The Girl from Oto by Amy Maroney

The Girl from Oto by Amy Maroney

Publication Date: September 20, 2016

Artelan Press

eBook & Paperback; 532 Pages

Genre: Historical Mystery

Series: The Miramonde Series, Book 1

A Renaissance-era woman artist and an American scholar. Linked by a 500-year-old mystery…

The secrets of the past are irresistible—and dangerous.

1500: Born during a time wracked by war and plague, Renaissance-era artist Mira grows up in a Pyrenees convent believing she is an orphan. When tragedy strikes, Mira learns the devastating truth about her own origins. But does she have the strength to face those who would destroy her?

2015: Centuries later, art scholar Zari unearths traces of a mysterious young woman named Mira in two 16th-century portraits. Obsessed, Zari tracks Mira through the great cities of Europe to the pilgrim’s route of Camino de Santiago—and is stunned by what she finds. Will her discovery be enough to bring Mira’s story to life?

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Praise for The Girl from Oto

"I loved the lush descriptions and the hard-nosed female characters who find a way to get what they want in a man's world. An exquisite novel." -Martha Conway, winner of the North American Book Award for Thieving Forest

"An absorbing debut novel. I couldn't put it down." -Deborah Swift, author of The Gilded Lily

"A rich and intriguing evocation of the fifteenth century is interwoven with an emotionally satisfying mystery in the present day." -Emma Darwin, author of A Secret Alchemy

"A powerful story and an intriguing mystery. A Red Ribbon winner and highly recommended." -The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, U.K.

"From the very beginning, I was enthralled with Mira, Zari, and their entwined journeys through history and the world of art. As a curator and art historian, it's a rare treat for me to find a novel that so lovingly reflects our joys and challenges. The Girl from Oto delivers--and I can't wait to spend more time with Mira." -Jennifer Dasal, host of the ArtCurious podcast

About the Author

Amy Maroney lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. She studied English literature at Boston University and public policy at Portland State University, and spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, painting, drawing, dancing and reading. The Girl from Oto and Mira's Way are books 1 & 2 in The Miramonde Series.

For a free prelude to The Girl from Oto, for the full scoop on the research behind the book, and for news about the sequel, please visit www.amymaroney.com.

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Interview with  Amy Maroney

1. What is your favorite part of this book and why?

Answer: I have several favorite parts, but one of the most meaningful scenes in The Girl from Oto is when Mira, the Renaissance-era heroine, is faced with a sudden tragedy. Now is her chance to escape the safe yet unfulfilling existence she’s always known. Will she find the courage to plunge into a new life full of tantalizing opportunities and unspeakable dangers? The choice she makes is an exciting moment in the book and it captures Mira’s evolution from girl to woman.

2. If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

Answ Answer: This is a tough one because I am attached to many characters in the book. Elena, a mountain woman and healer, has a special place in my heart. But I think I would choose Mira, because I love to draw and paint. So I would spend my day with Mira in her artist’s studio, painting by her side. It would be a blast!

3. If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?

Answer: Ooooh, this is a great question. Again, I’m torn because I have so many favorite books in so many genres. I have read and re-read favorite books during particular periods of my life, when they resonated with me deeply because of my own experiences at that time. I think I’ll go with Henning Mankell’s The Man from Beijing. Mankell is the king of Scandinavian crime mysteries, but he also wrote a few stand-alone novels that are truly epic works of literature, in my opinion. The Man from Beijing combines a Swedish crime novel with a historical fiction element and involves sweeping social issues on three continents. Plus the protagonist is a woman. I read this book about once a year and never get tired of it.

4. Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

Answer: It’s truly a combination of the two. I think my modern characters draw from lots and lots of real people, whereas my historical characters are mostly figments of my imagination. For all my characters, I do love weaving in bits of real people whom I encounter in everyday life. Just as my own life experiences impact my stories, so do real-world interactions with people impact my characters.

5. What made you want to become a writer?

Answer: I was one of those kids who was always reading and daydreaming. I haunted our local library and was happiest when I was lost in a fictional world. I started writing stories when I was very young. I never thought I would be able to make a living as a fiction writer so I didn’t pursue that at first. I was a nonfiction writer and editor right out of the gate after college (not surprisingly, I majored in English literature). It wasn’t until I reached my 40s and a health crisis turned my life upside down that I realized it was now or never if I wanted to write fiction. What really intrigued me were lost stories of women who have been ignored or erased from history. So I started researching Renaissance-era female artists and writing the Miramonde Series in 2012. The Girl from Oto was originally going to be a standalone novel, but my story just exploded and I soon understood that it would have to be a trilogy (Mira’s Way is Book 2, and I’m working on Book 3 now). I’ll keep writing fiction for the rest of my life—I love it.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 11
Review & Interview at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, March 12
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Excerpt at Maiden of the Pages

Thursday, March 14
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Friday, March 15
Feature at What Is That Book About
Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots

Saturday, March 16
Feature at Broken Teepee

Sunday, March 17
Interview at T's Stuff

Monday, March 18
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Tuesday, March 19
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, March 20
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective

Thursday, March 21
Feature at The Book Junkie Reads

Friday, March 22
Review at Coffee and Ink
Feature at CelticLady's Reviews

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we will be giving away 10 eBooks of The Girl from Oto by Amy Maroney! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 22nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

The Girl from Oto

House of Pain by Denna Holm

Maggie Shelbador is a half-breed succubus with a heart. Though raised inside one of the worst whorehouses in the world, all she wants is to find one man who will love her despite what she is. She dreams of one day being free of her nightmarish life but fears no man will ever truly trust her.

The year is 3515 and most of the world has been destroyed by a combination of natural disasters and man’s neglect. The whole human race faces extinction. To survive, the leaders of the day approach demons for help, not understanding the high price they will be forced to pay. Normally bound by the summoner’s magic, the demons know Maggie is the key to giving them free access to Earth.

Daniel is a widower with a young son. He is out hunting one day when his settlement is attacked and his son abducted. He tracks them to House of Pain, not realizing a trap is being set for him. Though tortured, Daniel refuses to break when they try to force him to prostitute himself—until a beautiful blonde woman is brought into the room, her power stripping away his self-control.

About the Book

House of Pain by Denna Holm
Series
The Forsaken Ones Book One
Genre
Adult
Science Fiction
Fantasy
Publisher
Crimson Cloak Publishing
Publication Date
September 22, 2018
Purchase Your Copy Today!Amazon  |  Kobo  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks

Tour Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the tour for HOUSE OF PAIN by Denna Holm, we're giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to internationally. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Denna Holm.  Giveaway ends 3/24/2019 @ 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per reader. Duplicates will be deleted.  CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

About Denna Holm

A retired FEI competitor in dressage, DENNA HOLM has earned her United States Dressage Federation Bronze and Silver Medals.

When an injury forced her to retire from training and showing horses, she turned her attention to her second passion in life, writing. Soul of a Warrior, a science fiction romance, was published by Crimson Cloak Publishing in 2016 and is available through Amazon. It's true what they say about a new door opening when another closes.

Married with three adult children and five grandchildren, Denna and her husband Lee make their home in the beautiful state of Oregon. They enjoy spending their summers in the mountains, fishing, hiking, and hunting for mushrooms.

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This promotion is brought to you by Pure Textuality PR.

Object of My Desire by R.L. Kenderson

Object of My Desire
R.L. Kenderson
Publication date: March 14th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

A romance author, a cover model, a book signing … a crush.

Ordinary women like me know we shouldn’t fall for beautiful men like Travis Zehler, one of the hottest cover models in romance fiction. But, sometimes, we can’t help ourselves.

When I meet him at a book signing, my attraction to him is instant. I’m infatuated, and I can’t stop thinking about him.

Even though I have doubts he’d ever be interested, I invite Travis to attend a book signing with me. And he says yes.

My fantasy comes true when he takes me to his bed, and the more time we spend together, the more I see that Travis isn’t some object to be desired.

He’s a man with a past. A man who’s been burned. A man who’s learned to keep his guard up.

I want to show him he can trust again, but when our confidence in each other is shaken, I begin to wonder if happily ever afters are only for my romance novels.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

The combined noise of two phone alarms with completely different songs woke us up at six fifteen the next morning.

I quickly shut mine off, as did Harper.

“That was a horrible noise,” I commented from my bed.

“Yep, I’m up,” Harper said. “Although I’m wondering now why we stayed up late, watching movies.”

“I’m wondering whose idea it was to schedule a seven a.m. breakfast on a Saturday.”

Harper sat up. “No kidding. It’s my day to sleep in. What the hell, people?”

I pushed my covers off me and sat up as well. “We could always skip it?”

Harper’s eyes widened. “And miss free food?”

“You’re right. I don’t think they have coffee though. We’ll have to go and get one before.”

Harper stood. “I’d better get ready then.”

“Are you showering before you go?” I called out to her.

“No, I’m just going to get dressed and go. I’d rather shower after, so I can look pretty for the book signing.”

“Thank God. I didn’t want to shower either.”

I spent most days sitting in front of my computer or running errands. Most of the time, I didn’t even bother with makeup, doing my hair, or putting my contacts in. My outfit of choice was yoga pants.

So, when it came to book signings, I always liked to look a little more professional. But I really didn’t feel like doing all of that before seven in the morning if I didn’t have to. Besides, I didn’t have time.

I brushed my hair and my teeth and put my hair up in ponytail. I put on clean clothes, and, yes, I decided to go with yoga pants because I wanted to be comfortable.

“We’d better go. I don’t want to be one of the last ones there and have to sit with people we don’t know.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Harper asked.

She could make friends with a wall.

“Nothing, except that I hate imposing on people.” I grabbed my name tag and my key card.

“But you’re an author. People want to meet you.”

“I’m a non-famous author,” I reminded her.

Harper grabbed her things and looped her arm with mine. “Then, let’s go make them want to meet you.”

We went and got large lattes first before we headed to the area where we were supposed to meet for breakfast. There weren’t that many people around, but there also weren’t many tables.

“See, it’s a good thing we came early.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Harper said with a smile.

After the food was rolled out, we filled up our plates and brought them back to our table. I wasn’t a health food nut, but I did try to eat well most of the time to keep myself from gaining too much weight. But I was on vacation, and I was eating as much breakfast as I wanted.

“Oh my God,” Harper said with a moan. “These are the best muffins.”

“Crap. And I didn’t get one.”

She broke off a huge piece. “Here, try some.”

I opened my mouth, intending to take a bite, but she shoved the whole thing in my mouth. Both of us started laughing, and I had to turn my face toward the wall behind me. If I kept looking at Harper, I wouldn’t stop giggling, and I didn’t want the room to stare at my chipmunk cheeks.

A close female voice said, “Do you mind if we take your other two chairs?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harper wave her arm at our empty chairs. “Go ahead. Those seats are free.”

“Thank you,” a male voice said.

I finally managed to chew half of the food in my mouth and swallow it. “You bitch,” I told Harper as I turned around.

She laughed again, and I probably would have, too, except I was stopped dead when I saw who was about to take the seat across from me.

It was Travis Zehler, and holy shit, but the few pictures I had seen on online did nothing to prepare me for him in real life.

He was tall with broad shoulders and a trim waist, and when he turned to point to something, talking to the woman beside him, I noticed he had a gorgeous ass, too. I wouldn’t have even needed to look up his picture to know this was him. He carried himself in such a way that there was no other word for it than modelesque.

Now, I remembered how I’d thought he wasn’t the cutest guy I’d ever seen. His hair was shorter than the few pictures I’d seen, and he had a trim beard. When he smiled at us, I knew I wanted to have his babies.

Why did I decide not to look pretty this morning again?

Harper kicked me under the table, and I realized I’d been staring. With my mouth open. With food in it.

Travis shook his head and laughed.

I was going to kill Harper later.

The woman to my right had on a purple name tag like me and was probably about my age. She had shoulder-length auburn hair and pretty brown eyes. “Hi, I’m Angela Devlin.”

I swallowed my food, composed myself, and smiled. “I’m Sydney Hart.” I’d seen her name around on social media, but I hadn’t read any of her books yet.

“I’m Harper, I’m Sydney’s assistant.”

“This is Travis,” Angela said, pointing to him. “He’s my assistant-slash-model.”

“So, when did you two get in?” Harper asked. “We saw your name tag still on the table last night,” she said to Travis.

He smiled, but Angela was the one who said, “We got here about midnight.”

Harper winced. “Ouch. And you both got up so early?”

“I slept almost the whole way here from Minneapolis, so I had plenty of rest. But I did just throw on some clothes this morning,” Angela said.

“Us, too,” I said with a laugh. “That’s where we’re both from.”

Although Travis looked great for someone who had driven for hours and gotten no more than six hours of sleep.

“Are you both from Minneapolis?” I asked. I thought I had read Travis was from somewhere farther away, but maybe I was wrong. I hadn’t given his bio my full attention the night I looked him up.

“I’m from Michigan,” Angela said. “I flew into Minneapolis and drove here with Travis.”

“But you’re from Minnesota?” I asked Travis.

“Yep. Born and raised.” He grinned, and not one, but two dimples appeared. Figures. “I grew up in a small town, moved to the Cities in high school,

and stayed.”

I couldn’t believe he was from the same place I lived. Despite just meeting him, he gave off this aura. I didn’t know how to explain it, and it was kind of like finding out a famous actor lived near me.

“That’s so cool that you decided to attend,” Harper said.

“Yeah, Ang convinced me,” he said, and I noticed the nickname he used for her. They must be close.

“How did you do that?” I asked Angela, half-joking, half-serious. “I think he’s the only model to attend this weekend.”

She laughed. “I did a lot of begging and pleading.”

Travis shook his head, but he was smiling.

“Truthfully, he’s just a really nice guy.”

Travis shook his head again, and mouthed, No, I’m not.

Harper and I both laughed.

Angela put her hand up to her mouth, so Travis couldn’t see what she was saying, but then she proceeded to speak loud enough for him to hear. “He’s also a big softy.”

“Shh … don’t tell anyone.” Travis shoved a forkful of food in his mouth and grinned.

I mentally sighed. God, he’s beautiful.

Harper leaned over to me and whispered, “Just a guy, huh?”

Author Bio:

R.L. Kenderson is two best friends writing under one name.

Renae has always loved reading, and in third grade, she wrote her first poem where she learned she might have a knack for this writing thing. Lara remembers sneaking her grandmother’s Harlequin novels when she was probably too young to be reading them, and since then, she knew she wanted to write her own.

When they met in college, they bonded over their love of reading and the TV show Charmed. What really spiced up their friendship was when Lara introduced Renae to romance novels. When they discovered their first vampire romance, they knew there would always be a special place in their hearts for paranormal romance. After being unable to find certain storylines and characteristics they wanted to read about in the hundreds of books they consumed, they decided to write their own.

One lives in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and the other in the Kansas City area where they’re a sonographer/stay-at-home mom/wife and pharmacist/mother by day, and together they’re a sexy author by night. They communicate through phone, email, and whole lot of messaging.

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Blonde Who Got Away by Emily J. Wright

The Blonde Who Got Away
Emily J. Wright
Publication date: March 13th 2019
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense

Brandon

Brandon Bryce.

The name just doesn’t have a nice ring to it, but it’s a way of living.

His life motto—pleasing every woman with multiple orgasms and making them beg for more.

His only hobby—swinging on a sex swing with a voluptuous woman.

His favorite vacation—drinking ‘Sex on the beach’ in his Jacuzzi while a woman goes down on him hard.

All he wants is sex—anytime, any day, with no strings attached, and no commitment.

As for settling down, he doesn’t believe in marriage, nor has time for something as stupid as love. He has a business to run too, you know. How else could he afford the lifestyle he has worked so hard for?

It was not easy for him to make way from a modest suburb of Chicago to a penthouse in the upper east side of New York. He had to push people around. He dipped his toes into blackmailing. He broke the trust and hearts of hundreds.

Is he proud of his actions?

Yes, of course.

Will he do it again?

Fuck, yeah.

Is he afraid of the Karma?

Nah…He is a Chicago born and bred. He’ll make Karma his bitch before she could do the same.

Brandon 2.0

“Fuck you, Brandon.”

‘Love thy neighbor.’ That’s what Brandon thought the Bible say. But some women from the neighboring building threw shoes at him which made him believe otherwise. That’s not the welcome home present he was expecting.

Asshole.

Jerk.

Douche.

That’s some of the kind words he has been called on his first day back from the hospital.

It has been brought to his attention that he wasn’t the nicest person to be around. He broke ties with his parents because he found them too clingy. His friends are ungrateful bastards. And he has no one left to share his life with.

But good for him that he doesn’t remember any of it. He lost his memory in an accident that put him in a coma for two months.

Now, he is determined to get his life back on track. To make amends to those who he has wronged. But only if he could stop getting distracted by the beautiful blonde whom he fell in love with when he was in a coma.

He is hallucinating according to his doctor. His butler says she is a flicker of his imagination. But she is real to Brandon, and he will find her by any means possible.

While the debate still continues about her existence with no agreement in sight, they all, however, agree on calling her ‘the blonde who got away.’

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

I am infuriated. My office is a sex-charged, blonde-dominated, no work zone.

“Who is the blonde I hired before the accident?” I have seen enough of my jungle of office and come straight to the point for which I am here.

“Oh, that hot cake is . . .” Todd is taking his time, building up the anticipation, pointing everyone in the office from one corner to another with his index finger until he finally stops on a cubicle where a blonde is applying nail polish. “. . . right there.”

That’s no woman. She is a girl—probably 20 or 21. She has her feet up on the table, her heels are scratching the expensive monitor, and her legs . . . let’s just say she is leaving nothing to the imagination in her short skirt. I can even see her red panty because the elevation of her legs has caused her already short skirt to rise up.

“Is that her?” Todd asks.

“No . . . ,” I say, feeling disgusted that how could he even think that she is ‘the blonde who got away.’ “She is barely of drinking age. rubbingDoes she even have a college degree?”

“She has a diploma—”

“Good. At least she has a diploma. The rest of them looks like high school dropouts with an experience of a failed modeling career under their belt.”

“You didn’t let me finish. She has a diploma in cosmetology.”

“The girl with a diploma in cosmetology is working for an insurance brokerage company? That’s interesting!” Jeremy says, caressing his chin with his index finger and thumb. “How did she even get a job here?”

“After careful scrutiny of her pussy and appropriate verification of her boobs, the 70% owner of this company cheery-picked this gorgeous young lady. Do you want to know who holds 70% controlling interest in this company?”

“No need to explain further. We get the idea.” I stop Todd from embarrassing me further.

“Mr. B . . .” ‘The girl with the diploma’ sees me. “Oh, my God, you are here,” she says with a shrilled voice and starts jumping in excitement. She surely spins every blonde head towards me. Now, they all have their eyes on me.

‘The girl with the diploma’ runs and jumps at me. She is petite, but her boobs are too big for her body and are currently pressed against my chest while she hangs down my neck.

“I missed you so much.” She kisses me on my face multiple times before I could take my next breath.

“Me too.” I bend a little so she can land on her feet—literally.

“When I heard you were in a car crash, I cried so much that my mascara ran everywhere. So, I went to the store to buy a waterproof one. But they were out of stock. I had to stop applying it for a week until it became available again.”

All right, I am going to say this. She is a dumb one. I was dying, and she was concerned about her mascara.

The rest of them have now started to flock around me. They are all talking at the same time, and I can’t make anything out of it. I feel like a cult leader right now, surrounded by his followers.

All right, their obsession with me can be for one of the two things. Either I am really running a cult and have hooked them on drugs, or I pay them much more than they deserve and they are glad that I am not dead. I’ll go with the latter.

“Shut up!” Someone yells, and the chatter stops.

Author Bio:

Emily J. Wright had her life planned out from the start. She graduated from high school, went to college, did her CPA and got a corporate job as an analyst. But one thing she didn’t plan for was finding clumps of hair in her shower drain. That’s when she realized that the numbers in her head can’t co-exist with the stories forming in her head. So, for the sake of her hair, and not appear sleeping with open eyes in every office meeting when her mind drifts away to think a plot twist to bring the protagonist together with the heroine, she puts fingers to the wireless keyboard and starts putting together the stories.

While the rest seems busy writing about the alpha males with abs that can be used as a grater, she writes about the wild, sassy heroines who can be only tamed by the grand, sweep of the floor romantic gesture of a man with abs that can be used as a grater. PS: She loves abs.

In the world where quiet is a luxury, she found her home in the peaceful suburbs of Dublin, Ohio, where she lived with Zeus, her Labrador, and her cat, Mimi, who makes Zeus miserable by day but sleeps with him in his bed at night.

Yes...she is still single by choice. She is waiting for someone with whom she can share the same chemistry that Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt had in ‘Mad About You.’ Damn it! That show has ruined her. Fingers crossed, this year she gets what she wanted.

And one more thing, for a millennial, her social media skills sucks, so she would appreciate if you stop by her pages to give her some tips.

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This is the Route of Twisted Pain by MariaLisa deMora

George Bell, aka Twisted, knows the odds are against him. Have been all his life. Born in a Louisiana bordello, raised around the rough and rowdy men of a motorcycle club, he’s never been the lucky type. But he believes luck can change, so when fate gives him a glimpse of breathtaking beauty, he’s more than willing to roll the dice. Chancing upon what could be the woman of his dreams, he’s prepared to push this streak as far as he can.

Penny Dane’s background gives her an edge in the life she’s chosen to lead. Raised in a can-do family, she’s resilient, rolling with life’s punches and landing on her feet. But, when the past holds painful secrets—when a single misstep can turn deadly—can she trust the passion this man stirs in her?

On the surface, Bell and Penny don’t work. Their mismatched worlds are too different. But like a backwater bayou, what you see is not the whole story, there are mysteries buried underneath. Penny is the red-haired beauty caught up in a web of lies. Bell is like no one she’s ever met before. The problem is, he knows it.

About the Book

This is the Route of Twisted Pain
by MariaLisa deMora
Series
Neither This Nor That MC Book One
Genre
Adult
Contemporary Romance
Biker Romance
Publisher
MLK Publishing
Publication Date
July 25, 2016
Purchase Your Copy Today!
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 Excerpt:

From Chapter Thirteen

Well, that didn’t go exactly as planned. Twisted didn’t have time for anything past the single thought before his head whipped to the side again. Blood sprayed in a fan across the face of the man with a fist in his hair, holding his head up. Twisted watched as the dead man licked his lips, then gathered enough saliva to spit to the side. Points for not hawkin’ in my face.

Probing with his tongue, Twisted found the split in his cheek flooding his mouth with blood. Lemme show you how it’s done. Biding his time, he let the bitter fluid fill his mouth, holding still until the man leaned deep, putting his face right in front of Twisted, getting ready to shout at him again, no doubt. The problem was, the guy was too close. Got close, stayed close, put himself in harm’s way by staying within reach.

Stupid. He should have done things differently. Should have had a soldier holding Twisted from behind. Should have made sure the bonds hadn’t slipped. Should have checked more than the obvious places for weapons. Dead man, he thought, just before he spat a mouthful of blood into the man’s eyes, knowing the mixture of blood and saliva would burn like a motherfucker.

Twisted rolled, sacrificing his scalp to gain distance while he shoved a hand into his front pocket, coming out with a small pen. With a flick of his wrist, the concealed blade popped into place. He swept his keys from the ground where they were knocked during the initial scuffle, fingers folding around what looked like a cute kitty face keychain, now revealed to be a deadly addition to bare-fisted fighting. Coming up from the ground, he threw himself at the lone man he’d identified as a danger, the only one who hadn’t holstered his weapon while Twisted was kneeling on the ground.

Sweeping right to left, the thin blade bit through the man’s face, striated muscle visible through the hole gaping in its wake. Not sure if that would keep this guy clear, he followed up with a violent punch to the throat, knowing his kitty’s work was done when the guy stopped making sounds. The keys went into his pocket, and in a continuance of the same motion, Twisted stripped the gun from the man’s fingers. He turned, seeing no other weapons yet bared. Flat-footed enemies, he thought, lifting his chin as he stared into Gollum’s eyes.

Shouts and yells rose around them, Twisted’s delayed backup flooding from the woods surrounding the clearing he’d seemed destined to die in today. The men at Gollum’s back countered finally, pulling their weapons. Bullets whistled past with sounds of pain filling the air. Meaty thuds of fists. High, wavering screams. Still the two men stood, locked in a stare.

On his side of the standoff, Twisted fought the urge to draw it out. Make him pay. That was what his blood chanted as it flowed fast through his veins. Make him pay. Shouldn’t have cut her hair. Make him pay. Shouldn’t have taken what she offered, knowing he didn’t have anything to trade. Make him pay. Her tears as she told Twisted what had happened, tears as he held her. Buckets of fucking tears choking her voice, rusting his heart, staining the time Twisted had with her. Make him pay.

“Do it! Fuckin’ do it!” Gollum screamed suddenly, bending at the waist, mouth open, cords in his neck straining. Fists clenched into impotent weapons with no nearby body upon which to impress their hatred, Penny would be forever safe from him. “Fuckin’ do it!”

“Since you asked so nicely.” Twisted wasn’t even aware he spoke aloud until he heard Po’Boy laugh beside him. Sighting down the barrel, grip unfamiliar in his hand, Twisted focused on the still-screaming mouth in the face in front of him.

About MariaLisa deMora

Raised in the south, MariaLisa deMora learned about the magic of books at an early age. Every summer, with the help of a gracious librarian who did not believe in age-restricted stacks, she would spend hours in the local library, devouring books of every genre. Self-described as a book-a-holic, she says “I always loved to read, then I discovered writing, and I adored that, too. For reading … if nothing else is available, I’ve been known to read the back of the cereal box.” She still reads voraciously, and always has a few books going in paperback, hardback, or on devices.

deMora has penned a variety of stories, with several established series as well as standalones in romance and dark suspense. Her website is filled with links and information, as well as extras like character interviews, playlists, poetry, and trailer videos!

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Natural Alternatives You Should Try to Treat Arthritis

Natural Alternatives You Should Try to Treat Arthritis

It’s no secret arthritis can be a painful condition. However, you may want to try other options before treating it with medication or surgery. While it’s important to always pay attention to your doctor’s advice when they recommend treatment, you may also benefit from experimenting with natural remedies first.

The following are a few worth trying. If you have arthritis, they might help to alleviate your discomfort.

Exercise

Exercise often helps relieve pain and stiffness in arthritic patients. That’s why it’s one of the primary treatments doctors recommend. Just make sure you speak with a professional first before starting a fitness routine. You need to make sure you only perform exercises that are safe for someone in your condition. Consider direct access physical therapy, which would allow you to easily find and work with a physical therapist trained in arthritis exercises.

Weight Loss

Exercise has the added benefit of helping you lose weight. This is also important for people with arthritis, as the heavier you are, the more pressure is exerted on your joints. Losing weight reduces that pressure and relieves your discomfort. Along with exercising, make sure you stick to a balanced diet.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has historically been one of the more popular alternative remedies. That’s because it can deliver effective results. Although research into the topic has been fairly limited, studies have indicated acupuncture can help reduce pain in at least some arthritis patients. It’s worth finding out if you’re the type of person who would benefit from it.

Capsaicin Cream

People often apply capsaicin cream to injuries or parts of the body that hurt in order to reduce discomfort. Researchers have determined it to be effective in certain cases, although they are currently unsure why. Some believe capsaicin prevents the brain from receiving pain signals from nerves.

Topical Remedies

Historically, traditional topical pain relieving creams have been minimally effective at addressing the needs of arthritis patients. However, some have been experimenting with different ingredients to create topical creams specifically designed to treat arthritis. Try a few to see if any work for you.

Transcutaneous Electrostimulation

Transcutaneous electrostimulation, or TENS, involves sending electrical impulses to joints via electrodes placed on the skin, which can relieve arthritis pain in some patients. That said, it’s not the type of remedy that’s immediately available to most people. You need to work with a physical therapist or similar professional if you’re considering this option.

It’s important to remember that you don’t want to go it alone when managing arthritis. You still need to coordinate with your doctor on a regular basis. It also helps to consult with physical therapists and related experts. With their help, you can design an arthritis treatment plan based around natural remedies.

Bad Luck Charlie by Scott Baron

Bad Luck Charlie
Scott Baron
(The Dragon Mage, #1)
Publication date: March 15th 2019
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Charlie Gault had all the luck. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the good kind.

It was looking like Lady Luck had quite a grudge against him. In fact, at this point merely crashing the multi-billion-dollar ship he had helped design would have felt like winning the lottery compared to his current dilemma. If only he were so lucky.

Things had started off all right––that is, until a freak wormhole unexpectedly swallowed his ship, leaving him stranded on an unknown planet far, far from home. With the crew’s lives at stake, Charlie had no choice but to stop his whining, put on his big boy pants, and step up to save them all, and much to his surprise, it actually looked like he might succeed. Of course, that was when things really went sideways in ways that made merely crashing on an uncharted planet seem like a walk in the park.

Suddenly faced with alien space pirates, talking dragons, and something that seemed very much like magic, Charlie found himself adrift, feeling like a space age Robinson Crusoe––only his man Friday was a blue-skinned alien, and this wasn’t just a desert island. It was a whole new galaxy.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“Starboard heat shield seven is gone!” Charlie called out as calmly as he could over the din of their ship more or less tearing apart. He was going to carry out his duties like a professional if it was the last thing he’d do, and the way things were going, it was starting to look like it might be.

“Copy that.” Captain Reynard bellowed over the noise. “Gaspari, redirect the primary debris shield to cover as much of starboard seven as possible. Pull power from wherever you have to!”

Rika Gaspari, his second-in-command began frantically throwing switches, inverting the power flows, her hands a blur of activity as she carried out her orders. The ship’s rattling lessened, but did not cease.

“Still low on power, Captain. The atmosphere has some powerful radiologic properties that are wreaking havoc with our phase shielding. I don’t know if it’s going to be enough.”

“Then pull power from life support.”

“Sir? Won’t we need that?” Charlie asked as he struggled to keep the engines from redlining into critical and blowing them all to hell.

“Not if we don’t survive atmospheric entry. First things first. Right now, getting down in one piece is the most important one,” the captain replied.

Rika did as she was ordered. A moment later the crew felt the ever-present breeze of recirculating air that moved about them cease. It was something they were so familiar with that they didn’t even notice its presence until it was abruptly gone.

“Done, Captain,” Gaspari announced, her close-cropped hair sticking to her damp forehead. “Twenty seconds until we clear the exosphere.”

“Copy that. Jamal, are you suited up?” the captain asked over internal comms.

“Affirmative, Captain,” he replied. “Prepped and standing by with backup fire suppression.”

The chief of security and emergency services had geared up the moment things began to sway out of parameters, which was just before they were unceremoniously sucked through a massive wormhole and spat out Lord knew where. His foresight was a good thing. It was looking like things were about to get a whole lot worse.

The ship bucked and tossed, its hull glowing bright orange as the edges of the strange world’s atmosphere pummeled it with brutal intensity. It was a rough ride in command. Captain Reynard knew the rest of his crew were being subjected to a vicious beating in their compartments. He just hoped they had strapped in. They launched with twenty-four living crew aboard, and he planned to keep it that way.

The command module’s power flickered and dimmed.

“Losing primary power,” Gaspari said.

“I see it,” Charlie replied, already in motion, rushing from his seat to the door to the adjacent engineering compartment just off the bridge.

His team in main engineering down below would keep the reactors powered up. It was his job to keep that power flowing to the controls during flight.

Smoke greeted him as he manually opened the door with the backup access crank tucked into the wall panel.

“We got a fire?” Reynard asked, sniffing the air.

“Negative, Captain. Just some blown circuits and overloaded wires,” Charlie replied as he stuck his head in and surveyed the damage.

The room was small, just row upon row of circuit racks and relays. A harness chair sat in front of a work bench, never before used. Of course, for the maiden flight of the ship, why would it have been.

“The damage looks relatively minimal,” Charlie informed them. “Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll have it sorted.”

“We don’t have a couple of minutes.”

“I’m on it. Let me know when the main control power surges normalize and level out.”

Without another word, he slid through the narrow gap he’d opened in the door and set to work. The blown circuits were the easiest to repair, and luckily the most vital as well. The smoldering wires nearby––while important––were not crucial to staying aloft.

“Powering off navs and switching your panels to emergency reserve. Nobody touch anything until I say so. We’re already maxing the load,” he yelled out through the door.

Melted circuits went flying, his nimble fingers quickly replacing them with the backups stored in neatly-arranged cases mounted to the wall nearby. A mere thirty seconds after he began, he called out to the others once more.

“Okay, we’re good. It’s powered back up. Test the system.”

Captain Reynard feathered the controls. The ship responded as well as could be expected given the circumstances.

“Controls are functional. Gaspari, how are secondary navs and telemetry?”

“We’re limping, but it should be enough,” she replied.

“Okay, we’re good. Get out of there, Charlie.”

“Just a sec, Captain. I need to swap a few wires and reroute some of this charge so we don’t fry everything if there’s another power surge. It’ll just take me a minute.”

“Can it wait?”

“It can, but it shouldn’t.”

“All right, then. But be quick. We may have to make a much more abrupt landing than would be ideal.”

“Believe me, the last place I want to be is stuck in here,” he replied, setting to work.

He had just replaced the first of the failing wires when the ship bucked and slammed him into the wall, the emergency protocols sealing the re-powered door shut with him inside. He frantically clawed for the crank handle, but the turbulence was too much. Miraculously, he was thrown backwards––right into the harness chair. The back of the chair, that is.

Gotta get strapped in, he realized with a desperate grunt as his body switched from weightless to crushing Gs as the ship lurched and dove.

Charlie slammed into the ceiling with a rude crunch, held weightless a moment, hovering just out of reach of anything from which to push off, then was thrown to the floor, pinned by the G-force.

The pressure relented for a moment, allowing him to breathe. Charlie ignored the pain racking his body and dragged himself into the harness chair and strapped in snugly, and not a moment too soon, as the ship flipped upside down, then dove in a tight spiral.

Stuck in the memory foam chair, Charlie cried out, then fell silent as the pressure of the mounting G-force drove the blood from his head, rendering him unconscious.

He wouldn’t remember the crash. But he would never forget the aftermath, nor the folly that had led up to it.

Author Bio:

A native Californian, Scott Baron was born in Hollywood, which he claims may be the reason for his off-kilter sense of humor. Before taking up residence in Venice Beach, he spent a few years studying abroad before settling into the film and television industry, where he has worked off and on for some time. Scott not only writes, but is also involved in indie film and theater both in the U.S. and abroad.

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