CELTICLADY'S REVIEWS

Home for the Summer by Mariah Stewart Book Recomendation

2012-05-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

HOME FOR THE SUMMER by Mariah Stewart is part of her Chesapeake Shore series – here’s a short summary:

Some of Lucy Sinclair’s best days were those spent growing up in small town St. Dennis—working at the family inn and enjoying summers filled with swimming, sailing, tennis, and the company of Clay Madison, her best friend. But Lucy’s darkest day, the one that shattered her innocence with violence and fear, also happened in St. Dennis. And the town she once loved became the place she gladly left behind—along with the terrible secret she’s kept for twenty years.

And when Lucy comes back to town to plan a celebrity wedding at the Sinclair family inn, she and Clay reconnect, and find themselves reevaluating their long-sleeping friendship that could blossom into something deeper. Like a bookend to those distant childhood days, this summer will be Lucy’s chance to finally confront her hidden pain, make peace with the past, and plan her own whole new future.

A reunion story sure to resonate with all fiction readers –

New Releases from Romance at Random

2012-05-26T00:01:00.001-07:00

GENTLEMAN UNDONE – sequel to Cecilia’s first novel & her best yet! Also, on sale 5/29/2012.

NYT Bestseling Author, Madeline Hunter said this: “Luscious, erotic, and emotionally intense . . . Cecilia Grant is a fresh, unforgettable voice in historical romance.”

Quick Summary:

A seductive beauty turns the tables on a gentleman gaming for the guiltiest of pleasures in this rich and sensual Regency romance from beloved newcomer Cecilia Grant.

WHEN PASSION LIES by JK Beck – releases 5/29/2012

NYT Bestselling authors praise:

“J. K. Beck’s new vampire series is riveting, dangerous, and not to be missed!”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Exciting paranormal romance with a sharp, suspenseful edge.”—New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian, on When Pleasure Rules

Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon Book Recommendation

2012-05-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

WIFE 22 – on sale 5/29/2012 -

An irresistible novel of a woman losing herself . . . and finding herself again . . . in the middle of her life. If you like Bridget Jones Diary? Or, you like authors Sophie Kinsella, Emily Giffin? This is a novel for you!

WIFE 22 by Melanie Gideon (Excerpt)

Giveaway - One Dozen Cupcakes by Sprinkles Cupcakes - Pink Dandy Chatter

2012-05-25T19:18:00.001-07:00

Don't these cupcakes look awesome?? Do you want a chance to win a dozen? I know I do so join me at Pink Dandy Chatter and fill in the Rafflecopter form for your chance!!!!!

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE AT PINK DANDY CHATTER

Naturesleep Closed Toe Terry Slippers w/Memory Foam Review

2012-05-25T11:40:00.002-07:00

I love cozy slippers, so when I saw the opportunity to review a pair of slippers for Naturesleep, I jumped at the chance. I had won a memory foam mattress topper during a Twitter party a few months back and love it, so I figured the slippers would be awesome too!! So are they as comfy as they look?? Yes they are and I love them. I am definitely happy with these slippers. I am disabled so anything that will help relieve my aching feet is so worth it, like walking on a memory foam pillow. These slippers can be worn inside or outside as they have a rubber sole. When ordering these though you need to remember that these slippers are unisex and are sized for men, so for instance if you normally wear a large, then order a medium if you are a woman. So you absolutely have to go to the Naturesleep website and look at their products and maybe order a pair of these slippers for yourself.

Plush comfort and luxury with every step. Indoors or out, these closed-toe slippers offer the perfect balance of softness and support in thanks to the visco-elastic memory foam inner sole, which cradles and contours to your feet while absorbing pressure and impact.

S, M, L, XL
Upper/inner sole 80% cotton/20% polyester; lining 100% polyester; thermoplastic rubber bottom

Designed in the USA, Made in China.

You can use this 50% off code BEARS50 for any purchase off of the website at http://www.naturessleep.com where you can purchase quality memory foam mattresses online as well as pillows at http://www.naturessleep.com

I received these slippers from Naturesleep and MakobiScribe (Jennifer Medeiros, Social Media Manager) and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

Grace: An Eternal Beloved Novel by R.Rodriguez Review

2012-05-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

Published: October, 2011

Author: R. Rodriguez

Genre: Y/A Paranormal Romance

290 pgs.

Grace Elizabeth Coventry has wanted to die since puberty. Since then, she carries out elaborate plans to end her life. She almost succeeds on her eighteenth birthday, but when an outside force emerges to carry out the deed, an inexplicable survival instinct awakens in her. It’s too late, though. Death has already noticed her. As she hangs on for dear life from the ledge of the Skyway Bridge in Chicago, about to give up to her fate, an unexpected stranger appears to save her, only to be challenged by the ultimate threat. In the end, only she has the power to save herself.
About the Author:
Mother, Educator, Wife, and Author. My mind wanders with curiousity. My loyalties lie with a time when my life was "so called", I was full of "Teen Spirit", and the best love in the world came from a "Champion Lover". I'm obsessed with the minds of men and women who have made a major difference for humanity. From Jesus to Jared Leto. :) Words are my playground. In them lies my passion.
I am a Puerto Rican author. I grew up in Connecticut, but now I live in beautiful Puerto Rico with my husband and two kids! I have been writing since I was teenager and doing freelance work in the recent years. Grace is my first book to be published. My works in progress are Chastity: An Eternal Beloved Novel and Renaissance Quest.
My Thoughts:
At first I was not sure why a young woman, with everything going for her, would want to die. I was happy when the mysterious stranger, Lucien, came by to save her. Grace has often made bad choices in her life, eventually marrying a man who continues to abuse her both physically and mentally. When things get tough she finds herself going back to Lucien for help and support. Lucien is always there for her no matter her choices. In my eyes that made Lucien a hero, but there were things that kept surfacing that made me rethink his actions. Nothing I could put my finger on but just an inkling that something was not quite right with him. At times Grace drove me crazy with her inability to make good choices and see what was right in front of her. A man who loved her no matter what, but I guess she had to make these choices to see what was in front of her. The R. Rodriguez did an excellent job with this storyline, the ending blew me away, the story totally came together for me and I was sorry to see it end.
This book is considered YA but I feel that anyone can read it who loves a great story. I highly recommend it.
I received this eBook for review from the author and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

Master's Mistress by Patricia Bates Spotlight for Sizzling PR

2012-05-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

About the Book

Sibling rivalry, deceit, and seduction flourish in Ancient Ireland as Amoda Ni Cormac struggles to free herself from the shadows of her enslavement.

His brother’s wedding brings Norse Prince Mykyl back to Bratthl’id Norway, and face to face with the proud Amoda Ni Cormac, a woman destined to be his oldest brother’s concubine. Driven by revenge, Mykyl steals the emerald eyed beauty.

Bound by duty, secrets, and lies, Mykyl and Amoda are caught in a battle for survival that will ultimately set them free.

About the Author:
Reading has been such a large part of my life. I cut my literary teeth on such author’s as Louis L’Amour, Nora Roberts and Janet Dailey. For me it wasn’t such a jump from reading the wonderful tales these author’s spun to imagining my own.

Soon I was writing poetry, short stories and by junior high I’d written my first full length romance novel. Since then I’ve taken my love of history and my passion for writing and combined them into what I hope will continue to prove a successful career.

With six books contracted, four of which are currently available in print. All are available in electronic format with the last two ebooks due for a release in May and the other in the summer. I’m currently working on three projects, an erotic paranormal romance featuring a witch who lovesChristmas, another Ancient Ireland novel, rich in the history of the Irish Celtic peoples, and plotting out a Cowboy Series tentatively titled “The James Gang”.

Of course I’ve got a lot more on the go. I’m developing and growing my editing company with some amazing authors, working on getting the books that Blade had revamped to fit the submission guidelines for some other publishers and keeping up on my writing and being a full time mom, working outside of the house…its amazing what I can manage in a 16 hour day.

Excerpt:
“A little something to keep you warm at night, Amoda? Mayhap we could settle upon the order of things without the need for violence.” Deep and rich, the voice filled the room around her. Startled, Amoda whipped around to stare at the man lounging against the doorframe. His arms crossed over his chest, an unreadable look upon his face, he stared back at her. “You slithering worm! How dare you go about scaring people?” Amoda dropped the sword in her hand at the dark look upon his face. She swallowed as he stalked toward her, his stride purposeful. “I dare much in my own chamber!” She flinched as Mykyl kicked the trunk closed. “It seems I should be questioning your motives, Amoda. What does a slave need with her master’s weapons?” Catching the dark look on his face, Amoda tensed, fear coiling within her as she stumbled backwards. She wouldn’t beg him for anything, regardless of what his intent. Her eyes slid down to his waist, settling upon the carved hilt of the dagger that rested on his hip near his sword. Mykyl’s gaze followed her glance. She swallowed when his right hand came up to settle upon the dagger. Awareness sparked in his eyes. His expression shifted, tightened into an ugly mask of rage.

Product Details

File Size: 561 KB
Print Length: 249 pages
Publisher: Champagne Books (March 1, 2009)

www.sizzlingpr.com

The Angel's Share by Laurence Shames Book Recommendation

2012-05-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Three love stories. Two worlds. Six characters trying bravely, if not always wisely, to make their romantic destinies come out right—if not in this lifetime, well, maybe in the next.

Set partly in Santa Barbara and its nearby wine country, and partly in a spare, secular, and strangely believable version of the Afterlife, THE ANGELS’ SHARE employs a light touch in treating serious themes of family damage, second chances, and forgiveness.

Darcy Barnett—a chef on the brink of thirty, with issues when it comes to trusting men—meets Paul DeFiore, a 34-year old winemaker with family burdens of his own. They are so right for each other that it terrifies them both. Hugh Barnett—Darcy’s father, a charming philanderer who created Darcy’s mistrust in the first place—is determined to help them get together. Inconveniently, he’s no longer among the living; no matter, he has two compelling reasons to find a way. He needs to be reconciled with his daughter before he can rest easy, and he’s hoping, in the Afterlife, for a rapprochement with Sheila, the wife he cheated on and failed to appreciate, and who divorced him back on Earth. Along the way, he also meets Manny Klein, whose tragedy was meeting the love of his life too soon, and who for half a century has been hoping to see Emma again—somewhere, somehow, anywhere.

Unabashedly romantic, often funny, THE ANGELS’ SHARE interweaves the stories of these three sets of lovers. It taps into the universal yearning to believe that those who were most important in our lives are never altogether gone; that death is not oblivion, but a state in which people can finally tell the truth because the truth no longer hurts; and that love will conquer all--given enough time.

Laurence Shames has been a New York City taxi driver, lounge singer, furniture mover, lifeguard, dishwasher, gym teacher, and shoe salesman. Having failed to distinguish himself in any of those professions, he turned to writing full-time in 1976 and has not done an honest day’s work since. Visit him on the web at http://laurenceshames.com

http://www.LaurenceShames.com/blog
Amazon:
Barnes & Noble:

Jason Kincade

Inkwell Management

521 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10175

(212) 922-3500

jason@inkwellmanagement.com

The Mother Road by Jennifer Allee Review for Pump Up Your Books

2012-05-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

ABOUT THE MOTHER ROAD

Within the course of a week, marriage expert Natalie Marino is dumped by her husband, receives an urgent call home from her father, and discovers her estranged sister, Lindsay, is pregnant.

A road trip on Route 66 may not help, but it sure couldn’t hurt. Or so Natalie thinks, until Lindsay’s boyfriend starts stalking them. Will their trip down the Mother Road bring the two sisters closer, or turn out to be the biggest wrong turn of their lives?

ABOUT JENNIFER ALLEE

As a child, Jennifer Allee lived above a mortuary in the heart of Hollywood, California, which may explain her unique outlook on life. She has written skits, activity pages, and over one hundred contributions to Concordia Publishing House’s popular My Devotions series. Her novels include The Love of His Brother (Five Star, November 2007), The Pastor’s Wife, (Abingdon Press, February 2010), The Mother Road (Abingdon Press, April 2012), and the upcoming A Wild Goose Chase Christmas, book two in the Quilts of Love series (Abingdon Press, November 2012). She’s an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Jennifer resides in the grace-filled city of Las Vegas with her husband and teenage son.

You can find out more about Jennifer’s writing and speaking at www.jenniferallee.com.
Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Official Tour Page

My Thoughts:
The Mother Road by Jennifer Allee is a book about Natalie who is cheated on by her husband and tells her one evening that he wants a divorce. He not only had an affair with his assistant but he has gotten her pregnant. Natalie is of course devastated by this news and of course is angry, angry at her husband, angry at herself and angry at God. Natalie is a published author and expert on marriage so she feels because of the divorce she will be jobless as an author. She gets a phone call from her father telling her that she and her sister, Lindsay, who she has not seen in years, need to come home to see their mother. He tells Natalie that her mother has Alzheimer's, and that he is concerned that she will not know her daughters.
Natalie contacts her sister and they plan on driving from California to Illinois and plan to travel as much as they can on Route 66. Lindsay is pregnant and Ben the father of her child does not want children so Natalie does not trust him at all and thinks that Ben is abusing Lindsay.
I have been divorced and I can understand the feelings of anger and betrayal and I could feel along with Natalie her mistrust of men and feeling like a failure. The other issue in this story is the subject of Alzheimers. I have also been influenced by this horrible disease that robs a person of cognizant thought and functions. I felt that the author touched on these sensitive issues with grace and compassion. We all have to learn forgiveness in ourselves and others before we can be truly happy in life and The Mother Road does just that, I do not want to give anything away but I was happy with the ending of the story. The Mother Road is also the name for Route 66 and I found it interesting that the author included this in the story..like a new beginning.
I received a copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book Virtual Tours and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

Masters of the Veil BookBlast and Giveaway- May 24th

2012-05-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Life can't get much better for Sam Lock. Popular, good-looking, and with a future as a professional football player. every guy at Stanton High School wishes he were Sam. That is, until his championship football game, when Sam accidentally links with an ancient source of energy known as the Veil and reveals his potential to become a powerful sorcerer. Sam is whisked off to Atlas Crown, a community of sorcerers who utilize the Veil as a part of everyday life. Once there, he trains beside a mute boy who speaks through music, an eternal sage who's the eyes and ears of the Veil, and a beautiful girl who's pretty sure Sam's an idiot. As it becomes clear Sam's meant for power magic-the most feared and misunderstood form of sorcery-people beyond Atlas Crown learn of his dangerous potential. An exiled group of power sorcerers are eager to recruit Sam, believing that he is destined to help them achieve their long-held goal. If they succeed, they could bring about the downfall of not only Atlas Crown. but all humankind.

Book Trailer

PRAISE:

"Masters of the Veil is a fun, fresh fantasy that delivers an intriguing story and fantastic world-building, and is a great first volume in what is sure to be an excellent trilogy."

-Aeicha @ Word Spelunking

***

"I absolutely adored Masters of the Veil. It is a unique and creative read in today's sometimes overwhelming YA market. Daniel is taking JK Rowling's lead and putting a whole new twist on fantasy."

-Kristin @ Better Read Than Dead

***

"Mr. Cohen has done a spectacular job on Masters of the Veil and I look forward to what comes next!"

-Kristi @ The Book Faery

LINKS:

BOOK TRAILER

BLOG

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

AMAZON LINK

BN LINK

TWITTER

Author Daniel A. Cohen
Daniel A. Cohen was just your average business student. Microeconomics, finance, marketing… you name it, he had to do a PowerPoint presentation on it. One dark and stormy night, he was bitten by the radioactive realization that memorizing business jargon could possibly be the most boring activity known to man.

After gaining eagle-eye vision, abs that could grate cheese, and a talent for imagining things (including his cheese-grating abs), he wrote his first novel and began his epic battle against the formidable business jargon. He continues to fight the good fight by playing saxophone and writing YA fantasy, forever hoping his Veil trilogy will help inspire others to join his cause.
Giveaway Details
Author Daniel Cohen is offering one lucky person a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card.
Last day to enter is May 31st

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hollywood Stories by Stephen Schochet Book Tour

2012-05-24T02:00:00.001-07:00

Hollywood Stories

Short, Entertaining Anecdotes about the Stars and Legends of the Movies!

By Stephen Schochet
(Hollywood Stories, Hardcover, 9780963897275, 312pp.)

Publication Date: June 2010

Just when you thought you've heard everything about Hollywood comes a totally original new book -- a special blend of biography, history and lore.

Hollywood Stories is packed with wild, wonderful short tales about famous stars, movies, directors and many others who have been a part of the world's most fascinating, unpredictable industry!

Full of funny moments and twist endings, Hollywood Stories features an amazing. all-star cast of legendary characters and icons and will keep you totally entertained!

ALSO BY STEPHEN SCHOCHET TALES OF HOLLYWOOD (audio book on CD) Hear the Origins of Hollywood! FASCINATING WALT DISNEY (audio book on two CDs) Hear How Walt Disney's Dreams Came True! For more information, visit www.hollywoodstories.com

STEPHEN SCHOCHET. HOLLYWOOD STORIES (Kindle Locations 7-11). Hollywood Stories Publishing.

About the Author

Stephen Schochet is a tour guide in Hollywood who, years ago, began researching and telling colorful anecdotes about Tinseltown to his customers. Stephen is the host of a syndicated one minute radio feature called Hollywood Stories, and is the author and narrator of two audio books, Tales of Hollywood and Fascinating Walt Disney. He is available for private tours and speaking engagements.

My Thoughts:

Hollywood Stories is a book you can dig your teeth into..If you want to learn more about your favorite comedian, actor or just want to read it for the fun of it. These are some of the chapters in this great book:

HOLLYWOOD COMEDIANS,SCIENCE FICTION AND HORROR, OSCAR TALES, GREAT MOVIE ANECDOTES, WESTERN VIGNETTES, WALT DISNEY STORIES, AND MOGULS AND DIRECTORS. A very well researched book that will have you engrossed from start to finish..I highly recommend it for the anyone who loves Hollywood.

I received this review ebook from EverAfterPr and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

http://www.everafterpr.com/

Barcode: Legend of Apollo by Kashif Ross Spotlight for SIzzling PR

2012-05-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

About the Book

Spencer's an infamously well-known “god” uninterested in his own fate. He turns nineteen-years-old on the first day of his last year at Colt Academy, the academic institution for gladiators. To celebrate, he unwillingly mentors a mysterious nerd, watches his family's helicopter plunge into the ground, and meets a strange Louisianan boy that may want to kill him. With the future of his family's fortune on the line, Spencer not only has to fight the occasional trip to Hades, but also train with his most hated childhood friend, discover the truth about his mother's death, and reestablish his legend as America's savior.

About the Author

For the past three years, Kashif Ross has been mainly known as a teacher. Yet, he's managed to pick up very random titles along the way. Previous jobs include Student Molecular Oncology Researcher, Camp Counselor, CGI Animator, Character Designer, and Professional Geek.

Now he's an author living in California's Bay Area. You can find posts about his random thoughts and adventures on his blog, www.kashifross.com.

Excerpt

I’m such a failure.

My instructors say I’m the first of the bloodline that isn’t naturally a top ranking student. Therefore, professors are inclined to boost my grades in order to keep “the great Apollo” at the top of his class.

I apologize dear ancestors. I will honor you by falling on my sword.

Damn. I don’t have a weapon yet. Give me a few days, folks.

I find a seat on a stone bench next to a small pond and watch as several lizard-fish swim and crawl through the shallow water. One has the flesh of a koi fish but the body of a garden lizard. The gold and black colors blur as my heavy eyes close and my head drops. I’m still jet-lagged.

As I open my eyes, a sharp kick lands between my ribs. Before my attacker can remove her foot, I grab it tightly and swing her into the pool.

The plague sitting in front of me with her butt dipped in an inch of water, and her arms folded neatly around her legs, just so happens to call herself Hannah’s best friend, though I knew her long before the two met.

This tomboy has a kick that’s out of this world. Her barcodes are powered by the goddess Atalanta. Every god and demigod has a code that they’re born with. That’s what separates us from Apes and humans. Some gods bond well with their bodies, while others pump so much power into their flesh that they can hardly stand. Ever. It can be a gift or a curse.

“You got my panties wet, jerk.”

“Why would a boy wear panties?”

“Don’t call me a boy, you ugly pig.”

“You walk like one, talk like one, but wait, you kick like a girl,” I tease, but my ribs scream in pain. Even more, I’m defiantly conscious that Michelle’s beauty competes closely with the most attractive girl on campus, Hannah. Still, she and I are mortal enemies that will one day battle to her death.

I’ve seen these visions in my sleep. Any morning I wake up after slaying her just so happens to be a great day. Yes. I’m very aware that many people consider these dreams, but if they are prophetic, The Writer does truly love me.

“What does Hannah see in you?”

“What do you mean? She said that in our first year you always gushed over my blue eyes, and wouldn’t stop raving about my face.” I watch the wicked witch’s eyes nearly leap out of their sockets, and her face turns pale. If the tattoos on her legs shine, I’ll need to flee for my own safety. “Geez. You look so upset; I almost think it’s true.”

SizzlingPR

Puzzlebook: 103 Puzzle Quizzes by Grabarchuk Puzzles Review

2012-05-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

Product Description

This is Volume 4 of the Top Rated Puzzlebook: Puzzle Quizzes series. In this brand-new puzzle collection you will find 103 pictorial, hand-crafted puzzle quizzes in different themes: visual, spatial, counting, geometry, matchstick, coins, searching, and much more. Be sure to check Puzzlebook: 100 Puzzle Quizzes, Puzzlebook: 101 Puzzle Quizzes and Puzzlebook: 102 Puzzle Quizzes for more!

Hot News
Over 500 000 downloads for the Puzzlebook series! Discover why thousands of Kindle users are addicted to Puzzlebooks.

Novelty
All puzzle quizzes are original creations by the Grabarchuk Family and delivered exclusively for Kindle.

Interactivity
You can interactively answer and check a puzzle quiz by clicking the respective answer button. Only the correct answer leads to the solution page.

Ranking
The collection is specially created for all kinds of solvers - beginners, skillful, and expert alike. The puzzles are arranged so that you start with the easy (*) puzzles and progress to the hard (*****) puzzles.

Enjoy it in Color Too!
The book is created in full-color. Enjoy a colorful experience playing it on Kindle Fire or in a Kindle app on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, etc.

My Thoughts

I have to say that these puzzles are great...I recently went on vacation and while in the car heading to the airport I thought it would be a great time to bring out the Kindle Fire ( I was not driving of course) and checked out these puzzles. The color on the Kindle Fire was very nice and the puzzles were very challenging. There is a great variety in these puzzles for anyone, they include using a bit of math and logic to figure them out and they get progressively harder as the book goes on. This is great puzzle book if you love to think a little bit and enjoy puzzles. I highly recommend these puzzles.

I received a copy of this puzzle book from Grabarchuk Family for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

4th Annual U.S. Military Wives Contest—Open for Entries!

2012-05-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

From Sara Humphreys

"For the past couple of years, as a special thank you to our service members and their families, I have held a contest just for Military Wives. It turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience. I had the privilege of meeting several incredible women and their beautiful families. It's so easy to forget that there are real people who are deeply affected by the conflicts overseas. Hearing the personal stories of these families helped me remember that our troops are husbands, fathers, brothers and sons who are immensely loved and sorely missed.

This contest will run from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend but start sending those entries in now!

Who is eligible? Wives of any U.S. military service member may enter. Retired or active-duty.

How do you enter? Send an email to info@novelromance.net with a picture of you and your family member in uniform. Tell us a bit about what branch he serves in, where you've been stationed, challenges and so forth. We want to hear your story! Please put "4th Annual Military Families Contest" in the subject line.

Once a week, beginning Memorial Day weekend, I will pick one entrant to be highlighted on my blog. These weekly entrants are semi-finalists. Labor Day weekend I will select three winners.

Second Prize: A $25 Amazon Gift Card, Signed copies of Unleashed and Untouched

First Prize: A $50 Amazon Gift Card, and signed copies of Unleashed and Untouched

Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon Gift card and signed copies of Unleashed and Untouched

For more information about the contest and Sara Humphreys, please visit http://sarahumphreys.com/ and follow Sara on Twitter, @AuthorSara.

Check out the Huffington Post Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-taney-humphreys/military-families-_b_1533949.html?ref=tw

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sara Humphreys has been attracted to the fantasies of science fiction, paranormal, and romance since her adolescence when she had a mad crush on Captain Kirk. An actress and public speaker, Sara lives in Bronxville, New York with her husband, who is very considerate of her double life, and four amazing boys. For more information about the contest and Sara Humphreys, please visit http://sarahumphreys.com/

http://www.sourcebooks.com/

Frequent Traveller by Pandora Pokilos

2012-05-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Catherine Dixon is everyone's dreamgirl. Girls want to be her. Men want to be with her. From her charming smile to her gentle voice, one always turns to take a second look at Cathy. Wherever she goes there isn't an ill word spoken about her. Her job as Vice President of Communications at MoonStar, one of the world's top hotel chains is to make sure guests are happy to the point of perfection.

From the blue oceans of Antigua to the bustling streets of Vietnam, the racing adrenaline at the Green Hell, the devastating natural disaster in Japan and the stunning architecture in Germany, Cathy finds herself in a whirlwind of fine dining, plush clothes and sheer extravagance. But is perfection only a mask for untold disaster? In a job that deals so much with people, Cathy goes home to an empty bed. There are no pictures on her wall, no doting phone calls from a tongue tied lover and no family holidays to boast about.

What is Cathy's secret and how will her world change when the world knows? What is the significance of the blue pendant round her neck? Who is the mysterious man she is seen with every three months? What are the contents of the brown envelope delivered to her on the fifteenth of every month? Will her secrets ever catch up with her or will Cathy continue to sail alongside perfection in the world she has created for herself as a Frequent Traveller?

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Women's Fiction

Rating - PG13

View the Book Trailer for Frequent Traveller

Connect with Pandora Poikilos on Twitter & Facebook

Website http://pandorapoikilos.com/

Blog http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/

Check out where this author will be talking about her latest release!

The Mark of Kane - A Thaddeus Kane Novel by LW Herndon Book Spotlight

2012-05-22T21:08:00.001-07:00

About the Book:

Demons, sorcerers, immortals – a little evil goes a long way

Human sorcerers bent on power are disrupting the underworld with demonic possessions and L.A. with murders. Half-demon half-human, Thaddeus Kane is his demon clan’s bloodhound, charged with finding the sorcerers and destroying them. His personal rules have always been clear—save his clan, protect innocents, and survive. Solicited for help by a demon from another clan, Kane’s first instinct is to blow her off. Until she dangles his one weakness beneath his nose—a mortal threat to prophetic children. Loyalties stretched in his race to find pre-emerging Irins and wizards, Kane struggles to ward off the danger to his clan. His previously harried, but manageable, life now swirls with secrets, until one fatal shot changes everything he believed about his past, turning the table on enemies and allies alike.

About the Author:
LW Herndon is a pseudonym for the author of the Thaddeus Kane urban fantasy novels and the Declan OtherRealm young adult urban fantasy tales. More information on LW Herndon and future books can be found at the
website: http://www.lwherndon.com and
blog http://demonssorcerersandmore.com/lwherndonblog

www.sizzlingpr.com

Book Recommendation from Random House~~~ Read an Excerpt!!

2012-05-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

Did you read Fifty Shades of Grey?? Did you love it?? Maybe this book will also interest you!!

Some Like It In Handcuffs by Christine Warner Spotlight for Sizzling PR

2012-05-20T07:02:00.001-07:00

Some Like it in Handcuffs

Christine Warner

Sunny Kennedy is a fledgling private investigator and the only girl in a family of protective male detectives. She’s out to prove testosterone isn’t the main qualification required to solve a cold case. The only things standing in her way are a sexy detective and a killer who will stop at nothing to keep a secret.

Judson Blackwolf, a seasoned homicide detective, thinks women in law enforcement should work behind the scenes. The prospect of working with his Captain’s sexy daughter doesn’t thrill him.

But when their investigation takes a dangerous turn, they realize their feelings for each other, tangled in a web from the past, might not be the only thing to keep them apart.

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Excerpt:

“This isn’t how I wanted it between us.” Judson grabbed the neckline of her sweater, dragging her body to meet his with a solid thump. Sunny licked her lips in answer to the question in his eyes. He lowered his head to move his mouth over hers.

Sunny closed her eyes, a small whimper escaping her lips. She didn’t want it like this either, but that wasn’t possible. Unable to resist her attraction she accepted it wasn’t an affair, or a long distance.

romance she craved, but for him to love her back. It was all or nothing for her. Her heart sank. She accepted this as their goodbye kiss.

With no thought to what was happening upstairs, Sunny rose up on her toes demanding more. Her lips pulsated against Judson’s. When his hand trembled against her cheek in a soft caress she lost touch with reality.

“Judson.” Sunny’s weakened body drifted farther into Judson’s as his fingers glided down her arms, pulling them to her sides where their fingers intertwined. He forced them behind her before his tongue thrust into her mouth.

Their bodies molded together, she heard her own heartbeat and his as well when he curved his fingers around her rear and squeezed.

That’s when the click of the handcuffs against her wrist connected her to the handle of the locked cupboard.

“What the hell…Judson?” She looked up at him, her knees shook, her body still inflamed with fever.

“Like I was saying, you wait here and I’ll go upstairs to check it out. Backup’s already been called, so you’re safe until your brothers arrive.” Judson winked before walking toward the steps to the third level. Once he reached them he turned toward her and smiled. “Gotcha,” he whispered with his notorious grin.

Sizzling PR

New Release May 21st... Suffocate by S.R.Johannes

2012-05-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

It is May 21st and guess what that means?

S.R. Johannes’ Suffocate is out today!

Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.

Here’s a little about the novelette…

“For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes.

If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.”

The 2nd novella in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.

You can purchase Suffocate for only 99 cents at

Amazon

B&N

Also you can add it on Goodreads! - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13648347-suffocate

And in case you were wondering here is a bit about the author –

S.R. Johannes is author of the Amazon Bestseller Untraceable and a current nominee of the Georgia Author of the Year in the Young Adult category. After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta Georgia with her goldendoodle Charley (notice he is listed first :), her British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world. You can find her hanging out online and visit her at srjohannes.com

Twitter- https://twitter.com/#!/srjohannes

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/srjohannes

Pinterest- http://pinterest.com/srjohannes/

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes

2012-05-20T06:59:00.000-07:00

Why a Diamond Jubilee Hop? For our hero Nev, in ABOUT LAST NIGHT, by Ruthie Knox

First, a bit of trivia:

The Diamond Jubilee takes place in 2012, marking 60 years of The Queen’s reign. The Queen came to the throne on 6th February 1952 (her Coronation took place on 2nd June 1953).

Buckingham Palace is responsible for coordinating the events of the Diamond Jubilee central weekend (2nd–5th June 2012), as well as for organizing The Queen’s program in her Diamond Jubilee year.

Now, more about Nev, he feels trapped and miserable in his family’s banking empire located in downtown London, England. But beneath his pinstripes is an artist struggling to break free. Albeit, his bohemian-self is trying to emerge, Nev is respectful of his roots and tradition & we want to help him celebrate his queen.

Enter below to win beginning 5/21 thru 5/31 – Romance at Randomwill be randomly giving away some of our jewels of romance, to celebrate the UK’s Diamond Jubilee including:

1 winner, 1 copy – Born To Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann

1 winner, 1 copy – The Proposal by Mary Balogh

1 winner, 1 copy – Darker After Midnight by Lara Adrian

3 winners, 1 copy of WITCHFUL THINKING by HP Mallory

10 winners, 1 copy of a PREVIEW from Net Galley of ABOUT LAST NIGHT by Ruthie Knox

10 winners, 1 copy of PREVIEW from Net Galley of DEEP AUTUMN HEAT by Elisabeth Barrett

That’s right, 26 winners in all! Read more

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Abdication by Juliet Nicolson Book Recommendation

2012-05-16T14:20:00.002-07:00

I will be reviewing Abdication in the near future...

From critically acclaimed historian Juliet Nicolson comes a glorious debut novel set in 1936 London about secrecy, tumultuous love, and a king and his subjects torn between public duty and private desire.

The Second World War looms in a world that dreads another international conflict, and England is full of secrets, not least of which is the affair the newly proclaimed King is having with a divorced American. But not every confidence involves royalty. The lovely young chauffeur May Thomas and the complex Oxford undergraduate Julian Richardson share an undeclared love, while the identity of May’s real father remains mysterious. Mrs. Cage, the housekeeper, desperately tries to keep her Nazi-sympathies hidden, and Evangeline Nettlefold’s ambivalent relationship with her school friend Wallis Simpson threatens to become explosive.

Secrecy, tensions between parent and child, the private tussles of life, and the dilemma of whether or not duty supersedes love, reverberate throughout ABDICATION, in matters of social conscience, politics, and romance.

A glorious story that brings to mind the film The King’s Speech.ABDICATION is a breathtaking story inspired by a love affair that shook the world at a time when the world was on the brink of war.

Abdication
by Juliet Nicolson

Publication Date: May 22, 2012
Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Atria Books
ISBN-10: 1451658834
ISBN-13: 9781451658835
Source: Atria Books

Shadows of Destiny Series Tour for Sizzling PR

2012-05-16T08:26:00.001-07:00

After fleeing her native city — and nightmares of a traumatic childhood — Sage Peterson meets the overbearing, pretentious, yet haunted Professor Elias. He’s the only one who knows about her mysterious powers, which seem to be spiraling out of control. When he convinces her to train with him, she finds herself thrust into a five hundred year war and on the run from vampires, werewolves, and even worse — her budding feelings for James Elias.

Erin Bolton knows her former foster sister is a sorceress and a witch, but she wants nothing to do with that world. The day before her twenty first birthday, a tall, dark, and terrifying vampire, Marcelo, turns Erin's world upside down. He convinces her that he was sent to escort her to the safety of the Underworld, where her sister is waiting. But she wonders, who will keep her safe from him?

They call her The Huntress. A vampire with lethal focus, Natalia hunts rogue werewolves and kills them without mercy. She buried her heart centuries ago. Now she lives only for revenge. But when she’s forced to team up with the alpha of the northwest werewolf pack to catch a werewolf serial killer, her carefully controlled world is shattered by the passionate Cristian. Will Natalia accept Cristian’s claim on her heart even if it means sacrificing a part of who she is?

I began my writing journey while I was stranded at the airport waiting for my delayed flight. I browsed the Border’s kiosk and grew frustrated that I couldn’t find the “it factor” — the perfect combination of alpha male-ness, ass-kickery, strong females, magic, and sex. So I spent the next four hours on an airplane writing my first book on scraps of paper and an airsick bag (which thankfully I didn't need to use).

Now I spend too much time in my head, plotting evil villains and the hot men (and women) who ruthlessly kill them. I think far too much about fae politics, dragon power games, and how fast werewolves can change forms. But writing my paranormal romance series has given me a productive place to express those dark places in my mind.

I live in New England with my husband and two kids. Though I will go to my grave denying it, my husband insists I would be thrilled if he suddenly sprouted fangs.

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Free eBook from Author Scott Cramer

2012-05-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Scott Cramer, author of dystopian, Night of the Purple Moon, will be doing a free promo May 15/16 through Amazon. So if you love YA fiction, go check it out!!

About The Book

Space germs decimate the adult population. Who will survive?

For months, astronomers have been predicting that Earth will pass through the tail of a comet. They say that people will see colorful sunsets and, best of all, a purple moon.

But nobody has predicted the lightning-fast epidemic that sweeps across the planet on the night of the purple moon. The comet brings space dust with it that contains germs that attack human hormones. Older teens and adults die within hours of exposure.

On a small island off the coast of Maine, a group of teens and children struggle to survive in this new world, but all the while they have inside them a ticking time bomb - adolescence.

Night of the Purple Moon is available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Night-Purple-Moon-ebook/dp/B007OVUPXU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1332862432&sr=8-5

Product Details

File Size: 290 KB
Print Length: 185 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B007OVUPXU

A Complicated Life in a Small Town by Tammy Maas Review

2012-05-14T00:01:00.001-07:00

The road to hell really is paved with good intentions.

Bitter that she was robbed of her childhood, at age eighteen, Lydia Lawson severed all communication ties with her alcoholic parents. Her father commits suicide one year after she leaves home. Twenty-three years later she receives word that her mother is dead and that she has inherited more than just the family home. Lily, a twenty-one-year-old, morbidly obese half-sister with Prader-Willi Syndrome, is found in the basement, too big to move out of the home. Lydia sets out on a life-changing journey trying to help Lily, trying to find Lily s father and trying to find herself. In the interim, she falls in love with Tommy Porter who remains with her right up to the climatic, mind-blowing reveal at the end.

Tammy Maas is a writer who moonlights as a domestic Goddess. Her debut Novella, A Complicated Life in a Small Town, is slated for publication on 2-27-2012. Tammy ghost writes for several online clients. She was published by Oatmeal Studios, and was a writer/photographer for Houston County News. Check out her blog at: http://animaasity.weebly.com.

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My Thoughts:

A Complicated Life in a Small Town is a novella about a woman who left her hometown and never intended to return. She left because of her alcoholic parents and the mistreatment she received from them. She became a successful author and lives only 45 minutes away for where she grew up. She is contacted by the Police Chief of her hometown letting her know that her mother has passed away. She reluctantly returns only to find that she has a sister who is morbidly obese and cannot get out of bed and lives in the basement. Lily has Prader-Willi Syndrome which is the most common known genetic cause of life-threatening obesity in children. Although the cause is complex it results from an abnormality on the 15th chromosome. Lydia finds that caring for her sister is a difficult undertaking that she really does not want but she eventually gives in to the fact that there is no one else and no one knows who Lily's father is as Lydia's own father passed away before Lily was conceived.

This short story is unique in the fact that it covers an illness that people generally shy away from. When someone is morbidly obese and can not leave their home, they are often ridiculed and called lazy but there are usually reasons other than laziness and neglect that can cause a weight condition. I feel that the author covered this touchy topic with honesty and compassion. The ending caught me unawares as I never saw it coming. The only complaint I had was some editing. There was a reference to a caregiver by the name of Robin and then the name was changed to Rose... other than that I enjoyed this little story and recommend it.

I received an ebook for review from Sizzling PR and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

The iPad May-nia Giveaway!!!

2012-05-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the iPAD May-nia Giveaway! We are giving away the latest iPad to one lucky winner!

Bay Area Mommy has partnered with BeeSavy and some awesome bloggers to bring you this exciting giveaway for the most-coveted tablet out in the market! BeeSavy is your digital personal shopping assistant that pays YOU for serving you! BeeSavy scours the internet to make sure you get the lowest prices on the products you want at the stores YOU love. The best part? BeeSavy gives you cashback on your purchases! Sweet! Check out their site to learn more! To get a chance to win, enter using the form below. The first entry is to sign up for BeeSavy by clicking here
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