Tag: Urban Fantasy

Excerpt, Giveaways, Spotlight

Excerpt from The Persistence of Memory: Deja Vu by Karen Janowsky w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @Karen_Janowsky #paranormalromance

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Karen Janowsky will be awarding a digital copy of the entire Persistence of Memory trilogy: Deja vu, All Our Yesterdays, and The Beginning of Always, in epub or mobi, to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When superheroes fall in love, anything can happen.

Daniel Hecht doesn’t belong in this century. Catapulted into the present from 1943, he’s out of place and out of touch. Still, he was the American war hero called “Lionheart” and his heroism has followed him into the modern world. He now leads an underground group of superpowered misfits, but the misfit he keeps turning to is Nina Asher.

Nina has a vast knowledge of history, yet no idea who she is or where she’s from. She has become the target of dangerous creatures that have appeared all over the world. As she and Daniel work to decipher an ancient, cryptic myth, they experience flashbacks to things that never could have happened. They are falling in love, but there’s something they’re sure they need to remember, and it’s keeping them apart.

The key to saving the world may begin with the act of remembering.

Read an Excerpt

From CHAPTER TWO

Labyrinth

‘The New Woman was blessed. Each of the gods lay a gift inside the womb of the unborn goddess.’

July 2011, Roosevelt University, Washington, D.C.

Nina

“As a matter of fact, I already have gotten lost in here,” Nina admitted. She had just led Daniel through the archives room at the back of the library. After a few unintended detours, they managed to find their way back to the entrance. “I don’t think I’m usually this bad with direction.” She wondered if she should have said that aloud. It seemed like the opposite of what one should say while trying to make a good impression. She saw him look at her sideways and couldn’t quite tell whether he was trying not to laugh at her.

“I can see why.” He turned around, surveying the labyrinthine expanse of corridors demarcated by large crates and floor-to-ceiling shelves which were crammed with boxes, tools, and large, old-looking objects. He smiled. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, organizing this place.”

He turned around again. He was only a few inches away from her, and when he reached past her waist, she held her breath. A memory flashed of the same motion, the same, comforting scent, like the woods after it rained, and a familiar, definitively masculine arm pulling her closer. The memory vanished as he leaned in and turned the doorknob, holding the door open for her to pass. She met his eyes as she walked by him and he looked as startled as she felt. She tried to blink away the residual, now contentless déjà vu. “Well, I won’t be bored, at least.” She tried to get a quick, surreptitious impression of his reaction, hoping his face wouldn’t register disappointment in her lack of wit. When she glanced up, it was obvious that he had been looking at her as well. They locked eyes and looked away.

About the Author:

Karen Janowsky has been fascinated by ancient mythology since childhood. She has loved superheroes since the first time she saw the Super Friends on television in 1970’s. Because flying an invisible jet was never a viable career option, and because running around in a cape, swimsuit, and bright red boots is not socially acceptable for adults, she teaches yoga and writing at the College of Southern Maryland. Her stories and poems have been featured in several anthologies and literary magazines since 1991. She received her master’s degree in English from Florida State University.

Author website: https://www.karenjanowsky.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Karen-Janowsky-391334061451858/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Karen_Janowsky
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkarenjanowsky/

Where to Buy:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Persistence-Memory-Book-Déjà-Vu-ebook/dp/B07P5GF4FH
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-persistence-of-memory-book-1-karen-janowsky/1130727739
Apple iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1454271061
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-persistence-of-memory-4

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Excerpt, Giveaways, Loose ID, Reviews

#Review of Trusting Justice by J.J. Lore w/a rafflecopter giveaway! #UrbanFantasy #Dystopian #Review #excerpt #giveaway @JJLore1

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Trusting Justice

by J. J. Lore

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GENRE:   futuristic/Dystopian

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BLURB:

It’s been twenty years since the Sion arrived on Earth, changing everything, and Sasha Morency has spent her life avoiding their notice as best she can. She’s grown up with a collapsed population, unstable climate, and the bare minimum of survival necessities, all while the conquerors thrive. When she’s caught up in an investigation of the theft of rare jewels at the Reliquary where she works, she becomes the focus of a cynical Sion who is charged with solving the crime.

Banished from his Sion clan and his squad in the police department for not following orders, Dram Opano is not surprised to be assigned a basic theft case at an obscure Earther museum. A young woman working there knows more than she’s telling, so Dram decides to stay close. Sasha has a talent for climbing walls, confronting authority, and digging for information, much to his surprise-and-delight.

Sasha and Dram expect to distrust each other, but as they pool their resources to discover exactly what happened, a bond of respect and passion develops between them.  When Dram is kidnapped by the people behind the theft, Sasha has to call on all her skills to save him. It’s a question of survival, for both their lives and their love. 

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Excerpt One:

The young woman slid a bold glance his way, her brown eyes bright, and he went still. As soon as she dropped her gaze to her shoes, his heart started again. Yes, there was something there. Dismissing the stupidity of the idea that anyone who’d stolen something would loiter about with the goods in her pocket, he considered her. Average size, average height, good skin that he could see, and balanced posture, so she was getting enough to eat.

“I’m Dram Opano.” As smoothly as he could, he reached out his hand in human fashion, rather than grasp at her forearm as he would a Sanad clan-mate. She pressed her lips together and briefly clasped her hand to his. He felt callouses, cold skin, and a slight shudder from her.

“Sasha Morency.” She tried to take a step away but backed into the wall. Her body jolted, and he internally winced in sympathy.

“Would you consent to a search?” Technically she had the right to defer, but it was understood any time a human refused they would be arrested on suspicion of criminal activity. A rule intended to clear people with nothing to hide but used in actuality by his people as a way to intimidate. Yet another way his fellows maintained control over their unruly cousins.

“If I don’t?” Sasha Morency’s lips slanted in an unhappy line, and she finally met his gaze. His awareness was shrinking to encompass only him and her, just like any fine interrogation should.

“I have a feeling you know.”

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I was so excited to read this book.  I’m not a big fan of urban fantasy.  Sure I love Kit Rocha but that is my only venture into the genre.  So basically reading Ms. Lore’s tale is like popping my cherry all over again.  I’m sure glad that she popped it.  I adored this book.  ADORED!!!!  In fact, if she wrote more about the Earthers and Sions I would auto buy them.  Pre-order them even.  Yes, this book is that good.

Prepare yourself for one hell of a ride, too.  The action only stops when the smexy times heat up.  It’s fast paced, flows beautifully and you will definitely be in Sasha and Dram’s corner has a couple.  Both are coming from sad relationships that ended badly but when they start to fall in love with each other, it shocks them.  In fact, they are both scared to death.  Sasha is the Earther and Dram is the Sion.  Keep in mind that Sion’s are humans, too that have only come back to Earth after several millennia away from the world.

The world building is easy to follow and fascinating, too.  Again, if she came back to this world, I’m there.  The setting for this story is in Toledo, Ohio.  I know, right.  And to think that being exiled to Massachusetts is a bad thing.  I liked the fact that Dram’s superior didn’t look down on Sasha either.  She respected her but knew that for Dram and Sasha to be together it would be a tough row to hoe.

The secondary characters only add to the fun of the book.  Not everyone is nice to each other but it’s nice to see that there isn’t a clear villain in this story.  If I had to say who the villain is, I would say both the Sions and the Earthers.  Its a different kind of suspense element in the book and when they finally figure out everything, I was holding my breath.  Whew!  I would be remiss to mention the smexy times.  They are hot but very emotional for both Sasha and Dram.  I left the love between them before they did.  *swoon*

Overall, I highly recommend the book.  Ms. Lore, please I’m begging, I need more Sions and Earthers.  You have a fan for life.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

  1. J. Lore needs three things; strong, black coffee, time to write, and…well…you can guess the third. When she isn’t inventing fantastical tales filled with passionate people, she’s shaking sriracha on whatever she’s eating or reading about the Justinian plague. For updates on her erotic romance releases, visit her at http://www.jjlore.com/ She’s also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-J-Lore/1393971707546734 and Twitter @JJLore1

Buy Links:

Barnes and Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trusting-justice-jj-lore/1125504204

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Trusting-Justice-J-J-Lore-ebook/dp/B01N9QF69Z

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

J. Lore will be awarding $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway ”

 

Excerpt, Giveaways, New Release, Reviews

#Review of The Unlikeable Demon Hunter by Deborah Wilde w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @wildeauthor

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The Unlikeable Demon Hunter

by Deborah Wilde

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GENRE: Urban Fantasy Romance

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BLURB:

Bridesmaids meets Buffy.

The ago-old story of what happens when a foul-mouthed, romance impaired heroine with no edit button and a predilection for hot sex is faced with her worst nightmare–a purpose.

Ari Katz is intelligent, driven, and will make an excellent demon hunter once initiated into the Brotherhood of David. However, this book is about his twin Nava: a smart-ass, self-cultivated hot mess, who is thrilled her brother is stuck with all the chosen one crap.

When Nava half-drunkenly interrupts Ari’s induction ceremony, she expects to be chastised. What she doesn’t expect is to take her brother’s place among the–until now–all-male demon hunters. Even worse? Her infuriating leader is former rock star Rohan Mitra, whose sudden retirement in his early twenties now seems a lot less mysterious.

Convinced that her twin still has a shot at his destiny, Nava hatches a plan to convince the Brotherhood to bring the other Katz sibling into the fold. It’s too bad Rohan’s guarding her so closely that she might not be able to put it into action.

And it’s really too bad Rohan’s exactly what Nava’s always wanted: the perfect bad boy fling with no strings attached, because he may also be the one to bring down her carefully erected emotional shields. That’s as dangerous as all the evil fiends vying for the bragging rights of killing the only female ever chosen for Demon Club–or the one demon in particular out for payback.

Odds of survival: eh.

Odds of having a very good time with Rohan before she bites it: much better.

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Excerpt One:

The red wine on the modular coffee table gleamed in a shaft of sunlight like its position had been ordained by the gods. I snatched up the crystal decanter, sloshing the liquid into the glass conveniently placed next to it. Once in a while, a girl could actually catch a break.

I fanned myself with one hand. The myriad of lit candles seemed a bit much for my brother’s romantic encounter, but wine drinking trumped curiosity so I chugged the booze back. My entire body cheered as the cloyingly-sweet alcohol hit my system, though I hoped it wasn’t Manischewitz because hangovers on that were a bitch. I’d slugged back half the contents when I saw my mom on the far side of the room clutch her throat, eyes wide with horror. Not her usual, “you need an intervention” horror. No, her expression indicated I’d reached a whole new level of screw-up.

“Nava Liron Katz,” she gasped in full name outrage.

My cheeks still bulging with wine, I properly scoped out the room. Mom? Check. Dad? Check. Ari? Check? Rabbi Abrams, here to perform the ceremony to induct my brother as the latest member in the Brotherhood of David, the chosen demon hunters?

Check.

I spit the wine back into what I now realized was a silver chalice and handed it to the elderly bearded rabbi. “Carry on,” I told him. Then I threw up on his shoes.

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Ever get hyped about a book?  Love the cover?  Blurb is terrific and then you read it and you are left wondering how to rate the book and review it?  Let me back up a bit.  I don’t read Urban Fantasy at all.  I barely read Paranormal Romance, so for me to read outside my comfort zone is HUGE!  I’m also looking for new to me authors.  Especially authors that can make me laugh.  So, you are still wondering if I even liked the book?  Yes, I did and I highly recommend it to all the UF peeps.  Here’s my list of likes and dislikes about the book:

LIKES

  1.  The writing is top notch.  I was immediately sucked into the story from the first page.  The flow is great and I never got frustrated.
  2.   The plot is unique and fresh.  Rabbi’s as demon hunters?  I have lots of Jewish friends and trust me, I can see one or two of them as Nava…seriously.
  3.   The family dynamics are also good.  Sure Nava’s parents are pissed and even ignore her to some extent but that just makes her work harder.
  4.   The romance is slow to build.  Sure there are smexy times between Nava and Rohan are hot but since this is the first book, the romance is slower to build.
  5.   Nava’s snark.  I was literally laughing out loud at parts of the book.

DISLIKES

  1.   The romance between Nava and Rohan.  I know, I liked it and then didn’t like it.  Part of my problem with it is Nava.  She talks about sex all the time and even has named your vag.  Yep, you lost me on that one.  I’m all for the heroine being sexually active and all but Nava kinda borders on being a tramp.
  2.   The family dynamic.  Her parents were crappy to her and I really felt for her.
  3.   Nava is NOT likable but that’s the point of the book.  Unfortunately, I didn’t really warm up to her until the end.  I know that it doesn’t make sense that I liked the book but not the heroine but trust me, if you read the book, you will understand.  She does some dumb stuff that left me scratching my head.

My review doesn’t make sense and I’m sorry.  Overall, I really liked the book.  The characters and plot are fresh but I felt like Ms. Wilde took Nava to the extreme and at times I just couldn’t connect with her.  Will I read the next one in the series?  You bet.  I need to see the romance between Rohan and Nava.  Plus, I need to see more of the demon hunter aspect of her job, too.

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A global wanderer, hopeless romantic, and total cynic with a broken edit button, Deborah writes adult urban fantasy to satisfy her love of smexy romances and tales of chicks who kick ass. She is all about the happily-ever-after, with a huge dose of hilarity along the way. “It takes a bad girl to fight evil. Go Wilde.”

Links:

Website: http://www.deborahwilde.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildeauthor (@wildeauthor)

FB: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.wilde1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16189297.Deborah_Wilde

Buy Links:

Pre-order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unlikeable-Demon-Hunter-Nava-Katz-ebook/dp/B01MR8GI6B

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Deborah will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one winner, another winner will win a print copy of the book (International), both are randomly drawn via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway ”