Trail-Blazer by Michelle Diener

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

He's on a mission . . .

She's running for her life . . .

And if they get off-planet alive, she'll have to trust he won't reveal her darkest secret.

Tally Riva is not what she seems, and even she's not happy about it. Infected, invaded, she's not quite sure how to describe it, but on a disastrous mission to a ghost ship, something burrowed its way into her body. Into her mind.

When her commander decides the best cure for what he thinks is Tally's trauma is to send her on the famous Veltos Trail, Tally goes without revealing what's really behind her mental anguish. Anything to be seen as normal again, anything to ignore what she's afraid is happening to her.

But Veltos isn't the safe place it seems. The chosen military personnel lucky enough to be offered the chance to walk the Trail are supposed to be the only people on Veltos. But Ben Guthrie, a captain in Arkhoran Special Forces, knows they're not. He and his team have been on Veltos for a month already, tracking suspicious enemy activity, and he's gone undercover on the Trail in search of a satellite his superiors are sure has been shot down.

When Ben's worst fears become reality, and they find themselves hunted by a cunning enemy through the thick forests of Veltos, Tally and Ben fight together to survive. And Tally has to decide if accepting the changes inside her will save them both, or be her doom.

TRAILBLAZER is part of the Verdant String series but can easily be read as a standalone novel. Other books in the series include Interference & Insurgency (Two Novellas of the Verdant String), and Breakaway and Breakeven.

Read an Excerpt

Ben stood outside to watch the military runner come in.

The flare of the engine was visible because dusk had already fallen and the sky was the indigo blue that shouldn't be unique to Veltos, but somehow was. There was just something special about the color here.

“Nervous?” Irwin stepped out to join him and looked up, following the runner as it fell toward them.

Ben glanced at him, wondering if the guide actively worked to be this annoying, or whether it was just a gift.

“Should I be?” He kept his tone mild.

Irwin glanced at him, shrugged. “Most people are a little nervous to meet their fellow Trail walkers. It's a two week journey, and there's no getting away from anyone who's difficult.”

And certainly no getting away from them if they were the guide.

Ben crossed his arms and watched the runner touch down lightly on the hoverpad a thou away. It was close enough that he could hear the hum of the engine and the silence when it cut off.

“So you never said which warship dropped you off.” Irwin had turned to watch the runner, too.

“No, I didn't.” Ben kept his answer short.

Irwin gave a snort. “Super secret, huh?”

Ben said nothing.

“Do you Arkhorans actively try to irritate the living shit out of the rest of us, or is it just how you're made?”

Irwin's comment was so similar to what Ben had thought about the guide, he couldn't help the laugh that burst from him.

“Let's leave it at 'super secret'.”

About the Author:

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. Having worked in publishing and IT, she’s now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters and wondering which part of the world she can travel to next.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and children. When she’s not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her at her website, or online at Twitter and Facebook.

Website: https://www.michellediener.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/michellediener
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michelle.diener.author
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/michelle_diener/

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Trailblazer-Verdant-String-Michelle-Diener-ebook/dp/B07P6PJ51H

Michelle Diener will be awarding a $25 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.

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Fish Stew

Last week my husband was in the hospital (nothing too serious) for his heart - my friend Anne Marie said that people with heart conditions outlive everyone because they go get checkups all the time - it's true - during a routine checkup the Dr noted an anomally in Stef's heartbeat, so off he went to a rythmologue to get it checked out, then off to the hospital for a quick ablation of the nerves causing the extrasystole - and three days later he's out and complaining because he can't play golf or ride horseback for three weeks (insert canned laughter).

I'm alone in the office this end of the week, so I'm working on my book at the office while answering the phone and dealing with "emergencies". If I'm not in, leave a message, I'll get back to you later...
What to do with the frozen fish filets in the freezer?

 Almost an aliteration - but - to make fish stew:
1 onion, 1 tomato, 1 potato, 3 tablespoons tomato paste, a cup of red wine, a cup of vegetable bouillion or chicken stock,  1 teasp. dried oregano, 1 teasp. dried basil, 1 bay leaf, 1 garlic clove finely chopped, pinch of chili powder, 2 slices of smoked bacon or smoked fish cut into pieces, 4 filets of fish (I used cod) 

Chop and cook the onion until transluscent, add garlic and chopped tomato, cook a few minutes, add half a cup of bouillon and the tomato paste, stir.  Cut the potato into quarters, then half the quarters and add that to the sauce.  Season with the spices, add the wine and smoked fish or bacon, cook for ten minutes or more to bring the flavors out. Now add the fish filets and the rest of the bouillion and cover. Cook until the filets are done but not Overdone - when the fish flakes with a fork, it's ready. I'd say about 15 - 20 minutes at the most. Serve over rice.

I used some red wine I'd opened about two weeks ago - it was still good. The potato was all alone in the bottom of the bin, so that got tossed in. My tomato had seen better days, but rotton tomatoes make fantastic sauce. Don't throw away rotton tomatos! Cut any black parts off and cook in a sauce! I had no garlic so I used garlic powder. Works fine. I put my frozen filets in without thawing, so I kept a close eye on them so they didn't overcook. Also, I simmered them - cook fish too hot and it will get hard. I have wild rice, so I will use that. (I prefer to use smoked fish instead of bacon, but didn't have any - so just a slice or two of smoked (raw) bacon gives a hint of that smoky flavor I needed).  Serve with slices of lemon.

My son is back from his trip to New Zealand. He will tell us all about it - but mostly, what I'll be thinking, is how toxic hate is, and how it can ruin so many good things. There will always be a bitter memory mixed in with the good - and I keep hoping people will wake up and understand by killing people, you're not killing your problems.  Violence betgets violence - I only hope that by standing together and condeming senseless hate we will grow stronger and better.

Legend of Song de Light by Kaitlynzq

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kaitlynzq will be awarding 2 $15 gift cards to her book boutique, 2 $10 gift cards to her book boutique, and 4 $4 gift cards to her book boutique to randomly drawn commenters (8 winners) via Rafflecopter.

The stories within Legend of Song de Light connect, unfold, interweave many character’s stories needs, feelings, desires, dreams

their threads as two crescent moons connected under the firelights

that layer the chords, and form the lyrics

all of you entered my world as dawn’s awakening sky of soft palette my garnet heart melted in iridescence to bloom in sun’s rays glow in night’s depth as the stars echo the rhythm of my heart my insides sigh and expand in delight harmonious blend as our lives circle the melody

The audiobook is recorded in Kaitlynzq’s voice with a blend of music like a heart’s wave into downloadable mp3 files.

An audio book that is interwoven in the Lovecontu Song de Light Lovecontu series that includes:

Ancient Script of Lovecontu audio poem
Legend of Song de Light audio book Legend of Song de Light audio play
Lovecontu Song de Light Lovecontu audio set

Listen to the synopsis: https://youtu.be/j2XiCz03N0Y

Read an Excerpt

“...Danseur pulls ballerina into him, their eyes speaking the volumes in their hearts as he lifts her above to hold a cherimey for an eight count. He draws her into him again, and upon her signal, tosses her high in the air for a leatur to land softly in his arms. Danseur reimey, as ballerina performs an intricate olor fu de ar, a bea uh li, triple tizpin, turns back to Danseur, and magnifi-gras-se-susay. Danseur catches her right on cue. Joined hand to hand, they geeté, geeté, adream petite into the final truset luh-es-aglo lift, and return encircled with their eyes speaking the volumes in their hearts...”

“...The development process of this collection included the use of a paint brush to add to the photos the undercurrent of feeling within them, and when the four piece panorama is placed side-by-side, a gentle stream is seen that carries this private story...”

About the Author:

My fictional stories are written from the inside view of a character’s interior heart-that beautiful, vulnerable, intimate space feelings, desires, needs, dreams a blend of delicate feather ripples of heart waves needs, feelings, dreams, desires quiet, gentle heart strings tender, continuous soft, vulnerable air mist circles, weaves to caress a sonic sea of heart’s breath

Woven into audio books that are recorded in my voice with a medley of music as a heart’s wave into downloadable mp3 files;

audio plays adapted from the audio books, and layered into pdf files like a heart’s song;

audio poems that are multiple poems designed to connect to form a story as a heart’s breath;

and audio sets that are sets of these interconnected stories with elements from each story that interweave in one another as heart’s wave, heart’s song, heart’s breath.

https://kaitlynzq.com
https://kaitlynzq.boutique
Blog: https://kaitlynzq.com/blog/
vlog: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFAc7uEIdMGMrxLFzym5y6g
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18554610.Kaitlynzq
Contact Information

melodicprose@kaitlynzq.com or contact page: https://kaitlynzq.com/contact

Purchase Links:

https://kaitlynzq.com/legend-of-song-de-light-audio-book
https://kaitlynzq.boutique/legend-of-song-de-light-audio-book/

The author will be awarding 2 $15 gift cards to her book boutique, 2 $10 gift cards to her book boutique, and 4 $4 gift cards to her book boutique to randomly drawn commenters (8 winners) via Rafflecopter!
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Elizabeth in the New World by Maggie Mooha

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Jane Austen's most famous lovers, Darcy and Elizabeth, return in a tale of romance, adventure, and danger set in the heart of the Caribbean.

NO GREATER LOVE

Darcy’s sudden, passionate kiss sweeps Elizabeth into a bliss she has never known...but their love is short-lived. On a field of honor, Wickham, once again, engages in an irresponsible act, which leaves Darcy mortally wounded and Elizabeth broken. Refusing to leave Darcy’s side, the last vestiges of her reputation are shattered, and when Elizabeth sees Darcy in his coffin, she is ruined in more ways than one. Devastated and without hope, reluctantly she agrees to accompany friends to Grenada, a Caribbean island on the brink of revolution.

Things are not what they seem. Darcy hasn’t died, but Elizabeth is gone and he fears it is too late to recapture what he has lost. As he struggles to recuperate, he must put aside his pride and his heritage in order to find the only woman he will ever love. Never before has Darcy sacrificed so much for a passion he fought against so vehemently. And never before has Elizabeth’s strength of character been stronger - it is the only thing standing between her and an end that doesn’t include Darcy.

Read an Excerpt:

She was grateful for all he was doing for her, and for her family despite its low connections and its unseemly behavior. Gratitude, however, was not her overwhelming emotion at that moment. She wanted him to take her in his arms. She wanted to kiss him good-bye, again and again. He turned to look at her once more.

She swallowed hard. His eyes. They bore into her like a dagger. It was now or never. What if he were killed? What if he lay in his grave never knowing that she loved him? He was prepared to sacrifice everything for her, his position, his reputation, his wealth, and now he was prepared to sacrifice his life. Could she hold her reputation above that?

He turned away from her and headed to the door. She could not let him go without telling him of her feelings. What if he was mistaken? What if Wickham killed her father and killed him too?

As he opened the door and exited, she said in a barely audible tone, “I love you.” She waited for the click of the door. It did not come.

The door opened again, and Darcy entered the room once more.

“What did you say?” he asked.

She faltered for a moment, then repeated, “I love you,” louder this time. It all happened in an instant. She did not move and yet she was in his arms. He strode across the room with such force that he lifted her off the ground. The touch of his body was intoxicating. Suddenly, a dark cloud crossed his face, and he let her down. He still had not kissed her.

“Perhaps you are only grateful to me,” he said, pulling away slightly, but not letting go of her. Oh no, no, he would know. She reached up and caressed his cheek.

“How can you doubt me?” she asked. “Do you think I do not know my own mind?”

She watched his face. His eyes searched hers as if he would find in them the truth he wanted to know. She touched his face again. He kissed her.

About the Author:

I’ve always been a storyteller. When I was little, I used to tell my sister stories before we went to sleep. Most of them were serials – Superman and the like. It never occurred to me until much later in life that I should try my hand at writing.

Most of my career, I’ve been a music teacher. I’ve found music such a help when crafting a story. I actually see the structure of a book as if it was a musical composition. As for the nuts and bolts of my life, I grew up in the Chicago area and was a teacher there for quite a few years. I had a chance to teach at an international school in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, and I spent two years there. After adopting my son, we spent four years at an international school in the Philippines. During that time, I began writing. Now I live in the western U.S.

Most of my work has been screenplays. Over the years, I’ve won or placed well in competitions. I’m telling you this so you don’t think I sat down one day and wrote a novel out of the blue. I’ve spent many years working and learning.

A long time ago someone called me “an insatiable romantic.” I hope that's still true.

Visit with Maggie –

Facebook: http://facebook.com/maggie.mooha
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mmooha
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mmooha5817
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-mooha-120a6624

BUY LINKS:

http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/elizabeth-new-world
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elizabeth-in-the-new-world-maggie-mooha/1129784411?ean=2940155857334
https://www.amazon.com//dp/B07JP9KXDS
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/elizabeth-in-the-new-world
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/903159
https://linkmaker.itunes.apple.com/en-us/details/1440196638?country=us&mediaType=books&term=Maggie+Mooha&type=book

Maggie Mooha will be awarding $15 Boroughs Bucks to 2 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Lily's Trust by Lilli Carlisle

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lilli Carlisle will be awarding a copy of Omega's Choice + Ceva's Chance to 2 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

LOVE AND SACRIFICE

Omegas choose their mates, and Lily had been certain Jensgar would be happy she had chosen him. Instead, the former general of the king's army refused her, forcing her to the leave the pack she'd adopted. Humiliated and heartbroken, she returns to the Black Ridge Pack, only to find the pitying glances and hushed comments too much to bear. She has no home, and no one to call her own. Convinced she has no other choice, she flees to the forest to live as a wolf. She is shocked when Jensgar, in wolf form, comes for her, and slowly convinces her to trust him again. But the woods hold secrets, and danger. When Jensgar's life is threatened, Lily gives up everything to save the man she loves, and once again puts her chance for happiness in peril.

Read an Excerpt

Lily had been gone only a few hours before the Black Ridge pack began looking for her. After their initial attempts to convince her to return to the pack house, they’d decided on a wait-and-see kind of approach. Little did they know, Lily did not intend to ever return to her human life. Her paws swiftly carried her over the uneven ground, as she dodged trees, fallen logs and rocks in her way. The wind ran its warm fingers through her fur as the sun guided her. Her trailing party made noise to alert her that they were a couple yards back pacing her, but never coming any closer. Of course, it wasn’t exactly as if Lily had welcomed their visits, growling whenever someone came too close, but they kept coming back. She wondered when they would finally understand there was no life for her to return to. Increasing her speed, she tried to lengthen the distance between them, but to no avail. Why would the alpha bother? Sure, send out a warrior or two. But to come himself and bring Marcus, Jensgar’s son, along was disconcerting. Why wouldn’t the pack leave her alone? It wasn’t as if she were a viable omega anymore. True, she still had her gifts, but she wouldn’t be sharing them with anyone.

The lake gleamed and sparkled in the distance calling her forward and leaving her thoughts where they belonged, behind her.

About the Author:

Lilli Carlisle, lives outside Toronto, Canada. She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapter, Toronto Romance Writers. Lilli is a mother of two wonderful girls, wife to an amazing man and servant to the pets in her life. Lilli writes both contemporary and paranormal romance and believes love should be celebrated and shared. After all, everybody needs a little romance, excitement, intrigue and passion in their lives.

Connect with Lilli -

http://facebook.com/lillicarlisleauthor
http://twitter.com/LilliCarlisle
http://instagram.com/lillicarlisle

BUY LINKS:

http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/lilys-trust
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lily-s-trust
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/922048
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130530610?ean=2940155970590
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/lilys-trust/id1451771182?mt=11
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NGTC5F3

Lilli Carlisle will be awarding a copy of Omega's Choice + Ceva's Chance to 2 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Her Caprice by Keira Dominguez

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Keira Dominguez will be awarding $15 in Boroughs Bucks to 2 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A MOST PRIVATE BATTLE

Since Beatrice Thornton was 13 years old she's been living with a secret that could ruin her family forever. Her parents are the only ones who know, and now, seven years later, they are forced to put on a sham for Beatrice's late first Season. The plan, make Beatrice as mousy and ill-clothed as possible so no suitor would consider her. Then they can all escape back to their country home in Dorset to keep the terrible secret safe. But the unthinkable happens... Beatrice meets a man who gives her hope of a normal life, and Beatrice dares to love with horrible consequences.

Captain Henry Gracechurch has resigned his commission after living through the horrors and waste of war. Recently returned from Spain, he is cajoled by his formidable godmother to make an appearance at one of her famous balls. When he sees a young woman abandoned on the dance floor, honour commands him to save the day. Nothing could have prepared him for meeting the person who is a balm to his soul and gives wings to his heart. But winning Beatrice Thornton will take every ounce of courage he has, and this is a war he will win, no matter the cost.

Read an Excerpt

“Always the hero,” Fox stated, appearing from the ballroom as Henry trained his eyes down the hall where Miss Thornton had disappeared. “But it’s caddish to give a girl hopes, Harry. Particularly such a dull-looking mouse.”

Henry’s jaw set. It hadn’t been like that. Meeting Miss Thornton had been more like finding a brother-soldier, someone whose warm laughter and ready wit had plucked him out of the madness of Spain and put his feet down on the soil of England. For a few brief minutes, she’d made him feel that he was not wholly alien here.

In the face of that, the fashion of her dress was totally irrelevant.

Henry followed Fox into the ballroom again and they watched the dancers until Henry put the back of his hand to his mouth, yawning. When Miss Thornton left, all his energy had seemed to go with her, and the weariness that was a massive wave he’d been outrunning since Spain was finally going to break.

“You should be in bed,” Fox noted, stifling his own yawn. He raised his voice over the violins and noise of the party. “Speaking of which…. Where—?”

The music came to an uneven halt and the long lines of dancers froze like grappling statues. “Dear guests—” A voice rang out from a tiny woman at the dais. Lady Sherbourne. “I had hoped for an exciting party, but did not dare pray for something so memorable. London has brought out one of its finest fogs for us.”

Talk rumbled through the room.

“That’s torn it,” muttered a man to Henry’s right. “Can’t leave now. I’m for the library sofa. Every man for himself.”

Gentlemen closest to the garden doors swung them wide, displaying a thick wall of fog that rolled through the crowd like a malevolent guest, arriving late and sending dangerous greetings left and right.

Henry’s heart skittered to a stop. How long had it been since Miss Thornton left? A quarter of an hour? More? The answer made him sick. It was too late to chase after them.

About the Author:

Keira Dominguez graduated from BYU with a B.A. in Humanities and lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and five children.

For the last decade, she has co-authored The Uncrushable Jersey Dress, a blog and Facebook page dedicated to mid-century author, Betty Neels. Cultivating this corner of fandom confirmed the suspicion that people who like sweet romances are as smart, funny, and are as interesting as readers of any other genre.

When Keira is not busy avoiding volunteerism at her kids’ schools like it is the literal plague, she enjoys scoring a deal at Goodwill, repainting her rooms an unnecessary amount of times, and being seized by sudden enthusiasms.

Take Tea with Keira -

website: http://www.keiradominguez.com
facebook: http://facebook.com/keiradominguez8/
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/keira_dominguez
instagram: http://www.instagram.com/keiradominguezwrites

BUY LINKS:

http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/her-caprice
https://linkmaker.itunes.apple.com/en-us/details/1451254386?country=us&mediaType=books&term=her%20caprice&type=book,br> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N9B81QR
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130437723?ean=2940155962496
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/her-caprice
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/920856

Keira Dominguez will be awarding $15 in Boroughs Bucks to 2 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway