Julie Elizabeth Powell's Blog, page 77

NEW!

Hello, everyone :)

I've been busy writing, although I've only had time to produce smaller reads, they have impact! Well, if I don't sell me...

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The Fairy In The Tale is a short story, which came in a dream (as do most of my ideas) and although it's a fun read, it also has a message.

Great for all ages.




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

myBook.to/Thefairyinthetale

Even better news is that this story is also available as an audiobook.

Thanks to Sybil Johnson, it's now a wonderful listen, too.



Blurb:

Prudence Willowfig, a Music Fairy, needs to earn her wings, but to do that she must complete the New Leaf Challenge.

Will she complete the gauntlet of trials, or will something unexpected veer
her away from what she must do?

Should she follow the rules or help another?

And will wishes be her downfall?

Cover Design: Julie Elizabeth Powell

Art Forest Scene Stock Photo: freedigitalphotos

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UK Audible link - http://goo.gl/9i1FgD

USA Audible link - http://goo.gl/oHDKAy

Promo codes and mobi files are available upon request.

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Maybe you remember my article about how good listening is for you?

http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/listen... Thanks again, Darcia for posting it.

It really is good for you.

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The Box That Jane Built has four stories, which will chill your blood and bones:



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

myBook.to/theboxthatjanebuilt

Blurb:

The Box That Jane Built is a short story from a collection called, Figments, however, deserves a starring role.

Who is Jane and what does she want from Jack? Will she get it or will everyone die?


Outside the Box:-

The Back Of My Hand

To what lengths will a person go when age attacks?

The Audition

Over-confident, he’s sure he’ll get the job, but what exactly is it?

My Imaginary Friend

How can Amy prove her innocence?

Four stories to chill the blood, unless you already have ice in your veins?

Cover Design: Julie Elizabeth Powell
Original photo: freedigitalphotos by Sattva

For 18+

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And---drum roll... Henry is back! A paranormal read for everyone.

Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity: Missive Three

Missive three is now available as a Kindle edition and paperback and is currently being produced as an audiobook by Alan Weyman, who has brought Henry 'alive' with his distinct voice.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

myBook.to/Weird3

Blurb:

A weird dream tips Henry Ian Darling into the Shadowlands.
What has this to do with Brett?
Ms Peabody has a plan, but will Henry survive his quest?

Cover Design: Julie Elizabeth Powell

Source photos from freedigitalphotos, by farconville, hyena reality, evgeni dinev
Monochrome Fantasy – Jem’s Designs

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I love Henry, who again came to me in a dream, and although his missives are far from tomes, I think each one is meaningful and fun.

I've no idea where his paranormal lifestyle will lead, the twists and turns are his doing - but it's wonderful to follow his exploits.

Just in case you've missed them, here are the other two missives:-

Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity: Missive One



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity: Missive Two



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

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Missives one and two are now audiobooks:-

W #1

UK - http://goo.gl/7186dS

USA - http://goo.gl/Br2n1w

W #2

UK - http://goo.gl/7186dS

USA - http://goo.gl/Br2n1w

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And please don't forget that I can offer promo codes for all audiobooks and mobi files to read - you only need ask me.

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Here are some links for all my work:-

Paperbacks - Lulu - http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/julizpow

E:books - Amazon Kindle -

UK - http://goo.gl/YUQu68
USA - http://goo.gl/pFsY1e

Audiobooks - Audible

UK - http://goo.gl/Un3ExL
USA - http://goo.gl/MjNtaJ

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I'm here too:-

New website - http://julizpow.wix.com/julieelizabet...

Website – http://www.freewebs.com/julizpow

Amazon UK page - http://goo.gl/XK8TOj
Amazon USA page - http://goo.gl/cT0DCK

FB page 1 - https://www.facebook.com/julieelizabe...
FB page 2 - https://www.facebook.com/GoneByJulieE...


Is that it?

Hmm, well, I am working on two novels, but time and 'life' is pushing the end date. I have several ideas twirling for Henry and he'll let me know when.

I'm continuing to write short stories with the Mind's Eye team - Maria Savva, Darcia Helle & Co, where several authors are given pictures by talented photographers. Last time the theme was chocolate.

Do have a read - brilliant and original stories.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

http://mybook.to/talesfromthecacaotree



This is collection four of the series.

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Some of my stories are now part of box sets with Paper Gold Publishing - fantasy, paranormal, romance, thriller /horror...many more to come.

Each box set is only 99c /99p - how about that for value?

myBook.to/Madness




myBook.to/LegendsPGP



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myBook.to/LegacyPGP



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myBook.to/bymoonlight




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myBook.to/Affairsoftheheart




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Thanks to all my readers and listeners.

This is a promo tour for Catch My Heart by Lyssa Layne

CATCH MY HEART: 
A VALENTINE'S COLLECTION

LYSSA LAYNE

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

COVER DESIGNER: KS Thomas

The stories found within the pages are outtakes from some of your favorite Lyssa Layne books.

No one said love was easy. No one said love was perfect. No one said love didn't hurt. No one said love would last forever. 

Follow these characters from your favorite Lyssa Layne books as they experience Valentine's Day in an unexpected, non-traditional fashion… 

Love is a Fire/Burst Into Flame - Andy Garrity lost the love of his life almost three years ago. Giving in to his daughter-in-laws, he decides it's time to get back in the saddle and go on a first date for the first time since high school. Before he even meets his mate, Andy's having second thoughts and ready to pass on this opportunity at love. 

Everybody's After Love/My Favorite What If - James Paul and Brianna Rossi are expecting their second child in less than a month. Brianna can't wait to have a daughter while James Paul is thrilled to have a new princess to spoil. Brianna has the perfect day planned for her husband until she’s blindsided in a way she never imagined. 

Loved by the Linebacker - Recovering from a torn ACL, Blake Purser isn't used to taking it easy. He also isn't used to not having his best friend, Camila Lemos, spend more time with her boyfriend and his brother Evan than him. His long-time on-again, off-again girlfriend, Molly Feiser, is doing her best to entertain him during the off season but Blake isn't prepared for her latest news. 

Holding the Other - Lee Maverick and Miranda Wallen are the king and queen of country music. The married couple have ruled the charts for the last ten years and fans love the chemistry between them. Before the night is over, this Valentine's Day will be one for the records. 

My Favorite What If - Sloan Talbott and Jacob "Smitty" Smith are spending their first Valentine's Day as a couple. In the short time they've been together, they've carved out the perfect nook for just the two of them. Having spent the last six months in Italy, it's time they head back to the States and learn to be together with their meddling families surrounding them 24/7. 

Love's not easy. Love's not perfect. Love hurts. Love doesn't last forever. Can these couples endure love at its ugliest or will it break them down more than they can endure?

“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn your house down, you can never tell.” -Joan Crawford 

Dr. Katy Malone has sworn off love after losing those she loves most in her life including her father, a member of the FDNY. She has decided to spend her time focusing on her medical research. Her ex-fiancée, and fellow doctor, isn't ready to give up on loving her though. 

Firefighter Nick Garrity is on a search for the future Mrs. Garrity. As he pushes thirty, with no prospects in sight, he's afraid he'll never find her. A devoted member of FDNY, he loves the thrill of his job and the satisfaction it brings him. He strives to teach the proby firefighter, Patrick Doyle, the ropes and pass on his passion to him. 

When Doyle tries to impress the guys on the crew, he ends up in the care of Dr. Katy Malone. One look at Dr. Malone and Nick knows he's found his future wife but can he convince her to love again?

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” 

-Albert Schweitzer 

For Dr. Katy Garrity, life is a whirlwind, and the New York Fire Department is the heart of the storm. After claiming so many people she loved, including her own husband, Katy is left adrift, trying to keep up with a busy career, a baby son, and her loving extended family. 

Her only anchor is Jesse O'Neil, her late husband's best friend. The charming former playboy has put his entire life on hold to care for Katy and her son. It's inevitable that sparks will flare between them, but all of life seems to be conspiring to keep them apart. Especially Katy's own heart, which shies away from trusting another firefighter. 

Will the flames of passion burst into a lifetime of love? Or will secrets burn away their connection, causing Dr. Garrity to be burned again?

Jules Rossi’s world is about to be turned upside down when her big brother, Paulie, announces his engagement. Having been raised by her brother after their parents died, she’s used to him being her knight in shining armor and isn’t ready to share him with anyone else. 

Throughout all the wedding festivities, Jules’ path continues to cross with Paulie’s future brother-in-law, Bentley Ladner. Bentley soon begins to take on Paulie’s role in Jules’ life, which neither of the Rossi siblings is too sure about. Can Jules cope with the secrets Bentley is keeping? Or will she lose his support when she finally decides to give love a chance? 

In a man's world, Camila Lemos is one of the top sports agents in the market. The athletes beg for her attention, not just for business, but in the bedroom as well. However, feisty Brazilian beauty Camila is more than meets the eye and refuses to become involved with any of her clients, no exceptions. 

Linebacker Evan Purser is the newest man in his family to join the NFL. Guided by his older brother and fellow teammate, he signs with Camila. Once the agent and the linebacker meet, anything but sparks fly. 

As the tension rises, so do the feelings for one another, but neither will admit it. Evan can’t let go of the past. Camila’s not sure she can risk her reputation for love. When the walls are broken down, will a touchdown be scored or will it be yet another fumble for both?

On Valentine's Day, Country Music King Lee Maverick's life took a drastic turn when his wife, fellow country crooner Miranda Wallen, asked him for a divorce. It's exactly what both of them wanted but after ten years touring together, Maverick is unsure what his career will be like without Miranda. 

Kyle Kelly, or KK as her friends call her, has been waiting for her big break into the country music scene. After another broken heart from a local guitar player, KK decides to give up on her musical aspirations, but her best friend, Brianna Rossi, refuses to let it go that easily.

Thanks to her best friend, KK joins the newly divorced Maverick in his singing endeavors. After spending the first part of the tour fighting their attraction for one another, they finally give in to the inevitable. Both think they've found their happiness... until Maverick's ex wants back in the picture, exactly where she left off.

One year after Jacob "Smitty" Smith is stood up at the altar, his good friend Jules encourages him to redeem his honeymoon package before it expires. Reluctantly, he agrees, and finds himself sitting beside free spirit Sloan Talbott, who is attending her sister's destination wedding at the same resort. Both have been hurt. Neither is looking for love. Will one week in paradise be a fling to remember or could it possibly lead to something more?

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Lyssa Layne is first, and foremost, the proud momma to her precious daughter, AR. In addition to working full-time and being a mommy to AR, she is also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, a runner, blogger, and an infertility survivor.

Having watched one too many medical dramas and being inspired by author Rachelle Ayala, who introduced her to the world of indie writing, Lyssa decided to try her hand at writing a romance story. Her attempt turned into the Burning Lovesick series. You can find Lyssa's own interests throughout her stories although all stories are fictional.

AMAZON ✯ WEBSITE ✯ FACEBOOK ✯ GOODREADS ✯ TWITTER

BLOGGER PARTICIPATION LIST FOR THIS TOUR

Review /Promo Tour for Hebby Roman

PROMO TOUR OF HEBBY ROMAN

Official Genre of both books: Contemporary Romance

TO DANCE AGAIN

They say a woman never forgets her first love, and Maricel Cardona hasn't forgotten Ramón Morales. She remembers dancing all night in Ramón's arms to the sensual beat of their homeland, Puerto Rico. When her family forced her to move to the States, she didn't know she was carrying Ramón's child.

A self-made multi-millionaire, Ramón hasn't forgotten Maricel and the passion he felt, dancing with her. Now, at the pinnacle of his success, he's withdrawn from the world to safeguard his own secret. A secret that, if revealed, would change his life forever.

Reunited after twenty-seven years, will the high school sweethearts get a second chance at love or will their secrets tear them apart?

Placing his glass on the coffee table, he half-turned toward her. “When did you realize you loved me? And what kind of love is it? Are you in love with me as a man or as a fond memory?”

Her head pounded. Too much booze. Too many questions. 

Why was he doing this—giving her the third degree? And who gave him the right, rubbing her nose in it? Fury flooded her but rather than stay and fight, she wanted to run away. She needed to get away from him, like when they’d been driving. 

But she wouldn’t run. Not this time. Instead, she threw caution to the winds. “I’ve always loved you, Ramón, from the very beginning, since we were kids.”

He crossed his leg and ran his hand down the pleat of his pants, as if to smooth it. His action was so controlled, so cool and collected, she wanted to scream. 

“You could have fooled me,” he said. “You went to the States with your parents and never looked back. I begged you to return and marry me. You kept putting me off.”

“You mean you couldn’t wait. Your impatience and pride got the better of you.” She took a deep breath. “You were supporting your mother, for heaven’s sake. We both needed degrees to survive.”

“Did we? We were young and in love; we would have gotten by.” The tone of his voice was uncommonly hard, unforgiving as stone.

So this was it. He wanted her to pay for an ancient wrong? But he'd been in the wrong, too; he hadn't known how much she'd needed him.

Amazon Kindle ~ Amazon Paperback ~ Goodreads

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CATALINA AND THE WINTER TEXAN

Catalina Reyes has sacrificed everything to own a beach-front recreational vehicle park. Widowed and struggling, her Park falls on hard times and needs extensive renovations to stay open.

When Manuel Batista, a widowed and successful contractor rents a slot at the Park, he's immediately attracted to Catalina and captivated by her fiery spirit and determination. Manuel helps Catalina to renovate her Park. Working together, their relationship sizzles, but Catalina realizes Manuel will return north after the winter. Unwilling to start a long-distance relationship after a painful breakup in her previous marriage, she must learn to trust again.

Can they overcome Catalina's fears and bridge the gap of hundreds of miles between their homes and families to find a second chance at love?

“Could you put Migo there?” She pointed to the counter beside the sink.

“Sure.” Manuel hoisted the Lab as if he weighed no more than a cream puff. 

Watching him lift her dog, Catalina couldn’t help but notice the bulge of Manuel’s biceps and the corded strength of the tendons in his forearms. 

Her mouth went dry as sawdust. The air in the kitchen felt close. She swallowed hard and fought the urge to fan herself. Like Super Glue, her gaze was locked on his muscular arms. Not only did he look like a bear, if she were any judge, he was as strong as one.

Standing this close to his raw masculine strength and with the soapy-clean, man-smell of him tantalizing her senses, her stomach muscles tightened. And lower, she felt the old, familiar stinging ache.

He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve got him. Bring on the soap and alcohol.”

She jerked her head up, and a flash of heat basted her face. She’d been daydreaming—or fantasizing.

She grabbed a bar of soap and the bottle of alcohol she kept by the sink. Then she turned on the water faucet and lathered her hands with soap. She grasped one of her dog's hind legs and worked the lather into his fur.

Migo whined and tried to wriggle away, but Manuel clamped down, holding him still and soothing him with low words. 

She focused on Migo, not daring to look at Manuel or accidentally brush against him. After liberally soaping the cuts, she used a wet dishtowel to rinse them. Then she bent over to examine the wounds.

“They’re not deep,” he said. 

His voice, rumbling from the expanse of his broad chest, forced her to glance up. Her gaze met his. This close, she could see the thick fringe of his eyelashes framing his brown eyes. He had a small bump in the middle of his nose. An old break—maybe from a fistfight? 

But as strong as he was, she couldn’t imagine him fighting. There was something innately gentle about Manuel Batista. Even the firm but tender way he held Migo.

A lump lodged in her throat. What she wouldn’t give to be held like that. How long had it been since someone had protected and cherished her? She closed her eyes, fighting an overpowering urge to bury her face in Manuel’s broad chest. And just as swiftly as the urge swept over her, she recoiled.

What was wrong with her? Had she flipped out?

Amazon Kindle ~ Amazon Paperback ~ Goodreads

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Hebby Roman is the multi-published author of both historical and contemporary romances. Her first contemporary romance, SUMMER DREAMS, was the launch title for Encanto, a print line featuring Latino romances. And her re-published e-book, SUMMER DREAMS, was #1 in Amazon fiction and romance.

Hebby is a member of the Romance Writers of America, and the past president of her local chapter, North Texas Romance Writers. She was selected for the Romantic Times "Texas Author" award, and she won a national Harlequin contest. Her book, BORDER HEAT, was a Los Angeles Times Book Festival selection.

AMAZON ✯ WEBSITE ✯ FACEBOOK~AUTHOR ✯ FACEBOOK~PERSONAL ✯ GOODREADS

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOGGER PARTICIPATION LIST FOR THIS TOUR

This is a release tour for A Fortune to Die For by Liza O'Connor

A FORTUNE TO DIE FOR

Book 1 of The White Oak-Mafia Series

AUTHOR: Liza O’Connor

GENRE:  Contemporary Mafia Suspense Thiller (with touches of humor)

Megan Clarke had a good life until she wins the Mega Times Lottery and discovers the prize comes with a curse. Worse than the many money-hungry suitors, a serial killer has her in his sight. She changes her name and moves to Iowa with plans to buy their last major forest of white oaks and turn it into a State Park. Unfortunately, the Lottery Curse doesn't stop at state lines and someone there wants her dead, as well. Good thing a disturbingly handsome law officer is just as determined to keep her alive.

Megan Clarke set the package on her kitchen counter with great care. “It’s probably nothing,” she chided herself. Opening a letter that came in the same mail delivery, she changed her mind as she read another threat to kill her. She hurried to the phone and hit her speed dial for the local cops. Her hands shook despite her mental self-assurances that everything was okay.

A female voice answered the phone. “Danville Police.”

Recognizing Margaret’s voice, she replied, “Hi, this is Megan. Is Sergeant Adams around?”

“No, he’s on vacation. You get another death threat?”

“Yeah, but there’s also a package. I know it’s stupid, but I’m afraid to open it.”

A heavy sigh sounded over the phone. “I swear, all your troubles since you won the lottery has made me afraid to even play scratch-offs. Hold on.” 

Megan pushed her blond hair behind her ears. The craziest part about her winning the Mega Times Lottery was she never played games of chance—thought it a great waste of money. She had already become a millionaire by her own efforts. Why did she want to be richer? She had more than enough. 

Then one day, while in a New York shop buying lunch, her friend, Terry, a bona fide lottery junkie, had insisted she buy a ticket. “It only cost a dollar. Stop being a miser!” Not wishing to argue, she passed the clerk a dollar. “Just give me a random number,” she instructed the fellow, then frowned as her friend filled out ten cards. “You do realize if I win, you have to take the money,” Megan warned.

Terry stared at her with rounded eyes. “No way! You can’t give away your good luck. If you win it, you have to keep it. Otherwise, you and the recipient will have bad luck the rest of your lives.”

So when the stupid ticket turned out to be the only winning number for a $987-million-dollar pot, all the bad luck stayed with her alone. Honestly, she wouldn’t wish her “new” life on a dog, nevertheless her best friend.

Since she was a financial expert, she took the $463 million upfront and invested half of it, planning to donate the other half to charities. Only problem was, whenever she delved into various charities, she didn’t like the way they used their money, so thus far, she’d only managed to give away a few million.

“Miss Clarke, I’m Detective Steve Williams,” a pleasant voice came over the phone. “How may I help you?”

“I received a package today. It has a name and address I don’t recognize.”

Complete silence answered her.

“Are you still there?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m just a little confused. Marge said you had a letter threatening your life.”

“Yes. I have one of those, too. It doesn’t have a return address. Nor is it signed. But the letter and the package came in the same post.”

“So you think the package may be from the sender of the death threat?”

“This one or one of the hundred other angry letters I’ve received.”

“Mind if I stop by and take a look?”

Mind? Why did he think she was calling? If only Sergeant Adams were there. “I’d greatly appreciate it.”

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

Liza O’Connor was raised badly by feral cats, left the South/Midwest and wandered off to find nicer people on the east coast. There she worked for the meanest man on Wall Street, while her psychotic husband tried to kill her three times. (So much for finding nicer people.) Then one day she declared enough, got a better job, divorced her husband, and fell in love with her new life where people behaved nicely. But all those bad behaviors has given her lots of fodder for her humorous books. Please buy these books, because otherwise, she’ll become grumpy and write troubled novels instead. They will likely traumatize you.

You have been warned.

AMAZON ✯ WEBSITE ✯ FACEBOOK ✯ GOODREADS ✯ TWITTER

Mostly humorous books by Liza:

Ghost Lover—Two British brothers fall in love with the same young woman. Ancestral ghost is called in to fix the situation. And there’s a ghost cat that roams about the book as well. (Humorous Contemporary Romance)

Saving Casey— Cass wakes up in the body of a troubled teen who has burned every bridge imaginable. Her only choice is to turn this life around, but that’s much harder than she ever imagined.

Untamed & Unabashed—The youngest of the Bennet sisters, Lydia, tells her story. A faithful spinoff from Pride & Prejudice. Warning: Lydia does not behave.

A Long Road to Love Series: (Humorous Contemporary odd Romance)

Worst Week Ever — Laugh out loud week of disasters of Epic proportions.

Oh Stupid Heart — The heart wants what it wants, even if it’s impossible.

Coming to Reason — There is a breaking point when even a saint comes to reason.

Climbing out of Hell — The reconstruction of a terrible man into a great one.

The Hardest Love — Is to love oneself. Sam’s story.

The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Sleuth series: (Late Victorian/Mystery/Romance)

The Troublesome Apprentice — The greatest sleuth in Victorian England hires a young man who turns out to be a young woman.

The Missing Partner — Opps! The greatest sleuth in Victorian England goes missing, leaving Vic to rescue him, a suffragette, and about 100 servants. Not to mention an eviscerating cat. Yes, let’s not mention the cat.

A Right to Love — A romantic detour for Jacko. Want to see how amply rewarded Jacko was when he & Vic save an old woman from Bedlam? 

The Mesmerist — The Mesmerist can control people from afar and make them murder for her. Worse yet, Xavier Thorn has fallen under her spell.

Well Kept Secrets — The problems with secrets is that they always come to light, no matter how you wish to silence them.

Pack of Trouble — Changes are a part of life, but these changes almost kill Vic.

The Darkest Days — Muddled cases make Vic very grumpy.

BLOGGER PARTICIPATION LIST FOR THIS TOUR

This is a 3 Day Blast Promo for Set Aside by Kelly Collins

SET ASIDE

Second Chance Series Book 2

AUTHOR: Kelly Collins

GENRE: Contemporary Romance
ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE: December 18, 2015

A cowboy, a nurse, a disaster, a chance at love.

When Holly McGrath walked into prison, she had a mother, a fiancé, and a career. When she walked out she had nothing. Solely focused on the one thing she thought she could recover, she set her sights on getting her nursing license back. There would be no distractions—or so she believed, then she met Keagan McKinley, he was tall, handsome, and necessary. 

Keagan McKinley moved to M and M ranch as a favor to his brother. It was up to him to turn a failed cattle ranch into a thriving horse breeding and boarding facility. Always living in the shadow as a middle child, it was the perfect opportunity to prove his worth. There would be no distractions—or so he thought, then he met Holly McGrath, she was tall, beautiful, and inescapable.

Set Aside is a story about conquest, courage, and conviction. Sometimes, love is found in the softness of blue-green eyes, sometimes in a wounded soul.

Mickey laid on the horn as we approached the row of cabins. She parked in front of cabin six. I had no idea why she was honking until a tall man with a perfectly trimmed beard strolled out of cabin eight. His brown hair caught the sun and showed hints of red throughout. His easy smile was that of a man who knew he was smokin’ hot.

“What the hell is going on?” My eyes traveled to the man yelling from cabin seven. He could be a twin to the other man except for his clean-shaven face and deadly scowl. If he wasn’t careful the creases across his forehead could become permanent. Tall and intimidating, he made his way down the steps toward the truck.

“Holy mackerel, Mickey, who are you, and how did you get Chippendales to loan you men to work the ranch?”

“Nice eye candy, right? I think you’ll like it here.” Mickey jumped from the truck.

The two men exchanged words. The man from cabin seven looked annoyed, as if my appearance was inconvenient. The second man shook his head and walked to the truck.

“Let’s get Holly settled in,” Mickey shouted. “Carry her things into the cabin.” She gave them a move-your-ass look and both men stepped to it. 

I’d never seen her command anyone to do anything, and I envied her take-charge attitude. I needed to harness some confidence to move my life forward. 

The grumpy looking man snatched a box of my clothes from the truck bed and started toward the cabin. I swung the door open and exited, forcing the man to stop in front of me. His stare started at my legs and traveled past my stomach and landed on my breasts. I threw up my arms and wrapped them protectively around my girls.

I’d never felt more like porridge in my life. If Matt was Papa Bear then this man was Baby Bear, and he hadn’t been fed in days.

Amazon US ~  Amazon UK ~  Kobo  ~  Nook  ~  iTunes

Amazon US ~  Amazon UK ~  Kobo  ~  Nook  ~  iTunes

Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive.

Always a romantic, she is inspired by real time events mixed with a dose of fiction. She encourages her readers to reach the happily ever after but bask in the afterglow of the perfectly imperfect love.

Kelly lives in Colorado with her husband of twenty-five years. She loves hockey, shiny objects and has a new found appreciation for green smoothies.

Kelly has a landing page that hosts all her books.

BLOGGER PARTICIPATION LIST FOR THIS TOUR

This is a promo portion of the review tour for Petie McCarty

MYSTERY ANGEL ROMANCE SERIES by PETIE McCARTY

Official Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Romance

NO GOING BACK (Book 1)

Kellen Brand's inheritance turns out to be a whopper -- one dilapidated farm in West Virginia and one guardian angel! Since Kellen is convinced no sane woman would choose to live in Riverside, she vows to sell her farm and quick.

Her handsome and reclusive neighbor Luke Kenyon must block the farm sale or risk exposure of his family's secrets. While Kellen has located one potential buyer, she faces a town full of objectors. Someone is trying to frighten her off, and Luke is forced to step in and rescue her more than once.

Unfortunately, Kellen can't seem to stay out of trouble. She stumbles onto a clandestine hazardous-waste-dumping operation next to her farm, and she prays Luke has one more rescue up his sleeve. It's her only hope of staying alive.

Unless her mother really did leave her a guardian angel…

The trees loomed ahead, and Kellen raced toward the water. The smell of the river rose up to greet her, and she slowed to maneuver down a low spot in the riverbank. Grinning like a child on Christmas, she untied her sneakers and stepped into the frigid water with a gasp. 

Squatting just above the water's surface, she reached up under the overhanging bank and felt around. Something skittered across her fingers. She tracked the vibration until she could snatch the small critter from its hiding spot. Pulling her hand from the water, she proudly held up a medium--sized crawfish, his pincers stabbing wildly in the air and his abdominal swimmerets pedaling madly as though he still raced upstream.

The soft nicker of a horse sounded behind her. With a yelp, she whipped around and dropped the tiny invertebrate in the process. Luke Kenyon leaned over the neck of the magnificent black stallion and watched her. Same sexy cowboy attire as the day before -- dark flannel shirt, worn jeans, though no Stetson today to hide his handsome features or his expression.

"You scared me," she wheezed.

"Sorry," he said, though he didn't look it. "You've done that before."

"What?"

The slow smile curved across his cheeks, and his eyes darkened. Kellen felt the slow flush start at her chest where her heart pounded out a rhythm, and she prayed her neck and cheeks wouldn't turn pink.

"Caught crawfish."

She wiped her hands on her shorts and winced. "A few, when I was younger."

"Where?" He shifted a bit in the saddle, and the black horse side-stepped.

Her turn to smile. "Where was I younger, or where did I catch crawfish?"

He stared for a moment, and his eyes narrowed. A long moment passed, and he suddenly laughed out loud. Dismounting, he stepped to the edge of the bank and extended a hand to help her out of the water.

She hesitated.

"I don't bite. I'm harmless." His voice rumbled low, and a shiver vibrated her spine.

I doubt that. 

She watched him, but didn't move. He looked and acted like a man used to getting his own way.

"The name's Kenyon, Luke Kenyon." He kept his hand outstretched, waiting for her to make the next move.

He was only being polite, after all. She grabbed hold of his hand, and he pulled her up the bank as though she had the weight of a feather. He kept pulling until she was close enough to feel his body heat. His dark eyes locked on hers, and she couldn't turn away. 

Oh good Lord, was he still holding her hand? 

She should pull her hand back -- she really should -- but she liked the warmth and security of his firm grip, the connection. No words were spoken yet the silence felt comfortable.

Step back now. He isn't going to move. 

But she didn't, couldn't. She just mutely stared up into his warm, chocolate-dark eyes. And darn it, her finger tips tingled when her mind imagined the texture of his shirt were she to reach out and touch him, his chest , his arm, somewhere to complete that electric connection. 

"We didn't get introduced yesterday," he said, his deep voice sounding huskier now.

Another shiver vibrated the base of her spine. The edge of his sensual mouth twitched just enough that the tiny hint of a smile set her heart galloping so hard she felt the pulses beat against her throat and prayed he couldn't tell. 

She pulled in a deep -- and hopefully unnoticeable -- breath. "I'm Kellen Brand."

He moved now. His jaw dropped, and he nodded toward her farm. "Of those Brands?"

"Yup."

"Well, I'll be."

Unsure what he meant by that, she waited.

"Have you come back here to live?"

Instinct said not to share her plans with a complete stranger, no matter how handsome. "Why?" 

His slow smile made her heart flutter. "I never thought I'd find someone so beautiful living here in Riverside."

She wished desperately for a snappy comeback, but her lips wouldn't move. His smile kept her mesmerized.

"So? Are you staying or just visiting?"

She willed her lungs to take in a silent and hopefully unnoticeable breath. "Just visiting." 

"Sorry to hear that." His smile faded slightly, which delighted her. He paused a moment. "Why the visit then?"

"You sure ask a lot of questions." She leaned down to brush off her knees and to sneak a deep breath or two without him seeing. She was embarrassed this stranger so easily made her heart race -- the heart she had kept under lock and key until she found someone good enough, strong enough, and smart enough. Certainly not some cowboy from West Virginia.

"I'm a curious kind of guy."

She glanced up. He winked. Her heart raced off again. 

She needed to escape before he noticed the effect he had on her. Head down, she collected her sneakers and marched past the stallion, forcing Kenyon to ease the animal back a few steps. She kept walking past the tree line and felt the horse moving behind her. At the edge of the field, she stopped and whipped around. The stallion jerked his head up at the sudden movement, and Kenyon worked to steady him.

"Are you following me?"

"Yup." His eyes twinkled.

He's mimicking me. Her hands went to her hips, and his eyebrows rose high. Unable to keep a straight face, she broke into laughter, and he joined right along.

"You didn't think I was just going to let the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in Riverside just walk away, did you?" His eyes darkened to almost black. His deep voice tantalized.

How had he gotten so close? She could reach out and touch him. Her fingertips tingled again at the possibility. She'd better watch her step. 

She tilted her head. "What is it you want to know?"

"Why you're here, and why you're not staying." 

"This is my mother's farm. She died a short time ago."

The smile vanished. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's okay. Mom never sold the old homestead though I'm not sure why. But I'm here to get it ready to sell."

"Not to the developer!"

Taken aback, she stiffened. "Yes, how did you know?"

"Because he needs my land, too -- my grandfather's ranch." Kenyon's expression turned dark and formidable. "You don't have enough property for the resort he has planned."

"I-I had no idea," she fibbed nervously. "My mother's attorney just said there was a buyer who would be in touch once I got here."

"That resort won't be any good for Riverside." He remounted and sat back in his saddle, stiff and condescending.

"How can you say that? It will bring jobs here, and from the look of this town, Riverside could use a few jobs."

His frown didn't flinch. "It will also bring the hangers on you usually find at resorts. People who won't care about the area or the environment."

The stallion tried to lean down to eat, but Kenyon yanked the reins taut. "Riverside will be overrun with tourists, and the people around here won't be able to cope with that much of the outside world. Folks don't lock their doors in this town. That resort would change everything. You're not selling."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I said you can't sell. At least not to the developer."

"Listen here, Mr. Kenyon."

"It's Luke," he growled.

"Listen here, Mr. Kenyon," she snapped. "You don't tell me what to do. I decide about my mother's property. No one else. I decide."

He pulled the stallion up hard, and the animal's front hoofs lifted off the ground. "We'll just see about that," he said and took off across the field.

"Why you arrogant jerk," Kellen snarled and stomped her foot. Her heel came down hard on a stubble of wiregrass, and she winced in pain, instantly mad as a hornet. "You just watch me sell this place!" she hollered after him and limped back to the house.

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ANGEL TO THE RESCUE (Book 2)

Child psychologist Rachel Kelly isn't quite sure how to handle the situation with her newest client -- a six-year-old boy who says he can talk to angels and one is coming to help Rachel. She already has her hands full of trouble this Christmas season, and things quickly take a turn for the worse when a stalker crashes Rachel's Christmas party and takes her young clients hostage.

Police negotiator, Lt. Jake Dillon, walked away from his fiancée Rachel when she suddenly balked at having kids. His kids. Yet when the hostage crisis erupts, Rachel calls Jake first. Now he has a choice to make -- stand back and wait for the cavalry to save Rachel or step in and try to save her himself. Time is running out, and Jake may be their only chance for rescue.

Unless Rachel's little angel-spying client is telling the truth…

Rachel slid into the Publix parking lot on her way home from work. She'd picked the store close to her office rather than the one near the cottage, anxious to get the chore over with as soon as possible. She pulled out her list and collected the items on it in regimented fashion, aisle by aisle, doubling back only twice.

She checked her voicemails while waiting patiently in the long line at the checkout counter. Breathing a sigh of relief when the bag boy put the last sack in her cart, she wheeled toward the exit and froze. 

Jake stood right next to the exit, plastic bag in hand and staring at her with nary a smile.

There were dark circles beneath his eyes. Hadn't he been sleeping? His hair looked tousled like he'd just run his fingers through it, and his clothes had a five-o'clock-mussed look to them. 

He looked spectacular to Rachel.

His eyebrows rose. He was waiting for her.

She pushed her cart slowly forward, taking deep breaths to steady her heart rate. 

"Since this isn't our Publix, I'm assuming you stopped on your way home from work," he said when she reached his side. 

Our Publix? Had he even realized he'd said that?

"You're right," she replied. "So why are you here?"

"My apartment's just around the corner."

Ouch. 

That simple statement shouldn't hurt -- she knew he had an apartment around here -- but it did. She nodded.

"I'll help you out." He gently nudged her hands off the cart handle and took over, setting his own bag on top of her stack.

Rachel paced alongside the grocery cart as they moved through the electronic door and was suddenly thankful for her parking spot at the end of the far row. She would have a few extra moments to be with him. How pitiful was that? She eased a step closer, anxious to inhale his unique scent of soap, aftershave, and pure Jake.

He glanced over and caught her staring. She felt her cheeks flush and hoped he didn't notice.

"Jake, look out!" She grabbed the cart to stop it just short of a car backing out.

He smiled his sexy crooked Jake-smile. "Guess I should keep my eyes on the road."

Her heart ka-thumped inside her chest. "At least till we get to the car." 

He grinned.

Had she just flirted with him? Had it been that easy to get past the trauma for a few brief minutes?

Sooner than she would have liked, he pulled the grocery cart up at her Honda and helped stow her bags in the trunk, leaving his in the cart.

"Thanks for helping me," Rachel said.

"I'm glad you decided to stop at this Publix tonight."

"You are?"

"Yeah, I'm glad I got to see you." Jake brushed a knuckle gently across her cheek leaving a streak of tingly nerve endings in its wake.

"But I thought you wanted… I mean, I haven't heard from you in…" She cleared her throat. "…a long time. I thought you might've… " 

Why couldn't she manage to finish a sentence tonight? Bad enough she felt pathetic, now she sounded pathetic.

"You thought I might've what?"

She swallowed hard. "Might've found someone else by now."

He stared intently for a long moment. "After all we meant to each other, you thought I'd go right out and grab a new girlfriend, just like that?" His mouth hardened to a thin line.

She hadn't meant to rile him. The last thing she wanted to do was fight with him. Without thinking, she reached up and brushed two fingers gently across his lips, wanting that sensuous mouth to smile at her again.

She startled him, and he jerked at her touch. She whisked her fingers away. "Sorry, I didn't want you to be mad."

His gaze trapped hers, his pupils expanding until little of the brilliant green remained. "There's no new girlfriend, Rachel," he said gruffly.

"No?"

He slowly shook his head, his now-dark eyes tracking hers. He seemed closer than he'd been a minute earlier.

She exhaled hard. "Not yet anyway."

He frowned. 

Why had she said that?

"No, not yet," he said flatly.

"I'm glad," she said quickly. 

Screw pride.

"Are you?"

He was definitely closer now. If she eased forward just a few inches, she could press her lips to his, feel that certain sizzle that always flared when they touched. But Jake had walked out on her. His move -- though she ached with the want to hold him, if only for a second.

"Yes. Very glad. I don't want you to find someone else--"

His lips brushed hers into silence, sweeping gently across as though seeking permission, the touch just light enough to make her lean in for more. He didn't miss the movement and kissed her again, his lips settling against hers and nibbling at her lower lip. 

The sensuous teasing had her knees growing weak, and she grabbed the placket of his dress shirt to steady herself. 

He didn't miss that movement either, and he put his palms to her cheeks to deepen the kiss. 

Rachel felt dizzy and twisted her knuckles into his shirt to keep him close. She didn't care if they were kissing in front of God and everybody. If Jake wanted to throw her down here in the middle of the Publix parking lot, she was ready. She could always shop at Winn-Dixie.

Suddenly, he pulled back. She tugged on his shirt, but she couldn't budge him. He was breathing hard. Heck, she was panting.

There was heat in his eyes and something else. Something dark. "You don't want me," he said hoarsely, "and you don't want anyone else to have me. Is that it?" He peeled her fingers free of his shirt. "Well, you can't have it both ways, Rachel."

"No, I--"

But he was already gone, striding across the rows of cars, the cart and his bag forgotten.

"No, I choose you," she whispered.

She watched him climb into his BMW several rows away and pull out of the parking lot. His small sack of groceries lay forgotten in her cart. She lifted the bag out and peeked inside. 

Razors and coffee. No condoms. 

She let out the breath she'd been holding. Jake had said there was no new girlfriend, but she'd've been devastated if he'd been prepared.

He had to care. You couldn't kiss like that and not care. He hadn't asked about the mortgage papers either. She certainly wasn't going to bring them up. Once she signed them, a period would be placed on their relationship. Maybe Jake realized that, too. 

And now she had groceries to take to him. She just had to decide what she would tell him when she delivered them.

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Petie earned a Bachelor's degree in Zoology from the University of Central Florida, which was no help at all when she decided to write romance novels as a second career. Her particular background did afford her the luxury of many unique assignments during her career as an aquatic biologist, including aquatic plant surveys in Florida lakes and streams by airboat. Many of those off-the-wall assignments provided background for her stories.

Petie spent most of her career working as a biologist at the Walt Disney World Resort, "The Most Magical Place on Earth." What could be more magical than driving by Cinderella's Castle on your way to work every day? Living in the heart of the theme park entertainment industry constantly tweaked her imagination and made her want to write. She had the fun of working in the land of fairy tales by day and creating her own romantic fairy tales by night. She eventually said good-bye to her wonderful "day" job to write her stories full-time.

These days, Petie shares her home on the beautiful Cumberland Plateau with her horticulturist husband, a spoiled-rotten English springer spaniel addicted to green olives stuffed with pimento, and a talkative Nanday conure named Sassy who makes a cameo appearance in Angel to the Rescue. She loves golf, running, and reads voraciously. That's Petie, not the conure.

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This is a 3 day blast for Worst Week Ever by Liza O'Connor

WORST WEEK EVER

AUTHOR: Liza O’Connor

GENRE:  Humorous Romance

SERIES: A Long Road to Love

What do you get when you put a hardworking, can-do middle-class young woman together with an egoistical, outrageous, billionaire boss, then throw in the worst week of disasters imaginable?

Book 1 of the 5 book series A Long Road to Love, named Worst Week Ever.

Trent Lancaster spends one month without his Executive Assistant (or as his drivers refers to Carrie: 'Trent's brain, left hand, and right hand'). He's had a miserable month without her at his side and to ensure it never happens again, he intends to marry this brilliant beauty. Only given all the times he's threatened to fire her, he's not sure she even likes him. However, the future of his company and his happiness depend upon him succeeding, so Trent begins a slow one week seduction that happens to coincide with Carrie Hanson's Worst Week Ever when everything that can go wrong does so in hilarious form. 

(Hilarious to the reader, Carrie is not having much fun this week.)

Trent’s focus returned to Carrie as he slipped his left arm around the back of the seat while leaning closer, invading the little space she had. Her heart quickened. God, she loved his scent. It made her feel— She shook her head. Get a grip! He’s your boss and he wants to see a Broadway show! “Here’s the review blurbs for each.”

He leaned in even closer, so his chest pressed against her arm. Her face warmed. Between her near death experience and his cologne, her professional demeanor struggled. 

You can do this. He’s your boss and that’s all. She breathed in deep, in an attempt to steady her nerves. Unfortunately, she’d fail to account for the effects of a lungful of Trent’s wonderful scent. God, he's intoxicating. She focused on the reviews, needing to distract herself from his cologne. She smiled as she read the comments for Tall and Tiny. It sounded so good. She wished she had the time and money to see it. 

Given Trent began reading before her, he should have finished and made his decision by now. She steeled herself and looked up at him. His gaze focused on her instead of the screen.

“Do you want to hold my iPad?” Carrie knew he hated when people treated him like a child.

A faint smile touched his lips. “No, let’s do the last one.”

“Tall and Tiny?”

He shrugged.

She tilted her head. “If you don’t even know the name of the show, why do you want to see it?”

He smiled as if he’d just done something very clever. “Because you do. I could see it in your face.”

Why would what she liked matter? Then a possible explanation came to her. “Do you want me to go with you?”

He gently tugged on a strand of her hair. “Hey, we just went through war together. We both need a laugh.”

His unexpected generosity shocked her. She felt like the egoistical sun had finally noticed inconsequential Pluto still working hard to race around it.

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OH STUPID HEART ~ COMING TO REASON ~ CLIMBING OUT OF HELL ~ THE HARDEST LOVE

Liza O’Connor lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She uses all her life experiences to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.

      

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This is a release tour for the Valentine Pets & Kisses box set

Valentine Pets & Kisses: Fourteen All-New, Sweet Valentine Romances

Make your Valentine's Day tail-wagging and purr-fect with 14 brand-new romances from award-winning and bestselling authors.

 Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ B&N ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Google Play ~ Goodreads

Title Links = Individual Amazon Link if available

Author Link = Amazon Author Profile

Valentine Hound Dog - Rachelle Ayala

A fashion designer and her basset hound puppy convince a burned ex-firefighter that beauty is never skin deep and neither is love.

The Crazy Girl's Handbook - DelSheree Gladden 

Watching her nephews was supposed to be fun and a relaxing weekend for Greenly, not a never-ending disaster all witnessed by the best blind date she ever stood up.

The Vet's Valentine Gift - J.L. Campbell

A veterinarian is caught between his job, an ex, a menagerie and love. Can a little Cupid fix things by Valentine's Day?

Her Perfect Catch - K.L. Brady

Years of faithful dog-sitting pays sweet dividends when a struggling sports writer scores tickets to the Super Bowl and encounters her favorite football player.

Inflamed - Jade Kerrion 

A firefighter running from his past convinces a hard-luck single mother to believe in happy endings.

Remember When - Hope Welsh

A couple headed for divorce discovers common ground for joint custody of their Akita.

Your Biggest Fan? - Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Snowed in with the man of her dreams, a football fan and her dog find love.

The Feline Fix - Caroline Bell Foster

A scientist questions her cat's loyalty when it comes to love and a hunky policeman.

Trembling Hearts - Suzette Riddick 

A daring young woman crashes into the life of a disfigured recluse and his pooch. Can love be far behind?

Valentino, Be Mine - Tina D.C. Hayes

Sparks fly when two people who can't stand each other wind up dog-sitting a rambunctious little Yorkie that needs a new home.

Lost and Found - Jeanne Bannon

Stuck with her ex's puppy, a young teacher meets a new man after a series of unfortunate events.

Surviving San Francisco - Susan Oloier

A small town girl survives San Francisco after she hits a cat and falls for a handsome veterinarian.

19 Ivy Lane - Aubrey Wynne

A mysterious woman and her cat befriend a postman and set tongues wagging on Ivy Lane. But when he delivers a long-awaited letter, will his heart be "returned to sender?"

Three Plus Three - Cindy Flores Martinez

A grieving widow and her beloved doggie meet a handsome widower the day before Valentine's Day.

Author Links = Author's Website

Rachelle Ayala From romantic suspense to sweet contemporaries, I write from my heart and love to include children and pets in my stories.

DelSheree Gladden is a USA Today bestselling young adult and romance author, whose writing includes everything from dystopian and Native American mythology to sweet and funny romances.

J.L. Campbell is an award-winning author who writes sweet romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, new and young adult novels.

K.L. Brady is a multi-award-winning author of sweet and sexy romantic comedies, young adult romance, and a spy thriller series based on her career in U.S. intelligence.

Jade Kerrion writes frequently award-winning, occasionally best-selling science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance novels.

Hope Welsh writes romance fiction. Her first love is paranormal. She's been writing since she was in third grade and has never looked back. 

Sydney Aaliyah MIchelle is a contemporary romance writer, a voracious reader and movie fanatic who hails from Texas.

Caroline Bell Foster writes contemporary women’s fiction with themes of substance that defy convention.

Suzette Riddick is a wife, mother and nurse practitioner who enjoys writing romance novels with a touch of reality.

Tina D.C. Hayes writes romantic suspense and cozy mysteries while her pampered pooches and parrots stand guard against writer's block.

Jeanne Bannon is an international best-selling author of paranormal and romance fiction with twenty-five years of experience in the publishing industry.

Susan Oloier is a mother and educator who writes memoir, as well as adult and young adult contemporary fiction.

Aubrey Wynne is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night.

Cindy Flores Martinez writes sweet romantic comedy and inspirational romance in both English and Spanish.

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This is a release tour for Ravaged River by Lindsay Cross

Release of the RAVAGED RIVER

BOOK 6 IN THE MEN OF MERCY SERIES

AUTHOR: Lindsay Cross

COVER DESIGNER: Kim Killion

EDITOR: Angela Polidoro

OFFICIAL GENRE: Romantic Suspense, Military (hot heat level)

PUBLICATION DATE: January 30, 2016

Special forces operative Hoyt Crowe wasn't just damaged… he was broken. After suffering brutal torture in captivity, his once lively spirit is shattered. Now his greatest adversary isn’t some unknown terrorist in a foreign country, it’s himself.

Hayden James watched Hoyt slide into a private purgatory of post-traumatic stress disorder, taking her heart with him. No longer warm and loving, he is cold. Hardened. A shell of his former self.

When an old enemy threatens Hayden’s life, Hoyt must find the strength to slay his inner demons or lose the woman he loves forever.

Ravaged River: Men of Mercy Excerpt

By Lindsay Cross

Hoyt Crowe tilted back the bottle of whiskey as he faced his reflection in the bedroom mirror. The man staring back was so poisonous he destroyed everything around him. Friends. Family. And, fucking worst of all, himself.

Hoyt didn’t deserve to be alive. Not anymore.

A car door slammed outside and he jerked, almost dropping the bottle. Goddammit. His control was gone. Destroyed. How could he protect his team if he flinched at every little sound?

Sweat drenched his body. Hoyt lifted the bottle for another drink, spilled some liquor on his chin. His once sniper-steady hand shook like a new recruit on his first mission.

Laughter erupted over the music from the living room, thrusting Hoyt back to that shack in the woods on Crowe Mountain. Three months ago, he and Jared had taken a trip to their past and returned to their former home--the place they'd fled as kids. Of all the mistakes he'd made in life, it was the one he regretted most. He'd been captured and tortured by his cousin and his cousin's girlfriend, who'd mistakenly thought he could give them the deed to the mountain. They'd trussed him up and the bitch had taken a flaying knife to his skin. He'd never forget the look of glee in her eyes as she sliced into him. Her shrill, screeching laugh. The same sound that was streaming in from the living room, except this time it was lacking the edge of madness.

And just like that untrained newbie would have done, he’d blubbered and begged for his life.

He took another swig, praying the fire from the whiskey would burn through his shattered nerves, and spilled more on his shirt. He ripped it off and threw it in the corner. Bile clawed up his throat, lacerating him from the inside out. I can’t even take a damn drink without shaking.

His reflection was a mockery of what it had once been. Sliced and diced – he could write the manual. The deepest wound was on his face. The bitch had made sure he’d remember her every time he looked in a mirror.

Now his lips pulled in a sideways smile even when he frowned. Not one smooth inch left.

How could Hayden look at him, let alone want to be with him? She didn’t deserve to be tied to this. I am a weak, disfigured monster.

Of course, monsters weren’t afraid of the dark, so he couldn’t even call himself that. Hoyt’s twisted lips pulled into a smile that didn’t reach his pale blue eyes.

A knock sounded at the door. Hoyt ignored it. He wasn’t ready to face anyone.

“Hoyt, it’s Hunter. I need to talk to you.”

Christ. Hayden’s brother and his team leader wanted to talk to him in private. Hunter James wasn’t the type of man who was easily ignored. Hoyt staggered over to the rich oak dresser against the far wall. The mirror resting on it was as big as the dresser. There was no escape from his ruined reflection.

“Open the damn door or I’ll kick it in.” Hunter’s voice rose over the pulsing music.

Open your mouth and answer him. “Give me a minute.”

Hoyt set the bottle down for long enough to rip a shirt from the drawer and yank it over his head. He glanced down at the Grateful Dead logo on the front of the tee. At least it fit him.

He picked up the bottle and stalked to the wood door, the rustic hardwood creaking beneath his bare feet, and jerked it open. “What do you want?”

“Jesus.” Hunter towered over Hoyt by at least three inches, and his black hair was cut short, military style. “You stink of alcohol.”

Hoyt lifted the bottle in salute and took another chug. “Maybe this is why.”

“What are you doing? Your house is packed full of people waiting to see you.”

“I didn’t want them to come.”

Hunter crowded into Hoyt’s room and shut the door behind him. The dark look on his face suited his nickname—the Grim Reaper—but Hoyt wasn’t afraid of him. No, his fears were all wrapped around that cabin in Crowe Mountain.

“Why are you here? My big brother send you to pull me out of my cave? He can’t stomach looking at me anymore.” Hoyt let his face fall into the sneer that had become his signature look, the one that always sent Jared away. It could make milk curdle.

“Your brother would kick my ass if he knew I was back here. He’s got some misconceived notion that he has to protect you.” Hunter crossed his arms and the veins on his arms popped across his massive muscles. “But I’ve got the feeling he might need protection from you, not for you.”

Hoyt snarled and bared his teeth, feeling every inch the feral animal he’d become. “I’d never hurt my brother.”

“Just like you’d never hurt my sister? Look at yourself.” Hunter advanced, prowling closer and closer, menace pouring off him in waves.

“I look at myself every damn day.” Heat radiated outward from his chest, but his hands were shaking. He took another slug of the cheap rotgut, needing the numbness only oblivion could bring.

Hayden. Hadn’t he done right by her? He’d broken it off, or had Jared to do it for him. Hoyt couldn’t lie to her face and tell her he didn’t want her any more. Not without revealing his true feelings. It’d been two months since that day he’d sat on his bed, listening to her cry from the next room while what was left of his soul bled out.

Hunter stopped pacing, and Hoyt watched the anger slowly slide from his features until the only thing left was pity. Fucking pity.

“Don’t look at me like that.” He wanted to shout the words, but all he could manage was a strangled whisper.

“I’m sorry, man, I shouldn’t have gone at you like that.”

“No. Don’t you back off now. Finish what you came here to do.” Hoyt was the one getting up in Hunter’s face this time, like mouth-to-mouth close.

“I’m done.” Hunter didn’t move.

“Fucking. Finish.”

“Fine. You need help. You went through a lot. If you don’t get help on your own, I’ll take care of it for you.” Hunter hit the deadpan look he’d perfected, everything about him locking into a concrete wall.

“That’s not why you’re here, is it?” Hoyt got up on the balls of his feet, bringing him to eye level with his team leader.

Hunter growled but didn’t breach the invisible centimeter-wide wall separating them.

“Why don’t I just say if for you? You came to tell me to stay away from your sister.” Hoyt barely held back from launching a punch into Hunter’s spleen to punctuate the words.

But Hunter took a step back, breaking the tension, getting his shit under control, and said, “Promise me you’ll continue to leave her alone. She’s out here right now and she’s not ready to give up on you yet. She deserves better than you can give her right now. You know it. I know it.”

Hoyt lowered down from the balls of his feet, needing to feel the solid floor beneath him. He knew he didn’t deserve her.

He didn’t deserve any woman, let alone one as perfect as Hayden.

But he wanted her like he wanted to breathe.

Hoyt took in a deep breath, accepting his fate. Getting comfortable with the heavy pit of emptiness in his chest.

He couldn’t be mad at Hunter. They all knew Hoyt’s body wasn’t the only thing that had been ruined in that cabin, but Hunter was the only one with the guts to say it. The rest of the crew had been treating him like he was a china doll with a crack in its head. Yes, he appreciated the truth, but it hurt to lose what little hope remained to him. “I promise. I will never lay a hand on her again.”

Hunter stood there, lips parted, studying him. For a moment, Hoyt thought he might relent, but then he stalked out of the room and shut the door behind him.

Hoyt stood there in silence for a moment, catching his breath, and then turned back to face the monster in the mirror. He’d never been a coward before, and he wouldn’t start now.

He couldn’t hold a sniper rifle steady. He couldn’t hold his woman. She could no longer be his woman. He couldn’t even hold his shit together without pills and alcohol.

His friends were here to celebrate his recovery. They were in the living room eating, drinking and having fun like the old Hoyt was back. Like he was normal.

His chest felt like a thousand-pound wench was cinched around it. And now he couldn’t breathe in his own bedroom, the large open space as tight around him as a layer of shrink wrap.

The walls closed in, trapping him, robbing the room of oxygen. His throat closed with it. Hoyt gasped, helpless to stop the panic, just like when he’d been helpless to stop the torture. Strung up like a piece of meat in that shack in the woods.

Can’t breathe.

Can’t think.

Can’t stop.

“Fuck you!” He threw a desperate punch, and his fist shattered the mirror. Shards of glass flew everywhere like shrapnel. His shoulders pinched tight and he threw the bottle of whiskey.

Nothing could help him. Not the pills. Not alcohol. Not Hayden.

Hoyt sank to his knees amidst the glass.

No amount of counseling would fix him. He was as broken as the mirror and if he didn’t do something, he’d destroy his loved ones.

Hoyt picked up a shard of glass.

He was a burden. A disgrace to his team. Worthless.

He wouldn’t give them the choice to try to save him. He didn’t deserve it. Besides, he knew Hayden enough to know she might not stay away. He didn’t want her to waste her life on him.

Hoyt stuck the tip into his skin and sliced down his arm, making sure to slice the right vein.

He’d been a coward when they’d tortured him. He’d begged. He’d pleaded. He’d given up his identity.

But not anymore. This was the way he’d reclaim himself.

A wave of dizziness hit and he fell to his hands. Blood gushed from his arm. He dropped flat on the floor and let it all go.

No more nightmares. No more panic attacks. No more pity. Just darkness.

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS

Lindsay Cross is the award-winning author of the Men of Mercy series. She is the fun loving mom of two beautiful daughters and one precocious Great Dane. Lindsay is happily married to the man of her dreams – a soldier and veteran. During one of her husband’s deployments from home, writing became her escape and motivation. 

An avid reader since childhood, reading and writing is in her blood. After years of reading, she discovered her true passion – writing. Her alpha military men are damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and determined to win the heart of the woman of their dreams.

        

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This is a re-release tour for Sunstone by Holly Barbo

SUNSTONE

AUTHOR: Holly Barbo

GENRE: Steampunk Thriller

COVER DESIGNER: JC Clarke

EDITOR: Sheenah Freitas

The steam-powered civilization of Myrn is a thriving adolescent culture. But the rapid industrial development has given rise to greed, and the triumvirate of government, banks and industry leaders has lost sight of those it is supposed to serve and protect.

When a mysterious incurable illness sweeps through the impoverished masses, increasing the suffering to breaking point, rebellion seems unavoidable. Society is on the brink of revolution, and the planet is marked for destruction.

M'nacht, his son Kes, and his team of researchers investigate a legend about three sacred fossils that could save the people and rebalance Myrn. However, they are not the only ones looking. Where they see salvation, others see power, wealth and control. 

Will the gifts from the goddess Navora be found in time to save their world, or will the sacrifice of innocents be lost under the weight of human depravity and corruption?

Ravarian wiped the sweat off her forehead and peered out over the strait. Her grey eyes were clear and resolute. The clear day was warm and so beautiful that her heart filled with bittersweet joy. Grateful for this last gift from the Goddess, Ravarian pulled in her line and the small fish on it. Once it was stored in her cooler, she moved her boat again. No one watching her would be able to see when she palmed the fossil and let it slip beneath the waves as she pulled in her catch. Hours went by as she continued to cast her line.

Her task accomplished, Ravarian decided to stop performing for her watchers. Returning to shore with her cooler full of her catch, she was met by the young man she had rented the boa from. He grinned at her and the size of her haul. They bantered about her luck. She loaded her steam car to return home and smiled her good-bye. As the steam filled the chamber and she began to move, Ravarian gave a final salute. The lad laughed and way her away. When her vehicle crested the rise on its way back to the city, his face took on a serious expression and he returned to the hut. On his desk was the dash-key and, without wasting a minute, he tapped out his report and hit "send".

She was ready when the uninvited visitors came. Her mind was at peace. As she opened her door to them, she had the random thought that the police reports and newspapers would report her death as a victim of a brutal home invasion burglary. Ravarian was shoved into her living room as one of the men tore her pictures and books from the walls. The other set a bad down that clunked with ominous metallic sounds and approached her with the gait of a predator. She knew that the next few hours would be unpleasant for her and frustrating for her guests. No one would hear her screams. They wouldn't learn what they wanted to know, only enough of a story so they wouldn't go after her loved ones. This particular chapter of the Sunstone would close for now, but she was confident that the little fossils, there would be another day just as she know she wouldn't live to see the next sunrise.

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Holly's world is shaped by her love of family, the beauty of the natural world and an irrepressible creative drive. She has always been curious and sees life through questions. These four characteristics color her writing voice and her stories frequently evolve from her asking "What if....?" Her tales tend to have non-urban settings with nature contributing to the plot, building discordant themes inside a seemingly peaceful refrain.

My motto: Weaving Alternative Worlds with Threads From Today.

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