Empi Baryeh's Blog, page 38
March 19, 2012
1st Week Blog Tour Winner Announced
Hi folks! I've already complete the first week of my Chancing Faith blog tour. It's, therefore, time to announce this week's winner.
And the winner is…
AYABA ODUSOTE
Congrats on winning. Your prize is an e-copy of either Most Eligible Bachelor or Chancing Faith. Let know know which book you prefer and send me your email address through the "Contact Me" form at the top of the page.
Want a chance to win, too? Follow my blog tour for the week. Today, I'm at the IMRR Book Club giving an African view of interracial romance. Here's a schedule for the week:
DATE
BLOG
19-Mar-12
IMRR BookClub
20-Mar-12
Michelle Miles
21-Mar-12
–
22-Mar-12
Delaney Diamond
23-Mar-12
The Pen Muse
24-Mar-12
Bri Clark
Remember, every blog you comment on earns you a vote, so the more blogs you comment on, the greater your chances of getting picked.
Cheers,
March 14, 2012
The Romance Reviews – 1st Anniversary Party!
I'm having a party! Okay, fine, it's not my party – I *am* participating in The Romance Review's 1st Anniversary Party. Get this. For the entire month of March, you can win an assortment of prizes (sorry, I know I'm two weeks late with this post), but things have been crazy the past couple of weeks. That said, Welcome to the party! Woo hoo!
I'm scheduled for a Q&A on 31st March (incidentally, release day for Chancing Faith) where you read an excerpt and answer a simple question for a chance to win your choice of an ebook copy of either Most Eligible Bachelor or Chancing Faith.
It's be a month-long loads of fun, so join the fun!
Here's the link to the event/games page: http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php
Prizes are listed here: http://www.theromancereviews.com/eventprize.php
Chats with authors began on 2nd March, so check out the schedule for your favorite authors and meet new ones!
March 12, 2012
Pre-Release Blog Tour Kick-Off: Chancing Faith
It's seem like just yesterday that I was blog touring to promote Most Eligible Bachelor, and today, I'm starting a pre-launch party for Chancing Faith, which comes out on 31st March!
(Click on image to see animation)
I'm setting off on another blog tour this week, and today I'm talking about sex at The Nuthouse Scribblers. I hope you'll join me there and on my 3 other destinations this week. As before, the tour comes with some book give-aways, but I'm doing things a little differently this time around. I'll be giving out one free eBook to one commenter on my blog tour. You only need to comment once, but each blog you comment on will count as one (i.e. the more blogs you comment on the greater your chances of winning – don't worry, I worked in some rest time in between 
). The prize is the winner's choice of an ebook copy of either Most Eligible Bachelor or Chancing Faith.
Winners for weeks 1 & 2 will be announced on 30th March, just in time for the release of Chancing Faith!
Here's my pre-launch blog tour schedule.
DATE
BLOG
12-Mar
The Nuthouse Scribblers
13-Mar
Siobhan Muir
14-Mar
Eugenia O'Neal
15-Mar
–
16-Mar
Sam Crescent
***
Don't forget to stop by my blog on 31st for my release day party.
Also, there are still 2 free copies of 100-Fan Book Give-Away contest – details here.
Thanks for all the wonder comments you've been leaving for me. I look forward to partying with you on this tour. I sign off with a special thank you to everyone who's bought my book and everyone who's left me a review – I can't tell you how much I appreciate it .
March 8, 2012
Review of Most Eligible Bachelor
I was pleasantly surprised to find a review of Most Eligible Bachelor today (it pays to Google one's name from time to time) – 3.5 of 5 stars from You Gotta Read Romance! After the very involving week I've had this review couldn't have been better placed. Here's some of what the reviewer had to say:
"Chantelle's hurt and distrust, caused by her ex is well portrayed, as is the chemistry between Chantelle and Lord. I enjoyed reading how Lord had to win Chantelle's trust, and how he made her happy. …"
Read the full review of Most Eligible Bachelor by Rasia of You Gotta Read Reviews. http://t.co/RHEXlBRr
Author Spotlight: Naomi Clark
Hi everyone, please help me welcome author, Naomi Clark who's celebrating the release of her latest book, Shadow Cursed, a paranormal/historical romance.
Here's a blurb :
Released from Ottevar Asylum after eight hard years, Lady Emmeline returns to Nachtholm Manor to reclaim her birthright. But she has a battle on her hands – Rainart Eckhard refuses to give up his position as lord of manor, and whilst his cold attitude enrages Emmeline, his smouldering kisses leave her weak at the knees. Who is this dangerous, enticing stranger, and what secrets does he hide? Caught in a web of desire, curses, and self-doubt, Emmeline is not only fighting Rainart for Nachtholm Manor, but for her own heart as well.
Buy links
Evernight Publishing | Amazon US | Amazon UK |
Excerpt
A shadow fell across the page. Emmeline's heart leapt as she looked up to meet Rainart's gaze. He stood over her chair, oppressively close. Her heart jumped and her stomach twisted, a dizzying, heated sensation.
"Good evening," he said softly.
She slammed the book shut, feeling guilty. "What do you want?"
He smiled, looking predatory in the firelight. It cast strange, jagged shadows across his face, burnished his dark hair and made his eyes glitter. She shivered. "I like to come here and read in the evenings," he said simply. "I hope you don't object."
"Of course not." She stood, hugging the book to her chest. She'd take it to her room and read there. Sharing the library with him when she was hunting for information about him would be too much. He'd divine her purpose somehow.
He didn't step back when she rose, so once more she found herself unbearably close to him, close enough that heat flushed her cheeks and her heart fluttered. She remembered the rage in him when he'd caught her outside the rose room. Intense, frightening…exciting.
She shouldn't feel like this around him.
"Let me pass, please," she said quietly when he didn't move.
He stared at her, something dark in his eyes. "What are you reading?"
She clutched the book tighter. "What is it to you? This is my house, I can read what I like." She regretted the words immediately; so childish and defensive.
He smiled slightly, shifting closer to her and reaching for the book. "A little heavy for bedtime reading, isn't it?"
She spun, putting her back to him to keep the book from his grasp. "It's no business of yours what I read."
She gasped when he pressed against her, his chest to her back, warm and solid. He reached round, sliding his fingers along her arm to rest on the leather bound book. His touch was gentle but her body reacted as if it were rough; a shocking wave of desire sweeping her so suddenly it was like drowning. She felt starved of air, as if he'd stolen it with his touch. Her heart thudded wildly. She was both trapped and on the brink of a freedom she hadn't even known she needed. She closed her eyes, holding her breath.
"Reading up on your family history?" Rainart asked, his voice soft and low, close to her ear. His breath was hot and it sent answering pulses of heat through her. "Have you learned anything interesting, Emmeline?"
Her name sounded decadent on his lips. She hated that. She resisted the urge to tear away from him. If you showed weakness once, people never forgot it. She'd learned that at Ottevar. She inhaled deeply, trying to push down the swirl of lust he'd created in her. He was the enemy. She had to remember that.
About the Author
Naomi Clark lives in Cambridge and is a mild-mannered office worker by day, but a slightly crazed writer by night. She has a perfectly healthy obsession with giant sea creatures and a preference for vodka-based cocktails. When she's not writing, Naomi is probably either reading or watching 80s cartoon shows, and sometimes she manages to do all three at once. Find out more at Naomi's blog.
***
Please say hello to Naomi and make her feel welcome. Good luck with you latest release Naomi!
February 29, 2012
Unexpected hottie – Chris Gorham
It's Wednesday, and I'm supposed to do Word Wednesday, but the fact is I'm tied down right now (no, not like that! – got your minds out of the gutter right now). I decided to compensate by releasing a post I'd pre-scheduled for Friday.
Allow me to introduce you to unexpected man who plays blind operative, Auggie Andersen, in the TV series Covert Affairs. Let me tell you, blindness is not a disability with this guy. Chris is Adorable in Covert Affairs. I checked him out on imdb and discovered he was in Ugly Betty, so a lot of you probably knew him there (I guess I'll have to get Ugly Betty DVDs).
Well, if you don't already know who I'm talking about, here he is:
And when he laughs/smiles…there's just something about it…
Here's a typical Covert Affairs image – Auggie with his laser walking stick (yes, you heard right).
And just to make some of you man-candy seekers happy…
Yes, people, these days I watch Covert Affairs just to see this guy. The story is secondary 
In the meantime, you can check out more of or on these other sites: Datingish | Time Square Gossip | Moviespad | GSSofGCSC.
February 28, 2012
New Release Date: Chancing Faith
Adjust your calendars, people. The release date for Chancing Faith has moved to 31st March! That's 2 weeks later than earlier planned. I'm not complaining, though. While I really want to see this book come out, I'm still recovering from all the promotion I did for Most Eligible Bachelor, so the two extra weeks are coming in quite handy. Don't worry, though, Chancing Faith will be available for pre-order from the 17th of March through Black Opal Books.
COMING 31ST MARCH, 2012
I'll give you an update of my blog tour schedule a little later.
Thanks for your support and understanding. Thane and Naaki will surely come–no pun intended
EmpiBaryeh_ChancingFaith
COMING 31ST MARCH!
February 26, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday: The Blue Book
Hi guys and welcome to another Six Sentence Sunday. Today I'm sharing a snippet from my femoir The Blue Book, which is still a work in progress. This story is not a romance, although it has strong romantic elements and explores a few issues of sexuality that African fiction usually doesn't. That's the only background I'll give, so you get the full impact of the snippet.
"You really are beautiful," I found myself saying, taking a step toward dangerous territory.
"You're beautiful too," she said. "Sometimes you don't seem to realise it."
In her eyes, I saw the way I felt about her and it dawned on me my feelings weren't one-sided. How could I have missed it? The air between us sizzled with tension, and somehow, the space began to shrink until our lips met.
***
I wish I could give you more, but I can only share 6 sentences. But I'd love to hear what you think. If you'd like to take part in SSS or read more snippets, go here. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week.
