Friday, October 30, 2020

Ghosted: A Short Story


Book Description:

Ghosts thrive on fear, but Maisie just isn't delivering. In fact, Lazarus isn't even sure she realizes she's being haunted.

When expert haunter, Lazarus Bently, receives a cry for help from a fellow ghost, he rushes to the chaotic cottage of eccentric artist Maisie. If Ghost HQ finds out Lazarus couldn't get a rise out of this little old lady, he'll never live it down.

With his professional pride on the line, can Lazarus get through to this unshakable woman? Or will this unbeaten scarer be the one quaking in his boots?

This deal is for a limited time.
Please check, as the price may change.

My Review:

Ghosted is a funny short story about a haunting gone wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. There's even a black cat! Harper is a ghost who is failing at frightening the owner of a home. Headquarters send Lazarus, a ghost who has made a name for himself, to investigate. The ending had me grinning from ear to ear!


Want to See More H.L. Burke Books?
Check Out My Other Reviews:

Redeemed: Supervillain Rehabilitation Project
Reformed: Supervillain Rehabilitation Project
Daughter of Sun, Bride of Ice
2 Short Stories by H.L. Burke
Heart of the Curiosity
Green Princess Trilogy - Book 1
Green Princess Trilogy - Book 2
Green Princess Trilogy - Book 3
To Court a Queen
Spice Bringer
Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon
A Tale in Two Parts
Dragon's Curse - Book 1
Dragon's Debt - Book 2
Dragon's Rival - Book 3
Dragon's Bride - Book 4
Beggar Magic

About the Author:
H.L. Burke

Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.

An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.

Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.

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Posted by Christina Morley at Friday, October 30, 2020 Comments Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Spectacular Sunset Part 1 and a Linky


A few days ago, I grabbed my Canon PowerShot before heading out for an evening walk in the veld (grassland) with the dogs. I captured this spectacular sunset and will be sharing it in two parts. This is Part 1. No filters were added. These pics are straight from the camera.






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Here's a peek at
my latest post
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Wine Tasting and Cheese Platter at Stettyn Cellar



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My Latest Book Posts:


Dawn of Darkness

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I have another fabulous weekend read this Sock Sunday: Dawn of Darkness (The Riven Kingdoms Book 3) by Shari L. Tapscott. I read 30% straight before stopping to make food for my family. I would have kept reading if I could! This is another page-turner and even more exciting than the previous books. You have to read them in order. Princess Amalia of Renove is still furious with Prince Rhys of Draegan after discovering he had lied to her and withheld information. Can they work out their differences in order to save their kingdoms? Then there is Princess Cassia of Draegan, Rhys' younger twin, who has feelings for Prince Braeton of Renove, Amelia's older twin, but her farther has betrothed her to a knight instead. Will they risk all and run away to marry in Renove? Do these two couples even believe the fairy who tells them that both unions between the two kingdoms are necessary to break the curse? #SockSunday #weekendread #Sunday #weekend #whatimreading #newrelease #booklover #bookdragon #bookworm #coverlove #bibliophile #fiction #bookstagrammers #bookstagramtour #Bookstagram #bookaddict #fantasy #romance #igreaders #nofilter @shariltapscott

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One Flew Through the Dragon Heart

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ONE FLEW THROUGH THE DRAGON HEART BLURB: A Chinese Legend. A British Secret. Star-Crossed Lovers with Incompatible Magic. Brixton Flew works as a professor of wielder instruction at Rembrandt Academy, hoping to erase the regrets of his youth along with the resulting debt. But when he comes face to face with his biggest regret—the woman who broke his heart, Adelaide Favan—Brixton soon realizes his troubles have only begun. Unable to control her magic, Adelaide knew leaving Brixton was the only way to protect him when they were younger. Now she discovers he is the key to recovering the Dragon Eyes, a legendary treasure connected to her magic and her family's disgraced legacy—and she knows the risk is great, to both his life and her heart. With others seeking the power of the Dragon Eyes, Brixton and Adelaide must outwit their foes and face down their families to save London from an ancient legend that sleeps beneath the magic portal in their city. But the renewed passion growing between them may prove to be the greater peril ... One Flew Through the Dragon Heart is the first book in a new steampunk series by C.S. Johnson, blending together history, romance, mecha-dragons and magic against the glittering backdrop of 1880’s Victorian London. PURCHASE LINK: http://books2read.com/u/31xNVa One Flew Through the Dragon Heart Bookstagram Tour Schedule: October 19th, Monday @UQ4authors @clockwork.bookdragon October 20th, Tuesday @sams.bookverse October 22nd, Thursday @nicoleadamzwrites @sophrilreads @KattWritesWorlds October 23rd, Friday @tinarobmorley @enchaffin @rj_metcalf #SockSunday #booklover #bookdragon #bookworm #coverlove #bibliophile #fiction #bookstagrammers #bookstagramtour #Bookstagram #bookaddict #fantasy #steampunk #romance #igreaders @writercsjohnson

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Come link up your Wordless Wednesday
(with or without words) or any picture post
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Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

I would love for you to follow me on
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Friday, October 16, 2020

Empire of War & Wings Books 1-3

Sting Magic

My Review:

Sting Magic is the first book in the Empire of War & Wings series by Sarah K.L. Wilson. It's a page-turner of a story! What would you do if you became the property of the empire because of your magic and everyone you love is at risk of death based on your conduct? That's what happens to Aella, a girl taken from the Far Reach where the people are tough, living free and proud. Not only does she need to learn how to be obedient, but she also has to learn how to control her aberrant magic. It's supposed to manifest as a bird but hers is an angry swarm of bees! Will she bend or break and what about her loved ones? How can she possibly keep them safe?

I love the magic system! It's so unique! Aella's bees are super cool and Osprey's Os is too. I loved getting to know Osprey and meeting Ivo toward the end. Aella, on the other hand, is hotheaded and not always an easy character to like. When she is given good advice, she stubbornly doesn't take it until she absolutely has to. She even acts like she doesn't know something when she does. It ends on a cliffhanger! I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Here's a quote from the book:
The truth is the only power there is. It's the only way to ever be free.

 
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Hive Magic

My Review:

Hive Magic is the second book in the Empire of War & Wings series by Sarah K.L. Wilson. It's a page-turner of a story with a unique magic system and colorful characters. The violence is hectic.

Aella has become the property of Le Majest, the twisted prince, with her bee magic. She witnesses uncountable horrors and wants to fight back, but at what cost? One girl and her bees don't stand a chance against the evil empire. Osprey wants her to fight back, but he wants her to be smart about it. Things only get more tangled after the prince's magic manifests.

Aella is still sometimes hotheaded and difficult in Hive Magic, but she also experiences some character growth. She also learns more about her bee magic as it grows stronger. This was a wild ride with some crazy twists and turns. It ends on another cliffhanger. I definitely want to know what happens next!

Here's a quote from the book (Osprey is speaking):
"It's the air we breathe and the song we sing and nothing's ever going to stop us. They can come at us. They can carve us up and spit us out and we'll still be singing our freedom song."


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Wing Magic

My Review:

Wing Magic is Book 3 in the Empire of War & Wings by Sarah K.L. Wilson. Things heat up as the rebellion escalates. The Forbidding reveals some of its secrets, which are just as twisted as it is. Aella experiences character growth as she meets one challenge after another. Will Zayana as well?

Aella is on the run from Le Majest and Osprey is in hot pursuit. She can't deny her feelings for Osprey, but he is bound by magic to return her to her cruel owner. She hopes to find an imprisoned general to rally the freedom fighters against the Empire. Her friend Zayana is not convinced that resistance is worth the price. Will Zayana choose to be a freedom fighter willingly? Will Aella find the general in time or will Osprey get to her first?

Here's a quote from the book (Aella is speaking):
"I'd rather fight for freedom - even if I lose - then die with their boot on my neck."

Purchase Wing Magic on Amazon

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More Books by Sarah K.L. Wilson:

Tangled Fae Series:

The Dragon Tide Series:

The Dragon Chameleon Series:

The Complete Dragon School Series:

Other Books by Sarah Wilson:

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About the Author:
Sarah K. L. Wilson

Sarah K L Wilson

USA Today bestselling author, Sarah K. L. Wilson, hails from the rocky Canadian Shield in Northern Ontario where she lives with her husband and two small boys. Her interests include the outdoors, history, and philosophy. Her books are always about fantastical adventures in other worlds.

Sarah K.L. Wilson: Website

Disclosure: I received an ARC for each book. These are my honest and voluntary reviews.

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Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Samantha's 20th Birthday and a Linky


Last Friday was our daughter Samantha's 20th Birthday. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. Jessica made the vanilla and custard cake for her sister. It was really good and the strawberries too. The front of the birthday card says, "She was authentic, she was herself." This is very true of her.

The wine is called The Rose Garden and is a 2019 Rosé from Boschendal, which is one of the oldest wine estates in South Africa with over 300 years of rich history. The drinking age in South Africa is 18, in case you were wondering. We haven't opened the wine yet, but the description online says that it's a Merlot and Pinotage based blend and tastes of ripe strawberries, raspberries, and mulberries.

Samantha got a few other gifts from us too. She really wants to go wine tasting, so we will do that next week when she's finished with online tests and assignments. She made her birthday breakfast that you can see in the photo with pork bangers, mushrooms, and fried eggs. It was scrumptious!

The flowers are proteas. Robbie bought them for me from a flower vendor in Durbanville Hills last week. We went out for lunch at Tables on the Nitida wine farm in Durbanville. You can see that post below on 1camera1mom.






Check out this cool lenticular cloud formation on Instagram! I took photos of it from my balcony as the sun set. My favorite pic is the last one, which you can see when you visit the post on Instagram.

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Here's a peek at
my latest post
on 1camera1mom:

Tables Restaurant at Nitida



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My Latest Book Posts:


Wing Magic

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I have another exciting Sock Sunday feature. The third book in the Empire of War & Wings by Sarah K.L. Wilson releases soon! Wing Magic is Book 3 and will be available October 13. I am reading an advance review copy and I am past halfway. Aella is on the run from Le Majest and Osprey is in hot pursuit. She can't deny her feelings for Osprey, but he is bound by magic to return her to her cruel owner. She hopes to find an imprisoned general to rally the freedom fighters against the Empire. Her friend Zayana is not convinced that resistance is worth the price. Here's a quote from the book (Aella is speaking): "I'd rather fight for freedom - even if I lose - then die with their boot on my neck." #weekend #weekendreads #socksunday #whatimreading #books #ebooks #newrelease #bookreview #BookReviewer #booklover #bibliophile #fiction #bookstagrammers #Bookstagram #bookaddict #fantasy #romance #igreaders @sarahklwilson

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Between Jobs

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I'm featuring this month's book club read from the Facebook group of Fellowship of Fantasy: Indie Book Club. 📚 Between Jobs is the first book in The City Between series by Australian author W.R. Gingell. This story was unputdownable! It was so good that I'm waiting for Christmas or a KU deal to get at least a one-month subscription to KU just to read more in this series. This is Urban Fantasy at its best set in Australia. The characters are awesome, the humor snarky, and the plot intriguing. There's a supernatural murder mystery that brings three supernaturals together who are seeking the killer. Two are fae and one is a vampire. They take up residence in a home that already has an occupant, unknown to them. She's a human and when they finally discover her, they decide to give her pet status and name her Pet. I would have liked a glossary for the Korean. Instead, we are left (along with Pet) to guess what JinYeong, the vampire, is saying. Book 1 has a few reveals, so you're not completely in the dark the entire time. One mystery gets resolved, but not the main one that kicks off the story. I can't wait to read further! If you like Annette Marie's The Guild Codex series, then you'll enjoy The City Between series! #weekend #weekendreads #whatimreading #socksunday #books #ebooks #bookclub #bookreview #BookReviewer #booklover #bibliophile #bookstagrammers #Bookstagram #bookaddict #fantasy #fiction #igreaders #indiebook #nofilter @wrgingell

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Come link up your Wordless Wednesday
(with or without words) or any picture post
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Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

I would love for you to follow me on
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Follow on Bloglovin

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  • Link-up any family-friendly post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
  • If possible, copy the button code below and add it to your linked post or blog's side-bar.
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