Karen Swart's Blog, page 16
July 6, 2015
Book Blast - Save Yourself by H.G. Lynchby @HGLynch @sparklebooktour
Presented by: Sparkle Book Tours
Save Yourself by H.G. Lynch Audience: New Adult - Genre: Paranormal Romance - Format: Ebook - Publisher: Vamptasy - Cover by: H.G. Lynch - Editor: Catherine Stovall - Pages: 172 - ASIN: B00ZDDPZ5E - Date Published: 11/6/15
As an Incubus, Brogan feeds on Lust to survive, but he has a darker Hunger he struggles to repress. When his dangerous uncle comes around begging for help, Brogan is sucked back into a world he thought he'd escaped. Kester has never understood her best friend Evie's need for one night stands with strangers - until she meets Brogan. With his dark hair and enthralling eyes, he awakens a desperate craving inside her. But one night isn't enough, and when she can't resist him, Kester is pulled into his dark and violent world.
When lust becomes addiction, and being in Brogan's life means putting hers on the line, Kester might just have to save herself from him.
Amazon
He hooked his arms around my hips, lifting me up, and I reflexively wrapped my legs around his waist. Brogan grinned at me, dark and sexy, and said, “I’ve been imagining this since the minute I saw you in that club.” I bit my lip, refusing to admit I’d imagined it too, every night in my dreams.
As if he was reading my mind, he whispered darkly, “I know you’ve thought about it too. But how exactly did you picture it? Did you imagine me taking you against the wall? On the bed? The floor? On your knees?”
I swallowed, his words painting erotic pictures in my head.
He chuckled seductively, leaned close to my ear, and murmured, “I’ll let you in on a secret. I’m going to fuck you every single way you can think of, and a few more you can’t even imagine. And you’re going to love every second of it.”
I think my heart literally stopped beating, just for a second.
H.G. Lynch is a Scottish Paranormal Romance author, avid reader, and cat-lover. She spends most of her days writing, while wrestling her cat, Sooki, off her laptop. She believes that chocolate cake can save the world, and is highly caffeine-addicted. She can occasionally be found rolling on the floor, laughing manically, when having consumed too much caffeine. She loves horse-riding, Star Trek, and snow. Her books are dark fantasy romances, usually with a bad boy and a bad girl. Sometimes with zombies, sometimes vampires, sometimes other things.
Facebook / Twitter / Amazon
July 4, 2015
Book Blast, Interview & Giveaway: The Malevolent Twin by @marysagenguyen1
The Malevolent Twin
Book One
Mary Sage Nguyen
Genre: Young Adult, Suspense, Thriller,
Mystery, and a little bit of science fiction.
Date of Publication: April 2015
ISBN: 978-0996256100
Kindle ISBN: 978-0996256117
Smashwords ISBN: 978-0996256124
Ebook: 123 pages
Word Count: 37,560
Cover Artist: www.ebooklaunch.com
Book Description:
A murderous wicked twin.
An innocent, law abiding, and oblivious girl.
The ultimate brawl between contrasting sisters!
Murder, mystery, suspense and more
In The Malevolent Twin
Avery is a normal teenager, except for Venice. Venice is Avery’s imaginary friend or so she thinks. When the two begin to fight. Avery starts her investigation, to figure out what Venice really is. She encounters a wise old exorcist, and an albino psychic who assist her, with attempting to remove Venice. Which comes too late as Venice goes on a murdering rampage using Avery’s body. Does Avery survive the Wrath of Venice?
Find out in… The Malevolent Twin
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/KdscPo2LMbM
Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I wanted to a marine biologist at one point. Explore the oceans, handle sweet, and cuddly marine animals. My sister confronted me, when I was younger, and told me her friend was a marine biologist. She told me, her job was to study specimens collected from the sea, and she worked in a lab. Sounds exciting, right? This immediately killed my dream of being marine biologist. Being a writer, I get to create and be myself.
When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?
When I shared my ebook which, I first published with smashwords. A family member called thrilled, that I was now a published author. Once, I got approval from my family. I knew, I was a wordsmith. Too be honest, my dad’s recognition was the best of all. I shoved my book in his face, after a recent visit home, and he was shocked! His infatuation with my book, was the best part about writing.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
The Malevolent Twin took me about two or so years to write. I first finished the 130,000 words or 160,000 words manuscript after six months of nonstop writing. I edited the manuscript, until head exploded. I also stopped writing, and editing for a short time period. I finally summoned up the courage to send it to a real editor in December of last year. He edited the book twice for me.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
The Malevolent Twin is parasitic twin phenomenon! It is the ultimate battle between contrasting sisters.
Avant-garde Series
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
It took me about six months to complete my first draft, which was hefty. About 130,000 or 160,000. Even so going through my writing process, I constantly focus on quality. I want my book to be believable and entertaining. The first book is always the most frustrating, for all authors. In my humble opinion.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I will be writing a variety of genres. I really look forward to writing hardcore science fiction. Some of my book locations will be on alien planets, the Amazonian jungle, and other various locations. There is one book, I particular excited about. The subject revolves around alternate realities. That one is going to be a hoot to write. Other subjects range from ancient headhunters, to a romance with a terrifying stalker. I will also be writing about an albino psychic detective with an addiction to absinthe.
What genre would you place your books into?
The Malevolent Twin is a mystery, psychological thriller, and suspense. I admire these genres because they keep readers interested.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
It is different and exciting to write about.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?
Ah, Venice! I love her character. She is a completely misunderstood unequally conjoined twin. My all-time favorite character would be Pennie Apples! Who wouldn’t like an albino psychic detective with an addiction to absinthe? Pennie Apples character heavily relies on mysticism.
How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
I have been writing ever since I was twenty one, or so…. My muse inspired me to write, after a deep and through analysis. He is a pro at finding out, what people’s greatest qualities are! I wouldn’t be where I am, without him!
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I do listen to my itunes list when I write from time to time. I used to turn on my salt lamp being a superstitious Asian. It’s always best to write, when you are content, and happy.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
Of course, I do!
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
I will be honest, I chose the title The Malevolent Twin after writing the book, and having it completed. The pervious title was Dripping Caramel. Which makes absolutely no sense with book’s overall theme. I just liked the title at the time…..
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
Well, I observe people to say the least. Even as a child, my sibling talked to me about my wise, and observant eyes.
Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?
I picked the names, as I go along. Sometimes conducting my names research with google.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
Always as I go along…
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
I like paperbacks. Ebooks are great too, but I just like the feel of a book in my hand.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
Depends on the screenwriter, time, and director. Sometimes, even the smallest scenes from a book is left out, and readers get angry. I am unsure, on the second question.
Your favorite food is?
I honestly have many favorite food. I love ethnic, and diverse recipes. I love eating, as much as writing.
Your favorite singer/group is?
This is a difficult question. I have many bands, and singers in my favorite list. These artist include, the fray, One Republic, Rihanna, Lifehouse, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Keith Urban, Sugarland, Tim Mcgraw, and many more.
Your favorite color is?
I always look stunning in red, and it is my lucky color.
Your favorite Author is?
I prefer not say.
Mary Sage Nguyen is the youngest daughter of Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants. Vietnamese was the language spoken at home, so the only way she was able to learn English was through the public school system. Even though English was not spoken at home, Mary became an avid reader as a young child and always dreamed of being a writer someday.
http://www.marysagenguyen.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/lovelymarypearls
July 1, 2015
Book Blast, Giveaway & Top Ten -Into the West by J.A. Campbell @jacampbellauth @sparklebooktour
Presented by: Sparkle Book Tours
Into the West by J.A. Campbell Audience: Young Adult 13+ - Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel, Adventure - Format: E –book - Publisher: Untold Press - Cover by: Sean Hayden, Untold Press - Pages: 287 - ASIN: B00X6TCUIM - Date Published: May 29 2015
A romantic, young adult, time travel adventure! 13+ Tina Harker is a typical teenager. She loves hanging with her friends at the mall, buying shoes, and getting manicures. Most of all, she loves horses. Her life is everything she wants until her father drags their family to Arizona. Now she’s living in a virtual ghost town in the middle of the desert, millions of miles from the nearest shopping center.
The one small highlight in the dreadful situation is the local ranch. They have a horse Tina can ride anytime she wants. Trying to make the best of her situation, Tina goes on her first cattle drive and gets a lot more adventure than she expected.
Bandits, cattle thieves, and a really cute cowboy are only the beginning as she finds out the ranch she is coming to love is in grave danger. Can Tina find the strength to travel back in time and save the ranch when her very life is on the line? It’s no simple trip to the mall, but with a little help from her cowboy, she might just save the day
Amazon / Goodreads
So, how is it?
Tina stared at her phone, amazed she had cell service, then back out the window of her parents' car.
OMG. Just…OMG. I can't believe they're doing this to me, she texted back.
When Jessica didn't reply, Tina sighed. It's like being on Mars. All red and brown and flat. No trees. Some mountains, I guess. Alien. Horrible. She sent that text and waited.
Her phone beeped, searching for signal, then found reception again.
Hugs. I'll come visit soon. I miss you. Gotta go. TTYL.
Tina put her phone away and stared out the window. She saw nothing out there. No stores, no restaurants, no school, no people. Just empty desert–horrible.
"Honey, we're almost there," her mom said, sounding excited.
"Almost where?" she muttered, crossing her arms and glaring at her feet.
Her dad glanced over his shoulder with a big grin on his face. "Almost home, sweetheart."
"Almost to hell," she said, even more quietly so her parents wouldn't hear. Even the radio broadcast more static than music as reception faded in and out.
Tina went back to staring out the window since it was marginally more interesting than her feet. She supposed she would have to get used to the view. Like it or not, she couldn't escape this hellhole until she went to college. The next two years would drag before she could return to lush green trees that dotted the concrete sea of New Jersey.
Her dad slowed and turned off the highway onto a dirt road. The car bumped, waking her little sister, Betsy.
"Are we there yet?" Her sister stretched and glanced out the window. She paused mid-stretch and Tina could see the surprise on her face. "Wow!"
Tina shook her head. Of course Betsy would be excited.
"This is so cool!" She bounced in her seat. Or maybe that was the potholes in the road. Did they ever fix things out here?
Tina ground her teeth. All she could see in the distance were more of the weird, red mountain things and a dirt road stretching to nowhere. "Where is this place we're supposed to be going?"
"Home, sweetie," her mom said in a sugary sweet tone.
"Sure, if we were Martians."
"Tina Harker," her dad said. "Do not talk that way to your mother."
Tina sank down in her seat and crossed her arms again. This totally sucks, she thought to herself. She tried not to hit her head on the top of the sedan as they jolted down what was supposed to be a road.
"Hey, look, a house!" Betsy bounced again in her seat. This time Tina knew it wasn't just the bad road. "And, Tina, a horse. Maybe they'll let you ride it."
Tina sighed and tried to ignore her little sister. Her parents had obviously sold the ten-year-old on the adventure, but Tina had left more behind than Betsy. Not wanting to see any horses right now, she didn't even try to look. She missed Frankie, the thoroughbred she had leased for over a year. It wasn't fair that she had to leave him behind. Tina had planned on buying him, but with the move, there was no way. Her parents had told her there were plenty of horses in Arizona and she'd find one there. They didn't understand. She didn't want just any horse. She wanted her horse.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she took a couple of deep breaths, trying not to cry.
A few minutes later, they passed another house on Tina's side of the car and she couldn't help but stare. A fence surrounded a large, dusty yard. The front porch seemed welcoming, except that one side sagged dangerously and the chipped tan paint peeled badly.
She wondered if anyone actually lived there. She didn't see anyone, but saw a swing set in the yard and a rusty pickup parked in the backyard. It reminded her of a bad T.V. show.
Ages later, they passed a couple more houses in better repair than the last. Finally her dad pulled off the bumpy non-road onto another bumpy non-road. They continued for another small eternity before Tina saw a cluster of buildings that looked like stores. Her dad turned down something like a main street and stopped in front of one of the small stores.
"Welcome to Golton, kids."
Tina looked around her, horrified. "I thought you said we were moving to a town."
Her dad smiled at her and opened the car door. "It's a ghost town."
Tina stared while he got out and stretched. The hot blast of dry air made sweat bead on her forehead, and then quickly dry. She felt like her skin would crack. Her dad shut the door, but with the car off, it would heat up fast. She didn't want to get out, but she couldn't stay in. Betsy had already jumped out and, as usual, bounced around her dad.
The heat made her wish she were wearing a halter-top, but the intense sun made her glad that her shirt covered her shoulders. The tan she had from riding her horse wasn't enough to protect her.
She wondered if her dad joked about this being Golton. Forget about ghosts. There was nothing here to haunt.
"Come on, honey, let's go see the store."
Tina sighed. Maybe it would be air-conditioned.
Her dad talked quietly with the man behind the counter. The store had a little of everything, but not much of any one thing, and no variety. If you wanted toothpaste, you got Crest. If you wanted apples, you got red. Tina folded her arms across her chest and tried to pretend she was in a bad horror movie and she'd eventually be rescued and taken back to civilization, but not before the movie-monster got her sister.
Speaking of horror movies...Tina picked up a book called Missing in Arizona. The intro page said something about Golton being an area with a large number of disappearances.
"Tina, come here for a minute," her dad called.
She hastily put down the book, hoping it was a joke, and joined her dad. Betsy shook the clerk's hand.
"Tina, this is Mike. He owns this store," her dad said.
The man behind the counter had the brownest skin she'd ever seen with short, jet black hair and an easy grin. He looked about her dad's age, forty or so.
"Hi," Tina said, smiling, and trying not to stare. She offered her hand and managed not to ask Mike if he was a real Indian.
Betsy had the benefit of being ten. "Tina, guess what? He's a real Indian. A Nav…" She hesitated and looked up at Mike.
He smiled down at the little girl. "Navajo."
"Betsy, they are Native Americans," Tina's mom said, sounding horrified.
Mike smiled at Betsy and winked. "Navajo," he repeated.
"It's nice to meet you," Tina said, glad to meet another human in this desolate waste.
"It's nice to meet you, too, Tina. Welcome to Golton. If there is anything you need and we don't have it here, I can probably order it for you." He smiled again. He had an accent, but Tina didn't know if it was because he was a Native American or an Arizonian.
"Thanks," Tina said. "Hey, that book back there said a lot of people go missing here. What's up with that?"
He shrugged. "Conspiracy theories mostly. Seems like people go hiking in the desert and get lost and die. Stay close to civilization until you know your way around and you'll be fine."
"Thanks!" Tina was glad to know that the book wasn't serious.
"It's good to see you again, Mike. I just wanted to introduce the girls and my wife," Tina's dad said.
"Oh, those government boys were by the house with your things yesterday. I stopped in, didn't seem like they were making too much of a mess, so I left them to it. My wife locked up after them. I'll call her and have her meet you there with the other set of keys," Mike said.
"Thanks." Her dad placed the money for Betsy's candy bar on the counter, and reached across to shake Mike's hand.
They spoke for a few more minutes, but Tina tuned her parents and Mike out and glanced at some of the knickknacks in the store.
Finally, her parents and Betsy headed for the door. Tina followed them outside.
"See, it's not so bad here," her dad said, opening the car door. "Lots of nice people."
Tina wondered where the other people were, but she didn't feel like getting into another argument. At least not right then.
The car had baked in the sun and it hadn't completely cooled down by the time her dad stopped again in front of a house. It was a two-story house with wooden siding and a large front porch. It looked like it may have been painted sometime in the past decade. As an added bonus, the porch only sagged slightly in the middle.
"There's a fence," Betsy said, bouncing again. "Can we get a dog, since we have a yard and a fence?"
Tina rolled her eyes. Their townhouse back in Jersey wasn't big enough for a dog, or at least that's what her parents kept saying.
"We'll talk about it once we get settled," her dad said.
"Cool." Betsy nodded, as if they had already decided they would get a dog.
Tina wondered if she could talk her parents into a horse if Betsy got a dog. She doubted it. Especially since the horse she wanted lived in New Jersey. Frankie probably wouldn't like it here anyway. Tina didn't.
The hot, dry air blasted her as she stepped out of the car. The paint was probably white at one point, but it looked kind of yellowish now, though it hadn't started to peel yet. It reminded Tina of a farmhouse out of an old movie.
Her mom had a funny expression on her face, kind of like the first time she'd tasted Betsy's cooking and had to pretend she liked it. She stared at the house.
Tina's dad put his arm around her and gave her a hug. "Just needs a little fixing up."
"Well, let's go explore," her mom said after another few moments of silence. She sounded as cheery as before, but Tina wasn't quite convinced. Betsy, on the other hand, seemed excited.
"Look, we're in a real house, with space and stuff. Can we get a swing set?" She bounced up the front porch and tried the doorknob. "It's locked."
"I have the key," her dad said, following Betsy.
Tina placed her foot gingerly on the steps up to the front door. They also sagged in the middle, but at least held her weight.
"Tina, I bet it's haunted," Betsy said once they were inside. "Look at this old picture. Think she's still here?"
Betsy pointed to a portrait of a woman on the wall. She wore a bonnet like in an old movie and a dress with flowers on it. Tina wasn't sure, but she thought the woman might have been a Native American.
Her dad laughed. "Mike assured me the house wasn't haunted. This house has been in his family for a long time."
"I thought Indians lived in teepees," Betsy said.
"Some of them used to, honey. Most of them live in houses these days," Tina's mom said.
Tina turned away from the picture. A lighter spot on the yellowed wallpaper next to it had probably held another picture. She noticed stairs to the second floor that started right by the front door. The bare wood floor looked polished, probably by years of footsteps. The kitchen was straight back from the front door, and there was another room opened off to her left. Their new house didn't seem terribly large, but it was bigger than their townhome in Jersey.
Huffing, Tina glanced around. "Is there electricity?"
Both her mom and dad gave her the don't-be-ridiculous look.
"Hey, a fireplace," Betsy shouted from the living room. "Can we have a fire, Mom?"
"When it is cooler, dear."
Tina sighed and followed the sound of her sister's voice into the living room. Their stylish leather couch and loveseat were completely out of place across from the stone fireplace. Boxes were stacked everywhere and spilled into the kitchen. She wandered toward the kitchen.
Betsy screamed.
Top Ten YA Heroes.
Hermione Granger – Harry Potter
Neville Longbottom – Harry Potter
Jane Drew from The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper.
The Black Stallion (Go with me here, he’s one of my heroes)
Jack from Timothy Zahn’s Dragonback series.
The Teen Titians – DC comics
The Runaways – Marvel comics
Brown, the ghost hunting dog.
Rogue (as a YA in X Men)
Sabaska from Sabaska’s Tale.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
J.A. Campbell Julie has been many things over the last few years, from college student, to bookstore clerk and an over the road trucker. She’s worked as a 911 dispatcher and in computer tech support, but through it all she’s been a writer and when she’s not out riding horses, she can usually be found sitting in front of her computer. She lives in Colorado with her three cats, her vampire-hunting dog Kira, her new horse and Traveler-in training, Triska, and her Irish Sailor.She is the author of many Vampire and Ghost-Hunting Dog stories and the young adult fantasy series Tales of the Travelers. She’s a member of the Horror Writers Association and the Dog Writers of America Association and the editor for Steampunk Trails fiction magazine.
Website / Blog / Blog 2 / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads/ Amazon
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June 29 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, + Sissy, Too ! http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com Eclipse Reviews http://eclipsereviews.weebly.com June 30 Angels with Attitude Book Reviews http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-joelle.blogspot.com July 1 Melissa M Wolff http://www.melissamwolff.com/search/label/posts Portals to New Worlds http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com July 2 Hope To Read http://hopetoread.com Books Books Books http://www.booksbooksbooksblog.com July 3 Books, Authors, Blogs http://therightbook4u.blogspot.com July 6 The Avid Reader http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com July 7 Bookworm for Kids http://www.bookwormforkids.blogspot.com Iyana Jenna http://iyanajennaauthor.wordpress.com July 8 Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom http://bookyramblingsofaneuroticmom.blogspot.co.uk/ July 9 Archaeolibrarian - I dig good books! http://archaeolibrarianologist.blogspot.de/ July 10 2 Girls & A Book http://2girlsandabook.wordpress.com/ July 13 Chicas Love To Read http://www.chicalovestoread.blogspot.com Books and Warpaint http://www.booksandwarpaint.com July 14 Hobby Lady http://www.mywriterblog.com/kelly/ Literary Musing http://literarymusing.weebly.com/ July 15 Jrsbookreviews http://www.jrsbookreviews.wordpress.com July 16 TTC Books And More http://www.ttcbooksandmore.com Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog http://fictionalrendezvousbookblog.blogspot.com/
June 30, 2015
Book Blast, Giveaway & Top Ten: Lip Service by Adele Downs @Adele_Downs
![Lip Service Banner 851 x 315_thumb[1]](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EXL0F8HueaU/VZGGdPZjoxI/AAAAAAAAQ0M/USqE0l4ZmdM/s1600-h/Lip-Service-Banner-851-x-315_thumb12.png)
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Lip Service
Adele Downs
Print Length: 116 pages
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Release Date: April 27, 2015
ASIN: B00WT1EA2W
Genre: Hot contemporary romance
Book Description:
Getting Between Jack…
Orphaned at a young age, Legs Anderson owes her Aunt Ada everything. The stoic old lady raised her, and Ada’s warnings about men—and the Harris boys in particular—have stuck, even after her death. Of course, that could be because Ada stuck around, too.
…And His Legs
Patience is not one of Jack Harris’ virtues, and he’s waited too long to start a life with the woman he’s loved since childhood instead of them just knocking boots. Now Ada is interfering from beyond the grave, haunting the old Victorian house she bequeathed to her niece and reinforcing Legs’s fears of commitment.
But Jack won’t give up. No matter what trouble may follow, the house will be renovated, Ada will learn to let go, Legs will put her money where her mouth is… then Jack’ll put his lips everywhere else.
Available at Boroughs Publishing ARe
"Move in with me, dammit. You’re the most stubborn woman I ever knew.”
Legs topped his coffee cup with fresh brew, easy as you please. “No more stubborn than you, since you keep askin’ the same old question. I have my own place.”
Jack frowned and stabbed his egg yolks, making them run. “Then let me live with you.”
“In my aunt’s house?” Legs asked like he was crazy.
“It’s your house now.”
“I’m trying to fix it up. I have to patch and paint. There’s no room for your things.”
“I’ll help you and then you’ll have plenty of space for me. And my stuff.”
Her ponytail shook with her reply. “Ada won’t like it. She’ll think it’s immoral.”
Jack leaned forward. “You talk about her like she’s still with us. She’s been gone over a year, sweetheart.” His voice dropped an octave and his brow creased. “Don’t you think she’d give in after all this time?”
Legs wrinkled her nose. “No. She thinks you’re a wanderer.”
Jack tossed down his fork. “I own a sporting goods store! I go fishing!”
He touched her hand when she got close enough and drew little circles around her wrist bone with a fingertip. The preschool teachers from Let’s Explore stifled sighs at the next table. “It’s time to let go, darlin’.” His expression turned earnest. “She raised you, I know. But I want to be with you now. It’s time to let me in.”
“Not if it means letting her go. I’m sorry, Jack. I just can’t do that to her.”
Jack sighed and returned to his breakfast. “We’ll talk about this again tomorrow.”
Top 10 Hot Movie Kisses
Lip Service by Adele Downs
The hottest movie kisses I’ve ever seen were between Jude Law and Nicole Kidman in Cold Mountain before he goes off to war. O.M.G.
Anything with Brad Pitt; especially Thelma and Louise, Legends of The Fall, Meet Joe Black, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Brad kisses Geena Davis, Julia Ormond, Claire Forlani, Angelina Jolie.
From Here to Eternity---Burt Lancaster and Debra Kerr
Crazy, Stupid, Love—Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone
The Notebook—Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams
Ghost—Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore
Titanic—Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet
Original Sin—Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie
Pretty Woman—Richard Gere and Julia Roberts
Casablanca—Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman
Adele Downs writes Contemporary Romance inside the office of her rural Pennsylvania home. She is a former journalist, published in newspapers and magazines in the USA, UK and Caribbean.
Adele is an active member of Romance Writers of America and her local RWA chapter where she serves as past-president. She has written several articles for RWR magazine (Romance Writers Report), and she has presented workshops for writers.
When Adele isn’t working on her current project, she can be found riding in her convertible or reading a book on the nearest beach.
Website: www.adeledowns.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authoradeledowns
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Adele_Downs
June 28, 2015
Book Blast & Giveaway: Burning Desire by Ravyn Rayne @blushingravyn
BOOK INFORMATION TITLE – Burning Desire SERIES – Federal Agent Chronicles #1 AUTHOR – Ravyn Rayne GENRE – Romantic Erotica, Crime Drama, Thriller PUBLICATION DATE – May 6, 2015 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 25k words PUBLISHER – Blushing Books COVER ARTIST – Blushing Books
BOOK SYNOPSIS Saving people is FBI Agent Kaitlyn Rivers drug of choice. That’s not the only thing she loves about her job. The sexual tension is mounting between Kaitlyn and her alpha boss, Agent Joel Connor. Assigned into an undercover operation to stop a serial child abductor with the pathetic Cole Sommers, Kaitlyn is silently thrilled when Cole is forced off the case and Joel steps in. Intense romance, steamy sex scenes, and a nail-gripping case that will attract fans of crime dramas and thrillers. This action-packed erotica is sure to leave you pleased three times over! BUY & TBR LINKS AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON PAPERBACK – GOODREADS
EXCERPT I feel a hand in my hair, brushing a soft strand away and I roll into his touch, wanting more. "Joel?" I whisper with shut eyes and a smile. When did he get home? I feel coarse rough hands slide down my neck and my stomach tenses. Something feels off. Joel's hands are smooth. My eyes flash open, seeing an unfamiliar short chubby male figure looming over me. His breath smells like rancid milk. The room is dark from the sun setting and the lights off, but I can still make out enough features for a lineup.
His hands forcefully pin mine above my head, giving me no time to try and retrieve my gun across the room. I need to fight back. My eyes widen as my adrenaline kicks in.
"Where's the baby?"
AUTHOR BIO Ravyn is a sassy, fun-loving, and adventure-seeking young woman. She loves to travel and can’t wait for her next vacation, wherever it might be. Ravyn writes romantic erotica. She began writing romance novels in college, spending her down time either reading a book or writing fiction. Please don’t make her choose between the two, she loves them equally. Prefer less steamy novels? Try her out here. AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK – TWITTER –
GOODREADS
GIVEAWAY Mini Book Necklace a Rafflecopter giveaway This blitz has been organized & hosted by
June 26, 2015
Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: The Do It List by @gJillianStone
The Do It List
Book 1
Jillian Stone
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Publisher: Jillian Stone
Date of Publication: June 19, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-9963459-1-0
Number of pages: 334
Word Count: 90,000
Cover Artist: Jillian Stone
Book Tagline: 10 sexual encounters. No strings attached.
Book Description:
Hotshot copywriter Gracie Taylor-Scott has a reputation—for her artfully edgy ads. A rising star at Darcy Wexler Dean, New York, the long hours are perfect cover for Gracie’s fear of intimacy issues.
Great job. Great pay. No life—including her on again off again sex life. Then one night, she is plunged into darkness with a handsome stranger.
Bradley Craig is the new head of DWD’s research division, and this ad man has secrets of his own. Much lauded in his field of consumer behavior, there’s a darker side to the attractive ad man—his erotic, list-maker side.
Gracie and Bradley are assigned to work on the biggest new business pitch Darcy Wexler Dean will be in all year, and the two tangle immediately, battling copy concepts and focus group findings along with their explosive attraction to each other.
Bradley has a proposition: they make a list. Ten erotic sexual encounters, no strings attached. What’s at stake? Two Super Bowl spots and two fragile hearts.
“Close the door, Gracie.”
I checked the hallway through the floor-to-ceiling glass by the exit. No one was about. Coworkers were in their offices, filling out time sheets, getting ready to call it a day.
I shut the door with a soft click.
“I believe there’s a light switch on the wall.” He used a huskier voice, more like the elevator Bradley.
I pressed the controls, and the conference room dimmed enough not to be seen by passersby, as long as we kept things quiet. Nose to the door, I stared at the smooth, matte-black surface.
“I know things got a little heated––” I stopped myself and cringed. Was I talking about last night or the testy words between us several minutes ago? And since when weren’t things heated between us? I sucked in a calming breath and exhaled silently.
It occurred to me, this attraction to Bradley might well be the hottest, most erotic experience of my life. I pivoted away from the door to face him.
“Sorry I can’t be more enthusiastic about creative testing, it’s just that I’ve been screwed by research in the past, and not in a good way.”
Bradley flopped down on the sofa and raked me over with his gaze. He patted the seat next to him. “You and I need to build some trust.”
I approached slowly. “Have you any idea how many focus groups I’ve sat through where smirking research geeks underlined every word or phrase that didn’t test high enough—some of them the best words and phrases I’ve ever written in my life?”
I dropped my bag on the floor for emphasis. “Just once, I’d like to believe research has my back.”
He clasped my wrist and tugged. “Since we’re going to be working closely together…” He pulled me lower.
I settled a knee to each side of his thighs and straddled him. It was about time I climbed on the man. “How close?”
“Intimate close.” He easily worked through the buttons of my pants.
“You’re staring at my belly button.”
“You have a piercing.” His gaze turned darker, hungrier—as if I were a mocha chocolate truffle and he had a craving for Godiva.
Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I’ve always been a storyteller. When I was an art director in advertising I told visual stories in print and film.
When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?
I still have moments where I question whether or not I’m a writer. I have to remind myself that I’ve written seven full-length books and two novellas. I don’t think any creative person should ever get too cocky, but I also dislike fake humility. Steve Jobs closed his Stanford commencement speech with the words: Stay hungry, stay foolish. I think that’s where I’m going to stay.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
The second book I wrote won the 2010 RWA Golden Heart and was published by Pocket Books, so I guess you could say I published very quickly. Looking back, I’m not sure that was such a good thing. I was not prepared for the business of being an author so the learning curve was severe and painful.
Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
I still work as a creative in advertising, but not full time. I freelance so that I can schedule in writing time.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
THE DO IT LIST is my latest release, and the book draws heavily on the contemporary world of big time advertising. Mad Men meets Mad Women––instead of Don Draper, it’s Gracie Taylor-Scott’s story.
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
Pocket Books and Kensington Brava publish my historical romance titles and my new release, THE DO IT LIST is self-published.
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
Oh gosh, I’m so slow compared to some of the other writers I know. I write about two books a year.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I enjoy writing in different genres while I discover who I am as a writer. I have a several book ideas in development right now, including a graphic novel. I am currently writing the sequel to THE DO IT LIST and the first novel in a Gentlemen of Scotland Yard spin off series this year.
What genre would you place your books into?
THE DO IT LIST is a contemporary romance with erotic elements. CODENAME: DRAGON is Historical Romantic Suspense. I’m working on a graphic novel with
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I create a playlist for every book, and the music becomes so embedded in my brain that months, even years later a tune will play and it brings back a particular scene in detail.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
I use a working title until something in the story triggers the title you publish. The first book in a series is always the hardest title. Once you get the series title theme going, it becomes somewhat easier.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I pretty much know the character’s backstory and traits before I write a word. That doesn’t mean I don’t get to know them better as I write them, which always happens in the process of writing a novel.
Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is…")
There are themes in all my books that I put there on purpose. Agent Gunn, the hero in A PRIVATE DUEL WITH AGENT GUNN fought in Afghanistan and suffers from Soldier’s Heart, which would be called PTSD today. I don’t make judgments, I just put it out there for people to read and hopefully digest.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
I have a Kindle Fire, which is like having a library and entertainment center in your pocket. But I also still love traditional print books.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is your favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
Series books like Outlander and Game of Thrones translate really well to episodic TV. The longer format allows for character development and richer, more complex storytelling.
Tea or coffee?
Coffee. At least two cups of French Roast every morning.
Jillian Stone was born a storyteller. A skill that got her into considerable trouble as a youth until she solved the problem by becoming an advertising creative. And the career did seem to suit her as she won many national ad awards including the Clio and the New York Art Director’s Club Gold. What more could she ask for? Create her own worlds? Become goddess of her own universe? Yes! So, she began to write fiction. Her Victorian Romantic Suspense novel AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY won the 2010 Golden Heart and sold to Pocket Books. Her sexy, controversial steampunk novel THE SEDUCTION OF PHAETON BLACK won the 2010 Romance Through The Ages Erotica category and sold to Kensington Brava. Jillian lives in California and is currently writing a new spin-off novel to the Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series as well as book #2 in the DO IT LIST series.
Website: http://jillianstone.com
Twitter: @gJillianStone https://twitter.com/gJillianStone
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillianStoneBooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4946569.Jillian_Stone
Book Blast - Reality - The Arie Chronicles # 1 by Dani Hart @authordanihart @sparklebooktour
Presented by : Sparkle Book Tours
Reality - The Arie Chronicles # 1 by Dani Hart
Audience: Young Adult - Genre: Fantasy - Format: E-Book & Paperback - Publisher: Anchor Group - ASIN: B00ZM52PQU - Date Published: June 12, 2015
To be extraordinary was a fate Arie Belle had never imagined. Her days had been filled with naïve pleasures and promising love, but all that changed one tragic day when her mother was killed under mysterious circumstances, plunging Arie’s life into dark and hopeless times where her lifelong friend, River, was her only beacon of light.
After years of numbness, a beautiful stranger, Ashe, entered her world and took her soul to places it had never been, across realities trapped within the worlds of fairy tales. Could he be her savior, or would she find the strength within to be her own?
Along her journey, she quickly unraveled the secret behind her uncanny connection with nature and her mother's killer. But one mystery remained—one of scripted destiny and the pull of the dark forces of life. Could she find the answers she needed before the next full moon? Or would death claim her as it had been painted in the fate of the stars?
Goodreads / Amazon / Smashwords / Amazon CA/ Amazon UK
https://youtu.be/yliGaOv3XbU
While some may speculate that we fell in love with each other at our first kiss, I knew better. We were soul mates from birth. We shared our first kiss in the meadow on the day of my sixteenth birthday before my mom died. We lay on the grass as we had done that first time the butterflies blessed us with their magnificence on my seventh birthday. We did this on my birthday every year in hopes they would return. My birthday not only signified being a year older, but it was also our day. Every year River and I shared a private ritual and a hidden connection, until that kiss when the secret was exposed and our hearts were bound beyond platonic feelings. My mom’s death broke this ritual and the dream of a perfectly unflawed life together.
“Sixteen is a big one, you know.” He smiled softly.
“I know.” I looked over at him as he lay there with his eyes closed. He was beautiful. I knew handsome was the preferred word when describing the male species, but not for him. His face looked like it was chiseled by the most talented of sculptors. His hair was a sandy blond, and while it wasn’t long, it definitely couldn’t be called short. It had soft waves that fell perfectly around his face. His eyes were as blue as the sky, and his skin was fair like mine. His lips were full and, as soft as they looked, I wished for the first time that I could feel how soft they were against my own lips. His body was perfect. For someone whose only workout consisted of running a few times a week, he had a flawless physique. The football team was always trying to recruit him because he fit the mold of a jock. I asked him once why he didn’t participate in sports, and he just responded that they didn’t hold his interest. He liked his freedom and independence.
My body began to tingle all over. A light breeze sent shivers down my spine. I wanted to touch him, but not in the playful way we touched when we horsed around. I wanted to embrace him. I reached out my hand to touch his when the fluttering of wings filled my ears. I pulled my hand away quickly.
“River?”
He opened his eyes and stared at the return of the prodigal butterflies.
“Wow, they’re as beautiful as I remember them,” he whispered.
We sat up slowly and faced each other as we had done on my seventh birthday. Their return was a mystery. They circled around us, leaving us in the eye of the swarm. There were hundreds of them displaying every color imaginable on their wings. Some had stripes while others had splatters. Even the most talented artist could never capture the true brilliance of these magical creatures. They were flying so swiftly around us that the color of their wings looked like fresh paint being swirled in a can with a multitude of colors to make that perfect color combination.
I saw River staring at me as I watched the butterflies. I turned to him and got caught within the depths of his eyes. His stare bore deep into my soul. We sat like that for what seemed an eternity. My body burned from the inside out. My heart raced. My mind was anticipating what my body wanted. I couldn’t think. All I could do was stare into his eyes, begging for him to feel the same way. The butterflies continued to circle around us, but they seemed to be fluttering faster as if they were anticipating the moment, too. Right at the moment I thought my body was going to explode if something didn’t happen, he took his hand and grazed the side of my face. His touch sent electric shocks through my cheek and down my body. His hand followed my jawline, and his thumb outlined my lips on its way to my neck. He gripped the back of my neck gently and leaned into me as he pulled my face toward his. He paused and looked into my eyes as if waiting for me to say no. I didn’t think I could wait any longer. My heart was pounding so hard I could barely breathe. The eternal pause ended, and his lips brushed mine. I thought I was going to pass out as I inhaled him. How can one moment be so intense? He brushed his lips against mine for a few agonizing moments as if, again, waiting for me to protest. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I pressed my lips against his, and he responded. I felt like that kissed lasted for hours. It was soft and slow and perfect.
I wish I could say the moments after that kiss were just as perfect, but they weren’t. I thought that moment would change my life forever, but it was the moments after that would. I would never be the same. I would never be that innocent little girl in the meadow again.
Character Name: River
Describe yourself what is your worst and best quality?
Loving someone too much. You pick if that’s my worst or best quality.
What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?
What Arie was like before her mom died. She’s… beyond words now, but to see her free of pain was magnificent.
What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?
If I told you it might spoil my story *wink wink*
What are you most afraid of?
Living in a world where Arie doesn’t exist.
What do you want more than anything?
I think I want what everyone wants…to be happy. For our loved ones to be happy.
What is your relationship status?
Forever in love.
How would you describe your sense of fashion?
What’s that? *laughs*
How much of a rebel are you?
I’m not. If I trust you I do what I’m told. If I don’t trust you, well you don’t want to find out.
What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?
Letting go of what isn’t mine to keep.
What is your idea of happiness?
Living a simple life with simple pleasures with someone who loves me as much as I love them.
What is your current state of mind?
Torn
What is your most treasured possession?
I learned a long time ago to not treasure things.
What is your greatest regret?
I don’t live in regrets. I live in lessons learned.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Honesty and being true to one’s self.
I'm a... Mom
Firefighter Wife
Sister
Sister-In-Law
Daughter
Aunt
Friend
Multi-genre Writer
Reader
and so many other ordinary things.
I love my life and am so grateful for all of the support. I have the courage to live a dream. Xo
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Pinterest / Instagram
June 18 Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog http://fictionalrendezvousbookblog.blogspot.com/ Books, Authors, Blogs http://therightbook4u.blogspot.com Hope To Read http://hopetoread.com June 19 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com Angels with Attitude Book Reviews http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-joelle.blogspot.com Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom http://bookyramblingsofaneuroticmom.blogspot.co.uk/ June 22 Bookworm for Kids http://www.bookwormforkids.blogspot.com The Avid Reader http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com Melissa M Wolff http://www.melissamwolff.com/search/label/posts June 23 Rustys Reading http://www.rustysreading.blogspot.com Hobby Lady http://www.mywriterblog.com/kelly/ Chicas Love To Read http://www.chicalovestoread.blogspot.com June 24 TTC Books and more http://www.ttcbooksandmore.com Jrsbookreviews http://www.jrsbookreviews.wordpress.com Eclipse Reviews http://eclipsereviews.weebly.com June 25 Deal Sharing Aunt www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com 2 Girls & A Book http://2girlsandabook.weebly.com Iyana Jenna http://iyanajennaauthor.wordpress.com June 26 Two Chicks and A Dude Book Reviews https://twochicksandadudebookreviews.wordpress.com/ Portals to New Worlds http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com Books Books Books http://www.booksbooksbooksblog.com
June 25, 2015
Book Blast - Summertime (A Novella) by Adrienne Thompson @A_H_Thompson @sparklebooktour
Presented by: Sparkle Book Tours
Summertime (A Novella) by Adrienne Thompson
Audience: Adult - Genre: African American Contemporary Romance/Fantasy - Format: E-book - Publisher: Pink Cashmere Publishing, LLC - Cover by: Adrienne Thompson - Editor: Nick Wilford - Pages: 104 - ASIN: B00XQE1MPE - Date Published: June 2, 2015
An unlikely journey… an unlikely love. J'Nay Walker is a talented singer, driven toward success by a promise she made to her late mother. One gloomy day, on the tail of some disappointing news, tragedy strikes, threatening not only to derail her plans, but to end her life. As a result, she soon finds herself on an unlikely journey, but is she ready for an unlikely love?
Amazon / Goodreads
“Would it be too forward of me to ask if you already have a beau, lovely songbird?” I looked up at him, willed myself not to stare at his lips. “No—I mean, no, I don’t.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “The men around here must be dumb as rocks. Letting a fine-looking woman like you walk around here alone like this? I might just have to do something to fix that.”
I placed my hand on my chest. “Something like what?”
“Something like making you my woman.”
I shook my head. “Can’t do that. You’re just passing through.”
He nodded slightly as he reached up and touched my cheek. “Well, if you’re my girl,” he whispered, “I guess you’ll have to come with me… or I’ll have to stay.”
Then he leaned in and softly kissed me on the lips. Every nerve, muscle, and blood vessel in my body vibrated, and my knees buckled ever so slightly. “Dizzy…” I said softly.
He backed away from me with an intoxicated look in his eyes. “Call me John. I like the way you say it.”
“John?”
He smiled. “Yeah, I like that.”
“Dizzy, you holding up the game, man!” a voice shouted from upstairs.
He leaned in close to me again and smiled. “Damn, girl… you smell good.”
“I’m not wearing any perfume.”
“I didn’t think you were.”
Link: https://youtu.be/nNsyLd_lSfI 
Adrienne Thompson has worn many titles in her lifetime–from teenage mother to teenage wife to divorcee to registered nurse to author. This mother of two young adults and one teenager currently resides in Arkansas with her daughter where she writes and publishes her stories full time.
Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Pinterest
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![clip_image004[1]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1435077365i/15299255.png)
June 23, 2015
Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview - Succubus: Shadows of the Beast by @TWMordrake
![Succubus Banner 851 x 315_thumb[1]](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xPz6cBpaFn4/VYfPUmZ6rBI/AAAAAAAAQug/SR23VpEMM7w/s1600-h/Succubus-Banner-851-x-315_thumb12.png)
![clip_image002_thumb[1]](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nFteSkjqEuw/VYfPwkuMG1I/AAAAAAAAQvA/TdjXuTIO-Rc/s1600-h/clip_image002_thumb12.jpg)
Succubus: Shadows of the Beast
T.W. Mordrake
Genre: Paranormal and Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Nocturnal Trinity
Date of Publication: May 16th, 2015
ASIN: B00WV6L28A
Number of pages: 475 pages
Word Count: 138,000 words
Cover Artist: Ravenborn
Book Description:
Entering the real world after college often educates one to the true horrors of the harsh obstacles life has to offer. For Kailey Yates the discoveries are far more terrifying and dangerous. Two days before she graduated with a degree in investigative journalism, her brother Vincent is found dead in his swimming pool with a syringe stuck in his arm. His death is ruled as a suicide, but Kailey doesn't buy it.
She suspects Vincent's new wife Cassie is the one who actually killed him. Her suspicions are drawn from his rapid health deterioration during his short six month marriage. During one of her last Skype conversations she had with Vincent, Kailey's roommate Raven witnesses their conversation and immediately senses that Vincent is being soul-drained by a succubus. Since Raven is a witch, Kailey has no doubt about her friend's perception and concludes that Cassie must be the demon responsible.
Kailey leaves Boston and flies to Seattle for her brother's funeral. While there she investigates the circumstance surrounding his death. She uncovers dark information that leads her to Nocturnal Trinity, a nightclub in the heart of Seattle. And worse, the underground club is run by a powerful alliance of vampires, demons, and witches that wish to protect Cassie at all costs, which includes killing Kailey or anyone else if necessary.
Warning: Adults 18+ due to adult theme/scene.
Available at Amazon
Kailey Yates knew that her brother Vincent would never have killed himself had it not been for his new wife, Cassie. And yet, Kailey stood at Vincent’s graveside while the workers prepared to lower her brother’s casket into the cold ground, his final resting place.
The gray overcast Seattle sky with its chilly swirling mists set the mood for the burial and the gloom that also possessed her broken heart. The towering leafless oaks in the cemetery were sinister skeletons forewarning that the dangerous kiss of winter’s death would soon settle over them, harsher than ever before.
One never escaped death, but sometimes death came too early with an unfairness that made Kailey want to scream at the heavens from her inner rage and loss. After all, her brother had been a successful attorney in his early thirties and destined to become the first in their family that had graduated from college to live a prosperous lifestyle. He was never a man who entertained suicidal thoughts.
The workers and his ritzy friends from the Langston Law Firm had come out in great number. She estimated no less than one hundred people had arrived. Never had she seen so many expensive suits and vehicles. Coming from a modest middleclass family, she never imagined she or her brother would rub elbows with the upper class of society, but he had been adamant that they would be wealthy and worked painstakingly to get them there.
While the priest gave the eulogy, the men and women stood stoically silent, their eyes staring at Vincent’s casket. The priest finished speaking and led the audience in a proper prayer, praying that Vincent’s soul found forgiveness and mercy for leaving this world by suicide.
How fitting, Kailey thought, wringing her hands. Blame the innocent for what the murderer did.
While the others respectfully closed their eyes, she gazed around, trying to see Cassie, but the two men standing in front of her sister-in-law blocked Kailey’s view. Moments after the priest finished his lengthy ill-placed prayer, the wealthy people mingled to hug, shake hands, and chat.
The slight breeze swirled Kailey’s long reddish-brown curls, forcing her to pull her hair back and letting it fall onto her back and shoulders. Her jaw suddenly tightened, hiding the wrinkles that deepened into cute dimples whenever she smiled. Her hazel eyes suddenly blazed with anger and vengeance.
Across the grave Cassie stood dressed in a form-fitting black skirt that accentuated her perfect curves and perhaps distastefully revealed more leg than what was suitable at a funeral for one’s husband. Her tight long-sleeved jacket cut off at her midriff, revealing her well-defined abs. She wore black-netted hose and velvety black high heels. Hell, streetwalkers wore more clothes in this cold weather.
Cassie hid her pale face behind a white handkerchief and sobbed. Kailey understood how a man might be immediately drawn to Cassie’s exquisite beauty. Her slender oval face with high cheekbones gave her a regal presence even at this dismal funeral. She carried herself with the utmost grace, in spite of her poor choice of attire, but she also had a seductively dark energy radiating from her.
When Cassie’s dark eyes met Kailey’s, Cassie lowered her hands and meekly folded the handkerchief. Her tearless eyes weren’t even slightly tinged red. A bit of amusement curled Cassie’s pouty lips. An odd flicker of recognition blazed in her eyes and hinted slight detestation, even though they had never met in person. Kailey felt the resentment and didn’t understand why, unless Cassie had somehow figured out that Kailey suspected her of murdering Vincent, which Kailey did. Perhaps Cassie read it in her eyes. Or worse, perhaps this she-devil could read Kailey’s thoughts.
Moments later, Cassie broke their connection and returned to her fake sobs, wiping at her eyes with the cloth in a way that demanded pity from the solemn onlookers.
One of Vincent’s former attorney friends wore a gray pinstriped suit and overcoat. He approached Cassie to console her. He was trim with brown hair, a firm jaw, and offered a tender smile as he spoke to the widow. She buried her face against the man’s chest. Obviously surprised by her approach, he gently patted her back from an awkward distance, but Cassie aggressively wrapped her arms around him. To lessen his discomfort in the situation, he finally leaned in closer and embraced her.
She nuzzled against his chest, reached beneath his jacket, and clung to him. Her body shook with what people nearby might consider being violent heaving sobs. He rested his chin atop her head and whispered. His hands gently rubbed her back, and she seemed to calm at his touch and gentle words. She stopped sobbing and became less broken.
Don’t you see that those tears aren’t real? A slight breeze rustled Kailey’s long flowing brown hair. Instead of remorse for her brother’s death, she felt a growing resentment toward his widow. A bitter taste came to the back of her throat, and she fought the rising gag reflex from seeing this woman’s blatant slutty behavior and utter disrespect for her husband. What did Vincent ever see in you?
Kailey also battled the growing urge to march across the cemetery and rattle the woman with several jabs to Cassie’s face and swift punches to her stomach.
Another place. Another time.
Kailey’s sister-in-law, even now, wore little makeup. Her lipstick was a bright red hue, which made her pale reflection appear even lighter. Her raven hair was neatly styled with silver pins and sprigs of Lady’s Breath. Her pretend tears had not smudged the dark mascara around her eyes, and with her ashen complexion she resembled a corpse better than her brother probably had at his viewing. To others, even the hundred or more attending the funeral, she appeared stately, reserved, and the perfect widow.
Well played, Kailey thought. You’ve fooled them, but not me.
Cassie was a cold parasite that had preyed upon Vincent, seduced him into marrying her, and then taken his life to possess his wealth and million-dollar estate. Kailey couldn’t act on her suspicions alone. She needed proof. The coroner had ruled her brother’s death as a suicide, but she believed it was not. Relevant details had never been disclosed to her, and she wanted answers.
Vincent had been murdered. Cassie had killed him, made it look like a suicide, and Kailey was determined to prove it.
Character Name: Kailey Yates
Character Bio: 22 years old. Tennessee native. Seattle transplant. Reddish brown hair with dimpled smile. Atheist. Bi. College graduate with degree in investigative journalism.
Describe yourself what is your worst and best quality?
Worst quality: does not fully trust others; Best quality: is searching for the facts to solve problems.
What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?
I wish others understood how much I want to be a part of a family-like relationship. After losing my parents at an early age, and then my brother just shortly before my college graduation, I feel empty and lost without anyone to comfort me.
What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?
I fight MMA style to hide my insecurities. If I look tough on the outside, perhaps others will view me as a stronger person on the inside. Slowly, I’m finding my confidence on the rise. I’m getting bolder and taking more chances.
What are you most afraid of?
Being alone.
What do you want more than anything?
Understanding of people and society. Why do people act like they do?
What is your relationship status?
I’m currently in a hot sensual relationship with a werewolf. Not certain where this might lead, but definitely enjoying the intimacy.
How would you describe your sense of fashion?
I train a lot in martial arts so I wear a lot of sweats, yoga pants, and fitness bras. But take me out on the town, and I love heels and a short skirt to show off my tanned legs.
How much of a rebel are you?
I suppose many people view me as a major rebel for wanting to be a MMA contender, but the challenges of training and sparing are actually more helpful in allowing me to sort through all the mental garbage I’ve endured during my young life. I get out my frustrations in the ring or by beating a punching bag. One to one, however, I try to figure out what makes others tick and try not to be judgmental outside the ring.
What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?
Receiving my college degree
What is your idea of happiness?
Making my own choices without someone else trying to dictate that I do something else.
What is your current state of mind?
Positive and outgoing.
What is your most treasured possession?
My education
What is your most marked characteristic?
My hazel eyes or dimpled smile
What is it that you, most dislike?
I cannot stand bullies or controlling people. Either type sets me off, making me avoid them at all costs. However, if such attitudes are focused on another who cannot defend herself, I will step in and stop the bully.
Which living person do you most despise?
I’m still at odds with Flora. I don’t think there’s much she can do to redeem herself with me.
What is your greatest regret?
Not visiting my brother before he was killed.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Rugged, athletic, self-confident, outgoing, charming smile, thoughtful, considerate
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Same as above, but add pouty lips, toned legs and ass
Who is your favorite hero in fiction?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Which living person do you most admire?
Rhonda Rousey
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
That I was taller.
What is your motto?
Get what you give
T.W. Mordrake writes Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Fantasy. A lover of all things mystical, T.W. explores the strange, unusual, and haunted places in the U.S., which lends to the underlying charm for writing about the paranormal creatures that lurk in the dark shadows of night.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TW-Mordrake/741088412677706
@TWMordrake
Book Blast, Giveaway & Top Ten: His Cemetery Doll by Brantwijn Serrah @Brantwijn @sparklebooktour
Presented by: Sparkle Book Tours
His Cemetery Doll by Brantwijn Serrah
Audience: Adult 18+ - Genre: Paranormal Romance/Suspense - Format: Ebook and Paperback - Publisher: Foreplay and Fangs Supernatural Romance - Cover by: Brantwijn Serrah - Editor: Jayne Wolf - Pages: 194 - ISBN: 9781513050829 - ASIN: B00X6567H6 - Date Published: Re-release date: May 4th, 2015
Conall Mackay never put stock in ghost stories. Not even after thirteen years serving as the cemetery keeper in the village of Whitetail Knoll. But things change. Now, his daughter is dreaming of a figure among the tombstones. The grounds are overrun by dark thorns almost faster than Con can clear them. White fog and gray ribbons creep up on him in the night, and a voiceless beauty beckons him from the darkest corners of the graves. When the world he knows starts to unravel, Conall might finally be forced to believe.
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He hadn't slept long before he heard sounds from down in the kitchen below. "Shyla!" he called gruffly. "Weren't you heading into town?"
No answer came from below, but the sounds of pots clanging told him his daughter toyed about down there. Perhaps she'd decided not to leave him after all and taken it into her head to now re-organize the house, since he'd so clearly wanted her to stay out of the cemetery. With a low groan, Conall rolled out of bed and stepped out into the hall.
"Shyla!" he called again, coming to the head of the stairs. If she had stayed home, she could at least do it without making a lot of noise.
"Shyla, I—"
He staggered then, as the hallway dimmed. Afternoon light flickered strangely, lightning cracking a dismal sky outside, and in the space of time afterward everything else darkened. Conall darted a glance around him as the house fell into shadow.
From the top of the stairwell, he saw the first whispering tendrils of white fog.
The heat of adrenaline shot through his limbs. Conall stumbled back into his bedroom, even as the fog pursued. His gaze shot to the window as the last gray light of day faded away and eerie darkness replaced it, like an eclipse sliding over the sun.
More cold mists veiled the glass, dancing and floating. Trembling overtook him as he spun to find another escape.
He froze, finding himself face-to-face with the broken mask of the cemetery doll.
"You—" he gasped. His breath came out white as the fog enveloped them both, leaving a space of mere inches between them, so he could still see her expressionless face. Gray ribbons wound and curled through the air around him.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The doll stared up at him. He sensed her searching, looking into his eyes even though hers remained covered. She held him there with her unseen gaze, until her cool, cold hand came up to touch his bare chest.
Conall let out a low breath. He closed his eyes, and a shudder of strange ease rippled through his body. The cool pads of her fingers ran down his sternum, to his navel. The silky ribbons brushed along his side.
Then he noticed her other hand. She lifted it up, to her own chest, and she held something tightly in her fingers: Shyla's stuffed dog.
"I made that...for my daughter," he whispered. The woman with the broken mask tilted her head down toward the small toy, studying it. For a fraction of a second, her fingers appeared to tighten around it. She returned her gaze to him, then, and the toy fell from her grip into the fog, forgotten.
"Wait—" he said, but she brought her other hand up to his chest to join the first, and he recognized eagerness in the way she pressed her icy skin against his. Her face tilted to him, and then came her lips again, ivory and flawless.
"I—" Conall breathed. "I...don't understand..."
Her fingers slid up, around his neck, but he pulled away.
"No, this...this can't real. I'm asleep. I must be."
Gray ribbons danced, pulling him back to her, and she stroked his face. He sucked in a breath at her touch and found his own hand coming up to brush hers.
"You're so cold," he said. "Like stone...but..."
Her cool touch thrilled him; it made his skin tingle and the heat of his own body sing. Her perfect flesh did, in fact, prove soft under his hands, as if the contact with his worn calluses infused cold ivory with yearning. She caressed his cheek, and Conall leaned into it. Before he could stop himself, he bowed his head to her and kissed her frozen lips.
link: http://tinyurl.com/m858yt5
Shyla Mackay Lucy Merriam
Conall Mackay Joe Manganiello
Broken Doll Kristen Bell
Father Frederick David Thewlis
Hear the Music at Brantwijn’s YouTube Channel: http://tinyurl.com/nywdaq5
Brantwijn Serrah’s Top 10 Favorite Authors (and favorite books by those authors)
1. Sarah Waters, author of Tipping the Velvet, Fingersmith, and Affinity.
2. Stephen King, author of It, The Stand, Under the Dome, and The Dark Tower
3. Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files
4. JK Rowling, author of Harry Potter
5. Naomi Novik, author of The Temeraire Chronicles
6. Torie James, author of the New Camelot series
7. Rebekah Lewis, author of The Cursed Satyroi
8. Jennifer Roberson, author of The Cheysuli Chronicles
9. Piers Anthony, author of Bio of a Space Tyrant
10. Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale
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The story of His Cemetery Doll has been waiting to be told since Brantwijn Serrah first began jotting things down in her school notebooks instead of doing her homework. Conall Mackay and his lady ghost have existed for Brantwijn, in some form or another, longer than almost any other characters she's collected. This tale of a haunted graveyard and imprisoned beauty is, in Brantwijn's opinion, a wonderful way to finally bring them to life.
When she isn't visiting the worlds of immortals, demons, dragons and goblins, Brantwijn fills her time with artistic endeavors: sketching, painting, customizing My Little Ponies and sewing plushies for friends. She can't handle coffee unless there's enough cream and sugar to make it a milkshake, but try and sweeten her tea and she will never forgive you. She moonlights as a futon for four lazy cats, loves tabletop role-play games, and can spend hours watching Futurama, Claymore or Buffy the Vampire Slayer while she writes or draws.
In addition to her novels, Brantwijn has had several stories published in anthologies by Breathless Press, including the 2013 Crimson Anthology and 2014 Ravaged Anthology. She's also had a short story published in the Cleiss Press Big Book of Orgasm and the anthology Coming Together Through The Storm. She hopes to have several more tales to tell as time goes on. She has author pages on GoodReads and Amazon, and loves to see reader comments on her work. Her short stories occasionally pop up at Foreplay and Fangs, her blog at http://brantwijn.blogspot.com.
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