Dark Shadow of Guilt by TM Smith Excerpt

Dark Shadow of Guilt

Winged Assassin Series

Book One

TM Smith

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Date of Publication: April 18, 2025

ISBN: 978-0-3695-1163-8

ASIN: B0F2XZZ55K

Number of pages: 377

Word Count: 96,146

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Book Description:  

Dominion, a guilt-ridden Immortal who is the black-winged assassin of the OneCreator, rescues Madeline, a mortal who has been thrust into a world she never existed knew. Kidnapped, she was brought to Angor in OneWorld and tortured. As her path intertwines with Dom’s, she grapples with her evolution and newfound gifts. 

Theirs is a tale of doubt and forgiveness, forbidden love, sacrifice, and conflict that threatens the existence of OneWorld. 

Packed with puzzling occurrences and twists and turns, this is a story that will mesmerize readers from start to finish. Amidst chaos in OneWorld, their love is put to the ultimate test against looming threats that threaten the fabric of existence.

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Excerpt:

 

Madeline dragged a fork through her potatoes, eventually shoving a bite into her mouth. When she finished chewing, she broke off a piece of crisp bacon and popped it in, licking her lips. “I was thinking about going home, but when you came into the kitchen, I realized how much help you need around here. You probably don’t pay enough attention to yourself. Like eating regularly. Your laundry. Cleaning house. I could organize stuff. Take care of your place.” She winked again. “And you.”

She tilted her chin, a strand of hair feathering across her cheek as she slipped him an irresistible smile. He followed the sweep of her tongue across her lower lip again.

Damn. Things were taking a definite turn toward strange.

Finished, Dom pushed his plate away. He gripped the handle of his coffee mug, taking a sip. Good. Brewed just right. He cleared his throat, searching for something to say. Conversation wasn’t part of his skill set.

Madeline scooted closer, thigh to thigh, a hand caressing his shoulder, floating down to clasp his bicep. “Don’t you like having me here? I could be very convenient to have around.”

 

About the Author:

T. M. Smith is the award-winning author of the Blood Coven Series paranormal romance novels and the spin-off Blood Coven World novellas. Her current release is a new romantasy, in the Winged Assassins Series, Dark Shadow of Guilt. She draws upon her imagination to craft stories about strong women and powerful but flawed men in a richly detailed magical world. After retiring from a career as an educator, Smith settled in to write something more creative than lesson plans on split infinitives and inner-school memos on noise in the hallway. She is now living in the Pacific Northwest with vampires, demons, ylves, mages, and winged beings who keep her awake at night with their tales of love and adventure.

Website— https://www.tmsmith.net/

Facebook— https://www.facebook.com/tmsmithauthor

Instagram— https://instagram.com/tmsmith12

TikTok— http://www.tiktok.com/@tmsmifun2ju—

Newsletter sign up— http://eepurl.com/h8rQVL 

Goodreads— https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23836674.T_M_Smith

SMOKE & MIRRORS by Joanie Olson Excerpt & Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joanie Olson will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Searching for an answer to a question you haven't asked yet? You are not alone. One small realization and a whole world unravels.

Woven through these pages are a series of my most significant life events relating to narcissistic victim/survivor syndrome. Inside are keys unlocking mysteries of complex PTSD, compounded through various forms of abuse.

A journey of highs, like the Freedom Convoy, and the lows of a failed longtime marriage. With spiritual forces at work behind the scenes, could a Christian home have so many secrets? The smoke will clear to reveal our true mirrored self.

Read an Excerpt

Oh, how I love to fly. One of my four older brothers, Ferg, loved it too. So much so our mother arranged for a private plane ride when we were little kids. He earned his pilot’s license as a young man, flying over our farm every chance he could. With those experiences growing up, everything about planes was fascinating to me and I was determined to enjoy this flight. As I’d told Michael, I could hardly believe I was leaving the country. It felt like an absolute miracle. I thought it was possible I would never see outside Canada again. Enduring over two years of isolation, confinement, ridicule and regulations mandating people like myself not be allowed to do the same as others. But none of that mattered right now. I was on my way to the place I’d dreamed of many nights. God really does answer prayer countless times.

Norway called to me like a long-lost friend, like a father telling me it was time to come home. I’d been there once before and every day since my return I’ve missed it, doing what I could to make my way back.

The thought of my last trip to the homeland four years prior, sent my head in motion, amazed at how much had changed since then. I was wondering how I’d gotten here. From being a financial advisor with three agencies, married, a son in high school, a daughter with a son of her own, a step-daughter and step grandchildren, a bi-level home on forty acres, the Challenger, dirt bikes, hot tub and camper…so blessed. And now? Well, life was unrecognizable.

When the plane’s landing gear securely retracted back into the plane, I could hear the clunk as I was thinking how light I felt. I’d literally left everything behind at this point. My luggage was in the cargo hold and my backpack I’d used while touring the Norwegian mountains years before was tucked safely beneath my seat.

I’d gone from all that four years ago until now? All alone, literally homeless, a few dollars in my bank account and kids that were fully independent. They didn’t seem to be concerned for much other than trying hard to keep up with their own daily struggles.

About the Author: Joanie was raised on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada. Life revolved around chores, school and church. Six older siblings and all the nieces and nephews added up to a large family.

Strong in doctrine and armed with a passion for truth, she's walked the walk of faith, facing challenges to overcome. She was married at 19, became a mother to a stepdaughter, and later birthed two children. Following years of turmoil in her marriage, she hit the inevitable breaking point.

Starting life over, she attended broadcasting college, going on to anchor morning news for the airwaves. Feeling isolated and rejected, her drive to help others who have gone through similar circumstances inspired this book. Through the Refiners fire, she's ready to share tools required to escape the fake and embrace the truth.

Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/1779624719
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54144406.Joanie_Olson

BEING BROKEN by Geoffrey R. Jonas Excerpt & Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Geoffrey R. Jonas will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A young woman dies alone in a hotel room, her fentanyl-poisoned cocaine still on the desk. She had been missing for nearly 2 weeks. Social Services had been trying to find a place for her to live with her 3-year-old son, whom she had left with her parents. Six months later her father fights for his life in intensive care, but succumbs to his illness because of a lifelong use of alcohol and tobacco. A month after his death her mother is assessed by doctors to be unable to care for herself because of her Alzheimer's and mental health issues brought on by benzodiazepine and alcohol addiction.

The son, brother, stepson is the only one left to pick up the pieces. He begins a journey of the self and finds out the truth of his family. After going over letters, notes, emails, videos, and text messages, he uncovers a disturbing picture of the abuse his sister suffered at the hands of their parents. He also begins to better understand his own struggles with mental health and substance addiction because of the trauma and abuse he also suffered from their parents.

Follow the son as he looks through his family history to discover the generational abuse that trickled down through the years. Learn about how parents who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder emotionally abuse and manipulate their children. See how the abuse and trauma becomes mental illness in the abused, and how they fall into vicious traps of addiction, eating disorders, self-harm, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Witness the transformational change of the son as he works on the recovery of his inner child and tries to become the man he was meant to be.

Read an Excerpt

Essay: Fault vs. Responsibility and Blame

Before I continue, I wanted to interject a discussion on fault versus responsibility and blame. My ability to have forgiven my father all came down to a discussion with my therapist on whether they were at fault for my trauma, or if they were responsible or to blame for that trauma.

Human beings are not born with instincts. A baby left on its own will die. It will not search for food, it will not try to move or walk, and its only means of communication are cries. Many animals are born with instincts, such as marsupials or rodents that instinctively move to a mammary gland or an ungulate that will attempt to get up and walk or move, as soon as it is able, to find food.

With this truth in mind, the conclusion is that all human behaviour is learned from our caretakers, then our peers as we get older. Early childhood development dictates that children learn behavioural responses as soon as they are engaged by a caregiver. If we give them love and support, they develop healthy adaptations to the world around them. If their cries are unheeded and we leave them abandoned and rejected, a myriad of mental health issues will emerge as they get older.

This leads to how we apply fault vs. blame to behaviour and choices people make as they get older. We can’t fault a child for being racist if that is what their caregiver taught them; however, we can blame them for their actions if they are cruel and make the choice to harm others because of what they learned.

Further, we cannot fault an individual that suffers from a serious mental health issue if they have learned that adaptive behaviour due to not being provided with the proper love and support as they were developing. Again, however, we can blame them for making choices that cause harm to others. It is not their fault that their learned behaviours condition them to make poor choices, but they are still choices that have consequences.

This is a key factor in generational abuse and trauma. A child that grows up in an abusive home develops poor adaptive skills and behaviours. This can lead to all kinds of poor coping skills such as abusive behaviour towards others, self-harm, eating disorders, Substance Use Disorders, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and an array of other mental health issues.

However, these disorders are treatable. It is critical that once we identify these types of behaviours, the individual begins a process of treatment and therapy to unlearn them and develop healthy ones instead. This took me years, and it is a lot of work. Many cannot do so without the proper support structures to allow it to happen. It is vital that treatment happens to end the generational cycle of abuse.

About the Author: Geoffrey is a first-time author. He lives peacefully by a lake, spending his time writing, painting, gardening, and woodworking. His recovery is ongoing, and he enjoys his privacy and seclusion.

Website: https://geoffreyrjonas.ca
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55118142.Geoffrey_R_Jonas
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/livingwithcptsd.bsky.social
Amazon: https://a.co/d/eJTO4wq

The Whispering Witch by Lee J. Mavin Interview

 

Two beautifully written and illustrated children's books...

 

Title: The Whispering Witch

Author: Lee J. Mavin

Pages: 50

Genre: Children's Picture Book (ages 4 - 12 years)

The Whispering Witch starts with a fading world. The trees are turning grey and the islands are sinking beneath the rising seas. Men of earth continued with their bickering and wars and all hope withered. A young girl came from the soil with one purpose, to heal the sick world. She regrew the glaciers and sprinkled down seeds into the rainforests and even brought the dinosaurs back, hatching from new eggs. The infant reptiles stretch out and play in the modern new world and the children adore them. However, the men cry out in object and gather their swords to bring her down. The leaders of earth witnessed these changes and only wanted to maintain order and control. But the leaders of mankind feared her touch. Distrustful of the power they could not control, they cast her away, determined to maintain their rule. Yet the witch did not come for them. Her message was for their children—the next generation, still untouched by the greed and ruin that plagued the old.

So, the powerful leaders of earth hunted her down and cursed her name. She did not fight them and returned back below, beneath the soil. However, she whispered to all the children of the world and asked them all to put away their father’s swords and look to the gardens, watering the world with hope.

Here’s what reviewers are saying about The Whispering Witch!

“The Whispering Witch is a beautifully crafted story that blends fantasy with a powerful message about nature, hope, and the dangers of greed. When the earth is on the brink of ruin, a mysterious witch rises to restore balance, but those in power, driven by fear, reject her. Yet, her wisdom is not meant for them—it is for the children, the ones who still have the power to create change. The writing is captivating, drawing readers into a world both magical and deeply relevant. The illustrations bring every page to life, making this a book that will be cherished and revisited time and time again. A must-read for families who love thought-provoking stories with heart and meaning.”

— Irina Smirnova

“A deeply moving tale with anime-esque visuals and a profound message to save the planet, this work of art earns four out of five stars. Suitable for readers 7 and up who love nature and advocate positive change, this is the tale of a witch like no other. The only question left to ask is: Will you be the one to listen?”

– Dakota Love

The Whispering Witch is available at Amazon.

Title: Nobody Important

Author: Lee J. Mavin

Pages: 50

Genre: Children's Picture Book (ages 3 - 12 years)

Nobody could have known that the Evil Ones would attack so suddenly from the North. They came with fire and folly, mounted on wild beasts, and the poor Underlings, who were very much undersized and unprepared, cried out for help across the Western Lands. They tried to broadcast the terror to the world and the Higher Elders and Wise Chieftains devised plans to strike back. As the war grew and grew the innocent Underlings watched in horror, hoping for someone to save them. One of those Underlings was Nobody Important (yes that was his actual name), and he came up with an unrealistic plan to stop the Evil Ones.

What was this unrealistic plan and how could somebody named Nobody Important bring an end to the war?

Here’s what reviewers are saying about Nobody Important!

“I really loved this book! This is perfect for children aged 4 to 12 and the illustrations are fantastic. At first the playful words and quirky characters seem to be fun and amusing, however as the story develops, the characters take on a darker side. Nobody Important is clearly reflecting a deeper meaning of current events and gives us hope. Maybe a simple poet like Nobody Important can bring peace?”

— Mario Chinwa

Nobody Important is available at Amazon.

About the Author

 

Lee J Mavin is the author of 11 books. He is also a teacher and father. He has a Masters in Creative Writing and am solely focused on writing fiction (fantasy and horror) and poetry. He is now in collaboration the illustrator Karolina Piotrowski, a Polish artist who has brought many stories to life. He has worked and studied in China and Japan and studied with Dr Xiaohuan Zhao (a master of Chinese poetry) to complete his book Li Bai’s Shadow, at the University of Sydney. He has two children who are both avid readers, so he is always in the loop with trends in children’s fiction. He is married and lives in Sydney, where he teaches English. 

Interview:

Where are you from? I'm from Sydney Australia

Tell us your latest news? This year is really busy. I have will publishing a new book No More Teachers next month and an illustrated novel in October. This is titled The Wars Between.

When and why did you begin writing? I started writing to get published when I was 8 years old. 

When did you first consider yourself a writer? I have always considered myself writer after my third grade teacher said, "You should be a writer."

What inspired you to write your first book? I published Nobody Important last year in response to the invasion of Ukraine. If you look closely at the meaning, you might find some clues.

Do you have a specific writing style? I try to vary my approach, depending on what kind of narrative I am going for and what the character is like.

How did you come up with the titles of your two children's books, The Whispering Witch and Nobody Important? I used illiteration for The Whispering Witch, I thought is was catchy. Nobody Important was inspired by a character in the TV series The Rings of Power. (Huge Tolkien fan!)

 

Website & Social Media:

Website ➜ www.Leejmavin.com 

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/lee.mavin.925 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223234005-the-whispering-witch

TikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@leemavin4  

Instagram ➜ http://www.instagram.com/Mavin798 

 

Sponsored By:

Tales of the Ocean City by Christopher Kaufman Giveaway & Excerpt

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Christopher Kaufman will be awarding $45 worth of digital products from his website to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A young civilization is turning the corner into the future, but first they must face a terrible enemy from their deepest past - The Vorm..

The main characters are a young man named Harl’ut and his lifelong companion Vispushin - who is a perIanth, a kind of telepathic pegasus. Join them on this epic adventure as they lead a group of young warriors into the heart of the Vorm Hive.

Book One: Battle In The Sky is the first of five books which comprise the opening series of this epic tale. Here, Harl’ut and Vispushin and The Princess Bryn’lynn, engage in desperate battle over the southern plain with savage Vorm warriors. You will be uplifted by the passionate and thrilling conclusion of the first installment of this fantasy adventure.

Book Two: Descent Into The Abyss, Harl’ut recovers from his harrowing adventure from Book One: Battle In The Sky. He walks through the streets of The Ocean City, visits the Sculpture Garden and his friend, Elá, the bard, and engages in exciting training games with warrior/mentor, Calanctus. Then the story takes you down the throat of the vast volcano, Pla’than’taa, once worshipped as a god, where Harl’ut enacts a deadly initiation ritual, confronts the barbaric past of his people and battles a terrifying monster.

Read an Excerpt

Camouflaged in a small cloud, Vispushin tread the air with her wings. She awaited Harl’ut’s return to consciousness.

Harl’ut’s senses cleared. “What was that?” he rasped, “What’s happening?”

“We were stunned by some kind of psionic blast,” she replied. Her mental voice sounded coarse, she was furious with herself for being caught off guard. “Prepare for battle!” she urged.

Tension flowed through him as he gripped Vispushin’s flanks with his knees. Having no weapon, he removed his tunic and wrapped the ends in his fists.

Below, the Princess was in the midst of her impassioned yet ill-advised attack. Vispushin burst from their cover in the small cloud.

About the Author:

Christopher Kaufman is an author, composer, presenter, illustrative artist and performer. He started imaginative fantasy books with illustrative art at the age of nine. During high school years he found music and attended The New Orleans Center for The Creative Arts and went on to major in music composition in college. He finished his schooling - earning his DMA in music composition at Cornell University where he studied with Pulitzer Prize Winning composers who prize his abilities as a composer.

Christopher is the type of person who needs imaginative fantasy scenarios to get to sleep. Therefore, he emerged from Cornell, not only with his degrees in music, but with the full event structure for his classic epic fantasy series Tales Of The Ocean City in his mind.

He began writing the story down in the early 2000’s, but it did not really come to life until he developed his home music ‘laboratory’ and started creating the music and text at the same time. Thus books one and two of TOC came about simultaneously as both graphically illustrated pages and effulgent audio albums filled with cinematic epic symphonic music.

They exist now as physical books and audio albums (that go together) and the new Video Book version. He performs live tours with the music pouring through speakers, live narration and the colorful pages streaming on screen -a true immersive multi-media experience.

Home Page: http://www.soundartus.com
Author Page: http://talesoftheoceancity.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soundartus4807
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talesoftheoceancity

Christopher believes in the transformative power of imagination. “Live with imagination!”