Cindy C. Bennett's Blog, page 29

Win a Kindle Fire

 Just in time for the HOLIDAYS - Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)   This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway
The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)
  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)
   
  Holiday Kindle Fire Giveaway #1 Sponsors:
I Am A Reader, Not A WriterFeed Your ReaderAllergic to Life by Kathryn Chastain Treat The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old GirlLiving, Learning, and Loving LifeConfessions of a Librarian in Training...Bea's Book NookAuthor Kary RaderAuthor Jennie SherwinA Book Lover's RetreatThese are but ShadowsTressa's Wishful EndingsAuthor Lia FairchildAuthor Helen SmithBuku-Buku DidiTruth Seekers Dare to EnterThe Reporter and the GirlAuthor Terah EdunYoung Adult Book DealsDiva BooknerdJessica Loves BooksHomebound UnlimitedAuthor L.A. MatthiesAuthor Janeal FalorLike a Broken VesselAuthor Bonnie BlytheAuthor Bella StreetCandlelight ReadsAuthor Louise CaiolaKelly's Lucky YouAuthor Elizabeth IsaacsWord to DreamsKimber Leigh WritesAuthor Wendi Sotis~Owl Always Be Reading~Fairie Chick's Fantasy Book ReaderAuthor Talia JagerMichaelSciFanAuthor Charlene A. WilsonEvery Free Chance Book ReviewsMyLadyWeb: Women's History and Women AuthorsDarkmotive's Books and MoreKetch's Book NookBlogging the BelovedBook Lover's LifeKelly P's BlogFae BooksLori's Reading CornerAuthor Kay KenyonA Bookish EscapeChristine's Blog  Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Fire Giveaway: http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups   Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7". Ends 12/18/13 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 participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Even More Great Blogs

Okay, this is how scrambled my brains are these days. I wrote this post a few days ago, but was waiting to update the links on the blogs to post it - and then completely forgot to post it. So some of the blogs from the past couple of days of the tour aren't on here, but will be on the post after tomorrow.


As you know, A Fantasy Christmas is currently on tour. I posted the other day about some of the early blogs on the tour (you can see them here). Today I want to tout some more of these amazing people who have given of their time, and blog space, to help us out.

We had a few bloggers who reviewed the book. I wish I could convey how very much we love an appreciate our reviewers. Seriously, without them, any author's books are dead in the water. Okay, not any author (as proven by JK Rowling's book that did nothing until it came out that it was her book under a pen name, but for most authors). So here are some people who did us a solid and reviewed the book, as well as some of what they had to say.

Amanda at Wicca Witch 4 Books, who's always an amazing supporter, had this to say:

Wonderfully Done! Cindy, Sherry and Stephanie blew me away with these three short Christmas stories. They were beautiful, inspiring and deeply romantic!

I have read Cindy and Sherry's work before and I am a BIG fan of them both! I was equally in love with Stephanie's story and style of writing and would definitely would like to read more from her in the future.

masterful work ladies! I couldn't put the book down! the stories were amazing! if you haven't read this wonderful piece of work it should defiantly be on your TBR list as it is a for sure read for the holiday season! 

You can read the rest of her review here.

Heidi from LDS and Lovin' It said:

A delightful collection of clean, fantasy-related romance, A Fantasy Christmas provided a great deal of enjoyment for me.  Not only are the stories well-written, but the characters are unique and made me smile. With plenty of magic and mayhem, the authors sent me on a fun journey through love and adventure.  A series of stories that I can highly recommend.  I only wish they had been a little longer so I could have stayed with the characters just a bit more.

You can read her 5-flower I Loved It review here.

Sherry Gammon, who happens to be one of the amazing authors of this book, ran a guest post written by your truly on her blog titled "Christmas Fantasies Dancing in Our Heads".  

Other blogs who allowed us to stop by and say hi are:

 Bookworm Lisa, who planned to do a review but due to family emergencies didn't have time. We're very grateful she did take the time to write a post in spite of her many stresses.

Author Anna del C Dye

Author Shantal Sessions

You can see who else is coming up on the tour here.

Pick up your own copy of the book today at these online retailers:

Nominated!

This week I found out that my book, Rapunzel Untangled, has been nominated for TWO awards! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.
[image error]
The first award it's been nominated for is a Whitney Award. To be nominated for this one, you have to have your book nominated at least 5 times by 5 different people. So while I was not told who nominated it, I'm very grateful to those who did.


The second award is a Cybils Award. I'm not exactly sure how the nomination process for this award works, but I suspect it was nominated by my publisher, Sweetwater Books, which is very cool of them to nominate my book out of all their books.

If you're curious about Rapunzel Untangled, you can read the blurb below.

A Girl Trapped in a MansionA Mysterious Old WomanThe Boy Who Will Change Everything
Fab Fane Fannigan: Are you saying you live at GOTHEL MANSION???  RG: My mother calls it Gothel Manor, so maybe that’s different? Fab Fane Flannigan: No, Rapunzel, there’s only one that I know of. It has to be the same. So you live in the tower? RG: Uh, the tower? I don’t know. Is it a tower? Fab Fane Flannigan: Yes, it is. I know where it is. Rapunzel, promise me one thing.RG: Okay. Fab Fane Flannigan: Don’t Google your house.　Rapunzel is not your average teenager. For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction.
But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is.
Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairytale.
Buy your copy today:

Gratitude Giveaway Hop

Each year I participate in the annual Gratitude Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer because I have an abundance of gratitude for all of my readers, followers, co-authors, and bloggers. Without you all, I would just be having a fun hobby in my writing. They say it takes a village to raise a child, I say it also takes a village to raise a book. From critique groups, to reviewers and bloggers who help advertise, other authors who give helpful advice, and ultimately you, my readers, who make it possible for me to do what I do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

In gratitude I'd like to give you a copy of my newest release, A Fantasy Christmas as well as a $10 Amazon gift card for you to spend how you'd like. This is a trilogy of fantasy Christmas novellas by myself, Sherry Gammon, and Stephanie Fowers. We're currently on virtual tour with the book. You can see the participating blogs here. All you have to do is follow me by either GFC or email and sign in to the Rafflecopter to say you did. Then click on the other links at the bottom for other gratitude giveaways.
What do Witches, Elves, and Greek Gods (Oh My) have in common? They are part of the romantic Christmas anthology,  AFantasy Christmas , written by Cindy C Bennett, Stephanie Fowers, and Sherry Gammon

Halfling by Cindy C Bennett
Banished from the South Pole, Kara tries to carve out a new life among the elves of the North. It’s not easy with a secret to protect—a secret she's cursed with by the unusual circumstances of her heritage: half-elf, half-fairy. In the North, she’s assigned to work with Seb on a special project. He's the most gorgeous elf she’s ever seen - and the orneriest. 

As if being banished wasn’t punishment enough. 

Seb introduces her to Trystin, a fairy from the nearby fairy forest. Trystin discerns her secret right away and promises to teach her how to use the powers given to her by the very thing she’s fighting to keep hidden.


Aphrodite by Stehanie Fowers
Nothing is simple for Aphrodite’s daughter, especially love. 
Scorned by society in regency England, Affry longs for romance. Upon encountering a dashing nobleman at her aunty's Christmas' ball, Affry gets caught in a lovely intrigue with disastrous results. Worse, she wins the interest of the gods. 

Now the furies of the underworld and Hades himself are after her. When all is fair in war,  Affry must use love as her weapon—but only for the one who’s stolen her heart.Loving Marigold by Sherry Gammon

Young Marigold Yarrow has a secret. She’s also in love with Jack Mahoney. In the middle of her ninth grade year, Jack's family up and moves to Port Fare, New York, leaving the small town of Sugar Maple, West Virginia - and Marigold - far behind.
Nine years later Jack and Marigold meet again. They join forces to weed out the shady Abbott boys. The unscrupulous brothers are illegally selling moonshine near her home on Sugar Maple Ridge. And they'll do anything to get Marigold to leave the ridge. Anything.
Pick up your own copy today at:



  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Awesome Blogs

As most of you know, A Fantasy Christmas, the fantasy trilogy I wrote with Sherry Gammon and Stephanie Fowers, is on tour. For the past few days we've had some fantastic blog stops and a great review.

Author Cami Checketts was kind of enough to read and review the book. You can read the entire review here. Here's some of what she had to say:

"I thoroughly enjoyed each of these short romances and their Christmas connection . . . My recommendation would be to buy yourself a little Christmas present and download A Fantasy Christmas."

I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Amie Borst were both kind enough to let us take up space with guest posts. On I Am A Reader Not A Writer, we talked about how each of us got started writing. On Amie's blog Sherry gives some ideas on how to overcome writers block - and who couldn't use that advice?

Other blogs who helped spotlight the book are: Black Words White Pages, Author Wendy Knight, and Author Stephanie Connelley Worlton. We want to thank all of the bloggers who have participated.


I also wanted to mention that yesterday we had a launch party on Facebook, and what a blast that was! I hosted the first hour, Stephanie hosted the second hour, and Sherry hosted the final hour. We played a bunch of games and gave away 28 prizes. We want to thank everyone who participated and who helped make the event so much fun!

Here's some info about A Fantasy Christmas and links to where you can pick up your copy today!


What do Witches, Elves, and Greek Gods (Oh My) have in common? They are part of the romantic Christmas anthology, A Fantasy Christmas, written by Cindy C Bennett, Stephanie Fowers, and Sherry Gammon
Halfling by Cindy C Bennett Banished from the South Pole, Kara tries to carve out a new life among the elves of the North. It’s not easy with a secret to protect—a secret she's cursed with by the unusual circumstances of her heritage: half-elf, half-fairy. In the North, she’s assigned to work with Seb on a special project. He's the most gorgeous elf she’s ever seen - and the orneriest. As if being banished wasn’t punishment enough. Seb introduces her to Trystin, a fairy from the nearby fairy forest. Trystin discerns her secret right away and promises to teach her how to use the powers given to her by the very thing she’s fighting to keep hidden.
Aphrodite  by Stehanie Fowers Nothing is simple for Aphrodite’s daughter, especially love. Scorned by society in regency England, Affry longs for romance. Upon encountering a dashing nobleman at her aunty's Christmas' ball, Affry gets caught in a lovely intrigue with disastrous results. Worse, she wins the interest of the gods. Now the furies of the underworld and Hades himself are after her. When all is fair in war,  Affry must use love as her weapon—but only for the one who’s stolen her heart.
Loving Marigold  by Sherry Gammon Young Marigold Yarrow has a secret. She’s also in love with Jack Mahoney. In the middle of her ninth grade year, Jack's family up and moves to Port Fare, New York, leaving the small town of Sugar Maple, West Virginia - and Marigold - far behind.Nine years later Jack and Marigold meet again. They join forces to weed out the shady Abbott boys. The unscrupulous brothers are illegally selling moonshine near her home on Sugar Maple Ridge. And they'll do anything to get Marigold to leave the ridge. Anything.
This time it may be magic that tears Jack and Marigold apart.
Buy your copy now at:

Halfling Excerpt

Read this excerpt from Halfling, then go to the FB Launch Party for A Fantasy Christmas on Facebook and answer the question there for a chance to win a prize!
Chapter Six
Kara stripped her jacket off and spread her wings wide. She rolled her shoulders, the movement sending a relaxing shiver across her wings, through each feather. She stood inside her cottage, afraid of going to the cliff. Though she’d not found anyone in the bushes on her last flight, she still couldn’t shake the feeling of having been watched. The thought terrified her.She glanced up at the ceiling, wondering if it would be all that difficult to just do a little flutter around the room when a knock sounded on the door. She jerked, instinctively pulling her wings in, grimacing against the pain of the movement. She quickly grabbed a sweater and pulled it on, her mind immediately panicked at the thought that someone might see through a slit in the curtains, in spite of the fact that she’d secured them tightly.She took a deep, calming breath and moved to open the door, pulling it only far enough to peek out. She nearly slammed it when she saw who stood on the other side. Seb. Instead she simply stared at him dumbly. Long moments passed before he lifted one brow sardonically.“I’m not going to bite you.” Pause. “Unless you want me to.”Kara’s jaw dropped then snapped shut. “Do you always have to be such a—” She clamped her mouth shut. Why did he prod her to such meanness?“I’m kidding,” he said. “I came to see if you wanted to go for a walk.”“Why?” she blurted.“Don’t worry; it’s business.” Remoteness shuttered his face as he stared at the doorframe, not meeting her eyes. “I have some ideas I want to go over with you.”“Oh. Um.” She glanced back into her cottage, as if the answer to his question could be found there.“Do . . . do you have someone there?” he asked, taking a step back. “I’ll just talk to you tomorrow, then.”“No,” she said quickly, holding a hand toward him as if she could stop him with the gesture. Oddly, he sounded upset, which was reason enough to let him go. Honestly, she preferred to get outside for a while, even if it was with such a grump. “Hold on, just let me grab my coat.” She came back as she pulled it on. “Let’s go.”He shoved his hands in his pockets as they walked past his sled in the road. Was she so wrapped up in stretching her wings that she hadn’t heard him drive up? Not good. What if he’d just opened her door? It would be highly unusual for an elf to be so rude, but if anyone would, Seb would.“So?” she prompted.The snow crunched lightly beneath their feet, glistening in the moonshine. “I’ve been thinking about the logistics of the floor,” he said. “In order for it to have the lighting we want, we need to suspend it. That means building it a little higher off the ground than we planned.”They talked back and forth about how it would work. Seb thought they’d need an appointment with the engineer to finalize the plans once they decided on the flooring. They’d need to meet with an engineer at each part of the building process to make sure they could proceed as they wanted. Kara didn’t understand why Seb needed to discuss this with her. It wasn’t anything new that she didn’t already know. “Was there something else?” she asked after they walked in silence for a few minutes.Seb stopped short and she faced him. The moon lit Seb from behind, throwing a halo around his dark hair. Even in the shadow, his blue eyes stood out, two sapphire jewels glowing in the night. He was tall, even for an elf, something she knew from the moment she’d first seen him. Now, standing in front of him in the moon’s reflective light, she realized just how much taller he was. Not just taller, but broader, too, in a very real, very tangible way. She’d certainly been attracted to other elves before, in the South, in spite of the fact that she knew nothing real could ever happen with any of them. But never before had she felt the gut-deep pull she felt to Seb. She only wished he weren’t so dang gorgeous! He shuffled the snow around with one foot, dropping his eyes. “I just . . . we have to work together, and spend a lot of time together, so I thought . . . sometimes, the way you look at me…” He looked up at her. “Kind of like you’re looking at me now.” She blinked and tried to adopt a completely neutral expression. She had a suspicion she failed miserably. “There can’t be . . . I’m not interested in . . . getting involved. . .”As his words slowly sank into her psyche, she realized what he was saying—or rather, trying to say. She bristled, her wings quivering against her back. She scoffed—loudly. His eyes widened at the sound. Even in the shadows, it was clear.“Are you kidding?” She laughed, not an ounce of humor in it. “You think I’m . . .? Please!” She pulled away, walking back toward her cottage. She might be in absolutely no position to even consider someone romantically, but for him to basically tell her no possible way . . . it hurt.Kara heard his quick footsteps as he jogged to catch up. “Look, I’m sorry if it sounds—”She whirled on him. “It sounds ridiculous.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. His very solid chest. She withdrew her hand as if burned. “Guess you can’t imagine any girl who wouldn’t just be falling all over herself for you, huh?”She swung away again, stalking through the snow. This time he kept pace with her.“If I misread your looks, I’m sorry. It’s just that you don’t look at other—”“And you know me well enough to know how I look at other people?” she half-yelled, not looking his way.“You don’t look at Blue that way, even when he’s so clearly hitting on you.”“Look at him like . . .” She huffed, mainly because she knew he spoke the truth, and embarrassment flooded her. She should have known she was being too obvious in her admiration for his beauty. That’s all she admired, and though it was blinding at times, she should have kept her thoughts from her face. Sometimes she hated that the only thing she seemed capable of hiding was her cursed wings.“I’m sorry.” He sounded anything but. “I don’t mean to offend. I just wanted to make sure we were clear . . .”Kara’s anger drained. He was right. She hated that he was right, but that didn’t change the fact that he was. He might be a jerk sometimes, but at least he was honest. That was something she could admire. Besides his face. And those eyes. And his broad shoulders. And muscular arms. She shook her head and her steps slowed until they were walking a normal pace. They walked in silence until her cottage came into view.“Kara,” he said. “I’m—”“Please,” she said, holding a hand up to stop his words, not looking his way. “Don’t apologize again. It doesn’t suit you.” Then realizing her rudeness, she gritted her teeth. “That was uncalled for. Sorry. It doesn’t matter. You were only saying what you thought.”“But, I—”“I’ll see you tomorrow.” She jogged the last little bit to her cottage, ducked inside and slammed the door. Slumped against the door, she blinked and a rogue tear rolled down her cheek. Silently cursing her stupid girly-ness, she pushed away from the door. When she heard his sled start up, she stripped off her coat and threw it angrily to the floor.

Sanctuary Spotlight

Tour Schedule
  Sanctuary by Pauline Creeden “Left Behind for the Hunger Games Generation” In a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meets The Walking Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what’s left of her family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker, and half what it used to be. Then they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth’s population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not find it…When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie find the strength she needs to keep going?  

Amazon * Barnes & Noble 

  Praise for Sanctuary“Pauline Creeden managed to mix more genres into one book than I could possibly imagine. The overall concept, aliens attacking the earth, is straight out of Science Fiction, but then you throw in a few zombies and post-apocalyptic fiction with how the dead/sick humans are acting. Overall, the entire story was charged with the adrenaline and thrills of a suspense/thriller novel, but the mood was terrifyingly eerie like a Horror story. There was almost too much sensory information for my primitive human brain to handle. Still, all of these genres combined made for one unique and fascinating story. This kind of book is of the same flavor as The Hunger Games with its originality, which I really appreciated.” - Katelyn Hensel for Readers' Favorite

“Sanctuary is a fast-paced Christian fantasy thriller that is original and quite entertaining. The story revolves around Jennie and her family, Pastor Billy and his wife, and two brothers who are polar opposites of each other. Each chapter is presented in the point of view of Jennie, Brad or Hugh (the brothers), which gives Pauline Creeden's Sanctuary, a multidimensional feel. The three different story-lines merge into a full-fledged fantasy/horror novel that never sags or lets up on the action. While there are Christian themes present in Sanctuary, and Jennie's faith is an important part of who she is, I, a non-Christian, did not feel I was being preached to or proselytized. I recommend Pauline Creeden's Sanctuary -- it's well-written and a lot of fun to read.” – Jack Magnus for Readers Favorite  

Book Trailer  
 

  Author Pauline Creeden In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long. Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. Armored Hearts, her joint effort with author Melissa Turner Lee, has been a #1 Bestseller in Christian Fantasy and been awarded the Crowned Heart for Excellence by InDtale Magazine. Her debut novel, Sanctuary has already been nominated for two awards in YA Science Fiction. One of Pauline's short stories has won the CCW Short Story contest. Other short stories have been published in Fear & Trembling Magazine, Obsidian River and Avenir Eclectia. An urban fantasy short will appear in The Book of Sylvari: An Anthology of Elves from Port Yonder Press, and a vampire short will appear in Monsters! from Diminished Media Group.  

Website * Twitter * Goodreads * Pinterest * Facebook
Blog Tour Giveaway$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/30/13 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 authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Why on earth did I write a Christian novel that has both aliens and zombies in it?
When I was a teen/young adult and my faith was wavering at best, there were several movies out with the likely design to shake faith even more. End of the world movies were in their hay day. Alien invasion was another big one. And I couldn’t help but wonder. If something like this actually happened, would anyone be able to maintain their faith?
And now today, Zombies are on the rise.
Could aliens be reconciled with the Bible? Zombies? This is the purpose of Sanctuary.
Because of its poetic nature, the book of Revelation lends itself to a plethora of interpretation. I am not saying that my book is the only true possibility, but it could be one. Could not demons be misinterpreted as alien life forms? Might not Satan use this mirage to his advantage to explain the bitter water or the blotting out of the sun, moon, and stars?  And then there’s Revelation 9:6 - "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."
Zombies?
If anyone reading this book at least opens themselves up to the fact that yes, a biblical interpretation could resolve the problems between faith and an apocalyptic reality, then Sanctuary has completed its purpose.
EXCERPT:
When Jennie reached the back door, she saw them. Four large dog-like creatures with pinched faces like bulldogs and lion-like manes. They snarled, and one of them leapt at the window on the top half of the door when it saw her. Jennie jumped back and fell hard on the cold tile floor. The bottle of painkiller bounced across the kitchen tiles. The creature slammed against the window a second time, cracking it. She blinked hard. Her heart sunk, and the hairs on her arms stood on end. A horrendous gargling howl rent the air, causing a shiver down her spine. She held her breath and waited for the creature to slam into the door again.“What on earth?” she whispered to herself.When the third attempt never came, she scrambled toward the door. Blinking hard, she used the door knob to help herself stand. Out the cracked window, her mother was still out of sight, but the last of the dogs headed across the field behind her backyard.“MOM?” Jennie called out.The rumbling faded, and the vibrations in her chest receded with the dogs. She pulled open the door and rushed onto their back deck. “Mom, where are you?”When she reached the banister, she looked over the side. Her mom lay sprawled with one hand on the lattice. Blood gushed from Mom’s leg and her opposite arm. Jennie’s ears rang and flooded with every beat of her heart.Jennie didn’t know how she got to the second floor of her house, but she found herself shaking her sleeping father. How had he slept through the rumbling? “Outside, it’s Mom…”Her father leapt from the bed. Mickey, her little brother, lay asleep and undisturbed. Dad ran down the stairs and outside in his flannel pajama bottoms and white t-shirt. He scooped Mom up to his chest and carried her inside. Blood stained his shirt in crimson.“Jennie, call 911!”  Her father had said it at least three times before it finally registered in her brain.She pulled the cell phone from her pocket, but it refused to connect. With a groan, she grabbed the cordless from the wall receiver, glad her heart stopped pounding in her head so she could hear.“All operators are busy at this time,” a mechanical voice deadpanned, “Please stay on the line, and the next available operator will take your call.”“They have me on hold, Dad. Should I hang up and try again?” She held the phone in both hands away from her face.“No, just stay on the line.” Her father lifted the shredded jeans from Mom’s leg. “It looks like a shark bite. What on earth happened?”Jennie took in the damage through tear-filled eyes. A huge chunk was taken from her mother’s calf, exposing the fibrous tendons that covered the bone in her leg. A bloodstain grew on the beige couch. Was she going to die? Panic rose up.“What happened, Jennie?”“I...I...They looked like lions, or dogs, or something. The rumbling shook the whole house…I tried to go outside to get Mom, but—” A sob blocked her throat.Her father grabbed a throw pillow and held it against the leg. Mom’s exposed forearm laid across her chest in much the same condition as her calf.“Grab me the duct tape.”Jennie suddenly remembered the phone, put it back to her ear, and headed to the hall closet. She reached for the shelf above the jackets and grabbed the junk basket next to the toolbox.“Please stay on the line. An operator will be with you shortly.”She shoved the phone in the crook of her neck and fished through the box.  Half the contents dropped around her feet. Who cares? When her fingers wrapped around the silver duct tape, a short-lived relief sent prickles down her arms. But the urgency gripped her chest in less than a heart beat, and she threw the junk basket on the ground with the rest of the items.“Hurry, Jennie!” her father called from the living room. “And turn on the TV. Maybe they’ll have something about what’s going on.”She handed her father the tape and turned toward the TV. The mechanical voice on the phone came through again, followed by more easy listening.When she clicked on the TV, the shouting and wailing began before the picture warmed up on the screen. A sideways picture of New York City broke through, with the shaky voice of the newscaster voicing over.“What we are watching now – I can’t believe it – is live footage of Times Square,” the newscaster’s voice paused for a deep breath. “We’ve lost our man on the scene and his camera man to what appears to be some kind of new alien creature. Just a short half-hour ago, the doors to the ship that hovered above Central Park opened and these dog-like creatures flooded out.”Jennie couldn’t pull her eyes from the screen. She straightened and dropped the phone on the hardwood. The battery popped out and skidded across the floor.

A Fantasy Christmas

 What do Witches, Elves, and Greek Gods (Oh My) have in common? They are part of the romantic Christmas anthology, A Fantasy Christmas, written by moi, Cindy C Bennett, along with two amazing authors: Stephanie Fowers and Sherry Gammon. I have to admit, this was a really fun book to do. Not only did I have a great time writing about my elves (think Legolas, not garden gnome) but I had a great time reading Sherry and Stephanie's stories. They're all fantasy, but they're also completely different stories! I can't wait to hear what people think of them.

We're kicking off the blog tour tomorrow until the 22nd, and on Tuesday the 12th we're having a Facebook Launch Party where you'll have lots of chances to win some great prizes. Each of the three of us will be hosting for one of the hours, so be sure to stop by anytime and enter to win, or even just to say hi. You can find that event here.



Halfling by Cindy C Bennett

(Author of Geek Girl, Heart on a Chain, Enchanted Fairytales, Rapunzel Untangled, and more)
Banished from the South Pole, Kara tries to carve out a new life among the elves of the North. It’s not easy with a secret to protect—a secret she's cursed with by the unusual circumstances of her heritage: half-elf, half-fairy. In the North, she’s assigned to work with Seb on a special project. He's the most gorgeous elf she’s ever seen - and the orneriest. 

As if being banished wasn’t punishment enough. 

Seb introduces her to Trystin, a fairy from the nearby fairy forest. Trystin discerns her secret right away and promises to teach her how to use the powers given to her by the very thing she’s fighting to keep hidden.

Check out Cindy C Bennett's web page for more information on her.

Aphrodite  by Stephanie Fowers

(Author of  the Twisted Tales Series, Meet your Match, Prank Wars, and more)
Nothing is simple for Aphrodite’s daughter, especially love. Scorned by society in regency England, Affry longs for romance. Upon encountering a dashing nobleman at her aunty's Christmas' ball, Affry gets caught in a lovely intrigue with disastrous results. Worse, she wins the interest of the gods. 

Now the furies of the underworld and Hades himself are after her. When all is fair in war,  Affry must use love as her weapon—but only for the one who’s stolen her heart. 

Check out Stephanie Fowers' web page for more information on her.



Loving Marigold  by Sherry Gammon

Author of Unlovable, Unbelievable, Not So Easy and more)


Young Marigold Yarrow has a secret - and it's not just that she's in love with Jack Mahoney. In the middle of her ninth grade year, Jack's family up and moves to Port Fare, New York, leaving the small town of Sugar Maple, West Virginia - and Marigold - far behind.
Nine years later Jack and Marigold meet again. They join forces to weed out the shady Abbott boys. The unscrupulous brothers are illegally selling moonshine near her home on Sugar Maple Ridge. And they'll do anything to get Marigold to leave the ridge. Anything. This time it may be magic that tears Jack and Marigold apart.
Check out  Sherry Gammon's web page for more information on her.

Purchase A Fantasy Christmas-Click on links: Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

A Fantasy Christmas blog
Facebook


Check out the blogs participating in the blog tour:

Nov 11th- I Am a Reader (Review) and Cami Checketts (Review)Nov 12th- Jenny Bynum and Wendy KnightNov 13th Stephanie Worlton (Review) and Amie Borst Nov 14th Juli Caldwell and Anna del C. DyeNov 15th Amanda Masters (Review) and Lisa Faber Nov 18thMindy Janicke (Review) and Shantal Sessions Nov 19thKirsty Vizard (Review) and Heidi Grange (Review)Nov 20th Aimee Brown (Review) and Camelia Skiba (Review)Nov 21stShauna Wheelwright (Review) and Christy DorrityNov 22nd Lindzee Armstrong and Mindy Holt 

Want to Win a Kindle Fire HDX?

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".
All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" GiveawayThe winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)


  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

 
  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

 
  NOVEMBER SPONSORS
I Am A Reader, Not A WriterFeed Your ReaderRipple Effect Romance SeriesDark Motive's Books & MoreFae BooksAuthor Marianne MoreaBuku-Buku DidiAuthor Camelia Miron SkibaAuthor Stacy ClaflinPatchwork PressAuthor Louise CaiolaAuthor Bella StreetAuthor Bonnie BlytheAuthor Julia CraneThe (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old GirlAuthor Kim CresswellA Bookish EscapeAuthor Talia JagerMother Daughter Book ReviewsFiction DreamsBook Angel BooktopiaKelly's Lucky YouAuthor Roxanne CrouseAuthor Rachelle ChristensenAuthor Jennifer LaurensHardback Book HottiesLori's Reading CornerAuthor Misty MoncurMyLadyWeb: Women's History and Women AuthorsAuthor Elizabeth IsaacsLiving, Learning and Loving LifeFairiechick's Fantasy Book ReaderMy Story That I Like BestLeahSay's ViewsChristine's BlogCandle Light ReadsNESSAROXThe Demon LibrarianSMIBookClubAuthor T.L. ClarkeBack Off My BooksMichael SciFanAuthor Carole BrownCoffee and CharactersNo Thought 2 SmallStanley and Katrina, Pet AuthorsReviews by Martha's BookshelfLove Bites & SilkKimber Leigh WritesAuthor Rae Z. RyansAuthor Georgina Young-EllisThe Reporter and the GirlFic CentralLike a Broken Vessel  Sign up to Sponsor the December Giveaway (starting around December 2nd) http://www.iamareader.com/2013/10/december-kindle-fire.html   Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7". Ends 11/30/13 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 participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Since Inception by T.R. Graves

Genre: Horror/ThrillerAge: +18 years of age and older (strong sexual situations/ violence/profanity)Name:  Since Inception (Vanishing#1) Author: T. R. GravesBook cover Designer:  Phatpuppy Art Planned Release Date: 3/1/14Summary:After discovering she has a problem worse than anything she could have ever imagined, Rainey Billows longs for the past—a time when she thought she was just a sadistic sleepwalker. Worse yet is the knowledge this problem has been with her since inception.Rainey, a woman who's suffered an entire lifetime of pain and humiliation because of her sleepwalking, is financially desperate when she takes in Carter Dodson as a boarder. With his presence in her house and her attraction to him, her internal conflicts, ones she's usually able to ignore, swim to the surface and take control. Before she knows it, her sleepwalking moves to a completely new level, and she's doing things she'd never thought possible.In fear for Carter's life and without options, Rainey sentences herself to a nighttime ritual that would appear barbaric to others. In her mind, it's essential because, unlike anyone else, she knows firsthand the types of atrocities she's capable of in her sleep.Carter, a man branded as unconditionally loyal by his friends, knows very little about Rainey but decides early on that she's a woman who has no one… a woman who needs someone. He commits himself to being that person for her. As soon as she makes her first request of him—to ignore her and her nighttime rituals no matter what she says or does—he reconsiders his pledge before quickly reminding himself he can't abandon her. She's had enough of that.Months later, study, research, and theories are not enough, and standing by is no longer an option. Carter suspects what's wrong with her. What she is. With his suspicions in tow, he searches out and enlists the help of Luke, a childhood friend who's fast-tracking his way to priesthood. After a series of unforeseen and life-threatening events, the two men learn that even the Almighty himself may not be able to help Rainey.* * * * * The author of Warrior, Secret, and Still Standing series—currently available—and Moral Dilemma and Underwater series—to be released in 2013/2014.She lives in Texas with her husband, their nineteen-year-old daughter, and nine-year-old son. Besides being blessed with a supportive family, she counts her career as an administrator and registered nurse in not-for-profit hospitals among her most fulfilling accomplishments.Social Media:Follow BlogLike Facebook Fan PageFollow on TwitterRate Books on Goodreads
* * * * *Rainey Kay Billows:


Rainey is a woman who's been haunted her entire life. She's running low on dignity, faith, and a will to live. At least she is until she meets Carter. Something about him tells her things could be different... things will be different. She believes that until the sleepwalker returns and makes her do something she never expected to do. Not to Carter anyway. 
She quickly realizes she's willing to sacrifice everything in order to protect the one and only person she's ever loved. For her, Carter is everything and his life is worth anything. Including her own.



Carter Raul Dodson:

Unconditionally loyal, Carter is a man who's no stranger to betrayal. When he meets Rainey, he's smack dab in the middle of his own personal hell. He's divorcing his high school sweetheart and firing his partner and best friend after finding them in bed together. A new relationship is the last thing on his mind until he comes face-to-face with Rainey. After he meets Stormy... Rainey's all he can think about. Morning. Noon. Night.
Luke John Espirit:

Luke is well on his way to becoming a priest when Carter, his friend since childhood and former foster home brother, calls and begs him to help a woman he knows. Luke can tell this woman is not just any woman, and her problems are not the kind that a simple confession can cure. After he meets her and hears her tale, he has to decide if saving her is worth the rules he'll have to break... if she'll tempt him in ways that will keep him from ever becoming a priest.
Will and Wilana Billows:
Rainey's cousins are stereotypical wicked twins who are unnaturally perfect. With every glare, sneer, backhanded comment, they look down upon and condescend Rainey in ways that makes her more self-conscious than normal. 

When they team up and toy with her moral and ethical determination to do what's right, Rainey realizes they're after something more than their share of their Gran's inheritance. Without mercy, they take full advantage of Rainey's strengths, using them against her until she's between a rock and a hard place and has almost no option but to give in to their demands in order to save Carter from the world their pulling her down into.