Thursday, October 31, 2024

NBtM Virtual Book Tour Pieces of You by April Farlow



Guest Post

Things that inspire you and why:

I am most inspired by people! When I was 14 years old, my mom was going through the certification to become a Dale Carnegie Instructor. Dale Carnegie is most known for the books, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.” So, I took my first corporate class while my mom was being tested with daisies on my dress. While everyone made commitments to get along with their co-workers and bosses, I decided to be nicer to my brother.

This experience shaped me because at 14, I was uncomfortable in my own skin just like all the other kids I was surrounded by at school. But I looked around the room at adults who were nervous to stand up and speak and trying to get along better with co-workers. These people were my parents age – and they had doubts and questions to navigate, I was shocked! Everyone was super nice to me, kind of like I was the class mascot, and somehow, we all became friends, even at very different ages. They would ask me questions about their own kids, and I learned from them at the same time. Mostly, I learned that it doesn’t really matter how old you are, we are all trying to answer the same question, “Who am I?”

Eight years later, I became an instructor and now I am the age of the people when I first took a class. I have spent my entire adult life getting to meet new people and figure out who they are and what makes them perform their best. Every week, I meet people from different companies, countries and cultures and at the end of sessions, I get asked the same question routinely; “are all your groups this good?” These are usually people who have worked together for a long time, but they just never took the time to get to know each other. Let’s be real, even when you work with someone for a long time, we don’t usually ask about life events from childhood or the family we grew up in. But when we do, there are some incredible things to learn and respect.

I don’t know about you, but I am not inspired by small talk. I am very inspired when people trust me enough to know their real story. I love connecting with people and seeing them be their best. I get inspired when I watch people do what they do best, whether that is parenting, a sports team, performers singing, or a company solving a problem. It is exciting to watch people shine!

One of my best friends is a veterinarian. I have heard her talk about work for years and I was proud of all she has accomplished. But one day, I was pet sitting for my neighbor and one of the goats went into labor with complications. I called Meg and she rushed over to help me. When I saw her take off her jacket and save the day, I was amazed!

“Pieces of You” was written to connect my love for people and corporate training with faith and answer the question, “Who am I, really?” To test content, I held a class, much like the ones I teach for work, and gathered 30 friends to get to share their stories connected to the topics in the book: relationships, values, beliefs, rules, purpose and vision for the future. Turns out my friends liked real conversation too. No one wanted to leave the sessions, and we found that everyone in the group was uniquely awesome.

Yes, I get inspired by people. I hope you get inspired by my people who I call my ‘kaleidoscopes’ throughout the book as well! I also hope my stories will inspire you to figure out some of your unique pieces!



Knowing who you are has always been challenging, and in today’s world, more and more voices are coming from more and more places telling us who we should be. The result? A broken sense of identity that we’re struggling to put back together.

In Pieces of You, April Farlow shares how she discovered her identity is formed by the God who made her. Along the way, she’s learned that if we want to put the pieces of who we are together in a real, lasting way, we have to look to Whose we are for help.

It’s time to take a look at the unique pieces that make up who you are …

The pieces you compare …
The pieces informed by the father figure in your life …
The painful pieces …
The pieces of your relationships …
The pieces on which you’ve built your beliefs …
The pieces that give you rules and boundaries …
The pieces that show what you value …
The pieces that give you purpose …
The pieces that help you build a vision for what’s to come.

As we work to put those pieces together, we’ll look to the God who made us, knows us, and loves us to guide us. Because when you take all your pieces—the good, the bad, the broken, and the beautiful—and place them in your Heavenly Father’s hands, there, you’ll find peace. There, you’ll find security. There, you’ll find a real sense of who you are and Whose you are.



Excerpt

Over just a few hours, my Kaleidoscopes began to lean into each other’s stories. Things got real fast. And I think that’s because we took a break from measuring ourselves against each other. Instead of comparing, we chose to share.

And that’s a great place to start.

To stand confidently in both who you are and Whose you are, you must first learn to avoid the temptation to compare. Staying out of the comparison trap is an essential piece of the puzzle that is discovering and embracing our identity.

After our meeting, my friend Angela went home and looked in her daughter’s school folder. There, she found a worksheet her seven-year-old, Elle, had filled out. “Color yourself and then write words to describe yourself in the circles,” the instructions said across the top. That’s precisely what Elle did. She colored her hair and eyes to match hers and wrote six words to describe herself.

Funny
Artistic
Pretty
Love
Kind
Smart

For Angela, her daughter’s list was not only accurate, but it was also a stark contrast to the list she and the other women had made. Angela told me about it later: "I wonder at what age we stop believing the good? I wonder what happens to cause us to begin seeing the negative before the positive?”

I wonder the same for all of us.



April Farlow has spent the last 20 years motivating audiences to get out of their comfort zone, speak up, and represent their values. In corporate environments, one piece is missed—the ability to talk about forming your identity in God. Today, as a speaker, author, coach, and non-profit leader, April is changing this by sharing her faith journey and helping others do the same with clarity and conviction.


In 2017, after speaking to a group of foster youth, April founded Lydia’s Place, a ministry serving young adults who have experienced foster care or homelessness. April and her husband have four girls and live on a mini-farm outside of Athens, Georgia.






Giveaway

The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Rafflecopter giveaway



NBtM Virtual Tour: Smelling Daisies by Elysia and Mark Stevens


 Guest Post

 Did you have a minor character who insisted on playing a larger role in the story? If so, please tell us about it.

Crayton’s ability to play both sides really surprised us. Initially, we saw him as a supporting character, but the more that we wrote, the more his motivations began to reveal layers of complexity. He had insights into both sides in the story, which allowed him to manipulate situations in ways that significantly impacted the plot.
As he navigated alliances, we realized that he could serve as a spark plug for tension and conflict, while driving key moments in the narrative. His choices added unpredictability, which forced other characters to confront their own beliefs and decisions throughout the story. This not only expanded his role but also challenged the themes of loyalty and betrayal for the character. We found that by embracing his character’s lack of conscience, Crayton became essential to the story's progression, which ended up leading to some of the most pivotal scenes of the story.




Whenever things seem to fall apart around Daisy, romance novels are her way of escaping. When immersed in a novel, she can imagine herself in the story as the lead female character. Still, the difference between her and the typical female character in her novels is that she is not your average damsel in distress.

Daisy was raised by a military father who ensured his daughter knew survival skills and how to protect herself. Following in her beloved father's footsteps, Daisy joined the army and met Justin. Eventually, Daisy's dreams would come true. While on a decompression stop after a deployment overseas, she finds herself at the Lachlan Castle in Scotland. There, she is thrown back in time to the era she loves to read about, but things are nothing like she imagined.

When Daisy befriends a bonnie Scottish lass, she finds herself in a haven under the roof of the girl's brother, a laird named Alick. It becomes clear that the laird is constantly challenged by the many nuances of Daisy's status as a modern-day female soldier as she attempts to navigate the dangerous life in medieval Scotland. While trying her best to fit in, Daisy stumbles upon a psychotic baron named Thomas, who loves to torture women and is fascinated with her.

Both Laird Alick and Baron Thomas want to tame the lioness in Daisy but for different reasons. But Daisy is ill-prepared for medieval love or warfare and must train her heart and head to face what's coming next.




Excerpt

Two floors below mine, I felt safe that I would come out of this situation unscathed, so I decided to sneak out a little squeaker to relieve some of the pressure. If I learned anything from this situation, it was this: you can spend your whole day out and about and not see one goodlooking guy, but if you blow one little fart in an elevator, one will suddenly appear like Houdini.

As the ding chimed and the elevator doors opened one floor below mine, I sheepishly stood in my stench, staring into the face of a tall, muscular, blond-haired, brown-eyed hunk of a man. I could tell he didn’t appreciate the treat that I left for him. So, there was only one thing to do in this situation, and that was to stay cool and collected, as though nothing had happened, even though it was pretty evident that I had just dumped my guts. The look he gave me as he stopped in his tracks and raised one eyebrow before turning and pressing the button for the thirtieth floor made me blurt out the first thing that came to mind.

“Do you smell popcorn?” I said. Instantly, I regretted my words, as heat rose to my cheeks.

He gave me a sideways smirk and faced the doors as they closed, replying, “I am not sure where you buy your popcorn, but if it smells like that, I wouldn’t recommend buying it again.”




Hi, I am Elysia Stevens, and I am a big fan of rom-coms, which should not be a surprise after reading this story. Most would describe me as eccentric in my personality, which really stands out in my choice of attire. I love to wear fun socks, and every Friday I celebrate “Fabio Friday” by wearing a Fabio T-shirt for all to enjoy (luv ya, Fabio!). Thankfully, my husband, Mark Stevens, has a lot of patience because I can’t sit still for more than five minutes at a time and always have my head in the clouds. He has been my partner in life for over eighteen years, and there is nothing we can’t and don’t tackle together. My husband’s taste generally ranges from Stephen King to classic literature, but being the great guy he is, he not only read my rom-com novel but also co-authored it with me! Unfortunately, he still doesn’t understand the appeal of a good naughty scene in a book, but I won’t hold that against him.






Giveaway
The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Immortal Wounds by Angie Barton - Haunted Halloween Spooktacular




SPOOKY COOKIES 

I LOVE baking, especially around the holidays! 

Every October I make these amazing double chocolate  chip cookies and it’s easy to say that they are a hit  with both children and adults! They are soft and chewy  with just the right amount of chocolate, but it’s the candy eyeballs that are the star of the show!
 


INGREDIENTS
• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
• optional: black food coloring
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup + 2 Tbsp. Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)
• Candy Eyeballs for topping the cookies

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugars. You can add black food coloring at this time to get a deeper shade of black in the cookies. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Blend in the egg and vanilla, scrape down the bowl if needed.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in the mixer on low speed just until mixed. Mix in the milk on the lowest speed and fold in the chocolate chips.

3. Roll about 2 tablespoons of dough into balls and place on the baking sheets. Flatten slightly. Top cookies with candy eyeballs. 

Place cookie sheet in freezer for 10-15 minutes.

4. Bake for 10-11 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. ENJOY!


Immortal Wounds
Immortal Wounds Series
Book One
Angie Barton

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Magical Realism
Publisher: Angie Barton 
Date of Publication: April 22, 2022
ISBN: 979-8990647206
ASIN: BOD9XTF25K
Number of pages: 392
Word Count: 93,000
Cover Artist: Donnell McKenzie

Tagline: Did Isobel make an error in landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?

Book Description: 

After witnessing the brutal deaths of her mother and husband, Isobel overhears a confession from one of the murderers, a ruthless vampire who claims to be her father. For fear that she and her unborn daughter’s death could come next, Isobel uses the only magic she possesses and summons a portal to take her two hundred years in the past to revisit an ancestor in Scotland who she believes may know the truth of her parentage. However, in her haste, Isobel lands in the wrong century. Before she realizes her mistake, she stumbles upon a family: a ferocious Highland warrior and his two sisters.

Isobel could not have prepared herself for what she discovers during her stay: the vampire who claimed to be her father, alive three hundred years in the past! With the help of Meg, the youngest sister, and Mariam, both women’s ancestor, Isobel finds herself belonging in a world she never dreamed of—one entangled with vampires and webbed with revenge, curses, and a prophecy that has dictated all of their lives for the last four hundred years. 

Did Isobel make an error landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?




About the Author: 

Award winning author, Angie Barton, published her first novel, Immortal Wounds, in 2022. Angie’s love for writing centers around the fantasy genre, but she also enjoys writing thriller and romance. Her passion for reading, which led to her love of writing, began in elementary school with the Scholastic Book program. Her parents, who are life-long avid readers, have been a huge influence on her reading. Therefore anything and everything Angie could get her hands on she read.

Angie has been an early childhood educator since 1986 and hold a B.S. in Child Development. Her love for literacy has continued throughout her career, not only for herself, but also with the children she has cared for and taught. What Angie is most passionate about is helping others discover the excitement that reading brings. Her greatest desire in writing is to create and bring joy and entertainment to everyone she touches.

Currently, if Angie isn't reading at least three books at a time or working on a rough draft for her next book, she can be found outdoors gardening, woodworking, or relaxing by her pond. She shares that she's a Capricorn, tried and true, drinks way too much tea, and that her "to be read" pile of books can spike at any time.










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Book Blast: The Cat Who Chased Ghosts by Nic Minnella



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In a sleepy little town, an ordinary-looking cat hides an extraordinary secret that will transform his owners' lives forever.

When the Thompson family inherits a dilapidated old house, their overprotected son Timmy forms a strong bond with Whiskers—a chronically lazy tabby who's not what he seems.

As Timmy explores the house's mysteries, a chilling discovery puts his courage to the test. With the help of Whiskers and some newfound friends, he must face supernatural forces beyond his imagination and rescue a soul in peril.

The Cat Who Chased Ghosts is a spine-tingling tale about bravery, loyalty, and the magical power of friendship (human and feline) that will thrill readers of all ages, reminding us that sometimes the most extraordinary heroes come in the most unlikely packages.


Read an Excerpt

The idea seemed to greatly amuse Jasper. His eyes now sparkled with excitement.

“Alright, count me in.” He laughed, closing his comic book. “After school, we go on the hunt. If there’s something spooky in your attic, we’ll catch it on camera.”

He lifted his hand for a high five.

“Deal.” Timmy grinned, reciprocating. Just as he began to feel the tension in his body ease up for the first time since the night before, a faint rustling sound caught his attention.

“You’ll catch what on camera?” asked someone behind them.

Both boys turned around to see Louisa standing there, her arms crossed over her Born Swiftie sweatshirt, suspicion etched on her face.

“None of your business, Louisa,” Jasper retorted.

“Still breaking into people’s homes?” she shot back.

“We’re planning a science project,” Timmy intervened.

Louisa looked at him with narrowed eyes. “A science project that needs video cameras and voice recorders?”

“We’re doing an experiment on . . . sound properties. Of different spaces,” he made up on the spot, looking over at Jasper, who nodded enthusiastically.

“Listen, we still owe you for helping us last night. If you need anything,” added Timmy, trying to defuse the tension while changing the subject.

Louisa shrugged, mollified. “I think you two are up to something. And I think I know what. But you’re right, it’s none of my business,” she said and turned away, shaking her ponytail in silent disapproval. “Just remember that some things are better left alone.”

About the Author: Nic Minnella has worked in journalism for twenty-plus years. She's also a part-time translator and a full-time cat enthusiast. When she's not occupied with any of the above activities, she's often traveling to faraway places or daydreaming about them.

"The Cat Who Chased Ghosts" is her first published work of fiction, a middle grade supernatural mystery tale where a boy and his cat must confront ghosts and spirits to save their loved ones from the clutches of darkness.

Twitter: https://x.com/nicminnella
FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7PS7Y4W

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Monday, October 28, 2024

The Pumpkin King's Bride Tour and Giveaway

 


Enter a world where autumn never dies


The Pumpkin King’s Bride

by Rae Lori

Genre: Gothic Fantasy Romance 


Enter a world where autumn never dies

In a village shadowed by tales of the fearsome Pumpkin King, Anna Everglen carries the weight of grief and loneliness. Seeking an end to her pain, she volunteers to face the dreaded monarch of the shadowy forest.

But the castle of eternal autumn holds more than just fallen leaves and glowing pumpkins. There, Anna discovers a world of enchantment, mystery, and unexpected secrets.

Is the fearsome Pumpkin King really what the villagers and the myths say he is? Or was everything told to her a lie?

For fans of Beauty and the Beast inspired tales.


 Ravenfire Bookstore * Amazon * Apple * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read 

 Bookbub * Goodreads


Book Trailer:

https://vimeo.com/1022075592

 



Rae Lori is a multi-published, award-winning author and a geek girl at heart. She was first bitten by the writing bug at ten and never stopped loving the written word. Over a twenty-year-plus writing career, she has been published with various zines, journals and publishing companies and taught new writers the craft of novel writing in between her projects. She has won various awards including an Honorable Mention in the 73rd Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, the 2011 ForeWord Book of the Year Gold Award Winner in Writing (Adult Nonfiction), and Best Romance Novella in SORMAG’s 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Rae can usually be found with her head in the clouds daydreaming of her next story. That is, when she isn’t gaming or watching her fave movies with her fellow geekazoid husband (it’s time for another Aliens rewatch!), crocheting, or has her nose in a book.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!



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The Revolution Series Tour and Giveaway

 


World War III has erupted on American soil. 

Seventeen-year-old Jadzia’s life will never be the same again.


Path of Redemption

The Revolution Series Book 2

by Heather Kreke

Genre: YA Christian Dystopian


In the last year, Jadzia Mills has survived war, the death of her best friend, being almost beaten to death, and a cross-country journey to reunite with her family.


Now she’s being hunted by the military she abandoned. When almost captured, she faces a choice: continue to run or surrender and face a court-martial with an unknown sentence. To protect her family, she surrenders and is sentenced to a long prison term.


In prison she must face vicious inmates, brutal guards, and unending hours of loneliness, all while dealing with the horrors of her past.


Thanks to a favor from a sympathetic sergeant, Jadzia is released early. But the world she knew has changed. A divide between believers and nonbelievers is forming, and she must choose where she belongs.
With her family. Or the boy she loves?

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

 


Path of Totality

The Revolution Series Book 1 


2023 Selah Award Winner in First Novel
2023 Selah Award Finalist in YA Fiction


World War III has erupted on American soil. Seventeen-year-old Jadzia’s life will never be the same again.

As a mandatory draft takes effect, Jadzia finds herself on the front lines of the war, torn apart from her family. But when her best friend is killed, Jadzia is desperate to find her way back to them. She abandons her platoon and sets out on her own.

Jadzia must navigate a dangerous cross-country journey, facing betrayal, violence, and the constant threat of death. Along the way, she meets Ryker–the son of a faith leader whose places of worship have been attacked. Despite the chaos, Jadzia finds refuge and friendship among Ryker’s unlikely group of individuals … even though their faith is a little old-fashioned. And Ryker's insistence on helping her doesn't make it easier for Jadzia to resist her growing feelings toward him.

But the military is determined to capture Jadzia and all outlaws. When survival seems impossible, will sacrifice be their only route to freedom?

This action-packed YA dystopian novel is perfect for fans of The Out of Time Series and The Gifting Series.

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads




Heather Kreke is passionate about showing teens and young adults they can find hope in God’s plan for their lives—even through the darkest times. Her debut novel Path of Totality won first place in the 2023 Selah awards in the First Novel category.

She is the Blog Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Coordinator for the Blue Ridge Readers Connection, and a writing coach. In her spare time, she teaches writing classes, writes numerous blogs, and has completed coursework through the former Christian Writers Guild. Married since 2004, Heather has three daughters.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Signed Print set of both books! – 2 winners, US only ,

$20 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner, WW 


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Magic Unleashed by Delta James Virtual Book Tour


Magic Unleashed
The Grimm Files
Book One
Delta James

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Date of Publication: 9/20/24
Number of pages: 131
Word Count: 32,000
Cover Artist: Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs

Book Description: 

Mysterious deaths. Impossible magic. And the sexy dragon who might drive her to murder.

In the shadowy heart of modern-day New Orleans, where the supernatural simmers just beneath the surface, Phoenix Duvall is a force to be reckoned with. As a formidable fairy enforcer, she stands as the city’s last line of defense against the demonic threats that prowl the night. She’s trained from childhood and is armed with lightning-fast reflexes, mastery over fire, and deadly weapons, Phoenix knows she’ll only come into her full power when she finds and bonds with her fated mate. But Phoenix has never been one to wait for fate—until it throws her into the path of Griff Broussard, a hard-nosed dragon shifter detective with secrets of his own.

Griff has been investigating a series of gruesome deaths that defy all logical explanation. As their paths intertwine, Phoenix is forced to confront the truth: Griff is her fated mate. Together, they form an uneasy alliance to combat a rising demonic cult. But as their chemistry ignites, so too does the danger surrounding them.

Griff becomes possessed by the very demon lord they’ve been hunting. Phoenix faces an impossible choice: uphold her duty as a fairy enforcer, or risk everything—including her life and the fragile balance between worlds—for the man she’s come to love.

As the battle for New Orleans intensifies, Phoenix must confront her deepest fears and make a heart-wrenching decision in a final showdown that will determine the fate of both worlds.

Magic Unleashed, the first book in The Grimm Files, is a gripping paranormal romance where love is a double-edged sword, and the price of power could be everything.


Excerpt:

With no warning whatsoever, Phoenix bolted after it—whatever it was. She might be some badass faery enforcer, but he wasn’t about to let her go alone. Griff flung a handful of bills at Finn and bolted out the door behind her.

The muggy night smacked him in the face like a slap as he emerged, keeping one eye on the retreating figure and the other on Phoenix. Whoever or whatever it was, was fast, but Phoenix was faster. She seemed to levitate just above the ground—even without her wings—as she closed the distance.

“Phoenix!” Griff called, but to no avail. Phoenix didn’t break stride, turn around, or even slow down. The figure ducked into an alley, and Phoenix followed, the darkness swallowing her up.

Griff raced to catch up with her, rounding the corner just in time to see the figure disappear through a door at the end of the alley. Griff saw Phoenix skid to a halt. He could feel the presence of magic in the alley. Many parts of the city felt as if magic had been mixed into the mortar that held the buildings together.

Griff caught up to her, breathing heavily as he glanced at the door. “Looks like we found our lead.”

Phoenix nodded, her grip tightening on her knives. “And it’s not going to wait for us.”

With one last glance at Griff, she pushed the door open, stepping into the unknown.

Griff Broussard wasn’t a stranger to darkness. It lingered at the edges of his life, always threatening to swallow him whole. But tonight, as he stood at the threshold of the old door, staring at the door Phoenix had just disappeared through, that familiar darkness felt different. It was alive, pulsating with magic and danger, pulling him into its depths like a predator sizing up its prey.

The metallic tang of the night air filled his lungs as he pushed through the door behind Phoenix, muscles tense and instincts flaring. His senses sharpened. Even in human form, his dragon nature simmered beneath his skin, the beast pacing impatiently, ready to be unleashed at the first hint of a threat. He couldn’t help it—not here, not now, not with the echoes of his father’s unsolved murder still whispering at the edges of his mind.

Phoenix was already a few steps ahead, her movements fluid and silent as she navigated the narrow hallway beyond the door. Griff’s gaze swept the space, noting every detail—the cracked tiles on the floor, the flickering overhead light, and the faint trace of something old, something ancient lingering in the air. Magic. He could smell it, thick and oppressive, curling around him like smoke.

“Phoenix, wait,” he hissed, his voice low but urgent.

She glanced back at him, her eyes sharp and alert, but there was a flicker of impatience in her expression. Phoenix always charged headfirst into danger, relying on her instincts and speed.

Griff had always been the opposite—calculated, methodical. He needed to understand what they were walking into before they stepped too deep. But there was no time for planning now. The person they’d been chasing—their only lead—was somewhere ahead, and they couldn’t afford to lose it.

Without another word, Phoenix continued forward, her hand brushing the wall as she moved. Griff followed, the tension between them thickening with each step. He knew she could handle herself—hell, she was probably better suited for this than he was—but that didn’t stop the protective instinct that flared in his chest whenever they were in a situation like this. He hated that about himself. Hated how being around her always made him feel more… vulnerable. More aware of the fact that she was a storm he could never quite tame.


About the Author:

Delta James is a USA Today bestselling paranormal and contemporary romantic suspense author, whose goal is to captivate readers with stories about complex, curvy heroines and the dominant alpha males who adore them. For Delta, romance is more than just a love story; it’s a journey with challenges and thrills along the way. 

After creating a second chapter for herself that was dramatically different than the first, Delta now resides in Florida where she relaxes on warm summer evenings with her loveable pack of basset hounds as they watch the birds, squirrels and lizards. When not crafting fast-paced tales, she enjoys horseback riding, walks on the beach, and white-water rafting. 

Her readers mean the world to her, and Delta tries to interact personally to as many messages as she can. If you’d like to chat or discuss books, you can find Delta on Instagram, Facebook, and in her private reader group 















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Blurb Blitz: Stellar Heir by Scott Killian

 

STELLAR HEIR

Scott Killian


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Science Fiction


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Jael Ked’Korhva hadn’t anticipated becoming the galaxy’s most wanted.


He hadn’t planned on picking up a strange alien artifact, either, but once it was clasped around his wrist, Jael was granted extraordinary abilities. His senses were heightened, his reflexes faster, and he could now regenerate from damage that would spell the end for others, which was a boon, considering he was just a derelict scavenger.


That was until forces from every corner of the stars wanted Jael’s artifact for themselves, and they’ll stop at nothing to take it back. What initially appears as a boon swiftly transforms into a weighty charge. Yet, it's a charge Jael accepts without hesitation, understanding the catastrophic potential should the relic fall into the wrong hands.


Prodded onward by visions of an ancient ally and a mysterious enemy, Jael becomes a pivotal piece in a vast interstellar play of power and dominion.


An action-packed space opera, perfect for science fiction fans of Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio or The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Excerpt


Jael’s world shifted, reality melting away as the woman’s touch transported his consciousness across the vastness of space. The galaxy unfurled before him, countless stars and vibrant worlds.


A creeping darkness emerged from the fringes, seeping into the cosmic fabric like spilled ink. Jael watched in horror as the void engulfed entire star systems, extinguishing their light with terrifying efficiency.


Planets that once teemed with life withered under the encroaching shadow. Lush forests crumbled to ash, oceans boiled away, and sprawling cities crumbled into dust. The screams of billions echoed across the vacuum, abruptly silenced as the darkness consumed them.


Stars flickered and died, snuffed out like candles in a gale. Nebulae collapsed, their swirling colors fading to a dull, lifeless gray. The galaxy’s spiral arms now resembled dark skeletal fingers reaching into nothingness.


As the last remnants of light faded, Jael found himself suspended in an endless, inky void. The darkness was not still, but writhed and pulsated. Shapeless entities, darker than the blackness surrounding them, twisted and coiled through the emptiness.


The woman’s voice echoed in his mind, “This is the future that awaits if you fail. The enemy comes, and with it, the end of all things.” She moved in close and placed a hand on his cheek. “Find me on Dusrist before it is too late.”


As the woman began to fade, behind her, another figure began to materialize. A shadow Jael hadn’t thought about in years.


Jael’s breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding against his chest. The figure’s face slowly came into focus—a sharp jawline, weathered by time and countless wars, gray, ashen skin, a tell-tale sign of genetic alteration and eyes that Jael would never forget. Those predatory, multi-pupiled eyes that had haunted Jael’s nightmares since he was a child. 


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About the Author


Scott Killian grew up in California where he consumed every bit of sci-fi and horror media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Thomas Harris, Stephen King and H. P. Lovecraft to name a few, those dark portals in his mind were opened and his obsession with the macabre began. Story telling, in any form, is his greatest passion.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scott.E.killian

Twitter: https://x.com/authorsekillian

Email: saltnsulfurpublishing@gmail.com

Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/9f595cbdc394/author-scott-killians-newsletter

Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DF1RLYLB


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Giveaway


The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.


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