Weekend read: The Body Collector #BadBoysofSpace @LandraGraf

Loyda swallowed hard. “I don’t think he cares about kissing me anywhere.” 

“I would if I was him. I want to and I’m not him. Do you want me to?”

The Body Collector, Landra Graf

 

Disclosure: Landra Graf happens to be a good friend. Despite living relatively far away (Arkansas and California), we've stayed close. Totally missing some in-person, late-night con chats. I've started "The Body Collector," but haven't finished it (blasted too much grading!). So far, loving it. 

The Body Collector (Bad Boys of Space)

Landra Graf

*Can be read as a standalone

Book Genre: Romance, Sci-Fi, Action Adventure

Family Friendly/Clean: No

Pgs.: 221

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54498402-the-body-collector

Links to Buy: https://books2read.com/u/47XBJa

King Sumo Giveaway: https://kingsumo.com/g/lblfge/the-body-collector-release-giveaway

 

Blurb: 

When bodies start falling, the collector comes calling…

Alexander ‘Big Al’ Smith signed on as a government body collector to get away from his parents and determine his own future. Illegal black marketing of body organs was supposed to be his path to early retirement…until he got caught.

Loyda Miles, government investigator, seeks the truth—against the wishes of her boss—and she’ll blackmail Al over his illegal ventures to help her capture the culprits behind the disappearances of thousands from the Saturn ring jails.

When Loyda finds herself wanted for her boss’s death, the tables turn and Al’s the one in a position of power. In exchange for protection and his help in getting the people responsible, she’s willing to help clear his name. Exploring the attraction between them during seductive nights and danger-filled days is an added incentive.

In a deadly race against time, Al and Loyda must outrun government forces and discover the mastermind behind this conspiracy…if they don’t want to ‘disappear’ like all the others…

 

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of violence and death, as well as references to inadequate parenting and drug addiction. 

“All bodies are worth something.”

His gaze trailed up and down her form, and she grew hot under the scrutiny. Then he leaned in closer, his growly voice softer this time. “Including yours, if anything bad happens. So don’t let anything bad happen.”

                                                                                              The Body Collector, Landra Graf

Excerpt (Rated PG-13): 

“Damn it, Mangle—” Any and all speech was lost as Loyda walked in.

She looked clean, far cleaner than she had in the processing room. A floral scent came with her, intoxicating him and sending him backward. He sat naked except for a scrap of terrycloth, and his dick took the bait in front of him. She walked in as if summoned from his every fantasy, a saucy smile to her lips and a twinkle in her eye.

It wasn’t healthy, his body’s fascination with this woman, nor was it helpful that she’d taken to barging into his room like his first mate. “By all means, come on in.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” She stopped on the other side of his desk and Al slowly sat up straight to provide a little bit of cover. Yet if she dared to come any closer, she might get more than an eye full. “This how you like to spend most of your time?”

“It is after I’ve just cleaned up from finishing in body collection. Trying to enjoy a little hard-earned privacy, but I guess even five more minutes is too much to ask?”

She smiled wide, and the vision momentarily stunned him. Loyda smiling at him like she’d found all the riches in the known universe was something he had never been prepared for.

“Murderers don’t get peace and quiet where I come from.”

Al frowned. Such a smile failed to fit her words and with them came a sour taste in his mouth. Her badge fell out of her hand and clunked on the desk. “While I thank you for saving my life, I am here to tell you that Allied Authority hereby warrants arrest for the crime of murder and that your ship and crew now report to me.”

 

Author Bio: Landra Graf has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the inspiration and joy the written word can bring. Add in her personal mottos of ‘whatever it takes’ and ‘better to be busy than bored’ and she’s two steps from overload. She writes romance with the goal of granting happily ever afters to everyone, fiction or not. 

When not writing, readers can find Landra reviewing books, cooking up a storm, deeply immersed in a mad game of Scrabble or Rummy variation, and searching for moments to laugh and smile through it all. 

She lives in the wilds of Northwest Arkansas with her partner and two children.

Author Social Links: 

·      Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7847192.Landra_Graf

·      Website: http://landragraf.com

·      Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/landra-graf

·      Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Landra-Graf/e/B00IESJED4?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

·      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landragraf/

·      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LandraGrafAuthor/

·      Twitter: https://twitter.com/LandraGraf

Newsletter Link: http://eepurl.com/dH-ugL

Luna Joya makes a Killing (Song)

 

It’s my favorite of the series – so far, and that’s saying something. 

It’s not often that you reach book 3 of a series, and they keep getting better! While I’ve enjoyed all of Luna Joya’s books in The Legacy series, Killing Song stands out. While each book works as a standalone, it feels like Joya found a magic with these characters and the connecting storyline. 

 

Let’s be honest, I have a few prejudices when it comes to paranormal romance:

 

• It’s a series about witches
• Killing Song features a badass assassin Siren + a tortured hero
• Zaida’s as fiery as her red hair

 

I underlined many lines that marveled my reader senses, such as:

 

“The mood reflected off her like it had been searching for her as a beacon.” 

 

Z&Z. Thankfully, Joya didn’t adhere to one of the conventions of writing romance: Don’t name the hero and heroine with a name that begins with the same letter. Pffft. I never understood that. Most definitely, Zaida and Zimm are unique, and there’s no mixing the two.

 

Joya sets these stories in Southern California, which adds to the charm. Whether it’s cruising through Hollywood, or exploring an eerie high-rise apartment in Long Beach, the reader takes in some real details that add to the world-building. It’s on the level of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles: She makes me believe.

 

Finally, there is an interconnectedness that flows through the entire series. Previous characters play a role, and Joya hints at future pairings. Honestly, I want cozy up to her at a bar, buy her a cocktail and learn all the secrets of future books. But, there is a joy of watching the mystery unravel while being entertained reading for hours.

 

For now, I’ll be thankful for the love of Zaida and Zimm.

 

Killing Song (The Legacy Book 3)

By Luna Joya

City Owl Press

 

One more kill and she’s free. But only if she doesn’t fall in love first. 

 

Love destroys. Zaida has lived by that motto for centuries as a siren and the faerie queen’s most lethal assassin. So keeping things strictly professional with the sexy human she’s working with on the FBI’s paranormal task force shouldn’t be a problem. Except it is.

 

Former Army Ranger Zimm isn’t a big fan of love either. Losing everything and everyone will do that to a guy. Keeping his hands off the badass, sword-happy siren who’s helping him track down a murderous demon should be easy. But it isn’t. 

 

If Zaida and Zimm have any hope of claiming their happily ever after, they’ll have to catch a killer, outwit immortal royalty, and face off against an evil magical organization. And then there’s the little matter of the last hit the queen has ordered Zaida to carry out in exchange for her freedom. The target? Zimm.

 

Seems like everything’s about to get supernaturally complicated.

 

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Announcement: 1001 Nights Short Story Challenge Winners (Yes, I'm one!)

I'm so excited to be included in this upcoming anthology with 1,001 Dark Nights! I've been a huge fan as a reader for a long time. 

Such a talented group of authors, which includes some writers who've become friends over the years such as Fiona Archer, Eden Bradley, Boone Brux, Cara Carnes, Caraway Carter (go OCC/RWA!), Sierra Cartwright, Gina L. Maxwell and Khloe Wren! 

Plus, some new-to-me authors (like C.G. Burnette, who I adore already!) who I can't wait to work with. It's already been an amazing experience, and it's only just begun! 

Official Announcement:

 

We are thrilled to share the winners of the 1,001 Dark Nights 2020 Short Story Challenge with you all! 

 

This is the first time that we’ve run a challenge like this and we are beyond excited with the results. We had hundreds of submissions and were overwhelmed with the quality of both the writing and the characters from so many amazing writers. Because of that, we’re proud and honored to be highlighting nearly forty winning authors and their stories!

 

This anthology will be free on all retailers and links will be sent to our newsletter subscribers this December (2020) as a gift to readers. 

 

For more information about the authors, visit: 

 

https://www.1001darknights.com/2020-short-story-challenge-winners/ 

Stay tuned for teasers to my paranormal romance short "Shadow Lover," and December's free release!

Louisa Bacio

http://www.facebook.com/LouisaBacio

http://www.Twitter.com/LouisaBacio

http://www.Instagram.com/LouisaBacio

Landra Graf has "A Talent For Trouble" @LandraGraf #totallyboundpublishing #badboysofspace #ATFT #scifiromance

Drug runner Emilio Morales is one deal away from being the sole runner from Earth to the upper planets—until his partner attempts a double-cross. Now, Emilio’s stuck in a disabled spaceship with an unpredictable, attractive female who’s willing to help him out if he’ll assist her in retrieving her ship from an impound facility.

Antonia ‘Toni’ Smith is sick and tired of being beholden to men. The only way to guarantee freedom is to get back her bootlegging ship to run her own business again. When Emilio kills her ticket out, she’s forced to rely on him for assistance. Emilio, the most wanted and annoying man in the solar system, is a sexy-as-hell means to an end.

But every plan the duo makes falls apart and every day they spend in each other’s company increases the tension between them.

With the death toll rising and their defenses low, can Emilio and Toni get the happy ending they want, without falling for each other in the process?

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KWDQTLK?tag=books2read02-20

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-talent-for-trouble-landra-graf/1129943733;jsessionid=82B255EBC5E6D8B4128C49C5F8125C5C.prodny_store02-atgap01?ean=9781786864413&st=AFF&2sid=Draft2Digital_7968444_NA&sourceId=AFFDraft2Digital

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-talent-for-trouble-1   

Totally Bound: https://www.totallybound.com/book/a-talent-for-trouble

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42842750-a-talent-for-trouble   

Hashtags: #totallyboundpublishing #badboysofspace #ATFT #scifiromance

Author Bio: Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories

where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

Author Links:

Website: https://landragraf.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LandraGraf

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/landra.graf   

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Landra-Graf/e/B00IESJED4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1440641120&sr=8-1

Excerpt: He poured himself a glass. Turning it slowly, spreading the liquid up the sides and back down, he noticed he wasn’t alone. “Can I offer you a drink?”

“No,” a sultry feminine voice responded. “There’s nothing over there isn’t made in the still or fermented in a barrel.”

“Suit yourself.” Emilio turned and took in the view. Mother Mary.

The woman, a vision of sin, stood angled toward the fancy window display where three floor-to-ceiling panels showcased the twinkling view. She wore a glimmering red dress, which sparkled even more as she turned toward him. Her hair was a pale-white blonde, short and framing her face, giving it a distinct diamond shape. She’d be labeled gorgeous, more than the word could construe, with her eyes the color of whiskey—and not the cheap stuff in his glass. No, the full-bodied swirling amber and caramel colors.

“What brings you to Casa Manolo?” He swallowed a little more whiskey than he intended and did his best to sound suave, but the words came out more like a croak.

“Nothing that concerns you.” The dismissal paired with a smile, a little thing revealing flawless teeth. He glanced down at her one note of defiance—boots. Grav boots to be exact, black and fierce. A deep, soul-encapsulating need clamped onto his brain, a need he’d waited years to experience. This was the woman he’d been waiting for. The type he’d always wanted. The one he’d call his.

He walked closer, eager to see if she took a similar interest in him. “Oh? Well, I’m happy to make this visit less business and more pleasure. Your name is?”

The words escaped his mouth as he glanced at her lips—expressive, full and waiting for his kiss, even when those same lips uttered, “Too expensive for you.”

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