A.K. Morgen's Blog, page 3

December 17, 2016

Carrie Elks' Favorite Things #giveaway #enchantedpublications

Today in the My Favorite Things Giveaway, we hear from Carrie Elks, Contemporary Romance author of Fix You and The Love in London Series! 15289247_933587666772697_9107195949804260323_o-2
Welcome and Happy Holidays. The authors of Enchanted Publications have come together for a fun and festive holiday giveaway. Each day, one Enchanted author will be sharing her favorite thing about the holidays. Read the post, find the author’s “favorite thing” and enter it in the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card PLUS a virtual stocking full of eBooks – one from each participating author!
I love December. I love the festive feeling, I love the music, the food, the day itself. In fact there's very little I don't like about this time of year. So trying to narrow down my favorite things to one post is like Santa stuffing toys into his sleigh for every single girl and boy. Almost impossible, and yet I'm going to try to do it. *Drumroll* My favorite thing about the holidays is FAMILY! Okay, so let's start at the beginning. Or what for me was the beginning of a brand new adventure. December 20th 1999 when my first daughter was born. Her arrival was like the best ever early Christmas present for me and my husband. We felt very blessed to have a healthy, happy, and heavy (9 lbs - ouch!) baby, who was easy to take care of. img_1088 Then, two years later, we were joined by her brother. Though he wasn't born at Christmas (he's an Easter baby, I seem to have theme going here), nonetheless he threw himself into the festive feeling just as soon as he realised it would mean getting gifts, meeting santa, and of course being able to stuff his face with cookies. Over the years we've built some wonderful family traditions together. We decorate the tree on the first weekend of December (all wearing our festive Santa hats, of course), and Christmas music is blasting through the house from the first of the month. By the time Christmas Eve comes, we're all ready for the new set of pyjamas every member of the house gets. Even our pug, Plato, gets in the Christmas spirit, wearing his festive sweater with pride!

img_5590

Over the season, we each get to pick a favorite movie to watch. I'm always torn between the classical It's a Wonderful Life, and the dark humor of Scrooged. Hopefully this year we'll get to watch both. There's something magical about snuggling under our blankets, and stuffing our faces with freshly-popped corn, while we sit and watch the big screen. It's one of the best parts of Christmas for me.

scrooged This year, Christmas will be all the more magical because last year was a pretty tough holiday for us. We'd had a bad year, topped off by my daughter having a major operation (spinal fusion) in mid-December. By the time Christmas came around she was only just out of hospital and able to walk. Still, we made the most of it by watching lots of box sets on the TV, and having family around to visit. And it will make this year all the more special, knowing we came through it and have made it to the other side. I'm going to feel a little warmer surrounded by my family, this holiday season.   If you're looking for something fun to read during the holiday season I have a fabulous book set over the New Year. Fix You tells the story of Richard and Hanna, a wealthy New Yorker and a sassy Londoner, whose eyes meet over a New Year's Eve party, setting them on a roller coaster of love neither of them expect.  

fix-you-teaser-6

Buy Fix You at these stores:

Kindle US | Kindle CA | Nook | iBooks

| Kobo | Kindle UK | Kindle AU

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MY BOOKS, JOIN MY NEWSLETTER

 Don't forget to enter the giveaway!http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...? About Carrie Elks Carrie Elks Headshot Carrie Elks lives near London and writes contemporary romance with a dash of intrigue. She has lived in the USA and Switzerland as well as the UK. An avid social networker, she tries to limit her Facebook and Twitter time to stolen moments between writing chapters. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can usually be found baking, drinking wine or working out how to combine the two. Connect with Carrie Web site |Facebook | Twitter | Email
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Published on December 17, 2016 06:00

December 16, 2016

Jennifer Locklear's Favorite Things #giveaway #enchantedpublications

Today in the My Favorite Things giveaway, we hear from Jennifer Locklear, Contemporary Romance author of Constellation!
Picture​Even before it was ever a thing, my family always made a point of watching “A Christmas Story” on TV. 
 
I first saw the movie in 1985.  My mother and I had just moved to Oregon a few months before and I was trying to adapt to a new life. She introduced me to the movie and we watched it together at home. She wanted me to see it because the premise reminded her quite a bit of her own childhood, but what we discovered was so much more than a walk down Memory Lane. We both laughed so much and it really helped make that first Christmas in our new surroundings a happy and memorable one.
 
We continued to watch “A Christmas Story” each December and it became a timeless classic for us even before the rest of world caught on.  It’s a film I never tire of and it has become a holiday tradition for our family in a big way. When TBS began broadcasting 24 hours of “A Christmas Story” years ago, our family made a commitment to go all in. Each and every year, from 5 PM on Christmas Eve until 5 PM on Christmas night, it is the only thing allowed on all the television sets in our house.  The TV’s even stay on all through the night, and inevitably one of us wakes up at 3 or 4 AM to catch a few scenes. Just because we can. You’d think we’d get tired of it after years and years and years of watching, but nope.
 

Picture Each year, we seem to hone in on several different one liners from the film. Once a line has been singled out we play a game of trying to catch the line during as many screenings as possible. It’s not at all uncommon for one (or all of us) to randomly shout out things like …
 
“NADAFINGA!”
 
“I’m not color blind either.”
 
“I triple dog dare you!”
 
“You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”
 
“It’s a clinker!”
 
“Shoot! I didn’t know dat. I thought it was a lamp!”
 
“Be sure to drink your Ovaltine.”
 
“I like the Tin Man.”
 
This nostalgic and quirky movie suits our fun-loving family well. It gives us a chance to laugh together and it helps our family bridge one holiday season to another. There is never any suggestion of changing this Locklear family tradition, and after 30 years I doubt we ever could let a year go by without watching “A Christmas Story”.  
 
After all, it just wouldn’t be a proper holiday without electric sex gleaming in the window! Picture Constellation:
Amazon ➜ http://brev.is/rHNC
iBooks ➜ http://brev.is/sHNC
Nook ➜ http://brev.is/tHNC
KOBO ➜ http://brev.is/uHNC
 
Remember to enter our My Favorite Things Giveaway through Rafflecopter.
​​About the Author

Jennifer Locklear lives in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. She married her high school sweetheart, Morgan, in 1995. She is the mother of two children, a son and daughter.
 
Jennifer enjoyed creative writing as an adolescent, but set aside her favorite hobby to concentrate on college studies, career and family. In 2010, she rediscovered her passion for writing when her husband recruited her to edit his own stories. They co-authored and published their debut novel, Exposure, in 2014.
 
Since 2000, Jennifer has been employed in fundraising and development for a non-profit organization. She has been a contributing reviewer for the “Bookish Temptations” book blog and is a founding moderator of “Argyle Empire,” an approved fan site for author Sylvain Reynard. She also enjoys participating in charitable activities, both locally and online.
 
Connect with Jennifer Locklear
Website: http://locklearbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorganandJenniferLocklear/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RandomCran
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/random_cran/
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2gBeaJ0
Amazon Author Profile: http://amzn.to/2hn4ykI
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Published on December 16, 2016 06:00

December 15, 2016

Jo Richardson's Favorite Things #giveaway #enchantedpublications

[image error] Happy Holidays, all!
 
The authors of Enchanted Publications have come together for a fun and festive holiday giveaway. Each day, one Enchanted author will be sharing her favorite thing about the holidays. Read the post, find the author’s “favorite thing” and enter it in the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card PLUS a virtual stocking full of eBooks – one from each participating author!
 
There’s a post every day from December 15th through December 23rd, so you have many chances to enter! Just check in at my blog each day for all the fun!
 
Today, I’m up, so let me introduce myself . . .
 
Hi I’m Jo. I’m a serial seasonal baker.
 
Well, I love to bake any time of the year to be honest, but during the holidays?  Fagettaboudit. [image error]   [image error]   [image error]  From sugar cookies for Santa, to my favorite “everything cookies”, to banana bread, brittle, and fudges (I know, that’s not technically “baking” but you get the jist), we Richardson girls (and sometimes even the husband unit) have the best time baking up a storm this time of year. Add in some festive music and (just a tad) crazy kitchen time dance routines (no video footage, sorry, not sorry) and you’ve got yourself a visual of our home all throughout December.
 
We are always on the look out to try new things too – like the tiramisu my husband and I “whipped” up last year for a dessert contest he entered us into (if you’ve ever made tiramisu you know why I used the air quotes there and if you haven't, I highly recommend it, it's so much fun) – it won us 2nd place by the way… not that we like to brag (I'm joking, we're super proud of that damn dessert).

And speaking of baking . . . [image error]  My Contemporary Rom-Com, Cookie Cutter, is on #SALE this month! For just $0.99 you can visit Iris & Carter in Spangler and have a few laughs along the way.  Maybe even get in the mood to bake something. Or other. ;)
 
BUY at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TXYJGRW/
 
Happy Reading!

Welp, that’s it from me! I’m a simple girl, living in a simple world. Full of cookies and other fine baked goods.
 
Thanks for visiting! Can’t wait to see that Jennifer Locklear loves about the holidays. Find out tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel!

And now, go enter our rafflecopter for a chance to win a $50 giftcard + a stocking full of eBooks! [image error] About Jo Richardson:

A movie fanatic, a writer of stories, a lover of life.

I grew up in Maryland with four siblings, three parents and an endless number of cousins within the vicinity – but it was too cold up North for this thin blooded girl. Today, I live in Florida with my two girls and a husband who shares my same sense of humor and basic take on life as we know it.

Life is too short to put dreams on the back burner.

I write both contemporary and paranormal stories that include mystery, suspense, humor, action, romance, and anything else I can think up.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON

[image error]Ode to a Cookie (Cutter)
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Published on December 15, 2016 06:00

December 1, 2016

Finding the New "Normal"

Hi loves, 

It's been a while.

As some of you already know, early this year, I got sick and we weren't really sure why. In May, my doctor found and removed a very large pre-cancerous tumor from my colon. We hoped that would solve the problem and I would bounce back. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way. Instead of getting better, I continued to get worse. In August, it all came to a head. I became severely dehydrated, lost 12 pounds in a very short amount of time (less than two weeks), and was generally not doing very well, so my doctor sent me back to the gastroenterologist to find an answer.

After undergoing all kinds of testing, I was tentatively diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. For those who don't know what Crohn's Disease is, it's an inflammatory bowel disease that causes parts of the GI tract to become inflamed and ulcerated. Left untreated, Crohn's can be life-threatening.

In September, I began a whole new medication regime to deal with the symptoms. In October, we added more medication for malabsorption and I left my job in Dispatch, hoping a reduction in stress would help. Things were going well for a little while there, but one of the big problems with Crohn's is that it isn't alway confined to the digestive tract. For a lot of people with Crohn's, it causes inflammation elsewhere. I'm one of those people. We've spent the last month and a half battling inflammation in my joints, and then pneumonia and inflammation in my lungs. Eleven different medications and an asthma diagnosis later, I've returned to my job in Dispatch, and am hopeful that, maybe, we're finally pulling ahead of this thing.

To say it's been an adjustment would be an understatement. At times, it's been frustrating. Overwhelming. Ridiculous. Painful. And about a thousand other things that I never expected. But I feel like we're finally moving in the right direction, and that's a relief. My life has changed. I can't eat the things I want to eat. Or always do the things I want to do. Sometimes, I'm too tired to function. Others, I'm not brave enough to wander too far from home. There have been days where SS has had to help me do simple things like put on my shirt because I couldn't move my arm enough to do it myself.

In October, SS took me to Branson to get away and relax. We had a great time, but I got sick the night before we were scheduled to come home. Neither of us slept much. It makes me worry how future trips will go. What if I get sick far from home? There are other questions, too. What if I can't find a bathroom when I need it? Or dehydrate again? What happens if the next test shows that pre-cancer has turned to full-fledged cancer?

I don't know those answers, and I haven't talked much about all of this up until now. I'm still not sure what to say. It wasn't something I suspected, though maybe I should have. With the brain lesions and other issues, all of which are symptons of Crohn's, being diagnosed makes so much sense. But I never thought about it, and the thought of living with this for the rest of my life is a little terrifying, as is the possibility of being diagnosed with colon cancer, which has already claimed the lives of people I love dearly. But I will bounce back, because I'm too stubborn not to do so.

While I'm still trying to figure out what the new "normal" is, I do know it involves writing. I haven't done any of that in a long time, and I miss it. I miss all of you. My current goal is to finish RAPTURE, and get it to all of you. You've been waiting so patiently. I don't know how long it will take me. I'm a little slower these days than I'd like. But it will be releasing sometime in 2017.

FLAME will also release sometime in 2017, but I'm not quite sure when. It's written and edited. We just have to finish the other stuff now (like cover art). I'll let you know more as soon as I know more.

In the meantime, thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and your continued patience.

xx,
​Ayden



 
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Published on December 01, 2016 19:36

August 16, 2016

New Release: Politically Incorrect by Jeanne McDonald #romance 



Release Blitz

Politically IncorrectAuthor:Jeanne McDonaldGenre: Contemporary Political RomanceCover Design: Jada D'Lee DesignsPublisher: Enchanted PublicationsRelease Date: August 16, 2016



Goodreads



Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo



Sex. Lies. Greed. Power. Scandal. Politics.

Nothing gets by Elizabeth McNeal. As a forty-five year old divorcee and a nationally renowned political strategist, she can claim to have seen it all. Most of her adult life she’s focused on two important things ─ her daughter and her career. Now, challenged by a new campaign and a new candidate, Elizabeth is forced to reevaluate the things she most values and make some major decisions that could impact her future.William Baxter is a thirty-four year old Democratic Congressman for the great state of Texas who’s vying for an empty seat in the U.S. Senate. Accustomed to standing out in a crowd, Liam takes pride in being true to himself and the people he serves. He refuses to fall in line with the stereotypical persona of a politician. Backed by one of the richest men in Texas, Liam is offered the chance to work with D.C.’s most elite political strategist. With the odds already against him because of his party affiliation and age, it’s an offer he can’t refuse.Apprehensive about their age differences and driven by politics, Elizabeth finds herself keeping score of their sensual game for control. For the woman who thought she’d seen it all, the man in the eccentric ties and a dashing smile teaches her a new game to play. Rules are made to be broken. Lines are meant to be crossed. But in the high stakes sport of politics, where one bad decision can destroy a campaign, can they afford to rewrite the rules to meet their desires or will they choose to remain politically incorrect?











ARayofHope 25684-coversmall The Certainty of Deception by Jeanne McDonald A Hot Mess by Jeanne McDonald IndulgenceCover







Jeanne McDonald is an author, a mother, a wife, a student of knowledge and of life, a coffee addict, a philosophy novice, a pop culture connoisseur, inspired by music, encouraged by words, and a believer in true love. When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, enjoying a great film, chatting with friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in literature. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.



Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Google+ | Smashwords



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Published on August 16, 2016 13:10

July 25, 2016

Cover Reveal: Raining Down Redemption by @BKRivers #romance

"Party hard. Love Harder. Unfortunately for Jordan…he can’t do both.”
★★★COVER REVEAL★★★
RAINING DOWN REDEMPTION by BK Rivers
Cover Designer: TOJ Publishing Services Releasing August 2nd from Limitless Publishing!

PRE-ORDER LINK http://www.amzn.com/B01IODFY96    ★★★SYNOPSIS★★★
Jordan Capshaw gave up the carefree rock star lifestyle of sex, drugs, and alcohol six hundred and sixty days, five hours, and ten minutes ago…but who’s counting?
Jordan’s reckless choices were killing him day by day. That is until he met a woman who helped him see the kind of life he really wanted to live—too bad she chose another man. Almost two years later, he’s clean and sober and back in Phoenix working with his band on a new album.
Regina Velasco’s past is about to catch up with her and turn her world upside down…
Reggie works two jobs and shares an apartment with her best friend just to make ends meet. She’s loved Jordan since they were teenagers,but broke up with him after high school graduation so he could pursue his music career. Her focus has been raising her son, not giving in to distractions like old high school flames.
Jordan isn’t used to to denying himself anything. If he really wants something he goes after it, no matter the consequences…
When he runs into Reggie, his buried feelings resurface and he can’t help himself. He asks her out on a whim, but when she blatantly refuses, it reignites a desire he thought faded long ago. Jordan knows Reggie is more than a trip down memory lane, and he wants it all this time around.
With his band’s album nearly finished, and another tour on the horizon, is Jordan finally ready to let the rock star lifestyle go for good and prove to Reggie he’s changed?
After all, redemption won’t come without sacrifice…


★★★ BK Rivers★★★
BK Rivers grew up riding through rolling fields of grain on horseback, driving hay trucks and catching frogs in a silver creek.She traded country life for the big city when she married the love of her life, but the heart always returns to the country.
BK, her husband and three children live in the Phoenix suburbs on their own mini farm surrounded by crowing roosters and the low nicker of horses.When she’s not writing, she can be found baking anything sweet, in fact it’s been said her brownies are so good they save marriages.
The inspiration for her novels comes in many forms, but mostly from her Gotye channel on Pandora.She writes young adult and new adult novels to the beat of Gotye, Snow Patrol and many others.

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Published on July 25, 2016 22:00

July 22, 2016

New Release: Breathe Again by Sydney Logan #romance

  It’s release day for Sydney Logan’s Breathe Again, and I am so excited to share it with you! Check out the excerpt and release day goodies, and be sure to grab your copy of Breathe Again while it’s on sale!!

Breathe Again Release Day Blitz Banner

About Breathe Again:

Breathe Again eBook

From the bestselling author of Songbird comes a story that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the power of second chances.

Carrie Malone has seen enough heartbreak to last a lifetime.

Her family’s demons gave Carrie the courage to move away from home and leave her past behind. Now a college senior, she stays busy with her classes and her job at the diner. It may sound boring to some, but to Carrie, the very best thing about her new life is that every day is calm and blissfully uneventful.

That all changes the night Josh Bennett walks into her diner.

With his dirty designer suit and mud-caked shoes, Carrie’s not sure what to think about the broken man sitting at her counter. She’s even more confused when he doesn’t touch his coffee . . . and leaves his Rolex watch as a tip.

Josh Bennett has nothing to live for.

Starved for affection and deep in despair, he’s looking for a tender touch. A kind word. A giving heart.

A shattered and broken Josh finds himself standing on a city bridge, looking down into the freezing river that will undoubtedly bring an end to his pain.

He’s prepared to jump.

He’s prepared to die.

He’s not prepared for the pretty waitress who finds him there by the river’s edge.

When two lost souls find each other in the dark of the night, can they give each other a reason to breathe again?

  Get your copy today:

Kindle Unlimited

Breathe Again on Goodreads

  Breathe Again Teaser 12 release day

Exclusive Excerpt:

Cold November air nips at my bare fingers, and I mutter a curse. Leaving my gloves at home isn’t the dumbest thing I’ve done lately, but it’s close.

You should’ve let Tony drive you home.

Pulling my jacket tighter around me, I quicken my pace. It’s just a few blocks between the diner and my apartment, but the cold air makes it feel like miles.

Flurries start to swirl, prompting me to walk a little faster. I’m just making my way across the Hart Street Bridge when something catches my eye.

A man’s standing next to the concrete barrier, looking down into the frigid water below.

I stop.

Without a backwards glance, he places one leg over the edge.

My heart pounds in my chest. “No!”

His head jerks up, and there, under the lights of the city, my eyes lock with the man who left his watch on my counter.

I’m paralyzed.

So is he.

Thank God.

People keep walking. Cars keep moving. But my eyes remain fixed on the man straddling the concrete barrier—the only thing that’s keeping him from plunging into the icy river below us. I don’t know his name. I don’t know why he’s dressed like a beggar, and I certainly don’t know why he left his Rolex on my counter.

But in this moment, none of that matters.

I make sure the street is clear before walking across, keeping my movements slow as I approach him. The last thing I want to do is freak him out. For now, one leg is still on this side of the barrier, giving me hope that maybe he doesn’t really want to die tonight. Needing the support it provides, I hold onto the cold concrete and pray I say the right thing.

“What are you—”

“Leave me alone, Carrie.”

The fact that he’s coherent enough to remember my name gives me even more hope. But his voice . . . it’s raw and tinged with so much sadness that it nearly breaks my heart.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s none of your business. Go away.”


“No.”

His eyes flash with anger.

“Screw you.”

“Don’t jump and maybe I’ll let you.”

It’s a ridiculous thing to say, but I’m desperate. He’d never survive the fall, and I already have enough guilt in my heart to last a lifetime. I don’t need this on my conscience, too. The man blinks rapidly, as if he’s trying to comprehend what I said.

“Tempting, but trust me. I’m not worth saving.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Believe it,” he whispers. “Please, Carrie. Just . . . go.”

I shake my head and take a step closer.

Keep him talking.

“I don’t even know your name. You know mine. That’s not fair.”

He looks surprised. “You don’t recognize me?”

“Should I?”

“Wow. That’s . . . refreshing, actually.”

I glance around. Surely someone has noticed us and called the cops by now. But I don’t hear sirens, so I keep talking, hoping the man will come to his senses.

I offer him my hand. “My name is Carrie Malone. What’s yours?”

“Josh Bennett.”

The name sounds vaguely familiar.

“Nice to meet you, Josh. Now, would you please place both legs on this side of the barrier before I have a heart attack?”

Josh looks down into the river.

“Please? Let me call your family.”

It’s the wrong thing to say.

“My family’s dead, which is exactly what I should be. What I want to be.”

  Breathe Again Teaser 10 release day







Join Sydney on Facebook at the Breathe Again Release Day Party - July 22 at 4:00 PM EST for author takeovers, games and prizes, including the $50 Amazon gift card grand prize!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1707173469548279/1710955669170059

BA eBook with quote(1)



About Sydney Logan:

author photo

Sydney Logan is the bestselling author of seven novels. She has also penned several short stories and is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul. A lover of music, she fills her playlist with everyone from Johnny Cash to Eminem.

Sydney holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and spends her days surrounded by kids and books. A native of East Tennessee, she enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.

 
Visit her online at www.sydneylogan.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

  Enter Sydney’s Giveaway:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway  
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Published on July 22, 2016 05:00

July 8, 2016

Cover Reveal: Breathe Again by @SydneyALogan #romance

From the bestselling author of Songbird comes a novella that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the power of second chances. You can pre-order the book today for the special price of just .99¢ on Kindle! Also, be sure to enter the giveaway for a signed copy! Release Date: July 22, 2016 Genre: New Adult Published by: Enchanted PublicationsCover Designer: T.M. Franklin  Carrie Malone has seen enough heartbreak to last a lifetime.

Her family’s demons gave Carrie the courage to move away from home and leave her past behind. Now a college senior, she stays busy with her classes and her job at the diner. It may sound boring to some, but to Carrie, the very best thing about her new life is that every day is calm and blissfully uneventful.

That all changes the night Josh Bennett walks into her diner.

With his dirty designer suit and mud-caked shoes, Carrie’s not sure what to think about the broken man sitting at her counter. She’s even more confused when he doesn’t touch his coffee . . . and leaves his Rolex watch as a tip.

Josh Bennett has nothing to live for.

Starved for affection and deep in despair, he’s looking for a tender touch. A kind word. A giving heart.

A shattered and broken Josh finds himself standing on a city bridge, looking down into the freezing river that will undoubtedly bring an end to his pain.

He’s prepared to jump.

He’s prepared to die.

He’s not prepared for the pretty waitress who finds him there by the water’s edge.

When two lost souls find each other in the dark of the night, can they give each other a reason to breathe again?
Cold November air nips at my bare fingers, and I mutter a curse. Leaving my gloves at home isn’t the dumbest thing I’ve done lately, but it’s close.You should’ve let Tony drive you home.Pulling my jacket tighter around me, I quicken my pace. It’s just a few blocks between the diner and my apartment, but the cold air makes it feel like miles.Flurries start to swirl, prompting me to walk a little faster. I’m just making my way across the Hart Street Bridge when something catches my eye.A man’s standing next to the concrete barrier, looking down into the frigid water below.I stop.Without a backwards glance, he places one leg over the edge.My heart pounds in my chest. “No!”His head jerks up, and there, under the lights of the city, my eyes lock with the man who left his watch on my counter.I’m paralyzed.So is he.Thank God.People keep walking. Cars keep moving. But my eyes remain fixed on the man straddling the concrete barrier—the only thing that’s keeping him from plunging into the icy river below us. I don’t know his name. I don’t know why he’s dressed like a beggar, and I certainly don’t know why he left his Rolex on my counter.But in this moment, none of that matters.I make sure the street is clear before walking across, keeping my movements slow as I approach him. The last thing I want to do is freak him out. For now, one leg is still on this side of the barrier, giving me hope that maybe he doesn’t really want to die tonight. Needing the support it provides, I hold onto the cold concrete and pray I say the right thing.“What are you—”“Leave me alone, Carrie.”The fact that he’s coherent enough to remember my name gives me even more hope. But his voice . . . it’s raw and tinged with so much sadness that it nearly breaks my heart.“What are you doing?”“It’s none of your business. Go away.”“No.”His eyes flash with anger.“Screw you.”“Don’t jump and maybe I’ll let you.”It’s a ridiculous thing to say, but I’m desperate. He’d never survive the fall, and I already have enough guilt in my heart to last a lifetime. I don’t need this on my conscience, too.The man blinks rapidly, as if he’s trying to comprehend what I said.“Tempting, but trust me. I’m not worth saving.”“I don’t believe that.”“Believe it,” he whispers. “Please, Carrie. Just . . . go.”I shake my head and take a step closer.Keep him talking.“I don’t even know your name. You know mine. That’s not fair.”He looks surprised. “You don’t recognize me?”“Should I?”“Wow. That’s . . . refreshing, actually.”I glance around. Surely someone has noticed us and called the cops by now. But I don’t hear sirens, so I keep talking, hoping the man will come to his senses.I offer him my hand. “My name is Carrie Malone. What’s yours?”“Josh Bennett.”The name sounds vaguely familiar.“Nice to meet you, Josh. Now, would you please place both legs on this side of the barrier before I have a heart attack?”Josh looks down into the river.“Please? Let me call your family.”It’s the wrong thing to say.“My family’s dead, which is exactly what I should be. What I want to be.” Prefer signed paperbacks? Order Yours Here! a Rafflecopter giveaway Sydney Logan is the bestselling author of six novels. She has also penned several short stories and is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul. A lover of music, she fills her playlist with everyone from Johnny Cash to Eminem. Sydney holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and spends her days surrounded by kids and books. A native of East Tennessee, she enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.Visit her online at www.sydneylogan.com. Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - YouTube
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Published on July 08, 2016 23:22

June 28, 2016

Advice from Spring Wizards: Guest Post by @SharonBayliss #fantasy #thedecemberpeople

PictureThey may seem a little flighty and "out there," but spring wizards are very wise. I might even argue that spring wizards are the most wise of all the wizard seasons. I can just feel the fall wizard eye rolls as I say that. If anything else, they know how to love life and live well. Here are some words of wisdom from the spring wizards of The December People Series:
"Most of the time, nature is beautiful, nurturing, and incredibly patient, but she can also muster a power and fury than could tear down Hell itself." - Imogene Gray

"Nature only allows humanity because of her kindness, she has the power to obliterate all that mankind creates." - Imogene Gray 
"Dance then, where ever you may be." - Penelope Carthage (quoting Lord of the Dance by Donovan Leitch)
"Follow whatever calls you. Butterflies. Rainbows. Sunsets. Thunderstorms." - Imogene Gray
"I named you for an evergreen because they survive even the coldest, darkest winters. They thrive in eternal greenness, unbothered by snow and ice." - Penelope Carthage 
"When you leave your body, and it doesn't matter where your rotting flesh resides. The dead reside everywhere and nowhere at once. She didn’t need ashes to call a spirit." - Samantha Carthage
"Evangeline was talking about how flowers die easily, but that’s not really true. The petals themselves are fragile…but the bulbs are not. That’s one of the reasons why the lily is a symbol for Easter in the first place. Resurrection." - Samantha Carthage
"The world is filled with beautiful chaos." - Samantha Carthage
Here are some spring wizard memes from the web that you might also enjoy. At least, I assume they are spring wizards. I can't prove differently. ;)




To hear more spring wizard-isms, check out A Taste of Death and Honey!

BUY HERE


This book will grab you by the throat, challenge your mind, and turn your heart inside out. Sharon Bayliss delivers a powerful, emotional punch with her third book in the December People series. - Amy Bearce, author of  The World of Aluvia Series
When Samantha’s parents died, she lost everything. Her home. Her friends. Her hope. Then a life-loving spring witch at the children’s shelter fills her life with light and joy once again.
But like the springtime, Samantha’s happiness doesn’t last forever. Her friend dies violently in front of her, the victim of a mysterious killing spell. Furious and grief-stricken, Samantha resents her own weak spring magic. She doesn’t need life and renewal. She wants revenge…and death.
Homeless and alone, Samantha seeks shelter with her old friends, the Vandergraff family, and finds an unexpected ally in the powerful winter solstice witch, Evangeline. The girls’ anger and eagerness lead them to cast a killing spell before knowing the truth behind Samantha’s friend’s death or the identity of her killer. 
Once the spell is cast, they can’t take it back, and they must fight to stop their own curse before it takes away everyone they love.PictureAbout the Author

As an author and social worker, Sharon has devoted her life to making the lives of real people better and the lives of fictional people much, much worse. When she’s not writing, she enjoys living in her “happily-ever-after” with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and playing in the mud (which she calls gardening).
 
Author website: www.sharonbayliss.com
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsharonbayliss/
Author Twitter: @SharonBayliss

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Published on June 28, 2016 05:00

June 22, 2016

Cover Reveal: Politically Incorrect by Jeanne McDonald #romance

Cover Reveal Politically Incorrect
Author:Jeanne McDonaldGenre: Contemporary Political RomanceCover Design: Jada D'Lee DesignsPublisher: Enchanted Publications
Expected Release Date: August 16, 2016
Jeanne McDonald is an author, a mother, a wife, a student of knowledge and of life, a coffee addict, a philosophy novice, a pop culture connoisseur, inspired by music, encouraged by words, and a believer in true love.  When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, enjoying a great film, chatting with friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in literature.  A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.

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Sex. Lies. Greed. Power. Scandal. Politics.
Nothing gets by Elizabeth McNeal. As a forty-five year old divorcee and a nationally renowned political strategist, she can claim to have seen it all. Most of her adult life she’s focused on two important things ─ her daughter and her career. Now, challenged by a new campaign and a new candidate, Elizabeth is forced to reevaluate the things she most values and make some major decisions that could impact her future.
William Baxter is a thirty-four year old Democratic Congressman for the great state of Texas who’s vying for an empty seat in the U.S. Senate. Accustomed to standing out in a crowd, Liam takes pride in being true to himself and the people he serves. He refuses to fall in line with the stereotypical persona of a politician. Backed by one of the richest men in Texas, Liam is offered the chance to work with D.C.’s most elite political strategist. With the odds already against him because of his party affiliation and age, it’s an offer he can’t refuse.
Apprehensive about their age differences and driven by politics, Elizabeth finds herself keeping score of their sensual game for control. For the woman who thought she’d seen it all, the man in the eccentric ties and a dashing smile teaches her a new game to play. Rules are made to be broken. Lines are meant to be crossed. But in the high stakes sport of politics, where one bad decision can destroy a campaign, can they afford to rewrite the rules to meet their desires or will they choose to remain politically incorrect?





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Published on June 22, 2016 05:00