Julie Elizabeth Powell's Blog, page 73
March 25, 2016
This is a 3 day promo blast for The Voices of Angels by Peggy Jaeger
THE VOICES OF ANGELS
book 4 of The MacQuire Women series
by
Peggy Jaeger
Official genre of book: Contemporary romance
Love is the last thing Carly Lennox is looking for when she sets out on her new book tour. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine profile based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.
Mike Woodard is ambitious, and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else. As he tells her, he’s a patient man. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. Carly Lennox is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him-may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.
“Your pulse is racing.”
Carly swallowed. “It always does when I’m hungry. Hypoglycemia or...something.”
One corner of Mike’s mouth drifted up. “Liar.”
Before she could respond, his mouth came down on hers, taking it captive, driving her insane. Her head careened backward to allow him full access into her soul. Letting go of her wrist, he spanned her waist with both hands.
“Why were you blushing?” he asked, never completely moving free from the kiss.
“I, I’m hot. It’s hot in here.”
Mike’s hands roamed down over the back of her jeans to cup her butt. She gasped when he began kneading the flesh through her pants.
“You’re a liar, Carly, and we both know it.”
“You keep saying that,” she murmured as his tongue skimmed across her top lip. “It’s insulting. Oh.”
Mike pushed her from behind, molding the length of her body to his. Through the fabric of their clothes, she felt his unmistakable arousal and her entire body trembled with excitement. With each thrust of his tongue inside her mouth, another drop of her control slipped away.
“Deny you feel something right now,” Mike whispered into her ear, his warm breath robbing her of all sentient thought. “Or when I do this,” he added, sliding down the curve of her neck. “Go ahead and deny it and tell me you’re not lying.”
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance author who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can't live without them.
Her current titles, available now, include SKATER'S WALTZ and THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, and FIRST IMPRESSIONS books 1, 2 and 3 in her 6-book The MacQuire Women Series, published by The Wild Rose Press.
Tying into her love of families, her children's book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.
Peggy holds a master's degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer's Disease during her time running an Alzheimer's in-patient care unit during the 1990s.
In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
This is a cover reveal for Take Two by Traci Hayden.
TAKE TWO
A Picture Perfect Novel
by
Traci Hayden
Official genre of book: Contemporary Romance
Beth Huntley, photographer and devoted bachelorette, doesn’t believe in true love. Too much hurt and disappointment has left her hiding behind the camera. All she can see is a black and white world through the lens.
William Lorde, widower and father, was once an open and carefree man. The loss of his wife has left him wrapped up in the needs of his little girl. He can no longer see the colors of the world as he struggles each and every day.
What happens when these two similarly different people meet and help each other to step out of the world they’ve created for themselves? Will they find a love that helps them heal from the past, enjoy their present and create a beautiful future?
The gentleman was looking at some of my photography displayed on the wall. The red and orange tints of his light brown hair reminded me of the vibrant colors of a sunset over the ocean. The touches of blonde which frosted the tips were incredibly sexy. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair while he made wild passionate love to me.
From my vantage point, his physique was lean and muscular. Hardened muscles bulged against his plaid shirt and overalls. The dark bronze tan of his skin glowed like it had been kissed by the sun. Everything about him left me speechless and totally breathless and I had yet to see his face.
Realization hit me hard. Jude was trying to fix me up! If she had her way, I was going to become a mini-Jude; a Judette, if you will. From the looks of this guy, it might just happen.
A jab to my ribs got my attention. My head swung in Jude's direction; my eyes, however, didn't. Heat was burning deep inside me, pushing its way to the surface like molten lava. The rise and fall of the burn matched the timing of my labored breathing.
Reality came racing back when a sharp pain stabbed my foot. I bounced slightly on one leg as I rubbed the offended limb on the back of my calf. Tearing my eyes away from the God standing in my studio, I glared at Jude.
What's happening to me? This wasn't my normal reaction, I wasn't the type to go gooey over a guy. To me, they were all trouble, and they interfered with my professional plans. That was the excuse anyways.
Jude stepped back and slowly raised her hands up in a gesture of surrender. Grabbing the counter to hold myself steady, I looked down at Jude's four inch spikes, one of which had surely lanced my foot. Through my gritted teeth, I growled. "What the fuck?"
Jude's eyes darted between me and the sexy man across the room. She whispered so softly, it was impossible to tell if I'd heard the words or read her lips. "Pull your tongue in, you sexual deviant."
It was at that precise moment that the star of my erotic fantasies turned around, and every nerve in my body exploded. His unshaven jaw line begged to be licked, his naturally red lips begged to be kissed, and his eyes - oh my god, those eyes! My heart shattered into a million pieces.
His gorgeous, ocean blue eyes were haunted with such despair. Where there should have been light shining brightly like the moon on a clear summer's night, there was a blank stare. His eyes were filled with almost agonizing grief. For an instant, his anguish overwhelmed me. I wanted to wrap him in a cocoon and protect him from the world. A cruel world of torture and grief, that's all his eyes portrayed.
✯ This book is specially discounted till one week after publication. Get your copy today. ✯
My love for books began at a very small age. I lived inside the many worlds the local library could provide. The characters within those pages were my companions and my support when I needed someone most.
My imagination began to soar as I grew. I began writing small poems as a teenager, but never thought much about publishing or expanding beyond put my words to paper.
After my children were born our love for a certain TV show fueled my love for writing. Using my children as inspiration, I began to write fanfiction, my children being the characters within the stories.
My passion for putting words to paper (or screen as is the norm now) has turned from passion to obsession. I've made some incredible friends through this journey and in turn, have become not only an author but a promoter and supporter for those whose imagination dreams character and worlds that I can lose myself in.
I thank my precious children, my beautiful soul-mate and my forever sister and best friend for being my constant rock and support as I continue to walk this road called life.
This is a 3 day release blast for Holding Fast by Jeanine Binder
HOLDING FAST
Love and Order series
by
Jeanine Binder
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
......Been there, done that – there wasn’t much that Eli Walker hadn’t experienced as a cop. Even working in one of the better precincts in New York City didn’t help dispel the depravity he saw on a daily basis. It was all part and parcel of his mantra of living life in the now, not worrying about the future.
And especially with women. No strings, no attachments, and he made that perfectly clear before he ever bedded them. Relationships were not on his agenda – not now, not anytime in the near future. Women flocked to him and he could take his pick; himself exiting the encounter with what he’d wanted and leaving them aching for more, left dreaming of his curly locks and bronze body.
A chance encounter pulling a mugger off of a woman changed his whole world. She was blonde and beautiful – Eli didn’t care about any of the interracial politics that would surround any serious relationship. He just knew he had to have Ainsley, like an alcoholic needs his next drink. This was all new territory for Eli and could he stay to the path, all the way to its end? Or would she be like all the others in his life ?…...
I felt her press into me for warmth. I wrap my legs around hers, pulling her body firmly against mine. I knew I gave off a lot of heat – previous women in my bed had likened me to an oversized space heater. Am sure my size had a lot to do with it and it made being outside in the cold New York winters much more palatable. I was perfectly content to lay there and watch this gorgeous woman sleep. She’d slipped my shirt on after we finished and there was nothing sexier than seeing the tails fall just to the top of her thighs. My imagination did double time thinking how I would like it to be my hand there instead of my shirt, but I didn’t want to wake her up. Well, at least not for a few minutes anyway. I was already up and ready so that wasn’t an issue – no Viagra or Cialis in my future – but I was treasuring this first for me. The first of waking up to a beautiful woman in my arms because, in my previous encounters, no one ever woke up in my bed with me. And I never stayed all night in theirs.
Relationships were something I ignored. I couldn’t remember what started me down that path –it probably had something to do with some weekend liberty when I was in the Army, as we would all go down to the local bar, get shit-faced drunk, and pick up women. Now I was having all sorts of thoughts. Before, getting married and having kids, like my partner, was far from my mind. That was, until I pulled some asshole off Ainsley and she came to the station to thank me. So … what did I want with her? Did I want something forever and go down the white picket fence lined road? I wasn’t sure, but what I did know was I didn’t want to ever see her with anyone else. I’d kill anyone who touched what was mine. And maybe it was a temporary thing and wouldn’t last. But I was certainly going to put forth some effort into exploring these feelings were which were causing my mouth to go dry and my heart to race whenever I saw her look at me with those crystal blue eyes. I wanted to keep her wrapped in my arms so I could protect her from everything evil. I never had those kinds of feelings before I met her.
Jeanine Binder grew up in a small town in California on the outskirts of Palm Springs, where the Hollywood celebrities liked to vacation. After thirty years, she packed up, moved to Arkansas where she still lives today. Her hobbies include her writing, reading good books, and seeing exotic places (loves to go on cruises).
Writing has always been a passion and hoping the next twenty years will bring many enjoyable books for others to read.
This is a release tour for Finders Keepers by JJ DiBenedetto
FINDERS KEEPERS
Book 1 of A Jane Barnaby Adventure series
by
JJ DiBenedetto
GENRE: Action/Adventure
It should have been a simple job. All archaeology student Jane Barnaby had to do was pick up a box her professor needed and deliver it to him at his dig site, along with his new car. Yes, his office was in Oxfordshire, and his dig site was in Spain, a trip of 1,400 miles across three countries and two bodies of water. Still, it should have been simple.
And it was, until Jane discovered she picked up the wrong box by mistake. Not the one with boring pottery samples, but instead the one with priceless ancient Egyptian artifacts. The one that a team of international art thieves is after.
Now she’s chasing – and being chased by – the thieves. And she’s picked up a pair of passengers who claim they can help her outwit them, get her professor’s pottery back and return the artifacts to their rightful owner. If only she could figure out which one of them is working with the thieves and which one she can trust in this high-stakes game of finders keepers.
According to Dr. Welldon, the trip from Oxfordshire to Dover should take two hours, two and a half at the outside. Being careful, Jane had built in extra time. Her intention had been to leave by ten AM and give herself four hours to reach the port, and then an hour to buy her ticket and figure out how to get the car aboard the boat. But that was already shot to hell; she didn’t start until eleven thirty, and she’d lost nearly an hour missing the ramp onto the M40. She couldn’t afford to fall further behind, and that meant she couldn’t miss Exit 1A.
Unfortunately, Jane was so busy thinking about how off schedule she’d gotten that she missed several signs indicating the approach of the exit. The first sign she actually saw told her that it was 250 feet away. And it was a right-hand exit. She was four lanes over to the left. Jane took a deep breath, muttered to herself, “Oh, God, I am an idiot!” and proceeded to cut off a taxi, a tour bus and what looked like a brand-new black Mercedes.
Jane only had a momentary glimpse into the Mercedes, but she was pretty sure that she saw a Styrofoam cup fly out of the driver’s hand and shower him with coffee. She felt guilty, but only for a fraction of a second, just long enough for her brain to register the other Mercedes – the one directly in front of her.
J.J. (James) Dibenedetto's fans would swear he's got a sixth sense when it comes to seeing into the minds of others and often wonder if his stories could possibly be fiction. He enjoys suspending disbelief with suspenseful paranormal tales that are a perfect blend of reality meets fantasy.
His popular Dream Series continues to delight readers with each and every exciting installment.
Born in Yonkers, New York, he currently resides in Arlington Virginia with his beautiful wife and a cat he is sure has taken full advantage of its nine lives. When it comes to the cat, he often wonders, but then again it might just be his imagination.
March 23, 2016
There Was An Old Woman
This new short story plagued me and demanded to be written.
It's a tad weird, but should tingle your brain.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
It's available on Amazon and a Kindle edition and Lulu, in print.
There Was An Old Woman myBook.to/Therewasanoldwoman
http://www.lulu.com/shop/julie-elizab...
I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks
It's a tad weird, but should tingle your brain.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
It's available on Amazon and a Kindle edition and Lulu, in print.
There Was An Old Woman myBook.to/Therewasanoldwoman
http://www.lulu.com/shop/julie-elizab...
I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks
March 21, 2016
This is the promo portion of the review tour for Voices Carry by Diane Rinella
VOICES CARRY
Part of The Rock and Roll Fantasy Collection
BY
USA Today Bestselling Author Diane Rinella
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
An incredible romance involving a man, the music he craves, and the voice that haunts him.
Rock and roll turns Brandon Wayne into a juvenile delinquent in all the best ways—crazed, ambitious, and with a slip of danger nagging at his hips. His marketing job at Endeara Candies and hunting down classic vinyl nirvana at Warped Records make his world seem ordinary, but there is another side to his life.
As an anniversary of tragedy approaches, odd occurrences riddle Brandon’s mind with questions. Whose voice is suddenly materializing in his head? Is he fabricating a psychic who looks like one of his favorite rock stars? Why is he having retro dreams involving welded beer cans, disco, and a punk rock girl? The puzzle seems never ending.
Have the musty fumes at Warped Records and the terrible candy at work rotted Brandon’s brain? Has he crossed into the realm of insanity? Or is the reason for the madness beyond his comprehension?
The ambient noise from Dale’s end of the line disappears. I lean back, put my feet up, and close my eyes.
Hold music creeps in. Warrant’s “Cherry Pie”? That’s an odd choice. My foot starts pounding out the rhythm of the bass drum. The song becomes an anthem, beating itself into my head and making me rally behind it. This is totally gonna be stuck in my head all day.
“So far, today has been promising.”
No!
I bolt up in my chair, gripping its arms with white knuckles while my heart tries to gallop out of my chest. That voice came over the phone! It wasn’t any voice either! My words sprint out, cracking as they go. “Dale, you there? Who’s with you?”
Ambient noise returns, followed by Dale’s voice, “Hold on another sec.” I’m definitely not on hold now, yet I still hear Warrant. This is exactly what happened in the car two days ago with Mötley Crüe.
“Anyway,” Dale says, “I was thinking maybe …”
“Sometimes this job can be so boring.”
My lungs struggle for air. There she is again, and she sounds as clear and loud as Dale does. I’m tempted to throw down the phone and run, but all I can do is sit here, frozen and gripping the chair.
Haze begins to coat my inner vision. Pixels form and merge. At first the image is black with a smattering of light peering through, and then browns and creams work their way in, leading to full color, yet it is all buried under fog. My jaw clenches. What the hell is going on?
The haze clears, and although my heart won’t stop racing, something tells me I am safe, regardless of how I have a hard time believing it.
The image before me is of a female arm reaching toward a coffee table and a copy of Neon Angel, the autobiography of Cherie Currie of The Runaways. Next to it is a stereo with an iPod attached. Is that where Warrant is coming from?
“I find myself waiting around, wasting so much time. At least I’m becoming well read.” She chuckles. “If you can call this well read. At least I finally have a chance to look into some of the things that interest me.”
Dale’s voice slips in. “I think I’m headed to great places.”
Everything sounds jumbled to the point where I’m not sure who said what. I don’t want to risk disturbing the vision by asking Dale to stop talking. I also fear that if I speak, I’m so far over the edge my voice won’t work.
The view slips to a dark brown carpet, and although I am still gripping my chair, I seem to be walking; yet I can’t tell where. All I catch are glimpses of what I’m pretty sure are pictures hanging on the wall of a fairly small space. Is this a trailer?
We pass through a door and the music fades, but the sound of heels clicking on tile echo into the mix. The acoustics also change, and I catch sight of a bathroom sink.
“Anyway, I need to head off. We’re getting ready to …”
Was that Dale? I’m not sure anymore.
Sweat builds on my brow as my view turns to a mirror. My ability to breathe is strained when I see the woman wearing jeans and a T-shirt with a design I can’t make out. Her skin is fair and freckled. Her eyes seem hazel or maybe brown. I can’t tell the color of her clipped-up hair, but it seems dark red. Who is this woman whose voice keeps infiltrating my mind? And why am I suddenly seeing through her eyes? It’s almost as if I am her, yet I know I am not.
I’m not, right?
No. I’m Brandon Wayne. I’m sitting at work in Los Angeles, California. I’m thirty-one years old. I’m on the phone with Dale who is in Canada.
I force my view downward and see what I know is real—my hands gripping my chair.
“Yo! Brandon, you there?”
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iTunes ~ Goodreads
I think Diane and I are kindred spirits because her books touch my life in ways I cannot explain. I am many years older than her, and yet she hits my soul with her writing. I cannot say enough about her books. She is an incredible writer. I cannot wait for the next one and I can't put them down when they come. By Iolanthesf on February 14, 2016 (Verified Purchase)
I enjoyed this book. The author has so many unique writing styles that make her stories jump of the page. She has crafted, in this book, a finely intertwined bit of interaction between the two lead characters and also managed to tie in her other books in the Rock and Roll Fantasy.
This story introduces Brandon Wayne. He is a marketing person for Endeara Candies and in his spare time-which becomes almost fulltime-tracks down vinyl records. But his life becomes troubled when he thinks he is hearing voices? Is he going crazy. Does it have anything to do with the terrible accident where he lost his love? His co-worked is very concerned about him and gets caught up in the voices.
There are well thought out twists that causes the leader to wonder how Brandon can figure this all out. Since I am anti-spoilers, I highly recommend you read this story and become immersed in the "voices". By Brian P. Lane on January 12, 2016 (Verified Purchase)
Voices Carry is a standalone novel that takes place in the Rock and Roll Fantasy universe, alongside It’s A Marshmallow World, Scary Modsters ... and Creepy Freaks, Queen Midas In Reverse, and the upcoming Moonlight Serenade.
Enjoying San Francisco as a backdrop, the ghosts in USA Today Bestselling Author Diane Rinella's one hundred and fifty-year old Victorian home augment the chorus in her head. With insomnia as their catalyst, these voices have become multifarious characters that haunt her well into the sun's crowning hours, refusing to let go until they have manipulated her into succumbing to their whims. Her experiences as an actress, business owner, artisan cake designer, software project manager, Internet radio disc jockey, vintage rock 'n' roll journalist/fan girl, and lover of dark and quirky personalities influence her idiosyncratic writing.
AMAZON ✯ WEBSITE ✯ FACEBOOK (author) ✯ FACEBOOK (personal) ✯ GOODREADS ✯ TSU ✯ TWITTER ✯ GOOGLE+ ✯ NEWSLETTER
This is a cover reveal for Offbeat by Nikki Lynn Barrett
OFFBEAT
Love and Music In Texas Book 5
by
USA Today Bestselling Author Nikki Lynn Barrett
Name of cover designer: Robert Barrett
Official genre of book: Contemporary romantic
Life is full of choices...
Right before she turned sixteen, Taryn McAllister made several rebellious choices, one which led her to become the drummer for a major teen sensation country star. After a deadly accident, she made another choice - to get back on the wagon and play drums again, no matter that it took adapting because she's confined to a wheelchair.
Now another set of choices is thrust upon her. After reconnecting with her estranged best friend, Taryn is offered a chance to play drums for a local Texas band ready for the Nashville move. Her once strong confidence is shaken, and she's torn between her love of music and the reality that it might not work out.
Chris Roland made a string of bad choices, and it's left him feeling numb. Now he's playing the drums temporarily for his sister's band, but he knows this isn't the life for him. Problem is, he doesn't know what direction to go. He knows what he doesn't want, but can't decide on what he does want.
And then he meets Taryn, the feisty drummer who could be his replacement. He's relieved for a chance to break away....that is until he gets to know her. And while he's getting to know her, she's helping to open up a part of his soul that was long dead and buried.
It's high time to make the right choices. It's just a matter of deciding what choice is right.
Chris glanced around as he entered the house.
“You look nervous,” Matt commented.
“A little. Right now, I'm making sure there aren't any traps set for me. I heard the girls were cooking up something earlier. I'm waiting for my life to flash before my eyes.”
Matt let out a laugh and Kyra smirked. “I promise, we haven't set any death traps. Only because I never know who's going to knock on my door.” She winked. “Taryn! You've got company! Let me know if I need to roll out our plan!”
Chris exchanged a look with Matt. He held up his hands. “I know nothing about this. I've been working all day. Good luck.” Matt patted him on the shoulder and left the living room.
Hell. What in the world had been said about him today?
“Hi,” Taryn said softly as she wheeled down the hallway and stopped right before entering the living room.
“All right, I have to ask. You aren't hiding any sort of weapon, are you?” Chris asked in jest. “Because ever since I walked in here, I have a feeling some sort of master plan has been devised.”
“You're welcome to do a search.” Taryn folded her arms over her chest, casting a grin his way. She eyed the flowers.
“Don't tempt me. I don't do well with surprises.” He held out the vase to her. “I don't know if you do the whole flowers thing, but I didn't let it stop me.”
“I think it's sweet, just saying!” Kyra called from the other room.
“Quiet, Kyra!” Taryn called back, stifling a giggle.
“Don't worry. We're leaving. I'll keep the instigator away for awhile,” Matt promised.
“You're supposed to be on our side!” Kyra protested.
“Someone has to stand up for the poor guy!” Matt and Kyra appeared in the doorway, both laughing.
“Thanks, Matt. Glad to know someone has my back.” Chris shook his head. “Is this a mess with my friend and you get everyone's wrath kind of thing?”
“Pretty much. Some things never change.” Kyra shrugged.
“How do you deal with this?” he asked Matt.
“I stay in their good graces,” came the simple, yet honest reply. “But to be fair, I've feared Kyra's wrath a few times.”
“Yes but Kyra's wrath is to put you in a song. Mine involve drumsticks,” Taryn warned.
“We're going now, I promise. See you two later.” Kyra waved, then allowed Matt to drag her out the door. When they were alone, Chris let out a nervous laugh. “So on a scale from one to ten, how much does everyone want to kill me?”
“Oh, it's been all over the place today.” Taryn nodded.
“Right now?”
I'm an avid lover of books. I've been writing as far back as I can remember, completing my first "book" by fifth grade in one of those one subject spiral notebooks. I have a passion for music, photography, jewelry and all things creative. I live in Arizona with my husband and son, but dream of being somewhere much colder and stormier. For now, I'll have to live that life through my characters and stick it out with the summer heat.
Amazon ✯ FaceBook ✯ Facebook: Nikki's Book Nook ✯ Facebook: Nikki's Book Stormers ✯ Twitter ✯ Goodreads ✯ Website
March 19, 2016
This is a release tour for Claimed by Love by Melissa Foster
CLAIMED BY LOVE
Love in Bloom: The Ryders
by
New York Times & USA Today bestseller Melissa Foster
Family law attorney Gabriella Liakos has one true love, Elpitha Island, where she grew up and hopes someday to return. But Elpitha is in financial ruins, and Gabriella will do anything to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.
Duke Ryder is a savvy real estate investor set on making Elpitha into an exclusive resort. Unlike other investors, he's not scared of purchasing a property where one family has roots so deep they practically reach the ocean floor...until he meets his beautiful, stubborn, and enticing tour host―the daughter of the owner of most of the island.
Gabriella sets out to dissuade Duke from purchasing Elpitha, but Duke has other ideas. He wants Gabriella and the island. Duke's powerful seduction draws Gabriella in, but can a savvy investor who's used to glamour and glitz, and a woman interested in preserving the culture she adores find a happily ever after together?
The RYDERS are the newest addition to the Love in Bloom series. Characters from each series appear in future books. Each book may be read as a standalone novel, or as part of the series.
Chapter One
DUKE RYDER BALANCED his cell phone against his shoulder, listening to his buddy and investment partner Pierce Braden talk about their newest potential investment property as he followed the rickety wooden dock onto the white sandy beach.
“The dock just might be the most stable thing on Elpitha Island,” Pierce said. “Try to soak in a little sand and sun while you’re there. That’s the best part of the island.”
Duke’s eyes were immediately drawn to the sprawling oak trees he’d read about, standing sentinel over the forested acreage beyond. Long, thick branches spread like languid arms draped in moss, reaching for…what? One glance told him that there wasn’t much to reach for, save for a building that looked more like a forgotten Mediterranean villa than the welcome center of the small Southern island. The stone and wood building had a deep porch that spanned the entire length of the left side with stone pillars. A wooden trellis laced with the most captivating flowering vines shaded the area. Although the structure itself was in need of repair, it was surrounded by perfectly manicured, ornate gardens, which contrasted sharply with overgrown and unkempt bushes littering the far edges of the property.
“The proximity to the mainland isn’t bad,” Duke said to Pierce. He set his suitcase on the sand and looked back at the Atlantic. “It only took an hour fifteen to get here.” Elpitha was the smallest of the vacation islands off of South Carolina, and more than half of the land had been owned by the Liakos family for centuries. It was just over eight square miles, and not many investors wanted such a small tract of land, or to deal with families that were as entrenched as the Liakos family was thought to be. Some families might sell out, but they would fight tooth and nail against change, which could cause discourse on an island this small. Duke and Pierce weren’t deterred. The restrictive size of the property would only increase the value, making it an exclusive vacation spot for the elite.
“With Hilton Head and the other islands so overrun,” Pierce said, “Elpitha is ripe for development. Although we’ll have to work around that name. Who wants to go to an island called Elpitha? It sounds more like a disease than an island.”
Duke squinted up at the blazing sun and loosened his tie. “I don’t know. I kind of like it.” He noticed a plantation-style home tucked behind the trees in the distance. “They weren’t kidding about the strange mix of Mediterranean and Southern feel of the place. This should be interesting.” Duke knew some of the island’s history, and though he still didn’t understand why Greeks would immigrate to the South and try to re-create their country’s feel, it didn’t much matter. If he and Pierce decided to purchase the land, they would bulldoze every structure and give the island a complete Southern overhaul, making it the most desirable resort area in the South.
“Chuck called earlier and said Liakos’s granddaughter Gabriella is an attorney,” Pierce explained. “He thinks they might bring her in on things. Apparently their family keeps things tight. So if you meet her, play nice.”
The hollow clank of a screen door hitting its frame drew Duke’s attention. A woman stood on the porch of the old building, shading her eyes from the sun as she looked out at the water. Her long dark hair hung halfway down her back. Duke was too far away to see her features, but there was no missing her curvaceous ass and full breasts, not to mention legs that seemed to go on forever beneath her short summery dress. Duke watched with interest as he listened to Pierce relay the most recent information from the attorneys and engineers.
The woman glanced at her watch, then settled her hand on her hip. A voice rang out from inside the building, and the pretty woman hurried back inside.
“I just found proof of life,” he said to Pierce as he stepped onto the sandy path. “I’ll call you once I’ve done some recon.”
His black leather shoes quickly lost their shine from the dusty road as he approached the building. Voices filtered out the open windows as he mounted the steps. He glanced through the screen door, spotting the brunette he’d just seen. She was facing away from him, speaking heatedly in Greek, hands flailing as her exasperated voice pitched higher.
A thick-waisted man with salt-and-pepper hair sat at a table near the counter, amusement shining in his dark eyes as the brunette ranted to an older woman, and then the man said something Duke couldn’t hear.
“Ugh! Baba!” The younger woman threw her hands up in the air and flew out the screen door, nearly smacking Duke in the face.
He stumbled backward, giving the angry woman a wide breadth as she paced the front porch. She mumbled something in Greek and then crossed her arms, raised her shoulders, and dropped them quickly with a loud harrumph. Duke couldn’t help but drink in the flush on her smooth, sun-kissed cheeks. Her nose was small and straight, and her almond-shaped, dark—and currently angry—eyes were shadowed by lashes so long they brushed her cheeks.
Having grown up with a younger sister, Duke bided his time in announcing his presence, not wanting to take the brunt of her reaction to whatever the man had said to upset her.
She inhaled a deep breath, her breasts rising and pressing against the sheer fabric, then falling as she exhaled loudly. Her shoulders lowered, and the tightness around her mouth softened. She turned a full-lipped, mind-numbing smile to Duke, as if she hadn’t just come out in a firestorm.
“My father believes that no matter what he says, I hear something else.” She tilted her head to the side in a thoughtful pose, and in the space of a second her eyes filled with rebellion, making her even sexier. “Hearing and agreeing are two different things.”
Duke wondered what her father had just said that got her panties in a bunch. Christ. Now he was thinking about her panties.
“I’m Gabriella Liakos. Welcome to Elpitha Island.”
The granddaughter? Playing nice would not be a problem with this feisty beauty. Duke shook her hand, holding it a beat longer than he probably should, still mesmerized by the whirlwind of energy radiating from her. “Duke Ryder. It’s nice to meet you. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“No one intrudes on Elpitha,” she said sweetly.
Duke shifted his eyes to the screen door, and she laughed softly. It was the rare type of laugh that floated like the wind and wasn’t easily forgotten.
“We’re Greek,” she said with a shrug, as if that explained it all.
He arched a brow.
“When you combine a Greek father and a Southern mother, who learned all the best Greek ways, that’s what you get. Food, yelling, guilt, more food. Sweet love. Crazy love. More food. That’s who we are.” She dragged her gorgeous eyes down his suit to his shoes and put one hand on her hip as she had earlier, tapping her lips with the other.
Duke wouldn’t mind getting his mouth on those succulent lips for some crazy love.
“You’re the investor, checking out our island so you can line your pockets, right?”
He couldn’t tell if the look in her eyes was teasing or serious, but her sharp tongue piqued his interest even more. Duke respected confidence, and even though it wasn’t the greeting he’d hoped for, he liked knowing that Gabriella wasn’t a pushover.
“Something like that,” he answered casually.
As a real estate investor, Duke knew his clients were vulnerable and, more often than not, taking a deal they didn’t really care for because, by the time he swooped in to save the day, they had gotten a strong dose of what failure tasted like. A hard pill to swallow. Which was why Duke didn’t flinch as Gabriella measured everything about him, from his appearance to his answers. While other investors were cold as sharks, Duke had never quite mastered making ice flow through his veins. But he always got the job done.
Her eyes flicked toward the water, where another boat was nearing the dock. Her smiled turned genuine at the sight of a handful of children waving from the boat. She waved both arms over her head and yelled something in Greek, then settled her hands on her hips as she watched the children file from the boat.
“It was nice to meet you, Gabriella,” Duke said, hoping he’d see her later. The island had a population of just over two hundred and fifty people, so he imagined it would be hard not to see the same people throughout his stay. “I’ll just step inside and see about my room and a tour.”
“Lucky you,” she said, turning a steady gaze back to him, “I’m your tour host.” She didn’t wait for him to reply as she opened the screen door and hollered something in Greek to the people inside. Over her shoulder, she said to Duke, “Give me a sec to get your keys and the cart, and I’ll show you around and drop you at your place.”
It took a moment for him to remember that they drove golf carts or used bicycles on the island and that cars were prohibited.
She hurried inside and headed directly to her Baba, which Duke now knew meant he was her father, and said something that made the man laugh. She leaned in to kiss and hug her father, and her dress crept up, exposing the backs of her thighs and hugging her ass. He tried to ignore the stroke of awareness racing through him. She walked around the counter and grabbed a set of keys from a hook, then draped an arm around the shoulders of the woman with whom she was speaking earlier.
“Mama,” Gabriella said to the woman. Her mother’s hair was a shade lighter than hers. “Talk some sense into him, will you, please?” She whispered something, then kissed her, too.
The woman wiped her hands on an apron and smiled at Duke, catching him observing them. “Welcome to our island, Mr. Ryder. I’m Peggy Ann, and this is my husband, Niko.”
Her warm Southern drawl took Duke by surprise after hearing her speak fluent Greek, and he realized it shouldn’t have. They were in the South, after all.
He stepped inside. “It’s a pleasure to be here, and to meet you both.”
Gabriella’s father nodded. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Ryder.”
“I’ll meet you out front,” Gabriella said as she grabbed a large basket from the counter, then disappeared through a door in the back of the room.
As he stepped onto the porch, Duke had a feeling Pierce was wrong about the sand and sun being the best part of the island. Those things had nothing on the intriguing woman who’d just slipped out the back door.
Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.
Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.
Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.
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March 17, 2016
This is a sales blitz for Body, Ink, and Soul by Jude Ouvrard
BODY, INK, AND SOUL
Author: Jude Ouvrard
Official genre of book: Contemporary Romance
Phoenix Silverstone more commonly known as Nix, is a twenty-one year old that has finally discovered her freedom. After living under the strict rules and protection of her mother, Nix moved out with her two best friends in a quaint little Seattle apartment. For the first time Nix is finally able to spread her wings and breathe. Together, they get a job working at a bar and for the first time everything is perfect.
Freedom, friendships, a great job and fantastic man on the verge of becoming hers. Tristan is the suave, intelligent, not to mention gorgeous law student that Nix has her eyes and heart set on. For the first time, she has her life together; that is, until her path crosses with Levi. The charming, tattooed and downright sexy bad boy that Nix knows she needs to avoid.
But when one of her friends moves out she is shocked to find that her new roommate is none other than Levi. Flirting. Desire. Undeniable temptations. Nix can’t deny the chemistry surging between them but she can’t forget her mother’s extreme hate towards bad boys.
The entire mass of guys sitting around my station flocked to Val’s, giving me some time to clean up. I looked up to find only one left, and he was watching me intently. It was the same guy Ty had greeted so enthusiastically earlier.
''Can I get you anything?'' I asked, taking empty glasses off the counter.
''A smile. Give me one and I guarantee you’ll get the biggest tip tonight.'' The slow seductive tone rolling from his shapely lips told me he wasn’t just fooling around. His green eyes stared at me like I was dessert. This guy was hot and he knew it. He was looking me up and down, biting on his lips. He was clearly not afraid to show me how much he liked what he saw. Me. His confidence and determination were fierce. The way his tousled light brown hair went every which way, hanging down across his forehead, told me right away he didn’t care about his looks. He didn’t have to.
He wanted a smile? I shook my head. ''You don’t want a drink? Just water, maybe?''
''No, just a smile. You're the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and it's just a smile I want.'' He brushed his hand through his hair, making it even more tousled.
Levi Munroe’s life consists of his friends Tyler and Kyle, a lot of ink and having a good time, but most importantly, his heart only has one reason to beat, Nix.
Phoenix Silverstone came into his life and put him through an emotional roller coaster. No one knows what they sign up for when they fall in love, and Levi is no exception. Dealing with his girlfriend’s negligent biological father, and her old demons returning to tempt her, Levi has way more on his plate than he bargained for. It can break them or make them stronger.
Both getting to know each other more, they fall deeper in love and are ready to take on the next step. With their wedding approaching, Levi wants what is best for her. A time apart turns out to be exactly what Nix needs but in Levi’s world, it means moping around missing the girl of his dreams.
More love, more ink, more Kyle and definitely a whole lot more of Levi. Can Nix and Levi survive the reality of their life together or will it break them apart?
Tonight, Nix had planned on taking me out on a date for my birthday. She made reservations in a nice restaurant downtown and I planned on giving her the design of her next tattoo. I had been working on it since she spoke about getting new ink. That had some sort of a super power effect on me. She nearly drove me nuts. That night, sex had been way more intense than before. The thought only gave me goose bumps.
Okay, whipped man, get your ass back to work.
I had done two designs, one in color and one in black and grey. They were pretty much the same thing. She said she wanted some more flowers, and two hummingbirds, old school style. I kept her demands and I added more details to it like water droplets on the flowers and more water in the background. It looked neat. I preferred the color filled one but the choice was hers, not mine.
“What do you think, K?”
“It’s a nice one, Levi. The colors are fucking amazing. The flowers almost look alive and the water is impressive too.” He punched my shoulder.
“What was that for, punk?”
“I hate when you do something better than I can.” He admitted.
Jude Ouvrard is an author who writes from the heart, and reads with passion and devotion. Jude enjoys stories of drama, true love, tattoos, and everything in between. While writing is her therapy, reading is her solace. Life doesn't get better than books and chocolate, and maybe a little bit of shopping.A romance lover, Jude writes about love, pain, heartbreak and matters that will challenge your heart. A book can tell an unexpected story, no matter which directions it takes. Jude embraces words that have haunted her for years.
Jude is a working mom who dedicates her time to a law firm and writing books. She has an energetic five-year old superhero son, and a supportive boyfriend of thirteen years. Her family is her rock; she could not survive without them. Born a country girl, she transformed into a city woman who now lives in Montreal, Canada. Although French is her first language, Jude decided to write in English because she liked the challenge.
Jude Ouvrard is the author of two novellas, "Under the Sun" and "Wonderland", and three novels, “Lost Dreams”, “Body, Ink, and Soul,” and “Ophelia.” She is currently working on sequels to her novels and a new project.
This is a 3 day release blast for Assassin P.I. by Elizabeth Janette
ASSASSIN P.I.
Author: Elizabeth Janette
Official genre of book: Romantic Suspense
Cover Designer: Ramona Lockwood @ Soulmate Publishing
Editor: Deborah Gilbert @ Soulmate Publishing
For a Private Eye like Jack Gaines, a man with old-fashioned morals and a wicked thirst for justice, being paid to eliminate bad guys has its perks. Nearly getting killed isn’t one of them. It’s enough to make Jack contemplate retirement in the Bahamas. But that’s before his ex-lover graces his doorway. One kiss is all it takes for Jack to postpone retirement and agree to take on her case: find and assassinate her husband’s killer.
It’s not the corrupt police force that he’s afraid of. Or the Fed hot on his heels. It’s her. She’s the only one with the power to bring him to his knees. And Angie’s harboring a deadly vendetta that threatens to destroy him like a bullet to the heart. Getting out of this mess (preferably alive) will take more than just his wits, good looks, and an arsenal of gumshoe novels.
Angie broke off the kiss and pushed away from him. “What are you doing, Jack?”
He grabbed her by the wrist and brought her back into his arms. “Making up for lost time. Doing what I should have done years ago.”
“You can’t go back and change the past, Jack. You broke my heart once. I won’t let it happen again.”
She was right, but when he was close to her, thinking straight was near impossible. There were a million and one reasons why he should walk away from her, from this case. He headed for the door and yanked it open.
She didn’t budge.
“You’re right. You should leave.” It would kill him to see her walk out his door again, but it was the gentlemanly thing to do. He was giving her an out. One she would take if she were smart.
Angie lifted her chin defiantly. “Not until we talk.”
The tension was palpable. Jack let the door close and engaged the deadbolt. “Suit yourself.”
He strode across the room, pinning Angie to the wall. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he tugged her head back, leaving her silky neck exposed. God, how long had it been since he’d last been with a woman as tantalizing as her? He took a deep breath in. Her perfume beckoned him to take a taste, to throw caution to the wind and give in.
“I warned you. I’m not in the mood to be played with.” Tonight wasn’t about making excuses, or even about making love. It was about sheer lust. Trying to scratch an itch that had lain dormant for too many years. Far too many years.
Throughout the day, Elizabeth Janette wears many hats: soccer mom, teacher, hula dancer, photographer, and romance writer. When she's not drafting fun lesson plans, she's dreaming up murder mysteries and love affairs to write about. Elizabeth's stories have earned her recognition as a finalist in the 2011 Dixie First Chapter contest and a finalist in the Indiana Golden Opportunity contest. Her debut novel, Redemption For Liars, was nominated as a finalist in the Romantic Suspense category as well as the Best First Book category for the 2014 National Excellence for Romantic Fiction Award.
