INTRODUCTION

Hi everyone My name is Victoria Zumbrum, 40 years old, married 14 years with 1 son. This is my very first blog. So bear with me. I have always wanted to have my own blog. I have always loved to read. I enjoy getting lost in a good book.
I love becoming part of the story and characters. I am hoping to bring my love of books to my readers.

I love reading different genres such as paranormal, young adult, romance, romantic suspense, mystery, Christian fiction, some horror, etc. The list goes on. I started reviewing books a couple of years ago and have done reviews for different blogs and even some authors. I really have enjoyed reviewing books and I will continue to do so. If anyone is interested in me reviewing a book for them, please contact me. I still have a lot to learn regarding my own blog so bear with me. I welcome and appreciate all followers.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Belle Ami Toxic Love Series Book Tour and Giveaway

 


Their past was painful,

Their love undeniable,

Their future unbreakable…


Toxic Attraction

Toxic Love Series Book 1

by Belle Ami

Genre: Dark Romantic Suspense


I knew the moment I saw her that she was mine. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Adelia Lindstrom is a rising star in the elite equestrian world, struggling to move forward after the devastating loss of her parents. When she meets billionaire banker Miles Bremen and his enigmatic twin sister, Karolin, her world takes an unexpected turn.

Miles is more than dangerous—he exudes a bold, unapologetic sensuality that pulls Adelia into uncharted territory. With him, she discovers a side of herself she never knew existed: passionate, daring, and irresistibly drawn to his magnetic allure. But behind his seductive charm lies a darkness that keeps her on edge, making her question whether surrendering to his world will set her free or destroy her.

Toxic Attraction is a steamy, edge-of-your-seat dark romance thriller that explores the intoxicating power of passion and the risks of losing control.


Tropes include: enemies to lovers, really dark romance, age gaps, obsessive anti-hero, possessive protector, morally gray hero, protective and stalking, kidnapping, forbidden love, revenge gone wrong.

Trigger Warnings: This series contains dark and mature themes, including an extremely possessive alpha hero with an "I will destroy anyone who threatens the heroine" intensity, emotional manipulation, kidnapping, and intense romantic conflict. Readers should be aware of potential triggers and are encouraged to review the detailed trigger warnings inside each book. Books 1 and 2 end in cliffhangers, but the series concludes with an HEA in Book 3.

Please note: Toxic Attraction is a revised and revamped version of The One by Belle Ami (published in 2014)

 

**Get it on sale - Kindle countdown deal Feb 3-10!!**

Amazon *Bookbub * Goodreads






Toxic Deception

Toxic Love Series Book 2


I failed her, and I’ll never forgive myself. But I’ll do whatever it takes to win her back—even if it costs me everything.

Adelia Lindstrom Bremen thought she had found her forever love in Miles Bremen. Their fiery connection gave her everything she thought she wanted, including Fallyn and Liam, their twins. But their passion burned too hot, and betrayal shattered their marriage, leaving her to rebuild her life.

When her children are abducted, Adelia turns to FBI Agent David Weiss for help. As they work together to bring her children home, David’s steady presence offers her a haven of calmness she never experienced with Miles. But Miles isn’t ready to let her go, and his bold, unrelenting desire for her reignites everything she thought she’d left behind.

Now caught between two men—one who offers safety and the other who awakens her soul—Adelia must navigate a high-stakes game where love, obsession, and danger intertwine.

Toxic Deception is a dark romance thriller that will grip you with its passion, betrayal, and heart-pounding suspense.

Tropes include enemies to lovers, really dark romance, age gaps, obsessive anti-hero, possessive protector, morally gray hero, protective and stalking, kidnapping, forbidden love, revenge gone wrong.


Trigger Warnings: This series contains dark and mature themes, including an extremely possessive alpha hero with an "I will destroy anyone who threatens the heroine" intensity, emotional manipulation, kidnapping, and intense romantic conflict. Readers should be aware of potential triggers and are encouraged to review the detailed trigger warnings inside each book. Books 1 and 2 end in cliffhangers, but the series concludes with an HEA in Book 3.

Please note: Toxic Deception is a revised and revamped version of The One and More by Belle Ami (published in 2014)

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads






Toxic Redemption

Toxic Love Series Book 3

I’ll fight for her, even if it kills me. She taught me how to love—and now I’ll prove I’m worthy of her.

Adelia Lindstrom Bremen has faced heartbreak, betrayal, and danger at every turn. Her parents’ deaths were no accident, her marriage to Miles ended in a vicious custody battle, and now she’s caught between two men—Miles, the enigmatic billionaire who awakened her deepest desires, and David, the steady force she thought she needed.

Miles has always embodied bold passion and unapologetic sensuality, but Adelia’s love has sparked something unexpected in him—a desire to change, to be the man she deserves. When Adelia becomes the target of a serial killer hunting climate scientists, Miles must confront his darkness and fight for the woman who made him believe in redemption.

As danger looms and secrets unravel, Adelia must decide if love can truly transform, or if passion and peril will consume her. Can Miles prove he’s more than the man who broke her heart? And will Adelia find the courage to trust the one who has always owned her soul?

Toxic Redemption is the electrifying conclusion to the Toxic Love series—a dark romance thriller where love is as dangerous as it is transformative.


Tropes include enemies to lovers, really dark romance, age gaps, obsessive anti-hero, possessive protector, morally gray hero, protective and stalking, kidnapping, forbidden love, revenge gone wrong.


Trigger Warnings: This series contains dark and mature themes, including an extremely possessive alpha hero with an "I will destroy anyone who threatens the heroine" intensity, emotional manipulation, kidnapping, and intense romantic conflict. Readers should be aware of potential triggers and are encouraged to review the detailed trigger warnings inside each book. Books 1 and 2 end in cliffhangers, but the series concludes with an HEA in Book 3.

Please note: Toxic Redemption is a revised and revamped version of One More Time is Not Enough by Belle Ami (published in 2016)

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads









Belle Ami writes breathtaking historical fiction, captivating historical romance, and gripping romantic thrillers. Creating unforgettable characters and crafting complex stories, Belle’s writing reflects the redemptive power of love and the strength of the human spirit.

A former Kathryn McBride scholar of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, Belle, is also a proud recipient of the RONE, RAVEN, Readers’ Favorite Award, and the Book Excellence Award.

Belle’s passions include hiking, boxing, skiing, cooking, travel, and of course, writing. She lives in Southern California with her family.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads



Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $30 giveaway!



Tuesday, February 17, 2026

T.E. Lane JuJu Justice Book Tour and Giveaway

 


In the mystical world of voodoo culture, justice is not always black and white


JuJu Justice

by T.E. Lane

Genres: Supernatural Thriller


JuJu Justice is a gritty suspsense drama set in the belly of the New Orleans voodoo culture, pitting a juju priestess against her dangerous childhood nemesis in a war between good and evil. This much anticipated new drama is T.E. Lane's second novel, based on their award-winning screenplay. Fans of mystery, crime, paranormal, and action/thrillers will love this book!

 

Deep in the Louisiana river bottoms, the legendary "swamp witch" Mama Moo must decide who to share her juju with—the white light voodoo priestess or the black magic criminal mastermind. Her seemingly obvious choice is complicated by long-buried secrets that will determine who lives or dies.

June Mae, a white-light practitioner, faces off against her childhood nemesis, Mister—a well-connected criminal who practices the dark side of voodoo. When June’s straight-laced sister April drops into town for an unplanned visit, she quickly understands the dangerous world that June inhabits. As the sisters reconcile past traumas and reconnect, June must overcome her fears to face Mister in a voodoo battle to save their lives.  Their mentor, the “swamp witch” Mama Moo, faces a perilous choice which will determine who lives or dies.

 

The screenplay has won five script awards:

*Semifinalist Your Script Produced 4th Edition 2025

*Semifinalist Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards

*Official Finalist NYISA Best Feature Screenplay Award

*Second Rounder Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition

*Quarterfinalist Manchester Film Festival

 

What readers are saying:

“JuJu Justice spins a tale that is both intriguing and culturally rich . . . JuJu Justice enthralls viewers with a combination of magical intrigue and Southern Gothic drama."   - NYISA 

"JuJu Justice creates a supernatural stage filled with spirits, ghosts,murder, and deception . . . with a skillful blend of supernatural elements with deeper themes of family and responsibility."  -Austin Film Festival

 

**New Release on February 17!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop.org * IngramElliot * Bookbub * Goodreads

 








Every T.E. Lane story begins with family at its core and spirals into mystery, action, and a touch of the supernatural. It’s a place where magic always feels possible, the coincidences may not be so coincidental, and the line between reality and something more is always worth crossing.

T.E. Lane writes screenplays and fiction. A fan of action, thriller, mystery, and literary fiction, the author enjoys blending aspects of many genres into a single work, creating a unique reading experience that will keep you turning the pages. Connect with the author on social media @telane_author.

 

Facebook * Facebook * X * Instagram * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!


Enter the JuJu Justice Giveaway Here


Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Chris Cloake Fragile Flame Book Tour and Giveaway

 


Follow Lotte’s quest to bring hope where there is only remorse, 

and by laying to rest the past, shine a light on the future.


Fragile Flame

by Chris Cloake

Genre: Mystery Thriller



A candle flickers to life in the window of an old house, every dusk without fail. Rumours in the village speak of disappearances and murder. The recluse who resides there has shunned the world for years.
Is his ritual a vigil? A form of memorial? An apology? Or something more sinister? What happened beyond those locked iron gates, behind the high walls?


Lotte is a lively young girl drawn to the mystery, unperturbed by the warnings, transfixed by the solitary dark figure who stands in the garden and stares at the river. As her teenage unwinds, she resolves to befriend the sad old man and unearth the truth. Driven by her own sense of loss, she seeks answers and exposes a haunted darkness riddled with misconception.

Fragile Flame by established author Chris Cloake is a novel of deepening intrigue and twisted loyalties. With his usual insight, he explores the intricacies of relationships and the complex need for love and security felt by all.

Don’t hesitate to buy Fragile Flame and follow Lotte’s quest to bring hope where there is only remorse, and by laying to rest the past, shine a light on the future.

 

**New Release on Feb 2nd!!**

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My dad. Where to start? He made me laugh. Like nobody else could. He always did. My earliest memory of anything is falling about in my highchair until my belly ached while he talked with silly voices and pulled faces. He seemed to me to be able to assume any kind of persona. I’d kick my legs with excitement and cry for more. 

My mother often intervened, trying to get me fed and ready for bed. She would shake her head and sigh at his mock dread that set me off giggling again. He loved to tease me, pretending not to know who I was, making me shout my name over and over until he ‘recalled’ the fact he had a daughter.  

I thought he should have been an actor. In reality, he was the boss at a big office in the city, a finance company, all money and meetings. He told me it was rather boring, but it paid very well. He was older than mum, and for years they were childless. They found out that an illness he had as a boy meant he could never have kids so it was quite a surprise when Mum became pregnant.  She was already over forty. Dad said I was extra special for being the impossible baby.

Such was his soft spot for me, he relied on mum to dish out the discipline I likely needed.  When I fell in the river and came home a mess, she gave me a heavy scolding. Dad bought me a new outfit.  I think I had a well-balanced upbringing owing to their differing approaches. 

Dad did the standout stuff with me  He took me to the Natural History Museum where I was flabbergasted by the whale.  It was him who got me interested in the stars and the mythology associated with them. From that arose my own stories for me to read to him. He’d sit in his beloved armchair, rosy cheeked, and marvel at my romantic inventiveness, his eyes twinkling with admiration for his little Lotte.

His favourite was a good, dark tale of mystery and ghosts, so I wrote plenty of them.  Secret worlds in which strange things would appear and disappear.  The whole thing with the candle and the spooky old house followed naturally on from this.  A real life drama to unleash my imagination.  I considered telling him about it, only I knew he’d worry for my safety, talk to mum and I’d end up barred from going near.  A shame because he’d have been as intrigued as I was by how deeply the death of his wife had affected Mr. Harrow.  He often spoke of the lingering undercurrent of those no longer here influencing the present.  It was certainly true of him. 




Chris Cloake was born in 1964 and began telling stories a couple of years later. He grew up in Kent, England. He is motivated to write by a deep interest in life, particularly the cruel, deeply flawed nature of people contrasted with their incredible creativity and inspiration. The power of the natural world is a common theme in his work as a writer and professional photographer. He lives happily with his wife, two children and a large collection of music, books and board games.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!




Meghana Sarathy Rosewood Dreams Release Tour and Giveaway

 


Some love stories are not meant to be - 

not when the guy I've fallen for is much older and has been in love with my mother for all these years.


Rosewood Dreams

Kaleidoscopic Dreams Duo Book 2

by Meghana Sarathy

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Age-Gap Romance


I've a long list of stuff I shouldn't have done.
I should never have looked at her differently.
Never have had the playful banters.
Never have let her confess her feelings for me.
Never have tasted her sexy as sin lips.
Never have given into my primal temptations.
Never have let her work for me.
Never have indulged in her fantasies.
Never have let myself fall for real.

But it's too late now.
I'm in too deep, consumed by everything Scarlet.

I was foolish enough to hope, daring to dream of a future with her.
But Veronica is back now, the harsh reality finally catching up to me.
She looks to me for support, vesting her trust in me.
She makes a request I can't refuse.
Not at the cost of betraying her and breaking our bond of twenty years.

Scarlet can never be mine.
Not in this lifetime.
She will always be the daughter of the woman I once loved and can still do anything for.
I've to let go of Scarlet for Veronica's sake. It's not even a choice.

Rosewood Dreams is the final book in the Kaleidoscopic Dreams Duology.
It's an age-gap, forbidden romance.

 

**New Release on Feb 3 – Order Now!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

 



She sniffles, not making an attempt to stop her tears. They slowly glide down her cheeks, shining like pearls in the brightly lit hallway. So hauntingly beautiful—just like our tragic love story.

“Once we start, we won’t be able to stop. You and I both know this,” I state in a trembling voice.

Cupping her cheeks, I lean my forehead against hers, using every ounce of my willpower to not crush my lips on hers. I’m holding on to my last strand of control.

She searches my eyes for love that is no longer hidden behind a thin veil of anger and prudence. Imploring me with her tenacious gaze, she plays on my vulnerabilities that are no longer guarded by my ironclad need to be righteous. She is stripping away everything that was keeping me from her, and I’ve never felt so light and free.

My voice can’t get through the ball of emotions stuck in my throat. It’s so easy to release the words frozen on my tongue - yes. But what would that make me? I’m the adult here. The one who has to shoulder her responsibility, while still being a man who keeps his word and sticks to his principles. But how can I get myself to refuse her when she’s looking at me like that? Like a mere yes from me and she’ll be the happiest—on top of the world. I want that more than anything else, but at what cost?

“I need time. I really need to think this through. I don’t want to make a decision in haste that I’ll come to regret later.”

My response appeases her. Relief floods her eyes as her lips upturn.

I expect her to peck me on the cheeks, like she used to do before—teasing me, testing my limits, and giving me hints. But to my surprise, she doesn’t, and steps back instead, putting a respectable space between us.

“Well, okay. I understand. It’s still progress. I hope you’ll tell me your decision soon. When we meet in the office, perhaps?”

Two days. You can start in two days.” It's hard to contain my eagerness. I was content with her learning from me and just being around me, but her proposal has opened up possibilities that I had never dared to consider before.

Her smile widens, eyes gleaming with excitement. “Sure, boss. Whatever you say. I can’t wait.”

She just addressed me as ‘boss.’ Is that what she’d be calling me in the office? I can’t wait to find out. Fuck. I love the sound of that.

“Okay then, I’ll take my new car for a drive…see you soon.”

She waves bye, swaying her hips as she heads out.

I’m in trouble. Deep trouble.





Scarlet Dreams

Kaleidoscopic Dreams Duo Book 1


When I was still a little girl, playing with barbies, I saw him as my Prince Charming.

The day I learned what a ‘crush’ meant, he was bestowed with the title of my first crush.

As I transitioned into a teenager, he morphed into the man of my dreams.

Every time I got myself off, he was the one who starred in my dark fantasies.

The only one I ever wanted.

But for him, I was merely his best friend’s daughter.

Completely off limits and unattainable.

Until the storm hit.

A tragedy that changed the course of all our lives.

He was there through it all..

The man I so easily fell in love with

The one who finally saw me as a woman who had eyes only for him.

Hope of finally getting a chance with him blossomed in me.

Only for reality to slap me in the face.

There was only one true love of his life.

It wasn’t me.

It was my MOM.



Scarlet Dreams is the first book in the Kaleidoscopic Dreams Duet. It’s an age-gap forbidden romance.

 

**Get it FREE 2/2 – 2/4!!**

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Meghana Sarathy is from Bangalore, India. She is an avid reader and also a writer. She writes Adult and New Adult romance, and also wishes to try her hands at dark and psychological thrillers. She especially loves reading and writing love triangles, taboo romance, and angst filled stories that are quite complex and unconventional. Her books tend to involve protagonists who are flawed, far from perfect, and as real as they can get.  Her all-time favorite characters are her very own characters- Jennifer, Brandon and Linden. She tends to fall hard for boys who are either cocky, bossy, good flirts and total charmers.

She spends most of her free time reading, writing, watching anime or binging shows. Her favorite genres are Psychological Thrillers, Teen Drama and Sci-fi (especially time travel stories). Being a Product Owner in a fintech firm, she is plugged into the world of finance and has also dabbled in cloud technology and Gen AI. She plays platform games in PS5 when taking short breaks from writing. She is a crazy fan of Dragonball Z and can be seen watching the episodes in repeat. Vegeta is her all-time favorite anime character. Steins Gate and Monster come second in the list of her favorite anime, and currently Mr. Robot and Dark are her fav non-anime series.

  

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads



Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!


Enter the Rosewood Dreams Giveaway Here