Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 202

Guest Post: HOW I GET MY IDEAS by Melissa Stevens, CHOOSING HAPPINESS

People often ask me where I get my ideas. The short answer is everywhere. But let me give you an example. A few weeks ago I was vacationing with my family, we it was a limited electricity vacation. And I was doing as I tend to do, reading in bed for a little while before sleeping. I didn’t like the direction whatever book was going. I thought what if. What if instead of, this guy turning out to be the average bad guy he was secretly good? What if there was a book or series of books where… No, I’m not going to give the idea away, because in the short amount of time I’ve been home I’ve actually been working on developing the idea. I’m hoping to turn it into a series. But this is how a lot of things work, at least for me. Driving through traffic to pick up the kids, something pops into my head. I wear a headset on my phone for times just like this, I hit the voice recorder or texting app while sitting at a stop light and tell the phone my notes. It’s not perfect but when I go back to it later I can figure out what I meant.
It’s not unheard of for me to sit at baseball practice with a notebook, working on whatever story I’m caught up in. Often a change of scenery helps if things aren’t flowing to suit me. If I can’t figure out what’s next, I’ll pack up and go to Starbucks, or do whatever I have to with the kids, taking notes in the notebook that goes everywhere with me, and putting them into the computer later.
Personally I think everyone has these flashes where things pop into their heads, I’ve just learned to really listen to mine. 


Book & Author Details:Choosing Happiness by Melissa Stevens
Publication date: July 21st 2015
Genres: Adult, Romance
Synopsis:Jake and Andrea met once. When Andrea was in college, Jake came with her brother Ben who was visiting on leave from a deployment in Afghanistan. Now, years later, Jake gets a job in Ben’s home town to be close to his best friend. He hadn’t counted on Andrea. The attraction he’d felt then was still there. And this time he wasn’t headed back to a war zone where he could very well be killed.Andrea is drawn to the man who calls Ben brother. Something about him speaks to her, but she’s not sure what. She falls into things head first, but when something makes her question how fast things are going she slams on the breaks. Can the two of them figure out what’s going on with them before it’s too late?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25350295-choosing-happiness?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Happiness-Melissa-Stevens-ebook/dp/B00WGUY2DS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1438234730&sr=8-5&keywords=Choosing+HappinessB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/choosing-happiness-melissa-stevens/1121790689?ean=9781511770606

AUTHOR BIO:Melissa was born and raised in Arizona, she's spent her entire life living across the southern half of the state. She's found that, along with her husband and three children, she prefers the small towns and rural life to feeling packed into a city.

She started reading at a very young age, and her love for series started early, as the first real books she remembers reading is the Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Through the years she's found that there's little she won't read, and her tastes vary from westerns, to romance, to sci-fi / fantasy and Horror.

She's been writing since 2009, and enjoys nearly every minute of it.

Social Media Links:http://melissastevens.us/https://www.facebook.com/melissastevensauthorhttps://twitter.com/MelissaTStevens
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5062799.Melissa_Stevens

Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)Paperback copy of Choosing Happiness

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#Excerpt: CAUGHT IN US, Layla Hagen

Excerpt:
"You're not all that bad for a rich girl," he says. This snaps me out of my daydreaming. Or, well, lip-dreaming. "You say it like I should take it as a compliment.""It is a compliment. You're a breath of fresh air." He shifts on his side, facing me. "So are you. You're different from everyone I know.""Is it because I'm devastatingly good-looking?" he says mischievously. I roll my eyes at him. "It's because you are extremely modest. We should go back. You know, hanging around with me is going to ruin your reputation.""What's that supposed to mean?""You didn’t notice the way people looked at us last Friday? Or today in the cafeteria?""So what?" His eyes widen, and he grins. "You're ashamed people might see you with me?"I gasp slightly. "That's not true.""You're afraid they'll think we were secretly making out," he teases."They will not think that." Heat surges in my cheeks. "Hazel seems to think exactly that." I can't be blushing. I can't be blushing. Damon eyes one of my cheeks and then the other. His grin widens. Of course, I'm blushing. "You'd like to make out with me? You just have to say it. I assure you I'm a perfectly good kisser." He leans into me, his eyes scanning me playfully. Does he know what he's doing to me with his dark green eyes and his annoyingly beautiful lips? He, who must have touched tens of other lips with his, and toyed with as many hearts? My heart beats so fast I legitimately fear I might faint. He's just joking, Dani. "Not every female around wants to kiss you." How I muster the wits to say the next words, I'll never know. "You're not as good-looking as you think.""But you admit I'm good-looking?""I didn't say that.""You didn't deny it," he says.  "Please go work your charm on someone else who is more experienced with these games. I'm not." He pulls back. "What do you mean?""We have to go." I take my plate and jump to my feet. He catches up with me on the stairs, grabbing my arm. "You've never been kissed?" he asks. I debate lying for a second, but I've never been any good at it. "No, I haven't. Go ahead. Laugh."He's not laughing. "Why?" he seems genuinely confused, and I almost laugh. He reminds me so much of James right now, who is always completely bewildered by the fact that no guy is into me. "I don't think I'm anyone's type here at school," I explain. "Figures. I knew most here are idiots; I didn't realize just how much."The implication in his words fills me with warmth and relief: that there is something wrong with them. Not with me. "So no one was lucky enough to taste your lips," he says, and then does something that petrifies me. He runs his thumb over my upper lip, then my lower one. My thighs involuntarily press themselves together as heat billows between them. A whiff of breath rushes through my lips.   "We should go to class," I murmur."Sure." A smile plays on his lips all the way to the class. We attract stares, just as I predicted. This time, he does notice them. Leaning into me, Damon says, "You were right. They are looking at us, but I was right too.""What do you mean?""They are convinced we spent the entire break making out. And if you continue to blush so deliciously, I'll wish we had."

Book & Author Details:
Caught in Us by Layla Hagen
(Lost #3)
Publication date: August 3rd 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:Dani Cohen knows Damon is trouble the second he walks in during senior year. He has bad boy written all over him. . .from his arrogant smirk to his perfectly toned abs. He is arrogant, intense, rebellious.Dani has her future all planned out. She’s not the type to fall for a bad boy, no matter how panty-melting his grin is or how shamelessly he flirts. But something about Damon draws her in, awakening a desire she’s never felt. Slowly, she uncovers the secrets Damon hides: underneath his arrogance lies a tortured soul, his flirting smile masks despair.Damon arrives in Dani’s life against his will. Carrying the scars of a dark past and facing an uncertain future, he knows he should stay away from her, but can’t. Her innocence consumes him, as does the desire to indulge in the passion igniting deep inside her.
An all-consuming bond blooms into a reckless love. But when mistakes from the past threaten their already fragile future, can their love survive?A steamy and emotional full-length, standalone love story from the USA Today Bestselling author of Withering Hope.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22722877-caught-in-us?ac=1
Purchase: 
This is the third book in the Lost Series, but it is a standalone since it tells the story of a different couple.Buy links to follow:Amazon: http://goo.gl/aOLiAz B&N: http://goo.gl/ITN5Dp Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1016466275 Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/caught-in-us
Previous books:1.     Lost series:Lost (FREE prequel novella to Lost in Us): Amazon US ; B&N ; Apple ; KoboLost in Us (James and Serena’s story): Amazon US ; B&N ; Apple ; KoboFound in Us (Jessica and Parker’s story): Amazon US ; B&N ; Apple ; Kobo
2.     Standalone full-length romance: USA Today Bestseller Withering HopeAmazon US ; B&N ; Apple ; Kobo
AUTHOR BIO:My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.
I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later. I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.
 And I drink coffee. Lots of it.
Author links:http://laylahagen.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7520984.Layla_Hagen
https://www.facebook.com/LaylaHagenBooks
https://twitter.com/laylahagen  
GIVEAWAYBlitz-wide giveaway (INTL)$25 Amazon Giftcard

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Interview with R. L. King, ALASTAIR STONE CHRONICLES

1. Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?My latest book is The Forgotten, the second book in my urban fantasy series, The Alastair Stone Chronicles. Stone was mostly on his own in the previous book, Stone and a Hard Place, but in this one, during the course of some investigations he’s doing into some bizarre and potentially supernaturally-based murders, he meets Jason, a young man who’s searching for his missing sister. Because the two find that they’re tracking the same leads for completely different reasons, and that what they’re looking for is a lot bigger than either of them thought, they join forces. I think the two play well off each other: Stone is sarcastic, mercurial, and driven, while Jason is more down-to-earth, pragmatic, and straightforward.

2. Do you have a favorite character?Dr. Alastair Stone is my favorite character. He’s a blast to write, because he constantly keeps me on my toes to keep up with him. He’s bright as hell when dealing with things he’s familiar with (like magic), but sometimes a little out of it when it comes to the more mundane aspects of life. Ever since I was a kid I found myself drawn to smart, sarcastic (and yeah, easy on the eyes!) British guys, so Stone is my take on the type. This current book is fun because he tends to overpower people around him with the force of his personality, but Jason, who’s a mundane (non-magical person), proves early on that he won’t stand for his bull@#$%. Stone respects that, and they end up getting along surprisingly well.

3. What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?Two reasons: impatience, and the fact that I’m a control freak. Regarding impatience: I’m reasonably sure that if I plugged away at it long enough, I could probably convince somebody to publish something I’ve written (I’ve already got a novel published in the Shadowrun roleplaying game line), but I don’t have the patience to go through the process of submissions, rejections, trying to find an agent, waiting for the publisher to get around to publishing the book, etc. Maybe if I were younger I would, but at this point in my life I think I’ve learned enough that I can put out a quality self-published product on my own schedule. As far as being a control freak: I like to set my own schedules, I know what I want on my covers, I like to do my own paperback designs, and all that sort of thing. I wouldn’t like leaving those decisions up to someone else. I’ve heard too many horror stories from other authors about the horrible covers they’ve been stuck with. Also, I like keeping my rights and setting my own prices.

4. If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?I used a wonderful graphic design company called Streetlight Graphics, and I’ve had a lot of input into my covers. Generally, I give Streetlight an idea of what I’m looking for, show them a few covers of other books that I like, and tell them the basic color scheme I want. They produce something (which so far in almost every case has been really close to what I had in mind) and then we tweak things back and forth a few times until it’s right. Designing covers is one of my favorite parts of self-publishing, but I know enough to know that I’m not good enough with image-editing software to make my dreams a reality on my own. Working with a pro has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

5. Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?A little of both. I need to have at least a vague idea of the beginning, the middle, and the end of the story before I can start. Usually what I do is write a 30,000-foot outline of the main story arc, then create a more detailed outline of the first few chapters. That gives my mind room to chew on the story in the background for a while, and usually by the time I’ve exhausted my detailed outline, I’ve got some more cool ideas for what will happen next. I find that if I try to outline the whole thing ahead of time, it doesn’t work. I just don’t get the ideas until I start writing and see what’s happening. At that point, I can start thinking, “Okay, this happened. What could possibly follow from that? And what would cause the most trouble for my characters?” (Insert Evil Author Cackle™ here.)

6. Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?I did. His name is John Helfers, and I’m really lucky that he finds time in his schedule for me, since he’s very busy with all sorts of projects. He edits the Shadowrun novel line as well as having worked on anthologies and other projects with big names like Charlaine Harris and Mercedes Lackey. He’s even been nominated for a Hugo as an editor! He’s a great guy and really easy to work with.

7. What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?Oh, wow, I’ve learned a lot of things, and I’m sure I have a lot more to learn. I guess the big ones are that if you want to produce a professional product, you have to hire professionals to help you, and that you have to promote your work, because nobody else is going to do it for you (unless you pay them to, of course).
I’ve also learned a lot about writing in general from attending various classes and seminars, talking to other writers, and incorporating my editor’s comments into my manuscripts. I was just doing a pre-edit pass on one of my novels the other day (sort of like cleaning the house before the maid comes!) and I found a whole lot of little stylistic errors that I wouldn’t have noticed a couple of years ago.
And finally, I’ve learned that there are a whole lot of awesome people out there writing really good indie books, and that the indie author community is very supportive. It’s great to find other authors I like and help promote their books, and see them helping to promote mine. I think it’s really important for indie authors to support each other, since we don’t have the backing of a publisher to help us get the word out.

8. What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I have a Facebook page for the series (facebook.com/AlastairStoneChronicles), a blog (rlkingwriting.com), and a website for my publishing company (magespacepress.com). I have also started using Twitter in the past few months. I never liked Twitter before (mostly because I didn’t really understand it) but now I’m finding it to be a lot of fun. It’s also a great place to meet other indie authors.

9. What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?My number-one bit of advice is to make sure you’re producing a quality product. Be realistic about your abilities—make sure you produce the best writing you can, and then find beta readers who aren’t afraid to be honest with you, and a good editor who will help you make your story even better. Everybody needs an editor—from the newest self-published author to Stephen King and J. K. Rowling. Your book will sell better, and you’ll feel more pride in your work, when you know you’ve put your best foot forward and offered your best work for sale. Also: have fun with it! You might sell a few copies or you might sell thousands, but either way, you’ve done something that most people will never do: you’ve finished a novel! That’s an accomplishment right there.

10. What’s next for you?I’m preparing the next Stone Chronicles book for publication, hopefully in late September or early October. After that, I’ve got two more books in the series finished, another one as a completed first draft, yet another that I’ve just started, and ideas for about five or six more. So I expect that, if things go according to my fiendish plan, the Stone Chronicles series will be humming along for quite some time. I’m also hoping to get the green light to write another Shadowrun novel—I need to finish the proposal and send it off to the editor soon.
Thanks very much for letting me invade your blog! I had a great time!
BLURB
Stone and a Hard Place==============Dr. Alastair Stone, Occult Studies professor and powerful mage, has his hands full trying to keep the two sides of his life separate as he trains a new apprentice, deals with a malevolent entity trapped in the basement of a wealthy old woman's massive home, and battles dark mages intent on enslaving it for their own ends.
Debut novel of the Alastair Stone Chronicles.
The Forgotten=========Dr. Alastair Stone is back, this time teaming up with Jason Thayer, a young man hunting for his missing sister. Embroiled in a web of odd homeless people, a growing conspiracy, and deadly danger, they soon realize that even if they find Jason's sister, they might not be able to help her.
What do you do when you discover an extradimensional plot that threatens the safety of the entire world, but you can't tell anyone about it because literally anyone on Earth could be part of it?
Book Two of the Alastair Stone Chronicles.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:R. L. King is an award-winning author and game freelancer for Catalyst Game Labs, publisher of the popular roleplaying game Shadowrun. She has contributed fiction and game material to numerous sourcebooks, as well as one full-length adventure, "On the Run," included as part of the 2012 Origins-Award-winning "Runners' Toolkit."

Her first novel in the Shadowrununiverse, Borrowed Time, was published in May 2015.

When not doing her best to make life difficult for her characters, King is a software technical writer for a large Silicon Valley database company. In her spare time (hah!) she enjoys hanging out with her very understanding spouse and her small herd of cats, watching way too much Doctor Who, and attending conventions when she can. She is an Active member of the Horror Writers' Association and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and a member of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers.
Links:Writer Website: http://www.rlkingwriting.comPublisher Website: http://www.magespacepress.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/AlastairStoneChroniclesTwitter: @Dragonwriter11Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/R.-L.-King/e/B0...
Buy link for Stone and a Hard Place (Book 1): amzn.to/1CFdTDi Buy link for The Forgotten (Book 2): http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Alastair-Stone-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B0084O96RW/

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
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#Excerpt: THE MAID'S QUARTERS by Holly Bush

Excerpt:
“May I help you?” he said.
Alice nearly lost her voice and courage. But if the butler was capable of keeping her at arm’s length, how would she ever get her family home back? She cleared her throat. “I need to speak to Mr. Albert Donahue. My name is Alice Porterman.”
The butler’s bushy brows rose. “And you have an appointment, miss?”
“I do not.”
“Anyone wishing to speak to Mr. Donahue has an appointment.”
“And who do I see to get such an appointment?”
“Mr. Vickers, his secretary. I’m sorry, he is not in but, but—Where are you going? You cannot come into this house!”
Alice swept by him and seated herself on a settee inside the door. “I will wait here until Mr. Vickers arrives, unless you would prefer me to wait in his office.”
“Certainly not. I can’t just let a complete stranger make herself at home in Mr. Vickers’s office.”
“Then I will be satisfied to wait here,” Alice said, as she noticed a young man hovering near the staircase. She nodded toward him. “Someone is looking for you.”


Blurb:Albert Donahue, an up-and-coming member of Boston’s elite, made his fortune through hard work and shrewd business deals. But his dreams of a family to share it with have not come true, perhaps until an impertinent young woman enters his home and won’t leave until she speaks to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:Holly Bush writes historical romance set on the American Prairie, in Victorian England, and recently released her first Women’s Fiction title. Her books are described as emotional, with heartfelt, sexy romance. She makes her home with her husband in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Connect with Holly at www.hollybushbooks.com and on Twitter @hollybushbooks and on Facebook at Holly Bush.

www.hollybushbooks.com Twitter - @hollybushbooksFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Holly-Bush/247399131941435
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D381HR6/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Holly-Bush/e/B006ZDTQ1A/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

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#Review: WATERBORNE EXILE by Susan Murray

  4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Waterborne Blade, in this series so I was anxiously awaiting the sequel. Ms. Murray is an excellent writer, fleshing out her characters and the world they live in nicely. As with a lot of sequels, this story moved the plot forward, but didn't really answer any of the major questions of whether Alweena would win back the crown, whether Marten would be instrumental to her quest or betray her again, and whether Weaver would be the final missing piece of the puzzle in defeating Vasic and removing him from the crown.
Now that all the pieces are in place, I can hardly wait for the final book in this series. Fans of epic fantasy will thoroughly enjoy this story.
Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Waterborne-Exile-Blade-Susan-Murray-ebook/dp/B00OEW5RIK/ref=twoen-20 
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What I Wish Young Writers Knew by Allyssa Painter, TIMEKEEPER RISING

                                   Age Doesn’t Matter Yes, you read that correct.  I said (or typed) “Age doesn’t matter.”  It doesn’t, okay?  Let me back up.  Of course age matters in some things.  I’m not saying it’s a good idea to drink at fourteen.  I’m not.  Please don’t do that.  But in writing, age does not matter.  I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, but I think I really started becoming serious about it in middle school.  I started writing this story that ended up filling up three or four notebooks.  Yeah, it was ridiculous.  But that’s not the point.  I stopped writing that story after a while and moved on to other things.  In high school, maybe ninth or tenth grade, I wrote my first full-length novel.  It’s a little short, but nothing too crazy.  After that, I couldn’t stop.  I loved writing and I was determined I wanted to publish my book.  I wanted to be an author.  So I started researching.  I read blogs from authors and advice for writers and all sorts of stuff.  And occasionally, someone would address the issue of young authors.  And they’d always say things like, “You need to wait to publish until you’re older.”  “You’re writing isn’t good enough.”  “You’ll look back at those stories later and realize they suck.”  And that was so disheartening.  Everywhere I looked, everyone said, slow down, wait, you’re not old enough, you’re not good enough.  At first, it was enough to make me stop researching.  And then the anger seeped in.  And the stubbornness.  I’m notoriously stubborn.  And I decided that I was going to publish my book.  I was going to be an author, and I wasn’t going to wait fifteen years just because there was some sort of age requirement.I started querying my first novel when I was 17 or 18 I think.  And I actually had a decent amount of interest.  I even had an offer for publication.  In the end, I turned it down due to moral/creative differences between myself and the company, which is a perfectly fine thing to do, let me add.  You don’t have to take the first contract offered to you.  It’s important to find the right company to work with, because you’ll have to work very closely with them.  Anyways, around that time, I finished the Timekeeper, which is what the Duo started out as.  I then learned it was way too long and still needed more detail and scenes, so I broke it into two books and finished editing Timekeeper Rising.  I queried it for a while, but the idea of angels and demons seemed to turn everyone away.  I believed in my book, though, and in myself, so with a lot of support, I decided to self-publish it anyway.  Here’s the part that applies to my point.  I am twenty years old.  I just turned twenty in May, actually.  And I am publishing a book.  I am an author.  Now, does that suddenly mean all those authors and professionals were wrong, and my book isn’t crap?  Well, I guess not technically.  Not many people have read it yet, and you can publish anything these days.  So, technically speaking, it could be absolutely dreadful.  But I don’t think so.  Several people have read it for me so far, and they all seem to love it.  Is it the best book ever written?  I sincerely doubt it.  But is it good?  Yeah, I think so.I don’t doubt that one day I’ll look back at this book and think it could be better.  But let me tell you a secret.  I know of several authors who do that.  They look back at the early books and it’s amazing to them to see how far they’ve come.  And some authors won’t even look back at them, because they know their new books are way better (at least in their opinion).  And these are real adults, guys, not fake adults like me.  These people are thirty, forty, fifty years old, and they still do that same thing that people said teens would do.  They look back at their early work and know it’s not as good as it could be.  Why?  Because they’ve grown.  We all grow, especially as authors.  The more we write, the more we read, the more advice, reviews, and comments we see, the more we learn, and the better our books become.  So if this is true for adults, why can’t it be true for teens?  Why does age have to matter?It doesn’t.  Age doesn’t matter.  Maturity?  Sure.  Writing ability?  Most definitely.  But if you’re mature enough, dedicated enough, strong enough, and you have the writing ability, you can be an author.  I don’t care if you’re fifteen or a hundred and fifteen.  If you can write a good book that people enjoy, and you have tough enough skin and enough dedication to stick through all the unenjoyable businessy stuff of being an author, you can publish a book too, no matter your age.  The point is a simple one: Age doesn’t matter.  Ability does.


Book & Author Details:Timekeeper Rising by Allyssa Painter
Publication date: August 1st 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:Fifty years ago, the sky cried acid and the earth vomited poison, all due to human destruction. Desperate for a savior, the people called out to the Shunned, a group of Fallen angels on Earth, and allowed them to take over. Now the Shunned rule with unspeakable cruelty, manipulating and torturing the humans in every possible way. Marked for death, Iris Ankea will do anything to end their tyranny and rescue her brother and best friend from their clutches. When she learns that she is God’s chosen Timekeeper and has the power to defeat the Shunned, she sets out with the only man who can help her, the one she thinks just might kill her. With a prophecy about her drawing ever near, Iris must race against time to discover her powers before the world, and her life, end. Can Iris force herself to embrace her role and sacrifice herself to save everyone she loves, or will she lose it all?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25459606-timekeeper-rising?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Timekeeper-Rising-Duo-Book-ebook/dp/B010RD2B24/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1438194747&sr=1-1&keywords=Timekeeper+RisingB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/timekeeper-rising-allyssa-painter/1122283351?ean=2940152025255
   AUTHOR BIO:Allyssa Painter is the author of Timekeeper Rising, the first in the Timekeeper Duo. She graduated from Sissonville High School and attends Concord University for elementary and special education. She dreams of becoming an elementary teacher and continuing to touch the world around her through the novels she writes. In her free time, she enjoys reading fantastical adventures, spending time with her family, and capturing the world around her in photography and writing.

Social Media Links:
https://allyssapainter.wordpress.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13889760.Allyssa_Painterhttps://www.facebook.com/authorallyssapainterhttps://twitter.com/allyssapainter
GIVEAWAYBlitz-wide giveaway (INTL)1 signed copy of Timekeeper Rising2 ebook copies of Timekeeper Rising
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#Excerpt: TRIANGULATING BLISS by Janelle Jalbert

Excerpt:
Greg opened the backdoor to Bliss. He forced himself to stop thinking about how the name of the place made him think of a day spa rather than a barbeque joint. The tell-tale wood smoke greeted him, causing his stomach to growl and suspending his thoughts about the name of the place. Musical chimes sounded above the door as Greg’s eyes adjusted from the glare of the fall sun to the darkened interior.
Figures, he thought. Why wouldn't there be chimes at a place called Bliss?
Once his eyes adjusted, the bar area didn't seem to be out of the ordinary. Greg stopped at the partition just inside the door. It was covered with a list of sayings:
Follow Your Bliss Happiness Is an Inside Job Be Careful What You Wish For There's No Better Time to Claim the Future You Want Than Now
A half-laugh escaped him. He thought it was a menu board at first and the philosophizing caught him off guard. Still, the final statement hit close to home, and he took a deep breath.
Greg headed to the long black bar. A smaller party room was to the right with about a dozen tables to the left. It had the feel of a contemporary jazz club or maybe a speakeasy. Beyond the tables, bright daylight streamed into the lounge from a passage between the front diner area and the bar. No creepy Twilight Zone feeling here, he thought.
Two muted, flat screen TVs hung on either side of the wood shelves stocked with bottles of all sizes. He eyed the taps and sports coverage while surveying the place. Though there were no windows in the back area, yet it didn't feel claustrophobic. Between the lighting, mirrors and glass, there was elegance to the place that radiated a different type of light. Poster-sized black and white pictures hung on the walls, showing the history of the place. Greg guessed they were from the 1940's. Smaller pictures of patrons and notable artifacts related to "Our Place" dotted the walls. Greg knew from his early research that Our Place was the name of the restaurant until a few years earlier. 
Greg settled in, still getting a sense of the place, when a woman with graying dark hair approached him. Though he talked with Lois on the phone, this was the first time he saw her. She was not remarkably tall, but definitely commanded the bar and carried herself in a way that betrayed her real age. She had a look of knowing, or maybe it was just cheer that she had a customer on a dead afternoon.
   BLURB:
All stories include a man with dark hair, blue eyes, and a strong jaw.
Then, it’s his turn.
The mysterious forces at Bliss change everything. What brought them all to Bliss is not as it appears and their lives are powerfully interconnected across space and time.

Author bio:Janelle Jalbert has ghostwritten 15 nonfiction books on topics ranging from productivity, money management, marketing, cooking, and relationships. She also worked as a copywriter for some of the biggest online names and worked as a motorsports reporter covering NASCAR. Jalbert enjoys bringing stories to life that celebrate the magic in everyday living. To learn more about her current and upcoming releases and promotions visit www.janellejalbert.com. Jalbert currently lives in Southern California, though she regularly returns to her second home in North Carolina when her pack of pups grants her a vacation. 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/justjjwritingFacebook: www.facebook.com/janellejalbert.authorAuthor Website: www.janellejalbert.comGoodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/Janelle_Jalbert
Get freebies and bonuses here:
http://synchron8publishing.com/triangulating-bliss-launch 
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/2015/06/cover-reveal-book-blast-triangulating.html
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New #Romance Release: LONELY HEARTS CLUB by New York Times Best-selling author Sandra Edwards

Blurb:They say you can't go home again--but sisters Georgia and Ginger are going to give it a good try when they return to their hometown of Cypress Falls for their niece's wedding. Things are bound to get a little crazy when the groom is not only the son of Georgia's childhood crush, but he's also the nephew of Ginger's boyfriend from high school. To make matters worse, the bride's parents are in the midst of a nasty breakup.
Life hasn't turned out quite the way any of them planned, and the prospect of this wedding won't let them forget it! Join New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Sandra Edwards in this delightful tale about love, loss, and picking up the pieces.
Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Hearts-Club-Southern-Charmers-ebook/dp/B011GYGDE0/ref=twoen-20


Read the prequel THE MEMORY BOUQUET for a peek inside the three sister’s relationships.
Blurb:Three Sisters. Three stories. Three Missed Opportunities.
On a visit to her hometown of Cypress Falls, Ginger Franklin runs into her high school sweetheart and tries to fend off his advances because she is, after all, married--maybe not happily married, but married nonetheless.
Eldest sister, Risa Franklin Russell's marriage is falling apart, and it's happening right as her only daughter, Lisa, becomes engaged. As if that's not bad enough, she's not happy about the prospect of her traitorous sister's return for Lisa's wedding. Risa doesn't need Georgia's success or her own stupidity thrown in her face.
Georgia Franklin contemplates going home for the first time in twenty-five years, after she learns her niece is getting married--to the son of Georgia's childhood crush. The only thing Georgia fears more than her past coming back to haunt her, is disappointing her niece.
Amazon buy link:http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Bouquet-Southern-Charmers-Book-ebook/dp/B0073L7D40/ref=twoen-20

#Review: TRIDENT CODE by Thomas Waite

  4 of 5 stars
The story unfolds when Lana Elkins, a former NSA employee, is recruited once again to stave off another possible world-wide catastrophe. When once of America's premier nuclear subs is highjacked and the sickening scene of crew members dying horrible deaths is broadcast for all the world to see, Elkins and her team race against time trying stop the cyber-terrorists from launching the Trident II missiles--an action that could change the face of the world forever.

I love thrillers and this one did not disappoint. With all the super-hackers out there bent on destruction especially against the USA, the highjacking of one of our most valuable subs seems the way to hit us hard. I'm not computer savvy enough to know if this is even a possibility, but nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed the story. With each page, there seemed to be no end to the destruction as Lana and her team try to discover the identity of the hackers.  The sub-plot with Elkins' daughter, however, did nothing to add to the angst of the story. That storyline could have been eliminated while the tension and heart-pounding action of Elkins and her team could have easily carried the story. Beside that one criticism, fans of thrillers will thoroughly enjoy this book.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Amazon buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/Trident-Code-Lana-Elkins-Thriller-ebook/dp/B00PR32G52

#Review: IF HE'S NOBLE by Hannah Howell

5 of 5 stars
I am a fan of Ms. Howell and IF HE'S NOBLE is another enjoyable and enthralling read. The story revoles around Lady Primrose Wooten who is on a desperate search to find her brother. Their father has died and Simeon is now head of the family. As Primrose searches the countryside, she runs across Sir Bened Vaughn who offers to escort her while she searches. As the story unfolds, we learn more about Aunt Augusta and the real reason why Primrose must find her brother.

I loved the main characters and how they handled their mutual attraction. The author teases out details about the hero and heroine that are both endearing and shocking. The book was action packed and just when you think our heroine is safe, another twist in thrown in the story. All in all, it was a very enjoyable story. Fans of regency and Highland romances will definitely love this one!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Amazon buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/If-Hes-Noble-Wherlocke-Book-ebook/dp/B00P53BXNK/ref=twoen-20