Melissa Snark's Blog: The Snarkology, page 21
October 14, 2015
COMING JANUARY 1, 2016: Genesis! #Urban #Fantasy #UF #PNR
Pre-Order Date: December 15, 2015
Release Date: January 1, 2016
Genesis [jen-uh-sis]
Definition: an origin, creation, or beginning.
From demons, weres, and vampires, to dragons, shifters, and angels, GENESIS is the ultimate must-have boxed set for any urban fantasy & paranormal romance fan. GENESIS brings you eight new worlds to sink your teeth into. From some of the genre’s brightest talent, each title in this boxed set is the first installment of the authors’ respective series.
Featured in Genesis:
– The Devil You Know by J.M. Gregoire
– Ghost of a Threat by Beth Dolgner
– Entwined By Fate by S.A. Price
– Fallen by Julie Morgan
– Spark by K.C. Stewart
– The Mortal One by Shannon Bell
– Valkyrie’s Vengeance by Melissa Snark
– Juan by Crystal Dawn
Dig in your claws and hang on as these eight authors take you on a wild ride in GENESIS!
LINKS
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26847649-genesis
TRAILER
The House at Homecoming Cove by Ginny Baird (Contest) @goddessfish #PNR #Romance
THE HOUSE AT HOMECOMING COVE
Seeking out solitude in which to work, New York City music composer Melissa Carter rents a century-old farmhouse on the Virginia Eastern Shore. There, she meets a loner with rugged good looks and smoldering gray eyes, who has long-term ties to the property. When strange things start occurring at the historic home, the handsome groundskeeper comes to her aid, but is Melissa really safer in his arms?
When Stone Thomas meets a pretty northerner with a musical gift, he’s immediately drawn to her. He’s also determined to protect her from the increasingly odd happenings at the fifty-acre farm where he’s employed. Soon, Stone finds himself wondering whether he and beautiful Melissa might share a future. Yet the secrets of Homecoming Cove threaten to drive them apart.
Available from:
Excerpt:
Her words came out in a whisper. “Thank you for everything. For coming to my rescue, for…” She was saying goodbye, yet her chin tilted toward his and she took a step closer, her lips barely parted, inviting. She peered up at him and met his gaze with a look that was surprisingly heated, decidedly predatory. There was no mistaking it. Melissa wanted him too. That was all the encouragement Stone needed to take her in his arms and bring his mouth down on hers with a hungry desire that surpassed all expectations. Melissa gasped with delight and sighed into his kiss. Stone’s empty mug slid from her grasp and landed somewhere on the sofa. Stone pressed his eager body to hers and ran his hands up her back, threading his fingers through her hair. She was glorious, beautiful, her gaze sparking with reciprocal passion. Stone groaned and kissed her again, savoring the taste of her, delighting in the sweetness of her body molded to his, as his blood pumped harder and his heart beat like a kettledrum gone out of control.
It was more than a kiss, it was like coming home.
“Stone,” she said breathlessly. He opened his eyes to find his cheeks nestled between her palms, as she looked up at him her face flushed with longing. “I think you’d better go.”
“Yeah,” he said, his pulse threading. “I’d better go.”
Thunder boomed and rain slapped the window panes, while the fire hissed and moaned.
Neither one moved.
“Melissa,” Stone whispered, brushing his lips over hers. “You and me… It’s like… I don’t know.”
“I know,” she replied, meeting his kiss. “I feel it too.”
Ginny 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.
Please use this rafflecopter code on your post:
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author Ginny Baird has published novels in print and online and received screenplay options from Hollywood for her family and romantic comedy scripts. She writes touching, often humorous, contemporary romance about single women facing everyday challenges. Known for featuring holidays and family themes in her work, Ginny frequently portrays the struggles of single parents or others who’ve given up on finding true love.
Ginny has two novella series, The Holiday Brides Series (holiday romance) and The Summer Grooms Series (summer romance), as well as additional single titles available. She is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author, a Top 10 Best Seller on Kindle, NOOK and iBooks, and a #1 Best Seller in several Romance and Women’s Fiction categories. Visit Ginny’s website www.ginnybairdromance.com to learn more about her and her books.
Links –
Website: www.ginnybairdromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinnyBairdRomance
Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/GinnyBairdRomance
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5374955.Ginny_Baird/blog
Sweet Romance Reads Cafe: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SRRCafe1/
October 13, 2015
The Indispensable Wife by Philippa Lodge (Contest) #Historical #Romance @Goddessfish
Aurore was delighted when a marriage was arranged with the boy she loved, her older brother’s friend Dominique, Comte de Bures. But in a few years the first rush of joy has worn off, and their promising life seems ruined by loss, betrayal, and misunderstanding.
One terrifying morning mercenaries overrun their château and usurpers take Aurore hostage. Miles away at Versailles, where he is required to dance attendance on Louis XIV, Dominique is nearly killed by a crossbow bolt.
Escaping, Aurore travels with a troupe of itinerant musicians, hiding in the open while discovering hidden resources within herself.
Dom sets out to find his wife. He needs his old life back. He needs revenge. But his lands, his title, and his honor mean nothing unless he can win back the love of his indispensable wife.
Available from:
Excerpt:
Immediately Aurore, dressed in peasant homespun like a dull sparrow in a flock of exotic birds, flew out of the door. She cried, “Dominique!” and threw herself into his arms. He took a step back at the impact and held her lush little body tightly against his own, his gloved hands grasping at the laces that crisscrossed her back.
She started chattering almost immediately. “Did you see the king, too? He said he would talk to you. Did he tell you? I am sure he did, if you are here and the Coucher is over. I am so relieved, so pleased. Oh, Dominique, we will get our home back, chéri.”
Dominique was unable to reply. Her leap had knocked the wind out of him, and the only thing he could think to do was to kiss her. Right there in a hallway of the Palais de Vincennes, with aristocratic peers mincing past on high-heeled shoes and servants pretending to not notice, he kissed his wife, his life and soul, the way he had wanted to since the moment he saw her standing on a little stage in a square in some tiny village north of Paris.
He came to himself a short while later, when he stumbled as he turned to press Aurore against a wall. He set her down and took a small step back as she opened her eyes drowsily to smile at him in the way she had when they were first married.
“So this is what the aristocracy is coming to, then?” said a sharp voice behind him.
Dominique turned quickly, shoving Aurore behind him, his hand automatically reaching for the knife which he did not have; Cédric’s valet had complained that it spoiled the line of his waistcoat.
Henri wrinkled his nose. “It’s a good thing our brother had your back, you know. All this kissing would drive anyone to violence.”
Philippa will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Philippa Lodge has been an avid reader since she asked her mother to point out where it said “Ma” in Little House in the Big Woods. She read everything she could get her hands on until grad school in French Studies, at which time she lost her reading mojo. Only through the twin discoveries of Harry Potter and romance has she gotten her groove back and gone back to the stuff she loved about seventeenth century France: kings, swords, opulence, and love. She lives in the suburbs of Sacramento, CA with her husband, three children, two cats, and a head full of courtesans (Oo la la!). She does the newsletter for her local chapter of the Romance Writers of America.
Links:
http://philippalodge.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @plaatsch
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorPhilippaLodge
October 12, 2015
The Sceptre of Morgulan by Matthew D. Ryan (Contest) #Fantasy @Goddessfish
Coragan of Esperia has another job to do. Can he and his companions capture the Sceptre of Morgulan and prevent an apocalypse? Or will Korina outmaneuver them again and escape with the prize? So much hinges on the efforts of so few—if they fail in their quest, if the evil witch Korina the Black succeeds, she may gain an unrivaled power over the forces of darkness; a power she will not hesitate to use.
Buy Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/574196
Excerpt:
“Accident or no, it makes no difference,” his father said. “You’ve got to be better than that, son. You’re worthless and you’ll never amount to anything unless you straighten up.” He swung the strap again; it struck him across his shoulder blades garnering two new welts and a bloody line of damaged flesh. “I won’t have myself a worthless son.”
Again, the strap came down. Gaelan fell to his knees. The tears flowed freely now; he couldn’t stop them. He felt small and helpless, too weak to defend himself, a victim of pitiful circumstance. People often spoke of the gods, but where were they now? How could such injustice be permitted? Either the gods did not exist, or they did not care. Either way, thought of their so-called mercies did not help him. Mardikkar. Auraria. Neither one was there to stop the pain. He struggled to his feet.
Weak. Helpless. Weak. Helpless. The words formed a grim incantation in his mind. Something to focus on. Something to fight against.
I will not remain a victim, he thought. Not forever. He looked back over his shoulder and saw his father holding the leather strap, preparing to strike yet again. And though his knees quaked and his body bled, he felt a burning anger in his chest. Someday, father, he thought, I will hold the whip, and it will be you begging for mercy. And when that day comes, I will remember this moment and I will give you exactly what you deserve.
His father struck again.
Gaelan awoke.
Matthew will be awarding a $20 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.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Matthew D. Ryan is a published author living in upstate New York on the shores of Lake Champlain. His work has been featured on-line at Aphelion.com and YesteryearFiction.com. He has been deeply involved in the fantasy genre for most of his life as a reader, writer, and game designer. He is the operator of the web-site matthewdryan.com which features his blog, “A Toast to Dragons,” a blog dedicated to fantasy literature, and, to a lesser extent, sci-fi. Mr. Ryan says he receives his inspiration from his many years as an avid role-player and fantasy book reader. He has spent many long hours devising adventures and story-lines as well as gaming systems for role-playing games, playing a motley assortment of characters in RPG worlds, as well as digesting the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, and others. As a result, he has great depth of experience in the fantasy genre and feels it was a natural shift for him to move into fantasy writing.
Mr. Ryan is the author of the exciting dark fantasy novel, Drasmyr, The Children of Lubrochius, and The Sceptre of Morgulan, as well as a growing number of short stories. His first novel, Drasmyr, won the book of the month award on Long and Short Reviews: Young Adult for the month of September 2012. The story features a traditional Dracula type vampire in a Middle-Earth type setting. It is a dark fantasy geared toward teens and adults that has consistently earned reviews in the four and five star range. Drasmyr serves as the prequel to his series: From the Ashes of Ruin. In addition to Drasmyr, The Children of Lubrochius, and The Sceptre of Morgulan, Mr. Ryan has published several short stories on-line, including: “Haladryn and the Minotaur”(published at the now defunct Pegasus On-line), “The River’s Eye”(published at YesteryearFiction.com) , “Escape”(published at Aphelion.com), and the three-story collection Of Dragons, Love, and Poison.. He has also spoken on the topic of “World-Building” utilizing his considerable experience as an author and game-designer. When not engrossed in his fantasy worlds, Mr. Ryan can be found volunteering at the local food shelf or playing with his cat, “Confucius,” who is as wise and wily as his name suggests.
Author’s Smashwords Page: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/matthewdryan
Author’s Blog: http://www.atoasttodragons.com
Author’s Home Page: http://www.matthewdryan.com
Author’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MatthewDRyanAuthor
Author’s Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/matthewdryan
Author’s Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/579148.Matthew_D_Ryan
Author’s Twitter Handle: @MatthewDRyan1
For specific details on Mr. Ryan’s previous novels from this series, following the corresponding links:
Drasmyr: http://wp.me/P3Lbq0-gE
The Children of Lubrochius: http://wp.me/P3Lbq0-gM
October 11, 2015
#EdgeofNever–99 cents. Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Boxed Set #Giveaway
New Release! Only 99 cents!
Edge of Never: A Unique Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy Boxed Set 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
Giveaway: http://goo.gl/3U0xz7
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.
Caridad Pineiro: Undead Uprising: A Wolf Alone — Will she lead her pack in a war against the vampires or will she sacrifice everything for the human she loves?
Rosemary Edghill: Lizzie Fair and the Dragon of Heart’s Desire – Visiting the World of Iron is never a good idea. Ask any Morning Lord.
Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Show Trial—A beautiful woman, a terrible time, and faerie justice…served cold.
Brenda Carre: Finnraziel – She raised a god to life and thwarted the Queen of Demons, can she prevent a war without destroying the man she loves and the last two dragons she’s sworn to guard?
Ann Gimpel: Highland Secrets – Tumble off reality’s edge into myth, magic, Scottish dragon shifters, and forbidden romance.
Pauline Baird Jones: Specters in the Storm — If only the professor can believe six impossible things, and trust the lady time traveler, they might have a chance to defeat evil lurking in the dark of the storm.
Julia Mills: Her Dragon’s Soul – Exorcise the demon possessing your mate. Capture the maniacal wizard. Save dragon kin…again. Even the strength of the Universe may not be enough. Only time will tell. Fate Will Not Be Denied!
Susan Scott: Dragons Will Fall — To defeat a dragon is impossible. To love a dragon—deadly!
Melissa Snark: Hunger Moon –Wolf shifters, hunters, and a Norse winter witch–How will Valkyrie Victoria Storm ever find her true love…before someone kills her?
At the Mercy of Her Pleasure by Kayelle Allen #Romance @kayelleallen
At the Mercy of Her Pleasure by Kayelle Allen
Antonello Brothers Series (Book 1)
Prequel to For Women Only (Antonello Brothers series)
Publication Date: August 2, 2015
Reprint – previously published under the same title
Genre: Sci-fi Romance
Heat level: Mainstream (PG13)
Available From: Amazon I ARe I B&N I Coffee Time Romance I CreateSpace I iTunes I Inktera I Kobo I Scribd I Smashwords
Summary
He’s a thief. She’s a soldier. Do opposites attract? Oh, mercy!
Professional thief Senth Antonello is hired to retrieve a stolen prototype for which the imperial armada has already killed twice. When Senth’s brother is kidnapped to ensure the device is surrendered, Senth must rescue his brother, outsmart the armada, and keep the item out of imperial hands. All doable, except for one small problem. Senth must accomplish it in the company of a genetically altered woman whose pheromones could enhance the mission or crumble it into dust with a single siren kiss.
Goodreads
Download the first chapter of At the Mercy of Her Pleasure
Excerpt
This scene is from the opening part of the book.
Deep in the shadows outside a ruined warehouse, Senth Antonello shoved back the hood of his sensor-blocking cloak and fanned himself. The Thieves’ Guild tech let him hide from copbot scans, but it didn’t cool him. Sweat beaded on his skin. Using his fangs, he unfastened first one glove, then the other, and peeled them off. He tucked them into one of dozens of hidden pockets in the cloak, and wiped his face.
The faint sound of gang chant carried in the chilled night air. Gangs in the Crooktown District hunted mixed breeds like him. At first glance, Senth appeared human, but with his catlike eyes and fangs, no one could miss his Kin nature. In moonlight, his eyes would glow.
The chant grew louder, along with the sound of breaking glass. The deeper darkness that followed meant two things: another streetlight had met its end, and that gang was closer than Senth had thought.
“You come down here, I skin you.” Senth flattened himself against the brick wall. “I skin you, the Grand Master skins me. Let’s do each other a favor, huh, boys?”
Worse, the Grand Master would inform Senth’s Sen’dai. His guild master. The crime lord all the other crime lords feared. The Man. The Harbinger. Luc Saint-Cyr.
The Guild didn’t accept non-humans, unless they were enslaved to a human member. No one could rise past level ten, unless related to a human member. Guild-arranged marriages and adoptions happened regularly. To keep the Guild happy, Saint-Cyr was Senth’s lord and master and his adoptive father.
No way Senth wanted the Man angry with him. The last time, he’d almost…
Senth shook off the thought, drew his hood forward again, and edged around the corner into a darker alley. “Ffffftt!” The Kin cuss word hissed past his fangs. Where was Khyff? He had to be close. Senth had looked for hours. His HalfKin sense of smell caught a faint whiff of male, mixed with… He took another sniff. Someone–or something—else.
Pressed against the wall, Senth slipped around a corner, and hunkered down. He melted into the concealing darkness behind a barrel, and narrowed night-sensitive eyes.
His human half-brother leaned against the opposite wall of the trash-strewn alley. Khyffen Antonello’s blond hair shone in the muted light. A female pinned him, arms around his neck. She tore open Khyff’s shirt and ran her hands over his chest.
Senth folded himself into the tight space behind the barrel and settled in to wait. Protection of his brother went before any assignment. Family came first. At least tonight.
Senth’s mother had died after birthing him. Khyff, who’d been three, had been told Senth was dead, and Khyff had been sold into slavery. Neither of them knew the other lived until a month ago. Neither had a clue about their biological fathers. Until Khyff found him, Senth’s “family” consisted of the Man.
Pulling out a square of paper, Senth angled it to catch the dim light and read the words he’d copied from Saint-Cyr’s note once more. You and Khyffen meet me at The Ghost. I have a job for you. Do it and I’ll buy and free your brother, but it’s going to cost you.
Of course it would. The Man didn’t do anything for free. But if it got Khyff out of that hellhole, Senth would do it. He tucked away the note, and slipped on his gloves.
Senth’s master had raised him to believe that no one should have to sell his body to survive. Saint-Cyr owned one slave, Senth, and only so he could rise within the Guild.
Senth and Saint-Cyr might not agree on much, but they both believed Khyff needed his freedom. But with Khyff’s record, freeing him wouldn’t be cheap, and it wouldn’t be easy.
……….
For Women Only by Kayelle Allen
Antonello Brothers Series (Book 2)
Sequel To: At the Mercy of Her Pleasure
Publication Date: August 2, 2015
Reprint – previously published under the same title
Genre: Sci-fi Romance
Heat level: Mainstream
Available From: Amazon I ARe I B&N I Coffee Time Romance I CreateSpace I iTunes I Inktera I Kobo I Scribd I Smashwords
Summary
His secret truth is her people’s darkest lie.
When Kin Ambassador Mehfawni visits the capitol planet of the Tarthian Empire, she meets the human Khyff, a security expert with the company For Women Only. Fawni expects a fling, but finds love. Upon discovering her own people devastated his family, she longs to restore all he lost, but some tragedies can never be reversed. Her family demands she cast out the human, for if she keeps Khyff, she must deny her heritage and abdicate her future rule. When Fawni searches for an alternative, she stumbles upon Khyff’s darkest secret, a cover-up that if exposed, will betray her world to its enemies, and bare her family to open shame. But how can she let him suffer in the darkness that binds his heart?
Goodreads
Download the first chapter of For Women Only
Excerpt
This scene is between Khyff and his brother Senth, and Senth’s fiancé NarrAy. They are discussing a Kin female. Kin are feline humanoids, and Senth is a mix of Kin and human. It begins with Senth speaking.
“Khyff, I think she had a thing for you, Bro.”
Khyff snorted. “Like I’d ever want a mangy Kin.”
“Mangy?” Senth’s brows lowered. “Did you forget who you’re talking to?”
NarrAy moved out from between them and around to the other end of the island.
“We’ve been over this, Sen.” Khyff heard the impatient ring in his own voice and tried to curb it, without success. Fatigue clawed at his reserves of energy. “You look almost human. Why do you want to be accepted by those animals, anyway?”
“Kin aren’t animals, Khyff. We’ve been over that, too.”
“Yes, they are.” He fought the rage threatening to strangle his thoughts. “They tried to kill you the minute you were born. They didn’t want you. They hated you on sight.”
“You mean you hated me, Khyff. You didn’t want me.” Senth stood, shoving the stool out of the way. “If it weren’t for me being a half-breed, your mother might still be alive.”
“Our mother.” He leaped to his feet. “She cried over you for days when the Kin stole you from her. Nothing I said or did made any difference.” Khyff braced both hands on the counter. “I was a child, Sen. I couldn’t help her, but I didn’t know that then. I thought it was my fault. All I knew was because of you, they threw us out, and Mama wouldn’t stop crying. She abandoned me because of you.”
NarrAy gasped and covered her mouth, eyes welling with tears. “Oh, Khyff. I’m so sorry you were hurt like that.”
All the strength drained out of him, taking the anger with it. He sat.
Senth slid a hand across the table and touched the tips of his fingers to Khyff’s. With a male economy of words, that expressed enough. Both forgave.
NarrAy sidestepped around the counter and lifted her arms to Khyff for a hug.
He enfolded her in a warm, safe embrace, arms wrapped all the way around her tiny frame. He drew her between his knees and pressed his face against her neck.
Two years before, she’d rescued him after a savage attack that had landed him in the hospital. Since then, he’d allowed no one but her to touch him. Senth got a rare handshake.
He relished the pressure of her gentle arms around him, the rapture of her skin against his. Khyff risked chemical dependence, holding her. Even with short exposure, the touch of a Better addicted. She’d accidentally addicted him once, and he’d suffered while weaning himself. His brother could never leave this woman. Never love another. Senth was hers.
By new laws passed recently, NarrAy must cover her entire body in public. Khyff shouldn’t risk addiction again. Shouldn’t let her touch him. Shouldn’t… He hugged her closer.
Her touch soothed, tranquilized. How anyone could expect a woman as loving as NarrAy to hide from the world? She wasn’t dangerous. Already, the darkness of Khyff’s soul was lifting, evaporating. Fading. How could he have forgotten how wonderful she smelled? How sweet she was? How comforting it was to be held?
The teapot whistled.
“I’ll get it, Khyff.” NarrAy stepped back.
The absence of her touch left Khyff bereft. Dropped him back into his darkness. He turned away. Careful not to let Senth see it, Khyff clutched one hand over his heart.
……….
Bro by Kayelle Allen
The story behind The Antonello Brothers
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance – Sweet; but with a kick!
Free Book
Available From: kayelleallen.com
Senth and Khyff, the Antonello Brothers from At the Mercy of Her Pleasure and For Women Only, did not grow up together. They were separated at Senth’s birth. Bro shows how and why, and what event reunited them.
Funny and yet touching, Bro takes you inside the Tarthian Empire and introduces you to three of its major denizens: Senth, Khyff, and Luc Saint-Cyr. You’ll find them in many stories in the Empire.
……….
Author Bio:
Kayelle Allen is a best selling, multipublished, EPIC Award winning Science Fiction Romance author. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion. In 2011, she founded The Author’s Secret, an author support company specializing in eBook conversion services and graphic design. In 2006, Kayelle created Marketing for Romance Writers, a self-help mentoring group which helps members of the literary community to learn effective marketing skills by working in a co-op for promotion. She teaches workshops and is a guest on numerous online conferences. She holds an honorary lifetime membership to Outlantacon, a scifi convention for the gay geek. Her blog, Romance Lives Forever, hosts authors, models, and filmmakers, and boasts its own hashtag and daily newsletter on Twitter.Homeworld I Unstoppable Heroes Blog I Twitter I Facebook I Pinterest
Google + I Goodreads I Instagram I Tumblr I DeviantArt I Youtube
Rachel’s Guard by Jillian Jacobs (Contest) #Fiction @Goddessfish
“I killed you.”
With his grandmother’s words, pro-football player Warren “Bronco” Murray’s picture-perfect world takes a direct hit. After mistaking him for a man from her past, Bronco believes his grandmother’s confused confession reveals the man who raised him isn’t his real father. Is his grandmother’s mind slipping? Or is she harboring a deadly secret?
Searching for an answer to a question he’s not even sure exists, Bronco hires Rachel Harris, a local private investigator and a woman who brings out his protective—and primal—instincts.
Rachel’s spent her life seeking her own resolution for a tragic mistake made years ago. Unwilling to suffer through another loss, she vows to keep her relationship with Bronco strictly professional. Yet with each step into Bronco’s past, she finds that the players shaping her life also shaped his.
Working together to uncover the facts, they falter when the game turns deadly. Nothing is as it seems and they must fight to unearth the truth buried under past deceptions and lies.
Bronco and Rachel survive personal attacks and shocking revelations only to discover that the answers they sought have created a new path…but will they endure the journey together or falter under the truth?
Excerpt:
She moaned as she bit into the brownie. “Oh my God, this is amazing. Orgasm by chocolate, the only way to die.”
After gazing at her mouth for a moment, he shook his head then licked his lips. A sparkle hit those ridiculously blue eyes. “Not the only way to die. Especially if you’re doing it right.”
Pleased to see him emerging from his slump, she teased back, “Doing what right? Baking brownies?” She raised a brow while holding back a grin.
He laughed and rocked back in his chair, which lifted the spindly metal legs off the ground.
“Ooh, I get it. You meant sex. Like you’re good at sex” She waved a hand at his crotch and rolled her eyes. “Kill me by orgasm. Too funny.”
“Listen, little sass-mouth, I’d have no problem proving I’m much more decadent than that brownie. And honey, you’d beg for a double batch.”
Jillian will be awarding a $25 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:
In the spring of 2013, Jillian Jacobs changed her career path and became a romance writer. After reading for years, she figured writing a romance would be quick and easy. Nope! With the guidance of the Indiana Romance Writers of America chapter, she’s learned there are many “rules” to writing a proper romance. Being re-schooled has been an interesting journey, and she hopes the best trails are yet to be traveled.
Water’s Threshold, the first in Jillian’s Elementals series, was a finalist in Chicago-North’s 2014 Fire and Ice contest in the Women’s Fiction category.
Jillian is a: Tea Guzzler, Polish Pottery Hoarder, and lover of all things Moose.
The genres she writes under are: Paranormal and Contemporary with suspenseful elements.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.jillianjacobs.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreenMooseProd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jillian-Jacobs/737689872920933
October 8, 2015
Passion’s Pain by Ella Jade #Romance @ellajade1
One woman…two men. Who will she choose? The father or the son?Lilli Daniels has been down on her luck for quite some time. She’s been homeless, hungry and alone for far too long. When an intriguing, older stranger enters the strip club where she’s waitressing her life takes on a new direction.
Successful attorney Jackson Avis maintains complete control of every aspect in his life. When he sets his sight on the beautiful, young Lilli he’s captivated and has to have her. He tempts her with a life of privilege and security. He introduces her to a world she never knew existed. Complications arise when Jackson’s son Cameron expresses an interest in his father’s girlfriend.
Lilli fights the attraction, but Cameron wants to give into his heart’s desire. He’s the complete opposite of his controlling, manipulative father and will stop at nothing to protect the woman he’s falling in love with. Even if it means suffering the wrath of his father.
Sometimes life leads you down one path only to bring you to your true destiny. Can Lilli come to terms and figure out exactly who her heart belongs to?
Buy Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble
~Excerpt~
“It’s nice to meet you, Lilli,” he said. “Do you have a last name?”
“I do.” She was too busy gazing into his eyes that he thought maybe she forgot to finish answering.
Jack smiled and cleared his throat when he realized she was staring at him longer than necessary.
“Oh, it’s Daniels.”
“What do you do besides work here, Lilli Daniels?”
“I work at the bookstore over at the community college,” she said. “I’m hoping to save enough money to take a few classes there in the fall.”
“It’s only January,” Jack said. “Why wait so long?”
“Classes are expensive.” She nervously fidgeted with the cocktail napkin sitting on the table. “So, what do you do?”
“I’m an attorney. I have my own practice in the city.”
“Oh, that sounds interesting. I’d like to study law someday, too.”
“A pretty ambitious goal.” He teased. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
Well, at least she’s legal. For a girl working in a strip club trying to save money for school, she seemed awfully naïve. He briefly wondered if it was an act to get men to feel sorry for her. Maybe she knew exactly how to get a bigger tip out of her customers.
“Getting a bit of a late start with school, aren’t you?” Jack asked. “My son is about your age and he’s in medical school.”
“My father’s not an attorney.” When she ran her fingers through her hair, Jack immediately recognized she was uncomfortable when she mentioned her father. The lawyer in him needed to investigate a little further.
“What does your father do?”
“Are you ready to order?” she said. “I should be getting back to work.”
“Not just yet.” He wondered why she changed the subject so quickly. “I’m curious why a girl like you is in a place like this.”
“Me too.” She looked around the dark room. “I fell on some hard times and I’m just trying to get my life back together. It’s honest work.”
“What kind of hard times?” He was trying not to interrogate her, but he wanted to know more about her.
“I can tell you’re a lawyer.” Her full pink lips curved into a smile. Jackson wondered what it would feel like to have her mouth against his. She was probably soft and warm.
“It’s in my nature to ask questions.” He wanted to know more about this beauty.
“Do you always get your answers?”
“I always get everything I want.” He let his eyes wander down her flawless body. He shouldn’t have been entertaining any possibilities at all, but then again, when did he ever let anything stop him from getting what he wanted?
Jack reached into his pocket, pulled out his business card, and handed it to her. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. “I have to get back to the office now, but I’ve rather enjoyed your company. If Pat gives you a hard time, please give me a call. I’ll set him straight.” He should leave her alone. He wasn’t interested in getting involved with a girl in her situation, but he wasn’t ready to walk away. Not yet.
She glanced down at the card. “I went to high school with a Cameron Avis.”
“Did you date?” That would be far too amusing.
“Oh, God no.” She laughed as she stared at his card. “He was a year older than me, popular, and would never give a girl like me a second glance. I was from the wrong side of the tracks.” She rolled her eyes. “But you can probably already see that.”
“Hmm.” Jack had a clearer picture of who Lilli was.
“I was shy and kept to myself,” she continued. “He was gorgeous, smart, and came from money. Definitely not my type.”
“Really?” Jack grinned as he got up from the table. “It seems to me I’ll have to have a talk with my son about not recognizing a good thing when he sees it.”
“Oh.”
He saw the look of horror cross her face as he threw a twenty down on the table and headed for the exit. “Take care, Lilli Daniels.”
~Watch the Trailer~
~About the Author~Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can’t be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two boys. When she’s not chasing after her kids, she’s busy creating sexy, domineering men and the strong women who know how to challenge them in and out of the bedroom. She hopes you’ll get lost in her words.
She loves connecting with readers.
You can find her here… Site Facebook Author Page Twitter
October 7, 2015
Missing by Randa Flannery (Contest) #Romance @Goddessfish
Haunted by her best friend’s disappearance, always practical Rowan Quaide lives a life of cold logic. As an intelligence analyst, her world is ruled by who has the best strategy and Ro’s reasoned control makes her Queen.
A Chance encounter with a man from her past stretches the bounds of reason and throws her into a game of dark deception and danger. With the past creeping from her nightmares into her reality, Ro pits herself against the monster determined to destroy the new love she’s found.
As the intel gets more and more disturbing and events begin to spin out of control, she must rely on her instincts and cling to an unreasonable truth, or allow logic to tear her apart.
Buy Links:
Excerpt:
Something was missing. Something important. Rowan turned, her eyes wide and straining, searching the darkness. Her ears rang with her panting breath and surging heart. It was too dark. She couldn’t find anything in the pitch black that seemed to claw at her. She needed light. Just a little light, and she could find it. Find whatever was missing.
A sudden urgency gripped her, pulled and pushed at her to do something. Her feet, unbidden, pounded into the unknown, carrying her with them. She ran on and on, for endless miles, unaware of where she was going, of where her twists and turns would take her. She knew only that something was missing and she had to find it.
A scream shattered the nothing.
Rowan jerked to a stop as the fine hairs on her arms and neck prickled. Fear slid across her chest, seizing her breath. She knew that scream, felt the terror burning in it as though it were her own. Lexie. She had to find Lexie. She ran again, feet pounding faster and harder than before, frantic to get to her friend. But the darkness blinded her, tripped her, whipped at her. Something caught her ankle, sending her tumbling down, further into the abyss, with her friend’s screams reaching after her.
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Randa will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Randa Flannery has an a degree in English and writes a variety of romantic fiction, including suspense, comedy, and urban fantasy. Randa is a member of the Romance Writers of America and lives as an expat with her husband and children in FuYang, China.
Media Links:
Twitter: @randaflannery
Facebook: authorrandaflannery
October 4, 2015
A chat with Abigail Owen–Blue Violet (Svatura #1) #Romance #TWRP
When fairy tales turn into nightmares…
Ellie Aubrey has spent most of her unnaturally long life hiding her extraordinary abilities from the world. On the run from the shapeshifting wolves who murdered her family, she risks discovery in order to secretly watch over another group of similarly gifted people, determined they won’t suffer the same fate.
Alex Jenner has come home to protect his family from an unknown danger lurking in the woods. Suspicious of the new girl in town, he challenges Ellie in ways that will spark one of two possible outcomes: they’ll spontaneously combust, or she’ll lose control of the one power she’s fought so hard to contain.
In this fairy tale, the dragon the prince must slay is also the princess who holds his heart.
Buy Links:
Pending
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Author: Abigail Owen
Cover Art: Debbie Taylor
Page Count: 266
Word Count: 62050
ISBN (digital): 978-1-62830-946-1
ISBN (print): 978-1-5092-0358-1
Release Date: 10/5/2015 (Originally self-published 8/19/2012)
Rating: Sweet (PG)
Hi Abigail, Welcome to the Snarkology! Please tell us about yourself and your writing. Let’s start by having you describe what your writing space looks like.
Lol. My writing space is wherever I decide to sit down. Most often it’s my bed or the couch. Sometimes it’s the kitchen table or my “official” writing desk. Frequently it’s wherever I happen to have 10 minutes of free time – a restaurant, a coffee house, a park bench, waiting rooms, you name it. My computer goes everywhere with me.
Do you have a process for coming up with character names and book titles?
No major process. My names tend to be either unusual that I love but would never have the guts to name my kids (like Andromeda), or those I considered naming my kids because I liked the name (like Alex and Shane).
Book titles… it’s different for each one. I like them to have some kind of meaning. The Svatura series, for example, all the books are named for flowers. The flower picked has a Victorian meaning that fits the theme or characters of that book somehow.
Please tell us about your current work in progress.
I am in progress on 2 books at the moment. I’m working on the fourth and final (I think) book of my Shadowcat Nation series. The third book is in editing now. Super excited at how it’s shaping up, though the last books of series are always slow going for me. I’m also working on a contemporary romance with a fun heroine who is both super smart/efficient and goofy.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? Who is it and why?
My favorite always tends to be the characters from the last book I finished. I get so wrapped up in them that they become a little part of me. My favorite at the moment is Shane from Tieryn’s Fury (Shadowcat Nation book #3 which is in editing at the moment). His character was one I loved writing and discovering the progression with – where he starts and ends are very different places.
Who is the sexiest man/woman alive and why?
Hmmmm… So hard to pick just one.
Sexiest woman alive has to be Kate Beckinsale. Not only is she gorgeous, but she can kick serious butt too.
Sexiest man alive has to be Hugh Jackman. Not only is he beautiful to look at with a great smile, but he seems like a genuinely nice person, which makes him even sexier.
I love to pin picks of people I think of as attractive to use as mental models when I write my characters.
https://www.pinterest.com/abbyowen/hello-gorgeous-heroines-for-romance-novels/
https://www.pinterest.com/abbyowen/hello-handsome-heroes-for-romance-novels/
What was your most embarrassing life experience? Your proudest?
There are so many embarrassing ones. While I consider myself to be an organized, rational, smart person, I have brilliant moments of ditzyness. I blame it on juggling too many balls at once. I locked my purse in a total stranger’s minivan once. Long story – one that I’ve incorporated into my latest WIP. Lol.
Proudest also has many to pick from – I’ve been a lucky girl. Jumping out of an airplane. The day my husband proposed. The day we married. The days each of my children were born. Graduating with an EMBA. Getting a “yes” from my publisher. I could go on.
Praise for the Blue Violet:
2013 IPPY Awards Bronze Medal winner for Best SciFi/Fantasy/Horror eBook
2014 eLit Book Awards Bronze Medal winner for Best Fantasy/SciFi
‘Blue Violet’ is the type of book that makes me want to press pause on the world (wink wink!!), snuggle in a blanket and read it from start to finish. – Kirsty Vizard, All In One Place
Abigail Owen has done a remarkable job creating a world that blends myth, magic and fantasy while creating characters that are truly “nice” in spite of their potential to be deadly if needed. – Dianne, Tome Tender
This urban fantasy has everything that good urban fantasy needs to have–whether for adults or teens: a sacrificial, powerful Warrior protagonist who gets into trouble because of personal integrity (rather than immaturity, narcissism or downright stupidity), a loyal cadre of friends (AKA a family of affiliation) who look out for each other, strong villains who provide plenty of conflict for the protagonist, and excellent fantasy world-building. – Kate McMurry
Additional Media:
Svatura Series Additional Info
The Svatura Series Pinterest Board
Book Trailer
Excerpt:
Alex gave her an adorable lopsided grin, and her heartbeat picked up in response. “I also just finished a run.”
“In this weather?” Ellie teased. She was rewarded with a deep chuckle that danced up and down her spine.
“Hey, maybe we could run together some time,” he suggested. Ellie gave silent thanks that he hadn’t noticed her reaction to him.
“Maybe….” Ellie nodded and smiled to take the sting out of what could’ve been perceived as a rejection.
Suddenly he leaned forward and touched her arm lightly. “You do that a lot, you know.”
Trying not to pull away from his touch, it was Ellie’s turn to raise her eyebrows in surprise. “Do what?”
“Answer with something vague.” He sat back, letting her breathe normally again.
“Do I?” Ellie feigned surprise. Impressive. Most people don’t even notice when I’m giving vague answers.
“There you go again!”
“Huh.” Ellie grimaced and tried a different approach. “I don’t even notice I’m doing it. I guess I don’t talk about myself much in general.” Especially to hot guys who have no clue who I really am.
“Fair enough.” Alex let her off the hook with good-natured grace. “So back to that run?”
Ellie laughed. Clearly she wasn’t going to get away with keeping her distance. Not that she wanted to. She was just trying to avoid further complication. And Alex Jenner had the potential to be a rather major complication.
AUTHOR BIO:
Award-winning paranormal and contemporary romance author, Abigail Owen was born in Greeley, Colorado, and raised in Austin, Texas. She now resides in Northern California with her husband and two adorable children who are the center of her universe.
Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. A fourth generation graduate of Texas A&M University, she attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.
Website & Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
For additional information, contact Abigail Owen @ abigail.owen.books@gmail.com.
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