Friday 30 November 2018

Review: Sealed with a Kiss - Ariana Nash

Sealed with a Kiss is a fantasy m/m short story.

"You can have all of me for one night only. Say no, and I'll leave, but say yes and I'll give you a night you'll remember forever."

As one of the few remaining elven assassins, Eroan Ilanea doesn't have much time for pleasure. Until a messenger arrives from a nearby village and suddenly pleasure is all he can think about. The kind of pleasure he's never surrendered to before. The messenger is a tease, a vision of elicit delights, and he'll be gone in the morning.

This night, Eroan just might say yes...

Sealed with a Kiss is a short, sexy, m/m story that takes places several years before events in the novel Silk & Steel (to be published in 2019).

Genre: Dark fantasy
Heat level: Scorching

Pages: 42
Read-time: 20 minutes.

Ariana Nash is a pen name of international bestselling author Pippa DaCosta. Her Ariana Nash books are m/m adult reads.

Silk & Steel Series:
Sealed with a Kiss (Prequel short story)
Silk & Steel
Iron & Fire
Blood & Ice
Lost & Found (Novella)
The Black Prince

Visit Ariana Nash's website or Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
Pippa DaCosta is one of my favourite authors so when I found out she was writing a new series under the pen name Ariana Nash, it went straight to the top of my wish list. Sealed with a Kiss is only a short story but boy does it introduce us to this new world with a bang!

Here we are introduced to main character Eroan, an elvish warrior who works hard to protect his village from the dragons that are slowly destroying his realm. We don't know a lot about the world yet but this little taster did a perfect job of whetting my appetite for the first full length book, Silk and Steel, which is being published in January.

This is an m/m series and Ariana Nash takes no time in raising the heat levels between Eroan and a messenger who has arrived at the village with important news. Seriously, this is short but it's scorching and if this is any indication of what's to come in the rest of the series I can't wait to continue reading.

This story is available to purchase on Amazon or you can get a copy for free by signing up to Ariana Nash's newsletter so you have no excuses not to give it a try. If you like your stories hot enough to melt your kindle then you're going to love every minute of it!

Source: Received for free from the author for signing up to her newsletter

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Review: Love at First Baguette - Amanda Bouchet

Love at First Baguette is fun, flirty, romantic, and set in Paris!

Read this nine-episode story about Heather, a half American, half French woman looking for Mr. Right in all the wrong places.

This novella can be read for free on Amanda Bouchet's website here: http://amandabouchet.com/love-at-first-baguette.php

Visit Amanda Bouchet's website for more information

Review:
Love at First Baguette is a really cute and fun novella that can be read for free on Amanda Bouchet's website about a half-American / half-French woman living in Paris and looking for love.

Heather loves her life, living in Paris is everything she dreamed it would be, she has a fantastic roommate and her career is going well. If only she could be so lucky in love everything would be perfect. Unfortunately signing up for a dating app seems to be bringing one disastrous date after another and she's starting to lose hope. Perhaps she just needs to stop dating strangers and look a little closer to home.

At only 9 short chapters this is a quick story that it won't take you long to read but it's perfect for when you just want something sugary sweet with a nice HEA at the end. I like that this is a slow build on the romance front as what starts out as friendship gradually becomes something more. The characters were great, Heather's dating disasters were totally relatable and I was left with a smile on my face. Just what I want from a novella.

Source: Read for free on Amanda Bouchet's website

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Thursday 29 November 2018

Preorder Alert: Theirs Ever After - Katee Robert


Have you discovered THE THALANIAN DYNASTY series by NYT Bestselling Author Katee Robert?

In THEIRS EVER AFTER Theo, Galen, and Meg's journey continues as they navigate the new realities of their relationship. Fans of Laura Kaye’s THEIR’S TO TAKE or Sierra Simone’s AMERICAN QUEEN will devour this cinderella-esque ménage.

Start reading the series for FREE! Download THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT, the novella that introduces you to Theo, Galen, and Meg for FREE at:



Title: Theirs Ever After
Author: Katee Robert
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Thriller/Menage
Release Date: December 3, 2018
Publisher: Indie
Series: The Thalanian Dynasty
Page Count: 62K
Format: Digital
ASIN: B07H3CX9JR

Synopsis:

Sometimes happily ever after isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

Theo Fitzcharles thought he’d put the worst behind him when he became King of Thalania and named his two lovers, Meg Sanders and Galen Mikos, as his Consorts. Unfortunately, the realities of running a country have worn on all of them, individually and as a triad. Theo has every intention of making things right, but first he has to deal with an old enemy who’s closer than anyone could have dreamed.

Meg Sanders never wanted to be a princess. Now that she’s one of two Consorts to the King of Thalania, she knows why—it’s work. Every time she turns around, she’s misstepping and struggling not to screw up the careful political maneuvering required for her new position. But her struggles with the new position are the least of her worries she’s attacked in the palace.

Theo, Galen, and Meg must race to identify her attacker and neutralize them before they can make another attempt to hurt her. There’s plenty of people who want Meg out of the palace—and at least one isn’t picky about whether she’s breathing or not when she goes.

Available at:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MLIVv8
B&N: http://bit.ly/2Q4Ihqp
iTunes: https://apple.co/2oGMZhN
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2MQkzAc


Giveaway:

Add THEIRS EVER AFTER, FOREVER THEIRS, and THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT to your TBR pile on Goodreads then keep reading to get a sneak peek excerpt and your chance enter the giveaway to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Direct link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29596/?

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Theirs Ever After Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 Katee Robert

Theo opened his eyes to see his best friend, his lover, his Consort, standing over him. Galen looked as tired and worn out as Theo felt, though where Theo had lost weight, Galen had gained muscle. No telling where he found the time to work out, but the evidence was in the way his T-shirt stretched tight across his shoulders and chest and the clear definition in his legs. He couldn’t even appreciate the new changes for fear of what they indicated. Are we going to war, Galen?

Some days it certainly felt like it.

He finished up his set slowly, drawing in the burning of his muscles as he strained against the weight of the bench press. In this moment, he was perfectly present. It wouldn’t last. It never lasted. But he had right now, and it would have to be able to shore him up for the coming conversation.

Theo wiped his face with his towel and stood. “Okay, I’m done. What’s wrong?”

“Would you like a list?”

Fuck, something was wrong. Theo glanced at the door to the gym, instinctively looking for the audience they had for most of their waking hours. The door remained closed, which didn’t mean no one was listening, but it lessened the likelihood. Even with the cameras blinking in the corners of the room, they were as close to alone as they were likely to get. “Galen, talk to me.”

“Not tonight. Not like this.” Galen started for the door. “Meg had a hard day, Theo. We all did.” Subtle comment, less subtle bite. If he concentrated, Theo could almost see things unraveling around him. He’d known life wouldn’t be simple once he retook the throne, but the freedom of exile had gone to his head and he’d forgotten just how easy it could be to drown in this world.

It sure as hell seemed like all three of them were a few short breaths from doing exactly that.

Drowning.

And he didn’t know how to fix it.

This wasn’t the time or place to get into it. Darkness had fallen while Theo was preoccupied, and most of the palace staff had gone home. It didn’t leave the halls empty—they were never empty—but there were fewer people to bow and murmur greetings as he and Galen stalked toward their private suite. Theo managed to nod in response, but he schooled his expression to discourage actual conversation. In his current mood, he couldn’t guarantee what he’d say if someone tried to stop him now.

They slammed into their suite and Theo grabbed Galen’s arm before he had a chance to leave the sitting room. “What’s going on?”

“No. Fuck that. You don’t get to play the concerned partner now.” Galen shot a look toward the main rooms and lowered his voice. “You got what you wanted, Theo. You got your cake and you’re eating it, too. The first King of Thalania in history to name two Consorts. Congratu-fucking-lations.”

Theo rocked back on his heels. This conversation had been a long time in coming, and even knowing it bore down on him with all the subtly of a runaway train, he still wasn’t prepared. “You knew—”

“No. I don’t need to hear that I went into this with eyes wide open. I know I fucking did.” Galen dragged a hand over his face. “Meg has three months before school starts up again. She’s fucking miserable, Theo. She puts on a brave face for you, but underneath she’s messed up.”

And what about you?

Theo didn’t voice the words lodged in his throat. He’d learned a long time ago not to ask questions he might not want answers to, and this numbered among them. He didn’t point out that he’d given both Galen and Meg a chance to leave six months ago, and he sure as hell didn’t point out that they could leave now if they were so inclined. He might be an ass sometimes, but not about this.

Not when they’d already sacrificed so much.

He couldn’t fix this. Not yet. Things would calm down once he got the Families in line and brought his siblings around. Camilla was happy to see him, of course. Even with their father’s death, his baby sister had been kept from the worst of the political bullshit. At sixteen, she was just starting to dip her toes into the water, and he’d do whatever it took to ensure she remained safe while she figured out her own path.

Their brother was another story altogether. For just under a year, Edward had thought he’d be king. Having that taken away, rightfully or no, created a divide between them that Theo didn’t know how to fix. Especially when Edward announced his intentions to attend Oxford for university, and left within weeks of Theo’s coronation. There were a handful of nobles who’d jump at the chance to use that separation for their own ambitions, and he needed to fix it before things got worse.

But not tonight.

Tonight, he had to fix this.

Theo snagged the back of Galen’s neck. His friend resisted for a second, but then he exhaled harshly and let Theo pull him closer until their foreheads pressed together. Tell me what you need. Theo closed his eyes. Galen didn’t have to tell him. He knew what Galen needed—what they all needed. “Where is she?”

“Tub.”

Good. She’d be nice and relaxed. He tightened his grip on Galen’s neck. “The food?”

“An hour.”

Good boy. Sex wouldn’t solve any of the undercurrents in the long term, but it would help release the tension that had been growing with every passing day. Trapping the two people he loved was never part of the plan, but Theo couldn’t shake the feeling that was exactly what he’d done. He released Galen and stepped back. “Strip.”

Theo turned and walked deeper into the room without bothering to make sure Galen obeyed, knowing it would piss his friend off, and knowing that anger was exactly what he needed to purge the festering feeling beneath. At least for tonight. Tomorrow, they would talk and further clear the air. Open communication was the only way this would work, and they hadn’t spent enough time alone together to get to the heart of things in the last couple weeks.

His fault. He knew that well enough.

He’d fix it. He’d find a way to fix all of it.

Theo pulled off his shirt and tossed it over the back of the desk chair. He kicked off his shoes and then walked into the bathroom. Steam fogged the mirrors and Meg had turned off all the lights, leaving only the trio of thick candles lit on the half wall between the tub and the sinks. It gave the room a dark, intimate feeling that he approved of. He stalked to the edge of the tub and took a seat near her head. She had her eyes closed and the water licked at her breasts as if determined to offer him teasing glimpses.

“Thought you weren’t working late tonight.”

“I wasn’t planning on it. Things didn’t go well with Lord Huxley, and I didn’t want to come back here with that frustration riding so close to the surface. I needed some time to cool off.” He smoothed a hand over her hair, tangling his fingers in the dark strands. She looked good. The decadent meals the staff insisted on putting together had filled out her curves, and he couldn’t count her ribs the way he’d been able to when they first met. Theo kept stroking her hair and used his free hand to urge her onto her stomach. The new position freed him up to work at the knots of tension lining her shoulders and upper back. Tension that was his fault. “Let me take care of you tonight, princess.” Galen walked naked into the bathroom and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. Theo met his gaze steadily. “Let me take care of both of you.”


Other books in The Thalanian Dynasty series

Forever Theirs

In FOREVER THEIRS an exiled prince, his bodyguard and the woman they can’t seem to leave alone, must return home to clear his mother’s name and reclaim his crown.

Download at:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2t3usho
B&N: http://bit.ly/2yiyKr9
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2JQap0k
iTunes: https://apple.co/2JBPRtb

Theirs for the Night

THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT is a novella. Theo, Galen, and Meg's story continues in the novel FOREVER THEIRS.

Download at:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2M3w3A9
B&N: http://bit.ly/2Jl0k7Q
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2JxT2Bg
iTunes: https://apple.co/2LtEK1L


About Katee Robert

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it 'a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension." When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Instagram | BookBub

Wednesday 28 November 2018

Release Blitz: A Curse Awakened - Cecy Robson


A Curse Awakened

by Cecy Robson
Weird Girls, #0.4
Re-release Publication Date: November 28, 2018
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Standalone


AVAILABLE NOW!


SYNOPSIS:

Discover Cecy Robson’s sensational Weird Girls series—or return to where the magic first began—with this eBook original prequel novella about four sisters coming to grips with their unique supernatural powers.

Celia Wird shouldn’t possess the ability to transform into a tigress. Her three sisters should never be able to burst into flames, heal wounds, or transform common objects into deadly weapons. And yet they do.

Before they were born, the Wird Sisters were cursed by a spell that was intended to destroy them, not endow them with extraordinary powers. The sisters’ magic is untamed and explosive at best, and time is running out for them to take command.

Vampires have targeted Celia’s sweet, tragically human ex-boyfriend Danny. The sisters rush to his aid, but in order to take down the vamps, first they must face their dark past and break a spell that’s screwing up their powers. Except this curse wasn’t meant to be broken . . . and the witch who cast it isn’t done toying with them yet.


EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT:

Danny raced across the field. Emme followed. The rest of us remained, confusion and surprise cementing us in place. I’d never seen a vamp. Never smelled one, never heard one. And when Danny told me a few years back that they were real, I didn’t find it too hard to believe. After all, if my sisters and I could exist, why couldn’t other supernaturals exist, too?

That said, I was dumbstruck by their appearance. Taran, Shayna, and I gawked as GQ model types in black suits emerged from two souped-up red Porsches. There were seven, three from one car, four from the other. They removed their sunglasses. A blond who resembled an edgy James Dean grinned my way as the aroma of sex and chocolate overtook my senses. “Well, what do we have here?”

Shayna leaned closer to me. “Um. Why aren’t they sparkling? Shouldn’t they, like, sparkle?”

I don’t think the so-called creatures of the night appreciated the reference. They hissed and stalked toward us. “Grab some wood,” I muttered.

“Already got some,” James Dean said, his eyes never leaving mine.

Okay. Direct eye contact from a male. That was a first. If I weren’t already scared out of my mind, I might have also been skeeved by his comment. As it was, my beast licked her chops, perceiving his leer more as a challenge. I swore in my head, knowing she’d found him more appetizer than threat.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Shayna crouch and lift three broken sticks from the ground. As the sun set behind us, the last trickle of light traced along the lengthening sticks. Shayna transferred the metal from her gold necklace into the pieces of wood, morphing them into long, sharp needles. She clutched two tightly in one hand while twirling the other between the fingers of her opposite hand.

That gave the vamps their first “oh shit” pause. My protruding claws gave them their second. “What are they?” a dark-skinned vamp asked, his nails and his incisors protruding in response.

James Dean smirked. “Don’t know. Don’t care. But this one is mine.”

I didn’t see him move. All I felt were his hands at my throat. His thumb teased my jugular as his light eyes drilled into mine. “You won’t scream. You won’t fight,” he commanded, hardening his voice. “You’re just going to feel real good.” He widened his mouth and drove his fangs toward my neck.

My claws punctured through the crotch of his designer pants and twisted as the point of a fang traced against my skin. A sound somewhere between a garbled choke and squeak tore through his throat. Another vamp yanked me by the hair, trying to wrench me off. I took James Dean with us, squeezing tighter.

Rob,” James Dean choked, sounding more little girl with a sore throat than vicious bloodsucker. “No.”

The hold to my hair loosened. “Huh?”

I used Rob’s hesitation to drive my free hand through his belly, digging through his torso while my right wrung Jimmy Dean’s sausage―a crude and outrageous tactic perhaps, but considering the prick tried to bite me, I didn’t care about being polite.

Taran screamed. Something smoked. And heat smacked against my face. I would’ve panicked if another vamp hadn’t howled back in agony. Shayna’s grunt followed another deep-throated hiss just as my claws felt the first beat of the vamp’s heart. I thrust my hand up and was rewarded with a stream of warm ash, blinding me.

“She killed Rob!” someone roared.

James Dean wrenched from my loosening grip, wailing. I jerked up and swiped the ash from my face. Another vamp fell against me with two of Shayna’s needles jutting from his sternum. He writhed against me, trying to pull them from his chest.

I did what any other tigress would’ve done in my place―I wrapped my legs around his waist and tried to yank his head from his shoulders.

And, well, didn’t that piss him off.

He hissed, nailing me hard in the ribs with his elbows. I lost my breath with every impact. Panic and pain made me pull harder while my claws hacked into his neck. The last crunch of his vertebrae rang in my ears before a rain of ash streamed over my chest and shoulders. I heaved, spitting out the bits of the vamp coating my tongue.

James Dean staggered back, clinging to his blood-soaked pants as he wrenched open his car door. He retreated, snarling while his furious face took in the scene down in the field.

Blue and white flames encased Taran’s form as she dashed after a vamp with one of Shayna’s needles sticking out of his eye. She wasn’t fast, but at that moment, neither was he. Shayna chased behind another vamp, who was already partially decapitated from the sword she’d transformed from a branch. Three vamps were re-dead. Two soon would be. The one who’d seen enough was hauling ass in his red Porsche. That left one more…..



ABOUT CECY ROBSON:


Cecy Robson is an author of contemporary and new adult romance, young adult adventure, and award-winning urban fantasy. A double-nominated RITA® Finalist, Winner of the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and published author of more than twenty titles, you can typically find Cecy on her laptop or stumbling blindly in search of caffeine.

Connect with Cecy online:


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Tuesday 27 November 2018

Review: Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik

Will dark magic claim their home?

Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s too kind-hearted to collect his debts. They face poverty, until Miryem hardens her own heart and takes up his work in their village. Her success creates rumours she can turn silver into gold, which attract the fairy king of winter himself. He sets her an impossible challenge – and if she fails, she’ll die. Yet if she triumphs, it may mean a fate worse than death. And in her desperate efforts to succeed, Miryem unwittingly spins a web which draws in the unhappy daughter of a lord.

Irina’s father schemes to wed her to the tsar – he will pay any price to achieve this goal. However, the dashing tsar is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of mortals and winter alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and Irina embark on a quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power and love.

As with her standalone novel Uprooted, Naomi Novik has once again been influenced by classic folktales. Taking Rumpelstiltskin as her starting point, Spinning Silver is a new rich, multilayered new story which is a joy to read.

Visit Naomi Novik's website for more information

Review:
Uprooted is one of my all time favourite books so you can imagine how excited I was when I found out she was writing another story in a similar vein but this time inspired by Rumpelstiltskin instead of Beauty and the Beast. I had incredibly high expectations for Spinning Silver but if anything it was even better than I'd hoped it would be.

The story is told from multiple points of view but the three main characters are Miryem, Wanda and Irina young girls with very different stories that all tie together in some way. Miryem is the daughter of a moneylender but although her father is happy to lend people money he finds it very hard to get people to pay him back. Life is tough for their family, food is scarce while people who have borrowed money from them seem to have more than enough to go around so Miryem decides to take matters into her own hands and take over the payment collections. It turns out she has quite a head for business and when she gets a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold she catches the attention of the Staryk King her life gets more difficult than ever.

Wanda is from a poor family, her mother died in childbirth and her father is a drunk but she does her best to look after her younger brothers and keep things going. She's horrified when she hears her father planning on selling her into marriage so when she's forced to work for Miryem to pay of her father's debts instead she's thrilled to delay an unwanted marriage. Especially when she realises that earning a wage may enable her to create a much better life for herself and her brothers.

Irina is the daughter of a duke so she has led a sheltered and privileged life but things change when her father comes up with a plan to marry her off to the tsar. When Irina catches the eye of a demon she realises she is in mortal danger and if she doesn't come up with a way to thwart him then the entire kingdom is in peril.

Spinning Silver is a fantastic tale and a perfect read for the winter months when you're wrapped up warm inside in front of a fire. Just like Uprooted it feels like an old fashioned fairytale, one that people could have been telling for centuries, but at the same time it's a new and fantastic take on the idea of Rumplestiltskin. One of the things I loved most was how strong all three main characters were, they're living in a time when women had very little in the way of rights but they all manage to take control of their own destiny and choose a future for themselves. There are so many layers to this story and Naomi Novik very cleverly takes each separate storyline and weaves them together into something magical. It's hard to decide which of these two books I loved the most but one thing for sure is that they've both earned a spot on my favourites shelf. I'm really, really hoping that the author will write more of these fairytale style books in the future because the first two have been absolutely fantastic.

Source: Received from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review

Other reviews of this book:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Paperback (preorder) / Kindle:

Sunday 25 November 2018

Review: Efficient - Kit Rocha

Caution: this story is not meant to stand alone. The Beyond Happily Ever After stories are vignettes and outtakes showing the O’Kanes in their daily lives, in between the adventures and often after their happy endings. These stories were written exclusively for readers and fans of the series, and will probably not make very much sense to anyone not familiar with the characters.

Efficient: December 2017 Patreon Reward Story. This story is a short vignette voted on by our Patreon supporters. In it, you can catch up with Mia & Ford as they envision a future for Sector Eight and Mia envisions a more personal kind of Happily Ever After.

Length: 1800 words
Characters: Mia & Ford
Timeline: Set after the end of Beyond Surrender

Now available to read for free on Kit Rocha's website: https://www.kitrocha.com/book/beyond-hea-efficient/

Beyond Series:
Beyond Shame
Beyond Control
Beyond Denial (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Pain
Flash (Free short story)
Beyond Temptation (Novella in the Marked Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Jealousy
Beyond Solitude (Novella in the Alpha's After Dark Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Addiction
Beyond Possession (Novella)
Beyond Innocence
Closed Doors (A Beyond Happily Ever After short story)
Blank Canvas (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Ruin
Beyond Ecstasy
Beyond Surrender
Creative Incentives (Free short story)
Beyond Doubt (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Cravings (Free short story)
Beyond Forever (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Dessert (Free short story)
Ravished (Free short story)
Efficient (Free short story)
Memorial (Free short story)
Fierce Protector (Free short story)
A Little Bit Bad (Free short story)
Diplomacy (Free short story)

Gideon's Riders Series:
(Spin off series)
Ashwin
Makhai (Free short story)
Deacon
6th Sense (Free short story)
Ivan
High Priestess (Free short story)
Girls' Night Out (Free short story)

Visit Kit Rocha's website for more information.

Review:
Efficient is a short story that was originally available through Kit Rocha's Patreon page where you can sponsor the author and read a short story every month. After six months these stories become available on Kit Rocha's website so you can now read this one for free. These stories aren't meant to be standalone, they're written to give fans of the series a chance to catch up with favourite characters and just give us little glimpses into what's happening in this world now that the main series has finished.

Jim Jernigan ran Sector Eight like a well oiled machine, everything was all about maximising production and there was no room for leisure activities. Now that the sectors are more open this is becoming a problem as Sector Eight residents are starting to realise all of the possibilities that are out there and enterprising individuals are trying to take advantage of their search for more. Mia and Ford have been running the sector for months now and Mia has decided it's about time they loosen things up a little. She has big plans, not just for the sector but also for her relationship.

Source: Read for free on Kit Rocha's website

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: 6th Sense - Kit Rocha

Caution: this story is not meant to stand alone. The Beyond Happily Ever After stories are vignettes and outtakes showing the O’Kanes in their daily lives, in between the adventures and often after their happy endings. These stories were written exclusively for readers and fans of the series, and will probably not make very much sense to anyone not familiar with the characters.

6th Sense: November 2017 Patreon Reward Story. This story is a short vignette voted on by our Patreon supporters. In it, Ashwin and Kora talk about the way they perceive the world differently and what that could mean for any future children. Then they make out a lot. (Note: Patreon stories are exclusive to subscribers for the first six months. After that, they’ll be available to download free on our website.)

Length: 2600 words
Characters: Ashwin & Kora
Timeline: Set after Deacon

Now available to read for free on Kit Rocha's website: https://www.kitrocha.com/book/beyond-hea-6th-sense/

Beyond Series:
Beyond Shame
Beyond Control
Beyond Denial (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Pain
Flash (Free short story)
Beyond Temptation (Novella in the Marked Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Jealousy
Beyond Solitude (Novella in the Alpha's After Dark Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Addiction
Beyond Possession (Novella)
Beyond Innocence
Closed Doors (A Beyond Happily Ever After short story)
Blank Canvas (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Ruin
Beyond Ecstasy
Beyond Surrender
Creative Incentives (Free short story)
Beyond Doubt (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Cravings (Free short story)
Beyond Forever (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Dessert (Free short story)
Ravished (Free short story)
Efficient (Free short story)
Memorial (Free short story)
Fierce Protector (Free short story)
A Little Bit Bad (Free short story)
Diplomacy (Free short story)

Gideon's Riders Series:
(Spin off series)
Ashwin
Makhai (Free short story)
Deacon
6th Sense (Free short story)
Ivan
High Priestess (Free short story)
Girls' Night Out (Free short story)

Visit Kit Rocha's website for more information.

Review:
6th Sense is a short story that was originally available through Kit Rocha's Patreon page where you can sponsor the author and read a short story every month. After six months these stories become available on Kit Rocha's website so you can now read this one for free. These stories aren't meant to be standalone, they're written to give fans of the series a chance to catch up with favourite characters and just give us little glimpses into what's happening in this world now that the main series has finished.

I've always loved Ashwin and Kora so I really enjoyed getting to see them talking about their hopes and fears for their upcoming new arrival. This was a really sweet little short, Ashwin is worried about how their genetic modifications might affect their baby in the future and he hates the fact that he can't plan for every possibility in advance. Kora is as sweet and loving as ever while she reassures him that there is nothing they can't handle together.

Source: Read for free on Kit Rocha's website

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Ravished - Kit Rocha

Caution: this story is not meant to stand alone. The Beyond Happily Ever After stories are vignettes and outtakes showing the O’Kanes in their daily lives, in between the adventures and often after their happy endings. These stories were written exclusively for readers and fans of the series, and will probably not make very much sense to anyone not familiar with the characters.

Ravished: October 2017 Patreon Reward Story. This story is a short vignette voted on by our Patreon supporters. In it, Finn watches Trix’s first dance at the newly reopened Broken Circle and the two enjoy a little sexy time together in her new dressing room. (Note: Patreon stories are exclusive to subscribers for the first six months. After that, they’ll be available to download free on our website.)

Length: 2800 words
Characters: Trix and Finn
Timeline: Set after Beyond Forever.

Now available to read for free on Kit Rocha's website: https://www.kitrocha.com/book/beyond-hea-ravished/

Beyond Series:
Beyond Shame
Beyond Control
Beyond Denial (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Pain
Flash (Free short story)
Beyond Temptation (Novella in the Marked Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Jealousy
Beyond Solitude (Novella in the Alpha's After Dark Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Addiction
Beyond Possession (Novella)
Beyond Innocence
Closed Doors (A Beyond Happily Ever After short story)
Blank Canvas (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Ruin
Beyond Ecstasy
Beyond Surrender
Creative Incentives (Free short story)
Beyond Doubt (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Cravings (Free short story)
Beyond Forever (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Dessert (Free short story)
Ravished (Free short story)
Efficient (Free short story)
Memorial (Free short story)
Fierce Protector (Free short story)
A Little Bit Bad (Free short story)
Diplomacy (Free short story)

Gideon's Riders Series:
(Spin off series)
Ashwin
Makhai (Free short story)
Deacon
6th Sense (Free short story)
Ivan
High Priestess (Free short story)
Girls' Night Out (Free short story)

Visit Kit Rocha's website for more information.

Review:
Ravished is a short story that was originally available through Kit Rocha's Patreon page where you can sponsor the author and read a short story every month. After six months these stories become available on Kit Rocha's website so you can now read this one for free. These stories aren't meant to be standalone, they're written to give fans of the series a chance to catch up with favourite characters and just give us little glimpses into what's happening in this world now that the main series has finished.

This short is all about Trix and her first burlesque dance at the newly reopened Broken Circle, Finn is watching on from the sidelines and while her dancing may draw in the crowds she's only focused on his reaction to her. This was a fun little snippet that really turns up the heat and it was great to see how happy Trix and Finn are together.

Source: Read for free on Kit Rocha's website

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Saturday 24 November 2018

Review: The Navigator's Touch - Julia Ember

After invaders destroyed her village, murdered her family, and took her prisoner, shield-maiden Ragna is hungry for revenge. A trained warrior, she is ready to fight for her home, but with only a mermaid and a crew of disloyal mercenaries to aid her, Ragna knows she needs new allies. Guided by the magical maps on her skin, battling storms and mutiny, Ragna sets sail across the Northern Sea.

She petitions the Jarl in Skjordal for aid, but despite Ragna’s rank and fighting ability, the Jarl sees only a young girl, too inexperienced to lead, unworthy of help. To prove herself to the Jarl and win her crew’s respect, Ragna undertakes a dangerous expedition. But when forced to decide between her own freedom and the fate of her crew, what will she sacrifice to save what’s left of her home?

Inspired by Norse mythology and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, this companion novel to The Seafarer’s Kiss is a tale of vengeance, valor, honor, and redemption.

Seafarer's Duology:
The Seafarer's Kiss
The Navigator's Touch

Visit Julia Ember's website for more information.

Review:
The Navigator's Touch is a companion novel to The Seafarer's Kiss rather than a direct sequel, those who have already read the first book will be familiar with some of the characters but you could start with this book without getting lost. Ragna was the shield-maiden who rescued Ersel in the first book but this instalment is really her story, it starts before The Seafarer's Kiss then there is a small amount of crossover before it continues on past events we've already read about. We get to find out more about her childhood, what happened when her village was attacked, how she lost her hand and see if she manages to get revenge on the people who wronged her.

I love the way Julia Ember has used Norse Mythology for the base of this series, then the first book is her take on The Little Mermaid story while this one is more of an origin story for Captain Hook from Peter Pan, with a female Hook which just makes it even better! Ragna is a brilliant character, all her life she dreamed of becoming a warrior so it's something she trained hard for but when her village is attacked and she is captured by her enemy she has to use those skills to make her escape. She is absolutely consumed by her need for revenge which makes her come across as quite a hard character in the beginning, she is utterly ruthless and even when she manages to get her own ship she doesn't trust her men because they are all mercenaries.

What I really enjoyed was seeing how much Ragna changed and grew throughout the story as she slowly learned how to be a better leader, one who inspired loyalty through her actions rather than by fear. Ragna does treat Ersel quite badly in the beginning but she comes to realise how she affects the people around her and she does try to make amends for her bad behaviour.

Once again this story has a diverse cast of characters, there is an FF relationship and gender neutral characters who are just normal members of the group and not treated like they're there as part of a box ticking exercise. We are introduced to all kinds of creatures from Norse legends too which I really enjoyed.

The Navigator's Touch was everything I had hoped it would be and a wonderful companion to The Seafarer's Kiss, I already mentioned that you can read these books in any order and I'm very happy to recommend both to fans of mythology and retellings.

Source: Received from Interlude Press in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Guest Post: Mermaid Look Book - Julia Ember

I'm thrilled to be able to welcome Julia Ember to the blog today to talk about her Seafarer Duology, The  Seafarer's Kiss and The Navigator's Touch. The books are chockablock with Norse Mythology combined with a hint of fairytale retelling, the first being inspired by The Little Mermaid and the second by Peter Pan.

These stories both have a wonderfully diverse cast of characters and are full of strong women and ff romance. I loved them both and want to recommend them to everyone so before I hand the reigns over to Julia let me give you a little more information about the books.

The Seafarer's Kiss:

Having long wondered what lives beyond the ice shelf, nineteen-year-old mermaid Ersel learns of the life she wants when she rescues and befriends Ragna, a shield-maiden stranded on the merfolk’s fortress. But when Ersel’s childhood friend and suitor catches them together, he gives Ersel a choice: Say goodbye to Ragna or face justice at the hands of the glacier’s brutal king.

Determined to forge a different fate, Ersel seeks help from the divine Loki. But such deals are never straightforward, and the outcome sees her exiled from the only home and protection she’s known. To save herself from perishing in the barren, underwater wasteland and be reunited with the human she’s come to love, Ersel must try to outsmart the God of Lies.

You can read my review here.



The Navigator's Touch:

After invaders destroyed her village, murdered her family, and took her prisoner, shield-maiden Ragna is hungry for revenge. A trained warrior, she is ready to fight for her home, but with only a mermaid and a crew of disloyal mercenaries to aid her, Ragna knows she needs new allies. Guided by the magical maps on her skin, battling storms and mutiny, Ragna sets sail across the Northern Sea.

She petitions the Jarl in Skjordal for aid, but despite Ragna’s rank and fighting ability, the Jarl sees only a young girl, too inexperienced to lead, unworthy of help. To prove herself to the Jarl and win her crew’s respect, Ragna undertakes a dangerous expedition. But when forced to decide between her own freedom and the fate of her crew, what will she sacrifice to save what’s left of her home?

Inspired by Norse mythology and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, this companion novel to The Seafarer’s Kiss is a tale of vengeance, valor, honor, and redemption.

Check back later today to read my full review.

Now please give a very warm welcome to Julia who is here to talk about all things mermaid!

********************

Mermaid Look Book by Julia Ember

Hello! I am delighted to be on Feeling Fictional today to share this fun post with all of you! Thank you to Sarah for hosting me! My Seafarer duology features a fat mermaid heroine, and I’ve always thought it would be amazing to dress up like my MC. But, as a plus-sized woman myself, cute mermaid-themed outfits don’t always come in my size. Representation is important to me, so for this post, I’ve only chosen items that are available in plus sizes. I hope you enjoy the look!

I’ve also included a few mermaid reads. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo was a really standout book for me this year. I love the enemies to lovers trope done well, and this book was dark and delicious! I tore through it! I’ve also included Emerge by Tobie Easton, which remains a favorite of mine years after I first read it. I love the concept of mermaids living in suburbia, their community joined together by a series of underground water tunnels!

The Outfit


The Accessories


Mermaid Reads

Finally, here are a few mermaid books (including, my own!) to tuck into the bag and carry with you!


********************

Thanks for a fabulous guest post Julia, I love that sequinned skirt and the accessories! I've already read The Seafarer's Kiss and To Kill a Kingdom so I am totally seconding those recommendations and will definitely be adding Emerge to my to read mountain.

THE NAVIGATOR’S TOUCH ~ EXCERPTS

A shiver of great white sharks trailed our ship as we rowed through the Trap. Their gray fins glimmered like tiny sails in the low Arctic sun—live vessels waiting to deliver us to Valhalla should we deviate from the course and fall victim to the icebergs.

On deck, another, more vicious, sort of shark waited to devour me. I could feel the hungry eyes of my crew on my back as I squinted into the distant horizon. If any of them could have navigated the narrow pass and rough seas on their own, without my magic, I’d have been sacrificed to Aegir weeks ago.

My crew’s loyalty was proving a more resilient beast than their former leader. Haakon had died with my dagger embedded in his chest, but under the thick wolf pelts we donned to keep warm, most of the crew still wore the blood-red tunics of his house. The ice shelf that had been my salvation when I had been shipwrecked was far behind us. If I fell into the water here, even the mermaid who clung to the ship’s dragonhead bow wouldn’t be able to save me. Our alliance was tenuous, but this tumultuous stretch of ocean—dubbed the Trap by sailors the world over—had claimed thousands. My men wouldn’t take the risk of killing me here. As long as we sailed through dangerous waters, their rebellion would remain locked away, expressed only as sullen glances and curt nods.

I lifted my arm and studied my tattoos. Our route through the icebergs etched its way across my skin. The map stretched from my bicep to the raw, scarred skin of my wrist. It stopped abruptly where the silver hook began. The blue ink of the markings shifted in time with the ship’s movements. Miniscule runes detailed ancient, underwater cities and forgotten mountains, lost to the advancing sea.

A frothy wave broke over the ship’s bow, spraying us with cold water as sharp as needles. I used my remaining hand to shield my face, but Ersel laughed as water splashed her skin. While we humans shivered under our sodden animal pelts, the mermaid relished the blast of the Northern Sea. She dangled over the waves, unperturbed by the sharks circling beneath the hull. Her eight aquamarine tentacles curled around the forward stempost and her arms splayed as she embraced the ocean’s icy kiss. Her cheeks were flushed, and her topaz eyes were bright with delight.

Shaking my head, I braced myself on the mast and turned to face the oarsmen. “Shift windward!” I barked. “There’s a berg ahead.”

Groaning, the oarsmen strained to turn the vessel into the wind. The mast creaked as the draught caught the sail. Another wave broke over the ship’s starboard side. I stifled a yelp as the cold water soaked through my boots. I pulled the fur tighter around my shoulders and covered my lips with my hand, so the crew wouldn’t see my smirk. I hadn’t seen an iceberg, but I wanted the crew to keep believing that collision could happen at any moment. Making them feel afraid was the only way I could feel at ease.

***

A lone figure sat at the end of the hall on a throne on a raised platform. There were no guards or servants. I would have the jarl’s full attention as I made my case. Unable to see the jarl clearly, I squinted in the low light. Then my eyes widened. No one had mentioned that the jarl was a woman. Female jarls were as rare as pearls.

Jarl Honor reclined on a high-backed wooden throne with her legs crossed primly at the ankles. Her skin was deep brown, and she wore her long, black hair in tight braids. She had high, noble cheekbones and bright green eyes. Her lips were quirked in a half smile. A sable mantle was wrapped around her shoulders. Gold rings adorned each of her slender fingers. She was beautiful, commanding, and regal—everything I wanted to be. I knelt on the dais before her. She extended her hand for me to kiss her rings, then lifted a bejeweled goblet to her lips.

“My húskarl tells me that you have come to ask for our support in retaking the Kjorseyrr coast,
specifically the township now held by the late Jarl Haakon’s men,” she said.

“Yes. They hold children from my town as prisoners.”

The jarl studied me. She rested the goblet on a little wooden table beside the throne. “And why should my thegns and I care about this?”

My mouth fell open. Of all the reactions I’d been playing out in my mind, that I might be met with blatant apathy hadn’t occurred to me. I could picture Yarra so clearly, sitting atop Mjolnir and laughing with Lief beside her. The jarl couldn’t be so heartless as to ignore their fate.

“Why should you care about children being held prisoner?” I ground out. “They’re innocent. You would see them be butchered when they come of age?”

“Many people in the world are innocent.”

“They’re my people.” I dug the tip of my hook into my thigh to keep myself in check. “And my grandmother was born in one of your villages. My kinsman, Halvag, lives there still. These children are kin to your own people.”

Jarl Honor was silent. I struggled not to fidget, but when her gaze rested on my hook, I said defensively, “I fight just as well as before. Maybe better.”

“I don’t doubt it. You carry yourself like a warrior.” Honor lifted the goblet and sipped her wine. “But since you landed on our shores, I have had eyes on you. What kind of jarl would I be if I just let a foreigner land on my coast with a hoard of fighting men? The old woman you met in the woods reports to me. She told me what I needed to know about you.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. That encounter was shameful. But I had thought it would be a private shame, not something that would reach Honor’s ears. I should have known better than to think that we could pass truly unseen. I had not disciplined the crew for their actions, and she probably thought I condoned them. I would fix that later.

Honor smiled, and wrinkles formed around her eyes. “She did say that you moved with incredible speed. Inala used to be a warrior, before she dedicated herself to Rán and chose a hermit’s life close to the sea. She also saw a glimpse of the moving tattoos on your arms. Aslaug confirmed them.”

“Then you know I could be an asset to you!” I exclaimed and held out my arms for her to inspect the markings. “Help me to free my town, and we’ll all swear fealty to you. You could extend your reach across the sea. I would pay you tribute, govern for you.”

She sighed. “And what kind of governor would you be? Inala says you do not trust your men and she could see that they have no love for you.”

The fragile leash I had on my temper snapped. “You don’t know anything about those men or what their ilk did to my town. My home is in ashes. You don’t know what they took from me.”

I braced myself, sure that she would order me to leave.

Instead, Honor set her jaw and leaned back on her throne. “You’re wrong. I do care about Kjorseyrr. Those children are the last of a god’s bloodline, the only navigators left. I am a religious woman, Ragna. I believe that slaying children of a god is sacrilege. We sailed to Brytten when we heard of Jarl Haakon’s death. But I wanted to hear what you would say and see if you were different than the reports have told me. I cannot risk my own warriors to fight alongside men who may stab us in the back at any moment.”

***

We spent the whole morning training on the field Aslaug had prepared. I was pleased to find that, although most of my crew came from farming or trading backgrounds, most were proficient with an axe, hammer, and sword. The men sparred as I watched them with a critical eye. Their style wasn’t graceful, but they knew where to strike. Aslaug walked among the pairs correcting stances and grips with infinite, gentle patience. They never raised their voice or became frustrated when a man failed to understand a new maneuver. It was easy to see why the jarl relied on them so heavily.

Riding and archery were another story. Even Torstein sat ahorse like a sack of rocks and managed to hit the target only once with an arrow. The men had grumbled on the beach about being forced to walk inland, but I was starting to suspect that had all been for show. I was grateful to the solid, old horses who never put a foot wrong or bucked, even when the riders jerked their mouths. Riding was my domain. I’d never ridden as well as Yarra, but Mama had taught me everything she knew. I had grown up caring for warhorses. While Aslaug continued to help with melee, I barked instructions to the riders.

“I’ve seen young children ride better than you!” I shouted at Torstein when he missed the target for the third pass. His roan gelding pinned back its ears. It wasn’t exactly a fair comment, as Yarra was a better rider than I was, too, but I wouldn’t admit that.

He pulled up beside me and tossed his sword on the ground. “Aye,” he said. “Better I stick to ships. Riding into a fight is more you islanders’ way.”

“If the stories about your wreck are to be believed, you’re not very good with ships either.”

I expected to see anger on his face, but he laughed. He swung his leg over the gelding’s back and hit the ground hard. “Probably not. But at least if I keep sailing to new places, I stay ahead of my reputation.”
By the time the sun reached its full height, I was bone-weary. I clapped my hands to get the crew’s attention, then dismissed them. They trotted off at once, racing each other in the direction of the guesthouse and lunch, tossing their weapons aside with little thought. I sighed and began collecting the discarded steel. I didn’t want the jarl to think we were ungrateful. I’d need to teach the men better respect for their weapons.

“I’ll see to that,” Aslaug said. They held two axes in their hands already. “You look exhausted.”

I flashed them a weary smile. Aslaug had been training all morning too—and had been moving more than me—but they still walked with light-footed grace, as if they had only just risen. My crew and I had a long way to go to match the húskarl’s fitness. I gathered the horses’ reins and led them back to their stable.

***

Eight days later, we set sail across the Northern Sea. The jarl kept her word. She outfitted ten ships with fully trained warriors and handed an eleventh ship over to me. I’d been given a new sail, designed just for me: a black war-axe on a canvas of blue inked maps. It made me proud to watch my sigil billow in the sharp ocean wind.

The Sea Witch was a small, but beautifully made vessel. She was a snekke: a warship with no cargo hold and a draft so shallow she could be pulled directly onto the beach. Her decks were made of the same jewel-red wood as Honor’s longhouse. The stempost had been intricately carved to show a mermaid pressing a hunting horn to her lips. Her form was too slender and, despite the long, elegant tail winding down to the hull, she had no scales. She shouldn’t have reminded me so acutely of Ersel, when she looked nothing like the real mermaid I knew. But when I saw the horn at her lips, I blinked back tears and hurriedly bid Torstein a safe passage.

On the ride from Djalsfor to the coast, I had stupidly hoped that Ersel, her cheeks rosy and her eyes bright with health, might be waiting for us at the harbor. Either she was bound to the Trickster or Loki had told her of my betrayal and she wanted nothing more to do with me. I wasn’t sure which fate was worse. I hated the idea of her being forced to carry out Loki’s wishes, but I couldn’t stand the thought of her choosing to abandon me either.

I joined Honor at the helm of her flagship. The huge knarr had a special throne built on the deck for the jarl to sit and watch the oncoming waves. I sat on the bench at her feet, but faced the oarsmen. Their hand resting on their sword hilt, Aslaug stood guard behind her. They dipped their head to me, but nothing about their posture betrayed the words that had passed between us. If Aslaug had confided their feelings to the jarl, neither of them gave any indication.

Shipbuilders on shore cut away the ropes binding the titan to the dock. The ship surged forward, driven by a powerful gust of wind.

I was going home, at the head of an army, having forged my own agreements with lords and gods alike. I should have been elated. I would avenge my family. I was going to see Yarra again. Instead, a heaviness settled inside me as the ship left the continent far behind. When we landed on Kjorseyrr’s coast, my family would not be waiting in our house. Uncle Bjorn wouldn’t tell me how proud he was. Mama wouldn’t get the chance to scold him for putting dreams of the sea in my head as a child. Lief wouldn’t run into my arms.

Ersel would not be waiting on the beach.

***

MEET THE AUTHOR: JULIA EMBER


Born in Chicago, Julia Ember now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with her partner and their city-based menagerie of pets with names from Harry Potter. Sirius Black and Luna Lovegood the cats currently run her life. A world-traveller since childhood, Julia has visited almost seventy countries. Her travels inspire her writing, though she populates her worlds with magic and monsters. She has worked as a teacher, a wedding cake decorator and a bookseller.

Julia began writing at the age of nine, when her short story about two princesses and their horses won a contest. In 2016, she published her first novel, Unicorn Tracks, with Harmony Ink Press. It also focused on two girls and their equines, albeit those with horns. She has subsequently published three further works for young adults.

THE NAVIGATOR’S TOUCH is the sequel to THE SEAFARER’S KISS, which was released by Interlude Press in May 2017. It was heavily influenced by Julia’s postgraduate work in Medieval literature at the University of St. Andrews.

Julia Ember is represented by Eric Smith at P.S. Literary.

Connect with the author at Julia-Ember.com, on Twitter @jules_chronicle and on Facebook at facebook.com/juliaemberwrites.

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