Lisa Rayns's Blog, page 35

Welcome Cera duBois

Please welcome Cera duBois! She's stopped by to answer a few questions.

Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself. What do you do for fun?

Hi Lisa, thanks so much for letting me come onto your blog and talk about my latest release, A Hunter’s Angel, book 1 of The Hunter’s Dagger Series.

I live in Central PA with the famous Gettysburg Battlefield to my south and the state capitol of Harrisburg to my north. I like to think I have the best of both worlds. I pretty much live in suburbia, but I’m surrounded by dairy farms and the northern side of the South Mountains. I’m married to my college sweetheart and we have a teenage son and a daughter. I write in two genres. Under my pen name, Cera duBois, I write paranormal romantic suspense. Under my real name, Sara Walter Ellwood, I write contemporary Westerns.

For fun, I like to spend time with my family and watch movies. I love to read (though sadly have very little time to do so—thank God my TBR pile is digital or I’d be smothered in a mountain of books!) and I love to garden. I recently started making jewelry, too, and that’s fun because my daughter likes to help me.

Q: What do you like most about the genre you write in?

I write in two genres. So, I’m going to talk about both. I love paranormal romance for the vampires. I’m intrigued by the idea of living for ever (not that I’d really want to), and I’m love tortured heroes and/or heroines. I love the vampire myth as set forth in Dracula and The Vampyre.

As for the other genre I write, I love contemporary Westerns for a whole slew of reasons, but mostly, I love cowboys and small town sheriffs heroes and the often tough as nails heroines. Besides, with my Westerns, I can blend in my love for country music and military heroes/heroines and all things Americana.

Q: Where is your favorite place to write?

I love to sit on my deck and write during the warmer months. In the winter, I’ve converted a sun/family room into my office and can look out over my flower garden in the backyard.

Q: What’s your next project?

I’m working on several projects at the moment. I’m currently writing book three of my paranormal series—The Hunter’s Dagger Series, titled A Hunter’s Wings. I’m also writing book 3 of my contemporary Western suspense series—The Colton Gamblers, titled Gambling On A Dream. Besides I have a few other things I’d like to finish this coming year in both genres.

I’m also gearing up for the release of book 2 of The Hunter’s Dagger Series, A Hunter’s Blade, January 2 from The Wild Rose Press, and Gambling On A Secret, book one of The Colton Gamblers, January 7 from Lyrical Press. Then in May, I have a second stand-alone contemporary Western, Heartstrings, coming out from Lyrical. So, between trying to write, do edits and promotion, I have very little free time.

Q: And lastly, how do you feel about Dr. Pepper?

LOL… I don’t mind Dr. Pepper, but I’m a Mountain Dew gal.



A Hunter’s Angel , book 1 of The Hunter’s Dagger Series.
Blurb:The serial killer stalking Clayton, Pennsylvania, isn’t all that has Chief of Police Grace Wallace worried. For a year, she’s tried to forget Special Agent Ian McHenry and now he’s the expert the FBI sent to catch the killer. She can’t stay away from him, but something primal is telling her to run to save much more than just her heart. Despite the strict code of ethics Ian vowed to follow as a vampire hunter, he craves Grace’s blood above all others. If he chooses to stay, Ian risks losing his chance at divine forgiveness. But if he leaves Grace unprotected from the evil he’s hunted for over a century, he loses more than just his soul…
Excerpt:“I’m in love with the man inside the vampire.” Grace moved her hand to thread through his silky hair. When she rested the other over his heart, a soft sigh escaped his lips. Underneath her palm, the slow beat was barely noticeable.
His thumb grazed her cheekbone and slowly trailed down to the hollow of her throat. Her breathing quickened at the zinging anticipation as he caressed the pulse point where he’d claimed to have taken blood from her. He glanced at the spot with eyes as haunted as he sounded. “I’m not a man.”
“But you were once.”
He met her gaze again. “Yes, once.”
His fingers lingered over her pulse. Her heart raced under his touch. She tilted her neck as if his touch awakened some base instinct to offer the sacrifice. “Do you still want my blood?”
Ian stepped away and locked his wide-eyed gaze onto hers. At last, he rasped, “No, I don’t want your blood. Oh, God, I still crave it. You have the sweetest I’ve ever had, but I will never hurt you again.”
She didn’t know what possessed her to do so, but she whispered, “You can take...some of it.”
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he acidly said, “No, Grace. I can never taste your blood again. It would kill you.”
Fear of what she’d wanted him to do tumbled through her. She stepped away, and for a moment, she considered telling him to leave. How did she know any of this was real? She couldn’t imagine she’d ever freely offer a vampire her blood. Did she really believe him? He was sucking her into his insanity. But if this was true and he could make people do things against their will, maybe he could control her feelings.
“Maybe I should go?” Ian backed away another step and headed toward the counter where he’d left his dagger. He turned back to her with the sheath in his hand. Her heart shattered with the knowledge that, if he walked out the front door, she’d never see him again. “Goodbye, my sweet angel.”
His jagged murmur ripped at her soul as his eyes took on a blazing intensity and snared hers. She felt a pressure in her mind, and she knew what he intended to do. He wanted to erase her memories of him.
No!
Buy Links:TheWild Rose PressAmazonBarnesand Noble


A Hunter’s Blade , book 2 of The Hunter’s Dagger Series, Coming January 2 from The Wild Rose Press
Blurb:Brigit Wolfe, a born werewolf, hasn’t killed a human in over a hundred years, although now, she wonders if the animal attacking people in Silver Creek, Colorado, isn’t her. But she might have bigger problems when her cowboy neighbor, Austin Calhoun, ambles into her bar. Austin hasn’t been a vampire for long, but he is determined to prove to himself that he’s worthy of his hunter’s dagger. Brigit’s rare beauty and blade-sharp tongue enchants him. She ignites a passion he thought was dead, but is she the killer his master sent him to destroy? During Austin’s investigation regarding Brigit’s involvement in the deaths, an old crime surfaces connected to her human best friend. These two immortal enemies have to join forces to solve the mystery before someone else dies. But can they survive the heat of their own desire?


Bio:Cera duBois has a strong belief in never giving up on your dreams…Although Cera was unable to read due to dyslexia and a learning disability until she was in the fourth grade, she always had a story to tell. She wrote her first novel in eleventh grade when she had to keep a journal for her academic English class. Since her life was far from exciting growing up as a farm girl in West Central Pennsylvania, she decided to rely on her imagination to give her something to write about. Over the course of the school year, she wrote a tangled romance set in the Deep South during the Civil War.  Becoming an author was her ultimate dream. Despite holding a BS in secondary social studies education from Penn State University, she currently works full-time as a medical secretary. A mother of a teenage son and pre-teen daughter, she lives near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with her husband of nearly 20 years. If she isn’t sitting in a quiet corner with her laptop, warm days will find her in the English garden surrounding her house. Cera loves to read and is interested in history, romance, science fiction and the paranormal. She also writes contemporary Westerns under her real name of Sara Walter Ellwood.
Website Links:Website: http://www.ceradubois.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarawalterellwood.ceradubois/Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sara_w_ellwoodTo Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mVxXf

Once Upon a Midnight Dreary Book Blast

Once Upon a Midnight DrearyOnce Upon a Midnight Dreary is a collection of seven short stories with a spooky edge.

Carnival of Darkness by Stephanie Nelson (Author of the Gwen Sparks & Anna Avery series) Andee Baker met the man of her dreams and then made a complete fool out of herself. She thought she would never see him again until her best friend, Claire, got an invitation for both of them to attend the Carnival of Darkness from the guy Andee couldn’t stop thinking about. They jump at the opportunity to go, but even before Andee crosses the entrance, she realizes there's something peculiar about the carnival. The ticket master's red eyes and the waltzing ghost are anything but cheesy special effects. Andee discovers at the Carnival of Darkness not everything is as it seems.

Machado by Lola James (Author of the Spellbound & Fate series)A weekend of fun, romance, and ghost stories at abeautiful beachside hotel was the plan. But Mackenzie had a bad feeling about the trip since the moment her husband and friends brought it up. The Machado Inn was a place where legends came to life and the past roamed the hallways. Guests came to stay the night, but few made it out alive. The Visitor by Liz Schulte (Author of the Guardian Trilogy and Dark Corners) Reverend Black hated storms. Rumbles from the Heavens promised violence and retribution this night, but he could only watch as the blackness descended. The tempest did not come alone. A visitor walked before it—patient and silent. The torrential downpour would wash away the mask, the gales would tear away carefully constructed lies, and the flashes of light would expose the truth—a truth that wouldn’t set him free.

Miss Stake by C.G. Powell (Author of the No Uncertain Logic series)Alligators, snakes, and old boyfriends...Oh my. The swamp is a dangerous place, but it’s nothing Veronica can’t handle. That is until a weekend in the marshes brings to light a whole new set of dangers. Now that the supernatural cat is out of the bag, Veronica’s life will never be the same.

Dark Road Winding by Olivia Hardin (Author of the Bend-Bite-Shift Trilogy)Johana Hall has her hands full juggling personal life and her public relations career in Washington DC. The last thing she needs is to get called back to Texas because her Grandpa H.M. believes he’s being haunted. Adult Protective Services wants to put the elderly ex-con in a nursing home, but mysterious happenings at the homestead convince Johana he isn’t as crazy as everyone thinks. Getting to the bottom of the local legend is the least of her worries when she realizes someone is willing to go to any means to get her grandpa off Sara Jane Road. Can she figure things out before it’s too late?

Redeemed by Mandie StevensEva never claimed to be a good guardian angel, but she tries. After losing two charges, the Powers That Be have begun to doubt her abilities. To redeem herself, Eva sets out to rescue Elsie, granddaughter of the former king of the Fae. A Demon has kidnapped Elsie to complete an ancient ritual that will allow them to slip through the veil between Earth and Hell on Halloween. With unlikely friends in tow—a human liaison, a fallen angel, and a powerful yet distractingly charming vampire—Eva is in a race against time. Save Elsie, save the world—and her job.

Vicis by Cait Lavender (Author of the Lupine Moon Series) Raised captive by a powerful corporation named Vicis, life inside the facility was all 56 knew until she met Adam. When she's slated to be euthanized, no longer considered a valuable asset for the company, she takes her life into her own hands. With her considerable abilities and Adam’s help, 56 will fight to free them both from Vicis’ clutches and learn to feel something she's always been denied: Love.

7 Stories only $3.99 Kindle / Nook /Smashwords

Blast starts Oct 18. Open US Prizes include - Nevermore messenger bag, $25 Amazon Gc, coffee cup and postcards, Nevermore pendant, Nevermore T-Shirt, 1 Tree pendant, 3 bracelets, and 2 totes

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A Political Affair Blog Tour

A Political Affair A Political Affair isn't Fifty Shades of Red, White, and Blue, but it is a love story with spice and political intrigue. Stephen McEvoy never expected to fill his father’s U.S. Senate seat at such a young age—or to fight to keep it. When clever Anne Norwood interns in his office, Stephen dismisses her as another pretty face—until her independent streak catches his attention. They’re both too smart to fall for one another, yet they do. During a tough election, their relationship is an impossible political gamble. Campaigns—like love—are either won or lost.

Follow Mary Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook

Releases Oct 18 Amazon Purchase her Novella A Very Important Guest

Even before she graduated from law school, Mary knew she wasn't cut out to be a real lawyer. Drawn to politics, she's spent her career as an organizer, lobbyist, and nonprofit executive. Nothing piques her interest more than a good political scandal or romance, and when she stumbled upon writing, she put the two together. A born Midwesterner, naturalized Texan, and transient resident of Washington, D.C., Mary now lives in Northern California with her two daughters and real lawyer husband.

Tour Starts October 15.  

The author is giving away 2 e books , a $10 Amazon GC (Open INT), and 2 swag Packs (Open US/ Can)

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Lady Luck Runs Out Book Blast

Lady Luck Runs OutFall tourist season in St. Pete has kicked into high gear for Darwin Winters, pet psychic, but that doesn't stop her from getting tangled up in a new murder investigation. Rose Faraday, a gypsy fortune teller, has succumbed to a rattlesnake bite in her own condo. After a run-in with the victim's traumatized cat, Darwin knows it was no freak accident. Can she find a way to prove it? Or will the killer get lucky and get away with murder?  
Follow the author, Shannon Esposito Website / Facebook / Twitter / GoodreadsBuy On KINDLE/ NOOK /SMASHWORDS    The contest is open to US/ Can residents. Ends October 30 Fill out the form below to enter.

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The Wedding Wager Book Blast

The Wedding Wager

Kevin Wake hates being rich. He despises everything his father stands for, but he can’t abandon his kid sister and baby brother. Their future is tied to his own. When his father threatens to rob them all of their mother’s legacy, Kevin takes bold action to protect what should be theirs.

Megan Mully is out of the hospital at last. But she’s homeless, jobless, broke and alone. Love is the last thing on her mind. Kevin is just a means to an end. She never expected him to steal her
heart!

Purchase on Amazon.

About the Author

Hi! I’m Regina Duke. I’ve been writing for (gasp!) fifty years, collecting some lovely rejection slips along the way. When indie publishing became a possibility, I decided this was my opportunity to find out if people really enjoyed my books or not. What a wonderful way to share my stories! I wake up every morning, looking forward to writing the next one. And I am delighted by the responses from readers.

When I’m not writing, I am teaching my dogs tricks and attending dog events in obedience, rally, and agility. Many of my books have dogs in them. Two Labrador pups wend their way onto the pages of The Wedding Wager. I also enjoy adding flowers to my garden, and this year I even produced some cherry tomatoes! I hope you’ll visit my website and blog, and if you like, follow me on Facebook and Twitter!

Follow Regina Duke
Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter

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The Bridge Club Book Blast

The Bridge Club 

How far would you go to help a close friend? Is there a place where you might draw the line and simply have to say no? 

The story = Eight women. Four decades of friendship. One unimaginable request. Where can you find a story about friendship, laughter and the good things in life that also touches on alcoholism, infidelity, porn addiction, illness and grief? For many women, it’s often within their own circle of friends. Whether your BFFs are in their twenties or are seniors, everyone has a story. 

The Bridge Club reminds us of the complexities of women’s friendships through an entertaining and often moving tale of eight women whose lives intersect once a month initially to play the game of bridge. What began as one night turns into four decades that span the segments of a woman’s journey from youthful optimism to embracing the challenges and opportunities presented in life’s later years. 

Based loosely on the author’s own bridge club, the story weaves the reader through a maze of life’s inevitable scenarios. This is a novel for anyone who values friendship. Not simply the “Hi, how are you?” type of friendship but rather the kind that weathers all sorts of storms, unselfishly celebrates triumphs, and hums along year after year with never an unkind word. It does exist. If you have such a friendship in your life you will relate to the women in The Bridge Club. If you don’t, perhaps the story will inspire you to search for it. Through laughter, tears, and everything in between the story meets life head on and affirms that building a strong foundation of friendship is a priceless asset. 

Purchase the Book: Kindle | Paperback | Barnes & Noble | Chapters IndigoAlso available at Amazon.ca | Amazon.uk

About The Author 

Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada and sometimes the south of France. With a happily blended family of seven adult children and, at last count, six grandchildren, life is full and time is short. Her award-winning novel, The Bridge Club, was recently a Finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and a Finalist in the 2012 Indie Excellence Book Awards. Her next novel, The Promise of Provence, should be available by December 2012.

Follow Patricia Sands: Website | Facebook | Twitter

The author is giving away 3 swag and print book packs. Open US/ Can ends 11/23 11:59 PM EST. Fill out the form below to enter. 
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Maui Widow Waltz Book Blast

Maui Widow Waltz

Even “death do us part” couldn’t spoil her wedding day plans… Wedding planner Pali Moon is thrilled when a would-be bride shows up at “Let’s Get Maui’d” inquiring about a lavish beach wedding. That is, until she learns it must be on Valentine’s Day, just nine days away. Oh yeah,and one other little hitch: the groom disappeared at sea a week earlier. But the bride’s convinced he’ll be found safe and sound, so she’s got a plan–and a man–to do a proxy ceremony if necessary. The day before the big nuptials a man’s body washes ashore on a South Maui beach. Has the groom finally shown up? If so, what’s it going to be–a wedding…or a funeral? This is the FIRST book in the “Islands of Aloha Mystery Series”.
Author JoAnn Bassett

JoAnn Bassett grew up in Seattle, but always preferred palm trees to pine trees. She owned a firefighter training business and raised a son, always hoping to someday make a day at the beach an everyday reality. In 1996, she and her husband bought a home on Maui and made the dream come true.

Purchase on Amazon.

Follow the author on: Website | Facebook | Twitter

The author is giving away an Islands of Aloha Gift Box, with signed print copies of the first three books in the “Islands of Aloha Mystery Series” along with great Hawaiian goodies such as Kona-style coffee, special tropical tea, yummy bath products with paradise scents. It’s like a quick trip to Hawaii–without the annoying TSA pat-down!

Brought to you by Promotional Book Tours. Enter to win & Follow the tour here!

Curse of the Ice Dragon Book Blast

Curse of the Ice DragonFrom the bestselling YA paranormal author of The Whispers Series comes a new fantasy saga. Born with mark of the Mighty Hunter, Markus saves his village from the brink of starvation --for whenever he releases an arrow, his aim is true. But for all of his skill and strength, Markus doesn't dare stand up to his abusive father. Shamed by his cowardice, he seeks distraction by needlessly shooting the forest creatures. The village prophet warns Markus that the Ice Goddess will unleash The Hunter’s Curse. For every animal Markus kills, a person he loves will suffer the same fate. When Markus takes no heed, The Goddess unleashes her ice dragon. Now Markus must flee the dragon without killing it ... or his beloved brother will be the next to die.
Author Tara West Former Texas high school teacher, I enjoyed coaching the writing team and even the hectic deadlines that came with running the school publications. After taking a break to raise my baby girl, I now work from home as a novelist and a part-time graphic designer. In my spare time, I love to read, exercise and spend time with my family and friends.

Follow Tara West: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Website

The author will be giving away $50 Amazon gift card, five signed books, and ebooks Fill out the form below to enter. Open Internationally or wherever you can use Amazon GCs. The signed books are open to members of the US.

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Your Mark on the World Book Tour

Your Mark On The WorldYour Mark On The World combines inspiring stories of ordinary people doing remarkable things to make the world a better place with practical advice to empower anyone to give more to a cause (charity, non-profit or social venture) without giving up a career or family. 

The inspiring stories include: 
Botevy's life and death struggle through Pol Pot's killing fields that led her ultimately to create an orphanage in Phnom Penh. 

Rick's personal crusade to cure cystic fibrosis to ensure that his two afflicted grandchildren will attend his funeral and not the other way around. 

The eight-member Smith family's world service tour. 

David's decision to walk away from a successful career as an international executive to volunteer to care for victims of leprosy in rural India. 

These stories are combined with practical financial advice to empower you to give more to a cause without giving up your family or your career. 

The book answers these questions: 
How do I get out of debt and stay out of debt? 

Which charity or cause do I choose to make my donation? 

How do I decide where to volunteer? 

How can our family plan a volunteer vacation? 

How can I save money for retirement? 

How much should I contribute to my 401k? 

Can I use Mint to manage my budget? 

How to retire early enough to devote healthy years to volunteering? 

This must-read book provides an overview of philanthropy in America and around the world, providing you with a clear picture of charity and its fruits. You'll learn the ability to leave your mark on the world. 

Purchase on Kindle / Paperback / Nook / Smashwords

Follow Devin D. ThorpeBlog: YourMarkOnTheWorld.comFacebook.com/Yo... @devindthorpe or #yourmarkontheworldNewsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/NLQBn6

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Follow the Tour Tour Prize - 50 Amazon Giftcard and 5 Autographed Books Open US/ Can ends 11/18/2012 

Flukes Released

Meena has a secret guarded closely by her family—a secret as dangerous as the sea, and buried just as deep. When court appointed community service workers are assigned to Flukes, the family-owned animal sanctuary, everyone is on high alert. It doesn’t help that Meena finds herself attracted to sexy-as-sin Blake Weathering, one of the new workers. If he wasn’t so distracting, she might be able to land Flukes a much-needed cruise line contract.
Blake Weathering, the first in his family to attend public school, has developed a tough image. Unfortunately it lands him in trouble. Now banned from his high school graduation ceremony, getting his diploma is dependent upon a community service gig cleaning fish crap. No diploma, no trust fund fortune—and no way to escape his overbearing father. The last thing he needs is the distraction of a mysterious girl with teal eyes who pulls at his heart strings.
When Blake discovers Meena’s secret, they are both thrown into a desperate search for information about her past. Two worlds pull them in opposite directions, and they will have to fight to hold onto all that really matters.


Author Info:Nichole Chase is a daydreamer.

No, really, just ask any of the math teachers that had the misfortune of seeing her name appear on their class schedule.

For years she has had story lines and characters begging for attention, but she resolutely pushed them aside to focus on more normal (read, boring) jobs. Well, no longer She is currently heeding the voices in her head and frantically writing their stories. Nichole resides in South Georgia with her husband, energetic toddler, crazy dog, and two cats.

Nichole is the author of the Dark Betrayal Trilogy, Flukes, and the upcoming Suddenly Royal. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you may find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.


Linkswww.nicholechase.com

http://www.nicholechase.blogspot.com

@NicholeChase

http://www.facebook.com/author.nicholechase Amazon: 
Mortal Obligation

Mortal Defiance

Barnes and Noble:Mortal Obligation

Mortal Defiance