Yes, These Are your Grandma's Romances by Nancy Fraser

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nancy Fraser will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Ah ... the Fifties!

A time of innocence, and the not so innocent. From “I Love Lucy” and “Willy” to “Private Secretary”, “Father Knows Best” and “Bachelor Father”, television and music from the fifties gave us inspiration. Come take a trip down memory lane with these five vintage reads!

Get your romance on, and make grandma proud!

Ed Loves Marnie ~ 1955 - Can this handsome military man convince the single mother to take another chance at love? Or, will their shared memory put a wall between them?

Willa Thomas, Attorney-in-Love ~ 1956 - Will these co-workers be able to tow the company line and forego a chance at love? Or, will they risk everything for love?

Professor Knows Best ~ 1957 - Will this freaky trip back in time to 1957 give her the answers she seeks? Or, only more confusion? How difficult will she find it to navigate being best friends with the college-age version of her own mother?

His Private Secretary ~ 1958 - Can she run interference between her handsome boss, his needy family, and the scores of women trying to bed him and wed him and still remain unaffected by his many charms?

The Bachelor Father ~ 1959 - Will Nanny #5 be the one to finally ace the job, and coax him out of his shell and back into life? And, will a family vacation to Paris fulfill their wildest dreams?

Read an Exclusive Excerpt from Willa Thomas, Attorney in Love ~ 1956

Aaron Baker ordered another beer from the harried bartender before joining his co-workers at a corner table. The place was packed as usual, and it took some fancy footwork to navigate the distance between the bar and the others. He’d no sooner sat down than his best friend Phil said, “Man, you are the luckiest son-of-a-gun on earth. You get the sweetest cases.”

Aaron shrugged and took a swig of his beer. “I suppose.”

“Manslaughter? And a high profile one at that?” Stopping only long enough to take a sip of his rum and cola, Phil continued, “And even better, you get to work with Willa Thomas.”

“Do you know her very well?” Aaron asked somewhat absently, his attention drawn to the middle of the bar where the assistant DA stood talking with one of the Appellate Court judges.

“No, not really,” Phil admitted. “I did nearly a month’s worth of research for old man Small last year. Yet when it came to picking a second chair, he took Willa. They got an acquittal and won a counter settlement, all based on my hard work.”

“You certainly can’t fault her record,” Aaron said. “She’s got a better decision ratio than either Small or Dobson.”

Phil raised his glass in a mock toast. “And despite those stuffy business suits she wears, she’s not hard on the eyes.”

“I haven’t been close enough in the two years I’ve been here to notice.”

Although he’d not admit it to Phil for fear of becoming water-cooler gossip, he had noticed Willa Thomas on a number of occasions. More than once, he’d taken a seat in the back of the courtroom just to watch her brilliant legal mind at work. The thought of actually working alongside her should be every young attorney’s dream, not just his.

And as Phil had said, Willa Thomas was definitely not hard on the eyes. Although she dressed like a business woman, all suits and hats and proper gloves, it wasn’t hard to see that beneath all those layers was the body of a very sexy woman.

“You can’t tell me your paths haven’t crossed at some time,” Phil said.

“I spent the majority of last year in Philadelphia working on the sports gambling scandal. And the six months before that in upstate Minnesota taking depositions and freezing my keister off.”

Phil nodded. “Oh yeah, I remember—the wrongful death suit. You won that didn’t you?”

Aaron tipped his beer back and took a drink before saying, “You betcha. Largest settlement against a public utility in state history.”

“A couple more cases like that and you’re a shoo-in to make partner,” Phil said.

“Not for another six to eight years. Rumor has it the corporate board refuses to award full partnerships until you hit your mid to late thirties.” He thought for a moment and then added, “Although I’m not sure Willa Thomas is there yet. Maybe they’ve changed their policy.”

“According to the girls in the steno pool—one of whom I might add that I’m currently dating—Willa Thomas is thirty-four, possibly thirty-five.”

“Really?” Aaron raised his eyebrows in a show of mock disbelief. “You’ve been dating someone?”

“Very funny. I don’t see your love life going anywhere.”

“No time, my friend,” Aaron told him. “I’m too busy working my way into that partnership. There’ll be plenty of time for a pretty little wife, a house full of children, and a white picket fence later.”

About the Author:

Nancy Fraser - Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Nancy has published over forty books in full-length, novella, and short format. When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Website: http://www.nancyfraser.ca
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The book is on sale for $0.99 during the tour.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091HXWJPD
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Drifting by Steven M. Cross

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Drifting brings light into the dark corners of mental health, bullying, and sexual assault.

Dean Knight has struggled against his personal demons for as long as he can remember. He thought he lost that struggle when he felt their knowing grip pull him deeper in the river, but he was saved. Saved for what? His memories are trapped within his mental illness. He hears his sister and father’s voices. The problem is, they’re dead, both killed in the same river that tried to claim Dean. As he struggles to remember, he discovers their voices aren’t pushing him to harm himself, but to discover the truth surrounding both their deaths. One person, Ella, has all the answers, but Dean can’t remember if she loved him or tried to kill him.

Roxanne “Rocky” Rivers struggles against her own demons, not voices, but a past trauma she can’t fully remember. She only knows everyone at school thinks she’s a slut and a head-case. A razor her only release for the pain. Rocky knows no one will believe a crazy girl who tries to kill herself.

Dean and Rocky find a connection. Can they find the strength and trust to help each other when neither can survive alone?

Read an Excerpt

The police won’t get here before he kills me. My mom stirs, reaches into her pocket, gets some keys. She reaches for the table she just tripped over.

So this is the way it’s going to end? My mom gets away while her insane boyfriend murders her insane son. Instead of fleeing though, she slips the key into one of the small drawers on the coffee table.

A crazy thought enters my head. She’s getting one of her bottles, and this has been an elaborate ruse so they can kill me and then celebrate. They’ll say I attacked him, and the police will believe it.

Danger to self and others.

She’ll get my money. He steps in front of me with his fists balled. This guy’s going to beat me to death while my mom drinks.

In the distance, sirens shriek. They won’t make it in time. I can imagine the red lights reflecting in pools of—

Blood spatters my face and foams from his mouth opened in a big O of surprise. He drops to his knees. Through the broken glass, I see cop cars flying up our road.

A gun drops from my mother’s hand.

I wonder if the bullet has gone through Paul into me, but I don’t feel any pain. He coughs again, blood gurgles from his mouth. He crumples to the floor.

The police burst through the door with guns raised just like on a cop show, only it couldn’t be any more real.

About the Author:

Steve Cross is an educator/freelance writer who lives in Poplar Bluff, MO. His credits include four young adult novels, two fantasy novels, and seven plays. He has optioned one script and sold another one. Plus, he's finished as a quarterfinalist in Bluecat and in Fresh Voices screenwriting competition. He and his wife have one daughter and two grandchildren with whom they spend a lot of time. Cross loves Cardinals baseball, classic rock music, and character-driven movies. His favorite films are Dead Poets Society and Field of Dreams. Cross also likes to read, everything from Young Adult contemporary novels to screenplays, to horror and fantasy. At 62 and a cancer survivor, he believes his writing career is just now getting into full swing. His favorite type of screenplay to write is a psychological drama.

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Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Drifting-Steven-M-Cross-ebook/dp/B093WRF6FC/ref=sr_1_1

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Company Assassin by Claudia Blood

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Welcome to It's Raining Books. What are your favorite TV shows?

This is where I admit that I don't have any streaming services. I have DVDs of Big Bang Theory, Firefly, and Supernatural that I still watch.

What is your favorite meal?

I really love a good cheesy wheezy with fries or a slice of new york style pizza.

If you were to write a series of novels, what would it be about?

I'm in the middle of releasing a Trilogy. The first book came out on January 15th. The next book went live on February 15. The series tagline is: Time is coming apart at the seams.

The first book is Company Assassin. An ex-assassin, demons, and obsessed company CEO. Can an orphan survive finding the truth of his past?

I have two other open series waiting in the wings.

Is there a writer you idolize? If so who?

If we are talking old school growing up authors. Alan Dean Foster, Ann McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey...okay there are many more. They all had worlds, situations, and characters that I loved to gobble up.

I have an author crush on Penny Reid. I love her characters. I wish I knit so I could be invited to their knitting nights. They have great conversations.

How did you come up for the title of this book?

The Relic in the trilogy name was an element from a dream about the second book.

The scene opened with a team hacking through the jungle and uncovering this ancient ruin. They were desperately looking for Relics. (whatever that was)

Then inside was an alien machine. Rocks and dust fell down on them as they moved into the room. They put a silver pocket watch on a platform and turned the machine on.

Lights and electricity coalesced on a platform and the whole structure shook. But they stayed inside because they were desperate for one of these Relics.

What appeared on the platform? An '80's aerobic instructor who had been pulled forward in time. She was even wearing leg warmers!

It’s Duff Roman’s eighteenth birthday, but no one is lighting candles.

Turning eighteen in the orphanage on Kalecca means starvation for those who aren’t hired into a Family. Outside the Family compounds lies the jungle. And in the jungle lies death. And Relics—the only real currency on Planet Kalecca.

The orphans are Duff’s family, and he’s sacrificed everything to keep the orphanage running, even his chance to move on. Now, at eighteen, he has no choice but to leave. Without him to bring in extra money, the orphans will starve under the Company’s control. Duff's only chance to save them is to find a spot on an independent crew and hopefully find a Relic to sell.

A seemingly chance encounter with Z, leader of the most feared independent crew, offers Duff his opportunity to score a Relic. And offers Z a chance to relieve the guilt he feels over his past.

But a company assassin has plans to lay waste to Duff's future, and the orphanage as well.

Read an Excerpt

Duff fought the memory that came with the intensifying baked bread and fish smell. The jungle smell combined with it made the smell different from the orphanage.

He made himself follow Z, but his mind slipped back ten years earlier. To another place corrupted by this smell.

It could be just over the next rise that he’d find a hole just like the one from that night. That night he’d hidden while he waited for his mom. When they’d played this game before, she always found him. She’d throw in a leaf bag with his favorite treat. He’d pretend he was one of the animals she worked with. He’d crawl forward, testing the air and would gobble the treat.

She’d toss another and another until he was lured to her lap. She’d smile down at him and hug him tight. “My little jungle monkey.”

About the Author: Claudia Blood’s early introduction to Dungeons and Dragons, combined with her training as a scientist and a side trip into the world of IT set her up to become an award-winning author of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

For her latest release, visit her at www.ClaudiaBlood.com

LINKS:

http://www.ClaudiaBlood.com
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BUY links for Trilogy

https://books2read.com/CompanyAssassin
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Fostered Identity by Maggie Thom

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Maggie Thom will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Her teenage sister has run away. It's her fault. And on her watch.

Shyla thought she was doing the right thing by helping her teenage sister get a little freedom. She never expected she'd bolt on her. Desperate to keep their mom from discovering she has a missing daughter, Shyla sets out to find her wayward sister.

A fluke encounter gives Shyla a clue. Only she gets a lot more than she bargained for. She finds her sister, but she gets pulled into doing a heist. An impossible heist. And not just any heist but that of stealing her mom's million-dollar jewelry. Ones that recently arrived, with no explanation.

Damien is a good guy running from an awful past. When his brother ends up in the hospital, Damien is determined to stop the one man who has and is destroying their lives—their father. Damien will break all of his promises, even steal, if it will end their father's control.

Shyla and Damien find themselves thrown together, not trusting each other but not having any choice. They will have to work together if Damien is going to stop his father once and for all. And if Shyla is going to protect her family. An impossible crime that will bring them surprises they didn't see coming.

Can they catch a thief by being a thief?

Book 1
The Twisted Deception Series

Emerald grew up in a foster family. It wasn't an ordinary foster family. She was the first of eight girls to move in. The jewels that she was given to play with as a teenager, that she was told were baubles, are now resurfacing thirty-five years later. They are worth millions. And it appears worth stealing. Who is sending them out? And who wants them back at all costs?

“…fast-paced and kept me guessing. I like a mystery enveloped with family secrets and jewel thieves. I want more, and I want to know the secrets. I will be excited to read the second novel…” Author Christine H-Jackson

Read an Excerpt

"Put your hands up."

Shyla shrieked. Damien lifted his hands. He turned, pushing Shyla behind him, as he faced Carl. Only he wasn't there. Searching the area, he scanned for where the man could have gone.

"Let's get out of here."

Shyla's whisper was exactly what he'd been thinking, but he needed this man and wasn't ready to admit defeat. He wanted to best his father. It wasn't healthy what he was feeling, but it was a burning need in his gut. He had to take him down and he had to take him down in his fashion.

Suddenly, the man was there, standing about ten feet away, pointing a rifle at them. He looked like a hobbit, like Bilbo Baggins. The man hadn't changed in almost twenty years. He was short and thick and had white hair like Einstein, it stuck straight out from under a black ballcap.

Shyla's fingers dug into Damien's shoulder.

Damien kept his hands up. "I swear I am not here to hurt you. Or screw you over. I'm supposed to steal some jewels for him tomorrow night. Meaning, he is going to steal them tonight and turn me into the police tomorrow night."

Shyla's gasp was a cold jolt. He winced but didn't break eye contact with Carl.

"Come on." Carl turned and disappeared into the brush.

Damien grabbed Shyla's hand and hustled after him. After taking a few twists and turns and doing maneuvers to avoid the blackberry bushes, they found themselves standing in front of an open door.

About the Author:

Take the adventure beyond your fingertips.

Multi-Award-Winning Author, Maggie Thom has written all types of stories but finally settled on her love of puzzles, mysteries, and rollercoaster rides and now writes suspense/thrillers/mysteries that keep you guessing and take you on one heck of an adventure.

She is the author of 8 suspense/thriller/mysteries. The award-winning Caspian Wine Series – Captured Lies, Deceitful Truths, and Split Seconds – and her other individual novels Tainted Waters, Deadly Ties, and Fractured Lines. And now a new series – The Twisted Deception Series - Fostered Identity, Book 1. On her website, you can find her free novel – Blurred Lines.

Her motto: Read to escape … Escape to read …

"Maggie Thom… proves her strength as a master of words, plots and finely chiseled characters… she weaves a brilliant cloth of the many colors of deceit.” Dii – TomeTender

Website: http://www.maggiethom.com
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Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Thom/e/B009WSTDG8/

Buy Links: THE BOOK IS ON SALE FOR $0.99 DURING THE TOUR.

Amazon: http://mybook.to/FosteredIdentity
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fostered-identity-maggie-thom/1138918935
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Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/fostered-identity/id1556127213

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What They Want Us to Know by Shawndra Mcwhorter

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What They Want Us To Know: Messages of Hope, Meaning and Unity From the Animal Kingdom.

Have you ever wondered what animals would tell us if they could? This book will give you that chance to find out! By being able to receive downloaded messages from wild and domestic animals, Shawndra translates their messages for us. These animals have shared powerful messages of unity, connection and purpose, and steps that each of us are able to take to deepen the connection, find more meaning in our lives, and become the humans that the animals know we can be. You'll hear messages from 12 different animals on what they want us to know in order to live a more profoundly amazing life. You'll be given the opportunity to learn ways to be more compassionate, tolerant and heart-centered, to the animals and to each other.

Read an Excerpt

NORMAN IS THE DOG WHO currently shares my life with me, and as you can see, he is adorable! In 2013, an EF5 tornado hit the vicinity of Moore, Oklahoma, causing two billion dollars of damage, including the major destruction of two schools and more than three hundred homes. It also killed twenty-four people. After the disaster, I volunteered with American Humane to help care for the animal survivors in an emergency shelter. I flew out there and was working with the feral cats and cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). A few days after I had arrived, they brought in the last of the “tornado dogs” from the Moore Animal Shelter and put them in a quarantine area. The other volunteers working with the dogs spent all day cleaning crates and walking the dogs. Since I certainly wasn’t taking the cats for walks and feral cats wanted nothing to do with any of us, I had extra time, so I offered to help care for these quarantined dogs.

About the Author:

Shawndra McWhorter has been an animal communicator since 2000, and is also an Usui and KarunaⓇ Reiki Master, working with humans and animals. Shawndra has helped more than 500 animals and their humans with her communication and healing skills. Shawndra is a past president of Washington State Animal Response Team (WASART), and also serves on the Board of Directors with Kindred Souls Foundation, both 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations dedicated to helping animals. Shawndra began her disaster animal rescue work in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, where she deployed outside of New Orleans, LA to help rescue and care for the animals left behind. She has deployed to Chile, Peru, and to several states in the US volunteering helping animals recover from disasters. Shawndra also volunteered with Wolf Haven International in Tenino, WA for nearly eight years, and is still active in supporting their mission. She is the owner of Sanskrit Healing, using her skills to help humans, animals and the environment find balance. Shawndra has spent most of her life helping others and won an Emmy for a documentary that she directed and edited on illegal aliens in Southern California. Her approach is to educate and help others make mindful, ethical choices based on facts and data. Shawndra currently lives in Washington State with her dog Norman, who survived the EF5 tornado that hit Moore, OK in 2013.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shawndra-Mcwhorter-Author-106688011143920 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawndramcwhorter/ Shawndra Mcwhorter – https://shawndramcwhorter.com/ 

Goodreads.com: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56422248-what-they-want-us-to-know

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So Not My Type by Amelia Kingston

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An endearingly irreverent love story.

To Jackie Ryan, insults are foreplay and love is war. What the feisty redhead lacks in stature, she makes up in attitude. She’s made more than one grown man cry and she’s damn proud of it. Little does the rowdy barista know she’s about to meet her match in the shape of a walking, talking pair of starched khakis.

When unassuming Eddie Jaworski stumbles into a quirky coffee shop, he isn’t expecting a battle of wits with the maniac behind the counter. Still, he can’t help be intrigued by the endearingly irreverent human enigma. She’s brash, but considerate. Closed off to most, but fiercely loyal to a few. Everything is a joke, except those things that are sacred. Jackie doesn’t trust easily and if he wants to get close, he’s going to have to work for every inch. Good thing he’s up for the challenge.

But Eddie has a secret—one he didn’t mean to keep—that’s going to tug at the delicate strings weaving the pair together. When everything begins to unravel, Jackie must decide just what she’s willing to risk for love.

Read an Excerpt:

“That it? That all?” He winks. This fucker actually winks at me. The coffee shop is dead quiet. The furious beating of my heart fills the room, mixed with Jackie’s heavy breaths. She stares into my eyes, questioning. Challenging. Demanding. I am stripped naked by her gaze, awaiting my fate like a convicted man. A slow smile blooms across Jackie’s rosy lips just before she launches herself at me.

She takes two quick steps and jumps on me, wrapping her legs around my hips and snaking her arms around my neck. I stumble back at her force. Overcompensating, I lurch forward, and we slam against the display case.

Jackie is coiled around me, pinned between my body and the curved glass. She arches her back away from the cold surface, pressing herself harder against me. The soft light of the case behind her catches the red hues in her hair and there is a devious twinkle in her eye. She looks like trouble wrapped in temptation. I crash my mouth on hers and those pillowy lips part for my eager tongue. She tastes sweet and warm and wicked, like dessert for dinner.

“Eddie.” She moans my name—my actual name—grabs a handful of my hair and tugs. She’s not gentle as she tightens her legs around my waist and digs her boots into my lower back. The sensation makes me desperate, and I kiss her like it’s the last thing I’ll ever do.

Knowing Jackie, it just might be.

About the Author: Amelia Kingston is a California girl, writer, traveler, wife and dog mom. She survives on chocolate, coffee, wine, and sarcasm. Not necessarily in that order. She’s been blessed with a patient husband who’s embraced her nomad ways and cursed with an impatient (although admittedly adorable) terrier who pouts when her dinner is five minutes late.

She loves to write about strong, stubborn, flawed women and the men who can't help but love them. Her irreverent books aim to be silly and fun with the occasional storm cloud to remind us to appreciate the sunny days. As a hopeless romantic, her favorite stories are the ones that remind us all that while love is rarely perfect, it’s always worth chasing.

Website: https://www.authorameliakingston.com/
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Facets of the Past by Monique Gliozzi

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Monique Gliozzi will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

Suspenseful, action dramas have always intrigued me from a very young age. Watching movies of this genre fuelled a passion to create fictional stories that were fast paced and exciting. The thrill of creating a plot full of twists to keep my audience engaged and satisfied at the end is the main aim.

What research is required?

There is always a little research necessary for most of my stories especially when describing technical aspects (creation of forgeries). However thanks to Google this makes the task manageable. Sometimes I can draw upon my own expertise of a subject to obtain the desired effect.

Name one thing you learned from your hero.

The take home message from the book Facets of the Past is that crime doesn’t pay but honesty and tenacity does.

Do you have any interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

I prefer to write early in the morning (at dawn) while listening to Gregorian chanting playing in the background. It’s soothing to the soul and helps ideas flow as my fingertips dance across the keyboard.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Plotting and planning are my middle names. However there have been occasions where I’ve revisited the plot and changed it to suit a more intriguing storyline.

Look to your right – what is sitting there?

Funny you should ask this. There’s a shelf supporting a globe of the world. I guess that somehow at a subconscious level this object is the reason for taking the reader on a journey across the globe with each of my publications. Facets of the Past is set in Bavaria with a brief journey to the US (San Francisco).

Anything new coming up from you?

At the moment there’s a loose kernel of an idea levitating in my mind, waiting to grow into another exciting narrative. Question for your readers : Is there a particular time of day you would choose to read a certain genre, eg. Early afternoon – romantic comedy, and why?

When Hank Gild is given the opportunity to take up his dream job, he accepts the offer with excitement. As a tour guide at the historical imperial castle on Lake Starnberg, Hank delights his guests with stories of the late Bavarian emperor-his antics, his precious artifacts and the mystery shrouding his death in 1886. But it seems that not all the castle's visitors are of pure heart. Before long, Hank is forced down a path of greed, deception and danger with no way out. A once happy and simple life unexpectedly becomes a treacherous nightmare. Who can he trust? Can Hank save himself before learning the ultimate lesson?

Read an Excerpt

Sliding behind the tapestry immortalizing the king’s coronation, then positioning my flashlight to take full advantage of its beam, I went to work. The old lock cracked within seconds. The click echoing around the room appeared loud to my already adrenaline-laden senses. With a heart pounding like a jackhammer, I reached for the handle, savoring the feeling of cold brass against my clammy palm. The little secret door was finally ajar.

Anyone familiar with old doors would know that they never open quietly, their hinges invariably will creak. This one was no different. A rush of cold musty air rushed past me. Shining the torch, I could see that behind this partition was a short narrow corridor leading to a set of steps. Glancing at my watch, I noted there was still time before a second security sweep would be needed. br>
Tentatively, I walked into the unknown, first tackling the corridor and steep set of winding stairs to another locked door. As I prepared to pick its lock, images of an archaeological expedition crossed my mind – Tutankhamen. The oppressive musty air, steep dark tunnels and unlawful intrusion were some similarities taunting with my moral compass. I hoped that there were no microorganisms in this space causing a mysterious and deadly affliction or, worse, a curse. br>
Sweat built on my brow, the tools slipped from between my moist fingers, but eventually I opened the second door, revealing yet another very long tunnel. The ceiling was arched and low, suitable for anyone of shorter stature than my six-foot frame. As I walked bent over like the hunchback of Notre Dame, I calculated the approximate length of this tunnel to be eight hundred yards. Finally, reaching its end, another door beckoned to be unlocked. Putting my skill to good use, within seconds I found myself in a small underground room. br>
Shining the beam around the space, a sense of uncanny familiarity befell me. Then, at the far end of the antique wine cellar, I recognized a set of wooden steps. I was in the cellar of my cottage! Relieved at having completed this little adventure unscathed, I decided to retrace my steps back to the castle. br>
“I’ve been waiting for you, Hank!” br>
Startled, I spun around, my flashlight catching a dark hooded shape emerging from the shadows. br>
“Who are you? How do you know my name?” The harshness of my tone barely disguised my fear. The figure slowly stepped toward the middle of the room, his head bowed and face still concealed by the hood of what appeared to be a monk’s habit. He stood in silence. br>
“Who are you?” I demanded. Then, slowly lifting his head toward the light, revealing a sunken midface, sharply jutting jaw, a long beaked nose, and black penetrating eyes, the stranger answered, sending a chill down my spine. br>
“Call me the Handyman.”br>
About the Author:

Born in Dublin, Dr Monique Gliozzi, a graduate from the University of Western Australia medical school, has a keen interest in forensic sciences and psychiatry. She works as a psychiatrist in Perth, with ties to the UWA School of Psychiatry, where she has had a role as a senior clinical lecturer. Her love for teaching granted her a nomination for an Excellence in Teaching Award in 2016.

Monique also holds an interest in aviation. She trained at the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia, where she obtained a commercial pilot licence. Following this, Monique completed her instructor rating and is now working on a casual basis as a senior flight instructor.

Monique rekindled her passion for writing starting with the fictional thriller Foresight, followed by Hunted and ghostly encounters in Vestige. Her latest book, Diversity, is a compilation of entertaining short stories of different genres.

Connect with Monique Gliozzi:

WEBSITE: https://moniquegliozzi.com/
BLOG: https://paranormalpsychiatrist.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/moniquegliozziauthor
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/monique.gliozzi/?hl=en
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/GliozziMonique

Purchase Links:

AMAZON.COM: https://amazon.com/dp/0228848903
INDIGO CHAPTERS: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/facets-of-the-past-no/9780228848929-item.html
BARNES and NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/facets-of-the-past-monique-gliozzi/1139129049
RAKUTEN KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/facets-of-the-past
SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1076824
APPLE BOOKS: https://books.apple.com/us/book/facets-of-the-past-no-dark-deed-goes-unpunished/id1561052315

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Grave Robbing and Other Hobbies by Jayce Carter

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Abandoned at three—whose parents want a kid who sees ghosts?—I learned the world is quick to punish misfits. I try my best to be a normal, boring human, but the call of the supernatural just won’t be ignored.

When a stranger shows up on my doorstep in the middle of the night, it’s no sexy tryst. Instead, I’m off to the graveyard, digging up the corpse of a murder victim at the demand of the local vampire coven—and that small felony is just the start.

The spirit of the woman has gone missing, something that shouldn’t be possible, and everyone is looking to me for answers. There's Kase, a vampire who’s both terrifying and secretive. Grant, a mage with a bad attitude and a lot of power. Troy, the possessive werewolf-detective next door and Hunter, a mysterious bad boy who isn’t even close to human.

It’s a race not just against time but against everything to figure out where the spirits are going, who’s behind it and if I can trust the men who now share my bed.

And all because of a little grave robbing…

Read an Excerpt

“You need to do something,” I said as Kase and Troy struck a wall and knocked off a painting. Sure, it was a cheap one I’d picked up at a chain store, some mass-produced image of cherry blossoms I’d always thought would make me a calmer person, but it was my stupid painting and they’d ruined it!

“You’re right.” Grant snapped his fingers, whispering a few words.

The two fighting seemed unaffected, however, as Troy flung Kase off him and Kase sailed back, almost faster than my vision could follow.

I was about to tell Grant it hadn’t worked when I realized he had a bowl of popcorn now.

Had he really used his magic to summon popcorn? Hunter reached over me to grab a handful.

“You said you couldn’t use magic for frivolous things,” I stammered.

“I can’t.”

“You used it to get popcorn!”

Grant lifted the popcorn as though to make a point. “This isn’t frivolous, Ava. There is a man-on-man fight here—that requires snacks to properly watch. Get your priorities straight.”

My mouth hung open. Every time I thought I had my feet under me with these men, they showed me how wrong I was.

“They could kill each other,” I finally said.

“Sure, but they won’t.” Hunter stole another handful of popcorn and tossed some in his mouth, a few pieces falling to the couch. “Troy hasn’t fully shifted and Kase isn’t biting. This is just one of those macho alpha dominance shows. Let’s all be glad they’re doing this instead of actually measuring dicks. Trust me, that just hurts feelings.”

About the Author:

Jayce Carter lives in Southern California with her husband and two spawns. She originally wanted to take over the world but realized that would require wearing pants. This led her to choosing writing, a completely pants-free occupation. She has a fear of heights yet rock climbs for fun and enjoys making up excuses for not going out and socializing.

https://www.facebook.com/JayceCarterAuthor/
https://www.instagram.com/jaycecarterauthor/
https://www.jaycecarter.com/

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Sorcerers Reborn: Earth by Richard B.

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Richard B. will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Sorcerers Reborn is Book One in a series that begins here on Earth and takes you on a new and exciting journey in the world of Sorcerers, Dragons, Elves and more.

Midnight stops. She feels something she hasn’t felt in three thousand years, something that possesses magic. It’s to the east in the mountains. She runs toward the beacon. She stands in front of a sheer stone wall hundreds of feet tall. There is a cave three quarters of the way up where the magic resides. If she tries to reach whatever is up there, it could potentially kill her. She’s come this far, but her journey isn’t over yet.

Midnight was exiled to earth with six Sorcerers by the evil Sorcerer Tay’Ron. She is a creature of magic, created by magic. She holds the gift of Sorcery from six Sorcerers who have passed on, and she is on a mission to find people on earth who are worthy of possessing this power. Her legacy must continue. Time is of the essence.

She possesses the gift of Sorcery. Midnight is a creature derived from magic, a fairy creature created from magic. She is not a Sorcerer. The six other Sorcerers are the six she carries inside of herself.

Read an Exclusive Excerpt

As DeWayne finished one task, Midnight gave him another—each one more complicated than the last. He was getting better at seeing what he had to see to get the results he was aiming for. Midnight let him know that she was pleased with his progress, but didn’t make the lessons any easier for him.

“You have to understand that the more you use magic to accomplish these tasks that seem hard for you, the easier it will get. And that’s when you can start experimenting for yourself; however, I will still be here watching to see that you don’t blow yourself, or the apartment, up. One more thing you need to know. When you go out never use your magic. People don’t understand it. There is no sense in advertising you have it.”

DeWayne felt like he was back in grade school with Mrs. Bell. She was always telling him he had to “Pay more attention young man! You cannot depend on others to do your homework for you. That’s why you’re here: to learn.”

With the gift, he only needed to sleep for a few hours a day, waking refreshed. DeWayne spent a couple of hours every day working out in his apartment. He believed that getting, and staying, in shape had to be a part of his daily routine. Becoming a Sorcerer meant his ailments no longer held him back, but that didn’t mean he could ignore his physical body. There was plenty of time to work out and go about his usual routine of shopping and stopping for a beer, weather permitting, before Midnight’s daily lesson. In between, DeWayne and Midnight talked about how they were going to accomplish the transformation from DeWayne to his new self.

Reading was going to be a big part of that. Magic enhanced his abilities to not only read faster, but also to retain what he was reading. With each page he improved, until after a few days he could glance at a page and remember everything on it. Knowledge of coding, hacking, and being able to delve into the darker side of the internet would be beneficial, and he had no trouble accomplishing that. Once he learned how to hack into other websites, the rest came easily enough.

DeWayne created a new identity. He chose the name Jason Blain, derived from two people from his past. Jason had been a close childhood friend who had died from cancer. Blain was the maiden name of his wife, the only woman he had ever loved, who had died in a car accident far too young. Both their losses had been hard for him to deal with.

About the Author:

Rick (Richard B.) Ogle was born in 1951 in Northern Ontario. This is his first appearance in the writing world. He worked for forty-five plus years as a journeyman fabricator/welder. In 1978 Rick wrote a short story titled "Storms" that turned into two books. His work always came first, so writing took the back burner. Writing of Sorcerers Reborn began in late 2000, but again work came first, so the book was not revisited until he was forced into retirement in 2013.

In 1998 Rick went back to school to learn something that would get him out of his chosen trade as a fabricator/welder. In 1999 he spent six months as an adult literacy tutor and found that was rewarding when he saw the progress each student was making. He currently holds an Adult Instructors Diploma. He completed a six-month course to obtain an A+ computer technicians' certification. He has an AutoCAD certificate in drafting and design. He instructed classes for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access at the North Cariboo Community Skills Center in Quesnel BC.

Rick is self-taught in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) code and built his website in 1998 while he was in school. He named his website "Poems and Short Stories by Richard B". That website is still going today.

CONNECT WITH RICHARD B.

WEBSITE: https://sorcerersreborn.ca/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sorcerersreborn
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/richardbauthor
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5255029.Richard_B_

SORCERERS REBORN PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON.COM: https://amazon.com/dp/0228837995
AMAZON.CA: https://amazon.ca/dp/0228837995
BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/books/sorcerers-reborn-earth-9780228838005/9780228837992
INDIGO CHAPTERS: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/sorcerers-reborn-earth/9780228838012-item.html
BARNES and NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sorcerers-reborn-richard-b/1138565535
BOOK DEPOSITORY: https://www.bookdepository.com/Sorcerers-Reborn-Richard-B-Kimmy-Beach/9780228837992
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/sorcerers-reborn
SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1061877
APPLE BOOKS: https://books.apple.com/us/book/sorcerers-reborn-earth/id1547509133

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The Gospel According to Prissy by Barbara Casey

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Barbara Casey will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Three Army veteran misfits, a college dropout, an unmotivated high school graduate accused of murder, a controversial warden of a women's prison, and a little girl with the gift of prophesy – these are the people 31-year-old Lara Kruger invites into her life after suffering a miscarriage, a divorce from an abusive husband, and unemployment.

Read an Excerpt

The young child skipped through the tall trees and underbrush, unaware of the puddles created by recent rains or the low-lying tree branches and vines that swiped at her coveralls and scratched her bare arms. Hugging a doll that showed the wear of a favorite toy and a faint smudge of chocolate ice cream, the child pushed forward with determination. She knew where she wanted to go, and her face showed the intensity and resolve of a person much older than her five years. The black woman wearing the uniform of a prison guard struggled to keep up with her young charge. The thick green tangle of natural forest growth and uneven turf was more of a challenge to a woman her size and stature.

The child stopped when she reached a clearing, that place in the woods that wasn’t quite so overgrown and where the wild vegetation had been pressed from previous visits. In front of her was a tree, magnificent in size, ancient in age. She had reached her destination. She called it, quite simply, “the place.” Quietly, reverently, she approached the tree, reaching out and touching the familiar rough surface and its many irregular crevices. She squatted where some roots had pushed upward and were now gnarled and covered in bark before extending downward again deep into the soil. It was between two of these large root formations that the child placed the doll – a throne. Her hand explored the curvature of one darkened root, first touching the soft green moss, and then the small indented place that held water whenever it rained. It was moist. Satisfied, she knelt. Then, lowering her head and folding her dimpled hands together, she started to pray.

About the Author:

Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, author/agent/publisher Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, N.C. State University, and N.C. Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. In 1995 she established the Barbara Casey Agency and since that time has represented authors from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014, she became a partner with Strategic Media Books, an independent nonfiction publisher of true crime, where she oversees acquisitions, day-to-day operations, and book production.

Ms. Casey has written over a dozen award-winning books of fiction and nonfiction for both young adults and adults. The awards include the National Association of University Women Literary Award, the Sir Walter Raleigh Literary Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, the Dana Award for Outstanding Novel, the IP Best Book for Regional Fiction, among others. Two of her nonfiction books have been optioned for major films, one of which is under contract.

Her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in both national and international publications including the North Carolina Christian Advocate Magazine, The New East Magazine, the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Sunday Telegram, Dog Fancy, ByLine, The Christian Record, Skirt! Magazine, and True Story. A thirty-minute television special which Ms. Casey wrote and coordinated was broadcast on WRAL, Channel 5, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories. Her award-winning science fiction short stories for adults are featured in The Cosmic Unicorn and CrossTime science fiction anthologies. Ms. Casey's essays and other works appear in The Chrysalis Reader, the international literary journal of the Swedenborg Foundation, 221 One-Minute Monologues from Literature (Smith and Kraus Publishers), and A Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation).

Ms. Casey is a former director of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida, where she served as guest author and panelist. She has served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. In 2018 Ms. Casey received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas. She makes her home on the top of a mountain in northwest Georgia with three cats who adopted her, Homer, Reese and Earl Gray - Reese’s best friend.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Casey/e/B001K7S4IW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

The book will be on sale for $0.99 during the tour.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Prissy-Barbara-Casey/dp/098524402X

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The Viking's Warrior Bride by Mairibeth MacMillan

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Bjorn and Ylva. Two warriors who fight side by side. Two lovers who avoid commitments. But their convenient relationship just got complicated.

Determined to redeem her father’s name through her own brave deeds as a warrior, Ylva has no desire to give that up to be a mother. On the eve of returning home to the Norselands to find a foster family for her child, she is injured in an attack by a mysterious group of mercenaries. When Bjorn discovers her secret, everything changes. He has never wanted a family, his own father’s betrayal has seen to that, and yet he begins to wonder if there is anything else truly worth fighting for.

After a series of attacks by mercenaries on the fort they have been guarding, they’re asked to disguise themselves as traders and travel up the River Clyde to gather information. As they travel the situation grows stranger with every village they visit and Ylva begins to wonder what she is fighting for. All around them they find missing villagers, a mysterious bard and a population unhappy with their king and his choice of allies. When they visit the supposedly abandoned former royal residence at Alt Clut, a mysterious woman and her son stow away on the trade boat, putting all their lives in danger and prompting them to make a final stand but how much are they willing to sacrifice for their future?

Read an Excerpt

Neither Hjördis nor Ylva spoke as they rowed the byrthing away. Close to the mid-point of the river, they stopped rowing, and Hjördis set the sail while Ylva stood, staring back towards the shore, trying to watch Björn.

“Can I help?” Gemma asked from her hiding place under the sleeping furs.

“No, stay hidden,” Ylva said. “If they are to die today, then we must get you to Lord Cenydd so their deaths are not in vain.”

“I’m sorry,” Gemma said, but neither Ylva nor Hjördis responded. In the distance, she saw Björn stumble and a longsword swing towards him. She didn’t even blink as it hit him, high on his body, maybe even at his neck. She saw a curved scimitar swing, and Björn’s attacker fell. Björn slowly toppled over. Beside him, another man, perhaps Merfyn, fell too. She could see Qasim continuing to fight, but Stigr was not so easy to pick out of the crowd of men.

Ylva gripped the sides of the byrthing, staring back at the spot. She didn’t see Björn get up again. She started to shake and didn’t know how she managed to remain standing. Everything inside her had turned cold. “We need to go back.”

“No.” Hjördis’s voice was flat. Ylva glanced around, but they continued to sail downriver. Away from Björn.

About the Author:

Mairibeth MacMillan lives on the shores of Loch Long on the edge of Argyll and Bute. While very picturesque, living there seems to involve endless driving and family life currently involves running a taxi service.

She was a drama teacher for many years until, during a career break, she studied for a Creative Writing degree through the Open University followed by a Masters degree in Playwriting and Dramaturgy. Over the years she has had some success with short stories and flash fictions in various competitions, magazines and anthologies. In 2014 she was shortlisted for the New Writer’s Award at the Festival of Romance.

Inspired by the discovery of a Viking fort marked on the Ordnance Survey map nearby, she started working on a series of Viking Romances set in the Kingdom of Strathclyde at the end of the Ninth century. The Viking’s Cursed Bride was the first in a series of books about four Norse cousins as they build new lives far from home. The second book The Viking’s Warrior Bride is available now.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MairibethM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MairibethM Website: mairibethmacmillan.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mairibeth-MacMillan/e/B082FSM9D4/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

The book will be on sale for only $0.99.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Vikings-Warrior-Bride-Brothers-Thunder-ebook/dp/B092558PPB/ref=sr_1_3

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Twenty-Four Short Stories by Michael Ross

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michael Ross will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Things You Might Not Know About Me

Towards the end of my working career I went back to university for a six year part time degree in English Literature and Community Engagement – one of the best decisions in my life. The literature side of the degree was eye opening – who knew Shakespeare would be so interesting? How would I have known that at the end of the course that Virginia Woolf would be my favourite writer? Going off at a tangent here Woolf guided me it understanding the power of the ‘unsaid’ in writing. Occasionally in a short story I will leave an “unsaid” under the text to allow the reader to fill in the missing gaps. “Words, once written, have a life of their own.” However, the greatest, most rewarding part of my degree was the community engagement element of the course. I finished up running a reading group for a local charity that helped people on their way to recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. Before I became involved the group was poorly attended as they used to take one book at a time and work through it a long section at a time. I redevised it to work with just small chunks and most importantly I introduced poetry into the sessions, which was the turning point in the success of the groups which are still running ten years later. Quite of a few of my stories have evolved from stories that came out from participants who might have connected with the words of Dickens, Keats whatever.

I am still in touch on Facebook with some of these people and the joy to follow people who have turned their lives around form the darkest despair to fulsome and contented lives, for me, is joyful beyond words.

Thank you to Its Raining Books for making me reflect back.

Why can time consumed reliving memories provide enough motivation to carry on? Why keep a diary if you don’t want people to read it? Why let prejudice cloud your judgement? Why do the most simple of smells bring memories back to life? Why is it possible to believe the impossible? What does it feel like to take another person's life? Will the good deeds we do come back to us in different forms?

These are of some of the questions posed in this imaginative collection of short stories involving, amongst others; a private detective with super powers, a loveable car salesman, a dour public health inspector, a vicar’s daughter with a dark secret, a sculptor with a destructive obsession, a young man with a passion for language, a reluctant public executioner, two sisters whose petty disputes hide something deeper, a job hunter with an unusual skill.

There are so many diverse characters and in this intriguing and imaginative collection of stories everyone has a tale to tell. A collection of stories that will surely leave its mark on the reader.

Read an Excerpt

From my window, I spot my fellow students grouped in excited conversation, circling around, probing each other with thoughts and words, questions and answers. After two years, we know each other well. I know they all wish they could play the violin as well as me, and in my turn, I wish I could be as happy as them. I wind down by running through scales for twenty minutes, and then I hear the old grandfather clock in the hall strike eleven—my other life beckons.

In Chinatown, it is easy to find a restaurant where you can spend £100 a head on a meal. At my parent’s place, six people can eat like kings for less money.

The walk from the rehearsal rooms takes the best part of an hour. I cast aside my musical mantle as I walk, so that by the time I reach Uncle Wong’s, I am prepared for my twice-weekly four-hour shift. This is the only payment my father and mother have ever asked of me. It is nothing.

Two years ago, my parents ushered me into the tiny lounge area above their restaurant, and wordlessly, my mother passed me my gift. My eyes moved to my father and then back to my mother. I could not speak. It was beautiful. Feeling its dark ebony grain, I turned it tentatively through my fingers, tilting, and twisting—gazing, unsure of my breath.

“Baba. Mamma. It’s beautiful, but you cannot afford it.”

“Shush, my son.” The look on my mother’s face said that my joy was all they required.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Bristol, England. I spent my adult life in business, the majority of that time marketing cars. I eventually owned the largest Saab specialist in the world, before a divorce put an end to that part of my life.

This led me to leave Bristol to live halfway up a mountain in the Welsh Valleys; start a part-time six year English Literature course at Bristol University, and attend creative writing classes in Cardiff. My interest in English literature flourished and I have since won several prizes for my short stories. My first book, 'Twenty Short Stories - Settling a score," reached No 1 in the Short Stories Best Sellers and is still available, as is "Twenty-One (more) Short Stories,” and “Another Twenty-Two Short Stories.”

Also available are the first 5***** crime thrillers in the Tanner and Pin-up series:

Hand over Fist
Hand in Glove

Plus a 5***** light hearted rom-com "Chasing What's Already Gone.”

I still live very happily halfway up that mountain in the Welsh Valleys with my wonderful partner, Mari, and our two rescue dogs, Wavy and Wenna.

Website: http://michaelrosswriter.net/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michaelross.writer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikerosswriter

The book will be free.

https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Four-Short-Stories-anthology-ebook/dp/B09416592Y/ref=sr_1_2

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Wired by the F.B.I. by Glenn Painter

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win $100 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Christian Romano lives his life as a con-artist, burglar, drug dealer, and a ladies' man, using his good looks to con wealthy women out of jewels and money. When he is arrested and jailed in one of the most violent jails in the U.S. (Cook County in Chicago), a steamy affair begins with a nympho female jail guard. When he loses control of the romance, Christian must end the affair by reporting her to Internal Affairs. It turns out that she is already under suspicion for supplying drugs to various gang members inside the jail. He has to decide if he is "rogue" enough to help set her up for arrest. Meanwhile, the FBI wants to recruit Christian to gather information against a sadist ex-cop, Scott Mason, who has been arrested for murder. The risk? Christian must wear a wire and testify. The reward? Witness protection for Christian and his girlfriend and a modification of his prison sentence. Will Christian risk his life for a chance at freedom? Will the female sheriff "get even" with him? Or will his life end at the hands of the jail's drug lords or a lunatic former cop?

Read the Review

This is a stark look at life in the prison system and the life that led Christian Romano to prison. From all accounts, Christian was a good-looking, charming man who found it easier to make a living conning wealthy women our of their jewels and money. With money being that easy to come by, why on earth would he want to work? Alas, all good things must come to an end, and Christian found himself incarcerated.

The struggles he goes through in jail, as well as everything that happens to him out of jail, should at the least serve as a warning. The life he leads is not a pretty one - especially once he is busted and thrown in jail. And, even when he thinks he has found a way to get some of his own back, things do not work out the way he hopes.

Christian cannot rightly be called the hero of the book, nor is he even an anti-hero. He is however compelling to read about - but I don't think I would like to try and make friends with him. He's not a very likable person. But... as I said.... there is still something compelling about reading about him. I could easily see this made into an HBO movie...somewhere all the grittiness can be seen.

The book is well written and as hard to put down as it is hard to read emotionally. A compelling picture of a life told in an equally compelling way. I'ld be interested in checking out more of Mr. Painter's works. 4 stars.  

Read an Excerpt

Something’s wrong, my intuition told me, as I stepped out of the stairwell and into the chaotic frenzy of the main hallway running under Division One of the Cook County jail.

Sergeant Ricky Walsh opened the heavy, rusted steel door leading to the death trap—that is A-B stairwell—then turned to me. “Romano, take the stairs down four flights to the bottom, I will meet you there.”

There are four sets of stairs that lead to the main boulevard on the first floor. They are legendary for the infamous men who have been butchered there, the bloodstained walls are a testament to the violence that is the norm in this building. As I begin my descent down the narrow and poorly lit stairwell, the thought hits me: At least half a dozen men have been stabbed in this exact place. The words taunt me as I step slowly down the stairs so that Walsh will have time to beat me to the first floor in the old, decrepit elevator.

When I finally make it down, I breathe a sigh of relief. But it is not Walsh waiting at the huge, steel door I am to exit. Instead of the old mick—who looked and walked like a bulldog with his perfectly groomed hair and mustache—it was one of the lackey guards. They would often hang out on the main floor waiting to proposition some poor woman coming to visit her man. I open the door and step through quickly, not wanting to arouse suspicion. But my heart hangs in my throat.

During my trip down the stairwell, the heavy steel recorder slid down my pant leg, stopping on top of my right foot. The ACE bandage, meant to hold it in place, was also dangling and ready to pop out for everyone to see. Panic set in as my mind processed a million thoughts, but I couldn’t break my stride.

It was common knowledge that this is where inmates often came out stabbing when sent to attack a guard by one of the gang bosses. Looking past the guard, I saw Sergeant Walsh bearing down on us as fast as his stubby legs would carry him.

“Hey Walsh,” I said, “the food poisoning is getting worse, I’m gonna puke all over this guy.” These guards tolerated zero bull, especially from a smart-ass like me.

I decided that it was quicker and easier to shove the recorder under the waistband of my jail pants and pray it would stay. After splashing water on my face, I poked my head out.

Walsh fell right in line with my cover. “We’re going to the hospital, come with me!” he bellowed.

I exited the closet, pushing the recorder into my torso as we walked past another guard. We traveled down the long hallway. Once we were far enough out of earshot, Walsh found an unoccupied attorney visiting room. As he opened the door, I scurried to the far corner.

“The hallway is clear!” Walsh yelled.

I pulled the recorder from my waistband and looked at it with disdain. Then I wrapped it tight with the ACE bandage. Although the long recording wires had to be reconnected and it only took a few moments, it felt like forever.

Then it hit me: I’m wearing a wire against one of the most violent hitmen Chicago has ever known, and this prick had been a Chicago cop. He probably knows every person who works in this jail. Getting whacked in a place like this costs less than a carton of cigarettes. What the hell have I gotten myself into? But there was no backing out, and I still had to get back to my tier.

Walsh looked at me, his brow furrowed. He quietly asked, “You alright, kid?”

“I better be. I signed a deal with the devil, and it’s time to pay up.”

I drew in a deep breath as we headed to the hospital, so we could sign in and make it look legit.

How did my life get to this point? I wondered as I followed Walsh. Growing up in Chicago, I was exposed to police corruption, murder, drugs, gangsters, and sex, oh yes, lots and lots of sex.

I had no clue of what awaited me, but my unsavory legacy was about to go down in history like crap down a toilet.

About the Author:

Glenn Painter is single and lives in Central Florida. He became interested in writing at an early age but did not make it his career until 2014 when he published his first book, Beyond the Sentence.

Glenn has written this story from the notes by the man who actually lived it. However, extensive research was also require in order to make the story factual.

Glenn has also founded a company, ‘Prisoner Civil Right Services.’ He is an advocate for incarcerated individuals who have had their rights violated. He is in constant contact with these individuals, their families and the council. Most of his stories are inspired by ‘factual events’ that have happened to these individuals. This makes his stories both fiction and non-fiction.

Glenn says that writing is very challenging, and you must love the trials and tribulations that come with it. He believes that patience, perseverance and determination are required essentials to see a book through to being published. The journey is just as important as the destination.

Website: http://www.gapainter.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Glenn-Painter/e/B00NETNKU6%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9875593.Glenn_Painter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/author2663

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WS6DQBT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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