Two Ends of the Pen

#New FANTASY: HEART OF STEEL, Book 2

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 13 May 2026 20:52:14 +0000

An elite scout, an elf, and a wizard must find the truth while trying to keep peace between the races.

Lieutenant Dillon Gaire, an elite scout in the Riversteel army, has a serious problem on his hands and must use all his skills to unravel a mystery in the wildlands. Riversteel hunters have gone missing across the Snow River, and it's up to Dillon to find out what happened to them before many more are lost. He sets out on a perilous journey, leading a team of trusted scouts, along with powerful Wizard Everett and Mage Lyla.

Their first stop is Kelyra, the elven capital of Mytheland, where they hope to gain valuable information about the incidents in the wildlands. But when King Zarin sends along a group of elven scouts to assist them, Dillon soon discovers that the elves have their own agenda, and it spells trouble for the humans. As they encounter mishaps and false trails, Dillon begins to piece together the truth.

Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Steel-Riversteel-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B0GZCL7GY2

#New Fantasy Release: KING'S LAST WORD, Book 3

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:33:00 +0000

An evil genius, a centuries-old betrayal, and a secret dating back to Merlin the Magician.

The crystal trade of Otharia is integral to the very fabric of society, but it’s shrouded in mystery. A mystery going back to the times of King Arthur, Merlin the Magician, and the forbidden planet of Earth.

Janus Vogdo was the Grand Duke in the Kingdom of Otharia and held a monopolistic control of the crystal trade, but his preeminent power was built on a house of cards. When his nefarious criminality came to light, his devastating fall from grace had dire consequences for the entire kingdom. Imprisoned, disgraced, and shunned, it seemed the once great statesman was finished, but like any master manipulator, Janus had a plan. Escaping from prison, he gathers a sect of loyalists who call themselves the Red Alliance to incite war across the kingdom and ultimately crown him king.

Called upon by King Lucas to rise up and champion the cause of righteousness, the noble twins, Darius and Dyla Telkur, along with Eclair Jortac, set out to thwart the secret machinations of Janus Vogdo and the Red Alliance. One journey leads to Earth, and to their ancestors—descendants of Merlin the Magician—who offer to help secure the weapons for the fight on Otharia.

Time is running out. The Red Alliance has begun its campaign of conquest that might well spell the doom of King Lucas and his loyal followers. Can the loyalists find the help they seek to overcome the Red Alliance, or will the Kingdom of Otharia fall into an evil despot’s hands?

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Last-Fantasy-Adventure-Otharia-ebook/dp/B0G44B18K4

FANTASY: Reign of Magic & Steel by Debra L Martin & David W Small

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:01:00 +0000

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN TROUBLE BETWEEN MAGIC AND STEEL…

Corporal Dillon Gaire, an elite scout for the Riversteel Army, excelled at army life with one slight problem. He has magic, and magic is outlawed in the Southern Kingdom. It was an ongoing tightrope balancing his military duties while hiding his magical abilities. The irony is not lost on Dillion, as he had used his secret abilities to help him gain his position as Lead Scout.

When his company is dispatched to deal with raiders on the Kingdom’s northern border, Dillon uses his ability to sense movement in the ground to discover the thieves. A clever plan was developed to trap the marauders, but during an intense battle, a powerful Northern Mage leading the raiders captured the company’s commander and used him as a hostage to escape.

Now, Dillon must use all of his skills as a tracker and mage to run down the Northern Mage and rescue the commander. Between raging river rapids trying to drown him, to the painted savages trying to kill him, Dillon runs into every conceivable problem possible, but never wavers in his quest to rescue his captain.

But will his skills be enough?

For fans of epic fantasy and daring adventures, "Reign of Magic and Steel" is a thrilling tale of magic, loyalty, and sacrifice. If you enjoyed books by authors Scott Lynch and Brandon Sanderson, then you won't want to miss this action-packed read.

Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Reign-Magic-Steel-Riversteel-Novel-ebook/dp/B0DKG77FGW

#Review: HOW TO FALL FOR A SCOUNDREL by Kate Bateman

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 14:22:00 +0000

5 of 5 stars

I adore Kate Bateman books and "How to Fall for a Scoundrel" is one of the best ones yet. The chemistry between our shy wallflower Eleanor and the ever charming Harry was so much fun. I loved Harry's easy-going style and how he gave Ellie the confidence to come out of her shell. Ellie and her crime-fighting partners have another case to solve, but what they find out along the way of solving one case leads them directly to solve another case involving Harry. The plot flows along nicely with a couple of good twists and turns, and can be read as a stand alone story. I love this series and am looking forward to reading the next book.

#Review: ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR by Virginia Heath

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 28 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

4 of 5 stars

I enjoy Ms. Heath's books, and this one was no different, although I did have a few issues with it. Mostly with Flora, Harry's sister. She seemed more than a bit flightly to me, as that's how she's been described throughout the book. But that bothered me because what mother would go and abandon her children to go on an adventure. How very selfish, especially since she didn't even have the decency to tell Harry or write to him.

I did very much like Harry and Georgie. At the beginning of the story they were like oil and water, but through a series of misadventures, Georgie begins to see Harry in a different light. He's not the uptight, strait-laced man she thought he was when he hired her. This story was also about Georgie's realization that her self-doubts and loathing about the way she looked were not really true anymore. Granted, she was probably an awkward 16-year-old, but now she was a full-grown, desirable woman. I loved it when she finally realized that.

The children's characters were cute, and, of course, Norbert was the star and the bane of Harry's existence. I thought the ending was just a little rushed, but finally, Harry and Georgie got their HEA.

Interview with Bethany Rosa, PURSUIT OF INNOCENCE

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 08 May 2024 08:00:00 +0000

If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?

It’s not mythical, but I would love to have a bobcat as a pet. Really, though, I don’t want any more pets. After raising four daughters, I've decided that I don’t have any desire to be needed around the clock by an animal.

How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

That’s an interesting question because I don’t think you should be too different in the romance genre. It’s sort of what got me to start writing. I kept looking for what I liked and wasn’t finding it. I kept coming across these books that were so out there, and all I wanted was my virgin discovering passion and an alpha male discovering love. I adore that storyline and could read it repeatedly with different characters and circumstances. So that’s basically what I did. I realize I have to be a bit different in my future books, but starting with the basics was good for me. I think what sets a book apart is the author’s voice. Their writing style. The settings and characters, along with side plots, along with the basic romance formula. Some readers like what they like and gravitate toward other books with similar styles, and that’s okay.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?

I can’t say I’ve received any bad advice. Everything is helpful in some kind of way, whether you apply it or not. The best advice I’ve received is to set an attainable minimum goal each day. I’m hard on myself; it comes with having a type A personality, so lowering my standards is hard, but it sure makes me feel better some days.

Are the experiences in this book based on someone you know or events in your own life?

Of course, I get asked this question a lot! Everyone wants to know if the passionate scenes are from my own experience. From now on, I’ve decided to respond, “No, I’m saving my personal life for my murder mystery novel.” All joking aside, I use a lot of my childhood in the books. It’s unavoidable, it’s easy, and I know it. So, there is a bit of me in there, and it’s not in only one character. Lily has many of my traits, but Sebastian also has sailing experience with his dad from me. And getting back to the passion, no, it’s not personal. It’s from the hundreds of books I’ve read and what does it for me when I’m reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

“I’m done waiting around. You’re mine. No more games or pining over someone else when it’s me you want. You won’t remember his name after I get through with you.”

Lily knows exactly what she wants in life. To graduate, land a high-paying job, and forge her own way. Nothing will distract her. Until the ultimate playboy, billionaire Sebastian Dubree, barges in. Not to be overlooked, Lily’s longtime crush, Jackson, decides she’s worth the fight.

Reluctant to succumb to either, she quickly becomes a challenge to conquer.

Lily must decide between the familiarity of her childhood longing or the newly discovered passion ignited by the dominant CEO. But can she surrender without losing herself in the process, or will someone take matters into his own hands?

Boundaries blur between desire and resistance in this gripping coming-of-age romance, leaving readers yearning for more.

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVHM9VG7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt :

“So, do you take all your new hires to lunch?” she asks in jest.

“Only the ones I’m trying to date.”

“You do this often, then. Oh wait, you don’t date. You’re a one-and-done kind of guy.” Ah, the feistiness I’ve come to look forward to.

“Exactly, so I guess you could say you’re my first… pursuit, that is. See, we each have firsts to give each other.” The look on her face is priceless. I think I just stunned her into silence, but alas, I should know better.

“Oh no, you can give me all the firsts you want, but you won’t be getting mine.”

“I intend to claim them all, Lily. Whether you’ve come to that realization is irrelevant because I plan to start soon.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Bethany Rosa raised four amazing daughters before fulfilling her dream to become a writer. Her goal is to ignite passion in readers through her erotically charged stories. When not immersed in writing, Bethany finds joy in life traveling the world alongside her husband of 25 years. Home is divided between the mountains of Montana and the Arizona sunshine.

Website: http://www.bethanyrosa.com/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/Bethanyrosa.author

TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@authorbethanyrosa

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Review: WHEN THE BARON BROODS by Darcy Burke

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:05:00 +0000

3.5 of 5 stars

I'm a fan of Ms. Burke, and her stories are always enjoyable. This one didn't quite give me the same warm feelings as some of her previous books though. Tasmin was a sweet, eternally happy young woman, although her happy personality seemed a little over the top at times. She suffered a great deal in her young life but chose not to dwell on the fact that her mother abandoned her. That seemed counterproductive to me, and it should have caused her "forever" happiness to fade a bit. She was entitled to be angry, and it would have made her seem more real if the author had let her show her unhappiness at times.

As for Isaac, at first I felt bad for the guilt he carried around. Denying himself any sort of pleasure for the past ten years seems a bit extreme. I understand that the incident with Mary happened when he was still very young, but as he got older, he could have fought harder to find out what happened to her instead of just forcing himself into a gloomy existence because of his guilt. It seemed an extreme reaction to an unpleasant and unsettling experience.

I did like the interactions with Tasmin and Isaac once they were married. The fact that he finally confessed to her his deepest, dark secret relieved him somewhat of the guilt he'd carried for so long. They were sweet together, and I'm glad they finally got their HEA.

Interview with Dana King, OFF THE BOOKS

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

Off the Books is my sixth novel to feature Chicago-based private detective Nick Forte; he also appears in two of my Penns River police procedurals. In Off the Books Forte is hired by a wealthy businessman whose wife witnessed a fender-bender in a small Illinois town while visiting their grandchildren. Nothing special there except that the driver who rear-ended the car in front of her was obviously drunk and came out of the car brandishing a weapon; the client wants to know why the local police aren’t doing anything about it. Forte quickly finds his client has not been straight with him and there’s a lot more wrong in Lundy, Illinois than sloppy police work.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?

I’m in my late 60s and decided after eight or nine years with a publisher I wanted more freedom and control over what would be left of my career. By self-publishing I can set my own release schedule and marketing plan (such as it is) without worrying if I’m doing right by my publishing partner.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?

This is a good story. The seventh novel in my Penns River series, White Out, was ready to go out for blurbs before we had a cover. The Beloved Spouse™, who is a wizard with Photoshop, dummied up a placeholder in black and white that was supposed to be only for the ARCs, but we liked it so much we kept it for the general release. “Branding” is a big deal these days and it occurred to us we could use the simple, stark covers as a kind of logo for my books. The Nick Forte novels now all look like what you see here and the Penns River books will be re-covered over the next year so they’ll all look like White Out. My two standalones will be similar but different enough so folks will know they are not part of either series.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

I was a professional musician until I was about 35, so the problem for me with having music around when I write is my mind tends to focus too much on the music and not enough on the writing, so I now write in silence. Or at least without music; background noise doesn’t bother me much.

My process varies from draft to draft as I refine the work. The first draft is two or three sessions of 500 words each; the goal is to get the story on the hard drive. Parts may even look like a screenplay, as dialog tends to come easier to me than action, so I sometimes put a slug in place to remind myself what has to go there and will tidy it up on the second draft.

The second draft is a true re-write, where I type everything out again., Substantial changes, additions, and deletions can be made. Authors are taught to “kill your darlings” when editing. I have found it’s easier to leave them along the side of the road and just not type them in again.

The next draft is the hard core editing. I like to think the book is essentially done when this is finished.

Last I have a three-step process:

Day 1: Read a chapter or two. Just read them. Nothing else.

Day 2: Edit what I read on Day 1. Read the next chapter or two.

Day 3: Have Word read back to me what I edited yesterday to make sure it’s right. Edit what I read on Day 1. Read the next chapter or two.

Then repeat until I’m done.

I think of each draft like this:

Draft 1: Producing the raw materials.

Draft 2: Refining the iron ore from the bauxite.

Draft 3: Turning it into steel.

Draft 4: Tempering the steel.

This process is a little different every time, but after sixteen books it’s now pretty well set.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

Outline, though usually little more than a sentence or fragment to remind me what needs to happen in each scene. How it happens is a game time decision, and those decisions sometimes force me to revise the rest of the outline.

I tried to write a couple of books without an outline and ended up throwing away 25,000 and 35,000 words. I’m one of those writers who needs to know the story before I do it justice, almost as if I’m reporting on things that have actually happened.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

Yes. Chris Rhatigan has been my primary editor for years and he never fails to improve the books.

A word of advice about editors: Make sure you have one who shares your vision for the book and isn’t going to remake it into something they think will be better. Maybe they will; then again, maybe they won’t. In the end, it’s your name on the cover, and you’re paying the freight, so make sure you get someone you’re comfortable working with. That doesn’t mean you’ll always agree. You want an editor’s suggestions, not your mother’s.

Is your book(s) in Kindle Unlimited or is it wide? What percentage of royalties does page reads represent if in KU?

All the Nick Fortes are now Kindle Unlimited, mainly because I lack the energy and discipline to regularly keep up with multiple markets. I honestly do not know what percentage comes from KU page reads, as the book only came out a couple of weeks ago.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Make sure you’ve written the best book you can before you start worrying about formatting or marketing. You only get one chance to make a first impression with readers, so you want them to see the best you got. Marketing might sell this book, but it’s not going to generate repeat business.

Also, be meticulous about the formatting, by which I mean how the book looks on the page, to include pagination, typos, margins, paragraph indentations, and all the other things we take for granted when buying a professionally-published book. Get a proof and compare it to a book on your shelf. It doesn’t have to be as polished, but you also don’t want anything to scream, “I don’t know what I’m doing!” The key is to present yourself as a professional.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?

Dogs, no question. Cats are assholes.

Chocolate. I love French vanilla ice cream, but with chocolate syrup.

Tea. I’ve had two cups of coffee in my life. The first was such a bitter disappointment I knew I wasn’t going to like the second before I even tasted it. This post is already longer than I planned, so if anyone wants to know about that first cup, ask me in the comments section.

Talk. Interactions are too slow and clumsy in texts. I’m also a lousy typist.

Day. There are few things I enjoy more than being outside on a beautiful day. I’, also more productive during the daylight hours. To me, nights are for winding down to prepare for the next day.

What’s next for you?

Lunch. After that I’ll move things along in Phase 4 of my first Western, which I hope to have finished by the time this interview appears in print. After that I plan to move right into the next Nick Forte novel; the outline is already 95% finished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Nick Forte has lost his detective agency and makes ends meet doing background checks and other paperwork. He pays for everything else through jobs he takes for cash and without any written contract. What starts out as a simple investigation into a traffic accident exposes Forte to people who have truly lost everything and have no viable hope of reclaiming their lives. That doesn’t sit well with Forte, leading him and his friend Goose Satterwhite to take action that ends more violently than anyone expected.

“The return of Chicago private detective Nick Forte, the tough protagonist of two Shamus Award nominated novels, is well worth the wait. Nick’s latest escapade Off The Books—the first in nearly six years—will surely earn additional praise for the acclaimed series.”

-J.L .Abramo, Shamus Award-winning author of Chasing Charlie Chan.

"Nick Forte reminds me of Robert B. Parker's Spenser: a PI with a finely tuned sense of justice who doesn't take anyone's s***. Any fan of hardboiled detective fiction is in for a helluva ride."

--Chris Rhatigan, former publisher of All Due Respect Books

BUY LINKS

http://tinyurl.com/4w2avye3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Off the Books is Dana King’s sixth Nick Forte private investigator novel. Two of the earlier books (A Small Sacrifice and The Man in the Window) received Shamus Award nominations from the Private Eye Writers of America. Dana also writes the Penns River series of police procedurals set in a small Western Pennsylvania town, as well as one standalone novel, Wild Bill, which is not a Western. His short fiction appears in numerous anthologies and web sites. He is a frequent panelist at conferences and reads at Noirs at Bars from New York to North Carolina.

WEBSITE

https://danakingauthor.com

BLOG

One Bite at a Time https://danaking.blogspot.com

TWITTER

@DanaKingAuthor

FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/dana.king.735/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Review: HERE COMES MY EARL by Anna Bradley

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

3 of 5 stars

"Here Comes My Earl" is the story of Euphemia, the last unmarried Templeton sister. I thought the beginning of the book was great when she and James, Lord Fairmont, were doing nothing but butting heads, but I had expected more of the "enemies to lovers" trope with these two interacting much more. One of the things that was very confusing was that there were too many "F" names. Harriet's suitor, whom James wanted her to marry, was also an "F" name, and it was hard to keep track of who was who.

The side plot of Harriet and Gilly hardly had any conflict at all. They met, developed feelings for each other and then James approved the match. That was disappointing, to say the least. I also would have liked more scenes with just James and Euphemia like the chess match and the dancing lessons, and without those extra interactions, the book seemed a bit rushed.

I enjoy Miss Bradley's books, but this one was a bit of a miss for me.

#Review: THE DUCHESS by Sophie Jordan

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

3 of 5 stars

Valencia, the Dowager Duchess of Dedham, has spent most of her adult life waiting--waiting to see if her husband was in a good mood that day, waiting for the slap that usually came if he was displeased, waiting, waiting, waiting. All that ended with the death of the duke. Valencia could finally take a breath and not have to look over her shoulder every minute of the day. All that changed, however, when the new Duke of Dedham, Rhain, and his six unmarried sisters invaded the ducal townhouse. Valencia's days of waiting are over, but now she's been banished to the dower house in Yorkshire until an offer from the duke keeps her in London.

Rhain did not want to be duke. He preferred his life in Wales, but he would not deny his sisters' chances for a good match, so they all went to London. Seeing Valencia in the ducal townhouse sends him into a tailspin. There's something about her that calls to him, but he refuses to act on it. He proposes a deal--Valencia help launch his sisters into Society and he'll give her enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life. Can these two come to a mutual understanding, or will the tension between them spill over into something more?

This was a slow-burn romance, and I usually like them, but this one took way too long. There were too many flashbacks to her time with the previous duke and not enough time devoted to her and Rhain. Most of the book is taken up with Rhain's sisters and not so much interaction between H and h. There is a twist in the story at the last 10% that seemed a little far-fetched. I thought the villain was someone else, and that would have made much more sense to me. I do enjoy Ms. Jordan's writing and will probably read the next book in the series.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.

#Review: DAMNED IF I DUKE by Anna Bradley

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

4 of 5 stars

I love a good enemies-to-lovers story, and Ms. Bradley delivers with this book. I really enjoyed the banter between Prue and Jasper. She was wild and exasperating, and he was arrogant—a match made in heaven. Can these two overcome their animosity and get what they both want?

Ms. Bradley weaves a good story of what love can do to a person, from denying one's feelings to resisting the one person who can make your life better. When they are forced to marry, it's the last thing either of them wants, but as more time goes by, their feelings for each other change. Before they could acknowledge their feelings, in marches a vindictive ex-mistress to try and break them apart. And she nearly succeeds when Prue retreats to the country. Can Jasper convince her that his love is true or has he lost his spirited wife forever?

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.

Interview with Robert A. Walker, SIX MOONS, SEVEN GODS

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

Six Moons, Seven Gods is the first book in “The Legends of Baelon” series. It’s a medieval fantasy adventure with shades of romance and grimdark.

The skilled thieves of the Takers Guild plot to overthrow the kingdoms of Baelon, but when their plans are thwarted by a prescient woman and her brooding daughter, they must turn to the League of Assassins for assistance. Meanwhile, retired royal guard Rolft Aerns returns to the palace of King Axil with an old score to settle. When they all cross paths–and swords–in the dark shadows of Fostead’s south end, nothing is as it seems and the murder count rises quickly.

“One must be careful practicing deception. The easiest to deceive will always be one’s self.” Welcome to the world of Baelon, where loyalty and treachery live under the same roof; where friendships are tested, true love is made to wait, and dangerous secrets are held close to allegiant hearts!

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

I did, but I was clueless at the time. I thought that someone would just read my manuscript and consider it for publication. I had no idea that most publishers only work through agents, nor did I realize how difficult it would be to get an agent to take an interest in me. When I first started querying, I had no website, no social media presence, no polished outline of my novel. I received a ton of rejections based solely on my lack of preparation, so I eventually decided to self-publish my first book.

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?

I’ll be self-publishing the sequel to “Six Moons, Seven Gods”, but following that I hope to be in a much better position to seek representation from agents. Depending on how successful the first two novels have been, I may try the traditional publishing route again.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?

I was quite involved. I had a pretty good sense of what I wanted the cover to look like, so I provided the designer with a crude sketch and description. He took a first cut at it, which was very good, and we went back and forth a few times from there.

Do you regularly send out a newsletter? How are you recruiting new subscribers? Do you have a reader magnet?

I don’t have a newsletter yet (just another example of my steep learning curve). It’s something I’m actually working on now. I’ve just created an account with MailerLite, and I’m looking forward to adding an email subscription popup to my author website.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

I write best when I’m alone, and there are no distractions, and I tend to be more productive at night. The words flow more freely then, especially if I’m listening to music; I have a favorite playlist that I’ll write to, and it’s mostly sad ballads. I also know that if I’m working on a storyline, or trying to figure out some tricky plot twist, I’m most successful when lying on my back in the dark. Not sure why that is!

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

I’ve worked both ways. I don’t want to be too restricted by a formal outline, but I have found it helps to have a general sense of where things are going. My first draft of “Six Moons, Seven Gods” was strictly “write as you go”, and that got me into trouble on several occasions, as I would write my characters into predicaments even I could not help them out of!

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book? Do you try to write everyday or carve out certain times during the week?

It’s super challenging for me. There’s never enough time to write, and the marketing effort is quite time-consuming and addictive in its own way. I try to carve out time for both each week, if not each day. But there are definitely days when one is neglected due to my being absorbed by the other.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Three pieces of advice: first, writing’s a journey. Don’t look too far ahead. Focus on your passion and the here and now. Write, write, write, and enjoy the traveling, one step at a time. Had I known early on what it would take to be published, and all the work involved in getting one’s book into the hands of readers, I might never have finished my first novel, let alone started it. I was so naïve to think that--you know--if you write something worthwhile, someone’s going to want to publish it, and people will then read it. Simple, right? The truth, of course, is so much more complex and challenging, regardless of whether you are trying to secure the representation of a traditional publishing firm, or you have decided to self-publish. Unless your intended audience is limited to friends and family, finishing your novel (quite the accomplishment in and of itself) is only half the battle. So my advice is to take it slowly and enjoy the journey—don’t peek too soon or too closely behind the publishing world’s thick curtain lest that cause you to turn back. Tackled one issue at a time, none of it as overwhelming or intimidating as the big picture first appears; there’s lots of support out there, and if you persevere, all those little challenges just make reaching your destination that much more rewarding. Carry on!

My second counsel is to listen to your heart while you are writing. Mine will generally tell me when I’m on the right track, and when I’ve gotten lost. The characters and scenes that I have been most engaged with during the creative process typically turn out to be those that readers also find most entertaining. So now, when I find myself slogging through some piece that I don’t find particularly exciting or enjoyable to write, I ask myself: why is that? Am I asking the reader to suffer with me? Is there not something I can do to the storyline or character to make writing (and reading) this more entertaining?

Lastly, I strongly suggest that you read your work aloud and slowly, either to yourself or to an interested listener. You’ll be surprised at the number of errors and opportunities that expose themselves. This advice was given me by my father, a professional editor by trade, and I have benefited from it ever since.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?

Dogs over cats. My best friend growing up was a beagle, and there’s almost always been a dog or two in my house (currently a Labradoodle and an Australian Cobberdog). Chocolate over vanilla for sure—one of my “go to” snacks during writing is a handful of cashews with one or two chocolate raisins in the mix! And there’s nothing better than a hot fudge sundae, right? I’ll pass on coffee and tea, despite my British heritage. Talk instead of text, as the latter tends to increase the opportunity for misinterpretation; and despite my penchant for writing at night, I’m more of a morning person overall.

Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/MOONS-SEVEN-GODS-Legends-Baelon-ebook/dp/B0CJ5ZG487

Barnes and Noble buy link:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/six-moons-seven-gods-walker/1144209306

Target: https://www.target.com/p/six-moons-seven-gods-by-walker-paperback/-/A-91007114

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551750255281

Author Bio:

Robert A. Walker grew up in Northwestern Massachusetts. After graduating college, he packed his scant belongings in a car with rusted-out floorboards and headed west. He’s lived in California ever since, and now resides along the Pacific Ocean with his wife and dogs. When not fabricating stories, he can be found roaming local tennis courts or working on a never-ending list of DIY house projects. Information regarding Robert’s current writing projects can be found at rawalkerwriting.com.

#Review: IN WANT OF A VISCOUNT by Lorraine Heath

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

5 of 5 stars

I always enjoy Ms. Heath's books and this one is no exception. The chemistry between Rook and Nora is off the charts. I loved the tension between them as Nora tries to find investors to save her late father's factory. She was so strong and independent--a woman who knew what she wanted, and yet, she was soft and vulnerable as well. I really loved Rook. He was such a tower of strength and respectability until he lost his heart to Nora. These two were willing to do whatever they could to help each other, even walking away, but in the end, Rook and Nora got their happily ever after.

I really disliked Nora's mother. I think the author went a little overboard on how awful she was, and her brother wasn't better as far as I'm concerned. I think with Sam, though, it was that he hadn't found his own true passion yet--the factory was never that for him so at least he redeemed himself a little at the end.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

#Review: WRITE FOR ME, MARQUESS by Kate Archer

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

3 of 5 stars

Rupert Doncaster, Marquess of Hamill, has decided it's time he married and he intends to court Lady Juliet Bennington, although he could hardly understand her when she was spouting off her poetry. Her beauty more than made up for her quirkiness, he thought, but her heart seemed set on marrying a fellow poet, which he decidedly was not.

Lady Juliet Bennington knew in her heart that she was destined to marry a fellow poet. When she meets a fellow poet, Mr. Roundbat, she wants to fall in love with him, but she keeps being drawn to Rupert, and it confuses her. Could she marry someone who didn't share her love of poetry?

This was a kind of bland story. I didn't feel much chemistry between Rupert and Juliet, but I did love Tattleton, Miss Mayton, and, of course, the rooster Marvin. The secondary characters made the story in my opinion. While I did enjoy the previous stories in the series, this one kind of fell flat for me especially since it took me more than a week to get through it.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.

#Review: HOW NOT TO HATE THE DUKE by Jennifer Haymore

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 15:10:00 +0000

3 of 5 stars

Theo St. Clair, the Seventh Duke of Desborough, has found it far easier to run away from his father's cruel influence than to try and mitigate the previous duke's obnoxious ways. It's no wonder the people of the village and the ducal tenants have a hard time warming up to Theo. All they've ever known is cruelty from the duke.

Georgiana Milford's home is adjacent to the duke's property, and all her life she's heard her parents say what cruel and vicious people the St. Clair's are, including the current duke. When she finds out that Theo will be attending the same house party, she isn't sure if she should stay or go. Her parents would be furious to know that the duke was in attendance, but despite that, Georgiana decides to stay. Will she take the time to get to know the current duke and judge him on his own merits instead of listening to others?

I really liked the premise of this story, but I wasn't enamored with Georgiana. She came across as bratty and too opinionated without listening to her own mind. Theo did not deserve her disdain especially since she kept saying that she knew how to judge whether men were interested in her beyond her substantial dowry. I was especially disappointed by her behavior at the chapel. Where was her backbone, especially since she professed to love Theo. I thought that excuse to drive the couple apart didn't make sense. I would have liked them to have struggled to make the tenants' lives better together. There are a couple of teasing scenes in the story that were very well done, but not enough to lift the book to 4 stars.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

#Review: REALM OF KINGS by Thea Atkinson

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

5 of 5 stars

Whoa--hold on to your hats with this 4th installment in the Iron King's Assassin series. Master storyteller Ms. Atkinson has quite a few surprises in this book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Be prepared for the most daunting roller coaster ride you've ever been on, with one twist and turn after another.

Our girl Ava has been through the wringer lately and things are going to get a lot worse for our reluctant assassin. The Shadow Court's mob boss, Terran, is still determined to have Ava assassinate King Ferranus even though it means a death sentence for her. Terran is ruthless and doesn't care one whit for her well-being, but the dark enforcer certainly does. Blade has vowed to keep Ava safe and she wonders what that entails exactly. In the last book, Ava's feelings toward Blade were changing from murderous to something else, but what exactly? Is she falling in love with the hellhound, or more importantly, does she even have the capacity to love after the drug-addicted and vicious life she'd led up to this point.

One thing is clear. The most important thing to Ava is keeping her sister, Kit, safe from harm's way especially now that Flint has brought Kit into the Fae world. Kit has fallen hard for the gorgeous Fae and refuses to listen to Ava when she tries to explain how dangerous Flint is. To keep Ava in line, Terran plans on sending Kit with the Shadow Court entourage when they go to the king's celebration. Now Ava is in a quandary. How can she keep her sister safe without compromising the mission? Can she even keep herself safe? And what about the other brother, Stone? Ava was once attracted to Blade's gorgeous Fae brother, but has that attraction waned? Can she count on him as a friend?

There is so much more to unpack about this story, and I could go on and on about how much I love this series, but suffice it to say that this series does not disappoint. There is a momentous surprise near the end of the book that I never saw coming and I sat in shock as I read it. It was absolutely brilliant!!

This story is dark, with heart-pounding excitement, and will definitely get your adrenaline pumping. I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.

#Review: THE DUKE'S ALL THAT by Christina Britton

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

4 of 5 stars

Iain MacInnes, Duke of Balgair, is shocked to receive a tattered letter telling him his wife was alive. For 13 years, Iain believed his wife had abandoned him for her dream of traveling; at least, that's what her father told him. He was devastated because he thought they had a love for the ages. Now, he needs to find her so he can divorce her, and his search leads him to the Isle of Synne.

Seraphina has been to hell and back, but she finally feels safe and has made a good life for herself and two younger sisters on the Isle of Synne, far away from her cruel and controlling father. She never told anyone about her marriage to Iain as it was wrapped up in heartache, believing that he took money from her father to disappear. When Iain shows up at her bookstore demanding she return to Scotland with him so he can obtain a divorce, she has no choice but to travel with him. Along the way, many secrets and misconceptions about each other are revealed and old feelings start to resurface. Unfortunately for Seraphina, she believes she's too damaged to ever be the wife of a duke.

This was an intriguing story, and, of course, that parrot played a starring role in the book. That was quite amusing. I found some of Seraphina's reasoning didn't make any sense and she was making poor decisions. Iain on the other hand, was clear in his feelings. The dark past that Seraphina suffered through is hinted at throughout the book and it was clear that it was all orchestrated by her cruel father. I was disappointed that her father did not seem to get any comeuppance for his cruelty, and that felt wrong. Thus, the book is rated 4 stars instead of 5.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.

#Review: IF THE DUKE DARES by Darcy Burke

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0000

4 of 5 stars

Acton Loxley, Duke of Wellesbourne, has decided it's time for him to marry. He is traveling to meet a potential bride, Persephone Barclay, but he meets an intriguing young woman at an inn on the way, who claims to be a widow. When Persephone's parents show up at the ducal estate without their daughter, they tell Acton she's ill and will join them in a day or two. When he sees her miniature, he realizes she's the woman poses as a widow back at the inn. Now, he's intrigued as to why she would run away and not even want to meet him. He's a duke, after all!

Miss Persephone Barclay didn't want to be forced to marry, especially not to a rake like Wellesbourne so she runs away from her parents to escape that fate. Unfortunately, the duke soon tracks her down and promises to protect her while she travels to see her Aunt Lucinda in Bath. Along the way, her feelings about him begin to change, but she's vowed she will never marry a rake and keeps him at arm's length.

This was a sweet story and I did love the banter between Acton and Persephone. The limits that Acton goes to trying to convince Persey that he's a changed man are delightful as he bumbles his way toward his goal. I loved Persey. She was witty, fearless, and independent, and I enjoyed that immensely. Persey's sister, Pandora, and Aunt Lucinda, along with Acton's mother and sisters, round out the story nicely. Unfortunately, the fact that Persey's parents didn't face any comeuppance for their awful behavior of their daughters was a real detriment for me. Thus, the loss of a star to 4 stars.

I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of over sixty captivating, compelling historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Her novels have been translated into five languages and are also available as audio books. Join her Reader Club at https://www.darcyburke.com/join.

A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming, teacher husband, artist daughter, and writer (yes!) son. They’re a crazy cat family with two Bengal cats, a small, fame-seeking cat named after a fruit, a rescue Maine Coon with attitude to spare, an adorable former stray who wandered onto their deck and into their hearts, and two bonded boys who used to belong to (separate) neighbors but chose them instead. You can find Darcy in her comfy writing chair, folding laundry (which she loves), or enjoying game night with the family.

Visit Darcy online at http://www.darcyburke.com and follow her social media:

Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/darcyburkefans,

Instagram at http://www.instagram/darcyburkeauthor

Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/darcyburkewrite.

If the Duke Dares website link: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares

Buy links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-Amz

Apple: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-App

Barnes & Noble: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-BN

Google Play: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-GP

Kobo: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-Kobo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Review: HER ADVENTURES IN TEMPTATION by Megan Frampton

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

3 of 5 stars

Painter Simeon Jones doesn't enjoy portraits, but he's got to pay the bills so when he's commissioned to paint a viscountess, he would finally have enough money for a while. Unfortunately, a scandal involving the viscountess sends him packing, but he's not alone. Lady Myrtle Allen, the viscount's sister, decides to flee the country estate with Simeon. They agree to a business arrangement--he'll accompany her to London and she'll pay him the lost commission. What could go wrong?

The books in this series have been a hit or miss for me. This one was kind of a miss. I thought Myrtle was so annoying. Is anyone really that clueless? I understand she's brilliant, but she grew up a lady and knows the proper behavior of interacting with the ton. I did like that she wanted to use her mathematical skills to help other women and that was admirable. I liked Simeon a lot more although he could be self-centered when it came to his art, but that can be attributed to his mother's teachings that he must pour all his attention into his artistry. I didn't really feel the romance between these two. It was more about an experiment to see if they could be more brilliant/artistic if they totally focused on it. to the exclusion of everything else. There are some graphic sex scenes, and the HEA didn't happen until the last 10% of the book.

#Review: IT TAKES A RAKE by Anna Bennett

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 13:30:00 +0000

4 of 5 stars

Miss Kitty Beckett has learned the hard way not to give her heart away because people always leave her. It's not always their fault, but the result is the same so Kitty has learned to protect her heart and keep everyone at bay. Except for her childhood friend, Leo Lockland who has always been there for her until he wasn't. Another abandonment for Kitty to endure.

Leo Lockland is a talented architect who left his village to pursue a career in architecture. He left in a hurry after finding out a devastating family secret and never said goodbye to anyone, not even Kitty. Now he's back and his feelings for the feisty miss have not changed. He loves her with all his heart, but she's not very welcoming to him when he returns. Now he must find a way to win her heart and make her his forever.

This was a cute story, although a bit far-fetched in some of the plot points. It took a while to warm up to Kitty until well into the book when the author reveals why Kitty keeps everyone at arm's length. I loved Leo more. He was kind, generous, and honorable and never gave up on Kitty. There is a bit of a villain in the story, but it was easily discerned what he was about. All in all, it was an enjoyable story, but there was no great passion, and I don't think I'd read it again.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.

Interview with Benoit Lanteigne, The Cyborg's Crusade - Day of the Deus Ex Machina

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Do you have any tattoos? Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?

No, I don’t. Sorry, this is the most boring answer possible. I have nothing against tattoos, and I’ve seen several that I thought were very cool, but I’ve never felt the urge to get one myself; Not sure why.

Is your life anything like it was two years ago?

The biggest change is that we’re not in lockdown anymore. That was… something. Other than that, it’s similar, except I’m about to publish my first book. That’s taking some effort, but it’s exciting!

How long have you been writing?

Depends on how you look at it. If we’re talking about publishing books, I’ve just started. If we’re talking about writing just for fun, then since high school, roughly thirty years ago. I’ve been writing on and off since then, but nothing I considered publishing or sharing with anyone. The Cyborg’s Crusade is the first project I feel I need to put out there. In part, it’s because I feel it is something special. Mostly though, it’s a self-growth exercise. Publishing a book terrifies me, so I figured I should do it!

What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

Well, I’m only starting out publishing myself, so I’m not very comfortable giving publishing advice. I think I’ll go with this: Editing exists, so don’t worry about writing a good book with your first draft. Most writers can’t do that. Oh, I’m sure there are a few geniuses out there who crank out perfect first drafts, but for the majority (including myself), it doesn’t work that way. Just get a version of your story on paper as a starting point. It might stink, but from there, you revise, edit, rewrite, and eventually, after a ton of work, it will only emit a vaguely unpleasant odor instead. From there, you keep on editing. Once you feel comfortable enough, get some impartial beta readers involved, so you receive feedback. Feedback is tricky, some is good, some is bad. Filter out what you feel is good feedback and revise again based on it. If you can afford a professional editor along the line, it can do wonders.

Anyway, the short version is, writing is an iterative process. It doesn’t matter if the first draft is garbage as long as the last one is gold.

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

My first idea for The Cyborg’s Crusade was to have it set in the afterlife. The story started with James Hunter dying. While it turned out there was life after death, it wasn’t the heaven or hell his religion told him about. Instead, it was a war zone where multiple parties battled for control. Rose, the winged woman who helps him in The Cyborg’s Crusade, was the leader of one such party. The titular cyborg didn’t exist back then. The closest thing was a man in armor wrapped in chains. After a while, I just couldn’t get anywhere with this idea, so things changed a lot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

How did it come to this? My life used to be so simple. Back then, I hated it; I found it boring. Let me tell you: boring’s good. Boring’s great! I should’ve been thankful…

It was supposed to be a date like any other for James Hunter, a simple convenience store clerk. Nothing more than watching a movie in the town of Moncton. A place as unknown and unimportant as he considered his own existence to be. And yet, while walking to a cinema, James teleports to another world. There, a hostile crowd surrounds him, including various mutants with strange deformities.

Before he can even gather his wits or make a dash for it, a lone ally presents herself in the form of a winged woman named Rose. An important cultural figure in the country where James appeared, she offers him both protection and a home.

Soon, James learns that this new world is divided by a cold war. On one side is Nirnivia, home to Rose. The other, Ostark, led by a mysterious cyborg. James is unaware that the cyborg has him in his crosshairs, thinking of him as the Deus Ex Machina that will end the war in his favor.

But, the cyborg is far from the only potential threat to James. Soon after his arrival, BRR, a terrorist organisation, kidnaps him.

What would a rogue group out for revenge seeking to turn the cold war hot want with someone like James? Is there anyone also aware of this other world who will try to find him? Or is he on his own? If so, how is he supposed to escape? If that's even an option...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

So, my name is Benoit Lanteigne and I’m a French Canadian (outside of Quebec) who’s trying to write in English. That can be tricky. I’m a computer programmer and I enjoy it. I see many inspiring writers who hate their jobs and hope to quit someday, but that’s not my case. Mostly, I’ve worked on websites and web applications.

Back in school, I enjoyed writing and according to my teachers and classmates; I had a talent for it. Well, not so much for grammar and spelling, but they liked my stories. Once I went to university, I dropped writing as a hobby. There were other things I wanted to focus on, such as my career. Then, in the early 2000s, around 2006 I’d say, I had a flash of inspiration. At first, it was a single character: a winged woman with red hair. I didn’t even know who she was, but the image stuck with me. From there, I began figuring out details about her origins and her world, but I only started writing for real in 2009.

It’s been roughly 10 years now, and it’s not yet finished. That’s in part because I write in my spare time, and in part because the scope of the project is huge. Maybe too much so. Still, I’m getting close to the point where I could release something. The question is what’s next? Self-publishing? Attempt traditional publishing? Nothing? I don’t know the answer yet, I’m trying to figure it out. Frankly, sharing my writing is difficult for me, and whatever I end up doing, as long as I make it available to people I consider the experience a victory no matter what comes out of it.

Website: https://thecyborgscrusade.com/

Newsletter: https://thecyborgscrusade.com/fanclub.html

Social Media Link Hub: https://thecyborgscrusade.com/hub.html

https://www.facebook.com/people/My-Skeptical-Angel/100055656492122/

https://twitter.com/bl98

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS80WvrsYaBCOKBVgYwsXTA

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecyborgscrusade

https://www.instagram.com/thecyborgscrusade/

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cyborgs-Crusade-Day-Deux-Machina-ebook/dp/B0CBZZRDZ4

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Review: EARL CRAZY by Anna Bradley

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

4 of 5 stars

Christopher "Kit" Egan, suddenly finds himself the Earl of Prestwick, after the untimely death of his uncle. He's convinced a family curse is real especially after so many men in the family have died under unusual circumstances. Kit is determined to reform his rakish ways and find a wife. He does not want to be a victim of the family curse. His return to London is anything but ordinary when during a drunken episode, he meets Miss Tilly Templeton who tries to help him and nearly ends up drowning him. Now, he can't get the bewitching creature out of his mind and is convinced she should be the next Countess of Prestwick. Now, all he has to do is convince the young lady to marry him.

Miss Tilly Templeton is only in London to support her friend Harriet during her Season. Tilly has vowed to behave with utmost propriety and not cause any more scandal to the Templeton name. On her first evening in London, she finds herself in a compromising position with the drunken Earl of Prestwick. How could she be so unlucky? She must navigate the Season trying to keep their secret. She never wanted to marry, but perhaps, the wicked earl could change her mind.

This was a cute story and I enjoyed it. I loved the banter between Tilly and Kit. Tilly was such a fun character. She tried so hard to be good, but always seemed to be in one precarious situation after another. The supporting cast added much to the story, although I think the ending when Kit rushes to save Tilly from an attack seemed a little far-fetched in how he even knew she was in trouble. This is a short read that can easily be read in one sitting. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

#Review: SECOND DUKE'S THE CHARM by Kate Bateman

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

5 of 5 stars

Tess Townsend, the Duchess of Wansford, never forgave her father for forcing her to marry the ancient duke. The duke disgusted her with his leery ways and she got a lucky break when he collasped on their wedding night before he could consummate the marriage and died. Now Tess was free and she planned to enjoy her new independence. No man had tempted her since until she meets Justin Thornton at a masquerade house party. Neither knew each other's names as passion flared between them. Before their encounter led to more than sizzling kisses, Tess ran away. Little did she know that Thornton was the new Duke of Wansford.

Justin had never forgotten the passionate woman he met at the house party and when he finds out that she's the Duchess of Wansford, he proposes a business deal. They marry, and he'll give her freedom and money she'll need to do what she wants and he'll leave her alone after three months, but Tess has a secret. How she can tell him that she's still a virgin. Each of them are hiding secrets and when a series of mishaps nearly kill them, Justin thinks Tess is out to have him killed. Of course, this leads to a series of misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Can these two come clean and build a life together or will their unwillingness to share their true selves force them to part forever?

I really enjoyed this story. Tess was a wonderfully complex character. She was more than her physical beauty. She had brains and wit to match. It was delightful to see her try, and explain away her lack of knowledge on their wedding night. Justin was a sexy, brooding character. He didn't believe in love and always kept his relationships for only 3 months before he ended them. There are no feelings involved, just pleasure. It was great to see him brought to his knees by Tess. There's a mystery running through the book that Tess helps to solve with her friends and that is quite interesting. I can't wait to read more in this series.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

#Review: YOU'RE THE DUKE THAT I WANT by Lenora Bell

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

3 of 5 stars

Lord Dane Walker, brother to the current Duke of Rydell, could never have fathomed that a trip to a sleepy sea-side village would change his life forever, but that's exactly what happens when he meets Sandrine Oliver, a sweet and generous young woman who lives under the controlling thumb of her mother. He's smitten with her at once, but her strict upbringing makes her run from him the first time they meet. For Sandrine, when she meets Dane, he gives her a false name and she believes he's an honorable gentleman, only to find out he's an infamous rake from London.

Sandrine wants something from Dane, and that is to restore the historical mansion in her village, but Dane's brother has refused to send any money for the mansion's upkeep. When a family tragedy strikes, both Dane and Sandrine's lives are forever changed. Can she ever trust him again after he lied to her about his identity, or has Dane lost her good opinion forever?

I enjoyed some parts of this book, but other parts dragged for me. This "Grease" retelling was cute, but I thought the Pink Ladies got rushed at the end. There are a few twists and turns in the story and a mystery to uncover about Dane's brother. Sandrine's character underwent the most change, just like Sandy in "Grease." She went from an innocent to a a seemingly worldly lady with the help of her new friends. Dane and Sandrine had good chemistry, although I liked the tension-filled scenes before they got together better. I enjoy Ms. Bell's books. However, this one fell a little flat for me.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.

#Interview with Traci Wooden-Carlisle and D. Tina Batten, THE PRAYER WARRIOR

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

The Prayer Warrior is a Christian fiction supernatural novel about a student counsellor for a Christian Academy who prays, lends a listening ear and advice to the students and staff of the school. At night, while she dreams, Ms. V intercedes and battles for the souls of her students. It is a standalone book but d. Tina Batten and I do have plans for book two.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all? Did the character become the hero/heroine of their own book?

In my Promises to Zion series the sister in the first book is a secondary character but her true identity is revealed in the second book, thus creating a deeper backstory for her and some of the other original main characters. There was even a breakout book with her as the main character.

Do you have an ARC review team? How did you recruit your reviewers? BookFunnel? Readerlinks? Booksprout?

I use Bookfunnel to send out and track ARC copies. It allows me to move forward since it has automatic features.

Do you regularly send out a newsletter? How are you recruiting new subscribers? Do you have a reader magnet?

I usually send out a newsletter once a month. After much consideration, I did make my novella from my romantic suspense series a free gift to those who subscribe to my newsletter.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

Absolutely! I get so far into my head when writing I miss grammatic and spelling errors all of the time. It is much easier to let a professional take care of it.

Is your book available in audio format? Briefly describe how your narrator was chosen?

Yes. My co-author Traci and I are so delighted to have our book, The Prayer Warrior available via audio format. In search of the perfect narrator who was chosen for this project was a divine connection to say the least. It happened so fast. Traci and I were in the very beginning stage of seeking a narrator. We had just auditioned one other company prior to finding the right person for this project (Anita Faye Thomas) whom Traci found in passing. She was at the right place at the right time. The conversation was organic and after one audition, we knew she was the perfect person for our book project. If you have a chance to listen to the audiobook version of our book, you will quickly agree. She did a phenomenal job on the project.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

Yes, Definitely outline. I’m a big fan of outlining any story I write and will recommend that step to anyone. It will help save time by organizing your thoughts, making the necessary corrections along the way if something in the storyline isn’t working. Trust me! To outline your story is a good thing.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
I would first congratulate the new author for finishing their book project and considering self-publishing. That’s a huge hurdle to cross alone. After the manuscript is complete, this is when the hard work truly begins. There is a mountain of very important decisions the author must make. It’s the end of one process and the beginning of another.

The author can publish the book he or she truly desires because the author maintains direct control of every aspect of publishing the book. The author must make the important decisions about anything and everything involving their book. It’s good to find a team of trusted professionals to help bring the author's vision to life. Outsource when you can depending on the budget. It’s a time saver. Search for a great editor, graphic designer to help create the best possible book cover to draw readers to want to purchase the book. And this is only the beginning.You need to decide on publishing platforms to distribute the book, marketing of the book, etc. Research! Research! Research! There is a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done with self-publishing. But the rewards are great.

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?

I’m a very creative person. I love the performing arts ministry and try to stay connected to those roots. I’m always working on projects. I could be producing a stage play, dinner show, film, or concert. No telling with me. You will have to follow me and stay tuned in for sure ;-)

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?

I prefer Dogs, Chocolate, Tea, Talk and Night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

There is a thin line between the natural and the spiritual realm.
Ms. V., a humble servant of the Lord, has been placed on assignment at Center of Hope Christian Academy.

By day, she serves as a trusted counselor for students, giving them a safe haven to pour out their innermost feelings while providing professional and honest truth wrapped in a firm kindness and love that inevitably draws them closer to Jesus. Not to be outdone, the faculty also bends her ear from time to time.

By night, Ms. V. enters the spiritual realm and takes her place on the battlefield as one of God’s faithful prayer warriors. She wields her whispering sword, slicing through the enemy’s plans to bind the precious hearts under her charge.
Her assignment’s burden on her physical body is taxing, but can she withstand the strain and remain victorious?
Saving souls is her true mission, but at what cost?

Readers are in for a journey of spiritual intrigue and biblical insight as they experience the ramifications of each character’s life-altering decision.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

D. “Tina” Batten is a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter and Mima to her grandchildren. She is a gifted visual storyteller who is passionate about bringing encouraging messages of inspiration and hope to the world.

Tina Batten, a writer for over eighteen years of various dramatic works of performing art via stage, and film, encompasses unique ways of creating fascinating story concepts that touch the heart of most who view or read her work. She is both honored and thrilled to have teamed up with long-time friend, sister in the gospel and co-author Tracy on this phenomenal collaborative book project. With such a humble heart and desire to bring people together in love and unity, Tina Batten will continue her work as a visual storyteller spreading the good news of Jesus Christ one project after the other.

As Always, D. “Tina” Batten gives God All the Glory!

You can find her at the following social media platforms:

Website: http://www.sisterbatten.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Sister-BattenCom-Sister-Batten-Productions-157650117630075/

FB: Tina Batten Profile: https://www.facebook.com/tina.batten.18

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sisterbatten/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sisterbatten

Subscribe to Sister Batten YouTube Channel

shorturl.at/lsxA4

Walking in the Spirit Trailer

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/sisterbattenfilms

If Not For The LORD, Where Would I Be? Delicious Episode Trailer

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/sisterbattenproductions

Traci Wooden-Carlisle

Traci Wooden-Carlisle began writing to publish in 2011 and enjoys writing stories that provoke thought and evoke emotions. Her desire is to draw readers into the lives of her characters and share messages of God’s love, His faithfulness and peace. The messages in her books speak to her way before they speak to her readers.

Traci lives in San Diego with her husband, David. When she isn’t writing she does some light traveling or assists people with their physical fitness, creates graphics, designs pretty things for her jewelry business and swag for authors.

You can find her on the following social media platforms.

Website: www.tawcarlisle.com

Newsletter: www.tawcarlisle.com/subscribe

Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Traci-Wooden-Carlisle/e/B00OIAS208/

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/Author_TraciWCarlisle

Facebook: www.facebook.com/traciwoodencarlisle

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tawcarlisle

Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/traci-wooden-carlisle

Twitter: www.twitter.com/traciwcarlisle

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tawcarlisle

Book Video: https://youtu.be/lw3DiS_-E0A?si=1DjRSVTB3Ggqg9pT

a Rafflecopter giveaway