Deck the Halls with Books: The Coal Elf (The Coal Elf Chronicles Book One) by Maria DeVivo + giveaway

Holiday Recipe – Rainbow Cookies

I love to bake! And while I am partial to quick and easy recipes (I mean, who isn’t?), sometimes the more complicated ones have the biggest payoff!

One of my absolute FAVORITE cookie recipes is an old Italian one that was passed to me from my mother—RAINBOW COOKIES! My mother was a wizard in the kitchen, and even with her amazing culinary skills, she only made rainbow cookies one time a year: Christmastime! So naturally, growing up I equated rainbow cookies with the holiday season, not realizing that they were readily available at any other time of the year at any given Italian bakery in New York.

If you like jelly, and almond, and chocolate, then this is for you… but I warn you, the recipe and process of the recipe is not to be taken lightly! But once you’ve mastered the art of the rainbow cookie, you know you’ve elevated your baking game to that whole new level!

Good luck, godspeed, May the Force Be With You, Valar Morghulis, It is Known, This is the Way…

DeVivo’s Rainbow Cookies

Materials needed:

Three bowls
Electric mixer
Parchment paper
Three large cookie/baking pans
Small bowl for egg whites

Ingredients needed:
1. 8 oz. can of Almond Filling
2. 6 sticks of butter (softened)
3. 2 cups sugar
4. 8 eggs
5. 2 teaspoons almond extract
6. 4 cups flour
7. Red food coloring
8. Green food coloring
9. 1 jar apricot preserves
10. 1 jar raspberry preserves
11. 1 package Toll House mini chocolate chips

Instructions:
1. Oven at 350

2. Separate the egg whites into a small bowl. Beat with the mixer until they are thick and stiff

3. Mix the yolks, almond filling, softened butter, almond extract & sugar in one of the large bowls

4. Beat in the flour to the mixture

5. Fold in the whites to the mixture a little at a time. This is a very gentle process!

6. Separate the mixture into three parts – so this way you have batter in each of the three bowls. It won’t be exact, so you’ll have to eyeball it. It helps if the three bowls are the same or at least the same size.

7. Leave one bowl WHITE. Use the food coloring to color the others (one red, one green)

8. Grease one of the pans and line it with parchment paper. GREASE the paper.

9. Pour the white batter onto the pan and spread it out like a giant rectangle shape. Try to have it even with no “breaks” in the batter.

10. Bake for 15 minutes

11. When done, flip the contents of the pan onto another pan (CAREFULLY) and remove the parchment paper. Spread the apricot preserves on top. You will really only use half the jar for this.

12. Do the same with the other colors. Grease sheets and even out the batter. Bake for 15 minutes each.

13. When the second batter is finished, flip that on top of the layer with the apricot preserves (CAREFULLY)! Remove the parchment paper and spread the raspberry preserves. (again, probably half the jar).

14. Finally, the third color goes on top of the raspberry preserves. Leave the parchment paper on and press down to hold everything together.

15. Put in refrigerator overnight.

16. Heat up the chocolate chips so you have a spread. Remove the parchment paper from the tray and spread the chocolate on top. **you don’t want the chocolate to be on too thick, or else it will be hard to cut

17. Back in refrigerator for about an hour (give or take) to let the chocolate harden and settle.

18. Cut into cookie squares and serve.

19. ***the edges might be messy, but that’s ok. I make a separate cookie bucket I call “THE REJECTS”. Reject cookies are still delicious! They just aren’t pretty to look at.

***FUN FACT: For years, I used wax paper instead of parchment paper. It was what my mother used. Thanks, Mom, for putting us in a potentially life-threatening situation. You were always good for that. Miss you, Red. <3

The Coal Elf (The Coal Elf Chronicles Book One)
by Maria DeVivo
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Publisher: 4 Horsemen Publications
Date of Publication: October 15, 2024
ISBN: 979-8823204231
ASIN: B0CW1HMWZJ
Number of pages: 260
Word Count: 73k
Santa is real, but this isn't your childhood Christmas tale!

Ember Skye is a fed-up teenaged Coal Elf with a big ashy chip on her shoulder. Torn away from her carefree life Aboveground, she was forced into a world of dirt and darkness in the Mines. Now, the coal is starting to take its toll. Plus, being the only girl-elf coal miner at the North Pole is not fun at all!

Amazon-4Horseman Publications

 

About the Author:
https://linktr.ee/mariadevivo
Maria DeVivo writes horror and dark fantasy for both a YA and adult audience. Each of her series has been Amazon best-sellers and have won multiple awards since 2012. A lover of all things dark and demented, the worlds she creates are fantastical and immersive. Get swept away in the lands of elves, zombies, angels, demons, and witches (but not all in the same place). Maria takes great pleasure in warping the comfort factor in her readers’ minds – just when you think you’ve reached a safe space in her stories, she snaps you back into her twisted reality.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Deck the Halls with Books: WILD Adrienne Wilder + giveaway

August and Keegan have been naughty and nice.
Here is their Christmas list for Santa.

• Ammo
• Bag of M&Ms
• New pair of long Johns(cause Daisy chewed up his other pair)
• Pair of snow shoes
• Hunting knife
• Satellite phone
• Edible underwear (because August thinks it would be funny)
• Angora luxury brand sweater (cause August thinks Keegan would look sexy and it would be red to match the edible underwear)
• antibiotics
• First-aid supplies

WILD
Adrienne Wilder
September 1, 2017
Genre: gay romantic suspense
Date of Publication:
ASIN: B07518D2PZ
Number of pages: 341
Cover Artist: Adrienne Wilder
Survival story of passion and love

August Vallory had it all. A modeling career, a man he loved, and the extended family he’d acquired in the business. Then the world he knew was torn away when the plane he was on crashed en route to a photo shoot.

Lost in the Alaskan wilderness, August doesn’t stand a chance.

No sane man would choose to live in the Alaskan bush unless he had something to hide. And Keegan Brooks has secrets darker than night, more dangerous than wolves, more brutal than an Alaskan winter.

Every day was a fight for his life until he stumbled upon a downed plane with a lone survivor. Now it’s no longer just Keegan’s life teetering on the edge of survival.

It’s his heart.

Amazon

And be sure to check out the Christmas novella follow-up with the Wild characters- 63 Days Later: A Holiday Tail

Excerpt
The eyes watching August from the tree line were not blue. They weren’t even human.

They belonged to a brown-furred monster, with long black claws. 

Snow crunched, and piles were ejected from under the stretcher with the forward movement. Night had already fallen under the trees, creating shadows that swallowed the bear as it moved. There were times it disappeared so long August thought he’d imagined it. Then the golden highlights in the animal’s fur would snap it out of the dark.

“Keegan.” 

The stretcher bumped a rock and August was jostled hard enough to move his leg. He clenched his jaw. Sweat stung his eyes, and nausea welled in his stomach. It withdrew, and the bear picked up its pace.

Wind tossed up particles of ice. August coughed, trying to clear his throat but it was too dry. “Keegan.” 

Could the man hear him? His heavy breaths were more labored than August remembered. How long had he been asleep? How long had the bear been following them?

And if he yelled, would it charge?

August had to take the chance. He put more force behind the man’s name, and everything came to a stop. The ice had made chunks in Keegan’s beard and clung to the fur covering his hands. More had packed the folds of his pants. The edge of his boots was swallowed by what covered the ground. 

“You okay?”

The bear froze, its body a mass merging into the thick trees. Was it gone? Dark eyes glittered. Then slowly, as August’s eyes adjusted, the outline of the beast reformed. It had crouched down, body tense. A loaded spring.

“Bear.” The word wasn’t much more than an exhale. 

The Keegan made a slow turn and at the same time dropped the rucksacks he carried. By the time he had his back to August, the rifle was in his hands. 

“Two o’clock,” August said. Keegan took a step, blocking August’s view. Then another, clearing the way. Shadows pooled in the empty space around the tree trunks. Keegan scanned, turning his whole body, rifle raised. When he’d made a full circle, he put down the gun. 

“It was there,” August said.

Keegan knelt and loaded the satchels he’d been carrying onto the stretcher. 

“It was there. I saw it.”

“I believe you.” He tightened everything down.

“I swear, I swear, it was that fucking grizzly.”

Keegan put a hand on August’s shoulder. “I said, I believe you.” As Keegan stood, a massive brown shape rose up behind him. 

The scream got caught in August’s throat, but it was too late. One huge paw came down, catching Keegan in the side, sending him airborne. There was a clatter of metal and wood and Keegan rolled out of sight. The bear raised its head and the air shook with its voice.

About the Author:

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Adrienne Wilder (trans-male – he/him) is an author of gay contemporary and speculative fiction and an artist of all things monster. He was born and bred in GA and moved to NC in 2013 where he lives with his partner, multiple dogs (one has atomic farts), cats (one of those also atomic farts), and lots of corals (although not known, statistics suggest that at least one of them probably—you guessed it—atomic farts)

He lives to create new worlds and the people in them. Several of his books have been best sellers both nationally and internationally.

He writes original stories with powerful characters and emotion as well as a fast-paced plot. His goal isn't just to deliver a good story but to take the reader into the story and let them experience the characters as if they are right there with them.

While his books have a strong romantic element, some are not traditional romances. In fact, he'd like to think there is nothing traditional about them. And the stories he paints are done outside the lines of traditional genres.

One of his favorite things is to push the boundaries of what makes a story by delivering the unexpected and maybe even changing the perspective of the reader. His characters are more often than not beautifully flawed; they're not always the good guy, and make mistakes. Their stories will take dark turns which, in the end, make the light at the end of the tunnel all the brighter.

If you're looking for something different, exciting, and unique, his books are for you.

He has recently been creating a lot of artwork for his stories. You can see SFW ones on his Instagram and NSFW ones on his Patreon. He is creating a Nox graphic novel available for patrons only right now.

Check out Adrienne’s website for updates and how to contact him. His Facebook group is the best place to talk with him and get info. Join his newsletter to see some content early.

Tour Giveaway
Wild Print copy to US winner or Ebook to International

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Romantic fantasy: The Forbidden King (The Heir of Atlantis series) by S.T. Fernandez

Welcome to the tour for The Forbidden King by S.T. Fernandez! Read on for more details!

The Forbidden King (The Heir of Atlantis series)
by S.T. Fernandez
December 3, 2024
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
🙅‍♀️ Forbidden Love
🤫 Secrets
❤️ Forced Proximity
🌶 Spicy Romantasy
💀 Love After Death
❤️‍🔥 Human X Fae
🧜🏻‍♂️ Age Gap
❤️‍🩹 Grieving/Healing
👑 Royalty X Commoner
👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Friends to Lovers
🔮 Mating Bond Revelations

A chambermaid bound to her family's prestigious palace legacy. A King harboring a secret bound to shatter his world.

Leader Reneah Diaz, the unparalleled head of the palace chambermaids and valets, was a figure of admiration and respect. Her family’s legacy amongst the staff was not just coveted, but revered. But when the grieving Fae King returns to Atlantis with the Heir in tow, the human chambermaid breaks all the rules and forms an unexpected and unique friendship with father and daughter. This friendship, unlike any other, born in the most unlikely of circumstances, opens up a world of secrets and revelations about his mating bond with the deceased Queen Neleah, secrets that not a soul alive knows of.

A hidden shame plagues the Fae King, a secret so rare that it could shatter the perceptions Neleah and Cathan carefully built. But when undeniable chemistry flourishes with his human chambermaid, he feels something he never dared to dream of—something worth risking his reputation and his daughter’s.

In a world where palace politics expressly forbids relations between the royal family and the palace staff, and where relations between humans and Fae are incredibly taboo, Cathan’s unusual request for Reneah to take residence in the royal wing does not go unnoticed by her superior or her subordinates. And when their affections become something more, Reneah and Cathan must face a heart-wrenching decision: distance themselves or risk destroying her family’s legacy and his reputation forever.

The Forbidden King is an Heir of Atlantis Novella (Book 1.5). It should be read after reading The Veiled Heir (Book 1). This is a spicy romantasy, a blend of romance and fantasy with mature themes, intended for readers aged 18+. Trigger and content warnings can be found at the beginning of the book and on STFernandez.com. Please read with care.

Amazon (K.U.)

IG: @stfernandezwrites @rrbooktours
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Paranormal Romance: Death by Blood by Kerrie Biehl

Death by Blood
by Kerrie Biehl
January 26, 2023
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Shawna Davies, a relentless South Beach narcotics detective, is hell-bent on taking down a sinister drug lord infiltrating the club scene with a lethal designer drug, La Petit Mort. Tormented by an insatiable longing for something more in her existence, she grapples with the maddening absence of a vital piece of her soul. Unsure of how to escape the void in her life, a flicker of hope emerges with his arrival.

Eric Black, a formidable vampire enforcer serving the council of elder vampires who govern the paranormal realm, is assigned to assist Shawna in her treacherous quest. However, Eric faces his own agonizing demons and dreads the prospect of a partner in his shadowy world. As fate intertwines Eric and Shawna's destinies, he must confront the possibility of entrusting her with his darkest secrets while attempting to resist an undeniable, fiery attraction. Unbeknownst to him, Shawna harbors concealed mysteries of her own.

Bound together under dire circumstances, an intense passion ignites between them. But as their entwined worlds unravel further, Eric's cryptic past threatens to obliterate any chance of love. Can they overcome the dangers lurking behind hidden truths, or will their buried secrets ultimately consume them both?

Universal-Amazon

About the Author:
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Instagram-Youtube
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Kerrie has always loved writing. In kindergarten, a romance story written in crayon was her first book. When she first published, she chose the pen name, Serena Zane. After writing several books under her pseudonym, Kerrie decided to make her mom happy and release her next book under the name she was given at birth. Kerrie moved around as a child but stayed within the Pacific Northwest.

What Inspired Kerrie to Write?

The tall trees and murky forests fed her imagination. Kerrie always loved vampires, werewolves, and all things paranormal. Her studies in criminal justice inspired her to start writing suspense romances. She found her footing though in the paranormal romance, and urban fantasy genre when she attended a writing workshop with one of her favorite authors. As a roomful of aspiring authors, she told us that if they were stalling in their genre, to look towards their bookshelves and write the most prevalent genre. Can you guess what was on Kerrie's bookshelf? That's right, nothing but paranormal, urban fantasy romance. She loves to read books with a strong plots, and unique characters. She wants to bring those qualities to her reader with a "side dish" of lust.

Podcast Series: The True History of Dracula's Winkee

I Smell Sheep and Greg Hall (The Funky Werepig) have been longtime besties. So when Greg asked me (Sharon) to do some voice acting on his podcast series, I said no way! But then he said he would buy me a mocha latte, and I flew up to PA to play Sister Agnes—the MoFo Superior in Dracula's Winkee!

Here is the story behind the story and check out the first three episodes already out. 

(TW for podcast: naughty language and winkee/hooha references)

The True History of Dracula's Winkee
written by Greg Hall
 

New episode every Sunday.

Dracula's Winkee Ep 1- The Undead Have No Retirement Plan
Dracula's Winkee Ep 2- All Paranormal & No Romance Makes Drac a Dull Boy
Dracula's Winkee Ep 3- Tonight's Menu- Green Tea, Sticky Buns, & Death!

YouTube Podcast
Apple Podcast

Long ago, in the 2000’s, I was a guest on a ‘paranormal romance’ radio show. The host and I debated the cravings of vampire erotica vs. vampires crave us as food. She said, “You aren’t a woman. You wouldn’t understand every woman fantasizes about having sex with a vampire!”

Instead of arguing Edward was closer to a Disney unicorn than to the horrifying monsters of legend, I simply replied, “Well, you aren’t a man. And it’s a fact men need blood flow to make their peepis happy. Blood flow is something vampires don’t have. They’re dead. Their hearts don’t beat. Add in that they’re room temperature, and your fantasy is to have sex with a cold, flaccid winkee.”

That one phrase caught on. Listeners repeated it. It was said on other shows. Told to me by fans. Didn’t realize it in the moment, but it was damn funny. And thus Dracula’s Winkee was born.
Many people remember the original run of Dracula’s Winkee as a serial on the popular horror website Choate Road. Others read Dracula’s Winkee in magazines, Funbooks, and Michael West’s brilliant anthology Vampires Don’t Sparkle. It became my most demanded live reading at conventions, spun into comedy skits, and actually made it as a series all the way to the top dogs at Adult Swim before falling short. The journey of Dracula’s Winkee has been a glorious one.

And it is all a lie. Because the truth couldn’t be told. Until now.

Dracula's Winkee
written by Greg Hall
In the summer of 2023, two brothers—Samuel and Ignatius Derriere-- were vacationing in Transylvania. One day, they spied an armadillo, a creature not indigenous to Europe. I know. How many balls they be trippin’?

They followed the animal as it scurried into a hidden cave. And there in clay jars, the brothers found some of the oldest recordings ever known. On the wax cylinders and 8-tracks, the voices spoke of lost love, ruthless enemies, and a Prince of Darkness who once made the world tremble.

The brothers soon realized they had discovered the audio diary of Dracula!

In what is believed to be the only recordings of Dracula’s actual voice, experts have pieced together a story centuries old.
A story that seems to continue today…

About the Author:
Amazon
Dracula's Winkee
The Funky Werepig
Gregory L Hall has a long history in comedy, improv, and as a radio/podcast personality. He’s a national Telly Award winner and creator/producer of the Baltimore Comedy Fest for Autism Awareness. But most know him for his live radio and now YouTube show, THE FUNKY WEREPIG. Greg enjoys speaking in 3rd person, so it doesn’t seem like his ego is as obnoxious as it truly is.

As a writer, he has enjoyed success with his novels AT THE END OF CHURCH STREET and THE LEGEND OF UGLY JOE, his comedic tribute to the horror movies of the 70's and 80's. Plus it has some kick bahookie crayon drawings in it, because he couldn't afford an artist. He also has a short story collection and has appeared in like a million billion maybe dozen anthologies, magazines, and funbooks. His No Pants Publishing continues to crank out 'I don't like reading'- friendly books like the Funky Werepig's SMILE WHEN IT'S BIG ENOUGH and the upcoming horror DEVIL MONKEY, The MUSICAL!

Not including his work as a pole dancer, Greg has captured so many world-changing moments on stage, video, and at drive-thru windows. But the biggest highlight of his career was when he was hugged by Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid). Let’s all pause for a moment. Mr. Miyagi, yo. That really happened.

Greg continues to be on his best behavior so his wife and children do not put him into that 'special' place they speak of loudly when he's in the room. His re-evaluations occur every Monday so check back often.

Excerpt: Remembering Demons (The God Cycle, #1) by J. Cornelius + giveaway

Remembering Demons (The God Cycle, #1)
by J. Cornelius
May 9th 2024
Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Thriller
Have you ever wondered what lurks in the mirrors?

Daryl doesn’t have to wonder… he knows.
But why do they stalk him? Why can’t he remember anything?
It’s enough to drive a guy crazy!

Meanwhile, the eerie asylum seems to know more than an old pile of rock and mortar has any right to and his therapy is uncovering a blood-stained past of pain and death, alongside something dormant within him of disturbing power. When Dr. Walker teaches him how to face his demons, the psychoses and dreams conspire to warn him of something even worse stalking him. Something ancient and evil.

To survive, Daryl must confront the repressed memories that drove him insane.

For madness—is a blunt instrument.

This dark fantasy epic and paranormal thriller with a Shutter Island’esque vibe will have you questioning what is real. The story mixes dark and traditional fantasy with horror and science fiction elements to explore mental health, guilt, and a world where the physical realm of our experience blends seamlessly with the fantastical realm of monsters and gods. Perfect for fans of The Gunslinger, The Dresden Files, and the TV series Black Mirror.

Goodreads-Amazon

EXCERPT:

“Dad,” she said imploringly, “please don’t make me show you again.”

A shiver ran down his spine. “No, of course,” Daryl said quickly. “No need for that.”

“Why did you go?”

“I . . .” he halted, unsure. “I thought I could have both.”

“And then what happened?”

“I . . .” His mind blanked, and he looked out the window, petrified.

“You have to face this, it’s not—” The pitch of her voice rose in alarm. “The butter is burning!”

Daryl whipped around, depositing the smoking skillet at the back of the stove before cranking up the extractor hood.

“Thanks,” he said, about to turn back around.

The sound of small feet pattered across the floor, coming for him.

“This is not how it happened,” she said from right next to him, the accusation in her voice like a discordant note, slashing the air. He knew what was coming, fearing it with every fiber of his being. Still, her voice ignited a deep ache to turn around and hold her, but he knew that was impossible.

The smoke from the burned butter grew in intensity, and he looked down. The tabletop was beginning to char. Wisps of smoke were gently rising from the crack where the counter met the wall. She jumped onto the tabletop, bringing herself level with him, reaching out for him with arms starting to blister from the heat.

His vision was blurring, as if sweat was dripping into his eyes, and his mind reeled. She grabbed him, causing him to stumble and seize hold of the now smoldering counter.

“Dad,” she said softly.

He tried to resist, but she forcibly turned him around, facing her. Facing those terrible eyes . . . eyes which held the truth.

“No,” he muttered.

“Listen.”

“Please no,” he repeated meekly.

She leaned in as if to speak, but instead opened her mouth wide and screamed. It tore through everything, cutting at his very soul. He knew why she screamed. He knew . . . Daryl felt a sudden sharp pain in his mouth, followed by a jolt as the dream receded. His surroundings grew foggy, her face retreating down a well. The dream dwindling, dwindling, gone.

About the Author:
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J. Cornelius is a medical researcher of pathogenic viruses by day and a writer of fantasy/sci-fi fiction by night. He is also: An equal responsibility father of three, a loving husband, an avid lover of many types of mountaineering, especially rock climbing and snowboarding, and a DIY maker of herb and fruit flavored spirits.

Sign up to his newsletter on his website to get a free copy of the God Cycle short story, 'Catching Spiders'.

GIVEAWAY!
Enter to win a paperback copy of Remembering Demons + a short story set in the same world

Enter here!

Excerpt: Tune in Tomorrow by Randee Dawn + giveaway

Their fantasy is her reality.

Tune in Tomorrow
by Randee Dawn

Genre: Humorous Pop-Culture Fantasy
A funny, thrilling and mysterious adventure into the world of alternate reality television... Perfect for fans of Jasper Fforde and Christopher Moore.

She’s just a small town girl, with big mythic dreams.

Starr Weatherby came to New York to become… well, a star. But after ten years and no luck, she’s offered a big role – on a show no one has ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that. It’s a ‘reality’ show beyond the Veil, human drama, performed for the entertainment of the Fae.

But as Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite, she learns about the show’s dark underbelly – and mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her dream job – though she might just bring down the show in the process.

Raves for the book:
"I thought I’d seen everything in the galaxy of reality TV, until Randee's book!" – Andy Cohen, Host / Executive Producer, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and New York Times bestselling author

"Randee Dawn has single-handedly created a glittering new genre: the Backstage Comedy Fantasy Romance — and I want more!" – Ellen Kushner, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Thomas the Rhymer and Swordspoint

"Randee Dawn's Tune in Tomorrow is a wild ride through the world of reality TV, Faerie style. It’s a satire and a romance (of a sort) and a fairytale and a mystery, full of characters I loved (and loved to hate) and situations that had me biting my nails. It’s also hilariously funny." – World Fantasy Award nominee Delia Sherman, author of The Porcelain Dove and The Evil Wizard Smallbone

"Tune in Tomorrow is a joyride. It takes you on a journey into the make believe world of a soap opera. It dives in and out of what could possibly be fantasy or in fact is reality. As with the sands of time, as you Search for Tomorrow, or you are feeling Young and Restless, get lost in the adventures of Starr and be taken over by all that is Tune in Tomorrow." – Emmy-nominated actor Gregory Zarian

"Dawn's Tune in Tomorrow is a ton of fun with a lot of heart, charming characters, and devilish foes. And it's funny as hell." – Zin E. Rocklyn, author of Flowers for the Sea

"Few authors can open the door to another world as easily as you might turn on the TV, but Randee Dawn has the key and the remote control firmly in her hand. Flip through the fae and the grindylows, let her be your TV guide and psychopomp. You will find yourself howling at the gate for a rerun." – Meg Elison, author of Number One Fan

"This book is a BOUNCY CASTLE! This book is like a candy store and a screwball comedy had a fling in fairyland and the result was a mythic soap opera! There was no predicting it, there was only riding this dragon all the way to its rollicking rollercoaster conclusion. How dear and joyous it is, how satisfying, and how worthy of praise!" – World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death's Daughter C.S.E. Cooney

"Dawn balances over-the-top drama and comedy with genuine intrigue to create a fun story with plenty of heart. Fans of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett will want to snatch this up." – Publishers Weekly

"Tune in Tomorrow is a hilariously well-constructed story with surprising complexity, and one that uses its reality TV premise not as a destination, but as a jumping off point to create something uniquely interesting that stays entertaining the entire way through." – Lightspeed Magazine

"Dawn’s witty take on society’s fascination with peering at life through a camera lens spotlights the sometimes-blurred intersection between fantasy and reality, all captured on video. Her playful narrative propels readers into the realm of alternate possibilities while questioning what is real and what is make-believe, and if we can even tell the difference." – BookTrib

Amazon-B&N-Bookbub-Goodreads

Excerpt
They twisted and turned so much Starr lost track of where she was, and Jason's strange mixture of delight and nervousness was starting to make her feel anxious. At last, she came to a hard halt in the middle of a hallway.
Jason tilted his head.

"Look, I get it. You're like a big VFX warehouse or something. I'm guessing Tune in Tomorrow is some kind of space opera on the web. But your showing me every nook and cranny and door hinge doesn't give me a clue about what's going on. What is this place?"

Jason took a dramatic pause and his green eyes lit up, "Tune in Tomorrow is many things to so many mythics. We are the longest-running, most-viewed reality TV show ever made in any dimension. We are made by mythics, for mythics—but starring humans."

"Reality?" Starr twitched. "With dragon puppets and robots?"

Jason started to speak, took a breath and paced up and down. Raised a finger, lowered it, then stopped in front of her. Cleared his throat. "It's been some time since I had to explain this to a human. Bear with me." He pushed open another door and gestured inside.
Starr planted her feet in the doorway. "Jason, this is a toilet."

"Yes, well, needs must. I don't have any other handy water."

He was speaking in riddles—and disappearing into a bathroom with a near-stranger was awkward at best, creepy at worst. Still, she didn't sense Jason was up to no good. He practically vibrated with excitement, or nerves, or both. Swallowing, Starr took the risk and stepped inside. The bathroom door swung closed behind them.

Jason turned on all four sinks in the room. Water cascaded from three; butterflies burst from the fourth. Starr gaped. Jason quickly shut that one off with a sheepish grin and turned his back on the sink. The butterflies disintegrated.
Starr blinked.

"You see," he raised his sing-song voice over the noise of the remaining water, "we adore human to'ings and fro'ings. We are the original fans of stories-without-end. Some hundreds of years ago when the Seelie came up with the idea of telling stories to mythics, they were known as Stories Of All Purpose, or for short –"
"SOAP," Starr realized. The room was starting to heat up and the mirrors fogged; Jason had apparently turned on only the hot water. She wondered where he was going with all this; the fantastical elements of his story were fanciful and charming, but silly. Maybe he was just being very method about the show. "You're making a soap opera?"

"Shh!" he quieted her, glancing around. "Yes—and no. That's how we started. But most mythics are self-cleaning. Bathing is a hobby, not a practice. SOAPs fell a bit out of fashion. Mythics wanted real human stories. Finally, once humans on your side of the Veil began writing their own TV shows, one of us—me, in fact—infiltrated a few writing rooms and discovered that you were doing what we'd been doing for years and calling it 'reality TV.' That fit us perfectly . Our viewers tune in because they believe we are telling real stories, and that's what keeps us going."

About the Author:
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Randee Dawn is an author, journalist, and lucky denizen of Brooklyn. Her first novel, the humorous pop-culture fantasy Tune in Tomorrow, published in August 2022 (Solaris/Rebellion).

Randee's short fiction has appeared in publications and podcasts including 3AM Magazine ("The View of My Brother's Profile in the Rear-View Mirror," 2001; "Warm, In Your Coat," 2004) and Well-Told Tales ("Home for the Holidays," 2015; "Can't Keep a Dead Man Down," 2017).

Dawn's stories have appeared in anthologies including Where We May Wag ("The Last Dog," Writing Piazza Press, 2018), Children of a Different Sky ("Can't Find My Way Home," Kos Books, 2018), Magic for Beginners ("Queen Zoe and the Spinning Game," Fantasia Divinity, 2019), Dim Shores Presents ("Rough Beast, Slouching," 2021), Another World: Stories of Portal Fantasy ("The Way Is Clear," SummerStorm Press, 2021), and Horror for the Throne: One-Sitting Reads ("Cat Person").

She has a short collection of dark speculative fiction short stories, "Home for the Holidays" (2014) and co-authored "The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion" (BenBella Books, 2009). She co-edited the speculative fiction anthology of "what if" stories about The Beatles, "Across the Universe: Tales of Alternative Beatles" (Fantastic Books, 2019).

When not making stuff up, Randee publishes entertainment profiles, reviews, and think pieces regularly in outlets including Variety, The Los Angeles Times, Today.com and Emmy Magazine, and writes trivia for BigBrain.

She can be found at RandeeDawn.com and @RandeeDawn (on Twitter).

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
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The Secrets of Roan Island by Maci Aurora and Thea Masen

We're celebrating the release of gothic fantasy romance, The Secrets of Roan Island by Thea Masen and Maci Aurora!

The Secrets of Roan Island 

by Maci Aurora and Thea Masen

November 21, 2024 

Genre: Gothic Fantasy/ Gaslamp/Romance

Outcast from her academic peers and at risk of losing her position at Essik College, Professor Ruby Rose appeals to the reclusive philanthropist Hammish Roan by asking for a grant. What she receives is a cryptic invitation to stay at Roan Island for the winter holiday. No matter how much the eerie mansion unnerves her, access to the Roans’ coveted library is worth facing her unsettling fears.

Mysterious and enigmatic, Noah Roan, the oldest of Hammish Roan’s sons, knows exactly what happens to women who come to their isolated estate. Especially those who stay until the Winter Solstice. No matter how hard he tries to get Ruby to leave, the infuriating and alluring woman insists on staying.

In a clash of will and desire, Ruby and Noah struggle to fight their attraction to each other. But their connection reveals dark and sinister secrets that draw the attention of the maniacal patriarch. Can they work together to out maneuver Hammish Roan, or will he destroy them both?

What you can expect to find in The Secrets of Roan Island:
A gothic mansion
Steampunk aesthetic
Morally gray alpha MMC
Academic FMC
Complex family dynamics
Wounded characters
"Who did this to you?"
He unalives someone for her
Possessive and Obsessed MMC
"Tell me to stop"
Primal chase scene
"Mine"

 

 READ NOW ON KU OR GET IT ON AMAZON 

 

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Excerpt: A Vampire’s Star (The Order of the Black Oak – Vampires, #5) by Marie-Claude Bourque + giveaway

A Vampire’s Star (The Order of the Black Oak – Vampires, #5)
by Marie-Claude Bourque
November 19th 2024
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
A VAMPIRE’S STAR: An Unexpected Pregnancy Slow-Burn Paranormal Romance

When music producer and banshee Tilly Davenport learns that her pregnancy puts her and her child at risk from evil sorcerers who would use her as sacrifice to unleash powerful magic, she has no choice but appear at her powerful vampire baby daddy’s concert to ask for his protection.

Easy-going Montreal immortal and rock star Cass St-Amand is shocked when his one-night flame shows up heavily pregnant with his child, disturbing his carefree lifestyle. But panic gets the best of him when a mysterious prophecy threatens the life of his expected child, and he vows to protect mother and baby at any cost.

If you love loyal tough guys with hearts, steadfast heroines and satisfying slow-burn paranormal romance, the Black Oak World is for you.

Goodreads / Purchase / Kindle

Series

 

EXCERPT:
Bell Center, Montreal, Québec
October, Present Time

Mathilda Ethel Davenport! Come on, girl. Tilly chided herself in the chilly, autumn night as she cradled her pregnant belly under the stark streetlights behind the Montreal Bell Center. It’s his child. He’s the only one who can keep you safe.

She rallied the courage she needed to dive into the horde of Cass St-Amand’s adoring fans waiting outside to catch a peek at their favorite rock star after his show.

The midnight air was crisp around her, the wind picking up a few dead maple leaves littering the concrete sidewalk. Yet the fall breeze did little to dilute the mixed scent of cheap perfume and body odor emanating from the boisterous mob awaiting their idol to exit the concert venue.

Standing amidst the downtown glass skyscrapers and centuries-old stone buildings, most of Cass’s superfans were not yet twenty-five, sporting jeans, leather jackets, or bodycon dresses under tiny coats.

Tilly winced and rubbed her belly once more. Her little munchkin was his baby alright. Conceived in the middle of a frigid winter, exactly thirty-six weeks ago today.

Would he believe it was his? Vampires, even immortal ones, did not father children.

Except that Cass had chosen to spend those few fateful nights not with just any woman, but a supernatural one—Tilly was a banshee.

One who walked with Death. Everything was possible.

She bit the inside of her mouth at the task ahead of her.

He had no idea she was pregnant with his child. How would he react?

He would have to acknowledge he was the father. But she’d cross that bridge when she’d get there. For now, she just had to reach him.

About the Author:
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Marie-Claude Bourque is a Montreal-born Seattle-based author of slow-burn paranormal romance and the winner of the American Title V award with her first novel ANCIENT WHISPERS.

Her writing features modern-day fantasy skillfully weaved into infinitely romantic supernatural stories between smart strong women and complex passionate heroes.

Happily Ever After always absolutely guaranteed!

GIVEAWAY!

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
    $25 Amazon gift card + Vampire Series Boxset
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The Horizon Experiment: Moon Dogs #1 from Image Comics

The Horizon Experiment: Moon Dogs #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 20

 

Writer: Tananarive Due 

Artists: Kelsey Ramsay, José Villarrubi 

Image Comics

The Horizon Experiment: Moon Dogs follows a Black family of lycanthropes of East African descent—who call themselves Moon Dogs—as older sister Nala, her parents, and her boyfriend try to protect her teen brother Kai as he gets caught in the middle of a burgeoning war between a savage pack of werewolves and the Miami police force. After a violent attack, Miami locals are starting to learn that werewolves are not just a myth, and Nala’s family—who are minorities within a minority—find themselves drawn into a very dangerous situation.

The Horizon Experiment: Moon Dogs explores themes of privilege, power, and oppression, highlighting sharpened conflicts over identity and community in society, told through the lens of a werewolf story. Like the other titles in The Horizon Experiment, this one-shot serves as the equivalent of a pilot for a creator-owned series, with the potential of continuing should there be demand for more. Along with an original cover by Ramsay and Villarrubia, the issue will feature variant covers by Eisner Award-winning artist Tula Lotay, part of a series of connecting variant covers across all five Horizon Experiment one-shots.

ABOUT TANANARIVE DUE
The "Octavia Butler of horror," Tananarive Due has been a leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years. Her novel The Living Blood won an American Book Award and she has also won an NAACP Image Award, a World Fantasy Award, and a British Fantasy Award. She also has had her writing included in multiple best-of-the-year anthologies. Having written for TV, she is also an executive producer on the groundbreaking documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. Her latest novel The Reformatory has debuted to rave reviews, earning praise from such horror luminaries as Stephen King. With her husband/collaborator, Steven Barnes, she co-authored the graphic novel The Keeper. The Horizon Experiment: Moon Dogs, published by Image Comics, marks her first solo full-length writing in comics.

ABOUT KELSEY RAMSAY
Illustrator Kelsey Ramsay exploded on the comics scene with works featured in Joan Jett and The Black Hearts 40 x 40: I Love Rock n’ Roll and FAB Breakout Book 1: Mad World before becoming one of the most sought after artists in comics and illustrating Dark Spaces: Good Deeds, part of IDW’s Dark Spaces imprint curated by comics superstar Scott Snyder. Alongside award-winning horror writer Tananarive Due, Kelsey is making her Image Comics debut with the werewolf comic The Horizon Experiment: Moon Dogs.

ABOUT JOSÉ VILLARRUBIA
Harvey Award winner José Villarrubia is one of the most respected colorists in comics. In his prolific twenty-five-year career, he has often collaborated with artists Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), Paul Pope (Batman: Year 100), Jae Lee (Fantastic Four: 1234), and Richard Corben (Cage). As illustrator and photographer, he has worked with Alan Moore on Voice of the Fire and The Mirror of Love, and on the comics series Promethea. José is the colorist for The Horizon Experiment: Moon Dogs, written by Tananarive Due and illustrated by Kelsey Ramsay, published by Image Comics.

New Release: Vice and Void (The Savage Wolves Brotherhood Book 1) by Sadie Hewitt

Vice and Void (The Savage Wolves Brotherhood Book 1)
by Sadie Hewitt
November 19, 2024
Genre: Adult Fantasy/ Motorcycle Club Romance
Second chance romance
Vigilante motorcycle club
Stolen blood magic
Banished gods
Science vs. alchemy
Touch her and
He has her name tattooed on him

Dakota Montgomery knew she should have steered clear of The Savage Wolves Brotherhood. Now with a promising start to her career, the vow she made twelve years ago to keep her distance remains stronger than ever. But when her best friend suspiciously disappears, and her father dismisses her concerns, Dakota is forced to seek help from the vigilante motorcycle club and its second-in-command: her former flame, Callum Reynolds.

Callum Reynolds, still bearing the scars of nine wrongful years in prison, has his own reasons to assist Dakota Montgomery. A feud for territory with the club’s rival has caused a severe setback: the loss of their distillation warehouse. With Dakota’s Alchemist skills, there’s a chance to restore the stock before the Vanguard Syndicate comes to collect. In return, Callum pledges to use his network to investigate the disappearance of her best friend. However, any connection with Dakota or her Iron Guard father could jeopardize his hard-earned freedom.

The agreement with the Brotherhood thrusts Dakota into a treacherous underworld, where illicit alchemy and experimental magic fuels a dangerous game of depravity and addiction. Dakota must race against time to unravel the mystery of her best friend’s disappearance before it consumes her entirely–or worse, entangles her with Callum Reynolds and the Brotherhood for good.

Set in a modern-day world where the blood of extinct mythical creatures advances the creation of distillations, Sons of Anarchy meets occult science in this second-chance adult fantasy romance.

Amazon

About the Author:
website
Sadie Hewitt loves to write in urban paranormal fantasy and fantasy romance. Her books will always include powerful women, morally gray men, found families, and a sprinkle (or pour) of magic and spice. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two feral dogs.

When she's not thinking of ways to crush her readers completely, you can find Sadie scaling mountains worldwide, catching up on her own TBR, and checking out the local coffee shops.