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Saturday, January 27, 2024

The Renegade Akseli Cyborg by Dianne Duvall: Blog Tour Stop and Excerpt

𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙔𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹’𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀!

Excerpt


Rachel stifled another yawn. “Thank you.” More of her weight settled against his side as a comfortable silence blanketed them. Soon slumber claimed her.

Wonick activated the implant that enabled him to interface remotely with all electronics in their settlement and lowered the lighting in the room until it matched that of a night illuminated only by a pale sliver of a moon. Speakers ushered in nocturnal sounds from the forests outside. Cyborgs had spent so many years in infirmaries, recovering from excruciatingly painful surgeries and injuries, that all loathed the places now. When Taavion had refused to treat them in their homes, they had made this compromise to make any time spent here more bearable. The regular recovery rooms and treatment rooms went even further with at least one wall displaying the forest outside.

Now insects chirped. Amphibians croaked and twanged. Nocturnal birds sang.

The pleasure Wonick took in it paled in comparison to that he found in Rachel’s presence. Her form was warm against his, the pressure soothing.

Memories of his boyhood surfaced. He could recall his parents sitting like this after a long day spent working the family farm while he and his brothers wrestled and played on the floor in front of them. Hands linked, they would speak in low tones and share weary but loving smiles the boys paid little attention to.

Wonick glanced down.

One of Rachel’s hands rested on the mattress beside her. The other hand lay in her lap, palm up, fingers curled as though waiting to hold something.

In painstakingly slow increments, Wonick reached over and gently clasped that hand.

His eyes shot to her face.

Still sleeping.

Splaying her hand on his, he studied it. Soft, pale skin covered faint blue veins. Her slender fingers ended in short, rounded nails. In comparison, his hand was tanned from years spent working in the sun with the reddish hue characteristic of Akselis and a network of fine scars. It was also so much larger than hers that, when he lined up the base of their hands, her fingertips barely extended beyond his palm.

Wonick traced her fingers, one by one. They seemed alarmingly fragile, easily broken compared to his, which were thicker and reinforced with alavinin. Yet when she had poked him in the chest during their initial confrontation, it had felt as though she were stabbing him with a dull blade and had nearly made him stumble back a step.

Finished with his curious examination, he twined his long fingers through hers and settled their hands on his thigh, mimicking the pose of his father and mother.

Wondrous peace suffused him as he rested his head against the wall behind them and imagined ending every evening in such a way.

Was this what Janwar had found with Simone? This tantalizing contentment that seemed to fill all the hollow spaces spawned by years of isolation?

If so, Wonick couldn’t blame his friend for succumbing to the allure.

A sigh replete with pleasure escaped him as he closed his eyes. Then he, too, let sleep claim him.


ABOUT THE BOOK


The Renegade Akseli Cyborg 
Aldebarian Alliance #5 
by Dianne Duvall 

Release Date: January 23, 2024
Too many years of hunting psychotic vampires night after night have left Rachel with a desperate need for change. So when the opportunity to travel across the galaxy aboard a Lasaran warship to a utopian planet arises, the powerful Immortal Guardian jumps at the chance. Rachel eagerly looks forward to making a fresh start… until an enemy attacks and she ends up alone in an escape pod so far from alliance-occupied space that no one can hear her communications. No one except a renegade cyborg who shouldn’t exist.

After a grueling, hard-fought rebellion, Wonick and his cyborg brethren settled on a distant planet, where they’ve finally carved out a peaceful existence. The Aldebarian Alliance believes every Akseli cyborg died long ago. And battle-weary cyborg leader Wonick is determined to prevent anyone from discovering otherwise, knowing such would spark the fiercest manhunt in the galaxy. Yet when he hears Rachel’s communications, temptation drives him to speak to her, sparking friendship and a longing for a very different future.

Rachel finds Wonick even more appealing when she meets him in person, and the friendship they’ve formed soon deepens into love as the cyborgs—no more immune to her fun-loving, laughter-inducing nature than Wonick—cautiously welcome her into the fold. But the warriors’ unbridled ability to collect intel uncovers a secret the enemy has guarded for decades, one that compels them to embark upon a mission fraught with danger.

If they succeed, they may end the enemy’s attempts to conquer the galaxy once and for all.
If they fail, it could cost Wonick and Rachel everything.

𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 26, 2024 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 (𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘒𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳)





ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series, the Aldebarian Alliance sci‐fi romance series, and The Gifted Ones medieval and time‐travel romance series.  The Lasaran, the first book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a #1 Audible Mover & Shaker. The Segonian, the second book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a Barnes&Noble Top Indie Favorite. Audible chose Awaken the Darkness as one of the Top 5 Best Paranormal Romance Audiobooks of 2018. Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), “extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Dianne's books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards. And her audiobooks have been awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence. 

Dianne's books have all appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and/or Kobo Bestseller lists.  The first book in Dianne's The Gifted Ones series, A Sorceress of His Own, is a prequel of sorts to Darkness Dawns. A USA Today bestseller, A Sorceress of His Own is a medieval romance with paranormal elements that was awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence and was an Audie Finalist. The second book in the series, Rendezvous With Yesterday, is a time travel romance that won the GraveTells Readers' Choice Award for Best Historical Romance. 

In addition to writing romance, Dianne has completed a one-act play (comedy) and teamed up with an award-winning screenwriter to write a spec script for a new situation comedy. Several of her poems have also been published in anthologies. 

When she isn't writing, Dianne is very active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the psychotic vampires she creates in her books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit DianneDuvall.com or sign up for her Newsletter. You can also find Dianne online . . .

TOUR-WIDE GIVEAWAY


To celebrate the release of The Renegade Akseli Cyborg, Dianne Duvall will be giving away a Aldebarian Alliance Swag Pack* to (2) two separate readers (US only please) AND a $25 Amazon Gift Card to (2) two separate readers! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form found in this post. Follow along with the Tour at DianneDuvall.com for more chances to win daily. Good luck!
*Substitutions may be made at the author's discretion



Saturday, June 17, 2023

Rogue Darkness by Dianne Duvall: Blog Tour Stop and Author Favorite Vampire Flicks


Hello! Thank you for joining us. I’m excited to be here today, celebrating the release of ROGUE DARKNESS. If this is your first time encountering my Immortal Guardians series, don’t worry. You won’t be lost at all if you dive in with this book or audiobook. So if you enjoy paranormal romance that features powerful immortal males who love strong women, edge-of-your-seat-action, fun banter, laugh-out-loud humor, and sizzling passion, then I think you should pick this one up.


I fell in love with vampire movies long before I became a writer and dove into the paranormal romance genre. Though vampires aren’t the heroes in my books (they’re actually psychotic killers), I will never get enough of them and still can’t pass up a chance to enjoy yet another vampiric cinematic adventure. For those who are similarly enamored, I thought I would share some of my favorite vampire flicks with you today:


1. Night Teeth, starring Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Debby Ryan, and Lucy Fry. This was a fun ride. I just loved Benny.

2. 30 Days of Night, starring Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, and Danny Huston. I was glued to the screen from beginning to end with this one. I thought the writer did a fantastic job of painting the characters—the whole town really—into a corner, cutting them off from aid and giving the vampires days, rather than hours, to hunt and torment their victims in complete darkness.

3. Day Shift, starring Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco. This was another fun ride, amalgamating action with humor (my favorite combination).

4. Let Me In, starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee. I liked that this was so different from other vampire movies I’ve seen.

5. Innocent Blood, starring Anne Parillaud and Anthony LaPaglia. This was another fun one. I loved seeing such an innocent, delicate vampire wreak havoc. It made me laugh quite a bit, too.

6. Blade, starring Wesley Snipes. Though I enjoyed all three of the Blade movies, the first will always be my favorite, so much so that I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched it over the years and even mentioned it in one of my books (AWAKEN THE DARKNESS).

7. Daybreakers, starring Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe. Like some of the others, this one stood out by approaching the vampire genre from a different angle. I enjoyed it.

8. From Dusk Till Dawn, starring George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Juliette Lewis, and Salma Hayek. I’m a sucker for reluctant heroes, and George Clooney’s character is definitely a reluctant hero. I’ve watched this one many times.

9. Salem’s Lot, starring Rob Lowe and Andre Braugher. I just stumbled upon this one recently. It’s a mini-series, but I included it anyway.

10. Interview with a Vampire, starring Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and Kirsten Dunst. I actually hadn’t heard of the book when I saw this one and ended up enjoying the movie so much that I eagerly dove into the series.

11. Renfield, starring Nicholas Cage. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m looking forward to it. 

What about you? What are some of your favorite vampire movies?


For those who read or listen to ROGUE DARKNESS, I hope you’ll have fun with Sean and Nicole!

REVIEW And COMMENTARY


I am quite fond of stories with a large ensemble cast.  Everyone has their quirks and seeing a family, whether they are blood, of circumstance, or chosen. interacting over several books is why I am a series enthusiast.  Dianne Duvall's characters are so endearing.  Sean and Nicole are extremely witty and very adorable, their relationship development is so warm and heartfelt.  As always with the Immortal Guardians, the suspense of the story is also an immediate draw.  I love a book that is difficult to put down because you MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW, and I was invested in Rogue Darkness immediately.  Coming back to the Immortal Guardian world is like visiting old, treasured friends. The only problem with a binge-worthy book is when you reach the end, it's over.  But there is always time for a reread.


ABOUT THE BOOK

ROGUE DARKNESS

Immortal Guardians Book 12
by Dianne Duvall
Release Date: June 13th, 2023

New York Times bestselling author Dianne Duvall brings readers the next stand-alone novel in her “fast-paced and humorous” (Publishers Weekly) and “utterly addictive” (RT Book Reviews) Immortal Guardians series.


Immortal Guardians have hunted and slain psychotic vampires for thousands of years. Now someone is hunting them. Humanity remains oblivious to the existence of immortals, vampires, and gifted ones, so how does this rising nemesis even know who they are and where to find them? Could it be the machinations of an old nemesis—one they thought they defeated? Or is this something new? Because unlike the foes they’ve faced in the past, this one doesn’t just target immortals. He targets those who are near and dear to them.

A gifted one under the Immortal Guardians’ protection, Nicole has worked hard to land her dream job—that of an Immortal Guardian’s Second or mortal guard—and loves working with Sean. He’s smart. He’s funny. And despite the sometimes dark existence he leads, the two of them laugh a lot. Years spent as a special ops soldier prepared Nicole well, enabling her to keep Sean safe despite his tendency to dive headlong into danger. But can it keep her safe? The enemy they face is determined and shrewd. Uncovering his identity may require new methods of engagement and force her to take a few risks.
Sean hasn’t been immortal long, but he knows the rules. And according to the rules, Nicole is off-limits. She’s his Second. His guard. His best friend. The one person who knows him better than anyone else. Though he loves every minute he spends with her, friendship is all they can ever have... isn’t it? Sean soon begins to question that as the two of them engage in a deadly cat-and-mouse game with the enemy, one that will reveal the true depth of their feelings for each other and drive him to abandon the rules altogether.

𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸

audiobook

paperback 

hardback


The Immortal Guardians Series:




ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series, the Aldebarian Alliance sci‐fi romance series, and The Gifted Ones medieval and time‐travel romance series.  The Lasaran, the first book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a #1 Audible Mover & Shaker. The Segonian, the second book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a Barnes&Noble Top Indie Favorite. Audible chose Awaken the Darkness as one of the Top 5 Best Paranormal Romance Audiobooks of 2018. Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), “extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Dianne's books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards. And her audiobooks have been awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence. 

Dianne's books have all appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and/or Kobo Bestseller lists.  The first book in Dianne's The Gifted Ones series, A Sorceress of His Own, is a prequel of sorts to Darkness Dawns. A USA Today bestseller, A Sorceress of His Own is a medieval romance with paranormal elements that was awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence and was an Audie Finalist. The second book in the series, Rendezvous With Yesterday, is a time travel romance that won the GraveTells Readers' Choice Award for Best Historical Romance. 

In addition to writing romance, Dianne has completed a one-act play (comedy) and teamed up with an award-winning screenwriter to write a spec script for a new situation comedy. Several of her poems have also been published in anthologies. 

When she isn't writing, Dianne is very active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the psychotic vampires she creates in her books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit DianneDuvall.com or sign up for her Newsletter. You can also find Dianne online . . .




TOUR-WIDE GIVEAWAY:


To celebrate the release of Rogue Darkness, Dianne Duvall will be giving away a Swag Pack to (2) two separate readers (US only please) AND a $25 Amazon Gift Card to (2) two separate readers! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form found in this post. Follow along with the Blog Tour at DianneDuvall.com for more chances to win daily. Good luck!

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Release Day Blitz: Rogue Darkness by Dianne Duvall

 

The next exciting novel in Dianne Duvall's Immortal Guardians series is out today! Grab your copy of Rogue Darkness at one of your favorite online retailers! Keep reading to find out more about this can't-put-down paranormal romance, and for your chance to win in the tour-wide giveaway!  



ABOUT THE BOOK


ROGUE DARKNESS
Immortal Guardians Book 12
by Dianne Duvall 

Release Date: June 13th, 2023
New York Times bestselling author Dianne Duvall brings readers the next stand-alone novel in her “fast-paced and humorous” (Publishers Weekly) and “utterly addictive” (RT Book Reviews) Immortal Guardians series.

Immortal Guardians have hunted and slain psychotic vampires for thousands of years. Now someone is hunting them. Humanity remains oblivious to the existence of immortals, vampires, and gifted ones, so how does this rising nemesis even know who they are and where to find them? Could it be the machinations of an old nemesis—one they thought they defeated? Or is this something new? Because unlike the foes they’ve faced in the past, this one doesn’t just target immortals. He targets those who are near and dear to them.

A gifted one under the Immortal Guardians’ protection, Nicole has worked hard to land her dream job—that of an Immortal Guardian’s Second or mortal guard—and loves working with Sean. He’s smart. He’s funny. And despite the sometimes dark existence he leads, the two of them laugh a lot. Years spent as a special ops soldier prepared Nicole well, enabling her to keep Sean safe despite his tendency to dive headlong into danger. But can it keep her safe? The enemy they face is determined and shrewd. Uncovering his identity may require new methods of engagement and force her to take a few risks.
Sean hasn’t been immortal long, but he knows the rules. And according to the rules, Nicole is off-limits. She’s his Second. His guard. His best friend. The one person who knows him better than anyone else. Though he loves every minute he spends with her, friendship is all they can ever have... isn’t it? Sean soon begins to question that as the two of them engage in a deadly cat-and-mouse game with the enemy, one that will reveal the true depth of their feelings for each other and drive him to abandon the rules altogether.

𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸

audiobook

paperback 
Amazon — coming soon…

hardback
Amazon — coming soon…






The Immortal Guardians Series:




ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series, the Aldebarian Alliance sci‐fi romance series, and The Gifted Ones medieval and time‐travel romance series.  The Lasaran, the first book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a #1 Audible Mover & Shaker. The Segonian, the second book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a Barnes&Noble Top Indie Favorite. Audible chose Awaken the Darkness as one of the Top 5 Best Paranormal Romance Audiobooks of 2018. Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), “extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Dianne's books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards. And her audiobooks have been awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence. 

Dianne's books have all appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and/or Kobo Bestseller lists.  The first book in Dianne's The Gifted Ones series, A Sorceress of His Own, is a prequel of sorts to Darkness Dawns. A USA Today bestseller, A Sorceress of His Own is a medieval romance with paranormal elements that was awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence and was an Audie Finalist. The second book in the series, Rendezvous With Yesterday, is a time travel romance that won the GraveTells Readers' Choice Award for Best Historical Romance. 

In addition to writing romance, Dianne has completed a one-act play (comedy) and teamed up with an award-winning screenwriter to write a spec script for a new situation comedy. Several of her poems have also been published in anthologies. 

When she isn't writing, Dianne is very active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the psychotic vampires she creates in her books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit DianneDuvall.com or sign up for her Newsletter. You can also find Dianne online . . .




TOUR-WIDE GIVEAWAY:


To celebrate the release of Rogue Darkness, Dianne Duvall will be giving away a Swag Pack to (2) two separate readers (US only please) AND a $25 Amazon Gift Card to (2) two separate readers! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form found in this post. Follow along with the Blog Tour at DianneDuvall.com for more chances to win daily. Good luck!

Friday, October 28, 2022

Trouble with the Cursed: The Hollows, Book 16 by Kim Harrison

About the Book

Rachel Morgan must keep her friends close—and her enemies closer—in the next Hollows novel from number one New York Times best-selling author Kim Harrison.


Rachel Morgan, witch-born demon, has one unspoken rule: Take chances, but pay for them yourself. With it, she has turned enemies into allies, found her place with her demon kin, and stepped up as the subrosa of Cincinnati—responsible for keeping the paranormal community at peace and in line.

Life is...good? Even better, her best friend, Ivy Tamwood, is returning home. Nothing’s simple, though, and Ivy’s not coming alone. The vampires’ ruling council insists she escort one of the long undead, hell-bent on proving that Rachel killed Cincy’s master vampire to take over the city. Which, of course, Rachel totally did not do. She only transformed her a little.

With Rachel’s friends distracted by their own lives and problems, she reaches out to a new ally for help—the demon Hodin. But this trickster has his own agenda. In the end, the only way for Rachel to save herself and the city may be to forge a new understanding with her estranged demon teacher, Al. There’s just one problem: Al would sell his own soul to be rid of her....

REVIEW And COMMENTARY




I have spent the better part of three months reading the Hollows series. Kim Harrison’s world is utterly fascinating. I enjoy books with a variety of supernatural characters that interact in creative ways. Demons, elves, weres, vampires, pixies, and fairies are all present, but the familiar tropes are changed just enough to make them feel like a fresh idea. I dig the imagery for the magic incantations, spells, and the like in the Hollows series. I am an avid audiobook reader, which is how I absorbed this series. However, the previously mentioned descriptors make me want physical copies so I can bookmark and investigate them. To ensure authenticity, at the very least, the author did some detailed research.

I was glad the series did not end at book thirteen. At that point, Rachel helped make things better for all the species in her life, but I appreciate more resolution with the vampires and demons. And I have a tough time saying goodbye to characters. I reread books a lot.

In Trouble with the Cursed, vampires are at the forefront, which feels right. It is funny, I read a lot of urban fantasy/paranormal romance, and when I look for a new series, I tend to avoid vampire novels. My first foray into the world of romance was with vampires, and I think I overloaded myself. Now When I see a vampire in what I am reading, I think, Oh boy, here we go again. And almost every time, I end up thoroughly enamored with them. Then I realize, again, some of the most enjoyable series I have experienced are primarily about vampires. Maybe that proves they have earned my approval and that they are worth my time? Or that I am a sucker forever? Anyway, I am very fond of Pike. Actually he won me over in American Demon but he's way more fun now, not quite so cranky and stressed out. Pike and Rachel are very effective when working together. The two have several hilarious interactions, and they kick some serious butt. He will make an excellent ally. Kim Harrison, if you kill him, I'm going to be very mad at you.

Trouble with the Cursed made me anxious. I tend to get frustrated when the protagonist takes too long to figure out what is going on, especially when things turn grim. I get Rachel wants to see the good in people, but sometimes it's not to her benefit, which is a crucial plot point. I spent a lot of time cursing the way things unfolded. Out loud. And at a raised volume. Fortunately, most of my listening occurs during my long commute. In the end, it did make Rachel’s success more satisfying, and if an author can get that much emotion from me, I must be invested. Which is a terrific thing.

It goes without saying but at times some of the betrayals, and the chain of events that develop because of them, really bother me. There are serious consequences that are prevalent in Trouble with the Cursed. I do not want to feel sympathy for the bad guy, but sometimes I cannot help it. Moral ambiguity makes things feel more authentic. Life does not always give you a truly happy ending. There are situations when you have to choose between the lesser of two evils.

I do have a few past novel things to get off my chest. WARNING, major spoilers are below. If you have not read the series STOP NOW and GO TO THE BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY. You will not regret it!

I must admit, Rachel took a while to grow on me. In the first few books, I had a tough time trusting her. Or at least her outlook on certain things. There was a point she claimed things such as (and I am paraphrasing) X is such an awful thing to do, I would never ever do that. And I started to realize within the next book or so, she would be doing the very thing she was so against. Does that make her a terrible character? No. It means that she is open to changing her mind, which is positive. But it did become an issue of “the lady doth protest too much.”

Nick. Sorry, I must. Now I do not in any way support what he did. But… Rachel was completely unfair to him in A Fistful of Charms. Unfair. Did she sit down with him and talk about it? No. She got angry and cut him off while calling him names. Good form, ha. Did Nick violate Rachel's trust? Yes. Did Nick know where Rachel and Al’s relationship would go? No. Should Rachel have forgiven Nick? No. Was Nick a jerk thief? Yes. But a rational adult conversation might have saved a lot of violence, and maybe Nick’s life, in the end. I know hindsight, but this whole situation still really, really, really bothers me.

This leads me to Trent. At the beginning, this guy was a big stinking jerk, wasn’t he? I cannot tell you how many times I thought, I really want to like this guy. Wait, what the heck did he just do? I guess I don’t like this guy. I was so pleased when he decided on a better path, which laid the foundation for Trent and Rachel's relationship. Theirs is the most satisfying type of romance for me. Not necessarily the from hate to love part, although that can ramp up the anticipation. I enjoy a good slow burn, a bond that develops while people experience their lives, grow, and become better versions of themselves.

My favorite book so far is Ever After.

I am delighted that I finally listened to my work friend and read the Hollows series. I will now purchase future books on release day. Without fail. I already preordered the next one, which is more than six months away. Now the long wait…

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Battle Born For You (Tell All Secrets Book 2) by Layla Lochran Blog Tour Stop: Battle Born for You Playlist and Review

 

We're excited to share with you the second book in Layla Lochran's Tell All Secrets series, BATTLE BORN FOR YOU! This second chance romance and continuation of Alexander and Liliana's story is available in eBook, Paperback, and Audiobook formats, grab your copy on Amazon today! 



Tell All Secrets Playlist



Greetings lassies! Music plays a large role in this series, so what better way to dive in than by creating a playlist you can interact with whilst you read. The order it’s listed in coincides with the plot from the beginning of Painting Her Fate and continues throughout Battle Born for You.

Check it out on Spotify. >>>  https://tinyurl.com/spotifyphfbbfy 


From Green Day, to Five Finger Death Punch, to Andy Grammar, and everything in between, each song plays tribute to the characters in the scenes they’re mentioned in. They tell of the emotion, the despair, the agony, and the love in that moment. A song can speak many words, captivate the listener in the adventure; they are stories in of themselves. Absolutely beautiful.



ABOUT THE BOOK



Battle Born for You
by Layla Lochran
(Tell All Secrets #2)

October 24, 2022

Alexander: Stumbling upon the one person you're missing in your life only to screw up and watch her walk away. It's Soul crushing. Heartbreaking. What Lili doesn't know is this Marine's endurance is untamable. I've been beaten down, now it's time to rise, or submit and lose it all. Do I succumb to the darkness and welcome the silence? My sunshine is shrouded in ominous blackness; the trust she placed on me now vanquished. She's gone and I fear my demons will find their way out.
Knock, knock. Poetry is my expression, only now that life is grim. I'm no longer in control. I do not want to hurt those I love, but I cannot keep afloat. I'm drowning, calling for help; the gun is in my hand and I'm eager to pull the trigger.

Liliana: He betrayed my trust and now my skeletons are out of the closet for all to see. If any of my secrets fall in the wrong hands, chaos would follow. I knew I could never love, so why does this hurt so? The monster is at the forefront of my mind, enjoying the game. Time to play. Can I trust Zander and his mates with their vow of protection? If I have learned anything, you should never question a Marine's promise. With music as my emotion, the songs playing behind the locked door tell me of a broken man's world. Sometimes it's the hero that needs saving, this be one of those times. Do not fret, Alexander, I'm going to save ye.




Paperback

Narrated by Joe Arden and Stella Hunter 


Other Titles by Layla Lochran

Painting Her Fate – Book 1 

Pre-order More for Me, Book #3 in the Tell All Secrets series – Coming 03/13/2023
Narrator announcement coming soon!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Layla Lochran is an international bestselling author best known for her Tell All Secrets suspenseful romance series and the Ambrota Defenders paranormal romance series.

Layla resides nestled in the woodlands of Western New York with her son and adopted pet, Kit Kat. School life is her passion, writing romance gives her satisfaction. She enjoys her family, musical instruments, festivals, and takes pride in being a volunteer LGBTQ+ youth counselor and advocator of Love is Love.  

Where you can find Layla Lochran…

Website Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok BookBub Pinterest Blog Goodreads | Email – laylalochran@gmail.com 

Tour-Wide Giveaway


To celebrate the release of Battle Born For You, Layla is giving away a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card to one reader during this blog tour! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form found in this post. Follow along with the Blog Tour for more chances to win daily. Good luck!




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REVIEW

PTSD and severe trauma has made it hard for Zander and Lili to find pleasure in life, much less make it easy for them to give themselves over to love. In Painting Her Fate, we see Lili’s steps to trust another with the demons from her past and let love in, In Battle Born for You we see Zander’s journey to do the same.

There is no doubt the couple fought long and hard against painful memories alone and they desperately need to feel safe and loved. As with Lili, Zander has a tough time of it, which is heart wrenching. He discovers Lili grounds him in the present and makes the pain bearable in the same way he did for her. The bond between Zander and Lili, and the fact their built trust can conquer feelings of inadequacy and silence their monsters, feels truly authentic. 

One thing I will say, some parts of the story felt slightly disjointed, Zander and Lili’s confrontation in the beginning especially. Then part of that conflict isn't really resolved and it feels like something big to just leave hanging. Maybe that resolution will come later, with an upcoming story. Meeting the people surrounding Zander and Lily, I am definitely on board to see where life takes them in the Tell All Secrets series. 

Also worth noting the audio narration for Battle Born for You is fantastic. This is a huge deal for me since I am an avid audiobook listener and bad narration can ruin the experience. With Battle Born for You that was not an issue.