Sunday, September 30, 2018

Puzzles and Books

Word puzzle lovers!  

Announcing McLaren and Peak District quarterly puzzle contests you can play and perhaps win!  

All contests are based on information about McLaren and some of the McLaren Mystery novels, or on the Peak District mysteries.  First person to email the correct answers to the puzzle(s) to me gets a choice of an Amazon or B&N gift card -- $15 card for submitting the first correct answers to the crossword puzzle, and $10 card for submitting the first corrected word search puzzle.  Answers must be received by Nov 1, 2018.  

More information and how to enter are under WORD CONTESTS at



Read Jo Hiestand's latest McLaren book...PHOTO SHOOT



MY REVIEW

Once again in Book 9 of the McLaren series, Jo Hiestand has McLaren headed deeper into Scotland to try and renew his relationship with the McLaren clan. After winding up another case, he finds out he has missed an invite to his Uncle’s wedding. When he calls his grandfather and says he’ll still be coming, he has no idea what faith his family has in him. He is only driving towards more challenges and more responsibility.

Anyone who has seen my blogs and reviews or my comments on Jo Hiestand’s Facebook page knows I absolutely love this McLaren character. He’s the epitome of my favorite type of mystery character. He’s a tough ex-cop, he’s moody, smart as a tack and he’s always just a little bit in love. Oh, and I might add, he’s good looking; at least in my mind he is. See? Right there is an example of what Jo Hiestand can do. You obviously know McLaren is a fictitious character in a book and yet not only do I feel I know him personally, I even think I know what he looks like. That’s what you call character development.

Her descriptive writing of the Loches and the lands of Scotland makes you feel as if you are in the middle of this beautiful country, so this turned out to be another great match in the McLaren series. I liked it so much I would tell you it was my favorite, but I like this McLaren guy way too much to have a favorite. I've loved this whole well-written series.


ABOUT JO
In 2001 Jo graduated from Webster University with a BA degree and departmental honors in English.

She lives in the St Louis, MO area, and spends as much time as she can writing mysteries and watching the barges on the river.

Her love of writing, board games and music came together when she and a friend invented a mystery-solving game, P.I.R.A.T.E.S., which uses maps, graphics, song lyrics, and other clues to lead the players to the lost treasure.

Along with fellow mystery author Pam DeVoe, Jo teachs a mystery writing course at St. Louis Community College.




















Jo Hiestand has this new puzzle game going and it's FUN. You can win prizes too.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Liar, Liar



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nancy Boyarsky will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


Nicole Graves finds herself in the crosshairs when she reluctantly agrees to babysit a witness in a high-profile rape trial. Mary Ellen Barnes is suing her university’s star quarterback for rape when the authorities won’t act. In the court of public opinion, Mary Ellen appears to be the quintessential, pious, good girl. But her lies and mysterious comings and goings lead Nicole to suspect that she’s not what she seems.


Read an Excerpt



Later, Nicole would ponder the truth and its illusive nature. She’d realize how many lies people would tell to protect themselves from it. And, worst of all, how many she herself would tell to get at it. She’d always considered herself a truthful person. Yet she’d find herself lying to others, to her fiancĂ©, and even to herself.



She’d wonder if there was such a thing as the actual truth. Or was truth relative, the product of incomplete or faulty memories, or the limitations of the observer? How often was the truth tainted by what an individual wanted, or needed, to believe?



On this bright day in mid-March, Nicole stepped into the United Terminal at LAX and encountered a situation she could hardly believe. It was as if she’d slipped back in time to the previous year when the media was stalking her. This morning, they were massed in a corner of baggage claim. After the initial shock of seeing them, she noticed they weren’t looking in her direction, hadn’t noticed her at all. They were waiting for someone else, someone they expected to come down the escalator from the arrival gates.

MY REVIEW:
I tend to really enjoy spunky female investigators, so this book was a plus for me to begin with. But I liked Nicole for her courage, her sense of right and wrong and her common sense too. This is an easy read about a lady, soon to be an investigator, who is assigned to baby-sit or look after a young lady ready to testify that she was raped by none other than the star football quarterback. If this sounds like all other storylines, it most certainly is not. It’s a page turner with good dialogue, constant movement and yet a good flow. Nancy Boyarsky has added all of the elements of a good mystery. There’s fear, a little emotion and some of the aspects of life many of us go through who desire a career and a marriage. While this is an easy-to-read mystery, it could definitely cause some conversation around the table about how one person’s life affects that of another.
I have mentioned that I thought this book flowed well while reading it, it was written as clear as a bell. Never one time did I have to turn back wondering “who is this person” or “where did he come from” in the story. It isn’t just the action, it’s this type of writing that makes a book a page turner. Her characters were well-defined, the good ones as well as the bad. There was one more reason this was such an extremely enjoyable read. One that does not seem to happen too often for me. This book was well-edited. Maybe I have just described what made it flow so well.

Definitely worth my time. 


About the Author:
Nancy Boyarsky is the bestselling author of the award-winning Nicole Graves Mysteries.
Before turning to mysteries, Nancy coauthored Backroom Politics, a New York Times notable book, with her husband, Bill Boyarsky. She has written several textbooks on the justice system as well as articles for publications including the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, and McCall’s. She also contributed to political anthologies, including In the Running, about women’s political campaigns. In addition to her writing career, she was communications director for political affairs for ARCO.



Liar Liar is the third Nicole Graves novel, following The Swap and The Bequest, each of which can be read as a stand alone. Readers are invited to connect with Nancy through her website.


Website: http://www.nancyboyarsky.com


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9020987.Nancy_Boyarsky


Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancyboyarsky


Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Liar-Nicole-Graves-Mysteries/dp/161153254X

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/liar-liar-nancy-boyarsky/1127685241





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Wednesday, September 26, 2018

The Crying of Ross 128

Science Fiction
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. David Allan Hamilton will be awarding a $50  Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

See below to sign up for the GIVEAWAY and for all other stops on the tour.



America has splintered into various independent republics after a brutal civil war. Against this backdrop, space exploration is on the cusp of new technological breakthroughs. Jim Atteberry, a mid-30s English professor at City College in San Francisco, spends his free time listening for alien signals on the amateur radio astronomy bands. His life as a single parent to his precocious daughter is turned upside-down when he hears an intelligent cry for help from the Ross 128 system and realizes we are not alone. This signal unleashes a chain of events pitting Jim and his brilliant, mysterious colleague Kate against a power-hungry scientist with his own secret agenda. Jim must learn the truth about the signal, the strange disappearance of his wife Janet, and the meaning of true love before it’s too late in this first contact thriller.


MY REVIEW
I don’t read too much Science Fiction anymore although it used to be one of my favorite genres. Then I looked at this book and saw it was over 300 pages on my e-book and I wondered if I could get it read in the time I had allotted and then…I couldn’t put the thing down. I read it in two days.
This is a great page turner mystery and although its genre is listed as Science Fiction, many of the discoveries in this storyline could be very realistic today.  Its setting is a college town with normal everyday people and a group of amateur radio astronomers. One member, a sort of single father, thinks his instrumentation and software has detected a possible alien cry for help. There are plenty of your normal naysayers but there are a certain amount of people making it sound believable for plenty of other reasons.  

It’s well written, well edited, and its characters are as interesting and as human as can be. This is an easy read but I think I am saying that because it flows so well. It does have intricate twists and turns, and you need to pay attention. That’s what makes it an even greater read. 


***This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are definitely my own.

Read an excerpt...
Whitt continued talking while he worked. “So, there are the two Americas, our own government of course, the Russians, Indians, Chinese... not to mention those terrorist groups out there who would love to exploit our human fears about hostile aliens and such.”


“I hadn’t thought about all that.”

“I’m sure if you spend any time at all on this question, you’d come up with a list of 50 organizations all wanting to know how you discovered the signal, and how to use that for their own goals.”

Whitt replaced the cover on the computer and wiped his hands on his coat. “There’s someone else you may want to consider, too. Someone closer to home as it were.”

“Who’s that?”

“I hesitate to say because I recognize how close you are.” He put his tools back in a small pouch.

“Who is it, Dr. Whitt?”

“How well do you know Kate Braddock? I mean, how well do you really know her?”

Atteberry threw his head back and laughed. “That’s insane! I trust her more than anyone in the world.”

“Oh, I understand, truly, I do. But the work she did in the past was highly specialized and top secret. Where does she come from? What kind of dubious alliances has she forged over the years? In short, she may have been playing you all along.”

“No, no, I don’t believe that for a second.”

“Fair enough, Mr. Atteberry, but if you’re considering who could be behind this mysterious tracer, I think you have to consider all possibilities. Even the ones that appear impossible.”

Click HERE to read an author interview


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

David Allan Hamilton is a teacher, writer, and multipotentialite. He is a graduate of Laurentian University (BSc. Applied Physics) and The University of Western Ontario (MSc.
Geophysics). He lives in Ottawa where he facilitates writing workshops and teaches. When not writing, David enjoys riding his bike long distances, painting, and knitting.

Author Links:






Buy Links:


hard cover

paper back

kindle


Barnes & Noble
hard cover

paper back

nook

Kobo

Smashwords.com

Indigo.ca
hard cover

paper back


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September 27: Bookaholic - review
October 2: Harlie's Books
October 4: Jazzy Book Reviews
October 9: Let Me tell You a Story
October 11: Kimmi Love
October 16: Mixed Book Bag - review only
October 18: Deal Sharing Aunt
October 23: Independent Authors
October 25: Stormy Nights Reviewing and Bloggin'
October 30: Sapphyria's Books
November 1: Sea's Nod
November 6: Readeropolis 
November 8: Up 'Til Dawn Book Blog
November 13: It's Raining Books
November 15: Long and Short Reviews


Sunday, September 23, 2018

Sweet Christmas Kisses 5



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


Fill your holiday stocking with love and 9 sweet romance novellas, from USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and award-winning authors.
Sweet Christmas Kisses 5 brings you heartwarming contemporary romances that celebrate the joy of the season around the world, including in snowy Maine and the sun-kissed skies of Florida, the mountains of Colorado, small-town Illinois and South Carolina, New York to San Francisco, and even the glittering lights of Paris and the old-world charm of Florence. The Sweet Christmas Kisses 5 bundle features all-new, standalone novellas that will make you smile and fill your heart with the Christmas spirit.
***** 


Christmas With The Poker Group by Beate Boeker, USA Today Bestselling Author. After losing her beloved grandmother and getting dumped by her boyfriend, Sabrina is left feeling like Scrooge this Christmas. She makes a plan to survive the holidays in Florence, only to realize her grieving grandfather has a plan of his own. One that involves the crazy Mantoni family and the distractingly handsome man she’s determined to avoid. It’s beginning to look a lot like a tricky Christmas.


About the Author: Beate Boeker is a USA Today bestselling author with a passion for books that brim over with mischief & humor. She writes sweet, sophisticated romantic fiction and cozy mysteries, many of them set in beautiful Italy. While “Boeker” means “books” in a German dialect, her first name Beate can be translated as “Happy” . . . and with a name that reads “Happy Books,” what else could she do but write novels with a happy ending?


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Beate-Boeker-153573758044433/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeateBoeker

Website: http://www.happybooks.de/
Newsletter: http://www.happybooks.de/newsletter

*****

Christmas With The Carmichaels by Christine Bush, USA Today Bestselling Author. Widow and retiree Gabby is ready for a rocking chair. At least according to her daughter. Except maybe she’s not. After getting stranded in a Maine snowstorm with a silver-haired fox, Gabby might find the courage to say “yes” to life once more, and find a Christmas love she never expected.

About the Author: Christine Bush is an award-winning author of many sweet romances, mysteries, and novellas. When she’s not writing, she can be found teaching Psychology at a local college, working as a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, or (mostly) spending time with her twelve grandchildren.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christineabush

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Christine_Bush

Website: http://christinebush.com

*****

The Mistletoe Bachelor Auction by Milou Koenings, USA Today bestselling author. When a supermodel with a string of bad news boyfriends “wins” a volunteer firefighter at a charity bachelor auction, Rose and Ryan might both discover they’ve found their perfect Christmas match. A fun and romantic holiday tale set in the fictional town of Green Pines, Illinois.


About the Author: USA Today bestselling author Milou Koenings writes heartwarming romance novels because sweet stories with happy endings are like chocolate – they bring joy to the world and so make it a better place. She’s lived all over the world, working as an editor and newspaper columnist, but loves staying home with her family most of all. She's the author of the Green Pines Romance series.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MilouKoenings

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MilouKoenings

Website: https://www.miloukoenings.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/milousnewletter


*****

Sweet Peppermint Kisses by Josie Riviera, USA Today Bestselling Author. Sometimes the best gifts are hiding right under your Christmas tree. His emotions were once trampled flat. Can he throw his heart over the fence toward the ultimate Christmas gift—a future filled with love? A holiday tale about the healing power of love, set in the charming fictional town of Cherish, South Carolina.


About the Author: Author Josie Riviera writes Historical, Inspirational, and Sweet Romances. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their empty nest with an adorable Shih Tzu who constantly needs grooming and an old house forever needing renovations.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Josie.Riviera

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Josieriviera

Website: https://josieriviera.com/


*****

Christmas In Paris by Roxanne Rustand, USA Today Bestselling Author. Kindergarten teacher Heather thought all her dreams were coming true—until she was jilted by her fiancĂ© three months before their Christmas wedding. Since the honeymoon to Paris is already paid for, Heather determines to go sans groom and have a great time, no matter what. Love is not part of her travel plans, but when a handsome young doctor literally runs into her on the street, the magic of Christmas in Paris may cause a change of heart.

About the Author: USA Today bestselling author Roxanne Rustand is the author of thirty-five traditionally published novels, plus four indie novels. She was a Golden Heart finalist twice, and a Golden Heart winner in 1995. She has won two RT Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Awards, and was nominated for an RT Magazine Career Achievement Award. Her earlier books were secular, but she now writes sweet indie romance, and inspirational romance for Love Inspired.


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Roxanne.Rustand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoxanneRustand

Website: http://www.roxannerustand.com

Newsletter: http://roxannerustand.com/newsletter-signup


*****


Second Chance Christmas by Kristin Wallace, USA Today Bestselling Author. Ten years ago, Mia Reynolds and Win Barrington spent one magical Christmas together—until lies and manipulation tore them apart, and left Mia to raise a daughter all on her own. Now, both are back in their hometown of Palm Cove, Florida just in time for the holidays. Once they uncover the truth about what happened, can Mia and Win rediscover love and celebrate a Second Chance Christmas with their daughter?

About the Author: Kristin Wallace is a USA Today bestselling author of inspirational, contemporary and women’s fiction filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith.” Her popular series include the Covington Falls Chronicles and Shellwater Key Tales.


Facebook: http://facebook.com/KristinWallaceAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/KWallaceAuthor

Website: http://kristinwallaceauthor.com

Newsletter: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/wMWhn


*****

Ghosts From Christmas Past by Mary Alford, Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author. She was the love of his life, until a tragic accident on Christmas Eve left Charlotte Swenson in a coma. For eight years, Sheriff Dylan Parker of Bitter Creek, Colorado has held on to the hope that somehow his love will find a way back to him. And when Charlotte opens her eyes, just days before Christmas, Dylan can’t help but believe a holiday miracle may grant his every wish.

About the Author: Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author Mary Alford was inspired to become a writer after reading such romantic suspense greats as Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. Creating characters and throwing them into dangerous situations that test their faith was a challenge, but 2012 Mary received “the call” to publish her first book — a dream come true. Today, Mary writes Christian romantic suspense, and small-town contemporary romances.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryAlfordAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryalford13

Website: http://maryalford.net


*****


Christmas Pizza To The Rescue by Jean C. Gordon. When a freak winter storm strands them alone at the Team Macachek barracks in Central New York, champion motocross racer Royce Evans and out-of-work investigative reporter turned pizza deliverer Samantha Linder strike a bargain that benefits them both. But when it appears Sam has broken the agreement, will the spirit of Christmas be strong enough to save their blossoming holiday love?

About the Author: Award-winning sweet and inspirational author Jean C. Gordon writes what she knows best — small-town, happily-ever-afters set in her native Upstate New York.


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JeanCGordon.Author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanCGordon

Website: https://www.jeancgordon.com/

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2wFYzPq


*****

The Love Clause by Liwen. Y. Ho. He needs a fake girlfriend to advance his career. She needs a pretend date to keep her mom off her case during the holidays. The solution to both of their problems? A contractual relationship with one clause: neither of them can fall in love. A Christmas tale set in romantic San Francisco that will cause this reluctant couple to rethink the “no love” clause.

About the Author: Liwen Y. Ho writes sweet and inspirational romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots). She lives in California with her family and blogs about life as a recovering perfectionist.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2square2behip/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/2square2behip

Website: http://www.2square2behip.com/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bt2nEL

Book is on sale for $0.99
https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Christmas-Kisses-Beate-Boeker-ebook/dp/B07FN4KVWP/ref=sr_1_1


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Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Past & Present



Past & Present

A Marketville Mystery by Judy Penz Sheluk



MY REVIEW

Wow, let me tell you, this was a quick read for me because I couldn’t put it down.

Being adopted, I think I identified with a lot of the situations in the author’s story, but I think every person could say the same about their past or the present in some manner. While some of us may have wondered about our past, almost all of us have been fortunate to sit at the feet of our parents hearing stories and memories of their lives and those of their ancestors.
Sometimes though, when those people are gone, the memories are gone too, and we realized there were many things we didn’t think to ask. Some were kept from us on purpose; often this was due to the rigid mores of the time. Moral attitudes that now, in the present, wouldn’t even cause someone to blink, were kept hidden and never talked about in the past. Never talked about for so long that they became almost forgotten.

Judy Penz Sheluk has come up with a story of the past and the present that will make you feel every memory that her characters feel. She’s invented a wonderful business called Past & Present Investigations run by four great characters. Calamity Barnstable, while not totally new to investigating, is unfortunately one of those people left alone to find out not all was as she had been told in the past. But here in the present she realizes that by adding her genealogy friend Chantalle, she can cover a lot of bases in discovering the past. They add a couple more definite assets to their group, one which is my favorite antique lady, Arabella, from the Glass Dolphin Mysteries series.

Penz Sheluk has put together a group of well-defined, vivacious characters to make one of
the best stories I’ve read in a long while. There’s some humor, some realism, some mystery around some of the past and some questions about what the present really looks like.
I can’t go on enough about this book. I have read other of Penz Sheluk’ s books and she is a fine writer, but she has outdone herself in Past and Present.

***This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are definitely my own.
  

This is Book 2 of Judy Penz Sheluk's Marketville Mystery series. She has another delighful series titled "The Glass Dolphin mysteries". 

Check them all out at this link. Amazon

To follow Judy, check out these links








Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Priscilla



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlene will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



After losing her father and husband in a mine disaster, Priscilla Heartsel faces poverty and eviction from her home by a heartless mine owner. Tricked into a bank robbery gone wrong, Braxton Gamble finds himself shot and unconscious in Priscilla's bed. Can they survive long enough to find a love more precious than gold?

Read an Excerpt...

She loosened her grip on the cookie and it landed in her lap. "You're planning to get married? Yet you were kissing me in front of everyone only moments ago?"

"Only because you're who I plan to marry." He grinned.

She retrieved her cookie, left it on the table and returned the plate to the pantry.

"Hey," he said, "I wasn't through with those."

"Too bad." Hands firmly planted on her hips, she glared at him. "I have no intention of remarrying, and if I did, what makes you think it would be to you?"

Braxton got to his feet. "I'm crazy about you, Pris, and I think you care for me too."

"Well, you're wrong. Get out."

Moving around the table toward her, he said, "Okay, Pris. Don't get your dander up."

Relieved that he was going to leave quietly, she relaxed, but as soon as she did, he reached out and hauled her into his arms. Before she could voice a complaint, he kissed her. Again. She tensed and tried to break free.

Oh, but it felt so good. While cursing herself for not fighting harder, she kissed him back. A tingling began below her abdomen and she felt flushed and hungry for something she couldn't name, except that she wanted more of what Braxton offered. Her hands slipped behind his head and she pressed closer, noticing he was ready for her.

"Lord, but I could go on kissing you forever," he murmured.

"Shut up and just do it," she whispered back.

She felt him smile against her lips, but not for long. He slid his tongue along the seam of her lips until she opened to him, then slipped it inside. He tasted like oatmeal and coffee. Sweet, heady, and strong.

He pressed his aroused body closer to her, and she couldn't help wriggling. Her heart pounded, her blood on fire.

The next thing she knew, he'd picked her up and was heading for the stairs. Priscilla knew what he planned and opened her mouth to object.

A knock came on the door. "Braxton, are you in there?" Etta hollered. "Irish and Logan have been sighted riding toward the Lucky Lady. You coming with me?"

"Aw, hell," he muttered, letting Priscilla's feet touch the floor. "I gotta go. I'm sorry, Pris, darlin'."

"It doesn't matter. What we were doing was insane anyway."

He glowered at her. "You still going to claim you don't want me?"

"I don't want to marry."

"That's fine with me. We'll just live together."

"Ha! Get out of here."

"I'm going." He stalked to the door and slammed it behind him.


About the Author:
Charlene Raddon’s first serious attempt at writing fiction came in 1980 when a vivid dream drove her to drag out a typewriter and begin writing. Because of her love of romance novels and the Wild West, her primary genre is historical romance. Kensington Books originally published five of her novels. These were later released as eBooks by Tirgearr Publishing. Currently, Charlene is an Indie author with . She also designs book covers, specializing in western historical.



Website: https://charleneraddon.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charleneb.b.raddon

Twitter: http://twitter.com/craddon

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Charlene-Raddon/e/B000APG1P8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1232154.Charlene_Raddon


Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G9N8PC7/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0





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Sunday, September 16, 2018

Rogue Dragon Rising



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


Twenty-three year old, Amari Hawke, is thrust into the world of two-soul shifters when she is injured and kidnapped by trackers outside the veil, beyond the safety of her homeland. Unable to remember her past, she trusts no one and relies on instinct to survive. As her awakening approaches, the first time she will transition into her animal, she must evade rogue shifters trying to capture her.

Now free from the King’s Army, powerful dragon lord, Jaxon Blackthorn, seeks a peaceful life. Intent on building his lands into a viable plantation, away from war and bloodshed, he is reluctantly pulled back into the fight when he defends the mysterious shifter with no past against an unseen enemy.

As evil threatens to destroy the entire realm, can the battle-hardened warrior and coming-of-age noblewoman accept their differences to forge an alliance that will ultimately unite the shifter nations?

Read an Excerpt

Amari had never seen a dragon before…at least not from what she could remember. Muscle rolled beneath glistening scales. Front claws, consisting of sharp, black talons, shimmered like polished stone. Beautiful translucent wings rippled in the sunlight, tapering down to a powerful tail. Her body quivered over the breathtaking spectacle in front of her.

She skimmed her fingers over a large, amber eye, well away from the razor-sharp teeth. Aside from a slight twitch, the beast stilled at her touch. In a brazen move, she planted her palms on each side of its face. “You are way more magnificent than the lioness.”

The dragon growled, shooting vibrations up her arms. She snatched her hands off its face and backpedaled until she butted up against the rock. Her heart rabbited in her chest.

She had just touched a dragon.

She glanced sideways. If she ran, maybe she’d reach the trees before it could catch her…assuming it wouldn’t just torch her. As if reading her mind, the beast snarled.

“Please, don’t eat me.”

In a flash of light, the dragon shimmered and lost shape. To her surprise, Lord Blackthorn stepped from the brightness, and his hands slammed down on each side of her head, sandwiching her against the rock. Tension rolled off his shoulders, and fear crawled up her spine.

She almost preferred her chances with the dragon.


About the Author:
TJ Shaw is a multi award-winning author who writes from her heart by incorporating her dreams and experiences to create strong, passionate characters who must overcome personal flaws to survive against the challenges of traversing through magical realms, undiscovered planets, and apocalyptic catastrophes.

TJ is a member of Romance Writers of America and Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Romance Writers.



Website: https://tjshaw.com/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tjshawauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TjShawAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/TJShaw

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/tjshaw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TJShawAuthor



BOOK IS ON SALE $0.99 DURING TOUR ONLY

– Paperback and eBook



Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Dragon-Rising-part-Outside-ebook/dp/B07FSKH3XX/
< Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rogue-dragon-rising-part-one-tj-shaw/1129183174


iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1417772232


Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/TJ_Shaw_Rogue_Dragon_Rising_part_one?id=QLhmDwAAQBAJ


Kobo https://play.google.com/store/books/details/TJ_Shaw_Rogue_Dragon_Rising_part_one?id=QLhmDwAAQBAJ



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Thursday, September 13, 2018

Where the River Bends

Contemporary
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Kalinda Evans works for the Anglo-Boer war foundation in Canada. She's sent to South Africa to make sure everyone who lost their lives in the war will be remembered. On her drive to the guest farm in Kimberley, South Africa, Kalinda picks up a female hitchhiker and is startled when just moments later, the woman vanishes. Kalinda would be convinced she was dreaming…except there’s still a white lace handkerchief on the passenger seat.



Extreme sports enthusiast and computer game designer Zack Carter is always after the next big challenge. He’s far too busy for romance and adheres to a three-date rule, until he meets his parents’ latest guest. When she relays the story of her mysterious experience, Zack’s family shares the local ghost story. Kalinda and Zack work together to solve the puzzle of the ghost and how it all ties in with the war and the work Kalinda is doing.

As their attraction grows, Zack realizes he no longer feels the need to prove anything to himself. He only needs to prove to Kalinda that he’s more than a good time.


Read an excerpt...
Relieved, Kalinda nodded. Her insides were still shivering from the shock. She wanted to get to the little museum as quickly as possible and start on her assignment. She didn't want to stay one minute longer than necessary. At the moment Toronto sounded much more normal.


She glanced up. Zach was staring at her. Again there was the strange shift inside of her. How did the song put it? Easy on the eye, hard on the heart. Yep, that was Zach Carter. She didn't have to guess whether he was a flirt – the damn dimple seemed to appear just too readily. Dimples? Seriously?

"A last comment about Suzie," Luke said.

Kalinda swallowed a groan. Enough of the ghost stories, already.

"Apparently she only appears to people who are getting married soon."

"Well, that cannot be true, because getting married is definitely not on my agenda," Kalinda said firmly.

Madeline giggled. "Well, my dear. It was also the last thing on my mind. And then I met Zacharias."

Kalinda smiled vaguely, but didn't react to Madeline's words. She focused on her plate, fervently hoping all talk of ghosts and weddings was finished.

"I still don't understand how you ended up on your hands and knees on the road," Zach interrupted her thoughts.

Kalinda frowned, trying to remember exactly what had happened. "I fell, I think."

"But why?" Zach insisted. "You were driving …"

"I got out of the car to look for her. She was walking towards me when I heard the car behind me. When I turned around, the car was nearly on top of me. And then—" She inhaled sharply. "She pushed me out of harm's way," she finished softly.

"Otherwise our car could have hit you." Madeline had also turned pale.

For a few minutes it was quiet around the table. Then Zacharias cleared his throat.

READ AN AUTHOR INTERVIEW  CLICK HERE

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I have been reading love stories for as long as I can remember and when I ‘met’ the classic authors like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James The BrontĂ« sisters, etc. during my Honours studies, I was hooked for life.

I married my college boyfriend and soul mate and after 43 years, 3 interesting and
wonderful children and 3 beautiful grandsons, he still makes me weak in the knees. We are fortunate to live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty's Bay, South Africa with the ocean a block away and a beautiful mountain right behind us. And although life so far has not always been an easy ride, it has always been an exciting and interesting one!

I like the heroines in my stories to be beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong.  And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity. They are of course, also gorgeous!  My stories typically incorporate the family background of the characters to better understand where they come from and who they are when we meet them in the story.


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