Haunted Ends 3: Disco Inferno by Elizabeth Price (VBT, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

It is my pleasure to share a guest post by author Elizabeth Price.

ELF:    What is one of your hobbies and how has it enriched your writing?

 

EP:  One of my favorite things is to research haunted locations. I especially love to visit haunted places. Over the past ten years, I’ve probably visited over a hundred haunted locations or at least locations that claim to be haunted. Every one of them had a fascinating story to tell about the history of the property. In many cases, like with hotels and restaurants, the people working for the establishments would gladly take time out to tell me all about their experiences. Most of the time, the ghostly encounters were harmless. In many cases, there’s a widow or prostitute involved — the young wife of a sea captain who dies of a broken heart and so on.

 

Some of my favorite stories involve wild west gunslingers. In December of 2020, I visited the grave of Big Nose Kate in Prescott, Arizona. She was the girlfriend of Doc Holliday back in the days of Wyatt Earp. Rumors claim the people have seen her ghostly image at her gravesite. When I visited her grave, there was a jar let with messages for her, unopened bottles of beer and wine, poker chips, and cash. Regardless if the rumors were true, it was amazing to see. 

 

My favorite haunted hotel I visited was a boutique hotel in Ventura, California. I stumbled on it by accident while traveling to Santa Barbara. I didn’t know the hotel was haunted until I walked inside. I’m not even sure why I went inside… probably to find a restroom. Regardless, I started chatting with the man at the front desk, and he told me the story about a prostitute that smelled like roses and who would pinch men’s rumps as they walked up the stairs. She had hung herself in the late 1800s in one of the room’s closets. That experience lit my muse to write the Haunted Ends series.

 

 

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Haunted Ends 3: Disco Inferno 

by

Elizabeth Price

 

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GENRE: Paranormal Mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

The team of the hit cable television show “Haunted Ends” joins up again to investigate the Galaxy Disco. While shooting their show at the disco, the investigation takes a turn for the worse when the investigating team is transported back in time to the 1970’s. The team, along with Sam, their ghostly teammate, must figure out how to return to their own time by solving the mystery of who killed thirty people.

 

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EXCERPT

  

The bronze statue of Juan Bautista de Anza greeted them as Rocky parked the car in the roundish parking lot. Rocky glanced at the statue, finding it rather odd to see a Spanish conquistador riding through the park, perched on a beautiful stone horse.

 

Man on a horse? he thought. Surely not. The statue wasn’t there the last time he visited… though it had been a long time.

 

As he turned to the statue, the statue’s head turned to him, winked then returned to normal. Rocky felt the expression fall from his face.

 

“You see that?” he gulped. “Dude…” he waved his hand towards the backseat to gain Sam’s attention even though he wasn’t looking at Sam. His hand sliced directly through Sam’s stomach, causing his image to waver slightly.

 

“What?” Sam muttered.

 

Rocky jumped out of his car, pointing to the statue. “That! That statue winked at me!” he proclaimed in front of a large group of school children on a field trip. The children all giggled at the madman as their teachers hurried them away from the area.

 

Sam floated from the car and over to the statue. “Oh, him? Yeah. He’s our eyewitness. Come on, let me introduce you—”

 

Amazon link

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Elizabeth grew up in Redlands, California as an only child. The lack of siblings, cousins, or even kids in her neighborhood to play with sparked her imagination to life. She spent most days entertaining herself with elaborate stories, even doing so when her attention should have been elsewhere—like on her schoolwork.

 

As a teen, Elizabeth dove headfirst into the geeky culture of Star Trek and other science fiction and fantasy novels. She became so consumed that she spent all her free time and allowance on new books—eagerly anticipating their arrival. When she felt hindered by her limited allowance and the inevitable waiting period between new releases, it dawned on Elizabeth to revisit the creation of her own stories. This is where she was truly born as an author, pouring her imagination into multiple genres.

 

In 2009, Elizabeth graduated from California State University Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in Communications, emphasizing Entertainment Studies. She has taken numerous writing classes to hone her craft—everything from script writing to copywriting, story writing and more.

 

Elizabeth has been happily married to her supportive husband since 2001. He greatly encourages her in her writing endeavors and accompanies her on trips to haunted locations—her favorite pastime. She currently lives with her husband in Corona, California.

 

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Website

 

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

The tour dates can be found here
  

The Conjuring of Zoth-Avarex by K.R.R. Lockhaven (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

 

 

 

The Conjuring of Zoth-Avarex

by 

K.R.R. Lockhaven

 

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GENRE: Humorous Fantasy

 

 

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BLURB:

 

Kept hidden by the United States government for decades, the Site is a place where magic is real. But that doesn't mean that everything happening there is sparkly. Soul-sucking policies and layers of stifling bureaucracy threaten to take all the fun out of magic.

 

Harris, a newbie Conjurer, starts his first day of work at the Site bursting with excitement: he's been brought on for an extremely big project happening the very next day. In a triumph over its habitual inefficiency, the Site manages to carry out its plan and conjure an actual dragon to be used by the military.

 

The dragon (Zoth-Avarex, the self-proclaimed greatest dragon in the multiverse) immediately eats the person next to him, snatches a "princess" from the ranks of the Conjuring Department, and flies away to the Space Needle. There he manipulates the media, outwits the Site's bumbling management, demands sixty-three billion dollars' worth of treasure (because Smaug was said to have had sixty-two billion in his hoard), threatens to destroy the city—and installs a couple of food trucks.

 

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EXCERPT

 

 

After being led to the building, Harris took out his new rune-drawing wand, focused his will, and drew summoning, protective, and binding runes in the air, being extremely careful to get every detail right with every flick of the wrist. His drawings, once complete, became floating images of light in the air, like faded neon signs.

 

Then, in an even, monotone voice, Harris said, “Xop, I call you to this world.” Xop was one of the few names of minor imps that Harris thought he remembered seeing listed in one of his books.

 

From the air in front of him, something popped into existence with a literal popping sound. A furry flying creature appeared, flapping its wings and seeming thoroughly confused. It looked like a light brown baby sloth, except that it had bat-like wings that were covered in a fuzzy brown fur. A little puppy-dog nose stuck out just a bit between playful brown eyes surrounded by a mask of darker brown fur. It was almost too cute, as if some writer was trying way too hard to create a clichéd adorable animal companion. It was the second cutest being Harris had seen that day.

 

 

Amazon link

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

K.R.R. Lockhaven lives with his wife and two sons in Washington State. Together, they conjured a bearded dragon named Sandy who rules over a hoard of sand and devours crickets by the dozens. When not writing or raising kids, he works as a firefighter/paramedic.

 

Author website

 

Kirkus Review

 

Twitter- @Kyles137 https://twitter.com/kyles137

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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 Conjuring of Zoth-Avarex: The Self-Proclaimed Greatest Dragonin the Multiverse by K.R.R. Lockhaven describes the challenges faced by Harris Reed, as he and his fellow trainees arrive at the Site, where he will put his training in magic to practical use. Unfortunately, their arrival coincides with the unwilling arrival of the dragon Zoth-Avarex. Somehow, the banishing of Zoth-Avarex becomes the first task of Harrris and his new colleagues.

 

 

This tongue-in-cheek fantasy takes many popular tropes from this genre and tweaks them a bit with humorous results. There are plenty of zany characters who face a quest that constantly morphs, with unexpected results, and lots of sly allusions to modern society and its ills. I love the postulation that authors’ ideas are coming from multiverses, and the revelation at the end was a perfect quirky twist…as were the alternate ending and epilogue.

 

I would have liked to have a bit more depth for all of the characters, since the roller-coaster ride of events just kept providing more puzzles to solve, but I never felt I got to know anyone. The story itself reflected the frustration many of us face when dealing with the mindless bureaucracy that constrains our lives, and I found myself gritting my teeth at some of the crazy turns the story took. I think that those who like satirical fantasy will enjoy this story, and fantasy fans will enjoy the melange of inside jokes.

 

 

A copy of this title was provided for review

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dead as a Duck by Colleen J. Shogan (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

 

 

Dead as a Duck

by 

Colleen J. Shogan

 

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GENRE: Mystery/cozy mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

Congressional staffer Kit Marshall is looking forward to a much-deserved summer vacation in the Outer Banks. When the mayor of the beach town turns up dead, Kit and her friends need to put their fun and relaxation on hold to help solve the crime.

 

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EXCERPT

 

 

 

Before I could answer, Tobias spoke up. “The mayor got clobbered, at least politically speaking. It was a real mess. Lots of people were yelling, including her brother.” He pointed at me again.

 

Gomez turned to me. “Is your brother still in town?”

 

“Yes, we’re on vacation together. We’ve rented a beach house in Duck for the week,” I said.

 

“Sebastian is my significant other,” said Lisa. “That’s how Kit and I know each other.”

 

Gomez chewed on the end of her pen. “That’s enough for now. Wait over there until I tell you otherwise.”

 

We walked back to our original location. “If Ronan was murdered, it probably happened sometime last night, don’t you think?”

 

“The medical examiner should be able to figure that out,” she said. “But yes, I would assume that would be the case. There’s a lot of people on this boardwalk when the restaurants and businesses are open. If someone tossed a body into the sound, someone would notice.”

 

“Then we don’t have anything to worry about.” I sighed in deep relief. “If it happened in the middle of the night, you can serve as Sebastian’s alibi.”

 

Lisa shifted from one foot to the other. “That’s going to be a problem.”

 

“What do you mean, Lisa?” I asked in a shaky voice.

 

“I woke up in the middle of the night and Sebastian wasn’t there,” said Lisa. “I don’t know where he went, but he wasn’t with me.”

 

 

Purchase Links:

 

Amazon

 

Barnes and Noble

 

Indigo

 

Apple books

 

Target

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

Colleen J. Shogan has been reading mysteries since the age of six. A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American politics at several universities and previously worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and as a senior executive at the Library of Congress. She is currently the Senior Vice President of the White House Historical Association.

Colleen is a member of Sisters in Crime. 

 

"Stabbing in the Senate" was awarded the Next Generation Indie prize for Best Mystery in 2016. "Homicide in the House" was a 2017 finalist for the RONE Award for Best Mystery. “Calamity at the Continental Club” was a 2018 finalist in the “best cozy mystery” at Killer Nashville. She splits her time between Arlington, Virginia and Duck, NC in the Outer Banks with her husband Rob and beagle mutt Conan.

 

 

 

Facebook

 

Twitter

 

Website

 

Goodreads

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The tour dates can be found here

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My review:

 

3.75 stars

 

 

Dead as a Duck by Colleen J. Shogan is part of the ‘Washington Whodunit’ series and features the adventures of Kit Marshall, chief of staff for representative Maeve Dixon, and amateur sleuth. A “feeling out” stop for the congresswoman that is supposed to morph into a well-deserved vacation for Kit and her cohorts is complicated when her brother gets implicated in…what else? A murder!

 

This cozy mystery provides an armchair visit to a quaint seaside town in North Carolina named Duck. Glimpses of the fun activities to be had on a vacation that includes canines (despite one’s disappointing antipathy toward the beach) are interspersed with persistent investigation into the most recent murder to impact Kit and her crew. It’s fun to see Kit’s husband get more immersed in her propensity to solve murders, and I wholeheartedly approve of his decision about the subject of his next book.

 

I didn’t feel much connection to the secondary characters, but I had met several of them in previous stories, so it was good to get an update on where they were in their lives. I think this would be a perfect quick beach read for anyone who likes cozy mysteries and small-town stories.

 

 

A copy was provided for review

Accidental Homecoming by Sabrina York (Spotlight and review)

 

 

 

Accidental Homecoming

The Stirling Ranch series

ADULT title

by

Sabrina York

New York Times bestselling author Sabrina York kicks off her brand-new Stirling Ranch miniseries by asking does blood make you family?

It’s time to face the past he’s been running from.

Danny Diem’s life is upended when he inherits a small-town ranch. But learning he has a daughter in need of lifesaving surgery is his biggest shock yet. He'd never gotten over telling his ex Lizzie Michaels that he wasn’t the marrying kind. But her loving strength for their little girl tugs at his heartstrings—and makes him wonder if he’s ready to embrace the role he’s always run from: father.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

The Stirling Ranch

Book 1: Accidental Homecoming
Book 2: Recipe for a Homecoming

 

 

 

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My review:

 

4 stars

 

Danny Diem didn't have a good role model in his parents and therefore shunned responsibility and destroyed his relationship with his high school sweetheart. The shock of being called to the reading of a will for someone he's never heard of is compounded when his ex, Lizzie, tells him they have a child who's very ill. Danny has to figure out if he's ready to have a family, before it's too late.

 

This contemporary romance is a beautiful introduction to a complicated family. There are definitely heart-tugging moments, and young Emma steals the show. Danny's history (and near-history) is very painful and I'm reminded of my philosophy that we are who we are because of what we lived through. I love that he finds a way to work through his insecurities and I am delighted by the family that develops and look forward to learning more about all of them.

 

The Adversary by Thea Harrison (Spotlight and review)

 

The Adversary

The Chronicles of Rhyacia

 

ADULT title

by

Thea Harrison

 

 

From NYT bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the explosive conclusion to The Unseen!


Blurb:

When Dragos and Pia move to the Other land of Rhyacia, they hope starting a new life will bring safety and freedom to their family, especially their young baby, Niall. And at first their new home seems perfect… but looks are deceiving.



Beneath Rhyacia’s idyllic façade an ancient, malevolent force lurks, waiting for the right opportunity to break free of its cage. When that opportunity comes, it strikes with devastating accuracy.



While Dragos has never backed down from a fight, he’s also never encountered an enemy like this one before. How can he fight a foe who doesn’t have a body? A foe who can invade and turn his own mind against him?



How can Dragos protect his family, when at any moment one of them may become the enemy?



As Dragos and Pia race against time to fight this unseen menace, they must also acknowledge a terrifying truth—when anyone can become the enemy, no one can be trusted.



An adversary who can trap the dragon poses a threat to everyone in Rhyacia, and that means no one is safe…



***This book does NOT end on a cliffhanger***
 

 

 

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My review:

 

4.25 out of 5 stars

 

 

The Adversary by Thea Harrison is the second book in ‘Chronicles of Rhyacia’ series that features the Other land that Dragos and Pia and their associates are colonizing. The story begins immediately after the events in “The Unseen” as the desperate struggle to evict the being that has taken over Dragos’s body continues.

 

This story underscores the ruthlessness of the Wyr, and the cunning and intelligence that accompanies their athleticism and arcane powers. The heartbreaking elements shake their world to its foundation, and I suspect the repercussions will be ongoing, despite the temporary bandage that’s been applied.

 

Great cameos by multiple beings who have populated the various series in this universe. Not only did this story prompt me to go back and reread the prequel, “The Unseen,” but I am tempted to renew my acquaintance with many of the other stories set in this well-built universe. As always, the characters are both charismatic and memorable, and have unexpected depths and facets that continue to intrigue. I definitely hope that there are still many stories to come featuring some of my favorite characters of all time.

 

 

A copy was provided for review

 

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 Previous book in the series:

 

My review:

4.25 stars

 

 

The Unseen by Thea Harrison is the first in the quartet of novellas (edit: this is now a 2-book series) that continues the saga of Dragos and Pia and their growing family. It starts after the events depicted in “Planet Dragos” as Dragos and Pia relocate their home base to the Other land Dragos has named Rhyacia. All of the challenges of establishing an eco-friendly existence with none of the anticipated peace and quiet, as feverish construction efforts run into quite a few snags…some of which reveal significant peril.

 

This delightful addition to the Elder Races stories highlights what I enjoy most about these paranormal romance tales—deliciously fantastical characters, snarky dialogue, romance, danger, and great world-building. Pay attention to the warnings…this DOES end in a cliffhanger. Of course, it made me realize I had missed a story in Pia and Dragos’ life before this, and reminded me how much I loved the little novellas that popped up with new characters, particularly “Natural Evil,” which is one of my favorites. The wonderful cameos by most of the significant cast in the ‘Elder Races’ series was a delightful surprise.

 

Pia has definitely developed a feisty personality and this story reflects the adage, “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Her new baby, Niall, is definitely keeping everyone busy, and the rescue of a dog provides great comic relief as Dragos comes to terms with adding a “rejected snack” to his dependents. The eerie events that lead to the breathtaking climax are vividly depicted, and, impatient person that I am, made me search for and reread several of the connecting novellas while I strive to patiently await the next episode in the adventures of the Cuelebre family. Those new to these stories should definitely read some of the preceding stories in order to better appreciate the nuances and those who are fans already will enjoy re-immersing themselves in this wonderfully creative universe.

 

 

A copy of this story was provided for review

 

 

 

The Lady Who Knew Too Much by Alyson Chase (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title

The Lady Who Knew Too Much

ADULT title

by

Alyson Chase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He’s an ex-boxer. She sips tea at philosophical salons. And when these two opposites meet, their lives will never be the same.

Lady Juliana knows someone is trying to kill her father. The problem is getting anyone to believe her. Her father thinks she’s imagining things. Her brother that she’s seeking attention. And the man her brother hired to bring her back home…well, he thinks nothing much of her at all.

Brogan Duffy has clawed his way up from the streets to become the lead investigator on his very first inquiry case. The fact that it is to retrieve a spoiled aristocrat playing at intrigue is of no consequence. Nor is the fact that she beguiles him like no other woman. He has a job to do, and he won’t let anything stand in his way, not even this illogical attraction.

But Juliana might not be imagining the threat. And when it’s her life that’s on the line, Brogan has to decide to what lengths he’ll go to keep her safe. Because in order to resolve this make-or-break case in his career, Brogan might have to hazard more than his heart. And with some gambles, there’s no going back…

 

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Excerpt

She rose and faced her friend’s floor-length mirror. She imagined a tall, burly figure, and dipped a deep curtsy. “Why yes, I would love to dance.”

A hard blue gaze flashed across her imagination. Those eyes belonged to someone completely inappropriate, but this was her fantasy, so she let them linger in her mind. She closed her own eyes and began to sway to the music. She raised her arms, as though holding her imaginary man, and fell into the rhythm of the dance.

The hem of her skirts whisked across the carpet. She hummed along with the music and wondered what it would feel like to have such strong arms wrapped around her body. The men of her acquaintance were all slender and sensitive.

Perhaps she should expand her acquaintance beyond philosophical societies. The male members were all kind and intelligent, but none of them sent a shiver straight down her spine with merely one glance. Perhaps—

One thick band, hard as iron, wrapped around her waist. One rough hand gripped her own, engulfing it.

Her eyes flew open.

The pair of piercing blue from her imagination met her gaze.

A shiver raced down her spine.

“My lady.” Mr. Brogan Duffy, inquiry agent and the man featured much too prominently in her dreams, inclined his head. “I’ll take this dance.”

 

 Amazon buy link

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About the Author: 

 

Alyson Chase lives in Colorado. A former attorney, she happily ditched those suits and now works in her pajamas writing about men’s briefs instead of legal briefs. When she’s not writing, she’s probably engaged in one of her favorite hobbies: napping, eating, or martial arts. (That last one almost makes up for the first two, right?) She also writes humorous, small-town, contemporary romance novels under the name Allyson Charles, and paranormal romances as A. Caprice.

Website 

Facebook 

Twitter  

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Pinterest 

BookBub

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GIVEAWAY

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The tour dates can be found here

 

  

A little more about me...Author D.V. Stone interviews me

 

 

 

 

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by one of my delightful authors. I’ve worked with D.V. on an exciting romantic suspense, Rock House Grill, that frequently made me hungry while I was editing, lol, and the sweet novella, Rainbow Sprinkles, which I adore because it has older main characters. Please drop by D.V.’s blog and say hello!

Link to D.V.'s Campfire Blog

 

 

D.V. Stone's delightful stories:

 

          

Blurb:

Aden House, successful but driven chef and TV personality, refuses to slow down. His life implodes one night, damaging him both physically and emotionally. He's rescued by a woman he thinks of as his angel.Shay McDowell has rebuilt her life after her divorce. She juggles volunteer EMT duties and her job, while dreaming of becoming a chef. She finds her way to Rock House Grill and back into the life of the man she helped save.Can love be the ingredient needed to survive the many obstacles they face?

Amazon link

 

Blurb:

Retired and widowed Gloriana Jones is forging on with the plans she and her late husband dreamed of—bringing joy and happiness, one ice cream cone at a time, to Lake Unami. But bad weather is drowning her dream.
A trip to Upstate NY is bittersweet for Nathan James. He is excited to see his first granddaughter but without his wife he's lonely. When his car breaks down, he heads to the only light he can see, an ice cream shop.
With aid from a heavenly source, electricity sparks, but will the two weather the summer storms and find love a second time? Or will their hopes and dreams melt away?

Amazon link