Sarah Ballance's Blog, page 39

Fool for Books #Giveaway Hop Apr 1st – 7th ($10 GC & ebook, INT)

Welcome to the Fool for Books Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. For this hop I am giving away a $10 GC for Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice). The winner will also have his or her choice of any one of my ebooks (see options here or here).

To enter, please leave a comment with your contact info. (If you put your email address in the comment form, I will be able to see it. You do not have to post it publicly.) I would also greatly appreciate if you’d consider following my blog (email box at the top of the sidebar) and liking me on facebook (“like” box a bit further down in the sidebar) but the only requirement for entry is to leave a comment.

For 100+ more fantastic giveaways, head to the linky list by clicking here to see all participating blogs.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. For full giveaway rules, please click here.

Bestselling Author Samantha Holt Talks “Borderland Bride”

Welcome, readers! Today we welcome Samantha Holt with her amazing new release Borderland Bride. She’s a bestselling author of medieval romance, so you can bet her new Borderland Legacy series is absolutely made of awesome. Grab a pint of something tasty and let’s check it out!

Welcome, Samantha, and congratulations on the recent release of Borderline Bride. What was your most memorable moment in writing the story?

Thanks for having me, Sarah. Oh there are so many, but for me the first moment between the two brothers will always stick with me. I’ve never written a strong secondary male character before and the banter between them was so fun and easy. I fell in love instantly with them both! It’s very difficult falling in love with two men at the same time, you know!

LOL! I can only imagine the fun you had with THAT! *grins* This is the first book in your Borderland Legacy Series. Can you offer a sneak peek of the series arc and how future books will connect to this one?

The next book, Borderland Beauty, is Dominic’s story – the other brother. I knew early on that he was going to miss out on his happy ending and I thought he deserved one. Here is the blurb:

Dominic of Thornewall has already lost out on one bride. Will he succeed in charming is way into the heart of a second?

Lord Dominic is in need of a wife. With the reivers, the wild and dangerous criminals that haunt the borderlands, breathing down his neck and his brother now married, he needs a strong woman by his side. So when he finds out about an old marriage contract between him and his neighbour’s daughter, he vows to give the mysterious woman a chance. Upon meeting the beautiful, feisty maiden, he vows to make her his wife.

Lucy Montgomery wants nothing to do with the arrogant lord. She doesn’t understand his interest in her. Surely a man like Dominic could never fall for a woman like her? Hurt by the past, she refuses to believe that she is anything more than a game to him. If only she didn’t find him quite so charming.

Can Dominic persuade Lucy that she is more than just another woman to him? And with the reivers growing bolder, are there worse dangers than Lucy saying ‘Nay’?

Oh, I love how the second book ties in with the first, and the premise sounds fantastic! What might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters of Borderland Bride?

I wrote the ending almost as soon as I started writing the book! I typically don’t write in order, usually jumping from whichever scene is freshest in my mind, although I always have a vague plan. I had the beginning written and pretty soon after I skipped to the end. I like to have the end sorted as it means I know exactly what I’m aiming for and what character developments I need to make, and it also means I don’t rush the ending in my eagerness to finish the book.

That’s a great point! I wrote the ending first exactly one time and it was awesome. I just tried that with my WIP and had a moment, lol. I love the points you made, though, and should probably revisit the concept. ;c) Okay, let’s have some fun with Borderland Bride. What’s the first sentence?

Inhaling deeply, Jake clutched at the reins of his mount, slowly releasing his grip as the forest stilled around him.

Wow. Great atmosphere! What’s your favorite line in the book?

This bit gets me every time: “What would you have me say?” He faced her abruptly. “That I cannot stay, for how can I watch you wed my brother when I would wish to have you for myself? That it tears at my heart just to think of you in the arms of another man? Or that I…I regret every harsh word I ever spoke to you? I shall never meet another lass as fine as you.”

OMGosh, I just dissolved into a pile of mush. That was a-MAZE-ing! How about a brief excerpt? 

“Just…look after her. And cease your philandering,” he added with a scowl.

A burst of laughter erupted from Dominic. “Aye, fear not. Izzy is not the sort of woman to trifle with. I will be good to her, I promise you.”

Nodding slowly, Jake rested a hand on Dominic’s shoulder. “Aye, aye, you will. This is how it should be.”

Aye, what could be more fitting? The two people he loved most in the world would find happiness together. And Jake…he would go back to Greycroft and bury his love for Isabel, once and for all.

Okay, I am SO hooked right now. Just … wow. Which scene of Borderland Bride was most difficult for you to write? Why?

Many of the early scenes were very difficult, mostly because Isabel can’t talk so I had to concentrate on the actions between them. She does ‘mouth’ stuff but obviously there’s a limit to what you can ‘mouth’ to someone. I had a lot of fun when Jake and Isabel play chess together but it was tough to get everything I wanted to across.

Another intriguing answer. You’re killing me, Samantha! LOL. What inspired the title of Borderland Bride?

Who knows? I’m terrible at titles and this was something that came up after bandying some around with a couple of beta readers. It just seemed right so I went with it.

It does seem to fit so well. Yay for beta readers! LOL. Before we take a closer look at Borderland Bride, tell us what’s next for you.

Well Borderland Beauty has just been through edits and is now in the hands of my publisher but while I’m waiting on a release date for that, I’m working on my first ever fantasy romance. It’s still set in a medeivally themed world but that’s where the similarities end with my other books. It’s fun and very freeing. Later on this year, I’ll be working on the third Borderland Legacy book which will feature Captain James – a character that pops up frequently in the first two books.

Sounds like you’re going to keep your readers busy! Let’s get them started right now, shall we? *grin*

Borderland Bride

In the wilderness of 14th century Northumbria, Lady Isabel discovers just how dangerous the borderlands can be. With the loss of her voice and her hearing, there is little hope left for her. But when a brooding knight rescues her, she vows never to become a victim again and buries the secrets of her past in the hope that those hunting her will never find her in the borderlands.

Jake is astonished to come across the beautiful Isabel, near to death, on his brother’s lands. Bringing her back to his brother’s home, he finds himself longing for something more from the courageous woman, something that he thought he would never want again. Isabel works her way into his scarred heart and opens Jake up to loving once more. But will Isabel’s secrets destroy their bond? And with his charismatic brother, Dominic, charming her, does he even stand a chance?

Find BORDERLAND BRIDE @

Jupiter Gardens (publisher)
Amazon (coming soon / direct link TBD)
Barnes & Noble (coming soon / direct link TBD)

Samantha Holt

Samantha resides in Warwickshire, England with her twin girls and occasionally her husband, who works abroad. She admits that his long absences often help to get the creative juices flowing. She’s a romance addict and has been devouring all kinds of romance for as long as she can remember.

A huge history buff, Samantha likes to blend her love of the past with her love of romance and create thrilling and passionate tales set to medieval backdrops. She thinks there’s nothing sexier than a rugged warrior and a feisty maiden falling head over heels for each other.

Find Samantha @ Facebook | Website

Samantha, it’s been a pleasure. I’m so excited you’ve shared this book with us and I hope the series is another bestseller for you! Readers, thank you for joining us. Please feel free to pelt Samantha with your questions and comments and do send a warm welcome her way! (It gives me a chance to refill my pint. *grins*)

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza #Giveaway Hop Mar 29 – Apr 5 ($10 GC, INT)

Welcome to the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop sponsored by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and co-hosted by Read Now Sleep Later. For this hop I am giving away a $10 GC for Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice).

To enter, please leave a comment with your contact info. (If you put your email address in the comment form, I will be able to see it. You do not have to post it publicly.) I would also greatly appreciate if you’d consider following my blog (email box at the top of the sidebar) and liking me on facebook (“like” box a bit further down in the sidebar) but the only requirement for entry is to leave a comment.

For 150+ more fantastic giveaways, head to the linky list by clicking here to see all participating blogs.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. For full giveaway rules, please click here.

Kobo Arc #Giveaway (3/27/13 – 4/15/13 for US/CAN 18+)

Welcome to the Kobo Arc Giveaway!

Organized by Mom to Bed by 8

Hosted by: and Capri’s Coupons, Spaceships and Laser Beams, Stay a Stay at Home Mom, The Penny Hoarder, Powered By Mom, Baby Costcutters and Iowa Mom.

KOBO ARC – READS YOU LIKE A BOOK

The Kobo Arc 64GB offers booklovers a competitively featured Android 4.0 multimedia tablet with a new way to discover content – books, movies, TV shows, music, web pages and more. With a Kobo-developed interface called Tapestries, Kobo Arc gives consumers an exciting new way to discover content. Using an intelligent cross-media recommendations engine, Tapestries responds to the user’s “pinned” content to recommend related videos, movies, books, webpages and other related content. Tapestries makes it easy to discover new personal multimedia recommendations with little effort as the engine learns what consumers love – and brings them more.

The 7” high-definition display delivers crisp, sharp text and with 16-million colours bring photos and videos to life. With front-facing speakers with SRS TruMedia, a built-in microphone and high-resolution 1.3 MP camera to take photos and videos, the Kobo Arc offers up to 10 hours of continuous reading or video play, and two weeks on standby. With Google Play, Kobo Arc users have access to more than 600,000 apps and much-loved pre-loaded apps including Facebook, Twitter, Rdio, Zinio and PressReader.

One lucky reader will receive a Kobo Arc 64GB.

Giveaway ends April 15th at 11:59pm, open to US & Canadian residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

CLICK HERE FOR RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. SARAH BALLANCE is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

$50 Book Blast: Blue Hearts of Mars by Nicole Grotepas ($50 #Giveaway)

Blue Hearts of Mars by Nicole Grotepas

Retta Heikkinen knows the unspoken rule of society: love between androids and humans is forbidden. A simple enough edict until Hemingway Koskinen spends an evening charming her with his intense gaze, bewitching smile, and sparkling conversation that hints at so much more than the usual obsessions of high school boys. Rules were meant to be cast aside, especially when love beckons.

If only it were as simple as being in love.

Trouble is brewing, not just for Hemingway–for all androids. Secrets have been kept, lies propagated, and Retta soon discovers that a frightening future awaits thousands of androids if she doesn’t do something to stop it. Worse yet, she will lose the one love she’s ever endangered herself for: Hemingway.

Grab a FREE copy on Amazon – March 27th & 28th

Praise

“Nothing like I’ve read before. A true original story! Everything is so well described. Now if they could make a follow up book and movie, that would be great!” ~Mrs. Z (Amazon)

“I was addicted to this book from the beginning. Life on Mars was very real and not at all a sci fi world I didn’t understand . . . I found myself rooting for Retta and Hemingway from the very beginning. Easy reading, couldn’t put it down and had it read in a weekend. Waiting for a sequel!” ~TNielsen (Amazon)

“The ending of this book is exceptional. While it was different from what I imagined, the way the author brought in a shocking revelation was amazing. I probably reread the last chapter 3 times letting it sink in and the meaning behind it. It was truly beautiful . . . I would love to see more of Retta and Hemingway!” ~Kat Meyer, (Goodreads)

“I love how the author populated Mars . . . so descriptive and comprehensive . . . I could clearly picture everything as if I was seeing the movie &/or was along for the ride. . . . Retta, the main character, is strong, opinionated, and a great champion for her cause.” ~Megan (Amazon)

“I had been in the worst reading slump ever and came across this on Goodreads and thought I’d give it a try. Well, I was pleasantly surprised on how funny and exciting and mysterious it was . . . Mei, Retta’s bff, had me laughing out loud quite a bit as well as Retta herself. I’d definitely hang out with those two.” ~Deanneluvbooks (Goodreads)

Blue Hearts of Mars has made it to the quarterfinals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

Readers are invited to download the excerpts (here) and rate and comment on the entries. So please, if you want to contribute, download and rate Blue Hearts! Your support is incredibly appreciated!

Or purchase the full version of the book here: Amazon

Author Nicole Grotepas

Nicole wrote her first fantasy novel in 7th grade on her mother’s old Brother typewriter. It was never finished but it strongly resembled a Dragonlance plot and she’s forever wondered what happened to the manuscript and Tonathan–the handsome elven protagonist. After living in Nashville where she worked as an editor, she returned to the Utah desert where she was raised. Nicole now lives near the Wasatch mountains with her husband. She writes and raises her son and three cats full time.

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest







Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/14/13 – CLICK HERE TO ENTER VIA RAFFLECOPTER

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 http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top 10 Reasons IXEOS is a Must Read ($50 #Giveaway)

Jennings Wright: Top Ten Reasons IXEOS is a Must Read

10.  Who doesn’t want to go to an alternate earth?

9.     It’s got everything – sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, thriller, even a touch of romance.

8.     Who knew there were so many man made tunnels in the world?

7.      It’s unique, intriguing, creative and exciting –  a fun ride.

6.      Travel the globe from your couch!

5.      How would you survive in a world with no power or technology?

4.      Since you’ll want to read IXEOS: Rebellion and Darian’s War, you need to read IXEOS first.

3.      It has a great message of purpose and sacrifice.

2.     The characters are extremely likable and you get very invested in their life on Ixeos.

1.       Everyone is trying to figure out who Landon really is.

Want to learn more? You’re in the right spot!


Ixeos

The McClellands are enjoying a lazy summer vacation at the beach when they are lured from our world into Ixeos, an alternate Earth. Finding themselves lost in a maze of tunnels under Paris and surrounded by strangers, they discover that they have been brought to Ixeos for one purpose:  to take the planet back from humanoid aliens who have claimed it. With the aid of the tunnels and a mysterious man named Landon, the teens travel the world seeking the key that will allow them to free Darian, the long-imprisoned rebel leader. But the aliens aren’t the only problem on Ixeos — the McClellands have to deal with brutal gangs, desperate junkies, and a world without power, where all the technology is owned by the aliens, and where most of the population has been killed or enslaved. The worst part? There’s no way home.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 

Author Jennings Wright

Born and raised in Florida, Jennings spent her early years reading anything she could get her hands on, when she wasn’t spending time in and on the water. She won a prize in the 6th grade for her science fiction stories.

Jennings attended the University of Tampa, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science, and almost enough credits for B.A.s in both English and History. She attended graduate school at the University of West Florida, studying Psychology. She spent time over the years doing various kinds of business writing, editing, and teaching writing, but mostly having and raising her family, homeschooling her children, owning and running a business with her husband, and starting a non-profit.

Thanks to a crazy idea called NaNoWriMo Jennings got back into creative writing in 2011 and hasn’t stopped since. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, also a business owner and writer, and two children, and travels extensively with her family, and her non-profit in Uganda.

Facebook * Twitter * Website * Blog * Amazon * Goodreads






Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/7/13 – CLICK HERE TO ENTER VIA RAFFLECOPTER

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 http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christi Barth Talks “A Fine Romance” (#Giveaway)

Christi Barth is here! Yay! Longtime blog readers may remember I’ve twice reviewed Christi (here and here) and thus know I happen to think she’s pretty awesome. *grins* Needless to say I’m honored she’s here today to talk about her new book A Fine Romance and I’m absolutely dee-lighted to say one lucky reader will win an ecopy. I know you guys are ready to dive in, so grab a glass of wine and get ready to fall in love!

Welcome, Christi! Before we get into your newest release, can you introduce readers to the Aisle Bound series? What can they expect from these titles?

Sassy, sexy, romance-drenched pages, of course! The four book series revolves around the wedding business in Chicago. Let me assure readers out there – I worked VERY hard to make certain that A Fine Romance could be read as a stand-alone. I promise. That being said, of course I’d love to entice you to read the series in order. Here’s the tagline for Planning for Love: In the harsh spotlight of reality television, a romance-a-holic wedding planner tries to snare the anti-Cupid.

I absolutely loved PLANNING FOR LOVE and I’m excited to know more about the second book. Can you tell us about it?

Ooh – I’m so glad you enjoyed book one! Book two follows Sam, wedding cake baker extraordinaire, in his journey to break free of the family business and start a gourmet chocolate line. His new neighbor, the manager of a romance store, doesn’t like chocolate—and doesn’t like him, thanks to a rocky first few meetings. But she’s hot, and he’s hot, and one thing leads to another, leads to a melted chocolate sex scene…..

Ermagosh. Did you say … wow. Erm, for anyone who may have made it out of the last paragraph, what might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters of A Fine Romance?

My books lean strongly toward romantic comedy. That said, these characters have some serious baggage to work through.  Yes, there’s the melted chocolate sexy goodness, but there are also multi-dimensional, deeply layered people who have to work pretty darn hard to get their happily ever after.

And that makes them the BEST! Let’s have some fun with A Fine Romance. What’s the first sentence?

I’m sort of scared to share this with the world, because I don’t want to give people the wrong idea. Disclaimer first – I lived in Chicago for four years and think it is a wonderful city…and eventually, all my characters love it, too. Okay, here goes: So far, Chicago sucked.

I will here and now vouch for your love of Chicago coming through in your writing. (I also love that sentence!) What’s your favorite line in the book?

This book is 99,000 words long – how am I supposed to choose favorites? Yikes.  Ben pointed at the still-fierce sun, which had turned Chicago as steamy as a guy’s pits after basketball.

LMAO! Poetic and funny. Love the combination! How about an excerpt … three sentences long! Yep, that’s it. Three!

“Your lips deserve a gold medal. Your technique is flawless. Sam Lyons should be listed as a must-do attraction on all the Chicago sightseeing maps.”

Between this and the promised chocolaty goodness, I tend to agree! *giggle* Which scene of A Fine Romance was most difficult for you to write? Why?

I guess as a romance author I shouldn’t admit this, but love scenes are brutal to craft. You can only say he stroked such and such body part so many times, so many ways. The actual writing becomes very clinical and leaches all the sexiness out of it for me. I can grit my teeth through makeout scenes, but when it comes to full blown sex my requirements are a single white Russian (nope, no other drink will do) and Pink Martini on the cd player.

I am 100% with you on this one. They are the very bane of my existence as an author, but you pull off yours so very well. I’d have never guessed! Which scene would you most like to experience for yourself? From whose POV?

There is a picnic in the Chicago Botanic Gardens that turns into quite the makeout scene. Could never happen in real life, because of the whole public-garden-anyone-could-walk-by issue. But it would be absolutely lovely to experience.

I can imagine! What inspired the title of A Fine Romance?

Ooh, this one’s easy! When I lived in Chicago and saw the vibrant downtown neighborhoods open with every sort of retail day and night, I got the idea for a romance store. At the time, I was a wedding planner, and thought it would be terrific to have a place people could duck into to grab a picnic basket full of treats, a card, and a heart shaped blanket to turn a ho-hum Wednesday into a special date night. I even came up with a name for it: A Fine Romance. Creating the store in my book required a lot less start-up capital than creating it for real. So I knew from the first page that it had to be the title.

It’s an absolutely perfect title (for the book at the store–what a great idea that is!) Before we let you go, can you tell us what you’re currently working on? 

I just began writing A Matchless Romance, book 4 in the Aisle Bound series. The heroine’s a matchmaker who is convinced she knows everything about men because she was raised in a brothel. The hero is a video game designer who channels all his sexual energy into training for triathlons. That is, he used to….  But the next thing readers should watch for is in July. I’m releasing a funny, sassy beach-fling caper called Love at High Tide. Then book 3 in the Aisle Bound series, Friends to Lovers, releases in October, with book 4 following in early 2014. Whew!

Wow … you are one busy author, but there’s very good reason. You ROCK, and readers, here’s evidence to that effect. Check out the blurb, then stick around for a chance to win it!

A Fine Romance

They say you form your first impression of someone within thirty seconds of meeting them. Or, in Mira Parrish\’s case, within thirty minutes of not meeting them, when said person is supposed to pick you up from the airport and never shows. This is not a perfect start to her new life. Her friend Ivy is depending on her to run a new romance store, and Mira can\’t afford to let her down.

Sam Lyons should probably apologize. But every time he sees Mira—which is often, since his family owns the bakery next to her shop—he can\’t resist antagonizing her. There\’s something about the sexy, straitlaced woman that drives him crazy. He can\’t get involved, though. He has too much baggage to be any good in a serious relationship.

Despite his teasing attitude, Mira finds Sam too sweet to resist. (His hot body may be a factor.) But if there\’s going to be anything permanent between them, they\’ll need to let go of their pasts and look to the future…

Purchase A Fine Romance at Y Amazon Y Barnes & Noble Y Carina Press

Website | Blog | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Christi Barth

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.  A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning.  Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.  Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband. A Fine Romance is book 2 in her 4 book Aisle Bound series.

Website | Blog | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Giveaway

Christi has generously offered one ebook copy of A Fine Romance for a reader who leaves an answer to the following question:

What is your favorite thing about reading a series?

Let us know by posting a comment along with your contact information and you’ll be entered to win. I’m looking forward to your thoughts and thank you all so  much for being here. Christi, it’s been a pleasure!

 

Mar.24.2013 #WeWriWa #8Sunday #SnipSun with Last Call

Welcome readers! And for my fellow authors, whether you’re here from Weekend Writing Warriors (WeWriWa, also known as the new 8 Sentence Sunday) or from the Snippet Sunday FB group, I’m thrilled you’ve joined me. Today I’m sharing sentences from my romantic suspense LAST CALL, which is available now for just 99 cents. Only a few more snippets coming from this one!

Now Available: romantic suspense for only 99 cents!

Back in Rhys’s POV, Nick has just gone after one bad guy while Rhys stands guard over two men — one wounded, and one dead.

Rhys fought to wrap logic around what just happened. Had Nick betrayed her? His demeanor had changed the moment he walked into that room. Was it overcompensation—an attempt to hide their personal involvement—or was the Nick facing BadGuy and OtherBadGuy the real Nick? She never had come to terms with him leaving the way he did … was this why?

The van driver—who she now recognized as the man who shot her—sat slumped on the floor, whimpering. Rhys didn’t buy his pathetic display of defeat. She kept the gun trained on his skull, mentally daring him to give her a reason to show him what a flesh wound was really like.

(The hit Rhys took at the beginning of the story was dubbed a “flesh wound” by the doctor who treated her.)

L AST CALL is now available for just 99 cents from For the Muse Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords (formats: .mobi, .epub, HTML, PDF, RTF, LRF, PalmDoc, and Plain Text). Click here to add to Goodreads or here for reviews.

For more 8 Sentence Sunday Snippets, please click the image below.

Friday #Giveaway: Familiar Light (Romantic Suspense)

It’s Friday! Yay! Let’s celebrate by giving something away, shall we? Here’s a giveaway you can take home TODAY! That’s right … no waiting to win! Check out the blurb below and if you’d like to win an e-copy of the book please leave a comment indicating whether you’d prefer Amazon or Barnes & Noble. I’ll draw a few names later today and send gift copies directly to the email address you provide. (If you leave your address in the comment form, you do not need to post it publicly. I’ll see it!) I’ll update the post when the giveaway ends, so no worries about entering too late. ;c)

Familiar Light

Seven years of longing comes down to just one night.

Laney Kent returns to Barrier Shoals hoping to reunite with her first love, Bridger. She anticipates his reception might be chilly, but what she doesn’t expect is to become the victim of a deadly obsession . . . or that this night with Bridger could be her last.

Bridger Jansen tangled a lot of sheets trying to forget about Laney, but his heart knew what the rest of him refused to admit: he could love no one else. He’s determined not to forgive her for leaving him without explanation, but when he fails to protect her from a viscous attack, the person he can’t forgive just might be himself.

Excerpt

“Can I help you?” The gruff question trickled through the cavernous space like water leaking through pipes. He seemed to materialize from the shadows as he strode toward her, the rise of heat from the concrete floor keeping him just out of focus.

But her heart knew.

She swallowed a hard knob of regret. “Bridger?”

He couldn’t have heard her—not with the way she clung to his name, as if saying it out loud would be to lose another piece of him. But his step faltered, and the recognition in that interrupted cadence brought the burn of tears to her eyes.

No regrets.

She stood, trembling, as the fifty feet between them dwindled to ten. When he was close enough for her to make out the stubble lining his jaw, his legs stopped moving, but his gaze tore over her. The impassioned glare was without direction, a harsh reflection of the hard lines edging his face. The warm brown eyes she remembered were now a bitter shade of espresso.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

The words, tense with fury, sent her backpedaling against the concrete wall. Too late, she realized she no longer knew this man. They were kids when they’d parted ways, too naïve to realize they’d never keep those breathless promises. At least she’d been that way. His tone suggested otherwise.

They were alone in the deeply shadowed belly of Barrier Shoals Light. And for the first time within those walls, Laney tasted fear.

“Was I supposed to wait for you?” he asked.

Seven years had passed since her weak-kneed promise to return to him. She didn’t have an answer for that.

He took another step, boxing her against the curvature of the rock. He stood close—so close, she had to tip her head to meet his eyes.

And she summoned courage to do it.

“Was I?” he asked, his voice softer now. He leaned closer. The stifling heat morphed into sexual innuendo, his skin slick with sweat, daring her to touch.

She was one careless thought away from taking him up on that unspoken suggestion. Her fingers itched to claw through his hair, to draw him closer until the distance between them evaporated. Memories of frantically grasping for purchase against the stone wall besieged her, curling fear into boundless adrenaline. “Did you?”

Her words coaxed a slow grin from his sensual mouth. “Was I supposed to?”

Wait for me, Bridger I’ll be back.

The thought came from nowhere, peeling away seven years to their last night together. He’d held her, caressed the hair from her face, and kissed every salty inch of her skin. Stay. A single word. A plea from a man who asked for nothing—and yet owned it all. Every piece of her was his.

She’d just taken too long to realize it. And those eyes . . . . They bore into her, dark with the kind of passion that made anger futile and sex magnificent.

She remembered the latter well.

“Can we talk?” she asked. Lame. But in that moment, all that mattered.

He ran his index finger along her jaw—a slow, teasing exploration he abandoned in short order to toy with a strand of her hair. Dipping his head so his lips grazed her ear, he said, “To think I have anything to say is to assume I still give a damn, Laney. And I think I left that behind a long time ago.”

His words were so much at odds with his actions she failed to reconcile the two. Lack of awareness might also be blamed on the hand curling at her nape, the gentle touch drawing her against his chest. Or the heat of his mouth lingering on her flesh, following the coy path his finger trailed across her jaw. Every nuance of touch electrified her, each moment captured in a single thud of her heartbeat.

He stood so close she saw only snapshots of memories, each one triggering another landslide of emotion. His mouth closing over her skin. His fingers laced through hers. That wicked grin he wore as he held her captive with his touch, her wrists pressed overhead against the sand. The dark shadow of his profile blotting out the dance of moonlight on water, their heavy breaths intoxicated with salt air and lust . . . and a promise she failed to keep.

“If I were less of a man,” he said, “I’d tell you what you wanted to hear. We’d have a good time, and then I’d walk. Let you spend the next few years wondering what the hell you did to lose me.”

“Bridger—”

“But no one deserves that. Not even you.” His tight smile brought hard lines to his jaw, but no trace of forgiveness. Holding fast to her gaze, he stepped away, taking twenty degrees of Fahrenheit with him.

Laney shivered. He may have put distance between them, but the narrow darkness in his eyes clutched her throat. She’d mistaken the flat, slated glare for fury, but it wasn’t anger . . . it was hurt. She’d hurt him by not coming back. And that was far worse than his wrath.

“You should go.”

She opened her mouth and closed it. Every reason she counted for coming back begged her to stay and stand up for what they once had, but there was one thing missing from her fight: a leg upon which to stand.

So, with nothing left to say, she went.

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10 Reasons Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud is a Must-Read (#Giveaway)

Jon Thomason: 10 Reasons Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud is a MUST-READ

10. It’s a fantasy written like a thriller. Keeps the pages turning!

9. The Island of Zumuruud. Doesn’t the name make you want to see what the island looks like?

8. Running. Our heroine, Max, is a devoted runner and we get to run with her even if the weather outside doesn’t permit it.

7. Animals. Zumuruud has a zoo you have to see (read about) to believe.

6. Travel. We get to visit lots of cool places: Seattle, Warsaw, Alexandria, Luxor, London, Ibiza, and of course, Zumuruud.

5. Emotions. We see all of them: anger, fear, wonder, love, and hate.

4. Pranks. Max realizes that a really fun, if naughty, use of her new talent is playing pranks on unsuspecting classmate. Well, wouldn’t you?

3. Swords. Magical ones. Lots of fighting with them in the book. Even severed limbs!

2. Skatecarpets. The best thing since Michael J. Fox’s hoverboard in Back to the Future. Maybe better.

1. Magic. Well, wouldn’t you like to learn to do magic? We get to watch as Max does.

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Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud

Max has anger management issues. But she has a secret, too. She can make things happen. Like magic. She almost killed a loser skate punk and nearly used it on her stuck up older sister. The question is, can she do anything other than blow things up? Can she learn to control it? And is it really possible that an obscure teenage girl is the key to keeping all of humanity safe?

Philip just got his ring back. He got it taken away for messing with his teacher’s mind so he can cheat on a test. Now that he has his ring, he thinks he should be able to use his power to make his life better. A lot better. The problem is that people want him to be responsible. But if you could do magic, wouldn’t you use it to escape work in any way possible?

Aaron wants to be a soldier. He knows there are lots of people who would try to take over, and he’s determined to stop them. The problem is that there’s this new girl. And she might be not be on the right side of things. She’s really talented and pretty, but she might be able to destroy everything he believes in. Whatever the case, he knows he needs to learn to be world class with the magic sword while he figures out what to do.

Brynn never gets out. Her grandfather won’t permit it. Her only access to the outside world are high fashion magazines, so she has an unusual idea what she should wear. She’s dying to get out and travel. And adopt animals. Any kind of animal. Is she a lonely future granny with cats or are her ridiculous clothes actually the next fashion craze? What possible role could she play in the destiny of the world?

Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud is a fast-paced fantasy adventure for all ages (10 and up) and is the first of a planned trilogy. Fans of magic, swordplay, secret agents, and conspiracies set in a modern everyday world will not be able to put the book down. Jon Thomason is a debut author and paints a vivid world of magic right under our noses and delivers rapid-fire action that keeps the pages turning.

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Praise

“Impressively inventive and enjoyable…vivid storytelling and exceptional characterization…Max’s personality is layered and complex…conveyed flawlessly…keeping readers intrigued and engaged…writing style is smooth, and a subtle sense of humor comes through…narrative tension builds at a good pace and easily flows toward a satisfying and exciting conclusion…parents are likely to both approve of the story and enjoy reading it themselves…talented writer…sure to find an appreciative audience that will eagerly anticipate the next book in the series.” — ForeWord Clarion Review

“Thomason shines in his heroine’s characterization…magical” –blueink Review

 

Author Jon Thomason

Jon Thomason lives with his family in San Diego, after many years living in the beautiful Seattle area. He has a successful career in high tech where he’s been fortunate enough to participate in many big-name industry releases.

Storytelling permeates everything he does. In the moments when Jon is not helping build the story of the tech world, he can almost always be found working on a project: writing, photography, videography, graphics design, or 3D art.

And he’s always careful to conceal his jinni magic abilities, though perhaps might slip one day and be discovered…

 
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