In Patti's Imagination

Saturday, July 14, 2018

REVIEW C. A. Gray LIBERTY BOX

Author: C.A. Gray

Narrator: Melissa Williams

Series: The Liberty Box series, Book 1

Length: 6 hours 25 minutes

Publisher: Wanderlust Publishing

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Kate Brandeis has it all: a famous reporter at the age of 24, she's the face of the Republic of the Americas. She has a loving fiancée and all the success she could wish for. But when she learns of the death of a long-forgotten friend, her investigations unravel her perfect memories, forcing her to face the fact that she's been living a lie. Jackson MacNamera, trained from a young age in the art of mind control, returns to the Republic for his mother's funeral. Within a few hours of his arrival, authorities collect Jackson and take him by force to a room ironically called The Liberty Box, where he must choose between surrendering his thoughts to the new Republic, or fleeing for his freedom. Kate, bereaved and confused, finds her way to a cave community of refugees, where Jackson seems to offer her an escape from her grief. The two forge an uneasy bond, and in the process Jackson learns that Kate has some insight which may help the hunters in their attempt to free other citizens from the tyranny of the Potentate. Against the expressed wishes of the Council, the hunters plot a series of daring raids, attempting to prove that not only is freedom possible, but that the citizens are not too far gone to desire it. But with the odds so stacked against them, can the refugees succeed in their rescue missions right under the Potentate's nose?

By day, C.A. Gray is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) with a primary care practice in Tucson, AZ, and she writes medical books under her real name (Dr. Lauren Deville). She lives with her husband, with whom she maintains a facetiously contentious movie review blog, and travels as often as they can get away. When not writing or seeing patients, she does yoga, drinks red wine while eating dark chocolate, and consumes audiobooks like there’s no tomorrow!

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Melissa lives with her family, including two dogs and a cat, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Denver, Colorado. After having a corporate job for most of her life, and as a self-proclaimed introvert, she decided to leave corporate America to work from home. Voice overs had always tugged at her heart as something she would like to explore, so she attended some classes and landed with a company that taught her how to break in to the industry. Loving to read, she explored the fast growing world of audiobooks and fell in love with it. She has ten audiobooks under her belt and is currently working on the 11th. Understanding that she should always be learning how to improve her skills, she is currently working with Sean Pratt. When not talking to herself in a padded room, she can be found walking her dog, singing or fishing the Arkansas River.

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I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by C.A. Gray. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Review
[Flora]

As I listened to this story, I was intrigued by the thoughts that this story was so plausible even though it was science fiction. This is a story of survival. This is a story of deceit. This is a story of overcoming all the odds and, it's also a story of observing the realizations of the world around you. The main character is Kate and in the beginning she is oblivious of all expect the world as the new republic tells her is real, but is it? It takes an outsider, Jackson, to use his grandfather's training to show the affluent Americans things are not as they seem in these new Americans. Kate is a reporter/anchor woman for the government news station, who finds herself in a world full of deceit, murder and government conspiracy all because she wanted to find information out about a long lost room mate.
This is a well-written epic tale filled with adventure and learning to survive in a new world order. It really reminded me of the Revolutionary War. Story is concise and each event builds on the ones creating a very coherent story. The author has given enough time to develop the characters into complex people. We see that no character is all good or all bad. Characters had modern day problems and life events including ordering pizza and stopping for coffee and a chocolate croissant in the morning before work. The book is action packed with themes of not taking things at face value. It is a theme about loss and survival and dealing with life changing events. This is the first book in the series and it does end on a cliffhanger of sorts, but could be read/listened to as a standalone book. I look forward to listening to the next two books in the series.
This well written story was narrated by Melissa Williams, who spoke clearly and at an excellent pace for understanding and dramatic effect. She changed her voice enough for me to know who was speaking at each time and used inflection to convey emotions of the characters very well. Her voice changes into each character were consistent throughout the story making it very easy to understand which character was which and the inflection in her voice added to the drama and emotions conveyed in the story both stated and implied. She even gives characters accents which is always a great touch to make the story come to life.
Rating:
Amazon/Goodreads rating: 4.5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 9/10

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Friday, July 6, 2018

COVER REVEAL -- Amy Daws' SURRENDER & DOMINATE!!!!

Title: Surrender
The Final Harris Brother Duet #1

Series: The Harris Brothers #4
Author: Amy Daws

Genre: Sports Romance
Cover Design: Amy Daws
Photo: Dan Thorson Photography

Model: Adam Spahn
Release Date: July 19, 2018

Blurb

One night of complete surrender is all it takes.

Gareth Harris is Manchester United’s reclusive star defender. He has control over all aspects of his life. But a lifetime of supporting his siblings and filling in for an emotionally absent father has taken its toll.

Sloan Montgomery is a clothing stylist whose world was turned upside down when she found herself pregnant and moving to Manchester with a man who was never supposed to be her forever. Now recently divorced and struggling with shared custody of her daughter, control is a fleeting concept for this American living in England.

Both Gareth and Sloan are in need of a release.

A moment in time where they can forget about their pasts and family pressures...and just...

…surrender.

No one could predict what happens when both of their defences are down.

Surrender is part one of The Final Harris Brother Duet and concludes with Dominate. The Final Harris Brother Duet reads great as a duo, but to maximize enjoyment, check out the first three brothers’ books in Challenge, Endurance, and Keeper.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Title: Dominate
The Final Harris Brother Duet #2

Series: The Harris Brothers #5
Author: Amy Daws

Genre: Sports Romance

Cover Design: Amy Daws
Photo: Dan Thorson Photography
Model: Adam Spahn
Release Date: August 2, 2018

Blurb

To dominate one’s heart is to truly be free.

The anticipated conclusion to The Final Harris Brother Duet.

After the harrowing attack against Gareth and Sloan, there are more than just physical wounds that must be healed.

Recovering and moving on from their dark pasts is the only way they can truly find their bright futures.

Who will surrender? And who will dominate?

ADD TO GOODREADS

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE IN AUDIO

Author Bio

Amy Daws is an Amazon Top 25 bestselling author of sexy, contemporary romance novels. She enjoys writing love stories that take place in America, as well as across the pond in England; especially about those footy-playing Harris Brothers of hers. When Amy is not writing in a tire shop waiting room, she’s watching Gilmore Girls, or singing karaoke in the living room with her daughter while Daddy smiles awkwardly from a distance. For more of Amy's work, visit: http://www.amydawsauthor.com

Author Links

WEBSITE / NEWSLETTER
FACEBOOK / FACEBOOK GROUP
TWITTER / INSTAGRAM / BOOK + MAIN
BOOKBUB / PINTEREST / AMAZON / GOODREADS

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Sunday, July 1, 2018

AUDIO BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW JS Jeager SCROLLS OF ZNDARIA THE GOLDEN WIZARD

Author: J.S. Jaeger

Narrator: R.J. Walker

Length: 5 hours 55 minutes

Series: Scrolls of Zndaria, Book 1

Publisher: Golden Wizard Publishing

Released: Sep. 26, 2017

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Join Nathanial "Nate" McGray, the 15-year-old son of the king's woodsman, on an unforgettable adventure. He is determined to be the first peasant to become a wizard in the magical world of Zndaria. Wedged in a sticky spot, Nate is saved from the town bullies by a mysterious elf named Blinkly. Together, Nate and Blinkly embark on a journey to the Halls of Magic. Along the way, they encounter vicious Dread Vikings, deadly bounty hunters, and a deranged beast. Just as Nate begins to learn magic, the Infinite Wizard and a devilish army attack his kingdom. Will Nate become a wizard? Can he save his kingdom? The story unfolds in the Scrolls of Zndaria: The Golden Wizard.

Parents to four wonderful children, Jerry and Stephanie Jaeger enjoy working together as J.S. Jaeger to write uplifting, entertaining stories. Jerry overcame bullying to earn his black belt in Kempo Karate. He served as a special agent for the FBI and currently works as a prosecutor. Stephanie ran her own accounting practice for several years before turning her focus to writing Scrolls of Zndaria with Jerry. Together, they are excited to bring readers of all ages into the magical world of Zndaria.

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RJ Walker is a performance poet and voice actor from Salt Lake City, Utah. RJ Has performed at the national poetry slam numerous times, representing Salt Lake City, and Sugar House Utah. At the Individual World Poetry Slam he was a showcased poet on final stage and placed 6th overall at the 2017 Individual world poetry slam. RJ won the NPS Spirit of the Slam award for organizing the first Compliment Deathmatch event. RJ has narrated over 28 audiobooks and produced 2 albums of spoken word poetry. He is also an actor and game designer for Mystery Escape Room in Salt Lake City.

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Do you believe certain types of writing translate better into audiobook format?
- We believe almost any book can be a great audiobook, if the right narrator is chosen. Pictures books would be trickier, since the illustrations are often an integral part of the story, but an audiobook could be used for younger readers to follow along with the book.
How did you select your narrator?
- We had been considering doing an audiobook for sometime but hadn’t taken steps in that direction. At the 2017 Salt Lake Comic Con, a gentleman approached our booth and took our first page challenge (to read the first page and see if you want to keep reading). He read the paragraph with enthusiasm and depth. His badge said “special guest.” It turned out that he was an audiobook narrator/producer. We were quite certain at that moment that RJ Walker would produce our audiobook.
How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
- RJ and Stephanie were in regular contact during the process. We initially met with RJ, and he shared his ideas about giving each race in our world a different accent/voice. There were definitely some names and items that had special pronunciation, but there were others we’d always said one way that RJ said differently, and we’ve adopted his way of pronouncing them.
Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
- Stephanie listens to audiobooks on a regular basis. In the past year, she’s discovered it’s a fabulous way to get through her to-be-read list since she has little time to sit down and read. Using audiobooks, she’s able to “read” while exercising, driving, doing housework, etc.
If this title were being made into a TV series or movie, who would you cast to play the primary roles?
- Because our series is the story of five unlikely heroes, our characters would be cast with unknown actors. Our second daughter, Mandy, would love to play Cenaya, the hero in our second book, The Alamist Queen. She named that character and we sent her picture to the illustrator when she was drawn. When we are determining how Cenaya would act, we think of Mandy’s personality.
What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
- We see the advantage of reading printed words when it comes to learning the spelling and pronunciation of words. When our eight-year-old daughter wants to count listening to an audiobook for her school reading, she has to follow along with the physical book. In saying that, there are great advantages to reading by listening to an audiobook. You still get to experience the story, you see what works or doesn’t work, and you get to open your mind to new ideas.
What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?
- If you want to be an author, you need to start writing. The only guarantee as an author is that if you don’t start, you’ll never finish. Once you’ve started writing, don’t stress perfection in the beginning. That’s why there’s an editing process. We call the first draft our vomit draft because you have to get the ideas on paper and usually they don’t come out the way you picture them in your mind. Don’t get hung up on that. Write that rough, ugly draft then go back and make it beautiful.
Do you have any tips for authors going through the process of turning their books into audiobooks?
- We learned several things from The Golden Wizard for future audiobooks. First, plan on putting time into it. Once your narrator records the book, you have to take the time to listen to each section. You are giving your final approval before the book is released, and you need to love it. To make that process easier, our second suggestion is to make a one page summary listing all the characters in your book. How do you pronounce their names? What are their personalities? Is there anything you know about the story that affects how a scene should be read that your narrator needs to know? Give your narrator as much information as possible to reduce the amount of re-recording that will be needed. Finally, expect greatness, but don’t sweat the really small stuff. Stephanie was quite meticulous when reviewing the recording of Golden Wizard to the extent that she requested changes when the word “the” was used instead of “a”. By all means, request changes that are needed for the story but know that it may be difficult for your narrator to exactly match the tone and flow of the original recording so reserve those changes for the necessary ones.
What’s next for you?
- We are continuing forward with our Scrolls of Zndaria series and the short story series, Short Scrolls of Zndaria, that parallels it. Jerry is halfway done writing the third main scroll, and Stephanie is starting one of the final reworks of the second short scroll, Healing Hands.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by JS Jaeger. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Review
[Flora]

The story was well written and takes you on a magical journey with Nate, a 15 year old boy who is bullied and stutters. Nate dreams of becoming a wizard, but in his land a peasant has never been chosen to be a wizard. Despite the odds, Nate gains favor with the red wizard and is selected to embark on an action-packed journey. the whole while you wonder if he will be able to overcome his shortcomings to become a wizard. The authors, J S Jaeger, have told a great epic in just the first book in the series. The dialogue is brilliantly done by RJ Walker, the narrator, who helped to bring to life a tapestry of interesting characters who are not all as they seem. The story has a few larger vocabulary words, which are explained in the text of the story quite well. I enjoyed the laughter and tears in this story which is sure to hold any ones interest. The narrator uses accents and inflection to convey various characters, but the same accent is used for the elves or trolls, ect. to show which type of creature is speaking. I thought this was an excellent touch. There are lots of pearls of wisdom in this story of overcoming adversity. I think it is a good book for those readers/listeners who might be dealing with bullying or striving toward a goal or even those who have experienced loss. While the book is for a middle school reader, it can be easily read by older readers with a lower reading level or by younger readers with a higher reading level. As it is not watered down nor condescending in any way. It is a great introduction into the world of the sci fi/ fantasy genre. It could easily be used as a summer reader.
The authors, J S Jaeger, wove the story seamlessly. There are no choppy or left out bits and in the end it doesn't leave a major cliff hanger making it not only the start to a great series , but also an awesome stand alone book as well. The characters, while mythical, are believable and most are well rounded with complex personalities. It has a few plot twists that helped continue interest and suspense. It is a fun story, which was enhanced by the audio. The narrator, JR Walker, was able to bring each character's unique personality to light while continuing to maintain an accent designated to each creature. He spoke for both girls and boys in this story and with changes in his voice was able to convey who was speaking and their emotional state. He really made the story come to life. The audio was clear and the narrator spoke in at an easy to follow pace making this a great production as well. I will look forward to reading/listening to more books by these wonderful authors and this talented narrator.

Amazon/Goodreads rating: 4/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 8.5/10

Jun. 28th: Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews Jun. 29th: Happily Ever BookWorm Jun. 30th: J.R.'s Book Reviews Jul. 1st: In Patti's Imagination Jul. 2nd: Jazzy Book Reviews Jul. 3rd: The Reading Bud Jul. 4th: The Book Addict's Reviews

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Tuesday, June 26, 2018

RELEASE BLITZ~Jessica Collin's~FINDERS KEEPERS

This time, a whole new world has a whole new meaning.

A dangerous past…

Jayla Solonga is a woman on the run. Hiding for the better part of five years from her abusive ex, Jeffrey Alwazir, she’s moved from state to state, keeping watch over her shoulder, never settling down for long. She’s transformed herself from the shy, fearful girl, into a strong, resourceful woman—one who feels safer shutting out the rest of the world. That is, until a handsome stranger crashes his way into her life.

With a hope for the future…

Alistair Kane is a master at reading others. It’s what makes his security company so successful—the ability to determine a dangerous situation before it happens. It’s also what makes him one of the most sought after Doms in The Cave of Wonders, a BDSM club he’s belonged to for years. When Alistair meets Jayla, he’s immediately infatuated with the mysterious woman. Her quick wit and sassy attitude instantly register the truth for him—she’s a natural, bratty submissive. A thought which has his blood—and other areas—heating.

Until her time runs out…

Alistair’s firm yet gentle approach is what allows Jayla to tear down her emotional walls, discovering a whole new world through bondage and submission. Desire, pleasure, control…love—emotions Jayla feared she’d never experience again. Now, she’s more determined than ever not to let her past dictate her future. The only thing holding her back is the truth she’s hiding from Alistair: Jeffrey isn’t an ex—he’s her husband. One who will stop at nothing to find her. To own her.

To break her.

Releasing June 26th, 2018

BUY LINKS:

Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
ITunes
Goodreads

*All books in this series are standalone, contemporary erotic romance,

which feature characters from other books and feature a HEA*

Excerpt:

The pain from the needle on her raised skin was excruciating, yet not nearly as painful as the cause of the scar in the first place.

“Sorry, hon. I know it hurts.” Nico, her tattoo artist, added ink to the already tender skin. “It’ll be over soon,” she added, nodding her head in determination.

Jayla nodded, her breath catching in her throat as the tattoo gun drifted over a particularly raw area. “Mother fucker,” she hissed, gritting her teeth. Turning her head into the padded table, her hands balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms, trying to focus her mind away from the pain.

“I know, I know, I’m so sorry. If it helps, this part of the scar is nearly camouflaged entirely by this stripe. Choosing a tiger was a great idea.”

“Then it’s worth it,” Jayla answered, working to regulate her breathing.

She turned again, her eyes catching the glances Nico snuck between her side and her face. Taking a breath, she answered the unasked question. “Stab wound. Courtesy of my asshole ex.”

“What a scumbag.”

The laugh escaping Jayla’s mouth wasn’t a pleasant sound. “You have no idea.”

Closing her eyes, Jayla again attempted to block out the pain. What she couldn’t block out were the flood of memories. Images of the rope burns around her wrists from being tied to a concrete beam in the basement, of trying to walk on her severely swollen ankles from being thrown down the stairs. Flashes of other hard-to-forget memories, like the dog bowl she was given to eat from and the — literal — pot to piss in.

She bit the inner corner of her cheek as the needle continued to move over her skin. It was a technique she had mastered, required to keep from crying out as his hands repeatedly slapped her across the face, when his boot hit her legs, her ribcage.

For a while, he was careful not to leave a mark where anyone could see, but as time went on, he stopped caring. Her face was rarely without a bruise — not that he’d let her out of the house, anyway. The one time she did try to run away, he’d found her in less than three hours. Her punishment? A three-day stint in a chastity belt. He refused to unlock her, even to allow her to use the restroom.

The small taste of freedom, fleeting as it had been, had reminded her that she was more than just his property. She knew it was only a matter of time before she escaped again. For good.

As the tattoo gun glided over the large scar on her side, she took a breath. Surprisingly, the stab wound was one of the least painful punishments he’d inflicted on her. Although, by that point, perhaps she was too numb to care.

The look in his eyes, the cruel smirk on his face, the careless goodbye he bade her before plunging the knife into her side, leaving only the handle sticking out of her skin — the irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her. His attempt to kill me saved my life.

Regardless of this current knowledge, it didn’t stop her anxiety from rearing its ugly head. The number of flashbacks had waned in the past years, yet the horrific images, physical recollections, could seemingly appear out of nowhere.

Especially at times like these, when she was forced to confront her past.

Her breathing hitched, her chest tightening at the memory of the growing pool of her blood on the kitchen floor, the scarlet thickness of it on her fingertips. Jayla cleared her throat, attempting to stop the crushing constriction of it.

Breathe, Jayla. Not real. Just a memory.

Inhaling slowly, she held the breath, trying to regulate her heart rate. Her carotid artery throbbed — the tell-tale pulsing of blood the final sign before the oncoming panic attack. Not here. Not now, she begged herself, exhaling raggedly, struggling to maintain control. The images refused to stop flashing across her memory, as a movie reel having spun out of control. White floor … crimson blood … the glimmering hint of metal…

Squeezing her eyes tightly, she focused instead on the realness of the needles digging into her skin. The pain, this time, grounding her. If she could feel pain, she was here — in the present moment, not stuck in the loop of her past memories. With seconds to spare, she pulled from the list of coping skills her therapist had taught her.

Five. Five sounds: Tattoo gun. Cars on the street. Music. Nico’s gum popping. Customers talking.

Four. Four sights….

It took a few moments, but she warded off the full-blown panic attack. This time, at least. There were plenty of instances when the memories had left her struggling for breath and curled up in her closet.

“All right, babe,” Nico spoke, drawing out the last word as her hand wiped at her skin. “Take a peek,” she said with a smile.

Standing, Jayla stretched, groaning at the burning of her tender skin. Shaking out her head and arms, she walked to the full-length mirror. Staring at her body, at the new design caressing her skin, a smile creeped across her face. Turning to see the entire piece, tears formed in her eyes.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, choking on the words. For the first time in a very long time, she was thankful for her taller frame. It had given the artist more canvas to complete her masterpiece.

“Not as beautiful as you, hon, but close enough.”

Is this really me?

The tattoo covered a sizable portion of her left side: a full-bodied tiger stalking its prey. The fierce cat’s head and shoulders hovered near her hip and its powerful striped torso stretched up along the curves of her body, the tail curling gently up to her left breast.

Nico’s design turned out better than Jayla could ever have imagined, capturing the realism of its face — the features both delicate and sharp. She could picture this very scene in the wild, just a moment before the large beast pounced. The bright oranges, whites, and blacks of the tiger, combined with the variegated jungle grass looked like a photograph superimposed on her skin.

But, Nico’s true magic shone through the bright yellow-green eyes that stared at her in the mirror, piercing into her very soul. It was as if it was telling her everything would be all right. She would be all right.

Her fingertips trailed over the delicate pink and yellow flowers woven into the background. Jasmine. The last small reminder of my old self.

“It fits you,” Nico commented, watching Jayla through the mirror.

Jayla’s gaze rose to Nico’s in the reflection. “He’ll be my constant reminder of how strong I am.”

Jeffrey’s face — her traitorous ex — flashed through her mind. In the mirror, her features changed. Eyes narrowing, fingers curling into fists, all her muscles tightening at the reminders of how he treated her.

Back then, and with her father’s help, she’d secured a new name and a new identity. But he’d warned her not to get too complacent. To stay mobile and to trust her instincts.

Instinct taught her how to fight, to do what she needed to survive. Never again would she allow a man to control her. To hold her down. To tie her up.

Never again would she submit to a man.

Never. Again.

Author Bio:

With her debut novel, Stealing Beauty, book one in the Fairy Tales After Dark series, hitting shelves in March 2017, Jessica has proven herself to be an up-and-coming (pardon the pun) romance author.

Jessica draws inspiration from her eclectic background: a student athlete, a licensed mental health therapist, an animal-rights advocate (ok, as much as she's tried going vegetarian, she's just not there yet), and an avid lover of books have allowed her to create the realistic world for her Fairy Tales After Dark characters.

She currently lives in New Jersey with her incredibly supportive husband (let's be honest, he enjoys the *ahem* research *ahem* he gets to assist with) and the love of their life - their pitbull. In her free time, she enjoys watching horror movies, taking baths, playing old-school Nintendo on her computer, and appreciating life.

In her Fairy Tales After Dark series, Jessica has combined classic characters with sizzling situations to create a world the reader wishes they were a part of. Alpha males, confident heroines, amazing friendships, and fan-worthy sex combine with enough tension to keep you on the edge of your panty-soaked seat all night long. Discover how each tale is rewritten into today's world as the characters search for their happy ending - in more ways than one.

Desire... danger... and a whole lotta heat. These aren't your childhood fairy tales!

Author Links:

Facebook Profile https://www.facebook.com/jessica.collins.author.75054

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicacollins/

Facebook Group (Fairy Tales After Dark): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1393011250760671/

Twitter: @AuthJessCollins (https://twitter.com/AuthJessCollins)

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cqDCP5

Website: www.jessicacollinsauthor.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Collins/e/B06XJPV9RT

Publisher: Deep Desires Press – the newest, hottest, erotica publishers. Their webpage is www.deepdesirespress.com and are looking for submissions in all erotica categories.