R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 247

RELEASE TOUR: Defining Riley by JJ Ellis #YoungAdult #HarpersRockLegacy

DEFINING RILEYA Harper's Rock Legacy Series, Book 4
by JJ EllisGenre: Young AdultPlease note: This series deals many teenage issues. This particular book touches on sex talk, closed-door sex, foul language, cancer, LGBT (bisexuality), depression, and talk of suicide. JJ doesn't go into physical and descriptive aspects of these issues but uses the issues to allow the story to move forward.


At what point will defining Riley become a matter of life or death? Is a legacy left by someone he's never met the only thing that can save him from himself?
Riley Johnson has always carried one label or another. He's the ranch kid, the bully, the jock, the closeted bisexual, the wild kid, the son of the town drunk. But these are all labels placed on him by others. Who is Riley Johnson really, in his own eyes?
Starting with the death of someone he loves, Riley's world beings to fall apart. As he tries to keep his head above water, he's faced with a choice. He can live down to the labels and be the Riley everyone believes him to be or he can search within himself and the hearts of those who care about him to find out who he really is and who he will someday become.



“Come on, sit down,” Johnny said motioning to the arm chair across from the couch. “I don’t know if you remember but when you were a little boy you guys used to come to Denver.”
“Before my mom died.”
“Yes. You and Addie were inseparable. You used to protect her from the neighborhood boy when he’d call her names.”
“And now I call her those same names, yet you’re still willing to take me in.”
“Your dad and I were best friends too. I was his protector. But then…” When Johnny paused just a moment too long, Riley’s curiosity got the best of him. “But then what?”
“Something happened that changed my life forever. I was no longer capable of protecting or being a friend or brother to anyone.”
Riley’s demeanor suddenly turned ice cold. “So, you’re saying you owe my father and taking care of me repays that debt?”
“No, what I’m saying is that you’re my nephew and I love you despite the sins of your father and since he no longer wants my protection and since I’m capable, I’m offering it to you.”
Riley couldn’t quite bring himself to look at his uncle so he set his gaze on the snag in his jeans. “But you don’t even know me.”
Johnny chuckled knowingly. “I know more than you think. Between when you guys stopped coming to Denver when you were six and when I moved home a few months ago, I was in almost daily contact with Uncle Joseph. I arranged for food baskets and grocery store gift cards, Angel tree nominations, and visits from social workers to make sure you were properly taken care of.”
“I…what? Why?”
Johnny shrugged and stood up. “I don’t know. I maybe couldn’t stand the thought of the little black-haired boy with sad eyes who used to crawl into my lap for story time going without. Maybe I missed my own child when her mother took her away. And maybe it was just time to help and be a part of the family again.”
“Thank you.” It was a whisper so soft that only way Johnny knew it was real was because he saw the gratitude in his nephew’s eyes.

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Anguish
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One young man
One desperate decision

Being a teenager is hard enough, but when you have a diagnosis of depression and anxiety life can feel like it is caving in on you. When you add in a new awareness of your sexuality and falling in love for the first time, life can become almost too much to bear.

Ben Harper is determined to make it all work with the help of his best friend and new love, JC Croft. But when his inner demons conspire against him, can he come out on top or will he be crushed by the pressure?
A Promise to Sadie
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Michael Croft, a sensitive, artistic teen, is trying to decipher his father's tragic and complicated legacy.Then, life presents Michael with the opportunity to help his childhood friend Sadie. He agrees, knowing he would do anything for the girl he loves.

When tragedy strikes the young couple, Michael makes a promise that beings to tear his life apart. But he has a guardian angel watching over him. Can his father's broken past help him face life as it should be? Or will Michael turn his back on the lessons of the past and sabotage his own peace?
Adella's Heart
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Ben Croft and Adella Johnson come from two different worlds. Ben's a high school football star who likes the party girls. Adella is autistic and prefers the majesty of the horses she works with to the social awkwardness created by teen boys.

But for Ben, there's just something about the unpretentious, pretty blonde. So, when his usual charms don't work on her, he drops the act and gets real. They form a quick and powerful bond.

It seems almost from the beginning that the world is working hard to shred everything that ties them together. And it just might succeed when each is faced with a future they never saw coming.


JJ Ellis is first and foremost a mom to five kids, four girls and one boy, ranging in age from 6-22. After that, she is a physically limited wife, blogger and now an author. She holds a degree in Communication Studies (Public Relations) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas but never thought she would choose writing as a career, especially at the age of 42. She once wanted to be a publicist in the entertainment industry, but never a writer. Then one day when she was in her mid-thirties she was going through what can only be described as an early 'midlife crisis' and ideas just started to come to her and she felt compelled to write them down. She finished her first book relatively quickly, but life got in the way and it took her eight years to revisit it and then publish her first novel. She can honestly say that now she is finally right where she wants to be. 
JJ has been married to her college sweetheart (and romance novel hero) for twenty-one years and they reside in Casper, WY with their kids and one crazy mutt named Kreuger. She enjoys reading, writing, blogging, computing, and graphic design. She will try anything that will allow her creativity to be released.
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RELEASE TOUR: Sweet and Sassy Brides {Boxset} #GIVEAWAY #ContemporaryRomance

SWEET AND SASSY BRIDESby Mimi Barbour, Jacquie Biggar, Alicia Street, Dani Haviland, Stephanie Queen, Stacy Eaton, Rachelle Ayala, Katy Walters, and Aileen FishGenre: Contemporary Romance
Do you sigh when you hear Mendelssohn’s wedding march? Does seeing a bride in shiny satin and lace bring tears to your eyes? Whether it’s a first marriage, an affair of the heart, or a second chance to get it right, our scintillating collection featuring NINE uplifting love stories is the perfect place to find that heart-warming wedding magic. Enjoy hours of Happy Ever After tales brought to you by NY Times and USA Today bestselling Magic Makers.

Together Again - Mimi Barbour, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
A young girl’s spirit travels forward in time, invades the body of Mr. Perfect & they fall in love. In her ten-year wait before they can be together again, she becomes a woman, has a baby & becomes famous as a romance author. For him - the wait is only a week. When they meet, he's expecting a sixteen-year-old girl. Her major fear - will he recognize her? Most important, will he still love her?
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Jacquie Biggar, USA Today Bestselling Author
Take two stubborn fools, mix a touch of fate, stir in some desire, and you have the recipe for a Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
The Leftover Bride - Alicia Street, USA Today Bestselling Author
Tired of always being the odd girl out, Bailey allows her old friend and surrogate big brother Devyn to coach her on the latest set-up, but when a shared tragedy from their past rears its head, she discovers love often lurks where you least expect it.
Three Are One - Dani Haviland, USA Today Bestselling Author
Her world fell apart with his suicide, but Heath was ready to help Kizzie and her daughter rebuild it - if she'd only let him.
Small Town Sassy Bride - Stephanie Queen, USA Today Bestselling Author
Lily runs away from her small town and her failed engagement to her cousin's Inn to hide. But she runs smack dab into the arms and charms of another small-town man. Or so she thinks...
Roses & Champagne Kisses - Stacy Eaton, USA Today Bestselling Author
After an accident, Finley must take over the planning of a wedding for a nightmare bride. It doesn’t help that sitting beside the spoiled woman is a tempting and tasty morsel of a man, or that he’s watching her as closely as she’s watching him.
Bride for Breakfast - Rachelle Ayala, USA Today Bestselling Author
Jane must complete the renovations of her Caribbean bed and breakfast in time for her wedding, but the entire island is intent on sabotaging her plans—unless the groom is the caretaker’s son.
The Duke Needs a Wife - Katy Walters, USA Today Bestselling Author
Can the heiress Cassandra resist the overtures of the Duke and the devious ploys of his mother, the dowager? A regency romance.
Warming the Cowboy's Heart - Aileen Fish, USA Today Bestselling Author
Cheyenne is as wit’s end with one of her rodeo kids, and she feels sorry for anyone who falls for his father Mike. Then she falls for Mike.




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Mimi Barbour is an incredibly busy New York Times, USA Today and award-winning, best-selling author who has five series to her credit. The Vicarage Bench Series – Spirit/Time -Travel tales that have a surprising twist / The Angels with Attitude Series – Angels Love Romance / The Elvis Series – Make an Elvis song a book / Vegas Series – 6 books full of romantic suspense, humor and gritty conflicts / and… the fast-paced, edgy, humorous, romantic suspense, Undercover FBI Series. She also has numerous box collections and single titles to add to her credits.Amazon ✯ FaceBook ✯ Twitter ✯ Blog ✯ Website
Jacquie Biggar is a USA Today bestselling author of Romantic Suspense who loves to write about tough, alpha males who know what they want, that is until they're gob-smacked by heroines who are strong, contemporary women willing to show them what they really need is love. She is the author of the popular Wounded Hearts series and has just started a new series in paranormal suspense, Mended Souls.
She has been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoys writing romance novels that end with happily-ever-afters.
Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family and loves reading, writing, and flower gardening. She swears she can't function without coffee, preferably at the beach with her sweetheart.

L@@K at ME! Celebrity Status by Angela Scavone #ContemporaryRomance

CELEBRITY STATUSby Angela ScavoneGenre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Pearman Literary Publishing


Famous Hollywood actress, Elizabeth Stanfield, has a glamorous lifestyle with a lavish house, glittery parties, a people magazine's fifty most beautiful people fiance and best friend Billy Stone - Famous actor, producer and secret organized crime enforcer.

Everything is not as it seems...Elizabeth's fiance cheats on her, a studio head and director are hell bent on making her life miserable and it gets harder to keep her secrets protected.

The only good thing in her life is Billy, their budding romance, and connections that give them freedom to do whatever they want in Hollywood.

Will their connections be enough to keep their secrets hidden and Celebrity Status safe or are they doomed to be torn down?




“So, Mr. Stone.” I seductively moved towards him. “When do you have to be back on set?” I stood in front of him.

“Well, Miss. Stanfield.” Taking a cue from me, he put his hands on my hips and began to pull me towards him. “I don’t have to be back there for another hour.”

“Really?” I allowed myself to be pulled forward. Putting a knee on the couch on either side of his hips, I straddled him and sat on his lap. “Neither do I.”

With my hands on either side of his face, I bent down and kissed him. He pulled me closer and began undoing my blouse, slowly, one agonizing button at a time.

As I kissed him, I started to work on the button of his pants. Once I got that opened, I pulled my shirt off to speed up the process.

“A little impatient?” He laughed as I pulled his shirt over his head.

“Uh, yeah, we only have an hour.”

“Elizabeth, trust me, that’s plenty of time.”

I began kissing his neck. I could feel his arm muscles tighten as he began work the back clasp of my bra.

I moved from his neck, to his shoulder, to his collarbone, and then down to his chest. I was continuing my descent when there was a knock on the trailer door.

“Go away,” Billy commanded to the intruder.

“Billy, we need to talk.” Sonny’s voice came from the other side.

Without hesitation, I continued my journey down to his stomach as I slid off him and knelt on the floor between his knees.

“Not now, Sonny.” Billy took in a sharp breath as I circled his belly button.

“I’m not asking again.” Sonny sounded angry. “I need to speak with you and Elizabeth now. I do not like to be kept waiting.”

“Oh, for God’s sake,” I said, extremely irritated, and stood up. I quickly threw on my blouse and began buttoning it up as I opened the door.

“What do you want?” I asked angrily.

Behind me Billy was buttoning up his pants and trying to find his shirt.

“Oh God,” Sonny exclaimed as he walked in. “Is this what I have to watch out for every time I come to see you guys?”

“Well, if you had listened to Billy and left us alone, you wouldn’t be witnessing this, would you?”

“What are you doing?” Sonny ignored my snarky comment and asked Billy.

“I can’t find my shirt.”

I looked around and it was on the opposite side of the trailer on the floor. I must have really flung it when I took it off him.

“It’s over there.” Sonny pointed it out.

Billy looked to where it was but didn’t move from the couch. “It’s okay, I don’t really need it right now,” he said as he crossed his legs.

“Oh God,” Sonny repeated. “I don’t know if I can handle this.”

I laughed at Sonny’s discomfort and threw Billy his shirt.

“So?” I said to Sonny. “What was so urgent that you had to bust in here?”

“We have a problem.”

“Yes, I know,” I sarcastically answered. “We now only have forty-five minutes until we are due back on set and I should be underneath Billy by now.”

Sonny made a face.

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Angela lives in Ontario, Canada sharing her home with her father and her two much-loved pups. She currently works for the Board of Education behind the scenes supporting and analyzing student data, however, in her spare time, apart from her avid love of storytelling, she likes to read, spend time with family and friends and concoct dairy free recipes from scratch. Sometimes she wins some, and sometimes she loses some – tofu, banana and peanut butter pudding we are looking at you.

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RELEASE BLITZ: Forever In Ink by Jude Ouvrard #InkSeries #ContemporaryRomance

FOREVER IN INKInk Series Book 4
by Jude OuvrardGenre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: JC Clarke (The Graphics & Formatting Shed)
Editor: RE Hargrave


Kyle Layne has it all figured out. The perfect life, including a future with his dream woman, is in his grasp. Each day filling with more happiness than the one before, he couldn’t ask for a better existence. 
But fate has other plans.
Like lightning from the heavens, Kyle’s dream turns into a nightmare in the blink of an eye. Lost, and filled with pain and anger, his once perfect life now resembles a broken mirror—shattered. 
With the help of his best friend Levi, he finds a ray of hope in the depths of darkness. Kyle’s fragile shell is transformed into a work of art, freeing his mind and soul for a chance at a new future while memorializing his sacred past forever in ink. Kyle’s dream has died, but life starts making sense again after his tattooing career takes off and strong friendships help rebuild his sanity… until a one-night stand flips his world upside down, that is. 
Can Kyle risk his battered heart in Destiny’s untrustworthy hands? After so much loss, does he dare to dream again?



I nodded, hoping she didn’t want to talk—because I wasn’t having any of that—and she smiled. These days it all came down to sex. Why talk when I had no intention of seeing them again? No feelings whatsoever, no strings attached… just raw sex. Plain and simple. 
“’Ello,” she said.
“Hey,” I answered before drinking my vodka like water. 
“Wanna get out of here?” Her thick accent had me smiling.
“Of course.”
As quick as that we were outside. I followed her to her place, which was a studio of some sort. It was small, very small. She closed and locked the door behind me, and then started throwing her clothes on the floor. 
Wow! Hell, she isn’t wasting time.
Her long dark hair hid her breasts as her eyes dared me to come forward. To claim her. There was something about the colors of her eyes which took me by complete surprise, though. One seemed brownish-green, while the other was just green. What the hell?
“Come on, hot stuff. Are we going to get started, or what?”
“Alright, alright.” 
Once I’d taken my clothes off, she pushed me down on the mattress. “Look. I had a shite flight, and I’m exhausted. Let’s get rolling.”
This was the first time I’d been with a girl who came off colder than me. It felt different, and somehow made me unsure. She was sure of what she wanted, though.
My back pressed into her cold, black sheets while she crawled on top of me, taking charge as if I were a toy. She was chewing me up, not leaving me time to process anything or enjoy this. Karma, I guess, for all the times I’d played this same old game with women—flirt with them, fuck them, and then leave them without a goodbye. This time, though, the girl had a plan of her own, and not having anything better to do, I gave myself to her. 
Several drinks past tipsy and more than turned on, I decided enough, that it was time to take back the power in her bed. After all, I’d had a rough day, too. Hell, I’d had rough days ever since… yeah, ever since I lost my soul. 
Fueled by my pain, yet again, I gave her everything in me. All the roughness and lust. Turned out we had some kind of chemistry. Her dark tresses were all over the damn bed. She was a black fucking panther, a wild animal. 
Why am I analyzing her so damn much anyway? I never care about who… I promised I would never care again. 
Writhing and moving together, the sexual tension between us kept rising. My toes curled while my fingers gripped her hair and I worked to keep this going until I couldn’t anymore. Her once perfect bed had turned into a mess of sweat, tangled sheets, and exhausted bodies.
Who am I kidding? 
This woman was something else.
Using my arm and legs, I held her in place against my chest after we’d both climaxed, until she got out of bed without saying anything. 
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm. The girls I’d met were never so emotionally detached.
“Tiff. You?”
“I’m K.”
“Well, K. I’m going for a shower. It’s been real, thanks.”
Is she really kicking me out? 
“Can you lock the door on your way out?”
Shit, she is.

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As an editor, sometimes working through a manuscript becomes technical, and you don't necessarily get "sucked in." With Forever in Ink, I found myself having to stop reading to go back and edit. And, yes, I cursed Ms. Ouvrard a couple of times for making my heart race... in both good and bad ways. Kyle's story is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. Everyone deserves a second chance.
#EditorApproved ~ RE Hargrave


Body, Ink, and Soul ✯ Music, Ink, and Love ✯ Ink Me More

"Drama, true love, tattoos...and everything in between!"

Jude Ouvrard is an author who writes from the heart, and reads with passion and devotion. Jude enjoys stories of drama, true love, tattoos, and everything in between. While writing is her therapy, reading is her solace. Life doesn't get better than books and chocolate, and maybe a little bit of shopping.

A romance lover, Jude writes about love, pain, heartbreak and matters that will challenge your heart. A book can tell an unexpected story, no matter which directions it takes. Jude embraces words that have haunted her for years.

Jude is a working mom who dedicates her time to a law firm and writing books. She has an energetic superhero son, and a supportive boyfriend of many years. Her family is her rock; she could not survive without them. Born a country girl, she transformed into a city woman who now lives in Montreal, Canada. Although French is her first language, Jude decided to write in English because she liked the challenge.

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RELEASE TOUR: As Right As Rain by J.M. Maurer #NA #ContemporaryRomance

AS RIGHT AS RAINby J.M. MaurerGenre: NA Contemporary Romance


After finally landing her first job at a television station, meteorologist Makayla Reading is determined to make her mark on the world. With an ex she’d rather forget and no time for a new man in her life, what she needs is a true friend to help her deal with jittery nerves and her crabby boss who makes her life miserable.
Though a don’t-fall-for-the-cameraman rule should be easy to follow, sparks fly when she meets the handsome and charming Eli Barringer. As their relationship moves beyond friendship, Makayla realizes she must not only give in to her heart but also let Eli in on a secret she’s been keeping, a decision she knows is…as right as rain.



“Hey.” Eli ruffles the hat on my head like one would do to a child, and then lifts my chin with his gentle fingers, leveling my gaze with his. “You all right?”
I blink him into focus, seeing the crease of concern deepen between his eyes. Although I’m grateful for his question, he doesn’t need to know what’s on my mind. My emotions are all over the place, scattered like debris after a storm. Plus, I’m having a difficult time pulling my sight from his eyes and keeping my thoughts on my job.
What are you doing, Makayla?
Yes, he’s gorgeous. And off limits.
He’s sexy. And still forbidden.
I’m confident there has to be some sort of don’t-fall-for-the-coworker rule I should be following. But no such rule seems to be preventing me from reacting to him the way I am.
Not wanting to alert him to what’s making me so frazzled, I respond to his question with the first thing that pops into my head. “I’m just new. And nervous.”
It sounds plausible coming out, and it’s partially the truth, a fact I’m comfortable with, given I’ve just met Mr. Beautiful.
He moves his hand to my shoulder and squeezes just enough to hold me in place, which also keeps me from sliding in my seat as Sam steers us out of the garage and onto the street. “Okay, if that’s what you’re going with, I’ll buy it. For now.”


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J.M. Maurer is the author of contemporary romance, including the Emerging From Darkness Series. She is also the author of Curveball Baby, a standalone, second-chance at love, sports romance. She loves to write about strong characters and their struggles in life.

When not writing, you can find her spending time with family and friends, exploring the outdoors, or recovering after attempting most any sport. She resides in Chicagoland with her husband and son.
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L@@K at ME! The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III

It is a great honor to present the revamped Award winning book, The Unholy, by Author Paul DeBlassie III!


''The Unholy, an excellent novel by Paul DeBlassie III, keeps the reader engaged throughout in mystery, suspense, and church politics. In addition to vividly depicting the beautiful landscape and culture of New Mexico, it exposes and strengthens the traditional work of the medicine women of the Southwest. I am looking forward to Dr. DeBlassie's next book.'' --Eliseo ''Cheo'' Torres, author of Curandero: A Life In Mexican Folk Healing, professor, and university administrator.

A young curandera, a medicine woman, intent on uncovering the secrets of her past is forced into a life-and-death battle against an evil Archbishop. Set in the mystic land of Aztlan, The Unholy is a novel of destiny as healer and slayer. Native lore of dreams and visions, shape changing, and natural magic work to spin a neo-gothic web in which sadness and mystery lure the unsuspecting into a twilight realm of discovery and decision.





Paul DeBlassie III, Ph.D. is a depth psychologist and award-winning writer living in his native New Mexico. He specializes in treating individuals in emotional and spiritual crisis. His novels, visionary thrillers, delve deep into archetypal realities as they play out dramatically in the lives of everyday people. Memberships include the Author’s Guild, the Depth Psychology Alliance, the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, and the International Association for Jungian Studies.

Follow him on:


TWITTER    FACEBOOK   WEBSITE   GOOGLE+    YOUTUBE   INSTAGRAM

CHECK OUT HIS OTHER AWARD WINNING BOOK! 

Winner of the NYC Big Book Award, Goddess of the Wild Thing is a dramatic tale of one woman’s spiritual journey where magical happenings, unexpected turns of fate, and unseen forces impact her ability to love and be loved. Eve Sanchez, a scholar of esoteric studies, is driven into unreal dimensions of horror and hope as she encounters a seductive and frightening man, criminal lawyer Sam Shear. 


Sam introduces Eve to a supernatural world in which the wicked powers of a surrogate mother’s twisted affection threaten love and life. Struggling to sort through right from wrong, frightened yet determined, Eve nears despair.



In the mystic realm of Aztlan del Sur, a mythopoeic land of hidden horrors and guiding spirits, Eve, with three friends and a wise-old woman, is caught in an age-old struggle about love—whether bad love is better than no love— and discovers that love is a wild thing.

Get your Goddess on! 

EXCERPTS:
Elizabeth cradled the cup in her hands as she sipped. Claire had just begun to feel settled into the session as Elizabeth finished her tea, set her eyes hard on Claire, and threw a poison dart, in her gravelly voice, asserting, “You are a medicine woman—of Lozen—like your mother, Claire.” The words were hate-filled, meant to wound. Despite the culture in which she had been raised, Claire considered herself a natural therapist not a medicine woman, the distinction a matter of life and death. In her mind, she had long ago made the decision that being a medicine woman like her mother meant exposing herself to evil and injury and, potentially, death. Years ago, when handed the five-foot oak staff that had belonged to her mother, Claire had angrily rejected it, refusing initiation into the way of the medicine woman. Back then, she had often had fearsome memories of being a young child in the forest, an ominous black-cloaked man assaulting her mother, and hearing her mother’s screams— a child’s nightmare.
The words of her adoptive mother, her mother’s closest friend, reverberated in her mind: “You are of Lozen—a medicine woman. A time may come when only the staff can save you.” Claire’s stomach churned. None of her patients had ever attacked her so personally. She felt the blood draining from her head and a sharp pain shooting through her eyes. Elizabeth was trying to stop her from asking anymore prying questions. 
“Are you all right,Claire?” she asked after a minute, her tone laced with sarcasm and a sneer on her face, expressions Claire was sad to see.
“You did what you wanted to do, Elizabeth. You shut me down,” Claire replied evenly, holding her gaze. She felt compassion for Elizabeth, realizing that all that she had locked inside of her must be nothing short of terrifying. Elizabeth didn’t let it go, though, saying, “You are of Lozen just like she was.”
This time her sneer was even more etched into the sunbaked lines that streaked across her face.
“I’m a natural therapist, Elizabeth, not a medicine woman,” Claire replied firmly.


She heard a voice whispering, Land of the forsaken, land of the lost… bring her to me…Claire. As she ran forward, out of nowhere the two crows flew at her, scraping the air near her face with their sharp talons. Fists clenched, she struck out at one and grabbed at the other. They flew up, circled overhead, then dove, talons flaring. Unmoving, Claire placed her hands by her side and held their gaze. They fluttered above her head for a minute, then left. Claire turned and saw an eagle soaring—a healer’s spirit manifestation. Medicine women said it came only when needed, when danger lurked.
Frantically tugging away bush, bramble, and cacti, she uncovered the mouth of the seventh cave and stepped in. She had the feeling somebody was watching.
Her eyes adjusted and she made out the contour of something. Squinting, she stooped and touched what seemed to be a circle of stones and charred, cold logs. She stood up and pulled back. A bat flew at her. She waved it away.
She stopped, waited for her breathing to slow, and, stepping sideways, touched the walls of the cave. They were damp and the stink of blood and guts was everywhere. Using the hard surfaces as a guide, her fingertips suddenly brushed through a hollow space roughly the size of a human body.

Books On Fire Tours Review:  It is so awesome to have a kickass read that not only empowers women but broadens your horizons. Set in New Mexico's mythical city of Aztlan a woman takes on a very powerful man and confronts her past. 
Author Paul DeBlassie III deserves more rewards for this masterpiece, because it challenges conventional beliefs. Trust a depth psychologist to grip you into a war between good versus evil, and make you research mythical versus historical .
I loved the way reality blurred with fantasy! You will never know what to expect next in this page turner. 
"Mr. Paul DeBlassie III's novel is a story about a battle between the medicine women of Aztlan (Yes, I had to look it up) and an evil archbishop. It has an ending that you do not see coming. This novel also shows the author's vast knowledge of Aztlan's culture and customs. A good read." Joseph Inzirillo, Author of "The Meeting."


"Nothing like a good religious oppression to create fanatics that follow their religious authorities to the extremes. In this very entertaining novel, Paul treats this theme with mastery.
The plot is well elaborated and it all starts with a murder witnessed by a young girl (Claire). Her mother was just killed in a mysterious way. Somehow she managed to escape with the help of wolves and a good friend of his mother takes care of her. When she grew up, she became a doctor and starts working for a hospital in the area where she was born. But she finds that the institution Ecclesia Dei has strong influence over most of the inhabitants of the area, mostly through its leader, Archbishop Anarch. Trying to dig into some mysterious facts happening in the hospital and the community, she finds that the church controls even the authorities of the city, like the police chief. And through signals and perception, she starts finding her power, inherited from her mother, a medicine woman. And with the help of her aunt and a couple of friends she tries to unveil her past and figure out what really happened to her mother. But playing with Ecclesia Dei puts everybody that she cares at risk, including herself, as she soon finds out.
The story is full of suspense and you will read it at the edge of your chair, until you turn the last page. The characters are well developed and you feel their emotions. The environment is richly described and soon you start cheering and caring for our young heroine.
I recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader who appreciate a well written novel, full of twists and suspense, which will keep them entertained for hours. It took me around seven hours to read the whole book."

"Claire Sanchez comes from a long line of medicine women. At the age of five she was witness to her mother's brutal murder. But since there was no evidence, they claimed Claire imagined the black cloaked man that claimed her mother's life, and instead they believed that Lucia Sanchez had fallen victim to wolves. Now twenty years has passed, Claire has to decide if she will accept her destiny and have her medicine woman ritual done, with a fear that her mother died because she was a medicine woman or fight her destiny. The spirits are sending her warnings, will she listen before she loses everyone she holds dear? 
This was an excellent good verses evil novel. It held new captivated throughout! This book has everything, there's action, suspense, and even romance! Claire is an easy to love character, she was such a selfless person, you could easily see why Anthony loved her. Francesca, was an awesome second mother. Although she knew what Claire needed to do, she never pushed. The relationship between Anthony and Claire was so wonderful, he was such a patient guy. Archbishop Anarch was a guy you just love to hate, he was so self-centered it was unreal. This was a great book for a Friday the 13th review. If you like thrillers mixed with suspense, then this should be at the top of your TBR pile!"

RELEASE TOUR: Butterflies and Flutterbyes by Maggie Lowe #Poetry #99c

BUTTERFLIES AND FLUTTERBYESDreaming in Words
by Maggie LoweGenre: Women's Poetry
Publisher: Hydra Productions
Cover Designer: Chandra TruLove Fry


This is a collection of poems straight from the heart of Maggie Lowe. Some will bring you to tears, and some will light your face with a smile. They will touch your heart and warm your soul.










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Author Maggie Lowe has been writing ever since she was able to pick up a pencil. As a child she could create worlds of all kinds. At the age of eight she wrote her first song. When she was thirteen she wrote her first fan-fiction story. At the age of twenty-five she wrote her first book that she hopes to publish someday soon. And now, at the age of thirty-three she published her first poetry book. Now she is currently working on several WIPs and looks to the future full of hope and excitement for what's to come!

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RELEASE TOUR: Dark Child of Forever by S.K. Ryder #GIVEAWAY #ParanormalRomance

DARK CHILD OF FOREVER
Dark Destinies, Book 3
by S.K. RyderGenre: Dark Paranormal Romantic Fantasy
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing


A reluctant new Lord of Night. His vulnerable human queen. If they can't change five thousand years of history now, it will change them. Forever.

Fate has cast vampire Dominic Marchant and the human love of his life, Cassidy Chandler, into roles they never imagined. Thanks to his mad sire, he is now the Lord of Night, and Cassidy, with her unique ability to merge her mind with his, has become the incongruous mortal queen of his immortal kingdom. Even as he dreams of seeing the sun again and she can’t imagine becoming a vampire, they vow to reshape their domain into a world where vampires feed on love rather than fear and leave their prey swooning instead of dead.

But not all their subjects are pleased with the change in leadership. A powerful ancient vampire and his cadre of followers serve Dominic his greatest challenge yet just when reclaiming the day looks like a real possibility. Soon friends turn up in ashes, and Cassidy and his human family become targets in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse that leads them and their unlikely, vampire-hunting allies deep into the wilds of the Canadian Rockies—and straight into their worst nightmares.

With their lives and the very existence of the world of night hanging in the balance, Dominic and Cassidy must decide whether to chase an impossible dream or finally embrace their dark destiny.




The vault door in the vestibule unsealed. A vampire appeared and stood with his arms draped over the decorative gate, his unshaven face split by a lecherous grin that made Jackson rise from his chair in alarm.

“Cassidy.” Serge’s baritone voice purred with appreciation. “You ordered takeout.” Unlike his lord and master who still digested the events of the day, Serge had no idea what the human was doing there.

“Be nice,” she said. “He comes bearing gifts.”

“Oh, yes, he does.” Serge unlatched the gate and sauntered across the kitchen, barefoot and rumpled, his curly caramel hair sticking out in every direction, the vampire equivalent of a man in search of coffee.

Jackson glared at him. “Sleeping with the boss now? You’ve come up in the world.”

“Sleeping? No. Not I.” Serge puffed out his barrel chest with pride. “I stand guard over my lord.”

His lordship materialized beside Serge and delivered a gentle slap to the back of his head. “More like lie guard flat on your back,” he said in his lyrical French accent.

Serge growled much as the cat had earlier. “But I am always with you.”

“I know,” Dominic concurred with a dramatic sigh. “There is no getting rid of you.”

“And you are glad for it, blood-child. Admit it.”

Cassidy smiled at their antics. Tall, lean and grace incarnate, Dominic was the polar opposite of both the stocky Serge and muscle-bound Jackson. Even dressed in his usual exercise pants and T-shirt, both black, few would mistake him for the ordinary man of twenty-seven he had been when he was turned into a blood-drinker. Carved cheekbones and a knife-blade nose dominated his profile, and his expressive mouth could instill terror as easily as convey gentle humor. Not to mention bestow mind-blowing kisses.

But it was the eyes that were the most striking thing about him. Their quiet depths missed nothing and could flash from warm and beguiling to full black and disturbing in the space of a heartbeat. Gold flecks danced in the hazel irises now as he looked at her.

“Bonjour, mon amour,” he murmured and held out his hand.

“Bonjour,” she said, moving into his embrace.

The world around them fell away, and they stood together in the sunlight streaming through the foyer just as she remembered it. He rubbed the back of her neck with his thumb while she nuzzled into his thick hair, inhaling his heady youngling scent of winter on the cusp of spring, clean and earthy and full of warm promise.

“Indeed. He brings gifts,” Serge said, pulling them back to the moment.

Uh oh, she thought.

His tone had lost its swagger and turned dreamy. It meant he saw ‘shadows’ in the aura of whoever he was looking at, or impressions of the future. When Serge had his visions, disjointed and insubstantial as they were, something always changed.

Often not for the better.

Though Dominic appeared unconcerned, Cassidy felt the tension skitter through him, too. Neither of them dared to interrupt Serge as he studied Jackson with an intense interest that no longer had anything to do with his warm blood. The human man returned the stare, his hands wrapped over the back of the bar stool as though preparing to pick it up and use it as a weapon.

Serge turned to look at Dominic with a wide, gap-toothed grin of wonder. Then he chuckled. The gleeful sound was entirely worthy of the pirate he had been in life.

“Oui?” Dominic prompted. “Did he bring a good gift?”

Serge laughed.

Jackson offered a tentative smile. “I suspect you’ll like it.”

And just like that Serge stopped laughing.

In a flash he was by Jackson’s side, his eyes bugging out of their sockets. “Beware the fire,” he whispered on a hiss that made Cassidy’s skin crawl.

Jackson took a hasty step back.

“Beware the fire,” Serge repeated, now looking at Dominic. Then he laughed uproariously and disappeared.

Dominic closed his eyes and struggled for patience.

“What…was that?” Jackson said.

Cassidy rubbed the chill out of her arms. “That was Serge. You remember him, don’t you? Vampire you tried so hard to kill?”

Discomfort tightened his mouth as he looked away.

Dominic moved forward and placed his hands on the edge of the green granite counter top as he faced Jackson. “So did you bring me fire, Jackson?” His gaze darkened as he let the vampire rise and his senses expand.

Looking through his eyes, Cassidy saw that Jackson had changed more than she realized. His aura, once muddy red with anger, had brightened into the powerful crimson of a man whose mind and purpose were clear.

Jackson took a deep breath and pressed a fingertip onto the little black case. “In a way.”

Dominic tilted his head, brows drawing together. “This is from the lab?”

“Yes, it is.”

The lab. The Striker Foundation’s clandestine research facility, staffed with bright scientific minds compelled by Dominic to maintain absolute secrecy. The lab existed for one reason, and one reason only, and it was this now that caused Dominic and Cassidy to become stone-still with anticipation.

“They did it, Dominic. They found a way. You can have the sun again.”

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Dark Heart of the Sun
His future is already written...in her blood.

Rookie journalist Cassidy Chandler wakes to an ugly bruise on her neck, a hole in her memory, and a fiancé who seems to know more about what happened than he's telling. It's enough to make Cassidy call off the engagement and move out, even if that means trading a posh South Florida mansion for a dilapidated beach house. Unfortunately, she also trades one devious man for another questionable character in her unexpected new roommate: the darkly enigmatic and exasperatingly French Dominic Marchant.

For Dominic Marchant secrecy is a matter of survival. As a newborn vampire with dangerous enemies, he's sure the headstrong young woman invading his lair with an unknown vampire's mark on her throat is about to get him killed. But the charming Cassidy resists his every effort to make her leave and even embroils him in her own tumultuous life. Before he knows it, she has stolen his heart and helps him rediscover his lost humanity. Now he's fighting to protect her not only from the ancient vampires hunting him, but also from his own deadly desire for her.

But her secretive ex isn't done with her yet, and neither is the dark prophecy Cassidy and Dominic's unlikely relationship has set in motion. Together they are swept up in a battle where nothing is as it seems, love and deception are the weapons of choice, and the only way to survive is to risk everything--for each other.

Dark Lord of the Night

The only thing standing between a new vampire and eternal darkness is the fragile mortal woman who claims his heart.

Youngling vampire Dominic Marchant struggles to master his deadly instincts as he hunts the urban jungles of South Florida. He keeps his hunger confined to the blood of the guilty with help from Cassidy Chandler, a human woman who can literally touch his soul. Their love is his last remaining tether to humanity, which is tested beyond endurance when powerful forces from his past introduce him to terrifying new appetites he could never have imagined.

His efforts to protect Cassidy from the depravity overtaking him push their relationship to the brink of shattering. Refusing to give up on the man who is her heart, she takes an unthinkable gamble to save him. But is she fulfilling an ominous prophecy that ensnares them both? Or has she become just another pawn in a cunning game played by the five-thousand-year-old vampire who claims Dominic as his own?

Desperate to rescue her from a fate worse than death, Dominic strikes a perilous bargain with his greatest enemies only to face an impossible choice--embrace his darkest self…or destroy the woman he cannot live without.


S.K. Ryder is a software developer by day, a scribe by night and answers to Susan any time. She writes the type of stories she loves to read: heart-pounding adventures full of supernatural mysteries and relationships between strong, compelling characters. Though she calls South Florida home, she has also lived in Germany and Canada and has traveled widely, usually in the hot pursuit of wild and scenic nature. When not debugging code, complicating her characters' lives or plotting her next rafting adventure down the Grand Canyon, she can be found beach combing, scuba diving, sailing or just hanging out with a good book. When push comes to shove, she can also bake a halfway decent cake and stand on her head, though not at the same time.

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Sweet and Sassy Weddings {Boxset} #GIVEAWAY #ContemporaryRomance

SWEET AND SASSY WEDDINGSHappily Ever After Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance


Celebrate true love and commitment with SWEET and SASSY WEDDINGS, nine breathtaking stories from New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, all award-winning authors.


MOTHER’S DAY BABIES, Mona Risk, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: Powerful TV News Director, Lou Roland, is certainly not marriage material, yet he wants Barbara in his arms. Not an easy task when his pretty confidante, a widow from Kentucky, proves so difficult to date, unless he follows her rules.

A KISS BENEATH A STRAWBERRY MOON, Tamara Ferguson, Multi-Award-winning author: Vocalist Marielle McKinnon and composer Drew Kendall find love one magical summer after a Kiss Beneath A Strawberry Moon. But when Drew is injured in Iraq and refuses to contact Marielle, who’s become a star, will their love survive?

SECOND CHANCE BRIDE, Joan Reeves, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: Constance is the Ice Queen—can Alex find a way to melt the ice around her heart?

NIGHTFALL, Rebecca York, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: What happens when a macho virgin homesteader meets his mail-order bride?

HOLD ‘EM, Jacquie Biggar, USA Today bestselling author: In the game of love all bets are off. When professional poker player Matthew Shaughnessy wins the pot of a lifetime, he didn't expect to land himself a fiancée.

THE YOU-CAN’T-MAKE-ME BRIDE, Leanne Banks, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: [Spicy]. When attorney Jenna Jean Anderson needs emergency orthopedic surgery from her childhood nemesis Dr. Stanley Michaels, unexpected attraction flares between them. But can their passion transform to the forever love of their secret dreams?

HIS SACRED VOW, Susan Jean Ricci, Award Winning, Bestselling Author: Abandoned with a baby on the way, Melanie Kirk swears never again to be taken in by a guy’s superficial words, or allow any other diversions to interfere with her responsibilities - enter Taylor Hutchins, a diversion with a capital D.

FINDING LOVE, Natalie Ann, Award-Winning author: What happens when a hopeless romantic falls for a cynical romance writer? Erik is determined to convince Sheldon that what she's believed her whole life might actually be false.

THE BRIDE WORE LEATHER, Suzanne Jenkins, Multi-Award-winning author: After Oscar rescued Lisa from a marriage to the wrong guy, they'll make up lost time together.


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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Mona Risk, received an Outstanding Achiever Award from Affaire de Coeur Magazine. She's a two time winner of Best Contemporary Romance of the Year from Readers Favorite; a winner of Best Romance Novel of the Year from Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; and an EPIC Award finalist.Mona lives in South Florida and has traveled to more than eighty countries on business or vacation. She writes contemporary romances, medical romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal fantasy. Sprinkled with a good dose of humor, her stories are set in the fascinating places she visited or more simply at home.Goodreads ✯ Twitter ✯ Facebook ✯ Amazon ✯ Website

Writing steamy yet sweet compassionate stories of fate that are wonderfully romantic, Tamara Ferguson is the multi-award winning, #1 international bestselling author of 8 #1 books and novellas in the Tales of the Dragonfly Romance Suspense Series, the Kissed By Fate Series, and the Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Series.Her wounded warrior romances, Two Hearts Unspoken. Two Hearts Surrendered, and Two Hearts Undone were all winners at the 2016 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards; with Two Hearts Unspoken earning the Silver Medal in Military Fiction. Two Hearts’ Christmas Wish, the fourth story in the series, just spent 6 consecutive weeks at #1 in the Mistletoe Kisses & Christmas Wishes romance set. Two Hearts Surrendered was just announced as a Romance Selection for the 2016 New Apple Book Awards.Along with the 2015 Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Award Winner That Unforgettable Kiss, Two Hearts Surrendered and Two Hearts Unspoken were also finalists for the 2016 IAN Book of The Year. Tales of the Dragonfly In Tandem was a romance finalist in the Indie Excellence Awards, while Tales of the Dragonfly In Flight was a romance suspense winner at the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards.Since she remains a full-time caregiver for an autistic son (along with a bunch of adopted pets!), you can usually find Tammy working at home, where she spends a lot of time not completing her numerous home improvement projects, because she's writing or helping author friends promote their books on twitter.Goodreads ✯ Twitter ✯ Facebook ✯ Amazon ✯ Website

Joan Reeves is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. Her novels have been published in a half dozen languages, and her ebooks are available at most ebook sellers with audio book and print editions also available. Several of her books are available in French editions through her publisher in France.When not writing romance—or nonfiction to share what she has learned in life—Joan divides her time between the hustle and bustle of Houston and a house in the Texas Hill Country. At their country house, Joan and her hero, her husband, attempt to grow wine grapes and fruit trees—all while fighting hordes of marauding gophers, skunks, deer, fox, and the occasional copperhead snake.Joan lives the philosophy that is the premise of all of her romance novels: "It's never too late to live happily ever after."Youtube ✯ Twitter ✯ Facebook ✯ Amazon ✯ Website

A master of paranormal romantic suspense, Rebecca York is the author of over 150 books. A New York Times and USA Today best-seller, she has written paranormal romantic thrillers for Berkley and romantic thrillers for Harlequin Intrigue. Her romantic-suspense series, Decorah Security, is set at a detective agency where agents have paranormal powers or work paranormal cases. She also writes an Off-World series where each story is a science fiction romance taking place on a distant planet in the far future.Ruth and her husband travel frequently to research settings for novels and taste new dishes for cookbooks. Her many unique experiences are apt to end up in her books--like the time she encountered a coral snake in the Guatemalan jungle or took a flight in a glider plane.Goodreads ✯ Twitter ✯ Facebook ✯ Amazon ✯ Website

Jacquie Biggar is a USA Today bestselling author of Romantic Suspense who loves to write about tough, alpha males who know what they want, that is until they're gob-smacked by heroines who are strong, contemporary women willing to show them what they really need is love. She is the author of the popular Wounded Hearts series and has just started a new series in paranormal suspense, Mended Souls.She has been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoys writing romance novels that end with happily-ever-afters.Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family and loves reading, writing, and flower gardening. She swears she can't function without coffee, preferably at the beach with her sweetheart.

RELEASE TOUR: Enchanted Romances {Boxset} #GIVEAWAY #ParanormalRomance

ENCHANTED ROMANCES - Magical Passionby Mimi Barbour, Jacquie Biggar, Rachelle Ayala, Suzanne Jenkins, Dani Haviland, Stacy S. Eaton, Katy Walters, Susan Jean RicciGenre: Paranormal Romance

Come into our world, where guardian angels protect you, Fountain of Youth water revives you, and supernatural beings comfort you. Eight paranormal stories with romance and happy ever after endings by eight award winning and bestselling authors. Enjoy the ride into our mystical fantasies filled with superb entertainment!


His Devious Angel - Mimi BarbourA gorgeous man-hater gets mixed up with a hotshot soldier when he runs her down with his convertible. Now she's stuck having to accept help from him and his angel.

The Guardian - Jacquie BiggarLucas Carmichael and Scott Anderson had it all, money, fame, and fortune. But one night's stupid mistake takes everything they thought they cherished and dumps it upside down.

Just My Imagination - Suzanne Jenkins
✯ EXCLUSIVE TO THIS BOXSET✯ Sheila spends twenty-four hours nursing the half-frozen handsome stranger who appears at the door of her rustic cabin back to health. The next morning, he’s gone, and Sheila longs for the mysterious Tom Caldwell. Was he ever with her or was it just her imagination?

Time in a Little Blue Bottle – Dani HavilandThe quest for the little blue bottle of Fountain of Youth elixir just got more complicated for Bella. A vampire, Elvis, and Mark Twain are after the same thing, plus her young escort has a crush on her!

Garda ~ Welcome to the Realm – Stacy EatonSometimes decisions in death are as hard as the decisions in life. When Officer Corey Hamilton dies in the line of duty, she trains to be a Guardian, but will her choices change her destiny?

Black Tied - Rachelle AyalaWhen ordinary you and the Son of the Kitchen God are all that stand between a playboy apocalypse and true love.

A Knight’s Sorceress - Katy WaltersTania Roberts searches for her lost love, a search that will take her through time to a distant world of the Tree people, an ancient tribe of Britons who lived and worshipped the mighty trees, a world where Lord Devlin the Black Warrior, encounters Forestyne, the Sorceress.

Honeymoon in Coffinville - Susan Jean RicciAn ancient, haunted mansion, a white cat with different colored eyes, and more visions than they ever imagined leads lovers Shannon and Rick to wonder if their newly acquired cat is a guardian angel or a creature of darkness.



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Mimi Barbour is an incredibly busy New York Times, USA Today and award-winning, best-selling author who has five series to her credit. The Vicarage Bench Series – Spirit/Time -Travel tales that have a surprising twist / The Angels with Attitude Series – Angels Love Romance / The Elvis Series – Make an Elvis song a book / Vegas Series – 6 books full of romantic suspense, humor and gritty conflicts / and… the fast-paced, edgy, humorous, romantic suspense, Undercover FBI Series. She also has numerous box collections and single titles to add to her credits.Amazon ✯ FaceBook ✯ Twitter ✯ Blog ✯ Website

Jacquie Biggar is a USA Today bestselling author of Romantic Suspense who loves to write about tough, alpha males who know what they want, that is until they're gob-smacked by heroines who are strong, contemporary women willing to show them what they really need is love. She is the author of the popular Wounded Hearts series and has just started a new series in paranormal suspense, Mended Souls.She has been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoys writing romance novels that end with happily-ever-afters.Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family and loves reading, writing, and flower gardening. She swears she can't function without coffee, preferably at the beach with her sweetheart.