RELEASE BLITZ Book Title: Don’t Hold Back (Chasing Gold Book 2) Author and Publisher: Colette Davison Cover Artist: Colette Davison Release Date: July 26, 2022 Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance Tropes: Rivals to lovers, grumpy and sunshine, slow burn, hurt/comfort Themes: Winning isn’t everything, learning to love yourself Heat Rating: 3 flames Length: 93,000 words It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK Can rivals gain Olympic glory and love? Blurb Garret has spent years training in gymnastics, but the pressure has taken its toll. Despite qualifying for the Olympics, failing to medal at the World Championships is all he can think about. Anger is taking control and strangling his ability to focus on training, when his main rival, Team USA gymnast, Ryder Anderson, arrives at the gym to train alongside him. Garrett wants to hate Ryder, but he can’t ignore his rival’s sunshine personality and handsome looks. Discovering Ryder is fighting a battle against himself, Garrett’s anger turns to admiration and then love. Dating his rival isn’t against the rules, but that doesn’t make it a good idea. Can they make a relationship work despite the pressure of the Olympics, or will they crack under the strain? Don’t Hold Back is an M/M sports romance with a grumpy gymnast who falls for his sunshiny rival. It has a slow-burn relationship and some hurt/comfort. Trigger warnings: Don’t Hold Back features a character who has anorexia. Excerpt “Ryder.” Lennie waved him across. “Good work. I’ve got two options for you.” Ryder raised his eyebrows as he waited. From the look on Lennie’s face, he wasn’t sure he’d like either of them. “You could go to Boulder and train alongside David Marshall.” David was a two-time Olympian. “Isn’t he trained by Isaiah Hobbs these days?” Ryder asked, trying hard not to scowl. “Yes.” “That’s not really an option, then is it?” “Hobbs said he’d have you.” Ryder shook his head and half turned away. “I don’t particularly care.” “I didn’t think you’d go for it. But Boulder’s closer to home than my next suggestion.” “There’s not much farther away than that.” “The other option is to come with me.” “To England?” Lennie nodded. “I’ve called in a favour at my old gym in Leeds. They’d be happy to have us. We could train around visiting hours. They’re pretty prescriptive. You’d get more training hours in if you went to Boulder.” “I’d rather take the week off than train under Isaiah again.” He folded his arms and dipped his chin. “England, huh? I’ve always wanted to see Buckingham Palace.” Lennie laughed. “Leeds and London aren’t exactly next door.” “Oh.” “Seriously, what do you think?” Ryder drew in a breath. “Travelling’s always harder than being home, but I’d rather train with you in England than with Isaiah. But only if you’re sure.” “I am. We can stay at my parents’ house. Dad won’t mind if you take over the kitchen. Or if you prefer, we can rent somewhere.” “Sounds good.” It was easy to say, less easy to feel. Ryder always felt anxious about travelling, especially when it meant staying somewhere else for any length of time. But travelling was unavoidable at his level of gymnastics, so he dealt with it. “You’re sure?” Ryder smiled and nodded. He wouldn’t train under Isaiah again. He couldn’t. “You won’t be the only Olympian training at the gym we’ll be using,” Lennie said. “Oh?” “Two members of the British team train there. Reece Matthews and Garrett Kidd.” “They’re great gymnasts.” “Yes.” Ryder laughed. “Garrett’s the handsome scowling one, right?” Lennie gave him a stern look. “What? He is handsome, and he was very scowly at Worlds when I went to congratulate him.” “You beat him.” “So?” Lennie rolled his eyes. “He probably thought you were rubbing your win in his face.” “Me? Nah. Why would I do that?” Lennie raised an eyebrow. “I barely beat him in the all-around final. It was by point four or something.” “Point two.” “Oh. Even closer than I thought.” Ryder shrugged. “Either one of us could have won on the day. I was just luckier. See? Now I’m looking forward to a trip to England.” Lennie shook his head and sighed. “Let’s see your floor routine again.” Ryder grinned. “On it.” About the Author Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing. Social Media Links Blog/Website | Facebook Page | Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner BookBub | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram: @colettedavison Mailing List | Newsletter Sign-Up Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card AUDIOBOOK TOUR Book Title: Legacy: Deadly Curiosities 5 Author: Gail Z. Martin Publisher: SOL Publishing and Tantor Audio Narrator: Courtney Patterson Release Date: May 10, 2022 Genre: Urban fantasy with MM romantic elements Tropes: Pirates, sea captain, soul bond, friends-to-lovers, magic, witches, Voodoo, visions, psychics, ghosts, monsters, bisexual romance, ghostly lovers, sex magic, omens Themes: Found family, soulmates, loyal friends, eternal love, second chance at love Heat Rating: 1 flame Length: 7 hours and 48 minutes It can be read as a standalone but is also part of a series. It does not end on a cliffhanger. Note: Legacy isn’t a romance—it’s adventure/suspense with strong romantic elements. The two main romances in the book are between Gideon (sea captain) and Ramon (privateer) right after the American Revolution, and between Teag and Anthony in current time, and while the romances play an important part in the plot, the focus is on the action/mystery/supernatural elements. (Gideon and Ramon work forbidden magic to bind their souls together forever to protect the coast from a malicious demigod, and because they never want to risk being separated in the afterlife.) There are two secondary romances, an MM one between Dante and Coltt (privateers in the Revolutionary era) and between Cassidy and Kell (MF but nothing beyond a few kisses and cuddles). There is no explicit/on-page sex. Both Dante and Gideon are bisexual, and those pairings are important to the plot. Also—there are massive crossovers between Legacy (and the whole Deadly Curiosities series) and my Morgan Brice series, especially Badlands, Treasure Trail, Witchbane and Fox Hollow. Buy Links The clock is ticking for Cassidy and her friends to stop the dark warlock, capture the goblin, and restore the guardian spell before a malevolent ancient entity takes its vengeance on Charleston and the coast. Blurb Omens of impending disaster have the city of Charleston on edge. Tremors warn of earthquake risk, while a potentially catastrophic storm gathers strength over the ocean and heads for land. A last-man-standing promise among elderly veterans creates a dangerous inheritance involving an imprisoned, wish-granting goblin. A sea captain and a swashbuckler worked blood magic to protect Charleston from an ancient evil with a spell that bound their souls and their descendants to the task, but danger looms as its power fades. The head of a witch family wants artifacts and secrets—and he'll do anything to get them. Cassidy Kincaide runs Trifles and Folly, an antique and curio store where her touch magic helps get cursed and haunted objects out of the wrong hands. More than once, she and her allies have saved the world from supernatural threats. The clock is ticking for Cassidy and her friends to stop the dark warlock, capture the goblin, and restore the guardian spell before a malevolent ancient entity takes its vengeance on Charleston and the coast. It's going to take all the magic, courage, and quick thinking they can muster—and for once, that might not be enough. About the Author Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, SOL Publishing, Darkwind Press, Worldbuilders Press and Falstaff Books. Recent books include Convicts and Exiles, Sellsword’s Oath, Inheritance, and Night Moves. With Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of the Spells Salt & Steel, Wasteland Marshals, Joe Mack and Jake Desmet series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance including the Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail and Fox Hollow series. Author Links Blog | Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Pinterest Newsletter Sign-Up | Instagram | BookBub | Goodreads | TikTok BLOG TOUR Book Title: Sins of our Sons Author: Kristian Daniels Publisher: Extasy Books Release Date: May 28, 2022 Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance Tropes: Forbidden love, murder, conversion therapy Themes: Coming out, forgiveness, hate crime, love Heat Rating: 3 flames Length: 94 000 words/ 333 pages It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links Amazon US | Amazon UK | Extasy Books Contemporary MM Romance, murder, conversion therapy Blurb Young lovers Greg and Tyler secretly meet to spend time together, until a moment of passion by the moonlight throws their lives into chaos. When their parents learn about their little escapade, it opens a Pandora’s box that spreads family discord, resentment, and heartaches. When someone adds fuel to an already fragile situation, things get out of hand quickly. Will these two young lovers stay safe? How much can they endure before they break? Excerpt Nestled in southwest Alberta’s rolling foothills lies the quaint little town of Cardston—the Miller and Bradshaw families’ hometown. Cardston straddled the Lee Creek valley and served as a shopping and tourist hub for southwest Alberta, and was the unrivalled centre of Mormon life in Canada. Three-quarters of the town’s residents belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while the other quarter was Catholic and Baptist. The town’s social life revolved around family life, team sports and religion. Greg Miller was the captain of the town football team, the Cardston Cougars, and the proud son of John and Teresa Miller. Greg’s parents owned the only shoe store in town, where Greg helped on weekends and summer holidays. Greg and his teammates had been busy preparing for their next big game against the Calgary Golden Bears; it was the Cougars’ opportunity to bring back home the trophy they lost to the Bears three years ago. Unfortunately, John and Teresa couldn’t be there to cheer on their son—John had his business to run, and since Greg would be in Calgary, his mother would have to be at the store instead. Sales had been down, and closing for even one day could cause the family hardship in the coming months. Tyler had attended Greg’s practices ever since they met. You could tell in Tyler’s eyes how proud he was of his boyfriend―his secret boyfriend. Unfortunately, Greg and Tyler needed to be discreet and hide when they wanted to meet, a drawback of living in a small religious town. It was Greg’s last year of high school, and if his team won the game, it could mean a scholarship for him at the University of Alberta and a golden chance to play for the Golden Bears. Over dinner, Greg asked his parents once more if they were sure they couldn’t make the game. His father looked at him and said, “Sorry, Greg. I wish we could go, but we can’t close the business. You know how important November is to us.” “Can’t you ask Steve to cover for you?” “No. Steve has decided to move on, and even if he was still with us, I don’t have the money to pay for him to replace me. I’m sorry, son, you’ll have to do this one on your own.” “You don’t need us there,” his mother said. “You’ll do just fine.” “I know. It would have been nice to have you guys there, that’s all. But I understand,” Greg said. “Besides,” his mother said, “if we went, we’d need a hotel room and Calgary’s expensive.” Greg nodded and lowered his head. He quietly finished his meal, took his empty plate to the dishwasher, and went to his room. He turned on his computer and browsed the internet for anything and nothing, then went and laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Bummer. I’ll probably be the only guy whose parents won’t be there. He texted Tyler about meeting up. Thirty minutes later, Greg stopped by the living room and told his parents he was going out. He hopped on his bike and met his boyfriend, Tyler, at Lee Creek Park. Unlike Greg, who was a Catholic, Tyler was Baptist. Tyler thought being Baptist was very similar to other denominations, but their parents thought differently. A typical week for Tyler was packed with religion, beginning with a seminar at six in the morning, youth group on Wednesdays, and bible school on Sunday. In high school, Tyler was referred to as the boy who didn’t drink, smoke, or hook up with girls. There was nothing he’d like more than to be like the other guys his age, but his religion forbade it, as did his parents. Tyler was already at the park when Greg arrived, sitting near the creek, leaning against a tree and lost in his thoughts. Greg quietly approached him from behind the tree and grabbed one of his arms. “What the…” Tyler jerked his arm away, and Greg burst out laughing. “You scared me,” Tyler said. “How’s it going, dude?” “Okay. And you? Ready for the big game?” “I think so, but it’s a bummer my folks can’t come.” “Oh, that’s too bad.” “Yeah, but what can you do?” Greg said with a shrug. “Would you like me to be there? I can be your cheering section in the audience,” Tyler said with a smile. “You would do that?” “Of course.” “That would be so cool. We could rent a room for after the game.” “Won’t you have one already?” “Yeah, but we’re four of us in there, and I don’t think the coach would let you crash. Besides,” Greg said, leaning forward towards Tyler, “we wouldn’t be able to do this.” The two of them kissed. “You have a point there,” Tyler said. “I’ll ask my parents to reserve a room for me. You need to keep your cash for university.” “Will they let you go?” Greg asked, excited at the prospect of being with his boyfriend alone where no one knew them. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll be there to support you,” Tyler said with confidence. “I can’t wait for us to be at university so we can be together. I’m tired of hiding,” Greg said, looking at Tyler. “Me too. You’ll have to wait, though, because you’re a school year ahead of me.” Tyler grinned. “Right.” Greg made a sad face. “But you can join me the year after,” he said with a smile. “Think of what would happen if our parents found out about us,” Tyler said, lost in his thoughts. “That’s a scary thought. Come here.” Greg placed his hands on Tyler’s shoulder and lowered him on his lap. Tyler rested his head on Greg’s lap, and Greg bent over and placed his lips on Tyler’s. About the Author Kristian Daniels is a published author. His first novel Stolen Heart was published a little more than one year ago. An Information Technologist by profession, he retired a few years ago to dedicate his time to his storytelling. Kristian is passionate about writing. Fiction and coming–of-age stories are what he likes to write about. Kristian lives and works out of his home in Canada and spends his summers traveling and enjoying a drink a good book and the sun by his pool. Author Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of six copies of Sins of Our Sons Kindle Edition This week's teaser comes from Shifting Chaos, book 4 of The Sleepless City. Declan sprinted into the house and found Jonas sitting at the kitchen table. “Want me to go running with Lucas? I’ve been doing this every month for about a decade, and I know your opinion of running,” Jonas said. He held Declan’s shoes in one hand and a T-shirt in the other. “I’ll never understand running when something isn’t chasing after you. However, Lucas would be hurt if I didn’t go with him. You can have him the rest of the month with my blessing.” It was Lucas’s habit to be up in the middle of the night, and he and Jonas often ran together at that time. “Either I run with him when he’s changed or throw a stick for him.” Jonas snorted. Like Declan, Jonas Forge had been born and raised when the Industrial Revolution was still a new fad. People had different sleep patterns at that time. It was common to sleep for a few hours, be up for an hour or two, and then sleep again. Jonas and Declan often used that time for activities other than running. The sting of Jonas with a soulmate was easing, but jealousy stabbed at Declan when he least expected it. Declan was halfway down the steps when Moose’s harness and leash flew by and landed at the bottom of the steps. He turned and looked at Jonas. “You are welcome to come with us. You’re the one who likes running for pleasure.” Jonas yawned, and did an exaggerated stretch. “Nah…think I’ll give Blair a call. It’s not that late in New Mexico.” Resting a hand on Jonas’s shoulder, Declan gave a squeeze. “Why don’t you…” “No,” Jonas snapped. He met Declan’s gaze then looked away at once. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” “I know. What can I do?” Jonas shook his head. “Nothing. I can’t do anything either. He went home, no, he went back to his dad’s home. He wanted to go alone, and I promised to give him the time he needs.” Jonas never broke a promise, not in all the hundred-and-seventy odd years Declan had known him. “Blair will be back home soon. This house is his home now. We’re his family and you’re his soulmate, he loves you, that’s so easy to see. Leaving one life for another sometimes needs closure. We both know that.” Jonas nodded, clapped both of Declan’s shoulders and offered a smile Declan knew was fake. “Enjoy your run.” Declan watched him go. Jonas’s movements were stiff and without his normal grace, as if he were in pain. His sadness was palpable. Declan hurt for him. Yet, he knew, there was nothing he could do to ease his friend’s pain and had the sense Jonas didn’t believe Blair would come home. Fitting this turn of events should happen so near the full moon. Like Declan, Jonas had a deeply buried dark side and an almost impenetrable sense of honor. Sometimes the two twisted together in dangerous ways. Declan had been coached and taught how to live with and control his dark side. It was almost civilized and served him well when needed. He’d tried to do the same for Jonas and succeeded to a point. However, Jonas’s darker side was feral and when unleashed was almost impossible, for Jonas to control. The fact was, simply by existing, Jonas’s soulmate kept that darkness at bay in ways Declan never could, though he doubted either of them knew it yet. Soulmates weren’t meant to be apart, yet Jonas’s soulmate, Blair, was two-thousand miles away with no return date. With Moose in his harness and Lucas at their side, Declan set out with them for a middle of the night run. Shifting Chaos and the entire The Sleepless City series is available in eBook, paperback and through Kindle Unlimited.
E. F. Schraeder has a new lesbian horror / coming of age book out: As Fast As She Can. Living in a quiet house on the outskirts of town, Ginger isn’t like the other girls. When she wakes up and discovers the unthinkable about her adoptive parents, she runs away and goes on a rampage straight to the only friend she has. Can she control what they both become? With a violent, growing hunger and more questions than answers, Ginger has nowhere to turn. Universal Buy LinkExcerpt Two dozen camps dotted the acreage around the five-mile perimeter of the lake. The trails that linked the parcels were scarcely marked. Off season, only half of the cottages would have guests, and even fewer would have phones or cell coverage. The land was big enough and remote enough for the girls to stay lost. Cory and Ginger approached the first camp they saw and crept outside, peering into the windows to see what awaited them. Cory tripped over a rusted canoe leaning against the side of the house. As it crashed to the ground, a light flared on in the back of the house, illuminating the fifteen feet to the shed behind the house. Cory yelped. “Shit.” "Shh,” Ginger whispered. She set a hand on Cory’s shoulder. “They’ll think it’s an animal.” “It is.” Cory bared her teeth and snarled. Cory crouched, her small frame hunched against the peeling blue paint of the cottage. Her slender shoulders pulled up, and the heavy gray hood of her sweatshirt drooped over her head. A shadow across her face accentuated the wide-eyed expression. “You’re sort of hot when you’re hunting,” Ginger said. She bit her lower lip, immediately regretting the admission. Urgent, warm hunger pressed in Ginger’s stomach. She returned a low growl. “Let’s go,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. They crashed into the front door, lunged onto the scrawny old man in the kitchen before he had time to squeeze the trigger of his shotgun. They tore the patchy pajama shirt from his lean body and shredded him in seconds. “That’s it?” Cory asked. A dribble of saliva clung to her mouth as she licked her lips. “Guess he lives alone.” Ginger wiped her face clean on her sleeve. They kicked through the house, looking for anything interesting to take. “Need a flashlight?” Ginger swatted the heavy silver flashlight that swung from a looped handle on a nail. “No, I can see in the dark.” Cory paused. “Hey, I can see in the dark. Is that, like, a thing for us?” She smiled, her pupils returned to normal now that she’d fed. “I guess. I don’t know. Not like I had a course in zombification before I got to you.” Ginger laughed. “How many camps are up here?” she asked. Cory shrugged. “Hope there’s a bigger family or something we can sink our teeth into.” She rummaged through the old man’s desk drawers. She tossed stacks of papers onto the floor, they scattered in heaps. “Ah ha!” She pulled out a slim, golden-handled hunting knife. “Now this, I like!” Ginger grabbed the knife, sliced a ‘Z’ shape into the air. “Nice, but I don’t think we need weapons.” “Whatever. It’s still badass.” Cory tucked the blade into its sheath and undid her belt, slipping the knife holster into position at her waist. “Cool, right?” “Okay, it does look badass. You’ve got a whole burnout serial killer look happening now.” Ginger clicked off the back porch light. “It’s really working for you.” She opened the door and waved Cory ahead of her. “Hot, huh?” Cory winked as she walked by, her arm brushed Ginger’s hip. Ginger let out a quick gasp before she could stop herself. Embarrassed that Cory had heard her and a little curious. She sighed. She wondered if something was going on between them, something way better than eating campers. Ginger bit down on the inside of her mouth briefly and giggled. “Still hungry?” Cory asked. Somehow, the question struck Ginger as flirtatious. She didn’t know what to say. I’ve got to be imagining this, right? Ginger shrugged, chasing behind Cory as she ran ahead in search of the next cabin. I mean, we’re pretty messed up right now . . . For three hours, Cory and Ginger ransacked camps, devouring everyone they found, dragging the residents into the moonlight one at a time. The small camps around the pond were spread out, sparse enough among the trees to conceal the screams. As they gorged they left only blood and destruction in their wake. Crickets fell quiet as the girls ran over boulders along the water’s edge. Their movements were smooth and silent. Cory stopped abruptly, balancing on one leg in a karate pose. “>Ginger, do ya’ think the cops are after us?” “Duh, of course they are! Or will be. Why?” “I don’t know. It’s kind of awesome, that’s all.” “Which part?” Ginger smiled. “Well, the whole ‘killed my mom and took to the woods’ part, mostly. You know? Or is that like total after school special bullshit?” “No, it’s way worse than some crap about bulimia or underage drinking.” Ginger’s laughter came in spurts. She wiped her brow. “I mean, I think we’re in a whole different league of problem children.” “Hey, Ginger,” Cory said after a few moments of silence. “Aren’t we supposed to be like, all ‘uugh, brains’ and shit?” She waved her arms in front of her in a classic Frankenstein pose. Ginger chuckled. This is perfect. The two of us against the world. What could be better? “No, I mean, I don’t know. We’re pretty quick though, right?” She pushed her hair out of her face and smiled. “Totally!” Cory squatted low on the stone and then sprang up, kicking out one leg. “I’m like, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Zombie.” Ginger fell over laughing. It took her a minute to realize Cory had run ahead to another camp. She pushed herself up onto her elbows and ran to the house. Cory was already inside by the time Ginger arrived. “Look at him!” Cory shrieked with pleasure tugging the long, wavy blonde hair of a thin teenage boy out the front door. He struggled while Cory dragged him easily into the grassy yard. A motion activated security floodlight clicked on and shone white in their faces. The boy wiggled and winced, tried to yank himself away from her, but he only managed to rip the sleeve off his shirt. Cory sunk her fingers deep into the joint of his rotator cuff and pressed her face into the wound until she felt the dull thud of bone crack against her teeth. “He’s cute. Let’s keep him! Can we keep him?” she squealed. The boy howled in agony, blood soaking his chest. “He’s not a puppy, Cory. You can’t just decide to…” Ginger paused, watching Cory pull the boy back into her mouth. Ginger squinted at the boy and nodded. She pursed her lips like she was about to speak, but her expression went blank. She cocked her head to a distant noise. What was that? Voices? Ginger focused. There was nothing in the yard but corpses. Ginger tugged a tangle of auburn hair into a ponytail. She rested a hand on one hip then said, “If you like him, flip him.” She was surprised she felt so amicable to Cory’s idea, but maybe it made a certain sort of sense. Why not a third? Maybe three’s a charm. The boy wriggled beneath Cory’s clutch for a few moments then the spasms settled. He groaned as if he knew the lucky ones died. Cory tore off the other sleeve of his blood-soaked shirt and gently wiped the mess from his shoulder. Cory pulled out her hand from his shoulder muscles clenching a soft chunk of wet flesh. She lowered her lips to the fresh wound with a smile then pressed her teeth into him. A satisfying gush of blood spurted into her mouth. She moaned in satisfaction. “Take it easy if you’re keeping him.” Ginger flung a dismembered hand from the boy’s father at Cory. Author Bio E.F. Schraeder is the author of the queer gothic novella Liar: Memoir of a Haunting (Omnium Gatherum, 2021), which was an Imadjinn Award finalist in 2022. Schraeder is also the author of a story collection and two poetry chapbooks. Schraeder's recent work has appeared in Lost Contact, Strange Horizons, The Feminist Wire, Birthing Monsters, Mobius: The Journal of Social Change, Mystery Weekly Magazine, Lavender Review, and other journals and anthologies. Schraeder’s nonfiction has been included in Vastarien: A Literary Journal; Radical Teacher; the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom blog, and elsewhere. Awarded first place in Crystal Lake Publishing’s 2021 Poetry Contest, E.F. Schraeder’s work also placed as a semi-finalist in Headmistress Press’ Charlotte Mew Contest (2019). Current creative projects a full length manuscript of poems and an unruly collection of essays. An ex-professor and youth librarian, Schraeder holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. and advanced degree in Library Science. An Active Member in the Horror Writers Association and a Lifetime Member of the Science Fiction Poetry Association, E. F. Schraeder believes in ghosts, magic, and dogs. Author Website: https://www.efschraeder.com Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5989787.E_F_Schraeder?f Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/e-f-schraeder-2/ Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/E-F-Schraeder/e/B014YYIOK0? This week my snippet is from For the Long Run. Today is the last day it's 99c on Amazon! “This is where we get to the crazy part. Every five to ten years there are a series of murders just like these in an area. I’ve found them all over North America dating back to the 1700s. Many of the clusters of murders took place in this part of the country. No one ever got caught.” Eric took a deep breath and sat watching Jay, obviously waiting for a reaction. Jay stared back at Eric, taking a few seconds for his words to sink in and register. “Someone is… copying?” He counted on his fingers. “That’s—” “A really long time. I know. No copies. These are the exact same. I don’t care how long you study something or how many details you collect, one person is going to do something like this differently, even in a very slight way, than someone else.” “There have to be differences.” For the Long Run is available in eBook, paperback and in Kindle Unlimited. Today it's only 99c for the eBook. Sale ends at midnight.
Jaymie Wagner has a new FFF urban fantasy out, Sing For Me book 3: Herald's Call. And there's a giveaway. Woe to the wolf who dares to call With unworthy hearts lest darkness fall Dour note this horn will play The hounds shall rise and wolves shall bay Through the horn Herne shall command By blood of the Hunt and a worthy hand! It is said that long ago Herne, the god of the Hunt, could use his Horn to make wolves obey his commands. A legend that Amy Oakley, Alpha of the Howlers pack, learned as a child and stopped believing in long before her first change beneath the full moon. After spending three years fighting for her lovers and packmates’ right to live among the werewolves of Londinium, all she wants is a chance to breathe, go back to running her pub, and never see the manipulative Marcel Charron again. As an ancient prophecy begins to unfold, can Amy and the Howlers find the Horn of Herne and keep it out of Marcel’s hands, or will his web of schemes and plots spell doom for their pack and the rest of London’s werewolves? Universal Buy LinkAbout the Series: When Leah Corbyn was bitten on her mail route by a dog, she expected to go to the hospital for some stitches, a few days of medical leave, and for life to go on. She had no idea that two weeks later she would become a werewolf under the full moon, or spend the next year trying to hide her 'condition', but after meeting and dating fellow werewolf Amy Oakley, it wasn't long before she started to find an entire community in the shadows of London. Surrounded by unexpected friends and dangerous enemies, Amy, Leah, and their packmate Amélie must fight to make a place for themselves, unaware that the conditions of an ancient prophecy are being met... Giveaway Jaymie is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour: Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47247/? Excerpt Leah swallowed hard, and her voice was a hushed, raspy whisper. "Do you think...I mean...if my mum was a werewolf and she knew I wasn't going to be. Could that be why she got rid of me?" "Oh," Amy breathed as she pulled Leah into a hug. "Oh, pup." "I mean..." Leah shook her head, tears starting to well in her eyes. "I never really knew anything. Where I came from. Why I was abandoned. Nobody even knows who gave me up. They just found me like a lost wallet!" She shuddered in Amy's arms, tears running down her face. "I finally learned something about where I came from and suddenly I wish I hadn't!" Abigail sat down slowly. "Leah," she said in her most kind but firm doctor's voice. "I can't speak to why your parents made that decision. I wish I could. What I can tell you is that mitochondrial DNA takes a very long time to change from generation to generation, and the fact that you did not possess the full were sequences until you were turned suggests that it was a fairly distant ancestor. Five or six generations, easily." She waited for Leah to meet her eyes before she concluded: "Whatever their reasons, this was not one of them." Leah gave a sniff and dried her eyes with the back of her hand as she sat up. "That's...that helps. Thanks, Abby." "Of course." Abigail smiled at all of them before going back to the papers. "So – as I said, we don't know as much, medically, as we would like about Turning. But this does suggest a few things to me. For one - it may explain part of why you survived the process, particularly with a diet that was...not terribly conducive to your new existence." That got a weak laugh out of Leah, and Amélie smiled with relief. If she could laugh...it was a good sign. "So - you think that explains my eyes, too?" "It would seem so," Abigail agreed with a nod. "I am not certain why it took so long to express, but my theory is that some of the latent werewolf traits you carry finally began to show through." Leah's lips pulled into a slight frown. "Could that be part of why I'm a different sort of wolf than whoever turned me?" Abigail nodded again. "Likely, yes." Amy reached up to lightly scratch at Leah's scalp as she examined the different sets of results. "Does that explain Leah's ear, too?" Abigail shook her head and went back to the first chart. "The trait that affects the development of cartilage in the ear is an autosomal one. It most likely came from the were who bit you." Amélie looked down at the results again, and suddenly felt like she'd been given the last piece of a puzzle. No one has been able to find the wolf who bit Leah...but they were assuming it was a were who lived in England. Leah said the 'dog' who attacked her had a blonde and pale grey coat. Marcel knew Leah was Turned. Marcel knew Leah had no family. Marcel knew where the Howl was. Leah never spoke to Marcel at the trial, and Amy would not have told him anything about Leah or herself. If the records from Leah's trial were sealed, there is no way he should have known any of the things he tried to use against us. Marcel always said his ears drooped because of an old injury from a fight...but Marcel lied about almost everything. Her chest felt tight as the facts began to add up. Marcel... Marcel is a liar. Her mouth felt dry as she looked up. "Abigail?" Everyone turned to look at her, and Amélie didn't try to hide the dread and shock she felt. "I know who Turned Leah." Author Bio Jaymie Wagner is a queer, trans, polyamorous author who lives in the Twin Cities with her cats and an alarming collection of tiny giant robots. She has been published in several anthologies, short story collections, and posts her “Fractured Fantasies” twitter micro-stories where she explores different ideas and kinks. Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/jaymie.wagner.98/ Author Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JaymieDWagner Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JaymieDWagner Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21846389.Jaymie_Wagner Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/jaymie-wagner/ Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B09HF3P2ZC RELEASE BLITZ Book Title: Sucker For Love Mystery #6: Our Shellfish Desires Author: K.L. Hiers Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Tiferet Design Release Date: July 19, 2022 Genre: Paranormal Romance Tropes: MMM, First Time, First Time Threeway, First Time Throuple, Grumpy One Loves the Sunshine Ones Themes: Learning to trust, Healing from trauma, Overcoming addiction Heat Rating: 5 flames Length: 65 000 words It is a standalone story, BUT the author would highly recommend reading the rest of the series. The book does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited You don’t need a body to have a heart. Blurb People talk about the marriage of true minds, but Alexander doesn’t think this is what they meant. Excerpt “Thank you!” Ollie gushed. “That was so cool! You totally just kicked Nathaniel’s ass!” Alexander swallowed a squeak and forgot how to work all of his muscles. Ollie was so warm, and he smelled like alcohol, cigarettes, and patchouli oil with a hint of vanilla. “Seriously, that was amazing!” Ollie turned Alexander so he could beam down at him, still hugging him close. “I mean, okay, it’s kinda your fault he got in here, but thank you.” He smiled wider. “Whoa. Your eyeballs are turning all pink.” Alexander was torn between pushing Ollie away and melting into his arms. The simple affection was making his knees weak, having for so long only experienced physical touch that was designed to hurt. His brain refused to cooperate, and all he could do was stutter, “Y-yeah, they do that.” Who was that man, Ollie? Rota asked. Alexander slipped away from Ollie, mourning the loss of contact the second he did. He scrambled to get another cigarette. “Yeah, and what was he? I’ve never seen magic like that before.” “His name is Nathaniel Ware.” Ollie fidgeted and dipped back into the kitchen, still talking. “He is so not fuckin’ human. He’s, like, a troll dude with tusks and a long tail.” An Absola? Rota sounded intrigued. Here on Aeon? The gods had created many monstrous creatures before mortals, including a troll-like race of beings called the Absola. They, along with the other so-called everlasting people, were said to have gone with the gods into the dreaming, and neither Alexander nor Rota had heard of any living in this world for thousands of years. “Yeah, but not, like, all the way?” Ollie mused. “He’s like a diet Absola.” “But the Absola don’t control time or space,” Alexander pointed out. “The Faedra do.” “Whatever! Look, he’s a freaky monster guy, and he works for Sullivan Stoker. Do you know who that is?” “No.” Alexander grabbed the book to put back in his pocket and followed Ollie. Unsurprisingly, the kitchen was as much of a disaster as the rest of the apartment. Ollie was pouring red wine into two glasses as he explained, “He’s a crime boss. Like, this big drug lord. And okay, so I may have had a tiny drug problem before. When I first got the eyeballs of Yeris, I had trouble dealing with it.” He thrust a glass at Alexander. “No thanks.” Ollie poured it into his glass and sipped off the excess. “I made okay money translating, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with my habit, so I started taking product on credit. Like, so much. And I kinda owe him a lot of money, and he’s very unhappy with me. I’ve been trying to make payments, and he’s been chill ’cause my uncle is a cop, but—” “He’s tired of waiting and he’s sending goons after you?” Alexander finished. “Yeah. Damn. You should be a detective.” “How about this?” Alexander crossed his arms. “I’ll keep the criminal scum from hounding you in exchange for you translating the book?” “I, I guess that could work.” Ollie frowned. “Will you…. Will you stay here? I need some time to figure out how to deal with Stoker, and, and I’ll find a way to make the translating work, okay?” “Okay. I’ll put new wards up, and if anyone is stupid enough to come back, I’ll—” “Where are you gonna sleep?” “What?” Ollie scratched his head. “My bed is kinda small, but I guess we could share—” “Your couch is fine.” Alexander blushed miserably. He could not handle the mere thought of being anywhere near a bed with Ollie right now. He had to be going insane. That’s all it was. “Once it’s cleaned up, of course.” You should take better care of your home, Ollie. It’s quite a mess. “I know.” Ollie sighed. “It’s so damn bad. I just never have the energy, and I’ve been really depressed. Like, forever depressed. I died a little, my ex is getting married… it’s been a whole thing.” Alexander had the inexplicable desire to reach out for Ollie. It was obvious he was upset, and Alexander wanted to feel his arms around him again. He stayed where he was, taking a step back for good measure, as if the distance would quell the urge. So, you’re single? “Rota!” Alexander barked, angrily chanting inside his head, Shut up, shut up, shut up! “Yeah. Duh.” Ollie snorted and slurped more of his wine. He swayed and leaned against the counter, eyeing where Rota was hovering behind Alexander. He grinned. “Okay, wait. Are you hitting on me?” I believe we are, yes. We’re not very good at it, but we’re making an effort. “No, we’re not!” Alexander gritted his teeth. “Hey! You look good and drunk. Book. Now.” Say please. “Please,” Alexander hissed. “Okay, okay, sure thing.” Ollie was still grinning. “You know, if you were hitting on me, I would have to tell you—” A portal opened up and a hand slid through, snatching Ollie so fast that he dropped his wine. The glass hit the ground, shattering as the portal closed. Just like that, Ollie was gone. About the Author K.L. “Kat” Hiers is an embalmer, restorative artist, and queer writer. Licensed in both funeral directing and funeral service, they worked in the death industry for nearly a decade. Their first love was always telling stories, and they have been writing for over twenty years, penning their very first book at just eight years old. Publishers generally do not accept manuscripts in Hello Kitty notebooks, however, but they never gave up. Following the success of their first novel, Cold Hard Cash, they now enjoy writing professionally, focusing on spinning tales of sultry passion, exotic worlds, and emotional journeys. They love attending horror movie conventions and indulging in cosplay of their favorite characters. They live in Zebulon, NC, with their husband and their children, some of whom have paws and a few that only pretend to because they think it’s cute. Author Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Instagram Twitter | Newsletter Sign-up | Patreon Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card This week the Tuesday Teaser if from Scintilla! Raul took another tentative step to Brandon. “You gotta power down, dude, or we aren’t getting anymore pitchers of sangria.” He was close enough to the wave the hair on his body stood up and he felt tingling. “Don’t move!” One of the younger officers barked from behind Raul. He must have returned to assist with what was inside the building and probably hadn’t heard Raul’s statement about Brandon being a scintilla. Now he’d stepped into a tense scene. Brandon glared at the Taser and his hands sparked. He pointed his Taser at Brandon. “Stand down,” Iva ordered. “Crap!” Raul spat. He snatched the blanket from Janey the second she re-entered the room and holding it out like a toreador’s cape he went from a standstill to full speed in two strides. Brandon’s demeanor changed in a split second. He’d been sliding toward placid, but that was gone. The Taser’s prongs shot through the air straight toward Brandon’s chest. As they were about to make contact he swatted at them. The back of his hand connected with the charged weapon causing tiny bolts of electricity to explode outward and ricochet around the room. There were people diving to the floor, the kids started screaming and the air all around them popped and snapped as if they were inside a thundercloud. Raul tackled Brandon, breaking his contact with the Taser. He wrapped the blanket around Brandon and forced him to the floor, covering Brandon with his own body. It was all over in a few seconds. The young cop stood, shaking, and babbling out apologies. Janey grabbed the Taser. When Raul hauled Brandon up, still holding him tightly, he sputtered, “Jesus Christ, don’t they teach you at the academy not to Taser a scintilla?” Brandon half-heartedly struggled to get loose, but Raul tightened his grip. As long as he had the rubberized blanket around Brandon he had the upper hand. “Hey, I’ve got you,” Raul said softly. “We’ve got all of you.” Scintilla is available in eBook, paperback and through Kindle Unlimited.
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Welcome to My World
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