Where the River Bends by Elsa Winckler

I have been reading love stories for as long as I can remember and when I ‘met’ the classic authors like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James The Brontë sisters, etc. during my Honours studies, I was hooked for life.

I married my college boyfriend and soul mate and after 43 years, 3 interesting and wonderful children and 3 beautiful grandchildren, he still makes me weak in the knees. We are fortunate to live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty's Bay, South Africa with the ocean a block away and a beautiful mountain right behind us. And although life so far has not always been an easy ride, it has always been an exiting and interesting one!

I like the heroines in my stories to be beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong.  And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity. They are of course, also gorgeous!  My stories typically incorporate the family background of the characters to better understand where they come from and who they are when we meet them in the story.

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"Kalinda Evans works for the Anglo-Boer war foundation in Canada. She's sent to South Africa to make sure everyone who lost their lives in the war will be remembered. On her drive to the guest farm in Kimberley, South Africa, Kalinda picks up a female hitchhiker and is startled when just moments later, the woman vanishes. Kalinda would be convinced she was dreaming…except there’s still a white lace handkerchief on the passenger seat.

Extreme sports enthusiast and computer game designer Zack Carter is always after the next big challenge. He’s far too busy for romance and adheres to a three-date rule, until he meets his parents’ latest guest. When she relays the story of her mysterious experience, Zack’s family shares the local ghost story. Kalinda and Zack work together to solve the puzzle of the ghost and how it all ties in with the war and the work Kalinda is doing.

As their attraction grows, Zack realizes he no longer feels the need to prove anything to himself. He only needs to prove to Kalinda that he’s more than a good time."

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Snippet:

This Kalinda intrigued him. She was beautiful, gorgeous really. But he didn't like the odd knot in his tummy when he'd seen her for the first time. And the fist of desire that followed took him by surprise. He wanted to touch her. But when he picked up her hand, a strange thing happened – for the first time in his life, he couldn't talk. Words that usually came easily to him got stuck in his throat, his mouth was dry and for a minute he was completely thrown.

That had never happened before. For once, he couldn't remember one of his usual witty remarks.

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Monster Mash Blitz: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur by Fiona Ingram

I am a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, I was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked my new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with my mother and two young nephews. We had a great time and I thought I’d write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned book series later, I had changed careers. I have now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in my MG adventure series Chronicles of the Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and one already for Book 3! I also teach online novel writing for aspiring authors and I find that very satisfying. Relaxation time finds me enjoying something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. I love doing research for my book series. I love animals and have written two animal rescue stories. I have two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin, and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.

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A modern day adventure as our protagonists search for Excalibur and the treasures it holds! This is a must-read for Middle Graders keen on action, adventure, and Arthurian stories! 

Continuing the adventure that began in Egypt a few months prior in The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair are hot on the trail of the second Stone of Power, one of seven ancient stones lost centuries ago. This stone might be embedded in the hilt of a newly discovered sword that archeologists believe belonged to King Arthur: Excalibur. 

However, their long-standing enemy, Dr. Khalid, is following them as they travel to Scotland to investigate an old castle. Little do they know there is another deadly force, the Eaters of Poison, who have their own mission to complete. Time is running out as the confluence of the planets draws closer. 

Can Justin and Adam find the second Stone of Power and survive? And why did Aunt Isabel send a girl with them? Join Justin and Adam as they search not only for the second Stone of Power, but also for the Scroll of the Ancients, a mysterious document that holds important clues to the Seven Stones of Power. 

As their adventure unfolds, they learn many things and face dangers that make even their perils in Egypt look tame. And how annoying for them that their tag-along companion, Kim, seems to have such good ideas when they are stumped. 

Book extras include some historical background on King Arthur, the Dark Ages, warfare and weaponry during Arthur's time, and details on Excalibur. A fascinating peek into the life and times of the real King Arthur, perfect for young time travelers and budding archaeologists. For coloring-in enthusiasts, ten original black and white illustrations including 2 maps make for more enjoyment!

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Snippet:

He heard a faint howling noise in the distance. Wolves? Adam froze with fear. He desperately tried to remember whether there had still been wolves in England during the Dark Ages. There must have been because there was no other sound quite like the howl of a wolf. The hairs on his arms rose as he heard the howl again. Although he pinched himself to wake up, it was no good; he remained in the dream. At the sound of distant hoof beats, he almost ducked behind a large tree trunk. There was no time to hide because suddenly the drumming hooves were all around him. Then came the faint melancholy wail of a battle horn, and the tinny sound of chinking metal. He could hear the crisp snap-snap of fluttering pennants, and when he turned, he glimpsed banners waving among the trees. The surge of spectral riders halted and one man, seated on a white horse, appeared at the head of the cavalcade.

The eerie figure came closer, the horse lifting its feet carefully, clip-clopping right up to the trembling boy. The horse was huge, its trappings gleaming with pinpoints of metal rosettes, its long tail and mane hanging like ghostly cobwebs in the pale moonlight. The beast snorted and stamped restlessly. Adam saw the burnished glint of a helmet with a dragon-shaped crest topped by a red plume. Although the cheek pieces of the helmet obscured the man’s features, the shadowy figure was looking right at him. A red cloak swirled around the warrior’s body and, as the fabric swung aside, Adam saw the gleam of chain mail and the dark shape of a breastplate on the man’s chest. The warrior’s armor seemed more Roman than he expected. A banner flapped from the spear of a man behind the warrior: a red dragon on a white background. The warrior raised one arm, and a roar erupted as the sounds of cheering burst from what seemed to be thousands of throats. Although Adam heard strange words in another language, somehow, he understood what the voices said.

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Monster Mash Blitz- Mrs. Murray's Ghost: A Piccadilly Street Story Book 1 by Emily Jane Hills Orford

Mary’s family has moved into a huge Victorian mansion. She loves her gigantic new house, especially her room. But then she begins to meet the house’s other residents. 

Mrs. Murray was murdered in Mary’s new house. At first she tries to scare the new residents away, but there seems to be a force connecting the ghost to Mary. 

Even the stranded Brownies, the little people who live between the walls, feel that connection. When Mary becomes deathly ill, the Brownies and the ghost team up to try to rescue her, only to encounter a witch and her evil minions. Time is running out. They must rescue Mary from a fever-induced dream world before she is trapped there forever.

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Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books, including Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

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Snippet:

There is a street called Piccadilly in London, England. In fact, there is a place, an intersection, known as Piccadilly Circus. But it is questionable as to whether or not there are any major intersections along the famous Piccadilly Street that have residential houses of some distinction on all four corners, and there is definitely no intersection of Piccadilly Street and Waterloo Street. When I last visited London, England, I was disappointed to note that there wasn’t even a Waterloo Street, just a Waterloo Road, and that was on the other side of the river from Piccadilly Street. So, the intersection of Piccadilly Street and Waterloo Street could only occur in the other London, the one in which Mary grew up. Indeed, the number of her childhood home, had it existed in London, England, could only exist in the middle of the intersection of Piccadilly Street and Regent Street.

            There are other cities in the world that bear the auspicious name of London. But only the one in Canada has an intersection of Piccadilly Street and Waterloo Street with an old Victorian mansion on each of the four corners. One, in particular, is a grand Queen Anne style, early twentieth-century building complete with a tower room, a bay window, stained glass windows, mosaic tiled floors and much more. A family moved in to take up residence in 1967. Mary’s family. It was also at this house that others took up residence many years earlier and never left. One died and left her restless spirit to roam the halls and torment those who chose to reside in the house. The other two were little sprites known as Brownies. They lived inside the walls and watched over the house that they also called home.

You see, the Brownies had a mission, something that was going to involve one of the new residents of this old house: a twelve-year-old girl by the name of Mary. This is, in fact, Mary’s story, or, at least, the beginning of her story. For there is much more to Mary’s story than this little tale.

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Monster Mash Blitz: Emma’s Dilemma by Donna Hatch

Donna Hatch is the author of the best-selling “Rogue Hearts Series,” and a winner of writing awards such as The Golden Quill and the International Digital Award. A hopeless romantic and adventurer at heart, she discovered her writing passion at the tender age of 8 and has been listening to those voices ever since. She has become a sought-after workshop presenter, and also juggles freelance editing, multiple volunteer positions, and most of all, her six children (seven, counting her husband). A native of Arizona who recently transplanted to the Pacific Northwest, she and her husband of over twenty years are living proof that there really is a happily ever after.

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Horrors! Emma's favorite Gothic novel seems to have come true...but reality is not as fun as fiction. The only man she's ever loved is home from war, but he has changed in a terrifying way. Unless Emma's wild imagination is wrong, the love of her life is a vampire! Now she must decide if she can love a creature of darkness, or reveal his secret and lose him forever.

This tongue-in-check novella plays with themes of paranormal fiction, but stays in the realm of clean and wholesome historical romance while exploring the power of trust and love.

Dance with a duke, outwit pirates, save a kingdom, and fall in love. Believe in happily ever after.

Praise for Donna Hatch:

“Donna Hatch is one of the masters of clean romance with electric tension and smokin’ hot kisses.” ~ Reading is My Super Power Reviews

“Written with heart and depth, Donna Hatch’s books are absolute must-reads for any fan of swoon-worthy historical romance.”  ~ Sarah M. Eden, USA Today best-selling historical romance author

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Snippet:

Emma looked up at the sound of flapping wings. A patch of darkness blotted out the stars, and she ducked slightly as a bat sailed toward her from deeper in the garden, swooped overhead, and flitted off to the right. There were times when she wished she could soar out into the night like that winged creature, unfettered by so many social rules. After casting a guilty glace over her shoulder at the ballroom, she stepped out of the light and into the night. A fountain murmured nearby. She sauntered to it, inhaling the scent of jasmine. Moonlight glimmered in the surface of the pool below the water sculpture. 

A breeze whispered, stirring the trees. She should have thought to bring a shawl. As lovely as it was out in the garden, she’d better return to the ballroom or she might catch a chill. Besides, it wouldn’t do to disappear and set tongues wagging; people might think she was on some sort of illicit rendezvous, and she daren’t risk ruin. Of course, if she died a spinster, that wouldn’t really matter, but she couldn’t dishonor her family name.

The bat flapped overhead again and wheeled away, disappearing behind a large shrub. A dark form stepped out of the same shrub. Her breath caught and she jumped as a tall man approached.

Bennett Ashton. 

Coming out from behind the very bush where the bat had disappeared.

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Book Tour: The MaxBrides- Hannah and Ash (Book 2) by JL Petersen

Hannah was proud to be part of the MacBride clan. She loved her family, their land and her lavender. 

When she found a love she'd wished for all her life on a trip to Paris she thought she had it all. But hidden circumstances separated them leaving her back home with an unexpected reminder of her brief love affair. 

When Ash shows up on their ranch she is torn between wanting to share all her joy with him and afraid to trust him to love her, not just their child.

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J.L. Petersen lives in Denver with her husband.

She finds inspiration in her adopted state of Colorado and her belief love is the most powerful, positive emotion we can experience.

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Snippet:

Confused for a moment about where she was, it slowly started coming back to her. Good god, she had fainted. She’d never fainted before in her life. 

Today was her brother Clay, and new sister-in-law, Sandy’s wedding and it was being held in the backyard of the main homestead on the family ranch. Frowning, she tried to remember more.  She remembered helping Sandy get ready along with her sister Sarah and Sandy’s sister, RJ. They’d joked about RJ and Hannah’s other brother, Logan, having gotten engaged the night before.

Then it came to her. Ash. He was here. At the wedding. She remembered the feeling of being watched as she stood up front during the ceremony and scanned the crowd. When her eyes found his she’d panicked. Which is why she had escaped to this private area after the ceremony had ended. How had he found her? Oh, my god! He couldn’t know of the baby. The one they created on their single night together. The one she hadn’t even told her family about. Oh, god, please make him go away, she pleaded.

Author Top Ten's List:

1.     No, the men in the stories are not fashioned after any men in my life. They all asked me about that :)

2.     I love movies from the 30s, 40s and 50s.

3.     Rereading a favorite book is like watching a favorite movie or TV show again.

4.     I love the mountains in the spring and summer. Not a skier. I know I would hit the tree :)

5.     I enjoy hosting and entertaining our friends and family.

6.     I can stay up all night reading a good book and pretend I'm not exhausted the next day.

7.     Love road trips with girlfriends.

8.     My husband actually knows what book I'm working on including what series it belongs to hahaha

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