K.T. Castle's Blog, page 17
May 17, 2017
How to Know If He’s Really Your Man
How To Know If He’s Really Your Man
by Dawn Burnett
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Genre
Self-Help (non-fiction)
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Blurb
Wellness strategist Dawn Burnett has an impressive track record for helping people unlock better health and greater vitality. Like all of us, however, she has had a life filled with highs and lows. The child of divorced parents and a survivor of abuse, she was in a toxic marriage and then, just after her divorce, was hit by a drunk driver. These events, and the discovery that her son had a life-threatening condition, led her to a wake-up call. Studying to become an alternative medical practitioner to heal her child, she also sought answers on how to heal her own life. Along the way, she charted a course to ultimate wellness on a path filled with valuable lessons, deep wisdom, and insight on a variety of issues—including personal relationships. She recognized that becoming trapped by the toxic emotions of our past can weigh down our spirit and sabotage any chance we have at happiness today or in the future.
The result is Connect, a light but powerful little book that provides humorous yet effective ways to address key issues facing serious relationships. Filled with personal, engaging stories, complemented by captivating illustrations, it reveals: the pitfalls of dating in the digital age; the many ways we unintentionally sabotage our relationships; why we find ourselves choosing mates from the never-ending ‘carousel of losers’; and how we judge ourselves—and others—without mercy. The antidote is a simple, empowering plan readers can implement themselves to heal their own hearts, pinpoint their true dreams and desires, and find meaningful and lasting bonds with their partners — whether they have already met or are still looking. This amazing little book is big on success, and will help readers finally attain what they outwardly say they want—without the emotional resistance associated with trying to change their partner.
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Excerpt
Have you reached a level of consciousness where you wake up and ask yourself why you seem to be on a merry-go-round? Do you wonder why the years pass but you find yourself continually back at the same place?
That’s life’s way of show you that something in you needs to change. It’s not what is happening around you.
Maybe you say you want a guy who will love you, settle down with you, and treat you with respect, but you keep attracting the same bad seed: the cheater guy, the abusive guy, or the non-committal guy.
Why does this keep happening? Is it your bad luck or a lack of good men where you live? No, it’s your old, conditioned consciousness showing up as the negative experiences of your past.
These experiences go as deep as your cellular level, and just like other toxins you might ingest, they can make you physically sick. This is why yoga has become so popular; it positively impacts the central nervous system by calming it down. In return, those toxic thoughts that have been trapped for years suddenly start releasing.
So slap on that spandex and get moving. Let your body flow, and soon you’ll be seeing clearly and the merry-go-round will come to a stop. Then it’s your choice to get off of it.
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Author Bio and Links
[image error]Dawn Burnett (Orlando, Florida) is founder of A New Dawn Natural Solutions and the co-host of the radio show Wake Up and Listen. She provides wellness strategies to those who are frustrated with their current health situations and are ready to embrace alternative healing solutions, healing their bodies—and their lives—from the inside out. She has an impressive roster of television and speaking appearances including Fox, ABC and TBN, and is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post. Dawn is the author of True Confessions of the Heart and is co-author of Jack Canfield’s The Road to Success, Vol. 2.
WEBSITE ⟡ BLOG ⟡ FACEBOOK ⟡ TWITTER
BUY YOUR COPY TODAY!
WALMART ⟡ BARNES AND NOBLE ⟡ BOOKS A MILLION
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Giveaway
Dawn will be awarding a digital copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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Hello, everyone!
I’m really excited for today’s post since it’s the first time even that I have another author collaborate with me.
Most of you know that I’m writing the third book of the series The Bridesmaid’s Checklist (click on the title to learn more about it). In the series I have colorful characters that represent strong independent woman of our present. Kassandra, the main character, has had a series of bad experiences in the past and sadly she’s so “emotionally damaged” by them that she’s unable to see the great man that now is in her life. A man that loves her unconditionally.
When I saw Dawn’s book and its title it immediately called to me. There so many people out there willing to connect, to find that perfect blissful relationship that gives them a happily ever after. Sometimes it isn’t that simple. I have had different feedback from my characters dynamics going from “I so understand her” all the way to “How could she? I wanted to slap her!” since we all deal with our personal challenges differently according to our conditioned consciousness creating patterns that we repeat and repeat and repeat.
In Kassandra’s case, she dealt with a very toxic relationship when she was younger, and because of it she’s made a series of mistakes that lead to some very negative experiences. So I asked Dawn, being an expert in wellness, to point out to us the signs of toxic relationships.
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7 SIGNS YOU ARE IN A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP
Your relationship with your partner drains you.
You are constantly trying to make your partner happy.
You feel tense and uncomfortable around your partner, like you are walking on eggshells.
Your partner is very critical of you, and you feel you can never do anything right.
You feel lonely or empty when you are with your partner.
Your partner keeps you at arm’s length emotionally.
You feel bad about yourself or think that you are never good enough when you are around your partner.
If any of these sound familiar I encourage you to re-evaluate your relationship. But keep in mind that it’s due to our past experiences how we deal with our present. If we want to change thing around and stop relating ourselves with a carbon copy of our past experiences, it is necessary to make some chances.
You need to heal your past before you can move forward.
-Dawn Brunette
There’s many ways to cope with repatterning our lives: therapy, literature or even wine (kidding on the wine comment… only a little bit 
May 16, 2017
Plus One
Plus One
by Aleatha Romig
A fun, sexy new stand-alone from New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig.
He’s sexy and confident, the kind of man every woman notices. You know, the one with the to-die-for body and panty-melting smirk. And then there’s the way his designer suits drape over his broad shoulders and big…well, we’ve all heard the rumors, the ones that say he’s up for any challenge.
But I can’t see him that way. He’s my boss—technically one of the owners of the company where I work—and definitely not in my league. Men like him don’t notice women like me, and they don’t date them.
And I don’t date men like him.
Until that one time that I catch him in a compromising position when I’m also in need of a last-minute date for a wedding…and then it’s not real. It’s blackmail.
For one weekend, he’s my plus-one.
Beautiful and unobtainable.
From the moment she walked into my office with those stunning blue eyes and crazy sensual curves, she’s been on my mind. Three years and never once has she acted interested in me. Usually I flash a million-dollar smile and women fall to their knees, some literally.
Not her.
Then on the occasion that I agree to let another woman do that—fall to her knees—guess who happens to catch us?
It may not be the most conventional way to get on her radar, but I didn’t get this far in business without knowing when to seize an opportunity. If this sexy little firecracker with perfectly kissable lips thinks she can blackmail me into attending her cousin’s wedding, I’m going to jump at the chance to be her plus-one.
You love her darker side. Now it’s time to meet Leatha, the lighter side of Aleatha, as she trades her renowned twists and turns for laughs and love with this sexy new stand-alone romance, PLUS ONE.
PRE-ORDER NOW
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | B&N
Chapter 1
I push the thought of my mother’s call away and concentrate on my friend, Shana. As I do, the slippery napkin escapes my hold. Quickly, I slide from my seat to retrieve it.
“Excuse me,” a deep voice says as black leather loafers stop precariously close to where I’m now kneeling to rescue my napkin.
Seeing the shoes, I look up and suck in a deep breath.
Towering above me are long legs covered in tailored trousers. As I follow them up, they lead to a trim waist, a black belt, and a white shirt that buttons over a broad chest. I barely swallow the lump in my throat as I recognize the wide shoulders covered with the matching suit jacket. Seizing the napkin, I stand, suddenly face to face with one of the owners of the company where I work.
My face burns with embarrassment as his shimmering green eyes narrow and head tilts. Inches away from me is one of the handsomest men I’ve ever met. He should be on the cover of GQ, not gracing the halls of Buchanan and Willis.
His firm lips form a tight smirk and cheeks rise in amusement. “Miss Jones.”
Staring into the sea of emerald, I try to pretend I wasn’t just on my knees in a chic restaurant in front of Duncan Willis.
“Mr. Willis,” I respond, my voice cracking. Nervously I take a step backward. As if the moment weren’t awkward enough, I wobble, teetering precariously on my high heels.
Swiftly, he reaches out, grabs my elbow, and steadies my footing. Though he just saved me from making an even bigger fool out of myself by falling face-first into what I can only imagine is a hard, defined chest, my mind is suddenly consumed with the electricity of his touch. The energy heats my skin as his grasp lingers.
About the Author
Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of nearly thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!
Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.
In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.
Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and a member of PEN America. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
NEWSLETTER | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK| AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST
May 15, 2017
The Wright Boss Review
A new stand alone office romance from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde…
I’ve always had one rule:
Don’t mix business and pleasure.
But then Landon Wright comes home to his family’s construction company with a broken back and a beaten heart and ends up as my new sexy boss. As the office gets heated, I’m thinking about throwing the rulebook out the window.
If only there weren’t a million reasons this could never work.
We may have shared a single perfect kiss, but I can’t let our intense connection cloud my judgment. Not with everything I’ve worked for on the line.
Dating your boss is so very, very wrong…even if he feels so Wright.
✦ Amazon ✦ iBooks ✦ B&N ✦ Kobo ✦ Google Play
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K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.
WEBSITE ✦ FACEBOOK ✦ TWITTER ✦ INSTAGRAM
My Review
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Landon Wright is a professional golfer and, in a very revel way that I admire, refuses to be part of his family’s business.
I’d wanted to make my name as someone other than a Wright.
Throughout the story there’s several puns of the main character’s last name that I constantly found hilarious. Landon’s life, on the other hand, was far from perfect. Due to an injury, he’s unable to play golf for a while and eventually has to work in the company he rather not be, his family’s. In his personal life he was unhappily married to a complete monster, one that was constantly manipulating him into staying together, until he finally realizes their marriage isn’t worth his time and effort.
While he is still married Landon finds comfort on an old acquaintance, Heidi Martin. She is a very strong and independent woman that happenes to fall in love with a very complicated man.
Landon Wright was not right for me.
As they both know they should, they stay as far as possible from each other. Or rather until Landon seeks her out when he leaves his wife, but Heidi doesn’t believe him for a second. It takes real effort from Landon to convince her that he divorcing for once and for all.
Since the beginning their attraction is palpable. K.A. Linde makes it easy for the reader to feel their conflicted emotions. Suddenly Landon is appointed as the person in charge of Heidi’s department and he becomes The Wright Boss. She has a very strict policy of not dating the boss, but when Landon becomes her boss we can’t blame her for bending the rules.
I’d tried to forget him. I’d tried to stay away from him.
I’d tried not to look at him. All I did was fail.
Unfortunately that policy doesn’t only apply to Heidi’s life, but to the Wright company. Landon and she make the sensible thing and try to keep their relationship platonic… try being the key word of the statement.
My brain was saying, Walk away. Don’t give in. Keep your defenses up.
My body was saying, Touch me, feel me, devour me.
There’s several scenes that I love about the story. I personally admire how sure Landon was of his feelings toward Heidi, specially since he just came out of a very nasty relationship.
“Heidi,” I murmured.
“Hmm?”
“Look at me.” Her eyes opened hesitantly, as if she couldn’t face her own reality. As if she would give in the minute she saw the depth of affection in my eyes.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Falling for you.”
Heidi on her part struggles with the relationship. Landon is her best friend’s (and roommate’s) high school boyfriend, which was forever ago. I respect that Heidi is concerned for her friend’s feelings, more so because apparently their relationship didn’t end in the best therms. But what readers learn in The Wright Brother is that her friend actually falls in love and starts dating Landon’s brother.
We were long over, and she was head over heels for my brother…
and I was head over heels for her best friend.
The Wright’s family dynamics is very interesting. I kept wondering what happened in the previous book since Landon’s brother and ex-girlfriend are an important part of the plot. I have to clarify that I didn’t need the information from the precious book to understand or enjoy this one, but since I’m super curious (and by that I mean nosy) I’d like to read the previous book to have all the information about this interesting family.
Because, when you found a love that was inescapable,
you held on and never let go.
Overall The Wright Boss is a story that’s sexy, funny and easy to read. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. There were some part of the book that had me really mortified, I kept expecting someone to find them out in their amorous escapades and I did and didn’t want to turn the page to learn if they were going to get caught.
I know I’ll be reading the rest of the series soon and encourage anyone to read it too.
Totally recommended!
May 11, 2017
Plus One
by Aleatha Romig
A fun, sexy new stand-alone from New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig.
He’s sexy and confident, the kind of man every woman notices. You know, the one with the to-die-for body and panty-melting smirk. And then there’s the way his designer suits drape over his broad shoulders and big…well, we’ve all heard the rumors, the ones that say he’s up for any challenge.
But I can’t see him that way. He’s my boss—technically one of the owners of the company where I work—and definitely not in my league. Men like him don’t notice women like me, and they don’t date them.
And I don’t date men like him.
Until that one time that I catch him in a compromising position when I’m also in need of a last-minute date for a wedding…and then it’s not real. It’s blackmail.
For one weekend, he’s my plus-one.
Beautiful and unobtainable.
From the moment she walked into my office with those stunning blue eyes and crazy sensual curves, she’s been on my mind. Three years and never once has she acted interested in me. Usually I flash a million-dollar smile and women fall to their knees, some literally.
Not her.
Then on the occasion that I agree to let another woman do that—fall to her knees—guess who happens to catch us?
It may not be the most conventional way to get on her radar, but I didn’t get this far in business without knowing when to seize an opportunity. If this sexy little firecracker with perfectly kissable lips thinks she can blackmail me into attending her cousin’s wedding, I’m going to jump at the chance to be her plus-one.
You love her darker side. Now it’s time to meet Leatha, the lighter side of Aleatha, as she trades her renowned twists and turns for laughs and love with this sexy new stand-alone romance, PLUS ONE.
PRE-ORDER NOW
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | B&N
Chapter 1
I push the thought of my mother’s call away and concentrate on my friend, Shana. As I do, the slippery napkin escapes my hold. Quickly, I slide from my seat to retrieve it.
“Excuse me,” a deep voice says as black leather loafers stop precariously close to where I’m now kneeling to rescue my napkin.
Seeing the shoes, I look up and suck in a deep breath.
Towering above me are long legs covered in tailored trousers. As I follow them up, they lead to a trim waist, a black belt, and a white shirt that buttons over a broad chest. I barely swallow the lump in my throat as I recognize the wide shoulders covered with the matching suit jacket. Seizing the napkin, I stand, suddenly face to face with one of the owners of the company where I work.
My face burns with embarrassment as his shimmering green eyes narrow and head tilts. Inches away from me is one of the handsomest men I’ve ever met. He should be on the cover of GQ, not gracing the halls of Buchanan and Willis.
His firm lips form a tight smirk and cheeks rise in amusement. “Miss Jones.”
Staring into the sea of emerald, I try to pretend I wasn’t just on my knees in a chic restaurant in front of Duncan Willis.
“Mr. Willis,” I respond, my voice cracking. Nervously I take a step backward. As if the moment weren’t awkward enough, I wobble, teetering precariously on my high heels.
Swiftly, he reaches out, grabs my elbow, and steadies my footing. Though he just saved me from making an even bigger fool out of myself by falling face-first into what I can only imagine is a hard, defined chest, my mind is suddenly consumed with the electricity of his touch. The energy heats my skin as his grasp lingers.
About the Author
Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of nearly thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!
Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.
In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.
Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and a member of PEN America. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
NEWSLETTER | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK| AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST
May 9, 2017
Real Dirty
I have everything a guy could want—a new single burning up the charts, more money than a simple country boy could spend, and a woman I’m planning to marry.
Until she doesn’t show up for my proposal.
The life I thought was so perfect, isn’t.
The guy who thought he had everything, doesn’t.
I’ve got my heart on lockdown, but life sends me straight into the path of a mouthy bartender who puts me in my place.
Now the only place I want to put her is under me.
I thought I was done with love, but maybe I’m just getting started.
Amazon | iBooks | BN | Kobo | Google Play
In Nashville, country stars are a dime a dozen.
I swore I’d never get caught up with one, but Boone Thrasher made a liar out of me.
I said I’d never put my heart on the line, but he didn’t ask before he stole it.
Now we’re facing my worst fears, and we’ll see if this country boy is tough enough to see it through.
Girls like me don’t get happily ever afters… but maybe he’ll prove that wrong too.
PRE-ORDER NOW – RELEASING MAY 23
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Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.
FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | TWITTER | PINTEREST
Stay After Class
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Stay After Class
by A.C. Rose
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Genre
Contemporary Romance
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Blurb
A passionate professor. A smitten student. An attraction that cannot be denied.
Amanda Slade has a major crush on her sexy art professor and wants his help with an important extracurricular activity: Project VirgEnd.
Professor Jem Nichols knows falling for his beautiful student is a bad idea but he just can’t say goodbye as the semester ends. But the professor refuses to hastily take her virtue. Instead, he wants to slowly teach her the most important lessons of lovemaking. As she experiences first-time pleasures and passions, love blooms.
By the time they’re done, he’ll know every inch of her body. But as her deadline for deflowerment looms, will the professor be the one to take Amanda all the way? This is a sweet yet steamy love story.
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Excerpt
When I arrived, the interior of the gallery looked dark and deserted, but he stepped to the door to let me in. He wore a black button-up shirt, the tails hanging over his well-worn jeans. His sleeves were rolled up, showing those strong, muscular hands. His eyes were dark and mysterious, yet his smile said he was happy to see me.
Ushering me in, he locked the door behind us and took me into his arms. It hit me how big he was, in comparison to my small frame. My head was within the reach of his chin when in his arms, and his body towered over mine. I felt small, but safe in his arms.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, kissing the top of my head, pulling me closer.
“You have? I thought it was just me, missing you.” I nuzzled into his chest.
“Were that the truth, things would be a lot easier,” he said with a sigh. “Then this would just be a student crush to contend with as opposed to both of us having, um, feelings. But—”
He paused, and pulled away a few inches, stopping himself.
“But what?”
“I am afraid I am going to lose my resolve to not ravish you, so tonight, this calls for a new sketch.”
“What if someone comes in this time?”
“They won’t. I have a contractual agreement with the gallery that no one can be in this space or come in the door after eight p.m. while I am working on the installation. So it’s all ours.”
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Author Bio and Links
A.C. Rose is a sex and love journalist who also loves to write very steamy romance books.
As a former editor of an iconic women’s magazine, sexy stories and beautiful men have long been her beat.
She has written extensively on sexuality, relationships, female desire, and the “kissing book” industry.
Has real life provided fodder for her fictional worlds? She’ll never tell.
She is a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), Passionate Ink (PI), and the Author’s Guild (AG).
Connect with A.C. Rose
Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / E-mail
Subscribe to her newsletter here and join her VIP list.
THE BOOK IS $0.99 DURING THE TOUR
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Giveaway
The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
May 8, 2017
Fraud Review
Review by K.T. Castle
About FRAUD
From USA Today Bestselling author J.L. Berg comes a sexy standalone about love, lies and every dirty little thing in between.
It wasn’t just a job.
It was my way back to the top.
After losing my position as a journalist for one of the biggest news publications in the world, I knew I’d do anything to get it back.
Even if it meant breaking a few hearts to get there.
She was the hottest author in the country.
Known only by a pen name, there wasn’t a person alive who wasn’t dying to discover her true identity.
And I’d figured it out.
Her real name was Kate O’Malley and not only did I plan on finding her, but I fully intended on learning every dirty secret she had and exploiting it for my own gain.
But I underestimated my prey.
I didn’t anticipate how her words would intoxicate me, or how the curves of her body would consume me.
I never meant to fall in love.
And now I had a choice to make.
Do I give up everything for the woman I set out to destroy, or walk away, making me the biggest fraud of all?
READ AN EXCERPT HERE
Add FRAUD to Goodreads
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Sign up for J.L. Berg’s newsletter to be notified when it goes live on more retailers.
About J.L. Berg
J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series, The Walls Duet, and the Lost & Found Duet. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she’s not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.
Connect with J.L. Berg
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter
My Review
Fraud is a sexy standalone that deals with the love life of a famous author that hides behind her pen name.
“They were all settle with kids of various ages, and I was… well, I had a cat.”
Katelyn O’Malley is a loan processor that works in a college. She’s kind of a loaner and hides from the world behind books and writing. Her best friend, Jane, happens to be the only family she has and encourages her to publish her novel. Kate soon becomes a smashing success as an author, and while as Laura Stone has an aura of sexiness and sexuality, Kate is portrait as nothing more than a sweet and innocent (very innocent) girl.
“But, secretly, I was watching her, noticing the intensity in her expression as she worked and the way she’d close her eyes, as if she were actually living the words she typed. As her teeth bit down over her bottom lip, I found myself leaning forward in anticipation, wondering what fantasy was being played out in her head. Was it finished? Was it dirty? Maybe a little of both.”
Killian is a man on a mission. A series of bold publications in his career as a journalist gets him fired and blacklisted from his world. He is desperate to get back to the top. He is determined to use information he stole to reveal Laura Stone and he is shameless about it using every resource to his disposition. Including making Kate fall in love with him.
“Kare or Laura– it didn’t matter. I was falling for this woman.”
I didn’t take long for Killian to discover that Kate is the woman of his life, the one that makes everything better, the one he’s willing to change his life for, the one he doesn’t want to hurt. At the beginning he’s presented as a selfish ass, and eventually we learn why he uses everyone around him and refuses to see women as something that’s worth his time.
“Love had destroyed him. It’d destroyed them both. And, after picking up the pieces of my father’s shattered heart, I’d vowed that I’d never make the same mistake. I’d never fall in love.”
Kate and Killian are perfect for each other. They compensate each other in their strengths and flaws. During the story they find out that even if they’re two halves of a broken heart, they fit perfectly and make each other whole.
“All I had to do was own it. To be Laura Stone. The problem? I wasn’t even sure I knew how to be Katelyn O’Malley yet.”
Eventually both their truths come out and they have to face them. The secondary characters in the story have an important participation in Kate and Killian finding their happily ever after. Jane is a beautiful strong character that help them both out, and she’s Kate’s support system in every aspect of her life. Liam is Killian’s brother and he’s the reason Kate finds out about Killian’s initial intentions towards her. He seem’s like the best kind of trouble, and we’ll find all about him and he’s secrets in the next book of the series: Hacker.
“You have to wipe the slate clean when you’re starting over. Otherwise, you’re nothing but a fraud.”
I read this book in one sit. I enjoy it, it made me laugh, it made me upset and I wanted to slap Killian and Liam a couple of times. I totally identified myself with Kate, she’s reserved and shy, but her relationship with Killian helps her bloom into the woman she wanted to be. Kate and Killian deserve to be together. They’re better people when they’re together, not only as a couple but individually. I really enjoyed their story.
Solo
by Lauren E. Rico
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Genre
Contemporary New Adult Romance
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Blurb
When graduate student Katherine Brenner walked into my class, I couldn’t stand her—all perfect skin and big, blue eyes—just like the woman who broke my heart.
If it wasn’t for that blizzard, if her car hadn’t broken down outside my house, if she hadn’t looked amazing by the firelight, I never would have kissed her. No matter how hard I try, every excuse I make not to see her comes up flat.
I can’t stop thinking of her lips. Or the way her curves fit perfectly in my hands. There’s a million reasons why this won’t work. I’m her professor. It’s against university policy.
And if this gets out, I could lose everything.
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Excerpt
I’m melting into him. For the first time, I’m not fighting against Drew Markham. I’m moving toward him, with him. It happens slowly for the first few seconds as we’re hesitant in our actions and unsure of one another’s intentions. But somewhere within those inches we both draw the same conclusion. I lurch toward him and he catches me in his arms, both of us falling backward onto the couch. Our lips connect with a ferocity that is jarring.
My hands are under his shirt, feeling the smooth plane of his back, absorbing his warmth through my skin. We’re both gasping and panting, pushing and pulling. And then he stops. I nearly fall off the couch when I no longer have the resistance of his body to push against. I pull back and look up at him, confused.
“W-what? What is it?”
His eyes are closed and he’s shaking his head. His face is a mask of regret.
“Drew?”
“I can’t. I’m sorry, Katherine. You…me…”
He gestures toward the four empty bottles of wine on the coffee table. “We’ve both had way too much. You’re still not a hundred percent well. I’m your professor. You’re my student. There are a million different reasons why we need to stop this. Why I need to stop this. Right now. Right. Now.”
I take a deep breath and extricate myself from what’s left of his embrace.
“I don’t know where that came from,” he’s muttering, more to himself, than to me. “What’s wrong with me? I know better.”
With a sigh, I wonder the same thing about myself. We hate one another. Don’t we? Apparently not. But even I, with my limited knowledge of psychology, recognize that there’s a very fine line between love and hate. Not that I love him or anything. But I certainly wouldn’t mind another one of those kisses.
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Author Bio and Links
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Lauren Rico was going to be principal French horn of the New York Philharmonic. That was HER plan, anyway. The New York Philharmonic had no idea of her intentions, and that’s probably a good thing, since she wasn’t an especially good French horn player!
Lauren was, however, an exceptionally good classical music radio host. Calling herself a “Classical Music Reanimator,” she has made a career of demystify classical music for her audiences by taking it off a dusty old pedestal and putting it into a modern context.
It’s only been over the last couple of years that Lauren has discovered a passion for writing, which she’s managed to combine with her love and knowledge of the classical music world.
You can hear Lauren Rico on SiriusXM’s Symphony Hall Channel; on WQXR and WSHU-FM in the New York City metro; WSMR in Tampa/Sarasota, FL; WDAV in Charlotte, NC and KMFA in Austin, TX
Links
Website / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter
Buy Links
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Giveaway
Lauren will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
May 4, 2017
How to create the perfect cover
Hi, everyone!
This has been such an exciting year.
Now I’m giving other authors a hand here in the blog. It’s so exciting to learn so much about people working the same trade!
I’ll start doing author interviews soon, so if there’s anything you could think of asking an author send me an email.
One of the questions that often arise for author is about the cover.
Is that how you picture your character?
Where did you get the image from?
Is it accurate? because when I was reading I imagined it differently.
I’ve been asked this an other questions. So I thought you might want to know about my covers.
Purchase my books here
Laura's Wedding / Marisol's Wedding
I always work hard to get the best images for my covers. There’s plenty of options to do so, like downloading images from sites such as Pexels and Shuttershock (my personal favorites). But I really want to offer my readers something that’s original and excusive, I wouldn’t want them to find the same picture in another cover, so Victor (my designer) and I do a lot of work to create beautiful pristine artwork.
Laura’s Wedding
[image error]In my first book, Laura’s Wedding, I needed a portrait of Laura and Edward with the background of Bora Bora, where the wedding “took place”. I had the opportunity to use a picture from a couple of beautiful models who never before used their images in a book. Those pictures are from their actual wedding, and they were kind enough to allow me to use them. For the background picture we actually used an image of Hawaii (from the models’ honeymoon, hehe), not Bora Bora but we made it work.
So you see how we used everything we had at our disposition to create the final product. I’d haven’t visited Bora Bora, so pictures from the exotic island weren’t an option at the time.
Marisol’s Wedding
[image error]Now, from my second book, I wanted to follow the same style. A breath taking background with a stunning model that once again was looking straight at the reader. As with Laura, I found someone who was willing to allow me to use her wedding pictures to portrait Marisol. But in this case, I wanted a real picture of the actual setting of the wedding.
Marisol’s wedding, in the story, happened in Finca La Devoción. A small hacienda in Atotonilco in San Miguel Allende, México.
I visited the finca last year for a wedding, so when I was writing Marisol’s book it easily came to mind while picturing settings. I even had some great pictures of the event and place, but sometimes our “great” pictures aren’t cover worthy. So I did the only thing I could think of doing, contacting the manager of La Devoción and asking them for pictures.
Surprisingly they were kind enough to allow me to use their images and they gave me their blessings. Now I want you to know a little bit of who they are.
Finca La Devoción
Finca La Devoción is a place where they want to create a merry space for any special event. They have an natural organic architecture, with great yards, a clay-cobbled esplanades, water fountains and a millenary aqueduct.
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They offer a beautiful house with two bedrooms and four terraces, they also have twelve bedrooms (each of them with their bathroom), a lovley spa with jacuzzi, thermalwaters, and a salon with a warm kitchen, colorful aviary, water mirrors, tented gardens, parking lot and the mezcaleria “El Tinieblo”.
I invite you to visit San Miguel Allende, a place considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and drop by Atotonilco to visit its sactuary and finca. You will certainly have a wonderful adventure visiting their vineyard and looking at the amazing scenery.
Regardless if you read my book or not, San Miguel Allende and Finca La Devoción are a beautiful place to visit.
Book cover design process
Design a cover for a novel is not an easy task. You need to know about your genre, your audience and many other things. It is always recommended that you hire a professional designer who has experience in this area. There are some very affordable sites that may help you out, such as fiverr or The Book Designer. If you decide to give it a try and create your own design there’s several software you could use to accomplish it. You could go as simple as Word and PowerPoint, an online program such as PicMonkey or Canva, or go pro with Photoshop.
Start by making some research. It is extremely important that you know your niche upside down. Look at the most important authors in your genre and study their covers. Choose your favorite and keep them in mind while designing your cover.
Think about the elements you want to include. Sure you’ll need an image and title, but what else do you need? What information are other authors including? What information would you like to include? Make a list of the elements that you must have in your cover, spine and backcover.
Make sure your designer has enough information about the book. Idealy he or she will take sometime to read the book and know what it is about. If this is not possible, you need to let the designer know about the story and its characters. You could write a small burlb and a list of important elements to consider.
Always have several options. When creating a cover you can’t settle for having one option and sticking with it, regardless who is creating the cover you’ll need several drafts to choose from. Ask for at least three option that you’ll then analize and consider.
Express your likes and dislikes. Something is not right with the cover the designer came up with? Make sure to mention it. Most writers aren’t visual, that’s why sometimes we struggle explaining what we want. Be sure to give your designer feedback about the things you liked about the options and specially to point out the things you didn’t like. That’ll help the designer narrow down your ideas.
Fonts say a lot. Trust your designer to choose fonts that will speak about the book and ask him to play around with them (and their sizes) using the selected image covers. You never know how a good font can improve your cover’s message.
Ask for feedback. I’m sure you have people around you that would love to help you through this process. Have them take a look at the final ideas and help you decide what’s the best option for your book. Keep in mind that you’ll not please everyone and that’s completedly fine.
Consider cover sizes and formats. You might have our book published in print and ebook. Make sure that the cover is visible and makes sense in all publishing formats.
You’ll need a print ready file. To be ready to use your cover, you’ll need the file to be appropriate for each platform. If you’re publishing in CreateSpace, Amazon, IngramSpark, or any other, make sure you read the guideliness for cover format so the image that the designer (or you) created is someting you can successfully upload. To have multiple image formats never hurts.
Want to make it extra fun? Create a contest or poll! See how people react to your cover. You coud even use their feedback to improve the final version.
Best of luck creating your cover.
Regards,
K.T.
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May 1, 2017
Fraud
USA Today Bestselling Author J.L. Berg’s FRAUD is available now – and you can get it for a special release week price of just $2.99! Read an excerpt below, enter to win an Amazon gift card, and pick up your copy today!
About FRAUD
From USA Today Bestselling author J.L. Berg comes a sexy standalone about love, lies and every dirty little thing in between.
It wasn’t just a job. It was my way back to the top.
After losing my position as a journalist for one of the biggest news publications in the world, I knew I’d do anything to get it back. Even if it meant breaking a few hearts to get there.
She was the hottest author in the country. Known only by a pen name, there wasn’t a person alive who wasn’t dying to discover her true identity.
And I’d figured it out.
Her real name was Kate O’Malley and not only did I plan on finding her, but I fully intended on learning every dirty secret she had and exploiting it for my own gain.
But I underestimated my prey.
I didn’t anticipate how her words would intoxicate me, or how the curves of her body would consume me.
I never meant to fall in love.
And now I had a choice to make.
Do I give up everything for the woman I set out to destroy, or walk away, making me the biggest fraud of all?
Add FRAUD to your to be read shelf on Goodreads!
Grab FRAUD for release week price of $2.99
Amazon | iBooks | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Google Play
Enter to win!
Want to win a $25 Amazon gift card? Enter via the rafflecopter below!
Read an excerpt from FRAUD
What had started as a fun little game to bring this timid beauty out of her shell somehow turned into a wrestling match.
And I was the one about to lose.
Katelyn O’Malley was nothing like I’d imagined.
What had I imagined?
I wasn’t sure exactly.
I’d diligently done my homework— reading Scandal not once, but twice— before I’d hopped on a plane to Oregon. I’d thought the novel would give me insight to this perplexing woman I was about to meet.
It hadn’t.
Not one bit.
If anything, it’d created a thousand more questions.
At first, cracking her ironclad shell seemed like a daunting task. She had come off dry and dull.
God-awful boring.
But boring women didn’t do tequila shots until two in the morning.
Boring women didn’t lie to waiters for free wine and dessert.
And boring women definitely didn’t make me feel this way.
Needy. Desperate. And fucking horny as hell.
Even the way she licked the chocolate off her fork was making me shift uncomfortably in my seat.
This was a job.
Get your head in the game.
“You were pretty good at that,” I said, trying not to stare at the way her pink tongue darted out to grab the last bit of mousse from the tip of her finger.
“Good at what?” she asked.
“Lying.”
She let out a choking cough, patting her chest with her palm. “I’m not a good liar,” she argued.
“Really? You seemed to have everyone around us fooled, including that charming elderly couple who offered their congratulations on their way out.”
“That really was sweet.” She smiled, a touch of whimsy in her gaze. “Did you see the way they held hands? I’m pretty sure he even grabbed her ass when she walked past him to go to the restroom.”
I laughed. “My kind of guy.”
“I just wonder what it’s like— to be that in love after all that time,” she said, bending forward and resting the curve of her chin on her hand.
“How do you know it has been a long time?” I asked. “Maybe they got married late in life.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Why?” I asked, curious how she’d reached that conclusion.
“There was a familiarity in the way they touched. The way they leaned into one another, the way they walked. It was as if they’d been doing so forever.”
I studied her for a quiet moment, recalling the intensity of her words and the passion in her voice. It was the first time since meeting Katelyn O’Malley, I could actually see a sliver of Laura Stone, the author, somewhere inside.
“I do believe you are a bit of a romantic at heart,” I replied.
She smiled sweetly. “Maybe a hopeless one.”
My hand reached out to hers, a needless gesture since we’d already achieved our goal for the evening and sold everyone on our false marital status.
This time, I touched her because I wanted to.
“Definitely not hopeless,” I said softly, knowing that instant that I was crossing the line between business and pleasure.
And heading straight to the land of hell.
“So, tell me about technical editing,” she said, shifting topics. “How does one get into something like that?”
I suddenly felt like I’d been hit in the face with a bucket of ice water. Here I was, in a dimly lit room, romancing the hell out of a woman I’d just met, and then reality hit.
I was lying to her.
Flat-out lying.
I needed to remember that. “There’s not much to tell,” I said, straightening slightly in my chair. “Rather boring really.”
We continued to chat about our lives. She told me more about her work at the college. I rambled off more lies about mine until the check came around.
I was feeling quite good about myself as I led us outside.
My head was clear.
But then I saw the way the moonlight highlighted her golden-blonde hair. I became mesmerized by the sway of her hips and the soft curves of her body.
Katelyn O’Malley was casting a spell on me, and she didn’t even know it.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted her to stop.
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About J.L. Berg
J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series, The Walls Duet, and the Lost & Found Duet. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she’s not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.
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