Carly Fall's Blog, page 17
August 21, 2012
Forgotten Visions – Lia Davis
Today I’m happy to have Lia Davis here with her book Forgotten Visions. There is a great prize up for grabs: $25 gift card to winner’s choice of Amazon, B&N or ARe, signed swag and a goodie pack.
Title: Forgotten Visions (The Divinities Series, Book 1)
Author: Lia Davis
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Length: 65,000 words
Genre: Romance
Sub-Genre: Paranormal Romance
Sub-Categories: Action
Heat Level: Steamy (Hot sex scenes/language, but not explicit)
AVAILABLE AT:
Soul Mate Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
BLURB:
Kalissa Bradenton isn’t your average coffee shop owner. Born to an elite witch bloodline with a rare genetic mutation, she’s a Divinity on a mission. The death of her parents sends her away from her Maxville, Florida, home and into an ancient war between witches and demons. When childhood friend Ayden Daniels comes to her aid after an almost fatal accident, visions of a past she doesn’t remember sparks an old flame and new desires. With the past slowly becoming clearer, she eagerly sets her sights on mending Ayden’s heart and gaining his trust–until a ghost from her past returns to claim her as his demonic mate.
Ayden, the new Sheriff of Maxville and grandson of the oldest living Divinity, is investigating a series of Divinity killings. When he comes face-to-face with the one woman he hopes to have little to no contact with, old pain rises, quickly followed by anger and resentment. Through his rare power of adaptability, he learns actions from the past may not be what they seem. Hope fills his broken heart and determination pushes him to do whatever it takes to win Kalissa’s heart once more before he loses her forever.
Together they must find the strength to mend their tormented souls, while fighting an evil out to destroy the world.
EXCERPT
Kalissa glanced curiously at the hand-carved oak container. After placing the books inside an empty box, she took the five-pointed star from her sister. At closer inspection, there was no visible opening. Puzzlement twirled in her mind, quickly replaced with a nosey need to figure the thing out. What was it? She silently repeated Khloe’s question.
It looked like one of her mother’s trinket boxes at a glance. But it was different. Magical essence coated the wood, making it warm to the touch. The wood felt almost alive, enchanted.
“It could be spelled,” Khloe chimed in.
“Where did you get it?”
“In here.” Khloe examined the contents inside the box she was going through. A piece of her pink-streaked blond hair escaped her ponytail and fell in her face. The hair and eyes were the only way to tell them apart. She had teal-colored eyes and cast a glamour spell over her hair so it was a light blond, with pink streaks on either side of her slightly oval face.
Kalissa never cared for glamour spells or bringing any kind of attention to herself. Her very vivid violet eyes did that enough.
“Ah!” Khloe extracted another, larger wooden box and opened it. “There are ritual items in here. Salt, chalk …” She lifted a piece of parchment paper and carefully unfolded it.
“What is it?” Kalissa shifted closer.
“Instructions,” Khloe stated in a matter-of-fact tone. Kalissa rolled her eyes as her sister read through the directions.
“Set the star in a circle. Touch each point and recite the corresponding element counterclockwise starting with south.”
“What?”
Khloe laughed out loud, a musical sound that made Kalissa smile in return. Picking up the glass jar of salt, Khloe made a perfect circle on the hardwood floor big enough for the star-shaped box. She took the box from Kalissa and set it inside the circle. Slowly, she touched the left bottom star point. “Fire.” She moved to the point to the right. “Air.” She continued round, speaking the remaining elements at each point: Earth, Spirit, and Water.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and two very special, equally different kitty cats. She’s a wife to her soul mate, who drives her crazy during editing/revisions. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!
An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very activity imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She only recently got serious about publishing her work and loves it more than she imagined. Writing a stress reliever that allows her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving the day job where it belongs.
Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
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August 17, 2012
The Dark Man’s Son (Guardian Chronicles, Part 1) by Meg Whitlock
Today I’m very happy to be hosting Meg Whitlock and her book, The Dark Man’s Son. She has been kind enough to offer up a copy, so please read about the book, and enter to win below.
Title: The Dark Man’s Son (Guardian Chronicles, Part 1)
Author: Meg Whitlock
Publisher: Self
Length: Approx. 385 pages
Genres: Historical Paranormal/Fantasy Fiction
AVAILABLE AT:
Amazon | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo
BLURB:
She claimed the muggers were demons, but of course Jason didn’t believe her. At first.
When a mysterious woman appears in a dirty alley to rescue Jason Latimer from a pair of muggers, he tries to write her off as a garden variety lunatic. But he can’t shake the memory of her intense green eyes that seemed to flash gold, or the glowing sword she’d worn on her hip.
She calls herself Alex (no last name) like she’d made it up on the spot, and she offers Jason her protection. From what, she can’t or won’t say. He refuses, and that night he dreams of a dark man with the same offer. His black eyes flash blood and garnet, and he smells of burning things. Jason refuses him, too.
A chance meeting brings Alex and Jason together again, and she tells him of the Guardians: two immortal beings created near the beginning of time with the express purpose of fighting for mortal-kind’s soul. She is Light, and the man from Jason’s dream is Dark. Jason must choose, because Lucifer, for reasons purely his own, has unleashed the armies of Hell to hunt Jason down.
But there are things about Jason that not even he knows, and he’ll face hard truths and bitter choices as he struggles to find his place in a world redefined. Will he rise to the challenge, or, when the time comes, will he falter?
From Renaissance Florence to the French Revolution, from World War II to the modern streets of New Orleans, The Dark Man’s Son is a riveting journey filled with unforgettable characters, wry humor, dark twists, and a touch of romance.
EXCERPT:
Jason Latimer was a logical man. He lived in a concrete world with concrete parameters. The sun rose in the east, set in the west, and in between the two (on either side) demons did not walk. Crazy ninja chicks did not show up with swords (but wait: he must’ve imagined the sword after all, because he hadn’t seen it again after that first shaky glimpse) and wild stories to rescue you from muggers. Muggers, to address that point, did not have strange, distorted faces and voices that sucked all the air from the room.
Jason splashed cold water on his face and scrubbed at his cheeks with long-fingered hands. He stared at himself in the bathroom mirror. A stranger stared back at him through familiar midnight blue eyes. Dark stubble dusted his jaw. His nose was badly swollen. He made a note to get his unruly hair cut; when it started to go curly at the back and sides it was time.
Deciding he’d put the inevitable off long enough, he grabbed his nose and pushed it back in place with a painful click. He let out a long stream of obscenities as he applied the bandage, and, still cursing, pressed a bag of frozen peas (his grandfather, apparently, believed in being prepared: the freezer had been full of them) against his face.
He worked around the bag to pat his skin dry with one of his grandfather’s thick towels. His belly rumbled, but he ignored it: Thai suddenly didn’t sound as appetizing as it had hours ago, before he’d left his grandfather’s ridiculous Baroque nightmare of a brownstone and stumbled out onto the street and into an actual nightmare.
That wasn’t fair, Jason thought with a shake of his head. The old man’s place wasn’t that bad. It was just…ornate. And kinda creepy. If there was a single surface free of a grinning gargoyle or an extra, overwrought curlicue, Jason hadn’t been able to find it. Even the towels were over the top.
Jason absently rubbed the tattoo on his upper arm as he considered the bedroom he’d claimed for the duration of his stay here. It was the least histrionic of the brownstone’s six, but it was still way too much for Jason’s taste. The master suite had been out of the question: he wasn’t sure how his grandfather had been able to sleep a wink in there. It would’ve given Bram Stoker the willies.
He frowned and shook his head again. All these musings on his deceased grandfather’s choice of decor were really just avoidance. The last thing he wanted to think about was the weird mugging and the even weirder woman who’d come to his rescue…a rescue he hadn’t needed, he still stubbornly insisted.
With an impatient, oft-repeated gesture, he brushed a lock of black hair off his forehead and tried to clear his mind with a few deep, careful breaths. His swollen nose made it painful. He discarded the peas, centered himself, and began the soothing motions of his nightly Tai Chi routine.
He gave it up as no good after only ten minutes. He couldn’t hold the forms; he couldn’t get his breathing right; and his mind simply refused to focus. With a grumbled curse, he stripped out of his workout clothes and tugged on the shorts and t-shirt he wore as pajamas. He grabbed his laptop and the peas off the table and climbed up into the high bed. It was time for some serious Googling, he thought.
First things first: what could the vast reaches of the internet tell him about Guardians, and what exactly did they have to do with Jameson O’Connor, his mysterious and recently-deceased grandfather?
REVIEWS:
Night Owl Reviews: http://bit.ly/M9J5Su
Lady Caella: http://bit.ly/MaWnSi
Close Encounters w/ the Night Kind: http://bit.ly/LNtmOs
Rabid Reads: http://bit.ly/OG8W7W
Laurie’s Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews: http://bit.ly/KPT52m
Cathy Speight on Famous Five Plus: http://bit.ly/OUUO7p
Karen Bryant-Doering on FFP: http://bit.ly/NHcIx3
TeAmNeRd ReViEwS: http://bit.ly/MjXYBI
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Meg Whitlock has been writing nearly all her life, and she’s glad she finally got over her laziness and wrote the book she’s been dreaming about for years. She graduated from Queens University of Charlotte with a BA in Comparative Arts with an Art History specialization and an Ancient History minor…which is a mouthful no
matter how you say it. She has four cats (including an invisible one), a car named Babar, and a vivid imagination.
In 2001 her one-act play, “The Shoebox,” was produced by Catawba College in Salisbury, NC and presented at the American College Theatre Festival. She was honored by Art:21 and the Mint Museum of Art for her essay “Kara Walker: Using Stereotypes to Provoke Thought,” and she’s won awards for both her fiction and non-fiction writing.
Blog: http://blogbymegw.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/NrUEZy
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/megwhitlock
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/megwhitlockwrites
For the rest of the tour, please click here:
August 12, 2012
Hot Summer Heroes Blog Hop
Thanks for stopping for this blog hop! I want to thank H.D. Thompson, Bella Media Management and Caris Roane for organizing this hop. The grand prize is a $100 Barnes and Noble gift certificate. To get in on that, simple enter here. The winner from here will be entered into the grand prize drawing at the end of the hop. So what makes a hero hot?There are many things, but for the sake of brevity and pretty pictures, I gotta go with a ripped and rocking chest and stomach. Just for fun, let’s take a look at a couple of potential heroes…
And because his story was just released last week, we have to take a look at Hudson from the Six Saviors…
Click on the picture for blurb and trailerSigh.Wasn’t that pretty? So here’s the prize I’m offering: 1 $5 gift certificate to Amazon.com.
Enter below, and don’t forget to visit all the other awesome bloggers and authors participating in this hop! Thanks again or stopping by!
August 7, 2012
Touched By Death – Dale Mayer
Today I’m happy to have Dale Mayer here and her new book Touched By Death. She has been kind enough to offer up a copy, and your chance to win is down at the bottom of the post.
But first, she’s going to tell us about researching locations for her book. Take it away, Dale!
Doing the research for a new book is an integral part of the writing process. I can’t think of a single book or short story that I have written where some type of research wasn’t required.
With Touched by Death, the biggest chunk of research involved understanding Haiti. It’s not just the description of the countryside or a visual of the people, I needed to know. It’s so much more. It’s the flavor of the society. The smell by the beach. The smells around town and the markets. It’s the look of the old buildings before – and after the earthquake.
But it was the culture of the people and their recovery from the earthquake that decimated their country and forever altered their perspective on life I needed to understand – and to feel. As a writer, I have to know on the inside how my characters view and react to the situations. That can only happen if I know the background and past history of these characters.
Sound weird? Maybe, but it’s the way I write. I have to feel like I’m there, see it around me, know it at the DNA level. Of course, it would be a whole lot more fun to actually do a trip there and see firsthand how the country and society functioned. But that might work for someone who produces one book a year and who is a little more flush in the pocket than I am – I’m just not there yet.
So for me, the research is through the Internet. Google Earth and Google maps are dynamite. As are the many blogs and websites either promoting or talking about the places I am writing about. Recipes are another great way to understand a new location. I find a couple that are mentioned on several sites and try them out myself. There’s nothing like actually finding the ingredients and trying to make the food of another country to get a taste for their ethnic culinary uniqueness.
I research before and during the writing process. There is always something that I need to know while I’m churning out words. In a way that’s great. It keeps the process interesting. With every book, I am learning something new too.
After all, I want to keep my brain sharp so I can write for many more years to come! 
And now on to the book…
Blurb:
Death had touched anthropologist Jade Hansen in Haiti once before, costing her an unborn child and perhaps her very sanity. A year later, determined to face her own issues, she returns to Haiti with a mortuary team to recover the bodies of an American family from a mass grave.
Visiting his brother after the quake, independent contractor Dane Carter puts his life on hold to help the sleepy town of Jacmel rebuild. But he finds it hard to like his brother’s pregnant wife or her family. He wants to go home, until he meets Jade – and realizes what’s missing in his own life.
When the mortuary team begins work, it’s as if malevolence has been released from the earth. Instead of laying her ghosts to rest, Jade finds herself confronting death and terror again. And the man who unexpectedly awakens her heart – is right in the middle of it all.
Excerpt:
The women headed to the Iron Market and the few shops open along the way. The elegant mansions and townhomes spoke of days gone by. Once glorious in their regal bearing and bright colors, these buildings had taken a major knock from Mother Nature. Still, even with the damage from the earthquake, Jacmel was a tourist destination like no other. At least here, there were obvious revitalization attempts happening to get the city back on its feet.
The afternoon zipped by at a rapid pace – full of shopping, laughter and fun as the women ran from shop to shop and stall to stall buying a few items to make their job a little brighter and more comfortable. Jade was delighted to find several brightly colored t-shirts and cotton pants in a beige-khaki color. They would withstand a lot of wear and tear. At one brightly festooned stall, she found several hair clips big enough to hold her heavy blond hair off her neck.
If she’d had a little longer to prepare and pack, she’d have gotten a haircut. As it was, the clips would do for now. She could always get it cut here if she couldn’t stand the heat. Meg’s short curls looked perfect. And Susan’s fine black bob that stopped at her chin also looked comfortable.
“Now that has to feel better.” Meg patted Jade’s hair clip. “Nice. Now I almost wish I had long hair myself. Almost.” She grinned and picked up several clips. “I bet my sister would love a couple.”
“Later, when it’s time to go home. Too much to pack this early.”
“You’re right.” Meg put it back with a sigh. “Too bad though.”
As they headed back to the SUV Susan stopped at another brightly colored stall, one festooned with odd-looking handmade dolls. An old short and squat women – wearing so many necklaces, they almost obliterated the sight of her red blouse underneath – worked at the booth. The woman’s black gaze latched onto Jade and never let go.
Jade moved to the other side of Susan in an effort to get away from that piercing stare. And came too close to the weird-looking straw and cloth dolls. She noticed the papier-mâché looking ones painted in black with weird markings…and many other items she couldn’t begin to recognize. “What are these things?”
“Vodou paraphernalia.”
Jade shuddered and took several steps back. “Not for me, thanks.”
Susan shook her head vigorously. “No. You don’t get it. This stuff is for good luck. Used to ward off bad spirits.”
With a second shudder, Jade moved several steps back, shaking her hands in front of her. “I still don’t want one.”
Susan grinned and reached to pluck her choice off the top of the stall. “Well I do. Just what we need for the grave work.”
The transaction was done in silence. The old woman accepting the money never took her eyes off Jade. Unsettled, Jade did everything to avoid her. She wished Susan would hurry.
Finally they were done. Jade turned to leave when the old women moved off her stool so quickly, Jade never would have believed it possible if she hadn’t seen it herself. Before Jade could back away the old woman grabbed her by the arm.
“Danger stalks you. You see it but you don’t understand it. Careful. Or you will join those that have gone before.” She dropped Jade’s arm and returned to her stool beside her cart.
Jade froze. So shocked and horrified by the crone’s touch, she hardly understood what the old woman said.
Meg grabbed her arm. “Come on,” she hissed. “Forget about her. Let’s get back to the SUV.”
Susan snagged her other arm so the three walked back linked together.
“That was too weird,” Meg said. “I’m glad you got a doll, Susan. Good luck is just what we need.”
Available at:
Posted reviews from satisfied readers!
This book had so many twists and turns and I can honestly say that the ending truly surprised me! I was not expecting it to end the way it did so kudos to Ms. Mayer for keeping the suspense up until the ending. There are mentions of voodoo in the story but because this is Haiti, how can there not be? However, these do not take over the story and the evil in this story is purely human. This was a great mystery entwined with a good love story and just enjoyable all the way around. (Kmoaton)
Another well written, suspenseful book that’s come to be expected, by Dale Mayer. Her characters come alive and the story literally jumps off the pages. A mix of devastation from the earthquake in Haiti to painting a picture of the beauty that was untouched by it with a smattering of Haitian spiritual beliefs thrown in. Highly recommend. (Janet Fedor)
Dale Mayer has done it again. She’s written an amazing, page-turning book that’s unlike any other book I’ve read. I can’t imagine any other author setting a book in Haiti after a devastating earthquake – and pulling it off so brilliantly. I cared about Jade and Dane. They felt like real people in trouble. I admired them and wanted them to be safe and happy.
I’m good at guessing endings, but this book kept me in suspense up to the end. I already want to read Mayer’s next book! (E.S. Rose)
About the Author:
Dale Mayer is a prolific multi-published writer. She’s best known for Tuesday’s Child, Hide’n Go Seek, her romantic suspense novels that was one of the final four in the Kensington Brava/Romantic Times contest this last year. Besides her romantic suspense/thrillers, Dale also writes paranormal romance and crossover young adult books in several different genres. To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series . All her books are available in print format as well.
To find out more about Dale and her books, visit her at http://www.dalemayer.com. Or connect with her online with Twitter at www.twitter.com/dalemayer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dalemayer.author.
BOOKS BY DALE MAYER:
Psychic Vision Series
Tuesday’s Child
Hide’n Go Seek
Maddy’s Floor
Single Title Romantic Suspense/Thrillers
Touched by Death – out now!
Novellas
It’s a Dog’s Life- romantic comedy
Young Adult Books
Dangerous Designs – Book I
Deadly Designs – Book 2 – out soon!
Vampire in Denial – Book I of Blood Ties
Vampire in Distress – Book 2 out soon!
Gem Stone Mystery Series- out soon!
In Cassie’s Corner- soon
Non-Fiction Books
Career Essentials: The Resume
Career Essentials: The Cover Letter
Career Essentials: The Interview
Career Essentials: 3 in 1
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August 6, 2012
Love Like Krazy – Kristen Beairsto – Guest Post
Today I’m happy to be hosting Kristen Beairsto. She’s written a fabulous guest post on her first attempt at self-publishing, and she also has a great book out, Love Like Krazy. First, we’ll hear about Kristen’s first self-pub attempt, and then get an excerpt about the book.
Take it away, Kristen!
I get asked quite often why I decided to go the self-publishing route (or indie author route depending on your personal label preference). I’ve even had someone make the comment, “Don’t you think it’s easier to fail since you don’t have a big publisher behind you?”
Honestly, I don’t know. And personally, I don’t think it really matters. Why? Because failure can sometimes be the best thing to happen to you. (This is of course my own totally unscientific humble opinion.)
About four years ago, I waded into the publishing industry for the first time in the form of a self-published paperback fiction novel. Mind you, this was before epublishing became popular, so things weren’t quite as easy as it is today. I created my own publishing company and invested heavily in my product. I eagerly dove in after extensive research on different marketing strategies and felt confident I would succeed. My heart and soul went into the company and selling that book. What happened?
Epic failure. It was truly spectacular.
After a broken heart, a pity party, and several hours of wallowing and trying to figure out just what went wrong, I took a step back and re-evaluated. And I learned more from that failure than I ever would have learned if I had succeeded.
Now, I know that paperback I so proudly put out and fervently peddled is a prime example of what not to do when you decide to self-publish. Is it embarrassing? Sometimes, sure. Do I regret it? Not really (although I have moments where I roll my eyes at my naïveté at the time). But by and large, I don’t regret it at all. I tried my best and gave it everything I had, what more can I really demand of myself?
So maybe instead of focusing on the failure, we should let it happen. Not on purpose of course, but if it happens it happens, we learn and move on to the next adventure.
What do you think? Do you think we focus too much on the possibility of failure?
Available at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords
Blurb:
Most women would probably be offended at being mistaken for a stripper, but Kit Conner finds the situation rather comical. But despite Kit’s outward appearance of being able to handle just about anything, few are aware of the dark secrets Kit harbors and the demons she hides by cloaking herself in a wall of crazy antics and an outrageous fashion sense. As she returns to her hometown to play the role of maid of honor for her best friend’s wedding, Kit’s determined to hold on to those she holds dear for as long as she can. The only thing standing in her way is the absurd attraction she feels for Benjamin Mathews.
Benjamin Mathews is a guy who appreciates things to be slow, steady, and safe. Ben knows many consider him to be boring, but he’s happy with his life and loves the horse ranch he runs with his brother. The only thing he worries about is surviving the planning of his brother’s wedding.
With a wedding between Kit’s best friend and Ben’s younger brother fraying the nerves of everyone involved, Kit’s return home brings out her dark secrets into the light. The emotional overload starts to weigh on Kit and she begins to see Ben as an anchor. As their relationship intensifies, Kit struggles to believe they might actually have a future and soon finds herself fighting for the love she never thought possible.
Excerpt:
Ben and Greg arranged things so everyone could relax for the first few hours before the real entertainment showed up. Ben glanced at his watch and noted the stripper would show up in about an hour.
As he grabbed a beer for himself, he started to head towards the poker table. As he moved passed the front window, he heard the music before he saw its source. Loud blaring techno music nearly drowned out the country music behind him. It came from within a black Cadillac convertible pulling into the driveway. The New York plates said KRAZYLV.
The music suddenly died as the occupant in the Caddy turned the engine off. The driver’s head was covered in a red zebra stripped cowboy hat obscuring their face. As the driver climbed out, however, he had no doubt in his mind she was female.
Ben first saw the flame red cowboy boots step out of the car. She turned to close the car door and turned her back to him. Above the boots, red leather pants hugged every curve of two very long legs and wide hips. From there, a red tank top clung with a plunging neckline covering her torso, which included a flat stomach and large breasts. Long blonde hair curled at the ends around her breasts. But as she turned her back to him, Ben discovered the top only covered the front of her and a few crisscrossed strings held the top on in the back, exposing smooth skin. She bent over to grab something from the backseat of the car and displayed a very nice view Ben greatly appreciated.
When she turned to face him fully, he saw she still wore sunglasses despite the sun being almost completely set. Even from the distance he stood, Ben could see the deep red lipstick she wore, the heart shaped mouth practically invited a kiss. But between the sunglasses and hat brim pulled down, he still couldn’t see her face clearly.
She was an hour early, he mused, but he would forgive her since she was sure to stir the party up.
Outside, Kit pulled her backpack from the backseat of her Caddy, turned and glanced up at the two-story house where her best friend lived. She grinned, studying the exterior of the home. Apparently, her best friend was well on her way to becoming a Matthews.
The Matthews were one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the small California town. Raymond Matthews, Greg and Ben’s father, was a banker and venture capitalist. His wife, Loren, up until recently was a highly successful businesswoman and now, from what Kit understood, spent her extra time with her philanthropy. But unlike most of the rich people she came to know and meet, the Matthews were genuine people.
Of course, Ray and Loren Matthews weren’t above using a regal demeanor when the moment called for it, she mused.
Yep, Anne was well cared for, Kit decided as she started up the drive towards the front door. As she stepped closer, Kit realized she heard the low hum of country music and remembered the bachelor party Anne told her about. She smiled in anticipation as she wondered whether or not the stripper arrived yet.
Before Kit reached the door, it opened and Ben stepped out.
He still looked the same, she decided. Tall and handsome, with wide shoulders screaming lean on me, and those piercing midnight eyes.
Kit sighed inwardly as she felt the familiar flutter in her stomach. Damn, she was still attracted to him. Oh well, she dealt with it as a teenager, she could deal with it as a grown woman.
“Hi, you’re early, but that’s all right.” He looked down at her backpack and frowned. “If you don’t have a stereo or anything, that’s fine, but I hope you have your own music. I don’t think you’d like dancing to the stuff we have.”
Kit frowned, confused.
Ben watched her heart shaped mouth frown, the rest of her face still obscured from view. The backpack she carried didn’t seem to carry much. He certainly hoped she had her own music, for the price they were paying, the least she could do was provide her own music.
After a moment, a seductive smile slipped across her mouth. There was something oddly familiar about her, but unable to see the majority of her face because of her hat, sunglasses, and the dark, Ben wasn’t sure how he might know her.
“Don’t worry, sugar,” she offered in a husky tone, “I’ve got my own tunes.”
He gave her a friendly smile and nodded. “Good. Why don’t I announce you first?” He turned, opened the door and stood in the doorway, blocking the view inside the house. Ben asked someone to turn off the stereo. “Now, gentlemen, I would like to introduce the real entertainment of the night,” Ben announced.
Moving aside, Ben turned and motioned for Kit to step inside. The seductive smile stayed in place as she stepped over the threshold of the door. A few men whistled in appreciation, a few others gave catcalls.
Smugly watching his buddies’ reactions, Ben saw her mouth curve from the corner of his eye. Glancing down, Ben noticed she had yet to remove the sunglasses. Seeing her seductive smile change, something else nagged his brain.
“Honey, no offense, but what’s your costume?” Ben whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
Ben watched the amused smile spread fully across her lips. Pulling her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose, she turned slightly so the light in the room fully illuminated her face. She looked at him over the top of the glasses with familiar wide pale blue eyes dancing with mischief.
Ben felt his stomach hit the floor.
Her lips parted to reveal white even teeth. “A maid of honor,” she drawled with a knowing wink.
About the Author:
An avid reader since she first learned to read, Kristen discovered romance novels as a teenager. And what can she say? She was a goner. Kristen discovered she’s a sucker for a good love story, strong characters, and that all-important happily ever after. She wrote her first novel length story at the age of eleven and after falling in love with romance novels, her writing started featuring romantic elements.
When Kristen’s not reading or writing, she’s hanging out with friends, family, her two rambunctious daughters, and her exceedingly tolerate husband. She’s also a huge New York sports fan.
Website: www.KristenBeairsto.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKriste...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorKBeairsto
August 1, 2012
The Lady Knights of Barony – Elise Marion
I’m very excited to be participating in the release of The Lady Knights of Barony by Elise Marion. She’s offering up many prizes over at the Facebook Release party (http://www.facebook.com/events/383151... just have to read this post to get the clue you need.
And by entering below, you get your shot at an ebook copy of the Lady Nights…
Onward…
Book blurb:
Three women. Three stories. One Sisterhood.
With the war in Barony at an end, peace reigns and rebuilding efforts continue beneath the steady vigilance of King Serge and Queen Isabelle. The lady knights have returned home, unchanged by new titles and lands. But with a rash of kidnappings spreading across the province, the lady knights will find themselves torn apart by the machinations of a mad man.
Ava Longley, captain of the lady knights, never expected to become the target of an obsessed murderous madman. When a kidnapper is sent to abduct her, Ava sees it as the perfect opportunity to bring the mastermind to justice. To Julian Vincent, Lady Longley is no more than the means to an end. However, when sparks fly between them, Julian is faced with an impossible decision.
After being sold into slavery by her king and washing up onto the shore of Cardenas, the friendless African Amazon, Mudiwa Akua, was taken in by Barony’s female soldier’s regiment. When her tranquil existence is disturbed and she finds herself on a ship bound for the exotic island of Martinique, Mudiwa faces certain death and possible enslavement for the second time in her life, dredging up ghosts of a past she had long thought forgotten. When planter Isaac Prideux comes upon a mysterious African woman, beaten and half-dead, he takes it upon himself to care for her. He never imagined doing so would shake up his monotonous life so completely.
After the highly honored title of onna bugeisha—the feminine equivalent of a samurai—begins to lose its power in Japan, Hanako Kiyomi sees no choice but to flee. But when her deserted husband comes searching for her, Hanako escapes him the only way she knows how: marriage in name only to a stranger. Lord Garrick Overton has always admired the cool, stoic Hanako from afar. Marriage to the woman he’s desired for years seems like a good idea; until she proposes the marriage be in name only. As he sets out to win her heart, he faces not only a tough task but a begrudged man that will stop at nothing to win back what he has lost.
Their courage will be tried. Their hearts will be put to the test. Can three headstrong women maintain their independent natures while surrendering to love?
Excerpt: (Rated Spicy)
“I am sorry that our wedding ball was ruined,” he said.
“So am I. I am especially saddened over the loss of my new gown. Unfortunately, the skirt is torn beyond repair.”
Garrick shrugged. “I’ve already arranged a conveyance and escort for you tomorrow to Gladstone. Mrs. Mansfield has made you an appointment at a boutique to be measured for gowns. Shop to your heart’s content.”
Hanako thought of the courtesan’s invitation and felt relief. Now she had an excuse to go to Gladstone for their secret meeting. For tonight, she was hoping that one encounter would not impregnate her. Tomorrow night, Hanako would be prepared.
“That is very generous of you.”
Garrick smiled and stepped toward her, snaking one arm out to pull her against his bare chest. She felt his heat enveloping her, searing her skin through the thin dressing gown as he held her.
“You are my wife,” he responded, as if that explained it all.
Hanako brought her hand up to his cheek, entranced by the warmth in the depths of Garrick’s eyes.
“Not yet,” she said gently, “but in a few moments I will be.”
As if her words had freed him from invisible shackles, he cupped her face in his hands and brought his lips down over hers with a groan. They were soft and pliant, warm and slick on the inside as he caressed her tongue with his. Heat gathered within her immediately, intensifying with incredible force. Her knees buckled and Hanako brought her hands up to Garrick’s shoulders to steady herself as he deepened the kiss, tilting her head to gain better access to the depths of her mouth.
Their breathing grew harsh and heavy, racing between their joined lips as Garrick guided her toward the bed. Her back met one of the bed’s massive posters, and he pressed her up against it, grinding his hips against hers as his arousal grew thick and hard between them. A low moan sounded in her throat as the friction of their bodies moving together sent waves of longing through her. Despite her earlier trepidation, she was eager and ready knowing that this night would be one she’d never forget.
Garrick removed his shirt without breaking their kiss and Hanako raised her hands to the wide expanse of his blond hair-sprinkled chest. She lowered them over his flat stomach, bringing them to rest at the waistband of his breeches. Garrick grasped her hand swiftly, circling her wrist in a gentle but firm hold. His eyes glittered as he raised Hanako’s hand to his mouth, pausing with his lips hovering over her pulse.
“If you do not stop that, I can’t promise to take this slowly with you,” he murmured before laving the delicate skin of her wrist with his hot tongue. Hanako’s eyes slid shut and she leaned against the bedpost as he trailed a row of kisses up the inside of her arm.
“And I do want to do this slowly,” he breathed as he pushed back the sleeve of her robe to reveal more of her skin. “I want to explore your body and teach you a woman’s pleasure. Am I right in thinking that no other man has touched you?”
Hanako nodded, her mouth too dry for words.
Garrick sighed as he trailed his lips up to her silk-covered shoulder. He paused there as his hands came up to the belt at her waist.
“Good,” he said, his voice thick with desire as he tugged at the knot.
The robe opened and Garrick parted it, pushing it off of her shoulders. The garment pooled at her feet as Garrick’s eyes traveled over her nude body. He swallowed noisily, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly and the blue irises of his eyes were overtaken by the dilating black pupils. He reached out with one hand to touch her.
Hanako shivered as he ran his fingertips from the column of her neck, down over her collarbone, the crest of one breast, and the flat plane of her stomach before circling over her hipbone. He brought his hand up again, his breath rushing from his lungs as he palmed one breast. She moaned and arched her back, pressing the small mound more fully into his grasp. Her rosy nipple leaped to attention against his skin, puckering and hardening as he teased her with his fingers.
Garrick’s other hand came up to cover the other breast and Hanako felt a fluttering begin low in her core as he massaged and kneaded, the friction of his palms against the peaks sending a flood of heat and moisture flooding between her thighs.
“Garrick, please,” she whimpered, aching for the feel of his mouth.
He smiled down at her, tweaking one of the pink tips playfully, eliciting another moan from Hanako’s lips.
“Do you trust me, wife?”
Through the passionate haze clouding her vision, she tried to focus on him. Hanako trembled as he ran his hands the length of her body down to her hips before coming back up again.
“Yes,” she whispered as he touched her.
“Truly? Well, I am certain you do since you are offering yourself to me but if you do not mind, I’d like to put that trust to the test.”
Confusion intruded upon her desire and Hanako frowned. “What do you mean?”
With a wicked grin, Garrick reached behind her and untied one of the tasseled ropes holding the bed curtains against the posters. He held the silver rope up in front of her before gathering her hands in one of his.
“You withheld yourself from me because you did not trust me with your body. I know that we have not known each other long, Hanako, but I think I understand you a bit. You fear dominance and what it would do to your nature to give that kind of control to a man. But I am your husband and I want to show you that you have my utmost respect in every way.”
Hanako stiffened as Garrick raised her hands above her head, tying them both to the thick post.
“You’re tying my hands to gain my trust?”
He nodded as he checked his knots to ensure that they were not too tight.
“It will show you that you have nothing to fear, that even though I have you at my mercy, you can trust me to honor you. I will not abuse your trust, Hanako and I need you to understand that.”
He leaned down to kiss her again tenderly. “Let me show you, please.”
Sometimes things don’t go the way they are supposed to…
So the past couple of weeks, I’ve been feeling under the weather, and it seemed no matter what I did, nothing helped. I felt tired, sick to my stomach and just blah in general.
Then Monday I went to my doctor because of the stomach pains I was having, and an hour later I was flat on my back in the operating room having my pesky appendix removed.
I’m now in my second day of my hospital stay and waiting for the doctor to come in and tell me I can go home. Since I’ve been here, I’ve thrown up on a nurse, flashed my butt at a hallway full of people, and I may or may not have cursed at someone. I’m not a good patient, and I expect they want me out of here sooner than later.
What all this means to you….
Because I’ve been feeling so crappy, I haven’t been able to work on REBORN‘s final edits, so it’s not ready. And now that I’m recovering from surgery, it’s going to be even longer. Editing while on Vicodin probably isn’t a good idea.
I’m canceling the release party on Facebook. I know you have been waiting patiently, and I appreciate your enthusiasm. I promise that Hudson’s story will be out by the end of August at the latest.
Thank you for your patience – you guys are the best
With love,
Carly
July 27, 2012
REBORN – Excerpt 3
Another excerpt from REBORN…and just days away from the official release….
****
Beverly looked around the table. Noah and Abby sat together, as did Rayner and Faith. The talk was light, the laughter heavy, and the food was the best Mexican dishes she had ever tasted.
So she had seconds.
And then thirds.
She watched as the platters of food disappeared at an alarming rate, tracked the conversation, and drank more wine. She felt Hudson’s stare on her and she turned to him.
“Everything okay?” he asked, taking a sip of scotch.
“I’m good, Hudson.”
She looked around the table again, envy whipping through her. How she longed to belong to something like this. It was a family, and she felt the pang of loss at losing her mom, and she wondered again if she would ever have a family of her own.
To her, a family had always consisted of one of the nuclear variety—a mom, dad, a kid or two, a dog and a fish—give or take on the animals. Knowing that chances were high that she would never have biological children of her own had devastated her. But sitting at this table, she realized that family came in many different forms, and the true definition didn’t consist of people from the same blood lines, but people who cared deeply about each other.
Hudson took her hand. “You sure you’re okay, Bev? You look like you’re about to get teary on me.”
She smiled at him and nodded. “You’re very fortunate to have these people, Hudson,” she said quietly. “Don’t ever forget that.”
“Hey, what are you two whispering about down there?” Noah’s voice boomed. “Something the rest of us should know? Haven’t you told Beverly that there are no secrets in this house, Hudson?”
Beverly looked at Noah, who was smiling. He gave her a wink. “You’d be surprised at the secrets in this house, Noah,” she said with a grin.
A Hero’s Blog Hop
Hey there,
First, Carly wanted me to say thank you to Carrie Ann Ryan for her rockin’ organizational skills on this blog hop. The girl has her stuff together.
My name’s Hudson, and Carly’s new book, REBORN is about me and will be coming out in a few days. It’s book 3 of the Six Savior Series.
She calls me the hero of the book, and since this blog hop is all about heroes, she asked me to write something.
You know, she’s pretty nosy and demanding if you ask me. First she butts into my life and writes down stuff that probably shouldn’t be out there for public eyes, but do I say anything? No. Then she asks me to write this. I’m telling you, the woman can drive a male to the brink of insanity.
Seriously. Just ask her husband. The guy’s a fricking saint.
Sorry. I had to get that off my chest.
Anyway, yeah, so I’m the hero in REBORN. I’ve been thinking about what makes a good hero, and here’s what I’ve come up with.
First, heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Males, females, children…although with all the crap going on in your world, it is sometimes hard to find the good in people, but it is there.
Heroes have big hearts, and they care not just about their loved ones, but about people in general.
A hero is someone who can see past themselves, and be willing to sacrifice themselves for those they love. For instance, in REBORN I end up killing someone that I probably should have felt guilty for killing, but they were going to try to hurt my fellow Warriors and their mates. Not going to happen on my watch, my friend. I will go balls to the wall to protect those I love.
I think a hero is someone who is there for his or her family. I failed at this in REBORN, but I think I’ve redeemed myself since then. I would never tell them, but I do care about my fellow Warriors and their mates, and I think they get that from my actions. What’s the saying you humans have? Actions speak louder than words. Yeah. That’s how I roll.
So to celebrate heroes, Carly’s giving away a $5 Amazon Gift Certificate. And don’t forget about the grand prizes, a Kindle Fire/Nook Color (or equal gift card) for 1 grand prize and a $50 Gift Card for the second prize. Third prize will be the large swag pack.
But to get in on that, you gotta comment with your email address.
So enter below, and good luck. Thanks for stopping by, and hopefully I’ll catch you later when my story comes out.
For more on The Light Within Me – book 1 of the Six Savior Series (excerpts, reviews, etc.), click the picture:
For more on Finding My Faith- book 2 of the Six Savior Series (excerpts, reviews, etc.), do the same…
And for more on my story…you know the drill.
REBORN – excerpt 1
REBORN – excerpt 2
And when you’re ready to check out the other awesome authors and bloggers, click below.
July 26, 2012
Blood Moon Chronicles – June Spears
I’m very happy today to have June Spears here and her book the Blood Moon Chronicles. June was kind enough to answer some questions for me about the book, and about her personally, so let’s take a look at the interview, and then learn about the book. Also don’t forget to enter below to win a copy!
Is this book part of a series? If so, can you give a general description of the series?
Yes, this is actually the entire collection put together in one book.
Three warriors, Vampire, Witch, and Werewolf, are born into the human race. When they reach of age , they must put their human lives behind them and unite to fight for the good in darkness.
Do your characters talk to you? If so, what do they say?
It’s actually the other way around. I speak to my characters as I’m writing their plots. It makes them real to me.
What was your inspiration for this story?
It was actually a midnight spur of the moment kind of thing. I picked up my laptop one sleepless night and a month later it was complete.
How long did it take you to write this book?
It generally only took about a month to complete. But I put it away for a year and came back to it. It was very rough and needed much revising. It took me another two years to get through the revisions and editing process. But I’m happy with the over all outcome.
Which character of this book was the easiest to write?
“Zelenia” She was created in likeness of me.
What do you think about the self-pub industry?
It was over-whelming at first. I felt like a fish out of water, but I am getting the feel for all the hard work that comes with marketing yourself and getting my book in front of the public.
If you had to sum up advice to a new writer in two sentences, what would you say?
Make sure you’re ready to be criticized. While a few people will love your work, a lot of them won’t and most are not shy to tell you straight forwardly. Take their advice, be it bad or good and work with it. It will make you a better writer in the long run.
Trust yourself and your writing.
The Fun Stuff:
If you were one of the five people left after the zombie apocalypse, who would you want the other four to be?
Taylor Lautner, Ian Somerhalder, Channing Tatum, Enrique Iglesias
So we can repopulate the earth. (Note from Carly – LOL! I appreciate the sacrifice you’d be willing to make for the sake of humanity 
)
Day or Night? Why?
Definitely night, it is my somber time.
Favorite male celebrity? Why?
Taylor Lautner, Hott, Hott, Hott!!
Favorite Movie?
Twilight Saga (All of them)
Last book you read or the book you are reading now?
Awakened | House of Night Series
Favorite season? Why?
Winter, Summer is just too hot for my likeing’s.
And now on to the book…
Purchase Links: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008H4OGBA
Book Description:
Three young warriors, one of them with royal blood, will be born into the human race as natural enemies. They must overcome their differences to unite and bring light back into darkness. For there is no light without darkness, and there is no darkness without light.
However, victory does not come without a price.
Short Excerpt The Blood Moon Chronicles
A raven-haired teenager sat there, carefree , on the warm damp sand. She stared off across the water, her back to the forest. To the casual observer, she’d seem like a normal teenage girl.
To Everit, however, she was a rare diamond waiting to be polished.
The wind caressed her skin sending her hair blowing with its breeze, the scent of roses engulfed the forest. Everit closed his eyes and let the scent of her take him to a faraway place. He imagined her in a magical field, and the only thing that covered her were the black and red rose petals that fell all around her beautiful body. Her simple beauty was unlike anything he had seen in all his years.
Her body tensed, about to turn, so he dashed into the woods. He could not show himself to her. Not now. Not like this.
He was sent here to plant his seed, to fulfill the prophecy of the Dark Islands. He had not planned on falling in love, but the connection he felt was too strong to ignore. The imprint she left on his heart was stronger than his desire to remain indifferent could sustain.
Everit had watched her for weeks now. He knew his feelings for her complicated things, but he knew what he was sent here for. He could not fail his people. Loving her made leaving her behind that much harder.
He made an oath to himself to find a way to protect her at a distance, even if it meant his own death.
Author Bio:
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, June E Spears had spent her early years writing 
mostly poems and school songs. However, she could not escape the allure of storytelling and quickly began studying to become a novelist. She began by reading every chance she had. Mostly Fantasy and Romance novels, June’s love of writing was uncontrollable. Once she began typing, she never stopped.
June is best known for her Fantasy Novelette Series “The Blood Moon Chronicles”. She is a single mother to her only daughter Isabella Rose.
https://twitter.com/#!/JuneESpears
https://www.facebook.com/indieauthorfuneespears
http://thebloodmoonchronicles.com/
http://junespears.wordpress.com/
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00827P08A
http://kdpfreebielist.blogspot.com/
