A Collection of Twisted Tales Blog Tour

A COLLECTION OF TWISTED TALES by Kraig Dafoe, Thriller Short Story Collection, 114 pp., $2.99
(Kindle edition) $8.99 (paperback)

Title: A COLLECTION OF TWISTED TALES

Author: Kraig Dafoe

Publisher: Createspace

Pages:114

Genre:Thriller Short Story Collection

Most of these stories have one thing in common, death. Although death
is the common thread, there is nothing common in the way that it comes
about.

This collection is chock full of interesting characters scattered
among various settings that inspire the imagination, such as a Lavish
English mansion or the dark interior of a rundown home.

This book is inspired by and written in the style of, Edgar Allan Poe.

Praise:

“A Collection of Twisted Tales is an ambitious project that
testifies to the author’s appreciation of Edgar Allan Poe’s fiction in
particular. In this collection, Kraig Dafoe offers a creative
homage with many original ideas and unexpected twists.”

Professor Vanessa Steinroetter, PHD

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My review:

This is a book of short stories and poems written in the style of Edgar Allen Poe. The stories and poems are all different with one thing in common. Death. The death in each story is different as well. There is a variety of causes of death. The stories are complete and not rushed. A couple I would love to read a whole book on, but for the most part you got everything you needed in the few pages dedicated to it. 

At the first of the book is a poem dedicated to Edgar Allen Poe. I really enjoyed Mr. Dafoe's outlook on him. It really set the book off with a bang so to speak. There are 9 short stories in the book and a chapter of poems. 

i enjoyed all the stories but really liked the story named his Royal Disgrace. The story is based on declassified Jack the Ripper files from Scotland Yard. i am not sure how much of the story is actually based on fact but I loved how the detective work was done. It made it seem filled with true facts. in the poetry section there is a poem called Alone. I don't know why I liked ti the most I just did. It is very dark and depressive but it just stood out to me. 

If you are a fan of Edgar Allen Poe's work you really should grab a copy of this book. 

 

The Unheeded Omen:



“when an arrant mind wanders,



and breaks open the protective shell,



rising up, a wicked demon saunters,



from the darkened depths of hell.”



--Louis Banks--



The general populace has long considered ravens to be associated with bad
omens, though never putting much stock in such trivial absurdity, I delightedly
accepted the opportunity to move my family into a lavish home located on Raven
road.



In the early morn, in the spring of the year 18--, bracing yet dreary,
leaves insignificantly rustled as a gelid breeze swept along, washing away
droplets of early precipitation. Clouds hanging oppressively low, still
darkened, loomed overhead, threatening another ghastly shower to descend upon
us while we rode protected from the elements, while the wheels of the carriage
jostled us about as they trundled over cobblestone. The voyage was relatively
short, reaching just beyond the edge of town, which I had and would continue,
to call home for many a year.



The caw of ravens echoed overhead as we veered down the road of our new
dwelling, with seemingly thousands of the blackened beasts residing in its
progression of Oaks.



My darling Penelope and our two young progenies, plus one in the womb, sat
delighted as the driver directed the carriage down the lane to the two-story
brick mansion as it seemed to us, having lived a life of little resource. This
was the beginning to a new epoch, this auspicious occasion afforded by a
promotion I procured; we received the home joyfully with the compliments of my
company, as part of my bonus.



As the carriage rolled into view of the domicile, the children curiously
gazed through the panes of glass, pressing their noses to achieve a better
glimpse, their fidgety disposition putting smiles on our faces. Penelope and I
showed approval for their enthusiasm.



The usually neatly manicured grounds were awash with the residue from the
storm of the previous eve. Well-groomed hedges of significant splendor and
foliage lined the drive, their once proud branches drooped towards the ground,
some almost bear of leaves, and as the carriage circled in front of the home,
ivy, overspreading the exterior, glistened in the dim light of day.



A valet, another benefit of my new station and being a servant of the house
for numerous years, met the carriage as we stopped.



As we departed, the valet bowed deeply and gestured toward the portico,
commenting that he had allocated our possessions to their proper place and now,
the vast luxury of the domicile awaited us.



We embraced the cold air and made haste for the door, the children
enthusiastically, first through its threshold. I followed my beloved, nodding
attentively to the valet and, approaching the door, I noticed my new neighbor,
an elderly man, pitifully disheveled, standing on the porch of his own
discriminately decrepit home across the adjoining field.



The grass of the field, more resembling brome, between us was unkempt and
thus made it impossible to tell where the abandoned yard ended and the
neighbor’s began. The neighboring house was decayed from years of neglect,
paint long ago wearing thin, cracked and peeling, and shutters hung
precariously from their mounts. A broken fence of rotted wood surrounded the
property, half its horizontal slats lying at angles to the ground and hidden by
overgrown sedge. The windows seemed blackened by death, empty eye sockets
peering at our new home and the roof seemed to house more ravens then did the
trees, as any of its worn shingles were barely visible. Overgrown and under
trimmed vegetation scattered the lot, yet the view of the house itself, unfortunately
for me, was unobstructed. Upon looking at the melancholy house, a sense of
indispensable gloom washed over me.



My new neighbor seemed to be as unkempt as was his yard and I noticed, with
ease, the elderly man’s demeanor appeared to be one of utter indifference. I
waved to him in what I considered to be a polite gesture and, perplexingly, he
just turned and entered his house without response, which I thought a bit odd
as I entered my new home.



I absorbed the splendor of my new abode, which was of stark contrast to my
neighbors, while trying to shake the awkward encounter from my mind. Artful
paintings hung from the brightly colored walls while decorative rugs dotted the
cherry hardwood floors. The furnishings bore elaborate carvings, with soft
velvety cushions, while brass and silver trinkets topped the stands and
mantles. Fires burned in the ornate fireplaces casting a warm glow about the
rooms, filling them with a cozy air, and simultaneously casting eerily dancing
shadows about. Spacious was the home, with formal living and dining rooms, a
parlor, four bedrooms upstairs and indoor plumbing, a fairly new innovation. We
quickly settled in and, with assistance from the valet, we fell into a routine,
living a somewhat leisurely life compared to the drudgery of life before my
promotion.

           

Kraig Dafoe was born in Potsdam, New York and grew up in Canton. He
played high school football and joined the Army Reserves at the age of
seventeen.



Kraig has earned his BA in English writing and graduated cum laude from Washburn University in 2017.



Kraig has published two novels and published poetry. He is currently working on another writing project.



His current novel is A Collection of Twisted Tales.



You can visit his website at http://www.kraigdafoe.com.

The Lion Tamer The Sin Bin Book 6 by Dahlia Donovan

The
Lion Tamer

The
Sin Bin Book 6

by
Dahlia Donovan

Genre:
Contemporary M/M Romance

One
dominant Marine.

One troubled rugby player.

The Sin Bin
will never be the same.

Gray
Baird’s to-do list for the year includes starting a restaurant,
claiming his submissive, and keeping his nosy friends out of his
business. He has his work seriously cut out for him.

Scottie
Monk prides himself on bullying his way through problems—and
sometimes even people. His life is spiralling out of his control, but
he refuses to break. The last thing he expects is to find peace in
the confines of submission.

One
man will try to tame a lion.

One man will try to heal.

And
both men will have to join forces to deal with a toxic family and
invasive paparazzi.

The
Lion Tamer is book six in Dahlia Donovan's international
bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot
rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.

***It
is recommended that readers have read at least The
Royal Marine and The
Unexpected Santa prior
to reading The Lion Tamer

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to Goodreads

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Excerpt:

“I’m not a fucking kitten.” Scottie tried to shove him away, but Gray held him still. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Well, you’re certainly not a lion.” Gray bent forward to drag his nose along the side of Scottie’s neck, biting him just above his collar. “No, not a lion. You also still reek of booze. Forget to shower this morning?”

“Fuck you.”

Gray couldn’t resist a smirk when the evidence of Scottie’s arousal pressed against his leg. “Get back inside for the tasting, kitten. We’ll finish this later.”

Striding away from the heavily breathing man without a second look, Gray reached down to subtly adjust his dick. Fuck. Scottie brought out the best and worst in him. Taking things slowly wasn’t proving to be easy by any stretch of the imagination.

Maybe I’ll pay him a visit tonight.

Tuck him into bed like a good boy.

1. 

Dahlia
Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about
shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and
unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her
life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive
collection of books and video games.

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Lie To Her by Mehrisa Mex

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mehrisa Mex will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Despite years of treatment, twenty-one year old Lydia still struggles with trauma from being attacked as a teenager. House-bound with anxieties and haunted by ghostly visions, she soon comes to suspect her psychiatrist husband, Myles, of sabotaging her recovery.



Her pursuit of the truth uncovers secrets more terrible than she ever imagined and it soon becomes clear that nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted – not even herself.

Read an Excerpt:



The room was spinning and she realized in surprise that she was on her feet in the kitchen. She looked around in a panic. What was she doing there?



The time on the microwave read 2.23am. She looked down at her hands and found them smeared with blood. Her breath knotted up in her throat. She staggered to the kitchen sink and washed the blood off her hands. Her face felt wet and she reached up to touch it. More blood.



She rushed to the bathroom and, in the mirror, she found a streak of blood going down her face. She washed it off, and found the source - a cut in her hair line. It was only then, when she tried to calm herself a bit, that the pain at the site of the injury grew into her awareness.



With her heart thumping in her ears, she thought of the video Myles had shown her where she had tried to stab him with a knife. She hurried out the bathroom to Joanie who raised her head as Lydia crouched down beside her. She didn't seem to be hurt or afraid of her, but Lydia ran her hands over her body anyway to make sure she wasn't injured and bleeding. She wasn't. She was fine.



Lydia looked up at Zach's bedroom door. She had no recollection of trying to harm Myles, but there was clear proof that she had. Had she also tried to do something to Zach?



She didn't know how she had cut herself, but the blood on her hands may not have been all hers.


About the Author: Mehrisa Mex writes mystery-thrillers, neo-noir and international crime. She often appears in her own imagination lit in the chiaroscuro style of film noir and narrating thoughts to herself in moody, hard-boiled tones.



Amazon link for book purchase: http://www.amazon.com/author/mehrisamex

Info links: https://twitter.com/mehrisa_mex

http://www.facebook.com/mehrisamex



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MURDER IN THISTLECROSS by Amy M. Reade

MURDER IN THISTLECROSS

by
Amy M. Reade

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

The emerald hills and violet valleys of
Wales seem the ideal place to start over after murder—and
divorce—shattered Eilidh’s life in the Scottish Highlands. But
within the stone walls of an ancient castle, a family’s dark,
violent past threatens much more than her newfound tranquility . . .

For the past two years, Eilidh has
called the quaint Welsh village of Thistlecross home, embracing her
new life as estate manager of a restored fifteenth-century castle.
But the long-anticipated arrival of her employer’s three estranged
sons and their wives transforms Gylfinog Castell from a welcoming
haven to a place seething with dangerous secrets. When the escalating
tensions culminate in murder, Eilidh must sift through a castle full
of suspects both upstairs and downstairs. She can trust no one as she
follows a twisting maze of greed and malice to ferret out a killer
who’s breaching every defense, preparing to make Eilidh the next to
die.

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EXCERPT 2:

I snuggled down under the covers again and was soon dozing, but through the fog in my sleep-addled brain I was sure I heard faint crying. I sat up again. The room was deliciously warm from the fire that still burned low in the grate, but I still hated to get out from under the comfort of the blankets. Reluctantly I tucked my feet into the slippers I kept at the side of the bed and went to the door. After opening it cautiously, I peered into the long hallway. The gas-lit sconces provided quivering candlelight at regular intervals, making the spaces between them eerily dark.

Even in the dim light, though, there was no mistaking the shadow that flitted across the hall down toward the main door to the castle. I hesitated, not knowing who the shadow belonged to or whether I should try to figure it out. The crying continued, now a little louder because my door was open. My mind told me to shut the door, get back into bed, and ignore the nighttime goings-on. My heart told me to find out who was crying and whose shadow I had seen from the safety of my bedroom doorway.

I followed my heart, as usual.

It was very cold in the hallway, so I ducked back into my room for my thick robe. Then, pulling the sash tight around my waist, I slipped into the hallway and closed the bedroom door behind me.

I instinctively stayed close to the wall as I followed the flickering sconces to the castle’s great hall. In daylight, this entrance to the home was a magnificent gallery of antique furniture, a polished stone floor, stained glass windows, an enormous, colorfully-painted wooden coat of arms, and even an ancient suit of armor, posed with a lance. In the dim light of night, however, the main hall was a frightening place. The furniture gave way to dark, shapeless forms, the suit of armor took on a more sinister stance, and the stained glass, which depicted pastoral scenes in daylight, seemed to glow with an evil darkness.

When I reached the huge front door, the iron bolt that kept the door locked from the inside had been slid to one side. Someone had left the castle. That must have been the bang I heard. The person I had seen stealing along the corridor was nowhere to be found. Maybe the bang was a person coming in, not going out. Perhaps the person I had seen had just come in from outdoors. I hadn’t heard anyone as I made my way to the great hall, and I didn’t see or hear anyone now that I was standing by the front door.

I was perplexed. I hadn’t dreamed it. There had been a person in the hallway and I had come quickly to the main entrance to the castle. How could I have missed him—or her? But I had gone back into my room to pull on my robe. Had the person disappeared in such a short time? Had he or she gone upstairs? Downstairs? Had the person perhaps ducked into one of the rooms on the main floor and was waiting, listening, until I left to return to my bedroom? The thought sent chills up to the nape of my neck.

Was I just being silly? Maybe Hugh had gone out for Cadi’s toiletries, though it was quite late for that. Maybe someone had gone down to the kitchen to get a snack. That was a far more likely explanation. There were a million reasons someone in the castle might be about during the night, so stop making up sinister reasons, I told myself with a grimace.

But that didn’t explain the crying I had heard so plainly. Was the person in the hallway the one who had been crying? And what had he—or more likely, she—been crying about? I didn’t know Andreas or Hugh or Rhisiart very well, but none of them seemed to be the emotional type.

I was spooking myself and it was getting very cold standing still in the great hall, so I turned on the lights and peeked into the sitting room and the dining room. I didn’t see anyone in either room so I hurried back to the safety and warmth of my own room and my own bed.

USA
Today bestselling author Amy
M. Reade is also the author
of Secrets of Hallstead
House and The
Ghosts of Peppernell Manor. She
grew up in northern New York, just south of the Canadian border, and
spent her weekends and summers on the St. Lawrence River. She
graduated from Cornell University and then went on to law school at
Indiana University in Bloomington. She practiced law in New York City
before moving to southern New Jersey, where, in addition to writing,
she is a wife, a full-time mom and a volunteer in school, church and
community groups. She lives just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic
Ocean with her husband and three children as well as a dog and two
cats. She loves cooking and all things Hawaii and is currently at
work on her next novel.

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Twice Bitten by Lynsay Sands

Thrilling, witty, and oh-so-sexy, Lynsay Sands’ Argeneau novel brings together a beautiful Immortal and the man who is her destiny…

For someone who’s been around for over a hundred and forty years, immortal Elspeth Argeneau hasn’t done a whole lot of living. Now that she’s moved away from her controlling mother, she’s tracking down rogue vampires and enjoying some overdue freedom. A fling would be fun. A life mate can wait. Yet to Elspeth’s surprise, her landlady’s hot grandson checks both boxes.

Wyatt fell instantly in love with Elspeth four years ago. He’s stunned to run into her again, especially as she has no memory of him. Then again, there are a lot of things about Elspeth that don’t make sense, like the miraculous speed with which her wounds heal. And the chemistry that transforms every touch into an explosion of desire. But with mysterious “accidents” besieging Elspeth, the ex-Special Forces soldier appoints himself her bodyguard. But time is running out to uncover the truth about her enemies—and rediscover the man determined to love her for eternity.

Each book in this series can be read as a standalone story.

About the Book

Twice Bitten
by Lynsay Sands
Series
Argeneau #27
Genre
Adult
Paranormal Romance
Publisher
Avon Books
Publication Date
March 27, 2018
Amazon  |  Avon Romance  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Google Play  |  iBooks

Excerpt:

“Wyatt?” she said, surprised at how breathless her voice was.

She was panting, Elspeth realized. The man hadn’t even touched her and she was panting like an overheated dog . . . or a horny one.

“I’m sorry,” Wyatt growled, and turned away to quickly search the room, and then spotting the bath towel over the towel rack, he grabbed it and turned back to offer it to her.

Elspeth reached for it, but froze when their hands touched. For a minute, they just remained like that, both silent and still as shockwaves rolled through them, and then Wyatt cleared his throat. His voice was husky as he said, “I know you’re not ready for a life mate, and I-“

That was as far as he got before Elspeth finished taking the towel from him, let it drop to the floor, and reached for him instead.

Tour Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the release of TWICE BITTEN, we’re giving away five paperback copies of A QUICK BITE, the first installment in the Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open to US shipping addresses only. Five winners will each receive a paperback copy of A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands.  This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance.  Giveaway ends 4/6/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address.  Duplicates will be deleted.  CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About Lynsay Sands

LYNSAY SANDS is the nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She’s been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there’s occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus. Please visit her on the web at http://www.lynsaysands.net.

Author Links

    

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Awakened by D.C. Gambel

Awakened

The Horsemen Chronicles

Book One

D.C. Gambel

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Date of Publication: March 16, 2018

ISBN: 1981137491

ASIN: B079FRN2WQ

Number of pages: 391

Word Count: 96k

Tagline: My vulnerability, that’s kept me secluded from the world, is now the one thing that can save it.

Book Description:

Evie has lived most of her life as a recluse, terrified that she might hurt someone. On her twenty-first birthday she meets Derek who informs her there’s a reason behind her gifts.

As someone that had to spend her entire life avoiding human contact, learning the truth about her origins as one of the Four Horsemen was a hard pill to swallow. Especially once she realizes that her fellow Horsemen are the only people she’d ever met that can withstand her touch.

The struggle to overcome her seclusion becomes very real when Evie discovers an attraction has sprung up between herself and one of her fellow Horsemen. Nothing good can come from pursuing the allure, especially when she knows that it not only would jeopardize her team, but her heart as well.

Amazon

Excerpt:

“Break it down
for us, Cam.”

“I met my
informant last night,” he said, leaning between the opening of the front seats.
I angled myself to face him so I could hear him better. “He claims that Axel
Reese, pack alpha of Summery, was contacted by Asmodeus.”

There was a
swirl of profanities, but I was clueless to why. So I asked.

“Asmodeus is one
of the seven princes of hell. He’s also the prince of lust. Apparently they
were rumored to have met the night the succubus attacked the fraternity party,”
Cam went on to explain.

“I’m sure that
was no coincidence,” Tyler muttered. “I thought the succubi broke off from
Asmodeus decades ago when he started demanding that they worship him as a god.”

“They did, but
with the seals being broken the demons of lust are returning to their master in
hopes he can protect them from the apocalypse. They don’t even realize that
he’ll use them a cannon fodder to save his ass. If Axel really did meet with
Asmodeus we need to be prepared for a shift in the packs loyalty.”

“Why not just go
to Asmodeus first?” Derek asked keeping his eyes forward.

“Axel would be a
lot easier to handle then walking in to Phoenix.”

“Phoenix?” I
asked.

“It’s a demon
club,” Tyler answered. “We don’t get the warmest reception. Asmodeus owns it.”

“Stole it is
more like it,” Derek chimed in. He glanced at me. Seeing the quizzical look he
elaborated. “It used to be a safe haven for the powers of good. Demons attacked
it as a distraction for whoever is breaking the seals. The club has been in
demon hands for almost three decades after two centuries of it being in the
hands of good. Only positive thing is the demons can’t put up their wards to
keep us out.”

“They’ve tried,”
Tyler announced.

“Yes they have,”
Cam agreed. All three men chuckled and I felt like I was being left out of the
joke.

“Hair of the
dog?” I asked when we pulled up outside the dive bar. “I thought you were
joking.”

Cam chuckled.
“They’re not the most creative bunch.” His hand found the small of my back as
we headed to the door. I could feel its warmth seeping though the fabric of my
shirt almost like it was melting it away until his skin touched mine. I shook
my head subtly clearing those thoughts. “You stay near one of us and we’ll make
sure no one touches you. What skin is exposed no one should be touching anyways
unless they’re looking for trouble.” The other two nodded in agreement.

About the Author:

D.C. Gambel is a mother, army wife, and a hopeless romantic. Romance has always been her genre of choice whether it’s contemporary, historical, paranormal, or even pushing towards erotica in both reading and writing. When she first decided to try her hand at writing, romance was the obvious choice. Getting lost in a different world, living unimaginable lives is something she strives for, even if it’s just a temporary enjoyment.

https://www.dcgambel.com

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7214045.D_C_Gambel

Interview with D.C. Gambel

Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

I suppose it come from different things. Different ideas trigger me. The inspiration for Awakened came from reading.

How did you do research for your book?

Google is my best friend along with Wikipedia. I also talk to people in professions or situations that are relevant.  I’d love to be able to travel to do research in person but it’s just not a luxury I can afford so the internet is the next best thing.

Do you have another profession besides writing?

I’m a stay at home mom and army wife, but I mange to still set time aside to write.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

That one’s tough. There’s two time periods that have always interested me. The Civil War era and then England during the time of Henry VIII, but I’m not sure I’d actually want to live during either of those. I think I’d love to see the 1920s.

What is your next project?

I’m going to be living in the world of the Horsemen for a while as I plan to put out two more books, at least. I’m also debating on doing the series in another POV. We’ll just have to see.

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