Karen Docter's Blog, page 162
February 7, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: BEYOND DANGER, The Texas Trilogy by Kat Martin
[image error]KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
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BEYOND DANGER
The Texas Trilogy
BY KAT MARTIN
Blurb
New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin brings page-turning suspense to a tale of secrets and passions turned deadly . . .
Texas mogul Beau Reese is furious. All six feet three obscenely wealthy, good-looking inches of him. His sixty-year-old father, Stewart, a former state senator no less, has impregnated a teenager. Barely able to contain his anger, Beau is in for another surprise. It appears that Stewart has moved an entirely different woman into the house . . .
Beau assumes that stunning Cassidy Jones is his father’s mistress. At least she’s of age. But those concerns take a sudden backseat when he finds Stewart in a pool of blood on the floor of his study—and Cassidy walks in to find Beau with his hand on the murder weapon.
The shocks just keep coming. Someone was following Stewart, and Cassidy is the detective hired to find out who and why. Now she’ll have to find his killer instead. Her gut tells her it wasn’t Beau. And Beau’s instincts tell him it wasn’t Cassidy. Determined to track down the truth, they form an uneasy alliance—one that will bring them closer to each other—closer to danger and beyond . . .
BEYOND DANGER REVIEWS
Pulishers Weekly
BEYOND DANGER by Kat Martin (Zebra MM/February 2018/978-1-4201-4317-1)
“Martin takes readers on a well-plotted roller-coaster ride with her sexy suspenseful second Texas Trilogy romantic thriller…Martin excels at creating multidimensional, appealing rogues and the strong sexy women who fall for them, and this novel is no exception…This nail-biter of a romantic thriller will delight.” – Publishers Weekly
BEYOND DANGER by Kat Martin (Zebra MM/February 2018/978-1-4201-4317-1)
“Martin takes readers on a well-plotted roller-coaster ride with her sexy and suspenseful second Texas Trilogy contemporary romantic thriller (after Beyond Reason). Former race car driver Beau Reese is estranged from his father, Stewart, a former state senator, and is furious to learn that Stewart has seduced and impregnated a 19-year-old. When Beau confronts his unrepentant father, he encounters gorgeous Cassidy Jones and thinks she’s another of his father’s mistresses. But later, when Cassidy finds Beau standing over his father’s body, murder weapon in hand, he learns that she’s a PI and his father hired her because he felt threatened. It soon becomes apparent that someone won’t hesitate to kill them both before they find Stewart’s real murderer. Surprises and red herrings lie around every corner, keeping readers off-balance until the author brings the story to a shocking finish. Martin excels in creating multidimensional, appealing rogues and the strong, sexy women who fall for them, and this novel is no exception. An excellent cast of supporting characters provides a well-drawn backdrop as Martin skillfully sets up the last book in the trilogy. This nail-biter of a romantic thriller will delight new readers and returning fans.” – Publishers Weekly
RT BOOK REVIEWS
BEYOND DANGER by Kat Martin
“Kat Martin’s Texas Trilogy returns with a gripping new romantic suspense novel featuring Beau Reese and Cassidy Jones. This dynamic duo embarks on a fascinating journey to solve a high-profile crime in Texas. Cutting edge and incredibly thrilling, Martin once again proves she’s a romantic suspense mastermind! Book two, BEYOND DANGER, is compelling with unexpected twists. Long-time fans of Kat Martin will not be disappointed!”- RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
~~
BEYOND DANGER
The Texas Trilogy
BY KAT MARTIN
A Party to Remember
Since my hero in BEYOND DANGER, Beau Reese, is a mega rich playboy, a once-famous race car driver, I thought it might be fun to write about a mega-wealthy party I got invited to a few years back. Well, more than a few, considering it was a millennium party celebrating the thousand year change in our calendar.
My husband and I wanted to do something really special for that night so I had been looking at different trips, hotels, and cruises. We wanted to do something we would never forget.
Fortunately, about that time, I ran into an author friend I hadn’t seen in a while. When I told her I was on a quest to find something memorable to do for the millennium, she invited me to a weekend party at her parents’ home in Aspen, one of several they owned.
I knew they were worth billions of dollars, had actually been to their incredible New York apartment, so I excitedly accepted.
It was a magical weekend, with everything paid for by the party givers except our room–which cost a small fortune but was worth it! The party was poolside, held around an indoor swimming pool since there was snow on the ground outside.
My author friend was a wonderful hostess, the band was fabulous, the decorations spectacular, and the food amazing. Guests flew in on their private jets and came to the event in gorgeous designer clothes.
For an author, it was more than just fun–it was a glimpse into a world I had never seen.
It’s the world Beau Reese lives in, or at least he has access. He’s a little more down to earth than the guests at the party, but he’s classy and gorgeous and he drives a Lamborghini. Hey, how much better does it get?
The bad news is, Beau is wanted for murder.
The good news is, Lady detective, Cassidy Jones, is determined to prove his innocence.
I hope you enjoy BEYOND DANGER and that you’ll watch for BEYOND CONTROL, Josh Cain’s story, out in June. Till next time, all best wishes and happy reading, Kat
[image error]Meet Author Kat Martin…
Kat Martin is the New York Times bestselling author of sixty-five books across multiple genres. Sixteen million copies are in print and she has been published in twenty-one foreign countries, including Japan, France, Argentina, Greece, China, and Spain. Her books have been nominated for the prestigious RITA award and won both the Lifetime Achievement and Reviewer’s Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews.
A resident of Missoula, Montana, Kat is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. She and her author husband, L.J. Martin, spend their winters in Ventura, California. She is currently writing her next Romantic Suspense. Visit Kat at www.katmartin.com. Or join her Facebook page. (www.facebook.com/pages/Kat-Martin).
~~~
Links to Kat’s website, blog, books, etc.
BEYOND DANGER
WEBSITE: http://www.katmartin.com/
VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/AJju_yS1aB0
CONTEST LINKS
SPECIAL CONTEST: https://www.katmartin.com/beyond-reason-giveaway/
To CELEBRATE the release of BEYOND DANGER, enter my new contest for a chance to win a KINDLE FIRE 7″ Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB and a Kindle copy of INTO THE FURY, INTO THE WHIRLWIND and AINTO THE FIRESTORM. Contest runs from December 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018.
January Contest: http://www.katmartin.com/monthly-contest/
For January, Kat Martin is giving away to THREE winners a copy of both INTO THE FURY and an audio book.
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Danger-Texas-Trilogy-Martin-ebook/dp/B0725DXN9Y
b&n:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyond-danger-kat-martin/1126362566?ean=9781420143171#/
indiebound:
https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420143171
kobo
:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/beyond-danger
google play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kat_Martin_Beyond_Danger?id=vuXEDgAAQBAJ
itunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/beyond-danger/id1231931639?mt=11
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katmartinauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatMartinAuthor
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35118369-beyond-danger
~~~
[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: Kat will give away a hard copy, Kindle or Nook copy (winner’s choice, US Only) of INTO THE FURY to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.
Thanks, Kat, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
#BookSweeps LOVE ON A WIRE Romantic Suspense Book Giveaway! Win 40+ Romantic Suspense Novels & an eReader!!
#BookSweeps LOVE ON A WIRE
Romantic Suspense Book Giveaway!
Win 40+ Romantic Suspense Novels & an eReader!!
Today, I have a fun surprise that I’d like to share with you.
I’ve teamed up with 40+ fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of romantic suspense novels to 2 lucky winners, PLUS a brand new eReader to the Grand Prize winner!
Oh, and did I mention you’ll receive a collection of FREE ebooks just for entering? ;D
You can win my novel KILLING SECRETS, Thorne’s Thorns Book 1, plus books from authors like Willow Winters, Liz Maverick, and Kristin Mayer.
Enter the giveaway by clicking here: http://bit.ly/loveonawire-feb2018
Good luck and enjoy!
KAREN (K.L.)
February 6, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: OPERATION PHOENIX, Nova Force Book 1 by Susan Hayes
[image error]KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
~~
OPERATION PHOENIX
Nova Force Book 1
BY SUSAN HAYES
Blurb
He’s guarding the galaxy. She’s guarding her heart.
Nova Force – an elite team of soldiers whose mission is to maintain the power balance between the galaxy’s governments and the formidable corporations. Their commander, Dax Rossi lives by one rule: mission first. That code holds until a new case, and an old flame put his rule to the test.
Lieutenant Trinity West wants answers. Someone’s been stealing DNA from her top-secret research base, and she wants to know who, and how. Her investigation into the thefts is cut short by the arrival of Nova Force and Dax Rossi—the only man to ever break her heart.
~~
[image error]
OPERATION PHOENIX
Nova Force Book 1
BY SUSAN HAYES
Excerpt
The echoes of the engine’s noise were still reverberating through the air when the doorway opened. She came to attention and waited for the team to debark, reminding herself yet again that if she was going to be permitted to be involved in this investigation at all, she was going to have to set aside her disappointment and make herself invaluable. After her time working with the scientists here, she could be a valuable resource. The other IAF personnel didn’t call her the ‘nerd whisperer’ for nothing.
The first officer to appear was a woman. She was tall and athletic looking, with dark skin and an air of confidence. She scanned the area with a practiced eye before stepping onto the ramp that led to the ground. Her blue and silver uniform bore an insignia Trinity had heard described but never seen, a silver five-pointed star on an all-black background: the symbol of the elite group of soldiers that made up Nova Force.
Trinity wished there had been time to review their files before they got here. She didn’t even know their names. She was at a disadvantage already, and it bothered her. We’re supposed to be on the same team, dammit.
She didn’t need to read a file to know the name of the next officer to appear.
“That son of a bitch,” she muttered in Terran, her accent thickening in her anger. Dax Rossi was here, and according to the shoulder-mark on his uniform, he was a commander, which meant he was the leader of the newly arrived team. Double fraxx.
“You know him?”
“I knew him. A long time ago.”
“Friend?”
“That’s not the word I’d use, no.” Liar, sure. Jerk, certainly. Lover – once. But the only member of her family he’d been friends with had been her brother. The last time she’d seen Dax, it was at Travis’ funeral, and she’d hoped she would never set eyes on him again.
As angry as she was at seeing him, it still didn’t stop her heart from doing a triple-beat in her chest. He looked good. The piercing, blue-eyed stare was the same, and his dark hair was still too long for military standards, but there was something different about him: a maturity that hadn’t been there before. He looked every part a confident leader, and it suited him.
He’s even sexier now. That was the voice of her younger, dumber self. The one that thought she was in love with her brother’s best friend. She wasn’t that girl anymore. She couldn’t be.
Dax looked her way, and his foot froze mid-stride, nearly sending him tumbling down the ramp. His lips moved, and she could almost hear him speak her name. It gave her some small satisfaction to know she wasn’t the only one that had been blindsided.
[image error]Meet Author Susan Hayes…
Susan lives out on the Canadian west coast surrounded by open water, dear family, and good friends. She’s jumped out of perfectly good airplanes on purpose and accidentally swum with sharks on the Great Barrier Reef.
If the world ends, she plans to survive as the spunky, comedic sidekick to the heroes of the new world, because she’s too damned short and out of shape to make it on her own for long.
To contact her about her books or to arrange end of the world team-ups, you can email her at susan@susanhayes.ca or find her at susanhayes.ca. If you’d prefer to stalk her from afar, you can sign up for her newsletter http://susanhayes.ca/susans-newsletter/
~~~
Links to Susan’s website, blog, books, etc.
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Phoenix-Nova-Force-Book-ebook/dp/B0772WRJ16/
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-Phoenix-Nova-Force-Book-ebook/dp/B0772WRJ16/
Nook:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/operation-phoenix-susan-hayes/1126627962
iBooks:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/operation-phoenix/id1251678092
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/operation-phoenix-1
Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=4r5GDwAAQBAJ
Website: susanhayes.ca
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SusanHayesRomance/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SHayesRomance
Newsletter: http://susanhayes.ca/susans-newsletter/
~~~
[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: Susan is giving away an ebook copy of OPERATION PHOENIX to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.
Thanks, Susan, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
February 5, 2018
**Author Peek** Interview with Kat Martin, BEYOND DANGER (The Texas Trilogy)
**Author Peek** Interview with Kat Martin
BEYOND DANGER, The Texas Trilogy
[image error]INTRODUCING…Kat Martin .
Before we get started talking about your writing, tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do for a living (if you’re not a full-time writer) what hobbies you have, etc. Whatever you’d like to share to introduce yourself.
My name is Kat Martin. I’m a full time writer and have been for more than 30 years. I live near Missoula, Montana and winter in Ventura, California. I’ve written seventy novels, beginning with historical romance, currently writing romantic suspense. I’ve been in the top ten on the New York Times Bestseller List seven times in a row–something I’m extremely proud of.
How did you get started writing?
My husband wrote a historical novel set in early California in the 1840s that I really loved. I was helping him with spelling and grammar and got hooked on the idea of trying to write a novel of my own. Magnificent Passage, a western romance, was published in 1988.
What genre(s) do you write in and why?
I write romantic suspense because I love romance and I love mystery and suspense. To me, the two go hand in hand, the perfect combination.
What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?
I work on plot ideas, story lines, and dialogue. I imagine a lot of writers do that.
What is your favorite part of writing?
I like the independence it gives me, being mostly my own boss. I like the challenge of putting the story pieces and parts together to make a cohesive book.
What is your least favorite part of writing?
Writer’s block. Getting to a spot in the story where I can’t solve the next part or figure out what needs to happen in the upcoming pages. It’s torture!
Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who would they be and why?
I’m not much on celebrities these days. I’d rather have someone real that I respect and love.
Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
I watch TV and go to movies. I read magazines and newspapers, a lot of other books. So much is going on in the world… there are a million ideas. I just work on finding something I think will be interesting.
Tell me about your ideal reader.
Anyone who “gets me” is my ideal reader. If they are onboard with my humor and the emotions I’m hoping to create, they are my perfect reader.
What is your “go to” routine that helps you get in the mood to write? Special beverage? Music? Etc.
I’ve got to have two cups of coffee in the morning to get my juices flowing. Got to shower, put on my makeup, and get dressed. Then–deep sigh–I go to my office to start work. I do my email and social media, then I’m ready to get started writing. I look forward to that time.
Tell us about your next book & when is it being published?
After Beyond Danger, which is book #2 of my Texas Trilogy, Beyond Control will be out in June. That’s Joshua Cain’s story. Josh is Lincoln Cain’s brother in Beyond Reason.
Josh is former military, a guy home from the war who just wants to make his Texas ranch a success and find a little peace and quiet. Unfortunately, when Victoria Bradford shows up with her four-year old daughter in desperate need of help, Josh finds trouble instead.
~~~
Links to Kat’s website, blog, books, etc.
BEYOND DANGER
WEBSITE: http://www.katmartin.com/
VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/AJju_yS1aB0
CONTEST LINKS
SPECIAL CONTEST: https://www.katmartin.com/beyond-reason-giveaway/
To CELEBRATE the release of BEYOND DANGER, enter my new contest for a chance to win a KINDLE FIRE 7″ Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB and a Kindle copy of INTO THE FURY, INTO THE WHIRLWIND and AINTO THE FIRESTORM. Contest runs from December 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018.
January Contest: http://www.katmartin.com/monthly-contest/
For January, Kat Martin is giving away to THREE winners a copy of both INTO THE FURY and an audio book.
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Danger-Texas-Trilogy-Martin-ebook/dp/B0725DXN9Y
b&n:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyond-danger-kat-martin/1126362566?ean=9781420143171#/
indiebound:
https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420143171
kobo
:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/beyond-danger
google play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kat_Martin_Beyond_Danger?id=vuXEDgAAQBAJ
itunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/beyond-danger/id1231931639?mt=11
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katmartinauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatMartinAuthor
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35118369-beyond-danger
~~~
Be sure to come back to read more about BEYOND DANGER on Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench!
~~~
[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: Kat will give away a hard copy, Kindle or Nook copy (winner’s choice, US Only) of INTO THE FURY to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.
Thanks, Kat, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
February 4, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: THE MAIL-ORDER BRIDES COLLECTION: : 9 Historical Stories of Marriage that Precedes Love by Donna Schlachter
[image error]KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
~~
THE MAIL-ORDER BRIDES COLLECTION
9 Historical Stories of Marriage that Precedes Love
BY DONNA SCHLACHTER
Blurb
1895, Train to California
John Stewart needs a wife. Mary Johannson needs a home. On her way west, Mary falls in love with another. Now both must choose between commitment and true love.
October 1895
Mary Johannson has scars on her body that can’t compare with the scars on her heart. She is alone in the world, with no family, no prospects, and no home.
John Stewart is at his wit’s end. His wife of three years died in childbirth, leaving him with a toddler and an infant, both girls. Theirs was the love of fairy tales, and while he has no illusions about finding another like her, his children need a mother.
Though separated by thousands of miles, they commit to a mail-order marriage. But on their journey to Heartbreak, they meet another and realize the life they’d planned would be a lie. Can they find their way back from the precipice and into the love of God and each other, or are they destined to keep their word and deny their heart?
The Story Behind the Story . . . A Train Ride to Heartbreak
By Donna Schlachter
The idea for this story came from a love of a movie and a friend with a great story to share.
The movie was “The Fugitive”, both the original series pilot and the more recent remake. I loved the idea of a train ride leading to a second chance.
My friend had recently taken a train ride from Denver to San Francisco, and she shared several delightful stories. I wondered if a train ride might be like a cruise in that it would provide an insulated environment where the travelers might do something they’d never done before. If so, this was perfect fodder for a romance, much like the old TV show, “The Love Boat”.
And then I saw “Murder on the Orient Express”, and as a lover of anything Agatha Christie, decided to incorporate a few of the details in my story.
The result? A chance meeting, two characters with integrity, and a way for God to reach both of them.
~~~
[image error]THE MAIL-ORDER BRIDES COLLECTION
9 Historical Stories of Marriage that Precedes Love
BY DONNA SCHLACHTER
Excerpt
Groverton, Pennsylvania
September 1895
Chapter 1
Mary Johannson plunged reddened hands into the dishwater and scrubbed at a crusty spot on the chipped china plate.
In the yard, the vicar, shoulders slumped from the cares of his congregation, held a small child in his arms while two toddlers clutched his pants leg. And Matron Dominus, the imposing head of the Meadowvale Orphan’s Home, towered over the small group huddled before her.
Mary checked the plate. Satisfied it would pass muster, she dipped it into the rinse bucket and set the piece into the dish rack to air dry. Next she set a burnt oatmeal pot into the water to soak while she dried her hands on her apron and surveyed the scene outside.
The vicar nodded and turned to walk the gravel path he’d traversed just minutes before, the wee ones in tow as he hoisted the child to his other hip for the mile-long trip back. No doubt he was waiting for space to open in the orphanage.
Her space.
Mary would turn eighteen in two months. And despite her desire to escape the confines of the orphanage, she wasn’t excited about making her own way in the world. The last girl who aged out—as the other orphans called the act of turning eighteen—now worked at the saloon.
And everybody knew what kind of girls worked there.
Mary swiped at the scarred worktable set in the middle of the kitchen floor, her washrag sweeping crumbs into her hand. She still needed to finish the dishes and report to Matron
Dominus for her next order for the day.
By the time she returned to the sink, the vicar and his charges were out of sight.
But Matron Dominus stood outside the tiny window staring in at her.
Checking up on her, no doubt. Making certain she wasn’t lollygagging. An activity all of the residents indulged in. According to Matron.
Mary hurried through the rest of the washing up. She swept the floor, put a pot of beans on to soak for supper, and shooed the cat out from under the stove. After checking the dampers to make certain the range wouldn’t needlessly heat the kitchen—another of Matron’s accusations—she hung her apron on a nail beside the back door.
Stepping out into the fresh air, Mary drew a deep breath and leaned against the clapboard siding.
Perhaps she could work at the seamstress shop. She was a fair hand with a needle and thread. Or maybe the general store.
“Mary Johannson.”
The screech like a rooster with its tail caught in a gate startled her, and she straightened. But in her haste, she overbalanced and stepped forward to catch herself, hooking her toe in the hem of her dress, which she’d just let down last week to a more respectable length.
The sound of rending cloth filled her ears as the ground slammed toward her. She got her hands out in front of her just in time to prevent mashing her nose into the soil. The toes of Matron Dominus’s boots filled her vision.
Mary pushed herself to her feet, wincing at an ache in her lower back not there a moment before. Tears blurred her vision when she checked her dress—she had a three-inch rip just above the hem.
“Are you lollygagging about? Sunbathing? Do you think you’re on the Riviera?”
Despite her imposing height and girth, the matron’s voice—particularly when she was irked—resembled the irksome peacock Mary had once seen in the zoo in Philadelphia. Why God would create such a beautiful bird with such a nasty voice was beyond her.
But if what Matron said was true, He’d created Mary, too, only to have her burned by the flames that killed the rest of her family. Angry red scars ran from her forearms to halfway up her neck, and a collar of white tissue, the result of an inept doctor sewing her back together again, ringed her neck and inched toward her ears.
No, if God really loved her, He wouldn’t have allowed that to happen.
[image error]Meet Author Donna Schlachter…
Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, her first-line editor and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a hybrid author who has published a number of books under her pen name and under her own name. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters In Crime; facilitates a local critique group, and teaches writing classes and courses. Donna is also a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is proud to be represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.
~~~
Links to Donna’s website, blog, books, etc.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2Cur1I4
www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com
Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter
Other Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm
~~~
[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: Donna is giving away a print copy (U.S. Only) of THE MAIL-ORDER BRIDES COLLECTION to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.
Thanks, Donna, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
February 1, 2018
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with MADNESS UNLEASHED, Dragons of Zalara by M.L. Guida #recipe ~ Chocolate Sheet Cake w/Frosting
[image error]Karen’s Killer Fixin’s
**AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with M.L. Guida!
Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, M.L. GUIDA, and her favorite recipe for CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE w/FROSTING!
~~~
MADNESS UNLEASHED
Dragons of Zalara
BY M.L. GUIDA
BLURB
Damon is in love with the queen of the dragon warriors and the only way to get close to her is to be her personal guard. But the Fates are against him. Instead of wooing the queen, he’s forced to go to Earth to steal his destined human mate.
Three months ago, Hera Athans woke up in a park with no memory of who she is, where she lives, or what she does for a living. Now, she’s in survival mode. Two months behind on her rent she’s one step away from being homeless—again. She didn’t think things could get any worse. But she was wrong.
Kidnapped by an alien and held captive on board the spaceship Orion only Hera has the power to soothe his savage beast. She must mate with a dragon shifter to save both their worlds and unleash a love that will shake the stars…or lose both Earth and Zalara forever.
MADNESS UNLEASHED
Dragons of Zalara
BY M.L. GUIDA
TRAILER: https://lumen5.com/v/f8w7/
EXCERPT
She gasped for breath, her chest heaving.
“I like a woman with fire,” he sneered.
She glowered. “Then prepared to be burned.”
Vehemence dripped from her voice. It was an empty threat. Desmond was twice as tall and strong as she was, but she refused to go down without a fight.
His friends slowly fanned out around him. Not one of them had pity in their eyes–only lust.
Desmond laughed as he ran the back of his hand down her face. “I don’t think so. Your would-be hero isn’t here. Who’s going to save you now?”
Her throat closed with despair.
No one would hear.
No one would care.
No one would appear.
She was alone. God, she was in real trouble.
“Please, let me go.”
Her pleading didn’t seem to penetrate his drunken mind. He squeezed her cheeks hard. “Not until my pretty little leprechaun grants me four wishes.”
She glanced at him and his friends–four burly men that only had one wish on their mind. Their cold looks froze her like a Colorado blizzard, temporarily paralyzing her legs, her heart, her lungs. How could she survive this?
Suddenly, a loud rumble frosted her bones. It sounded animal, not human. And it was coming from behind Desmond. Hera couldn’t see behind his broad back.
“Desmond,” one of his friends squeaked.
“What the hell?” Desmond glanced over his shoulder. He immediately released her and pushed himself against the door.
Hera blinked. Great balls of fire! An orange dragon with the most intense golden tiger eyes glared at them. His eyes reminded her of her rescuer. The creature was bigger than Desmond’s SUV. It pulled back its lips into a snarl, revealing sharp teeth, and its tail twitched.
“Oh, God,” she whispered. She trembled uncontrollably and held on tight to her purse–the only weapon she had.
Desmond’s friends edged backward. The blood drained from their stricken faces.
“Holy shit!”
“What is that thing?”
Their voices were barely a whisper.
“It can’t be real. It can’t be real. It can’t be real.” Desmond repeated, as if saying would make the creature disappear.
The beast took a step closer.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” one of his minions cried. Like frighten cockroaches, they fled in different directions, abandoning Desmond.
The beast snorted, and smoke puffed out of its flaring nostrils.
Desmond slid across the building. “Please don’t hurt me.” His plea sounded as pitiful as hers had.
A stream of fire spurted out of the dragon’s mouth, igniting Desmond’s jacket. He ran after his friends, beating the flames and screaming.
Holy Mary of God, she was next. Hera ran, her heart beating faster than a cornered rabbit’s.
But then the beast lunged. In a split second, it transformed–scales disappearing to smooth flesh, eyes and noses changing from beast to man. Great horny toads, it was her handsome hero from the bar.
He blocked her path, then seized her shoulders, pinning her to the wall. “I told you, you’re mine.”
Hera shrieked with terror.
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small bottle. He squeezed it, and blue smoke swooshed out. She turned her head but inhaled something sickly sweet. Dizziness swept over her. Her legs turned into wet spaghetti, and she collapsed into strong arms. She couldn’t move or scream. The last thing she remembered was being whisked into the darkness.
[image error]Meet Author M.L. Guida…
Award Winning Author M.L. Guida loves the paranormal. Even when she was four years old, she would watch the soap opera, Dark Shadows, and fell in love with vampires! Who wouldn’t want a bite on the neck? But she didn’t stop there. Witches, dragons, angels, and demons are sprinkled throughout her books.
Today, she continues to love the preternatural and watches Supernatural, Paranormal Survivor, and A Haunting. Like Dean Winchester, she loves to write alpha males who aren’t afraid to face the forces of evil.
M.L. lives in Colorado near the Rocky Mountains. She loves to take her cocker spaniel, Raven, for walks on the trails behind her house. When she travels, she tries to go on ghost tours. Her favorite so far was the Jack the Ripper tour in London.
Links to M.L.’s website, blog, books, etc.
My private facebook group for readers:
ML Guida’s Supernatural Lounge
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1378061665575785/
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/MLGuidaauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5177984.M_L_Guida
Twitter: @mlguida2
I hope you enjoy the recipe Cate is sharing today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy Eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 358 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE FROM M.L.: With Valentine’s Day close by I thought I’d include my family’s favorite chocolate cake recipe.
CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE w/FROSTING
[Makes 9×12 Sheet Cake]
Sift together 2 cups of flour, 2 cups of sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Set aside.
Put in saucepan 1/2 cup cooking oil, 1 stick of butter, 4 tablespoons of cocoa and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and pour while hot over dry ingredients. Mix well.
Add 1/2 cup butter-milk (or milk) to which 1 teaspoon of baking soda has been added.
Add 2 slightly beaten eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla and beat. Beat 25 minutes @ 375′
Frosting:
In saucepan melt 1 stick margarine, 6 tablespoon milk, 4 tablespoon cocoa, while hot pour over 1 box of sifted powdered sugar beat, and 1/2 cup nuts, spread on hot cake.
It’s rich and yummy!
~~~
[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: M.L. is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.
Thanks, M.L., for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
We Heart Books #Contest!! Enter to #Win a Kindle Fire, Gift Card & 25 eBooks or Paperbacks!!
Love to Read? – Enter this amazing contest!!
I’m so excited to share this amazing contest with you!
Right now, is your chance to enter to win a Kindle Fire, gift card, and eBook or paperbacks, featuring your favorite best-selling romance authors (including me!)
Expand your book collection now! Simply enter below.
[Contest: February 1 – 28, 2018]
Congratulations FEBRUARY 2018 Blog Subscriber Giveaway Winner!
Time to announce the JANUARY 2018 #WINNER of my Monthly Blog Subscriber Giveaway, where special readers can win a read or coffee – two of my favorite things—on me!!!
And the winner is…
themakingofafuneral.director…
Congratulations! You have won a $5 gift card from Amazon or Starbucks (your choice)! I’ll contact you privately to arrange for delivery of your gift.
Dear Readers,
If you missed this month’s giveaway, you can still subscribe to my blog at http://www.karendocter.com/ to get my blogs delivered straight to your email and be entered EACH MONTH into a random drawing for #FREE $5 gift card. On the first of each month, I’ll draw one name at www.random.org from all of my subscribers to receive the card.
More wonderful perks to subscribing to my blog? The blogs, when they appear in your Inbox, are pretty and easy to read. You can discover new authors, recipes and reader fun…and many of the authors sponsor GIVEAWAYS just for commenting!
If you’re only in the mood to receive my Special Release Alerts, you can subscribe to my mailing list instead. This is NOT a newsletter, but the occasional Karen/K.L. Docter news release.
Thanks for joining me on Karen’s Killer Book Bench!!
Karen/K.L.
To avoid SPAM filters, I’m announcing this random giveaway on the blog so that all current subscribers will know who won. If your name is announced and you don’t hear from me and can’t find an email in your SPAM folder, please contact me at kldocter@yahoo.com. Thank you!
Winners selected by random.org.
Congratulations Week 01-22-18 Blog Giveaway Winners!
[image error]
CONGRATULATIONS WEEK
01-22-18
BLOG GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!
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[image error]Karen’s Killer Book Bench with Ann Dominguez…
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Ann is giving away an ebook copy of LOST THINGS to three lucky readers who comment on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.
Thanks, ANN, for sharing your book with us!
WINNERS: EILEEN AW, BN100 & KATHLEEN BYLSMA!!
~~~
[image error]TWO DAYS LEFT! There’s still time to enter Jill Shalvis’s giveaway: a paperback copy of SWEET LITTLE LIES and a tote bag.
~~~
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THESE BOOKS!! [image error] KILLING SECRETS, Thorne’s Thorns Book 1
By Bestselling Author K.L. Docter
Blurb: Some secrets are better left dead.
Rachel James’ ex-husband is released from prison determined to reclaim her and her little girl — the child is his key to controlling the James fortune. Frightened, Rachel flees to Denver with the child who hasn’t uttered a word since her daddy went to prison.
Contractor Patrick Thorne wants nothing to do with another of his parents’ charity cases. He failed his own wife so abysmally she took her own life as well as his unborn son’s. After two years, it’s time to concentrate on the bid he’s won and the saboteur trying to destroy his construction firm.
There is no room for trust in either of their hearts. But trust is all that will untangle the secrets that dominate their lives, free a little girl of her silent prison, and save them all from a serial killer who stands too close.
(All Karen/K.L. Docter novels have HEAs, no cliffhangers.)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iFFWmg
B&N: http://goo.gl/wsqVxB
Kobo: http://goo.gl/KM563U
Google Play: http://goo.gl/mogQqs
iTunes: http://goo.gl/pg58wN
[image error] COP ON HER DOORSTEP, True Love In Uniform Book 1
By Bestselling Author Karen Docter
Blurb: In the six years since her husband was killed by S.W.A.T., Carrie Padilla has spent long hours at work, rebuilding a life for herself and her son. The little time she has at home is spent keeping her eight-year-old son out of trouble, but he is all too eager to try to be the man in the house. When a handsome cop shows up on her doorstep, her errant son in tow, Carrie’s heart stutters. The sexy Italian cop sets off all kinds of bells in her system, and she knows there’s only one thing she can do to save what is left of her family, her husband’s memory, and her heart…avoid her new neighbor at all costs.
S.W.A.T. officer Jake Stefani already lost one little boy to gang violence, the dead boy’s older brother is missing, and Jake’s not about to let the same thing happen to a neighbor’s son. He drags the youngster home only to discover much more than a passing interest in the boy’s beautiful, but wary, mother. Forced to take a leave of absence after a bust goes awry, Jake can think of nothing better to occupy his time than to keep Carrie and her son safe, and locate the missing teen who holds the key to taking the gang off the streets, once and for all.
But Jake doesn’t count on his stubborn, intriguing neighbor distracting him from his job, or the passion that flares between them. He doesn’t expect her amazing son to steal a piece of his heart. Jake is ready to risk everything for Carrie, body and soul. But it’s not all up to him. If their new love is to survive, Carrie will need to be strong enough to see the man’s beating heart behind the badge, to look beyond the pain of her past, and decide that loving again is worth the risk.
[All of Karen/K.L. Docter’s books are HEA. No cliffhangers.]
Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://goo.gl/bUHNMu
B&N: http://goo.gl/6uoZTd
Kobo: http://goo.gl/fd92aB
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26183834-cop-on-her-doorstep
HAPPY READING!
All giveaway winners chosen by random.org from reader comments with the exception of Rafflecopter giveaways which are determined and announced offsite by publisher/authors. Thank you!
January 31, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: DEAD TWIN SISTER, Die So Fluid Series by Jack Wallen
[image error]KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
~~
DEAD TWIN SISTER
Die So Fluid Series
BY JACK WALLEN
Blurb
Die So Fluid is back from The Dark Seduction.
Reeling from the loss of a dear friend—and working with a new manager—their special blend of rock must continue on. While recording their latest album, “One Bullet From Paradise”, a spirit from the Seduction has latched onto Grog, intent on wreaking havoc. With each recorded song the spirit gains more power until Grog’s dead twin sister is unleashed.
With the help of some powerful hand magic and the lasting spirit of her departed friend, Grog must fight back the spectral force and save the human race from damnation.
~~
DEAD TWIN SISTER
Die So Fluid Series
BY JACK WALLEN
Excerpt
ACT I
kusala
ONE
You could sleepwalk all your life and never learn how to run
Don
’t say tomorrow. Tomorrow doesn’t always come.
The headphones were tight over my ears; the metal studs through cartilage pressing into my skull served to keep me grounded by way of a nagging irritation. The sound of Drew’s guitar track had everyone in the studio caught in a brilliant fog, our heads banging now and again in a show of rock and roll solidarity. When the last note rang out, cheers exploded against the studio walls, easily invoking visions of concert halls.
Drew sat at the console, a knowing grin spread wide across his lips. There could be no doubt this was some of his best work. It all made perfect sense; Drew and I were driven by the same muse, one that threatened to punish us with a never-ending stream of heart-breaking memories, should we not deliver the goods.
That Drew delivered, there was no arguing. He’d been in rare form lately, playing as if he’d been possessed by the spirit of Ronson and McGeoch. I knew the truth to that fiction. A certain specter whispered in his ear as he played, pushing him toward some heretofore unknown perfection.
Or such was the story playing back in the cinema of my mind.
“That was bloody awful,” Drew shouted, his headphones still covering his ears, so he had no idea he’d voiced the opinion to everyone within earshot. All in attendance knew the guitarist was f*&king around. A good sign, that; Drew’s sense of humor was irrevocably tied to his ego. I knew the trick of this riddle; the more he mocked himself, the more confidence he held in his work.
I tossed the man a devil horn salute. “Bloody well botched that whole number up. How in the hell am I supposed to sing to that shit?”
Drew kissed the tip of his middle finger and flew it my way. “You always find a way to make me sound like I know what I’m doing. We, of course, know better.” A wicked grin slowly ate its way across Drew’s mouth. “Your turn, princess.”
“That’s Queen to you, commoner,” I tossed my head back and shot my nose into the air. “You may kiss my ring or lick my boot; one or the other, not both.”
“You would deprive me of my only joy?” Drew winked and nodded for me to step to the other side of the glass.
It was go time.
I entered the small room, placed the headphones over my ears, stepped up to the mic, and waited to be prompted for a soundcheck. With the door to the room closed, the sensation before the music began to play was disconcerting at best—absolute silence was absolutely deafening.
Given last night’s dream, it was a gift of grand irony that we were recording ‘Tomorrow Doesn’t Always Come.’ Al’s visit could have been a premonition of things to come while standing behind the mic.
The thought of Al brought a smile to my face and a tightness in my chest.
“Ready, doll?” The sound of Drew’s voice shattered my sorrowful reverie.
I took a quick sip of water, swallowed, and offered a thumbs-up to those at the console. Shortly after, the click track kicked in, followed by Drew’s masterful intro. I’d already laid down my bass track, so I was able to sing against a wall of very Die So Fluid sound. Intro complete, I took in a deep breath and sang.
“I once told you I’m yours till the end of time but how long is that anyway? Tonight we could go down in a hail of comets, like a cosmic sundance. To the last I’ll stay. You could sleepwalk all your life and never learn how to run. Don’t say tomorrow, tomorrow doesn’t always come. Give me all you’ve got tonight. Don’t hold out for the morning sun. Don’t say tomorrow, tomorrow doesn’t always come.”
I waved my hand in the air, to cut the track short.
“Sounding glorious,” Drew announced. “You okay?”
“Sure. I just…” My voice faded to silence.
“What is it?” Drew insisted.
“Nothing, nothing. Wasn’t feeling it is all. Let’s give it another go.”
Once again, the click track led me into the number. The melody poured from my mouth, this time in perfect sync with an emotion-flooded heart.
We will wreak havoc on the world.
The track continued on without me.
“Did you hear that?” I called out into the mic.
Drew leaned into the console mic and responded. “Hear what?”
“A voice.”
“Yeah I did. Yours. Should I have heard something else?”
I tapped my headphones. “Could you play that back for me?”
Another thumbs-up from Drew and the track, including my vocals, filled my head with song. There was no other voice. I gathered my wits and responded, “Did anyone in there speak into my monitor while I was recording my track?”
All heads shook, leaving me confounded. I was certain the voice had been there and the words perfectly clear. Drew whispered in my ears, “You need to take a break?”
“I’m fine. Had another dream last night, so it’s probably nothing more than the after-effects of that.”
“Al?” Drew hesitantly asked.
I nodded to confirm his assumption.
“I’m sorry, Grogins. I miss him too.”
“Let me give this another go.”
“You certain?”
Another nod.
Another thumbs-up.
The click track returned. I wanted to sing to the stars, that I’d finally made it through the number without fking up or hearing voices rattling my addled brain.
As soon as the final note of the song faded to silence, everyone in the booth went wild. It took a moment, but Drew finally chimed in. “Oh, f*#k yeah, Grog; you’ve never sounded that good. It was absolute perfection. Brava.”
“Playback,” I requested.
The melody rose in perfect counterpoint to Drew’s fretwork. As I reached the first chorus, the voice returned, this time with a bit more menace to its tone.
I’ll cut you and gut you, my sister.
[image error]Meet Author Jack Wallen…
Jack Wallen is what happens when a Gen Xer mind-melds with present day snark. Jack is a seeker of truth and a writer of words with a quantum mechanical pencil and a disjointed beat of sound and soul. Although he resides in the unlikely city of Louisville, Kentucky, Jack likes to think of himself more as an interplanetary traveler, on the lookout for the Satellite of Love and a perpetual movie sign…or so he tells the reflection in the mirror (some times in 3rd person). Jack is the author of numerous tales of dark, twisty fiction including the I Zombie series, the Reapers series (published by Devil Dog Press), the Suicide series, the Klockwerk Movement, the Fringe Killer series, Shero, The Nameless Saga, and much more.
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Links to Jack’s website, blog, books, etc.
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Jack-Wallen/e/B004MZWR3W/
Website: http://www.jackwallen.com
Blog: http://www.patreon.com/jackwallen
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jlwallen
~~~
[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: Jack is giving away a paperback copy of the first book in the Die So Fluid series, “The Dark Seduction” to one lucky reader who comments on his Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.
Thanks, Jack, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
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