Showing posts with label WM Fawkes. Show all posts

Thursday, April 22, 2021

New Release-Review & Excerpt: BLACK MOON by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes (Wolf Moon Rising #1) - Includes Giveaway!

Black Moon
By Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes

BlackMoon-f

Wolf Moon Rising, Book 1

An apple a day won’t keep this doctor away.

Linden Grove has always known that he’s not destined to be the next pack alpha. That position belonged to his brother Aspen—but then Aspen left the pack to join the military. When the unthinkable happens and the pack is left rudderless, someone has to step up and take care of it. Can a doctor go from “do no harm” to defending his own with his teeth and claws?

Colt Doherty is used to a certain kind of life. Glittering, picturesque, and . . . empty. As the youngest child of the country’s only werewolf senator, Colt has grown up in the spotlight, and he’s all too used to knot-headed alphas taking credit for the work of others, especially omegas like himself. When his editor sends him to write a story on the Grove pack, though, he finds something completely unexpected: Linden Grove in his unpolished perfection, as shiny and unexpectedly sweet as the apples his pack are known for.

A Grove pack omega has been kidnapped, and someone has to step up. The pack needs Linden to fill his father’s shoes, but no wolf can stand on his own. To save the day, sheltered Colt has to drop the politics and become the action hero he never thought an omega could be.

Black Moon is an 90k word standalone novel featuring one fiery journalist, one doctor with an obsession for hand knit sweaters, and the sweetest apple pies on the whole eastern seaboard, all bundled up in a non-mpreg A/B/O universe.

Universal Link

Goodreads

Excerpt

“You like that it even works on humans?” I asked through my teeth as Chase led me away, a firm hand between my shoulder blades.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Colt.” He smiled at the people we passed, leading me toward a table where a server was ladling out crystal glasses of punch.

I groaned, downing the rest of my champagne and setting the flute aside on the tray of another server. If I was going to turn our direction, I needed the leverage of two free hands. “There’s an open bar. Let’s go to where the wine is.”

“You’ve had enough,” Chase practically growled.

With a roll of my eyes—of my entire head—I looked up at him. “There is no such thing as enough at a gala. Anyway, I meant you like imposing your big bad alpha will on unsuspecting humans, don’t you?”

“Doesn’t work like that.”

Maybe it didn’t. Maybe there was nothing innate about alphas that got them their way outside of a traditional pack setting. Of course, if you went around the world expecting to get everything you wanted, it often worked out that way. It’d been a process of almost three decades, but I was finally getting the hang of it.

And in that spirit, I jerked my head at another nearby waiter, catching his attention just in time to snatch another flute of champagne off his tray. Chase sent me a narrow-eyed glare.

“Don’t worry, big bro,” I said, raising the flute to him before lifting it to my lips. “I’ll take the town car home.”

We all would. There was a requisite Doherty-family post-mortem after any society event.

“I need you to keep your head on straight,” Chase warned once we got far enough away from the main crowd and the bright chandeliers overhead that he thought we were safe to talk. “Dad needs Walsh’s endorsement if he’s going to keep his Senate seat. You can’t go f*cking it up.”

That deserved another eye roll if anything ever had. “Walsh is not interested in pissing Dad off. He’s interested in getting laid.”
It was a thing with some humans since werewolves had come out of hiding decades ago. You heard about a big, hot, muscly alpha who’d dominate you in the bedroom, and that sounded like an adventure worth trying.

Carra's Review

I’m already a huge fan of this writing duo, and I love paranormal creatures and the Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamic, so of course I was going to pick this one up! The story has a good setup and the majority of the world building is evident. The two main characters, Linden and Colt, are both likable and solid leads. The story itself for the most part is solid, and it does have a good supporting cast that easily lends itself to future stories in the series.

Linden and Colt are a good matchup, and strongly complement each other. They absolutely have that all-important physical chemistry (my oh my, their encounter during Colt’s heat…whew!), and the mate attraction is more subtle as it develops than demandingly overwhelming, which worked well for them.

There’s some drama in the first part of the book with a kidnapped omega from the pack (Brook, my heart broke for him!), and once that is handled and Colt’s heat has passed the story did seem to lag a bit as things began to focus more on pack politics and who was going to become the next pack Alpha. I was glad once a bit more drama cropped up to pull my attention more solidly into the story again in the last part of the book.

I did enjoy the story, and overall it was a 4-star read for me. Since I mentioned Colt’s heat earlier and the steaminess of that portion of the story, I’m sure you’re not surprised to know I recommend this for readers 18+ for the adult language and sexual content. I’m definitely looking forward to more in the series, and really want Brook to get his happy ending after everything he’s been through.

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate Sam & Waverly's new release, we are giving you 1 of 3 chances to win an e-copy of Black Moon!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

About the Authors:

SamBurns

Sam is an author of LGBTQIA+ fiction, mostly light-hearted fantasy romances. Most of her books include a little violence, a fair amount of swearing, and maybe a sex scene or two. Or four.

She is a full-time writer who lives in the Midwest with her husband and cat. Someday, she plans to be a full-time writer who lives near the ocean with her husband, cat.

Connect with Sam:
www.burnswrites.com
facebook.com/sam.burns.52459
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlickerFoxBooks
goodreads.com/author/show/16897949.Sam_Burns
amazon.com/Sam-Burns/e/B07123MZ62
instagram.com/samburnswrites
Sam@burnswrites.com

WMFawkes

Connect with Waverly:
fawkeswrites.com
waverly@fawkeswrites.com
facebook.com/w.m.fawkes
https://www.goodreads.com/wmfawkes
twitter.com/FawkesWrites
instagram.com/w.m.fawkes

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Wednesday, October 21, 2020

New Release-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: WILDFIRE by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes (Sons of Olympus #1)

Wildfire

by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes

Wildfire-f

Sons of Olympus, Book 1

Wilder Pratt has given up trying to get his life together. Passed up for a promotion, left by his long-term boyfriend, nothing in his life seems to work how he planned. Wilder is just treading water . . . right up until the moment he trips over a dead student outside his office with a golden would-be murderer standing over the body.

Hermes has been running his whole life—from duty and danger, from a father who mistrusts him and siblings who outshine him. But when the students at Banneker College of magic start dropping dead one after another, Hermes’s ass is on the line. He finds himself playing bodyguard to a man who suspects him of murder, but that doesn’t seem enough to keep Professor Pratt’s hot hands off him.

An ancient evil has risen from the depths of Tartarus, and he’s coming for Banneker. The only thing standing in the way of a titanic apocalypse is one disappointing part-time professor and a god who’d rather abandon the world to its fate. But if they work together, they may just save everyone.

Universal Link

Goodreads

sadists

Excerpt

“Is . . . is he dead?” Wilder demanded, even though his breath was trying to freeze in his chest.

The man looked up at him. “What?” He glanced back down at the student and blinked like it was a surprise to find a corpse there. “Oh, you mean him. Wait, are you talking to me?” His eyes widened even more as he looked back up at Wilder, as if the body had been shock enough, but someone speaking to him was beyond comprehension.

Wilder glanced all around and back at the man, holding out his hands to indicate the empty hallway. “Who else would I be talking to?”

The guy gave a lazy shrug and grinned, far too casually to be keeping company with a dead body. “Dunno, you professorial types are always talking to yourselves, aren’t you? I think all those books make you funny in the head.”

“Maybe if you read a book or two, you would realize that ‘dunno’ isn’t a word,” Wilder pointed out. He didn’t have a problem with the slang, really, but he was surprised and bothered and feeling wrong-footed, and when he felt uncomfortable, he tended to ignore his therapist’s advice.

He hopped to his feet, grinning at Wilder like a man who belonged in a madhouse. “S’pose so, huh? Dunno what I’d do with all them fancy words, though. My head might explode if I filled it too full.”

Wilder opened his mouth and closed it once, and then twice. “Matthew,” he said, unintelligently.

“Huh?”

“His name is Matthew. I just remembered. One of his term papers is in my bag.”

The man looked once again down at the body between them, then gave Matthew a little nudge with his toe. Matthew didn’t rouse. “I guess you don’t gotta worry about grading that one.”

Even for Wilder, that was a little flippant. He looked at the man, expecting to find the same inappropriate grin in place, even as he joked about the death of a student. He was frowning, though, looking at the body like a puzzle, and one he wasn’t enjoying.

“Disappointed?” Wilder asked.

He looked up at Wilder and shook his head. “No. Just can’t figure it out. He’s the second one like this. Can’t see what killed him—he’s just gone.” He looked around the hallway. He seemed to think he’d find the young man standing somewhere else and no longer lying on the floor. Then he shook his head. “Gone.”

He was right. There was no sign of what had killed Matthew. He was just pale and cold, eyes staring sightlessly at the ceiling.

“Uncle H is gonna be pissed,” the guy muttered. “Nothing to be done now, though. I gotta get back to work. Later, Prof!”

“Hey! You can’t just leave. We need to call—” Wilder’s head snapped up to stare at the man, but he found himself alone in the hallway with his student’s corpse.

Teaser 3

Carra's Review

This author duo has done it again. Another excellent story with characters right out of Greek mythology, Wildfire brings Wilder, a mage with the power of fire, and Hermes, everyone’s favorite love-to-hate-him smart aleck messenger god, together as they fight against the Titans trying to come back into power.

You may not think things look promising for Wilder and Hermes in the romance department, but keep reading—the tempestuous beginning to their relationship eventually leads to something deeper, even as each of them wonder how they could ever have anything solid together. They certainly do have plenty of physical chemistry…and though Hermes may wonder how he suddenly seems to have come to care for the humans at the Banneker school, he and Wilder do have that in common.

But there are baddies on the loose, and in addition to these new enemies you’ll find appearances of characters from the authors’ Lords of the Underworld series in supporting roles. Oh, and brownies. I’m finding myself craving brownies now. You’ll see.

I loved immersing myself in this story; I’ve always been one to devour Greek mythology when going to school, once out of school, and now in books that are crafted around the myths. This duo puts you right in the middle of the Greek gods and Titans, and impressively so considering all those mythological figures are part of the modern-day society in which the story is set.

Wildfire was a 5-star read for me, and I am excited for more in the series to see which gods will have their own stories told. If you’re a mythology addict like me, this book and the series from which it spins off are a must-have for your personal library. Note that the adult language and sexual content do make this story one for readers 18+.

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate Sam & Waverly's new release, we are giving you 1 of 3 chances to win an e-copy of Wildfire!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Teaser 5

About the Authors:

SamBurns

Sam is an author of LGBTQIA+ fiction, mostly light-hearted fantasy romances. Most of her books include a little violence, a fair amount of swearing, and maybe a sex scene or two. Or four.

She is a full-time writer who lives in the Midwest with her husband and cat. Someday, she plans to be a full-time writer who lives near the ocean with her husband, cat.

WMFawkes

Connect with Waverly:
fawkeswrites.com
waverly@fawkeswrites.com
facebook.com/w.m.fawkes
https://www.goodreads.com/wmfawkes
twitter.com/FawkesWrites
instagram.com/w.m.fawkes

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Thursday, April 16, 2020

New Release-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: THE PRINCE'S DRAGON by W.M. Fawkes & Sam Burns (Fire and Valor #2)

The Prince’s Dragon

by W.M. Fawkes & Sam Burns

Series: Fire and Valor #2

Release Date: April 16, 2020

Subgenre: LGBTQIA+ High Fantasy Romance

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Purchase on:

AMAZON

Synopsis

The last place Lord Tristram Radcliffe ever expected to find himself was right hand to the Llangardian throne. His parentage should have seen him banished, but he managed to keep his draconic secret. Now, King Reynold is dead. Long live King Roland.

The boy ascends to rule a kingdom in chaos, and Tristram must undo the damage of the last king's reign to save his people from lean winter and wolves in the palace itself. Reynold’s former shadow, Bet Kyston, is determined to root out King Roland's enemies, but his version of help may cause as much harm as good.

There remains a traitor near to the throne, and when the king falls mysteriously ill, Tristram’s strongest ally is forced to leave court. As his enemies move closer, the strength of Tristram's regency is more precarious than ever. Abandoned and friendless, Tristram must sacrifice everything to protect his homeland or risk not only Roland’s life, but his own.

Excerpt

“I thought you wanted me gone?”

Tris clamped his jaw shut so he didn’t say anything unwise, but then he realized that if he couldn’t be honest with Bet, there wasn’t a soul in all of Llangard he could be honest with. “I’ve never wanted you gone. I don’t want an assassin in Roland’s employ, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you there.”

Bet, still fully clothed, climbed atop him, running his hands over Tristram’s bare chest. “So all you wish is to change my nature?”

“I do not,” he denied. He put his hands atop Bet’s, but didn’t hold them in place. He let them roam over the planes of his chest, down the narrowing line of his waist, just barely dipping below the sheets to tease at the trail of hair leading farther down. He took a shaky breath and reminded himself that they were conversing. Or they had been.

Bet smirked.

“You are more than what Reynold asked of you, Bet. More than what I’ve asked.”

Bet’s smirk turned into a scowl for a second, but then he was changing the subject with his hands once again, slipping them both under the sheets.

Carra's Review

First up—this is the second book in the Fire and Valor series, and you need to read book one, The King’s Dragon, before starting this one or you’re going to be lost. That story does an excellent job of introducing you to the world these talented authors have created, and entrenching you in the lives of the characters.

Next—there are a lot of characters who are important to this story (as well as the series), but it’s actually pretty easy to remember who they are and their relationships to each other…or at least I think so. I think some of that is due to the fact that, just as in the first book, the story is told from multiple points of view. Telling the story this way has its advantages with more depth and a greater understanding of all the moving parts and character relationships. For me, again just like with book one, it does make the flow of the story less smooth until I got more than halfway in. Once I was deep into it though, the excitement of the events did take over and make the read easier.

Things between Tristram and Bet continue to evolve (*insert happy grins here!*), but you’ll also find that several other budding relationships are starting to form among other characters. This means you’ll find some interesting alliances forming as the real baddies start to show their faces, as well as some family relationships that start to shift. There are some new faces, the most intriguing being one simply known as “Dragon” who I just wanted to wrap up in my arms and cuddle close (you’ll see why).

With tensions rising with the young king fallen ill, issues with family (and not just the king’s family), and the increasing threat from enemies, there is plenty of drama to go around. There’s more to come in the series, so things are not resolved by the end of this story—though there are moments that will definitely make you smile amongst the turmoil.

Four solid stars for The Prince’s Dragon, and I can’t wait for the next book! This series is a must-have for fans of fantasy romance, and not just M/M…you’ll find other pairings as well, though Tris and Bet do command the most attention ;-) As with the first book, this story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

About the Authors

W.M. Fawkes is an author of LGBTQ+ urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She lives with her partner in a house owned by three halloween-hued felines that dabble regularly in shadow walking.

Sam lives in the Midwest with husband and cat, which is even less exciting than it sounds, so she's not sure why you're still reading this.

She specializes in LGBTQIA+ fiction, usually with a romantic element. There's sometimes intrigue and violence, usually a little sex, and almost always some swearing in her work. Her writing is light and happy, though, so if you're looking for a dark gritty reality, you've come to the wrong author.

Author links:

Joint Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlickerFoxBooks/

Waverly Fawkes:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - Goodreads - Pinterest

Sam Burns:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - Goodreads - Pinterest - Newsletter

Giveaway!

Win one e-copy of The King’s Dragon by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes

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Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Review & Giveaway: PATRON OF MERCY by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes (Lords of the Underworld #3)

Buy Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Exclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited

Length: 70,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Lords of the Underworld Series

Prince of Death - Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Prisoner Of Shadows - Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Blurb

Lach has spent the last few thousand years counting only on himself. What he needed, he took. What he wanted, he won with charm. All except a god he turned his back on an age ago, when he had a different name and didn’t know what he was giving up.

Thanatos, god of merciful death, is one of the gentlest gods in the pantheon—easing the transition between life and death for billions of mortals. But he has faced eternity alone. After breaking his heart on the sharp words of a fisherman’s son, he hasn’t been able to connect with anyone.

Now, Lach is crashing back into Thanatos’s life, dragging him into an adventure that could save the world . . . or kill them both.

PATRON OF MERCY IS THE THIRD BOOK IN A SERIES, BUT CAN BE READ AS A STAND ALONE NOVEL.

Carra's Review

From the moment I started this series, the authors had me hooked with the unique look at Greek mythology and their adaption of those stories to modern day. Not as a retelling of those stories, but more as the evolution of them into our current world. I was completely enthralled with the first two books, and eagerly got started on Patron of Mercy the moment I had it in my hands.

Thanatos is pretty laid back for the majority of the story, and demonstrates a lot of patience when it comes to Lach. His approach and view of his role in the pantheon as the merciful guide to Elysium after death was actually quite soothing, and he fits well in that position. Lach I found a tad bit hard to warm up to; I think this was more a “me” thing since characters who have such a flippant attitude towards taking from others are not high on my list of likability. This was tempered some though with the remorse he had for how things went between him and Thanatos the first time around.

I was surprised that this time around the story seemed to move slowly, particularly for the first half through the plot setup and the beginning of their journey. That of course led my attention to wander, so I had a little trouble focusing. During the second half I was pulled more into the story. I also found myself wishing for more information on the backstory between Lach and Thanatos from their past relationship.

Overall, Patron of Mercy was a 4-star read for me, and I attribute the majority of that to Thanatos—he was definitely my favorite character. I also enjoyed seeing characters from the previous stories again, which helps tie things together with the series. I think I can safely say if the authors were to continue exploring the multitude of myths out there, I’d follow the series until they couldn’t write anymore! Patron of Mercy is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

About the Authors

Sam Burns wrote her first fantasy epic with her best friend when she was ten. Like almost any epic fiction written by a ten year old, it was awful. She likes to think she’s improved since then, if only because she has better handwriting now.

If she’s not writing, she’s almost certainly either reading or lost down a Wikipedia rabbit hole while pretending to research for a novel.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

W.M. Fawkes is an author of LGBTQ+ urban fantasy and paranormal romance. With coauthor Sam Burns, she writes feisty Greek gods, men, and monsters in the Lords of the Underworld series. She lives with her partner in a house owned by three halloween-hued felines that dabble regularly in shadow walking.

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