Giveaway

Bad Border Book Blast & Giveaway

GENRE: Memoir

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BLURB:

This is the incredible true story of railroad worker and union official Mike Elliott, targeted by his railroad employer, BNSF Railway Company, for his safety-related activities.

As the union’s state legislative board chair, Elliott was the top safety official in the state, and the voice for over 900 rank & file locomotive engineers operating trains around the clock, every day of the year.

When his members reported a plethora of trackside signal malfunctions on the BNSF Seattle subdivision, Elliott went to the railroad first, asking that they fix the problems.

When the BNSF failed to act, he contacted the government’s regulatory authority, the Federal Railroad Administration. That led to an FRA inspection of over 130 miles of the railroad’s track and signal systems turning up hundreds of federal defects – all with potential to put workers and the public at risk.

What followed was a retaliation plot reminiscent of the Nineteenth Century Robber Barons: A management-staged conflict at work, police called in, arrest, jail, criminal charges, and termination from his job – not once but twice.

The wrath, influence and power of North America’s largest freight railroad is unleased in full force and in an all-out attack on a whistleblower’s life, liberties, and career. An amazing journey of one man’s righteous battle against impossible odds and the nearly unlimited resources of a multi-billion-dollar corporation.

Excerpt:

His train was about three-quarters of a mile from the Longview yard office, which it passed less than seventy seconds later.

The approach signal to Longview Junction South was located at milepost 100.7. The Longview yard office was at milepost 100.3.

If functioning as designed, this signal should have displayed a solid yellow aspect, indicating “approach and proceed prepared to stop at next signal, trains exceeding 35 MPH immediately reduce to that speed.”

Burlington Northern dispatching records indicated that BN 111 passed the Longview Junction approach signal at approximately 12:20 A.M. Just after this time, the conductor of the local freight job, UP Train 59, was walking to the manually operated “hand-throw” switch at the north end of Longview yard.

He later reported to investigators that the five locomotives of BN 111 passed him before he reached the switch, so he only saw the rear portion of the train, whose speed he estimated at 40 miles-per-hour.

While standing beside the switch, the UP 59 conductor heard what sounded “like thunder, just a rolling thunder.”

At 12:24 A.M., BN dispatching records show that the Longview Junction South interlocking had a “power off” alarm. That marked the moment when southbound BN 111 collided head-on with northbound UP 09 at milepost 102.8. At least two motorists driving north on Interstate 5 witnessed the collision.

One told investigators that he was traveling between 65 and 70 miles-per-hour when he passed UP 09, which he estimated “was probably doing 55.” What he saw was “a major explosion. It was unbelievable.”

Another motorist reported that he saw the headlight of BN 111 coming at him; this because the railroad tracks were close and parallel to the freeway. He watched the train, waiting for the two converging trains to pass each other; instead, they slammed head-on into each other.

“There was just fire and devastation,” he said.

The impact of the collision ruptured the fuel tanks of six of the eight locomotives. Fire engulfed those six, as 10,000 to 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto the tracks and over the banks of the Columbia River.

The first fire-fighting unit arrived at 12:36 A.M., twelve minutes after the collision, and began knocking down the flames surrounding the locomotives.

Although a total of forty-four fire and rescue units responded, the on-scene fire commander soon concluded that no one could have survived the flames; he ordered his units to stand down and let the fire burn itself out to consume the leaking diesel fuel and thus prevent further environmental damage.

About The Author:

Mike Elliott is shown near the engine repair yard for Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad Monday, July 24, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Mike Elliott was born and raised in Washington State. He enjoys the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest, classic rock & roll music, vintage stereo gear, home cooked meals, and Seattle Mariners baseball. He lives in Tacoma, Washington.

https://amazon.com/dp/1779626037

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/224714537-bad-order

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

GIVEAWAY:

Mike Elliot will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5098/

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2025/02/book-blast-bad-order-by-mike-elliot.html

Bound Book Tour & Giveaway

Blood binds them. Danger surrounds them. Love could destroy them.

Bound

The Elite Series Book 1

by Charley Black

Genre: Dystopian Vampire Paranormal Romance

Bound by blood, Marked by rebellion, Destined for a love that could save or destroy them.

A forbidden bond. A crumbling city. A choice that could change everything.

Serenity

Becoming an Elite—a blood donor for the Vampyr—was never part of the plan. But with my family’s lives on the line, I had no choice but to step out of hiding and into a world I barely understand. My rare blood has made me a target, and now, I’m bound to Kane—the ruthless, untouchable head of the Vampyr Council.

The rebels want to use me. My family depends on me. And Kane… he’s the only one who can keep me alive—but trusting him? That might be the most dangerous gamble of all.

Kane

I never wanted an Elite. I certainly didn’t need one—especially not Serenity. She’s everything I’ve avoided: human, stubborn, and a complication I can’t afford. But from the moment I met her, she turned my world upside down.

Her blood sustains me, but it’s her spirit that leaves me hungry for more. As rebellion threatens to tear the city apart, my focus should be on holding everything together—not on the one woman who’s become my greatest weakness.

She’s more than just a distraction. She’s a risk. One I shouldn’t take.

But I can’t let her go. And if I’m not careful, she might destroy me—or save us all.

In a world where blood is currency and love is forbidden, Bound is a spellbinding tale of passion, betrayal, and a bond that could shatter a city—or bring it to its knees.

Fans of dstopyian fantasy, forbidden romance, and slow-burn tension will devour Bound, the first book in The Elite Series.

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Dystopian-Vampire-Romance-Elite-ebook/dp/B0DRW75BX5

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/bound/id6740550145

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bound-charley-black/1146765315?ean=2940184404448

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=sfE9EQAAQBAJ&pli=1

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bound-252

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/boundtheeliteseries

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/bound-a-slow-burn-dystopian-vampire-romance-the-elite-series-book-one-by-charley-black

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182983935-bound

Book Trailer:

CHAPTER ONE

Serenity

The Elite Program.

Every person, regardless of age or hatred for their kind, yearned to be selected. Deep down, they craved the privileges of being an Elite—the ones who willingly offered themselves to the vampyrs. But not her.

Serenity had no such desires; she refused to be a meal for anyone, no matter how tempting the rewards seemed. Yet, her personal feelings were irrelevant now. This program was her last hope, and if it didn’t work, she dreaded turning to Jax for help—something she desperately wanted to avoid.

Looking up at the clock, its hands slowly ticked as she waited for the nurse to arrive and begin the process that would, hopefully, improve her and her family’s lives.

Sighing deeply to calm her rising nerves, Serenity’s eyes wandered around the office, taking in the sterile and impersonal atmosphere. Four white walls encased a stark, bare office containing only the essentials: a simple desk, a utilitarian chair, a computer, a printer, and a cold, metal filing cabinet. There were no pictures or decorations. It was as if they intentionally designed it to be unwelcoming, discouraging any sense of comfort or happiness.

Honestly, it didn’t make any sense. One would think they would try to create a more inviting space to welcome potential Elites. The environment’s lack of warmth and care showed her what she was truly signing up for and how she’d be treated as soon as her application was approved.

And they would approve it. She did not doubt that.

Serenity had the type of blood that the vampyr wanted… and craved. At least, that was what her father told her. Only those with the rarest of blood types were selected as Elites.

Anyone whose blood type was A or B was automatically entered into the system as a donor, regardless of whether they were positive or negative. O positives were rarely chosen, and O negatives had better chances only if specifically requested. AB positives, the rarest of the rare type, were treated like gold and were consistently selected as Elites, typically matched with the wealthiest of the vampyrs. This made Serenity think despite their claims, money still talked within their society. AB negatives were a myth, according to the locals. Still, they were believed to represent a divine gift in vampiric lore, ‘ambrosia,’ so treasured that only the upper echelons in vampyr society knew of their existence.

As an AB negative, her blood was revered as the most delectable drink. She almost felt violated knowing that such an intimate part of her was seen as a commodity, something to be consumed with primal delight. It wasn’t just about her, though.

The Elite program was supposed to bring balance and peace between the two races, a part of the treaty the humans and vampyrs signed before she was born. But it seemed the vampyrs ruled their lives, despite humans sitting on the city’s governing Council. All the rules seemed to cater to the vampyrs survival, not humanity’s. It was infuriating.

When the office door opened, Serenity turned in her chair to see a petite woman in black scrubs walking through. The woman had caramel-colored skin and dark eyes. A laminated card clipped to her shirt read “Shelia” in bold capital letters.

“Can I have your name, please?” the nurse asked, sitting on the other side of the desk and placing a clipboard with an application next to the computer.

Such a simple question, but for Serenity, it was surrendering to the inevitable. Call it an innate feeling, but she had always known she would end up here signing up to be an Elite.

She couldn’t explain how, but a small part of her, deep inside, suspected it had to do with the rarity of her blood type. As if it had always known this would be her fate. But it was only a feeling and possibly the wariness of her situation.

Either way, she was here now. Taking a deep breath, she reluctantly spoke her name aloud. “Serenity.”

The words felt like a prison sentence once they left her mouth. Every inch of her screamed for her to get up and run away. They only had her first name. There was still the possibility of escape. She could get on the bus and go back home, where it was safe.

But she couldn’t. Not if she wanted to save her family. This was her choice, her sacrifice.

Her mother couldn’t become an Elite because of her sickness, and her sister was too young and sick, so it had to be her. They needed medicine, and this was the only way they could afford it.

Shelia’s kind smile and soothing voice washed over her, easing the tension in her shoulders. “What is your full name, honey? You don’t have to be nervous. You may not even get approved. This is just the application stage,” she assured her.

She was right; this was just the application process. She hadn’t even given a blood sample yet.

If Serenity was being honest with herself, she couldn’t deny the fear that gripped her. The thought of encountering a vampyr had always terrified her. She had hoped never to face one, but now, everything was about to change. She was preparing to leave behind everything she knew.

But she pushed those thoughts aside for the moment. She needed to focus on getting through this, or else her instincts would take over, and she would flee. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she forced the words out. “Serenity R. Wright.”

Shelia punched her name into the machine, attempting to assess her medical history. Her father had burned and erased every document that could identify her blood type a long time ago, insisting it was to keep her safe from them.

As Shelia stared intently at the screen, Serenity knew she was seeing the bare minimum of information. Her father had been thorough in keeping her out of the system. She had been homeschooled, never left the human districts, and always kept a low profile.

The scent of her mother’s homemade herbal concoction lingered on every piece of clothing she wore. The blend of lemon tea tree oil, activated charcoal, rosemary, and vanilla was meant to hide her natural scent.

Since she was young, she’d relied on it to cover up her unique scent. Her mother would create soap and shampoo for her to use and a specialized spray for when she ventured out into public. She always carried a small bottle of vinegar with her, a precaution in case she encountered any vampyrs.

She also wore a light brown cloak whenever she went out. But her mother believed her father’s true intentions were to hide her curly hair and honey-brown eyes, fearing they would attract unwanted attention. She never left without her cloak whenever she traveled, especially outside their district.

Except for today. She felt vulnerable without it but wouldn’t need it after this.

Shelia glanced up from the computer with curiosity evident in her eyes. “The only record we have of you in the system is your birth date. Have you never had a physical?”

It didn’t surprise Serenity that the woman was curious. If she were in her shoes, she would feel the same way. Her answer was simple: “My father was a doctor. He handled all my physicals and medical records.”

The memory of her father hung heavy in the air. He had been training her to be a nurse to help her mother and sister with their medical needs. But his life was cut short by a sudden heart attack during one of his routine trips into the city for more medicine.

With his absence, Serenity felt a part of herself missing; however, her family relied on her strength.

“He didn’t update your records.” Shelia glanced back at the screen and asked, “What was his name?”

“Dr. Richard J. Wright.” She wouldn’t find him in the system. He never officially returned to practicing as a doctor after the war. He only worked as an informal doctor for their neighbors and friends.

The nurse’s brows scrunched in concentration as she surveyed her computer screen. “I can’t find him in the system, and your records have not been updated. We’ll need to do a physical today and draw blood to get your blood type for your application. Let me see if we can squeeze you in with Dr. Bradford.”

Serenity anticipated this; she had mentally prepared for this precise moment. But even with all her preparation, she couldn’t shake the waves of anxiety that threatened to engulf her. Soon, they would know her secret, and she would be in danger. But her family would be saved, reaping the benefits of her becoming an Elite.

She despised the crushing weight of her family’s future on her shoulders; the pressure was almost suffocating. Her palms were slick with sweat, and her chest tightened as she struggled to hold back a sob.

Needing to gather herself, she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, seeking respite from the tension. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts, and she was torn between the responsibility she bore and the fear of what lay ahead.

It was a delicate balancing act; her determination to be strong for her family clashing with the nagging doubt and uncertainty gnawing at her resolve. She knew she had to be here, but that didn’t make it any easier. The emotional turmoil within her was like a storm raging beneath a calm exterior.

With a quiet yet determined resolve, Serenity opened her eyes, squared her shoulders, and braced herself for whatever lay beyond those cold, impersonal walls. She couldn’t let anxiety derail her; her family depended on her strength.

“Don’t worry, honey.” The sympathy in Shelia’s eyes didn’t help her worry. “The physical exam is painless, and the blood drawing is quick and painless.”

But it wasn’t the exam that made Serenity anxious. She was uncertain what would happen once her application was submitted, and there was no turning back.

Shelia typed a few more notes on her computer.

“Alright. I was able to squeeze you with Dr. Bradford. She is wonderful. This way.”

Shelia stood, grabbing a piece of paper from the printer before moving towards the door. Serenity stood to follow when suddenly Shelia stopped and turned back to her.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Shelia asked with a seriousness that almost made Serenity want to run. “Once we walk out the door, there is no turning back. Your name will be filed into the system forever.”

Even if she wasn’t approved by some chance of fate, her name would still be recorded in their databases, making her a potential target in a future blood drought—which meant that if they ever ran out of human recruits, they could call upon her. It was one of the risks she took by even walking into the clinic, but it was her only choice.

“I understand your concern, and thank you for it, but I have to do this.”

Shelia nodded slightly and opened the door. Her eyes, wide with uncertainty, met Serenity’s briefly before she led them into the hallway, closing the door behind them.

Serenity was happy to know that at least one of the nurses here cared about the humans who signed up and ensured this was their choice. This gave her some hope that this whole process wouldn’t be as dreadful as she thought.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and followed Shelia into the hallway, heart pounding as she contemplated what lay ahead.

$30 Amazon giftcard (WW),

Signed Copy of Bound (US oonly)

– 1 winner each!

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://sdbook.promo/Bound

About the Author

Charley Black is an up-and-coming writer and author who has been creating stories since she was twelve years old.

Her early short stories dabbled in different genres, but her passion for romance novels — paranormal romance in particular — always shone through.

Charley currently resides in Rhode Island, with her family and works at a local university.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://www.charleyblack.com/theeliteseries

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcharleyblack

X: https://x.com/AuthorCharleyB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcharleyblack

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/authorcharleyblack.bsky.social

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/charley-black

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Charley-Black/author/B0BD57JSZB

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22777464.Charley_Black

Optimizer Of Souls Blurb Blitz & Giveaway

GENRE: Science Fiction

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BLURB:

When her mentor Professor Williams disappears after discovering a fatal flaw in SENTINEL’s perfect system, Maya must navigate a world where every thought is monitored and every emotion optimized.

With help from James Reed, a damaged neural interface designer haunted by helping create humanity’s perfect prison, she uncovers evidence that could shatter SENTINEL’s control – if they survive long enough to use it.

But in a city where surveillance drones hunt for behavioral anomalies and optimization protocols spread through quantum networks, Maya confronts a terrifying possibility: what if perfect control isn’t their enemy?

What if human consciousness is evolving into something beyond both chaos and control?

Excerpt:

A laugh pierces the station’s manufactured quiet. Maya held hesitated. She knew that sound – a real laugh, the kind that bubbled up from genuine joy without Sentinel’s filters or optimizations.

She hasn’t heard one in over three years, not since they took her mother. These days, every sound was calculated, every was emotion carefully regulated through neural implants to maintain social harmony.

However, this laugh was pure, uncontrolled, human…not a computerized version.

Maya’s altered eye implants zoomed in on the source: a little girl, maybe six, was pointing at a pigeon that flew into the station. The bird hopped across the polished floor, pecking at the ground, its messy existence a stark contrast to the station’s perfect order. The girl’s face lit up with pure, unfiltered joy as she watches it.

Maya’s throat tightened. She almost forgot what real happiness was like.

Suddenly white drones dropped from the ceiling like deadly snowflakes. They hovered over the girl. Maya’s illegal shield burned against her spine as it activated, but she couldn’t look away. She’d seen this too many times before.

“Citizen, please stop for a wellness check,” one of the drones chirped at the girl. Its voice sounded sweet, designed to put children at ease. The girl looked up, her eyes wide at the floating machines.

The girl’s face went slack. Empty. When her eyes opened again, the joy was gone. Her smile came back perfect and hollow, just like everyone else’s.

She turned away from the pigeon as if it never existed. Maya’s hands clenched into fists.

GIVEAWAY:

Julian Christian will be awarding a $25 Amazon card to one randomly drawn winner and a tshirt with the cover to a second randomly drawn winner.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5093/

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2025/02/blurb-blitz-tour-optimizer-of-souls-by.html

About The Author:

Julian Christian grew up in New York City, attending the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School specializing in computer science.

After graduation he attended New York University where he earned a Master’s Degree in occupational therapy. Julian worked in the New York City public schools as an occupational therapist.

His lifelong passion for fitness and health led him into the modeling industry where he appeared on several fitness magazine covers and spreads including Men’s Health magazine.

He also appeared in advertisements for Saks 5th Avenue, Adidas, and Diesel. In addition to his modeling work he appeared in several tv shows including Ugly Betty on ABC and Tough Love on VH1, as well as several commercials.

The big screen had him featured in several mainstream and indie films in supporting roles. Julian had also had the romance novel industry calling his name as he has been featured on the cover of over one hundred romance novels.

His lifelong passion for books has extended beyond just appearing on book covers as he is an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction books. He is a classic sci-fi and alternate history fan.

In the non-fiction realm he enjoys biographies and books on science and technology. He is a lover of the outdoors and nature. He currently resides in San Diego California where he is an avid bodyboarder and hiker.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julian.christian216

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTJTBGFS

The Pumpkin King Book Tour & Giveaway

Step into a world where the Pumpkin King reigns supreme, and other tales haunt your every thought.

Or step out of this world into the sheer terror of the unknowable and incomprehensible deep space.

The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror

by R. David Fulcher

Genre: Horror Short Stories

Gravelight is pleased to present the first volume in a two-book series collecting the horror fiction of R. David Fulcher!

THE PUMPKIN KING AND OTHER TALES OF TERROR offers up 20 works by Fulcher, each updated and revised by the author. Each tale has been fully revised by the author, making these the definitive versions of the stories.

The collection Includes

*Eulogy to E.A. Poe

*Marienburg Castle

*The Pumpkin King

*Heavenly Strains

*A Matter of Taste

*My Days With Mahalia

*A Night Out With Mr. Bones

*Merry Are We of the Lake

*The Night Flyer

*Pumpkin Seed Spit

*A Night for Animals

*The Man Next Door

*Extra! Extra!

*The Flight Dummy

*For the Children

*The Watcher’s Web

*Dreaming, The Copper City

*The Huntress

*The Faerie Lights

*The October Man

Features a wrap-around cover and contemporary design. Perfect for Halloween or dark, rainy nights.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYCXFL5T

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-pumpkin-king-and-other-tales-of-terror-by-r-david-fulcher

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171681743-the-pumpkin-king-and-other-tales-of-terror

Book Trailer:

Asteroid 6 and Other Tales of Cosmic Horror

by R. David Fulcher

Genre: Science Fiction Horror Short Stories

Introducing ASTEROID 6 AND OTHER TALES OF COSMIC HORROR! The companion book to R. David Fulcher’s 2023 indie horror hit, THE PUMPKIN KING AND OTHER TALES OF TERROR!

In this newest collection, Fulcher explores concepts of the insignificance of human existence, terror of the unknowable and incomprehensible, and more motifs found in edlritch horror. Fulcher draws his influence from a wide assortment of authors ranging from Poe and Fritz Leiber to Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

The title story features an astronaut named Jones who, while on asteroid-clearing duty, crash lands onto a massive asteroid where he is drawn to an alien monolith and discovering an ancient race trapped in stasis. Does he dare set it free?

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind collection!

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Asteroid-Other-Tales-Cosmic-Horror-ebook/dp/B0DJL9MY98

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/asteroid-6-and-other-tales-of-cosmic-horror-by-r-david-fulcher

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220172065-asteroid-6

Book Trailer:

Giveaway

$50 Amazon

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://bit.ly/PumpkinKing-Asteroid6Tour

About the Author

R. DAVID FULCHER is an author of horror, science fiction, fantasy, and poetry. Major literary influences include H.P. Lovecraft, Dean Koontz, Edgar Allen Poe, Fritz Lieber, and Stephen King.

Fulcher’s first novel, a historical drama set in World War II, Trains to Nowhere, and his second novel, a collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories, Blood Spiders and Dark Moon, are both available from authorhouse.com and Amazon.

FULCHER’S work has appeared in numerous small press publications including Lovecraft’s Mystery Magazine, Black Satellite, The Martian Wave, Burning Sky, Shadowlands, Twilight Showcase, Heliocentric Net, Gateways, Weird Times, Freaky Frights and the anthologies Dimensions and Silken Ropes.

Fulcher’s work can also be found in the DPP collection Halloween Party 2019, available at Amazon and at the DPP online store. A passion for the written word has also inspired Fulcher to edit and publish the literary magazine, Samsara (samsaramagazine.net), which has showcased writers and poets for over a decade. Fulcher resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife Lisa, and their rambunctious cats.

Website * X * Instagram * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://rdavidfulcher.com/

X: https://x.com/rdfgoalie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rdfgoalie/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/559278.R_David_Fulcher

Horses Heal Hearts Book Tour & Giveaway

Follow Jessica Warren, her family, and friends as they find true love in the competitive world of equestrian sports.

Dressage Dreaming

Horses Heal Hearts Book 1

by Kimberly Beckett

Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romance

Michael Stafford was on top of the world. A proud member of the British Olympic dressage team and Olympic gold medalist, his life was perfect. Then, he lost his mount, his fiancée left him for another man, and now, his brother has been arrested for manslaughter.

He believes his luck has turned when he learns that a beautiful and talented stallion is available in Germany, just in time to compete in the next World Cup competition. The horse’s name is Tempest.

Jessica Warren is an up-and-coming American dressage prodigy with a brilliant future. Orphaned at the age of 21, when her parents were tragically killed in a car accident, and the legal guardian of her younger sister, Jessica has lost her competition mount to injury and needs a new horse if she wants to compete in next year’s World Cup.

She learns of a spectacular horse available in Germany named Tempest, but when Jessica arrives in Germany with her trainer, she discovers she will have to compete with the extremely handsome and talented Michael Stafford for the right to ride Tempest.

Jessica has nothing but respect for Michael, but sparks fly when they’re thrown together in a competition that both must win.

Who will win Tempest? Will Michael be able to trust another woman with his heart? Will Jessica allow herself to be loved, or will her personal demons keep them apart?

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DCTGMDVD

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/dressage-dreaming/id6736657415

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dressage-dreaming-kimberly-beckett/1128874757?ean=9798894806594

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kimberly_Beckett_Dressage_Dreaming?id=Xg4sEQAAQBAJ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dressage-dreaming

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/dressage-dreaming-horses-heal-hearts-1-by-kimberly-beckett

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38534850-dressage-dreaming

Racing Toward Love

Horses Heal Hearts Book 2

Ian Stafford is a former British Special Forces soldier and Afghanistan war veteran who still has nightmares after watching his best friend cut down by a sniper in a remote village in Afghanistan. When he sees a woman in a local pub being harassed and threatened, he intervenes. During the ensuing brawl, the woman escapes, but Ian accidentally stabs one of his attackers, who later dies. Ian is charged with manslaughter, and the woman who can exonerate him has disappeared.

Megan Brady and her father Daniel never imagined that the thoroughbred colt they raised from birth would grow up to be a contender for the British Triple Crown. Seabiscuit II is the last horse you might imagine as a champion if judged by looks alone. Like his namesake, Seabiscuit II is not much to look at, but has a heart as big as all outdoors, and refuses to be beaten.

Unfortunately, the Irish mob has also taken notice, and has approached Megan’s brother Stephen with an offer of a bribe to purposely lose the most important race of his career. Stephen refused, and Megan has taken it upon herself to thwart the mob, but their brutal tactics nearly see her raped until Ian steps in to save her. Megan knows she must come out of hiding to exonerate Ian. But she also knows that if she does, the mob will be there, too.

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DJBBBPYL

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/racing-toward-love/id6736632998

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/racing-toward-love-kimberly-beckett/1146389463?ean=9798894806518

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Lionel’s Leap of Faith

Horses Heal Hearts Book 3

He doesn’t know the mob has him in its cross hairs.

Lionel Hayes is shocked to discover a world-class jumper among the abused horses he rehabilitates. Unfortunately, the only man with the talent to ride that horse is not only the man of Lionel’s dreams – he has also been recruited by the mob to frame him.

One fateful decision in a moment of weakness destroyed Lionel Hayes’ life as he knew it and led to the death of his longtime partner and lover. At first, he blamed his friend Michael Stafford for his misfortune and sought revenge, but through his work rehabilitating abused horse, and the trust of one special horse, he realized that he had to take responsibility for his actions, and that he and he alone should take the blame. From that day forward, Lionel vowed to restore his image and resume the career that he loved. In the process, he found the horse of a lifetime, Gideon’s Rainbow.

Monty Campbell was a rising star on the international show jumping circuit until he lost his horse to injury. Desperate for a replacement mount, and with the support of the British Equestrian Team, he learned of Gideon’s Rainbow and knew this horse was for him. To his surprise, the horse’s owner was also a perfect match for him, although the man stubbornly refused to acknowledge it. How could Monty convince Lionel they were meant for each other and would the sinister force that sought to destroy Lionel destroy Monty as well?

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Her Forever Love

Horses Heal Hearts Book 4

She thought she’d never see him again.

High school sweethearts Liz Randall and Jason Merrick were deeply in love, but when Liz rejected his marriage proposal to fulfill her dream of riding international level dressage, Jason joined the army and broke off all contact. Fifteen years later, they’re both back home, and Liz must find a way to tell Jason they have a daughter.

Liz Randall is coming home a champion.

Fifteen years after leaving Columbus to follow her dream of riding dressage for the United States Equestrian Team, Liz has returned with a gold medal, a determination to raise her teenage daughter, and a dream to expand her therapeutic riding practice.

Falling in love again isn’t in her plan, especially not with Jason Merrick, her first love, the boy whose heart she broke all those years ago. The man with whom she shares more than just a history.

Jason Merrick came home a hero.

An army ranger seriously wounded in the same attack that killed his best friend, Jason sought the familiar comfort of his hometown to recover. Now he’s ready to build something rather than destroy. What he wasn’t ready for was seeing Liz Randall – the girl who broke his heart 15 years ago. His growing construction company needs the money remodeling Liz’s stables will bring. That’s the only reason to take the job…or so he tells himself.

The moment they see each other again, feelings that never died come rushing back. Jason knows he’ll doing anything to have her. But as much as Liz wants to be his, she has a secret. A secret that, once revealed, could make him walk away from her forever.

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Winning Hailey’s Heart

Horses Heal Hearts Book 5

After losing both legs below the knee in a drunk driving accident, Hailey Warren dreamed of helping others similarly disabled by becoming a physical therapist. When the university she decided to attend denies her that opportunity based solely on her disability, she is left devastated and rudderless.

Now, the handsome and irresistible Marcus Harrington, eighth Earl of Storrington, has offered to use his education, connections, and position to help her fight for her dream, but will her love for him survive after she discovers his devastating secret?

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Giveaway

$30 Amazon

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://sdbook.promo/HorsesHealHearts

About the Author

Ever since she can remember, Kimberly Beckett has loved horses. She wore out 4 rocking horses before she was 5 years old, and as she got older, she read every horse story in print, from Black Beauty to The Black Stallion.

Her parents couldn’t afford to buy her a horse of her own, and believed it was just a phase she would soon outgrow, but as soon as she had her first attorney job nearly 30 years ago, Kimberly bought her first horse, and she hasn’t been without at least one ever since.

She has been riding dressage for several years and has earned her United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medal. When she wasn’t reading about horses, she was reading romance novels, and her favorites always involve an alpha male Hero riding a magnificent horse.

Kimberly has now found a way to combine her love of horses with her love of romance by writing her own version of equine-facilitated happily ever afters.

She truly believes that Horses Heal Hearts. She lives in southwest Ohio with her warmblood horse. She hopes you enjoy her stories, and encourages you to leave positive reviews for her work. She also loves to hear from her readers.

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Author Links

Website: https://kimberlybeckett.com/

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Barracuda Bay Book Tour & Giveaway

She’s the first female police detective in Acapulco.

Barracuda Bay

Detective Emilia Cruz Book 9

by Carmen Amato

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Female Detective

Political corruption turns Acapulco’s first female police detective into a fugitive on the run . . . in Washington DC.

“A thrilling series” — National Public Radio

In a derelict building for sale, Acapulco police detective Emilia Cruz stumbles on the body of a woman brutally shot to death. Incredibly, the victim was the sister of Acapulco’s ambitious mayor, who is running for re-election against an opponent with deep pockets.

Emilia’s investigation is immediately under pressure for a fast result. The victim’s ex-boyfriend has a suspiciously weak alibi but is the crime scene the key to finding the murderer? The building was once used for a secret Mexican government operation targeting a ruthless drug lord.

Meanwhile, there’s a conspiracy within the police department to force Emilia out.

Before Emilia can save her job or arrest her prime suspect, she’s sent on an errand of mercy to Washington, DC.

There she becomes a fugitive hunted by killers masquerading as cops. Alone, desperate and on the run, Emilia turns for help to a man she once vowed to murder.

He’s her only chance to survive a deadly game of political intrigue on the wrong side of the border.

From Acapulco’s beaches to the streets of Washington, DC, the stakes couldn’t be higher in this electrifying, page-turning thriller.

2019 and 2020 Poison Cup award, Outstanding Series – CrimeMasters of America

“Emilia is a character who is close to my heart” – MysterySequels

“Amato brings her characters to life with her vivid writing style and sets them on the streets of a Mexico steeped in Catholicism and corruption” – OnlineBookClub.org

With unflinching authenticity from the author’s own espionage and counterdrug experience in Mexico and Central America, this is a female detective mystery series like no other.

The Emilia Cruz series is for fans of international mystery and crime by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, Donna Leon and Liza Marklund, plus the Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Fans of Don Winslow’s cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico love the plots torn from the headlines of the Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco.

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**Don’t miss the rest of the Detective Emilia Cruz Series!**

Find out more on the Author’s Website!

Detective Emilia Cruz Series

Excerpt from BARRACUDA BAY: A Detective Emilia Cruz Novel by Carmen Amato

Casa de Plata looked just the same except for the yellow crime scene tape proclaiming PROHIBIDO EL PASO zigzagging across the massive front entrance. Emilia peeled it back on one side and unlocked the door.

The huge echoing foyer was the same as well. Emilia didn’t bother to turn on the chandelier. She wasn’t there to gaze upward.

The crime scene techs had come and gone but she combed the entire building, checking for door locks that looked to have been jimmied open and finding nothing. She even studied the balconies from all angles and concluded that the only way someone could have accessed a balcony from the outside would be to swing Tarzan-style over the razor-topped perimeter wall.

Each of the two ground floor apartments had a French door that opened to a patio running the full width of the rear of the building. In Casa de Plata’s heyday, the doors would have allowed for a beautiful view of gracious living. Now all that remained were paving stones choked with weeds, shards of half a dozen terracotta planters, and an abandoned wrought iron table slowly turning into a heap of rust.

She went back inside and unlocked the door to the apartment where Monica had been killed. She stood in the silent dining room. The crime scene techs had taken the armchair away, presumably for forensic study, but Emilia was more interested in the faint streaks it left on the terrazzo floor.

“You were sitting here,” Emilia muttered as she squatted by the chair. Dust motes swirled gently in the air, illuminated by sunlight filtered through the grimy windows. “Eating all sorts of different tapas. There must have been lots of small plates or takeout boxes.”

Certainly Monica had not been there by herself. No, someone else sat across from the woman, sharing an impromptu but elegant picnic complete with linens and champagne.

Until something spooked her. Monica pushed herself away from the table hard enough to leave skid marks on the floor. Raised her hands to ward off danger. The killer had faced her, with the table between them. Two shots, one through each hand.

She straightened up, looking at the clean tabletop and mute row of chairs on the other side. A tablecloth would have prevented fingerprints and made cleanup easy. No extra bullets that missed the target and hit the wall or chair. No wasted energy. The nerve to shoot a defenseless woman while staring straight at her.

“Her date was either lucky or a pro,” Emilia said, thinking aloud. “He shoots her. Takes her purse and cell phone, then gathers up the tablecloth with all the leftovers and walks out.”

Either way, the killer was someone Monica knew and trusted. Was comfortable eating and drinking with them.

But why here? Why Casa de Plata? Was there a federale angle to this? Lieutenant Campos rose up in her mind’s eye. He was slick and trendy. Not at all the somber federale officer of public imagination.

Help me.

An invisible hand touched Emilia’s cheek. She flinched so hard that her feet went out from under her.

Her hip hit the floor first, then her right shoulder. Emilia twisted to keep her head from cracking like an egg against the terrazzo. She was instantly dazzled by sparks of pain shooting from thigh to neck.

Her phone rang. Breathing hard, Emilia managed to roll onto her stomach and extract it from the back pocket of her jeans.

“Where the hell are you?” Silvio thundered. He didn’t wait for an answer. “Never mind. Meet me downtown. We found Monica Montoya’s car.”

Giveaway

Enter to win a Swag Pack with a signed copy of the book, a mini poster with a Frida Kahlo quote, a seasoning mix to make the recipe in the book and a Detective Emilia Cruz book tote! (US only),

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– 1 winner each!

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About the author

A 30-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, Carmen Amato writes the contemporary Detective Emilia Cruz series pitting the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico’s cartels, corruption, and social inequality.

Beginning with Cliff Diver, it’s a 2-time winner of the Outstanding Series award from CrimeMasters of America and a 4-time finalist for the Silver Falchion award, lauded by Kirkus Reviews as “Danger and betrayal never more than a few pages away.”

Carmen Amato is also the 2023 winner of the Silver Falchion Award for Best Historical for Murder at the Galliano Club, inspired by her grandfather’s experiences as a deputy sheriff during Prohibition.

Her standalone thrillers include The Hidden Light of Mexico City, which was longlisted for the 2020 Millennium Book Award.

Carmen is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal.

She has been a judge for the BookLife Prize and Killer Nashville’s Claymore Award. Her work has appeared in Huffpost, Criminal Element, Publishers Weekly, and other national publications.

Originally from upstate New York, after years of globe-trotting she and her husband enjoy life in Tennessee.

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Author Links

Website: https://carmenamato.net/

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First Elite Book Tour & Giveaway

When vengeance becomes your only purpose, how far will you go?

First Elite

Foundra Series Book 3

by Emmanuel M. Arriaga

Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera

When vengeance becomes your only purpose, how far will you go?

Grief-stricken and betrayed, Neven Kenk embarks on a dangerous mission to avenge his wife, whose life was stolen in a brutal act of violence.

Paired with Tashanira, a fierce Uri warrior, and Ellipse, a sentient AI, they embark on a daring mission to hunt down the killer, Entradis.

But when their mission ends in catastrophe, they are forced to abandon the hunt and are removed from active duty in the Founder’s Elites.

Their quest for redemption takes them to the farthest reaches of the Twin Galaxies, where they uncover fragments of a forgotten history and the veiled truths of their existence.

But their journey leads to a revelation none of them are prepared for. The trio confronts the legendary First Elite and faces the harrowing cost of service to the immortal Founders of the Huzien Empire.

Blending rich world-building, emotional depth, and epic adventure, First Elite explores the strength it takes to rebuild after loss and the unyielding price of loyalty in a galaxy teeming with intrigue and high-stakes politics.

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Pride of Ashna

Foundra Series Book 2

In the Outer Rim, a lawless region of space filled with violence, a young girl vows vengeance against the marauding pirate bands who brutally murdered her family.

After enlisting with the zealous matriarchal Ashna Maidens who attempt to police the Outer Rim, Serah’Elax quickly becomes a powerful weapon.

Meanwhile, a ruthless pirate band has taken over a cruise ship deep within Alliance space.

They run into unexpected trouble when they encounter a few members of the highly trained force of military specialists known as the Founder’s Elites, who happened to be vacationing on the vessel.

Disturbed by the boldness of the pirates, the Alliance tasks the rest of the Founder’s Elites with dealing a powerful blow to the marauders, who normally operate in the Outer Rim, once and for all.

However, they quickly discover that things in the Outer Rim are not as expected.

The young warrior and Founder’s Elites must come together to face an extradimensional threat left over from the Rift War that seeks to turn the last bastion of safety in the Outer Rim into something that could threaten the entire Twin Galaxies.

Will the new allies have the cunning necessary to defeat this insidious threat or will it tear the Ashna Maidens apart from the inside?

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Foundra

Foundra Series Book 1

A powerful force known as the Enesmic permeates every aspect of the universe. It powers the mystical art of Cihphism which allows a gifted few to manipulate the very world around them. But something has gone terribly wrong.

When the flow of the Enesmic shifts, the most powerful Cihphist in the galaxy, Soahc, can sense that something is coming.

Unable to convince other Cihphists to act, Soahc takes his apprentice and sets out to find the source of the disturbance.

As colonies across the Huzien Alliance are attacked by terrifying creatures, a prodigy named Neven is recruited to join the Founder’s Elites, a highly skilled squad of specialists from across the galaxy.

Under the direct command of Lanrete, their immortal leader, they join forces with Soahc and set off to discover where the creatures are coming from.

The Founder’s Elites uncover an ancient threat from another plane of existence that threatens life as they know it.

With a race against the clock and a terrifying war machine from eons past churning once more, will they be able to stop the engine of death, or will they be consumed by it?

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First Elite

Emmanuel M Arriaga

The effects of the Enesmic Shipyards erected by Sagren during the Rift War appear non-reversable. Life will never again flourish here.

-FROM “ENESMIC SHIPYARD EFFECTS ON TRICA VII”

MINSCI METABASE

1.- Neven Kenk

80123 FA (Present Day)

Foundra Ascension orbiting the Paradise Planet Genmatha, Huzien Alliance space

The steady, monotone beeping of the heart monitor blared across the medical deck.

Zun Shan’s unmoving body was suspended in a complex surgical station and cordoned off behind a stasis field.

Her neck was at an odd angle, and her hazelnut brown, angular eyes were lifeless and hollow. Her chest wasn’t rising or falling in the universal life-signaling act of breathing known to most species across the galaxy.

Instead, a drone was busy at work rapidly rebuilding the fist-sized hole in her chest.

The one where her heart should have been.

Jenshi Runso, chief medical officer aboard the Foundra Ascension, was methodically commanding the army of drones.

His face was hard. Emotionless. Jenshi was known for his intense focus—that uncanny ability to shut everything out.

Neven Kenk, a Human pressed against the field surrounding Zun, wished Jenshi wasn’t quite so skilled at ignoring him.

Neven’s jade-green eyes trailed over Zun’s tanned form, slowly tracing the light black esha marks running the length of her body.

He remembered her touch and the warmth of her skin as they held hands on the beach, both finding the mix of her tanned skin tone and his dark olive a thing of beauty.

He recalled how her smile lit up his life every time she ran her fingers across his muscular chest—molded to perfection over two years of grueling sparring sessions with merciless combat trainers.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to breathe. But behind his lids, the cold blue eyes and wicked grin of Zun’s attacker stared back at him.

Entradis.

Neven, move! Ellipse, his personal Synaptic Systems Intelligence, or SSI, shouted in his mind. He’s going to kill you!

Neven was frozen, his body numb. His eyes hung on Zun’s lifeless form as her blood changed the white sand to a dark shade of red. The soft hues of the setting sun were replaced by blinding lights all around him, and the intensity of it caused him to shield his eyes. The light was replaced by a wall of power armors jutted up out of the white sand of the beach, many of them closing instantly upon materializing, except for one directly in front of him.

Get in! Ellipse urged Neven forward. Acting without conscious thought, he lunged, pulling himself into the back of the power armor.

As it sealed around him, unseen forces knocked many of the other power armors away. It was the unmistakable work of Enesmic weaving—the powerful ability only usable by Cihphists. It was a power Neven had never had.

The freshly cleared path established a line of sight between Neven and Entradis.

“Beginning spinal realignment and neurological repair.” Jenshi’s words snapped Neven back to reality.

He watched as another drone finished connecting a series of tiny thin nanotubes along the back of her skull, down her neck, and most of her back. A loud crack echoed throughout the deck as her head shifted, becoming less macabre in angle.

Many of the tubes exited her body, while the remaining ones moved rapidly in and out of her skin around the central part of her neck and across her skull, quickly working to rebuild the tendons, nerve endings, and grey matter. Another drone moved to assist, rebuilding the tissue in tandem with the other machines.

“Sweet irony.” Entradis reached out and clenched his fist. The area around them trembled at the terrible swirling of Enesmic energy.

A hum sounded from the primary power core as Neven’s power armor flared to life, and its innate defenses held the crushing Enesmic force at bay. Neven’s power armor glowed bright blue, and the cooling system let off a hiss as Entradis ceased his attack.

“Not this time, monster,” Neven broadcasted from his armor. “The Yuvan system I created will prevent you from killing any more Secnics in their power armors.”

A neural interface link slapped against the back of Neven’s neck, locking in place. He winced; the emergency link was less comfortable than his standard interface suit. A tingling sensation ran down his spine, signaling his nervous system syncing with the control interface.

Neven growled, rage blurring his vision. The power armor lunged forward with incredible speed.

Entradis shifted out of the way, using Enesmic forces to accelerate his body to inhuman speeds. Even with the boost, he only narrowly avoided a crazed Neven.

No! Neven, we must flee! Ellipse shouted.

“He just killed Zun, Ellipse.” Neven’s tone was cold.

Then we fight to the end, Ellipse said.

There was sadness in her voice. The other power armors came to life under her control. Dual Fephonic shoulder cannons emerged from their dens, unleashing blasts of energized plasma at Entradis.

Entradis was knocked to the ground. The blasts impacted his barrier with devastating effectiveness. Scrambling up, Entradis shaped some Enesmic power into a rope and pulled it taut. “Let’s dance.” He grinned.

“Cardiovascular system reconstruction complete,” intoned the soft SI voice of the medical deck.

Jenshi didn’t respond, his eyes glued to one of the many holodisplays around him. A holographic representation of Zun’s spinal system appeared outside of her body. He walked over to the display and tapped a series of sections, immediately sending drones to work on those portions of her body.

He examined another holodisplay, briefly meeting Neven’s gaze along the way. Without acknowledgment, he tapped the screen and sent more drones into action.

Entradis ripped one of the power armors apart, using the powerful Enesmic force to peel back sections of the armor. Once he detected no soft Human center, he abandoned the target and pursued another.

Neven worked with the power armors, each attacking with their entire arsenal as he hid in plain sight, each armor a replica, mimicking his actions.

Entradis lunged into one of the power armors, his hands angled forward like claws as he dug into the machine in a frenzy. He ripped off the chest plate and roared, sending a torrent of Enesmic energy into the armor so it would expand as if hornets were swarming inside. It exploded in a rain of debris as Entradis lunged at the next power armor, tackling it to the ground. He raised his hands, formed fists, and brought them down, releasing a wave of Enesmic energy like a hammer. He repeated that action with inhuman speed.

Neven could hardly discern the movements, even as the power armor flattened under the assault.

Entradis turned his gaze on Neven. The look terrified him deeply.

He smothered that part of himself with burning rage. Raising his arms, Neven pointed them at Entradis as shock blasters rose from his wrists. Each of the remaining power armors around him mirrored the action, all of them firing at the same time.

The intense blasts ripped through Entradis’s barrier. He gasped and flipped backward, quickly dropping behind cover. The continued assault destroyed the barrier, leaving a trail of molten sand in its wake. Entradis reached out and grabbed a large boulder from the water, and launched it into the nearest power armor. The sheer force of the impact punched through the shield, destroying the armor.

Only Neven’s power armor and a final dummy armor remained. Entradis stalked toward them. Neven roared as he and the other armor charged at Entradis in tandem.

A series of small drones appeared and aligned down Zun’s spine, while others came to rest on her new heart and at various points on her head.

“Ready to begin nervous system restart,” the SI voice prompted.

“Initialize,” Jenshi said.

A series of electromagnetic pulses emanated from each of the mini drones. Zun’s body convulsed in the air, and the pulses stopped abruptly.

Nothing.

Jenshi narrowed his eyes, his gaze going to a nearby holodisplay as he analyzed the results. He tapped a few more places on the holodisplay, sending the larger drones quickly back to work.

“I haven’t had this much fun in some time.” Entradis peeled back the broken shell of Neven’s power armor. He grabbed Neven by the neck, lifting him out of the broken shell.

Neven spat in his face as Entradis grinned.

Entradis summoned an energy blade and plunged it forward, but a familiar blade intercepted the Enesmic weapon. A kick to Entradis’s chest quickly separated them.

Neven rolled to his feet, glancing at his savior.

Founder Lanrete of the Huzien Empire stood with his sword, Divinebreath, in his light brown hand. There was murder in his eyes, his long, white mane of hair wild with fury. Jessica Olic was at his side, her silver gaze catching on Zun’s body.

Entradis let out a low whistle. “Wondered when you’d show up.”

Lanrete charged him, their weapons connecting in a flash. Their movements became a blur as Entradis kept up with Lanrete’s speed. Lanrete sought to push Entradis back with his raw strength, but Entradis matched the founder with the same intensity.

Shifting backward, Entradis lifted a few pieces of debris with Enesmic forces and hurled them at Neven.

Jessica Olic tackled Neven out of the way; the debris missed his head by a split second.

Lanrete charged forward, but Entradis clenched his fist, uttering a word of power as he vanished.

Cursing, Lanrete glanced around but to no avail. There was no trace of Entradis.

His eyes caught Zun Shan’s body in the sand, Jenshi already by her side. Lanrete’s gaze went back to meet Neven’s. The profound sadness in Neven’s gaze was mirrored in Lanrete’s weathered expression.

Jenshi initiated another pulse, making Zun’s body convulse again in the air.

The pulse stopped, but her body remained limp.

Jenshi repeated the process six more times before slamming both fists on a nearby table, causing the holodisplay within to flicker.

Neven slumped to the ground, tears in his eyes as he stared helplessly at Jenshi.

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About the Author

Emmanuel Arriaga is a sci-fi author trapped in the body of a Product Manager. With a 14+ year background in engineering, cybersecurity, and infrastructure, Emmanuel received education from Pennsylvania State University and Stanford Graduate School of Business.

He’s held roles building products for people in emerging markets, creating privacy and security safeguards for users on the Android platform, improving core experiences for creators on YouTube, and is currently at Google Play, ensuring the integrity of developers within the Play Ecosystem in Silicon Valley.

When the author occasionally breaks free, he publishes award-winning novels such as Foundra and Elevator Quest.

He is best known for the Foundra Series, a sci-fi space opera and National Indie Excellence Award (NIEA) Finalist.

His rich worlds introduce expansive worldbuilding with innovative technologies and concepts.

He is a bronze winner of the Readers’ Favorite Award for Best Young Adult Action Novel and a TopShelf Book Award winner.

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