my life would change when I followed my best friend across state lines and transferred to the Reedsport Police Department. I just wasn’t prepared for how much.

 From the moment I meet him, CJ Reyes isn’t what I expect, and neither is our chemistry. The fire with him is like nothing I’ve felt before, both in and out of the bedroom. His sexy sapphire eyes are cracking the walls around my heart, and for the first time in my life, I’m not rushing to repair them. But can I trust him with the heaviest burden of all: the dangers of my career?

REYES

After being cut from the national team in Mexico, I’d hoped to get away from it all when I accepted a temporary coaching position in a small town in South Carolina. The reprieve doesn't come, though, thanks to my family constantly breathing down my neck and the uncertainty of my future looming over me.

 Then I meet Jake, whose humor and understanding feel like my only way out of the darkness. Our fiery nights and growing friendship make my loss feel a little less devastating and my future less bleak. But when I'm forced to make a decision that could change my life forever, will Jake see reason? Or will I end up losing something far more valuable than the world championship?

Book Links:

Amazon US | Everywhere Else | Goodreads

Dread Pirate Arcanist by Shami Stovall (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

DREAD PIRATE ARCANIST

by 
Shami Stovall

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GENRE: YA Fantasy

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BLURB:

Continue the Frith Chronicles with the second book, Dread Pirate Arcanist!

While protecting the newborn griffins on the Isle of Landin, Volke Savan and his adopted sister, Illia, run afoul of the Dread Pirate Calisto, the same cutthroat who carved out Illia’s right eye. As a master manticore arcanist, Calisto’s strength and brutality are unrivaled, so when Illia suggests they bring him to justice, Volke wonders if they’ll have what it takes to fight the corsairs on the high seas.

A fast-paced flintlock fantasy for those who enjoy How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Unsouled (Cradle Series) by Will Wight, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.

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EXCERPT

Today the griffins of West Landin would choose who to bond with. The city officials gathered before the dawn, prepping for the evening celebrations. I watched from afar on a rocky cliff that overlooked half the isle, the pre-morning winds disheveling my inky black hair. I had never visited the Isle of Landin before now, but I had heard amazing tales of their fearsome griffins since I was old enough to remember stories.

           

My pulse quickened with anticipation. For fifteen years, I had imagined bonding with a mystical creature and becoming an arcanist. Eight months ago it had become a reality, but it hadn’t yet sunk into my heart and gut. Giddiness twisted my insides with each new breath.

While the citizens of West Landin would have to prove themselves to the griffins in a Trial of Worth, I had already been tested and found worthy.

           

I turned to the shadows next to me, well aware that my mystical creature—my eldrin—lurked in the darkness.

           

“Luthair,” I said. “Do you know much about griffins?”

           

“They are stubborn beasts,” he replied from the void of my shadow, his voice more sinister than his true demeanor. “And griffin arcanists are strong, courageous, and skilled at combat.”

           

“Amazing.”

           

As a knightmare, Luthair lived within the darkness, merging with it like salt in water. He didn’t need to materialize to speak, and he could slink along next to me without anyone knowing. While some would consider that creepy or unsettling, I enjoyed his presence and trusted him in all things.

           

I returned my attention to the sprawling city. Unlike the Isle of Ruma, where I grew up, West Landin housed thousands of people, had a massive port, and had constructed a seaside fortress to deter pirates. Their cobblestone roads, twice as wide as home, snaked beyond the city limits to a valley filled with sheep, goats, and horses.

           

When the sun rose, the oranges and reds of dawn cascaded over the island, washing it in a familiar glow. The Isle of Ruma had wonderful dawns, just like this one. The nostalgia overwhelmed me for a moment, so powerful it almost hurt.

           

I missed my adoptive father, Gravekeeper William.

Amazon link

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Shami Stovall grew up in California’s central valley with a single mother and little brother. Despite no one in her family earning a degree higher than a GED, she put herself through college (earning a BA in History), and then continued on to law school where she obtained her Juris Doctorate.

As a child, Stovall’s favorite novel was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. The adventure on a deserted island opened her mind to ideas and realities she had never given thought before—and it was at that moment Stovall realized story telling (specifically fiction) became her passion. Anything that told a story, be it a movie, book, video game or comic, she had to experience. Now, as a professor and author, Stovall wants to add her voice to the myriad of stories in the world and she hopes you enjoy.

You can contact her at the following addresses.

Twitter: @GameOverStation

Website

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GIVEAWAY

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The tour dates can be found here 

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My review:

4.5 stars

Dread Pirate Arcanist by Shami Stovall is the second book in the ‘Firth Chronicles’ series and features the continuing adventures of a group of novice arcanists. Volke Savan has more trouble than his peers in learning how to utilize his new powers, especially because he is handicapped by being second-bonded with the knightmare Luthair. His relationship with his childhood companion Illia is tested when she embarks on a quest of vengeance that risks destroying them all.

This young adult fantasy series is fun and fresh and this book is a great addition to the series. Some of the angst that accompanies the interpersonal relationships is a little annoying to me, but definitely reminds me that these are young adults juggling multiple burdens. I love the imagination that ignites with this author’s take on various mythological creatures and the abilities they manifest and the powers their human partners are struggling to conquer. The smart-mouthed rizzel steals the show occasionally, and I am tempted to smack some of the characters but then they redeem themselves.

I think it would be difficult to join this series without having read the first book because there are so many complicated backstories that invest the decisions that are made. Just as in the first book, there are some dangling threads left to keep one anxious for further developments, but I was much less frustrated this time, lol. Do yourself a favor and get transported into a fantastical world and meet a cast of amazing characters who will take you on an adventure unlike any other.

A copy of this title was provided for review