Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 204

#Excerpt: SUMMER DIARY by Elyse Douglas

EXCERPT:Seconds later, the tension returned.  She saw Big Pete, and a tall younger man emerge from around the back of the house and start toward her.  His dogs, Brownie and Tippie Toe, were right behind.  She steadied herself with effort, and combed back her hair with stiff fingers.
Under the bold yellow sunshine, Ryan seemed to approach in slow motion, in easy unhurried strides.  The playful wind scattered his long, sandy-blond hair, and he pushed a hand through it and removed his sunglasses, squinting her a look as he slowly closed the distance.  He wore a sleeveless blue T-shirt, denim cut-off shorts and faded black Keds sneakers.  He had considerable breadth of shoulder, a wide chest and gleaming muscled arms that suggested an athlete in the prime of his career.
This was not the same man Keri had seen in the photograph at Sally’s house.  There was a force about this fully present Ryan—an elegant masculinity that completely pushed Keri off balance.  This big tanned man standing before her had impact, he captivated, impressed; he aroused intrepid desires.  Keri felt a warm animal response. There were little tremors in her legs, her chest, her fingers. 
Ryan stopped, standing five feet away from her, staring, waiting.  He had a noble hero face, all sharp lines, a sharp jaw, a strong muscular neck. 
Keri’s thoughts stalled.  She saw his intense sea-gray eyes probing her, checking her out.  His expression was a blank page.
Big Pete spoke up.  “Keri, this is Ryan.  Ryan… Keri.”
Keri had the urge to leave.  She had the urge to run.  She’d never felt so ill at ease.  Her façade of indifference melted away whenever she looked at Ryan.  He was a magnetic wonder, whose reserve and mystery further amplified his attraction.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:After her best friend and husband are killed in an airplane crash, a young woman finds her best friend’s diary and learns that she was secretly in love with another man, a soldier.  Determined to find the secret lover, Keri sets off on a journey and discovers the key to her destiny.
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCbgXr0xXjg
Amazon buy link:http://www.amazon.com/The-Summer-Diary-Elyse-Douglas-ebook/dp/B00XCD9ZW6 

AUTHOR BIO:Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the married writing team Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse grew up near the sea, roaming the beaches, reading and writing stories and poetry, receiving a Degree in English Literature.  She has enjoyed careers as an English teacher, an actress and a speech-language pathologist.  She and her husband, Douglas Pennington, have completed five novels: The Other Side of Summer, Christmas for Juliet, Wanting Rita, Christmas Ever After, The Christmas Town and The Christmas Diary.
Douglas grew up in a family where music and astrology were second and third languages.  He attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and played the piano professionally for many years. His two detective books include Death is Lookin' for ELVIS and Death is a TAPDANCER.  His great, great grandfather lived to be 132 years old, and was the oldest man in the world when he died in 1928.
www.elysedouglas.com https://twitter.com/douglaselyse
http://www.amazon.com/Elyse-Douglas/e/B0080S51TE/
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/2015/05/blurb-blitz-summer-diary-by-elyse.html
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#Excerpt: THE VIOLET CROW by Michael Sheldon

Excerpt:
Introducing Bruno X
He was dressed in a black Vestimenta suit and white shirt with no tie. Classy Italian duds, but about 10 years old and showing obvious signs of wear. He was less than average height and slightly overweight—typical for a guy in his late 30s or early 40s who didn’t do much manual work. With thick dark hair, brown eyes and glasses with metal frames, he had the look of one of those orthodox Jews from Brooklyn, except he didn’t have a beard and he wasn’t wearing a hat.
Chief Black greeted him personally and began to show him to a room they’d prepared for him. He tried a mild pleasantry to break the ice. “We hope we got the feng shui right for your purposes…” The room was dark with a comfortable chair, incense holders, and other new-age paraphernalia.
“Feng shui, shmeng fui,” the psychic scoffed. “You should know, I can’t tolerate incense. And who wants to sit in the dark? Let’s go in your office. You can test me there.”
“Test you?”
“Sure. Don’t you want to find out if I really have psychic powers?”
The Chief said something lame about trusting the people who recommended him, then hated himself for saying it.
The psychic nodded and pointed toward the Chief’s office. “OK. I get the picture. Shut the door please. Thank you. So you don’t want to test my powers…? You say you believe me…? That’s baloney! You don’t care. You think I’m a shnorrer, a con man, a fake… But it was the newspaper lady’s idea—what’s her name, Cromwell, the one with the cute little tuchus?—to use a psychic, and you think I’m gonna do something that’ll make her look stupid. Am I right?”
He gazed with disconcerting directness; he was right in the Chief’s face. It was as if he had eavesdropped on the conversation with the Mayor.



BLURB:Follow Bruno X in Michael Sheldon's fictional debut, THE VIOLET CROW as he fends off rabid journalists and feckless politicians; untangles webs of deceit in Professor Littlejohn’s Deviant Behavior 101 class; reveals why the Quakers are still fighting over decades-old military medical experiments; and finally, uncovers the secrets of the biotechnology firm whose symbol is The Violet Crow.
BUY Links:Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Violet-Crow-Psychic-Detective-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00XKJA9FY/ref=twoen-20
B&N:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-violet-crow-michael-sheldon/1121924355?ean=9781504014090

AUTHOR Bio and Links:Michael was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Haddonfield, New Jersey. His father was a dentist, which accounts for his sense of humor. His mother, a Jewish mother without peer, instilled in him the idea that the world doesn’t owe you a living—and a love of raw oysters and dry martinis. His training in the craft of storytelling came from reading the masters beginning with Chaucer and Rabelais, through Sterne, to MacDonald and Westlake.
http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Sheldon/e/B002ONJDVIhttps://www.libertyislandmag.com/creator/misheldon/home.htmlhttp://msheldon.com/https://twitter.com/TheVioletCrow

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/book-blast-violet-crow-by-michael.html

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HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author.  Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4.

A day later, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more. 



Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

There is no question that July 4, 1776 is the date that the Congress approved the final official document, having voted to declare independence two days earlier. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had also signed it on that day. However, most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.



In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but another Founding Father who became a President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the third president in a row who died on this memorable day. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, and, so far, is the only President to have been born on Independence Day.

Interview with Annie Jocoby, FEARLESS

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series? I always write series, usually three books to a series. My latest series is the Exposure series, and it features a heroine who has suffered a severe tragedy for which she blames herself and a billionaire who saves her, but has a violent past.
Do you have a favorite character? My favorite character of all my books is Ryan. He’s the hot rich guy who stars in the Illusions series books. He’s totally yummy, totally sexy and totally intelligent and kind. And so devoted to Iris, his love. I wish he existed in real life!
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers? No, never did. I heard too many horror stories of the restrictive contracts offered to writers and I said “no thank you.” Best decision I’ve ever made!
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)? I wanted total control over everything - my covers, my writing, my marketing, everything. And I wanted to get higher royalties. Plus, in traditional publishing, there are too restrictive elements to their contracts.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover? Pretty involved. I choose the images that go on there and I give my cover designer the basic concept. I have final approval over the final cover, too.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence? I like to write in front of a television that is playing something that I can tune out. It makes me feel less lonely.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you? I go where the muse takes me. I sit down at the keyboard and the words just start to come. I can’t really outline, because I don’t work that way, unfortunately.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale? iTunes, Google Play, Nook, Kobo, Scribd.
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)? Getting more involved with Facebook ads, because I really want to learn how to market effectively there.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena? I would recommend that they be prepared to pivot at any time, and learn all they can. KBoards is a great resource for writers, and a great place to learn!
What’s next for you? A legal thriller romance series that will feature a billionaire charged with murder.

Book & Author Details:Fearless by Annie Jocoby
(Fearless #1)
Publication date: July 15th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:BOOK ONE OF A PLANNED TRILOGY
BOOK TWO, SECRETS AND LIES, IS AVAILABLE NOW!
*Warning* Strong language and sexual situations. Ends in MAJOR cliffhanger. Not for the faint of heart.
Beautiful heiress Dalilah Gallagher, a former child art prodigy, has lost her way. Harsh criticism in her formative years has left her floundering and without the artistic voice that once centered her life. Now, at the age of 20, she has spent the last nine years trying to reclaim what she lost.
Her struggles lead her to the nude-modeling world in New York City, where she hopes she will find her passion for art again. What she finds is surprising: Her artistic voice isn’t gone, merely misplaced.Luke Roberts has a different problem. Raised by a solid, working-class fisherman in Maine, Luke is a gifted artist struggling to get a foothold in the busy New York City art scene. His gifts attract the attention of a wealthy benefactor, Blake Nottingham, who finds himself fascinated with Dalilah. Nottingham commissions Luke to provide him with a piece of art: A painting of Dalilah.
As the two young artists fall in love, Dalilah finds her artistic voice once more, so she’ll do anything to help Luke find the prominence he deserves. This leads to a dangerous game of deceit that puts Dalilah in Nottingham’s clutches when she tries to manipulate him into helping Luke.Nottingham isn’t easily manipulated, though, and things go seriously awry for Dalilah. What happens when the manipulated becomes the manipulator?
This is a New Adult Contemporary Romance. Age groups are 18+. It has some sexually explicit scenes.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25221018-fearless
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fearless-New-Adult-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B00LUZL7SS/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fearless-annie-jocoby/1119961499?ean=9781501472428&isbn=2940149681068

AUTHOR BIO:Annie Jocoby is the author of 8 contemporary romance novels and 3 New Adult contemporary romance novels. Her motivation to begin writing these novels is that she was interested in writing about rich men who actually love and respect their women. Her heroes are alpha and damaged, yet also genuinely good guys.

Ryan, Nick, Luke and Asher are all complicated characters who have experienced plenty of darkness, yet always seek the light. They would all go to the ends of the earth to protect the women they love. And they’re all sexy, enigmatic, magnetic and great in bed.

All of Annie’s books have things in common: they all combine a touch of mystery and intrigue with drama, love, and lots of hot sex. Some of the books have action and even some criminal elements in them. Her current book, in fact, is her first book that would be classified as straight romantic suspense, although it also combines definite elements of the thriller genre! If you’re in the market for a book that is fast-paced, where the heroes are beautiful and wealthy, and the heroines are strong, vulnerable and flawed, then try these books out!
Author links:http://www.anniejocoby.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7151437.Annie_Jocobyhttps://www.facebook.com/AnnieJocoby
    Giveaway: Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)$50 Amazon Gift Carda Rafflecopter giveaway
 
 

$.99 Sale: FOLLOWING HIS HEART BY DONNA FASANO

@DonnaFaz 99¢ Bargain eBook USA Today Bestselling Author Ocean City Boardwalk Series, Book 1 Save $3 on the eBook cover price through July 4th
Sara Carson is a 30-something widow with a busy life: two fun-loving best friends, a caring mom who needs her, and a thriving sweet shop. What more could a woman want? But when the ancient plumbing in her shop springs a leak and a gorgeous, dark-eyed stranger rushes to her rescue, hilarity unfolds—and Sara quickly sees exactly what she’s been missing.

Something most peculiar draws Landon Richards to Ocean City, Maryland—and to the lovely Sara. This woman touches his heart like no other, and the two of them explore the heady attraction that pulses between them. But haunting dreams have a way of encroaching on reality, and the strange phenomenon that brings these two together will also threaten to tear them apart.

This is the first book in the Ocean City Boardwalk Series, where life for three enterprising women, Sara, Heather, and Cathy, isn’t just fun in the sun—love is waiting on those sandy shores! What readers are saying: “Fasano delivers tender honesty and sweet sexiness in this beach read...”  ~Publishers Weekly "Donna Fasano is a keen observer of human nature and creates characters that ring true to life."  ~BigAl from Books And Pals Review BlogFind FOLLOWING HIS HEART for 99¢:
US Kindle        UK Kindle        CA Kindle
Nook Book
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iBook WorldwideGoogle PlayAlso available at regular price in paperback:US Paperback     UK Paperback 
Paperback from CreateSpace
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New Release: WALKIN' ON THE SUN by Paul DeLisle

I could not be more excited to feature this new release! Who hasn't rocked out to the music of Smash Mouth?! Now you can go behind the music with a band that carried the spirit of a generation in Walkin' on the Sun; The Official Smash Mouth Biography. 
 

Hello. My name is Paul DeLisle. I’m the guy who wrote this book. You've probably never heard of me. That's okay. Most people wouldn't know me from Adam. But, unless you've been living in a cloistered monastery for the last fifteen years, you have heard of my band.
So begins the memoir of the creation, rise, and current state of the multi-platinum recording artist Smash Mouth as told by bassist Paul DeLisle. Well known for their hits “All Star,” “Walking on the Sun,” “Then the Morning Comes,” “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby,” and “I’m a Believer,” the band carried the spirit of a generation, but didn't stop there. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes look from Paul’s unique, there from the start, insider’s view.

Excerpt: There's an episode of Cheers where washed-up ball player Sam Malone, frustrated with either Diane or Rebecca, proclaims, "Y'know, most people don't know this ... but I’m famous!"I love that line. I can totally relate. You see, I am a founding and continued member of the band Smash Mouth. Yet I am, proudly and alas, the bass player. I’m not famous. My band is.From the beginning, Smash Mouth was set up as a democracy between four musicians and a manager, each player having an equal voice on band matters. Yet we were all fully aware and accepting of the fact that, as lead singer/frontman, Steve Harwell would be getting a disproportionate amount of attention. Seeing as he is the face and mouthpiece of Smash Mouth, you may be a little disappointed he didn't write this book.But stay with me here. Because as you'll see, I have a unique vantage point: as one of only four original constituents, I’ve been involved in every aspect of the band since day one. Only Steve and I have trod every step of this Smash Mouth journey. Also, while traditionally under-recognized, the bass player himself sees everything. Plus I went to college. Who better to write a book about Smash Mouth?That said, keep in mind this book is solely from my point of view. Steve, Greg, Kevin, and Robert would obviously have different takes on certain events. However, this book is simply intended as a comprehensive account of our rise to fame and continued success.So without further ado ... here’s what happened:
EEP!!! How awesome is that! 
Pick up your copy of Walkin' on the Sun today and get your own "backstage pass" to the world of Smash Mouth! 
Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords 

Interview with Summer Lane, STATE OF VENGEANCE

Where do you write? I write at my desk. I rarely write anywhere else. It is my bubble of creativity, I suppose. I just turn on my music, close the door, and write. Sometimes it takes me thirty minutes – sometimes it takes me seven hours. It depends on what I’m writing. It depends on how difficult it is for me to create a specific scene or convey a certain emotion. If I’m writing an emotional scene, it can take me a long time.
My favorite place to write, though, is in the mountains, in the seclusion of a quiet forest. That’s where imagination really works well.
When do you write? Mornings. 7 to 12 is the optimal time for me. Once noon hits, I’m pretty much done for the day when it comes to creative writing. I find that writing at the same time every day is really healthy for a writer. For example, my current manuscript requires a minimum of five pages per day. I can write more, but I certainly can never write less. Setting those little goals is helpful.
Favorite movie? Favorite television show? I don’t think it’s possible for me to choose a favorite movie. I like so many! I really enjoy anything that’s action or adventure. I adore superhero movies and animated films – don’t even get me started on Wall-e. The Book of Eli is really cool, and so is any movie with Dwayne Johnson.
As far as television goes, I usually only have time to watch TV during June and July. I love Pretty Little Liars, Gilmore Girls (La, la, la, la!), and I’m positively obsessed – and by obsessed I mean madly in love – with The Walking Dead.
Favorite classic book? When I was growing up, I ONLY read classic literature. I really was completely unaware until the age of sixteen that there was such a thing as “easy-to-read stories,” like Twilight or Harry Potter. I remember being so impressed with how fun it was to read a book that wasn’t written in old English (Ivanhoe, anyone?).
My favorite classic books (yes, plural!) are Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Great Expectations and Dracula. In case you hadn’t noticed, I have a thing for stories with dark undertones.
Favorite band? One of my currents favorites is Muse. I adore them. They have such good songs! I also like Lady Antebellum and anything with a country sound. I am fascinated with Lana Del Rey and positively enraptured by any instrumental groups like Audio Machine or Two Steps from Hell.
What’s your schedule like as a writer?
I run a publishing business – I handle several different title releases per year. I have to come up with the content, coordinate all of the marketing strategies, edit the content, sell the content and monitor the content. I don’t like taking time off, but I have to. Sometimes! My busiest months are from November to June. I basically have about four to six major deadlines per month.
From July to September, I get a little slow-down in the madness. I work half-days, and I am able to relax my brain a bit so that I can create more content when Fall rolls around again. So right now, I’m just starting to enjoy some of the lazy days of summer – I’m going to Universal Studios Hollywood, Santa Monica Beach, camping in the mountains, and checking out a firework show for Independence Day.
What do you like to do when you’re not working? I really like to read. I find it nearly impossible to read while I’m writing a manuscript. I just have to focus all of my attention on the story creation. So I only read when I’m not writing a book – which is usually on the weekends. I love to crochet – I adore it. It’s very soothing.
I think the best thing to do during the summer is to go swimming, watch a movie, and then sit on the tailgate of a pickup truck, smell the fruit in the orchards, and watch the stars. I could do that forever. I guess I’m just a little country girl at heart! I also enjoy cooking. Pioneer Woman is my favorite thing ever. I’m totally serious. Ree Drummond is my hero. She needs to adopt me and teach me her ways.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? Here’s where I fess up and admit that I’m a hybrid. I plot out my stories, I know who the characters are, and I know exactly what’s going to happen before I actually sit down and write the book. However, I do not plot out the specific scenes. I have general ideas, but I allow the personalities of the characters and the environments to shape and mold the scene, therefore making it – in my opinion, at least – more organic.
At this point in the Collapse Series, the characters shape their own destinies. In many ways I am just following where they lead – I simply nudge them in the right direction.
Favorite writing snack? Tea and chocolate. It’s my favorite combination. During the hot months, it’s iced tea, and during the cold months, it’s hot tea. I literally had a stack of eighteen snickers bars behind my desk. You know. Just in case I got a craving or something.
Upcoming projects? Collapse: The Illustrated Guide comes oSo yeah. When I have downtime, I seize it and don’t let go!


Book & Author Details:State of Vengeance by Summer Lane
(Collapse #6)
Publication date: June 26th 2015
Genres: Dystopia, New Adult
Synopsis:Vengeance is coming.
Monterey Bay, California, has barely survived a brutal attack from the evil invasion forces of Omega, and Cassidy Hart is exhausted. She has lost a friend and gained a new enemy. The militias seem to be weakening, and Omega seems to be getting stronger.
In an effort to recruit more troops, Cassidy travels to the desolation of the high mountains to find the mysterious troops of Sky City, and to eliminate a threat that has long been growing just out of the militia’s reach. Cassidy is not alone. Old enemies greet her, and the most dangerous person of all just might be the one she trusts the most.
The fate of the free world is at stake. The end is coming.
The militias – or Omega – will have its revenge.Book #6 of The International Bestselling Collapse Series
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25440332-state-of-vengeance?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/State-Vengeance-Collapse-Summer-Lane/dp/1514278847/ref=twoen-20
AUTHOR BIO:Summer Lane is the author of the international bestselling Collapse Series and Zero Trilogy. She owns WB Publishing and Writing Belle, an online magazine dedicated to the Art of Storytelling. Summer is also an accomplished creative writing teacher and professional journalist. She lives in the Central Valley of California where she creates her stories and shares them with the world.
Author links:http://www.summerlaneauthor.com/http://writingbelle.comhttps://twitter.com/SummerEllenLanehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Summer-Lane-International-Bestselling-Author/178664608947815https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5823376.Summer_Lane
GIVEAWAYBlitz-wide giveaway (INTL)$10 Amazon gift card and an autographed copy of a special edition piece of concept work from the Collapse world
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New #Romance Release Collection: SAND, SUNSHINE and SIZZLE

Summer is here! Time for long, lazy days poolside or on the beach, and of course, a super hot read is a must-have. We've got you covered. Or . . . uncovered . . .  
Ready for a summer escape? Get 15 contemporary romance stories by best-selling and award-winning authors for 99¢! Each novel and novella has a beach setting, an irresistible love story with HEA, and high sizzle factor. Slather on the sunscreen, grab a cool drink, and get ready to get hot! 
HOT BEACH ROMANCE: SAND, SUNSHINE AND SIZZLE  
iBooks/Amazon/Nook/Kobo/Google Play/All Romance Ebooks/Smashwords 
Join the Facebook party on June 28thfor the official release of the bundle. Find out more about the books and the awesome authors in the bundle here! Here's just a taste . . .  
Ecstasy By the Sea by Chris Almeida & Cecilia Aubrey A honeymoon to remember.  
Burn Me by Eirinn Brennan She was sure of the future until she experienced what else it had to offer.  
Finding Joy by EmKay Connor You can run from your secrets, but you can't hide.  
Kissing Drake by Jenna Dales A tall, dark and seriously hot hero and the woman who makes him forget about being so serious.  
Madrona Sunset by Jami Davenport Damaged souls craving comfort for a moment or a lifetime.  
The Good Enough Husband by Sylvie Fox What would you do if you met your soul mate, but you were already married?  
The Posse by Tawdra Kandle One woman, three men, and a beach romance as unpredictable as the riptide.  
How to Say Goodbye by Amber Lin She's here for the summer. He lives on the streets. They'll both learn how to say goodbye.  
Last Call By Alannah Lynne One unforgettably hot night could lead to forever...or...death...  
Sunny and 75 by Scarlett Metal Can paradise heal their broken hearts or will their pasts come back to haunt them?  
Midnight Shadows by Lisa Marie Rice She sees shadows that aren't there.  
Two Are Better Than One by Suzanne Rock Two Irish exchange students convince the straight-laced Hannah that two men are better than one.  
The Billionaire's Assassin by Margaret Taylor Adrian Hoyle couldn't know that meeting a hot Hollywood actor would be hazardous to her health.  
Sun Kissed by Nancy Warren It's hard not to mix business and pleasure when your business is surfing.  
Miami Dreams by Layla Wilcox Starting over in the Magic City means believing in second chances when none seem possible.

Interview with Vanessa Morgan, AVALON

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?Avalon (http://amzn.to/1FTC8Ep) is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime true love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat. Avalon was the kind of cat that made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around and that threw his owner’s dates out by means of special techniques. Avalon was so incorrigible that even the landlord wanted to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon's demonic boisterousness, was a soft spot that was yearning for love. Thanks to his owner’s unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion. By turns jubilant and deeply moving, Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.
Do you have a favorite character?Avalon, of course, because he has so much personality. Whenever I told his stories around a dinner table, people were always fascinated with him, even those that weren’t necessarily cat lovers. And how many cats do you know that landed parts in horror movies and music videos? Or that spoke a few words of French?
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?Gilles Vranckx is the artist who made Avalon’s cover. He previously also designed the covers for my books Drowned Sorrow (http://amzn.to/1GYQM9I)and GPS with Benefits (http://amzn.to/1JcoMnp). I give him complete creative freedom, because he’s a famous movie poster designer, so he knows what he’s doing. He really captured Avalon’s soul within this cover.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?As Avalon was based on a true story, the general outline was already in my head before I started; I just had to stay true to reality. That being said, I had to alter the chronology slightly to facilitate an economical telling of the story. I also cut many scenes because they were slowing the book down.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Absolutely. I’m not a native speaker, so I definitely need an editor.
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+. I also created separate accounts for Avalon. I used to be that person who only shared her own links and news, but the secret to being efficient on social media is to interact with others and to share links from other writers and bloggers. It’s more time consuming, but also more fun. On my social media (as well as my blog), you can find book and movie recommendations, links to interesting articles, and pictures of my travels and visits to film festivals. I’m particularly active on Twitter and Pinterest these days.
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?I’m a big believer in laser-sharp focus, in taking up one idea and making it your life in order to see real changes. However, I’m horrible at prioritizing. I want to do it all. I’m currently traveling, promoting my latest book, editing a new one, and growing two blogs. I’d better be following my own advice.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?Photographing cats! I have a blog, Traveling Cats (http://travelling-cats.blogspot.com), where I post pictures of all the cats I meet during my travels around the world. It’s a sort of travel blog for cat lovers where you can find out where to travel for cat-related activities.
I’m also obsessed with horror movies, and I visit several international film festivals a year.
Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?Dogs or cats? Cats.
Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla.
Coffee or tea? Tea.
Talk or text? Text.
Day or night? Day.
What’s next for you?I’m currently editing a book on animals attack movies. Most people limit themselves to Jaws and The Birds, but there are many obscure titles that are worth discovering. The book will be huge fun.
Author bioVanessa Morgan is an author, screenwriter, and blogger. Two of her works, The Strangers Outside and A Good Man, have been turned into films. Her short film script Next to Her is currently in pre-production. 
When she's not working on her latest book, you can find her reading, watching horror movies, digging through flea markets, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats (http://travelling-cats.blogspot.com). 
Avalon has appeared in several of her books and films.

TOR MADDOX by Liz Coley

UNLEASHED EXCERPT:
It was spooky climbing down the slope under the dark trees. I bent low under the overhanging branches and walked east along the lowest part. Twigs tugged at my hair. Wisps of spider web caught my cheeks. Under cover of the slope, I dared to turn on the flashlight to scan the rocks underfoot. If I broke an ankle out here, I was nailed. Cocoa panted along beside me. I say panted, but there was a definite wheezy quality to it that made my own chest ache. We’d hardly gone any distance. He shouldn’t be tired yet.When we were safely out of sight of houses and humanity, I found a less gravelly spot to collapse into at the base of a tree. Cocoa curled up against me, a nice warm body. Still, I put on a double layer of sweatshirts and opened up the mylar blanket to spread over both of us. I flipped the flashlight around in my hand, covering the clear plastic with my palm. The red glow was all the nightlight I thought safe.Even with three layers of clothes and an insulating blanket, I shivered and shivered in the night. I was terrified that heat-seeking rattlesnakes would slither under the blanket with us. Terrified that spiders would drop out of the bushes. Terrified that Cocoa would take off after a wild rabbit. I was afraid of men in black suits. Afraid of men in white coats. And especially afraid of falling asleep. My eyes ached. Exhaustion battled with adrenaline.At 5:15 a.m. all the batteries ran out, both mine and the flashlight’s. I slept, pursued in restless dreams by the vengeful spirits of barking dogs.At 6:51 a warm, pink light penetrated the underbrush. A rising swell of birdsong served as alarm clock. At my stirring, Cocoa yawned and stretched. He lifted a leg against the tree I was leaning on and streamed against it.“Hey, watch it,” I scolded. “I mean, good boy. Come, Cocoa. Lie down.”Down? His puzzled eyes asked me. He knew it was time to stretch, time to play, time to go for his quick morning walk with Rody.“Sorry, fuzzy face. We can’t. Have some breakfast.” I poured dog food into one bowl and water into the other, but Cocoa turned his head away, uninterested. “I guess you need a walk first. I’m sorry.” He whimpered softly.“I hear you, bud. Me too.” I rolled my shoulders, stretched my legs out in front of me. Every square inch of my body hurt. The granola bars tempted me not.What was going on at home this morning? By now, Rody would have discovered Cocoa was gone. Would he say anything?Mom was probably wondering why she hadn’t heard the shower go on and off in my bathroom. Maybe she was knocking on my door right now, calling me to wake up. Maybe she was cracking open the door and walking over to the tousled lump of covers to run her hands softly through my hair and kiss me on the cheek. Maybe she was turning in horror from the empty bed, running through the house, calling to my Dad, crying, “She’s gone…she’s gone.”My throat ached. I did that to her. A tear slipped out of the corner of my eye.I pulled out my phone and sent her a text message: Mom I’m safe I’m fine don’t worry don’t search.I hoped she could live with that. I doubted it.I huddled with my dark thoughts as the sky brightened. In the distance, on the playground, toddlers laughed with their own mothers, enjoying their morning playtime before naps. A knife twisted in my heart. Life went on for the innocent as well as for the ignorant. But knowing what I knew, I could never be that carefree again.

Book & Author Details:
Tor Maddox Series by Liz Coley
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult
INTRODUCING Tor Maddox, a heroine for our times

“I know that one day, I’m going to have to live in the real world. I’d like it to be a decent one.” - Tor

Book I Tor Maddox: Unleashed

When sixteen-year old Torrance Olivia Maddox, self-confessed news junkie, figures out that the mysterious and deadly New Flu is being spread by dogs, she has one question—if the danger is that obvious to her, why hasn’t the government revealed the truth and taken action?

Her search for the answer will take her farther than she ever imagined. But then again, she never imagined that man’s best friend could become public enemy number one, that men in black might show up in her cozy suburban neighborhood, that she’d spend her sixteenth birthday as a teenaged runaway, and that her effort to save one dog would become a mission to save them all.

Book 2 Tor Maddox: Embedded

Life has been way too quiet for Tor Maddox since her fifteen minutes of CNN fame. Then agent-in-training Rick Turner reappears with what sounds like a simple assignment—to embed herself as his eyes and ears in her own high school. When she agrees to keep tabs on high school state swim champ Hamilton Parker for the Feds, she is plunged into the deep end of a sinister plot. Knowing that freedom, justice, and lives are at stake again, Tor jumps in feet first, but has she gotten in over her head this time?

When observe and report becomes kiss and tell, Tor’s first mission may blow up in her face.

Book 3 Tor Maddox: Mistaken

Grab a flotation device and welcome aboard for more shenanigans, villainy, and romance.

Eight leotards and a ball gown—that’s what Tor Maddox packed for her summer ballet intensive in New York. Pity she never arrived. Kidnapped once by the good guys and once by the bad ones, Tor finds herself involved in a high seas adventure featuring princesses and pirates, a wedding ring, and the guy she thought she’d never be allowed to see again, junior man-in-black Rick Turner. 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/156239-tor-maddox
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Tor+MaddoxB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Tor-Maddox?store=allproducts&keyword=Tor+Maddox
AUTHOR BIO:In 2013, Liz Coley’s psychological thriller Pretty Girl-13 was released by HarperCollins in the US and UK. Foreign translations have been published in French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, Czech, Slovakian, and Chinese (simplified and traditional).

Her independent publications include alternate history/time travel/romance Out of Xibalba and teen thrillers in the new Tor Maddox series: UNLEASHED, EMBEDDED, and MISTAKEN. Her short fiction has appeared in Cosmos Magazine and several speculative fiction anthologies: The Last Man, More Scary Kisses, Strange Worlds, Flights of Fiction, You’re not Alone, and Winter's Regret.

Liz lives in Ohio, where she is surrounded by a fantastic community of writers, beaten regularly by better tennis players, uplifted by her choir, supported by her husband, teased by her teenaged daughter, cheered from afar by her two older sons, and adorned with hair by her cats Tiger, Pippin, and Merry.

Liz invites you to follow her as LizColeyBooks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and visit her website at LizColey.com.
Author links:http://lizcoleybooks.blogspot.ca/p/novels.htmlhttps://twitter.com/LizColeyBookshttps://www.facebook.com/LizColeyBookshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4750818.Liz_Coley
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)A hardcopy set of all three books in the Tor Maddox series
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