Sarah Ballance's Blog, page 40

$50 Book Blast: Ixeos by Jennings Wright ($50 #Giveaway)

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

Melynda Price: Shades of Darkness (#Giveaway)

I’m delighted today to show off Melynda Price’s new release, SHADES OF DARKNESS. Take a look at the blurb and excerpt, then leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win one of three e-copies!

Shades of Darkness

Free will comes at a cost…

Three years after losing the love of her life, Olivia Norton refuses to continue living in the shadows of what will never be. But how can she marry another when her guardian angel still holds her heart?

Bound by Universal Law, Liam is forced to choose between his honor and his heart. Returning for Olivia nearly cost him his salvation once, but twice may prove to be his final undoing. Some sacrifices are worth the risk, while others could bring consequences that would last an immortal lifetime.

The game has changed—new players bring new threats and challenges. The evil that nearly took Olivia’s life three years ago has returned with a vengeance. A legion has been sent, and the Dark Court will not rest until the last sighted female has been killed.

An old enemy returns… Evil has a new face, a new name, and Haden will stop at nothing to possess the key Olivia holds, unlocking the power he needs to claim his revenge against Heaven and Hell.

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.com
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Paranormal
Release Date: February 28, 2013
Print ISBN 13: 978-1-939217-35-6 ISBN 10:1939217350
Digital ISBN 13: 978-1-939217-34-9 ISBN 10:1939217342
Buy link: Amazon

Shades of Darkness | Excerpt

Olivia stood in front of the floor-length mirror. A beautiful woman she no longer recognized stared back at her with haunted, vacant eyes. Dressed in white, her floor-length gown, adorned with sequins and pearl beading, ran down the length of the six-foot train in an intricate design worthy of a queen. The back of her dress was cut in a deep V, stopping just above her waistline. A jeweled tiara sat nestled securely in the upsweep of her jet black hair, just like the one she’d often worn as a little girl. The veil of purity lay draped beside her jewelry box on the desk in the corner of the dressing room.

Piano music wafted through the vents of the old church, carrying a beautiful melody through the stale air of the chapel. Olivia sighed in resignation and reached up, unfastening the clasp of her necklace. The heart-shaped stone fell away from her neck, and she placed it in the palm of her hand. Closing her fist tightly over the stone, she turned away from her reflection and walked over to her jewelry box.

Olivia opened the drawer and placed the necklace inside. She pulled out a string of pearls and fastened them around the base of her throat, being careful to avoid snagging the few curls hanging down from her pearl-pinned French twist.

“You look beautiful,” a husky voice whispered behind her.

Startled, Olivia gasped and spun around, tangling the length of satin and lace around her feet. “Liam!” Her voice shook as a tidal wave of emotions crashed into her—joy, love, anger, pain…sorrow. It took every last bit of her self-control not to run to him and throw herself into his arms. Her heart raced so fast, she became lightheaded and reached out to steady herself against the old, age-roughened desk. Three years… Three long painful years… It felt like an eternity.

Liam stood in the corner of the small room, statue still, arms crossed over his broad chest. He was just as beautiful as she’d remembered—perhaps a little leaner, which only enhanced the muscular sculpting of his magnificent body. The errant waves of his dark burgundy hair hung in layers, nearly touching his shoulders, framing his strong, square jaw. A muscle ticked in his cheek as he stood there watching her. He seemed different somehow… His eyes, the change was in his eyes that now held a depth born of pain, sorrow and regret.

The prelude to the Wedding March carried up through the vents. The soft serenade filled the room, pulling Olivia from her trance. A rush of pain, masked by anger, surged anew, tearing open a wound of heartache that never completely healed. “Why are you here?” she demanded.

Liam didn’t respond. For the longest time, he just stood there—staring at her with an odd emotionless determination. Olivia started to question her sanity. Perhaps he hadn’t come back at all, and her mind was caught up in some sick, twisted quest for self-fulfilling prophecy.

“I had to see you.” His words came out in an aching rasp that stung all the way to her soul. Oh, he was real. No figment of her imagination could hurt this much.

“Why now, Liam? Why today? This is my wedding day!” Her voice escalated with every word until she reached hysteria. “It’s been three years! Do you know how many nights I’ve cried myself to sleep over you? Oh, that’s right, of course you do! And yet, you still didn’t come back to me. All those times I begged and pleaded, just to let me see you again.”

His mask of apathy shattered, revealing a haunted look in his amber-colored eyes that took her breath away—unspoken evidence of his grief, proving the depth of pain and suffering hadn’t just been her cross to bear. “Dammit! Don’t you think I wanted to, Olivia? God knows, I wanted to! But I knew if I came back, even for a moment, you’d never move on. It’s killed me to sit by and watch you mourn over what can never be. Night after night, I begged the Father to give me the strength to stay away from you.”

Liam’s eyes fell on the pearl necklace clinging to her throat that was slowly choking the life out of her. “This is the first time you’ve taken that off in three years.” His voice was so raw, she winced.

Reaching up, she touched her throat, fingering the smooth, cool beads. “I had to,” she whispered. “How can I get married to the man I’m trying to love while wearing a necklace from the angel that holds my heart?” Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she stopped even trying to contain them.

“Do you love him, Olivia?”

Liam’s questioning eyes raked over her. She ached to reach out and touch his beautiful face, just one more time, to feel whole in his embrace once again and let him wash away the years of pain and suffering she’d endured in his absence—to taste that delicious kiss she longed for…

“Look at me!” she cried, grabbing fists full of her wedding dress, holding them out in exasperation. “I’m getting married!” A fresh wave of tears rolled down her cheeks. By now, her make-up would be completely ruined, not that she really cared. It was symbolic of the last three years of her life.

“Trust me, I am well aware, and that’s not what I asked you.”

“I love him as much as I’m capable of loving someone. I’ve been broken for so long. I just want to feel normal again.”

The Wedding March echoed through the tiny room, and she looked nervously over her shoulder. “That’s my cue,” she whispered, unwilling to walk away from him.

“I wish it was me waiting down there for you.”

Oh God, don’t say that to me! Her hand flew up to cover her mouth as a broken sob escaped her throat. “I do, too,” she breathed the barely audible confession.

A soft knock sounded at the door. “Olivia? We’re ready for you, honey.”

She tore her eyes away from him long enough to cast an anxious glance over her shoulder and called, “I’ll be right there, Mom.” But when she turned back, Liam was gone.

Melynda Price Links

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/melynda.price.9
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MelyndaPrice1
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13829312-until-darkness-comes
Blog: http://melyndaprice.wordpress.com/
Website: www.melyndaprice.com

Giveaway

If you’d like a chance to win one of three e-copies, please leave a comment with your email address. Melynda will contact the winners directly. Thanks for visiting and have a fantastic day!

Mar.17.2013 #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.

Now Available: romantic suspense for only 99 cents!

Last week we saw Nick’s POV after he was outed for betraying Rhys. This snippet picks up a bit later in the same scene, and lest you think things are settling down, let me offer assurance they aren’t quite what they seem. *grin*

“Go,” she said. “I’m fine.”

Nick hesitated. She sounded small. And hurt. And mad as hell.

He opened his mouth to apologize, but the threat in her eyes silenced him. Heart heavy, Nick cast a final look at DeadGuy’s body before taking off after Vincent.

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.

Kindle Fire HD #Giveaway (Kindle Fire or $199 Amazon GC / Paypal Cash, INT)

Kindle Fire HD Giveaway!

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Authors

Cascade Brides by Bonnie Blythe
Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba
The Return of the Dragon Riders by Kristian Alva
Prison Nation by Jenni Merritt
The Stone Guardian by Theresa McClinton
For What It’s Worth by Karey White
Hidden Heart by Camelia Miron Skiba
The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke
Shifting Pride by Laura Diamond
Fire Within (Guardian Witch #2) by Ally Shields
The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs
Kiss Me, I’m Irish by Bella Street
Legend Unleashed by M. Latimer-Ridley
Innovera Yakov- The Journey of a Thousand Eyes by Kia Garriques
The Gifted by Deborah Andreasen
Reflection by Kim Cresswell
Forbidden Temptation of a Vampire by Jodie B. Cooper
Family Magic by Patti Larsen
Fall of Sky City by S.M. Blooding
Blood Oath by T.L. Clarke
Grace Doll by Jennifer Laurens
A Tale of the Other Kind by Leandi Cameron
Alexander Drake by Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows
Owlet by Emma Michaels
Aura by Rebecca Talley

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).

Ends: 3/31/13 – YOU MUST CLICK HERE TO ENTER

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

Book Blast: “Dylan’s Song” by p.m. terrell (Tourwide #Giveaway)

Dylan’s Song

Dylan Maguire returns to his native Ireland with psychic spy Vicki Boyd. Their mission: to locate and extract a CIA Agent who disappeared in Dublin while on the trail of a known terrorist. But when Dylan receives word that his grandmother is dying, he is plunged into a past he thought he’d left behind forever. His mission and the dark secrets he’d sought to keep hidden begin to merge into an underworld that could cost him his life. He must now confront his past demons and the real reason he left Ireland—while Vicki harbors a secret of her own.

Suspense Magazine says, “p.m.terrell’s writing is powerfully written and masterfully suspenseful; you have to hang on for the ride of your life.” Midwest Book Review says the Black Swamp Mysteries series is “page-turning action, unforgettable characters, breathtaking descriptions and unexpected plot twists.” And syndicated reviewer Marcia Freespirit says the series is “riveting, spell-binding, sexy and intense!”

Excerpt

The bogs were no place to be during the witching hour.

Dylan had grown up with stories of the bogs at night. The ground percolated; it lived and it breathed. There had been many a time when he was harvesting peat in broad daylight that he’d heard a whisper at his ear or felt hot breath on his neck, only to find there was no one near. Now as he rode his horse in silence, he felt that presence tenfold; there were eyes watching them. The intermittent tuffs of heather swayed in the growing storm and he found himself watching them with narrowed eyes, waiting for the plants to morph into sinister creatures that claimed this land after the sun went down.

He knew there was a simple reason why animals were required in lieu of an all-terrain vehicle and he was glad Sam had taken this unique land into consideration when planning the mission. He could feel the hooves beneath him sinking into the spongy earth; a wheeled vehicle wouldn’t have stood a chance, especially as they ventured from the area farmed for its peat to one far less stable.

A mist began; a slow, fine spray that he knew well. One moment the air was still and dry and the next, as though they’d passed through a curtain, the air swirled around them, the moist haze further inhibiting their ability to see. It was said many a man lost his internal compass in the Irish mist; it taunted as it grew into monstrous shapes, turning the landscape into something foreign and active.

p.m. terrell

p.m.terrell is the award-winning, internationally acclaimed author of more than 16 books. Vicki’s Key, one of the first books in the Black Swamp Mysteries series, was one of five finalists in the 2012 International Book Awards (Mystery/Suspense) and 2012 USA Best Book Awards (Mystery/Suspense.) River Passage, an historical work based on her ancestor’s migration to Fort Nashborough in 1779-1780, won the 2010 Best Fiction & Drama Award. The Nashville (TN) Metropolitan Government Archives determined it to be so historically accurate that they entered the original manuscript into their Archives for future researchers and historians.

Prior to becoming a full-time author in 2002, terrell founded and operated two computer companies in the Washington, DC area. Her clients included the United States Secret Service, CIA, Department of Defense and federal and local law enforcement. Her specialty is in the areas of computer crime and computer intelligence. Her experience in these areas have greatly influenced her books’ plots.

She is the co-founder of The Book ‘Em Foundation, whose slogan is “Buy a Book and Stop a Crook” and whose mission is to raise awareness of the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. She founded Book ‘Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair, an annual event to raise money to increase literacy and reduce crime.

For more information on Book ‘Em North Carolina, visit www.bookemnc.org and www.bookemnc.blogspot.com.

p.m.terrell’s website is www.pmterrell.com and her blog is www.pmterrell.blogspot.com.

She can be found on Twitter @pmterrell

On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/author.p.m.terrell and

https://www.facebook.com/pages/pmterrell/129318810431554.

Tour-wide Giveaway

p.m. will be awarding a Celtic Key Necklace identical to the one Dylan gives to Vicki in Dylan’s Song to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

To enter, please leave a comment with your email address. For more tour dates, click here.

Thank you, and we look forward to your comments!

$50 Book Blast for “Matt Archer: Blade’s Edge” by Kendra C. Highley ($50 #Giveaway)

Matt Archer: Blade’s Edge

When Matt Archer was fourteen, he discovered monsters are real. As if that wasn’t enough to go on for a few decades, Matt also found out that he’d been chosen to hunt those monsters–with a sentient, supernatural knife. Now fifteen, Matt has spent the last year working with a clandestine military unit, trying to rid the world of monsters, demons and other vicious creatures, all while keeping it a secret from nearly everyone he knows back home in Billings.

Including his mom.

Add in a new girlfriend, family secrets, sibling drama and enough homework to sink an aircraft carrier, and Matt’s life has become more complicated than he ever imagined. Worse, the knife has developed some very definite opinions about Matt’s personal life and it interferes in his business whenever it wants. More and more, Matt’s coming to realize that sharing brain-space with a spirit kind of sucks.

When stories of decimated towns and hordes of zombies start pouring into the Pentagon from Afghanistan, Matt knows he’ll be called up soon. Between the new mission and the knife’s increasing control over his mind, Matt wonders if he’ll survive long enough to take his driver’s exam.

.

Review Quotes for Matt Archer: Blade’s Edge

“Blade’s Edge is an exciting continuation of the Matt Archer series. Kendra Highley did not fall victim to the sophomore funk. She has written an emotional and power story about Matt’s horrific journey to rid the world of monsters.” –Kinx’s Book Nook (Amazon)

“I enjoyed Matt Archer: Monster Hunter to the point I was picking it up every time I had spare moments (which are few in my home), but MA: Blade’s Edge has blown me away! Ms. Highley has crafted a story that comes to life with vivid images, exciting adventures, and thrilling mishaps that add a touch of humor (driving test, anyone?)” –Kelly C. (Amazon)

“”Matt Archer Blade’s Edge” more than delivers what a reader wants from a sequel. The tension and action are taken up a level, as are the mysteries and plot developments.

Best of all, you feel the time passing from book to book and see the characters really grow and change.” –Picky Reviewer (Amazon)

“The Matt Archer books are the best young adult books I’ve read since I was a young adult! Think Supernatural for a younger audience, but better. I’ll be ordering paper copies for my Favorites shelf. Not to be missed!” Sarah G. (Amazon)

Buy Links for Blade’s Edge:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords * iTunes

Matt Archer: Monster Hunter

Fourteen-year-old Matt Archer spends his days studying Algebra, hanging out with his best friend and crushing on the Goddess of Greenhill High, Ella Mitchell. To be honest, he thinks his life is pretty lame until he discovers something terrifying on a weekend camping trip at the local state park.

Monsters are real. And living in his backyard.

But that’s not the half of it. After Matt is forced to kill a strange creature to save his uncle, he finds out that the weird knife he took from his uncle’s bag has a secret, one that will change Matt’s life. The knife was designed with one purpose: to hunt monsters. And it’s chosen Matt as its wielder.

Now Matt’s part of a world he didn’t know existed, working with a covert military unit dedicated to eliminating walking nightmares. Faced with a prophecy about a looming dark war, Matt soon realizes his upcoming Algebra test is the least of his worries.

His new double life leaves Matt wondering which is tougher: hunting monsters or asking Ella Mitchell for a date?

Review quotes for Matt Archer: Monster Hunter:

“Terrific page turner; I stayed up half the night reading it, and now I can’t wait for the next installment.”  –Amelia Anne (Goodreads)

“The action is quick-paced, abundant and so much fun!!! I can’t get over just how awesome of a read this book is; I can’t wait for more!!!” –Danielle S. (Goodreads)

“I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun reading a book. The eponymous narrator is a very likable and believable hero, the world is rich and detailed….

It has been a long time since I was a teenager, but I’m pretty sure that this book would appeal to an audience of all ages.” — Misha B. (Goodreads)

“The action doesn’t stop. Seriously! I was up until after 1am because I couldn’t put it down!” –Riamachia (Amazon)

“It’s funny – I thought I was too old for YA stories, and then I realised that I was just looking for the right kind of stories to hold my interest. This is one of those. If you’re looking for vampires or angels or similar things that tend to make up YA novels at the moment, you won’t find that here – you will, however, find something a bit more awesome.” –Sweartoad (Amazon)

 
Buy Links for Matt Archer: Monster Hunter:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords * iTunes

Author Kendra C. Highley

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to two self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most important job. She believes chocolate is a basic human right, running a 10k is harder than it sounds, and that everyone should learn to drive a stick-shift. She loves monsters, vacations, baking and listening to bad electronica.

Twitter * Facebook 
Pinterest * Goodreads * Website

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash – CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Ends 3/2413

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

Lucky Leprechaun #Giveaway Hop March 15th – 22nd ($10 GC + ebook, INT)

Welcome to the Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop! The hop is hosted by I Am A Reader Not a Writer and co-hosted by Books Complete Me & Author Cindy Thomas, and with 150+ giveaways you’re sure to find something awesome to win. Let’s hope the luck starts right here!

The Giveaway

I am giving away a $10 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice) as well as the winner’s choice of any one of my ebooks to be delivered as a gift copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

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.) The only requirement for entry is to leave a comment,but I would also greatly appreciate if you’d click the Amazon “like” button for my new 99c release, LAST CALL, and/or my Amazon author page. (The like button isn’t always there. Amazon toys with us. *shakes fist at sky* Please know how much I appreciate your attempts, even if Amazon isn’t playing nicely.) If you enjoy my blog and want to be the first to learn of new giveaways and releases, consider following me (email box at the top of the sidebar) and liking me on facebook (“like” box a bit further down in the sidebar).

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

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

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE BLOG HOP!

J.M. Stewart Dishes on “Her Knight in Black Leather”

I became acquainted with author J.M. Stewart through Six Sentence Sunday (turned WeWriWa-slash-Sunday-Snippets) and I just love her voice. If you want to check out some awesome short excerpts from today’s featured book, click here to go to her blog for the latest entries … but NOT YET! We have awesome interview wordage, so let’s get to it!

Welcome, Joanne! HER NIGHT IN BLACK LEATHER has such a yummy premise—it’s sexy and FULL of plot! Can you introduce readers to your characters and the conflict drawing them together?

Thanks for having me! The story is set in a small (fictional) town on the Oregon Coast. Cat Edwards is a shy, quiet, bookworm type who’s used to hiding in the shadows and playing the part of the wallflower. She’s been dragged to the local pub on a Friday night by her best friend in an effort to get over a broken heart. She longs to be someone else for the night. Not used to being in places like that, Cat is out of her element. She gets in over her head when a drunk won’t take no for an answer. She’s “rescued” by dark mysterious stranger wearing a black leather jacket and mischievous grin that proves exactly what she needs.

Michael Brant has come home to settle his debts. Haunted by a past he can’t change, he’s come to make things right. His first night in town, he’s captured by a damsel in distress with bright green eyes. Cat’s temptation is made all the more alluring when he realizes she has no idea who he is. He can’t resist spending a single night in her arms. With her, he’s only a man, disconnected from his family’s name and the past that haunts him here.

They find freedom in each other, but the next morning, the town erupts with news of Michael’s return. Pictures of them keep ending up in the paper and with every set that appears, Cat’s safety is threatened. Someone is threatening her life and the life of her family. Michael is desperate to keep history from repeating itself, and offers her his family’s name in order to keep her safe. But the lie spirals out of control as they find themselves caught up in the charade.

I absolutely love how many layers your plot holds, and the intrigue … wow! How did you merge the elements of romance and danger? Is one stronger than the other, or is there a good mix throughout?

This one’s not quite a suspense. More a romance with suspense elements, so the romance is definitely stronger than the danger. How did I merge them? I have to laugh. I don’t plot very well. It’s the bane of my existence. lol I had a lot of help with this one. This one had a few rewrites, between my critique partners and my agent and a set of requested revisions (which, ultimately got turned down), that all helped solidify the plot.

I’m guessing with all *that* work, the release must have been incredible. (Which is not supposed to sound like a sex thing, but it sort of does anyway, lol.) What might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters of Her Knight in Black Leather?

My inspiration for Michael is my husband. He’s very much a rebel, was a rebellious teen. Some of Michael’s responses in the book (like the excerpt below) make me laugh, because they’re so familiar to me. Yup. I married a reformed bad boy.

Hopefully he didn’t reform *too* much, LOL! Let’s have some fun with Her Knight in Black Leather. What’s the first sentence?

“Baby, you must be exhausted.”

I can’t help wondering if that’s a pickup line. *grin* What’s your favorite line in the book?

The rebel in him flared to life like an old, familiar friend.

OMG, that’s positively fantastic! Such great characterization in so few words. How about an excerpt … three sentences long! Yep, that’s it. Three!

These come a few sentences after the line in the previous question:

Before he could stop himself, he cupped her face in his palms and seized her mouth. He allowed himself a moment to revel in the sweetness of her lips, the way they melted beneath his own as her body leaned ever so subtly into his, then released her.

“Let ’em object to that indiscretion.”

WOW. I found myself leaning in for that one, and the last line made me swoon. Which scene of Her Knight in Black Leather was most difficult for you to write? Why?

The fight scene with the bad guy at the end. I don’t do action sequences like that very well and it required several re-writes to get it to sound right. Those of you who write actual suspense have my utmost respect. The level of detail you need to write one is amazing and I don’t do it well.

LOL! I struggle with that myself. *sighs and lols* Which scene would you most like to experience for yourself? From whose POV?

Oh geez. Any scene that involves being close to Michael. Okay, seriously? The opening scene, where Michael comes to Cat’s rescue in the pub. I would love to see Michael from Cat’s POV at that moment, when she sees him for the first time.

You’re doing a great job of selling your book. I SO want to read that scene now, lol! What inspired the title of Her Knight in Black Leather?

I stink at coming up with titles. Some people seem to have a knack for them and I don’t have it. So I was sitting there thinking about what the core of the story was about when that phrase, “Knight in shining armor” popped into my head. It fits what Michael is for Cat, so I took the phrase and twisted it around. Michael doesn’t wear armor, but he does wear a black leather jacket.

I think it’s absolutely perfect! And before we take a closer look at that utter dose of perfection, can you tell us what you’re working on now?  

I’m currently working on an older woman/younger man story. A widowed Air Force wife gets set up on a blind date by her best friend with a co-worker. A guy who happens to be a local celebrity. He’s a chef, he’s rich and gorgeous…and ten years younger. I’m still figuring out the plot. In fact, it’s currently doing my head in. lol

My agent and I are also currently getting a small two book series ready to start sending to publishers. The series is entitled Taking Chances, and it revolves around a small family. The first book was previously published by The Wild Rose Press. I revised and re-edited the book and gave it a new title, to play off the second book. The second book involves the sister of the hero from the first.

Her Knight in Black Leather

Cat Edwards has spent her life playing the wallflower in an effort to escape the repressive weight of her mother’s tarnished name. Dragged to a bar by her best friend in an effort to forget a broken heart, the shy bookworm is determined to be someone else for the night, but quickly gets in over her head. She discovers chivalry isn’t dead after all when a mysterious stranger comes to her rescue. He’s wearing black leather and a mischievous smile that promises to be exactly what she needs.

When his terminally ill father suffers a setback, Michael Brant returns to the town he swore ten years ago he’d never return to. He’s come back this time determined to make peace with the past, but being home brings up memories he doesn’t want to remember anymore. His first night in town, he’s captured by a damsel in distress. Cat’s beauty is made all the more alluring when he realizes she has no idea who he is. He can’t resist spending a single night in her arms. With her, he’s only a man, disconnected from his family’s name and the past that haunts him here.

As the town erupts with the news of his return, Michael’s dark past comes back to haunt him, putting Cat in danger. Someone is threatening her life and the life of her family. Desperate to keep history from repeating itself, Michael offers her his family’s name in order to keep her safe. When the lie spirals beyond their control, can they stop their hearts from becoming entangled as well?

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J.M. Stewart

J.M. Stewart writes sweet and heartwarming contemporary romance with a touch of passion. She’s a wife, a mother, a spiritualist, and lover of puppies, and happily addicted to coffee and chocolate. She lives in the Great Rainy Northwest with her husband of sixteen years and their two sons. She’s a hopeless romantic who believe everybody should have their happily-ever-after and has been devouring romance novels for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her passion.

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Joanne, I have to say the book looks awesome. I’m so glad you stopped by to share it with us! Readers, thanks for being here. If you have a moment, check out those short excerpts on Joanne’s blog. You’re going to love them! 

$100 Book Blast: To Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy World by Emily White ($100 #Giveaway)

To Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy World

10 Tales of Steampunk Silliness and Spookery

In the cozy seaside village of Steamville, New Hampshire, an unfaithful zombie, out of control werebots, succubi in corsets, and more wreak havoc in this short story collection from the author of Elemental.

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“Well written and very fast paced. You won’t get bored or find your mind wandering. I’d love to see a sequel to this collection and see what happens next. I give this book five out of five donuts.”

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About Author Emily White

Emily White lives in NY, wedged between two of the Great Lakes and a few feet of snow and ice. She’s spent most of her life running away from the cold, and even spent a year in Iraq, but now contents herself with writing her characters into warm, exotic places in faraway galaxies. When not tapping away at her computer keys, she can be found reading, reading, and reading some more. And when she’s not doing that, she’s usually playing video games with her husband, peek-a-boo with her kids, or walking through her garden, wondering why the bugs insist on eating all her vegetables.

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$50 Book Blast: Isabella and Penelope by Maggie Grinnell ($50 #Giveaway)

Isabella and Penelope by Maggie Grinnell

Isabella is a young girl who loses her father in a tragic accident. She has such a close connection with her dad that she decided not to speak for 2 years. Then she encounters Penelope, a pink caterpillar who changes her life forever.

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Author Maggie Grinnell

I have been writing since 1992. I am a children’s author who writes poetry and also the co editor of the children’s newsletter, Kite Tales. Writing is a part of me. Writing is my heart and soul.

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