Sarah Cass's Blog: Sarah's StoryLines, page 41

Winner of Derailed Cover Reveal Giveaway!!

I’d like to thank everyone that stopped by for Derailed‘s cover reveal last week!  It was a lot of fun!

Of course, in the end a winner had to be chosen.  I used random.org with my eyes closed on the full list of commenters across the interwebs…

And the winner of a signed copy of Changing Tracks and a surprise book by one of Jane Doe’s favorite authors is:

ANGELA BREWSTER

Since I had over 20 entries to this giveaway, I decided to add in a winner of an ebook copy of Changing Tracks as well.  That winner is:

NICOLE GARCIA

Congrats to you both!!

Now don’t forget. Derailed releases in July!!  Yes, there will be more giveaways

Meet Fluffy of The Witch and the Familiar Series

I have Sapphire Phelan here today, and she brought along Fluffy. I admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect when she brought along a demon that looks like a fluffy bunny…but damn if I wasn’t laughing right away. I’m snatching up her books, I’d suggest you do the same…they look hilarious.

*~*

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to your author’s attention? Occupation?

My name is Fluffy. I am a demon. The author found me one day when she found this hole in her backyard and was poking in it with a stick. It was actually a portal to Hell and I came out of it, snapping. After she smacked over the head with a shovel and realized I hadn’t died and found I could talk (she fainted for a few minutes and I had to wait until she awoke), saw an opportunity to put me in a story. Except she didn’t make me the hero—she wrote that stupid Familiar, Charun in it.

By the way,  I wonder can I eat you? I know Tina and Charun said I can’t eat humans, but it’s been a long time and you smell delicious.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? Why? What drew you to them?

That horse feeding on grass in that pasture in the country. He tasted good. Best damn loveliest food ever!

What’s your greatest fear?

Bigger demons.  They can whip my butt.

How do the other characters in your book view you?

Can I be trusted? But I prove I can. You have to read the book to find out how.

What do you prefer? To spread & hear gossip, or be the creator of gossip fodder?

Spread and hear gossip.

What is it about you that is going to draw us readers in?

That I look like a cut, fluffy white bunny that they want to hug and cuddle. Then I pretend to sniff at their neck, like giving a kiss, but open my mouth and chomp on them with my fangs.

What was your happiest moment?

When Charun untied me from the chair they had in front of the TV and he turned off that dumb Barney the Purple Dinosaur DVD. I’m gonna go find that stupid dinosaur and pit him in a stew and cook him good.

What trait in others do you find most deplorable?

Not enough flavor to them. Some humans are so bland.

The random question: If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

Red, like blood. Cause blood is so tasty. Oh Lucifer! Here comes Charun. No, no, I don’t wanna watch that stupid purple dinosaur anymore. Please, I’ll be good. Really. See, I didn’t eat the nice interviewer. I like her. Can we keep her and take her home? No, no, no, don’t wanna go. . .

*~*~*~*

Find The Witch & The Familiar at  Phaze Books  ,   BarnesandNoble.com  and at  Amazon   and   Books A Million    For those in Uk, can find it at  AmazonUK

  If want it as an eBook, it is available at Amazon on Kindle, Nook on Barnes and Noble, and at  Phaze Books  as Being Familiar With a Witch and its sequel, A Familiar Tangle With Hell.

 

Blurb:

Mortal woman Tina discovers she is part of a prophesy that says she and Charun, her demon Familiar, must make love so she can become the witch she is fated to be. If she doesn’t do it and stop the demon army bringing Armageddon to the Mortal Realm on Halloween, she won’t stand a chance in Hell.

A year later, just when Tina and Charun thought it was all over and that their life would be normal—another prophesy pops up. If Lucifer snatches Tina and mates with her before the last chime before midnight of the new year and gets her pregnant with his son, that the real Armageddon would begin, spelling the end of life as they knew it. This time they get help from an archangel, Jacokb, but with demons, Lucifer, and a cute demon bunny with fangs out of a Monty Python nightmare, out to stop them and Heaven not lending a hand, will Tina this time lose the battle and become the mother of the Antichrist and the start of a new Hell on Earth?

 

Excerpt:

She flung herself on the bed after shutting the door. Crushing the pillow beneath her head, she stared up at the ceiling. Tears burned her eyes and blurred her vision. Slowly, her magic rose from the pores of her skin, saturating the room. Pieces of furniture flew around in circles, like on some mad carousel. Soon, they were joined by the lamp that stood on her bedstead, along with her brush, comb, and various cosmetics. Her favorite stuffed animal, a black cat that Charun had bought her for her birthday, pranced in frenzy on her laptop. She didn’t seem to noticed, so into what would happen to her world if Lucifer got her this time.

Why do all these demons want me? Me. There are other Witches in the world but it has to be me. I’m the fate of Earth, Heaven, and whatever else. 

Tears rolled down her cheeks. She scrubbed at them, furious.

“I wish I never agreed to become a Witch!” she yelled, the words echoing back at her.

“Do you really wish that, Tina?”

Tina sat up. Charun stood in the doorway. He had opened the door and she never heard.

Hurt colored his eyes and his shoulders drooped. She felt his pain coming off him in waves. Her heart clenched and a few more tears rained from her eyes.

Reaching out, she said, “Charun, I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just that—”

“You feel that you’re the cause of another possible Armageddon,” he finished for her. “I know. I too wished I can take us back and had never touched you and made you what you are today.  You’d be safe and still mortal, your only concerns working in that bookshop and your day-to-day bills.”

She frowned. “Do you really wish you never made love to me?”

He came all the way in and closed the door behind him. Looking serious, he approached the bed and stopped to stare down at her. “Oh, no, never. That was worth everything. But I would give up my existence to keep your safe.”

About Sapphire:

Sapphire Phelan has published erotic and sweet paranormal/fantasy/science fiction romance along with a couple of erotic horror stories. Her erotic urban fantasy, Being Familiar With a Witch is a Prism 2010 Awards winner and a Epic Awards 2010 finalist. The sequel to it is A Familiar Tangle With Hell, released June 2011 from Phaze Books, Both eBooks were combined into one print book, The Witch and the Familiar, and released April 24, 2012. Her male/male paranormal romance novella, Dark Leopard Magic, second book in the Beast Magic series was just released as an audio book.

She admits she can always be found at her desk and on her computer, writing. And yes, the house, husband, and even the cats sometimes suffer for it!

Find out more about Sapphire Phelan at http://www.SapphirePhelan.com.

 

 

 

Mitchell Davies of Blind Attraction by Eden Summers

I am so thrilled to have Eden Summers here today. I met her just over a year ago and have been thrilled to see the rapid climb her career is taking.  So today just sit down and enjoy yourself as Mitchell Davies of the band Reckless Beat makes all of our hearts flutter and our mouths salivate…

1.  Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to your author’s attention? Occupation?

*Mitch leans back on the sofa and smiles*. “I’m the lead guitarist for Reckless Beat, so I’m pretty sure I would’ve came to Eden’s attention via some form of social media. We can’t seem to catch a break from the pap’s lately.”

2.  What or who is the greatest love of your life? Why? What drew you to them?

*Mitch’s expression changes from a cocky arrogance to a beaming smile that reaches his hazel eyes.* “Alana Shelton has stolen my heart. She was in the front row at the first performance of our latest album. Amongst a sea of cleavage and gyrating bodies, she stood out like a beacon of beauty. Her dimples are my undoing.”

3.  What’s your greatest fear?

“Promotional interviews, without a doubt. I hate those fucking things…Well, not this one, of course. But as soon as I walk into a studio it’s like I’m a deer in headlights.”

4.  What’s your motto in life?

*Mitch raises a brow*. “Umm, all you need is love?…And music.”

5.  How do the other characters in your book view you?

“The guys of Reckless Beat are a bunch of smart-mouthed assholes. I love the bastards, but they are the first to make fun of my failures. It’s kinda how we roll.”

6. What do you prefer? To spread & hear gossip, or be the creator of gossip fodder?

*Mitch shakes his head with vehemence and repositions himself on the sofa*. “I hate gossip. Hate it! The paparazzi are a bunch of vultures who distort facts and make up whatever shit they like. But in saying that, I would love to start a rumor about Lynch being a hermaphrodite.”

7.  What is it about you that is going to draw us readers in?

*A snicker echoes through the room*. “Ahh, I dunno. I’m told I have talented hands… In relation to my guitar skills, of course.” *He winks and the cocky smile comes back his lips*. “I think readers who love sarcastic humor will really enjoy the things we get up to. I also know how to heat up a bedroom.”

8.  What was your happiest moment?

“Since Alana entered my life, I’ve had many. But you’ll have to read our story to get the inside scoop.”

9.  What trait in others do you find most deplorable?

“I hate fake people. I’m constantly surrounded by those who want something from me. One way or another, I always end up seeing their true colors. Better off to be straight with me from the start.”

10. The random question: If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

“Cherry red. Just like my fav guitar.”

*~*~*~*

|Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | All Romance Ebooks | Goodreads |

Blind Attraction

(Reckless Beat #1)

by Eden Summers

 

He can seduce with a single glance.

Peering down at a sea of fans, rock star, Mitchell Davies can’t deny the innocent beauty of a woman in the front row. He’ll stop at nothing to get to know her. When a public altercation leaves her weak and defenseless, he takes the opportunity to be her savior.

She’s been sheltered from the world.

Alana Shelton wants to spread her wings and experience life away from her restrictive upbringing. But she isn’t prepared for a gorgeous stranger to sweep her off her feet while at her most vulnerable.

Attraction will bring them together, but their pasts will try to tear them apart.

He wants to teach her how to trust, but she’ll show him how to love. In a glamorous world of rock-and-roll, only time will tell if they’re up for the challenge.

 

Check out Blind Attraction here:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

All Romance Ebooks

Goodreads

 

Want more information on me?

Eden Summers Website

Facebook Page

Twitter

*~*~*~*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hump Day Hook 31 – Derailed

Another Hump Day Hook!

The past couple of weeks poor Cole has been suffering the wrath of you readers because of the hooks I’ve been choosing to show.  Cole is so good when he’s bad…but there are times when he is just good…and so I thought I’d let you see his softer side…This looks a little longer, but it’s dialogue w/ some short lines so I took a teeny bit of liberty.

I can’t go into details on this scene without giving away a lot…I’ll just let Cole shine for what it is:

This time she didn’t move, and he pressed his forehead to hers. “I ain’t gonna run. I’m right here. Can’t promise to be perfect.”

“Gee. What a surprise.”

“We’re gonna fight.”

“We do it so well.” She laughed weakly. Her hands clamped down on his neck. “I’ve needed you. I still need yo.u I need to know you’ll be there when I need you.”

“You got me.”

“All in?”

“All in.”

 

*~*

Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published.  Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library!  To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:

Meet Jill Grant of San Diego or Bust

1.  Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to your author’s attention? Occupation?

*Rolls eyes* Oh that Vicki Batman was traveling to San Diego and just felt she had to write a story about all the great places she’d visited there. She plays this game What If??? and then voila! I appear.

I’m Jill Grant and have planned a wonderful getaway to San Diego with my beloved.

2.  What or who is the greatest love of your life? Why? What drew you to them?

*sigh and clasping hands to chest* Davis Griffith Swansea III. He seemed so perfect. Everything a girl could dream of. Puppies, kitties, and old people just love him.

3.  What’s your greatest fear?

That Davis wouldn’t propose.

4.  What’s your motto in life?

Life is an adventure-go forth and live.

5.  How do the other characters in your book view you?

Another guy on the plane helped me with my tote when it decided to explode open. There was a huge line behind me and they weren’t nice, especially Mr. Obnoxious Person who kicked my seat the whole flight. Anyway, the other guy and I chatted while waiting for our luggage. I think he thinks I’m funny. And he’s being sweet about possibly hitting on me.

6. What do you prefer? To spread & hear gossip, or be the creator of gossip fodder?

Neither. Gossiping really isn’t nice.

7.  What is it about you that is going to draw us readers in?

How many of us have dated Mr. Right only to find out he’s not? Bet most of us have been there. So readers out there are going to want to know what I did about the wrong Mr. Right.

8.  What was your happiest moment?

I wouldn’t say totally happy happy. I’d say mucho relieved that– I can’t say!! It would giveaway the story. Lol. Let’s just say the happiest moment is when I’m by myself and get a text.

9.  What trait in others do you find most deplorable?

It’s all about me attitude. (And I don’t mean me.)

10. The random question: If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

Red! It explodes and gets attention. And it’s flattering to me. *fanning face*

| Amazon | BN | Smashwords | MuseItUp |

Blurb:

When a young woman plans a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, disaster strikes, and she soon finds Mr. Right could be someone else.

Excerpt:

            My boyfriend is a dirt wad. I just decided.

With a humpf, I dragged my pink tote up the narrow aisle to the plane’s exit, accidentally banging it into the seats along the way. The relieving notion of being back home in Sommerville caused the tension in my chest to fade a smidgen.

A quick peek to the exit told me where Davis, my boyfriend, stood waiting for the okay from the ground crew to head out. His glance my way didn’t look at all pleasant. Similar to one wrapped in disappointment with a downward tilt of his mouth.

I didn’t care much. I just decided.

The words creep, jerk, moron, and “why in the hell am I still dating him??” jumbled my thoughts around. My heart pounded as anxiety ratcheted inside me again.

Maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe I should not put up with him anymore.

The deepest part of me knew I shouldn’t be with Davis Griffith Swansea, III any longer. I was just in denial. Over the past year, I’d had brief, momentary twinges of dumping him; then, he’d go and do something incredibly romantic like bring me Godiva chocolates—“I know how you love these.” Or buy me a new book by my favorite author—“I happened to see this today.” Or whisk me off to an intimate dinner à deux at the latest and greatest bistro–”I know you’ll like this place.”

My head had gone stupid.

Bio:

Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm–the list is endless.

She has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.

Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking “What if??”

 

Tuesday Tales – Shoe

The prompt this week is Shoe.

I’m heading back to Lake Point again.  I’m going to return to Eve’s New Year.  Since the past two weeks have been drama for Eve and Jake – I wanted to show you the silly side of these life-long friends. They make me happy when they are silly. Hope they do the same for you.

As always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :

Jake let himself into Eve’s apartment without knocking. The pain that streaked his heart at the line of packing boxes against her wall eased when he found her with her head buried deep in a box, her gorgeous ass wiggling with each grunt of displeasure.

She muttered, “Where the hell is it?”

He covered his mouth to keep his laughter silent. It would be far more fun to enjoy the show.

“Damn it. You stupid shoe. Where the hell are you?” One hand grasped the edge of the box, a silver shoe dangling from her finger.  “I specifically didn’t pack you, so why can’t I find you?”

Her rant was reaching whine-levels, but Jake still didn’t speak or move. He thought the veins in his forehead might burst from the laughter he was holding in. The shoes in the box rumbled as she shoved them around.

For his part, Jake was content to keep watching her ass. The past few weeks he’d been trying to figure out why he couldn’t keep his eyes off her lately. Since he knew she was leaving soon, he’d decided to just relax and enjoy it rather than worry.

“Son of a—argh.” The silver shoe dropped to the floor and both hands dove into the box, shoving the shoes aside so forcefully several tumbled out onto the floor.

He shook his head and looked toward her bedroom. If history was any indication, the shoe she was looking for would be in the first place she’d looked.  He let her keep digging and slipped down the hall.

The room, like the rest of her apartment, was almost empty. Evidence of her packing could be seen in the empty shelves he knew to be decorated with pictures that included himself, and knick-knacks from as far back as kindergarten.  Everything that had made the apartment Eve’s was gone.

He sighed and shoved aside the aching hole that had begun to open. Today was supposed to be a good day. There were going to be in a wedding, after all.

Once he’d shaken the melancholy out of his shoulders, he scanned the room. He dropped to his hands and knees. Crawling across the floor he first peeked under the bed and then the dresser. Just before he rose he spotted the toe of a shoe sticking out from behind the planter.

How, in a clean and packed apartment, she’d managed to get a shoe hidden behind a planter was beyond him.  He snatched it up and hopped to his feet. On his way back down the hall he brushed at wrinkles he’d caused in his tux.

Eve still had her head stuck in the box, although there were now more shoes on the floor than in the box. Jake leaned on the wall and dangled the shoe from his finger. He cleared his throat loudly. “Ahem. Looking for this?”

With a shriek, she leaped to her feet. “Jacob Anthony Gardner, you sneaky bastard.”

He lost his train of thought at the sight of her. The plum dress hugged her curves just right, the fabric gathered and pinched at her right side. A plunging neckline revealed just enough of her cleavage to leave him salivating.

“Jake. What is your problem? You’ve got no defense?”

He had to physically shake his head to clear it and realize she wore a teasing smirk. She must have been trying to bring him down to size with her words, and by the gleam in her eye he could tell she thought she’d won. He quirked up a corner of his lip. “How in hell can you lose a shoe in an almost bare apartment? The perils of a packrat, maybe?”

“Swine.” She raced toward him. Before he could properly defend himself she was smacking him with both her hand and the heel of her stiletto.

“Ow, ow, damn it.” He laughed and squirmed away. Once he’d ducked under her arm he spun around to catch her around the waist.

She grasped his arms and tried to pull free. The shoes dropped to the carpet as she got a good hold. “Let me go.”

“No, you’ll hit me again.” He tried to capture her hands before she pulled them away.  Before he managed she shoved her ass back into him hard.  He stumbled backward, but didn’t let her go.

Three steps back and he bumped into something. He tumbled, bringing the shrieking Eve with him. A sharp pain hit him when he landed right inside the box Eve had been digging through. “Oh, damn it. Ow.”

Through her laughter she managed to continue smack his arms. “Let me go, you’re going to ruin my dress.”

He obliged, and she scrambled to her feet.  With a groan, he sank back against the side of the box that hadn’t collapsed. “Crap.”

“What?”

“I landed on a damn stiletto.”

“Serves you right, butthead.”

*~*

Hope you enjoyed it!  Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!

*~*

 

 

Victoria Falls ~ Author Ann Siracusa talks Inspiration

Guest Author Ann Siracusa is stopping by to talk about an authors inspiration. Enjoy the post, and the beautiful photos she’s included.

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Readers always want to know where authors get their ideas. The answer is everywhere. Newspapers, TV, things people tell you about, things you see and experiences first hand. Just keep your eyes and ears open, and ask “What if?”

The last book in my humorous romantic suspense series, Tour Director Extraordinaire, is set in southern Africa. I outlined the novel while I was traveling in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in 2008. This blog is about one of the most outstanding sights I saw there.

Victoria Falls – One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Victoria Falls is an amazing waterfall located on the Zambezi River, at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa. It is named as one of the seven natural wonders of the world on the 1979 CNN list.

On the map below, the falls are located about in the center, where Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia come together. Botswana is slightly to the west.

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The first white man known to see this amazing work of nature was Scottish explorer David Livingston, in 1855, who named it in honor of Queen Victoria. The native name is Mosi-oa-Tunya. Victoria Falls was designated as a UNESO World Heritage Site in 1989. And, in my opinion, it’s one of the Must See locations in the world.

Mosi-oa-Tunya – The Smoke That Thunders

There’s a good reason why it carries that name.

The falls are not the highest or widest in the world, but Mosi-oa-Tunya is the largest falling sheet of water in the world. The full width of the Zambezi River (5,604 feet – over one mile wide) plummets straight down for 354 feet in a single sheet.

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Geography

The Zambezi River, the fourth longest river in Africa, flows through six countries from central Africa to the Indian Ocean. Along the central plateau of Africa, the wide river moves through a shallow valley over a level sheet of basalt bounded by low sandstone hills far in the distance. There are many islands, increasing in number as they approach the falls.

[image error]The Zambezi at dusk

Where are the mountains? This is the part of the uniqueness of the falls. There aren’t any mountains or deep valleys as you would expect. Just flat land with a wide river…and then you see a billowy column of what looks like white smoke.

[image error]Photo by Mike Myers

It’s not smoke. It’s a plume of water spray, rising sometimes a mile high and visible for 20 Kilometers, as the river drops into a deep horizontal chasm carved by the river along a fracture zone in the basalt.

Well, heck. Where does it fall to?

It plummets into a deep vertical chasm caused by water erosion over thousands of years in the fracture zones. Underneath the plateau of hard basalt, lies much softer sandstone. Where the fractures exist in the surface material, the cracks have filled with sandstone which the river has eroded.

Water pours over the edge into the first gorge, which varies in depth from 260 feet to 354 feet at the western end. The outlet is only 360 feet wide. The fracture and resulting chasms zigzag across the central stretch of the plateau. The falls are considered the dividing line between the upper- and the central-Zambezi zones. Considering that during the wet season, 540 million cubic meters of water per minute fall into the first of the Batoka Gorges, that’s very restricted outlet.

From the air, the gorges look like this.

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[image error]Satellite view of the river, the falls, and the gorges.

In the Future

Victoria Falls has been in the western world’s radar scope since 1855. Only 158 years. But it’s a work in progress. For the past 100,000 years – which, geologically speaking, isn’t that long — the falls have been receding upstream. The river has fallen into different gorges during the past. Today, it is cutting back to the next gorge on one side of the “Devil’s Cataract”, also called “Leaping Waters.”

[image error] [image error]The Devils Cataract

Just A Beat More

Sometimes the unpleasant places and experiences are as important in our writing as the beautiful ones. Although Victoria Falls is mentioned in the book (current working title is “All For A Blast Of Hot Air”), the part that got the most attention was the awful airport at Victoria Falls (the name of the town) in Zimbabwe.

[image error]

It may not look too bad in this photo, but below the excerpt from the unpublished novel which should be released this fall.

Excerpt

We arrived at Victoria Falls an hour and a half later, unprepared for the long wait to come. After two hours inside the worst airport I’d ever experienced, waiting for our luggage, we were tempted to abandon the bags, return immediately to South Africa and forget the safari.

At best, the airport smelled like an unwashed armpit and rotting fruit. The rest rooms were so filthy even the insects avoided them. Instead, the annoying little creatures buzzed around our heads and flew into our eyes, noses, and mouths. Another set of angry passengers swarmed the airline officials, complaining about their bags being broken into after they were checked in by the airline.

If the building had air conditioning at all, the near-hundred degree heat and ninety percent humidity rendered it useless. Oh, the fans rumbled and groaned—yes, they did. Loud enough to be distracting even above the high-pitched incessant shouting and yelling, but they did nothing to move the stale muggy air.

In seconds my clothes were more than moist and my hair assumed the appearance and texture of steel wool struck by lightning.

The facility offered no seating for passengers while the Zimbabwe customs officials went through every bag looking for anything they could tax, which took forever. Every inch of the building was old, worn, and beyond depressing.

Welcome to Victoria Falls, seventh natural wonder of the world!

“I’m not overly impressed.” I panted the observation as we hauled our bags outside after the unbearable hours of torture. No luggage carts or baggage handlers to be seen anywhere. Neither one of us carried much although, for this flight, we’d packed all our electronics in our carryon bags. I’d been warned not to check such items―if we ever wanted to see them again, that is. “It looked better in the photos.”

Will frowned, his lips thin, and shook his head slightly, unwilling to go there. “You think? Pfft.” He spit a bug out of his mouth and held the exit door open for me while I shoved our bags through to the outside.

□

Resources

http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/places/zambezir.htm

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/zambezi-river-africa-photos/

http://www.africanworldheritagesites.org/natural-places/earths-crust/victoria-falls-zimbabwe-and-zambia.html

http://www.victoriafalls.com/

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/509

Meant to Be by Jennifer Labelle – #FREE

Who Wants a FREE Book?
FREEBIE Over HERE…

Have I got your attention yet?

It’s my birthday week, and I’ve decided to give you all a present to help celebrate my 33rd this past Tuesday June, 4th. What better way than to have my very first release up for FREE on Amazon for the entire weekend! (June 7th, 8th, and 9th)

I’d like to thank everyone for joining me here, and I hope you enjoy it! *coughs* Don’t forget, I’m always up for some new reviews too. If you have the time that is, in the meantime please check out the blurb and excerpt below and get your very own copy today before time runs out! J Spread the word…

GET IT HERE (AMAZON) 

Book blurb:

Jenna Baker is shaken up after her recovery with a near death experience. As if, being haunted with visions and losing her husband in a car accident weren’t hard enough. Could she be losing her mind? She finally moves on, only to have the husband she thought was dead suddenly reappear.

After the shocking task of convincing Jenna that she’s not seeing his ghost, Tyler becomes overwhelmed with guilt for saving himself and leaving her to almost die. Jenna’s recovery takes its toll while Tyler’s vulnerability gets the best of him. He’s harboring secrets that will devastate her and as Jenna unravels the truth her life takes an unexpected journey.

 

Excerpt:

He smiled again, taking the last plate from her to dry and shook off the extra suds. Drips of water and soap suds flew through the air getting her wet in the process, and he laughed at her shocked expression.

“Oh, really,” she said in the mood to play. Taking the sprayer hose from the faucet, she turned it on and gave him a squirt. She laughed, and it was his turn to pause in shock.

She could tell by his expression that this meant war and made a run for it, laughing the whole way. She made it into the living room before he extended his arm to catch her, swooping her up as if she was feather light.

“Got ye.”

They both laughed, but when she turned to face him, he became serious suddenly. She knew then that the games were over. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and pulled her towards him. Slowly moving his face closer, his eyes sparkled and completely absorbed hers.

The kiss started out slow, and she wanted him to take his time with it. She held back a groan when his mouth pulled away and pulled him tighter against her. Her adrenaline pumped faster, and she could feel the warmth coursing throughout her body. There was no thinking twice about it; her desire consumed her.

Pushing him against the wall, she kissed him hard, wanting him in that moment more than she’d ever wanted anything. She liked where this was going, liked being in control, needed it in that moment.

Placing her hands on his chest, she slowly moved them down his beautifully sculptured abs. “Stay,” she whispered, taking a step back so that he could watch as she unzipped her dress. It slowly slid to the floor exposing her bare breasts and the sexy black thong she wore. She kicked it out of the way, pulled his shirt off, and pressed herself against him again, flesh against flesh.

Author bio:

Jennifer Labelle resides in Ottawa, Ontario Canada with her husband and three beautiful children. After her third child she became a stay at home mom. In her busy household Jennifer likes to spend her down time engrossed in the stories that she creates. She is an active reader of romance (especially historical), mystery and anything paranormal. With an education in Addictions work she’s decided to take a less stressful approach in life and hopes that you enjoy, as she shares some of her imagination with all of you.

Author contact links:

Website: http://www.jenniferlabelle.com

Blog: http://labellebooks.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/1JenniferLabell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jennifer-Labelle/168414043184292#!/pages/Author-Jennifer-Labelle/168414043184292

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4649930.Jennifer_Labelle

 

Best wishes,

Jennifer Labelle

 

 

Book Reviews ~ A Guest post by author Gordon Osmond

*Today I have Gordon Osmond stopping by to talk about Book reviews. He’s welcoming a lively discussion, so let’s give him one.

*~*

The following article expresses only my own personal opinions and observations and was written primarily to stimulate discussion on a subject important to authors. Contrary opinions and other comments are encouraged.  

Many questions arise on this subject once a book has been accepted for publication and the author is starting out on the daunting task of promoting it with a view to stimulating sales.
 
When should the search for a review begin?
 
It depends upon which reviewers you’re courting. If you want a “free” review in Publishers Weekly or other well-respected and notorious review sources, you’d best submit your book pre-release.
 
Getting reviews in advance of publication also makes it possible to put squibs from glowing reviews on the printed copy of the book itself. This is, of course, more important when your book will be on shelves rather than only online.
 
What different kinds of reviews are out there? How do they rank in terms of credibility and exposure?
 
A statement from John/Jane Q. Public which reads something like, “A real page turner. I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the next one” whether it appears on Amazon or in Macy’s window, is a nice comment but not my idea of a review, especially if it is written by a blood relative who owes you money.
 
On the other end of the spectrum is a thorough and well reasoned review written by someone who has no reason whatsoever to be kind and who also has some experience writing reviews for credible reviewing sites, like Bookpleasures or Bookideas for which I write reviews. One of my most treasured reviews of my debut novel,  Slipping on Stardust , was a 5-Star Amazon review from an author whose own book I rated less then perfect on my review sites. Now that’s impartiality! Amazon is a mixed bad, including as it does reviews from their Top Ranking Reviewers as well as from Aunt Edna. Also, in deciding whether a review can be posted, Amazon seems more concerned with whether the reviewer has a customer account with Amazon than with whether the reviewer has actually received the book being reviewed.
 
One of the many great things about Secret/Sweet Cravings Publishing is that reviews on a book’s page are divided between regular reader reviews and professional ones. Amazon seems to make a comparable effort, but I’m not convinced it’s always successful.
 
Paid reviews are to me prima facie questionable despite protestations of impartiality by the reviewing site.
 
And don’t let the stars get in your eyes and hope they don’t get in the eyes of those browsing for good books to read. I received a 4-Star review from a Top Amazon reviewer that showed more care in reading my book than I took in writing it.
 
By the way, there’s a difference between a “mixed” review wherein a single writer carefully balances a book’s merits and demerits and “polarized” reviews where there’s a wide range in a group of reviews between good and bad.
 
How should authors react to reviews?
 
With stoic restraint. There’s nothing wrong with thanking a reviewer for the time taken in reading your book, and an author can certainly express the pleasure of receiving a good review. But challenging or arguing with the author of a less-than-glowing review is downright foolish and should never be done.
 
If an author’s frustration or anger level is at the breaking point, it might be acceptable to say something like what’s been said to me sometimes by the author of a book I have reviewed more or less unfavorably, viz,. “It’s always interesting to see my work seen through other eyes.” Of course, the subtext is, “And your eyes are not functioning,” but no harm done. As a critic, I have more respect for an author who takes the lumps in silence.
 
Final advice and comfort from the great American actor Geraldine Page.
 
Ms. Page received precious few bad reviews in the course of her long and distinguished stage and film career, but when asked how she would react to a bad one, she answered simply, “I would just think the critic has poor taste.” That should sustain all authors in their darkest hours.
*~*
| Amazon | BN | SCP |


Blurb:


The ultimate guilt-free escapist adventure,  Slipping on Stardust  is a riveting tale of small-time life, adolescent rebellion, community theatre intrigues, and legal scandals, with a kidnapping demanding suicide as ransom thrown in for extra spice. The book is an ideal gift, suitable for stuffing in beach bags, holiday stockings—in fact, everything but the Thanksgiving turkey.

It all starts when Adrian Conway, an aging Hollywood movie icon, arrives in Johnson, Ohio to star in a community theatre production opposite the local reigning drama queen, who is the wife of the town’s leading lawyer and the mother of a handsome, but sexually undecided son, who suffers from every adolescent plague except acne. To say that all hell breaks loose thereafter is not to do justice to hell. The conflicts that follow fling family members to New York City and to Hollywood in a trail of betrayal, scandal, and crime.

The exposure of small-town foibles and secrets plus the depiction of the tragic and sometimes comic consequences of sacrificing real values for false ones have caused  Slipping on Stardust  to be viewed as a cross between Peyton Place and Madame Bovary.

After only five months on the market,  Slipping on Stardust  has already garnered no fewer than 10 five-star reviews on Amazon, including reviews from a Pulitzer Prize nominee and a Ph.D. who teaches creative writing at the university level.


Book website:  http://i-m.co/GordonOsmond/SlippingonStardust


Book excerpt (not previously featured on guest blogspots):

In Columbus, an assistant district attorney, well down the bureaucratic totem pole, had listened patiently to the separate testimonies of both Mason and Allerton. Mason’s account was liberally peppered with references to Allerton; Allerton’s contained nary a single reference to his boss, focusing solely on his own innocence.
As the meeting was winding down, a secretary announced the arrival of one Danton Brockway, who apparently had something to add to the proceedings. Dan entered the room, acknowledged the two he knew and shook hands with the one he didn’t.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me without an appointment, but I fear that your office may be about to make an erroneous determination of guilt in the Malorex matter. As I understand it, neither of these two gentlemen has offered evidence of their whereabouts on the night in question. I am in a position to do so.”
It would be difficult to choose which participant in the meeting was the most astonished.
Danton continued, “Alibis tend to be suspect when provided by loved ones or by those with a financial interest in a particular result. What I’m about to tell you is not only not self-serving, but the very essence of an admission against my own interest and therefore, under well established evidentiary principles familiar to us all, worthy of the highest possible degree of credibility.”
Mason interrupted, somewhat frantically. “What are you talking about, Danton?”
“Let him speak, Mr. Kriek. I think he’s about to tell us.” The junior DA was earning his wings.
“What I’m talking about, Mason, is that Mr. Allerton could not possibly have taken the documents during the time period in question for the very simple, and to me fatal, reason that he was with me at the Bird’s Nest motel that entire night. He was with me at my request—a request reinforced with the clearest possible threat of professional retaliation should he have refused.”
While the others were reeling, Dan was drilling through Allerton’s eyes with an urgent message for his brain. Deny this and you’re dead.
Speaking of eyes, the assistant district attorney was suddenly looking at Mason Kriek with new ones.

Hump Day Hook 30 – Derailed Cover Reveal! #Giveaway

Oh me, oh my, oh me, oh my! The day has come!! With this weeks Hump Day Hook I’m revealing the cover for book 2 in my Dominion Falls Series, Derailed.  My editor and I have done one round on the book, and the release date is ONE MONTH from now!!

I am so excited for this book, and this cover, I can hardly tell you!!

As part of this cover reveal, which will span several blogs over the next few days (stay tuned here or on my Facebook page for regular updates on where to find the giveaways!!).  Each website that’s hosting my cover reveal is having a giveaway for an ebook copy of Changing Tracks (if you win, but already have CT, we can work out a deal for Derailed  or Masked Hearts).

>>>Grand Prize is a signed paperback copy of Changing Tracks, plus a surprise book by one of Jane Doe’s favorite authors**

Every comment on every participating blog is considered an entry. If you post a comment on each participating blog, you receive an entry for each of those locations. Please include your email address in your comment to be counted, so I know how to reach you!

Participating blogs: Dawne’s Reading Nook,

All entries will be accrued and tallied, and a winner will be drawn on June 14th, 2013 at 9PM.  Winner will have 48 hours to get back to me, or I will choose another winner.

**Grand Prize Giveaway open to US participants only

Now, onto the reveal, blurb, and hook!! (I beg lenience this week as a special week, I’m going a small bit over my usual limit of 7-10 lines).

In book 1 we met Mike, Clara Young’s brother, who quickly became a part of Jane’s life as she still felt an attachment to the brother she couldn’t remember.

In Derailed, an, um, issue arises and he decides to deal with Cole:

A splinter of wood drove into his arm, but he ignored it in favor of delivering a solid kick to Cole’s kidneys. His arms were grabbed, and he was dragged back, but he wasn’t finished. Pure venom shot out of his throat. “You aren’t a man. You never were.”

Cole was held back by Graham and a soldier, fighting against their grip with a deep growl. “She never had any complaints. Kept comin’ back for more.”

“Stay the hell away from her.”

“Mike.” David’s voice strained as he fought to keep a hold of him.

“She’ll be back. She won’t be able to help herself.” Cole fought an arm free only to have it grabbed again. “Just tell her to stay away, see how she takes it.”

With renewed fury, Mike fought against David and Archie, trying to get free. “Bastard. You don’t deserve her. You didn’t deserve—”

“Michael.” Daisy’s shriek stilled both men for the briefest moment.

Remember to leave a comment to win!!  

And visit all the other blogs:

BLURB:

The sins of a past she can’t remember could destroy a present she’ll never forget.

The crimes of her forgotten past threaten the very life Jane Doe has learned to cherish.

Jane is out of time. With a warrant on her head, a maniac out for her blood, and a secret baby on the way, something has to give.

Without Cole Mitchell’s help to find the answers, there may be no hope left.

Cole has nowhere left to hide. He unwittingly let Jane into his heart, and is ready to share the secret of his dark past.

Fate has a way of playing its hand, and tragedy strikes. With the world crumbling around them, it’s easy to lose faith. If they can’t forgive past sins, they have no hope for the future.

Because the noose waits for no man or woman. 

*~*

Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published.  Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library!  To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below: