Synopsis

 

Winning the crown was only the beginning.

Jacs, now the rightful Queen of Frea, seems to be Queen in title alone. She scrambles to learn the customs and traditions of a Realm she had only read about in books. The Council of Four have her firmly under their thumb, and their ideas for the Queendom are oppressive and outdated. Their knowledge of her mother and Master Leschi’s whereabouts is the only leverage they need to make the new Queen dance to their tune.

​Jacs is determined to find those who were taken from her and do what’s right for her Queendom. But in her search for answers, Jacs uncovers a much darker truth from the Queendom’s past that will forever change its future.

 

 

CamCat Books * Amazon * B&N

 

IndieBound * BookShop * Audible

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jordan H. Bartlett is a New Zealand-born Canadian with a love for children’s literature and female empowerment. She grew up reading books about boys for boys and found it hard to find a strong female heroine she could relate to. Bartlett wrote Contest of Queens to give young readers that character she so longed for in a world where gender norms are reversed. Bartlett currently resides in Banff, Alberta, where she works as a Speech Language Pathologist and is a certified yoga instructor.

 

 Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway

 

Win a signed hardcover copy of QUEEN’S CATACOMBS

3 winners, USA only, ends Apr 17.

 

CONTEST OF QUEENS Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Raised in Karkov, a military, male-dominant kingdom, twins Natalia and Jillian know nothing but battle. When Jillian emerges as the dominant twin and apparent heir to the throne, Natalia, the softer and more diplomatic sister, ceases her military training. As Natalia prepares to marry the prince of her father’s favored Western ally, Jillian is set to become the first woman Lion of Karkov. But things don’t go as planned when the older generation of warriors values her womb over her sword. Suddenly, the role Jillian has fought for all her life is slipping through her fingers…and she’s not about to let it go without a fight.

At first, Jillian wants to destroy the young male warrior that the older generation favors. But soon, the two begin to fall for each other, and dark secrets behind Karkov’s past come to light. Now, Jillian finds herself in the unthinkable position of defending her former rival…and defying her father. Her defiance inspires a younger generation of warriors, who dub her the Lioness of Karkov.

Furious, her father ousts Jillian and the warriors who swore allegiance to her, setting in motion a chain of events that will disrupt everything he swore to protect. As innocent lands suffer invasion, greedy monarchies fall to revolution, and the wedding of the century threatens to live up to its name, Jillian and Natalia must reckon with the consequences of love and war. When four nations converge on a battlefield, one sister must decide whether to embrace the life she always wanted—or stand up for the destiny that was never meant for her.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Interview with Dale

 

Jillian and Natalia are deeply developed characters in this story. Could you go into what it was like to create these characters and the work it took to evolve them throughout the story?

 

I wanted to create twin sisters who were subjected to the same cruel upbringing yet emerged from their circumstances with completely different personalities. Natalia’s character evolved more over the revisions than Jillian’s. 

Despite some readers finding Jillian too quick-tempered and unfair, my thoughts are that she is the direct result of her childhood. Natalia, being a person who puts others before herself, should be considered the enigma. Early drafts did not portray her as spoiled during her youth, but I preferred to show her evolve into a proper heroine, with her love of Jillian being the reason.

 

The story is set in a European setting despite being an epic fantasy world. What went into creating the world Jillian and Natalia live in?

 

Europe — its people, its landscapes, its cities, and its history — inspires me to write. I set out on writing the Euro-inspired story without knowing what the reader would think about my imaginary places obviously being taken from real places. Luckily, early readers found that it helped them picture the setting, so I fully embraced the method and ran with it.

 

As a male author, what was your motivation to write a fantasy story focusing on two women fighting in a patriarchal society?

 

My favorite characters are feisty female protagonists who refuse to conform to what is expected of them. With Jillian in particular, I created a near-insurmountable obstacle to overcome and unleashed a ferocious lioness to attack it.

 

You also plan to donate sales of your book to Girls, Inc. What is your motivation there and how do you believe this connects to the story?

 

It’s what Jillian and Natalia would want — to support girls in becoming bold and independent women.

 

Are you working on any additional projects?

 

Yes, I have outlined a new book in a similar style where the lands are inspired by Scotland and Northern England, including their rivalry. A druidess is taken from her Highlands homeland to serve a Scottish-like ruler trying to preserve his title of king. But also, the continued “Last Lion of Karkov” story with the threat from the Desert Lion is never far from my thoughts.

 

 

About the Author

 

DALE GRIFFIN is a historical fantasy writer releasing his debut novel “The Last Lion of Karkov” in March 2023. Griffin considers himself a traveler and a writer as a result. Married to his best friend and travel partner, the two explore Europe as frequently as possible. Inspired by those journeys, Griffin uses his experiences to influence his imagined worlds and the memorable characters who dwell in them.

 

Website

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A selkie warrior, a newly transfigured selkie princess…what happens to love when loyalties clash? 

Ceannas, a selkie warrior, must protect his clan during the Migration, a rite of passage that occurs every 50 years. When he discovers a runaway selkie, the daughter of his Prince, he must figure out a way to divide his duties, especially when keeping her alive demands all his attention.

Lyall wants desperately to find out where she belongs. When the opportunity comes to visit the Great Elder and save her father’s damaged sealskin, she sneaks away to join the clan in their migration. The only problem? Being born a human, she hasn’t the first clue how to survive on her own as a selkie!

The last thing Ceannas needs is babysitting duties, and Lyall only has eyes on her mission. But as Ceannas teaches Lyall how to exist in her new element, the attraction growing between them grows stronger. Can their love withstand their honor-bound duties? And what will it cost each of them to do so?

Saving the Selkie’s Heart is a sexy guardian/ward paranormal romance and the second book in The Selkie Seas series by Ella Rose. Get lost in love today!

 

 

Amazon * Barnes&Noble * Indiebound * BookShop.org

 

 

Praise

 

“This was a dazzling novel that had everything I look for in a paranormal romance and more! Even the setting of the Hebrides Islands in Scotland created a scintillating atmosphere that pulled me in and wrapped me up in the story.”-Nora, StpreyBook Reviews

“This book was filled with intrigue, magic and blazing attraction! I loved watching Ronan and Una’s friendship grow as well as their romantic feelings. This was the perfect fall read for me!”-Bee, BookPleasures.com

“A fun novel with a great HEA. I am looking forward to finishing the prequel. More fun awaits!”- John P., Amazon

“Stealing the Selkie’s Heart is a cute love story between a fisherman’s widow and a selkie warrior. one of the funniest utilizations of romance novel “logic” we’ve read in a while. It’s also fun to read along with the “whodunnit” portion of the book. If you like your PNR on the short, cute, & sweet side, this is a fun one to read.”- Meg Richmond, Reedsy Discovery

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

A paranormal romance with just the right combination of sweet, cute, and sexy.

‘Saving the Selkie’s Heart’ is the second book in Elle Rose’s ‘The Selkie Seas’ series and takes place just weeks after the events of the first book. Having read that book, I was pretty excited for this one, and it did not disappoint!

The romance between Lyall and Ceannas tugged at my heartstrings and made me want to keep reading well after my bedtime. But even apart from the romance, I really appreciated Lyall as a strong female main character and for the harrowing journey that she undertook to save her father’s life.

Lyall decides that she must seek out the wisest member of her family’s selkie clan so that the Great Elder might save her father, but there’s only one problem. Lyall isn’t a selkie like her parents are. She doesn’t have the ability to transform into a seal. Or, at least, she thinks that she doesn’t. But with a little help from strong, capable Ceannas, who is guarding the clan as they migrate for the first time in 50 years, Lyall begins to realize her selkie destiny and take charge of it in her own way.

It’s pretty clear from Ella Rose’s writing that she knows how to write one heck of a romance, as well as build a world around it that will leave the reader invested in even the minor characters. Not every author is capable of that, and her books are worth the read for the world-building alone.

This book was such a good read that, despite the fact that it is not short, I read it all the way through in one night. I just couldn’t put it down! This series is perfection, and I recommend picking up both books! I can hardly wait for book 3!

 

 

Guest Post from Ella

 

Thank you for graciously hosting me today. As you know, my Selkie Seas series—Losing the Selkie’s Skin (Book 0.5), Stealing the Selkie’s Heart (Book 1), and Saving the Selkie’s Heart (Book 2)—revolves around the lives of selkies and other sea creatures in the historical Scottish town of Selbane. But most of the people I encounter have no idea what a selkie is! So, I’m here to set the record straight on these kickass creatures.

Here are 5 Things You Need to Know About the Selbane Selkies:

1. Selkies are seal shapeshifters, according to Scottish folklore. But unlike most shapeshifters, selkies wear their sealskin like a cape: it goes around their shoulders and fastens down the front of the torso by way of small hooks that fasten together. To shape change into a seal, they put their sealskin on and fasten the hooks; to change back into a human again, they unhook the fasteners with their teeth and emerge from beneath the sealskin as a naked human.
2. If selkies are born when their parents are in human form, they appear as human, too, and are unable to change into selkies until they reach twenty-two years of age. There is a chance, however, that they may not be capable of changing at all, which is a problem for my heroine, Lyall, in Saving the Selkie’s Heart. It is more common for selkies to be born when their parents were in seal form, thus ensuring their offspring are born as seals and able to change into human form at will.
3. Selkies are bound to their sealskins by magic. In my Selkie Seas world, selkies feel a constant “tug” towards their sealskin when they are in their human form, which allows them to geographically locate the skin while they are separated from it. But if someone else touches the sealskin, the magic connection switches to the new owner, and the selkie can no longer tell where it is. This allows a human (such as my heroine, Una, in Stealing the Selkie’s Heart) to bind a selkie to herself for as long as she wishes, until she returns the skin to the selkie.
4. Selkies have their own magic, aside from the connection to their sealskins. The Selkie Seas characters (which all belong to the same group, Liath Clann), all speak of a mythological creature called a buidseach. The buidseach is a sort of selkie witch, a female selkie who can command all manner of magic. While the king and queen of Liath Clann, as well as the Great Elder from Saving the Selkie’s Heart, have their own special gifts, only a buidseach is considered to have true, strong magical abilities, like restorative healing powers or using glamour to appear in different human forms. Such a creature is said, among Liath Clann, to be mythical, but some brave characters manage to interact with them and come out unscathed on the other side.
5. It is possible for selkies to find their True Mate, the other half of their soul. Such a connection is only rumored to exist, usually in the form of a story told by the friend of a friend whose cousin’s sister heard about a pair of True Mates once long ago. The True Mate connection can be hinted at when the proper pair is in close proximity of each other, and it feels like a second set of lungs breathing or hearts beating just out of sync with each other. To fully solidify the True Mate bond, the couple must climax together during intimacy. Once in place, the True Mate bond allows the couple to send glimpses of emotion and strong feelings down the bond to each other, though they cannot read minds.

Those are just a hint of some of the intricacies that comprise the inhabitants of Selbane. As always, if you have selkie questions or curiosities about the Selkie Seas world, email me! You can always catch me at ellarose@ellarosebooks.com.

Best,

Ella Rose

© Ella Rose

 

 

About the Author

 

Ella Rose is a paranormal romance author who loves kink, ink, and cake, and hopes you do too. She is a bi-sexual author writing through a Bi-Polar Disorder lens and thinks representation and mental health matter. She is the author of The Selkie Seas series, which includes Losing the Selkie’s Skin and Stealing the Selkie’s Heart.

Her latest selkie short stories will appear in Dark Rose Press’s Worlds Apart and Dragon Soul Press’s Beyond Atlantis anthologies. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Paranormal Romance Guild.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok * Pinterest

 

 

Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for two print or ebook copies.

Print is open to Canada and the U.S. only, and the ebook is open worldwide.

This giveaway ends on March 18th at midnight pacific time.

Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Supernatural meets Nancy Drew in Dana Claire’s New Young Adult Novel Hunterland

Liam Hunter has warded off hungry vampires, slayed monstrous beasts, and put agonized spirits to rest since he could hold a stake. When trouble comes through the Hunterland message board, alerting them that nurses are dying at high schools across Wisconsin in a string of fishy “suicides,” the Hunter family hits the road to save the
day.

The trail leads to Falkville Falls, where Liam clashes with Olivia Davis, whose maddening family seems inexplicably embroiled in this haunting mess. Olivia has always mothered her little sister, Pepper. But when the Hunter family opens her eyes to the hidden underworld of real monsters prowling the dark, she realizes she can’t protect Pepper from this newest threat by herself. Can the two families work together to uncover who or what is responsible before the next murder, or will this vicious death cycle have no end?

Grab your stakes and your rock salt. Monster hunting class is in session.

 

 

Amazon * Indiebound * Bookshop

 

 

Advance Praise Hunterland

 

“Everything I want in a story—Monsters, family, romance, and humor.” —Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of The Sweet Evil Trilogy

“Hunterland, delights in every way. Both the intrigue and the romance are deliciously dangerous.”—Eva Pohler, USA Today bestselling author of The Underworld Saga

“This coming-of-age adventure is filled with murder, mystery, the paranormal, and lots of thrilling twists and turns.”—Cameo Renae, USA Today bestselling author

“Fans of Supernatural will not be disappointed with Hunterland. Dana Claire knocked it out of the park.”—Lynn Rush, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

An absolutely stunning story that brings the reader in from the very first page!

‘Hunterland,’ by Dana Claire is unlike anything that I have ever read before. And I’ve read a lot of books. From the very beginning, I had no idea where this story was headed and once, I figured it out, I knew I was going to enjoy it!

This story is a YA paranormal romance, but even if you don’t normally enjoy that type of book, I think you will like this. Told from duel POVs, ‘Hunterland,’ is the story of one young man and one young woman who join forces to fight an unspeakable evil.

Liam Hunter is a trained professional. That is, at 18, he has faced down so many supernatural creatures that he’s lost count. And he has won every fight. With his father, who poses as an FBI agent, and his younger sister, the Hunter family is a monster-hunting crew who protect our world from evil without us even knowing it.

At the beginning of this story, he arrives in a small town called Falkville Falls, that is being plagued by a supernatural creature that is killing nurses. Also in town is Olivia Davis, a local girl who unwittingly becomes involved in the investigation. As the daughter of a police officer, Olivia is used to investigations, but this one is a whole different situation and when she meets Liam, her world is completely turned upside down.

These two have to work together despite their immediate dislike for one another and find a way to stop the monster that is killing innocent people and may be after Olivia herself.

This was a five-star novel for me and one that I could see myself reading again and again! I loved the chemistry between Liam and Olivia’s characters and found their romance very cute. This is a must read! I also think is would be a great book to become a feature movie, on the big screen!

 

 

Excerpt

 

Anger prickled down my arms, and I curled fists by my sides, flexing until veins pushed against my skin. They’d killed an innocent girl, leaving a body no parent should have to bury.

“Shall we teach them a thing or two?” Dad asked, voice thick with the same rage simmering inside me. He handed me a stake from his crossbody bag.

“With pleasure, old man.” My fingers curled around the weapon’s hilt.

The vamp to the right went for Dad. He moved fast, but Dad jumped clear of his grasp. The other vamp charged me, and anticipation coiled my muscles and sharpened my vision. I waited till the last possible moment, then leaped into a spinning kick, burying my heel in the vamp’s gut. I heard the spike Dad installed in the heel of my shoe spring free on impact, and the vamp reeled backward, clutching the hole I’d gored in his side.

He howled but shot right back up. I rarely played with my prey, but knowing we’d been seconds away from saving that poor, desecrated girl ate at me. I’d make him suffer as she’d suffered.

The vamp slashed at me with his talons, but I dipped under his arm and whirled, slamming my left fist into his face. My knuckles burned, but it was worth it. He swayed like a drunkard, dazed.

“Stop screwing around,” Dad ordered between heavy breaths. “Let’s end this.”

“With pleasure,” I said, grinning.

 

 

About the Author

 

DANA CLAIRE is an award-winning author whose stories explore identity, fate, and destiny in the crossroads of romance and adventure. Her love of romantic tension and the supernatural effortlessly translates into spine-tingling action and unforgettable characters. She lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her adoring husband living her dreams: writing books, telling stories, and changing the world, one reader at a time.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 3 author signed print copies and is open to Canada, the UK, & the U.S.

This giveaway ends on March 23, 2023 midnight, pacific time.

Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Two Sisters, One Mission, The Adventure of a Lifetime.

Clara and Angelica Grace have never met ghosts. They’ve never sailed on a tall ship, ridden wild unicorns, or fought with magical weapons. Instead, the teenage twins have a wretched existence, ignored by their troubled parents in a rundown home and tormented by the town’s snobs.

Everything turns topsy-turvy all of a sudden when discovery of an ancestor’s hidden journal with an odd key to an unknown door leads them into an entirely different realm.

The girls go on a thrilling oceanic voyage to search for mysterious whales, train with a seasoned warrior and are befriended by a wise Master. But all is not a bouquet of lovely lilies…they are hunted by a cunning warlock and must rid themselves of The Warlock’s Curse.

 

 

 

Amazon * Other Retailers

 

 

Excerpt

 

Catapulted forward by the hurrying tide, Claudius’s ship now sailed upon the phantasm of a massive whale. The sleek vessel hung momentarily on the edge of the watery precipice of white light, then slipped straight down the monster’s wide-open chasm…

The massive leviathans crooned, their haunting voices echoing across the waters. The air melted where the white-edged waves lapped peacefully against the shore. A glowing, ethereal passageway opened before the girls.

 

 

Review

 

This book was quite a surprise and a delight to read. Fantasy and YA can be hit and miss with me, but I was drawn into the world created by this author for Angelica and Clara to learn many things about themselves and grow in ways that make them better people.

Angelica and Clara are living a life that isn’t much fun. They are in a rundown home that their parents inherited, but no money to fix it up and make it more liveable. To top it off, they are being bullied by a group of classmates. Despite being twins, their personalities are fairly opposite of one another. Clara is meek and mild and almost afraid of her own shadow. Angelica doesn’t trust many people and wonders if they are out for more. However, a diary from their great-grandfather stirs up an interest in the old house, and they start searching for a lost treasure. What they discover is a new world and people/beings along the way that encourage them to grow and strive for more.

The author does some great world-building, and while it may seem like a normal world, it is far from that. Their cats can talk and walk on two paws, the trees can come to life, and there are so many more facets that will keep one drawn into the story. The twins have a quest: to save their world (aka Earth). But there are many roadblocks in their way, and they must draw from inner strength to move past those, stay alive, and save their world.

I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did since this is not a preferred genre. But sometimes it is good to step out of one’s comfort zone because you just never know the mettle of a book until you read the last page.

This book does have some violence and is more suited for a teenager or older. But if they like fantasy, they will enjoy this book.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Fascinated by the works of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, C.B. Oresky began writing her own fantasy novel, The Warlock’s Curse, after dreaming of being whisked off to an alien realm. Besides her debut novel, she has seen four of her short stories published in a small, national literary press: Conceit Magazine. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering through the woods, dancing flamenco, or planting flowers in her garden. She currently lives in a small town in Connecticut with her bodybuilder husband, their exceptionally naughty Scottish terrier and Siamese cat, ten chickens, Mr. Tiggy the hedgehog, and a yard filled with majestic flowers.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * TikTok * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

With the possibility of death before her, Princess Adele sets out to slay the dragon to save her Kingdom.

What she discovers in her quest changes her and the King’s life forever. We follow the lives of the Royalty of Valdoria as their world is threatened. In this medieval story, there are good guys, bad guys, white and black magic as well as goats and dragons. Read this story of love, hate, danger, and evil.

You will turn the page so you can find out what happens next in this gothic adventure.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Praise

 

“Princess Adele’s Dragon is a book full of treason, friendship, love and even a witch who can cast some pretty mean spells. The real deceit comes when Adele and her brother find that two of the people they trust the most are out for one thing – to make the kingdom their own. They must hang on but at what cost?

This book may sound deep but it is really an easy read. It moves fast without losing your interest and attention to the events taking place. I think it’s a book young readers would enjoy. I did.”- Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

“An easy to follow read with complex story and great characters. I enjoyed it a lot and I gave it to my son as well. He enjoyed it and keeps reading the book. He loves dragons, this got him hooked :). So, I can easily recommend the book to young and experienced readers.”- Maxwell Flanagan, Goodreads

“This book is a fantastic addition to the fantasy genre. It’s one of the absolute best stories you’ll ever read. It’s a short, fast-paced book. The story is more focused on what’s happening with the characters rather than describing the settings. I love this because it lets me use my imagination to fill in the gaps. For me it’s great!”-Fifi_18, Amazon

“It’s a good story that’s very fast paced, every chapter is only a few pages so it’s a very pick up and read sort of book that’s easily to digest. It’s not overly long and outlandish. I think this author gets it. She understands that focusing on the action, makes the book a lot more enjoyable. At least it does for me.”-JP, Amazon

 

Excerpt

 

As Adele entered her room, Miranda bowed. “Your Highness,” she said.

“How many times do I need to tell you, Miranda, you do not bow to me and call me “Your Highness” every time I enter the room? We’re like sisters. Since the age of four, we’ve done everything together.”

“I know, Adele, but I may forget if I don’t do it all the time. If I call you, Adele, in public, His Majesty’s counselor will behead me or something worse.”

“What’s worse than having your head chopped off?” Adele asked.

“Made to marry a man I do not love,” Miranda said calmly. She helped the Princess change into her nightgown to prepare her for bed.

“Robert keeps trying to marry me off. If I can’t have Anthony, then I’ll not have a husband. Six years ago, Anthony ran away.”

“You don’t believe that any more than I do, Adele,” With a soft voice, Miranda said, “He loved you more than life. It showed in every word and action he made. Changing the subject, what did the King say?”

“He plans to go through with the sacrifice on the night of the full moon in two weeks”. Princess Adele covered her face with her hands as tears flowed. Her voice trembled as she spoke. “I can’t sit here and do nothing.

© Shirley McLain

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

“In the blackness of her room, she reached a decision. I realize what I must do.”

Late in the night, after trying to convince her brother, the king, to back out of a terrible idea, Princess Adele makes a decision for herself. She decides that she is going to fight the dragon that has terrorized her kingdom for far too long.

Now, this may sound like a bad idea, but since the other option is sacrificing a child to the dragon, Adele’s idea actually makes a lot of sense. On top of this, Adele is something of a warrior herself, having taken many defense and sword-fighting classes alongside her brother as a child.

Princess Adele sneaks out of the castle alone in the night and finds her way to the dragon’s cave, where she has to confront the fearsome creature. But something about the dragon stills her, and after the dragon transforms back into a human, Adele realizes that it is not just any human but the form of her long-missing fiancé that she is standing in front of.

Prince Anthony disappeared under mysterious circumstances six years earlier and has not been seen by anyone since. Now, Adele discovers that he was cursed by a witch to transform into a dragon and that the curse was brought on by her brother’s adviser, Lord Ashmore, and Adele’s closest friend, Miranda.

Devastated by the news that her closest friend is involved in a plot to steal her family’s throne, Adele must find a way to stop Miranda and Ashmore before they claim victory, and Anthony thinks that he knows how, but the plan will cost them both something they would rather not lose.

This is an engaging, fantastically plotted fantasy/romance novel and awe-inspiring world-building by Shirley McLain, and one that I won’t soon be forgetting. I highly recommend this thrilling read!

 

 

About the Author

 

Shirley McLain is a retired RN, wife, mother, and grandmother of six and Great Grandmother to four, three boys and one girl.

She is currently living in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, where she is enjoying her retirement to the fullest. She was born in California but lived her growing years in Oklahoma. She has done extensive travel within the United States and learned to appreciate each state for its own beauty. Her dream trip is to see Spain and Italy at a slow pace.

Shirley has published a young adult mystery called “Crimes and Retribution,” a book of short stories called “Shirley’s Short’s and Flashes” and a Christian poetry book called “Verses For My King.” “Dobyns Chronicles” is a historical fiction in which you follow a family through troubling times. She has published her educational fiction about Bullying. It is for ages 10 to Adult to help them deal with bullying in school. She is now working on a book of short stories called “Shirley’s Compilation of Short Stories,” which is stories of different genres. She plans on having this book out in December 2022.

Shirley’s love of travel, adventure, and writing has created works that will hold your attention and leave you wanting more.

 

Twitter * Facebook

 

 

Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 3 ebook copies and is open worldwide.

This giveaway ends on February 1, 2023 midnight, pacific time.

Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

In a war between humans and shifters, sparks, and fur fly…Until scales appear.

 

Princess Kisa, the middle daughter in the shifter nation of Dar, is often overlooked and underestimated. Always the devoted caregiver of family and country, she’s come to terms with her future as a Shield-Mate in a political marriage. Many, including Kisa, are surprised when her father names her as heir to his throne.

Kalman, once a privileged son of the former protectorate Sorota, is an outcast and a man without a future. The people of Ruinae consider him a weak, self-indulgent man. Only his trusted servant knows the heart of the soldier beneath the veneer.

Forces are gathering against the two countries, and now dragons, long banished to the outland, have returned. Kisa and Kalman are charged by King Dar to find out how entrenched the dragons are with the enemy. Since a long-ago meeting, Kalman never forgot the spitfire Lynx-shifter. He’s no longer the boy she’d met, but a man. One determined to have her despite their differences. But Kisa can’t fall in love with the enemy. Can she? Would her people accept not only the son of Sorota but one whom her family also seeks retribution?

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

“How may I serve you, Father?” Kisa glanced around. “It’s been long years since I’ve been in here.”

This was his personal lair. Darkly masculine with shelves filled with books. Maps lined the walls and a side table with a miniature replica of the kingdom and surrounding areas. It was where he could find peace from all the demands of running the empire. Though no respite from the ghosts who haunted him.

Amaya’s portrait stared down at him with accusation I left my daughters in your care. You’ve disappointed me, Shield-Mate.

“We have much to discuss.” He turned from the portrait, his chest tight with pain as he walked behind his writing table and lifted the stack of papers he’d collected. “These are all Shield-Mate offers for you.”

She stared first at them and then him. Barely a whisper squeezed out, “So many?”

“Is it love and Shield-Mate you want?” He asked with a penetrating look. “What is your greatest desire, daughter?”

Kisa’s mouth opened and closed as she stared at him. He had never asked her about her dreams. Shouldn’t a father know his child? “Well, what is it?”

“What do you mean?” She tugged at her earlobe as she’d done since she was a babe.

“If I throw this pile of papers into the fire —” he grasped the stack into his large hand and pointed to the hearth with them, “—will it disappoint you? Or give you relief?”

She blinked at him. “I don’t know what you are asking me.”

“It’s simple––disappointment?” He shook the papers. “Or relief.”

Kisa whispered, “Relief.”

Dar threw the communiqués into the fire, where they flamed and sparked. Neither spoke while the letters—some paper, some parchment—curled at the edges, turning brown, then black, then nothing but ash.

When the last cinders drifted away, his daughter sobbed, and he thought he would too. “Someone must rule when I’m gone.”

“What?” Her voice cracked. “I always thought you intended to bind Lansdowne and Dar into one kingdom, and Orsolo and her Shield-Mate would co-rule.”

“Orsolo is shrewd and intelligent but frivolous. Before her Shield-Mating, I informed your older sister that she would not be Queen here.” Dar folded his arms across his chest. “Before you ask, she was relieved.”

“I know as children of the Darrian royal house, there is no guarantee to ascend the throne.” Kisa hugged her arms around her waist. “Who did you decide it would be?”

Dar went to the matching high-backed chairs near his desk and, with a groan, sank into the cushions. “Come, sit. This will be a lengthy conversation.”

 

 

About the Author

 

D.V. Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre, traditionally and independently published author. She writes books people want to read. Whether romance or fantasy, contemporary or mid-grade, her stories are about the importance of friends and family. About overcoming obstacles while often with humor.

Around the Fire is a popular weekly blog where she introduces both established and new authors giving an insider’s look into their lives and books as well as tidbits about her own life.

Now retired, she is a full-time author and incorporates her life experiences into her books.

A former Emergency Medical Technician, she volunteered in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. At the same time, she worked as a professional EMT in a women’s state prison. She was the proprietor of a coffee shop and a small restaurant/ice cream stand in the years that followed. The years following were as a manager in an animal emergency hospital, while her last position was in a human medical office.

When not behind the wheel of 2Hoots—a 41-foot long 13.2 feet high 5^th Wheel camper, she rambles around town in Northern New Jersey in a white Camaro. She also loves travel and history.

D.V. is a wife to an amazing husband, mother to one son, and not your average grandma to three beautiful grands. A woman of faith, she believes and trusts in God.

“My greatest pleasures are spending time outside with friends and family, cooking over the open fire, sipping a glass of wine, and reading.”

Hali, her rescue dog, always reminds her to let readers know, “Woof, woof.” Which is loosely translated as support your local animal rescue.”

 

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Synopsis

 

Andrew and his older brother Nicholas were separated as children.

 

Nicholas had been snatched away by the Prince of Darkness, and Andrew had all but given up hope, but now their mother is ill, and he’s determined to reunite them before she passes – despite her objections.

With his dog Jenny by his side, Andrew sets out on an epic and perilous crusade well beyond his wildest imagination, facing evil protectors, giant wolves, dark magic, Sorcerers, Goblins, and even the Prince of Darkness himself.

Then there’s The Great Tree.

It’s enormous, with a presence that’s nearly impossible to describe…

And it’s clearly the heart of the kingdom of the wicked Sorcerer.

 

This is the setting for the adventure story that changed Christmas forever!

 

 

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All proceeds from the sale of The Great Tree go to The Last Road Dog Animal Sanctuary to rescue unadoptable dogs, cats, and horses, an approved 501 (c)(3) Animal Public Welfare Charity that greatly appreciates the ongoing support of readers like you!

 

Excerpt

 

The room at the inn had a window that faced the Great Tree with the castle by its side. As Andrew gazed through the window at the castle, his mind wandered back to his mother, who was at home sick with the deadly fever. Although she wanted to see her lost son one more time before she passed, she insisted that Andrew not look for him, for it was much too dangerous. She made Andrew promise that he would not venture off and search for his brother. Andrew agreed not to.

Andrew was now looking for his brother, Nicholas, in defiance of his mother’s wishes. He had made up his mind that he could not live with himself if he did not try. He understood his mother’s concern, but he felt he had to do what he thought was right. He lied to his mother out of love for her and because he did not want her worrying about him on his quest. Right or wrong, it was the way he felt about it. Nicholas had been abducted by an evil Sorcerer, an evil wizard of sorts, when they were both very young. Nicholas was his older brother. Andrew had been searching for Nicholas for weeks; he was now at a small mountain village where he had hoped to find Nicholas and bring him back to his mother before she died.

With Jenny at his side, Andrew, weary from his lengthy travels, fell soundly asleep while gazing at the castle in the distance.

 

 

About the Author

 

Able Barrett is a former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney and U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime Strike Force Prosecutor who shamelessly admits he loves animals more than most people, and he’s the manager of The Last Road Dog Animal Sanctuary.

 

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Synopsis

 

Middle school student Gwendolyn is a dream-shifter. This means that when she dreams, she becomes what she dreams about, and she dreams about being different animals. If she awakens naturally, she becomes a girl again. But a fire alarm jars her awake when she’s dreaming that she’s an elk. She awakes as an elk. It’s elk hunting season, and she doesn’t know how to change back to a girl, or how to stay alive.

 

 

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Review

 

This book is just the right length and topic for middle-grade readers. It contains a little bit of everything for the younger reader – fantasy, magic, adventure, and introspection.

Gwendolyn is an aspiring journalist but is also a dream-shifter. Apparently, if she is woken abruptly from a dream where she has changed forms, she emerges as that form. In this case, an elk. Imagine her surprise when that happened, which happened right before elk hunting season. That could be dangerous for a young girl that is now in elk form.

This is a journey for her as she learns to adapt to her new form, trying to discover if she can change back, and meeting new people that may or may not be able to help her.

I thought it was amazing that everyone just accepted her as an elk. There was some disbelief, but they eventually accepted it as well. She learns how to adapt to not having hands and dealing with antlers that seem to keep growing.

This was a surprisingly fun read, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lois Wickstrom earned her BA in biology with Chemistry and English minors. She is the creator of the Imagenie videos on YouTube and “Starting With Safety” available from the American Chemical Society. She also co-authored the Nessie’s Grotto Books with Jean Lorrah, and the Orange Forest Rabbit books with Lucrecia Darling.

 

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Synopsis

 

Alice Daniels has a problem. Her reflection keeps misbehaving when she looks in the mirror–and the longer she ignores it, the harder it tries to get her attention. On her eighteenth birthday, she learns why: she is a huntress, someone gifted with the power to enter mirrors and the magical world that exists beyond. But with this power comes immense responsibility, for in the Mirror Realm lurks an evil that has infected the human race for centuries: demons. It is up to her and her three huntress sisters–with the help of one handsome and overbearing protector–to hunt and banish this evil one demon at a time, thereby keeping the chaos in check. But when an ancient god pays Alice a visit that turns deadly, it is clear the Mirror Realm is more than it seems, and she soon finds herself in a race against time to save the life–and soul–of the one man the gods are determined to never let her have.

The Last Huntress is a story of redemption and sacrifice, the bonds of true sisterhood, and the impossible, sometimes frightening, things we’ll do for love.

 

 

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This book releases on 11/1

 

 

About the Author

 

Lenore Borja grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University before moving to New York City to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After a brief career as an actress, she spent several years working in executive search and human resources in both New York and San Francisco. She now resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her husband and a bossy feline named Maximus. When she’s not writing, she enjoys adventure travel and anything that gets the heart racing, whether it’s hiking, running, or getting lost in a good book.

 

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