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Falcon of Imenotash by Holly Bargo

The emperor of the Harudin Empire needs an heir and cannot produce one of his own body. He orders the most worthy of his worthless sisters to wed and produce an heir. That sister, Aridis, chooses Edan and offers him a promotion from captain of the palace guard of Imenotash to king. He accepts his queen’s proposal. Their mutual respect evolves into attraction and–dared they admit it–love. Displeased by his sister’s choice and unable to dissolve the newlyweds’ union, the emperor summons them to the capital city. Humiliation and degradation follow. The peasant-born warrior and the concubine’s daughter have little opportunity to restore their honor and dignity, but they’re keeping secrets from the emperor that may prove his doom.

This fantasy romance novella contains mature content not suitable for readers under 18 years old.

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About the Author

I’ve been writing stories since I was old enough to put pencil to paper. My mother raised me on books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Carol Ryrie Brink, Elizabeth George Speare, Marguerite Henry, and Walter Farley. Wilder and Farley are probably contributing factors to my decades-long love affair with horses, particularly Morgans.

Horses comprise a significant part of my life. We didn’t live on a farm and my parents didn’t like horses, but that didn’t stop me. I bought my first horse weeks before my 15th birthday with money earned from working at the family’s ice cream parlor. Having passed 50 years old, I still have horses, two of which are Morgans.

In my early teens I started reading romance and fantasy: Danielle Steel, Barbara Cartland, Jude Devereaux, Jayne Anne Krentz, David Eddings, Robin McKinley, R. A. Salvatore, Jack Chalker, Orson Scott Card. Years later, I quit devouring everything the library had to offer and started narrowing my choices. I wrote for the high school newspaper and got a few encouraging nibbles on short stories submitted to magazines.

In college I majored in English, because literature is my “thing.” Except, I didn’t want to read the musty old stuff written by long dead men; I wanted to write and be read.

Fast forward to now, after 30 years of marriage, two children (one in college and the other serving in the military), I never lost that habit of writing, regardless of how little encouragement–or even active discouragement–I received.

So, now I write romance and paranormal romance. I enjoy writing it and hope you enjoy reading it.

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My Review

5 Stars

The Emperor doesn’t have an heir so he orders his sister, Aridis Queen of Imenotash, to marry and have a child. She chooses Edan, her Captain of the Guard which infuriates the Emperor. Together they slowly start to love and care for each other. But the emperor is not going to take this insult and does everything he can to exact revenge for her decision. But there is much more to the Emperor and Queen than outward appearance and things are going to get worse before they get better.

This is a great, quick fantasy story that caught my attention right away. Aridis is a level headed ruler that is determined to rule in a man’s world and against numerous odds. I love the relationship between Edan and her. They are such a great couple that go through hell for their marriage.

This is a quick read and the first book of Holly Bargo’s that I have had the pleasure of reading. I am hooked and need to catch up on her work. Definitely check this book out, you won’t be disappointed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Ari at Candid Book Reviews for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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The overwhelming postive response to this amazing book, turned a mini tour into a full-fledged blog tour! Check out Collection of the Negatives by Violet St. Karl, and enter to win a paperback copy of the book, and a home blood typing kit! How cool is that?!

Collection of the Negatives (The Blood Rising Book 1)

Publication Date: January 11th, 2019

Genre: Sci-fi/ New Adult

In a world with skyrocketing inflation and unemployment, blood has become the new commodity, and the rarer your blood type, the more it’s worth.

After losing her job and watching her savings dwindle, Liri is persuaded by a resourceful friend to sell her blood to ABO Blood Group, where she learns she is O Negative, the most valuable and sought after blood.

Unable to afford living in New York City, Liri reluctantly decides to move back home and live with her parents, but her plan is interrupted when a virus is maliciously unleashed onto the island of Manhattan, resulting in a citywide quarantine. Before being able to devise an alternative plan, she is secretly informed of a covert mission by ABO to evacuate Negatives out of NYC. Although reluctant to trust them, it’s her only viable choice to stay alive, but unbeknown to Liri, she and the Negatives are vital to activating opposing agendas on Earth and beyond.

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Excerpt

Excerpt: Descension

I weave through morning commuters and camped-out homeless people like a crochet needle to catch the train south to Times Square.  On rainy, late-fall days like today, the underground is hot, crowded, and emits a foul stench that forces you to breathe through your mouth.  The tracks shriek as the train comes to a halt. The steel doors open and a swarm of urbanites exits onto the platform.  I stand to the left side of the door, waiting for an opportunity to squeeze in, as it’s too early for Monday-morning shoving matches. I slide in, finding cramped standing room between a perspiring, heavyset man and a teenage boy whose urban music I can hear blasting through his earphones. An automated announcement comes over the speaker system as the doors close.

“November is Concerned Citizens Month. The City of New York asks that you know your neighbors and colleagues. If you believe someone is jeopardizing the safety of our city, state, or country, it is your duty to report it, or you will be aiding in domestic terror. Become a concerned citizen; our safety depends on it.”

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About the Author

Violet St. Karl’s love affair with science fiction and fantasy began at the tender age of four when she first saw Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, but nearly three decades passed before she started transferring the stories in her head onto the computer screen. Unbeknownst to Violet at the time of signing her lease, her Upper West Side apartment was the former site of Edgar Allen Poe’s old farmhouse, where he completed writing the Raven. However, she didn’t begin writing until receiving another sign from the universe a year later. While spending extensive time in Barcelona, she learned her flat once belonged to Mercè Rodoreda i Gurguí, a famous Catalan writer, an indication that living in the former residences of famous dead authors was no coincidence, but a sign to start writing.

After over a decade in New York, Violet recently returned to her roots in the Detroit area where is an advocate and proud Ambassador of the Authors Guild. When not writing or focused on strengthening the local literary community, she is planning which country to explore next.

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My Review

3 Stars

Liri has recently lost her job and has no money. A friend tells her about a company that is buying blood from people with O- blood. Then she hears that I virus has been released in New York City and she goes with the ABO company to a secure island. The question is if she is really safe or is there more in the works than what is originally known.

This is an interesting read and I have mixed feelings about it. My heart goes out to Liri with her loss of job and money. I really felt for her but was skeptical about ABO. Then you get news notes about a virus being released without much information. I felt confused at what the emergency was since nothing really gave it that feel.

Then on the island we go from panic to a romance with Sirius in a controlling environment. If things were so horrible you think that Liri would be more worried about the virus on the island or why she was being controlled like she was in a science experiment.

I was really curious about the O- blood type since that is my blood type. But there really wasn’t a lot of information about how important that was. And the twist at the ending? The book ended at a super fast pace, not really fully explaining everything with an unexpected twist.

This was an interesting story. I really thought it would be a dystopian story and didn’t expect the ending. I really think that this book needs a good review and some fine tuning to make it a better story. I may or may not read the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

Giveaway!!!

For your chance to win a paperback copy if this book, AND a home blood typing kit (Maybe you’re a Negative?), click the link below!

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Blog Tour Schedule

April 22^nd

Reads & Reels (Review)

B is for Book Review (Interview)

Jessica Rachow (Review)

I Smell Sheep (Excerpt)

April 23^rd

The Caffeinated Reader (Review)

Tranquil Dreams (Review)

Scarlett Readz and Runz (Excerpt)

April 24^th

Breakeven Books (Excerpt)

A Full Time Nerd (Review)

Daily Waffle (Excerpt)

April 25^th

Pages and Paw Prints (Review)

Afire Pages (Review)

Banshee Irish Horror Blog (Review)

April 26^th

Port Jerricho (Review)

Eclectic Review (Review)

JBronder Book Reviews (Review)

Blog Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

I would like to thank R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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