Spotlight: Woman on the Wall by Robin Rivers

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The first book in the six-part series The Sibylline Chronicles, Woman on the Wall is an entrancing tale revealing the fate of two extraordinary women risking their lives to secure the future of humanity–five centuries apart. This rich alternate history binds a brilliant, devoted, and driven paleographer and a brave, bold, and potent prophetess beyond time, each fighting to restore sight to a world blinded by the power and control of men.

For 500 years, the once powerful Order of the Sibylline has kept the identity of its future prophetess hidden in the most famous painting in the world. Amid the chaos of post-World War II France, one woman discovers their ancient secret and its ability to transform a fragmented world.

Intricately plotted, Woman on the Wall by debut author Robin Rivers is a fast-paced historical fantasy set in Paris and Amboise, France in 1519 and 1945. It honors the Sibylline as so much more than ancient myth and celebrates their place in every woman’s journey to self-discovery.

Fast-paced prose with vivid narrative, Woman on the Wall is perfect for readers who loved Kate Quinn’s recent novels, The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, and The Eight by Katherine Neville.

Excerpt

Excerpted from Woman On The Wall by Robin Rivers. Copyright © 2022 Robin Rivers. Reprinted with permission from Robin Rivers. Vancouver, BC, Canada. All rights reserved.

AESMEH

MAY 2, 1519

AMBOISE, FRANCE

Dear One,

How awkward this must be to have a dead woman about to declare the direction of your life. It is unclear to me, even at this crucial moment, how I should address you. Alas, as time can no longer keep us apart, let us dispense with being strangers and begin.

I am the Sibyl of Amboise.

I died here.

You have arrived in this tiny commune because of a five-hundred-year-old pact to find you and bring you home.

As I write these words, I wonder what you know of my kind. Do you know the names Hypatia and Lubna? Does history speak of Shushandukht and Shajar al-Durr? Or, are the Sibyls little more than mythological prophetesses painted upon the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? In truth, we are ancient, once powerful, and nearly vanished.

Born of the Great Mother’s very womb, each Sibyl’s sight gave men a glimpse of what might come. We predicted wars, warned against the rise of tyrants, shed light upon the fates of many. In the great capitals of Badari, Olmec, Xi, Khemet, the Jiroft, even the wilds of Scythia, we served humanity for more than eleven thousand years. And, then . . .

What do you know, Dear One? It pains me. What kind of world did my failures leave you? In the glimmers of your time, I saw only fire and death. Without the Sibyl, men know not the cost of their acts. Power is a seductive demon. Have I left you with the tyrants?

I must assume the world is well enough that Sister Maurine stands at your side in fulfillment of her vow. My regret is not being there beside you as well. 

You are the hope of the Sibylline. I once was that hope, the first to complete training and enter the temple in more than one thousand years. Such care was taken to protect me. However, a malicious enemy lived amongst us. By the time I knew, my throat was nearly slit. It lays upon you now to do what I never fully could—to rise and serve the world.

Yes, Dear One, your coming has been foretold for five centuries. In those fifty decades, such knowledge has hung in the halls of the men who thought us eradicated. They celebrated that sublime smile, all without the fortune of knowing whom they kept safe. You are the oracle they could never burn, lying in state until this very moment.

Listen, Dear One.

Listen without fear.

Your life is an amalgamation of so many others. As you gain the sight, Amboise will return our memories to you. You shall reclaim them as your own. You may feel as if you have gone mad. Know that you are coming alive. This is where your service begins.

In the moments to come, others will attempt to strip your sovereignty. Such war is inevitable. You must prepare for it. Train. Fight as a warrior. Remain devoted to your purpose alone. Do not concede.

Then, call the Sibylline to your side. Step beyond the seven bridges of paradise and into hell in the forest beyond Gaillard. There, in the temple of the Sibylline, you shall rise and take my place at Amboise. That you might watch over humankind in beauty and justice as the Great Mothers before you intended.

Eternally in your service,

Aesmeh de la Rose

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About the Author

Robin Rivers is an award-winning writer who guides young authors as CEO of Quill Academy of Creative Writing. She has always been fascinated with stories of lost times and nerds out in the realm of all things historical, fantastical, female, and mythological. As a result, she spends her days in a literary universe best described as slipstream — a mix of historical, magical realism, and haunting romance. Robin lives with her husband, daughters, and their sphynx cat Hypatia on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in Vancouver, Canada. Woman On The Wall is her debut novel. Stay up to date on The Sibylline Chronicles at thesibyllinechronicles.com and follow Robin on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Spotlight: Emerald Eyes by Aurelia Yates

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Publication date: August 30th 2022
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

After the death of her mother and losing her job, Sarah realizes there’s nothing keeping her in the small town where she grew up, and she travels to New York to stay with her best friend. Upon her arrival, she literally falls for a sexy, dark man with mesmerizing emerald-green eyes.

Chance encounters continue to bring them together, and Sarah finds herself drawn into a sinful world she’s never known. Wilder is unlike any other man, and although she tries, she can’t resist him or his dominating temperament.

Try as she might, Wilder will not let Sarah escape him, and with a stalker coming after her, he is determined to protect her with everything he has—even when he has to punish her in the bedroom for disobeying his commands.

Excerpt

I’m about to ask my driver to go to Red when all of a sudden, I spotted her in the window. She’s coming out of the building. It’s at that moment I feel as if I am not breathing. Time seems to stand still as I moved closer to the vehicle’s window. I can see she is just as I remember—stunning. Her hair is down, and the wind is lightly blowing it, giving off the illusion that she is floating. She’s wearing a smile that would brighten the Devil’s day. I take in the sun-dress she is wearing, the slightly fitted top of the dress showing the outline of her full breasts. Instantly, my soldier in my pants comes to attention. Then, as my smile appeared, it disappeared. 

When she turned around to look back at the front door, a young man appeared. He takes her by the hand, then leads her down the sidewalk. My jaw goes stiff. My vision started to fade. I wanted to murder that mother-fucker for touching what’s mine. Before they get out of my view, I take a picture, then send it to Blaze. 

“Blaze, find out all the information you can about this fuck-tard.” 

Blaze sends back a text. “On it.” 

Seeing Sarah with another man makes my blood boil. I’m enraged. I don’t want any man touching what is mine. I tell Finn, my driver, to follow the pair but to stay discreet. A couple of blocks, later they entered a coffee shop. Through the dingy front window, I see their silhouettes as they sit down in a booth at the front of the shop. I’m barely able to make anything out because the windows look so grungy. I shiver to think how clean the shop actually is. 

I’m observing their interaction, trying to see if she is into him. When he reached over to take her hand, I checked out. I feel the anger seeping through me like I’m about to blow. I know the outcome will be catastrophic. I sensed my body moved but can’t stop my actions. It’s when I opened the door to the coffee shop that I realized where I’m at. 

I squinted my eyes as I looked upon him. The man she is sitting across is holding her hand. He noticed me and his eyes rounded, as if he sensed I’m about to rip his appendages from his body. Sarah turned in her seat to face me. I’m in motion to start making my way over to her. I feel my phone vibrate. I take it out, viewing the caller ID—Blaze. Fuck! 

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About the Author

Aurelia writes contemporary romance and enjoys reading it just as much! She lives in Alabama with her husband, daughter and fur babies. She spends most of her time taking care of her loved ones And plotting stories. Excited to begin this new journey, she’s looking forward to sharing her stories.

Connect:

https://www.aureliayatesauthor.com/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/aurelia-yates

https://www.facebook.com/Aurelia-Yates-Author-107331262054587

https://www.tiktok.com/@aureliayatesauthor

https://www.instagram.com/aureliayatesauthor/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22689072.Aurelia_Yates

Spotlight: After We Fall by J.H. Croix

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Release Date: August 30

A swoon-worthy, small town romance from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix!

✔️We’re roommates.

✔️We work together.

✔️She’s my friend’s little sister.

✔️She’s soooo off limits.

✔️I want her anyway.

I made a deal with Harley Jackson. We’d burn that fire between us to ashes with a few nights between the sheets. Friends with benefits, but with a time limit. It turned out to be colossally stupid.

A few nights together only made the fire burn hotter. I was never supposed to fall for her.

Grant & Harley’s story is perfect for readers who love small town romance, daring pilots, sassy heroines, roommates who can’t get enough of each other, slow burn, emotional romance with a dash of angst, oozing with swoon, and one smokin’ hot protective hero.

*A full-length, standalone romance.

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Meet J.H. Croix:

USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!

Connect with J.H. Croix:

Website: https://jhcroixauthor.com/ 

Newsletter: https://jhcroixauthor.com/subscribe/    

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHCroix 

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3mCNoye    

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9972333.J_H_Croix  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-h-croix   

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CroixCrew 

Spotlight: Where the Rainbow Falls by Joey Jones

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Publication date: August 20th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

In the face of a storm, a father’s love is the most powerful force.

With Hurricane Florence rapidly approaching the North Carolina coastline, all Niles North can think about is his five-year-old son Riley and how he wished he bent the law when he had the chance to evacuate him. Now, instead of being safe in Hickory with his dad, Riley is with Niles’s ex-wife Eden, who’s decided to ride out the storm at home with her drummer friend. Desperate to get back to his son as the stormwaters rise, Niles begs Reese, an attractive police detective and rescue worker, to drive him back to New Bern.

Refusing to help Niles seems nearly impossible for Reese who quickly realizes she’s in deeper than she should be—both professionally and emotionally—especially since she’s drawn to almost everything about him. As the two undertake a perilous journey into the eye of the storm, Niles’s worst fears come true, setting in motion a series of events that will change both of their lives forever.

Excerpt

His cheeks lifted as his eyes bubbled over. “He’s out there somewhere and we’re in here, doing nothing.”

“We’re waiting out the worst of this storm so that we can do something,” she reminded him all the while realizing the inadequacy of the response.

“What if I never see my son again?” Niles considered out loud through a sniffle.

At that instant, Reese’s emotions controlled her body and before she knew it, tears streamed down her chapped cheeks. The wind took a toll on them although she hadn’t realized it until standing beneath the showerhead earlier thinking about what the wind could be doing to a vulnerable five-year-old. She’d thought about having kids one day, hoped to, but this was one of those moments in life where something clicked and she knew she wanted to know the kind of love this man felt for his child. Even though this was literally one of the saddest moments she’d ever experienced, Niles’s love for Riley radiated off him like the scent of a breathtaking bouquet of flowers.

Letting go, Reese draped her arms over his shoulders and hugged him tightly. “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you get to hold Riley in your arms again,” she whispered into his ear. It was relatively dark in their little nook, and the moment she decided that one of them would hear if anyone approached, she let her lips settle on his cheek and rested them there as she squeezed a bit tighter.

Niles’s eyelids collapsed as the warmth of Reese’s body spread across his own like a fire jumping from one house to the next. He could feel the moisture on her lips as they lingered on his face tracing his skin like a tender massage. There was something he loved about her confidence, something about her touch that set him at ease even while the inside of his body screamed at the top of its lungs. He wanted out of here, wanted to fight the storm and all of his demons together with this woman whom he barely knew. She was strong yet soft, forceful yet calm. He never met anyone like Reese Kirby in all his life, and he couldn’t help but think God sent her to him at just the right time. A piece of him wanted to be selfish and wonder what tomorrow might hold for the two of them, but all he could think about at the moment was how grateful he was that she was willing to risk her life to help him find his son.

Somehow, eventually, Niles and Reese both fell asleep beneath separate blankets. Under an extra sheet Reese plucked from the pile earlier, their fingers hid intertwined like two strands of rope. Staring at one another, they whispered until neither of them could hold their eyes open any longer. Reese thought Niles would never let his body rest, but she made a pact with herself to talk to him until he did. She knew his mind wouldn’t wander as much if she could keep a conversation streaming. In a way, it felt like they were in the boat again, and as she drifted off to sleep, Reese couldn’t help but think about how hiding seemed to be their thing.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

The writing style of Joey Jones has been described as a mixture of Nicholas Sparks, Richard Paul Evans, and James Patterson. USA Today Bestselling Author Jeff Gunhus compared Jones’ work to Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Evans, and Sparks. National Bestselling Author Kristy Woodson Harvey described Joey Jones’ writing as “lyrical” and proclaims “he effortlessly pulls readers into the souls of his characters.”

The ratings and reviews of Jones’ novels A BRIDGE APART (2015), LOSING LONDON (2016), A FIELD OF FIREFLIES (2018), and THE DATE NIGHT JAR (2019) reflect the comparison to the aforementioned New York Times bestselling authors.

Joey Jones fell in love with creative writing at a young age and decided in his early twenties that he wanted to write a book. His debut novel A BRIDGE APART is a suspenseful love story that was years in the making as he tinkered with the story off and on while working full-time in the marketing field. In February 2016, Jones became a full-time novelist and published his second novel LOSING LONDON later that year. Three of Jones’ novels have earned 4.8 out of 5.0 Amazon stars.

In his spare time, Joey enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, working out, reading, and writing inspirational quotes. His favorite meal is a New York Style Pizza with sweet tea. He won the 8th-grade spelling bee at his school, but if you ask him how many students participated, he might say, “Such minor details are not important!” He currently lives in North Carolina with his family.

Joey Jones earned a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College where he graduated with honors (2006). He was the owner of a full-service advertising agency and taught business and marketing courses as an adjunct college instructor.

Jones invites you to connect with him online to find out more about his upcoming novels, book signings, giveaways, exciting news, charities, and more.

Connect:

https://joey-jones.com/

https://www.facebook.com/joeyjoneswriter/

https://www.instagram.com/joeyjoneswriter/

https://twitter.com/JoeyJonesWriter

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC78ivpAjqcxEI1W3rNwCs8Q

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14919765.Joey_Jones

Spotlight: Véronique’s Journey by Patti Flinn

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Publication date: September 1st 2022
Genres: Adult, Historical

In 18th century France, the choices for a young black woman of modest means are slim.

Véronique Clair loves her parents and their small home in the countryside of Burgundy but dreams of using her talent for sewing and embroidery to make her own way, without having to rely on a man.

When Véronique’s well-meaning parents find her a suitor of elevated station their happiness turns into her despair. Véronique must make the difficult choice between agreeing to an arranged marriage–with its promise of elevated status in society–or embark upon an unpredictable journey across France and into a world she’s never known.

…for a young woman of honor, only the heart can guide the way.

Excerpt

The pastor began to speak but was interrupted as a former childhood friend of mine entered behind us, causing many of us to turn around and look. She was red-faced with embarrassment. Big with child and holding onto the hand of two small children on either side of her and sporting a freshly blackened eye. She held her chin up and hustled her babies into a seat as her husband came in behind her, his face a mask of arrogance, daring anyone to say anything. He took the seat beside his family, slouched in the chair like a pouting child. 

I leaned to whisper to my mother, eyes still on the man. “He will beat or breed her to death. The bastard. When he was courting her he had nothing but fine words about how well he would treat her. Now she is stuck with him, forever.”

“Oui,” Maman nodded, her pretty features turned down in a frown. “It is a shame. He is angry that he is a married man…”

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Spotlight: Second to None by K.A. Linde

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Release Date: August 30

First love can't come second.

A stand alone second chance grumpy sunshine romance about Josie & Maddox by USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde...

Maddox Nelson is the only boy I’ve ever loved.

And the only one to break my heart.

I thought I was over that long ago. After drowning the heartbreak in two failed marriages, I should want safe and easy, and Maddox is nothing but complicated.

Now that I’m back home in Savannah, I can’t deny the pull toward him. He’s the grumpy to my sunshine, the introvert to my extrovert, the uncompromising to my go with the flow. But years of friendship, love, and tangled lust binds us together in the city where it all began.

When heat flies between us, he makes it clear that we already had our chance. Both of us should move on.

Except I’m no longer okay with that idea.

I’ll prove to him that I come second to none.

Buy on Amazon | Audible | Bookshop.org

Meet K.A. Linde:

K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, binge-watching Supernatural, traveling, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super-adorable puppies.

Visit her online at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @authorkalinde.

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