A Dance and a Kiss Jolt Their Fate

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“. . . Keeping Madeline in his arms, Joe guided her into an East Coast Swing. He found it refreshing that she knew the steps. Not many of the women he’s dated did. He had to work extra hard to maneuver them around the dance floor. It got to the point where he just didn’t bother dancing. Now, he realized how much he missed it or maybe he finally found the right partner.

Madeline’s eyes sparkled as he spun her around. He winced at how much he liked making her smile. What the hell! Focus, damn it! Don’t get carried away!”

***

“. . . In a formal dance position, Madeline shivered slightly at Joe’s warm hand on her waist. His other holding hers set a wave of heat to her face. She craved more of his touch. She gently squeezed his bicep and shoulder. Even through his suit jacket, she felt his taut muscles.

She inhaled his cologne mixed with his sweat from drumming earlier. He oozed a chemical attraction. As a neuroscientist, she had read about the effects of pheromones. Fascinated, she wanted to lean in closer to taste his neck. She blinked and stiffened slightly. Calm down! Joe was here officially as an agent of the FBI. And she would not become one of those women in his phone. It didn’t surprise her that Joe knew how to dance. She supposed it was another way of impressing women. And, damn, if it wasn’t working. . . .”

***

Learn more about their romance

in my stand-alone thriller Chemical Attraction

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Review: Mythic Maiden Series by C.K. Brooke #YoungAdultNovels #RomanceNovels

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The retelling of these myths and legends is woman power at its finest. I bought the first three novels for my sixteen-year-old niece. She graciously let me read them first. I know she’s going to love them. It’ll also solidify my status as her favorite aunt.

Secrets of Artemis

In Ancient Greece, the goddess Artemis was venerated as a maiden huntress, swift with her bow and arrows, and eternally chaste. But could there be more to her story? Perhaps Lady Artemis had envisioned quite a different destiny than the one her father, Zeus, had chosen for her. What if she hadn’t merely pined after the giant huntsman, Orion, but had secretly partaken of a forbidden romance with him?

My Review

A creative way to bring mythology to life in the retelling of the Greek Goddess Artemis. An entertaining story perfect for the young adult reader.

I, Guinevere

On the winter solstice, a mysterious sword appears in a stone. Not even the mightiest of the village men can remove it, until fifteen-year-old Guinevere gives a try. The sword heeds the unsuspecting maiden, proclaiming the unthinkable: She is the blood of Pendrakon, heir to the vacant throne of Camylot.

Guinevere never dreamed she was royalty. Now, between apprenticing an eccentric old wizard, swordplay lessons with a boy called Lance, and clandestine meetings with the formidable High Priestess of Avalon, Guinevere is swept up in a whirlwind of training and preparation for her monumental new role as future queen. But invasions by barbarians and visitations from mysterious, dark forces loom overhead. Can Guinevere defend her kingdom against darkness and deception? Despite sinister forces working against her, can she harness the power to wield Exkalibur and rule the realm? Or is Camylot already destined to fall?

My Review

Equal parts romance, suspense, and mystery in the retelling of the King Arthur legend. Another wonderful story for the young adult reader.

Marian, Princess Thief

Lady Marian, once the beloved Princess of Sherwood, was only sixteen when her father rode off to fight in the Crusades, leaving his kingdom under the despotic rule of his brother, Prince John. The night her uncle sends an assassin upon her, Marian flees to Sherwood Forest, where she meets and forges an unbreakable bond with six other outlawed young women.

Now, the nineteen-year-old princess-in-exile and her Merry Maidens gallivant through the greenwood, cloaked under the aliases of Rob-in-Hood and his Merry Men. Together, they uphold their vendetta of mischief, undermining the Prince at every turn, robbing the rich and giving to the poor—all while outrunning their sworn nemesis, the odious Sheriff of Nottingham. After a scheme takes an unexpected turn and Marian’s only recourse is to abduct the Sheriff, the lady brigands find themselves in over their heads, stuck with an unrelenting and formidable captive. But, as Marian is about to discover, sometimes people aren’t what they seem… After all, she would know.

My Review

A fast-paced retelling of the Robin Hood legend with fun distinct characters. I see why it was awarded the 2020 Best Indie Book Award in Young Adult Fiction. This is my favorite of the three.

Mythic Maiden Series by C.K. Brooke

Book Trailer: Dearest Mother and Dad

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Check out my new video for Dearest Mother and Dad. A big thanks to Literary Titan for their help.

Dearest Mother and Dad Book Trailer on YOUTUBE

“One hundred and twenty Marines wounded. Eighteen dead. All for one lousy hill.”

Corpsman Orrin Connor’s faithful letters with a touching twist shield his parents from the horrors of war. His buddy Rawley Armstrong’s poignant letters give his sister the harrowing truths. Throughout their dangerous assignments during the Korean War, they debate the consequences of their choices. Orrin gains comfort in downplaying his experiences while Rawley feels a healing purge. As they get to know the Marines in their charge, the corpsmen gather a variety of opinions. Although Orrin and Rawley disagree, their friendship remains true until the bitter end.

“It all happened within minutes. For some, it would last a lifetime.”

Based on her father’s letters to his parents throughout the Forgotten War, author Christina Thompson has produced this work of historical fiction to pay tribute to Navy corpsmen by remembering their service to their brothers and their country. Imagining her father had guarded his parents from the carnage of war, Christina elaborates on what could have happened while staying true to the dates and experiences her father shared in his actual letters.

Review: Games Psychics Play by Kass Hillard

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Kass Hillard has created the ultimate book and manual to help you develop your unique gifts of the Spirit and so much more. She’s funny, serious, kind, and strict. All the traits you would want your mentor to be and that’s what Kass has done with this book FOR YOU.

~ Clear step-by-step instructions for over 100 solo, partner, and group exercises and activities to assist you in awakening, developing, and enhancing your intuition and psychic abilities

~ Identify your dominant psychic senses, and learn how to strengthen them

~ Prompts to assist you in unleashing your intuitive and psychic superpowers

~ Discover practical ways to use your intuitive skills and psychic gifts

~ Learn how to create development circles

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kass is a retired certified reflexologist, hypnotist, and Reiki Master, and owned a holistic healing center and practice in southwest Michigan for many years. She now enjoys traveling and teaching reflexology, past life regression, and psychic development.

Her story, “The Final Gift” is featured in the #1 international best-selling book, “The Last Breath,” published by Franklin Rose Publishing. Her piece, “Woman, Rise Up,” is included in the Audie nominated audiobook, “Nevertheless, We Persisted,” by Blunder Woman Productions.

Kass is currently working on the companion book “Games Psychics Play Workbook,” and “Journal of Intuitive and Psychic Discovery,” a book of journaling prompts.

Kass currently resides in northwest Ohio with her husband, and two goofy dogs. You will rarely find her without a cup of coffee, working on an art project, or taking a class to learn something new. She is still trying to figure it all out.

MY REVIEW

The informational introduction gave me an open-minded perspective leading into the psychic games. I loved the variety of games, focusing on spirit guides, remote viewing, our chakras and more. As a novice, I found some exercises were fun and easy. Others were difficult, confirming I need to practice, practice, practice. I highly recommend Games Psychics Play. Five Stars.

Games Psychics Play on AMAZON

Chemical Reaction #Audiobook Release Day

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FBI Agent Joe Roberts and Dr. Madeline Pierce must track down a rage-producing nano-drug before it devastates the nation.

Staying in Detroit with the FBI, Madeline works to develop an antidote from the confiscated journals. She clashes with the women from Joe’s past. In West Michigan, Joe hunts for the bio-weapon. With a history as a player, he’s worried his relationship with Madeline is at risk. Working apart, they attempt to focus on the threat.

Before Joe returns, agents are killed, Madeline is abducted, and the deadly nano-drug is put on the market. While she plays a dangerous game of deceit, Joe struggles to put his fears of losing her aside to find the weapon first. Her life, their future, and the nation’s security are in jeopardy. Joe must now choose between his personal desire and his professional integrity. Can he live with the consequences?

Chemical Reaction on AMAZON

Chemical Reaction on AUDIBLE

Accident Among Vampires Or What would Dracula do? by @E_Guizzetti

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Issaquah, Washington, USA 1951

My name is Norma Mae Rollins. I’m fourteen and an illegal vampire. I miss my mom, but new ghoulish appetites force me to remain with my creator.

Bill didn’t mean to transform me. At least, that’s what he claims. His frightening temper, relentless lies, and morbid scientific experiments makes it hard to know what to believe. However, someone snitched about Bill’s experiments to a nearby Coven. Now both of our corpses will burn.

Bill won’t run. He is curious what happens to a vampire after final death. I don’t want to die again. It hurt so much the first time. Bill thinks his vampire boyfriend might shelter me. I must brave an eternal existence with elder vampires and other monsters who don’t think I ought to exist. Oh and figure out who I am allowed to eat. A vampire’s reality is nothing like the movies.

Author Elizabeth Guizzetti

Guizzetti is an illustrator and author best known for her demon-poodle based comedy, Out for Souls & Cookies. She is also the creator of Faminelands and Lure and collaborated with authors on several projects including A is for Apex and The Prince of Artemis V.

To explore a different aspect of her creativity, she writes science fiction and fantasy. Her debut novel, Other Systems, was a 2015 Finalist for the Canopus Award for excellence in Interstellar Fiction. Her short work has appeared in anthologies such as Wee Folk and The Wise and Beyond the Hedge. She loves vampires and after writing Immortal House, she has written​ several other vampire stories in the same universe. Guizzetti lives in Seattle with her husband and two dogs. When not writing or illustrating, she loves hiking and birdwatching.

5 STARS

I love the Paper Flower Consortium Universe. The stories are rich with its coven’s backstories. This one tells the tale of fourteen-year-old Norma Mae Rollins. Guizzetti does a fabulous job growing the relationship between Norma and her bloodline progenitor Derrik. A tender, funny struggle between a teen and her “grandfather”. Trusting someone after a trauma—whether human or a vampire—can be difficult and yet rewarding. I enjoyed the smooth transitions between Norma’s diary entries and the coven’s dictations and memoires. Well done.

Accidents Among Vampires Or What Would Dracula Do?

A Labor of Love and Forgiveness

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My historical fiction, Dearest Mother and Dad, is a labor of love, and now it’s available as an AUDIOBOOK.  Just in time for Memorial Day!

After reading through the letters my dad wrote to his parents during the Korean War about his experiences, I finally understood why he was hard and emotionally absent.  It took me two years to write the story.  Then, it took me another year to turn the novel into an audiobook.  There was only one narrator for this job—Gary Bennett.

Gary had narrated my romantic thriller Chemical Attraction through 48fourteen Publishing.  He did an incredible job, and my mom fell in love with his voice.  So, for us, this was a no-brainer.  We were not disappointed.

Gary’s narration gave Orrin and Rawley’s friendship the perfect amount of emotion.  In fact, as I listened I cried.  Then, at the last line of the story, I sobbed.  It hit me hard.  I miss my dad and all of his gruff.

I am so proud of this collaboration.  I think my dad—who was a fan of books on tape—would have loved it, too.  Thank you, Gary.

The AUDIOBOOK for Dearest Mother and Dad is NOW available on AUDIBLE

To learn more about Narrator Gary Bennett and his other amazing projects, visit GaryBennettReads.com

Memorial Day Thank You

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My Dad

On this Memorial Day, I send a special Thank You to all those who have died in military service.

My work of historical fiction pays tribute to Navy corpsmen by remembering their service to their brothers and their country.  Dearest Mother and Dad is based on my dad’s letters to his parents during the Korean War.  It seems appropriate to share some of his pictures in my album-style book trailer.  I used them to visualize and create the story.  Take a look.

Dearest Mother and Dad BOOK TRAILER

Dearest Mother and Dad on AMAZON

“Mail Call”

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Although under the weather for almost three weeks, I tried my hand at writing lyrics. Surprisingly, the words flowed. I believe “Mail Call” is the essence of my novel, Dearest Mother and Dad.

*

“Mail Call”

*

Giddy anticipation from family so far away,

Mama’s note reverting man to boy of yesterday,

Perfumed letters like the sweet taste of my gals’ necks,

Help us forget we’re heading for a god awful wreck.

*

Our letters home have tough drawbacks.

But ya gotta write something for a tall stack.

To tell the truth or make up lies, which one do we voice?

More stress upon us at the complicated choice.

*

Protecting my mother unknowing of what I see,

Gives me courage to be what I need for adversity.

Hiding my anxiety is what helps my ability.

Why should more worry besides me?

*

Our letters home have tough drawbacks.

But ya gotta write something for a tall stack.

To tell the truth or make up lies, which one do we voice?

More stress upon us at the complicated choice.

*

The mundane lies believed more humane.

But we’re not at a resort with caviar and champagne.

My sister demands to know my bitterness

Therapy is confessing my sins for forgiveness.

*

Some say they’re afraid of how we’ll return.

Violent or depressed and ending in an urn.

Others will pretend the war never happened,

Pick up where we left off as though abandoned.

We’re far from home it doesn’t matter now.

We just want to survive this hell somehow.

*

Our letters home have tough drawbacks.

But ya gotta write something for a tall stack.

To tell the truth or make up lies, which one do we voice?

More stress upon us at the complicated choice.