Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 225

Book Tour Blast: DEVOUR by Jill Cooper

Fiction With Bite - pick up something spooky just in time for Halloween!

Life in Gloucester Massachusetts will never be the same. Raging storms, fierce winds, shadows shifting in the breeze. Storms are nothing new for the fishing hamlet. But darkness has come to claim the hearts and minds of those that stand in it too long. When that happens, love will be ripped from man leaving only violence, despair, and gnashing teeth. Except for two.

Roberta is a single mom, a waitress struggling to get through life after a rocky start tainted by murder and loss. Her heart yearns for Gabriel; a deputy living in the shadow of the chief. He's a battle weary soldier ready to settle down. When the storm comes, when the murders start, it will be up to them to stop it before darkness isn't just an empty void. Before it takes the shape of man and pulls them all into the sea.

On SALE on Amazon Kindle for a limited time - $1.99!  

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About the Author:I could write this in the third person. I could tell you what I like, where I was born, and what my favorite things are. But instead, I'll say I don't want to write like everyone else. I don't want to craft stories you've read a thousand times before. I want my novels to be a cinematic experience, blending themes, genres, and situations unlike any you've ever read. I want to break the rules. I want you to break out in a cold sweat as you read my books out of fear, love, and excitement. I want my books to be an experience. When you finish, I want you to feel something. Good or bad. If you do, then I'll have succeeded. If not, I'll keep trying.

She can be contacted at http://www.jillacooper.com. Please like her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to keep up to date on new releases and appearances.  

Jill is giving away a copy of Devour, and awesome tote bag and some Halloween candy!!

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#Excerpt: DEAD NEW WORLD by Ryan Hill

Excerpt: “Everyone save a bullet for yourselves.” Ambrose handed Ollie his pistol, giving him two to use. I pulled my own handgun out.
Despite the presence of the Reverend, or because of it, the zombies continued their pursuit. They were almost within fifty feet of what remained of our squad, and Ambrose was the only one still shooting.
“Ollie, build us a fire,” Ambrose said over his gunshots.Ollie dove into his backpack and pulled out a firewall. He tore the plastic tube open and removed several feet of a putty-like substance. Stretching it out with his hands, he made a circle around us. He lit a match and tossed it at the firewall, igniting it.
The putty burst into a five-foot high flame that surrounded us. Zombies hated fire. They wouldn’t come anywhere near it. The firewall slowed the dead meat down, and we unloaded the rest of our ammunition into their heads, one by one. But we didn’t even make a dent; every time we killed one of them, two more appeared in its place.“I’m out.” Ambrose dropped his M16.“Out.” Ollie threw the two pistols to the ground.“Down to one,” I said.Ambrose and Ollie looked at me, surprised.“You said to save one for ourselves.”My friend laughed. The firewall kept the horde at bay, but it would only last so long. It was already losing strength. Once it died out, so would we.The zombies’ red eyes got close enough to see. I hated those red eyes. Always did.Ambrose pulled out a flare gun and fired it into the air. A last gasp effort for help. “Somebody’s got to see it. They’ve got to.”“Are we close enough to Fort Bragg for anyone to see it?” I glanced at Ambrose.He shook his head. “I hope so.” His face turned pale. Not that he could be blamed for being afraid at a time like this. If shock and adrenaline didn’t currently control my body, I’d have wet myself. Actually, for all I knew, I did wet myself.I took off my helmet and put the pistol’s barrel against my temple. “You two make a run for it. They won’t take me alive.” More than anything, I wanted them to get away. Somebody needed to survive.“He’s right. If he wants us to go, let’s go.” Ollie appeared more than ready to jump through the firewall and make a run for it.Ambrose refused to listen to reason. “We’re not leaving him.”“You want to be a hero, do it on your own time.” Ollie dashed through the firewall, leaving us alone.“Go with him,” I said. “Please.”Ambrose shook his head. “Give it up. I’m not going anywhere without you.”Ollie let out a blood-curdling scream.I turned my head, trying to get a glimpse of him, but the fire blocked my line of sight. Once the pained sounds coming from his voice faded away, Ambrose and I stared at each other. We were next. The zombies stood on the other side of the dying firewall. These were some brave corpses, standing so close to the fire. They could easily step over it.What were they waiting for?

Book & Author Details:Dead New World by Ryan Hill
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: October 13th 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Zombies
Synopsis:Zombies aren’t mindless anymore.Before the world fell into chaos, the undead existed only in the imagination. Now, more of them walk the earth than living. Zombies move about freely, while humans entomb themselves inside concrete barricades to stay alive.
All that, while the leader of a powerful cult – known only as Reverend – becomes the next threat to the rebuilding United States. Believing zombies to be God’s latest creation, making humanity obsolete, he wants to give every man, woman, and child the chance to become one. With his combined army of humans and zombies, he may well get his wish.
Best friends Holt and Ambrose went up against the Reverend once. Holt lost a foot and a zombie bit Ambrose…though he survived the virus, only to become a human-zombie hybrid, reviled by the living and unwelcome among the dead. When the Reverend kidnaps the woman Holt loves, the race is on to save her from a fate worse than death.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22020430-dead-new-world?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dead-New-World-Ryan-Hill-ebook/dp/B00NS1ILAO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412868355&sr=8-1&keywords=Dead+New+World+ryan
AUTHOR BIO:Growing up, Ryan Hill used to spend his time reading and writing instead of doing homework. This resulted in an obsession with becoming a writer, but also a gross incompetence in the fields of science and mathematics. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Ryan has been a film critic for over five years. He lives in Raleigh, NC, with his dog/shadow Maggie. Ryan also feels strange about referring to himself in the third person.
Author links:https://twitter.com/J_Ryanhttp://www.ryanhillwrites.com/https://twitter.com/J_Ryanhttps://www.facebook.com/ryanhillwriteshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5804086.Ryan_Hill
GIVEAWAYBlitz-wide giveaway (INTL)$25 Amazon gift card

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#Review: THE LODGER by Louisa Treger

5 of 5 stars  THE LODGER is an impressive debut for Ms. Treger. She weaves fact and fiction seamlessly in this story about 20th century writer Dorothy Richardson. Dorothy is determined to live freely on her own accord without being stifled within the bonds of marriage, but freedom has its price--hunger, oppressive loneliness and drudgery of another kind as she lives barely above poverty. It's no wonder that Dorothy falls under spell of H.G. Wells, the husband of her oldest friend. She struggles with her loyalty to Jane and the pull from the charismatic Bertie.
The author takes the reader inside the mind of Dorothy as she lives through crisis after crisis. Events of the suffragette movements sweep her up in the drama when her friend Veronica plans to march in a peaceful demonstration. Dorothy knows absolute bliss and abject depressions and Ms. Treger gives the reader a front row seat to both. Knowing that Dorothy was an important voice for women writers in the early 20th century makes this novel even more riveting. A slight criticism is that the author's descriptions tended to be a bit too long and took me out of the story. This is a powerful story of how one woman found her voice against seemingly impossible odds. Highly Recommended.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Amazon buy link:http://www.amazon.com/Lodger-Novel-Louisa-Treger-ebook/dp/B00J6U7JZO/ref=twoen-20 

New #Romance Release: UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN by Delphina Henley

 
Happy Release Week Sale!!!  Only $.99 for one week only!


Always be yourself... that was the last advice Scout's Grandma Nora gave her before she died. Scout has spent her life trying to be anything but, but she has a chance to start anew as she moves several states away to college. She had always thought the glowing aura she saw around some people was a childhood fancy, but when it starts coming back just as she's starting her new life, she learns there was much hidden about who she truly is.

Thankfully, she has a motley crew to help her along the way: a spunky bookseller, a trustworthy pub owner, a commanding grandmother, a possible best friend, and a hot rocker boy who only has eyes for her.

Unless You Can Be A Unicorn is a New Adult Paranormal Romance with content appropriate for a Young Adult audience.
 
Buy links:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Unless-You-Can-Be-Unicorn-ebook/dp/B00OEA3T6Y/ref=twoen-20
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Giveaway: Be sure to enter to win a Ginormous Gift Pack of Awesome including a GC, Books, swag and more.
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Interview with Melanie Moreland

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series? The book is a stand alone. Blurb:  Megan Greene is a woman seeking some peace and quiet.  She travels to a sleepy coastal town where she meets her reclusive neighbor, Zachary Adams. He is hiding from his past and wants nothing to do with her, or the friendship she offers. But fate won’t be denied, and their paths cross, their lives entwining in ways neither could have expected. As parts of their past collide with the present, their fragile bond is exposed and endangered. Their love is called into question and trust is destroyed. It’s a story of learning to move forward, letting go the past and trusting your heart.
Do you have a favorite character? Yes, I do rather have a fondness for Zachary. He is damaged and scared and hides it with his rude behavior. He was fun to write and discover.
How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?I had already decided to stay with the self-publishing route when I was approached after my first novel by the Bookcase Agency. They represent a lot of self-published authors, and after getting to know them a little, liked what they had to say, and the freedom it gave me to still keep control of my work. Both Meire Dias and Flavia Viotti Siqueria are very supportive and great to work with.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover? The image of the book cover was totally my concept. I knew exactly what I wanted and worked with the designer closely. She was great—and understood the concept very quickly, so it was a fast process. I was thrilled with the result.
Do you listen to music or do you like silence?I have music playing in my house, my car – everywhere I go, until I start to write. Then I need silence. I have my favorite spot where I write and I need everything just so, including an endless pot of coffee, or I can’t concentrate.  
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you? I do outline my stories, but they are often hijacked and go off in directions I didn’t plan. Sometimes a character has his or her own ideas of what they want to say or do and I have learned just to go with it.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Yes I had an editor, as well as a couple of prereaders and I hired a company to do a final proofread.
How about some fun facts-which do you prefer? Dogs or cats, coffee or tea, vanilla or chocolate, morning or night? I love both cats and dogs—I’m an all-round animal lover, but right now we have a cat.  I’m allergic to chocolate but am a huge fan of anything caramel.  I’m definitely a night person.
What’s next for you?I currently have another book on the go and an outline for the next one. Both are stand-alone.
 

#Excerpt: ONE SHINGLE TO HANG by DeAnn Smallwood

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A commenter will win a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Everyone knew Lil Wentfield would never marry. What man would want her? Granted she was a real beauty.

A woman with too much knowledge was at risk for insanity. Their fragile mind couldn’t handle it. That’s what Lil had been told when she went against convention and became an attorney. The 1800’s had fewer women lawyers than women doctors. Her pride knew no bounds when she hung her shingle—L.M. Wentfield, Attorney At Law.

Drew was a struggling cattle rancher, building a fledging Hereford empire. He was working toward that goal when he was accused of rustling and faced possible hanging. He needed a lawyer—a good one—a man. Chesterfield had one lawyer—a new one—L.M. Wentfield. He wasn’t prepared for a beautiful blonde with a sharp tongue and fiercely won independence.

Lil had no homemaking abilities. Her love was the law. And if the thoughts of the gray-eyed cowboy, who had the audacity to refuse her legal help stayed in her mind, she’d push them aside. She had nothing to offer a rancher . Even her wealth wouldn’t be considered an asset to a prideful man. And Drew Jackson was proud. So proud, he knew he couldn’t ask a woman of Lil’s stature to share his life—but he wanted to—from the moment he’d stolen that first kiss.

Enjoy an excerpt:

A loud knock broke into her thoughts. “Come in,” she called out.

Nothing happened, then another knock. “Please, come in,” she called again.

Getting no response, Lil came around her desk and, with some irritation at the interruption, jerked open the door, nearly toppling the tall man who held the doorknob on the other side. He muttered something under his breath, and tried to regain his balance only to bump into Lil, throwing her off stride. She stumbled backwards and would have fallen if not for the man’s quick reaction. He grabbed Lil and, wrapping both arms around, pulled her to him. Then, in a parody of the two-step, he danced her to safety.

Lil felt herself falling, then rescued by two strong arms. Not only was she pulled up short, but she was wrapped tightly against a rock hard chest, her nose buried in the man’s damp shirt. A very pleasant smell greeted her nose. The scent of summer rain and witch hazel. She found the masculine odor intoxicating.

Neither moved. Then Lil raised her head and looked into a pair of dancing gray eyes. His arms never relaxed their grip; in fact, they seemed to tighten around her as his mouth twitched, then broke into a smile.

“Didn’t expect to end up with a beautiful woman in my arms. For a moment there, I expected to land on the rug, Ma’am. With you alongside me,” he added with a chuckle.

He loosened his grip and gently pushed her away from the warmth and safety of his chest. Lil stepped back, feeling as though she’d just had something precious taken from her. She realized her hands still gripped his arms. Like a hot potato, she dropped them and turned away from the man’s disturbing presence. Like a fox heading for her den, Lil scurried behind her desk and gratefully lowered her trembling body onto the waiting chair.

With the desk between them, she was once again in charge. “May I help you?” she asked coolly, hoping the tremble in her voice went unnoticed. “I called come in not once but twice.”

“Sorry, Ma’am. Guess I didn’t hear you. I was just fixing to open the door when you did just that. Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Lil answered with no desire to elaborate. “I—I appreciate you catching me. Now,” she hurried away from that topic, “to repeat myself, how may I help you?”

He smiled, as if knowing her thoughts. Walking over to the desk, he removed his hat and stood with it in his hands. “I apologize for dripping on your floor, but it’s raining like hel—, uh, like heck out there.”

Lil tried not to look at how the ends of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. She focused instead on his hair, black and shiny with rain drops glistening on the wavy strands not covered by his hat. She didn’t realize she was staring at him until he shifted from foot to foot.

“Ma’am?”

“Yes,” Lil answered, pulling herself back to reality.

“What I’m here for is to see L.M. Wentfield, Attorney At Law.” He pointed at the window, in the direction of the sign.

Lil nodded. “Yes,” she said again. At this rate, he’d think she only had a one word vocabulary.

The man tilted his head to one side. “Could you direct me to L. M. Wentfield, Ma’am?”

“Of course I can. How may I help you?”

Two small furrows appeared between the man’s eyes. He peered closer at her. Perhaps he needed to try another approach.

“Ma’am, could I speak with your husband?”

“There is no husband,” Lil said with a hint of asperity.

About the Author:

I live in Colorado with my husband and my two Yorkie kid dogs: Stormy, four pounds, and Eli, six pounds. I’m a native of Colorado, but I’ve lived several years in Wyoming and Montana. I draw from these beautiful states for most of my books. My Western Historical Romances are: Montana Star, Sapphire Blue, Unconquerable Callie, Wyoming Heather and One Shingle To Hang. Tears In The Wind is a contemporary romance. Then I changed genres from my beloved romances and wrote, under the pen name of D. M. Woods, my first suspense/thriller: Death Crosses The Finish Line. The second book in this ‘death’ series, Death Is A Habit, came out January 8, 2014. I am currently working on the third book in the ‘death’ series, Death Walks C Dock. I am also working on another Western Historical Romance, Montana Man. It features the characters readers came to know and love in Montana Star. Truly, I mean it when I say my greatest pleasure next to writing is having my books read and enjoyed. There are many more stories just waiting to be written.

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Inspiration for Writing MY SUMMER ROOMMATE by Bridie Hall

First, I’d like to thank you for hosting me on your blog today.
One of the most often asked questions a writer hears is about where they get their inspiration from. One of the most often answers is: everywhere. Just like every book is different, so the inspiration for each book comes from different places, people, or events. Everything can, indeed, be an inspiration if only you look at it consciously and deeply enough.
The inspiration for My Summer Roommate comes mostly from the main character. Chloe first appeared in Letting Go as Isabelle’s best friend. At the time, the story needed a character that was more insightful than Isabelle so as to help her see her situation more clearly. That was why I wrote Chloe the way I did. Once Letting Gowas finished, Chloe kept popping up in my mind. Quite unintentionally, I’d made her a very compelling character. So I wanted to know more about her. I wanted her to tell her story.
Although Chloe and Isabelle are best friends and that friendship stems from a very similar single-parent family situation, they are also essentially different. Where Isabelle compensates for having so many responsibilities from an early age by becoming a control freak, Chloe is far more laid back and a carefree party girl. The long list of ex-boyfriends perhaps suggests it’s easy to gain her affections, but the bitter truth is, Chloe’s heart is locked away behind a reinforced steel door. She’s not melodramatic about it; instead she’s determined to enjoy life while she’s young and focus on love later.
When you’ve got a character that is as full of life as Chloe is, it’s difficult to create another character that would be wonderful enough to be able to rock her world. Because let’s face it – Chloe needed her world rocked. Usually, boys and men are the ones that play the role of no-strings-attached lovers in novels, eager to have fun and then move on. But I wanted to challenge that stereotype, so while Chloe is avoiding a serious relationship at all cost, Chris is the boy who has no problems admitting to how he feels. He’s this warm, fun, wholesome personality that gets under Chloe’s skin and she can’t shake him. The nicer he is to her, the more Chloe fights him, and the more apparent it is that she’s losing.
So, apart from that initial inspiration that I got from Chloe’s character and the stereotypical love stories, it was the characters that later decided on how the story would unfold. The dynamic between Chloe and Chris dictated the rhythm and the pace of the novel. A lot of the time while I was writing My Summer Roommate I felt like I were coordinating a tango dance between Chris and Chloe. It was a sort of a love dance, but instead of an elegant curtsy to finish it off, the dancers stumbled and got hurt. And by that point, the conflict was already fleshed out, the stakes were known, and all I had to do was wrap up the story.
Ha, I wish it were that easy. The truth is, I probably agonized over Chris’s mistake almost as much as he did. And I hurt right along with Chloe. But then Harper from Letting Go dished out some unasked-for love advice, and Sal urged Chris to do the right thing, and Isabelle nudged Chloe in just the right direction ... All’s well that ends well. Mostly, inspiration is what gives a story a good start, but it’s only persistence and work that can lead to a good ending.

Book & Author Details:My Summer Roommate by Bridie Hall
Published by: Evernight Teen
Publication date: September 19th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:Chloe needs a place to crash for the summer before college. When Chris offers, she moves in with him. It’s just for two months, no biggie. But soon she realizes she may have made a mistake. He is too perfect; a former snowboarder, laid-back and kind to boot, and he’s smitten with her. But she’s got trust issues and a relationship feels daunting. When he keeps trying to win her over, the temptation becomes overwhelming.Just as she gives in and decides it’s not worth fighting their emotions anymore, Chris reveals he’s made a stupid mistake which might ruin Chloe’s trust in him and tear them apart.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22846282-my-summer-roommate?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Summer-Roommate-Bridie-Hall-ebook/dp/B00NH4V4SI/ref=twoen-20B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-summer-roommate-bridie-hall/1120378367?ean=2940046182347
AUTHOR BIO:Bridie Hall sold her first story at fourteen. Since then, she has written dozens more, translated books, studied writing, and started writing novels. Her days revolve around stories and words, her sleepless nights involve plotting and inventing fascinating new characters. The only activity that takes up more of her time than writing, is reading.
Author links:www.bridiehallauthor.com
https://twitter.com/BridieHall13
https://www.facebook.com/bridie.hall.12
http://www.evernightteen.com/my-summe...
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Interview with Katherine Owen

When did you know you wanted to me a writer?I knew early on I wanted to be a writer. It was a dream of mine (out of reach; it seemed) for a long time. I won a poetry contest at fourteen and majored in editorial journalism in college with a minor in English and took enough psychology classes to major in that too. As it turns out, I went into high tech sales with money and stock options as a draw and did a fair share of public relations and marketing work as well. I had a very successful corporate career in high tech sales and public relations and then seized the dream for writing full-time five years ago. I spent the first three years taking classes with The Writers Studio, (those assignments all wended their way into novels I’ve released) and wrote a few long manuscripts that will never see the light of day. I started out querying traditional publishing for an agent and came close with several after winning the Zola Award for the romance category with Pacific Northwest Writers Association in July of 2010. By then, I decided to self-publish and released my first two books, Seeing Juliaand Not To Us in May of 2011.
How long does it take to write one book?It takes me about a year to write a book. The only exception to that process is Not To Us which I wrote start to finish in about six weeks. (That book is unique for several reasons but there are fans of my work who love that one the best. It is the outlier. The exception. From it, I take the encouragement for myself that I can get her done when the deadline fast approaches.) So I know I can go shorter, but the plotting and character development is what takes the most time. There is a ton of thinking that goes into writing a story. I don’t follow a pattern or normal trope for the storyline. All of that takes time to put together in my head. Writing—when it all comes together, and I finally figure out where it needs to go—comes rather easily when the story is complete in my mind but that’s usually about ten months into the book. For example, The Truth About Air & Water was half done in June of this year. It came together by the first part of August. I wrote the ending two days before it went to a few Beta readers; it was that fresh, but I knew I’d finally nailed as I saw the characters arcs so clearly by then. Yay for KO!
What are the pros and cons of being a writer, a selling author?Pros: If you’re truly a writer, you cannot not write. It’s a calling. It’s not logical. It just is.
Cons: It’s also one of the hardest things I’ve ever done from the standpoint that you spend a lot of time with yourself and play host to self-doubt to say nothing of the critics of your work when you put it out into the world. You have to overcome all of that that plagues you all of the time it seems.
Cons: Some of the best writers of our time you will never read because it isn’t about writing the best work; it’s about who gets the visibility. In the traditional publishing arena, this is who curries favor and who they believe will be a best seller—commercial grade—if you will.
In the self-publishing arena, it is still all about visibility and who curries favor and who is commercial enough to make those top bloggers and top online retailer sites some cash. I’ll leave it at that.
THAT has been an eye-opener for me. To the point that I do want to give it all up some days because I can land a six-figure job tomorrow and deal with the machinations that exist in high tech sales a whole lot easier.
But alas, I love the writing too much and I intend to navigate the waters of publishing even if it is rough and unsavory and downright disappointing at times.
Still glad you asked? Hope so. I wrote a lot more on this question but decided to just say this much.
Tell us about The Truth About Air &Water . What inspired this story?KO: The idea of Tally came to me about three years ago during a writing assignment for one of The Writers Studio classes I took. In that assignment, she was an artist—promiscuous, bent on self-destruction—when she comes across a guy, who has everything going for him. Linc didn’t change too much from the initial beginnings, but obviously Tally did. I wanted to write about two characters that had been dealt their fair share of tragedy and show how it shaped their psyches and influenced what they did and ultimately what they wanted out of life. I don’t think of these two as being co-dependent. I see them more as being whole and complete with the other. Enhanced. In reality, these two would be perfectly fine conducting entirely separate lives on their own—away from each other—because they put their all into their chosen careers of perfection. Tally with ballet. Linc with baseball. However, I hope what readers come away with is realizing that ballet and baseball are just a means to an end, part of the fulfillment, but the true dream they long for is being loved for who they are, despite being famous for ballet and baseball.
Did you plan from the start to write a series? You state that these can be read as standalones, can you explain?KO: No. I never intended to write a series with This Much Is True. I’m not a fan of series. How many series have you read where the books get better and better? They usually don’t. I read The Bronze Horsemanand fell in love. I read The Winter Garden and stayed in love, but have yet to finish the series with that one because I just don’t see how she can top the first book. Series are tough, tough, tough. Readers demand more, but it is REALLY hard to make them happy. So, ultimately, as my husband recently counseled, you have to do it for yourself. Ask the question: what do you want to do next, KO? That’s where I am. Guess what that means?
I wrote This Much Is True long. I knew it was long. My one and only beta reader hated Tally. I had to pull myself out of a dark abyss and believe in the book enough to put it out there all by myself and take the heat for making it one long-ass book. I took inspiration from Paulina Simons for that. F*ck it, if you can’t handle the long book. I abhor cliff hangers and I just couldn’t figure out where to cut it that wouldn’t leave readers hanging. I wrote it, released it, and felt like it was done. Received high marks and lots of four and five stars and after a long-ass while, I dealt with the one-star drive by reviews quite admirably.
A writer friend told me that everyone was doing series, and that I should think about it. The drumbeat for more of Linc and Tally was quite evident in many of the glowing reviews I received, so I spent some time on a plausible storyline and began the arduous task of writing The Truth About Air & Water and attempting to top the accolades for This Much Is True. The pressure for doing so was intense. It never let up for me personally until late July when I finally felt like I had nailed the second storyline and saw the character arcs for myself in The Truth About Air & Water. Then, my Beta readers came back after reading it with nothing but raves for the book and I suddenly felt like I achieved the virtually impossible—I topped the first book.
Is The Truth About Air & Water the last time we will see Linc and Tally? It seems like there is room for more story, is there?KO: The book just came out in late August but there has already been a new drumbeat from readers for more of these two. So. I recently announced to my readers that I've done some thinking around this and have come up with a workable storyline. Yes, there will be a third book for Linc and Tally some time in 2015. I don’t write fluff, and I've put these two through their paces quite enough already but there are some secondary characters around who can make life difficult for these two, and I've come up with a plausible storyline and have an idea where I want  to take it. But alas, I don’t talk about my work-in-progress much more than that.
What are your future book plans? What's in the works?KO: There is going to be more of Linc and Tally in a third book. Yes, I have committed to fans for a third book (yet to be named) in the Truth In Lies Series. Caution: I’m not a fast writer (or, is that fast thinker?) so it will be a little while. Look for the third book some time in 2015.I don’t do novellas. I don’t do serials. I have a WIP called Saving Valentines that I really need to get back to and two unnamed WIPs from my writing classes with The Writers Studios that both hold exciting promise. Writing. I am always writing or thinking about writing.
What’s the best thing about being an author?For me, the best thing about being an author is that I’m doing something I love and am passionate about. I actually believe—as cliché and simple as that sounds—it’s the secret sauce to a happier life. It’s not easy, don’t misunderstand. Being a writer at eight is a lot easier than being a writer as an adult. As soon as you let the doubts and the naysayers past the front gate of your mind, they all take turns, and it gets complex and incredibly hard most of the time to write. You are your own worst critic, but those one-star reviews stay right there with you. It doesn’t matter how many five stars you get, if you let comparison have its way with you, there is always somebody who writes better, sells better, and reaps more rewards than you do. Still? Writing is truly living to me. And I feel lucky every day that I can do it.
What’s the best advice you would give to young, inexperienced authors? If you truly love writing, in other words, you have the need to write, read a lot and write even more. Study books you love. Study books you didn’t. Embrace what works for your own style. I write in a first-person, present tense not as a gimmick, but because I am actually good at it. I find the third-person, past tense a lot harder to write. Study all of those. Master them. Go with what works for you and listen to your inner critic about what is working and what is not and just keep writing and reading.
Do you have more fun writing villains or more “morally acceptable” characters? I have way too much fun writing villains. I wish I had more of a villain in The Truth About Air & Water but bringing back Nika Vostrikova for round two seemed too easy, so I went in a different direction. By far, my most memorable and fun-to-write villain was Savannah Bennett in Seeing Julia. Boom. SHE was fun to write. My sister read a draft and said she was too mean even for fiction, but I held to the notion that any woman can get like that when threatened so I kept her as mean as originally written.  Another great choice for fun was writing Carrie in Not To Us. The taker best friend. Carrie impossible to love but man she ran a good game on our heroine, Ellie.

Book & Author Details:The Truth About Air & Water by Katherine Owen
(Truth in Lies #2)
Publication date: August 25th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:The Truth In Lies Series. READ This Much Is True, book 1 first, although it’s been written as a standalone. Readers say, don’t do that.“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” -Ernest Hemingway ~ A Farewell To ArmsThey share an epic love but one moment changes everything. A life together that seemed certain is shattered. One learns you never love the same way twice; the other learns what it means to come home. You only think you know how this love story goes, but do you really know how an epic love can end?“There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice.”
-F. Scott FitzgeraldShe is living color, and I’ve been in a black-and-white world for far too long without her.
Powerful stuff. It surrounds me. I’ve felt it since I first arrived. The forcefield of her. The magnetism of her. The power she wields over me. I’m alive again because of her, like a dying plant that finally gets some water. I’ve got it bad for this girl.
Reality dawns.
The light comes through the darkness and shines on me.
She’s my water.
-Lincoln PresleyThe truth is I breathe with him. He is my air. Raison d’etre.
-Tally Landon
Author’s note: This novel is part of the Truth In Lies series. It can be read as standalone, however, fans of my fiction already are highly recommending that those new to my work, READ This Much Is True book 1 FIRST.As Lincoln Presley would say, “do as you must, Princess.”
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21849155-the-truth-about-air-water?ac=1
Purchase:--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Water-Lies-book-ebook/dp/B00N0NQJY0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412352658&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Truth+About+Air+%26+Water--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-truth-about-air-water-katherine-owen/1120196581?ean=9780983570783
AUTHOR BIOA penchant for angst, serious drama, and the unintentional complications of love began early on when she won a poetry contest at the age of fourteen and appears to be without end. Owen has an avid love of coffee, books, and writing, but not necessarily in that order. She lives in an old house near Seattle with her family where she is working on her next book.  
Author Links:
Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/998458.Katherine_Owen
Twitter  https://twitter.com/KatherineOwen01
Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/KatherineOwenAuthor
Website: http://www.katherineowen.net
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)·       Paperback copy of The Truth About Air & Water AND This Much Is True (book 1)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

#Review: HIDDEN SINS by Karice Bolton

4 of 5 stars
Hidden Sins is a well-written romantic suspense story. The main character, Hannah, is running for her life. In a chance meeting at a local coffee shop, she runs into Luke, who saves her from embarrassment and buys her morning coffee. From there, their two lives are intertwined. Luke runs a security firm and he knows when someone is running. Hannah has all the characteristics of someone in trouble. Her innocence captures him and he vows to protect her and get to the bottom of her dilemma.

The author does a great job of throwing twists and turns into the story while nurturing a budding romance between Luke and Hannah. The book is fast-paced, but with enough description and interaction between all the characters to flesh them out nicely.   My only complaint is that while the body of the book is rich in details, the climax is over in a mere page or two. My kindle was at 90% when the book ended abruptly and I was disappointed that Hidden Sins was done and the rest of the book was a preview of another book. All in all though, fans of romantic suspense will thoroughly enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
***
Book & Author details:Hidden Sins by Karice Bolton
(Luke Fletcher Series #1)
Publication date: June 10th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense
Synopsis:Luke Fletcher asks himself one simple question. Is she worth dying for?His answer is yes.When Hannah Walker rolls into her new town on fumes, she doesn’t expect her past to catch up to her so quickly. But the moment her card is declined for a lousy cup of coffee, she realizes nowhere is safe, and her life on the run has just gotten more complex.Luke Fletcher has made it his mission in life to protect. When he meets Hannah Walker, she makes it clear that his services aren’t needed and neither is he, but there’s something in her eyes that tells another story. Once he begins investigating the woman with many names, he realizes one thing is clear. Whoever, she’s running from won’t stop until she’s dead.Determined to gain Hannah’s trust and break down her walls, Luke begins to share his own history, but where that leads could cost them more than their hearts as the sins of others threatens to destroy them both.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22404046-hidden-sins?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Sins-Luke-Fletcher-Book-ebook/dp/B00KVOCLXE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406912197&sr=8-1&keywords=Hidden+Sins+kariceB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hidden-sins-karice-bolton/1119701039?ean=2940149215003Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/hidden-sins-1iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hidden-sins/id887593379?mt=11
AUTHOR BIOKarice received an MFA in Creative Writing from the U of W. She has written fifteen novels and has several exciting projects in the works. Karice lives with her husband and two English Bulldogs in rainy Washington.
Books currently available:
Luke Fletcher Series: Hidden Sins (Book 1), Buried Sins (Book 2) – coming soon
Beyond Love Series: Beyond Control (Book 1) Beyond Doubt (Book 2) Beyond Reason (Book 3) Beyond Intent (Book 4) Beyond Chance, Beyond Promise, and Beyond the Mistletoe coming soon
Afterworld Series: RecruitZ (Book 1) AlibiZ (Book 2) – October 2014
The Witch Avenue Series: Lonely Souls (Book 1), Altered Souls (Book 2), Released Souls (Book 3) Shattered Souls (Book 4)
The Watchers Trilogy: Awakening (Book 1), Legions (Book 2), Cataclysm (Book 3), Taken Novella (Watchers Prequel)
The Camp
Author Links:http://www.karicebolton.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5240334.Karice_Boltonhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Karice-Bolton/218230041566833https://twitter.com/karicebolton
Giveaway:Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)25$ Amazon Gift CardRose necklace (image attached)a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

#Excerpt: BOUND BY DUTY by Stormy Smith

Bound by Duty released on July 24 and is Stormy Smith’s debut novel. It’s already climbing the Amazon hot new release bestsellers list and today we wanted to give you a preview.
To set the stage, Amelia Bradbury is our heroine and the center of this next scene. Amelia knows that she is an Elder and that she is betrothed to marry the prince of the Immortals. What she doesn’t know is the source of the power that continues to grow and evolve inside her and what that power will mean for her future. All Amelia wants is a little bit of time to be normal, but she’s about to meet the guy who will forever change the way she looks at herself and what she wants from life.
An excerpt from Bound by Duty:
As soon as I stepped out on the giant deck, the sea air hit my face. It tangled in my hair, whipping it around my shoulders as if playing hide and seek in the dark strands. I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath.
I stood there a moment, just listening to the waves beat against the sand as the tide came in. The full moon came out from behind the clouds, brightening my path and leading me to the stairs that would take me down to the beach. I didn’t hesitate. Almost leaping to the bottom, I kicked my gladiator sandals off as soon as I hit the sand and ran toward the water. Just as the tide touched my toes, the hair on the back of my neck stood up.
Someone was there.
Instantly, a jolt of power raced through my veins. I tried frantically to calm it back down, to maintain control. But, against all effort, I’m sure my eyes went from their normal hazel to bright violet, as they always do when my power takes over. I stood there, staring out at the sea, trying to decide how to react. I couldn’t draw attention to myself, but I could protect myself if I had to — I had learned that much. I felt my power build; like small pinpricks of electricity racing through my veins, filling my blood inch by inch. I forced myself to soften my stiff posture, but kept my right hand open and out in front of me in case I needed to use it.
Since moving to Brighton, I’d been working to actually use my magic, but it still felt like a second person trapped inside me that I couldn’t force into compliance. Sometimes it worked with me, sometimes not. We’ve been fighting this battle for as long as I can remember and in times like these, when I didn’t know what I was dealing with, I trusted it more than myself. I stood there, my body still as my power rippled beneath the surface and cautiously probed around me, just waiting to be unleashed.
I slowly started to turn around when he said, “Oh, so you’re hiding from them too, huh?” His voice was smooth and almost melodic, with just a little fire behind it. I somehow knew he was smirking even though I couldn’t see him. The moonlight hadn’t breached the shadow from the deck where I could see his outline sitting on a picnic table. He was sitting on the top with his feet on the bench and elbows on his knees. I heard the old, weather-beaten table creak and groan as he set his feet on the ground. A shiver ran through me; he looked dangerous.
“Do I know you?” Something told me I’d seen him before. The fear that had ignited my magic instantly turned to curiosity, the danger melting to intrigue. I could actually see the thready, purple wisps spreading out, poking around, trying to get a read on him. It’s a good thing humans don’t actually see our power unless we let them. Abruptly, I turned back toward the ocean, kicking myself as I mentally drew it back in.
What am I doing?! I don’t even KNOW this guy. What if he’s...?
“You don’t have anything to worry about,” he interrupted, as if reading my thoughts. I could hear his voice coming closer, a little tentative, feeling me out.
I’m sure he thinks I’m nutcakes. Well done, Amelia. You are here to blend in, not prompt people to think you’re a freak a month into the semester.
I sighed, took a breath, and turned to face him, not realizing how close to me he now was. The full moon cast light and shadow across his body as he stood just feet from me, silent, sizing me up as I did the same to him. I drew in a quick breath as all my thoughts came together in just two words. He’s gorgeous.
I couldn’t stop my eyes from roaming. There was something tortured about him, I could feel it as easily as I felt my own curiosity building. He stood just a few feet from me, clearly trying not to be intimidating. But, between the hints of a tattoo peeking out from under his black T-shirt and the leather cuffs on his wrists, there was an intensity he couldn’t hide. He had big eyes with long lashes a girl would kill for. As my gaze followed the strong, angular features of his face, I realized he had a dimple, just on the one side that must only come out when that corner of his mouth lifted into the smirk I had heard in his voice earlier. The one he was wearing now as he watched me watching him. For some reason, that dimple changed everything; transformed him in my mind as just being a boy on a beach.

Book & Author Details:Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith
(Bound #1)
Publication date: July 24th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult
Synopsis:Amelia grew up in a world of half-truths. She knows she’s an Elder but has no idea what that means. Her father reminds her daily that she must maintain control but he refuses to explain why. Even worse, she’s betrothed to the prince of the Immortals and she doesn’t even know his name.Finally breaking free to live a few normal years at a community college, the last thing Amelia expects is to find her best friend in a cheeky Southern girl and to fall for a self-assured human who sees her for who she is and not what she’ll be.As she learns more about herself, Amelia realizes the line between love and duty is a thin one. As her power continues to increase exponentially and her questions are slowly answered, Amelia must make the ultimate choice. The question is, will her head or her heart win the battle?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21957948-bound-by-duty?ac=1
Purchase:On sale for 99 cents October 5 – 11. In your blitz posts, please mention the sale and feel free to use the enclosed graphic. --Amazon: http://amzn.to/1lxz3Mg 
AUTHOR BIOStormy Smith calls Iowa’s capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly that stories of fantasy were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.

Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be stopped. When she isn’t working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy’s favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.
Author links:http://www.stormysmith.com/https://www.facebook.com/AuthorStormySmithhttps://twitter.com/stormysmithhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8159417.Stormy_Smith
GIVEAWAYBlitz-wide giveaway (INTL) A $50 Amazon Gift Carda Rafflecopter giveaway