#CoverReveal #Announcement: The Coin By Maria Elena Alonso Sierra!

Is proud to reveal the NEW book cover for the international thriller, The Coin.

Book Description: WHOEVER THOUGHT FINDING A COIN COULD GET YOU KILLED? Set in the exotic French Riviera, The Coin is a story of hatred, betrayal, love, and duty—of terrible and painful choices that, nonetheless, bring about personal triumph.
A DANGEROUS FIND For artist Gabriela Martinez, life has become complicated: she suspects her mentor and friend wants her as his mistress, her husband is neglecting her, and her latest illustration is ruined. Seeking peace, she visits her favorite thinking spot in La Marbriére, the mountain overlooking her home in the Côte d’Azur. Distracted, she winds up in an unfamiliar clearing, where she discovers a 1945 French coin half-buried in the ground. Delighted with its beauty, she has it set on her favorite bracelet.
TREACHEROUS KNOWLEDGE Richard Harrison, an American intelligence officer, is livid. A simple favor for his boss has turned his vacation in the French Riviera into a hellish assignment. Now, not only does he learn the truth about the coin, but he must also protect Gabriela from a cunning killer who will stop at nothing to keep his secret safe.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT Together with Maurice Nôret, from French intelligence, Richard attempts to discover the madman’s identity, except his budding love for this beautiful artist is turning into a dangerous handicap. Every one of his moves is thwarted with brutal countermoves. Soon, the psychological games to terrorize Gabriela escalate beyond his control. If Richard doesn’t find a solution, it may be too late for them both.

 

Created by Scott Carpenter

Editorial Reviews: "In her debut novel, Alonso-Sierra blends action, suspense, and steamy romance to tell the story of an up-and-coming artist and the secret agent assigned to protect her against an anonymous terrorist. Alonso-Sierra wonderfully builds suspense, and her psychological-thriller plotline enhances the sexual tension between Gabriela and Richard in an intriguing manner; their restrained romance quickly becomes the driving force of the novel. The character development is on point as well, with unexpectedly multilayered supporting characters such as Albert, Gabriela's artist mentor; and Bernard, her alcoholic friend. A suspenseful, sexy romantic thriller." -- Kirkus Indie Reviews, 4/12/2014
"Suspenseful, thrilling, and action-packed are apt words to describe The Coin by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra, a mesmerizing story with great potential to have readers utterly captivated. It all starts with a coin, a mysterious, coveted coin, but what is the value of a coin that people are killed and the lives of many put in danger? Set against the lush backdrop of the French Riviera, this novel explores very powerful themes such as lust, love and betrayal, and many things in between. The setting is very beautiful and the idea of the "coin" is just brilliant and enigmatic, something of a mystery which adds to the pervading sense of danger that dominates the entire story. The characters are well crafted and explored in great depth, and the author does this without sacrificing her powerful plot points and her oh-so-beautiful prose. Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra's work is one of the craftiest stories that will make readers fall in love with the exotic French Riviera. The Coin is hugely entertaining!" - Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

About the Author: Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is a multiple award-winning, romantic suspense author with a unique point of view. Her thrillers take place in locales across Europe and the United States, reflecting her international upbringing and extensive time as a global traveler. In her duology, The Coin and The Book of Hours, her characters, Gabriela and Richard, walk the same paths as their creator, though her life was never in so much danger. Her multiple award-winning short story collection, The Fish Tank: And Other Short Stories, is an imaginative ride through various genres. One section in particular, "Soul Songs", delves into the gut-wrenching experience of exile, with fictionalized Cuban Diaspora stories based on the author's own experience of exile. Another short story, "Retribution Served", is featured in the anthology Book Dreams: Volume 1, and has been well received by readers. Ms. Alonso-Sierra's writing career began circa age thirteen with a very juvenile science fiction short story, but the writing bug hit, and she has been writing, in one capacity or another, ever since. She has worked (and not necessarily in the following order) as: a professional dancer, singer, journalist, and literature teacher in both the university and middle school levels. She holds a Masters in English literature and loves to hear from readers. When not writing, she roams around to discover new places to set her novels. She is currently working on her fourth book, a Detective Nick Larson novel, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and her dog, Amber.

Where to find The Coin
iBooks, Kobo - https://books2read.com/b/49QpK0 
B&N - http://bit.ly/TCBNEB

Tour hosted by Author Assist

#APC #Spotlight: Fated Encounters By Stephanie Barr!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Stephanie Barr in my APC spotlight, today! Stephanie is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her fantasy, short-story, magical, mystery anthology, Fated Encounters, looks great! Here's the description:

Ever wonder why magic is so pervasive in history yet so absent today?
What if there were an explanation?

Have you ever wondered why smart girls stayed with men who mistreated them?
What if there was an explanation?

Every wondered why cats can be total jerks but we still love them?
Of course not, they're cats.

Encounters that change the trajectories of their lives.
Precursor tales to Catalyst

 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1073

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day One-Thousand-Seventy-Three:

Despite my best efforts, the juvenile felid has yet to show any willingness to discuss his recent excursion outside my domicile. I have, however, deduced that his expectations regarding my hominid-servant’s behavior differ significantly from my own.

For instance, from the fact that he has yet to completely forgive my hominid-servant for creating an opportunity for him to exit my domicile, I have concluded that my young protégé seems to believe that my hominid-servant should, in fact, place limits on his behavior. I, however, do not believe hominids should interfere in the decisions made by DPCIL Agents, and would place the blame, if any is warranted, for what happened to the little idiot firmly on his own head.

I do find it an interesting question, though. And, while I remain uncertain of my youthful companion’s complete catalog of expectations regarding my hominid-servant, I have been pondering compiling a list of my own and presenting it to her. Perhaps I have not been clear enough about what her responsibilities are and, by explicitly communicating her full job description, I will finally be able to conduct my research without distraction. As always, I will report back on the results of this experiment.

Oh, my! This should be interesting. ;-) You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!

Difficult Messages...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Here's a little bit more of the third installment in the Petri Dish Chronicles! As always, the disclaimer is that this is a draft and, as such, it's unedited and likely full of errors and is subject to revision, revamping, and being completely scrapped and rewritten. But, with that in mind, I'm reasonably satisfied with the basics of it, at least at the moment, or I wouldn't have bothered posting it. Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from the third Petri Dish book:
Petri swallowed hard. “Now what do we tell her and how do we get the message across without scaring her?”

“We’ve got to tell her at least some of the truth. In case…” Chessie grimaced. “In case anything goes horribly wrong, she has to know we didn’t just abandon her.”

“But we have to be careful what we say. Who knows who may end up listen to this message. Especially if…”

Chessie nodded firmly. “Right. So, shall we?” She gestured at the com unit.

Petri swallowed again and took Chessie’s hand. They sat down in front of the screen together. Chessie looked at Petri, who nodded back to her. Chessie pressed the record button, and the confirmation light came to life. “Hey, hun,” she began.

“Hey there, monkey-girl,” echoed Petri with a strained smile. “We got your message…”

“…and we’re so, so proud of you, hun, that’s amazing news! You’ve put in a lot of hard work, and we’re glad it’s paying off for you.”

“We wanted to wait to speak to you live, but something came up and we’ll be away for a little while.”

“Daji came to visit,” elaborated Chessie. “And he needs us to go with him to visit our other friends. You remember the ones; we stayed with them for a few weeks right before we came here.”

“It’s nothing bad,” Petri assured her. “And we’ll be back as soon as we can be. We just wanted to let you know we’ll be out of touch for a little while. But we’re still thinking about you, and we’re proud of you, kiddo.”

“The school already knows and everything is arranged, so nothing will disrupt your classes or your internship. But we wanted to send our love and let you know you have our support.”

“Love ya, kid! Talk to you soon.”

“Hugs and kisses, hun, take care of yourself.”

“Bye,” they chorused, as Chessie hit the disconnect button.

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This one is just another reminder to beware of snakes in the grass when deciding who you will vote for in the upcoming primaries. So, please take a few minutes to watch this video, and then make up your own mind about whether or not this type of behavior is something you want representing our country. Peace!

Chocolate Banana Bread #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I don't know about you, but when it gets cold outside I start thinking about baking. This is one of my favorite wintertime recipes. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup powdered cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
4 overripe bananas
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter melted
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla


DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In a different bowl, mash the bananas with a fork and then stir in the butter, oil, and egg. Then add the brown sugar and vanilla. Stir until smooth and then add the dry ingredients a little at a time until everything is completely mixed together. Fold in most of the chocolate chips, but keep a few to sprinkle over the top.

Pour the batter into a greased 9-by-5-inch loaf pan and sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips on top. Bake for 50-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out mostly clean. Allow the bread cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the bread and remove it from the pan. Let the bread finish cooling on a plate, and then it cut into slices and serve it with a little whipped cream, if desired.

Bon appetit!

We Love Reading Valentine's Day #Giveaway! $30 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for Valentine's Day!  Please take a moment to check out the We Love Reading Author/BloggerValentine's Day Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 20 prizes, and the grand prize is $30 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

The Numbers That Count

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Today, I'd like to point out what should be obvious, but apparently isn't. With the holidays over and primary season upon us, there's a lot of talk about "electability." But one thing people seem to forget is who is electable depends entirely on who bothers to vote.

The arguments I keep hearing for establishment sell-outs like Biden and Buttigieg is that even if they have no good ideas and don't want to actually fight for any legislation that will help regular Americans, at least they'll appeal to more people...or at least more people will find them less objectionable than they might find other candidates. The problem is, it's not a matter of who they appeal to or who doesn't absolutely hate them; it's a matter of who actually casts a vote for them.

Winning elections isn't just about making people like you; it's about motivating people enough to put forth the effort to vote for you. It's about exciting people and making them want to get involved. And it's about which people you do that for. And, remember, in the US, you only get to cast your vote for your top choice; there's no ranked-choice voting. So even if people like you and might vote for you, if there's someone else they'd rather vote for, it doesn't matter if they'd also vote for you. Because they can only vote for one person.

So, if you're talking about the candidates who will motivate racist, white people to vote, Biden and Buttigieg might accomplish that. They are both white and they both have a history of backing racist policies that disenfranchise people of color. But in the 2020 US presidential election, there is no candidate on the Democratic side racist enough to lure racist, white voters away from Trump. Those same voters might have voted for Biden or Buttigieg in other elections, but not in that one.

And establishment sell-outs, like Biden and Buttigieg, won't motivate the progressive base to go out and vote. Wag your finger all you like, it won't change anything. If you want to motivate the people who vote for Democrats to get their asses out of their chairs and into the voting booths, you have to offer them a candidate worth voting for. And neither Biden nor Buttigieg, with their corporately-funded candidacies and do-nothing policy positions, do that.

There are more people who would vote for a candidate other than Trump than there are who would vote for Trump. The polls will tell you that; he has never polled higher than the low forties, and that was at the absolute peak of his popularity. This means that between 60 and 70 percent of voters would prefer someone else. The trick is getting those people to vote. And if all the Democrats offer is Republican-lite, why would they expect anyone who doesn't want to vote for a Republican to show up?

Basically, and this is the part that really shouldn't need to be explained, if you run Republican-lite, Republicans voters are the only ones who show up to vote, and they vote for the Republican. After all, if you're a Republican voter, why dick around with a pale imitation when you can have the real thing? If Democrats want to win elections, they have to convince progressives and independents to show up and vote. And that won't happen if the only choices are Republican and Semi-Republican.

So, sure, a less progressive candidate might get more Republican voters to the polls, but the overwhelming majority of them will be voting for Trump. Which not only doesn't help Democrats win, it makes it harder for them to win. History proves that progressives and independents will only bother to show up to vote if there's a progressive candidate for them to vote for, and those are the voters Democrats need to convince to cast their ballots. Get mad about it if you want, but denying reality won't win elections. A strong, progressive candidate with a bold vision for change and a decades-long track record of championing regular Americans will draw progressives and independents to the polls in droves. And that's when Democrats win.

The bottom line here is that elections are about numbers. And the only numbers that count are the ballots in the ballot boxes at the end of Election Day. So, like it or not, winning elections is about who you excite enough to show up to vote and who stays home. If disaffected Trump-voters stay home because they don't like the Democratic candidate, I'm fine with that. Because then the only ballots in those boxes will be from people who want to make the changes this country needs to make in order to truly realize the greatness that until now has only been potential. And that's the candidate who will win. Peace!

#APC #Spotlight: Surreal Enemies: Angel City (God Generation Book 2) By Chrissy Moon!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Chrissy Moon in my APC spotlight, today! Chrissy is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her paranormal romance, angel/demon, supernatural, fantasy novel, Surreal Enemies: Angel City, looks great! Here's the description:

Someone's been killing Slates and freeing the Melted from their ice prisons in the Heaven embassy. The God Generation consists of supernatural entities – angels (the Worthy), demons (the Melted), and archaic gods & goddesses (the Slates), born into human flesh and living among the rest of us.

Morgan Constantina is an abuse survivor and a recovering ecstasy addict. She's been working hard to learn how to be tough and never be anyone's victim again. Her new life with her loving, supportive, semi-famous boyfriend – who happens to be her former Living Guardian Angel – grows to include an addition to the family, moving to Los Angeles, meeting his gigantic family, and reluctantly co-starring in their new restaurant-based reality TV show. Morgan learns there are Worthy authorities who keep a judgmental eye on mundane humans. One of them is quite helpful, but another has a personal agenda that could cause trouble for her.

And as she's meeting new people, she's also gaining some enemies. High on the list of foes is an old family friend who's made threats to kill her, her own mother who thinks she's immoral and soulless, and her boyfriend's former flame – a woman Morgan's already met!

Surreal Enemies: Angel City is a story about the war of good and evil inside all of us, and the powerful, unforgettable force of parental love.

If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1071

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day One-Thousand-Seventy-One:

As I predicted, the juvenile felid did make another attempt to evade my hominid-servant’s stricture against leaving my domicile. This time he demonstrated a level of patience that was as admirable as it was surprising….for him, at least. He waited until my hominid-servant’s attention was focused elsewhere – the canid was determinedly vocalizing, as it happened, and my hominid-servant was attempting to soothe him as she retrieved a package that had been left outside the door to my domicile – and my young companion took advantage of her distraction to slip through the door before she noticed he was there.

Unfortunately for the little idiot, and as he discovered for himself, the frozen precipitate coating the ground is extremely unpleasant on one's feet. And, at the moment, the depth of the layer that has accumulated exceeds the height of the average DPCIL Agent. The incautious fool leapt headfirst from the platform immediately outside the door to my domicile and disappeared into a pile of the cold, wet, mush. He immediately made a reappearance and headed, most precipitously, in the opposite direction.

The expression the tiny terror wore on his face, as he rushed past my startled hominid-servant and sprinted to his favorite hiding place beneath her sleeping platform, was difficult to decipher. I believe it was something between astonishment and a deep sense of betrayal. Though, what or who he believes betrayed him escapes me. I had hoped to interview him regarding his feelings about this experiment, but he persists in remaining in his retreat and responds to any attempts at communication with an irrational amount of hostility. As always, however, I will continue my efforts and report back on any further developments.

Drat! Foiled again. ;-) You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!

#NewRelease #Announcement: Red Tide: Dangerous Waters By Claudette Melanson!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

My good friend, Claudette Melanson, has a new book out, and she'd like to tell you about it. Claudette, take it away! :-)

Claudette:
Red Tide: Dangerous Waters is now available. The first book in the second Maura DeLuca trilogy, The DeLuca Vampires. Content is suitable for readers aged 14 and up, and the YA series has been well received by adult readers as young as 75. Please, see the book description below, as well as buy links and social media links for the author, Claudette Melanson.

Nearly two years have passed since the events which took place in the first set of books, The Maura DeLuca Trilogy…

Maura has finally made peace with her transformation into a creature she never imagined could be real…much less one she might become. With her newfound existence comes the benefit of family, friends and allies who fill her life and heart with a love like she has never experienced during all the years she has lived with her melancholy, but loving, mother. But along with the most welcome comradery, all manner of new challenges arise—many of them deadly.

One of Maura’s new enemies, her auntie, Aldiva, cannot accept the young changeling as a member of her family. Aldiva’s treachery and murderous intent result not only in her own capture but that of her mate, Gregor—Maura’s beloved uncle and caregiver. Grown weary of waiting for her kin to concoct a plan of rescue, Maura plots a return to the Pacific Rainforest, accompanied solely by her blood-bonded mate, to face his elven kin and negotiate the vampire couple’s release.

But…as so often before in her past, events do not always play out the way Maura intends. She will soon discover that Ron’s elven kin pose an even greater threat than she dreamed possible. Presented with impossible choices, again and again, Maura will find herself placed at the most perilous collection of crossroads to ever mark her path. One careless misstep could draw her away, forever, from all she holds dear…or even snuff out her life, entirely.


˃˃˃ If you love books about vampires, elves, pixies, demons, angels and other fantastic creatures, Red Tide: Dangerous Waters is sure to keep you reading far into the night. This series isn’t your typical YA tale of vampires. Full of mystery, suspense and danger, this urban fantasy thriller delivers just enough romance & humor to accompany the elements of dark fantasy, served with a side of the supernatural. Maura’s story are novels certain to become classic paranormal and fantasy tales. The first series is not only for teen & young adult readers but has been well-received by many adult readers, as well. Maura doesn't live in Castle Dracula in Transylvania, but readers will discover a strong female protagonist that readers have come to love.

Buy links:
Grab your copy for a few pennies more than a regular Starbucks coffee!

Red Tide:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/33hndSN
Google Play: http://bit.ly/37Ad4V0
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2D6DqzI
iTunes: https://apple.co/35ps2v1
B&N: http://bit.ly/2rmL5Yg
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2OfMZTa

Author Social Media Links:

Website: http://bit.ly/1DVaL7x
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cmelansonauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bella623
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7881896.Claudette_Melanson
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/claudemelanson/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/authorcmelanson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmelansonauthor/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorclaudettemelanson/
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/104844624163397590666/104844624163397590666
Stumble Upon: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/cmelanson623
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/cmamzauthor
Book Gorilla Author Page: http://bit.ly/1BfSp0L
Bookbub Profile: http://bit.ly/1YiX3GU
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyMsreft9WCRCgAM1tMRGvg

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This one is another example of how the establishment expects progressives to eat the shit they serve us, smile, and thank them for it...and how one progressive, at least, is fighting back. I don't know how anyone who isn't one of the wealthy elite can refuse to see what a marvel AOC is. Enjoy! ;-)

Dinner Without The Fuss #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

With the holidays over and all of us back at the daily grind, I find that sometimes I just want a really simple, uncomplicated recipe that doesn't require a lot of crazy ingredients that I have to go out and buy special, but still tastes amazing and warms me up on a cold winter night. This recipe is something that you can make with staples that most people keep in the house and it's one of my favorites. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
1 large potato sliced into thin rounds
6 eggs beaten
1/2 cup broccoli chopped
1 small tomato chopped
1 onion chopped
1 cup button mushrooms sliced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 12oz can vegetarian onion soup or vegetable stock
8 tbsp butter
6 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp sage
1 tbsp thyme
2 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Parboil the potato and then drain and toss it with two tablespoons of olive oil and salt and pepper. Set it aside in a bowl. In an oven-safe, deep-sided skillet, melt two tablespoons of butter and add the onion. Sautee until the onion is soft and add the mushrooms and garlic. Sautee until the mushrooms soften and the onion is caramelized. Remove the onions and mushrooms from the skillet and set them aside.

Add two more tablespoons of butter and two tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet. Add the potato slices to the skillet in a single layer and brown them on the bottom. Add two more tablespoons of butter and two more tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet and flip the potato slices over, keeping them in a single layer. Add the eggs to the skillet and sprinkle the broccoli and tomato pieces over the top. Put the whole skillet in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake until the eggs are completely cooked, approximately 20-25 minutes.

In a small pot, melt two tablespoons of butter and sprinkle in the flour. Stir constantly until the flour starts to brown. Whisk in the soup or stock until all the flour lumps are smoothed out. Add the hot sauce (optional), thyme, sage, and previously cooked onions and mushrooms. Taste and adjust salt and pepper and seasonings as necessary.

Cut the egg and potato pie into slices and serve hot with gravy on top.

Bon appetit!

#January2020 #IndieBooksBeSeen #Indie #Author #Books #Monthly #BookReview!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

It's the 18th again, so time for my #IndieBooksBeSeen monthly indie author book review!! Enjoy! :-)

Dead End by Stuart Kenyon:

In this final installment of Stuart Kenyon's Augmented series, the action is non-stop. Our hero, John, is swept from one crisis to the next, frantic to find a way to keep himself, his friends, and city of a couple of hundred thousand people alive in the face of overwhelming odds. As he's playing his deadly version of emergency Whack-A-Mole, he's also ensnarled in the emotional turmoil that inevitably follows when living in such a dangerous would. Will John fight through his battles, physical and emotional, to find the peaceful rest he so clearly needs, or will he just rest in pieces at the end. You'll have to read to find out!

Once again, Mr. Kenyon has managed to weave contemporary themes into his post-apocalyptic dystopia. John is faced with the same type of petty, small-minded, selfishness from some of those around him that often thwarts the efforts of anyone who makes a genuine effort to effect positive change in the world. The understanding of how truly broad is the spectrum of human nature displayed in these novels is as rare as it is enjoyable. And the struggle the characters are constantly faced with to find the right balance between a beneficial utilization of technology and an overreliance on the same, not to mention where the ethical lines in the sand lie, is something I think every thoughtful person in our society can relate to. Five stars, for this book and the entire series. Well done, Sir.

We Love Reading Valentine's Day #Giveaway! $30 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for Valentine's Day!  Please take a moment to check out the We Love Reading Author/BloggerValentine's Day Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 20 prizes, and the grand prize is $30 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

#APC #Spotlight: Franky The Friendly Flamingo: An Anti-Bullying Book By Wanda Luthman!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Wanda Mital Luthman in my APC spotlight, today! Wanda is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her fantasy, anti-bullying, animal-friend, children's story, Franky the Friendly Flamingo, looks great! Here's the description:

Franky was a finicky dude, until he found his perfect, pink food. He then went in search for the perfect drink and wondered if it would also be pink. Now he's back and he's here to say, "Being yourself is always okay!"

This children's book contains an anti-bullying message through the beloved flamingo character named Franky. He is friendly with all the different birds, but one day he spots a little bird being bullied by a bigger bird and he intervenes in a loving way that teaches the other birds who had just been standing by how they can intervene too.

 If you think this sounds like something you, or a munchkin in your life, might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1070

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day One-Thousand-Seventy:

Precipitation in the form of frozen H2O occurred during the night, and my young companion took note of the alteration in the view through the glass portals in the walls of my domicile. Since he noticed this change, the little idiot has rushed from portal to portal as if he expects the white drifts to disappear in the interim. On one notable occasion, he even attempted to rush past my hominid-servant when she opened the door to my domicile. Fortunately, my hominid-servant’s reflexes were equal to the task, and she was able to arrest this attempted folly on the tiny terror's part. Though, judging from the way he continues to loiter in the vicinity of the door, I suspect the minuscule menace may soon make another bid for freedom.

Ah, the lure of the winter landscape. ;-) You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!

Favors Returned...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Here's a little bit more of the third installment in the Petri Dish Chronicles! As always, the disclaimer is that this is a draft and, as such, it's unedited and likely full of errors and is subject to revision, revamping, and being completely scrapped and rewritten. But, with that in mind, I'm reasonably satisfied with the basics of it, at least at the moment, or I wouldn't have bothered posting it. Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from the third Petri Dish book:
Rolling her eyes, Petri said, “I know you have a low opinion of me, but at least credit me with enough sense to realize my safety, and Chessie's and Sadaka's, depends on anonymity that won’t be maintained if an entire planet is attacked by the Arcanum. I have no intention of leaving this for you to deal with. The Arcanum want to talk to me, and they’re willing to hurt others to compel my attendance. So, I’ll go. Even if only to keep others from finding out what I am.”

Daji’s lip curled. “Enlightened self-interest, as always. What about Chessie.”

Petri shrugged. “It's up to Chessie if she wants to come with us, or not." She turned to her friend. "I'll try to protect you as much as I'm able, but I don’t know everything they're capable of. I don't know if I can keep you safe."

Chessie put an arm around Petri. “You're not going anywhere without me, hun. Friends forever, right?"

Petri smiled and gently bumped her head into Chessie’s shoulder. “Friends, forever and always."

Chessie turned to Daji with a scowl. “You do realize she only pretends not to care about others because she knows you believe it and it annoys you that anyone could think that way. You could try giving her some credit.”

Daji scowled back. “I will give credit when it is earned.”

Chessie opened her mouth to respond, but Petri put a hand on her arm. “Let him think what he wants. It doesn’t matter.” Turning to Daji she asked, “How did you get here? I saw what a mess your mind was; how did you get to this planet? How did you figure out where we lived? And how did you get past Mzee?”

“They left me enough of my mind to solve small problems. I came on the Ruba, so getting to this planet was no problem. Chessie gave me the alias she would be living under, so it was no trouble using it to locate your address. And, no matter how incapacitated, I’m still Shujaa. Getting past an aging, Madudu doorman wasn’t difficult.”

“You didn’t hurt him, did you? Mzee is a good…”

Daji hissed at her. “Of course I didn’t harm the good elder! What kind of a monster do you take me for?”

Petri shrugged. “Just returning the favor.”

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. To be honest, I was pretty torn about what video to share this week. With our president trying to start WWIII, escalating human rights violations by US law enforcement, out of control fires consuming an entire continent, and an island that's a US territory repeatedly being devasted by natural disasters as our corrupt politicians ignore the situation and continue to allow our citizens to suffer and die, it was a difficult choice. But most of those stories are getting at least some media attention, and this one really didn't. So, please take a few minutes to hear about how the largest "left-wing" news outlet in the US has been ignoring the most progressive candidate in the Democratic candidate, a man who very well may be the next President of the United States, so that they can try to convince voters that Suzy Noone from Nowhere who has nothing meaningful to say is a real contender when she isn't and never will be. Peace!

Easy Lettuce Wrap #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Since we're well into the new year, now, I thought I'd share a lighter recipe to help us all try to stick to those diets we promised ourselves we'd do. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
4 large lettuce leaves
1 cup brown rice cooked
1 14oz package button mushrooms sliced
1 large onion chopped
1 large tomato chopped
1 zucchini chopped
1 large carrot shredded
1 bell pepper chopped
2 cups baby spinach leaves chopped
1 12oz can kidney beans drained and rinsed
1 cup pine nuts toasted
5 cloves garlic minced
2 cups fresh basil shredded
1 cup red wine (your choice) or 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sriracha (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Put the olive oil in a skillet with the onions and pepper and saute them until they soften. Add the mushrooms and continue to saute the vegetables until the mushrooms soften. Add the remaining vegetables, beans, garlic, salt and pepper, and sriracha (optional), and continue to saute until the spinach leaves are wilted. Add the pine nuts and deglaze the pan with the wine or vinegar. Simmer for a few minutes while stirring to combine all the ingredients. Add the rice and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and serve the vegetable and rice mixture on top of the lettuce leaves.

Bon Appetit!

Exciting #Opportunity! #StPatricksDay #Giveaway Signup!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

If you're a fellow author and/or blogger, and you'd like the opportunity to grow your social media following without spending a lot of $$$ on advertising, check out the details in the image above. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, click the link below and answer the questions. Happy writing! :-)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/StPatsGiveaway2020/?ref=group_browse_new

#CoverReveal: Beloved Titanian By Victoria Saccenti!

Hey Everyone! :-)

My friend, Karina Kantas, would like to let you all know about a new book written by the wonderful and talented Victoria Saccenti! Karina, take it away!

Karina:

Blurb

He’s a riddle I can’t solve…until one night rips away the veil. I always felt there was something peculiar about Roald Trenton, that behind his blindness he saw me better than I saw myself. When a frightening creature, a being out of a horror movie attacks me, a glowing silvery defender comes to my rescue, sweeping me away to safety, reaching inside me and pulling the poison from by body. Setting fire to my desires, he ignites a connection to a world I knew nothing about…until now. Preorder now! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z43452G

Excerpt

A gentle swinging motion soothed me. Strong arms holding my body reassured me. I slipped out of unconscious darkness, and the familiar surroundings of my bedroom comforted me. I glanced up, and the handsome face studying me with such a loving expression was the man in my dreams. Somehow, I’d been transported from the site where a deadly battle took place to my fantasy place. The space where my imagination was released and my deepest, most intimate feelings were explored without shyness or shame. In this plane, my beautiful man and I joined and loved until daylight broke the spell. “Do you hurt, älskling?” He speaks, I marveled in my daze. My dreams were full of feverish caresses, wild kisses, passionate tumbles, daring erotic positions, but we never exchanged a word. Rather, we intuited our desires, shared thoughts in our minds. His voice was deep, musical, and…familiar. “I do not hurt. Not with you.” I touched his cheekbone, then ran my finger to the crease of his full lips. His eyes gleamed with pleasure. With great care, he deposited me on the bed. A blue-black lock fell over his forehead. I had a fleeting moment of recognition, a detail I should remember. I hung on to it…then let it go. “This was my fault.” He scowled. “No. How?” “I chased a fake trail. They’ll never fool me again.” The mattress shifted under his weight as he sat next to me. He engulfed my hand between his. “You were so brave.” “I was not. I couldn’t push him away.” “Not in your present state.” He kissed my fingertips, and I thought I would melt. “Regardless, you fought him. Soon you’ll have the power, and you’ll be unconquerable.” Hmmm. Power? Present state? Unconquerable? Whatever. I only wanted one thing. Him. “Kiss me. Kiss me, please.”




















More to come…..

Author Bio Multi-genre author Victoria Saccenti picked up pencil and paper when her childhood book heroes started conversing with her. Sounds a little crazy, but there’s no rhyme or reason for inspiration. Back then, she wrote one-act plays and fairy tales for simple amusement. Today—many…many moons later—her playful stories have grown into romantic women’s fiction, paranormal, and contemporary romances with a sharp edge. In 2018, her novel “Destiny's Choice” book two of the “Destiny Series” hit the Amazon Best Selling list. In 2019, “Noémie’s Journey,” an interracial romance set in 1968 North Carolina, received the prestigious B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree badge and won Readers’ Favorite silver medal, Central Florida is home. She splits her busy schedule between family and her active muse at Essence Publishing. But if she could convince her husband to sell their home, she would pack up her computer and move to Scotland, a land she adores. “Deception”, a dark erotic romance is her current work in progress, and Beloved Titanian a paranormal romance will be released soon.

Author Links

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaSaccentiAuthor
- Facebook https://twitter.com/VictoriaSAuthor
- Twitter https://www.victoriasaccentiwrites.com
– Website https://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Saccenti/e/B013H2XYPK
- Amazon https://www.instagram.com/victoria.saccenti.author
- Instagram Sign up to Victoria’s mailing list and get a monthly newsletter with updates, special offers, excerpts and giveaways. http://eepurl.com/dwnlqb

Why I wrote this book?

The Titanians storyline—a unique race descendant of the doomed Titans and other magical creatures— came to me about five years ago. Back then, I couldn’t pursue the inspiration because I was heavily involved in the Destiny Series and Noémie’s Journey. I’ve always been a lover of Greek myth, especially after my father lent me his leather-bound tome of ancient stories and myths. The first generation of gods, the Titans and Prometheus, the most prominent figure in the second generation, struck a chord with me. Most folks are familiar with the younger Olympians. They’ve received all the glory, accolades, and fame. The Titans, however, after losing the Titanomachy, the ten-year war against the Olympians, fell into obscurity. Rarely, anyone talks or writes about them. Now that my projects are completed, I can rectify that injustice (insert a big grin) and freely explore the Titanian race.

Where to buy

Hosted by Author Assist kkantasauthorassist@gmail.com

#APC #Spotlight: Poppy Bloom (Life After Us Book 1) By Rebekah Dodson!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Rebekah Dodson in my APC spotlight, today! Rebekah is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her alien invasion, post-apocalyptic, romance, science fiction novel, Poppy Bloom, looks great! Here's the description:

Vicki Morel believes she and Will, her gorgeous fiancé, have it all. They’re living the American dream. That is, until Portland, Oregon is leveled by a terrorist grade light weapon, and she loses Will at the airport.

Ambrose Palamo is an aviation student who wants one thing: to go home to Samoa. But when Portland is leveled, and he meets Vicki, he promises to help her find her fiancé instead. What he doesn't expect is the feelings that start to form for her as they search the dangerous Oregon woodlands.

Sometimes love isn't what you think it is. The poppies bloom reminds them of what they’ve lost, while giving them the courage to face a brand new future.

If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)