tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86645501409785794852024-03-02T13:39:43.847-05:00Stacking My Book Shelves! Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.comBlogger3046125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-34012387041995285822019-07-24T13:00:00.000-04:002019-07-24T16:51:53.280-04:00TEMPORARY BLOG HIATUS --- LIFE EMERGENCIES!!! <br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">I am sorry but I have to put the blog on hold for a bit and will be back to it as soon as possible. I love all of my fellow bloggers, authors, tour companies and readers. I just have to take the time right now and focus on my family and our life issues or there might not be something to worry about. I will be back as soon as I can. Lots of life emergencies are going on right now and </span><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">I MUST</span></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> concentrate on them now. I just don't have the time to do everything at once right now. I plan to be back in the next few weeks but I can't right now. I am sorry for any author that is put on hold for this and will try to make it up as soon as I am back.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">All my blogger friends I will be back with your blog also. I am sorry.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>Mary</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-47522068066691665682019-07-19T09:00:00.000-04:002019-07-19T15:19:49.283-04:00#BookReview & #Excerpt for Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall!! @GameOverStation #YA #Fantasy @pumpupyourbook #books #bookworms <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>KNIGHTMARE ARCANIST by Shami Stovall, YA Fantasy </b></span></div>
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<strong>Title</strong>: KNIGHTMARE ARCANIST<br />
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<strong>Author</strong>: Shami Stovall<br />
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<strong>Publisher</strong>: Capital Station Books<br />
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<strong>Pages</strong>: 360<br />
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<strong>Genre</strong>: YA Fantasy<br />
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In a world populated by mythical creatures, those who bond with them <br />
are known as arcanists—their magic stemming from the connection they <br />
forged. Phoenix arcanists gain flames and healing, unicorn arcanists <br />
speak with horses and manipulate poison, or even basilisk arcanists who <br />
control flesh and stone.<br />
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But those wishing to bond must first prove themselves.<br />
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Gravedigger Volke Savan, desperate to leave his tiny home island and <br />
impress the most beautiful girl he’s ever known, breaks every tradition <br />
of the bonding ceremony just to become an arcanist. But when the only <br />
creature who will bond with him has a sinister requirement, Volke is put<br />
to the ultimate test of worth.<br />
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<em>A fast-paced flintlock fantasy for those who enjoy How to Train <br />
Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Unsouled (Cradle Series) by Will Wight, <br />
and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.</em><br />
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<span class="pibfi_pinterest "><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2xRM1DU" target="_blank"><img alt=" " class="aligncenter wp-image-80403 size-full" src="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Amazon2.png" height="120" width="409" /></a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>REVIEW:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This book was imaginative and well writing. I was totally immersed in this story and wish it was. This tale has amazing characters and creatures that are just wrapped in magic and I loved it. In this world, both animals and creatures have their own amazing magical powers and some of the animals have to bond with humanoids to fully mature. It was a great treat to read this tale. You will love the magical ride.</span><br />
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There is an outcast of this tale and he isn't allowed to do what's necessary classes so he isn't able to become an arcanist. This guy is resourceful so watch out for him! He will do what is necessary to succeed. There are so many things in this book to love that you will not be satisfied to love just one thing. You will be enthralled with all the little things and all the creatures in this tale. You will even love to hate the villain. I am pretty sure there is going to be more to this series so be on the lookout! The ending could have used a bit more but that is ok. I would highly recommend reading this book and being on the lookout. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I give this book 4.5 of 5 stars!</b></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CHAPTER ONE</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE DAY OF PHOENIXES</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I outlined a fresh grave for the cemetery as bells rang<br />
from the isle’s tower, signifying the start of the celebrations. The soil<br />
reeked of ammonia and rot, but the crisp morning breeze washed the scent away,<br />
dispersing it over the ocean. I removed my shirt, allowing the wind to cool me<br />
while I worked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Every ten years, the people on the Isle of Ruma gathered<br />
to watch the fledgling phoenixes bond with a few chosen mortals. Lamplighters<br />
did their duty despite the glorious sunshine, each lamp’s fire representing the<br />
flames of phoenixes. Merchants cleared their horses and carts from the main<br />
road in anticipation of the crowds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This<br />
was my second Day of Phoenixes. A decade ago, on my fifth birthday, I missed<br />
the bonding ceremony to attend my father’s trial. He was convicted of murder,<br />
but because he hadn’t been born on the island, he was taken to the mainland for<br />
final judgement. That was the last time I saw him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although the last Day of Phoenixes had been inauspicious,<br />
I intended to change that. Once I had finished digging a shallow grave, I would<br />
make my way into town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I<br />
slammed the shovel’s head into the dirt and scooped deep. The cemetery sat near<br />
the edge of the island, far from those gathering to observe the hopeful<br />
students trying to win the favor of the phoenixes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tradition stated that anyone who handled sewage, waste,<br />
and dead bodies wasn’t allowed to attend the bonding ceremony, which was just<br />
my luck. After my father was sent away, I could’ve been given to any profession<br />
for apprenticeship. I could’ve gone to the carpenter and learned the craft of<br />
woodworking, or I could’ve gone to the silversmith and learned the art of fine<br />
metal work, but misfortune hounded me like a shadow. I was given to the<br />
gravekeeper, slated to dig corpse-holes until the end of time, forever exiled<br />
from the festivities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I still intended to go. Even if it meant ignoring the<br />
traditions of the isle—something unheard of on our tiny spit of land—no one<br />
could stop me from proving myself to a phoenix. No one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I<br />
scooped another mound of dirt and tossed it to the side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You look deep in thought, Volke,” my fellow corpse-hole<br />
apprentice, Illia, said. “What’re you planning?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m waiting for the trials to begin.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And then what?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’ll see.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Illia sat in the shade of a cypress tree, her legs<br />
crossed and her chin in both hands. Most people hated the thought of sitting on<br />
graves, since it was supposed to bring bad luck, but Illia wasn’t like most<br />
people. She leaned back on a headstone and exhaled as the ocean wind rushed by,<br />
catching her wavy brown hair and revealing the scars on the side of her face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She held a hand over the marks, like she always did. The<br />
moment the wind died down, she pulled some of her hair around to cover her<br />
scars, hiding the old knife wounds that had taken her right eye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I finished one half of the grave and huffed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Illia and I lived in a tiny cottage on the edge of the<br />
cemetery, apprenticed to Ruma’s sole gravekeeper. We both held the glorious<br />
title of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gravedigger</i>. Like me, she<br />
had no family. Well, we had each other, and Gravekeeper William, but he hardly<br />
counted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For ten years, Illia and I had considered ourselves<br />
brother and sister, and siblings always know each other’s mood. Illia displayed<br />
all the telltale signs of irritation—narrowed eye, rarely blinking, her mouth<br />
turned down in a slight frown. She hated the fact I was keeping secrets from<br />
her. If I didn’t explain myself quick, she’d exact her revenge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I don’t want to become the next gravekeeper,” I said as<br />
I threw a mound of dirt off to the side. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With an eyebrow sarcastically raised, Illia asked, “So<br />
you’re going to impress a phoenix and leave this place, is that it?” </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s right.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Only two phoenixes were born this year,” she said,<br />
wagging her finger. “And the schoolmaster has already picked his two favored<br />
disciples to win the right to bond. No one wants you to take a phoenix from<br />
either of those try-hards.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I don’t care.” I scooped out another clump of dirt, my<br />
grip on the shovel so tight it hurt. “Bonding with a phoenix is too important.<br />
Besides, no one on this isle likes me anyway. Why should I start caring about<br />
their opinions now?”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hmph. I should’ve known you’d say that.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of course. Anyone who bonded with a mystical creature,<br />
like a phoenix, became an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">arcanist</i>—a<br />
powerful wielder of sorcery, capable of great magic based on the creature they<br />
bonded to.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Arcanists were the pinnacle of society, the most<br />
influential people, and revered by everyone. Some arcanists could control the<br />
weather, or devastate armies, or make the land fertile. Even the weakest and<br />
laziest of arcanists were well-thought-of and important members of powerful<br />
guilds, shepherding humanity to greatness with a mere flick of their wrists. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What I wouldn’t give to become an arcanist. They were<br />
things of legend. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>More significant than a gravedigger, anyway. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re not the only one with plans today,” Illia said.<br />
She waited a minute before adding, “Aren’t you going to ask me what I’ll be<br />
doing during the bonding ceremony?” </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I shoveled another chunk of dirt, taking some weeds with<br />
it. “All right. Tell me. What will you be doing?”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s a secret.” </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She stood and brushed herself off with a few gentle pats<br />
to her dress. Then she crossed her arms and stared at me, no doubt waiting for<br />
me to pester her about the secret just so she could say, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see how annoying it is when you do it</i>? </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m sure you’ll have fun doing whatever it is you have<br />
planned,” I said with a shrug.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re not the only one who wants to become an arcanist,<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Volke</i>,” she replied, saying my name<br />
as though it were venom. “But there might be easier ways than embarrassing<br />
yourself in front of everyone.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I finished carving the outline of the grave, determined<br />
not to be sucked into asking her what she meant. I had too many things on my<br />
mind to get into an argument. Besides, I knew she was right. It was irksome<br />
being excluded from secrets, especially by family. But I didn’t want to run the<br />
risk of her trying to dissuade me.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another round of bells sounded in the distance. I threw my<br />
shovel to the side and turned toward the cemetery cottage. “I have to go.<br />
Whatever you do, don’t get into trouble.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Illia replied with a smile. “Never.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Something about her sarcastic tone told me she had<br />
trouble planned, but there wasn’t any time to go into it. I jogged into the<br />
cottage, ran up the rickety stairs, and then dashed straight into my room. It<br />
was technically a storage closet that Gravekeeper William had converted into a<br />
sleeping space so that Illia and I wouldn’t have to share the second bedroom. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The cramped room fit my cot, a chair, and a trunk for my<br />
clothes. That was it. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I squeezed myself in, ripped off my dirty trousers, and<br />
then dressed in a clean white shirt and black pants. Although I owned nothing<br />
fancy—everything in my trunk had been Gravekeeper William’s at some point—I<br />
still wanted to make an effort. The phoenixes bonded with individuals they<br />
liked the most after the Trials of Worth were over. I needed to impress them,<br />
and I couldn’t do that with grave dirt on my clothes.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once dressed, I combed my disheveled hair, even though it<br />
never cooperated. For some reason, it always puffed out and tangled at the<br />
ends, defying gravity just to make me look foolish. And the blackness of it—an<br />
inky hue taken straight from the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">midnight</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> hour—wasn’t common on<br />
the isles. Everyone else had red or blond hair, so other kids made fun of me. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Coal head.</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ink brush</i>. They weren’t clever kids—any<br />
dumber and you’d have to water them twice a week—they were just mean. No one<br />
harassed me after I grew tall, however. Six feet meant I stood out in the<br />
group, and not in a wimpy way. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I finished the last of my brushing, my hair puffed<br />
back out. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Satisfied I had made myself halfway presentable, I laced<br />
up my boots and headed downstairs to the kitchen. I grabbed a small canteen of<br />
water and the cleanest rag we owned before rushing out the front door. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The vast ocean sparkled in the distance, so blue it put<br />
the sky to shame. The winds brought waves, but nothing strong enough to reach<br />
far inland—just the melody of water lapping across the white sand beaches. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With the breeze in my face, I ran down the dirt road<br />
until I came to the cobblestone streets of the city. I pushed my way through<br />
the crowds of people swarming toward the town square. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our small island didn’t have much flatland, so the one<br />
city—creatively named <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ruma</i>, like the<br />
island—was the only place to live. The two-story houses were smooshed together,<br />
most with stores downstairs and homes above. Despite the congested living<br />
arrangements, people went out of their way to keep the place lively. Potted<br />
flowers, colored cobblestone for the roads, wrought-iron fences in the shape of<br />
fish for the balconies—Ruma had a special beauty waiting in every nook and<br />
cranny.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The crowds made their way to the Pillar to watch the<br />
bonding trials begin. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Pillar—nothing more than a sheer column of pointed<br />
rock jutting straight up into the sky—was well over one hundred and twenty feet<br />
tall. It could be seen from anywhere on the island, the reddish stone<br />
shimmering in the sunlight. A single tree grew at the top, its branches forever<br />
swaying in the ocean winds, its roots laced over the rock, its fruit rare and<br />
delicious. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That sole charberry tree was what had attracted the first<br />
phoenixes to our island centuries ago. The spicy fruit tasted like a chili<br />
pepper, but sweeter and juicier. Phoenixes loved them.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The base of the Pillar was the starting location for the<br />
Trials of Worth—the tasks given to the wide-eyed hopefuls wanting to prove<br />
their value to the phoenixes. I continued through the crowd, my head tilted<br />
back, my gaze locked on the Pillar. A staircase wrapped around the column of<br />
rock, all the way to the top.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,” someone yelled as I shoved my way deeper into the<br />
excited masses. “Isn’t that one of the gravedigger kids?”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I ignored the remark, sidestepped the slow-moving<br />
families, and nimbly maneuvered through a group of schoolchildren. If I bonded<br />
with a phoenix, I wouldn’t have to stay here anymore and listen to their<br />
whispers. All new arcanists traveled to the mainland to join a guild for<br />
training.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A third round of bells chimed, and my pulse quickened<br />
with each step. I didn’t want to be late for the trials.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The whole population of Ruma packed the streets, shoulder<br />
to shoulder. No one missed the Day of Phoenixes unless they were specifically<br />
excluded, like the garbage men. Everyone wore their best attire, children<br />
tossed red flower petals, and the theater troupe wore costumes made of bird<br />
feathers while they pranced around pretending to be phoenixes. It took all of my<br />
willpower not to crane my head to get a better look as I ran by.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“—and today is a day of glory,” the schoolmaster’s voice<br />
boomed across the town square.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Schoolmaster Tyms was a naturally loud<br />
individual—Gravekeeper William described him as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a regular blowhard in love with his own voice</i>. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I slipped between two elderly men and stayed off to the<br />
side, making sure to remain in the shadows cast by the morning sun. Hundreds of<br />
people crowded the center of town, but their gazes never turned in my<br />
direction. They all kept their attention on a wooden stage near the Pillar—a<br />
platform only a few feet off the ground—where Schoolmaster Tyms stood squarely<br />
in the middle, his arms raised. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Whenever he glanced in my direction, I ducked.<br />
Schoolmaster Tyms didn’t care for anyone except those who attended his<br />
lectures, and he especially hated those with “unsavory” professions. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ve mentored two extraordinary people,” Tyms said.<br />
“Both are talented beyond their years and worthy of a phoenix.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He<br />
walked to the edge of the stage, lifting his arms even higher, his wrinkled<br />
face pulled back in an unnatural smile. I had seen corpses do a better job at<br />
conveying emotion.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But<br />
I didn’t stare at him for long because on either side of him, perched on ornate<br />
bird stands, were two phoenixes. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I stood transfixed, taking in their lustrous scarlet<br />
feathers and golden eyes. They had the build of herons, delicate and sleek, but<br />
every time they moved, soot fell from them and drifted to the ground. Fire<br />
flashed underneath their wings as though their whole bodies were made of flame.<br />
Their tails hung down two feet and twisted a bit at the end, like a peacock.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They were young, not even a year old, but that was old<br />
enough for them to leave the island. Mystical creatures didn’t reach maturity<br />
unless they were bonded to a person—I was certain they were giddy for the<br />
ceremony as well.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’re honored to be here today,” one phoenix said, her<br />
voice sing-song and brilliant. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The other added, “We can’t wait to see our potential<br />
partners.” He lifted his head as he spoke, his voice soft but distinct. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I wanted to hold one in my arms and feel the warmth of<br />
their magic coursing through my body, but touching a phoenix was forbidden.<br />
Only once they bonded with a person were they allowed to be handled. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The phoenixes tilted their heads as two individuals<br />
walked forward. The two were around my age, fifteen, the age of adulthood. They<br />
wore robes of glistening white, tied at the waist with silver ropes made of<br />
silk. Fancy outfits made on the mainland, betraying their wealth. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tyms motioned to the rich newcomers. “On this Day of the<br />
Phoenixes I’ve selected Zaxis Ren and Atty Trixibelle to take part in the<br />
trials.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of course <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they</i><br />
would be picked. Ever since we were kids, they were always favored by the<br />
schoolmaster. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I cursed under my breath as Zaxis walked to the base of<br />
the Pillar. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He stopped under the metal archway, a century-old<br />
artifact which had been shaped into a phoenix and gilded. The arch signified<br />
the start of the trial. Anyone who passed beneath it would become a<br />
participant. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zaxis smiled at the crowd with the smuggest expression a<br />
human could muster. His red hair shimmered in the sunlight and fluttered about<br />
with the wind. It wasn’t long enough to tie back, and I took a small amount of<br />
pleasure in watching him clumsily pat it down every few seconds, only for a<br />
stray hair to poke him in the eye again. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zaxis’s family, the Ren House, stood at the front of the<br />
crowd, their personal soldiers keeping the “riffraff” a couple feet back. They<br />
cheered for Zaxis and threw flower petals. I had never been cheered for<br />
anything, yet all he did was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">show up</i>.<br />
Life wasn’t fair sometimes.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thank you,” Zaxis said as he flashed a toothy smile.<br />
“Thank you. Once I’m bonded with a phoenix, I’ll make all of Ruma proud with my<br />
many accomplishments. I’ll become the world’s most renowned arcanist, loved by<br />
all.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I balled my hands into fists and gritted my teeth. He<br />
already assumed a phoenix would choose him <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i><br />
that he would make one of the world’s greatest arcanists? Of course he did—he<br />
wasn’t expecting any competition. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then Atty stepped forward, and the crowds hushed. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unlike Zaxis, whose insufferable attitude knew no bounds,<br />
Atty held herself with regal sophistication. Her long blonde hair, tied in a<br />
neat braid, didn’t twirl in the winds. She held her head high, her slender neck<br />
adorned with a silver necklace depicting a charberry tree. I had always admired<br />
her poise and grace, like a pauper admires a member of royalty, even when I was<br />
young.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If things had been different—if I wasn’t a<br />
gravedigger—maybe I could’ve courted Atty. No doubt she would be disgusted to<br />
have someone like me approach her now. But once I bonded with a phoenix,<br />
perhaps I’d have the courage. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thank you, Schoolmaster Tyms,” Atty said, her voice a sweet<br />
relief after a long day’s work. “It’s a privilege to prove myself worthy of a<br />
phoenix. If I become an arcanist, I swear to dedicate myself to becoming a<br />
helpful ruler, one all of Ruma can be proud of.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Atty’s family, the Trixibelle House, owned most of the<br />
buildings on the island. They sat on nearby balconies, each of them poised on<br />
chairs and cushions, cheering for Atty, along with everyone else on the island.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although I wanted a phoenix for myself, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i> almost joined in on the clapping. Her<br />
answer was perfect, and when the phoenixes exchanged glances, I knew they<br />
thought the same. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No one else stepped forward. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While other people <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could</i><br />
offer themselves to the phoenixes, it was frowned upon. The schoolmaster knew<br />
best, or so they said—for centuries the keepers of knowledge were deemed the<br />
wisest and most capable of determining who would become the best arcanists. It<br />
was tradition. And for the last few decades, the schoolmaster hadn’t even made<br />
it a competition. He simply chose the exact number of students equal to<br />
phoenixes, ensuring his recommendation carried more weight than gold.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And the Isle of Ruma knew the importance of picking the<br />
right people to become arcanists. If the competition was open to everyone,<br />
someone with ill intents could gain vast magical power. The schoolmaster was<br />
supposed to weed them out and put forward only the best, most deserving people.<br />
That was why no one else entered the competitions. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Following traditions is the way of the isles! </i>Our island’s motto. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But even if I was noble of spirit, Atty and Zaxis studied<br />
and trained eight hours a day under the care of Schoolmaster Tyms. Everyone<br />
else, myself included, had work and chores. Atty and Zaxis were lucky. I<br />
wasn’t. How could I ever hope to match their knowledge and skills?</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That didn’t matter, though. I wouldn’t make excuses. The<br />
phoenixes could, in theory, bond with anyone they found worthy. And I would<br />
show them just how worthy I was by passing each of the three trials.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Once our hopefuls walk through the archway,” Tyms said,<br />
gesturing to the gold phoenix arch, “they will officially become participants<br />
in the trials. For the first task, each hopeful must walk up all one hundred<br />
and twelve steps of the Pillar to the charberry tree. Then they will pick a<br />
fruit to present to the phoenixes and return down the stairs.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Every Day of Phoenixes had the same three trials. The<br />
charberry tree was the first. Only one stairway led to the tree—the spiral<br />
stairway made of stone steps that wrapped around the Pillar. The steps were<br />
hundreds of years old and worn smooth from use. Oh, and no railing, which was<br />
why I never felt safe standing on them, as falling from anything past the tenth<br />
step meant serious injury, possibly death.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And with that, you may begin,” Tyms shouted.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Both Atty and Zaxis bowed to the crowd before turning and<br />
walking through the archway.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This was it.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My moment.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I ran through the crowd, pushing people out of the way<br />
when I needed to, even knocking over a few men of the Ren Family as I dashed<br />
toward the arch. My heart beat so hard I almost didn’t hear people screaming<br />
for me to stop. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey!” a woman barked.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What’s he doing?” someone else shouted.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Stop him!”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But before anyone could grab me, I raced through the<br />
archway, dashing past Atty and Zaxis. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What do you think you’re doing, Volke?” Zaxis growled.<br />
“Good-for-nothing gravediggers can’t enter the trials!”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I had my foot on the first step of the Pillar when I<br />
glanced over my shoulder. “I already passed under the archway. That makes me a<br />
participant.”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What? That’s not allowed!” Zaxis glanced over his<br />
shoulder. “Right, Master Tyms?”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tyms blubbered and flailed his arms. “How dare you,<br />
Volke! You walk back through that archway this instant. You’re disgracing all<br />
of Ruma with your disrespect!”</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I ran up the steps, taking them two at a time despite the<br />
lack of railing. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today I would prove myself to a phoenix. I would prove<br />
myself to all of Ruma.</span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was more than just a gravedigger. </span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I<br />
wouldn’t stop. Not now, not ever. </span></div>
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Shami Stovall relies on her BA in History and Juris Doctorate to make<br />
her living as an author and history professor in the central valley of <br />
California. She writes in a wide range of fiction, from crime thrillers <br />
to fantasy to science-fiction. Stovall loves reading, playing video <br />
games, entertaining others with stories, and writing about herself in <br />
the third person.<br />
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Website: <a href="https://sastovallauthor.com/">https://sastovallauthor.com/</a><br />
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<br />Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-27791535837162471172019-07-19T08:00:00.000-04:002019-07-19T15:37:12.649-04:00#BookTour #Teaser & $20 #Giveaway for Pirates & Petticoat's by Chloe Flowers!! @flowers_chloe #historical #romance #books #booklovers #WIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>If You Give a Smuggler a Secret</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Pirates and Petticoats Book 1</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">by<br />
Chloe Flowers </span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Genre:<br />
Historical Romance Adventure </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.15in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>*NOTE: This is the <i>*sexy version*</i> of the novel <i>The<br />
Heart of a Tempest</i>, (Book 1 of The Hearts of Adventure Sweet Romance Series).</b></span></span></span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If you give a smuggler a secret, He'll demand a kiss to keep it...</i></span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">A </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">lady plotting her way out of an arranged marriage.</span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="border: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 124%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A smuggler with a cryptic invitation to a clandestine meeting.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A group of pirates out for revenge.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;">
It’s the perfect storm.</div>
</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">She’s acting a charade and he knows it. The question is~will he demand<br />
compensation for keeping her secrets?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><i style="color: #;">Silly question. Of course he will. The bigger question is~will she be able<br />
to afford the cost of his silence?</i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.15in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">From the moment he discovered her with a sword in one hand, dagger in the<br />
other sparring in a hidden meadow, smuggler and ship’s captain<br />
Landon Hart has been intrigued by that independent, spirited tempest,<br />
Keelan Grey. But, he isn’t prepared for the impact she has on his<br />
tightly-guarded heart, or the trouble she manages to attract.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">From </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">the moment he happened upon her secret training, Keelan knew Landon</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.15in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">
Hart was going to be a storm on her horizon. With an assassin killing<br />
off members of her family one by one, and a father trying to arrange<br />
a marriage between her and a vile plantation owner, Keelan had enough<br />
on her plate without an exasperating, rakishly handsome, ship’s<br />
captain getting in the way of her plots and schemes.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">When Landon’s own dangerous secrets collide with Keelan’s, it’s the perfect storm.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>If you enjoy historical romance and action and adventure, entwined with<br />
charismatic characters and a rich, entertaining plot you’ll love<br />
The Pirates & Petticoats Series. </b></div>
</span><span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>(Want sweet romance instead? Read Chloe Flowers’ The Hearts of Adventure<br />
Sweet Romance Series!)</b></i></div>
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">**Only 99 cents!!**</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45692723-if-you-give-a-smuggler-a-secret">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://amzn.to/2JR1SYT" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Heart of a Tempest </b></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The Hearts of Adventure Book 1 </span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>*NOTE: This is the <i>*clean and wholesome version*</i> of the<br />
novel <i>If You Give a Smuggler a Secret</i>, (Book 1 of The<br />
Pirates & Petticoats Series by Chloe Flowers).</b></span></span></span></div>
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<h3 class="western" style="border: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 124%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A lady plotting a way out of an arranged marriage. A smuggler with a<br />
cryptic invitation to a clandestine meeting. A group of pirates out<br />
for revenge. It’s the perfect storm.</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.15in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">She’s acting a charade and he knows it. The question is~will he demand<br />
compensation for keeping her secrets?<i>Silly question.</i> Of<br />
course he will. The bigger question is~will she be able to afford the<br />
cost of his silence?</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.15in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">From the moment he discovered her with a sword in one hand, dagger in the<br />
other, smuggler Landon Hart has been intrigued by that independent,<br />
spirited tempest, Keelan Grey. But, he isn’t prepared for the<br /> impact she has on his tightly-guarded heart, or the trouble she<br />
manages to attract.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.15in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">From the moment he happened upon her secret training, Keelan knew Landon<br />
Hart was going to be a storm on her horizon. With an assassin killing<br />
off members of her family one by one, and a father trying to arrange<br />
a marriage between her and a vile plantation owner, Keelan had enough<br />
on her plate without an exasperating, rakishly handsome, ship’s<br />
captain getting in the way of her plots and schemes.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.15in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">When Landon’s own dangerous secrets collide with Keelan’s, it’s the perfect storm.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If you enjoy historical romance and action and adventure, entwined with<br />
charismatic characters and a rich, entertaining plot you’ll love<br />
The Hearts of Adventure Sweet Romance Series. </i><i><b>(Want<br />
sexy romance instead? Read Chloe Flowers’ Pirates & Petticoats Series!)</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>**Only 99 cents!!**</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46035721-the-heart-of-a-tempest">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://amzn.to/2O5oZ7z" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chloe supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Chloe Flowers is an award-winning author and the recipient of the<br />
University of Akron, Wayne College 2018 Writer of the Year Award. She<br />
writes small-town contemporary women’s fiction, and historical<br />
women’s action and adventure romance novels about scoundrels,<br />
pirates, and spunky, independent heroines.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Chloe keeps bees, and identifies her hives by the different flowers she<br />
paints on them. Her pets have always been named after her favorite<br />
characters or action heroes: Indiana, Luke, Gimli, Thelma, Rocket,<br />
Forrest, Al Giordino, Severus, Mushu, Mérida, Gibbs, Jack…Dead<br />
Pool (he’s a goldfish).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Chloe’s biggest fault is the apparent inability to say “no” whether it’s<br />
in response to a call for aid or a double-dog-dare to hike home<br />
through 30 acres of a snow-covered forest at midnight…during a full<br />
moon. It was early morning during said adventure when she came upon a<br />
group of sheriff’s deputies searching for a lost girl. So, of<br />
course she offered to help (turns out, they were searching for her).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Northeast Ohio Romance<br />
Writers and RWA Contemporary Romance Writers, The Beau Monde Romance<br />
Writers group, where she served as secretary 2017-2019.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">She has given workshops and presentations on creating a critique group,<br />
how to provide effective critiques, story structure, marketing and<br />
self-publishing lessons to writers groups, library patrons and school children.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">In 2014, she started her own small publishing company, Flowers &<br />
Fullerton. Currently, she’s the publisher of record for authors<br />
Sheridan Jeane, Heather Knight, H.O. Knight as well as herself.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Chloe has a weakness for good red wine, Calvin & Hobbes comics, pie,<br />
dark chocolate and brown-eyed guys with beards, which is probably why<br />
she digs pirates, men in uniform and treasure hunters and writes<br />
about action and adventure and of course romance, which is the<br />the greatest adventure of all.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.chloeflowers.com/">Website</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chloe.flowersauthor">Facebook</a> * <a href="https://twitter.com/flowers_chloe">Twitter</a> * <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chloeflowerswrites/">Instagram</a></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/chloeflowers/">Pinterest</a> * <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/chloe-flowers">Bookbub</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chloe-Flowers/e/B01FJ22S94">Amazon</a>* <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15202298.Chloe_Flowers">Goodreads</a></span></span></b></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-56957688947673130972019-07-19T07:00:00.000-04:002019-07-19T15:59:44.456-04:00#BookTour #Excerpt & #Giveaway for Summer in Scotland by Laurel A. Rockefeller!! @laurelworlds #Historical #Fiction #kindle #books #bookworms #WIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mary Queen of the Scots: The Forgotten Reign</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The Legendary Women of World History Book 3</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">by<br />
Laurel A. Rockefeller</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Genre:<br />
Historical Fiction</span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Queen Mary Stuart was one of the most beloved and controversial women in<br />
Scottish history. The granddaughter of King James IV and his wife<br />
Margaret Tudor, Queen Mary's status as heiress-apparent to Queen<br />
Elizabeth's throne in England paired with the violence of the<br />
Scottish Reformation set the stage for one of the most dramatic and<br />
poorly understood lives of the 16th century.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">Mary Queen of the Scots tells Mary's true story, focusing primarily on her</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">reign as queen of Scotland, celebrating her life more than her death</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">and showing us all why she was truly a woman ahead of her time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Features a detailed timeline, a list of Latin prayers with their English<br />
translations, and the lyrics to all four featured period songs<br />
performed in the book.</div>
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>**Available in 6 languages!**</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25444278-mary-queen-of-the-scots"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Add to Goodreads</span></a> </span></b></div>
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“Alas my love you do me wrong to cast me off discourteously. For I have loved you oh so long delighting in your company. Greensleeves was all my joy and oh Greensleeves as my delight. Greensleeves my heart of gold and all for lady Greensleeves,” sang Queen Mary as she snuggled Prince James tenderly. Smiling James cooed at his mother, bringing a smile to her face as she rocked him back and forth in her arms. “You are such a proper prince, you know that! Yes, you are! And someday you are going to be king of Scotland and king of England too! Mummy promises because mummy knows you are a very good boy and will be a very good king!<br />
<br />
“You know what James? I have a secret to tell you! Did you know I became queen when I was even younger than you! I lost my father when I was baby too! But your grandfather King James, he was a good king who died fighting the English. He was much nicer than your father who was very mean. You wouldn’t like him. You are a good boy and will stay good forever, right?” James yawned. Sadly, Queen Mary put him back in his cradle to let him rest.<br />
<br />
As she left the nursery James Hepburn intercepted her, “Time to go.”<br />
<br />
“Go? Go where?”<br />
<br />
“Holyrood Abbey.”<br />
<br />
“Why would I go there, least of all with you?”<br />
<br />
“To marry me, of course!”<br />
<br />
“What makes you think I want to marry you?”<br />
<br />
James held out a letter signed by several nobles, “Because your nobles command it.”<br />
<br />
“What?”<br />
<br />
“I am your chosen consort. You will proceed with me to Holyrood to be married,” commanded Bothwell.<br />
<br />
“And if I do not?”<br />
<br />
“Do you think Prince James can defend himself against an armed attack, even here? As a mother, do you want to risk it?”<br />
<br />
“So, this is how it is to be then? I submit to you in exchange for leaving my son alone?”<br />
<br />
“Do you really want to risk losing Prince James in favour of the child you are bearing me? Yes, I know about your pregnancy; your ladies will talk given the right incentive to do so,” hinted Bothwell darkly.<br />
<br />
Furious Mary stood still, weighing her choices carefully. What would happen to Scotland if Prince James was murdered? Would Scotland itself survive or would it be conquered by England at last? Loving her country and loving her son, even more, Queen Mary felt her hand in this forced, “I will obey.”<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Born, raised, and educated in Lincoln, Nebraska USA Laurel A. Rockefeller<br />
is author of over twenty-five books published and self-published<br />
since August, 2012 with editions spanning across ten languages and<br />
counting. A dedicated scholar and biographical historian, Ms.<br />
Rockefeller is passionate about education and improving history<br />
literacy worldwide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">With her lyrical writing style, Laurel's</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">books are as beautiful to read as they are informative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">In her spare time, Laurel enjoys spending time with her cockatiels,<br />
traveling to historic places, and watching classic motion pictures<br />
and classic television series. Favorites: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/peersofbeinan/star-trek/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Star Trek</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/peersofbeinan/the-doctor/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Doctor Who</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, and </span></span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/peersofbeinan/babylon-5/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Babylon 5.</span></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Laurel proudly supports </span><a href="https://healthinharmony.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Health in Harmony</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><a href="https://www.arborday.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Arbor Day Foundation</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">,<br />
and other charities working to protect and replant forests globally.</span></span></div>
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<br />Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-2030257809533790682019-07-18T12:00:00.000-04:002019-07-18T12:00:09.797-04:00#Thriller #Thursday - Echo by Celina Grace!! #Free on #Amazon!! #mystery #crime #kindle #books #freebie #booklovers <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMycq_3pKIOrtBJ6aqfd_KC-tQCG3b2Ofa0a6mPL-Nu0BOeiT2EJALPeRv-5OqSpDIyPz0T03QvLU3Sj6t1ZiV0a-J8NPywfy2Ga_bf_2taccoCJ9jQGlBskiKqNMO1SmfdmaaG_VtudN/s1600/51OKdy1JWqL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMycq_3pKIOrtBJ6aqfd_KC-tQCG3b2Ofa0a6mPL-Nu0BOeiT2EJALPeRv-5OqSpDIyPz0T03QvLU3Sj6t1ZiV0a-J8NPywfy2Ga_bf_2taccoCJ9jQGlBskiKqNMO1SmfdmaaG_VtudN/s400/51OKdy1JWqL.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Title</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Echo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Author</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Celina Grace</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Genre</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Thriller, Mystery, Crime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Length</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: 252 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Series</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Kate Redman Book 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book Description</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The West Country town of Abbeyford is suffering its worst floods in living memory when a landslide reveals the skeletal remains of a young woman. Detective Sergeant Kate Redman is assigned to the case but finds herself up against a baffling lack of evidence, missing files and the suspicion that someone on high is blocking her investigation...</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Matters are complicated by her estranged mother making contact after years of silence. As age-old </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">secrets are uncovered and powerful people are implicated, Kate and the team are determined to see justice done. But at what price?</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Echo is the sixth in the bestselling Kate Redman Mysteries series, by Celina Grace, author of Hushabye and Chimera.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Get it on <a href="https://amzn.to/32y0ras" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Please make sure it is still free before you purchase it.</b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">More in series</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Reading!</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-8168786259166445612019-07-18T10:00:00.000-04:002019-07-18T10:00:02.427-04:00#BookTour #Excerpt & $20 #Giveaway for Time Travel by Roxanne San Jose!! @SjRoxanne #SciFi #Romance #books #booklovers #WIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Time Travel</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Avid Second Chances Bundle </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">by<br />
Roxanne San Jose </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Genre: SciFi Romance </span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Angelie Thompson invented a time machine in 2015 and her boyfriend, John<br />
Salvador, was accidentally transported back to 1970. Left with no<br />
other option, Angelie journeys through time, searching for John.<br />
Along the way, she encounters several adventures, meeting new people<br />
on her desperate search for her lover.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">Meanwhile, stranded in 1970 and with no hope of ever returning back to his own</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">time, John begins a new life, working as a receptionist in Lesti</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">Hotel where he finds a new love, Elisha.</span></span></div>
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Conflict arises among the characters due to their complicated relationships<br />
and when disaster strikes, it's up to Angelie to save the world with<br />
her time machine invention.</div>
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The tale of ‘Time Travel’ highlights love, determination, and friendship.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-Travel-Second-Chances-Bundle-ebook/dp/B07R8C8W5B">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-travel-roxanne-san-jose/1131287594?ean=2940156053773">B&N</a> * <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/time-travel-avid-second-chances-bundle">Kobo</a> * <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/934333">Smashwords</a></b></span></span></div>
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“Crack” <br />
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The sound of metal in the time machine groaned as Angelie Thompson turned it to the left with her ratchet. <br />
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“All done,” she murmured to herself. <br />
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Standing up, she typed in the places and years in the time machine remote control to test it. The six foot black octagon shaped time machine lit up and opened its doors. Angelie smiled and said to herself, “Someday, I’ll use it again.” <br />
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Then she headed to the table where her “Best in Science” award and her twelfth-grade last-semester report card was to study her notes.<br />
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Time Machine Notes:<br />
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1. Make sure the red wires are connected to the blue wires.<br />
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2. Buttons for the dates and places in the time machine remote control must be connected to the time machine so it can transport in the correct time. <br />
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3. Time machine remote control must have batteries.<br />
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4. No injury<br />
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Angelie reviewed the notes and stretched her arm to ease the muscle cramps there. “Well, everything seems fine.” <br />
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As she looked back at the time machine, she heard a knock and turned to the door. <br />
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John Salvador, her boyfriend, stood before her and he held up a steaming cup towards her. “Honey, here’s your cappuccino to keep you functional.” He kissed her on the lips. <br />
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She replied, “Thanks, honey,” as she took the drink and sat. <br />
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He grabbed a chair and sat next to her then glanced at her time machine notes. “Did you finally finish your work?” <br />
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Angelie gulped, and then replied, “I think so. All the wires seem to be in place and transportation to the dates and places are working properly.” <br />
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He looked at the notes then stood up, walking toward the time machine. With a look of seriousness, he said, “I guess you’re ready.” He glanced over his shoulder to smile back at her. “Do you want to catch a movie to relax for a while? Buzz is the 2015 movie of the year.” <br />
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Angelie shook her head in response. “I don’t think so. Do you want to try it now?” With a pause, she added, “Do you think it’ll work?” <br />
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He walked over to the time machine and stood beside her.<br />
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She asked, “So, do you want to go to the year 3050 to see what the future looks like?” <br />
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He grinned. “Definitely.”<br />
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Angelie typed “3050” under the “year” in the time machine remote control and the door opened. <br />
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John’s eyes widened. “Wow.” <br />
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They entered the time machine nervously, stood still and held the handle on the side. The machine cast a white smoke inside, blinding them temporarily, a signal that it had transported them to the year 3050. <br />
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Inside, the time machine, they remained nervous as they did not know what lay ahead of them. After ten minutes, the time machine’s automatic slide door opened behind a tree, allowing them to see cars that could fly. The people were dressed in odd suits, there were also robots, robotic animals talking to each other and no pollution in the air. The water was crystal-clear, the roads made of metal, and buildings built with glass.<br />
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<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">My name is Roxanne Angelie Torres San Jose, I was born in Manila,<br />
Philippines on September 26, 1989. I migrated in America at the age<br />
of 13 and graduated with a degree in Political Science in UNLV Class of 2012.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">I love reading and my favorite authors are Dan Brown and Paulo Coelho.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Annagram is my first book which was published on March 2015.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">My second Book, Time Travel, received a publishing contract with Avid<br />
Publishing LLC.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://roxannesanjose.wixsite.com/roxannesanjose">Website</a> * <a href="http://www.facebook.com/roxanneasanjose">Facebook</a> * <a href="http://www.twitter.com/sjroxanne">Twitter</a> * <a href="http://www.instagram.com/roxanne_sanjose">Instagram</a> * <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19041896.Roxanne_San_Jose">Goodreads</a></b></span></span></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-58656206839294034102019-07-18T08:00:00.000-04:002019-07-18T08:00:06.008-04:00#BookBlitz #Excerpt & $15 #Giveaway for Fractured by Elle Charles!! @ellecharles #contemporary #Romance #books #bookworms #WIN<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Fractured</strong><br /><strong>Elle Charles </strong><br />(Fractured, #1)<br />Publication date: May 7th 2014<br />Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance<br />
<blockquote>
<b>How do you learn to remember when you have forced yourself to forget?</b><br />
<b>How do you learn to trust when those who were meant to protect you failed?</b><br />
Catering assistant, Kara Petersen, leads a quiet, monotonous life until a simple twist of fate changes everything.<br />
The sparks fly when Kara meets handsome, enigmatic, Sloan Foster. Dominant in the boardroom and successful in the bedroom, he always gets what he wants – and he wants her.<br />
Captivated by his charm and aloof confidence, Kara is drawn to him in a way she has never been to anyone before. Aware something isn’t quite right, and against her better judgement, she concedes his intense allure is too strong to resist and their innocent fling swiftly develops into something she could never have imagined.<br />
But in this outwardly perfect world of wealth and glamour, all that glitters isn’t gold. And as the mystery behind the man begins to slowly unravel, so does her life.<br />
Now, with her heart and trust on the line, Kara is learning more about herself than she ever thought possible, from a man who seemingly knows more than he should. And the memories she forced herself to forget, are the ones she now desperately needs to remember…<br />
Fractured is the first gripping instalment of Elle Charles’ dark, contemporary, romantic suspense series. Featuring unpredictable plot twists and endearing characters, this sensual, compelling saga of enduring love, ceaseless passion and sacrifice will keep you turning pages until the very end!<br />
Perfect for fans of Sylvia Day, E L James, Aleatha Romig and Helen Hardt.<br />
Download your copy now and become addicted to a new series!<br />
<b>AUTHOR’S NOTE:</b><br />
Please be advised this book is not a standalone novel. It is the first in the Fractured series, and the story develops and unravels over the course of the first three books. Each book is full length (between 326 and 450 pages each) and must be read in order.<br />
This is a dark contemporary romance novel. It contains sexual scenes and controversial subject matter (including triggers) that some may find upsetting. Intended for readers aged 18+<br />
This novel is a new edition that has been re-edited and revised – 27 July 2018.</blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">The complete series:</span></strong><br /><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CHAPTER ONE:</span></strong></div>
I slowly take in the room; clean lines of glass and dark wood, expensive fabrics and leather. Opulence seems to be a running theme here from what I can see. Rich shades of cream and brown finish the room beautifully. The whole place screams money and success, and it’s absolutely stunning. Suddenly, I realise why the man downstairs eyed me like shit; I don’t belong here, and neither does Sam. I bite down on my lip to suppress the panic rising up from the confines of my stomach.<br />
Then the door clicks shut behind me.<br />
I spin around, and my mouth dries out almost instantly, as I prepare myself to come face to face with the sneering, dirty bastard again.<br />
<em>Oh. Holy. Fuck! </em><br />
It’s not the sneering, dirty bastard.<br />
I wilt where I stand. My lungs actually stop operating momentarily, and my heart shudders like it has been finally shocked from a long, deep slumber. My whole body currently feels on fire for some unknown, inexplicable reason.<br />
“I have already had my doctor take a look at her. She seems to be fine, just, well…she’s high.”<br />
He folds his impressive, muscular arms over his equally impressive, muscular chest, and he leans back against the closed door. My eyes drop to his feet, and ever so slowly, work their way up his body. Tanned bare feet, long muscular legs and thick thighs, wrapped up in worn, faded blue jeans. The fitted white t-shirt encasing his torso does nothing to hide the perfectly defined ridges of his stomach, chest and shoulders. The outlines are more than visible underneath the stretched fabric. I gulp excessively, open-mouthed and speechless, at the faultless specimen of male perfection towering over me.<br />
I stare up at him, my lips part and my eyes widen. His face is heavenly; beautiful, naturally bronzed skin, a strong, chiselled jaw, set under perfect cheekbones. His nose is straight and flawlessly proportioned. He has the darkest, yet clearest midnight blue eyes I have ever seen. In fact, I’m positive I have never seen such a colour before. He seems piqued by my stare, and there is nothing I can do to stop it.<br />
My hands clench at my sides in desperation, and my tongue slides over my bottom lip. All I can think about is running my hands over his sexy, slightly too long dark locks, while his tongue….<br />
<em>Oh my God! What the hell?!</em><br />
A nervous feeling wells up in my stomach, twisting into knots deep in my gut. I place a hand over my belly, but the feeling shifts south and suddenly can I feel heat pooling at my core profusely. His eyes remain locked on mine, and I’m dying to rub my thighs together to alleviate the tension that is building immensely.<br />
I chew my lip timidly. Is he aware of what I am doing and that he’s instigating it? He smirks a little. Of course, he’s aware! Look at him! Any woman would be brain dead not to want him. Even my asexual self is not immune, judging by the way my body is reacting to him.<br />
He arches up an eyebrow over his stunning dark blue, now virtually black eyes. He is fully aware that I am shamelessly checking him out, amongst other things, while my poor friend is lying in pain only a few feet away. I mentally scold myself for such uncharacteristic behaviour. Yet I can’t help it, this man has ignited something in me. I can’t even begin to fathom where it is coming from.<br />
I need to get out of here.<br />
I need to get away from <em>him</em>.<br />
Feeling painfully aware, I wrap my arms around my middle and shift from one foot to the other, desperate to eradicate these alien sensations bubbling copiously inside my body. He remains motionless watching me, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable under his roving eye. The way he’s studying me makes me want to run for cover. I don’t know what it is, but there is a familiarity in his eyes that is unmistakable. I also don’t misinterpret the ghost of a smile forming on his lips.<br />
Somewhere, I think I have seen him before.<br />
“Thank you,” I whisper, averting my eyes, desperately trying to control the heat my body is emanating. I don’t know what else to say. All words have left me, and for the first time in my life, I actually feel something that I can definitely say I have not experienced previously.<br />
Sexual attraction.<br />
It is something that no man has ever elicited in me, not even come close to.<br />
<em>Well, maybe once, many years ago.</em><br /><br />
<br />
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Author Bio:<br />
Elle was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, where she still resides. <br />
After many years of putting aside her creative ideas, in 2012, she was inspired to write again. The surprising result was her debut, contemporary romance novel, Fractured. The first of the series, books two and three, Tormented and Liberated, followed in close succession, along with the accompanying novella, Aftermath. <br />
A self-confessed daydreamer, she loves to create strong, sexy and diverse characters, cocooned in opulent yet realistic settings that draw the reader in with every twist and turn until the very last page. <br />
A voracious reader for as long as she can remember, she is never without her beloved Kindle. When she is not absorbed in the newest release or a trusted classic, she can often be found huddled over her laptop, tapping away new ideas and plots for forthcoming works.</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ellecharles.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8191613.Elle_Charles" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/elle.charles" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/ellecharles" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elle.charlesauthor/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> / <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elle-charles" target="_blank">Bookbub</a></span></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-38290986122706324042019-07-18T07:00:00.000-04:002019-07-18T07:00:04.000-04:00#BookBlitz #Excerpt & #Giveaway for Lineage by C. Vonzale Lewis!! @cvonzalelewis #Fantasy #books #booknerds #booklovers #WIN<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Lineage</strong><br /><strong>C. Vonzale Lewis </strong><br />Publication date: July 16th 2019 <br />Genres: Adult, Fantasy<br />
<blockquote>
Smart-mouthed Nicole Fontane has a way of getting herself into trouble. She’s been fired from every job she’s had but still refuses to work in her father’s apothecary shop because of his practice of Earth Magick. On Tulare Island where Nicole grew up, Magick has always been a way of life—one she’s determined to avoid at all costs.<br />
With less than two hundred dollars in the bank and rent due, Nicole is forced to take a job at Tribec Insurance as a last resort. Little does she realize, the moment she sets foot inside the building, she becomes a pawn. A sinister force has set its sights on her and will stop at nothing to use her in a sadistic game.<br />
Tribec’s proprietors, the Stewart family, are curiously preoccupied with the Naqada, the mysterious pre-dynastic Egyptian society. Nicole finds it creepy, but on the bright side, the job reconnects her with her estranged friend, Marta. Yet the eerie atmosphere, disappearing Magick wards, and the smell of blood inside Tribec bring Nicole to a startling conclusion—the Stewarts are practicing Blood Magick, the deadliest of the Five Principles. By the time Nicole uncovers the truth, Marta and her four children have gone missing, and all signs implicate the Stewarts and an archaic blood ritual to an Old One, a Naqada god imprisoned on Tulare Island.<br />
Battling the evil of Blood Magick will demand Nicole to confront a hidden past and unlock the Magick buried within. But can she set aside her deep-rooted fears to work with a team of vigilante Mages? Or will the clock run out on Marta and her children—and on Nicole?</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41084948-lineage?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/2Y3KMjG" target="_blank">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lineage-c-vonzale-lewis/1132029509" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> / <a href="https://books.apple.com/ca/book/lineage/id1468036498?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iBooks</a> / <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/lineage-19" target="_blank">Kobo</a></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CHAPTER ONE:</span></strong></div>
<em>Looking for bright, responsible, career-oriented, self-motivated individuals who have excellent people skills and are able to take high volumes of calls while maintaining a positive attitude. Ability to work with others is a must.</em><br />
I glanced down at the advertisement in my hand. I had none of those qualifications according to my last employer—and pretty much all my other previous ones as well. I was, however, a “foul-mouthed, bad-tempered, under-performing”—still didn’t understand that one—“sarcastic, waste of space.” Although, to be fair, only one of the previous employers actually called me a waste of space, and that was because I had stopped sleeping with him.<br />
This unfortunate lack of options was the reason I stood in the parking lot of Tribec Insurance, smoking the last of my apple-flavored cigars—a habit I learned from my father—wearing a cream-colored dress suit and a pair of matching pumps. I couldn’t afford either of them, and I really hated pumps. But I needed the job, so I dressed the part of the career-oriented, self-motivated candidate the ad was searching for.<br />
Most of the jobs in the area required a college degree, or at least several years of experience. I had no college degree, and the longest I’d ever been employed at one job was six months. Thankfully, Tribec Insurance was always hiring and had no such requirements—a rarity in the uptight community of Alice where Tribec was located.<br />
Through a ring of cigar smoke, I took in the phallic structure that was Tribec Insurance. My eyes landed on the small, stone, pyramid-like shape at the top of the building. It reminded me of an Egyptian Obelisk—a symbol to the god Ra. The Egyptian word for it, “Tejen,” meant “protection” or “defense.”<br />
Why would the occupants of Tribec Insurance erect a symbol of protection or defense on top of the building?<br />
A slight breeze blew over my bare arms, carrying the salty scent of the ocean and stirring the beads of sweat that had formed on them. My new blouse had molded to my back, and my feet had started to sweat. I was generally used to Tulare Island’s oppressive heat, but the anxious jitters in my stomach had caused my skin to flush.<br />
I tried to dispel the nervousness in my stomach. Despite the obvious, I didn’t want to show that I was desperate. My best friend Kara spent most of last night trying to prep me for the interview. She advised me to not ask annoying questions, make sarcastic comments, or let my disgruntled attitude show.<br />
Essentially, she advised me to not be myself. There was a message in there somewhere, but I was choosing to ignore it.<br />
Out of our original group in high school, Kara was the only one who was still in my life. The only one who actually gave a damn about me. Marta and I hadn’t spoken in years, and as for Steve… Well, it was a long time ago.<br />
I glanced at my watch. Damn. I guess I had procrastinated long enough. I put out my cigar, grabbed my blazer from the front seat of my car, shoved the advertisement back in my overly large purse, and headed for the building. As I walked, I attempted to wrap my head around the fact that I was essentially <em>asking </em>Tribec Insurance to let me spend my days chained to a desk, listening to complaints from strangers.<br />
Maybe I should look into prostitution. At least I’d enjoy the job.<br />
Kara also told me to smile a lot, so I pasted one on, pulled open the glass door, and stepped inside. Only to stop dead in my tracks at the entrance.<br />
The walls—painted a burnt gold color that reminded me of the sunset—were lined with Egyptian art. Four glass displays, filled with half-head replicas of deities and artifacts, sat in each corner of the room. Green foliage hung from black ceramic pots near the entrance and the elevator. Something was off about the elevator. It wasn’t stainless-steel. No, more like marble. Black marble with gold striations that, at first glance, appeared to be moving. Odd.<br />
And everything, including the guard station—which sat sunken into the foundation in the middle of the floor—was set up in a spherical configuration. Directly behind the guard station was a set of mahogany double doors, with gold Egyptian hieroglyphs carved around the frame. They were also etched around the guard station.<br />
Most people on Tulare Island either practiced one of the four principles of magick or knew someone who did. There was, however, a small group of people who, despite the evidence, still refused to believe in magick. They usually carried picket signs outside of herbal and occult shops, telling people they were going to burn in hell, not realizing they were actually practicing faith magick every time they went to church.<br />
Judging from the set-up of the room, and even the obelisk on the top of the building outside, I could hazard a guess—more like an assumption—that the occupants of Tribec Insurance practiced magick.<br />
Despite my assumption, I couldn’t figure out which of the four principles—earth, elemental, mind, or faith—the people at Tribec used. There was, however, a fifth principle—blood—that to my knowledge, no one practiced anymore. And sadly, I didn’t know enough about it to recognize any symbols associated with its practice. Yet, symbols from the other four were etched all over the walls. Odd. Especially since people only had the ability to practice one. Not all four.<br />
If it was a job requirement for me to use magick, I was running the hell out of here. I would live in a cardboard box before I got involved with magick. And if I didn’t get a job soon, that was exactly where I’d be living. Especially since I refused to move back in with my parents. I had to grow the hell up sometime.<br />
I moved farther into the lobby; the scent of desert sand wafted around me. It had that baked-on smell that emanated off the ground when the sun was at its peak. It was unusual, but the décor could explain the smell. Especially if they added sand to some of the displays for authenticity. The odor that was definitely out of place was the one directly underneath it.<br />
<em>Blood.</em> It was faint. I could almost chalk it up to imagination. Almost. If it wasn’t so overpowering.<br />
I moved forward cautiously, my heels clicking on the white-tiled floor, as I tried to pinpoint where the scent was coming from. But the farther away from the door I got, the less I smelled it. I turned and started back toward where I’d first detected the smell. A chair creaked, stopping me in my tracks. The space between my shoulder blades started to itch. I turned.<br />
The guard behind the desk was watching me.<br />
I stood there, debating whether or not I should just leave. Yes, I was desperate, but the smell of blood? Was I imagining it? I pulled in a deep breath, trying to find the scent again. Nothing.<br />
<em>Get it together, Nicole. </em><br />
After a short pause, I shook myself mentally, and continued toward the guard station with the guard’s black eyes boring into me. Sizing me up.<br />
“Can I help you, miss?” He rose to his feet and crossed his arms across his chest.<br />
I placed him in his late twenties. He had a solid frame, close-cropped black hair, deep set black eyes, and no facial hair. The dark brown suit he wore looked as if it had been poured onto him. Had to be ex-military.<br />
The gold tag on his shirt read “Oliver Strong.” It suited him.<br />
“Yes, my name is Nicole Fontane, and I’m here for an interview with…” I set my purse on the counter, ignoring his pointed glare, and pulled out my tattered notebook. “…a Francine Delaporte at eleven.”<br />
“Have a seat. I will call someone down to escort you.” He inclined his head in the direction of the red leather couch on the right.<br />
“Okay, thanks,” I said as I mentally extended my middle finger. Everything about him rubbed me the wrong damn way.<br />
I sat and placed my purse beside me on the couch—the damn thing weighed a ton—and picked up one of the brochures for Tribec Insurance. While I sat there leafing through it, another security guard walked up and blocked my view of the sun. Well, he would have if there had been one inside the building. This burly bastard had tree trunks for arms and a head that resembled a boulder. Did they chisel him from a mountain?<br />
“Ms. Fontane?” the guard grumbled. It sounded as if his voice came from a gut full of rocks.<br />
I stood, which put me at eye level to his massive chest and the name tag pinned to his shirt that read “Duncan Glass.”<br />
Maybe when they hired their guards, they assigned them names as well.<br />
“Yes.” I tried to push myself up a few inches more. I was already wearing three-inch heels, bringing my total height to five nine, yet this massive behemoth still towered over me.<br />
“Follow me.” He spun around abruptly and led the way to the elevator.<br />
I was tempted to salute him, or give him the finger—the damn bossy bastard.<br />
<em>Calm down, Nicole. You need this job. </em><br />
Duncan pulled a card from his pocket and inserted it into a slot located on the right side. I guess that answered my question about the oddity of the elevator. Besides the strange composition, they didn’t have a call button. They sure did have a high level of security for an insurance company. Maybe they denied more claims than they approved. Greedy bastards.<br />
When the doors slid open, Duncan extended his arm out. “Ms. Fontane.”<br />
I stepped inside.<br />
Once the doors were closed, he inserted his card into another slot, and a display lit up with a list of floors.<br />
The number thirteen was among them.<br />
I had once read somewhere that all older buildings either omitted the thirteenth floor or renamed it. It all stemmed from a superstition that the thirteenth floor was unlucky. I wasn’t superstitious, but I did find it interesting they chose to include it.<br />
“They have a thirteenth floor,” I said.<br />
“It comes after twelve.”<br />
While I was no stranger to snide comments I really didn’t like others using them on me. Bastard.<br />
A few moments later, the elevator doors opened and, thankfully, deposited us on the seventeenth floor. I followed Duncan to a set of offices in the center of the floor. He stopped at the first door in a row of three that faced the elevators. The silver name plate affixed to it read: Francine Delaporte. After he rapped on it three times, he planted his feet a few inches apart and placed his hands behind his back.<br />
Maybe Duncan thought he was still in the military.<br />
I took in the room while I waited. Cameras inside small black orbs dotted the ceiling. A hazy gray tint covered the windows, allowing minimal light to filter into the room. Industrial gray walls sported a few framed “inspirational” quotes that referred to “teamwork” and “having a positive attitude.” They even had the stupid “Hang in There” poster with a cat hanging off a wire.<br />
Even the partitions that divided the employees’ desks were gray. The only break up in the ashen color were the fake wood desks.<br />
It reminded me of a mental asylum.<br />
The majority of the people in the office were women, with a few men thrown in here and there. Did they believe women were more suited to talking on the phone? Either way, everyone in the room was pasty, their eyes sunken in, wearing expressions that suggested they had given up on life. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they were all former tenants of the asylum, dressed up in over-sized clothes and forced into the role of “employee.”<br />
The fact that no one looked up when Duncan and I got off the elevator supported my theory. They just sat there in their little black chairs, talking into their headsets, all repeating what sounded like the same practiced spiel in monotonous tones, a few minutes behind one another. Like a rolling set of waves crashing against the most boring shore imaginable.<br />
I turned back to Duncan. He still stood at ease in front of Francine Delaporte’s door. What the hell was taking this woman so long? My feet were killing me. Like an idiot, instead of breaking the shoes in after Kara left last night, I had curled up on the couch with a bottle of Samuel Adams, contemplating my limited options. My little pity party of one ended at midnight when I realized my only option was one I wasn’t willing to entertain.<br />
As I switched my purse from my right shoulder to my left, I caught sight of a faint circular line drawn around the cubicles. I stared at the ground, unsure if I was seeing things, or if there really was a line drawn on the floor. I straightened and moved to the left, trying to follow it. As I stood there transfixed, someone brushed their frigid hand across my exposed neck.<br />
Coldness raced down my spine, and the scent of sand filled my nostrils.<br />
I whipped around.<br />
Duncan was gone.<br />
In his place stood a woman wearing a red paint suit. Given that she was at least five feet away from me with her hands down at her sides… Who the hell had touched my neck?<br />
Francine extended her hand and smiled. “Hello. Ms. Fontane?”<br />
I stepped forward, my legs suddenly weak, and took her hand. “Hi.” I cleared my throat. “Yes, I’m Nicole Fontane.”<br />
“I’m Francine Delaporte. Let’s get started.” She let go of my hand and walked into her office.<br />
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to warm the sudden chill that had settled there. I glanced around the room. The employees remained at their desks, staring rapt at their computer screens.<br />
A cool breeze circled the room, pulling my gaze toward the ceiling. An air vent sat directly above me.<br />
Before I entered Francine’s office, I glanced down at the floor. The markings were gone. Maybe I had imagined them. And maybe the air-conditioning explained the feeling of someone brushing their fingers across my neck.<br />
Yes—for sanity’s sake, I was going to go with that.<br />
Just my overactive imagination.<br /><br />
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Author Bio:<br />
My name is Carla Vonzale Lewis and I like my martini’s shaken…never stirred. I was born in Georgia but please don’t mistaken me for a Georgia peach. I’m more like a prickly pear. Speaking of being born, someone asked me recently if I remember my birth. And I have to say, yes, I do remember that handsy doctor pulling me out into the cold. Right Bastard!!!<br /><br />
Despite being born in the South, I grew up in the North. California to be exact. Every once in a great while we get to experience all four seasons. But mostly, it’s just heat. You should see our electric bill in the summer! I like the beaches, but not the sand. I enjoy being outside, but the sun gets on my nerves. Does it really need to send its death ray to a single spot on my skin! (I told you I was a prickly pear) And don’t get me started on the traffic.<br /><br />
The first part of my life, I worked in customer service. This line of work led to the discovery of my favorite drink, or, rather, several favorite drinks. I could list the many concoction but that would go on forever!<br /><br />
Needless to say, it wasn’t an easy job. But I did enjoy talking with people. And when it came time to develop my characters, I drew on those experiences.<br /><br />
I have a degree in Fashion Design. Don’t ask. The only thing I gained from those wasted two years of my life, is being introduced to the love of my life, Bobby. He is truly my rock.<br /><br />
Why do I write? Well my first book, LINEAGE, answered the question, “What does the big boss actually do all day?” I might have gone a little dark with my answer, but it was fun answering the question. But mainly, I love writing because it gives me power to create. And it also gives me the power to fix this broken world.<br /><br />
Truthfully, I’ve always loved the written word and the way a good book could take you to another place and time. Instead of hanging out in the lunchroom, I would go to the library and create stories or bury my head in a really good book.<br /><br />
I started writing my first novel in 2014 and 30 days later I had a collection of scenes that needed some serious revision. And that was where the fun came in. Over the course of several years my novel went through final draft after final draft until I finally came to…you guessed it, the final draft.<br /><br />
When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, binge watching shows on Netflix, and trying to convince my husband that getting a dog is a wonderful idea.<br /><br />
And one day, I will discover how many licks it actually takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop.</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://cvonzalelewis.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18389491.C_Vonzale_Lewis" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CVLauthor/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/cvonzalelewis" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carlavlewis/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram</a></span></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-31205861899123163432019-07-18T06:00:00.000-04:002019-07-18T06:00:08.935-04:00#Thriller #Thursday - One Last Kill by Finn Bell!! #Free on #Amazon!! #kindle #pulp #crime #freebie #books #bookworms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X6NxEFt1fO9S4aoAvArvh97rNp4tbh6AkPUWOJ2PJ-VagoAvA4MsoAU5LCZjhkK17fDfUiKcJMmxHgPE_n6RQdcENOZ5FIN4tE7ms2FaJIaaVSyzgIBSd6MbEMNYBtBkMe3qHV9GALl3/s1600/51vwVrK%252BaEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X6NxEFt1fO9S4aoAvArvh97rNp4tbh6AkPUWOJ2PJ-VagoAvA4MsoAU5LCZjhkK17fDfUiKcJMmxHgPE_n6RQdcENOZ5FIN4tE7ms2FaJIaaVSyzgIBSd6MbEMNYBtBkMe3qHV9GALl3/s400/51vwVrK%252BaEL.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Title</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: One Last Kill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Author</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Finn Bell<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Genre</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Thriller, Pulp, Crime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Length</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: 211 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book Description</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">IF YOU HURT SOMEONE BAD ENOUGH THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN’T MAKE THEM DO.</span></strong></h3>
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Bobby Ress is a cop with a simple life.<br />
He believes in making a difference.<br />
He loves his wife and his daughter.<br />
He has a place in the world.</div>
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Then people start dying, a lot of them, in horrible ways. It's a case like no other. And step by gruesome step the simple, true things Bobby knew to be right </div>
<a name='more'></a>and good begin to make less and less sense. Because Bobby is learning about pain. He doesn't like to admit it. He doesn't like to know, but he's slowly realizing: If you hurt someone bad enough for long enough then there's nothing, absolutely nothing, you can’t make them do.<br />
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<em>*Please Note: This book was originally titled ‘Pancake Money.’</em></div>
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<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The critically acclaimed police procedural from award-winning Amazon bestselling author Finn Bell. A must-read for fans of Robert Dugoni’s ‘My Sister’s Grave’, Mike Omer’s ‘A Killer’s Mind’ and Robert Bryndza’s ‘Girl In The Water’ . . . This is a dark, graphic pulp thriller – gritty hard-boiled noir set against the backdrop of the harsh and unforgiving underworld of organized crime.</strong><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Get it on <a href="https://amzn.to/2JLnNkj" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Please make sure it is still free before you purchase it.</b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-69827384632808993552019-07-17T12:00:00.000-04:002019-07-17T12:00:04.635-04:00#Western #Wednesday - Spring Texas Bride by Katie Lane!! #Free on #Amazon!! #Contemporary #Romance #kindle #books #booklovers #freebie <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQcwCz8sIhjjZFTxdjH2XfBblhgFljPm3bPGbavuqrg06keabdKSoXn8LZ4c5eaWv4A5bpGEs5UYlPE1636RJsa7v8QGbCg_RU9ckVnyKfGuiOC_OoZeUqfmj0rrggDEmyUgfL4XM_XK4/s1600/51oJ1MwfQ6L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQcwCz8sIhjjZFTxdjH2XfBblhgFljPm3bPGbavuqrg06keabdKSoXn8LZ4c5eaWv4A5bpGEs5UYlPE1636RJsa7v8QGbCg_RU9ckVnyKfGuiOC_OoZeUqfmj0rrggDEmyUgfL4XM_XK4/s400/51oJ1MwfQ6L.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Title</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Spring Texas Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Author</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Katie Lane</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Genre</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Western, Contemporary, Romance <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Length</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: 274 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Series</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Brides of Bliss Texas Book 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book Description</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Spring showers make love flower…</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When Spring Hadley breezes into Bliss, Texas, Waylon Kendall knows she’s trouble with a capital T. And trouble is the last thing he needs when he’s working hard to fill his daddy’s boots as the new sheriff. He doesn’t have time for frivolous fun with a sassy woman who can’t take no for an answer. But when Spring finagles her way into a position as his new assistant, Waylon realizes there’s much more <a name='more'></a>to her than meets the eye. She brightens his mundane life with her sunny smile and kind heart, and he suddenly wants springtime each and every day.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Spring Hadley isn’t trouble. She’s a free spirit who sometimes forgets important things—like locking up the clothing store she owns with her sisters. When her sisters get mad and call her an irresponsible ditz, she decides to go on a camping adventure to prove that she can make it just fine without her family. Unfortunately, her Jeep breaks down, and Spring ends up stranded in Bliss with no money. A temp job is what she needs, and she’s determined to get it—even if it means tangling with the new sheriff. A sheriff who is hotter than a jalapeno pepper with kisses just as spicy. But when her criminal father blows into town, trouble begins, accusations fly, and the truth comes out. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Can a straight-laced lawman and a free-spirited woman make it to the church on time? Or will a secret tear through their spring romance like a Texas tornado?</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Get it on <a href="https://amzn.to/2XOcotA" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Please make sure it is still free before you purchase it.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">More in series</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-73052018898425581652019-07-17T10:00:00.000-04:002019-07-17T10:00:02.585-04:00#BookTour & #Excerpt for The Great Jewel Robbery by Elizabeth McKenna!! @ElizaMcKenna #Cozy #Mystery #booklovers #booknerds #books <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE GREAT JEWEL ROBBERY </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Elizabeth McKenna </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>* Cozy Mystery * </b></span></div>
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<strong>Title</strong>: THE GREAT JEWEL ROBBERY<br />
<br />
<strong>Author</strong>: Elizabeth McKenna<br />
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<strong>Publisher</strong>: Independent<br />
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<strong>Pages</strong>: 210<br />
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<strong>Genre</strong>: Cozy Mystery</div>
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<strong>Mystery with a splash of romance…</strong></div>
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<em>Chicago Tribune</em> reporters Emma and Grace have been best <br />
friends since college despite coming from different worlds. When Grace <br />
is assigned to cover an annual charity ball and auction being held at a <br />
lakeside mansion and her boyfriend bails on her, she brings Emma as her <br />
plus one. The night is going smoothly until Emma finds the host’s <br />
brother unconscious in the study. Though at first it is thought he was <br />
tipsy and stumbled, it soon becomes clear more is afoot, as the wall <br />
safe is empty and a three-million-dollar diamond necklace is missing. <br />
With visions of becoming ace investigative journalists, Emma and Grace <br />
set out to solve the mystery, much to the chagrin of the handsome local <br />
detective.<span class="pibfi_pinterest "><br />
</span></div>
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ORDER YOUR COPY:</h3>
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Amazon: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SKB5YX7&source=gmail&ust=1561991145016000&usg=AFQjCNFiIAogWcVc2KKJgjxPhVn1CUy2Zg" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SKB5YX7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.<wbr></wbr>com/dp/0578503018</a></div>
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Kobo: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-great-jewel-robbery&source=gmail&ust=1561991145016000&usg=AFQjCNGLRIad3VxjVqzvkhYc6eaIlBEaLQ" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-great-jewel-robbery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.kobo.com/us/<wbr></wbr>en/ebook/the-great-jewel-<wbr></wbr>robbery</a></div>
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Scribd: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.scribd.com/book/412029920/The-Great-Jewel-Robbery&source=gmail&ust=1561991145016000&usg=AFQjCNHJPOXeiPuqMmZ5za5fUnQ3fBb7Qw" href="https://www.scribd.com/book/412029920/The-Great-Jewel-Robbery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.scribd.<wbr></wbr>com/book/412029920/The-Great-<wbr></wbr>Jewel-Robbery</a></div>
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Apple: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-great-jewel-robbery/id1466172183&source=gmail&ust=1561991145016000&usg=AFQjCNH0Oi8zwhrxliq0Tu9WkDG6s51NNw" href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-great-jewel-robbery/id1466172183" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://books.apple.<wbr></wbr>com/us/book/the-great-jewel-<wbr></wbr>robbery/id1466172183</a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">The handsome stranger held the<br />
mini-mart door open for me, and I gazed up into twinkling, meadow-green eyes. I<br />
kid you not. I had read about twinkling eyes in more than one romance book, but<br />
this was the first time I’d seen them live and in action. He was dressed for an<br />
early-September day on the lake with plaid swim shorts to his knees and a white<br />
T-shirt hanging around his neck. My eyes shifted to the “No Shoes, No Shirt, No<br />
Service” sign that was displayed prominently in the gas station’s window. I<br />
checked his feet. At least he was wearing sandals.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">I must have been staring too<br />
long because Grace pushed me from behind. The bare skin of my shoulder<br />
inadvertently brushed across his well-defined, caramel-colored chest and<br />
something akin to a spark sent heat rippling down my arm. When a curve of his<br />
lips revealed straight, white teeth perfect for biting things, I mumbled an<br />
apology and hurried to the snack aisle.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">“Hi, Tom,” he called out to<br />
the cashier, confirming that he was a local. “I’m on pump six, but I need to<br />
grab a few things.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Tom nodded. “No problem, dude.<br />
Take your time.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">“What type of chips should we<br />
get?” Grace asked, bringing my attention to more pressing matters than my<br />
tingling skin.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">We had stopped for snacks on<br />
our way to the Twelve Gables Bed & Breakfast to avoid paying minibar<br />
prices. Grace was covering a charity ball being held at the Brauns’ lakeside<br />
mansion in Fontana, Wisconsin, for the <i>Chicago Tribune</i>, and I was her<br />
plus one. Besides the black-tie affair tonight, guests could spend Saturday<br />
through Monday relaxing by the pool or boating on the lake. It had sounded like<br />
a cushy assignment to me, but to Grace, it was another perfect example of how<br />
people used her connections to get what they wanted.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Having grown up with the<br />
fashionable people her editor wanted to feature, she was stuck on the Life<br />
& Style desk, though she yearned to write a Pulitzer Prize-winning<br />
investigative article on some injustice in the world. Since Edward and Ivy<br />
Braun were family friends of Grace’s, this weekend’s assignment immediately<br />
went to her. She hated using friendships in this way, but she couldn’t refuse<br />
her editor if she wanted to keep her job. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">“Maybe Chex Mix and Doritos?<br />
You choose.” I already had spied a lone glazed donut in the bakery case next to<br />
the register, and I was an enthusiast when it came to sugary confections. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">I wandered through the other<br />
aisles while I waited for her to decide on a snack. Grace didn’t eat junk food<br />
often, so what to get was a serious decision worth slow and thoughtful<br />
deliberation. Based on her furrowed brow, we would be here for a while. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Mr. Green Eyes plopped three<br />
bottles of water and a Gatorade on the counter. “Gimme that donut too, please.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">I stopped so abruptly that my<br />
left ankle gave out, and I had to grab the metal handle of a nearby drink<br />
cooler to steady myself. I limped over to Grace. “That guy is buying my donut!”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">She blinked her eyes slowly at<br />
me. “<i>Your</i> donut? Don’t they have more than one?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">“Probably not.” Yes, I was<br />
being petty. It was only a donut, but once I committed to sugar, I liked to<br />
follow through.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">“Just pick out something<br />
else.” She pointed to a pack of chocolate chip cookies with an expiration date<br />
two years in the future. “Get those.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">My nose scrunched in<br />
revulsion. “I’d rather eat sawdust. The taste would be the same but with fewer<br />
calories.” </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">“Emma,” she said in her best<br />
schoolmarm voice. “You realize that Chef Porter will be laying out a whole<br />
table of luscious desserts for us to gorge ourselves on tonight?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">I did, but I didn’t know how<br />
to tell Grace that sometimes the frou-frou desserts of her people turned me<br />
off. Sometimes a girl just wanted a glazed donut. It was safe and comforting,<br />
and right now, I needed all the comfort I could get.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">We had met freshmen year at<br />
Northwestern University in Journalism 101 and became instant friends despite<br />
being from different worlds. I was on a financial-need scholarship. Her father<br />
had a building on campus named after him. I was so nervous that I had forgotten<br />
a pencil. She had ten and gave me two “in case one broke.” We’ve been<br />
inseparable ever since, always living together and now working as reporters at<br />
the <i>Tribune</i>. She was like the sister I never had but without all the<br />
petty fighting.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">She finally chose some corn<br />
chips and sashayed to the checkout. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">“Excuse me,” I said to the<br />
cashier. “Do you have more donuts? Preferably glazed.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">The cashier’s bored eyes<br />
shifted to the bakery case and then to me. “Nope.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">“Are you sure? Maybe you have<br />
more in the back somewhere?” </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">“Ryan got the last one. Maybe<br />
if you hurry, you can buy it from him.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Grace snickered beside me.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">I pulled the bag of chips out<br />
of her hands and slid it across the counter. “We’ll just take this.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">By the time we got outside,<br />
Ryan, a.k.a. The Green-Eyed Donut Thief, was gone.</span></div>
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Elizabeth McKenna’s love of books reaches back to her childhood, <br />
where her tastes ranged from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys to Stephen <br />
King’s horror stories. She had never read a romance novel until one <br />
Christmas when her sister gave her the latest bestseller by Nora <br />
Roberts. She was hooked from page one (actually, she admits it was the <br />
first love scene). She combined her love of history, romance, and a <br />
happy ending to write <a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/ceras-place/"><em>Cera’s Place</em></a> and <a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/venice-in-the-moonlight/"><em>Venice in the Moonlight</em></a>. Her contemporary romance novel, <a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/first-crush-last-love/"><em>First Crush Last Love</em></a>, is loosely based on her life during her teens and twenties. <em><a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/the-great-jewel-robbery/">The Great Jewel Robbery</a></em> is her debut cozy mystery, and she hopes readers will like it as much as they have enjoyed her romances.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband, two <br />
beautiful daughters, and a sassy Labrador. When she isn’t writing, <br />
working, or being a mom, she’s sleeping.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Elizabeth loves to connect with readers!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Website: <a href="http://elizabethmckenna.com/">http://elizabethmckenna.com/</a><br />
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Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMcKennaAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMcKennaAuthor</a><br />
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Twitter: @ElizaMcKenna<br />
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<br />
Instagram: elizabeth_mckenna_author<br />
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Goodreads: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/Elizabeth_McKenna">http://www.goodreads.com/Elizabeth_McKenna</a></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-8840229502002259202019-07-17T09:00:00.000-04:002019-07-17T09:00:19.807-04:00#BookTour #Excerpt & $25 #Giveaway for Returning to Mr. Darcy by Sheena Austin!! @AuthorSheena #Romance #TimeTravel #books #bookworms #WIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Returning to Mr. Darcy </b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">by<br />
Sheena Austin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Genre:<br />
Time Travel Romance </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Elizabeth Bennet has the perseverance and heart of a warrior, but life has<br />
knocked her down and she has lost her spark. However, after a car<br />
accident and awakening to finding herself back in time with a man who<br />
calls her his wife, she finally finds the spark she had lost. She<br />
realizes it’s time to stop being scared and embrace the impossible.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Fitzwilliam Darcy is plagued with the possibility of his wife never recovering<br />
from amnesia. He shrugs off her odd habits as side effects of her<br />
accident. Distraught, he finds solace in keeping his distance at the<br />
bottom of a glass of whiskey. He assumes she has another lover, since<br />
she calls out for another man in the middle of the night, and when he<br />
sees her in the arms of another man, he is heartbroken and finds it<br />
all too easy to sever what ties remain. When he comes to know the<br />
error of his ways, he wonders if Elizabeth could ever forgive him for<br />
his harsh judgment.</div>
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<br /><br />After taking another sip of her hot chocolate, she closed her eyes, visualizing Mr. Darcy proposing to her. She accepted at once. Lost in her daydream, she played out the scene where she believed Lizzy went wrong in denying poor Mr. Darcy. Instead of denying him, she wrapped her arms around his neck, showering him in kisses. She pinned him to the floor, and he was compliant. She stared into his dark chocolate eyes.<br /><br />Before she could carry out the rest of her fantasy, the sound of a door creaking open caused her heart to pound against her rib cage. Great. I’m going to be assaulted by an intruder right in the middle of a damn good moment. My obituary will read: Elizabeth Bennet. Killed while daydreaming of Mr. Darcy, she thought grimly.<br /><br /> When she opened her eyes, she jumped out of bed as she saw Jo standing in front of her, arms folded across her chest. She was all dolled up in a black eighties sweaterdress, heels, and fishnet stockings. Compared to Elizabeth’s Cookie Monster pajamas and bunny slippers, Jo was a knockout. Elizabeth’s reflexes kicked in, and she threw the book at Jo.<br /><br />“Are you trying to book me to death?” Jo laughed.<br /><br />“That’s what you get for scaring the crap out of me.”<br /><br />“Well, I’m thankful it wasn’t something more lethal, like your phone.”<br /><br />Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh. “Why are you barging into my house, anyway?”<br /><br />“That’s what you get for giving me a spare key. I can invade your privacy anytime I want.”<br /><br />Elizabeth shook her head. “Okay, hand it over. You’re abusing your key privileges.”<br /><br />Jo shook her head. “No way, José.”</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sheena Austin is the author of </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Returning to Mr. Darcy </i></span><span style="font-size: small;">and </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Alexandria</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">.<br />
A lover of all romance, fantasy, cat whisperer, and Kermit<br />
obsessed, the author currently lives in Virginia with her boyfriend<br />
and two cats. She is a substitute teacher and aspires to fulfill her<br />
dream of being a Special Education teacher.</span> </span></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-61542846415197966052019-07-17T08:00:00.000-04:002019-07-17T08:00:13.938-04:00#BookTour & $25 #Giveaway for The Brin Archives by Jim Cronin!! @authorjimcronin #book #fiction #SciFi #booklovers #timetravel #WIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hegira</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The Brin Archives Book 1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">by<br />
Jim Cronin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Genre:<br />
Science Fiction</span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Recipient</span></div>
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His species became extinct decades before the aliens rescued and cloned<br />
him, but he still must do everything he can to save them all. Karm<br />
must travel back in time, create the most powerful financial empire<br />
ever seen on the planet Dyan’ta and assemble a team of experts who<br />
must be kept in the dark about his plans for fear of upsetting the timeline.</div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Dr. Jontar Rocker is an up and coming geneticist whose untested and<br />
controversial theories on cloning become the lynch pin in Karm’s<br />
schemes. Maripa, Karm’s petite and beautiful surrogate niece,<br />
personal secretary, and deadly bodyguard must learn to trust Karm<br />
despite his deceptions and secrets. Can the emerging love between Dr.<br />
Rocker and Maripa survive the demons and surprises of their own past,<br />
as well as Karm’s impenetrable air of mystery?</div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Karm and his companions must save the Brin. To do so, they must band<br />
together to overcome Brach, the ambitious and obsessed monarch.<br />
Determined to take control of Karm's vast industrial empire, Brach<br />
joins forces with his conniving brother Pareth, leader of The Faith<br />
an ultra-conservative religious order committed to stopping Dr.<br />
Rocker and his heretical efforts to develop cloning techniques.<br />
Nothing less than survival of their species is at stake.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26040204-hegira">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://amzn.to/2XMOFtK" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Recusant<br />
</b></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The Brin Archives Book 2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">Inthis sequel to Hegira, the Brin are thriving on their new world, but</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">will greed, prejudices, and old rivalries tear apart their grand</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">civilization? Maliche Rocker, descendant of The Saviors, uncovers a</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">terrible secret and must fight those in power, including members of</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">his own family, to save thousands of innocents from the cruelty of his own people.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The Brin Archives Book 3</span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">In this conclusion to The Brin Archives, Maliche Rocker must risk<br />
everything including his family’s reputation and even his life, to<br />
uncover the truth about the Skae. For over three hundred years the<br />
Brin have believed the Skae to be their benefactors, and the race<br />
that rescued them from extinction. But recent revelations by a group<br />
of young Kolbri, the offspring of Brin and Kolandi mating, tell a<br />
disturbingly different story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">Three Kolbri, including Maliche’s son Jontar, must use their unique</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">abilities to telepathically connect with technology, and discover the</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">truth about the Skae once and for all by undertaking a perilous</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">journey through thousands of years in space and time, unravelling the</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">history hidden from them by Skae. During this expedition, Jontar and</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">his two companions must encounter the Gorvin, hated enemy of the Skae</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">and supposed instigators of the current interstellar war.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
What turned the Skae and Gorvin into mortal enemies? What is the true<br />
cause of the war responsible for the destruction of hundreds of<br />
worlds over thousands of years? Will Maliche and his small group find<br />
the truth and avert disaster both at home and across the galaxy? Can<br />
his wife, Ryma, hold the Brin government together long enough for<br />
Maliche to succeed? Only time will tell.</div>
</span></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37049472-empyrean">Goodreads</a> </b><b style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">* <a href="https://amzn.to/2XS0Ju9" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Jim Cronin is a retired middle school science teacher, currently working<br />
part-time as an educator/performer at the Denver Museum of Nature and<br />
Science. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, raised in Arlington, Virginia<br />
and Denver, Colorado, he became an avid science nerd at the height of<br />
the space race of the 1960's. After thirty-five years of teaching<br />
science in the middle school classroom, he decided to retire and<br />
explore new worlds of opportunities, including volunteering,<br />
bicycling, and writing. It is the writing experimentation which<br />
resulted in this novel.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;">Today, Jim Is an Educator Performer, or Edutainer if you prefer, at the<br />
Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The museum makes science fun and<br />
entertaining with an entire crew of performer/educators. Two years<br />
ago I was lucky enough for the museum to hire me, and pay me to come<br />
and play with kids and science. He lives in Colorado with his<br />
beautiful wife of thirty-seven years. Together, they look forward to<br />
completely spoiling their new granddaughter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://jimcroninscienceedutainer.weebly.com/">Website</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JimCroninScienceEdutainer">Facebook</a> * <a href="https://twitter.com/authorjimcronin">Twitter</a> * <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jim-cronin-5f1d810e-0c38-4b86-b8b1-49de535086f4">Bookbub</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Cronin/e/B01C1V5OF6">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14203201.Jim_Cronin">Goodreads</a></b></span></span></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-36054219043684480142019-07-17T07:00:00.000-04:002019-07-17T07:00:06.170-04:00#CoverReveal & $30 #Giveaway for Blackbriar Cover by Jennifer Silverwood!! @JennSilverwood #Fantasy #Contemporary #Books #booklovers #WIN #BorderlandsSaga<center>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Tour with </span><a href="https://prismbooktours.blogspot.com/2019/07/were-revealing-cover-of-blackbriar-cove.html" target="_blank">Prism Book Tours</a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome to the Cover Reveal for</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Blackbriar Cove</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">By Jennifer Silverwood</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Coming in 2020...</b></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRXnPMO7jpoOINW1zYLcK-_dkg-TRseoPfqsvJMSf2sEIbukC6IaS3jGwnBAUJlULZJGKiGfx9PGsRNB7xQzvlW9pA4KldnFKFmTvwCVCUHVQr5S7U96jSXBfae2tq6kXowTnoIjuTww/s640/BlackbriarCove.Ebook.v4.jpg" /></center>
<b><br /></b>
<b>(Borderlands Saga #2)</b><br />
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Contemporary Fantasy, Magical Realism<br />
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Paperback & ebook<br />
<br />
2020 by SilverWoodSketches <br />
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<br />
In a single night of madness, Amie won the battle, and lost the two people she loved most. As she struggles to be the queen her people need, her family band together against the hidden threat at their borders.<br />
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Haunted by the ghosts of her past, Amie strikes a pact with an ancient being called The Storyteller. In order to see Emrys again, they must put aside their blood feud, and cross the veil to a place of spirits and monsters. <br />
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Blackbriar Cove is a land where superstition and chaos reign, and spirits plague dreams. A dark curse has twisted the Unseelie who once lived in the home the Blackbriar twins vowed never to return. But death is not the end in Silver Hollow, and the war for the Borderlands has only begun.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40366857-blackbriar-cove" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>│<a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1470620148" target="_blank">iBooks</a>│<a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/blackbriar-cove-borderlands-saga-2" target="_blank">Kobo</a>│<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/946292" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></b><b>│</b><b><a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/blackbriar-cove-borderlands-saga-2/9780463921227-item.html?ref=isbn-search" target="_blank">!ndigo</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Other Books in the Series</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHJjMZlGyLT-c0J5Rkk80eA3U3obTa4witbuE2gUsU-wDTzu5camyxaN6NM-sQfltGiHI2W0EVKUZxzk4NanD092zayjPBMvwlNIeTeCFxhSUAc7uwUo2yXm1Le0gKN0ksuEXhcq66rg/s1600/Jennifer+Silverwood+SilverHollow.Ebook.v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHJjMZlGyLT-c0J5Rkk80eA3U3obTa4witbuE2gUsU-wDTzu5camyxaN6NM-sQfltGiHI2W0EVKUZxzk4NanD092zayjPBMvwlNIeTeCFxhSUAc7uwUo2yXm1Le0gKN0ksuEXhcq66rg/s320/Jennifer+Silverwood+SilverHollow.Ebook.v2.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="212" /></a></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Silver Hollow</i></span></b><br />
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<b>(Borderlands Saga #1)</b><br />
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<div style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<b>By Jennifer Silverwood</b><br />
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Contemporary Fantasy, Magical Realism<br />
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Paperback & ebook, 429 Pages<br />
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May 31st 2018 by SilverWoodSketches<br />
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<br />
Amie Wentworth trusts books more than people. After her parents' deaths ten years before, she writes fiction to escape reality. A timely invitation from her long-lost uncle arrives, but she's used to ignoring the mysterious surrounding her life.<br />
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<br />
Until she is stabbed in an alley and brought back to life by a handsome stranger. Soon Amie is dragged into the very sort of tale she is used to selling. To make matters worse, the man who saved her life keeps turning up and her would-be-murderer is still at large.<br />
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After crossing the Atlantic to her father’s homeland, she discovers a world beyond imagining. Silver Hollow is a place of ancient traditions and supernatural dangers, where everything is the opposite of what it seems and few escape sane. Faced with an impossible choice, Amie is forced to confront a deadly family legacy while remembering a life she soon wishes to forget.<br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39510554-silver-hollow">Goodreads</a>│<a href="https://amzn.to/2XKHXVt" target="_blank">Amazon</a>│<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silver-hollow-2018-edition-jennifer-silverwood/1128298254?ean=2940155187134">Barnes & Noble</a>│<a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Silver-Hollow-Jennifer-Silverwood/9781718974586">Book Depository</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author</span></b></div>
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<center a="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnHG4OLqGs2MkIWTQQicEUFhVq99ENN2EN2ba5bJhnpsVdbW2IaoPRhLfQVXdW7ISqGo7jN7XJdKCAM_G3dJAzYQPLUSj9JLf7UHEZ_akIB9_j8upSL1q-VgZrbWAEXtnegaPqrCTMSw/s1600/Jennifer+Silverwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnHG4OLqGs2MkIWTQQicEUFhVq99ENN2EN2ba5bJhnpsVdbW2IaoPRhLfQVXdW7ISqGo7jN7XJdKCAM_G3dJAzYQPLUSj9JLf7UHEZ_akIB9_j8upSL1q-VgZrbWAEXtnegaPqrCTMSw/s320/Jennifer+Silverwood.jpg" /></center>
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<b>Jennifer Silverwood</b> was raised deep in the heart of Texas and has been spinning yarns a mile high since childhood. In her spare time, she reads and writes and tries to sustain her wanderlust, whether it's the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the highlands of Ecuador, or a road trip to the next town. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, in print or reality, she dreams of one day proving to the masses that everything really is better in Texas. She is the author of three series--Heaven's Edge, Wylder Tales and the Borderlands Saga--and the stand-alone titles <i>Stay </i>and <i>She Walks in Moonlight</i>. She recently released her first serialized Urban Fantasy, <i>Angel Blue</i> in August 2018.<br />
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<b><a href="http://jennifersilverwood.com/">Website</a>│<a href="http://silverwoodsketches.blogspot.com/">Blog</a>│<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5827602.Jennifer_Silverwood">Goodreads</a>│<a href="https://www.facebook.com/silverwoodj">Facebook</a>│<a href="https://twitter.com/JennSilverwood">Twitter</a>│<a href="http://jennsilverwood.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a></b><b>│</b><b><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-silverwood" target="_blank">BookBub</a></b></div>
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<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Cover Reveal Giveaway</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center>
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4CMM-nyH0DeMl_vUBRIp3HzzfWla1733ZBr2_l-yi90T5YGhhK5VxxnshYCBxJfXYISV_FuVKqkQAD0U26_ebUDh8-vNkbjDZgTzWcF62JPTHd6tSlTQiH4nswPaBV04nWG9nKtuR4s/s400/Giveaway+-+Blackbriar+Cove.jpg" /></center>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
- <b>1 winner will receive a $30 Amazon Gift Card plus a digital copy of </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Silver Hollow</i><b> (open internationally)</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
- <b>1 winner will receive a signed hard copy of </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Silver Hollow</i><b> plus swag (US only)</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ends July 19, 2019</span></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-85818730352300333172019-07-17T06:00:00.000-04:002019-07-17T06:00:06.548-04:00#Western #Wednesday - The Secret Son by Joan Kilby!! #Free on #Amazon!! #kindle #romance #contemporary #books #freebie #booklovers #romance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Title</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: The Secret Son<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Author</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Joan Kilby<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Genre</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Western, Romance, Contemporary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Length</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: 181 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Series</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: The Starr Brothers of Montana Book </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">1</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book Description</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Winner in the 2016 RUBY awards</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A birthday card out of the blue from his estranged father sends successful Seattle marketing man Alex Chernoff on a detour to Sweetheart in search of answers about his past. A day, maybe two, to tie up loose strings and he’ll be out of there, heading for Mexico, margaritas and blondes in bikinis.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Emma Stanhope is all too familiar with hot, rich, entitled guys like Alex. They never hang around for long, especially not for a Plain Jane like herself. No<a name='more'></a> problem. She’s smart and logical, like any good scientist, and knows better than to lose her heart.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What Emma doesn’t count on is chemistry—of the romantic kind. What Alex doesn’t count on is meeting the girl who’ll make him want to change his ways. But when he learns that he’s a secret from his father’s real family, he can’t stay in Sweetheart… even if he wants to.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Will love be enough to convince Alex to stay… for good?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Previously titled "The Montana Son" - Book 2 in the Secrets of Cherry Lake series</i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Get it on <a href="https://amzn.to/2XZnpI7" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">More in series</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-21051029843365287012019-07-17T00:18:00.000-04:002019-07-17T00:18:00.205-04:00#Summer Vibes #Giveaway #Hop!! Win $15 (INT)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<!-- end InLinkz script --><br />Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-61872102019445561572019-07-16T12:00:00.000-04:002019-07-16T12:00:02.969-04:00#Teen #Tuesday - Dead at Twilight by E.J. King!! #Free on #Amazon!! #YA #SciFi #Fantasy #kindle #books #bookworms #freebie <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Title</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Dead at Twilight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Author</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: E.J. King<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Genre</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: YA, Sci-Fi, Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Length</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: 234 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Series</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Saded Falls Book 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book Description</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This is the series for fans of Twilight and Vampire Diaries can't wait to read.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Isabel Jones lived through a nightmare. She lost everything she had known and everyone that she loved. Now, she's moving to a new town to start over for her senior year. Shaded Falls is a small dot on the map and Isabel has low expectations when she drives into town. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It isn't long before she realizes that Shaded Falls isn't just a forgotten town in the middle of nowhere – <a name='more'></a>it's a hotbed for strange occurrences and mysterious people. One of those people, Nicholas Rockson, seems to always be around, lurking in the shadows. Isabel finds herself drawn to Nick and to the darker elements of Shaded Falls. As she gets pulled into the dangerous underbelly, the true nature of the town is revealed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Isabel must face her own dark secrets as her past is drawn forth. Everything she's ever believed about her life is about to change, and not always for the better. Isabel is about to find out exactly what happens when darkness falls.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Get it on <a href="https://amzn.to/2loFaii" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Please make sure it is still free before you purchase it.</b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">More in series</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-40628678940652488902019-07-16T09:00:00.000-04:002019-07-16T09:00:14.817-04:00#BookBlitz #Excerpt & $25 #Giveaway for #Summer Bucket List by T.K. Rapp!! @TKAM78 #YA #Contemporary @XpressoTours #Romance #books #booklovers #WIN<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Summer Bucket List </strong><br /><strong>T.K. Rapp </strong><br />Publication date: July 15th 2019<br />Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
Recently graduated from high school, Holland Monroe had no expectations for her last summer before heading off to college to be anything but ordinary.<br />
Until she got a job as a waitress at the local country club to make extra money for school.<br />
Milo Davis was smart, cute, and absolutely not interested in Holland. At least that was what she believed. But the day she started working at the restaurant, everything changed.<br />
Finally together, they were left with only three months to spend time together before she moved away.<br />
Good thing they decided to make their time as memorable as possible.<br />
But will they remain friends? Or will checking off items on their summer bucket list lead them to something they didn’t expect — Falling in love.</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45732227-summer-bucket-list" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/2lqk8jl" target="_blank">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-bucket-list-tk-rapp/1131676445" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> / <a href="https://books.apple.com/ca/book/summer-bucket-list/id1467974264?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iBooks</a> / <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/summer-bucket-list" target="_blank">Kobo</a></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
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He took a tentative step toward me and I remained fixed in place. Curiosity would not let me walk away, though that was exactly what I wanted to do. He stood across from me, the annoyance and disgust erased from his face. Milo shoved his hands into his pockets and when he looked up at me, he looked—uncertain.<br />
“I didn’t know how to talk to you,” he finally said.<br />
“You don’t seem to have a problem now,” I snapped. “In fact, I sort of wish you’d go back to ignoring me.”<br />
“If that’s what you want…”<br />
“No, Milo, that’s not what I want. I want to understand.”<br />
“You’re not really that naïve, are you?”<br />
“Forget it,” I said, turning around to walk back to my car.<br />
“I never talked to you because I didn’t know how to,” he said, but I kept walking. “Because I liked you.”<br />
That was the thing he said that got me to stop moving. In fact, I was pretty sure that I heard him wrong, so I slowly turned around to give him my attention. I didn’t know what to say.<br />
“I didn’t know how to talk to you without sounding like a moron, so I just…<em>didn’t</em>…talk. You really didn’t know?”<br />
“You said it yourself: you didn’t talk to me. So your silence spoke volumes for you.”<br />
“I wasn’t trying to be a jerk the other night. I just didn’t know what to say to you.”<br />
“I didn’t know what to say to you either. Every time I’ve tried to talk to you, it’s like talking to a brick wall. No matter how hard I try or how nice I am to you, you just ignore me.”<br />
“That was never my intention,” he said apologetically. “I really just didn’t know what to say.”<br />
We stood in silence, each really hearing the other. His confession began to ring in my ears, and I was thankful for the darkness so he would not see my flushed cheeks.<br />
“Did you mean what you said?”<br />
“Which part?”<br />
“That you liked me?”<br />
He shifted his stance before facing me again. “Yeah. I did…I do.”<br />
“Really?”<br />
“Really.”<br />
Milo was completely opposite of Blake, or anyone else I had dated. He was not the center of attention, and he was not cocky. He was shy and unassuming, and for so long I had wanted to get him to open up and let me be his friend. I never expected him to open up so much that he would reveal that he had feelings for me.<br />
“If you aren’t busy, do you want to go get something to eat? Maybe we could actually talk or something?”<br />
“Are you asking me out on a date?” I asked.<br />
He looked away for a moment, and when his gaze connected with mine, his smile grew. “Yeah. I guess I am.”<br />
I felt nervous and excited at the same time, and then complete disappointment.<br />
“I can’t. Not tonight,” I said.<br />
“No. It’s fine. Short notice and all. Hell, you might be dating someone anyway.”<br />
“I’m not,” I said a little more eagerly than I realized.<br />
“Maybe another time,” he said, taking a few steps backward. “Have a good night, Holland.”<br />
As he turned around, I slowly did the same, but then my feet stopped moving.<br />
“Do you want to come with me?” I asked hopefully. “To Meg’s?”<br /><br />
<br />
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T.K. Rapp is a Texas girl born and raised. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from Texas A&M and it was there that she met the love of her life. He had a contract with the U.S. Navy that would take them across both coasts, and ultimately land them back home in Texas.<br />
Upon finally settling in Texas, T.K. worked as a graphic designer and photographer for the family business that her mom started years earlier. She was able to infuse her creativity and passion, into something she enjoyed, but something was still missing. There was a voice in the back of her head that told her to write, so write, she did. And, somewhere on an external hard drive, are several stories she started and never finished.<br />
Now at home, raising her two daughters, T.K. has more time to do the things she loves, which includes photography and writing. When she's not doing one of those, she can be found with her family, which keeps her busy, hanging with family and friends, and mostly relaxing. She is a lover of raunchy humor, gossip blogs and a good books.</blockquote>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-18310841684741444182019-07-16T08:00:00.000-04:002019-07-16T08:00:04.076-04:00#BookBlitz #Excerpt & $20 #Giveaway for I Poisoned Her Coworkers by Jessica Frances!! #Romance #Suspense @XpressoTours #books #bookworms #WIN<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<strong>I Poisoned Her Coworkers </strong><br /><strong>Jessica Frances </strong><br />(Love at First Crime, #6)<br />Publication date: July 15th 2019<br />Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense<br />
<blockquote>
I poisoned her coworkers, so she injected me with a lethal dose of unrequited love.<br />
In the past we had it all.<br /><br />
Or at least, we seemed to.<br /><br />
Then I let her down.<br /><br />
We both made mistakes.<br /><br />
We fell apart.<br /><br />
But no matter the years which passed us by,<br /><br />
I never forgot about her.<br /><br />
So when my brother falls headfirst into trouble,<br /><br />
I know who to call on.<br /><br />
I know she will help me.<br /><br />
Even if she wishes I would disappear from her life.<br /><br />
Even if she hates me.<br /><br />
But I won’t give up this time without a fight.<br /><br />
I will do everything in my power to win her back.<br /><br />
There might be some stumbles along the way…<br /><br />
Like an accidental poisoning for example.<br /><br />
But I won’t let that stop me.<br /><br />
Through gunfire and car chases,<br /><br />
I will make sure she knows she can rely on me.<br /><br />
We’re in this together,<br /><br />
Forever and always.<br /><br />
Who cares if things don’t get off to a great start?<br /><br />
What does it matter that her coworkers think I’m dangerous?<br /><br />
Is almost killing them worth throwing away what we have?<br /><br />
Then again, as some people say: there is nothing quite like love at first…crime.</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">—</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
“Well I never knew a thing about you. Not what was important, anyway,” she grumbles, although I hear her perfectly.<br />
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap, unable to rein in my anger. I made a bad choice, a mistake at the end of our relationship. But that doesn’t change what we shared before it, or that I never lied to her. I was always who I said I was.<br />
“You know what that means,” she retorts, not letting up one ounce on her own anger.<br />
I glare ahead, watching the slow-moving cars and scenery around us as I take in a few needed deep breaths.<br />
I don’t want to fight with her, and it’s clear she’s looking for a fight with me.<br />
“How’s your sister?” I ask just to change the subject.<br />
“No,” she immediately snaps. “You don’t get to ask me that.”<br />
The fury in her voice is clear, and obviously it has not been abated since Gemma first saw me.<br />
“I loved her, too. She was like my own sister—”<br />
“And that makes what you did even worse!” she cries, much to the pain of the two in the backseat, if their moans are anything to go by.<br />
There’s no room for argument in her tone, not that I heed the warning that this won’t be a fight I’ll win.<br />
If she wants a fight then she’ll have one.<br />
“I made a mistake. I thought—”<br />
“I know what you thought. You were wrong.”<br />
“I’m human, Gem.”<br />
“We’re all human. What we truly are is our decisions. You made one that defined who you are. Now you have to live with that.”<br />
Her words cut me, but I can’t blame her. I did make a decision, and it was the wrong one. But people make mistakes. The world isn’t so black and white, and once upon a time Gemma used to see the world in colors.<br />
“I’m sorry—”<br />
“It’s my sister who needs to hear those words, not me. Words from you mean nothing to me.”<br />
I slam my mouth shut, trying to bite back the words, but they tumble out of me anyway.<br />
I always did have a problem keeping quiet when I should.<br />
“I didn’t realize you were so damn perfect. Must be nice to never make mistakes.”<br />
She slams on her brakes harder than needed as we find ourselves stuck in the thick Chicago traffic. She turns her heated glare on me.<br />
“I have made mistakes. Loving you was clearly one of them. But I’ve thankfully learned from my mistakes and I’ll <em>never</em> repeat them,” she harshly tells me.<br />
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Author Bio:<br />
Jessica lives in Adelaide, South Australia. When she is not writing, you can find her reading, napping or watching excessive amounts of TV. Connect with her on Facebook and Goodreads.</blockquote>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-18209858622682737752019-07-16T07:00:00.000-04:002019-07-16T07:00:00.878-04:00#CoverReveal for Moon Cursed by Nikke Jefford!! @NikkiJefford #Paranormal #PostApocalyptic @XpressoTours #Romance #bookworms #booknerds #booklovers<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Moon Cursed</strong><br /><strong>Nikki Jefford </strong><br />(Wolf Hollow Shifters, #4)<br />Publication date: Fall 2019<br />Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance<br />
<blockquote>
<b>Time is running out for Elsie.</b><br />
Elsie’s coven always believed that she was moon cursed. Promised to the bear shifters before she was ever born, the witch wolf shifter has until her twentieth birthday to outsmart Brutus, her would-be mate who only wants her as payback.<br />
To save his coven, her father made a terrible, magically binding agreement decades ago, never dreaming he’d have children, especially not powerful wolf shifters. Luckily, he never specified what type of shifter Elsie must claim.<br />
<b>Zackary doesn’t believe he deserves love or forgiveness.</b><br />
Ever since he betrayed a packmate, Zackary has been making up for his sins. No matter what, he knows the truth. Once a mongrel, always a mongrel—just like his father always told him. Now the mad wolf has returned to torment Zackary and the pack.<br />
Not one to be scared off, Elsie, the sweetest and loveliest of all females, refuses to believe he’s no good for anyone—especially her.<br />
<b>Fated mates or doomed lovers?</b><br />
Zackary and Elsie never knew how strong their love would grow … until they’re in too deep.<br />
Zackary betrayed Elsie’s brother once before. If the wizard shifter knew what he was doing with Elsie in private, Tabor would kill, maim, or use that dick shrinkage spell he once threatened him with.<br />
With a meddlesome ex from her coven, who won’t let go, and a brute of a bear shifter intent on trapping her inside his cave forever, it will take more than magic to save Elsie from her curse.<br />
Do these star-crossed lovers stand a chance?<br />
<b>Moon Cursed is a steamy, second chance romance about a bully longing for redemption, and a brazen she-wolf-witch who goes after what she wants—even after the entire pack warns her against following her heart.</b></blockquote>
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Author Bio:<br />
Nikki Jefford is an award-winning, bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and quirky combinations in-between.<br />
She is a third-generation Alaskan now living in the Pacific Northwest with her Westie, Cosmo, and her French husband, who she wouldn't trade in for anyone--not even Spike or Mr. Darcy!<br />
When she's not writing, she's reading, walking, or out riding her motorcycle, a Honda CB500F, (so long as it's sunny and warm)!<br />
To get in on the fun and adventure, visit Nikki at her website for release alerts, updates, exclusive giveaways, and a free story when you subscribe to her newsletter: http://nikkijefford.com/</blockquote>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-1066498500838990762019-07-16T06:00:00.000-04:002019-07-16T06:00:05.101-04:00#Teen #Tuesday - What Comes of Eating Doughnuts With A Boy Who Plays Guitar by Nicole Campbell!! #Free on #Amazon!! #kindle #books #freebie #bookworms <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Title</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: What Comes of Eating Doughnuts </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">With A Boy Who Plays Guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Author</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Nicole Campbell<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Genre</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: YA, Coming of Age, Romance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Length</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: 274 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Series</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Gem City Book 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book Description</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
Courtney Ross has always done everything by the book. She’s a top student, captain of the cheer squad at Scottsdale High School, and a nervous wreck most of the time.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
For summer vacation before senior year, she finally has a chance to relax: spending the holidays with her best friend Vanessa, in her tiny hometown of Gem City, Ohio.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
Courtney’s hoping for a chance to breathe and </div>
<a name='more'></a>relax. What she doesn’t expect is Ethan Fisher. Courtney knows she’s in trouble the minute she sees him holding a guitar at her Welcome Back party, and the more she gets to know him, the more she finds her head spinning.<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
What will this mean for the girl who always plays by the rules?</div>
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Praise:</div>
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<i><strong>★★★★★ - "Skillfully portrays the innocence and excitement of first love. Courtney and Ethan have great chemistry. I can't wait to read the next book."</strong></i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><strong>★★★★★ - "Loved this book so much. One of my favorites this year."</strong></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Get it on <a href="https://amzn.to/2lmNiQd" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Please make sure it is still free before you purchase it.</b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">More in series</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2jXebtA" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="369" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheoxgx2pNrZzK8aqSOKP4KzKMsIpNeIBxdsoeX11BrEBVY-NxzjWWzMGqYADYQV80kdFt3Iihd-MKK7cCEnopOO9tAXmYPLZqUo10XJQYRGYeX9OcPm94HRUvJbujhz-XISGUrjZoPRvn/s200/81oNnKMO0lL._SY300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Reading!</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-23969832229923442832019-07-15T12:00:00.000-04:002019-10-29T21:40:34.172-04:00#Mystery #Monday - The Amazon Code by Nick Thacker!! #Free on #Amazon!! #kindle #suspense #thriller #freebie #books #booklovers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuxrAg6z9XjTTjDa_az0DZbqhOWK2SaP1-yuPRisy7JwCofvT64zXn5EidX_vwD5i7k1Eu1tAJGYRdjNT308MdS8hSjcqzbSB0gRds599MoL-GyHbFC2NkHzemA1gOfJoKddk_OD7aLys/s1600/51sbc59HVqL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuxrAg6z9XjTTjDa_az0DZbqhOWK2SaP1-yuPRisy7JwCofvT64zXn5EidX_vwD5i7k1Eu1tAJGYRdjNT308MdS8hSjcqzbSB0gRds599MoL-GyHbFC2NkHzemA1gOfJoKddk_OD7aLys/s400/51sbc59HVqL.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Title</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: The Amazon Code</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Author</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Nick Thacker</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Genre</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Length</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: 430 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Series</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Harvey Bennet Book 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book Description</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The Amazon rainforest is hiding a secret. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">One woman has uncovered it. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">...And it's a secret worth killing for. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">When her company discovers a remarkable hidden message in the dreaming brains of her subjects, Dr. Amanda Meron unknowingly invites disaster unto her company. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The clues seem to be pointing her to one of the </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">remote places on the planet: </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The Amazon Rainforest. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">When Harvey "Ben" Bennett gets a hint that the nefarious organization he's been searching for has turned up in Brazil, he and his new girlfriend Juliette Richardson race to the jungle to discover what they're after - and hopefully stop them. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">From the myth of the lost city of El Dorado to emerging science technology, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Amazon Code</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> has it all: action-packed adventure, an exotic setting, and characters you'll fall in love with. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Don't miss the next Harvey Bennett thriller - the new action/adventure, science-fiction series from bestselling author Nick Thacker!</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Get it on <a href="https://amzn.to/2lqidLF" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Please make sure it is still free before you purchase it.</b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2lqidLF" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuxrAg6z9XjTTjDa_az0DZbqhOWK2SaP1-yuPRisy7JwCofvT64zXn5EidX_vwD5i7k1Eu1tAJGYRdjNT308MdS8hSjcqzbSB0gRds599MoL-GyHbFC2NkHzemA1gOfJoKddk_OD7aLys/s320/51sbc59HVqL.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">More in series</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2lqirT1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="370" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPCSn-0nxKy-pNhiLOfgKhtEqIdDaeL4CaQ0RGILQzFoV4z31tRIgnO5oD-ieV97nwO2ljirYSAvyoiHcw0PGvqX6_DB37hEfI0QoPeYvAEMK2dGq_ptqonRnEXrFyYsk1FKTcWRXD__x/s200/A17HVnIiisL._SY300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Reading!</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-37709261026952636202019-07-15T09:00:00.000-04:002019-07-15T09:00:03.809-04:00#BookTour & $25 #Giveaway for Guitar Face #Series by Sasha Marshall!! @authorsmarshall #NA #Romance @SDSXXTours #books #bookworms #WIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Broken</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The Guitar Face Series Book 1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">by<br />
Sasha Marshall</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Genre:<br />
New Adult, Romance </span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">2016 SIBA HUMOR AND NEW ADULT WINNER!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #;">“</span><span style="color: #;"><i>Guitar Face</i></span><span style="color: #;"> </span><span style="color: #;">rocks!" </span><span style="color: #;"><i>She Hearts Books</i></span><span style="color: #;"> </span><span style="color: #;">Blog</span></div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I was born to make music and bring the masses to their knees . . .<br />
until, I wasn't anymore. Until the thought of doing all of this<br />
without him made me sick to my stomach.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Henley Hendrix survives a crash that kills her closest bandmate. She’d<br />
like nothing more than to retire from music, to hide, to heal, to<br />
disappear. She’s tried. But her family is music royalty. Her<br />
brother is a rock star in his own right, and every friend she has is<br />
connected to the business one way or another.</div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I'll get sucked back in. I'm scared I won't survive rock-n-roll again.<br />
Won’t survive Jagger, won’t be able to put him back in the box.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Jagger Carlye is Henley’s dirty little secret. Rock god, her brother's<br />
best friend, part of his band, and someone who loves the guitar as<br />
much as she does. Henley’s loved him since she was a girl, but<br />
there are some things you don’t do in this world. One of them is<br />
that you don’t risk your brother’s band or your heart in an<br />
industry that feeds on rejection and scandal. Love might not be<br />
enough in a world that grinds you down and puts you in a fishbowl.</div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And then there is Kip. My best friend, a drummer who never shuts his<br />
mouth. I should've fallen in love with him. My world would be so much easier.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Henley comes back to the world of rock-n-roll, puts a toe in the water, and<br />
creates a ripple that will rock the safe little life she’s created for herself.</div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
NOTE: This is a rock star romance series with a strong female lead, bad<br />
boys, and rock romance. If you are looking for a story of redemption<br />
with comic relief and a heavy sexual mind, you've found it. If you<br />
are offended by hot, tattooed rock stars, who are vulgar, then this<br />
is not the book for you. Please be warned, this book is not for<br />
anyone below the age of 18. The book contains sex, death, violence,<br />
and harsh language.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40411003-broken">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://amzn.to/2lpkTZX" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.silverdaggertours.com/uploads/8/2/5/5/82557464/2-there-s-no-crying-in-rock-n-roll-400x600_1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://www.silverdaggertours.com/uploads/8/2/5/5/82557464/2-there-s-no-crying-in-rock-n-roll-400x600_1_orig.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>There's<br />
No Crying in Rock-N-Roll</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The Guitar Face Series Book 2</span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Henley Hendrix—Queen of Rock-n-Roll—finds her world shattered and her<br />
heart betrayed, but is determined to get the band back together to<br />
reclaim her title in the world of rock. But when life continues to<br />
spin out of control, so does her behavior. Will she find her strength<br />
again amid all the chaos and pain, or will the bright lights consume her soul?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is a rock star romance series with a strong female lead, bad boys,<br />
and rock romance. This book is not recommended for those under the<br />
age of 18. It is also not recommended for those who take offense to<br />
profanity, sexual situations, drugs, or violence. This is not a<br />
standalone novel. Book One Broken should be read first.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42273395-there-s-no-crying-in-rock-n-roll">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://amzn.to/2lpmlLT" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Walking Back to Georgia</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The Guitar Face Series Book 3</span></div>
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<i style="color: #; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I died. I fu*&ing died, and when I woke up in a Los Angeles<br />
hospital my best friend walked away from me. It wasn’t quite the<br />
welcoming back to the world of the living I thought I’d receive,<br />
and it rattled me. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
After an overdose, Henley Hendrix retreats to Georgia to chase sobriety and<br />
get her life together. To do that, she’s got to keep her distance<br />
from Jagger and company. But when an old friend pops back into her<br />
life, a private moment is leaked to the world, and someone she never<br />
thought would walk away from her does exactly that.</div>
</span><span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
She’s got to deal with rejection, a stalker, her return to the rock world<br />
for a promotional tour, jungle peepers, a riot of fans, a 1%<br />
motorcycle club, a one-eyed teddy bear, and two men fighting over her. </div>
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<span style="color: #;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Just when she’s figured out how to finally be the best version of<br />
“Henley” she can be and how to stay healthy, her world is turned<br />
upside down again when her eyes are opened to something she never expected.</div>
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<i>This book is not a stand-alone novel. Books 1 and 2 in the Guitar Face<br />
Series should be read first. If you are looking for a story of<br />
redemption with comic relief and a heavy sexual tone, you've found<br />
it. If you are offended by hot, tattooed rock stars, who are vulgar<br />
then this is not the book for you. Please be warned, this book is not<br />
for anyone below the age of 18. The book has sex, death, violence,<br />
and harsh language.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #;">Award-winning author Sasha Marshall is devoted to giving her readers humorous<br />
adventures with a love story sure to melt their hearts---and their<br />
minds. She wants you to laugh, cry, get angry, and sigh when you find<br />
redemption in the story, because that's the roller coaster of real<br />
life. Her knowledge of the music industry comes from being a touring<br />
concert photographer with legendary bands such as The Allman Brothers<br />
Band and others she met along the way. A self-proclaimed free spirit,<br />
she’s most often found outdoors, or painting a canvas, capturing a<br />
photograph, people watching, reading a book, or writing a new book or<br />
poem. Sasha makes her home in the beautiful state of Georgia and<br />
loves to hear from readers.</span><span style="color: #;"><br />
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-37589005216008972952019-07-15T07:00:00.000-04:002019-07-15T07:00:05.804-04:00#BookBlitz #Excerpt & #Giveaway for A Game of Sins by Zurie Brunelle!! @BrunelleZurie #Contemporary @XpressoTours #Romance #books #bookworms #WIN<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<strong>A Game of Sins </strong><br /><strong>Zurie Brunelle </strong><br />(My Wicked Prayers, #1)<br />Publication date: June 30th 2019<br />Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance<br />
<blockquote>
Kenzie Adams wasn’t expecting to fall for Luke Bennett, the young, sexy priest-in-training. When she propositioned him it was for just one night in the Game of Sins.<br />
Kenzie’s new college roommates at St. Theresa’s, an all-girl’s Catholic college, invited her to join them in a competition, handed her a scorecard, and explained that there were points for every sin they convinced the priests-in-training at the adjoining school to make.<br />
Luke Bennett was just to be the first conquest, not the only man she can touch.<br />
But Father Luke teaches her the power of obedience, and the pleasure at the edge of pain. He knows how to make her crave every sin, and soon Kenzie’s scorecard is forgotten. Luke plans to be a man of the cloth, but right now he is the answer to Kenzie’s every wicked prayer.<br />
When her father discovers her fall from grace, Kenzie’s future comes rushing to the present in the shape of a forced engagement to a sexy young lawyer, Bastian, who has demanded Kenzie as a “signing bonus” for selecting her father’s firm. Torn between the priest she loves and the lawyer she will marry, Kenzie tries to find a way to get both what she needs and what she wants.<br />
Kenzie, Luke, and Bastian’s story will continue in the book 3. Her roommate Astrid’s Wicked Prayers will pick up in book 2.<br />
Intended for readers 18+. Book 1 in the series.</blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
“What if I wasn’t that nice?” It was a strange kick to be thought of as nice. My own family thought of me as a slut. They didn’t say the word, but it was obvious my father was thinking it.<br />
I wasn’t sure I disagreed, either. Maybe I’d have been different in a different life, but I <em>liked</em> sex. I liked the illusion of power that it gave me. My life was utterly out of my control. I liked moments of control.<br />
“You seem nice,” Luke said in that kind way.<br />
“You’re wrong, but I like that <em>you</em> think so,” I said, and then I pushed him a little more. “Were you dangerous, father?”<br />
“Yes.”<br />
“I like dangerous.” I stepped closer, standing as close as I could be without being inappropriate. “Tell me more.”<br />
He clenched his jaw and looked away. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to do here.”<br />
“Flirt . . .?” I said it like it was a question, but it wasn’t.<br />
He nodded to a group of seminarians. When they were gone, he asked, “Why?”<br />
“I’m bored. You’re interesting.” I leaned in and stretched up on my tip-toes. “And you’re sexy.”<br />
He stared at my mouth, so I let my lips part. I made an approving noise as his eyes dilated and then I whispered, “And I’m not actually sweet or nice. If you knew what I was really thinking, you’d know that.”<br />
He said nothing more, simply motioned me forward and walked me to the dorms. Whatever happened next, I knew already that that he was interested. The question was if he was going to act on it.<br />
We walked across campus in the dark. He stayed an appropriate distance from me, and I figured that I’d let him do whatever he chose. I’d given him the invitation, assured him that I was interested, removed the risk of rejection. I was a sure thing. Knowing that was typically enough to make a man go from <em>maybe</em> to <em>yes</em>.<br />
Several quiet moments passed and then he glanced over at me. I smiled and lowered my gaze, waiting. We kept walking, and I said nothing more.<br />
When we reached the place where he would have to leave me, he quietly accepted the bait I’d offered and asked, “What were you <em>really</em> thinking?”<br />
“I was imagining you fucking me on the pool table,” I said. “I’ll imagine it when I’m in my room, naked in my bed, too. Think about it with every stroke.”<br />
“You can’t—”<br />
“Oh, I can, Father Luke,” I assured him. “Do you fuck slowly? Deliberately? Or would you pound into me, desperate from having had no release in so long?”<br />
He stared at me. His breathing was heavier. He was picturing it, too.<br />
So, I continued, “Or do you still touch yourself, father?”<br />
Luke swallowed, staring at me and refusing to answer.<br />
“I wish I could watch,” I told him.<br />
“Kenzie . . .”<br />
Before walking away, I smiled and added, “Forgive me, father. I’m about to sin.”<br />
He still stared at me. I could feel his gaze burning me up. I looked over my shoulder. When I glanced back, he still stood there, watching me.<br />
So, I blew him a kiss.<br />
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<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
Author Bio:<br />
Zurie Brunelle considered a future in theology, but decided to become a teacher instead. She lives in a remote area with her partner and almost enough horses. She believes in God, the importance of joy, and that women ought to have a Constitutional Right to regular and frequent orgasms.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://zuriebrunelle.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zurie.brunelle.121" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/BrunelleZurie" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/zurie-brunelle" target="_blank">Bookbub</a> / <a href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=0013XePYYgv99BowC1NDmah6GuBubAG1PLybDjpCuiTfPM56YbE7n1vreaSbZiUuuipL-HFGnz20K1zafUVFaQu5NA181uVj4cDINiLfZ1KhxA%3D" target="_blank">Newsletter</a></div>
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Mary @ StackingMyBookShelves!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664550140978579485.post-6097529807042138752019-07-15T06:00:00.000-04:002019-07-15T06:00:06.593-04:00#Mystery #Monday - Wolves of Wisteria by Angela Pepper!! #Free on #Amazon!! #cozy #kindle #freebie #Suspense #books #booknerds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Title</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Wolves of Wisteria<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Author</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Angela Pepper<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Genre</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Mystery, Cozy, Suspense<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Length</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: 331 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Series</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Wisteria Witches Book 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book Description</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">BOOK 1 of the CITY HALL Mini-Series.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Zinnia Riddle doesn't use her witch powers much these days. She works as a clerk at the Wisteria Permits Department, where there hasn't been much need for spells and potions... until now.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When a beloved coworker is found dead next to her desk, the whole office gets paranoid. Is one of them a killer? Did the victim leave behind clues in the book she was writing? <a name='more'></a>Is there a town-wide conspiracy, or is some lone serial predator on the loose?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The police are always two steps behind the evil that's threatening the peaceful town. Now it's up to Zinnia Riddle and the witches in her coven to uncover the secrets hiding in plain sight.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Will Zinnia's rusty magic hold up against a powerful enemy?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">WOLVES OF WISTERIA is the sixth book set in Angela Pepper's Wisteria Witches universe, and the first book featuring Zinnia Riddle in her own thrilling mystery! Zinnia's story continues in WISTERIA WRINKLE. The 8th book set in Wisteria, WARDENS OF WISTERIA returns to Zara Riddle's point of view.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">FAQs about Wolves of Wisteria:</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I've read the Wisteria Witches series by Angela Pepper. I see this book is called City Hall #1. Where does this fit in? And who's Zinnia?</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Zinnia Riddle is the character you've come to know and love in the other books as Aunt Zinnia. This is Zinnia's first book as the featured character. The events in Wolves of Wisteria take place in the months leading up to Zinnia's niece Zara arriving in Wisteria. You can think of this book as a prequel, or a spin-off, or the start of a mini-series. In this book, you'll find out about Zinnia's workplace and witch friends, plus there's a thrilling mystery to solve.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I haven't read any other Wisteria Witches books. Can I start here?</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Absolutely! Wolves of Wisteria can be read as a stand-alone novel without spoiling the other books if you decide to read them next.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">What's a witch cozy mystery?</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Witch cozies are similar to contemporary cozies in that they revolve around a mystery and feature an amateur or unconventional sleuth. The tone is humorous and breezy with a few good thrills, too. Witch cozies come with the added bonus of paranormal elements. The town of Wisteria is full of many supernaturals, including gorgons, vampires, shifters, mages, and more!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">About the Series:</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Angela Pepper's Wisteria Witches series features a wise-cracking mother and daughter witch duo, Zara and Zoey Riddle, and their aunt, Zinnia. This urban fantasy series has plenty of magic and supernatural elements.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">New to Wisteria? You can start reading with any book 1. The books are listed below in their release order, but not necessarily their chronological order. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Wisteria Witches:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Wisteria Witches Mysteries (Zara Riddle)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#1 - Wisteria Witches</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#2 - Wicked Wisteria</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#3 - Wisteria Wonders</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#4 - Watchful Wisteria </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#5 - Wisteria Wyverns</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Wisteria Witches Mysteries - City Hall (Zinnia Riddle)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#1 - Wolves of Wisteria</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#2 - Wisteria Wrinkle</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Wisteria Witches Mysteries - Daybreak (Zara Riddle)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#1 - Wardens of Wisteria</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#2 - Wisteria Warned</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">... and more to be announced</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Get it on <a href="https://amzn.to/2lnSZ0n" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Please make sure it is still free before you purchase it.</b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">More in series</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Reading!</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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