Rae Lori's Blog, page 13
November 12, 2014
Return to Chelsey Falls by Marianne Gowers Book Blast + $50 Giveaway
This looks like a great heartwarming tearjerker! If you're a reader on the lookout for an emotional read, check out this goodie! :-)
Return to Chelsey Falls
After the death of his mother, fourteen year old, Wyatt Barnes was sent to live with his grandparents in Chelsey Falls, Washington. That summer was filled with new friends and new adventures until his life was turned upside down for a second time.
Almost ten years later, an offer to teach at the high school in Chelsey Falls, brings Wyatt back to the small town. Is he getting a second chance to make amends with Alexa, the young woman that had befriended him?
Meanwhile, Wyatt’s sudden reappearance in town sends Alexa’s life into a tailspin. Alexa can’t help but wonder if Wyatt has finally found the peace he so desperately needed. Although apprehensive about opening old wounds, Alexa knows she can’t avoid Wyatt forever. Could what started out as a crush so long ago become more than that now? Or is it just too late? Return to Chelsey Falls is a heartwarming story of second chances and forgiveness.
AMAZON
Praise for the Book:
Alisa says: Good read! I enjoyed the story and the characters. The author’s description and character development allowed the reader to get into the story easily and quickly. A fabulous clean, good story about following your heart and not giving up.
Lauren says: The best part of the story for me were the characters and their development. I kept thinking it was going to be predictable but it had enough surprises and twists to feel refreshing and creative.
SStew says: Great read! I loved getting the story from two different perspectives and how it went back and forth from present to past. If you like this genre it is a great book from a first time author. I'll look forward to her future releases.
Excerpt:
“Need any help, Lexa?”
“It’s A-lexa,” she said, dragging out the A at the beginning of her name. She threw her backpack over her shoulder, gathered her lunch and started for the junior high.
“Yeah, but I think I’ll call you Lexa.” I hurried to her side and flashed her a smile.
She shook her head, another tiny smile flickering across her face. She was cute when she was irritated.
I followed her to her locker, leaning against the one next to hers. I hadn’t made any friends yet and Lexa intrigued me. She slammed her locker shut.
“Did you need something?”
There was that irritated look again.
Lexa and I had History together after lunch. “I wanted to make sure you made it to class okay.” I thought I saw another smile as she started down the hall without answering.
“This is so nice,” I shouted into the busy hall. “Just you and me walking to class together.” She snorted, quickly covering her mouth, but not before I saw a speck of spit fly through the air.
“Real funny, Wyatt.” She laughed and her face turned bright red. I wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed by the flying spit or by the fact that she actually knew my name.
“You know my name? Have we met?”
“Maybe you haven’t noticed, but every day Mr. Kline has to say, ‘Wyatt, wake up!’”
I liked her even more. She had spunk. I laughed as we arrived at the classroom, but my laughter was cut short. I’d forgotten something. I had my soccer ball in my hands and no backpack.
“Hey, can I borrow a pencil?” I hoped she didn’t think I was a big dork, standing there with just my soccer ball.
Author Marianne Gowers
Marianne Gowers was born in Seattle, Washington where she grew up with nine brothers and sisters. She has dreamed of writing for many years, and has finally made it a reality. She spends her days writing and editing and then editing some more. She loves bringing to life the many characters in her imagination. She enjoys writing LDS Women's fiction, providing funny and inspiring stories, which she hopes will be appealing even to those outside her faith.
Website
Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/30/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Return to Chelsey FallsAfter the death of his mother, fourteen year old, Wyatt Barnes was sent to live with his grandparents in Chelsey Falls, Washington. That summer was filled with new friends and new adventures until his life was turned upside down for a second time.
Almost ten years later, an offer to teach at the high school in Chelsey Falls, brings Wyatt back to the small town. Is he getting a second chance to make amends with Alexa, the young woman that had befriended him?
Meanwhile, Wyatt’s sudden reappearance in town sends Alexa’s life into a tailspin. Alexa can’t help but wonder if Wyatt has finally found the peace he so desperately needed. Although apprehensive about opening old wounds, Alexa knows she can’t avoid Wyatt forever. Could what started out as a crush so long ago become more than that now? Or is it just too late? Return to Chelsey Falls is a heartwarming story of second chances and forgiveness.
AMAZON
Praise for the Book:
Alisa says: Good read! I enjoyed the story and the characters. The author’s description and character development allowed the reader to get into the story easily and quickly. A fabulous clean, good story about following your heart and not giving up.
Lauren says: The best part of the story for me were the characters and their development. I kept thinking it was going to be predictable but it had enough surprises and twists to feel refreshing and creative.
SStew says: Great read! I loved getting the story from two different perspectives and how it went back and forth from present to past. If you like this genre it is a great book from a first time author. I'll look forward to her future releases.
Excerpt:
“Need any help, Lexa?”
“It’s A-lexa,” she said, dragging out the A at the beginning of her name. She threw her backpack over her shoulder, gathered her lunch and started for the junior high.
“Yeah, but I think I’ll call you Lexa.” I hurried to her side and flashed her a smile.
She shook her head, another tiny smile flickering across her face. She was cute when she was irritated.
I followed her to her locker, leaning against the one next to hers. I hadn’t made any friends yet and Lexa intrigued me. She slammed her locker shut.
“Did you need something?”
There was that irritated look again.
Lexa and I had History together after lunch. “I wanted to make sure you made it to class okay.” I thought I saw another smile as she started down the hall without answering.
“This is so nice,” I shouted into the busy hall. “Just you and me walking to class together.” She snorted, quickly covering her mouth, but not before I saw a speck of spit fly through the air.
“Real funny, Wyatt.” She laughed and her face turned bright red. I wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed by the flying spit or by the fact that she actually knew my name.
“You know my name? Have we met?”
“Maybe you haven’t noticed, but every day Mr. Kline has to say, ‘Wyatt, wake up!’”
I liked her even more. She had spunk. I laughed as we arrived at the classroom, but my laughter was cut short. I’d forgotten something. I had my soccer ball in my hands and no backpack.
“Hey, can I borrow a pencil?” I hoped she didn’t think I was a big dork, standing there with just my soccer ball.
Author Marianne Gowers
Marianne Gowers was born in Seattle, Washington where she grew up with nine brothers and sisters. She has dreamed of writing for many years, and has finally made it a reality. She spends her days writing and editing and then editing some more. She loves bringing to life the many characters in her imagination. She enjoys writing LDS Women's fiction, providing funny and inspiring stories, which she hopes will be appealing even to those outside her faith.
Website
Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/30/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 6, 2014
Christmas in Snow Valley Blog Tour Review + Spotlight
Tour Schedule
Christmas in Snow Valley
Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.
Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.
An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson
Lucy Phillips doesn’t want to spend her Christmas vacation dodging her ex-boyfriend, so when he turns up at the airport to give her a ride home, Lucy panics and asks a complete stranger to kiss her. Although the kiss is incredible, Lucy never expects to see the guy again. Is it bad luck or destiny when Lucy comes down with a sore throat and the new doctor in Snow Valley is none other than the guy she kissed at the airport?
Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis
Christmas in Snow Valley is the perfect way for April Winston to introduce her city slicker fiancé, Scott Mecham, to life on a farm. If only Wade Hadley, hometown boy and high school sweetheart, will cooperate! But Wade has no intention of letting April go without a fight. This Christmas, Wade is determined to overcome their painful past and show April that she already has what she’s been seeking all along.
Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts
Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn't pursue him or even seem interested. Ty's career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.
The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart
When Molly O’Hare gets a prediction that she will kiss her true love on Christmas Eve, she thinks it’s utterly ridiculous. But when she gets teamed up with Kevin Snow, aka her ex-boyfriend, to decorate a Christmas tree, things start to change. Too bad getting over the past is hard and seeing him kiss another girl is even harder. Now Molly is left with a choice—run away from home and heartbreak or let Christmas work out a miracle all of its own.
Risking it all for Love by Kimberley Montpetit
Succumbing to family pressure, Jessica Mason reluctantly comes home for Christmas. Ever since her high school boyfriend's death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica and religion have not been compatible. So, when she visits Michael’s grave, she's surprised to meet the handsome James Douglas, Pastor John’s nephew, who’s studying for the ministry. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?
Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell
As head of Snow Valley hospital's fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn't have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She's been burned by a tourist romance before and, with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy ballads.
~Rae's Review~I'm currently still reading this anthology but I'm halfway through and loving each of these stories. All of them take places in Snow Valley, Montana where either the characters are going home for the winter to spend it in Snow Valley with their family or already there spending time. I read an Unexpected Kiss first and I love how the characters mentioned Hallmark winter movies as their favorites and in comparison to things. There were some hijinks that felt natural and funny. I couldn't help liking the characters and how they get themselves into different situations.
I hopped over to Cami Checketts' Full Court Devotion and was excited about her offering. I've been dying to read her suspense works and I love that she writes clean romance with different genre aspects. FCD was a really good story and I loved the surprise of an IR romance between the leads. Ty and Kazzy were so sweet and although they clashed a bit in the beginning, their road to each other felt so easy going and I couldn't help rooting for them. There is a bit of tension between Ty and one of Kazzy's brothers because of Ty's race and a tragedy that happens later but Checketts writes a hopeful conclusion and an understanding between the characters. I loved Ty and Kazzy's chemistry!
I left off zipping back to Jeanette Lewis' Feels Like Love and I can't wait to see how things turn out as the tension is already building.
As my tv is set to the Hallmark Winter movie marathons, my candy cane cocoa and pumpkin spice creamed coffee is on hot, this is a great collection to add to the mood. I recommend this book to any clean winter romance fan in the mood for those warm comfortable nights with some great stories and wonderful authors. I'm adding each author in this collection on my list to check out more of their other works. If only I had a fireplace...
~Excerpts~
Full Court Devotion by Cami CheckettsShivering in the vicious canyon breeze, Kazlyn skirted a group of slow-moving girls and ran directly into the back of an insanely tall guy. Her bag flung from her fingers and books scattered in the crusty snow piled up next to the sidewalk.“Snot!”Tall dude turned and gave her a friendly smile. “No, it’s Tyrese.” His smile grew as he looked her over, white teeth flashing against his smooth, dark skin. “Most people call me Ty, but you can call me anything you want to.”“Ugh!” She ignored his flirtations and pretty-boy face. You’d think a man that large would have a face like Andre the Giant. Grabbing at books, she shoved them into her bag.“Here, let me get that for you.” Ty reached farther across the snow bank than she could; with octopus arms it was probably easy.“Thanks,” she muttered.He retrieved a few more books and her peppermint lip gloss. Of course, he would find the only feminine thing she had time for during school. His grin got even bigger. “This looks…” He glanced over her face before focusing on her lips. “Yummy.”Could the guy get any more arrogant? Kazlyn held out her hand. He surrendered the books, but held onto the lip gloss. She sighed, shoved the books into her bag, then held out her hand again. He placed the lip gloss into her palm and wrapped his warm fingers around her freezing ones.“Wouldn’t want you to lose that.” Ty squeezed her hand. “Maybe you’ll give me a sample one day.”Her eyebrows shot up. She yanked her fingers from his and stomped around him. “No free samples, buddy.” She tossed a challenging look over her shoulder, almost hoping he’d call her bluff. He winked and grinned.Kazlyn whipped back around, smacking herself in the face with her long, blonde hair. First, she ran into him. Then, she whacked herself with her own hair.He laughed. “Maybe I could be an exception.”Kazlyn kept walking. He caught up to her in four steps, though she’d taken ten. Curse his long legs. She couldn’t resist looking at him and almost wished she could dislodge the picture—fabulous smile, dark eyes surrounded with thick lashes she couldn’t have achieved with heaps of mascara, and chocolate skin.“Why are you following me?”“I’m not. I’m walking next to you.”She huffed. “That’s because you walk so stinking fast. If you didn’t have giraffe legs, you’d be following me.”He laughed. “Come on. I have more muscle on my legs than most giraffes.”She allowed him a small smile. “Knobbly-kneed giraffe.”“I told you it’s Tyrese.” He pumped his eyebrows. “Now, you get to share your name with me.”“Not happening. I don’t tell strange men my name.”“Aw, come on. You already gave me a hug from the back.”“I ran into you!”“And I forgave you immediately.” He winked. “I’m sure most people would forgive that beautiful face of anything.”Kazlyn wanted to glare at him, but she couldn’t. Her dad used to say a similar line to her. “Are you always a schmoozer?”That brought her another chuckle. “Didn’t your momma teach you not to call names?”“Didn’t your momma teach you not to follow people?”He laughed louder. “She said it was okay if the girl was really pretty.”
Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnellClay reached one arm around her.Her breath caught as his hand pressed the small of her back and she took a step toward him.“Really?” he asked.Awareness pulsed just under her skin, catching Paisley off guard. “Really,” she breathed.“Prove it.” Clay swiped a spoonful of red frosting across her cheek and Paisley’s jaw dropped at the cold feeling of Crisco and powdered sugar on her skin.“Clay,” she said in shock.Clay pulled her closer and Paisley felt as though a million bubbles floated through her toes and out her head. She placed her hand on his chest, not sure if she was trying to hold him back or be closer to him. Clay smelled like cinnamon and aftershave and Paisley found the two a dangerous combination. He gently swiped the other cheek. “Play,” he said in a husky voice.If Clay’s arm hadn’t been around her, she would have melted into the floor upon hearing his deep timbre.In the entire mess of mini holiday crisis she’d faced over the last couple of days she’d always known what to do. If preparedness was her super power, then being caught up in Clay’s embrace was her kryptonite. She was at a loss for how to handle the situation. The only thoughts flitting inside her head were how close Clay was and how he might kiss her and she might let him.
An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland AndersonUnlocking her door, Lucy opened it and slid in behind the wheel. She closed the door, knowing Cole probably wondered what was wrong with her. Just as she started the car, a knock on the driver’s side window made her jump.Cole stood there watching her, his face reflecting both a mixture of confusion and amusement. Lucy lowered the window, and he leaned down so they were eye level.“Are you running away from me?”Why did he have to be so direct?“Yes.”He grinned. “That’s the second time you’ve done this. I’m beginning to think you don’t like me.”She snorted an unladylike laugh. “Right.”“Don’t laugh. I’m getting a complex.”“If it’s any consolation, it’s me not you.”That earned her another perplexed look. “That’s a little cliché. I’m sure you can do better than that.”Yeah, she could, but she didn’t dare blurt out how much she liked kissing him, and admit that that was what scared her.Inadvertently, her gaze dropped to his mouth. She noticed the faint shadow of dark whiskers along his jaw, and she suddenly wanted to kiss him again. “Aren’t you freezing?” she asked, hoping to distract him as much as herself.“Yes.” He unexpectedly rounded the car, opened the door and took the passenger seat. “That’s better.” He held out his bare hands in front of the vent, which blew mildly warm air.The scent of his cologne permeated the air, and having him so close started a slow burn inside Lucy’s belly. Who needed heating systems with this man around?“What are you doing?”“Trying to get warm.” He looked her way, that smile back on his face. “And trying to get a straight answer out of you about why you keep running away from me.”“I don’t want to talk about it.”“Is it about that kiss we just shared?” His blue eyes twinkled. “Or about the ones in the airport?”Both. “I said I don’t want to talk about it.”“Okay. What do you want to talk about?”She laughed. “I never said I wanted to talk about anything.”Cole studied her silently, like he was really trying to figure her out. Lucy felt the intensity of his gaze, and was unable to pull her eyes away. The interior of the car seemed to shrink, and the air pulsed with an electrical energy that prickled her skin with goose flesh.As if a giant gravitational force was at work between them, she felt herself leaning toward him. Cole slanted closer until she felt his warm breath mingle with hers. She should move away, make some wisecrack…anything to stop this crazy attraction.Instead, her eyes fluttered closed as their lips connected. Slowly, he moved his mouth against hers, and like a beautifully choreographed dance, she returned the kiss. Heat infused every part of her, leaving her limbs languid.Her heart thumped wildly, and a sigh escaped as he deepened the kiss. Barley cognizant of her surroundings, Lucy was both relieved and frustrated when Cole ended the kiss and edged slightly back.“Lucy, I’m coming to pick you up tomorrow.” His voice was rough with emotion, his eyes serious.She swallowed, and knew it was pointless to argue. “Okay.”
The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart“Hey, Mol.” Kevin said it before I got there. “Are you coming to sell me something? Mud pies, snow balls? Let’s see, what else did I buy from you over the years?” He snapped. “Rocks. Do you remember when I paid a nickel for a bag of rocks?” He let out a soft laugh.Mol. He had said ‘Mol’ like he still could say it. Like he was still that boy that I went to the swimming ditch with. Like he was still my best friend. Like he cared about me. He couldn’t talk to me like that. “Why are you doing the chores?” I demanded.His chin jerked up and he gut laughed. “You sound angry.”“I am angry.” And I was. So angry. For so long angry. He sat here like…like…like he could just sit here and talk to me about the past and do chores for my parents.His face got serious. “How’s your dad?”This question almost dispersed my anger. “He’s fine.”Kevin put his hand on the rope above his head; his eyes slowly searched my face. “What do you think of the swing?”“What?” He kicked his legs back and then forward. “I dug her out of the shed today.” The side of his lip tugged up. “I could use a push here.”I shook my head, trying to understand this ludicrousness. “Wh-no. No. Kevin, you and I are not people who push each other on swings anymore.”The speed of the swing increased with his leg pumping. “Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Right. Well, I just thought it would be fun to swing on it again.”Fury. Da*n*/ion. H**l itself wouldn’t describe the way I wanted to push his swing off the tree track or whatever… “Well, it’s not fun. It’s not fun to swing or push or see you sitting out here.” I looked at my bedroom window. “Have you just been waiting for me to come out like some stalker?”He lifted his eyebrows. “You look good, Mol.”I didn’t respond.He grinned. “Let’s try this again. I say ‘you look good.’ You say, ‘thank you, Kevin, you look amazing. What—do you do like one hundred push-ups a day? You look like it. Plus, I know you’re not a crazy stalker.”I wanted to be anywhere except here.“C’mon, you used to love it when I’d have conversations for us.”I longed to chip more paint off my fingernails, but they were hidden in my gloves.“What do you want?”“I just want to know about you, what you’re doing?”Before I could stop myself, I said. “Really? You want to know? Because I thought we ‘needed time.’” I air quoted and then hated myself. For showing myself.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * KoboSmashwords * iTunes
Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/20/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 3, 2014
SOULLESS Blog Tour
How gorge is this cover! Book 1 Moonless is available now and will be free November 7th so don't forget to grab your copy. I'll be grabbing mine! :-)
Title: SOULLESS
Series: Maiden of Time
Author: Crystal Collier
Pages: 263
Pub Date: October 13, 2014
Publisher: Raybourne Publishing
ISBN: 9781629830032
The Soulless are coming.
Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her wedding is destroyed by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her people have—she’s forced to unleash her true power.
And risk losing everything.
BUY
What reviewers are saying:
"5 Stars." - Invincible Love of Reading Book Blog
"I LOVED it! So good. Seriously...exceeded my expectations." -Kristin Smith, advanced reviewer
"Entirely unique and chilling." Gabby @ What’s Beyond Forks
"Unputdownable." T.C. Mckee, BookFish Books
Excerpt:
Kiren lay, unmoving except for the slow rise and fall of his chest. His pendant bulged beneath his coat. No harm could come of examining it closer while he slept, could it? He might never know, and Alexia was dying to understand its importance.
She pulled back the curtain, sending a stream of light across his comatose body. She neared slowly and glanced again at the open door. To close it, to isolate them...
Breathe.
She knelt. The cool buttons loosed easily beneath her fingers and his coat fell back. The charm had found its way between his vest and thin shirt. She touched the chain tentatively, sliding along its length, gliding toward the treasure beneath his waistcoat...
Fingers seized hers.
She jumped.
Fierce blue eyes sought hers beneath lowered brows, the purest night sky littered by a sea of stars. She looked away, furtively.
“Are you undressing me?” he whispered.
“What?” Her cheeks flamed. She backed away.
Kiren rolled onto his elbow and pressed off the floor, stumbling. Alexia reached to steady him as he propped against one of the bed’s four posters. He shook off the dizziness and pulled her close.
Her breath caught. The press of his hands on her back, the heat of his body so near hers, the aroma of his oaken musk...
Her heart thumped like a rabbit’s, and she couldn’t help thinking very soon he would be hers.
She couldn’t meet his stare. “Kiren, I-I was not attempting to—”
A finger landed across her lips as he probed her gaze. His eyebrows tightened. He released her.
“Shall I assist you?” He slipped out of his coat.
She gasped. “Kiren!”
He chuckled, unbuttoning his waistcoat.
Alexia could not believe what he was doing and she couldn’t look away. He wouldn’t honestly undress before her and chance such overwhelming temptation, would he?
The waistcoat dropped to the floor, leaving a thin shirt to veil his chest. His pendant sat atop, a flattened pewter diamond with symbols etched across the surface like calligraphy-styled runes. A larger Z with a cross stroke and rounded tail engraved its center, encircled by a ring of smaller characters.
“So, which is it that has you?” His head tilted.
She staggered backward and landed on the bed, her headache thumping dully. Each of his arms propped by her sides, his alluring lips hovering within inches.
“The necklace or the man?”
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author Bio:
Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese.
You can find her on her Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, or follow her on Twitter.
Title: SOULLESSSeries: Maiden of Time
Author: Crystal Collier
Pages: 263
Pub Date: October 13, 2014
Publisher: Raybourne Publishing
ISBN: 9781629830032
The Soulless are coming.
Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her wedding is destroyed by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her people have—she’s forced to unleash her true power.
And risk losing everything.
BUY
What reviewers are saying:
"5 Stars." - Invincible Love of Reading Book Blog
"I LOVED it! So good. Seriously...exceeded my expectations." -Kristin Smith, advanced reviewer
"Entirely unique and chilling." Gabby @ What’s Beyond Forks
"Unputdownable." T.C. Mckee, BookFish Books
Excerpt:
Kiren lay, unmoving except for the slow rise and fall of his chest. His pendant bulged beneath his coat. No harm could come of examining it closer while he slept, could it? He might never know, and Alexia was dying to understand its importance.
She pulled back the curtain, sending a stream of light across his comatose body. She neared slowly and glanced again at the open door. To close it, to isolate them...
Breathe.
She knelt. The cool buttons loosed easily beneath her fingers and his coat fell back. The charm had found its way between his vest and thin shirt. She touched the chain tentatively, sliding along its length, gliding toward the treasure beneath his waistcoat...
Fingers seized hers.
She jumped.
Fierce blue eyes sought hers beneath lowered brows, the purest night sky littered by a sea of stars. She looked away, furtively.
“Are you undressing me?” he whispered.
“What?” Her cheeks flamed. She backed away.
Kiren rolled onto his elbow and pressed off the floor, stumbling. Alexia reached to steady him as he propped against one of the bed’s four posters. He shook off the dizziness and pulled her close.
Her breath caught. The press of his hands on her back, the heat of his body so near hers, the aroma of his oaken musk...
Her heart thumped like a rabbit’s, and she couldn’t help thinking very soon he would be hers.
She couldn’t meet his stare. “Kiren, I-I was not attempting to—”
A finger landed across her lips as he probed her gaze. His eyebrows tightened. He released her.
“Shall I assist you?” He slipped out of his coat.
She gasped. “Kiren!”
He chuckled, unbuttoning his waistcoat.
Alexia could not believe what he was doing and she couldn’t look away. He wouldn’t honestly undress before her and chance such overwhelming temptation, would he?
The waistcoat dropped to the floor, leaving a thin shirt to veil his chest. His pendant sat atop, a flattened pewter diamond with symbols etched across the surface like calligraphy-styled runes. A larger Z with a cross stroke and rounded tail engraved its center, encircled by a ring of smaller characters.
“So, which is it that has you?” His head tilted.
She staggered backward and landed on the bed, her headache thumping dully. Each of his arms propped by her sides, his alluring lips hovering within inches.
“The necklace or the man?”
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveawayAuthor Bio:
Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. You can find her on her Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, or follow her on Twitter.
Martian Goods and Other Stories by Noelle Campbell ~ Book Blast + $100 Giveaway
Woo hoo! I'm excited about this sci-fi blast. :-D One thing I love about story collections is the chance to sample so many stories in a small amount of time. This is perfect for folks who have a ton of stuff to do in their busy life and little spare time. Check it out!
Martian Goods and Other Stories by Noelle Campbell
On a barren world where air is priceless and women are bought and sold, one man longs for love, but is she worth the price?
In this collection of short stories by science fiction author Noelle Campbell, Mars is the new frontier where men stake their claims for a new life. But some commodities are harder to come by than others--including women, who are often willing to sacrifice everything to escape an Earth that is no longer free."
Purchase your copy on Amazon
Excerpt
Richard “Rock” Klein
Captains Log 14.10.2665
Patraeus Station, Outside Luna
Docking Bay 24
They say space is cold. But it’s not *just* cold. No one has ever really felt how cold it is and lived to tell about it. We know instinctively that anything so vast and so empty must be cold.
The irony is that all the things we spend time with while in space also make us feel cold and empty. We travel in cold metallic ships from cold empty space to cold empty space.
Machines have no disability like perception. Filled with Artificial Intelligence and hundreds of processors heating up their hard drives, they are still only metal and plastic. They don’t care if they sit in space or in a shipyard for twenty years. They do not desire warmth and companionship. They just exist.
If you have one of those new bioships it might feel a little more like a horse than a cold lifeless THING, but in the end, it’s still a machine. It gives out as much personality and intelligence as an animal and it only lives to fill its purpose. It knows exactly what it should be and do. There is no goal for a spaceship to one day become a station. It is what it is and will never be more. We try to fill the spaces with ego or warm it with personality. Those of us who spend so much time in space hardly know what exaggerated bravado is. We believe the lies we tell ourselves. We believe all the fantasies we create about ourselves and the things… and people, we love – or maybe it’s just ‘want.’
I’ve given up trying to tell the difference between love and desire. I just want warmth.
We leave a planet’s atmosphere to be greeted by a sheet of black with pinpricks of light. There is so much empty blackness between each point of light, that space seems cold even without feeling the temperature drop. We spend much of our time trying to make it feel warm and filled.
The ship is cold and empty this morning and I think of her.
Samaya.
Six months ago she warmed these halls. Maybe it was longer, but I remember it like it was yesterday. No one has ever turned me on, out and completely neutroned me like Sam did. We were good. No. That’s a lie. We were slammin’ fantastic. I know how good it can be between a man and a woman.
That’s why I hate her and why I can’t get her out of my mind at the same time.
I sit at these docs and the ship is so quiet, all I can think of is the noise that Sam used to make, the scents she used to leave, the warmth, the humanity, as flawed as it was. Every time I have to sit and wait for maintenance, I think of her. You might look at the logs from a year ago and come to the same conclusion I did then: She could be a cold-hearted b*/ch.
Still. . .a cold hearted b*/ch is better company than an empty starship.
Author Noelle Campbell
Noelle Campbell has been involved in science media for more than a decade, covering stories for the entertainment sections of syfy (when it was still scifichannel), space.com, and local media in Houston, Texas—the home of the Space Center. As an advocate for the disabled, Noelle thinks the best way to prepare for the future is to imagine what it will be like and loves to imagine a life on Mars, which she does in her first published collection of short stories, Martian Goods & Other Stories.
Website * Twitter * Facebook
Book Blast Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/27/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Martian Goods and Other Stories by Noelle CampbellOn a barren world where air is priceless and women are bought and sold, one man longs for love, but is she worth the price?
In this collection of short stories by science fiction author Noelle Campbell, Mars is the new frontier where men stake their claims for a new life. But some commodities are harder to come by than others--including women, who are often willing to sacrifice everything to escape an Earth that is no longer free."
Purchase your copy on Amazon
Excerpt
Richard “Rock” Klein
Captains Log 14.10.2665
Patraeus Station, Outside Luna
Docking Bay 24
They say space is cold. But it’s not *just* cold. No one has ever really felt how cold it is and lived to tell about it. We know instinctively that anything so vast and so empty must be cold.
The irony is that all the things we spend time with while in space also make us feel cold and empty. We travel in cold metallic ships from cold empty space to cold empty space.
Machines have no disability like perception. Filled with Artificial Intelligence and hundreds of processors heating up their hard drives, they are still only metal and plastic. They don’t care if they sit in space or in a shipyard for twenty years. They do not desire warmth and companionship. They just exist.
If you have one of those new bioships it might feel a little more like a horse than a cold lifeless THING, but in the end, it’s still a machine. It gives out as much personality and intelligence as an animal and it only lives to fill its purpose. It knows exactly what it should be and do. There is no goal for a spaceship to one day become a station. It is what it is and will never be more. We try to fill the spaces with ego or warm it with personality. Those of us who spend so much time in space hardly know what exaggerated bravado is. We believe the lies we tell ourselves. We believe all the fantasies we create about ourselves and the things… and people, we love – or maybe it’s just ‘want.’
I’ve given up trying to tell the difference between love and desire. I just want warmth.
We leave a planet’s atmosphere to be greeted by a sheet of black with pinpricks of light. There is so much empty blackness between each point of light, that space seems cold even without feeling the temperature drop. We spend much of our time trying to make it feel warm and filled.
The ship is cold and empty this morning and I think of her.
Samaya.
Six months ago she warmed these halls. Maybe it was longer, but I remember it like it was yesterday. No one has ever turned me on, out and completely neutroned me like Sam did. We were good. No. That’s a lie. We were slammin’ fantastic. I know how good it can be between a man and a woman.
That’s why I hate her and why I can’t get her out of my mind at the same time.
I sit at these docs and the ship is so quiet, all I can think of is the noise that Sam used to make, the scents she used to leave, the warmth, the humanity, as flawed as it was. Every time I have to sit and wait for maintenance, I think of her. You might look at the logs from a year ago and come to the same conclusion I did then: She could be a cold-hearted b*/ch.
Still. . .a cold hearted b*/ch is better company than an empty starship.
Author Noelle CampbellNoelle Campbell has been involved in science media for more than a decade, covering stories for the entertainment sections of syfy (when it was still scifichannel), space.com, and local media in Houston, Texas—the home of the Space Center. As an advocate for the disabled, Noelle thinks the best way to prepare for the future is to imagine what it will be like and loves to imagine a life on Mars, which she does in her first published collection of short stories, Martian Goods & Other Stories.
Website * Twitter * Facebook
Book Blast Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/27/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 1, 2014
Welcome November! Bring on the NaNoWriMo and some special things for my mailing list members!
Stock Photo 'Beautiful Day in November' by Alfi007Thanks to everyone who entered this years Spooktacular Giveaway Hop! I would say this was definitely a banner year for visitors and entries! If you entered your email addy into the rafflecopter, you are getting a goody from me as a thanks for entering. I love to give gifties to my visitors and I'm thinking of giving something extra special to my mailing list members, especially my new ones. :-D
November is here! NaNoWriMo has arrived and the creative writing community is all abuzz with new works both fiction and non-fiction related. I love it!
I'll be be a bonafide NaNoRebel this year again! Instead of starting something new, I need to finish up a few things before diving into my new projects. A few are short stories and one is a novel. I have a light outline I'm working with since this is a continuation and not a totally new story in a new world. One of the things that really helped me cross the finish line with Camp NaNo is having a clear goal to my ending and I think that could help me here.
In addition to that, I'll be trying to finish up my books to review in the queue and get some more goodies out for you guys to read. So stay tuned, grab your tea, coffee and cocoa and get ready!
Mailing list is going out in the next few days so if you just joined, you're getting another nice goody from me!
Thanks always for visiting and happy reading and writing to you all!
The Match Maker ~ Book Blast ($50 Giveaway)
The Match Maker by Karey White (The Husband Maker #2)(Summary contains spoilers if you have not yet read book #1 The Husband Maker)It’s been six months since Charlotte and Kyle broke up, and the Husband Maker strikes again. Kyle is officially engaged, while Charlotte is still nursing a broken heart.In an effort to get Charlotte out of her rut, she and her best friend decide it’s time for some good old-fashioned matchmaking. While Aleena arranges for Charlotte to meet up with a handsome Scottish tourist, Charlotte gets her two best friends together. But when sparks start to fly between Aleena and Angus, Charlotte is left feeling more alone that ever–at least until the charming Scotsman becomes more than just a safe, rebound guy and teaches her that maybe, just maybe, she can dare to open her heart again.The Match Maker releases on November 1stOrder your copy Now!
Amazon
Don’t miss the Blog Tour hosted by I Am A ReaderNovember 4th to 21st
Tour Schedule
The Husband Maker by Karey WhiteCharlotte’s a girl with nicknames. She may not love being called Charles or Chuck, but the hardest nickname to take is the one she was given in college, the one that’s followed her now for too many years. They call her “the husband maker” and sadly, it fits. Every guy she’s dated since high school has gone on to marry the next girl they date. Not two or three girls down the road. The very next one.Is she doing something wrong or is she just cursed?
When Kyle Aldsworth enters the picture and sweeps her off her feet, Charlotte begins to hope that maybe she’s not destined to be single forever. A senator’s son with political aspirations of his own, Kyle’s wealthy, handsome, and in need of a wife. Will Charlotte be disappointed yet again, or will she finally be able to make a husband for herself? Amazon
Author Karey WhiteKarey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads
$75 Book Blast Giveaway$75 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal CashEnds 11/23/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
October 31, 2014
Jack Templar and the Lord of the Werewolves Blog Tour + $25 GC Giveaway
Tour Schedule
Jack Templar and the Lord of the WerewolvesFresh from confronting the Lord of the Vampires in the limestone catacombs beneath Paris, Jack Templar faces his toughest challenge yet as he searches for the next Jerusalem Stone, this one being held by the Lord of the Werewolves.
But the narrow escape from the vampire lair came at a great cost and Eva battles to survive the new vampire blood in her veins. The only chance to help Eva is to continue their quest and find the Jerusalem Stones. Reuniting the Stones will not only stop Ren Lucre’s coming war against mankind, but also transform Eva back into her human self.
From the ruins of ancient Delhi to the depths of the Black Forest in Germany, Jack and his friends face monsters, bewildering riddles and treachery from the most unlikely of places. Through it all, they are plagued by the Oracle’s prediction that at least one of their group with not make it through the adventure alive. Worse yet, they know that Kaeden, the Lord of the Werewolves, will do his best to make sure none of them do.
But they are monster hunters of the Black Guard… and they will do their duty, come what may. Amazon
~Excerpt~
Chapter OneIt seemed impossible to digest that Ren Lucre, the Lord of the Creach, the one raising an army to destroy the world, the monster who most wanted me dead and who kept my father prisoner in his dungeon, was actually my grandfather.
But I knew my friends deserved the truth, so on the first day on the boat leaving Paris, I told them everything. They were shocked, of course, and didn’t know what to say.
Will, my scrappy friend from Sunnyvale, put an arm around me. He’d stuck by my side during my whole crazy adventure into the world of Creach, monster hunters, and ancient prophecies. “Wow,” he said. “And I thought my family was messed up.”
It was the perfect comment. Five out of six of us laughed, including T-Rex, my other friend from middle school, along with Xavier and Daniel, who I’d met at the Monster Hunter Academy. Then we spoke openly about what my monster relatives meant to our mission – stopping Ren Lucre from destroying human civilization – and how each of us felt about it. Not that it solved anything, but it did make sure we all had the same information. Everyone felt better afterward, everyone except the sixth member of our party who stood silently staring out into the night. It was an unspoken understanding that the best way to handle that situation was to just give it time and leave it alone. She would come around eventually. We hoped.
But that was three days ago and, with night closed in around us, the stress of our situation made the companionship of that moment seem far away.
I turned my back on my friends and stared up at the moonless night sky. I felt the gentle movement on the river as it carried our boat west, away from Paris. The bank slid by silently on my right, just a dark shadow of trees.“I can’t take any more of this endless debate,” Daniel said behind me. “I say we fight, and the winner chooses our next move.”
I clenched my hands into fists and wondered whether I should just let them give Daniel my answer. I turned to gauge whether the comment had been a joke to release the tension or a real suggestion. Neither would have surprised me.
Daniel stepped toward me and, by the look on his face, I don’t think he was sure either whether he’d been joking or not. He was taller than me by a foot and built like a star high school quarterback, with broad shoulders and thick twists of lean muscle. His once ridiculously good looks now had the blemish of a fake nose attached to his face where a swarm had screechers had chewed off the original. Even though I’d saved him from dying that day and we’ve been friends and fought side-by-side ever since, some of the old tensions between us still leaked out every now and then.
He and I hadn’t exactly gotten off on the right foot when I’d arrived as the new guy at the Monster Hunter Academy. The ancient school in France served as the training grounds for the Black Guard, the secret society tasked with protecting the reg, or regular, world from the Creach. He was already top dog there when I showed up with everyone whispering about the prophecy, about how I might be “the One,” how I was the last Templar knight. There’s nothing a top dog like Daniel appreciates less than another dog showing up and peeing in his yard. Well, peeing in his front yard and then trying to steal his ex-girlfriend is worse. Yeah, that happened too. Worst of all, he still had a thing for her.
All that was supposed to be behind us now. We were friends, comrades-in-arms who’d faced down screechers, dragons, goblins, desert djinn and even an entire vampire horde together. Still, under the stress of the last few days, we were at each other’s throats.
“Back down, you idiots,” said a voice from behind us. It was Will. “You guys are acting like morons. You’re just tired. We all are.”
He stepped between us like the mini-pit-bull he was, pushing each of us back with a hand. Because of his small size, enemies often underestimated Will, and sometimes his friends did too. But I knew no one tougher or more loyal. Out of respect for him, and because neither of us really wanted to fight, Daniel and I backed away from one another.
Will was dressed in the same gear we all had, black pants, black t-shirt, and a jacket with multiple pockets. Exactly the same outfits we’d all been wearing three days earlier when we battled the vampire horde in the catacombs of Paris.
Three days ago.
It seemed like a lifetime.
Especially since that was how long it had been since any of us had more than an hour or two of fitful sleep.
“That’s better,” Will said. “We’re all tired and more than a little grumpy, so let’s just assume people are going to say dumb stuff they don’t mean, okay?”
“Like when I said I wasn’t hungry,” said another voice. “I was just kidding about that.”
T-Rex, piped up from the opposite side of the small steering house in the center of the boat. He stepped out, hand on his oversized stomach, looking unhappy. I smiled at him not because of what he said but because his presence on this adventure always reminded me about the strength of friendship. He was here because he would do anything to help his friends. And if that meant traveling halfway around the world to battle monsters, so be it. He was along for the ride.
“’Cause, honestly, I’m getting really hungry,” T-Rex said.
T-Rex had thinned down since leaving Sunnyvale, and he’d kicked his habit of picking his nose when he was nervous, but he still didn’t look like an obvious fit to be a monster hunter. His round face, freckled nose and wide waist had made him a perfect candidate to be a Ratling at the Academy, working the kitchens and serving the food he loved. But as soon as I decided to seek out the five Jerusalem Stones from the five Creach Lords who had them, he’d stood right next to the others with his short sword clutched to his side, demanding that he come along.
“That much we can agree on,” I said. “I think we’re all hungry.”
Xavier, the brainiac of our little group, gave a nervous glance to the boat’s bow. “We better hope she doesn’t get too hungry.”
While most of the Black Guard relied on their swords, crossbows and other weapons to fight the Creach, Xavier’s brilliant mind was a weapon in and of itself. He was only twelve, the youngest of our group, but his inventions had saved our bacon more than a few times already. His brilliance made him a little socially awkward though since he didn’t see the need to filter anything that came to his mind. You never knew what was going to come out of his mouth. This comment about the last member of our group only said exactly what the rest of us were thinking but were too polite – or afraid – to say out loud.
My eyes flicked towards Eva, the proud fighter who’d been the first to tell me about this whole undiscovered world swirling around me. Eva, the fourth level monster hunter who was one of the most feared members of the Black Guard even though she only had one hand. Eva, the first girl who I’d fallen for but who wisely had kept us focused on our mission, which was so much larger than either of us. She was all these things, but since the events of the catacombs under the streets of Paris, she was one other thing as well.
She was Eva the vampire.
Author Jeff GunhusJeff Gunhus is the author of the Amazon bestselling supernatural thriller, Night Chill, and the Middle Grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book of the series, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His book Reaching Your Reluctant Reader has helped hundreds of parents create avid readers. Killer Within is his second novel for adults. As a father of five, he and his wife Nicole spend most of their time chasing kids and taking advantage of living in the great state of Maryland. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel. If you see him there, sit down and have a cup of coffee with him. You just might end up in his next novel.
Website * Twitter * Facebook
Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/4/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 29, 2014
Sweet and Clean Romance Collection Blog Tour
So excited about these upcoming books! This is the first set in the collection and if you're a huge sweet romance fan like me, you'll be eager to collect them all. Check them out!
Ok clean romance lovers these books are for you!!Trifecta Books is excited to announce their new line of short contemporary romance novels for e-book. The Sweet and Clean Romance Collection will melt your heart and sweep you off your feet.There are currently four books out with many more titles coming soon.
Tour Schedule
And Something Blue by Paige Timothy (Main Street Merchants #1)Bridal consultant Laurie Fletcher spends her days helping others prepare for the most special day of their lives. Will true love ever come her way, or is she doomed to watch others get their happily ever after? Amazon
For Love And Money by Paige Timothy (Main Street Merchants #2)Cynical Morgan has just about decided that no one could possibly fall in love with her – all the good guys want perfect girls, and she’s anything but perfect. But then along comes the guy who falls head-over-heels in love with her just as she is and helps her find the bright side of life again.Amazon
Hearts in Harmony by Raine Gillespie (Love Notes #1)Elahna Nezario gave up her musical dreams to help run the Queen of Hearts, her mother’s chocolate shop, after her sister’s sudden death. After an unfortunate run-in with Elahna’s childhood crush, owner of the Dolce Theater, not only do her dreams surge back to life, but so does her heart. Amazon
Waltzing on Wheels by Raine Gillespie (Love Notes #2)Meredith Aaron lost all hope for love after a car accident put her in a wheelchair. Who would want her, broken as she is? After her brother tells her to save a dance for him at his wedding, she decides to somehow learn how to dance on the only legs she has left—her wheels.AmazonBlog Tour Giveaway$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal CashEnds 11/20/14Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Ok clean romance lovers these books are for you!!Trifecta Books is excited to announce their new line of short contemporary romance novels for e-book. The Sweet and Clean Romance Collection will melt your heart and sweep you off your feet.There are currently four books out with many more titles coming soon.
Tour Schedule
And Something Blue by Paige Timothy (Main Street Merchants #1)Bridal consultant Laurie Fletcher spends her days helping others prepare for the most special day of their lives. Will true love ever come her way, or is she doomed to watch others get their happily ever after? Amazon
For Love And Money by Paige Timothy (Main Street Merchants #2)Cynical Morgan has just about decided that no one could possibly fall in love with her – all the good guys want perfect girls, and she’s anything but perfect. But then along comes the guy who falls head-over-heels in love with her just as she is and helps her find the bright side of life again.Amazon
Hearts in Harmony by Raine Gillespie (Love Notes #1)Elahna Nezario gave up her musical dreams to help run the Queen of Hearts, her mother’s chocolate shop, after her sister’s sudden death. After an unfortunate run-in with Elahna’s childhood crush, owner of the Dolce Theater, not only do her dreams surge back to life, but so does her heart. Amazon
Waltzing on Wheels by Raine Gillespie (Love Notes #2)Meredith Aaron lost all hope for love after a car accident put her in a wheelchair. Who would want her, broken as she is? After her brother tells her to save a dance for him at his wedding, she decides to somehow learn how to dance on the only legs she has left—her wheels.AmazonBlog Tour Giveaway$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal CashEnds 11/20/14Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 23, 2014
Twist of Fate by Rachael Anderson Book Review *Highly Recommended*
**This story was first published in the All I Want holiday romance anthology**
When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he's wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won't be a wedding after all?
~Rae's Revew~
Friends to loves? Check! Heartwarming romance during the winter season in time for Hallmark Christmas Movie season? Check! Adorable Geeky hero? Check!
How much do I love this novella? SO much! Kenzie and Ty played off each other so well that you couldn't help root for them to get together. Ty is adorably geeky and even though he bored Kenzie's elementary class to near tears, I loved how passionate he was about software programming, to the point that he made a reference later on in relation to how he got to Kenzie's heart. SO awesome. I liked that Kenzie was hesitant to break things off with her fiance and even when she started having feelings toward Ty, she wanted to be faithful and honorable. Both characters were likable with awesome chemistry. I found myself smiling at the end when they got together.
There's also an interesting subplot involving Ty's estranged mother which not only makes this a story about love but also about forgiveness and compromise. If you're in the mood for a wonderful heartwarming story, do yourself a favor and pick up Twist of Fate to read with your hot cocoa. I'm a bonafide fan of Rachael Anderson now. After adding her works to my TBR list, I'm glad I started with this one and can't wait to read more of her other books as well as the other All I want Holiday Romance anthology books. I highly recommend this read!
October 15, 2014
Jack Templar and the Lord of the Werewolves Book Blast + $50 GC Giveaway
Jack Templar and the Lord of the WerewolvesFresh from confronting the Lord of the Vampires in the limestone catacombs beneath Paris, Jack Templar faces his toughest challenge yet as he searches for the next Jerusalem Stone, this one being held by the Lord of the Werewolves.
But the narrow escape from the vampire lair came at a great cost and Eva battles to survive the new vampire blood in her veins. The only chance to help Eva is to continue their quest and find the Jerusalem Stones. Reuniting the Stones will not only stop Ren Lucre’s coming war against mankind, but also transform Eva back into her human self.
From the ruins of ancient Delhi to the depths of the Black Forest in Germany, Jack and his friends face monsters, bewildering riddles and treachery from the most unlikely of places. Through it all, they are plagued by the Oracle’s prediction that at least one of their group with not make it through the adventure alive. Worse yet, they know that Kaeden, the Lord of the Werewolves, will do his best to make sure none of them do.
But they are monster hunters of the Black Guard… and they will do their duty, come what may.
Amazon
Excerpt
The stench hung heavy in the air. There was no other smell in the world quite like it. First came the stink of grease fires from the wall torches, the heavy black smoke that roiled through the air like a foul fog. Then a moldering, musty base layer came to the senses. It reeked of decay and seeping moisture that grew black mold on every surface. The mold clung on the rough-cut rocks lining the dungeon tunnels. It covered the thick iron bars holding the prisoners in place. It even grew on the tattered rags covering the miserable creatures in the cells and likely on their skin as well. That final smell overlay the symphony of stink.
The Creach prisoners. Werewolves, harpies, blind mad-worms, blinderwursts, fangpiercers, even some demons held with the special pure iron chains required to keep them in place. Many of these creatures were pungent under the best circumstances, but locked in the deepest dungeon underground, sometimes for decades, they took on an odor so ripe, so awful, that visitors to the dungeon often had to hold their breath to enter. Even then, the smell would make their eyes sting and well with tears.
Immediately after leaving the dungeon, visitors were allowed a bath or a shower in the castle. As they washed the stench from their bodies, they would feel an overwhelming sense of thanks that they were not a prisoner wallowing in the horrifying conditions they’d just witnessed.
No one, human or Creach, wanted to be a prisoner in the dungeons of Ren Lucre.
Far away, at the end of one of the long, twisting corridors, came the creak of a massive door opening. The prisoners stirred at the sound. Their reactions mirrored how long they had been in their cells.
The newer arrivals looked up with expectation, still hopeful their punishment was going to be short and that someone was coming to tell them their nightmare was over.
Those who had been there longer knew that hope was useless in this dark place. They simply cowered farther into whatever dark corner they could find in their cell, desperate not to be noticed by the Master.
Then there were those who had been there the longest. They simply looked up with mild interest, knowing that nothing they did made any difference. Their spirits were broken. Worse, they knew this to be the dark truth, and they simply didn’t care.
One single prisoner reacted in none of these ways. He simply stood, and the rags that had once been his clothes hung on his bony frame. Unbroken by years of starvation and torture, he still squared his shoulders in the direction of the sound and raised his chin, his eyes glistening in the torchlight with defiance. What he saw would have brought a normal man to his knees, but this man was no more normal than the monster approaching. Ren Lucre, the five hundred year old vampire, filled the hallway as he strode through it, his cloak billowing behind him as he rushed past the stinking cells. His pale, narrow face looked pinched and concerned. His blood-red lip pursed in a straight line, and his eyes glowered like embers in a fire that might at any time combust into new flame.
He came to the thick set of bars that held the proud man, stopped, and stared him down.
“Well, if it isn’t the Lord of the Creach,” the man said. Even though his voice was course and weak, he still managed an edge of bitter sarcasm. “You look like you’re having a bad day.” The man spat on the floor. “Good.”
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Author Jeff GunhusJeff Gunhus is the author of the Amazon bestselling supernatural thriller, Night Chill, and the Middle Grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book of the series, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His book Reaching Your Reluctant Reader has helped hundreds of parents create avid readers. Killer Within is his second novel for adults. As a father of five, he and his wife Nicole spend most of their time chasing kids and taking advantage of living in the great state of Maryland. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel. If you see him there, sit down and have a cup of coffee with him. You just might end up in his next novel.
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