Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Paranormal Romance: Wicked Grace


Time for a new book post! Today, we welcome Luna Joya author of Wicked Grace, book 3 of the Wicked Series. Check out the excerpt and giveaway below.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

   He’s a grumpy demon prince. She’s a sunshine magical orphan who’s his fated mate and forbidden. But can he survive rejecting her?

Demon prince Alexei is ruthless in business and deadly in battle. The mafia boss will do anything to protect his family, even consider an arranged marriage with a royal he doesn’t love.
   There’s just one problem.
   When the grumpy hero rescues a sunshine princess locked away in a tower, he knows she’s his fated mate. She also seems to be a freakin’ forbidden angel. Like the villain he is, Alexei rejects her without saying why.
   Despite her tortuous childhood, Jolene is determined to find her real family and win her grumpy prince. Come on—the man has wings! But loving her antihero makes him a target of her human enemies who are out to destroy all supernaturals.
   These two opposites attract in all the wicked ways. But when supernatural children in Alexei’s hometown start disappearing, the two must work together, and Jolene will have to reveal that her sunshine-and-sparkles magic isn’t what it seems. Can they find their happily ever after or will their differences and enemies destroy them both?


Excerpt from Wicked Grace: (Buy at Amazon.)

Her long hair spilled out of a braid in unusual shades of bronze, gold, and copper that reminded him of his mother’s decor designed to flaunt their position and wealth.
   “Do you know these boys?” he asked, emphasizing the last word because no man would need to prove himself by terrorizing a kid. A pull of worry that he’d only felt for family knotted in his gut, and he wished he had the magic to read her emotions or to send her enough reassurance that she would look at him.
   “Nyet.” She kept her head bowed.
“   Have they hurt you?”
   “Nyet,” she said.
   He wasn’t convinced. She didn’t have fresh bruises or marks, but blood stained her clasped hands and her hairline. Staring at the bully, he told him, “Hand over her book and anything else you took from her.”
   The boy did as ordered, a flash of anger sparking his gaze.
   Alexei couldn’t let that insult go. He flicked a look over all three teenaged boys. “I could kill you. Do you think anyone would come against the Maronov prince?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Luna Joya writes sexy hexy romances in the award-winning Legacy Series.
   Fluent in sarcasm and penal code, Luna prosecutes by day and writes at night. She loves history, especially Los Angeles and Hollywood lore.
   A survivor of traumatic brain injury with steel body parts, she lives in SoCal with her combat veteran husband and their two-pound terror of a rescue pup.
Find more about Luna Joya on her website: https://lunajoya.com/
   Check out her completed Legacy Series, her on-going Syn City Shifter Series
   Want to keep up to date on Luna's work? Follow her on AmazonBookbubGoodreads, and join her street team group, Luna's Lovelies, for excerpts, giveaways, and sneak peeks at upcoming work.

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

What I'm Reading: #Crime #mystery

Besides reading horror and zombie books, I also like to read in various genres, from mystery and historical, to fantasy and others.

Currently, I was thrilled to discover books by Victoria Thompson, a multi-published author I hadn't read before. 

    While she also  has a long-running, 26-book gaslight mystery series featuring a midwife,  (Book 1 is Murder on Astor Place.I was intrigued by her Counterfeit Lady series I came across featuring a unique con artist family, also set in the early 1900s. I'm always thrilled when I can find a series that is really fun to read, and I'm enjoying this one. I hope to try her gaslight series also as it does look intriguing. 

Given the restrictions of the time period, it's interesting to read about a female con artist who works with her father and others to use their "skills" as grifters to right certain wrongs.  Even more interesting is how the Counterfeit Lady series makes the time period come alive through the big events of the day.

I happened first on book 5 of the six-book Counterfeit Lady series, City of Shadows, at the library so I've been reading the series backwards. In City of Shadows, Elizabeth Miles helps a friend to save her mother from an unscrupulous medium.  Set after World War I and the Spanish flu epidemic.

 

 In Book 1, City of Lies, Elizabeth tries to escape a man whom she'd help con out of a large sum of money, and joins a group of Suffragist women protesting by the White House. Excellent portrayals of the hardships women endured fighting for the right to vote. 

Book 2, City of Secrets, has Elizabeth trying to help a widow who was cheated out of her fortune by her late husband, and uncover who was behind a scheme to blackmail him and keep scandalous secrets hidden. Interesting details on a hidden underworld of brothels.

In book 3, City of Scoundrels, while Elizabeth 's lawyer-fiancé, Gideon Bates is waiting to be called up for the draft in World War I, he is drawing up wills for other soldiers before they're shipped out, among them a soldier who wants to protect his new wife and unborn child. But when that soldier is killed in the war and the bride reveals herself to his entrepreneurial family, Elizabeth, Gideon and others work to locate the missing will and protect the wife after a vicious attack. 

 
 

 I am now reading book 4, City of Schemes, where Elizabeth is planning her wedding and Gideon's old friend Logan comes home from the war. Now Elizabeth helps to uncover a scheme of who is trying to con Logan out of money by pretending to be a woman he knew who wants to leave the devastations in France after the Great War ends. Worse is that the man she conned now knows she isn't dead and is hunting her. 

Since I've read out of order, next up is book 6, City of Fortune, set in the world of thoroughbred racing and the Belmont Stakes.  After that, I sure hope this series continues!



 

New Year, New Review O is for Outbreak #horror

 It's always fun to get feedback on something you wrote, especially when it's positive.

 

Reviewer Sherry Fundin recently reviewed my story, "The Rumor That Refused to Die" and the anthology it's in, O is for Outbreak, book 15 of the A to Z of Horror series from Red Cape Publishing. He're's the B&N.com link also.

Here's part of the review. See the full review at Goodreads:

MY REVIEW for "The Rumor That Refused To Die" by Chris Verstraete

“Do you mean that story wasn’t true?…It says the policeman died in 1950 after his car fell into a giant sinkhole. I thought newspapers had to print the truth?”

“You be the judge,” her teacher said.

"The Rumor That Refused To Die" by Chris Verstraete shows how quickly a story changes, from person to person and time to time.. Amanda takes her school assignment and runs with it, digging deep, and I love where Chris went with the story. It had me smiling, because I have seen a movie with a creature like this, so it was easy to visualize....


MY REVIEW for the anthology as a whole

I was caught up in the creepy and didn’t stop until I read the last story. The wonderful thing about an anthology, you can pick it up for a quickie no matter where you are.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of O Is For Outbreak. 4 of 5 stars.


Tuesday, November 15, 2022

A Scary #Horror #Mystery: O is for Outbreak


One of my favorite strange stories I wrote, "The Rumor That Refused to Die" is now out in O is for Outbreak, Book 15 in the A to Z of Horror anthology series from Red Cape Publishing. Check out the cover! (Pre-order, releases Nov. 18)

The pandemic-flavored book features 13 stories of government conspiracies, historic plagues, otherworldly viruses, deadly insects, and more.

In my story, Amanda Hayes tries to solve the mystery behind a 1950s accident - and discovers that some secrets and rumors are best left buried. 

* Reviewers: contact me if you want to review the book!



Friday, October 28, 2022

Happy #Halloween Viewing: Spooky Movies Coming Up!

 I have to say that Netflix has really been scheduling some cool spooky stuff lately!

Watch the trailers at the links.

First, was The Munsters movie by Rob Zombie. Campy fun.


Then already started, and which I have to watch, is Cabinet of Curiosities.


And coming Nov. 23, Wednesday (from the Addams Family).  I'm really looking forward to this:


Another eerie thriller movie which I happened to catch was Inheritance. Pretty good.

Happy Halloween viewing!




Wednesday, October 26, 2022

A Shadow of Love #ghost story

 



Normally I try not to feature a book more than once, except in Reading Lists, but since the blog tour mentioned it, I'll share the book,  A Shadow of Love, again. * Read my review below and follow the directions for your chance to win a copy.

About the Book:

When Annabelle flees her abusive husband and moves into an 1860's farmhouse, she soon learns that she is not alone; she shares her home with Christian, the ghost of a poet who killed himself in 1917. Christian, wanting nothing but solitude, tries to scare Annabelle away, but once they come together while she is dreaming, they fall in love. The clock is ticking for Christian, for moments after his hanging his fiance magically cursed his spirit to be stuck on earth for one hundred years, and his time is almost up.  

With Annabelle's ex threatening her and the spirit she has fallen in love with on the verge of disappearing, Annabelle becomes obsessed with staying with Christian, and will do anything to be with him. Being in love with a ghost is bad enough, but for Annabelle, discovering that her true love will be crossing over at any moment pushes her over the edge of reckless behavior.

* Buy A Shadow of Love on AmazonBarnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list


Review: With an opening line that says, "Lillian watched at the edge of the tree line as Christian hanged himself," you have to keep reading, right? The story was a bit slow in momentum at first but once the nightmares stared for Annabelle, the action keeps you intrigued. Who can resist a handsome ghost anyway? 😉4 stars. 

* Enter to win a copy: Contact me at my website contact page. Tell me: would you want to meet a ghost? Who and why? Be sure to enter your email so I can contact you.  Continental US entries only. * Entries end noon central 10/28/22.

 *******

About the Author:

   Amy S. Cutler, author of A Shadow of Love earned her master’s degree in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Most recently she was published in Slut Vomit: An Anthology of Sex Work and featured in the Tales to Terrify Podcast, among others. Her writing focus is suspense, horror, science fiction, and ghost stories. She can be contacted through AmysHippieHut.com. You can also follow her on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram.

 * Follow the rest of the blog tour: *


 October 29th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion

Visit Linda's blog for an in-depth interview with author Amy S. Cutler about her book A Shadow of Love.

https://bootsshoesandfashion.com

 October 31st @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog

Visit Anthony's blog for Amy S. Cutler's guest post about finding a publisher.

http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

 November 1st @ Choices

Join Madeline as she features a guest post by Amy S. Cutler about the first draft process.

http://www.madelinesharples.com/

 November 2nd @ Jessica Belmont's Blog

Jessica reviews Amy S. Cutler's book A Shadow of Love.

https://jessicabelmont.com

 November 3rd @ Write Advice

Read Amy's guest post about how she found the idea for Shadow of Love and turned it into a story.

https://writeradvice.com/

 November 4th @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog

Read Anthony's review of A Shadow of Love by Amy S. Cutler. A paranormal book you don't want to miss!

http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com




Sunday, October 23, 2022

A Shadow of Love Blog Tour #ghost story

 

Today I welcome Amy S. Cutler, author of the spooky A Shadow of Love. Read more about her view of why ghost stories are popular below. 

About the Book:

When Annabelle flees her abusive husband and moves into an 1860's farmhouse, she soon learns that she is not alone; she shares her home with Christian, the ghost of a poet who killed himself in 1917. Christian, wanting nothing but solitude, tries to scare Annabelle away, but once they come together while she is dreaming, they fall in love. The clock is ticking for Christian, for moments after his hanging his fiance magically cursed his spirit to be stuck on earth for one hundred years, and his time is almost up.  

With Annabelle's ex threatening her and the spirit she has fallen in love with on the verge of disappearing, Annabelle becomes obsessed with staying with Christian, and will do anything to be with him. Being in love with a ghost is bad enough, but for Annabelle, discovering that her true love will be crossing over at any moment pushes her over the edge of reckless behavior.

* Buy A Shadow of Love on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list

 *******


(images: pixabay.com)

Why are ghost stories so popular?

By Amy S Cutler

 A good ghost story is like being put under the best sort of spell. You are transported to a world where you know the answer to the top question that so many of us have: What happens when we die? When swept away in a story, we can be delighted to discover the answer, and in the pages of a book we can find solace in knowing that if there is an afterlife for our beloved characters, then there is an afterlife for all of us.

I have always loved ghost stories, and horror in general, although ghost stories certainly do not have to be scary. Part of the reason that I like the horror genre so much is that I love the adrenaline rush that being scared gives, along with the safety of knowing that I can shut the book or turn off the TV if I need a break.

Ghost stories are different. They give me comfort, and if that comfort only lasts while I’m reading, I’ll still take it because taking a break from the question of what’s next is a sort of meditation. It relaxes me, stills my unease. I frequently ponder the purpose of my life – what is my life purpose? Am I fulfilling it? Does it even matter? It is often while reading or watching a ghost story when I find myself letting my guard down, throwing away my analytical thinking, and getting to the bottom of these questions. Ghost stories allow people to open their minds, and that is where our answers lie.


Of course, many ghost stories are scary, as that is so often the point in the telling of them. But even then, there is comfort in the idea of ghosts as a possibility. Naturally some people may not want to know these answers, and are not so thrilled with the idea that ghosts could exist outside of the pages of a book. I happen to know quite a few people who say that they do not believe in ghosts and do not want ghosts to exist, yet they still love a good ghost story. I like to think that they are getting some comfort, too, in knowing that it’s just fiction (or rather, they think it’s just fiction, wink wink).

To tell the truth, there are some ghost stories that have scared the daylights out of me, stories like The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, Hell House by Richard Matheson, and Pet Sematary by Stephen King. 

Naturally I don’t want those stories to be true, and don’t want an afterlife where it is I who is the terrifying one. I may not want that reality, but I do know that life cannot be wrapped up in a pretty bow, or box, just because it’s what I want to believe. I still enjoy these stories, even if I am not fantasizing about them being true, and I still get a glimmer of hope that there is something out there besides … nothing.

One can probably guess that October is my favorite month and Halloween is my favorite day, since ghost story lovers like myself are free to express to the world how enthralled we are with the afterlife.  It is my hope that people get something more out of the Halloween month than just scary tales and KitKats – something deeper, something that brings us all closer to the answers we seek.

About the Author:

   Amy S. Cutler, author of A Shadow of Love earned her master’s degree in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Most recently she was published in Slut Vomit: An Anthology of Sex Work and featured in the Tales to Terrify Podcast, among others. Her writing focus is suspense, horror, science fiction, and ghost stories. She can be contacted through AmysHippieHut.com. You can also follow her on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram.

 * Follow the rest of the blog tour: *

October 25th @ Four Moon Reviews

Join Samantha as she reviews Amy S. Cutler's book A Shadow of Love. You can also win a copy of the book too!

https://fourmoonreviews.blogspot.com/

 October 27th @ Girl Zombie Authors

Come by Chris' blog again and read a review of Amy S. Cutler's book A Shadow of Love. You can also enter to win a copy of the book too!

https://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com/

 October 29th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion

Visit Linda's blog for an in-depth interview with author Amy S. Cutler about her book A Shadow of Love.

https://bootsshoesandfashion.com

 October 31st @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog

Visit Anthony's blog for Amy S. Cutler's guest post about finding a publisher.

http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

 November 1st @ Choices

Join Madeline as she features a guest post by Amy S. Cutler about the first draft process.

http://www.madelinesharples.com/

 November 2nd @ Jessica Belmont's Blog

Jessica reviews Amy S. Cutler's book A Shadow of Love.

https://jessicabelmont.com

 November 3rd @ Write Advice

Read Amy's guest post about how she found the idea for Shadow of Love and turned it into a story.

https://writeradvice.com/

 November 4th @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog

Read Anthony's review of A Shadow of Love by Amy S. Cutler. A paranormal book you don't want to miss!

http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com