tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73734192466446407872024-03-13T11:07:10.426-07:00Quiet Keystrokes and Midnight RamblingsA Blog written for writers, readers, geeks and squares about the wonderful world of publishing.Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-52307182528652927502023-03-07T08:00:00.071-08:002023-03-07T08:00:00.170-08:00Cover Reveal: Wanderer, a Starstruck Novel<p> Hey there. Yes, yes, I know I've been offline forever. A lot has happened since <a href="http://quietkeystrokes.blogspot.com/2022/04/dragon-speaker-by-elana-mugdan.html" target="_blank">April 2022</a>. I bought a house and have been renovating like crazy. But while my life has evolved into a never-ending cycle of trips to Lowe's for supplies, other authors in my orbit are still doing the good work of producing stories.</p><p>My good friend, S.E. Anderson will have her new book, Wanderer, coming out soon, and she's been gracious enough to give us a sneak peek of her gorgeous cover. Check it out:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8laqUzibKPuEmTw_jsUad2QCkAvrz4FDjAYZdidzfrQ3OoOg4_-4AE5bgAOJEzsnSMroUN5Mx_WLUe7vrMI09405AVwGpjSSEzI-IVlzzst_ZjrGGRq7RBGOp4WZIRcwkQsHWxC2x-feSMgkMiRo82IU_qWJ3FuL13nT7jYpHtHRPlrS5hAHdVkIG/s2400/Wanderer%20Cover%20Reveal%20Square%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8laqUzibKPuEmTw_jsUad2QCkAvrz4FDjAYZdidzfrQ3OoOg4_-4AE5bgAOJEzsnSMroUN5Mx_WLUe7vrMI09405AVwGpjSSEzI-IVlzzst_ZjrGGRq7RBGOp4WZIRcwkQsHWxC2x-feSMgkMiRo82IU_qWJ3FuL13nT7jYpHtHRPlrS5hAHdVkIG/w400-h400/Wanderer%20Cover%20Reveal%20Square%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In case you're not familiar with the Starstruck Saga, Wander is the ninth novel in a space adventure series. There are teleporting aliens, dastardly (and disgusting) bad guys, and one frail human leaping through space and time to experience it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Here's a bit about Wanderer from S.E. Anderson:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For Sally and Zander, enjoying much-needed R&R means hitting up spa
planets and chasing buried treasure. But their sun-soaked vacation is
rudely interrupted by a visitation from Nimien, who's more Yoda than
ghost. Suddenly they're on a wild goose chase for the mysterious
Wanderer, and the Alliance is more than happy to let them lead a rescue
mission for some good PR. Little did they know that Sally's bestie
Marcy, the newly crowned first-lady of the Alliance, had snuck on board
for a chance to escape the responsibilities – and boredom – of her new
position.<br /><br />When their ship crashes on Planet Nope, Sally and the
gang find themselves cut off from each other and jumping altogether. And
to make matters worse, the planet is home to a race of floating octopi
who find humans to be the cutest things ever, and promptly adopt Sally
as their unwilling pet. But with no eyes or ears, communicating with
these giant cephalopods is a real challenge, especially when they can't
hear Sally's cries for a hot shower and anything but kibble.<br /><br />With
Marcy missing and Zander fighting to put the pieces of his memory back
together, Sally is on a mission to break free from her tentacled tyrants
and reunite with her friends. Her only ally is a washed-up alien
Rockstar who's making every moment into a power ballad. Can Sally stage a
rebellion and escape the clutches of her pet parents and bring everyone
home? Or will she be stuck in her own personal rock opera forever?</div><p><b><u>Doesn't that sound great?</u> </b>Mark your calendars for Wanderer's big release June 13th, 2023. I'll see you then. :)</p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-9149463483821102172022-04-02T10:44:00.001-07:002022-04-02T10:44:00.171-07:00Dragon Speaker by Elana A. Mugdan<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0871Y6RL9?binding=kindle_edition&linkCode=ll2&tag=quietkey-20&linkId=299e7375401a9b00a6d82463b6d0cbd8&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixBKxUdzU9VBvojBfVKJBBOCbAESXEIx9oAyQE3YZkCa3ru_hEZzZsl7uv4-dxQzgaccAhbpofMoGgXiQkxrcGe421G7PK1AQiEbBANRnqT8k9EUEicYQ4eXM3OAYxLpffW7W2y23fy5EK3vOTcNfx5fEwLN54GQeaWlM3WVZidti1olobWq7ZUicf=s320" width="214" /></a></div><p></p><p>When a young outcast fights to become recognized by her town as a worthy citizen, she's sent out into the woods to prove herself.</p><p>A dragon appears to her, and commands her to go on an epically dangerously magical quest. But Keriya has a problem. Not only is she young, unexperienced, and without the support of her community, but unlike every other person she knows, she can't wield magic.</p><p>This is a great fantasy series with a female lead. I usually find it hard to get into dragon stories, but this one had me gripped within the first few pages. To check it out for yourself, find it on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0871Y6RL9?binding=kindle_edition&linkCode=ll2&tag=quietkey-20&linkId=299e7375401a9b00a6d82463b6d0cbd8&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Amazon right here</a>.</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help to fund Chai lattes and book purchases.</span></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-50843730242232376972022-03-26T10:29:00.002-07:002022-03-26T10:29:00.222-07:00Exile with Karen Harris Tully<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Exile-Adventure-Faarian-Chronicles-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00ZTCKS10?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1645900217&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=quietkey-20&linkId=0b6995b7cdaea2390b987d969fc27a6f&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="217" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGJwbmgpYXLnKpX0YZLBIdaWlzcB0d82JDOc8uOEZUt3z46OSdVHu5ofgBmuK5qB4Vl3yexPhFSAZVzTk8UVM4xcfsvnBgTTJzUbE-q-SfXAimJ87ytenLG4AjnFFchFyBzbnXZ8RumZR5cusNxdPX0pXHgRa7KJpH-xiKgjsafxjMUY8w6-7O2spz=s320" width="201" /></a></div>When competitive gymnast Sunny Price finds out her mother's decided to enforce her custody agreement, she finds she's about to lose more than a couple weekends a month with her father.<p></p><p>She's got to give up her dreams of being an Olympic contender, leave her friends behind, and move to another planet for a whole year!</p><p>The move transforms her life from one of endless training at the gymnasium, to becoming an alien warrior, protecting her mother's family from a terrible threat.</p><p>You can find out more about the Faarian Chronicles <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NHWHRXH?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1645900217&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=quietkey-20&linkId=ce6f9cb4beea8267e8cd2d535ee061d0&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">on Amazon right here</a>.</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help to fund Chai lattes and book purchases.</span></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-24283694786719221812022-03-19T10:18:00.020-07:002022-03-19T10:18:00.208-07:007 Figure Fiction with T. Taylor<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/FIGURE-FICTION-Universal-Fantasy-ANYONE-ebook/dp/B09FGZQV4D?crid=2PM2JBNGMRXUR&keywords=7+figure+fiction&qid=1645899451&s=books&sprefix=7+figure+fiction%2Cstripbooks%2C133&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=quietkey-20&linkId=88178092fdb5554d110ccee229bcd4a4&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFo2N8al-mdVvlfMi1HZ2LJnrgVsgUnqnKc3wP-T-la9-0Zi4WdPhJnGQxJ-ESy08hPfYausUUhgqd01l2m3nL_x2X_eyZhmXhUkenwSeYB1EOHpAIN6JLOzUIpkJHUPUHRSxVEOknO8k2KNb2QZ5Mnk_QRY1iZLiybFN6od_lrgcNWZmgygkS9IGi=s320" width="205" /></a></div>As I've been writing Bound to Deceive, I've been reading some on how to write more good.<p></p><p>The more I write, the more I want to expand my ability to tell better and more complex stories. In 7 Figure Fiction, T. Taylor looks at writing through the lens of using universal fantasy stories to improve all types of fiction.</p><p>If you're a writer, I definitely recommend this one for your reading list. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/FIGURE-FICTION-Universal-Fantasy-ANYONE-ebook/dp/B09FGZQV4D?crid=2PM2JBNGMRXUR&keywords=7+figure+fiction&qid=1645899451&s=books&sprefix=7+figure+fiction%2Cstripbooks%2C133&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=quietkey-20&linkId=88178092fdb5554d110ccee229bcd4a4&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Find it on Amazon here</a>.</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help to fund Chai lattes and book purchases.</span></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-49376688131057554322022-03-12T10:01:00.027-08:002022-03-12T10:01:00.195-08:00Welcome to the Monkey House<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3tjGjai" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="226" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEic31IznkxdSffXUh91B4xPjm1TWc6sLDV9HqEp68WcJcS1IMrhBzpxHfmEDF0itHmvAOAyvF0I3bufk-ZR3EIPb2lChtXtzP4hoXaKU87HPNO2zKHCu5jOVoYMRsIED-txtmJZF3Cr1CPV2-RGab1fzRZcyaiNuZcUO9yowvNF0pYrjCIDp8a5UxtL=s320" width="209" /></a></div>One of my goals for this year is to get through my physical TBR pile. I've been reading through the short stories in <i>Welcome to the Monkey House</i> between writing projects and other books I've been reading for quite a while, and finally made it to the end.<p></p><p>Each story holds its own sort of magic, with amazing character building and emotional depth. And a big surprise for me, at the end of this special edition there's a section with drafts of Vonnegut's early attempts at writing <i>Welcome to the Monkey House</i>.</p><p>It was incredibly interesting to catch a glimpse of Vonnegut's process. If you'd like to see it for yourself, you can find it on <a href="https://amzn.to/3tjGjai" target="_blank">Amazon right here</a>.</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help to fund Chai lattes and book purchases.</span></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-13534839324727935092022-03-05T09:45:00.034-08:002022-03-05T09:45:00.192-08:00Faithless and Karin Slaughter<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075VF14Q6?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1645897681&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=quietkey-20&linkId=dec88a85101a2e862a7731d6eee54a01&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinCa-ic-KMMjveJMxMAxzdu1A2py29xDjLuEwH8qJZyTxXHxoLLBPLg3qt9kUhp1He-WU39tG5cHnUClRWbogfuVIjfR6-uWiEWgoAH928AAWHdwUTnrt54Ulz27phcZXK3JMyLjCBuWdLNSWR__4gDLlXegLdmUIQ-9YBK5ZZOKXB4xUVHJAVb1gq=s320" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While attending a virtual crime and thriller writing conference last fall, I got to hear Karin Slaughter talk about writing deliciously devious crimes. She was so engaging and entertaining, I was sure I'd enjoy her books.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got into her Grant County books, and as all good readers do, I started near the end of the series with no idea what was going on. And I enjoyed every page!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See if this is the series for you on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075VF14Q6?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1645897681&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=quietkey-20&linkId=dec88a85101a2e862a7731d6eee54a01&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Amazon's series page right here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help to fund Chai lattes and book purchases.</span></div><p></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-87537770623380858252022-02-26T09:40:00.002-08:002022-02-26T09:43:09.274-08:00Catching Epics with Halie Fewkes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3JWxIRp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihdf_HA3Jtj1ZHLv-xkCgyq4zBF4M800dHPD49mO99ycSBlU8oxO7Wxf7VJFeTd9IJkT9VGRLqY5GjOLZkYWmIBZjrAeNWZA_jCaljYxV1qmfuZ4iyL8HZ8mEwum6Pwz-0utGJ_XF5xl2hibW5_tMUzf-7WTDZNOhEZ8kFEtS3gfcCUKzlBVGAvR01=s320" width="198" /></a></div><p><br /></p>My kiddo and I read the second book in the Tally series, and enjoyed revisiting some old characters, and watching them fight to save some new ones!<p></p><p>When Ebby is kidnapped, she finds out there's more to the story of her life than she could have ever imagined. The new human Epic, her captors are interested in helping her discover her powers. She must choose to accept their help, or find a way to escape... which will she choose?</p><p>Check it out for yourself <a href="https://amzn.to/3JZGIoR" target="_blank">here on Amazon</a>.</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help to fund Chai lattes and book purchases.</span></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-63493615107390114842021-05-20T09:47:00.001-07:002021-05-20T09:47:00.173-07:00The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SLtFlv" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MMxSouESsx8/YJ6p8S-JdSI/AAAAAAAABFA/LkI_lWUwPCoOK7lyt74327tlZCFz7XCpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/416mBhHXQ1L%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every so often, I take a stroll through the best selling books on Amazon to see what the masses are reading, and boy howdy am I glad I picked up <a href="https://amzn.to/2SLtFlv" target="_blank">The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Moonlight Child has a wide cast of characters. There's the grandmotherly neighbor who sees a mysterious child through the window of a home over her back yard fence. A young woman who aged out of foster care and is trying to make it on her own, with a strong sense of right and wrong. A lawyer who worked with the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program. And the suburbanite elitist woman keeping a secret house servant hidden within her home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book has several interwoven stories that show who the characters are and how they relate to one another and the neighborhood surrounding them. It was an absolute delight to read this well-written story that features strong women who won't stop until the weakest among us are protected.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I absolutely adored this book and will be reading more of Karen McQuestion's books soon. <a href="https://amzn.to/2SLtFlv" target="_blank">You can find The Moonlight Child on Amazon right here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help to fund camping adventures in the Pacific Northwest wilds.</span></div><br /><p></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-71814585510759587082021-05-18T10:29:00.001-07:002021-05-18T10:29:00.191-07:00Cover Reveal: Dreadknot by S.E. Anderson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/33NNw5K" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eHWnH3GXtt0/YJ6zp35OosI/AAAAAAAABFI/joPwj40tO2ApAcckrpMvS1EvDiU9GBP8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Dreadknot%2BSquare%2BV2.jpg" /></a></div><br /> Are you following S.E. Anderson yet?<p></p><p>This woman is on fire! I'm amazed at another <a href="https://amzn.to/33NNw5K" target="_blank">Starstruck Saga</a> novel already on its way. Coming November 16th, this promises to be another great adventure for Sally and her gang of wayward adventurers.</p><p>If you haven't caught up with the series, grab the latest installments <a href="https://amzn.to/33NNw5K" target="_blank">on Amazon here </a>so you're ready when Dreadknot arrives.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but it does help to fund the purchase of good, comfortable socks.</span></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-1361655044904277122021-05-16T09:29:00.014-07:002021-05-16T09:29:00.208-07:00Secrets of the Tally<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3hndiWJ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ObXl_9SCIVc/YJ6lmTZVLsI/AAAAAAAABE4/OLGdZQOLPiUP2d751DHfXZOr6eyVFC-VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/511B1WvbXML.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Remember my post a few days ago when I celebrated that <a href="http://quietkeystrokes.blogspot.com/2021/05/skulduggery-pleasant-by-derek-landy.html" target="_blank">Skulduggery Pleasant got my kid into mysteries</a>?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, Halie Fewkes has bridged the gap between his like of "realistic future stuff" and fantasy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3hndiWJ" target="_blank">Secrets of the Tally</a> is the start of an upper <a href="https://amzn.to/2Ql2rl2" target="_blank">Middle Grade / Young Adult series</a> that follows a teenage girl through the harrows of discovering her magic talent, avoiding dark and mysterious foes, and surviving adventures that kept even my little skeptic turning pages.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am lucky to have met this author at several events, and not only is she a great writer, but she's a wonderful woman, too. This makes me so happy, because when my son met her to get his copy of Secrets of the Tally signed, she gave him a great experience that I hope he remembers forever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This series is immensely popular and Halie is known for her pre-covid book signings that were standing room only (the last one I attended had a line out the door... even in winter weather). If you have a younger reader who likes magical adventures, or if you like reading them yourself, you have got to try this series. <a href="https://amzn.to/2Ql2rl2" target="_blank">You can find the ebooks on Amazon here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help to maintain the farm from which this blog is written.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-21805645152734755592021-05-14T09:26:00.001-07:002021-05-14T09:46:24.033-07:00Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3uSI25O" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esE66ZLpWr0/YGOSUgU-41I/AAAAAAAABDk/Pzdu9Oh98FUnSZe6Rpvqu_8lO0LaE9zcACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51GqCkO07ML._SX324_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been trying to convince my grade schooler that mystery books are awesome. He's been suspicious, leery, and generally unconvinced that anything without <a href="https://amzn.to/3ybmKCE" target="_blank">Captain Underpants</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/3eLNRfV" target="_blank">DogMan</a> could possibly be interesting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luckily, school has required reading and one of the books this year was <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3fjN2K1" target="_blank">Skulduggery Pleasant</a> </i>by Derek Landy. It's funny. It's magical. And the mystery is involved and surprising.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My kid was surprised at how much he liked this mysterious urban fantasy, and he was even happier to find that it's <a href="https://amzn.to/3tR5kHU" target="_blank">the first book in a series</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you're looking for a clean, not-too-scary but totally engrossing mystery to start your young sleuth on, I highly recommend Skulduggery Pleasant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Please note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but it does support the purchase of more books for my budding voracious reader. And maybe cookies.</span></div><br /><p></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-84299396804108076382021-05-04T01:54:00.004-07:002021-05-14T10:42:56.645-07:00Taking it to them with Make Them Pay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3yer1VA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1355" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zBrRiLHb_oE/YJ61b9smusI/AAAAAAAABFQ/X-IHpPWwZ04JSjKwIu0RA6-k0lj_ijRrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Make%2BThem%2BPay%2Bbundle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Do you ever pinch yourself to make sure you're actually where you are?</p><p>That's how I feel about <a href="https://amzn.to/3yer1VA" target="_blank">Make Them Pay</a>! I've read each of the stories in this jam-packed anthology... some of them twice... and still can't believe my words are tucked inside the cover of this massive collection of thrilling adventures, daring escapes, and heroic rescues.</p><p>If you like to be thrilled, itching to turn the page to see what happens next, this anthology is for you. <a href="https://amzn.to/3yer1VA" target="_blank">You can find it on Amazon right here</a>.</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.</span></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-28418443607640220562021-04-01T10:30:00.001-07:002021-04-01T10:30:07.318-07:00Make Them Pay: A Thriller Anthology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/31uPAP6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NaLsIY8FFA8/YGOIBSa8AMI/AAAAAAAABDE/bg3otMo5kq8IVhNIs-LCZ9EE50T1B7I9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/%25238.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>OHMYGOSH you guys. A couple weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of reading all twenty-two stories in <i><a href="https://amzn.to/31uPAP6" target="_blank">Make Them Pay: A Thriller Anthology</a> </i>and I couldn't put it down. I'm a fairly slow reader compared to many of my author friends, but I finished this nearly six hundred page behemoth in just four days.</p><p>Granted, one of the stories is one I wrote (<i>Innocence Lost</i> by D.K. Greene), but I devoured the other stories, too.</p><p>Make Them Pay is a mixture of thrillers from authors who write military, vigilante justice, science thrillers, kidnappings, murder, hit men, and more. The stories are varied and fast paced, and you may just end up filling your TBR with a host of new authors you enjoy.</p><p>At the time of this writing, the anthology is free with a <a href="https://amzn.to/31uPAP6" target="_blank">Kindle Unlimited</a> subscription (it's just a few bucks otherwise), and is also available in a handsome print edition.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/31uPAP6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CJHdzCwYkvM/YGOJ5tf1GlI/AAAAAAAABDM/IR5G2v2gKlQ3MBndvN8mxm0TL53GqxtfACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/%252311.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>One of the really wonderful things surrounding this anthology is <a href="https://mpwnovels.com/2021/03/24/author-spotlight-make-them-pay-d-k-greene/" target="_blank">Michelle PW's author spotlight</a> series. She has interviewed several of the authors from the anthology to give readers a look behind the scenes from some of the most interesting people you'll ever read.</p><p>To see my interview, click the big button below.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mpwnovels.com/2021/03/24/author-spotlight-make-them-pay-d-k-greene/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhlyctURWM0/XcM_lOu1KyI/AAAAAAAAA04/xP3dUFNaFs0rZqjk2YBe_F78CnAYIDOlwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/click-here-1772025_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help to fund this site.</span></span></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-78485549220090674602021-03-30T14:02:00.000-07:002021-03-30T14:02:04.128-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3wdhyNv" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4LYOXmWwkPo/YGOO22o5F1I/AAAAAAAABDU/7uOJc1URyrcDj33QGn1N7bwQSD5lzUHxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51FVPBt51ZL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few weeks ago I got a surprise in the mail. I almost missed it because we've been mail-ordering everything for more than a year (Thanks, Pandemic!) and when the package came in, it was with a bunch of bulk packages I wasn't in a hurry to open.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I was very excited when I opened this one and discovered a good friend of mine had sent me a gift. A hardcover edition of <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3wdhyNv" target="_blank">The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue</a></i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In true "this is my life" fashion, I was in the middle of reading a very boring, long, drawn-out self-help book when Addie LaRue arrived and I had to get through that before I picked up another book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I swore to myself I would finish that thing, and I did, and you don't see a review for it on this blog because, well, if you don't have something nice to say, you shouldn't say anything at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I was beside myself with glee when I got through the slog of The-Book-That-Will-Not-Be-Named so I could pick up this deeply immersive novel by V.E. Schwab.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3w23nvfWfF8/YGOQCGTMF2I/AAAAAAAABDc/XpEq6RABs2Mb3jkfLdFW0nPaKTfTQRljACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/cabin%2Bvacation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3w23nvfWfF8/YGOQCGTMF2I/AAAAAAAABDc/XpEq6RABs2Mb3jkfLdFW0nPaKTfTQRljACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/cabin%2Bvacation.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I didn't just dive in. No, I took a whole vacation! I went to a cabin on a hill overlooking the SW Washington countryside and curled up in a beam of sunshine to read. It was absolute bliss.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I can't guarantee you have a friend who knows to send you good books, or promise you a cabin on a hill to enjoy it in, I can tell you that <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3wdhyNv" target="_blank">The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue</a></i> is a novel worth getting lost in. It spans an immense amount of time... more than three hundred years... and skips back and forth between tales of Adeline LaRue, a woman who doesn't want to live the life French society has scripted for her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffa400; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but it will help me rent another cabin on another hill for some quiet reading time.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-46513403582614956502021-03-03T11:10:00.095-08:002021-03-03T11:10:01.863-08:00Starstruck Saga #7... Inalienable is Launching!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KRNTYDbfOlY/YDqVaOBrIPI/AAAAAAAABB0/GRLgSfPRNKY2RhdB_2Xzf9rcu_dxMHKhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Inalienable%2BBlog%2BTour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KRNTYDbfOlY/YDqVaOBrIPI/AAAAAAAABB0/GRLgSfPRNKY2RhdB_2Xzf9rcu_dxMHKhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Inalienable%2BBlog%2BTour.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's that time again, where we travel through space and time, finding ourselves with another <a href="https://amzn.to/3pWk4mN" target="_blank">Starstruck Saga</a> book!<div><br /></div><div>I had the absolute pleasure to read S.E. Anderson's <i>Inalienable</i> last fall (being a beta reader is awesome that way), and loved every turn of the page. Anderson has truly come into her own as an author. Her storytelling, while always entertaining and fun, brought on new depth and delight in the seventh installment of the Starstruck Saga.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ua5UjlN1e-o/YDqYNjXNCwI/AAAAAAAABB8/I6wc6w6lUXweYp6HgNu5BUlAXT-InuxZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Inalienable%2BSquare%2Bpast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ua5UjlN1e-o/YDqYNjXNCwI/AAAAAAAABB8/I6wc6w6lUXweYp6HgNu5BUlAXT-InuxZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Inalienable%2BSquare%2Bpast.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been so amazed at this author's ability to put her talents to work even through the chaos and strife of recent world events. I have a hunch she's got a little magic stardust up her sleeve, because <i>Inalienable</i> reads as a superb escape from reality.</div><br /><div>If you haven't started reading the <a href="https://amzn.to/3r2V3Yv" target="_blank">Starstruck Saga</a>, now is the best time to get started. There's seven books to binge read now, and more on the horizon! I'm patiently awaiting the next installment, and can't wait to tell you about it when it comes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/37PYYjJ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxQ-56aBNMU/YDqcul-0rjI/AAAAAAAABCE/4Ft-dqKFrn8nrUKMQNwlSNgh0CL3lUbSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Inalienable%2BFinal.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Inalienable takes off March 8th (2021), and this is a Sci-Fi launch you don't want to miss. Grab your space suit, a couple beers, and buckle in for a wild ride.</div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualified purchases. Clicking the links here won't cost you anything extra, but it will help put a little gas in my car.</span></div><div><p><br /></p></div>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.7128919.5819625045790815 -130.869141 64.598517495420921 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-6683634898176954872021-02-28T15:25:00.002-08:002021-02-28T15:25:20.771-08:00Water's Edge by Gregg Olsen<p> While I've been writing and editing my story for the <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3bRDJzz" target="_blank">Make Them Pay; Thriller Anthology</a></i>, I've been reading the second book in Gregg Olsen's Detective Megan Carpenter series.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3bRDJzz" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OtqYSTLG_x0/YDwgn5LjCaI/AAAAAAAABCQ/nW1iDElWHSsuiYX-xoAvkamVvHSAxjz9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51wM-JD8FQL.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This is probably the third or fourth book from Olsen that I've read in recent memory. He isn't my favorite author, but he is certainly one to pick up when I simply want to read something I am pretty sure I'll be able to get through without a lot of effort.<div><br /></div><div><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2NFsVMV" target="_blank">Water's Edge</a></i> promised that for me, which I absolutely needed after reading another book that slogged on, and on, and on, for what felt like forever. It was a relief to pick up a book with a clear, multi-thread plot, with enough clues dropped along the way to figure the mystery out along with the characters.</div><div><br /></div><div>By two thirds of the way through, I thought I knew who did it... but was wrong!</div><div><br /></div><div>Not only do we see our detective and her associate solve the serial murders plaguing Washington's northern coastline, but we also find out more about the stalker keeping tabs on Megan while she works.</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, while this novel didn't knock my socks off, it was interesting, engaging, and I didn't have the mystery solved before Megan and her partner. I look forward to reading more of Gregg Olsen's best sellers and new releases.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>You can find <i>Water's Edge </i>and the rest of the Detective Megan Carpenter series<i> </i>on <a href="https://amzn.to/2Mzhk1h" rel="nofollow">Amazon here</a>.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">Please note: as an Amazon associate, I receive payment for qualifying purchases made using the links on this page. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does help me pay the nice cashier in the drive-thru so they'll give me the burgers I ordered.</span><br /><p><br /></p></div>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-46617603812954660192021-02-19T14:37:00.001-08:002021-02-19T14:37:09.340-08:00Mac Jones: Short Story Collection #2<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/u/bQdL7P" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFRnSTcmcI0/YDA7UT-ny5I/AAAAAAAABA0/poTEmWAd2Vog6MJ4zKibEheafYZHBng8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BB2%2BPexels%2BAdrienne%2BAndersen.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Happy Release Day!</b></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so excited! Today the newest collection of short stories (and a couple novellas) is out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This poor collection sat patiently by while I stressed over a couple other writing projects, we had a major loss in the family, and 2020/2021 went bananas. Somehow, after tinkering with it here and there or the last three months, it has come to fruition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And it's awesome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can grab your copy of Mac Jones Short Story Collection #2 on most e-reader devices <a href="https://books2read.com/u/bQdL7P" target="_blank">Right Here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you're really fancy, like my mom and her friends, and want a paperback, you can order them from <a href="https://amzn.to/3pKgjRD" target="_blank">Amazon Right Here</a>. (Affiliate Link)</div><br /><p></p><p>Thank you to everyone who has supported the Mommy Mysteries! If you want to check out all the single stories, you can find them by clicking the banner below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://kawaiitimes.com/the-mommy-mysteries/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1200" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0i6ucj5xqA/YDA9HeeuriI/AAAAAAAABBA/haxCi1KBy586e7pr__okN3yZfrhqn1_1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h214/Mommy%2BMystery%2BWeb%2BBanner%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-47206740739188680162021-02-15T14:15:00.005-08:002021-02-19T14:26:43.282-08:00Unbound: Stories of Transformation, Love, and Monsters<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2NFAe6I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2hR1AcaTFU/YDA4isQbI2I/AAAAAAAABAY/0QNhMFRAcPwb9KWWTDcDNUOgUu3ezS7CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Unbound-Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Late last year, the very talented S.E. Anderson (you've seen me mention her here before) told me about an anthology she was working on with some of her friends. It sounded magical, dangerous, and terribly romantic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When she showed me the cover, I was flabbergasted by how gorgeous it turned out, and having talked to two of the editors on the project, I know this is a collection these authors are intensely proud of.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unbound is a collection of novellas that will keep you warm on the coldest days, and get your imagination running wild.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you love young adult sci-fi and fantasy stories, you don't want to miss this binge-worthy anthology.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The best part: It's available on most e-readers, in paperback AND hardcover.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Download for your favorite digital device <a href="https://books2read.com/UnboundYAAnthology" target="_blank">Right HERE</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Want a physical book? You can order your copy from <a href="https://amzn.to/3sbDPZb" target="_blank">Amazon HERE</a> (paid link).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-77317021708587803582021-02-03T13:01:00.002-08:002021-02-03T13:05:59.185-08:00Half-Breed<p> Hey-O! It's been a long time since my last completed read. I'll be honest, life has not made reading easy and I've let it slip over the last year. But I got back into the pages of fiction with Half-Breed by Hickory Mack.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3riiixx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="224" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGjRBplsPb0/YBsNHthIBWI/AAAAAAAAA_s/EL6qKiPNcigZP6HAayvdw71-cwuVxsipwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/54588251.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My TBR has been so flooded, I honestly can't remember if this was a promotional copy I got from the author directly, or if I bought it, or if I downloaded it from a giveaway... all I can say is it was on my Kindle and looked like the most interesting thing to read at the moment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The novel follows a young girl who discovers she possesses magic. She leaves her abusive and oppressive life as a human to live with magical creatures in the woods, away from the humans who hunt them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you love magic, Japanese culture, and a landscape that is as much of a character as any of the moving parts of the story, this may be the book for you. Grab it at <a href="https://amzn.to/3riiixx" target="_blank">Amazon here</a> (paid link*) and get lost in a world of fantasy that isn't too far removed from our own.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">----</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;">*<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't cost you anything extra, but does support my habitual intake of chai lattes.</span></span></div><br /><p><br /></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0Washington, USA47.7510741 -120.740138519.440840263821151 -155.8963885 76.061307936178849 -85.5838885tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-92104733587687893322020-10-09T18:47:00.032-07:002020-10-09T18:47:00.666-07:00For the kids: Zombie Reconstruction Squad<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ixg8Ft" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="346" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zymVfgUVwOk/X3vM6-uS-sI/AAAAAAAAA9I/Vt4PPxQfKs4MzGC1HhmguV-47DRK97gPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/B1ddDl6qHLS._SY300_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Paid Link)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />This fall, my kid has fallen in love with M.K. Radican's <a href="https://amzn.to/3ixg8Ft" target="_blank"><i>Zombie Reconstruction Squad</i></a>. From my son:</p><p>"It's ridiculous when they say, 'I'll get my dogs back if it's the last thing I doooooo!' It's funny because I like all the jokes. M.K. Radican is as funny as Dav Pilkey!"</p><p>I have to add to his assessment of these books. They had my son parked on the couch, reading for hours, cackling like a madman at the jokes. There was one point where he was trying to tell me about one of the funny parts in the books and he was laughing so hard I had no idea WHAT he was saying.</p><p>But it must have been good, because he kept reading.</p><p>If you have a kid who likes Minecraft, monsters, farts and boogers, absolutely get them started on <a href="https://amzn.to/2GJfaZK" target="_blank">Zombie Reconstruction Squad</a>. My kid says they're great.</p><p>You can find M.K. Radican's books on <a href="https://amzn.to/2GJfaZK" target="_blank">Amazon here</a>.</p><p>Speaking of Amazon, they've asked me to remind you that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn't cost you anything extra, but helps support all my literary habits.</p><p><br /></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-85837951585855224752020-10-07T18:23:00.057-07:002020-10-07T18:23:00.308-07:00<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O40FfB-dE7A/X3vIs6HhguI/AAAAAAAAA8s/bru1hVFcfSIIuE2OlfqAaEqhUHFURAMCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/41rhFUzKF7L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O40FfB-dE7A/X3vIs6HhguI/AAAAAAAAA8s/bru1hVFcfSIIuE2OlfqAaEqhUHFURAMCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/41rhFUzKF7L.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Paid Link)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />In the middle of 2020 crazytown, I happened to bump into Tabi Slick online. She was celebrating the release of <i><a href="https://amzn.to/33v13jw" target="_blank">The Detective's Nightmare</a>, </i>and invited me along for the ride.</p><p>Before the event, I read the novel's prequel, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/30C6ZFq" target="_blank">The Unforgiveable Act</a> </i>and was wonderfully surprised at the magic Tabi has managed to weave into the Beaumont Bros. Circus. Though, it makes sense that the circus would be made up with people who have strange and unexplainable magical abilities. And now that I've started reading the series, I want to know more about each character's mysterious magic.<br /></p><p>In <i>The Detective's Nightmare</i>, a catastrophic shipwreck lands the circus in the port of Halifax. They survive the wreckage only to get caught in the middle of a string of mysterious murders with clues that point to a dangerous magic lurking in the shadows.</p><p>Detective Davies is certain the circus is behind the odd murders, and he'll stop at nothing to catch them.</p><p>If you enjoy steampunk, magic, and old-world sensibilities, you have got to check out the <a href="https://amzn.to/30B8WC6" target="_blank">series page on Amazon</a>. Dive into the Whitechapel-meets-circus books. You won't regret it!</p><p><i>Speaking of Amazon, they've asked me to remind you that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That doesn't mean you're charged anything extra if you click a link on this page, but it does help support my literary habits.</i></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-2714043294210583812020-10-05T18:23:00.003-07:002020-10-05T18:25:28.151-07:00Archie Meets Nero Wolfe<p> <br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Reader Recommendation</h2><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/34uWe8X" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xhUwvhT2kvM/X3vDmxeWePI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/QtCQwkwrYWEj6WydgiHATE3Xk02qBhThwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51TSAOY96ML.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Paid Link)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Earlier this year, I was in a heavy reading slump. It was simply too hard to focus with the world in chaos. But I <i>like</i> to read, and felt I was missing out on one of my greatest passions. So, I did what all authors should do:<p></p><p>I asked my readers what books they recommend.</p><p>The list that continues to grow from my <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/dkgreene" target="_blank">newsletter subscribers</a>' suggestions is long and varied. One of the books that caught my eye was <i>Archie Meets Nero Wolfe</i> from Robert Goldsborough. It's straightforward, to the point, and doesn't fuss around with a bunch of fuff.</p><p>It was exactly what I needed to get reading again.</p><p>I tore through the book in just a few days, which was lightning fast considering the other book I'd been reading had been on my nightstand for three months. The story describes how our detective, Archie, gets into the business. From security guard to gumshoe overnight, this story covers shoot-outs, kidnappings, high-stakes cash exchanges and more.</p><p>A complex, flowery story, this ain't. But it's entertaining, engaging, and is an easy story to get a stuck reader moving again.</p><p>In the end, isn't that exactly what a good book is supposed to do?</p><p>If you'd like to read this book, you can find it on <a href="https://amzn.to/34uWe8X" target="_blank">Amazon Here</a>. </p><p><i>Speaking of Amazon, they've asked me to remind you that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That doesn't mean you're charged anything extra if you click a link on this page, but it does help support my literary habits.</i></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-40063232916911520732020-08-13T04:48:00.158-07:002020-08-13T04:48:00.213-07:00Earthstuck by S.E. Anderson<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iBczyD" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="850" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t12ueYNmiIs/XzNQsUzs2UI/AAAAAAAAA3w/dnZI845d6Q8bupxbDvUT6phXO4pfVlLbwCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h512/71buXaW7BrL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2DZzvbu" target="_blank"><b>Coming August 18th, 2020</b></a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you've followed this blog for more than a few months, you probably know I'm a fan of S.E. Anderson's <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3gPS6pc" target="_blank">Starstruck Saga</a></i>. It'll come as no surprise that I'm jumping for joy that book 6 is landing on earth. And you won't be shocked to discover it's another wonderfully entertaining Sci-Fi adventure.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm especially tickled I was gifted an advance copy of the book and I read it well before its release date.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's full of humor and action alike. There's a Wheatley-esque security bot following our heroes around as they try to save the day. Aliens touring Earth the way we journey through the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. And there's an unsanctioned visitor who is feeding on... people.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3fQh9aq" target="_blank">Earthstuck</a></i> is, in short, everything you hope an Earth-bound alien adventure could be.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/63pGVYFIn9Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="63pGVYFIn9Q"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This time around, I get to share an excerpt of the story with you. Anderson has sent the book's prologue through space and time for you to enjoy. Strap in... and away we go!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">****</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h1 style="margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">PROLOGUE</span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a name="Prologue-1">Mona</a>
believed in two things: aliens and good customer service.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not
everyone who came to the Jitterbug for a fresh pot of coffee was entirely <i>of this world</i>.
Well, that's what her ex-manager, and ex-fiancé, told her before he got—most likely—abducted
and she got his job. Which meant Mona was next in line for a wondrous
interplanetary adventure, if she held out long enough and treated her possibly
alien patrons right. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The thought kept her going when life became incomprehensible and stress tried to drown out her thoughts. Maybe, just maybe, one of her customers was from outer space, and she was damn sure she was going to smile and treat every single one of them with respect just in case. It was why she opened the coffee shop every night of the year, including Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Her travel bag was packed and stashed in the café's back room waiting to go, though it was just gathering dust at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While waiting for the aliens, Mona focused on the customer experience part of the deal. She perfected her pies. Made the Jitterbug a safe haven for those who felt lost or like an outcast in the world. Like flocked to like, and she built a community. And some, like her, were longing for the stars.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of her regulars fit easily under the label of “possibly alien, keep an eye out for them.” Take, for instance, Sally Webber: so normal it hurt, yet surrounded by the oddest people on all sides, like the gorgeous androgynous beauty and the potential Woman in Black who came in on New Year’s Eve. Or the fact that she disappeared the day the spaceship broke the atmosphere, but nobody noticed since there was <i>a freaking spaceship in the sky. </i>Nobody but Mona, anyway. That night, she had stood on the roof with her dusted-off satchel and Christmas lights spelling out “take me with you” at her feet, as her staff and customers hid in the café with paper bags over their heads. It was during that stupidly long wait that she realized Sally wasn’t with them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the news hit that it was a bona fide hoax, the whole world let out a collective sigh of relief. Mona closed the café for the first time since taking over as manager, cried into her pillow for a good twelve hours, and then opened the Jitterbug the next day, putting the satchel back in its rightful place by the emergency exit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A week after the biggest disappointment in Mona’s life, Sally waltzed back in.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Though it wasn't the same Sally she had seen before the hoax. The first clue was that she was wearing a t-shirt in negative-degree weather. That, and Mona had never noticed how buff the girl was—her arms were straight out of a Hollywood movie, all muscled and skin practically glowing. Her hair shone with the light of a thousand suns, which only highlighted her bright smile.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh my god,” said Mona, her jaw dropping as she took her in. “It’s you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The smile widened. Mona fell in love instantly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What?” Sally laughed, her voice light, birds landing on her arms as she spoke. At least, that’s what happened in the version Mona wrote down later when she got home and tried to make sense of the whole afternoon. “I've only been gone a week. Well, it's been an exciting week, for sure, but I haven't been gone all <i>that</i> long.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You know what I mean,” she replied and hoped that would be enough. She didn't have the energy to keep staring at her; the glowing hurt her eyes. “It's good to have you back, girl.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Glad to be back,” Sally said, and it sounded so deeply from her heart. “Can I have a latte?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Of course you can!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She worked her magic with coffee and cream, thankful for the excuse to turn her back a little. There was something magnetic about Sally today, something that made the air around them come alive. Was she flirting? No, this was something more. It had to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I brought you something.” Sally reached into her purse. “Here. I found this in a little shop in Mexico.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Mexico? That's where you were?” She handed the coffee over just as Sally reached across to deposit two dollops of gold into her hand. “Oh, it's heavy! This isn't real gold, is it? Where on earth did you get it?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh, a small town named <a name="_Hlk38526738">Aquetzalli,</a>” came a voice from the back of the café, in a booth so out of the way that no one ever sat there. Sally's eyes widened, her new smile wavering as she turned to face the stranger. Her dark, James Bond-esque suit came into sharp focus. ”Nice to see you again, Sally.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was a scream. Sally's mug slipped from her hand, tumbling to the floor in slow motion. The latte sloshed over the rim, and with a sudden, yet anticipated, crash, the glass shattered, leaving a mess on the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And Sally was gone—glow, scream, and all. Anyone watching her would have sworn she had disappeared into thin air, like someone had flicked the channel and taken her with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“This never happened,” said the woman in the suit, rising smoothly from her seat. “I'm sorry to say that this café has been compromised. There is LSD in the water, and you're all<i> tripping balls</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mona didn't believe her, but the next thing she remembered was waking up in her bed, her phone vibrating up a storm as it filled with alerts. It was 3 a.m., and her mouth tasted of peaches. It made sense that the whole thing was one very strange dream, even if it meant that the Men in Black hadn't really infiltrated her café.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When she drove up to the Jitterbug to check on the alarms, the police were waiting for her. On the floor, almost exactly where the mug had shattered in her dream, was a trail of sand and bloody footsteps. It led through the back door, the footsteps disappearing in the parking lot, lost in the snow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“We're lucky we have so much to go on,” said the uniformed man crouched by the stain. “Blood, tire treads, DNA? The hard part is figuring out the chain of events. Anything seem out of the ordinary today? It might give us clues to what led up to this.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mona wanted to tell them about Sally's sudden dematerialization and the strange woman in the immaculate suit, but it had all been a dream, hadn't it? Even as she opened her mouth to deny everything, a figure in the alley caught her eye, and she snapped her mouth shut.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There. The Men in Black <i>were</i> here. They were real. And the secret agent lady was more than just familiar; she was the woman from New Year's Eve. The one Sally had shared pie with. Mulder, Scully, and Agent J all rolled into one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A finger to her lips. A hand on her hip, but not her hip—no, on the thing hiding under her blazer. Mona gulped. Being in the center of an alien conspiracy suddenly wasn't all that fun anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Nothing at all. Nothing strange; it's just a café,” she told the cop, and the woman from the shadows nodded, striding forward with her hands at her side now, thank god.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are to cease this investigation at once,” she ordered bluntly, waving a government ID for the cops to see. “We'll take it from here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a name="_Hlk38527009">“Agent Felling!</a>” one of the officers exclaimed. “I haven't seen you here for a while. Not since—”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Now, no one needs to hear about that,” Felling replied with a curt nod.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Is it one of <i>those</i> cases?” The cop rolled his eyes. “Spooky-dooky?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No, no. But you know the rules. Also, what the hell is spooky-dooky supposed to mean? That’s not a word, Blake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cop rolled his eyes again, a master of eyeball cartwheels. “Is Cross with you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“He’s out back with the footprints. He’ll tell you the same thing, but don’t go bringing up spooky-dooky around him. He’s a lot less interested in expanding the dictionary.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As Blake and his colleague slipped back into the night, a chill ran through Mona that had nothing to do with the snow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Did you... did you drug me?” she asked, trying to brush the goosebumps from her skin. “Did you seriously drug me? My patrons?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Go back to sleep, Ms. Hanks,” the agent replied. “It's been a long day.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I deserve an answer!” Mona reached for her shoulder, the goosebumps giving way to actual tremors. “What in the hell happened back there? And don't tell me any of this LSD bull. I've seen you before.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The agent let out a sigh, rubbing her temples before dropping her hands to her hips again. She didn't look defeated, though admittedly it was hard to tell with all the scowling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“If I gave you a check right here, right now, would you please go home and sleep it off?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I won't be paid off that easily.” Mona was getting somewhere. The tremors branched out into excitement, which was, all in all, exciting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Nonsense. Everyone has a price; we just need to find yours.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Give me a trip off this planet, and I'll never tell a soul what I witnessed today. How's that?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The agent laughed. “You and me both, sister. Take the money, go home, and sleep. Tomorrow, everything will be back to normal.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And what about Sally? You can't possibly deny what happened in there.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Who are you going to believe?” A ghost of a smile played on Felling's lips. “Me, a certified government agent, or your eyes? Because, believe me, I'm not prone to lying, and eyes can play tricks on the best of us.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">****</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sounds good, Right? You can find out more about </span><i style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Earthstuck</i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">, and the rest of the </span><a href="https://amzn.to/33SxXv8" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;" target="_blank"><i>Starstruck Saga </i>on Amazon right here</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span></p></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="" style="color: #ffa400; font-family: "amazon ember", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px;"><i style="background-color: #eeeeee;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn't cost you anything extra, but does support my reading habit.</i></span></div><p></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-83270918840514003082020-08-12T06:30:00.001-07:002020-08-12T06:30:07.869-07:00The Unforgivable Act by Tabi Slick<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2PL8USo" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="380" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h68lr_2qfR8/XzMqJRwkJnI/AAAAAAAAA3k/2x9DWJsZFFAEiRYFdENSK3kRpV5hliE1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w238-h380/52158399._SY475_.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A circus of wonders. A family murdered. Who will save Emma from her magical powers?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was patrolling the land of Facebook a couple weeks ago and stumbled across a post from <a href="https://amzn.to/33Qi7kH" target="_blank">Tabi Slick</a> talking about the new book coming out in her Circus Mystery series. <i><a href="https://amzn.to/31Jn5g9" target="_blank">The Detective's Nightmare</a></i> sounded incredibly interesting, mixing the wonder of a traveling circus with 19th century mystery, so I dug into the series a bit further.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first story in the series is <a href="https://amzn.to/2XNCye4" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">The Unforgiveable Act</a>, a page-turning novella that follows a young woman named Emma on her adventure to join the Beaumont Brothers Circus. There's murder, magic, and an escape act that would make David Copperfield jealous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you like historical fiction in the Victorian / Edwardian era, this gaslamp mystery may be right up your alley. You can find it on <a href="https://amzn.to/2XNCye4" target="_blank">Amazon right here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That doesn't mean you'll pay any extra, and you'll supporting my reading habit.</i></div><p></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373419246644640787.post-76314925037790729382020-08-11T16:29:00.001-07:002020-08-11T16:29:16.757-07:00The Cleaner by Mark Dawson<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/31G9Htf" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="296" height="380" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_dVL3OdeC9k/XzMmGWGdC4I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/wOq8KKORd-8KW_wXw00GPPFWnqgI2TNzACLcBGAsYHQ/w237-h380/44323111._SY475_.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so glad to be out of the desert that was my several month long reading slump. This month, my reader's brain has kicked into high gear, and I've suddenly started reading a book every few days (not super fast by some standards, but it's a good clip for me).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the books that helped get me out of the weeds was <i><a href="https://amzn.to/31G9Htf" target="_blank">The Cleaner</a></i> by Mark Dawson. After the flop that was <i><a href="https://amzn.to/31JxUPy" target="_blank">Code Name Camelot</a>, </i>it was great to pick up a book that was fast paced, kept my interest, and left me wanting to read more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've followed Mark Dawson for a few years now, and even met him in 2019. His catalog is impressive, and he was pleasant when we met, so I added him to the tower that is my TBR pile. (I swear, that thing gets bigger every day.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm happy I finally got to it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">John Milton decides he's fed up with being a guy who "takes care of things". He's tired, aging, and ready to help people instead of hurt them. He goes rogue in the best way, deciding to help a family dealing with poverty, gang wars, and an uncertain future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you like hand to hand combat, bad guys getting what they deserve, shoot-outs and tales of an underdog, this may be the book for you. You can find it on <a href="https://amzn.to/31G9Htf" target="_blank">Amazon right here</a>, and give it a try yourself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That doesn't mean you'll pay any extra, and you'll supporting my reading habit.</i></span></span></div><p></p>Author Denise Kawaiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093961894468381439noreply@blogger.com0