Welcome to My World of Dreams

SUPER BOOK BLAST: The Cracked Slipper by Stephanie Alexander

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

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

When Eleanor Brice unexpectedly wins the heart of Gregory Desmarais, Crown Prince of Cartheigh, she's sure she's found her happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, Prince Charming has a loose grip on his temper, a looser grip on his marriage vows, and a tight grip on the bottle.

Eight years of mistreatment, isolation and clandestine book learning hardly prepare Eleanor for life at Eclatant Palace, where women are seen, not heard. According to Eleanor's eavesdropping parrot, no one at court appreciates her unladylike tendency to voice her opinion. To make matter worse, her royal fiancé spends his last night of bachelorhood on a drunken whoring spree. Before the ink dries on her marriage proclamation Eleanor realizes that she loves her husband's best friend, former soldier Dorian Finley.

Eleanor can't resist Dorian's honesty, or his unusual admiration for her intelligence, and soon both are caught in a dangerous obsession. She drowns her confusion in charitable endeavors, but the people's love can't protect her from her feelings. When a magical crime endangers the bond between unicorns, dragons, and the royal family, a falsely accused Eleanor must clear her own name to save her life. The road toward vindication will force a choice between hard-won security and an impossible love.

The Cracked Slipper is a book club friendly fairytale retelling in the vein of Gregory Maguire, with a dash of romance. Set in a pseudo-renaissance, corset-and-petticoats enchanted kingdom, The Cracked Slipper brings a magical twist to women's fiction.

EXCERPT:

"Their host, Sir Robert Smithwick, rose and gave a toast to the health of his nephew. Other speeches followed, each more suggestive than the next. She laughed out loud when Dorian subtly mocked Brian’s inability to hold his liquor. Gregory spoke last, and gave a surprisingly thoughtful salute to his cousin. She patted his arm when he sat, and he gave her a tentative smile.

As everyone returned to their venison and cliff shrimp Eleanor's stepmother tapped her goblet. Mother Imogene rose and lifted the cup. “I must ask you to pause for just one more moment,” she said. “I have another announcement.”

“My darling,” she said to Sylvia. “We’ve all so enjoyed your hospitality this summer. But now my daughter must remember herself, and rest, for with the winter will arrive a future duke! Our dear Sylvia is expecting!”

The guests applauded, congratulating Imogene and Sylvia. Sylvia gazed demurely in her lap, as if embarrassed by the association with procreation. As for the expectant father, he was nowhere to be seen. His wife’s entertaining had proved too much for him, and the duke returned to Harveston for some peace.

Eleanor glanced down the table. Anne Iris retched into her cup, but it was Dorian’s calm face that inspired her. She stood and the room quieted. “My dear sister,” she said. “Let me extend my good wishes.”

Sylvia’s simpering went rigid.

“I will say, Sylvia always had a flair for the dramatic when we were children. Who knew you would entertain so many with your widely varied talents? While I have recently been ill, I’ve heard you neglect no one, from the loftiest lord to the most common stable hand. We are so fortunate there is one among us who gives so generously of herself to others. It’s no wonder His Grace, your husband, took his leave. It must be difficult to share you with so many.”

Imogene’s eyes bulged and her nostrils flared, while Sylvia gave an uncertain twitter. Eleanor looked at Dorian again. He winked.

“So I salute you, Your Grace,” she said.“May your child look just like you. Just as lovely.”

The guests applauded, all the while hiding their smirks and chuckles in their goblets and napkins. Eleanor sat down. This time Gregory touched her arm. “Well played,” he said."

About the Author: Stephanie Alexander grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, the oldest of three children. Drawing, writing stories, and harassing her parents for a pony consumed much of her childhood. After graduating from high school in 1995 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the College of Charleston, South Carolina. She returned to Washington, DC, where she followed a long-time fascination with sociopolitical structures and women’s issues to a Master of Arts in Sociology from the American University. She spent several years as a Policy Associate at the International Center for Research on Women, a think-tank focused on women’s health and economic advancement.

Stephanie embraced full-time motherhood after the birth of the first of her three children in 2003. After six wonderful years buried in diapers and picture books she returned to her childhood passion and wrote her own fairytale. Her family put down permanent southern roots in Charleston in 2011. Stephanie is an adjunct professor of Sociology at the College of Charleston.

www.thecrackedslipper.com
blog.thecrackeslipper.com
www.facebook.com/thecrackedslipper
twitter: @crackedslipper
http://www.amazon.com/The-Cracked-Slipper-Series-ebook/dp/B007FLG8KS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1364778060&sr=1-1&keywords=the+cracked+slipper

Blurb Blitz Tour: Kill Shot by Anne Patrick

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anne will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Former combat medic Kory Wagner survived four war zones. Now she’s home and out of the Army for good and someone is trying to kill her in her own backyard. Just as disturbing is the handsome sheriff who’s on the case. Sheriff Sean Harding doesn’t quite know what to think of the decorated veteran that managed to outsmart an entire search party. What bothers him more is the body of a PI, whom she hired, was found dead in a building she owns. And Kory isn’t being very cooperative with helping him find the answers as to why someone would kill her sister and want her dead. Will he be able to keep her alive along enough to discover the truth?

EXCERPT

Kory heard a sound a few yards in front of her. She quickly scanned the area. Three rows of huge metal shelves lined the interior. She inched forward, peering around the corner of the second row. Mr. Urlik lay on his side, facing her, clutching his chest. His eyes were opened and his mouth moved, but no sound came out. A heart attack? She ran to him, knelt down on the cement floor, and took his hand. It was wet, slimy. She looked down and saw his hand covered in blood. Her eyes shifted to his chest. A large crimson stain spread across the width of his white shirt from a small hole near the center. He was breathing erratically. Experience told her a bullet had pierced at least one lung and he didn't have much time. She immediately pressed the heel of her right hand against the wound.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

"Where's your cell phone?" Hers was in her backpack but she didn't want to waste valuable time digging it out.

"No time. Get out."

"Who did this, Mr. Urlik?"

He grabbed her right hand and squeezed it tightly. "You were right -- no accident."

His hand went limp.

Kory felt something in the palm of her hand, looked down and saw it was a key. She shoved it into her jeans pocket. A whizzing sound buzzed past her, followed by the unmistakable clink of a bullet ricocheting off metal. She instinctively threw herself over his body as another bullet struck metal. Kory felt for a pulse. There was none. She lowered her hand to his chest and felt under both arms and along his waist. I thought all PIs carried guns. Just my luck this one didn't.

About the Author: Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem, and Faith, including the award winning and bestselling WOUNDED HEROES SERIES, FIRE AND ASH, and TIES THAT BIND. Her books have garnered four-star reviews from Romantic Times, 'Top Pick' and 'Best Book' honors from Night Owl Reviews and Long and Short of It Reviews, and Five-Heart reviews from The Romance Studio. When she isn't working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling to foreign countries to experience new cultures and adventures. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she now makes her home in Kansas.

Find the author online at:

Website: www.AnnePatrickBooks.com
Blog: http://www.suspensebyanne.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anne.patrick.98
Twitter: https://twitter.com/suspensebyanne
Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/author/annepatrick

Buy the book at: Amazon BN CBD Publisher

The Writer's View: Caitlyn Nicholas

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Caitlyn will be awarding three prizes: a $25 Amazon GC and Caitlyn Nicholas gift bag to one randomly drawn commenter, and a Caitlyn Nicholas gift bag to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour.(International) The Rafflecopter is at the bottom of the post. Please click the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Writer's View

Thank you for having me on My World of Dreams today :-)

Okay, I probably* should’ve tidied up a bit before posting a photo of my writing corner. But, well its school holidays down here (in Australia), I’m in the middle of editing my next release (The Bunker out July 2013) and I’ve written 26 blog posts in the last week. So whilst I had every intention to tidy, somehow it didn’t happen…

Probably = totally

So here goes…

My writing corner. This corner is a recent thing. Before I just had a notepad and my lappie and moved around the house trying to keep out of the way. But my next release (The Bunker) is my sixth story to be published and I decided it was about time I had somewhere to call my own. I’m loving it. Stuck on the wall are pics of the protagonists in my latest work in progress – the hero was up there too but he’d come unstuck (story of his life) and now the dog is sitting on him. So he won’t get restuck until later. I’ve got lists of things to do up there as well.

I don’t just work here. Oh no. I actually find I work better out of the house. So my lappie and I can be found in cafés and shopping malls around the area. The other day my younger daughter was at a birthday party and I worked in the car whilst she ate her own bodyweight in pizza and lollies. (And don’t freak out, we have the steering wheel on the right in these parts)

Of course there’s one consistent thing that is always nearby when I’m working, no matter where…

Tea - at home (in my favourite cup)
Tea. In a café (with a brownie)
Tea is very important.

So really my writing place is all everywhere. I have no writing fixed abode really. I think it comes from having kids and having to grab every spare moment to write it.

So tell me, are you a coffee or a tea person?

About the Author:I began writing in 2005. Exhausted, pregnant (sure I was going to expire from morning-sickness) and coping with a demanding toddler, I decided the time was right to embark on a writing career. (In hindsight I may have been suffering from a scorching case of sleep-deprivation).

Still, it kinda worked out. My debut novel - and the first manuscript I'd ever written - Running Scared, was published in January 2007. My next book, Secret Intentions, followed. Then I had a short story published in the Mammoth Book of Special Ops Romance (MBSOR) in 2010 - my story is called "The Grey Man."

In 2012 my novel Drive Me To Distraction was published, and my novella The Danger Game came out just before Christmas. My next book, The Bunker, will be published in July 2013.

You can find me online at: www.CaitlynNicholas.com
My blog: http://www.caitlynnicholas.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CaitlynNicholas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaitlynNicholasAuthor
Google plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/105412279044420141735/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/783424.Caitlyn_Nicholas

Flick likes computers. She’s good with them, and they do what she tells them, mostly. People, however, are more of a challenge.

But when a terrifyingly dangerous program is stolen, and her mentor killed, Flick finds herself on the run. The police are convinced she’s committed murder, and a sinister weapons developer will stop at nothing to force her to work for him.

In Ben’s line of work being suspicious keeps you alive. So when Flick turns to him, he quickly realises that she’s up to her neck in trouble and hasn’t fully grasped the danger she is in.

First he has to keep her safe, and then, together, they have to figure out how to save the world from an epic meltdown.

Buy the book

Amazon
Amazon UK
Kobo
Nook
Ibookstore

Book Review: A Life Less Ordinary by Victoria Bernadine

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:57:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Victoria will be awarding a $25 (grand prize) gift card to either Amazon or Smashwords (winner's choice), as well as two runners-up prizes of $15 Amazon or Smashwords gift cards each to randomly drawn commenters. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour--remember, the more you comment, the better your chances!

For the last fifteen years, Rose “Manny” Mankowski has been a very good girl. Now, at the age of 45, she’s questioning her choices and feeling more and more disconnected from her own life. When she’s passed over for promotion and her much younger new boss implies Manny’s life will never change, something snaps. In the blink of an eye, she’s quit her job, sold her house, cashed in her pension, and she’s leaving town on a six month road trip.

After placing an ad for a travelling companion, she’s joined in her mid-life crisis by Zeke Powell, the cynical, satirical, most read – and most controversial – blogger for the e-zine, What Women Want. Zeke’s true goal is to expose Manny’s journey as a pitiful and desperate attempt to reclaim her lost youth – and increase his readership at the same time.

Now, armed with a bagful of destinations, a fistful of maps, and an out-spoken imaginary friend named Harvey, Manny’s on a quest to rediscover herself – and taking Zeke along for the ride.

This was certainly quite a ride! Manny, or Auntie Em as Zeke first thinks of her, is ready for a change--and change she does! From her MisFit Toys to winning at "Last Dancer Standing", Manny is finally finding herself. And, she's not the only one.

This book is more than just the story of one woman and her mid-life crisis... it's the story of family and friends as well as learning, loving, and living.

I enjoyed this book more than I have any book in recent history--there's not a single character I didn't like! I felt like I had gotten to know them and they became friends. I want to find out what happens to them now.

Kudos to Ms. Bernadine for a job well done!

About the Author:Victoria Bernadine (a pseudonym) is, as the saying goes, a “woman of a certain age”. After twenty-something years of writer’s block, she began writing again in 2008. She began with fanfiction about a (now-cancelled) TV show called Jericho and particularly about the characters of Heather Lisinski and Edward Beck. From there, she expanded into writing original fic and she hasn’t stopped since.

Victoria enjoys reading all genres and particularly loves writing romantic comedy and post-apocalyptic science fiction. What those two have in common is anybody’s guess.

She lives in Edmonton with her two cats (The Grunt and The Runt). A Life Less Ordinary is the first novel she felt was good enough to be released into the wild.

Victoria can be contacted through Love of Words Publishing Inc. (loveofwords@shaw.ca) or through her brand new blog at http://victoriabernadine.wordpress.com/.

A Life Less Ordinary is available for sale on Amazon in both Kindle and hard copy formats at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AMJBOSQ.

SBB LUCID by Natalie Roers

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This stop is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Natalie will award a $10 Amazon or BN.com gift card to one randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Being hailed by critics as an intelligent new voice in young adult fiction, Roers' debut novel tells the anything but ordinary, coming of age story of a small town, teen aged, misfit named Travis Hunter. Disfigured at birth and ostracized at school, Travis dreams of acceptance and secretly yearns for the affection of a beautiful young woman named Corrine. When a mysterious doctor promises to help Travis through something called lucid dreaming, Travis suddenly finds himself ushered into a secret society called "The Lucid", a collection of social outcasts like himself, who have created their own world inside of dreams. When Travis discovers he is able to bring Corrine into these dreams, he gets more than he ever bargained for and soon finds himself learning the secrets of love and life in a fantastic unconscious world. An instant classic, Lucid is a timeless story of self-acceptance with a fresh paranormal twist.

EXCERPT

I gave her a funny look and loosened the drawstrings. A dark green stone fell out into my hand. It had little red splotches on it and was hung with three small chains from a silver crescent that looked like the moon. The metal of the crescent looked very old, as if it had been pounded by hand.

“You made me zink of it when you mentioned your dreams earlier.” Kelly said. “I zought you might appreciate it.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a talisman. According to legend, it was originally used by da Lucid as a gateway to da dream world.”

“That’s really cool,” I said, “What’s it got to do with me?”

“Talismans are very magical. Dey have da power to make extraordinary transformations. Why don’t you keep it for a while? See how it works?”

“Oh, come on,” I disagreed. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

Doctor Kelly smiled. “I believe very much in powerful transformations.”

About the Author: Natalie Roers is a veteran writer, voice artist, and on-air personality. A journalist by trade, Lucid is her first work of fiction. She is busy at work on her second novel and hopes to raise money and social awareness for worthy causes with each book she writes. Natalie plans to donate a portion of every sale of this book to her favorite anti-bullying organizations. She lives with her husband Cory, and son Austin, in Columbia, South Carolina.
Websites
jointhelucid.com
http://natasha-r.com/writer/

FB https://www.facebook.com/natalie.roers?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/jointhelucid?fref=ts
Blog http://jointhelucid.com/blog/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16214486-lucid

DRACULA UNLEASHED by Linda Mercury

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Linda will be awarding a dragon necklace (since Dracula means Dragon) (USA ONLY) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

After centuries as the Dracula of Legend, disguised as a male, Valerie Tate's current incarnation is the last thing she expected: mother of a precocious half-angel, half-vampire, and wife to two men. But Valerie is more familiar with battlefields than domesticity. . .

Some overwhelmed mothers relax with a glass of wine. Valerie soothes her immortal soul with a refreshing blood and coke. How else can she deal with her toddler Minerva's psychic powers--not to mention her determination to throw knives. Thank goodness for Valerie's two loves, John Jante, guide to Fallen Angels, and Lance Soleil, Angel of the Lost. Without them, the trauma of her dark past and her primal, Dracul urge for violence and power would overtake her. Yet in a world where humans and paranormals uncomfortably co-exist, Valerie's peace will be short-lived.

Tensions have erupted with bombings and the emergence of creatures heralding the apocalypse itself. And Valerie's vampire brother and nemesis, Radu, is at the center of the conflict. Now Valerie finds herself at the forefront of an epic battle between good and evil--and facing a choice no woman in any realm should have to make.

Excerpt:

At three o’clock in the morning, the doorways of the Old Town neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, were as dark as an open mouth. The buildings with their Old West–style false fronts loomed over the narrow street, an urban mountain pass with sheer cliff walls that hid a myriad of hiding places. Every corner held the promise of violence.

Chad Trask, former leader of the area’s largest gang of idle rich kids, stiffened as a trickle of icy sensation moved along his hairline.

The ten young did not walk unobserved. Hungry creatures hid in those shadows.

The blood in his veins pumped hot and fast. His breath sped up. The tiny prickle grew into the unshakeable knowledge that they were being tracked. After the events of last Halloween, he knew more than the average human about being hunted.

His friends were walking into a trap. Just as the smooth sides of the pitcher plant enticed flies into the digestive soup at the bottom, the silence and seeming quietness lured them into deadly carelessness.

About the Author: Linda Mercury left behind her varied careers as a librarian, art model, and professional clown to pursue writing. She’s interested in writing, romance, the Middle East, reading, organizing, cooking, hand-made silk Turkish rugs, and the Nike of Samothrace.

Website and blog
Twitter: LindaMercury1
Facebook

The Writer's View: Patrick Royal

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.Patrick will be awarding a $10.00 Wild Child Publishing gift certificate to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Writer's View

I have two Author’s Views to be exact. When I’m able to write at work, my view consists of three windows; in front of me, one to the right, and one to the left.

The left window is more pleasant; a grassy yard with rolling hills that inclines with a house at the end of the property. A chain-link fence runs along the left side. Bushes and trees are lined on the right side.
Outside my right window is an empty parking lot that’s enclosed with a chain-link fence. Barbwire runs along the top of the fence, and two long swinging gates meet and lock in the center of the entrance. This sort of reminds me of a prison fence. The lot is blacktop with a light pole standing in the middle.

The view in front of me is a service road that leaves from my guard shack, traveling out, curves to the left, and stops at the main road. The two properties I mentioned runs alongside the service road.

I had mentioned that I have two Author’s Views earlier. I’ve described the first one, and the second is when I write at home.

Outside my bedroom window, a full pine tree stands and blocks everything from landscape, sky, and the sun’s rays. One could say what else is there left to look at? I have an answer to that, and it’s the birds that fly in and perch themselves on the inner branches. It’s really all about the details. I have watched all kinds of different breeds: Sparrows, Cardinals, Blackbirds, and Bluebirds.

The view also helps me recall what it feels like to be in the woods. Everything from the amount of shade, sounds, and smells that may exist to what insects’ one might see.

About the Author:Patrick Royal is a family man. Born in Virginia, raised in Northwest Indiana, and he and his wife Lynette have resided in Western Kentucky for seven years. An avid watcher of Horror movies and reader of Stephen King. He's inspired to use the gift God gave him to chill his readers. He is also the author of Novels "Jacobs Closet", and "Sleep Stalker".

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/#!/HorrorAuthor.RoyPatten
MY WEB SITE: http://roypatten.webs.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/patrickroyal46
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/patrickroyal
AUTHORSDEN: http://www.authorsden.com/patrickroyal

Sleep Stalker takes you into the lives of a group of people that are experiencing nightmares; however, they are a bit more than just bad dreams. After numerous reports of an outbreak of nightmares, unexplainable deaths begin to occur. Then three decades later, it happens again. There is speculation that the deaths are at the hands of a demon.

The Writer's View: Rachel Hanna

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Rachel will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The Rafflecopter code is at the end of the post. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

My View of the World as a Writer

Being a writer has its challenges and perks, and one of those perks is being able to work from home writing stories that just magically pop out of my brain from time to time. Well, okay, there's no magic. It's hard work extracting those juicy nuggets of entertainment from my mind sometimes.

My writing space isn't just one space. My sweet husband set up an entire office for me, but most of the time I don't work there. He and my thirteen year old daughter (homeschooled) work in there a lot. I pass through, usually just asking what everyone wants for lunch, but I don't work there much. I think being tied down too much zaps my creativity.

Most of the time, you will find me either on my laptop in my bed or on my iPad using a wireless keyboard. The craziest place I "write" is in my Ford Expedition sitting in my driveway. Yes, you read that right. Sometimes I like to dictate certain parts of my stories to get books done faster, but I can't think clearly if there is any chance one of my kids or my husband might be standing at the door listening. So.... I often sit in the empty car so I can dictate into my iPad without fear of sounding like I am talking to the voices in my head. :)

My view outside is pretty nice. Our house backs up to a wooded area, so I do also like to sit on the deck sometimes and enjoy the birds singing and the slight breeze. However, I am easily distracted at times, so this is a rare event. Plus, have you ever tried to write on a white screen in the direct sunlight? Yeah, not a great plan.

So, that's me, folks! No rhyme or reason to what I will do from one day to the next, but those closest to me know that I'm a little different and I guess they love me for it!

About the Author:

Rachel Hanna is a best-selling author of romance novellas and novels. She lives outside of Atlanta with her husband, three cool kids, two crazy dogs and one very snooty outdoor cat. She loves to write, read, spend time with family and embarrass her kids as much as possible.

She also LOVES to connect with her readers through various social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to check out her website for ways to connect!

When twenty-four year old Bella Clay experiences yet another major loss in her life, she is forced to come home and become a young, single mother to her seven year old nephew. No one in the small town of Madison Falls knows just how damaged she is, and they certainly don't know her dirty little secret about where she's been for the last two years.

Grant Brady is the local hunk who works as the elementary school PE and history teacher. When he takes an interest in helping Bella start over in Madison Falls, she tries to push him away afraid that he will find out her dark secrets. What she doesn't know is that Grant has a secret of his own.

Will love prevail or will one or both of them run for the hills out of fear?

Rafflecopter giveaway code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

LINKS:

www.Rachelhannaromance.com

www.Facebook.com/rachelhannaromance

http://www.goodreads.com/rachelhanna

Virtual Book Tour: Angel of Syn

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mertianna will be awarding a canvas tote bag printed with the book cover on one side and a saying on the other("Are you a syn-er?"), and filled with goodies plus a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY). Click the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Contemporary witch Cara Augustine goes international and inter-dimensional, from San Francisco to France to an alternate Eden-like dimension, in this second book of the Synemancer series.

Cara is a fugitive, pursued by the Portalkind police for breaking a major covenant. When she accidently made a werewolf her witch’s familiar, it amounted to enslaving a human. And the punishment is death. On the run for her life, she and her companions stumble into a strange paradise dimension. But they quickly find the dangerous world is filled with strange creatures, deadly and beautiful. And, because she’s quickly learning a Synemancer’s life is never simple. Cara has to deal with an amorous Nephilim (half-angel half-witch), a dangerously deranged French werewolf, and the darkly handsome Nightkind she just might love. Each powerful supernatural man has his own reasons for wanting to possess Cara, body and soul. But if the Portalkind police catch her, she’ll be in a fight for her life.

Read an excerpt:

The nape of my neck tingled with the familiar sensation of being stalked. I glanced over my shoulder to see my bodyguard, Azrael. He was named after the angel of death, but he was no angel—in any sense of the word. I used to think it was a nickname. It wasn’t. We were both witches, but he came with specialized security training. He watched me from his favorite indoor spot halfway up the stairs to the second story of our Berkeley hills house. His sky blue eyes stared at me hungrily.That stare reminded me of a hawk watching a tasty mouse. Irritated, I took a last bite from my nearly finished apple, turned, and threw the core at him with deadly precision. I’d been practicing using non-magical self-defense skills. My magic skills were unreliable to say the least.The apple core flew between the wooden posts directly at his beautiful face. He deftly caught it in a blur of motion, put it up to his nose, inhaled deeply, and slowly licked the apple. His eyes never left me.

About the Author: Mertianna currently lives with her husband, son, and three dogs in Northern California. At a young age, while traveling the globe with her military family, she discovered the joys of reading. Armed with a fascination for science fiction, the paranormal, and fantasy, she amused, shocked, and impressed her teachers with her imaginative stories.

As an adult, reality reared its boring head, and she joined the business workforce. After many years working as a professional manager while secretly wishing she was a writer, she took a detour from the corporate world to immerse herself in the fictional worlds of her own making.

Mertianna has accumulated multiple graduate degrees in business and survived years of doctoral studies in psychology, all of which undoubtedly has influenced how her characters behave or don’t behave as the case may be.

Buy the book:

Amazon Print Amazon eBook ImaJinn Books

Excerpt Tour: Untellable by Suzanne Lilly

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Suzanne will be awarding a backlist eBook (winner's choice of Shades of the Future, Bad Hair Day, or Rapunzel's Daughters) to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

*****

Aspen Dwyer, recently emancipated from foster care, is searching for a place to hide from a past with secrets too dark to share. Honey Creek, Ohio, presents itself as the best place to start a new life and stay undercover. There she meets Colton Moraine, a man with strong family ties and an even stronger sense of loyalty. His boisterous, loving family welcomes Aspen with warmth she hasn’t felt in years. She’s surprised at how quickly and deeply she falls for Colton. When a dangerous criminal comes to Honey Creek, intent on his revenge against her, Aspen must choose between two options. Should she stay and risk her life and the rejection of the people she’s grown to love? Or should she run again, and leave behind any chance of a happy future?

*****

EXCERPT:

Howard Doyle, who spent so much time in the diner he had his own permanent barstool, said, “So I hear you met the new girl who showed up in Honey Creek yesterday.”

At the mention of Aspen, my jaw tightened. She was smart-alecky, abrupt, and stubborn. On top of all that, her hair smelled of flowers, captured the sunlight, and sparkled like glittering jewels. Darn it.

I turned to face Howard. “She’s just some summer help for Aunt Linda up at the lodge. She’ll be gone in a couple of months.”

“Huh.” Howard took a sip of coffee. “That’s all?”

I pondered the question for a Midwestern minute then mimicked Howard’s favorite expression. “Ah-yep.” I punctuated my answer with a sip of coffee, Howard style.

Howard cackled. “Don’t go making fun of me. I saw her flip you off. Right here on Main Street. In broad daylight.”

Double darn it. Howard had probably told every customer at the restaurant about my encounter with Aspen yesterday. “Mary Sue, has Eulalie finished making those pancakes yet?” I asked as she refilled my coffee cup. If I could just eat and get out of here, my day would improve immensely.

Carter Dick joined the conversation from his seat farther down the bar. “The rumor mill says you whistled at her. What’s wrong with you, man?”

“I didn’t whistle at her,” I groused. “I was trying to get her attention.”

Carter laughed. “Well, you certainly did that, from the sounds of it.”

Howard joined in. “Hers and everyone else’s too.” This time Bess and Mary Sue laughed along with the guys.

“If those pancakes don’t get here soon, I’m walking out of this place,” I threatened. “All this ribbing is making me lose my appetite.”

“Incoming at two o’clock,” Carter warned.

I thought he meant the pancakes, but when I looked in the direction he nodded, I saw Aspen, riding Aunt Linda’s pink beachcomber, her honey blonde hair flowing behind her like waves on the lake.

“Speak of the devil.” Howard slapped his hand on the counter.

Terrific. What else can happen to spoil my day?

*****

About the Author:

Suzanne Lilly writes lighthearted young adult stories with a splash of suspense, a flash of the unexplained, a dash of romance, and always a happy ending. Her short stories have appeared in numerous places online and in print, and she has placed and received honorable mentions in writing contests. Her debut novel was Shades of the Future in 2011 followed by Untellable in 2012. She lives in Northern California where she reads, writes, cooks, swims, and teaches elementary students.

You may find Suzanne Lilly online at these sites:

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Lilly/e/B006HY79IY

Website: http://www.suzannelilly.com

Blog: http://www.teacherwriter.net

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SuzanneLillyAuthor

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5258804.Suzanne_Lilly

Twitter: @suzannelilly http://twitter.com/suzannelilly

Buy the book at:

Smashwords TurquoiseMorning Press Amazon Barnes and Noble

Super Book Blast: Blood Bound by Melanie Atkins

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Melanie will be awarding the winner's choice of a backlist eBook to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

****

Fueled by grief after his fiancée is brutally murdered, Detective Sam Walker focuses on finding her killer -- a calculating predator who binds books with human skin. Dani Barrington, the newest member of NOPD's Victim and Witness Assistance Unit and a survivor of another frightening attack, helps him discover the terrifying link between the monster's known victims. Despite his anguish, Sam is struck by Dani's strength and determination, especially when her inquisitive nature makes her the killer's next target. He must find a way to protect her or risk losing the one woman who can bring his dead heart back to life.

*****

"Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned." NOPD Detective Sam Walker's low rasp echoed inside the tiny confessional within the deep recesses of St. Mary's Church. He pressed his damp palms to his thighs. "It's been nine months since my last confession."

"Continue."

"My sins are... indescribable..." He let the word trail off. Sweat pooled at the base of his spine. "I don't know if I can--"

"You must voice your transgressions, son, to get them off your chest. It's the only way to gain absolution."

"I don't deserve God's forgiveness."

"Sam, tell me the truth." Father O'Malley cleared his throat. "Is this about Kristen?"

"She died a horrible death," Sam whispered, his heart breaking all over again for his fiancée and the family he would never have with her.

The priest paused.

"It's been a long time."

"Eight fucking -- sorry, Father." Sam broke off and swallowed, doing his best to regain his composure. "Eight long months. I thought I was coping, but I can't get past it. Especially since I'm the reason she's dead."

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

Sam pressed his lips together. Every time he thought about his fiancée's brutal murder, his gut clenched. He should have taken her to dinner that night like he'd promised, instead of letting the job get in the way. The Glock riding his hip was a constant reminder he'd been a detective first, and her intended husband second.

God should damn me straight to hell.

Father O'Malley shifted inside the tiny booth, and the ornate screen between them shuddered. The too-sweet odor of funeral lilies wafted over Sam.

"You didn't murder her, my son. Some sick, depraved individual did it."

"I was supposed to protect her."

"You were doing your job."

"When I should have been with her. Keeping her safe." Agony pierced his soul. He dropped his elbows to his knees and hung his head. His voice broke. "I let her die."

"You didn't let her die, Sam. A terrible thing happened. It wasn't your fault. God doesn't hold you responsible."

"Well, He should. I'm guilty."

"Sam--"

"He... he skinned her, Father. I don't know why, but he did." Tears burned his eyes.

Clearly shaken, Father O'Malley murmured more words of condolence. "I'll say another prayer for her soul."

"It's my fault she's gone. I can never do enough penance to make up for it." Sam shuddered. "Not in this lifetime."

"I want you to say one Our Father and one Hail Mary."

Sam barked a harsh laugh.

"That doesn't even scratch the surface. I can't even--"

"Wait. I'm not finished." Father O'Malley regained his poise, and his strong, even tone reverberated in Sam's ears. "I also want you to pray for the person responsible for Kristen's death."

"Hell, no!" Sam blurted, the idea of absolution jolting his brittle psyche. "I can't pray for that sick son of a bitch. He's killed four women, including Kristen, after brutalizing them, and we have no idea who he is. We're working day and night--"

"That's your penance, son." Father O'Malley said, gravely. "In addition, you must perform the Act of Contrition and say the Rosary. Don't let that individual's cruel soul steal yours."

*****

Melanie Atkins a multi-published author of romantic suspense, an editor for an online publishing company, and an avid reader. Writing is more than an escape for her—it’s a way of life. She grew up in the Deep South listening to tall tales and penning stories about her cats. Now she writes gripping stories of love, suspense, and mystery with the help of her furry little feline muses.

Melanie is an active member of Romance Writers of America®, the Magnolia State Romance Writers (MSRW), the Published Author Network (PAN), the Electronic and Small Press Authors' Network (ESPAN), the Electronically Published Internet Connection (EPIC), Sisters in Crime (SinC), the Red Dog Writers, the Gulf Coast Writers Association, the Southern Writers, the Mississippi Authors Guild and the Byram Writers’ Group. She currently serves as Past President of MSRW.

www.melanieatkins.com

www.wordpress.melanieatkins.com

Super Book Blast: The Reason is You by Sharla Lovelace

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sharla will be awarding a custom tote bag with book swag, a themed recipe card and $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

*****

Anything but normal… Dani Shane just wants her daughter to have what she never did—a normal life. But “normal” leaves the equation when sixteen-year old Riley is found talking to Dani’s only friend, Alex—who has been dead for forty years.

In the small river town of Bethany, Dani never fit in. Being different pushed her to the fringes of society, and even leaving town for two decades didn’t stop the talk. Now that she’s back, so is Alex. Mischievous and sexy and still hot enough to melt her shoes. Between his popping in at inopportune moments and her having to hide her daughter’s new talent, Dani fears that her plans for staying under the radar may be short-lived.

As Dani scrambles to get solid footing under her family, secrets buried for forty years begin to unearth themselves. She and Alex have always been connected, but he is hiding something. The computer is making her hear things. Weird memories that she doesn’t recognize keep popping up in her mind. Then there’s that little thing she hasn’t told her daughter yet—that some of the people she sees aren’t breathing.

*****

My head said to walk forward, but my feet went numb. Then he looked my direction, and suddenly I was head-to-toe buzz with blood rushing in my ears. I took a deep breath and attempted normal as I made it down the steps without tripping.

Riley saw Alex. Riley wasn’t supposed to see people like Alex.

She had her usual folded-arms-with-one-hip-jutted stance, looking annoyed as hell, while Bojangles circled the yard in a frenzy with his nose to the ground. Alex slowly took off his glasses and locked his blue eyes in on mine with that arrogant little smile of his. I felt heat radiate from every pore.

“Dani,” he said, low and smooth, and all the breath left me. “My God, look at you.”

I opened my mouth to say the same thing, that after twenty-plus years he still looked exactly the same, hot enough to melt my shoes. But then the mommy gene stood up and waved and I remembered Riley was there.

He laughed, a deep throaty sound, as he pointed at Riley.

“I knew it had to be.”

A nervous noise squawked from my mouth. Nothing profound like I always imagined it would be.

“The eyes were the first clue,” he said with a wink.

Riley frowned, her expression a mix of disgust and wariness.

“God, you know this perv? He was here on the car watching me and won’t tell me who the hell he is.”

He smirked. “The sweet, gentle nature was the clincher.”

*****

Sharla Lovelace is the National Bestselling Author of THE REASON IS YOU, BEFORE AND EVER SINCE, and the e-novella JUST ONE DAY. Being a Texas girl through and through, she’s proud to say she lives in Southeast Texas with her family, an old lady dog, and an aviary full of cockatiels.

Sharla is available by Skype for book club meetings and chats, and loves connecting with her readers! See her website www.sharlalovelace.com for book discussion questions, events, and to sign up for her monthly newsletter.

www.SharlaLovelace.com

http://www.twitter.com/sharlalovelace

http://www.facebook.com/sharlalovelace

THE REASON IS YOU (available in trade paperback online and in stores)

Mass Market version (978-0425254868) with new cover available May 7^th, and for preorder now!

Tagline: “Sometimes falling into the past is the way forward.”

PURCHASE LINKS:

Preorder new mass mkt on Amazon!

Preorder new mass mkt at B&N!

Trade size and ebook versions also available anywhere books are sold.

The Writer's View by Marilyn Leach

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Marilyn will be awarding an e-Book copy of her first book, Candle For A Corpse, to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop, plus a grand prize of a $20.00 gift card to the Pelican Book Group website to a randomly drawn comenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

My Writing Spaces by Marilyn Leach

I love to write. And I love to dream. That’s a rich combination that makes writing a delight, no matter where it is.

I’ve written in so many wonderful places: snuggled up in an overstuffed chair with my notebook computer at the local bookstore, the proverbial coffee shop where people-watching feeds ideas that land in a story, a seaside cottage on the Jurassic Coast in the South of England that sends the senses to new heights. Trains, class lectures, sunlit parks, and quiet libraries are all a part of my repertoire of spaces where I’ve spent time putting electronic words to electronic paper that excite, woo, and brain-tickle the reader.

I’m afraid I made no special effort to tidy my nest where the lion’s share of my writing takes place. Nor did I make it appear more formal than it is. As can be seen from the photo, what you see is what you get on my desk where work and personal life collide. The stuff of stories in one section helps reduce the number of stacked bills on the other side. But what a joy that stuff of stories is. The distant chair in the photo, yes it’s actually a piece of garden furniture, is brilliantly comfortable to settle in for a few hours creating. Please pardon the pajamas hanging on the back of it. I’m often in them when I’m about my work, so count it a small joy they’re simply draped.

I know it looks a simple chair, but it’s actually a jetliner that takes off at the first press of a key and lands in a small village in England. Aidan Kirkwood won’t be found on the map, but it’s a composite of lovely English villages visited in my personal travels. Berdie Elliott, the vicar’s wife with divine sleuthing skills, comes to life in her solving of mysteries, keeping of treasured relationships, and growth of character as she grapples with the quirky realities of everyday parish life. Sadly, there are no full meals served on this chairplane, simply peanuts and hot tea that regularly goes cold.

As often as my flights of fancy take me away, I can’t say I mind returning, especially when I gaze out my window. I have the generous blessing of living lake side. The way the clouds sweep overhead, the color of the water that changes with seasons and sunshine, the teaming wildlife that calls the lake home, all of it, is a beauty I cherish.

So, there it is; my spaces and places where dreams are fortified. And I wish for each of you a special place where dreams flourish, perhaps in a chairplane of your own.

About the Author:

At the age of nine, Marilyn wrote her first work with a childhood friend. It was a mystery. And she has been writing ever since. A graduate of Colorado State University, she taught art to underserved children and co-authored several plays and screenplays. Marilyn is a dyed-in-the-wool British enthusiast after "discovering her roots" in England. She lives in a lakeside cottage on the Denver outskirts.

Buy the book at www.pelicanbookgroup.com or Amazon

A Lenten sod turning ceremony for a new water feature in the back garden of St. Aidan of the Wood Parish Church goes utterly pear-shaped when the upturned soil reveals a human skeleton. With Berdie Elliott at the helm, the whole of Aidan Kirkwood digs into the mystery. When the bones held life, just who was this person? Who is the mysterious contessa who arrives on the garden scene? And what does the young and beautiful Robin Derbyshire's wedding have to do with the grave? Unearth the answers in this fun spring romp.

The Writer's View: Debra Dunbar

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour--remember, the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

*****

Hello readers! I’m Debra Dunbar and I’m excited to be here today. My urban fantasy novel, ELVEN BLOOD was released this month – to celebrate I’ll be selecting one commenter to receive an e-version of the first book in the Imp series, A DEMON BOUND. I’ll also be selecting one commenter from my blog tour to win a Kindle Fire with an ELVEN BLOOD cover skin. Free stuff – don’t miss out!

****

My writing space is less than idea – a couch and coffee table in the “parlor” of our 1820’s farmhouse. It’s what I see when I open the door that sends my heart soaring. Hubby, the kids and I live on 125 acres of farmland in Maryland. Our family also owns several adjoining farms; which means we have almost 900 wooded and pastured acres to ride horses or take long walks. Here’s a glimpse into my world:

This is a typical spring morning on our farm, with cows and horses grazing the fields, and white clouds racing across the blue sky. Yes, it’s pretty muddy out there, so make sure you’ve got good sturdy boots before heading out. Just past the tree line in the distance are my brother-in-law’s fields- plowed and ready for planting. We also have 3 very friendly ewes that are out of sight in a side pasture.

Two of our Embden geese are looking after this little gosling right outside our barn. We bought four geese to serve as protectors to our free range chickens and ducks, but their numbers have expanded to nine over the years. Embdens are big and aggressively protect the other fowl. We’ve yet to see a fox willing to take them on, and even some of our friends are intimidated by their hissing.

Each year we expand our hop yard a little further. We’re currently up three acres and the plants are so impressive in late summer, vining up the 15 foot poles and heavy with cones. Local breweries buy up as much as they can for their special fresh-hopped harvest ales, but we hold some back for our own use. Hubby converted the old dairy into a brewery, and in February of this year opened for business. We’re one of the only farmhouse breweries in the state, and customers love dropping in to experience the beautiful views while picking up a growler of ale.

I’ll leave you with my favorite picture- at dusk, overlooking our neighbor’s farm. I love how this illustrates the rolling landscape so typical of Maryland. One of my three sons is admiring the sunset, a little boy in a vast field of green.

You might wonder that I get any writing done at all with this beauty right outside my window! Sometimes it’s hard, but mostly the scenery clears my muddied thoughts and grounds me. It’s a breath of fresh air, so necessary when I’m chewing over a sticky plot point or a difficult scene.

Farm or city? People or animal watching? What’s the inspiration right outside your window?

About the Author: Debra Dunbar lives on a farm in the northeast United States with her husband, three boys, and a Noah’s ark of four legged family members. Her urban fantasy novels feature supernatural elements in local settings. In addition to A DEMON BOUND, SATAN’S SWORD, and ELVEN BLOOD, she has also published a short story erotica series titled NAUGHTY MOM. Connect with her on Twitter @debra_dunbar on Facebook at debradunbarauthor, and on her website at http://debradunbar.com .

A DEMON BOUND: http://amzn.to/MK6nxD

SATAN’S SWORD: http://amzn.to/Tsi1Wr

Sam may be the Iblis, but she is also an imp with a price on her head. The powerful demon Haagenti won’t rest until she’s dragged back to Hel for “punishment”. Sam knows she can’t face Haagenti and win, so when an Elf Lord offers to eliminate the demon in return for her help, Sam accepts. It’s a simple job – find and retrieve a half-breed monster dead or alive. But finding this demon/elf hybrid isn’t proving easy and time is running out.

Blurb Blast: To Have and to Hold by Charlene Raddon

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This stop is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One commenter on today's stop will receive a copy of one of the author's other books and, at the end of the tour, one commenter will receive a $15 Amazon gift card. The other stops on the tour can be seen here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/excerpt-tour-to-have-and-to-hold-by.html

*****

A woman without a prayer…

A widow with two children, Tempest Whitney had to mortgage everything to repay the money her husband had stolen. But even as she struggles to hold onto her Utah homestead, a scheming rancher buys up her debts, demanding she either get off his land or marry him. Then a dark-haired stranger shows up, claiming to be her dead husband…

A man without a past….

Buck Maddux spent two years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Now a death bed promise has brought him to Tempest’s dugout. A man without roots, he doesn’t plan to stay—or to feel so fiercely protective of this feisty beauty he saves from a forced marriage. Suddenly, Buck yearns for a home, a family, a lasting love. But what can he offer Tempest? The surprising answer lies in the forbidden canyons of an ancient Anasazi tribe, where fortune and danger await—along with a passion more precious than gold…

*****

Stunned, Tempest stood there, watching his broad shoulders fade into the rain. Finally, she climbed onto Othello and plodded after the gelding, the mule so slow she feared she would lose Buck in the storm. A hard kick hiked Othello’s speed to a jolting sort of canter that jarred her teeth. When a speckled rump and a long tail ghosted into view, she breathed a sigh of relief. She slowed as she drew abreast of Buck. He stared straight ahead, ignoring her.

“I have to know what happened, Buck. I need to understand.”

“All you need to understand is that I’m no good. For you, for your children, even for myself. You should be damned eager to see my back.”

“I already saw your back, riding off into the storm without me, and I was terrified. Blast it, Buck—” her anger rose as swiftly as the rain fell “—you have no right to decide what’s good for me.”

“I have no rights over you at all, which is what’s best for both of us. Drop it, Tempest. It’s over. You have the gold. Hearts-ease is safe. You don’t need me."

“Stop telling me what I need! I make my own decisions."

Treachery Canyon yawned before them, black and sinister in the spectral mist of the storm. Without pausing, Buck spurred Spook into the dark defile, forcing the mule to fall behind. Tempest wished she had something to throw at him. Blast his hide, why did he have to be so stubborn? “Buck!”

There was no answer. “Damn you, Buck Maddux,” she hollered into the murky shadows. “You listen to me. No matter what you do, no matter what you say . . . I'll still love you. I’ll always love you.”

*****

Charlene first serious writing attempt came in 1980 when she awoke one morning from an unusually vivid and compelling dream. Deciding that dream needed to be made into a book, she dug out an old portable typewriter and went to work. That book never sold, but her second one, Tender Touch, became a Golden Heart finalist and earned her an agent. Soon after, she signed a three book contract with Kensington Books. Five of Charlene's western historical romances were published between 1994 and 1999: Taming Jenna, Tender Touch (1994 Golden Heart Finalist under the title Brianna), Forever Mine (1996 Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer's Choice Award Nominee and Affaire de Coeur Reader/Writer Poll finalist), To Have and To Hold Affaire de Coeur Reader/Writer Poll finalist); and writing as Rachel Summers, The Scent of Roses. Forever Mine and Tender Touch are available as e-books and after January 24, To Have and To Hold will be as well. When not writing, Charlene loves to travel, crochet, needlepoint, research genealogy, scrapbook, and dye Ukrainian eggs.

Links:

htp://www.charleneraddon.com/

http://www.charleneraddon.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CharleneRaddon?ref=hl

Super Book Blast: Fate by Tallulah Grace

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tallulah will be awarding winner's choice of a backlist eBook to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop. You can see the other stops on the tour here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/virtual-super-book-blast-fate-timeless.html

*****

Death stalks Kris in dreams and in reality. The target of a cunning serial killer, Kris must defend her life and her love. Visions prepare her for what’s coming, but is knowledge enough to change the future? Or will demented mania claim victory over fated love?

The good things in life are coming together for Kristina Collins. She’s found her ideal home, her career is on track for mega success and the man of her dreams has finally come back into her life.

In Fate, the first installment of the Timeless Trilogy, Kris Collins discovers the benefits and risks of having precognitive visions while being stalked by a serial killer. Her friends can’t help her, the FBI can’t save her; she must save herself.

The Timeless Trilogy heroines, Kristina, Veronica and Cassandra, each deal with paranormal abilities as they discover and rediscover eternal love.

*****

“Thanks. Do you live there with your husband?”

“No, it’s just me and Peg, um, Pegasus. My cat. Who is probably trying to dig his way into the pantry, looking for dinner.” Kris smiled and started to back down the stairs. “Welcome to the neighborhood, I’m sure you’ll love it here. I have to go now, see you around.” The very last thing Kris wanted was to run into Marla. Seeing Nick was bad enough, but she had to get her act together before making nice with the wicked witch.

“Wait,” Nick didn’t want to let her go. The woman had stomped on his heart, crumpled him up and threw him away, but that didn’t seem to matter at the moment. “Would you like to have dinner? We could catch up.”

Kris felt like a deer in headlights. Her body and soul screamed ‘YES’ but her mind knew better. “Thanks, but maybe some other time. I’m really beat tonight.” Two more steps, keep moving, she thought.

“Tomorrow night?” Nick was determined not to take no for an answer. “I’ll cook. Is seven okay? Pegasus is invited too.” Nick gave her one of his most charming smiles; at least he hoped it was charming.

Kris opened her mouth to say ‘No thanks’, but she heard the words “I’d love to” escape her traitorous lips. She had never been able to resist this man. Not from the first time she saw him walking out of the library at school. Tall with broad shoulders, he was one of the only men she had met who made her feel petite, which she definitely was not. His thick, wavy hair—so black it was almost blue—was a little longer than she remembered. It suited his high cheekbones and wide-set blue eyes.

Nick took note of her appraisal, his heart hammering against his ribs. Relief washed over him when she agreed to join him for dinner. Dazzling her with a smile, which she couldn’t help but return, he said softly, “Till tomorrow then.”

*****

Tallulah Grace is an aficionado of anything paranormal, loves to read a good thriller and creates characters that become friends. Tallulah was born and raised in a small southern town located in the foothills of the vibrant Blue Ridge Mountains. When she's not developing characters and weaving stories, Tallulah enjoys antiquing and bead-weaving.

Find the author here:

Website: http://www.tallulahgrace.com

Blog: http://www.tallulahspeaks.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TallulahSpeaks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grace.tallulah

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/tallulahgrace

Book Trailer on You Tube: http://bit.ly/mC5UfX

Buy the book here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054QZNRA

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/timeless-trilogy-book-one-tallulah-grace/1104729281

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/timeless-trilogy-book-one/id454533167?mt=11

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66643

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Timeless-Trilogy-Book-One-Fate/book-AGyrHX17p0yENAS0mnawxg/page1.html

Guest Blog: Sheila Roberts

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:57:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sheila will be awarding a print copy of What She Wants (US/Canada only) to 10 randomly drawn commenters during the tour. A Grand Prize of a $25 eHarlequin coupon plus a finished copy of What She Wants (US/Canada only) will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Rafflecopter code is at the end of the post. Please scroll down. You can see the other stops on the tour here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/virtual-book-tour-what-she-wants-by.html

THINKING LIKE A MAN

So, why write a romance novel strictly from a man’s viewpoint? I know, that sounds a little crazy, doesn’t it? But somehow, for the story I wanted to tell, it just seemed right.

This is a book about men trying to figure women out – how to get one, how to keep one, how to know what a woman wants in a man. With that being the focus I thought it would be fun to spend some time inside the minds of these men.

I had a great time building my cast of characters, and each of these men means something to me. Some of them, like my main hero Jonathan Templar, represent real life men I’ve known, nice guys who would get frustrated watching women go for guys who weren’t so nice but were good looking, charming heartbreakers. One friend in particular would get really irritated at being overlooked while the women all got magnetized to someone else who was really a stinker. I never understood why the women we hung around with didn’t get what a great guy he was. (If you’re wondering why, if this guy was so wonderful, I didn’t snag him, it’s because I was already married and my husband doesn’t like to share.) Watching all this was both sad and fascinating. Why didn’t these women see what was right under their noses?

That question kept dancing around the back of my brain until one day I got the bright idea to write about just such a man. I decided, while I was at it, to throw in a few other challenged males with woman problems. And, I’ve got to say, I had a great time with these guys. A lot of the things they say in the book are exactly what I’ve heard from different men over the years. It was fun to give these men a voice. And it was also fun to give them a few hints as to how they could improve their love life. One of them suffers from the same problem many of us women do... not seeing what’s really important when looking for that perfect mate. Another, well, let’s just say in his current condition he’s not going to get any good husband awards.

I really enjoyed hanging out with these guys. I love them all, and I hope you will too!

About the Author:

Sheila Roberts lives on a lake in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children. She’s been writing since 1989, but she did lots of things before settling in to her writing career, including owning a singing telegram company and playing in a band. Her band days are over, but she still enjoys writing songs. When she’s not speaking to women’s groups or at conferences or hanging out with her girlfriends she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

http://www.sheilasplace.com/index.html

http://www.sheilasplace.com/blog.html

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheila-Roberts/76502579853

https://twitter.com/_Sheila_Roberts

What do women want?

Jonathan Templar and his poker buddies can't figure it out. Take Jonathan, for instance. He's been in love with Lissa Castle since they were kids but, geek that he is, she's never seen him as her Mr. Perfect. He has one last shot—their high school reunion. Kyle Long is equally discouraged. The pretty receptionist at his office keeps passing him over for other guys who may be taller but are definitely not superior. And Adam Edwards might be the most successful of Jonathan's friends, but he isn't having any success on the home front. His wife's kicked him out.

When Jonathan stumbles on a romance novel at the Icicle Falls library sale, he knows he's found the love expert he's been seeking—Vanessa Valentine, top-selling romance author. At first his buddies laugh at him for reading romance novels, but soon they, too, realize that these stories are the world's best textbooks on love. Poker night becomes book club night…and when all is read and done, they're going to be the kind of men women want!

Buy the book at Amazon or BN.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLURB BLITZ TOUR: THE TWINNED UNIVERSES

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:06:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sandra will award one randomly chosen commenter the choice of a $50 Amazon gift card or a gift pack of all of the following items related to Twinned Universes: two Shakespeare mugs, a Sears tower pendant, a book by Carl Sagan (Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space), and a signed copy of the first book in the series, Lyon's Legacy. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops in the tour.

Paul Harrison always wanted to play Hamlet, but he never expected he’d live the role first. In the aftermath of a family tragedy on 21st century Earth, Paul discovers he’s the clone of Sean Lyon, his great-great-grandfather and a famous TwenCen musician. Suspecting his mother’s death was no accident, Paul comes up with a plan to trick the answers out of the great-uncle who had him cloned. But in order to make his plan work, Paul needs help from Sean himself—and Sean’s time is running out in the TwenCen universe next door.

Although Paul’s family lives on the spaceship that travels between the universes, he’s never been allowed on TwenCen Earth. Now, with the help of his friends, his disguise-creating holoprojectors, and a quantum quirk, Paul must make his way to Sean while evading other time travelers who fear he’ll change the history of the TwenCen universe. If Paul is to achieve justice, he must not only risk his own life, but the wormhole connecting the universes. “To be or not to be” was a simple question in comparison....

Excerpt

Paul drew his knees up to his chin as he thought. The space elevator lurched occasionally, but it ran so quietly all he could hear were snores from Cass and a sporadic click from Dad’s handheld. Why would Great-Uncle Jack want him so desperately? Why should he care about Paul so much? He was so obsessed with Sean Lyon it seemed impossible for him to have room in his mind for anything else. Unless...Paul was linked to Sean somehow? They were several generations apart; Jack himself was closer to Sean than Paul was. Besides, Cass was also Sean’s descendant, so that didn’t fit with Jack’s ignoring her. He still badgered Mom about music—well, he had, even on this last visit—so it couldn’t be because Cass was a girl.

Paul remembered the photo and holo Great-Uncle Jack had sent him. What did the Elvii Twins have to do with him anyway? The Elvii Twins were clones of a TwenCen rock star like Sean Lyon. Someone had traveled on the Sagan through the wormhole and into the alternate universe to get Elvis Presley’s DNA. Mom had worked on the Sagan since before Paul was born, and Dad had said she’d gone down to TwenCen Earth at least once. Paul looked a lot like Sean....

What the hell? No. It can’t be true—can it?

Feeling as if he’d forgotten his most important line in the middle of a performance, he asked, “Dad, am I…am I Sean Lyon’s clone?”

About the Author: Sandra Ulbrich Almazan started reading at the age of three and only stops when absolutely required to. Although she hasn’t been writing quite that long, she did compose a very simple play in German during middle school.

Her science fiction novella Move Over Ms. L. (an early version of Lyon’s Legacy) earned an Honorable Mention in the 2001 UPC Science Fiction Awards, and her short story “A Reptile at the Reunion” was published in the anthology Firestorm of Dragons. She is a founding member of BroadUniverse and a long-time member of the Online Writing Workshop for Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror.

Her undergraduate degree is in molecular biology/English, and she has a Master of Technical and Scientific Communication degree. Her current day job is in the laboratory of an enzyme company; she’s also been a technical writer and a part-time copyeditor for a local newspaper. Some of her other accomplishments are losing on Jeopardy! and taking a stuffed orca to three continents.

She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, Eugene; and son, Alex. In her rare moments of free time, she enjoys crocheting, listening to classic rock (particularly the Beatles), and watching improv comedy.

Sandra can be found online at her website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook. Upcoming projects from Sandra include a standalone fantasy story called “The Fighting Roses of Sharon”; Twinned Universes, the second book in the science fiction Catalyst Chronicles series; and Scattered Seasons, the first book in the fantasy Season Lords series.

Buy the Book at: Amazon B&N Smashwords

The Writer's View: Barbara Custer

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Barbara will award one randomly drawn commenter at every stop a backlist eBook – it could be City of Brotherly Death, Twilight Healer, or one of her Night to Dawn magazines, and one randomly drawn commenter on the tour will receive a $15.00 gift certificate to Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, winner's choice. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Balloon Author’s View: Inside / Outside

Most people envision my interior world filled with zombies, revenants, and other monsters. When I’m not working my day job, people assume, I’m kicking zombie ass the way Alexis does in Steel Rose. Well, I haven’t met any zombies lately, but I live near a cemetery with a setting much like the kind I use in Steel Rose and other tales. Skeletal trees, leavings from the dead of winter, and snow-crusted grass surround each tombstone. The dusky sky whispers rumors of another snowstorm. For months, I’ve made it my business to avoid the cemetery, especially after the storm Sandy. The heavy rain from Sandy washed up a bunch of caskets, as you can see in the illustration below. I kept thinking that the lids would open and spill out their contents. People looking many days dead had unfinished business to settle. Brrrrr. No wonder I hate winter.

The lids never opened, and the officers reburied all the caskets, but the imagination can be an overwhelming tool. Thankfully, the brightly colored Mylar balloons in my home offer a sanctuary from such ugliness. In my office, a Mylar monkey stands over me as I type, supervising me and making sure I don’t lose focus. A bouquet of colorful balloons perches on the bookcase, minding their business. The bookcase has handy dandy reference books, though I do most of my research online. My desk is messy. I mean downright cluttered, so much that I didn’t feel comfortable including a picture. I can’t explain why, but sometimes I can make better sense out of the disorder.

Moving right along to the living room, where I work off my laptop, a rose balloon shape reclines on my sofa, smiling at me as she pleases. A balloon tree marks the entrance to the bathroom. Another Mylar bouquet with butterflies stands on the bookcase behind me. Standing and watching, ready to bop me on the head if I daydream or fall asleep on the job (yes, this has really happened!)

How many balloons does that make? I’d say fifty.

I’ve got two more bookcases in the living room, filled with novels. Writers like Stephen King and Jonathan Maberry dominate my shelves. Why? They’re masters at horror, and it behooves any writer to read fiction by other authors to get a sense of the craft before trying it themselves. My floral footstool serves as a prop for the Night to Dawn magazines slated to go out in the mail. I’ve mailed out quite a few NTD issue 23 magazines, and I hope to have them finished by the time my blog goes live. The reviews are looking good for NTD.

Does Steel Rose have cemeteries with zombies and rooms filled with Mylar balloons? Well let’s put it this way. Does God make little green apples? Does it snow in Pennsylvania during the winter time? So what is your view from your author’s desk? Do you shade your book to the setting of your office the way I did? I’d like to hear your thoughts.

About the Author: Barbara lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she works full time as a respiratory therapist. When she’s not working with her patients, she’s enjoying a fright flick or working on horror and science fiction tales. Her short stories have appeared in numerous small press magazines. She’s published Night to Dawn magazine since 2004.

Other books by Barbara include Twilight Healer and City of Brotherly Death. She’s also coauthored Alien Worlds and Starship Invasions with Tom Johnson. She enjoys bringing her medical background to the printed page, and then blending it with supernatural horror. She maintains a presence on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and The Writers Coffeehouse forum. Look for the photos with the Mylar balloons, and you’ll find her.

To contact her, e-mail her at barbaracuster@hotmail.com.

Visit her at:

www.bloodredshadow.com

www.facebook.com/barbara.custer

www.linkedin.com/pub/barbara-custer/10/aa9/bba

https://twitter.com/NighttoDawn1

Sometimes they come back. At least the Kryszka aliens do. Their leader injects captured humans with a drug, turning them into zombies. Yeron escapes the Kryszka colony, hoping to practice medicine on the humans that fear him. Alexis, a patient, is afraid, too, until his seductive attentions arouse her. Despite his experimental drug, severe arthritis leaves her too weak to handle most guns. The Kryszka troops and zombies who break into the hospital are hungry. Very hungry. How will she fight them?

Publisher buy link: http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615728527

The Angry Woman Suite by Lee Fullbright

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lee will award a $50 Amazon card to one randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops in the tour.

Raised in a crumbling New England mansion by four women with personalities as split as a cracked mirror, young Francis Grayson has an obsessive need to fix them all. There’s his mother, distant and beautiful Magdalene; his disfigured, suffocating Aunt Stella; his odious grandmother; and the bane of his existence, his abusive and delusional Aunt Lothian.

For years, Francis plays a tricky game of duck and cover with the women, turning to music to stay sane. He finds a friend and mentor in Aidan Madsen, schoolmaster, local Revolutionary War historian, musician and keeper of the Grayson women’s darkest secrets. In a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are revealed through the viewpoints of three different people–Aidan, Francis and Francis’stepdaughter, Elyse–adding layers of eloquent complexity to a story as powerful as it is troubling.

While Francis realizes his dream of forming his own big band in the 1940s, his success is tempered by the inner monster of his childhood, one that roars to life when he marries Elyse’s mother. Elyse becomes her stepfather’s favorite target, and her bitterness becomes entwined with a desire to know the real Francis Grayson.

For Aidan’s part, his involvement with the Grayson family only deepens, and secrets carried for a lifetime begin to coalesce as he seeks to enlighten Francis–and subsequently Elyse–of why the events of so many years ago matter now. The ugliness of deceit, betrayal and resentment permeates the narrative, yet there are shining moments of hope, especially in the relationship between Elyse and her grandfather.

Ultimately, as more of the past filters into the present, the question becomes: What is the truth, and whose version of the truth is correct? Fullbright never untangles this conundrum, and it only adds to the richness of this exemplary novel.—Kirkus Reviews

READ AN EXCERPT

“I’ll tell you what I’m ready for, Aidan. I’m ready for the top floor.” His eyebrows shot up.

“I beg your pardon?”

“The third floor of Grayson House. I’m ready for it. I’m really ready.”

“I don’t think I understand—”

“Please, Aidan.” I emphasized each word: “I’m ready to meet Jamie.”

I turned and walked out of that parlor then, and into the foyer and up the ten steps to the landing where the grand staircase turned direction. I ran up the first flight, then paused at the second landing, waiting for Aidan. When I glimpsed him behind me, I turned and ran up the next flight, to the third floor, straight for the door at the end of the hallway, next to the door that opened onto the outside stairs.

I’d been able to pinpoint this door as the one by the soft thumps I’d heard when I’d sneaked into Papa’s room on the second floor—things nobody thought I’d hear—and by watching from my spot across the road: the quick deliveries and arrivals, the things and people nobody thought I’d see.

I hesitated, not feeling anything, I was now so empty. No more anger. Instead I was in tune with senses: the steady tick-tock of the clock at the end of the otherwise soundless hallway, the wallpaper’s perfectly vertical stripe, even an aromatic odor reminiscent of the appendectomy I’d had when I was six—was it ether? And then, finally, Aidan’s ragged breathing when he caught up with me. We were ready, in position—and it was understood I’d assumed leadership: I’d go first.

I turned the doorknob. My opponent had just run through his resources.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lee Fullbright, a medical practice consultant in her non-writing life, lives on San Diego’s beautiful peninsula with her writing partner, Baby Rae, a 12-year-old rescued Australian cattle dog with attitude.

The Angry Woman Suite, a Kirkus Critics’ pick, 5-starred Readers Favorite, and a Discovery Aware winner, is her first published novel.

Find her online at www.LeeFullbright.com

BLURB BLITZ TOUR: ACE OF DIAMONDS by Vogue

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Vogue will be awarding $50 Gift Card to Kay Jewelers to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the banner to see the other stops on the tour.

BLURB Since his release from prison, Brookstone’s most notorious drug lord, Jay Santiago, has been hard at work rebuilding his life and empire. With two businesses under his belt and one in the making, Jay is readily known as one of New York’s elite men.

While the root of his financial status lies in the newly rebuilt Santiago cartel, Jay is determined to expand his wealth. After reconnecting with an old comrade, he believes that he has found the one thing that could increase his fortune and allow him to leave behind the dangers of his criminal enterprise for good.

However, as Jay’s new business venture begins to come to fruition, he quickly learns that the one material object that he loves the most could lead to his biggest downfall yet.

EXCERPT

Jay focused the conversation on the real reason that he had come to Dallas. He had recently linked up with one of his old comrades who had helped him put millions into a new investment, one that he wanted Lotus to help him with. His plan was to use their connection to his advantage.

“I figured that since I’m Hector’s son that you would help me.”

Lotus was taken aback. “Help you? Help you with what?”

Jay knew that what he said next was going to send Lotus into a fury. “I need a warehouse,” he told him, quickly.

“Oh no,” Lotus said, taking off his seatbelt. “Stop the car, Arnold. Pull over.”

Jay unbuckled his seatbelt as well. He grabbed Lotus’ shoulder, in an attempt to calm him down. “Lotus, come on, listen to me. I know you helped me with this before, but I need another one. I mean, you sold me the building for Blue Magic. I’m making honest of the restaurant, aren’t I? I promise you, I will—” Jay was interrupted as Lotus screamed in his ear.

“Are you out of your mind? What are you getting into now?”

“I can’t go to anybody with this project. I don’t need a lot of ears or eyes on this. I trust you, Lotus. I know that you won’t publicize this sale like you do the others. I know you will take the warehouse out of your company’s listings way before the sale is even complete.”

Lotus shook his head, nervously. He knew that if Jay was asking for a warehouse then there was probably some illegal operation about to go down inside of it. The last time he had sold him one, he ended up using the space to house illegal drugs and weapons. Now, he wanted one again. Certain that Jay was still running a drug cartel, Lotus didn’t want anything to do with it. His days of working alongside a criminal enterprise were long gone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, Vogue’s journey through the world of creative writing first began in middle school with poetry and songwriting. While the mix of rhythm and words was the initial passage to self-expression, it was the discovery of prose that opened the door to a world of endless possibilities. An avid reader of Urban Fiction, Vogue felt the need to create literary works that had an equal balance of street lit, drama, romance, and faith-based undertones.

A graduate of Winthrop University (Rock Hill, S.C.), possessing a bachelor’s degree in social work, Vogue, first birthed the idea of The Diamond Collection in the halls of her alma mater. In 2003, she put pen to paper and thus was created, Diamonds In The Rough, part one of The Diamond Collection series.

By 2010, Vogue had written drafts of the entire ten book series and in June of 2010, Diamonds In The Rough, was published for her to share with the rest of the world. Soon followed by Diamonds Are Forever in October of 2010 and The Ace of Diamonds in February of 2013, Vogue joined the league of other writers, determined to make her mark in the literary world.

Still writing, Vogue plans to release the fourth book in the series, Black Diamonds, in late 2013 or early 2014 as well as pen her first Young Adult novel.

Author Email: blaq_pearls@yahoo.com

Official Author Website: www.simplyvogue.net

Crown Jewelz Publishing Website: www.crownjewelzpub.com

Crown Jewelz Publishing email: crownjewelzpub@gmail.com

Facebook (Author): www.thefacebook.com/SimplyVogue

Facebook (Publisher): www.thefacebook.com/crownjewelzpub

Twitter (Author): @SimplyVogue_B

Twitter (Publisher): @crownjewelzpub

Instagram (Author): MarilynMonRHO_1922

SUPER BOOK BLAST: Vegas Vacation by Crystal Jordan

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Crystal will be awarding 5 digital copies of her backlist story, "All Tangled Up" to randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and a grand prize pack of a copy of "All Tangled Up", a $10 Amazon or BN gift card, and a Vegas-inspired playing card necklace to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

BLURB

It’s spring break, and a group of teachers from Half Moon Bay Middle School are planning to cut loose. History teacher Meg Phillips hadn’t planned on being one of them—Vegas isn’t really a town for a bookworm—but somehow she let her friend Anne talk her into it. Though honestly, she’d rather indulge in some poolside reading than co-star in an R-rated edition of Teachers Gone Wild. It took some major arm twisting for Finn Walsh to convince his fellow gym teacher, Anne, to do whatever it took to get Meg to Vegas. For over a year he’s been looking for the chance to get to know her outside of work. He’s drawn to her quiet beauty and intelligence—and the hint of fire beneath her understated exterior. When he finally gets the opportunity to peel away those layers, the result is far more explosive than he ever fantasized. Now to convince her that the week isn’t a wildly out-of-character mistake, but the start of something amazing...

Read an Excerpt

“Come on, Anne. The least you can do is ask her for me. She’ll listen to you.” Finn Walsh offered up his most winning smile, but his colleague gave him a dubious glance.

“Why exactly would I help you get in my friend’s pants?” Anne Kirby snorted, bending her long limbs into a stretch as they both warmed up to start the day. Teaching physical education at a middle school kept them running. “Besides, Meg turned you down the one time you asked her out.”

Yeah, she had. Finn winced. “I don’t want to get in her pants.”

Anne straightened and stared at him. “Right, I believe that one. You want to date Meg, but you don’t want to do her.”

He lowered himself to the wooden gym floor and grabbed the toe of his sneaker to help flex his calf. Meg’s heart-shaped face filled his mind. Brunette curls he wanted to tangle his fingers in, eyes that were an impossible shade of storm cloud gray. She wasn’t tall or short, just average, but she had curves in all the right places. Her ass, especially. Tight, round and perfect. He wanted to get his hands on it. Hell, he wanted to get his hands on all of her, as often as humanly possible. But if it were just about getting laid, he could find a woman for that easily. No, he wanted Meg, specifically. “Okay, I don’t only want to get in her pants.”

“That’s a little more believable.” Anne smiled when the school bell rang. Within a few minutes, gangly teens began trudging past them into the changing room.

“I mean it.” Finn waved to a few of his students, picking himself up off the floor. “I like her, Anne. She turned me down because she thinks it’s a bad idea to date co-workers. She never said she wasn’t interested in me.”

Crossing her arms, Anne shrugged. “She’s being smart about it. We had an ugly breakup between two teachers a few years back, before you came to HMB. The memory for those of us who were here is still pretty fresh and really harsh. I don’t know if I’d date another teacher either. When it goes sour–”

“If, not when. It doesn’t have to go sour.” Usually, he wasn’t one to fish in the work dating pool either, but for Meg, he’d make an exception. She taught history, and she was quiet, smart, and drew him like a magnet. Seeing her was his best reason to show up for staff meetings. He liked being around her, liked her considered approach to every controversy that came up at work. She wasn’t out-spoken and ready to jump into the fray like Anne, but when she offered an opinion, everyone listened. Everything about Meg appealed to Finn. There was huge potential between them, potential for something that could actually last. He knew it, without any doubts.

About the Author:Crystal Jordan is originally from California, but has lived all over the United States. Currently, she serves as a librarian at a university in her home state, and she writes contemporary, paranormal, futuristic, and erotic romance. Her publishers have included Kensington Aphrodisia, Harlequin Spice Briefs, Ellora's Cave, and Samhain Publishing.

Find Crystal online:

Website: www.CrystalJordan.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crystaljordan
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CrystalJordanFanPage

Buy links will be added to the book’s page on my website as they become available: http://www.crystaljordan.com/books/vegas-vacation

BOOK REVIEW: JESSIE'S WAR by Meggan Connors

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Meggan will be awarding a silver pocket watch pendant and a cameo choker, and a signed paperback copy of The Marker, her historical romance to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (US/CANADA ONLY) Please click the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

She's about to become a pawn in a brutal game between nations...

The American Civil War has raged for more than ten years. The outcast daughter of a famous inventor, Jessica White has struggled to salvage what little remains of her life. Then, one cold winter night, the lover she'd given up for dead returns, claiming the Union Army bought the plans for her father's last invention. But he's not the only one who lays claim to the device, for the Confederacy wants the invention as well. Both sides will kill to have it.

...And only he can save her.

As an agent for the Union Army, Luke Bradshaw is a man who will use whomever and whatever is at his disposal in order to complete his mission. An attack by Confederate soldiers ensures that Jessie will turn to him for help, but Luke can't help but wonder about the secrets she keeps--and if those secrets will ultimately prove fatal.

This book brings you into a world of airships, gears, high tech Civil War intrigue. I was swept into this world--so different from the Civil War I'm familiar of--and she made it believable.

I loved the characters--even the secondary characters were richly drawn. I would love to read more about Elizabeth and Mordecai Jameson's story, not to mention the other men in Luke's team. And, Jessie and Luke.... they are the couple you find yourself rooting for and pulling for and crying over. Meggan makes you feel the pain and betrayal that Jessie went through.

The romance is strong, there's a touch of paranormal that caught me by surprise, and the story is compelling. Meggan Connors is a new-to-me author, but I will definitely be on the look out for more of her books.

About the Author:

Meggan Connors is a wife, mother, teacher and award-winning author who writes primarily historical and steampunk romances. As a history buff with a love of all things historical, she enjoys visiting both major and obscure museums, and reading the histories of the Old West and the British Isles. She makes her home in the Wild West with her lawman husband, two children, and a menagerie of pets. When she's not writing, she can usually be found hiking in the mountains, playing in the snow, or with her nose in a book. Favorite vacation destinations include the sun-kissed hills of California, any place with a castle or a ghost (and both is perfect!), and the windswept Oregon coast.

Website: www.MegganConnors.com
Twitter: @megganconnors

EXCERPT TOUR: TO CATCH A BAD GUY by Marie Astor

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Marie will be awarding custom designed semiprecious jewelry pieces to five randomly drawn commenters during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops in the tour. Remember...the more times you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Prize 1: Citrine quartz and prehnite sterling silver necklace
Prize 2: Red agate sterling silver necklace
Prize 3: Onyx sterling silver bracelet
Prize 4: Smoky quartz sterling silver earrings
Prize 5: Blue quartz sterling silver earrings

Janet Maple’s stellar career ended with a layoff and her boyfriend of five years told her that he wants to be just friends. When she lands a job at one of New York’s premier boutique investment firms, Janet begins to hope that her luck is finally turning for the better. Not only is she happy with her new paycheck, but things also seem to be looking up on the personal front, as the company’s handsome attorney expresses keen interest in Janet. However, her euphoria is short-lived, as Janet soon discovers alarming facts about her new employer’s business tactics. When her boss dismisses her suspicions as groundless, Janet finds herself confiding to a cute IT engineer, Dean Snider. The closer she gets to Dean, the more Janet is tempted to break her rule of not dating co-workers, but what she doesn’t realize is that everything she knows about Dean, including his occupation and even his name, is a lie.

Dennis Walker is a top-notch white collar crime investigator who will stop at nothing to put culprits away. When an opportunity for an undercover assignment at one of New York’s premier boutique broker dealers comes up, Dennis jumps at the chance, adopting a persona of geeky IT engineer, Dean Snider. While he may be an ace at his job, years of experience fail him when Dennis meets Janet Maple and finds himself torn between his professional obligations and his personal desires. Will he have to choose between his feelings and duty, or will he find a way to satisfy both?

READ AN EXCERPT

Dennis Walker sat behind his desk with a smile glinting on his face. He had stopped by Janet Maple’s office for a casual chitchat, but when he noticed the reports on her desk, Dennis knew he had struck gold. Dennis considered himself to be in possession of many unique and valuable traits, but the trait that had proven to be exceptionally beneficial to him was a photographic memory. He could literally glance at a page in a book and be able to reconstruct the image in his mind afterwards. This quality had been most useful in his college days and in his career as a trader, but it became invaluable in Dennis’s role as an investigator.

Now, as he pretended to look at his computer screen, Dennis reconstructed the details of the reports he had glimpsed on Janet’s desk. He had only managed to steal a few short glances without raising Janet’s suspicion, but even that had been enough. From the settlement records that Dennis had previously obtained, he already knew that the majority of Bostoff’s order flow came from Emperial, Creaton, Rigel, Gemini, and Sphinx. While the settlement data had been useful to Dennis in confirming the extent of Bostoff’s involvement with these questionable entities, it did not show the sequence of the trades sent to Bostoff by its clients. The report only showed the volume of transactions for each client’s account and revenue received from each account. However, the trade blotter report that Janet had on her desk showed the time sequence in which the orders were executed, and Dennis remembered with vivid clarity the cluster of orders from Emperial, Creaton, and Rigel. They were all short sales centered in the same security – the name of the company had been in the news lately in reference to increased volatility in its stock price. Dennis had only seen a snippet of the trading blotter, but he was fairly certain that the rest of the blotters would show a similar pattern. Dennis had been trying to get his hands on the trade blotter reports for a while. He had inquired casually with the head of the Operations group about how this data was stored, but had been politely told that the trade blotter report generating system was outsourced to a vendor and did not require support from internal IT. Dennis tried to break into the report system, but upon failing on several tries, he was at his wits’ end. Today he had stumbled upon a solution. Who would have thought that the firm’s legal department would have access to such nitty-gritty data? Normally, the legal folks sat in the ivory tower, deeming themselves too important to mar their hands with anything other than legalese memos. Janet Maple, however, did not mind getting her hands dirty, which made Dennis like her all the more. And now he had a valid reason to get to know Janet better.

About the Author:Marie Astor is the author of contemporary romance novels This Tangled Thing Called Love, Lucky Charm, On the Rim of Love; romantic suspense To Catch a Bad Guy; and a short story collection, A Dress in a Window. Marie is also the author of young adult fantasy adventure novel, Over the Mountain and Back.

If you would like to learn more about Marie’s writing, please stop by her website: www.MarieAstor.com or visit her on Facebook.

The Writer's View: Liza O'Connor

noreply@blogger.com (Judy) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Liza will award a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. One commenter on this stop will also receive the prize indicated below. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Saving Casey will be reduced from $5.99 to $2.99 for the duration of the tour (March 5th-April 11th) at Amazon, B&N, DP/Bono, ARe, Coffee Time Romance, BookStrand and Smashwords.

Welcome to my writing space, otherwise known as my living room. Here’s an advantage of being single and a writer hermit that never invites people over. I can turn my living room into my writer’s den.

I do have an office, but my butt prefers the soft padded recliner to the ergonomic chair.

My recliner rocks and reclines, giving me options. As I write this, I am rocking to the tune of Kenny Chesney’s El Cerrito Place. Before you become too impressed with my ability to name country music songs, I’ve digital radio on my TV so all I had to do was look up two inches higher than my PC screen and type what the words on the TV.

I also eat lunch and dinner in this chair while going through my endless emails. Some days I check the box after 3 hours of writing and discover I’ve 5 pages of new emails. That’s my cue to go make popcorn with curry sprinkled on top and snack while I read them all. I also try to check spam every other day. You would be amazed at how many lotteries and grand prizes I win without even entering. I must be the luckiest person alive.

I know you’ll be shocked, but I never open and fill out the lottery document requesting all my financial information so they can send me my million dollars. The truth is I believe lotteries come with a curse. I’ve even written a book about that. (Not published yet)

Sick of your family and friends? Want them to all hate you? Want to be stalked by con-artists and wacky people who become threatening when you don’t share your good fortune? Win a lottery. You’ll piss off everyone you care about without even trying. Just say no to their harebrain schemes and try to keep your winnings for your own misguided ideas. Soon all you’ll have for company are scary stalkers who insist God wants you to give them all your money. You’ll know you hit rock bottom when you long for your annoying brother-in-law who thinks farting is a sports event.

My advice, given from my comfy recliner/rocker, is to avoid all lotteries, even the real ones. Now back to the topic I’m supposed to discuss: My writing space. (I get distracted easily.)

Except when I’m hiking with my dog Jess, this chair is probably where you’ll find me. Writing, Editing, Blogging, Tweeting, Commenting on Facebook or marketing. You’ll notice it’s not entirely tidy around my chair. I thought about cleaning it up for the picture, but that would be dishonest. The truth is I prefer having books and stuff nearby rather than having a tidy environment. One of the reasons I can endure this mess is because I can’t really see it. What I see is this view.

What’s with the red glowing fan thing? It’s my heater that’s needed because I keep the heat at 55 degrees F. (Starving authors cannot afford oil heat.)

Notice my sister’s latest gift: my flat screen TV. As a starving author, working full time at my craft, I had a small clunky TV, but my sister sent this as my Christmas present this year. She’s a fabulous sister, and no, I will not trade her for yours. So don’t ask.

Well, I need to get back to work now. Glad you stopped by. And please buy Saving Casey.(Starving author…remember?) You’ll laugh, cry and yell a lot—so don’t read it at work.

Because this was such a fun interview, one lucky commenter will receive either the worst swag in the history of swagdom: Facial temp tats like Saving Casey’s…

or a $5 Amazon Gift Card. Winner’s choice. Just state which you are hoping for and leave your email so I don’t spend a whole day hunting you down.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: I live in Denville, NJ with my dog, Jess. We hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, I learned to fly small cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. I’m an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through my entire life, my first love has and always will be writing novels. I love to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.

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Eighty-year-old Cass wakes up in the body of a troubled seventeen-year-old girl named Casey, which all believe has survived a suicide attempt. Cass intends to turn the girl’s life around, only it’s harder than she expects. All Casey’s troubles have now become Cass’s and someone wants her dead.

Read an Excerpt

Upon settling down on the toilet, Cass noticed the floor to ceiling mirror facing her and screamed at the sight of the creature within it. Short black hair spouted about its head, black circles surrounded both eyes and fell like triangular knives down the cheeks. Black lips, stretched in horror as if in a nightmare. Pulling up her pants, she moved closer to the mirror.

She was a ghoul, an honest to God ghoul!

The door crashed open and her father stared at her, fear and panic clear in his eyes.

She touched her face. “Please tell me these aren’t permanent.”

His panic remained a second longer as her words filtered into his brain and then he pulled her into his arms. “Don’t worry, we will get them removed—if you want to…”

“If? Oh, I definitely want them removed,” she said.

How can I turn around my life if I look like the walking dead from a low-grade monster movie?

~~~

You can buy the book at

Bonobookstore Amazon BN.com