Kelly Cain's Blog, page 10

Buy Links for Altered

Just in case you missed it, here are the links to pre-order an ecopy of my debut New Adult novel, ALTERED. Once you pre-order, the title will be delivered to your device on Tuesday, February 2, 2016.

Real restaurants in Altered

Liv loves food!

At some point during the editing process, my editor, Thalia, suggested that Liv should make a comment like, “…awful bros make me only want to eat ice cream.” My response was that Liv doesn’t stress-eat (she may stress-drink once in awhile); she genuinely loves good food.

Another instance where I had Liv eating off a friend’s plate, Thalia asked if they were that kind of friends. Again, my response was that Liv loves food – she’s “that kind of friend” with everyone.

She’ll certainly cook up a great meal (see book recipes for some of her favorites), but doesn’t mind dining out as long as it’s something wondrously delicious. I reference several restaurants in Altered (some explicitly, some vaguely) so thought it might be fun to list them here with some interesting tidbits.

Frenchy’s

Liv’s roommate, Julia, brings her some Frenchy’s near the beginning of the book. She chooses 4 of the wings special along with Frenchy fries and strawberry soda.

When I first moved to Houston to go to college, the school was located a few blocks from the original Frenchy’s in 3rd Ward on Scott Street. I had this chicken at least once a week if not more. The people were rude (they’ve since changed their customer service policy), but it was worth the wait and mistreatment to get that fried chicken and Frenchy fries (can’t just call them fries). And, of course, a strawberry soda completed the meal. This is by far the best chicken ever.

Ragin Cajun

The first time Liv and Nicholas really hang out as friends, they decide to have some Cajun/Creole food here:

Oh wait, wrong ragin cajun. I meant here:

This type of food is my absolute favorite and with Houston being so close to Louisiana, I never have to go without. During crawfish season, I’m a regular here.

Here’s my younger daughter, Kamryn, and her boyfriend, Alex, enjoying a bucket (or two) along with some fried crawfish tails.

Batanga

Before finals start, Liv’s study group convinces her to go out for a nice dinner and drinks. They hit this downtown hot spot which serves Latin tapas and specialty drinks like Thai Me Up, Brazilian Pearl Necklace, and Grilled Lemonade. Liv ends up seeing her ex and she gets sloshed.

My oldest daughter, Diamond, and I lurv this restaurant. I accidentally discovered it with my best friend, Gerri, while wondering around downtown one night. I’ve been back at least a dozen times since and I live FAR from here.

The Breakfast Klub

This is a wonderful place to have breakfast. I’ve never actually dined inside because it’s normally too crowded and the wait too long. I’ve had plenty of food to-go from here though which is what Julia opts to do to help Liv through her hangover. From catfish and grits to chicken and waffles to veggie omelets, this place has it all.

Fog Harbor Fish House

When I first wrote Altered, I thought I was writing a different restaurant on Pier 39 in San Francisco. I’m from Northern California and have been to Pier 39 countless times, but I hadn’t been there in more than 10 years before writing. Luckily, I visited a few months after finishing the book, for my high school reunion, and was able to dine at the Fog Harbor Fish House and refine a few details during the editing process.

Here’s Kamryn and my friend, Sheila, standing just outside the restaurant with Coit Tower in the background. You should be able to see Transamerica Pyramid, but my daughter’s head is in the way :-).

In-N-Out Burger

Growing up in Stockton, California, there was no such thing as In-N-Out Burger. I suppose that old saying about not missing what you never had should apply here, but I can’t keep feeling that I somehow missed out during my childhood. Of course now there are plenty of these places all over California and I had the pleasure of enjoying it on a regular basis when I lived in Los Angeles for four years later in life. There are a few in Texas as well, but alas, none closer to Houston than San Antonio (3 hours away).

Nicholas is such a sweetheart and after he and Liv share an evening in their makeshift hot tub, he runs out and buys Liv a hamburger “animal style” to take her mind off the missteps of the night before.

There are several more restaurants mentioned throughout Altered so pre-order it to read those too.

 

Happy holidays!

It’s been a lazy day for me. For various reasons, my family decided to celebrate yesterday. And we really celebrated.

And those are just the desserts. We talked, laughed, played games, and generally enjoyed each other. My daughters were happy which always makes me happy. By the end of the night, we were all pretty much in sugar comas (I was unceremoniously cut off on the far left).

Today has been quiet so I decided that it would be a great day to get a little writing done. I’m starting here, but moving on to Who Is Jody Anyway? – something I haven’t worked on in several weeks. I actually dreamed about sales rankings for Altered last night. I’ve been pretty focused on ensuring it has a successful release which means I haven’t been focused on why I got into this game to begin with: releasing those stories and characters rolling around in my brain.

So I wish you a very happy holiday and hope you are enjoying today as much as I am!

Cover Reveal – Pawn of the Phoenix (Book 2 of the Memory Collector Series)

Welcome to the cover reveal of Pawn of the Phoenix (The Memory Collector #2) by Jamie McLachlan.  This blog contains one of the six pieces of the cover.  You have to collect these images and sort out the puzzle pieces to get the final cover.  The first 7 winners who collect all the cover image pieces and send the author the final complete cover image will be entered to win this awesome giveaway.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Terms:

Send the final cover of Pawn of the Phoenix to authorjamie@outlook.com
Winners will be chosen on a first come, first serve basis
The giveaway closes on December 24th, 2015

Giveaway Prizes:

3 paperback copies of Mind of the Phoenix or Pawn of the Phoenix
4 ecopies of Mind of the Phoenix or Pawn of the Phoenix

So, hurry to win this awesome book!

Below the puzzle piece are the blogs that contain the cover.

Here is one of the puzzle pieces:


Check out the other sites/blogs for collecting other pieces in the puzzle.  The below blogs don’t contain the cover pieces in the same order.  You have to find and sort it out to complete the final image.  You could visit any one of the sites in each division below.

Puzzle 1:
Author Jamie McLachlan
The Titan’s Tomb

Puzzle 2:
Author’s Corner
Lost in a Daydream

Puzzle 3:
Book-o-Craze
C.H. Armstrong Books & Blog

Puzzle 4:
seansbookreviews
Kelly Cain, author

Puzzle 5:
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!
Lipstick and Mocha

Puzzle 6
The book herald
SolaFide Book Club

 Also, check out the first book of The Memory Collector Series
ABOUT MIND OF THE PHOENIX:

Moira is a powerful empath, a psychic graced with the ability to read emotions and memories. Her skill is as much a curse as a gift, for in the harshly stratified city of Braxton empaths are slaves. Clever and beautiful, Moira has learned to rely on no one but herself. Determined to escape life as a concubine, she kills her master, and is imprisoned for the crime.

This could be the end for Moira, but the government has need of her skills. A mysterious serial killer known as the Phoenix has been planting suggestions in his victims’ minds that drive them to murder and suicide. To gain her freedom, Moira partners with Keenan Edwards, a handsome young detective, to stop the killer.

Hunting the Phoenix will bring Moira on a more dangerous road than she imagined, forcing her to confront dark minds, twisted moralities, and her growing feelings for the detective.

BUY NOW at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Createspace | iBooks

GOOD LUCK!

Interview with author Jamie McLachlan

This week I have the pleasure of hosting a great friend and fellow Penner Publishing author, Jamie McLachlan. The Memory Collector Series has the first book, Mind of the Phoenix, out already (see my review here) and the second, Pawn of the Phoenix, is due in February 2016 (see my review here). Come back Wednesday morning (12/23) for the cover reveal of Pawn of the Phoenix. As with the first book, the cover is exquisite.

Background

Author name: Jamie McLachlan

Book titles: The Memory Collector Series: Mind of the Phoenix (book 1), Pawn of the Phoenix (book 2)

Tell us a little about yourself and your background: I’m an avid reader and lover of anything artsy. As of now, I spend most of my time reading and writing, while taking care of my two year old son. It took me a while to decide where I wanted to go with my education, but I finally decided on majoring in English and minoring in Philosophy.

Tell us a little about your novel: Pawn of the Phoenix continues with Moira and Detective Edwards investigating the mysterious serial killer known as the Phoenix. After the death of Mr. Anderson, the case not only abides by different rules, but it also runs cold. When secrets from both of their pasts are revealed, Moira and the detective’s tentative relationship will be tested, and a clue from the past might finally unravel the mystery of the Phoenix.

Have you written anything else (including novels, short stories, novellas, etc.): I write poetry, which can be found on my website. I’ve also written a short story that delves into Moira’s past at the pleasure house, titled “The Pleasures of Florence”. I also wrote two other short stories, “A Seductive Disguise” and “An Unexpected Surprise”, which I plan to eventually turn into a paranormal romance novel. And, of course, there’s the first book in The Memory Collector Series, titled Mind of the Phoenix.

Q&A

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk: I rock back and forth in a rocking chair while listening to music and daydreaming about my stories.

Do any of your characters take off on their own tangent and refuse to do what you had planned for them? If so, which one did it the most and what did they do: Definitely! I can’t reveal that because it would spoil Pawn of the Phoenix.

How did you decide on the setting for your book: I wanted a historical feel, but also didn’t want to go too far back in history. Also, I had been watching a lot of Murdoch Mysteries at the time, so that influenced my setting.

Do you ever dream about your characters, either before or after you bring them to life on the page: Sometimes. For Mind of the Phoenix, I actually did end up dreaming about Detective Edwards visiting the dream house before I had fully formulated the novel.

If your book were made into a movie, who would play the leads: For Moira, I think Mila Kunis would fit nicely. For Detective Keenan Edwards, I think Raoul Bova would work.

Do you have any pointers or advice for aspiring writers: Keep writing. Listen to critique. Research. And never give up.

Favorite song: Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake Waltz

Favorite movie/tv show: Too many to choose.

Chosen superpower: Mind reading…?

Toilet paper: over or under: Both

Real book or tablet: Real book

Star Trek or Star Wars: Star Wars

Excerpt

I knock on his office door. When he doesn’t answer, I peek into the room. The scent of smoke permeates the air, the half-smoked cigarette, long abandoned in the ashtray, still glows, emitting a trail of fumes that cloud the area near his desk. His head is bent over the letter he writes, and I can see the slight touch of grey that dusts the sides of his brown hair. His sack coat is delicately placed over one of the chairs by the fire. He looks as unattainable as ever, and I suddenly regret my decision to interrupt him. But there’s no sense in turning back now, so I open the door wider and clear my throat. He doesn’t even glance up at me when he finally speaks.

“What is it, Moira?”

I decide the question is an invitation to enter, and I promptly walk in. Even though his tone reveals his annoyance, I’m grateful he no longer refers to me as Del Mar. I’m finally a person, not property.

He glances up and watches my progress. I wish I could say his attentiveness is sexual, but it’s not. He scrutinizes me with the careful alertness of an observer who is examining something that has the potential to be volatile. It’s instinctual for him, a defense mechanism elicited by the horizontal s and accompanying dots above and below it on my cheek. He knows full well I could pierce through his mental barriers at any moment. I could persuade him to do anything I want, but I won’t.

“I simply wish to know what it is you do in here all day.” I trail a finger over the shelf of one of his many bookcases. My finger comes away with a thick layer of dust, which means I’m not the only one forbidden to enter his office without an invitation. I tsk and add quietly, “Clearly, not cleaning.”

“Perhaps you can satiate your boredom elsewhere, Moira. I’m rather busy at the moment.”

I abandon my inspection of his books and, annoyed with his negligence, snuff out the cigarette that has been filling the air with the bitter scent of smoke. His eyes continue to follow me, his suspicion growing with my every move. Resting my hip on the edge of his desk, I lean forward to inspect the cursive writing.

“Who are you writing to?” I ask sweetly. “A lover?”

“No one that concerns you.” He inhales deeply and leans back in his chair, not bothering to conceal the letter. “I thought we had an agreement.”

I flash him one of my innocent smiles, and pitch my voice low with a hint of seduction. “Oh, we do. I just came to tell you I’m going to bathe, and I could use some help.”

He studies me closely, shifting his gaze from my blue eye to my hazel one. “I’m positive Mrs. Whitmore would be more than willing to provide you with assistance. If, indeed, you need it.”

I align my curves in a more appealing position. “Perhaps you can join me. For what I require assistance with, I’d prefer the presence of a man, not a woman. I promise to reward you for your services.”

This close, I can smell his uncertainty. His jaw tenses as he struggles between his desire and whatever else has been causing him to be distant since I moved into his home. He wants to join me, but something is holding him back. I wish I knew what it was. The moment he averts his gaze I know he will refuse my invitation. I’m annoyed, because after our last kiss I want more and was positive he wanted that as well. But after several failed attempts of flirtation on my part, I’m not certain anymore. How blunt do I have to be, Detective?

Before he can utter some pathetic excuse, I try a different tactic. “I might sneak into your bedroom. You wouldn’t want that, now would you?”

“My bedroom is locked, Moira.”

Of course it is. How foolish of me.

“I might escape,” I whisper, daring him.

His voice is calm when he responds, but his eyes are filled with silent mirth. “I suggest you try the front door first. I imagine it would be easier than climbing out of one of the windows upstairs.”

I grin, even though he’s managed to turn my seduction into a laughing matter. “Undoubtedly, but I prefer a challenge and a little excitement. The front door would be too easy and dissatisfying.”

“Well, do inform me when you’ve decided.” He diverts his attention back to the letter, and the moment slips away. “Until then–”

“Yes, I know,” I interject. “You’re busy.”

I sigh and stand, stifling my disappointment. “The Chief should have suggested I stay with Constable Jamieson instead. I’m sure he’s not always so busy.”

“Possibly, but I imagine his fiancée would have disapproved of the arrangement.”

“Oh, you’re right.” I turn and walk away from him, muttering my last words beneath my breath. “I forgot about her.”

I’ve almost reached the door when he speaks again. “And, Moira, please refrain from walking around naked after your bath. You startled Mrs. Whitmore, and I do intend on continuing her services. A discreet housekeeper is hard to come by.”

Even though my voice is sweet, the words are forced between my teeth. “Oh, of course, Detective. I’ll do my best to behave accordingly.”

I close the door and head upstairs to prepare my bath—alone. I run the water to fill the tub as I undress, trying and failing to suppress my frustration. While this past month out of prison has allowed me to gain weight, the curves which served me well in the past don’t seem to entice the one man I want.

Author Bio

Jamie McLachlan is a graduate from Grant MacEwan University with a major in English and a minor in Philosophy. She decided to put her day dreaming to good use by weaving tales of speculative fiction. Avid reader and lover of all things creative, she lives in Canada with her family.

Links

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Goodreads

Amazon

Kobo

iTunes

Barnes & Noble

Paperback
 

 

Review – Pawn of the Phoenix (book 2 in the Memory Collector Series) by Jamie McLachlan

Pawn of the Phoenix

by Jamie McLachlan(Goodreads Author)

 

4 of 5 stars

Read from December 17 to 19, 2015

A huge perk to being published (besides all the obvious ones) is getting to know other authors you share a publisher with. In developing these relationships, and in this case, friendship, you are able to receive advanced copies of their books. Such is the case of this highly anticipated second installment of The Memory Collector Series, Pawn of the Phoenix. The book is due out in February, so at least you won’t have to wait long.

If you haven’t read the first book, Mind of the Phoenix (see my review here), what in the world are you waiting for? I mean seriously, you can get it on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, iTunes and Paperback.

The Memory Collector Series is set in the fictional city of Braxton maybe around the turn of the century, early 1900s.  Empaths are slaves to the Elite and work in one of the houses (dream, memory, or pleasure) or are privately owned. The infamous self-described Phoenix plants persuasions in select citizens’ minds that are triggered by a delivered letter.  These persuasions involve suicide or murder, usually of an Elite member.

While Mind of the Phoenix set up the story and introduced the main characters, Moira and Keenan, Pawn of the Phoenix delves more into the backstories of the main characters, furthers the plot along with a couple more murders/suicides (and even an execution), and deepens the relationship between Moira and Keenan. In case you didn’t read the first book (again why?????) or read my review of it, I will explain a little about what’s going on. Detective Keenan Edwards is leading the investigation to find the Phoenix. He’s stoic and controlled, at least until his blocked memory is released. Moira is an empath who has killed her master and has been offered a deal to get out of prison in exchange for her assistance with the investigation by using her special gifts.

The story is well-paced and interesting and although it’s the middle-child of the series, it doesn’t feel like filler. There’s more romance this time around and even some schmexy time (although relatively mild to middling), but the investigation still leads the way even though the clues are few and far between. I was a little disappointed we didn’t find out who the Phoenix was at the end of the first book, but we do get that little tidbit in the Epilogue of Pawn. I’m not a fan of cliffhangers usually, but THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A CLIFFHANGER. I now know who the Phoenix is, but there’s so much intrigue left that I find myself in more anticipation of Rise of Phoenix (book 3) than I was for Pawn. Woe is me for having to wait.

In case you haven’t picked up what I’m putting down, I highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys speculative fiction, historical fiction, mystery, intrigue, or even romance.

Come back Wednesday and be one of the first to see the cover for Pawn of the Phoenix.

Interview with Bianca Schwarz

This week I have the pleasure of showcasing my friend who is also an author with Penner Publishing. She has written a fabulous book that is available now. If you’re interested in my review, please see it here.

Background Info

Author name: Bianca M Schwarz

Book title: A THING OF BEAUTY

Tell us a little about yourself and your background: Well, I was born in Germany but now speak and write better English than German. I left Germany at 19 to go to England and went to college there. I studied English Lit and Film and after ten years in London, I moved to LA.

I actually came to LA twice. The first time for the film industry, I had big dreams of becoming a director. I never made it that far but I made a few shorts and worked in the industry as a script supervisor. By then I was married and we stayed for six years but then the work permits ran out and we had to go back to England.

The second time we came because I had won a green card in the diversity visa lottery. I had just given birth to my son, but LA was still the most likely place for me to achieve my dreams and for my husband to make a comfortable living for us, so we packed up and moved Continents once again.

 

Tell us a little about your novel: A THING OF BEAUTY is a historical romance thriller with some erotic elements. If you like your romance rose tinted and sex free, you might want to find another book.

 

November 1819

To the ordinary observer, the wealthy Sir Henry March, cousin of a duke, seems a typical London gentleman. But to the Crown, Henry is a powerful asset, secret defender of the country. When he sees an injured girl stumbling down the side of the road, he must stop.

The stepdaughter of an abusive innkeeper, Eliza Broad is from another class entirely. But the moment Henry lays eyes on the spirited and beautiful girl, he feels a connection. To protect her, he takes her into his home.

In Henry, Eliza finds a rescuer, handsome and kind beyond her wildest dreams. But danger is at their heels. On Eliza’s trail is one of London’s vilest and most notorious pimps, a man whose connections tie him to a dark world of sadism and treachery.

In this dark, historical thriller, can Eliza and Henry fight to protect England, their hearts, and their lives?

Have you written anything else (including novels, short stories, novellas, etc.)? I have written an autobiographical book about our first time in LA, a modern romance and an earth bound science fiction novel before A THING OF BEAUTY, but I do not consider any of them currently good enough to be published. I might work on the romance at some point.

However, since ATOB has been published, I have written a related short story called MILLIE’S REQUEST that is available for free from the Penner Publishing website and on mrblackthorne.com. Mr Blackthorne also published a couple of my poems there and I will have a short story in his upcoming anthology.

Q & A

What character was the most difficult to write and why? I didn’t find any of the characters particularly difficult to write. They all had things that were tricky but that just made them interesting to me.

The most difficult thing to write in the book was the scene where Daisie tells Henry her story. This is likely also the most worked on scene. It was much more gruesome and detailed when I first wrote it and I think it was the one and only time that my lovely critique partner Carmen cringed at something I wrote. She told me that Daisie was oversharing for someone who had kept such a secret for eight years. I toned it down and then later with Carolyn [Schwarz’s editor] worked on Daisie’s accent and anything that was too Freudian theory in Henry’s attitude.

How did you come up with names for your characters? Henry and Eliza obviously allude to another couple who fall in love despite being separated by class, but their relationship is very different. Emily is named after Emily Bronte and Viscount Fairly gets his name from one of my favorite book boyfriends. Allan Strathem has my favorite actor’s surname and Millie was the name I wanted to give my daughter when I thought I was carrying a girl.

If you could write a book with any writer, who would you pick? I had to really think about this one. My first reaction was to say that I particularly enjoy the fact that I don’t have to work with anybody when I write and that is the truth of it. It is completely mine and I love that about writing. However, there was one writer, who sadly has passed, whom I would have loved to partner up with to write my world history according to vampires, Douglas Adams. He was quite simply a genius, his way of seeing and describing the world completely unique and poignantly funny.

What do you like to have with you while you’re writing? I need my laptop and I prefer to be somewhere with a view. For some reason being able to fix my eyes on something in the middle distance helps me tune out all the distractions and demands around me.

What historical fiction thriller books would you recommend to readers who will love your book? Lucinda Brant’s SALT BRIDE is amazing. Another favorite of hers is the Roxfort Family Saga. I like a lot of Natasha Blackthorne’s work and Grace Borrows never disappoints.

You have lived in very different countries and societies. To what extent has that influenced you as a person and how does it color your writing? I think my perpetual itchy feet define me in a lot of ways. I grew up in Germany, became a fully defined human being in England and then moved to the West Coast of the USA to follow my dreams. There is no telling where I will end up and I like it that way.

But I think the most important thing you learn when you live in different places is that people are pretty much the same anywhere. Customs may be different but the fundamentals are the same. There are good and bad people everywhere, there is always more that unites us then divides us and the people who can’t see that are the ones who cause the most suffering.

My writing benefits from the fact that I have first-hand knowledge of a lot of places. It definitely makes it easier to imagine my characters in those locations and describing them is easy without requiring a lot research.

If you could instantaneously master one writing skill, what would you choose and why? Spelling. I am horribly dyslexic and need to get everything I write prof read since the spellcheck frequently can’t figure out what I’m talking about. It makes for some very funny mistakes sometimes, but it does horrible things to my confidence.

Do you have any pointers or advice for aspiring writers? Write a good book, of course. Seriously though, write something you will have fun with because there is no guarantee you will ever get anything other than the sheer joy of writing the project out of it.

Favorite song: “Love Song” by The Cure

Favorite movie/tv show: I have about a hundred of them. Right now, “Django Unchained” or maybe “Cake”

Chosen superpower: Flying

Toilet paper: over or under: What?

Real book or tablet: Kindle

Star Trek or Star Wars: Both

Excerpt

A Thing of Beauty

Bianca Schwarz

Eliza had never seen so many people in one place. The sights, the sounds, the smells made up an atmosphere that was almost celebratory. It was noisy with all the vendors vying for the shoppers’ attention and joking good naturedly with their customers in their thick cockney accents. The stalls were covered with colorful canapés and as far as Eliza could tell, anything one could possibly desire was for sale somewhere in this market. From sweet cox apples, small mountains of exotic spices and dried fruit, to bales of wool and silk cloth, to books and cheap trinkets as well as shoes, hats and furs. It smelled of roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and unwashed bodies and someone, somewhere, was roasting meat.

The cries of the hawkers were underscored by the occasional sounds of a fiddle, an old English ballad and even the distant strains of a bagpipe. Henry explained that the best musicians would be at the plaza in front of the Opera House, where the Punch and Judy show was and where the acrobats performed. He promised that they would stop there later after they were done shopping.

Sir Henry insisted on freshly roasted chestnuts to munch on whilst they explored. They meandered leisurely through the seasonally large crowd. Representatives of all social strata could be observed perusing the stalls—the market was one of those rare places where the classes mingled naturally, all drawn by the festive atmosphere and the bargains to be had.

They bought cone shaped bags of sugar plums and candied almonds for Mrs. Tibbit, some delicate doll clothes for Emily’s favorite doll, a length of lovely, white-on-white sprigged muslin for Eliza to practice her sewing and, of course, the gloves and muff they had come for.

The gloves were soft grey leather and slid onto Eliza’s fingers like a second skin. Not that she could bear to wear gloves in a place where every stall seemed to hold something that just had to be touched or smelled to be fully appreciated. The muff was, at least to Eliza’s mind, a decadent creation made of grey rabbit fur and covered on the outside with red velvet.

Eliza couldn’t stop herself from rubbing the soft fur against her cheek as she thanked Sir Henry for the handsome gift. But she was afraid she would lose the lovely thing in the crush and so let the vendor wrap it for her and handed it to William to carry.

Henry watched Eliza explore, and smiling to himself, relaxed into the experience.

The two servants took the opportunity to do a little Christmas shopping of their own and so were soon laden down with all their purchases. Henry sent Roberts back to the coach with all the packages and told him to meet them in the plaza before the Opera House, where the buskers and acrobats performed.

On the way to the plaza they cut through the big market hall, where Eliza admired a hat in a milliner’s shop, but she moved on as soon as Henry caught up to her. Henry took one look at the shop window, saw the fur trimmed, grey hat with the dark red ribbons Eliza had been looking at and was about to suggest that they go in when she hustled past him and pretended to be impatient to see the acrobats. While she was probably embarrassed about the money he had already spent on her, the hat would go perfectly with Eliza’s new muff and cape and he figured it would make a splendid Christmas present, even if he couldn’t be there to see her unwrap it on Christmas morning.

Henry had not seen anybody who looked remotely how Eliza had described Wilkins and he felt confident that no one had followed them. So he called to William to stay close to Eliza and for them to go on ahead, and ducked into the small shop to buy the hat.

***

As soon as Eliza stepped into the plaza she felt exposed, vulnerable. She couldn’t have explained why, it was just a cold prickle at the nape of her neck, and she told herself to stop being such a ninny and that both Sir Henry and Roberts would be back in a trice. Besides, the burly William stood right next to her sharing his sugared doughnuts with her so she was hardly alone. But the prickle of warning would not go away.

They had worked their way into the crowd to get a better look at the tumblers and so, whilst William marveled at a girl cartwheeling on a tight rope, she looked around her, unable to dismiss her feeling of unease.

There were no familiar faces in the crowd but the handsome gent in the dapper rust colored suit and the brown top hat, who stood just behind her, had an odd glint in his eye when he said to somebody on her other side: “She’s a pretty pigeon.”

The smile he bestowed on her made her skin crawl and she was overwhelmed by the thought that this creature was ten times worse than Horace had ever been. But before she could nudge William or cry out around her last bite of doughnut, a broad, callused hand closed over her mouth and a beefy arm pulled her backwards through the crowd. Then the stench of onions and rotting teeth threatened to overwhelm her when Wilkins’s voice whispered in her right ear: “Come along Liza, play time’s over! I come to collect what’s mine.”

Eyes wide with panic Eliza tried to get William’s attention by the sheer force of her will. She scratched at Wilkins’s hand dragging her mercilessly backwards and kicked at the dapper gent who had parted her cloak to grab her around her waist and kept smiling at her as if they were playing some sort of game.

Within seconds, she couldn’t see William anymore and knew herself to be lost if she could not alert anyone to her plight. She swallowed that last bit of doughnut that had lodged itself in her throat and bit down as hard as she could on Wilkins’ fat, dirty middle digit. He bellowed and cursed but let go of her mouth. By this time they were out of the crowd and she was being dragged between stalls towards a dark little lane beyond. Eliza threw her head back in desperation, head-butting Wilkins in the process, and screamed with the full force of her lungs.

“HELP! HENRYYYY!!!! HE…AHHH”

Her scream for help turned into a cry of pain as Wilkins cuffed her around her ear and the other man’s hand grabbed her breast in a vice like grip and twisted her nipple with excruciating efficiency. “Shut up bitch or I’ll tweak the other one, too!”

Fear froze any further sound in Eliza’s throat as she looked into the man’s pale, menacing eyes. The smile that crept back over his face was pure evil. The vice grip around her nipple relaxed and his hand started to massage the pain away and she thought she would be sick on his polished boots.

“See Wilkins, it’s always a question of findin’ the right mo’ivator. Soon as we’re in me ally, she can scream all she likes, no one will take no notice.”

With that he turned her around and grabbed her around her waist as Wilkins’s fist closed around her upper arm on the other side. His stupid grin held the promise of more pain to come.

“Right ya are Mr. Hobbs.”

Now that she could see that they were only one stall away from said ally, Eliza knew with blinding clarity that she had to make one last stand. Neither Henry nor William could come to her aid if they did not know which way she had gone.

She fervently wished she had ignored the doctor’s advice and donned her stays just for today. They would have offered some protection from Hobbs’s evil fingers. But there was nothing for it, she ignored all the fear pooling in her belly and used the fact that they were practically carrying her to pull up her knees and slam down her booted heels on both her captors’ toes. In the same movement she twisted her arm out of Wilkins’s slackened grip and turned under Hobbs’s arm to head back towards the stall behind her.

“SIR HENRY! HELP!”

She managed to grab the canvas of the rickety stall and upended a table full of brass oil lamps that clattered to the ground making an unholy racket, before a merciless hand grabbed her hair right at the nape and yanked her back. And then his hand closed around her other breast and the white hot fury of pain he inflicted on her rendered her helpless. The pain had left her no breath to scream but the stall holder’s anger lent her hope that he might remember her if Sir Henry came to see what the commotion was all about.

Hobbs hauled her through the last row of stalls and into the alley.

Author Bio

Bianca was born in Germany, spent her formative years in London and just got her US passport, but she considers herself a world citizen. She lives in Los Angeles because that’s where they make movies and she used to work on them. And she writes novels because that’s kind of like making a movie in people’s heads and because she just loves books. Bianca has one son, because that’s all she can handle and she tolerates her husband because, well, she loves him and there is no help for that.

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Cover reveal – On The Rebound

I’m so excited to be a part of my friend, Jim Cangany’s, cover reveal for the first book in his The Irving University series, On The Rebound, which is a sweet contemporary romance, releasing January 26, 2016, from Penner Publishing.

I’ve read this title and this book cover is PERFECT! See my review here: Review of On The Rebound.

Title: On the Rebound
Author: Jim Cangany
Publisher: Penner Publishing
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 26 Jan 2016


BOOK DESCRIPTION: 
 

Sabotaged by scandal, basketball coach Greg Miller can’t find work in the men’s division.  Humble and defeated, he takes a job as an assistant coach for a  women’s college team.  Deciding that he’s going to make the best of it and clear his name of any wrongdoing, Greg sets out to make a difference and prove himself to everyone who doubted him. 
 
But when circumstances arise and a valuable player needs some help, the coach begins working alongside elegant and determined academic advisor Ciara Monaghan. Soon, Greg finds he needs more than just a victory on the court. 
 
Disgusted by his immoral reputation, Ciara steers clear of the basketball coach’s full court press.  However, as they are forced together and the truth comes out, Ciara realizes there is more to Greg than she ever realized. 
 
But with the season coming to an end and the clock running out, will one of them take the shot and finally change the game? 

 
AUTHOR BIO: 


Jim Cangany didn’t plan on becoming a romance writer, but when he was forty pages into his first manuscript and realized it was a love story, he went with it. Since then, he has found great joy writing contemporary romance on the sweet end. Jim loves things that go fast, so when he’s not writing, you can probably find him following the IndyCar racing series or professional bike racing. He lives in Indianapolis with his saint of a wife Nancy, sons Seamus and Aidan, and the princess of the family, kitty cat Maria.
 
Connect with Jim at his website, Twitter and Facebook.



This event is organized by Pen & Ink Book Tours.

 

 

Kelly Cain’s Reviews > Floating

Floating (Ray Point, #1)

by Michelle Dare (Goodreads Author)






3 of 5 stars
Read from December 04 to 06, 2015

Lucy lives on the beach with her realtor mom, but doesn’t go near it or the water because of anxiety stemming from an accident years before. She’s taking the summer off, having just finished college, before she begins looking for a teaching job.

Lucy’s ex-boyfriend is both her hero and her reminder of her traumatic past. She’s trying to keep him in the friend-zone where he has no intention of being. Enter Ellis, who has also taken the summer off to hang out with his best buds at his parents’ beach house, while waiting to take the bar exam and look for lawyer jobs.

Ellis is obsessed with Lucy from the first time he sees her and after some serious stalking with his friends, he finally has a chance to ask her out. The story is told from from both POVs through chapter exchanges, which is always an interesting way to find out how the characters each feel about unfolding events.

This was a quick, fun read other than the anxiety elements which is a pretty serious subject. It was part of the angst that a story like this has to have, but didn’t feel gratuitous. Lucy is a well thought-out character and the author does a great job conveying Lucy’s emotions.

Ellis was a good guy and he and Lucy had a sweet relationship. He was so different from her ex-boyfriend, Gabe, that it had me wondering a little how they both fit into her life. I suppose that happens though, although it wasn’t an entirely easy fit.

There were other surprises, like with her dad, and another issue with the ocean, that added positively to the overall story. This is a good read for those who like romance a little on the sweet side, but with a little steam as well.

I received an ecopy of this title through the New Adult Book Club in exchange for an honest review.

Book trailer for Altered

Please have a look at the book trailer for Altered, created by Tyrone D. Dixon.