Krista Ames's Blog, page 63

Spotlight: Black Magic Cafe, Conway Witches #1, @erzabetbishop

Conway Witches, 1Blurb:Love that is forbidden is always the sweetest… Elodie Conway is the owner of The Black Magic Café, where love and chocolate go hand-in-hand. She runs the enchanted café with her cousin Madison, and together, they help lovers tie the knot with the assistance of a few spells and some delectable chocolate recipes. When journalist Jason Thibedeaux, who is also a werewolf from a rival family, runs a scathing critique of her business in his newspaper, the fur is sure to fly. He visits the café to sample their most famous culinary delights, and ends up wanting far more than what’s on the menu. Can a Thibedeaux wolf and a Conway witch truly be fated to love each other for all eternity? This is a previously published work. It has been edited for Evernight Publishing.

Buy links:Amazon: http://rxe.me/00Q5F8Evernight Publishing: http://goo.gl/Ba68zy



Excerpt:Elodie Conway was nothing like he had expected. As he ate her signature cake, all Jason wanted to do was savor her lips and run his hands down her very ample hips. Hers was a body a man could hold onto during sex and not break her. His wolf was awakened, and it prowled just beneath the surface. What Jason saw, he liked. Very much indeed…The chocolate wound through his system, and with each bite, all other preoccupying thoughts faded into nothing. Images of him thrusting deep inside of her and winding his fist in her mane of dark hair flashed in front of his eyes, and he almost choked. His hands trembled as they reached for the bottle of water she’d set in front of him.What the hell was that?He twisted the cap and drank the entire small bottle in one go. As a journalist, he had little time for romance. A quick tumble in the moonlight during one of his runs, maybe, but this girl was something special––he didn’t know why he didn’t notice it before. Jason took another bite of cake and shifted his weight as his erection made its presence known. He could take her here, right over the top of the table, her heart-shaped ass in the air as he sank his cock deep in her pussy and fucked her until she screamed his name.His wolf liked the idea. A whole fucking lot. Jason laid down the fork and smiled. Standing up on shaking legs, he picked up his now empty plate. Things were about to get interesting. This wasn’t just any woman. He raised his nose to the air and scented her.Mate.She was his fucking mate. How could he have been so blind? Did it take a hard-on for his wolf to get through to him? Apparently, because his wolf was ready to claim her by any means necessary, even it meant fucking her over the top of one of her own tables.



About the author: Erzabet Bishop is an award winning author who loves to write naughty stories. She is the author of Lipstick, Dinner Date, Crave, The Science of Lust, Arcane Imaginarium: Spirit Board, Holidays in Hell, Mallory’s Mark (upcoming 2016),The Devil’s Due (upcoming 2016), Charity Benshaw’s Enchanted Paddle Emporium (upcoming 2016), Sigil Fire, Glitter Lust (upcoming 2016), Written on Skin, Club Beam, Pomegranate, A Red Dress for Christmas, The Black Magic Café, Fantasies in Red, Sweet Seductions: The Erzabet Bishop Collection, Holiday Cruise, Fetish Fair, Temptation Resorts: Jess, Temptation Resorts: Marnie, Taming the Beast, The Erotic Pagans Series: Beltane Fires, Samhain Shadows and Yuletide Temptation along with being a contributor to many anthologies. Erzabet has been a finalist in the GCLS awards for 2014 and 2015, winning the Goldie for her spot in two anthologies. She lives in Texas with her husband, furry children and can often be found lurking in local bookstores. She loves to bake, make naughty crochet projects and watch monster movies. When she isn’t writing, she loves to review music and books.




Coming soon:Wicked for You, Salacious box set, Alpha Fever Box Set, Glitterlust and more…Sign up for Erzabet’s newsletter and follow her on Amazon so you don’t miss a single thing!
Follow her reviews and posts on Twitter @erzabetbishop.
Links:Google +: https://goo.gl/YJnNmdManic Readers: http://www.manicreaders.com/ErzabetBi... Romance Reviews: http://www.theromancereviews.com/1000... and website: http://erzabetwrites.wix.com/erzabetbishopAre: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/store... About Me: http://about.me/erzabet.bishop/#Facebook “like” page: https://www.facebook.com/erzabetbisho... Wordpress blog: http://erzabetbishop.wordpress.com/Am... author page:http://www.amazon.com/Erzabet-Bishop/e/B00AVSDUBC/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_7Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/10182... https://www.facebook.com/erzabet.bish... http://pinterest.com/erzabetbishop/Le... Blog: http://lesficandlipstick.wordpress.co... Blog: http://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.... Database: http://authorsdb.com/authors-director...
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Cover Reveal: Call Me Yours by #KellyRae @KellyRaeBooks @SBB_PROMOTIONS @ForeverRedPub

✯ ☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆
COVER REVEAL
✯ ☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆




Call Me Yours by Kelly Rae

SYNOPSIS :

Thad got his woman, but he also met his match. Brianna is tough and yet very skittish when it comes to having

a real relationship. Thad, who is usually all about fun and keeping things light and loose, is not so sure he can do that with Brianna Simmons.

Coming February 2, 2016!!#coverreveal #callmeyours #theweddingseries #kellyrae #sbbpromotions @KellyRaeBooks @SBB_PROMOTIONS @ForeverRedPub

It's All About the Book with Melissa Frost and Coming Home @evernightteen #giveaway

It’s All About the Book…
Please tell us about your current or upcoming release. 
Coming HomeAndi has never felt like she belonged. As a foster care child, she never stays long in any one place. She never connects with anyone. That is until sexy, blue eyed Devon walks into her life.Devon claims to have known her birth parents. He says he knows her, that the two of them used to be best friends. He’s even got a photograph to prove it. He shows up offering her everything she ever could want – a friend, a connection to her family, answers.The only problem is Devon’s friendship comes attached with a few complications. There’s the fact that he’s a werewolf, something unbelievable in itself. Then there’s the territorial clan out to start a war with Devon’s pack. What started as a simple journey to learn about herself turns into a dangerous road trip that could get her killed. If she can survive, Andi just might get the answers that have been plaguing her, and she might just fall in love with her new furry pal along the way.

What is this book’s genre?  Is this the genre you usually write in?  Are there any genre’s you haven’t written that you’d like to try?
This book is a young adult paranormal. The young adult books I normally write are sports (hockey) related, so this was a bit different from the usual. I had a lot of fun writing it, though. As for genres I haven’t written, I enjoy spreading my wings, so I wouldn’t mind taking a stab at any genre I have yet to write.

What inspired you to write this book?
I’m sure the idea of adoption and the “system” were in my head because my husband and I were looking to take in a child whose circumstances were less unfortunate than ours. We attended many parenting classes and learned a great deal about the foster care system. That new knowledge served to be the base and start of this story. And I just had this vision of the first scene with Devon — him standing all cool and sexy in the snow as he stood on the sidewalk waiting for her. The rest just fell into place.
  How did you pick its title?  Did it come first or did you have to write the story first?
I usually struggle with titles, but this one came to me right away. As soon as I had the idea to write about a girl in the foster care system and her re-connection to her old life, the title was right there. It felt perfect.
  How did you create your characters?  Did you use any real life people in their making?
As the idea for the story came to me, Andi slowly developed herself. I didn’t base any of the characters off of anyone I knew. Andi came together gradually, but Devon’s character immediately came to me. I wanted to create a cool, confident, and self-aware character, and he just flowed so easily.
 Who is your favorite character of this book and why?
If you couldn’t tell already, Devon is my favorite character. I fell in love with his confidence in who he was and what he wanted out of life. He was a strong character as well as being a lot of fun.
What is your favorite part of this book?  Can you share an excerpt from that part?
I love the scene where Devon finally convinces Andi that he’s a werewolf. It’s such a powerful moment in the book, the moment things finally fall into place for Andi.
How To Convince A Girl You’re a Werewolf
“I’m still not convinced.” She informed him of this in a tone that stated quite clearly she thought him to be a liar. “You’ll have to try harder than that.”At her skepticism, Devon gave a grin that could only be described as devilish. Climbing to his feet, he yanked the zipper down on his coat and shrugged out of it. He tossed the coat into the snow before lifting his shirt over his head.As if they had a mind of their own, her eyes drank in the sight of his bare chest. He was amazingly sculpted, his arm muscles bunching with every movement. His abs, which appeared rock solid, mirrored the action. He even had an interesting scar along his left shoulder that only seemed to add to his sex appeal. She cleared her throat uncomfortably, willing her body to settle down. She didn’t usually get so affected by boys.When his hands went to his belt buckle and began unfastening it, she gave a squeak of objection. “What are you doing? Stop taking your clothes off!”He grinned over at her. “You wanted to see a werewolf, didn’t you? I’m just obliging.”“But … but…”He stripped out of his jeans with ease. “Werewolves aren’t freaked out by nudity, Andi. If you remembered even the slightest bit about your history, you would know that.”As his briefs came down, her eyes lifted hurriedly to the sky. She gazed at the clouds as if they were the most intriguing thing in the entire world. Which was a complete farce. Standing before her was the first naked boy she’d ever been in the presence of. She desperately wanted to sneak a peek, yet she was too freaked out by the idea to even lower her gaze a fraction of an inch.“Sheesh, you’re such a human,” Devon said in complaint. “You’re such a prude that you’re about to miss all the fun.”Andi scowled, but her gaze was still lifted skyward so she had no idea if he saw her or not. As she stood awkwardly gazing at the clouds, she realized how absolutely absurd this situation was. She was standing in the entrance to a public park. With a naked boy. In the snow.“This is so—” Her protests broke off as an odd popping sound filled the air. She couldn’t quite place it, but it felt so familiar. It was a noise she’d heard before, but she couldn’t remember where.Her eyes lowered to Devon’s bare shoulders to find them shifting and cracking. His flesh moved in such an unnatural way, she nearly cried out in alarm. Her own hand pressing to her lips was the only thing that stopped the sound from escaping.She watched with morbid fascination as Devon’s body repositioned and changed itself into something new. Before her very eyes, his entire being altered, and he transformed into the shape of a wolf. It took no more than a minute or two, but the time seemed to stretch on forever.She witnessed soft puffs of cream fur appear that seemed to burst right out of his skin. His fingers elongated, the nails growing out into sharp claws. The urge to run lasted a mere second before she was stepping forward in fascination.Her fingers outstretched toward the furry muzzle that had once been Devon’s nose. She wasn’t frightened by him in the least. How could she be? He was the wolf! The one she’d seen outside the school staring into her classroom window. She knew instantly he’d been there for her, watching over her as he awaited their reunion. She bet he had seen it playing out quite differently. Closing her eyes, she allowed her fingers to brush over the soft fur between his ears. The sensation of it shook her to the core. Her body remembered it, recalled it like it was yesterday. Werewolf fur. She wasn’t sure if it was his fur in particular that felt so much like home, or if it was werewolf fur in general. Either way, it startled her just how much she longed to be near him in that moment. Her eyes snapped open, and she stumbled back, unsteady on her feet. This was far too much to absorb in one afternoon. Her mind was racing, and she didn’t even know where to begin. As a result, she simply plopped down into the snow, stunned.

What was the hardest part of this book to write? Can you share an excerpt from that part?
The final showdown at the end of the book with the opposing werewolves was hardest for me to write. I enjoyed the scene tremendously, but action is always hardest to portray. It usually takes me a couple rounds of edits to get it to sound how I want it.
They’d been walking steadily along the path, but Andi suddenly stopped. The vulnerability in his eyes was downright adorable, but she wanted to alleviate his concern. She wasn’t going anywhere, no matter how weird things got.Wrapping her arms around his waist, she gazed up at him. “It doesn’t bother me. Honestly. I’ve never had a family or anyone who cared about me in the least. I think this will be nice. And I like the thought of smelling like you. I like having you under my skin.” She stood on tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. “They’re not going to scare me away. I promise. You’re stuck with me.”He kissed her, his mouth firm against her own. The kiss was almost desperate, as if he couldn’t believe his luck at her easy acceptance. When he pulled back, he slipped his hand into hers and continued on their path down the trail. “I like having you under my skin as well. It’s like nothing I’ve ever—”A sharp bang rang through the morning air, and Devon was suddenly stumbling away from her. It took Andi’s brain a moment to comprehend that he’d been shot. One minute he was walking beside her. The next he was prone on the ground.

Did you have any special rhythm or quirks while writing this?
I had myself on a stricter deadline than I usually do with most stories. My son was in preschool, so I would drop him off at the school and sit in the parking lot and write.

Is this a stand-alone book or is it part of a series?  If so, we want to hear about it and what’s next in the series.  If not a series, what comes next to be released?

This was a stand-alone book. As for what’s next for me? I just finished up the fourth book in my Dating Tutor series. Sasha’s Story will hopefully be available later this year.
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COMING HOMEMelissa Frost
20K, Evernight Teen PublishingParanormal/Shifters/Romance
As a foster care child, Andi never stays long in one place. She doesn't have a chance to connect with anyone—until sexy, blue-eyed Devon walks into her life.
Devon claims to have known her birth parents. He’s even got a photograph to prove it. He shows up offering her everything she could ever want—a friend, a connection to her family, and answers.
The only problem is Devon’s friendship comes with a few complications attached. There’s the fact that he’s a werewolf, and then there’s the territorial clan out to start a war with Devon’s pack. What started as a simple journey to learn about herself turns into a dangerous road trip that could get her killed.
If she can survive, Andi just might get the answers that have been plaguing her, and she might just fall in love with her new furry pal along the way. 

Buy Links:   Bookstrand   All Romance eBooks    Evernight Teen      Amazon

 Follow the tour HERE

Excerpt:“I’m still not convinced.” She informed him of this in a tone that stated quite clearly she thought him to be a liar. “You’ll have to try harder than that.”At her skepticism, Devon gave a grin that could only be described as devilish. Climbing to his feet, he yanked the zipper down on his coat and shrugged out of it. He tossed the coat into the snow before lifting his shirt over his head.As if they had a mind of their own, her eyes drank in the sight of his bare chest. He was amazingly sculpted, his arm muscles bunching with every movement. His abs, which appeared rock solid, mirrored the action. He even had an interesting scar along his left shoulder that only seemed to add to his sex appeal. She cleared her throat uncomfortably, willing her body to settle down. She didn’t usually get so affected by boys.When his hands went to his belt buckle and began unfastening it, she gave a squeak of objection. “What are you doing? Stop taking your clothes off!”He grinned over at her. “You wanted to see a werewolf, didn’t you? I’m just obliging.”“But … but …”He stripped out of his jeans with ease. “Werewolves aren’t freaked out by nudity, Andi. If you remembered even the slightest bit about your history, you would know that.”As his briefs came down, her eyes lifted hurriedly to the sky. She gazed at the clouds as if they were the most intriguing thing in the entire world. Which was a complete farce. Standing before her was the first naked boy she’d ever been in the presence of. She desperately wanted to sneak a peek, yet she was too freaked out by the idea to even lower her gaze a fraction of an inch.“Sheesh, you’re such a human,” Devon said in complaint. “You’re such a prude that you’re about to miss all the fun.”Andi scowled, but her gaze was still lifted skyward so she had no idea if he saw her or not. As she stood awkwardly gazing at the clouds, she realized how absolutely absurd this situation was. She was standing in the entrance to a public park. With a naked boy. In the snow.“This is so—” Her protests broke off as an odd popping sound filled the air. She couldn’t quite place it, but it felt so familiar. It was a noise she’d heard before, but she couldn’t remember where.Her eyes lowered to Devon’s bare shoulders to find them shifting and cracking. His flesh moved in such an unnatural way, she nearly cried out in alarm. Her own hand pressing to her lips was the only thing that stopped the sound from escaping.She watched with morbid fascination as Devon’s body repositioned and changed itself into something new. Before her very eyes, his entire being altered, and he transformed into the shape of a wolf. It took no more than a minute or two, but the time seemed to stretch on forever.She witnessed soft puffs of cream fur appear that seemed to burst right out of his skin. His fingers elongated, the nails growing out into sharp claws. The urge to run lasted a mere second before she was stepping forward in fascination.Her fingers outstretched toward the furry muzzle that had once been Devon’s nose. She wasn’t frightened by him in the least. How could she be? He was the wolf! The one she’d seen outside the school staring into her classroom window.She knew instantly he’d been there for her, watching over her as he awaited their reunion. She bet he had seen it playing out quite differently. Closing her eyes, she allowed her fingers to brush over the soft fur between his ears.The sensation of it shook her to the core. Her body remembered it, recalled it like it was yesterday. Werewolf fur. She wasn’t sure if it was his fur in particular that felt so much like home, or if it was werewolf fur in general. Either way, it startled her just how much she longed to be near him in that moment.Her eyes snapped open, and she stumbled back, unsteady on her feet. This was far too much to absorb in one afternoon. Her mind was racing, and she didn’t even know where to begin. As a result, she simply plopped down into the snow, stunned.

About the Author:

Melissa Frost grew up loving young adult novels and continues to immerse herself in the current authors on the market. In the fifth grade, she won a writing competition to work with children’s author Colleen O'Shaughnessy Mckenna, and it inspired her to write stories of her own. She never looked back.

Google:   AuthorMelissaFrost
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaFrost/?ref=bookmarks
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Giveaway:   $10 Evernight Teen Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spotlight on Dangerous Gentlemen by Beverley Oakley @BeverleyOakley

Dangerous Gentlemen Daughters of Sin Book 2By Beverley Oakley
Beverley is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate and 1 ebook of Her Gilded Prison (Book 1 in the Daughters of Sin). Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. Those locations may be found here. ~*~*~*~*~*~* DANGEROUS GENTLEMEN BLURB: Shy, self-effacing Henrietta knows her place—in her dazzling older sister’s shadow. She’s a little brown peahen to Araminta’s bird of paradise. But when Hetty mistakenly becomes embroiled in the Regency underworld, the innocent debutante finds herself shockingly compromised by the dashing, dangerous Sir Aubrey, the very gentleman her heart desires. And the man Araminta has in her cold, calculating sights.Branded an enemy of the Crown, bitter over the loss of his wife, Sir Aubrey wants only to lose himself in the warm, willing body of the young “prostitute” Hetty. As he tutors her in the art of lovemaking, Aubrey is pleased to find Hetty not only an ardent student, but a bright, witty and charming companion.Despite a spoiled Araminta plotting for a marriage offer and a powerful political enemy damaging his reputation, Aubrey may suffer the greatest betrayal at the hands of the little “concubine” who’s managed to breach the stony exterior of his heart. Buy Links: Amazon  B&N  ~*~*~*~*~*~*  
Excerpt: 
In this extract, Hetty, a debutante and viscount’s daughter, is returning from the mending room at a ball when she learns that a certain interesting and ‘dangerous gentleman’ is a house-guest.With a furtive look around her, Hetty hurried left and up the stairs, at which point two corridors at right angles disappeared into darkness. Choosing the one to the right, she found herself face-to-face with a series of closed doors.Foolish, she chided herself. Of course they were closed and she could hardly open them. As she turned back toward the ballroom, a faint light shining from the crack beneath a door that was slightly ajar gleamed beckoningly.Glancing over her shoulder, she approached it, and when she gave the door a little nudge with her foot, it swung open.Excitement rippled through her.“Hello?” she asked in a low voice. She took another step into the room. “Is anyone in here?”Silence. A low fire burned in the grate before which was a table, against which were propped several items, including a familiar silver-topped cane. Her breath caught. The last time she’d seen that cane was when Sir Aubrey had exchanged several words with Araminta in the street as Hetty had been bringing up the rear with Mrs. Monks. Of course Sir Aubrey had not looked twice at her, excusing himself before having to be introduced to the younger sister and the chaperone who’d nearly closed the gap.Heart hammering, Hetty closed the door behind her and went to pick up the cane.How fortunate to have stumbled into Sir Aubrey’s room, she thought when she observed the fine coat lying upon the bed, apparently discarded in favor of what he was wearing tonight.He really was a nonpareil, wearing his clothes as if they were an extension of his athletic physique.Yet he was dangerous, she had to remind herself. Meaning she should not be here, which of course she shouldn’t, regardless of whether he was dangerous or not.But how such a scion of good breeding and genteel society could be guilty of such a heinous crime as treason, Hetty could not imagine. And surely the story of the runaway wife was a gilded one. It was all the stuff of make-believe and Cousin Stephen was only telling Hetty he was dangerous to curb her schoolroom daydreams.Turning, she saw half protruding from beneath the suit of clothes what appeared to be the edge of a silver, filigreed box. It was partly obscured by the overhang of the counterpane, as if it hadn’t properly been returned to its hiding place.A moment’s indecision made her pause but soon Hetty was crouching on the floor, closing clammy fingers around the box. Might it contain secrets? Ones that would reveal, conclusively, what Cousin Stephen claimed was true?Alternatively, proof that would exonerate Sir Aubrey?Hetty fumbled for the catch. Dear Lord, this was too exciting for words. Perhaps Sir Aubrey was a secret agent working for the English, and Stephen had no idea.Perhaps he was—Protesting door hinges made her squeal as the door was flung wide. Hetty let the lid of the box fall and retreated into the shadows as Sir Aubrey strode into the room.He was breathing heavily as he shrugged off his jacket with a curse, raindrops spattering into the hissing fire as he raked his fingers through his hair. A curious stillness overtook him and he froze, obviously sensing all was not as he left it.He sniffed the air. “Orange flower water,” he muttered, stepping closer to the fire, fumbling for the tinderbox on the mantelpiece to light a candle.Immediately he was thrown into sharp relief and as he stared at Hetty, it was not his look of shock and suspicion that made her scream—but the copious amounts of blood that stained his shirtsleeves and once snowy linen cravat.“God Almighty, who are you?” he demanded as his gaze raked her finery. “You’re no parlor maid, that’s for certain.”Gaping, unable to formulate a sensible answer, Hetty finally managed, “What happened to your arm, Sir Aubrey? Are you injured?”“Sir Aubrey, is it? So you know who I am but you still haven’t told me who you are?” He grunted as he looked down at his arm, the bloodied linen shredded over the long graze. “It’s not as bad as it looks and I assure you, I gave a good account of myself.” His laugh was more a sneer. “Indeed, my assailant lies dead in the gutter.”Hetty gasped. “Dueling?” Myriad questions crowded her mind. Could this be to do with Araminta? Had Sir Aubrey left Araminta in the middle of the ball to fight some other contender for her affections?“Dueling?” he repeated. He shook his head and Hetty drew back at the coldness in his eyes. “There was nothing noble about my activities this evening. I was set upon in a dark alley. A short scuffle ensued, I drew my knife, then…” With his hand, he made a gesture like the slitting of his throat, adding, “I am slightly wounded but as I said, my attacker does not live to repeat the insult.”Her horror clearly amused him, for his eyes narrowed while his generous mouth quirked. He looked like an incarnation of the most handsome demon she’d ever seen depicted in the fairy stories she loved to read.“We all have enemies, madam. Enemies who must be eliminated if we are to breathe freely.”***Aubrey was enjoying the girl’s wide-eyed terror. No doubt she imagined he’d sliced the throat of a footpad, not the snarling, mangy cur who had leapt upon him as he’d been returning from his brief assignation to settle a gaming debt incurred by his favorite reprobate nephew.Taking pity on her, he said reassuringly, “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.’ Her wide-eyed look as he removed first his jacket, then the bloodied shirt he tossed upon the bed before he rose to his full height, bare chested, afforded him the most amusement he’d had in a long time. “So, you’re the girl Madame Chambon sent?”
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Meet the Author:  Beverley Oakley was seventeen when she bundled up her first her 500+ page romance and sent it to a publisher. Unfortunately drowning her heroine on the last page was apparently not in line with the expectations of romance readers so Beverley became a journalist.Twenty-six years later Beverley was delighted to receive her first publishing contract from Robert Hale (UK) for a romance in which she ensured her heroine was saved from drowning in the icy North Sea.Since 2009 Beverley has written more than thirteen historical romances filled with mystery, intrigue and adventure. Most are set in London ballrooms and country estates during the Georgian, Regency and Victorian eras.Beverley lives with her husband, two daughters and a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy the size of a pony opposite a picturesque nineteenth-century lunatic asylum. She also writes less steamy historicals and romantic suspense set in Colonial Africa, where she was born, as Beverley Eikli.  

Beverley's Links:Website | Blog | Mailing List | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook 
~*~*~*~*~*~* a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Release Day to @PJSharon and Overcome Your Sedentary Lifestyle

Is a sedentary lifestyle killing you? Are you gaining weight, developing neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, back problems, or other health issues that are interfering with your ability to achieve your goals or live life to the fullest? 
Sedentary Lifestyle Syndrome (SLS) ™ is one of the fastest growing health care crises of our time. In this digital age of techno-overload, where most of our waking hours are spent sitting, or otherwise “connected” to some device, we are quickly realizing the negative effects. If you can answer yes to the following questions, you may be suffering from SLS.

Do you sit for at least 6-8 hours per day without adequate breaks?Have you gained significant weight from lack of exercise and poor nutrition?Do you suffer from headaches, fatigue, listlessness, and lack of motivation?Have you been diagnosed with one or more health issues aggravated by prolonged sitting and lack of movement? (i.e.: Obesity, depression, heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome) Overcome Your Sedentary Lifestyle is the practical guide you need. Author and Holistic Health Care professional, PJ Sharon, includes tips to keep you healthy—even if sitting is in your job description. Ms. Sharon offers easy to implement solutions for proper work station set-up, exercises for injury prevention and treatment, and a practical plan for self-care success—whether you’re perched on the couch, or on the way to fulfilling your dreams. Isn’t it time for you to stand up for your life?
Buy on Amazon Excerpt:Remember the good ole days when the adage “No pain—no gain” was popular? I was raised with that school of thought. I learned it in my years of PT practice, in my figure skating and martial arts life, and in the school of hard knocks. I was a pain junky! As a Marine friend used to say, “Pain is good, extreme pain is extremely good.” Well, now I’m here to tell you that it’s a load of crap! This kind of thinking is responsible for more injuries, failed diets, and aversion to exercise than any of the million excuses we can come up with not to take care of ourselves. In all fairness, living a healthy lifestyle is no walk in the park (pardon the pun), but it doesn’t have to be punishing either. Deprivation, lack of true motivation, and physical discomfort are recipes for avoidance. If you believe you have to “hurt” or feel pain to benefit from exercise, I guarantee you won’t be looking forward to it. Yes, exercise should be hard work and you’ll need to exert yourself to see changes in weight or fitness level, but if, after an exercise routine, you can’t climb stairs, get up off the toilet seat, or brush your teeth without your muscles squealing the next day, you’ve clearly done too much. If you experience sharp shooting pains, numbness or tingling, or become so winded you can’t hold a conversation though your workout, you need to back off and modify your program. Get rid of that “all or none” thinking and adopt a new message.

“Some is better than none. More is not better.”



Understanding the difference between “pain” and “muscle burn” is essential for developing and maintaining a safe, effective exercise routine. First off, you need to work within a pain-free range of motion. Don’t push past pain. Find the edge of what’s enough and what’s too much and stay on the “just enough” side. This is your “edge.” It’s the place where you feel your muscles working, but the sensation you feel is tolerable, and you can perform the exercise without holding your breath or gritting your teeth. Knowing where your “edge” is will help you decide where your weaknesses lie and what types of exercise are right for you. For instance, I know that running, swimming, and biking are not for me. Not that I’m not good at any of those things or that they aren’t good for me in theory, but running has repeatedly led to joint problems for me in the past, swimming requires more repetitive rotation than my unstable spine enjoys, and biking puts me in too much forward flexion, further tightening my hip flexors, hamstrings, and cervical extensors—areas of my body which are already overly tight. I’ve found that variety—also known as Cross Training—is the key for me. I rotate through various routines for upper and lower body resistive training, focus on core stabilization exercises, avoid repetitive or one sided sports (like tennis, bowling, and golf), and add in recreational activities that I find enjoyable and challenging, such as kayaking, hiking, or roller blading. NOTE: The trick is to find activities you’ll enjoy, stick with, and are willing to sweat through for 30 minutes five times per week.

 About the Author: Award winning author of young adult books, including PIECES of LOVE, HEAVEN is for HEROES, ON THIN ICE, and Holt Medallion winner SAVAGE CINDERELLA, PJ Sharon loves writing for teens and teens at heart. Her latest work, HEALING WATERS, completes The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael, a YA sci-fi/fantasy/dystopian trilogy that RT Book Reviews calls “An action-packed read with a strong female lead.” In her “real life” job as a Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, and Yogi, PJ has been called “a powerhouse of positivity and productivity.” Her mantra is “find balance in all things, and live every day to the fullest.” A black belt in the art of Shaolin Kempo Karate, avid kayaker, and singer of Italian art songs, PJ has two grown sons and lives with her brilliant engineer of a husband in the Berkshire Hills of Western MA where she writes YA…because every teen deserves a hopefully ever after.

E-mail address: pjsharon64@gmail.com
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Happy Release Day to Romancing the Fox by @MarissaMDobson

  Romancing the FoxCrimson Hollow Book OneMarissa DobsonRelease Date: January 12, 2016  No matter how far up the rungs of corporate success Sinopa Locklear climbs, her family will never be satisfied. To them, she’s worthless because she refused to live out her destiny among the tribe and produce cubs. Her decision left an impassable bridge between her and those she loved. When an offer to wipe the slate clean comes up, Garret Fox can’t pass up the chance. All he has to do is spend a week with Sinopa, and pretend to be her fiancé. Seven days and they could go their separate ways. How hard could it be? Both are running from something, afraid of getting too close and too intimate—until they are forced to behave as a couple for her family. Who’d have thought a fox would chase after a wolf of her own? Or is she his prey?

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ All Romance Ebooks ~ Smashwords   Coming Soon Loving the BearsSeries: Crimson Hollow Book TwoAuthor: Marissa DobsonRelease: February 16, 2016 Ari Alexander and Kaden O’Malley knew from a young age that they’d share one mate who would complete their unique bond. The problem was they couldn’t find a woman who satisfied both them and their bears. Their thriving security business has kept them both busy, but as their beasts grow more and more impatient, they must find a mate. After escaping a past she wanted to forget Camellia stayed hidden away in the forest. Working with the children of Crimson Hollow, has given her life new meaning. Until the bears came into her life, she thought she had everything she wanted. When Ari and Kaden meet the beautiful but reserved Camellia, they know she’s the one. It’s clear she feels the connection too, but she’s fighting it. Can they help their mate fight the demons from her past or will she slip from their grasp before they get the chance?
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ All Romance Ebooks ~ Smashwords  About the AuthorBorn and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She’s a lady who likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, she believes you are never done learning. Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she has always had her nose in a book. It wasn’t until she was a teenager that she started writing down the stories she came up with. Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He’s her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing. He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of the night. Her writing buddy Cameron (a cocker spaniel) is always around to listen to her bounce ideas off him. He might not be able to answer, but he's helpful in his own ways. She love to hear from readers so send her an email at marissa@marissadobson.com or visit her online at http://www.marissadobson.com.
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Author Interview with Nicky Peacock @nickyp_author @evernightteen #giveaway

Hi and welcome to A Passion for Romance! 
o   Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m an English author living in the UK. I’ve been published for just over 4 years and write horror, urban fantasy and paranormal romance for both adults and YA markets. I love chocolate and hate broccoli (even if you covered it chocolate, I still wouldn’t eat it!) I run a local writers’ group with over 15 members and also do creative writing workshops for local schools.


o   When did you start writing and were you always interested in being a published author?
I’ve pretty much always been a writer and wanted to be an author. It took a few false starts though to get published. There are plenty of people out there who say they want to be a writer and get published, but don’t spend the time and energy it takes to get there (I know, I was one of those people!) It’s only when I knuckled down and treated writing like a job, that I got published.


o   What do you think is or has been the hardest part of getting published?
Definitely the mindset. As a writer you have to have a pretty thick skin. Not everyone will love your work, and you have to remember this and that, that’s okay. You have to send in countless submissions and get countless rejections, even when you are published. So you have to be resilient and learn that a ‘no’ isn’t the end of the world and that that was just that one person’s opinion. I’ve had manuscripts rejected by one publisher only to be snapped up by others. You have to put the time in to learn the craft of writing as well as the business side to the publishing industry. So having the right mindset really helps when it comes to overcoming these writing hurdles.


o   What inspires you to write?
Everything. TV shows and movies I wish had ended better, books that give me a taste of something I wish had been cooked up differently. Stories I see online and in newspapers, even an off-hand thought can turn itself into a storyline in my dark, sticky little imagination. My characters inspire me too. Writing a series like, Battle of the Undead, you can get invested in the characters and sometimes want them to lead their own story and to have a happy ending. Also talking to other writers can really help. One of the reasons I started the writers group was to encourage and inspire every member – including me!

o   Do you plot out your stories or just wing it?
I think you need to have a fair idea of where a story is going, or you can end up meandering around leaving your characters lost meaningless scenes that bore the reader to tears. I’m a big fan of action and always like to ensure that the crucial plot lines are wrapped around interesting scenes. I’m not adverse to evolution though; some of the best plot devices I’ve come up with were actually conceived halfway through writing the manuscript. So I guess I kind of plot first but am open to change – damn, that came out like a crazy stream of consciousness, should have plotted this answer out better!


o   What drew you to writing YA ?  Would you or have you tried any different genre?
I like YA because it appeals to a much larger market. In YA you get both teen and adult readers. I know that sounds kind of evil and commercial, but it’s the truth! I do write adult too, but I tend to stay in my familiar genres of horror, paranormal romance and urban fantasy. If it’s not dark, twisted and dripping with gore – I lose interest writing it!

o   Do you have a favorite scene in this book?  If so, could you share an excerpt with us?
My favorite scene in Bad Timing is on the pier. It’s set on Blackpool pier (in the UK) and I used to go there on vacation as a kid, so the place has a lot of memories for me. What happens on the pier is both heart-breaking and action-packed…and that’s all I’m going to say about it.


o   Do you have any other stories in the works?
I’m working on the last book in the series, Bad Karma. I also have a prequel coming out early this year called Traitor’s Gate. I’ve got quite a few ideas that I’m fleshing into manuscripts at the moment too, so watch this space.


o   How does your family feel about your writing?
My mum is really happy about it. She always wanted to be an author herself, so knows how much hard work, time and skill goes into getting published.


o   When you aren’t writing, what do you do for fun?
Writing is fun! I love writing, it’s my number one thing to do. I do work full time (sad fact, most modern authors still have to have jobs if they want the luxuries in life like food and shelter!) so my free time is rather limited. I do enjoy swimming and playing badminton, especially as I need to work off all that chocolate I eat! I also try to write in different locations too: a country manor house, a coffee shop, library or a pub. I find variety can really help my writing.

Thank you so much for having me here today! Nicx
Thanks for visiting with us today Nicky and hope you come back again with your next release !!!
*   *   *   *   *
 Have you ever wanted to star in a YA book? Here's your chance! In honor of the release of BAD TIMING, the second book in Nicky Peacock's Battle of the Undead series, she will choose and feature a character created by one lucky reader in the last book of the series, BAD KARMA. 
Contest details here: http://evernightteen.blogspot.com/2016/01/nicky-peacocks-create-character-contest.html *   *   *   *   * 


BAD TIMINGBattle of the Undead #2Nicky Peacock
Parnormal, suspense, urban fantasy, vampiresEvernight Teen Publishing, 30K words

“You know now that monsters are real. Whether they have recently risen to reach for your flesh, or have chosen now to step from the shadows; you are surrounded by them. You also know that I am one too, but I’m all you’ve got and time is running out…”
There’s no rest for the wicked, especially in a zombie apocalypse. Britannia has used every vampire skill at her disposal to keep those she cares for safe, but with old enemies and unseen adversaries moving against her, she will have to push herself to both her physical and ethical limits to survive. Britannia is changing, but will it be for the better?
**Please note this is the second book in a series that should be read in order. **

Buy Links:   Amazon         Evernight Teen
Follow the tour HERE
14+ due to violence and adult situations
Excerpt: “If there’s someone there, you’d better show yourself. Unless you want me to cleave off your head,” I shouted. I heard a cough and saw a tall, well-built man slip from the shadows. He wasn’t bad looking, but his dark hair was styled with cement-like gel and his eyes were far too blue to be natural.“Apologies. I wasn’t sure if you were friend or foe.” He nodded at me.He was a vampire, probably a little younger than me.“Who are you?” I asked.“My dear, you are the one trespassing on my territory. It should be me asking questions of you.” He gave me a sly smile, as if he was trying to get away with something. Like he’d farted and was waiting for me to smell it.“If this was truly your territory you’d have attacked me, not slunk in the shadows like a sniveling child.” I pulled my axe back so I held it by the handle and it rested on my shoulder.He put his hands up; he was unarmed and laughed beneath his breath. “I now understand the Elders rule.”He was referring to the old, no female vampires rule – misogynistic t scumbags. It was then that I got a good whiff of blood, live human blood.“Have you got people here?”“Why yes, we’ve collected a few to take to the Highlands. Would you like to join me for a drink?”And he’d been openly feeding off them, great!“No, I’ll give that a miss. Where are they?”“In the store room, back there. They’re uninfected,” he said with a sweeping invitation with his arm. “I must say, I’ve never seen a female vampire so beautiful.”Good grief, did he think this was some sort of date? That we would sit back and watch Dawn of the Dead whilst munching on scared survivors? What an asshat!I narrowed my eyes and walked to the door he was pointing to. He smiled and gestured for me to open it. I did. Now I was fully aware that this could have been a trap, but even if a hundred vampires descended on me, I still had an axe to Red Queen their asses back to Wonderland.“May I introduce myself?” he said behind me.“No.” I stepped through the door and was hit with the smell of both old and fresh blood. I took in the large warehouse back quickly: boxes were piled high with electronics, gadgets and God only knows what other useless items, but there were also people crouching by them. They were blindfolded and roped together with a thick unforgiving plastic vine. Some were still bleeding from where he had fed off them. Some were whispering prayers in ragged voices. Some slowly pulled at their bindings, more like they were an itch than a problem. But all cowered when they heard his voice. There was a collective shiver that even caught me in its terrible wake. Whoever this vampire was, he was truly living up to monster status now.“Here,” he said as he lifted the plastic rope and pulled the nearest person toward us, “have a drink.”I looked at the young boy bound and blindfolded before me; he had blood all down his Simpson’s t-shirt and he’d pissed himself, probably days ago now. This was what the Highlands were going to be like, just with slightly less feeling and more order.“My name is Ludwig. What’s yours, my blonde haired vixen?” He pushed the boy at me and I moved so that I was stood between them.“Britannia.”“What?” Ludwig’s eyes widened. He’d heard of me, the lack of blue hair had been what had put him off the initial recognition. If I’d looked more like my old self he’d have run from me, or attacked me in the shop. I might never have discovered his little person larder.“Yeah, I was forced into a make under.” I smiled sweetly at him, “Ludwig, you have something on your sleeve.” I swung the axe so hard that it cleaved his arm straight off. Blood sprayed across me, splattering my face and streaking the front of my hair. Unlike human blood, vampire blood is cool, smells metallic and tastes like sea water, kind of like your blood tastes to you. Some vampires get a taste for their own kind; those were usually the ones that the Elders sent me after.Ludwig’s look of shock was only matched by his girlish scream. He clutched at his leaky stump and shuddered. I lifted the axe again, this time to cleave off his head, but he must have regained a modicum of resolve, as he caught the axe’s blade in mid-swing. I quickly slipped my hands down the handle and, palms up, slammed it vertically so that its blade crushed against his skull. I heard a sickening crack as bone crumbled against the force. He keeled and stumbled back through the shop’s doors. I edged forward and crouched, sweeping my leg out to trip him over. Once he lay sprawled on the floor, I lifted my axe a final time and off rolled his head. It tumbled down the flat screen TV section.The tethered humans were now desperately pulling at their bonds. I guess the big bad that had just killed their torturer was probably not someone they wanted to stick around and have tea with – better the devil you know.I moved carefully toward the nearest boy. I gently took his blindfold from him and he blinked a few times and recoiled at my presence.“It’s okay,” I said, hands out, palms up, “I’m here to help you. I won’t hurt you.”The boy edged further away from me, pulling on all their ropes. He particularly dragged all of the survivors onto the floor. I suddenly had an image of me leading them like a chain of dogs through the streets. If Satan had been on a leash, he’d have died. If I couldn’t do that to a dog, I’d be damned if I was going to be responsible for leading an all-you-can-eat zombie buffet conga line.“Look, I know you have no reason to trust me, but...”“You’re one of them,” said the boy, looking past me to Ludwig’s twitching corpse. He must have been old; it can sometimes take a while for the magic to leave older vampires.“We’re not all the same you know.” I stepped to his side and took a blindfold off a nearby woman, “Wait a minute, them?”The woman gave me a quizzical look, “There’s another one. He had red hair and a posh accent; like from Downton Abbey.”Okay, now time was of the essence. I pulled out my pink handled knife and sliced the rope between all the humans. I removed all their blindfolds and counted them: twelve.“Right, here are your choices. You can say here and wait for Red, whoever he is, to come back and drink you dry, or you can follow me and I can get you the hell out of zombie central.”“Zombies?” they all said together.“You haven’t noticed the slathering zombie masses?” I asked.“No,” said an older man, who had managed to pick up a plank of wood and hide it behind his back while I wasn’t looking.“How long have you been in here?”The man chose then to swing the plank at me, which I caught and crumbled in my grip. The small crowd gasped and I think they were just about to all fall onto me, when the bell at the door of the shop chimed.“Oh no, it’s him. He came back for us.” A young girl of no more than thirteen cowered near me. I turned to her.“I won’t let him hurt you. I told you, we’re not all the same.”She bit her bottom lip and squeezed out a fat tear that rolled down her ruddy cheek.“My name is Britannia. I know this is all a bit...” I struggled for the right word, “...weird, but I’ll get you some place safe. You just have to trust me.”“So, let me get this straight.” The boy whose blindfold I’d took off first edged toward me. “You’re a friendly blood sucking demon, and there are zombies outside. But you’ll protect us? At what price, you gonna feed off and kill us one by one like your friend there?” He motioned at Ludwig’s now still body. I kicked the vampire’s corpse out of the door and into the main shop, out of the eye-line of the humans.I didn’t have time for this. I needed to get a new radio, some food and get back to the zoo. I needed to tell Tate I was alive and for Josh and Jack to know I was on my way to them. I hadn’t even bothered to ask these humans’ names and here I was trying to protect them, while they challenged my ethical code. I was just about to give the boy what for, when a rumbling groan echoed through the store. I peered out to see a group of zombies shuffling toward Ludwig’s body. Once there, they began to rip him apart like an overcooked turkey. There were stuffing- and cranberry sauce-like substances cascading out of the yawning cracks they were making with their bare hands. I gagged and quickly closed the door.
*    *    *    *    *

**Since this series is a must to be read in order, make sure to read about**
Bad Blood Battle of the Undead #1
“I am Britannia. I am your protector. I will fend off the hungry hordes of undead hands that reach toward you. I am your steadfast defender. I will stand between you and the zombie masses as they try to taste your flesh. I am strong, unyielding, and dedicated to your survival. All I ask from you… is your blood.” 

A 500 year bloody game of vengeance will need to be put on hold if vampires are to survive the zombie uprising. Bitter enemies, Britannia and Nicholas must work together to save un-infected humans, delivering them to a stronghold in Scotland.

Unable to drink the zombie blood, vampires need humans to stay alive. But will they tell the survivors who they are, and what they want from them? Will Britannia be able to hold back her vengeance? Is survivor Josh the reincarnation of Britannia’s murdered true love? And can she bring herself to deliver him to the safe hold?

Survival instincts run deep, but bad blood can run deeper.
Buy Links:  Evernight Teen    Amazon    B&N     Print


*    *    *    *    *About the Author: Nicky is a published author of both YA and adult urban fantasy, paranormal romance and horror fiction. She lives in the heart of the UK, where she has run a writers' group for over 4 years to help new writers find their feet on the path to publication. A member of both the Society of Authors and the British Fantasy Society, Nicky has had over 30 stories published in various anthologies. Bad Timing is her second book in the Battle of the Undead series published through Evernight Teen. She loves to talk to readers, so please feel free to either get in touch with her through her blog, or on any of the social media below.
Blog: http://nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickyp_authorFace Book Page: https://www.facebook.com/nicky.peacock.10YA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NickyPeacockYaBooksAmazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Nicky-Peacock/e/B007UH2ACW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_4Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4958833.Nicky_PeacockPinterest: http://pinterest.com/nickypauthor/Tumblr: http://nickypeacock.tumblr.com/Authorgraph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/NickyP_authorGoogle +: https://plus.google.com/104153625245963417061/posts   


*   *   *   *   *Giveaway:  $10 Evernight Teen GC

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It's All About the Book with Barbara Valentin and KEY CHANGE @spinninginburbs

Super thrilled to have back with us the wonderfully talented Barbara Valentin with an interview all about her book, Key Change !!

It’s All About the Book…
Please tell us about your current or upcoming release.  o   Title: Key Change, book #3 in my Assignment: Romance series

o   Blurb: The first thing Sara Cleff, a hard-edged, shower-singing rock music critic, wants to do after following a band on tour is crawl into her nice comfy bed in her well-appointed, optimally located vintage apartment. But before making it home, she learns her roommate-slash-boyfriend has apparently broken up with her while she was away on assignment and sublet their apartment out from underneath her. Ouch! When her key no longer fits in the lock, the last person she expects to find on the other side of the door is Andrew Benet, a wickedly gorgeous music director from a nearby church. Something about the brash music critic strikes a chord with Andrew, and he offers her the chance to stay on one condition—she has to join the choir at his church. While Andrew may hold the lease on Sara’s apartment, does he have the key to unlock her heart?

What is this book’s genre?  Is this the genre you usually write in?  Are there any genre’s you haven’t written that you’d like to try?o   The genre is romantic comedy and, yes, this is what I normally write. I would like to try writing a romantic suspense and have done non-fiction (not nearly as fun).

What inspired you to write this book?o   The hero and heroine are loosely based on individuals I know, both of whom deserve a happy ending or two. While they don’t know each other, I envisioned what they’d be like together and created their story.

How did you pick its title?  Did it come first or did you have to write the story first?o   The title just came to me while I was still in the early planning stages. Once I had it, the story just flowed.
How did you create your characters?  Did you use any real life people in their making?o   As I said above, the hero and heroine are loosely based on two very different individuals I know, both of whom I’m very fond of. After coming up with a high-level plot outline, I interviewed each of them to get the facts I needed to keep it real and then let my imagination take over.

Who is your favorite character of this book and why?o   My favorite character is Sara because of the emotional growth she experiences from beginning to end. She’s scarred and scared, but she’s also tough and very brave.

What is your favorite part of this book?  Can you share an excerpt from that part?o   My favorite part of the book is when Sara comes home and finds Andrew asleep, and burning up, on the couch.(excerpt) In the soft light coming from the kitchen, his face looked red. As in flushed.Crouching down, she touched the back of her hand against his cheek and pulled it back almost instantly.He didn't feel warm. He felt hot.Getting up, she went into the bathroom. She used to keep a big bottle of Tylenol on the bottom shelf of the medicine cabinet.She opened it slowly and found a different bottle but the same brand.Great minds...Shaking two into her hand, she went to the kitchen and filled a glass with water.She set the glass on the trunk and crouched before him again. Giving his shoulder a jiggle, she whispered his name.No response.Next, she smoothed some thick soft hair off his forehead and stroked her fingers through it a couple of times.I could do this all night long.Speaking a little more loudly, she called him by name and added, "Wake up. You need some medicine."At this, his eyes squinted open. With a wince and a groan, he turned on his back. "What time is it?""5:30. Come on now. Can you sit up?"When it was clear he couldn't manage it on his own, Sara pushed him vertical just enough to wedge herself between his back and the arm of the couch against which his head had just been laying.Propping him up in a sitting position, sort of, she shifted around so his back was leaning against her chest. That way she was able to reach over and grab the glass of water waiting on the trunk. Working from behind him, she raised the two tablets to his mouth with her right hand as his head rested against her shoulder.God, you smell good."OK, here. Take these. They'll get your fever down."When she felt his mouth open, she pushed them in and raised the glass of water to his lips. Holding his head upright with her left hand, she held the glass in her right,Watching over his shoulder so she wouldn't spill it all over him. "Come on now, babe. Drink up."Oops.At that, he raised his left hand, tilted the glass up and swallowed."Good job."Switching the glass to her left hand meant letting go of his head, but since she had to return the glass to the trunk, it was a risk she was willing to take. As she leaned forward and did just that, he turned his body toward her as if aggravated with the interruption, forcing her back against the couch as he snuggled into her like she was a pillow. His pillow.At least the glass was where it belonged.
What was the hardest part of this book to write? Can you share an excerpt from that part?o   The hardest part was writing the scene when Sara’s boyfriend-slash-roommate broke up with her via voicemail messages.

(excerpt)Jer's accent was unmistakable. The first message was brief. "Tell me you remembered to leave a rent check before you left. Give me a ring, love, and let me know where you hid it." Crap. She listened to the time stamp. Nine days ago? How am I just getting this now? The second message, left a day later, was nowhere near as cheerful. "Oh, great. Another flippin' recording. Jesus. Look. You know I can barely cover my own bills, love. I'm not coverin' for you this time. I mean it. If you want out, just say the word, but I'm not playing this game with you. You don't want to get married. You don't want kids. I get it. Message received. Not another word. That's what you want, yeah? That's what this is all about, ain't it? Look. Just. Just call me back, aw right?" Sara didn't notice that her hands had started shaking. What she did notice was that the world around her seemed to suddenly shift into slow motion. The next three messages were hang-ups. The anger in his voice was palpable in the last one. "God, what kind of journalist doesn't check her bloody messages? I've been trying to call you all week, for Christ's sake. I'm assuming you're not dead or murdered or... Listen, I'm done. Leaving the States for good this time." After a pause, he softened his tone and added, "Nothing personal, but this just ain't workin' out for us, is it?" Static cackled over the line, and the rest of the message came in fragments. "Know...afford...my key...bloke...Tuesday." Click. The message was going on six days old. Holy hell.  Did you have any special rhythm or quirks while writing this?o   Music plays a significant part in this story. To be in the moment with the characters, I constantly played the music I thought they’d be listening to – everything from Pink Floyd to Sheryl Crow to Bach to Led Zeppelin. If they ever make a movie out of this book, the sound track would be enormous.

Is this a stand-alone book or is it part of a series?  If so, we want to hear about it and what’s next in the series.  If not a series, what comes next to be released?o   Yes, this is book #3 in my Assignment: Romance series (Gemma Halliday). Next up is Flight Risk, due out next summer.

  KEY Change (Assignment: Romance #3)Barbara ValentinRomantic Comedy, 236 pgsGemma Halliday Publishing
    The first thing Sara Cleff, a hard-edged, shower-singing rock music critic, wants to do after following a band on tour is crawl into her nice comfy bed in her well-appointed, optimally located vintage apartment. But before making it home, she learns her roommate-slash-boyfriend has apparently broken up with her while she was away on assignment and sublet their apartment out from underneath her. Ouch! When her key no longer fits in the lock, the last person she expects to find on the other side of the door is Andrew Benet, a wickedly gorgeous music director from a nearby church.

Something about the brash music critic strikes a chord with Andrew, and he offers her the chance to stay on one condition—she has to join the choir at his church. While Andrew may hold the lease on Sara's apartment, does he have the key to unlock her heart?

Buy Links:  Amazon    B&N    Gemma Halliday    iBooks     Kobo     Smashwords     Print Follow the tour HERE
Excerpt:Up as usual at the crack of dawn, Andrew trudged to the bathroom, almost forgetting to close the door behind him before he spotted Sara's bangles on the counter next to the sink. Reaching over, he shut the door and locked it.Fifteen minutes later, he was showered, clean-shaven, and ready to go, except he didn't have to be at the church until four-thirty that afternoon. Unplugging his phone from an outlet in his room, he brought it with him into the kitchen, transferred Sara's clothes that she had washed the night before into the dryer and poured himself some coffee. He sat on a barstool, debated throwing a sweatshirt on over his plain, blue, short-sleeved T- shirt to ward off the chill, but started scrolling through his email instead.His eyes, however, kept drifting over to Sara, out like a light on the sofa sleeper.While most of her was wrapped in the blankets like a human burrito, with the sun starting to break through the bare branches of the ancient oak tree blocking the expansive bay window, he could see her face quite plainly.Without all that the heavy dark makeup, he noted, she looked younger.And kinda sweet, actually.But then again, she wasn't talking.Still, he was glad he invited her to stay the night before.But what about tonight? And tomorrow night? And the night after that?While he mulled the possibilities, she rolled over and stretched, arching her back and groaning as she did. Resuming her curled-up burrito pose, she opened her eyes and mumbled, "How long have you been sitting there?"Looking at his watch, he admitted, "About a minute. Or five. Maybe ten." His cheeks suddenly felt a lot warmer.With a loud yawn, she sat up. "I slept so good." Patting the thin mattress with her hand, she added, "So comfy."The words hung in the air between them.Sarcasm before coffee. Great.Still, the sight of her in his pajama top seemed to lobotomize him. All he could do by way of a reply was nod.With a shrug, she added, "Seriously, on a sleeper sofa—who knew?"Snap out of it.With no small amount of effort, he turned and glanced at the dryer. "Your clothes should be ready in about twenty minutes."At that, Sara took a deep breath and yanked the covers back, revealing two impossibly long bare legs as she flung her feet to the floor.Knowing full well that the sudden blast of heat he felt was not delivered by way of the gilded vents along the floorboards, Andrew got up to check the thermostat on the wall next to the upright piano anyway, mumbling, "Gotta love old buildings."

About the Author:    Barbara is an award-winning novelist and second-generation journalist. After spending a decade in maternity clothes, she has five boys to show for it and much fodder for her column, The Plate Spinner Chronicles, a long-running feature in the Chicago Tribune. A member of RWA's Windy City chapter, she still dreams of the day when her to-do list includes "Send NY Times book critic thank you note" and "Accept Godiva's request to be a taste-tester."Contact email: spinninginburbs@gmail.comWebsite    FacebookAmazonGoodreadsTwitter
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It's All About the Book with Lisa McManus and THAT NIGHT @LisaMcManusLang @evernightteen

Super excited to have the fantastic new author, Lisa McManus here with us today answering questions for our readers !!!   Today ...

It’s All About the Book…


Please tell us about your current or upcoming release. 
That Night is a contemporary young adult novella published by Evernight Teen.   Blurb: 31,000 words -Teen/Contemporary/Romance/Suicide/Bullying
It can take a whole day to figure out what happened…that night.
On what was to be just another Monday morning at school, Luke’s girlfriend Jessica is nowhere to be found.  Names like ‘psycho lover’ follow Luke to his locker - even his best friend is acting weird around him. Luke soon learns Jessica tried to kill herself at a party from the previous Saturday night, and she’s blaming him. With posts on FaceBook feeding the rumors of what happened that night, the school has to investigate. 
Torn between worry, guilt, loyalty, priorities, and an urgency to clear his name and protect hers, he has to find her—he loves her no matter what. The teacher in the middle of the investigation is also the same one to provide academic and character references for Luke’s college applications due by the end of the week. Luke knows he’s not to blame, but with no contact from Jessica and everyone blaming him for what happened, he’s at risk of losing everything—Jessica and his dreams of being a mechanic—all because of what happened that night.

What is this book’s genre?  Is this the genre you usually write in?  Are there any genre’s you haven’t written that you’d like to try?  
 ‘That Night’ is a teen contemporary romance that deals with bullying and suicide – but from the loved one’s perspective.  I tend to usually write upbeat, humorous stories, so writing a dramatic story touching on serious issues was something different for me. In the spirit of always branching out and trying new things, I am currently writing a contemporary young adult full length novel which is a mix of fantasy and magical realism.
What inspired you to write this book?   I knew I wanted to deal with how a suicide attempt affects loved ones – blame, ridicule and alienation - and the story grew from there. The teen years are turbulent and confusing, gossip and social expectations amplified, and when something like what happened to Luke and Jessica occurs, all those accompanying feelings along with teenage angst, surface. I hope Luke’s story and what he learned in the aftermath of his girlfriend’s suicide attempt helps someone through a similar situation.

How did you pick its title?  Did it come first or did you have to write the story first? 
The story and the title came at the same time, and as the story grew, the title only proved to be more and more appropriate.
 
How did you create your characters?  Did you use any real life people in their making?
 My characters grew as the story grew, and often I had to go back and strengthen aspects of them as I got to know them more through the story. The main characters are not based off anyone I know, only a culmination of people I have known, or known of. The school counselor is a mix of three school counselors I knew in high school.



Who is your favorite character of this book and why? 
I really like the school counselor, Mr. Yamagata. As I said above he is a mix of three school counselors I knew and really liked in high school – my admiration for them has never been forgotten (even after having been out of high school for, ahem, 20-something years)



What is your favorite part of this book?  Can you share an excerpt from that part?   
My favorite part of the book is the confrontation between Luke and Jessica in the library. Although not a particularly happy time between the two – nothing has been resolved between the two – I enjoyed trying to write as dramatic of a scene as I could, all while heightening Luke’s love for his girlfriend – even if he is unsure of their relationship status and the extreme situation he is in.
         Excerpt:     I stared at her wide-eyed. “What are you doing here?” With a furtive glance towards Mrs. Ross’ office, where we could both hear the crusty librarian sorting books, or whatever––Jessica motioned for me to follow her.Seeing Jessica again, no matter what the reason, made everything else simply disappear. It was corny to think like that, but just knowing she was here, safe and sound, made everything else, for that moment at least, insignificant. I had always cared about her – I still did. I do. And yes, we might have been having some sort of problems recently, and even if we didn’t get back together, or stay together, or be... whatever it was we were supposed to be, I knew right then, deep down, that her happiness, her safety, was all that mattered. Even if we weren’t ‘we.’ Keeping my eyes trained on the librarian’s office, I followed Jessica through the library. A heavy, thick silence pressed down on us as we wove our way between the shelves of barely read books. As I followed, I took in her stringy hair pulled back in a ponytail and her sweats with ‘DRAMA’ stenciled across the butt, the pair with a rip in the leg. I remembered the day she tore those sweats. I had dragged her out for a hike in the woods, a hike she didn’t want to go on, but she went anyways––for me. She ended up having a fun time, she would later tell me, but was pissed she had ripped her sweats. Seeing her again, right then, no matter what the reason, had me missing those days with her; the Jessica I knew.But wearing grungy-looking, torn clothes to school was not her style. She was definitely not herself.She stopped in her tracks and whipped around to face me. Her face was pale and her eyes were red-rimmed. She looked up at me with a mixture of contempt, sorrow and fear.“What the hell is going on? Why did you say all that stuff? How could you?” She spat at me.“What do you mean? I should be asking you the same question!” I countered in a harsh whisper, my voice rising with every word.“Shut up!” she hissed, glancing around me in the direction of Mrs. Ross’ desk. I followed her panicked gaze. We couldn’t see the librarian but we could still hear her in her office. At least she was on the phone. We turned back to each other.I put my hand on a nearby shelf to steady myself. The irony that we were standing beside self-help books for teens was not lost on me.“Do you know what everyone is saying about me?” Her bottom lip quivered with every word – the same lip I used to love kissing and that I, despite the circumstances, wanted to kiss right then. But I didn’t know whether I wanted to kiss her out of relief at seeing her alive, or instead yell at her for putting me through this hell. But I would never have, nor had I ever, yelled at her.

What was the hardest part of this book to write? Can you share an excerpt from that part? 
 The hardest Luke being led away by the principal and the school counselor for a ‘meeting’ in the counselor’s office. I could remember those feelings of angst as a kid if I was called out by a teacher – that feeling of dread and knowing everyone’s eyes on you. It was hard drawing on those feelings, going back in time - who does enjoy being led away by a few teachers in front of half the school?
Mr. Yamagata saw me eyeing my locker then patted me on the arm again and gave me one of those a me one of those ‘this won’t hurt a bit’ warm smiles … the kind of smile you know is crap and means the worst is yet to come. “Don’t worry about your books for now, Luke. You’ll be able to come back for them later.” He obviously misinterpreted why I was really looking at my locker. Books were the last thing on my mind right then – I just wanted to escape, or hide, or... something. Anything.Mr. Yamagata turned leaving me no choice but to follow. Mr. Todd stepped aside to let me pass, waiting to bring up the rear. It was as if he was ‘security’ ready to grab me should I bolt––and trust me, I almost did. With Mr. Yamagata in the lead, me in the middle, and Mr. Todd behind me, it felt like I was being led to my cellblock. I might as well have been going to enjoy my last meal. In the space of fifteen minutes, if time even mattered at that point, my gut told me my life, as I knew it, had been turned upside down. All I knew was Jessica tried to kill herself and from the looks of it, everyone hated me. Were they blaming me? Why?The whole school stared as we passed, our solemn parade only reinforcing everyone’s already crappy impression of me.I kept my gaze on the back of Mr. Yamagata’s head, his tiny ponytail still damp from his morning shower. I tried to ignore everyone’s stares as we passed, but it was hard. At least there was one good thing about my ‘security’ detail: it kept everyone silent and off my ass. For the moment, at least.


Did you have any special rhythm or quirks while writing this?   
The story takes place over the course of a school day, so I had constantly keep myself in Luke’s shoes, remembering what a typical school day can be like – with a whole bunch of teenage angst and drama thrown in, making the day seemed longer than it really was. 


Is this a stand-alone book or is it part of a series?  If so, we want to hear about it and what’s next in the series.  If not a series, what comes next to be released?   
This is a stand-alone, although it was suggested to me that I write another book based on Jessica, the main character’s girlfriend, and what happens to her after Luke’s story. I’m currently working on a contemporary young adult magical realism/fantasy novel and eager to get that finished, so I’d have to wait and see what happens next in Luke and Jessica’s story.


Thank you so much for having me, and thank you to your readers and visitors to stopping by.  Happy reading!
Lisa we are more than thrilled to have you hear with us today and we hope you'll come back again soon !!!
*   *   *   *   *

THAT NIGHT Lisa McManus

Evernight Teen Publishing,  31,000 wordsTeen/Contemporary/Romance/Suicide/Bullying

It can take a whole day to figure out what happened…that night.
 On what was to be just another Monday morning at school, Luke’s girlfriend Jessica is nowhere to be found.  Names like ‘psycho lover’ follow Luke to his locker, even from his best friend. Luke soon learns Jessica tried to kill herself at a party from the previous Saturday night, and she’s blaming him. With posts on FaceBook feeding the rumors of what happened that night, the school has to investigate. 
 Torn between worry, guilt, loyalty, priorities, and an urgency to clear his name and protect hers, he has to find her—he loves her no matter what. The teacher in the middle of the investigation is also the same one to provide academic and character references for Luke’s college applications due by the end of the week. Luke knows he’s not to blame, but with no contact from Jessica and everyone blaming him for what happened, he’s at risk of losing everything—Jessica and his dreams of being a mechanic—all because of what happened that night.


Buy Links:    ARe     Amazon     Evernight Teen
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Excerpt: “Hey, man.” I nodded to Jeremy Waters as I started the long trek up the front lawn of the school. He nodded back but gave me a questioning stare as I walked past. Again, weird. What is with everyone today? I wondered.I scanned the busy school grounds. Where was Jessica? I knew our break-up was inevitable, but I dreaded it. I still cared about her very much, but things were changing: me, her, and ‘us’––and I didn’t know what to do about it. Neither did she.At first I didn’t notice anything off, but as I passed group after group of unusually silent guys and girls from all grades, I got that weird feeling, like I was being watched, like the whole school was focused on me or something.Some of the guys pulled their buds out of their ears as I approached, their banter from moments before silencing as I passed. One guy shook his head as if in disgust. Another guy awkwardly picked at something on the ground with the toe of his shoe, as if he were avoiding something.I kept going, trying to walk as normally as I could. Hard to do when you know you’re being watched.Where was Jess? I checked my phone to see if there was anything from her: nothing.I shifted my backpack and made my way up the path to the front steps of the school. With every footstep, uncertainty and foreboding gnawed at my gut.A group of girls from Jessica’s drama club huddled on the front steps like a bunch of hens. They all gave me the once-over. One of them was crying and another gave me the finger.That stopped me in my tracks. “What the hell?” I stared them down. “What was that for?”“Screw you, Luke!” The one with the ornery finger spat. “Stay away from Jessica!”What the...? Whatever. Bunch of gossips––they seriously need to get a life.Jessica and I had been drifting apart for a while. Where she was involved in her drama club, her social life, I preferred being under the hood of a car, alone. But it wasn’t that I chose cars over her or anything. I cared about her very, very much. At one time I even contemplated the L-word thing with her. But lately, something had changed, and I couldn’t figure out what. I mean, I knew I wanted to be with her but it was like we were drifting towards each other, then away, then back towards each other again. Only to then again drift further away.But I would never do anything to her, to earn me the middle finger from her friends. So why were they acting like that? What the...? I shook my head and kept going. I hadn’t done anything to provoke their reaction, so they could just go back to their pointless chatter about hair or whatever.With fifteen minutes to go until the first bell, I wanted to catch up with Jess before classes started. She lived way on the other side of town, and as much I would have loved to pick her up every morning, her mom insisted on driving her. Her mom liked me, so it wasn’t anything against me personally, but Jessica said it was a ‘mom and daughter thing.’ And besides, we always met first thing at school and I would, at least, get to drive her home.But that day, even though I wasn’t exactly about to have ‘the talk’ with her right before class, I wanted to at least see her that morning to start the day––it was our ‘thing.’ A pang of regret fluttered in my gut. If we broke up, would we still meet in the mornings? She had become part of my day and I still wanted that.I made my way through the doors of the school. The halls were already swarming with East Clark High’s student body. I searched for Jessica as I pushed and wove my way through the crowd. But I soon realized I wasn’t pushing past anyone, anymore. The constant buzz in the halls had all but died down, and people were stepping aside giving me a wide berth as I went.What the hell was wrong with everyone? I frowned at everyone practically plastered up against the lockers, avoiding me like I was contagious or something. Did I smell like dog sh––“Psycho!” A familiar voice hissed in my ear, cutting off my thoughts. Great––Mark. I stuttered to a stop but tried to keep going. I, along with everyone else, was used to his stupid ways, but I had to find Jessica. I didn’t want to waste time getting into it with him right then.But he came at me again with, “Psycho-lover!” and that definitely had me coming to a full stop. I swear I felt spit on my cheek.I refused to swipe it away, giving him the satisfaction of … I didn’t know what. Something. I glanced up to find his buddies chuckling while Mark, the idiot himself, contorted his face into what he assumed was the look of a crazy person.He didn’t have to try very hard. It came naturally.And I hoped his eyes stayed crossed like that.I stared him down, and just when I turned away he was up against me, his face so close to mine his eyes looked crossed. “Jessica almost knocked herself off the other night. Whadidja do? Screw her over?” he hissed.I stared at him in confusion. My face numbed. My neck heated. What was he talking about? What did he mean, ‘knock herself off’?



About the Author:
Lisa McManus has been an avid reader since her teen years, and is inspired daily by her teenage boys and the forests and beaches of Vancouver Island, British Columbia where she lives. Along with writing for kids and teens, she is also multi-published with Chicken Soup for the Soul and numerous other magazines and anthologies.  When she’s not writing, reading or refereeing her family, she is either hiking or out on the archery range.

Websites: www.lisamcmanus.comwww.lisamcmanuslange.blogspot.comTwitter: @LisaMcManusLangGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8300457.Lisa_McManusAmazon author page www.amazon.com/author/lisamcmanus


*   *   *   *   *Giveaway:    $10 Evernight Teen GC and 1 ebook copy of THAT NIGHT

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Book Blitz: Matronly Duties by Melissa Kendall @mkendallauthor @BridgGapPR

 Matronly DutiesMelissa Kendall
Published by The Writers Coffee Shop Genre:  FICTION / Romance / General / Science FictionEBook available from: Amazon and ITunes



Hundreds of years after an asteroid slammed into Earth and sent it into a new ice age, what remains of the human race lives on in underground sanctuaries. Now, as the bicentennial anniversary of the impact approaches, a new leader prepares to take her place at the head of the government. At least, that’s what she thinks.

Bethanie Greene’s life has been planned out for her since the age of thirteen. Beautiful and intelligent, she’s spent the last twelve years training to become the next Matron of the underground nation of Oceania. But when Bethanie is kidnapped by rogue extremists just six weeks shy of taking office, her world is turned upside down by the handsome stranger who rescues her.Howard James’ life has been the polar opposite of Bethanie’s. Struggling to survive in a world where those in power wished he didn’t exist, he harbors a deep-seated resentment of the government and all its representatives. Together with his unconventional family, he shows Bethanie a life she never knew was possible, while at the same time, opening her eyes to the injustices of the government she is meant to lead.But can she trust a stranger? And can a few days change everything she believes and desires? Against all odds, Bethanie must decide if her heart and her duties can coexist.


EXCERPT
My body shakes at the thought of what could have happened to me yet again. I’ve heard stories about the slums, and I have to take a few deep breaths to calm myself.
“I was silly running away, I get it. I just couldn’t stay in your home any longer.”Howard sighs. “Just because my parents raised us with traditionalist values doesn’t mean we are anything like the Trads. You accused us of being a drain on society, but you don’t even know us.”“You’re right, I don’t. But you don’t know me either. If you did, you would understand why it’s hard for me to understand your way of life. It goes against every law, moral, and convention I’ve been taught. So I can’t be sorry for what I said, even if I’m sorry I ran out of the house.”Howard takes a deep breath, then exhales long and slow. The expression on his face looks a bit like pity but with a dash of guilt mixed in. “Look, maybe I’ve judged you unfairly based on preconceived notions, but—”A loud bang echoes outside. Howard glances at me with a panicked look on his face, and then pulls me off the crate onto the floor behind. I sit up, and turn to yell at him, but male voices outside keep my mouth closed. I instead huddle closer to Howard as he puts his hand around my shoulders. He pulls me in until I’m tucked against him.“Did you see where she went?” a man’s voice asks.“Nah, she just vanished.” The voice of this one sounds young.“Damn, the boss isn’t going to be pleased about this.”The crunch of shoes against pavement indicates they are on the move again. The sounds trail off until they’re no longer audible. I sigh in relief, all the tension fleeing my body.“Are you okay?’ Howard asks, rubbing my shoulder.I glance up, only then noticing how little space is between us. His blue eyes have flecks of grey in them, and there’s a smattering of freckles covering his nose and cheeks. His warm breath tickles my cheek almost like a caress, and his jaw has the barest hint of a five o’clock shadow. He really is captivating.“I’m fine,” I eventually say, the words a mere whisper.The butterflies in my stomach return with a vengeance. Howard licks his lips as they turn up ever so slightly in a smile.“Good.”I can’t stop the sigh that slips past my own lips. Howard leans forward a little, then moves closer still until his mouth is pressed against mine. I don’t dare move. A zing of something, I’m not sure whether it’s pleasure or fear, shoots through me. His lips are soft and wet, and the sensation is unlike anything I’ve felt before. I can’t even decide if I want him to continue or stop. When he pulls away though, a feeling of disappointment bubbles up inside me.My first kiss.Goosebumps cover me from head to toe, and unbidden, my fingers move to my lips. Glancing at Howard, he stares at me for a minute, then moves to sit further away.“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”I shrug. “It’s okay.”Howard frowns and then looks across the room.Part of Matron training is learning not to form close relationships. It doesn’t mean it never happens. I’ve heard the odd story here and there from the other women, and I realise that’s probably what Gail was trying to tell me at breakfast the other day. But in all honesty, I can’t remember the last time I had real physical contact with anyone, above all with a man.We sit in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. Tension rolls off Howard in waves.“What’s wrong?”“Nothing. Come on,” Howard whispers. “We need to get to the house before those guys come back.”



~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Melissa Kendall is an almost forty-year-old mother of two from Perth, Western Australia, the second-most isolated capital city in the world. Predominantly a stay-at-home mum, she works a few hours a week as a software support consultant. She has always loved to read and write, and spent most of her teens writing poetry and short stories. Over the years, daily life got in the way and she lost the passion for it, but after the birth of her first child, Melissa discovered e-books and her interest in writing rekindled. She is now the author of two published short stories. Matronly Duties is her first full-length novel.



~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~
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