Book Review: Christmas Magic Paperback by Pamela K Kinney (Author), Brit Austin (Illustrator)

Christmas Magic Paperback
by Pamela K Kinney (Author), Brit Austin (Illustrator)
October 31, 2023
44 pages
Publisher: Little Dreamers
Genre: Children's Christmas Books, Children's Folk Tales & Myths
The Season of Christmas is not just for humans. It is a season of joy for things natural and unnatural, too.

Join the celebration!

Award-winning author Pamela K. Kinney's first children's book is wonderfully, magically illustrated by independent artist Brit Austin.

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A charming telling about how the magical faerie world celebrates the season along with the human Christmas celebrations. The illustrations are black and white...would love to see a brightly colored version!

4 "magical" Sheep

SharonS

About the Author:
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Pamela K. Kinney gave up long ago trying not to listen to the voices in her head and has written award-winning bestselling horror, fantasy, science fiction, poetry, nonfiction ghost books, and a cryptid book ever since. Three of her nonfiction ghost books garnered Library of Virginia nominations. Her horror short story, "Bottled Spirits," was runner up for the 2013 WSFA Small Press Award and is considered one of the seven best genre short fiction for that year. One of her ghost books went to second printing and second edition with new stories and photos added.

Pamela and her husband live with one crazy black cat. Along with writing, Pamela has acted on stage and film, does paranormal investigations for Paranormal World Seekers for AVA Productions, and is a member of Horror Writers Association and Virginia Writers Club. Learn more about Pamela K. Kinney at https://PamelaKKinney.com.

UF Author W. T. Watson: Cliché pet peeves in romance, horror, scifi…

Cliché pet peeves in romance, horror, scifi…

My pet peeve in fantasy is very straightforward; I do not understand the trope of vampires as romantic partners. Here’s my take on someone’s saucy friend trying to talk them out of a really bad decision.

I’m sorry but there is nothing sexy about a blood sucking parasite, no matter how old he is, how nice his clothes are or how great his freaking abs are! Honey, he does not want to be your man, he wants the contents of your veins and, like every other manipulative jerk out there, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Nothing!

And let’s not forget that this guy is dead. The only way you are going to get him warm for you, darlin’, is if he has had a donation earlier in the evening (so he is cheating by default). Otherwise, he needs you to contribute and, I expect that being a few pints low does nothing for your libido later in the evening.

I mean seriously who wants to date a fellow who can’t go out in the daytime? No romantic picnics and rolls in the hay on a lazy summer afternoon for you, darlin’. Not unless you enjoy watching your beau go up in flames. I would think that might ruin the mood.

That whole, ‘meet me in the graveyard at midnight’ thing might be fun for a while, but it does nothing for your bone density as you get old. You need to get out in the sun and get that Vitamin D, girl!

And besides, how many times have you told me that you were a morning person? This whole staying up all night thing is giving you bags under your eyes and I am sure Prince Chomps A Lot is digging that, hmmm?

Oh, wait, he promised you eternal life? Think about that for a minute . . . I’ll wait . . .

That’s all well and good but eternity is a long time, darlin’. He’s all full of dark passion and romance now, while its new, but what do you think will happen in a hundred years, huh? I’ll tell you; you will be a lonely bloodsucker who is beholden to some freaking Master who quit caring about you decades ago.

And then there is the Master thing. Seriously?! You wouldn’t even let your last boyfriend choose the location for dinner dates. Now you are going to let some blood sucker lord it over you for centuries?

I seriously think you need your head examined, girl. Wait, what do you mean it’s too late? Oh, hell, good thing I had to extra garlic with dinner. I thought you were looking a little pale tonight . . .

Hunting The Beast
by W. T. Watson
March 5. 2021
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Beyond The Fray Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-954528-02-4
ASIN: B08Y76T3QF
Number of pages: 220
Word Count: 64,934
Cover Artist: L Douglas Hogan

Werewolves, cryptid creatures and a protagonist straight out of the pages of lore!

An ancient evil stalks the Adirondacks…

A ghost hunter is faced with events she has never seen before…

A private investigator is not at all what he seems…

When Zachary Collins agrees to help the head of Buffalo Paranormal Investigations with a hostile haunting, he has no idea he will be immersing himself in the hunt for an ancient monster or that the monster may be hunting him.

Zach will need all of his skill, both magical and mundane, to keep his client alive and to survive Hunting the Beast.

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Excerpt
Stakeouts are not the most interesting part of my jobs but, on this night, the surveillance duty was alright. It was warm for an October night in Buffalo and Chippewa street was alive with a number of interesting characters. I took a sip of the hot Jamaican Blue I had picked up from the local coffee shop and scanned the street again, trying to parse a werewolf out of the crowd of students and young professionals moving up and down the street.

I’d been told by one of the local witches, a frequent information source, that she had seen a wolf that she did not recognize from the local pack at The Palmero, the local metal bar. Now, it was possible that Alonso Martinez, the Buffalo Pack Alpha, had inducted a new member but, if so, I should have been informed. I am, after all, the Buffalo Region’s Black Dog and I am responsible for enforcing the Charter, the laws of the Otherworld, on the werewolf population.

Whether Alonso was holding out on me or we had a rogue wolf in our midst, I needed to know about it so I had been watching the Palermo for several evenings, hoping to encounter the mysterious werewolf.

I had finished my third cup of coffee and was beginning to think that this night was a wash when I spotted the wolf. He had come around the corner from Delaware slowly. He was a young man of average height incongruously wearing aviator shades in the dark night. It was not the silliness of the sunglasses at night that cued me; it was the fact that as soon as he got close to the human crowds people formed an unconscious ring around him.

Humans have worked hard to become rational beings, to ignore the things that go bump in the night, but they have not evolved so far that they do not recognize a predator in their midst. The boy did not even have enough control to damp his inner carnivore so that he could mix with human society. That made him a rogue and my job now was to bring him in.

I exited the car slowly, conscious that sudden movement might alert the werewolf and moved across the street. Even an untrained wolf had uncannily sharp senses so I checked to make certain the wind was blowing in my face before moving closer to my target. I had dressed in black so I blended with the Goth crowd outside the Palermo until I was directly behind my subject. Speaking softly enough that nonhuman ears could not hear me, I murmured, “ Listen carefully and do not move. I know what you are. Stand quietly and I promise you that no harm will come to you . . .

About the Author:

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W. T. Watson is a coffee addict and writer of both fiction and non-fiction. He infuses his work with his expertise in cryptozoology, monster lore, magic, Forteana and the paranormal. W.T. brings a unique shamanic and magical perspective to all of his work after over 30 years of exploration in these topics. When he is not writing or reading about monsters, he can be found outdoors allowing his dogs to take him for a walk around his neighbourhood in Kitchener, Ontario. He lives with his spouse, Stacey, in a townhome that would be jammed with books if it weren’t for e-readers.

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HUNTING THE BEAST by @WTWatson2 is available now!

An ancient evil stalks the Adirondacks

A ghost hunter is faced with events that she had never seen before...

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New Release: Retro Horror Anthology

Anubis Press has released the Kindle of Retro Horror, which includes Pamela Kinney's short story: 

"Hunting the Goat Man"

Find out what teenager Jake discovers is the real truth concerning the urban legend, the Goat Man

Retro Horror
by Gregg Chamberlain, Pedro Iniguez, Gordon Grice, Jacob Floyd, Jenny Floyd, Kenneth Bykerk, Angela Yuriko Smith, Stanley Webb, Pamela K. Kinney, William Carl 
October 6, 2020
Genre: horror, mythology, folk tales

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Retro Horror…

Where monsters battle for supremacy; where the hand of evil touches all; where one gets lost in their own madness.

Remember when horror used to keep you up at night as it flickered from your television set, packed with ghouls, ghosts, demons, and madmen? Well, we have many late-night terrors for you, dear reader, if you dare to turn these pages. We have water monsters, trees with eyes, cryptid creatures, and hybrid horrors. Be prepared to face reanimated bodies, mad scientists, and barbarous butchers. If you’re not afraid to face the horrible beasts and frightening fiends herein, sit back and get ready because Retro Horror has arrived.

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We are an independent publisher that focuses on paranormal nonfiction. We will soon have imprints for certain fiction genres, as well. If you have anything paranormal you would like us to consider for publication, email us at anubispress@yahoo.com.

Anubis Press was created by Jacob and Jenny Floyd, a couple of ghost hunters, authors, and tour operators in Louisville, Kentucky. They own and operate Jacob Floyd's Shepherdsville History and Haunts Tour and Jacob Floyd's NuLu History and Haunts Tour. Their book, Louisville's Strange and Unusual Haunts, has been well received. With so many ideas and projects in the works, they decided to begin their own press and publish their work in DIY fashion. Their goal is to build a reputable publishing company specializing in paranormal nonfiction and all facets of the horror genre.

Cover Reveal: Hunt of the Gods (Areios Brothers #2) by Amy Braun

Hunt of the Gods (Areios Brothers #2)
by Amy Braun
June 4, 2019
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
Two months have passed since Derek Areios—war-scion and heir of Ares—and the band of rogue scions he’s aligned with recovered both the Thunderbolt of Zeus and the Heart of the Devourer and returned them to the Gods. During the battle, Derek discovered he could control not only the element of fire, as all war-scions can, but also the dark element “aether,” making him the only scion alive to wield two types of elemental magic.

Commanded by Zeus to retrieve the Trinity Weapons and the Shards of Cronus, Derek and the rogue scions are thwarted in their goal by a gang of water-scions with a grudge against one of the rogues—Thea, heir of Poseidon. Both groups travel to an uninhabited island to recover one of the Shards––the Eye that belonged to Cronus, King of the Titans. But what they encounter will lead them down a path of brutal betrayals, hard truths, painful memories, and desperate actions.

With angry and impatient gods breathing down his neck, a curse that allows Ares to control him, a prophecy he’s desperate to avoid, a magic spear corrupting his thoughts, and two forms of elemental magic, Derek has a lot of baggage—and a lot of power. Will the price of using that power to satisfy the Gods be too much for him to pay?

Mythological monsters, explosive magic, and devastating truths take center stage in the second novel of the action-packed AREIOS BROTHERS series from Amy Braun.

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Amy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action.

When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction, and diving headfirst into danger in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.

Release Day: Once Upon A Rebel Fairytale

Once Upon a Rebel Fairytale
Author: Multi Authors
October 23, 2018
Genre: Paranormal Fairytale
Cinderella has a dark secret. The Little Mermaid loses more than her voice. And Little Red Riding Hood isn't so little anymore.

Join our heroes and heroines as they travel through the underworld to Mars, rescue damsels in distress, and battle deadly foes in ONCE UPON A REBEL FAIRYTALE, a limited edition collection of beloved stories from today's bestselling authors.

Inside these pages, you'll find 22 action-packed fairytale retellings that rebel against tradition, from dark and gritty paranormal romances to sexy and thrilling supernatural fantasies.

The princesses, queens, kings, and villains of your childhood return in these adrenaline-spiking spins on your favorite bedtime tales.

But reader beware: these fairytales are not for the faint of heart.

Come party with us here: 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/2069107013338335

Participating Authors: 

New York Times bestselling author, Jamie Campbell 

Tate James writing with C.M. Stunich 

G. Bailey writing with Cece Rose 

USA Today bestselling author Ivy Quinn writing with Megan Hussey 

USA Today bestselling author Carysa Locke writing with Lucy Smoke

USA Today bestselling author, Isra Sravenheart

RITA Award Winner Sharon Ashwood 

Liz Gavin 

Mary E. Twomey 

Russell Nohelty

Adrienne Woods

Erin West

Helen Scott

Stephanie Morris

Madeline Freeman 

Sadie Carter 

India Kells 

Cailin Briste 

Elle Middaugh 

Tigris Eden writing with Misha Elliott 

Caroline A. Gill 

Siera London 

Grace White

Buy Links:

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Universal Link: http://books2read.com/rebelfairytale

Read a free sample here: 

https://claims.instafreebie.com/free/80d18LDl

Book Review: The Mermaid by Christina Henry

The Mermaid

by Christina Henry
June 19, 2018
336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
From the author of Lost Boy comes a beautiful historical fairy tale about a mermaid who leaves the sea, only to become the star attraction of history's greatest showman.

Once there was a mermaid called Amelia who could never be content in the sea, a mermaid who longed to know all the world and all its wonders, and so she came to live on land. 

Once there was a man called P. T. Barnum, a man who longed to make his fortune by selling the wondrous and miraculous, and there is nothing more miraculous than a real mermaid.


Amelia agrees to play the mermaid for Barnum and walk among men in their world, believing she can leave anytime she likes. But Barnum has never given up a money-making scheme in his life, and he's determined to hold on to his mermaid.

The Mermaid is Christina’s Henry’s most recent retelling of beloved fairy/folk tales and heroes. Henry has taken on Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and now P.T. Barnum. The Mermaid tells the tale of a mermaid’s life on land as well as her subsequent exploitation at the hands of an enterprising and unscrupulous P.T. Barnum.

Amelia is a curious mermaid looking for more. She settles into a blissful, quiet domesticity as the wife of a costal fisherman. But when Amelia finds herself widowed but unaged, she longs to widen her world. She is offered a feature spot in P.T. Barnum’s museum of amusements and she reluctantly takes the position as a means to an end. Predictably, Amelia soon becomes acquainted with the cold, cruel world of humans.

I enjoyed The Mermaid for its subtle, nuanced storytelling. Henry is a true literary figure along fantasy writers. The book, however, lacked the magic and gripping storyline of her previous two retellings. Despite her integration into the human world, Amelia retains her secretive, closed-off character. While this is suitable in establishing the story, it makes it difficult for the reader to form an attachment. Feeling ‘other’ or ‘misfit,’ however, is a definite touchstone for readers.

Though this story takes place in the mid-1800s, it’s remarkable how applicable it is to a contemporary reader. The ideas of prejudice, exploitation, celebrity as commodity, and feminism are all integral pieces to the story. Amelia is the perfect vehicle to embody ideals far ahead of her time. She isn’t the popularized picture of a mermaid; buxom with a sea shell bikini, but rather something otherworldly, curious, and deadly. Amelia is afforded a feminist sensibility in this time and place because she alien and other: “All she’d found was that women spent a great deal of time saying they were pleased when they were not, smiling when they were not happy, and pretending their anger and frustration did not exist.”

Readers expecting a reprisal of P.T. Barnum as imagined by The Greatest Showman will be sorely disappointed. Henry’s Barnum is a self-interested, conniving business man who cares little for anyone or anything other than himself. Henry assumes a much more critical voice regarding the history of this man and his questionable and exploitive practices.

Review: Alice (The Chronicles of Alice #1)
Review: Red Queen (The Chronicles of Alice #2)
Review: Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook

Four Sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:

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CHRISTINA HENRY is the author of the national bestselling BLACK WINGS (Ace/Roc) series featuring Agent of Death Madeline Black and her popcorn-loving gargoyle Beezle. She is also the author of the forthcoming dark fantasy ALICE (Ace Trade).

She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.

Spotlight: Her Dragon To Slay (Dragon Guard Series Book 1) by Julia Mills

Her Dragon To Slay (Dragon Guard Series Book 1)

by Julia Mills

November 20, 2013

204 pages
The books in this epic saga can be read as stand-alone stories, or you can experience all the love, thrills, and exploits of the whole series from beginning to end. It's up to you. ENJOY!

Sassy and stubborn have gotten Kyndel through everything life had to throw at her. Will her moxie help when destiny falls at her feet? 

Hundreds of years of loyalty to Dragon Guard have made Rayne a fearless leader. When the long foretold pull of his mate rocks the Commander’s world to its core will he be able to save her from his enemies in time? 

The chemistry between this strong-willed curvy girl and fierce warrior makes all the difference in the world where nothing is as it seems. The existence of an ancient race of honor-clad, tradition-bound protectors might be hard to accept but now the dead are coming back to life and holding a knife to her neck. 

Can these fated mates defeat their greatest enemies and get their happily ever after? 

Fate Will Not Be Denied!!

Warning: This book contains several love scenes and is intended for mature readers 18+.

Amazon link to all Dragon Guard Books

About the Author: 
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Hey, Y'all! Julia Mills, the Sassy Southern Storyteller here. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Just a little bit about me - I'm Southern to the bone, love my children more than life itself, and adopt animals like most people collect dust bunnies. (Oh come on, we've all got them under one bed or another.) I came by the tagline Sassy, Southern Storyteller honestly and many years before I ever started writing. (My dad thought it was a hilarious nickname for his kindergarten teaching daughter.)

I live by three simple rules - (1) Treat people how you want to be treated. (2) Smile lots. (3) Try everything, 'cause hearses don't have luggage racks.

Now, go out there and create your own story!!! Dare to Dream! Have the Strength to Try EVERYTHING! Never Look Back!

I ABSOLUTELY adore talking to readers!

Spotlight: Moon Crossed: Complete First Season (Crescent Hunter Book 1) by Bella Roccaforte

Moon Crossed: Complete First Season (Crescent Hunter Book 1) 

by Bella Roccaforte

April 17, 2015

568 pages

"For Though we dwell in the same darkness our song will forever be a discordant symphony, barely perceived."

The first six books in the Crescent Hunter Series!

Claire O'Conlan is a hunter, her kind were created to protect humans from feral werewolves. She's desperate to find a cure for the moon-touch. Until she does, the hunt won't stop.

Despite being raised among supernatural creatures, Claire is determined to make college as normal as possible. But childhood habits die hard. She can't seem to stay away from the wolf-borne, and worse, she's falling in love with Cole Jackson, the big bad wolf.

Claire can't resist the undeniable fire Cole ignites within her. They are falling headlong into a forbidden love affair. Hunter and wolf, a dangerous combination inciting war between factions, action from the council and the biggest risk of all, Claire fulfilling her duty and being the hunter that kills Cole.

***This book contains some adult language and violence and is PG13***

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About the Author:

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Bella's motto has always been that you can choose to watch life pass you by or your can be the one spinning the world. You have to get out and live, life won't come to you!

Bella has always seen things in the world with a different view and has been an avid story-teller. She is enjoying putting her crazy musings.

Release Day: A Curse of Flames (Fae Academy Book 2) by Sophia Shade

A Curse of Flames (Fae Academy Book 2)

by Sophia Shade

February 22, 2018

260 pages

Publisher: Evershade Publishing

Imogen is Dark Blessed… and bad things happen to those who are Dark Blessed… When Imogen returns to her second year at Callador, she immediately senses the looming, threatening darkness ebracing her school. A vision from last year promised yet another death, but the killing won’t stop there. If Imogen can’t figure out who the killer is, the murders may never stop. And her friends might be next. Her only hope for saving them lies in her curse of being Dark Blessed, but revealing her true nature could destroy her life forever. But what’s a girl to do when her number one suspect is the guy she doesn’t even realize she’s falling for? 

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A Curse of Fire Book One

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About the Author:

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Sophia Shade is the enchanting author of the Fae Academy world. She lives beyond the Shadow Veil with the students, teachers, and creatures who attend Callador: Academy of the Aos Sí. When not writing, she spends her time battling darkness to save her newfound friends and family from the mysterious force that wants to drain all magic from Faerie once and for all.

The Legendary Saga by L.H. Nicole (YA Fantasy) + giveaway

Legendary (The Legendary Series Book 1)

by LH Nicole

February 25, 2014

286 pages

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Aliana Fagan spent her childhood traveling the world, dreaming of legendary heroes and mythical lands. But after the sudden death of her parents, she hides behind the safety of her camera and her art until a vivid recurring dream compels her to dig into her father’s research about Avalon and Camelot. When she is hurled into a magical realm by forces she thought were only the stuff of fairy tales, she finds herself thrown into an adventure she could never have imagined. Nearly everything she thought she knew about Arthurian legend was wrong.

The independent eighteen-year-old is shocked to find that the people of Avalon think that she is the Destined One, the only person who can summon King Arthur back to life from his hidden chamber. Most surprising of all is that it’s up to her to lead the Knights of the Round Table on an epic quest–an adventure that will transport them across the seven magic realms to reclaim all that has been lost so they can defeat the evil Mordrid for good. But first, she must bring the ancient warriors into her world and reunite them with their lost brothers. Chaperoning the legendary knights-with-a-chivalry-complex as they navigate the modern world is a constant challenge, and she certainly never thought she’d be caught between her intense feelings for the noble Sir Galahad and her growing friendship with the King.

To fulfill the prophecy, Aliana will have to discover the meaning of friendship, bravery, loyalty, true love, and forgiveness. But can she do it all in time to save the realms from Mordrid’s impending Armageddon?

$.99

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Claiming Excalibur (The Legendary Series Book 2)

by L.H. Nicole

December 16, 2014

345 pages

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Aliana Fagan has done what many thought impossible: she’s awakened King Arthur from his fifteen-hundred-year sleep, reunited the Knights of the Round Table, and even beaten Mordrid and Morgana LeFay in battle.

But the Destined One’s quest has only begun.

Before the knights can "unearth and reclaim their lost relics" they must survive the trip to Charleston, South Carolina and meet the newest member of the Round Table. If King Arthur’s men thought Aliana and Lacy were tenacious, they'll be even more surprised by Dawn, the third member of the fem-trio.

Deadly secrets, unexpected allies, and a traitor lurking in the shadows await Aliana and the new Round Table as they continue their search for Excalibur. Their only clue is a beyond confusing poem from a mysterious book that speaks of a terrifying creature guarding the legendary sword. Trying to build a somewhat normal relationship with Sir Galahad adds a whole new level of complexity to Aliana’s task, especially when several among them suspect the White Knight may not be wholly himself. Her friendship with King Arthur grows closer, and when circumstances become intense, he may finally get the chance with Aliana that he’s been pining for.

Mysteries, legendary quests, and haunting memories will either unite the members of the New Round Table or fracture their bonds. Aliana and her crew only have seven months before the planets align and Mordrid can seize the power he needs to conquer the seven realms. Can the Destined One keep her new family together and lead Arthur to his destiny of saving the realms? Or will a centuries-old plot for revenge finally spell the king’s end?

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Relics of Camelot (The Legendary Series Book 3)

by L.H. Nicole

March 29, 2016

364 pages

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Making a devil’s bargain with a Fae queen is a dangerous thing.

Thrown back to the golden days of Camelot, Aliana needs to find the object that will lead her and the Knights of the Round Table to the Grail of Power. But Aliana, the Destined One, must also figure out and complete a mysterious task before she can return to her own time. The consequences of revealing Camelot’s future to King Arthur or any member of the Round Table family could be devastating, and keeping the future a secret becomes harder by the day. She is forced to keep her secrets, feeling more alone than ever, even with the support of her new friends and allies. With the unwelcome knowledge of their looming deaths, will she be able to resist the temptation to save the people she loves?

While she is trying to figure out her purpose for being sent to the past, the attentions of Sir Galahad and King Arthur continue to be a delightful yet confusing distraction. Her feelings for Arthur—even this version of him who doesn’t know her—continue to grow. The sparking sensation she’d normally felt whenever she touched Sir Galahad is mysteriously missing, but she can’t deny a continued connection with the protective knight.

Weapons powerful enough to destroy even Excalibur surface, along with a shadowy figure that even seems to have influence over Mordrid. The time of the eclipse grows ever closer and everything Aliana thought she knew will once again be tossed into question as she continues on her legendary quest.

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A King Will Rise (Legendary Series #4) 

by L.H. Nicole

December 27, 2016

384 pages

The war is about to begin. Whose colors will you fly as a King rises?

Aliana, Dagg, and the New Round Table are so close. The alignment is only weeks away. All they need is to find the Grail of Power and unite the seven realms, but Mordrid is drawing ever closer and victory is far from assured.
All the bonds, questions, and betrayals will come to a head as the new Knights of the Round Table prepare for the final battle. To win, Aliana will have to do what hasn't been done in over three millennia: claim the power of the alignment and use it to either save the realms or raze them to the ground.

Join Aliana, and her family and allies, for the final installment of their Legendary quest.

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About the Author:

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L.H. Nicole is a seasoned Pastry Chef at the happiest place on earth and a lifelong fairytale (Disney and Grimm) lover. She believes in love at first sight, is addicted to 80’s & 90’s cartoons and anything that can capture her ADD-way-to-overactive-imagination. Joan Lowery Nixon and L.J. Smith were the first authors she became addicted to and who inspired her to steal away whenever she could to read and write.

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Book Review: Veiled (Veiled Book 1) by Stacey Rourke

Veiled (Veiled Book 1)
by Stacey Rourke
Nov 6, 3017
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Cover Designer: Wicked Book Covers
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR
Political propaganda would have us believe vampires are our friends. Fanged teddy bears misunderstood thanks to archaic lore. Activists picket for them to be welcomed into our society.

They claim vamps don't kill.

They preach we are safe.

They ... are dead wrong.

One year ago a hive slaughtered my family and left me for dead. Found by a team of scientists with their own agenda, I was forged into an unstoppable weapon.

I possess their strength, with none of their weaknesses.

I can move among them free from their crippling hunger.

I am their greatest threat.

Armed with this arsenal, vengeance will feed my desire to penetrate the seedy underbelly of their fetishized lifestyle and expose them for the monsters they truly are.

Vincenza “Vinx” Larrow is a biologically engineered vampire sponsored by an elusive benefactor with endless wealth. Vinx is born as a vampress after a hive of Nosferatu slaughter her family leaving her for dead. Barely clinging to life, Vinx is injected with a serum affording her vampiric rebirth minus some of the traditional vampire weaknesses. Her life purpose shifts drastically as she begins her life as an anti-vampire operative; a role she eagerly accepts as she seeks retribution for her family’s seemingly senseless murder.

Veiled is a thrilling new urban fantasy with many parallels to current cultural climate. The storytelling alternates between past and present giving readers insight into Vinx’s transformation. The non-linear storyline lends complexity and interest to the book. I feel, however, there was something missing in relationship development between characters, particularly Vinx and Carter, a reporter and member of her inner circle. While I think it’s okay for readers to fill in the blanks, I enjoy relationship dynamics in a book, especially romantic tension. In this case, the Vinx/Carter pairing kind of misses the mark.

Rourke injects Veiled with a litany of political and social concerns. Issues of discrimination, cultural appropriation, media ethics, sexual consent, gun control, poverty, domestic terrorism, and racism are raised within the context of the story. Vampires in Veiled are fighting for equality in human society, seeking to pass the Nosferatu Presumption of Innocence Bill. The plight of vamps is an echo of many of the issues relevant in the real world. While it’s a bit of a bombardment of all the issues, it distinguishes the book as more informed. I appreciate Rourke’s boldness in creating this microcosm of social awareness.

Veiled’s biggest strength is its wild and complex plot. While many answers are offered in Veiled, so many more questions remain. The layers of conspiracy and intrigue are mind-bending and I look forward to peeking past the veil in the second installment, Vlad.

Four Sheep

Bianca Greenwood

EXCERPT
“Comparing us to aberrant criminals? How do you justify making such a bold leap?”

“With centuries of murders, torture, and feedings!” he exploded, hopping in his seat as if suppressing the urge to leap onto the tabletop and douse me with holy water. “All of these vile acts have been committed under the teachings of your demonic demi-god, Vlad Draculesti. Your immortal Lord Impaler.”

One corner of my mouth tugged back in a knowing smirk. “And no one has ever killed, maimed, or committed genocide in the name of Christ?”

“It’s a sorry argument to use our history against us!”

“Yes, it is!” I vehemently agreed. “And yet that is exactly what humans subject us to. You fault us for the mistakes our kind has made in the past, mocking our deity without truly understanding his teachings. Meanwhile, you fetishize our culture and use it in your foreplay. Statistically speaking, human on human deaths outweigh vampire-on-human deaths twenty-three hundred to one. And why is that? Because humans take their passions too far, while when we pair with a human we focus on building a lasting relationship built on trust, safety, and security.”

“Humans you keep around for feeding and screwing!” my opponent hollered, spittle bubbling in the corners of his mouth. “You’re vicious killers!”

“My apologies to our viewers for that use of inappropriate language,” the prim and poised moderator stated into the camera before fixing her critical gaze on the frothing conservative. “Mayor Donaldson, I again ask you to control these outbursts or we will have no choice but to conclude our debate.”

Before his mouth could open to protest further, I leaned in and caught him with my narrowed gaze. “Show me proof. Where is the recorded documentation of these crimes you’re accusing us of? I tell you what, while you hunt to find that, I will wander into any costume shop or Halloween store and snag a set of fangs and a gothic cape that misrepresent us as night prowling fiends. The so-called facts you are basing your viewpoint on are myths formulated by your own kind to make us these legendary creatures that go bump in the night. Thank you, for granting me more power than I can fathom. That said, you should know I can’t turn into a bat, I spend as much time in front of the mirror as the next gal, and I enjoy a few extra shakes of garlic on my pasta. I’m not a monster, Mayor Donaldson. I am a vampire citizen who wants the same rights you take for granted.”

About the Author:

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RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012

Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013

Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Adapted for Film. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.