Tools of a Thief (A Series of Decisions on Kairas) by D. Hale Rambo

 

Welcome to the blurb blitz tour for Tools of a Thief by D. Hale Rambo! Enjoy an excerpt from this fantasy novella and then download your own copy. Follow the tour for even more and make sure you leave your questions and comments along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

How do you stop being a thief? Zizy assumed quitting her job, stealing from her boss, and flitting magically across the continent was one way to give it a go. Getting in and out of sticky situations is typically Zizy’s specialty. A little spellwork here, a pinch of deception there, and she’s home free. Quick-fingered, fast-talking, and charming the gnome knows traveling across a shattered continent won’t be easy. Still, she has the skills to keep herself from getting killed.

Too bad she was followed on her one-way trip. Pressed into a mission she can’t say no to, Zizy feels desperate, out of place, and as lonely as before. But when she meets a charming book hoarder with bold curiosity, Zizy can’t help but want to bring her along on this one last job. She’ll just hide her past, her present, and complicating info about herself. What could go wrong?

Read an excerpt:

Zizy was taught growing up that expanding the Vault had been a request of the gnomes creator, the Trickster. The gnomes had built three glorious cities over the course of the last hundred or so years. Arovein, their original city, Zumi to the southwest along the coast, and Hadu on the northwest coast. All built in the tunnels and caverns of the Vault with small trading settlements above ground. But everything else after that had been gnome ingenuity. The waterworks pipeline, the spellwork-powered carts, the mechwork creatures—all made life grand for them. Enabled them to focus on their particular pursuits and research without worry for the busy motions of just living life.

She missed the clanking of metal as someone walked down the street testing out some new contraption. She missed her favorite tavern. Discussing over mugs of brewbeer what new idea a friend had thought up and watching—or sometimes being—the one who had agreed to be a tester. She missed being in charge of her daily life. Zizy let the pang of homesickness for Zumi and her old life wash over her.

What the minds of her people could come up with would be mesmerizing to a Brix. Simply astonishing. Or frightening, if they were ignorant sticks in the mud. She had encountered many like that since she entered their lands, those who saw her and understood she wasn’t like them. Some had been polite and ignored it when interacting with her. But others, scared beyond sense, had been more harmful and even attacked her unprovoked. So she’d tried to pass straight through, not standing out, with only mild altercations like yesterday’s.

But then there was Laysa. Something about this Brix was different, intriguing, and though Zizy had thought, as she drank in the inn the evening before, that the best way to avoid Emba’s bad side was just to do as she said, the spark of defiance she felt every time she saw Emba had reared its head. Her mind returned to Laysa off and on all night. The way she didn’t hesitate to ask and answer. The volley of words she seemed happy to spill. Zizy sensed she could talk for ages, and Zizy wasn’t unhappy, she mused, at the prospect of talking to her again. Around in circles Zizy went, drink after drink, until she just decided to do what she was best at: ignore all reasonable suggestions and do what she wanted anyway.

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D. Hale Rambo is an avid reader, Pathfinder/Dungeons & Dragons player, bubble bath connoisseur, and author. She has been writing and creating other worlds since she was old enough to mark them on her bedroom wall. As a dungeon master and in life, D. Hale Rambo believes in the fun of morale bonuses, inspiration, and always using cover. Get updates on the series, say hello, or debate with her about the versatility of gnomes at www.dhalerambo.com .

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Review of Moonshine, Magic, and Murder (Manitoba Tea and Tarot Mysteries #3) by January Bain

 

Welcome to the blurb blitz tour for Moonshine, Magic, and Murder by January Bain! I have an excerpt from this witchy cozy mystery for you to enjoy, plus I'm sharing my thoughts on this third installment of the series. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour and leave your comments and questions for the author along the way. Remember to enter the giveaway!

Charm McCall has a proven track record for solving small-town mysteries, but can she figure out how to deal with a life event that threatens to harm the McCall clan…

Charm McCall is once more on the hunt to figure out why her cat has been seeing a ghost, why she’s been shown a treasure map by, gulp, a dead guy and why her Auntie T.J. has suddenly disappeared, bagpipes and all. That would be more than enough, but with the upcoming Sadie Hawkins dance and its accompanying promise bags to create and spell, to help her fellow Goddesses get their dearest wishes fulfilled, she’s about run off her feet. Not to mention that now it’s legal to sell marijuana in Canada, orders for pot brownies are spilling in and threatening to crash her online store.

Charm discovers she needs all the help she can get to deal with the arrival of her mother and the beyond painful host of problems that creates for her family, find her Auntie T.J. to save her hiney and discover who the real murderer is. That is, if she wants her romance with Snowy Lake’s sexy Mountie, Ace Collins, to have any hope of deepening…

Read an excerpt:

The blast of the police sirens firing off must have been droned out by the moaning of the pipes, because suddenly there was Constable Ace Collins standing at my side. We’d even missed the flashing lights atop the Royal Canadian Mounted Police SUV.

But my oh my, he was looking handsome this morning, all six-foot-plus, broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped, Stetson-wearing Mountie that he was. He touched his large fingers to his fine hat and nodded at me before turning a steely-eyed glance at Sergei McCausland. Even the bagpipes had silenced with his arrival. Auntie T.J. stood quiet with her fingers poised over the chanter holes in case she needed to punctuate her point yet again. I shook my head at her in an exaggerated motion, a finger to my lips.

“Are you threatening Miss McCall?” he asked. He must have picked up on the recipe-stealing man’s last comment. The Bowl-a-ram-a wasn’t the sure-fire business plan that Sergei had dreamed of, I suspected, which was probably why he’d gone into manufacturing moonshine. That tempered my thoughts. Business was hard won in a small town, and it was good that he offered people entertainment during the endless months of a typical long and freezing Canadian winter. But still, using my auntie’s recipe sucked. She’d spent years fine-tuning it to what she thought her hero from the TV show Justified’s Mags Bennett moonshine tasted like, and she was rightly proud of it. I’d enjoyed it on a few occasions myself…when I didn’t have to work the following morning.

“No, of course not. I was just wanting a bit of peace, for heaven’s sake. That woman’s been doing this for three days running. She’s trying to ruin my business. You have to do something, Constable, or so help me I will go over your head and speak to Winn Duffy. I know you’re too fond of the McCall family by half.”

Oooh. That last comment was uncalled for. Ace Collins was a man of complete integrity. A straight shooter. A man of conviction. I backed up a couple of steps in the dead silence while the two men glared at each other, then I backed up a bit farther.

A surge of anger forced its way through me. Who did this guy think he was? Casting aspersions on Ace and my family like that? A streetlamp popped nearby, blowing up and showering sparks in the nearby vicinity, which included the three of us. We all ran for cover, well, except for the Mountie, who gave me a look, shaking his head with a steely look on his handsome mug. He flicked a smoldering spark from his sleeve and strolled over to join me standing on the sidewalk in front of the café. Auntie T.J. and Sergei had vanished like vampires at sunrise.

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**My thoughts**

This is the third book in the Manitoba Tea and Tarot paranormal cozy mystery series. I've read all of them, so I have a firm grasp of all of the characters and storyline. But I do think you are okay reading this one as a standalone. The main focus is on this particular murder, and Charm gives you enough background info when needed.

I like Charm. She's one of three triplets, but is her own entity. She's the oldest of the three and looks nothing like the other two, who are identical twins. She tends to be the most responsible, doing most of the work in the family bakery. She's also the one who seems to have the most powers of the three. She has a hottie boyfriend, who also happens to be a Mountie who moved to town some months before. And she has an annoying habit of pretty much doing whatever she wants, no matter how many rules are being broken. I can always feel Ace's frustration with that pouring off the pages and feel it myself! I may or may not have occasionally yelled out loud, telling her to stop it.

She does have a tendency to do well as an amateur investigator, aided very well by her powers, which just continue to grow. I think she has come a long way since the first book. This time around, she definitely kind of forgets everyone else around her as she focuses on the case and clearing her aunt. She tunneled so far into it, that I felt like we never saw anyone else other than Ace. I really missed her sisters, Star and Tulip, and especially Granny Toogood. (Maybe they'd have a spinoff story at some point?)

We got a lot of Ivana, who amuses me. (I always picture the Russian character in the Austin Powers movies.) I have a feeling something big is coming with her in later installments.

There's one particular part of the story that I felt was glossed over too much, and that was the appearance of the triplets' mother. She had basically abandoned them when they were 8 years old, leaving them to the care of Granny Toogood. Now she is back in town, and Charm is all freaked out about it. And yet, in spite of a couple of big issues, she wasn't in the book too much. I wanted that to develop more. And I felt like the ending was more abrupt than I was expecting, even though I think this book is longer than the first two.

This really is a delightful paranormal cozy mystery series that I've been enjoying. And while this installment wasn't necessarily my favorite of the three, I am still looking forward to seeing what's going to happen for the McCall sisters in the future. There are a lot of hints and indications of some big things to come, and a lot of potential for all kinds of stories in this small town. And there are a couple of big events in this that you won't want to miss.

Thank you to the author and Goddess Fish for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full-blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope her stories will capture your imagination.

If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with her furry baby, Ling Ling. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man! Who once famously remarked to her inquiry about buying fresh flowers for their home every week, “Give me one good reason why not?” Leaving her speechless and knocking her head against the proverbial wall for being so darn foolish. She loves flowers.

If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook. Oh, and she loves to talk books…

Blog Address - http://januarybainjourney.blogspot.ca/

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Review of Blue Ink (Blue Mountain #3) by Tess Thompson

From USA Today bestselling author Tess Thompson, visit Blue Mountain yet again in this standalone tale that celebrates underdogs, family secrets, and forbidden love. 

Charlotte Wilde’s life is a flop. She gives her heart to the wrong men, her first published book is a failure, and now she’s dead broke too. Desperate to pay the bills, she takes a job caring for an elderly woman who is recovering from a broken hip, hopeful the position will leave her with plenty of time to focus on her writing. Yet as Charlotte gets to work, dutifully helping Mrs. Lanigan sort through a box of old letters, distractions abound. For one thing, both women immediately become consumed with a mystery unfolding in the correspondence. And to complicate matters further, Charlotte finds herself drawn to her charge’s son, Ardan, like they’ve known each other forever. Will he become another of her mistakes or has she finally found the one?

In the third volume of the Blue Mountain Series, USA Today bestselling author Tess Thompson reunites us with the Lanigan brothers, their cranky mother, and the feisty Heywood sisters. This standalone story of forbidden love and hundred-year old mystery will keep you turning pages way past your bedtime.

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 **My thoughts**

This is the third installment of the Blue Mountain series, the first of which is my favorite Tess Thompson book. This story does work as a standalone, but I do recommend reading the others.

We first met Charlotte in Blue Moon, when she was Bliss’s devoted assistant. Her kind and delicate nature was obvious even back then. Now she gets to really put it to the test in her new job as a companion and helper to the matriarch of the Lanigan clan, Riona, whose macular degeneration is getting the best of her. Charlotte will also have time to keep working on her writing, as she is a murder mystery novelist now as well.

Riona has moved back to the family compound out of necessity. Because she can no longer see, she needs help. Only she continues to be just as tough and stubborn as she was when we met her in the first book. She seems like she’d be able to absolutely eat Charlotte alive. But you also know that there is a softer woman underneath that hardened exterior, one who has had tragedy in her life and is now dealing with a major life change in her blindness. The two opposites are perfectly matched and we can learn a lot by how Charlotte treats her.

They are staying with Ardan, the philanthropic Lanigan brother who has returned home from his work with schools for boys. We get to know him better than we did Kavan and Ciaran because this is the first dual point of view book in the series. [And I admit that I am conflicted over this, though it works. I just really enjoyed going so in depth with the ??? sisters as single POV, but also like getting to know them both so well this way. It’s hard to explain. Maybe it throws me off a little bit because the first two books weren’t in dual POV?]

These two are destined to be with each other before they have even met. And they seem to know it right from the start. There are just all of those pesky relationship details to iron out. And a blast from the past tries to throw a major wrench into things. You also have the beauty of the letters from the past that they discover that almost seem to echo in the modern time. Lots to enjoy in this one with the connection of past and present.

Of course, we also get to check in on the other happy Lanigan couples. And no Blue Mountain book would be complete without Moonstone in it.

I love returning to Peregrine, Idaho and am looking forward to the story of the elusive Lanigan sister, Teagan.

Fostered Identity by Maggie Thom

 

If you like fast-paced action in your mysteries, check out this excerpt from Maggie Thom's Fostered Identity and then download your copy! Follow the tour to see even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Her teenage sister has run away. It's her fault. And on her watch.

Shyla thought she was doing the right thing by helping her teenage sister get a little freedom. She never expected she'd bolt on her. Desperate to keep their mom from discovering she has a missing daughter, Shyla sets out to find her wayward sister.

A fluke encounter gives Shyla a clue. Only she gets a lot more than she bargained for. She finds her sister, but she gets pulled into doing a heist. An impossible heist. And not just any heist but that of stealing her mom's million-dollar jewelry. Ones that recently arrived, with no explanation.

Damien is a good guy running from an awful past. When his brother ends up in the hospital, Damien is determined to stop the one man who has and is destroying their lives—their father. Damien will break all of his promises, even steal, if it will end their father's control.

Shyla and Damien find themselves thrown together, not trusting each other but not having any choice. They will have to work together if Damien is going to stop his father once and for all. And if Shyla is going to protect her family. An impossible crime that will bring them surprises they didn't see coming.

Can they catch a thief by being a thief?

Book 1

The Twisted Deception Series

Emerald grew up in a foster family. It wasn't an ordinary foster family. She was the first of eight girls to move in. The jewels that she was given to play with as a teenager, that she was told were baubles, are now resurfacing thirty-five years later. They are worth millions. And it appears worth stealing. Who is sending them out? And who wants them back at all costs?

“…fast-paced and kept me guessing. I like a mystery enveloped with family secrets and jewel thieves. I want more, and I want to know the secrets. I will be excited to read the second novel…” Author Christine H-Jackson

Read an excerpt:

"You want to talk about Hannah?"

"Where is she?"

"Sleeping in."

"Are you going to tell her?"

"No."

"Mom, come on. That's not fair to her. She has a right to know."

"Why are you butting in? We've had this conversation before."

"Not like this. And that was a few years ago. It's time to tell her."

"What would you like me to tell her? I adopted you when you weren't even two. I have no real history on you." She looked down at the table, rubbing her thumb up and down the side of the mug. "I think you were in the same shitty system that I was as a kid. I don't know where your mother is, just like I don't know where mine is. You came to me with a birth certificate that said your mother was Mary Smith. Could you get a more common name?"

Her eyes lifted and her gaze bore into Shyla as she continued. "You were born at home by a midwife. The midwife is dead and after searching four hundred and fifty Mary Smiths, I have no idea who birthed you." She gave her that look of I've tried to do something, but I've found nothing. "I can't do that to her."

Shyla frowned as she thought about what she'd just been told. Most of it she'd never heard before. "That sounds fishy. I mean about Mary Smith." What she really wanted to say was why have you never told me or Kal, any of this before?

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Take the adventure beyond your fingertips.

Multi-Award-Winning Author, Maggie Thom has written all types of stories but finally settled on her love of puzzles, mysteries, and rollercoaster rides and now writes suspense/thrillers/mysteries that keep you guessing and take you on one heck of an adventure.

She is the author of 8 suspense/thriller/mysteries. The award-winning Caspian Wine Series – Captured Lies, Deceitful Truths, and Split Seconds – and her other individual novels Tainted Waters, Deadly Ties, and Fractured Lines. And now a new series – The Twisted Deception Series - Fostered Identity, Book 1. On her website, you can find her free novel – Blurred Lines.

Her motto: Read to escape … Escape to read …

"Maggie Thom… proves her strength as a master of words, plots and finely chiseled characters… she weaves a brilliant cloth of the many colors of deceit.” Dii – TomeTender

www.maggiethom.com

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Read an exclusive excerpt from Yes - These Are Your Grandma's Romances by Nancy Fraser

 

It's time to go back in time and enjoy this collection of vintage romances from Nancy Fraser. Read an exclusive excerpt from the story "Ed Loves Marnie - 1955" and then follow the tour for even more! Be sure to leave your questions and comments for the author along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Ah ... the Fifties!

A time of innocence, and the not so innocent. From “I Love Lucy” and “Willy” to “Private Secretary”, “Father Knows Best” and “Bachelor Father”, television and music from the fifties gave us inspiration. Come take a trip down memory lane with these five vintage reads!

Get your romance on, and make grandma proud!

Ed Loves Marnie ~ 1955 - Can this handsome military man convince the single mother to take another chance at love? Or, will their shared memory put a wall between them?

Willa Thomas, Attorney-in-Love ~ 1956 - Will these co-workers be able to tow the company line and forego a chance at love? Or, will they risk everything for love?

Professor Knows Best ~ 1957 - Will this freaky trip back in time to 1957 give her the answers she seeks? Or, only more confusion? How difficult will she find it to navigate being best friends with the college-age version of her own mother?

His Private Secretary ~ 1958 - Can she run interference between her handsome boss, his needy family, and the scores of women trying to bed him and wed him and still remain unaffected by his many charms?

The Bachelor Father ~ 1959 - Will Nanny #5 be the one to finally ace the job, and coax him out of his shell and back into life? And, will a family vacation to Paris fulfill their wildest dreams?

Read an exclusive excerpt:

Day 1: Ed Loves Marnie ~ 1955

“You two know each other?” Terri asked. “That’s great.” The moment Stan set down the drinks, Terri tugged on his coat sleeve and pulled him toward the dance floor. “We’ll just leave you two to get reacquainted.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Marnie apologized, nodding toward her overzealous friend.

“No problem. Would you like to dance?” he asked.

“No, thank you. I’ve really got to be going. My kids—”

“Two, right? A little girl and you were expecting. They must be about four and seven now.”

“Three-and-a-half and a very precocious six,” she corrected, amazed at his excellent memory for detail.

He smiled and, for the first time in ages, Marnie let down her guard and actually enjoyed the simple gesture. She leaned in and asked, “How about you? I mean, you’re still in the military, and promoted to Major, too.”

“I’m stationed at Andrews Air Force Base,” he confirmed.

“So, you’re just in town for the wedding?”

“Actually, I’ve bought some property just outside Frederick.”

So close. The thought excited and frightened her in equal measure. She suspected a man like Edward Louden would be hard to ignore. “Well, as long as you don’t mind a small town, this is a great place to live.”

“What about you?” he asked. “Have you remarried?”

She shook her head. “I’ve been too busy raising my children and working. And, trying to cram some night classes in at the same time.”

“Sounds as if you’ve been busy.”

“Very. Thankfully, my parents are close by and have been a godsend with the kids.” After a moment’s silence, she asked, “How about you? Any kids?”

He shot her a broad grin. “No. I’d need a wife for that. Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to look for one between duty assignments.”

She couldn’t help but appreciate his lighthearted sarcasm.

A comfortable silence fell between them. They both relaxed back in their chairs and enjoyed the music. When it looked as if the orchestra was about to take their break, Marnie stood to leave. “Please, tell Terri and Stan goodbye for me. My children will be up early, no matter how late I get to bed.”

“Would you like me to walk you to your car?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No, but thank you. Stay here and enjoy the reception.”

***

Stan and Terri came back to the table just minutes after Marnie Wilson made her escape. Ed had to admit, he’d barely recognized her. It hadn’t been until the name had registered that he’d realized who she was, and how he knew her. She’d certainly changed over the past three years. Matured. No doubt single-parenthood could do that to a person.

“So,” Terri asked the minute she hit the chair, “where’s Marnie?”

“She left,” Ed said simply. “Apparently her children are early risers.”

Stan chuckled. “All kids are early risers. It’s a gift.”

Ed waited for the inevitable question.

“Just how do you know Marnie?” Terri asked. “Has my best friend been holding out on me?”

“No,” he said, his voice solemn with the memory of their meeting. “We met four years ago this past March. I had the unfortunate task of delivering the military’s condolences when her husband’s plane was shot down over Korea.”

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Jigsaw puzzle link: 

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NANCY FRASER—Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Published in multiple genres, Nancy has published over thirty-five books in full-length, novella, and short format.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

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Read an exclusive excerpt from Sorcerers Reborn: Earth by Richard B.

 

Read an exclusive excerpt from the first installment of a new fantasy series from Richard B, Sorcerer's Reborn: Earth. Be sure to follow the tour for even more and then download your own copy. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Sorcerers Reborn is Book One in a series that begins here on Earth and takes you on a new and exciting journey in the world of Sorcerers, Dragons, Elves and more.

Midnight stops. She feels something she hasn’t felt in three thousand years, something that possesses magic. It’s to the east in the mountains. She runs toward the beacon. She stands in front of a sheer stone wall hundreds of feet tall. There is a cave three quarters of the way up where the magic resides. If she tries to reach whatever is up there, it could potentially kill her. She’s come this far, but her journey isn’t over yet.

Midnight was exiled to earth with six Sorcerers by the evil Sorcerer Tay’Ron. She is a creature of magic, created by magic. She holds the gift of Sorcery from six Sorcerers who have passed on, and she is on a mission to find people on earth who are worthy of possessing this power. Her legacy must continue. Time is of the essence.

She possesses the gift of Sorcery. Midnight is a creature derived from magic, a fairy creature created from magic. She is not a Sorcerer. The six other Sorcerers are the six she carries inside of herself.

Read an exclusive excerpt:

On the seventh heclena General Holten sent for them. “I have summoned you here to ask you to lead a strike force into the palace. Six aqueducts run under the city taking waste to the ocean. One of these will take you into the palace. All of you have been active in our fight against the invaders and I believe you are our best choice. Bella, you spent several years in the palace, so you know the layout better than most. The way in is not an easy one; however, it can be done with the right people—and I believe you are our best choice. Will you volunteer to take this task on?"

Bella looked at Holten. “Can we discuss this among ourselves before we commit to your plan, Sir?”

“You have one hecna Lady Bella, we must begin our assault today.”

Bella asked her cohorts if they were up to the incursion into the palace. The decision was unanimous. One hundred soldiers, led by Commander Doren, were also in the party. They looked at maps and diagrams that showed where the underground aqueducts were and how to access them from above and came up with a plan. The company rappelled down the slope to the discharge end of the aqueduct. Once inside they found walkways on either side of the channel and lights on one side made it easier to navigate than expected.

Commander Doren walked beside Bella and finalized the details of their raid. “We do not know what we will find in there. If our suspicions are correct, we may be looking at a battle that some of us will not come back from. A two-pronged attack—you take fifty soldiers and I take the rest.”

“We know the risks involved Commander. Can you and your men use telepathy to communicate?” Bella asked him.

“Some of us can. I suppose shouting would not be to our benefit would it?”

Bella took Tara, Jacky, Cecil, and Bart with her while the other four Sorcerers went with Commander Doren. They reached the points where they would ascend into the palace. Bella gave the word and both parties climbed the stairs. Bella come out in the kitchen. One of the soldiers moved ahead checking for kitchen staff, but no one was there. So far so good, Bella thought. There was a service stairway in the kitchen that would take them to every floor of the palace. They climbed the stairs to the floor that housed the king’s private rooms. That is when everything went south.

A dozen soldiers guarded King Arin’s chambers and the first battle began. The soldiers guarding the hallway were not Geldanian, they were from the southern continent. The fight in the hall was short, but they had more soldiers and two southern Sorcerers to deal with once they entered the main room. Jacky fought her way to the king’s bed chamber and, throwing her knife at the Sorcerer guarding the door, was able to gain access to the room.

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Rick (Richard B.) Ogle was born in 1951 in Northern Ontario. This is his first appearance in the writing world. He worked for forty-five plus years as a journeyman fabricator/welder. In 1978 Rick wrote a short story titled "Storms" that turned into two books. His work always came first, so writing took the back burner. Writing of Sorcerers Reborn began in late 2000, but again work came first, so the book was not revisited until he was force into retirement in 2013.

In 1998 Rick went back to school to learn something that would get him out of his chosen trade as a fabricator/welder. In 1999 he spent six months as an adult literacy tutor and found that was rewarding when he saw the progress each student was making. He currently holds an Adult Instructors Diploma. He completed a six-month course to obtain an A+ computer technicians' certification. He has an AutoCAD certificate in drafting and design. He instructed classes for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access at the North Cariboo Community Skills Center in Quesnel BC.

Rick is self-taught in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) code and built his website in 1998 while he was in school. He named his website "Poems and Short Stories by Richard B". That website is still going today. Home page URL: http://www.richardbees.ca

CONNECT WITH RICHARD B.

WEBSITE: https://sorcerersreborn.ca/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sorcerersreborn

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/richardbauthor

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5255029.Richard_B_

Richard B. will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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This Tale Is True by Deborah Adams

 Get lost in a world of fantasy when you read an excerpt from This Tale Is True by Deborah Adams and then download your own copy. Be sure to follow the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

They don’t make goddesses like they used to….

For eons they ruled, but modern times have been rough on the ancient deities— their temples collapsed, their worshippers wandered off, and their purposes were made redundant by industry and technology. And the Fates aren’t finished with them yet.

Mere days before the annual renewal of their immortality is to occur, the goddess of youth disappears. Without her and her restorative nectar, time and age will catch up with the goddesses. In the blink of an eye, they will shrivel and die, leaving the world to fend for itself, unless a skeptical mortal can find a way to save both worlds.

combines the humor one expects from Adams with magical realism and a dash of literary fiction, resulting in a boisterous read that pushes back against the boundaries of genre.

“Deborah Adams offers goddesses in peril and a protagonist who dares all to save the immortals in a wild, wacky, and wonderful romp. Imaginative, creative, fabulous fiction.” ~ Carolyn Hart, author of the otherworldly Bailey Ruth series

Read an excerpt:

“A squirrel in the toilet is not an omen.” Cybil felt this bore repeating. “It’s just a rodent whose curiosity proved to be more than it could handle.”

Evie, her roommate and current audience, unlocked their apartment door and stepped inside, then closed the door and engaged the deadbolt as soon as Cybil had joined her. Pre-emptive security was important to Cybil, and she’d worked hard to instill good habits in her new roommate. Despite her trusting nature, Evie tried to comply with Cybil’s insistent rule about staying safe, although Evie was certain that the real dangers in this world could not be restrained by man-made mechanisms.

“I never said the squirrel was an omen,” Evie insisted.

“You didn’t disagree when the wacky witches were putting forth that very notion,” Cybil reminded her. “If you don’t speak out against the nonsense, you are in tacit agreement.”

“They have a right to believe whatever they like.” Pushing back the hood of her purple velvet cloak, Evie ran the fingers of one hand through her nut-brown hair. “And surely you can see why they thought it had meaning. It’s hard to believe the squirrel just happened to pop up in Belinda’s toilet at the very moment we invoked the Great Goddess.”

“It’s harder to believe that a goddess of Hera’s standing would send her RSVP through a bushy-tailed rat.”

“You never know,” Evie said with sincerity. “Goddesses don’t think or act like mortals.”

“I daresay you’re right about that,” Cybil conceded.

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Deborah Zenha Adams, recipient of the Macavity and Flair Awards, is an author, a naturalist, and a yoga educator. In {This Tale Is True}, a work of magical realism, she unveils the fate of ancient Roman goddesses as they struggle to survive in the 21st century.

The seven novels in her Jesus Creek mystery series were published under her own name, and other works appear under a variety of pseudonyms. She is also the author of numerous short stories and essays.

She has been a guest lecturer at numerous events, including Southern Festival of Books, Appalachian Studies Conference, Warioto Regional Library Board of Trustees Conference, Southeastern Booksellers Association, Georgia Library Association Convention, Emory University, East Tennessee State University Writers Program, and many others. She is a lifetime member of the Southern Literary Coalition.

Deborah-Zenha is available for interviews, speaking, and author events. Her signature workshops include Write Your Memoir (even if you aren’t a writer) and Write Your Yoga Memoir.
Learn more about the author and her books on her website: www.Deborah-Adams.com

Deborah Adams will be awarding a $25 Visa gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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The Gospel According to Prissy by Barbara Casey

 

If you're a fan of mysteries, read on for an excerpt from Barbara Casey's The Gospel According to Prissy and then follow the tour for even more. Make sure you leave your questions and comments for the author along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Three Army veteran misfits, a college dropout, an unmotivated high school graduate accused of murder, a controversial warden of a women's prison, and a little girl with the gift of prophesy – these are the people 31-year-old Lara Kruger invites into her life after suffering a miscarriage, a divorce from an abusive husband, and unemployment.

Read an excerpt:

Miriam walked away from her desk and paused in front of the unframed full-length mirror she had salvaged from the recent renovations in the women’s shower rooms. The edges were chipped and blackened, and there was a fairly large crack that ran vertically from one corner to the other. The condition of the mirror was the result, no doubt, of one of many displays of frustration and anger within the prison walls before she took over. Still, the mirror served its purpose. On those rare occasions when Warden Miriam Temple of the Braden Women’s Correctional Institution needed to be sure she looked her best, at least she could do so in the privacy of her own office.

Studying her reflection, she saw a tall, aging fifty-nine-year-old woman with dark hair streaked with gray cut in a simple shag, myopic brown eyes made evident by the wire-framed glasses, and a raw-boned body that could be considered well-proportioned if it weren’t for the fact that it was about twenty pounds on the heavy side, fifteen of which had settled around her thighs and buttocks. “Pear shaped, as opposed to apple shaped,” she frequently reminded herself, “so that means at least I won’t die of a heart attack.” The fact that her ear lobes were also plump and didn’t have the diagonal creases indicating some type of heart disease seemed to confirm that fact. She didn’t know if these old-wives’ tales she had grown up with were really true, but she liked to keep an open mind, especially when they worked to her benefit.

She normally didn’t wear make-up, but this morning before leaving for work, she had dug out her small tapestry bag that held what few cosmetics she owned and applied a little blush and a touch of lipstick. She rubbed one cheek with her hand now, thinking that maybe she shouldn’t have bothered. She didn’t need to impress anyone. Even if there had been the awkwardness that sometimes comes with being a large woman, it had been replaced years ago by the confidence born from a privileged background and the level of acceptance and comfort from which she viewed herself.

Her dark gray suit and crisp white blouse were clean and unwrinkled, thanks to the prison laundry facilities. The plain black pumps she wore looked both practical and appropriate to complete the over-all appearance of discipline, control, strength, and above all, a positive attitude. It was the attitude within the prison that Miriam had worked the hardest on when she took over as head warden six years earlier. There had been a stifling wave of hopelessness and despair among the female inmates so thick it made it difficult to breathe. This was manifested daily in brawls, food fights, and a behavior of non-compliance in general. “Animals get treated better than we do,” had been the mantra at the prison.

For six years Miriam had been working fourteen-hour days, overseeing the operations of the facility, staying on top of problems, writing reports, and talking to every person she could reach about helping to set up programs for “her girls” as she referred to them. Each of Miriam’s programs offered something to a few of her girls, but not to all, something she struggled with daily. She constantly researched what other correctional institutions were doing not only in this country but other countries as well, trying to come up with new ways to stimulate her girls and help them feel enthusiastic about their lives.

It had worked. She started getting noticed after the first year of her tenure. Complaints from the prisoners dropped, a State audit confirmed that for the first time in over a decade the prison budget would be in the black, and the over-all appearance of the facility was vastly improved. Government officials who previously had been reluctant to show interest now started to open doors for this hard-working, persistent, and obviously dedicated woman.

And then Prissy had been born.

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Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, author/agent/publisher Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, N.C. State University, and N.C. Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. In 1995 she established the Barbara Casey Agency and since that time has represented authors from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014, she became a partner with Strategic Media Books, an independent nonfiction publisher of true crime, where she oversees acquisitions, day-to-day operations, and book production.

Ms. Casey has written over a dozen award-winning books of fiction and nonfiction for both young adults and adults. The awards include the National Association of University Women Literary Award, the Sir Walter Raleigh Literary Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, the Dana Award for Outstanding Novel, the IP Best Book for Regional Fiction, among others. Two of her nonfiction books have been optioned for major films, one of which is under contract.

Her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in both national and international publications including the North Carolina Christian Advocate Magazine, The New East Magazine, the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Sunday Telegram, Dog Fancy, ByLine, The Christian Record, Skirt! Magazine, and True Story. A thirty-minute television special which Ms. Casey wrote and coordinated was broadcast on WRAL, Channel 5, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories. Her award-winning science fiction short stories for adults are featured in The Cosmic Unicorn and CrossTime science fiction anthologies. Ms. Casey's essays and other works appear in The Chrysalis Reader, the international literary journal of the Swedenborg Foundation, 221 One-Minute Monologues from Literature (Smith and Kraus Publishers), and A Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation).

Ms. Casey is a former director of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida, where she served as guest author and panelist. She has served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. In 2018 Ms. Casey received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas. She makes her home on the top of a mountain in northwest Georgia with three cats who adopted her, Homer, Reese and Earl Gray - Reese’s best friend.

Barbara Casey will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Review of I Can Still Hear You by Nicole Black

 

Welcome to the Name Before the Masses Tour for I Can Still Hear You by Nicole Black. Today I have an excerpt for you, as well as my thoughts on the book. You can also get to know the author better in this brief interview. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for even more. Best of luck in the giveaway!

I Can Still Hear You is a powerful and deeply moving story which grapples with the universal pain of grief and the loss of a loved one. When Scarlett O’Connor loses her father at the age of 30, she’s forced to face the shambles that her life has become. With no money and no savings, the only thing that waits for her is a cryptic map and a mysterious letter. With nothing left to lose, she embarks on a trip to Maui for her father’s final adventure, to begin a treasure hunt which will force her to look deep inside herself and come to terms with her pain and grief.

Accompanied by her less-than-supportive fiancé, a close childhood friend, and an enigmatic man who was her father’s old acquaintance, Scarlett must decode the mystery and find the hidden treasure. But she knows she must face her fears alone, and calling upon the spirit of her father for guidance, she struggles to reconcile her emotions and uncover the treasure before her time in Maui comes to an end.

Perfect for fans of contemporary and women’s fiction, I Can Still Hear You is a gripping tale which will resonate with anybody who has struggled with the death of someone close. This book is a testament to the fact that even though we may have lost them, our loved ones stay with us no matter what challenges we face.

Read an excerpt:

I gazed up at the ceiling in quiet disbelief, as if I’d see my father looking down on me. Carefully, I removed the map from the box. It was yellowing and old, and the paper was as thin as tissue, so I took care in opening it. The map had some faint lines on it, some solid, some dotted, but no place names, no markings at all to tell what exactly it belonged to.

“Great, Dad,” I muttered aloud. “This is super helpful.”

But the second I said it, as had happened a dozen times in my life when I’d been presented with a puzzle, my father’s voice said, I’m not going to give you all the answers. Where’s the fun in that?

“This is one big party,” I muttered again. I had no idea where to even start. The only thing that made sense was to contact my dad’s friend living in Hawaii.

Hawaii.

He couldn’t possibly mean that he wanted me to go to . . .

No. That was impossible.

I read the letter, again and again. The more I did, the more it seemed as if, yes . . . that’s exactly what my father wanted.

Peering in the box again, I hoped that wad of cash would present itself. Or at least the stopwatch. But neither did. The box was empty.

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Kindle version $0.99 during the tour!

**My thoughts**

The description of this book really spoke to me, as I am just a few weeks away from my father's 10th anniversary. Even though it has been 10 years since he's been gone, at times it still feels like yesterday. And while the details are not exactly the same, I could completely empathize with a lot of Scarlett's thoughts and emotions as she goes on her journey.

My father didn't leave me a scavenger hunt in Hawaii that I needed to follow. But I feel like he still left me clues to help guide me along a path, and I also feel like I get regular messages from him. I can still hear his wisdom as well. Scarlett often notices a red bird. I have cardinals that moved into my yard the summer that he passed. They were also my father's favorite bird, and I know that they represent messages from the afterlife. 

I even had my own Kevin and Mark to contend with as I was going through the process of clearing things up after my father died, only my "Kevin" wasn't as slap-worthy as this guy is.

If you've ever experienced a great loss, I think you may find some of yourself in this story as well. Just like comparing my story to Scarlett's, the details are not going to be the same, but you may relate to a lot of other aspects of her story.

I was very moved by this story. It was just beautiful. And I'm hoping that the sense of peace I got from it stays with me over these next few weeks as the anniversary of my own father's passing approaches.

Thank you to the author and Goddess Fish for providing me a requested copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Have you ever had an imaginary friend?

I have never had an imaginary friend. I did wonder what it would be like at one point.

Do you have any phobias?

Thankfully, I have no phobias.

Do you listen to music when you're writing?

I listen to classical music when I am writing. Once when I was in the Portland airport, I heard a man named Adam Hurst playing and his music inspired me. I bought three of his CD’s but the one I listen to every day is called Obscura. 

Do you ever read your stories out loud?

I always read my stories out loud. It helps me to catch small inconsistencies and be able to hear what the book sounds like.

Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her.

Scarlett O’Connor started showing up everywhere. I knew that she was going to be a younger, stronger version of the person I believe I am. However, Scarlett takes more risks than I ever did and she certainly beats to her own drummer. She has a lot of qualities that I always wanted, she stays strong in the face of adversity, she can read people easily, and she has no trouble being alone.

Nicole Black is an author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur with a passion for sharing unique stories and helping people grow. For over 20 years, she’s worked in the business world as a corporate trainer in employee productivity and effective growth, where she’s helped some of the biggest brands in hospitality and entertainment grow sustainably through inspiring their employees. She’s been featured on platforms including TEDxWilmington, Jack Canfield Show, Santa Barbara News Press, The George DiGianni show and the Tom Barnard Show.

Through her writing, Nicole hopes to empower her readers and impart valuable lessons about grief, loss, and emotional growth. In her free time, Nicole enjoys traveling, yoga, and spending time with her wonderful daughter in their home of Santa Barbara, California.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicoleblack25

Instagram: @WriterNicoleB and @nicoleblackauthor

Twitter: @nicolebwriter

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card during the tour.

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