Indie Wish List
  • Blog
  • Who We Are
  • #MoveYouToReview
  • Get In Touch
  • Blog
  • Who We Are
  • #MoveYouToReview
  • Get In Touch
Picture
Cookies Policy
Read Our New Policies
If you have any questions, please email us at indiewishlist@gmail.com
Privacy Policy

This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies.

Opt Out of Cookies

Casino Girl by Leslie Wolfe ~ Book Tour & Giveaway

10/6/2018

Comments

 

Casino Girl
Baxter and Holt #2
by Leslie Wolfe
Genre: Crime, Suspense Thriller

In Las Vegas, secrets are deadly.


Detectives Laura Baxter and Jack Holt are members of the elite: Las Vegas Metro PD, one of the toughest and most respected law enforcement agencies in the United States. In the middle of a city with two million residents and 43 million annual visitors, they’re hunting for a killer. 

The girl

When a beautiful, young girl is killed in the high-roller Pleasure Pit of the exclusive Scala Casino, the news reverberates for hours among the ritzy clientele. Before taking the stage where she found her death, Crystal was last seen boarding an unmarked helicopter for a late-night flight to an unknown destination.

The money

The stakes are high at the roulette table, and the players are hot-blooded. Among them, a stone-cold killer watches, waits, and kills without leaving a single trace of evidence. Rien ne va plus but death.

The game

The name of the game is murder, and it doesn’t stop with Crystal’s demise. Anyone who threatens to expose the killer’s identity will soon find they’re being targeted. 

In Las Vegas, secrets can kill. 

Two mavericks make an intriguing team. Baxter and Holt trust each other with their lives, only not with their darkest secrets. 


**Only .99 cents!!**
Goodreads * Amazon


Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.
Leslie released the first novel, Executive, in October 2011. It was very well received, including inquiries from Hollywood. Since then, Leslie published numerous novels and enjoyed growing success and recognition in the marketplace. Among Leslie’s most notable works, The Watson Girl(2017) was recognized for offering a unique insight into the mind of a serial killer and a rarely seen first person account of his actions, in a dramatic and intense procedural thriller.
A complete list of Leslie’s titles is available at http://wolfenovels.com/order.
Leslie enjoys engaging with readers every day and would love to hear from you.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest * Amazon * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!



a Rafflecopter giveaway











Comments

Morgan is Missing (Kayla Falk Series #2) by K. Hanson ~ Blog Tour & Giveaway

8/21/2018

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Morgan is Missing (Kayla Falk Series #2)
by K. Hanson
Genre: Adult/New Adult Thriller
Release Date: August 2018

Synopsis
Kayla Falk is trying to move past the traumatic events of her mission in Syria and settle into a comfortable engineering job. However, when Morgan Bellamy, the younger sister of Kayla’s late best friend, disappears while on vacation, Kayla doesn’t hesitate to jump into action to find her. As Kayla investigates, she learns that Morgan has become trapped in a hellish human trafficking situation. Kayla is determined to find Morgan before she slips into the shadows forever.
​
Content Warning: This book is about sex trafficking. While I avoid explicit, graphic depictions of sexual violence, due to the nature of the subject matter, it is definitely implied that it takes place.
Add to Goodreads
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D5JT6WL/
Picture




​The Azrael Initiative (Kayla Falk Series #1) on Goodreads

Picture
​About the Author
K lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he works as a software developer. In his spare time, when he isn’t writing, he enjoys reading, working out, playing video games, and spending time with his wonderful fiancee, Bobbi. Some of his favorite authors are Tom Clancy, George R. R. Martin, and Sarah Maas.

Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours
Picture
Comments

Crossroads in the Dark Anthology, Volume IV: Ghosts ~ Cover Reveal

8/18/2018

Comments

 

Crossroads in the Dark IV: Ghosts

Crossroads in the Dark IV

Series: Crossroads in the Dark Anthology, Volume 4
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Suspense
Release Date: December 1, 2018
Cover Design: Bachman Designs
Publisher: Burning Willow Press
Pre-Order: Pre-orders will be available soon, sign up to be notified.

You attend a funeral of a friend, one who decided that living was no longer an option. That night, you feel a slight tickle on the back of your neck. Shrugging it off as an overactive imagination, you try to ignore it, yet it persists. You turn to look for the menacing thing bothering you, and nothing is there. Not even a shadow. In the far reaches of your sight, you start to make out a familiar figure ascending from the darkest corner of your room. You reach for the lamp beside you, but hit it, knocking it to the floor. Your fear begins to rise, as do the hair on your neck. A familiar voice pleads with you… “Why didn’t you hear me…?

Welcome back to the Crossroads.

Crossroads in the Dark IV: GHOSTS is a collection of short stories developed in hopes of bringing awareness to suicide prevention around the world. While the stories do not tell of suicide, they do speak of GHOSTS. Who are the ghosts that haunt us daily? What are the remains of an otherwise perfect life ended far too soon? Which are the people who we find hardest to move forward from when we lose them? The easy answer is, the ones we failed to save.


Contributing Authors

Lily Luchesi (Forward): Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

CC Adams: Website | Facebook | Twitter

L Bachman: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Alice J Black: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Carol Browne: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Nikki Collins-Mewha: Facebook | Twitter

James Crawford: Facebook | Twitter

Rachel de la Fuente: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | BookBub

Kerry Alan Denney: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Mirren Hogan: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Cindy Johnson: Facebook

Frank Martin: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

James Master: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Brian G Murray: Website | Facebook

Michael Schutz: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Edd Sowder: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Kindra Sowder: Website | Facebook | Twitter

W T Watson: Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

Donna Marie West: Goodreads

Kevin Wimer: Amazon Author Page

Peter Oliver Wonder: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Erin Yoshikawa: Facebook | Twitter


The Rest of the Series

If CRITD IV sounds interesting to you, check out the other books in the series while you wait. Crossroads in the Dark: Anthology of Morality Amazon US | Barnes & Noble Crossroads in the Dark II: Urban Legends Amazon US | Barnes & Noble Crossroads in the Dark III: Monsters Under Your Bed Amazon US | Barnes & Noble

Burning Willow Press

Comments

The Azrael Initiative (Kayla Falk Series #1) by K. Hanson ~ Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway

8/13/2018

Comments

 
Picture
The Azrael Initiative (Kayla Falk Series #1)
by K. Hanson
Genre: Adult/New Adult Thriller
Release Date: March 2017
Picture
Summary:
Best friends Kayla Falk, an engineering student, and Olivia Bellamy, who is studying nursing, are nearing the end of their college career when terrorists attack their university. Through a combination of cleverness, bravery, and luck, the two manage to foil the deadly plot. A mysterious man from the United States government, Mr. Hightower, sees their potential and attempts to recruit Kayla and Olivia for a program to take on ISIS. They initially refuse, but another terrorist attack that strikes close to home pushes them to change their minds and join the Azrael Initiative.

After several months of hard training, the two women are dropped into Al-Raqqah, the capital of ISIS, in Syria. Once there, they must blend in with the locals as they strike from the shadows to kill ISIS leaders, destroy their facilities, and free captives. As Americans deep within enemy territory, they know that they will be killed if discovered. As women, they also know that they would suffer before death. Walking the line between vengeance and justice strains their relationship. As they work to resolve their differences, the symphony of brutality around them ultimately pushes them closer together and forges them into the warriors that they were meant to become.

Read the first three chapters: http://www.khansonbooks.com/first-thr...
Add to Goodreads
 
Amazon Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Azrael-Initiative-Kayla-Falk-Book-ebook/dp/B01NAGQQ2F/
 
First Three Chapters: http://www.khansonbooks.com/first-three-chapters-of-the-azrael-initiative/
Excerpt:
​
Chapter 2
Kayla walked next to Olivia as they entered Union and looked around for a place to sit. On the left, they passed one of the dining areas, with several fast food alternatives. In front of them stretched “Main Street,” which was lined with offices and the bookstore on the left side and the large open Market area on the right, filled with tables and chairs for dining or studying. A large staircase extended up to the second floor of the Union, where students sat at tables overlooking the Market. Kayla spotted an open table next to a fireplace on the far end of the Market, next to Main Street.
“How does that look?” she said as she pointed in that direction.
“Ooh, that looks like a nice, comfy spot to chill for the evening!” piped up Olivia.
Kayla led them toward the open seats. “Let’s set our bags down, then we can take turns getting food. If you want to go first, I’ll watch our stuff.”
After they set their backpacks down, Kayla settled into a chair with the fireplace to her left. As Olivia walked into the Market to pick up her supper, Kayla looked around the expansive space of the room. She saw the usual bustle of students eating, studying, and wasting time on their laptops and phones. Kayla’s own phone buzzed in her pocket. As she pulled it out, she saw that she had received a text from Logan, her nine-year-old brother.
It read, “Hey Kayla! I just got an early birthday present from mom and dad. They got me a Wii! I can’t wait to play it with you the next time you come home.”
Kayla texted back, “That’s exciting, Logan! I look forward to it. I’ll see you when I come home for your birthday. Love you!”
As she slid her phone back into her pocket, Olivia returned with a plate covered in a quesadilla, a small salad, and some fruit. “Alrighty, it’s your turn. Don’t take too long, or I might start selling your stuff.”
Kayla laughed as she stood up and strode over to pick out her dinner. After the kind of mental workout she had just had, pasta sounded delicious. When she got to the front of the line, she ordered a bowl of penne noodles and chicken covered in alfredo sauce, with some basil pesto and garlic. For good measure, she had the cook throw some veggies into the mix. After Kayla got her bowl of pasta, she returned to find Olivia halfway through her own dinner.
Kayla sat down and took a bite, savoring the flavor in her mouth. As always, it proved the perfect meal for recovering from an already long day of work, as well as preparing for yet another late evening of homework.
“So,” Olivia glanced up at Kayla and asked, “are you still thinking you’ll work for my dad after we graduate?”
Keeping her eyes on her food, Kayla hesitated, “I think so.”
“Don’t sound so excited about it.”
Kayla looked up to meet her friend’s gaze. “It’s just that after all of these years and working on my senior design project, I’m not sure if engineering is the right fit for me anymore.”
“Of course it’s the right fit,” Olivia encouraged, leaning forward. “Thanks to your dad, you know your way around a shop like it’s the back of your hand. And you’ve always killed it in school. Plus, you know my dad loves you. The kind of work that they do there is right up your alley. From what my dad says, they’re really making advances in renewable energy. If you show him what you’re working on for your senior design project, I know he’ll completely nerd out.”
“I know that, and of course I don’t have anything against your dad. I think I just expected to be on a more exciting path.” Kayla shrugged. “Don’t worry about me. I’m sure it’s just pre-graduation jitters. You’re lucky that you’ve known for years that you wanted to be a nurse.”
“Well, ever since my mom died ten years ago, so I’m not sure how lucky that is,” Olivia frowned as she looked down for a second. She looked back up and continued, “I remember how kind the nurses were and how hard they tried to help her. I want to be that light for someone.”
Kayla shifted in her seat. “Sorry, lucky was the wrong word.”
Olivia gave a grim smile. “I know what you meant.”
“I just wish I had a definite calling, to know what I’m supposed to do.”
“If I were you, I’d just give it a shot with my dad’s company. You only have to show up to the interview to get the job. If you don’t like it, fine, you can always figure something else out.”
Kayla nodded as she finished her pasta. “I’m going to head to the restroom. Once I get back, we can start our little homework party.”
“Alrighty.”
As Kayla washed her hands, she reflected on the conversation she had just had with Olivia. Her friend was right. Working with Olivia’s dad would at least provide a secure job, and he would certainly be a pleasant boss. Once she had established herself there, she could volunteer for some more exciting projects and take charge of her career.
Kayla jolted from her thoughts as she heard the crack of gunshots from outside the restroom.
Picture
About the Author
K lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he works as a software developer. In his spare time, when he isn’t writing, he enjoys reading, working out, playing video games, and spending time with his wonderful fiancee, Bobbi. Some of his favorite authors are Tom Clancy, George R. R. Martin, and Sarah Maas.


​Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook 

Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Picture
Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

​
Comments

She’s Not Here by Mandi Lynn ~ Cover Reveal

8/7/2018

Comments

 

She’s Not Here
Mandi Lynn
Publication date: October 2nd 2018
Genres: Adult, Thriller

Willow watched her father diminish in front of her as Alzheimer’s pulled him farther away each day. When a fire creates the perfect disaster, Willow’s desperation to find a cure to the disease causes her to change Samantha Ellison’s life forever.

Treated as an experiment, Willow injects Samantha with a serum that mimics Alzheimer?s and deteriorates her brain. With Sam’s mental capacity declining at an alarming rate, it won’t be long until people start looking for answers. With Willow?s husband as the doctor, it’s only a matter of time before he uncovers the truth. The only question is whether he protects her secrets or exposes her for what she’s done.

Add to Goodreads


Author Bio:

Mandi Lynn started writing her first novel at thirteen, and at the young age of seventeen, Essence, hit the press. Since publishing her debut novel, Lynn has taught writing workshops, appeared on television, newspapers, and most importantly, graduated high school. While attending college, Lynn works part time at a salon as a stylist and continues to write future novels. Lynn can be found online creating YouTube videos about books, publishing, and all things reading.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


XBTBanner1

Comments

Ricochet by David A. Kennedy ~ Cover Reveal

8/6/2018

Comments

 

Ricochet
David A. Kennedy
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: November 6th 2018
Genres: Adult, Thriller

Brenda Roseberry is young, brilliant, and fearless, but her moral compass is radically skewed. Recruited by the secret government agency Special Crimes Response And Mitigation, she delivers twisted vigilantism to the streets and the corporate boardrooms of America. Her only friend, an MS-13 gangster, manipulates her even as he assists her. Will the dark secrets of Brenda’s adolescence and the shocking truth behind SCRAM destroy them both?

Add to Goodreads


Author Bio:

Dave is a guidebook writer/publisher turned novelist. He began rock climbing around 1984, which was a “logical” extension of hiking, camping and backpacking since boyhood. After his first article on climbing in San Diego’s back-country was published in Rock & Ice magazine, he created the San Diego County Climbing Guide, which proved extremely popular. Next came San Diego Adventures: Classic hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing. In 2007 he completed and published a second edition of the climbing guide, which vividly detailed over 2,000 routes.

Subsequently, he embarked on a fiction-writing odyssey, producing sci-fi novels and short stories “rather unsuccessfully” in terms of publication. He finally found his proper voice in 2017 when he wrote Ricochet, an intense modern-day thriller about a young female vigilante. Upon its completion, he learned about Acorn Publishing while attending the 2018 Southern California Writers’ Conference and was signed by them shortly thereafter.

David is also an accomplished horticulturist. He became interested in tropical plants called Bromeliads in 2010, which quickly turned into a passion. He is an active member of the San Diego Bromeliad Society, and has won “Best of Show” awards in their annual show multiple times. His Tillandsia collection is considered one of the best in the region. For many years he and his wife Debbie have been chief volunteer caretakers of the San Diego Zoo’s Kent Bromeliad Garden.

Becoming a novelist is the realization of a lifelong dream. David loves the process of storytelling, of waking up each day well before dawn and diving into the art of making words come together in a way that appeals.


XBTBanner1

Comments

A Pilgrimage to Death by Alexa Padgett ~ Blog Tour & Giveaway

7/19/2018

Comments

 

A Pilgrimage to Death
Alexa Padgett
Publication date: August 14th 2018
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Thriller

They murdered her sister. They threatened her church. But their day of reckoning will cost her everything…

When Cici Gurule finds the dead body of a parishioner in the nearby Santa Fe National Forest, she’s horrified to realize the victim bears the same stab wounds that ended her twin sister’s life one year earlier.

Now, as a freewheeling, progressive reverend who’ll stop at nothing to protect her flock, she’ll need to join forces with her detective friend and loyal pair of Great Pyrenees to hunt down the killer before she’s forced to officiate another funeral.

Soon, however, Cici discovers her sister was on the trail of a deep-rooted criminal operation, and her death was no random act of violence. With the criminals out for Cici’s blood, she needs to catch the wolf by the tail…before it goes in for the kill.

Fans of Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, and Stacy Claflin will love Alexa’s Padgett’s new edge-of-your-seat novel! Scroll up and click to start this fast-paced, high-octane mystery thriller!

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

--

Are you a book bloggers?
Request a review copy here!

--

EXCERPT:

Sam brought his chair down with a soft thump as it hit the patio paver but he didn’t say anything for another long moment.

“Anna Carmen was my best friend. She helped me through a hard time—she helped me see what I couldn’t then.”

Cici’s lip trembled as she lifted her teacup. “I miss her, too. So much. Yesterday . . . it all came bubbling back up.”

Sam’s hand settled on Cici’s shoulder in that gesture of comfort she’d come to depend on.

“I know you do. And, yeah, I figured it would.”

Jaycee sidled up to their table and settled Sam’s large glass of iced tea on the table. Condensation formed on the glass, dripping down to wet the white napkin beneath it.

“I thought of something,” the girl said.

Both Cici and Sam turned their faces up to the teenager.

“Mr. Johnson told me one time he was meeting someone about a case.” Her brow wrinkled for a moment before she shrugged. “Does that help?”

Sam tugged at his short ponytail. “Maybe. Thanks, Jaycee.”

“Sure.” The girl skittered off to greet some new patrons.

“You think you know what the case is, don’t you?” Cici asked, pouring more tea into her cup.

Author Bio:

With a degree in international marketing and a varied career path that includes content management for a web firm, marketing direction for a high-profile sports agency, and a two-year stint with a renowned literary agency, award-winning author Alexa Padgett has returned to her first love: writing fiction.

Alexa spent a good part of her youth traveling. From Budapest to Belize, Calgary to Coober Pedy, she soaked in the myriad smells, sounds, and feels of these gorgeous places, wishing she could live in them all—at least for a while. And she does in her books.

She lives in New Mexico with her husband, children, and Great Pyrenees pup, Ash. When not writing, schlepping, or volunteering, she can be found in her tiny kitchen, channeling her inner Barefoot Contessa.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

XBTBanner1

Comments

Hell Upside Down by Mia Villano ~ Release Blitz & Giveaway

6/29/2018

Comments

 
Title: Hell Upside Down
Author: Mia Villano
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Release Date: June 29, 2018 Cover Designer: J.N. Sheats
Scarlett Ferguson wanted out of her dreary life in Cutler, Maine. Every day was only an existence living in poverty in a run down trailer with her dad and his girlfriend. Working a dead end job in a restaurant, Scarlett’s life changes the day Hugh Cruz walks into her world. 
He is gorgeous, rich and charming, sweeping Scarlett off her feet after a few dates. When he wants to marry her in a rush, she thinks nothing of it, other than it is true love. That changes on the night of her honeymoon. The night Scarlett realizes, things are not what they seem. It doesn't take long for Scarlett to become someone she swore she never would be, in a life she swore she never would want.
Heartbroken and confused, Scarlett realizes that the life she ran away from is the life she truly wants. Secrets unravel as Scarlett discovers the real reason Hugh came into her life. No one is who she thought they were and the people she trusted are soon revealing their true identity. Hell Upside Down is a dark, emotional standalone novel filled with suspense. Each page has you wanting more.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm a new erotic romance author with two books currently out. Loving the Senator and The Ambassador and Me. Both were Amazons Hot New Release and Bestsellers. Soon to release on November 3rd Paris, The Ambassador and Me the second in the Trilogy. On November 27th, I will be releasing Loving The Candidate the Second in the Capital Affairs series. Around Christmas I plan to release a very emotional book called Just Breathe Again. 
I've been writing since I was seven when I won my first essay contest in our state. From then on I wrote as much as possible. It wasn't until four years ago when I decided to write what I loved to read, erotic romances. Back in the day I would steal my moms Jackie Collins books and read them repeatedly tucked in between my Little House in the Prairie books and late at night with a flashlight under the covers. It never hit me to actually write romances until I spent a few days in New York went to Central Park with my laptop. I closed my eyes while I typed my first sex scene (it really helped) and I haven't looked back.
When I'm not writing I hike, cook and spend time with my family. I have two daughters and two dachshund's.
HOSTED BY:
Comments

Go Home, Afton by Brent Jones ~ Release Blitz, Excerpt, & Giveaway

6/25/2018

Comments

 

Go Home, Afton
Brent Jones
(Afton Morrison, #1)
Publication date: June 25th 2018
Genres: Adult, Thriller

We all wear masks, and Afton Morrison is no exception.

A small-town librarian with a dark side, Afton, twenty-six, has suppressed violent impulses her entire adult life. Impulses that demand she commit murder.

Blending her urges with reason, Afton stalks a known sexual predator, intending to kill him. But her plan, inspired by true crime and hatched with meticulous care, is interrupted by a mysterious figure from her past. A dangerous man that lurks in the shadows, watching, threatening to turn the huntress into the hunted.

Go Home, Afton is the first of four parts in a new serial thriller by author Brent Jones. Packed with grit and action, The Afton Morrison Series delves into a world of moral ambiguity, delivering audiences an unlikely heroine in the form of a disturbed vigilante murderess.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Smashwords

--

EXCERPT:

Parents—stay-at-home moms, mostly—brought in their toddlers once a week so I could read them a story. And I use the word toddlers loosely. Kids as old as six or seven sometimes attended during the summer. And the stories we would read were made up of fewer than fifty words, for the most part. A lot of the mothers in Wakefield were too lazy to read to their own children, I guess.

Oh, and crafts, too. After reading a story together, we’d break out glitter and colored pencils and paste and other nonsense, but that wasn’t the real reason a dozen women turned out with their little monsters each week. Storytime was an excuse for the mothers to gather and gossip. It always took a little while to get the children to settle down, sure. I’d press my finger to my lips and wait. Five or ten seconds at most, although I would have been happy to wait longer. Their mothers, on the other hand, were so much worse. Getting them to shut their fucking traps was a whole separate exercise in endurance.

But as much as I disliked children, there was something magical about them. It was their inability to see gray, I think. Their entire worlds existed in black and white, right and wrong, good and evil. You could see it in their faces as a story unfolded, rife with nervous energy at every inconsequential turn.

“And she just doesn’t know”—I read to the room, pointing to each gigantic word—“should she stay, should she go?”

I caught a boy’s expression, who sat just inches from me. The hippopotamus in our story was faced with a dilemma, and this boy was transfixed. His eyes were wide, his hands were cupped over his mouth, and he was vibrating with anticipation to see what the hippo would do next.

I flipped to the last page. “But yes the hippopotamus.”

The boy relaxed a little, making a deliberate show of letting his shoulders drop. A talented drama queen in the making. He was new to storytime and looked to be about five or six years old. He had dark hair, a tan complexion, and a missing front tooth. He’d attended just once before and he’d sat close that day, as well. I’d never really been big on learning children’s names, to be honest, but I knew his was Neil only because he’d come to the library alone both times. It sounds strange, I’m sure, but having a parent use the library as a free babysitting service happens more often than most people would guess.

I continued on, reading the final words of the story. “But not the armadillo.”

Neil was stressed all over again, and his tiny hand shot up. “Miss Afton?”

“Yes, ah, Neil? What is it, little man?”

“How come not the arma-darma?”

“Armadillo.” A woman in baggy gray sweatpants corrected him from the back of the room. She was a few years older than me, had bleach-blonde hair in a ponytail, and her voice resembled a seagull getting crushed by a car.

I shut the book and set it on my lap. “That’s a good question, Neil.” I bit my lower lip, deciding how much to share. “Well, let’s see. Ah, no one likes armadillos, for starters. They’re bullet-proof, if you can believe it, and ugly as sin. They carry leprosy, too, but they don’t bite children too often.”

The woman at the back of the room—Sweatpants, let’s call her—looked horrified. Her stained teeth chattered and she blinked in rapid succession. She placed her palms over her daughter’s ears, a girl around three or four in age.

Neil scratched his head. “What’s a lepra-she?”

“It’s—”

Sweatpants raised her hand to silence me—not that I minded—and looked to a few of the other mothers in the room for support, most of whom were checked out or occupied with their phones. She looked back at me again, then at her daughter. “It’s when good little boys and girls get ice cream.” That wasn’t how I might have defined the word, however. “You want to stop for ice cream on the way home, Jessi?”

It was hard enough getting these little turds to sit still for all fourteen pages of But Not the Hippopotamus. Why on earth would this woman want to stuff her daughter’s face with sugar before lunch? But the girl jumped up and squealed at the mention of sweets, and soon, other kids joined in, as did their mothers.

I peeked down at Neil to see him cradling his head in his hands, masking a look of disappointment by staring at the floor. It appeared he had forgotten all about armadillos and leprosy and storytime, and now sulked, wishing he had a parent present to take him for ice cream like the other children.

The mothers talked amongst themselves, and their toddlers fed on the elevated energy levels. The room was alive with discourse, and I wondered if the local Dairy Queen might consider paying me a small commission. “Well, that’s it for storytime, boys and girls. Thanks for coming.”

Sweatpants spoke up at the back of the room, the self-elected leader of Wakefield’s fattest and frumpiest. “But it’s only quarter past, Afton. Isn’t storytime supposed to be a full hour?”

“Just figured you were all on your way to get a double-scoop of leprosy.”

“Very funny.”

I raised my hands in a gesture of mock uncertainty. “We’ve got crafts we can do.” I pointed to three short tables covered in plastic, adorned with supplies that Kim had set up for us. “Should we get to it?”

“That won’t take long. Couldn’t you read them another story first?”

Couldn’t I read them another story? It’d been her idea to squeeze out one of these little nightmares. Why was I being punished for it? “Not this week, I’m afraid. Sorry.”

But she just wouldn’t give up. “Afton, do you know where Jessi’s daddy is right now?”

My first thought was that her husband was probably fucking her sister at some roadside motel with hourly rates, bed bugs, and a one-star rating on Trip Advisor. I couldn’t say that out loud, of course, and so I fought like hell to keep a smirk off my face. It helped to keep my sights trained on Jessi, who had sat back down, cross-legged in a checkered dress. She was drawing on the floor with one small finger.

Sweatpants answered her own question. “He’s at work, Afton. And he works hard, by the way, and we pay more than our share of taxes in this town. Taxes that pay your salary.”

Oh, the salary card. How I loved it when disgruntled parents brought up my salary, as if any one of them wanted to trade places with me. Yes, her taxes paid me a small fortune. That’s why I rented a one-bedroom apartment in a triplex. And it’s the same reason I drove a seven-year-old Corolla. I was so grateful—indebted, even—to Sweatpants and her husband that I just couldn’t wait to read another story.

“Sure thing.” I grabbed a second book off the pile next to me. “One more story, coming right up.”

Sweatpants smiled. It was a flat, fake smile, of course, the kind where the mouth curls tight but the eyes are dormant. It was about the best I could have hoped for, and it seemed to have a calming effect on the other mothers. They quieted down, eager to return to their various text message conversations.

I pointed my finger to more jumbo text on a colorful page. A story about an overweight and diabetic caterpillar with impulse control issues, who was always so very very fucking hungry. “In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf . . .”

And I couldn’t help but lose myself in thought. I was that little egg on a leaf, glimmering in the moonlight, and about to hatch. Soon after, the morning would come. And my hunger would be satiated at last, because Kenneth Pritchard would be dead.

Author Bio:

From bad checks to bathroom graffiti, Brent Jones has always been drawn to writing. He won a national creative writing competition at the age of fourteen, although he can’t recall what the story was about. Seventeen years later, he gave up his career to pursue creative writing full-time.

Jones writes from his home in Fort Erie, Canada. He’s happily married, a bearded cyclist, a mediocre guitarist, and the proud owner of two dogs with a God complex.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

XBTBanner1

Comments

Dares, Lies & Geminis ~ Review

6/8/2018

Comments

 

Title: Dares, Lies & Geminis 
Author: Kat Alexander
Genre: Dark Romance, Thriller, Suspense

Picture
Synopsis: 
Two women, different as night and day.
Tristana likes to keep to herself, devotedly working all day so she doesn’t think about all she is missing in life.
Seraphina, shrouded in mystery, hunts at night, surreptitiously looking for someone good, noble, and honest, while proving to herself they don’t exist. 

Two men who won’t succumb to failure.
After his brother’s death, Peter spends his days trying to build a life as far away from the accusatory eyes of his hometown. 
Nathan has a nightly obsession—Seraphina.

The truth that everyone is afraid to whisper.
As Peter starts to chip away at Tristana’s walls, one dare unknowingly releases something he thought he lost long ago.
And as Nathan moves in on Seraphina, one lie breaks apart the foundation of everything he thought he knew. 

Meet the Geminis.
​
Review:
I don’t read dark romances… like ever. But Dares, Lies, and Gemini's is the exception. It hooked me from page one and didn’t let go until the last! OMG! This is one of my favorite reads of the year. I don’t want to go into too much detail because that would ruin the experience, because this is a book you have to experience. The twists and turns are heartbreaking and revelatory. You will laugh, cry, and rage. It really was a well-written, poignant, and clever story that engages you throughout the whole journey. 

Kat Alexander really outdid herself on this book. I can’t see what she has in store for us next!
​

5 Stars!
❀ Buy Links ❀
✦ Amazon ➜ http://a.co/fbqfEvs
✦ B&N ➜ https://tinyurl.com/yaqc3hvx
✦ iBooks ➜ https://tinyurl.com/yc6rkam2
✦ Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/2LLKaWU
✦ Smashwords ➜ http://bit.ly/2LKlKwX
Picture
About the the Author:
​Kat Alexander is a freelance editor for Indie authors. If she’s not editing or working on her own stories, then she’s a chauffeur for her busy children, or you can find her here: 

 http://www.katharinealexander.net/ 
 www.facebook.com/KatAlexanderauthor 
 https://twitter.com/katharinealex 
 https://www.instagram.com/katralexander/ 
 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16126747.Kat_Alexander 
 https://www.pinterest.com/katharineralexa/ 
Comments
<<Previous

    Authors

    We are a group of authors,
    editors, and avid readers who want to share our love of books and give support to the authors who wrote them. Please, feel free to contact us for reviews and promotions. ​​

    Archives

    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017

    Categories

    All
    Adult
    Anthology
    BDSM
    Christian
    College Romance
    Coming Of Age
    Contemporary
    Contemporary Romance
    Cozy Mystery
    Cyberpunk
    Dark Erotica
    Dark Fiction
    Dark Romance
    Dystopia
    Dystopian
    Enemies To Lovers
    Erotica
    Erotica Romance
    Event
    Fairy Tale
    Fantasy
    Fantasy Romance
    Friends To Lovers
    Historical
    Historical Fantasy
    Historical Paranormal Romance
    Historical Romance
    Holiday Romance
    Horror
    LGBTQ
    Mafia Romance
    Magical Realism
    MC Romance
    Military Romance
    M/m
    MMA Romance
    M/m/f
    Mystery
    NA Contemporary
    NA Contemporary Romance
    NA Fantasy
    NA Paranormal
    NA Paranormal Romance
    NA Romance
    NA Romantic Comedy
    NA Romantic Suspense
    NA Sports
    NA Thriller
    NA Urban Fantasy
    NA Western
    New Adult
    Paranormal
    Paranormal Romance
    Political Thriller
    Psychological
    Psychological Thriller
    Reverse Harem
    Rock Star Romance
    Romance
    Romantic Comedy
    Romantic Suspense
    Romantic Thriller
    Science Fiction
    Science Fiction Romance
    Second Chance Romance
    Short Stories
    Sports Romance
    Steampunk
    Suspense
    Thriller
    Urban Fantasy
    Western Romance
    Womens-fictionce1137eccb
    Ya-adventure
    Ya-contemporary
    Ya-contemporary-romance
    Ya-dystopian
    Ya-epic-fantasy
    Ya-fairy-tale
    Ya-fantasy
    Ya Historical Fiction
    Ya-mystery
    Ya Paranormal
    Ya-paranormal-romance
    Ya-romance
    Ya-science-fiction
    Ya-suspense
    Ya-thriller
    Ya-urban-fantasy

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.