Freelance Writer Janny(Jan Marie)C

It is the spooky season, so I am joining R&R Book Tours again this Thursday, spotlighting this new thriller Division X by August Hill! Read on if you Dare!

Publication Date: October 20th, 2022

Genre: Supernatural Horror/ Lycanthropes

Publisher: Brother Mockingbird

TriggarWarning: 80’s slasher gore in chapter one.

Twenty-four years old, no job, and kicked out by her parents, Randi Matheson is living at her aunt and uncle’s trying her hardest to complete a novel she can’t seem to start when a carnivorous monster interrupts her middling life on a full moon night. Attacked during an ordinary family dinner, Randi’s relatives are murdered, and she is bitten by the beast. Surviving the slaughter, Randi returns home to her distressed family only to become a monster herself under the next full moon. Nearly devouring her younger brother, she is stopped by the intervention of Division X, a company devoted to the killing and capture of paranormal threats. She awakens in a containment cell the next morning to be given an ultimatum… work for them as a new weapon in the fight against evil or be dissected. A cure to her lycanthropy is promised along the way, and with real motivation to stay alive, Randi pushes herself to the brink to return to her normal life. Small town horrors lie in wait with even smaller heroes to stand against them. Can Randi save them and herself, or will everything crumble to the wills of evil?

Excerpt

I’m not me when I kill people. At least, that’s what I tell myself. I wake up, and I know I’ve done something horrible. My hands are covered in blood, my clothes are gone, and my stomach feels full. I don’t remember what I did. All I remember is the pain. It’s impossible to forget.

It starts with the fur. It spreads like fire, melting me. My bones go next, shifting, changing, breaking. I always cry, always scream, but I can live with the pain. I can’t live with what comes next. Something takes control and pushes me into the dark. I sleep a dreamless sleep, and when I wake up, the nightmare begins.

I don’t know them, the people I’ve killed, the ones I’ve eaten. But I do know they weren’t all bad. I live with the pain because I deserve it.

Add it to Goodreads!

Available Now On Amazon!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After receiving an education at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, August Hill started writing Division X, a supernatural horror filled with dark humor, adventure, and sinister creatures that leap off the pages.

His love for all things spooky and scary was unleashed when he discovered Jurassic Park and the R. L. Stine Goosebumps collection in elementary school at four years old. He greatly appreciates 80’s horror and is partial to fun, dark, and witty ensemble casting with younger heroes. Some of his favorite influences include The Lost Boys, Aliens, Gremlins, and An American Werewolf in London, to name a few.

Hill’s knack for writing fiction emerged at an early age when he wrote stories for his own enjoyment. He is a collector of horror films and is a board game enthusiast. When not writing, he can be found walking trails with his dog, enjoying movie nights with friends, spending time playing video games, and camping in Maine.

Follow August Hill at August Hill | Instagram | Twitter 

Hello to another Book Spotlight Thursday as we welcome this stunning novel, Secrets of a Rose, by Adina Chiles! Let’s dive into this brand-new series! 

Secrets of a Rose (Royal Blood #1)

Publication Date: June 8th, 2022

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing

A kingdom built with secrets is bound to unravel.

During the month of Amira, the silver moon emerges, and the kingdom of Zyra comes alive with anticipation for its annual ball. Mellana Goodwick, finally at the rightful age of sixteen, receives her first invitation, but when unexpected events take place, immediate regret sets in. Mellana finds herself caught in a strange storm-casting down green lightning and filling the sky with ear-splitting thunder. To make matters worse, the kingdom comes under attack by Prince Lorian, a man removed from the line of succession for murdering his sister, the future queen, and her newborn child.

After escaping the attack with her best friends, Mellana stumbles upon a box left by a woman named Rose. With the power to see glimpses of the future, Rose warns Mellana of hidden powers the kingdom has covered up and Lorian’s desire to unleash them all. Rose instructs Mellana to gather the sacred article from each of the seven kingdoms before Lorian and his deadly group can gain access to them. Together, the items unlock a barrier that is meant to stay shut.

In Secrets of a Rose, Mellana will discover remarkable abilities that stir around her and some that even rise within. In order to keep what she loves, she must embark on a race against the person who dares to threaten it all.

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EXCERPT

150 Years Ago

“It is a death sentence you have damned us to. If there was a way to pay this debt with your blood, I would cut you this instant and spill every drop.”

The very thought of her words slice just as viciously had she carried out her threat.

Prince Verren, eldest son of the High Whimsy King, sits slouching over the desk of his study. Some of the last words spoken to him by his wife play on a torturous loop in his head.

He envisions silver locks, the touch like satin sheets between his fingertips gliding down her back. In his mind, he brushes the dimples of her smile, gentle enough to stop a war, but he smirks, knowing she carries a temper that can easily start one.

Despite the beauty of the bustling golden streets just beyond his window and the diamond-dusted buildings that reflect all of Melzy, his heart sits hollow. What he won’t give to find his wife. Blood pools into his knuckles; he knows it’s not at the hands of another but because she wants it this way.

After she ran away, he went straight to the castle’s mixer. Someone capable of crafting a mix powerful enough to extract the pain.

The man had suggested a sleeping mix, for agonizing nights, or even a forgetting mix, so that Verren would never remember what she had done.”

Available on Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adina Chiles is a fantasy author who loves taking her readers on whimsical adventures. She adores stories with endearing friendships, people who possess unique powers, and witty banter.

She lives in Northern California with her family. When she is not writing, she is buying books she knows she doesn’t need or experimenting with new baking recipes.

Adina has partnered with Midnight Tide Publishing to bring you the young adult fantasy series Royal Blood.

Follow Adina Chiles at Adina Chiles

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It’s fall! Today on Thursday, Book Spotlight, I am joining R&R Book Tours to spotlight the fourth installment in the Birth of Fae Series Kingdom Come (Birth of Fae #4) by Danielle M. Orsino ( BTW, Birth of Fae #3 was highlighted on Indie’s Review).

Read on for more details and a chance to win a FairyLoot Crate!

Kingdom Come (Birth of the Fae #4)

Publication Date: May 30th, 2022

Genre: Fantasy/ Fae

All is peaceful in the Veil, which is usually when everything falls apart…
Queen Aurora of the Court of Light and King Jarvok of the Court of Dark have fallen in love despite all odds. A relationship of political convenience has turned into something real and tangible for the two monarchs. After centuries of conflict and mistrust, the two Courts are about to unite as one: the Court of the Fae. But not every Fae is happy about the impending union.
Queen Aurora’s most trusted advisors have never lost touch with their old Angelic ways. These bishops still believe that Virtues and Power Angels were never meant to mix. According to them, Queen Aurora is no longer suitable to rule. As they mount a complex coup d’état to grasp the throne, a new threat to the monarchy makes their move.
Will the entire foundation of peace crumble with one last act of betrayal? Or will the Court of Light and Dark bond prevail in the face of danger?

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Available at

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Danielle M. Orsino is a fantasy novelist whose lifelong vision to create whimsical realms that her readers can escape to. Her compelling word-weaving pays homage to a multitude of personal muses, from Chris Claremont and George Pérez (both famous comic book writers) to Anne Rice and Wonder Woman.

The creative spark of storytelling has been with Danielle ever since she was a child, but martial arts and her nursing career took center stage into adulthood. Then, on a day like any other, it was reignited during the most unexpected of moments: while treating one of her patients. Seeing that they longed for a distraction during their arduous treatments, the floodgates of inspiration soon burst forth. So, Danielle took it upon herself to tell them a story; a fantastical narrative that would leave the confines of that IV room’s walls and land upon a page. Before she knew it, what started as an imaginative tale to pass the time, turned into book, followed by an entire series: The Birth of Fae. This awe-inspiring series includes Locked out of Heaven (Book One), Thine Eyes of Mercy (Book Two), and From The Ashes (Book Three), all of which are published by 4 Horsemen Publications, Inc. And with an unwavering passion for cosplay and comics, it was a unanimous decision to place her on the cover of each book in all her Fae cosplay glory. The Birth of Fae also features Los, an affable chameleon dragon inspired by her fun-loving Yorkie named Carlos.

When writing wasn’t at the forefront of her mind, Danielle was a successful Martial Artist. Some of her achievements include “1999 World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee”, “Female Martial Artist of the Year”, “WKA World Champion Silver Medalist 2008”, and numerous more. She has also garnered hundreds of martial art tournament wins, various other national and world titles, and features on big-name channels like TLC and CBS. She even had the rare opportunity to perform for former U.S. President Bill Clinton and collaborate alongside Vincent Lyn and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. From there, she pursued her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, and she is now a Licensed Practical Nurse who focuses on Lyme disease research.

This “New Queen of the Fae’s” unmatched world-building and masterful Fae-origin retellings have led to an ever-growing queendom of “Fae-natics”. To begin embarking upon a quest in an epic world unlike any other, visit Danielle M. Orsino’s official website at http://www.BirthOfTheFae.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram (@BirthOfTheFae_Novel) and Twitter (@BirthOfTheFae).

“After summoning this world into existence through an imaginative force of will, Danielle has scoured every inch of the landscape several times over. Critics often praise a story’s world-building by saying that it feels “lived in.” Well, the world of the Fae certainly seems like that because Danielle herself has happily lived there for years as she worked to put all of this together… My favorite part of this story is that it is gloriously depicted in vibrant images.”-Clete Barrett Smith, New York Times Bestselling Author of If We Were Giants, Aliens on Vacation series, and Magic Delivery

Follow Danielle at/on The Birth of the Fae | Instagram | Twitter

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Today’s spotlight is for the crime fiction mystery lovers. Introducing GROUNDERS by Leonard Love Matlick. Enjoy this stop on R&R Book Tours for GROUNDERS!

Grounders

Publication Date: April 30th, 2022

Genre: Police Procedural/ Crime Fiction

Grounders is cop slang for easy open and solved cases. A husband kills his wife, a bar-fight with a knife or a gun, and cases are quickly solved in two or three days. Cops love this and get credit for promotion for easily solving cases. In Grounders, the NYPD cops find that this murder of a cook is much more than a simple grounder. It involves the Chinese Tong gangs in NYC, Peruvian rebels who want to overthrow their government by using “magic rocks” that were left from an alien civilization like Stargate in Machu-Picchu, and a love story between a detective and a Tong leader’s granddaughter. Grounders combines everything; murder, love, greed, drugs, and rebels amid the backdrop of detectives trying to solve a murder mystery.

Get your copy from Barnes & Noble or on Amazon!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leonard Love Matlick is an engineer, writer, and life coach. He works designing and maintaining NYPD police precincts. He has previously published Cops lie! and The success and confidence manual.

The summer heat is on, so stay inside, be cool and read a book. This Thursday, we are spotlighting Heros & Harbingers, the first book in Ark Horton’s Secrets of Pantheons Series. Read on and have a chance to win a great giveaway at the end hosted by R&R Book Tours.

Secret of Pantheons (Heroes & Harbingers #1)
Publication Date: June 11th, 2022
Genre: Adult Fantasy Academia

Food fights. Detention. Dissecting fairies for science class. Just another day for teachers at a Magical Public School.
Ms. Sirin’s fate as a death harbinger has ruined her life. She longs to be more than a herald of doom, aspiring to impact lives in her teaching career. But when a new student with bold dreams joins her class and is picked as this century’s Chosen One, Ms. Sirin’s dark power senses a terrible sacrifice to come.
Finn MacCool’s warrior past didn’t prepare him for a hundred years of teaching for his community service. Spending the last decade of his sentence at a new school, the immortal develops a crush on his tempting but aloof coworker. The Irish legend blows his chance when he butts heads with the Council of Pantheons’ latest brave heroine—who also happens to be Ms. Sirin’s favorite pupil.
However, the Chosen One’s quest isn’t all it seems. Pavlina’s lethal prophecies come to pass, and her gift warns of more to come. Will this daring trio of heroes have what it takes to make the grade, or will they fail before they even make it to Summer Break?
Set in an alternate reality of Jacksonville, Florida, this adult urban fantasy is the first book in the Secret of Pantheons series. If you enjoy a hearty helping of mythology, found family, and unbreakable bonds, this book is for you. Class is in session with Heroes & Harbingers—delve in now before the bell rings!

Meet the Characters HERE

CONTENT WARNING:
This is a book written by an adult, mostly about adults and for an adult audience. While many teenagers may appreciate this book and even learn positive things from it, please read ahead if you intend to gift it to anyone under 18, as it may contain some content you may deem inappropriate for them, such as:
⦁ Grief
⦁ Death
⦁ Kidnapping
⦁ Pregnancy Loss
⦁ Substance Abuse
⦁ Life-Threatening Situations

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Available NOW on Amazon & Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A.R.K. Horton is a small woman made of round shapes and long sighs. Children and animals surround her in her Florida home. Her vice is hoarding responsibilities, and she has the tired eyes to prove it. They still have a sparkle, though, seeing the next project ahead.
She began writing as a child when she became obsessed with learning about the most obscure fairytales, folktales, and myths. Now, as a Pagan Witch, she uses the stories she loved growing up with and her own spiritual journey to inspire her blogs and novels.

Follow at ARK Horton | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

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Synopsis

After a devastating betrayal, Alex, a geology student, flees to the Mojave Desert to do research and rock climb. But she can’t escape her thesis advisor, Petro, who tries to control her from afar. Then she meets another desert dweller, Nick, a young cowboy who lives with his father, Everett, on a struggling cattle ranch. They become friends, bonding over climbing and the challenges of desert life. But then Alex’s research takes off—prompting Petro to demand she return to publish—just as a mistake she makes as an outsider threatens the ranchers’ livelihood. Alex must decide what matters more: a self-interested choice of a safe path toward a successful career or doing what’s right to support a friend and diving into the unknown. 

REVIEW

 My first impression of the premise was uncertainty. A film about a geologist? I was surprisingly delighted at how wrong I was.

 We meet Alex (Alex Oliver), an aspiring geologist and rock climbing lover. When she discovers some old rocks to study in Norway that will make a mark in the rock science world, she gets betrayed by a fellow geologist (Ben Baur). She then sets her sights on the Nevada desert, much to the protest of her thesis professor Pedro Stein (Drew Gehling), who seems just out to use Alex for her skills. When Alex happens on Nick ( Jack Mulhern), a young cattle rancher, and his father (Jeremy Holm) on her trip, Alex’s trip becomes a bit more of a self-discovery journey as she learns what is worth more than friendship or career.

 Written and directed by Jonathan DiMaio, he is the co-founder of the education non-profit, Yspaniola. His 2014 short film, Without the Ancestors, played at numerous festivals in the U.S. and Europe, including the Pan African Film Festival and ZINEBI in Bilbao. DiMaio shows off his talent again in Unconformity. Shot breathtakingly in the rural deserts of Nevada and Utah, the film’s cinematography (Hana Kitasei) is gorgeous, capturing the film’s feel and message, which is nature vs. human nature.

Performance-wise, the cast does a stellar job. What happens to Alex, in the beginning is a jaw dropper and is what makes me invest in her character, and Alex Oliver (Alex) does a good job. Her chemistry with Jack Mulhern (Nick) is awkward and natural… it is real, and you fall in love with them. Jack Mulhern is brilliant in his performance as Nick. He gives Nick an endearing shy awkwardness that makes your heartache. I was calling him “sweet baby Nick” throughout the whole film. Unconformity is a solid film, flows smoothly, and is a visually beautiful film with a story that holds you till the end.  

You can watch UNCONFORITY here on Prime VIDEO.

My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis 

Ben and Caroline Marshall have been married for years. Thrust into quarantine, their love gets put to the test.

Watch The Trailer: https://bit.ly/3bUFsYeLNQtrailerYouTube

Review

I didn’t think I would want to watch a Covid-19-inspired film, but Love N Quarantine is a delightful film. Filmed during ACTUAL Quarantine, writer and director David Espinosa and his crew gets it done. Never before have I rooted for a romantic couple so much since my teen soap opera days!

 Plot-wise, Love N Quarantine flows smoothly. We are introduced to Ben and Caroline Marshall. They are a rock-solid super couple in love as the Covid lockdown madness and Black Lives Matters Movement hits. Locked in with the love of your life sounds romantic. Right? Let’s say you’ve never seen cabin fever get this volatile before as day 23 of quarantine hits. The couple’s hidden feelings start to surface in minor petty instances as the days go on, even climaxing to the point that they think each other is out to kill them. A pretty humorous scene, by the way.

 Soon they start to realize their ideal marriage; they thought they had perhaps only succeeded because they had never really deeply talked to each other before. But when Covid hits close to home, can the hurt feelings, disappointment, and anger subside enough, or is Ben and Caroline’s marriage doomed? 

Performance-wise, the whole cast was stellar, with standout leads in NJ Brown (Ben Marshall) and Jeanne Young (Caroline Mashall). Their chemistry was investing; you cared about them instantly. In a blink, and you might miss a moment, Producer and often Espinosa’s collaboration partner, Craig Ahrens, makes a cameo playing the role of the Process server.

 While Love N Quarantine is a drama-comedy, Espinosa carefully and truthfully weaves in the George Floyd case and the Black Lives Matters Movement that took place simultaneously during the pandemic. It hits home hard for Ben and Caroline being Ben and Caroline are an interracial couple, which I loved seeing being I am a product of interracial love. I could not have imagined any other actors better to portray Ben and Caroline Marshall than Jeanne Young and NJ Brown. Their acting prowess is potent and leading.

Shot-wise, Love N Quarantine flows smoothly with well transitional cuts and edits that are impressive for an Indie film. It is hard to believe they shot this during the pandemic, as you can not tell. It’s a well-polished film. I give it 5 out of 5 stars for me!
Love Quarantine is available to watch on Amazon Prime and Tubi TV.

Today in the spotlight via R&R Book Tours is I Didn’t Ask To Be Crazy by Sadee Bee.

I Didn’t Ask to Be Crazy

Publication Date: April 24th, 2022

Genre: Mental Illness/ Poetry/ Essay Collection

I Didn’t Ask to Be Crazy is a collection of poetry and personal essays centered around mental illness. Sadee Bee shares her journey with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and PTSD through creativity and raw honesty. It is a collection designed to convey the message “you are not alone.” Sadee Bee is an up-and-coming poet with great interest in helping others understand that mental illness exists on a spectrum and that not every experience is the same. She hopes others in need find solace in her words and understand that even if suffering cannot be seen on the surface, it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

“I Didn’t Ask to Be Crazy is only the beginning. Yes, the theme is dark and that is intentional. As I write about my life with mental illness, I wanted to highlight the fact that not everything ends up being positive. Sometimes dark moments are just dark moments. This collection itself is representative of my dark moment. While I am on the other side for the moment; take everything written with the knowledge that a lot of people have been where I have. I Didn’t Ask to Be Crazy is only a snippet of time in the wild world that is my mind.”  – Sadee Bee

Add to Goodreads Available on Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sadee Bee is a poet and author residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and has been writing since she learned to hold a pen. An avid reader from a young age, Sadee Bee spent her time creating her own stories both on paper and in life. Diagnosed in her early twenties with Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and PTSD; she spent a long time trying to make sense of her own world and mind. Poetry, personal essays, and occasionally fiction have been an outlet for heavy feelings and past traumas. Sadee uses her work to shine a light on the hidden parts of mental illness and the effects of childhood trauma. She also speaks about her specific experiences regarding trauma and mental illness as a black queer woman in black communities. Sadee Bee is ever-evolving, as living with mental illness is never a straight line, and hopes to be a voice and advocate for those like her. Sadee Bee currently lives a quiet life with her husband and two cats. A chronic homebody, Sadee relishes in a day of silence to read, write, or sleep.

Follow Sadee Bee at Sadee Bee | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook