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Ensnared by J.S. Scott – Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway


Long and Short Reviews welcomes J.S. Scott who is celebrating today’s release of Ensnared. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win a digital copy of the book and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Wildlife conservationist Jade Sinclair isn’t used to having money. But when she and her siblings learned they were part of the mega-rich Sinclair dynasty, they became billionaires overnight. Jade doesn’t even know how to act rich, especially when she’s dealing with an arrogant, privileged, unreasonably sexy snob like Eli Stone.

Unlike Jade, Eli grew up rich, and he just keeps getting richer. Eli is always looking for an adventure, and he’s found an inviting one in Jade—as resistant as she is irresistible. His less-than-honorable plan? Get her alone in the wilderness by buying out all the spots in her survival class.

Calling a truce, they strike a bargain: Jade will teach Eli basic survival skills, and he’ll teach her how to navigate the world of the wealthy elite. Jade has only one condition—she will not let herself be seduced by him. But some things are easier said than done . .

Enjoy an Exclusive Excerpt

We sat in silence for a few minutes, but it wasn’t an uneasy quiet.

Finally, I asked, “Is there anything else you’d like to learn before we head out tomorrow?”

“A lot of things, actually,” he said in an earnest tone. “I’d like to pick your brain some more. You’re as intelligent as you are beautiful.”

“I wish you’d stop saying things like that,” I blurted out.

“Why?”

“Because you’ve known far more attractive women, so it makes me uncomfortable. I’m okay with who I am, so I don’t need fake compliments.”

“How do you know that you aren’t the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen?”

I rolled my eyes, but he probably couldn’t see me since I was staring into the fire. “The A-list actress and the two supermodels you dated are pretty much a dead giveaway.”

“I’m not with them anymore. I’m with you,” he stated simply. “Did somebody do a number on you, Jade? Because it sounds to me like someone made you feel like you aren’t perfect, which you are, whether you see it or not.”

“I’ve always been a geek,” I shared. “In high school, I was the girl every guy avoided because I was a tomboy. But I didn’t really care all that much. I was happier just being outside alone.”

“What about college?”

I shrugged. “I was still a geek. I had one boyfriend, and he ended up leaving me without a word after I helped him through his master’s degree.”

“He was probably intimidated by you, and he’s a total idiot if he didn’t hang on to you. His loss; my gain.”

What my brother Aiden had said about insecure guys just yesterday popped into my head. “I’m not really intimidating.”

“You are,” he countered. “But I personally get turned on by a woman who can handle a knife better than I can.”

A laugh escaped my mouth. “You’re crazy.”

“At least I’m honest,” he said.

I stood up. “I think I’d better get to bed. Are you pitching a tent, or do you want a bunk?”

My conversation with Eli was getting dangerous. If I didn’t stop it now, I might start believing that he actually did see me as more attractive than the women he’d dated, and just the thought of that was ludicrous.

Eli rose and blocked my way to the cabin. “Hey,” he said in a low, fierce tone. “Don’t ever let anybody make you feel like you aren’t a woman worth fighting for. Your ex was an idiot, but that’s about him, not you.”

I felt tears start to pool in my eyes, but I blinked them away. “It’s not just that,” I said quietly. “What guy wants a woman who would rather eat like a pig or spend the day outside instead of dressing up and going out to a club or something?”

Eli stepped forward and dropped a kiss on my forehead. “Me,” he said gruffly. “And I’ll take a bunk. It’s too damn cold to sleep outside.”

I nodded and led the way inside, trying to ignore that nearly unstoppable desire to throw myself into his arms.

For some insane reason, Eli Stone really did want me.

And I was getting pretty tired of fighting my own insane attraction to him.

About the Author J.S. “Jan” Scott is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous contemporary and paranormal romances, including The Sinclairs series. She’s an avid reader of all types of books and literature, but romance has always been her genre of choice—so she writes what she loves to read: stories that are almost always steamy, generally feature an alpha male, and have a happily ever after, because she just can’t seem to write them any other way! Jan loves to connect with readers.

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The Old Dispensation by Lavie Tidhar


The Old Dispensation by Lavie Tidhar
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror
Length: Short Story (31 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A space opera adventure set in a universe controlled and run by Jewish religious authorities. An enforcer is sent to a distant planet where he discovers an android who changes his mind about what is right and wrong

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There’s something to be said for a plot twist involving a major character that is only vaguely hinted at. While I did end up figuring out what it was probably going to be ahead of time, this in no way made it less interesting to see if my prediction was going to turn out to be the correct one. The fact that the characters involved in it were so surprised by what happened made me grin. I wish I could say more about this, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers about something that was a highlight of the storyline for me.

I found it confusing to jump back and forth in the timeline of this story so often. As interested as I was in the plot itself, it was hard to keep track of when everything happened due to certain key scenes appearing to being shared much sooner or later than they actually happened. There were several times when I had to stop and reread a previous scene due to all of the trouble I had placing it in the timeline, and I’m still not entirely sure I have all of them sorted out correctly.

The world building was well done. I originally wondered if this was part of a series due to all of the little details the author included about things that had happened in the distant past. When I found out it wasn’t, I was even more impressed by how much work had been put into creating such a detailed world in only a few dozen pages.

I’d recommend The Old Dispensation to anyone who loves dark and futuristic science fiction.

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I’d Love to Meet

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

There are so many talented writers out there that I found it difficult to narrow this list down to only ten of them.

I believe that one of the most important things anyone can do in life is to cultivate and maintain a good reputation. How you treat others, especially if they can’t defend themselves or do anything to repay you, says a lot about your character. Having strong ethics and a warm personality was the most important criteria I used to determine who should be included on this list.

Everyone I’m about to mention is known for being kind to and interactive with their fans. They do things like volunteer for charitable causes, support other authors on social media, and stand up against censorship. Yes, a well-written story is important, but I get excited when I see authors also go the extra mile to make the world a better place when they can. This sort of behavior is so inspiring.  Imagine what the world would be like if everyone behaved this way!

In some cases, the people on this list even been known to offer advice to folks who have questions about the publishing or writing processes. I especially like reading Stephen King’s tweets and seeing what Janny Wurst has to say on Reddit.

  1. Robert J. Sawyer
  2. Judy Blume
  3. Facial Flushing Facial flushing is a common side effect include slight unclear visualization, minor blueness in vision and light compassion.Kamagra jelly can also be bought online through pharmacies which give you the http://raindogscine.com/raindogs-cine-en-el-festival-de-malaga/ cialis no prescription right kind of male enhancement supplement. MHRA works raindogscine.com get viagra australia to ensure that all manufacturers create meds with the same high standards and quality compliance as Pfizer does. For long-haul survival, online sales viagra 100mg should be put away at a room temperature 15-30 degree Celsius. Physical activities stimulate the brain into releasing certain chemicals that sildenafil rx will make you feel more happy and relaxed.

  4. John Green
  5. Stephen King
  6. Neil Gaiman
  7. George Orwell
  8. George RR Martin
  9. Janny Wurts
  10. N.K. Jemisin
  11. Chuck Wendig

While their writing talents were what first caught my attention,  their reputations were what ultimately would make me want to meet them. Which authors do you wish you could meet?

Soft Iron by Megan Slayer – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan is giving away a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Bia is the goddess of strength and compulsion, but those traits have her trapped in iron. A simple kiss could break the curse, but who wants to kiss a statue? Especially a statue of a woman stabbing a man in the heart? She knows better than to hope her celestial mate will find her, but what if her hopes are justified?

Oliver, a very quiet, geeky guy, knows his way around fabric and fashion. He excels at his job of dressing mannequins for storefronts, but he’s lonely. When he sees the statue of Bia, he’s smitten. She’s everything—strong, confident and sexy—everything he wishes to be. What will happen if the shy man overcomes his fears and gives in to his heart’s desire? He just might be able to harness the power of the goddess.

Read an Excerpt

©Megan Slayer, 2018 All Rights Reserved

He waited until the door closed and peeked around the closest boxes. He didn’t want anyone listening in to his conversation. Call him overly private, but he liked keeping some things to himself.

Oliver whipped his phone from his pocket and snapped a few shots of the statue for future reference. He draped his bag over his shoulder, then hesitated.

Oliver turned and ascended the ladder one more time. He stared into her black eyes. He didn’t know what to say, but he felt he owed her a good-bye of sorts. “I’ll do my best for you to make you beautiful,” he said, then pressed his lips to hers. His mouth tingled and he bit back a moan. He’d never forget the statue. He’d see her again, but still she was one in a million.

Oliver eased away from her and touched his mouth. “Good night, Bia. Until tomorrow.”

He climbed down the ladder and headed out of the stockroom. He’d find the best dress and make her look stunning. Now he had to get her out of his mind so he could focus on his other jobs. He waved at Kratos, who was on the phone, then left the store. His favorite consignment shop tended to have summery dresses in stock and always the one-of-a-kind garments he preferred. If he played his cards right, he’d be able to find what he needed, get the statue dressed, and still make it to his six o’clock appointment before Matilde had a snit fit. Time to hit the stores.

About the Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

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Sweet Christmas Kisses 5 – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Fill your holiday stocking with love and 9 sweet romance novellas, from USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and award-winning authors.
Sweet Christmas Kisses 5 brings you heartwarming contemporary romances that celebrate the joy of the season around the world, including in snowy Maine and the sun-kissed skies of Florida, the mountains of Colorado, small-town Illinois and South Carolina, New York to San Francisco, and even the glittering lights of Paris and the old-world charm of Florence. The Sweet Christmas Kisses 5 bundle features all-new, standalone novellas that will make you smile and fill your heart with the Christmas spirit.

***** 

Christmas With The Poker Group by Beate Boeker, USA Today Bestselling Author. After losing her beloved grandmother and getting dumped by her boyfriend, Sabrina is left feeling like Scrooge this Christmas. She makes a plan to survive the holidays in Florence, only to realize her grieving grandfather has a plan of his own. One that involves the crazy Mantoni family and the distractingly handsome man she’s determined to avoid. It’s beginning to look a lot like a tricky Christmas.

About the Author: Beate Boeker is a USA Today bestselling author with a passion for books that brim over with mischief & humor. She writes sweet, sophisticated romantic fiction and cozy mysteries, many of them set in beautiful Italy. While “Boeker” means “books” in a German dialect, her first name Beate can be translated as “Happy” . . . and with a name that reads “Happy Books,” what else could she do but write novels with a happy ending?

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*****

Christmas With The Carmichaels by Christine Bush, USA Today Bestselling Author. Widow and retiree Gabby is ready for a rocking chair. At least according to her daughter. Except maybe she’s not. After getting stranded in a Maine snowstorm with a silver-haired fox, Gabby might find the courage to say “yes” to life once more, and find a Christmas love she never expected.

About the Author: Christine Bush is an award-winning author of many sweet romances, mysteries, and novellas. When she’s not writing, she can be found teaching Psychology at a local college, working as a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, or (mostly) spending time with her twelve grandchildren.

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*****

The Mistletoe Bachelor Auction by Milou Koenings, USA Today bestselling author. When a supermodel with a string of bad news boyfriends “wins” a volunteer firefighter at a charity bachelor auction, Rose and Ryan might both discover they’ve found their perfect Christmas match. A fun and romantic holiday tale set in the fictional town of Green Pines, Illinois.

About the Author: USA Today bestselling author Milou Koenings writes heartwarming romance novels because sweet stories with happy endings are like chocolate – they bring joy to the world and so make it a better place. She’s lived all over the world, working as an editor and newspaper columnist, but loves staying home with her family most of all. She’s the author of the Green Pines Romance series.

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*****



Sweet Peppermint Kisses by Josie Riviera, USA Today Bestselling Author. Sometimes the best gifts are hiding right under your Christmas tree. His emotions were once trampled flat. Can he throw his heart over the fence toward the ultimate Christmas gift—a future filled with love? A holiday tale about the healing power of love, set in the charming fictional town of Cherish, South Carolina.

About the Author: Author Josie Riviera writes Historical, Inspirational, and Sweet Romances. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their empty nest with an adorable Shih Tzu who constantly needs grooming and an old house forever needing renovations.

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*****

Christmas In Paris by Roxanne Rustand, USA Today Bestselling Author. Kindergarten teacher Heather thought all her dreams were coming true—until she was jilted by her fiancé three months before their Christmas wedding. Since the honeymoon to Paris is already paid for, Heather determines to go sans groom and have a great time, no matter what. Love is not part of her travel plans, but when a handsome young doctor literally runs into her on the street, the magic of Christmas in Paris may cause a change of heart.

About the Author: USA Today bestselling author Roxanne Rustand is the author of thirty-five traditionally published novels, plus four indie novels. She was a Golden Heart finalist twice, and a Golden Heart winner in 1995. She has won two RT Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Awards, and was nominated for an RT Magazine Career Achievement Award. Her earlier books were secular, but she now writes sweet indie romance, and inspirational romance for Love Inspired.

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*****

Second Chance Christmas by Kristin Wallace, USA Today Bestselling Author. Ten years ago, Mia Reynolds and Win Barrington spent one magical Christmas together—until lies and manipulation tore them apart, and left Mia to raise a daughter all on her own. Now, both are back in their hometown of Palm Cove, Florida just in time for the holidays. Once they uncover the truth about what happened, can Mia and Win rediscover love and celebrate a Second Chance Christmas with their daughter?

About the Author: Kristin Wallace is a USA Today bestselling author of inspirational, contemporary and women’s fiction filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith.” Her popular series include the Covington Falls Chronicles and Shellwater Key Tales.

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*****

Ghosts From Christmas Past by Mary Alford, Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author. She was the love of his life, until a tragic accident on Christmas Eve left Charlotte Swenson in a coma. For eight years, Sheriff Dylan Parker of Bitter Creek, Colorado has held on to the hope that somehow his love will find a way back to him. And when Charlotte opens her eyes, just days before Christmas, Dylan can’t help but believe a holiday miracle may grant his every wish.

About the Author: Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author Mary Alford was inspired to become a writer after reading such romantic suspense greats as Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. Creating characters and throwing them into dangerous situations that test their faith was a challenge, but 2012 Mary received “the call” to publish her first book — a dream come true. Today, Mary writes Christian romantic suspense, and small-town contemporary romances.

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*****

Christmas Pizza To The Rescue by Jean C. Gordon. When a freak winter storm strands them alone at the Team Macachek barracks in Central New York, champion motocross racer Royce Evans and out-of-work investigative reporter turned pizza deliverer Samantha Linder strike a bargain that benefits them both. But when it appears Sam has broken the agreement, will the spirit of Christmas be strong enough to save their blossoming holiday love?

About the Author: Award-winning sweet and inspirational author Jean C. Gordon writes what she knows best — small-town, happily-ever-afters set in her native Upstate New York.

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*****

The Love Clause by Liwen. Y. Ho. He needs a fake girlfriend to advance his career. She needs a pretend date to keep her mom off her case during the holidays. The solution to both of their problems? A contractual relationship with one clause: neither of them can fall in love. A Christmas tale set in romantic San Francisco that will cause this reluctant couple to rethink the “no love” clause.

About the Author: Liwen Y. Ho writes sweet and inspirational romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots). She lives in California with her family and blogs about life as a recovering perfectionist.

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Claire’s Last Secret by Marty Ambrose


Claire’s Last Secret by Marty Ambrose
A Claire Clairmont historical mystery
Publisher: Severn House
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (182 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

A tragic death leads Claire Clairmont to be haunted by her past and the ‘summer of 1816’ she shared with Byron and Shelley in this first in an intriguing new historical trilogy.

1873, Florence. Claire Clairmont, the last survivor of the ‘haunted summer of 1816’ Byron/Shelley circle, is living out her final years in genteel poverty, but the appearance of British tourist, William Michael Rossetti, brings hope that she may be able to sell some of her memorabilia to earn enough cash to support her and her niece/companion, Paula.

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One summer changed Claire’s life forever.

Claire is a fascinating character who has never regretted living life on her own terms. She’s impulsive and driven by her emotions. Living with such passion and intensity has brought her joy and sadness. Old age has done little to mellow Claire. She still has a fiery spirit, but when I compare the sections from 1816 to those from 1873, it is clear Claire has learned to think before she acts. I enjoyed getting to know Claire in her youth and maturity.

There is still so much I want to know about Claire and her life. I definitely need to know the fate of Claire’s daughter. I also want to explore Claire’s relationships more, particularly with her stepsister Mary. I found their relationship a bit strange. They spent most of their lives together, but at some point, there was in irreparable rift between them. I’d like to know why. They seemed so close at times, and then at others Mary seemed very insecure about Claire’s friendship with Percy Shelley. Mary’s jealously is completely unfounded in my opinion. Anyone could have seen that Claire only had eyes for Byron.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere that Ms. Ambrose has created. This isn’t a book to race through. Part of the joy in reading it is soaking in all the details of the world around Claire and all the interesting people she’s met. I think it can be a bit difficult to get past viewing Byron and Percy and Mary Shelley solely as giants of literature. However, I think it is important to remember they were real people who loved, lost, and had problems just like everyone else. Ms. Ambrose made them realistic and relatable.

I must say I think the ending is much too abrupt. In fact, it is the sole reason I didn’t give this tale a five-star rating. Much of the book slowly builds tension concerning the mystery of Claire’s daughter and how it connects to a tragic incident in Claire’s present. I relished trying to discern which events in 1873 had roots in 1816. It seemed like anyone could be the enemy, and I enjoyed sifting through everyone’s actions and words trying to discover any hidden motivations. All of a sudden it was over. In the space of a few pages several major events were explained in ways I didn’t find particularly satisfying and didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the story. I can only hope the sequel addresses some of my concerns in greater detail.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read Claire’s Last Secret. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Claire and can’t wait to learn more about her. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a historical mystery to savor.

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas by Katie Ruggles – Spotlight and Giveaway


Long and Short Reviews welcomes Katie Ruggle who is celebrating the upcoming release of her newest book Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win a copy of the book.

In the heart of the Rockies
One white Christmas can change everything.

When firefighter and single dad Steve Springfield moved his four kids to a Colorado Christmas tree ranch, he intended for it to be a safe haven. But he never expected danger to follow them to his childhood home…

Or that he would come face-to-face with the one girl he could never forget.

Folk artist Camille Brandt lives a quiet life. As the town’s resident eccentric, she’s used to being lonely—until Steve freaking Springfield changes everything. Brave and kind, he’s always had a piece of her heart, and it doesn’t take long before she’s in danger of falling for him again. But as mysterious fires break out across the sleepy Colorado town, Steve and Camille will have to fight if they want their happy family to survive until Christmas…

Enjoy an Excerpt

As she started toward the store, Camille heard the jangle of sleigh bells and saw Steve jogging toward her, a draft horse that wasn’t Buttercup trotting next to him. She stopped, struck yet again by his rugged beauty and the picture-perfect scene of his strong form next to the huge, chestnut horse, their breath turning to steam in the clear, cold air. Even the sunny day seemed to exist just to be a perfect backdrop for Steve in this moment.

“Hey,” he said, not even breathing hard after his jog. “Glad I caught you before we had to head out to get another tree.”

The horse lowered his head to her shoulder and breathed puffs of warm air into her neck, making her giggle. “Who’s this?”

“Harry. He’s green, and we need to work on him respecting people’s boundaries, but he means well.”

“Oh, I don’t mind him breathing on me.” She rubbed the horse’s cheek as he lipped at her collar. “He’s very handsome.” But not as handsome as Steve, a wicked voice whispered. She firmly ignored it, knowing that she couldn’t focus on thoughts like that if she wanted to be able to have a conversation without blushing.

“He knows it, too. He’s like Ryan that way.”

When Camille let out a surprised laugh, Steve winced, rubbing his neck with the hand not holding Harry’s lead rope. “Sorry. That was rude.”

“Maybe,” she said, still amused, as Harry nosed at her pockets, probably checking for treats. “But it was also true.”

“Hey,” he said to Harry, giving the lead rope a sharp tug so that the horse backed up a few steps. “Quit trying to mug her for carrots.” He shot her a quick glance, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. “So…you and Ryan really aren’t…?”

“Aren’t what?” she asked, confused by the half of a question. As soon as she said it, though, she realized what he’d meant. “Oh! No. We’re not doing anything. I mean, he’s asked, a bunch of times, actually, which surprised me, since he’d pretty much looked right through me until you found me at the scrapyard—not that I was lost, of course—and he walked back with me and Sasha. Anyway, whenever he tries to drag me somewhere for lunch, I run away or tell him I can’t because I need to feed my cat.”

Steve gave his rare, booming laugh. “You turned him down because you needed to feed your cat? No wonder he’s so touchy when it comes to you.”

“He’s touchy about me? Why? I don’t think he’s all that interested.” Not really interested, the way she was in Steve. “I know he’s been persistent about trying to get me to go out with him—well for the last few weeks, at least—but I figured he asks out everyone he runs into, and most people don’t reject his offers, so I’m just a challenge.”

“It’s true he’s not used to being turned down.”

She shrugged. “He’ll need to get used to it with me. I’m just not interested.”

“Good to know.” Steve’s gaze seemed several degrees warmer than usual, and Camille found prickles of sweat beading under her coat as she tried to puzzle out his meaning. Why was it good to know that she wasn’t interested in his brother? The way he was eyeing her made her almost think that Steve was actually attracted to her.

Her breath caught at the thought, but she immediately doubted herself. Beautiful, kind, and strong Steve Springfield had to have just as beautiful, kind, and strong women falling at his feet on a regular basis. Why would he be interested in an almost-hermit who answered almost every question with a nervous monologue? Despite all that, she knew she wasn’t imagining the heat in his eyes when he looked at her.

Suddenly tired of not knowing what was going on in his mind, she blurted out, “Why is it good to know?”

He shifted closer, nudging Harry back when the horse took the opportunity to try to nibble on Camille’s coat again. With Steve this close, she could smell his evergreen and peppermint scent. His coat was unzipped slightly, showing his insulated flannel shirt underneath, and the urge to press her face against that soft-looking fabric was so strong that her breath caught. She jerked her gaze back to his. There was no missing the heat in his eyes now, especially as he tipped his head down so their faces were even closer. Her heart thrummed in her chest at his nearness, making it almost impossible for her to hear his words. “I wanted to ask y—”

“Steve!” Nate’s yell drifted from the store lot, cutting Steve off midword and smashing the perfect, crystalized moment between them. Closing his eyes for a moment, he let out a hard breath that stirred the strands of hair on her forehead before he turned toward his brother.

“What?” he called back, his voice a little growly.

Blinking as reality returned with a rush of cold air, Camille shifted back a step, needing some distance from Steve to get her thoughts working again. Even as she tried to tell herself that she’d imagined that moment, that he’d been about to ask her a normal, not-at-all-sexy question, she couldn’t keep the butterflies from tumbling around in her belly. Stop, she told them firmly. She should know better than to think that he’d be interested in her, and she needed to knock it off before she ended up embarrassed and hurt.

Despite the internal lecture, she still wanted to throw a pinecone at Nate’s head. Why did he have to shout right when Steve was getting to the interesting part? Now she was going to die of curiosity if she didn’t find out what he’d been about to tell her. She liked Nate well enough, but right now she wished he’d fall in a hole.

“You’re up!” Nate gestured toward a family clustered together by the edge of the lot. Even at a shout, Nate’s words sounded testy, and Camille felt a rush of annoyance. Couldn’t he have helped the family? Even as she thought it, she knew she was being unreasonable. This was why she shouldn’t indulge in daydreams about unobtainable firefighting ranchers. It stole all of her good sense.

Steve gave Nate a wave of acknowledgment before turning back to Camille.

“Duty calls,” he said with a slight, rueful grimace. His gaze lingered on her face for a charged second before he sighed and turned Harry around, being careful the horse’s oversized rump didn’t knock into her. As he started leading the gelding away, Steve glanced over his shoulder at her. “We’ll talk soon.”

With that completely unsatisfying ending to their conversation, he jogged back toward the family waiting in the lot. Realizing that she was staring after him like a lovestruck idiot, Camille forced her feet to move. She followed more slowly, watching as he greeted the parents and their three kids, tying Harry’s lead rope to the hitching post. As he put on the horse’s harness, he explained each step to the customers, letting the kids touch each piece with curious hands. When the smallest child toddled too close to one of Harry’s oversized hooves, Steve swept him up with the ease of long practice before handing him off to the boy’s dad.

Camille loved how he worked around the horse and the kids, calm and easy, but with a careful firmness that showed he wouldn’t put up with any nonsense. Although she wished they’d been able to finish their conversation, she enjoyed being able to stare at Steve to her heart’s content without him noticing. He stroked Harry’s thick, fuzzy neck absently as he listened to one of the kids, and she was transfixed by the movement of his hand, so firm yet gentle. As stupid as it was, she couldn’t keep her mind from dwelling on how that hand would feel against her skin.

As if he’d heard her thoughts, he looked straight at her, the corners of his mouth tucked in as if he were holding back a smile. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she knew she had to be bright red. If he hadn’t guessed the direction of her thoughts before, her vivid blush had to be giving her away now.

Completely flustered, she lifted her hand in an awkward wave. His smile stretched more widely, and Camille lost what little ability she had to act normally. It was time to retreat. Turning away from the tempting man in front of her, she hurried the rest of the way to her car, not allowing her gaze to stray in his direction. Once she got into the old Buick, she closed her eyes and shook her head at herself. Why couldn’t she have even a smidgen of game? Why had she given Steve that goofy wave?
Carefully backing out, she ran through their brief encounter in her mind. What had he been about to say before Nate interrupted? From the way he’d prefaced the question, it had felt as if it was going to be important. She huffed out a breath. Between thinking about this, her spying neighbor, the creepy night noises, and the industrious mice who shared her home, she’d never be able to sleep that night.

About the Author: A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing and gymnastics, has lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains, rides horses, trains dogs, cross-country skis and travels to warm places to scuba dive. In addition to her romantic suspense books, she also writes spicier romances under the pen name Katie Allen.

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My Top Five Favorite Books of All Time by John Inman – Guest Blog

Long and Short Reviews welcomes John Inman who is celebrating today’s release of Nightfall.

My Top Five Favorite Books of All Time

I have loved reading since I was a kid growing up on a farm in Indiana. Once when I was seven or eight, I was rummaging through the attic of our old farmhouse and I came across a set of children’s classics. I had no idea who stashed them there, and neither did my folks. Our farmhouse was well over a hundred years old so my dad said it might have been anyone. Anyway, I started rooting through those books, and before I had finished gobbling up the first volume, I knew I was hooked for life. Reading would be my number one passion from that day forth. The first book below in my list of favorites was that book.

Tom Sawyer — In my mind, I can still see the battered hardback copy I dug out of the attic. It was the first full length book I ever read as a kid. It was musky and smelled of mouse turds and it was the most enthralling string of words I had ever read in my life. The kid was even my age! How could a boy NOT love that book?

Huckleberry Finn — Of course, there’s only one book to grab after Tom Sawyer. Huckleberry Finn, of course. If anything, I think I loved reading about Huck even more than I loved reading about Tom. I still return to both those books from time to time. It’s like revisting old friends.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy — Just as my body began to mature, so did my my little pea brain. My expectations from the books I read became a little more exacting. When I found The Lord of the Rings, I though I’d died and gone to heaven. Now here was a set of books you could really sink your teeth into! When the movie came out, I knew they’d blow it, but they didn’t. I sat in that movie theater with tears in my eyes while the credits scrolled past. Not only had they done it right, they had done it BETTER than right. The movie was perfect. I still read LOTR unfailingly once a year. And I watch the movie even more than that. I think my husband considers shooting me every time he sees me drag it out.

Harry Potter — Oddly, when I got around to becoming pretty damned old, I relapsed back into childhood and fell in love with the Harry Potter books. This series too, I reread every year. I still have trouble reading the one with Professor Umbridge in it. God, I hate that bitch. Of course, Imelda Staunton playing Umbridge in the movies is just as bad. I must say I was heartened when I read an interview with Miss Staunton the other day and she said she hated the woman too. On a slightly different note, I’ve found it fascinating to watch the three kids in the Potter movies grow up and claim their own rights to the world of moviemaking. Especially Daniel Radcliffe. I’m just so proud of all three of them, you’d think I knew them, which of course I don’t.

Revenant — By this time, you might be wondering how I found myself writing gay fiction. Well, again, it was the influence of one book that did that. It wasn’t the first DSP book I read, but it was one of the first, and it left me breathless. Incredibly exciting, amazingly sexy, spooky as hell, and really beautifully written. The book is Revenant by Connie Bailey. For sheer eroticism, I’m not sure I’ve ever read another book that can touch it. If you get a chance, drag it out of mothballs and give it a whirl. You won’t be disappointed.

So there you have it. Those are the books that steered me into a career of writing. And now with over thirty books published, I can say I’ve met some terrific writers, and terrific readers, and yes, even some really terrific editors and publishers. I don’t suppose I’ll ever reach the perfection of those five favorite books of mine, but that doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying as long as I still have someone out there who’s willing to read what I put down on paper.

I hope you enjoy NIGHTFALL. It’s my first journey into writing science fiction, but I think maybe it won’t be my last because it was really a lot of fun. And thanks to everyone at Long and Short Reviews for giving me a chance to spout off. Happy reading, everybody.

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Joe Chase and Ned Bowden are damaged men. They each bear scars from surviving the world they were born in. Deep scars, both physical and emotional.

When fate offers its first kind act by bringing the two together, suddenly their scars don’t seem so bad, and their lives don’t feel so empty.

Yet that kindness comes at a price.

Just as Joe and Ned begin to experience true happiness for the very first time, the world turns on them again.

But this time it turns on everyone.

About the Author:

John Inman is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and the author of over thirty novels, everything from outrageous comedies to tales of ghosts and monsters and heart stopping romances. John Inman has been writing fiction since he was old enough to hold a pencil. He and his partner live in beautiful San Diego, California. Together, they share a passion for theater, books, hiking and biking along the trails and canyons of San Diego or, if the mood strikes, simply kicking back with a beer and a movie.

John’s advice for anyone who wishes to be a writer? “Set time aside to write every day and do it. Don’t be afraid to share what you’ve written. Feedback is important. When a rejection slip comes in, just tear it up and try again. Keep mailing stuff out. Keep writing and rewriting and then rewrite one more time. Every minute of the struggle is worth it in the end, so don’t give up. Ever. Remember that publishers are a lot like lovers. Sometimes you have to look a long time to find the one that’s right for you.”

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Buy the book at Dreamspinner Press.

Top Ten Tuesday: YA Books on My Fall 2018 TBR

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

How do you all feel about anticipation? It’s one of my favorite feelings in the entire world. There is nothing like daydreaming about when you’ll finally get to read that book, eat that special meal, or go on that exciting trip. Sometimes I honestly enjoy looking forward to something than I do experiencing it.

With these titles, however, I do think I’ll like reading them as much as I relish the thought of reading them. I’ve included their release dates in this post so you’ll know when to look for them as well.

1. Pride by Ibi Zoboi.

Release date: September 18 (today!)

This is a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I’m looking forward to seeing how that story has been updated for life in 2018. There are so many parts of the original version that would no longer apply to our society. For example, our inheritance laws don’t care what gender someone’s children or other heirs are. Anyone can inherit anything.

2. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade by Cheyanne Young.

Release date: October 2.

The death of a friend is always hard, but it’s especially difficult the first time it happens. I’m intrigued by the thought of Raquel being able to communicate with her dead friend.

3. What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli.

Release date: October 9.

It feels like I’ve been waiting for this book to be released for five years. I don’t read a ton of romance novels in general, but I do like the ones that show characters who aren’t immediately sure that the person they’ve just met is the right one for them.

4. Odd One Out by Nic Stone.

Release date: October 9.

I can’t decide which two of these characters I want to see end up together the most. Since any combination of them is a possibility, the tension is going to keep me guessing until I finally get a chance to read this next month.

5. Quiver by Julia Watts.

Release date October 16.

Imagine a girl who was raised by a conservative, religious family who believed in allowing God to decide how many kids a couple has. Now picture that girl befriending a gender-fluid vegetarian who grew up in an egalitarian household. As soon as I read the blurb of this story, I knew I’d want to check out the whole thing.
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6. A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Release date: October 16.

I’m intrigued by the idea of a character dealing with as much prejudice and hatred as Shirin will have to at the same time she’s deciding whether to open her heart to someone new in her life. Mixing a lighthearted storyline with a much more serious one seems like it could make for more memorable scenes.

7. Home and Away by Candice Montgomery.

Release date: October 16.

The only thing more attention-grabbing than a girl who plays football on an otherwise all-male team is the mysterious box that Tasia will catch a glimpse of early on in this storyline. I want to know more about both of these parts of her life.

8. The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta.

Release date: October 30.

Seriously, how cool would it be to change your gender at will? While I’m happy being a woman in general, I’d change that for a few hours if I could just to see what it would be like.

Figuring out who is poisoning the leaders of the five most powerful families in Italy is also going to be fun, but it was honestly the idea of swapping out one’s gender that made me sure I wanted to read this.

9. Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean

Release date: November 6.

The thought of women and girls competing in order to see who will become the next empress makes me smile. I can’t wait to see how this contest plays out.

10. Any Second by Kevin Emerson

Release Date: November 20.

This really goes without saying, but kidnappings and bombs are both pretty frightening. Mixing them together only makes me more nervous about what will happen to these characters. I might need to read their tale hours before bedtime to avoid having bad dreams about it, but I still want to find out what their fates will be.

What are you looking forward to reading this autumn? Are any of these books also on your TBR list?

Time Crawlers by Varun Sayal


Time Crawlers by Varun Sayal
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Short Story (100 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Stories
1. Nark-astra, The Hell Weapon: The weapons he possesses make him the destroyer of worlds, and he burns for revenge. A high-tech take on ancient Indian mythology.

2. Death by Crowd: The dark desires of the masses; darknet websites fueled by a crypto-currency. What lurks in the background – an advanced artificial intelligence?

3. Genie: He rubbed a lamp alright, but what he got was the shock of his life. An entirely sci-fi take on the djinn myth.

4. Time Crawlers: There are individuals who existing in multiple time periods at once, and there are those who know about them….

5. Eclipse: No attacks, no blood-shed, yet there was an invasion and a conquest. Who are these shapeshifter aliens being hounded by an eclipse?
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6. The Cave: The fate of an advanced imperial race hangs in balance as a dark celestial entity meets a legendary protector.

First impressions aren’t always accurate.

The main character in “Eclipse” learned that aliens had arrived on Earth and infiltrated the highest levels of government. He joined a resistance movement and prepared to denote a special type of bomb that would kill all of the intruders. As interested as I was in the plot, I was distracted by the fact that the protagonist chose to reveal almost nothing about his life. His name and backstory remained a mystery, and his personality was hard to figure out as well. That made it difficult for me to connect to him or become invested in his fate.

In “Death by Crowd,” an entrepreneur explained why the people their company hired would agree to light themselves on fire and die in front of a large audience in order to make a great deal of money. The premise of this tale caught my attention immediately, and it made me shudder. I was especially intrigued by the contrast between the terrible deaths this character described and how calm they were while they discussed the business aspects of this form of entertainment. The twist at the end was written nicely, too.

After becoming lost in the jungle, a man named Marco discovered a magical lamp in “Genie” that might give him the opportunity to go home again. The genie this character awoken wasn’t at all what he was expecting, and that was when the plot became very interesting. I loved seeing the practical consequences of a world where people could make outlandish wishes and have them come true. This was explored from scientific, mathematic, and sociological perspectives, so the long term effects of iit all went places I never would have expected them to go.

A transcription of a conversation between a man named Jokie and a Historical Scientist was the basis for “Time Crawlers.” They were discussing how it was possible for two events that happened thousands of years apart to be brought together into the same moment by someone who experienced time differently from the average person. I liked the premise of this one quite a bit, but the storyline was hard to follow at times due to the limited perspectives of the characters who were talking about it. It would have been helpful to have more details about what was happening and how it would be possible for anyone to manipulate time so that two different eras could exist simultaneously.

The conversational style of “The Cave” worked better for this reader. It was about an army general and a consultant who were trying to determine how to respond after a team of soldiers went into a cave and never came out of it again. The only clue about their fate lay in the terrible screams some witnesses heard before all communication between them and the outside world ended for good. I enjoyed learning the cave’s backstory and guessing what could possibly be hidden within it. Not only did the twist make perfect sense, the hints about it were a lot of fun to put together.

There were times when I found it a little hard to follow the plot of “Nark-Astra.” Prayaschakit, the main character, was planning to use a rare and powerful weapon in order to win a battle with the king of a country he hoped to take for himself. So many new terms were introduced in the storyline that I had trouble keeping track of all of them, especially since some of them weren’t explained in a lot of detail. With that being said, I still found the descriptions of how the weapon worked to be quite interesting. It had many painful and dangerous side effects that the audience did get to read about in detail.

Time Crawlers was an eclectic collection of short stories that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys modern science fiction.