No Cooldown for Love Aliyah Burke (Entangled: Amara) Publication date: June 26th 2023 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
From USA Today bestselling author Aliyah Burke comes a playfully sexy romantic-comedy about one room, one bed, and a man who knows how to play…
When ex-pro basketball player Mitchell Anderson sees an overturned car on the edge of a cliff during a nasty snowstorm, he knows he has only minutes to rescue the woman trapped inside. What he’s not expecting is their instant attraction, or that she can deliver one hell of a pick-up line even under the most terrifying of circumstances.
Hope Roman’s entire life is on the edge. She’s already overwhelmed with grief and upset, and nearly dying is pretty much the icing on a terrible, soggy cake. So it’s just her luck that she’s suddenly snowbound at a charming little inn with the hottest, yet down right grumpiest, man she’s ever met. And naturally, there’s only one room left.
Now the pillow barrier between them keeps disappearing. And the walls are coming down. But Hope knows she doesn’t belong in Mitchell’s world any more than he belongs in hers. The question is whether either of them can trust the other long enough to play for keeps…
She migrated in her sleep. Not that he had an issue with it—he’d enjoyed having her in his arms. Stretching, he yawned and burrowed back into the bed, pulling the blankets up to his neck. No rush in getting up, as they weren’t going anywhere. He snuggled up against the wall she’d made and inhaled, drawing in her scent with each slow breath he took.
The door cracked open and he held his breath as Hope poked her head in. Watching her through slitted eyes as she snuck into the room, he had this insane urge to smile like a fool. Even now, she was trying not to disturb him.
“Morning.”
She squealed and jumped, hand slamming against her full chest.
He slowly sat against the headboard and stared at her, eyebrows up. “You sure are jumpy this morning.”
Hand flexing against her chest, she shook her head. “You scared me.”
“I scared you?” Mitchell didn’t take his eyes off her for a second, just stared, wishing the fire burned a bit higher so he could see more of her facial expression.
She propped her hands on her full hips, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “That’s what I said. I don’t scare myself. I was minding my own business when you…” She waved a hand around.
He smirked. “Said ‘morning’?”
Hope gave him a sage nod. “Exactly.”
“I can see how that would’ve been scary,” he said drolly. “Opening my mouth to say one word to you.”
Hope narrowed her eyes at him. “I was trying not to interrupt you.” She cleared her throat. “Wake you.” A deep breath. “Whatever.”
He scratched his stomach through his shirt, not ignoring the way her gaze darted toward the movement. “Interrupt me? That’s intriguing. What exactly were you envisioning me doing in this bed, Hope?” He leaned forward, lips curling up in a full-fledged smile. “And if you were concerned, why not knock on the door? Did you want or hope to catch me doing something in this bed?”
“Sleeping.” Her voice was higher and he wasn’t positive but he felt like she was blushing.
“Oh,” he replied as he tossed the blankets back, sucking in a breath at the difference in temperature outside the bedding. “Sleeping, huh? You wanted to catch me doing what I was doing when you snuck out?” Disbelief smacked hard. And damn it, he enjoyed making her engage with him.
Her gaze drifted to his arms and he flexed one, loving how she nibbled on her lower lip without looking away from him. He’d heard Emma mention to Linc about how his arms were porn-worthy. Did Hope feel that way about his? Something definitely worth finding out, but he thought she did, considering how her eyes continued to drift to his forearms.
“Or whatever.” Heat filled her eyes and he loved that she didn’t drop her gaze.
“Hope,” he said, rising from the bed.
He watched and waited for her to stop staring at his arm.
“Yes?”
“You didn’t have to put the wall back up. I already know you travel when you sleep.” In basketball, traveling was a foul, but in bed, he was all for her doing it again. Tonight.
Author Bio:
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached at http://aliyah-burke.com/blog/contact/
She is married to a career military man, they have three Borzoi. Her days are spent sharing her time between work, writing, and dog training/showing.
Book Title: Lose It For The Last Time 2nd Edition by Amy Newman Shapiro Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 240 pages Genre: Weight Loss, Nutrition, Healthy Living, Self Help, Publisher: Snewman Media Release date: November 2022 Content Rating: G for no inappropriate language, no violence, no sex.
Book Description:
When it comes to losing and keeping off the pounds, Amy Shapiro knows what works, what doesn’t, and why.
In her completely revised and updated edition of LOSE IT FOR THE LAST TIME she incorporates the latest scientific research that has advanced our understanding of why we gain weight and the best practices for taking it off —for good. In addition, she introduces us to the technology that has changed how we exercise and track physical activity with tips on using it to our best advantage.
This new edition contains the same easy-to-follow plan for permanent and healthy weight loss that Amy has used successfully for many years in her private practice to help people like you win the constant battle against losing weight and gaining it back. She shares her secrets for successfully making small, sensible lifestyle changes, along with strategies for using a non-diet approach to lose weight.
Amy will make your dream of long-term weight loss a reality by:
Helping you lose weight in a nonrestrictive way that makes it easier to keep it off
Offering surprising, simple substitutes for replacing habits and behaviors that pack on the pounds
Showing how it’s possible to eat fewer calories without going hungry or depriving yourself of the foods you love
Explaining how to dine out and enjoy party and holiday food without gaining weight
Demonstrating how to make exercise a part of your life without joining a gym or playing a sport
Providing practical, easy-to-live-with suggestions and techniques for staying motivated and focused on long-term success
Teaching you how to set realistic, measurable, and doable weekly goals
It’s time to get healthy and lose weight for the last time and stop yo-yo dieting and the health risks that come with it. Here are the answers for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight so you can experience the real health benefits of permanent weight loss.
Amy Newman Shapiro RDN, CDN, RYT200 is a registered dietitian, nutritionist. She holds degrees in both psychology and nutrition and is a certified personal trainer and a certified yoga instructor. As a professional speaker Amy promotes wellness in corporate, clinical, and private settings. She also offers wellness coaching and integrative and functional nutrition in her private practice based in Long Island, New York, where she and her husband reside. This is her fourth book.
**images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**
Hi Everyone. Hope you had a good week. Mine was pretty quiet. We had a pool issue, a broken pipe, but Mr Wonderful was able to fix it (fingers crossed). He just finished it up and it will need to sit for twenty four hours before we can test it out. Thank goodness we found it was a backwash pipe, so we are able to run the pool. Other than that, I got on a reading binge…not reviewing…so I am playing catch up. I still have a few to go. We did hop over to Biloxi for a couple of days, but weren’t able to play any golf. I don’t know if I could have anyway, seeing it is so hot. We have had a week of severe weather and I am over it! I used to love the afternoon thunderstorms, but something seems different now. They don’t pass quickly and I think that me getting older makes them not so enjoyable any more. Right now we are watching some soccer, the US and Jamaica, and some national baseball playoffs, Florida and LSU. Well, I guess that’s about it, so see ya later and have a good week.
The Springfest Sprint Georgie Monroe (A Faetales Novelette, #1) Publication date: June 23rd 2023 Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Tradition can really put a damper on wanderlust.
Ember has come of seelie age, however, the spirited heir of the Spring Fae Court hasn’t chosen a mate yet. Per the court’s ancient custom, it’s time for her to run the Springfest Sprint! The males are ready to claim their mates, and many have their sights on the elusive princess. But she’s got a plan…
Hide until this nonsense is over.
It’s not foolproof or typical of the feisty fae, but it’s better than getting bound to a terrible kisser, a pompous bragger, or really… anyone. When she runs into a male who ruins her hiding spot, she has to decide if he’s an enemy or ally.
***
If you’re looking for plot, setting, and action, with a touch of dark romance and steamy moments, all packaged in a two hour read, then welcome to the Springfest Sprint! Tropes you will find: forced proximity without decent clothes, spicy faerie fae, secret royalty, mate race, fight against tradition, enemies to lovers, misunderstood hero, fae/faerie lore, polyamory, fated mates, fun best friend, and lots of sneaking around.
With my mother’s announcement, I start out at a slow pace past the attentive hunters. The other prey falls behind me like I’ve started a human jogging club. When we squish together to enter the rocky ravine, and females crunch together, arguing for more space, I’m even more appreciative that I shoved my way to the front. As soon as we pass through, I yell, “Good fortune to those who wish for it,” and dash left toward the river, listening to the others mumble and clop noisily in all directions. Twenty flutters into my sprint, silk tangles around my quick legs and I halt too late, tumbling to the forest floor with a screech as my wings try desperately to break free from the bindings. “We’re not meant for running,” I grumble, staggering to my feet. Especially not in too-long panels of silk.
My knees leak crimson, and I shake my head. Bleeding will not help me hide. I need to get to the water. Tying the silk panels together, I fashion something close to a silky diaper—maybe that will deter the hunters as well—and get back to my escape plan. Has it been forty flutters or forty-five? I finally find what I’m looking for, leaping from rock to rock as I close in on the river.
Some don’t pay attention to our territory, leaving it to the work of the gentry and army, but I studied these woods and this stream until it formed a detailed map in my mind. Now, I move closer to what I can only hope will hide me well enough for the others to be claimed first. It’s definitely been fifty flutters, and I waver between sticking to the trees and underbrush so I have coverage or dashing along the rocks so my steps are silent.
A distant scream stops me in my tracks, and then a jumble of yelling takes over. I run with renewed fervor, sticking to the coverage of trees, because whatever scuffle is unfolding won’t last long enough. A buzz of wings sounds and I throw myself against a tree, trying desperately to ease my heaving lungs. The sound halts, and a tree branch creaks to my right. This is where someone who was panicking would run, but I’d be caught four steps into a sprint. I dig my fingers into the bark and slowly blow out the air from my burning lungs. There’s another buzz, and for a moment, I hope they’ve flown away, but one speaks.
“Have you seen Quartz?” Stone has to be only a tree over. Too close.
“Nah. My eyes are set for one.” Jasper’s voice makes me grit my teeth. Go, please. Leave.
“That little tart is trouble, and you know it.” Stone’s voice is quietly conspiratorial.
Hey. I cut my eyes in his direction, but don’t dare to move.
Jasper chuckles. “It’s worth it.”
I roll my eyes. That says a lot. Not she’s worth it, but it—my title and status. That’s all Jasper has ever been interested in.
“Well, I doubt the little princess would have made it this far already, nor would she come here. Too close to mud and stream muck for her precious self.”
I can count myself fortunate that Stone isn’t interested, though it’s hard for me to stay still instead of turning around and giving him the what for, the peephole.
“You’re probably right. Maybe she’s in the fields.” Jasper gives a disgruntled hum, and two sets of wings flutter off.
I rescind the peephole insult. Stone can lure Jasper away anytime. Keeping still and calm for another long moment, I listen to the sounds of the forest: birds, distant buzzing, and there are definitely moans coming from the west. Two are out of the game, it seems.
Pushing off the tree, I step into a run, wincing at the slight crunch of last year’s plant remains between the clumps of fresh growth. The creek comes into sight and I grin. Then I screech as I’m tackled, landing hard amongst a bed of daffodils.
Author Bio:
Georgie Monroe is an author of sassy erotica romance. Born on the southern east coast, she’s a firm believer that mac and cheese solves nearly any problem and that spring weather means the day’s outfit will consist of seven layers. She’s terribly optimistic and will douse anyone around her in “it’s going to work out” sparkles. And she loves to write all the juicy parts of relationships between a variety of people so that her readers can enjoy stepping into the lives of fun, sexy, and sometimes highly flawed people who deserve a well-earned happily ever after.
I got the idea and the motivation to start doing Tackling The TBR from All The Book Blog Names Are Taken. I love showcasing my books on Goodreads, my ereader and my bookshelves.
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I added this to my TBR because of a Goodreads Giveaway. How could I resist that title and cover?
Fighting Fate Diana Muñoz Stewart Publication date: June 20th 2023 Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
Risking herself to rescue others. No problem. Risking her heart on love? Problem.
Dada
As a Guild operative, I’ve seamlessly taken on dozens of false identities. Going undercover as a nun? No problem. But when my routine mission turns into a hunt for a vicious serial killer, I’m forced to join forces with Sion Bradford. Problem. The sexy, ex-soccer player doesn’t, for one minute, believe I’m a nun. Too many lives are at stake to tell him the truth. So, why am I struggling to keep the faith?
Sean
Learned a lot since leaving sports to go chase down degenerates. Mostly, how to spot a liar. Not that I need that skill when it comes to Dada. The woman’s every shade of hot, knows self-defense, and is a great kisser. Plainly, she’s rubbish at being a nun. Still, joining forces with her to take a killer off the streets is a no-brainer. I’d risk Hell itself to stop this lunatic and keep her safe.
As things heat up between Sean and Dada, their search for a serial killer turns into a deadly cat and mouse game. With time running out, they come face-to-face with the truth about each other and an unexpected and vicious murderer.
Searching Sean’s apartment has given me a wealth of insights into the man. Not only is he doing his own undercover work, but he’s also helping people in need…and painting.
I stop by an etching of a nude figure and nearly swallow my tongue. How? He’s never seen me in anything other than this drab tunic. Still…Without touching, I run my fingers above the edges of a body he’s gotten exactly right. My body.
Swallowing my rising heart, I imagine his hand holding the pencil, imagine him tracing lines, mentally stroking my body.
“Sister?”
“Ay!” Startled I swing around. To my horror, I find Sean squatting on the fire escape, staring at me through the window, his mouth set in a firm, disappointed line.
I bring a hand to my chest, mostly to buy time. “Dios. You scared the life out of me.”
“Sorry about that, Sister.” With alarming dexterity, he climbs in through the window. “Don’t usually have guests break into my flat. Not sure of the protocols.”
Hard to miss his sarcasm. “I didn’t break in. The apartment was unlocked…”
He’s shaking his head in outright disbelief. It’s not hard to figure out why. The apartment couldn’t have been left open if he’d gone out through the fire escape.
I turn back to the door and scan until I spot it. There’s a small, nearly invisible device at the foot of the door. It must’ve registered me entering. I missed it, not only because it is so very tiny, but because it’s very high-tech. I’ve underestimated this man.
I spin back around, smiling. “I need your help.”
Auburn hair a windy mess, brown eyes smoldering, he swallows the distance between us with his sexy swaggering gate. “You broke into my flat because you need my help?”
I’m scrambling. My brain is scrambling. My heart is scrambling. He stops feet from me. I have to crane my neck, which is rare and uncomfortable.
My height has always allowed me to look men in the eyes or look down on them. Not having that advantage is supremely disconcerting. Also, he’s a lot of muscle. The heat of him rolls forward like lava, enveloping my senses.
“Want to try the truth, luv?”
Luv? Not even Sister or Dee. I switch tactics. What man doesn’t like to have his ego stroked? Plus, I’d be a fool if I pretended I hadn’t noticed the way he looks at me. The way he’s looking at me right now.
“Help might be the wrong word.” I make a point of running my tongue along my lips. His eyes follow the movement. “I felt a strong need to be near you. With you.”
Feminists everywhere are cringing at me using my sexuality to get out of the fact that I was spying on him and, internally, so am I. Well, a little. He is so very hot.
“Really,” he smirks, both interested and not buying it even a little. He leans closer. “Is that how you intend to play this?”
He obviously requires proof of my sincerity. Not giving myself a chance to second guess, I fist his T-shirt, tiptoe, and place my lips on his soft, firm mouth.
For a breathless moment, he freezes. My tongues plays along the seam of his mouth.
With a moan, he relents.
Eager and hungry, I let go of all the tension of playing at being someone I’m not and let myself feel, really feel, the intense attraction I have to this man.
Heat and naked desire rake painfully through every cell in my body as we grab at each other, tongues intertwining, bodies screaming for more.
Author Bio:
#1 Amazon bestselling author.
Armed with a razor-sharp wit and a rolled-up MFA in Creative Writing, Diana Muñoz Stewart cartwheel-kicked her way into publishing with her fiery Black Ops Confidential series. Washington Independent Review of Books called the series’ award-winning debut, “original, impressive” a “rollicking good ride” and “high-octane.”
Of her writing Publishers Weekly declared, “Stewart plays adeptly with the reader’s emotions” and noted that in her series, “Stewart’s talent shines.”
Of her unflinching openness in taking on today’s relevant topics, Booklist said, “Munoz-Stewart discusses such sensitive topics as human trafficking, sexual violence, and sexism…while the diverse …Parish family and their mission to protect women everywhere give these topics…hope…”
Kirkus Book Reviews said her romantic suspense series, along with having, “Sizzling physical encounters” also “enables an emphasis on recovery and power.”
Munoz Stewart’s work has been a BookPage Top 15 Romance of 2018, a Night Owl Top Pick, A BookPage Top Pick, and an Amazon Book of the Month. A 2014 Pages From The Heart Winner, 2015 Golden Heart® Finalist, 2016 Daphne du Maurier Finalist, and a 2016 Gateway to the Best Winner, Diana Munoz Stewart is a member of Romance Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime.
Diana lives in an often chaotic and always welcoming home that—depending on the day—can hold husband, kids, extended family, friends, and a canine or two. A believer in the power of words to heal, connect, and distract from chores, Diana blogs regularly on topics near and dear to her heart, including spotlight pieces on strong women from around the world. When not writing, Diana can be found kayaking, doing sprints up her long driveway—harder than it sounds–attempting yoga on her deck, or hiking with the man who’s had her heart since they were teens.
Diana is represented by the wonderful Michelle Grajkowski of Three Seas Literary Agency.
I’m always curious where Kathryn Meyer Griffith can take the Dinosaur Lake series and she does not disappoint. Like the tag line says, The aliens are coming in force…but for a malevolent or a benevolent reason? I think they may make us an offer we can’t refuse. Kathryn Meyer Griffith has a vivid imagination and I love her Dinosaur Lake series so much, I would hate for it to ever end.
Humanity…we go about our daily business as if there will always be a tomorrow. What if aliens came to visit and gave us an ultimatum. I, for one, don’t believe we would be able to hold up our part of the bargain. There are those that put their life on the line and those that only think of themselves, not caring what they do to others or the environment as they please themselves.
Henry has retired from his ranger job at Crater Lake, lost much and still suffers, but he has loyal friends who will jump to his aid when called.
Oscar, I love him. He has saved many human lives and will be called on again.
The first part of the book reminds us of what has already happened, leading us into what is coming. I do like when an author refreshes my memory, reminding me of what has come before, bringing the heartache and loss back to mind. We do have many feel good moments and that is important to me too. I want to smile and laugh while wondering if the world is going to end.
I wonder…what would humanity do if it was all real?
What do you think? What would you do?
From beginning to end, I devoured the words. I had to know what Kathryn Meyer Griffith created in Dinosaur Lake VII. Every time I think this series and Kathryn can’t surprise me, they do. I couldn’t stop reading. Even though the ending seemed abrupt, I think that was me wanting more. I don’t know what more she could have said or done to create a better experience for me.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dinosaur Lake VII by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.
4 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
Ex-Park Chief Ranger Henry Shore has had his share of adventures and trials. But for many years he had a good life with his wife, Ann, and his daughter, Laura, being Chief Ranger at Crater Lake National Park. His life was perfect. Then the dinosaurs came. With his rangers, he fought the prehistoric beasts for years in his park; while outside the world also battled the malevolent creatures. He had one friend among the dinosaurs, little Oscar, who helped him, and the other humans, to fight and survive the dinosaur wars; during them he lost his daughter. These days Henry is recovering from the loss of his beloved wife, Ann, and trying to find purpose in his new lonely life. The year before he’d been temporarily rescued from that sorrow by being drafted, as a renowned dinosaur hunter and expert, to help track down some of the last remaining rogue dinosaurs in the country, and then later, two of the wilier creatures loose and causing havoc at the government’s secret Area 52. Area 52, where two mysterious ancient alien spaceships were housed and examined by a team of our scientists. Alien ships somehow suspected of being connected to the world’s previous dinosaur scourge because of the ancient dinosaur DNA discovered in their labs. That assignment ended abruptly for Henry when the two alien aircrafts mysteriously vanished. Now Henry is home again, and at loose ends. But when so many new menacing extraterrestrial spacecrafts begin to appear in Earth’s air spaces, and the alien abductions multiply, Henry is drafted yet again to help. For fear has rapidly spread across the world as more and more alien airships are sighted everywhere. Why are so many alien ships suddenly harassing our planet, and what do they want? It won’t take long before the world, with Henry and an old friend’s help, find out. Then they have to figure out how to appease the aliens, or the Earth could be doomed.
ABOUT KATHRYN MEYER GRIFFITH
Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over fifty-one years ago now, and now have had thirty-six (romantic horror, thrillers, SF Thrillers, horror novels, romantic SF horror, romantic suspense, romantic time travel, historical romance, and murder mysteries) novels, and thirteen short stories, published from many traditional publishers since 1984. But since 2012 I’ve gone into self-publishing in a big way; and upon getting some of my older books’ full rights back for the first time in 36 years, self-published all of them along with my newer novels. My seven Dinosaur Lake novels and nine Spookie Town Murder Mysteries (Scraps of Paper, All Things Slip Away, Ghosts Beneath Us, Witches Among Us, What Lies Beneath the Graves, All Those Who Came Before, When the Fireflies Returned, Echoes of Other Times, and Waiting Beyond The Veil) are my best-sellers.
I was married to beloved Russell (who passed away on August 27, 2021) for over forty-three years; have a son, two grandchildren, and a great granddaughter, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois. I have a quirky cat, Sasha, and live in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk/classic rock singer in my youth with my late brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.
2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *Finalist* for her horror novel The Last Vampire ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS * Finalist * for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.
Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:
Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Love Is Stronger Than Evil, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire (2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Horror category), Witches, Witches II: Apocalypse, Witches plus bonus Witches II: Apocalypse, The Nameless One erotic horror short story, The Calling, Scraps of Paper (The First Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Things Slip Away (The Second Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Ghosts Beneath Us (The Third Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Witches Among Us (The Fourth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), What Lies Beneath the Graves (The Fifth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Those Who Came Before (The Sixth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), When the Fireflies Returned (The Seventh Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Echoes of Other Times (The Eighth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Waiting Beyond The Veil (The Ninth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Egyptian Heart, Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, A Time of Demons and Angels, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Spooky Short Stories Collection, Haunted Tales, Forever and Always Romantic Novella, Night Carnival Short Story, Dinosaur Lake (2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Thriller/Adventure category), Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising, Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation, Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars, Dinosaur Lake V: Survivors, Dinosaur Lake VI: The Alien Connection, Dinosaur Lake VII: The Aliens Return, Dinosaur Lake VIII: For Love of Oscar…coming soon. Memories of My Childhood (short story collection) and my Christmas Magic 1959 non-fiction autobiographical short story.
In The Moment During C.G. Coppola (The Coyote And The Claw Companion Series, #2) Publication date: June 23rd 2023 Genres: Adult, Romance, Urban Fantasy
After an unexpected hookup, I end up dating Grayson Knight—my former mortal enemy. We still argue constantly, and I’m sure we’ll break up at some point, but after a family dinner goes well with Dad—the city’s Police Sergeant—I have hope.
Then I start noticing things. Like how Grayson gets called away at odd times, or how skilled he is with gymnastics. Then there was the fight at school—the one where he dominated his opponent. None of it seems important until we’re attacked by a monstrous creature—and Grayson springs into action. It’s almost like he knows what to do…like he’s done it before.
Knowing something is off, I confront him about his unusual behavior, but he dismisses it. Not satisfied, I decide to discover the truth for myself. Because Grayson has a secret—and I’m going to find out what.
I pull out my chair and take my seat, and he does the same across from me. Scooting in, I glance around the restaurant, scanning the other diners. All are in their thirties and older, most in their forties and fifties. We’re definitely the youngest patrons here.
“Stop staring.” He pushes the menu in front of me. “Pick out something to eat. Get whatever you want.”
Encouraged, I look down, scanning the prices first like I’ve always done.
Whoa.
Everything is in the double digits, and most start with three. I feel weird.
“Stop looking at the prices and get whatever you want, okay? This is our one big date, so make it count.”
Our one big date? I thought he was joking about making this stretch, but was he? Maybe that wasn’t a joke at all. I’m sure this will work itself toward an argument, but I need to understand what he means. Setting the menu down, I look up. “You’re saying I don’t get any more after this?”
“Until prom?” He thinks about it, tilting his head. “Eh. Probably not.”
“That’s in like, six months.”
“Which is why you should make this one count.”
“Grayson.”
“What?”
I narrow my eyes at him, but he only stares back. Oh, no. He’s not getting by with this one. “I didn’t ask you to roll all our dates into one big-ass crazy one.”
“Is that what I’m doing? I said big dates—not all dates. This is our first official one, hence it’s a big one.” He picks up his menu with both hands, his eyes already dipping back down the paper. “You really got to pay attention.”
I replay his words, trying to find what I missed. Oh. Tilting my head, I lock onto his eyes, holding him accountable. “So that means I get more dates then?”
“How many dates am I supposed to take you on?”
“I don’t know…twice a month?”
“Twice a month?” He thinks. “So, according to your math, you’re owed twelve dates over a six-month period?”
“Uh, sure—yeah.”
He nods to himself. “Think I can handle that. Just don’t expect each date to be up to this caliber, okay? Again, this one is a big deal. A special situation since it’s our first official date. After this, it’s fast food and streaming services. Completely downhill from here.”
I stare at him a long moment, wondering how his weird little brain works. “You know sometimes, I still think about strangling you.”
“Are we naked when you imagine it?”
“Hello.” A black lady stops at our table, her arms behind her back. She’s wearing the same thing as the other servers—a white blouse with black slacks and shoes. Her hair is pulled into a braid down her neck, and unlike some of the other servers, she’s wearing very little makeup. “And welcome to Donald’s. My name is Latoya. Have you dined with us previously?”
“No ma’am,” Grayson answers for us.
“Well, welcome. I’ll give you a moment to look over the menu, but first, let me tell you about today’s specials…” Latoya prattles off her rehearsed description, and it actually sounds delicious—grilled salmon in butter herb sauce with rice pilaf and cherry tomatoes.
So good.
Once she’s done, she leaves us with a smile and promises to return shortly with two waters and a basket of warmed bread.
Grayson is back to staring at his menu, his eyes pouring over each option. “What’re you thinking about getting? The salmon sounds good, but I haven’t had lobster in fucking ever.”
Author Bio:
C.G. Coppola is the author of the sci-fi adventure series, Arizal Wars, and the contemporary romance series, Better Than This. In addition to stories that explore magic and the paranormal, she writes realistic fiction set in fantastical universes, usually with a lot of kissing. Married with two fur-babies she spoils rotten, C.G. Coppola lives in Florida where she grew up and attended college. When not writing, she can be found decorating the house, bantering with her husband, or dancing to Meghan Trainor–sometimes all at once.
I was approached by T L Bodine to read and review Neverest. The cover immediately drew me in, then I read the blurb and clicked reply to her email.
I am so happy to have T L Bodine to share her thoughts about, well, whatever she wants.
INTERVIEW WITH T L BODINE
1. Book covers heavily influence me and sometimes I will grab a book just because I love the cover. What is your process for coming up with the final product?
This particular cover went on a bit of a design journey. My publisher and I had a very different idea in mind, but with AI-rendered art being such a hot-button topic lately, we wanted to lean hard in the opposite direction and go with something that was very obviously bespoke and physical. My editor found the artist, Donnie Kirchner, and shared his Instagram to me, and I was intrigued by the way he worked with texture and color so I got on board pretty quick. I made several moodboards of other book covers I liked and different art styles and color palettes, and we sent a bundle of that over to Donnie who really knocked it out of the park. The original painting is actually hanging up in my living room now. The sky is painted on canvas, and the mountain is actually torn paper backlit with fairy lights to get that horizon glow. Overall I’m really happy with how it turned out, and it definitely captures the attention!
2. What was your inspiration for writing Neverest?
I randomly stumbled across an article on one of those “weird news” sites on social media, about the bodies on Everest, and realized it was something I had never thought about before. It sent me on kind of an obsession spiral for a bit, trying to understand — why people climb the mountain even knowing the risks, why recovering a body is so important it’s worth risking more lives, why there are so many inexperienced climbers on Everest especially. In hunting for answers to satisfy my curiosity, I started thinking through a lot of spooky “what if” scenarios, and the central relationship drama at the heart of the book started to reveal itself.
3. Why a book about mountain climbing?
I started this project knowing essentially nothing about mountaineering, so I went on quite a research spree just to feel comfortable in that space. I’m still definitely a couch potato. But in reading climbing logs and blogs from mountaineers and watching YouTube videos and documentaries and digging into memoirs, I started to get a sense of what drives people into this hobby…and realized that in a lot of ways, mountaineering isn’t so different from writing. Obviously their hobby is way more dangerous than mine, and a lot more physically demanding. But we share a same passion for investing a tremendous part of ourselves into something others might view as a waste of time or even selfish — and once I found that emotional hook, I understood exactly what I was writing. Neverest is a story about grief and ghosts and death in the mountains, but it’s also about being married to someone with a deep, life-altering passion for something you cannot begin to understand. And that, I think, is super relatable to a lot of us.
4. What authors have influenced your writing career?
Like most horror fans, I started reading Stephen King when I was entirely too young, and that influence has definitely stuck around. I also owe a lot to the YA authors of my youth, like Robert Cormier and R.L. Stine, and to the classics like Shirley Jackson, John Steinbeck, and Kurt Vonnegut. Among my contemporaries, I continue to be totally blown away by Paul Tremblay, Grady Hendrix, T. Kingfisher and Gillian Flynn. Their work never fails to inspire me!
5. What do you do for fun and relaxation?
What is this “relaxation” you speak of? 😛 I’m a copywriter by trade so I’m in the position of taking time away from my writing job…to do a different writing job. Not very smart of me. I do also enjoy playing video games with my husband (our current obsession is playing World of Warcraft Classic on “hardcore” mode, so when your character dies you have to delete them and start over). I also cook a lot and tend to my pet rats and our little dogs. One of these days I should pick a hobby that involves going outside.
6. As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
I feel a deep affinity for rats. I’ve kept them as pets since my teens, and they’re such funny little animals — hypersocial, political, full of gossip and petty squabbles but completely devoted to each other, curious yet skeptical, infatuated with good food and warm, dark, cozy places to sleep in a pile with their best pals. Equally at home in the forest or crawling around in the trash. I can’t think of a more relatable creature.
7. What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on a zombie book called Cage of Bones, which is the third and hopefully final installment of my Lazarus series about self-aware zombies struggling to survive and thrive under the nose of a government that wants to eradicate them. I’ve also got a book in the editing stages now about a selkie and a musician who team up to escape the abusive music producer who controls them both. After that, I guess we’ll see which thing from my mountain of to-dos grabs my attention first!
Thanks so much, T, for taking the time to share your thoughts. It is a credit to your writing skills to make Neverest sound as if it wasn’t your first climb up the mountain (at least in our imagination). I can only imagine the gorgeous cover hanging on your wall. Your zombies sound awesome and my hubby thinks I may have been a mermaid in my former life, so your writing ticks all the boxes for me.
First off, the paranormal element is subtle, but a Yeti is mentioned. This is not a creature feature, but the paranormal twist and the look into what happens when you climb a mountain and your mind may become your worst enemy.
A year ago, Sean Miller, Carrie’s husband, climber Mount Everest and never came home. Carries is lost in her grief, but evokes a promise from their best friend, Tom, to take her to the top so she can find her body.
I never saw Neverest being the book it turned out to be, but it surely has enough horror without the creature…or is there something more to the mountain, something that lays it’s claim to those who falter. Is it a beast? Is it their minds altitude sickness causing them to lose it? Is there a hostile force that protects the mountain?
Tom and Sean usually climbed together, but Tom had his reasons for not being on the trip. They weren’t what I thought and I wonder if all those that never returned from climbing Mount Everest were all accidents.
Neverest is a book about survival. I have seen some TV shows and read some accounts of Mount Everest. I cannot imagine ever having the desire to do such a thing. For one, I like heat and I am pretty laid back. I think climbers have a desire to conquer something. Or are they running from something? Sean felt climbing was the only time he was in control of events. When you think of all the support needed to accomplish such a feat, I think that is a misnomer.
The writing, and watching shows and reading books, makes it easy to visualize her preparations, her assent, and the action as it unfolds. The hazards and danger, from the mountain and from the person themselves, does not make me want to follow in their footsteps. It was creepy. I found myself shivering and it wasn’t from the cold.
Maybe the mountain is striking back because of how humans have trashed it. My curiosity, which is great that an author can have me doing it, made me surf the internet. People…I get this feeling of who do they think they are. Do they think, if I were ever to climb the mountain, I would want to see how little they care about their environment? It’s like we say for the beach, leave only footprints.
Carrie is searching for answers and her guilt drives her on a journey of self discovery that she didn’t know she was looking for. The held the journal Sean had left behind as if it was her lifeline…
Man, oh man, that ending. I had no idea how T L Bodine would finish Neverest, but I didn’t see that coming. I guess, I was just along for the ride, not thinking of where I was going, just taking one step after another, one page after another, one word after another…
T L Bodine’s writing draws me in as I become fascinated with the allure to conquer, the price the climbers pay, both physical and mental, the cold, the lack of air and the tricks the mind plays on them. I wonder how many fall prey to altitude sickness and just wander off, lost on the mountain and lost in their mind.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Neverest by T L Bodine.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
One year ago, Sean Miller—journalist and mountain climbing enthusiast—reached the summit of Mount Everest and was never seen again. Unable to move on without knowing the truth of what happened, his widow Carrie insists on an expedition to search for Sean’s body so it can be properly laid to rest. Tom, Sean’s best friend and former climbing partner, agrees to serve as expedition guide and promises to keep Carrie safe on the mountain, despite their complicated relationship history.
Guided by a travel journal left behind by her husband, Carrie ventures into the frozen, open-air graveyard of the world’s tallest peak. But as Sean’s diary and Carrie’s experiences reveal, climbing the mountain is more than a test of endurance; it’s a battle of wills with an ancient and hostile force protecting the mountain—and the dead do not rest easy at the summit.
NEVEREST is a survival thriller with a hint of the supernatural that will appeal to fans of Ally Wilkes’ All the White Spaces and Amy McCulloch’s Breathless.
Genre: Fiction, Horror
292 pages, ebook
First published April 25, 2023 by Ghost Orchid Press
ABOUT T L BODINE
T.L. Bodine writes dark fantasy and horror. She’s interested in uncanny, fantastic things, and the way real people with real problems interact with them.
You can also read up-and-coming stories on Wattpad, or check out her Tumblr for writing advice, creepypasta, and more.
When not writing, she can usually be found watching horror movies, playing story-heavy video games, or experimenting in the kitchen.
She lives in New Mexico with her husband, David, and two small dogs.
Lucky Shot Shanna Hatfield Publication date: June 20th 2023 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Western
What’s a girl to do when her aim is true?
As a registered nurse at the Boise VA Hospital, Grace Marshall is devoted to her patients, but some wounds require more than medical care. A patient too stubborn and angry to accept the help he needs storms out of her exam room, ruffling her feathers. Yet, when the man returns to apologize, something about him tugs at her heart.
Levi Gibson left for war young and idealistic but returned from Vietnam with physical scars and a haunted soul. He tries to banish the darkness brewing inside him with hard work on his family’s potato farm, but it’s a young nurse’s kindness that brings unexpected light and joy into his life. If Levi can open up to Grace and let her see his pain, could she be the key that unlocks a future full of hope instead of mere survival?
After her father sends Grace a legendary pistol, target practice provides an excuse to spend time with Levi during the summer of 1972. As his shadows overwhelm him, it will take far more than a lucky shot for Grace to hit love’s mark.
She straightened in time to see Levi sprinting through the rain with a vase of flowers.
His cowboy hat had kept his head dry, but Grace was sure she could wring water out of his shirt when he stepped inside. A vision of him shirtless made warmth sear her cheeks as he walked over to her and held out the vase.
“Here,” he said, holding it out to her.
She stared at the vase brimming with fragrant lilacs, white tulips, and pink peonies. The arrangement was stunning, but she had no idea why he’d bring it to her.
Hesitantly, she reached out for the vase. “What’s this?”
“An apology,” he said, removing his hat as she took the vase from him.
She held the vase against her mid-section, longing to bury her nose in the divine lilacs. She’d always loved the scent of them when they bloomed in the spring. On their dairy farm, they had several old bushes that bloomed along the back fence. She’d missed them since she’d moved to Boise. The only chance she got to smell flowers now was while walking in the park, or when one of her fellow nurses received them as a gift.
“An apology?” she asked, giving the cute cowboy a curious glance.
“For Friday. I was rude, and I’m sorry. It wasn’t anything you did,” he admitted, appearing both nervous and repentant.
She ignored the way he’d shoved his left hand into the front pocket of his jeans to hide his injury. His right hand clenched his hat, as though he was anxious. Uncertain.
“Do you really think I’m too young, incompetent, and impertinent to be a nurse?” she asked, keeping her expression unreadable, but she shifted her posture, cocking one hip defiantly.
A slow grin spread across his face as he watched her, appearing to keenly observe her every move. His head shook from side to side. “No, ma’am. I think you are more than qualified to do your job, and you were not impertinent. I’m truly sorry for the way I behaved when I was here. The way I acted was unnecessary and unkind, and it bugged me all weekend that I’d been that way with you. Truly, I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven,” Grace said, grinning at him and surrendering to her need to sniff the blooms. She closed her eyes to better savor the fragrance, then opened them to find Levi watching her. “I love lilacs.”
His grin broadened. “We have a bunch of them at the farm just starting to bloom. The tulips were on the north side of the house, or they’d likely be gone for the season.”
“It’s a magnificent bouquet. Do you need the vase back?” she asked.
“No. Ma has dozens of them. She gets the credit for arranging the flowers, though. She said to tell you that she did a better job of raising me than you might have previously considered and to please not hold my behavior against her.”
“I did have a few thoughts about that this weekend.” Grace smiled and hugged the vase a little tighter. “I do thank you, Sergeant Gibson, for these lovely blooms, but I should get to work.”
“I didn’t mean to keep you. I just wanted to apologize and ask for your forgiveness.”
“You are forgiven.”
“Thank you,” he said, taking a step back toward the door.
Grace had never, not once in her life, considered asking a guy on a date, but a sense of panic welled in her at the thought of not seeing Levi again soon.
The words spilled out of her, leaving her unable to stuff them back into her mouth. “Are you busy next Saturday?” she heard herself ask.
Levi appeared as shocked by the question as Grace felt.
“No. Not really. Did you have something in mind?”
Author Bio:
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes sweet romances rich with relatable characters, small town settings that feel like home, humor, and hope.
Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
When this farm girl isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. She also experiments with recipes, snaps photos of her adorable nephew, and caters to the whims of a cranky cat named Drooley.
To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website http://shannahatfield.com or find out more about her here: linktr.ee/ShannaHatfield
