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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Christina M Bauer will be awarding cute enamel book pins to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
***Special Anniversary Edition With Bonus Story: Walker’s Love Connection***
Eighteen-year-old Myla Lewis is a girl who loves two things: kicking ass and kicking ass. She’s not your every day quasi-demon, part-demon and part-human, girl.
For the past five years, Myla has lived for the days she gets to fight in Purgatory’s arena. When souls want a trial by combat for their right to enter Heaven or Hell, they go up against her, and she hasn’t lost a battle yet. But as she starts her senior year at Purgatory High, the arena fights aren’t enough to keep her spirits up anymore. When the demons start to act weird, even for demons, and the King of the Demons, Armageddon, shows up at Myla’s school, she knows that things are changing and it’s not looking good for the quasi-demons.
Myla starts to question everything, and doesn’t like the answers she finds.
What happened seventeen years ago that turned the quasi-demons into slave labor? Why was her mom always so sad? And why won’t anyone tell her who her father is? Things heat up when Myla meets Lincoln, the High Prince of the Thrax, a super sexy part-human and part-angel demon hunter. But what’s a quasi-demon girl to do when she falls for a demon hunter? It’s a good thing that Myla’s not afraid of breaking a few rules. With a love worth fighting for, Myla’s going to shake up Purgatory.
1. Angelbound
2. Scala
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. The Dark Lands
6. The Brutal Time
7. Armageddon
EXCERPT ONE:
It’s been one month, three days, and six hours since I last ‘got my gladiator on’ and battled in the Arena. Not that I’m obsessing or anything. Sure, I can sneak in and watch someone else fight, but that’s a snore.
I roll over on my dingy bed, scooch under the drab covers, and watch the gray drizzle outside my window. Mondays are the pits.
Mom’s voice echoes into my bedroom. “Time to get up! You don’t want to be late for school, do you, honey?”
I roll my eyes. Of course, I want to be late for school.
Raising my head, I open my mouth to say just that, and then decide against it. Instead, I bite my lower lip, yank the pillow over my head and groan. Loudly.
“Don’t make noises at me, young lady.” Mom rustles papers in the kitchen. “I’ve a letter right here. You’re on something called the Official Watch List for Unreasonable Tardiness.” Her footsteps echo down the hall and pause outside my room. “You’ll be suspended from high school at this rate. What do you think about that?”
I peep out from under my pillow. Mom looms in my doorway, her fist set on her hip. She’s a quasi-demon like me, so she resembles a lovely human with a curvy figure, amber skin, chocolate-brown eyes, and chestnut hair that falls in waves over her shoulders. All quasis have a tail; Mom and I both sport the long and pointed variety. The big differences between us are laugh lines, some grey hair and our opinion of what’s ‘dangerous’ for eighteen-year olds.
I fluff the pillow and slide it under my noggin. Being suspended means no school. Maybe even catching a few Arena matches on the sly. I wag my eyebrows. “And suspension would be bad because?”
“I’d make it that way.”
Ugh. She would, too.
AUTHOR BIO:
Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter.
**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.
Hello, lovelies!! It
gives me great pleasure today to host Gayle Feyrer and her new book, “Heart
of Deception,” 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 Gayle and to increase your chances
of winning!!
Thanks for stopping
by!! Wishing you all lots of good luck
in this fabulous giveaway!!
Heart of Deception
by Gayle Feyrer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Historical Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK BLURB:
Intrigue
and treachery stalk the grimy streets and the royal courts of Elizabethan
England. Returning from war, Rafe Fletcher finds his family accused of
conspiring to murder Elizabeth and place Mary, Queen of Scots, on her throne.
His only hope to save them lies in infiltrating the criminal underworld of
nefarious siblings Nick and Vivian Swift.
Rafe
discovers it’s Viv who is the mastermind of the duo. Bold, clever and ruthless,
Viv is also loyal and fiercely passionate. Rafe fights the intense magnetism that
pulls him ever closer to destruction. But desire defies every warning he gives
himself and they begin a blazing affair--until murder and betrayal severs their
newly formed trust. Restoring that trust may be the only way Rafe can save the
Queen, his own family, and the woman he’s come to love.
Their
adventure takes them from the fledgling theatres of Shakespeare’s London to the
desperate corridors of Bedlam, from the deadly backstreets of the Clink to the
glittering court of Queen Elizabeth. It is a world of dark secrets and darker
intrigues. Will the fire of their passion burn bright enough to incinerate the
lies, and illuminate the truth?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK TRAILER:
Check out Gayle’s Book Trailer for “Heart of Deception,” here:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT ONE:
Prickling
with the awareness of being watched, Rafe looked up to the house, his search
stopping at a shadowy form behind the great bow window. He stared up at the
window until the shadow moved forward. Circular panes sparkled in the sun as
the central casements opened to reveal a woman watching. Dark and slender, she
looked clothed in flame, her velvet gown a blaze of scarlet slashed with black.
A shock went through Rafe as her glittering gaze met his own, then slowly
browsed him from head to toe.
Used
to seductive appraisal, flirtatious or serious, still he flushed at the
flagrant assessment, and the heat that flashed through him seemed to ignite in
her eyes, bright within their dark. Rafe had never seen a lady with so bold a
glance, which mocked as it weighed, invited as it challenged. But no lady would
be here among these criminals, though the woman gazing down at him knew how to
dress the part. Rubies burned at her throat, and ropes of sparkling jet draped
her vivid scarlet bodice. The distinctive garb, the total presumptuousness of
the woman, made him tense with suspicion. Slowly, her gaze swept his body,
scanning the breadth of his shoulders and assessing the strong muscles of his
thighs. … The black eyes sought his again, and he stared back defiantly, icy
anger running in cold currents against his hot arousal. Rafe felt more than
provoked—he felt deliberately tested to see how long he could stand in the
fire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GUEST POST:
Writing Fierce Female Lead Characters:
When
I was growing up there weren’t the strong women characters that have become
more common. There were women in many professions, but it was still the
exception other than teachers and nurses. There were few kickass heroines. I do
remember reading Sheena, Queen of the Jungle
comic, but that’s about it.
In
what was on offer, the bad girls were usually a lot more interesting than the
good girls. I was always enthralled by glamour, so I had to wonder why you’d go
for June Allison in gingham with a Peter Pan collar when you could have Marlene
Dietrich in slinky black satin or Lana Turner in pearl bra like her seductress
in The Prodigal. I did like Doris
Day, but it was because she got to be kickass in Calamity
Jane, my favorite movie at eleven.
The
first really tough female lead I remember was Emma Peel in the 60s, sleek in
black leather. Later there was Angie Dickenson in Police Woman—but the men were always saving her. Things
really began to change with Scully, and with the fabulous reinvention of Sarah
Connor in Terminator II.
Check out this 27th Anniversary of “The X Files”
– Watching Dr. Dana Scully Facebook Post here:
I’d
grown up addicted to bromance, because the male buddies seemed to have an equal
relationship that wasn’t there with the stand by (behind) your man women
characters. They went on adventures together. They also seemed to love each
other more than anybody else. I did write women characters in my early short
stories and my first obscure novel, but my writing took off writing m/m
fanfiction for Star Trek, Blakes’ 7 and Wiseguy.
The only hetero couple with as much oomph was Michael and Nikita, from La Femme Nikita. Kickass heroines were common
by then—but Peta Wilson was an athlete and very believable in action scenes as
well as being gorgeous. The lead actors were cast in my Paris mysteries.
Check out the author's fanvids for “La
Femme Nikita” here:
But
as fun as fanfic was, I wanted to try and be a “real writer” (some of my best
ever writing is fanfic). I was told romance was the easiest market. I loved
history. I wrote hot sex scenes, so I decided to give romance a shot. But I
wanted my women to have complex relationships. I wanted, if the hero rescued
the woman then, as Julia Roberts says in Pretty
Woman “she rescues him right back.”
Check out this movie scene from “Pretty Women” here:
Most
of my heroines have or gain athletic and self-defense skill—but not all strong
heroines need be action heroines. All my heroines are given tests of courage
that they pass, often with difficulty. They all grow, either by becoming
emotionally stronger (Claire in Heart of
Night) or by allowing themselves to become vulnerable (Marian).
All have flaws, even
Veronica from The Prince of Cups
and Theo from my Paris mysteries
who are also wish fulfillment characters (I’d like to be that brave and
forthright – and that talented). They both tend to be reckless, though I do
listen to the voice going “Don’t be stupid.” They do try to weigh the
consequences before plunging ahead. Marian is shut down emotionally. Both Marian
and Viv are calculating. Vivian has a fierce temper, she’s manipulative, she
likes power but more for the safety it’s given her than the control she has
over others. They all gain, in wisdom, in independence, in their capacity for
love. Both characters in a romance need to grow—both characters must change, a
little or a lot, become worthy of each other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR BIO:
Gayle Feyrer began drawing as soon as she
could hold a crayon and writing when she was twelve. She holds a Bachelor's in
Pictorial Arts from UCLA, and a MFA from the University of Oregon in Creative
Writing. In her varied career, she has been a tie dye artist, go-go dancer,
baker, creator of ceramic beasties, illustrator, fiction teacher, and finally,
novelist. A Libra with Scorpio Rising, Gayle’s romantic nature takes on a
darker edge. She hopes these shadows
bring depth to her romances.
A
world traveler, Gayle has visited Paris, England and Italy numerous times. She lived for two years in Jakarta,
Indonesia, with many trips around Asia. She currently resides across the bridge
from San Francisco, with her husband and their two rescue cats, Charlotte and
Emily, the Flying Bronte sisters, half Siamese and half tabby.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONNECT WITH GAYLE:
Tygerbright Press – Novels of Romance and Mystery:
**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.
Hey, lovelies!! It gives
me great pleasure today to host January Bain and her exciting new book, “Soul
of Iron: Sin City Kilts,” 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 $30
PayPal Cash!!! Also, come back daily to
interact with January and to increase your chances of winning!!
Thanks for stopping
by!! Wishing you all lots of good luck in
this fabulous giveaway!!
Soul of Iron
Sin City Kilts Book Series
Book Two
by January Bain
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Paranormal
Romance, Billionaire Werewolf
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK BLURB:
Book two in the Sin City Kilts Series
Can two wild souls survive the storm?
Mira,
a zoologist and secret cryptozoologist at Vegas Zoo, has observed an unusual
wolf prowling the confines of the zoo and her own property. But her dream of
discovering a new species and documenting her find brings her up against Vegas’
werewolf community when rumors of her discovery of this dangerous hybrid
threaten to expose them.
Calan
Creig, a Highland Heathen Wulver Enforcer and head of Worldwide Security for
Lycans, is summoned to Vegas to investigate. Although Mira’s eager to study
this Tasmanian wolf lookalike, thought extinct for almost a hundred years,
Calan is convinced he’ll be able to distract her and put obstacles in her path
to prevent the discovery from being widespread. A playboy, he enjoys women and
looks forward to seeing what Vegas can offer him—only, what it brings him is
Mira, his mate!
But
the hybrid wolf craves Mira to strengthen his own bloodline and will stop at
nothing to have her. Now Mira and Calan must work together to eliminate the
threat of this renegade wolf…if they can find their way past their deep
mistrust issues. It seems impossible, but with Mira’s life and all that Calan
holds dear at stake, it’s the only hope left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT TWO:
Mira
After
throwing the fresh meat into the fenced compound, I plunked the bucket down on
the cement. Though my job as the newest hire as a zoologist at the Vegas Zoo
called for more administration duties than feeding ones, I liked to get out and
stay in touch with the animals at least once a week To see if their habitat
needed improving the old-fashioned way by observing them.
It
was important to stay in touch with all aspects of running a zoo, not just fund
raising, budgeting and public relations. My cell phone rang as the big cats
began to prowl across the ground, headed for the chunks of food I’d tossed.
They looked magnificent in the dying light, all sinew and tawny fur, casting
long shadows. Animals I understood and respected, their nature controlled by
instinct. No crime in that. But people—don’t even get me started.
I
didn’t recognize the number when I tugged my phone out of my shorts and hoped
it wasn’t another one of those calls, demanding repayment of my brother Evan’s
drug debts. I didn’t have any more spare cash this month than last. And no way
to contact him since he’d done a vanishing act a month ago, just like our
father did before he was born.
My
mother, who’d died last year and Deadbeat, the name I’d given to the guy I
unfortunately shared DNA with, hadn’t even bothered to make it legal. I missed
my mom terribly, but it was my brother I worried about, angry as I was at him
for drop-kicking me under the bus…notwithstanding his note to say he would be
back when the heat died down.
Funny,
but drug dealers, much like loan sharks and other nefarious characters, don’t
take no for an answer. The thought of more taint being added to our family name
made me even more determined to make a name for myself. The dream of being
listed in the hallowed halls of scientific discovery loomed large in my mind,
pulled a little closer due to recent developments. No, make those incredible
recent developments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR BIO:
January Bainhas wished
on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown
in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure,
mysteries, and full-blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story
you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting
itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual
and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women
who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen
turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only
hope her stories will capture your imagination.
If
you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning
without fail in her office with her furry baby, Ling Ling. And, of course,
she’s married to the most romantic man! Who once famously remarked to her
inquiry about buying fresh flowers for their home every week, “Give me one good
reason why not?” Leaving her speechless and knocking her head against the
proverbial wall for being so darn foolish. She loves flowers.
If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found
on Facebook. Oh, and she loves to talk books…
**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.
Hi, lovelies!! It gives
me great pleasure today to host Jerry Harwood and his new book, “Hold on
Tight,” 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 Jerry and to increase your chances
of winning!!
Thanks for stopping
by!! Wishing you all lots of good luck
in this fabulous giveaway!!
Hold on
Tight
by
Jerry Harwood
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Sweet Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK BLURB:
When
event planner Megan Rouche's boyfriend lands a job in Atlanta, he proposes. But
she chooses to stay in her small Tennessee town to care for her grandmother.
There she kindles a new relationship. However, all is in jeopardy when Frank
returns on behalf of his Atlanta company with big plans to develop a new
factory in Bakewell and marry Megan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT ONE:
As
Megan slammed the driver-side door, she realized only too late the end of her
long, flowing scarf remained inside. She felt her shoulders and neck revolt
against the rest of her body. The color-coded, highlighted, and well-organized
wedding binder did not have the same attachment to the car door as her scarf.
It went forward, scattering over the parking lot. The wedding schedule, names
of family members and important friends, the order for the toasts, and the
marriage certificate took flight.
Megan
reached out in an attempt to pull the folder and the last ten seconds of her life
back in. As she did, gravity won out. She hit her back against the car door and
slumped to the ground. Frantically, she unwrapped the knitted noose from her
neck. As she stood, the wind caught the loose papers. At first, they were
aflutter near her feet. Then the wind, perhaps realizing how it might continue
to torment her, sent a stronger gust.
Megan
eyed the envelope with the marriage certificate. It was tenuously holding its
flight pattern over a puddle. She lurched forward, far from gracefully, toward
the envelope. Her fingers touched the edge before the wind chose to take it a
bit farther down the pea gravel parking lot. The marriage certificate danced
over the neighboring spaces before landing against the sidewalk’s curb. From
there, it caught an upward draft straight into the holly bushes with the
reception song list.
Megan
removed the scarf and moved toward the holly bush. She heard the snap of her
left shoe’s heel. Her reward was a skinned knee and another trip to the gravel
lot. Her new circular-frame eyeglasses decided they would abandon ship and
bounced a few feet away. Megan sat on her bottom, feeling the ground’s moisture
creep up her skirt. She raised her hands before patting the ground around her.
A deluge of tears threatened to explode from her eyes as she strained to keep
them at bay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY BOOK REVIEW:
Wow!! I
absolutely loved this book!! "Hold on Tight," is the perfect
balance of a swept away sweet romance read with a HEA Hallmark movie feel, and with realistic characters and believable story lines!!
This
book, “Hold on Tight,” is a fun, sweet, charming, heartfelt, romantic read
filled with charismatic characters, real-life story lines, and amusing plot
points!!
“Hold
on Tight,” is a quickly captivating read as I found myself unable to put this book
down nor did I want to!! Before I knew
it, I was already on the last chapter, and up way past my bedtime lol.
I really liked main characters Megan and Drew. I instantly connected with Megan as she was
easy to relate to and I felt a kinship with her. Plus, as someone who also left
the big city life to move to a small town to take care of a sick family member,
and as someone just as klutzy (if not more lol!!) I couldn’t help but identify
with her. I think Megan’s character and
story will also click with many readers.
It was not hard to find fault in Frank (Megan’s boyfriend at the beginning
of the book) as his character leaves a sour taste in one’s mouth after just the
first chapter. While I understand
finding someone in a small town can be quite difficult, Frank’s self-centered, self-absorbed,
inconsiderate, narcissistic behavior and attitude leaves a lot to be desired. Drew was quite charming, handsome, considerate,
confident, caring, and thoughtful. I
really liked Megan and Drew as a couple and enjoyed watching their relationship
develop over the course of the book. I
also want to mention Megan’s friends, Vanessa and Kendall. These two supporting characters added depth, humor,
and value to the story.
I loved the deep-rooted inspiring and uplifting themes
around Megan’s tattoo which acted as her talisman, providing her with strength,
comfort, focus, and drive. Megan reveals
that her wrist tattoo is of a compass and her mother’s words, “Hold on Tight,” a
mantra that helps her get through the tough times.
I also really enjoyed the author’s authentic voice
and detailed writing style. Harwood’s
unique ability to thoroughly describe scenes with realistic themes and relatable
characters allows the reader to stay fully immersed in the story.
This book is a fast read, comprised of thirty-six short chapters spanning across 214 eBook pages.
Currently
it seems this book is not part of a book series. Therefore, this book can easily be read as a
standalone.
For
readers that like neat and tidy endings, this book’s HEA is tied up with a bow
and is sure to leave readers completely satisfied.
All
in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend
it!! I think all sweet romance readers –
especially Hallmark HEA movie fans will be sure to like this book too!! So, add it to your TBR List and get to
reading – you won’t be disappointed!!
**Disclaimer: I received a
complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and
unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations**
Did you find this review helpful???
If so, please, please, please mark it as helpful on Amazon here:
Jerry
Harwood
was born in Ooltewah, TN. His mother was an elementary school teacher and he
spent his afternoons reading books in her classroom or the nearby public
library. He currently is a writer, which makes sense based on the fact you are
reading this here. He has experimented with other occupations: camp director,
program director at a counseling center, college professor and middle school
teacher. Jerry has backpacked Europe, taught in a Ukrainian University, worked
in Rwanda after the genocide, is a first responder, sort-of remodeled a VW
Thing, and has a love for Cherry Coke Zero that is only surpassed by his love
for his wife, six children, and grandson. He is chairs the Writer’s Track at
ConNooga, and actively participates in the Chattanooga Writer's Guild where he
previously served as a board member.
**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.
Hey, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Dr. Sarah
Zadek, ND and her new book, “It Takes Two... and a Uterus: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding and Enhancing Your Fertility,” 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 $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Sarah
and to increase your chances of winning!!
Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing
you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!
It Takes Two... and a Uterus
The Ultimate Guide to Understanding and Enhancing Your Fertility
by Dr. Sarah Zadek, ND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Wellness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK BLURB:
An
evidence-based guide to optimizing egg, sperm and uterine health for improving
the odds of a healthy pregnancy (whether naturally or with advanced
reproductive technologies such as IVF), no matter your gender, sexual
orientation, or relationship status. This witty and easy-to-follow guide
addresses key factors in fertility such as your: genetics, gut and vaginal
microbiomes, diet, physical activity, sleep, stress, and exposure to
environmental toxins.
Understand
the science behind fertility, how to troubleshoot "unexplained infertility,"
PCOS, endometriosis, and the challenges with conceiving in your 30s and 40s.
Learn how to track ovulation, when to have sex (or inseminate), and which
supplements may help along the way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT THREE:
CHAPTER 2
MIGHTY MITOCHONDRIA: EGG AND EMBRYO ENERGY PACKS
When
trying to get pregnant, having good quality eggs will enhance your odds. After
all, a good quality egg helps make a good quality embryo. The egg’s DNA makes
up half of the embryo’s genetic material, and if merged with a poorer quality
sperm, a healthy egg has the ability to repair some damaged sperm DNA. The egg
is also responsible for providing the majority of cellular energy to the embryo
for those earliest days of development. Therefore, a good quality egg needs to
have healthy, intact DNA and chromosomes, and enough energy to sustain the
initial stages of embryo growth.
Younger
eggs, such as those ovulated in a person’s twenties, are typically better
quality because our younger cells have greater energy-producing capabilities
and are more efficient at repairing damage. These cellular processes become
less precise and efficient as we age, and the ovaries age much sooner than we’d
like, affecting egg quality as early as our mid-thirties. To the ovaries, these
are the last years before retirement. Egg quality starts to dip between the
ages of thirty-five and thirty-seven, and by thirty-eight, those eggs are
fighting major biological challenges including having less energy, being prone
to more DNA damage, and having problems replicating and repairing DNA.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR BIO:
Dr. Sarah Zadek ND, is a writer and licensed
Naturopathic Doctor in Ontario, with an honours degree in biological sciences
and a Doctor of Naturopathy degree. Sarah currently practices at Conceive
Health at TRIO Fertility in Toronto, an integrative clinical model that
supports collaboration between naturopaths and medical practitioners. When
she's not working or spending time with her husband and daughter, Sarah loves
getting lost in a good book or going for a run with her dog Maple.
Dr. Sarah Zadek, ND 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.
**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.
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