The Bo0ki3: March 2019

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Today is my spot on the blog tour for The Grey Ones by Yvonne Smith. I am happy to be apart of the tour and share an exclusive excerpt with you.

The Grey Ones

Path of the Maiden book One

Yvonne J. Smith

Paranormal

Release Date: April 4^th 2019

About The Grey Ones

“Mum? Can you truly see if I am lying?”

Fifteen-year-old Mae, the eldest daughter of Yvonne has come across her mum's memoirs. They reveal a hidden past. A life steeped in the Occult and all its aspects...

Mae wants her mother to teach her to read the Tarot cards and Palmistry. Reluctant, her mother agrees as long as Mae promises to study the basics first and not to talk about it to anyone.

Yvonne grew up seeing the 'grey people', they were as blurred as the people she saw in full colour. It wasn't until she got a pair of glasses that she knew for sure... the 'Grey Ones' were the shades of the dead. They didn't scare her, but... these sad souls attracted something else. The other beings of twilight, darker than the night and dreadfully powerful...

It became clear to young Yvonne that not everybody can see the dead or hear their voices. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, her Grandad had been committed to an asylum. He heard voices too. Not wanting to follow the same fate, Yvonne learned not to talk about her unwanted gift.

The Grey Ones is the first book of The Path of the Maiden series. It tells the true story of a young girl's quest for becoming 'normal'. A path of trial and error and many lies. Through the light-hearted interaction between Yvonne and her family, the Occult mysteries and paranormal phenomena are explained in a basic easy to grasp manner. Learn alongside curious Mae about the Afterlife, the Auric bodies, and the different types of entities that visit us when we least expect it and much, much more...

You can preorder The Grey Ones here

Excerpt

“Yvonne…. Yvonne?” Sabine stood in front of me repeating my name a few more times. “Yvonne… what’s up?”

I had doubled over. My nerves were on edge. “O... shite…,” I managed to squeak out holding my hands over my solar plexus. The minute Sabine walked off to dispose of the cigarette, it had hit me. Reality had shifted in a blink. One moment I was only aware of my body and Sabine’s life force… in seconds my awareness had gone out of control and filled the entire house.

I felt their presence, they were near and with it came a dreaded feeling of foreboding.

“I’ve got a fucking premonition…”

Sabine looked confused. “What do you mean?”

I paced around the lounge, occasionally stopping to switch on the lamps dotted between the plants and on top of cupboards. Mum and Dad had only left on a few to give the impression somebody was at home while we were out.

“It is a feeling… like something bad is going to happen… and… I don’t want to see it. “Ooh… shit… shit…” My solar plexus felt on fire, panic overwhelmed me. I sank into a pit of uncontrollable fear. Sabine said something but I was too wrapped up in my terror to make out the words.

It was pitch black outside. The wall of large garden windows and sliding doors acted like black mirrors. I hurried as fast as I could to pull the cords and hide them behind the dark beige heavy velvet curtains. The ones in the TV corner had already been drawn. I rushed to the kitchen, checked if the back door was locked and closed its curtain too.

It was too dark in the lounge, too many nooks and crannies with shadows. Ignoring Sabine, I slipped past her to the wall behind the fireplace and slapped the round button to switch on the overhead lights. I turned the disc to full brightness.

“Why are you putting all the lights on… Yvonne? Yvonne!”

I kept walking to satisfy my body’s urge to run from danger. I was on an adrenaline high. I circled round and round the large black leather sofa, marching like a speed walker on a downward slope.

Sabine, about to dim the lights, muttered something like: “Don’t be so stupid.”

“Noo, leave them on high!” I screeched at her like a girl possessed.

She jumped, a bewildered look in her eyes. “Yvonne, please be normal! What is up with you?”

My arms folded across my chest, I rubbed my shoulders. My edgy nerves made me shiver. “I am so sorry Sabine… just leave them on high for now… I have to do something and it may look silly.” Not waiting for her response, I strode to the front of the fireplace which was in the middle of the lounge and… I screamed and screamed and screamed.

About the Author

Yvonne born in the Netherlands is the fifth child of an Accountant and a homemaker. The first four years, she grew up in Weesp, a small picturesque town near Amsterdam. Just before she turned five, her parents decided to relocate their growing family and moved Yvonne with her three sisters and two brothers to the rural village of Doorn in the province of Utrecht.

Creativity has been Yvonne's strength from an early age. As a young child, she would escape into her drawings, stories or express her feelings in music. If it wasn't for the struggle to come to terms with Dyslexia, she would have pursued a career in Journalism.

Dyslexia was not the only obstacle she had to deal with. Growing up in the seventies and eighties there was no internet to consult. Neither did the local library stock up on self-help books for those with a well-developed sixth-sense. Questioning her own sanity, Yvonne learned the hard way that not everybody sees The Grey Ones, The Shady ones or those who live in Shadow.

Yvonne moved to the UK at the age of twenty-one, hoping to start anew and escape the persistent pull of the Paranormal.

Wanting to take on a tranquil, mundane life, she held a multitude of jobs in varying positions. From Clerk to Manager, Employed and Self-employed. She ploughed herself up in the world of Charity, Fashion, Transport, Events, Craft Markets, Therapy and Security. There were many successful jobs to choose from and to make her own if it wasn't for this one position. A vacancy in a field of expertise she at first didn't want to accept: The Occult.

Yvonne has lived and worked in the UK for twenty-six years. She recently relocated with her British Husband and three children to the lovely village of Stiphout in the Netherlands.

You can check out Yvonne’s website here.

You can also check out some of the other stop on the tour

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Today we have the blog tour for R.L. Kenderson’s Object of my Desire! Check it out and grab your copy today!

Title: Object of my Desire

Author: R.L. Kenderson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Photographer: FuriousFotog

Model: Chase Ketron

Designer: R.L. Kenderson

About Object of My Desire:

A romance author, a cover model, a book signing...a crush.

Ordinary women like me know we shouldn't fall for beautiful men like Travis Zehler, one of the hottest cover models in romance fiction. But sometimes we can’t help ourselves.

            When I meet him at a book signing, my attraction to him is instant. I'm infatuated, and I can't stop thinking about him.

            Even though I have doubts he’d ever be interested, I invite Travis to attend a book signing with me. And he says yes.

            My fantasy comes true when he takes me to his bed, and the more time we spend together, the more I see that Travis isn’t some object to be desired.

            He’s a man with a past. A man who’s been burned. A man who’s learned to keep his guard up.

            I want to show him he can trust again, but when our confidence in each other is shaken, I began to wonder if happily ever afters are only for my romance novels.

Get your copy today!

Amazon | Apple | B&N | Google Play | Kobo

Review:

A romance author and a cover model, honestly that was the only thing I needed to read in order for me to want this book. I think this is the first time I’ve read this pairing hmm, that’s weird.

Sydney and Travis were really good characters and had great chemistry together. Travis as a model was very humble in the face of adoring fans and Sydney was loveable and had a great personality. I liked the slow building of their friendship and relationship, I wished it was a little slower, and I almost never say that.

As much as I wanted to love this book I just couldn’t. I did really like it, but for me there was just something missing and I honestly can’t tell what it was. This book was well written, the story was enjoyable, and was definitely steamy. I do recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance with strong, relatable and fun characters. R.L. Kenderson is someone I will keep my eye on in the future.

About R.L. Kenderson:

R.L. Kenderson is two best friends writing under one name.

Renae has always loved reading, and in third grade, she wrote her first poem where she learned she might have a knack for this writing thing. Lara remembers sneaking her grandmother’s Harlequin novels when she was probably too young to be reading them, and since then, she knew she wanted to write her own.

When they met in college, they bonded over their love of reading and the TV show Charmed. What really spiced up their friendship was when Lara introduced Renae to romance novels. When they discovered their first vampire romance, they knew there would always be a special place in their hearts for paranormal romance. After being unable to find certain storylines and characteristics they wanted to read about in the hundreds of books they consumed, they decided to write their own.

One lives in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and the other in the Kansas City area where they’re a sonographer/stay-at-home mom/wife and pharmacist/mother by day, and together they’re a sexy author by night. They communicate through phone, email, and whole lot of messaging.

You can find them at http://www.rlkenderson.com, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, and Goodreads. Join their Facebook Reader Group. Or you can email them at rlkenderson@rlkenderson.com, or sign up for their newsletter here. They always love hearing from their readers.

Connect with R.L. Kenderson

Enter R.L.’s Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. Each week will be a different Top Ten list. Everyone is welcome to join and link up.

This week is: Books On My Spring 2019 TBR

*This list is no specific order*

*Click book title or series for Goodreads link

1. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.

The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?

2. Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #11)

My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.

And a coyote shapeshifter . . . And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.

Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn't stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.

The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.

But we are pack, and we have given our word. We will die to keep it.

3. Junk Mail by Kendall Ryan

It all started with a sexy selfie.
Texted to the wrong number.

Oops.
Not my finest moment—but I have nothing to be ashamed of.

She thought I was no better, and I quote, than the knuckle-dragging douche-bags she was never dating again.

It was a stupid dare from a girl I’d met online, but since she’d given me a fake number, I didn’t feel bad that my interests were suddenly focused elsewhere—on the fiery and sharp-tongued, Peyton that I found myself sparring with over text for the rest of the evening.

The following day, my case of mistaken identity came back to bite me in the banana.

When I strolled into the office, I was introduced to Peyton as the new client I needed to win over. The Peyton , in case you're not tracking.

And let’s just say she had my full attention.

Brains? Check.

Beauty? Oh yeah.
And the best part? She hated me on sight.

Dear God, do I love a challenge.

Let the games begin.

4. Fake It Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen

Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. They’ve endured summer vacations, Sunday brunches, even dentist visits together. Their mothers, who are best friends, are convinced that Mia and Jake would be the perfect couple, even though they can’t stand to be in the same room together.

After Mia’s mom turns away yet another cute boy, Mia and Jake decide they’ve have had enough. Together, they hatch a plan to get their moms off their backs. Permanently. All they have to do is pretend to date and then stage the worst breakup of all time—and then they’ll be free.

The only problem is, maybe Jake and Mia don’t hate each other as much as they once thought...

5. I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest

When Chloe Pierce’s mom forbids her to apply for a spot at the dance conservatory of her dreams, she devises a secret plan to drive two hundred miles to the nearest audition. But Chloe hits her first speed bump when her annoying neighbor Eli insists upon hitching a ride, threatening to tell Chloe’s mom if she leaves him and his smelly dog, Geezer, behind. So now Chloe’s chasing her ballet dreams down the east coast―two unwanted (but kinda cute) passengers in her car, butterflies in her stomach, and a really dope playlist on repeat.

6. Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #3)

The end of Silence was supposed to create a better world for future generations. But trust is broken, and the alliance between Psy, Changeling, and human is thin. The problems that led to Silence are back in full force. Because Silence fixed nothing, just hid the problems.

This time, the Psy have to find a real answer to their problems–if one exists. Or their race will soon go extinct in a cascade of violence. The answer begins with an empath who is attuned to monsters–and who is going to charm a wolf into loving her despite his own demons.

7. I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school.

But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.

8. To Fix You by Samantha Towle

I’m a gigolo. Male escort. Hustler… whatever you like to call us. And in the past seven years, I’ve had sex with… well, I stopped counting after I hit five hundred… basically, I’ve screwed a lot of women.

I know what you’re thinking... I must have had a terrible childhood, something horrendous happened in my life that drove me to this career.

Wrong.
The best thing to ever happen to me is why I work this job.

My daughter.

I’m a single dad. And I have sex with women for money, to feed, clothe and put a roof over my eight year old daughters head.

Not ideal, I know, but now I need the money more than ever…

Four weeks ago my worst nightmare happened… my baby girl was diagnosed with Cancer. Now, I have to earn, and earn big, to pay the mounting medical bills.

I have never felt more terrified, and more alone, in my life.
My name is Lucas Adams.

And this is my story.

9. The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

Fatima lives in the city of Noor, a thriving stop along the Silk Road. There the music of myriad languages fills the air, and people of all faiths weave their lives together. However, the city bears scars of its recent past, when the chaotic tribe of Shayateen djinn slaughtered its entire population -- except for Fatima and two other humans. Now ruled by a new maharajah, Noor is protected from the Shayateen by the Ifrit, djinn of order and reason, and by their commander, Zulfikar.

But when one of the most potent of the Ifrit dies, Fatima is changed in ways she cannot fathom, ways that scare even those who love her. Oud in hand, Fatima is drawn into the intrigues of the maharajah and his sister, the affairs of Zulfikar and the djinn, and the dangers of a magical battlefield.

10. Fumbled by Alexa Martin

Single-mother Poppy Patterson moved across the country when she was sixteen and pregnant to find a new normal. After years of hard work, she's built a life she loves. It may include a job at a nightclub, weekend soccer games, and more stretch marks than she anticipated, but it's all hers, and nobody can take that away. Well, except for one person.

TK Moore, the starting wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. His world is football, parties, and women. Maybe at one point he thought his future would play out with his high school sweetheart by his side, but Poppy is long gone and he's moved on.

When Poppy and TK cross paths in the most unlikely of places, emotions they've suppressed for years come rushing back. But with all the secrets they never told each other lying between them, they'll need more than a dating playbook to help them navigate their relationship.