Zoe Dawson's Blog, page 20

Cover Reveal Squee!: Live For You

Live for You (Boys of the South #1) by Marquita Valentine-NA Contemporary RomanceScheduled to release: May 2013 
My friend and fellow Heart of the Carolina chapter mate has a upcoming New Adult release!  Wow!  That cover is very, very squeeworthy!  I know!  I can hear you all squeeing away from here!  And, she made this one herself.  Very impressive.

Here's the blurb:


On the surface, twenty-two year old Cole Morgan is exactly what any girl would be proud to take home to meet her parents: He’s charming, intensely handsome and goal-oriented...Only he has some secrets of his own, which include provoking bar fights and a former drug-addict of a mother slowly wasting away in a medical facility.

At barely twenty, Violet Lynn is Country Music's hottest star, until one night of partying gets out of control. Violet ends up in jail and on TMZ. Suddenly, she’s the girl least likely to be invited anywhere. Sick of the drama and keeping secrets, she runs away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi to her grandmother’s home in Forrestville, North Carolina.

A chance meeting knocks Cole off his feet, but he doesn’t recognize Violet for who she is. In fact no one does and Violet plans to keep it that way.

Circumstances, however annoying, keep throwing Violet and Cole together. Unable to stop themselves they give into the inevitable.

But when Nashville is ready to forgive and forget, Violet is forced to choose between Cole and claiming her spot as the new and improved Princess of Country Music.

Will Violet and Cole have the courage to live for their dreams...Or their hearts?
Here's a handy dandy button to add it to your Goodreads shelf.
  You can check out Marquita on her website for all her juicy information and go here to The Autumn Review for an exclusive excerpt.
Gotta do it one more time, squee! 

Cover Reveal Squee!: The Trouble With Goodbye

This cover was designed by the absolutely AMAZING Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations.
Please take a moment and add The Trouble With Goodbye to your Goodreads Shelf!!!!


Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Hopeful Release Date: May 2013
Description:
One night can change everything…
Two years ago, Leigh Anne Davis shocked everyone in tiny Fairhope, Georgia when she broke up with her wealthy boyfriend to attend an Ivy League university a thousand miles away. At school, she finds a happiness and independence she’s never known. Until one terrifying night takes it all away from her.
With no place else to go, Leigh Anne heads home to reclaim her old life. A life she worked so hard to escape. On the outside, she seems like the same girl everyone has always known. But deep inside, she’s hiding a terrible secret.
That’s when she meets Knox Warner, a troubled newcomer to Fairhope. His eyes have the same haunted look she sees every day in the mirror, and when she’s near him, the rest of the world fades away. But being with Knox would mean disappointing everyone all over again. If she wants to save what’s left of her old life, she has no choice but to say goodbye to him forever.
Only, the trouble with goodbye is that sometimes it’s about courage and sometimes it’s about fear. And sometimes you’re too broken to know the difference until it’s too late.
What do you think? Do you love it? Please leave me a comment and you can visit Sarra's website to see her post.
Oh, and guess what? This book will also be coming out in paperback. Here is the full wrap cover.

Love is in The Air Blog Hop

There is that something special in the air.  You can feel it.  It can't be denied.  The hair on the back of your neck rises, goosebumps gather, and you feel just a bit hot, a bit parched.  It all happens when he walks into the room or you catch a glimpse of him on the subway.  A little intake of breath, maybe an, "Oh my God!"  But there's one thing for certain.  For you.  Love is in the Air.

Now what are those prizes and how do you enter?
You must leave a comment with your email address.  It doesn't have to be anything big, but to be entered to win we need to have a way to contact you.  Then fill out as many of the Rafflecopter entries as you like (the more you do, the better the chances of winning.)  I will be offering two prizes open to everyone, including international. 

I'll choose a winner at random and contact by email after the giveaway is over.  Have a wonderful day!
 My Prizes   one $15 Amazon gift cardone ebook copy of any of the blog hop authors to read.
Grand Prizeone $25 Amazon gift card

Hop along with us and discover authors who create the type of reading experience that you're looking for. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Spotlight: Tracey Cramer-Kelly

Tracey is my first author guest.  Please make her feel welcome!

Please tell us a little about yourself.Hi Zoe, and thank you for hosting me today! I’m writing from small-town Minnesota, where I live with my hubby and two kids, age 5 and 10. I work a full-time job, running our family motorcycle business.
At heart I am a storyteller; I love digging deep into a character and exploring how things that happen in their life impact and transform them. I’ve published two novels (both of which have been winners or finalists in contests), and my third will release this summer.

What is your favorite pastime, other than writing? My favorite way to spend time is riding my motorcycle, especially if my kids and hubby are with me. Unfortunately, here in Minnesota I’m lucky if I can stretch that to seven months of the year.I’m also a vocalist (I’ve released two cover songs and been featured on other albums) and play taiko drums, which is like a cross between martial arts and banging on BIG drums (great exercise!). I’ve even toyed with video and production; in fact, my second music video, featuring a female motorcyclist, was just released: http://www.traceycramerkelly.com/cool-rider-music-video/
What is a typical writing day for you?There is no such thing as a typical day when you own a business and have active kids! So my writing time is “stolen” hours whenever I can get them (I’m writing this in a coffee shop). It makes it harder to get into the “flow” but I’m proof it can be done if you want it badly enough! I also daydream anywhere and everywhere, so that when I do sit down to write I have an idea where I want to go.

Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as inspiration?I spent five years in the National Guard as a paramedic, and that figures prominently in my writing. I’m also a biker chick, so I started writing motorcycle-riding characters. Because of my hobbies and my military background, I’ve had the fortune of meeting, working and playing with some very interesting people! I think everything I write is affected by what I’ve experienced. Yes, there’s a healthy dose of imagination and plenty of creative license, but a seed has to be sown somewhere, and for me it is often a ‘human’ interchange.

Tell us about your books.My first, Last Chance Rescue, is about two members of a search-and-rescue team who have a problem trusting each other with more than their physical safety.
True Surrender is a military romance with a wounded veteran hero whose struggle with an amputation and PTSD nearly destroy his relationships and career.

My upcoming novel, Take Two, is about an actor who is poisoned on set and forced to recover at the (rather older, ahem) director’s home with her two teenage daughters.
I understand you’re doing something special for Take Two?Oh, this is the fun stuff! Starting March 6, I’m sharing a new “installment” of Take Two(for FREE) on my blog every week. I hope your readers will come and enjoy this. Click here for details: http://www.traceycramerkelly.com/read-my-next-novel-for-free-heres-how/
You mentioned an unusual tie-in between your books?A fun twist to my writing is that my novels are intertwined.
For instance, the hero of True Surrender was briefly married when he was younger. His ex-wife is the heroine in my first novel, Last Chance Rescue.
In Take Two(my upcoming novel), the characters are filming a movie. I used True Surrender as the “movie” they are filming.
Take Two is also the second creative offering in what I call the “Cool Rider Project,” which (as you might conclude from the title) is biker themed. Details can be found at http://www.traceycramerkelly.com/bike...

What inspired you to write Take Two? I like to say that my second book (True Surrender) led to my third. The first video I produced (“The Rose / Surrender Version”) features scenes from True Surrender. The experience of seeing my writing come to life was exhilarating and empowering but also humbling. The seed for Take Two was planted then, but as is often the case, the characters told me what would happen next!

What are you working on now?I’m experimenting with short-story erotica, and I recently completed my first short script (a theater/film production). I’d love to write a movie script, but I only have so many hours in a day, so I’ve chosen to focus on novels and novellas. And I try to keep singing because it brings me such joy.
Tell us what excites you about writing and getting published.When I hear from readers that my writing touched them in some way, it really makes my day. Sometimes it is hard to keep going. But ultimately, I have this need to share, and hopefully I’ll find readers who are receptive to my style of writing, which is not your formulaic romance.

And finally, where can we stalk you?My “hub” is my web site (www.TraceyCramerKelly.com)
Take Two installments will be posted to my blog: http://www.TraceyCramerKelly.com/blog
https://www.facebook.com/TraceyCramerKelly
https://twitter.com/TraceyCramerKel


About the Author:
Tracey Cramer-Kelly is an author and singer/musician. Her work fuses writing, music and visual imagery and includes novels, short stories and music videos.

Two of her novels, Last Chance Rescue and True Surrender, are Indie Book Awards Finalists. True Surrender also won a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America.

Music videos include "The Rose (Surrender Version)," which tells the story of True Surrender (the novel), and "Cool Rider," a rock-n-roll video featuring Tracey as a biker chick (which she really is).

Tracey's writing draws from her experience as an Army Reserve paramedic and exposure to helicopter medivac. She obtained her helicopter pilot license in 2001. She owns a motorcycle accessories business and lives in small-town Minnesota with her husband and two young children.

Poison: The first Taste

The first time I held my first novel in my hands was a day I'll never forget.  It was a culmination of hard work, dedication, blood, sweat, and tears!  So when I heard about Bridget Zinn, I wanted to be part of the blog tour to announce her first book Poison.  Poison was released on March 12, 2013, but, unfortunately, Bridget wasn't able to hold her book in her hands.  She won't get the satisfaction of seeing it in a tangible, fabulous, a-day-you'll-never-forget way.

Bridget died two years ago and after reading about her, all I can say is that I wish I had gotten the chance to know her.  I will read Poison and, through her written words, will get to know her better.  You can meet her at the end of the blog and I'm sure when you're finished getting acquainted, you'll want to read Poison, too!

Information about Poison and Bridget:


Poison

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.
But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.
Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king's army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she's not alone. She's armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can't stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her? Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she's certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.
Purchase your copy
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Poison-Bridget-Zinn/dp/1423139933/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361422901&sr=1-1&keywords=bridget+zinn
Barnes & Noble  < http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/poison-bridget-zinn/1110606774?ean=9781423139935>
IndieBound <http://www.indiebound.org/book/978142...
iTunes Bookstore <https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/poison/id586771278?mt=11>
Powell's Books <http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781...
Add Poison to your Goodreads pile! <http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8113512-poison>

About Bridget Zinn
Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."
Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads. 
Please visit these blogs to read their thoughts on Bridget and Poison.


MARCH 12 E.M. Kokie Nyrae Dawn Julie "Manga Maniac Cafe" Abby Niles Pam "Bookalicious" van Hylckama Jennifer McAndrews "Honestly YA" MARCH 13 Kate Treadway "Verb Vixen" Martha Brockenbrough Cameron Y. - What the Cat Read Bobbie Gould Molly "Wrapped Up in Books" Eileen Li MARCH 14 Ashley Walsh "The Quiet Concert" Jennifer Rummel "YA Book Nerd" Tammy Hall Laura Kaye Melissa Simmons Shelley Bunnell Kate Bourne "The Book Monsters" Taneesha "A Diary of a Book Addict" MARCH 15 Caroline Starr Rose Lindsey Loucks Amy Alessio Elyana Noreme Rachel Patrick "Beauty and the Bookshelf"Sonya "Sony the Book Lover"Elizabeth Seckman MARCH 16 Sara Bennett Wealer Amy Plum Betty G. Birney Elizabeth Otto Ellen Faith Celeste Holloway MARCH 17 Janet Fox Erica "The Book Cellarx" Amy Stewart "Simple Love of Reading"Libby Fischer Hellmann Melody May Rebekah Faubion MARCH 18 Jon Goldhirsch MaryAnn Oprea @ Chapter by Chapter Jennifer L. Armentrout Brenna from Esther's Ever After Lauren Thoman "The Housework Can Wait"Annabelle Hammond "Read Write and Read Some More MARCH 19 Lucia "The Loyal Book" Jessica Miller "I Read to Relax"Melissa de la Cruz Sara Hayet "The Page Sage"Tara Hudson Rebecca Lamb MARCH 20 Johanna Wright Tara @ Shhh... Not While I'm Reading Michelle "Much Loved Books"Kristina Snyder Zoe Dawson Peter Salomon MARCH 21 Gwenyth Love "Rants n Scribbles"Sarah Evans Robin Bielman Mundie Moms (Katie) Cynthia Leitich SmithTamson Weston MARCH 22 Lucy "The Reading Date" Carrie Ardoin "Sweet Southern Home"Tracy James Jones Nikki Wang "Fiction Freak" MARCH 23 Amy Thau "Tripping Over Books" Ashley G. "Wholly-books"jone "Maclibrary" Jaime @ Twisting the LensCrystal "Winterhaven Books" Allison KirkJess "Book Rook Reviews" MARCH 24 Lucy Softich "Adventures in Bookland"Stephanie "Poetry to Prose" Caren Crane "Romance Bandits" Lori Degman Beth Saxton DJ MARCH 25 Michael Gettel-Gilmartin "Middle Grade Mafioso"Ruth Tenzer Feldman "Blue Thread" Lynne Kelly Hafsah "Icey Books" Samanthe Beck MARCH 26 Becca "I'm Lost in Books"Brook Gideon "Dead Gideons"Natalie J. Damschroder, for Everybody Needs a Little Romance Beth Revis Damaris "Good Choice Reading" MARCH 27 Amy G. (Kissed by Ink) Stephanie Ruble Angie Manfredi "Fat Girl Reading"Rachel CoyneChris Miller MARCH 28 Natalie J. Damschroder Sara Shafer Audra "The Society"Laura Hernandez "Reviews at mse"Stephanie "Love Life Read"

The fabulous Inara Scott was the force behind this blog tour and I'd like to thank her for allowing me to be part of it. 

Leashed is Unleashed!

Leashed is free for a limited only!  What's not to like.  Great Dane love, human love, puppy love.  Will all this love lead to happily ever after?  Check it out for yourself.  It's Free!



Here's the blurb:
And they call it puppy love!
When Jack falls head-over-paws for cute and cuddly Jill next door -- that creamy coat, those soft brown eyes, and, yowza, those long legs, he simply cannot help himself.  Bing, bang, boom, a few weeks later, Jack has some 'splaining to do when that cute female is with puppies.  Jack's going to be a father, trouble is his lady love's owner and his owner need a little shove into love.  Being a large and in-charge Great Dane, that's no problem for Jack.  With a little cooperation and a little matchmaking, some nudging, whining and puppy dog eyes, hopefully, everyone will live happily ever after together.

Don't miss the second book in the series that begins where Leashed left off...
Groomed for Murder
Here's the blurb:

Can a dog have a bad hair day?

​​Brooke Palmer owns Pawlish, an exclusive doggie spa and grooming business in upper Manhattan, but when a client’s champion poodle gets a bad poodle cut and has to undergo therapy to recover, the client sues.  The lawyer they send is drop dead gorgeous, but Brooke won't be wooed by a corporate shark in a sharp suit.​
​Corporate lawyer Drew Hudson has better things to do then take on this ridiculous lawsuit, but since he works for the client’s husband, he has no choice.  After meeting the beautiful, sweet-tempered owner, he can’t keep his mind on the silly case.  But when the client turns up dog gone dead, Brooke may be a conflict of interest when she’s charged with the murder.  All Drew wants to do is prove that this sexy entrepreneur is not dangerous, except to his heart. Can she take a chance on him?

But there's more...Hounded book #3 will be out this summer.

Here's the blurb: 
I’ll get you and your little dogs, too!
Veterinarian Poe Madigan enters The Fur Ball with her Jack Russell terriers (aka The Terrible Two) to compete for a cash prize that will keep her mother from losing her home.  But when her fabulous partner sprains his ankle, Poe must trade him and his talented Bichon for a muscle-bound hunky jock who can't dance and his Basset Hound named Lazy Daisy.  He's so not her type.  If that's not enough to make her despair, it seems The Terrible Two have angered someone and they're receiving death threats!
​Security specialist Jared Taylor promises one of Poe's friends that he will go undercover as her dog dancing partner to protect her from danger.  What he didn't expect was to find that his staid, traditional life could be turned all topsy-turvy and he would find a soft spot for a neglected hound and fall for a Goth princess.  But will his omission of who he really is and his motivation  ruin the real prize - Poe?
The cover reveal is on June 1, 2013!  The Terrible Two....I mean Poe Madigan gets her story...okay she'll have to share it with her two precocious Jack Russell terriers.  But something tells me it'll end up in a happily ever after.

Cover Reveal Squee!: A Lady Most Lovely

Another critique partner, Jennifer Delamere has released the cover for her next book in the Love's Grace Trilogy.  And, it's very squeeworthy!  I love it!  The scene, the colors, the winter wonderland feel of it are all beautiful parts that make a gorgeous whole!   Here's the blurb:  A Heart of Gold
Socialite Margaret Vaughn is the wealthiest heiress in London—or so everybody thinks. Saddled with debts left by her father, she agrees to marry a rich man who can save her family’s estate. But when her fiancé turns out to be just another poor social climber, Margaret faces financial ruin—and social humiliation. Just when she thinks all is lost, she finds an unlikely savior in Tom Poole . . .
After amassing a fortune in the gold fields of Australia and surviving a harrowing shipwreck, Tom Poole is the toast of London society. Yet despite his newfound fame, he’s never forgotten his own humble beginnings. When he learns of Margaret’s plight, he offers her financial assistance—but his interest is not strictly business. This rugged adventurer now seeks a different kind of gold. Although many men pursue Margaret’s hand because of her beauty and lands, can Tom convince her it’s her heart he’s after?
Out September 2013!  Don't miss this one!
Check out Jennifer on her website

Lucky in Love Blog Hop

[image error] I personally haven't yet been lucky in love, but my heroes and heroines are.  They each go through a lot in each story to finally get their love.  


So this St. Patrick's over 250 authors and bloggers are going to show you some love.  We have TWO grand prizes.  You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win.  Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

But before we get to the prizes, take a look at an excerpt from my new release.

[image error]
Excerpt from Groomed for Murder
Book #2
Going to the Dogs
By Zoe Dawson
All rights reserved


“You stupid cow!”


Brooke yanked her gaze away from the computer screen, her heart plummeting to her toes like a stone. Kristen Wright-Davis. Not again. With a surge of adrenaline, she raced out of the office toward the grooming room, where her nemesis shrieked in short, staccato blasts, punctuated by the yapping of her hyper toy poodle, Mimi.


“I have asked you repeatedly to sedate Mimi, Mrs. Wright-Davis.” Her groomer’s voice wobbled and Brooke moved faster to stave off disaster.


Pushing the door open, Brooke wasn’t surprised to find that Kristen—a life-sized, hard-gloss, Barbie-zilla—had backed poor, disheveled, worn out Rachel into a corner physically as well as verbally. Her groomer was buckling under the pressure and looked like she was about to burst into tears. Kristen loomed over Rachel, her tanned, pampered skin in stark contrast to the groomer’s pale face.


The hair on the back of Brooke’s neck popped up like porcupine quills. How dare that self-absorbed witch attack poor Rachel!


“Kristen—”


"Don't talk back to me, dog groomer girl. You are nothing but a service provider, and you aren’t entitled to an opinion!" Kristen snapped, wagging her head like Mick Jagger on steroids. “Look what you have done to my Mimi!” She pointed a trembling finger at her noisy dog for emphasis. “This is outrageous! She has a show this weekend! You have ruined any chance she had to win. You stupid, stupid cow.”


Brooke stepped forward, summoning her most soothing manner. “Kristen, why don’t you and I discuss how we might solve this problem to your satisfaction?”


The woman’s head snapped around and homed in on the new target, just as Brooke hoped she would. As smooth as silk, Brooke maneuvered herself between Kristen and a cowed Rachel, squeezing her groomer’s shoulder reassuringly as she ushered her out of the room with a quick whisper. “Go hide in my office.”


“Look at what she’s done to my baby. It-it-it’s intolerable,” Kristen screeched, pointing again with a blood red-tipped finger, then settling her fists at the waist of her tight leather pants with a huff. Her collagen-puffed lips evolved from a pout to a nasty snarl.


Brooke looked down at the spoiled furball that still yapped and growled and snapped the air, straining to reach Brooke and sink in her needle teeth. The tension inside the small room scraped against Brooke’s skin. Obviously Mimi was simply reacting to the tension and to her owner’s state of mind.


And then Brooke finally took a close look at the poodle’s cut. What a disaster. Fur was missing in clumps scattered throughout her otherwise precise and professional show cut.


Brooke mentally threw up her hands. Half of this animal’s problem was that she had such an indulgent, spoiled, pretentious woman for an owner. The other half was she had an indulgent, spoiled, pretentious woman for an owner. Maybe Kristen should be the one to take a sedative before coming into Pawlish.


“I’m so sorry this happened just before a show.” Brooke cleared her throat, reaching for a more mollifying tone. “I sympathize with your disappointment. I would be happy to offer you six months of grooming for free, and I’ll refund the full amount of the entrance fee as compensation.”


Kristen’s eyes narrowed and her face darkened. “Six months free? Entrance fee? My baby looks like this, and…and you insult me with six months of grooming free and money? That’s a slap in the face. I will never use your cut-rate joint again.”


She grabbed Mimi and stuffed the yapping, snarling bundle into her Louis Vuitton dog carrier. Mimi shoved her head up over the zipped closure and snapped at Brooke again as Kristen swept past her toward the door.


Brooke’s first line of defense and strongest skill was her ability to defuse tense situations, to turn snarling lions into pussycats. It was definitely time to put her lifetime of practice to work as skillfully as she could. Fast.


As the young wife of an older, wealthy, and prominent lawyer, Kristen had a great deal of influence in New York City, especially in the social circles where Brooke found most of her clientele. It would be all too easy for this woman to bad-mouth Pawlish to all her friends and sabotage the business Brooke had made successful by providing unparalleled and skillful service.


Staying calm and thinking creatively should do the trick. “Kristen, my policy is that no client leaves Pawlish unhappy. Let’s work together to make that happen.”


Kristen turned around and stared over Brooke’s shoulder. Brooke looked behind her, frowning. What was she looking at? Rachel stood at the office door, tear tracks marking her face. She was the sweetest, most helpful girl, and was the only one at Pawlish who would work with Kristen’s unruly poodle. Brooke’s heart turned over, and she wanted to go comfort her, but she had to deal with Kristen first.


With a hard-edged, steady gaze at Rachel, Kristen snarled, “Fire that stupid cow.”
Brooke’s head whipped around, her face stiff with shock, her jaw slack. Rachel’s sobbing and the slam of the office door struck her heart with a hard, painful thump. Was this woman serious? Fire Rachel, an employee who had been with her since she’d started her business, who took on any task that was asked of her, who worked so hard that Brooke had to shoo her home to her kids? Brooke had no words—well, she did, but those words weren’t professional. Kristen’s callousness was simply mind-boggling.


Fire exploded in the pit of her stomach and flashed up her torso, heating her face. It wasn’t enough that Kristen insisted on bringing her nasty, fidgety, contrary little dog for grooming without sedating her first. Noooo, this woman—who had more money than she could spend—wanted Brooke to fire a hard-working, very competent employee just to satisfy her spiteful whim. Kristen’s smug look only fanned the flames of Brooke’s determination. Rachel wasn’t going anywhere.


For the first time since she’d opened her doors, Brooke decided this particular customer was notright.


“Oh, Kristen, there’s no need for such drastic action.” Brooke waved her hand in dismissal. “We can come up with something much more palatable. Like a yummy basket of homemade, totally organic doggie treats for sweet Mimi? How does that sound?” She needed to unclench her jaw so the next words she spoke sounded more calm and self-assured.


Kristen tilted her head. “Ahhhh…you’re placating me, and usually I’m all for that. A little groveling always makes my day. But in this case, no. I insist you give me what I want. And I always get what I want.” Her smile was full of sunny, self-satisfied condemnation.


“I’m trying to make amends. Please, let’s put this behind us.” Brooke smiled, too, trying to extend an olive branch without wishing at the same time that Kristen would choke on it.


Kristen wrinkled her nose in mock cheer, but her eyes projected just plain mean girl. “Ooooh, you’re so cute when you’re insolent.” Kristen took a step closer, getting right into Brooke’s face. Her eyes narrowed, her voice low with a steely calm. “You’ve made a big mistake, Brooke. I’ll ruin you any way I can. Just wait and see if I won’t.” With that, she flipped her unnatural blonde hair and flounced out.


Oh, shit, that chick was scary.


Brooke took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart. Surely she could find a way to win Kristen over. She’d been able to convert cranky old Mr. Witherspoon into a fan when she was a kid. If she could do that, Kristen should be easy. It was just a matter of time.


Brooke dragged her hands through her hair, rolling her eyes. Turning to her receptionist, she said, "Really, can a dog have a bad hair day?"


"Maybe," her receptionist laughed softly, “but I'd wager that poor Mr. Wright-Davis didn't get the first place trophy with that wife."

Find it on:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords
If you'd like to see where it all began, check out the first book in the series, Leashed.
Now what are those prizes and how do you enter?  You must leave a comment with your email address.  It doesn't have to be anything big, but to be entered to win the grand prizes and to be sure I have a way to contact the winners, there has to be at least an email address.  But I love comments, too!  Then fill out as many of the Rafflecopter entries as you like (the more you do, the better the chances of winning.)
  I'll choose a winner at random and contact by email after the giveaway is over.  Have a wonderful day, and happy hopping.My Prize1 $5 GC to Amazon

But there's still more...

1st Grand Prize:  A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card2nd Grand Prize:  A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50 bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!


 Everything in the grand prizes is available to U.S. and International entrants, except the Swag Pack which is available only to U.S. entrants.
 To find ALL the hoppers go here.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Marketing Club

 

Author Marketing Club is a good resource to help authors market their books.  Every author needs publicity, that's a given in today's market where there is plenty of competition.  As a self-published author it's also very difficult to get exposure and your great book could languish in obscurity.  There's the ability to network with other authors, great tutorials, a list of professional cover designers, editors, etc. and an easy link to help you simply submit your free book days.  It's a snap.  So check out it and and become part of the club.

A Total Squee! Cover Reveal

 
My 2/2 Challenge buddy, the fabulous Sarra Cannon author of the bestselling Peachville High Demon series has released the cover for her upcoming book Death's Awakening.  I was lucky enough to be her critique partner when she began this series.  I have to tell you, it's great!
Here’s a brief description in Sarra's own words

For sixteen-year-old Parrish Sorrows, life is about to become a nightmare.

This is the night she’ll wake up to her mother’s convulsions. The night she’ll lose contact with her father and sister in New York. The night 911 will stop answering the phone.

This is the night a mysterious supernatural virus begins its deadly rampage across the globe, killing billions in a matter of days. And just when things can’t get worse, the dead begin to rise.

Parrish must embark on a perilous journey to find what’s left of her family. Along the way, she’ll team up with the gorgeous boy next door she’s always been drawn to, the snobby ex-bff she’s hated for years, a genius computer nerd, and a young boy who never says a word but is somehow a kindred spirit.

DEATH’S AWAKENING is the first book in my new Eternal Sorrows series. Told from alternating points of view, this story is packed with action, magic, and romance that will leave you begging to find out what happens as this group of teens struggles to survive the zombie apocalypse.

They are about to find out zombies are the least of their problems.

This book might have zombies instead of demons, but I promise fans of the Peachville High Demons series are going to find a lot of the same things you loved in this series, too – magic, a great love story, and lots of twists and turns.

So tell me, what do you think of the cover?!



You can read more about Sarra at her website and see her own announcement there!