Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 187

#Excerpt: MARKED by Amy Saunders

Marked
Amy Saunders
(The Birthright, #2)
Publication date: January 31st 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Starting over for Rosamund Brandt is more complicated than it sounds. Especially when the past keeps coming back to haunt her. As she and her mom and brother try to pick up the pieces in a new home, the universe seems determined to tear them apart even more as secrets multiply, and distrust grows.

While new threats and unknowns emerge, Rosamund struggles with her own inner battle. Her new powers are growing whether she wants them or not, and their origins and nature are sketchy at best. The more that’s revealed to her, the more uncertain she feels.

Choosing allies and facing new and old enemies alike may not be their biggest problems. Not if Rosamund’s worst fears come true. Could she be the one they should fear the most?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & NobleSequel to:
—
EXCERPT:Xavier turned his back to me, disappearing among the students walking in all directions. I gulped down the lump in my throat, and headed toward my locker on autopilot. I walked straight down the middle of the hallway, students veering around me one way or the other. Each step was like the last, until gravel crunched beneath my boot.

I stopped walking and glanced down. Instead of tile, I saw charred black gravel. When I looked back up, I was standing in a virtual field of the stuff. There was nothing else around me except some hills the same color. The sky was gray and wind blew strands of my hair across my face. When I brushed the hair away, I saw something glint among the rocks near my feet.

I bent down, brushing the blackened dirt away, revealing something silver. I grazed the edge of it with my fingertips, then plunged my fingers into the gravel, pulling out the object. I stood again, my hand wrapped around it. When I glanced up, I was back in the hallway, students parting around me.

Another memory. Each one seemed to get more vivid and real.

But then I felt something cold in my hand.

I slowly unwrapped my fingers, and charcoaled dirt sifted between them onto the floor, leaving behind a 3-D silver serpentine object the size of my palm. My hand shook. That wasn’t just a memory. I’d physically done something. Or, more to the point, I’d gone somewhere. And I was pretty sure it wasn’t on Earth.

I covered the object in my hand again. I took a step forward, totally ready to skip class to go have a meltdown in the bathroom, when someone grabbed my arm, dragging me across the hall into an empty classroom. I wrenched away, facing the guy from detention–who didn’t exist in school records.

“What are you doing?” he hissed. “Didn’t you grow up like this? I thought you’d know better.”

Author Bio:
Amy is a sci-fi/mystery addict with a soft spot for humor and romance. She lives in Massachusetts, and loves to bake and watch movies. Learn more about Amy and her books at http://amysaundersauthor.com.

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#Review: THE HUNTER by Kerrigan Byrne

  5 of 5 stars
The Hunter is a dark and gritty historical romance and one of the best I've ever read. Christopher Argent is a broken and haunted man. He suffered unspeakable atrocities as a child while in prison and it has shaped him into a lethal killer for hire. Ms. Byrne has totally captured the tortured soul of Argent and we understand his icy exterior--feel nothing is his constant mantra. Feel nothing and get the job done. He's the best at what he does. That is, until he meets actress Millie LeCour. Holding the contract to kill her, Argent moves in for the kill, except, the unthinkable happens.
This book will keep you riveted until the final pages, the suspense and angst suffered by both Argent and Millie is spellbinding. These characters come alive on the pages and the reader gets to peak inside their minds throughout the story. Ms. Byrne is an exceptional talented writer and I look forward to reading more of her books. Highly Recommended.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Amazon buy link:http://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Kerrigan-Byrne/dp/1250076064/ref=twoen-20

New #FANTASY release: ASH WITCH by Thea Atkinson

Blurb:
The final instalment of Aislin's story in a sweeping novella that will leave you wanting more. 

As Aislin recovers from the trauma suffered beneath Conn's rule, she discovers there are worse things than being chattel--like the Enyalia

Amazon buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B9X7G8U


Read the entire series starting with:


Witches of Etlantium ~ Book 1
Enter an ancient world filled with magic, romance, sorcery, and danger--a place where legends are born, wars fought, and love is denied . . . All power has a high price, and no one knows that better than Alaysha, a formidable and beautiful water witch living in the realm of Sarum. As daughter of the most powerful man in the city, she should be free to do as she pleases, but Alaysha lives as an outcast among her people and she’s forced to use her unique abilities as a weapon. Now if she could just learn to control her gifts.After her tyrannical father forces Alaysha to slaughter an entire village of innocents with her vast elemental power, she starts to question his authority. . .and her blind obedience. Especially, when the charismatic and handsome Yenic somehow manages to escape her deadly ability and reveals that she’s not alone. If Alaysha hopes to gain her freedom, manage her power, and protect those she loves, she will have to find the courage to defy the nefarious men trying to control her. Yet she soon realizes that there’s much more to her power than Alaysha ever dreamed, and loyalty means far more than just sharing blood.Amazon buy link:http://www.amazon.com/Water-Witch-fantasy-romance-Etlantium-ebook/dp/B007UFXLXG/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

#Review: THE GOD'S EYE VIEW by Barry Eisler

5 of 5 stars
 In the post-Snowden era, the NSA survived the revealing of several sensitive programs, but the fact that their spying applications were made public, has meant they needed to do things different. Director Anders believes the best way to stop terrorist attacks is to know EVERYTHING. That's what the God's Eye program does. No one is untouchable and all is revealed, but what happens when one man believes any cost is worth protecting his precious program. This is the crux of "The God's Eye View." NSA analyst Evie Gallagher had designed a new camera network and facial recognition program and she does her job well, that is, until the day she sees something she's not supposed. Thus begins the game of cat and mouse, but which one is Evie?

"The God's Eye View" is a fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns throughout the story. The main characters, Anders, Gallagher and Manus were nicely fleshed out. The author let us in on their inner thinking and their flaws. Before Snowden had exposed the NSA, I would have thought this book was a bit far-fetched, but now, I think this fictional scenario could very well contain seeds of truth and is entirely plausible. That's what makes the book so good. I was riveted to it until the very last page. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review.

Blurb:In this intricately plotted thriller from bestseller Eisler (Graveyard of Memories), NSA analyst Evelyn Gallagher warns Theodore Anders, the NSA director, that her worldwide spy system has tagged a senior NSA official meeting in Istanbul with an investigative reporter—an indicator that a major security breach may be happening. But she unwisely expresses her suspicion to the Anders that the NSA seems to be proactive in the permanent removal of such persons, making herself a threat to his highly illegal God’s Eye program. Gallagher, a single mother supporting her deaf young son, Dash, now becomes the target of the director’s wet-work specialists, the sadistic Thomas Delgado and Marvin Manus, a deaf brute with a deadly skill set. But Manus finds himself bonding with Dash and then becomes attracted to Gallagher. When the two fall into a romantic entanglement, all hell breaks loose.
Amazon buy link:http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Eye-View-Barry-Eisler-ebook/dp/B00XT47SOK/ref=twoen-20 
Author Bio:Barry Eisler is the New York Times bestselling author of ten thrillers, including the #1 bestseller The Detachment. His two series, the first featuring anti-hero John Rain, a half-Japanese, half-American freelance assassin specializing in “natural causes,” and the second featuring black ops soldier Ben Treven, have received rave reviews, won numerous literary awards, hit various “Best of” lists, and have been translated into nearly twenty languages to date. The Matrix star Keanu Reeves is set to produce and star in Rain, a globe-trotting television series based on Eisler’s books and being developed by Cinemax.
Even as a child, Eisler was intrigued by what he describes as “forbidden knowledge—things the government doesn’t want the general public to know.” He earned a law degree from Cornell University in 1989 and worked in a covert position with the CIA for three years afterward, leaving to join the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges. He then spent a year in Tokyo, earning his black belt at the Kodokan International Judo Center, following which he moved to Osaka to work on technology licensing matters at the headquarters of Panasonic. After returning to the San Francisco Bay Area, he left private legal practice to join a technology startup, and became a full-time writer in 2002.
Eisler’s latest book, THE GOD’S EYE VIEW, a stand-alone thriller about a government surveillance conspiracy ripped from today’s headlines—and tomorrow’s—will be published by Thomas & Mercer on February 2, 2016.
When Eisler’s not writing novels, he works with Human Rights First against torture, including lobbying on Capitol Hill. He also writes for publications like Freedom of the Press Foundation and Techdirt about torture, civil liberties, and the rule of law. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
For more information, visit his website www.barryeisler.com. Follow him on Twitter: @barryeisler and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barryeisler.

New #ROMANCE release: VALENTINE PETS & KISSES by various authors

Excerpt: The Vet’s Valentine Gift by J.L. Campbell
I sat there thinking Dane had a nerve. From what I understood, he'd been a constant source of disappointment to Jade since his separation and divorce from Toni. Considering that, I didn't know why Toni would defend him.
When she came back to the living room, Jade was with her.
One look at her told me she was still unhappy. Her little mouth drooped at the corners and she kept her gaze lowered. She climbed onto the sofa to sit beside me and after a moment I slipped my arm around her shoulder.
Toni sat on her other side and fixed her eyes on the television where the business segment of the news was on air.
Jade poked me in the leg. "Doc, I didn't ask you before, but you got any children?"
"Do you have any children," Toni said.
Jade nodded to acknowledge her and then turned back to me. "Do you have any?"
"I shook my head. I have nieces and nephews though. Does that count?"
"Nah, but if you had a little girl like me, you'd want to see her all the time, right?"
A deep breath was in order, because I was heading into a minefield and had to choose my words so as not to rile Toni any further.
Gently, I plucked Jade's nose. "Of course, if she was as cute as you are."
Jade turned to Toni. "See, I told you he'd make a good daddy."
Toni shot fire at me with her eyes, and my only response was a shrug. I wasn't about to make Jade feel any worse after her argument with her father.
Jade didn't say anything for a bit, but frowned hard at the television. It wasn't long before she poked me in the leg again. "Doc, can I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything."
Toni sat forward, as if sensing Jade was going to ask a question she wouldn't like, but she stayed quiet. When Jade looked at her, Toni pressed her plump lips together and put on the same expression my mother used years ago to let me know we'd have words later if I did any
foolishness.
Shuffling sideways, Jade angled her body toward me. She narrowed her eyes as if to gauge whether or not she should ask what she wanted to know. I guess she was satisfied with whatever she saw because she sat up straighter and looked me square in the face. "Doc, since you don't have a little girl yet, would you like to be my daddy?" 


BLURB:
Each story features a sweet romance, tender kisses and hugs, and precocious pets—all brought to you by USA Today bestselling, national/international bestselling, and award winning authors who have crafted heartwarming heroes and heroines that will make you laugh, cry, swoon, and sigh.
Candy and canines. Flowers and felines. Celebrate this Valentine's Day with your sweethearts of the human and fuzzy varieties!
Nothing is more heart-warming than kisses from the pet who adores you and the man who loves you, so snuggle up with VALENTINE PETS & KISSES and strike the perfect mood for moonlit walks and candlelight dinners with your pet and sweetheart.
Valentine Hound Dog  - Rachelle Ayala Fashion icon Jenna Hart, along with her basset hound puppy, tries to convince a burned former fireman that beauty is never skin deep and love's arrow strikes not only the beautiful, but the bold.
The Crazy Girl’s Handbook - DelSheree Gladden Spending the weekend babysitting her two nephews and a puppy was supposed to be fun. Sweating to death at a baseball game while getting gum in her hair, soda down her shirt, and an ice cream pedicure wasn't part of the deal. Neither was finding out the best guy she'd ever missed a blind date with had witnessed it all. Longest. Weekend. Ever.                       The Vet's Valentine Gift - J.L. Campbell Matthias Laing has snagged the woman of his dreams, but his job as a vet keeps getting him into trouble. The situation is past complicated because of the growing assortment of animals in Toni's house and to top it all, the conflict between Matthias and her ex-husband. Can Matthias and Toni's budding romance survive their challenges and if it doesn't, will Jade, her precocious five-year-old find a way to play Cupid and fix things by Valentine's Day?
Her Perfect Catch - K.L. Brady Nerdy, struggling sports writer Melanie Vincent needs a miracle when her dream of running a nationally recognized blog hits a snag due to low readership. After Mel is gifted a pair of Super Bowl tickets for years of faithful dog sitting, she has a chance encounter with her favorite football player that leads to the inside scoop on the biggest story of her career...and maybe the love of a lifetime.
Inflamed - Jade KerrionDebra Martinez doesn’t believe in happy endings, until Sean Orr, Havre de Grace’s newest firefighter, shows her and her son, Aidan, a new and beautiful kind of “normal.” But the happiness can’t last—not for Sean who is on the run from his own past.
Remember When - Hope Welsh Laura and Brent really tried to make their marriage work, but in the end, it just wasn't meant to be. Or was it? When they meet to discuss joint custody of their Akita, they discover they have much more to talk about other than the dog.
Your Biggest Fan? - Sydney Aaliyah Michelle  Noah Patrick, NFL bad boy, has sworn off women, who only seem to want him for his fame and his money. Callie James is such a big Noah Patrick fan, she named her energetic Chihuahua after the man of her dreams. When they find themselves hiding out in the same Brooklyn Brownstone, a crazy blizzard, a never-ending supply of spaghetti, and a dog with identity issues bring them together even though they both have secrets that would tear them apart.
The Feline Fix - Caroline Bell Foster Meeting Police Constable Callum Forde on the worse day of her life, makes cat lover and scientist Wendy Wilde question all that she values, her cat’s loyalty and the role science plays in love.
Trembling Hearts - Suzette Riddick Recluse Jason Carr is living in rural Virginia after an accident leaves him physically scarred. While taking a stroll and minding his business, the spunky Lezlie Sharpe literally crashes into his life, stealing the heart of his beloved pooch, Trooper. Now, forced to share living quarters, will Lezlie capture Jason’s heart too?
Valentino, Be Mine - Tina D.C. Hayes Kaylee Rose is thrilled when a neighbor moving out of the country asks if she'll consider taking in her teacup Yorkie, Valentino, but there are a few strings attached. When she finds out a man she can't stand is the other caretaker, she's forced to deal with the arrogant jerk until they decide who gets the pampered pooch permanently . . . or risk losing the dog to a heartbreaking fate.
Lost and Found - Jeanne Bannon Lexie is so distraught after long-time boyfriend, Josh, dumps her, she takes a leave of absence from her teaching job. Josh leaves behind the puppy he bought for her just before things fell apart even though she’s not a dog person. Lexie contemplates giving it away but decides keep the little mischief-maker and get her some training. 
While at puppy obedience school, Lexie meets Tommy, the happy-go-lucky type she could give her heart to if only she was ready. But Lexie gives Tommy the brush off and they lose touch. However, a series of events, some unfortunate, bring them together again.
Surviving San Francisco - Susan Oloier When 23-year-old Leah Newland accepts a job in San Francisco and runs away from her small-town Illinois life, she expects things to change for the better. What she doesn’t expect is to lose her job, adopt a cat she hit with her car, and fall for a sexy and seemingly unavailable veterinarian. Suddenly, going back to the Midwest seems better than surviving San Francisco.                                                  
19 Ivy Lane - Aubrey Wynne Eloise Kolby steps off the bus and greets Hollywood with high expectations and a smile. Two months later, she’s broke, hungry and rethinking her dream. An offer to house sit provides her with too much time alone, an adopted family of kittens and a sexy postman waiting at her gate.
Victor Burnham can’t stop thinking of the beautiful, mysterious woman who just moved into his hometown. She meets him each day at the mailbox, waiting for a letter.  When the envelope finally arrives, they both must face decisions that could make their dreams come true or jeopardize their relationship forever.  
Three Plus Three - Cindy Flores Martinez A year after losing her husband, a grieving widow, Violet, and their beloved bichon frise visit their favorite place the day before Valentine's Day. While they are there, Violet meets a handsome widower who makes her feel alive again.
Book Sale Links Kindle US: http://bit.ly/VPKK
Kindle UK: http://bit.ly/VPKUK
Kobo: http://bit.ly/VPKKobo
Google Play: http://bit.ly/VPKGp
Apple: http://bit.ly/VPKiBk
Barnes & Noble Nook: http://bit.ly/VPKNok
Website Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/events/1648008515464074/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Rachelle Ayala From romantic suspense to sweet contemporaries, I write from my heart and love to include children and pets in my stories.  Website: http://www.rachelleayala.com/  Twitter: @AyalaRachelleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/clare.chu   DelSheree Gladden is a USA Today bestselling young adult and romance author, whose writing includes everything from dystopian and Native American mythology to sweet and funny romances. Website:  http://delshereegladden.com/Twitter:  @DelShereeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDelShereeGladden
J.L. Campbell is an award-winning author who writes sweet romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, new and young adult novels.Website:  http://www.joylcampbell.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JL_CampbellFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jlcampbellwrites
K.L. Brady is a multi-award-winning author of sweet and sexy romantic comedies, young adult romance, and a spy thriller series based on her career in U.S. intelligence.Website:  http://klbradyauthor.com/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KARLAB27 
Jade Kerrion writes frequently award-winning, occasionally best-selling science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance novels.Website: http://jadekerrion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jadekerrionFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JadeKerrion  Sydney Aaliyah MIchelle is a contemporary romance writer, a voracious reader and movie fanatic who hails from Texas.  Website: http://sydneyaaliyah.com/Twitter:  http://twitter.com/sydliyahFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SydneyAaliyahMichelle/
Caroline Bell Foster writes contemporary women’s fiction with themes of substance that defy convention.Website: http://www.carolinebellfoster.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbellfosterFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/carolinebellfoster
Suzette Riddick is a wife, mother and nurse practitioner who enjoys writing romance novels with a touch of reality.  Website: http://suzetteriddick.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/suzette267Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/suzetteriddickromanceroom/

Tina D.C. Hayes writes romantic suspense and cozy mysteries while her pampered pooches and parrots stand guard against writer's block.Website:  https://tinadchayes.wordpress.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/@Tina_DC_Hayes/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TinaDCHayesAuthor/
Jeanne Bannon is an international best-selling author of paranormal and romance fiction with twenty-five years of experience in the publishing industry.Website: http://www.jeannebannon.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/@jeannebannonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeanne-Bannon/182120961844916?fref=ts   Susan Oloier is a mother and educator who writes memoir, as well as adult and young adult contemporary fiction.Website: http://www.susanoloier.com/Twitter: @narrawriterFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSusanOloier/
Aubrey Wynne is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night.Website: http://aubreywynneauthor.com/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Aubreywynne51Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magnificentvalor/

Cindy Flores Martinez writes sweet romantic comedy and inspirational romance in both English and Spanish.Website:  http://www.cindyfloresmartinez.com/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AuthorCindyFacebook:  http://www.facebook.com/cindy.floresmartinez
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-blast-valentine-pets-and-kisses-by.html

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Interview with Peggy Jaeger, 3 WISHES

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?  Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her three wishes.
 Is it part of a series? It was originally a stand-alone novella, but  I loved the characters so much, I just wrote a Christmas book featuring them all and I am hoping to have it published this year!

Do you have a favorite character? Yes. I would have to say the family matriarch – Francesca “Frankie” San Valentino is my favorite. She is the type of mother I would love to have: strong, family-centered, fiercely loyal and supportive, an excellent cook, and who would give her life for someone she loves.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Yes. Originally  Chloe’s sister, Gia, was a very minor character, but she “spoke” to me so much, I turned her into a major one. Did that change the direction of the novel at all? No, but I did get another entire book out of it when I gave her her own storyline!

How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? I entered a contest in late 2013, won my division and the Publisher of The Wild Rose Press notified me she wanted to see the entire manuscript. I sent it in spring 2014 and in spring 2015 my book was published.
Was it for your first novel? Yes, Skater’s Waltz, my debut novel.

What is your writing process?  I write 7 days a week. Monday-Friday I usually get between 6-10 hours in depending on the other things I need to do in my life, like grocery shop, cook, clean, etc. On the weekends I usually write early in the morning before the day starts for 3-4 hours during the weekend nights I can manage 2-4. But I write every day. EVERY DAY. Like my blog asserts: Writing is my Oxygen. Do you listen to music or do you like silence? Pin-dropping silence. If there is music on, I will sing along and get distracted.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you? I am a dyed in the wool PLOTTER. I think it has something to do with my background in Science – I like everything to be orderly and thought-out. I have never been able to write a book by the seat of my pants. I tried once and it was a disaster because I forgot key points I’d written and the story became muddled. I NEED to know that beginning, middle, and end.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)? I have become proficient in Social Media, more than I ever thought I could be. I use Twitter to notify, my website to educate, my facebook author page to announce, Pinterest  to storyboard my books, and Instagram to reach the masses. It is exhausting!

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book? YES YES YES! My ultimate goal as a writer is to be successful enough so I can hire someone to do all of the marketing and social media announcements, and let me just write my stories

Besides writing, do you have any other passions? Cooking is a big one. I have over 100 cook books that are dog-eared and well-loved. In another life I think I was a chef. I cook a homemade dinner every day, three meals on the weekend days, and once in a while I will go out to dinner with my husband. My favorite friend-time is always a dinner at my house filled with food, laughter, and love.  I also love to paint.

What’s next for you? The fourth book in my MacQuire Women series, THE VOICES OF ANGELS, is being released on March 11, 2016 by the Wild Rose Press, and I have just submitted the Christmas story for consideration I mentioned earlier. To have these two books released so close together ( 3 WISHES and THE VOICES OF ANGELS) is a marketing maelstrom for me! I remind myself several times a day to just take a breath. It will all get done and there is an end-game! Sometimes, though, I have trouble listening to myself!

BLURB:
Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her three wishes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance author who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can't live without them.Her current titles, available now, include SKATER'S WALTZ and THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, and FIRST IMPRESSIONS books 1 through 3 in her 6-book The MacQuire Women Series, published by The Wild Rose Press.
Peggy holds a master's degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer's Disease during her time running an Alzheimer's in-patient care unit during the 1990s.A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/01/vbt-3-wishes-by-peggy-jaeger.html

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#Excerpt: LOVE OF OUR LIVES by A.C. Chenier

Excerpt:
“I had this commissioned for you to have. I want you to wear it close to your heart and know my heart is now and will always be yours.” He opened the case and displayed a gold locket. She gasped at the beautiful locket within the case. It was a white cameo in a pale pink background.
“Turn it over,” he said.
She did and read the words he had engraved on the back. Forever in my heart, forever in my soul.
She felt tears running down her face as she looked at the beautiful words and then into Jonathon’s eyes. She looked deep into his eyes and felt her own soul connecting directly to Jonathon. He said to her, “Forever in my heart, forever in my soul. I will find you again.” He then wrapped his arms around her and took her lips in a passionate kiss. Her heart was hammering in her throat as she kissed him back. To her it felt a bit like a good-bye kiss, but a kiss filled with the promise of reuniting in time.


BLURB:
Buy link:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Our-Lives-Novel-Past-ebook/dp/B01AMLI0GW/ref=twoen-20
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR: I am a CPA, CGA and live in Southern Ontario. After working for many years in the high pressure worlds of banking and IT, I decided that it was time to have a change in pace. Leaving Toronto behind I embarked on a new career in retail sales. The change was wonderful, but I felt something was missing.
Then, the unthinkable happened, and I was widowed at 46. That was a truly life altering experience. In time, I was introduced to the books and work of Dr. Brian Weiss. I discovered in his research a new purpose in life, and was driven to start writing, something I had always enjoyed, but never thought of as a career choice.
And now here we are in 2015, and my first novel is ready to be published. My second, also in the Past Lives series, will follow shortly.  I continue to write and dream of a future that I had never even considered in my wildest dreams.
www.acchenier.com
www.facebook.com/ACChenier
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-blast-loves-of-our-lives-by-ac.html

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#Excerpt: ELEMENTALS, THE PROPHECY OF SHADOWS by Michelle Madden

The Prophecy of Shadows
Michelle Madow
(Elementals #1)
Published by: Dreamscape Publishing
Publication date: January 26th 2016
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!
When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers–and, to her dismay, by Blake–the school’s notorious bad-boy.

Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.

When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect–it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo “Elementals is going to blow your mind!”
-Crossroad Reviews, ★★★★★ “Five glittery stars for being such a compelling read!”
-Andrea Heltsley, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★ “A perfect mixture of magic and mythology. An entrancing story of trust, friendship and well naughty boys. WITCHES are not the only thing walking the earth!”
– BenjaminOfTomes, BookTuber ★★★★★—EXCERPT:Everyone stared at me, and I looked to the front of the room, where a tall, lanky man in a tweed suit stood next to a blackboard covered with the morning announcements. His gray hair shined under the light, and his wrinkled skin and warm smile reminded me more of a grandfather than a teacher. 
He cleared his throat and rolled a piece of chalk in his palm. “You must be Nicole Cassidy,” he said.

“Yeah.” I nodded and looked around at the other students. There were about thirty of them, and there seemed to be an invisible line going down the middle of the room, dividing them in half. The students near the door wore jeans and sweatshirts, but the ones closer to the wall looked like they were dressed for a fashion show instead of school.

“It’s nice to meet you Nicole.” The teacher sounded sincere, like he was meeting a new friend instead of a student. “Welcome to our homeroom. I’m Mr. Faulkner, but please call me Darius.” He turned to the chalkboard, lifted his hand, and waved it from one side to the other. “You probably weren’t expecting everything to look so normal, but we have to be careful. As I’m sure you know, we can’t risk letting anyone else know what goes on in here.”

Then the board shimmered—like sunlight glimmering off the ocean—and the morning announcements changed into different letters right in front of my eyes.


Author Bio:

Michelle Madow grew up in Baltimore, graduated Rollins College in Orlando, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida. She wrote her first book in her junior year of college, and has been writing novels since. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

Visit Michelle online at www.michellemadow.com, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter and follow her on Amazon to get instant updates on her books!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Interview with Kathrin Hutson, DAUGHTER OF THE DRACKAN

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series? ‘Daughter of the Drackan’ is the first book in the ‘Gyenona’s Children’ series. The second, ‘Mother of the Drackan’, will be out in the next few months.
I had one reader describe it as ‘The Jungle Book’ meets a Fantasy ‘Kill Bill’ with dragons. That made me so happy, and he kind of nailed it on the head.
Keelin is a human fledgling, stolen by the mythical drackans as a child and made a drackan herself in all but physical form. She has reoccurring blackouts, always returning to her home in the High Hills covered in blood. Her search for what actually happens to her during these lost moments of time leads her to older, deeper secrets she never wanted to know.
The drackans and humans have loathed each other and warred for centuries, and Keelin is caught in the middle. Among the drackans, she’s an outcast, an abomination of their kind. Among the humans, she’s a terrifying vision of fury, mystery, and deadly skill. Eventually, armed with her drackan blood, she travels to the other side of the world to stop the thing controlling her blackouts and to ensure the same never happens again to her own drackans. But everything along the way makes her question her loyalties, the things she was always taught, and she has to forge her own path for a place among both worlds in which she doesn’t really belong.
It’s dark, violent, bloody, “a beautiful blend of tenderness and ferocity”, and explores loyalty, tradition, greed, double-lives, and defining oneself in a seemingly impossible endeavor. Plus, Keelin’s just pretty badass. She doesn’t listen to anyone, never takes no for an answer, and would rather cut your hand off than shake it. I’d never want to meet her in person, and I love the fact that she makes for a strong protagonist, hated and loved by the readers, those around her, and herself.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?Aloran, the first human Keelin meets and her ‘guide’ within the human world, originally started as a very supporting character. He was the initial bridge between her and the humans, and was supposed to show her just a few tiny secrets in the beginning. It was not my plan to have him fall in love with her, nor to give him such a huge role as the leader of the underground assassin group, the King’s Knives. But it happened.
And when that happened, he invariably makes a second and possibly greater appearance in ‘Mother of the Drackan’. We get a little bit of a deeper look into his own life, where he came from, and when he meets Keelin again, he finds a connection to his past he never knew existed. It’s pretty important for the ending, too—Aloran has a huge role in the final epic scene.
Making Aloran a bigger character definitely changed the direction of the story, and added for a lot more depth. He might be the only human in these books (the only true human) who is affected by Keelin so profoundly. At first, he finds her and uses her as a tool for his own ends. Then he falls in love with her, and when she constantly pushes him away, he has to number himself all over again in order to use her one more time.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?
What really did it for me was having queried, and subsequently been rejected by, every agent and publisher I could find. For two years, I bought the updated editions of ‘The Writer’s Market’ and scoured the pages. I made spreadsheets of every agent and publisher who took any type of Fantasy, and I sent my fifty-billion-times-revised query letter, summary, and short synopsis to all of them. My rejection folder is substantial, and oddly enough, each new rejection only gave me more determination to send to all the others.
When I finally reached the end, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Not relieved that nobody found an interest in my book at the time, but a relief that I had done absolutely everything I could possibly think of to get ‘Daughter of the Drackan’ out there and look for responses.
That was when I decided, ‘Okay, I think it’s time to go ahead and self-publish this. Because there’s no way I’m going to let traditional publisher rejections keep me from putting Keelin’s story out in the world!’ And four months later, I became a published Indie Author myself.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?
I am so fortunate to have had the experience I did with designing the cover for ‘Daughter of the Drackan’.
My amazingly talented artist friend, Chandler Steele, had read Keelin’s story after printing the document and taking it with him everywhere he went. We had lots of conversations about Keelin and how frickin’ awesome she is (I think it’s hard not to admire her in some way), and once I decided to finally self-publish, I asked him if he would like to create the cover illustrations. He jumped at the chance and was right on top of it. I can’t deny that he did a fantastic job.
I found my cover designer by chance, really. Michelle Rene Goodhew had commented on one of my blog posts on my editing site, and I went to go check out hers. I was impressed with her work, and I originally just asked her to put me on her list of beta readers. She made a great banner for my editing site to help advertise my business, and I asked her about designing packages. As it turns out, she was in need of an editor for her upcoming ‘How to Build Your Indie Author Platform’ and ‘How to Design Your Author Brand’ books. So we worked in trade—I edited her books, and she designed my book cover and all the promotional material.
I had complete creative control with both these artists—everything was okayed by me, and if I didn’t agree with any particular aspect, they were more than happy to accommodate me. Of course, I didn’t make every decision; I’m a writer, not an artist. But both Michelle and Chandler are absolute joys to work with, and I’ll be keeping them for as long as I can.
Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
My first ‘critique group’ honestly, was the class of fellow students who had been accepted into CU Boulder’s Creative Writing—Fiction program. The program was selective enough that I had almost all of my classes with the same fifteen students. That was the first time that I ever was surrounded by others as dedicated to their craft as I was, and I learned so much from them. That’s also where I first started editing, because editing and critiquing each other’s work was the other half of our curriculum.
When my husband and I lived in Charleston, South Carolina, I was part of Charleston Writing Group (founded by Christy Strick, who had started Writer’s House in Charlottesville, VA). There were only five of us in this group, and we met every Monday to critique each other’s work and discuss short stories or novel chapters. This group was phenomenal—meeting face-to-face is such a huge plus, if you can do it. They opened my eyes to the types of descriptions I tended to over-use, and I have since cut all of those out of my writing. I couldn’t be more grateful to them, and when we moved to California, I was definitely sad to have to leave the group.
I have yet to find an in-person writing critique group in our small mountain town that suits me. But the online writing community is just as helpful, if not more in some ways. I’m amazed by the magic that takes place in these circles. An Author’s Tale is a fantastic Facebook group that focuses entirely on writing prompts, sharing new writers’ successes, and critiquing each other’s work in a kind, supporting, encouraging environment. I’ve always been impressed by the way this group is run, and I recommend it for any new writers looking for a safe place to get some great feedback.
Currently, I stick to my small circle of ‘writing buddies’, who are always more than willing to take a peek at my work, whether it’s finished or not. I find this is more helpful to me, as the kind of feedback I’m looking for is more along the big-picture questions—does the scene progressions make sense? Does the tension build in the right way? Does the structure of chapters work for the plot and overall story ark? These handful of writing buddies have given me invaluable feedback, and I always make sure I take the time to repay them in kind.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
My writing process is very simple. 1. Have a clean desk. 2. Have a giant bottle of water (or steaming cup of coffee or yerba matte with honey) at the ready. 3. Turn iTunes on shuffle (I can’t standlistening to the same band or genre of music in a row. I need eclectic chaos). 4. Turn off all Social Media and the cell phone on silent. 5. Tap into the creative universe within my mind.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
I did not. As a professional editor myself, I felt comfortable enough with my own editing work to give my novels what they deserve. Of course, this means I went through twelve revisions of the dang thing (one of them included cutting out an entire 11k words) in order to make sure it was ready for anyone else to see.
I did, though, give it to three beta readers (who have since become my circle of writing buddies) and one fellow editor, Cayce Berryman (who started and mediates An Author’s Tale on Facebook—we swapped novels and I edited hers in trade). Once I got back all their suggestions and advice, I did lucky revision number thirteen, and it was ready to go.
What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?
There’s no possible way I can write everything I’ve learned here without boring you all to death and making you drop your heads right into your soup. So I’ll stick with the most important things.
Absolutely anything is possible. It sounds cliché, but I mean it. You can become a published author, you can find people out there who’s services are professional, beneficial, and probably should cost more than they do. You can reach readers with your words and make an impact on the world with your writing.Trial and error is your best friend. I’ve tried a lot of different things in the last four months, and have found what works, and what I’ll never try again. But you won’t figure any of that out if you don’t take a few risks and try it out for yourself.Listen to the advice of others who have gone before you and have been successful. I definitely didn’t know how to do everything myself when I started this journey. There was no way I could have. But I talked to tons of Indie Authors who had large followings and great sales, and I asked them what they’d done. Most of them say, ‘Just keep writing,’ but I already knew that. I searched around for books on Indie Author Publishing, and have found a list of five that I think are essential for any Indie Author starting out. ‘Indie Author Survival Guide’ and ‘For Love or Money’, by Susan Kaye Quinn. These are incredible for pointing out the different routes you can take as an Indie Author, and what it takes in each route. ‘Let’s Get Digital’ and ‘Let’s Get Visible’, by David Gaughran follow up the first two with a lot more detail about how self-publishing can benefit you as an author more than traditional publishing, and he really goes in depth into the industry, the specifics of how to launch and run promotions, and the technical aspect of self-publishing. The last book is a ‘holy bible’ for me, and I turn to it constantly (because I also help my editing clients format their works for paperback and ebooks). ‘Zen of Ebook Formatting’ by Guido Henkel is the only resource I’ve ever read that makes HTML CSS formatting understandable and a heaping load of fun. Don’t let that scare you away from it—seeing that would have scared me, too. But I took the chance in reading it, and I’ve since figured out how to format a remarkably perfect ebook every time at the code level (and for somebody who doesn’t consider herself ‘code-savvy’ or more technologically knowledgeable than the average person, that’s saying a lot). Get these books, read them, study them, and there’s almost nothing you can’t do.Network! Reach out to others. Say hi. Ask other writers what they’re working on. Start conversations with people about anything and everything (mine are mostly either editing topics, or total geek-out sessions about fiction in general, and more specifically Fantasy and Sci-Fi). It’s amazing how easy it is to make friends with others when you open yourself up a little, willing to share your work with others, to bare your soul, and to participate with others on their own work.Okay, I’ll wrap this up. Last one—promoting yourself does not equal being a pain in the ass. you have to do it if you want to make a name for yourself, but if you’re gracious, kind, and help others out in their own endeavors, promoting yourself as the awesome person you are will inevitably bring the rest along with it.
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?Yup. But I would much rather market my own work than pay someone else to do it…because that someone else is not me. I think it’s super important to put my own touch on things, market with my own voice, and control exactly what I do, when, and how. But that takes time, and so does writing. I try to give myself equal amounts of time on each (and with series, marketing the next book with the one before it kills two birds with one stone). It’s important not to get wrapped up in marketing and only marketing, because if I never write that next book, it won’t exist.

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
Admittedly, writing is my greatest passion, and I think it always has been. This is followed very closely by reading (hmm…funny how they’re so closely related). I’m also a fairly musical person. I started taking classical piano lessons when I was five, and continued them for twelve years. After that, I moved on to writing my own music and lyrics, and I’ve spent some time rolling around at open mics and grabbing a few solo gigs here and there. Music is something I turn to when my emotions run way too high to focus on anything else, and I have to expel them through that channel. It’s always been a part of me, and that will never go away.
My husband and I love to travel whenever we can. Vacations, visiting our family and friends (because we live in California and no one else does), and scouting out new, fun cities to explore is one of my favorite things. My husband and I are the Super A-Team when it comes to long road trips. Put us in two separate cars driving across the country, though, and it’s a whole different story (learned that when we moved all our stuff from South Carolina to California…)
Thank you so much for hosting this stop today. I’m thrilled to be here! —Kathrin

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#Excerpt: FAIRLY CERTAIN by Deborah Ann Davis

“Hey, have you seen Maid Rianne?” Petir ventured to ask after watching their efforts for a while.
“Ye won’t find her around here. She is paying a visit to my wife.”
“Your wife? I thought she was a prison—” Petir glanced at Scottie, busy with his task and ignoring their conversation. “I thought she was a guest of the sheriff.”
“That she is, but Maid Rianne would not be dissuaded from carrying a message from Scottie to his mum. Aye, she be a feisty one, that.”
Alarm filled Petir. “But what if she gets caught?”
William chuckled. “Not Maid Rianne.”
“How do you know?” he snapped at the big man. “She doesn’t have some kind of invisible cloak, does she? I didn’t think so. She could get caught.” How could the man be so casual about it?
“Anything is possible, m’lord. But even if she is caught, she will be safe enough. She can tell the guard she was trying to sneak in to see her betrothed. No harm will befall her.”
Petir threw his arm up in frustration. “You shouldn’t have let her go!” What was he supposed to do now, beside wait and worry?
“Let her go? M’lord, do you really think I had a say in the matter?” The blacksmith threw back his head and laughed, a big booming sound that erased his perpetual scowl. “You tell Maid Rianne what she should do, and let me how that works out for you.”

 BLURB:
Buy Links for Fairly Certain:
IndieBound http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781942009016
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Fairly-Certain-Fairs-Deborah-Davis/dp/1942009011/ref=twoen-20
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/503303
Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/fairly-certain
B&N Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fairly-certain-deborah-ann-davis/1120492765
bLio https://www.blio.com/web1/actions/searchHandler.do?key=9781942009023&nextPage=booksDetails&parentNum=12848
inktera http://www.inktera.com/store/title/74f5bcc8-1792-4ddc-97fd-ffd0bd1b7e23

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I’m DEBORAH ANN DAVIS, and I write Quirky New/Young Adult Fiction with a Twist. I began writing when searching for inspiration for my 5th grade English Journal. Lo and behold, my world was full of funny tales just waiting to be told. It never occurred to me to pursue writing, not even when I discovered my flare for telling stories at college parties.
After a string of undergrad majors, I realized I could reach a captive audience EVERY DAY in the public school system. As you probably know, teenagers love to laugh, and what could be more entertaining than Biology, Earth Science, and Environmental Science? I jumped into teaching with both feet and loved it for 27 years. It came with an added bonus: Once teens know you like to laugh, they want to make you laugh. Go figure.
Twelve years after our first kiss, I reunited with, and married my childhood sweetheart. Together we coached our daughter's AAU Basketball Team, which swept States two years in a row. (Yay!) Then, for several years, our daughter and our money went to college.
During a particularly nasty bout of Lyme disease, I turned to Fitness to boost my Health, and to Writing to boost my Happiness. Currently, I am a healthy and happy Educational Speaker and a Certified Personal Trainer who loves to write.
We presently reside on a lovely lake in Connecticut. When I’m not writing novels for my Love of Fairs series, I enjoy dabbling with living a sustainable life, dancing, playing outside, and laughing really hard every day. I also promote increasing movement throughout your day as Wiggle Writer in my Merry Meddling blog at http://deborahanndavis.com/merry-meddling
You can track my meddling on https://twitter.com/DeborahAnnDavis  or https://twitter.com/WiggleWriter 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DeborahAnndDavis
www.Facebook.com/DeborahAnnDavisAuthor
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9220018.Deborah_Ann_Davis
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