BOOK BLITZ for "Star Knight Errant: Thrust" by A.K. Shelley

Star Knight Errant: Thrust 
by A.K. Shelley
Publication date: August 26th, 2019
Genres: Erotica, Romance,
Science Fiction

When Martian Air Science Engineer Cass Hedley takes a dare to use her new Artificial Intelligence system for a night of erotic release, there’s only one man she can imagine spending time with—the legendary comic book hero Star Knight Errant. She imagines strong hands, hard abs, and bubble baths, but her black market AI has another idea—an illegal fight club that will only end in her sexy companion’s death…or hers. 

When Evander Mór transports to an unknown desert planet, his mission changes. Instead of brokering a peace deal, he’ll figure out what backwater he’s landed on and enjoy a well-earned weekend off with a gorgeous scientist. But when things get hotter than a supernova between them, he discovers he only has eighteen hours to stop an AI bent on murder, convince Cass he’s more than fiction, and find a way to cross the gulf between galaxies to bring her home.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

REVIEW

***(3) out of 5 Stars

Here's another book that seemed to have a lot of potential, but just didn't do much with it. The main couple seemed to have a connection and quite a bit of chemistry, but certainly not enough to sustain a relationship across galaxies. I really didn't get how this whole interstellar transportation cloning thing was supposed to work, let alone how Evander was saved at the end. The book definitely left a lot of unanswered questions, although it did hint at future volumes to perhaps answer some of those.

I received a free eBook copy of this title from NetGalley & Xpresso Book Tours,

and have willingly provided an honest review.

Excerpt:

She wasn’t sure how long she’d been hunched over the white, carved stone sink, breathing and waiting for the shaking to stop. Adrenaline crashed through her veins, her senses registering every sound, touch, smell, and sight around her. She grasped the wine glass and chugged it, letting the rich cherry and tannins drown the bile in her throat. Only after swallowing the last gulp did she look up to see Evan leaning in the doorway.

She sighed and drew her gaze back to the sink. One more replicant to get rid of. But as long as Star Knight didn’t fight her, she could wait until her nerves calmed.

He released a deep breath and moved to the bath. Cass closed her eyes. She didn’t have the strength to deal with him right now. Her house was destroyed, she was covered in bluer-than-Earth blood, and she couldn’t erase the violence she witnessed—and engaged in—from her thoughts.

A rose-scented cloth touched the skin of her shoulder and swept, warm and soothing, down her arm. Keeping her eyelids pressed shut, she released a shaking breath.

Evan turned the facecloth over, pressing a fresh clean surface against her skin. She chanced a glance. The blue was gone, and only faint red streaks remained of the mask she applied earlier. She raised her eyes to look at the man standing behind her, cleaning her shoulder, his gaze fixed on her skin. He looked up, blushed when he saw her staring at him, and turned to rinse the cloth in the bath.

Cass’s breath slowed when he returned and studiously traced the warm, clean cloth along her nape. He pulled it down her arm, leaving her unmarked pink skin glowing from the mud. Evan stroked the facecloth across her other shoulder, clearing the fight and the mask from her other arm. She was breathless again.

Author Bio: 

Prior to "following her weird" into passionate affairs off-world, A.K. Shelley wrote fantasy under the pseudonym Angela Shelley. She's worked as a technical writer, publications manager, graphic designer, biologist, and Buddhist nun. Born and raised under the starry skies of Canada, these days she lives with her husband and kids in Southern California. A.K.'s first book, Star Knight Errant: Thrust, is expected August 26, 2019 through The Wild Rose Press.   http://akshelley.com 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Bookbub

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#StarKnightErrantThrust

BOOK BLITZ for "Confessions of a Sex Kitten" by Mila Rossi

Confessions of 
a Sex Kitten 
by Mila Rossi
Publication date: August 30th, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Striving to be the sex kitten Avery Taylor portrays on her blog is a lot harder than she imagined, but having a hot, new neighbor move in next door sure gets her imagination going. His green eyes alone would give a girl the vapors. And yet, getting involved with someone so close just isn’t in the cards for Avery, even if her inner kitten is telling her that all rules are meant to be broken once. Or twice. Or as many times as it takes to get familiar with James’s one billion abs.
James Mardin moves to NYC to focus on family and work. Quirky Avery just plops into his life out of nowhere. She’s the last thing he needs, and yet, he can’t seem to stay away from the damsel down the hall, especially after he stumbles upon her secret blog. A sexy goofball lusting after him? It just wouldn’t be proper if he didn’t make her fantasies come true.
With views to die for, neighborly favors to return, and secrets to uncover, James and Avery are in for a treat. The attraction is evident, but is it enough to get them through snarky family remarks, burning buildings, and the heat of a typical New York summer?

Goodreads / Amazon

Excerpt:

She walked into her bedroom, kicked off her shoes, and removed her earrings before starting to take off her dress. As she contorted every way possible to reach the zipper in the back, her eyes locked on her neighbor watching TV in the dark. She continued fiddling with her dress, not thinking much of James lounging in his chair, seemingly absorbed in whatever show or movie he was watching, when the light from his television illuminated his bare chest and abs, rising and falling in rapid succession.
She forgot about her dress now hanging down to her hips, and squinted in concentration, trying to get a better look. His white dress shirt was unbuttoned and hung loosely at his sides, while his rolled-up sleeves revealed those forearms she always stared at. What really got her attention though, was the fact that he seemed to be panting.
What in heaven’s name is he doing?
Except for one bare leg, the rest of him was hidden by the television. And then it hit her. He was masturbating, probably to porn. Her pulse started to race and her palms got sweaty as she watched the dark fuzz on his chest and abs move up and down in perfect rhythm. Not even a fire alarm going off could have chased her away from the window, but what could, was James turning his head and locking eyes with her across the distance.

1. MY. GOD!

She had a split second to give him the courtesy of a blush before she tried to bolt from the window, tripped over her cat, and crashed to the floor with much humiliating noise as her flailing hands knocked over the night lamp. For the next couple of minutes, she remained spread out on the floor like a flattened pancake. The throbbing in her ears turned out to be her heartbeat and her lungs seemed devoid of air as she inhaled deeply, wincing at the pain in her ribs. Roger thankfully seemed unfazed by the fiasco and sat in the corner, licking his tiny jewels.
A knock at the door made her head snap around so quickly, she almost caused further injury to herself.
“Who is it?” she shouted in the most casual voice she could pull off.
“It’s me,” a deep, husky voice replied.
Great, first he catches me spying on him and now this.
“What’s up?”
“Are you alright? I heard a loud noise.”
“No shit,” she mumbled to herself, staring at the ceiling. “I’m fine, thanks!”
“Can you open the door?”
Her eyes darted in his direction.
“Um, I’m getting ready to go to bed.”
“I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine, James. Go back to your…apartment.” She’d almost told him to go back to jerking off.
“Open up, Avery, so I can have a look for myself. You looked like you crashed pretty hard.”
Great, so he’d seen her. Good grief.
She shifted with a groan, but managed to pick herself up and head for the door. She stuck her arms through the sleeves of her dress, but didn’t bother with the zipper in the back.
“All fine,” she said, opening the door just a crack to smile at him. Her expression froze as she gaped at his body still displayed in all its glory, except now he wore pants. She had to summon all her control not to run her hands over the hair covering his chest, leading down into his pants.
“Avery,” James said, getting her attention.
She blinked rapidly and looked up at him. “Hm?”
He pushed open the door and stepped inside.
“What are you doing?” she asked alarmed.
“Making sure you’re still in one piece.”
He closed the door and turned her every which way to see if she was bleeding, at least that’s what she assumed he was doing. She winced when his hand ran over her left side and he looked at her concerned.
“You’re hurt.”
“No, I’m not. Nothing a drink or some medicine won’t cure. Maybe both together,” she grumbled as an afterthought.
He looked like he didn’t believe her.
“I’m fine,” she repeated, doing a mini-dance. “See? All good. Now go back home and let me get some sleep.”
He touched her side again and she winced once more.
“What the hell are you doing?” she gritted.
“Proving that you’re a liar.” He grabbed her hand and dragged her to the sofa. “Sit.”
She gave him an annoyed look.
“Sit, Avery, before I’ll make you.”
“Fine.” She plopped down.
He knelt before her and touched her ribs gingerly, watching for her reaction. “Can you lift your arm?”
She did so and gave him an I-told-you-so look.
“Can you bend side to side?”
She did and felt a tug. “It hurts a little, but not much. I can manage.”
“Good. Then nothing’s broken.”
Her eyes lowered to his hands wrapped around her waist. Her skin was on fire at his touch, even through the fabric of her dress. If this was how her body responded now, she wondered what it’d feel like without any barriers.
His hand slid along her side in what felt decidedly like a caress. “Be more careful next time.”
Confused she stared into his eyes, mere inches from her. “With what?”
“Your choice of entertainment.”
She felt herself blush to the very roots of her hair and cleared her throat. “I didn’t see anything.”
He held her gaze and tightened his grip on her, causing her breath to hitch. “Yes, you did. And you liked it.”

Author Bio:

Mila Rossi is a contemporary romance author who writes feel-good stories - no angst here. She creates heroines who don't back down, stand up for themselves and insist on freedom and independence until the right man comes along. Then all rules are thrown out the window. The heroes must be clever, generous and able to throw a girl over their shoulder. 

Mila has seen the world and loves to write about it. She also loves to paint vintage anime characters, belly dance, try new foods and perfect her archery skills. She wishes she could partake in extreme sports but only allows her characters to tempt fate. Her own chances of causing disasters are just too high. 

Mila also writes historical romance under the name Alice Lake. 

Website / Pinterest / Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Shana Silver for "Mind Games"

Mind Games 
Shana Silver
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: August 27th, 2019
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult

A teen programmer at a school for geniuses must join forces with a boy she can’t remember to stop a hacker from deleting their memories in Shana Silver’s action-packed YA debut, Mind Games. 

Arden sells memories. Whether it’s becoming homecoming queen or studying for that all important test, Arden can hack into a classmate’s memories and upload the experience for you just as if you’d lived it yourself. Business is great, right up until the day Arden whites out, losing fifteen minutes of her life and all her memories of the boy across the school yard. The boy her friends assure her she’s had a crush on for years. 

Arden realizes that her own memories have been hacked, but they haven’t just been stolen and shared… they’ve been removed. And she’s not the only one: her mysterious crush, Sebastian, has lost ALL of his memories. But how can they find someone who has the power to make them forget everything they’ve learned?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Rachel Shane (writing as Shana Silver)~

      1)  What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?

When I was in high school, my dad and I used to have lengthy discussions about sci-fi topics and future technology. We’ve continued to have these conversations over the years and one time we discussed what the world would be like if people could store their memories. I couldn’t stop thinking about that and kept turning it over in my mind. What would happen if you stored your memories…and they were then deleted? What would happen if someone else accessed your memories without your permission? What if you could share memories the way you can share images and files today? As I started thinking about it more, the characters and plot started to become clear.

2) Are there any hidden (or not so hidden) themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

I think the biggest theme in the book is how do you define who you are. There’s reference in the book to the Ancient Greek Ship of Theseus. This was a ship in which every piece of wood was then replaced with a new piece of wood over the years. Is it still the same ship because it looks the same and behaves the same or is it new since everything that was part of it originally is now replaced? If you lose certain memories and parts of your personality, are you still the same person? Or is personality an ever-evolving trait? I had a lot of fun exploring that in the book.

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

As cool as it would be to have friends that can invent cutting edge technology, the characters are all fictional.

4) Who has influenced you most as a writer?

When I was in high school, I first discovered Margaret Atwood during an assignment to write a paper on THE HANDMAID’S TALE. I was blown away by her voice, her characters, and her story. It was the first book I’d read that kept me up late turning pages and I knew right then and there that I wanted to do the same thing one day. I’ve seen read every book she’s written and she remains my favorite writer. Chuck Palahniuk is a close second.

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?

Rose Hathaway from the VAMPIRE ACADEMY by Richelle Mead series because she’s feisty yet vulnerable and she’s a great, loyal friend. Wes from THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen because I fell in love with him when I read the book and his quiet nature balances out Rose’s outgoing antics. Lastly, I’d round out the group with Tella from the CARAVAL series by Stephanie Garber because she never does what anyone expects. We’d play a murder mystery game, naturally, and I’d serve gastronomic cuisines straight out of the MIND GAMES cafeteria.

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

Physically, yes, especially if space is limited, but thankfully you can store endless books inside your mind just by remembering your favorite parts. Maybe one day we’ll be able to relive those memories and experience reading favorite books all over again.

Author Bio:

Rachel Shane (writing as Shana Silver) studied creative writing at Syracuse University. She’s been a computer animator, an e-book creator for a major publisher, and now works as a Project Manager in digital and TV advertising where she enjoys telling people what to do. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, young daughter, and the characters she dreams up. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Tinsley Sellers for "Knowing Nichelle (Beckley's Daughters, #3)"

Knowing Nichelle
by Tinsley Sellers
Publication date: August 16th, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

She’s just met the man of her dreams…but he’s not who he said he was. Neither is she. Until they get a second chance to make a first impression. 

Is he a sophisticated big-city lawyer, or an easygoing small-town woodworker? And if she’s not a career-driven high-powered attorney, then who is she? Hiding behind their masks is second nature until circumstances force them to see beneath the surface and realize just how alike—and in love—they really are. 

He’s only got one rule: no lawyers. She’s a lawyer. 

Burned by experience, Buck’s got a rule for a reason. After walking away from a lucrative legal position, he found his peace in Beckley. Life on the farm is simple, and his woodworking business is thriving. He’s not interested in trading his work boots for wingtips and rejoining the rat race. So what if she’s the most compelling woman he’s ever met? 

She’s only got one requirement: no a**holes. He’s an a**hole. 

After a disastrous encounter in a trendy bar, Nichelle’s convinced that he’s an over-muscled a**hole. She’s got a sleek car, luxurious condo, and elegant designer clothes. Family comes first, and her legal career is on the fastest track. She’s never met a problem she couldn’t solve on her own. So what if he can see beneath her carefully constructed façade? 

They’re perfect together. They just don’t know it yet. 

Welcome back to Beckley, Michigan! Autumn is in the air and as the days get shorter, the air gets cooler and the calm lakes reflect the blue skies and red-gold trees for a double-dose of fall color. The people are just as warm, friendly, smart, funny, and real as you remember. When you need a place to call home, Beckley welcomes you—and sometimes the family you choose is as strong as the bonds you’re born with. 

If you like small-town romance, you’ll like Beckley. If you like smart heroines who balance demanding professional careers with a commitment to family, friends, and finding love, then you’ll definitely like it here. If you like strong, sexy, hard-working heroes who have not-so-secret soft spots for kids, dogs, and classic cars, you may find that you never want to leave! 

Knowing Nichelle is the third in the Beckley’s Daughters romance series. It can be read as a stand-alone story, but continuing readers will recognize many of the characters and locations. This series is recommended for adult readers and contains explicit language and intimate situations.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Tinsley Sellers~

1) What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?

Knowing Nichelle is the third book in my Beckley’s Daughters series. Nichelle first appears in Book 1, Healing Heather, as Heather’s best friend. She was so interesting; she really seemed to have everything together. She comes across as a total problem-solver. I started to wonder if she was really as efficient as she presented herself. What problems of her own wasn’t she as good at fixing? And why?

Buck also shows up first in Healing Heather in a best-friend role (and he’s kind of a fixer as well). He seems low-key and a little disconnected, but I knew there was more to him. He really, really surprised me with his depth.

I also love that the story’s timeline spans both Books 1 and 2. Again, I started wondering what was happening with Nichelle and Buck while nobody was paying attention. As it turns out, a lot was going on!

The story stands alone, but if you have read the previous two books, you will get some aha! moments where some small detail for Heather (Book 1) or Aerin (Accepting Aerin, Book 2) has much greater significance for Nichelle and Buck.

2) Are there any hidden (or not so hidden) themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

One of the strongest over-arching themes is masks. The face you present to the world isn’t necessarily who you feel like inside; game face is a cliché for a reason. It can be comfortable to let people perceive you in a certain way; it gives you a safe set of responses. But when someone really sees you, really knows you—it gets uncomfortable, because it can be unpredictable. It’s so scary to let someone see the real you, because you are giving them a loaded weapon and trusting them not to use it. And I don’t just mean in romantic relationships, either. Forging new friendships can be just as fraught with conflicting emotions.

And cake. There is a lot of cake in this book. To be fair, all of my books are full of people cooking and sharing meals, which is very symbolic. But cake? That’s a pretty good metaphor on a lot of levels.

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

If you think you’re reading a real person, then I’ll take that as a compliment that I’ve done my job in creating a character that feels fully developed. But no. There are no straight-line correlations between Character A and Real Person X (although one of my beta readers swears that Buck is her ex-boyfriend). Of course, if one of my friends happens to say something pithy or hilarious, I can’t promise that it won’t eventually come out of one of my characters’ mouths.

4) Who has influenced you most as a writer?

Late bloomers everywhere are my heroines. I am a textbook late-bloomer, and I need all the examples I can get of people whose lives have taken detours, who didn’t write that instant best-seller at age 22. I love hearing the non-linear stories of people who found their way to writing by following non-traditional paths.

I literally wrote my first book in second grade (a cookbook, and my signature recipe was vanilla ice cream topped with Cap’n Crunch), and I never stopped writing—but I never believed enough in myself or my stories to pursue them seriously. I went all-in on an academic career instead.

Then the universe threw me into a second act I never saw coming. And when life hands you a second chance that reads like a romance novel, maybe it’s time to leave the fear behind and write the darn romance novels. It’s never too late.

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?

Oh, that’s easy: Darcy (Pride & Prejudice), Rochester (Jane Eyre), and Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights). I’ll have Maxim deWinter (Rebecca) on speed-dial, because we all know how unreliable Heathcliff is, and he’ll probably get drunk and cancel at the last second.

Given the guest list, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding would be the only acceptable menu. I’ll have a sticky toffee pudding for dessert, but you just know they won’t eat it. I suppose I’ll have to buy extra claret. And whisky.

Once they finish stinking up my drawing room with their after-dinner cigars, we’ll play Truth or Dare or Drink. It’s just Truth or Dare, but with the option of doing a shot of tequila instead of telling the truth or taking a dare.

Darcy safely chooses Truth, Rochester picks Dare, and Heathcliff (who arrived in an Uber, he absolutely did not drive drunk) predictably goes for Drink. The evening inevitably spirals out of control; there’s swordplay, pistols, arson, the cut direct, and a series of prank phone calls to Max deWinter.

I’ll be filing an insurance claim to cover the damages, and the boys are going to need bail money.

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

I don’t understand. Has anybody ever said ‘yes’ to this?

Author Bio:

Tinsley Sellers grew up in Chicago, spending her summers with her grandparents in a tiny town a lot like Beckley, Michigan. Life took her to Arizona, Washington, and Idaho before she finally found her home in Arkansas. She is married to an amazing, supportive (and handsome!) man, with whom she has rescued three dogs and two cats. When she’s not writing, she teaches physics and engineering at the local university. When she’s not writing or teaching, she’s probably trying new recipes. She enjoys fast cars, loud music, fine whisky, and big books. In no particular order. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

COVER REVEAL for "When Darkness Whispers (Ashes of Eden, #1)" by Heather L. Reid

Check out the cover for the forthcoming Fantasy novel

"When Darkness Whispers (Ashes of Eden, #1)"

by Heather L. Reid

Publication date:  September 24th, 2019

Cover designer:  Story Wrappers

Publisher:  Snowy Wings Publishing

It’s time to choose: Love or lies, faith or fear, darkness or destiny.

Quinn Taylor hasn’t slept through the night in months. Not since the demons from her dreams began materializing in the school hallway, feeding on her fears, and whispering of her death. Trading in her cheerleading uniform for caffeine drinks to keep the nightmares at bay, Quinn's life is in ruins from the demons' torment until Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her dreams. He’s the light in her darkness and she’s the key to his past, but the last thing the demons want is for them to be together. To keep them apart, the demons must convince Quinn that Aaron will betray her or, worse, confirm her fear that she’s crazy. Aaron and Quinn’s combined powers could banish the darkness for good, but only if she learns to trust her heart and he recovers the secret locked away in his fragile memory. That is, unless the demons kill them first. 

Heather L. Reid is both American and British and has called six different cities in three different countries, home. Her strong sense of wanderlust and craving for a new adventure mean you might find her wandering the moors of her beloved Scotland, exploring haunted castles, or hiking through a magical forest in search of fairies and sprites. When she’s not venturing into the unknown in her real life, she loves getting lost in the worlds of video games or curling up by the fire with good story. For now, this native Texan is back in the Lone Star State, settling down with her Scottish husband.

·   Author Website:  www.heatherlreid.com

·   Instagram:  @heatherreidbooks

BOOK BLITZ for "Wonderland Academy: Book One" by Melanie Karsak

Wonderland Academy: 
Book One 
by Melanie Karsak
Publication date: August 27th, 2019
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Retelling, Young Adult

Welcome to Wonderland Academy. Don’t lose your head. 

Getting into Wonderland Academy is easy:

You must be a little mad.
You must follow the white rabbit.
You must find the key to enter Wonderland.
You must not be named Alice or risk being beheaded by order of the Queen of Hearts. 

We might have an issue with that last one. 

My name may be Alice, but Wonderland Academy is everything my real life isn’t. Who wouldn’t want to learn how to ride a jabberwocky, train with a vorpal sword, cast spells using a teacup, or shapeshift into a fairy? As long as no one figures out my real name, I should be fine. 

The only problem? Aden, the Queen of Hearts’ son, is quickly becoming my best friend. And then there’s Corbin. Brooding, surly, tattooed, and definitely not my type, I can’t stop thinking about him. But Corbin has secrets of his own, and Wonderland and secrets don’t mix. 

How I’m going to pass my classes and protect my secret like my life depends on it is beyond me. But I better find a way. Because in Wonderland, no Alice is safe.
Wonderland Academy re-imagines the fantastical world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland for a fresh, new adventure. Combining whimsy, magic, and a splash of steampunk, New York Times best-selling author Melanie Karsak invites you into this beautifully re-envisioned fairy tale adventure.
* * *
Wonderland Academy is a college-level academy novel. It contains a slow-burn (not rh) romance. The novel is clean aside from mild language. This is Book 1 in a planned trilogy. Book 1 ends on a cliffhanger (Frodo didn’t reach Mount Doom in a day, after all). 

Trigger Warning: This novel also includes references to a school shooting.

Goodreads / Amazon

Excerpt:

Setting my bag in a chair by the window, I pulled on my coat. It was pouring. Drops rolled down the windowpane, distorting the view of the sidewalk below. As I pulled my jacket on, however, I noticed someone on the sidewalk below. He was looking up at the window. I couldn’t make him out clearly, but from what I could see, he was wearing some kind of period costume and a top hat. He had long, pale blond hair that almost looked white.
“You all think I’m a lunatic? There’s some guy standing outside in the rain in a Victorian get-up and top hat.”
“What?” Mom asked. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know. Just some rando guy standing in the rain,” I said then turned, zipped up my coat, and grabbed the bag.
Nurse Gilman stepped to the window and looked outside. “It’s really coming down,” she said, eyeing the sky. She then strained her neck to the left and right. “Your mystery man must have gone back inside.”
“He was right there,” I said.
A sick feeling rocked my stomach. No, no, no. He was there. Dammit, he really was there. I edged toward the window and looked outside. I was right. The man was standing right there, looking up at the window.
He waved at me.
“Where?” Nurse Gilman asked, looking up and down the sidewalk.
“There,” I said, motioning hesitantly.
“I must have missed him,” Nurse Gilman said with a shrug.
I stared at the man.
He waved again.
Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.
“Yeah,” I said. “Maybe they’re doing a show in the children’s wing or something,” I muttered then turned from the window.
I didn’t want Nurse Gilman to see my face.
Mom, however, caught my eye. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she gave me a hard look.
I dropped her gaze.
I absolutely, positively, did not want to have that conversation on the way home.
“I’m ready,” I told Mom.
“Good. Let’s get you the hell out of here.”
“Be well,” Nurse Gilman said. She motioned to the nurses’ station. The door to the waiting room unlocked with a click. Nurse Gilman motioned to us that we were free to go.
Mom and I headed down the dim hallway of the fifth-floor psych ward. The narrow hall felt like it was a million miles long. It wasn’t until we were safely inside the elevator that I finally exhaled.
“Your phone,” Mom said, handing it to me.
I had a few missing calls, messages from old friends, but there wasn’t anyone I wanted to talk to anyway. I stared at the screensaver, which had a picture of Nicholas and me. The photo had been taken just before homecoming, before everything went to shit. We’d gone for a hike that day. The autumn leaves in the background were bright orange and burnt red. We were both bundled up, our cheeks red, faces pressed together. We’d spent the entire hike planning a future that would never come to pass.
I turned off my phone and stuck it in my pocket.
Mom punched the elevator button for the ground floor.
I kept my eyes on the lights above the door, praying Mom wouldn’t ask anything.
It wasn’t until we’d passed the second floor that Mom whispered, “Lacey, are you seeing—”
“I’m fine. Really. I’m fine.”
She didn’t answer, which told me she knew well-enough I was not fine.
They’d been popping up in my periphery more frequently for the last two weeks. People who were there then not there. Flickers of light. Shadows that whispered. Otherworldy shapes. Their presence wasn’t anything new to me. While I was more prone to see them during times of stress, they’d been there all my life. I knew that if I really looked, I’d see them. It was better to ignore them.
A mermaid had taught me that.
Mom and I headed to the front of the hospital. I couldn’t wait to get away from the terrible hospital smell. A weird mix of the scents of bleach, chrysanthemums, green beans, and Band-Aids perfumed the place. It was enough to make a person gag.
Raining or not, I was relieved when the hospital doors opened. I inhaled the sweet scent of the rain-soaked air. Mom’s rusted-out Mustang sat waiting just outside.
“Okay. Let‘s run for it,” Mom called, and we sprinted to the car.
Holding my plastic bag above my head, I ran, flinging open the door of the vehicle. But just before I climbed inside, I cast a glance down the sidewalk.
The man was still standing there. He pulled something from his pocket and tapped on it. He waved to me, a broad smile on his face.
“Lacey, you’re letting the rain in,” Mom yelled.
I slipped into the car, slamming the door behind me.
Mom revved the engine then drove off, her nineties rock springing to life. I leaned forward and clicked off the music. The last thing I needed was the dulcet tones of Nirvana shouting at me post suicide watch.
Sighing, I leaned back into the seat and closed my eyes.
Why was I seeing them again?
The white-haired man had been pointing at a pocket watch. A pocket watch.
What in the hell did that mean?
I hadn’t meant to kill myself.
Not this time.
It figured. On the morning I’d been discharged from the psych ward, I was beginning to lose my mind.

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Melanie Karsak is the author of The Airship Racing Chronicles, The Harvesting Series, The Celtic Blood Series, Steampunk Red Riding Hood, and Steampunk Fairy Tales. The author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Southern New Hampshire University. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram / Bookbub / Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK BLITZ for "The Bar Next Door (Barflies, #1)" by Katia Rose

The Bar Next Door 
(Barflies, #1)
by Katia Rose
Publication date: August 22nd, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Sometimes you take the shot, and sometimes the shot takes you. 

As the manager of Montreal’s most infamous dive bar, Monroe—and it’s just Monroe, thank you very much—is used to serving up her signature pearls of wisdom alongside an array of shots, pints, and pitchers. In fact, she thrives on it. Taverne Toulouse is a mighty ship, and she its fearless captain, trusted by patrons and bar staff alike to steer them through choppy waters. 

If only she’d been given a little warning before a full-on tsunami swept in next door.
Julien Valois’ wining and dining empire is making waves. The next item on his agenda is opening a trendy lounge right next to Monroe’s beloved Taverne Toulouse—one that’s meant to run the dive bar out of business so he can buy up that property too.

His plans did not include falling for a five-foot-nothing brunette with an impressive vocabulary and an even more impressive ability to manhandle drunk frat boys twice her size. 

They’re rivals in every sense of the word, but when Monroe and Julien are in a room together, the battle lines fade away. Their defences lower, their hearts get louder than their heads, and the burn between them goes down like just the right shot—intense, intoxicating, and able to sweep their priorities away with a single taste. 

Until reality decides to slap up a big ‘For Sale’ sign and force them remember those priorities all too clearly. 

The Bar Next Door is part of the Barflies trilogy, a series of standalone romantic comedies that follow the ups and downs of the staff at a Montreal dive bar.

Goodreads / Amazon

Excerpt:

My relationships have all been duds, just packs of seeds I hopefully sprinkle onto freshly tilled soil and nurture for weeks on end, only to watch some runty little weed poke its head up and then wither a few days later. My mother says I have a habit of taking on boyfriends as ‘projects’ and that I like to ‘seek fulfillment by helping others reach their potential instead of working toward my own.’

That’s what you get having a former psychologist for a mother.

The man in front of me doesn’t look like he needs any help on the road to Potential Town; everything about him announces he’s already there.

“I think I know that guy.”

Roxanne’s declaration startles me back into the present. I realize we’ve both moved so close to the door we’ve almost got our noses against the glass. I step back and rip my gaze away from beardie to give her an incredulous look.

“You know that guy?”

She might as well have just told me she’s real tight with Zeus and that they hang out all the time on Mount Olympus.

Author Bio:

Katia Rose is not much of a Pina Colada person, but she does like getting caught in the rain. She prefers her romance served steamy with a side of smart, and is a sucker for quirky characters. A habit of jetting off to distant countries means she’s rarely in one place for very long, but she calls the frigid northland that is Canada home. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK BLITZ for "Boundary" by Ebony Olson

Boundary
by Ebony Olson
Publication date: Sept 20th, 2019
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Vera Cana has given her life to escape her abusive ex. She’s earned her freedom and has the scars to prove it. Now, she’s starting a new life. Purchasing a cottage in a lush forest, she’s ready to live out her days in peace. The goddess has other plans. 

If Vera thought by hiding out in her little cottage she could avoid any more packs and their alphas, she was wrong. When her new neighbor knocks on her door, the draw to him is magnetic, but the scars of her past are a barrier higher than the boundary fence between their properties. Dale’s presence causes a heady mix of calm and excitement, which only adds to the potency of his patient, but determined personality. Vera is about to learn a lot about the way packs work, and she’s going to discover how strong she can be. 

Nothing takes more inner strength than learning how to trust someone with your heart. 

A stand-alone paranormal romance.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

—

 —

Author Bio:

Ebony lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband, daughter, and six cats. She loves to read fantasy, thrillers, and paranormal romance, spending most of her free time with her nose in a book or writing. 

Having always possessed an over-active imagination she spent her younger years regaling friends with fantastic stories, holding her audience captive with the passion and suspense of her characters plights. 

Now in adulthood she has numerous published works and shows no signs of stopping her imagination from spreading across as many pages as it can find. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK BLITZ for "Tides of Time (The Legacy, #1)" by Luna Joya

Tides of Time 
by Luna Joya
Published by: City Owl Press
Publication date: August 20th, 2019
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

A “good girl” witch hiding secrets from her family… 

Cami wants a normal life. Or at least as normal as a life in a family of witches can be. She can’t tell her sisters about her violent ex. Or that she broke the first rule of magic to “harm none.” When her youngest sister asks for help unraveling the death of a 1930’s star abused by those she loved, Cami can’t say no. 

A reformed bad boy who doesn’t know his own family’s secrets… 

Sam lives for his restaurant and coveted screenplay expertise of Hollywood history. He avoids the entanglements of relationships since even his own parents didn’t want him. But when the enchanting Cami needs his help to crack an unsolved mystery, he can’t resist. The closer they come to finding a killer, the more they crave each other. But someone is determined to stop them. 

Can they solve the mystery before history repeats itself?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Excerpt:

The roar of a small engine combined with slaps of water came to her above the normal “whoosh” of the waves hitting the shore. Her head snapped up. A jet ski raced along the waves, encroaching on the surfers.

She stopped grabbing at her board and pushed the tangle of wet hair from her face. The rider zoomed dangerously close to Sam. Her breath caught.

The tall, lean man leaning over the handlebars had a cap pulled low over his forehead. She couldn’t see his face, and long sleeves covered his skin, but she could swear she saw twists of familiar blond hair beneath the hat. It couldn’t be. Her imagination zipped to memories of her last night at the beach with Neil.

How could the rider not see Sam where he sat astride his board? Panic swirled through her.

“Sam!” She jumped on her board and pulled fast strokes.

Sam paddled toward the shore, whipping his head around to the jet ski.

Too late. She judged the distance between them, climbing to her knees to wave her arms in desperation. She had to get the rider’s attention. She screamed Sam’s name again.

The jet ski edged so close she could see the plume shooting out the back as it skipped over the water. Sam paddled harder, his jaw set in a tight line.

The motor blared louder. The bastard was accelerating.

She’d never get to Sam in time, and he was no match for an engine. A wave swept over his head. He rolled beneath it. The spray from the jet ski arced over him as the rider banked.

Her hand flew to her face. Relief poured over her. The jet ski revved again and rolled into a sharp U-turn straight for Sam.

Fear shot through her, surging her elemental magic perilously close to spilling over. Thrusting one hand into the water, she shoved hard. Her mouth curved downward. She pulsed a wave between Sam and the jet ski. One to stop the danger.

Power thrummed through her, and another pulse created a second wave pushing Sam toward the shore. She should stop while she still could, but the connection and clawing need rolled through her. The third push brought Sam almost even with her, a fourth wave capsized the jet ski, and a fifth tugged the menace further from his ride. She could scare him as badly as he’d terrified them.

Hurt him. Pull him under, hold him there as he would do to you and yours. The same hunger she’d fought when she’d held Neil’s head below the tide tore through her. A heartbeat later, she could hear echoes of Ama teaching the first rule of magic. Ama’s sweet brown eyes filled with laughter as she sang lullabies and kissed her to sleep with whispers of, “May you harm none. I love you, mija.”

The water stilled beneath her fingers, rocking her tenderly. She wouldn’t break the rule. Not again. Not for this.

Yet, her elemental magic rushed through her, more thrilling than any ride on a board. The call devoured every part of her, wanting to reclaim her as its own.

“Sweetheart.” Sam reached for her. “You good?”

His hand brushed her waist, and the magic blazed. His fingers locked on her, and her magic blinked away to a calm, constant hum. She studied him, taking in every inch of him.

“Sam?” Her voice broke, and he gathered her close. She ran her hands over his head and down to his suit, checking for any injuries. Or at least she’d meant to simply assure herself of his safety. But magic had a price. An individual toll for each user to pay.

For Mina, it brought on hunger. For Delia, the power could send her into a blackout. For Cami, her magic had always craved affection, and right now, it wanted Sam.

She crawled from her own board until she’d practically climbed in his lap. He fumbled for a moment but adjusted to hold her against him. She brought his head down to hers and pressed her lips against his. Her kiss marked a claim, licking and teasing until the needs of her power subsided.

The demand for passion finally gave way to the catcalls and encouraging whistles from the other surfers. Cami ducked her head.

Sam snickered and bit his lips, clearly savoring the taste of her there. “Surfer girls are hot.”

Author Bio:

Award-winning author Luna Joya writes hex and sex in The Legacy Series, a witch family saga of romances about kickass heroines and the men who love them. 

Fluent in sarcasm and penal code, Luna prosecutes sex crimes and homicides by day and writes paranormal romance at night. She loves history, especially Los Angeles and Hollywood lore. A survivor of traumatic brain injury with steel body parts, she lives in SoCal with her combat veteran husband and their two-pound terror of a rescue pup. 

Her debut novel TIDES OF TIME releases from City Owl Press in August 2019. The next two novels in The Legacy Series will be released from City Owl Press with dates to be announced later this year. 

In 2018, her manuscripts won First Place Speculative Fiction in the San Francisco Heart-to Heart Contest, Second Place Paranormal Romance in The Cleveland Rocks Contest, Third Place Paranormal Romance in the 2018 The Catherine Contest, Third Place in the FF&P On The Far Side Contest, and Honorable Mention in The Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR & BOOK REVIEW for "Best Fake Fiance (Loveless Brothers, #2)" by Roxie Noir

Faking it is easy.

Resisting her?

Impossible.

Best Fake Fiance, an all-new 

sexy and hilarious single dad romance

from Roxie Noir, is available now!

My life has room for exactly two women: 
my daughter Rusty and my best friend Charlotte — known to everyone as Charlie.

One is a feisty, tomboyish firecracker. The other is my seven-year-old. 
I can’t imagine life without either.

So when my ex springs a custody hearing on me, 
I find myself telling the judge that I’m engaged to Charlie.

The only problem? I’m not.

Time to fake an engagement.

Pretending we’re a couple will be no big deal.

We’ve been friends for years. We used to sneak cigarettes behind the bleachers. 
We turned cans of hairspray into flamethrowers. We got drunk on stolen malt liquor.

She’s beautiful, vivacious, spontaneous, and she loves my daughter to death. 
It’s the perfect answer: we fake it for a few months, then go back to our lives.

Until we touch, and sparks fly. Until I can’t take my eyes off her. 
Until I can’t stop thinking about what she’s got on under her coveralls.

It takes one kiss.

One touch.

One shared secret and suddenly, I’m not pretending anymore. 
I want her, I need her in ways I didn’t know I could.

But there’s a lifetime of friendship between us, 
and falling in love with Charlie could risk everything.

~ BOOK REVIEW for Best Fake Fiance ~

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

Daniel and Charlie have been best friends forever.  They shared one incredible kiss ages ago... but the very next day Daniel was informed that he had a one-year-old daughter he'd known nothing about whose mother had just lost custody.  So he's life became all about being a dad and raising a child.  Everything else was put on the back-burner.  Even Charlie.  Except... she stuck around and remained an intregal part of their lives, helping to raise this child who wasn't hers even though she wasn't around her all the time.  

It takes a fake engagement, and some real life kisses, to remind these two how they really feel about one another.  And once they start to let those feelings out, there's basically no turning back.  

Of course, Charlie is pretty much a screw-up, and she doesn't listen when Daniel tells her what he thinks is best, either for his daughter or otherwise.  And he's a little overbearing and protective.  But eventually they finally figure things out between them, and they even get their day in court.

There were some areas that I thought could use a bit more attention.  (For example, I really wanted to see Charlie tell Daniel the reason why she took Rusty to the floating rocks!)  But overall it was a well-written, delightful and entertaining read.

It was fun to see Eli and Violet again, in the little glimpses that we got of them, as well as the rest of the family.  This is definitely another great addition to the Loveless Brothers story, and I can't wait to read about Levi, Seth and Caleb.  

I received a free eBook copy of this title from Social Butterfly PR, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2H59gPQ

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BestFakeFiance

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/30D7AUP

Excerpt:

“This is an intervention,” Eli says.

“For what?” I ask.

“For kissing,” Seth says, taking his place next to Eli, mimicking his stance. “Y’all are terrible kissers.”

Several thoughts all trip through my brain at once. Heat flushes my face. I take a step back.

“Neither of us is kissing you, Seth,” Daniel says, also crossing his arms over his chest.

“Don’t speak for the lady,” Seth says, suddenly grinning.

Next to me, I can feel Daniel’s whole body go rigid.

“The lady’s not kissing you either,” I say before Daniel can say anything.

“No one is here to kiss Seth,” Eli says, shooting him a look. “We’re here to help you kiss each other, because I’ve seen puppets kiss more convincingly than you two.”

A quick flutter of anxiety moves through my chest, waving through me like wind through a wheat field.

“What puppets have you been watching?” I ask, after a second.

“You can find some real weird stuff on the internet,” Daniel offers.

“Spoken like an expert,” says Eli.

“He’s not the one who brought up puppet porn,” I say. “Apparently, you’ve been watching—”

“Everyone quit talking about your perversions and focus,” Seth says, raising his voice. “No one is kissing anyone, except that you—” he points at Daniel, “are kissing her—” he points at me, “because you need people to think you’re actually engaged.”

The flutters are only getting faster, stronger, a gale force wind through the wheat fields because I really do want to kiss Daniel and I really don’t want to do it in front of his brothers, presumably while they shout helpful make out tips at us.

“They’re Eli’s perversions,” I say. “I’ve never even seen—”

“No one is leaving this room until you stop talking about puppets fucking and start kissing,” Eli says, firmly planted in front of the door.

Daniel just sighs.

“Is this because of yesterday?” he asks.

Despite being trapped in an attic and being told to kiss me or else, he’s somehow the calmest person here right now because of course he is. Daniel’s always the calmest person around.

“Yes,” Seth says.

“Obviously,” Eli confirms at the same time.

“I’d be the world’s shittiest brother if I saw that travesty and didn’t do something about it,” Seth goes on. “You,” he nods at Daniel, “have somehow gotten yourself into a ridiculous situation where you need to convincingly make out with her,” he nods at me, “to keep custody of your daughter, and you,” he nods at me again, “have inexplicably agreed to this farce. I agreed to do your taxes, by the way.”

“Thanks,” I say.

“And by God, Daniel, I’m not letting Rusty move to Colorado with the progeny of a demon and a swamp beast, so you better shut up and kiss Charlie.”

“No one kisses normally in front of cameras,” Daniel says. “Look, we kiss just fine. Yesterday there was a photographer saying something, practically everyone we knew was there—"

“Is it just me, Seth, or do those sound like reasons to practice?” Eli says, turning to his brother. “Call me crazy, but maybe they should get better at kissing in public instead of just hoping it never happens again.”

“I do believe you’re correct, Eli,” Seth says. The two of them are talking like they’re in an infomercial, and it might be the most irritating thing I’ve ever heard. “And since they’re not leaving this room until you and I are satisfied, they may as well get—”

“Fine,” Daniel finally says, then unfurls his arms and looks over at me. “Sorry,” he says, his voice softer, gentler.

“They do kind of have a point,” I say, even as my insides twist. “Yesterday wasn’t great.”

Finally, Daniel half-smiles, and he smiles at me, not his dumbass brothers, runs one hand through his hair in his nervous-and-trying-not-to-show-it gesture.

“It was pretty bad,” he admits.

“You jammed your nose into my eye,” I say, laughing.

“You bit my chin,” he teases.

“You—”

Eli clears his throat obnoxiously.

“Come on,” Seth says, spinning a finger in the air in the universal can we get a move on gesture.

I take a deep breath, turn to Daniel, quiet the flutters, and look up into his sky-blue eyes for a split second.

Then we kiss.

About Roxie

I love writing sexy, alpha men and the headstrong women they fall for.

My weaknesses include: beards, whiskey, nice abs with treasure trails, sarcasm, cats, prowess in the kitchen, prowess in the bedroom, forearm tattoos, and gummi bears.

I live in California with my very own sexy, bearded, whiskey-loving husband and two hell-raising cats.

Connect with Roxie

Amazon: https://amzn.to/31ab2a6

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2YyYtDh

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2SRXTPK

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2yphRrO

Reader group "The Roxettes": http://bit.ly/2K5fRLU

Mailing list: http://bit.ly/2SVTlb7

http://roxienoir.com