bible.com/bible/59/eph.1.7.ESV
Month: February 2023
Wild Horse Peaks #GiveAway
The Art of Love and Murder
A Wild Horse Peak Novel #1
by Brenda Whiteside
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Mystery
A woman searching for her past. A sheriff hiding in his present. Their future together threatened by murder.
Forty-three years after the airplane crash she survived killed her parents, Lacy Dahl is looking for answers. When her research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew and disputes the identity of her father, someone is willing to murder to keep her discoveries hidden.
Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still haunted by the death of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of justice. When he meets Lacy, he is determined not to become involved, but their pasts make that impossible saving Lacy may be his only redemption.
Just as she begins to believe the present is more important than her past, Chance’s connection and a murder spin her deeper into danger and further from love. When the truth is revealed, will the revelations free Lacy and Chance…or destroy them?
Southwest of Love and Murder
A Wild Horse Peak Novel #2
Writing murder mysteries is all in a day’s work until an obsessed fan brings Phoebe’s stories to life.
Mystery writer, Phoebe Anderson, owes her success to killing her first husband on paper seventeen years earlier. Now, someone has actually done it. Taking a few days to re-group on an isolated ranch, she doesn’t expect romance…or murder…to find her.
Mason Meadowlark is happy with his wild cowboy ways, avoiding love since the death of his baby and the end of his marriage twenty years before. When Phoebe shakes up his routine, he fights to control his emotions, fearing the pain of opening his heart again.
With an obsessed fan close on her heels, Phoebe is thrown into her own murder mystery…and the next target on the psychopath’s list is Mason.
The Power of Love and Murder
A Wild Horse Peak Novel #3
Penny’s secrets can ruin the presidential contender who ordered her family’s murder…and mark her as the next hit.
Penny Spark’s desire to reconnect with family this Christmas exposes her true identity—a secret she’s hidden for thirteen years from the political powers that murdered her family.
Jake Winters is out of rehab and coming to grips with his demons. When he meets Penny, he believes this holiday season could be the start of life after rock star status…until her secrets blow up his world.
With a government agent turned hit man closing in on her, Penny and Jake race to expose the presidential contender who targeted her family. Even if they win the race with death, the murder that stands between them could end their hopes for a new life…and love.
The Deep Well of Love and Murder
A Wild Horse Peak Novel #4
A vengeful ex-husband and bloody fight for land threaten a love-struck couple’s happiness.
After an abusive childhood and bad marriage, Laura Katz has finally found a home, stability…and possibly love. But her blissful refuge as nanny on the Meadowlark Ranch, miles from Flagstaff, shatters when her ex is released from prison, determined to reclaim her.
Randy Silva, the Argentine foreman, has plans for his own ranch, but a brutal land grab is underway. As the battle escalates, Laura steals his heart, but there are outsiders who stand in their way. He’s in a vicious battle for his land—and the woman he wants by his side.
Stakes are high, as the attacks on Randy and his ranch draw blood. While the vengeful ex-husband stalks Laura, a mob-backed land developer teams with a desperate gambler. Uncertain where the next attack will come from—will their love be caught in the crossfire.
A Legacy of Love and Murder
A Wild Horse Peak Novel #1.5
Inheriting an Austrian Castle is an Alpine fairytale for August, until someone begins targeting the heirs.
August Myer arrives in Austria to meet her great-grandfather and explore his castle estate filled with priceless art, only to find he’s died under suspicious circumstances. As one of his heirs, her life is in danger, turning her Alpine adventure into a nightmare of veiled threats, unexplained accidents, and murder.
Inspector Tobias Wolf splits his time between catching criminals and fighting the spread of neo-Nazism. But when the beautiful, intriguing American crosses his path during a murder investigation, ensuring her safety challenges his priorities…and his heart.
When August learns the handsome inspector is concealing secrets, and the death of her great-grandfather is somehow connected, she takes the investigation into her own hands. Can Wolf save her before the killer strikes again?
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Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, cozy mystery, and romance. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart so won’t discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
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Verse of the Day February 27, 2023
bible.com/bible/59/pro.18.24.ESV
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Season of the Dragon #GiveAway
Season of the Dragon
Dragos Primeri Book 1
by Natalie Wright
Genre: Epic Fantasy
“This dazzling epic fantasy series kickoff rewards and upends reader expectations.”—BOOKLIFE REVIEWS, Editor’s Pick
“[Readers] looking for fantasy series titles that open with a bang of psychological and political allure will find that few can equal the force of Season of the Dragon.”—D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
“A real epic in the making!” ~Dario Ciriello, Editor
When dragons rise from a thousand-year slumber, to save her loved ones, a young changeling woman must unite her warring souls.
Quen Santu wasn’t born to save the world. She was created to destroy it.
Quen was born cursed with a second, shadow soul and is a misfit in her nomadic herding culture. Quen yearns to belong and for a love to call her own. But she is detested by animals, and no herdclan will have her. On the cusp of her twentieth year, Quen is at risk of becoming pesha—no one. Quen’s only hope for an honorable life is to take vows at one of the Pillars, schools dedicated to the magical and martial arts.
On the day a mysterious stranger reveals a dark prophecy, a dragon kills Quen’s father. The murder turns her life upside down, and dashes hope for an honorable life. Anger fuels Quen’s quest for vengeance, and she joins a vigilante group hunting the murderous dragon. The new found family provides comfort amid her profound loss and holds the promise of new love. But to preserve the belonging and love she craves, Quen struggles to hide her true identity.
Quen’s journey spans the continent, from the nomadic herding lands of the Sulmére sands to the opulent largesse of the capital—and reveals terrible truths. That a power-hungry Dynasty can ruin a life with a quill stroke. That a shadowy dragon cult has laid claim to her. And that even the leader of a revered institution aims to control Quen’s growing power.
Yet the question persists: Why?
The truth awaits at the end of her journey, but can love survive the truth? As Quen battles the beast within, time is running out. Will Quen finally overcome her curse and unite her warring souls? Or will her phantom soul consume her—and everyone she loves?
The fate of her homeland—and all she loves—hangs in the balance.
“[Wright’s] powers of description are first-class, and her worldbuilding impressive. She presents her world with great clarity… The scenes in Qülla are especially sumptuous and vivid, and it’s impossible to not believe in such a place: a fabulous work.” ~Dario Ciriello, Editor
“Wright’s Season of the Dragon world is unique, sumptuous, and highly engaging. I want to feast at the Palace di Solis and witness the incredible Volenex! SotD is filled with dragons, new magical creatures, sorcerers and mages, and intriguing new mythology. But SotD is more than great worldbuilding. Wright deftly weaves worldbuilding into a story that about the power of love. The love of a father for his child and how that love survives even death. Of the complex love between siblings and the bonds of friendship. And of the blossoming love of two young people trying to find their place in the world and discovering that love can be a life raft in the darkest of times. I highly recommend Season of the Dragon, and look forward to the next book in the series.” ~Jim Farley, Beta Reader
** Releases March 1st!!**
Epic Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author and Podcaster. Mother, wife, and cat-wrangler. World traveler and lifelong nerd. Insatiably curious.
A member of SFWA, Natalie is the author of six published Sci-Fi & Fantasy novels and co-host of the Tipsy Nerds Book Club podcast. When not writing or podcasting, you can find Natalie participating on panels at SFF cons, book festivals, and comic-cons throughout the western U.S. She’s also a short story judge in the NYC Midnight international writing challenge, and a freelance content development editor. Her debut teen novel, Emily’s House, has been read over 2.2 million times on Wattpad. Now focusing on epic fantasy for adults, stay in touch via social media to learn more about her forthcoming epic fantasy series, tentatively titled Season of the Dragon.
Favorite book quote — “One more dance along the razor’s edge finished. Almost dead yesterday, maybe dead tomorrow, but alive, gloriously alive, today.” – Robert Jordan, Lord of Chaos (Wheel of Time #6)
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Blitz – Then Came You #GiveAway
Then Came You
Dylan Allen
Publication date: February 23rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Most people dream of falling in love.
But all I know of love is that it turns smart people into fools.
So, I don’t dream, I work.
And put distance between myself and the stain my father’s betrayal left on my family.
When I land a high powered job in London,
It feels like I finally have everything I want.
Then comes Simon, the gorgeous architect with a filthy mouth
who sets my body and my mind on fire.
I surrender to the pull of attraction and the promise of pleasure in his heated gaze.
But those smoldering dark eyes of his are also full of secrets.
Playing with that kind of fire is a fool’s game. And I am no fool.
So, when our night together ends on less than happy terms, I’m sure it’s for the best.
When a work project brings us back together,
I’m determined to keep Simon where he belongs – in my rearview.
Fate, however, has a different plan.
Simon breaks down my walls one sexy, wicked smile at a time.
And I discover that behind his brooding, secretive facade, lies a heart of pure gold.
Soon, all I do is dream…of his touch, his kisses,
and of a love good enough and strong enough to last forever.
But I’ve got secrets of my own.
And when they rear their heads,
nothing will be the same again.
—
EXCERPT:
I look at Simon, ready to make a quip about how they look like two kids sneaking off together. My words die in my throat at the unabashed desire in his eyes.
He doesn’t say a word. There’s no need when that look says everything.
He puts his hand out and I take it. As soon as our palms touch, I know I made the right decision. If this benign touch sends my senses into a tailspin, what’s he going to do to the rest of me?
He links our fingers and brings my hand to his mouth. I shiver at the press of his warm lips and the heated promise in his eyes. I let him lead me out of the restaurant, across the street to catch the tube. But just when I dig out my fare card, he sticks his hand out to hail a black cab.
We get in, and despite the roomy back seats, we sit next to each other, thigh to thigh, both facing forward but if the way the air in the cab cracks with chemistry and attraction is anything to go by, he’s as aware of me as I am of him.
“Where to?” The cabbie’s barked question breaks our spell momentarily and we turn to look at each other. “Is my place okay?” I ask absently, my eyes glued to his mouth.
He nods as if unable to speak. I rattle off my address to the cabbie, and he pulls away from the curb.
“Addie,” Simon’s husky voice is tinged with urgency. “You’re so fucking sexy.”
When I turn to him, his eyes are on my mouth. I lick my lower lip and he bites his.
“So are you,” I confess in a whisper and the rush of anticipation makes my whole body tingle.
“Princess, you’re killing me.” He lets out a soft groan and his head moves toward mine, and my eyes flutter closed.
Time slows making me aware of every single fraction of every single second that passes before his lips finally touch me.
They softly press to the corner of my mouth and every thought flees my mind. The touch is as light as a whisper, and yet I feel it all the way to the tips of my toes. He moves his lips across mine—brushing back and forth—and with every single touch, I am unraveling. And for once, the idea of coming apart doesn’t scare me.
Author Bio:
Dylan Allen is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author.
She’s a Texas girl, with a serious case of wanderlust, Dylan’s travels influence her writing and she loves being able to take her readers on adventures from the comfort and safety of their favorite reading nook.
A self-proclaimed happily ever junkie, Dylan creates stories where her characters unapologetically chase their own happy endings.
When she isn’t writing or reading, eating or cooking, she and her family are planning their next adventure.
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Grammar check: any time vs any time
A couple days ago at work, I had to decide whether to use any time or anytime on a social media post so I did a quick check to decide what to do. …
Grammar check: any time vs any time
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Taking the Leap: Your Journey to Personal Development
The journey to personal development is a long and challenging one, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. If you’re ready to take the leap and make great changes in your life, here are some tips for staying motivated and successful on your quest for personal growth.
Starting a New Career
Personal development starts with setting goals. Is one of yours to start a new career? An online degree could be the way to do it without sacrificing your work and family responsibilities. Just think — you can make progress toward your educational ambitions as you complete everyday tasks. Taking the step to invest in yourself has potential rewards far beyond just obtaining a qualification. It’s also a great way to boost your career prospects, network with like-minded people, and gain valuable skills. So, if you’re looking for an avenue to get ahead, this page deserves a look.
Maintaining a Self-Care Routine
Self-care is an essential part of any journey toward personal growth. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself by eating healthy meals, getting enough rest, exercising regularly, and making time for activities that bring you joy. This will keep you energized and motivated as you work towards your goals.
Starting a New Hobby
Finding something that brings you joy can be an important part of your journey, as well. Consider starting a new hobby like painting, playing music, or even reading more books. The key is to find something that offers an outlet for creativity or relaxation. This will keep you motivated and give you something positive to look forward to each day.
Working With a Mentor
Having someone who can guide you through the process of personal development can be invaluable. Consider finding someone who has already achieved success in areas where you want to grow and benefit from advice based on their own experiences. This could be anything from business ownership tips from an entrepreneur or relationship best practices from someone married for many years.
Turning a Passion Into a Business
If business ownership is something that interests you, turning your passion into a startup is one way to get started. Doing research ahead of time will ensure that everything runs smoothly once things get off the ground. This can range from understanding taxes and expenses to learning how to set up contracts with vendors and clients. Having these details taken care of before launching your business will help everything go according to plan.
Learning to Meditate
Meditation has been proven to reduce stress levels and increase focus, which are both essential when it comes to achieving success on your personal development journey. Consider downloading a meditation app or attending classes so that you can learn how to meditate properly and reap all the benefits it has to offer.
Developing a More Positive Mindset
A positive mindset is essential when working towards any goal, especially when it comes to personal development. Start by focusing on what makes you unique. Write down positive affirmations about yourself each day and practice gratitude by writing down three things each day that make life worth living. These small steps will help you cultivate a more positive outlook, which, in turn, leads to greater success in life.
Personal growth takes time, so you need dedication and hard work to make it possible. Taking steps like maintaining a self-care routine, getting an online degree, and starting new hobbies are just some ways you can set yourself up for success.
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Blitz – Sapphire Eyes #GiveAway
Sapphire Eyes
Aurelia Yates
(The Red Club Series, #2)
Publication date: February 24, 2023
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
Innocent, doe-eyed Rose is living the life in New York, interning at the largest law firm in Manhattan with a year left in law school. That is, until her parents tell her they can’t afford to continue paying her tuition. While she’s stressed over how she’ll make ends meet and finish her degree, her friend tells her a secret she’s kept hidden—that she works at a strip club with many rich, good-looking men as her customers.
Rose enters Club Red, looking only for a waitressing position, but what she finds ends up being so much more.
A large man with blond hair and the most hypnotizing sapphire-blue eyes, Blaze wants to put Rose into positions that have nothing to do with serving anything or anyone but him. And he will not stop pursuing her until he makes the darling Rose his.
—
EXCERPT:
Trying to gather my nerves, I walk up to the door. It’s large, and it looks to be made out of steel. I try to turn the handle, but it’s locked. I knock twice, waiting for someone to answer the door. I take in the surroundings. If it wasn’t for the flashy cars in the front of the building, it would appear to be an abandoned building.
When the door swings open, a very large man with blond hair, and the most hypnotizing blue eyes stands in the doorway. I take a step back. To say he intimidates me is an understatement.
He’s wearing a cobalt-blue dress shirt, rolled up on his forearms. The color makes his sapphire eyes shine bright. I take in his body. The rippling muscles on his arms, the strong jawline he possesses, and the tattoos that crawl up under the sleeves of his shirt and peek out of his collar. The man screams badass.
He scans me from the toe of my shoes to the top of my head, and when his eyes come back to meet mine, he gives me a wicked grin. He has to be the most breathtaking man. I have had the pleasure of sharing the same space with.
I’m barely able to get the words out. “I’m here to see Liz Black.”
His tongue darts out, licking his lips, and then his teeth slowly pull in his bottom lip. I try my best not to seem effected by his good looks, but it appears the cocky bastard notices how much he has affected me. My attention is tuned in to how long and thick his tongue is. Holy Mother Teresa, my mind is in overdrive as to what he could do with that weapon.
“Blaze,” he says with a silky voice.
“Blaze?” I say with a wrinkle between my brows.
The god says, “My name is Blaze.”
Author Bio:
Aurelia writes contemporary romance and enjoys reading it just as much! She lives in Alabama with her husband, daughter and fur babies. She spends most of her time taking care of her loved ones and plotting stories. Excited to begin this new journey, she’s looking forward to sharing her stories.
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Blitz – To Love and Protect #GiveAway
In Too Deep
L.K. Shaw
(To Love and Protect Series, #1)
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
In search of my missing brother, I cross paths with a sexy, but dangerous man. Everywhere I go, he watches me with a heated gaze that sets my body on fire. I’m helpless against the forbidden attraction.
But a vicious crime lord wants us both dead, and soon we’re in a fight for our lives. When the battle ends, secrets are revealed, and I discover the man I’m falling in love with isn’t who he says he is. Will I ever be able to trust him again?
—
IN TOO DEEP EXCERPT:
“Will you stay with me tonight? I don’t think I can be alone.” My words were barely above a whisper.
Tomás’ look was pained. He shook his head. “It’s not a good idea, Ines.”
I clasped his hand between mine and squeezed it against my chest. “Please.”
He warred with indecision, but I knew the moment he made his choice. He took the keys from my hand and led me inside, closing and locking the door behind us. I flipped on the light and removed my hat, laying it on the side table. Next, I slipped out of my heels, leaving them at the door. I padded barefoot across the living room until I reached the kitchen, my body humming with awareness of the man following behind me. Tension radiated off him, and I could hear his soft footsteps. I grabbed two beers out of the fridge and popped the top off both before turning and handing him one.
Our eyes connected, and neither of us broke contact. Tomás continued his white-knuckled hold on his at the same time I took a long pull from mine. My body thrummed, and my core pulsed. A spark lit my fingers when he slipped the bottle from them, our skin grazing, and set both mine and his on the counter. In one long stride, he was almost pressed up against me. We were so close, we practically breathed in each other’s air. My nipples hardened with arousal, and when he reached up and brushed a strand of hair off my face, tucking it behind my ear, my breath hitched.
“You’re so beautiful and far too good for me.” Tomás’ voice was husky.
Slowly, he backed me up until I ran up against the counter, out of room, his arms caging my body. Not that I wanted to go anywhere. With infinite care, like he was waiting for me to stop him, Tomás dipped his head, our gazes still colliding, and brushed a kiss across my lips. His touch was featherlight, and I wanted more.
Author Bio:
LK Shaw is the bestselling author of the sexy, sinful suspense. She resides in South Carolina with her high maintenance beagle mix dog, Miss P. An avid reader since childhood, she became hooked on historical romance novels in high school. She now reads, and loves, all romance sub-genres, with dark romance and romantic suspense being her favorite. LK enjoys traveling and chocolate. Her books feature hot alpha heroes and the strong women they love.
Want a FREE short story? Be sure to sign up for her newsletter and download your copy of A Birthday Spanking, a short story set in the Doms of Club Eden world! http://bit.ly/LKShawNewsletter
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#Blitz – My Chance #GiveAway
My Chance
Samantha Skye
(Men of New York, #4)
Publication date: February 21st 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
My job has always been my ticket to the top.
Now my only chance at success is tall, dark, and menacing…
At no point in my law career did I think I’d have a mobster in my office, offering me a job.
Hard pass.
But Nico Molenti is as persistent as he is…persuasive. And thanks to my dad’s white-collar antics, my client list is looking as bare as my bank account will be in a few weeks.
Accepting Nico’s offer isn’t just about quick cash though. If I say yes to this, I kiss my New York law firm goodbye.
Perhaps that’s why he’s so intent on keeping my lips very busy.
But breaking my law-abiding habits to help a gangster exact vengeance on his enemies is easier said than done.
Although with every fiery touch, I can’t help but feel I’m going over to the dark side in more ways than one…
My Chance is the fourth and final book in the Men Of New York series. Featuring a curvy heroine and the sinful hero who falls for her, this is a suspenseful enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, mafia romance with plenty of spice.
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Author Bio:
Samantha Skye is a contemporary romance author from Melbourne, Australia. A country kid turned city slicker, Samantha writes characters that are as diverse as they are devilishly handsome.
Her unique brand of suspenseful spice deftly combines the risky and the risqué, setting hearts pounding for more than one reason! When she’s not plotting her next novel, Samantha can be found chatting on podcasts, or anywhere there’s sunshine.
An avid traveler, Samantha is just as comfortable in gumboots as she is in Christian Louboutins…but she’s usually having more fun in the latter.
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Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree 