Karen Swart's Blog, page 99

Book Blitz and Giveaway: The Shoe Series, The Believe Series Book #2 by Trista Jaszczak

 

 

Title – The Shoe

Series – The Believe Series – Book #2

Author – Trista Jaszczak

Genre – Romance, fairy tale retelling

Publication Date – 6 August 2013

Publisher – Front Porch Romance

Cover Artist – Designs by Charisma

BOOK BLURB/SYNOPSIS

All Blair Miller has ever wanted was to study fashion in New York City. But as one door closed for her, another door opened. A bright and beautiful door that led her straight to a job at celebrity frequented, high end fashion boutique, ATTRAYANT, where she has now worked for years. When an invitation arrives for a masked ball that is being thrown to celebrate a world famous rock band’s new album, Blair finds herself being transformed into Cinderella for the night. When Blair not only falls for Prince of Rock, Hunter but also loses a precious $8,000.00 shoe, she finds herself in possibly the biggest mess of her entire life. How can she reveal who and what she really is to Prince Charming? How can she afford to replace such an expensive shoe? With the help of her two “Fairy God Fathers” who are pushing for her happily ever after…anything could happen.

BUY LINKS

Amazon Kindle Link – http://www.amazon.com/The-Shoe-Believe-ebook/dp/B00EF5110O/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378644034&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=the+shoe+trista+jadzczak

Goodreads Link – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18303122-the-shoe

Shelfari Link – http://www.shelfari.com/books/36647754/The-Shoe-(Believe)

 

Title – Little Red

Series – The Believe Series – Book #1

Author – Trista Jaszczak

Genre – Romance, fairy tale retelling

Publication Date – June 18, 2013

Publisher – Front Porch Romance

BOOK BLURB/SYNOPSIS

Fall back in love with fairy tales with, Little Red, the first installment of “The Believe Series” by Trista Jaszczak.
Ride along with Sam Wentworth through the winding back roads of Louisiana, on a desperate escape from her past. Where she falls into the arms of the unlikely and sometimes unwilling hero, Ethan Parker. When circumstances and fate seal the two together, entangling them with his 6 older brothers, feuding families and old bayou magic can Ethan put aside everything he has ever known to keep Sam safe from the dangers their lives and their love poses. Can he keep her safe from himself?

BUY LINKS

Amazon Kindle Link – http://www.amazon.com/Little-Red-ebook/dp/B00DHRYKDG/ref=sr_1_2_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378684718&sr=1-2

Goodreads Link – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17693344-little-red

Shelfari Link – http://www.shelfari.com/books/36421669/Little-Red

 

 

2 - $10.00 Amazon Giftcards

10 – eBooks of Little Red

10 – eBooks of The Shoe

6 – Signed Cover Art Posters

a Rafflecopter giveaway

   

 

Trista Jaszczak (pronounced jazz-ick) is an Air Force wife and mother of two who is originally from Hamilton, Ohio but calls Anchorage, Alaska her home. She's published 4 novels so far and written more than 30. She has a deep passion for writing, music, her guitar, her kids and her four-legged babies.

STALKER LINKS:

Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.com/Trista-Jaszczak...

Website/Blog – http://www.tristajaszczak.wordpress.com

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTristaJ...

Twitter – https://twitter.com/TristaJaszczak @TristaJaszczak

Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jazzywriter/boards/

Tumblr – http://authortristajaszczak.tumblr.com/

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Front Porch Romance – https://www.frontporchromance.com/ind...

FACEBOOK EVENT –  https://www.facebook.com/events/619978001357311/

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Unnatural by Leah DW

 

 

Book Info -

Title: Unnatural by Leah D.W

Genre: Paranormal

Audience: Young Adult

Formats: Paperback and Ebook

Publisher: Bayou Brew Publishing

Cover By: Paradox Book Covers

Editor: Monique O'Connor James

Pages: 228 pages

ISBN-10: 1483990478

ISBN-13: 978-1483990477

ASIN: B00C4XJ4W6

Date Published: 31 March 2013

 

Blurb -

Witches scheming in the night,

Werewolves hunting during a full moon,

A vampires eyes ever watching...

This collection of short stories is filled with the dark tales of the supernatural and the powerful. Roaring dragons wings shadow the skies and ghosts aren't as deadly as rumors may tell.

Enter a world of the paranormal, but be warned: not all fairy tales end in a happily ever after.

Goodreads / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords / Amazon / Amazon UK

 

Excepts –

I concentrated, focusing my mind and spirit to the centre of my being, near my beating heart and then all at once let myself go.The change always hurt in the beginning. A warm spark flared in the middle of my forehead and then travelled down my body, lighting tiny sparks of heat along my limbs. My scales would sizzle and start sliding off of me in large dark globs of melted armour. I would always close my eyes. To watch the transformation nauseated me so much I would get stuck in the middle of it; between my beastly form and my birth form.

“What is this place?” Zoey asked, holding Percy close.

“Haven’t you seen a dungeon before?” the man chuckled and walked to the far end of the cages.

Zoey slowly followed, looking at each and every cage she passed. Some had dried blood or even fresh blood in them and on the sandy walls of their backs. Zoey suddenly wished she had turned around and ran for it. She bumped into the man. He had stopped and she had been too distracted to notice. He turned to her and lifted an eyebrow down at her. His dark eyes swam with blue clouds, swirling round and round. Her breath caught in her throat and she stepped back, bumping into Percy. He didn’t seem to find anything at fault. He gave her a smile that came across as friendly and turned his back to her again. She wrapped her hand around Percy’s collar. Her hands trembled as a single word crossed her mind.

Necromancer.

***

The mark on her forehead pulsed and she lightly touched it. When she looked down at her pale fingers they were stained brightly with her red blood. It was bleeding again. Pain pounded behind her eyes and she fell forward, catching her weight on the window sill.

Anna gasped as she ignored the fresh pain and looked at her hand that had slipped past the shield Haven had put up. She could feel his magic trying to block it, but it only turned cold instead of pushing her back.

She grinned. She let the pain from her mark wash over her and the rest of her hand slowly crept out of the window. Anna clenched her teeth as the pain became like a lick of hot oil over her skin. Soon she managed to slip her entire body out of the shield.

She dropped down to the dew covered grass below the window, her heart pounding in her chest. She let her hands graze over the ground and her lips curved into a smile.

She ran.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

I am 21 years old and currently a journalism student at my local university. I live in South Africa in a town called Bloemfontein with my family and two beloved dogs. I have been writing since the age of 13 and my first published work is a short horror story titled Dracula’s Mistress. I am busy working on a number of novels and I am an editor/proof reader for Bayou Brew Publishing.

I love writing in the genres of paranormal romance, fantasy fiction and historical fiction and I am a proud bookworm with a mountain of reads stacked up in my room. I am also studying criminology in order to be able to write mystery horrors.

The book that has been published is Unnatural, a collection of paranormal short stories that are full of action, adventure and amazing characters.

I also have short stories in various anthologies. Love Kills, Unhappily Ever After; fairy tales with a twist and Soul Games. My novel The Runaway’s Secret, a vampire paranormal romance, will be released in May.

Facebook / Blog / Goodreads / Google + / Amazon Page

Guest Author Leah DW - From South Africa with love

Today on the blog I have fellow South African author Leah DW. As South African Authors, we get to experience things a little different then our American of Euro peers. As far as I could find, Leah and I are the only Paranormal authors in South Africa, yes it’s that epic. Today, Leah will be sharing with you our ups and our downs all the way from South Africa.

 

From South Africa with love

Being a South African author with an international publisher has its ups and downs. I never thought I would actually publish my work at first. Here in SA it is hard to get the paranormal genre out there so I decided to either find an international publisher or be an indie author. Fans of this genre are more in America and such, not here.

This was one of the downs. I couldn’t be an indie author because of financial problems. Being a student with a job that doesn’t pay that much didn’t allow me to be able to publish my own work. So I looked for a publisher. Another down; I couldn’t afford an agent! I was losing hope and patience until the ultimate ‘up’ showed. I found Bayou Brew Publishing!

They loved my work and wanted to publish it. My dreams came true and I couldn’t believe it. I never thought that this would happen because of me being from South Africa. I write stories that match the market place in overseas countries and am I just ecstatic that I was given the opportunity to have others read what I write.

The one ultimate ‘down’ I have is the fact that I sometimes wish I was in America or the UK so that I can attend author events and meet other amazing writers. I miss out on so much! But I am confident that one day I will be able to travel the world and see all these awesome events and meet other authors.

Because of BBP and my amazing support team, I now have fans from around the globe and now even here in South Africa. It was an awesome moment to become an official author and I am still experiencing it. Seeing that I can achieve my dreams has pushed me to the limits and I am now thinking of publishing a novel right here in my home country. I am so excited and can’t wait to see what the future holds for me!

New Release: Emblazed, The Elemental Prophecy Book # 2 By Nikki Narvaez

  Emblazed The Elemental Prophecy Book # 2 By- Nikki Narvaez  Expected Publication Date- September 20th, 2013
Three days. Three days seems like a lot of time, but not when you are racing to save the one you love. Not when time is against you.
Three days is all Jace has to save Brielle, to prevent both of their deaths. Both have more to battle than they ever imagined while they fight for their lives, their souls, and their love.
Will Jace be able to rescue Brielle, or will the fate of the world die with her?









  About the Author-   My name is Nikki Narvaez. I was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, where I currently live with my husband, our two dogs, Bella and Oreo, and our cat, Cupcake. I have been teaching for four years, but I hope to become a full-time writer and stay at home mom one day. I am 27 years old, and have three older sisters who have blessed me with four nephews and one niece. In my free time, I love to write and play Texas Hold 'Em poker. I just released my first novel, a New Adult Fantasy/Paranormal Romance titled Envisioned. It is the first in the trilogy of The Elemental Prophecy Series. I am currently working on Book Two, titled Emblazed, as well as another Adult Paranormal Romance trilogy and a Contemporary Romance.




 

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Dangerous Dreams by Aileen Harkwood

 

 

Dangerous Dreams

The Dreamrunners Society,

Book One
Aileen Harkwood

Genre: Paranormal/Romantic Suspense

ASIN: B00DGL0HBC

Number of pages: estimated 220 pages

Word Count: 65K

Amazon

Book Description:

Plagued by nightmares of terrorist bombings, Lara Freberg is a so-called Lost One, unaware of her psychic gift for literally being in two places at once. While her true body sleeps, her twin is helplessly drawn to scenes of unspeakable horror.

Kidnapped by a corrupt, CIA-like organization determined to exploit her abilities, Lara is given no choice. Cooperate or die. Until the midnight spying missions that make her the willing prisoner of an erotic stranger. Does she dare trust him with her warning of a future attack on American soil?
Jack Mayfield will never forgive himself for being too late to free Lara from the Greys, The Dreamrunners Society's sworn enemies. An elite front line operative, Jack is able to find and save the Lost Ones no one else can. Nothing, however, can prepare him for the shock of losing the woman who holds the key to unlocking his war weary heart. Now Jack is in a race for her life. Lara's dreaming half may be able to drive him wild with passion, but can he believe her when she says the Greys haven't turned her against him and the Society?
It won't be easy to rescue his one true love from certain death.

Excerpt:

The hand that clamped itself over Lara Freberg’s sleeping face was sweaty and smelled of formaldehyde. She jerked awake in an instant, completely disoriented.

She’d been deep into one of her nightmares. Explosions. Fires. Hundreds slaughtered. Something grabbing her ankle.

Where was she? Was she still in the dream? No one ever touched her in the nightmares.

“Hurry up,” a man said in the dark.

She was in her bed, at home in her Baltimore condo.

The crushing weight she’d felt in her dream, which she’d intuited as the emotional weight of the violence perpetrated on innocent lives, was actual, crushing weight in real life. A strange man knelt on top of her.

My God, what’s happening?

Lara tried to scream, but the hand over her mouth dug into her face in an explicit warning. The man’s knees pinned her thighs to the mattress, while his free hand easily captured both her wrists and forced her still.

She bucked against his restraint on her.

“Come on, come on,” the man said.

Was she talking to her?

No, he directed his words toward someone else in her bedroom she couldn’t see. They shouldn’t have been able to get in here. She paid for a security service, as did everyone else in the complex. Who were they? What did they want?

Then it hit her, the answer obvious. Her heart, already racing, sped up to a painful degree.

Rape.

Frantically, she fought harder. She tried to throw off the man who smelled like dead things, but tangled up in her bedcovers, with his body weight pressing down on her, she was trapped to the bed.

“Forget it, Lara,” Formaldehyde man said. He pushed down, shoving her head so hard into the mattress she could feel each spring through the padding. That horrible smell coming off of his skin reminded her of fetal pigs in eighth grade biology class. Bile rose in her throat. She began to gag.

“Now,” the man said to his accomplice.

She still couldn’t make out her attacker’s face in the dark, but she could tell he was lean, fit, and had a short, professional haircut. The other man, what she could see of him in the shadows, looked similar. Why would men like this break into her apartment to rape her?

Something glinted in her peripheral vision, the needle at the end of a disposable syringe. She watched the accomplice holding the syringe come closer. A tiny squirt of liquid from the tip of the needle sprayed her bare skin.

Lara thrashed anew, her thoughts frenzied. She didn’t know what they wanted with her, or why they were here, but she imagined the worse, that she had only hours, if that, to live. She sobbed without being fully aware of it. What was next? What would they do to her? Would they torture her first? Cut? Stab? Blind? Skin?

She couldn’t fight them. She didn’t have a chance at all. Seconds later, the needle jabbed her, a sharp, slicing pain. Coldness followed as the substance was forced into her arm by the syringe’s plunger.

Her head swam. Whatever the man had given her produced an immediate lethargy she couldn’t battle. Her arms and legs became too heavy to move.

Her attacker got up off of her, deciding she was no longer a threat.

“All right,” he said. “Let’s get her in the van.”

He grabbed her roughly and slung her over his shoulder. She tried to lift her head, but her neck muscles wouldn’t cooperate. Whatever had been in the syringe muted her sense of fear. She no longer cared she was taken from her bed.

It was just before she blacked out that she saw a third man in her bedroom, near the closet. Her head swung like a rag doll as her captor made an abrupt turn toward the bedroom door, but even looking at the world from upside down, she couldn’t miss him.

He was transparent.

“Wow,” she whispered, spotting her own shadowed reflection in her closet mirror, visible right through his body.

His presence suddenly caused the room to grow brighter. She had the wild notion he gathered the shadows from the darkest corners of the room to create a body for himself, while his skin flared with golden light, and he became more substantial by the second. He materialized his way into the room. It made no sense, but that was precisely what she saw.

Odder still, neither of the other men in the room reacted to the brilliant, rich light he gave off. He towered over them, yet they appeared not to notice he was there. Powerfully built, he was naked to the waist, barefoot and clothed only in a well-worn pair of jeans. Gradually his face and body defined themselves until she could almost make out the line of a strong, knife-edge jaw and the shimmer of moonlight haloing his black hair.

Fierce indigo eyes gazed directly into hers. A jolt of recognition raced through her.

Lara gasped in shock. She knew him. She was sure of it. An intense rush of déjà vu tingled down her spine. Who was he? How did she know him? Wait…did she know him, really?

Drugs, Lara. This isn’t real. He’s not real. You’re imagining him.

Blue eyes held her attention ruthlessly.

Hold on! Don’t let go, he spoke.

But it wasn’t speech. She heard his words in her mind!

I need you to stay conscious.

“Who are you?” she whispered, her voice slurring.

“The ones who own you,” said the man carrying her.

Oblivious to the third man’s presence, her abductors thought she was talking to them.

I can’t get to you if you black out, the ghostly figure told her.

His immense shoulders tensed, bracing for action. His palms shoved outward at nothing, as if he pushed against an invisible barrier, leaned into it with everything he had, and was inexplicably held back.

Stay with me! Stay awake!

Tour wide giveaway 

3 prizes to different winners. 

Top prize is a pretty sterling silver, mother of pearl, and gemstone necklace from a New Mexico art gallery, retail $120  

Second prize a cool pair of earrings, 24kt gold plated and made by hand from real leaves. 

Third prize is a $10 Amazon gift card.

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Aileen Harkwood is a die hard fan of the mysteries, thrills and romances life has to offer and has wanted to write her own since she penned her first, safely-hidden-away-in-a-drawer-never-to-see-the-light-of-day novel in high school. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing, and resides in the Southern Rockies of the United States with her family, a Labrador with an extensive chew stick collection, and two cats named after birds.

Blog: http://aileenharkwood.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @AileenHarkwood

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5103686.Aileen_Harkwood

Author Interview with Claire Baxter, author of Flirting With Danger.

Today on the blog we have author Claire Baxter for an interview. I would like to thank Claire for taking the time to do the interview. Now let’s get to know her.

 

How long did it take to get your first book published?

I started writing in 2003 when I left my job as a corporate communications manager to write a book, just to see if I could do it. After years of writing about the grim reality of sewage treatment systems and the like, I was so ready to sink my teeth into something fictional and fun. I quickly became hooked and knew I had to try for publication. I joined Romance Writers of Australia, learned about the market, and sold my first book in 2006.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

Flirting With Danger

When a flirtation develops between firefighters, Aaron and Jasmine, it’s not just their jobs that they’re risking. It’s their hearts.

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?

Flirting With Danger is published by Entangled Publishing’s Bliss imprint.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

It varies from book to book. Some characters stay in the back of my mind for a long time, their stories bubbling away until I finally sit down to write them, and then those stories fly out of my fingers, taking only weeks to write. Other stories, those I develop from scratch and work through to the end on, usually take three to four months.

What genre would you place your books into?

I write contemporary romance, fun sweet category romance and romantic comedy.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

My favorite characters are always the protagonists in my most recent release because I’m most closely involved with the characters and their story at that time.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

I do have a certain chair that I like to sit in for writing. Well, two chairs, actually – one inside and one outside. I like to have certain objects within easy reach – a notepad and pen, a book of baby names, a cup of tea (I drink a lot of tea while I write). I often listen to music, but not always. If I do, it’s usually the same music over and over again until the book’s finished.

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

I read all the reviews written by book bloggers because they’re generally thoughtful and considered. I don’t tend to read the reviews on retail sites, because those reviews are meant for readers and the range of opinions can vary so much that they can mess with an author’s head.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

I’ve never chosen a title before writing a book. It’s rare for me to find the right title before the book’s finished, but I wouldn’t object if a title popped up before then. I’d welcome it!

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

Characters often arrive fully-formed in my head, along with a name. If they don’t, I have to find the right name before I can start writing. I pore over my book of baby names until the right one jumps out at me. It’s nothing to do with whether I like the name or not, it just feels like the character’s name.

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..")

I don’t set out to include a moral in any of my books, but in Flirting With Danger – as in most of my stories – there is a theme of letting go of the past. Until the main characters learn to put the traumas of their past behind them, they can’t move on and open themselves up to lasting love.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

I still buy hardback and paperback books, especially for research and reference, but I enjoy reading most of my romance novels as eBooks now, either on Kindle or Kobo.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?

In my opinion, historical novels transfer most successfully to movies, and in particular, all of the movies that have been based on Jane Austen’s stories. Without exception, they’ve been excellent.

Your favorite color is?

Green. All shades of green. I find it very relaxing. I like to be able to see trees and shrubs from my window when I write, and in the warmer months I write outside, surrounded by greenery. My bedroom walls are painted green, and green clothes suit me better than any other color (at least, in my opinion).

Your favorite Author is?

Just one? My favorite author is Jill Mansell, a British author of romantic comedy, and then there’s Marian Keyes, Carole Matthews, Cathy Kelly. Jenny Crusie, Kristan Higgins. But those names are just a few of the authors I love, and I’m discovering more all the time. I always return to Georgette Heyer when I need a comfort read, I love Hélène Young’s romantic suspense, and I recently found a YA series by Bridget Kemmerer that kept me riveted. I could go on and on.

 

Remember to check out today’s book blitz to find out more about Claire and her novel.

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Flirting With Danger by Claire Baxter

 

 

Flirting With Danger

Claire Baxter

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled Publishing - Bliss

Date of Publication: September 9, 2013

ISBN: 9781622661435

ASIN: B00EMSY3Y0

Number of pages: approx. 190

Cover Artist: Jessica Cantor

Amazon BN

Book Description:

To be together is dangerous. To stay apart is impossible.

Firefighter Jasmine Mackinnon has always just been one of the guys. So no one’s more shocked than she is to find herself kissing fellow firefighter and all-around sinfully handsome playboy Aaron Parkes after a friend’s wedding. Jasmine knows she can’t risk an emotional connection with a colleague—a potentially dangerous entanglement when fighting fires together—and nothing's more important to her than her job.

Aaron never noticed how beautiful Jasmine was until he saw her out of her firefighter duds, but there’s something about the fiery woman that tempts him. Though he knows pursuing a real relationship is out of the question for a serial dater like him, when their casual flirtation builds into something more serious, it's not just their jobs or their safety on the line. It's their hearts.

Promotional Video: http://youtu.be/Wi8mCLcG-B4

  Excerpt -

In a bedroom of a sprawling sandstone house in South Australia, Jasmine Mackinnon looked at the reflection of her friend and fellow bridesmaid, who was peering over her shoulder.

Sasha said, “You should wear that smoky eye shadow more often. It makes your eyes look enormous.”

“I get plenty of smoke on my face when I’m on a call-out. I don’t need to add more.”

“No, not when you’re at work, obviously,” Sasha said as she straightened. “But you could make an effort when we go out.”

Jasmine winced. “I do make an effort.”

“Oh, I know. I didn’t mean it like that.” Sasha pulled an apologetic face. “Okay, maybe I did, but I was trying to be helpful. You’re so pretty, but you don’t make the most of what you have. Look, what I mean is that you might find your Mr. Right if you went for a more feminine look.”

Marrying a man she loved, having babies, watching them grow up, staying together forever…that was the fairy tale for most women, her friends included. But how often did it actually happen? The staying together forever bit, anyway.

Not very often, in Jasmine’s experience. She hoped Leanne and Michael, today’s bride and groom, would make it, but it wasn’t a risk she was prepared to take for herself. Not unless she found a man she could trust completely, and they were few and far between.

Sighing, she said, “If I find a man to love me as I am, then great. But I’m not going to pretend to be something I’m not.”

Jasmine studied her reflection as the makeup artist blended blush beneath her cheekbones. Which made her look as if she actually had cheekbones. She’d bet that, given a choice between muscles and makeup on their women, most men would not choose muscles. But messing around with all those brushes and jars—it just wasn’t her style. Any man she allowed into her life would have to want the real her no matter what she did or didn’t slap on her face.

Sasha was on a roll now. “Okay, I can see your point, but first impressions are important, aren’t they? You need to get past the first hurdle before you can really get to know someone. All I’m saying is, you might meet more men if you looked as if you cared what they thought of you. And you could be a bit more encouraging when men do try to talk to you. You could give them a chance. Like that poor man in the pub last week.”

Jasmine swiveled the chair. “What man?”

“The one with the Johnny Depp jaw.”

She screwed up her eyes. “Can’t say I remember him.”

“He came over to talk to us. To you, anyway.”

“Oh! You mean when we were watching the game on the big screen?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t notice his jaw; I was too busy paying attention to the football.”

“Trust me, he was cute. And he tried to start a conversation with you.”

Jasmine frowned. “Did he?”

“He asked you what you did for a living.”

She nodded. “That’s right. I remember.”

“And what did you say?”

“Er…female impersonator.”

“My point exactly. No wonder he took off like he’d been spat out.”

“The scores were level. It was a crucial point.”

The door of the en-suite bathroom opened and Leanne, the bride, emerged, wrapped in a toweling robe, and, like Jasmine and Sasha, sporting large rollers in her hair. “What did I miss?”

“I was just telling Jasmine that she frightens men off when they try to talk to her.”

Nodding, Leanne pulled up a chair. “Well, it’s not really her fault that she intimidates them, is it? She’s so…”

“Capable,” Sasha supplied.

“Hello. I’m still in the room.” Jasmine frowned. “And since when was being capable a bad thing?”

“It’s not, generally, but you don’t give men a chance to be men around you.”

“Oh, that’s rubbish.”

“No, it’s true,” Leanne said. “You’re good at most things they’d consider men’s stuff. Heck, you can probably bench press more than some of them. You even do a job that a lot of men wouldn’t have the guts to do. You make them feel inadequate.”

“And we love you for it,” Sasha added. “You know that, don’t you?”

Jasmine nodded. Her friendship with Leanne and Sasha went back as long as she could remember, and she’d never doubt their motives for a moment.

“We’re just saying that it’s going to be tough for you to find a man who’s secure enough in his own masculinity to cope with all that.”

“Unless you’re smart, like me, and marry a firefighter,” Leanne said with a smile.

“She’s right,” Sasha said. “And there are some good-looking guys in your station. What about Kane? He’s cute.”

“Cute like a puppy. He’s younger than me.”

“Not by much. All right, how about Aaron, then? Ooh, Aaron.” Sasha fanned herself. “He has all the right credentials. Tall, dark, and—”

“Dangerous,” Leanne interrupted. “Tall, dark, and dangerous. Strictly no strings, that’s Aaron Parkes. He could charm the skin off a rice pudding, but he thinks having breakfast with a woman the morning after is long-term.”

“Isn’t that what makes him irresistible?” Sasha said. “You know, the thrill of being the one to hook him? Maybe he just hasn’t found the right woman yet?”

“He’s not looking,” Jasmine said. “Trust me, he’s happy the way he is. I should know; I have to listen to him bragging about his conquests at work. They’re all the same, and they don’t seem to care that he’s only interested in one thing.”

Leanne shook her head. “Forget about him. I wouldn’t want to see Jasmine dating Aaron. It could only end in tears, and then we’d have to kill him”

“I have no intention of dating him,” Jasmine said. She wouldn’t dream of becoming a notch on Aaron’s bedpost—if there was even any bedpost left to carve a notch in. “Anyway, there’s no way I’d go out with a colleague at all. Not Aaron, not anybody. Workplace romances get messy, and in a job like ours, messy is the last thing we need. We have to be able to rely on each other in life-threatening situations—would you trust a colleague to save your life if his girlfriend was in danger as well?” She shook her head. “Of course you wouldn’t. Plus, dating’s not allowed. Not between people who work in the same team like Aaron and I do.”

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Claire Baxter writes contemporary romantic fiction of all lengths. Her short stories have been published in commercial women's magazines around the world, while her novels have been translated into 20 languages and have been nominated in the Romance Writers of Australia's Romantic Book of the Year Award, the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Awards, and the Cataromance Reviewers' Choice Awards (Winner, Best Harlequin Romance).

Before following her passion to write full-time, Claire was an award-winning corporate communications manager. Earlier, she worked as a translator and a PA.

Claire grew up in Warwickshire, England, but for more than 20 years has called Australia home. She considers herself lucky to live near one of Adelaide's beautiful metropolitan beaches where she loves to walk and think up stories.

Website: http://clairebaxter.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ClaireBaxterAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ClaireBaxterAu

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/374466.Claire_Baxter

Hot New Release!! Patch Up by Stephanie Witter

Hot New Release!“Patch Up is a perfect mix of everything I love in new adult Stephanie Witter made phenomenal job at creating another gut wrenching story about fighting with depression and twist and turns of life that hooked me and made me breathless.” Patrycja *Smokin' Hot Babe*
Book Info –
Patch Up by Stephanie Witter
Genre: Contemporary New Adult novel with a slow building romance.Publisher: Anchor Group Date of Publication: 16 Sep, 2013ISBN: 9780989707336Number of pages: 260 pagesCover Artist: Cover It Designs Editor: Melissa Ringsted Length: over 85 000 words. Due to some shocking scenes, this novel is not intended for readers under 18.
Blurb:
Skye followed her long time boyfriend to Seattle for their first year of college, but he dumped her after only a week. The relationship brought only pain and destruction in Skye's life, and yet, she can't bring herself to open up and live her life."What if I am already broken into pieces?"She hates to be touched, hiding under her oversized shirts and behind her wild frizzy hair. Even her bubbly roommate can't reach her. And yet ..."I'm the guy who knows how you can hurt so much that your insides feel like they're cut and bleeding."The tall, handsome, and tattooed TA in her psychology class changes everything when he literally collides with her and confronts her. For the first time in a long time, she wants to try and open up to this guy whose dark, intense eyes can't hide his own pain despite his dazzling smile getting to her.However, just when she's starting to live again, her ex-boyfriend comes back, breaking her time and time again, making it all the more complicated.She wants to fight for herself and for this building thing with the TA, even when he pushes her away, but can two broken people patch each other up?"I never thought colliding with someone could change lives, but it is possible."
“Patch Up is intense, riveting, heartbreakingly sad at times, angsty, heartwarming, and inspirational. I was hooked from the start. Had I not passed out in the wee hours of the morning, I would have read Parch up straight through, it is THAT good.” Dawn L
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Excerpt:(The first meeting)Without paying attention to my surroundings, I turn to my left to walk toward the row closer to the door where a seat is available. I take a step and collide with a hard body, almost toppling me over on the ground for the second time in less than an hour. A strong hand grips me firmly by the forearm. My body stiffens and my breath catches in my throat. It’s as if I can’t move besides yanking my arm free without looking up to see who I collided with.“Are you all right?” he asks me in a deep and calm voice.My eyes wander from my red Converse to his dark boots. I have to calm down. I’m being ridiculous. Calm down. I take a deep breath and look up slowly. Long, muscled legs in beat up dark blue jeans, an old black leather jacket open over a dark grey V-neck sweater that showcases an impressive tall body with broad shoulders and finally, longish and messy black hair, perfect straight nose, full lips, high cheekbones and expressive soft dark eyes that lock with my bluish-greyish ones. He looks older with his goatee perfectly trimmed. A perfect hot mess many girls would say. I’m just intimidated by this stranger, though.“I’m fine,” I reply, my voice even. I push away some of my untamed locks and curse my auburn frizzy hair that is always all over the place.


What other reviewers had to say -

“The romance is slow-building and that makes it feel more realistic. The storyline is strong and holds its own without the romance and then the romance is just the cherry on the cake.” Laura Carter
“At the end of this book I was crying hard and wished I could reach in and save Skye from her fate.” Author Karen Swart
“You reach into the mind of the main character, Skye, and find yourself looking at the world very differently. The emotions I experience reading this novel was epic. One moment I would be so sad, and then over to smiling and then boom, I hated someone.” Janine Fourie – Eclipse Reviews


About The Author –

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Stephanie Witter is a French dreamer. She started English at three and fell in love with the language. Always with a book - or two - close by, she soon started reading in English when she couldn't wait to see Harry Potter translated in French. After a while, reading wasn't enough and she started writing young adult and new adult contemporary novels always filled with drama. Now she hopes to translate English novels in her mother tongue as her everyday job. By My Side is her debut novel. Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Blog / Amazon Page

Kasadya Hellhound Born Blog Tour– Our Final stop is over at…

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  We would like to thank all the blogs who participated in this blog tour, you guys are freaking amazing!

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Character Interview with Delia Adair of Burn Out by Ruthi Kight

Today we have the spicy Delia Adair of Burn Out by Ruthi Kight for an interview. Let’s find out more about her.

 

Character Name: Delia Adair

Character Bio:

20 years old

Born in Sunny Shores, SC

Has been locked away in Sunny Shores Psychiatric Hospital for 10 years.

Extremely saucy- her sharp tongue and quick wit have gotten her into trouble more times than she can count.

Likes: the ocean, sleeping late, chocolate milkshakes, and dipping her fries in a Wendy’s Frosty.

Dislikes: Creepy old dudes, pop music, salads (they’re the devil), and people who lie.

Favorite quote: “I wonder why it is, that young men are always cautioned against bad girls. Anyone can handle a bad girl. It's the good girls men should be warned against.” - David Niven

Favorite Song: P!nk’s U + Ur Hand

 

Describe yourself what is your worst and best quality?

Worst would be that I cuss wayyyyy too much. I should have been a sailor….

Best? Hmmm….that I am a fighter. I don’t go down without getting the last swing.

What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?

Ohhhh….loaded question. Do you know how many times I have to bite my tongue because people make stupid assumptions? Sh- oops. I’d have to say that I’m NOT a murderer. That would be nice if they would just believe me...

What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?

If I tell you, then it wouldn’t be a secret, now would it?

What are you most afraid of?

Being forgotten. Oh, and spiders. *Shudders* Those things are nasty! I scream like a four year old anytime I see one!

What do you want more than anything?

To get back the last ten years of my life.

What is your relationship status?

Is complicated an option? If not, then single it is. I don’t really do “relationships,” ya know?

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

Lost. Completely lost. I have no sense of fashion. Give me comfy pants and a big t-shirt and I’m set.

How much of a rebel are you?

I go against the grain all the time. Why follow the pack when you can lead the troops?

What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

Finally trusting someone. That was a hard one for me. Oh, and finally getting a double cheeseburger from McDonalds. THAT was amazing!

What is your idea of happiness?

Living on the beach, the feel of the sand under my feet, and no clock. Just utter freedom.

What is your current state of mind?

I’m finally free. I can finally find “me”. So I’m good. More than good. I’m happy for once.

What is your most treasured possession?

A picture of my parents. It was taken a few days before they died. I keep it with me at all times.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Everyone keeps saying that I’m “spicy.” I can only guess they mean that I have an attitude. This spicy crap confuses the hell out of me. Sure, I don’t take sh-crap from anyone, but there’s a soft side there too. Look deep...it’s there, lol.

What is it that you, most dislike?

Liars. They really chafe my ass. I’m not perfect, but I’m no liar.

Which living person do you, most despise?

My new neighbor. I swear, I’ve NEVER heard someone snore as loud as him. The paint is probably peeling every night! I want to go over there and put his hand in a bear trap, just to see if he’ll stop snoring….

What is your greatest regret?

There are so many...but the one that I regret the most...well...I can’t tell you. Have you read Burn Out? If so, you can figure that one out. It’s at the end. Yeah...my biggest regret is right there, on display.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

A sense of humor. He has to be able to keep up with my tongue!

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Confidence. Strong women make the world go round.

Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

Hmmm...now see...Liam was more of the book type. I haven’t read a whole lot.

Which living person do you most admire?

Jennifer Lawrence. Saw her in The Hunger Games...EPIC!

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

My tolerance level, lol. I don’t tolerate BS very much. I think I have a radar for it….

What is your motto?

Piss poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine. LOL!

And that’s it folks. To find out more about Burn Out check out today’s Book Blitz