Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 245

Book Tour Blast: LEAN ON ME by Candy Crum

DISCLAIMER: Though this is a YA novel, it still contains violence, language, and other situations some may not be comfortable with.
 Lean on Me by Candy Crum When sixteen year old Briana Grace discovers that she's pregnant after only having sex one time with her emotionally and physically abusive boyfriend, Mike Rhodes, her life begins to twist and turn upside down. She discovers who truly loves her and who she can really trust. 

 Her boyfriend turns on her and nearly kills her when she won't agree to an abortion. Bri has to fight for her life and that of her little girl. She struggles to learn how to turn her life around and rise above all the bad after the world turns against her when more and more people learn of her pregnancy. No matter what, there's one friend that she can count on through thick and thin. He has been her best friend since childhood and they've never seen anything more from their friendship... Until now. 

She must learn to trust her heart again so she can see the bright future with the one who’s been there all along.


Buy: Amazon | B&N Paperback 


Meet the Author:Candy Crum lives in Indiana and is the Author of “The Eternal Series” and other short stories. She published her first novel, The Eternal Gift, in May of 2011 and has been publishing ever since. Candy is an avid lover of the paranormal genre, stemming from years of reading the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice when she was a teenager. Later, she developed a deep love of the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead and the House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, furthering her love of the genre and pushing her to really push to finish and publish her novel. Since then, Candy has released three other books in The Eternal Series and will release another later in 2014. 

Now, Candy is trying her hand at more contemporary pieces of work, like that of Lean on Me and other books she will release in 2014. Some of Candy’s interests include the usual reading and writing, music (of most types), movies (action and comedy or any combination of the two), cartoons (she loves to say that her children watch cartoons because she does), and drawing. She loves talking with her fans and loves reading the reviews that her fans are kind enough to leave for her. Always feel free to find Candy on Facebook and send her a message!
  Follow Candy:FaceBook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon  a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Excerpt: SECOND CHANCE BRIDE by Trish Morey

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Trish will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Remember, the more you comment, the better your chances to win.

Scarlett Buck has always been flaky in comparison to her sensible twin sister Tara, so nobody is really surprised when Scarlett spends all her money on a one way ticket to Australia to be with the man she’s met on the Net. But she hasn’t reckoned on the guy already being married, or her mom getting sick, and now she needs money for a flight home to Marietta, MT—quick. Signing on with Bella's Belles in Kalgoorlie isn't be the proudest moment in her life but it will get her home fast. After all, it's just sex.

Or is it?

Mitch Bannister's ex is about to marry his best friend, and he could really do with a cold beer and a hot woman. But the cowgirl he takes a shine to at Bella's is surprisingly skittish, and in the end he leaves without hooking up.

Later, when Mitch spies the cowgirl in the local pub begging for a job, he shrinks into the shadows--he's not looking for complications, and something tells him that Scarlett Buck is a whole handful of them. But soon it's clear she's not just trouble, she's in trouble, and like it or not, he's not about to turn his back on this stray from the States. Especially if she can do him a favor in return. After all, it's just a helping hand.

Or is it?

Now enjoy an excerpt:

“You look amazing,” he said, and it wasn’t his words that warmed her through and through, it was the husky quality to his Aussie drawl and the raw heat in his eyes. If she’d had any qualms that he was dressing her to make his ex feel bad, they were banished before they could take root. He was dressing her for him.

She’d never thought blue was a warm color, not until now, not until she’d felt this slow, warm glide of his eyes over her form leaving a smoking trail of heat.

So sex wasn’t part of this deal?

Didn’t mean it wasn’t going to happen.

Shoes and accessories were next. He took his time, not rushing and not checking out the sale items like she was, but going for top shelf every time.

She wondered whether he was as attentive a lover as he was a shopper.

And then she remembered that first encounter in Bella’s, and the hot stroke of his tongue against her breast.

Oh yeah!

Author bio:

USA Today Bestselling Author, Trish Morey has written thirty romances for the internationally bestselling Harlequin Presents line and her stories have been published in more than 25 languages in 40 countries worldwide, including being published in Manga comic book form in Japan, and as Trish Moreyova in the Czech Republic. Trish was awarded Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year Award (the Ruby) for short, sexy romance In 2006 and again in 2009, as well as being a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Awards in 2012.

A qualified Chartered Accountant by trade, Trish was employed as financial manager at a major business school prior to her first sale.

Trish lives with her husband, 4 daughters and assorted menagerie in the beautiful Adelaide Hills.

Author links:
Website: http://www.trishmorey.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trish.morey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoreyTrish

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Trish-Morey/e/B001H6WU8G/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1396183952&sr=8-2-ent

BN Author Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/trish-morey

Tule Publishing page: http://tulepublishing.com/product/second-chance-bride/

Guest Post: CREATING CHARACTERS by Aven Ellis

I love creating characters. For me, the best part of sitting down and drafting a new story is creating the characters I’m going to write about. When I first start thinking of a character, usually I think of his or her conflict and obstacles first. For Harrison Flynn, the hockey player hero in my new release Waiting For Prince Harry, I had his conflict first. What would it be like to be a famous professional athlete, but not have a formal education? Especially when your own parents are professors who value education above everything else? Even though he was financially secure, would he fear hisFor Kylie, I thought it would be interesting to have her explore her own fear of the future, which is really her internal fear of failure. Where Harrison is hot-tempered and lives in unorganized chaos, Kylie contains her emotions and is rigid in her organization.  To me, these two opposites come together and bring out the best in each other.
With conflict down, I began to fully sketch Kylie. I go into major detail here-what do they like to eat, what do they like to do for fun, favorite TV show, favorite drink, etc. I need to know these people like I know my own friends. While I was sketching Kylie, I decided to have her be obsessed with taking pop quizzes on her phone or in magazines. There’s always one in my Facebook feed, so I thought that would be a fun character trait. Then I thought about her age and who I would have a crush on--and that would be Prince Harry. He’s fun, athletic, spirited, and a gorgeous ginger.
I took her crush a step further and thought what if she could find her own version of Prince Harry, but one who would inspire her, bring some chaos to her life, and make her want to live in the now? Then  I started thinking about the name for my hockey player and thought Harrison. Harry.  Kylie was waiting for her Prince Harry...and just happens to find him in the form of a professional hockey player...
Book & Author details:Waiting For Prince Harry by Aven Ellis
Publication date: April 2nd 2014
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:Twenty-four-year-old Kylie Reed has always been a rule follower. Organized and cautious to a fault, her dreams for life are often filed away for future use—when she has a house, when she meets her future husband, when she has been at her visual display job at a chic Dallas boutique longer…Kylie always has a reason for living her life in the future, not in the present, and not living her life to the fullest and reaching her dream of becoming a fashion designer.

The only exception to rules, of course, would be running away with Prince Harry—Kylie’s ideal man. A hot, fun ginger boy would be worth breaking all the rules for, of course.  And Kylie is sure Harry just needs the right, centering woman to settle him down.  But living in Dallas and not knowing Prince Harry make this a non-option.

Or does it?

Because when Kylie accidentally falls into the lap of a gorgeous ginger boy—yes, even more gorgeous than the real Prince Harry—all bets are off. Could this stranger be the one to show Kylie how to take a chance, to face her fears, and live in the present?  And could this stranger be the Prince Harry she has been waiting for? Kylie’s life takes some unexpected twists and turns thanks to this chance encounter, and she knows her life will never be the same because of it…
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20652614-waiting-for-prince-harry
Purchase: Will be found here come release day: http://www.amazon.com/Aven-Ellis/e/B00GHUYO90/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
AUTHOR BIO:Aven Ellis has been writing fiction since she was sixteen. She studied communications at a large Midwestern university, and after graduation, Aven worked as a reporter for a community newspaper, followed by a stint at a public relations agency.

But writing about city council meetings and restaurant franchises was not as much fun as writing for young women trying to figure out their careers and potential boyfriends. So Aven got herself a job in television that allowed her to write at night. Connectivity is Aven’s debut novel; Waiting For Prince Harry and Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista (New Adult romantic comedy) will be published next year.

Aven lives in Dallas with her family. When she is not writing, Aven enjoys shopping, cooking, connecting with friends on social media, and watching any show that features Gordon Ramsay.

Author links:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7265661.Aven_Ellis
http://www.avenellis.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AvenEllis1
https://twitter.com/avenellis

Book Tour Blast: BLEEDING HEARTS by Ash Krafton

 Sophie Galen is an advice columnist who is saving the world--one damned person at a time. Shy and sensitive Sophie has all but given up on love until she meets Marek, a mysterious stranger who seduces her with his striking good looks and his take-charge attitude. Yet the darkness she senses within him may be more than she is prepared to handle when Marek draws her into a world of vampires, werewolves, and treachery. 

Forced to leave behind the comfortable routines and certainties of her past, Sophie makes unbearable sacrifices and uncovers hidden truths about herself and the world around her.
 Buy on Kindle | Paperback     About the author: Ash Krafton is a speculative fiction author from northeastern Pennsylvania. Krafton’s first novel, Bleeding Hearts was published in 2012 as part of a three-book urban fantasy series The Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press). An urban fantasy novella, Strangers at the Hell Gate, was published by Wild Rose Press in 2013. Her latest project, "Words That Bind", won first place in the HeRA RWA “Show Me the Spark” 2013 competition; it will also be released by Wild Rose Press. 

Krafton also writes New Adult speculative fiction novels under the pen name AJ Krafton. Upcoming titles include The Heartbeat Thief, Face of the Enemy, and the award-winning Takin’ It Back. She is part of a YA/NA collective known as the Infinite Ink Authors. In addition to novel-length fiction, Krafton enjoys writing poetry and short prose, some of which earned distinctions in various writing competitions. One of her poems was also nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She’s a proud member of Pennwriters, Romance Writers of America, Maryland Writers Association, Pikes Peak Writers, and the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Krafton is also a staff blogger for the Query Tracker Blog.  

Follow Ash:

  Literary Addicts | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog | Authorgraph | Goodreads  

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Excerpt & #Giveaway: SWEET CALAHAN HOMECOMING by Tina Leonard

BLURB:Will Ashlyn Callahan finally find her magic?  The last Callahan rides in the exciting conclusion to the bestselling series, The Callahan Cowobys!
Four Babies—and Her Whole Family—to Protect
Ashlyn Callahan has always known that her fate can only bring danger to those she loves. That's why she flees Rancho Diablo—and the ornery cowboy she loves—to hide out in Texas Hill Country. But all hell breaks loose when Xavier Phillips finds her…and her four newborn babies.
Xav finally tracks down his warrior woman—only to discover she's the mother of two perfect little boys and two perfect little girls. And he's the father! Now Ash has to marry him. With the future of Ash's entire clan at stake, Xav is ready to lay his life on the line to safeguard the family legacy. Not to mention create a homecoming—and a wedding!—worthy of his Chacon Callahan bride!
Buy Links:Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Callahan-Homecoming-Harlequin-American-Romance%5CCallahan/dp/0373755147/ref=twoen-20
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sweet-callahan-homecoming-tina-leonard/1117056999?ean=9780373755141

AUTHOR Bio and Contact Links:USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Tina Leonard writes with humor, sexiness, and fun. With nearly three million books sold, she plans to keep writing the stories readers enjoy. Her schedule keeps her very busy creating independent heroines and the irresistible heroes who love them.
Visit Tina at www.tinaleonard.com, www.twitter.com/Tina_Leonard, www.facebook.com/authortinaleonardwww.pinterest.com/tinaleonard1 
Excerpt:
“WHAT DO WE do with him?” Mallory McGrath asked, and Ash tried to force her flabbergasted mind to think rationally. It wasn’t easy, and not just because Mallory had set off the panic button on the security system, which was wailing like mad. She crossed to the system pad and shut the silly thing off before staring down at the lean cowboy sprawled on the floor. How many hours had she spent thinking about Xav Phillips over the past few months, especially during her pregnancy? How many times had she wanted to call him to come to her, yet knowing she couldn’t place him in that kind of danger? Anyone from Rancho Diablo who had any contact with her would be in jeopardy—the Callahans had learned that the hard way, time and again, over the many years they’d battled Uncle Wolf and the cartel. It was no game they were playing, but a full-fledged fight for survival.
Sometimes it felt as though they were losing. It almost always seemed as if they might not ever defeat an enemy that was determined to destroy the ranch and the Callahan legacy. Good didn’t always conquer evil.
Ash knelt down to move Xav’s long, ebony hair out of his face. “Poor Xav. I could have told you that you should stay away from me.” The tree twinkled, sending soft colorful light against his drawn skin. “What am I going to do with you now?” she asked him, though she knew she wouldn’t get an answer.
She was startled when he opened his eyes. “Marry me,” Xav said. “You can marry me, damn it, and tell the woman with the wrought-iron Santa Claus she whaled upside my noggin that I come in peace.”
“Xav!” She wanted to kiss him so badly, yet didn’t dare. Of course his marriage proposal wasn’t sincere; clearly a concussion rendered him temporarily senseless. “Can you sit up? Mallory, will you get him a glass of water?”
“Who is he?” Mallory asked, reluctantly setting down her festive weapon.
“Just a family friend,” Ash said, her gaze on Xav as his eyes locked on hers.
“Friend my ass,” Xav growled. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to find you? Do friends search every nook and cranny of Texas and parts in between to find each other?”
“Definitely a concussion,” Ash said, frowning at the big handsome man, all long body and sinewy muscles. “I’ve never heard him talk like that.”***

Tina will be awarding one $25 Amazon GC to TWO randomly drawn commenters during the tour.

Follow the tour and be sure to comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/02/virtual-super-book-blast-tour-sweet.html

IF IT ISN'T PERSONAL, IT SHOULD BE by Rebecca Forster

This morning I received three emails.
One was from a lady in Scotland who read one of my books and joined my fan page. She wanted me to know how much she appreciated waking up and finding that I had responded to her messages.
The second was from a man in Australia who sent me a list of things he liked about Silent Witness. He highlighted sentences that he particularly liked, but at the end of his note he said “thank you for making Hannah so intelligent.”
The third was from the very first fan I ever had. We’ve been pen pals for 28 years. Now we communicate on the computer but every once in a while we still send one another a card, remember birthdays, the holidays and share information on grandchildren (hers since I only have a grand dog).
The point of all this is that what authors do is extremely personal. It begins with our characters. If we don’t feel them in our souls and translate that feeling into words on the page, our books will be enjoyed but not treasured. When we do make that magic happen and a reader reaches out, opening a personal dialogue with them will make a reader into a fan. In some wonderful instances it also creates a friend.  
Here are my top five rules of engagement:

1)    Know the personal history and habits of every character in your book and write as if you live and die with them.2)    When a fan writes, write back with more than a thank you. Acknowledge that you appreciate the time they took to write you. I am always excited when someone takes the time to read my work; that they go the extra step is like having a cheerleader in my corner. I want them to know that.3)    Start a personal dialogue slowly. There are those fans that would like more of your time than others and those who wish to have a more personal relationship than you might be willing to enter into. It is up to you to set the parameters. For the most part, though, these relationships will be casual, fun and fulfilling.4)    If a reader contacts you about something in your book that touched them, expound on what got you to that place. For instance, Hostile Witness was inspired by a case my husband handled. As a criminal judge, he sentenced a sixteen-year-old boy to life in adult prison. The character, Hannah, and the plot of that book were based on this experience. It is a bit of personal information that is not too intimate but is interesting to readers.5)    Truly enjoy your interaction with readers, other authors and reviewers.
We are, perhaps, the luckiest people in the world. Despite the fact that our profession is solitary, the result of our labor is a book that reaches hundreds and sometimes thousands of people. When they reach back, that is the hallmark of success. Make sure you know that real life dialogue is part of the joy of writing.
Author bio:  I marketed a world-class spa when it was still called a gym and did business in China before there were western toilettes at the Great Wall. Then I wrote a book on a crazy dare and found my passion.Now, I am a USA Today and Amazon best selling author with more than 26 books to my name - and if you ask me where all those words came from I'd be hard pressed to tell you. All I know is that I wake up with a story in my head and go to bed the same way.I write thrillers with an eye toward the very human element of my characters. The Witness Series follows the lives of attorney Josie Bates, her ward, Hannah, and Josie's lover, Archer. The series was voted #1 in PRG Reviewers Choice for series and Eyewitness was voted #1 in the mystery/thriller genre. I try to push creative boundaries with my non-series books. Before Her Eyes garnered a B&P Readers Choice Award for best mystery.I have taught at the UCLA Writers Program, UC Irvine and Cal State Long Beach and lecture at writers groups, women's conferences and philanthropic events. I am most proud of the work I do with The Young Writers Conference, a program that helps motivate middle school children to explore the power of words. I am particularly drawn to kids who want to write because both my sons have always had a passion for it. Eric is a playwright and novelist (see Eric Czuleger) and Alex is in film.When I'm not writing I'm traveling, on a tennis court, working a sewing machine or reading. Thank you so much for taking a look at my author page. You can find out more about me - and leave me a note - at www.rebeccaforster.com

#Excerpt: BLADES OF MAGIC by Terah Edun

Book & Author Details:Blades of Magic by Terah Edun
(Crown Service #1)
Publication date: March 31st 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:It is not a peaceful time in the Algardis Empire. War is raging between the mages and seventeen-year-old Sara Fairchild will be right in the middle of it.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

Sara is the daughter of a disgraced imperial commander, executed for desertion. Sara is also the best duelist and hand-to-hand combatant in Sandrin. She lives quietly with her family’s shame but when challenged about her family’s honor, her opponent inevitably loses.

On the night she finds out her father’s true last actions, she takes the Mercenary Guilds’ vows to serve in the emperor’s army. Using her quick wits and fierce fighting skills, she earns a spot in the first division.

There she discovers secrets the mages on both sides would prefer stay hidden. Dark enemies hunt her and soon it’s not just Sara questioning the motivation behind this war.

While fighting mages, blackmailing merchants and discovering new friends, Sara comes across something she’s never had before – passion. The question is – can she fight for her emperor against a mage who has unwittingly claimed her heart?

This is year one of the Initiate Wars. Sara is hoping it doesn’t become the year she dies.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20948304-blades-of-magic?ac=1

Purchase:Will be found here come release day:--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Blades+of+Magic+terah+edun&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3ABlades+of+Magic+terah+edun--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=allproducts&keyword=Blades+of+Magic+terah+edun
AUTHOR BIO:Terah Edun's next YA Fantasy novel, BLADES OF MAGIC - Crown Service Book #1 (set in the Algardis Universe), will release on March 31, 2014. Book Five of Courtlight, SWORN TO DEFIANCE, will release in April 2014.

Her favorite writers include Mercedes Lackey, Tamora Pierce, Kristin Cashore, Robin Hobb and Maria Snyder.

Check out Terah's author website (teedun.com) for more information about her books, find her online @TEdunWrites and subscribe to her newsletter (bit.ly/SubscribetoTerahsNewsletter) to be notified of upcoming releases.

Courtlight Series: http://smarturl.it/courtlightseries
Book 1 - Sworn To Raise
Book 2 - Sworn To Transfer
Book 3 - Sworn To Conflict
Book 4 - Sworn To Secrecy (smarturl.it/tenewrelease)
Book 5 - Sworn To Defiance (Coming April 25, 2014)

Crown Service Series:
Book 1 - Blades of Magic (March 31, 2014)
Author links: http://teedun.com/https://twitter.com/tedunwriteshttps://www.facebook.com/TerahEdunAuthorhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6517970.Terah_Edun
Excerpt:Chapter OneSara Fairchild stared at the three men and two women who surrounded her with hard eyes. They had cornered her in an alley. But only because she wanted them to. She was having a bad day, might as well end it right. Feet planted firmly in the dry dirt, she called out to the group arrayed in a semi-circle around her, “Nice day for a fight, isn’t it?”The woman to her right wore a raggedy scarf around her hair and her ears were covered in at least five earrings per a lobe. She glared and said, “You think you’re funny, girl?” Sara watched as the woman spit into the dirt before her in disgust.“Your da was a disgrace,” the woman continued. “You’re just like him. A coward.”“And a cheat!” said the man directly in front of her. He nervously fingered a blade in his hands. It was a poorly crafted one. That Sara could tell from five feet away. She stood in front of him with her back-up against the wall. She wasn’t carrying her broadsword but she did have one fine long knife at her waist, a dagger on her thigh, and a baton she’d lifted from a city patrolman in her right hand.“Is that so?” Sara said directing her voice at the man in front of her, “And what, pray tell, did I cheat you of Simon Codfield?”Her tone was level. Even surprised. He shifted warily. He was nervous even with four of his friends to back him up. When the people standing with him began to look at him oddly, he stiffened his back. Simon licked his lips and said, “Cards. I know you had an extra ace in your belt. Admit it now and we’ll only beat you two ways until Sunday.”She titled her head, “And if I admit it later?” Even he couldn’t miss the derision in her voice.“We’re trying to go easy on you,” said Simon Codfield – his voice dipping into desperation. He might be a liar as well as a thief, but he was no fool. Sara knew the only reason he and his crew had followed her into this alley was because if he didn’t accuse her, he would have to take the fall for loosing over forty shillings in a card game that started off over a bet of five. She knew and he knew that he didn’t have forty shillings to give. That was one month’s pay for a dockworker, never mind a ne’er-do-well like Simon who hadn’t worked an honest job a day in his life. “Tell you what. Why don’t you drop those trousers of yours? Then we’ll call it even,” said the thief lord in charge of the west district of Sandrin. She turned to face the man who had spoken. He rubbed a hand over his two-day old beard with a grin. Sara brought up the long knife in her left hand, “Why don’t you drop yours, Severin, so that I can cut off your balls for you?”Anger flashed in the thief lord’s eyes. Anger and passion. Sara smiled. She wasn’t joking. If she got close enough to him, she’d make him a eunuch without batting an eye. Simon Codfield gulped and took a step back. He knew she wasn’t playing around.

 

Excerpt: LIZZY by Krystal Shannon

BLURB:Keeping secrets is dangerous…and painful.
The last man who found out Lizzy MacLaughlin’s secret left without so much as a goodbye. Now, utterly in love, Lizzy holds her breath that her six-month relationship with retired army ranger, Ethan Hart, won’t end the same way.
Life is never perfect…or easy.
Ethan is head-over-heels in love with Lizzy, and warring schedules make time together precious. Determined to be together without interruptions, they plan a weekend getaway at his lake house –unaware the past Ethan is trying to ignore is coming hell-bent on destroying what Ethan holds most dear.
Will Lizzy’s secret tear them apart, or will something far worse threaten their very lives?
Available now @ Amazon| Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | B&N
AUTHOR Bio and Links:Paranormal Romance author, Krystal Shannan, lives in Texas and is married to the love-of-her-life. They have a spunky young daughter who believes in fairies. Krystal professes to loving shoes, but avoids wearing them at all costs. She teaches in the public schools and writes as much as she can in her free time. If any more spare time can be squeezed from her day, she enjoys reading romance in all genres, but especially paranormal. If it has a 'Happily Ever After', she's on board!
She is an active member in her local RWA chapter DARA.
Receive a free book for subscribing to my NEWSLETTER!www.krystalshannan.com www.theromancetroupe.com Facebook Friend & Fan | Newsletter| BlogTwitter| GoodReads| Amazon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT: “Mom has given the stink eye to every guy that’s ever taken me out. She has to make up for Dad not being here.”
A surge of jealousy wormed its way into his mind. “How many guys have you been out with?”
“Simmer down, soldier.” She giggled and winked. “My love life is boring and consists of one guy in high school and two guys in college. I wasn’t a nun, but it wasn’t like I got around either. You have nothing to be all caveman about.”
“Sorry, I was having a moment.” He really was. The thought of any other man touching her, kissing her, putting hands anywhere on her body made his blood boil.
“No worries, but would you mind terribly going and getting me a plate of bread and cheese. I swear the buffet smells like something died and then came back to life, but I’m starving and desperate.”
His concerns returned full-force with her joking comment about smelly food. Something was going on with her. It’d been nearly a week since he’d seen her eat any meant and that was very out of character.
“Sit here, baby. I’ll be right back.” He helped her into a chair at an empty table and then went to the buffet table.
The spread of food ranged from deliciously smelling barbeque, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, cole slaw, and trays of crackers, cheese, and fruit. Nothing smelled out of the ordinary to him, but he grabbed an assortment of crackers and cheese, along with a few pieces of fruit, just in case she might want some.
He walked back to her and set the plate in front of her along with another glass of water he’d snagged from a passing server.
“Thank you.” She smiled and popped a cracker in her mouth.
“Anything for you, baby. I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well.”
“I’ll be fine. I promise. I’m already feeling better,” she answered and bit into a slice of cheese. “This is really good.”
“Little sis, you okay?” Karen said you weren’t feeling well.” Caiden’s voice over his shoulder startled him. He was the only one of Lizzy’s brothers who could sneak up on him.
“I’m fine, Caiden. Don’t you dare go telling Trevor or Harvey. I got a little overheated outside. I’m fine. Ethan is taking good care of me.”
Her big brother snorted and Ethan bit back a grin. The MacLaughlin brothers all liked him, but after walking into the dressing room this morning with Lizzy’s sparkly lip-gloss smeared on his mouth, they were rescinding their approval temporarily.
“I’ll come back in a little while and check on you again.”
Ethan turned in his chair and met Caiden’s hard glare. “I won’t leave her.”
“I know.” Caiden sighed and nodded. He stepped toward his sister and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
She smiled and patted her brother’s arm. “You worry too much. Go back to Lina and enjoy the party.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Krystal will be awarding a necklace pendant depicting the cover of Lizzy to a randomly drawn commenter 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/2014/02/virtual-book-blast-tour-lizzy-by.html

#Excerpt: WHAT A BRIDE WANTS by Kelly Hunter

BLURB:What a bride wants…
Ella Grace Emerson adores her father, but he keeps trying to marry her off to every eligible rancher in Montana. When he puts an ad in the paper on her behalf – for a docile house-husband – Ella retaliates with one of her own, pinned to the noticeboard of the local saloon. No husband required, housebroken or otherwise. What she wants is the perfect lover.
What a bride needs…
Newcomer Cam Sawyer is perfectly willing to tear up the sheets with Ella and be her partner in chaos. She wants a bad boy and he’s had experience aplenty. But what she really needs is a strong and loving partner, and until Sawyer stops running from his past he can never be that.
Sawyer’s the one Ella wants. But can he be the man she needs? AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Accidentally educated in the sciences, Kelly Hunter didn't think to start writing romances until she was surrounded by the jungles of Malaysia for a year and didn't have anything to read. Eventually she decided that writing romance suited her far better than throwing sterile screw-worm flies out of airplane windows, and changed careers.
Kelly now lives in Australia, surrounded by lush farmland and family, 2 dogs, 3 miniature cows, a miniature pig, a 3-legged cat and a small flock of curious chickens. There are still flies, but their maggots don’t feed on flesh. Bargain.
Kelly is a USA Today bestselling author, a three time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist and loves writing to the short contemporary romance form.
Visit her at www.kellyhunter.netFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.hunter.73307?ref=tn_tnmnTwitter: https://twitter.com/KellyHunterova
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Hunter/e/B0034PYXL0/
Barnes and Noble author page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kelly-hunter
Excerpt:Jo snatched for the Copper Mountain Courier at the same time Ella did. Ella got there first and wore Jo’s slender body slamming up against her side a heartbeat later.
“Oh, look,” Jo said helpfully. “A picture of you. And it’s a good one.”
“Color too,” Mardie pointed out. “Only colored ad on the page. Makes it pop.”
“Make it stop,” muttered Ella as Mardie hastened away, trying to disguise her smile.
The heading on the ad was arresting.
DOCILE HOUSE HUSBAND WANTED
They read in silence. Moments later, Jo’s hand crept up to cover her mouth.
“If you laugh—” Ella threatened darkly. At which point her sweet and ever loving childhood companion did a mighty fine impression of someone about to cough up a cow.
It was a full one minute and thirty-seven seconds before Jo could even speak. “I’m not laughing. I was choking.”
“Have you read down further?”
Jo nodded vigorously. “I particularly like the bit about him needing to be able to cook, clean, iron, keep a tidy house, and raise well-mannered, obedient children.”
“And the rest?”
“Well, who wouldn’t want a man who’s committed to due diligence, the greater good, and sparkling silverware?”
Ella drained her drink in one long swallow and signaled for another. “I’m going to kill him.”~~~~~~~~
The author and publisher will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter 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/2014/03/sbb-what-bride-wants-by-kelly-hunter.html
 

Interview with Dee DeTarsio

Tell us about All my Restless Life to Live:I always wanted to be a soap opera writer. Even though an 8th grade career aptitude test indicated I would make an excellent farmer’s wife. Of course, I also wanted to marry one of my junior high crushes, Jim Flower . . . which would have made me Dee Flower! (I need to write that book someday.)
What do you find most challenging about the writing life? Distractio . . .
Where do writing ideas come from?I grew up in Ennui, Ohio, and only wish I had started taking notes earlier—some of the funniest people I know are from the Midwest. I think it is constant fear of tornadoes or being trapped in a snowstorm that forges a delightful melancholy of the absurd. Plus, I come from a long line of teasers where NOTHING is sacred. Teasing is some complex form of hazing required to be a member of my family. And yes, when I was a teenager, my whole family totally made fun of me and my Scoliosis back brace (a la Joan Cusack, Sixteen Candles).
Are you a TV junkie?I don’t watch much TV at all—only when I’m in the kitchen, family room, living room, bedroom, or on the treadmill. It’s not like there’s a TV in the bathroom or anything.
What do you do when you’re not writing?When I’m not writing, I’d like to say I’m busy speaking (and cooking) fluent Italian, teaching yoga, and volunteering for the Peace Corps, but none of that would be true.
Read any good books recently?I’m a Virgo, (*shakes head sadly* at the other eleven inferior signs) and I run a tight ship on my kindle. I can only manage up to five books at a time on there, despite temptations. I’m talking to you, buy-now-with-1-click button.
Side note: I am currently reading Dangerous Women, a brilliant cross-genre anthology, in hard back, borrowed from my nephew (meaning no Cheetos allowed).
Book & Author Details:All My Restless Life to Live by Dee DeTarsio
Publication date: April 29th 2013
Genres: Adult, Romance
Synopsis:Award-winning author Dee DeTarsio combines life’s darker side with humor and tenderness in a wonderfully charming look at love and the afterlife.

Life is a soap opera, especially for Elle Miller, who is a TV producer. (Ellen dropped the “n” in her name in hopes of finding a better ending for herself.) When her laptop crashes, she borrows her dead dad’s computer and gets way more than she bargained for.

As Elle tries to save her career with a storyline featuring a trip through Atlantis, she takes a trip to the Emmys, and finds herself in the middle of a romance between a real doctor and a hunk who just plays one on TV. Friends, family, and clues from “the other side” all help Elle figure out the difference between living the good life . . .  and living a good life.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17861309-all-my-restless-life-to-live?ac=1
Purchase:--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/All-My-Restless-Life-Live-ebook/dp/B00CYPZ8YM/ref=twoen-20--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-my-restless-life-to-live-dee-detarsio/1117516409
AUTHOR BIO:Dee DeTarsio is a graduate of The Ohio State University and lives in southern California with her family. She did not teach herself to read at an early age or write stories by the time she was in kindergarten. She was still wetting the bed and playing in the can cupboard.
Author links:http://deedetarsio.wordpress.com/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dee-DeTarsio/112679022125465https://twitter.com/DeeDeTarsiohttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4400284.Dee_DeTarsio