Sunday, December 30, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 337 -Alliance Rising: The Hinder Stars I by C. J. Cherryh and Jane S. Fancher, Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet

Alliance Rising: The Hinder Stars IAlliance Rising: The Hinder Stars I by C.J. Cherryh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had to give this a four because it is very slow reading. You have to read a lot of backstory and world building before you really get to the characters and the meat of the story. Once there it gets really interesting with an very unexpected twist near the end. There are many different groups, each with their own agenda in the plot. That kept the action moving. The book set up the beginning of the Alliance but it ended with a lot up in the air. I was glad to see it is a series as I am quite invested in the characters and want to see where they all go next.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Nightchaser (Endeavor, #1)Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are several familiar tropes in Nightchaser. Tess Baily is the daughter of the ruler of the galaxy. She is thought to be dead but is in fact still alive and kicking. Shade Ganavan is a bounty hunter who is conflicted about capturing her or sleeping with her. This is the frame work the first book in the series is built on. The plot is familiar with plenty of action, tension, danger and romance. Nothing is really solved here. The action of each of the characters sets up the world building and back story for the rest of the series. A nice read just not that original.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Saturday, December 29, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 336 - Unbound by Lance Erick, A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Unbound (Android Chronicles Book 2)Unbound by Lance Erlick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I kept reading Unbound thinking that I would get some resolution to Synthia 's troubles. What I got instead is a story where Synthia is constantly escaping form capture but her base problem is never solved. In fact the ending left here at the same spot she was in when book one ended. The only difference is she is with another person. I hope book three gives some resolution.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles, #1)A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cat is hiding and has been for years. Now she has been found but not totally revealed. This had a great premise as Cat is a Kingmaker, she can sense lies in others. This makes her very valuable and Griffin knows just how he wants to use her. While the action and tension in the book was very high I did get tired of Cat and her stomach flutters for the first half and all of the sex in the second. If you took those parts out it would have been novella length. I do what to know where the story goes from here so will read the next book in the series.

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Friday, December 28, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 335 - Planetside by Michael Mammay, The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

PlanetsidePlanetside by Michael Mammay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a very hard to put down book. Each action just leads to another action and another action all the while not knowing exactly what is going on. That is true for both the reader and the main characters. Colonel Carl Butler gets a job that is not at all what it seemed. It seems cut and dried but turns out what he is looking for is not what he finds. I loved the book but was a little disappointed in the ending. While the problem is solved the consequences are left up in the air. I was glad to see that this is a two book series and we will see Colonel Butler again in August of 2019.

This was a best read of the year on several sites and I agree that they had it right.


The Christmas HirelingsThe Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Richard Armitage does a very good job of he voices in The Christmas Hirelings. This is a book written and published before 1923. The book starts a little slow as the history of Sir John has to be revealed. When the three children show up for Christmas it is obvious who they are. What is not obvious is if Sir John will change his mind about events of the past. A nice sweet Christmas story with Muppet stealing the show. This was a free book with my Audible subscription.

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Thursday, December 27, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 334 - Out of Time by Monica McCarty, Script of the Heart by Robin D.Owens

Out of Time (The Lost Platoon, #3)Out of Time by Monica McCarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read the first book in The Lost Platoon series when it came out and I missed the release of the second. I don't think it mattered. This one wrapped the series up and it seemed that it did it much sooner than I expected. Book One followed one member of the platoon and I expected Six books to follow each of the six members. Did not happen. While I liked the characters the action seem rushed and the solution also rushed. At the conclusion some things were still up in the air. I wondered if it just did not sell well and the series was cut short.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Script of the Heart (Celta HeartMates Book 15)Script of the Heart by Robin D. Owens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is slightly different from the other Celta HeartMates books. The first difference is the title. This is the only one that does not have Heart in the title. While it is #15 in the series it takes place around book 8. Other than that its has all the other wonderful things. I loved the two FAMcats. The kitten was precious and the elder has just the right amount of snark. The two main characters come from a diverse background. One is a healer and one is a actor. That is the main conflict between the two. While there is a lot of attraction there is also quite a bit of distrust on the part of one. Love, not HeartMates is the theme. This was interesting and it kept my attention as the two worked toward a HEA.

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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 333 - Marry Me by Sundown by Johanna Lindsey, Kill the Queen byJennifer Estep

Marry Me by SundownMarry Me by Sundown by Johanna Lindsey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Part of the Callahan-Warren series Marry Me by Sundown pits Morgan Callahan against Violet Mitchell. The set up is both interesting and fun. We have the city girl against the western man. Add-on a missing amount of money, a loan coming due, and a kidnapping and you have the making of a interesting story. A nice addition to the series.

Pilar Witherspoon does a nice job on the voices in the audio book.


Kill the Queen (Crown of Shards, #1)Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jennifer Estep has come up with a new winner in Kill the Queen. Lady Everleigh becomes Evie when she escapes a great danger. I loved the characters and the action. Evie has to accept that she is much stronger than she thinks. That journey takes her to new places with new supportive friends. The story starts as she watches as someone kill the queen, she then has to kill the new queen and knows that there will always be someone who wants to kill the queen. Everything comes in a circle as the book comes to a nice conclusion and is set up for the next book in the series.

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Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 332 - Edge of Eon by Anna Hackett, A Moment in Crime by Amanda Allen

Edge of Eon (Eon Warriors, #1)Edge of Eon by Anna Hackett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is great to have Anna Hackett writing a new science fiction romance series. This one starts with a familiar trope. Sub-Captain Eve Traynor is in prison and she is not guilty of the charges. Offered what seems to be a suicide mission she succeeds beyond anyone's wildness dreams. That is the fun of the book. From the beginning familiar trope Hackett proceeds to turn everything upside down. Eve proves to everyone that humans are not a weak species and that they deserve to survive. Great fun and a nice set up for the next book in the series.

A Moment in Crime (Santa Fe Revival Mystery, #2)A Moment in Crime by Amanda Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked the setting for A Moment in Crime. Having been to Santa Fe the setting felt very real. I also liked the characters. Maddie Vaughn has had her troubles but finds that leaving New York and coming to Santa Fe fits her life. I also liked her dishy doctor. David provides just the right amount of support for Maddie and their burgeoning romance is just right for the time. The movie setting and the murder are laid out very well. I did think the book moved just a little bit slow. I kept waiting for someone to die and it took a long long time. A nice cozy mystery with a interesting historical setting.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Saturday, December 22, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 331 - Lawman with a Cause by Delores Fossen, Home to Wind River by Lindsay McKenna

Lawman with a CauseLawman with a Cause by Delores Fossen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A new twist to Delores Fossen's books. This time the danger comes from an unexpected person and the reason is not what everyone thinks. There is enough tension, danger and gunfire for two books and packed into this one. A great read for Fossen fans. I loved the twist on the romance. It made for a different twist between the two main characters.


Home to Wind RiverHome to Wind River by Lindsay McKenna
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This takes us back to Wind River and allows a brief visit with previous characters. I enjoyed that and liked the two main characters. The set up for getting them together was very believable. The interaction between the two as the story progressed was the the same thing over and over. There was not much of a plot. The whole story could have been a novella and still too much of the same. I like that McKenna uses the plight of veterans as a big part of her Wind River series but she is taking a sledge hammer to a tack. This was an ARC so I am assuming that the hot mess that was part of the details of the story will be cleaned up before release.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Friday, December 21, 2018

Vengeance by Gail Z Martin - Book Blast and Giveaway


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

When undertaker brothers Corran and Rigan Valmonde became outlaw monster hunters and fled beyond the walls of Ravenwood, they thought they had defeated the source of the abominations that killed so many of their friends and loved ones. But the more successful they become at destroying the creatures, the more they realize a greater evil is at work – larger and more monstrous than they ever could imagine…

Read an Excerpt:

“Did you find the ghost? Could you get rid of it?”

Rigan caught a warning glance from Corran, but his temper burned too hot for him to care. “We found the ghosts—all five of them. And the monster who killed them. Did you know the wheelwright was the creature? Did you give him the children to save your own skins?”

For an instant, shock and fear glinted in the mayor’s eyes before cold calculation took over. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Rigan’s slammed the burlap sack down on the table, and the men jumped, sliding back in their chairs. The rest of the crowd in the common room fell silent.

“I think you knew,” Rigan said, looming over the mayor until the man had to crane his neck and his multiple chins to see. “The ghosts said people in the village helped the monster. Supplied the children for it to eat. Who else could go unnoticed for so long?”

“You’re crazy. That’s… insane,” the mayor sputtered.

“You found them? The missing ones?” A man stood near the back of the pub. From his clothing and the dirt streaks on his pants, he looked like a farmer, probably stopping for a meal after bringing goods to market. His broad shoulders and muscular arms spoke of hard work, and while sun and hardship had weathered his features, Rigan guessed the man might only be a few years older than Corran.

Review:

Book two in the Darkhurst series keeps the danger and tension at the same high level.  Brothers Rigan and Corran are still fighting monsters and are finding an even greater evil.   This has it all.  The plot is complex and the world building and back story continue to expand.  The cast of characters are well developed and do a great job supporting the story line.  Look for magic, monsters, and ancient gods leading up to a battle between good and evil.

About the Author:
Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, Falstaff Books, SOL Publishing and Darkwind Press. Vengeance is the second in the new Darkhurst epic fantasy series. Also new is The Dark Road, the second in the Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures series, and Assassin’s Honor (coming, October 2018), the first in the new Assassins of Landria series.

Her Deadly Curiosities urban fantasy series set in Charleston, SC has a new novel, Tangled Web, and two new collections, Trifles & Folly, and Trifles & Folly 2.

Other work includes the Chronicles Of The Necromancer series, the Fallen Kings Cycle, the Ascendant Kingdoms series, and the alternate history novel Iron & Blood and the Storm & Fury collection (co-authored with Larry N. Martin) She is also the co-author (with Larry) of the Mark Wojcik monster hunter series (Spells, Salt and Steel) and the upcoming Wasteland Marshals series and the Cauldron/Secret Council series from Falstaff Books.

As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance. New and upcoming books include Witchbane, Burn, Dark Rivers, Badlands, and Lucky Town.

Website: http://www.GailZMartin.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GailZMartin
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WinterKingdoms
Blog: http://www.DisquietingVisions.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin
.

She is also the organizer of the #HoldOnToTheLight campaign: http://www.HoldOnToTheLight.com. Join her email update and never miss a new release—plus get great free stories just for signing up! http://eepurl.com/dd5XLj


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Thursday, December 20, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 330 - Not the Duke's Darling by Elizabeth Hoyt, The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman

Not the Duke’s Darling (Greycourt, #1)Not the Duke’s Darling by Elizabeth Hoyt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great start to a new series. There is a 15 year old murder mystery, a secret society of Wise Women, a missing wife, and a blackmailer to be exposed. All leading to a romance between a Freya, the Wise Woman, and Duke of Harlowe, who is part of the murder mystery that points to Freya's brother doing the murder. This kept me on the edge of my seat as some things were solved and some were left hanging.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library, #5)The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Irene is up to her neck in plots. Seems that several different faction want this peace conference to fail while others want to control the process. I loved seeing Vale, Silver, Ky and Irene all work to make sure everything goes correctly and peace is at least a possibility. This is a very complex plot that takes so many twists and turns you could get whiplash reading or listening to it. An unexpected consequence comes when Irene get a new position. A great set up for further aduties that Irene has as a librarian of the Invisible Library.

Susan Duerden does a great job as the voices in The Mortal Word.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Final Notice by VanFleisher - Blurb Blitz and Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Van Fleisher will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The year is the very near future. A brilliant young doctor and mathematician, Vijay Patel, has invented a new health/sport watch that monitors blood chemistry so accurately, it can actually predict when someone will die – within 10, 20, or 30 days. The intention of this “Final Notice,” as it is called, is to allow people to get their affairs in order and reach out to loved ones before it’s too late. But when those notified have easy access to a gun, the result is sometimes lethal for more than just the watch-owner.

These are the stories of several people who receive their Final Notice and their very different reactions ... including a desire to get revenge with impunity. They range from an 89-year-old resident in a retirement home to a U.S. Senator...from a benevolent widow to a crass tycoon to a noted climate change scientist.

But in this fresh, fast-paced page-turner, their stories are all set against the all-too-recognizable backdrop of a guns-gone-wild America, and the relentless push by the NRA and their surrogate politicians to make guns even easier to acquire.

There is plenty of dark humor and political satire in FINAL NOTICE, as well as touching scenes and outright suspense. So expect to laugh out loud, dry some tears, and bite your nails (not necessarily in that order).

Read an Excerpt:

Taking a deep breath, he charged into the small clearing and faced the two guys across the flickering fire, aiming the gun at them. The guy holding the pipe dropped it behind them. In a voice as menacing as possible, Vince demanded, “Where’s Rambo?”

About the Author:
“After 21 years with an airline, and 30 years in management consulting, I retired and found that my phone didn’t ring and the only emails I got were asking for money. So, since I was at my computer, I decided to write a novel.”

This is only half the story. (Van is notoriously modest.) The author was Director of International Marketing with TWA, and an International Management Consultant – taking him behind the closed doors of boardrooms and executive offices around the world. He knows how business works, which gives the slightly “sci-fi” premise of Final Notice a realistic feel. Moreover, his two careers led him to live abroad for much of his life. After growing up in New Jersey and Florida, where he never thought much further than the length of a football field, and going to college in New Mexico, he wound up living in England, Scotland and France, travelling frequently to the Middle East and Asia. He even spent a year living in India. And his first-hand experience with – and respect for – other cultures is apparent in this book.

“Final Notice is meant to highlight, my concerns with America’s handling of three important issues: gun control (not anti-gun), ageism and the importance of immigration. The book won’t fix these issues, but there are a number of great organizations with even greater people working on our behalf to right these wrongs. Proceeds from sales of Final Notice will help support those efforts.”

http://www.finalnoticebook.com
https://www.facebook.com/finalnoticebook
https://twitter.com/vanf44
https://www.amazon.com/FINAL-NOTICE-What-would-certain-ebook/dp/B0798XNY6P

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Tuesday, December 18, 2018

What a Widow Wants by Jenna Jaxon - Book Blast and Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jenna Jaxon will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter.

Widowed by the Battle of Waterloo, the ladies of Lyttlefield Park are returning to London society—with their futures in their own hands . . .

The widowed Lady Stephen Tarkington, Fanny to her friends, has finished mourning her cad of a husband and is ready to enjoy her freedom. The kind of freedom neither a gently bred miss nor a close-watched wife is permitted: dressing up as Aphrodite for a masquerade, drawing gentlemen away from the party, and hinting at late-night assignations with her dance partners. All is going pleasurably according to plan—until the Roman god Fanny kisses during a masquerade turns out to be Matthew, Lord Lathbury, whose proposal she refused years ago . . .

Lathbury is charming, passionate, inventive, everything Fanny wants in a lover—but unfortunately, he’s on the hunt for a wife. He’s more than willing to use all his wicked skills to persuade her back to the altar, but he can’t wait forever. And now Fanny’s position is more precarious than she once thought. If the tongues of the ton set to wagging, it’s possible no offer in the world will save her from ruin. But does she want to be saved? . . .

Read an Excerpt:

Heart pounding, Fanny ran on tiptoes in an effort to keep up with him. This was madness. Wherever was he taking her? And what on earth did he have in mind? Oh, but she knew what that was. That deep desire in his eyes told her exactly where his intentions lay. Would she allow him to have his way with her? She didn’t quite recognize him; the mask hid just enough of his face. Still he reminded her of someone. Someone who had been most dear to her what seemed a lifetime ago. But that man had left London, swearing never to return to the ton years before. He’d retreated to his country estate and had not been seen in Town for seven years.

They raced down the corridor, Pollux still in the lead, Castor right behind her. That gave her some comfort. Pollux wouldn’t ravish her in front of his brother, or friend rather. Still, the urgency of his headlong flight, dodging wide-eyed guests left and right, persuaded her that this man would stop at nothing to get her alone.

He turned a corner into a deserted hall and slowed finally. Stopping at a door on the far end, he glanced around then put his hand on the latch. “Keep watch, Cas. No one enters.”

Castor grinned. “Not a soul, Pol. My word as a gentleman.”

Pollux pushed down the latch, opened the door into a shadowy room, and drew her inside.

The flickering fireplace across the room gave the only light. Fanny’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the dimness. A moment in which Pollux pulled her hard against him, crushing her breasts against his unyielding chest. He wrapped his arms around her, pinning her to him, and sank his mouth onto hers.

About the Author:
Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical romance in all time periods because, she says, “passion is timeless.” She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She’s a theatre director when she’s not writing and lives in Gloucester, Virginia with her family, including two very vocal cats and one silent one.

Jenna is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America as well as an active member of Chesapeake Romance Writers, her local chapter of RWA. She has four series currently available: The House of Pleasure, set in Georgian England, Handful of Hearts, set in Regency England, and Time Enough to Love, set in medieval England and France, and The Widows’ Club series, also set in Regency England and available from Kensington Publishing in both print and digital.

She currently writes to support her chocolate habit.

Find Jenna Jaxon online:

BLOG: https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Jenna_Jaxon
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-Jaxon/146857578723570
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Jenna-Jaxon/e/B005CHPBD2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1

Buy the book at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1516103297/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i6
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-a-widow-wants-jenna-jaxon/1128297334

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Monday, December 17, 2018

Oasis by Bharat Krishnan - Blurb Blitz and Giveaway



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

Once, there was a truce. Desperaux controlled the west with magic, and Desire claimed the east with steel and science.

But now magic has disappeared, and the world has changed.

The kingdom of Desire will stop at nothing to maintain the new world order. On Juno’s wedding day, their Mengery soldiers came marching through the Nine desert to rip his world apart. Now he journeys east with his adopted brother, Trey, in search of revenge after the murder of his family. Along the way, the two face bandits and the magical creatures of the Nine. When they finally reach Desire, Juno and Trey will face something even deadlier – their own fears and ambitions.

This is a tale of brotherhood, a revenge story that will remind you that everything has a cost – a cost that will be paid to Desire and to the inner demons that govern us all.

Read an Excerpt:

Trey and Juno had found a shack to rest for a few hours, but when they woke Juno realized what a grave mistake they’d made. The shack was a cursed place, he said. Trey scoffed, but Juno had been learning from a monk in Nox and said he could smell it in the air – like sour milk. Fear gripped his shoulders, turning him into a statue. Unable to act. Paralyzed. Like he had been on his wedding day, Trey thought. Perhaps Drea would still be alive if he had done something. The frustration drew bile in Trey’s throat.

Though Trey didn’t believe in curses, he knew something was off about the town. Desperate for sleep, he hadn’t noticed it when he snuck into the shack. Now, though, he saw the abandoned saloon with its worm-eaten wood. They were all alone. Stepping outside the shack, the two watched as the sun rose and drew close to them. Dzoavits stood several yards from the door of the shack. The demon’s muscular body reflected sunlight, and when he brought his hands above his head, his triceps bulged to the size of watermelons. When the sun drew close enough to Dzoavits’s hands that he could seize it, the demon swallowed it whole. With that, the Nine was plunged into darkness and a chill running through Juno’s back compelled him to retreat to the shack and abandon Trey. From the uncovered roof of the shack, Juno watched Rangda approach Trey and extend a tongue that was over a foot long. Trey tried drawing his laser pistol out to shoot it off, but Andhaka jumped down from the shack and grabbed him, holding him still.

About the Author:
Bharat Krishnan is a philanthropic consultant in Columbus, Ohio. After ten years in Democratic politics, he wrote a memoir about his life on the road as a political campaign manager and just released a fantasy novel called Oasis. He refers to himself as a professional storyteller and amateur cook.

https://www.amazon.com/Bharat-Krishnan/e/B01KSCZ1ZS
https://twitter.com/bharatkrishnan9
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15640359.Bharat_Krishnan

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JFG7BZ5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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Friday, December 14, 2018

Eyes Behind Belligerence by K.P. Kollenborn - Blurb Blitz and Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. K.P. Kollenborn will be awarding a physical copy of Eyes Behind Belligerence to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Told in five parts, this novel unravels the challenges between two unlikely Nisei friends, Jim and Russell, into adulthood during the Second World War. As restrictions are imposed, (even in the safe, rural community of Bainbridge Island,) as harassments escalate, (including the F.B.I. invading their homes and deporting their fathers to Montana for espionage trials,) the fated day arrives: evacuation of all Japanese civilians. Rounded up like cattle, tagged, they are hauled to the fringes of Death Valley: Manzanar. Together they must survive racism, gang violence, and the harsh elements of the environment. Together they must prove their loyalty, especially after a tragic riot on the eve of Pearl Harbor's anniversary. While Russell enlists in a segregated army, becoming part of one the most decorated units in U.S. history, Jim is sent to a different camp for the "No-No" boys: those who are marked disloyal. Removed from their families, they are forced to reevaluate their identities and discover, most importantly, what it means to forgive.

Read an Excerpt:

Russell hit the ground, pushing the bottom wire up. Naomi rolled under. He turned to look behind. Tomiko spun around and ran back to the shed.

Horrified, Russell hollered, “What are you doing?”

Naomi grabbed his neck and collar, yanking him forward. His arm snagged on the wire, ripping his favorite sweatshirt. “Guard!” she panted.

Panicking, he fumbled to his feet, scuffling away from the fence. Naomi snatched his hand, pulling, running. He darted across, but tripped and fell near the edge of one of the barracks. For a second, he thought he felt a bullet stab inside his ribs. He looked up. An internal police officer stood in front of him. Blinking and refocusing, he realized the officer was his brother-in-law, Osamu. He carried a flashlight and wore a white patch on his left arm that had “POLICE” painted in black. Dressed in jeans and a brown, corduroy coat, he frowned at Russell and Naomi.

“If I didn’t know any better,” Osamu firmly remarked, “I’d think you two were up to no good.” Crossing his arms and leaning to one side, he maintained, “Care to tell me why the both of you are out of breath?” They didn’t respond. A guilty expression smeared on their faces. “I didn’t think so.” He then peered past the fence to investigate the shed. Russell finally rose, still holding Naomi’s hand. They kept their eyes to the ground. Returning his attention to them, Osamu stated, “You two need to stay clear of the fence. I really don’t want to know what you were doing. Kiotsukete, kudasai. This is a warning. Next time I may not be so nice, Russell. Don’t make me have another conversation with your mother.”

Stunned, Russell and Naomi blinked. They couldn’t leave their friends behind.

“Scat!” he ordered.

Naomi tugged on Russell’s arm, quickly walking away. Panic and guilt drilled inside his chest. He couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t abandon them just like that. Without food or water. Without toiletry. For how long? Until it got dark? Until the camp fell into a deep sleep? What if one of them got bit by a rattler or stung by a scorpion? How could he help his friends? What were Jim and Tomiko going to do for the next eighteen hours?

About the Author:
Currently I have three books published, two historical fiction and one children's book. Although I’ve been writing since childhood, I have a BA in History. I love studying history as much as wanting to evoke stories. I like to believe that after decades worth of introspection we have learned, hopefully more wisely if not conscientiously, what happened yesterday with a critical eye. Aside from a history degree, I also have a graphics art degree. My husband and I once owned a music store, a pizza delivery business, and several internet businesses. I also have dabbled with real estate and am grateful I got the heck out right before the crash! Sadly, history tends to repeat itself in important ways. Currently my family continues to live outside of Kansas City and will always have roots tied to Kansas. I am in the process of working on two more books, another historical fiction and one non-fiction.

https://www.kpkollenborn.com
https://www.facebook.com/kollenborn
https://twitter.com/KPKollenborn
http://kpkollenborn.blogspot.com
https://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Behind-Belligerence-K-P-Kollenborn-ebook/dp/B0067QWWTS

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Thursday, December 13, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 328, Warleader by Susan Grant, Surrender to the Cyborgs by Grace Goodwin

Warleader (The Borderlands, #1)Warleader by Susan Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read Moonstruck when it came out several years ago and enjoyed the story. Warleader is Moonstruck with some significant changer. The bones of the story are the same but the flesh that covers the bones contain some significant changes. Finn Rorkken and Brit Bandar both return but some of their interaction is changed. Those changes make reading the new book worthwhile. I loved some of the new characters and the changes in how the Drakken are treated in this version. The world building and backstory all set this up as the first book in a new series. I am looking forward to the next book due out in January.


Surrender to the Cyborgs (Interstellar Brides: The Colony, #1)Surrender to the Cyborgs by Grace Goodwin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book in the Interstellar Brides series was free this month. It is erotica with a lot of sex and sex with a threesome. If that is not you thing skip reading. There is a story line with the main female character becoming a bride because she was framed and this was her only way to survive. The male characters were changed in a war and exiled when they wanted to return home. Those changes add to the tension. You could take the sex out and it would still be a good story. I liked the characters, back story and world building.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 327 - Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare, Widow's Island Novella by Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh

Once Upon a Winter's Eve (Spindle Cove, #1.5)Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not my favorite Spindle Cove story. I liked the two main characters but felt that the story moved very slowly and without enough to keep me interested. A nice conclusion to what was keeping the two apart but it could have come around much sooner.


Widow's Island Novella (4 Book Series)Widow's Island Novella by Kendra Elliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A nice mystery with interesting characters. Widow's Island is the setting for this introduction to the Widow's Island mystery series. The island seems to call to the main characters offering them a place where they belong. There are two mysteries and only one is solved leaving room for much more action and danger.

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Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 329 - The Valentine's Curse by Jodi Thomas, A Star-Wheeled Sky by Brad R Torgersen

The Valentine's CurseThe Valentine's Curse by Jodi Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of two people who are outsiders. One because he is a Yankee in Texas after the Civil War and the other because she has been widowed twice and everyone thinks she is cursed. They meet when he is given the choice of dancing on sitting by to widow at the Valentine's day dance to keep from being fired. The story unwinds from there. This is a arranged marriage leading to love story It is very well done and easy to read. If you are a Jody Thomas fan look before you buy. It was published before as part of a anthology so check to make sure you have not already read it.


A Star-Wheeled SkyA Star-Wheeled Sky by Brad R Torgersen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There were so many things I did not like about this book. Most of the main characters were killed off leaving only a few to carry on. About carrying on - this just stopped without any resolution to more than one problem. There was a lot of backstory and world building taking up a lot of the book. It was interesting but could have been edited down. At time I had to make myself keep reading. I will watch to see what happens next as this must be the start of a series. Maybe with everything set up the next book will be better.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Review # 326 - Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Skyward (Skyward, #1)Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved Spensa (Call Sign Spin) and surprisingly I also identified with her. Why the surprise. Spensa is a teenager and Skyward is a YA book. I am very far from being a teenager; in fact I am almost 60 years away from that age. So why did I identify. Like Spensa I wanted to be a pilot and also like Spensa I was told I could not. The reasons are different. For Spensa it was the action of her Father and for me it was because I was female. The nice thing is that both of us found a way to our dream.

While that was one thing I loved about the book there were others. Mbot (I listened to the book so may be spelling names wrong) was a great comic relief. The Skyward team had an wonderful mix of characters, I really liked JerkFace who had to live with a call sign that he hated. He is much more than he seems at the first. The plot and the back story take several unexpected turns. There is a very nice finish but I was glad to see this is book one as there is a lot of story left to tell.

It was great to know that Spensa will keep flying. I made my living as a pilot but no longer fly. I do still fly in some of my dreams making my call sign Dreamer.

Suzy Jackson does a great job as the voice of a teenager. She brings the story to life.

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Monday, December 10, 2018

Becoming Magic by Michelle Garren Flye - Virtual Tour and Giveaway



Becoming Magic
by Michelle Garren Flye

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GENRE:   Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Carole Barnes once believed she would make her own way in Hollywood, but those days are long gone, leaving behind only a dark, slimy secret that Carole has never shared with anyone. Now she hides in the bright sunshine of the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. As far away as she can get from Hollywood. But what to do when Hollywood comes knocking in the form of a sexy movie star?

Connor Wallace has everything going for him—looks, talent, a successful career—but what he really wants is to perform magic on stage. His love of magic leads him back to his mentor Walt Bryson. At first, he’s pleased when Walt suggests his assistant Carole produce a documentary of his transformation from movie star to magician. He’s worked with Carole before—but the ambitious girl who had a crush on him is gone now, leaving a beautiful, withdrawn woman.

It’s the perfect arrangement. Carole knows she can make a success of the movie and Connor wants to work with her. But as they grow closer, Connor determines to find out her secret. Can love overcome the boundaries of fear? Or will Carole’s past return to plague them both?



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EXCERPT

She reached for a handful of popcorn and her hand brushed his. When she turned her head and met the gaze of the same pair of clear blue eyes as those on the screen, her heart skipped a beat and she froze. For an eternity of a half second, neither of them moved, then he slowly turned his hand over and folded his fingers over hers. “Is this okay?”

“Yes.” She breathed the single word, then added, “And no.”

“No?” He raised his eyebrows.

“I really want some popcorn.” 

“And I still really want to kiss you.” His eyes flickered down to her lips. Then he sighed and released her hand. “I guess one of us should get what they want, huh?”

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My Five Go-To Places for Inspiration
By Michelle Garren Flye

Inspiration is hard to come by sometimes, and writers need it all the time, so when writers find those places that do inspire us, we may return often. Here are my top fiveplaces I think of as particularly inspiring to me.

1.    Anywhere on a boat. I took sailing lessons several years ago, and I’ve been on two cruises. The combination has convinced me that if I could have a boat big enough for an office for me, I could write nonstop. Fortunately, I live on the coast of North Carolina, so there’s usually a boat I can hop on for a quick ride, even if it’s just a ferryboat. 
2.    Las Vegas, baby! I would never have believed it, but this city is full of a gritty, neon-kind of magic. It may be the city’s storied history or it may be a kind of show girl glitter, but either way, I love visiting this city, and I usually come away with an idea or two.
3.    Our local community theater. The Masonic Theatre in New Bern, N.C., was first introduced to me by my five-year-old daughter who was a starfish in the play “Little Mermaid, Jr.” Since then, she’s been in several plays there, I’ve been in two with her, and we’ve both gone to see many more. It’s a wonderful, historic, haunted (but not really), magical place and it’s inspired at least one of my books, and will no doubt inspire more. I would love to set up an office backstage or up in the balcony or just in the back row and write away.
4.    The beach. I love walking on the beach with the waves lapping at my feet, whether it’s in June or January. And I can imagine that Blackbeard once trod on those same sands…
5.    My office. Yep. I love to travel, but I also love being at home, and I have a perfect office. I have bookshelves full of my favorite books, from Edgar Allan Poe to Hans Christian Andersen. And a delightful collection of toys and knickknacks that I’ve accumulated over time and from dozens of places. There’s a little china swan from my trip to Germany with my son and all the pictures my family has had made on our trips to Disney World, starting with the one from my honeymoon in 1995. Yes, this office is my haven and it’s full of inspiration for me.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Michelle Garren Flye is an award-winning romance author of eleven novels and counting. Her short stories have been published by the romance anthology Foreign Affairs, Opium.com, SmokelongQuarterly.com and Flashquake.com, among others. She has served on the editorial staffs of Horror Library, Butcher Shop Quartet and Tattered Souls. Michelle has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is the mother of three and lives in North Carolina.

Links:
Blog: BREATHE: http://michellegflye.com

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Michelle Garren Flye will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 325 - Wish Upon a Duke by Erica Ridley, Five Planes by Melissa Scott

Wish Upon a Duke (12 Dukes of Christmas, #3)Wish Upon a Duke by Erica Ridley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another addition to this fun series. While the story if full of fun it also addresses a series problem. Gloria Godwin is ruled by her fears. She takes pretend trips but never leaves the safety of her village. Along came Christopher Pringle who is looking for a bride to travel the world at his side. Of course the two fall in love. I liked how Erica Ridley went about finding a solution to the problem the two faced. A fun read and a fun romance.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Five Planes: The Rule of Five Season 1Five Planes: The Rule of Five Season 1 by Melissa Scott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have to admit - I was confused a lot of the time as I read this. Five Planes are pocket universes that humans have settled. There is travel between the five and each has its own flavor. There is a lot of world building, character development and back story. The story jumps between characters and planes. Most of this is build up to the next book in the series. The story just stops and I was left hanging. I will look for the next book to see just exactly where the plot is leading.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Friday, December 7, 2018

Assassin's Honor by Gail Z Martin - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway




Assassin's Honor
by Gail Z. Martin

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GENRE: Epic Fantasy
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BLURB:

Buddy flick epic fantasy! Joel Breckenridge and Garrett Kennard are King's Shadows, elite assassins serving the crown of Landria. When a shadowy itinerant holy man starts captivates the nobility with treasonous whispers, Ridge and Rett go rogue to stop the threat, save the kingdom and protect the king--while landing on the 'Most Wanted' list themselves.

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EXCERPT

Breaking glass and the crack of gunfire were Ridge’s signal to move, as Destwiler’s skull exploded from the matchlock’s shot, spattering the crate of weapons with blood and bone. The boy screamed in terror, a thin, shrill sound.

Ridge spun around, grabbing two throwing knives from the top of the stash in the box and had them hilt-deep in each guard’s ribs before their swords cleared their scabbards. He dropped the heavy crossbar to lock the door to the office, and dodged back to the box of weapons, reclaiming his own array of swords and knives before teasing out a long fuse from the bottom of the crate. Then he strode over to Destwiler’s corpse and pulled the key and its strap around what was left of the man’s head.

Ridge removed the warrant from inside his vest and read out the charges as required by law. “Roan Destwiler. By order of King Kristoph of Landria, you stand condemned of crimes against the kingdom and the throne too numerous to note, but most grievously the kidnapping of Kelvin, son of Thad, Lord of Wendover. You are sentenced to death, summary execution, without notice or reprieve.”

He rolled the warrant up and tucked it into Destwiler’s bloody vest, a formality. Ridge bent down to search Destwiler’s pockets, curling his lip at the still-warm blood that soaked the shoulders and sleeves of the man’s coat. He found a parchment note tucked beneath the vest and took it to read later.

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Creating Worlds

By Gail Z. Martin

Assassin’s Honor is the first in the new buddy flick epic fantasy series, Assassins of Landria. It’s my fourth epic fantasy series (Chronicles of the Necromancer, Ascendant Kingdoms, Darkhurst), and each series takes place in a different imagined world, with completely different religions, magical systems, and political/economic structures. 

I also write three urban fantasy series (Deadly Curiosities, Night Vigil, and co-authored with Larry N. Martin, Spells Salt and Steel) and co-author an alternate history series. Then as Morgan Brice, I write two more urban fantasy MM paranormal romance series. Unlike with the epic fantasy series, all of my urban fantasy series exist in the the same shared universe, so the characters interact and the same rules apply to all the series. The alternate history series will have a crossover companion series next year. 

That’s a lot of world building. Fortunately, I think world building is one of the most fun parts of being an author. I don’t write lengthy binders full of minutia, although I do jot notes to myself, and my husband (who is very active behind the scenes and as a frequent co-author) has begun keeping a bare-bones set of series bibles. I do try to make the differences clear, distinguishable and important, because the world building has to serve the story, not the other way around.

So with that in mind, here are my five key elements for effective world building:

#5 — Make changes that matter, not change for the sake of change. Whether the world you’re creating is medieval, modern, Victorian, futuristic or something else, be intentional about what you decide to change. How will those changes affect the characters and the story? How do they affect the way people in that world think about their environment and themselves? How do those changed elements affect the actions people choose to take? If the changes are just window dressing or just showing off clever ideas, it’s a distraction from the actual storytelling.

So in Assassin’s Honor, my main characters are King’s Shadows—elite assassins who deliver the justice of the king against bad guys who haven’t been captured any other way. The how and why Ridge and Rett became assassins and what that means for how they perceive themselves is an important element of the story.

#4–Think about how the world you’ve created shapes your characters. Ask what it would be like to grow up in that world, what options it would make you see or hide from you, who would have an advantage or privilege, and who wouldn’t. 

Ridge and Rett were orphans, for whom going into the military was their only real chance to make a living. Their childhood friendship has created a bond between them that makes them the only two assassins who hunt together—and who have the highest kill record in the corp. Rett’s forbidden magic threatens not only their job as assassins, but could get them killed if the wrong people found out.

#3–Use familiar touchpoints to keep the reader grounded and help them quickly get oriented. In other words, when there isn’t a good reason to make something different, keeping the familiar will help readers not feel lost and overwhelmed. 

Landria has a king and an aristocracy, which by themselves aren’t unusual in any way. What IS unusual is that magic exists but it’s forbidden except to the priests, the King’s Shadows act as the official justice-bearers of the monarch, and that the younger nobles are antsy for more power and excitement, creating an opening for the questionably holy man, Yefim Makary, to exploit. Readers can easily keep up with a few big changes, but if you change too much without good reason, it can be more confusing than enjoyable.

#2–When you create a religion, make sure you understand the ‘mechanics’ of how faith traditions work in the real world. You don’t have to believe in your invented religion or in any religion at all for real, but your worldbuilding will be stronger if you understand how liturgy, luminal spaces, ritual and sacred traditions work so that your created religion will feel authentic.

#1–Magic must always have limits and costs. Familiarizing yourself with the many magical beliefs and traditions in legend and lore will give you plenty to think about when you create your own magical system. But keep your magic user interesting by placing limits on what he/she can do and what price magic requires. That can mean time spent studying, physical limitations, decreased lifespan, owing service to a more powerful entity, or being an outcast, to name a few options, but it keeps your mage from being too powerful, which keeps the story interesting!

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, Falstaff Books, SOL Publishing and Darkwind Press. Vengeance is the second in the new Darkhurst epic fantasy series. Also new is The Dark Road, the second in the Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures series, and Assassin’s Honor (coming, October 2018), the first in the new Assassins of Landria series. 

Her Deadly Curiosities urban fantasy series set in Charleston, SC has a new novel, Tangled Web, and two new collections, Trifles & Folly, and Trifles & Folly 2. 

Other work includes the Chronicles Of The Necromancer series, the Fallen Kings Cycle, the Ascendant Kingdoms series, and the alternate history novel Iron & Blood and the Storm & Fury collection (co-authored with Larry N. Martin) She is also the co-author (with Larry) of the Mark Wojcik monster hunter series (Spells, Salt and Steel) and the upcoming Wasteland Marshals series and the Cauldron/Secret Council series from Falstaff Books.

As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance. New and upcoming books include Witchbane, Burn, Dark Rivers, Badlands, and Lucky Town.

Find her at www.GailZMartin.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, on Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms, at DisquietingVisions.com blog and on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin. She is also the organizer of the #HoldOnToTheLight campaign www.HoldOnToTheLight.com. Join her email update and never miss a new release—plus get great free stories just for signing up! http://eepurl.com/dd5XLj

Buy on Audio, ebook, paperback or free on Kindle Unlimited here: http://a.co/d/aLiSoFi

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REVIEW

Assassin's Honor is a new fantasy by author Gail Z Martin. This is a fun book from the first page. Our two assassins are Shadows who work as a pair making them very different from most who work solo. This gives them a strength and a weakness. The plot uses all of this to give a exciting ride with interesting characters, a different world, a boat load of tension and danger around every corner. A added plus; this is an epic fantasy without the epic length. There is a solution to part of the danger the two find but the main problem is still around to be dealt with in future books.

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Gail Z. Martin will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway