Monday, May 29, 2023

#ContemporaryRomance #Review ~ The Problem with Second Chances by Piper Rayne#SecondChanceRomance @PiperRayneRocks

For Rylan Greene and me, it was simple. Love only got us so far.

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0B5B7MT6V
Publication Date: ‎ May 16, 2023
Print Length: ‎ 272 pages

Grab Your Copy:

https://amzn.to/3BDE1XY

About the Book:

I’ve known him since we were six, long before he became the professional soccer star he is now. We’ve weaved in and out of one another’s lives as rivals, teammates, friends, and lovers. Until three years ago, when my life took a hit and I ran back to my small Alaskan town, Lake Starlight, away from anything or anyone that could hurt me.

He’s never far from my mind, a constant pining ache in my heart, but I’ve convinced myself I’m better off. But now, my best friend announces her engagement and that means Rylan will return home to stand as best man to her fiancé.

He’ll be back in my orbit for three whole weeks… but I can easily keep my distance. Sure, we’ll have to walk arm in arm down the aisle together, he’ll hold me close during the bridal party dance and we’ll stand for pictures next to each other. Nothing I can’t handle.

I’m so naïve though because he’s not in town for more than twenty-four hours before he knocks on my door. I should know by now, that the two of us will never be finished business.

This second chance romance spans sixteen years of a true love match that proves these two will only ever belong to one another.

My Review:

The Problem with Second Chances is the first book in the Lake Starlight series. Focusing on Calista and Rylan, this new series jumps ahead with a fun combination of the Greene and Bailey families. Having grown up together, everyone expected their endgame. Only, they got a little lost on the way to their happily-ever-after.

The slow-burn second-chance romance was executed perfectly. Calista and Rylan are terrific characters and I loved watching them, seeing them grow, and watching their romance unfold.

This story was fantastic, the characters were well-developed, and the world building is spectacular. I am a huge fan of Piper Rayne and loved this book. I was engaged in the story from page one. The writing, the characters, the setting, and the story took my breath away. I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend The Problem with Second Chances.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

 


 


Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Planes, Trains, and All the Feels by Livy Hart #NewRelease #Review #RomCom #ContemporaryRomance @EntangledPub

 

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0BFMX3PCJ
Publisher: ‎ Entangled: Amara
Publication Date: ‎ May 23, 2023
Print length: ‎ 333 pages

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3os98Tj

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62039347-planes-trains-and-all-the-feels

About the Book: 

As the black sheep of the family, choreographer Cassidy Bliss vowed she’d do anything to get home in time to help with her sister’s wedding and avoid family disappointment…again. She just never expected “anything” would involve sharing the last rental car with the jerk who cut her off in line at the airport this morning. But horrible times apparently call for here-goes-nothing measures.

Driving across the country with Luke “life can be solved with a spreadsheet” Carlisle must be a penance for some crime she committed. Because the second he opens his mouth, it’s all she can do to not maim him with her carry-on. But somewhere between his surprisingly thoughtful snack sharing and his uncanny ability to see straight to the core of her, her feelings go unchecked.

Suddenly, their crackling chemistry is just one more thing they have to navigate—and it couldn’t come at a worse time. But after a lifetime of letting the expectations and needs of others drive her life, Cassidy must decide if she’s ready to take the wheel once and for all.

My Review:

Planes, Trains, and All the Feels has it all. I laughed, cried, got angry, and grinned like a fool. Forced proximity brought them together but feelings made them stay together, oh and a emergent need to travel across the country.

When a cross-country trip turns into a nightmare, unlikely duo Cassidy Bliss and Luke Carlisle try to make the best of the trip. I loved how two strangers united with the same goal - get to California. Each had their own reasons but I enjoyed watching them together as they learned about it other and got to know one another better. 

I loved Cassidy and Luke and how they interacted. I am a huge fan of Berkeley, and everyone should aspire to have a best friend just like her. I really hope we get a book where she's the main character. 

The book is perfectly paced, full of ups and downs, and written well. I love the author's writing style, voice, and how the point-of-view bounces between Cassidy and Luke. Be prepared to become so engrossed in this story the world around you disappears. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:



Monday, May 1, 2023

Cover Reveal ~ From Here to There, Volume 2 @MirrorWorldPub ~ Journeys, space travel, time travel, quests, spaces in between, portals… #SciFi #Fantasy #TimeTravel

Mirror World Publishing and Sapphyria's Book Promotions present the

~ COVER REVEAL ~

From Here to There, Volume 2



About From Here to There, Volume 2:

Seven journeys across time, space, and the imagination.

Journeys, space travel, time travel, quests, spaces in between, portals…

In this second volume in the Far, Far Away series, we’ve gathered together the words of seven authors who’ve had the courage to explore the furthest reaches of reality.

Slip between the layers of space and time to discover what lives in the pockets. Find love in the most unexpected of ways and watch it thrive across the tapestry of history. March with the soldiers of a forgotten kingdom as they travel on foot and question the value of life and the hereafter. Then meet the gods and journey with them to correct the timeline of the mortal realm.

In this collection, you’ll get stuck in a time loop you won’t want to leave, experience the revival of an impossible connection between man and machine, and meet the aliens who will make portal-hopping possible in the near future.

So pack your bags for an epic journey and enjoy the trip… From Here to There

Included in the Anthology:

“Embedding” by Elana Gomel
“The Impossible Man” by Kelly D. Holmes
“The Repositioning March” by Buddy Young
“Industrial Honey” by Rhiannon Lotze
“Night Music” by Jane Lupino
“From Above” by Roy Sarkar
“The Harajuku Crevasse” by Taylor Calder.

Saph's Notes:

Saph will be reviewing this during the 1-week virtual book tour!

Sign up to become a tour host/social media influencer for Sapphyria's Book Promotions:

Connect with the Publisher:

Facebook: 
http://www.twitter.com/mirrorworldpub

Goodreads Author Page: 


Publisher Website: http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-d6tf8fpn4_mjraKjM-hUQ




Thursday, April 27, 2023

Paranormal Romance #Review ~ The Dragon's Fight (Dragon's Birthright, Book 3) by H.P. Mallory and J.R. Rain #PNR #DragonShifter #Dragon #Shifter #HPMallory

There’s a war on the horizon that I want nothing to do with.


Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0BZ2K1GQK
Publisher: ‎ Rain Press
Publication Date: ‎ April 10, 2023
Print Length: ‎ 209 pages

About the Book:

There’s a war on the horizon that I want nothing to do with.

So, in an attempt to call for peace between both sides, I host a peace talk and invite my sisters, the respective queens of Gaunt and Latran.

But that peace talk doesn’t go as planned.

After one sister kills the other, I realize this situation is far worse than I previously imagined.

Soon I’m taken prisoner by my surviving sister, Sylvia, as I learn she plans to overlord all three provinces.

And knowing Sylvia, she’ll do so with an iron fist.

Once my love, Devon—a dragon shifter, frees me, I have a choice to make: fly off with him to a place far away where we’ll both be safe or face a war that will devastate my homeland and possibly cost me my life.

My Review:

The Dragon’s Fight is the epic conclusion to the Dragon’s Birthright series. Selena and Devon were on opposite sides of a very real problem until Selena’s sister does something horrific that sets the stage for something catastrophic. Now, the two must decide if they join the war or flee.

Selena is a strong heroine and Devon finally turns around and I can hail him as a great hero. There was nothing easy about what went on in book 3. Horrifying actions spilled blood, war was waged, and sides were chosen. The Dragon’s Fight is filled with twists, turns, and surprises the reader will enjoy and not see coming.

I enjoyed everything about this story. The setting is simple yet perfect for the story being told. The characters are three-dimensional, interesting, and written well. I am sad to see the characters go but I’m awfully glad I got to meet them in the first place.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:



Tuesday, April 25, 2023

New Release ~ Middle Grade #Book #Review ~ World's Worst Time Machine by Dustin Brady (Author) and Dave Bardin (Illustrator) @AndrewsMcMeel

From best-selling author, Dustin Brady comes a new illustrated novel series perfect for fans who love funny, unexpected adventures and wacky plot twists.


Book Details:

Hardcover:

Publisher: ‎ Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publish Date: April 25, 2023
Hardcover: ‎ 192 pages
ISBN-10: ‎ 1524884138
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1524884130
Reading age: ‎ 7 - 11 years
Grade level: ‎ 3 - 4

eBook:

ASIN: ‎ B0BTS2XRC2
Publisher: ‎ Andrews McMeel Publishing (April 25, 2023)
Publish Date: ‎ April 25, 2023
Print Length: ‎ 194 pages



About the Book:

From bestselling author, Dustin Brady, whose Trapped in a Video Game series has sold more than a million copies, comes the first book in a new middle grade series. In World’s Worst Time Machine (April 2023), two friends dial up a whole lot of trouble when one buys a defective time machine at a garage sale with an interesting label: “World’s Worst Time Machine.”

For friends Liam and Elsa, the name proves to be more accurate than either could have imagined. Instead of summoning the famous inventor Thomas Edison to help with a school report, the machine transports a different Thomas Edison to the present – and he just happens to be a gangster from the 1930s. Things only get worse when Elsa discovers they have only limited time to send “Tommy” back before present day reality falls apart erupting in total chaos.

Fans of history, sci-fi, and adventure alike will love the exciting, fastpaced story of World’s Worst Time Machine. This flimsy time machine isn’t quite all it’s cracked up to be, but the adventure it sets readers on is!

My Review:

World's Worst Time Machine is a fun adventure kids will love. Best suited for middle grade, the story can be enjoyed by everyone. This is a chapter book with a smattering of illustrations throughout. 

Liam and Elsa are cute characters, full of energy, and quite adventurous. When Liam discovers the contents of a time machine in a box at a garage sale, he know he's up for the challenge to rebuild. Things go sideways though and Liam and Elsa are taken on an adventure of a lifetime. 

Filled with time travel and scifi elements, Liam and Elsa bring about and encounter time machine hijinks. The duo faces disappearances, bullies, and encounters with long ago gangsters. As their world spins out of control, Liam and Elsa go to great lengths to restore normalcy. 

I was provided a hardcopy of this book to read.

My Rating:


About the Creators:

Dustin Brady writes books for kids who think they hate reading. His Trapped in a Video Game series has sold over one million copies because—as it turns out—there are a lot of kids who think they hate reading. Dustin lives in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife, three kids, and a small dog named Nugget. He honestly can’t believe he gets to do this for a living.

Dave Bardin is a freelance illustrator and animator residing in Southern California who has worked on a variety of project with some of the biggest names in media. When Dave drew his very first comic book at the age of nine, he knew he had found what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. When he isn’t at the drawing board, Dave can be found riding his bike by the beach, going on driving adventures with his very cool wife, and spending time with his friends and family.

Visit the Author's Website:

Friday, April 21, 2023

Virtual Book Tour #Review ~ City of Ruby (Crimson Winter, Vol. 3) by Justine Alley Dowsett ~ #YA #SciFi #Fantasy #Adventure @MirrorWorldPub

Mirror World Publishing and Sapphyria's Book Promotions present the virtual book tour for 
Crimson Winter: City of Ruby 
by Justine Alley Dowsett.


Show what makes you weak, so they fear what makes you strong...


About Crimson Winter: City of Ruby:

Reeling after the fall of the Kingdom of Taiyou, Yukari Namikoya and her remaining allies find themselves reduced to scared refugees hidden far below the earth in the Temple of Machalite. The dreaded Lady Lilyth rules in Taiyou now and threatens to bring the whole world under her dominion one piece at a time.

And what the Lady Lilyth can't control, she plans to destroy.

In a desperate bid for the survival and freedom of the various races of Crimson Winter, Yukari must seek to uncover secrets the Vile Emperor has kept hidden for a millenia and in order to do this, she has to journey to the last place she'd ever thought she'd go - the Ruby City.

Genres: 

Young Adult, SciFi, Fantasy, Adventure

Release Date: 

April 17, 2023

My Review:

City of Ruby is a wonderful young adult science-fiction novel. Yukari Namikoya is now part of the remaining group of allies hiding below earth after the fall of the Kingdom of Taiyou. The new leader of Taiyou, Lady Lilyth rules the streets with thoughts of grandeur. Complete control or systematic destruction are the only acceptable options. To secure freedom for herself and her allies, Yukari travels to the Ruby City in an effort to discover secrets hidden for years.

I enjoyed this young adult, scifi, fantasy novel by J. A. Dowsett. The story is well-written and I was engaged from the very beginning. The character development progresses well as Yukari's story is told. The world building allows the reader the visualize the story and feel the emotions of the characters. You can't help but get pulled in and root for Yukari. The Yukari's character is strong, cast into a role that makes her a savior. 

City of Ruby is a fun adventure full of action.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:



Purchase Links:

Mirror World Publishing eBook: 

Mirror World Publishing Paperback: 

Amazon Kindle eBook: 

Amazon Paperback: 

Follow the Tour:

https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/04/book-tour-schedule-crimson-winter-city.html

Meet the Author:



Justine Alley Dowsett is the author of over ten novels, and one of the founders of Mirror World Publishing. Her books, which she often co-writes with her sister, Murandy Damodred, range from young adult science fiction to dark fantasy/romance. She earned a BA in Drama from the University of Windsor, honed her skills as an entrepreneur by tackling video game production, and now she dedicates her time to writing, publishing, and role-playing with her friends.




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Thursday, April 20, 2023

#ExclusiveExcerpt ~ City of Ruby (Crimson Winter, Vol. 3) by Justine Alley Dowsett ~ #YA #SciFi #Fantasy #Adventure @MirrorWorldPub

Mirror World Publishing and Sapphyria's Book Promotions present the virtual book tour for 
Crimson Winter: City of Ruby 
by Justine Alley Dowsett.


Show what makes you weak, so they fear what makes you strong...


About Crimson Winter: City of Ruby:

Reeling after the fall of the Kingdom of Taiyou, Yukari Namikoya and her remaining allies find themselves reduced to scared refugees hidden far below the earth in the Temple of Machalite. The dreaded Lady Lilyth rules in Taiyou now and threatens to bring the whole world under her dominion one piece at a time.

And what the Lady Lilyth can't control, she plans to destroy.

In a desperate bid for the survival and freedom of the various races of Crimson Winter, Yukari must seek to uncover secrets the Vile Emperor has kept hidden for a millenia and in order to do this, she has to journey to the last place she'd ever thought she'd go - the Ruby City.

Genres: 

Young Adult, SciFi, Fantasy, Adventure

Release Date: 

April 17, 2023

Exclusive Excerpt:

The inhuman screams of the Lillem were repeated from various directions and I wasted no time, whirling to face the person I had just saved.

“Yukari?” The exchange student was regarding me wide-eyed, no doubt shocked by what he had just witnessed.

I took his reaction in stride at first, grabbing hold of his arm to pull him away from here, but then I realized what he had just said. He knew my name…

Perhaps he had heard it in the classroom this morning, but even if he had that still didn’t explain the familiarity with which he had spoken it. That accent, so memorable, speaking my name; I was certain I had heard it before.

“Masaru,” I responded and his name, who he was, and how much he meant to me came flooding back all at once, as if whatever had tried to keep the information from me hadn’t been enough to contain it forever.

This was Masaru. My Knight, my Roughlander, and the love of my life – how could I ever have forgotten him?  It just didn’t seem possible, but then again none of this had made any sense since the beginning.

The red fog was swirling everywhere now, but it didn’t leave me unable to function like it had before. It also didn’t seem internal any longer, but instead it threatened to destroy the landscape before me, eating at the floor and the walls here and there, making them look less than solid.

Masaru was studying me curiously, as if he was battling his own inner fog. The expression on his face was so familiar to me and I realized I had seen it before. I had left Masaru behind once because he couldn’t remember who he was back at the Roughlander Sanctioned Outpost in Taiyou. I had left him there and it had resulted in him almost losing his life to Fuzen.

This time Fuzen lay dead on the floor behind me, but I could hear the Lillem scratching at the door now, trying to break it down to get to us – their prey. I wasn’t going to leave him behind again, no matter what; I had promised I would always keep him safe. 

“Masaru,” I said his name once more as behind me I heard the door crash inwards to admit the hoard of Lillem.

He met my eyes, his expression muddled as he struggled to regain his own will and memories. I willed him to succeed, but I could hear the Lillem behind us now as they scrabbled across the room, their talons clacking ominously along the tiled floor. Memories flooding back to me steadily now, I did what I had done the last time to try and snap him out of his haze and kissed him full on the lips.

It worked; I could feel it as Masaru returned the kiss with feeling.

It lasted only a moment, which was all we had time for before the Lillem reached us. I pulled back from him and gave him a push forward. “Go!”


Purchase Links:

Mirror World Publishing eBook: 

Mirror World Publishing Paperback: 

Amazon Kindle eBook: 

Amazon Paperback: 

Follow the Tour:

https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/04/book-tour-schedule-crimson-winter-city.html

Meet the Author:



Justine Alley Dowsett is the author of over ten novels, and one of the founders of Mirror World Publishing. Her books, which she often co-writes with her sister, Murandy Damodred, range from young adult science fiction to dark fantasy/romance. She earned a BA in Drama from the University of Windsor, honed her skills as an entrepreneur by tackling video game production, and now she dedicates her time to writing, publishing, and role-playing with her friends.




Enter the Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway