Karen Swart's Blog, page 85
January 16, 2014
Author Interview with Maureen Willett, author of The Soul Stealer.
Today on the blog we have author Maureen Willett for an interview. Her novel, The Soul Stealer is today’s book blitz on the blog. So sit back and relax and lets get to know this amazing author.
Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
Yes, I did always want to be a writer from the time I was in third grade. I majored in journalism in college, and have spent most of my career as a working writer.
When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?
Just recently I came out of the closet and started telling my friends about my novels. Even though I’ve been writing all my life, to admit I created paranormal fiction was a big leap for me, as well as for some of my friends. One friend I’ve known for 20 years told me that he felt like he hadn’t known me at all after hearing about it.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
Years. Actually, The Soul Stealer is the fourth novel I’ve written, but the first three aren’t good enough, so I didn’t want them available to readers. I wrote my first novel ten years ago and have been perfecting my craft since.
Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
Yes, I work full time as an independent rep for a yearbook publishing company, so I’m in publishing for my day job, too. It’s great because I get to work from my home, make my own hours, and don’t have the pressure of being in an office downtown every day.
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 Soul Stealer. Romeo and Juliet meets True Blood, set in Hawaii.
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
Self published.
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
About a year and a half. One year to write the first draft, then six months for rewrites and editing. Then, I hire a professional copy editor for the final touches.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
My novels are in the paranormal genre, and I seem to be currently fascinated with faeries. I’m working on a paranormal historical novel about a family from Ireland who immigrates to Kansas in 1870 because they are about to be accused of witchcraft in their home village. A leprechaun/faery follows them to the new world. I was doing my family tree last summer and came across some interesting antic dotes about my ancestors’ journeys to America and have incorporated those stories into this novel. Of course, I had to put a supernatural twist on it, too.
What genre would you place your books into?
Paranormal fiction/urban fantasy
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
I grew up with very spiritual people who believed in things you couldn’t see. One of our favorite pastimes as kids was to levitate tables, which we did with the help of our mother. Today, it’s called table tipping in certain circles. So writing paranormal fiction was a natural direction for me. It’s just how my imagination works.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?
As much as I love my rock star faery, Andrew Le Fey, in The Soul Stealer, my favorite character is Hunter. He’s complex, conflicted, and tortured by his past. I wanted a main character who isn’t completely transparent or obvious in his motives, seductive, somewhat ruthless, and magical. Hunter is all of those.
How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
I’ve been writing since I was in third grade. It’s just who I am. And my stories come from somewhere else entirely. I’m just the vessel who sets them to words.
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I sit at my laptop in my home office to write, but I need complete isolation. So if anyone comes into the room, I have to stop writing. The spell has been broken.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
Yes, every one. But I don’t take any of them very seriously.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
Write the book first. The title is hard to come by and usually arrives late.
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
I’m not really sure. I try to write what I know, so most of my novels are set in either Los Angeles or Hawaii, where I’ve spent most of my years. Especially with Hawaii, I try to bring its sense of place to the story. The characters develop as the story does. I don’t outline or plot my stories. I have an idea with a beginning and an end and two main characters that pops into my head. The rest falls into place while I’m writing the novel.
Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?
The character comes first. The name must fit the character accurately, so sometimes a character changes name half-way through, or their features change. That can be confusing when I rewrite the second draft.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
As I go along, and not very intentionally. There’s usually a need or purpose for a secondary character, so their traits are easy to figure out. The main characters aren’t by choice or design. They are in my head and I put them on paper as I see them. They are their own beings, and I have no control over how they look or what their personalities are. It’s like watching a movie. It just unfolds before my eyes. In writing The Soul Stealer, I didn’t realize Hunter is a magical being until about halfway through the first draft. It was a surprise to me. But then on second draft, I went through and incorporated his magical powers and traits throughout the story to make it flow better.
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..")
Great question! The Soul Stealer is an allegory for dating. I was single for many years as a young adult and dated all sorts. I got tired of meeting someone, really liking him, only to be disappointed by his real personality after the dating façade wore thin. We tend to put our best behavior forward when we first meet someone, but it slowly whittles away as you get closer. Sometimes you discover secrets about his past that are shocking. That’s what happens with my two main characters in The Soul Stealer, only Hunter’s secrets are a bit more fantastic than most, especially since he’s not really human. And Malia is already committed to him when she figures that one out. So, the trials and tribulations of dating, accelerated.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
I have to travel frequently for my job, so I’m all about eBooks. They’re easy to download and I can carry more than one on my tablet.
What is your favorite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?
I’ve never read a book more than once, but if I did it would be the Harry Potter series. There’s so much detail and twists and turns that a reader can’t catch it all the first go round.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
It all depends on the treatment by the movie producers. I’d have to say that the Harry Potter movies are the best stories transferred to the screen. I was happy with them all, although I loved the books more. Most of the time if I read the book first, I’m completely disappointed with the movie. And if I see the movie first, I rarely read the book after. There’s no point once you know the beginning and the end.
Your favorite food is?
I don’t know, is white wine a food?
Your favorite singer/group is?
That tends to change with the wind, but right now it’s Adele. Her voice is beyond compare.
Your favorite color is?
Lavender, because it’s so soothing. I love the smell, too.
Your favorite Author is?
There are many favorites for a variety of reasons. I recently read A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick and was blown away by his writing. The story isn’t anything new, but his prose sets it apart. It’s absolutely astounding the way he puts words together. Loved it!
To find out more about Maureen check out today’s book blitz.
Book Blitz and Giveaway: The Soul Stealer by Maureen Willett
The Soul Stealer
Maureen Willett
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Publish Green
ISBN: 978-1-62652
ASIN: B00ED1WLCW
Number of pages: 251
Word Count: 92,317
Book Description:
Hunter Blackthorne has almost all he needs: powerful magic and the seductive art of deception. Now, all he needs is her soul.
In the dark, twisting world of The Soul Stealer, half-human Hunter Blackthorne embarks on a quest to vanquish the heir of his father's enemy by stealing her soul. Though his father would settle for her mere death, Hunter is determined to pilfer Malia Smalls' very essence in hopes of obtaining supreme power. The Soul Stealer is a story of questioned loyalties, power struggles, and decidedly unconventional romance.
Since his target is a mere human, Hunter's mission seems laughably straightforward. However, upon meeting Malia, Hunter realizes that this task is anything but uncomplicated. Hunter starts to waver between commitment to his father's cause and an unshakable feeling of foreboding guilt over his mission. Hunter thought he knew everything there was to know about his identity and his family, but signs of a darker truth lurk below, threatening to overturn everything.
A story of alternate realities and twisting complications set in exotic Hawaii, The Soul Stealer is a story of fantasy, magic and mysticism, but also a story about humanity and the moral and emotional conflicts that we all face. The Soul Stealer transports the reader to an exciting, dangerous, and captivating world that won't be easily forgotten.
Since she was in grade school, Maureen Willett has been a writer of fiction that pushes the boundaries of what is and isn’t. At that time, she twisted class writing assignments into stories about witches, tricksters in the night, and sparkling faery dust. And, participating in the art of levitation every time her family gathered at holidays made Maureen feel more than qualified to write fantastic tales. Magic had always been a secret part of her family’s legacy--toyed with but never spoken about.
But life got in the way. A successful career in automotive journalism and public relations in Los Angeles took her places in the corporate world she had dreamed of while majoring in communications in college. Climbing the corporate ladder to vice president of a prestigious public relations agency was engrossing, but did she really want to spend her days writing about cars and monster trucks, and trying to break through the thick glass ceiling of the automotive world?
Then one day, she was offered a transfer to the Honolulu, Hawaii, office of her agency. She jumped at the chance to change her predictable and stressful existence for one of soaking up the sun on a white, sandy beach. Or so she thought.
Hawaii didn’t prove to be as stress free as Maureen had hoped, but it did offer a fresh perspective. After two uncertain years of trying to blend into the foreign island culture, Maureen fell in love with Oahu and vowed never to leave. The tropical paradise held a soft yet powerful mysticism that inspired her to set pen to paper once again.
Even the office buildings in downtown Honolulu were haunted. Maureen often saw ethereal beings in the halls of the radio station where she was the manager of local and national sales. These pesky pieces of grey mist didn’t bother her, though. Maureen thought of them more as interesting topics for urban fantasy tales than scary apparitions.
Magical creatures pop off the pages of her novels, but at the core of each story are great characters in very human conflicts that anyone will find compelling. Very often, Maureen writes about angels, faeries, and even leprechauns, but they are always woven through an authentic story.
As an avid reader herself, Maureen wants a page-turner that keeps her up until the wee hours of morning. She strives to create that same experience for her own readers. Each novel is carefully crafted as an exciting, mind-bending experience that will take readers beyond their day-to-day lives.
But don’t expect to think too hard, or contemplate the meaning of life. Pure fun and page-turning entertainment is what you’ll find in a novel by Maureen Willett. It’s almost a magical experience.
Website: www.maureenwillett.com
Twitter: @maureenwillett
Facebook: www.bit.ly/soulstealerseries
January 15, 2014
Series Blast and Giveaway: The Gatekeepers of Em’pyrean Series by KD Pryor
The Portal’s Choice
The Gatekeepers of Em’pyrean Series
Book One
KD Pryor
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Madaket Lane Publishers
ISBN-10: 0989251403
ISBN-13: 978-0989251402
ASIN: B00CNV5LHG
Number of pages: 502
Word Count: 148,139
Cover Artist: Bespoke Book Covers
Amazon Print Amazon Kindle BN Nook
Book Description:
Portals. Doorways. Gateways. All ways to get in or out of someplace, right?
Nothing weird, spooky or otherworldly about them. Or, at least that’s what Tallis Challinor always thought. Tallis is a practical young woman, a writer, a lover of words and a natural storyteller. But she’s not sure what to do when real-life sucks her into a story far stranger than anything she’s ever imagined.
Tallis discovers that portals are passageways between the human and spirit worlds. She finds out that bent-on-evil ghosts can escape from the spirit realm through those gateways whether they are supposed to or not. And when they do, Tallis finds herself the chosen human, picked by the portal in her basement in New Hampshire, to seek out and return the wayward spirits.
All Tallis wants to do is recover from the loss of her parents and settle into her new home. She’d like a boyfriend, someone like the cute guy, Aiden, down the street. She’d like some girlfriends to talk to and maybe even go shopping with. And she’d like the ghosts, the portal, and the responsibility that has been thrust upon her to disappear.
But when the ghosts threaten her new hometown, her friends, and the family she holds so dear, Tallis discovers the inner courage to meet the portal’s challenge and save those most precious to her. Along the way, Tallis learns that she is more than she’s ever imagined herself to be and that she deserves more than she’s ever dreamed possible.
The Inn of the Kindred Spirits
The Gatekeepers of Em’pyrean Series
KD Pryor
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Madaket Lane Publishers
ISBN-10: 0983232415
ISBN-13: 978-0983232414
ASIN: B00GQC7L58
Number of pages: 194
Word Count: 52,870
Cover Artist: Bespoke Book Cover
Amazon print Amazon Kindle BN Nook
Book Description:
Brittany, France. Near the coast. A picturesque inn. Spectacular scenery. Tasty French treats. Time off from school.
Tallis Challinor imagines this as the perfect vacation scenario, so when her grandfather suggests that she accompany him to the country of her ancestors, she is more than happy to tag along. What Tallis doesn’t bargain on is another ghostly encounter, especially not so soon after she’s sealed up a bunch of unruly ghosts on their side of the portal between the human and spirit realms. But, when she feels the energy radiating from the megalithic standing stones dotting the countryside around Carnac, France, an energy that feels frighteningly like the power exuding from the portal in her basement back home, she has a feeling she might be in trouble. And she is right.
When her grandfather goes missing, Tallis leaps into action. She calls the only ghostbuster she knows in France and, with help on the way, she gears up to battle another set of spirits bent on causing destruction. Along the way, Tallis is forced to examine her life, her relationships, and her tightly-held beliefs about who she is and where she comes from. She also has to juggle two impossible males, both attractive but annoying, both seemingly set on driving her nuts or breaking her heart.
KD Pryor started life in Missouri, where she read lots of books, even sneaking them into baseball games to the irritation of her father. Kelley graduated with a degree in International and Comparative Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. After college and marriage to a great guy, she decided to pursue a law degree at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Her oldest son was born soon after law school, followed three years later by her daughter and a move to Kentucky. One more son, a move to Ohio and four years later, her family jumped on the opportunity to move to India. They lived in Bangalore, now Bengaluru, for four wonderfully chaotic years, traveling all over Asia, Australia and Europe.
Now, settled in New Hampshire with her family and herd of cats (only three), she can often be found in her office, working on the next installment of “The Gatekeepers of Em’pyrean” series, reading one of a dozen books she has started, and dreaming of her future travel destinations.
“The Portal’s Choice”, book one in “The Gatekeeper’s of Em’pyrean” series featuring Tallis Challinor, was released on May 6, 2013.
“The Inn of the Kindred Spirits”, a novella featuring protagonist Tallis Challinor, was released in November 18, 2013.
“The Forgotten Gate”, book two in “The Gatekeeper of Em’pyrean” series, is scheduled for release in 2014.
Website: http://www.kdpryor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kdpryorauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KDPryorbooks
@KDPryorbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7031784.K_D_Pryor
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/KDPryorbooks/boards/
Author Interview with Shauna Allen, author of Wounded Wings.
Today on the blog we have author Shauna Allen, her book Wounded Wings one of today’s book blast’s. So sit back and enjoy.
Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
I recently gave up full-time nursing, so I’m now a full-time writer, editor, and assistant to two NYT Bestselling authors. Writing is literally my life now, LOL!
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Wounded Wings: Book III of the Cupid Chronicles.
It is the story of a fallen angel, his search for redemption, his equally wounded soulmate, and their Heaven-sent Cupid.
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
I am published by Soul Mate publishing.
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
This varies depending on my life and time constraints, but anywhere from six months to a year typically. I’d love to be faster! LOL!
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I’m releasing Charlie’s Angel: A Cupid Chronicles Novella this Valentine’s Day, as well as Cupid’s Last Stand, the fourth and final Cupid Chronicles novel sometime around mid-2014. I’ve got a Young Adult novel that I’m shopping around to agents and major publishers right now as well and a sweet novella I’m contributing to an anthology about love’s redemption to release around Easter. But, other than that, I’m not sure if I will retire my angels completely. We’ll see what the readers have to say. But, what I do know is that I’ll keep writing sexy, sassy (and emotional) books. J
What genre would you place your books into?
I’m Light Paranormal Contemporary Romance with splashes of sexy and sassy. J
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
I don’t think I decided that, it found me. I sat down to write one day (in what is now the first book of the series, Inked by an Angel) and the prologue began flowing. And the totally unplanned line of dialogue “The Angel made me do it,” came out of my hero’s mouth. I had no idea why or what or who! I sat back and thought about it, and literally built an entire book, then series, around that one line, creating Michael, my matchmaking Cupid.
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
No routine other than I must have my iPod and music for the best mojo. Other than that, I can be just about anywhere. Though I’ve done my best writing in solitude and on writing retreats!
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
I try not to, and I’d love to say ‘no,’ but that would be a lie. Of course I have.
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
Off the top of my head and out of my imagination. Sometimes, my friends and critique partners have helped me brainstorm some, too.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I am a plotter to the extreme, so not only are my characters well defined before I sit down to write, my story is pretty much plotted as well. Flying by the seat of my pants would totally stress me out, LOL!
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..")
Not really. I do have a “theme” and character arc for my heroes, but not a “moral” that I want the reader to “learn.” I wouldn’t presume to be a teacher. Just an entertainer. J
What is your favorite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?
I’ve often said my favorite book is Jude Deveraux’s A Knight in Shining Armor because it was the first book to make me cry. That’s when I realized an author can make an emotional connection with a reader. It was also the first book I read more than once. I’ve since made that same connection through laughter with Kristan Higgins (one of my other faves) and Jill Shalvis. But, I’ll have to admit Jude has been toppled by a new favorite book . . . Katy Evans’ Real Series has left me with not only my first “book boyfriend,” but my first book hangover. Love, love, love those books! (And, yes, read more than once!)
Your favorite food is?
Devil’s food chocolate cupcakes
Your favorite singer/group is?
Casting Crowns
Your favorite color is?
Yellow
Your favorite Author is?
Katy Evans
To find out more about Shauna and her books, check out the book blast today of Wounded Wings.
Book Blast: Wounded Wings Cupid Chronicles Book III by Shauna Allen
![Wounded Wings Banner 450 X 169_thumb[1]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zJl397Htjls/UtY25jKOJdI/AAAAAAAAEzI/rWXaExq_acs/s1600-h/Wounded-Wings-Banner-450-X-169_thumb.png)
![clip_image002_thumb[1]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YhQEqo12Yss/UtY29lPK6AI/AAAAAAAAEzo/yX07z_fSdZ4/s1600-h/clip_image002_thumb12.jpg)
Wounded Wings
Cupid Chronicles
Book III
Shauna Allen
Genre: Light Paranormal
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Date of Publication: December 18, 2013
ISBN: 13: 978-1-61935-349-7
ASIN:
Number of pages: 269
Word Count: 72K
Cover Artist: Rae Monet
Book Description:
Wounded.
Judged harshest by his own heart after the greatest of sins, Elijah Smith imposes the most brutal of punishments upon himself. He is now a fallen angel, cast down by his own hand—lost, suffering, caught between two worlds, and searching for redemption.
Scars.
Scarred emotionally and physically, Naomi Evans has always put her happiness aside to repay her debt to the one who saved her. Never quite fitting into her friendly little town after being abandoned as a child, she’s not sure love will ever find her aching heart.
Redemption.
New Destiny, Arizona will never be the same. Two strangers have rolled into town, shaking Heaven and Earth. One, a handsome loner is temporarily stranded and biding his time, quietly bestowing random acts of kindness on total strangers until he can be on his way. The second, an undercover Cupid named Michael, is determined to bring healing and true love.
His assignment? A fallen brother and his equally wounded soulmate.
Will Naomi be able to see past both their scars? Can Elijah ever forgive himself?
Is such redemption possible?
Excerpt -
Eli gripped her chin and forced her to look up at him. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, indicating the space between them.
Was she sure about what?
Naomi stared into his deep, dark, endless eyes and tried to fathom what in the world he was talking about. But, for the life of her, she was lost. Her emotional radar felt skewed as her heart raced to the rhythm of her zipping nerves.
He stepped closer, his breath mingling with hers. Sweet. A hint of chocolate. She licked her dry lips and his eyes dipped to watch the motion of her tongue.
His hand, still on her chin, moved to cup her neck. She automatically gripped his waist.
Please, her mind screamed. Please kiss me without retreating and calling me a sin.
He seemed to read her thoughts.
He dipped his head and nuzzled the corner of her lips. She sucked in a breath and squeezed a fistful of his T-shirt.
He sucked on her full lower lip then trailed to the other side of her mouth. “. . . because I’m not . . .” he whispered against her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered open. “You’re not what?”
He rested his forehead against hers until they were nose to nose. “Sure.”
She flexed her fingers, gripping his shirt tighter. “About what, exactly?”
His eyes closed momentarily. “You.” He opened his eyes. “Me. Us.”
And women were supposed to be the ones who overthought everything. “Well, I’m not, either. But not everything is a sure bet. Why can’t we just enjoy each other right now? Leave what happens tomorrow for tomorrow.” She pecked a kiss to his frowning lips. “Don’t be so serious, Eli. I know nothing’s forever.”
If anything, his brows dipped further. “Really?”
She tugged his pelvis toward her until they were as close as they could be with clothes on. “Yes. Really. Now kiss me again.”
He studied her face for a few seconds as if trying to see if she was serious. She smiled and shoved back any doubt. He was a temporary treasure. Perfection for her to hold today. And she fully intended to do just that. The possible pain of losing him could wait. She’d be stronger tomorrow, after another taste of him. She sucked it up and tipped her face in silent invitation.
Finally, something clicked in his features and she felt the melting in his muscles as he relaxed into her arms. He hugged her tighter and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that whipped through her system, as potent as any drug. As his tongue parted the seam of her lips, there was no mistaking the possession of his body around hers. Or the response of her heart.
His.
Book Trailer for Inked by an Angel, the first book in the series: http://youtu.be/EDdKGsa_kjA
Shauna grew up an only child with two open and loving parents in Central Texas. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother to three fantastic (no, that’s not a typo!) teenagers—one she’s about to send off to the Air Force.
When she’s not writing, editing, or acting as a personal assistant to two NYT Bestselling authors, Shauna enjoys reading, movies with Gerard Butler, vacays to the beach, and hangin’ with the kiddos–even if they don’t like hangin’ with her!
Website and blog: www.shaunaallen.com
Angel Kisses Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/D_RcP
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/shauna.allen.12
Twitter : http://tiny.cc/s0dlmw
Goodreads : http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6916632.Shauna_Allen
Pinterest : http://pinterest.com/shaunaallen7/
January 13, 2014
Book Blast - In Our Dream, Dream Series Part 1 by Jacqueline Paige
Presented by:
![clip_image002[5]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uZLFRNGOUPA/UtL-ZvQQMmI/AAAAAAAAEw8/XuhWC942b9Q/s1600-h/clip_image00252.jpg)
In Our Dream
Dream Series
Part 1
Jacqueline Paige
Release date December 10 2013
She’s a small town cop. He’s an inmate undercover. They meet in a dream.
Book Description:
Jennah Best left the adrenaline packed life of being a cop on the edge for a more peaceful place. She escaped a marriage that almost destroyed her and now lives her life working for a small police station in the town of Ridge. At her age, she’s accepted that it’s too late and too much work to start all over again, until she meets a man in a dream...
While young, Dominic Palmer has always proven he can get the job done. Or at least, that was the case before he accepted a job and agreed to go undercover as an inmate. When months go by and there’s no word from his outside contact he wonders if he’s been left on the inside for good. He’s fighting to stay alive and keep his sanity, but finds himself completely distracted by a mysterious woman he met in a dream...
Previously released in Dreams anthology
Part 2 From A Dream will be released in February 2014
Excerpt:
The nerve of that man! Why won’t he just accept things and go away? She paced back and forth, trying to control the frustration that was pumping through her. Every time she saw him, every hurt moment came flooding back to her and she just wanted him gone. She wanted to move on and live her own life and try her damndest to be happy!
“Jennah?”
She spun around, expecting someone to be behind her. There was no one there. Was that Dominic’s voice? Oh no, she was hallucinating now! Should she call her doctor? Maybe the stress had finally caught up to her. Was she going to end up spending her holidays alone in the psych ward?
“Jennah, why are you so upset?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. I am not hearing voices! I am not losing my mind!
She heard his deep chuckle. “No, you’re not losing your mind. This is really happening. I should have told you, but in our dream...it’s not really a dream. We’re connecting.”
Her eyes flew open. What? “What?” She stood perfectly still, waiting to see if she could hear him again.
“I can explain it better later. I just picked up on how upset you were...”
She squinted. “Picked up? How? How are you inside my head when I’m completely awake? How can we talk inside my head?”
She heard him chuckle again. “Inside mine, as well. I don’t have time right now. Are you all right?”
She laughed out loud, not knowing if he would hear it in her head too. “Clearly not! I’m talking to a man from my dream inside my head while I’m wide awake standing in the locker room at work!”
“Jennah...”
Jacqueline Paige lives in Ontario in a small town that’s part of the popular Georgian Triangle area. No one has ever heard of Stayner, so she usually tells people she lives “near Collingwood” and no, she doesn’t ski at Blue Mountain or at all, in fact she’s not even fond of snow.
She began her writing career in 2006 and since her first published works in 2009 she hasn’t stopped. Jacqueline describes her writing as “all things paranormal”, which she has proven is her niche with stories of witches, ghosts, physics and shifters now on the shelves.
When Jacqueline isn’t working at her ‘reality job’ or lost in her writing she spends time with her five children, most of whom are finally able to look after her instead of the other way around. Together they do random road trips, that usually end up with them lost, shopping trips where they push every button in the toy aisle, hiking when there’s enough time to escape and bizarre things like creating new daring recipes in the kitchen. She’s a grandmother to four (so far) and looks forward to corrupting many more in the years to come.
Jacqueline loves to hear from her readers, you can find her at www.jacqpaige.webs.com , www.jacqpaige.blogspot.ca or http://magicseasonsbooks.blogspot.ca
January 12, 2014
Series Blast and Giveaway: The Luxuria Trilogy by Galia Ryan
Choices The Luxuria Trilogy, #1 Print Length: 194 pages
Publisher: Fanny Press
Publication Date: October 10, 2012
Format: eBook and paperback
ASIN: B009OWGQAS
ISBN: 978-1603815147
Anna is broke. Really broke. Credit cards maxed out. Store cards, too. She can’t make her repayments and there’s nowhere to turn. Educated, intelligent, and—until recently—upwardly mobile, Anna is forced to make a choice. Sink or swim. And swimming means finding a part-time job to complement her full-time career. One that would pay enough to get her head above water. Except that part-time jobs don’t pay. Usually. Drawn into the sordid world of private escorts, Anna discovers there is little she won’t do for money, lots and lots of money. She even starts to enjoy the sex. Until she meets an unusually seductive client who introduces her to the world of Dominance and submission. Then everything changes.
AVAILABLE AT:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/243183
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/choices-galia-ryan/1113369059?ean=9781603815147
Secrets
The Luxuria Trilogy, #2
Print Length: 190 pages
Publisher: Fanny Press
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Format: eBook and paperback
ASIN: B00COXXO9A
ISBN: 978-1603815161
Stephanie is a wild child, abandoned by her mother, spoiled by her father. Nothing is off-limits—even her father’s business partner—and bargaining her virginity for a summer on the Côte d’Azur is only the beginning.
Through her lover Charles she meets Olivia, who ushers her into another world. One of wealth, opportunity, and sex. Lots of sex. Gaining entrance to society via the beds of the elite, Stephanie is on the brink of having it all.
Then everything changes.
AVAILABLE AT:
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/314040
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-galia-ryan/1115262444?ean=9781603815161
Convent-educated from the age of four, Galia Ryan was brought up not to question. Perhaps because of this, she has always been fascinated by all things esoteric and “outside the square.” Originally from Sussex, England, and now living in New Zealand with her soul-mate husband and grown-up family, Galia tries to find time between her passions for writing and reading and for her other love—travel. There is always a growing list of must-see places. Secrets is the second novel in the Luxuria series, which began with Choices. The story of Anna and Stephanie will continue in Book 3. You can find Galia on the Web at Galiaryan.fannypress.com.
Book Blitz, Giveaway and Review–Another Shot At Love by Niecey Roy
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Book Info-
Title: Another Shot At Love
Author : Niecey Roy
Genre: NA Romantic Comedy, Humorous Contemporary Romance
Audience: 17 +
Formats: E-book and Paperback
Publisher: River Mist Media
Cover By: Once Upon A Covers
Pages: 362
ISBN-10: 0615908098
ISBN-13: 978-0615908090
ASIN: B00G2CNJF8
Date Published: October 21, 2013
Blurb-
Imogen Gorecki has a problem—her twin sister just got engaged, and guess who’s the best man? That’s right, her scum-of-an-ex-boyfriend whom she caught cheating with a bottle-blonde, with fake breasts and a stripper’s flexibility. There’s a disturbing possibility her eyes will never recover.
Gen needs a date for the engagement party, but finding Mr. Perfect in a time crunch is proving impossible. Just when she’s about to give up, she face-plants into the crotch of the sexiest guy she’s ever met.
Matt Sesnick is everything Gen wants in a man —except he’s not interested in a relationship. Can she convince Matt to take another shot at love, or will Gen’s pregnant, hormonal older sister, her bridezilla twin, and all of her past Mr. Wrongs get in the way of their happily-ever-after?
Book Links-
Amazon / Goodreads /Smashwords / Barnes and Noble
"Crazy sisters, best friends, a slimy ex, and a gorgeously sexy sweet man. Who wouldn't want Another Shot at Love?" ~~ Stacy Nickelson, It Started With A Book Blog
Excerpt-
“You really should change that light bulb,” Matt said, glancing around us.
“I know.” I pushed aside my wallet to dig to the bottom of my oversized purse. “I kind of take for granted that this is supposed to be a safe neighborhood.”
“Until an alien abducts you off your poorly lit porch.”
“Very funny.” I glanced up from my purse with a smile. “But really, it’s late. You could have been home by now.”
“Gen, I’m glad to walk you to your door. I would have worried about you if I hadn’t.”
I considered him as we stood there on my porch, the light flickering above us. I didn’t want him to leave, but I didn’t know how to ask him to stay. Maybe I could ask him in for a drink, though I’d already had enough.
But I have those cupcakes…
Yeah. I could offer him cupcakes. They weren’t his favorite, chocolate with sprinkles, but yellow cake with milk chocolate frosting had to be a close second, right? Hadn’t he said a cupcake will fix everything?
“I’m really glad we went out tonight.” His voice made me jump and I dropped the keys. We both bent to pick them up at the same time and bumped foreheads.
“Sorry,” he said.
“It’s okay, I’m fine.” I clasped my forehead and laughed. Probably, I sounded hysterical. Like a rabid hyena. I couldn’t even look him in the eye when I took the keys from him. “Thanks for inviting me. I had a lot of fun tonight.”
“Me too,” he said.
I put the key into the lock, turning it slowly as I struggled with what to do about him and my out of control libido. Unlocking my door hadn’t given me enough time to figure things out, though, so I tried to prolong sliding the patio door open. That didn’t take long either, and I hesitated in the doorway, still unsure. I opened my mouth to ask him in, but nothing came out. So I stepped backward through the doorway, my gaze glued to his. After a moment, he followed me inside, part of his face lost in shadows.
Time stood still. My tongue darted out to lick my lips, and I lifted up onto my toes as he lowered his head to meet me halfway. The smell of his cologne surrounded me and my eyes drifted shut. He grasped me loosely around my back, pulling me close, sending shivers coursing through my body. His breath caressed my skin, his lips just a whisper away from mine, and my lips parted…
Review -
5 out 5 Stars
Another Shot At Love
By Niecey Roy
Imogen’s twin sister have just announced that she is getting married in a few months. Even worse, Imogen is the maid of honor and her cheating ex the best man. Her sisters are convinced that Gen is going to go soft at the wedding and take her ex back, ending up even more hurt than what she still is. A plan of action is set out and Gen starts going on blind dates to try and find a suitable date for the rehearsal dinner and wedding. Only problem with the blind dates, her sisters are arranging them and they are not going as planned.
When another date ended in failure Gen just gives up, it’s at that moment when she lands in the crotch of the sexiest guy on earth. Her one night date with him leaves her breathless. But determined never to fall in love again she sidesteps the whole thing, until she has no option but to tell her family that she is dating him to get her sisters to back off. Her world spirals out of control and soon Gen is left more than just breathless. Can she really give love another shot? Or are she doomed for another broken heart?
This was such a wonderful read. I was just cracking myself open. The fights between the sisters will leave you giggling and then when Gen lies about her boyfriend you are just loving every moment. The novel was well written and the plot executed perfectly. I was so intrigued with this novel. Matt’s character was a perfect fit for poor Gen, and in the end I was just smiling from ear to ear. A wonderful story filled with amazing characters. Well done to the author.
Giveaway -
![clip_image012[4]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zY6a-kTWwhs/UtGvsLONZ5I/AAAAAAAAEu8/WsA8Zi7a1A8/s1600-h/clip_image012%25255B4%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg)
About the Author –
Niecey Roy knew she wanted to be a writer from a very young age, but her moment of enlightenment came after watching the movie You’ve Got Mail. It was then she realized her place in life, and happily parked her butt on writing romance. Her dream was to create sexy vixens, hunky, half-naked heroes, and above all, romance; lots and lots of butterflies in the belly, breathless first kisses and happily-ever-afters.
When she’s not at her day job where she works as a legal assistant, she can be found at home at a cluttered desk, pounding her tired little fingers away on a keyboard with nothing but black pepper flavored sunflower seeds and Visine as her weapons for mass-romance-novel-creation. When her fingers need a break, you’ll find her at a table with friends, drinking a few martinis and showing off a new pair of (sometimes ridiculous) high heels. She’s usually the loudest at the table and most often the one snorting with laughter.
Niecey is the author of Fender Bender Blues, a contemporary romantic comedy published by The Wild Rose Press. Her new novel to be released November 2013, Another Shot At Love, is the first novel in the What’s Love??? series.
Media Links –
Email / Website /Blog /Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr
January 10, 2014
Another Shot At Love Blog Tour–Today our stop is over at…
Today our blog stops are over at:
Paranormal Book Club
http://www.paranormal-bookclub.com
Nerd Girl Official
Head on over and check them out!
Series Blast: Seven Seals Series by Traci Douglass
Seal Of Awakening
Seven Seals Series
Book Three
Traci Douglass
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: SpinTale Publishing
Date of Publication: October 28th, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-9897829-0-6
Number of pages: 261
Word Count: 70,000
Cover Artist: Kim Killion
Book Description:
Socially awkward geneticist Quinn Strickland has willingly forgone the pleasures in life to reach her career objectives. Alone and approaching thirty, she uses her independence to mitigate any risk of a broken heart. Her strategy works until the day a handsome stranger bursts into her lab and her orderly plans shoot straight to Hades. He claims to be her personal divine protector, a powerful, ancient warrior sent to defend a prophetic time bomb existing within her own genetic code.
The Scion’s alpha-geek Wyck is offered the opportunity of his immortal lifetime as head of his own covert operation. He arrives at a Colorado lab expecting starched white coats and sterile surroundings—not a redheaded spitfire in charge of both his project and his libido. His skills have carried him from the battlefields of ancient England to the pits of Hell and he has no plans to be felled by one woman, regardless of her shag-worthy charms. Divine duty requires him to protect the apocalyptic Seal encrypted within Quinn’s DNA, but his heart has other ideas. When his personal feelings interfere with his age-old vendetta, he’s forced to decide between desire and retribution.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/dAJ9tKiiUOQ
Excerpt:
For the band of adopted heavenly brothers known collectively as the Scion, covert ops generally fell into two categories, crashing bore or glorious adventure. And after more than nine hundred years of divine missions, Wyck could tell the difference before the first volley fired.
He double-checked to make sure his ID badge was prominently displayed. Divinity had finally given him a second chance as mission leader and he intended to make sure this operation fell squarely into the epically awesome range despite his less than glamorous surroundings. This time, he vowed, there’d be no messy diversions to waylay his goals, no damsel in questionable distress to shred his heart to smithereens. Nope. This time he was fully prepared and would see his mission through to a successful end.
Wyck trudged up the sidewalk toward the imposing glass and steel Eugenicorp Labs building, craning his neck to see the top of the six-story structure. He was so engrossed in his perusal he nearly squashed a bedraggled squirrel limping across the pavement in front of him. Wyck glanced down and spotted a half-cracked acorn near the toe of his boot. Poor bugger must’ve dropped it in his hasty retreat.
His first inclination was to reach down and retrieve it, maybe place the nut near the roots of the giant tree where the squirrel now hid. But now wasn’t the time to get sidetracked. As his commander, Xander, had already warned him, such kindness had only added to his past failures.
He kicked the nut, watching as it hurtled through the open grassy area surrounding the complex, then strode through the automatic doors and into the cavernous lobby. Empty. Sterile. Utilitarian, covered in gleaming metal and glass. The décor - neutral grays and bland beiges - screamed restraint.
Okay, he amended. Maybe epic and awesome were pushing the envelope for this mission. Best to start with solidly successful. He blinked several times in the early morning sunshine and spotted the pinched, schoolmarm expression of a receptionist across the expanse.
Brilliant.
In his experience, mulish females appeared to be the rule in academia. Just one more reason he steered clear of the smart ones and stuck to his technology. Emotional evisceration was another, but he refused to dwell on that now. Gadgets and science had always been his safe refuge. They trustworthy.
He proceeded across the pristine white-tile floor and when the receptionist steadfastly ignored him, Wyck coughed and summoned his most charming smile. “Hi, I’m Orson Parrot, the new bloke.”
The woman glanced up from her computer screen and ran a disdainful eye over him, her glare burning a hole through his extended hand. Her scowl increased as she snatched a clipboard from the desk’s immaculate surface and skimmed a bony digit down the list. She tapped her finger twice beside one line and stared back at him, her demeanor cold enough to freeze hydrogen, then pointed toward a pair of glass doors across the lobby. “Through there.”
He leaned forward to thank her only to be confronted by a strip of red fabric. Dangling from the receptionist’s hand, it swung in crazy, lopsided circles to tap him squarely on the chest. “You’ll need this,” she said, her tone a perfect match for the Queen’s after a distasteful tabloid scandal.
Wyck caught the twirling lanyard, with its attached security keycard, and placed it around his neck. He couldn’t resist giving the woman a wink and a grin on his way out, and was delighted when she stiffened like rawhide. A fellow had to have some fun.
He headed toward the double doors across the atrium, his mind ticking with details. This rare shot at redemption, plus the added potential for delivering a digital smackdown to his longtime enemies, the Nephilim, had him jumping at the chance to infiltrate the Eugenicorp’s computer system. Getting back in the field again would prove more enjoyable than his usual long hours of tedious research for his brother’s quests. Not to mention turning down an assignment from Divinity wasn’t really an option. She’d given the Scion many blessings, but freewill over their assignments wasn’t one of them.
If his hunches were correct, his new logic bomb would blow the fucking cork right off the half-breeds’ schemes for a new world order. By utilizing their legitimate business arm in the human realm, Tolbert International, the Nephilim had been quietly amassing huge quantities of money for centuries, branching out into everything from pharmaceuticals to produce. The Internet had been buzzing for months with rumors of an eminent Tolbert takeover of a genetics research facility and Divinity had sent him to Eugenicorp to make sure those takeover plans didn’t include the Seal currently hosted by one head scientist or the top-secret project she commandeered.
He used his new keycard to enter a glass-lined walkway and caught sight of his reflection. Christ Almighty. He’d done a wicked job of turning his normal hipster persona into Orson Parrott—Super Brain Extraordinaire.
Attired in a scholarly turtleneck and khakis, he couldn’t have been further from his normal choice of t-shirt and jeans. Between his helmet hair and the tatty, empty briefcase he carried, there was little sign of the tousled charmer who’d enticed a cute barista to bed during his last reconnaissance mission here a few months earlier.
Goodbye quick tumbles. Hello brainy celibate.
Wyck passed from the atrium into another adjoining lobby and glanced at the office number scribbled across his palm in blue ballpoint ink. 5324. He pushed the button for the next arriving elevator, whistling while he waited.
Sure, he’d performed a teensy bit of cyber-fraud by uploading his own credentials and employee demographics into the Eugenicorp HR files and he’d picked out a nice cushy office with a window, close to his target and close to the vending machines. Perfect.
Speaking of his target, the buttoned-down woman wasn’t one he looked forward to meeting. From everything he’d read about the third Seal’s unwitting host, she was smarter than sin and as enticing as a good bout of bubonic plague. No thank you.
A determined clack of heels echoed against the tile behind him and he swiveled toward the noise, just in time to see a flash of bright red hair barge through the gathering crowd and into the elevator. People stepped back, some headed for the stairs, as if the woman now occupying the compartment might spontaneously combust at any moment.
Seal Of Surrender
Seven Seals Series: Book 2
Traci Douglass
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Number of pages: approx. 270
Word Count: 72,000
Book Description:
Love, like War, will always find a way…
War has shaped every aspect of Irena Soldan’s life—her childhood, her work, her DNA. Unaware she is the genetic host of the second Seal of the Apocalypse, Irena battles for those who cannot fight for themselves. As a top human-rights operative for The Omega Consortium, her company provides both the financial backing required to undertake her task and a charismatic, publicity-loving boss to promote her cause. Life proceeds on plan for Irena until a mysterious, sexy stranger arrives claiming to be her guardian and Irena’s path takes a sudden, inauspicious turn for both the erotic and the lethal.
Chago has always been the quiet one amongst his warrior Scion brethren—the brooding, Spanish combat expert with a hidden soft side. A member of Divinity’s covert special forces, he’s protected humanity for more than a millennium. Still, his greatest joy comes not from the battlefield, but from tending the cattle herd on his remote Montana ranch.
Irena’s new assignment takes her straight to the heart of a bloody civil conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa and Chago’s mission demands he follow. Expecting a seething cauldron of female whoop-ass, he instead discovers a harbinger of peace amidst a world of ever-increasing violence. The explosively tense situation is further magnified by the cunning Omega Consortium leader, his ambiguous personal agenda, and an ancient foe whose audacious rise to power threatens the world’s very existence.
Despite the cataclysmic circumstances, an undeniable attraction ignites between Chago and Irena. Together, they must unravel the ancient puzzle of the Seals and discover her employer’s ulterior plans before they both become casualties of War. Soon, both are forced to choose between a past riddled with old torments or risk everything they treasure on a love capable of defeating evil incarnate.
Seal Of Destiny
Seven Seals Series Book One
Traci Douglass
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Number of pages: 263
Word Count: 70,000
Book Description:
Love conquers all… but can it stop the Apocalypse?
Mira Herald is having the worst life ever. Not only is she plagued by horrific nightmares starring the Devil himself, she’s now the target of a power-hungry, rogue minion, freshly sprung from Hell and bent on her destruction. To complicate matters further, she’s acquired a stalker. One who insists he’s a divine warrior sent for her protection because she houses an ancient relic with the power to unleash Armageddon. Last time Mira checked, she wasn’t insane. Still, all this celestial mayhem is enough to drive a girl crazy.
Kagan is a member of the Scion, an elite team of immortal warriors selected by Divinity to aid mankind and save the world. After a century alone, Kagan is summoned for a new mission. He’s eager to begin. Eager until he’s informed his mission consists of protecting a woman with no clue to the power she wields. Plus, his briefing fails to prepare him for his new target’s cosmic-sized attitude problem. As Divinity’s sworn servant, he’s required to fulfill his duty. His oath, however, does not require him to be enthusiastic about his new assignment or warm-and-fuzzy toward his new compatriot. He plans a wham-bam rescue and a quick return to solitude.
The rogue minion attacks—with the backing of a mysterious organization—and all Hades erupts, putting a fast end to any whirlwind escapes. Accustomed to staunch independence, Mira’s survival now requires full cooperation and an unwavering belief in Kagan. The battle-hardened warrior is also forced to chose: between duty and desire. Amidst the turmoil, Kagan and Mira’s undeniable passion draws them closer to each other and down a path neither expected but both yearn for, more than they ever knew.
Will love save the day? The world’s fate depends on the answer.
Traci is the author of paranormal romance/urban fantasy and contemporary romances featuring a sly, urban edge, including her current Seven Seals series. Her stories feature sizzling alpha-male heroes full of dark humor, quick wits and major attitudes; smart, independent heroines who always give as good as they get; and scrumptiously evil villains who are—more often than not—bent on world destruction. She enjoys weaving ancient curses and mythology, modern science and old religion, and great dialogue together to build red-hot, sizzling chemistry between her main characters.
She is an active member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Indiana Romance Writers of America (IRWA) and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Writers (FF&P) and is pursing a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Writing Popular Fiction through Seton Hill University. Her stories have made the final rounds in several RWA chapter contests, including the 2012 Duel on the Delta, the 2012 Molly Awards, and the 2012 Catherine Awards. An earlier draft of the first book in the Seven Seals Series, Seal of Destiny, won the paranormal category of the 2012 Marlene Awards sponsored by the Washington Romance Writers.
Other current projects include upcoming books in the Seven Seals series, a new contemporary novella series due out in early 2014, and a new futuristic suspense series with hints of the paranormal and plenty of romance.
Website and blog: http://www.tracidouglass.net
FB Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/TraciDouglassAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Traci_Douglass
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8112113-traci-douglass
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/tracidouglass
