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Book Release Blitz: Jemma and the Raven by B.D. Reeves

Today I am joining R&R Book Tours for the book release celebration of Jemma and the Raven by B.D. Reeves. The book sounds amazing, and the cover is mesmerizing!

Jemma and the Raven

Publication Date: August 26th, 2023

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy

A girl. A raven. A luminous adventure.
To everyone else, Jemma is nothing but a Wharf-thief. She scavenges for tokens in the wrestling dens and parades along the market lanes with a raven, Edgar, on her shoulder.
But she and Edgar have a secret. In a land where memories fade into the Shadows without the love of a Keeper, they scour the ruins of ancient memory palaces, searching for treasure that will buy them a passage to the great city of Adocentyn.
When Jemma steals a map and a golden blade, she sets in motion a chain of events that will tie her destiny to the survival of all who live in the light of Memory.
Can Jemma defeat the darkness she has unleashed, without losing herself? And who is the voice she hears, guiding her along the way? I am with you. Follow the lights.

Jemma and the Raven is a massive feat of storytelling, a work of fabulous imagination, and a fantasy inspired by historical realities. It will convey its readers on an epic journey that will both captivate and exhilarate them. ARNOLD ZABLE, storyteller and novelist. Author of The Watermill, Sea of Many Returns, and Cafe Scheherazade.

Jemma and the Raven is out and available now at Amazon US | Amazon AU |Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

B. D. Reeves is a Melbourne-based writer. His first novel “Jemma and the Raven,” was published in 2023. When he is not reading and writing, B. D. Reeves teaches philosophy and literature, conducts educational research, and is currently completing his PhD at the University of Melbourne. Loving to travel, he once camped in an old shepherd’s hut on a remote Greek island, where he discovered the remnants of ancient frescos, the secrets of bees, and the friendship of a goat who followed him wherever he went. He has since adored the concept of animals in fiction.

Learn more about B.D. at B.D. Reeves

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Book Blitz Friday: Rufus and Magic Run Amok by Marilyn Levinson

Happy Friday! As I spotlight the adorable for the whole family Rufus and Magic Run Amok by Marilyn Levison! Read on!

Rufus and Magic Run Amok

Publication Date: June 13, 2023

Genre: Children’s Books/ Ages 6 – 12

Rufus Breckenridge is an ordinary ten-year-old with a best friend and a great comic book collection. He is not a witch like his mother, aunt, and grandmother. Witches take lessons to learn how to control their magical powers so they can use them to help other people. Where’s the fun in that? Besides, witches are weird. At least that’s what lots of people think.

When Big Douggie, the school bully, chases Rufus home, Rufus makes him do a double backflip. He decides to keep his new-found magical powers a secret. But the more spells Rufus casts, the stronger his magic grows. Soon Rufus’s magic is running amok!

Available Now at Amazon & Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. Her juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council Children’s Choice and has recently come out in a new edition. And Don’t Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards. Her YA horror, The Devil’s Pawn, will be out in a new edition in January 2024.

As Allison Brook, she writes the Haunted Library series. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.

Marilyn lives on Long Island with her kitties, Romeo and Juliet. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids.

Follow Marilyn @ Marilyn Levinson

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Book Spotlight Thursday: Grave Secrets by Cassandra Aston

Caught in my spotlight today, thanks to R&R Book Tours, is Grave Secrets by Cassandra Aston. A dark urban fantasy/ romance, what would you sacrifice for the truth? Let’s read on!

Grave Secrets (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #1

Publication Date: April 24th, 2023

Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy/ Fantasy Romance

What would you sacrifice for the truth?

Life feels infinite when you’re young, but Allie Graves knows all too well that she’s living on borrowed time. Six years ago, she made a deal to save her life in exchange for service to the angels.

It seemed like a sweet bargain when she made it, but what do seventeen-year-olds know about making life choices? Now her six years of service are up, and returning to her mortal life comes with some serious consequences.

To top it off, a mystery man has come into her life, but the angels aren’t fond of his brand of magic, so they’ve made it their mission to end him. How’s a girl supposed to get a date when the guy might not survive the week?

Allie has less than a month to uncover a family secret, save the hottie, and plan for life after angel duty. It’s a tall order.

Fans of J Bree and Patricia Briggs will be swept away by this urban fantasy romance full of dark magic, family secrets, and gut-wrenching twists. From the first page to the last, you won’t want to put it down. This book is recommended for 18+ due to its mature content.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Cassandra Aston grew up near Austin, TX, on a ranch just outside the city. She holds a BA in Communications and an MS in Psychology from USC.

Her love of reading and writing began when she was nine years old. She is a fan of all things fantasy but especially loves the Fae. Although her first series, Prophecies of Angels and Demons, doesn’t delve into the realm of the Fae, her 2022 NaNoWriMo project, which will be released in 2024, is an urban fantasy, stand-alone story that will take the reader deep into the world of Faerie.

Cassandra currently lives in Houston, TX, with her family of four.

Follow Cassandra for her latest updates at Cassandra Aston

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Book Spotlight Thursday DF: The Mark of Dreams and Darkness by Arabella K. Federico

A double-feature spotlight! I could not let this one get away! The cover drew me in to want to pick it up. As a bonus, there is to be a special hardcover edition upon release, too, which is just as alluring!

The Mark of Dreams and Darkness


Expected Publication Date: September 16, 2023

Genre: NA Fantasy w/ Sci-Fi Elements


“Am I a good person?”

After the devastating events of the Titan Games finale, Karalevine Ruzz and her Starseed family find themselves in a panicked frenzy to get their fellow Starseed teammate back from the clutches of the vicious Arianyte Empire. The prince, Malakyte Ardeen, hasn't stopped his relentless search for Kara, determined to make her his no matter the cost.

Haunted by the certain doom of her fellow Starseed, Kara makes a fateful decision –to enter the lethal Titan Games, a merciless competition where the stakes are life and death. The prize? A face-to-face reunion with her captured friend and the chance to confront the very enemy that threatens Earth’s very existence. With each step closer to her teammate's liberation and Earth’s freedom, the line between allies and enemies blurs with every heartbeat.

But the Titan Games are no ordinary contest, and its host is no mere prince. As Kara faces off against other deadly contenders, she simultaneously clashes with Malakyte in an entirely different arena–a battleground of the heart.

Amidst the heart-pounding action and pulse-racing intrigue, Kara finds herself at a crossroads. Good versus evil, nurture or nature, redemption and fate. Will she succumb to the darkness within her heart, or will she hold fast to the better nature she strives to embody?

Special Edition Cover

Along with the regular release, there will be a RARE AMAZON EXCLUSIVE Special Edition Naked Hardcover featuring special INKED edges printed directly onto the paper (these are not sprayed edges.). These will be LIMITED 1st edition, and only 1,000 copies will be available.

“The Mark of Dreams and Darkness” is the spellbinding sequel to the award-winning and bestselling novel “The Mark of Chaos and Creation.” A tale of forbidden love, pulse-pounding action, and the indomitable spirit of a heroine torn between duty and the tumultuous darkness of her heart. Will Kara unravel the mysteries that entwine her fate and bring about freedom, or will she succumb to the allure of a love that should be her downfall?

Prepare yourself for an enthralling journey where love and danger collide, and nothing is as it seems. Arabella K. Federico delivers a masterfully crafted tale that will leave you breathless, captivated until the final page, and yearning for more.

Add to Goodreads

AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 16th

AVAILABLE NOW

The Avengers meets Sailor Moon meets Arcane League of Legends in this mind-bending mashup of fantasy and science fiction in which a young woman must fight and lie and do whatever it takes to secure the thing she wants most: revenge. If you’re in the market for something different on your bookshelf yet keep the familiar tropes you love in fantasy fiction, like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fated mates, and found family, you’ll obsess over The Mark of Chaos and Creation until the very last page.

Where do you draw the line between fighting for the greater good and vengeance?

Available on Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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My name is Arabella K. Federico, and I am a passionate debut author. My YA novels explore the Sci-Fi and fantasy genres with a mind-bending metaphysical twist you’ll never see coming. Let’s just say nobody writes like Arabella.

If you want something different-yet with familiar tropes you crave-I’m your next favorite author. Don’t let the indie author thing fool you; my debut novel, “The Mark of Chaos and Creation,” was professionally edited by a talented industry pro who’s one of the developmental editors on Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, as well as Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King duology, and literally hundreds more traditional and indie books that are best-sellers.

As an author, coach, and teacher of all things writing craft, I hope to take my amazing readers on a ride they won’t soon forget. Storytelling is my passion. It lights me up like Christmas day and makes me more giddy than it probably should. Writing stories is my destiny, and I hope every new reader whose adoration I gain joins Arabella’s Army and follows me down the path of taking over the world. Because women who follow the status quo typically never break it, and over here, we shatter expectations.

Follow Arabella at Arabella K. Federico

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Book Spotlight Thursday: Kingdom of Hearts by D.M. Simmons

Caught in the spotlight today is Kingdom of Hearts by D.M.Simmons. Let’s find out why!

KINGDOM OF HEARTS (CHILDREN OF THE FALLEN BOOK 3)

Publication Date: July 24th, 2023

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance/ Why Choose

Tropes:

💙Friends to Lovers
💙Fated Mates
💙Chosen One
💙Found Family

Fire and ash.

No matter what I do, it all seems determined to go up in flames. My existence, my heart, my family….all that matters to me, one breath away from destruction.

Yet, no matter how battered or scarred I may be, I am no longer who I was. I am becoming what I was meant to be. Thanks to the powers thrust upon me and the hearts to which they are connected, I am no longer a pawn to be protected. I am a force to be feared.

Created by Heaven’s own hand, I wasn’t just born to rule…I was born to destroy. And the next time The Augury takes from me will be their last. I am a child of the Fallen. We don’t play games. We play to win.

Only I have one heart left to claim before the final battle. And when I do, I will be ready for my kingdom. Because I may have been born a princess, but I am destined to be a queen.

Kingdom Of Hearts is the third book in The Children of The Fallen Series. Be sure to read Book 1, A Cursed Throne, and Book 2, Legacy in Ruin. Recommended for mature audiences contains strong language and graphic sexual situations. TW’s include praise and submission, dark play, breath play, primal play, breeding kink, kidnapping, violence, and MFMM situation(s)

Add to Goodreads

Available now on AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D.M. Simmons is an award-winning author of adult and new adult fiction.  She is passionate about creating atmospheric worlds and telling captivating stories that take readers on an adventure. Fascinated by the indelible power of love, romance is usually at the heart of her stories, along with the narrator’s journey. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, sons, and crazy cats.

Follow D.M. on D.M. Simmons | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkTree

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Book Spotlight Thursday: The Timewalker Archives by Emily VanderBent

With its breathtaking cover today in our spotlight is The Timewalker Archives by Emily VanderBent. Currently, on its blog tour with R&R Book Tours, we introduce The Timewalker Archives!

The Timewalker Archives

Publication Date: May 25, 2023
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy
⏳Time Travel
⏳Historical Descendants
⏳Secret Society
⏳Hidden Abilities
⏳Deadly Competition
⏳Slow Burn
⏳Forced Proximity
⏳Rivals to Lovers
Unlikely alliances, ancient lineages, and a rich history shrouded in secrets propel Adelaide Anson in her search for the only thing that matters—the truth behind the fire that claimed her parent’s lives.
When a mysterious letter appears promising answers, she finds herself joining the exclusive time-traveling order of the Red Rose Society. As she makes her way from the French Revolution to the American Civil War and back again, Adelaide is left wondering who she can trust, and more importantly, who she’ll be. With danger and dashing companions at every turn, her emerging ability to see fragments of history leads her on a path to uncover the answers she seeks—and some she did not ask for.
While time unravels in ways she never thought possible, she’s forced to examine her role in history’s making. But as she quickly learns, the truth comes with a price and some secrets are better left buried.
Adelaide’s tale of twisted time will leave her asking the ultimate question—is protecting the past worth sacrificing your future?

The Timewalker Archives combines Crimson Time and Fractured Past, the first two books in a young adult historical fantasy series perfect for fans of NBC’s Timeless and Alyson Noël’s Stealing Infinity.

About The Author

Emily VanderBent is a natural-born storyteller. As a writer and historian, she desires to celebrate women in history. Through her books, VanderBent uses elements of history to creatively engage readers with the past. She hopes her writing will encourage young women to fearlessly pursue their passions and own the narrative of their individual stories.

While living in the real world, Emily dreams of days long past and stories yet to be told.

Follow Emily at Emily VanderBent

Instagram: @emilyvanderbent_author

Twitter: @emvan6

TikTok: @emilyvanderbent_author

Facebook: Emily VanderBent: Author

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Book Trailer Reveal: The Five Watches, An Accident of Time by John R. York

Joining with R&R Book Tours once again for the book trailer reveal for The Five Watches, a time-travel adventure by John R. York!

3…2…1.. Let’s Go

The Five Watches, An Accident of Time

Expected Publication Date: August 15, 2023

Genre: Time Travel/ Adventure/ Spec Fiction

What might happen if a handful of people living in different eras became entangled in time, some intentionally and some accidentally? The nineteenth-century scientist, Dr. Wilhelm Gussen, is passionate about improving the welfare of mankind, and so he begins a journey through time in a quest to learn about future advances in epidemiology. Physicist Emory Lynch, from the twenty-seventh century, studies an old pocket watch, said to be a time travel device, and accidentally stumbles into the twenty-first century. In 2019, Jim Zimmerman, the de facto neighborhood go-to guy, finds himself caught in the middle of a clandestine future conspiracy. True to his character, he becomes inextricably involved in future affairs that involve saving humanity from itself-dragging his wife and a few neighbors along for the ride. Thus, begins a time travel adventure that examines the stubborn predictability of human behavior and how some things, even over time, never seem to change.

Pre-order Today Here

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John York has been writing and publishing thought-provoking novels since 2016, but he’s always been a storyteller, even as a kid in Central Ohio, where he grew up. His life experiences provided him with a wealth of adventurous tales to share with others and resulted in his debut work, Wolf’s Tale. According to John, all his intriguing stories of unusual people, places, and events come to him in dreams. His heroes and heroines are always ordinary people who rise up to accomplish extraordinary things.

He currently lives with his wife, Paula, in New Port Richey, Florida, in a house they call “the swamp castle”.

Learn more about The Five Watches and John at John R York

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Book Spotlight Thursday: House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard

Releasing its cover reveal on Tuesday, House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard is looking out to be amazing, so I decided it had to be showcased in my Thursday Book Spotlight today. So let’s put all eyes on House of Bane and Blood.

House of Bane and Blood

Expected Publication Date: October 18th, 2023

Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance/ Rivals-to-Lovers

Cover Designer: Gretchen @lichen_and_limestoneIn

a city split into two opposing sides, power comes in many forms: bloodlines, money, love, and—most importantly—secrets. 

An heiress in the most notorious family in Lynchaven, Camilla Marchese is doing all she can to keep her family’s syndicate, the Iron Saint Railway, from slipping into bankruptcy. When the gorgeous and depraved Nicolai Attano, the leader of a rival family, offers to pay off the Inspector in exchange for her hand, she has no choice but to give up not only her throne—but her name. 

Nico has his own motivations for their union beyond maintaining peace with her family. A serial kidnapper known as The Collector has been ravaging the streets of Remnant Row, stirring up mistrust between natives and descendants. If Milla can help restore safety to his streets, he’ll have no need for her or her family’s company. Find the Collector, prevent a war between their sides of the city, and pay off the family debt before she turns twenty-one. If Milla can fulfill her end of the bargain, she’ll walk away with more freedom than she’s ever had before. 

But this deal plunges Milla into the city’s dark underbelly, where remnant magic and arcane science compete in a deadly game of depravity. When forbidden feelings rise for her new husband and dark family secrets come to light, Milla must discover the truth about her past before it gets them both killed or, worse, collected. 

Set in a post-industrial age setting on a magical Isle, Peaky Blinders meets the magic system of the Grishaverse in this rivals-to-lovers adult fantasy romance.

Pre-order TODAY

About The Author

Alexis is a registered nurse based out of Louisiana, where she lives with her husband, toddler, and two oversized dogs. She enjoys long walks through the Renaissance Fair, reading smutty romance into the dark hours of the night, and wine nights with her “Finer Things Club.” She hopes to enrich the lives of her readers with worlds they can both escape in and take with them long after the final chapter.

Follow Alexia at Alexia L. Menard

 

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The Old Crone of Beauty

Switching from being mostly a book author to a freelance writer has caused my creative writing to slow down. Recently, I have felt the desire to return to it. So, I took a short mental break and was able to come up with two short pieces of writing. I am unsure whether to call them poems or prose. Nevertheless, I hope you will support me and enjoy one of them, which I will share with you today.

The Old Crone of Beauty

The Old Crone of Beauty, people often seek purely out of curiosity. No eyes have ever grazed her face. Always shrouded and hunched, how could anyone be of beauty and such? No one should care except only for the wares that she brings.  
  
Salves for wounds, tonic to drink, beautiful rose-smelling oils, and soaps to erase your stink. Sometimes there'll even be yummy cakes and jams that the town folks clamor to have. As a pretty young girl, she hosts her market stand.  
  
One day a young lad became brave to ask the girl has she seen the Crone's face.  
The girl smiled, saying, "Ay." To which another boy piped in to say, "Is it you, my lady?"  
"Nay," she did laugh. "I am not that blessed for her beauty; I cannot compare. Though she
does beg to differ, for I am young and vibrate. She says her beauty and her heart have long
been dead. But she is the most beautiful I've ever seen. Her pain, I think, is what makes her so pretty. For no matter what unkind, she finds love and beauty inside."  
  
The boys were silent, and the young girl smiled, giving a nod, and turned away. The young lad had to see the Old Crone of Beauty for some reason that day.
  
That night he dared and ventured to the Old Crone’s home. The Old Crone did not live in
some deep woods hidden but on a hill between the forest trees. The lad soon reached the
well-worn path that leads up to her home. As he started his journey up, he knew he would
quickly see her glowing lantern flames shine bright for the weary traveler that may come in
sight. Instead, he would be her guest tonight.  

As he approached closer, he soon saw the illumination of her little cottage and soon the
Crone herself as she came from around back into view. The lad gasped as he saw the Crone freeze.  He saw she was carrying a basket probably filled with herbs and berries and grasses. Straightening up her stance, he saw a hand come from her shrouds, reaching up to pull back her cowl. The boy gasps again.   
  
While age seemed to have weathered her hair to gray, her skin, her face glowed with a beauty almost perfect. Coming out of his trance and finding his voice, he called out, "You are not an old crone of beauty! Just beauty, I see."  
The Old Crone couldn't help but smile, making the young lad's heart flutter all the while.  
  
"Come back another time," she said. "The night is not looking so divine." The Old Crone points up to the sky. The boy follows his gaze to see a flash inside the overhead, dark clouds. The boy looks back to protest. To maybe stay the night instead when the Crone was gone, nowhere to be seen.  

The Old Crone of Beauty.

By JannyC, All rights reserved Copyrighted(c) 2023

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Special Book Blitz Saturday: Defy by Jillian D. Wray

After doing a Book Release Blitz for her soon-to-be released of Submit ( Book One in the Nothing Lasts Forever Series) by Jillian D. Wray, I was happy to join in again with R&R Book Tours for the upcoming release of the second book in her Nothing Lasts Forever Series with Defy available July 24th! And look at this cover! Let’s delve in!

Defy (Nothing Lasts Forever #2)

Expected Publication Date: July 24, 2023

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Tropes:

🖤Age Gap
🖤Broody Possessive Alpha
🖤Fated Mates/Star-Crossed Lovers
🖤Tasteful Spice

My past got us captured. Her past could get us killed. And the clock is ticking.

That was then…

Abandoning my family and rejecting my duty was a calculated risk. I longed for freedom from the oppressive chains of the cartel and the suffocating walls of my family estate.

After my escape, I made a new home in Aruba, keeping to myself and staying under the radar. That is until I met Libby.

She was lonely. And broken. Our souls were the same. And from the moment her brilliant blue eyes connected with mine, I knew I would do anything to have her. Even when saving her meant losing the freedom I had fought so desperately to achieve.

…this is now.

Forgiveness is not given freely, and I’m lucky to still be alive.

My family doesn’t want to trust me… the son who ran away. But they don’t have a choice. As my parents attempt to stop the rapid fraying of their empire, my brother’s dangerous behavior seems focused on trying to destroy it – or me.

But I’m not the only one who’s in trouble.

My family wants Libby for something, and I need to learn their secret before it’s too late. Yet as I’m dragged deeper into my old way of life, the lines of loyalty start to blur.

Deception is everywhere. Truth is obscured. And monsters are not always what they seem.

To keep her safe, I will defy the rules. I will defy my family. I will defy anything that stands in my way.

Pre-order Here

And don’t forget to check out Book One Submit.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Jillian has worked in the healthcare industry for over 10 years. With no formal education in creative writing, she sat down one night during the pandemic to give her mind a break from facts and sterile objectivity. In doing so, she discovered a love for losing herself in a story all her own. Even though she continues to work her “regular” job, she’s always planning, plotting, and scheming for ways to make her next characters fall in love.

Her characters are inspired by people she has met over the years and their stories could happen to anyone. Realistic, flirty, quick reads are what you’ll get when you crack open one of her novels.

When she isn’t working or writing, you can find her in her garden, on a plane, or 50ft below the surface of the ocean breathing bubbles and chasing fish. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and three step kids.

Follow Jillian at Jillian D. Wray