Hey y'all! Today is my stop on the Romance Me with Books tour for Of Blood and Silver Runes by Christine Kirby!

​Magic hasn’t appeared on Myrefall in generations, but that hasn’t lessened the tensions between elves and mortals.

Raena lives a simple life, hidden away as the only elf in the mortal town of Moonbridge. An accidental burst of magic chases her from the snowy sanctuary, forcing her to navigate the perils of Myrefall. Alone.  

Pursued by the Elven Queen’s Hunters, Raena stumbles not only into the capital city of the Mortal Kingdom but into the king’s court. Approached by the mysterious red priestess who claims that Raena is the answer to the city’s prayers, the Everlasting, promised to protect them from the coming darkness.  

Heles the Demon King threatens to claim her realm, but He requires Raena to open the portal. Raena works with the red priestess, using her magic to bestow divine blessings to help the lowliest among them to protect them from the darkness.  

But Raena must balance her life as Everlasting and disguised as a mortal courtier. The imminent visit of an elven delegation has her taking matters into her own hands, jeopardizing her role as Everlasting. ​

​If the Demon King escapes the shadow realm, any blood spilled will be on Raena’s hands. How many secrets can she divulge to protect those she cares for while keeping herself out of Heles’ grasp and evading the Elven Queen?

​Check it out on Amazon or add it on Goodreads!

October was an incredibly busy month for me and, alas, I didn't get to do as much writing or reading as I wanted. 

I don't have much news to share, but autumn is in full swing here in DC, so please enjoy some foliage photos. 

Don't forget... Test of the Four: Book Two of The Serrulata Saga launches on November 23, though you can pre-order a copy now.

Have a great weekend!

​Hey there! Today is my stop on the Escapist Tours book tour for Perils of the Sea and Sky by Lilian Horn!
 
I’m normally one for a good story of the high seas (or, in this case, skies) but I struggled to get into this one. 
 
The premise is excellent. In the early 1700s, anti-gravity technology is discovered and allows for the invention of airships. Trade flourishes everywhere except in a mysterious place called the Grey Veil—a fog no one dares enter. 
 
Early on, we are introduced to adventurous Captain Rosanne Drackenheart, a dashing smuggler known for her ability to get any job done. As she settles down in port after her latest adventure, she unfortunately finds herself blackmailed into taking a job that forces her to enter the Veil—and confront unknown dangers.
 
There was enough adventure in this story to keep me entertained, but other than Drackenheart, many of the characters were a bit too cliché for me. The descriptions of technology were interesting and the author certainly put a lot of work into this aspect of the novel. Though this one didn’t hit home for me, I wouldn’t discount this book if you are in search of a fun read.
 
3.5/5 stars
 
Check out my Goodreads page for more reviews!

Hey y’all…
 
In case you haven’t heard, you can now pre-order Test of the Four!
 
The second book in The Serrulata Saga will be out November 23, so hit that button to make sure you’ll get it on release day.
 
I can’t believe it’s almost time for this book to enter the world. It feels very surreal. While this book wasn’t as much of a struggle as the first one, it’s still be a long haul. I’m really excited and I hope you are too!
 
Oh, I’ve already gotten a few folks asking me about ARCs. That info is coming, but make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter if you’re not already. As you know, Serrulata Squad members get all news and info about my books first! 
 
And while my second romance novel is off with its editor, I’ve been steadily plugging away at my current WIP—a third Serrulata Saga romance. Not gonna lie, I worked myself into a bit of a frenzy and cried through my last writing session, so it’s safe to say I’m really pouring my heart into this one. I don’t have much more to share about it yet, as it’s still in the rough, first draft stage, but progress is being made.
 
Happy autumn, everyone!
 
Bennett’s Books – September Wrap-Up
 
A list of the indie books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
She Steals Justice – J. Clark
Undergrounder (Underground Trilogy, #1) – J.E. Glass
Little Favors – Adik Graves (ARC)
Improbable Heaven – J.P. Noether
Dirt-Stained Hands, Thorn-Pierced Skin – Tabitha O’Connell (ARC)
The Raven Before the Dove (Flirting with the Zodiac #6) – Cherry Pickett (ARC)
Hopelessly Hooked – Rose Sinclair
His Lordship's Return (His Lordship’s Mysteries #3) – Samantha SoRelle
 
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Today is my stop on the Escapist Book tour for No Land For Heroes by Cal Black!

​A rouge on the run, hiding from the law.
 
A financier looking to make a name for himself in the banking world.
 
A dangerous gang of brothers who will do anything for coin—and each other.
 
A town in the West full of folks bearing scars of all kinds…and a terrifying villain who wants to rule them all.
 
Oh, and then there’s the dragons…
 
This was my first fantasy western and I have to confess I thoroughly enjoyed it. Author Cal Black does an excellent job incorporating recognizable tropes from both fantasy and western genres without making them tiresome. The story was well-paced and the characters well-developed. I was rooting for main character Millie from the start, though I did want to punch her in the arm and demand what she was thinking from time to time. 
 
If you’re looking for a Western-type of adventure story with fantasy elements, I think you’ll really enjoy this one!
 
4.5/5 stars
 
Check out my Goodreads page for more reviews!

Ready to go back to my editor!

I cannot believe that August is almost over! This summer flew by for me. 
​
In terms of writing, it was also incredibly productive. 

I just put the finishing touches on the first round of edits from my editor for Test of the Four and I’m getting ready to send Second Glance, the second Serrulata Saga romance, off to them, as well. I also started writing a third romance and will hopefully have a first draft of that ready by the end of the calendar year. 

I do have more Serrulata Saga spinoffs planned. And there is, of course, Book Three of the series, though I’m leaving that for 2023. I need to get Test of the Four out into the world first!

Even though this season is coming to a close, summer break for me starts today. I’ll be offline for most of next week for much needed R&R.

As always, stay safe and well, y’all!
​
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Hello all! Today is my stop on the Romance Me with Books tour for Pistol in the Petals. 
 
This is an 80s-tastic, enemies to lovers, second-chance romance. 
 
As the story opens, we meet main character Bristol. She’s getting ready to walk down the aisle and get married, but has reservations – and not just about her wedding day. She’s wondering if all of the choices she made, including leaving her band, are the correct ones. 
 
Bristol, we learn, is a mega-talented drummer and former member of one of the most successful bands in the world. After rising to super-stardom in the band made up of her childhood friends, she realizes there is a price to pay for fame. Leaving her partying days behind, she strikes out on her own. When tragedy strikes, however, she’s drawn back to her band-mates – and the one true love she left behind. 
 
This book was fun and steamy, though I had a really difficult time liking Bristol’s love interest. In the first act, I found myself yelling at her over and over again to just leave him in the past. While there is a redemption arc, I just couldn’t get past how awful he was in the beginning.
 
An entertaining read! 
 
3/5 stars
 
Check out my Goodreads page for more reviews!

Last Saturday, I had the honor of being a guest on The Picky Bookworm podcast!
 
I had a blast and Pamela welcomed me with open arms. We chatted about how we met, Twitter friends, and one of the biggest mistakes I made as a self-published writer. 
 
Also, listen for several book recs by fellow indies from me!
 
In writing news… I’m continuing to plod away on the first draft of this new romance WIP. Like all first drafts, it’s a bit of a dumpster fire, but I can’t make improvements if I don’t get the words down first, right?
 
Have a great weekend, y’all!
 
Bennett’s Books – July Wrap-Up
 
A list of the indie books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
Take His Place – M.E. Aster 
Drifting (Diving In, #1) – J. Calamy
The Moon's Eye (The Relics of War #1) – A.J. Calvin
The City Below the Cloud – T.S. Galindo
Bound (Blood Moon, Texas Shifters, #3) – Kat Kinney
Meliora: a novel – Talli L. Morgan
Lady Night (Chronicles of the Guardians, #2) – Rita Rubin

Today's my stop on the Escapist Book Company's tour for The Moon's Eye. This is my first ever book tour and I'm honored to be a part of it!

​An epic fantasy and an amazing adventure, this first installment in The Relics of War series is one you’re not going to want to miss if you’re a sword and sorcery fantasy fan. 
 
Vardak is considered the strongest and best warrior of his people, the Scorpion Men, and is favored by the god of war. This success comes at a cost, however, because he must serve this god no matter what. As the story opens, we learn that Vardak has been tasked with protecting the Fire Maiden’s mortal daughter, Janna. 
 
Janna must go on a quest to retrieve a magical relic called The Moon’s Eye but she is inexperienced and, quite frankly, scared to complete her task. But she must, however, for The Moon’s Eye is the only thing that can stop the evil Soulless from rising to power. 
 
Calvin expertly builds a fantastic world of gods and different mortal races. The character development ensures you’re able to find a favorite and root for them. That being said, there are a lot of characters and it did take me several chapters to figure out exactly who was doing what. 
 
Overall, this is a distinctive read!

​4/5 stars

Check out my Goodreads page for more reviews!

In case you missed it, I did a cover reveal earlier this week!

I’m so excited to bring you another Serrulata Saga romance. This one is the story of two side characters from Test of the Four: Book Two of The Serrulata Saga, which is coming out in November, so don’t forget to pick that one up!
 
Bennett’s Books – June Wrap-Up
 
A list of the indie books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
Legends & Lattes – Travis Baldree
Coffee-to-Go – Grayson Bell
Under Stone and Shadow (Sands of Theia, #2) – A.E. Bross
Wayward (A Soldier's Heart #1) – Kimber Delaney
Hollow Road (The Maer Cycle #1) – Dan Fitzgerald
Here Today, Scone Tomorrow (Baker's Rise Mysteries Book 1) – R.A. Hutchins
Pulsus Cordis Mei - The Pulse Of My Heart (Omnia Vincit Amor #3) – Maxime Jaz
The Master of Time (The Windermere Tales #2.5) – Talli L. Morgan
A Stranger Sort of Fairy Tale – Cherry Pickett
Soul of Lucifer: Found – Rune Rivers
Arabelle's Story (Tales of Aloseria, #1) – Rita A. Rubin
The Witch and the Wolf: A Wicked Woods Chronicles Novella – L.V. Russel
The Fable of Wren - Rue Sparks
Proper Scoundrels (Roaring Twenties Magic, #1) – Allie Therin
A Little Sin – Sionnach Wintergreen
Lover, Destroyer: A Grandimanderian Tale – Sionnach Wintergreen
 
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