#BookReview- The Stones: Astral Conspiracy Book 2 by @STACITROILO writing as D. L. Cross #SciFiSuspense

He’s running from Astrals. Running with Black Ops. And running toward the end of the world.

Landon Thorne belongs to an elite group: he’s one of the few people who have ever accessed the Akashic Record. He discovers a weapon that could defend the Earth.

The Astrals want to stop him. The government wants to control him. Even his allies are hiding something.

Through it all, he has one purpose. One compulsion. He’s drawn to the Georgia Guidestones.

His journey is fraught with danger – bandits, cannibals, and ancient booby traps — but when Landon finally reaches the Stones, even he is surprised by what he finds. If he can decipher the code, he can save the world.

If he can’t? His discovery may destroy him – along with the rest of the human race.

Biography

D.L. Cross has loved science fiction ever since she was a young girl and fell for Major Don West on television’s Lost in Space. To this day, she still quotes the show, though her favorite lines were spoken by the robot and the antagonist. Parallel universes or alternate realities, aliens or dinosaurs, superpowers or super viruses, time travel or AI… no sci-fi theme is off limits and all of them fascinate her. D.L. Cross also writes other genre fiction under the name Staci Troilo, and you can find more information about all her identities and all her work at her website: https://stacitroilo.com.

My Review for The Stones by D. L. Cross

What a thrill-ride!

Aliens have landed, and they aren’t friendly. The race is on to save humankind before there is utter destruction.

Landon Thorne-the man everyone ridiculed for his outlandish ideas-now seems to be the key to stopping an alien invasion. He’s doing his best to assimilate all that’s happening, but the professor isn’t prepared for the high-stakes race he’s been pushed into. After a startling vision, Landon knows his next step is to reach the Georgia Guidestones- if he can escape a crazed madwoman determined to take over the world, travel across a country gone mad, and avoid giant bug-like creatures who want him for lunch.

Part of a rebellion force, Reverie Sterling is as tough as they come. Tasked with the assignment to find people in need and bring them back to the tunnels she calls home, she takes her trusted team and heads into a chaotic new world. She doesn’t expect to find new, annoying, friends or to bear witness to the ultimate sacrifice. It messes with her head and makes her doubt her ability to protect her team. But there’s no time to dwell on painful memories. Time is ticking. The world is changing. Survival is all they have left- or do they?

Favorite Line:

Silence so thick, it oozed down her throat. She damn near gagged on the bitterness. Knew something was off. Felt it in her bones, wore it like a prickly shroud.
Cross, D.L. . The Stones: An Invasion Universe Novel (Astral Conspiracy Book 2) . Sterling and Stone. Kindle Edition.

This is a fast-paced page-turner with so many twists and turns you’ll be running to catch up! I love the interactions between Reverie and Ford- they literally strike sparks off each other. Then there’s the priest who’s forming an army to do God’s calling, the uber-crazy AATIP Agent, Nadia Adler, an alien in a bunker, and so much more!

You can read The Stones as a standalone, but I recommend starting with book 1 in the Astral Conspiracy series- The Gate (you can read my review here: https://jacqbiggar.com/2019/05/20/the-gate-an-invasion-universe-novel-astral-conspiracy-book-1-by-stacitroilo-writing-as-d-l-cross-scifi-bookreview/ ) to get a better sense of the incredible storyline and a cast of amazing characters.
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The Stones is a 5* + read!

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August 20, 2020

Jacquie Biggar61 Comments

The Last War Series by @SylvieGrayson #Scifi #reading @SDSXXTours

Khandarken Rising

The Last War Book 1

by Sylvie Grayson

Genre: Romantic Suspense SciFi

The Emperor has been defeated. New countries have arisen from the ashes of the old Empire. The citizens swear they will never need to fight again after that long and painful war.

Bethlehem Farmer is doing her best to help her brother Abram hold things together in south Khandarken after their father died in the battles. She is looking after the dispossessed, keeping the farm productive and the talc mine working in the hills behind their land. But when Abram takes a trip with Uncle Jade into the northern territory and disappears without a trace, she’s left on her own.

Suddenly things are not what they seem and no one can be trusted.

Major Dante Regiment is sent by his father, the General of Khandarken, to find out what the situation is at Farmer Holdings. What he sees shakes him to the core and fuels his grim determination to protect Bethlehem at all cost, even with his life.

Ms Grayson has created a fascinating new world with a lot of the same old problems. Sci fi and fantasy rolled into one with a sure hand and enormous imagination.

On Sale for only .99 cents!!

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Son of the Emperor

The Last War Book 2

From the mud and danger of the open road to the welcoming arms of the Sanctuary, from attacks by the dispossessed army to the storms of the open sea, Son of the Emperor takes us on a wild ride into danger and on to the dream of freedom.

The Emperor is defeated but already unrest is growing in the north of Khandarken.

After Julianne Adjudicator’s father disappears, she seeks to escape the clutches of her vicious stepmother Zanata, and flees to the Sanctuary. This is the safest place for a woman in a hostile world of unrest and roving dispossessed. But when Julianne seeks asylum, it soon becomes clear all is not as it first appeared.

Then Abe Farmer arrives at the Sanctuary seeking medical help. Abe isn’t interested in taking a young woman with them, as he and his injured bodyguard struggle to return to the Southern Territory. Yet when he discovers her fate if she stays, he finds he has no choice.

But the journey becomes more dangerous as they encounter the army of the New Emperor. Caught in the middle of a firefight, they flee toward the Catastrophic Ocean. Can Abe keep her safe till they reach home?

The Last War series is a stunning portrayal of a new world created from fire and consumed at the edges …- sci fi and fantasy at its best…

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Truth and Treachery

The Last War Book 3

The Last War series is one of a kind. The personal relationships are intriguing… The names are cool, the plot gets thicker with each page, and I loved the author’s style. I was sad to be finished and impressed by the world that Grayson was able to create. The descriptions were so real and the well-developed characters and sensuous love scenes make this a page turner.

Emperor Carlton has been backed into a corner, with his visions of expansion collapsing all around him. The skirmishes he’s launched have had limited success. But he has a new plan to overthrow everything Khandarken has cobbled together since the end of the Last War, and he knows just the man to make it happen. Chief Constable Lanser is a private man with a close connection to the Old Emprie that he doesn’t divulge to anyone. Although he’s dedicated to his position in Khandarken, things are not what they seem in the rank and file of the police. And it’s his job to fix it. Selanna Nettles is a sookie, trained in Legitamia, who works with the disposessed and injured workers in the Western Territory near her family. When she meets Lanser, her life takes a startling turn once he hires her to accompany him to a set of high-level meetings in Gilsigg. In Legitamia, these three meet up and the result is explosive. Not just for each of them but for the future of Khandarken. When the Emperor makes Conden an offer, can he refuse? Especially as it is everything he’s secretly dreamed of.

On Sale for only $1.99 !!

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Weapon of Tyrants

The Last War Book 4

Damian Stuke was an enforcer for a gamer, but now he is in training as an undercover agent for the Khandarken military. Then he encounters a fascinating woman with a hidden agenda. But when he discovers what she is hiding, his protective instincts kick into high gear.

Fanny Master is from the elite in Khandarken, and when both her parents are murdered, she is forced to run for her life, or be the next victim of her hunter. Amid the chaos of the International Head Ball Games and as Emperor Carlton ramps up his plans for invasion, her attacker makes another attempt on her life. Will Damian save her from her unknown enemy, or is he still working for the other side?

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Prince of Jiran

The Last War Book 5

Shandro, Prince of the Penrhy tribe of Jiran, disagrees with his father, Sovereign Pollack, on nearly every issue that arises between them. But his goal is to uphold the family values in spite of Pollack’s conniving moves as he deals with the hotbed of competing nations.

Then Shandro is sent on a mission across the mountains into Khandarken to bring back Princess Chinata, a bride for Emperor Carlton’s Advisor. In exchange, Jiran and the Penrhy tribe are given a peace agreement, protection against invasion by the Emperor’s troops. This seems a good trade, as Carlton is hovering on their borders with his need for more land. However, not far into the journey, it becomes apparent someone is not adhering to the terms of the peace accord.

Near the tribal border, Shandro and his troops have come under direct attack from unknown forces. He digs deeper into Chinata’s background to find strong ties to the New Empire. Is it too dangerous to bring Princess Chinata into Jiran? Or as her escort, does Shandro become her defender against the Emperor’s troops?

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Banderos

The Last War Book 6

Loyal Hawker, an undercover agent for the Khandarken military, has never met anyone quite like the woman he encounters on his trip to the south. He’s approached by Angel, only daughter among the many sons of Gerwal Banderos, a well-known strongman who seized much of the unclaimed territory north of Adar Silva at the end of the Last War. Angel declares her father wants to meet with him on a matter of urgency. While suspicious of her intentions as she leads him across extensive territory toward the Banderos compound, Loyal can’t deny his attraction to her. With Emperor Carlton invading in an attempt to reclaim his Empire, danger hovers over the Banderos land, and the brothers show they’re not as united as they first appear. During the ensuing chaos, when the compound is besieged, Loyal must work in the midst of deceit and betrayal to protect what is left of Angel’s heritage. Can he survive long enough to find out who’s targeting Angel and save her from her treacherous brothers?

On Sale for only $1.99 !!

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Sylvie Grayson loves to write about suspense, romance and attempted murder, in both contemporary and science fiction/fantasy. She has lived most of her life in British Columbia, Canada in spots ranging from Vancouver Island on the west coast to the North Peace River country and the Kootenays in the beautiful interior. She spent a one year sojourn in Tokyo Japan.

She has been an English language instructor, a nightclub manager, an auto shop bookkeeper and a lawyer. Now she works part time as the owner of a small company, and writes when she finds the time.

She is a wife and mother and still loves to travel, having recently completed a trip to Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and Hong Kong. She lives on the coast of the Pacific Ocean with her husband on a small patch of land near the sea that they call home.

Website * Facebook Author * Facebook Profile * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

$20 Amazon, 5 copies of book one,

one copy each of book two to six,
ebooks only

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October 31, 2019October 20, 2019

Jacquie Biggar14 Comments

The Scout: Dark Crossings by D.L. Cross #SciFi #BookReview @StaciTroilo

The aliens have landed. The humans are panicking. The scouts have been sent.

J’s mission is clear — find an alien outpost, observe, report back. Simple enough. It’s what he’s trained to do. But he’s always worked with his team, never as a party of one. Now he’s been sent out alone to blindly navigate a dense, dark forest until he finds his target. The dynamics are foreign to him, the stakes never higher. Resources are scarce. Comms are down.

And he’s found the enemy.

J is shocked when everyone’s true allegiances are revealed. And the consequences of betrayal will be deadly.

Biography

My Review

When a scout is given a mission to find and observe feared aliens, he takes on the job with determination- though he’s never had to work alone before.

Soon, he finds his quarry and settles in to gather intel for his superiors. Poor communications forces him to trek miles in order to relay information.

A chance meeting with a young alien woman leads to an unlikely alliance- one that leads to unexpected consequences.

For a short story, this book packs one heck of a punch! I totally didn’t expect the twist at the end. Kudos to the author for writing a page-turning suspense!

I give The Scout: Dark Crossings 5 lovely kisses- Things are not always how they appear!

July 28, 2019July 27, 2019

Jacquie Biggar33 Comments

The Gate: An Invasion Universe Novel (Astral Conspiracy Book 1) by @StaciTroilo writing as D.L. Cross #SciFi #BookReview

He lost his job. He lost his girl. Now it’s all he can do not to lose his life.

Landon Thorne is a disgraced archaeologist, a laughing stock in his field because of his unconventional beliefs – he’s an ancient astronaut theorist. No one takes him seriously.

Until an alien armada targets Earth.

Now Landon’s in high demand – by the US government and someone far more sinister.

They race across two continents to the Gate of the Gods, the one place on Earth that might give humans an advantage over the aliens. But no one is prepared for what they’ll find.

And not everyone will make it out alive.

Fans of action, intrigue, and aliens will love The Gate, the first book in the Astral Conspiracy series. Pick up your copy now!

https://read.amazon.ca/kp/embed?asin=B07QRYPXVT&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_ElH4Cb582QG89&tag=jacqbiggar-20

Biography

My Review

A cross between Indiana Jones and Men in Black!

When emergency broadcasting sends out a notice of the impending invasion of aliens, disgraced archeology professor Landon Thorne suddenly becomes a hot commodity.

Betrayed by the woman he loved- an AATIP Agent- Thorne decides to help a fellow agent instead of her and lands himself in hot water at the hands of a band of merciless mercenaries.

The race is on to save the human race. Landon must use his archeological theories to make contact with the aliens and avert a worldwide crisis before it’s too late, but all is not as it seems. The danger he faces on earth may be more than anything from outer space.

An amazing amount of research went into this story and lifts it above the average read for me. I enjoy learning new things when I pick up a book and this one taught a bit of ancient history as well as scientific theory that was truly interesting.

The author did a fantastic job building tension and yet the layers of humor kept the subject matter from becoming too forbidding.

Favorite Lines

Where did he begin? Where did he end? Did he even exist at all? Purple music waltzed up his arms, cool and wet. It tasted of ozone. Or was he tasting himself, consuming his own essence? An ouroboros of flesh and blood and bone and soul, born of the Earth and of the Heavens themselves.

Cross, D.L.. The Gate: An Invasion Universe Novel (Astral Conspiracy Book 1) . Sterling & Stone. Kindle Edition.

Landon took a deep breath, then he rose up on his knee. Stretching his other leg back for leverage, he leaned over Wolf, bracing his hand on the stone floor for balance. If it was a yoga pose, it had to be called Suicidal Man.

Cross, D.L.. The Gate: An Invasion Universe Novel (Astral Conspiracy Book 1) . Sterling & Stone. Kindle Edition.

I give The Gate 5+ lovely kisses- well worth the read!

May 20, 2019May 19, 2019

Jacquie Biggar44 Comments

The storm was only the beginning… Queen of Iron and Blood by @Melissa_Wright #YA #SciFi @PrismBookTours

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Queen of Iron and Blood
(Shattered Realms #2)
By Melissa Wright
YA, NA Urban Fantasy, SciFi
ebook, 148 Pages
August 20th 2018

The storm was only the beginning…

Mackenzie Scott is trapped in another realm, but that’s the least of her problems. Magic runs through her veins, and even now she can feel herself changing. She’s managed to help her brother, but in exchange, she’s turning into one of them. Worse, Mackenzie’s not just a monster. She’s their queen.

Hunter had one job: open the gateway between worlds to keep his realm alive. He hadn’t counted on betrayal. He hadn’t counted on being saved by a human girl. And he’d never guessed he couldn’t trust his own king. Now he’s trapped in a world to which he can never truly belong.

Separated by realms, Mackenzie and Hunter must save the other’s world. But the divide isn’t the only thing working against them. Beasts and men fight a dangerous battle that pits Hunter and Mackenzie against those they’re trying to protect.

And the clock is ticking.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│iBooks

Excerpt

Chapter One

Hannah was standing by the window, staring out into a world so changed from anything she’d ever known. The sky was there, still and blue, the only constant among the tumult of the last twenty-seven days. It was cerulean, like a painting, bright and promising, all the things she remembered it being as a child. She’d never been one for crayons, but that sky would have made it onto her parents’ fridge.

Hannah’s mother was in the military. Her father. Two of her uncles. Crayon-aged Hannah wouldn’t have touched a gun.

A black-winged bird slammed into the glass inches from Hannah’s face, the noise making her fingers tighten around the stock of her M4. She wanted to turn away from the window, from the disingenuousness of that promising sky, and cross the darkened room. But Hannah was on watch. She straightened, eyes narrowed against the light of a hidden sun, and another bird smacked into the glass with a dull thud.

Thud. Thud, thud, thud.

“Captain,” Hannah called over her shoulder. “Captain!”

She walked backward, pacing slowly, heel-first. There was debris scattered over this floor, over every floor in every standing structure since the monsters had come. The monsters they’d chased to the gateway. The monsters that weren’t supposed to come back.

Other Books in the Series

King of Ash and Bone
(Shattered Realms #1)
By Melissa Wright
YA, NA Urban Fantasy, SciFi
Paperback & ebook, 216 Pages
February 2nd 2015

When flying monsters break through the veil into her world, Mackenzie Scott has nothing left to lose. Her brother has been taken, her future has vanished, and all that remains is a desperate need for revenge. After discovering the breach the creatures used as a gateway, Mackenzie devises a plan to stop them, whatever the cost.

When she finds an injured stranger in the street, he just might be the key she needs to succeed. What Mackenzie doesn’t know is that this stranger isn’t the helpless boy he appears to be. He’s one of the monsters. And he’s got plans of his own.

Thrown into a dying city in another realm, Mackenzie is powerless to get back. With the gateway closing, time is not on her side. But the stranger is, and if they can escape execution, this girl and her monster might be able to save both their worlds.

Grab an ebook of the first book in the series for FREE!
Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│iBooks

About the Author

Melissa Wright is the author of the Frey Saga, Descendants Series, and Shattered Realms Series. She is currently working on the next book, but when not writing can be found collecting the things she loves at Goodreads and Pinterest. Contact her through the web at www.melissa-wright.com.

Website│Blog│Goodreads│Twitter│Pinterest│Instagram│BookBub

Tour Schedule

August 20th:
Launch
It’s All About the Romance
SilverWoodSketches
An Indie Adventure
Mythical Books
>August 21st:
Declarations of a Fangirl
My Life, Loves and Passion
Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima
August 22nd:
Andi’s Young Adult Books
>Wishful Endings
Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
August 23rd:
Reading On The Edge
Getting Your Read On
Colorimetry
August 24th:
Stacking My Book Shelves!
Nicole’s Book Musings
August 25th:
Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive an awesome prize pack with “survival” gear: print copies of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, Angelfall by Susan Ee, and King of Ash and Bone by Melissa Wright, plus Be Your Own Hero bracelet, lip balm, compass, playing cards, emergency blanket, and other fun stuff
US only
Ends August 29th

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August 20, 2018August 20, 2018

Jacquie Biggar10 Comments

Bringer of Chaos: forged in Fire by @KayelleAllen #Fantasy #SciFi #MFRWauthor

A genius immortal with an eidetic memory tries to be perfect, but for Pietas, things don’t go as planned. Especially since his best friend is a human who doesn’t take anything seriously.

Mix in a telepathic lover from whom he can hide no secrets, a ginormous sentient panther who wants to be his “kitty” and you have the makings of a lot of humor. If only life were that simple.

Half a million of his people are in cryosleep, awaiting release, and Pietas must find a way to save them. In a play for power, his brutal and merciless father tries to destroy everything.

Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever…

In this scene, Pietas has been playing with the panther, a huge animal he calls Tiklaus. The name means “Loyal Warrior.”

The panther batted at him, knocked Pietas onto his back and then flipped itself down beside him. Tiklaus wrapped its front legs around his arm and gnawed at it in gentle play while the hind feet kicked him without injury. Claws flashed, but did no harm.

Pietas blew out a breath. Now I know how a chew toy feels.

When the panther draped itself over his chest, Pietas struggled to slide out from under but could not get up. The animal weighed less than he did, but with no visible effort, it kept Pietas from rising.

“I concede, my friend. You win.”

The panther ignored him.

“Tiklaus, off.”

Nothing.

“Off, please.”

The panther yawned, opening a huge maw. Fangs flashed.

Pietas tried a signal that worked with sparring partners and asked for release by double-tapping the panther’s side.

The cat stood at once and stepped over him. It shook from nose to tail, then sat and groomed itself.

Pietas stood and brushed himself off. Standing beside Tiklaus, who reached him mid-thigh, he took pride in knowing this sweet, playful cat was also the snarling ball of animal rage that had nailed his father to the ground.

Pietas ensured no one was on the path in either direction before he knelt and scratched the cat’s ears. “Who’s a good kitty?”

The animal sneaked in a lick of his hand and face and flopped down on its back.

“My Tiklaus, that’s who. Tiklaus is a good kitty.” He rubbed the smooth belly. “Yes, you are! Such a good, big kitty. You’re my kitty, aren’t you? Good, good kitty.”

The panther accepted the attention, one paw twitching. After a moment, it stood and shook itself. A purring sound rumbled from its chest. It sat, licked one paw and added a lick of Pietas’s face as well.

He chuckled. “Thank you for the bath.” He hugged the panther’s neck. “You have as soft a heart as I do but you don’t show it either. Pact, my friend. I won’t tell if you won’t.” He kissed Tiklaus on the nose.

The panther bumped its head against Pietas, then bounded to a tree and up it.

Out Dec 29th, exclusively on Amazon. Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire is also available in print. Free on Kindle Unlimited
http://amzn.to/2ABIcCI
Genre: science fiction, space opera, military science fiction
Heat level: PG13
Review this book on NetGalley https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/127569

Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire
Marooned on a barren world with no food and few survival tools, Pietas knows it could be worse. He could be alone. But that’s the problem. He’s not.

Half a million of his people sleep in cryostasis, trapped in their pods and it’s up to Pietas to save them. But before he can, he must take back command from a ruthless enemy he’s fought for centuries. His brutal, merciless father.
Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever…

Giveaway

Here is a free adult coloring book to download and print, based on Pietas. Like dragons? You’ll enjoy this! http://bit.ly/color-pietas

Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She’s a US Navy veteran who’s been married so long she’s tenured.
https://kayelleallen.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Facebook https://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author
Join the Romance Lives Forever Reader Group Download four free books and get news about books coming soon. You can unsubscribe at any time.

December 29, 2017December 28, 2017

Jacquie Biggar14 Comments

Eversoul by Adam Reese #SciFi #Suspense @authoradamreese

Eversoul by Adam Reese

Series: Amniwar Trilogy, Book Two
Genre: Science Fiction Suspense
Publication Date: June 3, 2017

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AMAZON

The chase is on for Aaron Lambright as he travels back to familiar territory. A place where his father’s clues lead him back home to Cordova, Alaska. With the United States government hot on his tail and a corrupt leader striving to take more than he can endure, our world is at the brink of an early apocalypse.
Can Aaron trust his new ally, Amnicore? Will he be able to lock away his troubling memories and find the key to the answers he seeks? Is the Eversoul the Key to unlock what awaits our world in the future?

MEET THE AUTHOR

Adam Reese

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BLOG

Adam Reese is an erotic horror author from Georgia. He is the creative mind behind the “Triple D

Series” and currently creates book teaser trailers. His academics stemmed from the Art Institute of Atlanta, where he studied Audio and Film Production. For twelve years, he has written imaginative stories from science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

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June 3, 2017June 1, 2017

Jacquie BiggarLeave a comment

Fated Destinations #BoxedSet #Romance @ExpressoReads

Fated Destinations
(Crimson Tree Publishing)
Publication date: December 27th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction

FATED DESTINATIONS: A Contemporary, Paranormal, and Science Fiction Romance Boxed Set

Escape from the everyday with this set of 7 all-new travel-based romances from award-winning authors. These exciting stories span the globe (and beyond!) to spin tales of love and intrigue in exotic locations. Take a mental vacation today with the Fated Destinations box set.

A Royal Problem by Julie Wetzel

Jessie is tasked with saving a set of jewels from pirates that attack her cruise ship. She jumps overboard and swims for shore, knowing only that she must find Lord Marcus at the majestic castle in Ospioria…

Mandatory Vacation by Kelly Risser

When workaholic Natalie Olsen is forced to take a vacation by her new boss, she books a cabana at the private island resort of Hibiscus Cay. But instead of relaxing, she finds herself intrigued by the handsome resort manager who seems to be hiding something…

Guide Me Gently by Peggy Martinez

Alyssa Monroe always dreamed of escaping to exotic locales as a photographer, so she’s thrilled as she sets off for Dasia Island. But only one guide is willing to take her deep into a forbidden forest… a sexy, tattooed local who sets her blood on fire and gets her camera finger itching.

Hawaiian Sunrise by Melissa J. Cunningham

Betrayed just before her wedding day, brokenhearted Jamie rents a bungalow on the beautiful island of Maui. Will the tour guide who shows her the island also be able to show her how to trust again?

Jessie’s Girl by Susan Harris

After she lost her mother to cancer, Maxine Fox threw herself into drugs, drink, and partying to cope with the loss. When she is expelled from her third school, her father decides to send her to a catholic private school in Ireland. But tattooed bisexual Max is probably not going to fit in easily…

Prisms by Kendra Saunders

The invitation was to a diplomatic peace ceremony on the desert planet of Quassdar. But Quassdar is also known for its steamy sex magick rituals, and it seems like Griffin may have gotten things a little bit mixed up…

Ashes Overboard by Sandy Goldsworthy

For graduation, Aubrey Sheppard’s fiancé gave her a dream Caribbean Cruise vacation. The only problem is, their relationship ended before the ship ever set sail. Now Aubrey—an inexperienced traveler—sets out alone, nervous and unsure. A shared cab ride introduces her to someone new, who’s also trying to move on with his life…

Goodreads / Amazon

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January 15, 2017January 9, 2017

Jacquie BiggarLeave a comment

All he’ll have to do is defy Fate-Before Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn #YA #Fantasy #mgtab @pintipdunn

Before Tomorrow
Pintip Dunn
(Forget Tomorrow #1.5)
Published by: Entangled: Teen
Publication date: October 31st 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Prequel to the New York Times bestselling and award-winning novel, FORGET TOMORROW!

In a world where all seventeen-year-olds receive a memory from their future selves, Logan Russell’s vision is exactly as he expects — and exactly not. He sees himself achieving his greatest wish of becoming a gold-star swimmer, but strangely enough, the vision also shows him locking eyes with a girl from his past, Callie Stone, and experiencing an overwhelming sense of love and belonging.

Logan’s not sure what the memory means, but soon enough, he learns that his old friend Callie is in trouble. She’s received an atypical memory, one where she commits a crime in the future. According to the law, she must be imprisoned, even though she’s done nothing wrong. Now, Logan must decide if he’ll give up his future as a gold-star swimmer and rescue the literal girl of his dreams. All he’ll have to do is defy Fate.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Grab your copy today for FREE!

—

EXCERPT:

He could see her now, and it made him want to fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness. If he had known, he never would’ve let her come.

Her face was pale, so pale, and her eyes stood out like stars in the black sky. But they weren’t lustrous stars full of verve and sparkle; no, her stars were the ones at the end of their lives, the ones in danger of blinking out. Her bones looked fragile, her skin was as thin as parchment paper. Bruises decorated her arm like the latest fashion trends. In a mere week, she looked like this. In a week, she had transformed from a girl to an apparition.

His heart shook, and shame flooded him. I’m sorry, Callie. So sorry. I didn’t know. I thought this was what you wanted. I thought I was doing the right thing.

He hadn’t known—but he should’ve. He was the one with the connection to the Underground. The one with access to information other people didn’t have. He should’ve known, and he should’ve stopped her.

But then, so quickly he barely registered it, she crossed the floor and laid her hand on his chest. He blinked—and then blinked again. What was she doing? They had to get out of here.

“You feel amazing,” she said, oblivious to the urgency. She didn’t sound like herself, either. What was going on? And then she shuffled forward until their shoes were touching. He inhaled sharply and forgot everything else. The touch was nothing. He knew that. Synthetic rubber against synthetic rubber. But now they were connected in two spots. Everything inside him sizzled and popped. If she touched him anywhere else, he might explode.

She seemed determined to try. She trailed her hand across his chest, over his shoulders, up, up, up to his face. And then, she rubbed her fingers back and forth, and the breath shot out of him. He’d never felt anything so sweet, so exquisite. It felt so good it almost hurt. No, it did hurt, but if this were pain, he’d go to Limbo for an eternity.

Her fingers skipped to his lips—and he couldn’t take it anymore. His body broke free from the force that was paralyzing him. He could either grab her and kiss her senseless—or he could put a stop to this and get on with the mission.

He struggled. Oh, how he struggled and damned Fate to the moon and back. Every fiber in his body screamed, Do it! Kiss her now! And if they were anywhere else, if it were any other time, he would’ve.

But he couldn’t forget the bruises on her body. If he didn’t break her out now, he’d never be able to live with himself.

He reached up and covered her hand with his trembling fingers. Fate help him, if he was going to end this moment, he wanted at least one touch of his hand against hers. Something for him to remember during his sleepless nights.

He moved her hand from his lips, and it felt like he was dragging it through wet concrete. “I can’t believe I’m saying this,” he said hoarsely, “but we don’t have much time.”

Her eyes snapped into focus, and everything about her features sharpened. “You’re real?”

Author Bio:

When her first-grade teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, Pintip replied, “An author.” Although she has pursued other interests over the years, this dream has never wavered.

Pintip graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL.

Pintip is represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. She is a 2012 RWA Golden Heart® finalist and a 2014 double-finalist.

She lives with her husband and children in Maryland.

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November 3, 2016October 27, 2016

Jacquie BiggarLeave a comment

Firelight Confession by Rebecca York #mfrwauthor #mgtab #PNR @RebeccaYork43

Firelight Confession

by

Rebecca York

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Mail order bride, Carin Tully, arrived on the frontier planet, Palomar, hoping for a better life–with her new husband Gabe Cooper. Like all the guys on Palomar, he hadn’t seen a woman for fifteen years–since the plague that had sent men and their sons fleeing to this outpost on the edge of civilization. Carin wants to seduce Gabe and prove she’s up to the job of farm wife, but she’s hiding a secret that could destroy their marriage before it has a chance to succeed.

Buy Link:

AMAZON

A New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-selling and award-winning author, Rebecca has written over 145 books and novellas. In 2011 she became the dozenth author to receive the Romance Writers of America Centennial Award for having written 100 romantic novels. Her Killing Moon was a launch title for Berkley’s Sensation imprint in June 2003. Five more books in the series have followed.

Rebecca has authored or co-authored over 65 romantic thrillers, many for Harlequin Intrigue’s very popular 43 Light Street series, set in Baltimore, and many with paranormal elements.

Her many awards include two Rita finalist books. She has two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times: for Series Romantic Suspense and for Series Romantic Mystery. And her Peregrine Connection series won a Lifetime Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense Series.

Follow Rebecca here:

Website

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My Review:

This story starts out with a young woman landing on a strange planet to meet her new husband. She’s a mail-order bride looking to get a second opportunity at a decent life.

I was quickly reeled into the storyline and gained empathy for Carin who felt this was her last chance. It reminded me of the pioneer women; stronger and braver than they even realized they could be.

When Carin’s new husband is injured, and it’s left to her to provide for them and take care of the farm, she digs in and doesn’t give up even though the circumstances are far outside her comfort zone.

A misunderstanding rips these two apart and the reader is left hoping they will overcome their differences and find their happy-ever-after.

Rebecca does a great job of world building and creating complex characters in the limited space of a short story.

Favorite line:

But when she thought of Gabe and his reaction, the fantasy of raising her child in this environment evaporated like mist burning off in the morning sun.

I give Firelight Confession 4 lovely kisses