Melissa Snark's Blog: The Snarkology, page 25
August 18, 2015
How I Slid into Writing Paranormals by Rolynn Anderson #Romance #Suspense #Military
I am a new recruit in the midst of seasoned paranormal soldiers. I write ‘normal’ paranormal; modest tales compared to tall ones. Some writers’ imaginations leap to new worlds and fabulous creatures; my ordinary heroes and heroines prefer to hide their extraordinary skills.
My new novel, FEAR LAND, is light as a paranormal romance, but heavy on the suspense. Lately, I’ve been thinking about my journey from writing contemporary romantic suspense to spicing my books with out-of-this-world elements. Here’s my take on why I slid into paranormal quite easily:
“What If” questioning naturally leads me to unusual plots, characters and themes. Sometimes my “What if’s?” take me way out of the normal box. I’m so intrigued by my crazy notions, I have to pursue them.
Growth Arcs. Essential characters have to have them. Occasionally the arcs I build for my characters gain trajectory to beyond belief, and I find myself in paranormal country.
The Art of Topping Originality is the name of the fiction writing game. I understand that it’s quality, not quantity the reader is looking for. Beyond quality I want to provide originality, a twist, a surprise…something no writer before me has ever thought of. Yup. I’m sliding into paranormal.
Projection. I only use a fraction of my brain, and for the life of me, I can’t seem to expand my capacity. My characters, however, can and will use their brains in new, powerful ways. I can’t help projecting a better me, indeed, a better-than-anybody into my characters. Paranormal.
Science. We are sure, now, that unlimited galaxies surround us; numerous planets ‘like’ earth are out there. I ask you: which planet is normal?
Hopes and Dreams. My paranormal bent is to unveil a happy course for humankind (not dystopia). In the stark realities of this earth, such hopes and dreams seem magical these days. Is HEA beginning to look like paranormal?
I’m interested in your take on my list, and why you’ve chosen to write/read paranormal. Did you slide into it, like I did, or choose it early on? If you don’t write/read paranormal, how come? Comment and I’ll pick a random commenter to get a free e-book copy of FEAR LAND!
In FEAR LAND, my heroine is a child psychiatrist. She possesses a paranormal skill, mind-reading at the most elemental level, which she carefully keeps a secret. All my life I’ve wondered about/studied (Science) what it would feel like to ‘hear’ what people were thinking about me, perhaps in contrast to what they were saying to me: the ‘What If?” along with Projection. My heroine must have a growth arc…she’ll have to figure out what to do with her skill. I’ll need to surprise the reader with her skill management (Topping). I’ll help her resolve her conflicts so she has hope.
Here’s more about Fear Land:
Tally hates to hear rants from people’s brains. What does she do when those mind-screams threaten
the man she loves?
****
Tally Rosella, an acclaimed psychiatrist who helps children fraught with anxiety, avoids adults because their brains rant at her. But the chance to start a second child study and connect her findings to PTSD, sets her squarely among devious colleagues at a big California university.
Army Major Cole Messer, Tally’s new neighbor, won’t admit that trauma from combat tours in Afghanistan, destroyed his marriage and hampered his ability to lead. As a teacher of college ROTC and single parent, he’s focused on enrolling his highly anxious son in Tally’s study and getting back to active duty.
Someone is dead set against Tally’s presence at the university, and blowback from her battles with co-workers put Cole and his son in jeopardy. Watch what happens when people struggling with shades of anxiety collide with corrupt, revengeful foes.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rolynn-Anderson/188767867821613
https://twitter.com/rolynnanderson
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4990049.Rolynn_Anderson
http://rolynnanderson.blogspot.com
Scandinavian, Army Brat, English Teacher, High School Principal, Golfer, Boater, World Traveler, Author. With her experiences, Rolynn Anderson is fairly bursting with stories about extraordinary people and amazing settings, real and contrived. Now add her competitive nature and her love of ‘the makeover.’ As a principal, she and the staff she hired, opened a cutting-edge high school; as co-captain with her husband on INTREPID, she cruises from Washington State to Alaska and back. As a writer, she delights in creating imperfect characters faced with extraordinary, transforming challenges. Her hope: You’ll devour her ‘makeover’ suspense novels in the wee hours of the morning, because her stories, settings and characters, capture your imagination and your heart.
August 17, 2015
The SEAL’s Angel by Petie McCarty (Contest) #Romance @Goddessfish
The SEAL’s Angel is the third story in the Mystery Angel Romance [MAR] series. Each stand-alone love story in the series has an angel hidden in the plot, and the angel’s identity isn’t revealed until the finale — unless the reader figures it out first.
In The SEAL’s Angel, Navy SEAL Sean MacKay’s teammate is murdered after stealing a deadly nerve-gas formula from Syrian terrorists. Naval Intelligence believes MacKay’s teammate was a traitor and shipped the stolen formula to his sister in the states for safekeeping. MacKay is given orders to find the sister before the terrorists do and to retrieve the stolen formula at all costs.
Foreclosure looms for Cory Rigatero as she fights to keep her rustic resort near Mt. St. Helens afloat after her brother deserted her to join the SEAL Teams. Cory’s whole world dives into a tailspin when Sean MacKay shows up at her resort with the news of her brother’s death and the wild suspicion her brother may have sent her traitorous classified documents. No way will Cory trust MacKay — the man who once seduced her and then vanished into the night without a trace.
Buy links for The SEAL’s Angel:
Excerpt:
“Let me get that for you.”
Mac’s face appeared at her shoulder, his cheek close enough that if she moved her lips a very few inches she could plant a kiss there.
Now where had that thought come from? Easy, girl.
The rich smell of man, out-of-doors, and a hint of the morning’s after-shave had wafted over her and had her thinking sensual thoughts like cheek-smooching. Okay, way more sensual than just cheeks as her gaze zeroed in on lips made for kissing. Lips still so soft and noticeable though surrounded by the close-clipped dark beard. Lips that easily curved into a smile capable of stealing her breath away. Lips like that had to be made for kissing. His eyes studied hers intently.
Dear Lord don’t let this man read my thoughts. They’d set his hair on fire.
As though he had heard, his sexy lips curved into that breath-stealing smile.
Kiss me. Please, kiss me.
The wayward thought made her gasp in surprise.
He shifted back a few inches. “It’s okay. I’ve got it.”
Great. He’d heard. How embarrassing. She had gasped like an adolescent teen.
He straightened and pulled the bag into his arms, then dropped it into the wagon. “These are too heavy for you.”
“Not really. I’d have to load them if you weren’t here.”
“But I am here.”
His voice had gone husky, and her skin tingled. He was only inches away again. When had he moved? So quick, so silent.
His predatory-blue eyes trained on her, skimming over her face — over her — as though memorizing the way she looked. Or was he searching for answers to unasked questions?
Her pulse raced. Her palms grew damp.
Mac leaned closer.
She held her breath.
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
The author will award three randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter an epub copy of The SEAL’s Angel.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Petie spent a large part of her career working as a biologist at Walt Disney World — “The Most Magical Place on Earth” — where she enjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by day and creating her own romantic fairy tales by night. She eventually said good-bye to her “day” job in order to write her stories full-time.
Petie is a member of Romance Writers of America, and she shares homes in Tennessee and Florida with her horticulturist husband, a spoiled-rotten English Springer spaniel addicted to pimento-stuffed green olives, and a noisy Nanday conure named Sassy who made a cameo appearance in Angel to the Rescue.
Visit Petie’s social media links:
Web Site: http://www.petiemccarty.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094579.Petie_McCarty?from_search=true
The Boys Are Back Facebook party on Aug 17, 2015 1:00p – 9:00p EST
Join me and a host of authors for The Boys Are Back Facebook party on Aug 17, 2015. The time is 1:00p – 9:00p EST, and there will giveaways, downloads, and prizes. Guest authors include Anne Kane, Catherine McLean, CN Lesley, Danielle Rose, Dariel Raye, Donna Frelick, Houston Havens, Lilian Roberts, Maer Wilson, Marcha Fox, Maria Lenartowicz, Melissa Snark, Susanne Leist, Tina Gayle, Veronica Scott, and Kayelle Allen. The event is hosted on Facebook by Nicole Morgan.
August 16, 2015
WHERE WOLVES TALK by D.L. Lewis #Fantasy @Goddessfish
Kitten, an American tabby residing in England, is a frustrated cat. He knows his place in the world: he was born to kill. Killing, after all, is what felines are supposed to do. Confined within his Lady’s house, however, the young fellow is deprived of the opportunity to hunt live prey. The mansion is a sterile playground for a predator; offering nothing more than furniture which allows itself to be brutalized far too easily. The ambitious cat is bored and hungry for a challenge.
Kitten learns of a passage hidden in his Lady’s library: the Door, which leads to an unknown world. The cat has been told that the source of all evil dwells openly in this place. The feline is eager to fight the sinister personage and goes through the Door with no hesitation.
The tabby finds himself in what appears to be a forest like any other in England. It doesn’t take long for him to learn that this is a very different place.
Written in the basic style of classic stories like THE LORD OF THE RINGS, WATERSHIP DOWN, and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, this novel can be appreciated on different levels. To some readers, it’s an allegorical tale: thought-provoking and filled with symbolism. To others, it’s an adventure-filled page-turner.
Where Wolves Talk is on sale at 99 cents (for a limited time)
at Kindle and iBooks.
Excerpt:
First Horse, snorting and puffing, began to prance in place before her general and the tabby. Sinewy legs of solid muscle kicked high to break sharply at the knee and then dropped, like slow springs, only to bounce back into the break again after the first contact with the ground; as though the equine’s alabaster hooves feared the gentle kiss of the earth, yet couldn’t resist seeking it, over and over again. Erupting out of the controlled prance and into wild self-expression, the filly turned and kicked up her back feet in celebration of giddy feel-good happiness. One big jump-kick, two big jump-kicks, one near-somersault, and she dashed forward into an abrupt gallop that halted as soon as it had begun; chunks of disturbed earth flying into the air as hooves dug into terra firma for a flashy halt. In a final explosion of showing off, the quadruped kicked her hind feet up so high that Kitten feared the equine might tumble forward into a spine-shattering roll. First Horse wasn’t so foolish as to perform such a self-destructive feat, however, and brought her heels back to earth a millisecond before her equilibrium reached the endangered point. Standing suddenly quiet, she bowed her head to her superior.
Wolf’s tail drummed against the ground in an expression of appreciation for the athletic show. “What’s got into my girl today? Did you find a field of oats and stuff yourself into this tizzy of excess energy?”
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
D.L. Lewis is awarding one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter a $10 Amazon/BN GC.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
L. Lewis lives in northern California with a cello, four cats, and a crow named Harold. Where Wolves Talk is her first published novel; followed by Something in the House—California Gothic, Doppelgänger, and Fighting Back.
Author Blog: http://dllewisauthor.blogspot.com
August 13, 2015
MERCY’S RESCUE by Debra Holt #Romance @Goddessfish @debraholtbooks
Fighting for his life after an ambush, Sheriff Josh Wellman awakes to find himself looking into the eyes of a real-life angel of mercy. Despite his groggy condition, he knows his life has changed the instant their hands touch.
Devastating heartbreak has left Mercy Smith’s faith in tatters, her heart guarded against more loss. Her dedication to the air evac trauma team she leads has insulated her from the realities of the earth below, so now Josh faces the biggest challenge of his life.
Can he find a way around the walls that fortify her heart and convince this angel to stay on the ground with him? Can Mercy open herself to life again and find a way to restore her faith in God … as well as love?
Mercy’s Rescue Purchase Link: Amazon
Excerpt:
There were ample hands ready to do just that. Less than five minutes were required to load the patient and get the crew back in their seats before the helicopter took flight again. They had no time to waste, and the race with the invisible, yet ever-ticking, clock had begun.
Mercy began her in-flight assessment, speaking through the mike inside her helmet that linked her with the medical team at the hospital. Onboard technology allowed the doctors to hear her and monitor the patient’s vital readings in order to make the calls on what meds needed to be pushed in-flight. She and Paul worked quickly with long-practiced ease in the tight confines of the jet craft. For the time being, the patient held his own.
Mercy looked again at the readout from the overhead blood pressure machine. Her glance then fell to the face of the patient. She caught a slight flicker of his eyelids as he tried to lift them. On his second attempt, she found herself the focus of the bluest eyes she had ever seen. The thought came briefly that, given another situation, they might be quite mesmerizing, almost like watching the still waters of a serene lake. She hastily pushed the unbidden and whimsical thought to the side and returned to a professionally focused mindset. The oxygen mask kept him from speaking, but his eyes were quite eloquent and anything but calm, holding a mixture of pain, fear, and questions.
“Hang in there.” She tried to reassure him with her practiced, soothing tones. “We’ll have you on the ground at the hospital in just a few minutes. Squeeze my hand if you can understand me.” She placed her hand under his. Very slowly, long fingers moved to grasp hers. “Good job.”
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Debra will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers. Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most. She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and owning a wedding planning business (ah, romance!).
Debra’s real pride and joys, however, are her son, an aspiring film actor, and a daughter with aspirations to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (more story ideas!) When she isn’t busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure. She read her first romance…Janet Dailey’s Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary western romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles…and sighs… to all who believe in happily-ever-after’s.
The Seymour Agency represents Debra and she is soon to have two contemporary romances published by Spencer Hill/Tulip Romance and Astraea Press. Debra invites you to visit her website at www.debraholtbooks.com. She loves to hear from other aspiring authors or readers via email at debraholtbooks@gmail.com.
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/DebraHoltBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/debraholtbooks
Website: http://www.debraholtbooks.com/
August 12, 2015
Northwoods Wolfman by Scott Burtness (Contest) #UF @Goddessfish
When Dallas is recruited by an ancient order of monster hunters, he’s more than happy to sign up. The self-proclaimed Hero of Trappersville did kill a bloodthirsty vampire, after all. As far as Dallas is concerned, monsters are monsters, and they have no place in Wisconsin.
Or do they? And does Dallas really get to choose which side he’s on?
Book Two of the Monsters in the Midwest series.
Book URL:
Excerpt:
Randall had whistled through his teeth when Dallas answered the door.
“You look like Batman and Tim the Tool Guy’s D.I.Y. lovechild,” he chuckled. “What are you planning to do with all that stuff?”
The look Dallas gave Randall was sympathetic.
“I know you been doing this for a little while, but I can see why Colton’s looking for new help. You gotta be prepared, right? Covert ops? Surgical strike? Get in, get out, get drunk, get laid, that’s how Big D rolls. You think I’m diving into a nest of, a nest of, um. You know, a nest of… Say, what are we hunting, anyway?”
“Boo hag.”
“Gesundheit.”
“No, we’re hunting a boo hag.”
“Doo rag?”
“No, boo hag, you twit. Kinda like a vampire, but they eat life force from breath, not blood. Sometimes mistaken for skin walkers since they don’t have skin of their own and are fond of taking someone else’s to wear for a bit.
Dallas nodded authoritatively. “Well, that just proves my point. You think I’m diving into a nest of boo hags with nothing but my sunny disposition?”
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Scott Burtness will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Scott lives in the Midwest with his wife and their boxer-pitt mix, Frank. He’s a horror, urban fantasy, and dark comedy fan, and also enjoys beer, bowling, karaoke, and rooting for the underdog. After not nearly enough consideration, he decided to write about the things he enjoys. The result was the Monsters in the Midwest series.
Author URLs:
www.amazon.com/author/swbauthor
August 10, 2015
TIGHT LACED by Roxy Soulé (Contest) #Historical #Romance @Goddessfish
Roxy Soulé’s debut Dragon Duchess series explores the spicier side of late Victorian England, and centers around a family of headstrong, sexpositive women who defy period stereotypes.
Oh, yes, there are Alpha Dukes aplenty, and a bevy of villains who continually torment and thwart, but at the end of the day, these heroines create their own Happily Ever After, sometimes with their lovers and sometimes despite them.
These rather short, hot books may be a bit bold for the tame reader, but if you like your stories with heat and heart – with a bit of sass, humor and spark – perhaps you will enjoy these.
TIGHT LACED (Book One of the Dragon Duchess series) releases August 11th!
Available from:
Excerpt:
Lacy sat bolt upright, bringing the covers to her throat. “Who is there?”
“Shhhhh. Lady Lacilia, I’ve come to—”
Lacy cupped her hands around an invisible dagger. A pretense she’d practiced over the years for just this sort of occasion. “I will slit your throat if you step any closer!”
She heard him laugh. A voice pealed from the dark, “Slit my throat? How would you explain that, pray tell?”
He feigned a high-pitched woman’s voice, “’If it please the court, my groom was attempting to offer me sweets in the night, and I never eat sweets in the night.’
“Darlington! What are you thinking scaring me half to death?”
“I surmised you might be hungry and somewhat cold.”
“I had finally fallen asleep, you scoundrel!”
“I brought a tea cake…”
“A tea cake?”
“I raided the pantry.”
They were two voices in the night. No light, nothing illuminated, and Lacy, in spite of herself, became curious. “What sort of tea cake?”
“Lady fingers, My Lady. For your fingers.”
He came closer. She smelled butter. Confection.
“I am not decent,” she remembered.
“I can’t see a thing,” he retorted.
Darlington was now bedside. Now sitting on the bed, his leg next to hers. It was most unseemly, but the cake! Her stomach growled.
“The beast has awoke!” he teased.
“That soup was awful. Is the cake any better?”
“Why you spoiled lamb, you.”
“Well, is it?”
“See for yourself, Lacy.”
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Roxy Soulé’s debut Dragon Duchess series explores the spicier side of late Victorian England, and centers around a family of headstrong, sexpositive women who defy period stereotypes.
Oh, yes, there are Alpha Dukes aplenty, and a bevy of villains who continually torment and thwart, but at the end of the day, these heroines create their own Happily Ever After, sometimes with their lovers and sometimes despite them.
These rather short, hot books may be a bit bold for the tame reader, but if you like your stories with heat and heart – with a bit of sass, humor and spark – perhaps you will enjoy these.
Release dates:
TIGHT LACED August 11th
TIGHT LIPPED September 15th
TIGHT FISTED October 13th
With more in the queue!
FB https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.soule.79
TWITTER https://twitter.com/roxysoule
August 9, 2015
#Free Days!!!! The Amber Columns (#2 City of Dark Pleasures) #Freereads
I’m so thrilled to celebrate the release of the next book in the The City of Dark Pleasures series, The Amber Columns.
But first a reminder about book I, The Obsidian Stairway :
When O’Mara is assigned to report on a new sexual service in the City of Dark Pleasures — one that has been the subject of much gossip — she’s not sure what to expect. What she finds there only reminds her of all that has been lost in The Expiation.
She meets Tully — handsome, attentive, mysterious and unlike any “servant” O’Mara has met in the Pleasures. His extraordinary service is about to allow her to experience a level of intimacy she has only ever imagined.
You can watch the trailer for The Obsidian Stairway here.
From August 10-14 The Obsidian Stairway is FREE
And now, here’s a little synopsis of The Amber Columns:
Tully:
Sex is what we sell in the City of Dark Pleasures. To work here you need to sequester your emotions, your humanity, your soul if there’s such a thing. If you don’t you’re in danger of losing it all together, permanently.
For someone like me, my damaged soul is all I have left. I try to slip it off like a coat when I work, and most of the time I can. Most of the time no feelings at all come into what I do. But there are times I weaken, times when patrons get to me either for good or ill. Mostly ill. 
Once a woman I met got inside me like no one has. It wasn’t love, but it was as close as I will ever be. O’Mara was her name. O’Mara Tanner. Every morning I read her byline on the Island News Service. She writes about fluff—places to shop, entertainments to see. She wrote about me once. It was all lies, but I don’t hold that against her. Our civilization is built on lies. The brief time we spent together was all lies.
Sometimes I think I would give up everything just to have O’Mara Tanner lie to me again.
O’Mara:
It’s only at night that I’m scared of him. During the day I think about his golden eyes, his warm skin and his velvety voice to the point of distraction. I could lose my job if I don’t get my shit together. A lost job means a lost income. If I can’t pay my rent I could lose my citizen status. And then what? Then I join him, working in the Pleasures?
I could go and see him. I should go and see him. I can find the money somewhere and go and get him to hook me up to that infernal machine of his and lose myself in his beautiful dreamscape. The one in which we are lovers. If I can just spend another moment in that forlorn and hopeless dream I might be able to get him out of my system.
As it is I’ve been masturbating until my fingers ache, and the skin of my clitoris is burning and raw. Whenever I climax I hear his voice, saying my name. Or I say his name
“Tully…”
Maybe before the Expiation people knew that the love of a good man was a powerful, devastating intoxicant. It weakens you, distracts you, makes you prone to obsessive thoughts and lost productivity. Maybe that’s why they did it. To increase productivity.
Love must be the most potent force on earth, if it can fuck you up even when you know it’s not real.
And here’s a smoking hot excerpt:
Tully pushes me against the glass and kisses me.
It’s nothing like our previous kisses. He’s possessed by a kind of madness, a frenzy, his hands tearing at my clothes. Soon his fingers are caressing my breasts, pushing my bra out of the way so he can knead and pinch my nipples.
I would say something, something like fuck, yes but his tongue has captured mine, our lips so firmly connected together that it’s as though we have become one person.
One of his hot hands slips down my stomach under my skirt into my panties. From the corner of my eye I see one of the couples strolling past the candy shop. They turn momentarily, glancing at us with amused expressions before continuing on.
I gasp, whimpering as Tully’s fingers find the wetness and need between my legs.
“Stop?” he says onto my lips.
“NO! Fuck no.”
He begins to move his lips down my body into my cleavage, among the mangled folds of my shirt and bra. His lips close tightly on one nipple, then the next, a maddening distraction from what is happening further down.
Tully has found the button and zip of my skirt and undone them both. My skirt falls to the ground.
Out on the promenade another couple wanders past—both men. They laugh as they disappear out of sight. I find myself wishing they would stay and watch. I want the whole world to see this.
Tully kneels at my feet, his fingers sliding my panties down to fall in the pool of my skirt. Then he lifts one of my legs and slings it over his shoulder. His lips press on the mound of my sex as his fingers stroke my pubic hair, parting me.
“Oh, fuck…” I say.
About the Author
Bibi Rizer is a mom, blogger, teacher and writer living in the Pacific Northwest. While she’s been writing professionally for many years, romance and erotica are relatively new pursuits.
Bibi likes writing about strong kinky women and brave willing men living in realistic and imperfect worlds.
In her spare time Bibi sings Karaoke and hangs around on film sets with child actors. Having the the firm belief that no one can be too weird or too funny, she happily admits that most of her favorite people and characters are both.
Stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads or her blog at www.BibiRizer.com.
For sneak peeks, swag, freebies and other fun, consider joining Bibi’s Street Team, The Early Rizers.
Deadly magic… MAGE ASSASSIN by K R Yaddof (Contest) #UF @Goddessfish
Lauren Trinidad is the best private security money in the League of European Nations can buy. She’s been trained by her father for her entire life to protect the good guys from the bad. But when the good guys seem to be working for the mad man responsible for blowing the world into chaos and her family is suddenly the bad, she is forced to choose between what she is taught to do and what she thinks is right.
Captain David Trinidad is the best soldier the New Republic of Texas can find to pull off a secret mission that will decide the fate of the small country. He’s been raised in his military family to do anything to help his homeland. But when he discovers he is the only chance at saving someone he loves, he has to choose between the only two things in his life that he’s never doubted.
Meagan Trinidad is the best assassin the United Countries of America has for hire. She has walked the tightrope between making her father proud and protecting those she cares about for a while. But when her work threatens to destroy her friends, she must choose between the familial loyalty that has guided her whole life and the promise of being loved for who she is and not what she does.
Buy Links:
Excerpt:
“We both know you’re not going to college.” Jacob moved his mouth closer to her ear. “Why are you going to New Haven? To kill my sister?”
“What?” Meagan jerked back to see his face, but he held her too tightly.
“I know what you are, darling.” His voice was so quiet she barely could hear him. “An assassin.”
“That’s not true!” She swallowed, her head spinning. How had he figured it out? Her father was going to be pissed. “I would never hurt Kayla.”
“That may be true, but you have been hunting my brother for years.” Jacob’s hands crept up her body. They stopped on either side of her throat. He pressed harder against her. “Why do you think I’ve been keeping you so close?”
Meagan didn’t say anything. Sliding a hand behind her back, she glared at him. She went for the knife hidden in her waistband.
“I don’t think so, darling.” He grabbed her wrist and twisted it along with the other one above her head, pinning them against the door. She refused to cry out in pain. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “I kept you so close I know all of your little tricks. Didn’t you wonder why I cared? You should know by now that I don’t fuck the same girl more than once. I was keeping an eye on you instead of ending you.”
She brought up her knee in a swift movement and hit him in the crotch. He grunted and doubled over in pain. She punched him in the face and pushed him off her. Spinning, she kicked him in the head and knocked him to the floor. She drove her boot into his stomach for good measure.
“Don’t ever threaten me, Jacob Godard,” she whispered in his ear, kneeling over him. “Next time I’ll slit your arrogant throat.”
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
The author is awarding a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter a $20 Amazon/BN GC and a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter all three books in the MAGE series.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
K R Yaddof was lucky enough to take a few writing classes at the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop when she was there as an undergrad getting her degree in cinema. Now she lives in Denver, CO with her husband, two kids, and one fat cat.
KR is currently finds time to write while staying home with her two small children. If you want more MAGES, cross your fingers for her children to start sleeping through the night!
https://www.facebook.com/MagesSeries
http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C&query=yaddof
https://www.pinterest.com/kryaddof/
August 5, 2015
TWILIGHT’S ENCORE by Jacquie Biggar (Contest) #Romance @Goddessfish
One man’s betrayal will seal another’s fate.
Ty Garrett fell in love with Katy Fowler from the moment they’d met. When her father’s betrayal yank the young couple apart, Ty becomes bitter.
After a decade away, Katy returns to Tidal Falls with plans to get married in her family’s theatre. But she hadn’t expected to run into Ty Garrett, the boy she’d never forgotten.
When unseen forces endanger their lives, can Ty save Katy and win back her love, or is it too late for these two star-crossed lovers?
This book will be on sale for $0.99 only until 2 PM Pacific Time (5 PM Eastern Time). It will then be on sale for $1.99 until 8 AM Pacific Time on August 8.
Available from:
Excerpt:
Ty muffled a groan. Katy’s crooning just about did him in right there. He wasn’t sure how Tiger held out, because if she used those words on him in that husky, sexy tone… he wrenched open the back door and dumped the groceries on the floor. A long, deep sigh later he closed the door, placed his hands on Katy’s waist and gently moved her aside.
“Here, I’ll get her.” He climbed into the four-by-four and scooped the recalcitrant kitten into his hand. “Hey there, Tiger, good job protecting the truck. Come say hi to the pretty lady, and no scratching.
He nuzzled his nose into its soft, furry neck and then passed her down to Katy’s waiting hands, their fingers tangling for a too brief moment.
“Hello, beautiful. What are you doing with this guy, huh?” She burrowed her face right into the same spot he had and everything inside him tightened painfully. She was killing him here.
“You find that hard to believe, right?” he grumbled.
She glanced up, her mossy green eyes soft with affection. “What?”
His fingers wrapped around the steering wheel before he did what he craved. Bury his hands in that silken waterfall of hair, drag her close, and see if her neck was half as soft as the cat’s. “That anyone would want to stay with me of their own volition?”
Katy frowned. “What are you talking about? I was teasing, Ty. Don’t make this into something it’s not.”
Words to live by.
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Jacquie will award a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I thought I’d share with you the beginning of my love affair with writing.
Normally, procrastination is my enemy. I like to get done whatever it is, as soon as I can, so that I don’t have to worry about it any more.
In school I worked hard to stay in the top ten every year. So when I came down sick with the measles and missed two weeks of grade nine, I was devastated. How was I ever going to catch up? I had less than a week to write a compelling story for Language Arts or get a failing mark.
Angry and frustrated, I sat in our living room, pen and paper in hand, staring at a bright yellow bouquet of cheerful looking daffodils. I wanted to hurl them across the room. It wasn’t fair. Why was I being punished for getting sick?
But then an idea popped into my head. A silly, farcical story. If the teacher wanted an essay, fine, I’d give him one. And so, Count Daffodil, was born. After the first paragraph the words flowed quicker, I could see the scene in my head and needed to get it down on paper. (Sound familiar?) I spent the rest of the day writing, and by the end of the night I had my story.
The next day I turned it in and immediately felt ill all over again. It was dumb. The teacher was going to hate it. I’d be a laughing stock. Funny how easy you can build something up to catastrophic proportions when you lack self-confidence.
We had to wait two weeks for the results. I was on tenterhooks the entire time. Sure that my mom would blow a gasket because I’d goofed instead of giving it my best shot.
Then came the big day.
I was scared to look. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and turned to the last page. These were my teacher’s words:
I’m glad I didn’t read this at night. It’s been a while since I was so enthralled with a story. Very professionally done. The suspense, the ending, the style was excellent. I think I’ll read it to the other classes. Very impressive.
Not only did he read it to the other grade nines, he read it over the intercom to the entire school!
Because of Mr. Thomas and a hapless bouquet of sunny daffodils, a writer was born.
Jacquie’s first book, Tidal Falls, a romantic suspense novel about second chances, released September of 2014.
Jacquie Biggar:
http://Facebook.com/jacqbiggar
http://Goodreads.com/jacquiebiggar
http://www.amazon.com/Jacquie-Biggar/e/B00MSIJQBG
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