The Forest Witch by Toni V. Sweeney

Tags

Class Act Books, fantasy, new releases, Toni V. Sweeney

THE FOREST WITCH, Book 7 of the Narrative of Riven the Heretic, Part 1 of the Arcanian Chronicles.

In Young Hawks Flying, Valriven kan Ingan, wounded and left for dead by the margrave’s men, is saved by Tamsin, a Ghermian forest witch.  With Hronhild the wolf-shifter, he becomes her companion. When he believes she and Hronhild die in a battle with a wizard’s minions, he returns to his quest of reuniting his brothers to fight Morling of Francovia.

Tamsin didn’t die, however, nor did Hronhild.  Instead, they survived to continue their adventures and achieve what each desired most in life.

Here, then, is the complete story of Tamsin, the Forest Witch…

From Class Act Books.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Forest-Witch-Arcanian-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B07916QNYZ/

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Dark Child by Miriam Newman

Tags

fantasy, fantasy romance, giveaways, Rafflecopter giveaway, romance, virtual book tour

GENRE: Romance

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BLURB:

Born at a royal banquet for King Conor MacNessa of Ulster, Deirdre is predicted by Conor’s own druid to be blessed and cursed with a beauty that will make kingdoms contest over her.  He names her “Deirdre of the Sorrows” and urges the king to slay her.  But Conor, unwilling to murder a babe, takes her under his protection only to fall prey to the curse when she is nearly grown.  Captivated by her youth and beauty, the aging king will go to any extreme to possess her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Once inside, the king and his guests found beef and mutton and pork…fowl and venison and  fine, firm pink salmon borne on ice across the sea from Alba where ice was often to be found.  Curds and whey they had, and all else that a dairy might supply.  There were breads and cakes, pies and pasties of every sort and great quantities of wine, honey mead and ale both light and dark.  Yet so deep went Conor’s unease that he had no appetite for them. Singers, dancers and musicians both foreign and native performed, male and female alike, but the crash and roar of the storm drowned out the sounds of their merry-making.    Men marked that never had such a storm visited Ulster.  Irishmen all they were and accustomed to the rains and gales of their island, but even Conor agreed it seemed no natural storm and that he, too, had a feeling of doom.

“Nonsense,” Felim insisted stoutly as the king merely nibbled at his food, for he saw all his plans dashed to destruction and the favor he wished of Conor turned to stone.  “’Tis but a storm!”

Hardly had the words left the storyteller’s mouth than a terrifying scream split the air, a sound to raise the bristle hair on a hound’s back.

“’Tis only my wife, who labors,” Felim insisted, but the king took not a bite further of his food and sat with a pale and ashen face.

“’Bring her here,” Conor ordered, “that I may see if that is the scream of any mortal woman, for I much doubt it.”

And so the unfortunate woman was required to present herself to the king.

“Tell me true,” Conor demanded, “was it you who screamed?”

Felim’s haggard and trembling wife, fearing for her life, nonetheless shook her head, for she knew her maidservants would give her away if she lied to the great king.

“Nay, my lord,” she replied.  “’Tis the child that screamed from inside my womb.”

“This is a thing I have never known!” Conor exclaimed, while beside him his druid Catha stood  abruptly to lay a hand upon the mother’s belly, his expression dire.

“’Tis the scream of a girl child,” he predicted, “and her name will be Deirdre, the call of alarm, for she will bring war.”

 AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Fantasy poetry driven by myths and legends has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I was published in poetry before catching the romance writing bug. I bring that background to my writing along with a lifelong addiction to horses, an 18 year career in various areas of psychiatric social services and many trips to Ireland, where I nurture my muse. My published works range from contemporary fantasy romance to fantasy historical, futuristic, science fiction and historical romance. Currently I live in rural Pennsylvania with a “motley crew” of rescue animals. You can see my books at http://www.miriamnewman.com.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-child-miriam-newman/1126646912

http://www.thecelticroseblog.blogspot.com

Miriam Newman Author

twitter@miriam newman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

Miriam will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fire by Sam Rook

Tags

author giveaway, fantasy, fantasy novels, Rafflecopter giveaway, virtual book tours

GENRE: Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

The thrilling conclusion to the Knights of Av’lor trilogy!

Trapped on Av’lor and left for dead by her betrayer, Kathryn’s unrelenting determination is the only thing that might overcome the invading Zahkrinon army.

With the portal destroyed and the Zahkrinon army fast approaching, Kathryn and Lanclor have no choice but to focus on the survival of the Knighthood before they can consider rescuing Rachel. Unexpected events threaten their victory and the combined Av’lorian and Earth forces struggle to survive as their numbers dwindle.

They find the Zahkrinon are more dangerous than they had ever imagined.

Excerpt:

The momentum of her flight drove the sword completely into the back of the Zahkrinon’s neck along with her hands, up to her wrists. She felt pieces of bone cut through her gloves and she clenched her teeth from the pain. A dark wave of energy left the creature’s hands just after impact and drove into the dark elves instead of Hal’s group. Kathryn forced her spell through the blade and felt the Zahkrinon’s muscles tighten under her as it screeched in pain.

She clung to her sword for dear life as the Zahkrinon’s arms struggled to rip her from its back as it twisted back and forth in an attempt to throw her. Tucking her wings, she made herself smaller and poured more power into the fire spell. The smell of burning flesh made her gag, but she didn’t relent.

The bastard took forever to die and it was bound and determined to take Kate with it. With an agonized scream, it fell from the building and tried to turn itself in midair so it fell backward. Kate let go of her sword and pushed herself to the left before they hit the ground. Her effort was enough not to get crushed, but failed to dodge the Zahkrinon’s wing which caught her body and thrust her against the ground.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sam Rook lives in Vermont with her husband and two children. Her passion for fantasy novels began in high school with her desire to write following shortly thereafter. Software engineer by day, fantasy author by night, she strives to give her readers a chance to enjoy worlds that transport them away from the stress of everyday life.

Website:

http://www.samrook.com

Buy links:

 

 

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fire-104

 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fire-sam-rook/1127522366?ean=2940154631225

 

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/759750

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 Sam will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more excerpts and chances to win, follow Sam on tour:

https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-blast-fire-by-sam-rook.html

Dark Genius by H. Peter Alesso

Tags

author giveaways, fantasy, general fiction, new releases, virtual book tours

GENRE:  Fiction

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BLURB:

To the insatiably curious—science is the greatest adventure. So, when scientists at CERN announced the discovery of the ‘God’ particle in 2012, all the world wondered, “How did they find it?”

A decade later, despite his past academic failures and egregious family circumstance, Andrew Lawrence embarked on a journey of discovery, competing against rival scientists to be the first to solve the greatest unsolved mystery of the universe—dark matter—and win the ultimate prize; the Nobel.

Emma Franklin, a PhD candidate at Harvard, developed software for detecting particle reactions using a quantum computer. To the amazement and excitement of the scientific community, her work revealed two possible bumps in the energy curve that were not predicted by any established theory.

At MIT, Lawrence created a model that predicted the scattering processes of a dark matter supersymmetry particle. Though his early work was disparaged, he improved his theory and found that it predicted the data Emma had discovered. Their professional collaboration deepened into a personal relationship, but when critical data was stolen, Emma found evidence that incriminated Lawrence. Though she withheld the impeaching material from the authorities, she felt she could no longer trust him.

Despite their troubled partnership, and notwithstanding the complexities of nature, Lawrence and Emma persevered against the egos, jealousy, and envy of rivals, on their exhilarating quest to find the ‘Holy Grail’ of physics

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

I thought all was lost—now I have a second chance.

With a profound sense of relief, Andrew Lawrence slide his tablet into his shoulder holster and walked briskly along the Boston sidewalk. His past academic failures and egregious family circumstances were behind him. He was ready for a fresh start.

Tall, slender, and dark-haired, he listened to the clicking and clacking of shuffling shoes on the pavement as students jostled alongside him. The hint of autumn from the cool morning air brought a frenzy of activity to the sprawling campuses of both MIT and Harvard which nurtured a flourishing rivalry among their ambitious students. He could feel the undercurrent of tension for the start of the fall term.

By the time he crossed Longfellow Bridge, his adrenaline was pumping. He noticed several eight-man sculls already rowing down the Charles River, their school colors plainly visible. Squinting his eyes against the glare, he could make out the MIT and Harvard boats vying for the lead, stroke by stroke.

Striding across the rambling campus, his lips concealed a secret smile as he contemplated a revolutionary solution to a problem he had been daydreaming about. When he swung around a corner, he ran smack-dab into a young woman. Her armload of books, papers, and assorted technology flew into the air and scattered across the walkway.

“Sor . . . sorry.”

“You should be,” the woman said, her face screwed into a tight scowl. “Your head was in the clouds.”

Lawrence opened his mouth, but before he could speak, she pointed down and said, “See what you’ve done?”

She stooped and frantically tried to corral her absconding belongings.

“Let me help,” said Lawrence, grasping some loose papers about to blow away.

Spying her tablet on the grass, she exclaimed, “Oh no! All my work.”

Carefully, she picked up the device and turned it on, tapping her fingers impatiently until the screen lit up. She heaved a sigh and looked Lawrence directly in the eyes. “You’re lucky. Sooo . . . lucky.”

Lawrence mumbled another apology and helped her pick up the last few books.

As she struggled to reorganize her treasures, Lawrence brushed a strand of hair away from his eyes and for the first time cast an appraising glance at the young woman.

She was attractive.

It wasn’t that she was a striking beauty—though her smooth white skin, olive green eyes, and classic profile complemented the hazelnut hair that cascaded over her shoulders. Nor was her carriage especially eye-catching, though she displayed an appealing youthful vitality. No, what seemed most appealing was her confident determined poise, as if she possessed a special hidden talent.

“You really should use a backpack.”

“The lining ripped,” she retorted.

Seeing the logos on her tablet’s screen, Lawrence asked, “Harvard? Math?”

“I can tell by your tone that you’re MIT,” she said, her eyes flashing.

Lawrence grinned, “Physics.” As an afterthought, he asked, “What are you doing on this campus?”

“Well, Mr. Physics, that’s none of your concern.”

Something in the way she said it, caused him to laugh.

They faced each other in a stand-off for a long moment—saying nothing.

Then the young woman heaved a sigh, gathered her possessions to her chest, and brushed past him.

Lawrence watched her figure disappear into the crowd.

Damn. I didn’t get her name.

As he turned to leave, something shiny on the ground caught his eye. It was a flash drive.

Picking it up, he spun around and called, “Wait!”

But she was gone.

He looked at the memory stick, thinking . . .

I’ll have to crack her password, if I’m going to see her again.

 

BUY LINK:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075HVG2Z9

 

About the Author:

As a scientist and author specializing in technology innovation, H. Peter Alesso has over twenty years research experience at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). As Engineering Group Leader at LLNL he led a team of scientists and engineers in innovative applications across a wide range of supercomputers, workstations, and networks. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. and served in the U.S. Navy on nuclear submarines before completing an M.S. and an advanced Engineering Degree at M.I.T. He has published several software titles and numerous scientific journal and conference articles, and he is the author/co-author of ten books.

Email: h.alessocomcast.net

Website: http://www.hpeteralesso.com/Default.aspx
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/413852.H_Peter_Alesso

Tweets by hpeteralesso

https://www.amazon.com/H.-Peter-Alesso/e/B001HCY45M/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1482982330&sr=1-3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Peter will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more chances to win and more intriguing excerpts, follow Peter on tour:

https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-blast-dark-genius-by-h-peter-alesso.html

 

The Chocolatier’s Wife and The Chocolatier’s Ghost by Cindy Lynn Speer

Tags

Amazon, fantasy, Fantasy Mystery, ghosts, new releases

GENRE: Fantasy Mystery

BLURB:

The Chocolatier’s Wife: ROMANCE, MAGIC, MYSTERY…. AND CHOCOLATE

A truly original, spellbinding love story, featuring vivid characters in a highly realistic historical setting.

When Tasmin’s bethrothed, William, is accused of murder, she gathers her wind sprites and rushes to his home town to investigate. She doesn’t have a shred of doubt about his innocence. But as she settles in his chocolate shop, she finds more in store than she bargained for. Facing suspicious townsfolk, gossiping neighbors, and William’s own family, who all resent her kind – the sorcerer folk from the North — she must also learn to tell friend from foe, and fast. For the real killer is still on the loose – and he is intent on ruining William’s family at all cost.

The Chocolatier’s Ghost: Married to her soul mate, the chocolatier William, Tasmin should not have to worry about anything at all. But when her happily ever after is interrupted by the disappearance of the town’s wise woman, she rushes in to investigate. Faced with dangers, dead bodies, and more mysterious disappearances, Tasmin and William must act fast to save their town and themselves – especially when Tasmin starts to be haunted by a most unwelcome ghost from her past…literally.

The Chocolatier’s Ghost is an enchanting sequel to Cindy Lynn Speer’s bestselling romantic mystery, The Chocolatier’s Wife.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Chocolatier’s Wife 1

Time was, in the kingdom of Berengeny, that no one picked their spouses. No one courted—not officially, at any rate—and no one married in a moment’s foolish passion. It was the charge of the town Wise Woman, who would fill her spell bowl with clear, pure water; a little salt; and the essence of roses, and rosemary, and sage. Next, she would prick the finger of the newborn child and let his or her blood drip into the potion. If a face showed in the waters, then it was known that the best possible mate (they never said true love, for that was the stuff of foolish fancy) had been born, and the Wise Woman could then tell where the future spouse lived, and arrangements were made.

For the parents of William of the House of Almsley, this process would turn out to be less than pleasant.

The first year that the baby William’s finger was pricked and nothing showed, the Wise Woman said, “Fear not, a wife is often younger than the husband.”

The second, third, and even fifth year she said much the same.

But you see, since the spell was meant to choose the best match—not the true love—of the heart the blood in the bowl belonged to, this did not mean, as years passed, that the boy was special. It meant that he would be impossible to live with.

On his seventh birthday, it seemed everyone had quite forgotten all about visiting the Wise Woman until William, who knew this of long habit to be a major part of his day–along with cake, a new toy, and a new set of clothes–tugged on his mother’s skirt and asked when they were going. She stared at him a long moment, tea cup in hand, before sighing and calling for the carriage. She didn’t even bother to change into formal clothes this time, and the Wise Woman seemed surprised to see them at all. “Well, we might as well try while you’re here,” she said, her voice obviously doubtful.

William obediently held out the ring finger on his left hand and watched as the blood dripped into the bowl. “She has dark brown eyes,” William observed, “and some hair already.” He shrugged, and looked at the two women. “I suppose she’ll do. I’m just glad ‘tis over, and that I can go on with my life.”

“For you, perhaps,” his mother said, thinking of what she would now have to accomplish.

“Do not fret, mother, I shall write a letter to the little girl. Not that she can read it, anyway.” He petted his mother’s arm. He was a sweet boy, but he was always charging forward, never worrying about feelings.

The Wise Woman rolled out an elegantly painted silk map of the kingdom and all its regions, his mother smoothed the fabric across the table, and then the Wise Woman dipped a brass weight into the bowl. Henriette, William’s mother, placed her hands on William’s shoulders as the Wise Woman held the weight, suspended, over the map.

Henriette held her breath, waiting to see where it would land. Andrew, her younger son, had his intended living just down the street, which was quite convenient. At least they knew what they were getting into immediately.

The plumb-bob made huge circles around the map, spinning and spinning as the Wise Woman recited the words over and over. It stopped, stiffly pointing toward the North.

“Tarnia? Not possible, nor even probable. You must try again!”

For once, William’s mother wasn’t being stubbornly demanding. Tarnia, a place of cruel and wild magic, was the last place from whence one would wish a bride. They did not have Wise Women there, for anyone could perform spells. The Hags of the North ate their dead and sent the harsh winter wind to ravage the crops of the people of the South. Five hundred years ago, the North and the South had fought a bitter war over a cause no one could quite remember, only that it had been a brutal thing, and that many had died, and it led to the South losing most of its magic. Though the war was long over and the two supposedly united again, memory lingered. “I have cast it twice.” The Wise Woman chewed her lower lip, but therewas naught else she could do.

“Not Tarnia, please?” Henriette, usually a rather fierce and cold woman, begged.

“I am afraid so.” The Wise Woman began cleaning up; her shoulders set a little lower. “I am sorry.”

William, staring out the window at the children playing outside, couldn’t care less. What did it matter where anyone was from? She was a baby, and babies didn’t cause that much trouble.

“Only you, William,” his mother said, shaking her head. “Why can you not do anything normal?”

This was to be the tenor of most of their conversations throughout their lives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Cindy Lynn Speer has been writing since she was 13.  She has Blue Moon and Unbalanced published by Zumaya.  Her other works, including The Chocolatier’s Wife (recently out in an illustrated hardcover to celebrate its 10th anniversary) and the Chocolatier’s Ghost, as well as the short story anthology Wishes and Sorrows.  When she is not writing she is either practicing historical swordsmanship, sewing, or pretending she can garden.  She also loves road trips and seeing nature.  Her secret side hobby is to write really boring bios about herself.  You can find out more about her at http://www.cindylynnspeer.com, or look for her on Facebook (Cindy Lynn Speer) and Twitter (cindylynnspeer).

https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Lynn-Speer/e/B001JOVNP2

*****

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

FOR MORE FUN AND CHANCES TO WIN, FOLLOW CINDY ON TOUR:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2017/06/virtual-book-tour-chocolatiers-wifethe.html

Mortal Heart by L.J. Sealey – Divine Hunter – Book Four

Tags

angel blogs, angel stories, angelic lore, angels, cover reveals, demons, fantasy, fantasy romance, gift card giveaways, giveaways, immortals, mortals, romance

A CHANCE TO WIN A $30 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

https://goo.gl/forms/3yYapjLz4OpaksoT2

Cover Reveal

Mortal Heart

By L.J. Sealey

Blurb:

When two hearts bleed, Heaven doesn’t stand a chance.

Is it possible for a heart to break twice?

Lacy had known from finding out what Michael was that there would be complications, but she never expected they’d be torn apart in such a cruel way. Unable to stop herself feeling the things she did, she knew she would pay for falling in love with an angel, but this. . . If it hurt this much, then how could she go on without him?

He’d feared this would happen.

It was always only a question of when.

Michael’s nightmares had come true and he hadn’t even had chance to say goodbye. His heart ached like he never thought possible, but he was powerless to change what had happened. Now he was trapped in the heavens awaiting a trial that he already knew the outcome of. Through her journal he’d lived his mother’s pain after his father had been taken from her. He couldn’t allow that to happen to Lacy.

He had to get out.

He would get out.

Of all that had happened to him this would be his toughest fight yet, but it would end in one of two ways: Either Michael would convince the Thrones to let him live with the woman he had lost his heart and soul to, or he would die by her side.

Either way, he wasn’t prepared to exist without her.

— It is highly recommended that this series is read in order.

*This book contains some Adult situations and is recommended for age 17+*

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34919028-mortal-heart

Author Bio:

L.J. Sealey was born and raised in a little Welsh town by the sea. It rains a lot, so she often has a great excuse to sit at her writing desk and while away the hours at her laptop.

She still lives in N.Wales and when she’s not travelling around the country working with her husband – who is a professional singer – or singing backup vocals herself, she likes to drive around the beautiful Welsh countryside. Some think it’s because she enjoys the scenery; others suspect she’s hunting dragons. L.J also likes to read and watch her favourite TV shows which normally includes plenty of CSI, The Vampire Diaries and endless amounts of sitcoms. Being addicted to reading about vampires, demons, shifters and angels, she has always had a thing for all things paranormal, and is a big sucker for impossible love stories. So it was inevitable that when she started writing herself she would mix the two together.

Social media:

Website: http://www.ljsealey.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorljsealey

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lj_sealey

Amazon: http://author.to/LJSealey

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+LJSealeyAuthor/posts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ljsealey

http://lovekissedpromotions.com/index.php/blogger-sign-ups/

Withhold, Mosaic Chronicles Book Nine by Andrea Pearson

Tags

book series, fantasy, Goddess Fish Promotions, good and evil, magic, spirits

GENRE: Fantasy – Withhold will be $0.99 through the pre-order period, and until the end of release day, July 18.

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BLURB:

In the ultimate battle between good and evil, Nicole is in a race to stop Keitus before he achieves his plans. If he succeeds, he will crush everyone who has opposed him and enslave Earth and countless other planets. Unfortunately, he is only minutes away from his goal.

With so much at stake, Nicole and her friends must approach Helen, a volatile and dangerous spirit who will probably destroy them regardless of whether she gives them what they want. And the chances of her helping them are slim.

Fast-paced and epic magical fights, exciting plot twists, and non-stop action and adventure await. So sit down, buckle up, and hold on for the explosive, much-anticipated conclusion to the award-winning and bestselling Mosaic Chronicles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Andrea Pearson is an avid reader and outdoor enthusiast who plays several instruments, not including the banjo, and loves putting together musical arrangements. Her favorite sports are basketball and football, though several knee surgeries and incurably awful coordination prevent her from playing them.

Andrea graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor of science degree in Communications Disorders. She is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Series and Mosaic Chronicles) and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life – it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her family and close friends is where she’s happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling.

Website: http://www.andreapearsonbooks.com
Blog: http://www.andreapearsonbooks.blogspot.com
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/andreapearsonauthor
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/authorandrea
Twitter: http://twitter.com/andreapearson2
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1909134.Andrea_Pearson
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/andreapearson/
Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Pearson/e/B005CF5NQ4/

Newsletter signup bonus (receive two books free (Discern and Praxis) when joining Andrea’s Readers Group): andreapearsonbooks.com/myfreebooks.html

Direct newsletter signup: http://eepurl.com/cI-KmT

The author is offering a download bonus to readers who download WITHHOLD the day of the book blitz. The bonus includes the first two books in the series, free books by other authors, illustrations, maps, and more.

Purchase links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072BFQ1QX
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/withhold-andrea-pearson/1126315776?ean=2940154151310
iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/withhold/id1232166482?mt=11
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/withhold
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35074867

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Andrea will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Download bonuses:

Forward proof of download (a confirmation email or a screenshot) to withholdbonuses@gmail.com to receive the following:

Discern and Praxis (first two books in the series), Hope(less) and (Mis)fortune by Melissa Haag, other titles by other authors, bachelor of science degree from Katon University, coloring pages, word search, fantasy illustration by Andrea’s husband (James E. Curwen, professional illustrator), maps illustrated by Andrea and her husband, etc.

Information on pricing:

Withhold will be $0.99 through the pre-order period, and until the end of release day, July 18. On July 19, it’ll rise in price to $1.99. On July 21, it’ll rise in price to $2.99. On July 22, it’ll go to full price ($3.99).

The Last Mayor’s Son by Leslie E. Heath

Tags

author interview, Class Act Books, fantasy, fantasy books

 Today, Linda is interviewing Leslie.  Oh dear!

What is your greatest temptation:

            In men: I’m a sucker for a man in uniform. That works well, since my husband spent more than twenty years in the Navy.

            In food: Cheese! I know it’s bad for me, but I’ll put cheese on absolutely everything, the more, the better.

            In clothes: Comfort and ease of use are my biggest requirements. If I have to iron it, I won’t buy it. I prefer dresses because they’re simple, comfortable, and look great, too.

What is your greatest weakness (example: buying shoes)?

I adore scarves. I probably have a hundred of them, and I’m forever buying more. I love how you can totally change an outfit by adding a scarf.

If you could have any kind of car, what would it be?

Hmm. That’s a tough one. Probably a convertible Mini Cooper. Those are so cute and zippy, I think they would be fun to drive.

Your dream home – mountains or ocean?

Ocean. I’ve lived near various oceans for the past eighteen years, and I can’t imagine a life where I can’t lose myself in the music of the waves and gulls whenever I wish. Even in the winter, the salt air soothes my soul and feeds my creative mind.

What inspired you to become a writer?

I’ve always loved to make up characters and imagine grand adventures for them. When I was a child, I made up thousands of stories for my dolls and stuffed animals, and that translated easily to writing when I got older.

Do you have a daily writing routine?  If so, please share.

I wish I did. I try to make time to write at least a scene a day, but my schedule is erratic at best. I’m a night shift nurse by trade, so some days I’m simply too exhausted to write. I usually manage at least five thousand words a week most of the time, though.

What is your favorite book?

The Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson. If I had to choose only one book, it would be the first in that series, The Final Empire. I’ve read all of them at least a dozen times, and I find something new every time.

What is your favorite movie?

Ok, I’ll admit it – I’m a Tolkien nerd. My favorite movie(s) of all time is the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I can watch them back to back for days and never tire of it.

Who is your favorite historical figure?

I’d have to say Charlemagne. During his rule, he embodied nearly every type of ruler you can imagine, from the strictest Christian emperor to the leader of the Italian Renaissance. He united much of modern-day Europe under one government, though most of that was accomplished through violent, war-mongering means. The more I study the man, the more interesting I find him and the history of his rule.

In your books, who is your favorite hero and please introduce him?

Aibek is a twenty-year-old military cadet when he is summoned back to the village of his birth. Raised by his aunt and uncle in the city, he is desperate for word of his parents and the home he’s never known. Returning isn’t easy, though. He learns that his parents are dead, and now he is expected to step into his father’s role as the mayor as the small treetop village – a challenge for someone who grew up in the shadow of an overbearing uncle on a treeless plain.

Who is your favorite heroine and please introduce her?

Kiri is Aibek’s mother, or rather, her ghost. She’s just as strong-willed as she was in life, and now she has the added task of keeping her husband, Eddrick, in line. After he gets them in trouble with the ancients, she realizes this will be a more difficult task than she had anticipated.

What do you have out now?  Excerpt, blurb, book trailers

The Last Mayor’s Son was published by Class Act Books in December 2016.

Blurb:

Twenty years after the death of his parents, Aibek must return to the forest and lead his hometown to freedom.

Villagers summon him to be their new mayor after they overthrow the small group of soldiers the ruthless Helak appointed to rule them. They need someone to help them fight off the army that seeks to regain the enemy’s brutal control. Aibek has no problem with standing and fighting. It’s the leading that has him concerned.

Distracted by the problem of teaching a placid people to defend themselves, Aibek nearly overlooks a plot to overthrow the fledgling government. Will he figure out who in the village wants him gone before it’s too late?

As he struggles to learn to lead his hometown, Aibek’s confidence is bolstered by the closeness of the community and his parents’ friends, but will he find the courage to lead his people to freedom? Or will Helak forever rule the peaceful forest?

Excerpt:

Aibek considered the implications as they walked between the scattered trees and into the forest. Why would the market road be abandoned? This led to another question in his mind. What kinds of things would the tree-dwelling villagers have to sell at market? He didn’t have long to wonder before the trees grew closer together and they stepped into the gloom of the forest.

At the edges of the trail, the trees and brush grew close and thick, obscuring most of the light from the bright sun above. Aibek stood blinking just inside the eaves of the forest for a moment, and waited for his eyes to adjust to the sudden dimness.

“We’ll move slower from here.” Serik gave a warning. “We need to watch where we set our feet. Beware of snakes on the path.”

Aibek cringed and leaned over to peek under the nearest bush, then stifled a relieved sigh. Nothing but brown leaves and a few beetles. He hadn’t even considered the dangers that might lurk within the woods. He wondered what Faruz thought of the warning, but couldn’t read any reaction on his face. Faruz was staring at a small branch that lay across the trail, perhaps wondering if it was a snake.

Aibek didn’t spend much time thinking of his friend. He was so nervous about returning to the village of his birth that he was more than a little afraid he might lose his breakfast. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, and thought he rather liked the earthy scent of the forest. He glanced around at the trees and brush, and thought he saw something move quickly behind a bush. He squinted into the dim forest, but whatever it was had been too fast. He could see nothing but the leaves swaying gently in the warm breeze.

Available on Amazon at http://a.co/c00isJa

Or from Class Act Books at http://www.classactbooks.com/young-adult/the-last-mayor-s-son-7622016-12-14-18-12-01-detail

New releases anytime soon?  The sequel to The Last Mayor’s Son will likely be released by the end of 2017

Where can eager fans find you?  On my website at https://www.leslieeheath.com/index.html

On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LeslieEHeathAuthor/

On Twitter at https://twitter.com/leheath_author

Thank you, Leslie, for a fun interview and your candor. Your book sounds well worth a read!  All the best!!  Linda

 

 

The Dream Waters Series by Erin A. Jensen

Tags

book series, contemporary fantasy, dragon, dreams, fantasy

Dream Waters (Book One)

Dream World (Book Two)

Dream Sight (Book Three)

GENRE:  Contemporary Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:  DREAM WATERS – Book One

 All his life, Charlie Oliver has watched the people around him morph into creatures that no one else sees.  Unlike the rest of the world, Charlie remembers the Waters that transport him to the Dream World each night.  And he sees glimpses of people’s Dream forms in the waking world.  Condemned to spend his waking hours in a psychiatric facility because of his Dream Sight, Charlie doesn’t expect anything to change.  But everything starts changing the day Emma Talbot walks through the door in the middle of a group therapy session.

Haunted by memories of the events that led to her admission, Emma plans to end her life the first chance she gets.  But something about Charlie stops her.  From the moment they shake hands, his friendship feels safe and familiar.  As Emma begins to let down her guard, Charlie catches a glimpse of the fiery-eyed dragon that lurks behind her Dream form.  Each night, as Emma dreams of the man who’s been banned from visiting, Charlie searches the Dream World for the monster that shadows her.  But when Emma’s suppressed memories begin to surface, Charlie finds more monsters than he bargained for.

Excerpt – Dream Waters:

“Where were you afraid I’d land when I fell in and why did you say finding the dragon wouldn’t be easy?”

She started drawing waves in the sand with her finger and I got the distinct impression she was doing it to avoid looking at me. “Honestly Charlie, I wasn’t sure where you’d land. It’s unpredictable when you don’t jump on purpose. You could end up anywhere the people you’ve met have been. You’re a mental patient. Can you imagine the sections of Dream some patients might inhabit?” Her finger stopped drawing mid-wave. “Trust me boy. There are Dark places in the Dream World, places you should never go. Venture too far into them and you risk losing a part of yourself to the Darkness.”

I was really getting tired of the cryptic shit. “Great. Thanks for the vague ominous warning. I was afraid you might give me an actual answer for a second there.”

“I’ve already said too much.” Even at a whisper there was a waver to her voice. “Just thank me for keeping you safe and jump back into the Water.”

“I don’t know which world I find you more annoying in.” It wasn’t the nicest thing to say to the one person who understood me but I said it out of frustration and maybe a little out of fear.

Nellie was about to snarl something back, but the leaves of some bushes just off the beach started rustling and I hopped to my feet to get a better look. “Something’s over there.”

Nellie stood up with a weary sigh and as she turned toward the bushes I saw the scars. Large deep identical scars marring the flesh on both of her shoulder blades.

I took a step closer to her. “What happened to your back?”

She turned and gave me a hard shove toward the Water’s edge. “It’s time for you to go now Charlie.” It caught me by surprise and knocked me off balance, back into the surf and the icy Water pulled me back in.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Erin Jensen is a part-time pharmacist and a fulltime creator of imaginary worlds. She lives in upstate NY with her incredibly supportive husband, two sons (who are both taller than her) and a Yorkshire terrier who thinks he’s the family bodyguard. In the early days of her writing career, Erin vowed to get a dragon tattoo—once her books received a milestone number of reviews—but she won’t disclose that number any longer, for fear of actually reaching her goal and having to go through with it.

http://www.erinajensen.com/
http://blog.erinajensen.com/
https://www.facebook.com/erin.jensen.756

Dream Waters: Book One of The Dream Waters Series is on sale for $0.99!!!
Book 1:

Amazon Buy Link: http://a.co/gh4ZMdP

Barnes and Noble Buy Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dream-waters-erin-a-jensen/1124717811?ean=9780997171204

iBook Buy Link: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/dream-waters/id1159943525?mt=11

kobo Buy Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dream-waters

Dream World: Book Two of The Dream Waters Series
by Erin A. Jensen

Book 2:

https://www.amazon.com/Dream-World-Book-Two-Waters/dp/0997171243/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XC0M9V11GB85XKJ8AX50

Amazon Buy Link: http://a.co/9GERZwx

Barnes and Noble Buy Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dream-world-erin-a-jensen/1125396760?ean=9780997171235

iBook Buy Link: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/dream-world/id1209882853?mt=11

kobo Buy Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dream-world-7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kimbra Kash and Morgaine le Fay are at the Chateau Today!!

Tags

Denmark, ebooks, fantasy, fantasy romance, Morgaine le Fey, print books, romance

Theirs was a romance that threatened two kingdoms.

MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING is the secret Denmark never shares…until now.

 BLURB

Travel across oceans, continents and countries to discover the story of legendary Viking hero, Holger Danske, and his magical romance with King Arthur’s half-sister in Morgaine Le Fay and the Viking

This is the story of two warriors who never thought they’d find love, especially on the battlefield, yet standing poised against each other Morgaine and Holger face an attraction more powerful than any sword, stronger than any warrior and more magical than all the powers of Merlin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT OF MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING

FOREWORD

This is an old story told from a totally different perspective. This is a Viking’s tale.

MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING is a legendary romance filled with honorable Knights from King Arthur’s Round Table, Salacious Pirates, and Brutal Vikings. This is the retelling of the romance between King Arthur’s half-sister, Morgaine Le Fay, and her epic lover, the Viking Prince of Denmark and heir to King Geoffrey’s throne, Holger Danske. And though you might think you know these characters from the British stories, this tale comes from an entirely different point of view. The Viking perspective.

Everyone knows of Excalibur and King Arthur but few know of his brother-in-law, the Danish Viking Prince and warrior Holger Danske or his sword Cortana. MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING is a mature Young Adult retelling of folk-lore legend and Danish leader, Holger Danske, and his magical romance with the sorceress Princess Morgaine Le Fay.

They met on a battlefield, poised against each other, but their attraction was more powerful than any sword, stronger than any warrior and more magical than Merlin, yet theirs is a tale more tragic than Romeo and Juliet.

Weaving the stories from English, French and Danish together this is one slice from the rich tapestry of tales that have come together throughout time and history.

While most everyone who searches for tales of the middle ages and seeks out stories of Knights and battles, castles and magical swords, they will only find the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Yet, it is only with the help of the Viking warrior Holger Danske of Denmark and Charles the Great (a.k.a Charlemagne of France) that King Arthur beat back the Saxons and retained leadership of Camelot.

Amidst these battles and legends, Morgaine Le Fay is worthy of her own stand-alone stories for she was such a strong woman everyone believed her to be a sorceress or more than human. Some said she was half fairy because she rode with the men in battle and was more than willing to take enormous risks for the men she loved.

Some believe she was the most powerful sorceress in all of history, having tutored under the guidance of Merlin and quickly surpassing his abilities. But it is her tragic love story with the Danish Prince that forms this first story in the Viking Series: MORGAINE LE FAY AND THE VIKING.

Morgaine’s true love, the Viking Norse leader and legendary warrior, is immortalized in stone in the dungeons of Hamlet’s Castle on the shore that sits between the sound of Denmark and Sweden.

But there is much more to this tale than a simple love story.

King Arthur received his magical sword, Excalibur, from the Norse Goddess, also known as The Lady of the Lake but Excalibur was not the only magical sword she ever relinquished to mortal hands. She gave just such a magical sword to the Danish Prince, Holger, and one to the French King, Charlemagne. Together these three heroic men joined forces to fight side by side. Britain, France and Scandinavia battled back the invading Saxons.

I am married to a Dane who was born and raised in Denmark, and have visited the Castle of Kronborg in Helsingør, Denmark and viewed the statue Holger Danske in the casemates. I have also visited both England and France and tried to stay true to the themes of all three legends, (from Denmark-Holger Danske, England-King Arthur, and France-Charlemagne), while weaving them together. However, I have taken artistic liberties with language and in dramatizing the tale of The Viking Princess.

There is an entire world full of rich stories about epic battles that go far beyond King Arthur’s realm and other countries hold their legendary heroes in this same high regard. This is one such story.

FIRST SIGHT

Morgaine’s head was held high, her back straight, with her chin jutted forward, as she rode like a warrior into battle. Covered in shiny mail, she sat upon her lively white steed, much like a nobleman, but no one could be mistaken. One glance and anyone could see simply by looking at her, this was a fine lady, with skin as smooth as silk and clear as a summer day, her russet curls plaited and twined around her head, forming a crown of braids befitting a high-born princess.

Raising her hand to shield her eyes from the harsh morning light, she turned toward the mountains, searching for a sign. Something. Anything.

Nothing was there. Still she sat, waiting.

It was after sunset when the shadows finally shifted across the horizon. That’s when she noticed the dark silhouettes of men. Not peasants. These were broad-backed warriors on horseback, sitting outlined against the blood-red moon. They were moving closer, nearer to battle.

Arthur did not want his sister on the front lines. “You should be in the background working your magic,” he insisted, hoping she would heed his pleas.

She threw her head up in defiance and gave a little snort. “Never,” she insisted.

His voice took on an authoritative tone. “I am the King,” he reminded her with a frown etched over his face. She turned to grin at him, “Did you think I could forget?”

With a heavy sigh, he went on, “It is not as a King that I am asking, but as your brother. I cannot bear the thought of you being hurt for me. I want you in the background, not on the forefront of battle.”

She shook her head, and then reached across the gap between them. She ran her palm over his cheek. “Do not waste your worry. You know, death holds no fear for me.”

“Perhaps,” he nodded. “But there are worse things than death. Please sister, if only for my sake, move to the back and do not separate yourself from us—I beg of you.” He tried to convince her not to ride forward from the front lines, but she wouldn’t listen.

“Do not even think of it,” she said, with that familiar look of determination in her eyes and the stubborn tone Arthur had become so acquainted with. Pulling back on her reins, she danced her horse around him. “I am a symbol for the men to look upon. I must move about for all to see.”

And no matter how much he wanted to deny it, they both knew she was right. Sitting out in front of the knights, she made an unforgettable impression.

“But you can inspire from anywhere, it need not be the frontline,” he insisted.

She shook her head, disregarding his warning as she rode ahead to act as the King’s guard over her brother. Sitting proud and tall, she fully intended to protect him from the onslaught that was about to begin. Arthur was transfixed. She was more beautiful than ever. An angel blanketed in shadows but edged in starlight, no man on the battlefield would ever forget her face.

She felt the fire burning inside her belly. The cry of war rising up into her heart, she wanted nothing more than to ride.

As the men moved nearer, she raised her hand, stopping Arthur’s men—holding them back, “Wait for my signal,” she called out, “Steady!” Finally reaching up over her head, she dropped her sword across her body as the moonlight glistened on the shiny steel, blinding the men riding toward them into battle.

Morgaine let out a laugh that echoed over the field as she galloped forward, and then immediately she swung her mare away from the men. Standing out alone and off to the side, she was a vision…

Suddenly time stood still. She was frozen, as a warrior on their frontline came into view. His arm raised up over his head, sword in hand, he led the charge against her, against Arthur, and against all the people of Camelot. He was a brute of a man and her attention was riveted.

There was no turning away; he was all she saw, all she noticed. Opening his mouth, he let out a roar as he rode straight toward her, this man with the golden mane.

The moonlight shimmered down on him. His browned skin glistened and his hair gleamed like an autumn jewel beneath the starlight. Suddenly she was reminded of hot summer days and amber pebbles washed up on the white sandy shores. Fascinated, she was spellbound by his glowing skin beneath the fading evening sun.

She was mesmerized.

Shaking her head to clear the fog inside her mind, she readied herself for his blow. Raising her shield, she steeled herself.

He was a giant among men, with ten times the form of any god she could imagine.

Was it possible? Was this an illusion? Could he be real?

His sapphire eyes found hers, locking on her lilac orbs, and a blinding heat struck her like a bolt of lightning. She could not turn away. His sword raised high in the air, his shield barely covering his broad chest, she stared at his form. A rush of fire raced through her, as she sat still watching this man ride with such a majestic carriage.

Giddy and out of breath, her heart beat faster than she could ever recall.

What was happening here? What magic was this? She wondered at her own body, feeling dizzy as a young maiden at her first games. Someone must have cast a spell. She turned her head, searching for the Viking sorcerer performing this magic.

There was none.

She had never had this reaction to any man. No. Morgaine had never had this reaction to anyone.

Her breath caught in her chest, and she could barely breathe. The air was trapped inside her throat, choking her. She had to cough to force the air back into her lungs.

This man could not be human. He was either a devil or a demon, she was sure of it and yet he had signaled his men into the battle before he veered off to the side, riding straight toward the sorceress with the flaming locks. His mouth was open as he let out a warrior chant she had never heard before.

Another spell, she told herself, an incantation—perhaps the same one he cast upon the knights and warriors.

She turned to her side, to see how her men were holding up under this magic.

It could not be.

His words had no effect on them. They were not under his spell. Their swords were unsheathed, raised, and ready to do battle. The knight beside her let out a thunderous cry, spurring his horse faster, as they rode past her into the throng of bare-chested men with the horns upon their heads.

Her steed moved forward, but she did nothing more than hold on to the reins as her mare carried her into the field of battle and straight toward the magic man. She was unprepared, mesmerized, and out of control…

Opposite each other they rode, one toward the other. She saw him motion to his men to continue riding forward as he veered further off to the side…to make his way straight toward her.

In a matter of moments, he was upon her. Sweeping up beside her like the blast of a storm, he stole her breath away. His thickly muscled arm snaked out away from his body, striking before she could do a thing or even before she realized what had happened. But there was no pain. It was not with a thrust of his sword that he struck, it was only his arm. Quickly twisting, he shifted his weight to make room for her. His powerful arm wrapped around her waist, grabbing her with the strength of the ocean’s tide, he pulled her toward him.

Morgaine sat motionless as a statue in the garden; she offered no resistance. Instead, she simply slid sideways from her horse onto his. It happened in one swift motion.

Pressing his palm flat against her belly, he held her in place, tightly nestled in front of him. She felt the warmth of his breath on her neck, caressing her face. Her hands fell limp to her side, accidently brushing against the hot flesh of his thigh. His skin burned beneath her fingertips.

The heat rose from her hands to her chest, and a small gasp escaped her lips as she let her hands rest upon his thickly muscled leg. He chuckled low in his throat and she knew he understood the effect he was having on her senses.

Pressing his firm rippled chest into her back, she felt something she had never felt before…lust.

She could do nothing to resist him. Leaning back, she drank in the strong, musky scent of him and felt her head spin. He held her steady and still.

Another mesmerizing potion, she thought, his spicy scent must be the mixture of a wizard’s tonic, worn to hypnotize his enemies.

Unable to fight the strength of his powerful magic, she succumbed. His tantalizing aroma made her want nothing more than to be with him, alone.

 

Viisit me at www.kimbrakasch.com

And www.kimkasch.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 Book Title: Morgaine Le Fay and the Viking

 

Author Name: Kimbra Kasch

 

Author Location: Portland, Oregon

 

Name of series and book number in series: The Viking Series – Book 1

 

Genre: Young Adult Romance

 

Publisher: Midnight Frost/Crimson Frost

http://www.midnightfrostpublishing.com/

 Date of Publication:  August 26, 2016

 

Number of pages: 285

 Word Count: 80,000

Formats available: pdf, mobi,  epub

 Cover Artist: Gin Kiser

Author Bio:

Hi everyone! I’m a romance writer who grew up in a family with 9 kids and only 1 t.v. so I spent my days reading and, later, writing. I love books. . .maybe because I never got to pick t.v. shows we watched. But I’d run home after school to catch the last fifteen minutes of Dark Shadows…

I still love to run…or at my age, maybe I should say wogging (a cross between walking and jogging). Here in Portland, I love Halloween themed runs – where people don costumes and run. It’s a lot of fun…and I know those two words don’t always go together: fun…and…run. But it is.

And, with all those Halloween themed runs, I guess Dark Shadows had more of an influence than some people might think. Even today my favorite author is Stephen King. My all-time favorite book is Salem’s Lot.

Favorite romance novels are The Hunger Games…okay, I know, it’s a survival book but it’s really all about romance. Then there were the series: Twilight, Fifty Shades, and more but I also love paranormal, Horror and even light books like Dewey the Small Town Library Cat… Mainly, I just love to read. . . and write.

I’ve just had my first novel published and am looking to share it with the world. It’s a story I was inspired to write after visiting Hamlet’s Castle and seeing an enormous Viking statue down in the tunnels next to the dungeons.

Sorry to be so long-winded but did I say I love to write? …and talk and…knit, and sew, and bake… I could go on but I’ll close by saying, I hope you’ll stop in on my site and I can tell you I have a couple other stories you should check out: How about a story about a Demonic Tattoo artist in Portland, Oregon: Demon’s Ink? Or, how about a love story? Of course we all know love is risky, but in The Cats of Cullaby Creek it’s dangerous….

You can find  them here: https://www.amazon.com/Cats-Cullaby-Creek-Kim-Kasch-ebook/dp/B01AVVSB44/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1471659591&sr=8-2&keywords=kim+kasch

https://www.amazon.com/Demons-Ink-Evil-Kim-Kasch-ebook/dp/B012P2R5G2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1471659591&sr=8-4&keywords=kim+kasch