Book Blitz & Excerpt: Fates Fulfilled + Giveaway

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Fates Fulfilled
by Jules Barnard
(Halven Rising, #3)
Publication date: November 15th 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

The Dark Prince has arrived.

The Dark Prince will stop at nothing to save his people—even if it means kidnapping the one woman with the power to destroy them all…

Garrin Branimir, Prince of Dark Kingdom, has been trapped in endless winter for centuries, along with his people. His only hope of saving them is to find the woman with the power to destroy the magical barriers imprisoning Dark Fae. With her by his side, he and his kinsmen will finally be free.

But Lex Meinrad isn’t full Fae, and she wasn’t raised in his land, content to obey her prince’s every order. She refuses to do his bidding—no matter how intense the sparks between them fire.

With time running out, Garrin must convince this impossibly stubborn woman to cooperate before his enemies bend her to their will. And, unlike him, they’ll choose force over seduction…


Each Halven Rising book is a standalone romance with an overarching story that connects the series. The books can be read out of order.

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EXCERPT:

Garrin Branimir, Prince of Dark Kingdom, strode down the dingy hallway where the Fae kept their half-human, half-Fae Halven, and paused near a dark-haired female on his right. The woman grinned as she passed.

She was attractive. For a human. Or Halven, given the building.

Hundreds of years ago, Fae from other kingdoms in the Faery realm of Tirnan built Dawson University to monitor their half-blood offspring, known as Halven. Particularly those Halven who developed magical powers. As far as anyone knew, no Halven born of Dark Fae blood existed due to the Land of Ice that blocked Dark Kingdom from any other living being, including in the Earth realm. But Garrin suspected the one he searched for could be hidden here.

The prophecy stated a female with Dark blood would save his people. Garrin had run out of options in Dark Kingdom. No one possessed the power needed to create safe passage to other lands. The Earth realm was his last hope for finding the one.

He fanned his hand in front of the female’s face before she passed. He’d been testing all females in the building for weeks. So far, none had deflected his magic.

The brunette blinked, then stumbled. Then her lips turned blue, and she began to choke, her dark eyes watering as ice formed across her face. Sounds of suffocation came from her throat.

She was indeed Halven. He wasn’t as good at sensing magic levels as those with the ability, but he could tell she was more than human now that he was close. Only she wasn’t the one for whom he searched. She was simply a half-blood, like all the rest.

Garrin sighed and waved forward the two soldiers behind him. “Heal her and blur her memory.”

This girl might not be the one, but Garrin would search for the female who was until his dying breath, which should give him a millennium, give or take.

“Your Highness,” Amund said, a portal creator and one such Fae with the ability to sense energy levels. “The earthbound Fae soldiers have discovered our presence.”

Garrin let out a long-suffering sigh. He’d spent the last hundred years attempting to cross the barrier separating his kingdom from the others of Tirnan. It had been nigh impossible to make it across the Land of Ice weakened, only to be attacked by deadly Fae soldiers from other lands. Until an uprising left said lands vulnerable. He’d finally breached the borders of the other kingdoms and made it to the Earth realm, and he wasn’t about to turn back now. “The Fae living on Earth are a nuisance. How am I to find the girl with them nipping at my heels?”

Amund stared off in the distance. “We have two minutes before they discover us.”

His men had returned the brunette to the dwelling from whence she came, and Garrin looked down the hallway one last time. “Very well. We will return another—”

Someone exited a door halfway down. A female. Tall.

Garrin didn’t get a good look at her face because she’d pulled a hood over her head that dipped below her eyes, but he held up his hand in a staying motion. There was something about this one… He was drawn to her.

“I sense no power,” Amund said.

Fae were taller than humans, and many Halven took on the trait. “I will test her anyway.” The closer she got, his urge to be near her grew.

“Your Highness, please hurry.” Amund glanced back. “We have a minute at most.”

The female kept her head down as she moved closer. She didn’t appear to see Garrin standing there.

Odd, that. At over seven feet, Garrin wasn’t easily missed in the Earth realm. The girl was so preoccupied, in fact, that she nearly ran into him.

She stopped abruptly a couple of feet away, and her chin tilted up. Her face flushed, and she averted her gaze. But not before Garrin caught sight of her beautiful golden eyes, the mysterious energy behind them hitting him like a bolt of lightning.

There was no time. Garrin needed to test her quickly and be gone. He pursed his lips and exhaled, giving her more of his powers than he’d given other females they’d encountered.

She blinked, and ice crystallized around her nose and lips…and melted as quickly as it had formed.

Her gaze collided with his, her expression one of surprise.

Garrin’s entire body lit up with desire so powerful it took his breath away.

He stepped back, astonished at his reaction to the woman, and at what he’d discovered. For so long he’d fought death and starvation and battled enemies to reach the one. No Dark Fae were thought to live in the Earth realm, but Garrin suspected she was hiding here, and now he’d found her in the form of a Halven.

Elation coursed through him. After all this time, he’d succeeded where no other Fae had for hundreds of years.

He would save his people from isolation. He would make his father proud…and he would have the female.

A smile slowly pulled at the corners of his mouth. “Take her.”


Author Bio:

Jules Barnard is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic fantasy. Her contemporary series include the Never Date and Cade Brothers series. She also writes romantic fantasy under the same pen name in the Halven Rising series Library Journal calls ”…an exciting new fantasy adventure.” Whether she’s writing about sexy men in Lake Tahoe or a Fae world embedded in a college campus, Jules spins addictive stories filled with heart and humor.

When Jules isn’t in her sweatpants writing and rewarding herself with chocolate, she spends her time with her husband and two children in their small hometown on the Pacific Coast. She credits herself with the ability to read while running on the treadmill or burning dinner.

**Please click the orange “+Follow” button to follow Jules on Amazon and be notified about her new releases**

To learn more about Jules, visit her website at: julesbarnard.com

Sign up to Jules’s Newsletter for writing updates and to gain access to FREE content, including extra scenes — http://www.julesbarnard.com/newsletter/

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Spotlight, Author Interview & Excerpt: Princes & Kings + Giveaway

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BookCover_Princes and Kings by Sydney Williams

Princes & Kings
A Rose in a Thorn Bush
by Sydney Williams
Genre: Historical Fantasy

In the year 1240 AD, the land of Gwynedd Wales found themselves without a leader when their king, Llywelyn the Great, died at a ripe old age. The natural successor to the king was his son Dafydd, who took on the job of ruler after his death. Soon after taking on the job he was forced to sign a treaty with the king of England and send his brother Gruffudd and his nephew Owain to England to be imprisoned in the Tower of London in exchange for keeping his land and title. His other nephew, Llywelyn, became the new head warrior after his father’s imprisonment, travelling the country and patrolling the borders to the north and the south. After four years imprisonment in the Tower of London, Gruffudd died while attempting to escape from his tower cell, and his son Owain was released by the king himself. He wanted Owain to help him start a civil war in Gwynedd. Meanwhile, after finding out about his brother’s death from a letter sent by his nephew Owain, Dafydd declared war on England, prompting Owain to escape Winchester Castle, where he had been recovering from his time in prison to find his brother Llywelyn and help him in the war between England and Gwynedd. During the course of the war, Dafydd was killed in battle, leaving the Welsh army without a leader. Being the brave and noble man that he was, Llywelyn called the men to him and, with his leadership, they managed to send the English packing. With the new weight of responsibility thrust upon his shoulders, Llywelyn rode home at the head of the army to find that his world had changed. Now not only was his father gone but his mother as well, and the land of Gwynedd was once again without a leader. It became clear that the best man for the job was Llywelyn himself, and he decided that there was nothing else to do but become the new ruler. He would do anything to keep his people safe, even if that meant taking on a responsibility that he felt he was too young for. He would never abandon his people for anything and let the English take everything from him.

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Excerpt:

Chapter 1: A Funeral to Remember

The town of Aberfraw Castle in the Valley of Clwyd Snowdonia, Gwynedd, Wales in the year 1240 AD

It was a cold, damp afternoon. In the town of Aberfraw Castle, all of Gwynedd wails as a procession of finely dressed nobles carried the coffin of the late King of Gwynedd, Llywelyn, the Great, through the streets. From all over the land, Gwynedd’s subjects arrived: they came to look upon the face of their dead King and to mourn his passing. The cobbles, slippery from a powerful rainstorm the night before, hampered the procession of nobles as they prepared to lay him to rest. The sky was still overcast with clouds that promised more rain as if nature was mourning for the great man. Filthy street urchins roughly shoved through the crowds of people, trying to catch a glimpse of the nobles while more fortunate children sat upon the shoulders of their father to see the royal party in their fine outfits.

Leading the royal procession were the King’s two sons, Dafydd ap Llywelyn and Gruffudd ap Llywelyn. Gruffudd, the King’s younger and illegitimate son, had no claim to the throne. He didn’t mind; he had never wanted to be a ruler. Gruffudd preferred being the head warrior of the royal army, protecting the people of the land in that way. It gave him a sense of freedom somehow that he felt being ruler would not. He was resplendently dressed as any noble should be in a thick green wool tunic, wool leggings tucked at the knee with high leather boots. His height and physique gave him an air of command and respect, both on the battlefield and off it, and gained him a lot of respect with the people of the land.

Gruffudd’s wise gray eyes turned towards his wife, Senana, who walked beside him with her head held high, giving her an air of great confidence. She felt him looking at her and caught his eye with a loving smile. Smiling back, he felt blessed to have such a woman by his side. From the moment they first met, he had known that she was the woman he would marry. Her light brown hair fell in the way that he liked, in a single braid that snaked down the back of her dress. Her dark-green silk skirt complimented his tunic and set off her deep blue eyes nicely. Such eyes any man in love could easily get lost in.

The heavy air wasn’t helping his somber mood. Instead, Gruffudd felt like it weighed heavily down on his heart, finding it hard to breathe. He had loved his father very much and would miss him terribly. He felt the loss of his father like a dagger to the heart. But he would not cry. He told himself that he had to stay strong for his children who must also be feeling the loss of their grandfather. He felt blessed that he had at least been able to say goodbye to him.


Author Interview:

Tell us a little about how this story first came to be. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma or something else?
When I was in grade 12 I took a history class where I had to pick a country to study, and I chose Wales because of my heritage on my father’s side. It was during the course that I was introduced to my main character. From the moment I read about him I knew that one day I would write his story. It took several years for me to figure out how best to write the story, but then one day I met someone who encouraged me to finely write the story and I am so happy that they did so. At first my plan was to write the whole story into one book, but it became clear early on that it would be much better to split the story into three books. Each book is about a different part in the life of my main character, as a ruler of Gwynedd Wails.

What, if anything, did you learn when writing the book?
When writing my novel, I learned about how to structure a novel and how organising my notes into an outline helped with the writing process over all. I learned how to edit my work to a certain extent as well.

What surprised you the most in writing it?
I think what surprised me the most while writing my novel was how much fun it was.

What does the title mean?
The title, Princes and Kings, states what the book is about. In the 13th century in which my book is based in, the rulers of England were known as kings and the rulers of Wails were known as princes. My book is about the relationships between the rulers of Gwynedd Wails and the king of England.

Were any of the characters inspired by real people? If so, do they know?
Several of the characters in my novel are based on real historical figures who lived many years ago in the 13th century AD.

Do you consider the book to have a lesson or moral?
I didn’t write the novel with a lesson or moral in mind and I don’t feel that it has one to it, but I suppose if someone wanted to find one in it they could if they looked hard enough.

What is your favorite part of the book?
This is a hard question to answer because I like so many parts of the book. But if I had to pick one particular scene it would have to be when King Henry’s best knight, Sir Stanley and the main character, Llywelyn have a conversation after Sir Stanley takes down the entire raiding party led by Llywelyn had tried to attack him and take his horse. In the scene you get to see who Llywelyn really is.

Which character was most challenging to create? Why?
I think the hardest character to create was Llywelyn’s youngest brother, Rhodri. There wasn’t much about him in the history notes I was working with and so I had to try and imagine him as a small child and what it must have been like for him as the youngest of four children.

What are your immediate future plans?
I am working on the first draft of the second book in this series. When this book is finished I plan to publish it and then start working on the third and final installment in the series.


About the Author:

Author Sydney WilliamsSydney has a big imagination and has been writing and performing from a young age. After going blind from Leukemia at the age of three, she found release from the medical part of her life through her music and her writing. In high school she excelled in English and history and after she left school she continued to write and to create her music. She formed her band, The Undercurrents with her best friend and drummer, Alex Nacci at the age of 22 and has been playing music with the band ever since.

Her book, Princes and Kings, is her first professional novel and it is book one of the historical fiction series she is writing titled, A Rose in A Thorn Bush about the last king of Wales. She was introduced to her main character in high school and with the encouragement of her Business Abilities coach she finely decided to write his story. Splitting the story into three books. Sydney has always enjoyed reading historical fiction and has found it an interesting genre to write in. After her series is finished she plans to continue writing about different historical British characters for as long as she can. Being Welsh on her father’s side and Scottish and English on her mother’s Britain is a place that interests her greatly and she has enjoyed writing about one of its characters. Giving her a chance to explore her heritage in a fun and exciting way and she looks forward to sharing her passion for the genre and the history of the British Isles with the world.

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Audiobook Spotlight: Minerva, by Edith Pawlicki

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Minerva
by Edith Pawlicki
narrated by Ellora Sen-Gupta
post- apocalyptic, science fiction, coming of age

Action is driven by thought, thought is shaped by emotion, and emotion is controlled by Empaths.

Eighteen-year-old Minerva lives in a city of repurposed shipping containers, dependent on a hydroelectric plant for light and heat, while a nuclear winter blankets the world in snow. Hemp powder meals and patchwork clothes are a fact of life – as is human evolution. An unparalleled Empath, not only can Minerva sense emotions, she can read minds and influence thoughts.

Power has a price.

Starting with her mother’s postpartum depression, suffering has surrounded Minerva. But she has a core of steel, and to prove it, she joins the Guard like her dad. At first, Minerva loves the camaraderie she finds among the brash, strong Vitals, and she learns to use her Empathy defensively. Then two discoveries shock Minerva – the identity of her biological father and her Captain’s illegal use of Empathy – and she starts asking hard questions.

The answers may cost her life.

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Author Bio
edith pawlickiEdith Pawlicki lives in Connecticut with her husband, twin sons, dog, and rabbit. She fell in love with words in fourth grade and finds writing necessary to free the worlds and characters in her head. When she isn’t busy being a mom and author, she enjoys cooking and crafts. In addition to the Immortal Beings series, she has also written a YA science fiction novel, Minerva.

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