Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 432

Fireborn by Keri Arthur

Thursday, 6/26 MANGA MANIAC CAFÉhttp://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/

Monday, 6/30 TYNGA'S REVIEWShttp://www.tyngasreviews.com/

The Temptations of Time Travel Guest blog and Giveaway with Shay West

The Temptations of Time TravelWe’ve all been faced with temptation: that delicious second piece of chocolate cake, that cute guy at the office that is married, purchasing something far too expensive, alcohol, drugs…the list goes on and on.Some temptations are perfectly harmless, though they may drain your bank account! 
Other temptations can do serious harm to you as well as to your family. People who are addicted to drugs and alcohol suffer serious physical and mental problems and this often is transferred to their friends and loved ones.And still other temptations can do serious harm to everyone on the planet. I’m talking about time travel, of course (you knew it had to come up sooner or later!). I think most people would JUMP at the chance to go back in time. I know I would! There are so many people I’d love to meet and historical events I would like to witness for myself.But time travel could cause some serious problems. What if you inadvertently killed someone? Their descendants would cease to exist. Can you imagine your spouse disappearing? Your children?Yikes! Talk about terrifying!What if that someone that you killed was the ancestor of someone in power? Like the president? Imagine the chaos that would grip the country if our leader suddenly disappeared.But what if you lost someone, a parent early in life? Surely it couldn’t hurt anything to go back and prevent their demise? This brings me to one of my favorite Dr. Who episodes.For those who don’t know, the Doctor is a Time Lord that travels through time in a TARDIS (it looks like a police box from 1960’s London).The Doctor always has a companion with him, a human, which he chooses to go on grand adventures through the universe. Ah, what I wouldn’t GIVE to have the Doctor come whirling down in his TARDIS to whisk me away!My favorite companion is Rose Tyler. She’s such a little spitfire, smart, funny, and a perfect match for the Doctor.Rose’s father, Pete, was killed in a hit-and-run accident when she was only 6 months old. After traveling with the Doctor for a time, she wants to go back and comfort him as he dies. However, she can’t fight the temptation to save his life. That one act results in a tearing of the fabric of time. Strange creatures appear and begin killing everyone is sight as they try to repair the damage. The rift in time repairs itself after Pete throws himself in front of a car. Rose comforts him as he dies.Would any of us have been able to stand by and watch as a loved one was struck down? Rose knew of the dangers of messing with time and yet she figured because her father was just some average person, it wouldn’t hurt to save his life. But that one act has devastating consequences.
In my YA/fantasy novel series, The Adventures of Alexis Davenport, Alex must protect the time line from an evil man intent on changing the past. It’s an awful lot for a fifteen-year-old to handle. Especially when she is faced with some tough choices: in one particular case, in order to protect time, she must allow someone to die. Not a very easy choice.



Dangerous Reflections  Adventures of Alexis Davenport SeriesBook OneShay West
Genre:  Young Adult/Teen Fantasy
Publisher:  BooktropeDate of Publication:  June 23, 2014
Cover Artist:  Shari Ryan
Book Description: 
Alexis Davenport wants to go home. She hates her new school, her mother for moving her away from her friends, and her father for walking out.
To make matters worse, Alex is haunted by images of strange girls reflected in her mirror. It’s bad enough juggling homework, a relentless bully, boys, and a deadbeat dad; now, she must save the world from an evil presence hell-bent on changing the past – and our futures. Who knew her A+ in history was going to be this important?

Available at Amazon
About the Author: 
Shay West was born in Longmont, CO and earned a doctorate degree in Human Medical Genetics from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical. Dr. West currently lives in Grand Junction, CO with her two cats. When not writing novels, she plays with plushie microbes and teaches biology classes at Colorado Mesa University.
She is the author of the Portals of Destiny series and the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series. She has also been published in several anthologies: Battlespace (military scifi), Orange Karen: Tribute to a Warrior (fundraiser), and Ancient New (steampunk/fantasy).
You can find Dr. West and more of her work at Shay-West.com.
http://Shay-West.com
https://www.facebook.com/shaywestauthor
https://twitter.com/DrShayWest
https://plus.google.com/+ShayWest/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4687346.Shay_West
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22402628-dangerous-reflections





June 23 Letter to the Readers of Night Owl ReviewsNight Owl Reviewshttp://www.nightowlreviews.com
June 23 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!  http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
June 24 SpotlightMore Romance Pleasemoreromanceplease.blogspot.com
June 24 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
June 25 Guest blogThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
June 25 SpotlightDeal Sharing Auntwww.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
June 26 Guest blogMia Hoddellhttp://miahoddell.blogspot.com
June 26 SpotlightThe Writer's Nookhttp://angieskelhorn.com/the-writers-nook---blog.html
June 27 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
June 27 SpotlightCassandra M's Place http://www.cassandramsplace.com
June 30 Spotlight (possible review)Mom With A Kindlehttp://momwithakindle.blogspot.com/
June 30 SpotlightQueen of All She Reads http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com

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Guest Blog: Pangaea: Eden’s Planet by Tom Johnson

Pangaea: Eden’s Planet was a concept I came up with several years ago while looking for a possible book proposal to submit to Hollywood Studios. Yes, I’ve submitted several proposals without success yet, but I keep trying. I’ve actually gone through two agents that were not hungry enough to sell my books to Hollywood. Basically, Pangaea: Eden’s Planet is a character-driven novel and focuses on seven astronauts on a mission to Mars to begin a terra-farming project after a nuclear war on Earth. But problems arise when they enter a space anomaly that disables their ship, sending them back in time. The planet’s gravity pulls them back to Earth, where they crash land on an alien world 250 million years in the past. Their mission now turns into a survival situation, as fierce reptiles of the Permian Period, as well as explosive nature, endangers their very lives.
The seven astronauts are scientists in special fields that will be needed to fulfill their mission on Mars. This includes Colonel Evelyn Peterson and Major Adam Cooper, the pilots of Galileo Two; Colonel Peterson is the leader of the mission, the major is her second in command.  I gave each character individual personalities. The subplot was a romance building between Peterson and Cooper. When I first conceived the story, Evelyn was black and Cooper white, which I figured would be one of the problems keeping them apart, but later I changed my mind about pursuing this element of the story, and dropped all reference to her race. After all, her responsibility of keeping those under her command alive in a harsh environment is concern enough. Besides, in the 21st Century race should no longer be a stumbling block to romance.
My love of biology and study of paleontology and other zoological areas of science has always been a driving force in my writing. In Pangaea: Eden’s Planet, I fill my world with known creatures from the period, as well as a few from my own imagination. Sixty million years before the dawn of the dinosaurs, there were still predators as menacing as T-Rex. Colonel Peterson and Major Cooper were the only ones armed, and that consisted of small caliber pistols, each holding 15-round clips of ammunitions, and they were faced by incredible odds. Their survival would require ingenuity and fearlessness. We have seven people alone in a world of fierce reptiles, volcanic activity, and danger from the heavens.  But yet love will also find a way.

Readers that enjoy a story with action and danger, with a light touch of romantic tease will find Pangaea: Eden’s Planet a work of fiction both entertaining and, hopefully, memorable. There is drama and humor as the characters face each situation, good and bad, with the knowledge that life or death could be ahead of them. Their survival may depend on their next action. You will find laughter at times, and cry at others, but I believe you will come to know and love the characters, whatever their faults might be. Happy reading.

Pangaea: Eden’s PlanetTom Johnson  
Genre: Science Fiction/Survival
Publisher: First Realm PublishingDate of Publication: June 18, 2014
ISBN -13: 978-1497340749ISBN-10: 1497340748ASIN:
Number of pages: 100Word Count: 50,000
Cover Artist: Jared from Off the Wall Creations
Book Description:
Seven astronauts en route to Mars encounter a time warp in space that disables their ship. Crash landing on Earth, they discover an alien planet sixty million years before the dinosaurs.
Pangaea, the super continent, is filled with danger and terror, as they must survive against fierce reptiles that ruled the Earth 250 million years in the past!

About the Author:
As a twenty-year military veteran, I served on the Korean DMZ under fire, as well as in Vietnam. I have a law enforcement background. My studies of paleontology and entomology have been an influence in many of my novels.
My wife and I started the publishing imprint of FADING SHADOWS in 1982, and published a hobby magazine and several genre magazines for 22 years, before I settled into writing my own novels.
I have now been published in over 80 books, which include fiction novels and short stories, as well as nonfiction books. I write SF, YA, Western, and Action novels.
Website http://www15.brinkster.com/jur1/index.html
Pulp Den http://pulplair.blogspot.com
Jur Novels  http://jurnovels.blogspot.com

Spotlight and Giveaway: Daddy’s Game by Normandie Alleman

Daddy’s GameDaddy’s Girl SeriesBook TwoNormandie Alleman
Genre: Contemporary BDSM Erotic Romance
Publisher: Stormy Night Publication
Word Count: 62,000
Book Description:
Football and kink collide when the game’s biggest star convinces a beautiful artist to play Daddy’s Game.
Sparks fly when up-and-coming artist Carmen Harris meets football star Natron Dakers at her first gallery opening. Carmen soon discovers that Natron is the type of man who sees what he wants and goes after it… and apparently what he wants is her. Almost before she knows it Carmen finds herself taking everything Natron gives her and begging for more, and when he reveals that he wants to be her dominant daddy and her to be his submissive little girl, she doesn’t hesitate to agree.
At the top of his profession, Natron has money, fame, and all the perks that go with them, and now at last in Carmen he has found a woman he wants to share it with. His life feels complete… until in a split second everything comes crashing down when a devastating injury threatens to end his season—and maybe his career. Natron fears he will lose it all, but will he self-destruct or can he dig deep and fight hard for himself, his teammates, and his little girl?
Publisher’s Note: Daddy’s Game is the second book in the Daddy’s Girl series. It incorporates characters from the first book in the series, Daddy Morebucks, but it is a stand-alone novel. The content of Daddy’s Game includes spankings, graphic sexual scenes, elements of age play and BDSM, and more. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.
Available at Amazon   Amazon UK     BN   ARe   Kobo

Excerpt 2 GAMES
She sensed his presence behind her before she felt his hands on her waist. “I’ve been trying to be good, but you’re so sexy. I can’t resist you, babygirl.”A wave of desire thrilled through her as his hands skimmed over her belly and he started unbuttoning her jean shorts. Her knees almost buckled and she held onto his forearms for support. “But…” was the only protest she could muster.“But I think you have on too many clothes,” he said slipping her shorts down to her ankles. Feeling dizzy she turned to steady herself and found herself in his arms. When she lifted her face to his, he claimed her mouth, hungrily sliding his tongue between her lips. The electricity between them ramped up a notch, and for a moment she allowed herself the pleasure of letting go and relishing what it felt like to be in his arms.He stepped back and lifted her t-shirt over her head. It made her uncomfortable to be half-naked in front of him and she instinctively covered her breasts with her hands.  Carmen believed most men preferred a thinner woman, and she was self-conscious about her voluptuous figure. She weighed at least thirty pounds more than the models on the magazine covers she saw every week at the grocery store check-out line. “What are you doing? Stop. I want to see you.” He pulled her hands away, firmly placing them at her sides.She felt the warmth rising in her cheeks. “I’m embarrassed.” He smiled and shook his head. “Girl, you don’t know how good you look, do you?”“Well, I…I just need to lose a few pounds,” she stammered.“Lose a few pounds my ass! You’re beautiful. I love your curves. I don’t need an anorexic woman. I want a girl who knows how to live, how to eat,” he said, wrapping his arms around her again. “How to love.”He scooped her up like a bride about to cross the threshold and started climbing the stairs.Panic rose in her throat. “Natron, you can’t. Please! You’ll drop me.”He merely chuckled. “You don’t know how strong I am. I’m not gonna drop you.”“But Natron, what are you doing?”“What do you think I’m doing? Takin’ you to bed.”“But, but…it’s so fast.” The alarm bells that had been going off in her head waned. His persuasive charms were quickly overriding her concerns, and she longed to give in to him.“When I see what I want I have to have it. And right now what I want is you.” He nuzzled her neck, nibbling his way around her earlobe. The words “right now” stuck in her head. Okay, so he wanted her now, but what about afterwards? Would he want her later or would she be just another conquest for the big football star?When he reached the top of the stairs he tossed her on the bed and proceeded to take off the rest of his clothes. As he stood there in all his naked glory, Carmen drew a ragged breath. He was gorgeous. Good Lord he must have to work out constantly to look like that and still eat pizza. His body was rock hard, every muscle well-defined. He even had that sexy Apollo’s belt that made that deep “v” leading directly to his enormous cock. As impressive as the rest of him was, it was impossible for her not to stare at his erection jutting out proudly before him. She’d heard black men were bigger, and in his case the rumor proved to be true.  “Now it’s your turn,” he tugged at her panties.“Natron, I don’t know. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea…”He pursed his lips. “Alright then, let’s play a game instead.”She closed her legs, eyeing him skeptically. “What kind of game?” “I call it ‘Everything But’,” he said.“What do you do?” The game sounded rather self-explanatory, but she was stalling for time.“You get naked and we can do everything but have sex. No penetration. Just foolin’ around.”  He sat on the bed next to her and reached behind her to unfasten her bra. “No harm in that, is there?”


About the Author:
A former psychologist, Normandie has always been fascinated by human behavior. She loves writing quirky characters that are all too human. Fiber arts, baking, and Pinterest are a few of her favorite pastimes. She lives on a farm with a passel of children, hunky husband, and a pet pig who’s crazy for Red Bull.
Twitter at  https://twitter.com/NormandieA
Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/NormandieA
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NormandieAlleman
Website: www.normandiealleman.com
Amazon Author Page:http://www.amazon.com/Normandie-Alleman/e/B00BNUDVFW
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6893037.Normandie_Alleman

June 23 InterviewDarkest Cravingswww.darkestcravings.blogspot.com
June 24 Guest BlogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 25 Interviewhttp://butterfly-o-meter.com/http://butterfly-o-meter.com/
June 26 SpotlightSapphyria's Steamy Book Reviews http://saphssteamybooks.blogspot.com/
June 27 SpotlightFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
June 30 Guest blogErotica For All http://eroticaforall.co.uk
July 1 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
July 2 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
July 3 InterviewEclipse Reviewshttp://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com/
July 4 SpotlightThe Avid Readerhttp://the-avidreader.blogspot.com
July 7 Character InterviewAuthor Karen Swarthttp://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com/
July 8 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
July 15 InterviewBewitching Book Tours Magazinewww.issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours 
July 17 SpotlightBooklover Sue http://bookloversue.blogspot.com

July 18 Spotlight and Review.
Lissette E Manning
http://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning
July 21 SpotlightLov Sinfully Sexy Bookswww.lovsinfullysexybooks.blogspot.com  

Safeword Matte: In Training Excerpt by Candace Blevins

Character Interview with Ethan
What's your favorite ice cream?
Rocky road, but Sam’s is mint chocolate chip and lately I’ve been tossing a scoop of hers in with mine. They work well together.
What's your favorite thing about Sam?
I have to pick one thing? Probably her mind. She’s book smart, but she’s also sharp, and she thinks on her feet. You can’t get anything by her.
Or, maybe it would be better to say her personality. She’s funny, smart, brave, and tough as nails. And she’s mine.
She's also strong, and focused, and determined. When she sets her mind to something, she makes it happen. Somehow, I lucked out and this strong, powerful, smart woman submits to me. I'll never take that for granted. 
What does Sam do that's most annoying?
*laughs* You can’t get anything by her. Not that I'd want to — honesty is important to me — but sometimes it'd be nice to surprise her.
What's your favorite thing Sam does in bed?
I love that she can take what I give her. No one else has ever satisfied my sadistic streak like Sam can. And she doesn't hold back her screams. I know she could if she wanted to, I've seen films of her fighting and taking some serious hits without showing any visible signs of pain.  
She gives me everything, though. She's honest about her needs, honest about her feelings and emotions, even when it's not easy.
If there were something you could change about the first few weeks you knew Sam, what would it be?
I’d discover a way for us to find out we were both kinky sooner than we did. I was fascinated by her from the first I saw her, and when I had the chance to officially meet her a few days later, she very nicely turned me down flat.
What's your favorite movie?
You’re probably expecting me to name a fight movie, but I love the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I doubted anyone could do justice to the books, but the movies brought to life what I’d envisioned as I read them.
What addiction can you not live without?
Sam’s my only addiction. I had to spend a week in Atlanta during tax season, and ended up driving back to Chattanooga one night because I missed her so much. I had to drive right back to Atlanta the next morning, but it was worth it.
If you could be in a different book, which one would it be?
It would have to be an adventure book – The Lord of the Rings, or Around the World in 80 Days, or maybe Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon if they’d teach me how to run across rooftops.
If your life were a book, what would you prefer the author not tell readers about you?
I spend a lot of time trying to keep strangers from being afraid of me. I’m big and scary, apparently, and if a woman is alone in a parking lot I see her looking around for help if I get too close. So when I’m out, I try to make a wide berth around anyone who looks afraid of me. I’d really rather people not know about my sadistic side, because I’d never hurt anyone who didn’t want to be hurt.




Safeword: Matte – In TrainingSafeword SeriesNumber 7 Candace Blevins
Genre: BDSM Romance
Publisher:  Excessica
Date of Publication:  June 20, 2014
ISBN: Not yet availableASIN: Not yet available
Number of pages: 202 pagesWord Count:   78,000 words
Cover Artist: Tara West
Book Description:
The wedding is four months away, and Ethan has promised to train Sam to handle a planned honeymoon activity. He’s calculated the math to figure out her goals each week. When she reaches the weekly target she gets a massage and lots of fun orgasms. But if she doesn’t, it’s the stainless steel cane.
All this along with navigating her clients’ drama, planning a wedding, dealing with her mother while planning the wedding, and having lots and lots of wild and kinky sex.
And we haven’t even mentioned the bachelorette party.
Warning: This title contains graphic language, consensual BDSM some may find objectionable, anal sex, bondage, and the use of toys including crops, clips, clamps, plugs, and gags.


  Safeword Matte: In Training Excerpt
Sam looked at the ring on her finger and her knees went weak. Again.She wasn’t worried about marrying Ethan so much as freaking out about how ideal her life seemed to be. Did anyone get their idea of a perfect life for long before something came along to screw with it? As a divorce attorney, she’d seen enough ‘happily ever after’ stories go horribly wrong to know there were no guarantees she and Ethan would live out their lives in blissful harmony. But she knew marriages survived — her parents and Ethan’s parents were proof.Panicking never solved anything, nor did focusing on the negative, so she took a deep breath and reminded herself they were starting better than most couples, and had a really good chance of making it work. They both communicated when there were issues, and both were willing to compromise when needed. As long as they kept up the communication, they should be fine. Theoretically.“What’s going through your head? You’re supposed to look happy when you stare at the ring on your finger.”Her gaze flew to Ethan’s and she smiled. “I’m just thinking. You know I’m happy, right? I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t think we could make it work. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I’m just...”Ethan let the silence weigh heavily for several long moments, as if he were seeing if she’d finish. He finally said, “I think the worst choice of career for a fiancée has to be divorce attorney. If someone had told me a year ago I’d be engaged to one I’d have told them they were crazy.” He shook his head and added, “But you aren’t the average divorce attorney. You aren’t the average anything, and it’s part of why I love you so much.” He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. “Still, it has to be hard, watching the end of relationships that likely started out with such promise.”“Yes,” Sam nodded, relieved he understood without getting his feelings hurt, “but I think it’s also given me a window into the type of people who are bad marriage material, and you don’t fit the bill,” she said as she poked his chest with her pointer finger. “You’re honest, you’re a good communicator, you hold yourself responsible for your actions, and you’re considerate of other’s feelings. We’ve only known each other five months, but…” She shook her head. “You know what? I don’t want to talk about that right now. I want to hear more about your plans for, ummm, preparing me for our honeymoon.”Ethan eyed her a moment before saying, “Five months and three weeks, which rounds up to six months. As for your training, I’d planned to give you the basic outline tonight. I’ve ordered a few things that should be here Thursday or Friday, so we’ll begin the training Friday evening. I intended to email you some things to read before I explain the process, but we can talk it over instead, if you’d like.” “Yeah. I’d like.” Sam rolled her eyes. “That’s why said I wanted to hear it.”Her insides warmed and her stomach threatened to flip-flop as Ethan’s eyebrows rose, but they weren’t in a scene at the moment so he couldn’t punish her for being a smart-ass. Thank goodness.He relaxed his eyebrows as he flashed a quick smirk — he knew his look had affected her, but didn’t comment and easily carried on with their conversation. “You’re an athlete with good flexibility and probably already know most of what I’m about to tell you, but I’m going to detail it anyway to be sure you correlate what you know about flexibility with anal training.”She put it together in her head, talking as she thought. “Yeah, the rectum is a strong muscle, so stretching should be like….Oh.”Ethan smiled. “All stretching will happen from Friday evening through Sunday. I’ll expect you to be able to handle the next size up on Sunday without difficulty, and then keep yourself accustomed to the new size throughout the week so you’ll be prepared to be stretched again Friday evening.”“You aren’t expecting me to wear a plug at work, are you?”“Of course not,” he said with a smile and a quick shake of his head. “During the week you’ll be required to insert the training tool four times a day for a total of forty-five minutes per day, at least two hours apart, with a minimum of five minutes per insertion. This means you can have it in for thirty minutes once, and five minutes three times. Or for twenty minutes once, five minutes once, and ten minutes the other two times.” He paused a beat before adding, “When necessary, you’ll have the option of reducing it to three times a day, though your total time will increase to one hour. You’ll need to clear it with me if you want to alter the schedule more than twice a week, though.”Sam thought it through; she could do it in the morning before work, and then at around 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30 in the evenings. If she had to wear it for five minutes on a lunch break she probably could, to knock out one of the evening times. He’d said this was during the week, though. Her gaze rose to his eyes. “And on the weekend?”His smile was maybe just a little too gleeful. “We’ll be together on the weekends, and you’ll be required to submit as often and as long as I say.”Sam’s insides flared to life. He could set her on fire just by changing his tone of voice, but — remembering his smirk from earlier — she worked hard to keep her face and body relaxed as she said, “You just asked me to marry you yesterday, when did you order the… stuff?”“Last night after you went to sleep, and I paid extra for expedited shipping.”Neither of them said anything for a few seconds and he pulled an exam glove and a small bottle of lube from his pocket. “Strip and get on the bed; knees and shoulders, with your arms spread to the side.”Her pulse jumped to life as his tone of voice changed and her body anticipated the promise of a scene.Ethan stretched the glove over his large hand while she stripped. His deep voice kept a steady tone as he said, “I’ll be using gloves to finger you, and all the toys and tools will be smooth. I intend to prepare you for my size and length, but I don’t want you accustomed to friction. Nothing in the next four months will give the motion of having your ass fucked. You won’t feel my flesh in your ass, not even fingers, until our honeymoon.”

 About the Author:
Candace Blevins is a southern girl who loves to travel the world.
She lives with her husband of 16 years and their two daughters. When not working or driving kids all over the place she can be found reading, writing, meditating, or swimming.
Candace writes romance books about strong women who happen to be submissive, and in some cases have some pretty extreme kinks. Relationships can be difficult enough without throwing power exchange into the mix, and her books show characters who care enough about each other to fight to make the relationship work.
You can visit her on the web at candaceblevins.com, and feel free to friend her on Facebook at facebook.com/candacesblevins, and Goodreads at goodreads.com/CandaceBlevins.
www.candaceblevins.com
www.facebook.com/candacesblevins
www.goodreads.com/CandaceBlevins
www.twitter.com/CandaceBlevins  


Recipe and reviewCabin Goddesshttp://cabingoddess.com
 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
SpotlightFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
InterviewDarkest Cravingswww.darkestcravings.blogspot.com
SpotlightThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
InterviewEclipse Reviewshttp://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com/
Spotlight All I Want and More – http://alliwantandmorebooks.wordpress.com/
InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
SpotlightHouston Havens http://houstonhavens.wordpress.com
ReviewParanormal Romance and Authors That rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
SpotlightAly's Miscellanyhttp://alysmiscellany.blogspot.com/
Character InterviewAuthor Karen Swarthttp://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com/
SpotlightMelissa Stevenshttp://melissastevens.us
SpotlightLisa’s World of Books
www.lisasworldofbooks.net

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Guest Blog and Giveaway c3 by Sherrie Cronin

c346. AscendingSherrie Cronin
Genre: Fantasy, contemporary, metaphysical
Publisher: Cinnabar Press
ISBN: 9781941283035ISBN: 9781941283233ASIN: B00I58T5FU
Number of pages: 405Word Count: 135,000
Cover Artist: Jennifer FitzGerald
Book Description:
Teddie likes her country music and her old pick-up truck and she's not sure how she let her best friend talk her into spending a semester abroad in Darjeeling India. Once she arrives, her innocence quickly collides with an underworld in which young women are bartered and sold. As she fights to understand a depravity that she never dreamed existed, Teddie finds that her own mind develops a unique ability for locating her friends and that an ancient group is willing to train her to use her innate skills for out of body experiences to save others.
It will require trust in ideas she barely believes, and more courage than has ever been expected of her. When it becomes clear that the alternative may be her friends' deaths and the unchecked growth of an evil crime lord's empire, Teddie accepts the challenge and shows those guilty of unspeakable crimes just how powerful a young woman can be.
Available at Amazon, and out in paperback June 10, 2014.
Note: this is a collection, not a series. The books can be read in any order
About the Author:
Sherrie Roth grew up in Western Kansas thinking that there was no place in the universe more fascinating than outer space. After her mother vetoed astronaut as a career ambition, she went on to study journalism and physics in hopes of becoming a science writer. She published her first science fiction short story long ago, and then waited a lot of tables while she looked for inspiration for the next story. When it finally came, it declared to her that it had to be whole book, nothing less. One night, while digesting this disturbing piece of news, she drank way too many shots of ouzo with her boyfriend. She woke up thirty-one years later demanding to know what was going on.

The boyfriend, who she had apparently long since married, asked her to calm down and explained that in a fit of practicality she had gone back to school and gotten a degree in geophysics and had spent the last 28 years interpreting seismic data in the oil industry. The good news, according to Mr. Cronin, was that she had found it at least mildly entertaining and ridiculously well-paying The bad news was that the two of them had still managed to spend almost all of the money.

Apparently she was now Mrs. Cronin, and the further good news was that they had produced three wonderful children whom they loved dearly, even though to be honest that is where a lot of the money had gone. Even better news was that Mr. Cronin turned out to be a warm-hearted, encouraging sort who was happy to see her awake and ready to write. "It's about time," were his exact words.

Sherrie Cronin discovered that over the ensuing decades Sally Ride had already managed to become the first woman in space and apparently had done a fine job of it. No one, however, had written the book that had been in Sherrie's head for decades. The only problem was, the book informed her sternly that it had now grown into a collection of six books. Sherrie decided that she better start writing it before it got any longer. She's been wide awake ever since, and writing away.

Twitter: @cinnabar01
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Number46Ascending
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5805814.Sherrie_Cronin
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sherrie-Cronin/e/B007FRMO9Q

Blogs:x0: http://tothepowerofzero.org/
y1: http://ytothepowerof1.org/
z2: http://zsquaredblog.org/
c3: http://ctothepowerofthree.org/



June 10 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
June 11 ExcerptTanyas Book Nook http://tanyasbooknook.blogspot.com
June 12 Top Ten ListDarkest Cravingswww.darkestcravings.blogspot.com
June 13 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
June 16 FeatureBewitching Book Tours Magazinewww.issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours
June 17 ExcerptLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
June 18 InterviewEclipse Reviewshttp://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com/
June 19
June 20 Character InterviewAuthor Karen Swarthttp://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com/
June 23 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 24 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com



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Spotlight and Giveaway with Shakir Rashaan

Shades of Black: Inside the Black BDSM Community
I want to thank Roxanne for having me on her blog today and giving me the opportunity to speak on a subject that most might not be aware of: that there are “Shades of Black”…or people of color (read: black people) who not only practice different disciplines within BDSM, but they do so publicly, too.
While my Nubian Underworld series is immersed with parts of fiction, it is also based on real-time people, including myself and my Beloved, who are actively living within the “lifestyle.” For us, this is a way of life, this is who we are. We just happen to be black.
Why did I choose the turn of phrase “Shades of Black”? Well, it’s not hard to figure that one out. That series has opened the door for a lot of dialog over the past few years, but what if I told you that books and series like mine were around long before that phenomenon showed up? What if I also told you that black people have been actively involved in the BDSM scene for a longer period of time than you might realize?
To be inside the Black BDSM community, regardless of where in the country you might be, is to enjoy the unique flavor that we bring to WIITWD. This is not to say that we do it better or with more swagger or anything like that, but it is to say that we like to put our own spin on something that has been around for a long time.
There are vibrant communities of black people actively engaging in BDSM practices. From Los Angeles to New York, from DC and various parts of Maryland to here in Atlanta where my Beloved and I reside, to other pockets all over the country, there are blacks that enjoy what we have come to affectionately refer to the BDSM lifestyle as, “what it is that we do (WIITWD).” As my main character, Ramesses, so eloquently stated at the beginning of the series, “Now, I think I know what you might be thinking, but here’s the real: this is a lifestyle. Everyone has a little freak in them, but the difference is we have found like-minded people who don’t judge. They just enjoy themselves and the friendships which are made within the lifestyle community, and the freedom of being within that community.”
That community comes with active munches in different cities, with more popping up every month, and events and BDSM conferences that primarily cater to black people, like Atlanta Peachy Kink earlier this month, the annual Black BEAT (Black Expressions, Alternative Tastes) conference later on in August, and the Weekend Reunion last summer, too. Yes, BDSM in and of itself is beautiful to experience with all cultures and races, but there’s something about being able to be amongst those who share the same culture as you from time to time.
A recent acquaintance, LeRougarou, said in an op-ed within his group on the popular social media site, FetLife, that I think sums up the prevailing thought within the Black BDSM community: “I want to hear some rap when I beat ass, dammit! Enigma and EDM and techno gets old. I want to make ‘In Living Color’ references or ‘Martin’ references or ‘Living Single’ references or ‘Harlem Nights’ references and people actually know what the fuck I’m talking about. I want to drink spiked red Kool-Aid and talk about grape drink. I want the deejay to put on ‘Hoochie Mama’ and a gang of ass just starts clappin’. But guess what? I have absolutely zero requirement that those people have to be black. None at all. But guess what? A vast majority of people who can relate to me in all the ways listed above: black people. And I’m not ashamed of wanting to be around just them sometimes.”
That is the reason why I created the Nubian Underworld series. I wanted to showcase a strong, black Dominant male, and a few Dominant females, in a genre that is inundated with their Caucasian counterparts. I also wanted to showcase black male and female submissives, to show that there are black men and women who embrace a term that we’re told we’re not exactly supposed to embrace…Master and slave. Even though there are BDSM erotic novels and romance novels that cover multicultural and interracial relationships, I felt that “we” needed a voice, an outlet, a way for people who have yet to see that, “Hey, black people do this, too.”

Finally, even though the literary world is swooning over shades of grey, that there is still room to revel in shades of black, too. LegacyChronicles of the Nubian UnderworldBook TwoShakir Rashaan
Genre: BDSM Erotic Romance
Publisher: Strebor Books/Atria Books(A Division of Simon & Schuster)
Date of Publication: June 10, 2014
ISBN: 9781593095468ASIN: B00GEEB58M
Number of pages: 272Word Count: 67,000+
Cover Artist: Keith Saunders, Marion Designs
Book Description:
A tale unlike anything else, this second episode in the Chronicles of the Nubian Underworld series continues the erotically charged journey inside Atlanta's African-American Fetish/BDSM community.         "In order to be great, you have to leave your mark. Are you ready to leave your mark?"
After returning from Dubai, a power shift occurs within the Atlanta Fetish community as the "torch" is passed on from Amenhotep to Ramesses and Neferterri. The Palace is being transformed in Ramesses' image, and the new "power couple" is adjusting to life in the spotlight and the benefits -- and headaches -- that come with it.
But as Ramesses puts the finishing touches on establishing the balance of power, Amenhotep has tasked him with a daunting undertaking -- one that will test his will and re-forge a bond that was once broken, cementing his legacy within the sacred "society."
Exotic, decadent, and written by a true insider, Legacy takes you deeper into the Atlanta Fetish/BDSM community, twisting more surprises and revelations that are sure to take your breath away.
Amazon    BN  Books a Million    Personal Autographed Copy


Excerpt:
~Seven~ Ramesses Reagan International Airport, Arlington, Virginia…I walked off the plane and made my way down to baggage claim to collect my luggage, already plotting in my head how I was going to deal with the task in front of me.             I walked by the limousine drivers and noticed a rather stacked and stout young lady, about six feet tall, maybe an inch short of that, holding a sign displaying my full legal name.             I was surprised to see her there to greet me, especially when I hadn’t seen her before in my life. But it was a pleasant surprise to be escorted by such a lovely creature indeed.             I guess in hindsight I shouldn’t have been too surprised, as I’d suspected Master Seti would spare no expense in making my stay in the DMV, or the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, as pleasant as he could. I’d called the day prior to my departure from Vegas to inform him of my arrival, as such was general protocol with any of the Elders associated with Amenhotep.             The driver was very attractive. Her distinct features put me in the mind of the Italian peninsula. She was clad in a pencil skirt, teasingly above the knee, and matching blazer, both black in color, and four inch heels. Her lean, muscular frame left no doubt she could handle my luggage with little assistance from me, no matter how much my vanilla-centric chivalry would want to oblige her.             “Good afternoon, m’Lord, my name is slave nadia. Please follow me to the car, Sir,” nadia announced as she loaded the bags onto a cart and led me out to the parking lot. “Master has alerted me of Your presence, which is why i am driving You to the House, Sir. Master didn’t want You to get lost. He informed me it has been a few years since You’ve been out this way.”             I laughed at her statement. It hadn’t been that long.            “Yes, slave nadia, your Master has a way of reminding Me of such things in the most grandiose fashion possible.” I replied. We walked across the lot, and I was impressed to see the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid limousine we approached. “Very nice, slave nadia, your Master shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.”            “Sir, if i am allowed to say so, He wanted to make sure You were especially comfortable while You stayed with us,” nadia smiled, looking forward instead of turning back to make eye contact. “He doesn’t make these accommodations for everyone, Sir, so it is an honor to be of such a special service to You.”             I climbed into the back seat while nadia placed the luggage in the cargo area to prepare for the ride back to the estate. On the middle console was a USA Today newspaper, and packed in a cooler in the opposite seat from me was an assortment of soft drinks and juices and a bag of roasted peanuts.             “Master thought You would like a light snack before Your arrival, m’Lord.” nadia read my mind before I could ask.             I smiled. This had sajira written all over this one. I would say shamise also had her hand in this, but there was no telling if she was at the house at the time nadia called to confirm the items sitting on the side of me.            “Remind Me to thank your Master upon our arrival, slave nadia.” I responded to her as she slid into the front seat of the car. I noticed a slight blush spread across her face at my statement. That meant she knew she would be properly spanked for following her Master’s protocol to the letter.             We made the trek, beginning from US Hwy 1 heading toward I-395, passing through the intersecting streets that crisscrossed and made up the Alexandria area. I took a sip of the orange juice bottle by the time we crossed over I-395 and continued south heading toward Mount Vernon.            I was reading the paper as we passed by the shopping malls and department stores, going from the commercial into the residential area, when I felt eyes on me, trying to get a better look at what I was doing. I looked up and met a gorgeous pair of hazel eyes staring back at me with the intensity and heat of a desert sun. She lingered for a moment before those eyes softened and gave rise to a lust their owner wanted to act upon, but she wasn’t quite sure if she should or not.            nadia tried to conceal her shy streak as she sneaked looks through the rear view mirror as she deftly moved through traffic. She tried to get a peek in right before the fork in the road would either take us to the estate or take us to the Mount Vernon estate, the home of our nation’s first president.             We kept this dance up for another half mile or so. Every time I caught her looking up at me, she giggled to herself and focused her eyes on the road again, trying to steal as many glances as she could before we arrived.            I purposely began staring at her through the rear view mirror. The next time our eyes locked, nadia found her fingers tracing the outline of the blazer. She nimbly lowered the mirror to an angle to where I could enjoy the view, and I noticed nadia had unbuttoned her blouse and revealed her bra. I licked my lips at the way the satin caressed her breasts.            She blushed at my open satisfaction at her exposure, keeping one hand on the steering wheel, using her peripheral vision to keep her eye on the road and on me at the same time, and taking her free hand to expose her right nipple for my further enjoyment. She moved the mirror back to a position to reconnect with my eyes, pouting her lips to blow kisses for a few fleeting moments.            By now, my manhood had made its presence very much aware to me, and I couldn’t ignore what it obviously wanted my mouth to say. But this was neither the time nor the place to engage in that type of mischief, as it would be a direct violation of the rules of engagement, and my reasonable half understood that. However, my libido silently crept into the far reaches of where I kept the “Beast” at bay, beckoning to it, I have the key to unlock your cage, all you have to do is beg for it.            I wanted her to beg so badly it made me weak. I imagined her legs wrapped around the small of my back, growling in her ear as I took her in the back seat, the tint in the windows providing the perfect cover in broad daylight before finally getting on with completing the journey.            nadia sensed my dilemma, and I sensed she was in a bit of a quandary herself. The vehicle slowed for brief interludes, which alerted me to the intimation she was not yet ready to end this dance. Each pause at the stop lights was torture for the both of us, increasing the tension from a simmering boil into an ominous volcano that could blow at any moment            My intense stare into what I imagined were her now-bright green eyes let her know I was straddling the thin line between commanding her to pull the vehicle over to the first secreted location for a clandestine and ravenous merging of two bodies and thinking better of it and commanding her to cover herself up before we arrived at the estate.I shook off the lustful state I was in as best I could. I had further business to take care of, and I couldn’t allow myself to let the “chairman of the board” fuck things up because it wanted to get wet for twenty minutes.            nadia slowed down long enough to make the turn to the street the estate was located, stopping the vehicle long enough for the two of us to gather ourselves and for her to straighten her uniform to look presentable once we entered the compound. Once all was back in its place, nadia put the truck back in gear and we headed toward the house once again.            I didn’t mind the cat-and-mouse games too much. In fact, it was a bit refreshing to see such a lovely woman nonverbally flirting without the pretenses of titles and station. Well, at least not entirely. The fact that I am a Dominant in this realm, and a Dominant nadia had developed a respect for, might have had something to do with her flirting on the edges. The way I saw it, she, in the brief time we’d shared the same space, developed a passion that was predicated upon her respect for my station, and the good things she had heard from her Master about me.That was fine by me. It’s not like I could not have had nadia hot and bothered under normal circumstances, but at the same time, it helped to not have had to put the litmus test out there.               The next time she looked up at me, I gave a wink letting her know I wouldn’t discuss this little interlude between us with her Master, and blew her a kiss from the back seat to consummate the brief dance between us.            nadia returned the gesture with a kiss in the mirror at me of her own, letting me know she enjoyed the dance as well, and a wink letting me know we could continue the dance again, with her Master’s permission, whenever I was ready.              Sometimes, it’s great to be Pharaoh.


About the Author:
Shakir Rashaan currently lives in suburban Atlanta with his wife and two children. Rashaan's catalog includes the series Chronicles of the Nubian Underworld and the upcoming Kink, P.I., and current projects being developed under the pen name Curtis Alexander Hamilton. Other credits include several anthologies, including the bestselling Zane Presents Z-Rated: Chocolate Flava 3. You can see more of Rashaan at ShakirRashaan.com.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/shakirrashaan
Web: http://www.shakirrashaan.com
Blog: http://medium.com/@ShakirRashaan
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ShakirRashaanErotica


June 23 Guest blogErotica For All http://eroticaforall.co.uk
June 23 SpotlightThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
June 24 InterviewPembroke Sinclair  pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
June 24 SpotlightFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
June 25 Guest blogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 26 InterviewDarkest Cravingswww.darkestcravings.blogspot.com
June 27 Character InterviewAuthor Karen Swarthttp://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com/
June 27 SpotlightSapphyria's Steamy Book Reviews http://saphssteamybooks.blogspot.com/
June 30 SpotlightHouston Havens http://houstonhavens.wordpress.com
June 30 SpotlightLov Sinfully Sexy Bookswww.lovsinfullysexybooks.blogspot.com a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Blog and Giveaway with David Monette

Why are Zombies so Darn Popular?By David Monette
               Good question. Why are they so popular? You would think that as a guy who has invested the time into writing a trilogy based on zombies, I would have a response waiting to fall from the tip of my tongue. The truth is; I kind of didn’t when I started putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, as the case may be). But as time went on, I was asked this question more and more and I’ve finally been dragged, kicking and screaming, into thinking it over. So here it is. It should be interesting… or at least moderately amusing.  
               To start with, I think there are two things involved in the modern concept of zombies that makes them so popular in our society. The first is the idea of zombies themselves, and the ancient human motivator that these monsters have always embodied since someone first dreamed them up: our fear of the unknown- which in this case, boils down to our fear of death. This fear is the driving force behind so many things in our lives that we hardly recognize its existence until we actually sit down, take stock, and be brutally honest about our motivations for doing the things we do. In the case of zombies, though, it’s pretty easy to see. They’re dead, they’ve been somehow brought back to some sort of pseudo-life, and they shamble around trying to kill living people. They’ve got everything needed to scare the crap out of us: Death- oh no! Corpses- Gross! And death- oh no! Trying to kill me- Run away! Death- oh no!
Death, death, death.
All of this “death” stuff is very scary for us human creatures who are so instinctively concerned with life and living. The idea, the fear titillates us. And we love to be titillated.
               The second element to the popularity of zombies comes in the form of our fascination with the apocalypse that generally accompanies their presence. Now, let’s be fair, this fascination with the apocalypse has always been present in human societies to some degree (think Ragnarok in Norse mythology, the floods in Greek, Christian, Sumerian, etc… myth stories). Our modern experience with it is therefore nothing special, but where does it come from? Well, the answer to that is based on- you guessed it- our fear of death! All of these stories, from floods to earthquakes, to a bunch of giants coming down to smash us into bloody pulps, are ways for us to categorize, make predictable, the idea of death, of our mortality, so that we’ll feel better about the whole scary business of not having coffee or beer anymore.
               Now, if you take zombies (Death- oh no!) and the apocalypse (Death in large numbers- oh no!) and combine them, why, you get a perfect storm of fear and anxiety. But never fear. These are stories. And we are all living a story, the story of our lives. In that story, we all have a main character, the person who looks back at us in the mirror. And the main character in stories usually survives any crazy scenario nature or bad screenwriters can throw at them. So, that person in the mirror will survive! Right? That one person is the hero, they’ll be the one to live while everyone else gets swarmed by- insert your apocalyptic event. That’s how we picture it, isn’t it? And there’s nothing wrong with that. It helps us get through the day and gives us something to think about while we’re on the bus to work, or while we’re at work snapping circuits together or flipping burgers or… whatever. So go ahead zombie apocalypse, give it your worst. I’m not afraid. 



The Zombie AxiomIn the Time of the DeadBook IDavid Monette
Genre: Horror/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Severed Press
Date of Publication: April 11, 2014
ISBN-10: 1925047717ISBN-13: 978-1925047714,ASIN: B00JM38JZYASIN:
Number of pages: 310Word Count: 113,000
Cover Artist: David Monette
Book Description:
A handful of survivors claw out a life amid the ruins of the world, all the while fighting the zombie hordes.
In Northern New York State, three uncommon allies lead one of these bands in this epic struggle as they learn both the strengths and weaknesses of their enemies… and of themselves.
Pushed to their limits and holed up on a remote lake island, life has taken on a new normality. That is until winter arrives and all hell will freeze over. For it is then that the open waters of the lake, the only barrier against the unrelenting dead, will freeze. And the monsters will come. By the thousands…
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/AXmHYK5TrSc
Available on Amazon in Paperback and eBook
About the Author:
David Monette functions as an author and illustrator from his home in Northern New York State. His highly detailed fantasy and science fiction artwork has appeared on many books, magazines, board games, and collectible cards. While receiving his MFA in illustration, his instructors reviewed his written work and strongly suggested that he combine his writing ability with his talent as an illustrator to chart his own path.  Hence, “The Zombie Axiom” was born, a compelling, terrifying story sprinkled with amazing black and white illustrations from start to finish.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaintWriteDave
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zombieaxiom
Website: http://davidmonette.com/
Blog: http://davidmonette.blogspot.com/
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7334521.David_Monette
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/David-Monette/e/B00FMX73DM
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyLnc5iH4YIC_L2TioEjt1w


June 2 Guest blogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 3 Guest PostBooks Directhttp://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/
June 4 Interview and reviewLittle Read Riding Hood www.Littlereadridinghood.com
June 5 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!   http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
June 6 reviewMama Knows Books http://mamaknowsbooks.blogspot.com
June 9 SpotlightNanna Three and Counting   http://nannaof3.blogspot.com/
June 10 SpotlightDeal Sharing Auntwww.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
June 11 SpotlightSapphyria's Book Reviews http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
June 12 SpotlightCoffee Break www.cafebreak.co.uk
June 13 Guest blogDarkest Cravingswww.darkestcravings.blogspot.com
June 16 Guest blog and reviewThe Bookie Monster http://bookie-monster.com/
June 17 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
June 18 Character InterviewAuthor Karen Swarthttp://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com/
June 19 SpotlightSoaring Eagle Publicitywww.soaringeaglepublicity.com
June 20 InterviewEclipse Reviewshttp://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com/
June 23 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
June 24 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
June 25 reviewMom With A Kindlehttp://momwithakindle.blogspot.com/
June 26 Guest blogBooklover Sue http://bookloversue.blogspot.com
June 26 reviewParanormal Romance and Authors That Rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
June 27 InterviewTwisted Book Junkiehttp://www.twistedbookjunkie.blogspot.com/
June 30 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
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Love and War by Suzy Knight

What I like about you (Part 3: The Men of Estoria)
            So far we have discussed the two main women of ‘Love and War’ Amelia (find the guest post here at http://sobookishly.net)and Sophia (find the guest post here at www.roxannerhoads.com) Now it’s time to discuss the men.
            Let’s start with James the bodyguard. He surprises Amelia with his good looks but wins her over by listening to her opinions. He doesn’t dismiss her as unfeminine for her hobbies of reading and debating and even teaches her to wield a sword (while shirtless! Yum yum). James is a modern sort of man, he is secure in his masculinity enough that he wants to lift Amelia up and help her reach her goals.
            Next we have Graeme, The Duke of Crestori’s son. He is the strong silent type, and he doesn’t put up with any of Sophia’s games. He hates gossip and believes in honour and duty over everything else. His family’s dukedom is the main defence against the Belvidian army, so he was raised to be a warrior. He is disciplined and not quick to share his feelings, but after a little interlude in the stables with Sophia its clear to see that he isn’t unhappy with his arranged bride.
            There’s also the Prince of Prestor; Damon. He is the second-born son of the Prestorian royal family and has been raised as the ‘back-up’ in case anything should happen to his older brother. He is Amelia’s betrothed but she begins to fall for the bodyguard he sends to keep her safe until the wedding.

            What kind of men do you love to read about? Strong and Silent? Alpha males? Nerds? Sensitive Type? Let me know in the comments!
Love and WarChronicles of EstoriaBook 1Suzy Knight
Genre: Fantasy/ Romance
Publisher: Taliesin Publishing
ASIN: B00I9Q3MYI
Number of pages: 213Word Count: just over 70,000
Cover Artist: James Caldwell
Taliesin Publishing  Amazon UK  Smashwords
Barnes and Noble   Goodreads
Book Description:
In the small kingdom of Estoria, war is brewing. Trapped between the deadly Cantarrus mountains and the volatile kingdom of Belvidia, war seems unavoidable. The time has come to announce the heir to the throne so as to give the kingdom a much needed sense of security.
Sophia has worked long and hard to become the ideal queen. She is the toast of Estorian society and is ready to marry for duty. Her twin sister Amelia is her polar opposite; clumsy and opinionated Amelia might be fluent in several languages, but she cannot curtsy without falling over.
When Amelia’s betrothal to Prince Damon is announced, Sophia feels betrayed. Amelia is shocked and becomes paranoid that her unfeminine habits will cause the prince to call off the wedding, leaving Estoria to face Belvidia alone. Things get more complicated for Amelia when she begins to develop feelings for the handsome bodyguard sent by her future husband.
Amelia must choose; will she side with her sister, do her duty and marry the prince, or will her new found interest in marrying for love ruin everything? Love, duty or family; which would you choose?

Excerpt:


The nervous princesses reached the double doors of the banquet hall. Sophia slid her arm out of Amelia’s, grabbed her hand, and squeezed it tightly. Just as suddenly as it started, the moment was over, and she reverted back to the cold and dignified princess, leaving Amelia more nervous than before.“Stand up straight, shoulders back, chin up, and smile!” hissed Sophia at her sister. The doors opened, and a servant announced their arrival. Gracefully, Sophia glided into the room, smiling at the many people who stood for their entrance as she made her way to the high table.Amelia swallowed hard as she took in the many faces staring from within the room. Biting her lip, she followed, trying to mimic her sister’s graceful walk, her smile more a grimace of concentration. The hall was full to capacity with visiting lords and ladies who had come to hear the king’s announcement. Amelia felt her stomach churn at the thought of embarrassing herself in front of all the visiting dignitaries.They sat, Sophia next to the queen and Amelia next to the king, as they always did. The hall-full of people took their seats afterward. The king then stood and raised his arms. “Welcome lords, ladies, and gentlefolk to our home on this very special evening. Before we begin our meal, there is something I wish to announce.”Around the room, people sat up straighter with anticipation. Everyone knew the girls were of age to marry. In fact, they were past the usual age for betrothal announcements. Sophia smiled indulgently, while Amelia bit her lip, hoping the man her father chose would serve the country well in these troubled times.“As you know, my wife and I have not been blessed with a son.” The queen reached for his hand and squeezed it before she rose to stand beside him. “But we do have two beautiful daughters, who have grown into very fine women.” He gestured to the two princesses on either side of himself and his queen.“I have called you here tonight to hear the betrothal announcement of my daughter, who will become queen and rule Estoria at her husband’s side after my death.” Amelia glanced at Sophia, her stomach churning as she waited to hear who her sister would be betrothed to. Sophia looked nervous about hearing her new husband’s name too, but she had prepared for this her whole life. Amelia turned her gaze to the king and queen, waiting for the inevitable announcement.“I have arranged a match with the second born prince of Prestor, Prince Damon.” The room broke into excited whispers as the lords and ladies discussed all the gossip they could remember about the prince. Sophia smiled widely, but Amelia frowned. She knew of Prince Damon. He was said to be handsome and chivalrous. He would make an excellent husband. He was a few years older—twenty-four to Sophia’s eighteen. But while Prestor was a beautiful country, it was separated from Estoria by the Cantarrus Mountains. Weren’t there more suitable choices who would be able to aid Estoria in the upcoming battle? She trusted her father’s decision, but she couldn’t say she would have made the same choice. Although, if I’m honest—that’s at least half because I want the crown for myself.The king held his hands up for silence again. “Please, everyone, join me in celebrating the betrothal of my eldest daughter, your crown princess, the beautiful Princess Amelia.” There was a roar of applause, and both Amelia and Sophia’s faces froze into identical masks of shock and horror. Amelia was dragged upward to stand beside her father. She felt like the floor had dropped away from beneath her, and she clutched at her father’s arm to support herself. The roar of the lords and ladies sounded so far away. She must have misheard. There was no way he actually meant it.“I have two daughters, and my youngest, Sophia, has also become betrothed tonight.” The king looked over at Sophia, oblivious to the taut smile on her face. The queen reached out and helped her upright.“Princess Sophia will wed Duke Anton of Crestori’s oldest son, the honorable Sir Graeme,” announced King Frederick, beaming at the crowd. He looked around the room, grinning as the shouts of encouragement for the princesses and blessings were called out for their marriages. “Now let us celebrate with a feast!” he boomed, and turned to help his queen and daughters back into their seats while the servants, who waited around the edges of the hall, dashed forward with plates towering with food and flagons of wine. Amelia felt numb. What will I do? Can I marry a man I have never met? How will he react when he realizes he was conned out of a real princess for his bride and instead gained a budding ambassador? How is Sophia going to react? Questions ran through her head, too quickly for her to consider answers for any of them. She glanced over at Sophia and flinched to see her face still frozen in a false smile.For the rest of the evening Amelia picked at her meal, smiling and nodding every time someone came forward to congratulate her. Later, when the food was cleared away, she danced with everyone who asked, though it all felt like a dream. Normally, she watched Sophia dancing, as no one was fool enough to ask her. Now, she was suddenly the most sought out woman, even though the men would surely regret risking their feet afterward.
She was so numb it was if she still sat beside her father, watching someone else get twirled around on the dance floor by various lords, dukes, and sirs. Perhaps I should always get earth-shattering news before a dance, it seems to make me less clumsy, she thought idly as she watched the room spin by.



About the Author:
Suzy Knight is an average English girl, who after completing a degree in boring business management decided to travel halfway around the world to the land of kpop and kimchi to be a teacher.
Whilst in Korea, Suzy rediscovered her passion for writing and managed to write the novel Love and War in between working at her academy and volunteering with animal rescue. Two years later and she’s back in England with her rescued Korean puppy, Panda.
Now she is working on her next novels, while training Panda to be less nervous.
Website: www.suzyknight.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuzyKnightBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzyKnightbooks
Amazon Author UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00IABE9YE


June 9 Interview and reviewDark Side of Romancewww.darksideofromance.com
June 10 InterviewCreatively Greenwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
June 11 Guest blogSo Bookishly http://sobookishly.net
June 12 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping; Nana, Mommy, & Sissy too!3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com/
June 13 SpotlightThe Book Reviewhttp://www.cluereview.blogspot.com
June 16 Guest blogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 17 SpotlightDeal Sharing Auntwww.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
June 18 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
June 19 ReviewParanormal Romance and Authors That Rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
June 20 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com 
June 23 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
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Guest Blog and Excerpt: The Brede Chronicles by P.I. Barrington

IN PRAISE OF PASSIONByP.I. Barrington
 "Love Is A Stranger"(Written by Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart)
Love is a stranger
In an open car
To tempt you in
And drive you far away

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession

Love is a danger
Of a different kind
To take you away
And leave you far behind
And love love love
Is a dangerous drug
You have to receive it
And you still can't
Get enough of the stuff

It's savage and it's cruel
And it shines like destruction
Comes in like a flood
And it seems like religion
It's noble and it's brutal
It distorts and deranges
And it wrenches you up
And you're left like a zombie

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession

It's guilt edged
Glamorous and sleek by design
You know it's jealous by nature
False and unkind
It's hard to restrain
And it's totally cool
It touches and it teases
As you stumble in the debris

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession


Get ready. I've been thinking. Specifically I've been thinking about romance—not mine, it doesn't exist—but the genre' of romance. That led me to thinking about how I feel when I read it.  The genre' spans the heat level from sweet (barely a kiss) to scorching (graphic sex) and yet for me, at times, it isn't completely satisfying. Something is missing in my opinion. It isn't sex, it isn't infatuation and it isn't dreamy heroes and inhumanly beautiful heroines finally admitting they adore one another. So what the heck is it?
In a word: passion. Not passionate kisses, not intense looks and touches or even sex talk. Passion. That burning, crazy, rip-your-heart-out-and-stir-fry-it kind of passion. The kind of passion that makes you love the relationship as much as you love the love of your life. It is so intense it can be destructive, constructive, or just…exciting. Passionate relationships are more than just sex alone and more than that first giddy flush of attraction. Passion is when you have more to lose than your heart. Your whole being is at stake (no vamp puns intended.)
Passionate love can be explosive or repressed yet it's exactly the same. It can be accusative, jealous or sorrowful or obsessive. It can also be unkind and forgiving…over and over and over again. It's the stuff love songs are made of (hint: go to the top of the page and read the song lyrics again.) Not just song lyrics either; some of the classic love stories are insanely passionate. Wuthering Heights, Gone with the Wind, Jane Eyre are wrought with passion and much of it is repressed. For me, that's a good thing. I love understatement just as much as I love overstatement!
It's all about emotion. It's a deep, soul slaying, at times fearful emotion that can entangle you and drown you in its depths while burning your heart into curling, crispy shreds.
It can make you shout, scream, whisper in fury or weep with frustration, fear, emptiness and then turn around again and make you soar over mountaintops with wings of soul-freeing joy. But what makes it all important is that it is worthwhile. It is deep. It means something to you—both of you—and it is of priceless value.
That, for me, is the true yet often missing link in the romance genre' and while much of it is written as fantasy, lovely escapism, I yearn for that passion that makes a love story real. You might say that I take it all too seriously, that it's meant to be a fantasy, a dreamlike plane of existence but for me, deep wrenching passion, fighting or fiercely making-up, open and honest or repressed and hinted at with glances behind feathery fans, is the point of it. Passion is what keeps it all going, it's that rollercoaster that doesn't end at the first scary drop of a relationship but climbs again and again and again and drops terrifyingly down in between each hilltop. I'll take a stormy, passion infused perhaps not so happily ended after instead of a dull cottage in the forest of marriage mediocrity any time. I've told you what I perceive passion is now I'm telling you what passion isn't: boring.
Excerpt:
Very little spooked Elektra Tate but lying chained to a wall five stories below the ground did. Not that she believed in ghosts never having met one even living with the dead in her tomb house, but the rotting horror of those buried above seeped down through the ceiling in icy black liquid that ran down the walls. She twisted as far away as she could but the floor remained damp and without escape. By the time they brought her back up before Narita, Elektra did not have to be encouraged to beg for mercy. Narita drew out her verdict of pardon as long as she could to enjoy watching Elektra suffer. When she was satisfied the young woman learned her lesson to stay as far away as possible from Alekzander Brede, she pronounced the sentence served and allowed her guards to escort Elektra down and out of the building.
Elektra landed on her knees on the ancient stone cobbled sidewalks and used the wall of Narita's edifice to help herself stand. The pain, now near unbearable, shrieked when she touched the blackened and bruised flesh to anything including cloth and she struggled against the throbbing crowds to make her way toward the only place she thought to go for help.
"Please Mahmud I don't want to lose my arm. You have to help me," she stood before the self-appointed doctor of the proscribed citizens. He inspected it and then shook his head.
"I can do nothing for you," he said. "It is already too far gone by now. Even should you sit in the sun for five days it would be no help."
"I'll get you money. Whatever you want, I'll get it. Please, save my hand, please?"
He shook his head again sorrowfully.
"I can do nothing. This does not need my type of medicine. You must ask the mechanical doctors, those with science and not nature. I am sorry I cannot help you Elektra."
Crying she stood against the wall of the crooked street, thinking what she might pay to those who if they could build space machines, could build anything. She slid down the wall and sat on her haunches against it sobbing.
A shadow fell across her, changing the scorching temperature a degree. She opened her eyes and a man knelt before her. He took her arm and gently inspected it.
"I can give you a new arm and hand," he said. "But you must pay what I ask." He stared directly into her eyes. "You will have a new arm—a new hand—better than before. But you must pay the price."
"What is it you want?" Elektra asked, still gasping in pain.
"Alekzander Brede."
****


The Brede Chronicles  Book 1P. I. Barrington  
Genre: Science Fiction Romance/Adventure
Publisher: First Realm PublishingDate of Publication: June 18, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1497340831 ISBN-10:1497340837ASIN:
Number of pages: 144              Word Count: 83,000
Cover Artist: Jared from Off the Wall Creations
Book Description:
Half-human Alekzander Brede is a law unto himself…or so he thinks. Elektra Tate, the street orphan who loves him has other ideas. When she betrays him for no apparent reason, he vows to punish her one way or another.
Taking the one thing she treasures most—their son—begins a cat and mouse relationship spanning two planets and costing possibly his life.
Elektra will stop at nothing to save her son but can she overcome Brede’s twisted idea of vengeance?
About the Author:
After an extended detour through the entertainment industry, P.I. Barrington has returned to writing fiction. Among her experience are radio air talent and the music industry. She lives in Los Angeles.
Her work includes:
Future Imperfect Trilogy (Crucifying Angel, Miraculous Deception, Final Deceit)
Inamorata Crossing/Borealis 1: A Space Opera
Isadora DayStar
The Button Hollow Chronicles: The Leaf Peeper Murders
Free stories on ReadWave.com & Wattpad.com
Visit her at http://www.pibarrington.wordpress.com 
https://twitter.com/PIBarrington


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June 23 SpotlightBooklover Sue http://bookloversue.blogspot.com
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June 24 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!   http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
June 25 Guest blogCloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuffcloeyk.blogspot.com
June 25 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
June 26 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
June 26 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 27 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
June 27 SpotlightDeal Sharing Auntwww.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
June 30 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
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