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Review: Jordinia Romance Adventure Series by C.K. Brooke

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About The Emperor’s Expedition

When the Emperor of Jordinia tasks his two underachieving nephews to spearhead an expedition to the untamed North Isles, the impish and audacious Duke Andrew leaps at the chance to make history and stand out among his four brothers. While he manages to convince his reclusive brother Ludwig to join him, he is less enthusiastic about their sister tagging along.

Duchess Johannah, desperate to conceal her secret, out-of-wedlock pregnancy and evade courtly scandal, sees the expedition as the perfect ruse. Accompanied by their entourage of intrepid guards, the royal siblings set forth to conquer the wilderness…only to discover that the islands are already inhabited.

Amidst perilous clashes with the Northern clans, alliances are forged and fractured, loyalties waver, and forbidden love commands sacrifice as each explorer’s fealty to blood and country is put to the test. From an icy shipwreck to abductions, ambushes, and arranged marriages, nothing goes as planned in this fast-paced comedy of errors brimming with humor, heroics, and plenty of heart.

My Review

C.K. Brooke delivers an exhilarating journey in The Emperor’s Expedition! This fast-paced adventure is brimming with rich storytelling and a cast of distinct, well-developed characters. The suspense had me eagerly turning pages. Brooke masterfully blends action, intrigue, and emotion, making this a truly immersive read. If you love gripping fantasy with depth and adventure, this book is a must-read.

The Emperor’s Expedition on Amazon

About The Emperor’s Daughters

Grand Duchess Raphaela of Jordinia has sworn off men and matrimony, aching for independence beyond familiar soil. When an unexpected invitation to a distant palace arrives, Raphaela sees it as her chance at freedom—if only her father, the Emperor, will allow it.

Meanwhile, her sister Benedicta is determined to make a difference in the world before settling down. As she travels to the tropics on a charity mission, Benedicta must prove to the mission’s leader that she is more than just a pampered princess.

In the desert, following an enchanting encounter with the alluring Sultan of Al-Habar, Raphaela struggles to resist his charm, all while fending off advances from his slimy stepson, Prince Arwun. Ensnared in a web of palace intrigue, danger, secret romance, and even murder, Raphaela must navigate the treacherous waters of loyalty and love in a foreign land. Will the sisters find the courage to defy convention and forge their own paths, or will tradition and betrayal tear apart their family and their hearts?

My Review

From the very first page, The Emperor’s Daughters had me completely enthralled! C.K. Brooke masterfully weaves a tale of love, intrigue, and suspense, keeping the tension high and the pages turning. The strong-willed female characters are truly inspiring, bringing depth and resilience to the story. With its perfect blend of romance, mystery, and adventure, this novel is an absolute gem.

The Emperor’s Daughters on Amazon

Their Stolen Hearts

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In the Name of Family Series: We support and sacrifice. We despise, disrupt, and destroy.

Parallel to The Major’s Dilemma, Christina Thompson nudges her secondary characters into the spotlight. Everyone has a story, and everyone has something they hold dear. What happens when those hearts are stolen?

While Division Director Peter Bingaman and his FBI agents investigate a string of robberies, a disgruntled agent steals a private envelope from Peter’s safe. The potential revelation of its contents threatens to shatter Peter’s world.

A slow-moving widow in a new fast-paced town, Sylvia Folkert is afraid of change. Her solace has been her wedding ring, recently stolen. At the local book club, she and the feisty seniors put aside their troubles to help a man who’s been wrongfully arrested for robbery. To prove his innocence, the women scheme to outwit the agents. They quickly find themselves entangled in the FBI’s dangerous case.

Their Stolen Hearts on AMAZON

Our Passion Project

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As parents, aunts, and uncles to a special-needs child, we understand the importance of inclusivity, especially for families with special-needs children.  In Phase 1 of our visionary project, we will ensure that at least seven cabins are ADA-compliant.  Phase 2 will involve the creation of an all-abilities playground and sensory rooms, further emphasizing our commitment to inclusivity.

Our Phase 3 program will be the culmination of our commitment to families with special-needs children.  Our family vacation package will include accessible lodging, farm-to-table meals, a parental support group, and a range of planned activities with the help of a family companion in a safe and relaxed environment.

Our goal will be to strengthen family bonds and reduce stress without putting extra work on the parents. The whole family will be able to relax and enjoy their stay.

Coming Soon—Follow Holiday Retreat Family Camp’s Facebook Page for more information and updates on our visionary project.

Meet my characters in The Chemical Attraction Series

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Taylor, Eva, and Joe
Siblings by Choice since Childhood.
Following different Paths after College.
Afraid of Drifting Apart.

* In Their Rigid Rules and The Kindred Code, TAYLOR VALENTINE, a natural beauty, embraces her vanilla tendencies. Her plan for her life reinforces those traits. Kindhearted, she doesn’t apologize for giving people the benefit of the doubt.*

* In Their Rigid Rules, The Kindred Code, and Chemical Attraction, EVA O’SULLIVAN, a petite Irish spitfire with auburn spiral curls, has big opinions, and you know them whether you want to or not. Masking her vulnerability, she wears her willfulness like armor.*

* Akin to Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, MADELINE PIERCE, a dedicated scientist, has pain in her heart from an abusive relationship. With her Ice Queen persona set, she hides within the realm of her research in Chemical Attraction and Chemical Reaction.*

*As a history professor and former marine, STUART MORGAN, a blond, blue-eyed war hero, battles his inner demons. Although he longs for mental peace from an empathetic woman, his rigid rules prevent it.*

*Ruggedly handsome with a calm demeanor, MATT CONNOR recovers from a gunshot wound obtained while on duty. As a single parent, he pushes any romantic life aside and focuses on raising his eight-year-old son, David.*

*Charismatic yet brooding, JOE ROBERTS is a womanizer on the surface. Deep down, he’s searching for an instant chemistry with his soulmate, the one person who will love him for his faults not in spite of them.*

The Chemical Attraction Series

Brain Fog & a Free Book

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On a day of clarity from the brain fog of chemo, I uploaded my novels on Smashwords and their distribution sites—Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, and others.

To celebrate, my romantic suspense novel THEIR RIGID RULES the first book in my Chemical Attraction Series is free with the promo coupon: YY37B

Follow this LINK and type in the promo coupon code YY37B at checkout.

About Their Rigid Rules

Taylor Valentine, a senior at Western Michigan University, has had her life planned out since kindergarten.  Now with the help of her best friends, Joe and Eva, she focuses on graduation and a career—romance in the far distant future.  However, when the visiting professor enters the lecture hall, her perfect plan hits a snag.

History professor and former Marine, Dr. Stuart Morgan keeps infatuated students at a distance using his own set of strict rules.  This time, he’s unnerved by his reaction to Taylor.  When death threats upend his boring life, he inadvertently puts her in danger.  With family and foe pulling them apart, Stuart must somehow convince Taylor to break her rules and embrace a new plan.

THEIR RIGID RULES on Smashwords

Cool Off with my Wintery Read

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My New Year’s Eve romance takes place in a blizzard.  I wrote this story with the theme: A few words of encouragement can stay with you for a lifetime.  Reflecting on my childhood, I started to wonder if all those people who impacted my life in a positive way knew that they had. I try to share my appreciation whenever I can because the energy of words and actions affects us—good and bad.

About The Garden Collection

Robert and Brianna’s childhood friendship grew into respect for each other and their ideas.  Robert gave her the confidence to stand up for herself.  Brianna helped him see his artistic potential and encouraged him to travel for his inspiration.  He found it in the letters she wrote.

Struggling to care for Chloe, her six-year-old half-sister, Brianna Carlson receives news that her abusive stepfather will be released from prison. Still limping from a once broken leg, she’s terrified he’ll come back to hurt Chloe this time. She decides to leave town.

After traveling for his family’s jewelry business, Robert Donovan returns home and discovers Brianna had lied in every letter she sent. She never received any of his. Before he can demand answers, she disappears without Chloe. As Robert learns about Brianna’s life during his absence, he sets out to find her and convince her to trust him again.

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REVIEW: Just Beneath the Surface by Kass Hillard

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About Just Beneath the Surface: Awakening, Uncovering, Discovering, & Remembering Your True Self

Parents and caregivers, clergy and teachers pour into us their beliefs about life, the world, and God. Other family members, friends, media outlets, etc. soon enter our life, adding even more influences. We trust, believe, and accept what we see and hear as truth, rarely questioning those facts and statements, or sources.

As we journey through life, we find that our thoughts and perspectives change. The more we learn or are exposed to ideas and experiences beyond ourselves, the more our world expands. We begin to question, seek answers, challenge our beliefs, and find our own truths.

The purpose of this book is to assist you in discovering what a beautiful soul you are. There are challenges that offer questions and prompts inviting you to look deeper within yourself and in doing so, perhaps a greater awareness and understanding of your true self which is waiting just beneath the surface.

About Kass Hillard

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

She is the author of “Games Psychics Play: Enhancing Your Intuition and Psychic Gifts.” 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 currently resides in northwest Ohio with her husband and their 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

Are you looking to delve deeper into your Self, your mindset, your soul? Author Kass Hillard has written another wonderful book to help gain insight through challenging prompts and questions. I found Prompt #35 especially tough and yet inspiring, a change to my mindset. Discover a better understanding of your true self. I highly recommend this book. Five Stars!

Just Beneath the Surface on Amazon

My Solace

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted on my blog. I’m in the middle of chemo treatments for breast cancer, and I’ve taken solace in writing. My recent WIP, The Major’s Dilemma, is the sequel to The Trucker’s Cat. Coming soon.

Join me on INSTAGRAM for my personal and professional journey.

About The Trucker’s Cat

At the Russian Embassy where she lives with her mother and stepfather, Samantha Randall uncovers a plot to assassinate the U.S. President. Her father’s famous speech urges her to act, so she treks cross-country to warn the driver that his cargo has the proof. She soon finds herself stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Driving a truck on a covert assignment, Major Logan McCormick had sworn off women after his bitter divorce. Against protocol, he rescues Samantha and gives the wildcat a ride. Although drawn to Samantha’s uplifting spirit, he uses his sullen nature as a shield against her. Will she see through his rigid manner?

With Russian special forces searching for Logan’s cargo and another team chasing Samantha, they quickly realize they must work together to prevent the unthinkable. Will their sacrifices be enough to stop the assault?

The Trucker’s Cat on AMAZON

A New Year’s Eve Romance

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In my New Year’s Eve romance, The Garden Collection, Robert Donovan learns that home is where his heart is.

A few words of encouragement can stay with you for a lifetime.

Robert and Brianna’s childhood friendship grew into respect for each other and their ideas.  Robert gave her the confidence to stand up for herself.  Brianna helped him see his artistic potential and encouraged him to travel for his inspiration.  He found it in the letters she wrote.

BRIANNA CARLSON, an optimistic realist, appreciates the little things in life.  Working at the local diner in their wintry rural town in West Michigan, she pushes the stress of caring for her half-sister, CHLOE, aside focusing instead on the unconditional love she gives and receives.

Her best friend’s brother, ROBERT DONOVAN, regally proper and polished, balances his business acumen with his artwork for his family’s jewelry store.

In THE GARDEN COLLECTION, a Cinderella-esque romance, Brianna receives news that her abusive step-father will be released from prison.  She’s terrified he’ll come back to hurt Chloe this time.  She decides to leave town.

After traveling the world, Robert returns home and discovers Brianna had lied in every letter she sent.  She never received any of his. Before he can demand answers, she disappears without Chloe.  As Robert learns about Brianna’s life during his absence, he sets out to find her and convince her to trust him again.

THE GARDEN COLLECTION on AMAZON