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Valentine’s Day Book Blast
Storm’s Convergence Virtual Book Tour
Demon Storm, Book 5
Young Adult Fantasy
Date Published: 02-13-2024
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
The calm can only last so long.
Now a member of Freehaven’s Council, Kari tries to put her past behind her
and settle down in her new home with her ever-present Lord and love,
Ari.
Cracks in her mind, parting gifts from the heart eater, make planning the
upcoming Spring Festival a struggle, but Kari is determined to do her best,
even after Guine departs the town.
When a mysterious child appears at the festival and marks Kari, all
semblance of normalcy is banished.
A triple threat from her past awaits beyond the walls of Freehaven and
options are thin. Not willing to spill any more blood, Kari takes it upon
herself to stop them—with Ari by her side.
EXCERPT
The girl grabbed the neckline of her shirt and jerked her closer with too much ease. Kari stiffened as the girl’s cheek touched hers.
“Funny wolf demon, hiding in this wretched town.” Her voice was low and cruelly amused. Kari tensed, prepared to jerk free and throw a fist, but the girl hissed, “Ah, no, don’t move. There are many innocents here, though I would not call demons innocent. I know you would not want them hurt.”
She suddenly realized the closeness of so many villagers, as if she’d been ripped out of reality and dropped harshly back into it again.
Kari bit back a growl. “Who are you?”
She knew, though, before the small girl laughed. The boastful yet righteous arrogance of someone who believed truly and wholly in her cause—it could be no one else.
“I feel your defeat. You’ve answered your own question.”
Kari’s throat was dry. “Ri…Riniko. What are you doing here? Why—”
“Since you’ve yet to heed our warning, I’m here to play a little game.”
“Kari!” Ari called.
Riniko’s small hands tightened. “Tell him to leave. We’re busy.”
She hesitated. Ari yelled for her again, and now she envisioned him pushing through the crowds, looking for where she’d gone.
“It’s fine,” she yelled back. “I…I’m helping someone. I’ll catch up!”
Riniko’s grip didn’t loosen. “Your boy is insistent.”
Kari turned her head with some difficulty, given Riniko’s grip. The little witch traded, wrapping her arms around Kari’s neck with a giggle that cracked against her eardrums.
Visible between passersby, Ari made his way to them. His brows raised at the sight of the girl around her neck.
“Who is…”
Kari smiled, big and wide, and prayed he didn’t notice her trembling lips. “She’s lost. I’m part of the Council, so she came to me. Go back to Rathik and Essie, I’ll catch up.”
Ari saw something in her face; his eyes constricted, his jaw pulsing, uncertain of what to do.
Please walk away, Ari. It’ll be okay this time. I promise.
When she did not say anything more, he relented. “Alright. Meet us over there, okay?”
Kari nodded, jostling Riniko. Ari glanced between them, then jogged off.
Riniko giggled again, quieter this time. “Good.”
Kari grabbed her around the waist and yanked her off. There was something insanely surreal about holding a small child in her hands, a child whose eyes burned with unmatched cruelty and fire.
“What do you want?” she snarled.
Riniko wrapped too-small fingers around Kari’s wrists and met her eye with a cool, even gaze. “You know what we want. I’m only here to set the fire of action a little higher for you.”
Her palms, pressed against Kari’s skin, warmed. Kari’s eyes widened, and she struggled with the instinct to fling the small child away.
“We do not want to burn this entire village to the ground. Despite the way these villagers associate with demons, they are still good, innocent people. The demons can be excused as long as they remain thusly. But you cannot. You must come and face your fate.”
Her arms were burning; Kari bit back a scream. “I keep telling you, I don’t want to hurt anyone! Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“Tell that to those poor people in the east. They probably thought you didn’t want to kill them. But now they’re very, very dead.”
Kari staggered back. There were fewer villagers out now, less to see this odd pair, but Kari dreaded what Riniko would do if even one was drawn to them. She inched away from the square, edging toward an alley between two buildings.
“Isn’t it enough that I died once? What more can you want?”
Riniko laughed. “Oh, yes, but Zina got cold feet. Superstition, I guess. She couldn’t let it die with you. No, she believed it would go on, despite having no body. So here you are, her little pet wolf demon, but she won’t be here to save you a second time.”
Cold feet? Let it die with her?
The burning on her arms increased, snapping her attention back to Riniko’s young-girl face.
“I’ll come to you,” Kari croaked. “Does that make you happy? I’ll leave and find you.”
Riniko’s eyes lit up, though she did not remove her hands. The heat continued to rise until Kari thought she could smell her flesh cooking.
“Oh, do you promise?” Riniko asked, her voice girlish, sickeningly sweet. “Pretty please?”
“Please stop,” Kari whispered between her teeth.
Little hands lifted, releasing her from the agony of fire. Kari trembled, then froze as those hands touched her cheeks.
“It was easy to infiltrate this place, Kari. It would be even easier, now, to set it all ablaze. You remember my previous work.”
Kari’s hands around Riniko’s waist shook with the effort to not squeeze her into pieces. “You’re the monster, witch,” she snarled.
“It takes a monster to slay one,” Riniko responded. “Remember that if you decide to hesitate any longer. I’m tired of waiting for this final show. My sisters have both seen that I was right and now it’s time to end this.” Riniko raised her hands. “Put me down.”
Shaking profusely, Kari set Riniko on the ground, where the little witch-girl brushed off her plain, brown dress. She fluffed her hair, then raised a finger to her lips.
“Remember your promise,” she said, then spun and skipped away into the darkness.
About the Author
Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love
with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was
writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape
reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the
path to sharing with other children & children-at/heart looking for a
place to call home.
Contact Links
Purchase Link
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Taken by the Satyr Blitz
(Taken 5): A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novella
Paranormal Women’s Fiction / Urban Fantasy
Date to be Published: February 16, 2024
Publisher: Changeling Press, LLC
Preston, son of Hermes, has a secret. He’s been cursed to live as a
satyr — a monster with a dubious job he hates. He knows love is not in his
future. Can’t be.
Then he meets Lulu — the daughter of a witch and Elf. A woman unsure of
her place in the world. Luna has come back to Eerie to hide and heal, but a
chance meeting with sorcerers and being thrown together with Preston changes
everything. Love may be possible if only Luna can open her heart and change
Preston’s mind.
EXCERPT
Copyright ©2024 Megan Slayer
Back to the old homestead. Lulu snorted and pulled onto the dirt road
leading to the witch enclave. She wasn’t a witch herself. Hell, she
wasn’t even sure what she was — the daughter of a witch and an elf.
Did that make her a Wilf? An Elch? She had magic, but she wasn’t good
with spells. She couldn’t bake for shit and refused to live in a
tree.
She drove the mucky path passing for a street to the house she’d
grown up in. When she’d left for college, she’d been so
wide-eyed and excited. So ready to embrace the world.
Then Tom happened. He’d consumed her life. He made her feel things.
Showed her there was more to life, but most of it wasn’t good. He
needed control.
Of course, he did.
Being a sorcerer, he lived for control.
Every time she looked back on her last few years, she winced. She’d
been so naive. She’d let him do all the things he’d done because
she thought she loved him.
He’d never loved her.
But that didn’t matter now. She’d broken free from his control,
and he’d moved on to his next victim.
She stopped in her parents’ driveway, but her thoughts clogged her
mind. She’d considered his next girlfriend a victim. God. What a piece
of work Tom was!
That didn’t matter. She’d come home. She’d gone back to
what she knew so she could heal her heart.
She left the car and strode over to the barn. Poofs of colored smoke shot
from the chimney. Her mother must be creating.
She spied the plants in the field. Her father had finally got the crops out
on time. Good for him. A smile pulled at her lips. At least someone had
their life going in the right direction.
She’d figure hers out soon enough.
She diverted from the barn and made her way over to the field. She breathed
in the clean scent of the crops. Eerie was a hot mess at times, but it was
also the place for paranormals to be themselves. It was a safe place.
She’d thought she needed a place to run away to, but not when home
called. It wasn’t like she had a lost love back home. She’d
never had a boyfriend when she’d been in Eerie. She hadn’t been
enough of a paranormal — not looking like an elf or witch. She’d been
too normal and teased for her appearance. Being different hadn’t
bothered her, though. She shook her head. She’d pulled herself up and
grown. She wasn’t the same girl who’d left town.
“You made it.” Daff, her father, bounded up to her. “Got
a lot to move in?”
“I’m not moving in, Daddy.” She’d found an
apartment on March Avenue, above a bakery. Sue her for liking the
smells.
“I didn’t think you would be, but I cleaned up the second floor
just in case.” He wiped his hands on a towel hanging from his pocket.
“What are you planning to do?”
“I’m living in the Towers. Fourth floor. I’ll get the
keys this evening. It’s furnished so I don’t have to move
anything but my clothes.” She’d worked out a deal with Marina,
her second cousin, to get the last furnished unit.
“Good. I’m glad.” Her father hesitated. “Are you
having a roommate?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? A witch alone?” Her father shook his head.
“We have room.”
“You do, but I need to do this on my own.” She hugged him.
“But I appreciate the concern. I’m only a call
away.”
“I know,” her father said. “Got a job yet?”
“At Linc’s.” She wasn’t sure working at a bar was
smart, but it was a job.
“The bar?”
“In the restaurant. I head there next.” She stepped back.
“Just wanted to see you and Mom. I can use all the anchors I can
get.” She needed them.
“You’re always welcome here.”
“I know. Is Mom around?” She hadn’t seen her and her
mother tended to be the center of attention.
“She’s mixing spells with Grinella.”
She should’ve guessed. “She spends a lot of time there with
her.”
“She does.”
Sadness tinged his voice and she hesitated. “To the exclusion of
you?”
“A bit.”
“Daddy.” She wasn’t sure what to do to help him.
“She needs to find herself, so I’m letting her.”
“But you’re unhappy.” She would be, too.
“I am, but I’ll be here for her.”
“What do you want? For you? Not for Mom?”
He stared at her. “I never thought about it.”
“I know.” She sat beside him on the fence. “What do you
want?”
“To farm. To have my animals and work the land. To feel the earth in
my hands. To be loved,” he said. “All those things.”
“Then that’s what you should do. All of those things. Have you
told Mom you don’t feel loved?”
“She’s never home and when she is, she’s drifting.
It’s like I can’t reach her.”
“You need to try and tell her.” She hugged him. “I
didn’t tell Reuben how I felt and it made life miserable. It
would’ve changed so much and might have kept me from dating
Tom.” Might have made her life better.
“I will.”
“You need to.” She sighed. “I’ll check on you, but
I need to get to work.”
“Go ahead. I’ll be okay.” He nodded. “It’ll
always be okay.”
“You’re sure?”
“I am.” He offered a sad smile. “Go. Get your life
going.”
“I will.” She hesitated before heading to her car. She wanted
to be there for her dad. To help him have the best. For both him and her
mother. She loved them and they did love each other, but they weren’t
good at communicating. Right now, they seemed pulled apart. Sort of like her
situation with Reuben. He’d felt abandoned and used that feeling to
walk away. He claimed he had to find his happiness. He hadn’t cared
that she was confused by her own feelings and overwhelmed. He didn’t
care that she wasn’t sure how to deal with stress, but he wanted what
he wanted when he wanted it, and if someone argued, they were wrong. Not
him.
She’d been wrong often. But she hadn’t told him how she’d
felt.
She slid behind the wheel, then left the farm. Dust swirled in her wake.
Gravel crunched under her tires. A sense of freedom washed over her. She was
her own woman. No Tom or Reuben to stand in her way. A single lady. And it
was time she found her own happy.
Not at a bar, but that was a job. She drove across Eerie, passing the
woods, the lake with light sparkling on the water and so peaceful.
She’d never been much of a nature lover, but she appreciated the
solitude and ability to get lost in the woods to center herself.
She continued to the east end of town. Most residents hated the east end
because of the rough crowd that tended to frequent the area. The bars and
dance halls were there. So was the bail bondsman’s office.
She parked in the lot behind the bar in the staff area. The hotel stood
behind the bar and seemed to groan in the late afternoon sun. She
didn’t know many of the vehicles, but she hadn’t worked there
yet. She hadn’t met the gang. Being hired the day before made knowing
people difficult. She left her car and locked it, then ventured into the
building.
“Hi.” A blond man with a dirty T-shirt stood by the kitchen
sink. “First day?”
“It is.” She recognized the man. The satyr. She thought his
name was Stav. Or something like that. “You’re here
today?” She’d been warned against him.
“Always.” He grinned and dried his hands. “My brother
owns the bar. I’m sure Lance hired you.”
“He did.” The easy conversation reassured her. “He
mentioned his baby brother.”
“Good or bad?” A wicked glimmer filled his eyes.
“A little bit of both.”
About the Author
Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author
of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing
since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary
and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her
works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her
characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s
been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best
Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the
bestseller lists on various e-tailer sites.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as
well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but
football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends
of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.
Author Contact Links
Publisher on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @changelingpress
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Storm’s Convergence Blitz
Demon Storm, Book 5
Young Adult Fantasy
Date Published: 02-13-2024
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
The calm can only last so long.
Now a member of Freehaven’s Council, Kari tries to put her past behind her
and settle down in her new home with her ever-present Lord and love,
Ari.
Cracks in her mind, parting gifts from the heart eater, make planning the
upcoming Spring Festival a struggle, but Kari is determined to do her best,
even after Guine departs the town.
When a mysterious child appears at the festival and marks Kari, all
semblance of normalcy is banished.
A triple threat from her past awaits beyond the walls of Freehaven and
options are thin. Not willing to spill any more blood, Kari takes it upon
herself to stop them—with Ari by her side.
About the Author
Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love
with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was
writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape
reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the
path to sharing with other children & children-at/heart looking for a
place to call home.
Contact Links
Purchase Link
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Realtionsh*t Virtual Book Tour
A Practical Guide to Stepping Out of Fear, Navigating Big Relationship
Change, and Living Your Best Life
Relationships, Self-Help
Date Published: September 2023
All the sh*t you need to know about getting a divorce, packed into one
little book.
BONUS: There’s no screaming, fighting, spending days or weeks in a
courtroom, or blowing thousands of dollars on attorneys. And spoiler alert:
this one has a happy ending.
IN RELATIONSH*T, YOU WILL DISCOVER:
* The tools you need to get you through the divorce process and
beyond.* How to tell your partner (and your kids), “I want a
divorce.”* How to find an attorney that’s right for you.
* An alternative path to making a divorce happen—without burning down
the house!* How to keep respecting and supporting each other, up to the very
end.* And so much more sh*t . . .
RELATIONSH*T is your guide to the divorce you’ve never heard of. Big
change doesn’t have to be so hard. Your courage is the only path to
your dreams. So set aside the fear, pick up this book, and walk toward your
dream life.
Through years of therapy, a loving support group of girlfriends, and her
own intuition, Brooke Box blazed a new trail through the divorce process.
After 20 years of marriage, Brooke found the courage to end it. Instead of
going the traditional route of divorce, she and her spouse forged a new
path. This book is your guide to getting through the divorce process with
love and respect—and, if you’re lucky, just one attorney.
This is Brooke’s story of finally releasing the fear and walking
toward her best life. Let her story be your own guide to a more exciting,
fulfilling life!
Divorce doesn’t have to mean war.
Two people can break up AND divide up their lives amicably.
And YOU have the courage within you to make this major relationship
change.
EXCERPT
Christopher Robin: “If ever there’s a tomorrow when we’re not together, there’s something you must remember.” Winnie the Pooh: “And what might that be, Christopher Robin?” Christopher Robin: “You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
— Pooh’s Grand Adventure
Who you marry is the most important personal decision you’ll make in your life.
That’s a pretty bold statement, and I stand by it.
Here’s an even bolder statement: when choosing your spouse, imagine divorcing him.
Seriously, imagine it. What kind of man is he? Is he kind? Is he generous? Does he see you as an equal? Will he honor and respect you even though the marriage is ending? How does he behave in a fight?
I could go on and on with the questions, but you get the point. And I realize this is the opposite of romantic. This isn’t likely a consideration you make as you’re dating, or even once you decide to get married. But it should be.
My story is what I refer to as fairytale-ish. I met John when I was twenty-two, in our final year of college. He was handsome, smart, funny, and unique, and he had a little bit of bad boy in him. We fell in love quickly. In fact, he blew off a graduation trip to Europe to surprise me in Mexico. I was in school in Cuernavaca, and he showed up on a random Monday afternoon. I dropped out of the school I was attending, and we traveled through Mexico together. No one knew where we were or what we were doing. Looking back, it was pretty stupid of us. But at the time, as young people in love, it was wildly romantic.
About the Author
Brooke Box is a proud survivor of an amicable divorce. Based on her divorce
experience and the advice of many friends, colleagues, and even strangers,
she’s written Relationsh*t to assist people going through one of the
most difficult life changes. She attributes her divorce success in part to a
decades-long love affair with personal growth and development. She is a huge
fan of therapy.
Brooke’s approach to life is honest, direct, and straightforward, and
this book is no different. Brooke takes her experience and outlines an
alternative approach to divorce that will empower and motivate her readers.
Brooke believes we all deserve a life of our dreams and that we have the
potential to create that life ourselves. That’s why she wrote this
book and is dedicated to creating a community where people know
they’re not alone, where they can get unstuck, release the fear, and
start building the lives they’ve always dreamed of.
Before writing this book, Brooke enjoyed a successful sales career in a
variety of industries such as tech, music, fashion, and sports. She loves to
travel, is a french fry connoisseur, and will stop anywhere for a margarita.
You can find Brooke in Texas, typically surrounded by family and
friends.
Contact Links
Purchase Link
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