Arabella's Song ~ Now Available

 

I am thrilled that Arabella's Song can finally be shared with anyone who wants to read it. To date, this is the longest-finished work I have done. At nearly 25,000 words, it sounds like so many words, but in the world of books, it is not. Yet I'm pleased with what I accomplished. 

It is currently available as a Kindle book, and the print version is still being formatted. Who knew there were so many steps involved in bringing a book to life? 

This has been a learning experience in so many ways, including how little sleep I can survive on while still pretending to function as a person. 

But if you are interested in enjoying Arabella's Song, which was part of the Lost Kerchiefs Arista Challenge, I'm providing the Amazon link here Arabella's Song on Amazon.

This title will be on Kindle Unlimited until Christmas, so don't delay. After that date, it will be available with other online eBook retailers.

About the Book:

A song calls her to her destiny until a betrayal threatens her future.

Arabella's future has long been decided, but she'll have to fight for it when her trusted servant betrays her.

All her life, a song has drawn her towards her destiny, and now it may very well be what saves her life.

With the aid of a talking horse, a mysterious stranger, and a foreign dignitary, Arabella is in a race against time to reclaim the identity stolen from her in this story based on the Goose Girl and the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

This is the first book in The House of Sorah series.

Friend and Faux ~ Available Now

 

Friend and Faux

The Otaku Fairytales #1

By Erudessa Gentian

I think this is by far the most unique of the Lost Kerchiefs challenge stories. First, it is set in today's world. And I'll be honest: I have never read anything written in the AnimeLit style, so I can't compare it to others in the same style. 

All that being said, I did enjoy reading this book. It is easily read in a few hours and takes the reader into the life of a freshman college student. Asuka Gosse is attending because her grades have made her a highly desired student. She may not have the wealth or social status of the rest of the students, but she will work her hardest to prove her worth. 

Of course, a new student who doesn't understand the current social hierarchy is pulled in by the machinations of an oh-so-helpful student willing to show her the ropes and help her navigate this new world. Yep, you can totally see where this is going. 

I loved the ending. I'm not saying anything more because that will totally ruin it for you. Let's just say it was priceless and oh-so-perfect. I'm interested in what comes next in this new series and would highly recommend it to younger readers without hesitation.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

New school, new start…right?

If only Asuka Gosse’s social smarts were as brilliant as her grades. Can our freshman navigate the intricacies of university life, and discern Friend from Faux?

This short spin on the classic Goose Girl fairytale is written in AnimeLit style and set in a non-magical, contemporary world.

Wind Charmer ~ Available Now

Wind Charmer

By Meredith Leigh Burton

Felicity loves her routines. She needs them, but everything changes when she is sent to a foreign kingdom to wed the prince. What's worse, the person tasked with helping her navigate these changes uses Felicity's need for routine against her.

I like Felicity. As someone who constantly arranges things (like dishes) to find a pattern where none exists, I can empathize with her even greater need for order. That said, I do not like her companion Melinda. Nope, not a bit. 

Felicity's differences, while being her greatest vulnerability, also gave her a strength many underestimated. She had to deal daily with outside factors that could, in minutes, upend her world. Through practice and calming techniques, she overcame and came into her own.  

I love Felicity's connection to animals and how her interaction with them plays into the story. Throughout, one can find nods to the original story: a golden cup, a talking horse, a devious servant, and an arranged marriage to a foreign prince. This is a story that is as beautifully written as the cover and one not to be missed.

I was provided an advanced complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Felicity does not conform to her kingdom’s idea of a princess. She is shy, clumsy and very routine in her habits. Yet she is also fiercely protective, adores animals and determined to fulfill her royal duties despite the anxiety that often grips her heart.

Felicity has been chosen to marry Prince Nathan of the kingdom of Fidel, a man whom she has never met. Will her eccentricities upset him? When Felicity sets forth on her momentous journey to Fidel, she quickly realizes that a threat lurks closer than she could ever have imagined.

Thrust into a kingdom with different customs, Felicity struggles to adapt to the changes that she must encounter. The malevolent circumstances that follow her every waking moment begin to encroach upon those she holds dear. Felicity must confront the evil that seeks to devour her, an evil that is as deceptively beautiful as it is deadly. Yet how can she do so when feelings of self-doubt and shame plague her every waking moment? Can she find the courage to leave her comforting routines behind in order to save two kingdoms from an impending tyrant’s rule? A surly goose herder, a brusque groom and possibly the prince himself may be the only ones who can help. But can she trust them?

A story of hidden strength, deception and finding your voice, Wind Charmer is a tale of two kingdoms grappling to survive. Gifts of unusual power can be used to hurt or heal. A golden goose and a kind horse will play pivotal roles in a young maiden’s quest to find the courage to face an insidious threat, and a young prince must face a harrowing past in order that he may become the ruler he is destined to be. Wind Charmer is a tale not to be missed, a story of perseverance and faith in the midst of evil. Book Fun Facts:  ~ The folklore in Wind Charmer was inspired by several things, but primarily it was inspired by Lakota Nation folklore. The Lakota Nation is a Native American tribe who believe that the Great Spirit of Creator holds all things together. All nature is interconnected. Thus, animals should be respected just as much as humanity. We are all family. Felicity understands this fact. ~  Felicity loves reading stories and even reads stories aloud to animals.  Her favorite stories are: "The Tyrant and the Star Queen," "The Long-Haired Strong Man," and "The Giant and the Grasshopper". The stories seem simple, but they each play significant roles in Felicity's life. Each group of animals has a particular favorite: for instance, the cows love "The Tyrant and the Star Queen". They regard themselves as the heroines of the story. Each story features animals in important roles. ~  After receiving my first edits for Wind Charmer, I contemplated abandoning the work. There were copious notes of things that needed to be fixed. For instance, I had included Falada's decapitation in my first draft. However, through my editor's suggestions and my own thoughts, I developed a much more satisfying solution to this part of the story. Falada is actually featured on the cover of Wind Charmer in a subtle but profound way that will make sense when the story is read. ~  Felicity's name means happiness. She takes pleasure in seemingly insignificant things; caring for animals and reading stories. She is often ridiculed for her simplicity, but she is smarter than people think. She suffers from loneliness but faces life with joy, so her name befits her character.

Of Gold and Shadows ~ Release Day

It's Release Day

for Michelle Griep's

Of Gold and Shadows 

 

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined. . . .

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

After eight years in India, Oxford's most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor's determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin--rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk--surfaces, and they're left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .

AUTHOR BIO

Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is a Christy Award-winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. She's an Anglophile at heart, and you'll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel . . . but it's probably easier to find her at MichelleGriep.com.

 

A Hope Unburied ~ Release Day

It's Release Day for

A Hope Unburied by Kimberley Woodhouse

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Beyond the perilous landscape lies a love that defies extinction. . . .

In the bustling world of paleontology in 1916, Eliza Mills defies societal expectations to pursue her passion. Having published her early groundbreaking papers under a false name, she has finally earned her place at the Carnegie Museum and seizes the opportunity to work at Dinosaur National Monument with a renowned paleontologist. But things in Jensen, Utah, aren't what they appear. When Eliza gets the chance to dig up bones at a ranch with a dark history, it sparks a chain of events that will rock the very fabric of her carefully constructed world.

Devin Schmitt, Eliza's closest friend since childhood, harbors unspoken feelings for her but knows he will never be able to win her heart. Just as he vows to give her up for good, Eliza begs him to visit her in Utah for another grand adventure. He reluctantly agrees, and within a few days of his arrival, he and Eliza find themselves entangled in a web of danger where the stakes are much higher than they ever anticipated. Together, Devin and Eliza must hold on to God as their hope as they navigate a treacherous terrain of betrayal to unbury the truth and save Eliza from those who wish to see her fail.

Enter the Instagram Giveaway for a chance to win all three books in the series.

 

Author Bio:

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and research all the history around them.

 

You can connect with Kimberley on her website, KimberleyWoodhouse.com.

The Handmaiden's Blood ~ Now Available

 AVAILABLE NOW!

The Handmaid's Blood: The Goose Girl Retold 

Once Upon a Twisted Time

By Kendra E. Ardnek

This is a short story based on The Goose Girl. But there is a twist.

The Princess has her handmaid bound by blood to do her will. There is one wee problem, the princess is bound by blood to the queen.

And what an evil queen she is. She plans to use her daughter to cause an international incident and hopefully bring down a kingdom. Yes, that kind of evil. The kind you want to run and hide from. Except for the whole "bound to do her-will" thing going on, which prevents running and hiding.

Though short, this is an intriguing and ingenious retelling that satisfies the key elements of the story but presents them in an original story. 

I was provided an advanced copy of this book with no expectations but to provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Three drops of blood bind her to the princess's will.

The Goose Girl retold from the perspective of her servant.

Book Fun Fact:

This was actually my third choice for which Goose Girl retelling I would release as part of the Lost Kerchiefs, but the other two retellings I had planned each depended on me finishing the book ahead of them in the series. But, you can watch out for a total of three other Goose Girl retellings from me in the near future, including:

Goose Chase (A Twist of Adventure #8): Another servant-as-the-heroine, but in this one, the twist is that when she lost the handkerchief, the princess swaps bodies with an actual goose, so the servant has to pose as a princess until they can figure out how to fix this curse. This one came really close to being part of this set, and is partially written, but since I didn't release Beanstalk Trials as planned, I had to hold off on this one.

Goose Boy (Ever After Maneuver #3): I promise I'm not copying Tricia, but Cinderella-12DP-Goose Girl seems to be a story order that just works. This isn't a genderswap, as the title implies, but it does shake up the story and make Curdkin the hero. Won't say much more about it, other than the fact that Anice is the princess but not the main character. She has the next book after. 

Sing a Quest of Golden Geese (Bookania #9): This is the book I *really* wanted to release as part of the Kerchiefs, but I just didn't have the brain space to write Bookania #8. I'm really excited about this one, though, as it's one of the crazy mashups, including The Goose Girl, Rumpelstiltskin, The Golden Goose, and the Pied Piper. There may or may not be a baby dragon, and this book is also technically a sequel to The Dancing Princess (A Twist of Adventure #5). because people begged so hard to see more of that world. 

I did also consider writing "The Princess and the Goose Girl" which is a Princess and the Pauper mashup I have rolling around in the back of my head, but I'm not *quite* ready to take the plunge into that series yet. 

K-9 Ranch Ranch Protection ~ Review with Excerpt and Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour for K-9 Ranch Protection 

by Darlene L. Turner, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

K-9 Ranch Protection

Crisis Rescue Team #6

By Darlene L. Turner

Ten years ago, Austin Murray froze, costing Izzy Tremblay her best friend's life. Now, Austin may be Izzy's only hope of living and finding her father's killer. 

The killer knows Izzy is working unofficially to find the truth, and he has access to systems he shouldn't be able to touch. Now, he's using technology to help him track her. Worse he knows things about her that he shouldn't.

When an attack wipes three hours of memories from her brain, Izzy is left vulnerable. Could she have seen or done something that could bring a resolution to this case? Only time will tell if her perfect memory can be restored. If Austin can keep her safe. 

Determined to keep Izzy safe, Austin offers his ranch as a hideaway. What could be safer? Hidden away on a ranch with an ex-partner she hasn't had contact with for a decade and a barn full of K-9s in training. There is just one little problem - keeping their hearts safe. But this is Love Inspired Suspense so I'll let you draw your own conclusions in the heart department. 

Altogether, this is a good read. It doesn't contain any graphic material, which is how I like my books. So, if you love suspense that doesn't give you nightmares and romance that doesn't leave you feeling icky, give K-9 Ranch Protection a chance. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book

Title: K-9 Ranch Protection
Series: Crisis Rescue Team #6
Author: Darlene L Turner
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

A killer on the loose. 

A K-9 keeping watch. 

Police constable Izzy Tremblay knows her father’s death was no accident, so when she finally discovers a lead and is immediately attacked, her suspicions are confirmed. The ambush leaves her in the hospital with three hours of crucial memory missing, which she knows holds the key to finding her father’s murderer. For protection, she takes refuge with her ex-partner, Austin Murray, on his K-9 ranch while she races to uncover the truth. But with danger still lurking, can they stay alive long enough to take down a killer? 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Harlequin | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books In This Series

   

   

Excerpt:

Izzy observed the malamute. “She’s not a protection dog, right?”

“No, but she senses danger from the other two and likes you. I need to follow the dogs.
Evacuate.” Austin ran toward the station’s front office where Goose and Thor had headed.

“Not a chance.” Izzy followed with Névé at her heels.

Constables and HRPD’s civilian staff hustled to the exit. Their tortured expressions revealed
everyone’s horror. Izzy couldn’t remember a time when their station had been attacked in this
magnitude.

Was it all her fault?

Thor’s heightened bark cut off her thoughts.

Izzy hurried to catch up to the K-9s and Austin. She stepped inside the bullpen.

Thor sat a few feet away from a desk. Her desk.

“Thor, Goose, retreat!” Austin’s forceful commands stopped Izzy in her tracks.

It was then she noticed a backpack under her chair. A beeping filled the room, then intensified.
Izzy’s heartbeat slammed in her chest. The bomb was about to blow.

The K-9s bolted toward the entrance where Austin stood. He turned. “Get out!”

Beside her, Névé growled and latched on to her coat, tugging her back into the hallway. The
group scrambled to get away from the ticking time bomb.

They reached the exit and Austin thrust open the door, hauling her with him.

Seconds later a thunderous explosion rocked the building, sending debris pelting through the
station and out the shattered front glass doors.

The impact shoved Izzy to her knees on the snowy walkway. The attack revealed one thing.

None of them were safe.

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About the Author

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning and a Publishers Weekly best-selling author and lives with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.

Connect with Darlene by visiting darlenelturner.com, where there’s suspense beyond borders, to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(4) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon egift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 23, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!