Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Finding Her

 Finding Her

Scarlett City Book 2

Anika wanted nothing more than to escape her past and dance. Juilliard was supposed to be a new beginning, a chance to follow her dreams. Life had other ideas.

Mason was awkward with people but a genius behind his screens and keys. His history was filled with darkness but the first time he saw her smile, that's all it took. But she had no idea he existed...

Follow the journey of Anika and Mason as they get to know each other, deal with secrets and lies, potential threats and questionable allies, shattered dreams and possible hopes.

This is the second book in the Scarlett City Series and is an MF contemporary romance. There is plenty of action, drama, and mystery, but there is also content that may be upsetting or triggering to some readers. This includes but is not limited to violence, physical and sexual assault, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, mentions of suicide and self harm, death and loss. This can be read as a standalone but for the best reading experience the series should be read in order. Enjoy!



Now available on Amazon

Friday, March 10, 2023

Craving Them Teaser


"Will you relax?" Bryce asked, keeping his voice low. Kas opened his mouth, but Bryce gave him an almost pleading look that had me utterly fascinated. "Please?"

Kas closed his mouth and looked down at Bryce for a moment as if looking for something. Finally, he nodded and the tension in Bryce's shoulders dissipated. Without another word, he followed his friends downstairs and Kas glanced at me.

"What?"

"I just wish I had the ability to read minds," I sighed, flopping onto the bare mattress of my bed and staring at the ceiling for the last time. "If I knew what people were thinking, my life wouldn't be so difficult."

Kas sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at me, a smile tugging up the corners of his mouth. "I think you've got that backwards. But isn't guessing supposed to be the fun part when it comes to people?"

"You tell me, Kas," I said, closing my eyes. "I'm not good with people, not like you are. I don't know how… anything works."

I kept my eyes closed, unable to face him after bringing up his reminder from several minutes ago. Kas was five years older than me and was very well experienced in what I assumed was everything. I had heard his jokes and crude comments over the years which pointed to a lifetime's worth of… well, everything. How could someone as ignorant about the world as I was know what I wanted if I didn't even know what I could want?

Reading books and watching movies doesn't tell you how the real-world works. It's pipe dreams with pretty people and pretty endings. But I had seen the darkness that existed in this world, the real world. I didn't know if what I felt was real or just the hormones of a teenage girl in close proximity to hot guys. Maybe that's all it was, but I just wanted to be happy, whatever that meant.

"The best way to learn is through experience," Kas answered quietly. "You're young and have plenty of time to figure it all out. You don't need to be good with people, just the right ones. As beautiful and intelligent as you are, the world is at your mercy, Rainbow."

Tears stung my eyes as I finally looked up at him, silent tears slipping from my eyes. "I'm going to miss you, Kas. I'm not sure I'm ready for that goodbye."

Kas held out his hand to me and I took it, letting him pull me into a sitting position. Brown eyes searched mine, our faces inches apart as he tucked the strand behind my ear again.

"What if you didn't have to?" he asked, his breath fanning across my skin again. "What if you could see me any time you wanted or needed to?"

"What do you mean?" I whispered in confusion as more tears welled in my eyes. "I can't ask you to drop everything whenever I miss you, Kas. I wouldn't."

"But what if you didn't have to?" he pressed, doubt filling his eyes as I began to shake my head. I still didn't understand what he was asking of me. "Would you be okay with that?"

"How?"

"Because he lives across the hall from us," Bryce said before Kas could answer. Both of us turned to look at him in surprise. "He would be within reach whenever you wanted him there."

"Bryce…" Kas sighed dejectedly, rubbing his forehead.

"It's fine," Bryce cut in while I struggled to process what he had just said. "I just came up here to tell you that the boys are going to finish loading her stuff up. Andi, stay here with Kas and I'll be back in a little bit. We can leave after that if you want."

"Where are you going?" Kas frowned.

"My brother needs me for something," Bryce answered vaguely. Kas clenched his jaw but remained silent. "Don't worry, it won't take long."

As he walked away, I slowly stood from the bed, packing away the last of my books as I tried to wrap my head around it.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, keeping my back to him.

"Because I want to," he answered without hesitation.

"But why?" I repeated more forcefully. "Because Rory told you to? Because you don't trust Bryce? For some other reason? Why? Don't lie to me, Kas, because I've had plenty of those lately."

I heard the creak of the mattress as he stood and felt the subtle vibration with each step he took towards me. My heart was racing, and I could feel tears trying to find their way out again. When the heat of his body was so close that I could feel it through my clothes, I went still.

"Because I want to, Andi," Kas repeated again. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be. That's a promise."

I believed him even though I couldn't shake the feeling it wasn't the whole truth. But I accepted it, my desperately naive brain absorbing the promise like it would justify the darkest parts of me that wanted this to be real.

Saturday, March 4, 2023

Craving Them by SJ Meares


New local author, SJ Meares, has recently published her first book in the Scarlett City series. Now available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Follow her author page on Facebook.

Give away coming soon!

Friday, March 3, 2023

Review of Craving Them by SJ Meares

 

Craving Them: Scarlett City Series Book 1Craving Them: Scarlett City Series Book 1 by SJ Meares
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Scarlette City series which is a contemporary mafia romance with some aspects that could be triggers for some.

I love the characters! Kas, Bryce, and Andi are perfect together. Each are unique with their own flaws and demons; they are far from perfect which makes them so relatable. The story is woven with enough sex and violence to add to the story without it being just about the sex and violence. Its woven together to draw you into their world and hold you captive until the end. I hated to see the story end, and I'm glad to know this is the first in the series. I look forward to the next one.

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Saturday, February 8, 2020

Art




A couple of years ago I started doing paint by number. The paint by numbers that are available now are nothing like the ones I had when I was a kid. These are large, complicated pieces that are real pieces of art. But, after doing several I started wanting to explore other types of art. I started drawing and using colored pencils. The first piece below is one example.





Then I discovered the Art Sherpa. The first piece below I used techniques that I learned but expanded upon them. The other pieces I followed tutorials on her YouTube videos. I have really enjoyed painting and hope to sell some of my own soon. Let me know what you think!







Sunday, July 21, 2019

Seven Wishes

This is the first book in the Caelum Academy trilogy. All three books are out, but I haven't continued on to those just yet.

Here is an excerpt from the blurb:

Caelum: an Academy built to protect people like Eve.
Who they can't protect her from?
Its own student body.



With the influx of so many reverse harem and academy series (and reverse harem academy series) it is difficult to discern the differences between many of them. This one has some unusual premises to it, much of which leaves me with soooo many questions. It is certainly different from what I have encountered in the past, and I'm still not sure about whether I like this take on the paranormal world. However, I am intrigued enough to continue the series.


Seven Wishes (The Caelum Academy Trilogy, #1)Seven Wishes by Serena Akeroyd

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


3.5 starts, but I rounded up because I'm intrigued.

The premise of this read is interesting, but leaves me with sooooo many questions. Eve has been recruited for Caelum Academy and essentially rescued by the cult she was raised in. She learns that those like her (creatures) have 7 souls that are fighting for dominance and when she matures one will be the dominant soul. These are vampire, hell hound, sin eater, gargoyle, succubus, Lorelei, and were. This is where my confusion starts, and maybe I am just over thinking things. But how is a person that is born to "normal" parents born a creature? It is alluded that genetics play a role, but wouldn't someone in your immediate family hold those genetics? Maybe I'm just used to stories where weres are born to were families, vampires come from vampires, and fae or demonic entities or similar means create succubi, etc. And that is only the tip of the question iceberg. But I don't want to spoil things.

I like the characters. Eve is struggling to come to terms with what she is. And the guys in her life are flawed and real. I do want to see where this story is headed so I will be continuing the series. The world building is also unique. I haven't read anything that is set close to Nigeria. However I feel like Eve does: there is just so much I don't understand.




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Saturday, February 2, 2019


“If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.”

– John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Rhapsodic

Rhapsodic (The Bargainer, #1)Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book deserves much more than 5 stars. I would give it 10 or 20.....50. It was that good and I don't say that lightly.

I hardly have words to talk about this story. Callie and the Bargainer have a past, and through this past we see their life and their relationship develop like no other. Callie is a siren that is in need of help and the Bargain is there to strike a bargain. From that point their lives are never the same. Their story is woven together in perfect ebb and flow. The reader is drawn into a story that you don't ever want to leave. I would wake up at night thinking about these characters. And I can hardly wait to continue this story.




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Monday, January 21, 2019

A Stir of Bones

A Stir of Bones (Red Heart of Memories, #.5)A Stir of Bones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was absolutely heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time.

Susan who lives in a home full of secrets finally makes friends and finds a house with its own secrets. While this story is about children it is not a children's story. And the story is so gripping it is hard to put down. I wasn't ready for the story to end and I would like to know what happens with Susan and her family but from what I understand the second book does not pick up here.


This is a story full of magic, friendship, sadness and hope. My heart ached when it ended.




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