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*REVIEW* – Ensnared: The Spider’s Mate #1, by Tiffany Roberts

#MonsterRomance #Romance #SciFi #Fantasy

Blurb

He’s spent years as a hunter, but now he’s the one ensnared in a creature’s trap.

Ketahn did not want a mate. Fate has a different plan for him. When the queen he despises declares her intention to claim him, he retreats into the jungle.

What he finds there changes his world.

Small, delicate, and pale skinned, Ivy Foster is nothing like the females Ketahn has known. She’s not of his kind at all. Yet the moment he sees her, he knows the truth in his soul—she is his heartsthread.

And now that he has her, he won’t let anything take her away. Not the jungle, not the gods, not the queen.

Whether Ivy agrees or not, their webs are entangled. No one will ever sever those threads.
—-
Book 1 of 3 in The Spider’s Mate Trilogy.

Warning: Contains darker themes and S/A. There is also a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

My Review – 5 stars

Original, Sexy and Fun! 

When I started to read this book, it was not without some trepidation as I am a HUMONGOUS arachnophobe. Yet, whilst the male lead is well and truly spider-like, the author writes in such a way that by the end of the story it mattered not as his character and his relationship with Ivy transcended any physical attributes and differences between them.

We learn a lot about Ketahn at the beginning of the story and how he lives alone in the jungle, away from his own kind to avoid the machinations of the court of the evil queen, a female who has her sights well and truly set on him. I loved how the circumstances of how Ketahn and Ivy meet set the scene for events which play out later in the novel. Ketahn is immediately fascinated by Ivy. He takes it upon himself to protect her as she is so vulnerable and unlike the fearsome females he knows. He keeps her close to him and hidden from his kind. 

Overall their romance is a slow burn, with some truly sweet moments and also some humourous ones. Ivy’s initial, and very understandable, terror of Ketahn turns at first to friendship and then to something more, something they both try and deny to themselves, but which cannot be denied – cue some HOT scenes, where Ketahn’s spider-like attributes come into their own…

This is an inspired read by the author in SO many ways – if you had told me a few weeks ago I would be lapping up a romance with a human female and an alien spider-like creature, I would not have believed you! However, their romance is one to savour as shared respect and understanding grows between them as Ketahn teaches Ivy to survive – I particularly loved how they learned to communicate with each other and learn each others’ language and about their many differences. As Ivy learns about the world she finds herself in and Ketahn learns about Ivy they become ever closer.

The worldbuilding and plotting is excellent, the author painting a detailed and credible picture of Ketahn’s society and home world.  We are introduced to a number of key characters who play an important role in the evolving plot and from the outset Ketahn is a sympathetic character who is protective of those he cares for and there is nothing he cares more about than Ivy. Yet will she agree to bond with him and what of the queen, who will stop at nothing to make him bond with her. There are some heart stopping moments in the book, which ends on a cliffhanger, and I am looking forward to the next instalment.

Recommended for lovers of sci-fi and fantasy romance. 

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Purchase Links

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Connect with the Author

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*REVIEW* – Frost to Dust (The Last Tritan #2), by Myra Danvers

#DarkFantasy

Blurb

Their lives are linked.

Mila’s power has been stolen. Taken by a villain she can’t escape, her secrets all revealed. Held in thrall by an enemy she hates, she is consumed by the man whose mark circles her throat. Her wrists…

Her every action subject to the whims of Captain Asher Rawlings.

Controlling, jealous and possessive, he means to keep her for his own. To claim her magic and use it to rise within the ranks of the Caledonian army with a powerful priestess chained to his side—but Mila is untrained. Her magic volatile when it should be a soothing balm.

And what is dangerous to one, is deadly to the other.

A weakness in what should be an unbreakable bond.

In a place where even the slightest vulnerability is an open invitation for disaster, their bond is a lure for powerful men to strike without mercy.

On her knees but not defeated, Mila must choose. Give in to Asher and embrace her power…

Or let them both fall… 

Goodreads

My Review – 5 stars

Passionate and Intense – a brilliant read!

The latest instalment in Mila and Asher’s story is fast-paced, passionate and intense, crackling with raw emotions. As the book before it, Flame to Frost, I found it to be another brilliant dark fantasy read.

The the battle of wits between Asher and his captive priestess Mila is just exquisite to read. The scenes where they are together are smoking hot and the book is also cleverly plotted and populated with well-drawn characters. Mila continues to defy her captor at every turn, a task that is so much more difficult since they are now linked. She is not only subject to Asher’s control, but also the rules of others of his ilk, the hated invaders who destroyed her homeland.

I hugely enjoyed the descriptions of the couple’s bond and the magic that swirls in and around them and others. Mila’s magic is untamed and wild and she has so many internal battles as she attempts to gain control over her powers and her developing relationship with Asher, a member of the enemy Elite. She despises him for what he represents and what he makes her do and feel – Asher is an Alpha through and through and he will be obeyed. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, with hidden agendas and plots aplenty.

When it all unravels and comes to the crunch what will Mila and Asher do, as their bond means that their survival is linked? I was literally swept away by their story and blown away by the ending which I did not see coming. I cannot wait to read the next instalment to see what happens next!

Readers of dark fantasy who like a smoking and highly charged captor/captive or enemies to lovers trope will love this story.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily lieaving a review.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Author Links

https://myradanvers.com/

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*REVIEW* – The Last Hour of Gann, by R. Lee Smith

#DarkFantasy #Scifi  #Epic #Romance #LoveStory

Adult Read

Blurb

It was her last chance:

Amber Bierce had nothing left except her sister and two tickets on Earth’s first colony-ship. She entered her Sleeper with a five-year contract and the promise of a better life, but awakened in wreckage on an unknown world. For the survivors, there is no rescue, no way home and no hope until they are found by Meoraq—a holy warrior more deadly than any hungering beast on this hostile new world…but whose eyes show a different sort of hunger when he looks at her.

It was his last year of freedom:

Uyane Meoraq is a Sword of Sheul, God’s own instrument of judgment, victor of hundreds of trials, with a conqueror’s rights over all men. Or at least he was until his father’s death. Now, without divine intervention, he will be forced to assume stewardship over House Uyane and lose the life he has always known. At the legendary temple of Xi’Matezh, Meoraq hopes to find the deliverance he seeks, but the humans he encounters on his pilgrimage may prove too great a test even for him…especially the one called Amber, behind whose monstrous appearance burns a woman’s heart unlike any he has ever known.

Goodreads

My Review = 5 stars

In a word EPIC!

This sci-fi/fantasy is a long and intense read and one to truly savour. The tale, which also contains a beautiful love story, is mind blowing and emotional and I was totally sucked into the world and the characters created by the author.

The worldbuilding is superb; the complex society Amber and her fellow humans find themselves on after their ship crashes onto an unknown planet is brutal and inhospitable and their survival is questionable. It is only when their paths cross with the warrior/priest Meoraq that their salvation seems possible. Meoraq’s own destiny becomes inextricably entwinned with that of Amber and the humans, setting the scene  for an unforgettable and complex story.

The read is dark and graphic in content, especially when it comes to sex and violence. There are some horrific scenes and a number of characters can only be described as truly wicked. I felt broken at various points, but I was compelled to continue as the plot was so gripping and there are moments of light and pure love which shone through the darkness.

I enjoyed how we are able to see the humans through the eyes of Meoraq, who regards them as ugly and weak. At first the humans view him as little more than an animal – yet my goodness they are in for a surprise! We soon learn that humans can be equally as monstrous as Meoraq’s fellow citizens, the lizardmen who are natives of the planet they find themselves on.

Amber is a character who I warmed through as the book progressed – she is mouthy and stubborn and not afraid to speak her mind, even though her comments fall on stony ground (which they do to her own detriment). Her her journey is a painful one. As for Meoraq, I wanted to shake him at times but he is a product of his culture and upbringing and his path too is one full of challenges. He is deeply religious, yet also a warrior who is used to being powerful and in control at all times and taking his due wherever he goes. His faith is tested throughout by people and events.

I loved how Amber questions him throughout. There is no fated mates human/alien love trope here – their romance is a slow burn and they cannot even understand each other to start with. I loved how the couple came together and how the relationship grew and developed into such an epic love story.

There are many dark moments and surprises in the book and the read is certainly not for the faint hearted. It will appeal to readers who enjoy sci-fi and/or fantasy where the world building and characters come together to create a truly inforgettable and thought provoking read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Connect with the Author

Website

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*BOOK TOUR/REVIEW* – Curry Compendium, by Richard Sayce

ABOUT CURRY COMPENDIUM

Richard Sayce, the man behind Misty Ricardo’s Curry Kitchen, does it again. Following his award winning two previous curry volumes, Curry Compendium is a hardback masterpiece for all those wanting to reproduce that British Indian restaurant style of cooking.

Beautifully compiled with mouth-watering photography and additional images credited to many of the author’s social media devotees, this compendium is a book that will be revisited time and time again, not least for its top tips on scaling up recipes and innovative use of QR codes.  Available for most recipes chefs in the making can simply scan the QR code with their smartphone and instantly watch the associated YouTube video.

For all those hesitant to cook a curry from scratch let Richard Sayce show you the way.  You won’t be disappointed.

Curry Compendium is based on the two top selling paperback prequels Indian Restaurant Curry at Home Volumes 1 and 2 which have collectively sold over 50,000 copies in three years. Both books won Gourmand World Cookbook awards for the best UK self-published cookbooks.

Richard Sayce has combined all the content from both these books into a quality hardback format, added a splattering of new recipes, and updated many of the photographs and illustrations.

Inside the new book you’ll find an abundance of mouth-watering, delightfully easy to follow Indian restaurant recipes. These are all backed up with detailed and comprehensive informational chapters: everything you need to learn the art of curry cooking.

Curry Compendium contains all you need to create your own restaurant quality food at home in your kitchen. Start saving a fortune on takeaways!

ISBN: 978-1-9996608-3-3
Publication Date: 1st September 2021
Format: Hardback, 320 pages, colour throughout

My Review – 5 stars

Inspirational, no-nonsense and practical. A treasure trove of traditional and lesser known recipes

I adore Indian food, whether I am eating out or cooking it at home. However, when it comes to my own culinary efforts, I can count on the fingers of one hand the occasions when I have cooked an Indian dish from scratch. Instead, I rely on using the jars, with their limited supply of recipes, which adorn the supermarket shelves. The unfamiliarity of some of the ingredients and my lack of knowledge and expertise when it comes to preparing such dishes has been a barrier. I was therefore delighted when I was given the opportunity to review this book by Richard Sayce and was keen to learn, put aside my crises of confidence and finally get hands on with the Indian cuisine.

The book is both informative and inspirational. I enjoyed the author’s own recollections of his first encounters with Indian food (similar to my own and many others I am sure) and how he overcome his own reticence to cook such delicious dishes that comprise the British Indian Restaurant style which the book focuses on.

The book is beautifully illustrated and the style of writing is engaging, taking the reader from the basics to more involved recipes in a no-nonsense practical style. I particularly enjoyed the hints and tips which the author shares with the reader throughout, gained from his many years mastering the cuisine. It contains chapters on starters, classic curries, special dishes, extra hot curries, vegeatable curries, side dishes, rice and breads and sundries, not to mention  a selection of mouthwatering street food and specialities.

This book has not only demystified the cusine’s most iconic recipes, but it has also introduced me to many more. It is indeed a treasure trove to all who desire to gain confidence in cooking and delve further into the myriad of dishes  available. I have now stocked up on just a number of key Indian spices and am armed with the know-how to produce a host of dishes I would never dream of having a go at cooking in the past.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

I received a copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Sayce, the man behind Misty Ricardo’s Curry Kitchen, Curry Compendium and the cookbooks Indian Restaurant Curry at Home Volumes 1 & 2, has many years’ experience in the world of Indian food. A love of curry from an early age motivated him to master the art of BIR (British Indian Restaurant) cooking and to share his passion with others.

“I’ve been interested in cooking since an early age and have always loved Indian food. My passion led me to learn all about how curry is cooked in restaurants and takeaways here in the UK, which was my first experience of Indian food.

I endeavoured to finally master the art of creating excellent BIR style curry, and with time and a lot of experimentation, finally gained enough skill and knowledge to be happy with sharing my experiences.”

Richard lives in the North West of England and dedicates his ‘foodie’ time to cooking, recipes, social media, catering, and of course eating. A firm love of Indian food in both home and restaurant styles gives plenty of motivation to experiment and try out new recipes and ideas.

His two previous books, Indian Restaurant Curry at Home Volume 1 and 2, have each won the Gourmand World Cookbook award for best UK Self-Published Cookbook, 2019 and 2020 respectively, and have sold many thousands of copies in the UK and abroad. His long-standing YouTube channel has over 40,000 subscribers and over six million views.

Website: www.mistyricardo.com

Facebook: www.mistyricardo.com/mistyricardoscurrykitchen

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/mistyricardo

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mistyricardo

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mistyricardo

Email: sales@mistyricardo.com

LEMON RICE from Curry Compendium by Richard Sayce

You may have noticed lemon rice in the ‘rice & sundries’ section of Indian restaurant and takeaway menus. It’s yet another hidden gem which is sadly disregarded.

My version uses both lemon juice and the essential lemon rind, along with some unconventional spices which I think complement the zesty flavour of this fried rice accompaniment.

This recipe will make enough for one or two people when served alongside a main dish. If you wish to make extra it’s best to repeat the recipe each time instead of scaling up. It’s quick to cook and the results are well worth it!

This recipe is based on that from my new book, Curry Compendium, published on 10th Sept 2021.

All spoon measurements are level. Dig in!

INGREDIENTS

  • 200g Cooked Basmati Rice (left to dry/cool so not moist)
  • 2 TBSP (30ml) Vegetable Oil or Butter Ghee
  • ½ tsp Cumin Seeds
  • ½ tsp Black or Yellow Mustard Seeds
  • 60g Onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, finely sliced
  • 1-2 tsp finely chopped fresh Green Chilli (optional)
  • ¼-½ tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Spice Mix – see separate recipe
  • ½ tsp Turmeric
  • ½ tsp Tandoori Masala powder (optional)
  • ½ tsp Kalonji Seeds (also known as Nigella or Onion seeds)
  • 1-2 tsp Lemon Rind (finely grated or chopped)
  • 2 TBSP fresh Coriander Leaves, finely chopped
  • 1 TBSP fresh Lemon Juice
  • 1-2 tsp Butter Ghee to finish (optional)

METHOD

  1. Cook the basmati rice according to the instructions on the packet or your preferred method. Make sure any excess water is drained, then run a fork through it gently a few times and leave to dry off a bit and cool. Don’t leave rice at room temperature for more than an hour or so. If in doubt place the rice container in ice cold water or refrigerate after cooking.
  2. Heat the oil or ghee in a wok or frying pan on high heat.
  3. Add the cumin and mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds start to pop add the chopped onion and 2 garlic cloves.
  4. Stir fry for 30-45 seconds or until the onion browns at the edges. The sweetness of the partly caramelised onion will complement the sharpness of the lemon.
  5. Now add the salt, mix powder, turmeric, tandoori masala, kalonji seeds, and the optional green chilli.
  6. Continue frying for 20-30 seconds stirring diligently to prevent the spices from sticking and burning.
  7. Then add the lemon rind, the cooked basmati rice, and the finely chopped coriander leaves.
  8. Mix well and continue stir frying for a minimum of 90 seconds until the rice is piping hot.
  9. Add the fresh lemon juice shortly before the end of cooking, and if you wish, top with some butter ghee for extra richness.
  10. Serve, sprinkling a little bit more fresh coriander on top.

RECIPE FOR SPICE MIX USED IN ABOVE LEMON RICE

Also known commonly as ‘Mix Powder’, this is a mixture of basic spices, and is used in most British Indian restaurants to form the basis of the spicing. This is the recipe I most commonly use, which I find gives a good foundation of flavour to all curries.

This recipe will make enough for at least 12 curries but you can scale the ingredients down if you wish. For the best result, ground the cumin and coriander seeds.

Once prepared, store airtight and away from light – it will then last for months.

Simply mix the following together:

  • 1 TBSP Cumin Powder
  • 1 TBSP Coriander Powder
  • 1½ TBSP Turmeric Powder
  • ½ TBSP Paprika (NOT smoked)
  • 1½ TBSP Mild Madras Curry Powder
  • ¼ tsp Garam Masala

Recipes credited to Curry Compendium by Richard Sayce, available online and in all good bookshops, £24.99.

 

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Resisting the Firefighter: Bad Boys of Baltown, by Christina Phillips, Mel Teshco and Cathleen Ross

#ContemporaryRomance #FirefighterRomance

Blurb

Three hot firefighter brothers – and the women they save.
Any way they can…

Book 1 – Resisting Tate by Christina Phillips

Everyone loves a hero… don’t they?

To most people Tate Thompson is a catch. Good looking, funny and a firefighter who has saved plenty of lives. But to Ruby he spells danger.

Still grieving for the loss of her dad, who was also a firefighter and died in the line of duty, there’s no way she can go through that kind of pain again. Except her insides melt when she’s in Tate’s arms. Maybe she should take a chance on him?

Firefighting is in Tate’s blood and he’s never let anything get between him and his job. Until he meets Ruby.

She’s not just sexy as hell. She’s the first person who’s been able to quiet the roar of guilt he’s lived with for half his life. Maybe commitment isn’t such a dirty word, after all?

But when fires ravage the country, both Tate and Ruby must confront their darkest fears if they want a chance of making it together.

Book 2 – Resisting Lachlan by Mel Teshco

Can he save her from herself?

Lachlan might have a well-earned reputation with the ladies, but outside of the bedroom he has a strong moral code. His clients at the gym can’t thank him enough for their health transformations, and when he’s not at work he’s often pulling on his volunteer firefighter suit to help put out fires. Then he spies his new neighbor. Even before they become lovers he knows he wants more than a one night stand. He wants her permanently in his bed. If only he can convince her that losing one man in a fire doesn’t mean she’ll lose him, too.

After a house fire takes the life of her violent husband, Justine leaves the past behind and moves to the outskirts of Baltown. But when bush fires threaten the tinder dry area, and her sexy neighbor turned lover is one of the fire crew risking his life to save others, she realizes she can run again, but she can’t leave survivor guilt behind. But will she face her fears head-on or escape from the one man who might break her heart?

Book 3 – Resisting Adam by Cathleen Ross

Secrets shadow Emma Cain’s life, ones she can’t unlock by herself. When a bushfire threatens the valley she lives in, her ex-boyfriend, firefighter, Adam Thompson, demands she leave her home. Saving her precious cattle means everything to Emma, even if she has to agist them on Adam’s property. His fireproof place is the one safe place, but is it safe for her heart?

Adam Thompson is determined to get Emma back and right the wrongs of the past. Bit by bit he unlocks Emma’s heart, except he is holding on to a secret that could totally destroy her.

My Review – 5 stars

Steam, sass and emotions run high…

A super collection of three sexy and steamy novellas featuring Aussie firefighter siblings, Tate, Lachlan and Adam Thompson, and Ruby, Justine and Emma, the sassy women who turn their lives upside down. The collection contains themes of grief, secrets, ill-health and domestic abuse, all of which are portrayed in a realistic and sensitive way. I particularly loved how each of the couples worked through their respective issues and backstories to reach their HEA. I also enjoyed that each of the romances were very different whilst being linked in terms of the time frame.

Christina Philips’s Resisting Tate is an emotional read – Ruby has been through a lot and is still grieving, yet her attraction to Tate is off the charts. For sure, Tate is a real hottie, and I enjoyed how their relationship played out and how Ruby faced her demons. I found Ruby’s great-aunt to be a real character too!

I loved how in Mel Teshco’s Resisting Lachlan, Justine turned the tables on the ladies man Lachlan, and it is he who has to do the running. They are so good together and I was itching for Justine to put her trust in him, despite her misgivings.

Cathleen Ross’ Resisting Adam is a lovely second chance romance. Trust, secrets and forgiveness are key themes as Adam tries to keep his ex safe from the wildfires, whilst trying to persuade her to make a go of the attraction they still have for one another. I enjoyed how Emma grew in strength, both because of and despite her past. As with the other romances in the collection I was urging them on to confront and overcome their personal issues.

The collection is perfect for readers looking for contemporary romances which pack in some serious steam and emotion.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of the book was given to me by the authors for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Connect with the Authors

Christina Phillips

Mel Teshco

Cathleen Ross

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*REVIEW* – Cut and Run: A Contemporary Reverse Harem Romance Novel (The Dreadnoughts Book 2), by Lucy Felthouse

#Romance #ReverseHarem #Suspense #Superheroes

Blurb

Kim’s on track to save the world—but will she pay with her life?

Kim Medhurst, ex-British military intelligence officer turned scientist and climate activist, has a vitally important project on her hands. The mysterious object she set out to retrieve from the remote Scottish island has the potential to power the entire planet. All she needs to do is figure out exactly how to make it happen, and the Scottish Highlands seems the perfect place to complete her research in peace—as well as enjoy the company of the gorgeous Greig twins.

Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple. Someone knows what Kim’s up to and wants to get their hands on her and the object she now calls the ygrene. As if that wasn’t concerning enough, Chastain goes missing, spurring Kim and the others into action. The team’s newfound abilities come in handy as they attempt to find their friend and navigate the murky underworld of dirty energy and those who profit from it.

But, even with their powers, will they be a match for a greedy megalomaniac with no morals?

PLEASE NOTE: Cut and Run has a cliffhanger ending.

Cut and Run is the second book in The Dreadnoughts reverse harem romance series.

My Review

Superpowered and sexy! 5 stars

Cut and Run is the second book in the Dreadnoughts series and I found it to be a suspenseful, sexy and action-packed read. I do recommend that you read the first in the series, Search and Rescue, before this one to get maximum enjoyment as this instalment starts off where the previous one ended: Chastain goes missing in London and Kim and the Greig twins go all out to rescue him, calling on their recently acquired superpowers to do so – I just loved these scenes!

It soon becomes apparent that someone out there is not happy at all with Kim’s discovery of the mysterious and powerful substance ygrene, and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. I loved how protective the men were of Kim and enjoyed the superhero premise of the story, especially how they used their newfound abilities to work together to achieve their aims.

Whilst Kim’s attraction to the twins is more instantaneous, it is more of a slow burn when it comes to Chastain. Indeed, sparks fly between the two and I thoroughly enjoyed how they went from rubbing each other up the wrong way to succumbing to their mutual attraction.

The tension increases as the plot develops and the book ends on another cliffhanger. I am looking forward to how it all plays out in terms of the danger the team are in and how Kim and her men manage the the complexities of their relationship.

Recommended for readers who enjoy a sexy and engaging read with a strong heroine and a superhero theme.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Connect with the Author

https://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/

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*COVER REVEAL* – A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls, by Katie Mettner

#OwnVoices #Romance #ChristmasRomance #HolidayRomance

Publication Date: 12 Oct 2021

Publisher: Breaking Night Press

Blurb

Actress Carrie Murray’s films are a Christmas lover’s delight. Filled with twinkling lights, festive carols, and happy endings, they’re the perfect escape from reality—for her and the audience. Then Tinseltown calls.

Braxton Timothy is Hollywood’s biggest action star. Handsome and talented but decidedly on the naughty list, no one can fathom his sudden desire to produce a feel-good Christmas movie—least of all, his no-name co-star.

Alternating between scenes reminiscent of everyone’s favorite made-for-TV movies and unexpected, off-screen chemistry, Gingerbread Falls has surprises in store this holiday season. The question is, will there be enough Christmas magic to convince two imperfect people that they’re perfect for each other?

This “sweet as a Christmas cookie” romance (bestselling author Heidi Swain) includes an original recipe for Maple Glazed Gingerbread Scones.

Pre-Order

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Katie Mettner writes small-town romantic tales, filled with epic love stories and happily-ever-afters. She proudly wears the title of ‘the only person to lose her leg after falling down the bunny hill’ and loves decorating her prosthetic with the latest fashion trends. She lives in Northern Wisconsin with her own happily-ever-after and three mini-mes. Katie has a massive addiction to coffee and Twitter, and a lessening aversion to Pinterest— now that she’s quit trying to make the things she pins.

Website: http://www.katiemettner.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wisconsinwriter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatieMettner

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarlipswi

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/du7LwH

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*RELEASE BLITZ/EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY – HONEYBEES AND SEXY TEES, BY KATIE METTNER


Publication date: July 20th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

Synopsis:

The devil is in the details, and the Lady of the Lake holds the clue.

Honey Blois is no stranger to pain. The lasting effects of an abusive childhood have made her life challenging, but it’s the ache of unrequited love she can no longer bear. When her confession goes unanswered, she has no choice but to fall out of love with her best friend.

Mathias Jørgensen is living a lie. The billionaire playboy buries the pain of loving the one woman he can’t have with flashy cars and bad decisions—until Honey’s letter comes to light. With renewed hope for the future, he vows to find his way back to the boy she fell in love with if it’s the last thing he does.

And it might be.

As the pair blurs the line between friends and lovers, his unscrupulous past demands a reckoning. To save the woman he loves from a watery grave, Mathias will have to remember every last detail of the life he’s desperate to forget.

Goodreads

Excerpt

I had dreamed of kissing my best friend for as long as I could remember. Now, here I was in the middle of the most romantic place in Plentiful, his lips pressed to mine and my heart pounding in my chest. Who was this man? Why was he kissing me? How had I missed how much he’d changed over the last year? Was my Mattie finely going to rise up and take control? I sighed again.

Mattie was kissing me.

Finally, my soul was connected with what it had needed for twenty years. Its mate.

His lips left mine slowly, and I waited. I waited to open my eyes and find out all of this was a dream. Instead, I opened them to the lake blue of his. I dropped my arms from around his neck and brought one hand to my lips in a haze of shock and lust.

“Why—why did you do that?” My voice shook from the array of emotions coursing through me. I was drowning in the love that swelled inside my heart for this man. I couldn’t catch my breath, and I wasn’t sure I ever would again.

He ran his thumb over my lips with tenderness and wonder. “Because I’ve been pretending that I haven’t wanted to for years.”

“And now you’re done pretending?” I was unsure of myself when I spoke, and I didn’t want to say too much before letting him explain.

“No,” he said with a dazed head shake. “Now I had to know if I was crazy.”

“You had to kiss me to know if you were crazy?” The thrumming of my heart paused in my chest while I waited for his answer.

His gaze darted away from mine while he put his thoughts together. The expression on his face and the stiffness of his spine told me he was looking for the right way to describe what he was feeling. “I guess curiosity is a better word.”

Anger filled me and overpowered the love I’d found just moments ago. I pushed myself up off the bench with purpose. “I’m thrilled to have appeased your curiosity then.” My voice and body shook from the soul-shattering pain of betrayal. “Don’t mistake me for one of your playthings, Mathias Jørgensen. You don’t get to use me to relieve an itch or as a gauge of how well you’re doing in the morality department.”

He opened his mouth, but I held up my hand. “I can’t, Mathias. No, you know what? You can’t. You can’t do this to me when you know how I feel about you. It’s not fair,” I whispered right before I disappeared into the trees, tears on my face and my life with him over.

I almost collapsed to one knee at the thought. Tears fell down my cheeks, and I wiped them away as I plowed on into a new life. I didn’t know where I was going to go or what I was going to do, but I did know it would no longer be with him. I might need someone to watch over me but allowing Mathias to be that someone was no longer possible. Not after that kiss. It was more than I’d ever dreamed it could be, and now the memory of it would break my heart over and over for the rest of my days.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Katie Mettner writes small-town romantic tales, filled with epic love stories and happily-ever-afters. She proudly wears the title of ‘the only person to lose her leg after falling down the bunny hill’ and loves decorating her prosthetic with the latest fashion trends. She lives in Northern Wisconsin with her own happily-ever-after and three mini-mes. Katie has a massive addiction to coffee and Twitter, and a lessening aversion to Pinterest— now that she’s quit trying to make the things she pins.

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*REVIEW* – Assassins (A Ryker Returns Thriller Book 2), by Rob Sinclair

#Thriller

assassins

Blurb

He’s never going to stop…

Stalking the streets of Prague, James Ryker is on the hunt for justice when he hears a news report of a murder in rural England. Big problem. He knows the victim. Ten years ago, in Qatar, Ryker led a team of assassins to kill him. He thought they had.

So how has a man Ryker thought dead for over a decade suddenly resurfaced?

Travelling across the globe, Ryker sets off on a quest to discover the truth from that fateful night in Qatar. When he realises that his old team members are now under threat from a ruthless female assassin, he knows his problems have only just started.

In a race against time, Ryker must work out who is behind the killings and evade the assassin before he becomes the next victim…

Also available in the Ryker Return Series:

Book 1: Renegade

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My Review

Gripping and Heart-Pounding  – 5 stars

This is another thrilling read from Rob Sinclair, featuring the former special agent James Ryker as he races around Europe to find the truth about what really happened on a mission he led a decade ago. To the surprise of Ryker and others, the man he thought had been killed by his team survived, only to have been murdered in England, many years after. He soon finds that the murderer, a female assassin, has others in her sights, members of his team and Ryker himself.

Ryker goes all out and uses all the means at his disposal to get to the bottom of what really happened in Qatar ten years ago. There’s plenty of suspense as he realises he is up against an assassin who is sublimely skilled and ruthless – can he get to his team members and discover the truth before she dispatches them? Is Ryker himself safe from her machinations and those of others involved in the web of deceit?

I was entertained by the many twists and turns in this tale and loved the female assassin – the snippets from her own past were a great addition to the text and gave depth to her character. She is a worthy adversary and I got perverse enjoyment out of the varied grisly ways she despatched her targets.

The book can be read as a standalone but also makes a great addition to previous James Ryker (aka Carl Logan) books which the author has also penned.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book ws given to me by the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

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*REVIEW* – Flame to Frost (The Last Tritan Book 1), by Myra Danvers

#DarkFantasy

Flame

Blurb

Back by popular demand, the infamous cult classic has returned in its original glory! Complete with bonus scenes, this chart-topping fan favorite is available for purchase for the first time!
Sheltered in the lap of luxury, Mila is eighteen when her world dissolves in flames around her.
War.
A utopia swallowed in a single night.
Orphaned and alone, terrified of being captured, Mila flees the conquerors who have come to claim. To snatch up those gifted few called priestess―Tritan women born with magic in their blood. They are healers. Peacekeepers bound and chained, used as living batteries, they become the fuel that feeds the Caledonian army and creates unstoppable warriors.
The elite.
Warmongers. Dogs of the state, they are the perfect soldiers―everything a Tritan priestess isn’t, wielding power that does not belong to them.
But Mila is an enigma. A priestess hidden from her own people, hers is a secret her father died to keep. One Mila will use to fight from the shadows, striking against the empire in any way she can. An army of one, with the power of many…
Until she is betrayed.
Captured.
Sold.
To Captain Asher Rawlings.
Captor. Villain. Elite. Even without a priestess of his own, Asher’s power lashes at her senses. Dark flames lapping at her nape, whispering of untapped potential Mila didn’t think possible.
Helpless, subject to Asher’s every whim, Mila is made to obey his every sordid command. Left with nothing but her secret.
That she is a Tritan priestess―the one thing he needs to seize a legendary power that could tip the scales of the war and ensure an everlasting Caledonian rule.
Now Mila must navigate a world of villains and political conspiracy, endure anything Asher throws her way, and above all else… never reveal what she is.

The Last Tritan is perfect for fans of the Grishaverse. Those who fell completely in love with the Darkling―a smoldering villain we wanted to see win… 

My Review

Amazing Dark Fantasy – 5 stars

I absolutely inhaled this amazing dark fantasy read. It is the first book I have read by the author Myra Danvers and  is one of her earlier works, reworked as part of her Triton Evolution series. I have now found another awesome author to add to my list!

I loved the central character of Mila and her journey from a pampered and orphaned escapee to when she becomes a thorn in the side of her enemies, until she is finally captured. She is strong, empathetic and kick-ass, but with a secret that she is at great pains to conceal, lest it lead to her downfall. The contrast between her frugal existence in hiding in the forest and the debauched life of the world she is thrust into is well done, as is the worldbuilding.

As soon as her path crosses with the uber anti-hero Asher Rawlings, her captor and a member of the enemy Elite, the air positively crackles with tension. He is an alpha to die for, but one you would not want to get on the wrong side of – as Mila is wont to do. He typifies everything Mila despises and I adored how she defies him at every turn, even though it costs her. I was on pins as she strives to hide her secret from him – that she is a priestess with powers he will exploit to the maximum if he discovers them. 

I can’t wait to read the next instalment of this superbly sexy and suspenseful captor/captive romance.

Recommended to fans of dark fantasy who adore villainous anti- heroes you love to hate and strong heroines who do all they can to resist their fate.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily lieaving a review.

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Myra Danvers | USA Today Bestselling Author

 

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*ARC GIVEAWAY* – Blood Money: A Dark Cartel Romance (Dinero de Sangre Book 1), by Lana Sky

💸 Hot New Series and ARC Giveaway 💸

Blood Money by Lana Sky!

A New Dark Cartel Romance!

Releases June 28th!

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Blurb

In this twisted dark cartel romance, revenge and hate collide with the past…

Ten years after a devastating betrayal, revenge has come back to bite Ada Pavalos.

Literally.

Once her family’s trusted bodyguard, Domino Valenciaga is out for blood.

Or her heart.

Whichever goal takes more violence to achieve…

#Preorder #DarkCartelRomance #NewSeries #LanaSky #TwistedRomance #RevengeAndHate #NeedToReadItNow #ReadMoreRomance #Bookstagram

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Lana Sky is a reclusive writer in the United States who spends most of her time daydreaming about complex male characters and legless cats. She writes mostly paranormal romance, in between watching reruns of Ab Fab and drinking iced tea. Only iced tea. 

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*BOOK TOUR & REVIEW* – Am I Loved? The Most Asked Question Of All Time by John D. Bieber.

#nonfiction #philosophical #psychological

Am I Loved TWITTER GRAPHIC

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Book Blurb

We did not enter this world with a manual. This book is the next best thing. As the world’s only emotional beings is it not truly astonishing that we function through emotions that we do not remotely understand or control? How then can we possibly understand or control ourselves? Bound together by a total ignorance of the human condition, we conduct our lives unaware of how we are meant to live.

Am I Loved? is nothing if not about being human. It is a book of secrets. A book about life, how life has been lived by a parade of humanity 65 billion names long all of whom have got it wrong, failing to understand how things are meant to be. This book defines the human condition as it is and, unknown until now, how it has always been. Our emotions exist not to benefit us but to safeguard our genes, protecting the life within us. Thus is the language of our emotions translated for us to understand, their crucial interaction with the greatest human need of all, our need to be loved, duly explained. All else flows from this.

We spend our lives intent on surviving when fulfilment comes from loving and being loved. Nature’s Protections serve to liberate us yet we allow them to inhibit our lives without realising that the majority of our many emotional problems are solvable simply by a proper understanding of the human condition. Understanding what we do not understand will be a hugely fulfilling experience significantly enhancing the quality of our lives. Am I Loved? explains how this may be done enabling us to get everything right.

Publisher: Umbria Press

My Review

Insightful and thought-provoking – 5 stars

Am I Loved? Is an insightful contribution into the human condition and how we manage the myriad of emotions which we experience and which impact on our existence. It proposes a way forward in which we can understand and channel our emotions so that we gain greater happiness and fulfilment. It left me, the reader, with the tools to begin re-examining my own emotional outlook and how I relate to others so that I do not solely survive but love and be loved in a way I had not previously contemplated in quite the same way.

The author delves into the realms of history, faith, genes and psychology and it is clear he has spent many years of research before producing his own thoughts. His book encourages us to comprehend the forces at play within ourselves and our emotions, why they exist and how they relate to our innate need to be loved. Whilst the read contained a number of concepts unfamiliar to me, the book did well in introducing them step by step so that by the end the way forward made practical sense.

I feel that this is a book I will want to return to again and again as I contemplate my relationships with others and also my own psyche.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

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Syndicated Interview with John Bieber

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In short, what is the primary message behind Am I Loved??

The very things that make us human are those that cause us to feel ill at ease in our humanity because right back to the first human being everyone has got everything wrong. For how can we function as sophisticated emotional beings when we can neither understand nor control our emotions? This book examines the human condition establishing where and why we have gone wrong and how we can now get everything right leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful existence and the chance to feel truly comfortable in ourselves and at ease in our nature for the very first time.

What initially inspired you the write the book?

My experience as a Divorce lawyer witnessing people in huge distress who were rendered incapable of taking constructive decisions due to the onslaught of their emotions. This led me to write a book on the emotional side of divorce which in turn led to a detailed study of our emotions. which were clearly not understood at all.

What is your goal for the book following publication?

None particularly although I would love my book to be accepted as the definitive analysis of the human condition.

What was the writing process like for such an epic tome? Did the book involve a lot of research and if so, where did your research take you?

I read widely around the subject. See my bibliography. Every book seemed to miss the point but by considering them all I was able to build my theories from where theirs’ had left off.

Is Am I Loved? your first book? If not, how does it differ to your previous book(s)?

No. If Divorce is the Only Way? (Penguin) was my first published book although I have written two unpublished novels and have a play I would love to write but probably never will.

In your opinion, what one thing most defines us as humans?

Our overwhelming need to be loved.

Is it truly possible to fully control and manage our emotions?

No. Emotions come to us fully formed responding to the needs of our genes for the preservation of life, rather than to our personal needs. And so, preserving the Life within us they are beyond our control. The best we can do is to try to control our reactions to them by the suppression of anger or the masking of sadness or surprise.

Why is it so necessary to understand our emotions?

Because all personal feelings and human intercourse flows through them.

Could you tell us more about the concept of ‘The Speechless Real’?

The Speechless Real is not my term it originated with Jacques Barzun. It is the reason for our ignorance of how we function. It envelops us all blotting out a full understanding of the human condition to the extent that no one can even explain what it feels like to be alive although all of us experience that feeling all the time every day. In this way people will believe that despite its limitations the way we live is the only way there is despite the misery and sadness this may engender. It is a block on understanding inimical to a full knowledge of the human condition that my book seeks to dispel.

Why do we have such a strong need to be and feel loved?

These needs are our greatest needs, again designed for the better protection of life.

What is the link between our emotions and our need to be loved?

Very strong. Our Supreme Sense analyses our every emotion by reference to the effect that such emotions have on our need to be loved. Hence the question “Am I Loved? “A negative emotion will have a negative effect whilst a positive emotion will have a positive effect enabling us, though our Supreme Sense, to gauge how we are surviving at any one time.

Could you tell us more about the fundamental role our genes play in our existence?

Inhabiting a parallel universe to our own, feeling nothing, caring for nothing and intending nothing save for their own preservation, genes exist beyond our senses. We do not feel them, we are not aware of physically carrying them, but as the architects and builders of Creation they are the sine qua non of all existence. Life may be Nature’s most treasured and precious creation and the host bodies of Creation her greatest triumph, but ultimately both Life and Creation are wholly dependent upon genes for survival.

How can we learn to feel truly comfortable in ourselves?

Read my book! Understand the human condition as I have explained it which incidentally holds out the beguiling prospect of our being able to resolve the majority of our emotional problems with far greater facility. There is really too much to explain in a single answer. It has taken a book to set out.

Why do humans so often misunderstand, and/or misinterpret, emotions?

Because they arise unsummoned responding to the need of our genes for the preservation of Life, rather than to our personal needs as we would construe them.

How, as humans, does our nature and emotions differ to that of other species?

We have far larger brains, and the special gifts of a substantial range of emotions, the capacity to love and the great need to be loved. In addition, of course, we have the dexterity of our thumbs not given to the majority of species which makes a huge difference.

How can we live a truly fulfilled existence?

By understanding the human condition as I have explained it.

What are some of the most frequently misunderstood or misinterpreted human emotions?

The desire that everyone should conform leading to grief beginning in the playground, and, if unchecked, eventually causing some of the world’s worst atrocities.

Does Am I Loved? explore religion? Could you tell us more about the relationship between religion and human emotions?

Yes, in two chapters. We love God because we want him to love and bless us in return. We do so as we believe in him as a matter of faith. Paradoxically, the worse things become the more we turn to him to protect us. However, God cannot love us in return as he cannot requite our love. It follows that in giving him our love we may have given him something we should have given each other. Spinoza said if you really love God you should not expect him to love you in return. How many people would pass that test?  Two huge questions are also raised. What would happen if we could prove either that God did or did not exist? Why should God have emotions?

The book explores some fundamental questions; in addition to those about love, what other big questions do you look into in the book?

Emotions, genes, survival, folly of pursuing survival rather than love, heredity, religion, why so many people seek love from an invisible God, the Supreme Sense, Nature’s Morality, consciousness, Creation, ancestry, fear, happiness, ignorance, Life, Nature, Nature’s Protections, reproduction.

And finally, what would you like readers to take away from the book after reading it?

A feeling of relief in discovering that Nature never intended us to function as imperfect beings after all. That the human condition as explained offers a whole new take on life offering the opportunity of greater happiness and fulfilment and the chance to feel comfortable in ourselves and at ease in our nature for the very first time. That our emotions can be managed after all that life begins to make sense.

-Ends-

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*REVIEW* Mr Whippy goes to Schaumberg, by Robin Tudge

#Humour #comingofage 

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Blurb

It’s the mid-90s. Jim, a naïve, film-obsessed student who’s suicidally in love with Elly, goes with her to Chicago where they plan to spend the summer making thousands of dollars selling ice-cream to cute kids in the shadow of the Sears Tower, and where he’ll win her over. He finds the Land of the Free is anything but, and time and again through sweltering days, bitterly cold realities trammel his dreams. But through adversity Jim grows, and grows to love himself again, while tempering his infatuation for Elly. But will a man break out of the boy, win the girl, and escape with a bound?

My Review – 5 stars

A humorous read, full of emotional highs and lows

This is a very funny read that also tugs at the heartstrings as the reader witnesses the emotional high and lows of Jim, the main character, and his attempts to win over his fellow student Elly. The story takes place in the oppressive heat of the  summer as they along with others spend their vacation selling ice cream in the US and contemplating life, love and the universe.

I enjoyed how the book delved into the boundaries separating friendship and love, and how the characters of Jim and Elly progressed throughout the read. I was also entertained by the self-depreciating internal dialogue of Jim in his quest to secure Elly’s affections, often cringing at his painful emotional journey to realise his self-worth. I found myself empathising with the situation – Elly is quite a girl and their relationship is one which many of us have either witnessed or been part of.

The supporting cast of characters is varied and colourful and make for a riotous read with the many escapades they get into individually and collectively. Indeed, the book, peppered with insightful clutural references, fully encapsulates the spirt of youth and the heady decade of the 1990s. 

Recommended if you are looking for a humorous and perceptive read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of the book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

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