The Keeper of the Book by Ryland Harris ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheKeeperoftheBook #RylandHarris #ActionAdventure

The Keeper of the Book 

by Ryland Harris

Action Adventure

Date Published: November 13, 2023

  

In the year 2043, World Council Edict 1735B proclaimed that all of the world religions were to be outlawed in the interest of public safety. Houses of Worship were labeled centers of dissension and attending any underground religious service was punishable by imprisonment and relocation. To possess any religious artifact or Holy Book was a mandatory death sentence. Jenny Keane is a Believer, a Christian and the proud owner of a Holy Bible given to her by her Grandmother. Michael Keane, her husband, is a former Special Forces Operative. He is not a believer in the holy teachings of any religion. Michael gave up the warrior path to live a cherished, peaceful life with his family. Jenny and the children, while attending an illegal religious service are captured by sadistic One World troops and taken to a reeducation camp. This sets Michael out on a one man rescue mission to bring his family home and nothing short of death will stop him. Against impossible odds he walks a path of revenge and destruction with no negotiation, no rules of engagement and no mercy for his enemies. He is aided by the unseen prayers of the faithful and years of experience in killing his foes.

 

About the Author:

Ryland Harris is a father, a builder and a combat decorated Marine. He resides in the Appalachian mountains of southwestern Virginia. He enjoys long hikes in the mountains, designing and building houses and spending time with his children. He shares his life with nine chickens, three goats and a black mouth cur dog.

 

Contact Link:

Website 

Purchase Link:

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Geordie by Pax Sinclair ~ (The Scotsman’s Kilt, #2) ~ @XpressoTours

Geordie
Pax Sinclair
(The Scotsman’s Kilt, #2)
Publication date: December 20th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romance

MacTavish Distilleries, my family’s centuries-old company famous for its premium whiskey, sent me to California to craft wine to extend our legacy into America. My family, what’s left of them, remain in Scotland. Even thousands of miles away, my heritage and traditions continue to shape my life.

Despite losing my parents at a young age, I’ve always strived to follow their example—seeking love, marriage, and a brood of wee bairns. I envision this same perfect life, sprinkled with flirtations along the way, but in the end, I will have my own family. However, in a matter of minutes, a brutal dirt bike accident has shattered my life and reset my timeline.

Lying in my hospital bed, with only the sterile hum of machines for company, it’s clear that I must start my family now. With no solid relationship at present, the need to fill this void gnaws at me, urging me to find a solution before desperation leads to rash decisions.

Then there’s Lily, the vibrant chef I recently encountered. When we met, sparks flew, the heat between us intense. Yet, a couple of wee concerns stand in the way of a brilliant relationship. Lily doesn’t think much of me, and from what I could tell, she’s married.

Read “Geordie,” book two of the Scotsman’s Kilt series, a sexy, touching enemies-to-lovers, pregnancy romance. Discover how starting a family can also lead to romance. This is a standalone story.

Add to Goodreads / Purchase from Amazon

—

Read an Excerpt:

The old manor house, or the residence, as Geordie calls it, is out of a period piece from PBS. Portraits of ancestors trimmed in gold, heavy, ornate furniture in plush velvet, a fireplace the size of a wall. I expect to see Robert Burns and his friends walk in at any minute. I try not to gawk like a tourist at the place or the countless celebrities Geordie introduces me to.

After leading me away from the last group, we walk into a dark passage to another section of the house. The hum of the guests is not as noticeable here. He stops, turning to me, my back against the wall, and I’m looking up at him.

“I could see you were overwhelmed by the company, so I thought I’d steal you away for a bit.” He slips an arm above my head, leaning in close. His lips and the scent of whiskey make my bra feel tight. “I’ve missed you these few days.” He takes my lips, pressing against me, his hand sliding up and down my waist.

“You had Connie to keep you company,” I tease.

He pulls back a little, smiling. “She’s not you. I don’t fuck her. That, I do with you.”

“Is that what you’re going to do to me now? Take me like one of your male ancestors took a maid in this hall?” I’m so up for it, I can already see it in my mind. God, I’ve missed him enough to make up this silly fantasy. I need him to be the laird of the manor right now.

He pulls up the hem of the pale blue chiffon dress I wore to the christening and bunches my panties in his hand. His lips drop to my ear. “I should take you right here for making me wait.”

Meet the Author:

Pax is a contemporary romance author who writes the kind of hot, twisty, drama-filled romances that she loves to read. Her novels are about biracial women in interracial relationships that will have you turning pages until the end.

Her current series, Love@work, takes you into the world of Silicon Valley’s billionaire tech moguls. These are powerful men and women who are driven by the changing landscape of business and their seductions in the bedroom.

Come along for a ride in Pax’s world, where it’s always steamy, captivating, and sometimes erotic.

Pax lives and works in Silicon Valley. She’s a California native.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Youtube / Bookbub / Amazon

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The Sweetest Obsession by Nicole Snow ~ Contemporary Romance, Romance ~ @NicoleSnowBooks @XpressoTours

The Sweetest Obsession
Nicole Snow
Publication date: December 19th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romance

Falling for the best thing that never happened brings sweet mayhem in this steamy, gripping, and heartfelt small-town grumpy-sunshine standalone romance by Wall Street Journal bestseller Nicole Snow.

My brother’s best friend owned my heart until the day he drenched it in kerosene and burned it down.
Grant flipping Faircross is so not the reason I’m coming home.
I don’t care if he’s gotten bigger, meaner, and grumpy enough to flash freeze the sun.
So what if he’s up in my business the second I arrive?

I’m smarter now.
I’m only back in Redhaven for my sick mother and to talk some sense into my sister before she marries a toad.
Grant ran me off once and I’m not running back.
I can handle the drama, the messy secrets, and an unexpected stalker just fine.

…or maybe not so fine.
When Prince Anti-Charming charges in to protect me, it’s kinda hard to say no.
When I find out he’s a single dad with a heart bigger than a prune, it gets harder.
And when his lips storm mine with a growl that says “stay,” oh God.

Are we really doing this again?
Especially when an old tragedy resurfaces with hard truths, stinging tears, and one brutal question.
Will our sweetest obsession finally deliver us or destroy us forever?

The perfect blend of small-town romance, furious spice, and jaw-dropping thrills that will keep you guessing. Batten down your heart as a stone-hearted giant wakes up and fights to keep the girl who got away—if she’ll ever admit she wants to be chased.

Add to Goodreads / Purchase from Amazon

—

Read an Excerpt:

All of me freezes as I meet his eyes, stare at him, stare into Grant, into that quiet solemness and raging gruffness that hides a heart so true.

He never stopped.

He really never stopped looking for my brother all this time.

He still thinks there’s a chance he’s alive, even if deep down, that seems completely ludicrous. The hope was starved out of me without anyone finding a single clue.

“You… you asshole,” I strangle out. My mouth moves automatically. I don’t know what I’m saying, why I’m saying it, or why my eyes are welling up and I just can’t take anymore. “You overly loyal giant donkey. You… you…”

There’s a moment.

A crack in reality when those hard eyes soften.

All those years I spent when we were young, wishing he’d show some emotion.

Something plain and simple and honest.

Something easy, without having to turn myself into a human Grant decoder to understand his growls and loud silences.

Now, he finally gives me what I’m aching for with real concern flashing across his face, the way he leans into me, staring down like he’s afraid he’s broken me somehow.

“Ophelia, fuck,” he says softly. “I won’t see you hurt.”

No, but he will see me speechless tonight.

If I ever speak again, I’ll tell him how wonderfully dumb he’s being.

But right now, he’s just a giant blur past the tears.

Scalding, stupid, overwhelmed tears I don’t want to cry, but I just can’t take another bee sting to the heart.

I can’t take more confusion, more things to fear.

Holy hell, I don’t want to think about it anymore.

Because if I’m thinking, that means I won’t do what I’m doing right now.

I won’t be laying my fingers on Grant’s face, my fingers weaving through the thick, grey-shot bristle of his bearish brown beard.

Pulling him closer, even as his eyes widen.

I definitely won’t be kissing him.

Kissing. Him.

I don’t know what comes over me.

It’s too instant, too impulsive, too reckless.

Too impossible to be denied.

And now that I’ve started I can’t stop, and I can taste years of pent-up emotion in the salt between our lips as I crush my mouth to his and beg.

Don’t hurt me right now, Grant. I can’t stand another ounce of pain and disappointment.

Just give.

Give me the fire in that growl, the nip of your teeth, the sweet, sweet rush that makes me tingle.

I’m actually shaking for my longest obsession.

No surprise, the man is a human earthquake when his lips attack mine.

Or maybe it’s just the vibration, the shock and awe steaming out of him, tangled up in this sudden hunger I can feel.

Grant goes still for just a second.

The shock radiates through both of us in hot waves so intense they leave me dizzy.

I brace, wait for it, fully expecting the imminent stab of hurt where he sternly pushes me away and reminds me I’ll always be the kid sister.

Nothing but Butterfly.

Not anyone he could ever see as romantic or sexy or remotely desirable.

…only he doesn’t.

Instead, he wraps his huge arm tight around my waist, possessively jerking me forward, almost off the chair.

My stomach leaps and twists.

Instead of tearing his mouth off mine, he goes all in.

Meet the Author:

Nicole Snow is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. She found her love of writing by hashing out love scenes on lunch breaks and plotting her great escape from boardrooms. Her work roared onto the indie romance scene in 2014 with her Grizzlies MC series.

Since then Snow aims for the very best in growly, heart-of-gold alpha heroes, unbelievable suspense, and swoon storms aplenty. With over a million books sold, she lives for the joy of making two people fight with every bit of their soul for a Happily Ever After.

Current fan favorites include her Enguard Protectors series, accidental love novels, plus long beloved MC romance thrillers like the Grizzlies and Deadly Pistols.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub

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Pecan Shortbread Cookies by Delta James, Author of Bah Humbug Mate #MysticRiverShifters #PNR,

Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Heat Oven to 325 degrees F 

Ingredients:

2 cups butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla (I use a skoosh more)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1-1/2 cups chopped pecans (closer to 1-3/4 cups)

4 cups flour

 

Directions:

·       Cream butter, sugars and vanilla until light and fluffy

·       Beat in eggs

·       Set aside

·       Combine remaining ingredients and add to butter mixture

·       Mix well

·       Roll into 1 inch balls OR use cookie scoop to place on cookie sheet

·       Flatten with a glass or cookie press, dipped in sugar

·       Bake 8-15 minutes depending on your oven and desired texture—chewy or crisp

·       Place on cooling rack

·       Cookies are fragile; store in air-tight containers

Bah Humbug Mate

Mystic River Shifters 

Book  Seven

Delta James

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication:  11/22/23:

ASIN:  B0CGY63Z4K

Cover Artist: Wicked Smart Designs

About the Book:

Will a charade under the mistletoe lead to a real love story?

Dash Samuels, a grumpy reindeer shifter, is faced with an ultimatum: marry by Christmas Day or lose his cherished family inheritance. The holidays are his least favorite time of the year and now he needs to find a mate? Panicked, he devises a plan to hire a woman to play his fake fiancée, until the inheritance is secured. But what he never anticipated was the whirlwind of emotions that would follow.

Noel Brooks, a spirited dreamer struggling to make ends meet, agrees to Dash's unconventional proposition out of necessity. The holidays are her favorite time of the year. As they embark on a charade filled with misunderstandings, holiday traditions, and undeniable chemistry, their carefully constructed façade begins to crumble, revealing the cracks in their hearts.

Dash needs to get from a grumpy humbug to a believer if he is going to catch his fated mate before it is too late.

Bah Humbug Mate is an enchanting story that reminds us that sometimes, the greatest gifts come wrapped in unexpected packages – and that true love is the ultimate holiday miracle.

Amazon

Bah Humbug Mate Excerpt:

A Mystic River Shifters Holiday Novella

“What do you mean I need to be mated by the winter holiday? Are you kidding me?” Dash said as he paced back and forth in the attorney’s office.

“Look, Dash, I didn’t write the damn will. Well, I guess technically I did, but your grandmother was very particular. She was very angry you left the herd. So, if you want to inherit what I agree is rightfully yours, you need to be married by the holiday deadline.”

“Which is?”

“December 24.”

“You aren’t serious.”

“I’m afraid I am. Your grandmother took these kinds of things seriously.”

“For heaven’s sake, Blitz, where the hell am I supposed to find a comely, female reindeer-shifter in the next…” he glanced at the calendar on the wall “twenty-three days?”

“Honestly, I don’t know, and there are provisions that will have you tied to this girl for at least ten years.”

Dash plopped down in the chair. “A decade? I have to spend a decade with some girl I don’t even know?”

“You know lots of girls,” said Blitzen.

“And none of them I’d want to marry.”

“Dude, for that kind of fortune, I’d marry Godzilla.”

“Do you have her number?”

About the Author:

Delta James is a USA Today bestselling paranormal and contemporary romantic suspense author, whose goal is to captivate readers with stories about complex, curvy heroines and the dominant alpha males who adore them. For Delta, romance is more than just a love story; it’s a journey with challenges and thrills along the way. 

After creating a second chapter for herself that was dramatically different than the first, Delta now resides in Florida where she relaxes on warm summer evenings with her loveable pack of basset hounds as they watch the birds, squirrels and lizards. When not crafting fast-paced tales, she enjoys horseback riding, walks on the beach, and white-water rafting. 

Her readers mean the world to her, and Delta tries to interact personally to as many messages as she can. If you’d like to chat or discuss books, you can find Delta on Instagram, Facebook, and in her private reader group 

Website - https://www.deltajames.com/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@authordeltajames

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DeltaJamesAuthor/

Bookbub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delta-james

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/deltajamesauthor/ 

Newsletter https://www.subscribepage.com/welcometothepack

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/348982795738444/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18197022.Delta_James 

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Book Blast ~ A Curse of Magick by Diane Gallagher ~ YA Romance @diane_writes @GoddessFish

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Diane Gallagher will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

About the Book:

“A desperate princess, a handsome warrior, and an ancient magick to determine their fate.”

As daughter to the High King, love doesn’t come easily to Gráinne. Having turned down hundreds of suitors, she is being forced to marry Finn, an old, ugly yet powerful general. While outside the marriage hall, Gráinne bumps into Diarmuid, Finn’s handsome foster son. From that moment, Gráinne knows if she is to have any chance at love, he is the one she must marry. She begs him to take her away from this unwanted wedding. When Diarmuid refuses, Gráinne, desperate, places a curse on him; help her or die.

Diarmuid is a warrior who only wants to serve loyally, but when the princess sets her sights on him and casts her curse, he must make the most difficult choice of his life. Does he help her, taking their chances with a vengeful Finn, or does her refuse her, leaving her to her fate, and risking his own death?

With both their lives on the line, Gráinne and Diarmuid must fight to use Ireland’s ancient magick to escape from Finn, either bringing them together in passion or in death.

A Curse of Magick is a passionate tale of love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. A retelling of an ancient Irish myth, A Curse of Magick takes the love and romance of Romeo and Juliet, and the exhilaration of King Arthur, and mixes it together for a satisfying adventure all will love.

Genre:

YA Romance

Read an Excerpt:

“Look, up ahead. It’s the River Shannon.” Sure enough, Gráinne had caught a glimpse of the river sparkling in the distance.

“Then, come on,” Diarmuid shouted as he galloped past her.

Without need of encouragement, Fáelán took off at a gallop close behind Diarmuid.

“Come on, Fáelán, don’t let him beat us,” Gráinne shouted. She felt Fáelán respond beneath her, and they rode as one, hoofbeats hot on the trail of Diarmuid. With each drum of the horse’s hooves on the hardpacked road, Fáelán drew closer and closer until they were even. From the corner of her eye, she saw Diarmuid glance over at her, a grin on his handsome face and one hand holding his cap tight on his head.

“Hyaa!” he shouted, urging his own horse on.

Gráinne grinned. She knew Fáelán was a match for any other beast. As if he knew her thoughts, Fáelán leapt forward in a new burst of energy at Diarmuid’s shout, and pulled ahead, leaving Diarmuid and his horse behind. They rounded a bend and came to a skidding stop right at the edge of the river, with Diarmuid close behind.

Gráinne slid from Fáelán’s back, both of them panting hard. Diarmuid jumped from his horse and landed hard on the grassy bank. He stumbled towards Gráinne, catching his footing just before knocking into her. She watched him struggle to his feet and face her, a breathless grin stretched across his face. She grinned back and they stood, face to face for a few moments, gulping at the cool morning air.

About the Author:

Diane Gallagher is a novelist and Druid priest. She is the author of three novels: A Curse of Magick, Greenwich List, and the Bastard of Saint Genevra. She has long roots stretching into her Celtic past, although she splits her life between two islands—Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada, and Sicily off the toe of Italy’s boot. She writes young adult romance based on ancient Celtic myths of the powerful women of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. She currently teaches creative writing at Cherry Hill Seminary.

Website: https://dianegallagherwritings.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dianegallagherwritings
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551870126755
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLcqpCjIM3A
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianegallagherwritings/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/diane_writes

Free to read on Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/3NuwCk6

Giveaway Details:

Make sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/10/book-blast-curse-of-magick-by-diane.html
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The Maw of Mayhem by AK Nevermore ~ Contemporary Romance, Romance @AkNevermore @XpressoTours

The Maw of Mayhem
AK Nevermore
Publication date: December 15th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Erotica, Romance

About the Book:

Grimdarke James has got problems. As Vice Prez of the Maw of Mayhem MC, he needs to keep his shit together, but between the constant threat of his inner cat going feral, and Nikki, one of the motorcycle club’s mollys, blackmailing him, it’s a fine line some days.

Then when an arms deal goes bad, everything goes to hell with it. All fingers point to an old club enemy, a man Grim has reason to both fear and loathe, but the facts don’t add up, and everyone is a suspect… including Grim. Faced with the constant threat of Nikki revealing his past and his need to prove himself to the MC, the fragile peace he’s made with his cat is threatened.

Out of options and running out of time, Grim sets a bold plan into motion, and the consequences are far more dire than he could have imagined…

Add to Goodreads 

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Read an Excerpt:

He stumbled to the door, eyeing Nikki through the crack as he unlatched the chain. Her eyes swept up his body, arousal tinging the air. Woman was in permanent heat, though given her age, that wasn’t surprising. Around thirty shifter women got desperate to breed, but Jesus, he didn’t want that stank in his room. He blocked her entry.

“I’m sorry, okay?” She glanced away as a door opened and shut farther down the hall. “Do we have to do this out here?”

“Yeah.”

She huffed her bangs from her eyes. Her brow furrowed, walking her fingers up his abs to the ink below his right pec and tracing the line of script. “When’d you get this one?”

—growling—

“Don’t fucking touch me. If you’ve got something to say, say it.”

Her hand fell. “Look, you’re right. I was out of line down there. Disrespected you. Made you lose face in front of the club. I was just… it’s different for the women here. Harder.”

—bullshit—

“Might be easier if you minded your place and stop pissing the ol’ ladies off.”

The rage that flashed over her face proved his cat right. This was damage control, her trying to manipulate his emotions and suck him back into her lies. He snorted, and she blinked at him, crocodile innocent again.

“We had a deal, Nikki. But all the shit you’ve been pulling is making that null and void. I’m not the only one with a past. I gave you my word, but keep it up, and I’ll have nothing to lose handing your ass over to Hellspawn.”

Her eyes narrowed at the mention of the MC down south she’d run riot through before landing here. “You wouldn’t.”

“Keep pushing and find out.”

Meet the Author:

AK Nevermore enjoys operating heavy machinery, freebases coffee, and gives up sarcasm for Lent every year. A Jane-of-all-trades, she’s a certified chef, restores antiques, and dabbles in beekeeping when she’s not reading voraciously or running down the dream in her beat-up camo Chucks.

Unable to ignore the voices in her head, and unwilling to become medicated, she writes Science Fiction and Fantasy full time.

She pays the bills editing, wielding a wicked hot pink pen and writing a column on SFF. She also belongs to the Authors Guild, is a chapter treasurer for the RWA, teaches creative writing, and on the rare occasion, sleeps.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

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Love Songs of the Zombie by Ronald Stephens ~ @SongsOfZombie @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #LoveSongsoftheZombie #RonaldStephens #Nonfiction

 

Love Songs of the Zombie 

by Ronald Stephens

Nonfiction

 

Is there a God? Can religion be compatible with science? Do miracles happen? Why do bad terrible things happen to good people? You are on a lifetime journey seeking answers to these questions.

You want to base your beliefs on science, reason, and logic, while still affirming purpose and meaning for human existence. You seek to value religious traditions and scriptures but want to avoid accepting obsolete dogmas and superstitions.

The author, a scientist and business leader, shares insights carefully collected and collated during his 70-year quest, and provides surprising, illuminating, and stimulating ideas to help point you in the right direction.

Is it still possible to experience and participate in spirituality like the ancients did? Yes, and it can be done with poetic flair and joy.

 

Contact Links:

 

Website

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

Book Blitz ~ The Hanging Night by Sasha Hibbs & Christina Hooker (The Threads of Fate, #1) ~ Romance, Young Adult, YA Romance @SashaHibbs @XpressoTours

The Hanging Night
Sasha Hibbs & Christina Hooker
(The Threads of Fate, #1)
Published by: Evernight Teen
Publication date: December 15th 2023
Genres: Romance, Young Adult, YA Romance

About the Book:

When a sad turn of fate takes Josephine Blair to the small town of Bridgeport, West Virginia, she meets and falls for the devious and cunning Caius Duke. Her life blooms in both wonderful and terrifying ways.

Together, Josephine and Caius discover they have something deeper and more intense than true love. While theirs is a love spanning centuries, what they don’t realize is the stronger their relationship becomes, the more some unknown evil is trying to tear them apart.

A captivating tale of eternal love, vengeful curses, and a power that can make or break them all, The Hanging Night will pull you in, making you wonder how we are all tied together, and if the ties that bind are truly meant to last.

Add to Goodreads 

Purchase from Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

Read an Excerpt:

You know you can’t see the air, and you don’t have to see it to know it’s there—it just fills the space, and you’re grateful (whether you realize it or not) because if it didn’t fill the space, you’d suffocate.

That’s how I knew she was in the room.

I had my head down, searching through magazines, when what I can only describe as a heat chill rippled in me, causing me to shiver and the skin on the back of my neck to tingle. When I heard the cooler door pop open, I stopped breathing and stayed perfectly still, hoping this wasn’t the day I got arrested for shoplifting … for stealing stale food and one lousy, domestic beer, no less. If I had to go to jail, I wanted it to at least be for something worth it—money, jewelry, a car. FYI: I’ve never stolen any of those things or anything like that—only necessary or completely useless items, which I know is paradoxical. Let me explain: I’d take a plastic bobble-head of an off-brand, generic Batman or a sandwich before I’d take something sentimental or valuable to an individual—it’s just how I roll, ya know? And only from stores. Like, I don’t want your shit, but if it’s some dumbass thing on a shelf in a Dollar General, it’s fair game, and of course, like I said, I learned to be my own chef at a very young age. And can I really be held responsible for what I do when I am hungry? Isn’t that a famous candy commercial these days?

I wasn’t startled when she spoke, but expectant, and resigning myself to the fact that I was busted, I turned to face the girl. When I looked at her, all I saw was sadness. There wasn’t a stitch of makeup on her face, but she didn’t need any because even in sadness, she was striking. The circles under her eyes were so dark and deep, they almost echoed, but her brown irises were flat, like something was missing in them—a spark, maybe, and at the very end of her left eyebrow, there was a tiny, pink crystal. I immediately loved it—it gave her an edge no girl I’d seen in this boring ass town had. Her espresso-colored hair was knotted up in a bun with frizzy strands sticking out everywhere, which, though messy, was somehow endearing. Overall, she looked defeated, though, like all the air had been let out of her balloon. So, despite the circumstances, despite me being caught, red-handed, stealing my dinner, I immediately wanted to make her smile. So, I made jokes, trying to be cool. I’m not really into labels.

“Put those back!”

“C’mon. They’re five-day old pepperoni rolls. You’re going to pitch them anyway. I’m hungry.”

She seemed to contemplate for a moment, tilting her head and looking at me, taking me all in, trying to figure me out. Her shoulders relaxed a little, and she let out a quick breath, seeming to judge that I wasn’t a threat. “And cigarettes? I know old people do, but what teenager smokes these days? News flash. They’re bad for you. And if you’re only hungry, what about the beer and the magazine?”

“Uh … after dinner entertainment?” I asked, trying to justify myself.

She reached out and grabbed for the 40oz beer I had, and as her hand brushed mine, my brain short-circuited. Ice formed around each of my ribs, cracking then melting, and in that moment, I felt the color red splash through me. She paused, momentarily looking dead into my eyes, and somehow, I knew she felt it too. Our hands had to have only touched for a nanosecond, but it passed in an eternity. The intensity—our brains somehow sharing the same image, as if connected by some weird fiber optic cable—was overwhelming, and I gasped, but the rest of my body was paralyzed as I got stuck in this strange moment with her. But for as quickly as it came and as long as it lingered, the cable snapped, and the moment broke, and the world spun in real time again. My body jerked at the sharp snap back to reality, causing me to yank my hand back, and when I did, the beer exploded in foam and glass shards at our feet, a kind of drunken mosaic.

Meet the Authors:

By age 5, Sasha Hibbs' favorite movie was Gone With the Wind. By age 12, she completed her 7th grade book report on the sequel, Scarlett. By 18, she met and married her very own Mr. Rhett Butler and as it turns out, she never had to worry about going back to Tara to win the love of her life back. Fortunately, he stuck with her.

With a love of all things paranormal, the ambiance of the South with its gigantic antebellum mansions and canopies of Spanish moss, and a love for her husband's rich storytelling of blacksmiths and the mythology surrounding their origins, it wasn't long until the world of her debut novel, Black Amaranth, was born.

When not working her day job as a nurse, you can find Sasha dreaming of her next beach trip, reading the latest YA novel, and drinking more white chocolate mocha than she should.

Sasha lives in mountainous West Virginia with her husband, Tim, and their two daughters. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

Author links:
Website / Instagram / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
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Christina: I’ve always been captivated by stories and words, but not with the speaking of them (as I'm little more than a foul mouth with appendages), just with the reading and writing of them.

In 2020, I made my dream of writing a book a reality, and in 2023, my first collaborative novel is releasing!

Author links:

Website / Instagram / Facebook

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The Shape of Heat 2 – N!ce and N@ughty by Lil Deville ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheShapeofHeat #LilDeVille #GayRomance

 

The Shape of Heat 2 – Nice and Naughty 

by Lil Deville

Gay Romance / M/M Romance / Romantic Comedy

Date to be Published: December 23, 2024

Publisher: ‎ Naughty Netherworld Press

 

 

Parsifal returns home to spend the Christmas holidays with his family. As he arrives at the airport, he is greeted by his brother Hart and his ex-boyfriend Bobby. Bobby is accompanied by his new boyfriend Seth. As they spend the day together, Parsifal notices something peculiar. Bobby seeks comfort from Hart rather than Seth after a minor accident at the park.

Meanwhile, Parsifal finds himself drawn to hot nerd Seth. The more time they spend together, the more Parsifal believes the feeling is mutual.

However, Parsifal's Christmas holiday is about to get even crazier. His redneck relatives are coming over for Christmas Eve dinner, and Parsifal is dreading the chaos that is sure to ensue. Between his family's quirky behavior and Seth's enticing presence, Parsifal’s vacation is shaping up to be anything but relaxing.

This is the second book in The Shape Of Heat series. It can be read as a standalone, but the first book, Awakening, should be read first if you wish to know more about the background of Parsifal and his girlfriends Candi and Luisa.

 

 

Read an Excerpt:

Over the summer, things heated beyond the boiling point between me and my longtime friends Candi and Luisa. We grew even closer as the fall that never looks like fall rolled into the Caribbean island where we work and play. Our boss had nothing but praise for us as resort workers, and we were popular writers at Climax Productions. Everyone needs to rest sometime, though, so I was glad to be heading home to Tennessee to reconnect with family and friends over the winter holidays.

I was especially looking forward to seeing my big brother Hart and my ex-boyfriend Bobby. Although Bobby and I broke up after I cheated on him, we remained close friends. Plus, I was looking forward to meeting Bobby's new guy Seth.

Hart was waiting in the pickup zone in his beloved 1965 burgundy Mustang. He was a dark-haired, lanky drink of water who resembled the late, great Hank Williams. I’m a skinny beach bum with wavy, strawberry-blond hair. I think I look like a young Dennis Wilson. My girl Candi says I look like an elf. My little brothers say that Hart and I look like Beavis and Butthead. Well, what can you expect from little brothers? At least they have great taste in cartoons.

Hart gave me a great big bear hug and put my bags in the trunk. I settled in the passenger seat. Bobby and Seth, who had flown into Nashville from Los Angeles, were riding in the back.

Bobby reached around the seat to hug me. He was still the same golden-haired, freckle-faced ray of California sunshine that I remembered. Seth was quiet and had a brooding artist vibe about him. He had shaggy coffee-brown hair with long wedge bangs and a pale complexion. He smiled shyly when he shook my hand.

“Seth Dinapoli,” he said, his voice cool and whispery like the winds outside a haunted castle.

“Parsifal Matveev. Pleased to meet you.”

"The pleasure is all mine," Seth said, unaware of how he was killing me with his seductive gray eyes peeking from behind his dark curtain of hair.

“Don’t even think about it, Parsley,” I admonished myself as I felt a stirring in my loins when I gripped Seth’s pale, slender hand. “We’ll draft a nice Gothic story about a smolderingly seductive vampire who has his way with the innocent young prodigal son who just returned home to Ye Olde Manor after a year away. We will have naughty video chats with our sexy girlfriends. We will not, and I repeat, will not seduce our ex-boyfriend’s new man.”

 

About the Author:

Lil DeVille is a former nurse who started writing erotica after becoming disabled in 2019. She enjoys imagining quirky characters involved in lusty encounters anywhere from a tropical paradise or a rustic mountain village in the present day to an all-male mining colony on an asteroid in the distant future.

Lil likes to end her stories on a Happy for Now note with a promise of more good things to come. Although her writing sometimes addresses difficult subjects such as alcoholism or past abuse, she brings a note of love and support to scenes involving these issues.

Lil lives in a remote prairie town in Northeastern Colorado with her adult son and three cats. When she isn’t cooking up spicy stories, she enjoys baking and crafts.

 

Contact Links:

Amazon Author Page

Lil’s Latest

Naughty Netherworld Press Blog

Naughty Netherworld Press Books

Naughty Netherworld Press Start Page

Naughty Netherworld Press Substack

Naughty Netherworld Press Tumblr

Readers Roost Book Blog

Readers Roost Twitter

 

Purchase Link:

Amazon

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Crime Paradise by Gene Desrochers ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #CrimeParadise #GeneDesrochers #Noir #Crime #Mystery

 

Boise Montague, Book 3

Crime Paradise by Gene Desrochers

Noir Crime/Murder Mystery

Date Published: December 12, 2023

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

 

Three bodies. One suspect. Zero time.

About the Book:

After his girlfriend ditches him at a concert, private investigator Boise Montague makes the latest bad mistake in a long line of them. Only this time, instead of waking up with a hangover and some woman he doesn’t know, he wakes up with a hangover on a Caribbean beach, along with three women. 

All of whom are dead. 

With the dead women’s blood all over his clothes, no memory of what happened, and no way for Boise to explain it, the cops and the prosecutors think it’s a slam dunk. Boise knows he didn’t do it, but no one’s willing to listen—so he’ll have to find the killer himself. 

But whoever said the truth will set you free never saw anything like this. The people behind it are powerful, careful…and they want Boise out of the picture for good. 

 Soon, Boise will face not only present danger, but past pain, because the deeper he digs, the more skeletons he finds. And some of those skeletons are his own. But will he finally bury them—and the past—or will those skeletons bury him instead?

Perfect for lovers of Agatha Christi, Michael Connelly, and Richard Stark, bestselling author Gene Desrochers’ third book in the hardboiled Boise Montague mystery noir series will take you on an adventure into the dark side of crime, the darker side of memory, and the danger that comes to anyone who ventures into a Crime Paradise. Get your copy now!

 

About the Author:

Growing up in an 18-room guesthouse/wartime hospital in the Caribbean isn’t for everyone, but it proved just the right atmosphere for bestselling author Gene Desrochers to hone a sense of story, mystery, and scene that would prove critical in his writing career. Born on a tiny dot called “St. Thomas” (somewhere in the Caribbean), Desrochers migrated steadily west over the years until he found a home – with a wife who loves him, kids who are young enough to still think he’s pretty cool, and a cat who tolerates him – in the continental United States. He also found the time to earn a JD and become a practicing lawyer, run a tennis club, and publish award-winning short fiction in publications across the US and beyond. Now settled in the mysterious and exotic land known as Los Angeles, Desrochers splits his time between the loves of his life: his family, his writing, his tennis, and his ability to impress strangers with his St. Thomian accent. Find out more about him – and the worlds he creates – at his website, GeneDesrochers.com

Contact Links:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Instagram

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

 

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