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Tag Archives: Blog Hop

Blog hop posts. Hops are joint efforts by multiple bloggers to share.

Zoom-zoom! Not a bike, a book club #Zoom #BookClub #MFRWhooks #MFRWorg

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!

No, that's not a motorbike or your kid playing with cars. It's a Zoom Book Club, and it's fun. I'd love for you to come.

You stay home, hang out with new friends and chat about books. There is a guest author every week and you can bring a friend. There's plenty of room on the Zoom couch.

You don't have to read a book. Just show up.

This week (July 8th) it's romantic suspense, and next week (July 15th) it's sci-fi -- I'll be the guest of honor. I'd love to meet you "face-to-face" or as close as we can get these days...

Romantic Suspense author Lorelei Confer is the host, and she has author guests of every genre.

This week is romantic suspense author Kendra Elliott, who has sold over 8 million books. Wow! 8 million? I can't imagine. She's hit the Wall Street Journal top ten bestseller list eleven times, and is a three time winner of the Daphne du Maurier award. Her 2017 release, A Merciful Death was a #1 Amazon overall bestseller and has been optioned for TV.

She's an International Thrillers Writers finalist and a Romantic Times finalist. Come meet her!

Wine optional. ;)

Here's Where to Meet New Authors

Tonight  at 7pm EST come hang out in a Zoom Book Club.
We meet every Wednesday night.

Click this Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 712 9191 3535

Password: X0P3Zv

If you want to attend on your phone, check out the Zoom app Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. It's free. Once you're set up, you just press a button and you're in.

See you there!

Check out the other authors in this blog hop below.

Image credit for banner:  Photo by Gorbachevsergeyfoto on Pixabay.com / Design by Kayelle Allen


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors. Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

5 Myths About How Cats View Humans #humor #MFRWhooks #SciFi

 

I write Science Fiction Romance, and many of my stories involve the Kin, a feline humanoid species who are at once quite human and quite catlike. It occurred to me that discussing myths about how cats view humans might be helpful in understanding how the Kin view humans.

Here are my top five myths.

Myth #1: Cats don't like humans.

Cats like humans very much. They think humans are useful domestic animals. If possible, I'm told, every cat should own at least one.

Kin like humans too, but because humans fight so hard for independence, it's difficult to own one. Besides, unlike Kin who use only natural cleansers, humans tend to groom themselves with scented soaps and lotions, and the smell is-- well... the smell.

Myth #2: Cats don't listen to humans.

Cats listen. They occasionally blink to show they've registered human words. Now and then a cat will twitch its tail in response. Listening does not imply cats care what humans are saying. That is an entirely different matter.

Kin listen to humans. It's just that with the placement of Kin ears on the upper parts and sides of their heads -- the human voice enters on one side, and goes right out the other.

Myth #3: Cats don't pay attention to humans

Far from true. Cats completely understand the meaning of focus, and nothing comes between them and their quarry when hunting -- unless they want it to.

The Kin focus extremely well, but are capable of switching focus in an instant, giving the impression they are not paying attention.

Myth #4: Training is difficult with cats.

False. Most cats can have a human trained within 48 hours.

A Kin needs far less time.

Myth #5: Cats expect humans to feed them.

This is mostly true. However, many cats are capable of rustling up a mouse or other pest for dinner if forced to fend for themselves. That said, this is no excuse to abandon them.

Kin have no need of anyone to feed them. They have opposable thumbs and can manage quite well in the kitchen. That said, if you live with one of these fascinating creatures, you learn quickly there is no snooze button on a Kin who wants breakfast.

5 Myths About How Cats View Humans #humor #MFRWhooks #SciFi

Surrender Love

An Immortal Alpha Male / Submissive Alien MM Science Fiction Romance Novel

With his heart freshly broken, does he dare to love again?

Luc is a 12,000-year-old immortal alpha male, and the most powerful man in an intergalactic empire of 22 planets. When his mortal lover walks away, the smart thing is to move on and forget, but how can he bear his loneliness, life after life?

When Izzorah landed on Tarth five years ago, he'd been nothing but a feline-humanoid alien from the backwoods of a distant world, but he made himself into a rock star. When Luc rescues Izzy from a terrible situation, the adorable Kin hero, who has an almost superpower ability to smell every subtle change of emotion, falls for the heartbroken leader.

This might be the soulmate Luc has hoped for. The one person to whom he can surrender his heart. But to bring his beloved closer means revealing every damning secret, every twisted truth, and every hidden lie.

Surrender Love is a heart-melting Sci-Fi Romance novel sure to induce an insatiable desire for sequels, which fortunately, are on their way.

Want to read the advance copy?

Sign up for my review team.

Preorder Now Available

Amazon - will be in Kindle Unlimited and in print Feb 20, 2021

Read a sample of Surrender Love (no sign-up necessary)

~ 3 ways to know when a new book releases ~
1) Sign up for my newsletter. You'll get a free book and other exclusive perks. You can unsubscribe at any time.
2) Follow my Amazon Author Page and get one alert from Amazon when a new story is available.
3) Sign up for AuthorAlarms and the app will send you one email when I release a book. You can add and remove authors on this app.


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

Raging Success and the End of All Hope #Excerpt Surrender Love by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #MMromance #MFRWhooks

That feeling when...

Success brings no joy

In this excerpt from Surrender Love, Izzorah Ceeow is alone in his hotel room in the capitol city of the Tarthian Empire. He'll be signing a five-year contract the next day. He's a megastar. Fans scream his name.

But what does that raging success bring?

Excerpt

When Izzorah Ceeow landed on Tarth five years ago, he'd been nothing but a feline-humanoid alien from the backwoods of a distant world, but he'd made himself into a rock star.

The media called him "the Kin mega-star" and likened him to his famous cousin, Tovar. Fans shouted Izzy whenever he performed and wore his name on buttons that flashed to the beat of his drums on stage. Money filled every pocket. He'd given a fortune to help his people.

But standing in his luxurious hotel room now, none of that success mattered.

The jewel of the Tarthian Empire lay right outside his room. Tarth City, a fabulous place everyone raved about. It might as well have been across the universe. Unable to see anything past the reach of his arms, and terrified of heights, he stayed away from windows. The dizzying elevations humans craved in their buildings jolted sickening fear through him. At the mere thought of how high up he was his stomach threatened to betray him.

He couldn't read or write in any human language. He'd hoped to find a cure for his sight but that miracle had evaded him. Asking to be healed meant admitting he couldn't see, which meant admitting he was unqualified to be a Praetorian Guard.

Not that he planned to ever be one, but the recruiters on his homeworld had said he could join and then decide later. Why did recruiters always lie?

Humans called it being deported. Kin called it dak hhahvahcun--back to the planet.

Raging Success and the End of All Hope #Excerpt Surrender Love by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #MMromance #MFRWhooksIzzorah called it the end of all hope.

He'd hoped to regain his full sight, lost due to illness at age three. Human tech embedded in stud earrings guided him, but he missed things. He'd almost walked into traffic outside the stadium last night. Kory's quick reflexes had protected him. So far none of his band mates knew his secret, but they wouldn't always be there when he needed them. Even Kory, closer than a brother.

When the media reported that since Izzorah had no girlfriends, he must be married back on his homeworld, Kory suggested he flirt more. How could he flirt more when he'd never flirted at all?

Girls held no interest for him, but he'd never had a boyfriend either. On his homeworld, admitting he preferred guys warranted death.

Still, he played the game and tried to talk to girls, until the media linked him with any girl he spoke to. He'd stopped speaking to anyone. That made them talk even more. Hiding did no good. Every time he appeared, fans threw roses at him, embarrassingly detailed artwork of himself and one girl even sent her panties. Seriously, a girl's underwear? He refused to open anything after that.

The guys started checking deliveries for him and tossing out things. Until one Kin fan sent him a pair of drumsticks painted with pale green kanya leaves, emblem of the Ceeow clan. Those, he treasured. He used them every day during practice. During a concert, his sticks often broke because he played so hard, but those? Those he used like they were solid gold.

When not in concert, he hid. Was it any wonder the media dubbed him "the Lonely Kin?"

So he didn't have a girlfriend. So what? He laid back both ears and gave a khss, a short, sharp hiss from the back of the throat.

The Pride Council didn't care males outnumbered females seven to one, or that few females got pregnant. They were all up-in-your-ears about what should be and paid no mind to what was. Maybe same-sex love affairs were no big deal on Tarth, but if it got out to his Kin fans? They'd boo instead of cheer; throw stones instead of roses. He was no freer here than he was back home.

He told himself he had freedom here, but having to hide from everyone made him as much a prisoner as he would have been back home. The difference was that back on the planet he had no hope at all. Here, he had band mates that needed him.

Still, he walked a tight line that grew more fragile with every mistake he made.


This book has been out of print since 2014, and returns in an expanded edition with new scenes but the same tender love story and noble young hero.  Surrender Love will be available in print and KU.

HEART-RELATED WARNINGS:

Adorable feline-humanoid hero may induce swooning.
Heart-melting romance likely to cause palpitations.
Immortal with a tragic past may cause heartbreak.
Teary-eye trigger: Extreme happy-ever-after.
Additional concern: May induce insatiable desire for sequels. (Fortunately, the cure for this aspect is on its way.)

 

Want to read the advance copy? Sign up for my review team.

 

~ 3 ways to know when a new book releases ~
1) Sign up for my newsletter. You'll get a free book and other exclusive perks. You can unsubscribe at any time.
2) Follow my Amazon Author Page and get one alert from Amazon when a new story is available.
3) Sign up for AuthorAlarms and the app will send you one email when I release a book. You can add and remove authors on this app.


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

Find an invisible man in another dimension. Say what? #Excerpt Trailing Kaiwulf #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Trailing Kaiwulf

A pair of bounty hunters (a big guy who's the brains, and tiny woman who's the brawn) are sent to find a missing person last spotted by an archaeologist on an alien world. The problem?

He's in another dimension. Oh, and he's invisible.

They literally didn't see that coming.

 

Excerpt from Trailing Kaiwulf

TRAIL: Trace, Rescue, and Identification League

In this scene from Trailing Kaiwulf, Jee and Dane, two TRAIL agents, are briefed about their latest mission.

Dane perched on the edge of Thompson's desk. "Does Dr. Post think these people are gens?"

"She's convinced Kaiwulf is."

"What's a gen?" When Dane looked her way, Jee shrugged. "Yeah, I'm ignorant. What's a gen?"

"Short for genetically-altered human," her partner answered. "The Terran Crescent kicked most of them out in...what century, Thompson? Thirty-eighth maybe?"

"About that."

"I bet they descended from original genetic experiments in the Colonies. Later, people saw the dangers, but for hundreds of years, drug and medical corporations ran uncontrolled human gene manipulation. What kind of abilities does Dr. Post think they have?"

"I'll get to that. She says if she can locate Kaiwulf, she stands a good chance of discovering how they became the way they are. He carries a key given to him by his mother. Dr. Post has a theory that the high priestess originally reported the progress of genetic changes to visiting scientists or clinicians, and that each planet might have been given its own special ability. One--"

Jee mimed a yawn. "Cut to the chase."

Thompson frowned. "Fine. Kaiwulf was sighted twice before they filmed him. First, he walked into Dr. Post in a cave and startled the devil out of both of them. When she screamed, he disappeared. She swears there was no other exit, yet no one saw him leave. A week later, she saw him again. It's been almost a month since and there's been no sign of him. So far, the only people they've seen on the planet are the sixty plus who live in a small village of thatched-roof huts. They're the last of a dying race. When questioned, they identified Kaiwulf as their outcast from years before."

Jee cracked her knuckles. "So they want this key of his, right?"

"More than that. Run the holovid in slow-mo. When Kaiwulf leaves, watch where he goes. I think you'll see the reason they're willing to pay TRAIL's price."

Jee flicked it on and reset the timing for slow.

"Someone on Dr. Post's staff leaked information about Kaiwulf to the Colonial Department of Defense." Thompson dialed back a setting on his BioMate. "She's determined to get to the boy before the military and bureaucrats do. They've kept a strong presence in the area for the last week, nosing into everything her team does. Slow it down a bit more, Jee. This is the part I want you to see. Pay attention to this."

In the holovid, Kaiwulf turned and walked toward the back of the cave.

"Jee!" Her wide-eyed partner blinked. "Did you fricking see that?"

She gave a slow nod, and faced Thompson, who had the gall to smirk.

Kaiwulf hadn't disappeared.

He'd walked into the stone.


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JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.


 

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

Welcome to a book fair featuring strong female characters. This sample of 10 books is a small part of the full 99-book fair. You'll find all the books in a multi-author book fair on StoryOrigin.

Strong Female Characters

Voodoo Legacy Complete Series

Overcome legion of supernatural baddies: Become voodoo Queen.

Theophilus Monroe

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

Tempus Magic

Starina has to go alone through time where nothing is as it seems and if she fails, she risks not just her entire agency, but also her life.

Mary Kit Caelsto

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

Shattered

Apparently, I'm an alien from another world, an emrys who can wield light. Just another truth kept from me. But at least I can fly and torch things.

EE Everly

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

The Pegasus Project

Can a concert pianist with RA teach a pegasus filly with PTSD to fly?

Mary Kit Caelsto

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

Releasing Her Power Within

Liz thinks she's just a human girl until she moves into the family cabin. She discovers more about herself and defeats someone who attempts to take her life multiple times. Who knew a magical secret could turn her into a kickass shifter?

Madilynn Dale

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

Runaway Magic

A young student mage uses all her skills and wits to protect her friends and the forest she loves.

Ali Ings

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

Druid's Portal 1

Janet, modern day archaeologist ends up in Roman Britain, rescuing the hero.

Cindy Tomamichel

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

Devil's Road

A former car thief is broken out of jail by an insane billionaire and tasked with entering the world's most deadly car race across a post-apocalyptic island populated by monsters, to retrieve priceless alien artefacts.

Gary Gibson

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

The Dark Awakening

Mercy Brawling learns right before her eighteenth birthday that she's an ancient witch. Not only is she the fifth element, Spirit, born in human form, but she was put on the earth for the purpose of ridding the world of the vampire race. In a span of two weeks, she must learn to harness her magic, trust in her powers, while keeping her friends safe. She is the true example of power, strength, and sacrifice.

DL Blade

10 Fantasy and Sci-Fi books with strong female characters #SciFi #Fantasy #BookFair

The Last Vhalgenn

When she risks her honor and her life to protect a child she must also risk her heart...

Kayelle Allen

You'll find strong female characters in all books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


Free Illustrated Starter Set


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

I prevail over the breath of my enemies - quote from Pietas, Bringer of Chaos

"I prevail over the breath of my enemies" - quote from Pietas, Bringer of Chaos

Prevail (definition):...

To be valid, applicable, true, superior, or to persuade successfully.

Said of Pietas.

During the first few months of exile, every day, Pietas worked on his compulsion ability. He had no one to target but Six, a human.

Prior to imprisonment, for practice, Pietas would ask for some item he needed, such as a stylus. He wouldn't say which one or what type, but instead, as whoever was near reached for one, Pietas extended a wave of compulsion to choose the desired item. It never failed. Each person always picked the one he wanted. People who entered his presence would turn around and leave without Pietas saying a word. Practicing with small things made the big things second nature.

He had once turned a whole division and made them attack their comrades. But coerce Six? Might as well ask the sun for ice. Was it because he was reanimiated? A ghost? Or was it inherent in his nature?

Pietas sent Six a strong wave of compulsion to come to him, but the ghost continued filleting a fish without the least pause.

Casting himself back onto the grass in a fit of pique, Pietas stared up at the sky. He'd had more control as a child! Would he have to start over and relearn everything? Was the gift lost? He'd honed it for centuries. Surely, it was not lost. Please, let it not be lost...

No matter how hard or how long it took, he would reclaim every power, every gift, and every ability. He would own everything he'd lost. No one robbed Pietas ap Lorectic, First Conqueror, War Leader of the Ultras and got away with it. Humanity had tried to rob him of his birthright, but they would not prevail.

Check the links below to find more authors in this blog hop.

Pick up the first story in the Bringer of Chaos series, Lights Out, free by joining a reader group!
https://kayelleallen.com/reader-groups

Origin of Pietas

Origin of Pietas: Bringer of Chaos #SpaceOpera #SciFi

Forged in Fire

Forged in Fire: Bringer of Chaos #SpaceOpera #SciFi

Lights Out

Lights Out: Bringer of Chaos #SpaceOpera #SciFi


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.