Straight Reading from the Library: Golems of Beithir by Michal Snaerravn

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michal Snaerravn will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Amnon returns in the second volume of The Chronicles of Hadúr: The Golems of Beithir. The Blood Wars have begun as the races fight for control of Hell's Gate. Beithir is no longer alone, and the full power of the Druid Council now stands behind him to tighten the Druids' grip on the region. Beithir has been assigned one final task: eliminate the Demonblood Amnon. He will draw on the Dark Assassins and forbidden powers as he battles the Dark Gods shielding young Amnon...

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“I could carry you to—” My stomach wretched violently to curtail my words and vile vomit splattered across the floor.

“Poisoned pastries. I should have warned you quicker,” Dornoll half apologized.

My head spun like a tornado as I painfully wretched again, then wiped the viscous slime off my lips. I had bigger issues to deal with than slow poison, as a sinister mass formed in the tunnel ahead.

Dornoll drew her sword while I pulled my Dwarfsteel dagger and whispered, “Thank you, Father, your dagger will go with me to my grave.” Then I added a prayer, “Lord Ashmedei, permit me to die fighting, and not by poison like a sewer rat.”

I felt the heat envelop me as my torso lit on fire and a monstrous aberration entered the chamber, saliva dripping from its hideous maw.

READ THE REVIEW

Thank you, Goddess Fish Promotions, for the chance to read Golems of Beithir. I've not yet read the first book in the series, and I know my experience with this book would have been far richer had I done so. It would have been easier knowing who the characters are and the roles they play with each other. Even without this, though, I was able to pick up the main conflicts and the action really pulled me into the story.

There is planty of action, too. I could definitely see this saga on the screen as all of the characters drive the plot in this story.

Even though it took me a little bit of time to figure out the main characters, I really enjoyed my time with them...and want to go back and read the first book before the last book of the series comes out.

four stars for a story well down.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Michal Snaerravn continues on his journey as an explorer of his book writing soul whenever he is not answering the call of the great outdoors. He believes that every prose, song, or poetry we create captures a snippet of our souls. Having grown so much from completing the second book of the trilogy, Golems of Beithir, he is enthralled with the creation of the closing volume, Mist of Akhlys. "Life is too short to idly sit by: pursue your dreams as if your life depended on it. It does."

Books and adventures are meant to be shared—onward and upward!

The epic fantasy opens with “Curse of Ashmedei,” seen through the eyes of Amnon, a young Demonblood hunting for the Druids that killed his parents. He crosses paths with a Company led by powerful Druids and becomes snared in a web of treacherous alliances. His enemies are constantly one step ahead, and only the aid of Cathair, an ancient Lycan who has lost his humanity saves him from death at the hands of Druids, Trollbloods, Trolls, Orcons and their allies. In “Golems of Beithir,” Amnon closes in on his nemesis—Beithir, a powerful Master Druid with dark powers from Hell’s Gate. Beithir stalks Amnon’s every step in efforts to eliminate him and his allies, forcing the young Demonblood to side with the Trolls as they battle the Druids for control of the Hellgard Empire. “The Mist of Akhlys” culminates the trilogy as Amnon confronts his inner self and questions his values of revenge as he is taunted by lust and love…

The release of “Mist of Akhlys” will be followed by a short, free TTRPG Campaign that follows popular structures and mechanics. “The Staff of Amdren” will set in the Hellgard Empire, led by the fearless Warlord Dornoll. Beta testing for Game Masters is available on the author’s website.

Website: http://www.thechroniclesofhadur.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amnonofhadur/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51442973.Michal_Snaerravn
Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Michal-Snaerravn/author/B0DHDBSC55

Straight Browsing from the Library: The Engine in the Sky by V.G. Harrison

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. V.G. Harrison will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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When Professor Meridia Vail’s space station is hurled across time and dimensions, she and the rest of the Bridgeway crew wake on an alternate Earth that's only five years into the future but looks like it's a century behind her technology. Their goal is to reclaim their crippled station, return to their dimension, and hope that a mysterious interdimensional illness doesn't kill her and her people first.

Stuck on a backwards version of her own planet, Meridia must deal with governments who want her technology and intelligence agencies who want control. Nobody trusts anyone, and the longer they delay, the closer the Bridgeway gets to a catastrophic reentry.

However, the greatest shock comes when Meridia meets her doppelganger, a brilliant mechanic with a loving family that leaves her heart aching for the life she could have had.

As time is running out for her crew and New Earth, Meridia faces an impossible mission: return to the station, save her crew, and prevent a global disaster. Duty first. Family second. When Meridia is thrust into a situation where the two become synonymous, she must decide how much she's willing to risk for a world she's sworn to save and a life she can never have.

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I followed her down the semi-busy hall until we arrived at a first grader’s room. Meridia peeked her head inside, smiled at the teacher, and motioned for a little girl to come into the hall. She beamed when she saw her mother and ran into her arms. When she saw me, she stopped, her dazzling light-brown eyes enlarged.

My heart swelled to the point that my gaze blurred with unshed tears. She was beautiful. She had olive skin and frizzy hair that barely stayed in place with two green barrettes to hold back the curly onslaught. Her smile was perfect, even with the one missing tooth in the front. I didn’t believe in instant love, but this little girl made me feel nothing less than that. Meridia—the other me—had a child. I mean, I knew she had a kid, but nothing prepared me for actually meeting her.

"Who’s that, Mommy?" she asked.

Meridia knelt. "Remember when I told you I had a twin sister who came from space and that’s why the reporters were at our house? Well, this is her. This is Astronaut Meridia. Meridia, this is my daughter Felicity."

The little girl let go of her mother before rushing to wrap her arms around my waist.

"I have two mommies now," she declared. "Best day ever!"

Oh. My. God. It took everything inside me not to cry happy tears. Her little arms spewing with love for someone she had just met was incredible. Who would ever deny this beautiful little girl?

  MEET THE AUTHOR

Amazon best-selling author, V.G. Harrison enjoys creating smart heroines who are more comfortable dealing with things like Fine-structure constant and quantum entanglement than the fallout from their conflict. She loves to write stories that leave her audience so engaged they can't sleep at night, thinking about the possibilities.

V.G. holds a Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering and a Masters in Information Technology. When she's not writing, she's an IT manager for a healthcare information systems company.

Her ever-growing list of hobbies include astronomy, attending comic cons, keeping an eye on the cryptocurrency and stock markets, hydroponics gardening, hiking, and connecting with her daughter, Collie, on a cool level.

Publisher: https://mochamemoirspress.com
Website: https://www.vgharrison.com/
Blog: https://www.vgharrison.com/blog-1
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/booksbycoletteandharrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marciacolette

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Engine-Sky-Dyson-Bridge-Book-ebook/dp/B0H3LWYKRZ/ref=sr_1_1

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Straight Reading from the Library: Sworn to Collide by Maria Imbalzano

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Maria Imbalzano will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on a tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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After devoting eleven years of marriage to Ben, her high school sweetheart, and stepping off the corporate ladder to raise their three children, Denise is ready to seize the reins of the career she always dreamed of. But as soon as she commits to step back into the professional world, Ben drops a bombshell that disrupts everything. Suddenly, this once rock-solid couple finds themselves in a battle over ambition, identity, and whose turn it is to shine. As personal choices draw them further and further apart, they must confront their widening rift—a threat to the love they thought was unshakeable. Can they rediscover the passion they once shared, or will their divergent paths pull them apart for good?

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Sworn to Collide, the fourth installment in Maria Imbalzano's Sworn Sisters series, is an emotionally resonant work of women's fiction that explores the complexities of marriage, trust, and personal growth. Although part of an ongoing series, this novel functions well as a standalone, providing sufficient background while rewarding returning readers with the continued presence of the close-knit Sworn Sisters.

The novel follows Denise as she navigates a pivotal period in her marriage to Ben, confronting challenges that test the foundation of their relationship. Told entirely from Denise's perspective, the story nevertheless presents both partners with empathy and nuance. Rather than assigning blame, Imbalzano allows readers to understand the motivations and vulnerabilities of each character, creating a realistic and balanced portrayal of marital conflict.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its well-developed characterization. Denise's emotional journey is compelling, and the interwoven memories of her relationship with Ben provide meaningful context for the decisions she faces in the present. These reflective moments deepen the emotional impact of the story while highlighting the joys and hardships that shape a long-term partnership.

The narrative maintains a steady sense of tension, making the outcome difficult to predict until the final pages. Imbalzano skillfully examines the everyday choices and larger life decisions that influence relationships, resulting in a thoughtful and engaging novel.

The enduring friendship among the Sworn Sisters adds warmth and depth to the story. Their unwavering support for one another enriches the narrative and will likely encourage new readers to seek out the earlier books in the series.

Recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven women's fiction centered on family relationships, marriage, enduring friendships, and emotionally authentic stories of resilience and self-discovery.

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As Ben headed into the living room, the two younger kids shrieked and ran downstairs to greet him before jumping into his arms and giving him huge hugs. Bobby followed at a more reserved pace, but he joined in a hug as well. The noise was raucous as Ben tickled Jennifer and Johnny, riling them up, which was never a good thing when it came to Johnny. He was a cyclone all on his own.

I looked at my happy family while holding a basket of laundry. I couldn’t help but smile at this familiar scene from the past. A lifetime ago.

“Hi,” I said as I passed, heading for the laundry room. No kiss, no hug. Just hi. We had become adversaries who now each had an attorney to help us navigate through the issues inherent in the breakup of a marriage.

He stopped roughhousing with Johnny for a second and caught my eye. “I thought we could all go to the park. Feed the ducks, kick the soccer ball around. It’s a great day.”

Was he extending the proverbial olive branch or just trying to act normal in front of the kids, hoping I would follow his lead? But I couldn’t possibly carry on as if he hadn’t slapped me with his attorney’s letter.

“I can’t. I have laundry to do, and I’m meeting Alyssa for lunch.”

Disappointment curved his shoulders, but I was hurting too. I didn’t want to be reminded about our family life and how happy we’d been. It just made my heart ache more.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the states. Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband--not far from her two daughters. For more information about her books, please visit her website at http://mariaimbalzano.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.

Awards

Maria is a member of New Jersey Romance Writers and has received many honors and awards for her work including the ACRA Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence Award, the Wisconsin Romance Writers Write Touch Readers Award, The NEST (National Excellence In Story Telling) Award, the Carolyn Award, Book Buyers Best Award, The Stiletto Reader’s Choice Award, Long & Short Reviews Book of the Month Award (3rd Place for Book of the Year), and Still Moments Magazine Reader’s Choice Award.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariaimbalzanoauthor
X: https://x.com/ImbalzanoM84600
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/Mariaimbalzano_author
Website: http://www.mariaimbalzano.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276749.Maria_Imbalzano
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maria-imbalzano
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00FG9RI5K

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sworn-Collide-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B0GLHKF627/ref=sr_1_1

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Straight Browsing from the Library: Move Me by Lynn Crandall

This post is part of a virtual book tour orgainzed by Goddess Fish Promotions.Lynn Crandall will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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An Aeon by birth, Diane Butler knew when she walked away from her fellow Aeons that she wanted certain things: wealth, power, acceptance. But she'd come to realize she didn't belong with Dark Sides and joined in the battle to save Auralia from darkness. But when her past comes after her, she understand that she can't escape it with a simple name change.

A surprise encounter that turns ugly pits lone Emmett Forrest against thugs determined to hurt Cassie. With each threat out cold on the ground, he believes he's done. But when the men report the incident to the Auralia Police Department, he can't avoid the drama or the intrigue surrounding her.

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“Anyone else bored as sin? We stopped the Irish mob and Dark Sides from taking over Auralia in December. January and February, we took some time to recover from Dark Sides’ Project Reckoning. I know you all have been tending to your personal lives, your relationships, and your careers, but for me, those two months were the epitome of boredom. Now March is almost over, and still boredom reigns.”

“Diane—” Braden started.

“Cassie,” she interrupted. “Try to remember, Braden. I’ve told you so many times that I’m using my middle name now. I’m not Diane anymore.” She pouted her lips.

Braden nodded. “Yes, sorry. You’re Cassandra Butler now, not Diane Butler.”

“Cassie. I told you, Cassie for short.” She swept her gaze around the living room at Braden and Payson’s house and flung her hands up. “I swear, it’s not that hard to remember my name. I made a change, I’m not Diane. I’m not that woman any more. I’m aligned with light and love. I’m Cassie. Cassie. Cassie Butler. Gauzy, gossamer, and open, not rigid, harsh, or angry Cassie.” The rock lodged in her gut weighed her down. Was she different? Truly? She’d been putting in the work with her counselor, Claire Eve Kelly, to make the change permanent. But with the chaos of the past not far behind, she ached for the excitement of the life she had. The parties, the conniving to get what she wanted. It had all been so mesmerizing.

MEET THE AUTHOR

After cutting her writing teeth as a feature writer for commercial and trade magazines, a reporter for newspapers and radio, and an executive editor for a communications company, award-winning author Lynn Crandall tuned her voracious appetite for stories to writing contemporary and paranormal romance, women’s fiction, and romantic suspense. In her books, she enjoys taking readers on emotional journeys with relatable characters who refuse to back down, and face challenges and tribulations with heart and soul. She believes every love has a story, and hers is with one handsome husband and a large, beautiful circle of family, including her cat Winter.

Website https://lynn-crandall.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lcrandall246
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LynnCrandallAuthor
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/lynncrandallwriter/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@lynnkelynnwriter
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2FMSG8H

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Straight Browsing from the Library: What Remains After by Pauline J. Grabia

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Pauline J. Grabia will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Straight Browsing from the Library: Love Across Time by Beth Ford

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddes Fish Promotions. Beth Ford will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Ashley and Thomas, a medieval knight, are in 1377 England, escaping from present-day immigration authorities intent on capturing Thomas. Having fled to the past to ensure their togetherness, Ashley is faced with adapting to fourteenth-century life, while Thomas, new to his title as Baron after his older brother’s death, is called to Parliament, encountering enemies there and at court as he struggles to build his own alliances.

Ashley's work at a monastic hospital is deemed “miraculous” but draws unwanted attention as potential witchcraft. Meanwhile, becoming embroiled in a political movement, she realizes too late it’s a plot against the King.

How can Ashley conform to social expectations, counter the plot, and still keep her relationship with Thomas, in all the turmoil?

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The scene at Newgate was much different than when they had left only a couple of hours before. The crowd of everyday travelers had dispersed, and de Landys’s men had been reinforced, though a few of them lay on the ground with arrows through their chests. Most of them stood with their backs to Ashley and her group, intent on countering the King’s men, who were heaving against the gate to break it down.

The two knights who had agreed to accompany her paused. Ashley glanced up at de la Garde. “This is your moment, Sir Matthew. Your future reputation will depend on what you choose to do now.”

Sir Matthew set his mouth in a grim line. He glanced at his fellow, who nodded at him. They roared past her and attacked the men from behind, slashing swords into backs and necks. Ashley used the distraction to dash into the gatehouse, where she paused only to slide the torch into a handy sconce on the wall. The King’s men were still tied up. She would have to trust that their loyalty to the King held true. Ashley knelt and used her dagger to cut through the ropes, starting with de Mantel.

“What’s the situation?” he asked as soon as he was free of his gag.

“The King’s men are on the other side of the gate. We’ve reinforced them from inside.”

“You? Are there any fighting men in your reinforceme

nts?”

“Yes. Two.” The bloody body of one of the traitors fell into the gatehouse doorway. Ashley forced a smile even though the sight made her gag. “See?”

MEET THE AUTHOR

Beth Ford writes historical and time travel stories that transport you in time. She is the author of the novels In the Times of Spirits, Love Between Times, Love Across, Time, and After the Spirits Come: A Continuation of Dickens's A Christmas Carol. She also writes the Cassie Woods, Reporter historical mystery romance novella series. Her work has also appeared in a variety of literary journals. She lives in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Website: http://bethfordauthor.com
X: https://x.com/BethFordAuthor
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bethfordauthor.bsky.social

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Straight Browsing from the Library: The 4 Lights and The Sharded Lullaby by Lotte Bluejay

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lotte Bluejay will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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An epic K-Pop fantasy adventure series for readers ages 8-12.

Music becomes magic. Friendship becomes power. And every concert could save the world.

When four freshly debuted K-pop idols discover that their songs awaken ancient magic, their rise to fame turns into something far greater than a world tour.

At their first sold-out concert, Hana, Daon, Mira, and Noah expect a night of lights and applause. Instead, they uncover a broken lullaby and fragments of an ancient prophecy. Soon strange things begin to follow them from city to city - whispers in the lights, shadows beneath the rhythm, and a dark force determined to silence their music forever.

Because somewhere in the shadows, a forgotten enemy has been waiting for the music to begin.

To protect their dreams, their fans, and each other, the four must learn to unlock the hidden power within their songs. Because harmony is strongest when no one stands alone. And some melodies were never meant to fade.

Perfect for readers who love:

• magical adventures and epic quests
• powerful friendships and teamwork
• modern fantasy with a pop-culture twist
• stories where music becomes magic

Begin the adventure with Book 1 of The Four Lights. The stage is set. The prophecy has begun. And the world is about to hear their song.

The Four Lights Series

A magical middle-grade adventure about friendship, courage, and the power of music.

Book 1 - The Sharded Lullaby
Book 2 - The Shadow Band
Book 3 - The Crimson Solace
Book 4 - The Syncopated Harmony
Book 5 - The Hollow Beat
Book 6 - The Blinding Crescendo
Book 7 - the epic finale

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Daon’s fingers twitched. Tap-tap … tap.

The pulse matched him.

Hana’s breath caught. “Daon,” she said, low.

“I know, I know,” he whispered, but he couldn’t help it. The beat slipped out of him like a hiccup. He added a heel-thump, tiny, a heartbeat on the floor.

The bobbing steadied. The little bumps turned into a slow roll, the kind you could ride if you knew when to lean.

Daon leaned with it, eyes wide. “Are you seeing this?”

“I’m seeing you stop,” Noah said.

Mira pressed a new chord, soft and bright. The roll faded. The seatbelt sign blinked off.

Silence fell between them, the kind that wasn’t empty at all.

Hana looked from Daon’s hands to Mira’s keyboard to Noah’s steady grip on the bass case. No one said the word magic. No one said powers. The cabin was full of people, full of cameras, full of ordinary. The last thing they needed was attention.

Daon tucked his hands under his thighs like a kid in time-out. “Okay,” he whispered. “Okay. But did you feel how the bumps synced to me? Like the plane caught the beat?”

“It synced to the pilot,” Noah said. “Like it’s supposed to.”

Mira’s mouth curved. “Maybe both.”

The cart came back with snacks. Crackers. Cups. The clink of ice. The very normal world.
They ate. They watched a cartoon on the seatback screens without hearing it. They tried to sleep.

Hana couldn't. She stared at the little screen map and watched their plane crawl toward Japan. A bright line traced their path, pixel by pixel. She thought of the glow that had raced up the mic stands, and of how her body had hummed like a string in tune.

She reached into her backpack and slid out a notebook. On the first blank page she wrote:
Seoul: power went out – we sang – stands glowed – crowd calmed. Backstage: stands still warm – felt watched – not sure. Plane: Daon’s beat = air bumps? Mira’s chord = calm?
She added a question mark and circled it twice.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Lotte Bluejay creates magical middle-grade adventures where music becomes power and friendship saves the day. Her Four Lights series blends the sparkle of K-Pop with the wonder of fantasy, giving young readers stories filled with rhythm, courage, and hope. Every book is written to light up imaginations, celebrate teamwork, and remind kids that even in the darkest moments, their own voices can shine the brightest.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the4lights.official
Website with all books of the series: https://www.gocrazyhappy.com/the4lights/
Soundtrack: https://thefourlights.hearnow.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the4lights.officialbr> YouTube: https://youtube.com/@the4lights.official
BookBub: https://youtube.com/@the4lights.official

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