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A New Chapter for You to Read & And I’m Almost Finished Writing My Novel

chit-chatting with Cat, Miranda Kane (ROAH:R), My Projects May 21, 2021 Leave a comment

Hi, folks!

I've got two news for you relating to my novel Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence, a.k.a Miranda Kane (my main character).

So, I'm using Inkitt, a publishing platform similar to Wattpad, to post my novel online and land a publication contract with said platform.

Unfortunately, I've been neglecting it those last few months… BUT FEAR NOT! I am back in the ring with the 7th chapter now posted and ready for you to read!

YAY! Are you excited? I AM EXCITED! 😀

melissa benoist gifs Page 4 | WiffleGif

You can read my first 7 chapters and 2 prologues FOR FREE over at Inkitt: Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence

Please, sign up and leave a comment and/or rating. It really helps making my story known and gives me the opportunity to be offered a contract!

In addition to these news, I want to announce that:

I'M NEARLY DONE WRITING MY NOVEL! YES, FOLKS!

I've written 40 chapters out of 52 already! I'M SOON GETTING THERE!

Honestly, I'm looking at my novel like this:

Supergirl Melissa Benoist GIF - Supergirl MelissaBenoist KaraDanvers - Discover & Share GIFs

Genuine love, passion, tenderness, and awe. A bit of uncertainty, too. That's what I feel for it.

I'M SO READY!

I hope you'll give reading a try over at Inkitt, and that you'll enjoy my novel as much as I do.

Also, I made a vow to myself and you that I'd now upload a new chapter on Inkitt every two weeks. So, be prepared (*cue Scar's theme song from The Lion King here*)

Also, if you're wondering why I'm using Melissa Benoist in all my GIFs, it's because of this choice of face claims and here's a bonus graphic.

See you next post, lovelies!

Blog Tour with Excerpt: This is Not a Horror Movie by Sara Dobie Bauer

Blog Tours May 19, 2021 Leave a comment

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Available in Kindle Unlimited

Add on Goodreads

Book Title: This is Not a Horror Movie

Author: Sara Dobie Bauer

Publisher: Self-published

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow Designs

Release Date: May 13, 2021

Genres: m/m new adult, gay paranormal romance, LGBTQ, romantic comedy

Trope: Friends to lovers

Themes: non-explicit, humorous, teens, Florida, summer vacation, hauntings, evil spirits

Heat Rating: 2 flames

*Warnings: Scenes of graphic violence, death of minor characters, mentions of bullying, alcohol use*

Length: 78 000 words

ASIN: B0947FHW74

Format: ebook (Kindle)

It is a standalone story.

I want to thank Lily, Gay Book Promotions, and Sara Dobie Bauer for letting me take part in this blog tour! 🙂 I enjoyed collaborating with them, and we need more promotions about LGBT+ stories. ^.^ So, I'm glad I could help make a small change in the way of things.

Now, enough with the blah blah, you probably want to know what this horror book (exactly, it's NOT a horror movie ;)) is about. Well, you can read the blurb below, and behold, an excerpt, too! :O

I hope you enjoy it.

Happy reading, loves!

Blurb

Emory Jones loves two things: horror movies and Connor Nichols.

For the past four years, Emory, Connor, and their families have vacationed side by side on Longboat Key, Florida. Eighteen-year-old Emory has pined for his neighbor from behind the covers of Stephen King books, but college boy Connor has never noticed him. Probably because Emory looks like Jack Skellington with good hair.

Emory anticipates another predictable summer of sunburn and disappointment. Instead, he ends up with a mystery on his hands when a beloved beach bum goes missing, and Connor volunteers to help with the search. Turns out it’s not just scary movie cops who are worthless, so the boys start an investigation of their own—leading them straight to an abandoned beach resort.

Despite the danger, Emory and Connor grow closer, but as Emory’s gay dreams start coming true, so do the horror movie tropes he so loves. Even though he knows that sex equals death in slasher flicks, Emory can’t keep his hands off the guy of his teenage dreams.

Excerpt

I’m about to follow a mysterious rat into the darkness when a hand lands on my shoulder. I suck a panicked gasp in through my lips as Connor says, “Sorry! Sorry.”

I put my hands on my knees and relearn breathing.

He stands there, backlit like some kind of hot angel, and shrugs. “Maybe you should be thanking me.”

“What?”

“You like to be scared,” he says.

He’s right. Haunted house in the neighborhood? I’m first. Spooky cemetery? Coming through. Maybe that’s part of the reason I always let Liz drag me to parties at the Outpost. It feels like being in a scary movie. I’m waiting for Leatherface to show up and murder the morally reprehensible youth. Of course, if horror movie rules are true, I’m totally dead. I lost my virginity at sixteen and more often than not spend “happy hour” sharing malt liquor with Longboat’s famous homeless dude, Leland.

“What are you doing over here?” Connor asks.

“Befriending local wildlife.” I glance over my shoulder into the dark. I shove hair out of my face—a nervous tic I’ve acquired since growing it out. Because I needed another nervous tic. “What are you doing over here?”

“Talking to you.” He grins, but I can feel a disconnect.

Connor and I have always had a mutually agreed upon rhythm. He’s the big, gorgeous straight dude who puts up with me, the skinny, little gay kid.

Well.

No one knows I’m gay down here. Florida is for family, not fu— Anyway.

In summers past, Connor wrestled me and tickled me, and I pretended not to like it. We talked about some things, mostly scary movies, but kept an emotional distance. He accepts me being a drama queen, and I never let him know I would climb Everest for his kiss.

Staring at me with a dumb look on his face is not our rhythm.

I finally lose my shit. “Jesus, am I bleeding from my eyes?”

He coughs out a laugh. “What?”

“You’re looking at me funny.”

He looks away. “Oh.”

I cross my arms. I have, in fact, filled out a lot since last summer—and the lifeguarding helps—but I’m still self-conscious about my small frame and will probably never forget the jocks calling me “Tinker Bell” from seventh to tenth grade. I press my lips together and side-eye the kids dancing to some club beat on Liz’s phone. “Everyone’s looking at me funny, actually.”

Connor clears his throat and plucks at the front of his tight, white T-shirt. He looks like he wants to dive headfirst into the empty pool at his back.

“You don’t have to talk to me, you know.”

His blue eyes flit back my way. Even in the dark, I know they’re blue. He says, “But I like talking to you.”

I hug myself tighter and lift a shoulder. “Seen any good horror movies lately?”

His smile is back. “Tons. I saw this French one called Raw.”

I bounce up on my toes. “Cannibals! Oh my God, that movie was so good! The writing.” I tear at my hair in euphoric bliss.

He nods. “And the scene with the roommate.”

“And the ending!” I poke him in the chest. “Dude, I tried to get Liz to watch it. She’s all vegetarian now because she dated this hippie dude senior year. She said she gave up meat for her health, but I think it’s because he said he tasted death in her mouth.”

Connor does the silent open-mouth laugh thing that happens when my storytelling reaches peak levels of absurd.

“She made it thirty minutes into the movie before she had to leave the room and vomit. Meanwhile, I was sitting there eating, like, spaghetti.”

He puts his hand on my shoulder as he keeps laughing. I smell his deodorant: sporty man stuff. “I can’t believe I almost didn’t come this year.”

That steals the air from my lungs. Sure, I should be avoiding the guy, looking forward to the future, but all of a sudden, I can’t imagine a summer without Connor Nichols making me blush.

Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here

About the Author

Sara Dobie Bauer is a bestselling romance author and mental health / LGBTQ advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. She lives with her hottie husband and precious pup in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.

You can follow the author here:

Blog/Website | Facebook | Private Facebook Group

Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter Sign-up | Freebies

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Who Might The Giveaway Winner Be?

Blog Tours, Giveaways May 15, 2021 Leave a comment

Hello, folks!

We have a winner for my very first giveaway! It was for an ecopy of Bloodlaced, the first book in the Youkai Bloodlines series, by Courtney Maguire. You can read my review here.

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As a loyal reader of mine, Casthavian won the ebook via electronic draw to ensure fairness.

He's already been notified of the results, and I will send him the ecopy kindly offered by the author and Pssst… Promotions! as soon as I receive it.

I hope you all enjoyed the opportunity to participate in this giveaway. It sure made me happy!

I am confident Bloodlaced, a feudal Japan LGBTQ dark paranormal romance with vampires and demons, will delight Casthavian!

And what about you, dear reader?

Rest assured, you can always purchase an ebook or paperback copy at these retailers:

Amazon.ca

B&N

Kobo

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this deliciously dark and immersive book. And I thank you all for this amazing giveaway!

Now, go and read! Pick up a cup of ocha (おちゃ) and sit on a tatami (畳) and happy reading, loves!

See you next post. *kisses*

Light Reading GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Courtney Maguire is a University of Texas graduate from Corpus Christi, Texas.
Drawn to Austin by a voracious appetite for music, she spent most of her young adult life in dark, divey venues nursing a love for the sublimely weird. A self-proclaimed fangirl with a press pass, she combined her love of music and writing as the primary contributor for Japanese music and culture blog, Project: Lixx, interviewing Japanese rock and roll icons and providing live event coverage for appearances across the country.
Her first novel, WOUNDED MARTYR, is a 2019 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist in the Contemporary Romance: Short Category.

You can find her on social media: Facebook, Twitter or at www.courtneymaguirewrites.com

Love the Youkai Bloodlines Series? Keep an eye out for Blood Bound, coming in Spring 2022.
Worried you might miss it? Join Maguire's Reader Group, Courtney's Coven: https://tinyurl.com/3yuh2vxc or sign up for her newsletter at the bottom of her website: https://www.courtneymaguirewrites.com/about to make sure to keep up to date on your favorite characters.

A Horror Comic Anthology: Texas Horror

Blog Tours, Book Reviews, chit-chatting with Cat May 13, 2021 Leave a comment

Now, finally, another great comic book arrived.

Now, let me just…

Comic Book GIFs | Tenor

Yes, let me just read it please.

So, I was fortunate enough to get an insider's look at Texas Horror by David Doub and Halo Toons (writers), and several artists such as Dominic Racho (art), Daniel Chan (letters), Terry Parr (art), Diego Garza (art), and Miguel Ángel Hernández (art).

This comic anthology has everything: diversity, LGBTQA+, horror, gore, humour… Name it! The drawing styles are different from story to story, which renews your attention, and there's one you'll like for sure.

As we all know, the pandemic makes it hard on everyone. However, conventions are an important part of making a comic book for creators; they help sell copies, spread the word about them, and generally get the connections and funds required–but where are the conventions now?

Exactly, none (or very few) is happening lately. So, ingenious creators turned to crowdfunding. After all, the public gets to read those comics, so a little contribution to the artists and writers can go a long way. If you want (and can) to help publish Texas Horror, please visit their Kickstarter page and make a contribution to receive benefits such as a copy of the comic book upon release: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/demonsinthedarkness/texas-horror

Read below for my review of the insider's look I was offered.

Thank you for reading and helping, loves! Please share and boost as any help will be useful. 😉

The first story I decided to read was Demons in the Dark, written by David Doub, art by Dominic Racho, and letters by Daniel Chan.

I really enjoyed this story. It was dark, gruesome, poignant, and emotional. I understand what these kids are going through; been there, suffered that. There's a lot of diversity, whether in regards to ethnicity and sexuality! Kudos for that, champs! Also, I rather enjoyed the moral of the story, it was touching. A bit too on the nose, maybe. But the characters are right: Anger hurts yourself, not the others. Plus, I thought the comic was too short. That’s a compliment.

On the negative side, sometimes the story felt rushed or cramped… again, I’d have preferred it to be longer. But it’s because it was good! Lastly, the drawings are detailed but the characters are supposed to be teenagers… Honestly, I thought for a few pages they were adults, or teachers, and then I debated the fact. Until it was made clear by their playing cards at the cafeteria they were teenagers…

The second story was Mask it or Casket, written by David Doub and art by Miguel Ángel Hernández:

That one was… hilarious, honestly. The names and the cynical & weirdo humour are perfect! I laughed a lot in the preview. But this comic can also be poignant as there’s a difficult family situation in the story, and the topic is about “masking”, something that is very current. Also, the drawings are both cute and pop with colours. They seem “light”, if drawings can have weight… it’s like you could cut them out and move them around like paper toys. That nice! They remind me of the latest Archie Comics, the newest issues. A different style, but that’s the vibe I get from this story. Finally, the horror looks to be ramped up… dangerous. Awesome!

The third story was Aerobicide Blockbuster, written by David Doub and art by Terry Parr:

The most beautiful and colourful of the stories! It’s so bright it pops, and I love the matte effect of the main character, blue-haired Sheri Ken (nice name there…, like a Shuriken!) This story was undoubtedly SO WEIRD, so upside down, with hints and allusions to old horror movies! So confusing, but so funny, and entertaining. I loved the nods to the classics, seriously! Honestly, I want to read the rest! Trust me, you’ll be surprised, too.

As for the other comics, the drawings look gorgeous to me, and they’re quite detailed (End World Escape, Luna Vino) and very cute (Kitchen Witches)! The stories sound very intriguing, and I wish the creators the best to publish Texas Horror Comic with YOUR help through their crowdfunding campaign.

Don’t forget to support them here to get a copy and bonuses: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/demonsinthedarkness/texas-horror

Please share this post, and talk about it on social media. Every bit helps!

Thank you, loves.

I hope this comic entertains you as much as it did me.

Love,

Catherine

Bloodlaced: A Book Review

Blog Tours, Book Reviews May 7, 2021 Leave a comment

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Courtney Maguire's Website

By Courtney Maguire

Genre: Fiction, Romance, LGBTQIA, Historical, Historical romance, Dark paranormal, paranormal romance
Number of pages: 314
ASIN: B08HW5ZRTH
ISBN: 9781648980152
Format: eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), paperback
Publication date: September 29th, 2020
Publisher: City Owl Press
Type: Book, Novel, Series, First in a series

*I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given, and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Courtney Maguire, Let’s Talk Promotions, and Psst… Promotions!*

*Don't miss out on the ecopy giveaway for Bloodlaced here.*

Introduction

This was how I was approached with the opportunity to review this book: “Courtney Maguire's latest M/M dark paranormal romance, Blood Pact. Blood Pact is book two of the Youkai Bloodlines Series, and following its predecessor (and Author Shout Reader's Pick) Bloodlaced, this novel is once again set in a fictional world of a feudal Japan where monsters belong only in tales whispered in the dark–until they come creeping from the shadows.”

An M/M, dark paranormal, romance, Youkai, feudal Japan, monsters… What is there to say expect “YES, PLEASE! (ONEGAI SHIMASU!)”?!

It was exactly what I love about books, and honestly, I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I was enthralled, highly entertained, and I fell in love unabashedly with this series.

To know how it happened, let’s go through this review together, shall we?

Blurb

Kanjin hardly view their servants as human. Even less so when they are different.

Asagi is different. Both a man and a woman.

In the wake of his failure to protect a boy he saw as a son from their abusive master, Asagi is sold into the house of a young nobleman, Mahiro, who is the opposite of everything Asagi has ever known—gentle, kind, and generous.

Mahiro bonds with Asagi and their friendship blooms into a deep and profound love. But when Asagi is poisoned out of jealousy, Mahiro reveals himself to be youkai, a demon who feeds on blood, and he has no choice but to turn Asagi to save his life.

Asagi awakes reborn, strong, and eternally youthful. But the price for Asagi’s new life is high.

The blood of the innocent.

Just as Asagi’s trust in Mahiro falters, the boy he failed to protect, now a man, reappears.

New master, same threat.

With both a literal and proverbial monster at the door, Asagi must decide what it means to be human to protect what he loves most.

Content Warnings: physical abuse, sexual abuse (off-page), self-harm, blood, graphic violence

The Positive Sides

My introduction into the Youkai Bloodlines series was with the very poignant and exciting first chapter. I FELT there with Asagi and Goshujin-sama, and the little boy. I was on the tatami with Asagi. I’ll be bold and declare it’s one of the most captivating first chapters I ever read.

The darkness of this book is delectable what with demons, vampires, and many more dangerous topics (please be aware of the trigger warnings in the blurb above!) I’m a sucker (I swear this pun wasn’t intended!) for such darkness in stories. While the story is dark in itself, the main character is something else in more ways than one. I love how Asagi is lovable and different… But you’ll have to read to learn how ;). It’s just special and fun! Something unique I had yet to read about—in a certain way, I mean.

Also, I LOVED the relationship between Asagi and the little boy he tries so hard to protect. I mean… how sweet, and… Well, you’ll have to read it. 😉 But it’s fun to see how it comes back to bite him in the a**. As for the romance, well… The romance and survival game between Asagi and Mahiro is something I live for. Here’s my heart, thank you. ❤

What about the writing? Well, it’s so seamless I read it effortlessly. I had that strange but highly pleasant feeling of “not reading”… I didn’t have to “concentrate”, it was just so fun and well-written. Because this is a compliment, it doesn’t mean it’s easy nor simple writing, it means it’s so well woven with good cultural inserts and the characters jump off the page into your heart, that it was as though the story was put directly into my head, you know? Highly enjoyable!

And lastly, if there’s something I squealed and fangirled over was her knowledgeable use of the Japanese language and precision of the culture. There’s even a Japanese glossary, YES! As a polyglot who speaks Japanese, all these details about the language and the culture, *correct* details, make me so happy and giddy! I would just have enjoyed if there were kanji and kana (Japanese writing systems) in the glossary as well as romaji (Japanese pronunciations in our Western writing). It would have been a nice touch, but I know this is quite complex to do. Still, I am thrilled she included a glossary!

A bonus: look at that cover! JUST LOOK AT IT. BE MESMERIZED. It is gorgeous, ominous, so faithful both to the story and the culture explored in this book. Honestly, I just want to print a picture of it and display it on my bedroom wall. It features pretty much everything I love in a story and in general. :3

The Negative Sides

…… None? I loved everything about this book! Mostly Asagi, and it’s rare I love main characters, but he’s so charming and kind. And the paranormal is so fun and dark! A gem.

So, really, nothing negative to report, haha.

(I’d still love the kanji and kana in the glossary though, just for my personal amusement.)

In Conclusion

Now, frankly, would it be a surprise to say I am giving this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars? No, it would not. I know. But it's worth it, trust me! If you enjoy dark paranormal stories, vampires, an angsty bittersweet romance, anything related to the Japanese culture (hmmm, does sushi count here?), a seamless reading experience, and a completely magical world with lovable characters that sweep you off your feet, please, do pick Bloodlaced up.

Read the book the heat kino GIF - Find on GIFER

You can find her on social media: Facebook, Twitter or at www.courtneymaguirewrites.com

Blog Tour for Blood Pact – Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway Announcement

Blog Tours, chit-chatting with Cat, Giveaways May 6, 2021 Leave a comment

Hey, folks!

Today is blog tour day for Blood Pact by Courtney Maguire on Ad Librum Aeternam, yay!

I was fortunate enough to be offered review copies of Bloodlaced and Blood Pact, the first two books in the Youkai Bloodlines series. Stay on the lookout for my upcoming reviews. You can now find my review of Bloodlaced here.

Meanwhile, have fun reading the excerpt exclusive to my blog and you, my dear readers, and make sure to read until the end for the giveaway!

Publisher: City Owl Press (May 4, 2021)
Releases on: May 4, 2021
Genre: LGBTQIA Dark Historical Paranormal Romance
Language: English
ASIN: B091V1P3FT
ISBN: 9781648980831

Amazon: http://mybook.to/BloodPact
B&N: https://smarturl.it/Youkai2BN
Kobo: https://smarturl.it/Youkai2Kobo
City Owl: https://smarturl.it/Youkai2CO
Add it on Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/3b3jec53

Panic clenched in my chest as he turned away from me again. “Bakayarou!” I flung the curse at his back like a stone, and he flinched as it struck between his shoulder blades. “You act like you care about me. You treat me gently and help me when it’s convenient and easy for you. But when it matters, you’re just like the rest of them.”
My hurt poured down my face in fat drops. My heart pounded in slow, painful beats as if my blood had turned to sludge. I realized then that I was wrong, that I’d believed my own fantasy and let it blur and mix too much with reality. I’d been waiting, wanting, yearning for the confession I’d heard from so many others and he’d never give me. I was just a geisha, a beautiful thing to push back against the ugliness, and now I was wasting what could be my mother’s last moments begging for something that was never mine to have.
Tension rippled through Sakurai-han’s back, and he whipped around on me again. He covered the distance between us in two long strides. Before I could react, he took my face in his hands and crashed his lips into mine, hard and possessive. He walked me backward until my back was against the wall, the entire length of his body pressed against mine.
My mind went blank, aware only of the solidness of his chest and the scrape of his teeth. Little fires ignited under my skin. A whine slipped past my lips as he pushed deeper, and I gave in, first in increments and then in one great rush that left me weak and boneless.
He backed away just enough to allow me to breathe, and his eyes filled my vision, those eyes that so enthralled me, pupils blown wide and rimmed in white. Desire spiraled through me, hot and desperate. A few ragged breaths, and I pulled him in again, fingers tangled in his long hair. I drank him down in deep gulps that only left me wanting more. I could have ended there, existing only on his lips and in his arms.
He grabbed my wrists and pressed them against the wall over my head to force some distance. He stared at me, cheeks flushed and lips swollen. Strands of his hair still clung to my fingers like spiderwebs, like we could never come apart no matter how hard we tried.
“There’s no going back,” he said, face stern though his voice shook. “I will be a part of you.”
My eyes burned, and I blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay. “I have nothing to go back to.”
“It feels like dying.”
“It’s only a matter of time before Yamaguchi comes for me.” I swallowed down a sliver of fear, and it caught in my throat like splintered glass. “I’d rather die in your hands than his.”
He took a deep breath but didn’t move. His heart tapped a fast rhythm against my chest. I leaned forward just enough to brush my lips against his. He made a low sound like a purr, and I strained against his hold as he deepened the kiss, a momentary tease of teeth and tongue before moving down my jaw. My breath caught as he nipped at the tender place just below my ear and flicked his tongue over the vein beneath it.
“Do you want it?” he whispered against my skin.
I could barely get the word out between gasps as he trailed featherlight kisses down the line of my neck. “Yes.”
“Tell me again.” His voice shook. “Tell me you’ll stay with me forever.”
“Yes, yes. Please. I want it.” His breath against my damp skin sent a spiky heat cascading through my body, and it gathered low in my belly. I arched toward him and dropped my head back. I almost forgot what I was there for. Man or monster didn’t matter anymore—I only wanted him. I allowed myself to give into the fantasy, and it bloomed with delirious joy.
He tugged me even closer until there was no space left between us, his lips pressed to the column of my throat. My toes curled as he traced the vein with his tongue, followed by the graze of teeth and a sharp sting. A fiery sensation started at his lips and cut through my very core. Not quite pain, not quite pleasure. My head swam as something was sucked, dragged, pulled out of me.
Another sensation, this one slower, softer, started at his hands and flowed over me like a warm rain. My muscles relaxed. My mind went soft. Any fear I had dissolved and washed away, replaced with peace and complete trust. I would give him everything, my heart, my life, my soul. It didn’t matter if I died because I would be with him, a part of him. I wept, not from sadness, but from release.
He let go of my wrists and hooked one arm around my waist as my strength waned and my knees gave out. He cradled my head with his other hand as he lowered me to the ground. It was almost tender, the way he brushed my hair away from my face and wiped the tears from my cheeks. His features blurred as my consciousness wavered. I thought briefly of the girl I’d seen him with earlier, how she crumpled at his feet. Did she feel this, too? This complete and total surrender to his power?
“Drink, Hiro.” He teased my lips open with his thumb and sealed his over them. Thick, coppery liquid filled my mouth. Blood. I choked on it at first, my body convulsing reflexively beneath him.
The first swallow was like a burst of light. All the pleasure, all the heat of our passionate embrace returned and redoubled. My vision instantly cleared. My muscles came alive once again, and I wrapped my fingers in his hair, hooked my leg around his waist. My ears rang with the sound of our hearts, and I took in everything he gave me, my tongue fighting his for every last drop.
Finally, he released me, and I lay gasping on the ground. My skin lit up. My body burned as if every cell was turning itself inside out. It wasn't pain or pleasure, but something entirely new. I writhed as my body remade itself, screaming as this new sensation coursed through me. I fell into darkness deep as a well, wondering if I had made a terrible mistake.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Courtney Maguire is a University of Texas graduate from Corpus Christi, Texas.
Drawn to Austin by a voracious appetite for music, she spent most of her young adult life in dark, divey venues nursing a love for the sublimely weird. A self-proclaimed fangirl with a press pass, she combined her love of music and writing as the primary contributor for Japanese music and culture blog, Project: Lixx, interviewing Japanese rock and roll icons and providing live event coverage for appearances across the country.
Her first novel, WOUNDED MARTYR, is a 2019 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist in the Contemporary Romance: Short Category.

You can find her on social media: Facebook, Twitter or at www.courtneymaguirewrites.com

Giveaway Details!

Now, now, what about that giveaway, Catherine?!

Here it comes!

Dear readers, as a thank-you for being loyal readers of mine, you can enter my very first giveaway in order to win an e-copy of Bloodlaced, book one of the Youkai Bloodlines Series. That's right!

This would be a perfect introduction into this marvelous Japan-inspired story with vampires!

Okay, but what are the rules, Catherine?!

Well, pretty simple: there are three steps.

1- Follow my Twitter account: @CatGV6

2- Follow my Instagram account: @catherinegv

3- Send me an email stating your name and account handles (so I can verify you're following me) to catherinegv.writertranslator@gmail.com OR send me a DM on either platform (Twitter or Instagram) and tell me your handles. 🙂

NO UNFOLLOWS ALLOWED! This giveaway is for my readers and followers. Be honest.

Also, if you don't have one or both accounts, no worries, just send me an email stating which post of mine is your favorite and why. 😉 That way, everyone gets a fair chance!

I invite you to follow the author, Courtney Maguire's social medias, too. 🙂

Lastly, the giveaway deadline is on Friday, May 14^th at 9 PM EST. Plus, I'll use a fair automatic generator to decide who's the winner. No cheating here! The winner will be announced on all my social medias on Saturday, May 15^th.

Oh, and since it's an e-copy, INTERNATIONAL IS OKAY! 😀

Don't forget to follow the rules! I wish you all the best of luck and a HUGE THANK YOU FOR READING ME SO LOYALLY!

Love y'all.

See you next post. 😉

Yellow Wife: A Book Review

Book Reviews February 13, 2021 Leave a comment

Simon & Schuster Canada

By Sadeqa Johnson

Genre: Fiction, Historical

Pages: 288

ISBN: 978-1-9821-4910-9

ASIN: B08BZFTB1Y

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), Audiobook

Publication date: January 2021

Publisher: 37 Ink/Simon & Schuster

Type: Book, Novel

*I received a free paperback copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and Sadeqa Johnson!*

Introduction

What do I have to say about Yellow Wife? Here, summarized: I… Well… my feels… I just… Wow!!!

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Okay, wait a minute now! Let me explain my reactions better. Please do proceed by reading my review and I promise it will make sense.

Blurb

Pheby Delores Brown, a teenage slave on a plantation in America in the 1800s, has been cherished above all others and promised freedom by her master at 18 years old. A tragedy strikes, and Pheby is sold by the mistress who hates her, sent to a slave jail and thrown into a life she never wanted. A life where she’ll have to be smarter than she ever thought she could be and play everything to survive, for herself and her loved ones. Will she see freedom or ensure it for those she loves by paying the ultimate price?

The Positive Sides

If you want a moving read, this is the book for you! So many harsh realities that are so poignant they made me stop reading for hours at a time, sobbing, because I felt so much for them. This is not a flaw, it’s a compliment! It’s been so long I was THIS invested in characters and their stories, I mean in such an emotional perspective that sobs were wrenched from me. There is also one of the most realistic death scenes I’ve read. Ever. And it’s just soul-crushing but so well written.

The writing is beautiful, elegant, and yet the vernacular and language of the black people are so real I can hear them in my head exactly like they would talk. Quite a talent to write so differently! I believed in their dialogue, and I enjoyed reading it so much. Professionally and passionately done, kudos to Sadeqa Johnson! As for Pheby, the main character, was strong, brilliant, affectionate, a survivor through and through. Awesome woman! I’d have done the same in her situation. Now, what about the story? Wow. Special, moving, motivating, inspiring. Strong. And the other characters? Loving, resilient, interesting, true, all of them. The mothers? So real, so touching.

It’s an extremely important read! So important I feel it changed me in some way. I can’t tell you how I’m not quite sure yet, but I feel different. Although I was never racist (I’m into languages, cultures, translation, and all of that good stuff), it still broadened my perspective. If you want to be moved and come out changed, even if only a little, please, read Yellow Wife. Everyone should read this book to know what truly happened, the horrors black people, slaves, went through. Unimaginable. Yet so real. I’m sorry for all of them. This book does something magical. It moves you, so poignant I never read anything like it; it’s raw, honest, true. It’s a women’s story, of love, sacrifice, slavery, reality, survival… It’s everything gripping. If it were for me, if I had enough money, I’d purchase a copy and distribute one to EVERYONE, but since I’m not rich, my words will have to suffice. But mark them. I always think high schoolers should read this in class due to its importance and its eye-opening nature. Please, READ THIS BOOK! shoves it in your face with passion

Reading this book, I was crying, sobbing, moved, and I wanted to reach out to all the past slaves and just… hug them, let them feel the love. Tell them they were strong and beautiful and they MATTERED. I would have offered my help, but I know they could save themselves. Black people are strong, but I’m always here for you if you need help or a discussion. I know you’re heroes too and survivors, but I wanted so bad to be their friend. Stop this cruelty. Make it right. I’m so glad things have improved, but they could still get better. I support you! HERE’S MY LOVE TO YOU! It was even harder reading this book because my family is a direct descendant of a slave woman… it’s in my roots though I am white. But I can’t deny it nor never would want to. That woman who gave birth to my family is history, she’s important, she mattered. That’s why I’m talking about it here. Also, my dear female cousin is mulatto, like Pheby the MC, and damn do I love her. Always have since I was a child and saw her for the first time. Sometimes I would read the book and see my cousin in Pheby’s stead and I would be so furious and utterly disgusted. I’m glad she’s safe. I’m glad she’s thriving. I’m glad I know her. I want you all to be safe, to tell your stories loud and clear I’ll lend you my hand when you want it, but I know you can do it on your own, heroes and heroines. You go, girl, you go, boy. And you go, non-binary. I believe in you.

I will definitely purchase a copy for my “Favourites” shelf in hardcover, because it deserves to be there. It marked and changed me positively. I don’t know how yet, but I feel it within. It’s strong; this book tore me apart and stitched me back together again. I never sobbed nor cried so hard throughout a single book, but I feel fixed somehow? I loved this journey I went on with Pheby, though my heart was ripped from my chest oftentimes. This is not only the best book I’ve read lately, it’s definitely in my top 10 EVER. It had such a huge impact on me. I’m grateful to have read it. I feel like I’ve matured, like I’ve learned and shared something. I never read a book that I thought was “important” in terms of meaning or change… but this one? It’s the one I call IMPORTANT. Please, make all the difference you can by reading it and shouting about it on social media.

Just read it, okay? Sadeqa Johnson is a glorious author, and I’ll definitely await her upcoming books.

The Negative Sides

I couldn’t find any, except that it’s a true story. Hear me out! I’m so sad this story is based on real events because the characters were immensely mistreated. I just… My heart goes to them. But the book? The book is one of the most poignant and its effects deep and long-lasting that I have ever read.

In summary, you want an imperfect book? Skip this one. You want perfection, love (in all its meaning), strength, and history? Don’t ignore Yellow Wife!

In Conclusion

For all the emotions and the positive change it produced in me, and the truth it conveys so well, I would give Yellow Wife a rating of 10 out of 5 stars! Unfortunately, I can’t. So I’ll give it a full rating of 5 excellent stars out of 5! This book is perfect in many ways, with all its special characters and the strength emanating from it and the love, but it’s most definitely perfect in my heart. I could talk for hours about this book, but this review will have to do. But if we meet, trust me, I’ll talk about it. Thank you so much Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me this most perfect book! It made a great and positive impact on me and I will never forget your kindness of agreeing to send this new reviewer of yours such a marvellous book. Miss Sadeqa Johnson, all my praise! I’m so glad Mary Lumpkin followed you back home that day so you had to write this book. Thank you.

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on her Amazon author page and Twitter, as well as Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads. Plus, don't forget to visit her publisher, Simon & Schuster. You can also add Yellow Wife to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

More Than Halfway Through My Novel and Other Projects

chit-chatting with Cat, My Projects, Nightshade (My Series), poetry December 7, 2020 Leave a comment

Miranda Kane

Get this: I’m at the 70% mark in my novel The Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence!!! Yup, I’m nearly at 3/4 and I think my progress amazing!

I never got this far in any of my books, but this one’s really hitting it (if I may say so what with Miranda being a boxing student).

I’ve been really stuck with the plot of the ending last week, BUT I found solutions and I’m ready to resume writing it. I’ll ?%$#$%? smash my goal and write “The End” soon. Hooray!

Miranda Kane and Thomas Lance are my lovelies and I can’t wait for you all to meet them and have my book in your hands, whether it be in physical, ebook, or audiobook!

(Melissa Benoist is my Miranda Kane’s faceclaim. And look, she’s ready, too!)

(Dylan O’Brien is my Thomas Lance’s faceclaim. Hmmm, Thomas is more doubtful about the whole thing, though… Hahah.)

Until then, wish me luck! I’ll go back to writing—it’s my last stretch with drafting!

I’m so ready for this! *punches her palm*

Secret Project

There’s also a secret project of mine I picked back up. It’s an old story that I… put away for a long while. I recently felt it in my bones again, you know? And I found solutions to the major blockage I had!

So, yeah, I’m actually excited about this. I’ll be shedding light on this project little by little. Hopefully, my progress will be easy (ha!) and steady (hm?).

Poetry Collection

Folks! I’m nearly done with my poetry collection. Yup! I wrote thirty poems or so, and I need about another 11 poems. After which I’ll polish them and send them to a professional editor. Soon, dears, soon you’ll be able to read them all in one place.

I’m also writing a new poetry collection, which is more personal in terms of themes and voice. And I’m starting one in French because hey, I live in Quebec, and we speak French first and foremost, so why not pair two of my favorite things?

World Building & Nightshade

Okay, get this: I picked up my Nightshade series again, but more for plotting and world building purposes. Why am I not writing it instead? Well, I find this story with the multiverse and the tangled storylines to be quite… intimidating. I don’t feel ready to tackle and do justice to this great series yet (I need more experience writing books), so I decided I’d still achieve progress by developing the plot (which sometimes gets messy) as well as the worlds we get to visit (and ain’t world building just fun?!?!??! YES!)

So, here I am, on a calm evening, scouring the Web for world building materials. And I found something quite interesting that turned out to be such an excellent surprise!

I ended up on Scribe Forge, and was hooked quickly by the collaborative work of authors and this genuinely interesting world building workbook.

So, you know what happened?

I purchased it. And I’m not mad. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised because not only is it really pretty (look at that fantasy cover! Actually, look at all their covers!), but for the hefty price (USD $20) it includes crucial information digested for you and classified according to their section (such as planets and space, society, resources, and more!) I mean, yeah, you get worksheets in those categories, sure, but real information and guidance on what to use to fill them. Uncertain about how to create a planet, its atmosphere and earth? Here you go, they’ve got you covered with important information on different atmospheres, types of earth, how lack of oxygen impacts the development of life, and so on!

I wasn’t expecting so much out of this workbook, in all honesty. Now I understand the price.

So far, I’m really pleased. I promise to use it for a while with Nightshade and then write a review about it for you, folks. Deal?

Gotcha!

See you next post, lovelies!

(Lily Collins is my Rosellia Rowland-Lovelace in my Nightshade series)

Extreme: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 18, 2020 Leave a comment

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Extreme the Book Web Site

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

Goodreads

By Joan Gelfand

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Thriller, Romance

Pages: 282

ISBN: 9781421836515

ASIN: B08BX7RJQL

Format: Paperback, eBook (Kindle)

Publication date: 2020

Publisher: Blue Light Press

Type: Book, Novel

*I received a free paperback copy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Joan Gelfand and Blue Light Press!*

Introduction

When I was offered to review Extreme by Joan Gelfand (a paperback copy no less!), I couldn’t say no. I was intrigued about the techy and Silicon Valley aspects of this story right from the start. A startup? Seen from a woman’s perspective?

I had to read it.

If this sounds interesting to you as well, then let’s explore the story’s strengths and flaws together, shall we?

Blurb

Hope Ellson is from the wrong side of the tracks, but her genius transcends class. When Hope joins FearToShred, a Silicon Valley extreme gaming startup, Hope's mission is to groom the scrappy company for prime time. Enter Doug Wiser, her very married ex. While the two work in tandem, nefarious forces are at work behind the scenes. Adding to the excitement of this thriller are the stars and heroes of surfing and skateboarding. With a keen eye on women in tech, business ethics and dangerous stunts, "Extreme" will leave you breathless.

The Positive Sides

I’ll start with the ending because it struck me as a great way to write this book’s dénouement. Not only was the phrasing gold (you have to read it for yourself, it’s clever!), but there are still surprises to be discovered! Hope makes an important announcement to Doug, which has been hinted at throughout the book but comes off as a surprise in the end, really. I’m not used to seeing such big announcements at the end, they usually come about 3/4 of a novel or so.

But what about the characters? Well, I thought they were all an interesting bunch of -sometimes- conflicting points of views and motives. As for Hope herself, she underwent great character development. In my opinion, it was impressively well done. I thought she was very flawed from the get-go, which is rare in fiction for characters tend to be flawed but not enough, but I felt I walked beside her on her personal and professional quest. I had a blast learning about her world, her opinions and desires, and get an inside view at Silicon Valley! So many thrilling events took place in the story, and twists and turns and problems kept occurring—this made me very happy as it kept the reading experience fresh. It was one bad thing over the other, and kept me guessing about what would happen next.

As for the writing, I found I really enjoyed it. It is funny, sincere, true to real life (with exemples such as “matinees” at the cinema and the famous “WTF”). The author doesn’t back down from technological terminology and real life expressions and realities, which makes the story feel more grounded, more tangible, closer to us readers. Her vocabulary is both rich and familiar, which makes for an intriguing and odd combination. But it’s pleasant to read.

The Negative Sides

Well, this might come as a surprise, but the vocabulary itself made it both hard and pleasant to read. Let me explain: I said above that the vocabulary is rich and familiar at the same time, but that’s exactly what clashes in my mind as I read. I’m expecting familiar but I get rich vocabulary… Then, if I expect rich, I get familiar. It’s as though the combination of those two is odd and takes a while to become easy to read. It was still interesting and pleasant, but harder to read.

Lastly, what really bugged me was the adulterous relationship with Doug… this definitely didn’t please me. I despise those from being a child from a family broken by an adulterous relationship. I always try to avoid such reads because, I guess, it’s a trigger for me, or just something I really can’t stand either way (it’s not in my values). It wasn’t badly written, mind you, it’s just it’s not my cup of tea. However, I liked how it ended. It was responsible and mature both from Hope and Doug.

In Conclusion

Overall, this story is surprising, immersive, and friendly (I mean, I felt like I was Hope’s friend, going on her personal and professional development withher). Despite the vocabulary that makes it not confusing but harder to read, I enjoyed this inside look at a startup in Silicon Valley a great deal! I didn’t want to close the book and I found myself wondering about the characters and their situations even when I wasn’t reading. I call that a win! So, for all these reasons, I give Extreme by Joan Gelfand a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. I recommend this book to fans of contemporary fiction and those interested in everything technology. Also, as an upside, I’m not one for contemporary reads, but this one stood out. Another win!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Twitter and Goodreads. You can also add Extreme to your bookshelves on Goodreads and visit the Extreme the book Web site.

Tavern: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 14, 2020 Leave a comment

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Deston J. Munden's Web site

By Deston J. Munden

Genre: Epic fantasy, high fantasy, fantasy, swords and sorcery, adventure

Pages: 447

ISBN: 9781795562584

ASIN: B07PWTR89Q

Format: Paperback, Ebook (Kindle)

Publication date: March 2019

Publisher: Self-published

Type: Book, Novel, First in a series

*I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to BookTasters and Deston J. Munden!*

Introduction:

I was kindly offered by BookTasters to review one of the books they had, and Tavern’s blurb stood out to me. It sounded so fantasy-like and magical… How could I resist? So, here I am, reviewing it with pleasure!

I hope many of you will find this read to their liking as I did.

Shall we go on a quest together and explore this book in more details?

Come, dear reader…

Blurb:

Information, Power. Respect.

Xelnath of the Gnarled Root—a tavern owner, information broker, healer, and guildmaster of the Blackwind Company—has found a place, far better than the forest from which he came in the magical metropolis and city-state of Lladad in the Magiian Empire.

When a simple act of kindness draws the ire of a troubled assassin, his love-stricken Archmage father and an army of magically constructed golems, Xel must scheme with vipers of the high court, mingle with royalty at the castle, blackmail drug dealers in the slums, and fight assassins and mercenaries in the streets.

He needs to lean on the support of his motley crew of a dark elf assassin, a dragon pirate, a high elf royal, and a talking dog artificer to keep him from his own inner demons and doubts.

The Positive Sides:

For starters, may I say this lad writes excellent descriptions of fights and action scenes? Because it’s true. They were so engrossing and immersive! Moreover, the whole reading experience was amusing and thrilling (despite the first confusing chapter, though). The quest Xelnath embarks on is fun and so are the other, smaller adventures in his path.

Another magnificent point is how really exotic the story and settings are! There is an orc for a main character, as well as other creatures and tribes. And magic! Did I talk about this one yet? Nope. Here goes: I love the nature-based magic system found in Tavern. All this variety gives me the feeling I am reading The Witcher, which is amazing as I love this series. (I’m even reading it in Polish! Yup, that’s a polyglot for you.)

I loved being on this reading adventure with Xelnath the orc and his motley crew. It reminded me of why I enjoy High and Epic fantasy (I’ve been falling out of touch with it lately, but now I want to resume The Witcher books—still in Polish—and go back to Lord of the Rings). I call this a win by this book and author!

The Negative Sides:

However, I found that the text was sometimes too telling and not showing enough—it was rather straightforward in multiple occasions, but I’m not sure whether it’s a fault or the author’s intention. Hmmm… Also, the first chapter was confusing as h.

It took me a while to get used to the whole situation, the world, and the orc main character! Everything was too vague, and while I understand the strategy to keep his MC’s nature a mystery at the beginning, it doesn’t help the confusion. I had a hard time immersing myself or believing the story at first. But then after the first chapter, I had a blast reading!

In Conclusion:

What can I say? It rekindled my flame for this genre. I’ve had a blast (except that damn first chapter) and I can’t wait to read the next one in this series! I will definitely follow this series and author (already doing so on his Amazon Author’s page, yup). All in all, I give Tavern by Deston J. Munden a rating of 4 stars out of 5! If you enjoy high or epic fantasy, a big and varied cast of characters, and an intricate story with amusing parts, this is the read for you!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit his Web site, you can also follow him on Goodreads and Twitter. You can also add Tavern to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.