Book Blitz & Excerpt: The Truth About Elves, by Ekta R. Garg

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I have something special to share today! You’re going to want to add The Truth About Elves to your Holiday TBR!

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The Truth About Elves
by Ekta R. Garg
Publication Date: October 19, 2022
Genre: Holiday Fiction/ Novella

As a bartender in Las Vegas, Curtis seems to have the dream life. He’s single, lives close to the Strip, and only has to worry about when to pick up the next extra shift. No one knows the truth about what happened ten years ago, and no one knows how he spends three months every year: as a part-time elf for Santa Claus.

When Curtis went to the Arctic Circle the first time, he thought he could escape the unthinkable. Now, the anniversary of the worst day of his life is coming up, and he’s been asked to do the unbelievable. If Curtis wasn’t a man of his word, he would turn his back on the whole thing. But Mr. C. took Curtis in when he had nowhere else to go, and now the boss is calling in a favor—the kind that will make Curtis face the memory of the unimaginable.

If you’ve ever wondered whether holiday magic is real, come find out. Embrace the season and the power of forgiveness along with Curtis as he discovers The Truth About Elves.

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Excerpt

January 29, 2015

Villas at Desert Pointe Apartments

Las Vegas, Nevada

You probably don’t know this, but Santa is nothing more than a glorified chauffeur.

Sure, all the books and movies portray him as a jolly guy who spends Christmas Eve going around the world distributing gifts. That description isn’t far off. I mean, Mr. C. definitely has a big heart. He treats all us elves fairly, and even though he works us hard (especially once Thanksgiving hits) he isn’t a slave driver. 

Oh, yeah, me. I’m Curtis. An elf. No, I don’t have pointy ears, I’m not three feet tall, and I don’t act like a doofus. I’m right around five-foot-ten and look like your average Joe. Brown hair. Green eyes.

We do have some dwarves—you know, little people with small body trunks and short limbs. They get custom-made counters and work stations. Need a special box to sit on at meal time. No pointy ears though. Not a single one. Or two, I guess; nope. Just people who are…well, little.

The majority of us elves are normal. We have lives back in the rest of the world when we’re not doing our Quarter Force shifts, and there’s definitely variety here. Diversity, the affirmative actioners would call it. People from all over, from all walks of life, from every slice of the social strata.

They came to the Arctic Circle for the same reason I did. Working for Mr. C. became the absolute last resort we had. For me, after the plane went down… Well, let’s just say every door on all of my other relationships had slammed shut.

And, no, we’re not angels in heaven. We’re alive, holding down regular jobs back home on the Continents and using our work for Mr. C. as a way to look at ourselves in the mirror again. Except for the fact that we deliver gifts to all of the people in the entire world in a single night, we’re nothing like what the movies would have you believe.     

Like all that stuff about Mr. C. riding in a sleigh with reindeer? Please. Has anyone stopped to think about the fact that a sleigh can’t even support the weight of gifts for every single person in the world? And how are eight reindeer supposed to pull a sleigh that heavy?

Yeah, yeah, I know, the sleigh is magic, the reindeer are magic, and so is Santa Claus. Mr. C. makes the job look like magic, but as for the rest of it? I guess it makes for good box office sales during the holidays.

Mr. C. does go around the world but not in a sleigh. He uses a Concorde. Why do you think they grounded the entire fleet? Mr. C. worked a deal with the FAA and the other aviation organizations across the world. They would let him have the planes, and he would keep their workforce employed.

That part of the deal has worked out pretty well. And Hollywood didn’t get everything completely wrong. Mr. C. does use reindeer. They shuttle supplies between warehouses in the compound.

You didn’t actually think we made all those toys and wrapped everything in one building, did you?

For those assigned to the Final Quarter Force—October to December—we get to see everything come together on the back end of things, but work for Mr. C. goes year-round. Quality control of products, flight maneuver exercises, vetting of wrapping paper vendors, and paperwork. Mounds and mounds of it. The First Quarter Force deals with most of it, and Second Quarter finishes up (although Mr. C. really prefers that First Quarter get it all done.)

When I came on board eight years ago, I started as part of the First Quarter. If I’d had a choice, I would have lobbied to stay with First. But one thing you learn with Mr. C. is that you don’t get many choices. Freedom, yes. Choices, no.

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About the Author

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Since starting in niche publishing in 2005, Ekta has written and edited about everything from healthcare to home improvement to Hindi films. She became a freelance editor in 2011 to cement her essential belief that words can change people and the world. A writing contest judge, podcaster, and reviewer, Ekta blogs original fiction, book reviews, and parenting adventures from The Write Edge (http://thewriteedge.wordpress.com). Her holiday novella, The Truth About Elves, released in October 2021 from Atmosphere Press.

Ekta R. Garg | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter


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Book Blitz & Excerpt: Mate for the Howlidays + Giveaway

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Mate for the Howlidays
by Jessica Coulter Smith
Published by: Changeling Press
Publication date: December 17th 2021
Genres: Adult, Holiday, Paranormal, Romance

Dex and Dane couldn’t be more different. One is motorcycle boots, leather, and all things wild. The other is a cowboy hat wearing sweetheart who owns the local bar. And Kizzie is the lucky lady who gets to keep them both!

When she moved back to Wolf Hollow, she only wanted a fresh start. Not once did she ever imagine she’d up being mated to two wolves, and just in time for the holidays!

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EXCERPT:

“What are you thinking?” Dex asked.

She smiled wistfully. “That it must be great to have someone love you so much they want to spend the rest of their lives with you. I’ve never had a relationship last past a few weeks. I can’t imagine finding someone who would want me around forever.”

He watched her silently for a moment before hooking an arm around her waist and hauling her up against his body. “Angel, anyone would be lucky to have a woman like you. We might have just met, but I can tell you have class and style, and you seem sweet.”

The champagne glass in her hand fell to the ground as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Suddenly, she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more than to taste his lips on hers. When his head lowered, she went up on tiptoe to meet him halfway. Their lips met, pressing together, then his moved against hers in a gentle caress. Her tongue swept over his lower lip and he opened, deepening the kiss. Her fingers toyed with the ends of his hair as his tongue slid along the length of hers. Kizzie felt lightheaded and clung to him tighter. She heard the clink of a bottle hitting the ground, then his hands caressed her waist, stroking up her back until one hand cupped the back of her head. She’d never felt so on fire before.


Author Bio:

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child writing her first stories in crayon. If Jessica isn’t writing, then she’s like reading. Her favorite books are romances, but she also enjoys the occasional mystery or general fiction book. Romance is an integral part of her world and she firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world.

You can also follow her blog, Books + Coffee = Happiness, to learn about new releases and discover new authors! http://bookscoffeehappiness.com

Sign up for her newsletter to find out about Jessica’s new releases, sales, and the occasional free book! http://eepurl.com/gTXJhT or visit her online at www.jessicacoultersmith.com

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Book Blitz & Excerpt: A Christmas to Fight For + Giveaway

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A Christmas to Fight For
by Jessica Frances
Publication date: November 12th 2021
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Holiday, LGBTQ+, Romance

As the last of my kind, I’ve long lived in the shadows. But, with the death of my father, I have a dying wish to fulfill, and I can no longer keep quiet. I can no longer stand back and watch as the Santa Claus Organization takes everything from us. So, I launch an attack that was doomed from the start. I am but one krampus up against the cruelest organization in the world. I knew it was a long shot. I knew I would likely die.

Then something surprising happens. The most recent Santa Claus comes into my life, and I don’t know what to make of him. He wasn’t what I was expecting. He’s supposed to be a puppet. A heartless, despicable Santa. But he’s not. He’s … a good person?

Do I have things wrong? Have I had them wrong all along? Or am I falling for the biggest con in the world?

Either way, change is coming for North Pole, and this is sure to be the deadliest Christmas on record and a time that no one will ever forget.

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EXCERPT:

Standing over me, the demon is almost in shadow. However, past the strange features of his skin, tail, and horns, I clearly read his anger and hate. He hates me.

Why?

“For my father! For my people! For all that is still good in this world!” he shouts.

The impact of his words are almost the same as a jolt from a bullet. He sounds righteous and like he is on the right side, not us. He must be delusional. He must be crazy.

He holds up his gun, his aim pointed at my chest.

I close my eyes, wondering what death will be like. I heard people say that their ancestors are there to greet them, that they are welcomed by them and live out their afterlife in the cradle of family. But my family disowned me, and I somehow don’t expect anyone further up my family line to understand me. If anything, they will probably hate me worse.

Is it my destiny to be murdered then spend the rest of my afterlife alone, too?

Instead of the blast of the weapon expunging the bullet from the nozzle, I hear a click, which tells me that he’s out of bullets.

I open one eye first, and then the other, watching him glare down at his gun.

Could it be? Am I saved?

He throws the gun to the ground then fists his hands into my suit, picking me up then headbutting me.

I cry out, certain I have been stabbed by his horns, but it’s my nose that feels the most pain.

Blood gushes down my face, and all I taste and smell is blood.

“Release him!” someone shouts from behind him. He’s so damn big that I can’t see who it is.

“Just kill it!” someone else yells, this voice commanding. I think it might have come from Chancellor Gibson.

I begin to feel better knowing he’s here. He will know what to do.

“They’re so close that we could hit Santa Claus!”

“Then we’ll get another Santa Claus! Just kill it! It cannot be allowed to live!”

I glance at the demon still holding me, one hand releasing me so he can grab something out of his pocket. He then swings me around just as a gunshot blasts from behind him, but this demon isn’t quick enough to use me as a shield.

His body jolts as he’s hit, and then his hand smacks into me. The item he’s holding is a space-eater.

“Shi—”

The last syllable is lost as we jump through space and land somewhere I have never been before.

What the hell just happened?

 

Author Bio:

Jessica lives in Adelaide, South Australia. When she is not writing, you can find her reading, napping or watching excessive amounts of TV. Connect with her on Facebook and Goodreads.

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