Lynelle Clark's Blog, page 117

Book Barrage Edible Delights Anthology Excerpts and Giveaway

Edible Delights Anthology, Volume 2Contributing Authors: Imogene Nix, Seanna Smythe, Bianca Sarble, Kate Belle & Alysha EllisGenres: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Futuristic Romance, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, Regency RomancePublisher: Secret Cravings PublishingRelease Date: July 17, 2013Heat Level: SizzlingWord Count: 76,000
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Story Descriptions & Author Bios
The Chocolate Affair - Imogene NixDeanna has one love. The Scheherazade Chocolate Factory. When it’s bought out by an off world consortium, they send someone to inspect their purchase.
JD Ruan is their expert investigator. But JD has a secret. He’s a demon. And not just any kind of demon –a Pleasure Demon.
Secrets, abilities and hidden truths will find their way… especially when chocolate is involved.
Author BioA mother of two, compulsive reader and bookstore owner. She lives in regional Queensland, Australia with her husband, 2 daughters, dog, cats and prize winning chooks. She has a particular fondness for Vampires, Star Ship Captains and things that go bump in the night.
She is also a firm believer in writing what you enjoy… something she strictly adheres to!
Contact LinksWebsite: http://imogenenix.com/Blog: http://www.imogenenix.blogspot.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImogeneNixTwitter: https://twitter.com/ImogeneNixGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5580875.Imogene_NixGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108633042092595324569/
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My Lord’s Table - Alysha EllisGently-bred Susan Brody arrives in 18th century London starving, penniless and desperate to find a job. When a chance-met acquaintance offers to help, Susan happily accepts a position as housekeeper in the home of Lord Winslade.
But the position is not what she expects it to be. She is greeted by a grim manservant, who locks her in a room and orders her to wear the scandalous costume she finds there.
She is forced to attend an erotic banquet of carnal and epicurean delights, presided over by the darkly sinister Lord Winslade.
Susan’s expectations of domestic service shatter as she is seduced into fulfilling appetites of an entirely different order.
Author BioAlysha Ellis lives in Australia on a diet that consists entirely of chocolate, champagne and strawberries. She write stories your mother would never let you read, even now that you're all grown up - but what Mama don't know can't hurt her.
Live on the wild side a little. Her motto is always,Bad girls have all the fun!
Contact LinksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alysha-Ellis-Author-Page/420741614648613Blog: http://alyshaellis.blogspot.com.au/
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Never On A Sundae - Seanna Smythe:Delicious delights you’ve dreamed of but Never on a Sundae.He was confident that what he was about to ask for wouldn’t be your average ice cream dream.
Evie doesn’t believe love is forever, so when things get a little too hot with Sydney-sider, Aidan, she disappears to Newcastle and buys an ice-cream parlor, Never on a Sundae. But fate conspires against her when Aidan rides into town on his Harley looking for a unique idea for an ice cream cake for his brother’s bachelor party. Can Aidan melt Evie’s heart?
Author Bio:A little naughty and a whole lot nice, Seanna Smythe writes 3-chilli-hot romance with heart. Sizzling heroes and playful heroines, each with a story to tell, will take you on the adventure of lifetime with a guaranteed happy ending.Take my hand and walk with me…
Contact LinksFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/seanna.smytheBlog: http://seannasmythe.blogspot.com.au/
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Flavor Of The Month - Bianca Sarble:When Cate Gallagher thinks her day can't get any worse, Patrick Garrett comes along to prove her wrong. The sexy stranger awakens her long forgotten libido but she knows from past experiences his type is best avoided at all costs.
Patrick is sure the chemistry between them will set the sheets on fire, if only she would give him a chance. He hatches a seduction plan to show her exactly how right they could be.
But getting the girl isn't the only obstacle to their Happy Ever After. Misunderstandings and assumptions bring their heat level to boiling point and threaten to scorch their love.
Can Cate overcome her past and let Patrick show her she's not just the Flavour Of The Month?
Author BioOnce upon a time, in a land called Australia, there lived a delightful young girl named Bianca who loved to read. As she grew older, her sarcastic tendencies and warped sense of humor became evident, as did her preference for raunchy romances.
Now, as well as reigning over their 1/4 acre kingdom with the handsome Prince that stole her heart and feeding their ever-growing children, she not only reads everything she can, but pens her own deliciously sexy stories.
Contact LinksWebsite: http://biancasarble.wordpress.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorbiancasarbleTwitter: https://twitter.com/BiancaSarbleBlog: http://biancasarble.wordpress.com/blog/
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The Banquet - Kate Belle:Unattractive and lonely James is a chef and restaurant owner who is obsessed with Sheba, a sexy celebrity chef famous for her aphrodisiac recipes which have saved James from a life of involuntary celibacy. James has studied Sheba’s recipes and created the ultimate in aphrodisiac desserts – chilli and rose infused chocolate – a recipe that never fails to lure women into his lonely bed.
James takes the opportunity to meet Sheba at a book signing during the Sydney Writers Festival and woos her with a gift of his chocolates. Sheba finds James’ special dessert irresistible and exchanges a night of pleasure for the recipe. Two months later James receives an invitation to Sheba’s annual banquet, a mysterious event everyone who’s anyone in the hospitality industry is aware of but knows little about. Nervous and out of his depth, James attends and is introduced to a world where the boundaries between food and sex are entirely blurred.
Author BioKate writes dark, sensual contemporary women’s fiction. She lives, writes and loves in Melbourne, juggling her strange, secret affairs with her male characters with her much loved partner and daughter, and a menagerie of neurotic pets. She holds a tertiary qualification in chemistry, half a diploma in naturopathy and a diploma in psychological astrology. Kate believes in living a passionate life and has ridden a camel through the Australian desert, fraternised with hippies in Nimbin, had a near birth experience and lived on nothing but porridge and a carrot for 3 days.
Contact LinksWebsite: http://www.ecstasyfiles.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/katebelle.x
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ecstasyfiles



The Chocolate Affair Excerpt #1 by Imogene Nix His first view of Deanna McCalchy had taken in the glorious lush curves and midnight hair as she shook it free of the ugly confining hat she wore. Her blue dress molded to her body while the heat of instant arousal suffused him.Now here stood a true goddess. The thought took him by surprise. He hadn’t thought in those terms for over a hundred years.His small exclamation of interest had taken her by surprise and she had slipped. He moved with his preternatural speed extending his hands and catching her before she hit the floor. As one of the two owners of Rustafan, he kept a low profile. He didn’t want his father’s minions to know where he and his sister, Entara, were. They had taken on Christabel as their media spokesperson well before she’d become Entara’s lover. This afforded them a gratefully accepted anonymity. It was a habit to hide his personal life from others. Right now, he embraced the freedom that afforded him to scan the woman in his arms, feel the weight of her body.She watched him silently while he righted her. “Hello, what have I found here? A pleasure princess from Piero?” Knowing that the business mainly transacted with the pleasure planets, the words slipped out. He cringed as soon as he heard them. But she didn’t take offense at his words—at least not vocally, though a red tide crept over her cheeks.“I don’t know who you are. But this is a restricted zone.” Her soft words of censure made him smile even as she gazed into his eyes. She was off balance, all the better for him to find out how the factory worked and maybe about her too. He shook himself mentally. That wasn’t why he was here. “That’s okay, I’m supposed to be here.” “And why are you supposed to be here?” Her words betrayed her interest, but he detected no knowledge of him in her mind and let the tension release from his muscles.“I’ve been sent here to assess Scheherazade.” He held out one of his hands, and as she clasped it he felt a jolt of recognition, leaving him breathless for just a second. “I’m JD Ruan.”“Oh heavens.” Her face pinked slightly again and he grinned, though he worked to contain his amusement at her old-fashioned comment.
Flavor Of The Month Excerpt #2 Bianca Sarble

What was it about this man that made her laugh? She wanted to stay mad, but it seemed impossible whenever he was around. It didn’t hurt that he looked like a GQ cover model or that his voice sent shivers down her spine, but the kicker was the warmth in his smile.“Okay, come in. I’ll grab some coffee.”While she worked on the coffee, Patrick put the flowers on the counter before perusing the sample tray. “So, what are we tasting tonight?”Cate froze. Cake. He’s talking about cake, not body parts. “Carolyn said she wanted something different, so we have the cherry mud cake, Tia Maria mud cake, Cookies & Cream, chocolate mud cake and last but not least, butterscotch with its own caramel icing.”“I’m guessing that’s your favorite right?”“My favorite is all of them. It’s too hard to choose just one.”As she approached the table with the coffee, he surprised her again by coming around and pulling her chair out for her. His body heat radiated against her back and she had to stop herself leaning into his muscular chest. She gave herself a mental slap to pull her professional mask back in place as she sat. She broke off a piece of her first selection with a fork and offered the handle to him.“This is the cherry mud cake. I have a recipe for a cream cheese icing that sets it off perfectly.”Keeping his gaze on hers, he folded his fingers around her hand and guided the fork to his mouth. He hummed and licked his lips as the flavor exploded in his mouth, drawing her attention to his very lickable lips. Maybe she should have served ice water instead of coffee because she certainly didn’t need to heat things up.
My Lord’s Table Excerpt #1 Alysha Ellis


Susan turned her head.  His dark eyes focused entirely on her. The debauchery happening a few feet away didn’t distract him for a second. “I’ve led a very sheltered life, Lord Winslade. Perhaps if I knew more of the world and its risks, I wouldn’t have found myself in a position where I am dependent on your good nature for my safety.”“You are mistaken, my dear. I did not say I had a good nature.” His mouth twisted in a self-disparaging sneer.“But you did promise me I would be safe. Does your promise hold only if I leave the room?” She dragged in a deep breath and let it go in a rush. “I would like to stay a little longer I think.”Lord Winslade’s eyebrows rose.He regarded her intently. She met his gaze, refusing to look away. No matter what she had been brought up to believe, her old life was over. If she had to live in a new world, in a new level of society, then she needed to know how it functioned. One of the other women leapt onto the table and began to remove her clothing. A burst of laughter and loud clapping rang out from the assembled guests. Susan gestured toward them. “I believed sexual relations were unpleasant for women. Clearly my information is incorrect.”His lips relaxed into a curve. He reached out a strong finger and placed it under her chin, tipping it up, subjecting her face to scrutiny. “Estelle Milthorpe is a self-serving fool, but she has sent me something of more value than she could have known.” He dropped his hand and leaned back in his seat. “By all means observe what happens here tonight.” His voice dropped. “You may learn more about your own nature.” She stared into his dark eyes.Something fluttered in her chest. She wanted him to touch her again. Her breasts felt tight and hot.She wondered how they’dfeel if he put his lips on them, to have him reveal the mysteries making these people behave so outrageously. In the few moments her attention had been held by Lord Winslade the gathering had lost any pretension of decorum. A couple openly fornicated on the table. The woman lay on her back amid the debris of the meal, the man working away above her, his bare buttocks pumping. With each downward push the crowd cheered. Suddenly, the man stiffened and pulled back on his knees.Susan watched in dry mouthed amazement as a rope of white fluid fountained out from the rigid pole of flesh thrusting out in front of him. It pumped and spurted.A well-endowed woman ripped down her bodice to allow the liquid to splash onto her bared breasts. With a roar of approval, the crowd watched as two men grabbed her and licked her clean.The heat in Susan’s cheeks spread, turning into strange, pulsing warmth suffusing downward through her body.She shifted restlessly on her chair. Winslade leaned in closer.His warm, masculine scent raised the temperature another degree or two. “You’re enjoying this,” he said.She shivered as his breath teased her ear. “I shouldn’t,” she replied. “I know it’s wrong, sinful…”“Only if someone is being forced against her will,” he said. “Here there is only willing participation in pleasure.”“But society says…”He spoke with cool assertiveness. “I am not concerned with the strictures of petty-minded prudes.”
Never On A Sundae Excerpt #2 Seanna Smythe

“Do we have to talk about this now?” She trailed a hand down his chest, across the muscles of his abdomen.Aidan caught her hand and drew it back up to his chest, anchoring it there. “Yes,” he said as he raised her hand to his lips to kiss the tips of her fingers.“We don’t get much business through the door anymore. The franchise two blocks up can do milkshakes and sundaes far cheaper than I can. They’ve branched out into ice cream cakes too.” She stretched languidly against him before hooking her leg across his to stroke his calf with her foot. “It’s time to move on.”“So, there’s nothing to stop you coming back to Sydney with me for the weekend?” She started to pull away from him, so he lifted her onto him to keep her there, one hand on her back, the other stroking the delicious mounds of her ass. “Please, Evie? Jacqui would love the company. I’m pretty sure she’ll want to discuss the dos and don’ts of the buck’s night with you.”“I haven’t agreed to do the buck’s night.” Evie started to move her hips against him as he grew hard again beneath her. “All I want right now is you.”He smacked the firm, round cheek under his hand. “Stop wriggling! You’re distracting me.”Raising her torso just enough to tease his chest with her budded nipples, she looked him square in the eye. “You’re so easy to distract…so responsive.” She slid against him to prove her point. Her head dipped toward his, her eyes fixed firmly on his mouth.Aidan saw the kiss coming. He turned his head away so her lips fell on his cheek instead. He groaned when she took the opportunity to nip his earlobe as she slid a hand between their bodies to stroke the head of his growing erection.“Evie!” Desperation edged his voice. He shifted beneath her and heaved up to flip her onto her back. Before she had time to struggle, he had her arms pinned in one large hand above her head, his leg across hers to keep them down, while his other hand gripped her chin, gently but firmly forcing her gaze to his. “I’ve missed you—your energy, your company, your mess around my place. Come home, please?”Distracted, his grip on her hands loosened as he trailed a finger down her silky cheek. He leaned in to kiss the corners of her eyes.“Just for the weekend?”Trailing his lips down her cheek, he followed a path across her chin into the valley between her breasts. “For however long you like.”Evie’s fingers massaged his scalp through his thick, dark hair. She arched against him as his fingers stroked, pinched their way to the warmth between her thighs. “With you, on the Harley?”He chuckled against the soft swell of her abdomen. “Is there any other way?”“Then yes, when do we leave?”Aidan lifted his head to stare at her. “Yes?” He shifted so they were lying side by side again. “All it took was offering a ride on the Harley? I should’ve thought of making the offer six months ago.”

The Banquet Extract #1 Kate Belle 
Sheba tentatively picked out a chocolate and pressed it to her outstretched tongue. James felt the familiar tug in his groin. Every one of Sheba’s movements elicited raw lust in him. How did she do it, he wondered, wishing he could adjust the bulge in his jeans without her noticing.When Sheba opened her eyes they were aflame. She licked her glistening lips. “How do you make these? I must know.” James smiled apologetically. “It’s a secret. I’m afraid if I told you, I’d have to kill you.”Sheba frowned, pouting prettily. He could see she was used to having her own way. She picked another chocolate from the box, thrusting it between her lips and sucking enthusiastically. James watched her cheeks hollow as her tongue worked the delicacy against the roof of her mouth. She closed her eyes and a flush came to her cheeks. As he’d expected, the recipe stirred desire within her. He was delighted the concoction worked as well on Sheba as it did on more ordinary women. When she opened her eyes she gazed at him from under long lashes, a sexy smile turning up the corners of her mouth.“But you will tell me,” she crooned, reaching up to stroke a solitary finger over his adam’s apple to the hollow at the base of his throat, “since I inspired the recipe, I think I deserve to know, yes?”A swoon threatened to swallow James whole. He rested his fingers on the edge of the table to steady himself. As he gazed into Sheba’s round eyes a wondrous realization dawned upon him. He held all the cards here. He had something she badly wanted and could probably ask whatever price he wanted for it. He watched, captivated, as she took another chocolate, placed it seductively on her pink tongue, and made little moaning noises as she chewed on it. All he wanted right then was to bury himself in Sheba’s generous mouth. “Perhaps you could persuade me in some way. . .”James held his breath, feeling his heart pound in his chest, wondering if he’d been too bold. Sheba surveyed him, tapping her index finger against a plump bottom lip as she considered his proposition. A slow, sensual smile spread across her face.“I can be terribly persuasive.” Sheba stuck two fingers over the waistband of his jeans and pulled his pelvis toward her. “Perhaps you’d like to come back to my hotel room and I’ll try to prise the secret out of you.”Sudden heat rushed to James’ cheeks. This was more than he dared wish for. He blessed the power of his secret Mexican chili as he nodded his assent. He’d share the recipe with her, but not the species of chili he used. He’d searched long and hard to find it, the chili was rare, and he wasn’t about to give the knowledge away for a quick fuck in a hotel, not even with the woman of his dreams. The chili was the only thing that gave him power over women, including Sheba. “I’d love to be persuaded. Just don’t torture me.”She cupped his face in both her hands, leaning in closer so he could smell her minty breath.“Darling, pleasure is far more persuasive than pain.”

GIVEAWAY INFO: Prize is 5 eBook copies (1 each to 5 winners) of“Edible Delights Anthology, Vol 2”. Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Sept 7. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway 
RAFFLECOPTER LINK (for those unable to use the code above): http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp... 
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Speak no Evil Excerpt, and 5 Star Review

Speak No Evil (No Evil #1)by Tanya Anne CrosbyContemporary Romantic SuspenseCategories: Mystery/ThrillerPublisher: KensingtonRelease Date: March 7, 2013Heat Level: SensualLength: 283 pages


Available at:Amazon: / B&N: / iTunes: / Kobo: 
Description:“Dangerously addicting. “-Sherrilyn Kenyon #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Crosby serves up suspense, secrets and Southern scandal like no one else! “ - Harlan Coben #1 New York Times bestselling author
Lifting the veil of secrecy on a grand Southern family in decline, New York Times bestselling author Tanya Anne Crosby explores the lives of Caroline, Augusta, and Savannah Aldridge, three sisters who share a dark past and an uncertain future...Caroline Aldridge was surprised by the number of mourners at her mother's funeral. Evidently the newspaper heiress who had caused her children so much pain was well-loved by everyone else in Charleston. Now she was gone, leaving behind countless secrets--and a few demands: Caroline and her sisters must live together for one year or lose their inheritance. And Caroline must take over The Tribune. But a killer is making headlines, and Caroline may have unwittingly stepped into the crosshairs...
A series of kidnappings and murders resurrect the sisters' memories of their brother's disappearance as a child--and Caroline fears she may be next. Yet in the midst of her turmoil, she may be rekindling a romance she'd extinguished long ago. With Jack back in her life and the tattered bonds of sisterhood slowly mending, Caroline hopes the family can restore its position in Charlestonsociety--unless a sinister force beyond their control tears them apart forever. . .
About the Author:Tanya has written seventeen novels, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists including the New York Times and USA Today. Best known for stories charged with emotion and humor, and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband, two dogs and two cats in northern Michigan.
Connect with Tanya Anne CrosbyEmail: tanya@tanyaannecrosby.comWebsite: http://tanyaannecrosby.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanyaannecrosby
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TanyaAnneCrosby


Excerpt #1 (Extended)
Together she and Savannahmade their way inside, as one by one, neighbors Caroline hadn’t seen in a decade brought sympathy along with their best casseroles. Thanking each for both, she set the food out in the dining room, noting that there was more than enough to feed an army for a year. Maybe they could donate some? She didn’t want it to go to waste and didn’t intend to remain in Charleston beyond the reading of the will. She was pretty sure her sisters had the same idea. Any arrangements that would need to be made could be handled over the phone, via e-mail and fax. That was the beauty of technology.
“My dear,” someone said sympathetically, tapping Caroline’s shoulder as she set a third dish of ambrosia salad on the buffet. Unbelievably, there was no more space on the antique Georgian table, even with its six feet of extensions.
“Well, hello, Miss Rose!” Caroline exclaimed. “How lovely to see you!” There was no pretense in the greeting. Rose Simmons’s wrinkled face brought back memories of Caroline’s earliest years in this old house, the only good ones she could recall.
“Gracious! I wouldn’t have missed it,” Miss Rose said. “Your mother was a wonderful woman. Such a lovely funeral!” she added with unreserved approval. “I hope my children will pay their respects so beautifully!”
A prick of guilt jabbed Caroline. Everything had been prearranged. It was the one thing she could thank her mother for: Flo wasn’t the sort to leave unfinished business. She skirted the compliment. “Well, I’m glad you could make it,” she offered with a smile, and then caught a glimpse of the figure standing in the entrance to the dining room and all thoughts flew out of her head at once.
“Oh, before I forget, I brought the greens!” Miss Rose declared. Caroline blinked, her gaze fixed on the man she had nearly married ten years before. “Greens?”
His eyes were as vivid a blue as she recalled, with points of light that dimmed or brightened based on the intensity of his smile. Right now, they were practically electric and Caroline could barely focus.
“I don’t know the Greens, Miss Rose. . . .”
Miss Rose chuckled, gently cuffing Caroline’s forearm. “Well, of course you do! You always asked after them and I remembered and brought them!”
Caroline gave the old woman a confused smile, and noticed Jack was smirking, those lights in his eyes dancing impishly. The familiar, playful grin annoyed her far more than it should have.
Miss Rose clasped a hand to her breast. “Poor sweet dear! It must be the shock,” she declared. “That’s quite understandable.” She patted Caroline’s arm consolingly. “Flo’s death was so unexpected!” She shook her head. “Your mother will be sorely missed, but it should cheer you to know they are talking about planting a garden in Waterfront Parkin her honor. I hope they do!
“The Florence Willodean Aldridge Memorial Garden,” Rose continued, but Caroline was no longer listening. The old woman peered over her shoulder to see what had captured Caroline’s attention and a sudden look of comprehension crossed her features. She smiled knowingly. “Well, goodness! I understand. I shall leave you to your guests, my dear girl. Just make sure you put some of them greens aside for later. I cooked them up just the way you like them, with a nice big ham hock!”
It dawned on Caroline suddenly that the “greens” were not people. Miss Rose had brought mustard greens. And truthfully, she hated them intensely but vaguely recalled being five at Miss Rose’s daughter’s baptism celebration and feeling incredibly guilty about wanting to spit them out. With a quelling look from her mother, she had reluctantly swallowed them and complimented Miss Rose’s greens emphatically—obviously, much too emphatically.
Miss Rose clucked at her, shaking an admonishing finger. “You always were too thin!”
Caroline’s cheeks heated as her mother’s neighbor ambled away, leaving her completely at Jack’s mercy.
The old woman gave Jack a nod on her way out of the dining room and said pleasantly, “Afternoon, Jack.”
Jack greeted her with a smile and a nod. “Afternoon, Miss Rose. You look lovely as ever.”
Miss Rose ducked her head shyly and giggled like a schoolgirl. The instant she was out of earshot, Jack turned the full impact of hisroguish smile on Caroline. “Just make sure you put some of them greens aside for later,” he teased, stirring from the doorframe and strolling into the room with a languor that was both infuriating and reassuring in its familiarity.
“I guess your mother never taught you not to eavesdrop,” Caroline said, hating herself for giving in to feelings of resentment.
The twinkles in his eyes vanished. “We both know my mother didn’t teach me much of anything, Caroline.”
He said it calmly, congenially, but Caroline knew she’d hit a nerve. For a long awkward moment, they stood facing one another, neither quite certain what to say. The scent of wilting magnolias drifted between them. Ten years ago, her mother had ordered the flowers as centerpieces for the tables at their wedding. Now, they adorned every corner of the house and Caroline would forever associate the scent with death and sorrow.
 Fitting, somehow.
Jack had the decency to look uncomfortable. Hands in his pockets, he peered down at the floor. “We still need to talk to Sadie,” he offered. “Finalize the report.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll find her in the kitchen.”
It was Sadie, their mother’s housekeeper, who had discovered Flo sprawled at the foot of the stairs. Doped out on clonazepam, Flo had apparently tripped over a loose board at the top of the stairs.
“It’s just a formality,” he assured. “It can wait.”
She’d rather believe he was here because he was doing his duty for work, not because of some misplaced sense of obligation to their past. “So you’re working?”
“I came to pay my respects, not upset you. Sorry, Caroline.”
At one time, Caroline couldn’t have imagined anyone else she’d rather be comforted by. Now she didn’t even know how to talk to him. “Thanks for coming, Jack.”
He took a step backward. “You’re more like her than you realize,” he said quietly, removing his hands from his pockets. He hesitated, clearly wanting to say more. Instead, he turned and left.
Ignoring the surreptitious glances from their guests, Caroline turned her back on him. Trying hard to be casual, she stabbed a silver spoon into a dish before following Jack out into the hall to watch his retreat.
He edged his way through the crowd, somehow avoiding human contact despite the breadth of his shoulders. He never once looked back. Without a word, he opened the front door, stepped out into the afternoon light and closed it quietly behind him.
Caroline choked on a wave of emotion. “Shit,” she said softly.
Savannahappeared behind her. “That bad?”
Caroline blinked away tears. “He said he was looking for Sadie.”
Savannahlifted a brow. “Well, I doubt that’s why he came by here today.”
“The past doesn’t change just because he wants it to!” Caroline said emphatically and Savannahnodded, wisely recognizing the end of her patience on the subject of Jack Shaw.

 My 5 Star review
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Compelling, Intrigue, Tense is only some of the words I can use to describe this suspense filled romance. The relationship between the three sisters, the death of their mother and the budding romance between Christine and Jack offered this story a human depth. Mingled in between the ongoing plot of mayhem, heat and floods that build the suspension as people disappeared and bodies piled up. Each sister had to deal with their mother's sudden death at her own peril. The absence of a mother's love shaping each as they struggle with life and its battles. Gripping, this plot will keep you at the edge as you read about the twisted mind of a sick individual, brutally torturing innocent lives for his own benefit.Well written the characters played their parts, each contributing to the story as it unfolds and you felt relieved when it was over. Great characters, each with their own personas that kept the story interesting and entertaining. The seamless flow of words and scenes capturing your attention as the plot unfolds and you get a glimpse of the plot line. Turning the pages as you wonder and enjoy the story.Well "over" is a figurative word in the sentence...I do not like cliffhangers, and it left you with a few unanswered questions. Now I can not wait to get my hands on the next book! A great story I can recommend to all who love suspense, romance, relationships, and action.

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Excerpt and 5 Star Review for Perverse by Larry Rodness

“Perverse” 

By Larry Rodness
Blurb -  19 year old Emylene Stipe is a 2nd generation Goth who, like every teenage girl, is trying to find her place in the world. One night she comes upon an old painting in an antique store and is compelled to purchase it.  When she brings it home an image of a young woman appears in the sketch and then magically materializes in her apartment. Emylene nick-names her 'Poinsettia' and they soon become fast friends. But Poinsettia has an ulterior motive for her sudden and strange intrusion into her host's life which causes Emylene to question her whole belief system.


LARRY RODNESS BIO

Larry Rodness began his entertainment career as a professional singer at the age of 19 and has been performing in Toronto for over 35 years with his wife and singing partner, Jodi, at venues such as The Old Mill, Royal York Hotel, Skyline and Bristol Place Hotel as well as countless corporate and private functions.
In the 80's Larry studied musical theatre writing with PRO under Broadway conductor Layman Engel, which led him to write for dinner theater. He then moved into the screenplay arena where he has written over a dozen screenplays and has had 3 scripts optioned to date. In the past 2 years he has also become a published novelist.Information on other writings is available on www.larryrodness.com

“Perverse” buy links –The novel can be purchased in both print and/or electronic form at:Amazon / Amazon ( Canada) / Amazon – UK / Barnes and Noble
Excerpt
The next day during her lunch break, Emylene returnedto the antique shop to find the sketch sitting there on thedusty floor, leaning against the grimy picture window. Shelooked at it more closely this time. The artist had framed thewinter scene by drawing a weathered old wooden fence thatzigzagged from the foreground all the way to a line of treesthat met the horizon. In the center of the sketch stood thesubject of the picture, a great cypress tree surrounded by ablanket of pristine snow. Aside from that there was nothingdistinctive about the picture at all except that Stelio seemedcaptivated by it. And yet the more she looked, the moreEmylene felt a strange emotional tug. The sketch was sereneand unsettling at the same time, evocative but distant—just theright mix of perversity for the heartsick Goth.
Her mind firmly made up, Emylene pushed open thepaint-peeled door that creaked as if it objected to the intrusion.The air inside hung heavy with the smell of melancholia.The items on display, not so much antiques as other people’scastaways, were piled haphazardly onto shelves and tablesin no particular order. This was not so much a store as agraveyard, a tomb for forgotten relics and memories. Andif that wasn’t bad enough, Emylene sensed an air of gloomemanating from the shopkeeper himself who was behindhis counter, staring sour-faced at her. He was a tall, gauntman in his late sixties with wispy grey hair who had livedin the district for over thirty years and suffered them all—the druggies, the hookers, and the hustlers. He took onelook at Emylene and made up his mind about her beforeshe said a single word: Goths. If they were so in love withdeath, why didn’t they just slit their wrists and let the restof us get on with our own miserable lives? Nevertheless,Emylene greeted him with a cheery hello.
“Hey there. The picture in the window, the one with thetree? How much?” she asked.“It’s not for you,” he replied with a trace of a Europeanaccent.“Maybe it is.”“Why? Why would you want it?”“I dunno exactly,” replied Emylene. “It just kindaspeaks to me.”“Really. And what does it say?”“It says… ‘I’m lonely, I need a friend, a nice place tolive.’ So, how much you want for it?”The storeowner stared at Emylene at first with curiosity,and then with disdain. “A million dollars,” he replied. “Yougot a million dollars? If not, don’t waste my time.”Emylene offered her prettiest smile while she lifted thepicture from the floor and eyeballed it like an appraiser fromSotheby’s. There was nothing particularly artsy about it. Thedust covering the frame and glass told her it had probably beenlying around for months, if not years. Artistically, the scalewas tipping more towards ‘garbage’ than ‘antique.’“I don’t have that much, but I’ll give you a hundred,”she offered.“You really want it? Tell you what. You come backhere tomorrow…”Emylene knew what was coming next.“…dressed from head to toe in white. You wipe all thatblack polish off your nails and the paint off your face, and youcome here dressed like…”“…like a little lady?” asked Emylene.“Yes, like that, and she’s yours.”Emylene put the picture down where she found it.“See you tomorrow then,” she sang as she left the shop.
Although she had never met this man before Emyleneknew him all too well. Her parents had taught her early onthat whenever people were confronted with something oddor strange, they generally went into “fear mode.” This manwas afraid of something and desperate to keep control ofhis domain. To do that, he needed to demystify Emylene bydegrading and shaming her into showing that beneath all themake-up and the gear, she was as dull and ordinary as he was.Emylene needed to show him that she was a grown-up, and noone was going to push her around. Both were in for a shock.The next day Emylene returned to the store as requested,wearing the only white dress she owned and treasured—anexact replica of the bridal gown Miss Lucy was buried in,after Dracula turned her into a vampyre. When Emylenestepped across the threshold of the store, she looked morefrightening than she did in anything she had worn in black,and the look on the store owner’s face instantly faded to thesame pallor of white as the dress. As Emylene approached himshe slowly opened her hand.The owner drew back, fully expecting to find a beatingheart pumping away in her little palm. Instead there werefive twenties. He hesitated a moment, wondering whetherto deny her the purchase and shoo her out, but instead,he scooped up the bills. Emylene took the picture andexited the store. Not a word was said between the two.After she left, the owner crossed himself, and then oddly,tears began to roll down from his eyes.When Emylene returned to her apartment, she hoped tofind another note tied to a black Bacarra rose, which signifiedthat Stelio was back in town. She was anxious to surprise himwith the sketch, but there was nothing waiting for her.The next morning she looked again. Still no rose ornote. A week went by without any contact from Stelio, whichfrustrated Emylene to no end. Whenever she dropped by hisshop, she was told he was away on business. Was he avoidingher? Had he grown tired of her? Never, she told herself, howcould he? Perhaps his wife found out about them.
In the meantime Emylene looked around for just theright place to hang the sketch. There really was only one placefor it. A nail went into the plaster with two bangs of a hammerand the picture was hung upon the wall opposite the main doorof the apartment so that it would be the first thing she’d seeupon entering, and the last thing upon leaving.That done, Emylene took a moment to appreciate hernew acquisition. Ignoring the slap-dash method with whichthe simple brush strokes were applied, she concentrated onthe basic elements of the scene—a rickety wooden fencethat zigzagged all the way back to a line of trees in thedistant horizon. A few wavy strokes indicating a blanketof unblemished snow, and of course, the lone Cyprus thatcommanded center stage. So simpatico did she feel to the treethat, for a moment, Emylene fancied the artist must have hadher in mind when he drew it—two lone entities against theworld. That was all and yet, there seemed more although shecouldn’t put her finger on what, exactly. Perhaps it was in thehastily drawn strokes that she had all but ignored until now.What was the artist’s intention? Was it just plain laziness orwas there a sense of urgency? But then, because even Gothsget hungry, Emylene stripped off Miss Lucy’s bridal gown andbounced downstairs to grab a sub.
It was 8:15 when she returned. When her world changed.When the glorious mystery of the picture began to revealitself. When she gazed upon her new treasure and noticed forthe first time footprints in the snow that were not there before.

My 5 Star Review
I received the book from the author for an honest review.
Interesting and well executed plot that keeps you glued to the book till the last page. Or as Emelyne would have said "Perverse".We meet Emelyne at the age of nineteen leaving her parents home to stand on her own feet like any ordinary young person that seeks independence. Her natural ability to rebel against everything in life did not prepare her for the life changes she would experience when meeting Stelio. A second generation Goth, this young lady new much about the darker side of life but nothing could prepare her when a framed picture came to life and altered her own drastically. As a Goth, she was trained by her parents to question everything, especially the very important one about Death. Soon death became a reality when her neighborhood, family, friends and neighbors acted strangely, and it was up to her to save the day.Meeting Laszlo with an outrageous tale but yet so believable that she had to trust him to save everything dear to her. Her cunningness, strong will and wit stood out the most making her character believable and likable. Taken back in time as you learn more about the evil Stelio and the connections between him and Laszlo. Giving you a glimpse in the world of revenge and Vampyres. The Mira character a good villain that kept the plot alive and entertaining. Every scene a building block in the plot keeps the book filled with twists and intrigue. Well written as good and evil embark on capturing the soul of the human being. 

Spotlight is on Three's a Crowd Give away and Excerpt

Three's a Crowd (Sequel to “Second Time's a Charm”)by Melissa KeirErotic Contemporary RomancePublisher: Rebel Ink PressRelease Date: May 17, 2013Heat Level: SizzlingLength: 40 pages
Available at:Amazon / B&N / ARe - 
Description:For Lissa, the second time at love was a charm but in marriage, three’s a crowd.
Single mother Lissa Vincent found her soul mate in her best friend’s ex-husband. Alex Hunter couldn’t believe his fortune when his ex-wife told him her best friend was available. After divorce, finding love again could be a challenge but it appeared Alex and Lissa had gotten lucky. Yet as they start their lives as newlyweds, Alex and Lissa don’t realize just how difficult it might be to blend a family.
When Alex’s ex new marriage begins to unravel, she sets her sights again on Alex. Does Alex still have feelings for the mother of his child? Will Lissa keep her best friend or lose her husband?
Fairytales promise a happily-ever-after. But what really happens after the after.
Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains explicit sex scenes and/or situations (including…) and adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.
About the Author:
As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing.  She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and EPIC.  Melissa is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars.  She also believes in helping other authors and features authors and their books on her blog.
Melissa doesn’t believe in down time.  She’s always keeping busy.  Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice-a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature “happy endings” and is often found plotting her next story.

This is what readers are saying about Melissa’s books:
Amazon 5 star review for Second Time’s the Charm- “Such a sweet and heart warming story. As I read it, and the details unfolded, I was engrossed to see if that I thought was going to happen, would really happen.”– Lacey Wolfe, Romance Author.

Barnes and Nobel 5 star review for Protecting His Wolfe- “Great read. I couldn't put it down. I really liked the characters, especially Betsie and the Pigg brothers. A love story with suspense and surprise.” – Anonymous

Connect with Melissa KeirWebsite - http://www.melissakeir.comFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/melissaakeirFcebook Fan Page - http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaKeirTwitter - http://www.twitter/melissa_keir



Excerpt #2
“Hi, honey. I’m home.” I called as I entered the house. The boys were spending the night with their father but I could see Alex was on the phone and he quickly waved me toward him. Sitting down next to him on the couch, I listened patiently, curious as to what was going on.
“Yes, I suppose we can switch days for Joe to come over. I’m sorry things are that way at your house. Joe’s always welcome here. Just let me know what I can do to help.” Chloe. Frowning, I listened for more. “Mike seems like a great guy. If you two are having issues, maybe you can talk to a counselor or something. Let me know what I can do to help. I’m always willing to listen. Bye.”
“What’s going on? Your conversation seemed pretty edgy.”
“She and Mike are having issues. She thinks he might be having an affair. She wants us to get Joe early and maybe keep him a few days extra so she can spend some time with Mike and try to talk things through. She doesn’t want to put Joe in the middle. You know how he feels about Mike.”
“I’m sorry to hear it. She mentioned the stress to me at lunch yesterday but nothing about an affair. I didn’t want to bring it up to you or share things I shouldn’t. The boys love spending time with him and it’ll be good for Joe to spend more time with you.”
Alex put his arm around me and kissed me softly. “You’re wonderful, Lissa. I know this will take more work on your part, but I really appreciate how you’re willing to do anything for my son.”
“I love Joe, you know that. But honestly, I’m worried about something. Chloe seems to want to rely on you for support. I don’t want you to get caught in the middle of their issues. The other day at lunch, she told me how much she still cares for you and warned me away from you. It was uncomfortable.”
“Lissa, I love you. Not Chloe. You have nothing to worry about.” Taking my face in his hands, he kissed me deeply and made me forget all of my worries. “Let me show you how much you mean to me.” Alex picked me up and carried me to the couch. Undressing me slowly, he worshiped my figure with his mouth, making me cry out in passion. Then he moved me to our bed and showed me again, this time with his hard body, just how much he loved me.


GIVEAWAY INFO: Prize is a $10 Amazon Gift Card from Melissa Keir. Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Aug 26. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. 
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LINK TO SCHEDULE*:

For Whom the Heart Beats Eternal Give Away

For Whom My Heart Beats Eternalby Val MullerSci-Fi/Futuristic Time-Travel RomancePublisher: Val MullerRelease Date: August 16, 2012Heat Level: SteamyLength: 118 pages
Available at:Amazon / OmniLit: 

Description:In this time-travel novella incorporating sweet romance and science fiction, Anna, a young graduate student, has found her intellectual soul mate. She and Dr. Thomas Wellesley, forty years her senior, have been working on sensitive research on applied time travel. She respects the man: he is married to his work and just as passionate about science as she is. He is her favorite part of the day and she'll stop at nothing to help their research. When a rival professor follows the pair into the lab and threatens their research and their safety, Dr. Wellesley does everything in his power to protect Anna from harm. But in his effort to protect her, he inadvertently sends her back in time. Forty years back in time, to be exact—to a time when a young student named Tommy Wellesley is just embarking on his first degree in physics. And it’ll be up to young Tommy to see her safely back to her own time. If he can bear to lose her. This edition also includes two short time travel stories. "Suicide Watch" explores the more dangerous ramifications of time travel. After an unfortunate fight with the love of his life, Matthew Mitchell discovers a time machine. Tempted to win back his girlfriend, Matt takes the machine for a spin, only to find out that time travel is much more complicated than he expected, and the results are catastrophic. "Toward Every Future’s Past" is flavored with sci-fi and fantasy and examines the cyclical nature of time and man’s difficulty in comprehending it.
About the Author:Val Muller is the author of the Corgi Capers mystery series for kids, and Faulkner’s Apprentice, a horror novel for grown-ups. A teacher by day, Val is also an editor for Freedom Forge Press. A full list of works can be found at www.ValMuller.comwith Corgi Fun at www.CorgiCapers.com.

Connect with Val MullerWebsite: http://www.ValMuller.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.val.mullerTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/mercuryval


Excerpt #1
There in the café, Anna looked beyond the strapping college students—was oblivious them, even Erik. No, Anna had eyes for only one man, a man who represented her love for science.
Dr. Wellesley. 
Her graduate advisor, Dr. Wellesley was one of the college’s most prestigious professors. He’d been teaching for forty-odd years, and her work as his assistant elevated Anna to an enviable status among her peers and colleagues. Dr. Wellesley had called Anna on his way back from class. He wanted to meet for coffee. He’d hit a dead end in his research and needed to get out of the lab.
She saw him there at the round table in the corner. The table had room for eight, but he usually just sat there by himself, his research spread like a picnic. Though he was forty years her senior, he was her intellectual soul mate. He shared her love of theoretical physics and her desire to put their theories into practice. Dr. Wellesley was polite and gentle, his being raised in a different generation having instilled in him a sense of propriety that was all but dead in the modern world.
Anna walked quickly, her steps laced with adrenaline. Dr. Wellesley had sounded upset on the phone, and she was worried. The man was normally calm, his words collected and intentional. This time it had been a frantic and abrupt request for coffee. As she approached the table, she saw two steaming cups and knew he’d ordered the usual. He’d learned of her favorite on a trip to see the particle accelerator at CERN. There was a mix-up with the hotel reservations and they’d had to share a room. Like a gentleman, Dr. Wellesley insisted on sleeping on the couch while she took the bed. He had been raised to do such things.
“Thanks for the coffee, Dr. Wellesley,” she said.
Seemingly oblivious to her presence, he looked out into space and didn’t seem to recognize her.
“Dr. Wellesley?” she asked.
Still no response.
“Thomas?” she said finally, jarring him out of his daze.
“Miss Adams!” he said, startled. “I ordered you a hazelnut. Two sugars, light cream.”
“Thanks,” she said, forcing a smile. But Dr. Wellesley lost focus again and stared not at Anna, but through her. His eyes looked utterly tormented.
“Is everything okay?” Anna asked. “You seem…”
Dr. Wellesley sighed.
“Is it about the project? I was just headed over to log some hours tonight. I was thinking if we adjusted the parameters on—”
“Don’t bother,” he said.
Anna sat down, alarmed. Dr. Wellesley usually stood up to greet her and pushed her chair in for her, and she had grown accustomed to the unnecessary act of chivalry. He usually loved working late at the lab. He had never turned down the opportunity to discuss an experiment. Now, it seemed his enthusiasm disappeared. It was as if someone had flipped a switch, powering him down.
“What happened?” she asked. “I thought we were going to work on stabilizing the dimensional gateway.”
He squinted at her with the slightest admonition. It was a strict rule that they were not to mention terms from their experiment outside the lab. Not only was their research quite secret—it was very dangerous, both physically and theoretically.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
He nodded. “It’s just that I’m fresh out of ideas. For the first time in my life, I’ve got nothing. I’ve exhausted all possible avenues, and nothing has worked.” The muscles in his neck tightened, and he pumped his fist against the table. She had rarely seen him like this. She worried about him, wished he had a wife or a girlfriend to comfort him, to bring him happiness in times of academic failure. But he lived alone. He had married his research, and he had been more than faithful to his scientific mistress. If only she would return the favor.
“Here,” Anna said, pushing his cup of coffee to him. She reached out to put a hand on his arm, but she withdrew at the last instant. “Try to relax. Why don’t you show me what tests you’ve run today?”
The tension in his eyes broke, and he drew a laptop out of his briefcase, opened a page of notes, and scrolled across the screen with his stylus. Next to each hypothesis he’d scrawled frustrated notes describing the nature of the failure.
“Everything works but…” He moved to the chair directly next to Anna and whispered in her ear. “Everything works but the containment,” he said. His breath was soft and warm against her ear, and she shivered. “The process we tried last month has proven stable for keeping the wormhole intact. It’s just now a matter of keeping open the doorway, keeping it visible to our reality.”
Anna nodded. She turned to speak to him, and her pupils dilated at the proximity and the talk of time travel. Despite his age, the youthful sparkle returned to Dr. Wellesley’s eyes. When he smiled, his chiseled cheekbone sometimes sent a thrill through Anna’s gut. Especially when he spoke of science. Anna wondered if she, too, would marry her research. If she, too, would end up like Dr. Wellesley, aged and lonely and focused only on science.

GIVEAWAY INFO: Prize is 2 eBook copies (1 each to 2 winners)of "For Whom My Heart Beats Eternal" AND "Faulkner's Apprentice" from Val Muller. 
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Today the Spotlight is on Hesparia's Tears Excerpt and Give away

Hesparia's Tears
by Imogene Nix
Erotic Sci-Fi/Futuristic Romance
Categories: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Release
Date: August 9, 2013
Heat Level: Steamy
Word Count: 56,211


 Available at: Total-e-Bound: 
 Description:

What will happen when the past catches up? Galan is from Hesparia, a prince on a planet where the females are dying out his people need an alliance with the humans. Jessa has a past, one she hasn’t earned but cannot escape. What will happen when opportunity knocks? Galan travels to earth, hoping to plead the case for Hesparia. He doesn’t expect Jessa or The Quickening. Can he make the case for women to migrate to Hesparia? Can he get the humans to trust him enough to form an alliance? And is there hope for this couple to overcome the obstacles in their way?

 Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers. 
 About the Author: A mother of two, compulsive reader and bookstore owner. She lives in regional Queensland, Australia with her husband, 2 daughters, dog, cats and prize winning chooks. She has a particular fondness for Vampires, Star Ship Captains and things that go bump in the night. She is also a firm believer in writing what you enjoy… something she strictly adheres to!

 Connect with Imogene Nix
Website: http://imogenenix.com/Blog: http://www.imogenenix.blogspot.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImogeneNixTwitter: https://twitter.com/ImogeneNiGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5580875.Imogene_NixGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108633042092595324569/
 Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.



Excerpt

The spaceship entered orbit and Jessa watched the tracking on the television. Since learning of the existence of extraterrestrials, it was about all she wanted to do. See where they were and where they planned to land. The reporter came back on the screen. “We believe they will make their landing somewhere on the continent of Australia. There have been no further radio communications from the craft, however. So it is, at best, an educated guess right now.” Jessa giggled at the sober face of the young, twenty-something reporter standing outside the Parkes Observatory and the inane follow up comment made by the thirtyish female news anchor. “Jessa, it’s time for bed!” her mother yelled again. She sighed dramatically. At twenty-four she was no longer a child, even though her parents seemed to struggle with that small fact. Maybe it’s time to move out. As quickly as the thought had crossed her mind, she dismissed it. Leaving home meant more expense than she could possibly afford. The thing that really irked her was paying an outstanding legal bill for something she hadn’t even done. It was a refrain that had played through her mind over and over again since the event had taken place. It may have happened years ago, but she continued to pay for her youthful indiscretion. One she had long regretted. Jessa stood, before heading down the old hallway to the bathroom. Living at home meant sharing a bathroom with her little brother, Ben. Of course, being a boy of sixteen, he was disgusting. There were used razor blades, splashes of water, foam from his recent shaving experience and hairs in the sink. Knowing it would make no difference complaining about it she carefully picked up the discarded detritus and placed it in the bin beside the vanity unit, wiped away the mess and began her own night-time ritual. Emerging from the bathroom, she spied her mother, standing at the end of the hall in her fluffy blue dressing gown with matching slippers, and her blonde hair sitting high on her head in soft curlers. It was the same scene every night.

“Night, Jessa.”

 “Night, Mum.”

What else was there to say? In a funk, Jessa entered her room, before closing the door then sat down on her single bed. She breathed deeply, letting the oxygen flow through her system, before slowly levering herself down across the mattress. Her blinds were open so she had an excellent view of the star-studded sky. It was a major positive to living on the edge of town, the absence of bright lights.

 “Whoever you are, I certainly hope you’re friendly,” Jessa muttered, before closing her eyes, rolling onto her side and willing herself to sleep. For some reason, an excited thrill ran through her system. Finally, visitors from the stars. No longer was it a figment of someone’s imagination or something from a science fiction novel. The time had come for them to have contact with another species. That was a sobering thought. The Prime Minister had sent a radio message to the ship. God, I hope the Prime Minister didn’t act like a pompous dick. Jessa snuggled down under the covers, waiting for the touch of sleep. Her mind wandered and she drowsed. Her mobile, sitting on the bedside table buzzed and vibrated. Jessa muttered in the dark, groping for the device. She reached out and found the red leather covered item and dragged it to her ears. “’lo?”

 “Jessa, it’s me. Seth. Can you come to the office at the telescope? I need you.” His voice was excited. She squinted. “I was asleep, Seth. Besides which, I’m off duty until Saturday.” The room was gloomy and she screwed her face up into a scowl, knowing sleep would probably elude her now.

 “What could be so important that I need to come in right now?” Jessa pushed back the covers, swung her legs over the side then slipped her feet into her old grey slippers beside the bed. “I can’t tell you over the phone.”

 “What?” Something was happening. An agitated thrill filled her chest and for an instant her mind warred with the interest that spiked.

 “Jessa…” He didn’t need to plead. Jessa was already getting up to hunt out clothes.

“Sure. Yeah, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Thanks. You really won’t regret it.” The delight in his voice was contagious. Jessa hurriedly tapped the end call button.

 * * * *  The land, so alien with hues of blue and green, grew larger as the craft descended.

 “Captain, do you really intend to land here? After those transmissions?” Galan sat in his chair, watching the view-screen, hearing the concern and horror in the voice of his second-in-command.

“I do, Joras. We must remember our primary objective.” He knew his words sounded unconcerned, yet he too had reservations after the tone of the communications he had received from the…what did they call themselves? Oh right, yes, Earthlings… “It‘s obvious they had no imagination, calling themselves Earthlings. Especially the woman who had called herself the Prime Minister, whatever that is.” He shook his head.

“But what did pique my interest was the other transmission I received—the young man, who had called himself Seth. He sounded like he might be a possible go-between for us. Something our people had always found helpful in the past when dealing with new planets.” Frustration pulled at him as he rose from his seat, making his way to the navigator’s position.

 “How long until landing?”

 “Sir, on our current course, I estimate no more than three horanas.” Galan nodded absently. Three horanas to prepare. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

“Joras, have your security team ready and fully briefed. We’ll have to treat this as an ambassadorial meeting. I will prepare a communiqué for our Liege, concerning our position and plans.” Galan turned back to his friend, rubbing a hand absently along his hairless jaw.

 “Joras, when we land, I need you to remain here.”

 Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGJM1L...

 GIVEAWAY INFO: Prize is 2 eBook copies (1 each to 2 winners) of "Hesparia’s Tears" from Imogene Nix. Contest is tour-wide,open internationally and ends Aug 24. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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Stepping Down Virtual Book Tour with Michelle Stimpson

August 19- August 30, 2013Genre: Christian Fiction, Novel
Paperback: 231 pagesPublisher: Createspace (July 26, 2013)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1491210591ISBN-13: 978-1491210598


About The Book Mark has been pastoring New Vision church for six years now, and all his hard work is about to pay off as the church approaches mega-church status. But while Mark has been busy building the church, his own household has been crumbling to pieces. After ignoring divine guidance, Mark finds himself caught up in the appearance of a scandal that threatens to tear the church apart. And his wife’s secrets only add insult to near-fatal injury.
Sharla would have done just about anything to be a mother…and, actually, she did. She was willing to pay the price for her mistakes, but she never dreamed someone else might have to suffer instead. How close can she come to confessing her past without jeopardizing her future?
Stepping Down is the eighth full-length novel from National Bestselling Author Michelle Stimpson. As the granddaughter of a pastor and the great-granddaughter of a bishop, she explores a conflict many spiritual leaders still encounter today. Readers will enjoy this fast-paced, hard-hitting novel that addresses the ageless question: How can a man run the church if he can’t run his own household?


About The AuthorMichelle Stimpson is an author, a speaker, and an educator who received her Bachelor of Science degree from Jarvis Christian College in 1994.  She earned a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2002.  She has had the pleasure of teaching elementary, middle, and high school as well as training adults.

In addition to her work in the field of education, Michelle ministers through writing and public speaking. Her works include the highly acclaimed Boaz Brown, Divas of Damascus Road (National Bestseller), and Falling Into Grace, which has been optioned by Paulist Productions for a movie of the week.  She has published several short stories for high school students through her educational publishing company, Right Track Academic Support Services, at www.wegottaread.com.

Michelle serves in women's ministry at her home church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. She also ministers to women and writers through her blog.  Michelle  regularly speaks at special events and writing workshops sponsored by churches, schools, book clubs, and educational organizations.

The Stimpsons are proud parents of two young adults and one crazy dog.
Find Michelle online at: Twitter link www.twitter.com/stimpsontweetsFacebook link www.facebook.com/michelle.stimpson2

WEBSITE, EMAILEmail: stimpson.michelle@gmail.comWebsite:  www.MichelleStimpson.com
BLOG: WE GOTTAREAD  www.wegottaread.com
Order a copy
Amazon ebook: http://tinyurl.com/kbfeuexAmazon book: http://tinyurl.com/kt5f3fh
Tour Schedule: 
Getting Things In Order“I know you’re busy doing the Lord’s work, but it would be nice to see you home before thesun goes down sometimes,” she had nagged as she pounded a nail into the wall. She positionedthe clock in its new location, then put both hands on her hips. “If you can see the clock, you might actually keep track of how much time you’re spending here in your office.”
Mark didn’t like to fight with her about his devotion to New Vision Church. The church was his life’s purpose, the reason he’d walked away from his short, but well-paying career as an insurance salesman. This church had given him a sense of accomplishment he’d never experienced in all his months as top-producer at StateWay Insurance.
More than anything, Mark hoped that New Vision Church would be the reason Jesus said,“Well done, my good and faithful servant,” to him one day.
Late Saturday nights came with the territory, which was one reason he hired a very young man as his assistant and semi-mentee. At thirty-eight years old, Mark was no old goat, but he wasn’t bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, either. He needed an assistant to knock on the door every hour or so and make sure Mark hadn’t fallen asleep at the computer.



Review
This is the story of Mark Carter, III, founder and pastor of New Vision church, a thriving, soon to be megachurch, if he sticks to his plan. He loves his life...if he could just find time to spend with his wife, Sharla and 13 year old son, Amani. Sharla regularly expresses her displeasure at being at the bottom of his list and Amani exhibits signs of neglect as only a teen can. And neglect isn't the only problem plaguing this family. Mark gets a Heavenly nudge to do something about his church-aholism, but he ignores it and trudges on. God intervenes in Mark's plan and ultimately helps get Mark, his family and His church back on track with His plan. If you've ever read one of Ms. Stimpson's books, you know that in between my summary above is a wild ride. This book had one of the most unpredictable plots ever...and then she added Mama B in the mix; need I say more? I think I will. I loved the dialogue throughout, especially between Sharla and Amani...classic. But best of all for me was the infusion of spiritual wisdom throughout. It will make you smile, say "ouch" and if you apply it to your life, you will definitely grow. Well done, Ms Stimpson and keep them coming. Karen Rodgers
Another Review from my husband Paul, he is really getting the hang of this, what do you think?
My 4.5 Star Review
Well I was really blessed when asked to review this book. I was looking forward to seeing what the writer will reveal in this book. There are a lot of scenarios in life especially where it concerns the church or being a Christian. So we kick off by meeting Pastor Mark and his wife Sharla and son Amani. A typical preacher family. But as the story unfolds we get to know them and their struggle with the challenges they face every day with themselves and with others. We see a very dedicated preacher who started a new church but with a support group that was not always on the same page as he was willing to compromise the message of Christ with worldly tools. A lot of heartache but also salvation forgiveness and reconciliation. This is a book of God’s love for a dying world and how we sometimes messed up when we do not listen to our Father. Well done Michelle you brought out a lot of truth about the struggles a lot of Sheppards face with a lot of people condemning and not supporting.A very good and inspiring read with a lot of revelation of God’s grace. 

Tour Blast for Demon by Laura DeLuca and Excerpt

Demon (Dark Musicals #2)by Laura DeLucaYoung Adult RomanceCategories: Mystery/ThrillerPublisher: Pagan Writers PressRelease Date: April 28, 2013Heat Level: SweetWord Count: 95,950
Available at:Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords 
Description:When Justyn and Rebecca set off for the New York School of Performing Arts, they think their dreams are about to come true. To their dismay, they aren’t in high school anymore, and the competition is steep. Rebecca must compete against accomplished singers for a role in the production of Demon Barber, including a stunning Gothic diva with her sights set on Justyn.
It doesn't help that things keep disappearing from their apartment or that Rebecca's father refuses to accept that Justyn is an essential part of her life. Yet, all this seems minimal in comparison to the serial rapist terrorizing the campus.
Consumed by fear and obsessed with revenge, Rebecca and Justyn start living the story of Sweeney Todd—both on and off the stage.
About the Author:Laura "Luna" DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.
Connect with Laura DeLucaWebsite/Blog - http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.com/Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraDeLucaTwitter - https://twitter.com/authorldelucaGoodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4670048.Laura_DeLuca
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/authorldeluca/


Excerpt #2
“What the hell are you looking at?” Livy demanded.
At first Rebecca just ignored her hostility. She walked back to her cubbyhole and opened it to stowaway her bags until practice was over. She was going to forget the whole stupid idea and just walk away. But Livy was still standing there, leaning against the lockers, looking just as sad as she did angry. Rebecca couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She was reminded of how horribly everyone had treated Justyn during the production of Phantom and thought perhaps Livy was just as misunderstood.
“Livy,” she started, “can we talk for a minute?”
The Goth just gave her a dirty look. “I don’t know what we could possibly have to say to each other.”
“I just wanted to apologize about what happened at the party,” Rebecca spoke with as much sincerity as she could muster. “No matter how we feel about each other, I never meant to … to embarrass you the way I did.”
Rebecca had never seen the cliché of flashing eyes come to life like it did at that moment. “Don’t you dare!” Livy spat. “Don’t you dare pity me!”
“That’s not what I meant,” Rebecca tried to explain, though she knew she was fighting a losing battle. “I just regret—”
“Do you want to know what I regret?” Livy interrupted and actually shoved Rebecca against her locker. “I regret not ripping every strand of hair out of that pretty little head of yours when I had the chance. This isn’t high school, Becca! We aren’t going to be friends. And I’m not going to stop until Justyn is mine and you run back to New Jersey with your tail between your legs. Is that clear enough for you, deary? Don’t try to make nice with me again.”
Livy stomped away, and Rebecca just stood there, feeling shocked and a little stung. She couldn’t believe how vicious Livy could be. So much for olive branches. Instead of trying to hand her one, Rebecca should have shoved it straight up her….
“Wow.” Frankie came up beside her, shaking his head. “It’s girls like that who give PMS a bad rep. I seriously think the next play she should star in is the Taming of the Shrew.”
“There’s no taming that one,” Rebecca replied, still shaking her head.


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Miracle at Sycamore Grove by Bobbie Shafer, Excerpt and Give away

Miracle at Sycamore Grove (Secrets of Eagle Creek #3)by Bobbie ShaferHistorical Romantic SuspensePublisher: Dancing With Bear PublisherRelease Date: July 9, 2013Heat Level: SweetLength: 243 pages




Available at:Amazon -
Description:Virginia Cash is a young mother of two small children and lives in a small apartmWhen Clayton Wilkens and his wife stop in for a burger during a traffic jam on their way to Puerto Rico where they plan to retire, they realize that Virginia is the perfect candidate to take over Eagle Creek Manor and raise her children.
Ginny, as she’s known to her friends, asks Edna Taylor, her best friend and babysitter, to move with her to the manor to help the relocation for her and the children, 6 year old Donny and 5 year old Anna Marie.
Once they arrive and are greeted by Peter Clark, the local banker and member of Eagle Creek Management, unusual events take place. Ginny is offered a job at the Chase Hotel by Michael Chase, great grandson of Aimee McKay, builder of Eagle Creek Manor. When someone breaks into Eagle Creek Manor, the family dog digs up a human bone and a young girl goes missing in Sycamore Grove, Ginny begins to wonder if the move to Eagle Creek was a smart one.
When Rosa, the housekeeper, informs Ginny and Edna that young girls have disappeared from the area for quite some time, the new occupants of Eagle Creek Manor, set out to solve the mystery and bring peace of mind to the residents of Sycamore Grove and Eagle Creek.
Ginny and her best friend discover there are several popular residents with shady and questionable pasts. When Edna and Ginny start putting the pieces of the puzzle together, they are shocked at the results.
A demanding and obsessive mother has warped her son’s mind and when his father commits suicide, the man tumbles over the edge of sanity. Now Ginny and Edna are in his sights. The fear of discovery snaps what’s left of his mind, and he sets out to remove those responsible for his concern -- Virginia and Edna.
Can a New York waitress and young mother, along with a middle-aged, retired librarian survive the madness of a warped mind, or will the move to Eagle Creek destroy Ginny’s world and take Edna’s life?
About the Author:

Bobbie Shafer is the author of three adult novels and two YA novels, as well as having over 300 articles published in various magazines. She is a member of the East Texas Writers' Guild and The Writing Warriors critique group. Bobbie is also a valued member of the Dancing With Bear Publishing team, where she is the acquisitions editor, editor, and CEO.
Besides writing, Bobbie enjoys raising miniature horses, donkeys, goats, rabbits, and chickens, and all the while keeping her house and husband happy. She lives just outside of Troup, Texas, with her husband, Gordon. She has four children, Connie Congleton, Kim Fields, Cary Waterhouse, and Kelly Waterhouse. She also has three grandchildren, Kandice and Josh Fields, and Nellie Waterhouse; and one great-granddaughter, Falon.
Connect with Bobbie ShaferWebsite - http://www.bobbieshafer.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bobbie.shafer.3Twitter - https://twitter.com/BobbieShafer



Excerpt #1
While Clay and Barb were sixteen hundred miles away, the New York dawn brightenIn her exhausted state, Virginia, or Ginny to her friends, had no plans for the day, nevertheless, Anna and Donny would surely want to go to the park. Being cramped up in the apartment all day brought out their wild side. The young mother wanted them to work out their cabin fever in the fresh air before she took them across the hall to Edna, the babysitter, so she could grab a nap before returning to work.
Her hand clamped on the chrome door bar, but before she could push it open, Tony hollered at her. She paused, looked wearily over her shoulder, and dropped her arm. Tony handed his spatula to Ernest, who was listening to Rocky’s chatter about his baby. The new father hadn’t stop talking about his amazing, newborn son since he came exploding in the front door at six a.m.
“Ginny,” Tony said loudly, “don’t forget the jar. Don’t want that money sittin’ out in plain sight all day. You never know how desperate some jokers are. It’s Friday, ain’t it? I’m surprised some jerk didn’t steal it last night when Vera stepped out back for a smoke. If I’m not mistaken, Edna told me today’s your birthday. Let me get the donations out and you kin go buy yourself somethin’ nice. Okay?”
“Sure, Tony, sure,” Ginny said wearily. Switching her purse to the opposite arm, she walked to the end of the checkout counter.
Tony ambled to the door and looked up and down the street, making sure no customers were coming before unscrewing the lid from the pickle jar and dumping the contents on the glass counter. His cousin, Vera, who worked the register during the night shift, grabbed the bills and began arranging them by denominations, facing the bills the same directions. Tony reached in his back pocket and removed a small brown take-out bag and slid the change into the sack. Vera folded the bills and slid them on top of the change. Picking up the large envelope, he turned it backward and forward before handing it to Ginny.
“Don’t know what this is, it might be a prank. Ya want me to check it out for ya?”
Ginny craned her neck to read the writing on the front of the envelope and reached for it. “It’s got my name on it. Who would play a joke on me? It’s probably a coupon or letter of sympathy. Give it to me.”
Tony handed it over to her along with the sack.
“Ya got twelve dollars and some change this week, kiddo,” Vera said as she popped her gum.
“It won’t buy me a new car, but it will buy milk, cereal, bread, and some ground meat,” Ginny said and stuffed the brown bag in her purse. “I’ll read this upstairs.” She waved the manila envelope and shouldered her way out the door.
Upstairs in her apartment, Ginny hurried to the bedroom, slipped her uniform over her head, and examined it for grease spots or stains. Finding none, she hung the dress on a wire hanger and tried to smooth out the deepest wrinkles. Untying her black and white oxfords, Ginny slid them off and carried them to the bathroom where she dampened a rag and scrubbed off any scuff marks and dirt from the white areas of the shoes. After she was satisfied they were as clean as she could get them, she went back into the bedroom, and placed them on a chair in the corner. Peeling off her girdle, Ginny wiggled into one of the only three dresses she owned, other than her two uniforms, and slipped her feet into a pair of worn brown penny loafers before heading across the hall to bring her two children home from Edna’s place.


GIVEAWAY INFO: Prize is 1 copy of Dancing With Bear Publishing's Halloween Anthology and their Valentine's Day Anthology. Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Aug 24. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Release Day for Melissa Pearl The Trilogy is Complete! Come and read more.

Check Out Books 1&2:
Book One:

UNKNOWN
Blurb:
Darkness is covering the land. As the city of Mezrah grows with power and greed, the rest of the world can only stand by and wait for their inevitable destruction. The only hope against this growing power is an ancient prophecy that people have stopped believing in.
Then a star begins to fall.
Princess Kyla of Taramon stopped believing in the power of light the day her father died. Trapped in a city she does not care for, under the watchful glare of her mother, the queen, she struggles to accept her fate.
Then a star begins to fall.
Jethro has loved Kyla for as long as he can remember. Learning that she was to marry his cousin drove a wedge between him and the feisty princess. Watching her from a distance is a torture he is unable to free himself from.
Then a star begins to fall, sparking an ember of hope and sending two seekers on a treacherous journey into the unknown.
**Now on sale for only 99 cents!**
PurchaseLinks:

AMAZON /  AMAZON UK
SMASHWORDS / BARNES & NOBLE /  iTUNES

Book Two:

UNSEEN
Blurb:
Danger surrounds the Seekers. Having already faced overwhelming odds, Kyla and Jethro discover it is only the beginning. Now they must face the power of nature itself.
Each day is a test of faith.

Two elements remain undiscovered. The light is yet to be resurrected. Dark forces prepare to descend upon the heroes of prophecy and they have one more power they must over come...their forbidden love for each other.
Each moment is a test of loyalty and courage.

In Taramon, Athra faces his own demons as he frets over the safety of his fiancée while trying to counter a dark evil that is brought to his doorstep. Treachery lurks in the shadows, forcing the future king into an action that could destroy his beloved city.

Through it all, they must cling to the truths hidden in the unseen.
PurchaseLinks:

AMAZON /  AMAZON UK
SMASHWORDS / BARNES & NOBLE /  ITUNES


Book Three:*NEW RELEASE*

UNLEASHED
Blurb:
The prophecy has failed. As Athra lies in the dungeons of Taramon with his defeated army, this is all he can believe. His city has been torn apart. He has failed his people and all that awaits him is an agonising death.
But the light has been found.
Ashan and his dark army proceed in gloating triumph. Safeer heads to Mezrah with Taramon's women and children, while the rest of his men remain in the northern city, forcing their prisoners to tear it down stone by stone.
But two sparks have been ignited.
Kyla and Jethro learn of Taramon's demise and, with the children, formulate a plan to rescue their people and bring an end to the overpowering darkness. It will take all their strength and every ounce of faith they possess...
But a furious light is about to be unleashed.
PurchaseLinks:
AMAZON /  AMAZON UK
SMASHWORDS / BARNES & NOBLE /  ITUNES
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Join us for “THE TRILOGY IS COMPLETE FB PARTY”!Click the following link to join this open Facebook Party that will take place August 23, 2013!https://www.facebook.com/events/638890276139798/