Category: giveaway

Asbury High and the Thief’s Gamble by Kelly Brady Channick Genre: YA Mystery

Asbury, although a haven to shoobies (tourists) in the summer, is a divided coastal town. With the rich half living in the East, and the rest living in the West, most friendships stay within their boundaries. Luckily for a spunky-smart tomboy, a clever billionaire athlete, a gossipy-in- the-know cheerleader, and a wrong side of the tracks technological genius, boundaries are a foreign concept. In fact, Maddie, Cornelious, Carly and Pilot have been Asbury’s strongest quartet for years, despite their vast differences. Nevertheless, after a few weeks of starting high school, the foursome’s friendship is tested. After a string of burglaries in East Asbury, the gang decides to solve the crime as a reason to make time for each other. The further they investigate, the more they find themselves constantly side-stepping tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum-like policemen, outsmarting local bully JB and his gang of misfits, and dealing with Cornelious’ billionaire father and Governor—who has disapproved of his son’s choice of friends for years. In addition to these obstacles, the foursome must also adapt to their evolving friendship with each other and their peers. With upperclassmen, teachers, and teammates vying for their attention, the gang must work even harder to root out the red-herrings from the true thief. Aided by Carly’s gossip, Maddie’s boldness, Cornelious’ quick-wit, and Pilot’s knack for technology, the gang soon discovers its edge over the local police department. Goodreads * Amazon

For as long as she could remember, Kelly Brady Channick loved making up stories, and leaving her listeners/readers on the edge of their seats. Perhaps that’s why she always managed to talk herself out of trouble… After graduating from NJ’s own Ocean City High School, Kelly accepted a basketball scholarship to Holy Family University, in Philadelphia. As a lifelong athlete, Kelly understands the importance of teamwork and overcoming adversity, something she hopes translates into her books. Before writing page-turners, she taught first, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade — like a dessert menu, she simply had to test them all out. But her favorite job is the one she’s now doing full time: writing. Kelly loves to craft whodunit mysteries, leading readers through various twists and turns filled with red-herrings, hidden clues, and more peculiar characters than a reality show. Kelly lives in South Jersey with her handsome husband, energetic baby boy, two cookie-stealing dogs, and an awfully smart cat. If you want to know when Kelly’s next book will come out, please visit her website at http://www.kbchannick.com, where you can sign up to receive emails providing updates for new releases, or contact her directly, as well as win fun giveaways, and receive up to date news. Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

During the weekend, Asburyans faced something they never
before dealt with: a major break-in into one of East Asbury’s
most prominent families had resulted in a two-thousand-dollar
theft. Although this amount wasn’t a lot for an East-sider, the
town was full of unrest. For everyone knows the first break-in,
is never the last.
“This sucks! My mom tried changing the locks four times
before she let us out of the house! Mia had to calm her down
just so she wouldn’t end up locking us inside of the house.”
“Lucky you Carly,” Cornelious mumbled, “My mom said
that she would die if someone harmed the cat! Not the money.
Not the car. Not even me! And then my dad said I’m to come
right home after practice and no more hanging out with those
hooligans. He honestly thinks you guys broke into the
Lomlings!”
Maddie turned to view Kirk Lomling and the pity party he
was throwing. If I had been ripped off two grand I wouldn’t sit
around and ask for everyone’s sympathy, Maddie thought
watching Kirk spew details and statistics of the improbability of
a theft occurring in his security-ridden home—scratch that—
mansion. She was about to crack a joke over Kirk’s mansion-
theft, but when she faced her friends she felt the awkward
tension beginning to rise. Suddenly, she thought of a bright
idea, “Hey guys! I know what we should do!” Maddie exclaimed
and motioned for them all to move closer. Seeing as they were

in lunch it was hard enough to hear each other. “We should try
to solve this ourselves!”
“Great idea! Why didn’t I think of it?!” Carly’s voice got
higher as she spoke. “Four fourteen-year-olds trying to solve a
break-in, now that’s hilarious. Oh! I do have one
question…why?”
“Well, seeing as our schedules are very different after school,
this will be an excuse for us to get together, and we could think
of it as an adventure. Plus, we did win the murder-mystery night
in middle school each year, eh?”
“Oh yeah I forgot, the robber is obviously Mr. Hayfield
dressed up as Colonel Mustard.”
“Maddie, it sounds fun. But where would we even start?”
Pilot asked, while nervously glancing at Carly, afraid to disagree.
The table went silent for a few minutes to reflect on this idea.
“I can’t believe we’re honestly considering this,” Carly
interjected, effectively breaking the silence.
“Well, we could start at the Lomling’s. You know, it was
Kirk’s family that was robbed. We could try to find their
security room and look at the tapes to see if anything is out of
place.” Cornelious announced out of nowhere.
“Okay. Cool. So let’s—-” but before Maddie could finish
they were interrupted by the bell.
“STUDY HALL!” Maddie boomed shuffling out the door,
and into the hall.

---

28

Cornelious reached the doorway first and slowly stuck his
head out. After sensing no danger, he motioned for the other
three to come join him in the hallway. With everyone in the
hallway, they all stood still and strained to make sure they didn’t
miss a sound. They silently edged forward until they reached the
top of the staircase.
Maddie slid over to Cornelious and started to gesture that
they should slowly make their way downstairs, when she
thought she heard a door opening or closing. The only problem
was, it sounded like it was coming from behind them.
Apparently, Cornelious had heard it too, for he slowly turned
and raised the flashlight over to where Carly was nervously
playing with her nails. Standing right behind Carly, raising a
dangerous-looking object above his head, was a figure clad in all
black, without an inch of skin showing. Immediately, all three
knew it was the thief. Carly was literally the only one left in the
dark.
Although Maddie and Cornelious had heard the noise and
turned around first, Pilot was the first one to spring into action.
As the thief began to swing his weapon, Pilot lunged forward
and knocked Carly to the ground.
“Ouch! What the—,” but Carly cut herself short as she
realized what had taken place. Pilot had pushed her out of the
way and ended up leaving himself totally vulnerable to the thief.
Before anyone could make a move, the thief swung his weapon
at Pilot and instantly made contact. As Pilot crumpled to the
ground, Maddie and Cornelious lunged at the thief. Using only
his body, he bowled over Cornelious and threw his weapon at

Maddie—who luckily ducked down in time.
“Neal! You okay?” Maddie asked rushing over to his side.
“Yeah, fine. Let’s go! He’s getting away!” Cornelious sprang
up and ran down the stairs in pursuit of the thief.
Before joining him, Maddie ran to where Pilot lay
unconscious. She, thankfully, felt a pulse and ordered Carly to
call 911 immediately. Carly wiped away her tears and dug her
phone out of her pocket. Not wanting to waste any more time
Maddie sprinted down the staircase, and into the den, to the left
of the main door.
To Maddie, it looked like a fight scene ripped out of a badly
choreographed movie. Cornelious had temporarily stopped the
thief from leaving out the far side window in the den. The thief
was holding a bulging bag (full of stolen goods) in one hand,
and a poker he had grabbed from the fireplace in the other. The
only thing between the thief and Cornelious was the leather
couch and stained wooden coffee table. However, the only
thing between Maddie and the thief was, well nothing.
Cornelious realized this too, and tried to distract the thief by
keeping his full attention.
“So you’re pretty tough… strong…. fast,” Cornelious said as
he kept shifting left and right to keep the thief cornered. “Did
you ever play football?”
Apparently, this proved to be the wrong thing to say. The
thief stopped moving and completely stiffened up. Hence, he
heard Maddie moving behind him. Before anyone could make a
move, the thief hit Maddie across the stomach with the poker
and kicked her against the wall.

“NO!” Cornelious yelled as he tackled the thief and landed
some punches on his chest. Unfortunately, the thief was
stronger and able to maneuver his way out of Cornelious’ grasp.
Cornelious managed to get up quickly, but received a straight
punch to the nose. Hearing his nose crack, Cornelious dived
and grabbed the thief’s legs. The thief stumbled for a second,
but freed himself by kicking Cornelious in the face, leaving him
no choice but to give up the fight.
Maddie, although pretty sure she had cracked or at least
bruised her rib cage, staggered up and attempted to fight the
thief. Laughing, the thief swung at Maddie. She dodged the first
two punches, but the third one connected on her jaw and she
fell back, yet again. Cornelious, blinded by his bloody and
definitely broken nose, tried to stand up, but discovered his legs
felt like jello.
Realizing they had been beat, they watched as the thief threw
the bag of stolen goods out of the window and followed suite.
Too tired and too sore to follow, the two pulled themselves up
onto the couch and collapsed. About four minutes after the
thief fled, Maddie and Cornelious heard the cop sirens and
hoped that maybe they had caught the thief fleeing the
premises—although they figured that was highly unlikely.
“My dad’s gonna be pissed there’s blood all over this
couch,” Cornelious laughed.
“At least it’s not mine. Or he’d probably have you arrested
too.”
“GUYS! Pilot’s coming to!” Carly exclaimed from upstairs.
Maddie and Cornelious considered that maybe they were

lucky after all. Considering that no one had gotten killed or
anything. But after the cops burst through the door, led by an
angry Officer Chip, Cornelious and Maddie reconsidered their
luck.

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Matilda Empress by Lise Arin Genre: Historical Fiction

Matilda, a twelfth-century Empress of the Holy Roman Empire and daughter of Henry I, is twenty-four years old and a widow. She returns to her father’s double realm of England and Normandy and is promptly married against her will to Geoffrey, a minor continental nobleman. When she is absent from England at the time of her father’s death, Matilda loses her throne to her cousin Stephen despite their ongoing and secret love affair. For almost twenty years, anarchy reins, and their passion fluctuates between hatred and obsession. The only hope in sight is Matilda and Stephen’s two sons, whose rightful claim to the throne may finally end the bloody and endless war. In the vein of Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl, Matilda Empress follows the real history of the early English monarchs, and what happens when a strong woman at the center of great upheaval refuses to play by the rules laid out for her. Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo

Lise Arin has a PhD in English Literature from Columbia, and an undergraduate degree in History and Literature from Harvard. She has two children, and lives with her husband in New York City. This is her first novel, although it has been in the making for twenty years. Please follow @lisearin on Instagram and Twitter. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

I am the Dowager Empress Matilda, twenty-four years old and a widow. I travel on a ship bound for
England, my homeland. I enjoy the sensation of speed, and relish the early morning fog that surrounds
me like a cloak. I always stand upwind from the crew’s stench and stretch my face into the gusts of fresh
air that swell our sails and tangle my veil and braids. I inhale deeply of the brisk breeze, for it is the breath
of our Heavenly Father. To keep my mind occupied, I chant the blessings of Christ: “Tranquility, amour,
purity–discipline, strength, form–rule, custom, terminus–road, counsellor, foundation–heart, blaze,
majesty–essence, lion of creation.”
Each day I scan the sky for the sea birds that will herald the coastline, as vultures are the harbingers of a
corpse. Death and upheaval are two faces of the same coin. Cancer defeated my husband at Utrecht,
revoking my whole future. If I had had a son, I would have reigned in his stead, during his minority.
Instead, the Duke of Saxony is elevated to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire. Having turned over
most of the imperial regalia, all but one seal, I am put forth on the ocean, to a new beginning. Although
many forget my English origins, I do not aspire to wed any of the minor German princes who compete for
my hand, as a means to remain in my adopted country. Neither do I wish to immure myself in any
European convent, to spend the rest of my days outside the ebb and ow of all the world’s affairs.
Over the years, my father’s letters brought me the tragic tidings of the death of my mother, and then of my
only legitimate brother, drowned in the English Channel. His Majesty remarried, in the hope of siring
another legitimate son. Unfortunately, his second queen has not born any offspring. Lately, the king
sleepwalks, troubled by nightmares. He dreams that his peasants desert their furrows and his barons
their fortresses, part of some violent revolt; he alone takes the field to reclaim the peace. In truth, his
power is well established, yet fears for the future security of his empire plague him.
Now that I return to my native land, His Majesty determines that I shall be queen of England and
Normandy. His barons must accept his daughter, if he is to have no son. This new destiny suits my
aspiring spirit. Educated to reign, I am well used to wielding authority. I will serve my father’s family, as I
did my husband’s. I will be a splendid queen, worthy of praise.
Often, I am spellbound by the waves breaking tumultuously around the prow of the ship. Do their force
and crash echo my inner strength? Will I be able to sail into my father’s kingdom, and claim my due?
Behind the stern of our vessel, the sea has been flattened so that a white trail of foam stretches out
behind us. Need I fear that I am not the boat, but the water, deflated, suppressed, made quiet again?
I berate my own ignorance of astrology, examining the stars in the wide sky above me, but unable to
decipher the meaning of the patterns in the firmament. Instead, I count the calls of the swooping gulls,
prognosticating my future wealth and fertility. I study the glistening entrails of netted fish presented to me
by the rough deck hands, and try to interpret therein the likelihood of my glorious ascendance to the
throne.
I do not have complete confidence in what is to come. For who am I? What is my worth? I am the Holy
Roman empress; there is none who sits higher, or comes between me and the throne of heaven. But I am
my father’s unmarried daughter, to be disposed of according to his will. I can walk among the English
court with my head held aloft, with none daring to meet my eyes, and yet I resume my place as an ivory
pawn upon King Henry’s chess set. On the other side of Europe, I dispensed the law with an iron st. And
now I shall be forced to sheath my mail in silk and manipulation. My face is struck from the imperial
coinage. I have lost my currency.
I am the Holy Roman empress, but my greatness tumbles overboard, into the abyss of the ocean. To the

world, I am no one, a child, a head without a crown. I must remember that I am stripped of my honors. It
will serve me no purpose to cling to my former status, to remember with pride that I was divine. This will
be a hard lesson, that of renunciation. How swiftly shall I learn it?

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Gods and Dragons The Dragon of Time Book 1 by Aaron Dennis Genre: Epic Fantasy

Gods, Dragons, a mercenary with a blade and no memory of his past…. The world of Tiamhaal is alight in war. Men ruled by kings slay their opposition in the name of their God, but there are others who claim the Gods are little more than scorned Dragons of ages past. Scar has come to find the truth, but is the truth an absolute certainty, or is it just the skewed memory of a forgotten kingdom? Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * KoboBook Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uicsTy4DoBQ

Dragon Slayer The Dragon of Time Book 2

With the death of Kulshedra, Dragon of Truth, it has been revealed that Scar, the mercenary, is in fact Sarkany, the Dragon Slayer, a creature fashioned for the sole purpose of purging the Dragons from the world of Tiamhaal, yet such a thing is not so simple. Kings and queens yet war amongst one another. They, too, lie, connive, and coerce, and so, Scar and his friends must find a way to persuade those few, benevolent rulers to band together. In the midst of peace talks and dead Dragons, those still in the worship of the beasts grow more powerful. Some of them even doubly praise their oppressor in an effort to wield more magic. Now, united with his friends, Scar sets his gaze upon a hopeful horizon, but is strength in numbers sufficient to keep the Dragons from completing their machinations? Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * KoboBook Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Jxgw4ArPU

Dragon Pact The Dragon of Time Book 3

Dragons have posed as Gods, but the Dragon Slayer has come to Tiamhaal bearing retribution. Sarkany, avatar of Eternus, the Dragon of Time, known to his friends and enemies as Scar, has slain four Dragons; Kulshedra, the Dragon of Truth, Zmaj, the Dragon of Destruction, Gyo, the Dragon of the Sun, and Drac, the Dragon of fire, but there are yet many beasts left. Scheming and concocting, the capricious beasts grow in power as their brethren fall. Their goal; to once again walk Tiamhaal in the flesh. Scar must gather his friends to rebuild an old kingdom, thus alighting the Dragon Wars anew. **Read for FREE on Wattpad!!** Goodreads * Wattpad

Dennis has been writing for 8 years and has accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time. Apart from writing and creating some wonderful stories, he learned editing from working with Chuck Sambuchino. His creative skills are easily recognized in books like War and Glory where scifi and horror are mixed, or books like Cayneian, where fantasy and horror are mixed, but he also portrays a great many psychological and philosophical issues throughout his writing. Producers can check his list of titles at his Kirkus proconnect page. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/aaron-dennis/Website * Facebook * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

They remained silent for a time. Marching in cadence created the sounds of heavy boots grinding
rocks or shrubs into the hard soil. A scarce few puffs of white clouds way up high in the blue sky
floated off to the west. There was no shade and no trees.
Scar really wanted to get back to the old discussion; Gods and Dragons. He did not want to upset his
friend, but the burning question yet remained unanswered. He cleared his throat once, but his own
self-absorption prevented him from formulating the proper query. After a moment’s pause, he finally
gave in to his nagging heart.
“I hate to bring this up again,” he chuckled, “but if every tribe has specific blessings they bestow to
warriors, who believe, then how can anyone attest that any one God is the real God?”
“I hate that you bring this up again, too,” Labolas answered, curtly.
For a time, he did not touch the subject, but it was a long road, and he knew the mysterious fellow
was only trying to comprehend a very mysterious world. In fact, it was that issue—trying to
understand the ploys of God, or Gods—that led to war. Labolas wanted to see peace in his lifetime,
yet he believed that was only possible if everyone, or mostly everyone, acquiesced to the belief of
only one God.
“I guess I can’t attest to anything save experience,” the archer broke the silence after some twenty
minutes. “In my life I have seen the blessings of many tribes. I don’t claim to have the real answer.
I cannot possibly hope to comprehend the designs of a deity. All I can say is that every tribe does
receive some blessing, a very specific blessing according to his tribe, and the intensity of that
blessing is usually predicated on faith. Sometimes it is predicated on other virtues.”
Scar tried to let the words sink in, make some sense, but he still felt something was missing. He
looked at the dusty ground without saying a word while he kept pace with the seemingly tireless
captain, not that his own constitution was lacking.
“Where do I fit in? I guess that’s my real issue, here.”
Labolas nodded almost imperceptibly, saying, “Again, I can’t hope to comprehend that either,
Brandt. I wish I could shed more light on your plight.”
“You made a rhyme,” Scar chuckled.
Labolas also laughed. Their comradery did ease the tension of such a heated topic. As the blazing
sun continued to beat down upon their forms, Labolas struggled to assist; he tried to keep his own
self-reflection at bay and simply asses the discussion objectively.
“Listen,” he started. “Brandt, it’s everyone’s lot in life to deduce how they fit in. I don’t think any
man can give you that answer. You will have to acquiesce to Kulshedra. He is God of Truth after all.”
Scar rubbed the sweat off his head. He grumbled about the heat as they marched their way up a
steady incline. The land was on a slope. After some time, the two came to the descending side of the
slope and towards the river.
“I don’t see why I should acquiesce to anyone. None of them have blessed me,” Scar sighed.
“You heal quickly. You are tireless. Hell, you were set on fire and have recovered. How can you claim
to have no blessing?” Labolas countered in a tone of reverence.
The mercenary nodded, his heavy mood slowly dispelling. “These are not blessings of Kulshedra.”
“No, I suppose they are not.”
“There are thirteen tribes,” Scar started up again. “Each with its own territory, people, and
blessings, but you say there was once another kingdom. Was there a tribe of Alduheim?”
Labolas admitted he had never heard of such a tribe. The kingdom of Alduheim was ancient and little
of it was known. It was a while yet before he said anything else.
“Gilgamesh is the man to answer your questions. He is much closer to Kulshedra, much closer to
truth.”
“If you don’t mind indulging me further.”
“Yes?”
“I had asked if the paladins wage war against each other.”

“I believe only Paladins of Severity only ever attack other paladins. Severity is, after all, all they
know.”
“An abysmal existence to want to extinguish everyone simply over a lack of conformity.”
Labolas’s eye twitched. He was unsure if Scar was speaking allegorically. “Do you refer to the tribes
wanting everyone to fall under one deity?”
Scar had not made that connection and was only speaking existentially. The mercenary was almost
shocked by his friend’s question.
“I, I’m not sure, now that you mention it. I had only meant that those paladins appear, well,
severe,” Scar replied and laughed. “To change the subject.”
“Please,” Labolas interrupted.
“Yes, well, I’m wondering what role Alduheim is to play in this worldwide conflict. I mean, am I to
side with Kulshedra? Simply be an ally? Who will my people be? There is, this is just too much…I
don’t even know who I am!”
“Peace, Brandt,” Labolas consoled and placed a hand on his friends wrist. “You should not even hope
to force these issues nor try to find all the answers in one day. Let the course of life find its way to
you. Besides, you are whoever it is you want to be. Perhaps, you cannot recall who you are for that
very reason. In fact, how do you know that you are not part of Kulshedra’s great design? You may
well have been sent here by him.”
Scar managed a weak smile. In spite of his prowess in battle, Labolas was quite the philosopher. The
mercenary was impressed and was very glad to have such a friend. He thought back to their first
meeting during the defeat of Lovenhaad.
“Kings don’t rule alone, my friend,” the Kulshedran smiled, softly. “Take Gilgamesh, he has many
advisors and counselors.”
“He does?” Scar was astonished.
“Well, sure,” Labolas chirped. “No one can rule a country alone.”
“But I thought he spoke directly to Kulshedra. Why would such a man need the advice of subjects?
Would they not be fallible?”
That was a chord, which rang true, and for a moment, Labolas did not have an answer. “Well, I,” he
stammered. “Ah,” he said as though an insight had come unto him. “I can’t say for sure, as I have
never asked, but it is a safe assumption that they advise him on matters of strategy, conflict
resolution, trade, and local governance. Certainly, he does not plague Kulshedra with insignificant
queries.”
Scar nodded with understanding. All these blasted worries. It would have been simpler to just be a
mercenary for hire, but it looks like that is not who I am. Perhaps, I am meant to be king. My
concerns for these people grow every day. His internal dialogue gave way to recent events in Usaj.
After being accosted by the Dracos, he had wandered into the country ruled by Zoltek; they were all
people concerned only with attacking the other tribes. They truly had no allies and did not seem to
hope for any kind of peace. Their resolution was one of bloodshed. They were all guided by the
principle of severity…I think there is more to these paladins than just confusion. I think they may be
on to something…Gods and Dragons…Gods and Dragons.
The men continued trudging in the heat for hours. No more words were uttered for a long time.
Before the sun set, and as a cooler wind finally started to blow, they followed the Iles north and
came to a large bridge built over the river. Immense, brown, rectangular pylons supported the
structure. Water rushed against the Kulshedran architecture. At that spot, the river was nearly a
hundred feet across, and the lines of sediment made it clear that it crested, at one time or another,
at nearly three hundred feet.
“We’re not far now,” Labolas broke the silence. Scar said nothing. He was intently gazing at the
bridge. The dark, brown stone blended in nicely with the dark, blue river and the dusty, brown soil.
There was a bit more vegetation in that vicinity, due no doubt to the river.
“A fine bridge, no?”
“Such a marvelous structure,” Scar replied.
“Discovered the love of architecture all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know that it’s sudden,” he retorted. “I feel as though people who can raise such structures
ought to be able to find a way to negotiate peace, bridge the gap, so to speak. There are better
things to do than fight.”
Labolas pursed his lips and nodded nearly imperceptibly, adding, “The architects have indeed
erected magnificent constructs, but peace, like the bridge, must be laid one stone at a time.”
Scar mused over a life free of violence. He tried to think about whether he held any talents or skills
besides mowing down enemies. There was nothing in his memory of the sort. To the best of his
knowledge, he was just a fighter.
The mercenary smiled for a moment then started to cross the bridge. “What’s Eresh like?”
Labolas marched alongside him, and as he looked over the rail to the raging river below, he replied,

“A military town. Mostly everyone there is a soldier. It is so close to Juhir, a town on the Satrone-
Sudai border, that it requires some extra regulations. Though the people of Gyo are allies, we

always protect our borders.”
“People of Gyo?”
“We call them Gyosh.”
“Gyosh? Like a Gyosh warrior?”
“Yes.”
“Gyo is the God of…?”
“The sun…they say.”
“Yet, you are allies.”
“That is correct,” Labolas struggled for a moment to provide an explanation to a question Scar was
sure to ask. They were both on the other side of the bridge by then. “It is said that Gyo, God of the
Sun, believes that both Kulshedra and Khmer, while not true Gods, are bearers of truth and life
respectively, and as such, their people must be of good will.”
“But you are at war with Khmer,” Scar interrupted.
“Indeed, which often strains our Gyosh relationship, but the agreement between Gilgamesh and
Munir, their sultan, is so long as they don’t hinder or help either of us against each other, they will
support our struggle against, say, Zoltek.
“So, Gilgamesh is at war with Zoltek and the leader of Khmer?”
“His…or her…? The leader of Khmer, we do not know if it is male or female, but it is called Sahni,
and yes. Gilgamesh is at war with Zoltek, like everyone, and with Sahni. Our real allies in all this are
the Dracos and Scultonians, but even the latter is occasionally disconcerting.”
“Scultonians?”
“Followers of Scultone, God of Death.”
“This gets more and more convoluted,” Scar complained.
“Welcome to war, my friend.”

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Behind the Glass State Street Series Book 1 by Kristen Morgen Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Rebecca Jordan’s life is simple, disciplined and uncomplicated, at least on the surface. Then she meets a handsome stranger/secret admirer named Michael Vale one fateful late night at a bookstore café. As a focused but struggling photographer with a passion for art, her outwardly happy world is turned upside down during this life-changing encounter when she quickly realizes she has met her soul mate. The undeniable attraction between them and their intense, immediate connection seems picture perfect as they discuss the shop’s local artwork, until Rebecca abruptly ends the chance meeting with no explanation. Betraying Brett, her loyal, loving boyfriend is something she can never bring herself to do. Driven by a strong moral code and molded by divorced parents and a tumultuous childhood, she struggles to stay away from Michael, but fate and circumstance intervene, bringing them back together time and time again. As much as she resists, there is no denying her true feelings for him and the simple fact that Michael understands her in a way Brett never has. Michael proves to be everything she’s ever wanted, but remains just out of her reach. Behind the Glass tells the story of Michael and Rebecca’s extraordinary love and the many unconventional stages their relationship must go through. Their morals and their faith in true love and in each other will be put to the test as they learn that meeting one’s soul mate does not come without obstacles. Add to GoodreadsAmazon * B&N * Kobo * Website

Kristen Morgen is a contemporary romance author and a licensed architect with her own architectural firm. A creative spirit, she can’t remember a time in her life when she didn’t crave designing, creating, discovering, and using her imagination in some way. Her romance writing interests may seem rather different from her daily career, where she focuses on designing homes, but all good architects are, at heart, just artists creating something imagined onto paper. The two practices and creative processes balance each other well. Kristen was an avid reader from an early age, and it was her love for the romance genre, her favorite guilty pleasure, that encouraged her to hone her passion for writing. She loves the art of shaping words and sentences into relatable stories while creating rich characters for her readers to connect with. Her debut novel ‘Behind the Glass’ explores relationships and the little reasons people fall in love with each other while uncovering deeper truths. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, she currently resides in Connecticut with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not designing homes, she dedicates her free time to her second novel and reads almost anything she can get her hands on. Kristen Morgen is a hopeless romantic to the end. Website * Facebook * Facebook Group * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads * Linktree $10 Amazon gift card, Custom Behind the Glass bookmark/mini journal – 1 winner each

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Cresting the Sun A SciFi/ Fantasy Anthology with stories by Nicholas P Adams, Brian C Hailes and Rick Bennett

Cresting the Sun is a science fiction and fantasy anthology compiling twelve award-winning short stories (with a taste of crime and horror mixed in). Each included tale has in recent years earned recognition from the esteemed L Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future contest judges, with adventures sure to rattle your bones, launch you beyond the stars, and carry you through space and time. Prepare yourself, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride! Roadblock by Brian C Hailes – All Drew really wants is a chance with his high school crush, Lily. But on his way to a party where he plans to give it one last shot, he’s forced to take a detour off Highway 89, where fate has something else waiting in store. The Hubbard Drive by Rick Bennett – I just can’t resist comedy. This time-dilation romp is my little Einsteinian “thought experiment” and tribute to L Ron Hubbard, a sci-fi giant. L.E.A.P. by Nicholas P Adams – A cop with the ability to navigate the timestream puts his skills to the test when a series of murders threatens his freedom and the future of those he’d kill to protect. Sketch Artist by Brian C Hailes – An innocent girl witnesses a murder, and works with a San Francisco Police Department sketch artist who has an uncanny ability to draw portraits based on witnesses’ firsthand accounts with a ninety-five percent facial recognition accuracy rate. However, as they both find themselves caught in the middle of a deadly mob war, can they find the killer or killers before they themselves fall prey to the infamous crime families? The Devil & Woody Harrelson by Rick Bennett – Ever think about selling your soul to the devil? You may already have done just that if you clicked “accept” on the terms and conditions on an online program license agreement. Half Z’s by Nicholas P Adams – A human/alien half-breed, desperate for a connection with either world, travels to the Gya’ol enclave for answers when she discovers a rapidly forming growth inside her body. The Chaser’s Prey by Brian C Hailes – Having been shipped off to alien scout camp, Gareth Stillwater stumbles across the other boys torturing and mutilating a squirrel- like creature called an ehkhoor’n. When he confronts the alpha scout, Morrow Krin, and his accomplices, they bully him into secrecy . . . until he decides to steal Krin’s hoverbike and put the animal out of its misery, placing himself (and everyone else) in harm’s way. Overture to The Opera of The Blades by Rick Bennett – This literal “rock opera” features a computer genius who speaks only in palindromes and shows the effect she has on an immortal being. Uncoiling the Loop by Nicholas P Adams – A temporal manipulator struggles against time, the authorities, and a crotchety barkeep, to prevent his father from going on a killing spree before it happens. The Artist’s Model by Brian C Hailes – An artist’s model with a past veiled in amnesia meets a mysterious visitor who claims to know who and what she really is. But when her most beloved master artist and patron unexpectedly dies, she must find a way to live up to her otherworldly destiny, and fulfill her new role. Elvis, Baby Jesus, and One UFO by Rick Bennett – Most first- contact stories involve a superior alien race ravaging the Earth. Here’s my take on the opposite scenario: A superior alien race gets crippled by a clever Earthman-generated computer virus. Gone are the Light-Wielders by Nicholas P Adams – A shepherd boy holds the fate of the colony in his hands when he must choose between keeping a promise to his mother and his responsibility to the community. Goodreads * Amazon

The Angel’s Secret The Seraphin Chronicles Book 1 by Nicholas Adams Genre: SciFi Fantasy

After her parents mysteriously disappeared at the age of thirteen, Evangeline Evans has been on her own. As a military pilot for Olympus, the most powerful and technologically progressive Citadel of the new world, she keeps her reasons for finding them a secret. Without warning a terrifying disease that could destroy civilization begins to infect citizens across the city. Only the race known as Angels—who brought advanced technology to Earth—seem to be immune to its devastation. Evangeline and her husband Jack, an Artificial Intelligence designer, are swept into a secret war between the Dissidents in the Low Technology Zones and The Quorum of Zeus. The Human race is on the precipice of Extinction. Who will prevail? Angel or Human? High Tech Olympian or Low Tech Dissident? But the better question is… Who SHOULD prevail? 25% of Monthly Net sales are donated to the Wounded Warrior Project! https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Add to GoodreadsAmazon * B&N Imprint by Nicholas Adams Genre: SciFi

Doctor. Savior. Prisoner. Malcolm Silvestra’s Synthetic Organ Replacement technique saved the lives of thousands of people. Then “The Scald” deformed and killed millions more. Imprisoned above the Arctic Circle in the Canadian Northwest Territories, Malcolm’s only hope to stave off his execution is to find the cure to save not only humanity but more importantly, his beloved wife. Will Malcolm’s brilliance unlock the secret to freeing Cynthiana from her prison of flesh? Or will he watch her die like all the others? Add to GoodreadsAmazon * B&N

Nicholas Adams grew up in the small, rural town of Boring, OR with his six brothers and sisters. After graduating from High School in Gresham, OR he attended BYU-ID and received his Associates Degree in Pre-Med. From there he returned to Portland, OR and attended Portland State University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology/Pre-Med before changing his career track to Architecture. He completed his second Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at Portland State University before going on to achieve his Master of Architecture Degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT. After his graduation he and his wife moved to the Phoenix Arizona area where they adopted four children over the next eight years. Nicholas currently lives in the Salt Lake City area where he is an Associate member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). His other interests include reading, video games, singing and motorcycles. I donate 25% of my Net sales to the Wounded Warrior Project! https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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