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August 27, 2025 · 11:12 am

Hobby, Career, Passion ~ Why Zuri Loves Mixed Martial Arts by Dan Rice ~ New Release: Phantom Algebra #YAHorror

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Dan Rice…

Why Zuri Loves Mixed Martial Arts in my New Release: Phantom Algebra

When I took a crack at writing Phantom Algebra, I faced a couple of new challenges. First, the novel is a horror story, a ghost tale to be precise, which was something I had never tackled before in novel-length fiction. Sure, I had written a handful of short stories that fit into the creepiest of genres, but crafting an entire book in that genre felt like a monumental undertaking. This was especially true because I also faced a deadline, which was not the self-imposed kind. If I wanted the yarn to be part of The Wild Rose Press’s series, The Haunting of Pinedale High, I needed to produce a polished manuscript in a little over a year. Such a task usually takes me at least eighteen months.

Despite those challenges, I wanted to make my hero, Zuri Williams, distinct from the characters I had encountered in the horror genre. What quintessential passion could I give her to set her apart from the genre’s many heroes and final girls?

While brainstorming passions, I fondly recalled watching boxing with my father as a lad. He wasn’t much of a sports fan, but he did enjoy the pugilistic arts. This was back before mixed martial arts (MMA) had taken off and women’s boxing was rarely televised. But times have changed. MMA fighter Conor McGregor has helped make mixed martial arts more mainstream and become a sporting superstar. Fighters like Ronda Rousey have increased the prominence of the female side of the fight game. Social media is full of videos of female fighters battling with the same levels of passion and skill as their male counterparts. I thought, what if Zuri is an aspiring MMA fighter? That struck me as a suitably unique passion for a horror hero, and raised an awesome question. What will Zuri do when facing foes she can’t punch, kick, or grapple into submission?

So mixed martial arts became Zuri’s passion imparted to her by her estranged father, a former prizefighter turned gangland enforcer. Instead of studying algebra, Zuri obsessively watches clips of her hero, The Jade Tiger, battling it out in the octagon and dreaming of one day becoming a world champion herself. She will learn just as she can’t solve algebraic equations with her fists, some enemies, namely nasty poltergeists, can’t be dispelled with a high kick alone, no matter how expertly delivered.

Zuri and her mother settle in Pinedale, North Carolina, to start over. For years, they’ve been on the run from Zuri’s father, a retired boxer and full-time gangland enforcer.

In Pinedale, Zuri finds a gym where she can train in mixed martial arts to pursue her dream of becoming a champion fighter. At Pinedale High, she discovers friends among the outcasts, academic challenges, and something unexpected…ghosts.

When Zuri encounters a tween phantom haunting the library, her life is turned upside down and inside out as she attempts to help the spirit. This incurs the wrath of devils, living and dead. Zuri will need her martial arts prowess, heart, and the aid of friends to protect everyone she loves.

Excerpt:

After being sucker punched by Mason, Zuri had executed the advice to lead with straight right hands. As the oldster had said, Mason was fast, but she was faster, and for whatever reason, be it arrogance or laziness, the boy never raised his guard high enough to block her shots. Instead, he tried to dodge them, which he did sometimes, but not nearly enough. Her right hand crunched into his face time and time again, sending satisfying jolts up her arm into her shoulder. With gratification, she watched the maniacal glee fade from his eyes, and panic set in as he realized he was getting his ass whooped by a girl. Mr. Tito ended the sparring match after one round, not wanting Mason to get beat up with the tournament only weeks away.

But the revelation after the match had doused Zuri’s joy at showing up the bully. After berating Mason for his shoddy defense, Mr. Tito ambled over to help Zuri remove her gloves. Smelling of aftershave and sweat, he spoke as he worked. “You did good in there, Zuri. Maybe too good for Mason, but you taught him a hard lesson. Something I’ve been working on with him for months. Keep your hands up!”

“He does keep his left low,” Zuri agreed.

Tito wrenched the right glove off her hand and dropped it to the canvas. “The angles you throw the right hand are unorthodox. I’ve only seen it once before.” He looked her questioningly in the eyes. “Zuri Williams. You’re not Jake Williams’s daughter, are you?”

Zuri’s mouth dropped open. “Ummm…” What to say? She collapsed in on herself, shriveling like a raisin. Did she dare lie and risk being caught? Did Mr. Tito know her father? Would he phone Big Jake as soon as she left?

Buy link(s):

About the Author:

Dan Rice pens the young adult urban fantasy series The Allison Lee Chronicles and other speculative fiction, both short and long, in the wee hours of the morning. To discover more about Dan’s writing and keep tabs on his upcoming releases, check out his blog, join his newsletter, and follow him on BlueSky. His latest novel, the YA horror Phantom Algebra, releases on September 15, 2025.

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August 25, 2025 · 9:44 am

The Spotlight is on Lori Matsourani and her New Release: Ghosted ~ Contemporary Romance with a Touch of the Paranormal

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Lori Matsourani…

A haunted inn, a first crush, and a second chance for love with “help” from the resident ghost…

When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out a new path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with Nick Dorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubled eighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted her years ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.

Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s still the funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him a second chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in another devastating heartache.

Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does she have the courage to trust him with her future?

Excerpt:

As Mrs. Snowden spoke, a tall, dark-haired man entered the foyer. He wore jeans and a soft blue crewneck sweater that accentuated his lanky, yet solid, build. As soon as he saw Bethany, his face lit up.

“Bethany!”

He walked toward her as though they were long-lost friends, and she half expected him to pull her into an embrace. Then she recognized the dark chocolate eyes behind the black-framed glasses and her stomach lurched.

Nick Dorsey. He’s Mrs. Snowden’s nephew?

“Aunt Margaret told me you were checking in today.”

Stunned, Bethany stepped backward, bumping into the edge of the desk as her heart thudded. A white-hot flush scorched every inch of her skin as she stared at Nick. Of all the people she could run into, it had to be the first guy to break her heart? And why did he have to be so handsome, with that bit of hair curling over his forehead and late-day stubble?

She inhaled deeply to rein in her composure, hating her can’t-catch-your-breath reaction to him, then dipped her chin in a neutral acknowledgment.

“Hello, Nick.”

His smile morphed into a full-on, lopsided grin. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Ten years, I bet. Not since the summer Zach and I got our drivers’ licenses.”

Mrs. Snowden laid her hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Bethany is staying in the Howard Room. Can you help her with her bag?” Then, turning to Bethany, she said, “Come back down when you’re ready and I’ll give you a tour of the house.”

As Bethany followed Nick to the second floor, the pain, questions, and self-doubts she’d buried years ago reemerged, seeping into her belly like liquid concrete. The last thing she needed was Nick Dorsey invading her healing zone. It had taken her months to get over the summer romance they’d shared—and he’d abruptly ended—when they were teens. And even longer before she could bring herself to date again.

And now he was in her safe space.

Buy link(s):

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9XCPLYD/thewildrosepr-20

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/ghosted-lori-matsourani/22722837?ean=9781509262540&next=t&affiliate=114419

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosted-lori-matsourani/1147463084?ean=2940184606941

Books A Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509262540

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/ghosted/id6746414091

About the Author:

Lori Matsourani is a romance addict. Give her stories with a touch of heartbreak and a spark of joy, and she’s happy. Throw in characters with a huge helping of heart and soul, and she’s up reading all night in romance heaven! While currently a Texas resident, Lori grew up near Baltimore and often draws on the historical flavor of Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to inspire her story settings. She authored her first fiction story at twelve and has been hooked on writing ever since. Early on, her writing career focused on articles for magazines and newspapers before shifting to her first writing love—fiction. For Lori, connecting words to tell a story is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and she loves the challenge of creating every piece.

Social media links:

Website: https://lorimatsourani.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.matsourani.author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori.matsourani/

Goodreads Giveaway: Runs from August 1 to August 30. Enter here:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/418301-ghosted

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August 20, 2025 · 5:00 am

Author Interview with Susan Dalessandro ~ New Release: A Whisper In The Trees YA romance w/paranormal elements

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susan Dalessandro…

Please tell us a little about yourself.  I’m from Bucks County, PA, a northwest suburb of Philadelphia. I still live here now. I have two grown sons and two dogs. I am a passionate runner and have been since I was seventeen.

Where did you get the idea for A Whisper In The Trees?  I love to write coming of age YA stories, and I wanted to show both the physical and emotional pressures that young runners go through. I ran cross-country in high-school and still run 6 days a week currently, so I have a lot of experience!  

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)? All of my books are YA contemporary with a romance subplot, but this one I wanted to add a paranormal element. I thought the woods created a great venue for that aspect of the book.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? Honestly, it’s the marketing! Getting your book in front of people once it’s published. As to the writing itself, sometimes getting stuck in the middle of the story. I know where I want the story to go, but I’m not always sure how to best get there.

What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular? For this book, it was making the ghost story believable. As I mentioned above, I write YA contemporary (usually with a romance subplot), but I wanted to add a paranormal, ghostly element, because I thought if fit in perfectly with the story and I wanted to add some mystery to the woods. Hopefully, I’ve done that!

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it? I have an M.A. in Applied Math -I’ve always loved math and figuring out problems- and I work in Assessment Sciences. Yes, I love what I do and the people I work with. 

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do? It’s probably running long distances. So many people say, ‘I hate running’, but I can’t live without it. It’s an integral part of who I am, and it helps me think and plot story lines as I run.

What was your first job? My first job was a lifeguard and swimming instructor for a summer day camp. Swimming is also a favorite of mine.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read A Whisper In The Trees? It’s important, no matter what age you are, to be true to yourself, be your real self.

Have you written any other books that are not published? I have a book I’m querying at present, ‘All The Secrets That Aren’t’, a YA romantic suspense.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? Some of the characters are derived from real people and share some of their characteristics and qualities. Some are entirely fictional. 

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? It’s so important to be you, to be yourself, to not let anyone else define you.  

How much of the book is realistic? All of it, except for maybe the ghostly presence in the woods. Although, people claim to have had paranormal experiences, so maybe it’s not far-fetched.

How did your interest in writing originate? I’ve always had stories in my head, and I finally started writing them down.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? I love Jennifer Armentrout. She writes both fantasy and contemporary. Her writing (especially her YA books) gives me all the feels, makes me care about the characters, and that, to me, is what I want to experience when I read a book.

Hard truths aren’t easy to run from

Excerpt:

I hug myself tightly and glance around. Nothing but leaves blowing in the dusty, hot breeze. Hot, not cold. It doesn’t change the fact I’m frozen inside like the last time. And I didn’t pass out at practice today. I was totally fine for our mile repeats. In fact, I killed them.

The chill leaves as quickly as it arrived, and I exhale, a dense vapor billowing from my mouth. I take off along the path and the song resonates in my head. Only this time the lyrics are sharper. Stronger.

My stomach clenches and I try to push the song out of my head, but it refuses to be silenced.

It taunts me.

Buy links: https://books2read.com/u/bQwQy0

About the Author:

I’m a lifelong lover of books and storytelling and hold an M.A. In Applied Math, a subject which finds its way into many of my stories.

I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with my husband, two sons and two dogs. I gather story ideas as I run in the early mornings with my dogs. Running is the perfect environment for me to think and create. It’s also a central theme of many of my novels.

My debut novel, Complex Solutions, a YA coming of age thriller, released March 16, 2021, with Rhetoric Askew Publishing. As part of a group of authors in the Play Like A Girl shared world series, I released Strong Enough, a YA sports romance. My most recent book, A Whisper In The Trees, a YA romance with paranormal elements from The Wild Rose Press, released on June 30, 2025.  

https://authorsusandalessandro.com

dalessandrosusan27@yahoo.com

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August 19, 2025 · 5:00 am

Hobby/Career/Passion How an Apparel Career Led to a Writing Gig with  Susie Black & Death by Dreidel #CozyMystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susie Black…

How an Apparel Career Led to a Writing Gig

Like the protagonist in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, I am a ladies’ swimwear sales executive. The most critically important skill a sales exec must have to succeed is to be a good storyteller. Fortunately, I’ve been telling stories since I learned how to talk. One thing I was told repeatedly as a sales executive was to know your product inside and out.  I heard the same thing when I started writing cozy mysteries: write what you know. If you don’t know it, either do the research and learn it, or don’t dare to write it. Whether you’re an author or a sales exec, you’re selling yourself, and readers, like buyers, can sniff out a phony in a heartbeat, and then you and whatever kind of story you’re telling are toast.

I came to write in the cozy mystery genre because I love solving puzzles. My parents would certainly confirm I have always asked a lot of questions, and I am naturally curious (some narrow-minded people say I am nosy…go figure…LOL). So, writing mysteries was the natural next step for me to take. Since I’d never written a novel before, the only thing I knew to do was to apply the same storytelling skills I’d successfully used hawking bikinis to writing a tale. It turns out that how you present an apparel line is the same way you write a story. Both have a beginning, a middle, an ending, and a point of view.

So, where did my story ideas come from? From the start of my career, I have kept a daily journal that chronicles the quirky, interesting, and often challenging people I’ve encountered as well as the crazy situations I’ve gotten myself into and out of. The protagonist of the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Holly Schlivnik, is based on me. The journal entries are the foundation of all my writing for the stories that comprise the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series. With a dollop of imagination, a pinch of angst, and a decades-long career chocked to the gills with juicy characters, I had more stories itching to be told in my daily journal than time to write them.

Who could push a sales exec to dream of murder and mayhem? Who else but a buyer?  After completing a rather challenging conversation with an important but difficult account, I imagined how good it would feel with my hands around her scrawny neck, squeezing the life out of her. While the notion of knocking off my annoying customers was wildly appealing, a horizontally striped prison uniform making my four-foot, eight-inch body look like a barbershop pole and a fire hydrant had a child wasn’t a pretty sight. The viable alternative?  Writing humorous murder mysteries set in the Los Angeles garment center. Brilliant and cathartic! In one fell swoop, eliminate a pain-in-the-patootie buyer, avoid life in prison, and still get the order. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Very interesting article, Susie. Thank you for sharing. And now, tell us about your book…

Brings a whole new meaning to a killer party.

Blurb:

Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik attends an industry Hanukkah party to honor Rapido Swimwear CEO Leni Waxman as the Mount Cedars Hospital Woman of the Year. The guest of honor collapses and dies in the middle of the event. An autopsy confirms that Leni expired as a result of poisoning by coming in contact with a purposely contaminated dreidel. There is no shortage of suspects—Leni had no problem destroying anyone who threatened her position as the top dog in the swimwear industry. When Holly’s business partner is wrongly arrested for Leni’s murder, the irreverent sales exec can’t mind her own beeswax. The wise-cracking snoop sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, and nothing turns out how Holly thinks it will as she takes on a ruthless killer hellbent on revenge.

Excerpt:

I leaned over to Queenie and pointed to Leni. “Take a gander at Leni. Something’s wrong with her.”

Queenie followed my index finger with her eyes. “Yeah, she’s white as a ghost and perspiring.”

Gary snapped, “Maybe the old broad is nervous.”

Buddy took his seat and pointed to Leni. “Something is wrong with that woman.”

Mira shrugged. “Or perhaps the emotion of sharing the loss of her sister took its toll.”

Gary clucked his tongue. “Don’t let her fool you with her sad story about her sister. I wouldn’t be surprised if she made the whole thing up to add some dramatic context to her acceptance speech. Leni Waxman has a heart of stone, and only ice water runs in her veins. She is incapable of loving anybody but herself. She’s probably going through menopause and having one helluva hot flash.”

Seeming to rally after taking several restorative gulps of water, Leni tottered on unsteady feet over to a large glass-topped table piled high with door prizes. She pointed to the stack and said in a remarkably normal voice, “Okay, folks, the last thing on our party agenda is the auction of these wonderful door prizes donated by all you generous vendors. Dig down deep in your pockets and let’s see some high bids. The proceeds are going to buy a library of books for the daycare center in the new hospital wing.”

She leaned over to pick up the first item, but it slipped through her fingers. Leni bolted straight up and stumbled as she clutched her midsection and let out a blood-curdling scream. She gagged and vomited down the front of her dress. Leni fell forward and collapsed onto the table. The stunned crowd went as silent as a cemetery when the glass top shattered and the door prizes scattered across the ballroom floor.

Hadassah Waxman jumped up and screamed, “Oh My God, No!” Morty and Barry rushed to Leni, but Doctor Levinson pushed them away.  Levinson yelled, “Somebody call nine-one-one!” Then he sprang into action. He carefully pulled Leni out of the glass shards and laid her stiff-as-a-board body on her back. He held his palm over her mouth. She wasn’t breathing. He pressed his thumb first on the inside of her wrist and then on the bottom of her throat, but detected no pulse. He put his ear to Leni’s chest but didn’t hear a heartbeat. He commenced CPR, but she failed to respond.

Ten minutes later, two paramedics, pushing a stretcher loaded with life-saving gear and accompanied by a pair of LAPD uniforms, rushed into the ballroom. The hushed crowd held their breath as the medical first responders reached Levinson, still working desperately to revive Leni. The two pulled resuscitation equipment out and prepared to work on the supine guest of honor. The doctor’s shoulders slumped with defeat. Levinson’s eyes filled, and his voice cracked as he waved the two off.  “It’s too late. She’s gone.”

Naturally, I burst out laughing.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/m2jl7d

About the Author:

Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector and sailor. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Contact Susie at:

Website: www.authorsusieblack.com

E-mail: mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

Contact Links:

Blue Sky: @hollysusiewrites.bsky.social

Facebook: Susie Black, author of The Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series | Facebook

Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries

Instagram: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1/

X: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) / X

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August 18, 2025 · 11:05 am

Author Interview with Brian Anderson ~ New Release: Death’s Honesty #Mystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Brian Anderson…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I am a retired food bank manager residing in the small coastal city of Ocean Shores, Washington. I grew up in the Twin Cities and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a double major in English and Russian. During that time, I lived and worked in the Minneapolis neighborhood of Dinkytown, which provides the setting for my Lyle Dahms mystery series. I am married with three beautiful daughters, one perfect granddaughter, and our chihuahua-mix Sir Stanley of the Shores.

Tell us a bit about Death’s Honesty.

Death’s Honesty is the fourth in my Lyle Dahms mystery series featuring the Minneapolis private investigator. Dahms may not be the toughest or sharpest guy working the Twin Cities beat, but he is loyal, dogged, and despite numerous setbacks, will get the job done. He is quick with a quip, a device he uses to help steady himself when he is overmatched. Something that happens frequently.

Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?

The plots of most of my books come from titles that pop into my head, often from poems or song lyrics. It is then my job to figure out what the universe is trying to tell me by sending me these missives.

When working on a project, everything I see or experience is fair game to be included: descriptions of people I see on the street, stories in newspapers. Anything that comes my way becomes grist for the mill. Again, the universe seems to be trying to help if only I could learn to listen.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Death’s Honesty?

At its core, Death’s Honesty is about parents and their children. What they owe each other, and what is too much to ask.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

Definitely a bad review, particularly one that contains kernels of truth. Things that I can learn from. I don’t mean to say they don’t sting, but it’s better to have someone point out deficiencies than to remain silent.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

My two main characters, Lyle Dahms and his friend and housemate Stephen Edgerton, are based on a couple of guys I knew back in Dinkytown, when I was in college. The bar that they frequent almost daily is a rendering of a pub and 24-hour restaurant where I worked and where we all hung out. It was a fascinating milieu. Earnest students, hardworking regulars, barstool intellectuals, frustrated artists, and genuine nutbars. I love writing about it.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

I met tough-guy, professional wrestler George “the Animal” Steele in a hotel bar. He asked how we “enjoyed the show.”

How much of the book is realistic?

I’m no private investigator, and I don’t have any real-life experience with the law or law enforcement. However, the characters are based on people I’ve known and interesting situations I’ve heard about that I hope they come across as realistic. Most importantly, I strive to create books that blend genuine emotion, suspense, and laugh-out-loud humor.

How did your interest in writing originate?

I’ve always been a big reader, particularly mysteries, and have written seriously since high school

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

My favorite author (among so many) is probably Raymond Chandler. He’s a master of language, and I constantly try to measure up to his standard.

Past secrets. Present danger.

Excerpt:

The man took a few steps down the stairs. As he did, he moved into the light streaming in through the still-open door. He looked to be pushing sixty, maybe older, not very tall, but hard, with sinewy muscles and prominent veins that bulged under the skin of his forearms like earthworms engorged after a rain. He was wearing jeans and a white pocket T-shirt that very nearly managed to hide a round little belly. He had a shiny pate encircled by curly, gray-salted, brown hair badly in need of a trim. It made him appear vaguely clown-like. But there was nothing funny about what he was cradling in his arms. Sunlight glinted off the barrel of a twelve-gauge shotgun. 

I kept my smile in place as I pulled back my jacket to reveal the .38 in my shoulder holster. He smiled back at me as he slowly pumped a shell from the gun’s magazine into the chamber. “I might tell you the same thing.”

I nodded at his shotgun, smirked, and shook my head dramatically. “They got guns. We got guns. All God’s chillun got guns.” I quoted cheerfully.

The man’s brow furrowed. “What’dya say?”

“It’s from a Marx Brothers movie,” I told him.

“What’s it mean?”

I shrugged. “Got something to do with the absurdity of armed conflict, I suppose.”

We stared at each other for very long time. Finally, my adversary lowered the shotgun with a chuckle.

“You come to see me?” he asked.

I squinted at him. “Now, why would I do that?”

He chuckled again, I thought a bit nervously. “You’re an indirect bastard, aren’t ya?”

“Positively oblique.”

Buy link(s):

About the Author:

Brian Anderson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota whose Dinkytown neighborhood provides the setting for his mystery series featuring private investigator Lyle Dahms. The Dahms novels spring from his lifelong love of mystery fiction, especially the works of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, as well as more contemporary masters like Robert B. Parker and G. M. Ford. He is a three-time finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association mystery and suspense contest, and his debut novel, The Shiver in Her Eyes, was a finalist in their Nancy Pearl Contest for published fiction. 

In 2024, he released his standalone novel Yule Tide, which features a fallen angel turned private investigator who fights to wrest Christmas from the dark forces who have taken control and twisted it to their evil ends. 

Brian spent much of his professional career working to alleviate domestic hunger serving as the operations director of the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle & King County as well as the manager of the Pike Market Food Bank in downtown Seattle. Married with three beautiful daughters and one perfect granddaughter, he now lives and writes in Ocean Shores, a small city on the Washington coast.

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August 15, 2025 · 10:08 am

Hungry Heart by Dex Rivers ~ A Friday the 13th Horror Short Story… ONLY 99cents!

In the quiet town of Myersville, Oklahoma, a serial killer is murdering victims by savagely removing their hearts.

Sheriff Kate Nevill is desperate to end the nightmare, but the only lead is the fingerprint of a man who’s been dead for months.

As time slips away and the body count rises, Kate must confront the impossible to save her town—and stop a killer who shouldn’t exist.

Excerpt:

Camden cocked his head and listened. Then he heard it too, and his blood chilled. A shuffling, grunting sound. Not an animal, he was sure of it. This was human-sounding. But not normal. It was something that didn’t belong in nature.

Branches from the woods nearby cracked and Colbey grabbed Camden’s arm and tugged on it. “Come on, there’s’ something out there. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

“Oh shit,” Camden muttered. His legs went weak, and he stumbled after Colbey, who was already halfway up the bank, fishing poles and tackle boxes forgotten on the ground.

They’d only gone a few more feet when something burst from the tree line and onto the path in front of them.

A man wearing a black hooded cloak stood five feet away, blocking their route to the car. The grunting and groaning was coming from him. His face looked like something from a horror movie…mottled skin, evil, deep-set eyes, and a maniacal grin.

“Wh-what do you want?” Colbey squeaked out.

The man didn’t answer. His gaze swung from Colbey to Camden, then back again. He licked his lips and pulled something from the pocket of his jacket. A knife. A huge-ass scary as shit knife. Camden stood frozen to the spot. Something warm trickled down his thighs, and he realized he’d wet himself. If they survived this, Colbey would never let him live this down. Live was the key word. They had to make it out of this alive…he didn’t want to die. A whimpering sound seeped through his consciousness. Colbey…he’d never heard his older brother make that sound. Never known of him to be scared of anything.

Colbey reached over and held out his hand. Camden took it, gripping it tightly like he had when they were younger and he’d been scared. He hadn’t been scared in years…and he’d never been scared like this. This was pure, deep and chilling terror.

Camden thought back on what he’d heard about the other victims. They’d been split open. Their hearts removed. Staring at this…monstrous thing…in front of them, Camden had a feeling he knew what had happened to those hearts. And he knew without a doubt, this was one scrape he and Colbey were not going to escape from.

Check out all the stories in the Friday the 13th Series, #7: https://linktr.ee/Fridaythe13thHorrorStories_7

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August 11, 2025 · 5:10 am

10 Moments That Changed My Life by Mickey Flagg ~ New Release: Night of the Crescent Moon #Paranormal

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Mickey Flagg…

  1. Walking into Kindergarten. I couldn’t wait to let go of my mother’s hand and take a seat in that classroom. A love of learning led me to a BA in Music Ed, an MA in Education, an M. Ed in administration, and much, much more. Learning takes a lifetime and I’m still up for trying new things every day.
  2. The day I put my hands on a piano at age 4. I wasn’t allowed to touch the expensive piece of furniture, so I watched my sister’s lessons through a keyhole in an old-fashioned door. When no one looked, I’d run to the piano and play her lesson. I think I read music before I read words.
  3. The day the boy I had the biggest crush on taught me how to read and play chords on the piano. I was thirteen. He was sixteen. He had a photographic memory. I didn’t. He was on the football team. I couldn’t catch a football if I tried. But… Sitting so close together on the piano bench, torn between absolute adoration and a thirst for knowledge, I somehow managed to absorbed everything he taught me. Little did I know it would shape my future.
  4. The first audition for a speaking role in my high school’s musical. I had always been in the chorus, but in junior year, I tried out for a minor role. I won the lead and caught the acting bug. That experience changed my life. 
  5. The day I auditioned at NYU. On the spot, I was offered a full scholarship in music. Unfortunately, my parents wouldn’t let me go to school in NYC. But that validation of my abilities definitely changed my view of the world. 
  6. The day I stepped off the plane in London to study acting at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. After the summer session, I spent months traveling Europe, seeing places I had dreamed about, before returning to New Jersey. RADA’s classical training led to years of professional performances in the tri-state area. 
  7. The glorious births of my two children. Each one was different. My son’s labor took forever. My daughter’s was a breeze. I feel blessed that they were both born healthy and have grown into such wonderful, caring adults. I cherish them both.
  8. Taking a music teaching position in a local, large urban district. Life happens, right? I had taught in private schools and other school districts, but I needed to be closer to my two teenagers. So I took a position that had many challenges. It became a twenty-five year stay. My choruses were top-notch and a joy to prepare for performance. Then I was blessed to become an administrator in the same school for the last ten years of my education career.
  9. The day I looked at a blank word document on my laptop and decided to write a novel. Who knew, right? I thought I’d write a few pages and walk away. Instead, three novels poured out of me. They were published between 2008 and 2010 with The Wild Rose Press. But as I said, life happens, and with my new administrative duties, I stopped any form of creative writing.
  10. The day I retired. For twelve years, I’d written educational reports and evaluations. The rights for my three novels had reverted back to me. It took months of soul-searching before I opened them up ando read what I had written over a decade ago. So I cleaned them up. During those deep edits, I got the idea to continue the paranormal series. In 2022, I contracted the revised manuscripts, as well as Night of the Crescent Moon, with The Wild Rose Press, and I was able to work with my original editor. I’m thrilled that NOTCM won the Spring 2025 BookFest First Place Award for Paranormal Romance and took Second Place in Paranormal for the NEST (National Exelence in Story Telling) with the Central Region Oklahoma Writers. I never thought I’d have this exciting experience. But my life has overflowed with many blessings. I’ve had the unconditional support of family and friends through good times and bad. That kind of love is a gift that keeps on giving!  

Some wounds never heal

Martine, a good witch and ER nurse must enlist Lukas, a mystical warrior to save her patient who is under the spell of a dark witch from the Second Realm. But Martine pushed Lukas out of her life years ago, and he is the only person who can help save her patient. Martine is torn when Lukas agrees to return to the realm that holds terrifying memories for him. Even though many assist Lukas, Martine’s ask is complicated and dangerous. Can he save her patient from a fate worse than death? More importantly, can Martine open her heart to Lukas, or this time, shut him out forever? 

Night of the Crescent Moon Excerpt:

Lukas pushed off the kitchen chair, walked over with his arms wide and a warm smile complete with magnificent dimples. They held on to each other as if both had become lost in a mist of memories. Closing her eyes didn’t erase five years apart, nor the horrible way she ended their friendship. As if sensing her apprehension, his arms tightened across her back. The steady rise and fall of his chest as her head rested against him brought a strange comfort. Yet too many emotions blurred the lines, crashed into each other. Martine bit her lip, unable to focus. Lu looked happy. That’s all that mattered. And when he kissed her cheek, for the first time in a long time, she felt drawn to life again. 

“Christ, how I’ve missed you, M,” he whispered in her ear.

“I can’t believe you’re really here, Lu,” she replied still tight in his arms.

“For you, I’d have walked if necessary.”

Looking aside, she frowned. “Yeah, and swim across an ocean, too.”

“Like I’ve always said, for you, anything.” He held her shoulders as she pulled back, and his deep-blue eyes filled, his expression one of concern. “You’re so thin. It’s like you’re wasting away.” She glanced down, but he drew her close again. The last time they’d seen each other, she had been healthy and happy, convincing him how her new boyfriend would be her destiny, how they’d have a baby and live happily ever after. She hadn’t realized it until just now. “I’m so very sorry,” he whispered as if he read her thoughts.

Buy link(s): Night of the Crescent Moon (The Champion Chronicles Book 4) – Kindle edition by Flagg, M. . Paranormal Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

M. Flagg Bio

Mickey Flagg writes paranormal tales of passion with a twist of fate. Her mystical warriors, witches, and not-so-normal creatures of the night speak to the heart. She is an award-winning author in the genre of paranormal romance. Also published in the field of music education and in Still Standing, a web-magazine about loss and healing, Mickey is a member of Liberty States Fiction Writers, NJRW and NJ Author network. Oh, and she loves to edit, and then spend some quality down-time snuggling with her rescued Maine Coon. Find out more about her novels at www.mflagg-author.com

Social Media Links

Website info: http://mflagg-author.com

Facebook:    (1) M. Flagg | Facebook

Twitter: Michele Flagg (@flagg_michele) / Twitter   https://twitter.com/flagg_michele

Instagram: Instagram (Mickey Flagg)

Goodreads: Night of the Crescent Moon by M. Flagg | Goodreads

Amazon Author Page: Amazon.com: M. Flagg: books, biography, latest update

M. Flagg Books – BookBub

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August 6, 2025 · 5:03 am

A Shaman A Day Keeps the Woos-woos Away by Frank Talaber…

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Frank Talaber…

A Shaman A Day Keeps the Woos-woos Away

People often ask me after reading one of my Stillwaters Run Deep books involving the Haida Ska-ga or shaman, Charlie Stillwaters, have I ever done anything woo-woo in my life.

Well I’ve done a lot of crazy things including: white water rafting on the Grand Canyon, bungee-jumping (in a tuxedo), firewalking over a bed of hot coals, and got married four times. Sorry, the last one was merely a joke. Hope the ladies don’t send their woo-woo stuff after me after that remark or their lawyers.

Actually if you ask my current wife, Jenny, she would definitely tell you I’ve got woo-woo-ness running in my bones. She gets mad, because I’ll often say something and she responds with “How did you know I was just thinking that?” Her nickname for me is Spooky Mulder (after what’s his name from the X-files.

I have pretty good intuition, well except for picking winning lottery numbers. I did many Self Improvement courses, (the Context series), amazing learnings, if anyone is interested. One time we had to perform a major incomplete before the course ended. The idea being to free up space in our lives by finishing any incompletes which would be draining energy from us.

At that time I had missed going to my friend Eric’s funeral. He was a dragster fan and I had this vision of always putting the Snake and the Mongoose (two top professional NHRA dragsters) on his gravestone. I had the Mattel Hot Wheels models he’d given me.

So one day at work I had this woo-woo feeling that today was the day. I phoned about four cemeteries and no one had records of him being buried there. I gave up, but my guts said today is the day and I knew I had to do this. So I remember opening the Yellow Pages (remember those) and saying to myself if I had to make one more call which one to make. This one number in the book drew my attention and I made the call.

She asked, “how did you know this man?”

I told her the story.

“He’s my brother in law,” she replied.  “I’m here on temporary relief for two weeks, don’t usually have to answer the phone, but the call person is on a lunch break. He is also buried under his mother’s Maiden name and if you don’t know that you’ll never find him.” She was correct, because I had called that cemetery and they said no one by that name is buried there.

I thanked her and told her the real reason for my calling. I think she was as amazed as I was and later in the summer I went to his grave and left the two race cars on his tombstone.

I have lots of other wild stories, but I like that one. So if someone asks, I guess it’s just natural for me to write about Shamans and those unexplainable bizarre events that make you go, “hmm.” Must be the gypsy blood inside.

Oh, and if you’re wondering yes, I’m still currently married to my English mad wife, Jenny. Who swears she has to wear a tinfoil hat every time we play any kind of games, because I read her mind all the time. Now, if I can just get those lottery numbers.

My websites

https://franktalaberpublishedauthor.wordpress.com/

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00UC407R0/about?ingress=0&visitId=a24d1264-fed0-46c7-8bf2-7dda24d04539&ccs_id=fe6b5c42-8c34-44a8-becf-8e6c868fffdb

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frank-Talaber/805296946204873

Twitter: @FrankTalaber

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August 4, 2025 · 5:34 am

The Spotlight Is On… Diana Rubino and CROWNED BY LOVE, Book One of The Yorkist Saga

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Diana Rubino…

CROWNED BY LOVE, Book One of The Yorkist Saga

After Richard III is slain in battle, a beautiful orphan finds true love and her true family, to her relief—and horror.

England, 1471

Beautiful orphaned Denys Woodville is thrust into the center of power politics when her guardian Elizabeth Woodville marries the new king, Edward IV. The Wars of the Roses finally seem to be at an end, with the House of York victorious over the House of Lancaster. 
But not everyone rejoices in King Edward’s victory. Elizabeth and her Woodville clan have clawed their way to power by switching sides throughout the Wars of the Roses. They are always on the lookout for a chance to advance their ambitions, even at the expense of the king’s family and most loyal supporters.

Denys is delighted that the House of York has won, though she detests Elizabeth’s grasping nature. She considers King Edward and his youngest brother Richard, duke of Gloucester, the only real family she ever had. Elizabeth has never given her a hint of who her real parents might have been.

As the walls of the palace start to close in around her, Denys decides to flee the safety of the court in order to seek the truth about her real identity. She longs to find any living family of her own.

Elizabeth marries her off to Valentine Starbury, duke of Norwich, out of spite, but her feelings for him strengthen and bloom into love. He joins her quest to find her family, but with no reliable leads, it becomes hopeless. After King Richard’s devastating death in the Battle of Bosworth, Denys finally reaches her lifelong goal—she finds her family, in a stunning twist of fate.

Scene Three of CROWNED BY LOVE

Denys’s Aunt Elizabeth adopted her, then neglected her to passionately pursue Edward, England’s future king. Edward fell hard, and they married. The new bride had no need of a child, so she sent Denys to Yorkshire, far out of the way.

The childless duke and duchess of Scarborough raised her as the daughter they never had. When the duchess died, the duke sent Denys back to court, unwanted again. Despite having a king and queen for an uncle and aunt, Denys languished, a lost soul. Today, as reunited lovers surrounded her, she stood alone, unwanted. To add to her misery, the knight of her dreams appeared, only to vanish. Such was her life as an outsider.

Her lady-in-waiting entered, curtsied, and held out a folded parchment embossed with the royal seal. “A page delivered this from her highness the queen, my lady.”

She dismissed the maid. “It can wait.” Probably a summons to one of the queen’s silly musicales, an excuse for court ladies to gossip.

She put the message out of her mind till that eve as her tiring woman stood behind her brushing her hair.

“Jane, please fetch me that royal parchment.” She waved in the direction of her writing table.

Denys broke the seal and unfolded it—a summons, all right—but not to a giddy musicale.

It was a summons to a wedding—her own. Her heart took a sickening lurch.

Her intended was Richard, duke of Gloucester, the king’s youngest brother, her childhood companion. Queen Elizabeth always married relatives off to the cream of nobility, and Richard was the highest ranking bachelor in the kingdom.

Far from her idea of a husband. A brother, yes. A husband—never!

A fastidious prude, he intended to wed his sweetheart Anne Neville.

Denys and Richard played together as children, and renewed their friendship when she returned to court. They played tennis, chess, cards—but play ended at games. Just the thought of kissing him made her shudder.

Now the queen wanted them wed on Christmas Day.

Seething with fury, she strode to the hearth and flung the parchment into the flames. They licked and charred it beyond recognition. She crawled into bed for a long, hard think.

By the time she fell asleep, she’d already thought of several ways out.

How I ‘met’ Richard III

Every Ricardian has a story about how they discovered Richard III and became fascinated with him.

I started researching my first historical, The Jewels of Warwick, centered around Henry VIII and two fictional heroines, in 1990—with no internet (how did I do it?) I have a strong spiritual connection with late medieval England, which is the basis for my enchantment with this place and time. Jewels took 2 years to research and write, with no internet. It came very close to publication with several romance houses, but missed the mark for containing too little romance. When I finished Jewels, I scoured the history books for another legendary figure to write about. While I browsed the Cambridge Library stacks, a book snagged my eye. Lying, not standing, on the wrong shelf was Crown of Roses by Valerie Anand. It drew me like a magnet. Richard III is a central character in the story, and the author thanks the Richard III Society for helping her. Already hooked on Richard, his tragic death at 32 and his reputation as a usurper and a murderer of his little nephews, I joined this Richard III Society. As everyone else who has a story about how they ‘met’ Richard, he fascinated me. I’d found the subject of my next novel! And it tied in perfectly as a prequel to The Jewels of Warwick. Titled Thy Name is Love, it made the same rounds of publishers, remaining homeless after several rewrites and seven years.

In 1999 with the Internet making my life so much easier, I queried the many E-publishers that had recently set up shop, and British publisher Domhan Books responded in March with an offer for my two historicals. Fortunately, Domhan also published print books.

The publisher, Siobhan McNally, published Thy Name is Love because she’s a huge Richard sympathizer.

Purchase CROWNED BY LOVE

getbook.at/CrownedByLove

About Me

My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my books and short stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Paris, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, Washington D.C. and New York. My urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. My husband Chris and I own CostPro, an engineering firm based in Boston. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano, devour books of any genre, and spend as much time as possible living the dream on my beloved Cape Cod.

Contact me at:

My Website

www.dianarubino.com

My Blog

http://www.dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/DianaRubinoAuthor/?ref=hl

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https://x.com/DianaLRubino

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July 19, 2025 · 8:11 am

How Two Authors Collaborate ~ New Release: Matthew: Los Angeles Quakes Series, Book 3 by Alisa Jean – #hockeyromance

Please help me welcome today’s guests, C J Bahr and Marla White who are sharing about their collaboration. I’m in awe of writers who can work together to write the same book. I am not sure I could, but let’s see how it came about…

Alisa Jean is what happens when you put two writers together who share a mutual love, bordering on obsession, of hockey.

MARLA: I’m an award-winning cozy mystery writer who prefers to kill people the old-fashioned way – on paper.

C J: And I’m an award-winning writer of supernatural suspense who wreaks havoc in ghostly, demonic, or other-worldly ways with some spicy heat for good measure.

MARLA: Our writing collaboration more or less started the day the L.A. Kings celebrated Dustin Brown’s retirement. So, thanks, Brownie! Before then, I’d seen a hockey game or two, but dang, that puck is hard to follow on TV.

C J: S**t, take her to one live game and a fan is conceived if not fully born. Already a fan of the sport, I got her to watch a season, and soon my friend turned into a shouty, screaming maniac. It’s hilarious to watch.

MARLA: So naturally, we decided to turn our mutual love for the sport into a hockey romance series. Which always invites the question, “How do you write together?” The answer is it’s oddly easier than either of us thought it would be.

C J: Being lifelong best friends certainly helps. We don’t split up the characters, with one of us writing the male hero and the other the female heroine.  Frankly, the idea never occurred to us, and now that I say it, that just sounds…weird.  We basically leapfrog off each other’s work, making changes and approving new words as we go.

MARLA: It works out well, since I prefer to write first thing in the morning for an hour or so before starting my real job.

C J: And I prefer to write in the afternoon. So I’ll read and edit what she wrote earlier, and then I’ll write new scenes or chapters for her to build on the next morning.

MARLA: After coming up with a general outline, of course. Because I’m a plotter while she’s –

C J: A proud pantser. That’s the one difference that can be a bit tricky to work through, but we compromise and make changes to the outline as characters become clearer and more vibrant. Sometimes it takes a while, and other times, the characters just click.

MARLA: So far, “Luka,” the second book in the series, took a little bit longer. Our main characters are both dealing with some darkness, and we wanted to get it right.

C J: “Matthew,” on the other hand, practically burst off the page. We both knew back in book one, when the reader is introduced to Matt as the team’s angriest enforcer, exactly where we wanted to take him.

MARLA: One of the most fun we had with “Matthew” was replaying a scene from “Luka,” but this time from Matt’s perspective because their stories run concurrently. The idea of knowing what a person is dealing with makes it easier to feel compassion for them was important to us.

C J: I mean, he is an almost irredeemable jerk to Lincoln in the first book. Largely inspired by Jonathan Quick, we both loved Linc but had a little too much fun making Matt a thorn in his side. There had to be a reason he was such an a-hole, and when we found it, we knew what his book needed to be about.

MARLA: So far, knock on wood, we’re in the midst of book four in the (hopefully) seven-book series and haven’t had any major conflicts between the two of us.

C J: Well, except for your overuse of “up”. And towards instead of toward.

MARLA: Let it go, it’s my inner-Brit, I can’t help it.

C J: Anyway…writing in a different genre has opened us to a whole new group of readers, and we just love it.

A red-hot hockey sin bin romance

Matthew Holt uses his anger on the ice, gaining him the title of enforcer for L.A. Quakes and high minutes in the sin bin. But hooking up with a teammate’s little sister may earn him the highest penalty of all.

Ever since pee wee hockey, I’ve only known one way to play the sport I love – one hundred percent all in. My focus has always been protecting my teammates, so when the only team I’ve ever played for betrays me, trading me to a team thousands of miles from the family that needs me, who can blame me for taking angry and bitter to a whole new level.

Then Phoebe Anderson, the younger sister of my new teammate, literally falls into my arms and suddenly my life takes another, weird turn. Because believe it or not, my late sister voices her approval of the adorable klutz and refuses to be denied. Or am I going nuts? Either way, will our siblings prove to be too big of an obstacle to overcome? Or am I ready to let go of my anger and do whatever it takes to earn Phoebe’s love?

Excerpt:

This is from Phoebe and Matt’s first real date, and she discovers some surprising information about him.

“You can’t be serious. The original cartoon Mulan is way better than the live-action piece of garbage.” I’ve figured out that arguing is Matt’s primary mode of conversation, but he’s doing it with a sparkle in his brown eyes and a hint of a smile dancing on his lips. He takes a bite of a tortilla filled with roasted poblano peppers, onions, corn, Mexican cream, and cotija cheese. I’ve never had Rajas Con Crema, but I think I’m in love now. I want to date it. “The animated movie features great songs. Reflection, A Girl Worth Fighting For, Honor To Us All. And of course, my personal favorite,” he grins before singing, “mysterious like the dark side of the moon.”

First, I’m not surprised he likes the song I’ll Make A Man Out Of You, but I am surprised he has a pretty great singing voice. Who would have guessed?

I snicker. “Of course, that would be your favorite song.” I hold up a finger, ready to make my own argument for why the live-action is better. “That’s one of the problems. Live-action Mulan fixed many of the cultural problems and sexism. It also is closer to the historic Mulan story.”

“And I’ll counter-argue unlike the animated Mulan, who is an active force in shaping her own destiny, the live-action Mulan joins the Imperial Army, and the rest of the plot simply happens to her.”

I laugh. I can’t help myself. It’s like he’s giving a PhD dissertation. When I finally get a hold of myself, grateful I didn’t pee myself laughing, I grin at him. “I still can’t believe you watched both Mulan movies multiple times. I just don’t see it.”

“Yeah, well, I watched them with my younger sister.”

“You guys close?”

 “Yeah.” He looks away before grabbing the last taco. For the record, I ate three to his seven. And, I also sense his discomfort talking about his sister, so I cut him some slack and change the topic.

We talk for another two hours about everything and nothing. Like his movies, he prefers classic rock like Guns N’ Roses, Rush, and Metallica over the synthesized crap of Pixel Grip or Death Comes Crawling.

 “I mean, how do people not know when the instruments aren’t even real?” He gives an exaggerated shudder, which makes me laugh again.

 “Mathew Holt, I had no idea you were so funny. And such a traditionalist. Plus, those bands use synthetic sounds on purpose. They’re not pretending a fake electric guitar is real.” I put my hand on his arm without thinking about it. His skin is warm to the touch, and the thought of how warm he’d be in bed comes into my brain unbidden. The image of him naked beside me isn’t unwanted, mind you, it just came of its own accord.

“Why are you smiling at me like that?” He raises an eyebrow at me, lip curled up on one side.

“I just didn’t know you were funny, that’s all.” I lie. If he knew what I was really thinking, we’d both be in trouble.

Favorite Lines:

“She sees rainbows and sunshine everywhere she looks, and all I see is the impending storm, flooding, and destruction.”

“I’m going to romance her so hard she won’t know what hit her. Somewhere between the front door and the bedroom last night, I decided to claim her, body and soul.”

“I need your rainbows to light my super dark world, or I’m lost.”

“I want the world to know this amazing woman is off the market and she’s mine. She’s my everything.”

Buy link: books2read.com/u/bpAR5J

Bio:

Alisa Jean is the pseudonym for award-winning authors Marla A. White and C J Bahr. They first teamed up over thirty years ago over a bottle of Zima (don’t ask) while polishing their gear for a horse show. They’ve since moved on to better beverages and writing novels.

Separately, Marla prefers to murder characters in the usual way, while C J uses paranormal means. The long-time best friends joined together as a writing team through their mutual love of hockey. Wonder twin powers activated! Their hockey romances examine flawed characters with heart, humor, and sexy sizzle.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisajean.author/

Website/Newsletter:  https://alisajean.com

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