For all those who didn’t get everything they wanted for Christmas, now’s your chance to get over 2,000 books for FREE! There’s books in every genre and every format available, so take a look and load up your e-reader. Merry Book Christmas!
Tuesday, December 26, 2023
Monday, December 25, 2023
Friday, December 22, 2023
Christmas Extravaganza for Spooky Writer’s Planner by Loren Rhoads and Emerian Rich (GIVEAWAY)……
Those hoping to become a writer will be drawn to this helpful planner full of tips and timelines to maximize your writing time and give you a pathway to success. Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Spooky Writer’s Planner by Loren Rhoads and Emerian Rich, then be sure to add it to your list for Santa. In honor of this tool for writing, and courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours, fill out the form below for the chance to win a slew of other prizes too!
Are you a horror author who wants to take your career to the next level? Do you write dark fantasy, paranormal romance, spooky poetry, or morbid nonfiction?
Would you like to advance farther in the direction of your dreams?
The Spooky Writer's Planner includes:
--13 months of monthly and weekly calendars
--Monthly goal and recap sheets
--Weekly check-ins and note pages
--Writing challenges, prompts, and brainstorming pages
--Trackers for submissions, pitches, and contacts
--Marketing, newsletter, and blog planners
--Check-off sheets for website maintenance, social media updates, and expenses
*AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL AND PRINT*
DIGITAL:
The quick-download version gives you a digital copy so you can print the pages you need and print multiples of those you'll use the most. Create your own Frankenstein's Monster of a planner! These black & white pages are designed to be printed on 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Put them in a three-ring binder or bind them with disks or a spiral, your choice. Use it year after year after one purchase!
BUY AT ETSY here.
PRINT:
The Spooky Writer's Planner is perfect-bound with a glossy cover, printed on high- quality 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Everything you need is included in one handy book that you can grab and go!
BUY AT AMAZON here.
THE ABSOLUTE BEST RED LENTIL SOUP by Loren Rhoads....
When you’re trying to carve out some writing time on a rainy (or snowy) Saturday, it’s great to put together some soup – and then write while it simmers. This is one of my favorites.
--1 tablespoon olive oil
--1 medium onion, finely chopped
--2 medium carrots, finely chopped
--1 rib celery, finely chopped
--1 cup dried red lentils
--2 T tablespoons tomato paste
--1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin
--a pinch of ground red pepper
--5 cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth 6 tablespoons low-fat plain yogurt or sour cream
--Heat oil in a medium sized pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery and sauté about 3 minutes or until vegetables start to soften.
--Stir in lentils, tomato paste, cumin, pepper, and broth. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until lentils are soft and soup is thick.
--Ladle into bowls and top each with a tablespoon of yogurt or sour cream.
AUTHOR INFO:
Loren Rhoads writes dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction, sometimes all at once. She’s the author or editor of 18 books, including 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die and Unsafe Words. She serves as a writing mentor for the Horror Writers Association. She has taught workshops on reading your work in public and submitting proposals and pitches to publishers.
BLOG | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | NEWSLETTER | FACEBOOK | BLUESKY | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
**********GIVEAWAY**********
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Christmas Extravaganza for The Bridge to Magic by Alex Thornbury (GIVEAWAY)……..
Magic is the enemy, but also the saving force, in this gritty and fast-paced YA fantasy. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Bridge to Magic by Alex Thornbury, then be sure to add it to your bookshelf! In honor of this first installment of The Sundered Web series, and courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours, fill out the form below for the chance to win a slew of prizes too!
An award-winning debut for lovers of traditional fantasy and the readers who crave the dark, disturbing and original.
Men thought they had won the war against magic, when a demi-god had sundered their realm and banished magic and its keepers to the deadlands. But then another terror was born. Nothing can survive the approaching Blight. Terren, the last refuge of mankind, now stands alone in its path. Only the bridge across the great chasm offers any hope of escape...for some.Elika has long feared the bridge to the Deadlands. It had taken her parents, and the lives of more poor fools than she could count. What's there for them anyway on the other side but more suffering and death? Though the gods had abandoned them, the king and his priests will stop the Blight. They just need to destroy every echo of magic, the source of the Blight. Then she discovers that the biggest echo of magic is hiding inside her, and through her it seeks to enact the will of its own.
Accused of being a mage, she is hunted and hated. Many doubt her loyalties. Her gang turns against her. The one man she thought she could trust and love, abandons her. Everything she knew about her past shatters, as long-buried secrets about her true birth emerge. Worse still, she may not even be human. She must race to find a way to purge herself from magic's hold. But as time runs out for the city and her magic only grows in power, can she sacrifice herself to save the last of humanity and all that she loves?
The Frost of Winter Solstice – by Alex Thornbury
Our village was the last to stand against the invasion of the godly folk from the southern kingdoms. With their strange magic of the cross and prayer, they had pushed back the Spirit’s Veil to our border and cleansed the lands of beings that visited humanity through ages past. And it fell to our warriors to hold back the godly folk from destroying the last of that which was sacred. The Veil was the only way our long-dead ancestors could return and bring their stories to our fireside. And it was through these stories that we kept the history of our lands alive.
The Winter Solstice of my twelfth year started like any other. Come sunset, the Veil would once again part, and would not close again until sunrise. It was to be a long night and the favourite with our family. We spent the day readying the cottage for visitors; sweeping, stocking the fire and keeping it bright and hot, as the visitors were prone to chills. Though they did not eat the food we offered, we still prepared a feast as much as we could in our poverty. Mother decorated everything to hide the meagre affair.
After sunset, my sister and I, scrubbed clean and dressed in our finest dresses, joined our parents by the fireplace. They stood side by side in front of Grandma’s favourite chair, holding hands and smiling.
‘Come children, look who is here,’ Mother exclaimed, forgetting in her excitement that we had not the adult eyes to see the beings from beyond the Veil.
‘It’s grandma,’ Father clarified.
So we went to stand beside our parents, looking down at the empty chair, feeling both chilled and yet secretly foolish. Only a handful of nights each year did the invisible visitors arrive. As I grew older, it was hard not to imagine this must be some game the adults played with their children, each solstice, Spring’s Rise and Eve of Souls.
‘Aye, they have grown since you saw them last summer,’ Mother said to the empty chair.
And we were made to sit on the floor by the fire, as mother and father took their seats at the feat-laden table. Grandma then told us stories, which our parents repeated, for we had not the adult ears to hear the voices of the beings from beyond the Veil.
As the night deepened, the fire flickered suddenly and turned icy blue and cold.
Our parents fell abruptly silent and stared at each other with a flash of fright. Then, with strained faces, they turned to me, and I knew what it meant. Only, I had never truly believed that this night would come for me. Surely this was just a game the adults played. We were meant to smile and eat the cakes and listen to the wise tales.
‘Frost has come,’ Father said gravely, looking at me.
I shook my head in denial. No, I never believed in Frost. That was his name, the changer who opened the eyes of children when they reached the cusp of adulthood. Except, not everyone survived the change. Else, some returned with Frost’s bite upon their toes and fingers. Like Ordur, the baker’s son, who now had only eight fingers left.
Both mother and father rose, for Frost was outside, waiting for me. They led me to the door, dressed as I was for the warm fireplace and not the snow-covered landscape beyond warm walls.
The cold hit me instantly, cutting and laced with threat.
‘Walk to the white tree where Frost is waiting,’ said Mother with a treble to her voice, and closed the door behind me.
Barefooted, I began the walk to the edge of the forest. It was dark, save for the moonlit snow, and the chill in the air was fierce. As I drew closer to the white tree, the air grew colder and colder, until my blood threatened to turn to ice. No one was around.
At the tree, I stopped. A part of me still denied that any of this was real. Surely, I just needed to turn around and return home, for I could no longer feel my legs or arms, and every breath I drew was shards of glass.
Sharp pain exploded in my eyes, and I cried out, closing them tight. Something warm trickled down my cheeks.
Another jarring pain hit my ears, and I fell to my knees.
I forced myself to open my eyes and saw drops of dark blood in the sparkling snow, and...large, furry paws. I followed the furry legs up and I saw him, beneath the tree, looming high above me. The creature was made of ice, with horns and fur and sharp, black teeth. In his thick hands, he clasped two needle-like icicles. Blood dripped from the tips.
He looked at me and I at him. Then he turned around and walked away into the forest. I returned home, weeping tears and blood.
Mother wrapped me in a blanket and comforted me with kind words. But it was
Grandma’s voice I recognised from long ago that soothed me. ‘Bring the wee lass to the fire and give her the hot apple wine with extra sugar. She’ll be right in no time.’
In the chair sat Grandma, her form faint and glowing.
‘Come over here, lass, and sit next to your sister where I can see you better. Now, where was I? Oh aye, I remember. I was a wee bit younger than you when Frost came for me. It was the winter after the great fire that swept through the forest when the old fool Baerran the Wise offended the Firelord...’
And the rest of the night I listened to my grandma’s old stories, whilst my parents repeated them for my younger sister. And I hoped our warriors would keep the godly folk away from our lands.
AUTHOR INFO:
Alex Thornbury is an award-winning author. She grew up in Cheshire UK, and developed a deep love of history and fantasy thanks to the many castles she visited as a child. Though she grew up to be an Alchemist by trade, she never stopped fantasising about other worlds, dragons and epic battles.
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Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Book Release Blitz for Big Nick Energy by Lani Lynn Vale (REVIEW)…….
Christmas has come early with this collection of stories featuring some of Ms. Vale's favorite characters, tempting little morsels that have me eagerly awaiting her next release. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Big Nick Energy by Lani Lynn Vale, along with getting my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf!
Big Nick Energy is a compilation of things that Ms. Vale has written as companion pieces to already published novels.Get updates on your favorite couples during COVID-19. These stories were written in the very first weeks of the Covid-19 Pandemic. You’ll see some of your favorite couples as they navigate that time period. Their coping mechanisms to being locked down can be kind of...flamboyant.
Somethin’ About That Boy: You’ll get some of the ‘rest of the story’ from Banner and Perry’s new life together far away from their family and friends. But don’t worry, big, rich, all grown up and famous Slone and Titus make appearances in their update. You’ll also get the story between Blue and Titus that you’ve been waiting for in Titus’s very own short story.But don’t despair, Viddy and Trance, as well as their kids, have their own Christmas story, too!
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Readers have reasons to rejoice as just in time for Christmas comes this decadently delightful collection of short stories and snippets featuring some of Ms. Vale's most beloved characters, along with some secondary characters taking center stage. Pulling readers in from the very first word to the last, it's an emotional journey that shows couples living their lives in Lani's world while showing other couples finally making their way to each other.
The stories set amidst the backdrop of COVID are especially emotional. With storylines depicting couples and their kids coping with the pandemic, with tales that were reminiscent of that chaotic time, I found a sense of solidarity. These characters felt what we all felt during that time and there was a feeling of comfort because of it.
With the longer stories I found rich and rewarding storylines, while the shorter stories were a decadently delightful appetizer. On a whole this collection was a bountiful feast full of steam, laughs, and a few tears. It was a heartwarming collection with appealing characters and entertaining storylines that showed Ms. Vale at her best. It's a collection that I wholeheartedly recommend as it was a satisfying read that has me ready for more!
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Friday, December 15, 2023
Book Release Blast for Summer Sparrow by Emmerson Hoyt (REVIEW)……..
Readers looking for a unique update to the Robin Hood theme will get just that and more in this small town romance full of suspense, secrets, and sizzle. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Summer Sparrow by Emmerson Hoyt, along with getting my impressions of it as well as the first book in this duet, September Doves. Once you've gotten a tantalizing glimpse of the Jackals and Vipers Duet you'll want to add it to your bookshelf too!
SUMMER SPARROW (Jackals and Vipers, Duet #2)….
Rylee Adder left Eden thinking she’d put the worst day of her life behind her.
She was wrong.Separated from her new family and Colton—the man she never thought she’d have to live without—Rylee finds herself in Boston facing her biggest challenge yet: surviving the Vipers’ Den.
Plagued by nightmarish memories, she throws herself into uncovering evidence to bring down those threatening the ones she loves.
If Rylee fails, Eden’s dark history is destined to repeat itself. But she’s not the only one on the hunt for answers, and some secrets are desperate to stay buried.
BUY AT AMAZON here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Picking up where September Doves left us, and which means this IS NOT to be read on its own, readers will find a story teeming with the heartbreaking fallout of what came before. Both Rylee and Colton are pushing forward to do what needs to be done to protect those they care about and to keep history from repeating itself. They're both hurting emotionally though which leads to a few frustrating bumps in their road to HEA. Colton broke my heart as he constantly tried to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. Rylee found herself leaning on another to help her survive in an act that I understood but still wasn’t too keen on. With emotions running high it's a slow burn for these two this time around as the danger and suspense was amped up, decisions and consequences raced towards readers and left you breathless in a rollercoaster ride that keeps readers on edge.
This story had a lot going on, lots of action and suspense that pulled Colton and Rylee's found family even tighter together. Theirs is a family worth fighting for, worth dying for in an epic storyline that unwaveringly drew me to each member. There were even a few new secondary characters who captured my attention and found a comfortable seat at the family table. It all came together beautifully in the end, with epilogues that warmed my heart and a last glimpse of characters I hope to see again soon.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
SEPTEMBER DOVES (Jackals and Vipers, Duet #1)....
Rylee Adder is a struggling college student desperate to reconnect with the only family she has left. She finally has her chance when a late-night phone call sends her rushing to Eden, West Virginia—a small mining town with a veiled past.
She arrives ready to console her grieving sister, but instead discovers a distant, secretive woman she hardly recognizes, and Colton Archer, a tattoo-covered troublemaker with a knack for pushing her buttons.
As Rylee battles her growing attraction to Colton, who is as infuriating as he is handsome, she comes face-to-face with a shocking discovery that has her questioning everything.
When danger closes in, she must decide what rules she is willing to break for the ones she loves or risk losing them all.
She arrives ready to console her grieving sister, but instead discovers a distant, secretive woman she hardly recognizes, and Colton Archer, a tattoo-covered troublemaker with a knack for pushing her buttons.
As Rylee battles her growing attraction to Colton, who is as infuriating as he is handsome, she comes face-to-face with a shocking discovery that has her questioning everything.
When danger closes in, she must decide what rules she is willing to break for the ones she loves or risk losing them all.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
From debut author Emmerson Hoyt comes this suspenseful and engaging tale of small town secrets, family bonds, and a modern-day take on the Robin Hood myth. From the opening page, Ms. Hoyt has crafted an atmospheric tale that wraps readers in a web of twists and turns, secrets, and a sizzling romance amidst a backdrop teeming with tension.
Rylee Adder's the kind of heroine you root for the moment you meet her. She's earnest, feisty, and desperately wants a relationship with her sister. So when her sister suffers a loss, she immediately goes to small town Eden to support her. Things aren't what she expected there though. From a secretive sister, to a town full of eclectic denizens, to a sexy bad boy who pushes every one of her buttons, this story gets off to a crackling start. Rylee is at first left with more questions than answers but as she and Colton start their steamy journey, the truth about Eden slowly becomes clearer.
Colton Archer's a delicious hero with a dark past littered with death and secrets. He exudes a bad boy persona but is quite heroic as we learn more about him and his "family". He's a brooding character, a caring and protective one too who immediately pulled Rylee into his loving embrace, and as a member of his "family".
As readers learn about what drives the denizens of Eden, they'll get a punch to the gut. As the Jackals are introduced, readers will find themselves drawn to their mission and have their hearts warmed by the utter perfection of this found family and their righteous deeds. By the end of this book my heart is hammering, courtesy of a compelling and emotionally jolting cliffhanger, that has me eagerly counting down the days until this duet concludes.
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Emmerson Hoyt lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and a small horde of animals. When she's not writing, she's playing video games or finding an excuse to get another floral tattoo. Keep up with Emmerson and subscribe to her newsletter HERE.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Book Blast for The Santa Games by Leanne Treese (GIVEAWAY)…….
A woman hoping to start over ends up in a small town holiday theme park, working alongside a sexy man who isn't who he says he is! Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Santa Games by Leanne Treese, then learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this sweetly sentimental rom-com make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 bookstore GC too!
Reeling from a broken engagement, Andi Carter swears off men. She quits her job in New York and returns home to figure out next steps. Luckily, she quickly finds a job--one that will take her mind off her ex--as a caretaker for an elderly widower, Liam Quinn. Liam is the owner of Christmastown, a holiday-themed amusement park that shut down years ago. But he’s anxious to reopen it, and Andi, loving the concept, throws herself into helping him. It’s the perfect distraction. Bonus: there are no eligible men for miles.
Until Matt Taylor shows up to audit the park.Matt is handsome, charming, and full of surprises. Even Liam’s notoriously cranky cat, Claus, likes him. Andi works with Matt on a Christmastown project and platonic feelings turn into a full-fledged crush...maybe a little more. She likes this guy. Unbelievably, Matt seems to like her back.
Only she soon discovers that Matt isn’t who he says he is. So now, Andi has another decision to make—run away and start over—again? Or stay, and hear Matt out? After all, Christmas is the season of miracles...
EXCERPT:
He leans against the railing, his breath smoky. “We should get to know each other then. You could give me a tour of the town. And I could ask you more about the park’s safety protocols.” He winks. “What do you say?”
What do I say? The hot bachelor I was sure would never come to Christmastown is in front of me. But I came here to avoid dating. I need to find myself again and I’d planned to use every ounce of extra energy I had in reimagining an epic – and very safe – holiday-themed amusement park. So, of course, I know what I should say.
Instead what comes out of my mouth is: “How about tonight?”
What do I say? The hot bachelor I was sure would never come to Christmastown is in front of me. But I came here to avoid dating. I need to find myself again and I’d planned to use every ounce of extra energy I had in reimagining an epic – and very safe – holiday-themed amusement park. So, of course, I know what I should say.
Instead what comes out of my mouth is: “How about tonight?”
THIS BOOK IS FREE ON KU here.
AUTHOR INFO:
Leanne Treese is an award-winning author of women's fiction and romance. Her books have each independently been described as having "all the feels." When she's not writing, Leanne loves running, forcing her family to play board games (Settlers of Catan anyone?), and spoiling her beloved dogs. Leanne's favorite locations include her backyard, the Jersey shore, and anywhere that sells books or coffee, preferably both. A lifelong learner, Leanne's dream life would include going back to college and majoring in everything.
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Monday, December 11, 2023
Book Release Blast for Up in Flames by K.E Osborn (REVIEW)…….
Readers looking for a quick read full of grit and edge of your seat action will get all that and more with this steamy and suspenseful tale of opposites attracting. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Up in Flames by K.E Osborn, along with my impressions of it, then add this first installment in the Baton Rouge Bachelors Duet to your bookshelf too!
An inferno.
That’s what my life became the second I laid eyes on her.I’m ruthless, calculating, cold-blooded. Second in charge of an underworld establishment that men fear and the elite strive for membership—there’s no room in my world for an innocent like her.
The Baton Rouge Bachelors run this town. Politicians, celebrities, and high society are known to use our services. But make no mistake, the Bachelors are cruel, brutal, and malicious.
You need something done, we will do it—for a price, of course.
But the women who stand beside us need to be hard. Cunning. And just as heartless as we are. So when I meet Makaylie, and she is anything but, I know I must protect her from my vile world at all costs.
Even if it means I have to watch everything I have worked for, everything I have built, go up in flames.
From K E Osborn, USA Today bestselling author comes...
The Baton Rouge Bachelors Duet.
An opposites attract spin-off from the NOLA Defiance MC Series, but you don’t need to read NOLA Defiance to enjoy this duet. The alpha hero has ‘touch her and I will unalive you’ vibes, with a great supporting cast that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Opening the cover will find this a story of star-crossed lovers amidst a gritty and dangerous backdrop that readers are introduced to with this being the first part of the Baton Rouge Bachelors Duet. It's a story with a very complex hero, one who is romantic one moment and unstable the next, which keeps readers on edge and waiting to see if he'll explode. The heroine is very much his opposite, a sweet and inexperienced young woman who's drawn to the good/bad dichotomy but getting tired of the secrets.
Cain Barrington is second-in-command of the Baton Rouge Bachelors, his role being to keep everything in control...by brute force if necessary. There's another side to him though, a sweetly romantic side that was drool-worthy to see. It's this side that appeals to Makaylie Rayne, an awkwardly innocent young woman who brings out the best in Cain. When they're together they're combustible in scenes that were erotically-charged. Out of the bedroom though is where the problems are arising as Cain's secrets and lies are wearing on the couple's connection. Makaylie is starting to doubt Cain and his mood swings are like a time bomb waiting to go off. These two are at a standoff, wanting to be together but knowing that their togetherness might not be good for them or others.
From the first page to the last, this was a book that was gritty and suspenseful, with danger constantly just around the corner. Makaylie was Cain's sweet secret, someone he clearly loved and who he was desperately trying to keep unaffected by his world. He was a character that was larger than life, a bad man capable of good for the right person and I was drawn to him against my will. With each turn of the page though the danger accelerated and Cain's world was on the cusp of consuming Makaylie in a heart pounding cliffhanger that has me waiting impatiently for the fallout from the first part of this duet!
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
With a flair for all things creative, USA Today Bestselling Author K E Osborn, is drawn to the written word. Exciting worlds and characters flow through her veins, coming to life on the page as she laughs, cries, and becomes enveloped in the storyline right along with you. She's entirely at home when writing sassy heroines and alpha males that rise from the ashes of their pasts.
K E Osborn comforts herself with tea and Netflix, after all, who doesn't love a good binge? Explosive. Addictive. Romance.
Book Release Blast for Lost In Seoul by Rachel Van Dyken and Colet Abedi (REVIEW)…….
Readers are reintroduced to the K-pop world courtesy of the young and talented artists of the My Summer In Seoul series. From the very first page, the relationship between the youngest member of SWT, and the older woman who works for the band, makes for a complicated journey to HEA full of emotional ups and downs. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Lost In Seoul by Rachel Van Dyken and Colet Abedi, along with my impressions of it, then add this second installment in the K-pop fueled series to your bookshelf too!
Lost in Seoul is a standalone new adult romance set in the competitive world of K-pop from bestselling authors Rachel Van Dyken and Colet Abedi.
A meet cute is supposed to be cute. Ours was sexy. Chaotic. Not normal.Less than 10 minutes after we met, I realized we could never be. She was forbidden to me.
She held my hand behind his back.
I gripped hers, knowing it was wrong.
I was on the cusp of superstardom—and still I held her fingertips because it felt right.
Knowing that when it all went wrong, we would be done—the media would destroy us.
After all, not only was she four years older than me, she was the leader of SWT's sister—my best friend—and someone who could wreck everything we'd worked for.
But I still held on.
I'm lost. So lost.
I'm the youngest in the group, the one everyone sees as the most innocent. But they don't know the stolen moments with her.
The kisses.
The touching.
They don't know any of that.
So I keep acting as if I’m pure as the driven snow when really all it took was one chance meeting. To make.
Me.
Sin.
Hi, I'm Sookie, Maknae of SWT, the most famous K-pop group in the world. And I'm pretty sure I'm not just lost...nah, I'm about to fall.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
A previous taste of the forbidden continues to be a part of what binds K-pop artist Sookie to Ari, his band's business lawyer and sibling to his bandmate too. Though these two know they shouldn't be together, for both personal and business reasons, they can't give up on the feelings engendered by being together. The power of love can be potent in battles of the heart though and it's what had me rooting for them from the first page to the last.
With K-pop music gaining in popularity, this is a timely story that took a deep dive into this world and showed every aspect...warts and all. Readers are given a look behind the curtain and can see that it's not all glitz and glamour. It's a demanding world where you're treated like a commodity, where every aspect of the artist's life is controlled in order to make money. You're nothing more than an image who is to look, act, and dress according to what the label wants and it's a way of living that keeps you constantly on edge and under pressure that starts to feel like an anchor. With this world as a sad and painful backdrop, readers get to see the joy of the connection between Sookie and Ari, a relationship that brought meaning to Sookie's life along with acceptance. To keep those feelings would require a battle as the record company has put a label of innocence and purity around Sookie's neck and his having an older lover isn't part of the image created for him. This dichotomy leads to lots of ups and downs for this couple, investing me completely in their burgeoning HEA, in a journey that took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
This was a multi-layered story that dealt with business along with personal. It showed harsh truths about the music world, showed the mental and physical toll of being a famous musician, and how easy it was to lose the real you in the K-pop world. These truths made for moments of sadness, disappointment, and even anger over the treatment of the musicians who could easily become interchangeable if they didn't toe the line. Watching the sweet and subtly sensual romance between Sookie and Ari brought a smile to my face. It was one of the few things in this world that was real and it provided moments of empowerment that I cheered over. I enjoyed seeing the other members of SWT, as well as their younger tour mates TestME, and their bonding over the demands of their record label was an immensely satisfying sight to see. One last aspect of this story that I thoroughly enjoyed was super fan, Dueri. She's not blinded by the images and can see each of the band members quite clearly. She shows them the importance of their music to the people, and after everything is stripped down, she also shows them what's most important in life. This was a story packed with a lot of stuff, issues and baggage that made for a bumpy road to HEA. On a whole, I enjoyed the characters and hope to see more of them again soon!
My rating for this is B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 100 books ranging from new adult romance to mafia romance to paranormal & fantasy romance. With over four million copies sold, she's been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and two dogs.
Colet Abedi is an Iranian American, best-selling author, television and film producer. She was born in Virginia and currently lives in Los Angeles. When she's not writing she's either off/on an adventure in a far off land or planning her next getaway. She writes contemporary romance, women's fiction, and young adult.
Friday, December 8, 2023
Book Release Blast for Reaper of Chaos by C.D. Britt (GIVEAWAY)…….
Readers will find this a compelling fantasy-fueled read of life, death, and everything in between as two very different individuals find a simmering attraction. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Reaper of Chaos by C.D. Britt, then learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this first installment in the Blood of Saviors series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 2-$20 Amazon GCs too!
She loves death.
He is Death.Thanatos took a fifty-year vacation from his duties as Death, psychopomp of the Underworld.
Returning to Halcyon, he meets Lira, a professor of Thanatology with the ability to see souls...and him.
Intrigued, he finds himself obsessed with learning about the woman who studies, and sees, death.
As he finds himself growing closer to the woman who has him fascinated for the first time in centuries, a devastating problem arises in both the mortal world and the Underworld.
People are no longer dying.
Thanatos and Lira now have a choice to make: each other or death itself.
EXCERPT:
Thanatos had not been joking when he told everyone he was taking a vacation.
He had to leave the Underworld after the battle between the titans and the goddesses that had destroyed the city, and by proxy, what remained of the world.
It hadn’t taken long after he’d left for the guilt to consume him for leaving the city of Halcyon in such a state, but his mind had been fracturing. To have stayed could have easily warped him as it did so many other long-lived deities who thought themselves, their power, more able to handle the mental torture of the mind. That they were truly any better than humans in what they could endure.
He’d gone up against his greatest enemy in his long and immortal life. A man who haunted Thanatos’s every waking moment and invaded the quiet of his dreams. A being powerful enough to scare death itself.
Cronus. The titan who had killed his own children, escaped Tartarus, and tried once again to hurt his living daughters.
Thankfully, he’d failed on his mission to take the throne on Olympus from Hera, the queen of all gods and goddesses. The three goddess sisters remained in power, the world was being rebuilt, and with the help of the new gods, the husbands of the goddesses, it was becoming better than ever.
Yes, Cronus and his army of titans had failed and were back where they belonged: in the humans’ equivalent of Hell.
But as he walked what remained for Halcyon, taking the souls of friends and comrades, Thanatos finally felt the weight he’d carried for millennia become far too heavy. He was exhausted, weary at such a bone-deep level that he wasn’t sure if he had the capacity to continue on as a reaper.
A vacation had always been in the back of his mind, but now it was a need—a necessity if he were to continue on.
Planning to find someone to move souls in his absence had been on his to-do list for the better part of a century, but he was unable to do anything until he knew the Underworld was secure. That Cronus was no longer a threat to the only home he’d ever known. Even before his titan brethren had stolen into the Underworld, some instinct deep inside him had told Thanatos that there was going to be something big that would upturn the world just as the Great War between the humans had long ago. As death itself, he had a good feel for such things, and sadly, he’d been right.
He had to leave the Underworld after the battle between the titans and the goddesses that had destroyed the city, and by proxy, what remained of the world.
It hadn’t taken long after he’d left for the guilt to consume him for leaving the city of Halcyon in such a state, but his mind had been fracturing. To have stayed could have easily warped him as it did so many other long-lived deities who thought themselves, their power, more able to handle the mental torture of the mind. That they were truly any better than humans in what they could endure.
He’d gone up against his greatest enemy in his long and immortal life. A man who haunted Thanatos’s every waking moment and invaded the quiet of his dreams. A being powerful enough to scare death itself.
Cronus. The titan who had killed his own children, escaped Tartarus, and tried once again to hurt his living daughters.
Thankfully, he’d failed on his mission to take the throne on Olympus from Hera, the queen of all gods and goddesses. The three goddess sisters remained in power, the world was being rebuilt, and with the help of the new gods, the husbands of the goddesses, it was becoming better than ever.
Yes, Cronus and his army of titans had failed and were back where they belonged: in the humans’ equivalent of Hell.
But as he walked what remained for Halcyon, taking the souls of friends and comrades, Thanatos finally felt the weight he’d carried for millennia become far too heavy. He was exhausted, weary at such a bone-deep level that he wasn’t sure if he had the capacity to continue on as a reaper.
A vacation had always been in the back of his mind, but now it was a need—a necessity if he were to continue on.
Planning to find someone to move souls in his absence had been on his to-do list for the better part of a century, but he was unable to do anything until he knew the Underworld was secure. That Cronus was no longer a threat to the only home he’d ever known. Even before his titan brethren had stolen into the Underworld, some instinct deep inside him had told Thanatos that there was going to be something big that would upturn the world just as the Great War between the humans had long ago. As death itself, he had a good feel for such things, and sadly, he’d been right.
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AUTHOR INFO:
C.D. Britt began her writing journey when her husband told her she needed to use her excessive imagination to write stories as opposed to creating a daily narrative for him. Ever since she penned her first words, life has been a lot more peaceful for him.
She currently resides in Texas where she has yet to adapt to the heat. Her husband thrives in it, so unfortunately, they will not be relocating to colder climates anytime soon.
Their two young children would honestly complain either way.
When she is not in her writing cave (hiding from the sun), she enjoys ignoring the world as much as her children will allow with a good book, music, and vast amounts of coffee (until it’s time for wine).
C.D. Britt is the author of Shadows & Vines, Sirens & Leviathans, and the upcoming book, Storms & Embers.
All three books are part of the Reign of Goddesses series.
Their two young children would honestly complain either way.
When she is not in her writing cave (hiding from the sun), she enjoys ignoring the world as much as her children will allow with a good book, music, and vast amounts of coffee (until it’s time for wine).
C.D. Britt is the author of Shadows & Vines, Sirens & Leviathans, and the upcoming book, Storms & Embers.
All three books are part of the Reign of Goddesses series.
**********GIVEAWAY*********
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