BOOK REVIEW for "Ever After (Dirtshine, #3)" by Roxie Noir

***(3) out of 5 Stars!

SYNOPSIS:

Once upon a time, a girl saved my life.
I was piss-drunk, high as a kite, and about to jump from a bridge. 
She stopped me. I told her to fuck off.
Exactly how all great love stories start.
A year later, I met her again. Sober this time, after yet another stint in rehab.
She’s still pretty, still a spitfire, still lights up a room when she walks in.
And she doesn’t realize I’m the guy from the bridge.
Frankie doesn’t know anything about me or my past. She doesn’t know I’m a former rock star or an ex-junkie.
She doesn’t know that two years ago, someone died because of me.
She doesn’t need to know. She’s got problems of her own, and they’re what keep her coming back to see me time and again, even when we both know she shouldn’t.
I should be staying far, far away from this girl, but it’s like telling water to flow uphill. Can’t be done.
Frankie and I may be going down in flames, but we’ll be going down together.

REVIEW:

I absolutely hated Liam with a passion in “Never Enough,” the first book in the “Dirtshine” trilogy!  By the time we actually get to his story in “Ever After,” my attitude toward him had begun to soften a bit – but not too much.  He was just such a total jerk and worthless idiot, which he insisted on proving over and over and over again.  That his addiction fueled most of his issues wasn’t at all lost on me, but it certainly didn’t excuse any of his behavior. 

In short, I didn’t think there was any way that Liam could become a sympathetic enough character to make me even interested in following his story.  But I was completely wrong.  The author does an amazing job of making him seem at least worthwhile enough to follow his story.  It’s really a rather sad and depressing story, especially before Frankie comes along, but to a great extent, afterwards as well.    

That Liam finally, finally, finally, after so many stops and starts and missteps, gets his act together, and holds on to not only his sobriety, but his girl, and reacquires his alienated friends as well, is pretty much a testament to the power of hope and faith and simply not giving up. 

While I did not feel that this volume was quite up to the quality of the prior two in the series, I did find it much more enjoyable than I had anticipated, and ultimately was glad that I read it.

~

I received an eBook copy of this title free from Xpresso Book Tours,
and have willingly provided an honest review. 

#EverAfter  #Dirtshine

BOOK REVIEW for "Always You (Dirtshine, #2)" by Roxie Noir

****(4) out of 5 Stars!

SYNOPSIS:

This could ruin everything.  

I was born broken, with a past full of ugly secrets and a brother doing life in prison. 

Not that you’d know it if you read the tabloids. According to them I’m the rock-solid guitarist for the biggest band in the world. I’m the dependable one. The steady one. The anchor. 

They don’t know the truth. No one knows who I am underneath, once the music is over and the lights are off.

No one but Darcy. 

She’s my best friend. She’s my f*cking savior, my light in the dark, beautiful as hell and talented as f*ck and every bit as broken as me. 

And I f*cking yearn for her. I have for years. I see the way she looks at me, what’s behind her eyes. 

I know what she thinks about alone, in the dark, because how could I not know. 

It’s getting worse. Every second, every heartbeat, every moment we spend together and every secret we share makes me want her more. Even though I know that one kiss could ruin everything we have, I need her. 

But to get her? I’ll risk everything I’ve got.

Always You is a completely standalone, full-length novel that's Book Two of the Dirtshine series. 

REVIEW:

This second in the “Dirtshine” series certainly starts off with a bang, literally.  Unlike the previous book (which basically started with a former band member lighting things on fire), this one starts with one of the band members on fire.  That is definitely one way to get people’s attention!  The rest of the story mostly revolves around Darcy’s recovery, and Trent’s tending to her.  Although it’s really more about the way in which their relationship morphs from being the best friends that they are to becoming the couple that they both want to be but are afraid to attempt. 

There’s a lot of nitty-gritty stuff here about issues of abuse, drug addiction, and the like; although mostly in regards to other people around them, or from their own pasts instead of the present.  Both Darcy and Trent have major issues from their childhoods to overcome, and it takes an awful lot of time, some setbacks, and lots of work for them to do so.  But the end result is definitely worth it!

It’s enjoyable to see the little bit that we do of Gavin and Marisol in this tale, to learn how their relationship and story is progressing as well.  I didn’t find this volume quite as intriguing as the first one in the series, but it was very good nonetheless. 

~

I received an eBook copy of this title free from Xpresso Book Tours,

and have willingly provided an honest review. 

#AlwaysYou  #Dirtshine

BOOK REVIEW for "Barbarian's Mate (Ice Planet Barbarians, #7)" by Ruby Dixon

Barbarian's Mate

(Ice Planet Barbarians, #7)

by Ruby Dixon

SUMMARY

'Resonance' is supposed to be a dream - that's when your soulmate is chosen for you. And everyone on the ice planet has hooked up with a big, hunky soulmate of their own...except me. So do I want a mate? Heck yeah. More than anything, all I've ever wanted is to be loved by someone.

Except that the soulmate chosen for me? My least favorite person on the darn ice planet. Haeden's the most cranky, disapproving, unpleasant, overbearing male alien...so why is it that my body sings when he gets close? Why is he working so hard to prove to me that he's not as awful as I think he is?

I hate him...don't I?

~ BOOK REVIEW for Barbarian's Mate ~

*****(5) out of 5 

"You were mine the day you landed in this world.  I felt a connection the moment I saw you, and it frightened me.  When we resonated, I realized that you were always meant to be mine.  And I will keep you safe... You are mine.  That is all you need to know.  If you are taken, I will come after you.  If you are sick, I will never leave your side.  If you leave, I will follow.  You will never be without me, because I will come after you.  Know this...  But do not seek to tell me that you are not mine yet.  Because you have always been mine."

This is my absolute favorite book (so far) in this series.  Josie and Haeden seem like the most unlikely pair, but they are really quite a bit alike.  Which is probably why they butt heads at every turn.  Long before they resonate, they completely get on each other’s nerves.  Which makes it nearly impossible for Josie to accept that the gruff and rude Haeden is to be her mate.  She fights against it so hard that she makes both of them ill from the effects of their thwarted resonance.  And she’s so mean to him that you almost feel sorry for the guy, except that he acts like such a jerk to her.  Only later do we learn the true extent of their sad pasts and how much each has been effected by them.  Once they finally start talking and sharing things, they begin to understand each other and bond.  After some additional trials and tribulations, they finally submit and give in to resonance.  But while that problem is finally solved, they have even more issues with which to deal.   Quite a lot happens in this volume, and it directly sets the stage for the next two books in the series, as well as indirectly for the related Icehome series.  A steamy, romantic, action-filled sci-fi tale that is a fun read. 

"I have never had a mate before, Jo-see.  I will not always do the right thing.  I will not always give you the words you feel you need...  But make no mistake - if you leave this world, I will not be long behind, because I cannot live without you."

BOOK REVIEW for "Never Enough (Dirtshine, #1)" by Roxie Noir

****(4) out of 5 Stars!

SYNOPSIS:

It’s a simple enough transaction. 

Marisol needs the money, and I need a nice girl to parade in front of the cameras. 

No feelings. No strings. No falling for anyone. 

I’ve been clean for months, but my record company’s not satisfied. Apparently it isn’t enough to only kick a heroin addiction – they’re insisting that I find a girlfriend as well. 

If I don’t, they pull Dirtshine’s massive record deal. 

It’s supposed to show that I’ve changed my ways, that I’ve turned over a new leaf, all that rubbish. But I’ve had it with suit-wearing wankers telling me what I’m to do, so I’m on the verge of telling them to go f*ck themselves. 

And then she shows up. 

Marisol locks me out of my own concert by accident. She’s wearing a suit at a rock show, searching for her lost law school textbook, has no idea who I am… 

…and for the first time in years, I’m hooked. 

She’s smart, driven, and utterly gorgeous. The sort of girl who earnestly believes in following the rules and hates when others don’t. 

I’m a huge rock star, recovering addict, and general f*ckup. 

Our relationship is for show, and that’s all. But with every smile, every laugh, and every breathtaking glance at her curves, I want her more. 

Two months is all we agreed to. But it’s never going to be enough. 

 Never Enough is a full-length, 90,000-word standalone novel with no cheating, lots of steam, and a happily-ever-after ending. 

REVIEW:

I enjoyed this book far more than I thought that I would.  I was intrigued by the basic love story, which is what got me to read the book.  But the fact that the main character was a recovering drug addict was not too much of a draw for me.  And this book ends up having a LOT to do with drugs and addiction and the consequences of such.  Very raw and gritty in places. 

Despite his history as a rather typical rock star, drug addict and all-around total sleaze, Gavin is actually quite a likable character.  He’s a nice guy who tries to do right by his bandmates and others, certainly by Marisol once she enters the picture.  The way in which she first meets Gavin is definitely unique, actually believable, not to mention memorable; quite the meet-cute, in a weird sort of way. 

Marisol is a lovely counter to Gavin’s crazy past lifestyle, and a wonderful compliment to his life.  That these two opposites attract is not at all surprising, but that they fulfill so much of each other’s needs is just darling.  As things progress and their relationship grows, it is so pleasant to watch.  

The reemergence of Liam later in the story, and that fact that Gavin lets him manipulate him to the extent that he does, really ticks me off.  Even though I recognize that everything associated with that incident is pretty much par for the course for recovering alcoholics, I still hate that it happened and how.  I was certainly glad that Gavin was at least able to regain his footing and ask for the help that he needed.  And I was especially happy that he and Marisol were able to work things out between them.  They are a darling fictional couple who really deserve to be together and have the chance to make each other happy. 

~

I received an eBook copy of this title free from Xpresso Book Tours,

and have willingly provided an honest review. 

#NeverEnough  #Dirtshine

BOOK BLITZ for "Only the Beginning" by Daphne Dubois

Only the Beginning 
by Daphne Dubois
Publication date: April 25th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

After a heartbreaking betrayal, Melissa Legacy shuns romance. So when her best friend joins the Lovers Oasis website and fears her fiancé will find out, Melissa agrees to meet the anonymous Romeo, prepared to explain her friend’s change of heart — then she sees him. 

Failing restaurant entrepreneur, Craig Wheaton hasn’t been home since his mother’s tragic death. Now he’s back to confront his demons and stand beside his brother as best man. Dreading the reunion, he agrees to meet his avatar lover, but at the last moment he reconsiders the arrangement — until he lays eyes on her. 

When Craig assumes Melissa is his online consort, she impulsively plays along, resulting in an afternoon of unexpected intimacy. But with Melissa using her friend’s identity and Craig dealing with a family fallout, is a future together impossible, or will they discover that love at first sight is Only the Beginning?

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Excerpt:

They were in her bed and he was breaking off a piece of toaster pastry for her. The pillows and sheets were strewn around them. Earlier, he’d left the rehearsal party to pour out his heart to her. That confession had led to an encounter in her hallway, which then carried on into her bedroom.
Melissa looked at her phone and smiled. She’d told him she’d found the Proust questionnaire online.
Taking the last bite of toaster pastry from him she asked, “What is your perfect idea of happiness?”
He put the foil wrapper on the bedside table, then brushed his hands together. He had an answer, but he kept it to himself and instead said, “Easy, cooking for someone else.”
She frowned. “Not yourself?”
“No, too boring. There’s no surprise.”
She’d laughed, then handed the phone to him. “Ask me the next one.”
Craig cradled the phone in his hand going down the questions. “What is your greatest fear?”
Melissa pulled the sheet up to her chin, then tucked into his side. “Losing Gran or having something bad happen to her.” She was quiet for a moment then pinched his arm. “Ask another one, it’s supposed to be without too much thought.”
“Why?”
“Because people take too long, trying to come up with an answer that sounds grand and important. The truth gets lost…or at least the most interesting bits.”
He read, “What is your greatest extravagance?”
“My Pink Kitty toaster. It makes great meals.”
“God.” He moaned. “Okay, moving on. What is your current state of mind?”
“Mmm.” She curved one leg around his. “Bliss,” she said, taking the phone from him.
The glow from the phone illuminated her features in the dark room. He could tell she was scrolling through the questions. “Oh! This is a good one. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?”
Craig leaned his head back on the pillow and blew the air out of his cheeks. He thought of phrases like more successful, business savvy, lucky…
“Hurry up!” She pinched him again. “That’s cheating. Quick, one thing you’d like to change about yourself.”
“I want to be more determined,” he blurted.
She raised up on her elbow and studied him. “How so?”
He glanced up at the ceiling almost too shy to look her straight in the eye. “I want to be the man who knows what he wants and won’t let anything stand in his way.”
“I’ve met those guys. I consider them rude.”
Craig chuckled and hugged her closer. “Maybe I meant more decisive. There always seems to be a scale in my head, constantly weighing options.” Her head rested on his chest. “Maybe that’s why I started to leave the pub, I wasn’t sure I wanted to meet you.” His fingers moved up and down her bare back, tracing her spine.

Author Bio:

Daphne Dubois writes contemporary romance and believes the right book at the right time can make all the difference. When she's not putting her characters in compromising positions (ahem), she works as a registered nurse. A member of the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Eastern Canada, the most romantic place in the world. You can also find her writing for teens as B.R. Myers. 

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COVER REVEAL for "Fangs & Fins (Blood, Bloom, & Water, #1)" by Amy McNulty

Today I'm helping 

Snowy Wings Publishing

reveal the brand-new cover 

for Fangs & Fins (Blood, Bloom, & Water, #1)

by Amy McNulty

Are you ready to see this amazing cover? 

Check it out below!

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SUMMARY:

A dapper vampire. A sullen merman. Two heirs to a great conflict—and each needs to claim a beloved to become his kindred’s champion.

High school senior Ember Goodwin never had a sister, but after her mom’s remarriage, she now has two. The eldest is no stranger to her—Ivy is a witty girl in her grade who’s almost never spoken to the shy bookworm before—but she’s surprised to find the popular girl quite amiable. Their burgeoning friendship is tested, however, when Dean Horne, a pale, besuited charmer, shows interest in them both and plans to reveal his appetite for blood to the one who’ll stand by his side.

Seventeen-year-old Ivy Sheppard is tired of splitting her time between her dad’s and her mom’s, particularly when her dad uproots their lives to move them in with his new wife and step-daughter. Used to rolling with her parents’ whims, she tries to make the best of it and befriend her nerdy new step-sister. Her hectic life grows more unwieldy when she catches the eye of junior Calder Poole, whom she swears she sees swap well-toned legs for a pair of fins during a dip in a lake. Now she’s fending off suitors left and right, all while trying to get to the bottom of the strange happenings in her town.

The first book in the Blood, Bloom, & Water series sets family against family and friend against friend as an epic, ancient war comes to a head in a supposedly sleepy suburb. 

COVER REVEAL for "Superheroes Suck" by Jamie Zakian

Today I'm helping 

Month9Books

reveal the brand-new cover 

for their first new series release of 2018 

called: Superheroes Suck 

by Jamie Zakian

Are you ready to see this amazing cover? 

Check it out below!

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Superheroes Suck by Jamie Zakian
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Publisher: Month9Books
Genre: YA, Superheroes, Fantasy, Supernatural, Romance, Villains, Comics

SUMMARY

Welcome to Gemini City, where super-battles disrupt rush hour, insurance claim adjusters rival rock stars, and villains stash the souls of murdered superheroes inside little children.

It’s been ten years since Shay Sinclair’s parents were murdered by a super villain, leaving she and her sister to fend for themselves. Now at age sixteen, Shay has something that villain wants. Something he needs. After a chance encounter with a superhero in a stairwell, something awakens in Shay, something that could get her killed.

Max Steel has spent the last ten years searching for one particular soul. Now, a coincidental run-in with Shay Sinclair leaves Max closer than he’s ever been to everything he’s ever wanted. But Max hits a brick wall when he goes after her. Unlike other girls her age, Shay isn’t into superheroes. So, if Max wants to win her over and be reunited with the soul inside her, he must get creative. He invites Shay into a seductive world of fame, glamour, luxury, and epic battles with villainous foes.

Now that Shay's in the mix with superheroes and crazed villains, everyone wants a piece of her. A super villain wants to devour her soul, a superhero wants to love her, and Shay just wants to go back to her normal life. It's not like in the movies. In real life, superheroes suck.

The book is available for pre-order now 

in Kindle eBook 

and soon in Paperback.

BOOK BLITZ for "ISAN" by Mary Ting

ISAN 
by Mary Ting
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication date: May 1st, 2018
Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult

THE WORLD HAS CHANGED.
SCIENTISTS WARNED IT WOULD HAPPEN. 

Meteors devastated the Earth. World Governments developed plans to help surviving citizens. The United States disbanded and salvageable land was divided into our quadrants — North, South, East, and West — governed by The Remnant Council. 

Struggling to survive, seventeen-year-old Ava ends up in juvenile detention, until she is selected for a new life — with a catch. She must be injected with an experimental serum. The results will be life changing. The serum will make her “better.” To receive the serum, Ava agrees to join a program controlled by ISAN, the International Sensory Assassin Network. 

While on a mission, she is abducted by a rebel group led by Rhett and told that not only does she have a history with him, but her entire past is a lie perpetuated by ISAN to ensure her compliance. Unsure of who to trust, Ava must decide if her strangely familiar and handsome captor is her enemy or her savior — and time is running out.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

When the bodyguard with the gun directed the weapon at Roxy, something dangerous ignited in me knowing my team would be next. This foreign existence in my core wanted blood. It wanted death. It wanted destruction. I became a monster. Helix transformed me into a shallow shell to servitude—a perfect model of ISAN assassin.
I pulled my gun from the side of my boot and took aim. The bodyguard who had shot Roxy’s team went down first, followed by the others.
Don’t look at their faces. Don’t make eye contact. But I did look at their faces, and I did make eye contact.
Each guard held my foster father’s cruel face, his steel malevolent eyes. I saw the man who ripped the happiness out of my soul, who towered over me into submission, and molded me into a terrified little girl. For a heartbeat I froze, knees buckling, heart palpitating with trepidation and regret. I became that little girl. A rat, he had called me, and beat me until I stopped crying from missing my mother.
No more. No more. I am no longer that petrified girl.
Then, one after the other, as hunger for revenge drove me, as if each of the men was him, I shot them until they were all down.

Author Bio:

International Bestselling Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book-No Bullies Allowed. 

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BLOG TOUR & BOOK REVIEW for "Let Me Love You" by Jessica Jayne

Let Me Love You 
by Jessica Jayne
Publication date: Dec 18th, 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Twenty-three year old Ren Haynes returns home after graduating college with two goals–start his engineering career and claim the heart of his parents’ thirty-one year old divorced neighbor, Stacey Williams. 

Stacey is nursing her broken heart and shattered ego. Not only did her ex-husband have an affair, he got the woman pregnant. Picking up the pieces of her life isn’t easy, so when Ren taps into her need to feel desired again, she finds herself in a position she never imagined. 

Can Ren help to rebuild her confidence and convince her that age is just a number?

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~BOOK REVIEW for "Let Me Love You"~

****(4) out of 5 Stars!

This was quite an enjoyable read!  I loved the interaction between the two main characters, and the realistic back-and-forth between them as the nature of their relationship changed.  The peripheral characters were interesting as well, especially Stacey's sister and Ren's friends, and I would have liked to see more of them.  Ren's father was awesome; I totally loved him!  His mother was way too overbearing and reactionary; I would have understood her response if her son were 15, but not when he was 22.  

While I enjoyed the story as it was unfolding, the beginning where their history was laid out seemed really clunky and stilted.  I would have enjoyed more a viewing of it as it unfolded, instead of an explanation of it after the fact.  I also thought that the beginning of Stacey and Ren's new dynamic was a bit too rushed, and because of that it was somewhat unbelievable.  

But once the story took off, it was very good.  I loved the reaction that Stacey's ex receives from them!  And it was great to see Ren be mature enough to give Stacey the space she needed to come to terms with their relationship in her own time, as well as the fact that he didn't give up on them.  

A great, quick read, that was both sweet and hot, and that I definitely recommend to other fans of contemporary romance! 

I received a free eCopy of this title from Xpresso Book Tours, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.

Author Bio:

Jessica is a born and raised small town Ohio girl, who moved to the Sunshine State after graduating from college. She graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in English. What college major could possibly be better than one that makes you read novels and write about them! Now she is thrilled to be able to share all the hot stories floating around in her head! 

Jessica loves to travel and travel often! She shares her love of travel with her husband and children. She’s a huge sports fan, especially football. She the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Ohio State Buckeyes! She’s a wine-making (and wine-tasting) aficionado. She loves all music. And nothing is better than sunset at the beach! 

In the journey of life, she also married a wonderful man and had three beautiful (and sometimes crazy) children. Life is always an adventure! 

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BOOK BLITZ for "Bound (Magnus Blackwell, #2)" by Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor

Bound
(A Magnus Blackwell Novel, #2)
by Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication date: April 17th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Supernatural

Magnus Blackwell’s past is about to catch up with him. 

An evil force has seized New Orleans. Pestilence, suffering, and darkness cloak the city. The citizens are scared and need their mambo to guide them, but Lexie Arden can’t help anyone. A diabolical presence has taken Lexie’s power and severed her ties with the other side. 

Magnus Blackwell is fighting demons of his own. Torn between his devotion to Lexie and a spirit from his past, Magnus’s loyalty is put to the test. He must revisit his sins to uncover the key to the hatred ripping the city apart. If he doesn’t, Lexie’s reign as mambo will end. 

Their search for answers leads them deep into the darker realms of voodoo — until a desperate Lexie does the unthinkable, and Magnus can do nothing to spare her from her fate.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

Will went to the doors leading to the balcony. “Do you hear that?”
Lexie got up from the sofa, and as soon as she came up to him, a low buzzing came through their back door. “What is it?”
Will hooked her waist. “Get behind me.”
“Why?”
“Just do it, Lexie!”
She curled into his back with her hands on his shoulders, looking around the nape of his neck while he reached for the door handle.
The buzzing got much louder when he cracked the door.
Her breath coming in quick gasps, she stared out into the night.
A wave of black shot up from the courtyard as if alerted by the light escaping from their door. The humming became deafening. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, and then Lexie became paralyzed with terror.
Flies, thousands of them, swarmed like a flock of birds, dipping and rising with a single mind. While poised over the pond, their mass obscured the floodlights from the adjacent buildings.
Aghast, Lexie’s nails dug into Will as the swarm pulled into a giant ball. A black wave flowed over the mass, bending and twisting in different directions, forming a shape.
“Have you ever seen flies do that?” Will mumbled.
Never taking her eyes off the object, she whispered back, “No. Never.”
Right after Lexie spoke, the ball suddenly contracted into a tight, flat orb.
She could not see the flies anymore, but their buzzing remained. Depressions sank into the orb; two eyes, a dip where the nose should be, and a thin line for the mouth.
The face reminded Lexie of a large black skull.
The skull then exploded, and the flies flew off in every direction.
“Holy shit!” Will slammed the doors and set the bolt. “What the hell was that?”
Lexie went around him to the window and peeked outside.
The only things hovering above the pond were a few bright beams from a neighbor’s spotlight. The flies had disappeared.
She stepped back, trembling. “It’s a warning.”
“Any idea who’s sending it?”
She rubbed his back, eager to feel his warmth. “No, but I’m sure I will find out soon enough.”
“Are you all right?” Magnus arrived in her living room. “I came as soon as I felt the black presence nearby.”
“We’re fine.” She looked up. “Just spooked.”
“Who are you talking …?” Will’s voice faded. “Oh my God. Is that …?”
Lexie held her breath as Will stared openmouthed at Magnus. “Can you see him?”
Will closed his mouth and cleared his throat. “Oh yeah.”
She rubbed her head, fighting the tension headache coming on. “This is all I need.”
“Others have seen me, why not him?” Magnus maneuvered closer. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Will.”
Will’s cheeks blanched, but he managed a courteous nod.
“Yeah, it’s nice to know you’re real.”
Magnus smugly grinned. “I’ve always been real.”
A long lapse of silence followed as each of the men—well, man and ghost—sized the other up.
Since she’d first met Magnus, Lexie longed for Will to see him, to know he existed. Her wish finally granted, she questioned if seeing Magnus was good for her husband. Will had stayed on the fringe of her world, opting to support her in any way he could, but leaving her to run her responsibilities without his assistance. She’d preferred things that way, seeking guidance from Titu instead of Will. He had his architecture firm and she her shop. Could they go back to their comfortable existence, or had the tide turned?
“Why is this happening?” Will staggered backward. “Why am I seeing him?”

Author Bio:

Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Having been brought up in the motion picture industry, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her award-winning novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story memorable. A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans. 

Lucas Astor is from New York, has resided in Central America and the Middle East, and traveled through Europe. He lives a very private, virtually reclusive lifestyle, preferring to spend time with a close-knit group of friends than be in the spotlight.
He is an author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but right next door behind a smiling face. 

Photography, making wine, and helping endangered species are just some of his interests. Lucas is an expert archer and enjoys jazz, blues, and classical music. 

One of his favorite quotes is: “It’s better to be silent than be a fool.” ~Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird) 

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BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Arthur J. Gonzalez for "Sons of Gods"

Sons of Gods 
by Arthur J. Gonzalez
Publication date: January 25th, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult

Long ago, the wrath of the three God brothers marked the onset of the Great War. The other Gods watched in horror, until they, too, were forced to take sides. Their beloved Mt Olympus collapsed, ruin was brought to all Divine, and the Age of Darkness gripped the world in its clutches. But a group of Gods was wise, and before their impending deaths, they had crafted a pact, committing to one day rebuilding the Territories – the Heavens, Seas, and the Underworld. It would usher in the world they protected and honored out from its darkness. And from it would rise the new Greats: the Sons of Gods. 

Cienzo has always had an affliction for metal and fire; never did he anticipate it would one day translate to wielding dormant powers. It is during a journey to fulfill a promise to his dying sister, that he is plunged into a dark and magical world, and where great responsibility is bestowed upon him. 

Is he worthy of assuming the throne of the Territories? Can shattering steel and splitting fire change his mind?

Goodreads / Amazon

~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Arthur J. Gonzalez~

1) What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?  

 I have always been captivated by Greek Mythology. My first major introduction was in 7th grade, when I was tasked to play Hades in a class revival of the Kidnapping of Persephone. The parallels between seasons and pomegranate seeds would breed a major revolution of creative thinking for me. It would stay with me forever.

2) Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

 I don’t think the themes are very hidden. It’s all about believing in the power within yourself, even when you believe that power is nonexistent or undeserving. We are each given something magical in life, and at some point we must step up and decide whether we will honor that gift or not. It is about courage and love, loyalty and loss. Things we all, no matter age or race, will face in a lifetime. 

3) Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

There are bits of everyone I know sprinkled into each of my characters. That is how I build my characters. Kayana and Zendaya and smart, deft and fearless. They are inspired by the women in my life: my mother, grandmother, sisters and niece. They are dedicated to those around them, prepared to do what they must to protect the ones they love. Filled to the brim with integrity and loyalty. These are the women that made/make me who I am. The relationship between Cienzo and Isla: it is what I imagined I would do for my very own sister. For the bonds that we have. To the end of the world I would go.

4) Who has influenced you most as a writer?

 I learned a lot of my writing from my editor Monika Faulkner. But as an influence, I think of Walt Disney. I read a few of his biographies and was filled with immediate creative fulfillness and energy. I read that he used to urge and challenge his Imagineers to ‘Up’ their work; to stop and ask if they’ve ‘Upped’ it enough. I use this so often. I will stop my work and ask “What can I add right now, what can happen right here, what can I introduce that can ‘Up’ my story?” And so often my entire storyline will change for the better.

5) If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?  

So, I’m going to have to say any three of the tournament players from Marie Lu’s WAR CROSS novel. First of all, who would not want to attempt game night with the technology of Virtual/Augmented reality?! And what I would serve is a LOT of caffeine so that we can stay up all night playing. I wouldn’t want to give it up.

6) Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?

Never. I can get overly anxious about having too many to get to at once, but one can never have too many stories to read or write. Writing is a magic power. I’d never give that up. What one leaves behind after writing will one day be a relic to their life’s work. It is their legacy. It is the most beautiful form of memorializing a person, and there can never be too much of that. 

Author Bio:

Arthur J. Gonzalez is a Young Adult author of the Photo Traveler series. Originally born in Miami, FL, you can now find him living on the West side in Los Angeles. If he’s not drinking coffee or playing with his adorable Schnoodle, Sookie, then he’s probably enjoying a nap. Also, he forgets the lyrics to nearly every song. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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COVER REVEAL for "Aer (The Elements, #3)" by Tracy Korn

Today I'm helping 

Snowy Wings Publishing

reveal the brand-new cover 

for the third book in the "Elements" series 

by Tracy Korn:

AER!

The cover was designed by JKorn Photographics. 

Are you ready to see this amazing cover? 

Check it out below!

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So, what do you think of the cover for 
Tracy Korn’s YA Sci-Fi / Action Adventure story
AER (Book Three of The Elements series)
which is releasing May 22, 2018? 

Are you ready to find out what happened to Liddick at the end of TERRA (Book Two)? 
Are you ready to hear the whole ordeal in his own words? 
This exciting third in the series is told from two perspectives! 
Follow some of the crew to a topside world that isn’t the way they left it, 
and the rest into the virtuo-cine network where truth is blurred, and time is running out! 
What do you do when reality is the biggest lie of all? 
Find out in AER (Book Three)!

You can pre-order the book at: mybook.to/AER.

Visit the author at:

Author Website: www.tracykorn.com

Series Website: www.theelementsseries.com

Twitter: @tracybonics

Instagram: @tracy_korn