I Dream of Demigods by Alexa Sullivan - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host fellow Oregonian Alexa Sullivan and her new book, “I Dream of Demigods,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $50 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Alexa and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

I Dream of Demigods

The Law of Love Book Series

Book One

by Alexa Sullivan

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GENRE:   Paranormal Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

Ro Baird can't cast a spell without setting her own pants on fire—until she kisses her hot new boss, Alex. Suddenly, she's able to access her magic…sort of…and she now has a familiar, who may be more trouble than she is helpful.

Alex Kouris happens to be a soul-stealing demigod of the Underworld. He claims he's trying to leave the life, but can she really trust a man whose magical talents are manipulation and charm? When Alex enlists a shady ex to help him, Ro must risk her heart and her life to save him and humanity from Hades’s evil scheme.

Can she harness her true power to set Alex and herself free?

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EXCERPT THREE:

I turned from side to side in front of the mirror, examining my half French braid. My dark-brown hair wound across the top of my head, like a crown. I tucked the end under the rest of my hair and twisted it into a side ponytail, tying it off with a clear elastic.

“Pretty.” Tabitha stood in my bathroom doorway. With her flat tone of voice, she might as well have been describing broccoli or glue.

I plucked a beaded fringe earring off the counter and slipped it through the hole in my right earlobe.

Lenti, who sat on the counter, trilled and swiped the earring with her paw.

“Nope.” I jerked my head away. “I got these at a craft fair, and you’re not destroying them.”

“What’s that?”

“Never mind.” Should’ve known this was going to happen. Gritting my teeth, I removed the earring and tucked it into a drawer. I tugged the neckline of my clingy black dress a little lower, then turned to Tabitha. “Is it too much? Should I wear my strappy sandals or my ankle boots?”

She crossed her arms. “Explain to me how this happened. You were supposed to talk to him, not go out with him.”

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AUTHOR BIO:

Alexa Sullivan writes humorous, contemporary paranormal romance. She imagines a world where the mundane meets magic -- and where vampires, werewolves and witches have normal jobs. Oh, and there are cats, too. She sets all her books in the beautiful state of Oregon. When not writing, she can be found walking her cat on a leash, hanging out with her husband, and watching far too much Bravo reality TV.

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CONNECT WITH ALEXA:

Website:

https://www.alexasullivan.com

Sign up for Alexa’s Newsletter:

https://www.alexasullivan.com/subscribe

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/alexa_s_writes

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/alexasullivanromance

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24503406.Alexa_Sullivan

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/83102530-i-dream-of-demigods

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3nn5Rnv

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/40C2F5F

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3LUL5FZ

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Dream-Demigods-Law-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B0BKRCTPDB

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/I-Dream-Demigods-Law-Love/dp/1509245839

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-dream-of-demigods-alexa-sullivan/1142600185?ean=2940186700814

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-dream-of-demigods-alexa-sullivan/1142600185?ean=9781509245833

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-dream-of-demigods

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/i-dream-of-demigods

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Alexa will be awarding a $50 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War by Talia Aikens-Nuñez - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Talia Aikens-Nuñez and her new book, “Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Talia and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Men of the 65^th:

The Borinqueneers of the Korean War

by Talia Aikens-Nuñez

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GENRE:   YA Nonfiction

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BOOK BLURB:

Honor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army.

Since the regiment’s creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.

But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army?

In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez’s thorough writing and the soldiers’ firsthand accounts of the Korean War.

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EXCERPT ONE:

The US public was shocked to discover that during the war, 162 soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment had been court-martialed and ninety-one of those soldiers found guilty of disobeying orders and desertion.

The US military kept the courts-martial quiet. But the soldiers of the 65th sent letters to their families describing what was happening, which led to public outcry and confusion from the press. How could one of the most distinguished regiments of the Korean War, whose soldiers had only months before been praised by General Douglas MacArthur for their “brilliant record of heroism,” become involved in the largest mass court-martial of the Korean War?

Did the Borinqueneers lose their bravery and heroism in such a short time? Or were they victims of discrimination in a prejudiced and segregated system? Were they betrayed by the country they risked their lives for?

This is the story of one of the bravest and most decorated regiments in the history of the US military. It is a forgotten story in a forgotten war. But it is a story of patriotism, loyalty, and bravery in the face of danger and discrimination, and it is one that deserves to be told.

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GUEST POST:

My Favorite Scene in Men of the 65^th:

My very favorite scene from the book is the opening scene. The Men of the 65th had been in the Korean War for about seven months at this point. They were ordered to take a hill in South Korea that the North Koreans and the Chinese occupied.

The Chinese army was tough. They would not easily give up a hill.

A soldier, Modesto Cartagena, came to the hill determined. While engaging with the enemy, a shot took out his machine gun. But, he had an idea.

He charged the mountain. Intense gunfire was aimed at and around him. Grenades exploded around him but he kept running. He lobbed one of his grenades at one of the enemy’s emplacement’s and BOOM! He took it out along with enemy soldiers.

He looked back and saw that most of his platoon was behind him. He told them to take cover and he continued to charge the hill.

The enemy was still firing at him. Dirt and earth raining down around him. So, he started to catch enemy grenades thrown at him and quickly throw them back at the Chinese and North Koreans. He took out another one of their emplacements with enemy soldiers.

He did not have time to catch his breath before one of the enemy grenades knocked him to the ground. He dusted himself off and continued to charge the hill.

Using grenades thrown at him he would continue to catch them and throw them back at the enemy destroying their emplacements and enemy soldiers. He destroyed five emplacements and killing over 40 enemy soldiers before the enemy targeted him. The enemy grenades would knock him down but he continued to get up and throw grenades back at them.

Eventually, he was hit. He lost a lot of blood but his platoon rescued him from that hill. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military award. Some believe that he should have received the Medal of Honor, the highest military award.

The book details other stories of heroism like Modesto Cartagena who I affectionately refer to as a real life G.I. Joe.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Talia Aikens-Nuñez is passionate about sharing with young readers the little known stories, accomplishments, and contributions of people of color from all throughout history. Aikens-Nuñez is the author of Small Nap, Little Dream, a bilingual Spanish/English picture book. She and her husband live in Connecticut with their two children.

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CONNECT WITH TALIA:

Website:

http://www.kidslitbytalia.com

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/taliaaikensnunezchildrenswriter

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/talia_n

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6581341.Talia_Aikens_Nunez

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68755838-men-of-the-65th

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/4044FE2

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PRE-ORDER BOOK BUY LINKS & INFO:

**Men of the 65^th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War is currently available for Pre-order and will be released on May 2^nd, 2023**

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/42tBYBP

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3FGNW1s

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Men-65th-Borinqueneers-Korean-War-ebook/dp/B0BNT3ZRZQ

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Men-65th-Borinqueneers-Korean-War/dp/1728479142

Lerner Books Paperback:

https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/22654

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Talia will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Hacienda Moon: A Pathseekers Novel by KaSonndra Leigh - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host KaSonndra Leigh and her new book, “Hacienda Moon,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $20 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with KaSonndra and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Hacienda Moon

Path Seekers Book Series

Book One

by KaSonndra Leigh

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GENRE:   Paranormal Gothic Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

Tandie Harrison is a police medium struggling to pick up the pieces of her life after a devastating divorce that left her without her precious daughter and her psychic visions. With a heavy heart, she escapes the hustle and bustle of New York City and moves into the alluring plantation house, Chelby Rose. Here, she meets Eric, the home’s charismatic caretaker. Despite the ghostly warnings, Tandie finds herself drawn to him, and as their affair intensifies, so does the centuries-old curse haunting them both.

Suddenly, Tandie finds herself at the center of a dark and dangerous web full of deceit and intrigue. As fear begins to consume her, she must find the courage to face the demons of her past if she is to have any chance at a future. Hacienda Moon is a captivating story full of suspense and romance that will ensnare you from start to finish.

**********

Note to Readers & Book Clubs:

This is the expanded and revamped edition of the Hacienda Moon that was originally published in 2012. Please be sure to add this version to your to-read list as this edition contains more gothic suspense, intrigue, and of course romance.

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EXCERPT ONE:

The results of Eric’s handyman skills were beautiful. The final perk was the light rose-colored exterior paint, a shade considered original to the house. Eric didn’t say a word about my upgraded paintbrushes. He was too busy making sure I didn’t catch him watching me as I bent over to paint the lowest boards on the house. However, I turned around at the perfect moment on paint day and caught him staring. His face flushed so badly, I couldn’t resist doing something to celebrate my small victory.

“Wow, it’s so hot out here today.” I stretched my arms, lifting my tee-shirt up until my belly button was exposed, basking in the warmth of the late summer sun. Eric’s mouth fell open. Success! That move totally stole Mr. Intense's attention. Tucking my lips, I made a move toward an even more creative tease, bending over to pick up one of the three paint brushes I’d dropped.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“What does it look like? I dropped my paintbrushes.” I shrugged and waved the brush between us. “Did I not use the proper technique for bending over and picking it up?”

He gave me a dimpled grin and moved closer to where I stood beside the house. Glancing down at the brushes beside my feet, he said, “They do look somewhat dirty. You sure you can handle that task? You strike me as somewhat of a nice girl. With that much paint and dirt all in the heads, you have to get a little rough with cleaning them.” His gaze bore into mine, smoldering me under a hazel brown sugary-colored look this time.

I held his gaze. “Oh, believe me. I have plenty of ways to clean dirty things.”

There was about a foot of space between us now. “Is that right?”

“Oh yeah,” I answered, hoping that the pulse line on my neck didn’t show the way my heart thumped inside my chest.

His gaze drifted from my eyes down to my lips and finally ended at my left shoulder. “Then why don’t you start by cleaning that big red spider off your shoulder?” An amused smile spread across his lips, but a scream shrilled out of mine.

Eric slammed his hands over his ears. “Damn it, Tandie.”

Adrenaline spiked through me. He might as well have said my breasts were hanging out. He would’ve gotten less of a response than he did with the spider statement. “Get it off me! Do you see it? Is it still there? Get it!” I shrieked, jumping around and spinning in half circles.

“I won’t help you until you stop trying to burst my eardrums,” he said, still half-way smiling. He came over and put his arms around me, pulling me into his embrace. “Calm down, Tandie. It’s gone, all right?”

Vowing to never tease Eric ever again, I waited for my breathing to normalize and for my trembling limbs to steady as I was pressed against Eric’s chest.

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GUEST POST:

Write a guest post about world building in HMoon. What media outlets, role-models, and real-life inspirations did you draw from while writing this book?

As an author of gothic paranormal romance like my novel, Hacienda Moon, I believe that world building is one of the most important elements of any story. The fictional worlds we conjure up as writers serve as the backdrop for our characters' adventures, emotions, and relationships, and can often make or break a story's success.

When writing Hacienda Moon, I drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including media outlets, historical archives from North Carolina's ghostly history, and real-life experiences. In terms of media, I'm a big fan of classic horror films like the Universal Monsters series, which I found to be a great resource for creating the eerie and atmospheric tone of the story. I also drew inspiration from more contemporary works, such as Guillermo del Toro's films and Neil Gaiman's novels, both of whom are brilliant at blending the supernatural with powerful themes of love, loss, and resilience.

Outside of media, I also found inspiration in the people around me. As the daughter of multi-cultural family that includes the Cherokee band of Native Americans, I grew up experiencing the unique culture and traditions of my heritage, which I wanted to incorporate into the story in a respectful and authentic way. Additionally, my own experiences with loss, grief, and hope served as a foundation for the emotional resonance of the story, and helped me tap into the raw emotions that my characters experience throughout the novel.

In terms of role-models, I have always admired writers who are unafraid to tackle difficult themes and explore deep emotions in their work. Authors like Anne Rice, who have an incredible ability to merge the supernatural with poignant human emotions, were a major influence on my writing style and my approach to world building.

Overall, I believe that world building is about creating a fictional universe that feels both immersive and authentic to readers. If you can draw from a range of sources, including media, real-life experiences, and role-models, to craft a world that is vivid, complex, and emotionally resonant, then you can truly transport your readers to another place and time. Hacienda Moon is a testament to this philosophy, and I hope that readers will find themselves drawn into the rich, mysterious, and haunting world that I have created.

Thank you so much for hosting me at your wonderful blog today!

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AUTHOR BIO:

Meet your word sculptress...

Author of the #1 Amazon International bestselling novels, the Prelude and the Lost Immortals Saga, KaSonndra is also a mother, designer, reader, gardener, home renovator, and a slayer of undead Egyptian mummies in Tomb Raider. She believes in karma, coffee, and seriously wishes that the producers of Xena would bring her favorite show back.

KaSonndra was born in the race-car city of Charlotte, NC, and now lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, NC, when she's not hanging out in Bardonia (Lost Immortals Saga setting). Most of her characters are based on people that she has met throughout her travels and adventures.

People tend to stop and start conversations with KaSonndra as if she has known them her entire life. Does this freak her out? Not really. Her mom says that one day she’ll get kidnapped by one of these folks. KaSonndra's response? She told her mom that if it weren’t for these lovely people, then she wouldn’t be able to create such fabulously romantic stories!

Visit KaSonndra's at one of her online homes – at the links below!

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CONNECT WITH KaSONNDRA:

Main Author Webpage:

https://kasonndraleigh.com

Online Blogazine:

http://livewellbefabulous.com

Facebook Fan Page:

http://facebook.com/kasonndraleighbookspage

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/kasonndraleigh

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/kasonndraleighbooks

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5137209.KaSonndra_Leigh

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63883756-hacienda-moon-expanded-edition

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/404HJ7F

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3FDJJLK

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3JU94DH

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Hacienda-Moon-Seekers-KaSonndra-Leigh-ebook/dp/B0BW9V56KS

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Hacienda-Moon-Path-Seekers-1/dp/0615668232

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

KaSonndra will be awarding a $20 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Luke Blackmon's Rose by Mary Patterson Thornburg - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Mary Patterson Thornburg and her new book, “Luke Blackmon's Rose,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Mary and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Luke Blackmon's Rose

by Mary Patterson Thornburg

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GENRE:   Adult Romance (w/Science-Fantasy)

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BOOK BLURB:

To guard herself from the perils of her own sensuality, Rose married a man she didn’t love. Now, two years after his death, she’s not sure she can really love anyone. She’s not even sure she cares…

To achieve what he’d always known was his birthright, Luke had to struggle against tremendous odds. But when science discovered a way to access the past, a powerful bureaucracy found a way to use Luke. Now, torn from his own time, everything and everyone he knew, he can see no reason to go on living…

An instant of attraction, uninvited but inescapable, brings Luke and Rose together. Together, they discover the strength to love, the will to trust and hope. But will these things be enough to carry them over walls of suspicion, guilt, bigotry, and hate?

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EXCERPT ONE:

And then the air in the room changed. There was a tingling, a sort of buzzing not quite within the range of human hearing. She thought, briefly, of what she'd read somewhere about the feeling people get in a thunderstorm when they're about to be struck by lightning. She wasn't sure anyone felt it but herself. Mira, who'd gotten up to look in the refrigerator for something, was apparently undisturbed. But then she saw Kingsley's expression change as he glanced past her toward the living room portion of the greatroom, and she heard—or perhaps felt—soft footsteps behind her. She spun around.

Where the living room carpet ended, maybe three yards from where she sat, stood a very tall, very dark, broad-shouldered man. He was barefoot, dressed in black sweats. She saw him clearly for a fraction of a second before the lightning bolt she'd felt coming struck. In that fraction of a second, she realized why Mira had looked familiar to her. And realized, too, what had been going on with Kingsley since the turn their discussion had taken that evening—if not before. In that fraction of a second, she knew who she was looking at.

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GUEST POST:

My Favorite Scene in This Book…

From start to finish, I absolutely loved writing this book – loved it more, I think, than anything else I’ve ever written. So it’s hard to pick out just one scene that’s my favorite. But there are two, closely related to each other, that still amaze me. Let me tell you about one of them.

The scene takes place when the point-of-view character, a widowed college teacher in her early thirties, takes one of her students home after the last evening class of the semester. Kingsley is a non-traditional student a few years younger than Lyn (who will change her first name back to Rose a couple of chapters later). He’s grabbed a ride home because his car wouldn’t start, and he invites her up to his apartment for a drink and to meet his wife, Mira.

Lyn is reluctant to accept. Thinking about her own marriage, she suspects that Mira might be less than happy to have her husband bring home a young woman, unannounced, that he’s obviously talked about in glowing terms. In Kingsley’s class assignments, essays sometimes involving personal experiences, he’s often mentioned his wife, and Lyn has formed a mental picture. In her mind, she sees Mira as someone she wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of. But Kingsley insists, and Lyn decides it’s probably better to go along than to sit in front of the house with the engine running, arguing.

“Okay, you win,” she said, and turned off the engine. “I’d love a drink – just the one, of course. And I’d love to meet Mira.”

“It’s around here,” he said, and led her to the side entrance. When he’d unlocked and opened the door, he motioned for her to step around him.

“No, you go up ahead of me,” she said, loudly enough, she hoped, to warn Mira that another woman was about to invade her space. And this way he’d be in the line of fire.

“Honey?” he called. “I’ve brought my beautiful lady friend home with me. Don’t shoot!” Lyn laughed. Either everything was fine or she was as good as dead. The upstairs door came open and a tall, broad figure temporarily blocked out the light...

For some reason, Lyn had pictured Kingsley’s wife as a petite, size-two beauty, a shapely bundle of energy with a resting side-eye face, the kind of woman you knew, unless you were a fool, that you did not want to mess with. Instead, Mira Harris was at least six feet tall and, Lyn thought, would probably weigh in at close to two-hundred pounds if not a couple more. The extra weight appeared to be largely solid muscle, and clearly only a suicidal fool would fail to treat her with respect...

One reason I especially love this scene is that I – like Lyn – had expected Mira to be that size-two beauty, an extremely competent, on-her-toes woman who can be sweet as honey when she wants to be or poisonous as a viper when circumstances dictate. I had no idea, until that door opened, that she’d be the person she turned out to be. She sprang full-grown out of my imagination and surprised me completely.

The second reason I love the scene is that it changed another scene near the end of the book very much for the better. I’d already planned that second scene, a confrontation between Lyn (now known as Rose) and Kingsley’s wife. I hadn’t written it, so it was still hazy in my mind, but I knew it was going to happen, and I knew Mira was going to go into it with no holds barred, telling Rose some home truths she needed to hear.

However, there was a problem with that scene, even in its early and hazy state: I wanted Mira and Rose to be friends, and to stay friends afterward. But I knew that Mira (the possibly poisonous, fiercely cat-like woman I’d first pictured) was going to be sharp and on target, and I wasn’t sure I could reconcile them realistically after that.

But when Mira appeared at the top of the stairs in that earlier scene, my problem disappeared at the same moment. Her character changed – not much, but just enough – along with the change in her physical appearance. I liked the new Mira better. And I’m still wondering where she came from!

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AUTHOR BIO:

Mary Patterson Thornburg has lived in California, Washington State, Montana, Indiana, and again, finally, in Montana. She was educated at Holy Names College, Montana State University, and Ball State University, where she then taught for many years. She's been reading science fiction and fantasy since she was five, and when she began to write fiction it seemed only natural to write in those genres. Her literary heroes are Mary Shelley, who gave us all a metaphor for technology alienated from its creators, and Ursula K. Le Guin and Octavia E. Butler, inventors of worlds that shine their powerful searchlights on this one. She writes what some people call “science fantasy” (aka “fake science fiction) within as wide a range as possible, but almost always with a bit (or a lot) of romance.

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CONNECT WITH MARY:

Website:

https://www.marypattersonthornburg.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Patterson-Thornburg-Author/751054628247208

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/mary-patterson-thornburg/47/967/480

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13236.Mary_Patterson_Thornburg

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123277155-luke-blackmon-s-rose

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/401XUCD

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3LA2mUR

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3JUB3TT

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Luke-Blackmons-Rose-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B0BTK2X5NL

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Luke-Blackmons-Rose-Patterson-Thornburg/dp/B0BYR5GFMH

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/luke-blackmons-rose-mary-patterson-thornburg/1143003539?ean=2940186618294

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/luke-blackmons-rose-mary-patterson-thornburg/1143003539?ean=9798372982307

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Mary will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Vindictive Too by Ryan Lawrence - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Ryan Lawrence and his new book, “Vindictive Too,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on his Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Ryan and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Vindictive Too

by Ryan Lawrence

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GENRE:  Thriller / LGBT

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BOOK BLURB:

The best revenge never includes forgiveness. To truly punish the guilty, something worse must be done to them.

A chain of vengeful events is set in motion when a man's brutally murdered body is found in an alley behind a seedy bar. Inspector Declan James is put on the victim's case, only to discover his intimate connection to the slain man. After a not-by-chance meeting with the mysterious Véronique, a woman on a mission to right a terrible wrong, Declan finds himself mired in an intricate web of corruption, lies, and coverups.

Marie and Jacques Bergé, the owners of the internationally renowned Château Bergé, act publically as the pinnacle of society and wealth, but behind closed doors, their lives are in turmoil. From Marie's erratic behaviour and bizarre disappearances to Jacques's not-so-secret love for another woman, Fairporte's "it" couple teeters on the edge of destruction.

In the shadows, a bearded man, powerful and dark of heart, secretly orchestrates his machiavellian manoeuvres from a place of sadism and despair.

From the bustling core to the rustic outskirts of Fairporte, ON, secrets, suffering, and rage are found everywhere. As the cruel desire pain, the wronged seek retribution, and the fragile break, will anyone get their revenge before death or madness claim them?

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EXCERPT ONE:

The alley was off Vanier Avenue in a less-than-savoury section of Fairporte continuously ignored by developers, including the Bergé family and Cartell Worldwide. Plans for gentrification had yet to be proposed by city officials. Declan was familiar with the area, having frequented several of its local watering holes.

This part of the city was home to many of Fairporte’s undesirables and unwanted. The seedy bars, the strip clubs, and most non-white collar criminals thrived here.

Declan was looking for anything he might have missed. He had a feeling, a hunch that something small but pivotal during the initial lookover had remained unnoticed. He had to find that obscure piece of evidence. Declan made it his mission, his responsibility.

He recalled the male victim’s clothes were nothing but tatters of fabric: slashed, ripped, and bloody. They held no discernible shape or style to offer aid in identifying the poor bugger. Even the tags and labels had been removed.

Severely beaten, the body had been robbed of all identification and personal belongings. All digits had had their pads burnt off. Declan thought that was excessive, but it could suggest a professional hit. Worst of all, the victim had been shot in the face and skull several times.

His detective prowess exhausted, Declan considered the body currently unidentifiable. He had faith that Forensics would eventually discover its identity.

It? Declan quickly corrected himself. Him! While a lack of respect for a victim’s corpse had infected many of his colleagues, Declan refused to give in to that dehumanization. He fought to stay compassionate, and sometimes he failed, but he refused to stop trying.

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GUEST POST:

Describe Your Book Covers and How They Came About

Thankfully, I was fully involved in the creation of my novels' covers, and yes, I had a plan from the get-go. The concept and design for Vindictive and Vindictive Too, to suggest a theme of revenge through starkness and specific, impactful imagery, was a relatively straightforward process. Both books have the same basic colour scheme of light to dark gray, virtually black. With each novel, I've chosen a weapon that plays a defining role in specific characters' storylines, placing it prominently on its respective cover. Each lethal object features strategically placed vibrant colouring to help it stand out amid the gray tones' chilling bleakness.

A deadly karambit is featured on the front cover of Vindictive. The weapon is black with highlights, and exquisite detail was put into the blade and handle. A deep, dark red blood residue stains the sharp metal. In contrast, the handle of the vintage straight razor with a folding edge featured on Vindictive Too's cover is orange-red, adhering to the authenticity of the 50s shaver that inspired it; its wood grain detail is aesthetically striking. This time, however, the blood accent is a more brilliant hue. With Vindictive Too's weapon, I wanted to differentiate its look from the first novel by having the blood drip down the blade's metal and appear viscous yet fluid. The blood ends its trickling journey by forming the dot on the last "i" in the title word, creating a more stylized look for this book's cover.

Shadowplay was also vital, especially when utilizing grey tones as my main colour scheme. The shadowing I insisted on for both novels, with each blade, had to be visually compelling to draw the reader in. While the karambit's shadow is more profound than the vintage shaver's, the appropriate shading was used to illustrate each unique weapon's thickness and shape, giving both notable visual dimensions.

Finally, the part I'm most proud of is the imagery that lines the bottom of each cover. The illustrations represent the three central backdrops in my Vindictive Series: the Château Bergé, the Cartell Worldwide Tower, within the downtown core of the fictional city of Fairporte, Ontario, and the Morrison Farmstead. Vindictive's front cover features the Château Bergé directly in the centre, while the back cover situates the Cityscape and the Cartell Worldwide Tower. As we move to the second novel, Vindictive Too, all the images from the first book have been placed on the back while the Morrison Farmstead takes centre stage on the front. For both books, lush vegetation and forest connect the locations, creating a seamless panorama. All these images are done in dark grey with highlights when necessary to add dimension and depth, like windows, doors, rooftops, and such.

In all, and including each novel's unique but connected revenge-themed quote on their individual back cover, I feel I've created an engaging "literary handshake," much more than suggesting the notion of "bookends."

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AUTHOR BIO:

Ryan Lawrence was born and raised in Guelph, ON, and he is a graduate of the University of Guelph in English Literature. Ryan lives in London, ON, with his husband, Todd, their cat Dora, and his massive comic book collection that once fell on Todd. He's okay.

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CONNECT WITH RYAN:

Website:

https://www.ryanlawrenceauthor.ca

Email:

ryanlawrenceauthor@gmail.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/RyanLawrenceAuthor

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RyanLAuthor

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ryanlawrenceauthor

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22020369.Ryan_Lawrence

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/67041324-vindictive-too

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3EawBvH

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3YJL1M8

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/4283GnE

Amazon US Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/3ZN7UPS

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Vindictive-Too-Ryan-Lawrence-ebook/dp/B0BPYGP6W1

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Vindictive-Too-Ryan-Lawrence/dp/0228886252

Amazon CA Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.ca/Vindictive-Too-Ryan-Lawrence/dp/0228886260

Apple Books eBook:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/vindictive-too/id6445148212

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vindictive-too-ryan-lawrence/1142848357?ean=2940165985409

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vindictive-too-ryan-lawrence/1142848357?ean=9780228886259

Barnes and Noble Hardcover:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vindictive-too-ryan-lawrence/1142848357?ean=9780228886266

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/vindictive-too

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/vindictive-too

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Ryan will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.