Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 235

New #Romance Release: SECOND CHANCE BRIDE by Sandra Edwards

After being jilted, practically at the altar, Genie Wainwright heads to Hawaii to escape the well-meant pity party her friends and family are bound to throw on her behalf. What she never expects is to find someone to help her mend her broken heart. Donnie Taylor, owner of the posh Sapphire Bay Resort, has no interest in marriage—until he meets an unforgettable guest at the hotel. What starts out as a kindhearted gesture brings Donnie something he never expects—love!
Buy on:Amazon | B&N   iTunes (Preorder on Aug 15th) 
About the author: NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY Bestselling Author Sandra Edwards writes award-winning romance in a variety of subgenres such as paranormal (mostly time travel and reincarnation), contemporary, and suspense. She lives in the U.S. (west coast) with her husband, two kids, four dogs and one very temperamental feline. Sandra's books often push the envelope and step outside the boundaries of conventional romance. For more info on Sandra's books, visit her website at www.sandrawrites.com. 

Sign up for Sandra's NEW RELEASE ALERT at http://bit.ly/1k31XDr.
Follow Sandra:Facebook | TwitterRead the Reviews:
 Mama's Got Flair 
 My Mismatched World For Him and My Family 
 The Mama Chronicles 
 Totally Random Family Gal 
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Enter to win a $25 Amazon GC from the Author. Open INT 18+, fill out the form to enter. 
Ends 8/10/14 @ 11:59 PM EST 

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Book Tour Blast: JADED by Michelle Bellon

To what lengths will a man go for the woman he loves? Reed Dartmouth will learn the answer to those questions time and time again throughout his relationship with Jade Montgomery. When he first meets her as a young, gentle boy the heartache from losing his mother only a year before is still fresh and painful. Jade is different from anyone else he’s ever met; tough, sassy, and even a bit cruel. But she’s also the same as he is: she knows what it’s like to lose a parent. 

Their friendship begins and a bond like no other is formed. Time passes and Reed learns that not only are Jade’s parents dead, they were murdered and she’s made an oath to one day bring them justice. No matter the price. As they grow older their love evolves but for Jade, old habits die hard and she can’t stop hurting those she loves the most. Even in the midst of searching for her parents’ killers, passion ignites and jealousy burns as Jade tests Reed’s devotion for her. Will she push him too far?
Buy on Amazon
 
About the author:Michelle Bellon lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their four children. She drinks ungodly amounts of coffee and has an addiction to chapstick. She works at a surgery center as a registered nurse and in her spare time writes novels. She writes in the genres of romance suspense, young adult, women’s fiction, and literary fiction. She has won three literary awards.
Website | Facebook | Facebook Author Page | LinkedIn***********************************************Check out Michelle's Other Books

Interview with Christopher Gray

Are you a romantic? Despite my affinity for gadgets and electronics, I have an affinity for old things. I admire classic architecture, antique furniture, and the old parts of cities.
Do you listen to music when you're writing?About 50% of the time I listen to music while writing, but usually instrumental, like Jazz or Ambient.
Tell us about your latest release.I’m fascinated by current theories on quantum computing and the idea of multiple universes, so my novel Dark Nights deals with those realities. In order to keep things interesting to non-SF fans, I have a healthy dose of character exposition and down-to-earth political intrigue and action.
The characters include a corporate executive that craves power and is willing to sacrifice others to get it, a brilliant scientist who becomes a reluctant hero, his love interest, and a veteran secret agent who, in order to save his world, must commit grave acts against his conscience. And of course, the quantum supercomputer is also a major character, whose actions affect every human being in existence.
What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?A sequel to “Dark Nights.”
Which Star Trek or Star Wars character are you most like?I’d like to think I’m a cross between Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, an adventurer with a logical mind. For Star Wars, Han Solo is the guy.
Favorite season? Why?I like late Summer/early Fall. The temperature is rarely hot, yet it is warm enough to go outside and be active without having to wear a coat. Plus, the leaves turning different colors looks beautiful. It’s the perfect time of the year for walks and cycling.

BLURB:   The machine believed it knew best how to save humanity... even if doing so meant destroying half the population. 

Astrophysicist Doug Lockwood's unusual discovery during his observation of the sun kicks off a chain of events that nobody could have foreseen. The powerful political and military influences that compete to deal with his discovery set Lockwood on a course which will carry him across worlds, and into the grasp of a formidable new intelligence bent on accomplishing its goal at any cost. With Earth itself at stake and time running out, Lockwood and his team must find a way to counter this unprecedented threat before the powerful new enemy completes its plan. Two civilizations are pitted against each other in a desperate struggle for survival.
Buy links:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Nights-Christopher-Gray-ebook/dp/B00GOH9CSE/ref=twoen-20
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-nights-christopher-a-gray/1117683808?ean=9780986836497


AUTHOR BIO: Christopher A. Gray is a professional freelance writer living in Toronto. He has been a sales agent, project manager, actor, filmmaker, comedy writer & performer and world traveler.




Christopher is giving away a $50.00 Amazon or BN gift certificate.  

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Interview with Sean Sousa

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?The Forever Saga: Flash is the first installment of my new science fiction adventure series. It follows Vietnam War hero Brian Renney and his grown son, Jason, as powerful enemies from Brian's past seek to eliminate him and his family for reasons unknown. While Brian struggles with war wounds, isolation, and anxiety, Jason attempts to make sense of his irritable father while trying to maintain a promising athletic career and chasing Alessa, the love of his life. With the world in danger and their family fraying at the edges, Brian and Jason find an unlikely ally in the coming conflict.
Do you have a favorite character?There's a little bit of me in every character in Flash, but I'll go with Jason's friend, Slava. He's the outspoken, button-pushing jokester whose rough edges make him all the more endearing. We all want that friend who says the true stuff we wouldn't dare to, and drives us crazy in all the right ways. Slava is always good for a laugh, but there's a depth to him that will be explored in Flash and the rest of The Forever Saga.
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?Jason Renney, without a doubt. Initially, Brian was intended to be the main focus of The Forever Saga, but there grew a father-son dynamic that I couldn't ignore. Jason represents a coming-of-age quality, the love story, and the theme of overcoming adversity. As a result, Brian and Jason became the co-protagonists of Flash - and I can't wait to tell the rest their story in future books.
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?When I first completed Flash back in 2007, I sent out multiple query packages to agents and publishers. Even though I got a request for the first 50 pages of my novel, multiple rejections and feedback proved to me that the novel wasn't ready at that time. My writing journey has been marked by trial and error with both seeking a major book deal, and self-publishing. Right now, I'm releasing Flash as an indie title, but my ultimate goal is to get a major publishing deal.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Above all, be a person worth telling others about. At the end of the day, you're promoting who you are, whether it's a book or a status update about your overcooked breakfast (that you ate anyway because HUNGER). What we do isn't as important as who we become. In other words, you might write the best novel ever, but it will be hampered if the experience leaves you arrogant, bitter, burned out, or all of the above.
Instead, be patient. Take your time. Develop your voice. Enrich your life, and I promise, it will enrich your writing. Do all this to have fun during the process, and don't be in such a rush. Lastly, self-publish right. Get a great illustrator who can provide a cover that will stand out from the pack. Hire an editor (or two, or ten) to comb through your manuscript and remove the typos that would cause readers to roll their eyes. Connect with professionals who can help you along. If you can't afford them, launch a Kickstarter campaign and raise funds to pay them with (that's what I did). If your vision is clear enough, people will respond.
What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?Most of what I just wrote in the previous question! Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint - but I treated it as a 100-meter dash. I thought I could outrun the problems that drag down authors, but I was wrong. I got pooped out. I've thought of quitting. But at the end of the day, Flash was too important a story to give up on. To honor the progress I'd already made, I committed to enjoying the journey and doing my writing justice.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?I'm proudest of my marriage to my wife, Shelley. She's my best friend and biggest fan as a writer; Flash doesn't get finished if not for her. So I make a point to have time with her and enjoy life together. 
I grew up loving hockey and video games - two things that heavily influence The Forever Saga. I run an annual 24-hr video game fundraiser to benefit Children's Hospital Los Angeles, raising over $9,000 the past 3 years.
Aside from that, Pinterest can take over my life with DIY home projects - I can't walk 5 feet at home without running into a table or chair that wasn't restored, repainted, or reclaimed in some way. Lastly and most important, I lead high school/young guys through my church. I learn so much from them, and serving makes my life so much more balanced and lively. 
Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – Dogs or Cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea?Dogs or cats? Dogs - if we're not careful, cats will take over, and I can't allow that to happen.Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla, because it's the Barbie doll of the ice cream world - you can accessorize it. Whip cream, caramel, sprinkles, M & M's…they all make vanilla look good.Coffee or Tea? Tea. The only time I tried to like coffee was during my high school job. Straight black brew. Couldn't do it. So I added enough cream and sugar to make it essentially hot chocolate. I called myself "The Nervous Squirrel" during morning shifts.
What kinds of marketing are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?The bulk of my marketing involves reviews and interviews, and connecting on social media: it lets me express myself creatively, and it promotes my writing. They really go hand-in-hand. Readers - feel free to Comment, Like, Follow, Tweet, Pin, Post, and Share with me!
Official Site: www.theforeversaga.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theforeversagaTwitter: https://twitter.com/SeanCSousaInstagram: http://instagram.com/sousachromePinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/seancsousa/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seansousa
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?First off, the Flash audiobook is available now on Audible.com, narrated by Chris A. Ciulla. 93 characters speak in my novel, and Chris nailed their voices, and the narrative. Can't recommend the audiobook enough. 
Readers can also find Flash in e-book at iBooks/iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords.

#TPTBlast and #Excerpt: THE POINT by G. Nykanen

A dark journey through madness...

Publication Date: May 30, 2014Genre: Psychological Thriller
Befuddled by her current relationship woes, Nora Reynolds leaves college at semester’s end to drive north of nowhere to her hometown of Iron Bay. Vulnerable and on the rebound, she is the perfect prey for fledgling felon Dane Buchman. Dane takes advantage of the unaware young woman, feeding his appetite for mischief until a rather violent shift in their relationship reveals to him what he’s really been craving. Driven by his new found hunger, Dane feels unstoppable, until former high school rival and town deputy, Doug Sanders, navigates the trail of Dane’s destruction.
The Point is a dark thriller that will allow you to witness a truly dangerous sociopath wander through madness guided by a treasured family heirloom, and a pensive young woman find her way after discovering, that which doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. With echoes of the Coen brothers’ Fargo, the folksy town of Iron Bay and the nearby north-woods community of Deer Lake are the destinations for Mr. Buchman’s many misdeeds.

Goodreads  |  Amazon



G. Nykanen was born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This small, rural land mass seems to cultivate a wide variety of colorful characters who provide a plethora of inspiration. The Point, Nykanen’s first novel, is filled with nuances of these local characters and the landscapes one might find in the north woods. 
Well traveled thanks to her husband’s government career, she has lived in Europe and many of our United States over the last twenty years. She has recently returned home, moving back to her beloved Upper Peninsula where she resides with her husband and three children.
With The Point now completed, she will continue working on her next novel, Accumulation, along with continuing to develop other stories in the works.
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon
He wondered why she wasn’t anxious to tell him. He decided to force her hand. Dane opened the cooler and popped open a couple beers. He handed her one. She’ll cough it up now, he thought. She wouldn’t want to drink and harm the baby.She grabbed the beer, acutely aware that she better fake drinking it or he’d be even more suspicious. With the bottle to her lips, she decided to take a drink small enough to be harmless but big enough to look legitimate.Dane looked at her, then at the beer. He grabbed the back of her head and planted a kiss on her, driving his tongue into her mouth, verifying she’d actually drunk it.Was I just taste tested?She knew he was suspicious.“Wow, that was a surprise!” she exclaimed, reeling away from him.“Just felt like I needed to break the ice,” he said as a cover.“How about less kissing and more talking?” she suggested.“What are we going to talk about?” he asked as he leaned in, batting his eyelashes flirtatiously.“Why don’t you start?” she said.Dane grew tired of this game. It wasn’t fun to play by her rules. Grabbing her abruptly, he squeezed, staring into her blue eyes. Nose to nose he held her, horror building inside of her as she watched the pupils in his dark eyes dilate; the parasite stirred.“Say it!” he commanded.She remained quiet, unsure of how to react.“Say it, tell me your filthy secret,” Dane directed forcefully.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, fear welling up inside of her. She began screaming for help.This sudden outburst took him by surprise. For a split second he lessened his grasp to peer over her shoulder, checking to see if she’d garnered the attention of the nearby beachcombers with her screeching. Taking advantage of the slack in his grip, she pulled back from his grasp, pushing at his chest as she stood to run. He lost his balance and fell backward, giving her a head start. She ran, “Badger! Badger!” she shouted as she headed for the safety of the others.She peered over her shoulder to see how close he was. She stopped cold, her steps so short and sudden that she almost toppled over. “Oh, no, no, no.” She was horrified to find Dane standing at the water's edge, sneering smugly in the distance, Badger dangling from his right fist.Instead of chasing her when she fled, he had headed straight to the water's edge where Badger had been happily snapping at the incoming waves. Now the little dog was squirming and kicking wildly trying to break free of Dane’s grasp.


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Interview with Madhuri Blaylock

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?My latest book is called THE BOY and is part of a series, a trilogy in fact. The Boy is book II in The Sanctum Trilogy; The Girl, which released in November of 2013, is Book I in the trilogy. The following is a bit about both:
The Sanctum, an all-powerful governing body founded by ten families, entrusted to maintain the peace amongst Magicals and ensure the ignorance of humans, has been corrupted by greed and savagery for generations, but is all Wyatt Clayworth has ever known.
A descendant of one of the Founding Families and Class A Warrior, Wyatt has always believed in the ways of The Sanctum, having grown up in the system and thrived under their leadership. A golden boy, renowned for his prowess and skill in battle, Wyatt has never questioned a mission or kill order until the night he crosses paths with a brutally injured and mysterious girl.
Scouring Central Park with his best friend and fellow Class A Warrior, Ryker Morrison, for the hybrid demon prophesied to bring an end to The Sanctum and destroy the world for Magicals and humans alike, Wyatt instead finds Dev and his whole life turns upside down. Told he was hunting a killing machine, hellbent on wreaking havoc and destruction upon all it encounters, Wyatt instead sees nothing more than a broken girl with haunted eyes and a bit of a death wish.
All Dev wants is for Wyatt to either kill her or leave her alone. When he refuses to do either, she finds herself being pulled into his life while being hunted by warriors everywhere she turns. Drawn to one another for reasons they cannot begin to explain to themselves, much less anyone else, Wyatt is determined to protect Dev and help her realize her mission to avenge the deaths of her family at the hands of The Sanctum.
Set against the backdrop of New York City, THE GIRL is “outstanding, original, complex, deep and intoxicating”, a “well written, unique…fast-paced read” that  begins as one girl’s simple quest for revenge and evolves into a complicated tale of trust, friendship, honor and love.
And the journey only becomes more perilous and intense as the trilogy surges forward with THE BOY, “another masterpiece in The Sanctum trilogy”, certain to “keep you up all night reading.” Can you cross the plains of death, collect every piece of your soul and make it back to the land of the living? And if you complete the journey, will your loved ones welcome your return?
Do you have a favorite character?Hmmm...this is tough because I love them all, even the bad ones, but Wyatt and Darby hold special places in my heart. I love Wyatt’s quiet determination and loyalty. There’s a scene where he stands outside Dev’s door and offers her his hand - it’s such a simple gesture, but holds so many layers of meaning. I love it.
And I’ve said it before - Darby is the girl I always wanted to be.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?In fact, that exact thing happened with a character in The Boy. Jedda, my shape shifter, was initially intended to play a small role, share a couple of scenes with Max, but as I started writing him and he was staying in Darby’s apartment, I suddenly realized he was meant to play a much larger role both in the book and in Darby’s life. From there, he just took off; his character became so real and so easy to write and by the end of The Boy, I was madly in love with him.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?I do use a designer, her name is Michele Mason Holmberg and she is the business. I love that broad. When she and I first started working together on the cover for The Girl, I gave her some ideas of what I wanted and she put a cover together, which I thought looked great. Obviously, she didn’t agree because a few days later, I distinctly recall I was driving up the hill to our house and she sent me herversion of the cover and I was totally blown away. I pulled over to the side of the road and just stared at her work in amazement. She’s a gift. Seriously. A total gift. So yeah, I tried to give some input, but the real magic occurred once Michele was left to her own devices, with the freedom to do what she does so well. 

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?I began The Girl using a detailed outline and very quickly found myself deviating from it. Initially, that drove me crazy but about midway through, I simply stopped caring and just focused on writing, finding the experience so much more pleasurable. So with The Boy I didn’t even bother with an outline; instead, I made sure I knew how the book would begin and end and then let my imganation and the characters do the rest. It was positively exhilerating.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?Right now, no, because I am enrolled in Amazon’s KDP program. And because I found that most of my sales were from Amazon. I intend to start selling my paperback copies on my website, but I have not set that up yet.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I try to take advantage of as many marketing tools as I am able to juggle at one time. Currently, I have a Facebook page for The Sanctum, a Twitter feed, my blog, my Goodreads page, and am members of certain Goodreads and Facebook groups. It’s difficult to manage everything so I find myself mostly focused on my Twitter feed and my blog. 

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?I do - it’s quite brutal. I love to write and would love to be able to just focus on my next book, but that is not the reality of our current environment. Even if you’re a traditionally published author, you still have to promote yourself on some level, we Indies just have to do it a bit more. I actually don’t mind the marketing as much as I used to, probably because I have met so many amazingly cool authors out there who make the process almost enjoyable.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Write, write and write some more. And when you get tired, pour yourself a shot of tequila and get right back at it.

What’s next for you?Currently, I’m working on the finale in The Sanctum Trilogy, Book III: The Prophecy, and after that, I’m going to start a trilogy centering around the centuries-long relationship of my vampire, Darby, and her “great, burdensome love”, the shifter, Jedda.


Madhuri will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/06/virtual-book-tour-sanctum-boy-by.html
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#Excerpt: ANTHEM'S FALL by S.L. Dunn

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BLURB:   Above a horrified New York City, genetics and ethics collide as the fallen emperor and a banished exile of the same herculean race ignite into battle over the city’s rooftops. In the streets below, a brilliant young scientist has discovered a technology that can defeat them both, yet might be more terrible than either.
Set both in modern New York City and in the technologically sophisticated yet politically savage world of Anthem, Anthem’s Fall unfurls into a plot where larger than life characters born with the prowess of gods are pitted against the shrewd brilliance of a familiar and unlikely heroine.


 AUTHOR BIO:S.L. Dunn is the debut author of Anthem’s Fall, a novel he wrote amid the wanderings of his mid twenties. He has written while living intermittently in St. John USVI, Boston, Maine and Seattle. Raised on big screen superheroes and pop science fiction, he sought to create a novel that bridged a near-sci-fi thriller with a grand new fantasy. He currently resides in Seattle with his girlfriend Liz and their dog Lucy, and is hard at work completing the next book of the Anthem’s Fall series. Get in touch at www.sldunn.com.


EXCERPT:“Yes, Lord Vengelis!” the boy called, but suddenly froze with fear. The boy began trembling, his chest convulsing in terror. Vengelis slowly turned and looked in all directions. Hysteria was rampant; men, women, and children were running every direction, many horribly wounded. None of them were soldiers. The fire was blazing out of control, and the entire block was immersed in raging flames.
A woman standing nearby, just below a broad tilted awning, remained unscathed. Her appearance contrasted strangely with the mayhem around them. She was thin and average sized, of Royal appearance, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Tattered ribbons of the awning and bits of orange cinders and ash blew all about her. She was smiling at Vengelis, her teeth white and perfect. Vengelis was taken aback.
Her eyes.
Vengelis squinted through the billowing ash and felt an eerie sense of disquiet surface within him. Her eyes were not quite right. There was a glowing property to her stare, as though her eyes were emitting a strange blue radiance. She was beautiful, but the serene way she was smiling in the midst of the madness was peculiarly horrifying.
“State your name and rank!” Vengelis called out.
The boy stifled a small cry as the woman’s smile broadened. Vengelis glared and turned his attention from her to the boy. In a corner of his mind he already knew he was speaking to one of the Felixes. She moved her unsettling gaze from Vengelis to the boy. The boy let out a terrible sob and released the soldier he had been dragging. The woman took a step closer to the child.
There was no longer any doubt in Vengelis’s mind.
The woman whirled into motion, dashing toward the boy and reaching for his throat. The boy flinched and locked his eyes shut, expecting instant death. But it did not come. He peered through his trembling eyelids after a moment passed. The woman was still reaching for his throat, though now just in front of him. Vengelis had closed the distance and grabbed her wrist with his left hand, stopping the strike in its tracks. Her fingernails were reaching out longingly, inches from the boy’s neck. The woman turned to Vengelis, her expression vacant.
“Huge mistake,” Vengelis growled through gritted teeth, his knuckles white from the vice grip on her wrist. “Get out of here, kid.” ***

 The Author will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $30 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.
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#Excerpt: DREAM HUNTRESS by Michelle Sharp

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michelle will be awarding $30 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post.  Click on the banner to visit other stops on this tour.

Detective Jordan Delany has a gift. Through her dreams, she connects with dead victims of violent crimes. Her isolated life as a drug cop is perfect for hiding the freakish visions, until her newest investigation has her posing as a cocktail waitress in a down-and-dirty strip club. When she’s saved from a drunken customer by a handsome stranger, the heated chemistry is exactly why she intends to keep Mr. Arrogant at bay. But learning he’s the new bouncer for the corrupt club she intends to bust just might be the one reason why she can’t.

Tyler McGee suspects a drug ring operating out of the local club is flooding the streets of his hometown with heroin. Determined to get answers, he plays the part of a fallen cop and lands the job of head bouncer. What he discovers is that the club owner isn’t the only deadly obstacle he’s facing. His attraction to an intriguing cocktail waitress with a penchant for danger just might kill him first.

Enjoy an excerpt:

“I’m Tyler McGee. Everyone calls me Ty. And as far as the nurses are concerned, I’m your big brother.”

“I don’t have a brother.”

He shrugged and smiled. “You do now.”

She eyed him from top to bottom and back up again, deciding it was most likely the killer smile, rather than the lie, that had gained him access to her room.

His grin grew wider. He looked amused at her thorough inspection.

Why had she studied him as though he was the main course at dinner? Her cheeks flushed hot. “Well, Ty, thanks for everything, but I can manage from here.”

Leaning against a countertop, he folded his arms. “Yeah, you’re in great shape. You plan on jogging home with your head injury or just taking it slow and hitchhiking?”

Ah, yes. Now she remembered. He was truly as handsome as the devil but also as cocky. He’d probably only said about ten sentences before she passed out, but if her memory was coming back accurately, most of them were condescending.

“I’ll call a cab,” she snapped.

He chuckled. “In Titus? Sweetheart, where are you from? It sure isn’t around here.”

He strode to the bed then leaned in close as though he was letting her in on a dangerous secret. “In case you haven’t noticed, Titus isn’t exactly a thriving metropolis. We don’t have taxi service or buses. The closest thing to public transportation is Dan the Scooter Man. He makes a fortune driving people home from the bars. You want his number?”

Michelle Sharp is a romantic suspense author from the Midwest. Although she has a degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University, she finds weaving tales of danger, deception, and love much preferable to reporting the cold, hard facts. Her goal in life? To team resilient, kick-ass heroines with the sexy alpha’s who love them. As most writers probably are, she is an avid reader. Her husband and kids would call it obsessive—but whatever. Her first choice is usually a story with a thrilling combination of danger and love, but any book with a great voice and intriguing story will keep her turning pages well past any reasonable bed-time. Her debut novel will be published with Entangled Ignite in summer of 2014. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Missouri Romance Writers.

Website: http://www.michellesharpbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Sharp/609022162479401

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSharpBooks

Entangled Publishing: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/dream-huntress/

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dream-huntress-michelle-sharp/1119641083?ean=9781622667413

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Huntress-Dreamseeker-Novel-Michelle/dp/1622667409/ref=twoen-20

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#Excerpt: PIECES OF OLIVIA by Melissa West

Book & Author Details:Pieces of Olivia by Melissa West
(Charleston Haven #1)
Published by: Intermix (Penguin)
Publication date: July 15th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:Olivia Warren used to be a normal girl with a bright future.But on one fated night, everything changed.

Hiding the scars of her past up her sleeves, Olivia transfers her enrollment from Columbia University to The College of Charleston, determined to pursue her own dreams for the first time in her life.

She intends to allow herself a bit of alone time to heal… that is, until she meets Preston.

Preston is best friends with her roommate, completely hot, and off-limits. But the chemistry between them is instantaneous—and as the pair begins to spend more time with one another, their feelings for each other build into something undeniable, something powerful enough to heal Olivia’s deepest scars.

Olivia tries to put her own past behind her and trust Preston, but she discovers that his past might be more present than she ever bargained for…
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18827239-pieces-of-olivia?ac=1
Purchase: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Olivia-Charleston-Haven-1-ebook/dp/B00IXX4IYU/ref=twoen-20
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pieces-of-olivia-melissa-west/1118902942?ean=9780698165762
AUTHOR BIO:Melissa West writes young adult and new adult novels for Entangled Teen and Embrace and Penguin/Intermix. She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.

She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University. Yeah, her blood runs orange.

Connect with Melissa at www.melissawestauthor.comor on Twitter @MB_West. And for sneak peeks at upcoming works, prizes, and more, join The RES Spies at Mel's Madhouse: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheRESspies.
Excerpt:
“What’s in the box?”
I glanced down at the box like it was poison in my hand. “Rose gave me homework.”
“Oh yeah? What is it?”
“I don’t know. I’m afraid to look.” I closed my eyes slowly, hating the pathetic girl I was becomingin front of him, but somehow with Preston, I didn’t feel that natural urge to cover up my fears and insecurities. I could be myself around him, because I knew he would see through the lie. Like he already knew what I would say even before I thought of my response.Preston reached out and took the box from my hand, tucking it under his arm. “Come on. I’ll drive you back to Liberty.”“What about London?” The words were out so quickly that I didn’t have time to register what they suggested.Preston stuttered, clearly taken off guard. “Uh, what about her?” He cocked an eyebrow at me, his lips angling up a fraction of an inch. But that was enough. He knew what the question meant. Damn it!“I don’t know. She seemed . . . uncomfortable. You know, on Thursday.” God. Was he drunk at the party? Maybe he didn’t remember what happened. Or maybe he didn’t think the way we were, pressed together, his palms cupping my face, was unusual or intimate.“Oh, right. She’s fine.”My eyes narrowed. He was being intentionally shady, which meant they were still doing whatever it was he did with girls. I felt my resolve falter at the thought and peered behind me to see Rose giving me two thumbs up. I closed my eyes and shook my head, defeated. “Fine. I’ll ride in your damn truck.”Preston grinned and started to reply, but then his gaze travelled past me to Rose’s office, his eyebrows shooting up. “Is that your therapist?”I walked around him toward his truck. “Yes.”
“She’s waving at me.”
I sighed. Of course she was. Thank you, Rose. If I ever speak to you again, I’m going to turn you into one of those ghosts you love. “Are we going or not?”
I slipped into the truck, waiting as Preston stopped outside his door to see if Rose was stillwatching him. He raised his hand to wave, and I buried my face in my hands. I was going to need heavier medication to survive this humiliation. Damn Rose and her deliberateness. I knew she just wanted me to trust other people, to step outside my “safe zone,” but we were going to have to talk about her methods.Preston finally slid in beside me and passed over the box. “It’s light.”
“What is?”
“The box,” he said, nodding toward it. “Have you guessed what’s inside?”
“No. But I’m pretty sure I know what it has to do with.” I pictured things from my bedroom or items from each of my friends or newspaper clippings about the fire.
He eyed the box. “I’m betting it’s empty. She seems a little out there. Maybe she’s messing with you.”
“I’m not that lucky.”
“Then, I bet it’s . . .” He tapped his long index fingers against the steering wheel, drawing my attention over, making me remember the feel of them against my skin. “Fake spiders.”
“What? She isn’t going to give me a box of fake spiders. Who does that? That’s stupid.”
Preston laughed. “Okay then, you take a guess.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
“Try.”
“I can’t. I don’t know.”
“God, stop being such a girl and take a damn guess.”
“Testy! And I take offense. I’m not being a girl.”
“Then put your money where your mouth is and guess. Make it a good one.”
I shook my head again, but this time I was smiling. “Fine. I bet the box is full of worms, the squishy kind with glitter in them.”
“What brand? Because if we’re talking Strike King, then maybe I’ll just . . .” He reached for the box and I swatted his hand away, laughing.
“Hey! Find your own crazy box.”
Preston grasped my hand as I was swatting his away, his fingers gliding over my knuckles then fingertips before he released. Suddenly, the air in the truck felt thick, the space between us small. I swallowed hard, wishing I could ask him what was happening between us, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear his answer. For now, I felt safe in the dream world, where I could imagine Preston wanting me without having to risk my heart. I knew I would eventually have to date again, feel again, but for now I’d rather play out the dream, which I guessed was exactly what Rose had meant by her stupid safe zone.We reached Liberty and said goodbye, all the while my heart jumping in my chest, begging me to stay a little longer. I could avoid reality. I could pretend. But I couldn’t deny the truth to myself any longer.I had fallen for Preston Riggs.***
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Interview with Sunniva Dee

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series? Hi there! Thank you so much for having me! Yes, Shattering Halos is a standalone book about a girl who suddenly sees and falls in love with her guardian angel. The reason why this happens to them is revealed late in the book. This New Adult fantasy is a sensory overload sort of story similar to Twilight, only at a more mature level. Readers have compared it to a mix between Beautiful Disaster and the TV series Supernatural—if the Winchester brothers were angels and love made them lose their heads.
Do you have a favorite character?I’ve been asked this before, and the thing is—I write my characters because I love them with all of their imperfections, and in the case of my angels, with all their perfections. ;) I started out with a crush on perfect, beautiful Gabriel. Then, I had the best time writing Cassiel. Deep down, though, I think I love Gaia the most. She’s so stubborn, so immature, and passionate. Just the way a 20-year-old girl can be, and I adore her for it.
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?Yes, Cassiel: his role became bigger in Shattering Halos because of his overly sexy and snarky personality. When I wrapped the book up, I realized I couldn’t let him go. Which is why I started on the spin-off novel Stargazer.
Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?As of September/October, I will be a hybrid author! At the moment, I’m only traditionally published. Further down, I’ll say a little bit more about Stargazer, which will also be published traditionally, and Pandora Wild Child, my first indie book.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?Shattering Halos is contracted by a publisher. They usually have full control over the cover design, but since I obsess over my final products, they let me work closely with my designer. I am so happy with the final cover!
Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?My critique partners are absolutely invaluable. All of them are brutally honest and have amazing critical skills. I’m SO thankful for them all! I use 5-7, depending on the story and the situation. Since I’m not originally English-speaking, they catch little things I don’t see myself.  I also use several beta readers to make sure the plotline doesn’t have holes.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?Shattering Halos started with my muse only. Then, at a certain point, I had to rewind and start thinking. In the end, it became a mixture of the two methods: to complete a successful manuscript, I need to use both sides of my brain.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where Shattering Halos is for sale?Yes, you can get it at most big sites, like Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Indigo, and iTunes.  For this blog tour, it has actually been put on sale by my publisher, too, so hurry up, folks—it’s 99 cents!
Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? We have a menagerie of animals at the house.  A chattering parrot who calls  out “Hey, baby? Aw, c’mon!” when he doesn’t get enough attention; four cats, who take turns laying on my keyboard so I get nothing done; two crazy Pomeranians—they are also obsessed with keeping me off my laptop. Our petting zoo doesn’t believe in finishing books and meeting deadlines. J
What’s next for you?I have two releases coming up within the next 4-5 months. Stargazer is the New Adult fantasy spin-off novel to Shattering Halos. This book verged of being too much for my publisher. In it, Cassiel has a much bigger role, and he gets to unfurl is bad-boy sex appeal to a degree he wasn’t allowed in Shattering Halos. In Stargazer, I make no excuses. Language, storyline—everything about this book makes it into a novel some readers will adore and others will absolutely hate. It’s angsty, passionate—and more New Adult than paranormal. I’m very excited about it, and I stand by every word.
Pandora Wild Child, is a New Adult Contemporary novel. It will be my first self-published baby! It’s currently in the editing phases, and I’m over the moon excited about this book too. To have full creative control is amazing. The cover and blurb is ready, and I love how they came out. The cover reveal will be at the end of July and the book release in September/October.
The novel is about a young woman who's finally FREE when she goes off to college. So yes, she's wild. She's being stupid, passionate, and gets herself into trouble. Boy trouble too. Pandora does everything she was never allowed to do at home and turns into the ultimate bad-girl. Soon, the question becomes:

- What... who can turn this bad girl good ?
Again, thanks for having me!
AUTHOR BIOI write New Adult fiction with a paranormal twist and don’t shy away from romance and heart-wrenching passion when necessary.

I moved from Norway to the United States in 2001, and the first awesome five years I spent in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles. Then I read “The Book,” aka Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which spurred my husband and me to move cross-country to beautiful Savannah, Georgia.

I’m currently on my seventh year in the Deep South, where I enjoy the heat and the humidity. Besides writing, I spend my time with our “petting zoo” as in an opinionated parrot, a herd of cats that are experts on keyboard shortcuts, and puppies that…uh, bark.

I hold a Master’s degree in languages, with concentrations within literature and linguistics. I taught at college level for a decade before settling in as a graduate adviser at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Writing is my passion, my joy, and my addiction. When I’m not writing, I read.
Shattering Halos is my debut novel, and its standalone sequel, Stargazer, is due out later this year.
Author links:http://www.sunnivadee.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191170.Sunniva_Deehttps://twitter.com/SunnivaDhttps://www.facebook.com/sunniva.dee
Giveaway:--Kindle Wifi (US) or 50$ Amazon Gift Card (INT)--4x eBook copy of Shattering Halos
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