Natalina Reis's Blog, page 54

Marianne Rice – Interview

I am so pleased to have Marianne Rice here  with me today, celebrating the release of her new book, Then Came You, the second in the Wilde Sisters. I have read the first book in the series, Sweet on You, and I’m telling you; you are in for a treat[image error]

Marianne, welcome to my humble blog. When I write, I’m afraid I am not much of a planner. I normally start with an idea and a couple characters and I just let it develop as I write. What about you? Are you a plotter or a pantster?

M-  I like to “cook” my stories in my head. I run through my main characters, the internal and external conflicts, and the resolution a few times before I actually sit down to write. I don’t plot anything out on paper…just sit down and go. But the story is pretty well thought out before I start Chapter One.

What genre do you write? What made you want to write in that genre and for that age group?

M- I write contemporary romance. It’s my favorite genre to read as well. U.S. History is my history of choice so if I ever write a historical it would probably be a western. Cowboys are pretty darn sexy.

LOL.  Something about those Stensons. When did you decide you would like to be a writer? Have you always liked to write?

M- When I was on maternity leave with my newborn son and my two and four year-old daughters. It was my means of escape. I always read a lot and the more I read the more I created stories in my head. Then one day…I wrote the story.

I know what you mean. It’s like going on vacation without ever leaving the house. What book do you wish you would have written? Why?

M- The Great Gatsby is my all-time literary favorite. Such a classic full of love, mystery and drama. As for contemporary romances, geesh, that’s hard. I’d be honored to have my name slapped on the cover of pretty much any book by Jill Shalvis, Susan Mallery or Kristan Higgins.

Have you written or plan to write in other genres?

M- No plans yet, but as I mentioned earlier, maybe a cowboy series someday.

 Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?

M- Love scenes are definitely the hardest, although I’m getting better at it. Each book seams to increase in heat rating.

I’m sure your readers appreciate that, lol.  What’s in your reading list right now?

M- I currently have 234 books on my Kindle, and more than I can count that I need to review. Time, please freeze for me!

I hear you. I’m on the same boat. Looking forward to the Summer so I can get through some of those TBR books. Now, I know your books are going to be extremely successful and one of these days a big Hollywood producer is going to want to make a movie out of it. Who will play your main characters?

M- Well, my hero inspiration for Grayson Montgomery in Then Came You is Liam Hemsworth (his brother Chris was my inspiration for my football book, False Start). And the lovely, adorable Rachel McAdams would play the ever bubbly youngest sister, Thyme Wilde.

Do you write full time? How do you find time to write and do you have a special place where you write?

M-  That is my dream. I teach high school English and am a mom to three children (9, 12 and 14) who are all very active in sports. Oh, and there’s the husband as well! I am fortunate to have school vacations free, which is when I get most of my writing done. I spend the in-between months “cooking” up my story so when I have a moment I can bang out a pretty high word count in a short amount of time. I have a lovely office space off the living room, but my children find me too easily there. I tend to be more productive when I retreat to my bedroom with my laptop.

I have to “hide” in coffee shops in order to get away from my family and write, so I totally get it. Do you ever feel attached to your characters as if they were real? How do you come up with them? Do you base them off people you know or something else?

M-  Oh, so very much. But the sad thing is, as soon as I delve into my next book I sort of forget about him/her. I guess that’s a good thing, right? You want to love your next characters even more.

 Do you have any advice to give new writers? When you first started writing for publication what were your expectations and were they met?

M-  Don’t stop. I wrote for seven years before I seriously pitched and queried my books. I’m glad I didn’t rush my first book and try to put it “out there” for the public. It wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready. Join writer’s groups, attend writer’s conferences, network online. Never stop learning. I learn something with each book, with each editor, with each publisher. That’s a good thing. And when you type THE END, don’t rush back to edit. Give yourself some space, maybe start your next book, then go back and edit. And edit. And revise. And revise. And then send to beta readers and then edit and revise. Then, if you’re ready, send to an agent or publishing house. Too many writers are rushing their work and not giving themselves the time or the credit they deserve.

Just my two cents.

And great advice it is. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you, Marianne and I wish you all the success in the world. And readers, don’t forget to go show her some love and check out her author’s page–and buy her book, of course!

See you all next time!

 

 

 

Then Came You-New Release

Title: THEN CAME YOU
Author: Marianne Rice
Series: The Wilde Sisters, Book #2
Thyme Wilde doesn’t make long-term decisions—until she falls in love with one…

Easily bored and quickly distracted, Thyme enjoys her freedom, so being a temp at her sister’s company is the perfect job. But when she takes a position as a nanny, she instantly falls in love with the five-year-old princess named Maddie—and just two months later, Maddie’s parents are killed in a plane crash, leaving Thyme in an unfamiliar role of responsibility.

Multi-millionaire architect Grayson Montgomery lives in the lap of luxury—but at a cost…

Being the sole heir of his family’s fashion empire and his father’s architectural firm, Grayson has never lacked for anything. But in return, he must stay subservient to the matriarch of his family—his grandmother—and date the heiress of their largest business partner. The only freedom Grayson has is his architectural designs, which are his true passion.

One day changes Grayson’s future forever…

A lawyer summons Grayson to Maine for the reading of the will of a woman he once knew. He doesn’t expect to be named the father of a five-year-old orphan. Then he meets his newly-discovered daughter—and her incredibly sexy nanny.

While acting as Maddie’s loyal nanny, Thyme develops feelings for her new employer that are more than professional. And after several passionate nights with Grayson, it’s clear the feeling is mutual.

When it’s made evident Grayson sees her as a convenient placeholder, Thyme must push aside her desires and put Maddie above herself—even if it means sacrificing her heart to do it.



|| PURCHASE ||
AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/1VwklKF
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/1Uz52kR




 
|||||| THE WILDE SISTERS ||||||
SWEET ON YOU, Book 1
AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/1RdPboe
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/1WnR6bA



|| ABOUT THE AUTHOR ||


Marianne Rice writes contemporary romances set in small New England towns. Her heroes are big and strong, yet value family and humor, while her heroines are smart, sexy, sometimes a little bit sassy, and are often battling a strong internal conflict. Together, they deal with real life issues and always, always, find everlasting love. When she’s not writing, Marianne spends her time buying shoes, eating chocolate, chauffeuring her herd of children to their varying sporting events, and when there’s time, cuddling with her husband, a drink in one hand, a romance book in the other.

Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/marianne-rice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarianneRiceaut
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariannericeaut
Website: http://www.mariannerice.com/

Cover Reveal- When First They Practice Deceit

 

✦✦ ✦✦ COVER REVEAL ✦✦ ✦✦

WHEN FIRST THEY PRACTICE TO DECEIVE

 

Author: Carolyn LaRoche

Series: The Secret Lives #3

✦SYNOPSIS✦

 

All Jessy Wallace wants is a happy marriage, but her husband is a liar and in over his head…

Jessy has spent the last decade happily married to her husband, Sam. But when she finally lands a job at Dixie’s Place, a hole-in-the-wall diner, she learns not all is well in paradise. Officer Sam Wallace has been spending the majority of their marriage in the beds of other women. Fed up, Jessy kicks her husband to the curb.

The last thing she wants is another messy relationship…

Uncertain if her husband ever truly loved her, Jessy gets caught completely off guard by the intense attraction she feels for Trey Smith, the night cook at Dixie’s Place. But she recognizes some telltale signs, and discovers he’s an undercover FBI agent. Jessy curses herself for falling for another lawman. To make matters worse, her soon-to-be ex-husband might be involved with Trey’s case.

After the death of his wife, FBI agent Trey Smith has spent the last four years married to his work…

But when Jessy starts waitressing at the diner where he is working undercover, he falls head over heels for her. Her ex-husband, however, is one of the top suspects in Trey’s case, and all Trey wants to do is protect her. He can’t lose this once in a lifetime chance at love.

Jessy is the soon-to-be ex-wife of a suspected criminal.

Trey Smith is an undercover FBI agent.

Can their love overcome the odds, or will it all come crashing down under the weight of lies and deception?

✦✦✦ COVER DESIGNER ✦✦✦
WICKED BY DESIGN
https://www.facebook.com/WickedByDesignRobinHarper



✦✦ ✦✦ CAROLYN LAROCHE ✦✦ ✦✦ 



Carolyn LaRoche grew up in snow country but fled the cold and ice several years ago. She now lives near the beach with her husband, their two boys, two finicky cats and one old dog. When she is not at the baseball field cheering on big hits and home runs, she is busy teaching science to unwilling teenagers.

Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/carolyn-laroche/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynLaRoche
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolynLaRoche
Website: http://carolynlarocheauthor.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7734909.Carolyn_LaRoche

 

No Law- New Release

NO LAW by Camille Taylor
The Law Series #3
══ SYNOPSIS ══
At just twenty-four years old, Carey Madigan was made a widow—by the Russian Mafiya…

Years after her husband’s murder, Carey relocated from Russia back to U.S., where she works as an assistant curator for a prestigious museum. Her past seemingly left behind, she no longer looks over her shoulder or jumps at shadows. That is, until her boss is murdered—by the Russian Mafiya.

Carey’s past comes back to haunt her…

When the police discover the nature of her husband’s untimely demise, Carey becomes the prime suspect. But worse, the Mafiya is again pursuing her, and now that she’s seen their faces, they’re out to silence her for good. Frightened, she turns to an old friend—CIA agent Elena Gates.

Dmitry Ivanov is a tech legend in the hacker underworld…

Russian born and raised, Dmitry uses his skills to help the CIA. Filling in for his sister Elena, he is intrigued when Carey walks through the door. When he sees her reluctance, he realizes he has to win her trust before he can help her. And if anyone has a chance of clearing her name, uncovering the motives behind her boss’ murder, and protecting her from the men determined to end her life, it’s him.

Together, Dmitry and Carey uncover a trail that leads them to the discovery of a priceless artifact. Now they must fight to keep it—and themselves—out of harm’s way, and convince the authorities Carey is not a cold-blooded killer.

When the Mafiya is out for blood…No law will keep them safe.

═══════ PURCHASE ═══════
KINDLE UNLIMITED: http://amzn.to/1RyrAMf

PAPERBACK: http://amzn.to/1W7K9gv

 

 
══ THE LAW SERIES  ══
Book 1: RUSSIAN LAW: http://amzn.to/1SQ7hPu
Book 2: AMERICAN LAW: http://amzn.to/1UKAdX8

══ MEET THE AUTHOR  ══

Camille Taylor is an Australian author who resides in the Nation’s Capital with her small dog. She was the typical 90’s kid and was raised on Goosebumps, Roald Dahl and Paul Jennings. In her teens she began reading the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie and in later years found Christine Feehan, Janet Evanovich and Julie Garwood.

She started writing at sixteen and enjoys spending time with her family, doting on her nieces and nephews, writing the many stories floating about her head and working on her genealogy where she can trace her heritage to England, Scotland, Ireland and Russia.

Her other interests include, anything creative – such as scrapbooking and drawing and has travelled across Western Europe, New Zealand and the UAE, after spending a year living in London. She’s also dabbled in tae kwon do.

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1RMKamI
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CamilleTaylorAu
WEBSITE: https://camilletaylorbooks.wordpress.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CamilleTaylorAuthor
GOODREADS:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7791241.Camille_Taylor
LIMITLESS PUBLISHING:http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/camille-taylor/

Chasing Dreams -New Release

“He has no control with her…and she doesn’t want him to…”
★★NOW AVAILABLE★★★
CHASING DREAMS by Alison Mello



★ SYNOPSIS ★
Young, gorgeous, and with the voice of an angel, Skyler Jones dreams of becoming a singer… 

After the death of her parents in a tragic car accident, there’s nothing to tie twenty-five-year-old Skyler to the East Coast. But if she’s learned one thing, it’s that life is short. So with aspirations of landing a record deal, she moves to the land of champagne wishes and caviar dreams.

Sexy, rich, and wildly successful, Logan Michaels’ club is the hottest nightspot in Los Angeles… 

While at his club, Logan spots a stunning woman ordering a drink. In L.A., beautiful women are a dime a dozen, but this one’s different—and so is their connection. He’s never been so infatuated, and he’s determined to know more about the striking stranger. After pulling some strings, he finds out where she works and asks her to dinner.

They find more than love—they find opportunity… 

After a few dates, Logan convinces Skyler to perform at his club. But when Skyler dances with one of Logan’s connections, he’s unable to contain his explosive jealousy. However, his major screw-up with Skyler is the least of his problems. When a scorned ex-employee seeks revenge in the most deadly of ways, it puts both himself and Skyler’s life in danger.

Will Logan be able to protect Skyler from the growing threat? 
Or will she run…and write off this chapter of her life as chasing dreams?

★★★ PURCHASE ★★★ 

Kindle Unlimited: http://amzn.to/1Vharfx

Paperback: http://amzn.to/21XuLTf

★★★ ALISON MELLO ★★★

Alison Mello is a wife and stay at home mom to a wonderful little boy. She lives with her amazing family in Massachusetts. She loves playing soccer, basketball and football with her son.

After having her son, Alison started reading again and fell in love with Contemporary Romance. Reading made her happy and gave her something to do when she had downtime. As she started to read more, she started to noticed things she really enjoyed in a book and things she didn’t. She began to have ideas for writing one of her own. One day she literally woke up and started writing. She realized that if there was ever a time for her to write, it was now. She had a part time job to give her something to do. The hours at work were slow and she was bored with what she was doing, so while her son was off enjoying his friends over summer vacation she got started.

Alison finished the first book in two weeks and decided that she really enjoyed writing, so she kept going. She already had ideas in mind for books two and three, so she kept writing. That is how the Learning to Love Series was born. Somewhere along the line, one of my Beta readers convinced me that Michael, a character from Finding Love, needed his own story. That is when Alison added the fourth and final book. Alison hopes you enjoy her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.

She’s so glad she started this writing journey and hopes you will stay with her for the ride. Chasing Dreams is scheduled to release in April and the first two books of the Love Conquers Life series will be out this summer!
LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/alison-mello/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14429757.Alison_Mello
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/alisonmelloauthor
WEBSITE: http://www.alisonmelloauthor.com/

Nobody’s Obligation

Ava Jacobs is a shy accountant by day, aspiring romance writer by night—and her first novel just got published…

 

 
Romance isn’t a big component of Ava’s life. That is, her real life. As the monotonous nature of crunching numbers and drawn-out board meetings slowly eats away at her, the only bright side to her otherwise mundane routine lies on the black and white pages of her debut romance novel. Her inspiration? A long-time infatuation—Tyler Andrews.
 
Until the Olympic swimmer read her novel and connected the dots…
 
Tyler Andrews is used to being the center of attention. But when his sister throws a romance novel in his lap, he’s surprised to be the inspiration for the hot, hunky hero. He has no idea who Ava Jacobs is, but he’s not at all happy with her using his likeness to spice up her steamy scenes. When he finally tracks her down, it’s her likeness that intrigues him.
 
It takes just one romantic dance at a company banquet to spark disaster…
 
When Tyler’s manager arranges a daring publicity stunt and offers him as an auction item at Ava’s fundraising banquet, the bids come in quick and hot. Little did Ava expect the winner, a work colleague, to donate Tyler as Ava’s date. With all eyes on the Olympic athlete, Ava can’t refuse a romantic dance. But even though Tyler was the inspiration for Ava’s steamy novel, she refuses to accept his attention if it’s not real.
 
Will Tyler lose the one woman who caught his interest? Or will Ava push him away in an effort to prove she’s…
 

Nobody’s obligation.

Amazon ~ FREE on Kindle Unlimited



EXCERPT ONE:
Tyler slumped in the oversized chair wringing his hands nervously, wishing he was anywhere but here, but he couldn’t walk away now. No. It was his fault she was hurt and he would do the right thing. He would stay until he knew she was okay. Until he had the chance to apologise.
“I don’t get it,” he admitted. “What’d I do? I didn’t even speak to her.”
“It’s not you, Tyler,” Christopher assured him with a sly smirk.
Tyler found himself wondering if Christopher had any other faces. In the ten minutes that he had met him, Christopher had half smiled more times than anyone Tyler had ever known. It was the kind of half grin that said ‘I know something you don’t know,’ and Tyler was desperate to discover what was behind it. There was a quiet confidence that Christopher exuded that intimidated the hell out of Tyler and he wasn’t sure where it came from.
“What is it then?” he almost begged, not recognising his own whiny voice. Tyler watched as the men exchanged glances. They were silently debating how much to tell him and how much to keep to themselves. In a way he understood, but he was about to burst with frustration. “Please! Someone just fucking tell me.”
Michael signed heavily, then looked at Christopher, who barely nodded before he began to speak. “It’s not you, Tyler. And it is you.”
“That makes no sense!”
“Tyler, Ava might look like the tough ‘nothing can hurt me’ ice queen, but that is so far from the truth I doubt she can even see reality anymore. Ava is a romantic in every sense of the word. And it’s worse than that. She’s an optimistic romantic. But life has beaten her down so many times that by hiding behind the tough as nails disguise no one can get close enough to hurt her. No one can scale the walls she’s built. No one except you,” Michael explained.
Tyler’s mouth fell open unconsciously as the words sunk in. “B-But she doesn’t even know me,” he mumbled.
“But she does. Tyler, for as long as I have known Ava, you have been her hero in every sense of the word. You’ve been her inspiration. Her guiding light. You were the one thing that was able to pull her from the darkness when it closed in and threatened to swallow her whole,” Christopher added, his voice soft and soothing.

EXCERPT 2:
The sound of the clock ticking was driving him insane. Every second that counted off left Tyler feeling like he was waiting for his own execution. His frustration was boiling. Unable to sit any longer, he stood and paced. A caged lion was calmer. He knew he didn’t have the right to be pissed that she had kept him waiting—she didn’t even know he was there—but that didn’t calm him. He was used to getting his way and for some reason this girl, a girl he’d never set eyes on nor spoken to had gotten under his skin. And now she was keeping him waiting.
Tyler paused and stared out the window, attempting to focus his attention on something else but it didn’t help. Nothing did. The heavily tinted glass just showed him his own reflection, and what he saw scared him. He was tired, dishevelled, and his eyes were wild. “Shit!” Tyler muttered to himself running his huge hands across his face willing himself to calm down. He couldn’t confront her looking like this. She would take off. Screaming. And as much as he wanted to punish her, he wanted to talk to her more. He wanted to know why she had done it, but even more importantly was how. How’d she get into his head and understand him better than even he understood himself without him even knowing?
Hearing voices on the other side of the door made him freeze. For almost twelve hours he’d thought of nothing but this moment, but now it was here he was having second thoughts. It was too late. He was here now. Time to get some answers.
Tyler sunk into the lounge and grabbed a fist full of the nearest cushion. Sucking in deep breaths, he tried repeating reassurances to himself. It wasn’t working. But then he realised it. The anger had faded. The annoyance and frustration were gone. Instead he was filled with nerves like he had never experienced before.
The door creaked open and she appeared. Her face directed down the hallway as she finished her conversation. Her voice washed through his body and suddenly he was calm. Tyler quickly rubbed his clammy hands along his thighs as he rose to meet her. His eyes betrayed him and disclosed his curiosity. Thankful that she was still occupied with finishing up her discussion, he noticed she seemed slightly off balance in her orange pumps. His gaze snuck up her legs appreciatively as an unexpected warmth spread through his body. Clenching his fists, he forced his eyes higher. First he noticed the slight pull of the fabric across her well-endowed chest before landing on the wet spot on the top of her breast, which left it clingy and transparent. A shallow groan tumbled from the back of his throat as he forced his eyes higher and met hers.
Tyler gulped down his embarrassment. He’d been caught blatantly ogling her. He’d come to see her, to yell at her and make her apologise. Yet somehow, without even trying or knowing it, she had completely turned the tables on him.
Her eyes went wide as she realised who was standing before her. An involuntary gasp choked out only seconds before she paled and fell to the floor in an unconscious pile.



Rebecca, one of four kids to her parents who are both primary school teachers, was born in Wollongong on the south coast of Australia before moving to the country with her family. After a few years of embracing all that country life had to offer, the family relocated to Port Macquarie with its white sand beaches. After a brief period enjoying the sun and the surf they finally settled in Canberra where Rebecca still lives today. But all through her childhood a notepad and a book where never far away. These days Rebecca is an avid reader, and when she isn’t buried in a book or cheering on her beloved football team she’s spending time with her husband Robert and their overly spoilt dog Levi.
 
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Nobody Knows

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The 100-Word Challenge

The Thin Spiral Notebook blog issued a very special challenge this week: to write a 100-word story without using the letter “A”.

At first I didn’t think I could do it, but I did! Not my best writing ever (LOL), but it was fun to come up with alternative words.

Here’s my (very) humble contribution.

Ted and Tom were the best men in town for the job. Neither of them were timid or held much sense of decorum.

When Lilly decided to throw Millie the goodbye-to-single-life shindig, their very first thoughts were, “Let’s hire the Thompson brothers to strip for Millie.” But they didn’t know the brothers were both once Millie’s lovers.

The event didn’t quite go down like they expected it.  When the two erupted through the living room door, dressed in nothing else but the tiny loin cloths Ellie provided them, Millie first turned beet red, then killed over.

The boys, discovering they both knew Millie much too well, threw themselves onto each other, punching each other’s lights out. Coming to, Millie yelled bloody murder until her friends ushered the now-bloodied boys out.

The event would never be forgotten, being still the fodder for many fireside discussions.

The Importance of Hugs

You should never underestimate the power of a timely hug. I have never been much of a touchy-feely person, preferring that my personal space be respected even by close relatives. I feel almost claustrophobic if people get too close or too clingy. That said I sometimes feel the need for a hug.

As some of you know I’m a teacher. I’m surrounded by munchkins all day–the kind that wiggle, yell, talk nonstop and giggle uncontrollably at the simple mention of underwear. My husband often wonders why I refuse to go out on Fridays. It’s simple; I can barely move at the end of the week and my brain is mush. The couch and some non-threatening TV shows or movies are all I can handle by the end of the week.

Today there was something in the air. Teachers around the world have never been able to identify it, but we always know when it’s happening. There is even more giggling than usual, a lot of horseplay (which often ends up in tears), and you don’t even have to go as far as uttering “underwear” because even words like “eat” and “sit” provoke epic bursts of laughter that spread like wild fire amongst the munchkin hordes.

The simple act of climbing three steps and waiting for me to open the door to the classroom seems too complicated today and invariably one student accidently pushes the one behind him stirring up a undeserving rant of accusations. He did it on purpose. He pushed me off the steps. It was Timmy, Mrs. Non-Hugger

We somehow manage to enter the classroom without further incidents, but next thing I know little Timmy is in tears at his seat.

“What happened, Timmy?” I ask, surprised by his outburst of emotion.

Little Timmy, a quirky sweet boy, looks up at me with tears rolling down his cheeks and says, “I need a hug.”

This is where Mrs-Stay-Out-Of-My-Space opens up her arms and says, “Honey, hugs are always available for free in my classroom”  After a good long hug and a bit of crying , Timmy recovers from the hurt of being wrongly accused by his classmate and he’s ready for some giggling with the rest of the class.

That hug did my soul some good, as well. But the good feeling doesn’t last long, for another munchkin has a major meltdown over the fact that our time is up, and we must return to their regular classroom. He wants to finish coloring his Miss Nelson from the day before. Nothing–and I mean nothing–sways him from the fact he WANTS to finish it. I try to talk him into accepting the bribe of a small box of crayons to take home, but it backfires. Now, he wants to take it, but he wants to make sure he can return it tomorrow.

“But honey, tomorrow is Saturday and I won’t be here. You can give it to me on Monday.”

“NOOOOOOOOO…I want to return it tomorrow. TOMORROW…you don’t understand.”

“I do understand. You are frustrated because you wanted to finish your picture, but I also have rules I must follow and it’s time to take you all back to your classes.”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOO…you don’t understand.” Followed by howling that would make any wolf proud, and a river of tears.

I now need a hug really badly. I even play with the idea of following Timmy’s example, turn to the rest of the group and ask for one. However, I really need to get them to their classes. I call a friend in the office and she comes to my rescue. She stays and talks with my out-of-control-sweetums while I deliver the others safely to their classroom teachers.

I have one last errand to run before returning for the semi-isolation of my room. I just walked in a classroom to drop off a reading tool when I feel little arms wrapping themselves around my waist. It’s my “attachment”. I call her that because she likes to walk “attached” to me.

“Missed you, Mrs. Non-Hugger,” she says, looking at me with her innocent, sweet eyes.

And just like that my headache fades (at least for a few minutes) and I feel good again. Never underestimate the power of a hug.

“You don’t know what you’re alive for until you know what...

“You don’t know what you’re alive for until you know what you’d die for.”

════ COVER REVEAL ════ 


DEFYING DESTINY by Shelly Morgan
Forsaken Sinners MC Series #3
Cover Designer: TOJ Publishing Services
════ SYNOPSIS ════ 
Twenty-six-year-old Louie Creighton knows there is something inside him he can’t control…

Ever since he can remember, Louie has had a short fuse. People always said he’d amount to nothing. He wasn’t smart enough to get into college. He wasn’t tough enough to be a Marine. No one believed in him.
 
No one except his father, Mike Creighton…

Louie’s father always taught him to turn the other cheek. He was a true mentor, teaching him how to be a man in a world of cowards. But when his father is murdered the day after scratching a winning lottery ticket, Louie’s inner monster can’t be contained. He becomes determined to track down the suspect at any cost. All along, he struggles to live by his father’s motto—To find out what you live for, you have to discover what you’d die for.
 
Then he meets Harlow McPherson…

Her entire life has been a battle. Harlow grew up in the system, bouncing from one foster home to the next. Most weren’t that bad, but some were hell.

The only comfort was the fact she wasn’t alone. Her twin brother, Hendrix, was always there—until he took his own life years later, abandoning Harlow in a cruel world. Unable to forgive, it’s Louie who reminds her there’s still hope.
 
When Louie unleashes his inner monster, and Harlow finally faces her demons, will they lose themselves to the darkness, or risk it all Defying Destiny?




════ Forsaken Sinners MC Series ════
Book 1: Rewriting Destiny: http://amzn.to/1MAjRMg
Book 2: Fighting Destiny: http://amzn.to/1ReitV4
Book 2.5: Born Into Destiny: http://amzn.to/1RIIDLq

════ MEET AUTHOR SHELLY MORGAN ════ 
I grew up in a small town in Iowa. I have 2 older sisters and amazing parents. Growing up, I was always a daddy’s girl, hanging out with him in the garage, fishing, and building stuff. I loved to play softball and swimming, but reading, telling stories, and writing were my passion, even at a young age. I took a break from writing for a while, but you could always find me with a book in my hand.

I have three children – two boys and a girl. They are my whole world. Even when I’m having the worst day ever, they brighten up my day and make me smile.

A few years ago, there was this story that would always play out in my head and no matter how many times I went through it, from beginning to end, it would never fade. So I decided to put it on paper. I didn’t plan on publishing it, but when it was almost done, a friend asked to read it. She said it was a story that needed to be shared. And that’s what started my writing career.

I love all genres of books, and even though I started with writing MC Romance, I have a whole book of ideas, so you can expect more from me than just MC, though romance is in my blood.

Even though I currently work two jobs, my ultimate dream is to become a full time author. I want to be able to spend my days filling pages with stories. I want to be the reason people find a reason to smile or laugh from lines on a page. Reading a book allows me to live in someone else’s shoes, even if only for a few minutes. It’s a way to leave my life and troubles behind and I want to be help others do that as well.

LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/shelly-morgan/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Shelly-Morgan-809266812448318/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10914599.Shelly_Morgan
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Shelly_Morgan34

Hand Over Fist

––––––  COVER REVEAL –––––– 
Coming May 3rd from Limitless Publishing…


HAND OVER FIST by Michael Ross
Cover Designer: REDBIRD DESIGNS
–– SYNOPSIS ––
When an old friend disappears, Martin learns nothing is what it seems…

Martin Russell can barely face the future. With dismal life prospects and an estranged family, he is at the end of his rope. When an old friend, Hannah, elbows her way back into his life, Martin’s luck begins to turn around.
 
Hidden within the shadows of evil, there must be some good…

Ex-policeman Bobby Tanner lost everything one rage-filled night. Now he runs a reading group for alcoholics where he meets a young drug dealer, Zack, who disturbs him in a way that’s hard to define. Bobby soon discovers the teenager is in over his head and has been dealing with a despicable individual known as The Chemist.
 
The roots of evil run deeper than we imagine…

Martin’s lucky streak begins to unravel when Hannah suddenly goes missing, and he turns to a friend of a friend, Bobby, for help. Thrust into an underworld empire of corruption and half-truths, he learns his friend may not be who he thought she was.

In a shadowed world of deception, stalkers, and drug dealers, Bobby and Martin must uncover the truth, and fast…

Lives depend on it.

 

–– ABOUT THE AUTHOR ––

MICHAEL ROSS

It was a strange and twisting road that led to the publication of my first novel. From my humble beginnings, as an office clerk, to ownership of a multi million dollar business I always maintained my love for literature.

Born and raised in Bristol, England. I spent most of my life in business, my companies turning over in the region of $500 million. The majority of that time marketing cars, eventually owning the largest Saab specialist in the world, before a bitter divorce forced me rethink my priorities. Particularly between 2003 and 2005 when I had to accept that I was no longer a millionaire but literally penniless. I avoided bankruptcy by the skin of my teeth and slowly rebuilt my life

This led me to the life changing decision to leave the bustling city and move to live halfway up a mountain in the Welsh valleys. At the same time I started a part time six year English Literature course at Bristol University, and attended creative writing classes at Cardiff University. I left school at sixteen and this was my first taste of further education and an immense challenge.

I eventually adjusted my thinking to the academic life, and on 30 June 2015 had confirmation of my 2.1(Hons) degree from Bristol University. At the same time I also won the prestigious Hopkins Prize for my essay on Virginia Woolf and the unsaid within her text. Now the university courses are finished it will, with any luck, gives me plenty of extra time that I can devote to my fiction writing.

Thanks to the university experiences, my interest in English literature has flourished over recent years. Hopefully I have evolved as a writer from my earlier work in short stories (over ninety of them.) Although interestingly my first three novels have all been developed from a long forgotten short story.

Life is, once again, very good, and I live very happily halfway up a mountain, in the Welsh Valleys, with my wonderful partner Mari, and our rescue dog Wolfie.

Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/michael-ross/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelross.writer
Website: https://mikerosswriter.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikerosswriter