Melissa Snark's Blog: The Snarkology, page 20
November 3, 2015
Sweet Tea by Wendy Lynn Decker #ComingofAge @Goddessfish
GENRE: Coming of Age/Christian fiction
The fourth anniversary of Olivia’s daddy and John Lennon’s death is approaching. Like the shot heard ’round the world, TV and radio stations keep the frenzy alive and recognize Lennon’s life, while Olivia’s mama remembers Daddy’s death. Instead of healing, Mama’s strange behavior keeps getting worse.
After viewing an afternoon talk show, Olivia discovers her mother might have more than a case of eccentricity – she may be mentally ill. When those fears are confirmed, Olivia is faced with more decisions than any sixteen-year-old should have to make. With no adult family members to turn to, she is forced to trust the only people who’ve offered help: one strange man and a friend her mother makes at the mental institution.
Facing the intricacies of her mother’s illness one minute and the decision to have sex with her new boyfriend the next, Olivia finds that through faith and determination, she can conquer it all in this poignant story of love, intuition, compassion, and hope.
Excerpt
“Well look at you, Miss Trailer Queen, all wrapped up in a fur coat. Did your little brother catch it live and skin it for you, too?” Luke had gone from a baseball-playing typical young boy to a backwoods hick since we’d moved to the trailer park, but insulting him like she did made my chest tight and my face burn.
At first, I felt a spike of anger, ready to thrust from my fist into Monica’s button nose. Instead, I fluttered my lashes and held my head high. “No, Monica. Only your daddy would accomplish such a task by hand. I got this as a gift.”
Monica’s face reddened. I could almost see smoke whistling from her ears as her mind spun fast, trying to outwit me. Regardless of her standing as Landon’s golden girl, my wit sparked of amber and sapphire. Monica’s smoldered like a windblown matchstick. I shared a subtle grin of satisfaction on my way out the door to the hallway.
Had my daddy lived he would have spoiled me the same as Monica’s daddy, probably even more. I missed our old house. I missed the hidden corners and secret places I’d disappear to when I yearned for privacy. I missed the peach tree that sprawled across our front lawn. It stood so tall that in full summer, I could reach outside my bedroom window and grab a peach right from the branch.
After Mama ran out of Daddy’s insurance money, we had no choice but to leave our beautiful home and move to Woodlane Trailer Park on the other side of Landon. It was painful for everyone. Becoming the only male in the house and changing schools hurt Luke even more. Luke wanted to leave school, but I saw school as an escape. I was lucky to remain in the same high school. Even though Monica graced the hallways of Landon High, I refused to let her ruin my only happiness. School helped me in many ways. Not only because I loved to learn, but because of Mattéo Santoro.
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Wendy will be awarding a $5 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Wendy Lynn Decker has lived in thirteen different towns in the state of New Jersey. Now, she lives a bike ride away from the ocean and her favorite restaurant. She is the author of the middle-grade chapter book, THE BEDAZZLING BOWL, which is the first book intended for a series.
Find her here:
WendyDecker19 – http://www.twitter.com/wendydecker19
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/pub/wendy-lynn-decker/46/166/3a2
November 1, 2015
THE ADVENTURES OF ANABEL AXELROD by Tracy Ellen #Romance
Boxed Set: The Adventures of Anabel Axelrod Series: Special Holiday Collection
Meet Anabel Axelrod, a smart, sassy, and sexy small town bookstore owner. She’s also a control enthusiast with quirky ideas, decided convictions, and firm rules for the men who want to date her. When Anabel meets Luke Drake, she is appallingly fascinated to be attracted to the mysterious alpha male like no man before in her extensive dating career. Anabel is right to be wary because Luke does not play by any rules. What do you get when you mix together a witty, confident woman who is a magnet for trouble, a dangerously seductive man with a secret agenda who is not too tall, not too handsome, and definitely dark, fun loving friends with their own set of problems, and a few crazy relatives? The Adventures of Anabel Axelrod! An ongoing series that is part steamy romance, part suspenseful mystery, and always laugh-out-loud fun!
This eBook boxed set of The Adventures of Anabel Axelrod (Volumes I-V Special Holiday Collection) is available for purchase November/December 2015 only and contains the full-length books: A Date with Fate, Courted by Karma, In Love by Design, Adieu to Destiny, and Family & Fortune.
Available from:
Excerpt:
“Look, Luke, if I break my rule about being picked up can you promise not to dismember me on our first date or worse yet, bore me?”
Pushing the door open, Luke casually shrugged a shoulder. “Anabel, I never make promises I can’t keep. You may prove irritating.”
I blinked in disbelief. By the time I recovered to retort, I was talking to the screen door. Stunned, I realized Luke really had left. After a moment of taking this in, I started laughing in rare enjoyment. Our first date could prove very interesting indeed.
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Tracy will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Tracy Ellen is happily married and lives with her family in the suburbs of St Paul, Minnesota. She loves writing and living dangerously through the lives of her characters. Tracy’s a firm believer that smart + confident = sexy as hell. But she hopes that’s the only formula you’ll ever find in her unique, steamy, witty, suspenseful, and sometimes incredibly funny romances featuring sassy, independent heroines and their seductively alpha heroes.
Website and Newsletter Sign Up: www.tracyellenink.com
Twitter Handle: TracyEllen01
Twitter URL: https://twitter.com/TracyEllen01
Facebook Page URL: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracy-Ellen/426785400717429
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-Ellen/e/B009EFU5XY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1444475905&sr=8-1 (the boxed set will go on sale on October 26)
October 29, 2015
#Amazon to the Loo-scue #humor @MelissaSnark
So, I was on Amazon today and noticed a new product the site is pushing called Amazon Dash.
How it WorksAmazon Dash Button is a Wi-Fi connected device that reorders your favorite item with the press of a button. To use Dash Button, simply download the Amazon App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Then, sign into your Amazon Prime account, connect Dash Button to Wi-Fi, and select the product you want to reorder. Once connected, a single press on Dash Button automatically places your order. Amazon will send an order confirmation to your phone, so it’s easy to cancel if you change your mind. Also, the Dash Button Order Protection doesn’t allow a new order to be placed until the prior order ships, unless you allow multiple orders.
Isn’t it great how Amazon’s always thinking about its customer’s needs? It’s for Prime Customers, so presumably you also get Amazon’s amazing two-day shipping.
So the next time you’re sitting on the porcelain throne and run out of TP, no need to make that embarrassing shout out to your spouse to fetch more. Nope, you just lean over and hit this lovely little button:
Then sit back and wait.
Two days later, an Amazon drone arrives with your delivery.
October 25, 2015
Sidhe – The Incubus Saga: Book 3 by Amanda Meuwissen (Contest) #UF #Goddessfish #LGBT
I’ve been writing actively for over half my life now and there are a few staples I’ve developed for effectively crafting my next story from start to finish. I’m a character driven writer first and foremost; my characters dictate their story to me, and I am merely a vessel, so plot stems from them, meaning nothing is more important than getting the characters down first.
I like to start by outlining a little character bio for every major player. Their name, age, height, coloring, nationality, other quirks or details, and often as I’m going, other points of interest crop up, like peeling back the layers of an onion to the next fact underneath.
Sometimes, if I have a concept for a character but not quite their name yet, I head over to babynames.com. It’s fun to play around with the name meaning section, typing in words that reference the character to spark ideas for their name. When I find the right one, it always feels meant to be.
I also enjoy taking a little time to explore physical character designers, usually silly little cartoon creators, but it helps me realize details about a character to envision how they look and what they might dress like in a way I can save and reference back to later. Plus it’s fun and helps the creative juices flow. Another way to go about this is to do the ever-popular exercise of imagining what actors would play your characters in the movie/TV version, though as someone who tends to know a lot of actors by name and face well, this can be time consuming because there are so many options!
Once I’ve gone through this process, I find that certain scenes and specifics about the plot come to me in spurts, and it’s important to jot them all down before I forget them. Sometimes that perfect turn of a phrase, piece of dialogue, or scene idea catches you by surprise, and you can’t wait for it to naturally come up during the chronological process—write it now! At least the finer points to come back to later when that scene actually happens.
If I don’t have pages of notes in the teens by the time I’m writing chapter 1, something has gone wrong. Of course, it can be a pain later to organize all the notes when the ideas come to me out of order, but it gives me time to mull over those details before I commit to them, consider other angles, and rearrange things.
Having someone besides your editor read your work before you move into heavy editing yourself can also be beneficial, as they’ll have a fresh reader take on how things are progressing that you might not have thought of, before having to bore your actual editor with tweaking more complicated issues.
But out of all of my writer tricks, the one that has helped me the most is actually a recent development. It’s the best advice I can give any writer, and I have had several fellow authors tell me it works for them too.
Whenever you come to the end of a scene or chapter, DON’T STOP WRITING. Push yourself to at least start the first couple lines of the next scene, and you’ll be surprised how much you get out. This also helps you when you next come back to writing, as you’ll be in mid inspiration, not at the end of a segment leaving you with catharsis that can be difficult to come out of. Nothing has helped me beat writer’s block more.
Happy writing!
Nathan Grier returns from the Veil a changed man. The consequences of h
is time with Malak, the dark sidhe king, and the deal made to free him may be more than he can bear. The weakening of the Veil and new enemies foretell of a greater battle still ahead. With Nathan’s brother Jim now an Awakened changeling, and Nathan’s role in Malak’s plans finally revealed, Nathan’s love for fae hunter and incubus, Sasha Kelly, may not be enough to save him after all.
The Incubus Saga series is available from:
Amazon
Excerpt:
“Your scope is so small, Nathan.” Malak shook her head in disappointment, a hand snaking down Nathan’s chest. “You think you know something of the bigger picture, but you always count yourself out, or give yourself such a small role to play. Jim is merely an important aspect to the grand scheme. Don’t you understand yet? You’re the prize, not a consolation.”
The pressure increased, making Nathan’s breaths come short and gasping as he grew less and less able to struggle. “What are you talking about? Jim…he’s the one with the powers. He’s the changeling.”
“Ah, yes, the chosen changeling to bring down the Veil,” Malak said mockingly, chuckling to herself. “I couldn’t be certain when the right children would be born, you see, I only knew that one of them would be a changeling. Why do you think we take every changeling into the Veil, Nathan? I had to be certain when I found my prize. But the key to knowing Jim was the one…was you. When I found you, when you made that deal to bring your brother home, you stood out like a beacon and I knew it was finally time.”
A shock jolted through Nathan’s body, but it didn’t make sense. Why did he matter? There was nothing special about him.
“There you go again, Nathan, counting yourself so unworthy,” Malak said like a reprimand, as she allowed her straying hand to touch the bare skin on Nathan’s belly where his shirt had hitched up. “It was always going to be you, Nathan. I was waiting for you. It had to be a worthy match, a worthy pair, for everything to fall into place. How fitting for it to be brothers. I couldn’t have planned it more perfectly.”
Nathan didn’t want to hear this, all this preordained, you did everything just like we wanted bullshit. He was in control of his own life. That’s why he left. “But why? What is it about me that is so damn important? Jim—”
“Jim has the powers,” Malak sighed, “yes. As an Awakened changeling, he can control sidhe and humans alike and is immune to most ways either side might try to kill him. The perfect General to be at our right hand. But not a king. To have true power…you have to choose it for yourself.”
Amanda will be awarding eBook copies of all three books in the series to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Amanda Meuwissen is the author of The Incubus Saga and The Collector. Amanda also serves as COO and Managing Editor for BigWorldNetwork.com. She oversees editing and series selection, and is featured as a narrator for several BWN series. Amanda lives in Minneapolis, MN, with her husband, John, and their cats, Helga and Sasha (no connection to the incubus of the same name).
Social media and website links:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00IASVAJO (Author Amazon Page with all buy links)
http://bigworldnetwork.com/site/series/incubus (Series at BigWorldNetwork)
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6831429.Amanda_Meuwissen (Goodreads)
https://twitter.com/MissSuperCube (Twitter)
http://crimsondomingo.tumblr.com (Tumblr)
http://pinterest.com/crimsondomingo (Pinterest)
https://www.facebook.com/TheIncubusSaga (Series Facebook Fan Page)
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmandaMeuwissen (Author Facebook Fan Page)
Ghosts and Spirits #Giveaway #SnarkologyHalloweenHop @MelissaSnark
Since man first drew breath, there has been the inevitability of death. Stories about what happens to the spirit after death have been with mankind since the very beginning. A discussion on the history and different types of ghost is interesting to say the least. Whether you enjoy a terrifying story about ghosts or really get into paranormal research, you should find the following on different types of hauntings to be intriguing.
Intelligent Ghosts
Wolf howling at the moon in the midnigt
Contrary to popular belief this is considered a rare type of haunting. Intelligent ghosts are spirits of people who have departed this world and for whatever reason their spirit remained behind. There has been a lot of speculation about whether these spirits are dangerous or evil, and though there is that possibility they are not inherently so. Whatever character or personality the person had in life will translate to the type of spirit they leave behind.
Residual Essence
This could best be described as a psychic impression or like a video loop. You might see what look like specters or ghosts going about their business or even experiencing a traumatic event, however rather than interacting with the living or making unpredictable movements, they will simply repeat the same scene over and over again.
Poltergeist
A haunting of this nature is what most people think of when it comes to ghosts. Flying dishes, banging doors and levitating furniture mark the spot of a poltergeist haunting. It is important to note that many experts in the field are beginning to believe poltergeist activity is less about spirits or ghosts and more of a psychic phenomenon where a living person in the residence is moving objects around via telekinesis. If this is truly the case, it might be time to think up a new name for the “hauntings” as poltergeist is German in origin and literally means noisy ghost.
Demon Haunting
Whether you can group demonic activity and ghosts in the same category may be debatable in some circles, but when you look at their characteristics it is not a big leap. Even defining a demon becomes a matter for discussion as you have many myths, legends, folklore and religious references to them. For lack of a better explanation, demons are spirits that can affect the living. In the modern world, they are generally considered completely evil in nature and only have one goal in mind, which is the physical and or spiritual destruction of humankind.
Victoria Storm, the heroine of my urban fantasy Loki’s Wolves series, has the ability to speak with the spirits of the dead who often come to her for assistance.
In Valkyrie’s Vengeance, the spirit of a murdered mother asks Victoria to rescue her kidnapped son from a Christmas monster.
In Hunger Moon, the ghost of a woman haunts the place where she died and cannot know peace until she is avenged. Victoria investigates and uncovers a complex conspiracy dating back decades
In Battle Cry, the spirit of Victoria’s dead lover is captured and must be saved from a nefarious enemy.
Hunger Moon is part of Edge of Never
A Unique Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy Boxed Set
☆♡☆♡☆AVAILABLE FOR ONLY 99¢☆♡☆♡☆
Edge of Never: Release date Oct 12th
New York Times, USA Today, and Other Bestselling Authors
Join us at the Edge of Never … Obliterate the lines between fantasy and reality with nine spine-tingling tales from your favorite bestselling and award winning authors. Dragons, gods–fallen and otherwise–ghosts, vampires. A touch of steampunk. More than a splash of romance. From magical lands to a chilling glance into post World War II Europe, Edge of Never has something to tempt everyone.
Amazon US: http://goo.gl/TT92Ef
Amazon UK: http://goo.gl/AyvtzK
B&N: http://goo.gl/uIJoIy
Kobo: https://goo.gl/eKnBsJ
iBooks: https://goo.gl/KvkVok
Google Play: https://goo.gl/pp1Zgm
Enter our Edge of Never #Giveaway for a chance to win a $50 gift card. http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b906247918/?
Follow the hop for more fun, great books, and awesome prizes. http://www.thesnarkology.com/snarkology-halloween-hop-oct-26-31st/
Enter the hopwide contest for a chance to win:
(1) $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card or
(1) $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card or
(1) $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card or
(1) $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
October 23, 2015
Dear Author by Rosemary Edghill #amwriting #humor
Rosemary Edghill has been a writer since 1976 and an editor for much of that time. The first time she saw a slush pile, she was stunned by the contents. Over the years, that feeling has faded into pained disbelief at Dumb Things Writers Do. Now she shares her pain (and helpful tips for writers) in her infamous “Dear Author” posts.
Dear Author:
I know this will come as a shock, but a short story and a novel are two different things. A perfectly salable novel opening will get a short story bounced. Author, honey, you don’t have TIME for all that lovely dilatory scene setting and lapidary description: get the story started!
☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆
Dear Author:
It’s really quaint and adorable of you to consider a woman of forty old, feeble, greying, and withered. It really is. Honest.
☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆
Dear Author:
When I finally see a story with a proper opening sentence, I want to weep with the relief of a child rescued from the dark.
☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆
Dear Author:
Your protagonist is awfully chatty for somebody you actually killed six pages back.
☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆
Submitted for your approval: one desert culture. In a world like, and yet unlike, our own, the desert is populated by a harsh, proud, mysterious people. Their customs and rituals stretch back to the beginning of Time…but not the beginning of civilization. They live in an arid land as harsh, mysterious, and merciless as they, cut off by climate, geography, and their own desire from others. Let me reiterate that the desert is hot, dry, hot and dry, dry, dry and hot, and arid. Also: isolated from outside contact. Got that? A woman from Away comes to this desert. Her past is as mysterious as those of the people she meets. Their ways are strange to her, as is their food. Yet a few things are familiar. Like the homely dish of beans and rice she shares at one meal. BEANS AND RICE???? RICE????? RICE???????????????????????? It was at this point that I emitted a low moan of inchoate despair at the state of modern brain-cells and wrote this. Jiminy Francis Christ on a Robot Dinosaur.
☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆☆♡☆♡☆
Rosemary Edghill is the keeper of the Eddystone Light, corny as Kansas in August, normal as blueberry pie, and only a paper moon. She was found floating down the Amazon in a hatbox, and, because criminals are a cowardly and superstitious lot, she became a creature of the night (black, terrible). She began her professional career working as a time-traveling vampire killer and has never looked back. She’s also a New York Times Bestselling Writer and hangs out on Facebook a lot.
Learn more about Rosemary at website or discover her books on Amazon.
October 22, 2015
Unmistakable by Lacey Wolfe #Romance
Chandler doesn’t do relationships. His life is all mapped out and with no room for a long term relationship. When he meets Jamie, feelings develop and the easiest way to handle those feelings is to end things before it gets too complicated.
Jamie has never done heartbroken and that doesn’t change when Chandler decides to end things. She picks herself back up and gets right back out into the dating world. After all, there are plenty of eligible bachelors at The Gentleman’s Club.
Before they can both walk away for good, a problem neither of them expected arises. Things heat up, lives are changed, and it all boils down to what the paternity test says.
Warning: This is a May-December romance with a hero that is going to make you hate him long before he redeems himself.
Novella and can be read as a stand alone
~Excerpt~
“Having a good time I hope?” Ian’s gaze swept over her body and from the expression on his face, she could tell he appreciated what he saw. Too bad the handsome man was another one who wanted to make a lifetime of being a bachelor.
“It would be better if you didn’t allow married men into the club.”
Ian shrugged. “I don’t encourage it, but they are paying customers.”
“Assholes are what they are.” She finished her beverage.
“Need another? On the house after dealing with an asshole.”
She handed him her glass. “I suppose.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Jamie ran her hands through the top of her hair. Her dress was riding up slightly, and as she tugged it back into place, a shiver swept down her spine. She didn’t even have to turn around to know who stood just inches from her.
A hand met her waist. “You know what this dress does to me.”
She pulled away from him and turned to meet his gaze. “Chandler. How nice to see you.”
“It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?” He cocked an eyebrow.
Ian returned and handed her another Appletini. “I need to handle something. We’ll talk again soon, Jamie.”
She nodded then glanced back at Chandler. His hair was dark, almost black. He’d been coloring it, she could tell, because she couldn’t find a hint of gray. And at forty-eight, she’d expect to see some around the ears, at least.
“How’ve you been?” he asked.
Like he cared. She’d been his toy, that was it. She’d known it when she got involved with him; knew it would go nowhere. He’d been honest, but she’d still fallen for him. Coming here tonight had been a mistake. You didn’t just fall out of love with someone in two weeks.
Chandler reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Please, don’t.” She couldn’t handle him touching her.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
She shook her head and stepped back, needing space. “Don’t.”
“Come on, Jamie. Spend some time with me like you used to.”
Taking a deep breath, she glared at him. “I’m not a toy.”
Chandler smirked. “You sure are dressed like one.”
Is my mouth open? She sure-as-hell felt like her chin was sitting on the floor.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” Chandler stepped toward her, but she put her hand out again.
“Don’t come anywhere near me.”
Jamie quickly spun around and marched away, bumping right into someone. Not even caring to apologize, she kept walking. Her vision was on the entrance to this place and exiting it as quickly as she could.
“Leaving so soon?” the bouncer asked.
“Yeah, nothing but creeps here tonight.” The cool air soothed her over-heated body as she hurried to her car.
Buy Links: Amazon – Nook – All Romance – Kobo
~About the Author~
Lacey Wolfe has always had a passion for words, whether it’s getting lost in a book or writing her own. From the time she was a child she would slip away to write short stories about people she knew and fantasies she wished would happen. It has always been her dream to be a published author and with her two children now of school age, she finally has the time to work on making her dream come true.
Lacey lives in Georgia with her husband, son and daughter, their six cats and one black lab who rules the house.
October 20, 2015
Desert Heart by Anna Lowe #Romance #Paranormal #wolves
Author: Anna Lowe
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Title: Desert Heart
Series: The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch, Book 4 (this is a standalone book)
Length: 50,000 words
Release date: October 20, 2015
As oldest daughter of the retired alpha, Tina Hawthorne lives to serve her pack. She’s never been tempted to throw caution to the wind for a man — until Rick Rivera returns. The sweet boy from the adjoining ranch is all grown up, but that doesn’t make the irresistible human any more suitable as a mate. Especially with a dangerous new foe haunting the night and Rick harboring a few secrets — and enemies — of his own.
There’s more than meets the eye on Twin Moon Ranch, home to a pack of shapeshifting wolves willing to battle for life and love.
* A 50,000 word paranormal romance with adult content — not to mention more hot-blooded alpha cowboys than you can count and a swoon-worthy pro athlete ready for his third and final chance. *
Excerpt:
“Hello, Tina.”
Rick might as well have said, Hello, girl parts, because suddenly, she was on fire. That smile killed her. That and the light in his eyes that sang at her, the way she was sure hers were singing to see him.
She caught a breath then rushed through the next two.
Forbidden, she reminded herself.
Deliciously forbidden, her wolf hummed along.
Rick reached for the sack on her shoulder. “Let me get that.”
She swiveled away. “If you could just get the key, please.” The horse feed made a handy barrier. Who knows where her hands might go without it to hang on to?
A pair of black eyebrows went up; her heart thumped harder. She and Rick stared at each other for a moment, and a thousand unspoken messages passed back and forth.
Messages like, I’ve never forgotten you.
Like, I’ve missed you so much.
Like, I’ve always loved you and always will.
Their bodies practically hummed with the words. Every part but their lips.
AUTHOR BIO:
Anna Lowe loves putting the “hero” back into heroine and letting location ignite a passionate romance. She is a middle school teacher who loves dogs, sports, and travel – and letting those inspire her fiction. On any given weekend, you might find her hiking in the mountains or hunched over her laptop, working on her latest story. Either way, the day will end with a chunk of dark chocolate and a good read.
AUTHOR PAGE: www.annalowebooks.com – full of bonus materials!
newsletter sign-up: http://www.annalowebooks.com/newsletter-free-book
October 19, 2015
A Gift of Home by Cari Lynn Webb @carilynnwebb #Christmas #Romance
One of the scenes in a Gift of Home was inspired by my own experience with my family. I spend a lot of time in the car as I sit in carpool lines and drive to and from soccer and swimming practices (anyone who carpools can relate to this I’m sure). I spend a portion of those drives running through homework schedules, my several to-do lists and planning that afternoon and the next day and the next day after that (to-do lists keep me sane and there is a certain joy in marking off items on those lists).
We love music in our family and rather than think about homework and schedules, my daughters like the radio turned up when they get in the car. My girls especially love to change the words to songs (a fun trick their dad likes to do when he joins us in the car), which always results in a lot of laughter. I try to maintain complete focus on our schedule to ensure I’m not forgetting something on my to-do list (like that impromptu orthodontist appointment or the quick stop at the sporting goods store to replace a pair of broken goggles before practice). However as the lyric substitutions become more creative and the giggles escalate, I find my focus shifting, my jaw unclenching and my own laughter bursting out. And then it is inevitable and I join in with my own lyric changes. More and more I’m trying to remember to join in and capture moments, even the little ones with my family like a fifteen minute car drive full of laughter and singing. I can write another to-do list later, but moments with my girls, those are memories not as easily re-created and more important than any list.
Hope Sullivan also believes in schedules and rarely deviates from her plans in A Gift of Home. The plans Hope set out for herself allowed her to finish law school as a single mother with an infant son. Hope has a set plan for her return to Christmas Town, but she never really considered that Christopher Hayes might have a few plans of his own. I enjoyed watching both Hope and Chris disrupt each other’s lives and then discover that perhaps the best plan was the one they made together.
My contribution to A HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS is A Gift of Home. This holiday season, warm your heart with 12 connected sweet holiday romances set in Christmas Town from 12 Harlequin Heartwarming authors who are USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.
There are four connected anthologies in A Heartwarming Christmas. That means each set of three novellas shares characters and storylines! This collection of PG-rated holiday romances are all set in Christmas Town, a location introduced in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release Christmas, Actually. A Heartwarming Christmas will bring you laughter, tears, and happily-ever-afters (no cliffhangers), for more than 1200 pages. Foreword by small town lover and New York Times bestseller Kristan Higgins.
Cari Lynn Webb believes in life lessons. Her three older brothers taught her how not to act like a clingy, high maintenance girl (their words). Her mother taught her how to laugh, at herself and life. Her father taught her to follow her dreams and always be kind. Cari lives those lessons today. Her husband keeps her laughing, even when life is stressful. She’s turned her dream of writing romance novels about strong heroines and the heroes who love them into reality. And she’s grateful every day for all of her family’s lessons that she now gets to pass along to her unsuspecting daughters. Cari Lynn Webb is a debut author with Harlequin Heartwarming.
Buy Links for A Heartwarming Christmas
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1TDjGEK
iTunes: http://apple.co/1OkXsV9
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1CEnSA7
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1J0Qg08
B&N: http://bit.ly/1LaVnNT
Website: www.carilynnwebb.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carilynnwebb
Twitter: @carilynnwebb
A Princess is Always Right by Stephanie Burkhart (Contest) #Steampunk #Romance @Goddessfish
GENRE: Steampunk Romance
Sophia may be the youngest Windsor, but she knows her mind. A Princess of York, she’s committed to do her duty – prevent Jonas Byron from finding Nikola Tesla and decimating the time line.
Jax Ruston is a rugged metalsmith with curly hair and dimples to die for. A resident of 1855, he’s pledged to help Sophia find Jonas. Together, they journey across continental Europe in pursuit of Jonas.
Despite her duty, Sophia’s attracted to handsome Jax. However, he’s committed to living in 1855. Can Sophia keep her focus on her mission, or will desire interfere with her task? Only one thing is certain: a princess is always right.
BUY LINKS FOR A PRINCESS IS ALWAYS RIGHT:
Excerpt:
“Gus? Lord Ridgecroft? Are you here?”
“I seemed to have crushed a bed of dahlias. I’ll be all right, Miss Windsor.”
Sophia drew in a deep, calming breath, as a strong sense of responsibility settled over her. She had a mission — find Jonas Byron and prevent him from interfering with Nikola Tesla’s life. It sounded easy, but Jonas had a head start and depending on when she landed, she might be days behind him.
“Oww!” Gus’ shrill cry pierced the night air.
“Lord Ridgecroft!” Jax rushed to the spot where his cry of distress originated. Sophia scrambled to her feet, unsure of her surroundings, though she believed they landed in the spot they had left from — the garden behind the Ridgecroft townhouse in London.
The stars provided little light. Kerosene lamps from the street cast long murky shadows over the garden walls.
“Ow! Ow! Ow!” Gus cried.
Jax reached him. “His hand is caught in some type of trap.”
Sophia frowned. Augustus “Gus” Darling had been thrust into the role of a nobleman when his uncle, Douglas Dunkirk, passed away. She really should remember to address him as such.
Slowly, she inched toward Jax and Lord Ridgecroft’s shadows.
A door slammed. “Who’s out there?”
She recognized the voice of Jeeves, the Ridgecroft’s butler. Her shoulders relaxed a little.
“It’s Sophia Windsor! Lord Ridgecroft appears hurt.”
Stephanie will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. After serving 11 years in the US Army she currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks. She’s also an assistant den leader for her son’s Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children’s books published with 4RV Publishing.
FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor
GOOD READS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/
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