Rachel A. Olson's Blog, page 32

@novelsbylia #ArtemissHunt #ReleaseDayBlitz

Artemis's Hunt(Sons of War #2.5)By Lia Davis

Blurb: 
Artemis, goddess of the hunt, has lived with heartache for the last fifteen hundred years, believing her only love is dead. That’s what her father—Zeus, king of the gods—told her. After recent events brought the truth to light, Artemis must gather the courage to face her lost love again.
Evangelos, former god of messengers, was content living in the mortal world until he discovered he has a daughter and her mother is Artemis. When the goddess shows up at his place of employment with tales of renewing his god status, he’s skeptical. Zeus wouldn't reverse the curse out of the goodness of his heart. There is always a catch. The god king wants something in return.
When Artemis explains she has to hunt down her stepmother, Hera, in order to get Evan back into Zeus’s good graces, Evan demands to accompany her. However, the journey turns out to be a test that could bring them closer together or tear them apart forever.


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Excerpt
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Artemis crept through the darkening forest, her bare feet barely making a sound as she hunted her prey. The scent of damp earth and spring wildflowers filled the air. The thump, thump of her heartbeat and that of the deer hiding amongst the foliage a few feet away were the only sounds.
The doe’s head rose above the brush, her ears flickered as she carefully stepped forward. Artemis stilled, slowly pulled an arrow from her quiver and drew her bow. Before she could fire, the animal jerked her head toward Artemis, then took off in the opposite direction.
Damn. So close.
A familiar, masculine scent mixed with that of forest and earth met her nose. Annoyance bathed her, turning to anger as she twisted sharply to face the intruder. Evangelos, minor god of the messengers, stood a few feet away, his own bow at the ready. She snarled, glancing from the bow to the smug look on his face.“I thought Hermes taught his sons better manners. Don’t you know it is dangerous to sneak up on me during a hunt?”
One large, bare shoulder rose in a lazy shrug as he stalked closer. She planted her feet in place, refusing to show him any type of weakness—he would never know how her body heated when he was near, something she hadn’t experienced with any other man.
She was a pure goddess, untouched by the desires of the flesh, and she would stay that way. Not even Evangelos could change who she was or her nature.
He stopped a foot away, the heat from his virile body reaching out to her, coaxing her to come closer. “I want you to teach me to hunt.”
Steeling her spine, she narrowed her gaze at him. “You can already hunt.”
“Not like you. I want you to show me your way.”
“Why?”
He took a step nearer. She desperately wanted to move away, but giving up ground would be a sign of weakness. “Does the reason matter?”
No, it didn't matter. She couldn't care less why he wanted her to teach him. “What do you offer me in return?” He had to know asking a boon of her meant she’d require some sort of payment in exchange.
One corner of his mouth lifted, drawing her attention to his full lips. What was wrong with her? She must be ill. It was the only reasonable explanation for her reaction to him. When he spoke, his tone softened, almost to a whisper. “I offer my services to you during the time it takes you to teach me.”
Suspicion crawled up her spine. “What services?”
He closed the distance between them until only a breath separated them. “Anything you wish, my goddess.”
She was fully unprepared for what happened next. When his soft lips brushed hers, every nerve in her body lit up as if charged by lightning. For a moment she allowed his testing caress, but when he wrapped an arm around her waist, she broke the kiss and slapped him. The sound of the strike echoed off the trees as his head whipped to the side, thunder to emphasize the storm he’d awakened with his touch.
“Do that again and I’ll kill you,” she warned.

About The Author
Lia Davis is the author of the bestselling shifter series, Ashwood Falls, a mother to two young adults and three kitties, a wife to her soul mate, and co-owner to Fated Desires Publishing, LLC. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it! 

An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very active imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing is stress reliever that allows her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs. 


Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.






You can find Lia at                   





Presented By

@whitesouljamma #SovereignPlague #ReleaseDayBlitz 18+ ADVISORY #Giveaway

Title: Sovereign PlagueAuthor: Rachel A OlsonGenre: Post-Apocalyptic PNR 18+Release Date: August 29, 2014Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

***ADVISORY: CONTAINS CONTENT UNSUITABLE FOR READERS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.***
In the year 3127, the human race faces possible extinction when a viral outbreak spreads like wildfire during a never ending cold spell. Former militia member Barrick Hardison has been forced to use his training for survival before, and finds himself doing it again…but this time for a woman he hardly even knows. 

Lyza Guerrera has spent her entire life trying to hide in the shadows. It didn’t do her any good. An orphan from the former Puerto Rico region, Lyza’s foreign looks simply attract danger, including Barrick. Fortunately for her, Barrick doesn’t seem to have any interest in her, or anyone else for that matter.

After meeting under extreme circumstances, Barrick begrudgingly allows Lyza to tag along with him. Threatening his former employer and witnessing a near upheaval of his old militia camp has given Barrick the realization that circumstances are not only worse than he thought, but he and Lyza are stuck in the middle of it all.

When it seems like their situation can’t possibly get worse, the strength of the Defects seems to be growing with numbers, and Barrick’s sanity begins to waver amidst it all. Will he get Lyza and her precious cargo to safety or will his uncontrollable feelings and impending psychosis prevent him from reaching their much needed destination?
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EXCERPT Barrick kneeled down next to Lyza, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward him. “Get on my shoulders.”

“What?” Lyza almost laughed in disbelief. “I’m a grown woman. A pregnant grown woman. You don’t honestly think you’re going to give me a ride on your shoulders, do you?” Barrick yanked on her hand again before forcing her leg to swing up and over his shoulder.

“Either you get on or you run. Based on the lack of color in your face and the shit you just barfed all over the floor, I think it’s safe to say you’re in no condition to run right now. So, get on.” Barrick was in no mood for games, and Lyza obviously heard it in his voice. He was sure she knew exactly why the sirens had gone off, but it apparently mattered to her what it would look like to be flying around the militia camp, perched atop Barrick’s shoulders like a toddler. Barrick smirked to himself. He was more enjoying the thought of which body part would be closest to his head while she played toddler.

“I’m a seriously dirty minded fuck,” he mumbled to himself.

“What was that?” Lyza asked, clinging as best she could to Barrick as he rose effortlessly to his feet.

“Nothing, doll,” he responded with a clearing of his throat. “Hold on tight.”


AUTHOR BIO Somewhere amidst her forty-hour job and playtime with her son, Rachel finds time to walk the streets of worlds only existing on manmade paper. She resides in small college town Northwestern Nebraska with her son, just a few blocks away from her parents. She enjoys socializing with adults, sipping sweetened iced tea, and head banging to music that doesn't carry a beat worth the effort of rock star hair slinging.


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HOSTED BY

Serial Killer Quarterly - "A compelling read...by some of the best writers working in the field."

Serial Killer Quarterly, "21st Century Psychos" by Cathy Scott, Katherine Ramsland, Carol Anne Davis, Kim Cresswell, Robert J Hoshowsky, Curtis Yateman, Aaron Elliott, Anthony Servante and Lee Mellor
Bestselling author Cathy Scott guides the reader through the fog choked alleyways of Edinburgh where Irishmen William Burke and William Hare fatally suffocated up to 25 people in 1828.
Our second feature by Dr. Katherine Ramsland focuses on Houston's wicked "Candy Man" Dean Corll - one of the most sadistic murderers in 20th century criminal history.
Feature number three takes us back to the United Kingdom as Carol Anne Davis explores whether both John Duffy and David Mulcahy were truly the "Railway Killers".
Kim Cresswell relays the perverse folie a deux of Doug Clark and Carol Bundy whose rampage began in 1980 on LA's sunset strip.
Robert Hoshowsky and Curtis Yateman write of confinement and torture in their pieces on Leonard Lake and Charles Ng and "Ken and Barbie Killers" Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.
Lastly, Aaron Elliott takes a look at a rare female-female serial killer duo, LA's Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt, who drugged and ran over two men with their car in order to collect on their life insurance policies.
Also includes, Anthony Servante's analysis of poems by the Zodiac Killer, Joseph Kallinger, and Israel Keyes, and a review of the film 'Natural Born Killers'.
Available in stunning magazine-style at Serial Killer Quarterly or e-Book Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble iTunes Google Play

The debut issue of Serial Killer Quarterly, “21st Century Psychos”, explores seven of the new millennium’s most notorious multiple murder cases. In her feature story “Building a Mystery”, Dr. Katherine Ramsland examines the life and crimes of Israel Keyes – arguably the most organized and mobile serial murderer in American history. In direct contrast to Keyes’s secretive slayings, the Beltway Snipers, John Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, murdered random civilians in broad daylight and openly taunted the authorities.
Michael Newton – author of 265 books including the groundbreaking Encyclopedia of Serial Killers – details their three week reign of terror in his feature “Islam Will Explode”. Lee Mellor‘s “Web of Spiders” discusses the milestone case of “Slavemaster” John Edward Robinson: the Internet’s first serial killer. Other articles in “21st Century Psychos” include:
“Love in the Ashes” – Arthur Ellis-award nominee Robert J. Hoshowsky takes on Sheila Labarre – an aging nymphomaniac who seduced, slaughtered, and incinerated three male victims on her New Hampshire farm, challenging our views on the nature of female serial killers forever.
“The Interview” – Curtis Yateman’s impressionistic look at the 2009-2010 murders committed by Canadian Airforce base commander Col. Russell Williams.
“Checkmate” – The story of post-Soviet Russia’s most prolific serial slaughterer, “Chessboard Killer” Alexander Pichushkin, as recounted by Grinning Man Press co-founder Aaron Elliott.
“Canada’s Killer Countryboy?” – Kim Cresswell sheds light on clean-cut “country boy” Cody Legebokoff, who at the age of 21 was charged with the murders of four women in western Canada. Is his guilt a certainty, or is there more to this story than meets the eye?
Available in stunning magazine-style at Serial Killer Quarterly or e-Book Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble iTunes Google Play

Praise

"Finally--a serial killer publication that lives up to its name. Serial Killer Quarterly publishes fascinating accounts of serial murder cases by some of today's top true crime writers. Must-read material for true crime aficionados." - Gary C. King, bestselling author of Blood Lust: Portrait of a Serial Sex Killer, and Driven to Kill

"...gracefully and tactfully, honoring victims of murder without sensationalizing the psychopaths who took their lives...Serial Killer Quarterly does it!" - Investigative journalist M. William Phelps, New York Times bestselling author of 26 books, six about serial killers, including THE KILLING KIND (June 2014)
"A compelling read...by some of the best writers working in the field. If there was going to be a high-end literary journal of serial homicide then Serial Killer Quarterly is it." - Dr. Peter Vronsky, Bestselling author of Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters
"If you're fascinated by history's most notorious murders, then Serial Killer Quarter is the best place to go. Here you will find some of the best true crime writers in the country... a must-read publication--as long as you keep the lights on." - Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, author of The Poisoner's Handbook Web SiteFacebook: Serial Killer Quarterly Facebook: Grinning Man Press

Soulless Release Day Blitz @AmberGarr1

Title: SoullessAuthor: Amber GarrGenre: Young Adult Paranormal Expected Release Date: August 23, 2014 Publisher: Hallowed Ink Press

When it comes to death and love…only one is guaranteed.
Four decades ago Nora died. A tragic event for someone so young; however, four decades ago Nora was also given a second chance to walk among the living. A Death Warden with a mysterious past, her job is to escort the newly expired towards the light, battling with the Soul Hunters who want the freshly dead to help with their own evil purposes buried in the dark.
When Nora’s charges suddenly become targets, she realizes that the hunters are after far more than just souls. A shift in power between good and evil threatens to change everything, risking the lives of the only family Nora has ever known.
Devastated and angry, she’s forced to face the man she once loved - a man who chose darkness over her - in order to find the answers she needs to stop the horror from escalating. Yet, while a lost relationship still haunts her broken heart, a new Warden with secrets of his own will enter the mix and quickly alter everything Nora believed to be true. 
Death is unavoidable…but sometimes, so is love.
FB Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/1517213108493425/
Amber Garr spends her days as a scientist and nights writing about other worlds. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain she has a supernatural sense of smell. Amber is a multiple Royal Palm Literary Award winner, author of the bestselling The Syrenka Series, The Leila Marx Novels, The Water Crisis Chronicles, and the upcoming Death Warden Series. When not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie. Find out more at www.ambergarr.com.

Author Links:Website * Facebook * Goodreads * Email * Twitter Goodreads * Facebook * Web * Twitter

@SuzyKnightbooks #RulesOfAscension #BlogTour #Giveaway

Rules Of Ascension
By Suzy Knight
As a child, Lady Elsabeth Durnfir dreamed of marrying a prince, but after seeing her elder sister’s personality make a complete 180 degree turn after her engagement to Crown Prince Henry of Estoria is announced, Elsabeth has traded in her childish hopes of a fairytale wedding for the equally unlikely hope of inheriting Durnfir Manor and the surrounding land.
Life at court is not something she is interested in, or good at, but in order to help prepare for her sister Alicia’s wedding, Elsabeth must live at court for an entire year. As well as trying to fit in at court while living up to her sister’s reputation, Elsabeth has a secret to keep. But, court is full of secrets that are all about to come to light.
How will Elsabeth survive court without destroying her family’s reputation—and how can she get Prince Frederick, the renowned rake, to stop teasing her?



Available for purchase at 
   

Excerpt

The high table had never been so full. The king and queen sat in the center, as always, with Georgiana on the queen’s left and Henry on the king’s right. However, Alicia was in Frederick’s normal place at Henry’s side, leaving Frederick no choice but to sit between Elsabeth and Georgiana, not willing to subject one as innocent as Elsabeth to Georgiana’s stern gaze of disapproval.
Food was served within moments of him sitting down; the kitchen had pulled out all the stops tonight. Frederick watched as his plate became laden with thick cuts of roast beef; golden, crispy potatoes, and thick gravy. The servants knew his habits well, giving him only the smallest helping of greens but loading him with still-warm rolls of bread and the thickest of the beef slices they had.
Not long after Frederick demolished his first roll, the king called for a toast to the happy couple. This was a precedent that would set the theme for the evening, for every few minutes there was yet another toast. Frederick sipped at his wine, sometimes only pretending to drink, knowing the evening meal was going to be long the toasts were not likely to stop, and he hadn’t quite recovered his head from the night before. However, after the fourth or fifth toast, he noticed Elsabeth swaying a little in her chair as a servant dashed forward to refill her wine goblet. The flush in her cheeks confirmed his suspicions as another lord stood to toast the couple. The prince leaned in to Elsabeth and whispered in her ear. “Pace yourself, sip the wine or simply pretend to drink. If you get too drunk, you’ll fall out of your chair, and then what would Lissy say?”
Elsabeth hiccupped, her big blue eyes staring at him from under her dark, long lashes. Seeming to have to concentrate on her motions, she nodded and put the cup down, glaring at it suspiciously. A smile tugged at the prince’s lips as he watched her frowning at her cup as though the cup itself were to blame for her inebriation.
Georgiana leaned past Frederick to glower at the young woman. “Is she drunk?” she hissed, eyebrows knitted tightly with judgment. Frederick felt that same knot in his stomach that he had felt earlier when Elsabeth had floundered under the queen’s questioning. It was almost a protective feeling, which didn’t make sense, as he didn’t know her at all. Besides, I never go after innocents—I only ever pursue women who understand that I’m not promising anything.
Nonetheless, he turned in his chair and rested his chin on his hand, careful to position his elbow quite obviously on the table, blocking Georgiana’s view. His distraction worked. “Get your elbow off of the table at once! Are you a heathen?” Georgiana’s whisper could cleave wood, the tone was so sharp. With a flash, she hit Frederick’s elbow with the bottom of her fork, causing him to curse and rub at the offending body part.
“Jeez, Georgiana. Is there really a need to turn to violence?”
“It’s all you men seem to understand.” She sniffed and turned away, focusing on her own meal once more.
New to the castle, the servants played it safe by putting a little of everything on Elsabeth’s plate. But, Frederick noticed her request second helpings of everything except the gravy. If the way she gazed longingly at the steaming tureen was anything to go by, he suspected her refusal of the gravy was in accordance with her wish to lessen the chance of spilling on herself.
Frederick sighed and sat back in his chair, watching Elsabeth play with the food on her plate. He felt himself smiling again as he watched her keep dropping her potatoes, her coordination suffering greatly from the amount of alcohol she consumed. There was something endearing about her, but it’s not like he could bed his future sister-in-law to get her out of his system.
“Will you tell me something?” he asked, leaning forward to take her fork from her slack grip. She pouted at him, following the fork with her gaze.
“Sure,” she mumbled, watching as he speared a golden potato and waved it tauntingly before her.
“Why were you so floundered by my mother’s question? Surely there are things you enjoy doing?”
“Of course,” sighed Elsabeth, gaze still focused on the potato he held out. “But I promised Alicia I wouldn't tell about the embroidery and nothing else I do is very ladylike.”
“What do you mean by ‘not very ladylike’?” He fed her the potato and speared another.
“Well, I teach the village children to read, and in return they teach me dancing. Alicia says I shouldn’t dance like a commoner. I like to walk through the gardens while the dew is fresh, but it ruins my dresses. I don’t much care for fashion, but I like sewing.” She opened her mouth patiently, expecting a reward for her answer. He obliged, holding out the second potato. Spearing a third, he twirled it while he contemplated his next question.
“Why can’t you tell anyone about your embroidery? That’s a very ladylike hobby. You must have seen how much my mother enjoyed the piece Lady Alicia made.”
Elsabeth shook her head and wobbled slightly in the chair. “I have a secret. Lissy made me promise.”
“I won’t tell anyone, I promise,” he whispered, leaning closer and teasing her with the potato, touching it to her lips and pulling it away before she could bite. A swipe of her tongue across her lips almost made him forget why he was trying to get information.
With a moan, Elsabeth nodded. “Okay, but you can’t tell anyone! Lissy can’t sew at all, so I can’t tell anyone that I can, or they might notice that my work is identical to the work that Lissy claimed as her own.” With a triumphant grin, she leaned forward and snatched the bite of potato, chewing happily.
Frederick sat back in his chair, watching Elsabeth as she reclaimed her fork and enthusiastically attacked her vegetables. Why would Alicia lie about that? It’s not as though Henry would care if she were able to sew or not. Yet she made her sister promise to keep it a secret? Frederick didn’t think Elsabeth was lying, but it gave him something to think about. He knew how the court worked, a skill with embroidery got you close to the queen—could Alicia have planned it all in order to get herself close to Henry? He shook his head clear of such thoughts. Henry is cautious, and Georgiana is like a hawk. There’s no way anyone would be able to trick their way into the royal family.
He focused on Elsabeth once more, smiling as he watched her eating with such exuberance. She seemed completely at ease, now that her inhibitions had melted away. It was hard not to laugh at her disastrous attempts to feed herself, her coordination having suffered greatly, but he didn't think he could feed her again. Not if she was going to moan in pleasure with every bite.
When the meal was finished, it was time to dance. Queen Charlotte and King George followed Lady Alicia and Crown Prince Henry out onto the floor. Georgiana had disappeared again, which left Elsabeth with Frederick. He helped her out of her chair, trying not to let others notice how heavily she leaned on him. At least she isn't tripping over her dress anymore. The music started before they reached the floor, where the tables had been pushed aside to make a dancing area. Other couples joined the royal family, giving Frederick the chance to pull her in closer than was appropriate. Only because I need to be able to hold her upright, that’s all there is to it, he told himself, ignoring the curious glance Henry shot across the room.
Their fingers were entwined and his other hand rested on her lower back, his thumb gently rubbing small patterns. He was careful to move slowly and not to turn her too often, but he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face as he watched her bite her lip in concentration. “Are you doubting me again, Ellie?” he whispered, making her head snap up. She glared at him.
“My name is Elsabeth. And I've never once doubted you, so there.” She stuck her tongue out at him, and he struggled to quiet his laughter. He tugged her closer so her hips were pressed against his.
“I’m sorry, Elsabeth,I’m glad to be thought of so highly by such a discerning young lady.” She shivered and looked up, her eyelids fluttering with the effort to keep them open.
“Are you teasing me?” she said, her head tilted to one side like a curious puppy.
He smiled, his gaze locking with hers. “Never.”

About The Author
Suzy Knight is an average English girl, who after completing a degree in boring business management decided to travel halfway around the world to the land of kpop and kimchi to be a teacher. Whilst in Korea, Suzy rediscovered her passion for writing and managed to write the novel Love and War in between working at her academy and volunteering with animal rescue. Two years later and she’s back in England with her rescued Korean puppy, Panda. Now she is working on her next novels, while training Panda to be less nervous. 




You can find Suzy at             
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Presented By

@taralain #OutingTheQuarterback #CoverReveal

Outing The Quarterback
(Long Pass Chronicles Series, Bk #1)By Tara Lain

Will Ashford lives in two closets. He meets his wealthy father’s goals as both the quarterback for the famous SCU football team and a business major, but secretly he attends art school and longs to live as a painter. And he's gay. But if he can win the coveted Milton Scholarship for art, he’ll be able to break from his father at the end of his senior year.

In a painting master class, Will meets his divergent opposite, Noah Zajack. A scarred orphan who’s slept on park benches and eaten from trash cans, Noah carefully plans his life and multiple jobs so he has money and time to go to art school. Will's problems seem like nothing compared to Noah's. Noah wants the scholarship too and may have a way to get it since the teacher of his class has designs on him, a plan Will isn't happy about.

When a gossipmonger with a popular YouTube channel finds evidence that Will is gay, the quarterback’s closet doors begin to crumble. Hounded by the press and harassed by other players, Will has to choose. Stay in the closet and keep his family’s wealth, or let the doors fall off and walk out with nothing. Nothing but Noah.

Release Date: September 19, 2014



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Excerpt Will’s eyes moved past the teacher. Lots of easels, students already working, supplies all over the place and—holy shit.The artist’s model sat naked on a small platform in the middle of the room. But not just no-clothes-on naked. We were talking gleaming, pale beige skin, shining hair, and hard-as-stone butt-cheeks naked.Will’s deprived cock did a happy dance.The model’s back—read, bare ass—faced Will while his graceful spine curved away.The beast in Will’s pants started to grow.The guy’s long brown hair flowed over his shoulders and outlined his profile, perfectly presented to Will’s artist eye. High-bridged nose, prominent cheekbones, pointed chin.The damned traitor prick pushed so hard against Will’s zipper he probably had teeth marks on his cockhead. Why was it every time he decided to go straight, some cosmic joker had to twiddle his fucking finger and prove beyond a shadow that William Elliott Ashford III was as gay as a circus tent? Shit!“Are you in this class?”Will focused his eyes back on Masterson and clasped his hands in front of his crotch, still holding his tackle box. “Yes, sir. Sorry I’m late. Traffic.”Masterson glanced at Will’s folded hands and sucked on his cheek like he was trying not to laugh. “Name?”Will shifted to get the animal to go back in its cave, but no matter how hard Masterson stared at Will, the model still sat there in all his fucking glory. “Will Smith, sir.”Masterson glanced at a paper on his desk, made a check mark, and pointed toward an empty easel with a folding table beside it and a rickety chair. “There’s a place in the back, William.”“Will.”The man smiled and the lean, almost harsh face softened. “Will. Made any good movies lately?”Oh my, so very original. Will smiled. “Yeah.”Masterson waved his hand toward the easel and looked at the model. “You can move, Noah.”Will walked back to the empty place. Do not stare at that guy. Don’t stare. His name is Noah. Noah.Weird. Usually life models were “interesting” looking, for lack of a better word. Fat or craggy, old, and character-filled. Not perfect, smooth beauties like this guy.Will set his tackle box on the floor, opened it, and pulled out brushes. Masterson walked up beside him with a canvas. “This is gessoed already so you won’t have to waste any time.”Will set it on the easel. “Thanks.”Masterson crossed his arms. “I’ve seen the work you submitted when you applied for the master class. Promising.”Wow. Music to his ears. “Thank you, sir.”Masterson grinned. Who knew dimples could live in cheeks that thin? “Try Dwight so I don’t feel so old.”Will smiled. “Thanks, Dwight. I wouldn’t want to suggest something that’s not true.”The instructor winked at him and walked back to the beat-up desk in the corner. Winked. Will had read that Masterson was gay. Had the teacher just been flirting with him? Or shit, maybe he’d been coming on to Masterson. When you spent your life in the closet, every interaction was a fucking minefield.Will sat in the chair and looked up at the model. His breath caught. No way. The beautiful guy had repositioned himself and now sat facing Will, his legs crossed, leaning forward with his arm resting on his thigh. Everything shimmery and perfect—if you didn’t count the six-inch scar that ran from the right corner of his mouth up to the edge of his very blue eye. It skipped the eye miraculously and continued above it on his forehead, disappearing into his hair. The puckered skin pulled that eye closed a slight bit more than the other. Funny. Without it, the kid would have looked almost too angelic. As it was, the eye gave him a permanent touch of cynicism. Yeah, anybody who’d picked up that badge of courage in his life deserved to be a cynic.




About the Author Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her best­selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soul­mate husband and her soul­mate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara at                    




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Silken Ties Book Blitz @bloodchronicles

Title: Corporate TiesAuthor: Elizabeth Loraine  Genre: Mystery, Urban, Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 16th, 2014Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours
Corporate Ties the latest title by Best Selling Author E. L. Loraine
Olivia Grayson, smart, beautiful and rising star of the corporate world of Dolby, Inc.
Olivia is determined to be successful. She’s smart, beautiful and driven. While working her way up the corporate ranks in her first job out of Grad School at Dolby Incorporated, Olivia finally has a chance to prove just how talented she is. The client she’s been given is Matasuki International, but when she starts reading through the files on the company she finds something disturbing. There are convenient deaths associated with their acquisitions division. The man behind this company is Isamu Matasuki, a powerful and ruthless chairman. Yet there seems to be only generic press release type information on him. When she asks her longtime friend and co-worker in the legal department to get her more information from his former job at the FBI, he disappears and Olivia knows it’s because of Matasuki and his shadowy companion.
Determined to find out what happened to her friend Paul, and keep her boss, Tyson Grant and Dolby protected, she enlists the help of new neighbor and lover, corporate security specialist, and private investigator, Brian. Olivia knows she can use Matasuki’s interest in Dolby and her to get close enough to stop him, but is the risk worth it? Even if she saves Dolby, he’ll just move on to the next, and that company is Dolby’s chief rival, Stein Brothers. Can she just sit back and let that happen or is Olivia willing to lose everyone and everything she loves in order to take Matasuki down?
E.L. Loraine’s Corporate Ties, is a sizzling hot, mystery romance set among the concrete and steel jungle of New York City and the corporate ties that bind it. Another multi-level plot keeps you turning pages as Olivia finds she’s caught right in the very middle of this world of love, lust, and greed as the players fight for power on the corporate battle field.

Title: Thorns of RevengeAuthor: Elizabeth Loraine  Genre: Mystery, Urban, Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 4th, 2014
Thorns of Revenge blurb.After selling off the assets of Matasuki International, Olivia has embarked on a new endeavor with best friends Rachel, Lucy and Sam. They’ve joined Brian to expand the private investigation business which comes so natural, but it’s not the only challenge they encounter. Her friends disappear and Olivia thinks she’s to blame. Determined, she’ll stop at nothing to get them back, including calling on her first love with his high ranking connections. Will she succeed, or will it cost her more than she could have ever imagined?

Thorns of Revenge is another sexy, suspense filled, adventure from bestselling author E.L. Loraine. This second edition of the Silken Ties series will have you on the edge of your seat following along its fast pace, thrilling ride.Presale links for Thorns.https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/464648https://itunes.apple.com/ie/book/thorns-of-revenge/id906437639?mt=11

I grew up in a small northern Minnesotan town married my high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children and as soon as we could we moved to a warmer climate. I have worked with my husband building and decorating custom homes for years. After loving every kind of vampire book, movie and series I decided that I wanted to know more. I can write a book I thought, how hard can that be? Well.... But I stuck to it and finished my first book Royal Blood Chronicles Book One in August 2009. I now have six books in the series and am about to release book two of my new series Phantom Lives. My parents always told me that I could do anything that I wanted, work hard, study and do it right. I believe that and live that way every day.

Links: Web: http://elizabethloraine.com  Twitter:@bloodchroniclesFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ELLorainescomtemporarysideFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eloraine

Keeper VS Reaper Release Day Blitz @Jennichad217

Title: Keeper VS. ReaperAuthor: Jennifer Malone Wright Genre: New Adult ParanormalHosted by: Lady Amber's Tours
When her father died, Lucy Mae Estmond inherited the family business. She has known all of her life that she would be in line to watch over the souls of the recently passed, keeping them safe from the Reapers.
The soul eating Reapers have been a plague upon the Earth, stealing souls and leaving the Keepers as the only thing that stands between Heaven and Hell. The factions despise each other and have warred for generations.
Then Lucy discovers an ancient legend predicting the arrival of the Chosen One, destined to bring forth an end to the Reapers. The surprises continue when she realizes she is that person. For Lucy, being the Chosen One doesn’t change much. Fighting Reapers is just another day in the life of a Keeper. 
When she meets Jack Walker, they both realize they have an insane, mutual attraction. Too bad that he’s been sent to prevent the prophecy from coming true. His only mission: to kill the Chosen One.





Jennifer Malone Wright is best known for her short story series, The Vampire Hunter's Daughter. Other works include the follow up to The Vampire Hunter's Daughter series called The Arcadia Falls Chronicles and her vampire novel called The Birth of Jaiden. Jennifer also co-authors a series called Once Upon A Zombie Apocalypse.
She resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children where she practices preparing for the zombie apocalypse. Just kidding!
But seriously, between the craziness of taking care of her children, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on her beloved fiction or chatting with her equally crazy friends.
Jennifer also loves coffee, has a passionate affair with red bull, wishes the sushi were better where she lives and dances while she cleans.
Author Links: Website: www.jenniferwrightauthor.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thevampirehuntersdaughter ANDhttps://www.facebook.com/authorjennifermalonewright Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennichad217 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4824985.Jennifer_Malone_Wright

Buy Links:Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Reaper-Graveyard-Guardians-Book-ebook/dp/B00MKUBV7Y/ Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keeper-Reaper-Graveyard-Guardians-Book-ebook/dp/B00MKUBV7Y/ The Smart URL: http://smarturl.it/keepervsreaper Apple: http://tiny.cc/eq0xhx B&N: http://tiny.cc/qr0xhx Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/kdvssqx Smash: http://tiny.cc/1o0xhx

Long Excerpt:Inch by painstaking inch, the casket sank lower into the freshly churned earth. The scent of lilacs floated on the breeze, along with the heavy stench of perfume and cologne, reminding Lucy of the fragrance aisle in a department store. Lucy stood beside the grave, dressed in a modest royal blue sundress. She had chosen it specifically because her father always said the color looked the best against her hair, which was a mix of reddish brown that shone burgundy in the sunlight. Tilting her head up, Lucy looked through the canopy of the aging oak trees that were scattered throughout the cemetery. The breeze shifted the branches, causing a few of the leaves to pull free and flutter off into the wind. There were almost no clouds in sky, allowing the sun to shine down over the funeral. Her brothers and sisters surrounded the open grave opposite of her. All six of them also wore something fitting for a funeral, but nothing depressing enough to send their father into a rage in his afterlife. Smiling, Lucy remembered the argument she and her father had during his last moments. “Lucy!” he had shouted at her. “Don’t you dare let them bury me in a suit. I am not going to spend eternity in a stuffy ass business suit. Make sure I’m wearing my khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt because I’m going on the vacation of a lifetime.”That was toward the end, when the cancer was so bad that her dad spent most of his time in bed, moaning about how he should be up and about doing something. They both knew that the end was near, but Lucy had cried only in private. Her father wanted her to be happy he was moving on to the next life, but she couldn’t understand in what way, shape or form, his dying was a good thing.So she shed her tears alone in her room until there were no more left to cry.The fog of the memory lifted from Lucy’s mind and she looked across the grave at her brothers and sisters. The entire brood of Estmond siblings were born with the same color hair as Lucy had been blessed with. Each of them, as well as Lucy and Ethan, held a white rose in one hand. Later, before the grave was sealed, they would each take a turn throwing one down onto the casket, as a symbol of their wish for their father’s peaceful journey into the afterlife. Just behind her brothers and sisters stood the mourners who came to pay their last respects. Most of them were town’s people whom they had grown up with, except for one group who stood close together, most of them around her father’s age. These were the Keepers whom her family had been closest to over the years. She could see Gloria and Edward White, the Keepers from one of the Napa Valley graveyards standing solemnly beside Ellen and Stanly Evans, who worked in the hospital in Santa Rosa. There were several other Keepers surrounding them who she recognized and made a note to speak to them later.Beyond them, further out into the trees, the spirits began to show themselves. They appeared in the form of their human bodies, a bit transparent, but solid for the most part. It was harder to see in the daylight, but their misty blue auras swirled around them, helping form the solidity of their bodies.The spirits were fascinated by funerals. When Lucy was little she used to think that they wanted to say goodbye to someone, but really it was because there wasn’t much else to do in a graveyard except talk to each other and attend burials.Pastor Brown spoke solemnly, saying kind words and telling her father’s life story. Inwardly, Lucy cursed her father for choosing Pastor Brown, a man who had not known her father and she was sure didn’t give a flying fuck about him either. Her father hadn’t set foot in church since he was a child. Not because he didn’t believe in God, he just didn’t believe in organized religion.Sensing her tension, Ethan squeezed her hand reassuringly. Turning to her left she looked up and met her best friend’s eyes through the tint of his sunglasses. Even through the dark lenses she could see the sorrow in his eyes. He had loved her father too, just as much as any one of the Estmond clan. In response, she squeezed his hand back and then turned back to stare at the grave again.“And now, Lucy Mae, Gregory’s youngest child, will say a few words about her father.”  The preacher cleared his throat, signaling to Lucy that it was time. Lucy had no tears staining her face. She had cried all those tears long before the day of the funeral. Again, Ethan gave her hand a gentle squeeze and then released her so that she could reach down and withdraw the folded piece of yellow legal paper out of her miniscule handbag.As Lucy unfolded the paper she felt like it was taking an eternity.This day is never going to end. Finally, the paper was open in front of her and she began.“I know that this speech is going to sound like the speeches given for so many others who have passed on. But, when someone we love dies, we all feel pretty much the same way … so here it goes. My father, Gregory Estmond, was the best person I’ve ever known. Today, we stand here, not to mourn him, but to celebrate him. He didn’t want any one of us to be sad that he was gone. Because … he isn’t gone. He will always be with us. For those of us who spent each day with him, his teachings and his love will always be with us. He taught us love, he taught us respect, he taught us of our family heritage, and he taught us how to live.“For those who are acquaintances of my father, you may have met him only once and you are here because he impacted you in some way.” A few nods came from the crowd.Lucy continued. “He had that effect on people because he had a genuine love and respect for human life. Which is not something all of us can say we have. He treated everyone the same, with kindness.  “Because my father had cancer, he knew that this day was coming and he had time to prepare for it. We had many discussions and the one thing he consistently told me was to embrace life. He didn’t say this because he was dying, it was his mantra. This man lived every day of his life like it may be his last. He didn’t wait until he was dying to find the beauty in this world or the people in it. He was always this way.“Remember my father, not with sadness, but with the memories he left behind. Remember him with love, with laughter and knowing that he is exactly where he wants to be.”Lucy stepped back, reaching out for Ethan to grasp her hand once again. She eyed her siblings, none of them were crying either. Daniel, the second oldest son, reached into his gray trench coat and pulled out a silver flask. Lucy sighed and watched as her brother didn’t even try to hide it and took a long pull of the whiskey she knew was inside. Sadly, as inappropriate as her brother was being, she couldn’t help but wish she could take a giant swig off that flask too.It’s almost over. “Would anyone else like to say a few words?” Pastor Brown offered. Sherriff Davis stepped forward, he had his Stetson clutched in one hand and hitched up his gun belt with the other. As always he was wearing his uniform. The Sheriff and her father had been pretty close … well, as close as a Keeper can get to someone without that someone thinking that they are out of their mind. “I’d like to, if that’s all right.” The Sheriff looked down into the grave before his eyes swept across the crowd of mourners. Finally his eyes met Lucy’s and she flashed him a smile meant to encourage him to proceed. “Greg was my friend … and an old grump like me doesn’t have many friends. Greg knew a lot of people in this town, but I feel damn sorry for anyone who lives here and never had the chance to meet him. No one, aside from my own wife, Darcy, could make me laugh like Greg could. He was loyal and respectful, even if he was a bull shitter. Good grief that man liked to tell stories. Also, any man who can raise a brood of children by himself and manage to keep them all out of jail is a good man in my book.”Lucy could have sworn that she heard Principal Robertson blow air between his lips like he was blowing a raspberry. A few people looked his way and then back at Sheriff Davis. “That is all I got.” Sheriff Davis stepped back into the crowd.Evelynn Andrews, the librarian at the Summer Hollow library, raised her hand slightly. She was about seventy years old, but didn’t look a day over fifty five. Lucy hoped she would age that well as the years progressed. Evelynn pushed her glasses up her nose and closed her eyes for a moment before she began to speak. “I don’t think I can say much more about how wonderful Gregory was, but I wanted to make sure to pay my respects by voicing them. I’ve known the Estmond family all the way back to when Kathleen was still alive, as far back as when she and Greg were high school sweethearts. No one, could have been a better father to these children. Sure, they have caused a fair amount of ruckus over the years, but he did it all on his own and they are educated, mostly well behaved.”She paused to glance at Daniel who had decided that moment would be appropriate for another pull from his flask. “And above all, Greg gave these children a sense of loyalty. Anyone who knows these kids knows that if you mess with one, you get the whole bunch of them.”A few people giggled, even Lucy, knowing how true that statement really was.“This may not seem like a good thing in retrospect, but a family who stays together so closely is a rare thing these days. It is to be cherished. Greg gave them this sense of family and that is something to be proud of.” As she finished, she closed her eyes again looked Pastor Brown.“Would anyone else like to speak?” Pastor Brown addressed the crowd of mourners. Unexpectedly, Ethan released Lucy’s hand and raised it up a little bit. “I need to say something.”Pastor Brown nodded and held his hand out beside him. Ethan moved over to the other side of Lucy beside the pastor. “There are very few people here who don’t know who I am.” Ethan began. “Gregory Estmond took me under his wing a long time ago, when Lucy and I were both very little. My parents, who have moved away now…” He paused and took a breath, pondering if he should let out the deep dark family secrets. Well, secrets that the whole town knew anyway. That was how small towns worked. “They were, drug addicts and alcoholics who barely took care of me. Greg came by the house one day to see my parents for some reason and what he found was a little boy locked in his room with no food or water and his parents passed out in their bedroom surrounded by drugs and trash. The story is a long one, a long sad story. But it ended with Greg and the rest of the Estmonds making sure I always had a place to go, that I always had food. Greg even went so far as to pay me for making good grades, just to give me incentive to do well in school.”Lucy grimaced as he told the story, hating Ethan’s parents for what they did to him. Ethan had conveniently left out the part about how her father had beat the ever living snot out of Ethan’s dad that day he found him locked up in his room half starved. It was hard to believe Ethan’s parents came from a Keeper line, but sadly, not all Keepers were immune to addiction. Keepers were human, just like everyone else.Ethan scanned the crowd through his glasses. “No one, except for maybe the Estmond kids, owes more, or loves that man, more than I do. He saved me and I will never forget that. I hope that none of you ever forget that either.”Ethan lowered his head and hurried back to Lucy. She immediately took his hand again, knowing how hard it must have been for him to say all that in front of everyone. He never spoke about his parents. They moved away when he was fourteen and left him alone in the house. After that he came to live with the Estmonds for good. She and Ethan were friends long before the incident at Ethan’s house, but after he came to live with them, they were inseparable.Pastor Brown closed up the ceremony with a prayer and then the bagpipes started on Amazing Grace. Lucy stepped forward with Ethan’s hand firmly in her grasp and looked down into the dark, deep hole where her father’s body would spend eternity. Luckily, she knew better than most that his soul would not remain in that body.She held the white rose firmly over the grave. “I wish you peaceful passage.” She released the rose and it drifted down into the depths of the hole. “I love you, Daddy.” Ethan mimicked her actions, familiar with the meaning of the ceremony from the many deaths of Keepers past. Her siblings had moved into a line directly behind her and Ethan, tossing their roses in as well. The other mourners milled about, giving Lucy and the family some time before they headed over to her house for the wake. She caught sight of Gloria and Ellen chatting beside the giant wreath of flowers with her father’s picture inside. She wandered over to say hello. “Gloria, Ellen, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you.” Gloria smiled, as did Ellen. “Yes dear,” Gloria greeted her. “It has been some time. I’m sorry we couldn’t make it sooner.” “Or under better circumstances.” Ellen added.Lucy nodded. “Well, I’m just glad that you could make it here now. I’m sure my father would be happy that you are here now.”Gloria and Ellen nodded, they made a bit more small talk and then Ethan appeared beside her. “I think we had better get over to the house now.” He whispered just loudly enough for the older ladies to hear.“Oh,” Lucy checked her watch deliberately. “You are absolutely right. I’m sorry ladies, I need to get some things ready over at the house.”Gloria smiled again, a loving gentle smile of someone she had known her entire life. “You go on dear, we will see you over there.”With a quick ‘see you later,’ Lucy backed away and then turned to join hands with Ethan again. “Thanks for saving me. I didn’t really want to talk to them, but I had to make sure to say hello to them.”“You doing all right?” Ethan asked, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb.Lucy nodded. “I’m fine.” She turned her head to try and see his eyes through the dark tint of his glasses. “How bout you. Are you all right?”He twisted his lip up a little and she knew he was giving slight eye roll. “I’ll survive. I just miss him and all this,” he gestured to the crowd, “actually makes it harder.”She nodded again. “I know what you mean. I feel the same way.” Her gaze strayed from the grave and focused on her house. Their home sat on the edge of the cemetery, separated from the dead by a white picket fence and about thirty yards of grass. The yellow farmhouse had been in their family for several generations, and now it was hers, as was the family business. “Let’s head over.” She nodded. Of course they had to get to the house. But, it wouldn’t be for relaxing. There was food to get out and serve. People would come up to her and tell her how sorry they were for her loss, or how much her father meant to them, or some awesome memory they had of him. It was going to be a very long afternoon.Almost over, she told herself again. Almost over.Short Excerpt: “Yeah, I get that.” He took a swig of his beer and cringed. “Ugh. Can I get a shot of Jameson with this too?” “I thought you tried to stay away from the hard stuff.” Her dark eyes penetrated him, looking for a reason that he would want to be drinking the hard A.“Not tonight I don’t.”“Fine. But, because I’m your friend I’m only allowing you one shot then it’s back to the hangover beer for you.”Friend. What a fucked up word. The F word for sure.He gave her a twisted smile as she handed him the shot of amber colored liquid. “I don’t have any friends. Not anymore.”She shot him a concerned look and put the Jameson bottle back on the shelf. “You do now. I think we hit it off as far as friends go. See, I’m going to help you out right now, just like a dude would. There’s Janette.”“Who?”“Are you fucking kidding me?”Jack raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders, then tilted his head back and slammed his shot. Reese had her hands on her hips. “Janette. The girl you took home the other night.” She explained.“Oh! You mean Janice.” He turned around to see who she was talking about.“No, I mean Janette. That is her name, asshole.”“Oh shit, really?” Reese shook her head and laughed. “You may be good looking, but you are the poster child for guys women shouldn’t date. I have no idea why I like you at all.”With a smile, Jack turned around and wiggled his eyebrows, “maybe we should take that to the next level.” He was totally joking and she knew it. The two of them seemed to have a mutual no touchy code. “Not a chance in hell, Casanova.”Jack laughed and then once again looked over his shoulder at Janette. Now, that was exactly what he needed right now. Nothing calms the nerves after an attempted murder and a fight with your friend like a good night of fucking out the frustration. He grabbed his beer and got up off the stool.  

What the Heart Desires Cover reveal @Kelli_McCracken

  Torn by desire, will loving her mean the death of him? Dylan McBride's Seeker abilities have always kept him a step ahead of his father. But one step isn't enough when it comes to his wife and child. His confrontation with his father leaves him questioning everything he knows, including his part in the Supreme Trinity. Layne continues growing stronger, as does his Seeker. The more time he and Heaven share, the more he's able to control his Keeper abilities. But when new secrets begin to emerge, he's forced to face the truth, as well as the emotions he's kept buried. Among the death threats, constant hiding, and birth of her child, Heaven struggles to keep the peace between her soulmate and Keeper. More lies are exposed, threatening to destroy all that she loves. Will she be able to deny the truth once it's discovered or will she give in to what the heart desires?

    As a curator of characters, you’ll normally find Kelli McCracken sitting at her desk, working hard on her next novel. When she’s not arguing with those persistent people inside her head, you can find her hanging out on Facebook, chatting with readers about books and upcoming writing projects. “It seems like all I ever do is write...and listen to Layne. He's always whispering something naughty in my ear, like being dipped in chocolate. Now I'm craving a Kit-Kat. Welcome to my zany life, where sanity is optional, romance is required, and liquor is most definitely quicker. Jack Daniels keeps me sane, my characters, not so much.” Kelli lives with her husband, four children, and German Shepherd in the Ohio Valley Region of the United States. If you’d like to learn more about Kelli, please visit her on the Web at www.kellimccracken.com
   
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The Witches of the Glass Castle Book Blitz @GabriellaBooks

Title: The Witches of the Glass CastleAuthor: Gabriella Lepore    Genre: YA FantasyHosted by: Lady Amber's Tours
Sixteen-year-old Mia's life is turned upside down when she uncovers her family secret—that she and her brother Dino are witches.  Seeking refuge in an ancient castle, the siblings begin down a path that will change their lives forever. Suddenly thrust into a world where handsome warriors command the power of nature and peoples thoughts and actions can be manipulated at will, Mia and Dino struggle to navigate their own allegiances and do what they know to be right, even when everything around them seems beyond their control. Gabriella Lepore lives on the coast of Wales in the United Kingdom. She began writing at an early age and grew up with a passion for all things supernatural. She currently has three young adult books in print: How I Found You (2012), Evanescent (2013) and The Witches of the Glass Castle (2014).

Author Links: Twitter: @GabriellaBooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gabriella-Lepore-Books/240139339377522
Buy Links: Amazon: smarturl.it/GlassCastle_Lepore