Home

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Read The March Effect by Kim Alexander #Romantasy #Romance #Urban #Dark #Paranormal

  





The March Effect
(New World Magic Book 2)


Synopsis

A unicorn walks into a bar…and leaves with my heart. 


He’s gone, and now I have a unicorn-named-March-shaped hole in my life. But, I get it. Unicorns aren't meant to live in a world where they have to deal with putting gas in the car, getting groceries, and paying cell phone bills. 


I'm trying to get past this. Really, I am. It's just that everyone constantly talks about him, from his immortal ex-girlfriend, to reality TV-obsessed Fae, to even my own fully-human friends. 


Even his enemies are still obsessed with him. I learned that the hard way. Did I mention the part where I end up on the run—again—from an old, powerful enemy of his? Yeah. Fun times. 


I just want to be left to get over my broken heart while watching home improvement shows and eating ice cream. But mysterious disappearances, murder, and a quest for affordable real estate in Washington D.C. keep getting in the way. Maybe that's just life. Sometimes we get what we want. 


Sometimes, we get what we need. And sometimes, we get what we deserve. 


I guess you could call it…The March Effect.





What are the other books in the series?

Pure

‘A unicorn walks into a bar….’ That is not a joke. 


Look, I’m a bartender, I have nothing to do with the xenos. 


I don’t care if it’s an elf or a vampire--as long as they don’t bother me, I steer clear. 


I have my reasons--you can see them in the scars on my neck. I never wanted to get involved. But my life changed for the second time when I saved the life of a unicorn. I made an enemy of something old--old and evil, and whatever it was, it’ll be back for another try. 


I also made a friend when I decided to help March. He’s only been a human man for a day. I’m responsible for him now. He’s my friend…and maybe something more. 


Maybe a lot more. It doesn’t matter to me that he isn’t magical anymore. I don’t care if he’s not PURE. But he does.


Free Download


-----
The March Effect

A unicorn walks into a bar…and leaves with my heart. He’s gone, and now I have a unicorn-named-March-shaped hole in my life. 


But, I get it. Unicorns aren't meant to live in a world where they have to deal with putting gas in the car, getting groceries, and paying cell phone bills. I'm trying to get past this. Really, I am. It's just that everyone constantly talks about him, from his immortal ex-girlfriend, to reality TV-obsessed Fae, to even my own fully-human friends. 


Even his enemies are still obsessed with him. I learned that the hard way. 


Did I mention the part where I end up on the run—again—from an old, powerful enemy of his? Yeah. Fun times. I just want to be left to get over my broken heart while watching home improvement shows and eating ice cream. But mysterious disappearances, murder, and a quest for affordable real estate in Washington D.C. keep getting in the way. Maybe that's just life. 


Sometimes we get what we want. 

Sometimes, we get what we need. 

And sometimes, we get what we deserve. I guess you could call it…The March Effect.



-----

The Great Shatter


A unicorn walks into a bar...except there are no unicorns or bars in the court of the Unseelie fae, which sucks because Marly could really use a drink.

Honestly, going from human to vampire, to something not quite mortal would drive anyone to drink. Being hounded by a grudge-holding kitsune didn't help, either. But when the king of the Unseelie fae declared Marly his queen and the hope of his people, it seemed her troubles were over, and off they went to his magical kingdom in a reality-tv-worthy happily ever after.

Except it's more hard landing than happy ending. Marly is thrown into the crosshairs of ancient hatreds where war masquerades as etiquette, shadows must beg for light, and things with tentacles are just waiting for something to go wrong. And something is going wrong...very wrong.

With every mis-step, she stumbles closer to the edge of a darkness waiting to consume her, and the king's love is like a poison that can cure or kill. Her only hope is to unveil the truth dancing in the great mirrors in the sky, even if that sky comes crashing down.



-----

A Poisoned Garden


A unicorn walks into a bar and…wait, what was I saying?

Look, between what I’m pretty sure is premature senility and wanting to barf all the time, I’m barely hanging in there. At this point, I need a break after solving xeno murders, fighting murderous fox shifters, and my best friend nearly murdering me for…reasons.

But do I get a break? No, I get an invitation to the court of the Unseelie fae, and it’s the kind of invitation you can’t refuse because it’s from the king who flip-flops between wanting to share a pizza with me and stabbing me.

The upside is that I can see my best friend Marly, the newly minted and slightly murderous Unseelie fae queen. The downside? Apparently, I have to prevent a civil war between powerful magical beings, and I don’t even get a can opener for self-defense.

Just like clockwork, I’m back to running from supernatural squids, double-dealing with triple-dealing fae who probably all want me dead, and getting tangled up with a beautiful, broken-hearted unicorn who makes me feel guilty, and I don't know why.
After all, we've never met before...have we?



-----

The Glass Sword

A unicorn walks into a bar…it's cheaper than therapy.


Therapy, you say? 

Sign up Marly, the angry ex-Unseelie-fae-queen. 

Or how about Sasha, the bitter exiled-Unseelie-fae-king? 

And definitely Ruby, the mortal bartender who lost her heart when she found her memories of March, the unicorn shifter she loved.


A good therapist would say learn to live with the consequences of choices, but Ruby isn't ready to accept that a choice she didn't even know she made landed March as the prisoner of the Seelie fae court. And Marly and Sasha have some feelings about reclaiming the throne of the Unseelie court.

But consequences beget consequences. Amid dying kingdoms and the dying embers of old loves and older hatreds, friends become betrayers, lovers keep secrets, and someone or something is out for blood-red revenge.


Coming January 2024

-----

Who am I?

Kim Alexander grew up in the wilds of Long Island, NY and slowly drifted south until she reached Key West. After spending ten rum-soaked years as a DJ in the Keys, she moved to Washington DC, where she lives with two cats, an angry fish, and her extremely patient husband who tells her she needs to write at least ten more books if she intends to retire in Thailand, so thank you for your patronage. 



Stalk Me



Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Australian Thanksgiving

I was this year's old when I found out that a tiny little part of my homeland actually celebrates Thanksgiving (on 27 November) - so I'm grateful (and on theme) to be able to tell you about this little-known historical snippet.

The tiny bit of Australia that holds its Thanksgiving each year is little Norfolk Island which is actually a few small islands making up the territory. You may have already heard about its most famous residents - the mutineers from the good ship Bounty ring any bells?

Where's Norfolk?

As I mentioned above, Norfolk Island, a remote and picturesque island in the Pacific ocean, is one of the few places outside the United States that celebrates Thanksgiving. Their unique tradition dates back to the late 1800s, when American whaling ships frequently stopped at the island. Along with goods and stories, the American sailors brought their holiday customs, including Thanksgiving. Over time, the islanders embraced this celebration, making it their own by blending local flavours and traditions.

Norfolk Island is the main island in a group comprising the Australian external territory of Norfolk Island, situated in the Pacific ocean  situated in the Pacific Ocean between Australia and New Zealand approximately 692 km (430 mi) south of New Caledonia.


The Origins of Norfolk Island Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving on Norfolk Island is a tribute to the influence of American whalers who introduced the concept to the island’s residents. These seafarers, who often docked at the island to replenish supplies, shared stories of their Thanksgiving feasts. With them came recipes for iconic dishes like pumpkin pie and cornbread, which soon became staples of the island’s Thanksgiving table.

Today, the holiday is celebrated with a mix of gratitude and festivity. Families gather for church services where the buildings are decorated with local produce, such as lemons and palm leaves. Afterward, a traditional Thanksgiving lunch is enjoyed with loved ones. The blend of American influence and island culture makes this a uniquely Norfolk Island occasion. After all, Norfolk is a pretty unique place - with a fascinating place in history.

Norfolk Island’s Early Settlement

Long before Thanksgiving reached its shores, Norfolk Island had a rich, if turbulent, history. While uninhabited at the time of European settlement, archaeological evidence suggests it was first occupied by East Polynesian seafarers in the 13th or 14th century. These early settlers left behind artefacts, but their occupation ceased long before Europeans arrived.

In 1774, Captain James Cook became the first European to sight and land on Norfolk Island, naming it after Mary Howard, Duchess of Norfolk. The island was later established as part of the British penal system, initially serving as an auxiliary settlement for the Colony of New South Wales (where I now make my home). Over time, Norfolk Island went through phases of being a penal colony and a place of abandonment until 1856, when it became home to descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers from the overcrowded Pitcairn Islands. These settlers laid the foundation for the island’s current population.

The Fusion of Cultures

Thanksgiving’s integration into Norfolk Island life is a testament to the island’s history of cultural blending. The arrival of American whalers coincided with the development of the island’s farming and whaling industries, and their holiday traditions resonated with the locals. Over the years, Norfolk Island Thanksgiving evolved into a celebration that honours its history, while embracing new influences. Most of the US staples make an appearance at a Norfolk Island Thanksgiving - so here's my fastest-ever pumpkin pie.

Fastest-ever Pumpkin Pie Recipe

No Norfolk Island Thanksgiving table is complete without pumpkin pie. Here’s a simple recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 pre-made pie crust

Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, and spices until smooth.
  3. Pour the mixture into the pie crust and smooth the top.
  4. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the filling is set and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  5. Let the pie cool before serving.

Whether through the aromas of pumpkin pie or the sight of island-grown produce adorning churches, Thanksgiving on Norfolk Island is a reminder of the island’s fascinating blend of heritage and hospitality. All that is really there to say - Happy Thanksgiving America - and thank all your wives as well.

Friday, November 22, 2024

Milestones

Today is my birthday. It’s always a milestone to celebrate another year. I’m healthy and have a wonderful family, so life is good. I usually make it a weeklong event. Okay, sometimes a month-long one. It’s the simple things that make me happy. I’ll have a small cake, or a large cupcake, depending on my mood. I’ll buy a book, maybe visit a favorite store and treat myself to a small treasure. I’ll also look at the past year and see how I’ve changed and grown and contemplate the coming year.

 




I’ve recently celebrated another milestone. Twenty years ago, my first book was published by Ellora's Cave. Since then, I’ve had 122 books published with a variety of publishers—Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, Beyond the Page Publishing, The Naughty Literati, Entangled Publishing, Evernight Publishing, and a variety of indie anthologies. It’s been a wild journey, filled with huge ups and downs, but I wouldn’t have missed a moment of it. I’m looking forward to what the next year brings.

 

Tempting the Black Wolf is my latest release! This series may be finished, but there are new stories to tell…

 


 

Tempting the Black Wolf

Lone Wolf Legacy, Book 3

 

The wrath of the black wolf is unleashed…in this scorching finale of New York Times bestselling author N.J. Walters’s enticingly sexy Lone Wolf Legacy series

I am an immortal predator, driven to hunt and protect the wolf packs from danger—especially rogue wolves. This destiny is my blood, my bone. My will.

There are two other lone wolves—one gray, one white—but I am the strongest. The most powerful. And we all share an enemy, who set a trap for each of us: a woman with our coloring who will draw us into danger and make our wolves howl with need.

But I won’t give in to lust or passion.

I already know the face of the woman who is my supposed bait: a stunning and powerful mage named Onyx. We’ve been circling each other, wary, fueled by deeply intense attraction and fierce distrust.

But the enemy of my enemy is my ally…for now. It’s a brief truce, laced with raw, primal hunger.

Because when this is over—if we survive—we’ll have to go head-to-head one last time.

And I never lose. 

 

 

(Author Note: This book is told in third person point of view, even though the blurb is in first person.)

 

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJCJJG7/

Entangled Publishing: https://www.entangledpublishing.com/books/tempting-the-black-wolf

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tempting-the-black-wolf-n-j-walters/1146192600

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/tempting-the-black-wolf

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/tempting-the-black-wolf/id6642709646

 

 

 

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

           

Visit me at:

Website: http://www.njwalters.com

Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com

Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/gdblg5

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters