Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Now scheduling a one-week tour for The Christmas Knockout by Wren Valentino #MMRomance


Now scheduling a one-week tour for The Christmas Knockout by Wren Valentino

This tour will be December 15- 22 (weekdays only)

I am scheduling reviews, guest blogs, interviews, and spotlight stops

review copy available

To participate in this tour please send:

Your blog name and url

A suggested date during the tour

Please let me know if you wish to review

The Christmas Knockout
Wren Valentino

Genre: M/M Romance
Publisher: Blue Dasher Press 
Date of Publication: 12/5/2025
ASIN: B0G5B8G3H1
Word Count: 5K

Cover Artist: James at GoOnWrite.com

Tagline: When a lonely reporter meets a legendary fighter, Christmas delivers its sweetest knockout.

Book Description: 

A steamy, romantic Christmas Eve encounter between a lonely reporter and a charming boxing champion. When journalist Grayson Lane meets newly out boxing star Sergio Cavallo, their interview quickly turns into an unexpected escape from a stuffy gala and a night filled with honesty, heat, and holiday vulnerability. In Grayson’s tiny apartment, sparks fly and two lonely men discover a connection neither saw coming.

About the Author:

Wren Valentino is a multifaceted storyteller—an actor, author, entrepreneur, film producer, critic, and instructor—whose work spans stage, screen, and page. A bestselling novelist with twenty-one books across romance, thriller, young adult, and horror, he has built a reputation for crafting emotionally rich, genre-spanning narratives.

An accomplished playwright, Wren has written more than seventy stage plays produced in twelve countries and three languages. His success extends to the screen as well, with eight original screenplays and seven stage plays adapted into films. As a film producer, he has contributed to the creation of over one hundred independent movies, and as an actor, he has appeared in more than forty films.

Wren earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications and English from Oglethorpe University, graduating with honors. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte and completed the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA.

A dedicated member of the writing community, Wren belongs to Contemporary Romance Writers, the International Screenwriters’ Association, Rainbow Romance Writers, and the Romance Writers of America, which recognized his service with a Volunteer Service Award.







Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 1:04 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Now On Tour The Princess of the Wraiths by Peregrinus Hierusalemsis



















The Princess of the Wraiths
Peregrinus Hierusalemsis

Genre: YA Memoir
Publisher: Books to Hook Publishing, LLC.
Date of Publication: 21st of June 2025
ISBN: 979-8-89283-269-4

Word Count: 262,705 
Cover Artist: Katarzyna Burzmińska 

Book Description:

Biologist-turned-author Peregrinus Hierusalemsis presents “The Princess of the Wraiths: an herbal, bestiary, human zoo, and memoir,” a captivating book that intertwines science, spirituality, and personal growth. This memoir offers a profound look at the intersections of love, knowledge, and resilience, all while reflecting on the author's rich experiences. 

Peregrinus describes the cultural experiences that he lived while growing up in Mexico between the years 1984 and 2002. He also discusses his later life in the United Kingdom and Sweden. During this time, the 2000s culture is explored.

At its core, the book conveys a powerful message: knowledge and wisdom are the ultimate tools for living a successful life. Through deeply personal anecdotes, Peregrinus touches on universal themes such as the influence of global events on individual lives, overcoming fears, seeking spiritual teachers, and navigating love and relationships. Richly illustrated with 94 handmade natural history and people-focused illustrations, this memoir provides not only an intellectual feast but also a visual delight. 

Key highlights include childhood fears of ghosts, mystical experiences, navigating young adult relationships, and insights into the biodiversity of our natural world. Peregrinus also sheds light on his experience avoiding toxic relationships, a lesson that inspired the title, “The Princess of the Wraiths.” The Princess of the Wraiths is a woman who is able to produce nightmares using hypnosis. Defeating her was Peregrinus’s greatest challenge. Through this work, readers will uncover how science and spirituality can coexist to offer a broader understanding of reality. 

This unique memoir is available for free online, making it an accessible and enriching read for anyone interested in exploring the depths of science, spirituality, and personal evolution.

FREE Download at Scribd


About the Author:

Peregrinus Hierusalemsis is a biologist, writer, and seeker whose life has woven together science, philosophy, and spirituality. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh (2010) with a degree in biology, he has published scientific papers on biodiversity and worked in plant sciences, entomology, and molecular biology since 2009. His professional passion lies in systematics, the classification of living things, while his personal explorations reach into philosophy, metaphysics, and the world’s ancient spiritual traditions.

From early encounters with eastern philosophy in childhood karate lessons in Mexico, to late-night debates on western philosophy with friends, to the guidance of a spiritual teacher during his A-level years in the UK, Peregrinus has always sought to understand life’s hidden patterns. These experiences, alongside his scientific training, shape his unique voice which can be described as a bridge between the empirical and the mystical.

His debut work, The Princess of the Wraiths: an herbal, bestiary, human zoo, and memoir, invites readers into a journey that blends memoir with natural history, spiritual reflection, and philosophical inquiry.




Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 4:19 PM 0 comments

Monday, December 1, 2025

Now scheduling a two-week tour for The Serpent’s Order by SZ Estavillo #Thriller


Now scheduling a two-week tour for The Serpent’s Order by SZ Estavillo

This tour will be December 15- 29 (weekdays only)

I am scheduling reviews, guest blogs, interviews, and spotlight stops

review pdf available

To participate in this tour please send:

Your blog name and url

A suggested date during the tour

Please let me know if you wish to review

The Serpent’s Order
The Serpent Series
Book 4
SZ Estavillo

Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Oliver-Heber
Date of Publication: February 10, 2026
ASIN: B0FX5TFVLP
Number of pages: 314
Word Count: 90, 219
Cover Artist: Oliver-Heber

Tagline: An assassin bound by obedience. A detective marked for death. A cartel war with no survivors.

Book Description:

Von Schlange thought she’d escaped her past. Now Black Nova owns her—an elite, off-the-books task force where obedience is survival and failure means death. As their newest assassin, she’s unleashed on targets tied to Jaxon Ryker, a drug lord buried deep in the Alaskan wilds.

Her partner, Xander Holt, a former Navy SEAL with ice in his veins, lives by the same brutal code: no attachments, no lines crossed. But as missions turn bloody, the fragile boundary between partner and lover begins to blur—and desire becomes its own kind of danger.

Across the country, Detective Anaya Nazario faces a nightmare of her own. A synthetic “zombie drug,” deadlier than fentanyl and immune to Narcan, is ripping through Los Angeles. Her investigation exposes a network of dirty cops shielding Ryker’s empire—and puts a target squarely on her back.

Two women on opposite fronts. One war against corruption and cartel power. And a single truth—every betrayal leaves a body behind.

Explosive, unrelenting, and razor-sharp, The Serpent’s Order propels the Serpent Series into its most dangerous chapter yet—where justice is a myth, and survival comes at a price paid in blood.


About the Author:

As a BIPOC thriller author, she previously parted amicably with her agent and, three months later, secured an eight-book deal with Oliver-Heber Books—now boasting 24,000 downloads in its first year and a BookRaid bestseller ranking in the thriller category. The Serpent Woman (Book 2) reached #1 on Amazon and topped all three of its categories. Her background spans literary agencies and TV studios, where she contributed to greenlit screenplays that became Lifetime movies. She holds a Master’s in Television, Radio, and Film, has taught author branding workshops (L.A. Writer’s Conference, North Texas RWA), and maintains a 100K+ social media following.








Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 3:27 PM 0 comments

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Grown-Up Book Fair This Saturday, November 15, 2025

I'll be at the Grown-Up Book Fair on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 6-9 p.m. @ Sloan Museum of Discovery

I'll have my haunted history and paranormal romance books along with bookmarks, stickers, art, and more. 

Get a head start on your holiday shopping.


Are you craving that nostalgic feeling of being excited about a school book fair, and browsing all of the new books to find the perfect one?

At the Book Fair for Grown Ups, you can do just that! 

On Saturday, November 15, join us after hours at Sloan Museum to browse a selection of new and used books from RB Used Books, Dragon's Roost Press, Friends of the Flint Public Library, plus several local authors, and plenty of vendors with book-related goodies and merch. 

There will be drinks available for purchase from Coffee Beanery- Sloan Museum while you browse, and your ticket includes access to the entire museum (please no food or drink in the museum galleries).

If you're a book lover and looking for new reads, this event is for you! 

Just $10 entry - visit: SloanLongway.org/BookFair for tickets and info. 

Cash bar, drinks, and snacks available at the Coffee Beanery Cafe. 

This event is open to guests 18 and up. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/763825506674129

Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 3:34 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Cover Reveal: Selecting The Wrong Love by E. Masson and Julie G. Henry


The Book Junkie Reads
https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blogspot.com/
Ogitchida Kwe's Book Blog
http://ogitchidabookblog.blogspot.com

Supernatural Central
http://supernaturalcentral.blogspot.com
Lisa’s World of Books
http://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/
Fang-tastic Books 
http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

Paranormalists
https://paranormalists.blogspot.com/

Roxanne’s Realm 
http://www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com 
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
http://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/
Sapphyria's Books
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/

Bewitching Book Tours
https://bewitchingbooktours.tumblr.com/

Books1987
https://books0623.blogspot.com/    

Serena Synn
https://serenasynn.blogspot.com/

Liliyana Shadowlyn
https://lshadowlynauthor.com  

A Bewitching Guide to Halloween
https://www.abewitchingguidetohalloween.com/

Bewitching Book Tours FB
https://www.facebook.com/BewitchingBookTours/

Roxanne Rhoads FB
https://www.facebook.com/RoxanneRhoadsAuthor/

Fang-tastic Books FB
https://www.facebook.com/FangtasticBooks/

Roxanne Rhoads Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/roxannerhoads/

The Pimpettes FB
https://www.facebook.com/bookpimpettes/

The Ugliest Sinners
https://theugliestsinnersbookreviews.wordpress.com/ 



Selecting The Wrong Love 
The LoveWade Tale Series 
Book One
E. Masson and Julie G. Henry

Genre: Romance 
Publisher: Author E. Masson , LLC
Pre-Order: 02-20-2026
ASIN: B0FWX8GBLP
Cover Artist: Marina

Tagline: Three men. One future. A choice that will change everything.

Book Description:

Love can turn your life upside down. 

Sometimes more than once…

Just ask Amber…..

Amber thought she knew exactly what she wanted. 

She was wrong.

Medical school. Career. Success. Everything mapped out perfectly until three men walked into her life and turned her world upside down.

James crashed into her on campus and never really left. Sweet, steady, completely devoted. He became the friend she couldn't live without, even though his eyes promised so much more. But Amber had bigger plans than falling for a business major student.

Then Levi appeared like a gift from the universe. Gorgeous, brilliant, medical school's golden boy. When he chose her out of everyone else, Amber felt invincible. This was it. This was her perfect match.

One positive pregnancy test later, and Amber's carefully constructed future crumbled. Medical school could wait. Dreams could be rebuilt later. She married her prince and prepared for happily ever after.

What she got instead was a nightmare in designer clothes.

Years of trying to save a marriage that was doomed from the start left Amber broken and questioning everything. While she was busy playing the perfect wife, the perfect man had been waiting in the wings. Still single. Still hopeful. Still completely in love with the woman who'd shattered his heart.

But some chances expire. And Amber's running out of time to claim the love she was too blind to see.

Will she wake up before it's too late? 

Get your copy at Amazon and start reading to find out.  





About the Author:

Hello lovely readers! Welcome to my corner of the literary world, where fiction comes alive in all its glory! I am E. Masson, a captivating romance author with my pen dipped in dreams and a heart full of romance, I set my readers on the path of unforgettable journeys through the depths of the human heart. From whirlwind romances to slow-burning love stories, each page of my books are infused with warmth and emotion, leaving readers yearning for more.

I have a talent for creating characters you'll adore while feeling like old friends and settings that transport you to new worlds. I am here to sweep you off your feet with every word. So, get ready to rediscover the joy of falling in love with my enchanting romance novels. Welcome to the adventure!







Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 3:00 AM 0 comments

Monday, November 10, 2025

Now scheduling a one-month tour for The Princess of the Wraiths by Peregrinus Hierusalemsis #YAMemoir



Now scheduling a one-month tour for The Princess of the Wraiths by Peregrinus Hierusalemsis

This tour will be November 24- December 22 (weekdays only)

I am scheduling reviews, guest blogs, interviews, and spotlight stops

pdf review copy available

To participate in this tour please send:

Your blog name and url

A suggested date during the tour

Please let me know if you wish to review

The Princess of the Wraiths
Peregrinus Hierusalemsis

Genre: YA Memoir
Publisher: Books to Hook Publishing, LLC.
Date of Publication: 21st of June 2025
ISBN: 979-8-89283-269-4

Word Count: 262,705 
Cover Artist: Katarzyna Burzmińska 

Book Description:

Biologist-turned-author Peregrinus Hierusalemsis presents “The Princess of the Wraiths: an herbal, bestiary, human zoo, and memoir,” a captivating book that intertwines science, spirituality, and personal growth. This memoir offers a profound look at the intersections of love, knowledge, and resilience, all while reflecting on the author's rich experiences. 

Peregrinus describes the cultural experiences that he lived while growing up in Mexico between the years 1984 and 2002. He also discusses his later life in the United Kingdom and Sweden. During this time, the 2000s culture is explored.

At its core, the book conveys a powerful message: knowledge and wisdom are the ultimate tools for living a successful life. Through deeply personal anecdotes, Peregrinus touches on universal themes such as the influence of global events on individual lives, overcoming fears, seeking spiritual teachers, and navigating love and relationships. Richly illustrated with 94 handmade natural history and people-focused illustrations, this memoir provides not only an intellectual feast but also a visual delight. 

Key highlights include childhood fears of ghosts, mystical experiences, navigating young adult relationships, and insights into the biodiversity of our natural world. Peregrinus also sheds light on his experience avoiding toxic relationships, a lesson that inspired the title, “The Princess of the Wraiths.” The Princess of the Wraiths is a woman who is able to produce nightmares using hypnosis. Defeating her was Peregrinus’s greatest challenge. Through this work, readers will uncover how science and spirituality can coexist to offer a broader understanding of reality. 

This unique memoir is available for free online, making it an accessible and enriching read for anyone interested in exploring the depths of science, spirituality, and personal evolution.

FREE Download

Internet Archive     ResearchGate



About the Author:

Peregrinus Hierusalemsis is a biologist, writer, and seeker whose life has woven together science, philosophy, and spirituality. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh (2010) with a degree in biology, he has published scientific papers on biodiversity and worked in plant sciences, entomology, and molecular biology since 2009. His professional passion lies in systematics, the classification of living things, while his personal explorations reach into philosophy, metaphysics, and the world’s ancient spiritual traditions.

From early encounters with eastern philosophy in childhood karate lessons in Mexico, to late-night debates on western philosophy with friends, to the guidance of a spiritual teacher during his A-level years in the UK, Peregrinus has always sought to understand life’s hidden patterns. These experiences, alongside his scientific training, shape his unique voice which can be described as a bridge between the empirical and the mystical.

His debut work, The Princess of the Wraiths: an herbal, bestiary, human zoo, and memoir, invites readers into a journey that blends memoir with natural history, spiritual reflection, and philosophical inquiry.




Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 4:12 PM 0 comments

Monday, October 27, 2025

Now scheduling a Cover Reveal for Selecting The Wrong Love by E. Masson and Julie G. Henry

Now scheduling a Cover Reveal for Selecting The Wrong Love by E. Masson and Julie G. Henry
This reveal will be on November 12

To participate in this tour please send:

Your blog name and url

Selecting The Wrong Love 
The LoveWade Tale Series 
Book One
E. Masson and Julie G. Henry

Genre: Romance 
Publisher: Author E. Masson , LLC
Pre-Order: 02-20-2026
ASIN: B0FWX8GBLP
Cover Artist: Marina

Tagline: Three men. One future. A choice that will change everything.

Book Description:

Love can turn your life upside down. 

Sometimes more than once…

Just ask Amber…..

Amber thought she knew exactly what she wanted. 

She was wrong.

Medical school. Career. Success. Everything mapped out perfectly until three men walked into her life and turned her world upside down.

James crashed into her on campus and never really left. Sweet, steady, completely devoted. He became the friend she couldn't live without, even though his eyes promised so much more. But Amber had bigger plans than falling for a business major student.

Then Levi appeared like a gift from the universe. Gorgeous, brilliant, medical school's golden boy. When he chose her out of everyone else, Amber felt invincible. This was it. This was her perfect match.

One positive pregnancy test later, and Amber's carefully constructed future crumbled. Medical school could wait. Dreams could be rebuilt later. She married her prince and prepared for happily ever after.

What she got instead was a nightmare in designer clothes.

Years of trying to save a marriage that was doomed from the start left Amber broken and questioning everything. While she was busy playing the perfect wife, the perfect man had been waiting in the wings. Still single. Still hopeful. Still completely in love with the woman who'd shattered his heart.

But some chances expire. And Amber's running out of time to claim the love she was too blind to see.

Will she wake up before it's too late? 

Get your copy at Amazon and start reading to find out.  



About the Author:

Hello lovely readers! Welcome to my corner of the literary world, where fiction comes alive in all its glory! I am E. Masson, a captivating romance author with my pen dipped in dreams and a heart full of romance, I set my readers on the path of unforgettable journeys through the depths of the human heart. From whirlwind romances to slow-burning love stories, each page of my books are infused with warmth and emotion, leaving readers yearning for more.

I have a talent for creating characters you'll adore while feeling like old friends and settings that transport you to new worlds. I am here to sweep you off your feet with every word. So, get ready to rediscover the joy of falling in love with my enchanting romance novels. Welcome to the adventure!





Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 12:34 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

New Release: Guarded Time by Stephanie Hansen #NewRelease #Historical #Romantasy

New Release

Outlander Meets What the Wind Knows with a Dash of The Tudors



 

Guarded Time

Stephanie Hansen

 

Genre: Historical Romantasy

 

Claudia, Alex, and Marie embark on a perilous journey back through the swirling mists of time, their hopes pinned on averting a looming tragedy. As they navigate the tangled web of history, vivid memories of Alex and Claudia’s enduring love flicker across the timelines, a testament to their unyielding bond. Their destination is the tumultuous Ireland of 1649, a land poised precariously on the brink of siege. It is a treacherous era to traverse, where danger lurks at every corner.

 

In their quest, they immerse themselves within the ancient covens, becoming an integral part of the tightly knit community of Drogheda. The air is thick with tension, the kind that crackles and hums, as they wrestle with the monumental task before them. Caught in the crossfire of history, they face the daunting challenge of halting the impending slaughter of the town while grappling with the complex emotions tied to saving the beloved of their sworn nemesis.

 

As the stakes grow ever higher, the question looms large: will the timeless love between Alex and Claudia endure the trials they face, or are there formidable forces at work beyond their control, threatening to unravel the very fabric of their shared destiny?

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLQP9MSP/

 

#ReincarnatedSouls #TimeTravel #GirlSquad #Sorcery #ItsAlwaysBeenYou #SoulMate #Romantasy #HistoricalFiction

 

 

 

Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 5:00 AM 0 comments

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Spooktastic Haunted Book Fair Brings Dark Delights to Flint This October

Book lovers with a taste for the eerie and otherworldly are invited to step into the shadows at the Spooktastic Haunted Book Fair, happening Saturday, October 18, from 12–3 p.m. at Creative Cafe, 3318 Corunna Rd, Flint, MI 48503.

The event promises an afternoon filled with dark and paranormal romance, spine-tingling horror, haunting histories, and fantastical tales—the perfect mix for readers who like their stories on the spooky side. In addition to a wide selection of books, attendees will also find bookmarks, stickers, and other macabre merchandise to complete their haunted haul.

“Do you enjoy dark romances, haunted houses, and stories that send shivers down your spine?” asks event organizer Roxanne Rhoads. “The Spooktastic Haunted Book Fair is designed for readers who love to wander into the shadows of imagination.”

Whether you’re seeking your next paranormal love story, a chilling ghost tale, or simply a spooky souvenir, the fair will offer something for every fan of the macabre.

Event Details:

 Spooktastic Haunted Book Fair
 Saturday, October 18, 12–3 p.m.
 Creative Cafe, 3318 Corunna Rd, Flint, MI 48503
 Event Page on Facebook


Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 3:24 PM 0 comments

Monday, September 29, 2025

Now On Tour The Chosen One’s Assistant by Kimber


September 29 The Book Junkie Reads
https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blogspot.com/

September 30 Books1987
https://books0623.blogspot.com/    

October 1 The Pimpettes FB
https://www.facebook.com/bookpimpettes/

October 2 Supernatural Central
http://supernaturalcentral.blogspot.com

October 3 Roxanne Rhoads FB
https://www.facebook.com/RoxanneRhoadsAuthor/

October 6 Fang-tastic Books 
http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

October 7 Paranormalists
https://paranormalists.blogspot.com/

October 8 Roxanne’s Realm 
http://www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com 

October 9 Bewitching Book Tours FB
https://www.facebook.com/BewitchingBookTours/

October 10 Roxanne Rhoads Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/roxannerhoads/

October 13 The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
http://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/

October 14 Sapphyria's Books
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/

October 15 Fang-tastic Books FB
https://www.facebook.com/FangtasticBooks/

October 16 Bewitching Book Tours
https://bewitchingbooktours.tumblr.com/

October 17 Liliyana Shadowlyn
https://lshadowlynauthor.com  

October 20 Serena Synn 
https://serenasynn.blogspot.com/

October 21 The Bookworm
www.azdesertbookworm.com

October 22 I Smell Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/

October 23 Deal Sharing Aunt
www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

October 24 A Bewitching Guide to Halloween 
https://www.abewitchingguidetohalloween.com/

October 27 Lisa’s World of Books
http://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/


The Chosen One’s Assistant 
Kimber Grey 

Genre: Epic/High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery
Publisher: GrayWhisper Graphics Productions (
Date of Publication: 7/12/2023
ISBN: 979-8851108464
ASIN: B0C9SNG88J
Number of pages: 359
Word Count: Aprox. 98,000
Cover Artist: Kimber Grey

Tagline: Hilarious, Dark, and Epic! Everything you’d expect in a book with vampire weasels.

Book Description:

Never meet your heroes.

Outcast by every guild, starving, and left beaten and shamed in an alley, he was beyond desperate when the timeliest opportunity presented itself: The Greatest Hero of Men was in need of an assistant.

He was so eager to leave his old life behind, he didn't hesitate to accept the role of Tiberius, personal assistant to The Chosen One. The magically binding contract was signed, and the previous servant was out the door before the blood on the quill was dry. Tiberius quickly learned he was responsible for all of the hero's needs from mundane to absurdly ridiculous, and the hero himself was the most ridiculous of all. Woefully inexperienced as a quester, thrown into the hero's world of danger and debauchery, he could never have guessed how harrowing and frustrating this new position would be. Then he learned the God of Pestilence was holding a well-justified, 100-year-old grudge. Death, disease, and evil beyond any Tiberius could imagine awaited them on the path ahead, and The Chosen One had been called to stand against it.

How could Tiberius hope to survive his first campaign with the gods' champion against Trion, God of Darkness?

Amazon      Hardcover      Books2Read

Exclusive Excerpt:

 The crew began unloading scheduled deliveries and taking on expected freight, and The Chosen One disappeared into the cabin once more. He still had not spared a moment to discuss the day's events with me, and after several minutes of frustrated mulling, I followed. "What about the man in the woods?" I demanded behind the closed door. "We need to talk about what it could mean. Was he actually T—"

"Don't say his name if you can help it," the hero snapped as if he were speaking to an ignorant child. Then to my surprise, he flashed me a broad grin. "He and I go way back! A bit of a rivalry, I suppose. Not to worry."

My mouth dropped open as he stripped down to his underpinnings and began riffling around in his clothes trunk, tossing garments this way and that as they were assessed and dismissed. "W—He..." I shook my head, trying to get my fear-addled brain to function. "Not to worry?" I shouted, finding my voice at last. The sudden shrill tone startled even me, and The Chosen One jerked. "You have a rivalry with a god, and I am 'not to worry'?"

He turned to level a stare at me. "Breathe before you faint," he grumbled. He made his way to the bed with an armload of silk and linen finery. "A long while back, I had to slay someone that belonged to him. I don't think he's quite gotten over it. Gods tend to hold grudges for a long time."

I don't think my jaw could have gapped farther without unhinging from my skull. "You... you—"

"She was a dragon," he explained absently. "She developed a taste for virgin flesh and lost her ability to change back into human form." He shrugged as if he were explaining simple math. "She was a monster." He met my gaze, clearly to determine if I was following. "Huh, you're a strange pallor," he noted. "You should sit."

"You killed one of his, and you yet live?"

He nodded. "She was a monster. It is what I do. I have and had four gods," he held up four fingers to illustrate, "backing me in this endeavor, one of whom is their king." He sighed, pulling fitted leather trousers over his muscular legs with more than one grunt of effort. "It cost me, though," he grumbled unhappily.

"What?" I asked. "What great loss did you suffer, backed by half the pantheon of—"

He leveled me with another dark stare. "It cost my hair," he answered blandly. "In fact, every hair on my person save my nose, eyebrows, and lashes." He stood and began fumbling with the buttons at his long cuffs. "Burned all my skin to ash," he recounted. "Nothing remained but sinew and the sword."

My teeth clapped shut, and I frowned down at the wood floor. "I've read this story."

"Yeah," he drawled. "One of my greatest deeds." He shook his head. "When they resurrected me, I was naked as a newborn. They said my hair would grow back." He scowled at his cuff. "It never did."

I looked up at him, then shook my head and stepped forward to help with the tiny abalone buttons. "As I recall, you saved a princess. I thought it was exaggerated."

He shook his head. "No. Not in the least. Under-exaggerated more like. Had to kill that beast with no skin. Hardest slay of my life."

My fingers faltered at that thought. I couldn't even begin to imagine how much that must have hurt. I'd earned blisters before, mixing potions. I shuddered. "After that, and you still could wield the sword?"

He shrugged. "It's how this sort of thing works. You have to be willing to pay the price. The greater the deed, the reward, the monster... the greater the cost."

About the Author:

Kimber was born in the arid and alien land known as southern California. She began consuming fiction from an early age, and has ever been eager to emulate the works that dramatically shaped her heart and mind as a child. She began creating short fiction and poetry in grade school, and wrote her first (laughably bad) novel in jr. high. With a grandmother who is a writer and an editor, English teachers who encouraged her budding potential, and a husband with an even greater appreciation of the written word, Kimber has never lacked support in the pursuit of her bliss.

She published her first fantasy novel Quietus in 2009, and her second Seeking Destiny in 2012. The first three books of Faiden Reborn, Kingdoms Lost, Fallen Heroes, and History Forgotten were published in 2017. She has published two anthologies and four novellas, and her work has appeared in anthologies such as Missing Pieces IV, V, and VI; The Hapless Cenloryan-The Troubadour's Inn Book I (2017 Ed.), and On Wings of Steam: Ears and Gears. The Chosen One's Assistant, published in 2023 is her most popular yet, with it's heavy fantasy tropes and sharp wit.





Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 2:30 AM 0 comments
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