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Blog Tour Feature and Giveaway: DAEMON BLOOD by Mary Maddox

3/7/2022

Hi, readers! We have a real treat in store for you today, a spotlight on a book by Mary Maddox, a talented author!

Mary, an author I met on my journey, has a book tour running right now.

Let's check out the details, shall we?

Daemon Blood
Mary Maddox
(Daemon World, #3)
Publication date: March 8th 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Horror

Our war will not unfold in your imaginary heaven. We will fight on Earth with human beings as pawns and weapons.

Lu Darlington is a seer, bound to the daemon Talion through ritual and blood. It’s not a role she enjoys, but she has little choice: daemons take what they want and destroy whoever stands in their way.

So Lu’s surprised when Talion doesn’t punish her for her newfound ability to keep him from possessing her whenever he likes. In fact he’s pleased. The stronger she is, he explains, the more powerful he becomes.

And he needs that power, because a war is brewing in the daemon world, a war that will be fought by—and through—humans.

Lu’s friend Lisa Duncan can’t see daemons but she’s seen what they can do and so has stayed far away from Lu for years. After a bizarre attack on Lisa leaves half a dozen people dead and she learns it’s just the first skirmish in the daemon war, Lisa realizes the safest place to be is with Lu.

Then Talion sends Lu away to teach her skills to another seer and Lisa must stay behind to look after Lu’s son Solly, conceived through a daemon ceremony with Talion. At four years old Solly’s seer abilities are already so strong Lisa is sometimes more afraid of Solly than for him.

As Talion’s enemies grow bolder, Lisa and Lu face attacks from every direction. There seems little hope any of them will survive—until Talion and his allies devise a plan.

The only problem is how much it will cost.

“With Daemon Blood, Mary Maddox has crafted a timeless tale of good against evil. With compelling characters and a keen sense of the darkness that lurks within us all, Daemon Blood will stay with you long after you turn the final thrilling page.”

— David Sodergren, Author of The Forgotten Island

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Author Bio:

Mary Maddox is a suspense, horror, and dark fantasy novelist with what The Charleston Times-Courier calls a “Ray Bradbury-like gift for deft, deep-shadowed description.” Born in Soldiers Summit, high in the mountains of Utah, Maddox graduated with honors in creative writing from Knox College, and went on to earn an MFA from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She taught writing at Eastern Illinois University and has published stories in various journals, including Yellow Silk, Farmer’s Market, The Scream Online, and Huffington Post. The Illinois Arts Council has honored her fiction with a Literary Award and an Artist’s Grant.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Intriguing! Mary is providing us with an exclusive playlist for her new book...

Compiling a playlist for Daemon Blood was a challenge for me. I admire playlists in movies, the way the music underscores and sometimes provides ironic commentary on the story. I strived to meet that high standard in this playlist. My knowledge of music is less than encyclopedic, though. I listened to numerous songs and musical passages to discover new songs, and tracked down pieces I knew by ear without knowing what they’re called. I’m mostly satisfied with the twelve songs in the playlist, but I suspect that somewhere in the vast universe of music I could have found music that complements my story even better.
The playlist below is eclectic, to say the least. I’ve tried to select music to represent the diverse characters and bizarre events in Daemon Blood. I hope you enjoy it.

Amy Winehouse--Rehab
Igor Stravinsky--The Firebird
Gustav Holst--Mars from The Planets
Emmy Lou Harris— Pledging My Love
Iggy Pop--The Passenger
Lords Of The New Church--Dance With Me
Sonny Rollins--There'll Never Be Another You
Aaliyah--Rock The Boat
Erik Satie--Gymnopédie No.1
Khalid--Talk
Samuel Barber--Adagio for Strings
The Doors— Strange Days

The complete playlist is here.

Awesome! Thanks so much, Mary!

Let's also give kudos to Mary's sponsor:

Grab a copy of this one!

Thank you, Mary, for letting us know all about your adult fantasy/horror novel. It sounds like quite a tale!

Thanks for stopping by to let us know about your new release, Mary! ♥

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog post here.

2 Comments

Blog Tour Feature: Ivy Nelson’s FOREVER, plus a giveaway!

10/1/2021

0 Comments

Hi, readers! We have a real treat in store for you today, a spotlight on a book by Ivy Nelson, a talented author!

Ivy, an author I met on my journey, has a blog tour running right now.

Let's check out the details, shall we?

Title: Forever (A Diamond Doms Novel)
Author: Ivy Nelson
Release Date: September 28, 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Some Suspense, BDSM elements

BLURB:
Russel Adler has one job while Elijah Barrett is away. Keep Holly Barrett and her best friend Gemma Livingston safe from those out to collapse Club Solitaire. There’s just one problem, Gemma is pain in the ass. A gorgeous, irresistible, pain in the ass determined to make his job impossible. She makes the Dom in him twitch, but he knows he can’t lose focus or people might die.

Forever is the long-awaited conclusion to the Diamond Doms series.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57509293-forever

Purchase links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/39A5Zpr
Universal Reader Link: https://books2read.com/u/bOJw60

So, what are readers saying about this book?

☆☆☆☆☆
"Hot! I really recommend reading this series from the beginning, to get the full information package of character introductions, as well as the bridging ‘mystery’ that spans the series, and the other intriguing details that I am sure would enhance your reading experience even more.
This is a contemporary romance with a sexy and erotic storyline that set my kindle on fire. The story is not for the faint of heart though- as it has some reallly intense BDSM scenes that may be too much for some readers. But, there is more to the story than just the sizzle and steam- there is mystery, tension, suspense, danger, adventure, action, and plenty of dramatic developments that had me flipping the pages to find out what happens next. I couldn’t put it down, reading the entire book in one session…… what a ride!" -- Angela Hayes, Amazon
"I can’t believe it’s all wrapped up!! Ivy Nelson has made the last addition of the Diamond Doms a whopper!!! If you know anything about BDSM, the main mantra is Safe, Sane & Consensual. In this tale, the alpha male Russell is a Sadist and the leading lady Gemma is a Masochist. So their limits and kinks go well together. But, WOW!! my eyes were opened a bit wider with this one. But in books, as in real life, it takes all kinds. The best thing about this type of relationship is the absolute trust needed in each other for it to work. Limits and safe words are there for a reason. The storylines got all sewn up with a bow! This HEA was absolutely so awesome! Great reading! If you like intrigue, danger, excitement and villains then start this series ASAP. You will be blown away!!" -- Anne Young-Cronister, Amazon
"Great story, great series. ***This story contains depictions of BDSM, with some extreme kink. It may not be suitable for some readers.*** The final chapter. You will finally learn who has it out for the members of Solitaire. It is well written and includes most of the characters from the previous books. This whole series is addictive, and definitely worth your time." -- Deborah McClellan, Amazon
"A truly incredible series. This book can be read as a stand-alone although I urge you to ready this series in order. I honestly think you will get so much more enjoyment out of it if you do.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved the characters in this book. They were absolutely perfect for each other and had undeniable chemistry. It literally poured from every single page. There was so much going on with this book as well. The story is so well developed. It is built up and really keeps you on your toes. I think the author has done an amazing job of rounding out all the storylines and keeping everything straight. This is a brilliant book." -- Kerry Baker, Amazon
"Satisfying, steamy, spunky dialogue- The perfect book to end a series." -- Linda Foley, Amazon

Intriguing! How about a look inside?

Excerpt 1

Russell slipped some fresh produce and meat into the cart, but Gemma wrinkled her nose. “I don’t really know how to cook.”
Her response didn’t faze him, and he added a bag of spinach. “I’ll get someone to prep some things for you, and I happen to know the guard who works the late shift is an excellent cook. I know chocolate and ice cream are good foods for crying into, but you have to give your body at least some nutrition.”
“I believe your role is to protect me, not monitor my eating habits.”
“I’m protecting you from yourself, love.”
“Don’t call me that. And I’m perfectly capable of feeding myself.”
He just hummed and added a loaf of whole grain bread to the cart.
“Let me guess, you don’t put sugar in your coffee either.”
“I don’t. No cream either.”
“Healthy people are boring,” she muttered under her breath as she went down one aisle and then another.
A moment later, he heard her curse under her breath.
“What’s wrong?” He pushed the cart up next to her and waited while she stared at the shelf. Her shoulders shook, and he realized she was crying.
“Christ, Gemma. Come here.” He turned her around and pulled her against his chest.
While she cried, he kept one arm tightly around her and used his free hand to fish out his cellphone to text the driver of the car that had followed them.
Less than a minute later, the drivers of both cars approached.
“Pay for this and bring it back to the house. I’m taking Gemma home now.”
She lifted her head and wiped at her eyes. At first, he thought she might argue, but she nodded and let him lead her out of the store.
In the car, he handed her his phone. “Text that number what you need added to the list.”
She took it and sent the message.
“Sorry I’m a mess.”
He took his phone and squeezed her hand. “Don’t be. If anyone has a good excuse to be a mess right now, it’s you. I’m here, though.”
“Why?”
He blinked and looked at her as he pulled out of the grocery store parking lot.
“Because you’re part of the family. Because I’m a bastard.”
Gemma blinked hard and jerked her head back. “How are you a bastard?”
“Because I can’t keep you out of my head. You just lost your husband and all I can think about is how good it felt to have my arms around you. Pretty sure that makes me a bastard.”
“It’s not like you’re being inappropriate. If your thoughts move beyond that into actions, then you might be a bastard, but so far, you’ve just let me cry on your shoulder and bought me food. I don’t think either of those things makes you a monster. That role is reserved for me.”
♦♦♦♦
At first, Russell didn’t respond. Just reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. Gemma hated herself for breaking down in the shop. It was so embarrassing, especially at the point that he called in reinforcements to finish her shopping for her. And now he was being so sweet her heart almost couldn’t stand it.
“You’re not a monster. Let’s get you home where you can relax.”
She shuddered. “Don’t call it that. I am grateful for the safe place to stay, but we both know that isn’t home.”
He squeezed her hand again.
“I’m not saying this safe house will ever be home, but you can rest assured that you have people in your corner. We’re going to get you through this. And on the other side, when it’s safe for you to be on your own again, you can decide if you want to stick around a while or go back to the place you currently call home.”
When they got to the house, Russell opened the front door for her and let her in. Then he walked to the bedroom and into the bathroom where he turned the bathtub on and pushed the stopper down.
“You take a bath, try to relax. I’ll get your groceries put away and see what I can do to make this place a little more comfortable for you.”
“How long do you think I’ll have to stay here?”
He shook his head. “It’s impossible to say right now.”
“Can’t I stay with one of you? What about Holly or Dakota? I like them. It would at least give me some company.”
He picked up her hand and pulled her closer to the tub.
“Right now, we have to assess the danger and figure out who else might be in harm’s way. Once we’ve done that, we can talk about moving you somewhere else. Now, do I need to undress you and put you in the tub, or can I leave you to it?”
She smacked his shoulder. “Get out of here. I’m fine.”
He chuckled and headed for the door.
“Russell.”
He turned to face her again.
“Thank you.”
“Just doing my job, love.”

Excerpt 2

Gemma’s heart raced as she followed Russell up the stairs. She’d almost lost her sister. That thought wouldn’t stop repeating in her mind. The amount of danger that seemed to follow her these days made her nauseous.
None of it made sense to Gemma, but Kendall was genuinely shaken by the things she saw, and it had set everyone on high alert. Elijah was now on his way to London for a business deal that had been in the works for a long time and couldn’t be put on hold, so Russell was stepping up security and running the entire operation in person. Now he wanted to ask her some questions. After weeks of avoiding her, they were going to be alone in a room together and she didn’t know how to handle it other than to be a smart ass.
“What did you want to ask me?” She dropped into the chair in front of the desk and waited for Russell to speak.
“I need to hear everything you can tell me about Jonathan Niel and his family.”
Gemma whistled. “Everything? That could take a while. How about you narrow it down for me a bit?”
He scowled, bringing his eyebrows together. “Did Niel know you were about to divorce Matthew?”
Gemma wrinkled her nose. “God, I hope not. But I suppose it’s possible that something leaked. He has an excellent PR team that monitors several issues that are important to him.”
“And what is important to him?”
She laughed. “Money. Power. The ability to snap his fingers and have a woman launch herself at his feet. He’s a total prick. Are you ever going to give in and flirt with me?”
He frowned. “You’re still married and now I’m in charge of your protection detail.”
She shook her head. “You’ve been in charge of it since I arrived in town, and we both know it. That didn’t stop you from kissing me the other night when my safe house was compromised.”
“I’ve already apologized for that. Now focus on my questions, please.”
“I’m so tired of being interrogated by people towering over me assuming I’m some weak little rich girl.”
He rolled his eyes but slid off the desk and sat in the chair beside her. “I’m not interrogating you. I’m asking questions that will aid in getting everyone back to a normal life.”
She folded her arms across her chest to hide the fact that her nipples had hardened under his dominant stare.
“I really don’t know how I can help. I haven’t actually spoken to Jonathan in over a year when he came to my office to talk about a business deal he wanted to push through.”
“Do you have access to a copy of that information?”
“Why is this important? He’s probably part of a murderous cult. Shouldn’t that be what we’re focused on.”
“I told you. Every detail, Gemma. This is an organization that does a lot of expensive work. We have to scrutinize any business deal made or attempted so that we can understand how they tick and see if we can find patterns that lead us to how they’re funding the organization.”
Gemma nodded. “Fair enough. I don’t know if I can access the information. I suppose since we’ve decided I’m not dead or missing anymore, it wouldn’t hurt to reach out to my assistant and get her to send me everything she can.”
Russell nodded. “Please do. And when you get done with that, you me and Holly are going to sit down and discuss safety protocols.”
“Oh, that ought to be fun.”
“Rule number one is no sass from either of you.”
She huffed. “You think because we both identify as submissive, you get to pull out the Dom card?”
He chuckled. “No lip, no sass, no bratty behavior. Are we clear, Gemma? Lives are at stake here.”
She waved him away. “Quit with the raised eyebrows and stern tone. I’m going to be good, but I’m a smart ass, and I won’t stop being a smart ass because you say so.”
“Then your smart ass may become a sore ass.”
“You say that like it’s a threat.”
He laughed and leaned closer to her. “Believe me, sweetheart. It is. Now go make your phone calls. We’ll talk again later.”
She gave him a salute followed by a middle-fingered wave as she backed out of the room. He tapped the buckle on his belt. Was he threatening to use it on her? The man didn’t have a clue.

Your book sounds so compelling!

Readers, you'll have to check out this read! Or, add it to your Goodreads bookshelf or save it to your BookBub wishlist!

How about some more teasers? ;)

Note: All the spicier excerpts have been edited out of this post, to comply with the blog's guidelines. For more information, visit our blog policy.

Looks sizzling...plus, a chance for a $20 Amazon gift card!

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Awesome! Thanks so much, Ivy!

Let's also give kudos to Ivy's sponsor:

Grab a copy of this one! And don't forget to participate in the cool giveaway!

Discover the rest of the book tour here...

Thank you, Ivy, for letting us know all about your contemporary, erotic romance novel with some suspense. It sounds like quite a sexy, romantic tale!

Ivy Nelson is an emerging contemporary romance author, hopeful romantic, and passionate advocate who is versed in all things steamy, sultry, and sensual. It all started back when she read her first steamy romance novel at the age of fourteen. From that point forward, it became her favorite genre--one she wanted to write in herself someday. Sylvia Day's writing style cemented that passion, and gave her just the inspiration she needed to be an author herself. In December of 2018, Ivy published her debut novel, Power Desired, at the age of 32.

Most recently, Ivy completed the "D.C. Power Games" series and the prequel to her forthcoming "Diamond Doms series", titled Hard (currently available for pre-order). In a not-so-distant past, she was a student affairs professional at a university and earned her political science degree, which explains her politically-driven romance debut.

When she isn't penning steamy scenes or attending writing conferences, you can find this contest-winning karaoke singer and bookworm passionately supporting human rights or growing her Sims 4 empire. She is also a wine aficionado and certified whiskey taster (no, really, she has the certificate to prove it). All that aside, Ivy loves spending quality time with her amazing son and husband of three years at their home in Houston, Texas.

Author links:
https://twitter.com/ivy_nelson_
https://www.ivynelsonbooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/IvyNelsonBooks
https://www.instagram.com/ivynelsonbooks/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18650771.Ivy_Nelson

Thanks for stopping by to let us know about your new release, as well as your full series, Ivy! ♥

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age guest article here.

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Writing in the Modern Age

Writing & Guest Author Blog

Blog Tour Feature and Giveaway: DAEMON BLOOD by Mary Maddox

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog post here.

Blog Tour Feature: Ivy Nelson’s FOREVER, plus a giveaway!

Hi, readers! We have a real treat in store for you today, a spotlight on a book by Ivy Nelson, a talented author!

Ivy, an author I met on my journey, has a blog tour running right now.

Let's check out the details, shall we?

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age guest article here.

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Use our hashtag #WritModAge when you mention us!

Should you edit your own work? Definitely! - The Ultimate Guide to Editing a Book

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Blog Categories

Writing in the Modern Age

Writing & Guest Author Blog

Blog Tour Feature and Giveaway: DAEMON BLOOD by Mary Maddox

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog post here.

Blog Tour Feature: Ivy Nelson’s FOREVER, plus a giveaway!

Hi, readers! We have a real treat in store for you today, a spotlight on a book by Ivy Nelson, a talented author! Ivy, an author I met on my journey, has a blog tour running right now. Let's check out the details, shall we?

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age guest article here.

Blog Archives

Get new posts by email:

Site Admin - Author Marie Lavender

A glance at Marie's books

Coming Soon

Blog Awards

Contribute

Cool new feature!

Attention

marieannlavender@

gmail.com

Disclaimer

Thoughts and opinions by guest authors do not necessarily represent any thoughts and opinions by this website's administrator, nor are they directly endorsed. All writings on the blog are subject to review and editing. Please visit our blog policy to understand the site's theme a little better.

Use our hashtag #WritModAge when you mention us!

Should you edit your own work? Definitely! - The Ultimate Guide to Editing a Book

Are you a technical writer? Look no further for some tools of the trade!

Love physical books like me? Check out this cool DIY link!

Sign up for Marie's author newsletter! Get on her mailing list @

Blog Categories

Hi, readers! We have a real treat in store for you today, a spotlight on a book by Ivy Nelson, a talented author!

Ivy, an author I met on my journey, has a blog tour running right now.

Let's check out the details, shall we?