Category: giveaway

Once Blessed, Thrice Cursed Sister Witches Book 1 by Coralie Moss Genre: Urban Fantasy

Clementine Brodeur must untangle her dead mother’s legacy before the clock runs out. My name is Clementine and my magic is making me lose sleep.My two sisters and I have forty-eight hours to find someone our talented mother could not. If we don’t succeed, someone will die. My magic allows me to see memories the dead leave behind–which forces me to relive the moment my mother was attacked by fae. I must tell my sisters what I’ve seen, because I know what we need to do. Except I’m afraid they’re done with my “leap now, look later” escapades.They’ve had my back for over twenty years. Why wouldn’t they have it now?**Get it FREE!!** Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo

Demon Lines Sister Witches Book 2

Clementine Brodeur has found her fated mate, and is now pursued by a three-faced killer. I wasn’t expecting to meet Laszlo Arkadi the same day I discovered my family was built on secrets.My deceased mother? On the face of it, she was a matchmaker for witches seeking love. Concealed from her daughters, she risked her life freeing enslaved Magicals.My father? He wasn’t there for me. And since my mother’s death, he’s been trying to join her on the other side.As for my oldest sister? I suspect she’s an assassin.Now I’ve bonded with my ice demon, Prince Laszlo, he’s taking me to the Reformed Realm to meet his parents. Turns out, there’s more to meeting the Queen than simply learning to curtsy. I just want to catch a break from family drama–mine and his. That royal ball Laszlo and I are required to attend? The invited guests think the prince is still single. The uninvited guests intend to escape with the realm’s most vulnerable Magicals. I have to follow my instincts. Only now I’m bound to another. Can Laszlo and I merge our magics? Can we challenge a tyrant who envisions a world with many of us in cages?Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo

The Scarab Eater’s Daughter Sister Witches Book 3

Alderose Brodeur must avenge more than her parents’ deaths.I use my muscles more than my magic. I have to. My father learned the hard way that magic can be sucked dry. He made certain I knew a good right hook is priceless, and to keep my blades sharp.He’s dead now. My two sisters and I are talking again. But there’s so much Clementine and Beryl don’t know about me–and there’s no time for a girls’ night out.The three of us must go up against Lionel Vigne, the same fae who brought down our parents. We know he’s hiding in the French Alps. He’s on the cusp of forcefully breeding rare Magicals, the crime that got him banished from fae lands.I want to complete my mother’s mission on my own. Do I blend the metal in my blood with my blades and use brute force to end Lionel’s tyranny?Or, if I truly am the Scarab Eater’s Daughter, do I put down my blades and let my magic act as a lure?Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo

Coralie Moss loves everyday heroines and complicated witches, layered magic and earthly moments, and will always believe in the power of love. Whether she’s writing Urban Fantasy or Contemporary Romance, her characters get her up in the morning and Assam tea keeps her going. She lives on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia with her HEA, their son, and two globe-trotting rescue cats. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

$15 Amazon Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tess Awakening: The Complete Story The Tess Series Book 1 by Andres Mann Genre: Adventure Romance

Tess Awakening – The Complete Story combines two previously published novels: Tess Awakening and Tess Valkyrie. Since the second novel is a sequel, the combination provides the full story of Tess’s confrontations with the fascinating villain Amir. Tess and Amir continue to square off in an epic struggle to define their destinies. Aided by Jake, Tess’s friend and co-pilot Carmen and their colleagues, Tess must overcome Amir’s vicious attacks motivated by his continuing obsession with her. They repeatedly clash in a succession of encounters taking place in Baghdad, Amman, Istanbul, Sorrento and New York. Tess’s friend Carmen finally meets her soul mate in Nicola, who helps her overcome the traumas of her youth and becomes a valuable member of their team. The two women respond to their challenges by drawing on their skills as fierce warriors, battling Amir, who not only hurt Tess but plans to take over the Iraqi government. Their struggle leads to a series of violent and bloody battles in the air and on the ground. A heartbreaking loss at the end is redeemed by a final poignant resolution. Goodreads * Amazon

Tess: The Abomination of Human Trafficking The Tess Series Book 2

A powerful exploration of global human trafficking After rescuing a child prostitute in Cambodia, Tess persuades Jake, Carmen, Nicola and the Team to tackle human trafficking worldwide. Sponsored by the United Nations, she creates a team of Valkyries, six remarkable women that alongside the men of the Team embark on a Herculean effort to rescue victims and pursue traffickers, starting with a degenerate financier that controls a multinational sex enterprise. The team then takes direct action by unleashing their military skills in battles against powerful slavers, Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Mexican cartels. The action turns to combating child trafficking, rescuing captured women abused by the terrorist group ISIS, probing Nigerian prostitution in Europe and Russia, and confronting the appalling sex trade in Mexico, Afghanistan and in the U.S. In a whirlwind series of actions, the story transitions from Phnom Penh to New York, Houston, Miami, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Buenos Aires, and Las Vegas. The deeper the Team gets involved, the more challenging their task becomes. With all cards stacked against them, Tess and Jake must find a way to address the fundamental causes of human trafficking and attempt to formulate a solution to intractable problems. Goodreads * Amazon

Tess: Day of Reckoning The Tess Series Book 3

In this epic adventure, Tess and Jake continue to fight terrorists and try to address the overwhelming refugee crisis in Europe. When ISIS terrorists acquire two North Korean nuclear bombs, Tess and the team must change priorities to prevent a worldwide calamity. The stakes are high — the potential obliteration of European cities and possibly the destruction of Israel. The CIA asks Tess and Jake to use their special talents to find the weapons, forcing Tess to deal with her nemesis, the dissolute Laurent Belcour who is still obsessed with her but may know where the bombs are hidden. Personal complications arise when Tess meets a captivating symphony conductor who persuades her to play a piano concert in Moscow and introduces her to the Russian President. Their musical collaboration leads to temptation and turmoil, affecting Tess’s relationship with Jake, who has challenges of his own in fending off the stunning and talented Claudine Bisson. Spanning the globe, the frantic search for the missing weapons takes them to Bulgaria, Ukraine, the South China Sea, Syria, Israel, Tehran and Moscow. Racing against the clock, Tess’s team must pursue every lead no matter how tenuous and fight a host of enemies in a desperate attempt to ward off nuclear Armageddon. Goodreads * Amazon

Tess: Clash of Civilizations The Tess Series Book 4

Tess and Jake have fought bitter battles against ISIS and Boko Haram Islamic terrorists, but now they have an unusual dilemma. Their adopted daughter Aara received a huge inheritance from Tess’s nemesis, the deceased Amir al-Saadi. The fortune comes with an unsettling condition: Aara must marry into a Muslim family within one year. This forces Tess and Jake to overcome their prejudices and assess whether such a condition is acceptable. Goodreads * Amazon

Tess: The Flight of the Valkyries The Tess Series Book 5

In a story of high passion and conflict, Claudine Bisson returns to the Valkyries team. She persuades Tess and her colleagues to provide adversary services to the Air Force, a plan that requires learning how to fly jet fighters. The Team acquires surplus aircraft and hires a team of Russian specialists led by the abrasive Colonel Peter Brusilov, a hard taskmaster. Laurent Belcour, the notorious villain, is back and continues to create obstacles. Claudine further complicates things because she has an ulterior motive: to get Jake back by undermining Tess. While the team struggles to prepare for the upcoming operation, they must deal with the destructive collision between Claudine and Tess, leading to unpredictable consequences. This is an illustrated version of the book. Why? I thought that by providing pictures of the many aircraft in the story would help the reader better understand the scope of the challenges faced by Tess and her friends. Once I started searching for appropriate images, I couldn’t resist adding pictures of venues, people and other material that might be of interest. The choice of illustrations is entirely arbitrary. Goodreads * Amazon

Andres Mann was an Army Officer and a business executive. He graduated with degrees in Political Science and International Relations and published three management books and various business articles. The Tess adventure novels are based on real contemporary events and explore the challenges posed by international political developments and the issues that professional women face in today’s world. The setting of the stories starts with the second Gulf War in Iraq and continues up to the current era. Andy had the good fortune to meet remarkable people from all over the world, most of them good, others not so much. Some were extraordinarily talented, able to perform well in multiple endeavors. The novels are based on the actions of real people he observed dealing with challenging situations. He believes that it is interesting to understand multi-faceted personalities that are fascinating and sometimes evil, making it difficult to make quick judgments about right and wrong. Action, intrigue, deceit, obsession, sensuality, the use of wealth to achieve one’s goals, the struggle between good and evil are a constant theme. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

$25 Amazon Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Truth About Sista Brianna by Shelia Bell Genre: Women’s Fiction

Smart, sassy, and single middle school teacher, Brianna Madison, hides behind the mask of her disability. Bound by a wheelchair and held hostage by her emotions, Brianna’s self-esteem is shot, and her belief in love is non-existent. Will she ever stop running from herself and from love? Is love the cure-all or will her web of lies and secrets destroy any chance Brianna has to heal from her past and claim what the future has for her? History teacher Trey Hollister’s first year at Augustine Prep is already off to a good start when he enters the prestigious halls of the private academy. Handsome, and newly divorced, Trey is not looking for a relationship. Fresh memories of how painful heartbreak can be keeps him grounded. Things change quickly when he sets eyes on his co-worker, Brianna. But Brianna’s tough shell is almost more than he cares to handle. Will he keep pursuing Brianna or give in to the growing demands of an ex-wife who wants him back. Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo

Shelia E. Bell (formerly Shelia E. Lipsey) is an award-winning, national bestselling author with 20+ books published in christian fiction, women’s fiction, nonfiction, and young adult genres. Her books have garnered numerous awards and accolades, including 2017 Christian Literary Readers’ Choice Award, 2015 Rosa Parks Award, 2014 Christian Literary Award, AAMBC Nate Holmes Honorary Award, Kindle Award, OOSA Book of the Year, numerous SORMAG awards and more. Shelia began her publishing career in 1999. Since then, she has set the literary industry ablaze with her dynamic, true to life stories that she calls “perfect stories about imperfect people like you…and me.” Shelia is passionate about helping others and encourages and promotes people to ‘live their dreams now.’ In 2012, she founded a non profit organization “Black Writers And Book Clubs (BWABC) Literacy Association” with a mission to promote literacy one community at a time. Shelia is also a well-respected freelance book editor. A much sought after inspirational speaker, Shelia travels near and far sharing her inspirational messages of how to overcome the adversities of life. Having had polio since the age of two, she accepts no excuses and is determined not to let her physical imperfections keep her from her life’s purposes. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Goodreads

“Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed; it means the damage no longer controls our lives.”
Unknown
A booming sound jarred Brianna abruptly from her sleep. She tried to ignore it, but instead she tossed and turned as
the storm’s intensity increased. Her weather alert going off on her phone made her even more frightened. Storms
caused her much distress and reminded her of when she was a little girl in Haiti. There were so many times she
found no shelter from the fierceness of the storms and torrential rains. Then there were the earthquakes in Haiti that
destroyed the very ground beneath her.
She shivered in the bed, but not from being cold because it was nice and warm inside. She looked around the
perimeter of her bedroom and grew frightened as the thunderstorm raged outside.
She pulled the bed covers up around her neck, hugged herself, and began to quote one of her favorite passages of
scripture. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will
not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Another booming round of thunder resounded just as she finished reciting the scripture. Brianna jumped. The alert
went off on her phone again as rain pounded against the windows and lightning lit up her room.
Moments later, she heard the blaring sound of the tornado siren and her heart beat against her chest like someone
trying to get inside.
She picked up her phone, swiped the alert with her finger to the right to silence it. Then without thinking, she called
Trey. Closing her eyes, she reasoned with herself to calm down when his phone went to his voicemail. What was
she thinking anyway? Why would she call him, especially at this time of morning? “Thank you, God, for not letting
that call go through. All I need is you. All I need is you,” she repeated as she laid the phone down next to her.
The storm didn’t ease up until just before daylight. Yet, even when the thunder and lightning stopped, the rain
continued to come down in sheets.
She had very little sleep but thank God it was Saturday and she didn’t have to get up and go to work. Instead, she
got up, made a cup of coffee and a bowl of grits, something her mother used to prepare when she and Aspen were
small. Her mother would make them toast and grits with lots of butter and hunks of melting sharp cheddar cheese.
It was delicious. Now just about every weekend, Brianna made the same thing. Some people liked sugar on their
grits. She didn’t. She liked the saltiness of the grits mixed with the sweetness of the butter. It was one of the few
good memories she had of her mother.
Sitting at the four seat breakfast table, she quietly ate, still somewhat apprehensive and on edge from the rain that
started up again and was coming down harder. Rounds of thunder returned and lightning flashed. Even the sun
remained hidden and daylight looked more like dusk. She sipped on her coffee while she tried to take her mind off
what was going on outside by removing her phone from the side pocket of her pajama top and placing it onto the
table. Slowly, she scrolled through the news and then visited her social media sites. She could always rely on a
video or two or some crazy meme to get her mind off unpleasant thoughts. This morning was no different. She
laughed when she saw a hilarious meme of one of the television celebrities.
Her phone rang while she scrolled.
“Hi, Daddy,” she answered with a smile when she saw it was him. She loved her father with all of her heart. He had
never remarried since their mother walked out on them, but he was seeing a woman from his church named
Danielle who he adored.
Brianna liked Danielle. She made her father happy, something Brianna desperately wanted for him.
Her father was still a relatively young man in her eyes, not yet sixty years old. She prayed he would find someone
special to love him. Hopefully, he had found that in Danielle.
“Hi, sweetpea. Are you okay out there?”
“You know me so well, but I’m good. I’m sitting here eating grits and toast and drinking coffee. I just wish it would
stop, that’s all.”

“Were you able to sleep through it?”
“Not really. But I’ll be fine.”
Tell you, what, why don’t I come there and stay with you until it settles down?”
“No, Daddy, I don’t want you to drive all the way from Covington with it storming like it is outside. I’m going to
finish eating and then put my earbuds in and watch Netflix or listen to an audiobook. That way I won’t hear a
thing.”
“You know I worry about you, sweetpea.”
“I know, but please don’t worry about me, Daddy. I’m fine. How are you? How was the deacons and elders retreat?
Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes, it was awesome. I made it back around eight o’clock last night, before the storm moved in. I meant to call
you but, well, Danielle and I had dinner and then the hour grew late.”
She could hear his light laughter on the phone. It made her feel good to know he was finally letting go of his past
and moving toward having a happy future with someone else.
“We sought the Lord in prayer and we learned a lot about the roles and responsibilities of deacons and elders. There
was plenty of good food, lots of fun, and great fellowship with deacons and elders from several other churches in
attendance. I’d say there were a little over a hundred of us.”
“Wow, that was a good turnout. I’m glad you had a good time.”
They exchanged conversation for at least fifteen minutes, which helped take Brianna’s mind off what was going on
outside. She would have kept talking but Danielle buzzed in, and her father told her he would call and check on her
later.
“Remember, if you want me to drive down there, just let me know and I’ll hop in my truck and be on my way.”
“I know you will, but I’m good, for real. I love you, Daddy. Tell Miss Danielle, I said hi.”
“I will. Bye, sweetpea.”
“Bye, Daddy.”
Brianna finished eating, went into the living room, got her earbuds, and put her phone on Pandora. After an hour or
so, she pressed RECLINE on her chair, closed her eyes, and allowed the music to soothe her.
Thoughts of her past brought unexpected sadness came over her. The darkness brought on by the storm was the
perfect complement to the darkness that raged inside her soul. Tears appeared without warning. Her chest rose and
fell in perfect sync with each tear that fell.
Sometimes she didn’t like herself. This was one of those times—when she was all alone, hurting mentally, and
angry with herself for not being able to let go of her past. No matter how many times she’d been told or heard God
makes no mistakes and All things work out for good, it was days like today when every last one of those words fell
on deaf ears.

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Awen Storm Awen Trilogy Book 2 by O.J. Barre Genre: Urban Fantasy

In 2042, Reptilian aliens plot to destroy Humanity. The Awen Order of Druids has named Emily Hester as its new leader. Unfortunately, she’s no heroine, and her magic needs work. Her long-awaited date with the druid priest has ended in disaster. Now she’s stranded on a ledge in Zoo Atlanta with a dragon breathing down her neck. Worse, the Reptilians are amassing inside the planet. They despise humans. They have no souls. And if they find a way out, our world is doomed. Can Emily escape and seize her magical powers? Or will Earth be left to the mercy of these monsters? Awen Storm is the second book in the delightful Awen trilogy. If you like original stories with imperfect heroines, you’ll love O. J. Barré’s pre- apocalyptic urban fantasy with engaging characters, intriguing world-building, and a fascinating storyline. To visit the near-future in which a secret society of druids defends Earth, and reptilian aliens rule the vast world beneath us, buy Awen Storm today. **On Sale now for only $2.99!**Goodreads * Amazon

Awen Rising Awen Trilogy Book 1

In 2042, evil Reptilian aliens plot to destroy Humanity. Only one Druid can save our world. Everything is going wrong for Emily Hester. She’s lost her fiancé, her nerve, and her career as a Disaster Specialist. Now a storm wielding witch is on her trail. She needs a new identity and somewhere to run. What Emily doesn’t know is that the Awen Order of Druids is searching for her. Nor that she’s their only hope for saving the world. Can the druids’ dragon keepers find Emily in time to claim her legacy? Or will the reptilian horde overwhelm our world? Awen Rising is the first book in the exciting Awen trilogy. If you like original stories with imperfect heroines, you’ll love O. J. Barré’s pre-apocalyptic urban fantasy set in a magical world with explosive action, strong-willed characters, and a great plot. To be whisked away to the near-future with druids and dragons, and nasty reptilians with technology that rivals ours, buy your copy of Awen Rising today. **On Sale now for only $2.99!**Goodreads * Amazon

O.J. Barré hails from the lushly forested, red-clay hills near Atlanta, Georgia. From birth, O.J. was a force of nature. Barefoot and freckled, headstrong and gifted, she was, and is, sensitive to a fault. Books became her refuge as a young child, allowing O.J. to escape her turbulent alcoholic home on adventures to untold places and times. Her daddy’s mother was a Willoughby, making O.J. a direct descendant of William the Conqueror. Her Awen series is a love letter to that distant past. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Amazon * Goodreads

EXCERPT FROM AWEN RISING:
A Thousand Years Later

mily Mayhall stared out the window, determined to ignore the letter. Below her, the Pacific
Ocean sparkled Caribbean-green in the early afternoon sun. A stiff onshore breeze whipped
whitecaps on the waves and hungry pelicans dove for lunch, while the homeless of Venice
Beach worked the boardwalk. Or at least, what was left of it.
Most of them lived in the block-long chasm that loomed in the distance; an area once known
as Muscle Beach. Her team had been the first on-scene after that chunk of coastline had
vanished. Emily shivered. It was one thing to chase disasters for a living. It was another when they
happened in your own backyard.
In spite of her intentions, Emily’s gaze drifted to the registered letter that mocked her from its perch amid
the clutter on the counter. It had been there all week and at the postal store before that. Sighing, she
decided she had suffered long enough. Opening it couldn’t be worse than imagining what misery it might
bring.
Rising from the overstuffed armchair, she crossed to the counter and lifted the official-looking envelope
in the air. For the umpteenth time, she gazed at it intently, trying to divine the message within.
As usual, Emily divined nothing.
It grated that she’d thrown away precious dollars to develop a sensing ability Shalane had insisted she

possessed. That she had listened to the shaman in the first place was part of the rub. Regaining the self-
esteem her mother’s tongue had taken from her was difficult enough. Avoiding others with the same

agenda was harder still. On the surface, they looked like everyone else.
Emily eyed the letter. If it was a debt that hadn’t been listed in her already-discharged bankruptcy, the
creditor was up shits creek. That’s what her Canadian friend would say if Emily were to solicit her advice.
Of course, she hadn’t. And couldn’t. Not without giving her new identity away.
Dismissing the guilt, Emily ripped open the envelope and searched the solitary sheet of linen for an
unpaid balance due. There were no numbers, just a request to contact the office of Mitchell Albom
Wainwright III Esquire, whose address was in Atlanta, Georgia. The letter was dated January 11, 2042,
more than a month ago. What did Mitchell Albom Wainwright the Third want?
She folded the paper, stuffed it back in the envelope, and tossed it on the counter. Outside, the surf broke
over the jetty, sending spray dancing high against the blue sky.
The wave washed inland and surged back toward the sea, stirring a need in Emily that was palpable. It
was a crystal-clear day and she could think of no better cure for the fear that plagued her. She needed to
run.
Fishing sunglasses and her lone key from the bottom of her purse, she stopped to hug Ralph. He mewed
and blinked sleepy amber eyes, pretending to be annoyed. His purring told her otherwise. She planted a
kiss on the spot between his cheek and ear.
“Bye, Ralphy. I’m going for a run.”
He yawned and stretched on the back of the armchair, then set about licking the fur she had mussed. He
was OCD like that, a compulsive washer. The two of them made a fine pair.
Scanning the tiny apartment, Emily dug beneath papers to retrieve a worn headband. Only a few boxes
dotted the floor of the three rooms. The furniture was gone except for the bed and armchair. The
maintenance guy had promised to take those.
“Back soon, Raf-feller!” Emily called as she turned the two bottom locks and the deadbolt.
A damp wind greeted her, lifting curls the color of crimson and gold, and with them, Emily’s spirits.
Inhaling deeply, she savored the briny tang of the ocean air.
An aging gull landed on the railing beside her, mewing as if greeting an old friend. Another swooped
down and started a ruckus, no doubt sensing a mark in the making. Disappointed when Emily had nothing
for them to eat, they raced to the beach screaming challenges at one another before continuing the search
for a handout.

Smiling at their antics, she braced her hands on the low stucco wall and leaned against it to rise on tippy-
toes, stretching her calves. A long, high whistle shrilled from the nearby Bottle Brush tree. Amid its fluffy

red blooms, a parrot mimicked Emily’s movements, yellow head bobbing up and down.
She placed her foot midway up the wall, leaned into a thigh stretch, and squatted before stretching her
abdominal muscles. The entire warm-up took only a minute, just long enough for more parrots to join her

audience.
“Hello lovelies,” Emily called to the chattering birds. She zipped her jacket and fixed the headband over
ears too sensitive to endure the Santa Ana winds.
Fingering the Taser in her jacket pocket, she said a silent prayer she wouldn’t need to use it and dashed
down the three flights of stairs to the street. Turning away from the beach, Emily jogged a short block to
Pacific Avenue and followed it to the park.
She was sweating by the time she entered the gates, but the cursed letter dogged her, attached to her
psyche by a thread of her own weaving. Determined to outrun it, she increased her pace, counting to sync
her breath to her stride, “One, two, three, four. Five, six, seven, eight—”
Her toe caught on a lifted corner of sidewalk. Quick reflexes and cat-like agility kept Emily on her feet,
but she chomped down hard on her bottom lip, drawing blood. Crying out in pain and frustration that had
nothing and everything to do with biting her lip, she ran even faster.
Though buckled and broken by myriad quakes, the neighborhood survived, unrepaired by a government
that had run out of money and leadership long ago. Emily spat the blood in the sand beside the trail.
“Budget cuts, my ass.” It was the bullshit reason they’d given for firing her. But it was really because
Emily had identified a pattern in the chaos. No sooner had she shared her theory with her boss than she’d
been out on her ass with barely a severance package to show for her years of service.
But not before Cyclone Charlotte literally ripped her fiancé from her arms. Emily pressed her tongue
against her jagged lip, not wanting to think about Trey. He had saved her life, but it had cost him his.

“Think of the government. Think about Chester. Be mad, goddammit!” Her ex-boss, ex-friend, and one-
time lover had sold Emily out. His betrayal wasn’t limited to her dismissal, either. Chester made sure

Emily would never work again by having her blacklisted.
She zigged around a barrier and caught a flash of movement. Yanking the Taser from her pocket, Emily
dropped to a crouch, heart thudding. It turned out to be her favorite homeless lady, wearing layers of
warring colors. Emily relaxed.
The grinning Maude waved and threw her head back in a cackle, revealing gums sporting nary a tooth.
Pocketing her weapon, Emily hailed the leather-faced woman and left the erstwhile actress with a
crumpled dollar bill.
A fresh gust of wind whipped the flags overhead. They were stacked atop one another and lowered to
half-mast. Who had died? Keeping up with politics was a past-time Emily had never pursued. Or
politicians, either.
“Actors, now, are a different story,” she muttered to herself, passing the building Caleb MacLaine had
reclaimed. She eyed the Einstein posit emblazoned on the side: “Imagination is More Important than
Knowledge.”
As a scientist, Emily had no trouble with Einstein’s theories of motion and relativity, or even gravitational
waves and wormholes. But she couldn’t fathom how this maxim could possibly be true. Seeking
knowledge had been her lifelong pursuit.
At the Muscle Beach Chasm, she detoured through an alley between two mansions. Riotous masses of
coastal geraniums and hot-pink bougainvillea spilled over every surface of the patio to her right.
On her left, coastal oaks trailed Spanish moss. One had been given a whimsical face, complete with lips
and nose. She waved to the tree-man, grateful Venice Beach had mostly been spared.
Many coastal cities were wiped out completely, leaving gaping sinkholes and putrid pits of ash and rubble
and dirty saltwater. Chunks of the California coastline had succumbed to the advancing sea. Nearby
Manhattan and Huntington Beaches were both gone, with a million people lost and presumed dead.
Emily had worked those disasters and consulted on others. Pre-Charlotte. Pre-Trey. She had participated
in recoveries around the globe, even led a few.
She’d been told she was bossy, but got the job done, working longer and harder than most of her peers.
Until six months ago when she’d been handed her walking papers. She snorted with disgust. She’d had
her fill of studying disasters anyway.
Which really only meant Emily had lost her nerve.
She cut across an eerily-vacant Bel Air Avenue, fingers gripping the Taser in her pocket. Had more of the
locals packed up and left? Many wouldn’t, or couldn’t, in spite of the continued and constant warnings.
Either they’d fooled themselves into thinking the worst was over or prayed it wouldn’t happen to them.
Shame stung Emily, knowing she could be counted in their number.
At the precarious shortcut, she slowed to pick her way through the debris to the beach, then jogged a
while in the shifting sand. All but the ocean and its wildlife faded. Gulls cavorted in the crashing waves
and pelicans dove for an afternoon meal. The salty spray soothed Emily’s soul. The sun coaxed a smile to

her lips.
Then the stench of old death assaulted her senses and she stumbled and retched. Unable to not look,
Emily bit back a sob for the innocent sea lion rotting on the beach, even as her rapidly-sorting, cataloging
brain compared the reek of old death to the shambles of her life at the present.
“Shut up, dammit,” she cried in anguish.
Keeping an eye out for obstacles, she settled into a blistering pace, anxious to escape both life and death.
It was something Emily pondered a lot—escape. Change your name, use cash, stay off the grid. With a
new identity and tricks her mother had perfected, even a novice could disappear.
So, reeling from Trey’s death and Shalane’s unwanted advances, Emily had assumed a new identity. One
taken from the ledger in her mother’s box. She had chosen the first name on a long list of aliases they
used over the years, and Ebby Panera became Emily Mayhall.
But she wasn’t her mother and living this way felt wrong. On New Year’s Eve, alone and lonely, Emily
had resolved to find her true self and to be it no matter what. So far, she hadn’t a clue what that was.
Unease stirred in the pit of her stomach. She glanced over both shoulders and detoured inland. Unbidden,
a puzzle she’d been pondering earlier snicked into place. Her mother’s box, the registered letter, and the
recurring dreams were all connected. They had to be.
The day she’d signed for the registered letter, Emily had tossed it on the counter unopened. But a
compulsion to retrieve her mother’s wooden box from its hiding place had seized her and wouldn’t let go.
She had fallen asleep leafing through a remarkably-preserved papyrus tome contained within. Delicate
hand-drawings of dragons, birds, and animals, along with maps of places that no longer existed filled the
pages in a flowing, lacy hand. The language was so cryptic Emily had yet to discover its origins. Not that
she had tried very hard.
Upon falling asleep that night, the dreams had come in fits and spurts so urgent Emily woke in a sweat.
Each time she had fallen back asleep, the dreams continued.
In every dream, she was a druid priestess in times gone by, fighting to save the life of one man. A royal
who would be both her destiny and downfall. An unknowing diverter of disasters.
Clearing the last line of beach cottages, Emily faltered when a curtain of sand pelted her face. Sputtering,
she brushed the grit away, along with the haunting dreams, the box, and the letter. She would think about
those later.
She pounded the boardwalk, lungs laboring, and avoided the eyes of the few locals who scurried to let her
pass. In the distance, her destination bobbed into view. Battered and shorter than its original length, the
Venice Pier jutted reassuringly into the agitated sea.
Pumping harder, she ignored the pain that pierced her side and rounded the point. A woman with blond,
flyaway hair appeared in her path. Unable to stop or even slow down, Emily plowed into her, ears
assaulted by a sharp squeal as they tumbled to the ground. Fire shot up Emily’s forearm as her palms bore
the brunt of her fall.
Beneath her groaned a female version of the Pillsbury Dough Boy, eyes clenched tight. Fear turned
Emily’s innards to liquid and her adrenaline spiked. Leaping to her feet, she dashed away pulling her
hood over her head.
Of all the french-fried luck. The woman she had bowled over was none other than her stalker, Shalane
Carpenter. Shaman, sorceress, evangelist, creep.
“Come back, you fucking lunatic!” Shalane screeched after Emily. “Come back here, you—” Wind and
distance garbled the rest.
Emily sped for the cover of the decrepit pier, praying Shalane hadn’t seen her face. When the path
dumped her on the far side of the jetty, she bent to gulp air, lungs blazing. On legs of rubber, and guts
threatening to hurl, she sidled to a bench and doubled over in pain.
“I think I ruptured something,” she gasped.
An unkempt veteran leapt from the bench, accusing eyes frantic beneath black, bushy brows. He backed
away quickly, putting several cracked spans of concrete between them.
If Emily could have laughed, she would have. Instead she sucked in air and fought to keep from losing
her meager lunch. She collapsed on the seat the homeless man had vacated and tucked chilled hands
beneath sweaty armpits. Soon the fuzziness faded from her sight and she no longer felt like puking.
When there was still no sign of Shalane, Emily told herself the run-in was coincidental. The shaman
hadn’t known it was her.
Though far from convinced, a satisfied sigh escaped Emily’s lips. The jog might have brought her close to
discovery, but it had eased the unbearable tension building in her chest since the dreams began.
Slouching low, Emily stared at the sea. Waves broke angry against the reef a hundred yards out, whipped

to a frenzy by yet another storm brewing in the Pacific Ocean. Swells upward of ten feet slapped the
underside of the pier before rushing to the beach. Onlookers gathered to watch a pair in wetsuits battle the
big surf.
Emily dug a fist into her side and groaned when the letter popped in her head.
“Go away!” she demanded, wishing her brain would obey.
It wasn’t like Emily had any credit left to ruin. Not after losing her job and the resultant bankruptcy. She
had a little cash from the sale of her stuff. But come Friday it was official—she would be out on the street
with no job, no home, and nowhere to go.
And now, in spite of all her many precautions, Emily’s stalker likely knew her whereabouts. She swiveled
to search both ends of the boardwalk. No Shalane.
But her relief was short-lived. The deeper, primitive ache of destitution twisted Emily’s gut. She wrapped
her arms around her scuffed knees and buried her face, willing the dam not to break. If it did, the tears
might never stop.
“Ahhh-wen.” At the edge of awareness, a musical voice crooned the name from Emily’s dreams.
Her head jerked up, startling a gull that was picking through a metal waste can. On a shriek, it took flight
and wheeled toward the sea. Shivers danced along the nape of Emily’s neck. Who else knew about
Awen?
The number of surfers and spectators was growing, but no likely culprits there. Maybe it was a snatch of a
song on the salt-laced breeze. Or was Emily hearing things, on top of everything else?
“Stay in the moment,” she muttered with a calm she didn’t feel. “Now is all that matters. Those people are
okay. That gull is okay. That homeless man is okay. Shalane didn’t see you, so you’re okay, too. Now
quit the waterworks and stop freaking.”
In defiance, her mind conjured the aqua clunker Emily had purchased after the bank repossessed her sexy
little coupe. Tears blurred her vision and Emily rubbed her face briskly in her hands. The salt-eaten sedan
had a large back seat. Which was good, considering her collision put the kibosh on her plan to seek refuge
at the Venice Mission.
Replaying the crash in her head, Emily had to grin. It’d felt good to deck that sadistic bitch, even if by
accident. Only now she would have to get away from here, money or no money. And as Emily Mayhall,
she didn’t know a soul. Not here or anywhere else.
A long-forgotten scent jolted her awareness and was gone before Emily could give it a name.
“Ahhh-wen.” More thought than sound, the druid moniker tickled her inner ear. Baffled, she stood to
search the boardwalk, the beach, and the sea.
A new and different foreboding crept upon her, more disturbing than Shalane or homelessness. Like
molten metal, it trickled slowly down Emily’s spine and spread through her body, triggering her instinct
to run.

$25 Amazon Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Grim and the Fantastic by Marissa Miller Genre: Children’s / Middle Grade Fantasy

The Grim and The Fantastic tells the story of Merton Clarke, and his journey battling a major illness, when a magical realm–filled with splendor and danger lurking in the shadows– reveals itself to him. There, he must face some terrible beasts in a battle to rid himself of his sickness. Along the way, Merton makes two new friends who must fight their own monsters alongside him. If they can defeat their beasts from the realm in battle, just maybe, they will win the battle against their sickness in the real world too. Together, they test their limits, and their understanding of friendship, grief, bravery, and, above all, the power of hope. A story of marvel, battles, and hardship, The Grim and the Fantastic takes a serious subject and seeks to breathe color back into the lives of those affected. The fantastical tale truly provides a whimsical place for children with troubles to escape to. Add to GoodreadsAmazon * B&N * Powells

Marissa Miller is an up and coming author, who has spent the last few years working on novels and children’s books. She currently resides in northern California with her husband, two little dogs (Alice and Diggory), and two cats (Burt and Winry). Miller has been an aspiring storyteller since she was a young girl and began more seriously pursuing the art of writing in her teens. After a happy accident with miscommunication in 2017, Miller began producing illustrations to accompany her work; she now attempts to incorporate in her illustrative style with all of her works. Miller’s first published work is the wonderfully imaginative children’s book, Chasing Figments. Following her picture book, Miller published an illustrated young reader’s book, The Grim and The Fantastic. Both books embody Miller’s brand, which is finding the splendor in one’s life, no matter the circumstance, and using imagination to overcome obstacles. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

It was another stormy night in December, with rain hammering against the window, and
lightning flashes casting shadows around the hospital room where Merton lay.The shadows
appeared to snarl at Merton with dripping jaws ready to bite. He had his back pressed as far
back against his pillow as possible, his little hands gripping fiercely at his covers. He was alone
for the moment as his mother had gone to the cafeteria to get some coffee, and his father had
gone home to grab some of Merton’s things while he was in quarantine.
Merton closed his eyes and summoned up every ounce of energy he could muster to will
the scary shadows away. When he opened his eyes again he blinked a few times to try to make
sense of what he was seeing.The shadows were gone and the gray screen of rain drumming
against the windows had turned to drops of sparkling color bouncing softly against the glass—
not the least bit threatening. It looked magical. But, no matter how much Merton blinked and
rubbed his eyes, this time the color splashes beading down the window didn’t go away.
“Are they real?” He breathed to himself, throwing his legs over the edge of the mattress
and hopping out of bed to approach the window. The color continued to drip shining light in front
of his face. He reached out a hand and placed it against the inside of the glass, wishing he
could touch the water rolling down the outside.
“It’s pretty magnificent, isn’t it?”Merton whirled around at the sound of a voice behind
him. He looked up at the face of Doctor Jankins, standing in the doorway.
“You… you can see the color? I thought I was seeing things that aren’t there.
Hallucinating?” He scrunched up his nose in confusion, wrinkling his freckles as he did so.
“Yes, hallucinating is the word you’re looking for. But, I can assure you, that you aren’t
seeing a hallucination.”
“What is it, then? And what about the other splashes I saw?”
“I definitely noted what you were seeing when we first met, Merton. If you’d like to take a
seat, I would like to explain some things to you, now that we have your diagnosis confirmed,
and you’re officially an in-patient for treatment.”
“Um, ok, I suppose.” Merton agreed warily. He hopped back up onto his bed. “Should my
mom or dad be here for this if it’s medical information?”
“This information is a little different, and I’m afraid I am only permitted to share it with the
children.” Jankins answered, sitting in the recliner chair beside the bed. “Alright, this is going to
be a lot of information to take in. Are you sure you’re up to it?”
Merton glanced back at the colorful rain cascading down the windows and nodded. “Yes,
I can handle it.” He answered seriously.
“Well, Merton, first things first; all of the children always have a choice. There are two
options— two paths, if you will— that each child can choose to embark on.” Jankins began

Gift basket with: Signed copy of book, bookmarks, custom illustration for winner, and a $10 amazon gift-card. Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway