Aimee Duffy's Blog, page 10

Once Upon A … Competition!

Hello lovelies,
As some of you may know, the wonderfully talented Michelle Smart and I have bumped our heads together and are publishing an anthology. Not just any anthology either.
We’ve taken a fairy tale each, and rewritten them into new, darker fairy tales with twists. What’s the twist? Well, you’ll have to read on to find out ;o)
Cover art courtesy of the fabulousDee Tenorio
If you read Michelle’s post earlier this week, you’ll know we had a surprise coming. Not only are we revealing the blurbs of our stories, but we’re also doing a competition. Two actually.
What’s the prize? An advanced copy of Once Upon A Twist, as soon as it becomes available (hopefully in the next week or two), and you’ll have it before any of the reviewers! We promise.
We’re each giving away a copy, so make sure to stop by Michelle’s blog for an extra chance to win.
Here’s the deal. As of yet, our individual stories have no titles. At the end of the post I’ll give you the option of three titles for my story, Little Red Riding Hood, and all you have to do is leave a comment with your favourite to be in with a chance to win. The title with the most votes will be the given title for Little Red Riding Hood, I promise. And everyone who votes will be entered into the grand prize draw. 

Then you can pop on over to Michelle’s blog (link below) and vote your title for Cinderella. The winners will be chosen randomly (we may hire Michelle’s boys to pick the titles out of a hat and hope they don’t scrap over the job!).
Here’s the blurb for both books.
Cinderella
Once Upon A Time in a land far, far away, the creatures are coming…
In a land run by misogynists, where fair maidens are deemed liable to fall in a dead faint at the sight of blood, Prince Charming is worried – the creatures that have destroyed their neighboring kingdoms are coming for them. He judges it imperative to get all the females to safety, but first he needs to break the enchantment enslaving his One True Love to her hateful home. Oh, and there’s the small matter of the Ball to get through too.
But when the creatures reach them ahead of their expected time, all plans are foregone. Can Ella break her wicked stepmother’s enchantment? Can she save her handsome Prince and the kingdom before midnight strikes? And can she show his soldiers what it really means to kick a monster’s butt? The clock is ticking…
Little Red Riding Hood
Many, many years later…
When Ruby visits her grandmother in the deep, dark forest, she stumbles into a nightmare. Her grandma’s been attacked by a wolf-like creature, and an ancient disease that turned people into monsters is back… and so is the cold-hearted ex she walked out on a year ago.
Now she has to either accept Jeremy’s help or face becoming a monster herself. Fighting alongside the man she once loved isn’t easy, especially when she discovers there’s more to Jeremy than the cheating bastard she took him for.
As they fight to survive the disease and save those they love, can they keep from falling for each other all over again?
We have been sooo excited to share this, I can’t even begin to explain. Keeping hush when we wanted to shout about it from the rooftops was the hardest thing I've done. Luckily I had the chance to annoy all my colleagues and family with blurbs, quotes (still to come!) and anything else I could throw at them.  
And here are the titles I’ve come up with:- 
1. Mission: Eliminate Infection
2. Reunited with Red
3. [Insert fantastic suggestion] Yup, option three is whatever you can dream up (as you can see I’m rubbish with titles!)
You have until Thursday at midnight GMT to get your say. So, let’s have your votes and when you’ve commented, pop over to Michelle’s blog by clicking here and see what she’s come up with for Cinderella. Both winners will be announced sometime next Friday. 
xoxo

Review & Giveaway

Read on to find out a little bit more about Serena Clarke’s All Over The Place, and enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a $20 Amazon or B & N gift card.
All Over the PlaceBy: Serena Clarke

Blurb
Livi Callaway has fled back to London after a reality TV disaster in New Zealand. Safely anonymous in the big city, she’s determined to stay under the radar from now on. But her attempts to build a new life are complicated by unexpected visitors from her old one, and new dangers and temptations lie in wait.
Late one night, she meets a mysteriously sexy American on the Underground – and the events that follow take her from Pooh Bear to the golden lights of Paris, via a trail of rock stars dead and alive. A family in disarray, a determined Swede, a crazed Australian and a childhood friend (who might yet be more than that) have her all over the place as she tries to discover the American’s secret – while keeping her own.With help – and occasional hindrance – from her friends, what she eventually finds is something unexpected . . . sometimes, running away can lead you to exactly what you didn’t know you needed.


ExcerptAfter the third time, an American voice said, “You’re like an onion tonight.”She turned and replied, without thinking, “That’s not the kind of vegetable I’d choose to be.”The instant the words left her lips she knew it was all wrong. A mere second too late, it was blindingly obvious that he had said not onion, but yo–yo. How could she possibly have imagined that anyone would randomly liken her to an onion? Now, as she looked up at tanned skin, dark eyes, glossy hair, and teeth that could only be from across the Atlantic, her heart beat out of sync. She took in distressed jeans, vintage polo shirt, and a battered leather satchel hanging from his shoulder.Suddenly she was unsteady on her feet, not just because the train was lurching unevenly. Looking at his face, perplexed and amused, she willed the floor to open up and drop her on the tracks. She would rather be electrocuted on the line than be a late–night crazy person on the Underground under his perfectly proportioned scrutiny. But there was nowhere to escape until the next stop, so she stood, cheeks flaming, praying he would take pity on her and pretend he hadn’t heard anything.Instead, he said thoughtfully, “No, if you were a vegetable it would be something much more delicious. Sweet corn…cherry tomato, maybe.”Was he flirting? She chanced another glance. A rugged sweep of stubble and a scar on his jaw roughened his looks, only making him more compelling. Well, of course, she thought, anyone who looks like that must flirt for a living. But suddenly she was uncomfortably aware of the harsh lights, and how tired she must look. She ran her hand through her hair, though she knew it wouldn’t make any difference. “That’s a nice thing to say,” was all she could think of to reply.“My mom always said, you know, if you can’t say anything nice…she was English, she liked good manners. Plus, it’s important to say nice things to nice girls, don’t you think?” And he gave her a wink.She couldn’t help laughing, he was so shameless. “How come you can get away with being so cheeky just because you do it in that accent?”“You tell me,” he replied. “I don’t think you spring from round here either.”Just then the train began to slow again, and there was a surge as people started to squeeze along to the doors. The American put his arms out and made a protective space around her, shaking his head. “Oh, no. You can stay here this time. I’m not letting you go until I solve this mystery.”Up close he smelled warm and woody and clean, and she had to stop herself leaning in, eyes closed, and breathing deeply. At this distance he could probably hear her heart pounding. His full mouth turned up at the corners, a permanently tempting curve. Her hips threatened to arc towards him in a very inappropriate way. She wouldn’t have been surprised at the crackle of blue sparks. If she actually made contact with any part of him, she felt, there was a real chance she would just burst into flames.Then the doors closed and the train started moving, and he grabbed the overhead strap to steady himself. “Maybe that was my stop,” she said, heady from their closeness. “Then what would I have done?”“Come for a drink with me?”She was enjoying this now, feeling a glow, forgetting her embarrassment, and her sore feet and backache from standing in the salon all day. “At this time of night, unless you want to go clubbing, I don’t know where you’d find somewhere to just have a drink. This isn’t LA or New York.”“I’m not from LA or New York, I’m from Idaho.” He looked at her closely. “And maybe I didn’t mean somewhere.”“Ah,” she said, and suddenly felt a little flat. That’s right, she knew this story. Off she would go to his place, with him and his charm and banter. They’d have a night that seemed unbelievable. And the next day it would be unbelievable, unbelievably awkward, as she pulled on yesterday’s clothes and tried to find her way to an unfamiliar tube station, with unbrushed hair and uncleaned teeth. The walk of shame. She had no interest in taking it. There was a time, when she’d first arrived, maybe…but not any more.Her change of mood must have shown. He said, “I’m sorry, maybe that’s not something you should say to a nice girl from…?”Looking at his expectant, handsome face, she gave herself an internal shake. Lighten up now, she said to herself, he’s just a guy on a train, even if he does look like he stepped out of a catalogue. Just enjoy that someone, maybe, fancies you a little. And she pushed her shoulders back and put her smile back on.“Actually, I was born here, but I’ve been living a long way away. Further away than you.”His face lit up. “Australia!”“No, sorry to disappoint you.” Why was Australia always the first guess? Anyone would think there was no populated land beyond Sydney. Next stop Antarctica.“Well then…damn, this is my stop.” They lurched together as the train made a last jolt, and his satchel banged against her hip. All at once she was aware of the crush of other travellers again, as they began their relentless move towards the door. The American was carried along in front of two large ladies, but called over their shoulders, “We could try to find somewhere.”She hesitated for a moment, not wanting him to be gone. Then, just as the two of them realised his bag buckle had caught on hers, the large ladies swept him out and the doors closed. They looked at each other through the glass, his expression going through a progression from confusion to surprise to a sort of panic. And she was left holding his bag as the train pulled away.
Available at:  Amazon  |  B&N  |  iTunes
Review
The humour in All over the Place had me giggling all the way through. Livi literally has been and journeys all over the place through the story. The supporting characters (especially her mother) were fabulous, fully fleshed and just as loveable.
The chick-lit feel kept things light, but didn’t hinder the overall story. From page one I connected with Livi, and the line about having a man’s (let’s say nether regions) pressed into her backside on the tube was my first chuckle of many. From accidentally acquiring a sexy American’s bag, to a cheating ex (if I were her I’d have done a lot more than run away), to going on the adventure of a lifetime, I was in Livi’s shoes the whole way through, rooting for her to find the man that sticks.
I’d recommend to anyone looking for a light, heartwarming read, with plenty of laughs and emotion.
You can follow the tour by clicking the button: 


Author Bio
Serena Clarke has had her fair share of adventures and disasters, living in thirty-nine houses, in seven cities, in four countries. She’s now settled in New Zealand, and all those ups and downs provide great inspiration for writing. Luckily, she has a tall, dark, and handsome husband to help look after their two boys while she dreams up stories. Turns out that happily-ever-afters happen in real life too.
Author Links
Website: http://www.serenaclarke.com/Twitter: @Serena_ClarkeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/SerenaClarkeAuthor?fref=tsCrimson Romance: http://www.crimsonromance.com/crimson-romance-ebooks/crimson-romance-books-by-author/serena-clarke/
Enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win. 
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#Blackthorn ... Step into the darkness...

For all you Blackthorn lovers out there, the time has come.


Yes, today is the official release day of Blood Roses, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Blood Shadows. Lindsay has been lovely enough to share out her ‘bites’ for your viewing pleasure (Caleb is lush, right?).
  
I have so many good things to say about these books. Being an avid fan of all things fanged, I’m always on the lookout for a new twist on the vampire legend and I’ve found that with Lindsay J. Pryor's Blackthorn Series.

Here’s a little more about Blackthorn…
When the third species (hominids such as vampires and lycans) resolved to openly proclaim their existence, an abundant number of humans were fearful for the safety of themselves and their families. Something had to be done.A human-only Global Council was formed to define the new social structure and set up global laws in managing this. All third species were defined as second-class citizens until they proved themselves to be as low risk as they claimed.They’re still trying to prove that.Unfortunately for them, whispers of vampire prophecies foretelling of the overthrowing of the human regime has not helped their plight. In fact, it’s only given the Global Council more reason to maintain divisions, especially as they’re already dubious that the ‘third species’ self-disclosure was part of those very prophecies humans need to ensure never come into fruition.
And more about Blood Roses…
"She was supposed to kill vampires, not save them. Those were the rules. That was the lore." A rare and powerful witch whose blood is lethal to vampires, Leila has always viewed her serryn abilities as a curse. After seeing her mother slaughtered as a child, Leila longs for a safe, quiet life. That wish is shattered by Caleb Dehain - a vampire with a dark past and a darker heart. The most feared serryn hunter of his generation, Caleb now needs the help of one of the witches he despises to save his dying brother. A serryn who has no reason to help him. Except that he has her sister. Caleb and Leila are each other's worst nightmare - but the slow-burning spark of attraction between them is undeniable. Will Leila's blood be his damnation? Or could her kiss be his salvation?

So, have I convinced you yet? :o) Go on, give them a try. You won’t regret it!
Buy Links for Blood Shadows #1: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & NobleBuy Links for Blood Roses #2: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & Noble
Find out more about Blackthorn here: http://www.lindsayjpryor.com/

Lady Pirates

Now I’ve been ranting all over the interweb of late about my new found love of historical romances, one in particular actually, The Unraveling of Lady Fury. A pirate for a hero, a woman posing as a Lady and a desperate need to produce a dead husband’s heir? What’s not to love?
And who created such an extraordinary story? No other than fellow Scot and marvellously talented Shehanne Moore. She has agreed to let Fury come over and tell us a little bit about herself. Welcome Fury!
Firstly as ever I want to thank Aimee Duffy, another very talented, very lovely lady, for allowing me to visit her today. She has a new book out which Shehanne is so busy devouring, she has allowed me to come here by myself today to show you all my latest Where Am I Now postcard.


The title of Aimee’s book is Never Say Never. I must say, as titles go, it is one I do appreciate. In life one never should, although of course, one often likes to.
Anyway, today I want to talk about scenes connected with that postcard—no not ones where I was accused of swiping the faces off various of Flint’s floozies—scenes of a Caribbean nature, involving women on board ships.

Now firstly let me assure you, I may have sailed the Caribbean with Flint, when I was young and impressionable, not to mention stupid, I did not sail it like Ms Bonny with a cutlass in hand. No. And I would not have sailed it at all had I but known the boat I was stepping on belonged, not to Captain James Blackmoore who Captain Flint was awfully good at passing himself off as. But Flint himself.  Or that he was going to offer me a certain choice regarding his bed and the plank.
Although of course I can see similarities.  Mz Bonny’s mother died when she was young, and I gather at the age of 13 she supposedly stabbed a servant girl with a table knife.  But then again perhaps the food was off?
Anyway Ms Bonny, having become both disowned by her father and  a Mrs, next became Calico Jack Rackham’s mistress, not only sailing with him as a pirate but expressing her sorrow to see her lover go,  as he stood on the gallows, “but if he had fought like a Man, he need not have been hang'd like a Dog." It was a great mistake on his part to cower in the hold after all, leaving her to fight off their pursuers—something, credit where it is due, Flint would never have done. You see? Never Say Never.   
Perhaps after all, Mz Bonny might have done better with Mary Read, her fellow lady pirate, who she had taken such a notion of, thinking she was a he, Calico got quite jealous?
Mary and Ann were imprisoned and sentenced to death. Clearly a woman who lived by her wits---a little like myself, Mz Bonny pleaded a certain woman’s condition and disappeared into the ether.
What’s not to like about all that?
Nothing I can think of Fury. Well, thank you for visiting and sharing where you’re at now. I think I’d quite like to be a pirate, travel the seven seas and all that. For now though, I’ll have to follow your journey and perhaps re-read your book. Not a hardship at all, and much cheaper unless of course I found myself a man like Flint. What? One can dream...


Here’s a little more about The Unraveling of Lady Fury…
BLURBGenoa 1820Rule One: There will be no kissing. Rule two: There will be no touching…Widowed Lady Fury Shelton hasn’t lost everything—yet. As long as she produces the heir to the Beaumont dukedom, she just might be able to keep her position. And her secrets. But when the callously irresistible Captain James “Flint” Blackmoore sails back into her life, Lady Fury panics. She must find a way to protect herself—and her future—from the man she’d rather see rotting in hell than sleeping in her bed. If she must bed him to keep her secrets, so be it. But she doesn’t have to like it. A set of firm rules for the bedroom will ensure that nothing goes awry. Because above all else, she must stop herself from wanting the one thing that Flint can never give her. His heart.Ex-privateer Flint Blackmoore has never been good at following the rules. Now, once again embroiled in a situation with the aptly named Lady Fury, he has no idea why he doesn’t simply do the wise thing and walk away. He knows he’s playing with fire, and that getting involved with her again is more dangerous than anything on the high seas. But he can’t understand why she’s so determined to hate him. He isn’t sure if the secret she keeps will make things harder—or easier—for him, but as the battle in the bedroom heats up, he knows at least one thing. Those silly rules of hers will have to go…Buy The Unraveling of Lady Fury here
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
All Romance Ebooks
Extract. “Looking isn’t the same as touching. You should know that, intelligent woman like you. No. You just liked to think I did.”Lie? He did it through his teeth. With the skill and temerity not just to believe himself but to put the onus back on her. So she was the bad one for not believing him.The poor misunderstood Captain Flint.“I could have. I could have plenty. That time in San Domingo. In Trinidad. Hell, let’s not even mention that pretty little blackamoor floozy you nearly swiped the face off in Martinique.”Her? The fine hairs rose all along the back of Fury’s neck. Her breath puffed faster than usual.“But I didn’t.”She could settle this. She would have to. “Then what were you doing in all those whorehouses then, pray tell? Admiring the view?”He slanted her a long, narrowed gaze. “I thought you killed Celie. All right?”She had known that but for him to confess it, and that this was why he had pretended…“I thought you killed her. But, even then, it wasn’t as simple as that.”Not as simple. God, the rage she tried to master in that instant was too great to govern. It burned from the tips of her toes, all the way up her shaking legs, through her churning stomach, to her fingertips. To her very reticule. Which descended on his chest. Followed by her fists.Her mind emptied, except of one thought. He had done it to spite her.
And I have to say this is a book I will shout about e’er more. In fact, here's exactly what I thought about it:-
Have you ever read a book where the start leaves you panting? Every page you turn there's nothing to bog the feeling down? With every chapter you grow shorter and shorter of breath until 3/4's of the way through? Then your eyes sting, breathing becomes impossible and a looming sense of dread keeps you reading faster and faster? And the end comes and that sting in your eyes turns to proper tears, streaming down your face, barely pausing and you can take a full breath again? But your heart warms, and you have a fuzzy feeling inside, and you want to tell the world because this book was such an emotional ride that you will never, ever forget a thing about it?
The Unraveling of Lady Fury is such a book. A keeper, and one I'll read over and over.
Go on, grab your copy now. You know you want to...

Falling for Lance, and a giveaway...

As you may know, I’m not the only Beachwalk Babe who has a release out this month. The lovely and very talented Tamaria Soana is celebrating the release of Southern Embrace. This one’s next on my reading list and I can’t wait, especially after Tamaria popped over today to tell me a little bit about her hero, Lance Paterson. Yum. See?




And Tamaria is also giving away a gift card. Just enter the Rafflecopter below.
Now I’ll hand you over to the lady herself…
Lance Peterson my hero in Southern Embrace makes a very foolish decision when his family moves away the summer after he graduates high school. He decides not only to break up with his high school sweetheart Savannah but to also cut all ties with her.
He never forgets about his first love but he thinks she's better off without him because long distant relationships at their age never work.  But Lance never stopped loving her and when he finds out years later about the death of her husband, he vows to find a way to get her to forgive him for the past and give him a second chance.
Lance is smart, sexy, funny, and very determined. He knows what he wants in and out of the bedroom. Lance wants Savannah back in his life in every possible way and he won’t give up until she's his again!
When writing Southern Embrace I fell head over heels in love with Lance. I hope you will also.
I’m sure we will! Here’s a little more about Southern Embrace…


Can a long lost love mend a grieving heart?Widowed at twenty-three, Savannah Grant is devastated and consumed with grief, a grief that she can't seem to move past. When her high school sweetheart, Lance Peterson, re-enters her life, Savannah struggles with the feeling that she would be betraying her deceased husband by moving on. Plus, she can't forget the way Lance broke her heart all those years ago.Lance never stopped loving Savannah. He wants a second chance, and he's willing to do anything it takes to convince her to give him one. Will she give in and let Lance love her, showing her a passion beyond anything she thought possible?
Content Warning: adult language, explicit sexual situations, anal play


Excerpt:It was a beautiful Friday afternoon. Van grabbed her purse and headed out to the mall. Nikki's shower was the following weekend, and Nikki had been on her to get a new dress for days, threatening to drag her shopping kicking and screaming if she didn't go herself.
Once at the mall, Van picked up some last minute gifts for Nikki. After trying on a few dresses, she found a knee-length, strapless coral dress. She purchased it and was off in search of a pair of shoes. When she found the perfect pair of coral and silver heels, Van concluded the trip to the mall a complete success.
Her cellphone rang as she was leaving the shoe store. She dug around in her bag to find it. With her head down and her steps brisk, she ran right into someone.
"I'm so sorry. I'm such a klutz," she said as she looked up into the brown eyes of her first love. She gasped and took a step back, surveying him. His light brown hair was a little shorter and he was built like a man now, not the boy she used to know. She stood frozen in place, staring at him. This can't be happening. A tidal wave of emotions rushed through her at once. Anger, resentment, hatred, but mainly pain…so much pain.
"Van."
"Lance? Oh my God!" She took another step back. "How?"
"I-I talked to Nikki. She told me you would be here. I needed to see you. When I heard what happened…" He paused. "I knew I couldn't stay away any longer. I'm so sorry."
The more he talked, the more Van's anger flared. Who does he think he is? He left me! Turned his back on me when he cut all ties!
"What exactly are you sorry for, Lance? That my husband died or that you broke my heart all those years ago?" The words she spoke were full of acid. "You have a lot of nerve just showing up here like nothing ever happened. Go away." She turned to leave.
"Please, Van, just talk to me. Give me a chance to explain," he begged as he reached for her hand.
"Don't you dare touch me," she said through gritted teeth, yanking her hand away. "What do you want from me?" She stared at him while plotting all the ways she was going to torture Nikki for her betrayal.
She seethed as he looked around. "Calm down, Van. People are starting to stare. Please, can we go somewhere more private and talk? There is so much I need to tell you."
"What could you possibly have to say to me that would make up for what you did? I mean, I know you had to move, but you cut all ties with me. Like the three years we spent together meant nothing to you, like I meant nothing to you. Damn you, Lance, you didn't even try to make it work."
"Please, Savannah. Give me a chance to explain."
"Give me one reason why I should."
"Because I still love you. I. Never. Stopped. I cut all ties with you because I had to. Long distance relationships never work out. I was afraid you would wake up one day and resent me. Being apart from you was killing me. I thought this way we would both be able to move on. But I was wrong, I never was able to move on. I let the love I have for you consume me. I wanted to come back sooner, but then I heard you'd gotten married. When I found out what had happened, I wanted to rush here and be by your side, but I figured you would need some time."
His words shocked and confused her. After she took a few moments to process everything, she shook her head. "I can't do this." She turned and walked away, then stopped. "Go back to wherever it was you came from and leave me alone."
"I won't give up on you. I won't stop trying, and I most definitely won't ever leave you again."
"Just go away, Lance. You're good at that," she snarled before she walked away. She didn't dare turn around because looking at him as he begged her to give him a chance to explain would certainly weaken her. Van needed to focus on how she was going to kill her so-called best friend.
Buy links:   Beachwalk  Press         Barnes & Noble        Amazon


Watch the Trailer:


YouTube Link

About the Author:
Tamaria Soana is middle aged, but just feels her life has begun. She writes sexy contemporary romance stories that always end with a ‘happily ever after’. Growing up she loved to read and make up new places in her head to escape to. In her late teens she began writing short stories and poetry; it wasn’t until her late thirties before she began to spin a full story.

She’s married and a stay-at-home-mom of two beautiful young girls, they reside in Western New York. Cuddling up with a good book under an electric throw is her way to escape the cold Buffalo nights.

Besides writing, she co-owns Shades of Rose Marketing and hosts a talk show on Talkshoe called Live with Tamaria ~ Giving authors a voice.
Author Links:    Site     Facebook Author Page     Twitter

Giveaway:  Tamaria is giving away a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card. To enter to win just fill out the Rafflecopter below.

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Another competition? *Gasp*

Hello my lovelies. Yes, I’m throwing down another chance to win this week to celebrate the release of Never Say Never.


Fame comes with a price...











All you have to do is visit my Facebook author page, https://www.facebook.com/aimeeduffyx?ref=hl&bookmark_t=page, and tell me about your favourite band, musician, flute players, etc. I’m not fussy, I love music, rock and punk especially, and on Friday I’ll choose one commenter to win not only one of my books, but both The Monster of Fame and Never Say Never from my Price of Fame Series).

Tweeting and sharing on FB is much appreciated ;o)
Good luck everyone!
XOXO

Happy Release Day to us!

Today there are three new releases from Beachwalk Press, my newest, Never Say Never, is included. The lovely Tamaria Soana and Imogene Nix have given me never before seen excerpts from their respective stories, Southern Embrace and The Plan. Oh, and I’ve added a cheeky excerpt from Never Say Never.

Southern Embrace, by Tamaria Soana
It was a beautiful Friday afternoon. Van grabbed her purse and headed out to the mall. Nikki's shower was the following weekend, and Nikki had been on her to get a new dress for days, threatening to drag her shopping kicking and screaming if she didn't go herself.
Once at the mall, Van picked up some last minute gifts for Nikki. After trying on a few dresses, she found a knee-length, strapless coral dress. She purchased it and was off in search of a pair of shoes. When she found the perfect pair of coral and silver heels, Van concluded the trip to the mall a complete success.
Her cellphone rang as she was leaving the shoe store. She dug around in her bag to find it. With her head down and her steps brisk, she ran right into someone.
"I'm so sorry. I'm such a klutz," she said as she looked up into the brown eyes of her first love. She gasped and took a step back, surveying him. His light brown hair was a little shorter and he was built like a man now, not the boy she used to know. She stood frozen in place, staring at him. This can't be happening. A tidal wave of emotions rushed through her at once. Anger, resentment, hatred, but mainly pain…so much pain.
"Van."
"Lance? Oh my God!" She took another step back. "How?"
"I-I talked to Nikki. She told me you would be here. I needed to see you. When I heard what happened…" He paused. "I knew I couldn't stay away any longer. I'm so sorry."
The more he talked, the more Van's anger flared. Who does he think he is? He left me! Turned his back on me when he cut all ties!
"What exactly are you sorry for, Lance? That my husband died or that you broke my heart all those years ago?" The words she spoke were full of acid. "You have a lot of nerve just showing up here like nothing ever happened. Go away." She turned to leave.
"Please, Van, just talk to me. Give me a chance to explain," he begged as he reached for her hand.
"Don't you dare touch me," she said through gritted teeth, yanking her hand away. "What do you want from me?" She stared at him while plotting all the ways she was going to torture Nikki for her betrayal.
She seethed as he looked around. "Calm down, Van. People are starting to stare. Please, can we go somewhere more private and talk? There is so much I need to tell you."
"What could you possibly have to say to me that would make up for what you did? I mean, I know you had to move, but you cut all ties with me. Like the three years we spent together meant nothing to you, like I meant nothing to you. Damn you, Lance, you didn't even try to make it work."
"Please, Savannah. Give me a chance to explain."
"Give me one reason why I should."
"Because I still love you. I. Never. Stopped. I cut all ties with you because I had to. Long distance relationships never work out. I was afraid you would wake up one day and resent me. Being apart from you was killing me. I thought this way we would both be able to move on. But I was wrong, I never was able to move on. I let the love I have for you consume me. I wanted to come back sooner, but then I heard you'd gotten married. When I found out what had happened, I wanted to rush here and be by your side, but I figured you would need some time."
His words shocked and confused her. After she took a few moments to process everything, she shook her head. "I can't do this." She turned and walked away, then stopped. "Go back to wherever it was you came from and leave me alone."
"I won't give up on you. I won't stop trying, and I most definitely won't ever leave you again."
"Just go away, Lance. You're good at that," she snarled before she walked away. She didn't dare turn around because looking at him as he begged her to give him a chance to explain would certainly weaken her. Van needed to focus on how she was going to kill her so-called best friend.
Buy links:   Beachwalk  Press     /    Barnes & Noble    /    Amazon / AllRomance Ebooks
The Plan, by Imogene Nix
The man that arrested her, Captain Jonah Fielding, she had heard of. A straight man, everyone agreed. He didn't associate with the old, corrupt Authorities. But at this point that's cold comfort. How can I possibly explain that I have nothing else except my little Sugar Plum Fairy and that's why I took the chance? Her stomach rebelled and she dry heaved right there in the cells as catcalls and laughter from other prisoners filled the air. Thank the Lights at least I am in a single cell. Her head ached brutally and she wavered slightly, waiting for Captain Fielding to send for her."Kadie Frost? Captain Fielding wants to see you." The clank of the cell door told her someone was coming; she struggled to her feet, lifting tired, sore eyes.A young man, little more than a boy really, with a freshly pressed uniform marched in, unfastened her from the restraint loop, and pulled her out the door and into an anonymous corridor.Hoots and hollers met her ears as she allowed herself to be paraded down the long walkway. As if cattle in a moon-cow yard, she thought, closing her eyes as the Authority man pulled her toward a heavy, metal door at the end of the corridor. He stopped there and she opened her eyes, reading the sign on the door.Interrogation Room One. What a great name, she thought snidely. Really inventive.The door opened slowly and she was quickly thrust inside. The door snapped shut behind her as she looked around the bare room. A table and two chairs sat, scarred and ugly, in the middle of the floor. The metal was cold and glittering in the cool air as the air circulators pushed currents around the frigid room. She made her way over and sat down, waiting for the captain to enter. Her head drooped to the table and she let it rest, seeking the refreshing cool on her overly hot skin.Her hands stung and her eyes burned. She felt sorry for herself as she thought about the mess she had gotten into, and she turned her stinging hands to check the damage. They were bright red and radiated heat. The deep scratches were swollen and weepy; sticky drops of goop coated the raw skin. Never a good sign, she already knew that."Kadie Frost?"She started. Obviously, the woolly, heavy feeling in her head had overtaken her and she had dropped off to sleep as she waited. Her skin burned against in the coolness of the room."That's me." Her head hurt viciously, but now she realized her throat burned too."Captain Fielding is my name. I believe you and I can discuss BXM parts?" He lifted an eyebrow and she noted the captain had the most amazing blue eyes she had ever seen, teamed with long, black hair fastened at the back of his neck, high cheeks, and impossibly chiseled features. He had full, pink lips that would make a woman cry when they moved over hers. Huh? Where did that thought come from?She blinked, dazed by the thought, and considered her plan of attack. "What? Oh, the BXM parts." She swallowed and felt the razor blades she was sure were in her neck slashing from the inside which then proceeded to burn. "They aren't mine. They never were."
Need More? Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Beachwalk Press / All Romance Ebooks 


Never Say Never, by Me Sander pulled Chloe back into his arms, ignoring the club full of celebrities and high rollers. She felt right molded to him, and he didn’t give a damn who saw their exchange. This was about proving to her she wanted him. He’d seen it in her eyes when they’d been pressed together, chest to chest. Felt it in her shiver when he brushed his lips against her smooth skin. Saw it now, in the dilation of her pupils. And dammit, he had the same response. It’s why he’d released her.But her scowl changed that. How could she insinuate she hadn’t enjoyed being close like he had? She looked up at him, her hands fisted in the front of his shirt—probably in anger—but her dark golden eyes gave away her feelings. Her lust. And he wanted her to acknowledge it wasn’t just him who felt it.He slid one hand up her back and into the silky waves at the nape of her neck. With his other arm, he tightened his hold and drew her so close every staggered breath pressed his chest against her breasts. The twin peaks pressing into his skin was as much evidence of her arousal as the thumping of her heart. He lowered his head and slanted his mouth against her gloss covered lips. She opened up, sighed, and her hands slid around his neck. Arousal crashed through him, and he deepened the kiss, feasted on the sweet, erotic taste of her, and dipped his tongue in to experience it more fully.Shit. He didn’t think it would go this far. Hadn’t expected her response to fuck with his head like it did. But her fingers slid into his hair, pulled him closer, made his wavering control snap. His groin tightened along with his trousers and he knew she felt it pressed against her flat stomach. He was lost in her, in the torrent of hormones racking his body. There wasn’t a time he’d kissed a woman and felt so…much. Whether it was because she tried to hide her reaction, or he’d been kidding himself thinking he would be able to keep his hands to himself, he couldn’t seem to stop.
Buy Links: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & Noble / All Romance Ebooks / Beachwalk Press

Never Say Never, Chapter One

Good morning my lovelies. It may be freezing and drizzly here, but even that can’t dim my happiness. Never Say Never is officially on Amazon today, though it would be out everywhere else until Monday.

Here’s a sneak peak.
Chapter 1
Chloe Butler’s mouth dropped open. She struggled to remember how to close it as she stared at the man with the expectant expression on his avenging angel face. She couldn’t have heard him right. Sander Chase would never ask someone like her out on a date.“Excuse me?”He flashed his Hollywood smile. “Come on. Don’t make a guy ask twice.”Nope, she’d not misheard him, nor had she gone mad. Months of serving him coffee and this was the first time he’d shown any kind of interest in her.“I’m sorry.” She retreated a few steps. She couldn’t date a celebrity, not after whathappened the last time. She was just beginning to get her life back together. Not to mention the fact her mum needed her around more than ever. “I can’t. Thank you for the offer.”Chloe tried to smile politely, but it was harder than usual. She turned to head back to the counter to get on with her work. If her boss Richard caught her talking to a celebrity, he’d get the wrong idea and hand her a P45 before she could explain. After all, the coffee shop was a classy place. Not even the press were allowed in.A large, warm hand ensnared her wrist and drew her to a halt. Electrified jolts shot up her arm from the contact.“Can’t or don’t want to?”She turned back to Sander and saw his brow was raised and amusement glittered in his baby blue eyes. Pushy, wasn’t he?“Don’t want to,” she replied, determined not to give him any hope.Can’tleft wiggle room, and there was definitely no wiggle room. She’d sworn off menafter the last one had taken her for a mug.Her reply seemed to please him. His grin grew huge and her heart sped. She frowned at the reaction and put it down to the stress of the situation. After all, as far as she was concerned, her libido was extinct.“That’s perfect.”Was he mad? From her experience, celebrities could be a little…odd. But she’d nevermet a full-blown lunatic before. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean.”Why wasn’t she backing away? Better yet, why wasn’t she demanding he let go of herarm? She darted a glance around the coffee shop. Most of the customers’ attention was on their morning papers.“I don’t need a date. I need a pretend one.”Hmm, definitely time to call the men in white jackets. Sander had clearly lost hismarbles. “I really have to get back to work.”She couldn’t believe a man who’d been in one of the best male vocal pop groups of alltime had lost his mind. Or maybe that’s what the pressure of it did to him. She vaguely recalled the rumors surrounding their split, but hadn’t paid much attention to the international news. At the time she’d been in LA and stupidly in love with a jerk.Sander released her arm and sighed. “I’m not saying this right, am I?”He raked a large hand through his golden hair and blew out a breath. She smiled at his exasperation, but still didn’t move away. Chloe shook her head in answer to his question.“My manager called today.” Sander waved his hand to urge her closer. She obeyed. “He wants to get the group back together.” His hot breath caressed her neck and she shivered. The smell of espresso mingled with his spicy aftershave resurrected those bloody extinct hormones.“One of his conditions is that I attend Paul’s engagement party next Friday to show the world I’m over our…fallout.”Chloe pulled back and frowned. Memories flooded through her fuzzy mind. Now sheremembered. Sander had left because his fiancée had run off with the lead singer, Paul. Her heart throbbed for him. She understood what it was like to be betrayed by a loved one.“So, I need to take a date. To prove I am over it,” he surmised.With Sander now a safe distance away, she could think clearly. The hairs on the back ofher neck prickled and she imagined her friend Rachel’s intent gaze on them. Her co-worker’s curiosity must be piqued. Chloe didn’t usually converse with the customers for this long. Never mind the celebrity kind.“Will you come?” he pressed.Chloe understood why he didn’t want to go alone and she felt bad for him, she really did. But she’d just got her life together—although it wasn’t exactly the kind of life she wanted—and her mother’s illness meant she couldn’t leave her alone for long. Being on the arm of a celebrity would only remind her of what she’d never had with Dane, and she didn’t want to be reminded of that jerk.Regretfully, Chloe said, “I can’t do that either. Sorry.” This time when she turned to go, Sander let her leave and her relief mingled with disappointment.Rachel unashamedly ogled her from behind the chrome counter. “What was that all about?” her friend asked.Chloe shrugged. “Nothing.”“Smells like bull.” Rachel’s dark, accusing gaze shone with curiosity.Rolling her eyes, Chloe made her way behind the counter and then picked up a cloth. She wiped the surface with more vigor than necessary, but it felt good to release her frustration. It had been so long since anyone had asked her out.She never went out anymore—much to her friend’s irritation—not since her mum’sdiagnosis of dementia. The only men she met were there in the coffee shop where she was dressed down and did her best to blend into the crowd. Sander’s request for a non-date was the first scrap of attention that had thrown her way in a long time.She felt Rachel’s gaze burning a hole into her head and sighed. Her friend wasn’t going to give up. “How did the audition go?” Distraction was a sure fire way to avoid the line ofquestioning. Once done with the counter, Chloe turned around and began wiping down the machines. Anything to resist the temptation of looking over her shoulder to see if Sander was still at his table.“I made an arse of it.”Chloe turned to see Rachel’s crestfallen face. “I’m sorry, Rach. Maybe next time?”After all, her friend was a great actress and had scored a few parts in LA. The onlyproblem was, when the director yelled ‘action’, Rach clammed up. Chloe had no idea why Rachel was insecure. Her friend sported a mass of wavy blonde hair and had a figure that would make most men give away their right arm to spend the night with her.“Yeah. There’s always next time.” Rachel shook her head as if dismissing herdisappointment, then grinned. “Nice diversionary tactic. So, what did the hottie want?”“Nothing. Honestly. We were just talking.” Chloe turned her attention back to the coffee machine. “I got a letter this morning saying I didn’t get the job at the theatre.” “Aw, sweetie, you’ll find something soon. There are still the department stores.”Chloe forced a smile onto her face, but she knew it would look false. “Yeah.”After working for five years as a makeup artist to Hollywood’s finest, all her interviews in London had went down the same road. The thanks, but no thanks had come, saying the same thing, over and over.Thank you for applying for the position, but we feel you are overqualified for the job.How she could be overqualified when it came to applying makeup, Chloe didn’t know.But apparently she was. Unless that was just a nice way of saying ‘you’re not what we’re looking for’.“I mean it, Chloe. You’re an excellent makeup artist. You’ve worked on the set ofblockbuster movies and Crime Busters! Someone will hire you. Soon.”Chloe threw Rachel a more genuine smile this time. The sound of a throat clearing made them both spin around to face the counter. Sander’s golden waves shone beneath the spot lighting. Her heart fluttered and her skin prickled. What was it about him that made her feel…alive?“Can I help you, sir?”* * * *Sander cringed internally at the word ‘sir’. He couldn’t believe she was still calling him that now that he’d asked her out. Maybe she didn’t know his name. There was an American lilt to her English voice when she spoke, so perhaps she’d only just returned to the UK and hadn’t seen him judging the reality singing contest Do You Have What It Takes?yet. Still, he’d been in an internationally famous pop group for years.“Call me Sander.”The blonde standing next to Chloe grinned before she turned back to the coffee machine and filled a cup.Chloe frowned. “Okay.”“About Friday—”Chloe shook her head frantically while her dark eyes pleaded with him.Sander lowered his voice to a whisper. “Isn’t there anything I can do to change yourmind? You’d be doing me a huge favor.”She’d be doing him more than a favor. Jack, the band’s manager and owner of TangoRecords, had called this morning and demanded Sander work out his differences with Paul—after all, he’d given him a year to cool off. Jack’s patience had expired, and Sander was still under contract. Jack thought he’d spent enough time wallowing over Paul and Sienna’s betrayal. Which was true, and he hadgotten over it…a long time ago. Still, it pissed him off he’d been unable to break the contract and was at the mercy of someone else. One thing he was sure of, he’d be damned if he was showing up dateless at the engagement party.And when Chloe had brought him his espresso today, same as she did every morning, her pretty smile and wide, golden brown eyes had made his frustration and anger ebb. If she could do that with a smile and a coffee, maybe having her on his arm at a function which promised to be worse than a day trip to hell would help. Not to mention he’d been watching her for weeks. She was quiet, faultlessly polite and patient with even the most awkward customers. He didn’t think she was the kind to sell a story to the press.And from Chloe’s instant refusal, he knew she wouldn’t gush over him, which wasperfect for what he had in mind. A few outings together within the next two weeks should attract enough media attention so when they turned up at the party, it wouldn’t look like he’d picked up a random woman off the street to pretend to be his date.“I’m sorry,” she whispered before shimmying along to the cash register. She pressedseveral buttons. “Do you want your bill?”Sander nodded. She ran up some numbers and he handed her a ten. He pursed his lips in thought while she opened the register and counted out his change. There was something he could do to persuade her to come, but he had a call to make first. Guilt had simmered in his gut when he’d listened into Chloe and the other girl’s conversation, but now he had the perfect bribe to dangle in front of her.“Here you are.” Chloe handed him his change. He dropped the notes and coins into the tip jar, like he did every day. “Um, thanks.” Pink scored her high cheekbones.The color brought her face to life and pronounced the honey highlights in her goldenbrown hair which he’d never seen out of the simple twist. She really was perfect for this.Mind made up, Sander said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”The color in her cheeks intensified, and he couldn’t resist throwing a wink her way before he left. Chloe’s refusal had kicked his more primal instincts into gear and he now anticipated the chase. This wasn’t going to be a real date; he didn’t have time for a woman in his life with the show and his stint as a radio DJ in the afternoons. Plus, it had been so long since he’d had to put any effort into getting a woman to agree to go out with him, the challenge rose up inside.Once he’d shut the door to the coffee shop, he pulled out his phone and dialed theproducer of Do You Have What It Takes? He made his way along the busy street toward the Radio Buzz building. Now that the morning commuters had arrived at their destinations, the streets of London had filled with scurrying tourists shouldered with multi-colored umbrellas. Rain was a given in the autumn.“Yes?” Dave answered.“It’s Sander. I need a favor.”He smiled to himself as he persuaded Dave to give him what he wanted. All the whileknowing this was a bribe Chloe couldn’t refuse.
Need more? Well, if you have an Amazon account you can grab the rest now. I'll add more links on Monday!Amazon UK / Amazon USHope you all have a great weekend! XOXO

Hijacked!

Check out fellow babe Sidda Lee Tate’s new novella. It’s the second book in the Night series and fantastic!
Hijacked by Sidda Lee TateBook Two in The Night Series


Will an unexpected encounter leave Sharon's heart hijacked?When Sharon Blake meets Kyle Phillips her first instinct is to simply seek the pleasure she's certain he can give her. But surprisingly, she feels a strong connection with him, something she's never experienced before, and that conflicts with everything she's always believed—sex is sex and nothing more.
The last woman Kyle trusted with his heart betrayed him, and he has no interest in getting involved with anyone. There's only one problem—now that he's met Sharon, he craves her touch, her laughter, the look in her eyes when he pulls her near.
Kyle and Sharon soon realize that being apart isn't an option. Someone else, though, has different plans for Kyle, and Sharon is left questioning everything he's told her. Kyle tries to explain, to make things right again, but Sharon doesn't know if she can trust him, and her instinct is to walk away now before her heart is bruised even further.
Content Warning: strong language and graphic sex


Excerpt:
The small blonde waitress placed a third beer on the table in front of him. Her breasts were at eye level, nipples looking tight as stones poked at the thin material of her top. The first time Kyle saw her behind the bar he knew she would be hard to forget. Lucky for him, she was his server.
"Two-fifty," she said, smiling. "Are you gonna drink those?" She pointed to the full bottles in front of him.
"Waiting for some friends. Check back with me in a few minutes." He handed her a five dollar bill. "Keep the change."
"Thanks." Her chest swelled, perfect mounds inches from his face. The light blue v-neck, lace top she wore was held up by thin straps. It was cut low, giving him a peek at what lie beneath. As she turned and sauntered to the bar, he couldn't help but stare.
She propped her elbows on the countertop and leaned over. Her round butt in the air had him practically salivating, and no matter how hard he tried, his eyes would only divert for a second before finding their way back to her.
He watched as the bartender handed her a shot and she tossed it back. As if she sensed him gawking, the waitress turned her head, propping her chin on her shoulder, and grinned.
Leaving the bar, she walked straight over to him, taking a seat in the chair next to his as though it were hers all along. "Why are you watching me?" she asked matter-of-factly, which made him cough in surprise. Was it that obvious? "You ordered at the bar first, right?"
"I…um," he stuttered and gave up on an explanation.
She smiled again, most likely at catching him off guard. He decided drinking the beer in front of him wouldn't be a bad idea and grabbed one of the bottles, chugged half, and sat it down. He eyed her with curiosity and pressed his sweating palms against his jeans.
Say something! "How long have you been here?"
She arched her left eyebrow. "You mean as in, tonight?"
"Working here, as in days, weeks, months, years."
"A few weeks." She crossed one leg over the other, hiking the already short, black skirt up her thigh, exposing more of her silky skin. Her eyes narrowed. "I'm on my break."
"And you chose to spend it with me?"
She shrugged her right shoulder and picked up a pack of cigarettes from the table he hadn't noticed her put there when she sat. She lit one, the flame from the lighter making it possible for him to notice her eyes had a green tint to them. "Your table is empty."
He playfully scoffed, amused at her excuse. There were at least six unoccupied tables in the room. "When does the band start?"
She looked down at her watch. Silver with rhinestones, it fit loose like a bracelet. "In about an hour. They start at ten. What's your name?"
He drank another quarter of the beer. "Kyle Phillips. You?"
"Sharon Blake." She reached up and pulled her long hair from the back of her neck and let it fall. "Is this your first time here? I've never seen you around. Are you from Pineville?"
Kyle cleared his throat. She was making observations, asking questions. He'd been divorced for three months, but this was his first time at a bar since meeting his ex-wife nine years ago, and he wasn't certain if he should explain his situation—a fresh divorcé. He decided to go with direct answers. "I live about three miles outside of town. And no, I don't get out much."
"Huh." She tugged on the cigarette and then snuffed the rest of it out in an ashtray at the center of the table. "I'm trying to quit."
"Six years smoke free for me. It was one of the hardest things I've done."
She eyed him carefully. "Are you meeting someone?"
"A friend. He should be here any time." Kyle peeled his gaze from her and scanned the growing crowd through the dimly lit room, suddenly hoping his friend didn't show for a while. He gulped more beer. "How long are you on break?"
"I've got a few minutes." Her eyes moved over him and he wondered how evident it was that he wanted to taste her skin. "Why do you ask?"
"I thought I might get you something to drink. But then, if you work here—"
"My drinks are free." She laughed and reached for his stash of untouched beer. "Do you mind?" The waitress…Sharon…didn't wait for an answer before popping the top and taking a sip. "Kyle Phillips, I need your help."

  Buy Links:  Beachwalk Press     Amazon        Barnes & Noble


About the Author:
Sidda Lee Tate has spent most of her life creating stories. Writing is one of her great loves, with romance and eroticism being her specialties. Whether her words make readers cry or laugh or just downright hot, she is proud to take people on a journey with her characters. Sidda Lee lives in a small town in Arkansas with her husband and son.

Author Links:      Site         Facebook         Twitter

Sinful Saturday

Here's the deal.

Post 7-10 sinful sentences every Saturday.
You can sign up using the form on the site (click the graphic above). Sign up begins each Sunday morning and ends on Wednesday night.

This week I’m using ten sentences from the beginning of Never Say Never (out April 15th). Sander has just left Chloe speechless, pour soul, and she suspects he's a bit loose in the head. 


Chloe Butler’s mouth dropped open. She struggled to remember how to close it as she stared at the man with the expectant expression on his avenging angel face. She couldn’t have heard him right. Sander Chase would never ask someone like her out on a date.“Excuse me?”He flashed his Hollywoodsmile. “Come on. Don’t make a guy ask twice.”Nope, she’d not misheard him, nor had she gone mad. Months of serving him coffee and this was the first time he’d shown any kind of interest in her.

Make sure to go to Sinful Saturday's website and check out the other fab snippets. 

XOXO