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Book Spotlight Thursday: Umbra: Sentient Stars by Amber Toro

With a cover like this, the book spotlights itself! A Rogue. A Commander. And an Admiral.
Brought together by circumstance, held together by duty. Can they find a way to work together to save humanity? Read on as we celebrate the release of Umbra: Sentient Stars by Amber Toro; let’s learn more!

Umbra: Sentient Stars

Publication Date: April 24, 2024

Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy/ Space Opera

✨Enemies-to-Lovers
✨Found Family
✨Multiple POVs
✨Intergalactic Adventure
✨Slow Burn
✨Militaristic Society
✨Fully Sentient Starships

Earth That Was has faded into myth. After millennia spent wandering, humans are no longer nomads. Twelve tribes stand allied under the United Tribal Axis, but there is a signal in the darkness that threatens to destroy everything.

All Skyla wanted after leaving the Navy was to be left alone. Just her ship, the stars, and a new adventure. But when a strange virus disables her ship, she is thrown into the middle of a conflict she doesn’t understand, forcing her to take on responsibilities she swore she never would again.

Hinata always followed the rules and honor above all else. He always won until he didn’t. Sentenced to exile for his failures, he is determined to prove himself, until a mysterious woman arrives on his station and chaos threatens to break already fragile alliances.

Freyja was always angry, an outcast, playing the part of admiral and black ops operative. But she is tired of being a pawn in the Empress’ games, and when she’s stranded on the wrong side of enemy lines after a vengeful battle, she’s forced to ally with her adversaries to clear her name.

Available Now! On Amazon

About The Author

Amber Toro is the director of data science at a machine learning startup working to make the world a better place with AI. She is a big believer in using tech for good.

Always dreaming Amber writes epic sci-fi and fantasy.

Amber grew up in Seattle with a great love of the outdoors. She now calls Utah her home and when she is not writing or coding you can find her biking, hiking, and camping in the mountains with her amazing partner and two tiny humans or curled up with a good sci-fi/fantasy book.

Follow Amber at Amber Toro

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The “IT” Gift This Mother’s Day: TheraICE Headache Relief Cap

Product Review

Mother’s Day is coming up and I have discovered the “IT” gift this year.

Providing 360-degree coverage. Use it hot or cold to help treat those splitting headaches after a long day of motherhood, work, or life!

My very own ThereaICE Headache Relief Cap

Its patented design blocks out light for light sensitivity due to migraines and all forms of headaches, including:

  • Tension Headaches
  • Cluster Headaches
  • Neck Headache
  • TMJ headache
  • Headache from caffeine withdrawal or hangover

I’ve been troubled with sinus headaches all my life and have used every form of headache face mask on the market, from gell-filled to oat-filled with lavender.  How does the TheraICE Headache Relief Cap hold up?

To read the full review and find out my thoughts, check it out on Ko-fi.com.

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Book Spotlight Thursday: Sin and Betrayal by Sienna Snow

This week, we are spotlighting the newly released Sin and Betrayal by Sienna Snow. Set to be book 1 in the Sin and Lies series. A mafia, dark romance what is not to love? Let’s read on!

Sin and Betrayal (Sin and Lies Book 1)

Publication Date: April 11

Genre: Mafia Romance/ Dark Romance/ MMF
Features
⦁	Mafia
⦁	Dark Romance
⦁	MMF
⦁	Bodyguard
⦁	Antiheroes
⦁	Second chance
⦁	Hurt you to save you
⦁	Enemies to Lovers
⦁	Touch her, and you 💀
⦁	Boss's wife
⦁	Forced Proximity
⦁	Hate to love you
⦁	Suspense
⦁	Forbidden Love
⦁	Super spicy
⦁	Voyeurism
⦁	Bondage

Princess in a Tower
Captive in a Cage.
There is no Power.
Only Rage.

They promised me love and devotion,
And left me with shattered dreams.
They’re back expecting forgiveness.
But my price is very steep.
Betrayal is a risky business,
Now that I’m the Queen, they wish to keep.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Inspired by her years working in corporate America, Sienna loves to serve up stories woven around confident and successful women who know what they want and how to get it, both in – and out – of the bedroom.
Her heroines are fresh, well-educated, and often find love and romance through atypical circumstances. Sienna treats her readers to enticing slices of hot romance infused with empowerment and indulgent satisfaction.
Sienna loves the life of travel and adventure. She plans to visit even the farthest corners of the world and delight in experiencing the variety of cultures along the way. When she isn’t writing or traveling, Sienna is working on her “happily ever after” with her husband and children.

Learn more and follow Sienna at SIENNA SNOW

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Book Feature Friday: Long Live by V.B. Lacey

Blog touring this week with RR Book Tours, I had to sneak in this gem. I think I have a thing with sword book cover art. Long Live is the first book in the Elementals of Iona duology, an epic fantasy romance that follows the journey of a young woman overcoming loss and anxiety and four immortal beings learning how to forgive and love again after their dark past. This enemies-to-lovers series is full of morally grey characters, witty banter, unique elemental magic, romantic tension, and twists you won’t see coming. Long Live is perfect for lovers of epic quests and character-driven stories, especially fans of Carissa Broadbent, Elise Kova, and Sarah J Maas.

Long Live: An Elemental Magic Fantasy Romance (The Elementals of Iona #1)

Publication Date: June 2023

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

✨Forced Proximity
✨Witty Banter
✨One Cave
✨Multiple POVs
✨Anxiety
✨No Spice Romance
✨Morally Grey Characters
✨Elemental Magic
✨Plot Twists

Isla Belthare lives an ordinary life in her small village of Lockhurt. Since losing both her mother and the man she loved two years ago, all she wants is stability and peace. But her world is forever changed when her family is attacked on a journey away from home and she must travel to the Aataran mountain range to find them.
Across the realm, four ancient beings who control the elements of nature are awakening.
After a civil war that tore the humans apart, the elementals entered a thousand year slumber. Now, they are being summoned to prevent a dark force that is greedy for power and threatening to overturn the balance of nature.
When Isla’s path crosses with one of these elementals, she finds her fate is more entangled with theirs than she had ever imagined. As she risks it all to follow the elementals on their journey to defeat the unknown foe, she discovers that not everything may be as it seems. Isla is torn between protecting her loved ones or following her heart down a dangerous path of power and magic, of truth and lies.
What will they sacrifice to stop the coming storm?

Available Now! Get it Here

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

V.B. Lacey is an office manager by day and an avid reader-turned-writer by night. She grew up on stories of magic, love, and sarcasm, and equips her writing with all three. She lives in Texas with her supportive husband and two rambunctious dogs. When she’s not writing about morally grey characters and far-off kingdoms, you can find her reading (mostly fantasy and contemporary romance), playing board games, or spending time with friends.

Follow V.B. on Instagram at @vblacey.books

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Book Spotlight Thursday: A Sword of Shadow and Deceit by Lucinda Dark

This Thursday’s Book Spotlight is the enticing A Sword of Shadow and Deceit by Lucinda Dark. If you enjoy dark fantasy romance, enemies-to-lovers, and a good anti-hero, this book is a must-read!

A Sword of Shadow and Deceit (Mortal Gods #1)

Publication Date: March 21, 2024

Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance/ Why Choose

Features
🖤Dark Fantasy Romance
🗡️Assassin FMC
☠️Anti-Hero
🚫Forbidden Existence
❤️Enemies-to-Lovers
🔥Why Choose

Desperation makes warriors of captives. The Gods split the skies and rained down tyranny upon the mortal realm long ago. Ever since then, the only thing worse than being human is being of Divine Blood.For someone like me—an undocumented God child, indebted to the Underworld Assassination Guild—that means only one thing: A life in the shadows. Or so it should have been … until Mortal Gods Academy. Until them. 
The Darkhaven Brothers are truly the worst of all the Gods’ spawn. Arrogant. Wicked. Violent. To them, I’m nothing more than a human plaything meant for torment. For me … they’re the path and the key to my freedom.  But if any of them find out who I am, what I am … even the shadows won’t be able to save me. 

*Contains dark with themes of a dark nature that may be triggering. Please check trigger warnings and read responsibly*

GET YOUR COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lucy Smoke, also known as Lucinda Dark for her fantasy works, has a master’s degree in English and is a self-proclaimed creative chihuahua. She enjoys feeding her wanderlust, cover addiction, as well as her face, and truly hopes people will stop giving her bath bombs as gifts. Bath’s get cold too fast and it’s just not as wonderful as the commercials make it out to be when the tub isn’t a jacuzzi.
When she’s not on a never-ending quest to find the perfect milkshake, she lives and works in the southern United States with her beloved fur-baby, Hiro, and her family and friends.

Follow Lucy/Lucinda at Lucy Smoke/ Lucinda Dark

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Book Review: I Am Bold by Andie Powers Illustrated by Betsy Peterson

Bea is not loud — she is BOLD! Sometimes, people tell Bea she’s just too much. Whether she’s bugging her brother like a buzzing bee, helping out a bit too much in class, or blasting her trombone as loud as it goes, she is often misunderstood. While grownups and even other kids might see her as loud, we know that she’s got stuff to say, things to do, and friends to make!

This story is for the child who lives out LOUD and boldly use their voice to be heard above the crowd. Bea’s story shows us that when the strongest voices are celebrated, their boldness inspires beauty and positive change.

From the acclaimed I Am Quiet: A Story for the Introvert In All of Us, Andie Powers brings us I Am Bold for the kids that tell it like it is. That may be told they are just too much…

Read the full review featured on Medium.com (leave a clap)

I AM BOLD is available now on AMAZON

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Book Release Special: The Curse of the Fallen (The Wicked Kingdom Book 3) by Abby Fox

After featuring Book 1, Curse of the Crow, last Thursday, since it is now April 8th, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to join the celebration showcasing the release of the last book in The Wicked Kingdom Series. Behold The Curse of the Fallen by Abby Fox.

The Curse of the Fallen: A Soulmate Romance (The Wicked Kingdom Book 3)

Publication Date: April 7, 2024

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Features

Hidden Identities
Slow Burn
Delicious Angst
Morally Gray Fae MMC
Burn the World for Each Other
One Bed
Powerful but Awkward FMC
Denied Soul Mates

A lost prince. A powerful heiress. A destructive secret.
Fleeing the castle’s gilded prison and on the run from the king, Nava and Arkimedes are confronted by a sinister shadow-figure, who looks like Arkimedes and who wants Nava dead. He vows to end the Beekeepers and bring destruction into the world.
Forced into hiding in the only place their enemies can’t reach them, the Society of Crows Safehouse, Nava and Arkimedes must find a way to prevent their enemy from unleashing demons into this realm.
But stopping him seems impossible, and with the king’s guards on their tail, will they manage it? Or will their love, their lives, and even the entire world be destroyed?

Curse of the Fallen is a dark, action-packed, sexy, fated mates fantasy romance for fans of ACOTAR.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

GET THE WHOLE WICKED KINGDOM TRILOGY

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Solar Eclipse Book Spotlight: The Last Rays of Ra by Karina McRoberts

In honor of the Total Solar Eclipse today, I thought it was fitting to spotlight The Last Rays of Ra by Karina McRoberts. Let’s put our shades on and read on!

The Last Rays of Ra: A Journey Into Thrilling Adventure, Horror, And Suspense

Publication Date: March 20, 2024

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Adventure


SISTERHOOD’S ANSWER TO AGENT PENDERGAST
Empathic Scotland Yard Detective Jackson Randolph is over-burdened by a series of bizarre murders. He enlists the aid of rogue Egyptologist Vahlona Selket Faralay, pleading with her to retrieve an ancient item linked to the crimes.
Vahlona leaves her mysterious home in the Yorkshire Moors and travels to Egypt, where she braves misogynistic policemen, vicious wildlife, and manic terrorists in her quest to procure the artifact. The shadowy but alluring antiquities dealer Usire Ra Arakti provides the answer, but can Vahlona smuggle the prize out of Egypt and back to London before the madman resumes his killing spree?

A thrilling suspense, horror, romance, and adventure await you in The Last Rays of Ra.

Available Now on Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karina is an American-Australian author, illustrator, musician, scientist and theatre producer. She considers herself to be a true Renaissance woman and strives to help other achieve the same. ( “After all, ladies, we didn’t get a chance last time!!!!”).
Previously working as a conservation scientist, she was struck down by a mosquito-borne virus. No longer able to work, Karina now spends her time writing fiction to inspire, encourage, enlighten and entertain, especially those readers active in social justice, humanitarian work, and protection of the Earth.
She also writes self-instruction books and gives workshops in illustration and creative writing.
In these dark days of crazy violence, betrayal, and plague, Karina hopes readers find solace and joy in her creations.

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Book Spotlight Thursday: The Curse of The Crow by Abby Fox

With the release of the final book in this series coming up on April 8th. We are spotlighting where it all began. Book 1 The Curse of the Crow.

The Curse of The Crow: A Soulmate Romance (The Wicked Kingdom Book 1)

Publication Date: August 2021

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Features

*Hidden Identities
*Slow Burn
*Delicious Angst
*Morally Gray Fae MMC
*Burn the World for Each Other
*One Bed
*Powerful but Awkward FMC
*Denied Soul Mates

Destined to love each other. Determined to fight their fate.
Nava Forrest stumbled upon her soulmate when she was young. A brief meeting with a hooded stranger forever bound her to a wicked man she wanted nothing to do with. Running from his dark power, her parents escaped to the non-magical town of Willowbrook to keep her safe.
Now that they are gone, her life raising her younger brother and selling potions to wary townsfolk has been quiet... and magic-free. 

When the Society of Crows finds Nava, intent on imprisoning her, it forces her to flee to the forest, searching for the only person she was told can protect her.
Arkimedes is not what she expects, and her attraction to him is unnerving. As the chemistry between them grows, so does her power. But the secrets he keeps threatens to tear her world apart. With the Society closing in, it forces them to put aside their differences and fight to escape their oppressors. But will they escape destiny?


The Curse of the Crow is the first book in a trilogy, based on the Wicked Kingdom verse.

Action-packed, sexy, and perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and C.N. Crawford.

Contains mature themes.

Available Now on AMAZON

Read the rest of the series!

Book 3- The Curse of the Fallen (released date April 8th pre-order today)

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Lash Extensions For Sensitive Eyes? Get Method Lash!

Product Review

Longing for lush lashes, but your sensitive eyes get in the way? That is me. I even use a “special mascara” for sensitive eyes. I was down and feeling the lashless blues when in walked in Method Lash.

Method Lash is a Canadian-founded company formulated after their own allergic experience with traditional lash extensions and knowing there had to be a better way. Method Lash is designed to be eco-friendly, latex-free, vegan-free, and cruelty-free created for all lash-loving enthusiasts, even those with sensitive eyes. Made from a blend of soft synthetic fibers and held by a super soft cotton band, these lashes are light and weightless to wear.

Gifted with their Influence Starter Kit, I got to try their lashes out for myself.

My Lash Gift Set

Their Influence Start Kit includes:

  • The Diva Glue
  • Sealant
  • Lash tweezers

And 3 Lash sets

  • Influence Lash Set
  • Scandal Lash Set
  • And Aptitude Lash Set

INFLUENCE

I tried the Influence Lash Set first. These lashes are 12mm in size and are perfect for a beginner like me. I do not think I’ve tried lash extensions since I was like 10 or 11 years old. I had dressed up as Cindy Lauper for Halloween, but the false lash experience did not go well.

A bit nervous with no clue I watched their how-to-apply video TWICE! Thinking I got it down, I went to work. I think it took me two hours to get the lashes on. I felt dumb, but hey, this was my first time, AND I am left-handed, so finding the right angles and position took a bit to figure out. I did get the hang of it, and my results are below…

To see my results and read the full review, visit Medium.com

View at Medium.com