I got the idea and the motivation to start doing Tackling The TBR from All The Book Blog Names Are Taken. It has helped me to keep track of my reading shelf as far as current events and to tidy up my shelves. I feel better about my out of control TBR and have even knocked off a couple of those old ones that had been hanging around for years.
Sue Coletta has created one of my favorite villains of all time in the Mayhem series and Grafton County has its share of evil. Join her community to get 2 free killer reads. If you love thrillers, villains, and serial killers, I highly recommend checking her out.
I have been to Grafton County and spent time with Sage Quintano, her Sheriff husband Niko, their son Noah and his deputy and Sage’s best friend Frankie Campanelli. It is a pleasure to be back, though, I am sure there will be an evil villain waiting for us.
Sage recognized the pattern, when a string of murders came to the small town of Alexandria, New Hampshire. She thought it fit the profile of the Romeo killer, a serial killer who had died eight years ago…or did he?
Niko, her Sheriff husband chalks it up to PTSD, because of all the trauma she has suffered in the past years. It bothers me that he is too quick to dismiss her, but he loves every tiny piece of her, so I feel he will quickly come around. She also has rheumatoid arthritis. Being an author, means she doesn’t have, nor is she able to do, excessive manual labor.
Noah, their sweet boy, and her furbabies have their roles to play.
Frankie Campanelli, Niko’s deputy and Sage’s best friend, makes me think of a combination of Rizzolis & Iles from the TV show. She has the fashion sense of Moira Iles and the attitude and fierceness of Jane Rizzoli. Frankie is a good cop, but she walks a line that puts her career and her life in danger.
Sue Coletta does her research. In this mystery, police procedural, suspense, thriller, she show how technology has made their job more difficult. I find it terrifying how easy it is for be framed for something you didn’t do.
A feeling of menace hangs on every page. I know he’s coming for her, whoever he is. The question is: How much will he tease and torture her before he does. He is intelligent, yet obsessed, which may be hid downfall.
It doesn’t matter where Sue Coletta’s next book is located, I will be there. She can pen a story that is filled with moments of light and love, with times of distress and evil. She creates some of the best villains I have ever met, sure to delight those of us who like to walk in the dark.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Haloed by Sue Coletta.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
She may be paranoid, but is she right?
A
string of gruesome murders rocks the small town of Alexandria, New
Hampshire, with all the victims staged to resemble dead angels, and
strange red and pink balloons appearing out of nowhere.
All the clues point to the Romeo Killer’s return. Except one: he died eight years ago.
Paranoid
and on edge, Sage’s theory makes no sense. Dead serial killers don’t
rise from the grave. Yet she swears he’s here, hungering for the only
angel to slip through his grasp—Sage.
With only hours left to live, how can Sage convince her Sheriff husband before the sand in her hourglass runs out?
ABOUT SUE COLETTA
Sue Coletta is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as one of the “Top 100 Crime Blogs on the Net” (Murder Blog sits at #5) for four years in a row. And recently, she appeared on an Emmy award-winning true crime show.
Sue also blogs at the Kill Zone, a multi-award-winning writing blog, and writes two serial killer thriller series (Tirgearr Publishing) and narrative nonfiction/true crime for Globe Pequot, trade division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.
For readers, she has the Crime Lover’s Lounge, where members will be the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside access to deleted scenes (if available). As an added bonus, members get to play in the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door.
BONUS: When you join Sue’s community you’ll receive two free killer reads!
Sue lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with her husband, and begins each by feeding all the wildlife in her yard. Her favorite “pets” are a murder of crows who live free but come when called by name.
Bear Harley Wylde (Hades Abyss MC) Published by: Changeling Press Publication date: August 26th 2022 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Faith – I fell for Spade when I was only sixteen. He got me pregnant, and moved me into a house with him. Then I saw his true colors. He beat me. Made me lose my baby. It’s been eighteen years and I’m still trapped, until I find the courage to take my girls and run. I didn’t count on finding another biker. This one seems different. He’s kinder. Gentler. And I think he may be just what we need.
Bear – No sooner do I tell my Pres I want to retire from the position of Sergeant-at-Arms than I catch a teen girl shoplifting. I followed her. Banged on the motel door, ready to tell the parents they’d f**ked up. Then a cute little pixie opened the door, and I knew I was a goner. Now they’re living in my house, I’ve given them my name, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Even take out another club.
WARNING: Bear is part of the Hades Abyss MC series and is intended for readers 18+ due to adult situations and bad language. Sensitive readers should proceed with caution. No cliffhanger, no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA.
I stared at my phone and the message I’d just sent to Fox, my club’s President. Aside from Spider, our previous President, I was the oldest living member in my chapter of the Hades Abyss MC, and I was feeling every one of my sixty-eight years. My bones creaked more often than not. My brown hair had gone silver. While I still kept in shape, I couldn’t maintain the definition I had in my younger days. Which meant it was time…
Need a new SAA. Time for me to retire.
He’d read the message two minutes ago. I still hadn’t received a reply or a phone call. I’d thought I would get at least one of those, if not both. That told me one of two things. He was either ignoring me in the hopes I’d forget about retiring, or he was just too damn busy to deal with it right now. Now that he had a family, he didn’t always drop what he was doing to answer the phone. And that was fine. Raven and their daughter, Harlow, deserved every bit of attention he could give them.
I put my helmet on the seat of my bike and went into the corner market. I’d given up cigarettes and beer, but there was one thing they’d have to pry from my cold dead fingers — jerky! I didn’t indulge as often as I used to, but I still got a taste for it once or twice a month. Today happened to be one of those days.
The bell over the door jingled as I stepped into the cool interior. Scanning the area, I clocked a teen girl two aisles over, an older man at the back, and a young couple at the register. Making my way down the center aisle, I checked out the jerky options and grabbed a package.
The teen girl shifted from foot to foot and kept casting glances around the store. The clerk hadn’t noticed anything was wrong. Yet. I hoped she didn’t do something stupid. Then again, teens were notorious for making bad choices. Looked like this one wouldn’t be any different. The second she thought no one was watching, she shoved a few things under her shirt and made a beeline for the front door. She actually made it into the parking lot and I shook my head.
“Just what I fucking need,” I muttered. I held up the package of jerky for the clerk to see and tossed some money onto the counter. More than enough to cover the price. “Keep the change.”
I went after the girl, keeping her in my sights. As much as I wanted to get on my bike to follow her, the Harley Davidson Freewheel wasn’t exactly a quiet bike. And yeah, I’d gotten a damn trike. The club had given me shit about it when I traded in my Street King, but I was getting too damn old for this shit. The trike put less strain on me, and I still got to ride with my club.
The girl left the parking lot and headed down the sidewalk. The longer I followed, the more I wished I’d taken my bike. When she went into a room at the local motel, I decided to give her a minute or two, then see if her parents knew she’d been shoplifting. Although, this place was a goddamn dump. There was a good chance she’d been following orders. Most people here were either drug addicts or prostitutes.
I knocked on the door and heard a hesitant, “Who is it?”
“Need to talk to the parents of the girl who just went into this room.”
I heard a thunk and a deep sigh. I wondered if the person on the other side had just banged their head on the door. The rattle of the chain let me know someone was about to open the door. I backed up a step so I wouldn’t scare whoever was on the other side. A petite woman with a gently rounded stomach opened the door. Dark circles under her eyes told me she hadn’t slept in a while. Not well, at any rate.
“Ma’am.” I gave her a nod. She blinked at me, then her gaze dropped to my cut. Her face paled, and she swayed. Figured she’d have that reaction. People either loved us or we scared the shit out of them. I held up a hand. “Easy. I’m not here to hurt you.”
“We don’t want any trouble,” she said, her fingers tightening on the door.
“The girl who just entered this room stole some stuff from a store down the street. I wanted to make sure her parents were aware of the situation.”
The woman closed her eyes and her shoulders slumped. “Piper, did you steal something? Is he telling the truth?”
Holy. Shit. This woman was her mother? No fucking way. Older sister, maybe, but mom? The girl in question appeared behind her mom, and as I looked into the room, I saw another girl on the bed. Sweat coated her little face, and her cheeks were pink. Fever?
“Everything all right, ma’am?” I asked. “The three of you in trouble of some kind?”
The teen, Piper, narrowed her eyes at me. “We’re fine. The last thing we need is another biker in our lives.”
My eyebrows shot up. Interesting. Another biker. I had so many questions and not enough answers. In fact, they hadn’t willingly told me a damn thing yet. Everything I’d learned had merely been from observation.
“Did you steal something?” her mom asked, sounding exhausted.
“Cordy needs soup. The kind we can microwave. You said our money would be gone after tomorrow.” Piper folded her arms. “If we’re about to be living out of the car, I wanted to make sure she had something to eat first.”
Motherfucker. I couldn’t walk away and leave these girls in a dire situation. My club would kick my ass if I did. Hell, I’d kick my own ass.
Author Bio:
Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil’s Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.
When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better — off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.
The times Harley isn’t writing, she’s thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She’s also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980’s, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990’s to today, even though she’d much rather be reading or writing.
You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you’re there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!
Saronna is being sold. It may sound harsh, but it works for her. Freedom. No veil, no division of men and women. Off Worlders have a different outlook on life than here on Kruegar’s World. The Threecon World travels the galaxy, each planet sharing their culture.
Saronna was being purchased for Duncan by his father. She had used her gifts to keep her father from getting rid of her, but it hadn’t worked on Vladimir Trushenko. She’s kept it secret…She’s a witch.
The cover tells of the life Saronna was born into, that women had only one purpose in life, to please man. Cruel customs, obedience, no education….unless taught secretly, and Saronna’s mother had taught her to read. There was a purpose to it.
Duncan has introduced Saronna to electronics, including an ereader, encouraging her to read and get an education. He even hires a tutor for her. I loved watching Saronna, her struggle, her sacrifice as she grew, learned, changed and became her own person, no matter the pressure put on her. I have a feeling that will be a good fit, once she figures out how she is being manipulated by those she is supposed to be able to trust.
I would surely be dead if I was born under such an oppressive system…my mouth would have been the end of me. LOL
And to think this goes on today makes me say, “I can’t believe this is happening in the twenty first century”. People can change, and I was happy to be along for Saronna’s ‘coming of age’, and she comes a long way, baby.
Carmen Webster Buxton has created a world for Saronna that is rich in detail, the characters are riveting, drawing me in, making me feel…almost…as if I am there with them, through the good and bad, wishing, hoping for the happy ever after ending that I have come to love so much.
Unputdownable. I read 463 pages in one sitting.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Saronna’s Gift by Carmen Webster Buxton.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Saronna Maynard never expected to be sold into an off-world household. She and Duncan Trushenko, her new protector, have very little in common. Saronna grew up in a small village outside of New Jerusalem, the largest city on Krueger’s World. Duncan grew up on many worlds, and has traveled the galaxy. He is dumbstruck to return from a business trip and find that his father has purchased a companion for him.
Saronna is terrified by the strangeness of the house and her sense of powerlessness, but in a very short time she realizes she might be better off—and safer—in Duncan’s house than in her father’s. For one thing, Duncan doesn’t believe in witches. Also, the more time she spends with Duncan, the harder it is for her to believe all men are as evil as her mother taught her. But safer or not, Saronna is still intent on keeping her secrets. After all, she’s still on Krueger’s World.
ABOUT CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON
Carmen Webster Buxton spent her youth reading every book published by
Ursula LeGuin, Robert Heinlein and Georgette Heyer. This combination of
far-future worlds, alien cultures, and old-fashioned courting customs
influenced her writing, especially in her ThreeCon series.
Carmen
was born in Hawaii and experienced a peripatetic childhood, as her
father was in the US Navy. Having raised two wonderful children, she now
lives in Maryland with her husband Charlie, and a beagle named Cosmo.
She writes science fiction (often including a romance, and mostly set in
the far future), and the occasional fantasy.
Carmen has published many books:
WAKANREO SERIES Alien Bonds Alien Vows Alien Skies
HAVEN SERIES The Sixth Discipline No Safe Haven
THREECON SERIES (can be read in any order) The Nostalgia Gambit Saronna’s Gift Shades of Empire Tribes Worlds Apart
ALTERNATE HISTORY King of Trees
YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION Turnabout Drifters
FANTASY Where Magic Rules Bag of Tricks Hidden Magic
THE NAMELESS WORLD SAGA (coming in 2021) The North Edge of Nowhere Oaths and Promises
Carmen
often blogs about ereaders, digital publishing, writing, and
speculative fiction. Visit her blog to see what’s coming out next! To
ask questions or to provide feedback on her books, send email to
carmen.webster.buxton (at) gmail.com.
Autumn Chaos Olena Nikitin (Season’s War, #1) Publication date: September 1st 2022 Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
A mystery of a monster on the rampage ignites the passionate love triangle between a witch and two warriors with a help of a mysterious cat.
After ten years of peaceful solitude, exiled-mage-turned-village-witch, Lady Inanuan of Thorn, has her life turned upside down when a half-dead warrior is dumped on her doorstep. Soon she learns that no good deed goes unpunished in the Black Forest—not even if your friend is Leshy, the Forest God himself.
Expelled from her position as a court mage for her sharp tongue, Ina’s had ten years to learn how to survive in a harsh environment. The forbidden healing she performs links her life energy with her unexpected guest Marcach, captain of the guards, and Ren, his best friend, a traveller from lands so far away that many consider them a myth.
With unnatural monsters on the loose and unrest in the capital, everything points toward rebellion, and clues that both men discover indicate Ina’s involvement. Ina learns her magic is not what it seems, and her past comes back to haunt her.
An old mistake will see her dragged back to the court and thrown right into the middle of the political struggle. To make things worse, her heart succumbs not to just one man but two, and each expects the worst of her.
Will the woman who does not believe in love be able to choose? And can she clear her name and learn to control the Chaos before it burns the kingdom down?
Taking the life distraught her, but Ina didn’t have the time to think about it. The noise of the fight led to the entrance of another room. Well, the wreck of one, at least. Mar was there, struggling with three opponents that attacked him simultaneously. He was working hard with his axe and dagger. The weapons glided through the air in precise cuts, wounding the monsters. Ina’s hand closed on the peridot, and she drew on its power, deeper and deeper. Her sorrow turned to anger at the sight of the troll smashing heavy fists into Mar’s chest. Whips of pure fire coiled around her, animated by Chaos magic. Anger and Chaos poured into the stone, and a torrent flooded back, shaping the whips into vipers, beautiful and deadly, as Ina lashed them at the troll. Coils of destruction shot out, slamming into the attacking creature. The beast roared and turned to the source of the pain.
***
The light glowing in Mar’s eyes flared, feasting on Ina, magnificent in her magic. His beautiful distraction gave him the perfect opportunity again. His axe cleaved through the air, crushing one dog’s head, killing it instantly. Ina held her ground, her fire vipers lashing at the troll, leaving deep gashes of burnt tissue behind. The beast leapt backwards, trying to avoid the pain, but Mar was there to stop it. This formidable display of Ina’s magic terrified the remaining canine to turn tail and run, whimpering into the darkness.
“Ina, stop!” shouted Mar as he ducked to avoid a strike from the vipers, and Ina lowered her hands, letting the energy dissipate in the air. Again, the monstrous troll turned back to her, giving Mar the opening he needed. His axe rose high and cleaved its collar bone so deeply that he could see the heart pulsing through the gap. Then, with a final stab of the dagger, it was stopped dead.
The beast landed on the floor with a heavy thud, and without glancing at it, Mar ran to his woman. In the light of her pulsar, he saw she was crying, her body and hair coated with blood and fluid, his heart aching at her pain.
“Are you… wounded?” He asked and felt immense relief when she shook her head. There was something in his spitfire’s posture that held him back. “What happened back there?”
Ina shook her head and walked toward the exit, and her silence worried him more than he was willing to admit.
Author Bio:
Olena Nikitin is our pen name. We are an enthusiastic couple of writers who are fascinated by the fantasy/paranormal romance genre and decided to write a book we would love to read
Behind the Pen name:
Olga – is Polish, armed with a wicked sense of humour and typical Slavic pessimism she is the wicked witch from the East. She has written stories since childhood, initially mostly about her work. As an emergency physician, she always has a story to tell and often not much time to write.
Mark is a typical English gentleman whose charm, refined taste and an impressive collection of books were tempting enough to make Olga leave her homeland. Don’t tease him too much; this man has an impressive sword collection and he knows how to use it. He also can fix everything, including Polish syntax in English writing.
Jane Blythe is a must read author for me, as you will see at the end of the post. I have read the first book in the Prey Security series and am eager to being Protecting Raven.
Protecting Raven is part of the Operation Alpha Fan Fiction for Susan Stoker’s SEAL of Protection, Delta Force Heroes, and Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Worlds. They all have at least one of Susan’s characters in them.
Protecting Raven by Jane Blythe is part of Susan Stoker’s Fan Fiction World. I have read numerous books by several different authors in the series and love what they have done with Susan Stoker’s characters. Jane Blythe hits a home run with Protecting Raven.
Max Hathaway left Raven after the abduction of their daughter by a Colombian sex trafficking ring. He had turned his back for a moment…and she was gone. His feelings of guilt haunted him and destroyed his marriage.
Prey Security is owned by all six of the Oswald siblings. I love them all being named after birds, a very creative and cute idea.
A new clue has come in and Raven is on her way to Colombia. She planned to call in reinforcements when she found the location of the auction. Max followed her to Colombia and will stick to her side like glue. So much danger, he vows to not let her out of his site.
Neither Max nor Raven have been able to move on in the ten years since Cleo has been missing. Could they have a second chance? Could they find Cleo after ten years? If they did, what would she be like? How damaged would she be?
I remember Raven from an earlier Jane Blythe book. She’s a badass, a survivor, a computer genius, but has vowed never to use violence again. It doesn’t mean she’ll go quietly into that good night.
I think Protecting Raven has more bite than Protecting Eagle. I do love the dark and gritty world Jane Blythe has created, which revs me up.
Most of the time I know what’s coming in most of the novels I read, but Protecting Raven did have those moments where I held my breath. There was a point where I began to devour the words, having to know…The horrors of sex trafficking, the disgusting traffickers, the tragedy the girls go through..Cleo was taken at three years old. I cannot imagine how I would feel, the rage, frustration, the terror of knowing your little one is being used horribly.
I know a lot of people are turned off by this kind of novel, but I dive right in. It is a fact of life that these things happen every day in the real world. Jane Blythe’s novels ring of truth, her characters of reality and I grieve with them.
I think one of the reasons I love romantic suspense so much is because amongst the danger there will be love, loyalty, romance and a happy ever after.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Protecting Raven by Jane Blythe.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Their daughter’s abduction destroyed their marriage.
Raven Oswald has never given up on her daughter, for ten years she’s used her computer skills to try to bring down the trafficking ring responsible for Cleo’s abduction. When she finally gets a viable lead she heads straight to Columbia to check it out. The last person she expected to follow her was her ex-husband. He left her not long after their daughter was taken and she hasn’t heard from him since, she doesn’t want or need his help.
Max Hathaway knows he messed up when he took his eyes off his three-year-old daughter that day at the park and guilt has been slowly consuming him ever since. But when Raven recklessly puts herself directly on the dangerous trafficking ring’s radar, the pararescueman has no choice but to follow after her. Whether she likes it or not he’s going to keep her safe, and maybe earn her forgiveness before the guilt eats him alive.
ABOUT JANE BLYTHE
USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed
romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and
heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes
Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in
that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has
been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this
genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t
binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+
teddy bear collection!
I want to thank NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to meet Linda Hurtado Bond through her novel, All The Broken Girls. Then, I saw PartnersInCrime had a tour, so I added their info for your chance to win a Gift Card so you could get a copy of your own.
#1 – Florida…Any books that take place in Florida garner my attention.
#2 – The Title…It reeks of suspense and badness.
All The Broken Girls is my first book by Linda Hurtado Bond, but I will have my eye on her from here on out. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop.
Crime reporter Mari Alvarez is coming back to work after her suspension. Her serial killer story brought a law suit against the station. Her first call out, she arrives at a murder scene and all she wants to do is go to the two girls that have been broken. Someone dear to them had been taken away. She wanted to tell them everything would be okay, but that is not always the case. She can relate to them, because she had lost her mother and the case was never solved.
I love the element of Santeria, and the fact that she is an empath. She had given her azabache charm to one of the girls in hopes that the blessing will pass to her. It was an impulsive act, but she felt the girl needed it more than she did. I wonder what it will mean for Mari. Is she no longer protected?
Linda Hurtado Bond did a great job of sharing Cuban life, the food and customs. She made the Santeria religion shine with light, not darkness, though any religion can be twisted and used against someone and Mari has a feeling…if she doesn’t figure out what is going on, someone she loves will die. She feels the Evil Eye watching her.
I love serial killers, I mean I love reading about them, studying them, trying to figure out what goes on in their heads. I love vigilante stories, the innocent making things right in the only way they can.
The writing and pacing kept me flipping pages. Linda Hurtado Bond managed to throw some twists and turns my way and I definitely will be on the lookout for more of her work.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of All The Broken Girls by Linda Hurtado Bond.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
When one falls
Crime reporter Mari Alvarez was never able to solve her
mother’s murder ten years ago. But when a woman is gunned down on the
doorstep of her West Tampa neighborhood, Mari can’t shake the eerie
sense of connection.
The others will break
Now there have been two murders in two days. Each crime
scene awash with arcane clues—and without a trace of DNA from the
killer. And for each victim, a doll. The first is missing an eye. The
second is missing a heart. But are these clues leading to the killer…or
messages for Mari?
Unless she plays the game…
Caught up in a maelstrom of Old-World superstition, secrets,
and ties to her own past, Mari has only one option. Put the puzzle
together before someone else dies—even if it destroys her career. But
there’s no escaping the hungry spider’s web when it’s been made just for
you…
EXCERPT
I’m running fifteen minutes late after driving my Abuela Bonita to her doctor’s appointment. But that’s not bad, actually, for Cuban time. Of course my statement high heels click on the uncarpeted floor like my abuela’s disapproving tongue and all I can think of is that silly commercial with the tagline “Wanna get away?” Except I can’t escape. It’s my first day back at the TV station after two weeks at home with no work and no pay. I’m still on probation, and I need this job like I need water and air.
Speaking of which, the thought makes me notice how parched my throat is and I’m afraid my voice will crack when I talk. My lungs are so empty I’m not sure I can deliver any story pitches, even if my job depends on it.
Which, it does.
Reporting is in my blood.
But my paycheck—also a necessity.
I rub my right wrist. The red rope bracelet is there. The pea-sized, black gemstone dangles from it. I roll the azabache charm between my fingers, silently going through my routine: twist the stone three times to the right, three to the left. Six times in all. My lucky number. I swear I’ll never go to a crime scene again without the charm. I’ve learned my lesson. Asi es. Truth. That’s how it is. I pull out the chair across from Mr. Payton and accidentally scrape the floor. It’s loud. Que escandalo!
More stares cut my way. The air conditioning kicks up a notch, but that means nothing to the sweat rolling down my back, sliding into the most inconvenient places. I ignore the wet tickle and stand even taller before taking a seat.
My boss drills me with that intense stare that says everything he’s not allowed to vocalize for fear Human Resources will reprimand him. “Thanks for joining us, Ms. Alvarez.”
“Had to drop off my grandmother at her doctor’s office. She doesn’t drive.” I sit and twist the water bottle on the table until the label faces me. I look at El Jefe and force the corners of my mouth up. Abuela Bonita always told me, no matter what’s going on inside, you can win over the world with a warm smile.
“Let’s continue.” Mr. Payton looks at Paul Johnson, our political reporter.
Paul clears his throat. “As I was saying, the governor is going to hold a press conference on the opioid crisis at a local…”
I cross my ankles to keep my leg from bouncing. It’s clear my boss doesn’t trust me anymore. Not since my serial killer story got the station sued.
I catch the ambitious, crime reporter wannabe eyeing me from the right corner of the room. Bet she’s dying to know what happened to warrant my suspension. She probably already knows. Secrets don’t stay secrets for long in a newsroom.
What the hell had gone wrong?
Abuela Bonita calls it mala suerte. She insisted I wear the azabache bracelet today to ward off the bad luck following me. I find the charm again and twist.
I will fix this. Don’t know how. But I will repair my damaged reputation.
“Alvarez?”
I flinch in my seat.
“You have anything to add to the meeting?” El Jefe taps his engraved pen on the table in a slow, rhythmic pattern.
“Well, Mr. Payton.” He likes it when we use his last name. “I thought I’d do a feature on a young girl in New Tampa Hospital who needs a kidney transplant.”
“That from the crime beat reporter?” I hear the words he isn’t speaking.
“I know.” I answer in my head. “Eleven Emmys, and I still messed up that last crime story, didn’t I?” Out loud I say, “She’s an artist—truly amazing gift— and she’s willing to auction off her paintings to raise money so people can get tested to see if they’re a match. We could save her life by sharing her story.”
My boss nods but says, “Busch Gardens is showing off a new baby sloth this evening.”
My cheeks burn. I sit back. The heat floods down into my chest. “A baby sloth?” I’m pretty sure this is what a public castration feels like.
“We have enough crime, corruption, death, and destruction today. We need something positive after Weather. Sloth baby it is. Can’t go wrong with baby animals,” he says.
Can’t get the station sued again, you mean.
“You’re on that, Alvarez.”
“Gracias.” I close my eyes and visualize a sloth picking at El Jefe’s bushy, needs-to-be-cut eyebrows with those two big claw-like toes. In slow motion, of course. “If our viewers see what I’m envisioning, they’re going to love it.” I smile. Warmly.
Whatever. It will keep me employed for at least one more day. My sister Izzy and Abuela are counting on me.
My phone goes off. I look down, fumbling it as I try to flip off the ringer. “Sorry. Sorry.” It’s not someone calling. It’s my home RING security camera alerting me. My pulse takes off like an F-16. Someone is at our front door. My heart stalls. And falls.
“An important source?” El Jefe asks.
A scoff from the right corner of the room. “Baby sloth police calling?” Crime reporter wannabe gets the room laughing.
Wannabe must have missed her café con leche this morning. I join the laughter and wink at her, despite the slow scalding heat I’m feeling. Abuela Bonita also taught me you get more with honey than vinegar. “No. No. Sorry.” Just my sister’s boyfriend of the week, who is not supposed to be at our house. I shake my head.
“Alvarez?”
My spine straightens. “Yes?”
“You can take the new photographer, Chris Jensen.”
That pulls me back to the moment. “But I always work with Orlando.” A big eyeball fills the RING camera at the front door, but it isn’t Izzy’s new boyfriend. His eyes are as blue as the Florida sky. Isabella’s are dark brown, so dark you can’t tell where the pupil ends, and the iris begins. Izzy pulls back and yells at the RING camera, “Stop spying on me! De conseguir una vida!”
My younger sister is telling me to get a life of my own.
Snickers flicker across the room.
Every hair on the back of my neck rises. The audio on my iPhone is still on. Wanna get away?
I glance at my friend Kiara. She smiles and shakes her head. I appreciate her support. Time to turn the sound off my iPhone.
“Everything okay?” El Jefe’s features remain constant. He doesn’t chastise me for my sister’s outburst, even though she interrupted his busy news meeting.
“Yes sir, I’m fine.” Wait till I get home, Isabella Alvarez! “I’m fine.”
He nods, but his eyes narrow.
I sit through one of his nerve-wracking, wish-I-knew-what-he’s thinking pauses.
He says, “You can take Orlando.”
I exhale.
El Jefe is throwing me a peace offering, I think. Or maybe he believes I can’t even handle an animal story with the newbie photog, so giving me Orlando is like tossing out a safety vest.
Wow.
Two weeks ago, I would have rolled my eyes at the insult of such an easy, nonrelevant assignment. I would have been deeply offended by the shade of making sure I had a veteran babysitter with me.
Tonight, I’m grateful for it.
Even though I know I can’t possibly screw up a baby sloth story, right?
Author Linda Hurtado Bond is an Emmy award winning TV news anchor and an author of romantic thrillers.
She’s worked as a television news reporter and anchor in Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa Florida. For the past twenty years, she’s shared important information with viewers on the latest medical breakthroughs and has written emotional, human-interest stories on those who have the courage and spirit to fight for their lives.
She writes every day, under deadline, but has always loved losing herself in a good fiction story. Her love for writing fiction actually started in high school, but a thriving, busy professional life, along with five kids ( 2 step-kids, an adopted son from Cuba and 2 daughters ) kept her busy for many years.
Entangled Publishing released three romantic adventures Alive at 5, Cuba Undercover and Flatline. Think James Bond meets Romancing the Stone. Cuba Undercover is based on her own true life love story.
She has received numerous writing awards for Alive at 5 , Flatline and Cuba Undercover.
Her latest book, All the Broken Girls, releasing in 2022, features two Cuban American characters and a deep dive into Cuban American culture.
Linda has won 13 Emmy awards, numerous Society of Professional Journalist awards, Associated Press awards, as well as a Florida Bar award and an Edward R. Murrow award.
This former baton-twirling beauty queen from The University of Georgia, now lives in Tampa Florida with her husband and kids.
I am excited to have Patricia Leavy visiting fundinmental to share her thoughts in this fun interview. What did you find most interesting?
What would we find under your bed?
Nothing.
What was the scariest moment of your life?
When my daughter was little, she fell down a big
staircase in front of my eyes. It was terrifying. I rushed her to the hospital.
Fortunately, by some miracle she was not hurt. This was over fifteen years ago
and I remember it like yesterday.
Do you listen to music while writing? If
so what?
I used to but I don’t anymore. However, I do make a
playlist for each of my books filled with songs that help me mentally set the
tone and get in the flow of that story-world. I listen to the playlist on
writing breaks for the duration of writing the book. It helps keep me in that
world.
What is something you’d like to accomplish
in your writing career next year?
Finishing a novel that I’ve been working on off and on
for a decade. I’ve published nearly 40 books, and written some in as few as ten
days, but this one has always been slow going. I think it’s good though, and it’s
different from my other work.
How long did it take you to write this
book?
Celestial Bodies
is a collection of six novels. Earlier versions of some of them have already
been released. It took me anywhere from ten days to a month to draft each of
the six novels, but then loads of time editing and revising. From when I
started the first one to when the entire collection was released, that was
about two and a half years.
No monsters under the bed, Patricia. LOL Thanks for sharing.
Heart-warming
and wonderfully romantic, written with the sharp wit of Candace Bushnell and
the sensitivity of Meg Donahue, comes best-selling author Patricia Leavy’s tour
de force about learning to balance darkness and light in our lives.
Celestial Bodies is a
series of six novels that follow the epic romance of Tess and Jack: Shooting
Stars, Twinkle, Constellations, Supernova, North Star, and Stardust. An
exploration of the power of love, each novel focuses on love at the
intersection of another topic: healing, doubt, intimacy, trust, commitment, and
faith. While external threats occur in each book, this is ultimately a story
about internal threats—the audio playing in our own heads.
Tess Lee is a
world-famous novelist. Her inspirational books explore people’s innermost
struggles and the human need to believe that there is light at the end of the
tunnel. Despite her extraordinary success, she’s been unable to find happiness
in her personal life. Jack Miller is a federal agent who specializes in
counterterrorism. After spending decades immersed in a violent world, a residue
remains. He’s dedicated everything to his job, leaving nothing for himself. The
night Tess and Jack meet, their connection is palpable. She examines the scars
on his body and says, “I’ve never seen anyone whose outsides match my insides.”
The two embark on a beautiful love story that asks the questions: What happens
when people truly see each other? Can unconditional love change the way we see
ourselves? Their friends are along for the ride: Omar, Tess’s sarcastic best
friend who calls her Butterfly; Joe, Jack’s friend from the Bureau who understands
the sacrifices he’s made; and Bobby and Gina, Jack’s younger friends who never
fail to lighten the mood. Along the way, others join their journey: the female
president of the United States, with whom Tess bakes cookies and talks
politics; the Millers, Jack’s childhood family; and many others. Celestial
Bodies is about walking through our past traumas, moving from darkness to
light, learning to live in color, and the ways in which love—from lovers,
friends, or the art we experience—can heal us. Written as unfolding action,
this collection moves fluidly between melancholy, humor, and joy. It can be
read for pleasure or selected for book clubs.
EXCERPT
Tess clung to Jack as they sped along the cliffside road on
their Harley, winding around the last curve as they approached their house.
When they arrived home, Jack carefully took off Tess’s helmet, kissed her, and
grabbed the bag of fruit they’d bought at the farmers’ market. She pulled the
scrunchie out of her hair, releasing dirty blonde locks down to her waist. They
headed inside. “You thirsty, baby?” he asked.
She nodded.
He quickly tapped a coconut, stuck a paper straw in, and
handed it to her.
“You’ve gotten so good at that,” she said, taking a sip.
“Yeah, just in time to go back to DC. I can’t believe we
have to leave our Hawaiian paradise tomorrow morning. We’re crazy to leave Maui
this time of year.”
“I know, baby. But we’ll be back in less than three months
to throw Omar and Clay the tropical Valentine’s Day wedding of their dreams.
Besides, it’ll be fun to see our friends.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead.
“Here, have some,” she said, handing him the coconut. “Let’s
leave the pineapple out. We can grill it tonight for our Thanksgiving feast
while we sit on the lanai and watch the sunset.” She kicked her shoes off,
slipped her T-shirt over her head, and shimmied out of her shorts, revealing a
hot pink string bikini. “Bet I can beat you to the ocean,” she teased, darting
off.
Soon, they were splashing around in the warm water, the sun
beating down on them. Jack wrapped his tanned arms around Tess and kissed her.
They stared at each other, the energy between them electric.
“I could get lost in your big, brown eyes,” he said.
She smiled and said, “Come on, let’s dry off.” They walked
to their pool and lay together on a chaise lounge.
“Jack?” Tess whispered.
“Yeah, baby.”
“I know you hold back sometimes, but you don’t need to.”
“Tess…”
“Baby, I know you do. There’s nothing that could ever happen
between us that I wouldn’t want.”
He caressed the side of her face. “You’re so beautiful and
delicate. I just want you to feel safe and loved.”
“I do and I always will.”
“You’ve been through so much. It wasn’t that long ago that
Ray was stalking you; I know that brought up memories of your childhood abuse.
I don’t ever want to be the cause of your pain or remind you of the ways you
have suffered.”
“You couldn’t. You only push those thoughts further away. I
trust you, Jack. Nothing could ever change that. I want to share everything
with you. I’ve never felt as close to another human being as I do to you.” She
ran her fingers through his wet, salty hair and said, “I still remember the
first time we came here, before we owned this place. You took me in the shower
and we were so free.”
He grazed his fingers along her cheek.
“I’m gonna rinse off,” she said. She untied her bikini top,
let it fall to the floor, and headed for the outdoor shower.
Jack hustled out of his swim trunks and followed her. She
flipped the water on, turned toward him, and smiled. He cupped her face in his
hands, kissed her softly, and with one swift movement, swung her around and
pulled her bathing suit bottom down. “Don’t let me hurt you,” he whispered. He
pushed her against the wall and they made love passionately.
With his quivering body pressed tightly against hers, Jack
kissed Tess’s neck and nibbled on her ear. Finally satiated, he turned the
shower off and wrapped towels around each of them. He picked her up and cradled
her in his arms as he carried her to a lounge chair. They resumed their tender
kisses, Jack caressing the side of her face. He looked at her with
unadulterated adoration.
“I love you so much,” he said.
“I love you too. More than anything.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Patricia Leavy, Ph.D., is a bestselling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chair of Sociology and Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College in Massachusetts. She has published over thirty-five books, earning commercial and critical success in both fiction and nonfiction, and her work has been translated into many languages. Patricia has received dozens of accolades for her books. Recently, her novel Shooting Stars won the 2021 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite Contemporary Novel, her novel Film won the 2020 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction, the 2021 NYC Big Book Award for Chick-Lit, and the 2021 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite Chick-Lit, her 3-novel set Candy Floss Collection won the 2020 American Fiction Award for Anthologies and the 2021 NYC Big Book Award for Anthology, and her novel Spark won the 2019 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction, the 2019 Living Now Book Award for Adventure Fiction, and the 2021 National Indie Excellence Award for New Adult Fiction. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2016 Mogul, a global women’s empowerment network, named her an “Influencer.” In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” She lives in Maine with her husband, daughter (when she’s not away at college), and her dog. Patricia loves writing, reading, watching films, and traveling.
I am trying to remember how I found Scarlett West….Somehow I had grabbed a free copy of Stolen In The Dark and after I reviewed it, she offered me Hunted In The Dark and a chance to join her ARC list…and I jumped all over it.
Enemy In The dark is the fourth book (out of five) in the Fae Bureau of Investigation series. I love being in their magical world, fighting and romancing. I love action packed books, and we have plenty.
Steamy romance…is it erotica? All these genre distinctions confuse me.
The Oracle has decreed that Adalee must kill her fated mate, Damien, but she is determined to find a way to prevent that from coming true. I have a thought and I am curious to see how it all comes about.
A false king. Faery kidnappings. A Black Hole.
They have to find the missing Ancients and the relics to close the rift.
Adalee has been finding herself as a Fae, learning her magic and the skills necessary to be a valued member of the FBI. The characters learn to function as a team, one just as important as the other.
In the first half, we have lots of hot steamy romance, as Adalee and Damien finally commit to being together. About half way through, the action picked up, the suspense rising as the pace flows smoothly to the dangerous cliff hanging ending and I can hardly wait for Fated In The Dark (expected publication December 2, 2022. I know what I want Santa to bring me for Christmas. 🙂
Books in the series do not stand alone. I recommend beginning with Stolen In The Dark, and all five books will need to be read to get the full story.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Enemy In The Dark by Scarlett West.
4 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
He’s my fated mate, and I’m destined to kill him.
When
I was forced into the dark Fae world, I never expected to fall in love
with my boss, Damien. With our relationship deepening, an Oracle has
decreed I must murder my beloved to save our people. While I wrestle
with having to murder him, the kidnappings are spiraling out of control
but the culprits leave no trace of evidence. To crack the case, I’ll
have to go undercover surrounded by hidden enemies.
To
make matters worse, our kingdom has been plunged into darkness. We
don’t know if our King is the enemy and war between our clans is
hurtling toward us. And now the King has threatened to execute court
members unless we turn ourselves in.
In a race against time, can we stop the destruction of Faery, or will I be forced to choose between my people and Damien?
Readers
who enjoy Karen Marie Moning, Laurell K. Hamilton, Amelia Hutchins, and
Lindsay Hall, will love this dangerous and sexy urban fantasy.
Enemy in the Dark is a steamy, urban fantasy romance that is book four out of five. Scroll Up and One Click to start reading this hot paranormal romance today!
ABOUT SCARLETT WEST
Scarlett West writes steamy, paranormal romance featuring sexy Fae. Deep characters and hot romance are her thing.
An
avid reader and writer who will never stop dreaming, Scarlett has
traveled to many countries and been on tons of adventures. She draws her
stories from these places, life experiences, and her grand
imagination.
Besides writing, she’s a hobby herbalist and a
dancer. If she’s not by the computer typing these things up, she can be
found in a forest, on a mountain, or by the ocean.
Scarlett West would like to thank her three F’s: Fans, Family, and Friends. Thank you forever for your support.
Join us for this tour from August 8 to August 26,2022!
Book Details:
Book Title: JOIN, or DIE. – An American Patriot’s Book of Quotes by R. Blake Wilson Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 214 pages Genre: American History, Constitution, Democracy Publisher: West View Press Release date: April 12, 2022 Content Rating: G for this book of quotes
Book Description:
An AMERICAN PATRIOT’S history lesson.
A book every American should own and read.
“The PEOPLE are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our LIBERTY.” Thomas Jefferson
“A HOUSE DIVIDED against itself cannot stand.” Abraham Lincoln
“FREEDOM
of SPEECH is a principal pillar of a free government; When this support
is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and
TYRANNY is erected on its ruins.” Benjamin Franklin
R. Blake Wilson is a Father, Corporate Employee, Small Business Owner, American Farmer and American Patriot.
Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois in the shadow of United States President Abraham Lincoln and having achieved success and failure chasing the American Dream, Blake has grown to appreciate and admire the American story. He believes in the American Dream and the Pursuit of Happiness and has lived his life chasing both. His story is emblematic of an America where the individual is free to fail. succeed, fail and
succeed again and again. His vision of American Unity is based on American Values and the United States Constitution… In God We Trust, E Pluribus Unum, and Ordered Liberty. (2022) DON’T TREAD ON ME – An American Patriot’s Book of Quotes (2011) JOIN, or DIE. – An American Patriot’s Book of Quotes (2022) LINCOLN – An American President’s Book of Quotes (coming soon) REAGAN – An American President’s Book of Quotes (coming soon) TRUMP – An American President’s Book of Quotes (coming soon)
