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chaseelen · 2 years
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If your favorite/original characters had Instagram, what would their page look like? (Part 2) Today I want to introduce you to Francesco and Eric's IG pages! Fra and Eric are the main characters of book 2 in my Italian romance series, "When we were fire on fire." This is how I imagine their pages a year after the end of the book, so SPOILER ALERT! Although, I write romance so is it really a spoiler? Really?🤣 #queerbooks #queerbookstagram #queerbookstagrammer #readqueer #indiereads #lgbtbooks #lgbtreads #characterprofile #characteraesthetic #gayromance #gayromancenovel #mmromance #mlmromance #newadultromance #newadultfiction https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch5awfGLl3K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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tessatalksbooksblog · 2 years
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Happy publication day to The Insurgent by Teri Polen! . The Insurgent is a dystopian world where genetic manipulation and engineering is commonplace for the wealthy at the expense of the lives of Outliers. It’s a fast paced, action-packed tale of survival. . 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚 . If you could have your genes manipulated to achieve a change in yourself (without it being at someone’s expense) - what would you change? . 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚 . In the story, people would do it for things like a different hair or eye color, but I think I would only do it for something that would say improve my health. Like my skin is extremely light - so skin cancer is always a concern or there is some diabetes in my family - so that’s always there. I would want genetic changes that would improve my odds of not getting those things. . Now, if changing the genes that control my body type were impacted for the better, I wouldn’t complain 😉 . . . . #theinsurgent #teripolen #ya #yabooks #yascifi #yadystopian #dystopian #dystopianfiction #dystopianbooks #sciencefiction #scifi #tessatalksbooks #bookblogger #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookbloggersofig #bookbloggerlife #indieauthor #readersofindieauthors #indiereads #happypublicationday #booksof2022 #outnow #newbooks #newbook #mustread #mustreadbooks #mustreads #mustreadbook #bookrecommendations #bookreview (at Lake Davidson) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdvfsFQrHeH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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lovestoread08 · 2 years
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"𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐍𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐒𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬." Have you read June and Alex's emotional, page turning romance? HER RELUCTANT HUSBAND by @erica_marselas is availableto purchase today or read for #FREE in #KindleUnlimited. 🩰https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XNXZCN1 #NowLive #BookObsessed #BooksBooksBooks #darkromance #Bibliophile #bookstagram #SheReads #EmotionalReads #newreleases #newbooks #BookAddict #RomanceReads #KindleUnlimited #instabooks #IndieReaders #bookishaf #bookshelf #fivestarreads #forcedmarriage #secondchanceromance #NewBookBoyfriend #EricaMarselas #EricasDiamondBabes https://www.instagram.com/p/CcY9pdnr5pb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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onlinebookclub-org · 7 months
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Book of the Day, September 3rd -- Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Rated 5/5
Temporarily Discounted! Get your copy below:
Beyond the Bowling Ball Bombing by Kordel Lentine
This book has earned a PERFECT 5-star rating from an Official OnlineBookClub.org Reviewer, and four 5-star ratings on Amazon!
It is also the winner of IndieReader's 2022 Discover Award for Science Fiction, a A B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree, and Top Shelf Magazine's 2021 First Place Winner for "Young Adult Sci-Fi"!
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When a bowling ball falls from the sky, bullied Terrance becomes a national figure and high school celebrity. Now, as he flees through time and space, he tries to take control of his destiny, only to find himself in an epic battle for freedom!
"The author genuinely did an excellent job of blending the day-to-day high school feel with the unpredictability of time travel to create a story that deals with overcoming personal challenges and discovering who you are...this book would be a good, clean read for young adults who like humorous science fiction." ~ OBC Reviewer
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unendingbooklist · 11 months
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My Expansion by Nancy Manet
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Story Summary
Big Bear thinks they know how things are supposed to be for the cub:
Don’t run too fast.
Don’t get your feet wet.
Do what the “good” bears are doing.
Never stray from the traditional path.
But Big Bear’s got a cub on their paws that just wants to go their own way.
Free to explore.
Free to try new things.
Free to love and be joyful.
Free to take a different path.
Big Bear discovers it's hard to love unconditionally when you weren’t raised that way. Parenting is a challenge when you’re glued to the past.
Now Big Bear has a choice: keep stuck in the old thinking they were taught, or see the world brand new through the eyes and actions of their cub.
You are creative and smart.
Your dreams are wild.
You refuse to be
a stay-in-place child!
There is a choice for Big Bear: reject their cub or learn that loving this unique little bear is a chance to experience the wonderful world in a fresh new way.
Will Big Bear change for the better?
 Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org
 Reviews:
The narrator in MY EXPANSION is a mama bear. She acknowledges to her cub that she is different from other cubs—she is not a follower but someone who does her own thing—and Mama admits that it may have taken her a while to realize this. She explains that she used to be rigid in her thinking by wanting her cub to be more like her, but in time she learned to listen to her cub and be more open-minded. In the end, she provides encouragement to her cub and tells her to never stop being who she is. Colorful illustrations, by Michelle Buvala, complement the narrative and lighten the mood while dealing with what has the potential for being sensitive subject matter.
Author Nancy Manet’s choice of casting animal characters in the story instead of humans is an interesting one and works well for a number of reasons. First, children seem to be fascinated with animals who take on human-like characteristics. Second, using animals creates a soft distance between the characters and what may be going on in the life of the child, creating a feeling that is likely less hard-hitting than it would were the main character a human. And third, this suspension of reality gives children the opportunity to use their own imaginations.
While MY EXPANSION is clearly a children’s book, the messages it conveys are as much directed at parents as they are at children. The mama bear acknowledges what the cub already knows about herself, reassures the her that it’s okay to be different, and then talks about how she mishandled the situation in the beginning. Accepting responsibility for errors in judgement and conveying the fact that parents aren’t always perfect can only serve to strengthen the bond and respect between a parent and child. Based on the premise that every child is different, there is a broad audience for this book. A child who is not like other children, no matter how significant or insignificant, may need to hear from a parent that there they are nevertheless proud of who they are. The narrative could also have an effect on a child who never thought of him/herself as different by stirring up thoughts germane to the story line.
Nancy Manet’s book MY EXPANSION, beautifully illustrated by Michelle Buvala, is an original, creative and compassionate story to encourage and offer guidance to a child who may be different from other children.
 Florence Osmund for IndieReader
 About the Author:
Nancy Manet is a singer-songwriter and first-time author. She spent most of her adult life running a small business and raising her children. Raised in a strict religious community, Nancy did all the right things that “good girls” do. When Nancy first had children, she expected they would behave according to rigid, dogmatic rules.
That didn’t work so well.
In appearance and behavior, Nancy thought her kids should be like perfectly-potted tulips arranged neatly in nice rows. Instead, her daughter was more like a wildflower. Her daughter needed to grow in her way. With a child not following the “right way” of doing things, Nancy had a choice. She could destroy her relationship with her kid through dogma, rules, and rejection of her daughter's uniqueness, personality, and sexuality. Or she could respond with love and grace for Hannah … and herself.
As her daughter began to share her different views of the world, Nancy had a choice. Listen to her daughter and expand as a parent or force her rigid belief system on her daughter. Nancy chooses to expand and now embraces the world through a different lens – inclusive and accepting of everyone.
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Embedded in the rugged rural world of Ireland’s west coast, this mixed series of cheeky, witty short stories successfully combines stand out aspects of Ireland’s ancient-meets-modern culture with enchanting tales and playful insight.
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cathygeha · 2 months
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REVIEW
Funeral Daze by Dorian Box
Danny Teakwell #2
Easily stands alone and a great story though I missed reading Psycho Tropics and the introduction to the series.
What I liked:
* Danny Teakwell: widow, grieving, surf shop owner, talented surfboard maker, good friend, helpful, kind, generous, there for those in need and Jessica is definitely in need
* Jessica Jewell: preteen, grew up in the funeral business, a bit quirky, strong, outspoken, big-hearted, good friend, stands out from the crowd, truthful, good salesperson, has a lot to deal with
* The trust that develops between Danny and Jessica as the story progresses
* The way Danny “sees” Jessica and communicates with her openly and honestly
* That I had fun reading it even though there were some heavy issues discussed
* The way Jessica and Danny helped one another
* The influence of Sari, the deceased wife of Danny, even after she is gone
* Bennie “Fink” Finkel: law school graduate, a wildcard, good friend, has quite a few issues but a major part of the story
* Erin Delonia: female surf winner who lives in California and comes by the surf shop to tell Danny she rode one of his boards to win a contest – potential love interest
* Grady Banyon, Shannon-the waitress, Detective Rodrigues, and other supporting characters
* That not all the bad guys were horrible and that not all the good guys were necessarily good
* All of it really except…
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about addiction and how it changes people
* Yago – a loose cannon and a merciless killer that enjoyed his job a bit too much
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to the NetGalley, the author, and Friction Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
BLURB
"[A] novel that takes both light and dark elements to present a fantastically engaging, emotionally resonant story in a deeply humorous and satirical fashion. Unmissable reading." — 2023 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal for Humor Fiction From the author of the multi-award-winning Emily Calby Series SUMMER 2000. When down-and-out surfer and former lottery winner Danny Teakwell was framed for a grisly murder, he got help from a family of wacky morticians that included seven-year-old embalming expert Jessica Jewell (Psycho-Tropics ). Five years later the tables are turned when Jessica shows up, alone and desperate, seeking shelter. Her parents suddenly sold their family funeral home and vanished. Danny’s not in a good place. Grieving the recent death of his wife, he’s let life crumble. He reluctantly agrees to take the girl in for one night, but the willful twelve-year-old convinces him to join her investigation to find her parents and get back their funeral home. The trail leads into a ghastly criminal enterprise of corpses, caskets, and killers. As the bond between the unlikely pair grows, it becomes unclear who’s saving who and which one is really running the show. Hilarious and heartwarming mystery and suspense with a walloping conclusion, Dorian Box brings his unique blend of darkness and light to life in this zany joyride through the Sunshine State. PRAISE AND ACCOLADES FOR FUNERAL DAZE "FUNERAL DAZE manages to be laugh-out-loud funny, heartwarmingly tender, and full of lively action and suspense, all at once – a thoroughly entertaining and engaging read." — IndieReader (5 Stars, IR Seal of Approval) “The story unfolds at a crisp and steady pace, with plenty of thought-provoking moments once 12-year-old Jessica enters the scene, offering Danny surprisingly mature reflections on tragedy and a knockout mystery to occupy his time. … Funeral Daze delivers an appealing spin on the mystery genre through rich characterization and an abundance of insight throughout.” — 2023 Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize Semifinalist in Mysteries/Thrillers “[A]n exceptional read. … Box balances some incredibly heavy themes, such as loss, grief, child displacement, and physical and emotional trauma with moments of genuine levity that come in the form of intelligent humor. The writing is more often brilliant than not …” — Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite (5-Star Seal) “A hilarious page-turner that effortlessly blends crime, humor and South Florida beach culture. … Award-winning author Dorian Box (Psycho Tropics, The Hiding Girl) has always employed brilliant doses of well-timed levity in crime fiction, but he pulls out all the stops for this laugh-out-loud caper. — BestThrillers “A perfect beach read, this zany mystery has the thrills, quirky characters, juicy plot twists, and gripping conclusion you're looking for!” — Reedsy Discovery “Time and again, Box has proven he can write a tense thriller that is funny, dark, and completely endearing. It’s the perfect combination of a smart storyline and characters that keep you reading well after bedtime. Fantastic!” — NetGalley “Funeral Daze is a macabre and hilarious novel that intersects the lives of several bizarre and oddly compelling characters. … Dorian Box masterfully directs the story into a series of unpredictable and uproarious events that are deliciously ironic, unexpectedly thought-provoking, and always edgy and dark.” — D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
AUTHOR BIO
Dorian Box is the pen name for A.J. McClurg, a former law professor. He likes to blend dark themes with heart, hope and humor with a goal of evoking tears and laughs over the same book. His novels have received awards and honors such as: Writer's Digest Award for Genre Fiction; Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize Semifinalist (twice); IndieReader Discovery Award for Fiction; Feathered Quill Medal for Mystery/Suspense; Best Psychological Thriller of the Year and Finalist, Best Legal Thriller of the Year (BestThrillers); National Indie Excellence Award Finalist; and Readers’ Favorite medals in three different categories (Suspense, Humor, and New Adult Fiction). His nonfiction books include an Amazon Editors’ Favorite Book of the Year. As an academic, he's been interviewed as a legal expert by National Public Radio, the PBS Newshour, and many other sources. McClurg (or maybe it's Box) lives out his childhood rockstar fantasies singing and playing in Memphis cover bands.
https://dorianbox.com/
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Steal the Morrow by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt!
#StealTheMorrow an #OliverTwist retelling by #JenelleSchmidt full of heart and adventure! #fantasybooks #cleanreads #cleanbooks #indiebooks #indiereads #steampunkbooks #retellings
Yes, there’s another book release from Jenelle! Can you believe how much she’s published this year? See my post about her other series The Turrim Archive earlier this year! But today is about Steal the Morrow, which is a fantastical Oliver Twist retelling and part of the A Classic Retold multi-author series. NOW AVAILABLE Universal Buy Link: mybook.to/stealthemorrow Universal Series Page Link:…
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justlooksforstuff · 6 months
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katherine-villyard · 7 months
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I’m IndieReader Approved!
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chaseelen · 2 years
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Last part of my little series of posts about my characters' IG pages! 📸 Swipe to see what Kim and Alec's pages look like in September 2022, so a few months after the end of their book, "When we were out of the ordinary." Let's be honest, judging by his IG profile you wouldn't tell that Kim is the grumpy one, would you? 🤣 #newadultfiction #newadultromance #acebooks #acecharacters #asexualrep #pansexualbooks #pansexualrep #characterprofile #lgbtreads #lgbtbooks #indiereads #readqueer #queerbookstagram #queerbookstagrammer #queerbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CiVWL6HrzS3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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gnvbtrc · 10 months
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My Expansion by Nancy Manet
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Story Summary
Big Bear thinks they know how things are supposed to be for the cub:
Don’t run too fast.
Don’t get your feet wet.
Do what the “good” bears are doing.
Never stray from the traditional path.
But Big Bear’s got a cub on their paws that just wants to go their own way.
Free to explore.
Free to try new things.
Free to love and be joyful.
Free to take a different path.
Big Bear discovers it's hard to love unconditionally when you weren’t raised that way. Parenting is a challenge when you’re glued to the past.
Now Big Bear has a choice: keep stuck in the old thinking they were taught, or see the world brand new through the eyes and actions of their cub.
You are creative and smart.
Your dreams are wild.
You refuse to be
a stay-in-place child!
There is a choice for Big Bear: reject their cub or learn that loving this unique little bear is a chance to experience the wonderful world in a fresh new way.
Will Big Bear change for the better?
 Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org
 Reviews:
The narrator in MY EXPANSION is a mama bear. She acknowledges to her cub that she is different from other cubs—she is not a follower but someone who does her own thing—and Mama admits that it may have taken her a while to realize this. She explains that she used to be rigid in her thinking by wanting her cub to be more like her, but in time she learned to listen to her cub and be more open-minded. In the end, she provides encouragement to her cub and tells her to never stop being who she is. Colorful illustrations, by Michelle Buvala, complement the narrative and lighten the mood while dealing with what has the potential for being sensitive subject matter.
Author Nancy Manet’s choice of casting animal characters in the story instead of humans is an interesting one and works well for a number of reasons. First, children seem to be fascinated with animals who take on human-like characteristics. Second, using animals creates a soft distance between the characters and what may be going on in the life of the child, creating a feeling that is likely less hard-hitting than it would were the main character a human. And third, this suspension of reality gives children the opportunity to use their own imaginations.
While MY EXPANSION is clearly a children’s book, the messages it conveys are as much directed at parents as they are at children. The mama bear acknowledges what the cub already knows about herself, reassures the her that it’s okay to be different, and then talks about how she mishandled the situation in the beginning. Accepting responsibility for errors in judgement and conveying the fact that parents aren’t always perfect can only serve to strengthen the bond and respect between a parent and child. Based on the premise that every child is different, there is a broad audience for this book. A child who is not like other children, no matter how significant or insignificant, may need to hear from a parent that there they are nevertheless proud of who they are. The narrative could also have an effect on a child who never thought of him/herself as different by stirring up thoughts germane to the story line.
Nancy Manet’s book MY EXPANSION, beautifully illustrated by Michelle Buvala, is an original, creative and compassionate story to encourage and offer guidance to a child who may be different from other children.
Florence Osmund for IndieReader
  About the Author:
Nancy Manet is a singer-songwriter and first-time author. She spent most of her adult life running a small business and raising her children. Raised in a strict religious community, Nancy did all the right things that “good girls” do. When Nancy first had children, she expected they would behave according to rigid, dogmatic rules.
That didn’t work so well.
In appearance and behavior, Nancy thought her kids should be like perfectly-potted tulips arranged neatly in nice rows. Instead, her daughter was more like a wildflower. Her daughter needed to grow in her way. With a child not following the “right way” of doing things, Nancy had a choice. She could destroy her relationship with her kid through dogma, rules, and rejection of her daughter's uniqueness, personality, and sexuality. Or she could respond with love and grace for Hannah … and herself.
As her daughter began to share her different views of the world, Nancy had a choice. Listen to her daughter and expand as a parent or force her rigid belief system on her daughter. Nancy chooses to expand and now embraces the world through a different lens – inclusive and accepting of everyone.
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lovestoread08 · 2 years
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🌹NOW AVAILABLE!! 🌹ALL IN by @erica_marselas is a secret baby, office romance that has tons of steam, plenty of angst, witty banter and family drama for days!! Grab it now and DON’T miss out on Liam and Holly’s story!! 🔥 This is the second standalone book in the Keep Breathing Series. 😍 Buy it today or read it for Free on Kindle Unlimited! ALL IN LINKS 📱Amazon US: http://ow.ly/svPr30rhjVD 📱Amazon CA: http://ow.ly/vgz930rhjVF 📱Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/VxX230rhjVL 📱Amazon AU: http://ow.ly/Y8pa30rhjVH 📚TBR:http://ow.ly/XoS530rhjVG Want to catch up on the first book in the series? Barely Breathing is available to buy or read for free on Kindle Unlimited. ➡️ http://ow.ly/ZFpI30rhjVK ➡️ http://ow.ly/nbZS30rhjVE ➡️ http://ow.ly/Ke5C30rhjVJ ➡️ http://ow.ly/KPSb30rhjVI #EricaMarselas #OfficeRomance #SecretBaby #SteamyReads #SuspencefulReads #AvailableNow #HEARomance #SheReads #BookAddict #AddItToTBR #GottaHaveReads #NewBookBoyfriend #Amazon #KindleBooks #Bookish #Biblio #Bibliophile #bookstagram #BooksBooksBooks #BookishAF #RomanceReads #KindleUnlimited #EricasDiamondBabes #BookObsessed #SupportIndieAuthors #IndieReaders #ReadersofInstagram @cr8zysockbookblock https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc6gNtxrKSZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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acandrewswriter · 2 years
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An LGBTQ+ Epic Fantasy
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An epic fantasy tale with gods, vampires, ghosts, magic, and more:
Gay, transmasc, and non-binary protagonists
MM romance
Dark fantasy
Vibrant worldbuilding and intense action!
Available in Kindle Unlimited!
Books I and II available now!
Descent of Ravens (Book I of Bel’s War)
The old covenant of the gods is broken. Will the world break, too? When an army of vampires invades the island of Trosika, Rio and Turi must fight for their future. Rio is a healer and a priest of Astara who suffers severe self-doubt and a growing crisis of faith; even his goddess cannot stop the forces arrayed against them. Turi has long buried a secret about himself that he fears could upend everything. 
When Rio unseals a centuries-old tomb, releasing the night-cursed prince Philip, he discovers that he has a bond with Philip that stretches across lifetimes. As Turi grapples with his secrets, he is recruited by the terrifying goddess Mormo and gifted with necromancy for reasons he does not understand. 
Rio and Turi must contend with bloodthirsty mages, battle an endless army of vampires, and confront the truth of who Turi truly is; most of all, they must rely on their unshakable friendship to survive. As they struggle to protect each other, their religion, and their island home, the fate of an empire hangs in the balance. 
 To get Descent of Ravens:
US: https://amzn.to/3BI0j8Y
UK: https://amzn.to/3zJtkR0
AU: https://amzn.to/3tpBcVt
CA: https://amzn.to/3tktZ8Z
Will of Dragons (Book II of Bel’s War)
About Book II:  
Evil hides beneath armor of gleaming white.  
The new civil war has cracked the empire apart as Turi and Rio race to gather allies against Clan Ishima’s brutality. The enemy is ten steps ahead, and Turi is pushed to his limit to stop the evil a corrupted paladin order has unleashed. 
Demari, finally fulfilling a lifelong dream at sea with his brother, finds himself recruited into the designs of a goddess and soul-bound to a man he barely knows. In the fight for supremacy in the empire’s waters, Demari’s newfound power and connection will alter the course of the war and change his life forever. 
 Meanwhile, back on Trosika the new empress, Sarina Marias, faces betrayal, ancient magic, and intrigue as Ishima agents make their next move to control the island. When fate brings her face to face with the God of War, can she match her will to his?
What readers are saying about Book I, Descent of Ravens:
"A veritable buffet of the paranormal, and I haven't even started on the MCs yet. Suffice as to say that I've given the story five hearts - I loved them too." - Reviewed by Taylin Clavelli for Love Bytes
"Descent of Ravens is a sweeping epic fantasy that is a roller coaster of emotion. ...The sweeping tale embraces high fantasy and runs with it, creating a richly detailed world in which a reader can immerse themselves." - Reviewed by Kris for Joyfully Jay LGBTQ Romance Reviews
"An exhilarating tale . . . set in a richly imagined world."—Independent Book Review
"Andrews crafts a sleek series opener bolstered by consistent action, a straightforward magic system, and strong LGBTQ+ representation. . . .A crafty, well-paced LGBTQ+ fantasy series opener."—Kirkus Reviews
"AC Andrews' DESCENT OF RAVENS is skillful, splendid storytelling. ...a near-perfect fantasy featuring superb world-building and excellent storytelling that will be compelling for any audience that enjoys epic fantasy. "—Ellen Graham for IndieReader
"An original and identity-affirming tale, Descent of Ravens is a dark and masterful YA novel. The combination of classic fantasy elements and contemporary cultural themes results in a thought-provoking and norm-challenging story that is both deeply intimate and broadly appealing." —Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½
"The holy grail of fantasy for the m/m /lgbtq sub-genre. ... this one is in my top 5 books for the year." - Boyslove, Goodreads Reviewer
"One of the best fantasy reads I have encountered in ages." - Charneen, Goodreads Reviewer
"Exciting, fast flowing and extremely well written. A.C. Andrews has created a world and mythology infused with a rich history." - Mark Lucas-Taylor, Goodreads Reviewer
Cover Art: Sleepy Fox Studio
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boogerknights · 10 months
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My Expansion by Nancy Manet
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Story Summary
Big Bear thinks they know how things are supposed to be for the cub:
Don’t run too fast.
Don’t get your feet wet.
Do what the “good” bears are doing.
Never stray from the traditional path.
But Big Bear’s got a cub on their paws that just wants to go their own way.
Free to explore.
Free to try new things.
Free to love and be joyful.
Free to take a different path.
Big Bear discovers it's hard to love unconditionally when you weren’t raised that way. Parenting is a challenge when you’re glued to the past.
Now Big Bear has a choice: keep stuck in the old thinking they were taught, or see the world brand new through the eyes and actions of their cub.
You are creative and smart.
Your dreams are wild.
You refuse to be
a stay-in-place child!
There is a choice for Big Bear: reject their cub or learn that loving this unique little bear is a chance to experience the wonderful world in a fresh new way.
Will Big Bear change for the better?
 Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org
 Reviews:
The narrator in MY EXPANSION is a mama bear. She acknowledges to her cub that she is different from other cubs—she is not a follower but someone who does her own thing—and Mama admits that it may have taken her a while to realize this. She explains that she used to be rigid in her thinking by wanting her cub to be more like her, but in time she learned to listen to her cub and be more open-minded. In the end, she provides encouragement to her cub and tells her to never stop being who she is. Colorful illustrations, by Michelle Buvala, complement the narrative and lighten the mood while dealing with what has the potential for being sensitive subject matter.
Author Nancy Manet’s choice of casting animal characters in the story instead of humans is an interesting one and works well for a number of reasons. First, children seem to be fascinated with animals who take on human-like characteristics. Second, using animals creates a soft distance between the characters and what may be going on in the life of the child, creating a feeling that is likely less hard-hitting than it would were the main character a human. And third, this suspension of reality gives children the opportunity to use their own imaginations.
While MY EXPANSION is clearly a children’s book, the messages it conveys are as much directed at parents as they are at children. The mama bear acknowledges what the cub already knows about herself, reassures the her that it’s okay to be different, and then talks about how she mishandled the situation in the beginning. Accepting responsibility for errors in judgement and conveying the fact that parents aren’t always perfect can only serve to strengthen the bond and respect between a parent and child. Based on the premise that every child is different, there is a broad audience for this book. A child who is not like other children, no matter how significant or insignificant, may need to hear from a parent that there they are nevertheless proud of who they are. The narrative could also have an effect on a child who never thought of him/herself as different by stirring up thoughts germane to the story line.
Nancy Manet’s book MY EXPANSION, beautifully illustrated by Michelle Buvala, is an original, creative and compassionate story to encourage and offer guidance to a child who may be different from other children.
Florence Osmund for IndieReader
 About the Author:
Nancy Manet is a singer-songwriter and first-time author. She spent most of her adult life running a small business and raising her children. Raised in a strict religious community, Nancy did all the right things that “good girls” do. When Nancy first had children, she expected they would behave according to rigid, dogmatic rules.
That didn’t work so well.
In appearance and behavior, Nancy thought her kids should be like perfectly-potted tulips arranged neatly in nice rows. Instead, her daughter was more like a wildflower. Her daughter needed to grow in her way. With a child not following the “right way” of doing things, Nancy had a choice. She could destroy her relationship with her kid through dogma, rules, and rejection of her daughter's uniqueness, personality, and sexuality. Or she could respond with love and grace for Hannah … and herself.
As her daughter began to share her different views of the world, Nancy had a choice. Listen to her daughter and expand as a parent or force her rigid belief system on her daughter. Nancy chooses to expand and now embraces the world through a different lens – inclusive and accepting of everyone.
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whomovedmywine · 11 months
Text
My Expansion by Nancy Manet
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Story Summary
Big Bear thinks they know how things are supposed to be for the cub:
Don’t run too fast.
Don’t get your feet wet.
Do what the “good” bears are doing.
Never stray from the traditional path.
But Big Bear’s got a cub on their paws that just wants to go their own way.
Free to explore.
Free to try new things.
Free to love and be joyful.
Free to take a different path.
Big Bear discovers it's hard to love unconditionally when you weren’t raised that way. Parenting is a challenge when you’re glued to the past.
Now Big Bear has a choice: keep stuck in the old thinking they were taught, or see the world brand new through the eyes and actions of their cub.
You are creative and smart.
Your dreams are wild.
You refuse to be
a stay-in-place child!
There is a choice for Big Bear: reject their cub or learn that loving this unique little bear is a chance to experience the wonderful world in a fresh new way.
Will Big Bear change for the better?
Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org
 Reviews:
The narrator in MY EXPANSION is a mama bear. She acknowledges to her cub that she is different from other cubs—she is not a follower but someone who does her own thing—and Mama admits that it may have taken her a while to realize this. She explains that she used to be rigid in her thinking by wanting her cub to be more like her, but in time she learned to listen to her cub and be more open-minded. In the end, she provides encouragement to her cub and tells her to never stop being who she is. Colorful illustrations, by Michelle Buvala, complement the narrative and lighten the mood while dealing with what has the potential for being sensitive subject matter.
Author Nancy Manet’s choice of casting animal characters in the story instead of humans is an interesting one and works well for a number of reasons. First, children seem to be fascinated with animals who take on human-like characteristics. Second, using animals creates a soft distance between the characters and what may be going on in the life of the child, creating a feeling that is likely less hard-hitting than it would were the main character a human. And third, this suspension of reality gives children the opportunity to use their own imaginations.
While MY EXPANSION is clearly a children’s book, the messages it conveys are as much directed at parents as they are at children. The mama bear acknowledges what the cub already knows about herself, reassures the her that it’s okay to be different, and then talks about how she mishandled the situation in the beginning. Accepting responsibility for errors in judgement and conveying the fact that parents aren’t always perfect can only serve to strengthen the bond and respect between a parent and child. Based on the premise that every child is different, there is a broad audience for this book. A child who is not like other children, no matter how significant or insignificant, may need to hear from a parent that there they are nevertheless proud of who they are. The narrative could also have an effect on a child who never thought of him/herself as different by stirring up thoughts germane to the story line.
Nancy Manet’s book MY EXPANSION, beautifully illustrated by Michelle Buvala, is an original, creative and compassionate story to encourage and offer guidance to a child who may be different from other children.
Florence Osmund for IndieReader
 About the Author:
Nancy Manet is a singer-songwriter and first-time author. She spent most of her adult life running a small business and raising her children. Raised in a strict religious community, Nancy did all the right things that “good girls” do. When Nancy first had children, she expected they would behave according to rigid, dogmatic rules.
That didn’t work so well.
In appearance and behavior, Nancy thought her kids should be like perfectly-potted tulips arranged neatly in nice rows. Instead, her daughter was more like a wildflower. Her daughter needed to grow in her way. With a child not following the “right way” of doing things, Nancy had a choice. She could destroy her relationship with her kid through dogma, rules, and rejection of her daughter's uniqueness, personality, and sexuality. Or she could respond with love and grace for Hannah … and herself.
As her daughter began to share her different views of the world, Nancy had a choice. Listen to her daughter and expand as a parent or force her rigid belief system on her daughter. Nancy chooses to expand and now embraces the world through a different lens – inclusive and accepting of everyone.
0 notes