Interview with Gabrielle Ash, author of FOR THE MURDER

For the Murder
Gabrielle Ash
(The Murder, #1)
Published by: City Owl Press
Publication date: February 22nd, 2022
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

A lone crow is a dead crow.

That’s what Diana Van Doren, exiled crow shifter, has always believed. The last murder of crow shifters known to exist wouldn’t accept her into the flock, leaving her vulnerable. Worse, her kleptomaniacal father’s schemes put them in a demon’s crosshairs. Without the support of the murder, Diana fears death will come all too quickly. So when an opportunity to steal a rare blade that can kill anything—even demons—crosses their path, she decides to play her father’s games one last time.

However, she isn’t the only one hoping to take the blade. Sasha Sokolov, a clairvoyant, has been forced from childhood to serve the very demon hunting Diana and her family. After two decades of service, his boss finally offers him what he can’t refuse: freedom. All he has to do is bring in the knife and the Van Dorens, and his bloodline will be free from serving the demon forever.

When Diana and Sasha meet at the auction, they strike an uneasy alliance. Diana sees a way to finally be welcomed into the murder. Sasha sees an opportunity to get his freedom. To get what they want, only one of them can walk away with the blade. But when their magic inexplicably links as they reluctantly work together to steal the knife, betraying each other for their own ends may no longer be an option.

Goodreads / Amazon

Interview with the Author

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
• When I was a kid, I wanted to be a teacher. I actually wanted to be a teacher from childhood through my teenage years, and I even went to college for it. I’m not entirely sure why teaching, exactly.  I loved to write, and I think at that point, I thought teaching writing was the closest I would get to being a writer. Getting an agent? Selling a manuscript? I thought there was absolutely no way that I, specifically, could ever achieve that. However, I soon found out that teaching was not for me, and I was able to pursue my real dream of being a published author.
• What do you hope readers will take away from FOR THE MURDER?
• That the family you find along the way can be just as meaningful, or more so, than the one you’re born into.
• What was the hardest scene to write in the book?
• The scene on the tarmac. That’s all I can say without spoiling anything.
• What came first for you in FOR THE MURDER - the plot or the characters?
• The characters, for sure. Sasha was the one who appeared fully formed in my brain first, and he is probably my favorite character I’ve written so far.
• What other writers are you friends with, and how did they help you become a better writer?
• I think my favorite part of this whole author journey is all the friends I’ve made. My critique partner, S.L. Choi, gets my writing more than I think anyone else ever has, and having that sort of support is just amazing. Since she gets my writing, from concepts to line level, her feedback really does elevate my books. Her debut, Bad Girls Drink Blood, releases May 17th, 2022! It is *fantastic*.
• If readers love FOR THE MURDER, what other books do you recommend they check out?
• Cambion’s Law by Erin Fulmer, Cinders of Yesterday by Jen Karner, White Trash Warlock by David Slayton
• Can you tell readers something about your next project?
• When I’m not working on contracted books for the Murder series or the Circle Seven series, I’m working on a second-world fantasy romance. I can’t really say anything about it right now, but I’m having a lot of fun writing it.
• What authors inspired your writing style?
• Charlaine Harris and Patricia Briggs are the ones who made me fall in love with urban fantasy. As for my writing style, I’m not entirely sure. But I do know that I am a product of all the media I consume, so I guess that means all of my favorite authors inspired me in some way. ☺

Author Bio:

Gabrielle Ash is an author and perpetually tired mom of four from the great state of Texas. Born into a family of mischievous storytellers, she grew up listening to tales of the chupacabra, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night, never entirely confident that she wouldn’t get eaten if she went out to the creek after sunset.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, which ultimately landed her in a high school classroom to teach writing and coach the debate team. Dismayed at her inability to wear sweatpants to work, she left the classroom and now dedicates her brain power to books and taking care of her daughters.

When not writing, she spends time with her husband, four daughters, and their dog. The Family Cross is her debut novel.

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BLOG TOUR: The Magi Menagerie (The Magi Menagerie #1) by Kale Lawrence

The Magi Menagerie
Kale Lawrence
(The Magi Menagerie, #1)
Publication date: September 7th 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Historical, New Adult, Young Adult

Some stars aren’t meant to be followed.

For seventeen years, Ezra Newport and his parents were habitual immigrants, traveling from their Ottoman Empire home across 20th century Europe. As the Newports migrate to Belfast, Ireland, Ezra wants nothing more to settle into a consistent life and lay the foundation of his architectural dreams. But after a strange, mechanical bounty hunter murders his mother and prompts the disappearance of his father, Ezra discovers that his parents had actually been on the run. Now, their enemies are targeting him, and they won’t stop until he is dead.

In a moment of desperation, Ezra’s fate collides with the Third Order of the Magi, a secret society dedicated to using their supernatural powers to protect their communities. With increasing violence around the world, the Magi are fairly certain they know who’s behind the attacks on Ezra and his family since the same group could also be threatening their own existence.

Both Ezra and the Magi’s survival hinges on knowledge only Ezra’s father has and the key to saving them could be buried within history itself. In a race across continents and time, both Ezra and the Magi must secure an ancient Babylonian artifact before hell is unleashed on the world. And, against all odds, Ezra must decide where his allegiances truly lie, despite what is written in the stars.

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REVIEW of The Magi Menagerie (The Magi Menagerie #1) by Kale Lawrence
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Format: eARC (From Author and Xpresso Book Tours)
Publisher: EnchantFire Books

This was a hard review for me to write. Not because I didn’t enjoy it (I loved it - happily gave it a 4-star rating), but because I really didn’t know how to comment on different points of the book without either a) rehashing the blurb or b) risking spoilers. As such, I’m switching to a bullet point format for this review instead of the long paragraphs I usually write to minimize the risk of sounding repetitive or sharing secrets before you can even read the book. 

WHAT I LOVED

• The cover! It immediately attracted me to the book, and I think it really captures the vibe of the story well. If covers are your thing, take from that what you will. 

• The genre-blending. I’m a die-hard fantasy reader, but I don’t usually read as many books with a historical fiction flair so I was very excited for something that allowed me to branch out more than I usually do

• The tropes - one of the biggest tropes in this book is “secret society”. It was so interesting and intriguing to learn about the Order of Babylon and the Magi. This is one of my favorite parts of the book, and I don’t want to risk spoiling it, so you’ll have to read the book to learn more about this aspect. 

• The worldbuilding - from the actual physical setting to the tone and the themes, it was immersive and descriptive. I appreciate when an author makes it easy for me to imagine myself as part of the story, and envision the picture they are painting with their words. 

• The characters - the entire cast were believable and realistic. I was engaged and invested in their stories. The cast of characters is also quite diverse. From my notes (though it's entirely possible I might not have caught everything), the main character is a Turkish Muslim. There is also a Mexican bisexual side character, a gay side character, and an Indian side character. 

WHAT DIDN’T WORK AS WELL FOR ME

• The slower start. I understand that there’s a lot of worldbuilding to cover (especially in the first book of a series), and the worldbuilding in The Magi Menagerie is great. However, for someone like me who prefers that the action starts very early on and usually decides whether or not I will continue reading a book within the first quarter or so, it runs the risk of turning very picky readers or mood readers away from the book. 

OVERALL THOUGHTS AND IMPRESSIONS

A solid start to a new series. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a blend of historical fiction and fantasy, diverse casts of characters, and immersive worldbuilding. With regards to audience level, I would categorize it as upper young adult to new adult. 

Thank you to the author and Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours for sending me a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Magi Menagerie immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

Author Bio:

Since the early age of 6, Kale Lawrence knew she either wanted to be an astronaut or an author. Obviously, the astronaut gig didn’t work out, so instead, Kale turned to fantastic fictional worlds. When Kale is not writing creatively, she works as a Marketing Manager at a pet product company, and pretends she’s an Olympic swimmer at the gym. She has also served as a board member for the South Dakota Writes organization.

In addition to books, Kale has lent her writing prowess to television, and her writing has been featured on nationwide PBS television programming, NBC newscasts, ABC newscasts, and the Travel Channel.

Kale currently lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with her feisty tortoiseshell calico cat, Emma Bug and sassy Siamese, Seattle Bean.

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BLOG TOUR: The Cassandra Curse by Hope Bolinger

The Cassandra Curse by Hope Bolinger
Published by: Chicken Scratch Books
Publication date: February 1, 2022
Genres: Young Adult, Middle-Grade, Fantasy, Suspense, Mystery, Parnormal

STRANGER THINGS X CURSED PRINCESS CLUB

Charity’s acts of kindness always end in disaster, but when one clown costume too many lands her in the Vice Principal’s office, she receives a mysterious note from a group called “The Cassandra Coalition,” asking her if she wants to be rid of the curse that seems to follow her.

The teens of the coalition claim to be cursed by a mirror world connected with their hometown known as Delphos. To make things worse, Delphos appears to be invading their world and turning people into zombies—either that, or someone switched all the coffee to decaf.

When one of their members goes missing, they’ll try to track her down, close the portal to their world, and find a way to end their curse, before the curse ends them.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Light from a dangled candy cane overhead flashed red in Hector’s eyes.

“Did your former director ever happen to mention a handbell player named Cassandra?”

Bella jolted back and knocked over a folder stand on the table behind her. She clutched at her chest with a fist.

“No, can’t say that I have.” Her voice shot up to a high-bell octave. She weaved her gloved fingers into her hair, but the cloth caught on a curl. Abandoning ship, she left the glove in a tangle and polished the bells on the table with a black cloth.

“Come on!” Paris slammed his hands on the table. But because the players had covered the surface in a foam pad, the sound muffled. “We got evidence at the library that she played with this group thirteen years ago. You joined a year after. You had to have heard something. And if my brother is going to show up in public in that ridiculous Red Riding Hood cloak, then you better make it worth it.”

Wowza, Paris standing up to the man. Well, wo-man.

Not being under the scrutiny of Danae’s glare had its wonders and benefits.

Unfazed, Bella started to shove bells into a case. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Hector pulled out his tablet—

Where on earth had he been keeping that?

—and the screen illuminated a scary-eager grin.

“Oh yeah, well take a look at—” his voice dropped, cracked, “this?”

Charity took two steps back and hoisted herself on her tiptoes to glance at the screen. The file had disappeared and a red “Error” replaced its slot. Had her touch back in the car eradicated the newspaper from the device?

Bella waved her hand at some invisible bug near her sharp nose. “Sorry, kids, but I don’t have time for this. We need to pack up in the next five minutes before the ‘Looking Sharp Jazz Choir’ gets here.” She jerked her chin over her shoulder at her other band members who hoisted suitcases full of bells onto rolling carts.

They needed to act, now.

When Bella turned to shove some mallets covered in yellow yarn into a black felt bag, Charity tore both gloves with her teeth, spat them on the floor, and gripped the handle of a bell the size of a baby doll’s head. Her arm swung down a few inches under its weight.

“What are you—” Bella stiffened. She sweetened her voice. “Now, put that thing down on the table. Nice and easy.”

With a knee crack, Bella lunged forward for the bell. But Paris and Hector stepped in front of Charity to form a barricade. Blanched, Bella whirled around to call for the aid of her bell-mates, but they were busy grunting and heaving the carts toward the door.

Now, for the bad cop sans good cop routine Charity’d practiced with her stuffed animals. This would, in no way, make Bella’s world a better place today. But she needed to do this for Io.

“I hate to do this, Bella, and I never envisioned myself being a CIA interrogator. That was twenty-seventh on my list of possible occupations for me in the future, next to skydiving instructor and corgi herder. But you’ve left me with no choice.”

“Listen, do you want money?” She dug a leather wallet out of her black slacks, opened it, and waved a neon-orange business card. “I have a coupon for two dollars off a pint of ice cream at The Scoop. You want?”

Oooh, ice cream.

Memories of sweet pralines of butter pecan mixed with cotton candy swirled over her tongue. Her favorite combo.

No, focus.

“Ma’am, if you do not tell us what you know about Cassandra, I’m afraid I’ll have to . . . have to,” she made a claw with her fingers. Digits wriggled like spider legs, “have to touch this bell with my bare hands.”

Bella slapped both palms against her over-blushed cheeks. She gasped.

Charity’s fingers squirmed so much, aches formed in her palms. She’d never threatened anyone before. Hoped she wouldn’t have to again. But for Io . . . she’d even get a fingerprint on this bell.

“Think of the oils from my skin.” She slithered each s like a snake. “The tarnish on this beauty. Bet it will take forever to wipe off. What is this?” Her thumb budged down an inch to reveal the label on the black handle. “A middle C.”

“Yes.” Bella’s voice tremored. She even crunched two crooked teeth down onto her pink lipsticked bottom lip.

“That’s an important note, isn’t it?”

“Some would argue that it’s the bread and butter that holds the music together.”

“Pity if I touched it . . . or even worse. Dropped it.”

Her fingers wriggled closer, closer . . . a centimeter away . . . .

“Wait!”

Author Bio:

Hope Bolinger is literary agent, freelance author and editor, YA novelist, and obsessed with anything to do with theater.

Books include The Quiet and the Storm (Taylor University Press), Blaze (IlluminateYA), Den (IlluminateYA), Dear Hero (INtense Publications), and Dear Henchman (INtense Publications). She's also contributed to books that were published by Broadstreet Publishing and New Hope.

When she isn't busy adding to her 600+ bylines, or showing up in her town square dressed as Red Riding Hood, she loves to connect with readers. Find her at hopebolinger.com or connect with her @hopebolinger

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BLOG TOUR + INTERVIEW- For the Strange and Surprising: Where the Mongrels Are (Where They Are #1) by M.F. Adele

Hi friends! I'm pleased to be hosting a stop with Xpresso Tours for the blog tour featuring For the Strange and Surprising by M.F. Adele. Check out the tour schedule at the link below, and show the other tour hosts some love! Also, make sure you don't forget to enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter below. The author is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner at the end of the tour.

For the Strange And Surprising Tour Schedule (Xpresso Tours)

For the Strange and Surprising: Where the Mongrels Are
by M.F. Adele
(Where They Are, #1)
Publication date: August 27th, 2021
Genres: Adult, Reverse Harem, Romance, Science Fiction

I’m a catastrophe waiting to happen—I always have been.

When a waterspout drops me on the shores of a seemingly deserted island, I soon realize that I’m not on Earth, and I’m not alone.

This new world is full of dangers, from sea monsters and feuding tribes to poisonous food and beasts that lurk in the shadows. None of those things are as dangerous as the Mongrel men appointed to guard and teach me.

All I want to do is go home, but the island has no intentions of letting me leave.

I’ll be forced to interact with total strangers to survive this perilous land surrounded by treacherous waters.

My dreams of happiness sink into the dark depths below as I struggle to save myself from certain death.

The Mongrels will learn that fear makes a person reckless.

My name is Adelaide Storm.
But they’ll call me Ada Stormbrave.

Goodreads / Amazon

Interview with the Author

What are four things you can't live without?

Aside from the obvious answers like family, friends, pets, and my voice? Caffeine, a comfy hoodie, puzzles, and music.

What is your favorite television show?

I don’t watch a ton of TV… But when I do, I love watching documentaries. I also watch some anime with my son.

Where do you get your inspiration, information, and ideas for books?

From everywhere and anywhere. Music, pictures, laying in the grass… I have hellhounds inspired by my dog. I have characters inspired by my friends. And I have entire scenes based around real conversations I’ve had or heard. I’m never short on ideas. My mind is a tornado of ishh just waiting to be deciphered.

Information is a little different. I will spend days in the research black hole, all for a single arcuate line in 50-100k word books. Too much research tends to be discouraging to me, though. Not that I don’t love learning. It’s just… Sometimes the accuracy is anticlimactic. And now that I know the information, an inaccurate portrayal will pull me out of a good read.

Do you write full-time or around another job? If you have a full-time job, does it ever play into your writing?

I have a real estate license, and I specialized in commercial sales, like apartment complexes and shopping malls. But I suspended my license to narrow my focus. So, now I’m a full-time stay-at-home mom and a part-time author. I’ll go full-time in the fall when my youngest goes to preschool.

The very beginning of my first book mentions a sales contract for the purchase of a pharma company. I tried to skip all the boring numbers talk, though.

What is your favorite writing snack and/or drink?

Nerds Gummy Clusters. I have boxes of them on the bookshelf behind me. And Dr. Pepper… Or OJ and tequila, depending on the scene I’m writing.

What was your hardest scene to write and why?

In Where the Mongrels Are, the prologue in For the Strange and Surprising is the first that comes to mind. That chapter started as a poem I wrote after losing my dad. I still can’t read it without my eyes burning. There’s a scene in For the Ghastly and Beautiful that hits me just as hard. Really any scenes where Ada thinks/talks about her dad turn me into an emotional train wreck as I write them.

But some scenes are hard to write in other ways…

In the Chronicles of Sloane King, the hardest scenes are when Sloane needs to show deep emotions. I struggle to connect with my own, so I understand where her problems come from. That doesn’t make explaining them any easier, though.

What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?

When I write solo, my first draft is my final draft… So nothing changes there. Occasionally, I’ll write the same chapter twice and choose the one that leads my characters to the destination I have in mind. Not that they actually listen to me.

But Ada and the Mongrels changed drastically in the brainstorming phase. The idea was originally meant to be a standalone. The more I dove into world building, the more problems arose so I kept adding to the story. Now it’s slated to be four different trilogies set in the same world. They’ll each have their own issues to battle—mental and physical—so the trilogies will offer closure to the characters, but possibly leave questions unanswered about the island itself. I don’t know if I’ll write them all; however the foundations are laid, the characters are named, and at least one other trilogy has made it into my schedule. So far… Pending changes, of course.

What exciting projects do you have coming up next?

I have a busy year planned. I’m attempting to switch from part-time to full-time writing, so my schedule reflects that right now.

For the Ghastly and Beautiful and For the Strong and Fragile will be published by Spring 2022 to close up Where the Mongrels Are. Then I’ll be switching gears to work on the last two books in The Chronicles of Sloane King. This series will be closed in the Fall.

In between my solo releases, I’ll have some co-writes with my husband. We’re currently finishing up Onyx Sanctuary and preparing for an early release. This will be the first book in The Chronicles of a Toy Monster. It takes place in the same world as Sloane, and readers can expect some crossovers from their favorite characters.

Author Bio:

M.F. Adele resides in the outskirts of the Rocket City in Alabama. She lives in her overactive imagination, often fueled by caffeine and no sleep. When she isn’t writing, M.F. is outdoors with her family, obsessing over spicy margaritas and cigars, or reading books by her favorite authors.

If you’re looking for M.F. Adele, you can find her on social media in her group:

M.F. Adele's Hellacious Hybrids.

M.F. loves to interact with her readers, hear character theories, and share embarrassing stories.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

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BLOG TOUR: Towers and Tithes (Fairytales of the Magicorum Book 8) by Christina Bauer

Towers And Tithes
Christina Bauer
(Fairy Tales of the Magicorum, #8)
Publication date: November 9th 2021
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

I’m a Tower Tithe with a Rapunzel problem. That’s not as weird as it sounds.

Ever wonder how Rapunzel survives without leaving her home? After all, someone must stock groceries, buy hair products and fix the plumbing. Witches don’t wield toilet brushes, so “Rapunzel care” becomes the job of Tower Tithes like me. Not that we choose this gig. We’re just unlucky elves who get magically chucked into servitude. Since our kind live for ages, being a Tower Tithe can drag on for thousands of years… and I’m eighteen. Yipes.

That said, it wouldn’t be too awful if I had a cool Rapunzel. No such luck.

I serve none other than Lady R, the social media sensation and sadist who lives in Manhattan’s famous Apex Towers. With the help of her manager—a witch named Jocasta—Lady R releases daily gossip videos while assigning me “torture chores.” Many tasks are designed to remind me how Lady R is the gorgeous variety of elf, while I’m beyond plain. I spend a lot of time scheming my escape.

My work pays off when an eccentric billionaire offers to magically set me free. The catch? I must move to Arizona and become his personal assistant. Needless to say, I rush for the door. Turns out, my new employer is none other than Lady R’s ex-boyfriend, Dex, a guy who was blinded in a strange accident and has since become a recluse.

In other words, I ran from my fairy tale life, but it found me again anyway.

At this point, I should head for the hills, yet I simply can’t leave Dex. For the first time, I truly feel comfortable around someone. In all honesty, it’s probably because I have self-esteem issues and Dex can’t see my bland face. Even so, it’s all good until Lady R discovers where I am. And that leads to my Rapunzel problem.

With Lady R back in the picture, can I still find my happily ever after? The truth will emerge soon enough.

Because my name is Grayson Eyre, and this is my story.

Ideal for readers who crave a mash-up between Rapunzel and Jane Eyre.

FAIRY TALES OF THE MAGICORUM
1. Wolves And Roses
2. Moonlight And Midtown
3. Slippers And Thieves
4. Shifters And Glyphs
5. Bandits And Ball Gowns
6. Fire And Cinder
7. Fairies And Frosting
8. Towers and Tithes

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REVIEW Towers and Tithes (Fairytales of the Magicorum Book 8) 

by Christina Bauer

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Release Date: November 9, 2021

Format: eARC

Publisher: Monster House Books

Christina Bauer’s Towers and Tithes takes readers into a retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale crossed with Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Our main character, Grayson, is an Osmos (half elf half troll hybrid). She is locked in her cottage until the day she becomes a “Tower Tithe” and serves a Rapunzel for the rest of her life, but she manages to get some visitors and stave off loneliness by healing the wolf pups brought to her by harpies. Dex is in charge of all the wolf pups at Wulfheim. As the Alpha or “Brutus”, he is constantly searching for his mate (also known as “Vita”). If he is unable to find her in time, the sanctuary that Wulfheim offers will be threatened. Will the two be able to find their happily ever after by the end of the story?

I loved the artwork that was featured in this book. I’m such a visual person, so the inclusion of the artwork definitely added to my enjoyment of the story. Lady R’s portrait was particularly interesting - the idea of a Rapunzel whose hair has to be contained under a cap was interesting. She and the Prism Master definitely fit the picture of “villains” and “bad guys”. After seeing all this artwork (and seeing Elle’s relationship with Grayson), I’m planning on going back to read Elle’s story to see her artwork. 

The biggest issue I had with the book was the “fairy tale life template”. It took away some of the fun in the story. Sure, it can be implied that there are only a couple of paths available to a certain character. But if they quite literally know that they have to follow a fairytale blueprint? The story automatically loses surprise and mystery points. I now have laid out options for what will happen, and I prefer stories that keep me guessing. 

Grayson and Dex's story continues in the next book of the series, Mirrors and Mysteries. This book covered more of the Rapunzel aspect, so I’m thinking that the next book will include more references to the Jane Eyre story. I’m crossing my fingers that there will be more time at Wulfheim with the pups and the other shifters. I would recommend this book to fantasy readers who love fairy tale retellings and stories filled with lots of magical elements. While this is part of a series, you don’t have to read the previous books to understand what’s going on with this one (your experience will be more impactful having read the previous books, given that a lot of the side characters from this book were introduced in previous stories). 

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Monster House Books for allowing me to read an early copy of the book. I received a review copy of this book as part of my participation in the Xpresso Book Tours promotion.

Author Bio:

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

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BLOG TOUR: Wild for Me (Balefire Series Book 3) by Tam DeRudder Jackson

 

Hi all! Welcome to my tour post for Wild for Me (Balefire Series Book 3) by Tam DeRudder Jackson. Thank you to Xpresso Tours for allowing me to host! Make sure you check out the other tour hosts and their posts as well. You can find the schedule at the link below. The author is running a giveaway as well for a $25 Amazon gift card and a Balefire shot glass (check out the Rafflecopter below to enter). 

http://xpressobooktours.com/2021/09/09/tour-sign-up-wild-for-me-by-tam-derudder-jackson/

Wild For Me
Tam DeRudder Jackson
(Balefire Series, #3)
Publication date: November 18th 2021
Genres: Adult, New Adult, Romance

Dakota

Annabelle Stewart, all tight leather skirt and hot lace panties, thundered into my life for one night after a rock show and calmly drove away the next day. She should have been like any other one-night stand I’ve had over the last ten years touring with Balefire. But she wasn’t. At odd moments, I catch myself thinking about her, wondering if I made as big an impression on her as she did on me.

Then I walk into the rehearsal for our drummer’s wedding, and who’s standing with the bride? The hottie who keeps me awake with thoughts of our one night together. Beautiful, smart, and sassy as hell, Annabelle sets me on fire with her kisses and leaves me hanging. But I’ve got plans for her.

Annabelle

I never expected to see him again. Two years after hooking up with Dakota Perri after a Balefire concert, I’d convinced myself that night was a fantasy. But the way he looks at me during Jack and Clio’s wedding, like he remembers every second of our one-night stand, lights me up. Too bad I blew it.

Then I score a management internship with the band, an opportunity guaranteed to land me a scholarship with a top graduate program—if I don’t earn a reputation for sleeping my way to success. Which is a problem. I see Dakota every day. Every time we’re together, the sparks fly faster and hotter. If I want to achieve my goals, I have to resist him. But how can I resist a man as panty-meltingly hot as Dakota Perri when he says he’s wild for me?

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Review for Wild for Me (Balefire Series Book 3) by Tam DeRudder Jackson

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Release Date: November 18, 2021

Format: eARC

Publisher: Warrior Romance Press (IBPA)

Wild for Me by Tam DeRudder Jackson is the newest addition to the Balefire Rockstar Romance series. Our lead, Dakota, is who you’d find a picture of if you searched “hot rockstar” on Google. Tall, gorgeous, and fantastic on guitar. As one might expect, his fame comes with a reputation for partying hard and a string of women on his arm. Unfortunately for fans of Balefire everywhere, he hasn’t been able to get Annabelle out of his head and his heart since their one night together. When they reunite at a friend’s wedding, Annabelle thinks her face might be familiar to him (she doesn’t actually expect him to remember her). She couldn’t be more wrong. After seeing her again, he’s determined not to let her be the one who got away a second time. 

I didn't expect to get so invested in Dakota and Annabelle's relationship. Their relationship definitely gets steamy, which was fun. Despite my happiness over the physical side of their relationship, I wanted more emotional depth and action. Why didn’t Dakota do more about Garrett’s interference? Why didn’t they have a conversation when he was getting jealous? I loved the scene where Dakota ate dinner with Annabelle’s family, and when they had their heart to heart at the end of the book. I would have loved to see more of that. 

I recommend this book to fans of the rockstar romance genre who love stories filled with characters you can’t help but get behind and happily ever after endings. This book is part of a series, but I had no issues understanding everything that was going on without having read the previous books. I plan on going back and reading the other books in the Balefire series when I have a free moment. The author piqued my interest about how the other couples in the band got together. I’m eager to read Hot for Me, which should be coming out sometime in January 2022 (can’t wait to see whether I’m right on who Tron’s love interest is). 

Thank you to the author and Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to read an early copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed Wild for Me. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

Author Bio:

Tam DeRudder Jackson is the author of the paranormal romance Talisman Series and the contemporary romance Balefire Series. Her favorite “room” in her house is her back patio where she dreams up stories of romance and risk. When she’s not writing her latest paranormal or contemporary romance, you can usually find her driving around with the top down in her convertible or carving turns on the slopes of the local ski hill. The mom of two grown sons, Tam likes to travel, attend rock concerts, watch football and soccer, and visit old car shows with her husband. She lives in the mountains of northwest Wyoming where she spends most of her free time trying to read all the books. Her TBR piles are threatening to take over her office, and she’s fine with that.

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BOOK BLITZ: Rook's Palace (Her Five Monsters Book 1) by Alexa Piper

Rook’s Palace
Alexa Piper
(Her Five Monsters, #1)
Published by: Changeling Press
Publication date: November 12th 2021
Genres: Reverse Harem, Urban Fantasy

Emilia is excited to start a house-sitting job, even if the house is creepy and more than a little on the odd side — as odd as the owner’s requests. When she finds an unusual gaming console, she is drawn into a lusty video game in which she crosses paths with five inhuman creatures. She is drawn to them all, but when the five men keep telling her that the game is very much not what it seems, Emilia realizes she can no longer play along.

As the path she follows offers not just desire and intense experiences but also sadness, cruelty, and hurt around every bend, Emilia’s resolve firms: she will free the five men, who tell her they are already a family, already lovers. Whatever she has grown to feel for them, she cannot let them suffer if saving them is within her power.

With the rules of a game she doesn’t understand forcing her to play along, Emilia must find a way to get to the end of the game and get everyone out — whatever the cost. The freedom of her five monsters depends on her.

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EXCERPT:

The console that had caught Emilia’s attention was an oval design, smooth silver. She touched the casing, and found that it was warm, polished metal rather than plastic, with a smaller oval display set in the middle. As soon as her fingers brushed against the console, the display lit up with words.

“Play me? Huh,” Emilia said. “You’re strange. How do I play you?” she asked. There was no controller anywhere that she could see. The other wireless ones were neatly lined up beneath their respective console, but this oddity…

The screen brightened, and the words play me blinked at Emilia.

“Right. I want to.” She turned to look around. On the table behind her, on the chairs, there was no controller in sight either, nor did her search reveal one behind the cushions. Shrugging, Emilia hit the screen on the console. She felt the slight give of a button. “Ah.”

The television set flickered to life, and a suitably eerie voice echoed to Emilia from hidden speakers.

“Welcome to the Rook’s Palace,” said a male narrator. On the screen, the camera was following a path through a thicket of trees. It wound toward a castle that rose like a waking dragon in the distance.

“Wow, this looks super HD,” Emilia said. She pulled one of the floor cushions stacked to the right of the TV toward her and sat down cross-legged.

“Brave traveler, you have chosen to walk the paths to the palace, but beware,” said the narrator. “These paths are full of the pleasures of the flesh, and none that walk them may escape the lust and desire of those who call the palace their home.

“Traveler, should you choose to continue, there is a mission you must carry out.” The screen washed out, the scene shifting from the outdoors to a room. It could have been a room right here in Blakely’s castle. As the camera did a slow turn, Emilia gasped a little as a tall, dark-haired figure came into view. At that exact moment, the man turned and looked at the camera, almost as if he’d heard Emilia’s gasp. His dark hair ran down his back, and he wore what was probably supposed to be some sort of stylized Victorian garb. The pants were tight enough to show off muscular legs, and the pressed white shirt with the silver buttons — half of which were undone — showed a broad chest and a narrow waist. The man, whose hair trailed down to the small of his back and half hid his face, looked straight at the camera. His eyes were the color of amethyst, and a wild emotion stirred in their depth for a second before the man shut it down.

“Lord Radovan, the vampire prince, has been hidden away in the palace’s highest tower. Traveler, if you dare, it is your mission to free Lord Radovan from his captivity.”

Emilia wanted to look at this strange vampire prince more. The video quality was good, uncannily so, everything looked real. It was almost like all she had to do was reach out her hand, and she’d be able to touch the amethyst-eyed vampire prince.

Emilia lifted her right hand, but before she could actually try reaching for the vampire, the camera moved. It went for a window and flew straight out, down toward a hedge maze.

“The palace grounds are full of riddles and challenges. Those who guard the path and the palace will not be assuaged by anything less than taking pleasure in your body, Traveler,” the narrator said. “They will demand you give yourself to them, and if they have no mouth or know not how to use it, they will take pleasure on you regardless, split you open and fill you with their need.”

Emilia felt like she should be taking notes for her chat room work. This was good enough to make warmth run down her spine, to make her shift a little on her floor cushion.

“Traveler, if you wish to proceed to the Rook’s Palace, you must consent now to have your body used. On the path to the Palace, your body will be your token. If you dare not, you may turn back, though you will never know what pleasures hide behind these walls. If you consent, your pleasure will end only once Lord Radovan is set free from his tower.”

The maze opened up to the path again, and the camera rushed back to the spot it had first been in, the one with trees to either side of it. Words wrote themselves across the screen.

“Traveler, do you consent?” it read. “Say yes, and proceed. Say no, and never return.”

Once more, Emilia looked for a controller. The button she’d pushed on the console had gone dark now. She looked back up at the screen…

Author Bio:

Alexa Piper writes steamy romance that ranges from light to dark, from straight to queer. She’s also a coffee addict. Alexa loves writing stories that make her readers laugh and fall in love with the characters in them.

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