Goddess Fish Blog Tour for “Hacienda Moon” by Kasonndra Leigh

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Kasonndra Leigh’s Paranormal Gothic romance Hacienda Moon, which I read and am now reviewing.

Be sure to check at the end for the guest post and giveaway info!

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

For a genre that I seldom read, I was gripped from the beginning, even as I faced spookiy spectres, mystery, evil and murders. Ms. Leigh has crafted a well-written paranormal gothic romance, with such strong main characters in Tandie and Eric. Their slow-to-build romance has us urging them to turn to each other.

Tandie has experienced such horrific losses, yet she is not crushed by them and seeks to solve the mysteries surrounding her. Eric too, has losses, especially related to the curse and we feel for both, in how they face their fears and challenges.

This was an incredibly fascinating read and one I would highly recommend. Prepared to be taken along on a twisty, spooky ride at times, but one that captures your imagination and keeps you guessing to the end.

BLURB:

Tandie Harrison is a police medium struggling to pick up the pieces of her life after a devastating divorce that left her without her precious daughter and her psychic visions. With a heavy heart, she escapes the hustle and bustle of New York City and moves into the alluring plantation house, Chelby Rose. Here, she meets Eric, the home’s charismatic caretaker. Despite the ghostly warnings, Tandie finds herself drawn to him, and as their affair intensifies, so does the centuries-old curse haunting them both.

Suddenly, Tandie finds herself at the center of a dark and dangerous web full of deceit and intrigue. As fear begins to consume her, she must find the courage to face the demons of her past if she is to have any chance at a future. Hacienda Moon is a captivating story full of suspense and romance that will ensnare you from start to finish.

Note to readers and bookclubs:

This is the expanded and revamped edition of the Hacienda Moon that was originally published in 2012. Please be sure to add this version to your to-read list as this edition contains more gothic suspense, intrigue, and of course romance.

Excerpt:

The results of Eric’s handyman skills were beautiful. The final perk was the light rose-colored exterior paint, a shade considered original to the house. Eric didn’t say a word about my upgraded paintbrushes. He was too busy making sure I didn’t catch him watching me as I bent over to paint the lowest boards on the house. However, I turned around at the perfect moment on paint day and caught him staring. His face flushed so badly, I couldn’t resist doing something to celebrate my small victory.

“Wow, it’s so hot out here today.” I stretched my arms, lifting my tee-shirt up until my belly button was exposed, basking in the warmth of the late summer sun. Eric’s mouth fell open. Success! That move totally stole Mr. Intense’s attention. Tucking my lips, I made a move toward an even more creative tease, bending over to pick up one of the three paint brushes I’d dropped.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“What does it look like? I dropped my paintbrushes.” I shrugged and waved the brush between us. “Did I not use the proper technique for bending over and picking it up?”

He gave me a dimpled grin and moved closer to where I stood beside the house. Glancing down at the brushes beside my feet, he said, “They do look somewhat dirty. You sure you can handle that task? You strike me as somewhat of a nice girl. With that much paint and dirt all in the heads, you have to get a little rough with cleaning them.” His gaze bore into mine, smoldering me under a hazel brown sugary-colored look this time.

I held his gaze. “Oh, believe me. I have plenty of ways to clean dirty things.”

There was about a foot of space between us now. “Is that right?”

“Oh yeah,” I answered, hoping that the pulse line on my neck didn’t show the way my heart thumped inside my chest.

His gaze drifted from my eyes down to my lips and finally ended at my left shoulder. “Then why don’t you start by cleaning that big red spider off your shoulder?” An amused smile spread across his lips, but a scream shrilled out of mine.

Eric slammed his hands over his ears. “Damn it, Tandie.”

Adrenaline spiked through me. He might as well have said my breasts were hanging out. He would’ve gotten less of a response than he did with the spider statement. “Get it off me! Do you see it? Is it still there? Get it!” I shrieked, jumping around and spinning in half circles.

“I won’t help you until you stop trying to burst my eardrums,” he said, still half-way smiling. He came over and put his arms around me, pulling me into his embrace. “Calm down, Tandie. It’s gone, all right?”

Vowing to never tease Eric ever again, I waited for my breathing to normalize and for my trembling limbs to steady as I was pressed against Eric’s chest.

Guest Post: 11 Fun Facts about Eric Fontalvo

1. Eric’s family is originally from South Colombia, and he grew up speaking Spanish at home.

2. He’s a self-taught carpenter and has been doing construction work since he was a teenager.

3. While he’s a skilled contractor, Eric has a secret passion for fine art and has been known to dabble in painting and sculpture in his spare time.

4. Eric enjoys listening to a wide range of music, but his favorite band is The Rolling Stones.

5. He has a talent for restoring old furniture, and he often finds pieces on the Chelby Rose property that he wants to take home and fix up.

6. Eric is a bit of a daredevil and enjoys extreme sports like rock climbing and skydiving.

7. He’s an expert in historic preservation and has a deep respect for the history and architecture of the Chelby Rose property.

8. Eric is a romantic at heart and falls head over heels for Tandie after they first meet on the Chelby Rose property.

9. Eric is a bit of a foodie and loves trying new recipes from around the world. He’s particularly passionate about Caribbean cuisine, thanks to his family’s Puerto Rican background.

10. In addition to working on the Chelby Rose property, Eric also volunteers his time with Habitat for Humanity, helping to build homes for families in need.

11. He’s an avid reader and is particularly interested in history and architecture. He often brings books about these subjects with him to the Chelby Rose property, and he and Tandie love to discuss what they’ve been reading.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Meet your word sculptress…

Author of the #1 Amazon International bestselling novels, the Prelude and the Lost Immortals Saga, KaSonndra is also a mother, designer, reader, gardener, home renovator, and a slayer of undead Egyptian mummies in Tomb Raider. She believes in karma, coffee, and seriously wishes that the producers of Xena would bring her favorite show back.

KaSonndra was born in the race-car city of Charlotte, NC, and now lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, NC, when she’s not hanging out in Bardonia (Lost Immortals Saga setting). Most of her characters are based on people that she has met throughout her travels and adventures.

People tend to stop and start conversations with KaSonndra as if she has known them her entire life. Does this freak her out? Not really. Her mom says that one day she’ll get kidnapped by one of these folks. KaSonndra’s response? She told her mom that if it weren’t for these lovely people, then she wouldn’t be able to create such fabulously romantic stories!

Visit KaSonndra’s at one of her online homes:

Main Author Webpage: https://kasonndraleigh.com

Facebook Fan Page: http://facebook.com/kasonndraleighbookspage

Twitter: @kasonndraleigh

Instagram: @kasonndraleighbooks

Online Blogazine: http://livewellbefabulous.com

Amazon author’s link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/KaSonndra-Leigh/author/B0066W7GY4?ref

Giveaway info!

KaSonndra Leigh will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Be sure to check all the stops on the tour for more chances to enter the giveaway!

March 13: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
March 14: Literary Gold
March 15: Westveil Publishing
March 16: Christine Young
March 17: The Key Of Love
March 20: Books to Light Your Fire
March 21: Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
March 22: Fabulous and Brunette
March 23: Travel the ages
March 24: Hope. Dreams. Life.. Love
March 27: Joanne Guidoccio
March 28: Where Landsquid Fear to Tread
March 29: Author Deb Bailey
March 29: Denise Dekker – review only
March 30: Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
March 31: Beverley A Baird – review
April 3: All the Ups and Downs
April 4: Long and Short Reviews
April 5: Maggie Blackbird
April 6: Kit ‘n Kabookle
April 7: It’s Raining Books

Goddess Fish Blog Tour for “I Dream of Demigods” by Alexa Sullivan

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Alexa Sullivan’s paranormal romance I Dream of Demigods , which I read and am now reviewing. Be sure to check at the end for giveaway info!

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

For a debut novel, Alexa Sullivan has given us such an enjoyable read, from beginning to end. It is, at its heart, a romance, both sweet and sexy, but with so much more – lots of humour, a mystery, interesting world-building and such fun characters. Rowna’s cat familiar, Lenti, is by far my favourite character, but all the characters are well-drawn.

Rowan is a witch without powers, only to have her powers restored when she kisses her new boss Alex. The chemistry between the two is sizzling. Yet, their romance faces several challenges.

I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal romance. I laughed often, and enjoyed the interplay between Lenti and Ro and between her and Alex. I highly recommend this novel, In fact, I can’t wait for the second book – can’t wait to have the cliffhanger revealed.

Book BLURB:

Ro Baird can’t cast a spell without setting her own pants on fire—until she kisses her hot new boss, Alex. Suddenly, she’s able to access her magic…sort of…and she now has a familiar, who may be more trouble than she is helpful.

Alex Kouris happens to be a soul-stealing demigod of the Underworld. He claims he’s trying to leave the life, but can she really trust a man whose magical talents are manipulation and charm? When Alex enlists a shady ex to help him, Ro must risk her heart and her life to save him and humanity from Hades’s evil scheme.

Can she harness her true power to set Alex and herself free?

:Excerpt:

“You’re not for real, right?” I shook my head. “You’re just…so nice. No one’s this nice.”

Alex held my gaze. His eyes were mesmerizing pools of warm brown. “Listening and caring is just being decent. It shouldn’t be shocking.” He lifted a hand and smoothed my hair back from my face.

This wasn’t normal boss behavior, but at some point, I’d forgotten Alex was my   supervisor. The air felt warm and damp, and it smelled like the ocean again, the scent wild and comforting at the same time.

Alex’s hand stilled against my temple.

Hardly breathing, I lifted my left hand and brushed my fingers against his.

He squeezed my hand.

I reached for his other hand, and either I stepped close, or he pulled me in. Or maybe it happened at the same time. We were toe-to-toe now, inches away from full-body contact. My brain hazed over as I tilted my head up.

He angled his head down.

Our noses touched. Our mouths were an inch away from each other.

“This is probably about to be a bad idea.”

His voice, low and husky, sent a pleasant tingle down my neck. “Terrible,” I whispered.

I dove into his arms, and he pressed his mouth to mine.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Alexa Sullivan writes humorous, contemporary paranormal romance. She imagines a world where the mundane meets magic — and where vampires, werewolves and witches have normal jobs. Oh, and there are cats, too. She sets all her books in the beautiful state of Oregon. When not writing, she can be found walking her cat on a leash, hanging out with her husband, and watching far too much Bravo reality TV.

Socials

Website: https://www.alexasullivan.com/

Sign up for Alexa’s Newsletter: https://www.alexasullivan.com/subscribe

Instagram: @alexasullivanromance

Twitter: @alexa_s_writes

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Demigods-Law-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B0BKRCTPDB/ref=sr_1_1

BN Buy Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-dream-of-demigods-alexa-sullivan/1142600185

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION Be sure to enter and check all stops on the tour for more chances to win!

Alexa Sullivan will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Be sure to enter and check all stops on the tour for more chances to win!

March 27:
1: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
2: The Avid Reader
3: The Key Of Love
4: Fabulous and Brunette
5: Ilovebooksandstuffblog
6: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
7: Our Town Book Reviews
8: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
9: Kit ‘N Kabookle

March 28:
1: Maggie Blackbird
2: The Faerie Review
3: Author Deb Bailey
4: Long and Short Reviews
5: Moonlight Compass Books review
6: Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’
7: Books to Light Your Fire
8: Straight from the Library
9: Wendi Zwaduk – Romance to Make Your Heart Race
10: MacKade

11: B-Gina Review

March 29:
1: Beverley A Baird review
2: D.S. Dehel review
3: Celticlady’s Reviews
4: Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm
5: Two Ends of the Pen
6: Westveil Publishing
7: Travel the Ages
8: Punya Reviews…
9: Denise Dekker

March 30:
1: All the Ups and Downs
2: Dawn’s Reading Nook
3: Enchanting Reviews review
4: fundinmental
5: Gina Rae Mitchell
6: Iron Canuck Reviews & More
7: Literary Gold
8: It’s Raining Books

March 31:
1: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
2: Hope. Dreams. Life… Love
3: Novels Alive
4: Sandra’s Book Club
5: Sybrina’s Book Blog
6: Full Moon Dreaming

Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Luke Blackmon’s Rose by Mary Patterson Thornburg

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Mary Patterson Thornburg’s science fiction romance  Luke Blackmon’s Rose , which I read and am now reviewing.

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

Ms. Thornburg has created a very believable future world, with interesting characters and challenges they face. Rose, a white professor, and Luke, a black singer, are from different worlds and times, and are quickly drawn to each other. The science behind Luke’s appearance in his future is believable.

The novel gives us a glimpse at the racial tensions similar to our own, as well as the power of family and friends. All the characters are well drawn and we come to care for them as they face challenges.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel of a future world and would highly recommend it.

Book Blurb

To guard herself from the perils of her own sensuality, Rose married a man she didn’t love. Now, two years after his death, she’s not sure she can really love anyone. She’s not even sure she cares…

To achieve what he’d always known was his birthright, Luke had to struggle against tremendous odds. But when science discovered a way to access the past, a powerful bureaucracy found a way to use Luke. Now, torn from his own time, everything and everyone he knew, he can see no reason to go on living…

An instant of attraction, uninvited but inescapable, brings Luke and Rose together. Together, they discover the strength to love, the will to trust and hope. But will these things be enough to carry them over walls of suspicion, guilt, bigotry, and hate?

Excerpt

And then the air in the room changed. There was a tingling, a sort of buzzing not quite within the range of human hearing. She thought, briefly, of what she’d read somewhere about the feeling people get in a thunderstorm when they’re about to be struck by lightning. She wasn’t sure anyone felt it but herself. Mira, who’d gotten up to look in the refrigerator for something, was apparently undisturbed. But then she saw Kingsley’s expression change as he glanced past her toward the living room portion of the greatroom, and she heard—or perhaps felt—soft footsteps behind her. She spun around.

Where the living room carpet ended, maybe three yards from where she sat, stood a very tall, very dark, broad-shouldered man. He was barefoot, dressed in black sweats. She saw him clearly for a fraction of a second before the lightning bolt she’d felt coming struck. In that fraction of a second, she realized why Mira had looked familiar to her. And realized, too, what had been going on with Kingsley since the turn their discussion had taken that evening—if not before. In that fraction of a second, she knew who she was looking at.

Author Bio and Links

Mary Patterson Thornburg has lived in California, Washington State, Montana, Indiana, and again, finally, in Montana. She was educated at Holy Names College, Montana State University, and Ball State University, where she then taught for many years. She’s been reading science fiction and fantasy since she was five, and when she began to write fiction it seemed only natural to write in those genres. Her literary heroes are Mary Shelley, who gave us all a metaphor for technology alienated from its creators, and Ursula K. Le Guin and Octavia E. Butler, inventors of worlds that shine their powerful searchlights on this one. She writes what some people call “science fantasy” (aka “fake science fiction) within as wide a range as possible, but almost always with a bit (or a lot) of romance.

https://www.marypattersonthornburg.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Patterson-Thornburg/e/B001IOFDN6/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Patterson-Thornburg-Author/751054628247208

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/mary-patterson-thornburg/47/967/480

Author Guest Post: “Where do you get your ideas?”

A standard complaint, among writers well enough known to go on book tours and have fans and do readings, is that if there’s a question period after the reading, someone will always ask: “Where do you get your ideas?” It’s a cross between a complaint and a joke. One science fiction writer says he sometimes answers, “I have them shipped to me, by the gross, from China.”

It’s really a flattering question, though, isn’t it? (unless it’s asked in the tone of voice you might use to ask “What is that you’ve spilled down the front of your shirt?”) The questioner really wants to know. I suspect that writers complain, often, because they have no idea where the ideas come from – or they have a sort of memory of the source of a story, but there seems to be not much actual connection between the remembered source and the story itself.

A case in point is my story “Fergus,” now published in my collection In the Skull Palace, but first published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, the oldest and most prestigious SF&F magazine in the U.S. and the hardest to sell a story to, which I never tire of crowing about from the rooftops until someone reminds me that Pride is a Deadly Sin. It came from an incident that happened eons ago, about which I always thought “I should write a story about that…” but never did. And then one day I did, and who knows why it suddenly went from an interesting but faded memory to the story it became? Not I. No idea. I don’t even remember writing it, and when I re-read it recently it was like reading something someone else wrote. The only connection I could see between it and myself, besides that remembered incident, was the fact that I and the narrator of the story had each recently acquired a cat and named him “Fergus.”

But (you ask), how about your latest book, Luke Blackmon’s Rose? You wrote it last summer, didn’t finish it till September, and it was published just a few days ago. Surely you can’t already have forgotten writing it! So, where did you get the idea for that one?

You’re right. I haven’t forgotten, and I’m glad you asked. Short answer: the story came from a combination of three things: the end of a long, sad, exceedingly dry period; a book I was reading; and, like several of my stories, from a dream.

Longer answer:

In 2020, after an illness that lasted about a decade, my husband of 35 years died. For two more years I didn’t function well. I was in what now seems like a sort of fog. I occasionally tried to write, but the words wouldn’t come. Then, one bright day in May, something changed; I didn’t stop missing him, didn’t stop grieving. But I let him go, and I did come out of mourning – which is the closest analogy I can think of: the day a Victorian wife might stop wearing black continuously and start dressing in violet. I didn’t try to write, not yet. But I know now that whatever was blocking the words had been lifted.

In the meantime, I’d been reading a book of essays by Randall Kennedy entitled Say It Loud. It’s a long book of long essays. I’m afraid I might not even have started it, had I seen and lifted the hard-cover volume first. Fortunately, I got the ebook without knowing this about it, and then when I started reading I couldn’t really stop; I just had to put it down every so often and either scream, cry, or swear loudly. Sometimes all three together. Here’s how the New York Times describes the book: “A collection of provocative essays exploring the key social justice issues of our time—from George Floyd to antiracism to inequality and the Supreme Court. Kennedy is among the most incisive American commentators on race.”  

And finally, then, I had this very short and rather odd dream: I was setting up for a banquet, in a big room full of long tables. The guest of honor was going to be Paul Robeson, the great American singer, actor, and activist, who died in 1976 at the age of 78. He had somehow been brought into the 21^st century by a newly invented time machine.

The next morning, I sat down at my computer and started writing.

Be sure to enter the giveaway!

Mary Patterson Thornburg will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

TOUR DATES (FOR MORE CHANCES TO WIN!)

March 20: MacKade
March 20: Travel the ages
March 21: Fabulous and Brunette
March 22: Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm
March 22: Full Moon Dreaming
March 23: All the Ups and Downs
March 24: Joanne Guidoccio
March 27: Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
March 27: Beverley A Baird – review
March 28: Literary Gold
March 28: The Avid Reader
March 29: Sandra’s Book Club – review only
March 30: Westveil Publishing
March 31: Kit N Kabookle

It’s Monday! What are You Reading?

It’s time once again for Kathryn’s weekly meme, “It’s Monday! What are You Reading? ”, hosted at Book Date, where we share what we’re reading and have read over the past week.

Spring is here – robins searching for worms, tulips and other flowers pushing their way up and definitely a bit warmer weather. I know there will likely be more snow – but spring has definitely sprung.

I read 6 books –3 historical paranormals, two romances, and a romance/fantasy..

I read the final 3 books in her Darkest London series, which I so enjoyed – (historical fantasy by Kristen Callihan)

Evernight

Soul Bound

Forevermore

Love Me Like a Love Song by Annmarie Boyle. Really enjoyed this ebook romance.

Luke Blackmon’s Rose by Mary Patterson Thornburg. A romance/fantasy which was enjoyable. Another review for Goddess Rose.

The Forever Heart by Diana Bolinaz. A romance read for a Goddess Fish review – I rated it 3/5 at Goodreads.

What I’m Reading Now 

An Extra Mile by Sharon Garlough Brown

What I am Reading Next

Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham

March One Word Link-Up

This month Lisa, of “LisaNotes” has given us a word study to do for our One Word. My word is “stretch” and as I read this month, I have found it often in the books I’ve read. It just jumps out when I read .

Here are some examples:

” That grin stretched … ” and “the silence between them stretched” (from Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan

“stretch your legs for a bit” from Keeping a Christmas Promise by J Thomas

“braced her hands on her back and stretched” from A Thousand Voices by Lisa Wingate

These lead into the first of the 3 topics:

Twins and Opposites

Let’s take a closer look at your One Word for any hidden jewels. Here are three suggestions to try.

1. DEFINE IT

Look up your word in the dictionary. Does it have more than one meaning? How many of its meanings are you using for your practice this year? Which meaning is most applicable to you?

As you can see from the examples I gave above, there are several meanings for stretch. From Merriam-Webster:

(I have highlighted the definitions I am focusing on)

transitive verb

1 : to extend (one’s limbs, one’s body, etc.) in a reclining position

2 : to reach out : EXTEND stretched out her arms

3 : to extend in length stretched his neck to see what was going on

4 : to fell with or as if with a blow

5 : to cause the limbs of (a person) to be pulled especially in torture

6 : to draw up (one’s body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position

7 : to pull taut canvas stretched on a frame

8 a : to enlarge or distend especially by force

b : to extend or expand as if by physical force stretch one’s mind with a good book

c : STRAIN stretched his already thin patience

9 : to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space) stretch a wire between two posts

10 a : to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper limits the rules can be stretched this once

b : to expand (as by improvisation) to fulfill a larger function stretching a dollar

11 : to extend (a hit) to an extra base usually by fast or daring running stretch a single into a double

noun

1 a : an exercise of something (such as the understanding or the imagination) beyond ordinary or normal limits

their conclusion seemed like a bit of a stretch

b : an extension of the scope or application of something a stretch of language

2 the extent to which something may be stretched

3 a : the act of stretching : the state of being stretched a good stretch for legs

b : the position of a pitcher standing sideways to home plate so as to keep a runner close to a base

pitching from the stretch

4 a : an extent in length or area an open stretch of road

b : a continuous period of time can write for eight hours at a stretch

5 : a walk to relieve fatigue

6 : a term of imprisonment served a 10-year stretch

7 a : either of the straight sides of a racecourse especially : HOMESTRETCH

b : a final stage (as of a contest or season) won some crucial games down the stretch

8 : the capacity for being stretched : ELASTICITY a waistband with lots of stretch

9 : a stretch limousine

2. SAME AS

List some of your word’s synonyms. If you had to choose one of these as a backup word for this year, which would you choose? Why?

From the same dictionary, here are some synonyms:

Verb: colour elaborate embellish embroider exaggerate magnify pad

Noun: breadth distance expanse expansion extent field

Adjective: elastic bouncy flexible resilient rubberlike rubbery

I prefer the adjective meanings – resilient, elastic, flexible. My back-up word would have to be flexible though – to go with the flow, to bounce back, to become more flexible physically.

3. OPPOSITE OF

List some of your word’s antonyms. Seeing what your word does NOT mean might help you understand what it does mean. Any insights from its opposite?

Here are some antonyms from Thesaurus at the same site: :

Antonyms & Near Antonyms: minimize understate belittle play-down

cut shorten reduce curtail decrease diminish lessen loosen relax ease slacken

rigid stiff hard solid inelastic inflexible firm

I hate the idea of being inflexible or stiff. Although, at times my knees feel that way. I’d like them to be relaxed.

This has been an interesting exercise. When I chose “Stretch”, I didn’t realize just how many definitions there were. But, I still feel it is the best word for this year – gaining flexibility by stretching physically and improving my mind by stretching my reading and improving my writing and art skills. Still have a ways to go for both aspects of my word.

Goddess Fish Blog Tour for “The Forever Heart” by Diana Bolianaz

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Diana Bolianaz’s novel The Forever Heart , which I read and am now reviewing.

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

Diana Bolianaz’s novel is a gentle romance about an interracial couple. I was drawn to the premise of the story, as I have partially lived it.

It has a very slow build-up though, to the heightened drama of separation and then a pregnancy near the end. I feel further editing to shorten the novel would strengthen it greatly.

Liza was drawn quite well, and we see her strength and her resilience throughout the novel. The author presents some other interesting characters, my favourite being Sam, the chef, who provides Liza with much support and wisdom. His words in Chapter 41 resonated with me:

“You never know what tomorrow is gonna bringin’, That’s why we need to be here, now. They call today the present cuz it’s a gift to be livin’ today. So don’t waste the time thinking too soon about tomorrow, you can live tomorrow when it gets here. No sooner than that.

Overall, this was an okay read, with some special moments. 3/5 Goodreads rating.

Book Blurb

Liza is a beautiful nineteen-year-old girl who comes from a strict Mennonite background. She lives at home with her mother, brother and domineering father. When Liza meets Melvin, a handsome young Black journalist, they fall madly in love. She has to keep the relationship a secret from her family because she knows her father would never approve. When Liza becomes pregnant, her world is turned upside down.

Book Excerpt:

Liza’s mom was a fanatic about cleaning. Obsessive, you might say. Everything had to be “just so.” Liza thought her mom went overboard most of the time. Her mom was fifty now and seemed to be getting pickier the older she got. Helga had short, curly, greyish-white hair. She was about five-feet-two inches tall and squarely built. She came from a German Mennonite background, just like Klaus. She was an excellent cook and loved to bake. Liza loved her mother’s cooking. Helga always stocked the freezer full of food and lots of baking. Her favourite trick around Christmas time was to put all the baking in special containers in the big freezer in the basement and label it “liver” so no one would find and eat the delicious treats she hid so cleverly. Or at least she thought she did. Everyone knew her little tricks, and soon the “liver” started to disappear. Liza blamed the disappearance on her brother, and her brother blamed it on her. They were careful not to leave any trails of crumbs anywhere. When Helga would find the empty containers, she would just sigh and bake some more. Liza went into the kitchen, picked up her purse and keys, and said, “Mom, can I use the car for a couple of hours? I want to go and meet Sarah at the mall.”

Sarah was Liza’s best friend and had been since kindergarten. “What about dinner? It’s almost ready.”

“I’ll grab something at the mall.”

“Fine, dear, just be home by nine.”

“Thanks, Mom! See you later.”

Of course, she wasn’t meeting Sarah. She couldn’t tell her mom that she had to go shopping for an outfit to wear for her hot date on Saturday night. Liza never had trouble finding clothes or spending money, and this day was no exception. In only a few hours, Liza managed to buy a sweater set, a pair of capri pants (even though it was the end of spring and not super warm out yet), and strappy sandals to die for—not Manolo Blahniks, but they were hot, and more in line with Liza’s budget. Helga was already looking out the window to see if Liza was nearing home when she pulled up in the driveway. Helga looked at her watch. It was 8:55. She waited for Liza as she came through the back door. “Liza, I was beginning to worry.”

“I’m okay, Mom. Just shopping. And you know what girls are like when they get shopping!”

Author Bio and Links

Diana graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Education. She is currently working as a high school substitute teacher, affectionately known to her students as “Miss. B.”

Diana’s greatest joy is spending time with her family. She loves country music (especially the old stuff), champagne and Nanny’s perogies. With help from above, she will venture to make some soon.

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Heart-Diana-Bolianaz-ebook/dp/B0BQZGFC2K/

Author Giveaway!

Diana Bolianaz will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC, to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour

Goddess Fish Blog Tour for “Metamorphosis” by Deborah A. Bailey – Guest Post

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Worlds of Fire: Metamorphosis by Deborah A. Bailey.

Today Ms Bailey is visiting my blog to share her thoughts on why she chose Metamorphosis as the title.

Welcome !

Why I chose Metamorphosis as the Title

My original story idea was a bit different. In that version, the heroine wasn’t unhappy with her position in life. She didn’t question the established order of the Alchemists. In the published version of my story, I went in a slightly different direction.

Like in the original story, Asira is also a student from a prominent family. But she questions the structure of society because of the many rules they are forced to conform to. She studies hard and focuses on advancement to the Golden Court, which should be enough for someone in her position. However, she feels that something is missing. What if there is more to life than what has been prepared for her?

She is a student of transmutation, and she seeks out Jaydon because he is an expert in that discipline. He can help her to pass her exams and follow her family’s wishes. What she doesn’t expect is that Jaydon, who is from another world, doesn’t agree with the strict class system. He loves study and he has a gift for reading the magical Books of Fire. And he’s happy that his ability allows him to remain outside of the system.

Jaydon’s own transformation came when puberty gave him special abilities that allow him to read the magical books. As a gargoyle shifter he understands what it’s like to change from one thing to another. But his special abilities are what brought him to the attention of the Alchemists. His life went in a different direction because of a transition he couldn’t control.

In life we have many periods of transition – chiefly the time when we go from child to teen then to adult. Physical changes. Emotional changes. Mental changes. We’re not the same as we once were. Those changes can bring happiness or confusion (depending on your point of view). And as adults we may make plans for our lives, then at some point wonder if we want to continue on that path. Maybe what we thought we wanted isn’t what we really want after all.

As a writer, I can ask those questions inside of my fantasy and science fiction stories. But even though these are fictional beings, they can reflect human experiences. Sometimes we are forced to change and sometimes we make the choice to do so. Life is change. And hopefully as we go we can find happiness and satisfaction along the way.

In spite of their doubts and their conflicts within the story, Asira and Jaydon manage to find each other. They’ve learned that they can shape their own lives and be open to new experiences. There’s a saying that when one door closes, another opens up. Endings are also beginnings. They may not be easy but they can open up a new world of possibilities.

Thank you Deborah for sharing the reasons for your title choice.

Be sure to check all the stops along the blog tour.

Blog Tour:

February 9: Literary Gold
February 16: Sandra’s Book Club
February 16: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
February 23: Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
March 2: All the Ups and Downs
March 9: Sybrina’s Book Blog
March 9: Gina Rae Mitchell – review
March 17: Beverley A Baird – review
March 23: Long and Short Reviews
March 23: Kit ‘N Kabookle – review only
March 30: Carey PW LGBTQIA Author – review
March 30: Westveil Publishing

It’s Monday! What are You Reading?

It’s time once again for Kathryn’s weekly meme, “It’s Monday! What are You Reading?”, hosted at Book Date, where we share what we’re reading and have read over the past week.

Woke up to more snow this morning (only a couple of inches) and a neighbour shovelling our walkway and driveway! Now most of the rest is melting. Spring tomorrow – and it is light longer – yeah!

I read 6 books –a paranormal, an historical paranormal, a woman’s fiction, two romances, and a fantasy..

Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan. I am really enjoying this historical paranormal series by Callihan – Darkest London series. And it is dark but well written with amazing world building.

Keeping a Christmas Promise by Jo Thomas. A lovely romance with a setting in Iceland. Very enjoyable read.

Notes from the Northern Lights by Jo Thomas. A short romance novella that was enjoyable as well.

To Catch a Dream by Audrey Carlan. A new author to me and a very enjoyable romance, with native American characters.

Metamorphosis: Worlds of Fire by Deborah A. Bailey. This was a review book, a fantasy, which I really like. (check my review here)

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs. This is one of my favourite series and was a reread, which of course I enjoyed. (Read it for a challenge)

What I’m Reading Now 

Evernight by Kristen Callihan.

Love Me Like a Love Song by Annmarie Boyle

What I am Reading Next

Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham

Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Worlds of Fire: Metamorphosis by Deborah A. Barclay

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Deborah A. Bailey’s fantasy novel Worlds of Fire: Metamorphosis , which I read and am now reviewing.

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

For me, fantasy is about the imagination, about the creation of wonderful new worlds. Deborah A. Bailey has created a fascinating world, with the Aurum, the floating world, portals, shifters and all the characters. The two main characters, Asira, from a powerful Alchemist family and Jaydon, a Gargoyle shifter, magister and her mentor, quickly pull us into the story.

Treachery by members of the Aurum affect Asira and she must face challenges, not only from others, but also from herself and what she truly wants.

Secrets have plagued the floating city and it is interesting to see how Asira and Jaydonface these challenges and are drawn to each other.

I highly recommend this fantasy by Deborah A. Bailey – a novel with a touch of romance, intrigue and a big dose of imaginative world-building.

Book Blurb:

On the Floating World when two Alchemists fall in love it can be…complicated.

Asira is a member of a high-ranking family of Alchemists who exert control over the libraries that store magical texts. Jaydon, an unconventional but powerful teacher of transmutation at the university, is from a gargoyle shifter group known as the Gigun.

Asira finds Jaydon frustrating and too fascinating for her own good. But she desperately needs his help when she becomes the target of a classmate’s dangerous use of forbidden magic. With Jaydon’s assistance, the two of them uncover a conspiracy that threatens the well-ordered world of the Alchemists.

Struggling with his growing attraction to her, Jaydon is called on to use his knowledge of the magical Books of Fire to determine Asira’s fate. And depending on what secrets the books reveal, he may be forced to make a life-altering decision that will either bind them together… or permanently force them apart.

Excerpt :

Jaydon picked up his stylus and shoved it behind his ear. Continuing to study her, his brows furrowed as though he was having an internal conversation. Thinking things over with himself and not sharing his conclusions with her.

Sure, she was used to intense stares from the magisters. They used them as an intimidation tactic. It was part of their mystery to be imperious and detached, to only associate with others on their level or from a specific Order. You were either in the Court hierarchy or you weren’t. Even the most advanced students didn’t have that kind of clout, no matter what Aurum family they belonged to.

“Are you sure you don’t want to see my papers on the topic?” Sitting there while he watched her was unnerving. Not that he was bad to look at, because he wasn’t. His features were finely sculpted, and his wavy shoulder-length black hair framed his face so that his almond-shaped eyes and full lips were accentuated.

He shook his head in response to her question, his gaze still fixed on her.

A noise outside caught her attention. There was chirping coming from the open sliding glass door that led to the balcony. Another perk of magister mentors. Private offices and balconies overlooking the spice gardens.

“Come in.”

A small yellow bird flew in and perched on a shelf above one of the desks. It chirped and then turned its head to study her. Another chirp, then a turn of the head to the left and to the right.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“Nice bird.”

“No, I was asking her.”

“You were what?” She looked at him, then at the bird again, then at him. “Does she talk?”

“Yes.”

“What does she say?” She would go along with it for now. She’d be done and then hopefully get picked by a mentor who was more serious and less messy.

Author Bio and Links

Deborah A Bailey’s Romantic Fantasy, Science Fiction and Paranormal Romance novels include suspense, a bit of mystery and a lot of romantic heat.

Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and have been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun and are included in, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Visit her site https://AuthorDebBailey.com for more information and subscribe to the newsletter here: https://eepurl.com/bokGdX so you’ll be the first to find out about giveaways, book launches and sneak peeks.

Note: This book will be on sale for $1.99 during the tour.

Links

https://AuthorDebBailey.com

https://www.instagram.com/AuthorDeborahB

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDeborahAB

Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/deborahannbailey

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/deborah-a-bailey

Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/bokGdX

Be sure to visit other stops on the tour and enter the contest.

Deborah A. Bailey will be awarding a $40 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Blog Tour:

February 9: Literary Gold
February 16: Sandra’s Book Club
February 16: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
February 23: Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
March 2: All the Ups and Downs
March 9: Sybrina’s Book Blog
March 9: Gina Rae Mitchell – review
March 17: Beverley A Baird – review
March 23: Long and Short Reviews
March 23: Kit ‘N Kabookle – review only
March 30: Carey PW LGBTQIA Author – review
March 30: Westveil Publishing

Top Ten Tuesday – My Spring 2023 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl 

Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers for everyone to participate in. This week’s prompt is:

 Books on My Spring 2023 To-Read List!

I haven’t participated regularly, but this is one of my favourite themes. It allows me to go over past lists (which I hardly ever complete!) and books on my shelf I really do want to read. It also provides a measure of accountability.

From my winter’s TBR list, I read only 2 of the 10 books. Yikes! hope to read more from this list, so will add some to my list. I have also been going to our local Goodwill, which is a drop-off only, except for books. $2.00 is a good price now for books and I have spent $30 in the past month on some great books.

So, here is my list. Four of the ten are Canadian authors! (Susanna Kearsley, Louise Penny, Sarah Polley and David A. Robertson)

My Spring 2023 To-Be -Read List

Fiction:

The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley

The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Ownes

Letters From Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham

The Theory of Crows by David A. Robertson

Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny

Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover

Non-Fiction:

Run Towards the Danger by Sarah Polley

Keep it Moving by Twyla Tharp

Keep Going by Austin Kleon

Which would you read first?? Any favourites?