Saturday, September 30, 2023

Series Tour-Excerpt & Review: THE MAGIC USERS OF GREENFORD Series by Lisa Oliver (Illuminate, Eradicate, Validate) - Includes Giveaway!


The Magic Users of Greenford Series


Author: Lisa Oliver

Publisher: Lisa Oliver Books

Cover Artist: Lisa Oliver


Genres: Paranormal, Romance

Keywords/Categories: fated mates, magic users, fantasy, paranormal, paranormal romance, new release, announcement, trilogy, series, giveaway, gay, gay romance, mm romance, MM

Tropes: Fated mates


Series Blurb


Lucifer Fireborn is a high magic user with a taste for the high life. He spends his days, along with his anchor brother Darwin, chasing the rogue magic users who don't follow the rules all magic users live by. When his brother claims his own fated mate, and can't anchor for Lucifer anymore, Lucifer has to find someone else to anchor for him, or risk setting everything and everyone around him on fire. But there's a problem... Lucifer really doesn't want anyone drooling over him, because that's what people do.


Stefan de Marco is homeless again. Ranking as one of the highest scoring anchors in the country doesn't count for anything when a man leaves his employ just so he can keep his pants on. It's not the first time he's been in that situation, and with his familiar Garrick, Stefan gets by. He was raised in the Trades Sector and he knows the value of hard work. When his path crosses with a desperate Lucifer, sparks fly, but not the ones Lucifer was hoping for.


Underneath it all is the insidious Brethren who believe high magic users should be able to use their magic without the grounding effects of an anchor. They seek to enslave or kill anchors in their bid to gain attention. Lucifer and Stefan have to find a way to work together to bring down the organization, but it's not an easy thing to do when the two men come from different sides of the track.


The Magic Users of Greenford Trilogy should be read in order. It follows the one couple, Lucifer and Stefan, as they learn to manage their magic, and their love for each other in the face of adversity.


Warnings: Some violence.


Universal Buy Link:


https://mybook.to/MagicUsers



Excerpt (from ‘Validate’)


“Why would I be angry with you?” Stefan was looking steadfastly out of the passenger window. They were on their way to the airport, as planned. It was just their destination that had changed. 

“You have to admit the situation with Foster was unusual. His anchor, Ethan was never found.” 

“I doubt anyone ever looked for him. Ethan was just an anchor after all.” Stefan sniffed. “As for Foster, we got told, once we dropped him off at the facility Monty recommended, that the hexing case was under New York’s jurisdiction and therefore not our concern.”

“You weren’t curious about where his new anchor Helen got the hex?” Lucifer checked the traffic, and then risked a quick look at Stefan. Who still wasn’t looking at him. Catching Creed’s glance in the rear-view mirror, Lucifer got the impression the dog was judging him, too. 

“I might have been, under different circumstances.” 

Yep, Stefan was still angry. 

“I mean, if my mate was still working as a Wielder of the Magic Sword, which was his occupation when I met him, and Foster’s case came across our desk as an authorized case, I would’ve jumped right on it with you. But, no, my mate told his boss, Ben, in no uncertain terms that he wouldn’t be doing that job anymore. I believe you told him that after our holiday, we were going to work at the Anchor Division.” 

Stefan had an amazing memory. “Yes, I did say that.” Lucifer flicked on his indicator and took the turning for the airport. “But this case isn’t being investigated by the Council.”

“No. No, it’s not.” Stefan turned to face him then, and even out of the corner of his eye, Lucifer could see the hurt and anger on his face. “You’ve taken a case, on our behalf, from the one group of people who want to see people like me either subjugated, or completely wiped off the face of the earth.”

“If this is about the holiday…”

“What holiday?” Stefan didn’t have to raise his voice. He could snap out a sentence and make Lucifer feel as though he’d been whipped. “Are you talking about the holiday that you promised me nothing would get in the way of? That holiday?”

“I’m sure this won’t take long…”

“What the hell difference does it make how long this case takes? I’m not some spoiled society brat you have to appease with holidays and gifts. I’m from the Trades sector. I’m not afraid of hard work.”

“Then what…?”

“You really don’t get it. I can’t believe it, but you honestly don’t get it. Fine. Seeing as you clearly left your brain in your suitcase, I can tell you there are two things I’m upset about.” Stefan never used strong language, or interrupted Lucifer for any reason. But he was on a roll. “One. There’s the fact you didn’t consult me at all before you took the case. You reverted to Lucifer the arrogant ass, and made decisions for both of us, never once considering my feelings on the matter. 

“And secondly, and by far the most important to my mind, did you miss the part when I said you’ve been employed by people who want to see me dead? Did you hear what they said about Technic? Council propaganda? Bad press? Excuse me? And that’s without the derogatory tones they used when they referred to me. How could you?” 


Carra's Series Review


Illuminate

I liked the premise of this book and series, with high magic users and those who anchor them.  That anchors, particularly those who are not from wealth, are treated mostly as second class citizens with minimal rights is a stress point for me and I would guess for anyone who believes in equality.  The structure of this society and the indignities—and outright cruelty—that Stefan has endured had me solidly on his side.  


Lucifer came across as entitled, arrogant, and a bit annoying.  Along the way his attitude starts to change, but too often he reverts to being kind of a jerk.  Discovering he and Stefan are fated does help temper his attitude, but it was aggravating how easily he would slip back into his old ways.


The story does provide some good drama and action, though it did feel like when it came to an intense showdown that things were resolved a little too quickly.  I was hooked enough though that I wanted to see where things would go through the subsequent stories.  Confession though?  I wasn’t feeling any real emotional connection between Stefan and Lucifer.  The physical one was there, just not an emotional one that I would expect with fated mates. 



Eradicate

Things start to ramp up here in the second book of this series, but there are several different things going on so it did feel a bit unfocused.  It also seems—again—that the bad guys are after Lucifer more because they want his body…kind of a “I need to make him mine” focus.


There’s also the issue that we’ve seen previously with how anchors are treated, and poor Stefan in particular.  I was disappointed at Lucifer’s reactions in this area, or should I say lack thereof.  Lucifer keeps falling back into his pre-Stefan, arrogant self without bothering to consider things from Stefan’s point of view.


I still feel like that emotional connection between them is not really there, that it’s more of a “were fated so we’re together” relationship without a true feeling of real love.  I’m hoping that book three will bring things around for them. I did like that Stefan gained a new familiar, he does deserve so much more after everything he’s been through.



Validate

Lucifer is finally making progress with his self-important attitude (though yes, some of his old self can be spotted here and there).  I’m still not really a fan of him, especially at the start of this final book of the series with how easily he jumps into another case, and one for people you wouldn’t expect as well.  It’s like he never seems to take Stefan’s feelings into account, which results—again—with stress in their relationship.


This time we do get more into the meat of things with the Brethren directly as things start to build towards a final climax for the series.  I’ve got to wonder though how that organization has gotten as far as it has considering how inept they seemed when dealing directly with Lucifer and Stefan.


We can start to see now how Lucifer and Stefan are building more of that emotional connection I felt was quite lacking in the first two books.  By the end I still didn’t fully feel it; it seemed more surface-level than a deep connection.  Something though that I thought was less like their true characters was how easily now they were just using magic for simple things, off-the-cuff like it was no big deal…including in how they used it in tight situations.  Previously, them using magic was more serious and saved for important, difficult situations and more defensively.  Now they’re treating it as something to just help with everyday things, with magic just solving everything.


I did like the outcome at the end with the Council, even if it felt like it all was just being wrapped up with a big bow.  I also liked seeing some new faces with Rocky and Neo, about whom I’m intrigued enough to want their story so I’ll be diving into the Fated Mates Anthology to check them out.


Overall the series is a good read, I just really wish a better connection could have been shown for Lucifer and Stefan. 



Giveaway!


Lisa is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour:





About the Author


Lisa Oliver lives in the wilds of New Zealand, although her beautiful dogs Hades and Zeus are now living somewhere else far more remote than she is. Reports indicate they truly enjoy chasing possums although they still can’t catch them. In the meantime, Lisa is living a lot closer to all her adult kids and grandchildren which means she gets a lot more visitors. However, it doesn’t look like she’s ever going to stop writing - with over one hundred paranormal MM (and MMM) titles to her name so far, she shows no signs of slowing down.


When Lisa is not writing, she is usually reading with a cup of tea always at hand. Her grown children and grandchildren sometimes try and pry her away from the computer and have found that the best way to do it is to promise her chocolate. Lisa will do anything for chocolate… and occasionally crackers. She has also started working out, because of the chocolate and the crackers.


Lisa loves to hear from her readers and other writers (I really do, lol). You can catch up with her on any of the social media links below.


Website - Facebook - Facebook Author Page - Instagram - Amazon






Monday, September 25, 2023

New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: HONEY MEAD MURDER by Dahlia Donovan (Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries #1)

Honey Mead Murder Banner

Honey Mead Murder
By Dahlia Donovan

HONEY MEAD MURDER COVER

Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries, Book 1

Get ready for a charmingly quirky murder mystery with a twist of romance in
Honey Mead Murder!

Follow the heart-warming story of George Bernard Sheth, a devoted pug and bee lover, who has been secretly crushing on a local mead brewer. But when a customer dies during a mead tasting, Murphy Baird, the brewer, finds himself at the centre of a police investigation.

As the two navigate the murder mystery, they find themselves falling deeper in love, all while trying to stay alive long enough for their first date. With meddling friends and unexpected plot twists, "Honey Mead Murder" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good MM romance and a thrilling mystery.

Universal Link

Check out Dahlia's Books on Goodreads

HMM 4 second date

HMM 6 hate mornings


Excerpt

 “Oi. Mister Grump? Your carthorse has arrived.”

Murphy stood up from where he was crouched down to inspect the latest delivery. “Carthorse? Hardly. I’ve already brought the delivery inside. And for the millionth time, Tea. I am not a grump.”

“No, you just hate mornings, afternoons, people, sunlight, basically everyone but your lovely George.” Teagen was, as always, immune to his glowering at them. “Well?”

“Hate is a strong word. I don’t hate you.” Murphy wasn’t entirely sure he liked his best friend every day, but he didn’t hate them. “Come on then, Tea. We’ve got a fresh batch of honey delivered yesterday. We also need to check on the two-year casks. Probably want another year on them just to get them where we want the flavour.”

For six years, Murphy had run Honey Bear Brewery. It had been a play on his nickname of Paddington, earned during his brief stint in the military, owing to his surname of Baird and his tall, stocky build. His dark brown hair and scruffy beard certainly didn’t help put people off the comparison. 

His grumbly stubbornness came from both his Irish and Scottish sides. His ma had always claimed he bore more than a passing resemblance to his great-granddad Murphy. She’d been so proud when he’d decided to continue the family tradition of running a brewery.

For the first two years, Murphy had gone with simple ales. But then, he’d developed a close friendship with a local beekeeper, George Sheth. The younger man had been struggling to sell his honey.

His pride and joy.

Inspired by George, Murphy had decided to begin experimenting with family recipes. Something from his Scottish side. His da had a collection of mead ones that dated back a century or more. It had taken some trial and error to get everything right, but his brewery and the small pub attached to it were doing well six years later.

“Well? Did you finally ask our playwright out?”

“Tea.” Murphy shook his head at their teasing grin. “It’s George Bernard Sheth. Not Shaw. Plus his ma’s Scottish, not Irish, and his dad’s from India, so I highly doubt either of them are related to a famed Irish playwright.”

“Must you take all the joy out of my play on names and words? Besides if they didn’t want anyone to make the connection, why name him George Bernard? Fine, fine. Well? Did you ask him out?”

“He’s named for his ma, Georgie, and I think a great-uncle. And no, I… couldn’t ask him out.”

HMM 5 solid advice


Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Honey Mead Murder, Dahlila is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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IG Sized HMM Out Now 3


About the Author:

Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

Website - Facebook Group - Facebook - Twitter - BookBub - Newsletter - Goodreads - Publisher Website - Amazon - Instagram


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Friday, September 22, 2023

Spotlight-Recent Release: THE EARL'S AWAKENING by Joy Lynn Fielding - Includes Excerpt & Giveaway!

The Earl’s Awakening

by Joy Lynn Fielding

Publisher: Extasy Books

Cover Artist: Martine Jardin

Release Date:  September 8, 2023

Genre: Regency M/M romance

Tropes: Rake/bad boy romance

Themes: Learning to live, self-discovery

Heat Rating: 5 flames    

Length: 55 000 words/ 198 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Extasy Books  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

One glance, and his past life was history.

Blurb

Leander Talbot’s life changed forever when his wife died. He is now reluctantly venturing back into society, knowing that, as the Earl of Ockley, he must marry again to produce an heir. But he can’t bring himself to the sticking point. Instead, he spends his time evading the matchmaking mamas of the ton.

The dark and dangerous Duke of Arden is an infamous libertine. It is said that he seduces innocents, and there are even more sinister tales whispered of his predilections. Only the wild young blades who form his retinue know the truth, but he is shunned by all save those wishing to court notoriety.

A chance meeting brings Leander into Arden’s orbit. Ignoring the warnings about Arden’s intentions, Leander is drawn into a seductive world of sexual indulgence. There, he finds the freedom he craves from his overbearing family. By the time he suspects Arden might have ulterior motives, it may be too late to save his reputation—and his heart.


Excerpt 

Leander sighed slightly. He had immersed himself in work and duty since Bella’s death, but it was only now he understood how removed from his contemporaries he had become. Most faces here were unfamiliar to him. Take the character in the corner—a dark complexion, his dress rich but careless in a way that proclaimed he cared little for the opinion of society. Leander was certain he had never set eyes on him, though the deference with which his circle of friends was treating him indicated that he was a man of some standing. He took the opportunity to ask the servant who brought him a glass of champagne.

“His Grace the Duke of Arden, my lord,” the man informed him.

The name was one with which Leander was familiar. It was a name with which all of London and some of the more enlightened provinces were familiar. Arden represented all that was decadent in the ton, his philandering ways extending far beyond opera dancers and actresses to ladies of quality. And it was not only widows or liaisons with married ladies, for it was said of him that he had ruined more than one young maiden. The number of duels that he had fought and won, the drunken orgies at which he presided, and his losses and gains at the gaming table had all assumed the proportions of legend. There were still darker things whispered about him. Only the coterie of wild young blades who formed his retinue knew the truth of these, but the intimations were there, and Arden remained unrecognised by all save those wishing to court notoriety.

Leander became aware that Arden was returning his gaze, his heavy-lidded eyes holding what appeared to be a gleam of amusement. As Leander watched, Arden raised his glass in a mocking salute before putting it to his lips and tossing back the contents. 

Perhaps it was the champagne, perhaps it was the shock of realising that his acquaintances now viewed him as a prig. Whatever the reason, some demon prompted Leander to his feet. In defiance of all proper behaviour, he crossed the room to Arden and introduced himself.

Those dark eyebrows raised briefly, a noble head was inclined, and one of the young men clustered around Arden was moving from his seat, offering it to Leander. 

“So you’re Ockley.” The duke’s aristocratic fingers curved elegantly around the stem of his glass and his dark eyes surveyed Leander as he sat. “I didn't think this to be your sort of place. I'd thought you more of a White's man.”

The provocation was there. It was well known that Arden had been pre-emptively blackballed by the respectable club lest any member lose their faculties and propose him for membership. 

“Indeed?” Leander said stiffly, his somewhat lamentable temper aroused by Arden’s dismissal of him as a priggish bore. “And I thought you a legend, sir. A cautionary tale used by protective parents to keep young cubs in line.”

Reaction rippled through the assembled ranks, but Leander’s gaze was on Arden's face. A smile touched his lips as he looked at Leander. “A palpable hit, Ockley,” he murmured. His voice was rich and soft, with a hint of steel that intrigued Leander.

“Lea.” Henry's voice broke in. He was not precisely floored, but he was foxed enough to ignore all dictates of manners as he tugged insistently at his brother's arm. Knowing that if he resisted, Henry would only become more forceful, Leander allowed himself to be raised to his feet. His brother had been the same since nursery days—when he wanted something, he wanted it now, and it was usually attention he craved. Leander directed a small bow towards Arden, whose smile had widened at the spectacle Henry was making of them both, before following his brother's urgent strictures to leave immediately.

About the Author 

Joy Lynn Fielding lives in a small English market town, where she indulges her passions for vintage aircraft, horse riding and gardening (though not all at the same time).

Joy tends to wax lyrical about the fascinating facts she discovers during her research for books. Thankfully, she has a very patient Labrador who has a gift for looking interested in what she’s saying while he waits for the food to arrive.

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Newsletter Sign-up

Giveaway!

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win 

a $15 Amazon gift card

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Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Spotlight-Recent Release: JUSTICE by Kindle Alexander (Tattoos and Ties #4)

Justice
Series: Tattoos and Ties Series
by Kindle Alexander
Genre: MM Romance/Romantic Suspense
Release Date: September 12, 2023
Cover Design: Reese Dante



The toughest journeys lead to the most amazing adventures… Let’s ride.

Special Agent Cash Ryan broke the cardinal rule of undercover work: he fell hard for his federal informant. The sexy, hardheaded, foul-mouthed outlaw biker who regularly takes matters into his own hands, leaving Cash scrambling to pick up the pieces.

Anarchy is more than a way of life for Devin Fox, it’s fused into his DNA. When he agrees to help Cash, he knows his special brand of chaos is the only way to get the answers they seek. And his attraction to the secret agent makes keeping them both alive more important by the day.

As the facts of the operation begin to unfold, they fight both sides to find the truth. When a shift in balance emerges, will they be able to tip the scales of justice in their favor or will they be buried under all the chaos?

The final installment in the Tattoos and Ties series, Justice is a suspenseful motorcycle club romance with strong male leads. If you like sexy alpha males who take on the world for the one they love and intriguing storylines with many twists and turns, give Justice a try.




★★★★★ Amazon Review - “All I can say is get this SERIES!! Thank You Kindle for this INCREDIBLE ride!!! I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THIS TATTOOS AND TIES SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!”

★★★★★ Amazon Review - “Fantastic writing from an author who knows how to spin a story in a direction you didn't see coming.”

★★★★★ Amazon Review - “Wow!! This was an amazing ride…..”


 








Best Selling Author Kindle Alexander is an innovative writer, and a genre-crosser who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica in both the male/male and male/female genres. It's always a surprise to see what's coming next!
I live in the suburbs of Dallas where it's true, the only thing bigger than an over active imagination, may be women's hair!
Usually, I try for funny. Humor is a major part of my life - I love to laugh, and it seems to be the thing I do in most situations - regardless of the situation, but jokes are a tricky deal... I don't want to offend anyone and jokes tend to offend. So instead I'm going to tell you about Kindle.
I tragically lost my sixteen year old daughter to a drunk driver. She had just been at home, it was early in the night and I heard the accident happen. I'll never forget that moment. The sirens were immediate and something inside me just knew. I left my house, drove straight to the accident on nothing more than instinct. I got to be there when my little girl died - weirdly, I consider that a true gift from above. She didn't have to be alone.
That time in my life was terrible. It's everything you think it would be times about a billion. I love that kid. I loved being her mother and I loved watching her grow into this incredibly beautiful person, both inside and out. She was such a gift to me. To have it all ripped away so suddenly broke me.
Her name was Kindle. Honest to goodness - it was her name and she died a few weeks before Amazon released their brand new Kindle ereader. She had no idea it was coming out and she would have finally gotten her name on something! Try finding a ruler with the name Kindle on it.. It never happened.
Through the course of that crippling event I was lucky enough to begin to write with a dear friend in the fan fiction world of Facebook. She got me through those dark days with her unwavering support and friendship. There wasn't a time she wasn't there for me. Sometimes together and sometimes by myself, we built a world where Kindle lives and stands for peace, love and harmony. It's its own kind of support group. I know without question I wouldn't be here today without her.
Find out more by visiting www.kindlealexander.com or email me at kindle@kindlealexander.com



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