The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III

The Unholy

by Paul DeBlassie III

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GENRE: Thriller

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BLURB:

Winner of the International Book Award and Pinnacle Book Award for Visionary Fiction! The Unholy is a dramatic story of Claire Sanchez, a young medicine woman, intent on discovering the closely-guarded secrets of her past. Forced into a life-and-death battle against an evil Archbishop, William Anarch, she confronts the dark side of religion and the horror of one man's will to power.

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Excerpt :

“Hush now, child,” said a voice she recognized as that of her mother’s closest friend. “The man cannot harm you, mijita, as long as you are with us. We will make him think you are dead. But you must be very quiet. Ya no llores,” the woman warned, raising a finger to her lips.

The woman then carried her into a dark cave illuminated by the light of a single candle. The cave was frightening, with shadows of what appeared to be goblins and demons dancing on the red sandstone walls. “I will return for you soon. You will be safe here,” the woman said. The girl watched the woman walk away, shivering as a breeze blew through the cave’s narrow passages.

Closing her eyes, she rocked back and forth—imagining herself safe in her mother’s arms—then opened her eyes to the light of the full moon shining through the mouth of the cave. The shadows on the walls were just shadows now, no longer goblins and demons. As she slipped into a trance, images flickered in her mind. She saw the woman who had brought her to this place scattering pieces of raw meat around the open mesa where her mother had

struggled, helped by two other women the girl could not identify.

Suddenly, the scene shifted to a stone ledge jutting over the mesa, and she heard the pounding footsteps of a man running toward the women. The girl felt her heart race and her breathing quicken, afraid that the bad man would spot them and kill them. Then the image shifted again, and she now saw on the mesa three gray wolves circling the raw meat and the man walking away from the granite ledge. As he left, she heard his thought: The child is dead.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Paul DeBlassie III, Ph.D. is a depth psychologist and award-winning writer living in his native New Mexico. He specializes in treating individuals in emotional and spiritual crisis. His novels, visionary thrillers, delve deep into archetypal realities as they play out dramatically in the lives of everyday people. Memberships include the Author’s Guild, Visionary Fiction Alliance, Depth Psychology Alliance, International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, and the International Association for Jungian Studies.

https://www.pauldeblassieiii.com/

https://twitter.com/pdeblassieiii?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-DeBlassie-III/e/B00E5TBJXY

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3938141.Paul_DeBlassie_III

https://www.amazon.com/Unholy-Paul-DeBlassie-III-ebook/dp/B07BL2JQSB

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unholy-paul-deblassie-iii/1116031770

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Paul DeBlassie III will be awarding $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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JM author Interview: The Unholy 2020

Hello and welcome to my blog! Can you tell me a little about yourself, and how you became an author? I’ve been a psychologist/writer for thirty years. Real life traumas birthed the dramatic tale of The Unholy.

What is your book about? The Unholy dramatizes the dark side of religion, supernatural powers operating behind the scenes of everyday happenings, and one woman’s struggle to break free.

Who is your hero/heroine? Is he/she based on someone in real life? The media has reported hundreds of victims of the dark side of religion. The Unholy dramatizes my experience as a psychologist/writer with suffering people, their supernatural experiences, and the battle between life and death. The heroine stands alone against a dark power, decisions needing to be made, life hanging in the balance.

What are your favorite times for writing? Morning? Evening? I write every day, morning, afternoon, evening. My favorite time to write is when the muse hops on my shoulder, whispers in my ear, and says it’s time now!

Who are your favorite authors? Did they influence your writing, and if so, how? Contemporary indie writers like Shani Struthers, Sarah England, P.J. Reed, Theresa Crater, and Isobel Blackthorn rock out the world of supernatural thrillers. They’ve definitely made their mark on my storytelling.

Did you have a favorite book as a child? Did it influence your choice to become an author? As a kid I loved reading Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, and loved Twilight Zone – yup, they made me want to write.

Pairs With Life by John Taylor

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The publisher will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter and a signed copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Forty-eight-year-old Corbett Thomas, a one-hit wonder of the 90s, now works as the lead sommelier at Napa Valley’s hippest restaurant. Set to become one of the few Master Sommeliers in the world, Corbett self-destructs during his final exam, ruining his last chance at capturing the stardom and adoration he got a taste for in his youth.

When billionaire game designer, Brogan Prescott, asks Corbett to consult on a major vineyard acquisition, Corbett sees it as a shot at redemption, until he learns of Brogan’s ridiculous vision of a virtual-reality, Woke Ant Colony Winery. Disgusted, Corbett decides to buy the vineyard himself and preserve its magic and history. Cashless, clueless, and with his reputation in tatters, Corbett enlists the help of his bass-player-turned-lawyer Seamus O’Flaherty, who may have finally lost his stomach for Corbett’s bad ideas; his uber-rational daughter Remy, who wants Corbett to uncork some family secrets he’d rather leave in the cellar; and Sydney Cameron, whose sudden appearance in Corbett’s life may repair his heart or shatter it forever.

With their help-and sometimes despite it-Corbett discovers what Brogan has known all along: a four-billion-dollar gold deposit lies beneath the vineyard. If Brogan acquires the property, the ensuing gold rush will destroy Napa Valley.

But if Corbett can get out of his own way long enough to purchase the vineyard first, he’ll be faced with the hardest decision of his life: take the fame and fortune he desperately craves, or save the soul of the valley he loves so much.

Read an Excerpt

I turned to face him. At six-foot-four, I was a foot taller and had at least seventy-five pounds on him. I wasn’t going for intimidation, though. Ok, not a lot of intimidation. “You getting the Harrison party only proves that there’s no such thing as a just and benevolent God.”

Andrew scratched his beard mockingly. Not a single hair was displaced. “Harrison? Oh, you mean Harrison-Lowell Partners? The massive private equity firm whose board is having their party here tonight? Those guys?”

I wanted to rip my face off. The truth was, Andrew was half my age, but only a few steps behind me. He was an Advanced Somm, a WSET-3, CSW, and a whole bunch of other mostly useless acronyms. But he had mad tasting skills, which while also hating, I grudgingly respected too.

“Just…get them to do different bottles with each course,” I said, trying to mask my aggravation. “No by-the-glass stuff and none of those imports I got on special—”

“Gee, thanks, Corbett,” he interrupted. “I’ll do my best to remember all of that complex and really insightful information.” He walked backwards towards the door, a smug little smirk spreading across his face. “In the meantime, you have an absolutely awesome evening with your bachelorette party.”

On my eighth birthday, my mom woke me up at 3:00 a.m., dragged me out of bed and into the cold backseat of her Datsun hatchback and said, “We’re going to Disneyland.” I’d never been but leave it to say I could sing all five verses of “Yo Ho, Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life For Me).” She didn’t pack anything except a bologna and American cheese sandwich for me, and a thermos filled with “Mommy’s Orange Juice” for her. We drove seven hours from Tucson to Los Angeles, got out, and discovered the park was closed.

“Oh,” she had said with a frown. She shoved me back in the car and we drove home to Tucson without saying a word.

When I heard that Jansen was a bachelorette party, it felt a lot like that.

I already knew in agonizing detail how the whole night would unfold. Jansen was a party of fifteen, but only thirteen would show up, because the group had been out wine tasting the entire day, and two girls would have already passed out at the hotel, their heads balanced delicately over the edge of the bed to avoid vomit asphyxiation.

Festivities would start with a round of Lemon Drops, followed by selfies, followed by a round of Himalayan Blow Jobs (the shot, not the Sherpa-based sex act), and more selfies. There’d be a polite but stern noise complaint from a nearby diner, which would be met with vitriol and retribution from the maid of honor, and eventually every single customer on the terrace would have to be re-seated with a comped entrée.

By the start of the second course, two more bridesmaids would be “Man down!” and loaded into the limo to be whisked away. This would cause the Bride to launch into Tearful and Wailing Speech Number One: Don’t You Understand This Is My Wedding? The remedy for this drama would be another round of shots, followed by the meat course, which everyone would secretly want to eat but no one will eat.

I would then be asked if dancing is allowed. I would say no. This would be met with Tearful and Wailing Speech Number Two: Don’t You Fucking Understand This Is My Wedding?

At the end of the evening, three of the four remaining conscious bridesmaids would attempt to split the check, and they would get it wrong three times. It would be my fault, obviously, and then Drunk Math would result in a three-hundred-dollar underpayment, coming out of the service charge.

“I’ll bet you a hundred bucks I sell the most expensive bottle tonight,” I blurted. I’m not exactly sure why I said it: Anger at a manager who didn’t respect who I was or what I’d been through; or jealousy of a kid who accomplished in six years what took me twenty.

Andrew froze at the door. “Wait, what? Are you serious?”

“Dead serious,” I said.

Andrew folded his arms across his chest and stared at me as if I asked him to solve a quadratic equation. “So, you’ll bet me a hundred dollars that you can sell a more expensive wine to the Mike’s Hard Lemonade Crew than I can to the Board of Directors of the nation’s third-largest private equity firm?”

Well, when you put it that way… No matter. I was betting on my ability to optimize potential. I mean, it’s not like the Jansens had booked their party at Applebee’s.

“You got it.”

“You’re on.” Andrew stuck out his hand and I shook it. He had that kind of non-committal handshake that feels like you’re clutching a wet hunk of pork loin. I dropped his hand and brushed past him.

I’ll never say out loud that I doubted my potential to win the bet, but it crossed my mind to add Franzia to the system and charge $1,000.00 per box for it.

Helena was leading service for the Jansen party that night, which was good news. She was awesome—an absolute pro at her job, and mostly unflappable. We met for a few minutes to talk strategy. I didn’t tell her about the bet, though maybe I should have, because she thought it was rather odd of me to be so concerned about a bachelorette party.

“Chances are we aren’t even going to need you,” she said.

“How sexist,” I admonished her, practically vomiting hypocrisy. “What if the bride is a director at Google? And all her friends are instructors at the Culinary Institute? What if they’re all writers for Wine Spectator?”

She wasn’t, they weren’t, and hell no.

When the bride-to-be finally sashayed into the restaurant atop a wave of millennial entitlement, it was as obvious as the rhinestone tiara atop her head that there would not be a single fuck given to the wine list. I had to admit, though, that the bride glowed; she beamed. She was all shiny teeth, dewy skin and smoky eyes, and radiating with the glorious possibility of a love eternal—a happiness unhinged and unfettered, as ethereal as a dream whispered to the breeze. It was practically contagious, something I could inhale or feel wash over me for one perfect moment as she sauntered by.

Oh, well. Life would drop its fucking jackboot on her heart soon enough.

Helena agreed to let me go in before she asked for an initial drink order, just to see if I could sell them on wine and not something vodka based. I gave the group exactly seven minutes on the terrace before making my entrance.

About the Author:

John Taylor has been writing about wine since 2012, but his meanderings on life began way before that. Born and raised in San Diego, California, John moved to Los Angeles in 1982 to pursue dreams of screenwriting and filmmaking. He attended the University of Southern California, where he majored in Shattered Dreams and False Hopes, with a minor in Getting Gut Punched By Reality. After being handed a degree in Journalism in 1987 as a consolation prize, John dove into a career in music. Because getting gut-punched just isn’t painful enough.

By 1996, John and his band, The Uninvited, had produced four independent albums and became one of the most popular acts in the western United States. This lead to a deal on Atlantic Records, which released the band’s self-titled debut album in 1997. The band had two Top 100 hits, and toured nationally with Dave Matthews, Blues Traveller, Third Eye Blind and many other acts. Their music appeared in the TV shows Beverly Hills 90210 and Party of Five, and in the motion pictures The Commandments and North Beach. The band can also be heard in several HBO Documentaries, video games and on that annoying “One Hit Wonders of The 90’s” station your co-worker always plays on Spotify.

In 2001, John’s vast experience in shattered dreams was once again called into play as the band hung up their touring shoes for good. After a brief but horrifying career in real estate, John got wise and made a career out of his favorite hobby – wine – and has held various sales and marketing positions in Napa Valley since 2011. John’s writing career started in earnest at this point, with blogs, essays and short stories appearing in various publications. John is the author of three novels, including the aptly-titled Pairs With: Life, which will be released by Hurn Publications in September 2020.

Author Links:

Website: https://pairswithlife.net/about-john-taylor-the-author-and-creator-of-pairs-with-life
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pairswithlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pairswithlife/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JATauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52422370-pairs-with-life
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pairs-with-life/id1447854343
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpJAMcM5_30XOMGLgp8accw
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hurnpublications/pairs-with-life/

Buy Links:

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pairs-with-life-john-taylor/1137309023
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1734763418/ref=x_gr_w_bb_sin
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pairs-with-life
AbeBooks: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30694978993&searchurl=isbn%3D1734763418%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1
The Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Pairs-With-Life-John-Taylor-Triumph-Book-Covers-Raven-Eckman/9781734763416
Alibris: https://www.alibris.com/booksearch?keyword=1734763418&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=GwEz7vxblVU&utm_campaign=10&siteID=GwEz7vxblVU-AsJ_RuF3DS_lmu1_KH3zEQ
Publisher: https://hurnpublications.com/product/preorders-pairs-with-life-by-john-taylor
Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781734763416

The publisher will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter and a signed copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
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When Lions Roar by Karen Leigh Gruber

 

When Lions Roar

by Karen Leigh Gruber

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GENRE: Women’s Fiction

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BLURB:Two women from different lands, each struggling to survive; a child’s mysterious disappearance will alter both their lives forever…

Maggie has become unrecognizable to herself, succumbing to the predictability of being a mother and wife. Every day she reminds her daughter to brush her teeth, has the same conversation with her husband about what’s for dinner. Maggie struggles to cope with the disenchantment of the monotonous tedium that has become her life. Despite her boredom, when her husband David is called on assignment to South Africa, Maggie resents having to rearrange her life just because David has decided they all need to traipse halfway across the globe.

While on safari, Maggie awakens one morning to a mother’s worst nightmare; their daughter Hannah has gone missing. Just when things can’t get any worse, Maggie is confronted with the harsh truth of her emotionally abusive marriage and what she has allowed her life to become.

When Lions Roar is set against the backdrop of the exotic and intriguing landscape of South Africa, when the country is reeling from the aftershocks of apartheid. Will Maggie find the strength and courage to abandon the fragile ties of her marriage and confront her self-destruction in time to save the life of her daughter?

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Excerpt : As we enjoyed our breakfast, my mind tended to wander. That morning, as I looked at my divine daughter, a million thoughts came rushing in. She is so kind, so smart, and so emotionally in tune, this young girl. As I watched her interact with the world and the people within it, I was touched by how compassionate and thoughtful she is. She was so respectful and engaging of the people around her, whether it’s a peer, a person of authority, and especially now, the personnel catering to our every need here in our little hotel bubble. Between the culture, the language, and the accents, there were challenges in communication. Hannah had a smile for everyone, and they, in turn, lit up when she spoke to them. Her demeanor truly reflected that a stranger was just someone she hadn’t met yet, and everyone we encountered responded in kind. I couldn’t help but be so proud of her. I thought back to all the moms I knew who insisted they could never travel that far away with their kids, which made me sad for them because I didn’t think I could ever travel that far away without her. She was such a wonderful travel companion.

Getting to experience the world through her eyes was a true gift.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links: Karen Gruber is an international #1 best-selling contributing author,

inspirational speaker, and a Leadership Development Coach for women and moms. She specializes in inspiring moms to realize their potential as mothers, women, and leaders. Karen has had extensive specialized training in parenting, feminine spirituality, and leadership. Over the past 15 years she has provided innovative leadership coaching for moms and has dramatically transformed her own life.

Sharing her life with her husband Jim and daughter Jaymie, presenting her message to other women, and traveling the world bring her the greatest joy.

She is the founder of The Inspired Mama, a company located in gorgeous Denver, Colorado that focuses on the inspiration, leadership, and wellbeing of women and moms.

When Lions Roar is Karen’s debut fictional work. She is freakish about Christmas lights and loves to play Baccarat.

Website: https://theinspiredmama.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.kraussgruber

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredmama/

Book Pre-sale: https://theinspiredmama.com/product/when-lions-roar-pre-sale-copy/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/When-Lions-Karen-Leigh-Gruber/dp/1734976004

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:  One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

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IN THE AUTHOR'S OWN WORDS:

Why I Became a Writer, My Journey to Publication

I never considered myself a creative person. In 2017, I was approached to contribute a couple chapters to a self-help book for moms. That experience caused me to look at myself in a different light, I began to look at myself as a writer. Before then, I had only written for my business. I didn’t like writing just for business, it was hard. I felt the pressure of having to get it right, of having to say something profound every time I put pencil to paper.

During my own journey of healing I began to see myself as a creative being. I came to the realization that we are all creative beings. There are all these beautiful expressions coming through us as our contribution to the world, and as a path to our own healing.

A mentor of mine had a business program I wanted to participate in for years. A large part of the program was dedicated to the writing and promotion of a book. Since I didn't see myself as a writer, I thought it would be a waste of time and money to join the program. Once I saw myself as a creative being, I couldn't wait to say yes to the program. Included in the program was a week-long writing retreat in Hawaii. I figured even if nothing came of the retreat itself, I would get to be in a beautiful location.

I promised myself I would be open to the process, open to what came and trust that whatever my experience was, it was meant to be. I did a lot of journaling while asking a lot of questions. I did all the prep work and exercises we were asked to do prior to arriving at the retreat.

As part of this preparation, I was shown the title of my book, the location of my book, and a few pertinent details. Once I began the actual process for the book, I just let it come. I was rewarded, for as soon as I was immersed in the writing, the flood gates just opened. Within days, a few things became very clear. The most important was that this book needed to be published. This was the voice of my soul and the soul of other women that needed to be heard. Receiving that information was very scary. I was prepared to keep it just for me, but to share with others was a giant leap of faith. Writing When Lions Roar was a tremendous healing process for me, and I knew it would help heal other women as well.

I left Hawaii with the structure of the book and the pivotal scenes complete. I spent the next year filling in the gaps and making sure all the components made sense. Alongside this work was all the labor and effort that goes into self-publishing, another monumental task. This book has been the biggest accomplishment in my life so far. Whatever your dream is, I believe with all my heart that you can do it too. Have faith, trust what’s in your heart, and never give up.

ANGELBOUND BACULUM by Christina Bauer

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a Dragon leather journal to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

As King of the Thrax, Lincoln leads the most powerful demon fighting force in the after-realms … yet he cherishes nothing more than his Angelbound love, Myla. All of which is why Lincoln loses his freaking mind when a demon horde targets his pregnant wife.

So. Not. Happening.

Sometimes, a warrior just needs to ignite his baculum sword and kick a ton of evil ass.

ANGELBOUND LINCOLN
Stories from the perspective of Mister The Prince

1. Duty Bound

2. Lincoln

3. Trickster

4. Baculum

5. Angelfire

About the Author:

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

Stalk Christina On Social Media – She Loves It!

Blog: http://monsterhousebooks.com/blog/category/christina
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorBauer/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CB_Bauer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina_cb_bauer/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cb-bauer-481b12139/
Web site: http://monsterhousebooks.com/authors/cbauer

The author will be awarding a Dragon leather journal to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Everything Changes by Melanie Hansen

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Melanie Hansen will award a randomly drawn commenter a $25 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the rest of the stops.

Two battle buddies. One fateful deployment. Two vastly different sets of wounds. One friendship changed forever.

A childhood in foster care taught Carey Everett to hold tight to what he has. Enlisting in the Marines gave him purpose, but a life-threatening injury ended his career—and took his leg. Now fully recovered, Carey’s happier than he’s ever been. He has a fulfilling job, a chosen family and, best of all, a cherished friendship with Jase DeSantis, the platoon medic who saved his life.

Despite Jase’s heroism in combat, he’s haunted by his actions overseas. Playing music with his band keeps the demons at bay, but it’s a battle he’s starting to lose.

After a week of sun and fun in San Diego, Jase and Carey’s connection takes an unexpected turn. With change comes a new set of challenges. For Jase, it means letting someone else into his deepest pain. For Carey, it’s realizing love doesn’t always equal loss. In order to make their relationship work, they’ll have to come to terms with their pasts…

…or risk walking away from each other for good.

Read an Excerpt

“Mmm.” Jase wrapped his arms around Carey’s waist, his chin resting on his shoulder. “That was pretty darn good. No. Better than good. Beautiful. Sexy.”

“Ha. I think you have beer goggles on, my friend.”

“You…are…so…” Jase punctuated each word with a brush of his lips to Carey’s cheek, “…beautiful it hurts.” Then he took Carey’s earlobe between his teeth, worrying it lightly. “And you’ve got me twisted in all kinds of knots.”

“You’re not the only one,” Carey rasped. “Knot city, here.”

“Mmm, I can tell.” Jase splayed his palm over Carey’s chest. “Your heart’s beating like a drum.”

Carey couldn’t help the tiny sound of protest that escaped when Jase let go of him, but all he did was grab the audio remote and change the song to a slow, poignant country ballad. Then he held out his hand. “Dance with me?”

Time slowed down as Carey gazed at him, the sands of change shifting precariously beneath his feet. Fear and uncertainty welled up in his throat, but the patient understanding in Jase’s eyes and the steadiness of his hand made Carey reach out and place his fingers in his.

His lips trembling, Carey took a tiny step closer. “I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered.

“Never.”

“I’m a little scared.” He took another step. “A lot scared, actually.”

“I know.”

One more step, until Jase’s chest was just inches from his. Carey sucked in a breath. “Jase, I—”

“Hey. It’s only a dance, okay? Nothing more. Just dance with me.”

About the Author:

Melanie Hansen doesn’t get nearly enough sleep. She loves all things coffee-related, including collecting mugs from every place she’s visited. After spending eighteen years as a military spouse, Melanie definitely considers herself a moving expert. She has lived and worked all over the country, and hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to the love stories she gets up in the wee hours to write. On her off-time, you can find Melanie watching baseball, reading or spending time with her husband and two teenage sons.

Everything Changes Buy Link: https://amzn.to/2Y7nf07
Website:https://melaniehansenbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009084006829
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelJoyAZ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13505006.Melanie_Hansen

Melanie Hansen will award a randomly drawn commenter a $25 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the rest of the stops.
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Head Games by Eileen Dreyer

 

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

She's seen it all, until…Head Games, a Medical Thriller from Eileen Dreyer —St. Louis, Missouri-Present Day—

St. Louis death investigator and trauma nurse Molly Burke has seen just about everything, until gifts begin showing up on her doorstep—gifts like human eyes and painted bones—the signature of a twisted serial killer.

Complicating the dangerous situation, Molly’s 16-year-old nephew unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep, with problems of his own.

Now, Molly must balance the investigation into the mind of a monster, who’s taking her back to the worst years of her life, while launching a rescue mission for her nephew. The question is, will she survive either?

Publisher’s Note: No one writes medical thrillers better than former Trauma Nurse, Eileen Dreyer. This tight medical thriller contains profanity consistent with the salty speech of crime investigators and does NOT contain sexual content.

“A tensely plotted thriller that compels the reader to the last shocking page…Dreyer deftly displays her droll sense of humor while spinning a tale of taut terror…complex, riveting, funny, and compelling.” ~The Denver Post

“Nearly flawless. The dialogue is witty, yet shot through with verisimilitude. The insights into hospitals, medical examiners’ offices, police departments, and the military are stunning.” ~St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Read an Excerpt

Molly Burke was going to die because of a clown.

And not just any clown. An alien clown. With AIDS.

She really had to quit. It was all she could think as she lay splayed out on the floor of Trauma Room Six with a screaming, two-hundred-pound psychotic sitting on her chest.

"Clowns!" the woman howled from above her, spittle flying across Molly's face like a lawn sprinkler. She was leaning so close Molly couldn't possibly miss the glitter of fresh blood on the butcher knife her new patient wielded in her face. "Big clowns!"

If it hadn't been her own blood Molly was looking at on that monstrous knife, this whole thing would have been really funny. It would be later, she decided, when she told it over drinks at the local watering hole. She'd make sure it sounded funny.

Then she'd come back into work and quit.

If she lasted that long.

She was just getting too old for trauma. Her reflexes had failed her. And without her reflexes, a trauma center was the last place Molly should be working. Especially when she couldn't spot a perfect ten on the crazy meter until it was too late.

"Big clowns with red noses."

Triage had announced a new patient to room six. Shortness of breath and chest pain. Twenty-nine-year-old female. Well, the twenty-nine-year-old female had been short of breath, all right. She'd been short of breath because she'd been holding it. Against contamination from those ADDS-infected clowns—to whom Molly evidently bore a striking resemblance. By the time Molly had caught on to the urgency of the problem, she'd been flat on her back on the floor being held down by a betrayed paranoid schizophrenic in full cry.

With a knife.

"They want the Water Child," the woman intoned in a high, eerie voice as she rocked back and forth on Molly's much-abused sternum. "They want to kidnap him and give him AIDS. They told me."

"The Water Child?" Molly managed on a gasp and a wriggle. Maybe if she could just dislodge that massive knee from her neck...

"Yes-s-s-s-s," the woman hissed, sounding distressingly like Gollum. "Didn't you see them? They're waiting for him."

"I didn't... see anybody. Maybe if I could look."

She was beginning to lose brain cells here. She had to get to the panic button on the wall so she could sound the alarm for the cavalry. She had to figure out what the Water Child was so she could climb inside the delusion and herd this crazy woman into a safety net.

She had to get her butt off this terrazzo floor before her pelvis shattered like an eggshell.

"Please," she begged. "Let me help you."

The patient stared at her. "All right."

And then, as precisely as a debutante, she simply rose to her feet. Molly sucked in her first breath in about ten minutes and scrambled up after her.

"Thank you," she rasped. "Now I can help you look."

That was when she saw the blood on the floor. Clots of it. Right beneath the patient, who Molly now realized was wearing a grimy, full-length oversize raincoat and galoshes, the kind of schizophrenic uniform that made Molly really nervous. Even without the knife.

And then Molly heard the mewling, like a kitten. From one of the big, saggy pockets.

Great, she thought. Knives and animals. All they needed was a few candles and they'd have a scene from Rosemary's Baby.

"Now then," Molly said in a calm, supportive voice. "Clowns, right? We're looking for clowns? How 'bout if I check the hallway?"

"No. Help me offer up the Water Child. He's the protection... his gift will end the AIDS...."

His gift. His gift.

And Molly, shaky and sweaty with adrenaline, couldn't think straight enough to decipher the code.

"What's your name?" she asked gently, taking another small step toward the wall and that big red panic button.

The woman stiffened. "Why, Water Mother, of course."

"Of course..."

Water Mother.

Molly stumbled to a halt. She looked down at the blood. She heard that curious mewling sound again. She finally put the pieces together.

"Holy shit..."

The clowns might have been a delusion. The Water Child wasn't. The Water Child that crazy bitch was about to sacrifice with her big, bloody knife. And she was already reaching into the pocket of that raincoat.

About the Author:

New York Times Bestselling, award-winning author Eileen Dreyer has published 40 novels and 10 short stories under her name and that of her evil twin, Kathleen Korbel in contemporary romance, paranormal romance, historical romance, romantic suspense, mystery and medical forensic suspense. A proud member of RWA's Hall of FAME, she also has numerous awards from RT BookLovers and an Anthony nomination for mystery. She is now focusing on what she calls historic romantic adventure in her DRAKE'S RAKES series. A native of St. Louis, she still lives there with her family. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the limelight.

http://eileendreyer.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EileenDreyer
https://twitter.com/eileendreyer
https://www.instagram.com/eileendreyerauthor/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/19012.Eileen_Dreyer
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eileen-dreyer

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Head-Games-Thriller-Eileen-Dreyer-ebook/dp/B08BX7B4YF/
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/head-games-eileen-dreyer/1137244643
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/head-games-28
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/head-games/id1520717910

Eileen Dreyer 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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Doorway to Scorn by Dimitrius Jones

Doorway to Scorn

by Dimitrius Jones

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GENRE: Fantasy

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BLURB:

Many in the world of Austyria dream of becoming heroes, gaining classes like Mage, Knight, and Beastmaster. With the power granted to them by the powerful Alrelics, they can level up and accomplish extraordinary feats.

The citizens of Hollo village long for a hero to save them from the malevolent Gate, which disfigures all who see or try to enter it. Lex dreams of becoming a Soldier and leaving his cursed village with his friends, Bibi and Ariel, but his class designation ceremony devolves into absolute disaster. Within days, he’s forced to embark on a journey that will change his destiny forever.

To save his friends, Lex must uncover the mysteries of this mysterious doorway, while keeping his scornful heart in check before it consumes him utterly.

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Excerpt :

Oedorius notices the commotion and stalks towards us, the other guards following closely behind him. Soon, he reaches us, and Ariel’s soft whimpers have become loud, wailing sobs. Oedorius calmly stops and stares down at her, and I’m certain I see a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“You are Ariel Branderford?” he asks.

“You’re not taking her.”

I blink, and Lex is between Ariel and Oedorius, his arms spread out to bar his approach. I position myself in front of Ariel, still crouched on the floor, and Oedorius sighs before sheathing his sword. He considers us for a moment before glancing back at one of the guards.

“Kent. Be quick.”

“Those who would defy the hands of time, be hidden from its eternal grasp. Hold!”

My body shivers as I leap to my feet. No! Not that spell! I race towards its source, hoping I can at least knock the spellcaster off balance so it won’t have a chance to be fully cast. As I near Oedorius, time begins to slow, and it feels like I’m trying to run underwater. I frantically try to shake myself in order to move faster, but it’s too late.

I become frozen in mid-air, everything around me moving as it should. Lex stands beside me still as stone, his hand stretched out as if to block the spell from hitting him. Maybe he meant to say something, but neither of us can say anything now.

Oedorius bends down and shakes Ariel’s shoulder. “Get up, girl. You’ve caused more than enough trouble. You will come with us, or we will kill you now.”

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

Hello and welcome to my blog! Can you tell me a little about yourself, and how you became an author?

Thank you so much for having me! I became an author the moment I finally sat down to outline one of my books. I made the conscious choice to start writing and see it through. I didn’t need to see my name on the cover to call myself an author, though that certainly helped. There was no prerequisite. I knew I’d have something published soon enough, so I didn’t see the point in delaying the title.

That is true - being an author doesn't always involve being published. Writing is the most important part! What is your book about?

Doorway to Scorn is a story about a boy named Lex who longs to leave his cursed village behind with his adopted family. However, things go astray, and he finds himself caught in a series of strange and frightening events that go against his carefully-laid plans.

Sounds terrific! Who is your hero? Is he based on someone in real life?

The main character is Lex Branderford. He’s not based on that one know-it-all friend we had growing up with more book sense than emotional intelligence. He ultimately has a good heart; he just come across as cold and insensitive at times. Thankfully, Bibi understands him and can usually bring him back down to earth when he gets worked up.

I like Lex and Bibi already, lol. What are your favorite times for writing? Morning? Evening?

My favorite time for writing depends on where I’m at. I love to write in coffee shops, but it has to be very early in the morning. I need that fresh-brewed coffee bean aroma and jazz music to relax me. I don’t actually drink coffee, but there’s something about just being around it that soothes me.

Otherwise, I prefer to write very late at night, usually after 11 or so. That’s around the time when my mind starts racing for some reason, and writing helps me relax and get sleepy. It’s my go-to for dealing with occasional insomnia.

I can relate to the coffee aroma, it's one of my favorite smells! Who are your favorite authors? Did they influence your writing, and if so, how?

As a teen Mercedes Lackey was my favorite fantasy writer. Magic’s Pawn was the first book I read from her, and I was blown away that it featured a gay character who was going through much of the same internal struggle I was at the time. I devoured every book she released after that series, though the Obsidian trilogy is be far my favorite.

Besides the Obsidian trilogy, did you have a favorite book as a child? Did it influence your choice to become an author?

The obvious choice would be Harry Potter series, but I was also a large fan of James and the Giant Peach. It was the first book I read from cover to cover, and it stuck with me. I wanted to have an adventure like that for some odd reason, so the idea came to me to write my own adventure story one day.  

Thank you for answering my questions! 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Dimitrius Jones was born and raised in West Texas, much to his eternal annoyance. Despite this, he first picked up the pen at the tender age of six. His first masterpiece was a page-turner was about dolphins that used eye lasers to kill a hurricane. From there, his life took a few twists and turns, but he always found his way back to his trusty notepad.

His next few projects include a self-help book for those who suffer from low self-esteem as well as a full-length fantasy/romance novel to be released sometime in the future. Dimitrius has always, perhaps unsurprisingly, been inspired by the mystery, tragedy, and wonder of fairy tales.

His goal in life is to constantly inspire, amuse, and shed light into the corners of life we didn't know were right in front of us.

Website: http://dimitriusjones.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/idimitriusjones?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordimitriusjones/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idimitriusjones/?hl=en

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Doorway-Scorn-Novella-1-Austyria-ebook/dp/B081XJC13P

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

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Dimitrius Jones will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway