NEW RELEASE – Rebuilding the Empire of Light by M. A. Abraham

Hello and welcome!

I am so happy that a new story released from M. A. Abraham, especially that it is in the Elven Empire. My happy place!

Rebuilding the Empire of Light is book 4 in the ONE EMPIRE series by M. A. Abraham. The series is a spin-off from the Elven Chronicles.

It is time for Endural to meet his Life Mate, this should be easy, right? Not even close.

In a state of total revolt, Eowen has decided she isn’t going to accept the status quo. It doesn’t go well for her. With their daughter out of control, Eol and Earwen send her to Gabriel and Eden for correction.

Eowen is not about to accept the dictates of her grandparents or her four aunts who are the same age as she is, but neither they, nor her grandparents are allowing her to get away with her attitude. What will it take to make her see the error of her ways?

The road to success for Eowen is rocky until she rises to face challenges she cannot resist.

CONGRATS M. A. Abraham!

Buy links: Amazon USAmazon CAAmazon UKKoboB&NiBooksSmashwords

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list

Read the first chapter here

Here is my review:

5 stars

The story takes us all over the Empire to meet new Elves, see newly rediscovered lands and Life Mates finding each other while many beloved characters show up with updates, a sure delight for the Elven Chronicles fans. I laughed at the antics of the young ones, reminisced with the older generation and worried about the new threats the Elves are facing.

Hope you will get the book and read it, you will not regret it.

You have two chances to win the book. There is a party on FB in Mamaw Namid Book Blog group. It is happening today until 10 pm. Hope to see you there and good luck!

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

Sign up to Ms. Abraham’s blog and follow on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date. You can also sign up to my blog and get the news directly in your inbox. 

Until next time read a book or listen to a book, and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

My Chat with Seymour

Hello and welcome!

Read on for my latest adventure, I feel so lucky 😉

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

Lady Eniko?

I hear my name, and look at a middle-aged man standing by the entrance to the apartment complex I live in. I don’t know who he is, but yes, hello. His clothing is different, and there is an otherworldliness about him, but for his age he is some serious eye candy. But you know what they say, never trust a book by its cover.

Yes, I am Eniko, but how do you know me?

A little birdie told me who to look for and what you look like.

Does this ‘little birdie’ have the initials of M.A.?

The man grins, as he responds.

Yes, that would be her.

I assume you are from one of her books.

The hottie bows.

You assume right, I go by two names, Seaman, or Seymour, and I live in the world she created in ‘To Tame a Warrior Princess’.

Interesting, so how did you get to this time?

A friend of yours sent me a capsule, it only carries one, and grants a return trip so I am not lost in time.

I look at this person with suspicion as I ask, Which friend?

I believe his name is Athïan, although I wasn’t supposed to tell you about this.

Seymour admits.

Yes, I am going to have to talk to one friend who has never sent me a capsule. I hear my cell go off. I excuse myself for a moment to check it out. There is a message from M.A.

Bent over backwards to get this man to you so you can interview him. Knock yourself out.

I send back my reply.

Tell Athïan I want to talk to him. I will take care of Seymour.

She had the nerve to respond with a laughing emoji. Wait until I see her again.

Why don’t you come up to my office where we can talk in comfort?

I swear I must have scared years off the man when I took him up the elevator, although when he got over the experience, he seemed interested enough in how it worked. Unfortunately, I don’t know enough about it to explain anything. Although, getting stuck between floors was getting to be an option I was beginning to think about. Love the grey at his temples.

We settled with drinks in hand, I learned he likes scotch… interesting choice considering the time he comes from.

So, what can you tell me about Shemaine’s past?

Not much more than what is in the book. Her father should have been killed years before. I can’t tell you how many times that poor child had to sleep in those rooms in the dungeons. It was the only safe place Allender could think of to hide her when their father was drunk, not that the man drank much. No, he just had it in for the child. When he would catch her doing nothing, he would beat her bloody. No child should live like that, especially not a girl. Men were put on earth to protect the young and innocent. We are given daughters to nurture, not abuse. What I wouldn’t have given to have a daughter like Shemaine. She grew to be a woman a man could be proud of. She will give young Ranolf a run for his money. He’ll never be bored with her at his side.

I read the book. I noticed how much he grew to love her.

Grew to?

Seaman gives a loud snort.

The boy had it bad for her. It might have been only lust in the beginning, but I swear the man could barely walk at times for wanting what she wouldn’t let him have, and he wouldn’t take by force. He had to fight hard to win her hand. He is a good man, one who will appreciate her, and how I trained her for him. She will make a good queen, an excellent mother. No one better try to abuse anything that is hers. If they try, it will cost them their life. That is my Shemaine.

You certainly know how to tease that poor little boy, I chuckled.

He joins me in mirth.

What is an uncle for? He knows what was done with him in mind, and he is grateful. It is the best we can hope for.

How about Ranolf? What type of youth did he have?

He is a handsome man, so you know he had women from all walks of life chasing him. As a prince, he was considered to be a price worth the effort. I knew Shemaine was for him though. It is one of the only reasons I stayed with her as long as I did. She needed me, and he needed me to guide her to become the woman best suited for him.

What about the kiss you shared with her?

Seaman laughs as he responds.

You should have seen the look on Ranolf’s face when he saw that. If a man could have killed for no good reason, that would have been the place and time. He caught on soon enough. Never say my brother raised a fool for a son. I was proud of him, and how he curled her toes with just the one kiss. It was enough to make her want to run, but you know about that.

So now what?

I give them a year, tops, before there is a young lad laying in a crib by their bedside, another, and the lad will have a brother or sister. I will be there to help them raise the future king. It will be an honor.

And for now?

Seaman checks what I assumed was a clock on his wrist, and quickly stands.

It is time for me to leave. Athïan warned me about being late. I don’t want to become lost in time. It was an honor meeting you.

I escort Seaman to the front door at the front of the building, and he walks to a spot in the grass that looked strange. He makes some weird symbol in the air, takes out a huge bouquet of starflowers, presses it into my arms and winks.

Athïan said you would need no explanation. You would know what these are and all that comes with them.

Seaman steps into the empty space and disappears. I guess it was time for him to leave.

In the meantime, I bury my nose in the flowers. Just wait until I see Athïan again. What I won’t tell that man.

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

So what do you think?

As he mentioned, Seymour hails from the newly released, To Tame a Warrior Princess by M. A. Abraham. It is a standalone (for now 😉 ) set in a fantasy world.

Surrounded by a hostile environment, Shemaine has needed to fight for her very existence all of her life. Things are about to change.

Ranolf was only after revenge, not a potential bride. Nor was he about to accept one as a peace offering from a homicidal maniac. Things are not as they first seem, nor are the people who surround his prize who or what he thought.

As secrets unfurl, thoughts change, and so does the playing field. Can either side learn to live with the world that is changing around them? Or will they be forever enemies?

Released February 28, 2023, available everywhere ebooks / print books are sold.

Buy Links : Amazon USAmazon CAAmazon UKKoboiBooksSmashwords

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list. Read the Preface here.

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

My review:

5 stars

A unique fantasy story from one of my fave authors, Ms. Abraham never ceases to amaze me with the new worlds she creates. It is a story of courage and perseverance in face of hardships. Shemaine is a heroine after my own heart, she is kind despite of the treatment she grew up with, courageous despite the daily threat of death. Ranolf found his match in Shemaine for sure. One of my fave characters is Seymour, he is not what he seems at the beginning and it was quite a twist to find out who he actually is. Worth the read for sure.

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

To celebrate the new release, one reader will be selected to receive an ebook copy of To Tame a Warrior Princess. Winner will be selected from the comments, shares of this post will receive extra entries, mention where you shared in your comment. Sexy Mr. Random will pick a winner at 5pm EST on Friday, March 3, 2023. GOOD LUCK!

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

Sign up to Ms. Abraham’s blog and follow on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date. You can also sign up to my blog and get the news directly in your inbox.

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

Until next time, happy reading / listening!

Audiobooks to listen to: Bone Frog Bachelor series

Hello and welcome!

This review post on the Bone Frog Bachelor series by Sharon Hamilton has been in the works for a while now and way past due.

I should know better by now that is best to put down my thoughts while the story is fresh in my mind than be greedy and start the next book because I am curious how the characters will do next, but that is what Ms. Hamilton’s characters do to me. I want to know more and I want it now LOL

But as they say, better late than never, right?

Bone Frog Bachelor Series

This series involves the same couple: former billionaire and Navy SEAL Marco Gambini and his new love, Shannon Marr, as they traverse oceans and play in the dangerous world of assassins and mercenaries while clawing their way back from the brink of destruction, restoring Marco’s powerful fortune earned through his successful shipping, real estate and protection businesses. With each book in this series, Shannon grows into the partner he’s always wanted: someone worthy of his trust as his right-hand woman, as well as the woman who can match him in every way in the bedroom.

I listened to the audiobooks 1, 2 and 3 in the series.

UNLEASHED: Former SEAL’s Mission Begins
Bone Frog Bachelor, Book 1

A fast-paced and surprising sensual adventure that tests the limits of love

Armed with new focus and passion for restoring his rightful place atop his private security, shipping, and consulting empire, former Navy SEAL Marco Gambini takes his new love on a dangerous and romantic pre-honeymoon to the Pink Pasha on a private island owned by the Sultan of Bonin.

At the exotic sultan’s palace, nestled in the lush jungle, pink coral sand beaches, and clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, Shannon and Marco dance with harem wives and battle ruthless pirates, kidnappers, and assassins.

Who can they trust?

Shannon Marr is up to more than just being Marco’s sexual distraction and future bride. She inserts herself into the mission being planned to protect two of the Sultan’s sons as they endeavor to grow their development business in West Africa.

The stakes are high, but the rewards, both physically as well as emotionally, are worth it. Shannon is determined to earn her keep by helping Marco reclaim his own kingdom. She learns to trust her billionaire fiancée as she experiments in the exotic world of the Sultan’s palace, where erotic passion is a way of life. She becomes Marco’s gift, by exposing the strengths of her soft but warrior-strong womanhood.

Find out if they save each other or go down in delicious flames together in this fast-paced and surprising sensual adventure where they test new limits of their love. You won’t want this story to end, and you’ll crave book two.

Together, if they can survive, their partnership could be unstoppable.

Author’s note: The Bone Frog Bachelor series is the continuation of Marco and Shannon’s adventures. Through the continual discovery of passion and courage, this couple begins building the foundation for an unstoppable future. Although each is a stand-alone novel, listeners who are not familiar with the Bone Frog Bachelor series should listen to: Bone Frog Bachelor, Sharon’s contribution to the Bachelor Tower series launched and still ongoing.

My review: 5 stars

I didn’t listen to the prequel, I will have to remedy that soon as there were times that I would have understood a situation or conversation better if I had.

Marco and Shannon’s chemistry is hot, shown in steamy scenes along the way, as they deal with their past history, working on strengthening their relationship. The book also has the usual suspense the author is known for, the quick-thinking action of Marco’s team saves the day. Loved the peek into the way of life in the palace of the Sultan of Bonin.

It ended with a promise of continuation and I am looking forward to the next instalment.

I enjoyed listening to JD Hart, as usual a 5-star listen.

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

RESTORED: Marco Fights Back
Bone Frog Bachelor, Book 2

Marco and Shannon’s hot liquid romance scorches the Florida Gulf Coast.

Marco Gambini’s Bone Frog Development begins building the Trident Towers project on the Gulf Coast of Florida, managing a diverse team of characters including the two princes, Khalil and Absalom, sons of the Sultan of Bonin…but Rebecca, his vindictive and controlling ex, is doing everything she can to sabotage the project and his relationship with his fiancee Shannon.

Marco also begins building Shannon’s dream home nearby. But this former SEAL finds hosting two pampered princelings, who have never in their lives lived without servants and have never done any hard labor, proves more problematic than previously thought.

Shannon finds exciting new challenges, learning about Marco’s unique sexual needs, and experimenting with her own triggers and desires as she explores her limits. Their love burns deeper in all areas as they plan a lavish and eccentric wedding at the Pink Palace.

A bomb blast at Marco’s office also shatters the tranquility of their relationship and their future, as the past comes back to haunt them both.

Just as one problem is solved, a quick trip to Central Africa leads to sudden danger and near-death for part of the team. Shannon learns even more about how her trust in Marco could save them both.

But be warned. There are storm clouds brewing. All is not as it seems. You’ll want to continue with book three coming next, Revenge.

Author’s note
Suggested listening order: Bone Frog Bachelor, Unleashed, Restored. Bone Frog Bachelor will not show up as book one on the series page, but it essentially is. This was the series starter, appearing in Ruth Cardello’s Bachelor Towers series originally. I continued on with these characters with her permission.

Here is a sample to listen to…

My review: 5 stars

This story was quite exciting and full of suspense, angst. The misunderstandings threaten Shannon and Marco’s relationship.
She gets through quite an ordeal being kidnapped, while Marco fights for his life caused by the bomb explosion at his company’s head office. Finding who was involved in both incidents is on-going.

Ending with a promise of more excitement to come. Looking forward to the next book, I want to know what happens next and listen about their wedding.

JD Hart did a wonderful job telling the story as usual. I love listening to his voice.

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

REVENGE
Bone Frog Bachelor, Book 3

They’ve planned the wedding of a lifetime—but will enemy forces keep them from reaching the altar?

Marco is a former Navy SEAL who now oversees the construction of veterans’ housing. He’s counting down the days to his future with Shannon, the love of his life. However, the bomber whose blast injured Marco and destroyed his headquarters in Florida is still at large and still holds the potential to affect all areas of Marco’s life.

Shannon can’t wait until the day of her lavish wedding, which will take place at a Sultan’s palace in the Indian Ocean. All the RSVPs have already been counted when unseen forces threaten to destroy Marco’s vision and sabotage his company. With Marco fighting ruthless warlords halfway around the world, it’s up to Shannon to support him on the home front.

But is Shannon equipped to help Marco when danger engulfs them both? Will they succeed in their respective missions and arrive on the Sultan’s paradise island kingdom in time to walk down the aisle?

Author’s note: Revenge is the third book in the Bone Frog Bachelor series which follows Marco and Shannon’s steamy-hot romance from the first time they cross a scorching hot path on Florida’s Gulf Coast to exotic locations around the globe.

My review: 5 stars

While Marco is on a rescue mission, Shannon is left behind and she is determined to help in any way she can with the projects. She finds an unlikely ally in Marco’s ex-wife that surprised me and was quite a personality switch from the previous books.

We knew that the Sultan arrived in Florida at the end of book 2. In this story we get to hear how his visit is going. The pink flamingo shorts made me laugh.

So there is quite a lot going on in this book, but this is not the end of the couple’s journey to their HEA, and I hope the next book will give them that.

The characters were brought to life by the amazing voice of JD Hart, one of my fave narrators.

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

I am looking forward to book 4 in the series, ‘Legacy‘, releasing in ebook format November 3, 2022, and hopefully soon after in audio.

Former Navy SEAL billionaire Marco Gambini and his forever love, Shannon, are back together again after a harrowing rescue of Marco’s advance team in Africa, threatening to cancel their long-planned wedding at the Pink Palace owned by the Sultan of Bonin.

He has hosted the Sultan and his entourage for a month, and now they leave to return home to their Indian Island kingdom, to prepare for the big wedding. Plans for building the housing project in West Africa are on hold, temporarily, while they ready themselves for the biggest adventure of their lives: their wedding day.

That is, if the bad guys and dangerous militia in Africa will leave them alone. Armed with vengeance and hatred, the terrorist group plans the ultimate revenge, putting more than just Marco’s company in jeopardy. They attempt the unthinkable.

Only Marco and his team are up to the task of not only saving their special day, but preserving a dying man’s legacy.

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

I hope you will give the series a try, available in ebook, print or audio, follow the link from Sharon Hamilton’s website. While there, check out the other series too, I am sure you will find your next BBF there too 😉

The voice giving life to the many voices in the books is one of my ‘eargasm’ narrators whom you probably saw me mention on my blog many times, the The Pirate StorytellerJD Hart! He is the voice that brings all Sharon Hamilton‘s characters to life. I love it when he whispers in my ear. Check out all JD Hart’s work on his website. He creates the audio samples and the awesome book trailers too, see youtube.

The model on the covers of this series is Jose Luis Barreiro. Isn’t he scrumptious? I think he fits Marco’s character quite well. Great choice Ms. Hamilton.
I watched an interview he had with Sharon Hamilton and he is so much more that eye candy, down to earth and very likeable.

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

Until next time, happy book reading / listening and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

Audiobook to listen to: The Chameleon Effect

Hello and welcome!

I waited a few days after buying the audiobook to actually starting it.

Why? Not sure. Maybe because it was written by one of my fave narrators who is up there on my ‘eargasm’ list and I was afraid to start it knowing I will finish it in no time.

Lights. Camera. Action…

I’ve got everything it takes to make it in Tinseltown: confidence, charisma, and a killer chin. Now all I need is a chance.

But Los Angeles is full of hot, young hunks, and talent might not be enough to separate me from the cookie-cutter crowd.

Well, you know what they say: fake it till you make it.

So I devise a wild scheme to get noticed. Pretend I’m someone I’m not—goodbye Will O’Connell of Cincinnati and hello Liam O’Connell of Dublin.

‘Liam’ and his talent with accents is enough to get my foot in the door, but I never anticipated meeting the woman who has me more worried about keeping my foot out of my mouth.

Enter Raven Locke, the dark-haired bombshell who puts the ‘tude in tattooed.

On set, she’s the costumer tasked with fitting my pants, but all I can think about is how to get into hers.

As my — I mean, Liam’s — budding career begins to heat up, so do our feelings.

While Raven pursues her passion for fashion; I chase her heart.

Our picture-perfect screenplay seems sure to send us riding off onto Sunset Boulevard… Until Raven finds out that Comedy and Tragedy aren’t the only masks I’m wearing. Our romance might be destined for the cutting room floor, unless I can salvage our story with a plot twist she won’t see coming.

This first-person, male-POV rom-com has it all: lots of heat, plenty of heart, and a Hollywood-worthy HEA.

My review

Story – 5 stars
Performance – 5 stars

I didn’t go in with any expectations, as with every new author. This book is a sweet romcom story with little angst, from the hero’s POV. He is lovable from the beginning, the way he interacted with his family and friends. The heroine is spunky, talented and a great personality. Their road to HEA is a bit bumpy but left me a smile imagining how well they match. Their chemistry is combustible, there are some steamy moments between them. Great secondary characters round out the story, especially his precocious niece, she was a hoot, and his friend and trainer Devontay (I hope I spelled his name right), I hope the author gives him a HEA too in the next book.

I listened to a lot of books narrated by Joe Arden and I loooove his voice. He is very talented, tailoring his voice to each character. He did justice to the story, switching between accents with ease. Characters’ emotions are heard which is important in an audiobook.

Maxine Mitchell’s interludes are a great addition to the aural experience offering glimpses into Raven’s mind. She brought the heroine to life with effortless charm.

The blooper reel is a great addition at the end.

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

Buy LinksAmazon • Audible • Signed Special Edition Hardback • Signed Paperback

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list.

Check out all about Joe Arden at the website.

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

Until next time, happy reading / listening!

Audiobooks to listen to: Forever Mine

Hello and welcome!

I was the lucky receiver of an ALC of this audiobook and I am glad I accepted the offer. My friend told me that I will not be able to stop listening once I start and she was right.

Thrown back to the year 1897, Victoria Ashton is mistaken for, and forced to impersonate, the spiteful, unfaithful Countess of Guildford, who’s been missing for three weeks. Despite Victoria’s attempts to convince the earl she’s not his wife, her double’s infidelity and lies make it difficult, especially when Victoria falls in love with a man who loathes her.

Nicholas Thornhill, Earl of Guildford, is plagued with rumors he murdered his missing wife. When she unexpectedly reappears, he scoffs at her latest in a long string of lies. But the changes in Victoria make him alter his opinion as he forges a bond with her that crosses the boundaries of time.

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list.

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

My review

Story – 5 stars
Performance – 5 stars

I thought that I read/listened to all the types of time travel stories… well… Monica Burns proved me wrong.

This is my first book from the author and the narrators, Stephanie Németh-Parker and Zachary Johnson, are new to me too. I fell in love with their voices and have to add them to my eargasm list.

I loved listening as they bring this story to life duet style, it is different from what I listened to before, the story is gripping switching between present and future, has a little of everything… suspense, intrigue, romance, steam.

The story elicited many emotions, I laughed, I cried, I shouted out loud that it made me mad. A rocky but exciting journey to the HEA they both deserve.

I received an ALC for an honest review.

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

About the author

Monica Burns is a bestselling author of spicy historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance. She is also the winner of the 2015 Gold Medal International Book Award, 2016 IPPY Bronze for FOREVER MINE. At the age of nine, Monica displayed an aptitude for psychic abilities. It was then she wrote her first romance and signed it with the pseudonym she uses today—Monica Burns. She’s bought four houses based on her dreams and been within $500 of all sale/purchase prices. No she hasn’t been able to predict lottery numbers, although she sure wishes she could.

Her historical book awards include the 2011 RT BookReviews Reviewers Choice Award and the 2012 Gayle Wilson Heart of Excellence Award for Pleasure Me. She is also the recipient of the prestigious paranormal romance award, the 2011 PRISM Best of the Best award for Assassin’s Heart. From the days when she hid her stories from her sisters to her first completed full-length manuscript, she always believed in her dream despite rejections and setbacks. A workaholic wife and mother, Monica is a survivor who believes every hero and heroine deserves a HEA (Happily Ever After), especially if she’s writing the story.

Check out the website for more info and links to social media.

About the narrators

Stephanie Németh-Parker

Professional voiceover for audiobooks, commercials, corporate, medical and eLearning
An award-winning SAG-AFTRA audiobook narrator, voiceover artist and actress with 20+ years acting experience. Her voice has been described as warm and strong, with an underlying vulnerability that can easily turn snarky when needed.

Her versatility and adeptness with accents has enabled her to work in many different areas of the voiceover community – from commercials to corporate narration, animation to audiobooks.

She was the voice of Omega Watches for over 5 years and have done over a hundred voiceovers with clients including IKEA, Audi, Novartis, Roche, and Swiss Airlines to name a few.

She narrate Romance, Fantasy, YA, Thrillers, Cozy Mysteries, Non-Fiction, Horror, Memoirs and LGBTQ+.

Accents include: US – Southern, Midwest, California; British, Irish, French, German, Italian, Hungarian, Russian, Spanish and various Latin American accents.

Check out her website for more info and links to social media.

Zachary Johnson

Lover of mathematics, devourer of science fiction, and connoisseur of the dad joke. When he’s not doing math for business or fun, he’s devouring science fiction and fantasy, reading up on scientific advancements, going for a jog, or, on all too rare occasions, taking a refreshing swim at the beach. At your service, you shall have an able storyteller and gifted conveyor of information. Experienced in narrating fiction, from the romantic to the post-apocalyptic, and nonfiction, from the historical to the corporate, and armed with the tools to make it all sound great, Zachary promises that, no matter the job, you’ll be read-iculously pleased!

Check out his website for more info and links to social media.

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

I am so looking forward to listen to more audiobooks from the author and the narrators.

Until next time, happy reading / listening!

My Chat with Tyndal!

Hello and welcome!

I was surprised by today’s guest and I can’t wait for you to meet her. Read on!

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

Special delivery, a muffled woman’s voice sounds through the door.

A moment later there is a knock that sounds like it was done with the toe of a shoe. Does it make sense? No. But I am beginning to get used to things like this, it comes from being associated with M.A.

I open the door and a gorgeous blonde shoves a huge bouquet of fragrant yellow roses into my arms as she breezes through the doorway.

So glad I didn’t have to do that twice. You have any idea how bulky a could dozen roses are? Not to mention the other gifts that were sent to you from those who know you at home.

Gifts? Others? Who? What? I don’t understand.

I don’t need to say a thing.

I am Tyndal, and I know you haven’t met me yet, but I have heard a lot about you.

Actually, I grin as I bury my nose in the flowers. I have heard quite a lot about you in the past, and I expect to hear more about you in the future.

Which is why I came to see you. I want to clear this up before any of it begins to take place. To have that happen, we have to light a fire under M.A.’s butt or she will never get anything done. Any ideas?

I watch, as Tyndal seems to have taken possession of my home. She reaches into the cupboard and pulls out the largest vase I possess, even as she motions for me to bring the flowers to her. It only takes her a few moments to prep them to go into the water. As she puts the finishing touches on the placement of the blooms, she adds,

Rhys picked these from our garden only this morning. It is why they smell so good and look so fresh. He said they would fit the theme and you would love that.

Theme? Theme for what? I still haven’t found my voice. It doesn’t seem to matter.

I thought you would like these.

Tyndal hands me a box that has to weigh no less than five pounds. I open the top and a golden sheet of film floats into the air. Inside the bottom is layer after layer of truffles nestled in golden wrappers. Have I ever mentioned how much I like truffles?

I look up at Tyndal as she places the vase on my cluttered table, and as she turns to pick up a stack of white boxes that are tied in tiered fashion together.

Without missing a beat, Tyndal continues to talk as she pulls the bow that keeps the packages in place. She then pulls several plates out of the cupboard, and places each of the contents of the boxes onto their own platters.

Lemon meringue tarts. Lemon slices, Lemon chiffon cake, and not to be outdone, Lemon cheesecake with a blueberry garnish. The girls thought you would like a few treats. And yes, they can be frozen if there are too many.

I finally gather my wits enough to speak, I am overwhelmed. To be honest, I thought that now that the Daughters of the Valley Trilogy is over that I wouldn’t be hearing anything more from the other side.

Who said anything is over?

Tyndal asked.

Well, I assumed, since it’d been forever! I exclaim.

As Tyndal helped herself to a bottle of cold water, she waves a forefinger at me and replies,

Never assume. Nothing is over. In fact, now that the boys are home, things are just beginning to warm up. I have to admit, they are some of the most broody men I have had the misfortune to hang around with. They weren’t that way when they were here. Well, maybe Lucifer was, but he has taken his frustration to a whole new level. I swear, that man needs to get laid. But there is hope for him, as you will find out when M.A. gets caught up with her backlog. You really need to ride that woman’s butt to get her motivated. The ‘Sons of the Valley’ will never get written if she continues to mope the way she does.

Tyndal looks at her watch and sighs,

I have to run, it was nice talking with you. Do you mind if I take the bottle with me? Thank you, and see you again, perhaps next year. Or, if I can’t make it, perhaps I will send Lucifer… that should be lots of fun… black roses, dark chocolate truffles, Devil’s food cake.

Tyndal laughs, and moments later she is gone. Behind her she leaves the fragrances of lemon pastry, Yellow roses, and expensive chocolate.

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

Hope you enjoyed the chat as much as I did.

Tyndal hails from ‘Tyndal’ a novella from the the ‘Daughters of the Valley’ series by M. A. Abraham.

As Angelika’s godmother and a member of an organization called “The Angels”, Tyndal has followed in her family’s footsteps in the outside world. Their place is to make the world a better place to live. Her time to continue her work has come to an end. In helping Angelika Leanne return to her home world, she has made a deadly enemy, one that will do whatever it takes to learn her secrets.

When Tyrus receives news that Tyndal has been injured, he goes to her rescue, his friend, Rhys, follows him. To Rhys’ surprise, he falls in love with the woman he is about to meet. They, however, come from different worlds. Or do they?

Read Chapter 1 here.

Daughters of the Valley series by M. A. Abraham.

If you have not read them, you should. If you missed my chats with my BBFs from the series, check them out here.

DOTV-trilogy-banner.png

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list.

BUY LINKS – Amazon USAmazon CAKoboB&NiBooksSmashwords

My review: 5 stars

I was so excited when I heard that Tyndal will be getting her story as I fell in love with her character since she appeared in the ‘Daughters of the Valley’ series.
The author didn’t disappoint in giving Tyndal the take-charge-independent-fearless traits she is known for giving her heroines. I am glad she is not alone anymore, she found her mate in Rhys, but their journey to HEA is dangerous and lots of surprises, some good, some bad, are thrown their way, and the readers’ too 😉
Will also get to know more about the Angels organization that Tyndal is part of.
I sure enjoyed the read and I am looking forward to the next adventure in the Valley and hopefully will get to meet more Angels.

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

So there will be another trilogy with the Sons of the Valley SQUEEEE as my guest confirmed and here is a small excerpt from her book that made me think there will be more.

“Did you think your people were the only ones with secrets? Those you will be privy to are not only going to shock you, but make you question what you thought you knew about your world. Not everything is how it seems. Keep that in mind and know there are more hands at work here than it seems.” Lucifer told Tyrus.

“Are you talking about the underground organization of people living in the world that comes from other dimensions? If so, we have known about them for a long time already,” Tyrus informed Lucifer. “We have a connection to a few and even know that there isn’t one Angel that didn’t originate from beyond one of the portals.”

Lucifer grinned as he commented, “Someone has been talking.”

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

Sign up to Ms. Abraham’s blog and follow her on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date.

To celebrate the new release, Ms. Abraham is offering an ebook copy of ‘Tyndal’ to one of you. Sexy Mr. Random will choose a winner from the comments on Monday, March 28, 2022 after 3pm EST. GOOD LUCK!

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

Until next time read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

Audiobooks to listen to: The Hunter and the Heiress

Hello and welcome!

I was so happy to be back in Claire Delacroix‘s Blood Brothers world. I just finished book 2 in the series, The Hunter and the Heiress. I hope you give it a chance, reading or listening to it.

Nothing could be further from Amaury de Vries’ expectations than joining his half-brother’s company of mercenaries, in the wilds of Scotland. A knight and a champion at the joust, he expected to inherit a holding – until the man he has known as his father revealed a terrible truth, and disavowed him. Left with nothing, Amaury rides to Kilderrick, where he loses his heart to a beautiful noblewoman in the forest. A practical man, he knows he has no right to court the lady, but when she is abducted, Amaury follows, determined to fulfill his knightly duty by aiding a damsel in distress.

Elizabeth d’Acron has been a pawn and a prize, pursued for her father’s wealthy holding, and wants only to be desired for herself. Seized again, she vows she will surrender to no man – even the handsome knight who comes to her rescue. And truly, there could be no one more vexing than this confident yet inscrutable man, so concerned with duty that he could be wrought of stone. But Elizabeth soon learns that she can trust Amaury to defend her at any cost. She does not expect the seductive fire, awakened by his touch, much less his conquest of her wary heart – but has she fallen in love with a man whose affections are already claimed?

Snared between duty and passion, Amaury finds himself beguiled by the lady who challenges his every expectation, but knows he has little to offer her. But when Elizabeth is threatened by a former suitor who will not be refused, Amaury risks his all in her defense, hoping it will be enough. But can he intervene in time? And will love alone convince Elizabeth to place her hand in his for all time?

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list.

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

My review:

Story – 5 stars
Performance – 5 stars

So happy to be back in this world. Amari really surprised me and I should have known the author will not let him be what he appeared in the first book. I loved his conviction of doing the right thing even if it is not what he planned and Elisabeth didn’t make it easy on him. At times I wanted to smack them both for not speaking out and only guessing what the other felt. Lots of twists and the author didn’t let me guess who was the real villain as usual. Loved, love, loved the ending! So happy I could burst!

Timothy Campbell is on my ‘eargasm’ list from the first book, and he really outdid the last one. Looking forward the next one, hopefully soon.

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

About the author

Bestselling and award-winning author Claire Delacroix has published over seventy novels and novellas. Her first book, Romance of the Rose was published in 1993. She is USA Today and nationally bestselling, and her medieval romance, The Beauty, was her first book to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books.

Claire Delacroix is a pseudonym used by Deborah Cooke for her historical and fantasy romances. Deborah also publishes contemporary and paranormal romances as Deborah Cooke and has written as Claire Cross.

Check out the website for more info and links to social media.

About the narrator

Tim Campbell is an award winning actor and singer who lives in Los Angeles, CA. He works primarily in audiobook narration and voice over and has narrated hundreds of titles spanning almost every genre. He has won or been nominated for almost every major award in the audiobook industry, including most recently a 2018 Audie, a 2019 Audie (nom), a 2019 Voice Arts Award, and several Independent Audiobook and Audiofile Magazine Earphones awards. Career highlights include Moby Dick (Brilliance Audio), Labarynth (Catherine Coulter), The Phantom of the Opera (Brilliance Audio), The Joe Dillard Legal Thrillers (Tim Campbell/Audible Studios), The Unhuman/Inspector Hobbes series (Findaway), The Mountain (HighBridge) and various short stories and novellas by Neil Gaiman, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mary Shelley, Rudyard Kipling, HG Wells, Jules Verne, Ken Liu, Helen DeWitt, and many many others. He lived and trained in the UK and Germany, narrates as both an American and a Brit, and has studied performance diction in German, Italian, French, Spanish and Japanese, and Latin. He specializes in accents, dialects, and character work and holds three degrees in theater and music as well as graduating from the esteemed two year Great Books Colloquium of Pepperdine University.

In his other, musical life, Tim sings regularly with the LA Master Chorale, Los Angeles Opera, and in studio sessions for TV and Film. Highlights include principal ensemble in Candide at LA Opera, Courfeyrac in Les Miserables at Fresno Grand Opera, Jud in Oklahoma with Cabrillo Music Theater, and Anthony in Sweeney Todd with Pacific Opera Project and singing on the soundtrack for Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker and films such as Creed 2, Venom, and many others.

Check out the website for more info and links to social media.

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

In case you missed it, check out my review for the first book in the series, The Wolf and the Witch.

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

Until next time, happy reading / listening!

My Chat with Lyndy

Hello and welcome!

I am chatting with my first BGF from the Kaleidoscope Hearts Volume 4.

What is your full name?
Lyndy (Loftin) Heller

Do you have a nickname?
Lynd or Lyn

What is one word best describes you?
Honest

Describe what you are wearing now to our readers.
Green T-shirt and jeans

Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?
Absolutely

What makes you laugh out loud?
My sisters Scarlette and Poppy

What is your favourite dessert?
Anything sweet. I have a bit of a sweet tooth

What is your favourite drink?
Coffee

What is your greatest fear?
Loosing the ones that I love

What is your favourite colour?
Purple

What do you wear when you go to sleep?
Night gown or nothing

What is the perfect romantic date?
Going to the falls behind the castle with my husband Luca.

How ticklish are you? Where are you ticklish?
Very and everywhere

What’s your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
Outdoors by the waterfalls and it reminds me of Luca

When you look at a man what catches your interest?
His eyes

Do you have somebody in your life now?
Yes, my husband Luca

What is one word best describes him?
Buff

Is your book part of a series? What does the future hold for the readers of the series?
Opalla was my debut book. And there are four books in the series.

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

Lyndy hails from Blizzard of Love by Jennifer Daniels.

Driving home from her twelve hour shift in the ER, Hazel Thomas can not see a thing. That is until her ex, Trent Maxwell pulls up behind her. Will she ever escape the storm ranging from the weather or the one from her heart?

JENNIFER DANIELS lives in Upstate, NY with her husband and son. She enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, camping, kayaking, and being on the water. Jennifer is a former nurse and for several years was very active with her local volunteer fire and rescue department. She is a paranormal/fantasy junkie, loves to read most things in those genres and is a binge-watching Hallmark Channel fan. Writing was never on her radar until her son shared with her that he wanted to write a book. So, together they began and that was when Jennifer decided to give it a try on her own. And that was how the Opalla Series was born.

Get your copy FREE at – Amazon US – Amazon CA – D2D for a limited time.

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list.

My review
Blizzard of Love” by Jennifer Daniels is a short, sweet 2nd chance love story. No angst, no tears and sometimes we need just that. – 4 stars

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

Until next time, happy reading / listening!

My Chat with Lord Grant

Hello and welcome!

Meet one of the heroes from Kaleidoscope Hearts Volume 4. Read on to find out who he is 😉

What is your full name?
Lord Grant Langston Henry Ashworth

Do you have a nickname?
I better not have

What is one word best describes you?
Oh, my dear, one word could never describe me.

Describe what you are wearing now to our readers.
A black, high thread count, wool tuxedo, immaculately starched white silk shirt, gold cufflinks, and a smile.

Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?
She did her best. Honestly, though, do you think any writer portrays their characters the way the characters want?

What makes you laugh out loud?
Watching children playing.

What is your favourite dessert?
Decadent chocolate cake filled with fresh raspberry jam.

What is your favourite drink?
A very dry, very aged Krug champagne.

What is your greatest fear?
Being forgotten when I die.

What is your favourite colour?
The color of my love’s hair… cinnamon with a touch of gold.

What do you wear when you go to sleep?
Come now, do you actually think I will reveal this?

What is the perfect romantic date?
One where I can surprise the woman I love.

How ticklish are you? Where are you ticklish?
I am not, but I am a good tickler!

What’s your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
The forest after a good rain. Reminds me of my grandfather’s pipe tobacco.

When you look at a woman what catches your interest?
The way she carries herself. I guess you could say her confidence. Her smile. Her ability to put others at ease.

Do you have somebody in your life now?
Yes, I most certainly do.

What is one word best describes her?
Ravishing

Is your book part of a series? What does the future hold for the readers of the series?
This is only the beginning of my story. Since my writer saw only a photo and formed this short story, I have so much more for her to share. It may be awhile though.

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

Well what do you think? Would like to meet him? I hope you will.

He hails from They Danced All Night by Grace Augustine, a new-to-me author.

A thirtieth birthday filled with dancing and surprises.

Editor and internationally known author, GRACE AUGUSTINE, was raised in Montana. Her hobbies include music, acrylic painting, container planting, and old romantic movies. She resides in Iowa and is the mother of two adult sons and an adorable feline.

Get your copy FREE at – Amazon US – Amazon CA – D2D for a limited time.

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list.

My review
They Danced All Night” by Grace Augustine is a short story indeed, so much potential. I am left to imagine how Grant and Annabelle managed to keep their relationship a secret. I would have liked to know a little more about them and maybe a glimpse into what comes next. – 3 stars

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

Until next time, happy reading / listening!

My Chat with Jesse

Hello and welcome!

You have to meet my next guest as he is my first BBF from the Kaleidoscope Hearts Volume 4.

Please welcome Jesse!

What is your full name?
Jesse Tash

Do you have a nickname?
Not something that would be appropriate to share winks

What is one word best describes you?
That’s a tough one… easygoing?

Describe what you are wearing now to our readers.
My typical Levis blue jeans, construction boots, white t-shirt … it’s a little snug, I accidentally shrunk it doing the laundry, and my lumber jacket. If you really wanna know everything, wooly socks, and boxer briefs… too far?

Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?
Kali did a great job. Typically, I don’t like too much attention, or to talk about myself. She captured my love of restoration of vintage homes and carpentry, which is my biggest passion in life…Okay, well almost, since a certain landlord moved in, if you know what I’m sayin’. cups his chin to cover a mischievous grin

What makes you laugh out loud?
Funny animal videos, like on Tiktok, or Funniest Videos. They crack me up. But most of all, when I hear Hedy laugh. It just lights me up inside. Her laugh is infectious, in a good way.

What is your favourite dessert?
I absolutely love Sharon’s Strawberry Shortbread Cheesecake. It was a special recipe for Sharon and Larry, and I never expected the shortbread crust to be such a dessert home run! When I tried it that day they came in for some, I just about fell off my seat, it’s so decadent. Hedy ‘nailed it,’

…see what I did there? I’m a carpenter…nailed it?…

Never mind, people don’t usually get my humour. snickers to self

What is your favourite drink?
I love a good Corona with lime, and a chaser of tequila on the side.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing Hedy. She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. Don’t tell her… motions for you to lean in as he whispers I’m kinda sweet on her…

Sits back and pouts Did you see what I did there? Bakery…dessert…sweet on her? tosses his hands up in defeat Forget it.

What is your favourite colour?
Sapphire blue. Just like Hedy’s. You know her long red hair is so perfect with those intense eyes…stares off for a moment, then shakes his head Sorry, where were we?

What do you wear when you go to sleep?
Well, his cheeks brighten red Nothing, if I can help it. I mean, if Hedy’s sisters are around, I’ll wear my boxers, but I’m really just a free kinda guy. I prefer not to be restricted when I’m sleeping. Jesse adjusts his seat, seeming uncomfortable

What is the perfect romantic date?
You know, I wouldn’t call myself Don Juan or anything, but I make a mean Amaretto Chicken, with baked potatoes and lemon-garlic asparagus. After dinner, soak in the hot tub under the stars, and sipping Spanish red wine. Then finish the night off listening to music, curled up in a blanket by the fire, and maybe a little massage. Eventually leading into long, slow, deep kisses that’ll curl your toes.

How ticklish are you? Where are you ticklish?
Sorry, sweetheart. I’m actually not ticklish. Glances over his shoulder at Hedy who’s snorting with laughter and slapping her thigh
Okay, well, maybe, once in awhile, I’m a little ticklish on my hips…

What’s your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
Oh man, my favourite smell is fresh cut wood. The smell of lumber when I’m about to do a reno or build something, it’s so grounding. It triggers my inspiration for carpentry. taps chin in deliberation I actually like the smell of wood on the fire too, wood. Definitely anything wood.

When you look at a woman what catches your interest?
First and foremost, her eyes. Confidence is a big thing for me, especially if she makes good eye contact. When a woman walks in a room, knowing she belongs there, there’s something so alluring about that. No makeup, makeup, hair done, or in a ponytail, dresses, sweat pants and a t-shirt, I think as long as she’s comfortable in her own skin, there is nothing sexier than that to me.

Do you have somebody in your life now?
Jesse grins and tapers his eyes
Maybe winks
“Hey!” Hedy calls out from behind him.
Jesse chuckles out loud
Seriously, yeah. I met the most amazing woman. Although we ‘live together,’ technically, we’re taking it slow. We’ve been on a few dates so far. leans in and whispers I have the perfect date we mentioned earlier planned for later this evening. Wish me luck!

What is one word best describes her?
Incredible.

Is your book part of a series? What does the future hold for the readers of the series?
Actually, yes! Our story was created with a distinct plan of three stories. You see, Kali wrote this one for the Kaleidoscope Hearts Anthology, the 4th volume. Rumor has it, next year is the 5th anniversary of this series. Kali wants to give Hedy’s sisters both a chance to find love again. So, two more stories, one for Amy, one for Lizzie.

Hey, Jesse stands up and hugs me Oh, sorry about that! brushes off my shirt Got a little saw dust on you.

Thanks so much for the interview. It’s getting late and I have a tasty dinner to whip up.

Folks, if you haven’t read our story yet, be sure to grab your copy while you can. The anthology is only FREE for three months, and then it’s gone forever. To get Decadent Legacies after that, you’ll have to wait for it.

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

So what do you think? Will he become your next BBF? I hope you give it a try and find out for yourself.

He is the hero in Decadent Legacies by one of my fave authors, Kali Willows! I found out who she based Jesse on and I think it fits. Lucky Hedy! Lucky Jesse! I am a sucker for HEA.

Returning to her family home after a bitter breakup, Hedy Dulce’s new life holds more than she bargained for when she finds herself nearly naked on the floor in front of a strange man.

Born and raised in Toronto, KALI WILLOWS now resides in the exquisite eastern Ontario countryside where she enjoys the serenity of nature. When she isn’t busy being the married mother of two, or a Public Relations & Communications Specialist & Event Manager, she shadows worlds of paranormal passion & intrigue. Kali strives to create emotional, compelling stories and characters you can’t help but love, hate and cheer for. Captivated by her love of dragons, gargoyles and everything paranormal, she pens these delightful creatures into epic tales of romance and adventure and often infuses her passions of martial arts, music and ironic twists even she didn’t foresee. A good cup of tea with the crackling fire gets her creative juices flowing in the wee hours of the night, when the house is quiet and she can type away to her heart’s desire.

Get your copy FREE at – Amazon US – Amazon CA – D2D for a limited time.

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list.

My review
The Decadent Legacies” by Kali Willows is a 5-star story, she never disappoints. It is a short one but I am invested, fell in love with Jesse and how he charms Hedy to fall for him. I can’t wait for the next book as I want more of the Dulce sisters.

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

Until next time, happy reading / listening!

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 128 other subscribers
Follow SEELKs fire & ice on WordPress.com

past chats

May 2024
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Blogs I Follow

Sweet & Spicy Reads

Avid Readears • Romance Bloggers • Book Lovers

kirilson photography

the stories behind the pictures, and vice versa

Heather Rainier

Erotic Romance Author

Angel Reviews

My honest reviews always.

Thought Catalog

Thought Catalog is a digital youth culture magazine dedicated to your stories and ideas.

Author T.M. Witko

Multigenre author of Adult Romances, Crime Fiction, Mysteries & Thrillers, Paranormal Young Adult, and Native American Fiction

The Dragonfire Novels

Bestselling Paranormal Romances Featuring Dragon Shifter Heroes by Deborah Cooke

BRYN DONOVAN

tell your stories, love your life

The Hatters

Bookish Ramblings from the slightly insane.

Evangeline Anderson

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author

Delilah Devlin's Collections

Erotic Romance for Women

Mary's Ménages Reviews & Promos

♂♀♂ Another way to Review Erotic Ménage Romances...

Inflight Reads

Your Boarding Pass to Bookish Joy

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Duchess of Romance

Romance books, historical romance, authors and book reviews

Charlotte Howard - Romance Author

All you need is tea and a good book.

Crazy Lady's Book Blog

Awesome Authors, Badass Books, and Updates

Sarcastica

Personal blog of a person.

Rants and Raves by KaLyn Cooper

Sizzling Romantic Suspense around the world melding fact and fiction together with steamy love

Rosanna Leo

Happily ever after, guaranteed.

Ceci Giltenan, Author

Characters with character

Self-Publishing Roundtable

Interviews and blog posts to help you succeed in Self-Publishing. For indies, by indies.

Booktalk with Eileen: Journaling a Journey -- Learning the Art of Crafting a Novel

Sharing the experience of living a thousand lives and creating new ones

Deborah Cooke & Her Books

USA Today Bestselling author Deborah Cooke writes paranormal romance and contemporary romance; she also writes medieval romance as New York Times bestselling author Claire Delacroix.

M. A. Abraham

Visit the worlds of author M.A. Abraham

SEELKs fire & ice

Books are my passion!

The Daily Post

The Art and Craft of Blogging

WordPress.com News

The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.