In the past, Mondays have been reserved for books and indie authors. I’m currently working to revamp the blog a little, so Monday is now switching to a Music & Books day. Why the change? Well, I was just sitting here at my desk staring at my TV playing Pandora and the song playing reminded me of one of my books. In fact, I think it was one of my books theme songs, so I thought it’d be fun to have a day to talk music and books. Either one or together.
Music plays a large role in many authors lives. Some can’t write with music on, some have to have music but with no words, and others can listen to anything. I’m in the last group, but I tend to listen to the current work’s “playlist”. Whatever songs put me instantly into the mood for that book or who make me feel what I need to for the book (this year’s Christmas book didn’t have any Christmas songs in the playlist.
With this being said, I’ll go through the different books and their playlists, but also talk music in general. I like to listen to a broad range of music (with a few exceptions). What do you like to listen to?
Oh my gosh I love Karen Tomlinson’s books and I can’t wait to read this series! It’s going to be epic!! This one is on my TBR pile because, well, shifters! And I love Karen. She’s one of the sweetest people ever. I’m sure it’s going to be just as great of a read as her other books, so I’m ecstatic!!
Redemption must be earned…or you lose your soul forever.
Does fate like to give you the finger?
I thought killing my parents would be enough for her but no, now she has plans for my new family—and me.
All I want is to live my life quietly. You know? Find my place in this crazy world. But as a wolf shifter, I must either become an agent at the Supernatural Bureau of Investigation, or try and fit into human society. Yeah, that’s not for me, neither is the SBI. Especially when Connor, the alpha my wolf has claimed as her mate, is their top operative.
Connor is the boy I grew up with, except now he is a tough, arrogant and gorgeous man, one who kisses me, rocks my entire world, and then leaves me hanging, not only that, but he disappears—completely.
The SBI say he’s dead.
I say powerful alpha wolf-shifters like him don’t die easily.
Turns out his disappearance is just the beginning.
Fate made it clear that life is fragile, but she also taught me that once you die there is another life. Or at least there is for me…
I will discover what happened to Connor. And no matter how many times I die, vengeance will always be mine.
Today’s craft is a new addiction for me. A few weeks ago, I was messaging a friend about crocheting, and she said she was crocheting pumpkins, and they looked so cute when she sent the picture of what they were to look like. Thankfully, the picture had the website listed, so I headed over there and searched for the pattern. I couldn’t wait to start making myself some cute pumpkins!
Just a few days after that conversation, my grandpa died on a Saturday morning. It wasn’t a surprise. We’d been waiting for it as he grew worse and worse. However, all of the waiting, sadness, and stress that goes along with it wore me out emotionally making writing nearly impossible. There just wasn’t anything left to give. But I still needed something to keep my mind busy and my creative side fresh.
So, I started to crochet. The first project was a few snowflake ornaments, and I was going to move on to another project altogether (no crocheting) when I remembered this pumpkin pattern. That was it. I was going to start making my pumpkins.
I picked out my yarn, a darker, multi-colored yarn that I was sure had enough yardage left in the skein to complete the project. Well, it did, but barely, and it made an awfully short, yet wide, pumpkin, and I find it just darling! That was Saturday’s project.
Sunday found me making yet another pumpkin because it was so much fun to create the first! This time I chose a full skein with bright fall colors rather than the dark ones. Instead of a brown stem, I gave it a dark green one. My family loved them when I texted them all pictures and my youngest sister and Mom both said they wanted one just like the light one. I instantly began the pumpkin for my sister and told Mom that she could have the light one I’d finished since there wasn’t enough yarn for another. The next day after work, I finished my younger sister’s pumpkin. It’s the one with the brown stem.
One of the reasons I love crocheting so much is that it allows me to be creative when my mind can’t handle anything else, like creating worlds. It’s great for when I’m tired, yet let’s me build something with my hands, and it’s a different avenue for my creativity to show itself.
I learned how to crochet about eleven years ago. Me and my sisters were learning together from a friend and I was terrible! Just the worst. I could’ve given up right then, and some days I wonder why I didn’t, but I not only persevered but I far surpassed my sisters in the ability to crochet, and as far as I’m aware, I’m the only one who still crochets.
Moral of the story: if at first you don’t succeed, keep practicing and you will. I practiced for hours and hours. I’ve made more mistakes than I can count. Yet, I’ve learned something new with each project, which makes each project a new adventure.
Today’s snippet comes from K.J. Lavalee’s book Revealing The Truth inside the shared world box set, The Diner. Just a few more weeks until release so pre-order your copy now! You don’t want to miss this box set if you love all things paranormal, fantasy, and romance!
Maverick
I bolt up in bed. Panic fills me. Not from me, but she’s panicked. Something isn’t right. But she’s also resigned.
The emotion subsides and I relax. She probably had a bad dream and is worrying about her life now, and then thinking of her uncle, mother and father.
I get up and start putting my shit back into my duffle when a sharp pain pierces my gut. Not mine, Ella’s.
I must have made a pained noise, because Gellevel is at my side in an instant. “What is it?”
“Ella. She’s hurting.” I groan. “It’s like, torture.” I don’t have anything else to compare it to. I was tortured before. This is like that. Like being stabbed in the gut repeatedly to see what you can withstand.
“Did you see where she was?”
“No,” I say through gritted teeth. “When I… spoke to her… she didn’t want… me to find her.” I take a deep breath. “She wants to keep me safe.”
My brother growls. “You’re the warrior. You don’t need protection.”
The pain stops, I can feel her relief for a brief moment, then white light shoots through me.
Gellevel drops to the floor, and rolls away. Afraid the light is going to hurt him. It very well might have.
Several minutes pass when the light finally fades. I pat my body making sure I’m okay. That’s not my magic, and elves magic is green. Not white. That’s Ella’s.
“I think the block has been removed.”
Gel grunts. “You think? I can’t imagine the destruction she can wreak if that much power came through you. You’re her mate, and you lit up like a fucking bonfire.”
“She is a Bennet witch,” I say, as if it’s obvious.
“So I saw. Guess she’ll be needing to learn how to control that magic.”
Breathing as if I just ran a marathon, I flip him off. “Obviously. She hasn’t had her magic since she was a little girl. She isn’t going to be able to control it without extensive training.”
Even as I say the words, pride fills me. My mate, she’ll be a formidable foe. And she’s mine.
“What do we do now?”
“We continue searching. But this time, we look online. Someone had to have reported that surge of light. We can narrow it down that way,” I tell him. I dig my laptop out of my duffle, and load it up. I will find you, Ella. And I will help protect you, whether you like it or not.
Let’s see, today we have a new release by McKenzie Rogue! This is her debut novel, and it sounds pretty interesting. Hmm time to find out what happens…
Click picture to go to Amazon
As future king, Ash’s destiny has always been to mate with a female dragon and rule over the clan But fate has a funny way of screwing things up After Ash’s parents are murdered and their kingdom is destroyed Ash doesn’t care about the throne; all he wants is revenge
Then he finds her. His mate. But she’s human, which threatens any right Ash has to the throne. Not to mention completely against the rules. Finley and all her desirable curves make him and his dragon drool, and despite his best efforts, nothing can keep him away
The Craze is threatening Ash’s mind. If it takes over, it’ll mean death for the prince The only cure is claiming his mate But he’s got more important things to think about Like revenge and keeping his family safe
As Finley gets sucked right into the middle of his plot for revenge, Ash and Finley must battle not just against the dragon shifter prince who destroyed his life, but against the laws that have dictated dragons for centuries.
Today’s spotlight book just released so it’s brand spankin’ new! It’s book 1 in the Broken Court series, and don’t you just love that cover??? Another added to the TBR pile (I must read faster). Check it out below!
The fae king once tried to break me, but now… I’m coming for him.
After being exiled from the only home I’d ever known, I swore to never return. Instead, opting to start a new life offering my services to supernaturals who’d rather not get their hands dirty.
When a distractingly handsome and alluring fae shows up asking for my help, my initial reaction is to refuse. There’s a darkness in him that beckons me, and in my experience, any type of connection is a weakness I can’t afford.
However, after I discover the identity of his enemy, I find myself pulled into his battle, hoping to slay a few of my own demons in the process.
As something sinister attempts to take control, I’ll have to decide whether to continue doing things my way… Or chance the risk and let others fight beside me.
The only thing I know for sure is that the fae king’s biggest mistake was thinking he broke me, and my biggest victory will be proving him wrong.
Today’s snippet is coming from my upcoming book in The Diner Box set. It’s called “Black Cat’s Curse” and I find this book hilarious. The dynamics between Lucky and Doris are beyond adorable as she tries to act like she doesn’t like him and he loves to annoy her.
Snippet
“Dear, I don’t know where those paws of yours have been, but that isn’t the place for them,” Doris stated, sliding in behind the bar on this side of the diner via a door to the left. “Now, take a seat on the stool.”
The woman’s voice jogged my witch’s attention from her laptop, and she finally noticed me. “Umm, nice kitty?” Her voice was so hesitant and uncertain that I had to wonder what about my small stature had her sounding like that. Did she think I was going to attack and try to scratch her eyes out?
Very nice kitty, I confirmed and watched as her bright, sapphire eyes widened and her mouth popped open.
“You talk.”
Doris chuckled, taking a drag on the cigarette still hanging out of her mouth. “Of course he talks. He’s a black cat. All they ever do is talk.”
I do not, I argued, sitting my butt down on the bar for emphasis. And this is my seat.
Lately, fonts have been on the mind. Why? Because, as I’m not sure many know, I make most of my book covers myself. While I’ve purchased some premades and customs, I prefer to make my own covers. It’s cheaper for me to do it that way, but I also find it relaxing, and it’s a chance for me to learn something new. Learning new talents is like going on an adventure and not knowing what you’re going to find. It’s the same when I start a book and a new cover. I never know what adventures they’ll take me on!
Now, back to fonts. While the cover art is absolutely necessary and important, the right font is VITAL. You wouldn’t put a spooky looking font on a sweet contemporary romance cover just as you wouldn’t put beautiful swirly fonts on a horror cover. The fonts need to match the cover, story, and genre.
Since I make most of my covers, I have to constantly be on the search for new and good fonts. I’m still not an expert with fonts and finding the right fonts, but it’s fun to play with. I’m still learning all there is to know about fonts and where to get them, but I’ve found a few great places for amazing fonts.
One of those places is FontBundles.net. They have a huge selection of fonts! Some are free, others are on sale, and they have bundles of fonts also on sale. Their new font selection is one of my favorite sections to scroll. And, it just so happens that I found an email in my inbox today about a Christmas bundle for sale…well the word Christmas piqued my interest. You know how much I love Christmas anything! It’s definitely worth a look! I was giddy about every font I scrolled past.
So, in short, if you’re looking for a great font site, don’t miss FontBundles. Really, don’t. They have the perfect fonts at the right price and you’re sure to find a style that you love for whatever project you’re working on! I have some fun Christmas covers on the mind now…
(PS they even have craft bundles any crafters should check out too!)
And we’re back for another book spotlight! I haven’t read this one either, but it has tigers, so you know I’m in! I’ve added to my TBR pile and you should too! This is the start of an addictive 10-book binge read with all types of shifters.
He’s on a mission to find missing shifters. She’s about to become one of them.
Abandoned as a baby, Amber Allen has never known another shifter like herself. She came to Shifting Sands Resort hoping for answers about her past, but she only finds questions about her future. She doesn’t understand the connection she has with the handsome stranger at the bar, but she knows that his arms feel more like home than anywhere she’s ever been.
When spy and tiger shifter Tony Lukin asked for an assignment somewhere warm, he wasn’t expecting that the real heat would be between the sheets. But he’s at the all-inclusive, shifters-only, clothing-optional luxury resort for only one reason, and it’s not the sapphire pool or the white sand beach… or the enchanting botanist at the bar offering to buy him a drink.
Tony’s real mission is to uncover who or what is behind the sinister disappearance of shifters from the resort over the last few years. He’ll have to move fast or risk losing everything… and the secretive owner of the resort seems to be doing everything in her power to stop his investigation.
Can Tony convince Amber that they’re destined to be together… before she goes missing, too?
![Shadow Sentinels: Beginnings (A Paranormal Wolf Shifter Romance) by [Karen Tomlinson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Imveb46ML.jpg)
![Dragon's Honor: A Curvy Girl and Dragon Shifter Romance (Royal Dragon Shifters Book 1) by [McKenzie Rogue]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51PciRGFDJL.jpg)
![Dark Fae Cursed (Broken Court Book 1) by [Heather Renee]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51C7kpg8p2L.jpg)
![Tropical Tiger Spy (Shifting Sands Resort Book 1) by [Zoe Chant]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51LFUGhzLiL.jpg)
Heather Karn 