Sarah Ballance's Blog, page 15
April 28, 2014
Naima Simone is Tatted Up with “Raphael: Secrets and Sins” (Gift Basket #Giveaway)
Y’all, Naima Simone is here with INK. She’s also brought a delicious new release from Entangled Ignite and an entire gift basket full of goodies for one lucky reader, so get comfy…you’re going to want to hang out here a while!
NAIMA SIMONE: TATTED UP!
I got my first tattoo when I was twenty. A rose on the ankle with the Greek letters of my sorority through the stem. My cousin, who was always a fabulous artist, decided that he could make more money by inking his art on people. So I ended up a guinea pig worked on with a homemade tattoo gun held together by electrical tape. Hey, I was in college and things like infection and pus really didn’t bother me.
My second tattoo came a few months later in the form of an armband with my sorority and brother fraternity Greek letters. By the time my third and fourth were tatted onto my back and shoulder my cousin had evolved into colors and my imagination had stretched past college organizations. When I left his chair a mermaid on a moon and a phoenix were inked into my body.
They’re an addiction and I find them as sexy as a pair of strong thighs and pretty eyes.
They express who a person is, they’re personality and experiences. My first two are symbols of my youth but my last two illustrate my heart. I love fiction and the beauty of fantasy. It’s why I write. To create those dreams even though they’re in the form of Alpha heroes and strong women instead of mythical creatures. I still believe in heroes and happily ever after.
Tattoos on a hero tell a story. In Jessica Lee’s Undying series, the vampire brotherhood bears the infinity sign pierced by a dagger on their bodies. It denotes their status of warrior and their kinship to the Enclave. In Jessica Andersen’s Final Prophecy series, her Mayan magi wear tattoos signifying their family lineage, individual power and mate. One of my favorites—and oh so sexiest—is Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld. Every lord represents a demon from Pandora’s box and they carry a huge demonic butterfly on various parts of their bodies. Whether it’s on a shoulder, stomach, chest…*sigh* What should be feminine is dangerous and erotic. Delicious. Tattoos can help create a hero or heroine’s history or even foretell their future. Or, in the case of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Acheron, they can become characters in the story. Who doesn’t know the Atlantean god’s dragon tattoo that morphs into the ever-hungry demon, Simi?
In Secrets and Sins: Raphael, my newest release from Entangled Publishing, the hero, Raphael Marcel is pierced and tatted. Bold, black, blue and red ink covers both his arms. A couple of his more notable pieces are a Dara knot and a phoenix. The Dara knot, a Celtic symbol that resembles an oak tree, marks his left arm. It symbolizes inner strength, wisdom, and power that deep within us in times of trouble. It reminds him to remain strong and stable when hell is going down all around him. A phoenix rising the ashes stretches across his back in a vibrant mural. Several times in his life he’s had to rise—almost be reborn—out of tragedies and emotional deaths. With a mouth that would make Andrew Dice Clay blush, a bad-boy rocker appearance and a hard, relentless core of honor, Raphael is one of my favorite heroes!
So does a tattoo make your mouth water? Who’s your favorite tatted hero? Do you have one—tattoo or inked hero—of your own? Share!
Don’t forget to follow the Secrets and Sins: Raphael blog tour, April 28th through May 9th! You can win a Reading Relaxation Kit gift basket and a $15 Amazon gift card. Just enter through the Rafflecopter below!
A huuuuge thank you, Sarah, for having me here at your blog today! You rock!
Pump Up Your Book is pleased to bring you Naima Simone’s Secrets and Sins: Raphael virtual book tour April 28 – May 9!
ABOUT SECRETS AND SINS: RAPHAEL
Title: Secrets and Sins: Raphael
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Naima Simone
Publisher: Entangled Ignite
Language: English
Pages: 210
Format: Ebook
When Greer Addison finds her future husband in bed with another woman, she runs…right into the arms of dark and dangerous Raphael Marcel. Angry and hurt, she throws caution to the wind and spends a hot night with the sexy security specialist. But when her fiancé is found dead, Greer becomes the main suspect of a crime she can’t remember.
Raphael is stunned and suspicious when Greer shows up on his doorstep claiming she’s carrying his baby. Worse, she’s the target of a stalker bent on making her pay for a murder she doesn’t recall. As Raphael begins to trust Greer, they must race against the clock to uncover a killer. Because Greer’s memory is returning…
AMAZON* BARNES & NOBLE
ABOUT NAIMA SIMONE
Naima Simone’s love of romance was first stirred by Johanna Lindsey and Linda Howard many years ago. Though her first attempt at writing a romance novel at age 11 never saw the light of day, her love of romance and writing has endured. Now, she spends her time creating stories of unique men and women who experience the dizzying heights of passion and the tender heat of love.
She is wife to Superman—or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent—and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.
TWITTER *FACEBOOK* WEBSITE*GOODREADS
Don’t miss out on great books from Entangled Publishing – Check out their Steals and Deals!
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/category/steals-and-deals/
Pump Up Your Book and Naima are teaming up to give away a gift basket!
Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
1 winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive each of the prizes
This giveaway begins April 28 and ends on May 9.
Winners will be contacted via email on May 10, 2014.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN! (< Please scroll down the page for Rafflecopter).
April 27, 2014
Walk on the Wild Side with Heather McCollum and Misty Evans! ($25 #Giveaway)
Pump Up Your Book is pleased to bring you Misty Evan’s The Perfect Hostage and Heather McCollum’s Untamed Hearts as part of their Walk on the Wild Side joint virtual book tour April 21 – May 2!
ABOUT UNTAMED HEARTS
Title: Untamed Hearts
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Heather McCollum
Publisher: Entangled Edge
Language: English
Pages: 131
Format: Ebook
Will Wyatt has always played the part of pirate, but now he’s a fish out of water in the Highlands of Scotland. With a bounty on his head, he’s laying low by helping his sister and a troop of abandoned children journey to a new home. He didn’t count on a spunky Highland lass stealing his breath after he steals a kiss.
Jonet Montgomery has longed for a chivalrous knight her whole young life. Instead she found herself wed to a cheating scoundrel and left a widow. Giving up on love, Jonet turned to helping the orphaned children of her clan, but when a lusty, silver-tongued rogue opens a crack in Jonet’s routine life, she’s tempted by his offer to taste adventure of the most pleasurable kind.
Will’s heart of gold shines through despite his infamous past, making Jonet risk her reputation once again. But can she possibly be enough woman to keep this sexy pirate from straying? With her past embarrassment haunting her, she risks more than just her reputation this time. She risks her heart.
AMAZON* BARNES & NOBLE
ABOUT HEATHER MCCOLLUM
Heather McCollum is an award winning, historical paranormal and YA romance writer. She earned her B.A. in Biology, much to her English professor’s dismay. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood of 2009 Golden Heart finalists.
The ancient magic and lush beauty of Great Britain entrances Ms. McCollum’s heart and imagination every time she visits. The country’s history and landscape have been a backdrop for her writing ever since her first journey across the pond.
When she is not creating vibrant characters & magical adventures on the page, she is roaring her own battle cry in the war against ovarian cancer. Ms. McCollum recently slayed the cancer beast and resides with her very own Highland hero, rescued golden retriever & 3 kids in the wilds of suburbia on the mid-Atlantic coast. For more information about Ms. McCollum, please visitwww.HeatherMcCollum.com.
TWITTER *FACEBOOK* WEBSITE
ABOUT THE PERFECT HOSTAGE
Title: The Perfect Hostage
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Misty Evans
Publisher: Entangled Edge
Language: English
Pages: 84
Format: Ebook
Lucie Morgan has finally found a man who doesn’t care she’s the daughter of a famous billionaire. All she needs is one weekend to convince him the crush she’s had since he rescued her from a terrorist has grown into much more.
Sergeant John Quick has seen the worst in life, both personally and professionally. He long ago decided loving someone comes at too high a price. But when the woman of his dreams “kidnaps” him for a weekend affair with no strings attached, he can’t resist.
The smoking-hot weekend turns deadly when John and Lucie are trapped during a blizzard and discover they’re not alone. Someone from their past has come hunting for revenge. Now John must become the perfect hostage in order to save Lucie’s life.
AMAZON* BARNES & NOBLE
ABOUT MISTY EVANS
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Misty Evans has published over twenty novels and writes romantic suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance. As a writing coach, she helps other authors bring their books – and their dreams of being published – to life.
Misty likes her coffee black, her conspiracy stories juicy, and her wicked characters dressed in couture. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, movies, and hanging out with her husband, twin sons, and two spoiled puppies. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter atwww.readmistyevans.com.
TWITTER *FACEBOOK* WEBSITE
Don’t miss out on great books from Entangled Publishing – Check out their Steals and Deals!
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/category/steals-and-deals/
Pump Up Your Book, Heather and Misty are teaming up to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
1 winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive each of the prizes
This giveaway begins April 21 and ends on May 2.
Winners will be contacted via email on May 3, 2014.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
April 24, 2014
Tracy March: Did Someone Say Vacation? “A Shot of Red” Blog Tour and $50 #Giveaway
OMG, you guys. You all know how much I love to hit the road, and here’s Tracy March talking about traveling. She’s getting me all fired up and raring to go, but alas, I must wait a few months. I suppose I’ll have to placate myself with her book, and after you meet her I bet you’ll want to do the same! Tracy, take it away!
Tracy March: Did Someone Say Vacation?
I love to experience new places, so I’m always up for travel and adventure. Eager for excitement, I’ve flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. Fun times in some of my favorite vacation destinations!
I just adore the craggy Rockies, and the little Western town of Crested Butte—the wildflower capital of Colorado. Surrounded by ranches and bordered by mountain wilderness, the historic little mining town has a storybook main street lined with colorful Victorian buildings. One of my favorite restaurants there has been open for more than a hundred years, and the only entrée they serve is to-die-for fried chicken! Delicious after a day of awesomely scenic hiking through Aspen groves, with wildflowers blooming on the mountainsides. Purple. Red. Yellow. Basking in the bright sun under an electric-blue sky. Vacationers can kick back in a restored miner’s cabin, or spoil themselves in a local B&B that offers bikes to ride around the idyllic little town.
The islands are a great escape, too. I’m partial to St. Lucia, where the people are so welcoming and kind. Their words lilt from their mouths with a melodic accent, and their smiles are totally genuine. My husband and I stayed in a villa called Paradise, and we didn’t need convincing. We were quickly captivated by the island’s lush mountains and rainforests, and its cocoa and banana plantations. Forget that a bull on the loose chased us when we were on a walk high up in the hills. That only added to our adventure. Besides, there are plenty of magical places to relax after outrunning a bull! Private coves hide black-sand beaches, and azure waters lap at the shore. It’s a picture-perfect place for romance.
I’m also wild about Switzerland—especially historic Lucerne. Set at the edge of the snowy Alps, countless swans swim in the lake at the center of the city. Covered footbridges festooned with flower boxes span the lake that’s bordered by a tree-lined promenade. Centuries-old buildings are painted with murals, colorful shutters hung at their windows. Clocks housed in Rapunzelesque towers chime every hour, but the oldest clock in the city does the honors. It’s allowed to chime a minute before all the others. Up on nearby Mount Pilatus, there is ziplining with a view, and a breathtaking aerial gondola ride to the peak. You can come down the same way, or take the world’s steepest cog railway all the way to the bottom. As if that isn’t enough to entice you to visit Switzerland—there’s chocolate! Swiss chocolatiers have fountains overflowing with decadent chocolate, and nearly any chocolate treat you can imagine. Mmm…
It’s hard not to be romantic about vacations to awesome places, and sometimes I fall hard. Then I want to write books about all the special places I’ve been. Now I’ve got a long list just waiting for their stories, and even more trips planned. If only I could write as fast as I travel!
What are some of your favorite vacations spots, and what do you like best about them?
A Shot of RedTitle: A Shot of Red
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Tracy March
Publisher: Entangled Edge
Language: English
Pages: 400
Format: Ebook
After fleeing D.C. following a one-night stand that had her reeling, biotech company heiress Mia Moncure has thrived working with a humanitarian aid team administering vaccines in Haiti. When the United States is threatened with a flu epidemic, Mia’s grandmother demands her return to unveil a new flu vaccine for Moncure Therapeutics. She arrives to find that her ex-boyfriend, the company’s PR Director, has died in a suspicious accident in Switzerland that Mia soon suspects was murder.
Determined to reveal a killer, Mia heads to Switzerland where she’s threatened as she discovers a plan to infiltrate the vaccine for nefarious purposes. Desperate for backup, she turns to sexy Gio Lorenzo, Communications Director for her mother, a high-ranking senator–and Mia’s one-night stand. While negotiating their rocky relationship, they race to uncover a deadly scheme that could ruin her family’s reputation. But millions of people are being vaccinated, and there’s more than her family’s legacy at stake. Mia and Gio struggle to discover the truth about the scheme and their feelings for each other, but it just might be too late.
About Tracy March
Award-winning author Tracy March writes romantic thrillers influenced by her interest in science and politics. She also writes lighthearted romances inspired by her real-life happily ever after.
Look for Tracy’s romantic thrillers GIRL THREE and A SHOT OF RED. Her Suddenly Smitten contemporary romance series includes THE PRACTICE PROPOSAL, TEMPTED IN THE TROPICS (both selected by RT Book Reviews as Top Picks), and a third title releasing in summer 2014.
Always up for travel and adventure, Tracy has flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. She loves Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and rarely goes a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its.
Tracy lives in Yorktown, Virginia, with her superhero husband who works for NASA. Visit Tracy online at www.TracyMarch.com.
TWITTER
*
FACEBOOK
*
WEBSITE
*
GOODREADS
Don’t miss out on great books from Entangled Publishing – Check out their Steals and Deals!
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/category/steals-and-deals/
Giveaway
Pump Up Your Book and Tracy are teaming up to give away a $50 Amazon/B&N Gift Card!
Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
1 winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive each of the prizes
This giveaway begins April 28 and ends on May 9.
Winners will be contacted via email on May 10, 2014.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway
“A Shot of Red” and a $50 #Giveaway from Tracy March
A Shot of RedTitle: A Shot of Red
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Tracy March
Publisher: Entangled Edge
Language: English
Pages: 400
Format: Ebook
After fleeing D.C. following a one-night stand that had her reeling, biotech company heiress Mia Moncure has thrived working with a humanitarian aid team administering vaccines in Haiti. When the United States is threatened with a flu epidemic, Mia’s grandmother demands her return to unveil a new flu vaccine for Moncure Therapeutics. She arrives to find that her ex-boyfriend, the company’s PR Director, has died in a suspicious accident in Switzerland that Mia soon suspects was murder.
Determined to reveal a killer, Mia heads to Switzerland where she’s threatened as she discovers a plan to infiltrate the vaccine for nefarious purposes. Desperate for backup, she turns to sexy Gio Lorenzo, Communications Director for her mother, a high-ranking senator–and Mia’s one-night stand. While negotiating their rocky relationship, they race to uncover a deadly scheme that could ruin her family’s reputation. But millions of people are being vaccinated, and there’s more than her family’s legacy at stake. Mia and Gio struggle to discover the truth about the scheme and their feelings for each other, but it just might be too late.
About Tracy March
Award-winning author Tracy March writes romantic thrillers influenced by her interest in science and politics. She also writes lighthearted romances inspired by her real-life happily ever after.
Look for Tracy’s romantic thrillers GIRL THREE and A SHOT OF RED. Her Suddenly Smitten contemporary romance series includes THE PRACTICE PROPOSAL, TEMPTED IN THE TROPICS (both selected by RT Book Reviews as Top Picks), and a third title releasing in summer 2014.
Always up for travel and adventure, Tracy has flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. She loves Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and rarely goes a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its.
Tracy lives in Yorktown, Virginia, with her superhero husband who works for NASA. Visit Tracy online at www.TracyMarch.com.
TWITTER
*
FACEBOOK
*
WEBSITE
*
GOODREADS
Don’t miss out on great books from Entangled Publishing – Check out their Steals and Deals!
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/category/steals-and-deals/
Giveaway
Pump Up Your Book and Tracy are teaming up to give away a $50 Amazon/B&N Gift Card!
Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
1 winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive each of the prizes
This giveaway begins April 28 and ends on May 9.
Winners will be contacted via email on May 10, 2014.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway
April 23, 2014
Experience Jessica Lee’s “Undying Desire” – A Not So Typical Dom/sub Story ($25 #Giveaway)
Please welcome author Jessica Lee as she talks UNDYING DESIRE, her new release from Entangled Edge!
Undying Desire: A Not So Typical Dom/sub Story by Jessica Lee
I had a very interesting conversation recently with a reader/reviewer who’d received an ARC of Undying Desire. She brought up some great points about my heroine that made me think about her character on a core level.
I knew going in that writing Eve would be an adventure. As you’ll see in Undying Desire, Eve Devonshire is the daughter of Marguerite Devonshire and Kenric St. James. Although in the beginning the fact that he has a daughter is unbeknownst to Kenric St. James.
Eve is a hybrid.
Half human and half vampire, and the first of her kind. So that fact in itself I knew was going to make for a fun challenge developing her character. Did she know her father? If so, how did she feel about his absence in her life? What did she know about why he wasn’t around? And as the end of book two, Undying Embrace asks, did she mature to be more like her mother or like her father? Lastly, and an exciting question for me as a writer, what kind of powers would she possess?
Those were some of the questions I had to ask myself when I began plotting Undying Desire. So when I was contacted by one of the readers of an ARC, it was really nice to see how she’d been impacted about Eve and Guerin story. I enjoyed talking with her about Eve’s non-traditional character, and with her permission, I would like to share a small segment of our conversation about Eve.
The reader stated “She (Eve) is one of the most complicated dominant characters I’ve read because of that (a dominant who has questions and self-doubt). She wasn’t the typical “I’m damaged and I know it” character nor was she a “bad-ass” dominant. There was so much grey area…”
I was so pleased that she’d also noticed Eve was not like other dominant woman. Here is part of my revised response. “Yes, you’re right. Eve is a complicated character/woman. There is a duality to her not just in the physical sense but emotionally as well. Even though she’s more than two-hundred years old, there’s a part of her that’s still the little human girl who’s very angry with the father, and she craves that connection to her human side. Yet, there’s the other half of her that’s a powerful female vampire as well, just like her mother, who relishes in being a dominant woman. A female who needs and enjoys being in control in every way. Yet Guerin comes along, and for the first time, a man has touched both sides of her: the Dominatrix and the emotional human side. This is completely new to her, dealing with a male who’s more to her than a temporary lover. Then later, there’s Kenric, her father, who we see peel back the layers on her vulnerable side. So yes, there is a lot going on with Eve.”
Writing Eve’s story was an emotional and exciting journey. I hope you enjoy getting to know Eve as well and enjoy her and Guerin’s story as much as I did bringing these two complex characters together.
Undying Desire
Guerino Lombardi’s world just went to shit. Vampire and second in command of the Warriors of the Enclave, he’s put everything on the line to save his best friend from what has to be the worst blow a man can take. Kenric, his friend and master of the Enclave, has a daughter, something believed impossible in the vampire world, and word has it she wants her father and his Enclave dead. Guerin is determined to protect Kenric, keeping the secret from him until he knows for sure if this daughter really exists and if she wants revenge.
Eve Devonshire is a woman hiding in plain sight. Not completely human, but not quite a vampire, she’s accepted by neither race but is more powerful than either one. Her life has consisted of half-truths and disguises, never belonging or living in one place for any length of time. But now some have heard rumors of her existence and want nothing more than to trap her and dissect her like a lab rat.
To stay alive, Eve can’t trust anyone, including the alpha vampire with midnight eyes and a thirst for pain and submission. With her enemies nipping at her heels, Eve has Guerin cornered, and both are determined to get the answers they’re looking for or die trying…if they can fight their desires long enough.
Undying Desire by Jessica Lee
Release Date: 4/21/14 (Entangled Edge)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Website: http://www.jessicaleenovels.com/
Blog: http://jessicaleenovels.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @jessleenovels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicaleenovels
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3013591.Jessica_Lee
Newsletter: http://jessicaleenovels.us2.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=cfac315663d0d8eb8cbb15c58&id=c694f4450d
Author Bio
Almost every author’s bio states they’ve been writing since they learned how to read. It’s what they’ve always wanted to do. Well, my journey wasn’t so straight and narrow. I was a nurse for over twenty years and hold a bachelor’s degree in science with a major in biology. So as you can see, my career path had originally gone in the opposite direction. I didn’t discover my passion for the craft until after I’d had my son and decided to work part-time.
I’ve always loved to read but had never read a paranormal romance. Then one night at work on break, I began reading Karen Marie Moning’s Spell of the Highlander. I couldn’t believe what I’d been missing, and I immediately fell in love with the genre.
I wanted to write like that. I wanted to create worlds where others could find the same escape and fascination I did when I read my first sensual paranormal romance.
And I hope that’s what I’ve accomplished in my work. Please dive in, hold on tight, and enjoy the adventure. Just be careful in the dark—you might find more than you expected waiting for you there.
Jessica Lee lives in the southeastern United States with her husband and son. She loves writing and can’t wait for that quiet time each day when her son is in school, and she can get lost in another place and world with the fantastical, sexy creatures in her head.
She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, FF&P, and Carolina Romance Writers.
$25 Tour-Wide Giveaway
Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.
April 22, 2014
Blake – A Montana Dayton Novel by Lynn Thompson
If you’re looking for a good book to curl up with tonight, this one offers the perfect giveaway. Check it out!
Blake-A Montana Dayton NovelIf Montana had known what she would be confronting that night, she never would have sedated Max.
Lottery winner and venture capitalist Montana Dayton is on vacation, sorely needing a break from her business. She purposely had a house built deep in the mountains, away from civilization in hopes to spend the winter alone with her dog Killer. Unfortunately the universe is conspiring against her. Montana’s getting creepy feelings from something or someone on her property and Rose, her neighbor, is bringing new “friends” into her life.
If that wasn’t enough to ruin Montana’s vacation, the dangerously attractive Max surely would! Max has the uncanny ability to show up when he’s not wanted. What Montana doesn’t realize is Max knows what’s out in the woods and it’s his job to find it.
Max knows Montana can sense it even though she cannot see it and has decided that she needs to be protected from the unseen danger, but who will protect Montana from Max?
Available at Amazon
Connect with author Lynn Thompson
Website: www.lynnthompsonbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/lynnthompsonbooks
Blog: http://lynnthompsonbooksblog.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynnthompson8
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5625793.Lynn_Thompson
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lynthompsonbook/
April 21, 2014
HOT New UF from Claire Ashgrove – Before the Storm: A Windwalker Novel
BEFORE THE STORM
The Windwalker Series, Book 1
She held no faith in magic. Now, fate is calling her…
Halle Rhoads has a terrifying gift–she can kill with the fury of the storm.
She should have known that kind of power wouldn’t go unnoticed. Thrust into a world full of dark magic with a handsome stranger who claims he can teach her, she struggles to master her abilities and stumbles onto a dangerous truth. She’s a windwalker, the chosen vessel of the ancient dragons who once ruled the world. Many will stop at nothing to possess the power in her blood, should they discover her secret. With necromancers hunting her and Halle’s closest allies guarding secrets, mastering her magic becomes a matter of necessity.
But accepting her destiny is altogether different. For doing so means she must sacrifice everything.
» THE WINDWALKER SERIES
» EXCERPT
» EXTRAS
» REVIEWS
“Imaginative, breathtaking, and poignant. A spellbinding story.”
~ KAT BASTION, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
FORGED IN DREAMS AND MAGICK
“An engaging modern fantasy that hooked me with the first sentence. You’ll fall in love with the duty-worn hero right along with Ashgrove’s fiercely protective protagonist.”
~ NATALIE J. DAMSCHRODER, AUTHOR OF THE
GODDESSES RISING TRILOGY
“Before the Storm is a brilliant, heartfelt exploration of what it means to be human.”
~ SARANNA DEWYLDE, AUTHOR OF
THESE SCARS WE KEEP
Untamed Spirit Publishing
(April 21, 2014)
Buy your copy now!
DIGITAL:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
All Romance eBooks
PRINT:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
April 20, 2014
Shadow Fire by Kimber Leigh Wheaton ($50 #Giveaway)
Shadow Fire Blog Tour Schedule
Shadow Fire
Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.
Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.
Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.
Shadow Fire – adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal
As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?
Each installment of The Light Chronicles is a standalone story.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords
Praise for Shadow Fire
“This book contains monsters, magic, majestic creatures, and a evil guy that wants to destroy the world. If you love hot guys…..Zane is all that plus a few tricks up his sleeve. Just read it!” Venture ~Amazon Reviewer
“Adventure, magical creatures, fun characters, and romance make this book a perfect read for all ages.” James ~Amazon Reviewer
“I thought the writing was strong; it had me turning the pages quickly to see what would happen next. The characters were engaging and the dialogue well-written.” Lisa Temple ~ Goodreads
“Oh, I truly loved this one! Shadow Fire, by Kimber Leigh Wheaton, is a snappy, sassy, sweet, all-that-kind-of-awesome-and-then-some YA read. I couldn’t put it down.” ~Sasha Hibbs ~ Amazon Reviewer
Excerpt
When we reach the deck, everyone stops to stare at me. Trying to ignore the blatant curiosity, I follow Hanna down the aft stairs to the brig. Zane and Taranis occupy cells across from each other. They’re both sitting on the floor glaring daggers at each other. Hanna hands the key to me and slips away. Inching closer, I’m careful to remain out of reach of the two prisoners. As soon as they see me, both men jump up and start talking over each other.
“Ashlyn! How are you feeling, Love?” Zane asks.
“Ashlyn, my fiery angel, you are a ray of sunshine in this dank prison!” Taranis says.
“I’m gonna let you both out, if, and only if, you promise to behave,” I threaten. Both men nod their agreement. “That means no fighting. It also means we never, and I mean never, speak of what happened last night.” When I get no argument, I free Zane first and then Taranis.
“Do you even know what happened last night?” Zane asks, taking me into his arms. I stand rigid in his embrace, not sure if I’m ready to forgive him quite yet.
“Only what Hanna told me,” I snap at him.
“I saved your virtue from this raving lunatic,” Taranis says, pointing at Zane.
“Then you decided to take it for yourself!” Zane yells back at him.
“Did you not hear me?” I shout. Pulling myself from Zane’s embrace, I back up and glare at both men. “No speaking of last night. Period. End of discussion.”
“Yes, Love,” Zane replies.
“Yes, virtuous virgin,” Taranis replies.
“Taranis!” I release a menacing growl, and wince when my right eye starts to tic. “Yes?” he asks, eyes full of mock innocence.
“Run,” Zane says.
Taranis listens to Zane’s advice and takes off up the stairs to the deck with me hot on his heels.
Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America.
She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety.
Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!)
Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in The Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming soon.
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Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 5/15/14 - Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway
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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
April 17, 2014
Romance, Myth, and Sea Creatures in Mae Clair’s “Solstice Island”
Please welcome Mae Clair, who is not only a talented author, but one I’m proud to call a friend. She’s here to give us a look at her new release, SOLSTICE ISLAND, where that amazing cover = instant craving for island time. Are you ready to dive in? :)
Mae Clair: Romance, Myth, and Sea Creatures
Sarah, thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. I’m delighted to be here today to share my latest release, SOLSTICE ISLAND, a romantic adventure. Writing this novella allowed me to combine two elements I love: myth and romance.
I’ve had a love affair with mythical creatures ever since I was a kid. As an adult, that passion spread to include “cryptids” . . . usually considered “monsters” in our modern world.
Cryptids are creatures that may exist but have not been proven to exist. There is even a pseudo-branch of science devoted to their study, known as cryptozoology. Two famous examples of cryptids are the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot.
Can you imagine going on a cryptid hunt with a sexy charter boat captain?
In SOLSTICE ISLAND, my heroine is an amateur cryptozoologist who is searching for a mythical beast known as the Sea Goliath. Her quest takes her to Solstice Island and charter boat captain, Daniel Decatur. At this point I’ll let the blurb speak for itself:
SOLSTICE ISLAND Blurb
Can an ancient leviathan work magic between a practical man and an idealistic woman?
Rylie Carswell is an amateur cryptozoologist in search of a mythical creature, the Sea Goliath. In order to reach Solstice Island, a location the ancient leviathan is rumored to haunt, she’s forced to hire charter boat captain, Daniel Decatur.
Initially, Daniel wants nothing to do with the trip or the fool woman waving double payment in his face. Convinced she’s yet another loony treasure hunter looking for gold on the remote island, he reluctantly agrees. An embittered neighbor wants to have his charter license yanked, so the extra cash will help him stay afloat.
It doesn’t take long for Daniel to realize Rylie is after the same beast his parents were tracking when they mysteriously vanished ten years earlier. He’s avoided all links to cryptozoology ever since, but the smart and sexy cryptid hunter has him second-guessing his oath and wondering what he’s signed on for.
Warning: A family legacy, glowing plankton and rough waters.
~ooOOoo~
So, I’d like to pose a question: would you go on search for a mythical creature?
I can actually say “been there, done that.” In 2013, I went traipsing around West Virginia in the area where the legendary Mothman was sighted — all in the name of research which I’ve factored into an upcoming novel.
But going out on a charter boat to track down a leviathan larger than a whale . . .a mythical seabeast that has a taste for gobbling up ships? Nah, probably not. I’ll leave that to the characters in my novella. J
For armchair adventure, romance and myth, I invite you to give SOLSTICE ISLAND a try. You can pick up your copy from Amazon for only $.99 by clicking here
If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a FREE Kindle Reading App for your PC, MAC, iPad, iPhone, Android or tablet here
Many thanks for having me today, Sarah!
Author Bio
Mae Clair has been chasing myth, monsters and folklore through research and reading since she was a kid. As an adult, she stumbled onto the field of cryptozoology and realized there were others like her who loved speculating about weird and wonderful creatures .
Her blog, From the Pen of Mae Clair, features a weekly post each Monday where she examines a different myth or urban legend. In 2013, she journeyed to West Virginia to learn more about the legendary Mothman, a creature who will factor into an upcoming novel.
As a writer, she pens tales of romantic mystery flavored with a twist of myth or folklore. Married to her high school sweetheart, Mae lives in Pennsylvania. Her passions include cats, history and exploring old graveyards. Look for Mae on her website at MaeClair.net
You can find Mae Clair at the following haunts:
Purchase SOLSTICE ISLAND from:
April 16, 2014
$25 #Giveaway and Spotlight: Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson
Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson
Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year ended in a fiasco. Only Jace Sutton knew the real reason why—that she was a spineless coward. Now, seven years later, her father’s been in an accident and needs help, and Cambr has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and boards a plane, hoping against hope that Jace is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs—in the past.
If only life worked that way.
Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she’d led him on, bruised his heart, and left town without a backward glance, he was forced to pick up the pieces and try not to hate her for it. Eventually, he put it behind him and moved on, creating a life for himself in his beloved hometown. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jake instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs.
If only it were that easy.
Excerpt
In Cambri’s life, mistakes were like boomerangs. She’d make them, regret them, and launch them as hard and far as she could to get away from them. Then suddenly, after she thought they were long gone, they would come sailing back to thunk her hard on the chest.
Like now.
Cambri could practically hear the figurative boomerang whooshing toward her as recognition dawned on Jace’s face—the kind of recognition that came when seeing someone from your past you’d rather not see.
“Hey, Jace,” was all she could come up with to say. She clutched the pruning shears, frantically trying to think of something more. “Long time no see.”
He glanced at the shears, and a few awkward seconds passed before he responded. “Yeah, long time.”
“I was just, uh . . .” Cambri brushed a few dried leaves off the shears and held them up—“trying these out. They’re sharper than I expected. I’ll take them.”
“Will you take the hose too, or was it the sprinkler head you were also trying out?”
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Author Rachael Anderson
A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series
Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors.
“Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love.”
Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford
Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin
Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson
Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White
Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver
Book 6: Immersed by Jennifer Griffith
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 4/28/14 - Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway
