Unexpected Beginning is almost ready! It’s off for editing, and once I go through the revisions, I’ll send it to a few close friends. Then it will go to the beta readers, and I can finally start on Unexpected Legends, the fifth and final book in the Alissia Roswell Series. I’ll also be back on track after a chaotic year and plan to have that one out next year.

I’ve heard from many of my readers, and I know y’all are waiting to see what happens next. I promise some exciting things in this one–lots of surprises!

Until then, look at that amazing cover my designer put together. As always, there’s a lot of meaning in the cover, and I wonder if anyone can figure it out 🙂

There’s still time to sign up to be a beta reader. Just fill out the form. Also, if you haven’t already, please give honest reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads of the first three books in the series. Not only do I love to hear from my readers (authors often doubt themselves and get discouraged), but the amount of reviews are very important these days. I try to leave reviews for most of my purchases, although I’m very behind at the moment. They don’t have to be long and tedious. Just let me know what you liked or didn’t like.

Thanks for the support.

Returned by Kimberley Griffiths Little

After tragedy strikes on the day they were to wed, Jayden must support Kadesh as he ascends the throne and becomes king of Sariba. But with the dark priestess Aliyah conspiring to control the crown, and the arrival of Horeb, Jayden’s former betrothed, Kadesh’s kingdom, as well as his status as king, is at stake.

Jayden knows that the time to be merciful has come and gone, and that some enemies can only be halted by death. Now she and Kadesh must prepare to fight not only for their love, but also for their kingdom.
This is the final book in the epic trilogy that began with Forbidden and Banished. Jayden and Kadesh’s love will be put to the ultimate test as they fight a war to save their kingdom.

Excerpt

Last night should have been one of bliss. After all Kadesh and I had been through—the loss of my family, the trek through the harsh desert . . . this should have been our night, the first as husband and wife in the marriage tent. I’d imagined us sipping wine and bathing in a marbled bath. Lying in perfect luxury on a golden bed, together at last.
Instead, Kadesh and I were like lost children, orphaned by the sudden death of his uncle, King Ephrem, and our wedding ceremony that had been irrevocably destroyed mere hours ago.
While King Ephrem’s pyre burned out, the last of the red flames snapped at the salty sea air, devouring the body of the King of Sariba.
A hot wind whipped at my bridal gown. I wanted to scrape the horror of the night from my sight until my eyelids were raw.

Praise for the Book

Booklist (starred review)

“At its core, this is a romance, with all the push and pull that goes along with impossible love, and Little elevates the story by creating a perilous landscape, both outward and inward, as Jayden must deal with the hardship of desert life as well as her own desires. . . descriptions of the landscape are evocative in both desolation and in beauty. Just as good is the pacing, which gets the blood pumping for both characters and readers. This will heighten anticipation for a no-doubt exciting conclusion.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Rich historical details are deftly woven into Jayden’s narration, and the dynamics of Jayden’s tribe are vividly drawn. Jayden’s story becomes as much about finding herself as it is about finding love.”

Reader: “This book took my breath away. I loved the immersive story and the rich setting of ancient Mesopotamia. The customs, traditions, and beliefs of the desert people were captivating and every time I set the book down I couldn’t wait to pick it up again. I’ve never read anything like this before.”

Reader: “Forbidden was so captivating that I awoke early in the morning, while my family was still sleeping, so I could finish the last pages of this beautifully haunting tale.”

Author Kimberley Griffiths Little

Kimberley Griffiths Little is the author of ten award-winning Middle-Grade and Young Adult novels with Knopf, Scholastic and Harpercollins, including the Whitney Award, the Arizona/New Mexico Book Award, the SCBWI Crystal Kite, the Southwest Book Award, and others. ALA BOOKLIST named FORBIDDEN, the first book in her Ancient Mesopotamian historical fantasy a Young Adult Top 10 novel for the Historical category, Romance category, and Religious/Inspirational.

Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell. She once stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland and didn’t sleep a wink; sailed the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria. She was born in San Francisco but now lives on the banks of the Rio Grande with her husband and three sons.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/27/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’m still accepting beta readers for Unexpected Beginning, the fourth book in the Alissia Roswell Series. It’s currently in the final stages of editing, and I always like readers to go through it after the editor to see if they catch anything we missed. No special skills required, but you will need an eReader or app on your tablet. You just read it like you normally would, and if anything catches your eye, you’d let me know. It’s that simple. You’d get your hands on the story before it goes public, and I get my mind eased that nothing slipped through. (You’d be amazed at how many little things go unnoticed, even by an editor.)

I would prefer you read the first three books in the story before getting to this one so you don’t miss out on most of Alissia’s adventure. If interested, be sure to fill out the form below.

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Friends ForNever by Melissa Baldwin

Erin Taylor is a hard-working journalist with a serious TV addiction and lack of a social life. She’s focused on her career and determined to leave her tiny cubicle behind for a fabulous corner office! But when a new co-worker, a friendship drama, and a hot workplace crush collide, Erin finds it harder and harder to focus. Especially when that crush on the oh-so-yummy Aiden Thomas starts to materialize into what feels like a magical relationship. Erin’s life seems to finally be heading in the right direction…until suddenly friends aren’t such great friends after all, her magical relationship hits a bumpy road, and her career could be derailed by it all. Erin learns a lesson the hard way: Sometimes people aren’t who they seem to be. With her happiness on the line, can Erin rise above her disappointments and create the life she’s always dreamed of or will she be stuck being Friends ForNever?

Praise for the Book

Friends ForNever is a cleverly written book that will keep you wanting for more until the very end! I highly recommend this book!

Friends for Never is like listening to your best friend tell you about her day at work! And anyone who has worked in an office will totally relate to this book. I was absolutely sucked in. The love story was great!

It was well paced and funny!
The author is really good.

An intriguing look at the demands of family and friendship when personal goals are at risk.
A novel of back stabbing emotions.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Author Melissa Baldwin

Melissa graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications; she has always had a love for writing. An avid journal keeper, she took her creativity to the next level by fulfilling her dream with her debut novel, An Event to Remember . . . Or Forget. Since then, she has written and published four more novels, Wedding Haters, See You Soon Broadway, Not Quite Sheer Happiness and Friends ForNever.

Melissa resides in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing, this multi-tasking master organizer is busy being a mother, wife, chauffeur, PTA President, and Fitness Trainer.

When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, running, fitness, and taking a Disney Cruise every now and then.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest< /strong>

Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/26/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Written by Cynthia Ruchti, this book is a collection of true stories she gathered from others. Each chapter tells a person’s painful life experience, where they were greatly hurt by someone they loved. I’m not talking about small hurts either. Most of these stories deal with pains I had never really thought about, and they all kept me interested.

I liked how each chapter stood alone and completed a story. Lately, I haven’t had much time for reading fiction, as those books are often hard for me to put down, and life has been a bit hectic. This book made it easy for me to read one chapter before bed each night, usually while soaking in a hot bath.

It is a Christian read that tells how each person chose to deal with other people’s choices that destroyed their lives. Like I said, these aren’t small hurts, and their lives will never be the same again because of someone they loved. It’s a book about forgiveness to the extreme. Everyone has a choice to make on how to deal with their harsh realities, and these people chose to forgive instead of getting bitter.

I truly can’t think of a negative thing about this book, and I give it five stars. Very interesting, uplifting, and it’s an easy read. It would make a great gift for someone going through extreme pain because of the wrong choices of someone else. It’s also a great read in general. You don’t have to be struggling with forgiveness to get something out of this book. It’s really that good!