Christa Nardi is an accomplished author of cozy mysteries. Christa’s background is in higher education and psychology, much as her protagonist, Sheridan Hendley in the Cold Creek mystery series. She has always loved mysteries – reading them, writing them, and solving them. Christa is a member of Sisters in Crime.
Sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for.
Pretty much settled into her new home in Appomattox with Brett and his daughter, Sheridan longs for something to keep her busy. That is, until Maddie and her new friend are framed for theft and murder. Not quite the distraction she had hoped for, but she’ll turn over every rock to prove their innocence. In the process, she learns about the powerful Buchanan family and the history of the local community. Will the truth come out before the person calling the shots takes Sheridan and Maddie out of the picture?
An abandoned house, an abundance of dogs. And a dead body or two.
Sheridan Hendley’s volunteer position at Pets and Paws takes a new turn when more than twenty malnourished dogs are found at a rundown house on the outskirts of town. When the body of an elderly woman is found amidst mountains of clutter in the house, a search of the property leads to startling revelations. And another body. While Herman Stoneham’s death is deemed natural causes, his wife’s is not. Where did all the dogs come from and who’s responsible for Justine’s untimely death? Are the two connected? With dogs and murder at stake, Sheridan can’t help but get involved in the investigation.
When a former colleague is implicated in his neighbor’s demise, Sheridan Hendley returns to Cold Creek to prove his innocence. Annoying as Max can be, she can’t imagine the quirky professor is capable of murder. Unfortunately, not everyone shares her opinion. Of course, it doesn’t help that Max threatened his neighbor in a public place soon before the man was murdered. Or that the victim’s drug shipments had a habit of turning up on Max’s doorstep.
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An Interview with Christa Nardi, Author
Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself, your background?
I grew up in a suburb in New England and lived in that general area for most of my life. I’m part of the baby boomer generation, coming of age at the time of the Viet Nam war and similar politically volatile occurrences. I attended public school K-12 and a state university for my undergraduate education, and pursued a career as a Psychologist.
What is something interesting many people may not know about you?
That’s a hard one. My education was punctuated by many different jobs and experiences. At one point, I worked for the state civil preparedness and worked with FEMA in response to a disaster, I volunteered with the American Red Cross to teach basic first aid, and for several years worked on volunteer ambulance. I’ve worked in public schools and in two university settings.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Listening to music, reading, watching old movies, chatting with friends, cuddling with my dogs, working in the garden, and taking walks. With COVID-19, I’ve been binge reading a lot. Books have always been an easy escape from stressors for me.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
I love dogs, so it would have to be a dog. When I looked it up, the words and themes associated with a dog spirit animal include adventure, excitement, curiosity, re-evaluating interactions with people, and loyalty. At some level, the relationships are just as important as the plot.
Are your characters based on real people?
Yes and no. Characters are composites of multiple people with similar personalities and then exaggerated, like a caricature. Regardless of where I’ve worked, there are have been the very generous and social individuals, the hysterical and over-reactive ones, self-centered ones, ones who belittle and bully, the ones who lack confidence, and the ones who march to a different tune. They come in different sizes and shapes and combinations.
Are your characters fully developed before and their destiny determined before you start writing?
Heck, no. Even the major characters sometimes do things I didn’t consciously plan on them doing. And the ones that are book specific? I create them as I go. As the story progresses, the characters have to adjust and respond to new situations and each other.
Do you have a favorite movie or book or series?
That’s hard and the media doesn’t matter. There are several movies that I’ve watched multiple times – White Christmas (every year!), Grease!, Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, and Sound of Music. Yup, all musicals with great music and romance. Book series – I’m a proud owner of an original set of Nancy Drew and some of the Dana Girls. I also have almost a complete set of Louisa Mae Alcott. I like series and have read many by Sandra Brown, Sue Grafton, Patricia Cornwall, Lisa Gardner, Janet Evanovich… I could keep going. As I binge read through COVID-19, I am now caught up on Kathleen Brooks Bluegrass series, at least until the next ones come out.
Eight unscrupulous guests have been invited to the centuries old Blackstone Resorts. Each patron has his or her own reason for needing an escape from unpleasant circumstances. Tensions mount quickly as, one-by-one, they come to face their worst nightmare. Will they repent their evil ways or remain in Blackstone for the rest of their lives?
Kathy Finfrock is the author of the horror thriller House of Redemption and host of a podcast series Spooky Tales where you can find her short stories. An avid supporter of other writers, she is the organizer of a local writer’s group and has published The Ten-Minute Writing Prompt (Volume 1). She is currently working on a paranormal ghost novel.
Who is your favorite character in House of Redemption?
I would say my favorite is Louis simply because he makes me smile. He is quite charismatic and enjoys the ladies. All the ladies. It doesn’t matter if they are young or old, tall or short, fat or thin. He loves them all and they love him.
Are the characters based on real people you know?
I would say inspired by and the answer is not all of them, but a few. Louis is based on a former boss I had. That man would flirt up anyone in a skirt. Married or single, he would take your breath away and leave you feeling warm and tingly and then off he would go. He was such fun. Unlike Louis, he sincerely loved and appreciated women. He was not a player as far as I know. I still smile when I think of him many years later. I also had a little pity for him as his wife did not appreciate his flirtatious ways. He might have been a bit scared of her.
Sounds like you really liked him. Why would you invite him to Blackstone?
Because everyone has a dark side and appearances are deceiving. Some people are better at hiding their true face than others and this is true of Louis.
Awakening (Queen of Spades Book 1) by EJ Dawson Genre: SciFi Action Romance
Ayla is a villain. With a gift that allows her to see when anyone will die, she’s remorseless in her profession as the perfect assassin. When she wakes up in a cryo-tank three thousand years in the future, and no idea how she came to be there, all that matters is survival.
Rescued by Leith and the crew of the Nuria, Ayla discovers a far evolved world of space ships and galactic colonization. But everything comes with a price, and though Ayla is no princess locked in an icy tower, she still has to pay for the rescue she didn’t know she needed.
Given over to Leith, a darkly handsome man who reads Ayla far easier than she’d like, they must work together if Ayla is to repay her debt. As the pair come to learn how dangerous one another are, so too grows a lustful bond that comes with rules of its own. Fighting to learn why she was frozen, Ayla’s dragged into Leith’s past with a criminal organization seeking to take over this sector of the galaxy. In order to survive, Leith will need Ayla’s help, but Ayla doesn’t know if she’s willing to pay what it will cost her…
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EJ Dawson was born rather tardily (a fault that was to continue throughout life) in the picture perfect spring of 1983 in Canberra, Australia. Growing up on an abandoned mine next to a huge pine forest, time turned the once lovely weatherboard house and carefully kept grounds into creaky old home with rambling gardens. A wondrous place for a child to explore, accompanied by parents devoted to books and reading aloud.
From this her thirst for fiction was grown, nurtured, and has never ended.
Flitting between wanting to be a vet, biologist, meteorologist, archaeologist she settled into a double degree in history and archaeologist before moving into the working world. During school and university she never stopped writing, including taking creative writing courses and starting on her own novels, the first being finished when she was eighteen.
None of these seemed to be quite right, and so the writing never stopped.
Losing several novels over the years, in 2014 during a spontaneous moment a book involving airship chases and things that crept in the dark leapt to mind, and the first 50 thousand words written in the course of several weeks over a hot summer. Still reeling from the initial idea, the world she had created came into bloom, one novel idea at a time, until an intricate web had formed.
A steampunk flavoured suspenseful fantasy series has been likened to the Mummy crossed with Star Trek by reviewers.
EJ Dawson currently resides in rural Victoria with her loving husband, demanding felines, and very relaxed python. Still working full time, when she isn’t writing, she’s playing RPG games, computer games, and, of course, reading.
L.E. Wilson writes Paranormal Romance starring intense alpha males and the women who are fearless enough to tame them—for the most part anyway. 😉 In her novels you’ll find smoking hot scenes, a touch of suspense, a bit of gore, and multifaceted characters, all working together to combine her lifelong obsession with the paranormal and her love of romance.
Her writing career came about the usual way: on a dare from her loving husband. Little did they know just one casual suggestion would open a box of worms (or words as the case may be) that would forever change their lives.
Lattes and music are a necessary part of her writing process, and sometimes you’ll find her typing away at her favorite Starbucks. She walks two miles to get there, to make up for all of those coffees.
A vampire needs his mate to survive, but can he protect her from the most dangerous threat of all? Himself.
Nikulas Kreek has been searching for his brother for seven long years. Now, with the first lead he’s had in a long time, he discovers a witch went missing a few weeks before it happened. Coincidence? No way. Even better, the witch has a sister who might have more information. And that sister is hot. Like model hot. Nikulas knows as soon as he sets eyes on her strawberry-blond head he should stay far away. But the moment he tastes her, he realizes it’s too late. She has bewitched him.
Emma Moss still has nightmares about the night her sister was kidnapped, but she refuses to give up hope. So, when a seductive stranger calls claiming to have a new lead, she doesn’t hesitate to meet him. He seems harmless enough with his teasing manner and Hollywood pretty-boy looks. However, she can sense something more—a predatory air of danger that should warn her away. But her sister’s life is at stake. And she has no other leads. So, she agrees to go with him.
Bound together by their shared cause, tormented by their fated attraction, they set out to hunt down their siblings
For seven long years, Master Vampire Luukas Kreek has vowed to take revenge on the raven-haired witch that has taken his power—and his sanity. The witch with the face of an angel. Emaciated and weak, he desperately tries to hold on long enough to get his revenge. But with one taste of her blood, a single word bursts through his fragile psyche…MINE.
A witch bound by love.
Keira Moss has spent the last seven years trying to figure out a way to get herself out of this hellhole—and to save the strong-willed vampire she’s grown to admire—and love—while she’s at it. But she’s afraid not even a witch as powerful as she will be able to get out of this one. For she knows that the vampire who holds her heart will kill her the moment he is free. And she won’t stop him.
Tortured and starved, Luukas’s hunger for Keira wars with his lust for vengeance. His shattered mind must choose: to kill the witch or to love the angel—making her HIS, forever.
Sacrifices had to be made for the greater, bloody good.
At least that’s what vampire Aiden Sinclair kept telling himself when he woke up in an unfamiliar city with no memory of how he’d gotten there, or why. When he happens upon a cheeky witch in distress who’s being hunted by beasts he is all too familiar with, Aiden must make a choice: Suppress his fears and be with the girl, or embrace the truth and save them all.
Destinies will be fulfilled.
Grace Moss may be a witch, but her magic totally sucks. Hence the reason she finds herself saying yes to an unexpected offer of aid from a dusty, yet yummy-smelling, vampire. With a sexy British accent and bright grey eyes that dance with mischief, his touch makes her blood sing. Yet, something about him makes her skin crawl, and it’s not just the fact he has fangs.
To survive, Aiden will have to trust that her love will be enough to save him, and Grace will have to accept him as he is – into her heart, and into her arms.
Vampire Christian Moore has spent his entire life, both human and immortal, fighting for the respect of his peers. He has codes he lives by. Strict moral codes, both in his personal life and his work. And he doesn’t break them. Ever. Until he finds himself at the carnal mercy of a woman with eyes like the midday sky and hair the colors of a summer sunset. His craving for her is unnatural, and watching her dance makes his blood burn like acid in his veins. But he can’t not watch her.
When she was fifteen, Ryan Moss lost her mind. Or, at least that’s what the voices in her head would have her believe. On the streets of Tijuana, she finds something that makes the voices go away. To get it, she’s ashamed to admit, she’ll do just about anything, even strip for a man she can’t see or hear. However, she can sense his raging need for her through the haze of her high, and her body responds with a voracious hunger of its own.
Christian can make the voices go away, and he wants Ryan to be his. But first, he will have to learn to trust her, and she him. Both of their lives depend on it.
WARNING: This novel contains content that may be a trigger for some, including, but not limited to, drug addiction and scenes of violence.
Her blood saves his life. Her embrace slays his soul.
Dante Gabor has survived many things since becoming a vampire, but jumping from a plane and crash landing in the desert without a parachute was pushing it, even for him. To survive the relentless sun, he buries his broken body in its own sandy grave. But healing is painfully slow, and he’s forced to rise and hunt for larger prey. Half mad with thirst, he’s brought to his knees by the seductive taste of a lone female whose sweet blood heals his body, but leaves him craving still more.
MINE.
Laney Moss loves the Mojave desert that surrounds her home and hikes the upper trails often, prepared for anything she might run across. But nothing prepared her for the monster that comes with the setting sun to stalk her. In the moments before he attacks, one word crashes through her terrified mind—Vampire. She manages to get away, but he tracks the call of her blood and ignites a passion in her that frightens her nearly as much as it thrills her.
Dante is left with no choice but to take her home to his secret lair. Now he just needs to convince her to stay.
Happy to be back in Seattle, Shea Bennet wants nothing more than to forget about the enigmatic warlock who saved her from a fate worse than death. But his topaz eyes haunt her, and his wicked scent makes her crave something she will never be able to have, something more than his blood — his touch. Though she feels his presence everywhere she goes, she is taken off guard when he suddenly appears to disrupt her hunt. Shea finds the tables have turned, and it is she who is the prey.
A warlock determined to break the curse.
Ever since he released her from his mountain home, Jesse Moss finds he’s possessed with the memory of a vampire he feels compelled to protect for reasons he can’t explain. Night after night, he lies wrapped in her scent, her whiskey voice invading his dreams, and for the first time in his solitary life, he feels alone in the dark. Restless and worried, he tracks her to her home and offers her a deal, if she will only agree to spend some time with him. A deal he has no intention of keeping.
Shea’s cursed past won’t let her have him. His future insists she must.
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I’m excited to be one of many hosts sharing information about the Deathless Night Series by L. E. Wilson. If you’re interested in reading these books, you can order them HERE!
What Are Friends For? by Sarah Sutton Genre: YA Romance
FALLING IN LOVE ISN’T COMPLICATED…UNLESS IT’S WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND.
A close, easygoing friendship can all change with just one kiss. Seventeen-year-old Remi Beaufort learns this the hard way when she plays a blindfolded kissing game at a party.
She thinks she’s kissing Jeremy, the totally hot basketball player she’s been crushing on. And the kiss…it’s amazing. Heart-stopping, world-changing, toe-curling. The kiss makes her forget about her overbearing mother, the next-door neighbor’s drama, and the probability that she’ll fail her senior year. The best kiss of her life makes all that fall away.
Until her blindfold falls off, and she realizes that instead of kissing her crush, she’s kissing Elijah, her best friend since third grade.
Though she manages to convince Elijah that he was kissing his girlfriend, Remi can’t get the thought of his lips on hers out of her head. As things between them grow more and more complicated—because it turns out her fantasizing about his mouth is more of a problem than it sounds—Remi has to make a choice: does she live the rest of her life loving her best friend in secret? Or does she tell the truth and risk ruining their friendship forever?
Heart-melting and romantic, What Are Friends For? is a swoon-worthy best-friends-to-lovers story that will leave you crushing hard.
Sarah Sutton is a YA Romance author, bringing you stories about teenagers falling in love (sometimes with magic)✨She spends her days dreaming up ideas with her two adorable puppies by her side being cheerleaders (and mega distractions).
There are so many scenes in WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR? that just make me smile when I think of them. So many that I think about from time to time and just grin like a fool. Which is an awesome thing, because I was so afraid I’d never want to go back and look at anything I published—ever again. There’s that constant fear of finding something that you want to go back and fix, right? But this scene? This scene I will love until the end of time.
Without giving too much away, it’s the inciting incident. Between Chapter Four and Chapter Five, I swoon every time. I don’t think there’s ever been a time that I reread that scene and I didn’t squeal a little. Hands down, my favorite scene. If you want to see it, you’ve got to go check it out. *wink*
But as for a scene I can talk about—there’s a scene between Remi and Elijah where they’re looking at each other. Remi is lost in her thoughts about how amazing of a guy Eli is—totally unaware she’s totally staring and he’s totally staring—and just when you think something is about to happen, Elijah laughs. “You blinked,” he says. “I win.”
While Remi was in her own la-la land about him, he thought they were playing a staring contest. I. Love. It.
There were times between us that felt totally normal—like, almost the entire time we’d been cutting out snowflakes, things had felt normal. I hadn’t been staring at his mouth or imagining his body heat enveloping me into a hug. We joked like normal, laughed like normal. But the quiet moments between us had my heart aching, wanting. “See you tomorrow,” Elijah said, and I saw from the corner of my eye the shadow of him rising to his feet. He pressed his hand once against the spot between my shoulder blades before walking off, his socks silent on the wooden floors. I counted each of my breaths as I waited for the sound of the door to open.
It took seven slow inhales and exhales and then Elijah was gone, leaving me with a torrent of thoughts and a hurting heart.
I’m excited to be one of the many tour hosts sharing information about ‘What Are Friends For‘ by Sarah Sutton. If you are as excited about this book as I am, order your copy HERE!
The Final Act (The Straton Trilogy Book 1) by F.R. Merrill Genre: Suspense
Bright lights. Curtain calls. A cruel and unsuspected murder
What is the price of success, and are you willing to pay that price? These are questions F.R. Merrill poses in her debut novel, The Final Act, a thrilling work of suspense set in Broadway.
F.R. Merrill takes us into the life of an assistant producer, Faith Straton who is just one step from bringing her Native American production to Broadway. As she inches closer to her dream, however, things start falling apart. A friend is lost forever, and Faith Straton discovers she is a target for murder.
A professional storyteller and short story writer of more than 15 years, F.R. Merrill’s first novel promises to be a gripping page-turner that’ll not only entertain and thrill readers, but also enthrall them with fascinating insights into Native American culture. The author’s mastery and understanding of human nature and motivations arms the book with all the necessary elements to be a memorable and touching read with valuable life lessons that we can apply to our own lives. The Final Act will have you confronting many of the most difficult questions that plague our times – from the value of financial success and popularity to the importance of other people in our lives. It’s certain to earn a spot as one of the most meaningful and most enriching books to be published this year.
Crossroads (The Straton Trilogy Book 2) by F.R. Merrill Genre: Suspense
Mountain ranges, Ocean Breezes, And Revenge
Seven women come together to journey across Spain. Unsuspected, one member arrives with hatred in her heart and revenge is her only mission.
Lives are threatened, emotions peaked, and miracles abound on this physically demanding hike over 550 miles of Spain’s most beautiful countryside.
This story will appeal to ages 16 to 70 who enjoy stories of determination, travel, history, and suspense.
Note: Characters from a previous book mature in this book. The title of that book is THE FINAL ACT, From Woodstock to Broadway. It too is a short read.
Murder in Mosaic (The Straton Trilogy Book 3) by F.R. Merrill Genre: Suspense
ROMANCE, THE ART OF MOSAICS, AND BETRAYAL
As an unpublished manuscript, MURDER IN MOSAIC won in the Amsterdam Book Festival. The third in the Straton trilogy, before Amanda Straton entrenches into a new life in Florida, she takes time to visit her parents and a friend in Washington, D.C. Then it’s off to Italy to study mosaics. Unprepared she faces the dark force that pursued her in her youth. Evil returns with a vengeance. At the end, the ultimate question that remains, who will pay evil’s demands?
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F. R. Merrill, author of the Straton Trilogy) The Final Act, Crossroads, and Murder in Mosaic, and storyteller since 1993 bases her stories on adventures from cycling across the U.S. in several directions, cycling the Almafi Coast, cycling from Vienna to Budapest, cycling the Himalayas in Bhutan, and more. She hiked the Camino Del Norte in Spain in 2006, and since childhood has always painted and sculpted. She’s devoted to studies relating to her Native American heritage, and spiritual understanding.
Merrill is married, lives in Melbourne, Fl., assists The Special Spotlight Theater, (helping the challenged build pride through dance), and is a member of the Florida Historical Society, Brevard Cultural Alliance, and Zonta International (fighting against human trafficking).
Bastian Bucco, ghost hunter. Charged with gathering the souls of those chosen to fill the Black Zodiac. A nexus that holds the ultimate power. The souls must be of those who died suddenly. Those whose lives embodied the essence of the Black Zodiac.
The things that motivate people in life, carries over into death. Sex, revenge, power- these are the stories of the chosen ones. The ones to fulfill his duty. But why were they chosen? What, or who has selected these beings?
Find out in the Black Zodiac. Things will never be the same…
Zizi Cole, a born and bred native of Missouri, resides in a small town with her two boys and cat. When she isn’t writing, she likes to spend time with her children and do some reading.
She is a writer of horror, and more recently, has branched out into the realm of fantasy. She’s been an active member in the Indie community- making the best-seller list in her categories, she has also been nominated for several awards including “Best Horror Author”. Zizi’s co-authored fantasy, Afflicted, won second place for “Best Retelling” with Enchanted Anthologies in 2017. Her DAMNED series also took third place for “Best Horror” with Wild Dreams Publishing. She looks forward to meeting her fans at events and connecting with them on social media.
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Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I’m Zizi Cole. I have been published for almost three years now. My first book Sweet Nightmares came out April 29, 2017. I started writing my first novel because I was bored and laid off from my muggle job. I wrote Sweet Nightmares in a month. Once it was done, I knew I had to publish it. It was a compulsion.
I think realistically I have always been a writer, just haven’t always put pen to paper. I would journal my feelings and thoughts when I was younger and still do when things become too much, but it was something I’ve always done. I would tell stories to my cousins. We would do a round robin type of storytelling.
What is something unique/quirky about you?
I’m shy. People tend to think that I am loud and outgoing, which I am once I get to know you, but I’m innately shy and takes me a while to open up. I was never good at making friends, but the friends I have are ones that I will have for the rest of my life.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born and raised in Missouri. I still live in the town I went to high school in. It was only the second town I have ever lived in my entire life. It is a small town, quaint town.
If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
I’d spend it with my kids.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
I watch the Golden Girls or Gilmore Girls. I like the comedy and repetition. I also read or listen to audiobooks.
How to find time to write as a parent?
I find time to write as a parent after work, usually after the boys go to bed. Now that they are older, they give me time to write after I get off work, but I have a hard time concentrating on my books when I can hear them in the other room.
My best time to write is in the morning before everyone gets up. It is calm and peaceful, giving me time to think and let my imagination go wild.
Do you have a favorite movie?
I am a fan of the Hunger Games movies. I’m not sure what it is about them that pull me to them, but I absolutely love it.
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I would love all of them to become a move, but I would like to see The DAMNED series to be made into a movie trilogy or Black Zodiac to be made into a Netflix original series. I would also love to see The Missing in a movie. Can I go back to my answer of all of them? 😊
Beverly Ovalle dabbled with writing on and off for years when her best friend finally dared her to submit a story to a writing contest. Beverly decided she had nothing to lose and since she’d always wanted to be an author sent it in and agonized for months waiting to hear back. Contract in hand she has never looked back.
Beverly has been obsessed with dragons and romance since she was a young girl, collecting dragon books and reading everything she could find on them even down to the care of real life dragons. She’s always been slightly panicked that the world as we know it will end, so has prepped for it, haunting survivalist pages and prepper projects she felt she needed in the event SHTF.
An avid fan of all romance, Beverly’s goal is to share her love of the written word and write the hot and erotic romances that she enjoys. She writes what she loves to read and it was only a matter of time before her obsessions crept into her writing for her to share. She hopes you enjoy her tales as much as she loves writing them.
Stealing Hope (A Dragon’s Fated Heart Book 1) by Beverly Ovalle Genre: Paranormal Romance
The apocalypse has come and gone. Those who survived learned to adapt. Dragons awaken to once again reign over the skies.
Upon eruption of a volcano, Ari awakens to a changed world, and a knowing that his dragon’s mate is near. He saves her twice—once as a dragon, and again as a man—and wins her confidence.
Hope cried out, moaning, “just change me with pleasure?”
Hope is restless and unfulfilled until she meets Ari, the man of her fantasies. The sensual tension between them heightens with every touch. When their passion explodes, Hope gets pulled into the dragon’s mating ritual…and into a world of erotic sensation she never dreamed existed but now cannot live without. The dragon binds his mate to him with a ritual that shows Hope her true nature in this humorous erotic romance.
Finding Faith (A Dragon’s Fated Heart Book 2) by Beverly Ovalle Genre: Paranormal Romance
The apocalypse had been and gone. Those left banded together for survival, creating safety from the chaos. They succeeded.
Faith wanted more, she wanted to live, to love, fly free. More than survival, Faith craved adventure. Leaving home, seeking a new life, all that ceased when she witnessed her sister being abducted-by dragons, creatures shrouded in myth. Determined to rescue her, Faith begins an adventure she never wants to end.
Dragon shifter Crag follows his heart, hunting for his fated mate. Once he finds her, Crag is determined to keep her safe, from all threats. Admitting he is a dragon shifter and involved in her sister’s kidnapping may be the end of them.
Until the interference of a race of dragons desperate for survival grasps their only chance, stealing Faith and drawing Crag along to save her.
Saving Grace (A Dragon’s Fated Heart Book 3) by Beverly Ovalle Genre: Paranormal Romance
The apocalypse had come and gone. Secrets lie buried waiting to be found. Dragons are not the only ones awakening to a new world.
Grace has always felt a bit like an outsider, even in her own family. She preferred to do things on her own, ignoring her loneliness. That all changes when Rog barrels into her life, opening her eyes to so much more.
Dragon shifter Rog has seen what problems hiding your inner dragon from your mate brings. Saving his mate from a precarious situation, he changes in front of her. Her awe and hesitant acceptance have him wrapped around her finger in a heartbeat.
Together they find a hidden, cryogenic facility. Do they awaken the lost souls hidden in the depth of the mountain? Dare they take the chance of possibly bringing back the diseases to once again ravage their world?
Those are easy questions, but how can Rog explain the mating ritual to change Grace into a dragon involving himself and other dragons giving her more pleasure in a once in a lifetime experience?
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Read on as Author Beverly Ovalle shares a little about the world of A Dragon’s Fated Heart and reveals a glimpse into the next book in the series!
I’m a bit of a prepper so writing about a post-apocalyptic world isn’t a surprise to anyone that really knows me. In my kitchen I have my go to bag and necessities ready to go. Better yet, we bought an RV and I was dancing around excited that I have my own vehicle that I prep every year, lol.
Naturally I wanted to write about what would happen, but not during. We all know that will be death, destruction and lawlessness. For Pete’s sake most cities have riots when their sports teams win! Or if there is a natural disaster. Looting is the first thing that happens.
No, I wanted to show what would happen when people realize they need to survive. Stealing from others will only do you good for so long-if you don’t die when someone else defends themselves. So, back to an agricultural society. It will be the only way to eat. Hunting, growing and working together. But every community that survives will probably be different. What would you do?
I’m of the firm belief the Amish will be the ones to survive in America. Gasoline will run out eventually. Electricity will be gone unless you’ve got solar or wind power. They already have that going on.
But then I take it to a fantasy world. Dragons wake up, hidden in the recesses of the world.
Because? Obsessed! So much that at one point I had dragons as pets until they passed away.
Saving Grace is my fourth dip into this world. My dragons started out in Colorado and roam the United States, with Rog and Hark checking out Kentucky. An absolutely beautiful state. What I had planned to be stories about six siblings is expanding a bit. One of the dragons in Saving Grace, Indra, is practically begging for his own story. I’ve already bought the cover! You will also meet the future mate of one of Rog’s sisters. Not that any of them realize that. Not yet at any rate.
So, prepping, dragons and sexy men swirl in my brain and pour out to entertain. Once I start writing one of my stories, it’s hard to stop. I hope you enjoy my Dragon’s Fated Heart Series as much as I like writing them.
I’m excited to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about A Dragon’s Fated Heart Series. If you’re intrigued, make sure you order your copies today, just CLICK HERE!
The Rite of Wands (The Rite of Wands Book 1) by Mackenzie Flohr Genre: YA Fantasy
One boy…one Rite… And a world of deadly secrets that could change the course of history—forever
And so begins the tale of Mierta McKinnon. When a horrible fate reveals itself during his Rite of Wands ceremony, he must find a way to change not only his destiny but also the land of Iverna’s.
Forbidden from revealing the future he foresees to anyone, he is granted a wand and his magical powers, but still must master the realm of magic in order to save himself and those he loves.
But Mierta is not the only one with secrets…especially when it’s impossible to know who to trust.
When Lochlann becomes nervous about his upcoming Rite of Wands ceremony, his brother Mierta McKinnon reassures him everything will be okay. But when Lochlann staggers out of his ceremony and refuses to use magic, Mierta McKinnon is determined to find out what really happened.
Meanwhile, the kingdom of Vandolay is under attack by a dangerous, unidentified creature, and Mierta’s father, Mortain McKinnon, requests his son’s assistance to help aid the injured.
But the people of Vandolay aren’t the only ones Mierta must save when someone he holds dear comes face-to-face with the creature and their life hangs in the balance.
Now Mierta must draw upon his strength and his newly acquired magic skills to defeat a dangerous foe and save everyone from death.
2019 Author Academy Awards: Top 10 Finalist – Fantasy
2018 Literary Classics Awards Gold Medal Winner: Best Young Adult Fantasy Novel
2018 Imadjinn Award for Best Fantasy Novel
2018 International Book Awards Finalist in the Fiction: Fantasy
2017 Foreword INDIES Book of Year Awards Silver Medal Winner: Fantasy
Mackenzie is the award-winning author of the young adult fantasy series The Rite of Wands. A storyteller at heart, she loves to inspire the imagination. Mackenzie makes her home in Michigan, where she is currently penning her next adventure.
Would you like a chance to win a Swag Pack with a bookmark, Rite of Wands poster, and Rite of Wands character cards? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
I am excited to be one of many hosts sharing information about The Rite of Abnegation by Mackenzie Flohr. If you want to check out the books, you can order your copies HERE!
Chelsea Falin is the 25 year old independent author of well over ten titles. She began writing with the intent to publish in 2006, at age 16, and finally published in 2009, at age 19. Chelsea writes in a variety of genres, including but not limited to: romance, young adult, comedy, cooking, poetry, and dramatic fiction. Professionally, Chelsea is also a freelance blog/article writer, web designer, and book blogger.
In her personal life, Chelsea is the mother of a six year old daughter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, fishing, hiking, biking, traveling, and spending time with her friends or family.
Willie and Babette have long, long been shielded from their own culture and heritage by their mother. When circumstances change, the girls are thrown into what they were once shielded from – only to find it is nothing like they once believed.
While Babette adjusts easily, Willie finds herself much more hesitant. While she struggles to find her true self, Willie is forced to learn she is not the only one suffering from “Less Than Humble Beginnings.”
“Try to remember everyone here has their demons, but we put those demons to good use. Make ourselves better, stronger, wiser.” – Jack
Willie, despite a rough start, has become immersed in the culture she should have been born into. As she grows in her own knowledge of her ancestral roots, she also grows in who she is as a person. All things are now within her reach, and all she must do is put forth a little effort. With all of this in mind, Willie has decided to dedicate herself towards her own ‘Personal Growth.’
“Our heritage might be bloody, but that’s no reason not to be proud!” -Spike
‘Personal Growth’ is the second installment in the fairly popular indie series, Growing Roots. It is the sequel to ‘Less Than Humble Beginnings.’ Here is what people have said about the series:
“The characters are believable and realistic.”
“Chelsea used concise descriptions of her characters which made it very easy to imagine their interactions.”
“Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene. With her excellent weaving of words, the world of Willie came alive as if I’m watching a movie.”
“Being a teenager is never easy, and Willie’s internal struggles were easy to relate to.”
Great Strides (Growing Roots Book 3) by Chelsea Falin
Willie has finally found her father, and he’s welcomed her with open arms. Now she must forge a relationship with the man she never even knew was alive. It isn’t just him, however, Willie must also find out how she fits in with her step-mother and half-siblings. Left in Alabama with no close-in-age peers, Willie makes great strides in finding out who she is as an individual without a group of close friends to rely on.
Alabama offers many firsts for Willie. The most notable in her own mind is her first relationship. There are other firsts in store, however, and a whole new cast of characters to get to know. How will Willie handle this newest experience? Will she handle it in the mature the way she has always handled change? Or will this be the point in which Willie loses herself?
“Genetics are a tricky business at times, and you just never know what you’re going to get when you throw two ancestry’s together.” -Willie’s Mamaw
Living a “normal” life doesn’t always mean that things will always be good. Bad things happen to even the best of people, and this is a life lesson Willie must now learn when tragedy strikes her close-knit group of friends.
As she continues to grow and change, Willie knows that she is far from the girl who arrived in Oklahoma little over a year ago. She’s growing, changing, and working on putting the pieces together in her life – just as her friends struggle to do the same.
“You never know, Willie. Death doesn’t discriminate by age or gender or social status. It’s one of the few things that doesn’t care. When it comes for you, it comes. It could be today, tomorrow, or a hundred years from now, but when your time is up, it’s up. There’s nothing you can do to change that.”-Dakota
Praise for the ‘Growing Roots Series’:
“a great lesson in the way life can change at any time”
“an eye-opener for teenagers and older adults alike”
“Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene.”
Would you like a chance to win a free $10 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
My arrival home two days before hadn’t been everything I’d hoped. Oh, everyone was excited to see me, but I felt the void of Jack and Spike tremendously. They hadn’t made it back for my homecoming because they’d had to work. I idly wondered whether they’d always have to work now. With their tech school starting up soon, there wouldn’t be any time for a silly sixteen-year-old girl like me.
I couldn’t let myself drown in self-pity. I knew that statement was wrong. Jack, Spike, and Dakota had purposefully waited for me to arrive home before they threw their big house party. Johnny had told me earlier the party would be this Saturday night, and we (along with Lee) would crash at Jack’s new place. Aunt Janie was okay with that because it meant we wouldn’t drive home drunk. I was certain she trusted the older guys to make sure nothing happened to us.
Buck and Takoda had gotten their own place, which was where I headed now. The new place was only a twenty-minute walk, according to my cousins.
I hadn’t called to tell Buck or Takoda I was coming but was eager to get out of the house for a bit. Tiny baby Levi, while adorable, was what Aunt Janie called a “colicky” baby. All I knew was that he screamed for hours on end, and when he slept, the whole house tiptoed around him. I’d asked Johnny and Lee if they wanted to go, but they’d been working on a car project. They were trying to keep up the shade tree business Jack had started while he was gone at school.
When I reached the right area, filled with small homes on small plots, I began to worry I wouldn’t know which house was the right one. I hadn’t had the forethought to ask Johnny or Lee if they knew the house number. I didn’t have to worry long, however, because I soon saw a long, lean form waving from two houses down. As I walked closer, Takoda hollered “Hey, little one!”
I began walking up a short, cracked walkway leading to the front of the house. “Hi, Takoda.”
“I didn’t know you were back yet.”
I smiled, nodding. “Yeah, I got back two days ago. Things have been kind of crazy at the house since I returned, so I came hunting for your new house.” I paused and looked around. “Is Buck here?”
Takoda shook his head. “No. He’s usually off today, too, but he called in to cover a shift. It’s just me.” He grinned lopsidedly. “You’re not still afraid of being alone with me, are you?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No. I think I’m over that.”
Takoda smiled broadly. “Good, then come up here and have a seat.” He patted beside him. As I moved up the steps I saw it was a cheap metal glider meant to seat two. I sat a little hesitantly, but Takoda didn’t seem to notice. “So, tell me about your summer. How did you get along with your dad and other family, little one?”
I sighed. “Do you have to call me little one? I’m not that little.”
Takoda gave a half-smile. “I think we’ve gone over this before.” I didn’t say anything but noticed his eyes flickered up and down my frame. I felt a little self-conscious, and the feeling increased when he added, “No. I guess you’re not so little anymore. You’ve changed this summer.”
“How so?” I regretted the question almost immediately as I looked at the uncomfortable look on Takoda’s broad, friendly face.
“Ah… well, I couldn’t help notice you’re leaner and curvier. Your hair is a little different, too, and I think you may have grown half an inch.” Takoda sighed. “You’re growing up fast, little one.”
“Please, stop calling me that.” I decided to not remark on how he said I was leaner and curvier. Takoda was always very perceptive, and the statement was made more as an observation than anything harmful. Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little awkward he’d noticed.
Takoda shook his head and chuckled. “Tell me about your summer, Willie.” He stressed my name to make certain I noticed he’d used my real name instead of his nickname for me.
“Well… I got along well with my family. I have a grandma and everything, which I didn’t know until I got there. Oh, and I went running with my brother every morning while I was out there.” I started.
“That explains some things,” Takoda interrupted.
I decided to ignore his comment and continued. “Oh, and…” I paused, blushing. “I also had my first boyfriend.”
Takoda’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh?” He paused. “Does your dear love interest know this?” I couldn’t tell if Takoda was teasing or serious. Sometimes it was hard to tell with him.
“Love interest?” I questioned, confused.
“Spike?” Takoda prompted.
“Oh… uh, no. I guess he doesn’t. But he won’t care. It’s a long story and I don’t want to get into it right now.”
Takoda nodded. “So, are you still dating this mystery guy? Or was it a summer thing?”
“A summer thing,” I answered. “We knew it was from the start. But he was nice.”
“He’d better be.” Takoda’s voice was half-joking and half-serious. “There would be a lot of angry men to face if he weren’t, after all.”
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s true. I feel bad for any guy who thinks about dating me, here.”
Something flickered across Takoda’s face. It was a strange look I didn’t understand, and it was gone so quickly I might have imagined it. “Well, tell me about this boyfriend. What was his name, how old was he, the usual stuff.”
“You’re interested in all that? Isn’t that something guys don’t usually care about?” I teased.
Takoda snorted as he grinned. “Well, I don’t have anything else to do today, and I’m certain you want to spill the details to everyone who will listen.”
I grinned. Without responding to his comment, I began to tell him about Nash. “He’s eighteen. No, wait, he’s nineteen now.”
Takoda raised an eyebrow at me. “Isn’t that a little old for you?”
“You hang out with sixteen-year-old girls, don’t you? And you’re even older.”
Takoda shook his head. “I’m not dating one, though.”
I snorted. “Bet you wish you were.” My eyes grew wide when I realized my mouth had spoken before my brain told it not to. I clasped a hand over my mouth in shock. That was something I wouldn’t have normally said. Maybe Alabama had changed me in some ways.
Takoda arched an eyebrow and stared for a moment before answering. Slowly nodding, he said, “You know, you might be right.” I stopped breathing. Takoda shrugged his shoulders heavily and said, “Then again, maybe you’re not. We’ll never know, will we?” He spread his hands wide to punctuate his statement and then he laughed, his typical grin returning to his face.
I assumed Takoda had been joking, although I was never really certain, and I laughed with him. His eyes twinkled in the sunlight for a moment and caught my attention. They were the most beautiful shade of light brown. Not that I was crushing on Takoda, but I’d learned to pay attention to the beauty around me in all things. Even strange guys who left me constantly confused and feeling I’d been left out of an inside joke.
If you enjoyed that short excerpt, you’ll want to CLICK HERE and order the whole series!!!
I’m excited to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about The Growing Roots Series by Chelsea Falin. Be sure to check out her books on Amazon and order your copies today!
Nina Soden 