Lisa Bilbrey's Blog, page 62

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Bernard Foong

Author’s Bio
Young alias Bernard Foong is, first and foremost, a sensitivist. He finds nuance in everything. To experience the world he inhabits is an adventure which is mystical, childlike and refreshing. He has a rare ability to create beauty in a unique fashion. His palettes have been material, paint, words and human experiences.By Christine Maynard (screenwriter and novelist).
Bernard Foong (designer) – A brief history
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the age of 8, he was assisting his aunt and cousin, learning the art of sewing and fabrics/colors matching. He attended an exclusive private boarding school in the United Kingdom before obtaining his Diploma in Fashion Design at the Harrow College of Art & Technology in London, England.  He went on to complete his Master of Design at the Royal College of Art & Design, London, England. During his college years he won several international fashion awards and was already retailing bridal and evening dresses to several well known department stores in England. Liberty of London, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols to name a few that carried his designs. His Royal College of Art graduation wedding/evening wear collection was sold to Liberty of London and displayed in their store windows for the entire month of June that year.
For four years, he worked for Liberty’s bridal department as their in-house designer until a trip to Hong Kong, while working on a freelance project for ‘Bird’s’(casual wear) company, he was recruited by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as their Fashion professor for the next 6 years. During his stay in Hong Kong, he freelanced for numerous fashion companies. From designing casual wear, swimwear, lingerie, and fur garments, men’s wear, bridal and evening fashions to accessories (bags, shoes, and head-wear). He also participated and organized numerous fashion shows, events, functions, and presentations in the Asia Pacific region.
Working for Keys Far East Hong Kong as chief lingerie designer - travelling extensively to the United States, he was soon  recruited as an Associate Fashion Design/Illustration Professor to the University of Wisconsin, Madison and also lectured at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design for a couple of years.
Foong was then appointed as the Fashion Development Manager by an established department store – Parkson Grand (22 stores in Malaysia and one in Shanghai, China). Producing under the label, Natural Life by Bernard Foong, he designed casual-wear collections for the Parkson Grand’s flagship store in Kuala Lumpur. After a couple of years later, he was invited by the Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore to join their design school to establish a Fashion Design department. For two years, he assisted several founding members of the design school - working on the fashion department’s teaching curriculum.
The Fitzgerald Theatre Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Oahu, Hawaii awarded a full scholarship for Foong to complete his second Master of Art in Theatre Costuming. Now a resident on the Island of Maui, he has assisted many charity organizations in their fund raising events with his extravagant fashion and performance shows/presentations. In 2005, he and his partner, Mr. Walter Jay Bissett opened Fire Dragon Bistro Orient & Design Shop. He also designs costumes/fashions for numerous theatrical productions in Hawaii and abroad.
 Appointed as chief lingerie designer for Cerie International Limited – Hong Kong, his lingerie designs can be found in major department stores in Canada and the United Kingdom.
He showcased the BERNARD FOONG R-T-W collections and BERNARD FOONG @ Modern Classic Ltd. (an established – Hong Kong bridal & evening wear company) collections in Hong Kong. His 2008 & 2009 bridal/evening/bridal lingerie fashion show, “Grace” & “Coming Up Roses” were premiered at Hong Kong Fashion Week in July 2007 and January 2008 respectively at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center, garnering positive interest in many Asian press reviews, including a China nationwide television broadcast of his latest collection. Aika (International Opera Singer) wore several Bernard Foong special occasion dresses at her Japan & European tour in September & October 2009.
Foong was the chief Creative Director for Official (Special Occasion fashion manufacturing company) Guangzhou, China  producing – BERNARD FOONG Couture (specialty one-of-a-kind creations), White (RTW - Wedding/Special Occasion wear), Foxy Cute (Smart Casual/Cocktail wear), SexZ  (decorative bustier) & Diva Bitch (sexual lingerie inner/outer-wear) collections.
Besides working on his regular haute couture, R-T-W and lingerie collections he is a visiting consultant/advisor for:Pivot Point fashion college, Chengdu, China.Hong Kong Design Institute (fashion department), Hong Kong, SAR.Hong Kong Poly/U, Hong Kong (School of Apparel Design & Merchandising), SAR.Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, Hong Kong.Singapore Temasek Polytechnic – School of Apparel Design & Merchandising (ADM), Singapore.
Bernard is also writing his autobiography, a seven book series of Mr. Foong’s young life:
  A Harem Boy’s Saga: A Memoir by Young. This provocative story spanning 4 decades and 3 continents is about a boy who was sent to a very exclusive English boarding school in the 1960s where he was initiated into a clandestine sexual society and then spirited away to serve in wealthy and elite Middle Eastern harems ." A Harem Boy’s Saga series is published by Solstice Publishing and is available in print and E-books internationally.


Synopsis: A Harem Boy Saga; A Memoir. Book 1 - INITIATION. This provocative story is about a young man who was initiated into a clandestine sexual society. He was spirited to the Middle East, from his UK boarding school. He attended the Bahriji School (Oasis,) in The United Arab Emirates in preparation for serving in Harems for the wealthy and elite.
It is also a love story between the young man and his ‘Valet’ who served as his chaperone and mentor during the boy’s Harem service.
Author’s note:I had a privileged and unique upbringing in Malaysia, where I was known as a "sissy boy." Following in my brothers' footsteps, I was sent to an exclusive boarding school in England. It is there that I was inducted into a clandestine organization, E.R.O.S. The Enlightened Royal Oracle Society. For four years, unbeknownst to my family, I was willingly and happily part of a Harem.
My story has been kept under wraps for close to 45 years. The correct moment has arrived for me to make known my unique education.
young@aharemboysaga.comwww.aharemboysaga.com

Unbridled is the sequel to Initiation - A provocative story about a young man who was initiated into a clandestine sexual society. He was spirited to the Middle East, from his UK boarding school. He attended the Bahriji School (Oasis,) in The United Arab Emirates in preparation for serving in Harems for the wealthy and elite.
It is also a love story between the young man, his ‘Big Brother’ and his ‘Valet’ who served as his chaperones and mentors during the boy’s Harem services.
This book follows the teenagers’ erotic and exotic adventures and experiences at their 2nd Arab Household Harem, the Sekham. They were apprentices and models, for the household patriarch’s controversial photography project, “Sacred Sex in Sacred Places”.
The author's experiences present facts that are truthful. Through these truths, which are often demonized by contemporary societies that deem such behaviors inappropriate, the author hopes to dispel condemnations and negativity which relate to his experiences. 
There are 5 - 7 volumes in A Harem Boy’s Saga series.


Synopsis
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”Lao Tzu
Debauchery is the triquel to A Harem Boy’s Saga , a provocative story about a young man who was initiated into a clandestine sexual society through his UK boarding school. From there, he was spirited to the Middle East to attend the Bahriji (Oasis) School in The United Arab Emirates in preparation for Harem services for the wealthy elite.
It is also a love story between the young man, his ‘Big Brother,’ and his ‘Valet,’ who served as his chaperones and mentors.
This book follows the teenagers’ erotic and exotic adventures and experiences at their third Arabian Household Harem, the Quwah. There, they became confidants to a prince, assistants in an international dance club venture, “Carousel,” and apprentices and models in a controversial photography project, “Sacred Sex in Sacred Places.”
This story is an account of the author’s experiences. Through these truths, often demonized by contemporary societies that deem such behaviors inappropriate, the author hopes to dispel condemnation and negativity related to sexuality, love, and personal freedom. 
A Harem Boy’s Saga is a series of seven volumes.
For further information please visit or contact:Bernard Foong (a.k.a. Young)www.aharemboysaga.comyoung@aharemboysaga.com Emerantia Antonia Parnall-Gilbert: Gilbert Literary Agency)hawkspurrproductions@gmail.comMelissa Miller: Solstice Publishingsolsticepublishing@live.com


Synopsis: No Distance Between Us

An Excerpt from A Harem Boy’s Saga - I – Initiation; a memoir by Young.

It is also a love story between the young man and his ‘Valet’ who served as his chaperone and mentor during the boy’s Harem service.
Author’s note:
I had a privileged and unique upbringing in Malaysia. Following in my brothers' footsteps, I was sent to an exclusive boarding school in England. It is there that I was inducted into a clandestine organization, E.R.O.S. The Enlightened Royal Oracle Society. For four years, unbeknownst to my family, I was willingly and happily part of a Harem.
My story has been kept under wraps for close to 45 years. The correct moment has arrived for me to make known my unique education.
There are 7 books to this series.

young@aharemboysaga.comwww.aharemboysaga.com


A Harem Boy’s Saga; a memoir by Young series:5 stars Reviews:


5 stars: OMG, OMG, OMG - I can't believe this is a real story! By Wendy AcostaFormat:Kindle EditionNever have I read a story that has me exclaiming "OMG, OMG, OMG" every few chapters. This autobiographical story shares the intensely personal journey of a young boy as he comes of age in the midst of a male harem in the middle east. He experiences all the things that forbidden and taboo...you know those "unmentionable elephants in the room" that we are warned about from an early age. I had to read this real life adventure to find out how messed up and damaged he must be. Imagine my surprise to meet an emotionally healthy young man who successfully grabs all life has to offer and does it with an innocence that is simply beautiful.

Don't read this book if you aren't ready for your ingrained beliefs and values to be challenged. Don't read this book if you are not ready to delve into a side of our global society that is well hidden from most. Don't read this book unless you too are ready to step into a new adventure. Initiation will change how you view the world.

Well done Bernard.

An amazing story of sexual awakening5 stars: ByOCMD "bookworm"VINE VOICEFormat: Kindle EditionIt’s been a long time since I read an autobiography that captivated me from the first page. Once I started reading, I could not put the book down. It’s such an intimate and detailed look into a lifestyle we rarely get to see. Young’s coming of age story begins before his birth, when his mother who desperately wanted a daughter begins collecting dolls and feminine clothes for her unborn child. She gives birth to a ten-pound boy who did not conform to society’s norm as he grew up. But, the author says, it wasn’t his mother who “sissified’ him, it was nature. At thirteen, Young is sent to a boarding school in England where he is recruited into a secret fraternity. He travels to another country, is educated in the art of love and seduction, and becomes a willing member a harem. This is a long, well-written and emotional account of a life. An amazing story of sexual awakening, with interesting characters and exotic locations. Well worth a read, no matter your sexual orientation. I will be reading the next in the series.

5-stars: Eye opening and sometimes mind blowing!! Read it!By Tina SchorFormat: Kindle EditionFirst, I must tell you that I don't read a lot of books, but something about this book intrigued me. First of all it's a true life story. Now, after reading the first book of the series "A Harem Boy's Saga" I anxious to read the next one which I just purchased. This memoir made me realize just how big our world really is, and no matter how much you've done, traveled, or experienced, there's always something to learn, something bigger, something our minds never even thought about or knew existed. It's fascinating to learn about how love, sex, and culture, can be so different, and what some cultures view as wrong, for others it's normal and accepted. Not to sound cliché, but, one should never judge a book by it's cover or brief introduction. It's sometimes hard to believe that the author experienced so much at such a young age; but then again, it was a different time and culture, so keep that in mind. I encourage you to look beyond the sexual parts and get to know the very real people that this story is about. Thank you Bernard for helping me step out of my comfort zone. You've helped see the world and it's people in a whole new way.

5 stars: I love a true storyBy Kindle Customer "Ringmaster"Format: Kindle EditionI love a true story, particularly when the author is articulate and conveys meaning and emotion clearly. This tale involves the author's upbringing in a secret sexual society in which he dwelled as a member of a male harem. Though some may be shocked by the explicit sexual details, I felt that the author did a nice job of counterbalancing these moments with other, less shocking bits of his story. In particular, I enjoyed his educational experiences in fashion and of becoming a young man in a land far from his home, as well as his travels abroad in surely what, to some, might have been very unfortunate circumstances but the author makes it clear that he was not forced and chose to live this extraordinary life. It is difficult for some to grasp how this tale of servitude could be a love story, and yet it is. I don't want to give too much away! But, it's lovely to see that people can overcome things that happen to them and embrace themselves fully for who and what they are. If only everyone was as buoyant and resilient as this author, whose second through seventh book in the series will surely be on my "to read" shelf.

5 stars: Elegant and Erotic TaleBy mlm "Mel"Format: Kindle EditionTo say this was a “good” story simply doesn’t do it justice. This is the true tale of a male Courtesan. Or, as the author puts it – A Harem boy. It begins with his life in Malaya as a small child. The honesty and self awareness he had is astounding. I laughed a bit when he called himself a “Sissy boy”. But then he reclaimed that title and I found that he was quite proud of who he was. The toss of the coin by the Gods created a delicate and beautiful soul who was wise beyond his years – at least regarding his own self. His mother captivated me from the beginning. She doted on her youngest son and allowed him to be who he was. I believe it was her unconditional love that helped shape this adventurous and self-aware boy into a man who obviously, and rightly, loves himself. His relationship with his father, although forced and quite what one would expect, wasn’t as bad as it could have been (Happy to read that. At times I feared the worst.). Starting by learning all about his privileged upbringing in a romantic time helped me understand who and what he came from – and in turn – helped me to see the rest of the story from his eyes. I wanted the same things he did and I felt his relief and desperation to leave for boarding school in the UK. From here, our delicate “Sissy Boy” is initiated into the clandestine society E.R.O.S.
I’ll let the reader get the full story on how that happened. I will say – he was brave, and perhaps a bit naive. But his childlike trust was not misplaced and he was off on an erotic, and sensual adventure to the Middle East. This is where I truly fell in love with this tale. I felt as if I was reading Arabian Nights and seeing what really happened in the Kosk of a wealthy Middle Eastern man. The world he experienced was lush and opulent – as was the sex. The sexual stories are not graphic in the way one might think. You “see” what you must and, I think, the beloved author still has a few secrets from those times. However, from the fantastical tales he tells, his initiation was beyond the imagination of any young boy of the times. He’s whisked away to Italy, Tunisia, and Paris (among other places). At his young age, he experienced multiple lifetimes.
As I read the story, I realized this wasn’t simply a naughty tale of his escapades as a teenager. It was a love story. There were so many different kinds of love experienced! From his first “puppy love” experience to very real and deeply felt love that the reader watches blossom, we watch him learn what love is – to him. I also realized, halfway through, this was a love story about himself as well. The author has accepted all of his past and accepted himself in the process. He fell in love with himself and it was beautiful to see. A young, gay teenager who could have easily buckled under the pressure of society and his father to hate himself persevered and chose to walk in love in all that he did. That amazes me. His descriptions are lush and makes the reader yearn to be there, to feel the fabrics, to smell the smells, to taste the food and to see the expressions of love.
I will give a word of caution about this book – It was a mental hurdle from the beginning to overcome my assumptions and modern judgment of sex by/with/to a minor. After getting about 200 pages in, I set it aside to think about how I was feeling. I realized a few things – this wasn’t an American story. I had to remove my American glasses as I read this and understand it was a tale from a different land and a different time. I also began to understand the vast difference in social and economic classes. His life of privilege allowed many of his sexual proclivities to be accepted and, as in the school in the UK, pushed to new limits. This story has made me wonder about the wealthy classes of people and what other traditions we laypeople know nothing about. Fascinating. As equally fascinating as the inner working of the Muslim homes. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to be transported to such a place. If you can separate your modern, American point of view, and read this story for what it is – you will love it. Much like readers of Anne Rice’s SLEEPING BEAUTY series, this has the same “feel” to it. If you enjoyed that, you will enjoy this as well. I’m a straight woman who doesn’t make a habit of reading homoerotic stories. To each his own, right? But this, this was so much more than just sex confessions. A unique coming of age tale that is beautiful, daring, and provocative. Bravo Young!


A Harem Boy’s Saga amazon sales site (E-books and Print books for Initiation, Unbridled and Debauchery) links shorten: US amazon: http://amzn.to/1FMlHVY UK amazon:  http://amzn.to/1DkHC8v
No Distance Between Us amazon sales link:E-book:US amazon: http://amzn.to/1Asn0fO
Website: http://aharemboysaga.com/wp/ Blog: http://bernardfoong.typepad.com/in_the_haremFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bfoong1
https://www.facebook.com/aharemboysaga
Twitter @aharemboysaga
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/haremboysaga/a-harem-boys-saga/ (contains adult contents)
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/trisf2013 (contents adult contents)
Amazon Author's Page:  http://www.amazon.com/A-Memoir-by-Young/e/B00CENKJKM
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2992700.Young 
Video trailer for all the 3 books in  A Harem Boy's Saga  series (conservative version): http://youtu.be/F0Lv80yhhq0 
Video trailer for INITIATION (sensual version):http://bit.ly/1DOMft1 Video trailer for UNBRIDLED (sensual version): http://bit.ly/1CqXmCPVideo trailer for DEBAUCHERY (sensual version): http://bit.ly/1NUcelM

#TeaserTuesday: Jeanne McDonald's Compass

 
CompassBy: Jeanne McDonaldGenre: Contemporary RomanceExpected Release Date: November 17, 2015 Cover Reveal on August 17, 2015 Cover Designer: Jada D'Lee Designs As teenagers, time is infinite and love is made of fairy tales and caramel corn. For Alexis York and Ryan Fisher, their friendship was the cornerstone of who they were. In the wake of a family tragedy, that friendship was torn apart by time and distance. Unrequited love was never reciprocated, and two lives that were once intertwined, now moved on different trajectories. Fifteen years later, these two friends are given a second chance to correct the mistakes of the past. With one flight, a new home, and a little help from a tiny red compass, Alexis and Ryan are reunited, setting them back on the same course. Together, they find themselves on a journey of rediscovery, friendship, hope, and love. Yet, when the harsh realities of life threaten to tear them apart for good, will Alexis and Ryan lose all hope of a happily ever after? Or will the childhood promises of forever lead these two hearts through impossible odds and back into each other's arms?
"You're my compass. My one true north." “Everything all right?” Ryan asked. “Not really. I have a passenger who’s about to drive me bonkers. Ever since you turned off the fasten seatbelt sign…” she trailed off. “What’s wrong?” “She wants to speak with you.” Kix started to unbuckle his seatbelt. “What about?” “Not you, Captain. Fisher.” She cast a sideways glance to Ryan. Ryan pushed back. “Me?” He poked his own chest and wondered why this woman would want to speak with him. Not that he minded, but he was second in command. This wasn’t a commonplace occurrence. People usually wanted the captain, not the co-pilot. The stray hair fell back into Makenna’s eyes, only agitating her more. She thrust her hand through her midnight locks, forcing the hair out of her face. “Yep. You.” Kix laughed, smacking Ryan on the back. “Good luck, Buddy. Glad it’s you and not me.” Ryan winced at the sting of the slap. “I’ve never had a passenger ask for me before. They’re usually disappointed to get me instead of the captain.” Makenna smiled, her over-exaggerated irritation disappeared. “She wanted me to give this to you.” As Makenna opened her hand, Ryan leaned over and glanced at the object lying in her palm. He recognized it immediately. It was an old, faded red toy compass. “She said to tell you ‘forever and always’.” Ryan took the compass and flipped it over between his fingertips, examining it closely. It was worn with age, the plastic soft to the touch. As he held the tiny toy in his hand, a huge smile exploded over his face. This couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible. But the evidence was real. Alexis was here. On his flight. “What’s that she gave you?” Kix inquired. “It’s a compass,” Ryan murmured, his own voice sounding soft and distant to his ears. “Well, no shit, Sherlock. I mean what’s it for?” Ryan flashed Makenna a cocky smirk and turned to Kix. “A compass,” he began, with sarcasm dripping from his tongue, “is a device used to determine geographic location. If you didn’t learn that much in flight school, maybe I should be the one flying this bird.” Kix’s mouth dropped to his chest. “Smart ass.” Ryan laughed as he removed his headset. “Maybe, but I have a passenger to speak with.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up, moving around Makenna. “Passenger in D2,” she called out. Ryan straightened his tie and took a deep breath, making his way out to the main cabin. He looked around the curtain separating the gully from the cabin, and his heart skipped a beat. Sitting in seat D2 was his Alexis. She was looking in a mirror, applying lip gloss. This was the woman he’d seen in the pictures on Facebook. Poised, sophisticated, and beautiful. Her thick brown hair hung straight down her back. Her lips plump and pink, and her big brown eyes were accentuated with the right amount of eye makeup to make them standout. She was gorgeous and perfect. Everything Ryan remembered her to be. He took a deep breath, stepped around the curtain, and walked over to the row of seats she was sitting in. Next to her sat an older woman with hair white as snow. He heard the elderly woman say something to her as he approached, but couldn’t quite make out what it was. “Excuse me, Miss, but I do believe this is yours,” he greeted, a playful hint to his tone. He flashed his best smile as she looked up at him from the mirror. His hand shook, just slightly, as he opened his palm to reveal the toy compass. The moment their eyes met, time stood still. Jeanne McDonald is an author, a mother, a wife, a student of knowledge and of life, a coffee addict, a philosophy novice, a pop culture connoisseur, inspired by music, encouraged by words, and a believer in true love. When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, enjoying a great film, chatting with friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in literature. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Google+ | Smashwords

The More Series Boxed Set Release Blitz

For the first time, T.M. Franklin's action-packed MORE Trilogy is available as ONE combined volume. And for a limited time, you can grab ALL THREE books for only $.99!
Ava Michaels used to think she was special.As a child, she fantasized about having magical powers . . . making things happen. But Ava grew up and eventually accepted the fact that her childish dreams were just that, and maybe a normal life wasn't so bad after all.Now a young college student, Ava meets Caleb Foster, a brilliant and mysterious man who's supposed to help her pass physics, but in reality has another mission in mind. What he shows Ava challenges her view of the world, shaking it to its very core.Because Caleb isn't quite what he seems. In fact, he's not entirely human, and he's not the only one.Together, the duo faces a threat from an ancient race bound to protect humans, but only after protecting their own secrets--secrets they fear Ava may expose. Fighting to survive, Ava soon learns she's not actually normal . . . she's not even just special.She's a little bit more.

The Complete Young Adult Fantasy Adventure - For One Low Price! Available in all eBook formats and paperback. Note: Sale is not on all platforms - check prices before you order! Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon Australia | TWCS | Kobo | iTunes | Barnes & Noble As Featured on USA Today
Enter now for the chance to win a signed paperback copy of the trilogy, a $10 Amazon gift card, and other fun prizes!a Rafflecopter giveaway
T.M. Franklin writes stories of adventure, romance, & a little magic. A former TV news producer, she decided making stuff up was more fun than reporting the facts. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader's Choice Awards. She's since written three additional novels and several best-selling short stories...and there's always more on the way.Connect with T.M. Franklin
Web Site | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon | Google+ | Goodreads

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: M. B. Feeney's Just Like in the Movies

Title of book – Just Like in the Movies
Name of Editor – Elizabeth Lawrence/Sydney Kalnay
Name of cover designer – J. C. Clarke
Official genre of book - Romance



Ava Jones has settled for a life that she’s not sure she wants anymore, but won’t admit it. Her best friend, Erica Davidson talks her into taking a break on the Isle of Wight. Her days on the island are spent thinking things through, and arguing with Morgan whom she hates on principal. Is it so wrong for her to want a life that follows the script of a honest to God romance film?





Losing myself in the titles, covers, and blurbs, I faintly heard footsteps behind me.
“Hey, can I help?”
I turned to face quite possibly the most beautiful man I had ever seen. His light brown hair had been bleached by the sun, and the bundle of messy curls made my fingers itch to tangle them among the chaotic strands. The man’s hazel eyes regarded both me and the slim book in my hand. His tall, lean figure was clad in skinny jeans, with an open, oversized shirt over a t-shirt and well- worn biker boots. He looked a little out- of-place among the surfer types I had noticed wandering around town.
“I’m just looking, thanks.” I couldn’t help but blush when he gave a slight smirk at the sight of the Mills & Boon book I held.
“If you’re after more . . . err . . . books in that particular genre, there’s a wider selection over here.” He indicated a bookcase to his left.
“This? Oh, no. This isn’t my type at all. I was just moving it out of the way to get at the new James Patterson.”
He cocked an eyebrow and his smile grew at my obvious lie. “Yeah, okay. I’ll leave you to . . . peruse.” He chuckled to himself as he made his way back behind the counter.
I slammed the bright pink book down so I could grab the James Patterson, the one I’d initially been after, and walked over to pay. “I’ll take this one.” I thrust my card at him and waited while he ran it through. I knew it was a simple misunderstanding, but it rubbed me the wrong way. Why couldn’t I just accept that he thought I wanted the Mills & Boon book? It was an easy mistake to make, I guess.
“Are you sure you don’t want the other one, too? It seems a bit more . . . your style.” He looked me up and down, taking in my denim shorts, skimpy vest top, and flip-flops.
His scrutiny made me nervous. I took a deep breath and ran my fingers through my hair to calm myself. “What would you know about my ‘style’?” I demanded, snatching the book out of his hand and clutching it to me, almost as if it were a security blanket.



Amazon US ~ Goodreads










M. B. Feeney is an army brat who finally settled down in Birmingham, U

K with her other half, two kids and a dog. Currently at university studying for her BA (Hons) in primary teaching, she procrastinates on her assignments by listening to music of all genres and trying to get ‘just one more paragraph’ written on whichever WIP is open. She is also a serious doodler and chocoholic. Writing has been her one true love ever since she could spell, and publishing is the final culmination of her hard work and ambition.

Her publishing career began with two novellas, and she currently has multiple projects under way whilst Honour, a compilation of her own military based shorts, was released in November 2013 and her short novel, The One That Got Away was released February 2015. Always having something on the go can often lead to block which eventually gets dissolved by good music and an even better book.

 Her main reason for writing is to not only give her readers enjoyment, but also to create a story and characters that stay with readers long after the book is finished, and possibly make someone stop and think “what if...”


 
           







Honour ~ Right Click, Love ~ The One That Got Away ~ Dear Diary

June Author Spotlight: Amanda Black

Amanda Black was born and raised in the Midwest, where she still lives with her husband and spoiled-rotten dogs. She earned a bachelor's degree in Studio Art before deciding that she actually needed to pay some bills, which is when she took a position as an ophthalmic technician. For the past few years she's been a closet romance writer in her spare time and would love nothing more than to make it a full-time career. When she's not writing her next steamy love scene, her interests include reading, sketching, and annihilating her friends and family in movie trivia.





Books
Lily has spent a lifetime putting everyone else’s needs before her own. 
Ethan is struggling to find a place in the home he left behind. 

When the two meet by chance in an empty apartment, everything changes. Drawn together by an inexplicable desire, Lily and Ethan discover a passion neither knew existed. And so, they make a pact: Nothing from their outside lives will enter the apartment—not even their names. 

But what will happen when the apartment’s walls inevitably come down?
This book is intended for mature audiences
Amazon  Barnes & Noble  
Kobo   iBooks


Ethan is gone, but Lily will never be the same.She’s done living her life for other people. She moves out of her father’s house. She starts saying yes to drinks with friends.But there’s one thing she won’t give up: the apartment, where her and Ethan spent countless passion-filled hours. They never exchanged names, but their relationship was more real than anything they had ever experienced in their lives.Ethan left to give Lily a chance to be happy. But consumed with thoughts of her, he can’t help wondering if he made a huge mistake. Ethan’s looking for a second chance, and this time, all his cards are on the table. Can their love survive the real world?The Blank Canvas is the passionate climax to Amanda Black’s The Apartment.This book is intended for mature audiences. Barnes & Noble          Kobo          iBooks        Amazon


Lily and Ethan’s passionate affair, Now available in one complete volume  with two new stories! Lily has spent a lifetime putting everyone else’s needs before her own. Ethan is struggling to find a place in the home he left behind.But when the two meet by chance in an empty apartment, everything changes.Drawn together by an inexplicable desire, Lily and Ethan discover a passion neither knew existed. And so, they make a pact: Nothing from their outside lives will enter the apartment—not even their names.But when the apartment’s walls inevitably come down, neither of them will ever be the same. Can their love survive the real world?This bundle includes Amanda Black’s The Apartment and The Blank Canvas, along with two brand new stories.This book is intended for mature audiences.

Amazon      Barnes & Noble      Kobo      iBooks
New Release Coming 7/15/15!
In this third, stand-alone installment of Amanda Black’s Apartment Novels series, sparks fly during a sexy party game.
When Eden Foster’s parents tell her they’re moving from the suburbs of Chicago to the tiny farm town of Aledo, Illinois, Eden is crushed. That is, until she runs crying to her jock boyfriend, who she finds on top of her so-called best friend. Moving’s not looking so bad anymore.
Now a senior at Mercer County High, Eden is ready to re-enter the dating scene. Still burned over the betrayal of her ex, she’s looking for someone sweet and innocent. With the help of her two new friends, Zoe and Amy, Eden makes a list of what she’s looking for: an eager virgin, ready for training—and no jocks.
Eden thinks she’s found what she’s looking for in Logan Black, a shy and geeky classmate. But why are Zoe and Amy convinced that the answer to her search is a party game…with kissing?
Eden better get ready, because she’s about to play the Single Game.
Preorder here!

Want more? Follow Amanda on her Blog, Facebook, and Twitter. 

BLOG TOUR: If It's a Pain In The Ass, Then You're Doing It Wrong by JC Clarke

If it's a PAIN in the ass, then you're doing it wrong!
AUTHOR: JC Clarke

Genre: Humor/ Contemporary Romance
Warnings: Adult content (not Erotic)...do not to eat or drink while reading...your Kindle will get messy. JC is not responsible for any cracked ribs from laughing
Cover Design: The Graphics Shed
Editor: RE Hargrave



His Princess was a little bit eclectic, a lot of eccentric, and a big time potty mouth. She was outgoing and loud, but held her friends and family close to her heart. She ranted about everything wrong in the world and her wild passion made him fall hard and fast. His life gave him the middle finger when she opened his eyes to the beauty around him - or right in front of him.

Her ‘Prick-a-Doodle-Do’ was uptight businessman through and through. He never saw the fun in anything and she knew right from the start that she could have fun with this man and get him to open his eyes. He made her see that she didn’t have to always be alone, even when surrounded by people. His knack of bringing out the best in her was what made her fall for him, even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself.

Both of them were raised in ‘high society’, but where one was guided by the rules, one had fun going against them. He was her new boss and she didn’t give two hoots about it, so when she was given an opportunity to express her views about a certain subject, she readily agreed. It was now her personal mission to make the life of her boss a little harder, while experiencing a little fun along the way.



“Bossman, what are my shoes?” I asked and leaned back in my chair to put my feet up on his brand new desk.
“Stilettoes?”
“Wrong, for starters, no one calls them that these days. They’re either pumps or heels. Normally, if they’re designer, you just give people that name. What color is my shirt?”
“Red?” he asked, puzzled at where I was taking this.
“No, it’s burgundy. My hair is also in a low twist to the side, but you’d say that it was a ball of mess on the side of my head. My point is, no female author should write her male lead so . . . girlie. He shouldn’t know what cut her dress is or what the exact shade of her nail polish is, because, putting it simply, men don’t know these things. They don’t want to know. The second real men start showing an interest, their girl will never stop asking for their opinions. All men want to do for an easy life is say ‘Yes, dear’ and scratch their balls while watching a game,” I ranted. All the while his eyes got wider.
“You need to calm down, Princess,” he finally said, but I shook my head.
“But why? As readers, we are basically paying these authors to produce shit work. I don’t want to read that every male character has a monster cock and can give award-winning oral sex. No virgin can deep throat on her first go and the wording, oh my God. Do I really have to read every character announce that they’re coming like a freight train in every sex scene. If the sex is good enough, it should be clear to the reader in the description, not through ‘Incoming orgasm approaching platform three, please stand clear of the gap!’”  


Amazon US

Goodreads









J.C. Clarke lives in the heart of the New Forest in England with her husband and four children. Never a dull moment, her full house provides no shortage of inspiration which fuels her writing. She loves reading and writing a variety of genres in addition to dabbling with graphic art to create book covers, swag and more.


     




The Northern Gate ~ Fragile ~ Never Settle



FACEBOOK party happening June 26th. Giveaways, games, author takeovers and laughs. 
It's a BYOBB (Bring Your Own Book Boyfriend) ~ and a little wine never hurts.



a Rafflecopter giveaway


MoB Promosmagicofbookspromo@gmail.com

June Author Spotlight Series: Lindsey Gray

When Lindsey Gray typed her first complete novel at the age of twelve, she dreamed of making her writing into a career. When her eighth grade class wrote a twenty year reunion story, casting her as a mystery novelist, she wasn't sure she could make it a reality. After years of writing off and on, she decided to make a go of it. In December of 2010 she finally made her dream come true with her first published novel, Lies Inside. Five years and thousands of written words later, Lindsey is about to release her seventh published work, Nerdy Girl Nation.

When Lindsey takes a break from writing, she spends time with her husband of thirteen years and their two children, reading all kinds of romance novels, and hosting her own weekly radio show, Gray Matters, on TMV Cafe Internet Radio.


Connect with Lindsey Gray



Coming Soon
from Lindsey Gray


Who knew the girl who spent most of her Saturday nights watching Doctor Who marathons with her best friend would end up becoming a reality television star? Not Emma MacLean.
Emma tried to leave the nerdy girl behind as the Vice President of Operations for billionaire venture capitalist, Terrance Hunt, on the hit show Hunt for Life. When double tragedies occur on the same day, Emma is out of a job, but the cameras and the nation of fans continue to follow her.
Rob "Bobby" Breyer lived and breathed the professional wrestling circuit for five years. Rob happens to be a devoted Hunt for Life fan due to a chance meeting with Emma while in high school. When he reaches out to Emma, he hopes to make his teenage dreams come true.
After twelve years, the attraction still sizzles and this time, Rob's not letting Emma get away. As the cameras roll, Emma's new career and Rob's quest for glory are in the spotlight. When the heat is on, they'll need all the support they can get from the Nerdy Girl Nation.
*Nerdy Girl Nation is the first book of Lindsey Gray's Nerdy Girl Novels. There are three planned novels and two additional novellas in the works.
Excerpt
"We are waiting for Mr. Breyer," Phil informed Emma while he helped her into the SUV."Okay." Apparently she didn't have a say in whom her driving companions were anymore. She didn’t mind, but traveling in a confined space with Rob and the cameras was bound to be trouble."Sorry, I had to take a call." Rob settled into the seat next to Emma, the dash camera aimed directly at the two."Are you going to the training facility?" Emma asked while she kept an eye on the traffic in front of them."Yes. It seems I have a little more training to do since I have some pretty competitive matches coming up." They hit a bump and his thigh pressed against hers for a few seconds. "Sorry. Um . . . I'm meeting Chance. Phil said it wouldn't be a problem to give me a lift.""Not a problem at all. I'm ahead of schedule for once since the shoot didn't take as long as I had planned. I have a few things I need to get done this afternoon so I can be home on time."Rob shifted in the seat, turned his body toward her and draped his arm across the seat. "Something special?"She stared at his uplifted brow and the quirk of the corner of his mouth before she responded. "Oh, dinner with the family. I haven't got to spend much time with my niece and nephew lately.""You're the fun aunt?""I’m not sure fun is the right word. Charlotte seems to think I'm pretty cool. Sam's still a baby, so he likes anyone who feeds him or changes his diaper when he wants them to." She laughed a little thinking about the few times she had changed Sam. He was the first boy she'd ever changed a diaper on and boy, was he a completely different experience from changing a girl."So, kids? You see yourself having any?"Emma gulped and felt her palms dampen. He was asking about their possible future without asking directly, the sneaky bastard."Well, yes, of course. I would love to have a few with the right man.""And what qualifications would this man need to have to father your children?"Her throat went dry in an instant. He’s asking me this in front of the cameras. Is he crazy?"I don't think this is an appropriate conversation." What could she say? She sure as hell wasn't about to admit he ticked off every box on her baby daddy checklist."Sorry, I'm curious. You were with the tight ass, the one who wore the fake Gucci suits, for like a year, right?""Yes. Patrick." She rolled her eyes at the thought of Patrick. What an utter waste of space he was. After the crap he pulled with her and Terrance, he would be lucky to get a job writing for a neighborhood newsletter."I wondered if he was the kind of guy you'd want to make babies with."The twinkle in his eye told her he was doing it on purpose. He was trying to rile her up on camera and get a reaction out of her."A big no. He was only interested in what I gave him and not at all what he could give me.""So, answer my question.""What do I want in a father for my children? A husband?" He nodded and she ventured to be as honest as possible. "Someone I can be myself with, I guess. I want a man who can put his wife and children first. Family is so important to me, especially since I lost my mom. He'd have to love them too.""What about you?" He slid closer to her, his knee touched her thigh. "Loving you is important as well."Christ on a cracker, she thought. They hadn't even been on a real date yet, and he was talking about babies, love, and marriage. She thought while they already had a toe in the fire of Hades, might as well jump in with both feet."Of course. I wouldn't be able to marry someone I didn't love." She took her opportunity to turn the tables on him. "What about you? Any wife and kiddos in your future?""With the right woman. I can't wait to be a dad. I'm ready for the football practices, ballet lessons, bedtime stories, and all the rest. I loved certain parts of my childhood, but I would do things differently with my kids. Once I say I do, I don't want to be separated for weeks at a time like my parents were.""What would you do differently?" she asked before she thought what his answer might be."When I was little, my dad was traveling a lot. We went around with him during the summers at first. The separation wasn't good for any of us. Mom was still my dad's manager and doing everything with him hundreds of miles away was hard. When I was about to go into third grade, we pulled up stakes and went on the road with dad year round. I was sort of homeschooled on the road for several years.""I had no idea.""Yeah. A bunch of the wrestlers had kids around my age. The mothers would take turns with each subject. My mom did most of our English and Math, but some of the others would do History and Science.""A little traveling school?"He nodded. "Not much different from what child actors do on a set, I assume. It was fun, but I don't think I'd want the same life for my kids.""Noted." It slipped out of her mouth before she could even think. Heat rose up her neck with embarrassment."Would you be interested in applying for the position? I can assure you, the benefits package would be amazing."She thanked God and all that was holy when Phil pulled into the IWA parking garage. "And this conversation is over." She gathered her bag and what little she had left of her composure before Phil opened her door."I'll get you an application. I'm sure you're more than qualified." It took everything she had in her to get out of the car without emitting another word. She wondered what in the world he would possibly put on an application like that.
Other Works
Click Covers to go to Goodreads.

June Author Spotlight Series: Micky Starr

Originally from a farming background, Micky's financial skills saw him  become heavily involved in the high flying corporate jet-set scene until an early mid life crisis caused him to take stock at the tender age of 30 and relocate to a smaller city and focus on raising a family. Despite the radical lifestyle change, his continued involvement in the band scene still provides plenty of opportunity for travel and truckloads of fun. His hobbies include classic cars, cycling, body building, snorkelling and plucking anything with strings and frets as well as writing. Micky's writing style is in a genre that he likes to call "Alternative Reality", which can encapsulate Dream-State, Altered States of Mind, and Time Travel.


Tom Featherston loves his job. He is a leader in his field and at the pinnacle of his career. Nearing exhaustion after many long hours on a big project, he has an encounter with a mysterious black fantail and experiences a fantastic hallucination which transports him back in time to the 1950s. However evidence quickly reveals that this was no hallucination. His father had been killed in an industrial accident and prior to his death had hidden a secret invention, whereabouts unknown. If this prototype falls into the wrong hands, history as we know it will change. Tom must locate the invention and take it to a safe haven before powerful enemies from the future with their sights on world domination beat him to it.




What if everything you could ever wish for came true? After a freak accident, Lloyd Curtiss discovers just that. Everything he wishes for comes true. Dream house, dream car, dream girl. Money to burn. Life couldn't be more perfect. Or could it? The powerful gift comes with a cost. A dark secret. The uncontrollable power to curse and to kill. He discovers that he is being followed and notices that something is not quite right about his dream girl. He begins to suspect that there is far more going on than meets the eye. Is his special gift just a natural occurrence or is he a puppet in a major scientific experiment of international intrigue controlled by powerful players with their sights set on political domination? In the thrilling chase to uncover the deadly truth, he enters a world where Surreality is more real than reality itself. 




http://www.amazon.com/Black-Fantail-Micky-Scarr-ebook/dp/B00V5E5NYS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1427231230&sr=1-1 http://www.lulu.com/shop/micky-scarr/the-black-fantail/paperback/product-22099068.html http://www.lulu.com/shop/micky-scarr/the-black-fantail/hardcover/product-22099086.html
And here is a link to the Compilation book

http://www.amazon.com/Excerpts-fully-lived-Clarke-Bedford-ebook/dp/B00UY8VNMM

June Author Spotlight Series: Gemma James

Gemma James is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of a blend of genres, from new adult suspense to dark erotic romance. She loves to explore the darker side of human nature in her fiction, and she’s morbidly curious about anything dark and edgy, from deviant sex to serial killers. Readers have described her stories as being “not for the faint of heart.”
She warns you to heed their words! Her playground isn’t full of rainbows and kittens, though she likes both. She lives in Oregon with her husband and their four children–three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone’s attention.
BOOKS (first in series)
 
Torrent (Condemned series #1) FREE!
Summary:
She sent an innocent man to prison. Now, eight years later, he’s returning the favor…
I’ve been obsessed with Rafe Mason since I was thirteen. The twisted part of this story is that I still want him, even now.
Now that he’s holding me captive on an island.
Rafe has his reasons for doing what he’s doing, and if I’m honest, I can’t blame him. I’m the girl who sent him to prison for a heinous crime he didn’t commit.
But now he’s free and the tables have turned…now he’s the one driven by obsession.
NOTE TO READERS: TORRENT is a new adult dark romance with disturbing themes and explicit content, including sexual scenes and violence that may offend some. Intended for mature audiences. Part one of the CONDEMNED series. This is not a stand-alone read, and it does have a cliffhanger! There are four parts to this series. Approximately 43,000 words.
·         Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M0E4T56/·         iBooks - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/torr...·         B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/torre...·         Kobo - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/torre...·         Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
The Devil’s Kiss (Devil’s Kiss #1)
Summary:
Kayla Sutton faces a question no mother wants to face: what would you do to save your daughter? Broke and desperate, she siphons thousands from her employer to pay for her daughter’s life-saving treatment, but when Gage Channing discovers her theft, she is shocked to learn that her domineering boss has no intention of turning her over to the police. Instead he issues an ultimatum—give him her sexual submission, or go to jail.
Backed into a corner by a man with no shame, Kayla must find the strength to travel down the path of pain and pleasure. But when her past catches up to her, prompting a free fall into forbidden territory with a man she once loved, Kayla realizes nothing is black and white when everyone around her has secrets.
NOTE TO READERS: THE DEVIL’S KISS is a dark romance with a BDSM edge that does NOT conform to safe, sane, and consensual practices. Includes explicit content and subject matter that may offend some readers. Intended for mature audiences. Approximately 52,000 words.
·         Amazon ONLY (available FREE to Kindle Unlimited members) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPGYXNW/
Epiphany: Part One (Epiphany #1) FREE!
Summary:
His mahogany gaze haunts my waking hours, his touch ignites my dreams. I know him in intimate detail, but I’ve never laid eyes on him. Until now.
I’ve always seen things I can’t explain, but the reality of him blindsides me, his mere presence a captivating force I can’t fight. What’s worse…I don’t want to. He burrows under my skin and unearths my biggest secret, even as he hides his own demons. Then he warns me away. Stubborn man.
I’m already in too deep, and if staying means I’m the next victim of the Hangman’s noose, then so be it. Not even the threat of a serial killer can keep me away.  Part one of a three-part serial. Intended for mature audiences due to sexy adult situations, explicit language, and disturbing subject matter. Approximately 30,000 words.
·         Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SZABTDY·         iBooks - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id99...·         B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/epiph...·         Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...·         Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Social Media Links
Website - http://authorgemmajames.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorgemmaj... - https://twitter.com/gemmajames80Google Plus - https://plus.google.com/1072434365320... - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

June Author Spolight Series: Joshua Ryan Ogg

Joshua Ryan Ogg has worked in entertainment media and digital marketing for close to a decade. Oblivion is his first published novel. He can usually be found in Ohio or California with his wife and two children.

Josh likes to connect with readers on social media and maintains a blog full of half-drunken ramblings and utter nonsense at www.joshuaryanogg.com.


    Oblivion Summary A maniac is murdering gang leaders in the desert outside San Diego, black magic is whispered in back alleys, and zombie tweekers roam the streets. The world stands on the brink of something sinister and occult but the only guy Donnie DeGrassi knows that can solve this supernatural puzzle is a recluse that hides out in his beach shack, talking to spirits and brewing hallucinogenic compounds. Some say he’s crazy, others claim he’s genius, but those that dose Kal Renley's chemicals just know him as the Medicine Man. Can Donnie get his old friend out of retirement before reality gets as ugly as the underworld?

   Amazon -  http://www.amazon.com/Joshua-Ryan-Ogg/e/B00THK5SXS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1432673232&sr=8-1 Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/joshuaryanogg Twitter -  https://twitter.com/joshuaogg Tumblr - oggmented.tumblr.com Website/Blog - www.joshuaryanogg.com