Search Results for: mate with me

American Arcadia by Laura Scalzo

May 26, 2023 By Leave a Comment


American Arcadia by Laura Scalzo
Publisher: Regal House Publishing
Genre: Fiction, Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

New York City, 1985, the scaffolded and torchless Statue of Liberty is under reconstruction, the Twin Towers hum with money, and the clubs pulse with music. Young Wall Streeter, Mina Berg, and her roommate, Chry Risk, strike up friendships with the volatile Danny Nyro and easygoing Dare Fiore. Mina wants Chry’s family prestige, while Chry only wants to play the bass like Jaco Pastorius. Nyro trades on his father’s notoriety and Dare is keeping secrets. Each of these twenty-somethings attempts to rewrite their origin story as they find themselves knotted in the cross purposes of friendship and love, life and death. Meanwhile, the Sicilian grandmothers on Staten Island are telling tall tales of a fugitive mermaid who lives in the New York Harbor. It’s for you to decide if she’s a monster or a saint. Themes of art, immigration, reproductive rights, AIDS, assault, class, and betrayal simmer beneath a dynamic plot that spans one life-altering year.

The 1980s was a memorable time, with big things turning the world upside down or individual homes. This story, set in 1985, in New York, covers some of those things such as AIDS and friends and family dynamics.

Mina and her friend Chry live their busy lives in this big city, Mina on Wall Street, and Chry as the daughter of a senator, trying to find her own way through music. They befriend a nice guy with a secret and a rich guy whose bold behavior often encourages the others to take chances. Each of them is bathed in mystery. For example, Mina was left to die as a baby but adopted. Will she ever know the truth from where she come?

As these twenty-somethings live day-by-day, having fun and working, they discover things about themselves and others. Not all these things lead to somewhere good. They face tragic realities, and readers are sure to pick up some of these moving moments and feel them as well.

One learns about the culture of the era, the New York of the eighties and what a bustling time it was, in some ways, different that it is today. Questions are often different, but not always. While reading about these friends and their families, one is likely to be entertained. The writing is personal and addictive. Why not check this one out?

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson

May 18, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Genre: Contemporary, Autobiography, Memoir, Non-Fiction, Poetry
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The actress, activist, and once infamous Playboy Playmate reclaims the narrative of her life in a memoir that defies expectation in both content and approach, blending searing prose with snippets of original poetry.

In this honest, layered and unforgettable book that alternates between storytelling and her own poetry, Pamela Anderson breaks the mold of the celebrity memoir while taking back the tale that has been crafted about her.

Her blond bombshell image was ubiquitous in the 1990s. Discovered in the stands of a football game, she was immediately rocket launched into fame, becoming Playboy’s favorite cover girl and an emblem of Hollywood glamour and sexuality. But what happens when you lose grip on your own life—and the image the notoriety machine creates for you is not who you really are?

Growing up on Vancouver Island, the daughter of young, wild, and unprepared parents, Pamela Anderson’s childhood was not easy, but it allowed her to create her own world—surrounded by nature and imaginary friends. When she overcame her deep shyness and grew into herself, she fell into a life on the cover of magazines, the beaches of Malibu, the sets of movies and talk shows, the arms of rockstars, the coveted scene at the Playboy Mansion. And as her star rose, she found herself tabloid fodder, at the height of an era when paparazzi tactics were bent on capturing a celebrity’s most intimate, and sometimes weakest moments. This is when Pamela Anderson lost control of her own narrative, hurt by the media and fearful of the public’s perception of who she was…and who she wasn’t.

Fighting back with a sense of grace, fueled by a love of art and literature, and driven by a devotion to her children and the causes she cares about most, Pamela Anderson has now gone back to the island where she grew up, after a memorable run starring as Roxie in Chicago on Broadway, reclaiming her free spirit but also standing firm as a strong, creative, confident woman.

She’s self-possessed and shy, but man, she’s a force.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to get when I picked up this book. I wasn’t expecting the poetry, which is nice, or the blatant honesty. Anderson doesn’t hold back. Not one bit. She tells it like she saw it and she’s seen a lot.

Pamela Anderson gets dismissed because of being a body or being Mrs. Tommy Lee, but there’s a lot more to her. She’s a staunch advocate for animals, she’s against animal cruelty (I will warn there is a story about kittens that will break anyone who has an affection for animals.), and she’s accomplished. She knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to get it. But she’s also fragile. She’s been through a lot. Being that ‘body’ she’s had to deal with invasiveness and people thinking she owes them. I liked her candor and ability to laugh at herself while being serious.

There aren’t many big revelations in this book, but it’s a solid memoir and worth the read.

If you’re looking for a Hollywood memoir full of heart and passion, then this might be the book for you. Check it out!

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Poetry, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

I Purr, Therefore I Am by Merrit Malloy

May 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment


I Purr, Therefore I Am by Merrit Malloy
Publisher: Price Stern Sloan
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The ultimate gift for cat lovers offers a whimsical collection of quips, quotes, and humorous thoughts from contemporary comedians, writers, and celebrities, charmingly illustrated to capture, once and for all, the true essence of cat.

Perfect for anyone who loves cats.

I was given this book and I’m glad. It’s a great little book full of quotes about cats, being owned by cats and what it’s like to live with cats. The illustrations are great, too. In one, the cat covers up the words and anyone who has ever been owned by a cat can recall how the cat will inevitably climb onto whatever book is opened and be right in the way. I smiled my way through this short book and gladly encourage everyone to read it.

It’s not long and the quotes are quick, but that doesn’t take away from the overall story.

If you’re looking for a gift for a cat lover, then you can’t go wrong with this book.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Magic & Home by Alexa Piper

April 13, 2023 By 1 Comment


Magic & Home by Alexa Piper
Monster Apocalypse 2
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Futuristic, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Over the past two years, Rory has learned that other people aren’t the best of company, that the guilt of causing the Apocalypse is a heavy burden, and that monsters only see him as a meal. Until Rory met Inkiri, who sees Rory as his mate.

Now, Rory has to navigate what it means to be with someone who not only isn’t human but who also is from another world altogether… and since Rory finds himself in that otherworld all of a sudden, he has to adapt fast. Inkiri definitely has no intention of slowing down in his quest to make his human mate happy.

While Rory is beginning to wrap his head around liking the new place and the new customs, he can’t relax into a peaceful happily ever after because whatever connection Rory has to the magic that unleashed the Apocalypse, people want that, meaning they want him. Where Rory and his newfound family ran to may not have been far enough to escape their pursuers’ clutches.

More magic, more intrigue and more love.

I liked book one in this series and I’m glad I picked up book two. This one is set in Ink’s world, and I really felt like I was there with the characters. I liked the pacing and the way this book is set up. The story moves so fast, but it’s a great clip. I was right there with the characters and liked how they grew through this book.

Ink and Rory are good together and I liked seeing how they grew together. Rory is starting to come into his magic a bit more and Ink has welcomed Rory into his world. They’re a great pairing.

This isn’t a simple story. Ink has found family with him, and they add their own complications. Plus, Rory seems to be a magnet for trouble. These added layers to the story and I liked it. I liked how things never really slowed down.

If you’re looking for a monster romance that’s not the usual, then this might be the one you’re looking for. Check this one out!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Ten Things People May Not Know About Me by Marie McGaha – Guest Blog and Giveaway

April 5, 2023 By 7 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Marie McGaha will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Ten Things People May Not Know About Me
I’ve been in this business for a long time, so I’ve done many interviews and my bio is all over the internet, so coming up with ten things people don’t know about me might be a tough one!

1 – I just got married on February 4, 2023

I was twice widowed, and my second husband, Nathan, died from a stupid cancer that has a 5-7 year survival rate, but he died seven months after diagnosis. I was totally lost. After twenty-three years of marriage, I was unprepared for the loss. The paperwork alone was unbelievable, and I was almost convinced the heart-wrenching grief would kill me. But through a lot of screaming and crying, and constant prayer and bargaining with God, I was finally able to pull myself together. I visited my youngest son and his family in California and stayed several weeks with my oldest son in Utah, and then went back home to Idaho to get my house ready to sell. It all led me to buying a house back in Oklahoma where my late husband was born and raised, and I had lived there since 1989. And living here was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was able to buy a house outright, found a nice church, and because of that church going to a church in nearby Arkansas, I met the man I would marry, Pastor Dan. For me, it was love at first sight, but it was several months before we actually got together due to his position as pastor. I never thought I’d find love again, but I am head over heels with Dan!

2- I’m a farmer

Yep, I live in a rural area with a 12-acre farm that includes my kids, Charlie, a fila Brasiliero mastiff; Artie, a Schnauweeniehuahua; Lucy Liu a double dapple dachshund; and Boo Boo Baby, a tiny Chihuahua. We also raise pigs, chickens, and I have a horse named Horse. We grow a garden for vegetables, and I cook everything from scratch.

3-I’m a baker

Baking is my hobby. I bake everything from bread to cinnamon rolls, cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, and I bake specialty birthday cakes and wedding cakes.

4- I love romance

I love writing romance, but I also love watching romance, especially Christmas romances!

5- I went to 25 schools

My father was part gypsy, or at least that’s my conclusion. He moved us all over the country and in the sixth grade alone I went to 3 different schools! I hated it, but it did prepare me, in a weird way, for being a writer and for trying new things and not being afraid to do anything life presented to me.

6- I gave birth to 7 kids

Yep, I had seven kids naturally, and all the labor added together took only six hours! I am one of those women who didn’t experience labor pains and the longest birth was 45 minutes. That was the first one, so it took a little longer!

7- I know American Sign Language

My father was best friends with a man named Albert who was a deaf/mute. He used to sit around the table with my dad and they signed. I was about 4 years old, and I picked up some of the signs quite easily. In college, I took two semesters of ASL, and now, I use it in church during praise and worship. I use interpretive dance and sign language along with flags to express my love and devotion to the Lord.

8- I was ordained in 1996

I was ordained through the Full Gospel Pentecostal Churches International after diligently studying through the Baptist Bible School, and Derek Prince Ministries. I’ve continued my studies over the years, and I’m also a licensed Chaplain and have worked in hospice.

9- I developed a drug and alcohol program

I’ve worked as a drug and alcohol counselor in many settings, including drug court, probation and parole, and in an all-male prison on a unit with 164 men and me. I often get asked if I was ever afraid, and the answer is no. I treated them with respect, and they treated me the same way. Through this experience with inmates, addicts, and alcoholics, I developed the Free to Live Free of Drugs and Alcohol program that will be released soon as a self-help book.

10- My favorite book I wrote is Cross The Line

This historical romance is set shortly after the American Civil War during the period of time of known as the Indian Wars. It is an interracial romance between a former slave and the daughter of a former slave owner. It’s historically correct and I had so much fun researching this book, that I forgot it wasn’t real!

Life is the journey we take on our way to Heaven. It’s not easy, it’s not pretty, and sometimes, it’s downright difficult. However, we have an Advocate unlike any other, Jesus Christ. In Shine His Light, the author uses scriptures and her own life lessons to help others get through the bumpy spots.

Enjoy an Excerpt

When I was a kid, the series “Star Trek” was the greatest sci-fi show on TV, with the most up-to-date special effects. People disappeared in the transporter, we saw the Enterprise fly through the stars at warp speed, and of course, we saw really strange people and creatures from other planets. Sometimes, the planets were inhospitable and wouldn’t support life as we know it, so the crew moved on.

Of course, it didn’t take long for technology to leap forward and when I watch the old “Star Trek” episodes now, the special effects seem so antiquated, they’re something we laugh about. We can take what is already there and turn it into something better, something brand new and more efficient but we can’t take nothing and turn it into something. Only God can do that.

When God’s Spirit hovered over the face of the waters, He did not think it was inhospitable or that nothing could ever come from it. God looked at the waters and thought, I can make dry land. I can make light. I can take some of that dirt and form a human being. And that is exactly what He did. But He did not stop there, He formed a human being from a pile of dirt and then, He did something remarkable, He breathed His own Spirit into that pile of dirt and gave it life. That pile of dirt became the first man—a living, breathing, moving, thinking person. And God said it was “very good.” Up until then, everything created was called “good,” but man and woman were “very good.”

About the Author Chaplain, author, editor and inspirational speaker, Marie McGaha lives in the beautiful Ozarks of southeast Oklahoma. After losing the love of her life, Nathan, Marie returned from the mountains of Idaho to their native home where she lives with a houseful of yapping furbies, pigs, chickens, and a horse named Horse! She attends Family Praise & Worship and is very grateful for her church family and their support. Shine His Light 4, the final book of the series, is due out next spring.

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Writing Intimate Scenes for the Worlds of Fire Series by Deborah A. Bailey – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 23, 2023 By 5 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Deborah A. Bailey will be awarding a $40 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Writing Intimate Scenes for the Worlds of Fire Series

Writing intimate scenes can be tricky at times. There’s something for everyone – from high heat to sweet. But each story should have scenes that are a fit for that type of story and the characters.

As I’m writing scenes for the novellas in my Worlds of Fire romantic fantasy series, I’m realizing that I can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Each story has its own mood, and the intimate scenes have to reflect that.
The scenes have to make sense in the context of the stories. Since each novella features a different couple, I had a different way of presenting those scenes.

In the first novella published, Blood Red Moon, the story is told in first person. Avani, the narrator, is expressing her feelings about being reunited with the hero, Derek. Her thoughts about his being a vampire (the Vampire Lord, actually) are front and center.

Avani describes her intimacy with Derek, and she describes what happens when he bites her. Since he is a vampire their love scenes are more intense. But at the same time, since it is first-person, I could only describe what she was experiencing –and her interpretation of what Derek was experiencing.

Metamorphosis is in third person POV and alternates between Asira and Jaydon. Their love story happens while a conspiracy is unfolding at their Alchemist university. They don’t have their first intimate scene until later in the story (for various reasons I won’t reveal because – spoilers!).

I wanted the scene to be romantic and sensual as opposed to intense. Jaydon is a bit of a nerd and Asira is just discovering what it is to be deeply in love. Their intimacy is playful and shows their way of interacting with each other.

Writing intimate scenes can be a big challenge for authors. Should there be a lot of detail? How soon should the “big moment” happen? I think it all depends on knowing your characters and understanding the purpose of the scenes. The most important thing is to make the actions (and the emotions) feel natural.

On the Floating World when two Alchemists fall in love it can be…complicated.

Asira is a member of a high-ranking family of Alchemists who exert control over the libraries that store magical texts. Jaydon, an unconventional but powerful teacher of transmutation at the university, is from a gargoyle shifter group known as the Gigun.

Asira finds Jaydon frustrating and too fascinating for her own good. But she desperately needs his help when she becomes the target of a classmate’s dangerous use of forbidden magic. With Jaydon’s assistance, the two of them uncover a conspiracy that threatens the well-ordered world of the Alchemists.

Struggling with his growing attraction to her, Jaydon is called on to use his knowledge of the magical Books of Fire to determine Asira’s fate. And depending on what secrets the books reveal, he may be forced to make a life-altering decision that will either bind them together… or permanently force them apart.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Jaydon picked up his stylus and shoved it behind his ear. Continuing to study her, his brows furrowed as though he was having an internal conversation. Thinking things over with himself and not sharing his conclusions with her.

Sure, she was used to intense stares from the magisters. They used them as an intimidation tactic. It was part of their mystery to be imperious and detached, to only associate with others on their level or from a specific Order. You were either in the Court hierarchy or you weren’t. Even the most advanced students didn’t have that kind of clout, no matter what Aurum family they belonged to.

“Are you sure you don’t want to see my papers on the topic?” Sitting there while he watched her was unnerving. Not that he was bad to look at, because he wasn’t. His features were finely sculpted, and his wavy shoulder-length black hair framed his face so that his almond-shaped eyes and full lips were accentuated.

He shook his head in response to her question, his gaze still fixed on her.
A noise outside caught her attention. There was chirping coming from the open sliding glass door that led to the balcony. Another perk of magister mentors. Private offices and balconies overlooking the spice gardens.

“Come in.”

A small yellow bird flew in and perched on a shelf above one of the desks. It chirped and then turned its head to study her. Another chirp, then a turn of the head to the left and to the right.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“Nice bird.”

“No, I was asking her.”

“You were what?” She looked at him, then at the bird again, then at him. “Does she talk?”

“Yes.”

“What does she say?” She would go along with it for now. She’d be done and then hopefully get picked by a mentor who was more serious and less messy.

About the Author:Deborah A Bailey’s Romantic Fantasy, Science Fiction and Paranormal Romance novels include suspense, a bit of mystery and a lot of romantic heat.

Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and have been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun and are included in, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Visit her site https://AuthorDebBailey.com for more information and subscribe to the newsletter here so you’ll be the first to find out about giveaways, book launches and sneak peeks.

Note: This book will be on sale for $1.99 during the tour.

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Travel For As Long As You Wish: The Blueprint For Budget Travel, Backpacking And Escaping The Rat Race by Mark James Murphy

March 22, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Travel For As Long As You Wish: The Blueprint For Budget Travel, Backpacking And Escaping The Rat Race by Mark James Murphy
Publisher: Amazon KDP
Genre: Non-fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Chamomile

Learn how to escape the 9 to 5 and live your dream life, without delaying any longer!

What if you could say goodbye to the daily grind and fill every day with adventure and experiences, packed with true value and meaning right now?

From humble North-East roots, in the industrial city of Sunderland, U.K to becoming an artist, adventurer and teacher, Mark James Murphy did exactly that and wants to show how it’s possible for everyone.

This book gives you the ultimate tools and knowledge to get unstuck from the rut of the rat race once and for all and travel for as long as you wish. Whether you are young and inexperienced in travel or a seasoned globetrotter or you have retired and have more time on your hands to explore the world, this book will give you the very latest travel advice and explore the following topics:
How to prepare for your trip, what and how to pack
The latest digital devices for travelling and useful apps
Insightful personal experiences from my own adventures
Reasons why we want to travel and what meaningful travel is
Why you can travel with very little money
How to find your own value and generate finances from this as you travel
Avoid scams while in a new country
Great tips and discount information for senior travelers

Travel For As Long As You Wish is a great resource and is good for both first time travelers as well as those who haven’t traveled in some time and would like to get back into the habit! I loved the detailed tips and suggestions. I also appreciated that the author used many of his own personal experiences and lessons he’s learned along the way as examples of how to get the most out of your journey.

While this one focuses quite a bit on the Middle East and similar destinations, since that is the author’s preferred travel region, many of these tips are things that can easily be modified to fit other travel locations as well. He also mentioned teaching classes online or other similar jobs as a great way to make traveling possible. This is also a wonderful way to both practice skills to avoid getting rusty and gain useful connections. This option makes it possible to work and afford to live anywhere you want without being limited on job options based on location as there are countless things that can be taught, and good teachers are always in demand.

This was a wonderful read for those looking to fit more into their travel plans, would love to travel, but don’t know where to start, or those who are just looking for ways to up their travel game. This book is sure to have a little for everyone and is both a quick and entertaining read!

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

March 15, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
Publisher: Gollancz
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A mutilated body in Crawley. A killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil, possibly an associate of the twisted wizard known as the Faceless Man. Or maybe just a garden-variety serial killer.

Before apprentice wizard and Police Constable Peter Grant can even get his head ’round the case, two more are dropped in his lap: a town planner has gone under a tube train, and there’s a stolen grimoire for Grant to track down.

So far, so London.

But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening on a housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans, and inhabited by the truly desperate.

Is there a connection?

And if there is, why oh why did it have to be South of the River—in the jurisdiction of some pretty prickly local river spirits?

It’s been almost a year since PC Peter Grant learned the world wasn’t quite what he’d expected, and he had begun his apprenticeship in magic along with his police duties. So, when another murder has some earmarks of being magically related but plenty of other clues hint this might be completely mundane, Peter has his work cut out for him. As usual, Peter and Lesley race to find out exactly what’s happening all the while learning on the job.

The Rivers of London series is a whole lot of fun. Plenty of paranormal creatures and activities alongside some solid police procedural style regular mystery work packed in with a healthy dose of humor and the absurd. I’ve found that this is one of those series where you’re caught laughing mid-way through a scene only to have it all turn on its head. While this book can be read alone, I strongly feel that readers will get a lot more enjoyment if they read these in order. The characters, situations and links are all very well explained but a lot of history has happened in the previous books. So, I definitely feel those connections and overall story arc in particular will be a lot more meaningful and enjoyable to readers if they’ve read at least a few of the previous books. That said, it’s not strictly necessary in order to follow and enjoy this book.

I was pleased to see both Peter and Lesley are growing – both as characters and in their magical training and talents. I was also glad to be reminded that while a number of books have occurred only approximately a year in story-time has passed. It’s been explained before that an apprenticeship can be upwards of ten years so while some growth has occurred this is expected to be slow going and so they are both absolutely learning and only in the beginning stages, which makes things more interesting to my mind.

Readers looking for an enjoyable – often humorous – paranormal tale with a strong mystery plot should find this a lovely read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am eager to continue with the series. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Time for Once by Jes Smyth – Spotlight

February 15, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Jes Smyth who is celebrating the recent release of Time for Once.

For Jolie and Jace, timing is everything. It’s also complicated, and they can’t seem to get it right. They enter a decade-long cycle of passion, heartbreak, bad timing, and, ultimately, self-discovery. Will time, for once, ever be on their side? Fans of Josie Silver and David Nicholls will fall in love with Time for Once by Jes Smyth, an adult, coming-of-age, second chance, love triangle, Women’s Fiction novel.

Have you ever wondered …

If I had met this person as who I am now, instead of who I was then, would it have changed anything?

For fans of Rebecca Serle and Josie Silver.

Two people. Ten years. One winding love story.

Time, for Jolie, is the worst. It moves too slowly when she needs it to speed up; too fast when she wishes she could just bring everything to a halt. But for her and Jace, timing is everything. And they can’t seem to get it right.

Time, for Jace, is simple. The plan is obvious and the outcome is inevitable: earn a degree, get a job, make a life. All in due time. But for him and Jolie, timing is complicated. And they have a habit of falling out of sync.

As they navigate the tides of their relationship amid the uncertainties of life after graduation, Jolie and Jace enter a decade-long cycle of passion, heartbreak, bad timing, and, ultimately, self-discovery. All in pursuit of an answer to the inescapable question: Will time, for once, ever be on their side?

Time for Once is an adult coming-of-age story about love, acceptance, and the mistakes we all make in the messy but crucial process of growth.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“How about we give him two more minutes?” Alix said. “If he’s not out by then, we can assume he left through the front and you won’t—” Alix stopped talking as the lecture door swung open.

Jolie’s back straightened. He was done. And walking. Right past the bench. His messenger bag was slung over one shoulder, and his stride purposeful—like he couldn’t wait to get out of the building.

Jolie stood up, trance-like. Her heart beating a sprinter’s pace. Go catch up, it would say if hearts had mouths. But her feet had turned to puddles, followed by her calves and then her knees. All she could do was stand still as her body dripped into a puddle across the tile.

Alix glanced at her. “Jolie, what are you doing?”

“I… I can’t.” Jolie’s voice shook.

Alix remained quiet. The significance of what Jolie had set out to do, and that she couldn’t see it through, didn’t need highlighting. “You never know,” Alix whispered while Jolie’s eyes tracked his legs moving him further away. “He might come through the Union again and I can give him your number or something.”

“That happened once. In three months. Those odds are not favorable.” Jolie watched him stop in front of the exit. Inevitably, he would walk out those doors and the “Where’s Waldo?” of her college years would continue. It seemed where she was frequent on this campus, he was elusive. Not a single random, or even not-so-random, run-in outside of class. Yet, there he stood, mere steps away. The end of the beginning was within her grasp. All she had to do was go up to him and say what she’d lost so much sleep rehearsing.

Hello.

Time was running out.

“You’ve put way too much pressure on yourself, and on this person you don’t even know. And—Why is he just standing there?” Alix’s voice sounded far away.
The loud, rhythmic ticking from the lobby clock directly over his head had replaced the sound of his retreating footsteps now that he’d come to a stop.

Tick.

Jace was staring out the window. She noticed his headphones were pulled down around his neck.

Tick.

Jolie was standing only a few paces away from him.

Tick.

She could do this. She had to do this.

Go catch up.

Jolie clutched onto Alix’s arm. Her expression, she imagined, was wild. Her face was an oven.

Alix rolled her eyes. “I’m going to use the bathroom,” she said and mouthed, Go.

Reason took over emotion and Jolie launched herself forward.

About the Author: Jes Smyth is a writer at heart, a poet by accident, and the author of contemporary women’s fiction. With a background in psychology, and a lifetime stuck in her own head, Jes uniquely explores the often misunderstood emotions of change and growth in her debut Time for Once.

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The Metaphysical Detective by Kirsten Weiss – Spotlight and Giveaway

February 9, 2023 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kirsten Weiss will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Midlife Magic and Murder… and a Dog Named Dog.

When Riga Hayworth finds her new client dead, she smells a setup of metaphysical proportions. Now, to find a killer, Riga must travel from San Francisco to the underworld of Greek mythology… and make it back alive.

Donovan, Vinnie, Pen and Brigitte – the story that started it all. The Metaphysical Detective is the prequel to the Riga Hayworth series. If you like Gen-X, no-nonsense heroines and supernatural with your mystery, you’ll love The Metaphysical Detective.

Buy this quirky paranormal women’s fiction and explore the magical world of Riga Hayworth today!




Enjoy an Excerpt

It was nearly five o’clock, still light out, and Riga figured she had time for a quick drink before dark. She grabbed her suede jacket off the office’s lopsided coat rack and ducked past her neighbor’s martial arts studio.

Thuds and masculine grunts drifted through its frosted glass door. She’d missed old Mr. Chen’s last two classes and knew he’d be coming after her soon, demanding explanations.

Riga trotted down the stairs to the ground level. The first floor had been leased to a billiard parlor – her default social life. It served beer and cheap, airline-grade wine. She’d taken to keeping her own bottles behind the bar in self-defense.

“It’s Riga HAYworth!” the owner, Takako, shouted as Riga swung through the door. Takako bustled past, flipping her glossy black hair over one shoulder and nodding toward the bar. “Good to see you, hon. Your friend’s at the bar.”

Processing that, Riga peered toward past the pool tables. Cones of light illuminated the green felt and clacking balls, but the bar, far to the back, lay in shadow. She didn’t have friends.

Realizing she was blocking the entry, she willed her legs to move. Riga sensed a pair of bikers stopping play, watching covetously as she passed. She ignored them, used to the looks. She was the ultimate cosmic joke. Riga Hayworth was a near twin to Rita, the forties screen goddess, curves and all.

She neared the bar, and the dim figures resolved into three people: a dark-haired man in an expensive business suit and bracketed by two willowy blondes in silver miniskirts. The blondes twined around him, their hands roving across his broad shoulders. An image flashed into Riga’s mind of the blondes as faceless automatons. She shuddered and carefully did not look at them.

About the Author:

Kirsten Weiss conjures up action-packed witch mysteries based on contemporary and historical magical practices. Her witchy heroines aren’t perfect (and neither are their familiars), but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed.

Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. She is best known for her Doyle Witch and Riga Hayworth paranormal mystery books. Are you ready to be enchanted? Just turn the page and… voila!

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