Kay LaLone's Blog, page 34
March 14, 2014
Retribution By T. G. Ayer Release Day Blitz
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Congratulations T.G. Ayer,
and Happy Release Day
RETRIBUTION!
[image error]
RETRIBUTION
Chronicles of the Irin, Book #1
Publisher: Infinite Ink Books
Release Date: March 14th 2014
Her name is Evangeline and she is Nephilim.
Evie belongs to the Brotherhood Irin and together with all the other Nephilim of the world she is protector to humanity, protector against evil. But evil has found its way into the Brotherhood. Someone has murdered her guardian and Marcellus, the New Master makes demands of the warriors that go against all they stand for. Demands Evie just can’t carry out.
Evie uncovers Marcellus’ plan to collect a set of special seals, but when a high-level demon reveals the truth behind the Seals of Hades, Evie know there is no way she can allow the Master of the Irin to get his hands on them. But will keeping the Seals from Marcellus cause her to sacrifice more that she should? Will vengeance for her guardian’s death be enough or will she need more to satisfy her Immortal soul?
Add to GOODREADS
Purchase LINKS to come
[image error]
"What exactly are you doing here?" Julian turned to Evie, an edge to his voice.
She backed away and ended up against the wall, again.
"Ask yourself that."
"What's that suppose to mean?" He took another step closer leaving not an inch of space between them.
Evie’s breath came in short bursts. Her hands went to his chest and she felt the steady strong beat of his heart. She wanted to push him off but more than anything she wanted him closer. Her body hummed with awareness but she forced herself to concentrate on answering him. "Just that is was you who got me down here in the first place. If you're trying to kill me, I'm sure there are better ways than sending me to be chimera-chow."
"I didn't ask you to come here." Julian was frowning. The beating beneath her fingers sped up.
"Flavia said you did. Covering your tracks now, are you?"
She raised an eyebrow, trying not to think about the heat that simmered between them. From Julian’s rapid breath it was clear he wasn’t immune. "Don't be silly. This reeks of Persephone." When he spoke his lips were so close she just had to lift her head a fraction of an inch for them to touch hers. The heated brush of his breath called to her.
Instead, she remained motionless while trying to force her heart to return to a more decent rate. "I thought so too."
"Then why did you accuse me?" Julian's glared at her, although she was sure she saw amusement in his eyes. Evie lifted her chin, even though the action brought her mouth way too close to his. "How was I to know you wouldn't defend her and think I'm making all of this up? And how am I to be sure it wasn't really you in the first place?"
Evie's eyes narrowed as she met his eyes. He stared back at her, blinking so slowly, so lazily that she wondered how it was possible when his heart raced wildly beneath her fingers.
[image error]
I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes... I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It's a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves - it works wonderfully...
My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands - I shall forever remain crosseyed.
I love talking to my readers so email me if you have any questions or even if you just want to chat...
Email: tgayer@xtra.co.nz or tgayerauthor@gmail.com
Keep up to date with news, release dates and giveaways by subscribing to the newsletter HERE
Amazon
Facebook
Website GOODREADS
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations T.G. Ayer,
and Happy Release Day
RETRIBUTION!
[image error]
RETRIBUTION
Chronicles of the Irin, Book #1
Publisher: Infinite Ink Books
Release Date: March 14th 2014
Her name is Evangeline and she is Nephilim.
Evie belongs to the Brotherhood Irin and together with all the other Nephilim of the world she is protector to humanity, protector against evil. But evil has found its way into the Brotherhood. Someone has murdered her guardian and Marcellus, the New Master makes demands of the warriors that go against all they stand for. Demands Evie just can’t carry out.
Evie uncovers Marcellus’ plan to collect a set of special seals, but when a high-level demon reveals the truth behind the Seals of Hades, Evie know there is no way she can allow the Master of the Irin to get his hands on them. But will keeping the Seals from Marcellus cause her to sacrifice more that she should? Will vengeance for her guardian’s death be enough or will she need more to satisfy her Immortal soul?
Add to GOODREADS
Purchase LINKS to come
[image error]
"What exactly are you doing here?" Julian turned to Evie, an edge to his voice.
She backed away and ended up against the wall, again.
"Ask yourself that."
"What's that suppose to mean?" He took another step closer leaving not an inch of space between them.
Evie’s breath came in short bursts. Her hands went to his chest and she felt the steady strong beat of his heart. She wanted to push him off but more than anything she wanted him closer. Her body hummed with awareness but she forced herself to concentrate on answering him. "Just that is was you who got me down here in the first place. If you're trying to kill me, I'm sure there are better ways than sending me to be chimera-chow."
"I didn't ask you to come here." Julian was frowning. The beating beneath her fingers sped up.
"Flavia said you did. Covering your tracks now, are you?"
She raised an eyebrow, trying not to think about the heat that simmered between them. From Julian’s rapid breath it was clear he wasn’t immune. "Don't be silly. This reeks of Persephone." When he spoke his lips were so close she just had to lift her head a fraction of an inch for them to touch hers. The heated brush of his breath called to her.
Instead, she remained motionless while trying to force her heart to return to a more decent rate. "I thought so too."
"Then why did you accuse me?" Julian's glared at her, although she was sure she saw amusement in his eyes. Evie lifted her chin, even though the action brought her mouth way too close to his. "How was I to know you wouldn't defend her and think I'm making all of this up? And how am I to be sure it wasn't really you in the first place?"
Evie's eyes narrowed as she met his eyes. He stared back at her, blinking so slowly, so lazily that she wondered how it was possible when his heart raced wildly beneath her fingers.
[image error]
I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes... I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It's a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves - it works wonderfully...My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands - I shall forever remain crosseyed.
I love talking to my readers so email me if you have any questions or even if you just want to chat...
Email: tgayer@xtra.co.nz or tgayerauthor@gmail.com
Keep up to date with news, release dates and giveaways by subscribing to the newsletter HERE
Amazon
Website GOODREADS
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 13, 2014
The Magician's Doll By M. L. Roble Book Blast
About the Book
Title: The Magician's Doll | Author: M.L. Roble | Publication Date: February 2, 2013Publisher: Independent | Pages: 320 | Recommended Ages: 10+Summary
Purchase the BookAmazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | The Book Bin
The Buzz"The story of exceptional and gifted beings secretly living among us is timeless; this exhilarating book is an impressive treatment of that classic storyline. The writing is fast and clear, with a well-developed plot and perfect buildup of action and suspense." ~ 5 Star Review, G. Wagner, Amazon"This is perfect for kids of the middle grade age. It forces them to look at the way they treat each other and their differences. It makes them look at what true friendship is and what they would do in certain circumstances. I am sure this book was written to be a wonderful story, yet I find it is a great example of teaching kids something without them realizing they are learning I will definitely continue to recommend this book to parents and students." ~ 5 Star Review, Sandra S., Amazon"I am a eighth grader, and was told to read this book by a friend. I am a huge fan of fantasy and magic, and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it well thought through with colorful characters from a variety of backgrounds. The concepts and ideas are fresh and interesting, I especially enjoyed the idea of travel through maps, like Phillipe. I would DEFINITELY recommend this book to all my friends, and will do so as soon as possible." ~ 5 Star Review, Eugenia, Amazon
About the Author: M.L. Roble
M. L. Roble's desire to write a children's novel stems from the nostalgia of her own middle grade reading years where she first experienced books like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Shattered Stone". There have been different books and genres since, but those years fueled an enchantment for story that continues to this day.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Google+
* Book Blast Giveaway *
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 11, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, M.L. Roble and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Title: The Magician's Doll | Author: M.L. Roble | Publication Date: February 2, 2013Publisher: Independent | Pages: 320 | Recommended Ages: 10+Summary
"They are stronger. They are coming. They will arrive!" Life would be so much better for twelve-year-old Natalie if she and her mother weren’t different; other kids wouldn’t pick on her; she wouldn’t have to get into fights. She would have friends. But Natalie has abilities that set her apart, and despite her very best efforts to have a normal life, her developing “gift” has a way of upending them all. Then one day a big top circus rolls into town bringing with it Beausoleil the Magician, his daughter Louisa, and his mysterious doll. Strange things are afoot with Beausoleil’s arrival, and in his wake, an eerie storm is approaching. Soon Natalie discovers there is more to her world and the people around her than she knew, and that being different is just the tip of the iceberg... The Magician’s Doll sparks readers’ imaginations with a tale of magical discoveries, profound friendships, a fight against evil, and the growth that comes with facing your fears and accepting who you are.
Purchase the BookAmazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | The Book Bin
The Buzz"The story of exceptional and gifted beings secretly living among us is timeless; this exhilarating book is an impressive treatment of that classic storyline. The writing is fast and clear, with a well-developed plot and perfect buildup of action and suspense." ~ 5 Star Review, G. Wagner, Amazon"This is perfect for kids of the middle grade age. It forces them to look at the way they treat each other and their differences. It makes them look at what true friendship is and what they would do in certain circumstances. I am sure this book was written to be a wonderful story, yet I find it is a great example of teaching kids something without them realizing they are learning I will definitely continue to recommend this book to parents and students." ~ 5 Star Review, Sandra S., Amazon"I am a eighth grader, and was told to read this book by a friend. I am a huge fan of fantasy and magic, and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it well thought through with colorful characters from a variety of backgrounds. The concepts and ideas are fresh and interesting, I especially enjoyed the idea of travel through maps, like Phillipe. I would DEFINITELY recommend this book to all my friends, and will do so as soon as possible." ~ 5 Star Review, Eugenia, Amazon
About the Author: M.L. Roble
M. L. Roble's desire to write a children's novel stems from the nostalgia of her own middle grade reading years where she first experienced books like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Shattered Stone". There have been different books and genres since, but those years fueled an enchantment for story that continues to this day. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Google+
* Book Blast Giveaway *
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 11, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, M.L. Roble and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 12, 2014
My Review Of Good Night Animal World
About the Book
Title: Good Night, Animal World: A Kids Yoga Bedtime Story | Author: Giselle Shardlow | Illustrator: Emily Gedzyk | Publication Date: September 20, 2013 | Publisher: Company: Kids Yoga Stories LLC | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 2.5 to 6 years Summary: Say good night to the animals of the world! Calm your mind and body before bedtime by taking a journey around the world with this kids yoga storybook. Join six Kids Yoga Stories characters as you perch like a bald eagle, crouch like a tiger, and curl up like a sloth. The book includes a list of Kids Yoga Poses and a Parent Guide with tips on creating a successful bedtime experience. Learn something new, explore movement, and unwind together before bedtime!
My review: This is a great book to include in your child's bedtime routine. This book entertains as well as help them to calm done before bed. My nephew enjoyed the interaction with this book. I can't wait to share this book with my grand kids.
The Buzz"This book has been so amazing for my 2.5 year old daughter! The illustrations are adorable! She is always so rambunctious at bedtime and this lets her get out some of that excess energy. She loves the book so much that this has been one we read every night. It helps my daughter fall asleep faster which means more time for mom in the evenings." ~ 5 Star Review, cwalt047, Amazon"Another GREAT book!! I used this book for my kids yoga classes for ages 2-5 years old. After a very active yoga class, we read this book and did the yoga poses before the resting portion of the class. My little yogis loved the pictures and saying Good Night to all of the animals one by one. I played a calming song with some animal noises in the background and we were then able to quiet our minds and bodies for the pose of rest. I think this will become a regular pre-resting story for my classes with this age group. My 5 year old son loves to read this book again and again too! Keep the great books coming!" ~ 5 Star Review, Stacy Daniels - Kids Yoga Teacher, Amazon"What a delightful book to get young children reading and moving in a wind-down, calming story about saying goodnight to the animals of the world. I am a k-12 Reading Certified teacher who blogs about parenting at The Educator's Spin On It. I am big fan of literacy activities that combine movement and geography in a loving parent / child interaction experience and Good night, Animal World does just that. This book would be a great addition to your book shelf." ~ 5 Star Review, Amanda at The Educators' Spin On It, Amazon
About the Author: Giselle Shardlow[caption id="attachment_16641" align="alignleft" width="227"]
Giselle Shardlow[/caption] Giselle Shardlow is the author of Kids Yoga Stories. Her yoga-inspired children’s books get children moving, learning, and having fun. Giselle draws from her experiences as a teacher, traveler, yogi, and mom to write the stories found at www.kidsyogastories.com or on Amazon (amazon.com/author/giselleshardlow) worldwide. Book Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Google+
Good Night, Animal World Blog Tour Schedule (2014)March 10
Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Review)My Devotional Thoughts (Review)Books Direct (Author Interview & Review)Amanda's Books and More (Review)K&A's Children's Book Reviews (Review)March 11
Brooke Blogs (Review)Doodles, Doodles Everywhere (Review)Reading List (Review)Coffee & Books & Art (Review)March 12
When I Grow Up I Wanna Write a Kids Book (Review)Heart of a Philanthropist (Review)Kay LaLone I Love Books (Review)Alwaysjoart (Review)March 13
Baby Bookworms in Black Words - White Pages (Guest Post)Christy's Cozy Corners (Review)Christy's Houseful of Chaos (Review)Hazel Nutt's Toddler Talk (Review)March 14
For the Love of Books (Review)Books, Babies and Bows (Review)Sweet Day's LifeBook (Review)March 15
Stitch Says (Review)WS Momma Readers Nook (Review)Edventures With Kids (Review)The Reading Room (Book Spotlight)March 16
Deal Sharing Aunt (Review)Lakshmi Gosyne (Review)Growing Intentional Families Together (Review)March 17
BeachBoundBooks (Author Interview)Adalinc To Life (Review)A Year of Jubilee Reviews (Review)No Doubt Learning (Review)March 18
Generation iKid (Review)Domestic Randomness (Review)Identity Discovery (Review)Storytime Books (Review)March 19
Victoria Simcox's Blog (Author Interview)Mommynificent (Review)Desperate Homeschoolers (Review)March 20
Looney's Literacy (Review)Dawn's Disaster (Review)Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys (Review)Hershey Wishes and Kisses (Review)When Did I Become My Mom (Review)March 21
Lobo's Follies (Guest Post)Grandbooking (Review)Picture Books & Pirouettes (Review)Say What? Savannah Mae Kids (Review)March 22
Nana Three and Counting (Review)Once Upon a Time (Review)Learning and Growing the Piwi Way (Review)March 23
The Owl's Skull (Review)The Squishable Baby (Review)A Leisure Moment (Review)Living as We (Review)
* $25 Blog Tour Giveaway *
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 8, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Giselle Shardlow and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 6, 2014
Diego's Drago Book One Spirits Of The Sun by Kevin Gerard Book Blast
About the Book
Title: Diego's Dragon, Book 1: Spirits of the Sun | Author: Kevin Gerard | Publication Date: September 30, 2011 | Publisher: Crying Cougar Press | Pages: 186 | Recommended Ages: 8+ Summary: An eleven-year-old Latino boy wins a district-wide writing contest for sixth graders. When an author visits his school to award his prize, Diego Ramirez has no idea how much his life is about to change. Nathan Sullivan hands Diego his statue, a handsome, glistening black dragon. He shakes his hand and leaves him to his friends. The students crowd around Diego, asking for permission to hold it. After hearing the name Magnifico spoken aloud by family and friends, Diego awards it to his new dragon. If he only knew how fitting the name was, he might have known what lay ahead. Magnifico is the leader of the Sol Dragones, dragons that live within the magical fires of the sun. Nathan Sullivan is the earth's connection to the mysterious creatures. It is his task to find Magnifico’s guide. As Magnifico comes to life he becomes quite mischievous, playing tricks on Diego to embarrass him. As he discovers his bloodline, however, Diego assumes greater control over his dragon and his destiny. In the climactic journey, he frees his people and suffers a terrible loss by guiding Magnifico to their goal.
PurchaseBuy Signed Copy | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Sony Reader | Smashwords
The Buzz"Every book by this author is amazing. My son, who is very picky has bought every book. He has read them without putting them down and even asked me to organize having Kevin come to his school. Kevin, the Author is a person doing what he loves to do and it shows in his work and his interactions with the kids. You will not regret your purchase!" ~ 5 Star Review, Adina F., Amazon"My 4th grade daughter is obsessed with dragon books. When I discovered Diego's Dragon, I jumped at it--and now Kevin Gerard is her new favorite author! For a voracious reader like my daughter, that is the highest of compliments, especially considering her love for Erin Hunter's Warrior Cats series. Her enthusiastic commentary about book one, and her pleading for book 2, had me eager to read it for myself. All I can say is . . . my daughter was right. For any fans of middle grade adventure or fantasy or dragons or boy books or epic awesomeness, this is the perfect story." ~ 5 Star Review, S. O'Donnell, Amazon"Kids who like dragon stories will love this adventure series. Those who liked Harry Potter, kids and adults, will like this series. I truly believe the Diego’s Dragon series will have readers anticipating new releases and then devouring the books immediately upon release. Spirits of the Sun is a great book for boys, and girls—and adults. Without gushing too much, I believe Spirits of the Sun is one of the best books I have read. If the series holds up, I will be its number one fan, though many others will claim that title. Kids, get this book." ~ 5 Star Review, Sue M., Amazon
About the Author: Kevin Gerard
Kevin Gerard lives in San Diego, California, with two feline friends, Jesse the WonderCat and Little Man. When not writing or teaching statistics at Cal State San Marcos, he enjoys walking the grounds at the San Diego Zoo, hitting the waves at Cardiff State Beach, and hanging with his brother, nieces and nephews at the local Pizza Port. He also enjoys playing Halo on the internet; look for him in the rocket games as one of the characters from
Diego’s Dragon
or Conor and the Crossworlds.
Book Website | Author Blog | Twitter Facebook | Goodreads
* $100 Book Blast Giveaway *
Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 4, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Kevin Gerard and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Title: Diego's Dragon, Book 1: Spirits of the Sun | Author: Kevin Gerard | Publication Date: September 30, 2011 | Publisher: Crying Cougar Press | Pages: 186 | Recommended Ages: 8+ Summary: An eleven-year-old Latino boy wins a district-wide writing contest for sixth graders. When an author visits his school to award his prize, Diego Ramirez has no idea how much his life is about to change. Nathan Sullivan hands Diego his statue, a handsome, glistening black dragon. He shakes his hand and leaves him to his friends. The students crowd around Diego, asking for permission to hold it. After hearing the name Magnifico spoken aloud by family and friends, Diego awards it to his new dragon. If he only knew how fitting the name was, he might have known what lay ahead. Magnifico is the leader of the Sol Dragones, dragons that live within the magical fires of the sun. Nathan Sullivan is the earth's connection to the mysterious creatures. It is his task to find Magnifico’s guide. As Magnifico comes to life he becomes quite mischievous, playing tricks on Diego to embarrass him. As he discovers his bloodline, however, Diego assumes greater control over his dragon and his destiny. In the climactic journey, he frees his people and suffers a terrible loss by guiding Magnifico to their goal. PurchaseBuy Signed Copy | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Sony Reader | Smashwords
The Buzz"Every book by this author is amazing. My son, who is very picky has bought every book. He has read them without putting them down and even asked me to organize having Kevin come to his school. Kevin, the Author is a person doing what he loves to do and it shows in his work and his interactions with the kids. You will not regret your purchase!" ~ 5 Star Review, Adina F., Amazon"My 4th grade daughter is obsessed with dragon books. When I discovered Diego's Dragon, I jumped at it--and now Kevin Gerard is her new favorite author! For a voracious reader like my daughter, that is the highest of compliments, especially considering her love for Erin Hunter's Warrior Cats series. Her enthusiastic commentary about book one, and her pleading for book 2, had me eager to read it for myself. All I can say is . . . my daughter was right. For any fans of middle grade adventure or fantasy or dragons or boy books or epic awesomeness, this is the perfect story." ~ 5 Star Review, S. O'Donnell, Amazon"Kids who like dragon stories will love this adventure series. Those who liked Harry Potter, kids and adults, will like this series. I truly believe the Diego’s Dragon series will have readers anticipating new releases and then devouring the books immediately upon release. Spirits of the Sun is a great book for boys, and girls—and adults. Without gushing too much, I believe Spirits of the Sun is one of the best books I have read. If the series holds up, I will be its number one fan, though many others will claim that title. Kids, get this book." ~ 5 Star Review, Sue M., Amazon
About the Author: Kevin Gerard
Kevin Gerard lives in San Diego, California, with two feline friends, Jesse the WonderCat and Little Man. When not writing or teaching statistics at Cal State San Marcos, he enjoys walking the grounds at the San Diego Zoo, hitting the waves at Cardiff State Beach, and hanging with his brother, nieces and nephews at the local Pizza Port. He also enjoys playing Halo on the internet; look for him in the rocket games as one of the characters from
Diego’s Dragon
or Conor and the Crossworlds. Book Website | Author Blog | Twitter Facebook | Goodreads
* $100 Book Blast Giveaway *
Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 4, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Kevin Gerard and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 5, 2014
My Review Of Blood Beginnings By Alison Beightol
Virtual Book Tour Dates: 2/11/14 - 3/11/14
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Blurb:
Only a day after Eamon Rutherford destroys a cadre of vampire hunters sent to kill him, he decides to take his human lover Amelie to London to turn her into a vampire and look for Bernard Townsend, the vampire who sent the hunters to kill Eamon and declared a blood war on him.This war isn’t just to settle a rivalry. It’s a war for power.Bernard wants control of the European Shadow Government, the vampire governing board, and bring his plan to fruition, a plan that begins with the revelation of vampires to humans and ends with the domination of the human race. He knows that this will never happen as long as Eamon is alive. Bernard also knows that to get to Eamon, he has to get what he cares about most. To ensure the success, Bernard brings forward his secret offspring Reinhard Heydrich, the Butcher of Prague, who will kidnap and kill Eamon’s beloved Amelie. Eamon must find and save Amelie before Heydrich kills her and Townsend’s plan unfolds. If he doesn’t, there is no limit to what a vampire like Heydrich might be capable of. But saving Amelie won’t be easy. Everywhere he turns he finds intrigue and deception. Even from those he trusts the most.
Excerpt:
You Don’t Declare a Blood War on Me and My Line without the Expectation of Retaliation
Kill Townsend. That was what needed to happen. And as soon as possible. Eamon Rutherford rubbed the bridge of his nose and again tried to come to grips with the events of the past twenty-four hours.A scowl appeared on his face and the muscles of his shoul- ders knotted before he could even process anything. Eamon took in a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. Destroying a makeshift band of vampire hunters in his former companion’s nightclub wasn’t something he would have chosen, but he was forced to do that very thing. And it had been ages since a hunter had threatened him personally. Or tried to threaten him. The ones last night were far from what he remembered from centuries past. The group he destroyed were nerds and armchair warriors, not organized, well-practiced hunters. However, before Eamon killed one of them the hunter mentioned a name, the name of an ancient rival, Bernard Townsend.Bernard Townsend was a half-assed, one-time knight from centuries ago, an on-again-off- again problem for Eamon. Townsend fancied himself to be more powerful than Eamon despite the age gap of many centuries. In the late seventeen hundreds, Eamon almost imposed a final death on Townsend, but at the last moment Eamon spared his rival, figuring that leaving Townsend with the humiliating knowledge that he only survived through Eamon’s mercy was enough to keep the repugnant man away once and for all.Since that time, Townsend had avoided Eamon and any- one, human or vampire, that Eamon knew and Eamon had all but forgotten about him up until last night. And his sudden reappearance raised an alarm in Eamon’s mind. Why would Townsend send a group of poorly trained vampire hunters after him?Eamon rose from the bed and walked to the window over- looking Amelie’s back garden. Normally, he enjoyed the col- orful, fragrant roses and oleander bushes filling the quaint yard, but not today. He rubbed his shoulders, removing some of the tension, and sighed. The phone in his pocket vibrated, but he ignored it. The vampires of his line had nagged him the better part of the day, leaching as much of his time as they could before he left. His phone had vibrated non-stop with their calls and text messages. Should the meeting of the United States Shadow Government be arranged? Could they call him while he was in London or was he serious that he wanted no contact while he was gone? The main question was when was he coming home? He wondered if he was leaving children or vampires. But that was part of being a Primigenio of a vampire line. You were a father to them and had to deal with many of the same issues as a human father.Because of this and Bernard Townsend’s unknown motives plaguing his thoughts, Eamon had gotten little day sleep. Fortunately, at his age, he didn’t require much rest. He also had the added benefit of being a day walker, a vampire who could move about without a problem when the sun was up. It was a lucky trait the vampires of his small line carried. Eamon looked back at Amelie and remembered they were leaving soon. He sent a text message to Jason, the pilot of his private plane, and verified the departure time. Eamon didn’t want any last minute surprises or problems.Eamon returned to the bed and kissed Amelie’s forehead. He hated to wake her, but they’d be leaving for London in a few hours. He took a moment to watch her sleep. She was snuggled up next to him with a tiny, contented smile on her lips. Whatever she was dreaming about seemed to make her happy, and he wanted that for her more than anything. He wanted her to have a life of happiness and love with him and to never have any worries. If he had his way that would always be the case.His phone vibrated again, shattering the moment of much-needed quiet Eamon craved. He hesitated before answering, thinking it was one of his vampires trying a last minute grab for his time and attention.“Yes?” Eamon said and climbed back out of the bed.“So you killed Sanchez and his followers? I expected as much. I didn’t honestly think they would succeed but they wanted to do it.”The caller’s voice reignited a centuries-old anger within Eamon. He paced back and forth, wanting to reach through the phone and snap the caller’s neck. It was Bernard Townsend.Instinctually Eamon checked on Amelie, who still slept. He turned away so as not to disturb her, his rising angst causing him to grip his phone until the plastic cracked.“I’m coming for you, Townsend. You don’t declare a blood war on me and my line without the expectation of retaliation.” Eamon would rip Townsend’s throat out right now if he could, and put an end to whatever scheme Townsend was formulating.Townsend laughed his hearty, jovial laugh. “The humans I sent after you last night were a warm up, a bit of target practice. I felt it would give you a sporting chance.”“I will find you and when I do, you’re dead,” Eamon said.“Rutherford, you’ve been a problem for me for as long as I can remember. Now, I have the advantage.”“You’re nothing but a two-bit gangster.” Eamon looked around the room, calming himself. “I should have killed you when I had the chance.”“But you didn’t, which shows how weak and short-sighted you truly are. Well, until we see each other, Eamon. And we will see each other,” Bernard said.The sudden dial tone cooled Eamon’s ire and he withered with regret as he turned back to Amelie. Their trip to London would not be the same. Townsend would see to that. Eamon wanted the trip to be perfect for Amelie. He wanted to show her London, the city he had known for centuries, not the What’s On version of the city. For a moment, he considered not taking Amelie with him. He could find and kill Townsend and then bring her over afterward. But he knew how much she wanted to go and he wanted her to go as well. After their recent separation, he didn’t want to be away from her any longer than he had to be. No, he refused to let Townsend ruin this. After all, Eamon had waited too long for Amelie.And he could kill Townsend at any cost.
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My review: Good book. this book is about power, control, and revenge. Also about jealousy, passion, and protecting those you love. Strong characters.
About the Author:
Alison Beightol formerly lived in an active haunted house in rural northern Florida but now lives in a non haunted but still active house with her author husband, Scott Baker, her daughter, two ice cream craving Boxer dogs, a rescued cat that thinks he’s a dog and a rabbit. For as long as she can remember, she's loved vampire stories, romance and gothic tales that keep her up at night. Although she works as a registered nurse, she studied both history and theatre at the University of Florida and loves intertwining history with a theatrical touch in her writing. She is the author of Blood Betrayal: Book One of The Primigenio Tales and its sequel Blood Beginnings, which introduces a sinister historical figure as an adversary for her vampires. Alison is hard at work on the third and final installment of the Primigenio Tales.
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Giveaway:
The author is giving away a tote bag filled with swag and goodies... Valued at over $150! Includes a t-shirt, a copy of the book, an amazon gift card, an iTunes gift card, vampire themed pins and knick knacks. USA only, please! The giveaway runs through the length of the tour.
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March 4, 2014
Book Tour & Giveaway Serendipidus By Jennifer Ott
Virtual Book Tour Dates: 3/3/14 - 3/10/14
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Satire
Blurb:
“Maybe it’s time to set aside intellectualism and experience the wonders of things that can’t be explained.”The Earth has stopped rotating and no one seems to notice or care, except for bleeding-heart supermodel Venetia DeMille. While Mother Earth begins to fade into a silent death, Venetia clings to hope. She solicits the help of a scientist to help, but no avail.Not to be hindered in her quest to save the Earth, Venetia sets out on a journey around the world to find like-minded people and caring souls - an exuberant youth, a magical healer and a man of God. Although together they are able to rekindle faith, their effort still does not provide results. It is a mysterious meeting of four horsemen that carry them to the east where they experience a connection to the earth and each other. Could the forces that gather with their united efforts prove to be the remedy to save the planet?
Excerpt:
As Venetia snoozed peacefully, the shadow of a large machete crossed her face. Opening her eyes, she saw a tall, striking man wearing a white turban and a white silk robe tied loosely around his waist, exposing his tanned chest. “Who are you and why have you kidnapped us?” she asked, unafraid.“I am the Sultan Saosh! Who are you?” he asked, pointing the tip of the knife at the nape of her neck.“I am supermodel Venetia De Mille,” she replied.“What are you doing here?” he asked, daringly.“Why did your thugs bring us here? What do you want?” Venetia asked.Saosh pressed the knife deeper into her neck, just enough not to pierce skin. “What were you doing in Haifa?”“Looking for answers.” Venetia pushed the knife away from her neck and sat up. “My friends and I are trying to save the world. We have tried science, healing magic, prayer and now we are here at the cradle of civilization looking for answers.”“Impossible! It is I who is going to save the world. I am the Sultan Saosh. I am the descendent of Aushedarapmah, who is the descendent of Ansedhar.” He swung his arm in a dramatic gesture. “It has been written from many ages, when the sun hung motionless in the sky my ancestors met with the angels and returned them to Earth, to bring peace and righteousness to humanity. As my ancestors have done in the past, I will do. I am waiting for my angel.” Saosh glanced down at Venetia’s beautiful face and vivid blue eyes, and believed she had arrived.Venetia admired the dashing Saosh and his passionate declarations. Is it possible? Could I be his angel? Could this be fate, destiny? “How do you know when she…your angel will arrive? What are you supposed to do?”Saosh thoughtfully pressed the tip of his sword into the sand. “My angel will tell me what to do, what to say. My angel will give me the answers humanity needs to hear. Do you know the answer?” he asked curiously.“No,” said Venetia. “Sadly, I don’t, that is why my friends and I are searching.”
Buy Link:
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About the Author:
Inspiration comes from watching way too much Monty Python. The abstract and the absurd way of looking at normal life, not only offers humor, but questions many problems in society in a light-hearted manner. If we can laugh at ourselves, if we can laugh at life, problems do not seem quite so difficult to tackle. In fact, problems are not as complicated as they seem; everything is very simple. If you can laugh at it, write about it and read about it, most likely one would think about it.
Author Jennifer Ott has written several satire fiction, Wild Horses, The Tourist and two non-fiction books Love and Handicapping and Ooh Baby Compound Me! Her latest book about the homecoming of a Vietnam Veteran, Edge of Civilization will be released soon.
Jennifer Ott lives in Long Beach, California, enjoys the sun, the sand, the surf and lots of Mexican food.
Connect With The Author:
The Super Jenius Show
Serendipidus Gifts
Website
Giveaway:
Author Jennifer Ott is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card (Rafflecopter) and two print copies of Serendipidus. Make sure to enter both giveaways! The Rafflecopter gift card giveaway is open internationally, the Goodread’s giveaway is available to residents of the US, Canada, UK and AUS. Enter 3/3/14 – 3/10/14.
Click Here for the Goodread's Giveaway
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March 1, 2014
Summer Demons By Mia Hoddell Free March 1 & 2
Summer Demonsby Mia Hoddell
Genre: YA Romance
Release Date: 26th February 2014
Length: Novella
Blurb:
Jenna Shaw ran away to escape her past. In fact, she jumped on a plane and flew to Portugal to try and forget it. However, it turns out leaving everything behind isn’t as easy as it sounds.
She thought she could move on and break free of her fears—that if she had some space the pain would stop. But as memories resurface due to an ill-timed joke, the past crashes into her present once more and she didn’t see it coming.
Jenna’s plans for normality are derailed by the charismatic Ethan Brooks. She sees him as an annoyance; he sees her as a challenge. But as he tries every trick known to him to impress her, they only serve to push her further away. He’s never faced this problem before and Ethan has to work harder than he ever has if he wants to win over and help his mysterious girl.
Download in now for FREE!Only free 1st & 2nd of MarchAmazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
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Excerpt
She saw red. Seeping into the crystal clear water it spread, bleeding and merging as the ripples around her pushed it closer towards her feet. The deep crimson only grew darker as it surrounded her.She could feel her breathing quicken, coming in short, sharp rasps as she started to panic. Her chest constricted, an unbearable pressure tightening like a boa constrictor refusing to release her from its clutches. Her throat felt dry, her increased breathing doing nothing to help the situation as she forced herself to swallow in the hope of dislodging the lump that had formed there.This isn’t happening. This isn’t real. I came here to escape this, she told herself repeatedly as she laid there, her turquoise bikini embellished with golden sequins shining in the sun as her back tanned slowly. Bringing up an arm to adjust her chestnut-brown hair that was dangling in the water, she tried to pull away before the colour reached her and tainted the beautiful locks. The damage done would be irreparable if it touched her.Moving it just in time, she threw it over her shoulder so it rested between her shoulder blades, the damp tips feeling nice as they cooled her back by trailing droplets of water down either side. She tried not to flinch as her gaze returned to the bloodied water that lapped at the li-lo beneath her chin. With every wave it seemed to grow closer, making its way further up the yellow plastic to try and touch her. The tapping that was normally so soothing tormented her now, like a crowd clapping and cheering her sanity on as it fled for safety.Rather than listen to the logical side of her brain, her body had other ideas. Shuffling back, she put a bigger distance between her face and the abnormal pool beneath her. As her toes dipped into the cool water behind her though, she flinched, automatically drawing herself up so that no part of her body was near the edge. No matter how disgusted she was, she couldn’t stop staring; her eyes were hypnotised by the gentle movements that swirled the colour into the water even more. The red had become so thick that not one tile beneath the surface was visible.The more she stared, the more she remembered.The more she remembered, the more she was pulled into her memory.It might not have been real at that moment in time, but it had been, and Jenna was once again pulled into the unbearable memory.
About the Author
Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything paranormal and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.
With three poems published before the age of sixteen, Mia moved on to short stories but finding she had too much to tell with too little space, Mia progressed to novels. She started her first series (The Wanderer Trilogy) at the age of fourteen and since then hasn’t stopped writing. Elemental Killers is her second series and with an ever growing list of ideas, Mia is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them.
Connect with Mia:
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Google+ | Amazon Author Page
**Giveaway**
Prize: x3 Amazon gift cards ($5 or UK equivalent)
Rules: Winners must be able to accept Amazon gift cards.Open to US and UK residents only.
Winners have 48hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.
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February 24, 2014
My Review Of Dragon In Pieces By Lee French
Follow the tour at Fire and Ice Book ToursVirtual Book Tour Dates: 1/27/14 - 2/24/14
Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure
Blurb:
All Bobby wanted was a girl to come home to after a hard day of work. Like the last one said before she left, he was going exactly two places - no and where – and he was happy with that. But somebody had other plans for him. A murder. The Terrorist Watch List. For what? Underage drinking? Things couldn't possibly get worse. Right?
Oh yes, they could.
A lot.
He wouldn't believe superheroes were real if he wasn't one himself.
Tiny robot dragons send him chasing his humanity and his future, on the trail to discovering his past and a place to call 'home'. If he's lucky, maybe he can get a beer there.
Excerpt:
It was Matthew, they recognized him from the photos. He wore jeans and nothing else. Every part of him left bare was smeared with blood and his eyes were panicked, terrified. It took him a moment to register both that the kitchen light was on and two strange men sat at his table, then he freaked out. In the space of perhaps two seconds, the jeans disappeared, his body grew muscles and fur and claws, his head reshaped with a fanged snout. He was easily nine feet tall and the scariest damn werewolf Bobby ever saw, probably because he was in the room with it, and it wasn’t just a costume.
The swarm was a much better place to be, and Bobby went there. Stephen, though, seemed calm, saying, “How apropos that a vampire and a werewolf should fight this close to Hollywood. With dragons, to boot. I wonder if we’ll attract any orcs or fairies.”
Matthew let out a loud roar and jumped at Stephen, the two of them started fighting. Bobby, unable to get into it much without causing a problem for Stephen, got the dragons to open the door a crack so ten could slip out and keep watch. If someone was coming, he wanted to know about it before they arrived and got involved. It seemed clear that Stephen could hold his own against this thing, but who knew how much they’d beat each other up before one of them lost. To try to help the odds, the dragons went in for the werewolf’s legs.
The little critters couldn’t really do much more than annoy Matthew, they found his skin to be much too tough for their little teeth. He’d be scratched up later, but not really injured from this assault. They had to be careful, too, to avoid getting hurt themselves. Stephen threw the werewolf into the fridge, Matthew returned the favor by tossing the vampire through an inner wall, putting Stephen in the bedroom unexpectedly. They did what Bobby thought of as wrasslin’, except for the fangs and claws and superhuman strength they both apparently had. It carried them back through the apartment, wrecking it as they went, until Stephen was thrown through a window and Matthew chased after, like a dog going after a stick.
Now it was public. There was a very real chance that one or more of Matthew’s neighbors noticed the initial noises and already called someone about it, but Bobby was willing to bet this spectacle would get some attention. He could almost imagine the call to the police. ‘Officer, there’s two costumed freaks wrasslin’ around outside, making a heckuva ruckus!’ Or however the locals would say that. The swarm followed them out, keeping a watch all around. There just wasn’t anything he could think of to do that would actually help Stephen directly. Aside from how much nothing he could do to harm or even distract Matthew, he was terrified of what would happen if a dragon got crushed.
They were horribly loud. Matthew sounded like a giant angry dog, Stephen sounded somewhat like a person making large cat noises. Stephen made an effort at keeping them close to the apartment, but Matthew really enjoyed tossing the vampire for distance and chasing after him. Bobby suspected that Stephen would just have flown out of reach, but the goal was actually to subdue the werewolf, not just get away from him. As a result, Bobby discovered that Stephen could heal himself, but every time he did, he looked a little more haggard.
Things, of course, got worse. A police car screamed onto the scene, brakes screeching as it halted sideways to block their passage farther down the street. Bobby saw it coming, but couldn’t think of anything to do about it. Really, he was just as helpless as any other bystander here. When he had some time to breathe, he’d try things and see what he could do with his dragons in this sort of situation, but for now, he had nothing to contribute. It was an unpleasant feeling, one that reminded him a lot of how he felt when that needle went into his leg at Jasmine’s apartment, except that this just kept going on and he didn’t get the luxury of blacking out for any part of it.
Out of the car with his gun drawn, the cop shouted for the two men to freeze and get on the ground. Matthew had his attention drawn by the command, and Bobby reacted as he saw the werewolf bolting for the car. This was stupid, but he couldn’t let the cop get hurt just for being the one to show up. Faster than a speeding werewolf, Bobby re-formed right in front of the cop so Matthew could hit him instead. When the claws swiped through the space, Bobby exploded into dragons again, causing the sharp claws to pass right through empty air.
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My Review: Bobby's world changes dramatically when mysterious shadowy forces are determined to trap him. By using his hidden super powers he is able to save himself and others. Never a dull moment. Good read. Thanks.
About the Author:
Lee French lives in Worcester, MA with two kids, two mice, two bicycles, and too much stuff. She is an avid gamer and active member of the Myth-Weavers online RPG community, where she is known for her fondness for Angry Ninja Squirrels of Doom. In addition to spending much time there, she also trains year-round for the one-week of glorious madness that is RAGBRAI, has a nice flower garden with absolutely no lawn gnomes, and tries in vain every year to grow vegetables that don't get devoured by neighborhood wildlife.
Connect with Lee French:
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Giveaway:
Author Lee French is giving away a print copy of Dragons in Pieces. Enter at Goodreads!
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Dragons in Pieces
by Lee French
Giveaway ends February 24, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
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February 18, 2014
Cover Reveal & Give Away For Uncovering You By Scarlett Edwards
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Title - Uncovering You
Author: Scarlett EdwardsGenre - Dark RomanceRelease Date - March 27th, 2014Cover Reveal - February 18th, 2014Series - first book in series. Second will be out April 20th, 2014.
Synopsis-When I wake up in a dark, unfamiliar room, I have no idea what's waiting for me in the shadows. My imagination conjures up demons of the worst kind.
Reality is much worse:
A collar with no leash. A prison with no walls. And a life stripped of meaning.
I am presented with a vile contract and asked to sign. It outlines the terms of my servitude. The only information I have about my captor are the two small letters inked at the bottom:
J.S.
Armed with only my memories, I must do everything I can to avoid becoming ensnared in his twisted mind games. But in the end, it all comes down to one choice:
Resist and die.
Or submit, and sign my life away
GoodReads Link:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20512700-uncovering-you
Excerpt:“Lilly.”Oh God. It’s him. There’s no mistaking that rich, masculine treble.What’s he doing down here?“M-Mr. Stonehart,” I stutter, turning. I curse my inability to hide my surprise. He totally caught me off-guard. I have to look up to meet his eyes. Then up some more.The face that I find is so striking it should belong to a Greek god.He’s younger than I expected. Late thirties, maybe early forties.That means he started his company when he was younger than me!Dark scruff lines his angular cheeks. His jet-black hair is styled in long, natural waves. My fingers itch to run through it.Totally inappropriate.He has a prominent nose that might be too big on a less imposing man, but on him, it’s perfect.In short, he’s a package of the purest masculinity I’ve ever seen.And then there are his eyes. Oh my God. His eyes. They pierce into me like honing missiles. They are the deepest black I have ever seen. They would be frightening if they weren’t so beautiful. When the light reflects a certain way, you catch a glimpse of the purple underneath.They are like midnight sapphires. His eyes reveal a cunning intellect. Those eyes do not miss a thing.Add all that to his towering height, his wide shoulders, his confident-yet-at-ease posture… and Stonehart cuts an intimidating figure.My gaze darts to his left hand before I can stop it. No ring. He’s unmarried.He looks down at me, expectantly. His eyes narrow ever so slightly, and I feel like I’m being dissected, measured up, and tucked away in some small corner of his brain. I imagine this is what a gemstone feels like under the magnifying class of the most critical appraiser.Stonehart clears his throat. I come to with a start, realizing I haven’t said anything in ages. I open my mouth, but the capacity for speech seems like a foreign concept to my brain. “I—”Somebody bumps into me from behind. I stagger forward. I’m not used to these shoes, so my heel steps the wrong way. My ankle twists under me, and I start to fall.I don’t fall far. The hand still on my elbow tightens, and Stonehart pulls me into him.I plaster myself onto the solid steel wall the man has for a body. I catch a scent of his cologne. It’s a deep, musky smell with a hint of charred spruce that is all male. It scrambles my thoughts even more.“Sorry!” a rushed voice calls out. From the corner of my eye, I see the postman giving a hurried, apologetic wave.Although the sequence lasts less than a second, it feels like an eternity. Pressed up against him like that, I don’t want to move. I know that I couldn’t have made a worse first impression.Stonehart eases me off him with a firm yet gentle grip. Our eyes meet. I flush the most vibrant red. His fingers graze my forehead as he brushes a lock of hair out of my face.Any tenderness I may have imagined vanishes when Stonehart takes out his cell. He long dials a key and growls an order. “Steven. See the delivery boy leaving right now? Have his building pass revoked.”I gape. Stonehart keeps speaking. “Wait. I thought of one better. Bar his company from accessing the building.” There’s a pause. “For how long? Indefinitely. FedEx can talk to me when they have an improved employee selection program in place.”The phone call gives me just enough time to compose myself. My heart’s still beating out of my chest. But nobody has to know that.I speak without thinking. “You’re going to restrict the entire company from serving this building because of that?”Stonehart humors me with an answer. “A company’s employees are its most important asset. Their behavior reflects the organization as a whole. If FedEx decided that clown is good enough for them, it tells me they’re sloppy. I do not do business with sloppy organizations.”“What about the other tenants in the building?” I ask. “Won’t that piss them off?”When I hear myself and realize how improper my question is, my cheeks flame red again.Stonehart’s eyes darken, as if he cannot believe I asked that question. I open my mouth to apologize for my imprudence, hating the way my professional skills have evaporated into thin air. I’m cut off by a short, barked laugh.“Miss Ryder.” He sounds amused. “I believe that is the most direct and honest question anybody has dared ask me in weeks.” He takes my elbow again and leads me to the elevators. I have to take two quick steps to match one of his long strides.“Yes,” he continues. “They will be ‘pissed off.’ But the perk of owning a building—” he hits the elevator call button, “—is that you get to make executive decisions.” He gives me an unreadable glance as the doors open. “That is, at the risk of being questioned by inexperienced interns.”If that isn’t a loaded remark, I don’t know what is. I flush scarlet red for the third time since I’ve met him. I’ve never had a man throw me so off balance.The elevator is packed, for which I’m infinitely thankful. The trip up will give me some time to properlycompose myself.Gratitude turns to panic when the crowd files out, meek as mice, when Stonehart steps in. None of the people waiting in the lobby follow us.The doors close. I’m alone in here with him. My heart’s beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.He catches me staring. “Impressed?” he asks.“They know you,” I manage.His dark eyes flash with amusement. “Astute.”Chapter OneOctober 2013. Date unknown.(Present day)
A faint hiss, like the sound of an angry cat, jars me from my sleep.I open my eyes to pure blackness. I blink, trying to get my bearings. A vague memory forms in the back of my mind, too far away to reach.Why can’t I see anything?My breath hitches. Panic rips through my body as the horrifying answer comes to me:I’m blind!I scramble onto hands and knees and desperately claw at the dark, searching for something, anything, for my senses to latch onto.A dim overhead light comes on.Relief swells inside.I plop back on my butt and close my eyes, taking deep breaths to dispel the rush of adrenaline released by my body. When my heart’s not beating quite so fast, I open my eyes again.The light’s gotten brighter. I look up at the source. It’s far above me, like a dull, miniature sun. It spreads a little sphere around me, maybe ten feet in diameter. Past that, everything is swallowed by darkness.An irksome memory keeps gnawing at me. But my head is too heavy to remember. I feel… strange. Kind of like I’m hung over, but without the telltale pounding between my ears.Cautiously, I try to stand. My limbs are slow to react. They feel heavy, too, like they’ve been dipped in wet clay. I steady myself. Only when I’m satisfied that my knees won’t give out, do I strain my ears for that hissing sound again.It’s coming from somewhere behind me. I turn back—and nearly smash my head on a gleaming white pillar.What the hell?The sound is forgotten as I reach out and brush tentative fingers against the pillar’s surface. It’s cool to the touch. Smooth, too. I put my other hand on it. If I had to guess, I’d say it was made of marble. But what is a lone, white marble pillar doing in the middle of this room?The memory is like a gong going off inside my head. But trying to reach it is like grasping at a smooth, slippery stone at the bottom of an aquarium. Just when I think I have it, it slips through my fingers and falls even farther out of reach.I walk a slow, measured circle around the pillar. If I tried wrapping my arms around it, I doubt if I could even span half the circumference. Something far in the back of my mind tells me I should be alarmed. I look behind me and frown. By what? A dark room?No, you idiot. By the reason you’re here!My eyes widen. The reason I’m here? I don’t… I don’t remember.I wince and bring one hand to my temple. Why am I having so much trouble remembering?I gasp as a second gruesome thought hits me. Did I lose my memory? Do I have… amnesia?I sink down with my back to the pillar. Desperation starts to take over. I hold my head between my knees and close my eyes to focus.My name is Lilly Ryder. I was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 17th, 1990.My eyes pop open. Joyous tears form in the corners. I do remember! I take a deep breath and try to keep going.I was raised by my mom. I do not know my dad…Suddenly, all my childhood memories come streaming back. Moving around as a kid. Never staying in one place longer than six months. All the cities I’ve lived in. All the apartments my mom and I called home. Even the revolving door of her boyfriends. There was Dave, and Matthew. Tom, and Steve. There was…I shake my head to stop myself. I don’t doubt my memory anymore. But that still does not explain why I have absolutely no recollection of this place, or how I got here.I push myself back up. The spotlight above me has gotten progressively brighter. The little enclosure of light doesn’t feel quite so tight anymore. I trail my eyes up the length of the pillar. I can’t see where it ends because of the light. But I can tell it’s tall, at least twenty, maybe twenty-five feet…There’s also something about its surface that calls out to me. My hands itch to run over the smooth stone. A giggle bubbles up as I picture myself stroking it. The column is quite phallic.I waver at the unfamiliar thought and have to catch my balance against the beam.Focus, Lilly! I chide myself.I have no idea where that thought came from. I have never been overtly sexual.Nothing feels right. The fog that’s heavy on my mind is starting to lift, but not yet enough for me to understand—or remember—where the hell I am. This place is unfamiliar. I know that much. But right now, I feel almost like a surgery patient whose anesthetic kinked out: fully awake mentally, but completely impaired physically.I go back to my memories. I can remember high school. I remember college. That’s where I spent the last three years of my life, isn’t it? Yes. Yes, it is.“Hello?” I call out. My voice echoes into the surrounding gloom. “Is anybody there?”I wait for an answer. All I get is the hollow repetition of my own voice.…anybody there, there, there…I spent the last three years in college… but that’s not where I think I am right now. No. I shake my head. I knowthat’s not where I am. My memories are fuzzier the closer I bring them to today. Time feels… skewed. Freshman year’s easy to remember. So is sophomore, and most of junior… but things get weird toward the end.I… finished junior year, didn’t I? Yes. Yes, I did. And then…And then I took an internship in distant California for the summer, I remember with another gasp.Suddenly, my mind is crystal clear. That pressing memory hurtles into view. It’s from yesterday. The last thing I recall, I was alone in a booth at an upscale restaurant. The waiter brought me a glass of wine. I took a few sips, contemplating my future….Oh, God! Fear wraps a stranglehold around my neck.The restaurant. The wine.I’ve been drugged!I can’t breathe. A suppressing tightness constricts my throat. I feel dizzy, and terrified, and most of all… ashamed.Holy shit, Lilly, way to look out for yourself! My semi-mad inner dialogue pans with a generous dollop of sarcasm.I’ve always known about the dangers of sick men preying on unsuspecting girls. I just never thought I’d fall victim to it.I’ve been on my own since I turned eighteen, after the final falling out with my mother. I’ve always been proud of how well I managed. Even the shabby holes I’ve lived in while saving up college tuition were an improvement over living with her and all her low-life boyfriends. At least there, I had autonomy.I’ve dealt with landlords selling crack on the side and the junkies they attract. Always, I’ve been known as independent, and strong—maybe offputtingly so. But, those were the character traits I had to develop to have any chance of getting ahead.And all that lead to what? To this? To letting my guard down for one night and ending up… here?Wherever “here” is, I think to myself.The shock of the revelation has subsided a bit. I push off from the pillar. I can figure this out. I take a deep breath and look at my hands and feet. I am not bound. I pick at my clothes. They are the same ones I wore last night.Do you know what might be lurking in the darkness?I shove the meddlesome voice down. I don’t need more worries. Not now.Carefully, I place one foot in front of the other and edge to the outer reaches of the light. The strange hissing noise has gone away. I don’t know when that happened. Maybe it was in my head the entire time.I strain my eyes, trying to pierce the surrounding darkness. It’s impossible. I reach out with one hand and find nothing but air. This far from the pillar, I can barely see my outstretched hand.“Hello?” I try again. “Who’s there?”There’s no answer.What kind of madman would do something like this? I wonder. What is hidden in the shadows?Without warning, my imagination starts to run wild. Torture devices? Bondage equipment? Something… worse?Snap out of it! I tell myself firmly.I refuse to give in to despair, even if my entire self-preservation mechanism is on high alert. Despair is what whoever brought me here wants me to feel.I will not succumb to that.I look down at the floor. It is made of some expensive stone. I kneel down and brush my hand over the large, square tiles. They feel solid. Sturdy. They don’t belong in a dingy basement or a dirty warehouse.Somehow, that thought strengthens me. Things aren’t quite as bad as they could be.I stand up and peer into the black. I glance back at the safety of my pillar. If I venture past the light, I can always find my way back.Go slow, I warn myself. Who knows what might be waiting for me out there?I’ve seen the horror movies. Just because I don’t get the dungeon vibes here does not mean I’m not in one.Haltingly, my foot reaches past the edge.A thousand bright lights flood the room. I gasp and shy back, shielding my eyes on instinct.After a few seconds, I lower my arm, blinking through the sharp pain that shoots through my head. I can almost groan. Light sensitivity, too?Then I see the room.Holy shit.It’s huge. Massive. It must be at least five thousand square feet of pristine, flat space. I’m smack dab in the middle of it all.The lights come from embedded ceiling lamps high overhead. Three of the walls, far away from me, are decorated with black and white abstract paintings created in bold brush strokes. The fourth wall is shielded by a heavy red curtain. The entire floor is made of rich, creamy white tiles reminiscent of steamed milk.The ceiling is so high above me I almost feel like I’m in a cathedral. It’s made of exquisite dark oak beams.But this is no church.I do a slow turn. Something about this is all wrong.So wrong.Why am I here? What is behind the curtain? Other than the massive pillar and the paintings, there is nothing in the room.If I’m being kept prisoner, why am I unbound? Why waste so much space on me?I cup my hands around my mouth and yell.“HEY! Anybody? Where am I?”As before, I’m greeted with silence.I take one more careful look around. If I got in, there must be a way out.My eyes dart to the curtain.Behind there.I start toward it, my bare feet making determined slaps against the cold floor. I’ve not even gone ten paces toward it when I feel a small tug on my ankle.I stop and look down. I discover a thread, so thin it’s almost translucent, tied loosely around my foot. The other end is attached to the base of the pillar.I bend down and finger it.What on earth is this?The thread looks like it should snap with the smallest amount of force. I wrap my hands around it and tug.It doesn’t give.I frown, and apply a little more effort.This time, it breaks in a clean cut.I shake my head as I straighten.Strange.I half-expected something to happen when I did that. Alarms to blare, the lights to go off, something.Nothing.That’s when I notice a small white envelope leaning against the pillar. It’s right where the thread connects. In fact, it blends so well with the marble that I’m sure I would have missed it were it not for the string.Exploration forgotten for now, I pick up the envelope. Maybe it will give some clue about what the fuck is going on.It’s made of heavy paper. A wax stamp seals it, imprinted with a two-faced drama mask that I would find unnerving no matter where I saw it.The only time I saw a wax-sealed envelope was when my ex got tapped by the Spade and Grave at Yale. I can understand the need for antiquity in New Haven. It makes no sense here.My finger slips under the flap. I carefully ease it open. A foreboding sense of doom swirls around me as I pull the folded letter out.I stare at it for a long minute. This is all so surreal. It feels like being caught in a bad dream. Once, I play myself right into my captor’s hands.My natural inclination to resist, to fight back, tells me to tear the paper up without another glance. But that would be madness. The only clue I have to my whereabouts might be contained inside.My thirst for information gets the better of me. I sit on the floor, cross my legs, and slowly unfold the paper.It’s handwritten in swift, flowing blue ink. The rows of words make perfect strides across the page. Precision is the first word that comes to mind to describe the owner of the handwriting.I set the sheet on the floor in front of me, lean forward and begin to read:
Two items require your immediate attention. 1. You may spuriously assume you are being held here against your will. Nothing could be farther from the truth. You are a guest. As a guest, you retain full ability to leave my home at any time. The door behind the drapes shall remain open for the duration of your stay. There are no physical barriers to speak of—though I would advise you to read to the end of this letter before making decisions based on a flawed understanding of your situation. 2. You may have already noted the new adornment around your neck. If so, well done! I applaud—
Adornment? I stop reading. What adornment?I bring my hands to my neck. I feel the unfamiliar shape against my skin. Why hadn’t I noticed it before?I scamper closer to the marble pillar to try to make out my reflection. I can’t see much, but I can make out the “adornment”. There’s a black collar around my throat. I touch it with one hand.It’s smooth and flat. It’s made of some kind of matted plastic, like the edges of a computer screen. It’s not tight or uncomfortable.It frightens me. If it warranted a place in the letter, there must be something to it. I need to get it off.My fingers dart around the edges, seeking the clasp that opens it.I don’t find one.The collar is smooth inside and out. It feels like a single piece of plastic. I trail one finger around the rim on the inside, and, finding no discrepancies, do the same on the outside. Again, I feel nothing.There’s no crack, no edge, nothing to indicate how it was put around my neck.I jam all my fingers between my skin and the plastic and pull with all my might. The collar flexes ever-so-slightly but doesn’t give.Dammit! I cry out and try again.I pull with all the strength God gave me. It’s not enough. I try again, and again, and again.Nothing.I realize I’m panting at this point. The exertion has me almost hyperventilating.I drop my hands. It’s just a stupid, harmless little piece of plastic. Why do I want it off so much?Because the idea of having anything foreign touch your skin is repulsive.The voice is right, as always. But what can I do? The collar is bound to be part of the mind game in which I’m an unwitting participant. Reacting the way I just did is probably exactly what my captor wants. He—and I am certain it’s a “he” now, from the wording of the letter—wants me to feel terrified.I will not give him the pleasure. I return to the letter and continue to read:…applaud your perspicacity! You should know, however, that it is not an ordinary collar. Contained inside is a small positioning chip and two electrodes. They become activated the moment you stray outside your designated safe zone.The string around your foot offers a conservative estimation of the distance you may roam past the marble column. Stay close, and you will remain untroubled. I am told that the electric shock the collar provides, while not lethal, can be quite unpleasant.
Holy fuck!My spine goes absolutely straight and I forget to breathe. Now the collar has meaning. It feels like a live serpent wrapped around my neck.My eyes are wide as I look down to my foot. The piece of string is still there, but it’s not connected to the one linked to the pillar.I’d ripped it like a moron.How far do I dare go? I’ll have to retie the string—unless I find a way to get the collar off my neck, first.Another thought occurs to me:Maybe this is a bluff? Does the collar really have an electrode in it? It’s so thin. Where would it draw power from?I stand up. Assuming the collar is rigged, and the pillar is the center point… but that’s just what he wants me to believe, isn’t it? The letter claims there’s a door behind the drapes. It could be my path to freedom. I would have to be an idiot to stay here without testing the boundary myself.I can’t trust anything the letter says. But, I can’t give in to despair, either. My only choice is to contest everything that’s thrown at me. If this is supposed to be a battle of the wills, the guy chose the wrong girl to mess with.I pick up the remainder of the string and hold it in my fist. I square my shoulders to the long, drawn curtain. I hold my head high. My free hand itches to tug at the collar, but I keep it still. If my captor is watching me—which I’m sure he is, because I’m positive there are cameras hidden all around me—I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me hesitate.I take a deep breath and start toward the curtained wall. My strides are strong and purposeful. I will not waver. I will not turn back. Fear of a little shock will not keep me from testing the true limits of this prison.The string goes taut, and I stop.So far, so good.It’s the next few steps that will determine everything.I glance at the floor to mark my position. So, he expects to keep me in an invisible cage, does he? A cage of my own imagination?Yeah, tough luck.I drop the string and take one solid step forward.Nothing happens.I risk one more.Nothing happens.The corner of my lip twitches up in a hint of a smile. I called his bluff. But, I’m not home free yet. The veiled wall is another thirty-odd paces away from me.I take two more steps forward, and, when nothing happens, start to walk more briskly.My stroll is cut short by a sharp little zap beneath my left ear.I tense and wait for more.Well, color me surprised.It looks like the collar does have bite, after all. When a second jolt doesn’t come, I can’t stop my smile from becoming a satisfied smirk. I knew the collar couldn’t possible have enough juice to hurt me. Where would the battery go?Extremely pleased with myself, I venture onward, toward the curtain and its promise of freedom.The violent torrent of electricity blindsides me. One second I’m on my feet, the next I’m writhing on the floor.The current pours into me. I thrash about like a grounded fish. Fierce convulsions rock my body. And all I know is pain, pain, pain.I can feel the source of it, snug around my neck. I’m helpless to fight the onslaught. My head flails about on the ground, throwing hair into my face. A high-pitched squeal sounds in my ears and I desperately hope that pathetic sound is not me.My eyes roll up and all goes black.
About the AuthorI’m Scarlett Edwards. I wrote my first book as a college sophomore. After six months of edits, it made its debut as Yours to Savor.
That was at the start of 2013. I’ve written more books since then. You can find them all here.
It’s funny how quickly life changes. I used to think I’d need a degree to get a “Real Job.” Then I wrote a few books, they got somewhat popular, and now I’m living the life as a full-time romance author.
Thanks to all my readers for making my dreams come true!
Stalker Linkswww.scarlettedwards.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Author.Scarlett.Edwardshttps://www.goodreads.com/ScarlettEdwards
Giveaway Details1 Kindle Paperwhite3 - $50 Visa GC’s5 - $20 Amazon or Nook GC’s20 - Signed paperbacks of Uncovering You25 - Digital copies of all of Scarlett's books (Change of Heart, Change of Heart Part 2, Never Let Go, Yours to Savor, Uncovering You) a Rafflecopter giveaway
Cover Reveal organized by:
Title - Uncovering YouAuthor: Scarlett EdwardsGenre - Dark RomanceRelease Date - March 27th, 2014Cover Reveal - February 18th, 2014Series - first book in series. Second will be out April 20th, 2014.
Synopsis-When I wake up in a dark, unfamiliar room, I have no idea what's waiting for me in the shadows. My imagination conjures up demons of the worst kind.
Reality is much worse:
A collar with no leash. A prison with no walls. And a life stripped of meaning.
I am presented with a vile contract and asked to sign. It outlines the terms of my servitude. The only information I have about my captor are the two small letters inked at the bottom:
J.S.
Armed with only my memories, I must do everything I can to avoid becoming ensnared in his twisted mind games. But in the end, it all comes down to one choice:
Resist and die.
Or submit, and sign my life away
GoodReads Link:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20512700-uncovering-you
Excerpt:“Lilly.”Oh God. It’s him. There’s no mistaking that rich, masculine treble.What’s he doing down here?“M-Mr. Stonehart,” I stutter, turning. I curse my inability to hide my surprise. He totally caught me off-guard. I have to look up to meet his eyes. Then up some more.The face that I find is so striking it should belong to a Greek god.He’s younger than I expected. Late thirties, maybe early forties.That means he started his company when he was younger than me!Dark scruff lines his angular cheeks. His jet-black hair is styled in long, natural waves. My fingers itch to run through it.Totally inappropriate.He has a prominent nose that might be too big on a less imposing man, but on him, it’s perfect.In short, he’s a package of the purest masculinity I’ve ever seen.And then there are his eyes. Oh my God. His eyes. They pierce into me like honing missiles. They are the deepest black I have ever seen. They would be frightening if they weren’t so beautiful. When the light reflects a certain way, you catch a glimpse of the purple underneath.They are like midnight sapphires. His eyes reveal a cunning intellect. Those eyes do not miss a thing.Add all that to his towering height, his wide shoulders, his confident-yet-at-ease posture… and Stonehart cuts an intimidating figure.My gaze darts to his left hand before I can stop it. No ring. He’s unmarried.He looks down at me, expectantly. His eyes narrow ever so slightly, and I feel like I’m being dissected, measured up, and tucked away in some small corner of his brain. I imagine this is what a gemstone feels like under the magnifying class of the most critical appraiser.Stonehart clears his throat. I come to with a start, realizing I haven’t said anything in ages. I open my mouth, but the capacity for speech seems like a foreign concept to my brain. “I—”Somebody bumps into me from behind. I stagger forward. I’m not used to these shoes, so my heel steps the wrong way. My ankle twists under me, and I start to fall.I don’t fall far. The hand still on my elbow tightens, and Stonehart pulls me into him.I plaster myself onto the solid steel wall the man has for a body. I catch a scent of his cologne. It’s a deep, musky smell with a hint of charred spruce that is all male. It scrambles my thoughts even more.“Sorry!” a rushed voice calls out. From the corner of my eye, I see the postman giving a hurried, apologetic wave.Although the sequence lasts less than a second, it feels like an eternity. Pressed up against him like that, I don’t want to move. I know that I couldn’t have made a worse first impression.Stonehart eases me off him with a firm yet gentle grip. Our eyes meet. I flush the most vibrant red. His fingers graze my forehead as he brushes a lock of hair out of my face.Any tenderness I may have imagined vanishes when Stonehart takes out his cell. He long dials a key and growls an order. “Steven. See the delivery boy leaving right now? Have his building pass revoked.”I gape. Stonehart keeps speaking. “Wait. I thought of one better. Bar his company from accessing the building.” There’s a pause. “For how long? Indefinitely. FedEx can talk to me when they have an improved employee selection program in place.”The phone call gives me just enough time to compose myself. My heart’s still beating out of my chest. But nobody has to know that.I speak without thinking. “You’re going to restrict the entire company from serving this building because of that?”Stonehart humors me with an answer. “A company’s employees are its most important asset. Their behavior reflects the organization as a whole. If FedEx decided that clown is good enough for them, it tells me they’re sloppy. I do not do business with sloppy organizations.”“What about the other tenants in the building?” I ask. “Won’t that piss them off?”When I hear myself and realize how improper my question is, my cheeks flame red again.Stonehart’s eyes darken, as if he cannot believe I asked that question. I open my mouth to apologize for my imprudence, hating the way my professional skills have evaporated into thin air. I’m cut off by a short, barked laugh.“Miss Ryder.” He sounds amused. “I believe that is the most direct and honest question anybody has dared ask me in weeks.” He takes my elbow again and leads me to the elevators. I have to take two quick steps to match one of his long strides.“Yes,” he continues. “They will be ‘pissed off.’ But the perk of owning a building—” he hits the elevator call button, “—is that you get to make executive decisions.” He gives me an unreadable glance as the doors open. “That is, at the risk of being questioned by inexperienced interns.”If that isn’t a loaded remark, I don’t know what is. I flush scarlet red for the third time since I’ve met him. I’ve never had a man throw me so off balance.The elevator is packed, for which I’m infinitely thankful. The trip up will give me some time to properlycompose myself.Gratitude turns to panic when the crowd files out, meek as mice, when Stonehart steps in. None of the people waiting in the lobby follow us.The doors close. I’m alone in here with him. My heart’s beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.He catches me staring. “Impressed?” he asks.“They know you,” I manage.His dark eyes flash with amusement. “Astute.”Chapter OneOctober 2013. Date unknown.(Present day)
A faint hiss, like the sound of an angry cat, jars me from my sleep.I open my eyes to pure blackness. I blink, trying to get my bearings. A vague memory forms in the back of my mind, too far away to reach.Why can’t I see anything?My breath hitches. Panic rips through my body as the horrifying answer comes to me:I’m blind!I scramble onto hands and knees and desperately claw at the dark, searching for something, anything, for my senses to latch onto.A dim overhead light comes on.Relief swells inside.I plop back on my butt and close my eyes, taking deep breaths to dispel the rush of adrenaline released by my body. When my heart’s not beating quite so fast, I open my eyes again.The light’s gotten brighter. I look up at the source. It’s far above me, like a dull, miniature sun. It spreads a little sphere around me, maybe ten feet in diameter. Past that, everything is swallowed by darkness.An irksome memory keeps gnawing at me. But my head is too heavy to remember. I feel… strange. Kind of like I’m hung over, but without the telltale pounding between my ears.Cautiously, I try to stand. My limbs are slow to react. They feel heavy, too, like they’ve been dipped in wet clay. I steady myself. Only when I’m satisfied that my knees won’t give out, do I strain my ears for that hissing sound again.It’s coming from somewhere behind me. I turn back—and nearly smash my head on a gleaming white pillar.What the hell?The sound is forgotten as I reach out and brush tentative fingers against the pillar’s surface. It’s cool to the touch. Smooth, too. I put my other hand on it. If I had to guess, I’d say it was made of marble. But what is a lone, white marble pillar doing in the middle of this room?The memory is like a gong going off inside my head. But trying to reach it is like grasping at a smooth, slippery stone at the bottom of an aquarium. Just when I think I have it, it slips through my fingers and falls even farther out of reach.I walk a slow, measured circle around the pillar. If I tried wrapping my arms around it, I doubt if I could even span half the circumference. Something far in the back of my mind tells me I should be alarmed. I look behind me and frown. By what? A dark room?No, you idiot. By the reason you’re here!My eyes widen. The reason I’m here? I don’t… I don’t remember.I wince and bring one hand to my temple. Why am I having so much trouble remembering?I gasp as a second gruesome thought hits me. Did I lose my memory? Do I have… amnesia?I sink down with my back to the pillar. Desperation starts to take over. I hold my head between my knees and close my eyes to focus.My name is Lilly Ryder. I was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 17th, 1990.My eyes pop open. Joyous tears form in the corners. I do remember! I take a deep breath and try to keep going.I was raised by my mom. I do not know my dad…Suddenly, all my childhood memories come streaming back. Moving around as a kid. Never staying in one place longer than six months. All the cities I’ve lived in. All the apartments my mom and I called home. Even the revolving door of her boyfriends. There was Dave, and Matthew. Tom, and Steve. There was…I shake my head to stop myself. I don’t doubt my memory anymore. But that still does not explain why I have absolutely no recollection of this place, or how I got here.I push myself back up. The spotlight above me has gotten progressively brighter. The little enclosure of light doesn’t feel quite so tight anymore. I trail my eyes up the length of the pillar. I can’t see where it ends because of the light. But I can tell it’s tall, at least twenty, maybe twenty-five feet…There’s also something about its surface that calls out to me. My hands itch to run over the smooth stone. A giggle bubbles up as I picture myself stroking it. The column is quite phallic.I waver at the unfamiliar thought and have to catch my balance against the beam.Focus, Lilly! I chide myself.I have no idea where that thought came from. I have never been overtly sexual.Nothing feels right. The fog that’s heavy on my mind is starting to lift, but not yet enough for me to understand—or remember—where the hell I am. This place is unfamiliar. I know that much. But right now, I feel almost like a surgery patient whose anesthetic kinked out: fully awake mentally, but completely impaired physically.I go back to my memories. I can remember high school. I remember college. That’s where I spent the last three years of my life, isn’t it? Yes. Yes, it is.“Hello?” I call out. My voice echoes into the surrounding gloom. “Is anybody there?”I wait for an answer. All I get is the hollow repetition of my own voice.…anybody there, there, there…I spent the last three years in college… but that’s not where I think I am right now. No. I shake my head. I knowthat’s not where I am. My memories are fuzzier the closer I bring them to today. Time feels… skewed. Freshman year’s easy to remember. So is sophomore, and most of junior… but things get weird toward the end.I… finished junior year, didn’t I? Yes. Yes, I did. And then…And then I took an internship in distant California for the summer, I remember with another gasp.Suddenly, my mind is crystal clear. That pressing memory hurtles into view. It’s from yesterday. The last thing I recall, I was alone in a booth at an upscale restaurant. The waiter brought me a glass of wine. I took a few sips, contemplating my future….Oh, God! Fear wraps a stranglehold around my neck.The restaurant. The wine.I’ve been drugged!I can’t breathe. A suppressing tightness constricts my throat. I feel dizzy, and terrified, and most of all… ashamed.Holy shit, Lilly, way to look out for yourself! My semi-mad inner dialogue pans with a generous dollop of sarcasm.I’ve always known about the dangers of sick men preying on unsuspecting girls. I just never thought I’d fall victim to it.I’ve been on my own since I turned eighteen, after the final falling out with my mother. I’ve always been proud of how well I managed. Even the shabby holes I’ve lived in while saving up college tuition were an improvement over living with her and all her low-life boyfriends. At least there, I had autonomy.I’ve dealt with landlords selling crack on the side and the junkies they attract. Always, I’ve been known as independent, and strong—maybe offputtingly so. But, those were the character traits I had to develop to have any chance of getting ahead.And all that lead to what? To this? To letting my guard down for one night and ending up… here?Wherever “here” is, I think to myself.The shock of the revelation has subsided a bit. I push off from the pillar. I can figure this out. I take a deep breath and look at my hands and feet. I am not bound. I pick at my clothes. They are the same ones I wore last night.Do you know what might be lurking in the darkness?I shove the meddlesome voice down. I don’t need more worries. Not now.Carefully, I place one foot in front of the other and edge to the outer reaches of the light. The strange hissing noise has gone away. I don’t know when that happened. Maybe it was in my head the entire time.I strain my eyes, trying to pierce the surrounding darkness. It’s impossible. I reach out with one hand and find nothing but air. This far from the pillar, I can barely see my outstretched hand.“Hello?” I try again. “Who’s there?”There’s no answer.What kind of madman would do something like this? I wonder. What is hidden in the shadows?Without warning, my imagination starts to run wild. Torture devices? Bondage equipment? Something… worse?Snap out of it! I tell myself firmly.I refuse to give in to despair, even if my entire self-preservation mechanism is on high alert. Despair is what whoever brought me here wants me to feel.I will not succumb to that.I look down at the floor. It is made of some expensive stone. I kneel down and brush my hand over the large, square tiles. They feel solid. Sturdy. They don’t belong in a dingy basement or a dirty warehouse.Somehow, that thought strengthens me. Things aren’t quite as bad as they could be.I stand up and peer into the black. I glance back at the safety of my pillar. If I venture past the light, I can always find my way back.Go slow, I warn myself. Who knows what might be waiting for me out there?I’ve seen the horror movies. Just because I don’t get the dungeon vibes here does not mean I’m not in one.Haltingly, my foot reaches past the edge.A thousand bright lights flood the room. I gasp and shy back, shielding my eyes on instinct.After a few seconds, I lower my arm, blinking through the sharp pain that shoots through my head. I can almost groan. Light sensitivity, too?Then I see the room.Holy shit.It’s huge. Massive. It must be at least five thousand square feet of pristine, flat space. I’m smack dab in the middle of it all.The lights come from embedded ceiling lamps high overhead. Three of the walls, far away from me, are decorated with black and white abstract paintings created in bold brush strokes. The fourth wall is shielded by a heavy red curtain. The entire floor is made of rich, creamy white tiles reminiscent of steamed milk.The ceiling is so high above me I almost feel like I’m in a cathedral. It’s made of exquisite dark oak beams.But this is no church.I do a slow turn. Something about this is all wrong.So wrong.Why am I here? What is behind the curtain? Other than the massive pillar and the paintings, there is nothing in the room.If I’m being kept prisoner, why am I unbound? Why waste so much space on me?I cup my hands around my mouth and yell.“HEY! Anybody? Where am I?”As before, I’m greeted with silence.I take one more careful look around. If I got in, there must be a way out.My eyes dart to the curtain.Behind there.I start toward it, my bare feet making determined slaps against the cold floor. I’ve not even gone ten paces toward it when I feel a small tug on my ankle.I stop and look down. I discover a thread, so thin it’s almost translucent, tied loosely around my foot. The other end is attached to the base of the pillar.I bend down and finger it.What on earth is this?The thread looks like it should snap with the smallest amount of force. I wrap my hands around it and tug.It doesn’t give.I frown, and apply a little more effort.This time, it breaks in a clean cut.I shake my head as I straighten.Strange.I half-expected something to happen when I did that. Alarms to blare, the lights to go off, something.Nothing.That’s when I notice a small white envelope leaning against the pillar. It’s right where the thread connects. In fact, it blends so well with the marble that I’m sure I would have missed it were it not for the string.Exploration forgotten for now, I pick up the envelope. Maybe it will give some clue about what the fuck is going on.It’s made of heavy paper. A wax stamp seals it, imprinted with a two-faced drama mask that I would find unnerving no matter where I saw it.The only time I saw a wax-sealed envelope was when my ex got tapped by the Spade and Grave at Yale. I can understand the need for antiquity in New Haven. It makes no sense here.My finger slips under the flap. I carefully ease it open. A foreboding sense of doom swirls around me as I pull the folded letter out.I stare at it for a long minute. This is all so surreal. It feels like being caught in a bad dream. Once, I play myself right into my captor’s hands.My natural inclination to resist, to fight back, tells me to tear the paper up without another glance. But that would be madness. The only clue I have to my whereabouts might be contained inside.My thirst for information gets the better of me. I sit on the floor, cross my legs, and slowly unfold the paper.It’s handwritten in swift, flowing blue ink. The rows of words make perfect strides across the page. Precision is the first word that comes to mind to describe the owner of the handwriting.I set the sheet on the floor in front of me, lean forward and begin to read:
Two items require your immediate attention. 1. You may spuriously assume you are being held here against your will. Nothing could be farther from the truth. You are a guest. As a guest, you retain full ability to leave my home at any time. The door behind the drapes shall remain open for the duration of your stay. There are no physical barriers to speak of—though I would advise you to read to the end of this letter before making decisions based on a flawed understanding of your situation. 2. You may have already noted the new adornment around your neck. If so, well done! I applaud—
Adornment? I stop reading. What adornment?I bring my hands to my neck. I feel the unfamiliar shape against my skin. Why hadn’t I noticed it before?I scamper closer to the marble pillar to try to make out my reflection. I can’t see much, but I can make out the “adornment”. There’s a black collar around my throat. I touch it with one hand.It’s smooth and flat. It’s made of some kind of matted plastic, like the edges of a computer screen. It’s not tight or uncomfortable.It frightens me. If it warranted a place in the letter, there must be something to it. I need to get it off.My fingers dart around the edges, seeking the clasp that opens it.I don’t find one.The collar is smooth inside and out. It feels like a single piece of plastic. I trail one finger around the rim on the inside, and, finding no discrepancies, do the same on the outside. Again, I feel nothing.There’s no crack, no edge, nothing to indicate how it was put around my neck.I jam all my fingers between my skin and the plastic and pull with all my might. The collar flexes ever-so-slightly but doesn’t give.Dammit! I cry out and try again.I pull with all the strength God gave me. It’s not enough. I try again, and again, and again.Nothing.I realize I’m panting at this point. The exertion has me almost hyperventilating.I drop my hands. It’s just a stupid, harmless little piece of plastic. Why do I want it off so much?Because the idea of having anything foreign touch your skin is repulsive.The voice is right, as always. But what can I do? The collar is bound to be part of the mind game in which I’m an unwitting participant. Reacting the way I just did is probably exactly what my captor wants. He—and I am certain it’s a “he” now, from the wording of the letter—wants me to feel terrified.I will not give him the pleasure. I return to the letter and continue to read:…applaud your perspicacity! You should know, however, that it is not an ordinary collar. Contained inside is a small positioning chip and two electrodes. They become activated the moment you stray outside your designated safe zone.The string around your foot offers a conservative estimation of the distance you may roam past the marble column. Stay close, and you will remain untroubled. I am told that the electric shock the collar provides, while not lethal, can be quite unpleasant.
Holy fuck!My spine goes absolutely straight and I forget to breathe. Now the collar has meaning. It feels like a live serpent wrapped around my neck.My eyes are wide as I look down to my foot. The piece of string is still there, but it’s not connected to the one linked to the pillar.I’d ripped it like a moron.How far do I dare go? I’ll have to retie the string—unless I find a way to get the collar off my neck, first.Another thought occurs to me:Maybe this is a bluff? Does the collar really have an electrode in it? It’s so thin. Where would it draw power from?I stand up. Assuming the collar is rigged, and the pillar is the center point… but that’s just what he wants me to believe, isn’t it? The letter claims there’s a door behind the drapes. It could be my path to freedom. I would have to be an idiot to stay here without testing the boundary myself.I can’t trust anything the letter says. But, I can’t give in to despair, either. My only choice is to contest everything that’s thrown at me. If this is supposed to be a battle of the wills, the guy chose the wrong girl to mess with.I pick up the remainder of the string and hold it in my fist. I square my shoulders to the long, drawn curtain. I hold my head high. My free hand itches to tug at the collar, but I keep it still. If my captor is watching me—which I’m sure he is, because I’m positive there are cameras hidden all around me—I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me hesitate.I take a deep breath and start toward the curtained wall. My strides are strong and purposeful. I will not waver. I will not turn back. Fear of a little shock will not keep me from testing the true limits of this prison.The string goes taut, and I stop.So far, so good.It’s the next few steps that will determine everything.I glance at the floor to mark my position. So, he expects to keep me in an invisible cage, does he? A cage of my own imagination?Yeah, tough luck.I drop the string and take one solid step forward.Nothing happens.I risk one more.Nothing happens.The corner of my lip twitches up in a hint of a smile. I called his bluff. But, I’m not home free yet. The veiled wall is another thirty-odd paces away from me.I take two more steps forward, and, when nothing happens, start to walk more briskly.My stroll is cut short by a sharp little zap beneath my left ear.I tense and wait for more.Well, color me surprised.It looks like the collar does have bite, after all. When a second jolt doesn’t come, I can’t stop my smile from becoming a satisfied smirk. I knew the collar couldn’t possible have enough juice to hurt me. Where would the battery go?Extremely pleased with myself, I venture onward, toward the curtain and its promise of freedom.The violent torrent of electricity blindsides me. One second I’m on my feet, the next I’m writhing on the floor.The current pours into me. I thrash about like a grounded fish. Fierce convulsions rock my body. And all I know is pain, pain, pain.I can feel the source of it, snug around my neck. I’m helpless to fight the onslaught. My head flails about on the ground, throwing hair into my face. A high-pitched squeal sounds in my ears and I desperately hope that pathetic sound is not me.My eyes roll up and all goes black.
About the AuthorI’m Scarlett Edwards. I wrote my first book as a college sophomore. After six months of edits, it made its debut as Yours to Savor. That was at the start of 2013. I’ve written more books since then. You can find them all here.
It’s funny how quickly life changes. I used to think I’d need a degree to get a “Real Job.” Then I wrote a few books, they got somewhat popular, and now I’m living the life as a full-time romance author.
Thanks to all my readers for making my dreams come true!
Stalker Linkswww.scarlettedwards.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Author.Scarlett.Edwardshttps://www.goodreads.com/ScarlettEdwards
Giveaway Details1 Kindle Paperwhite3 - $50 Visa GC’s5 - $20 Amazon or Nook GC’s20 - Signed paperbacks of Uncovering You25 - Digital copies of all of Scarlett's books (Change of Heart, Change of Heart Part 2, Never Let Go, Yours to Savor, Uncovering You) a Rafflecopter giveaway
Cover Reveal organized by:
February 17, 2014
Love Like The Movies By Victoria Van Tiem
Blurb:LOVE LIKE THE MOVIESA contemporary romantic comedy from Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Star by Victoria Van TiemIn this irresistible romantic romp, movie fanatic, Kensington Shaw is thrown into love—Hollywood-style–when her gorgeous ex presents a big screen challenge to win back her heart. What girl wouldn’t want to experience the Pretty Woman shopping scene? It’s number two on the list. Or, try the lift from Dirty Dancing? It’s number five. One list, ten romantic movie moments, and a handful of shenanigans later, Kenzi has to wonder…should she marry the man her family loves, or risk everything for a love like the movies?
Main retail links:
AmazonBarnes & Noble
Full RETAIL List: http://vvantiem.wordpress.com/books/lltm/
About Victoria Van Tiem:
Author repped by Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency. An artist, black belt, mom of two, wife of one, and resident caretaker of the family zoo—including our beloved, pot-bellied pig, Pobby.
Connect With Victoria Van Tiem:
BLOG: http://vvantiem.wordpress.com/Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/v.vtiemRafflecopter–Facebook contest tab for all users: http://tinyurl.com/mcfqcqrTwitter:https://twitter.com/vtiem
❤LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES PRE-RELEASE SWAG SWEEPSTAKES❤
*CONTEST STARTS Jan 23rd and runs to Feb 24th
To Celebrate LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES release on February 24th we’ve collected all things movies for an ultimate MOVIE SWAG SWEEPSTAKES!
1 GRAND PRIZE worth over $150
Free eBook of LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES and a popcorn gift basket with all ten ROM-COM DVD movies from LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES! We’ll even throw in the movie snacks!DVD’s included:
Sleepless In Seattle - Pretty Woman – Bridget Jones Diary – 27 Dresses
Dirty Dancing – Sixteen Candles – Love Actually – Say Anything
You’ve Got Mail – My Best Friend’s Wedding
Free eBook of LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES and a $25 iTunes gift card to download Rom-Com’s of your choice!
No purchase necessary. Enter the Rafflecopter on Facebook by clicking here!
SWEEPSTAKES RULES LINK: http://vvantiem.wordpress.com/
See all of the stops on this buzz tour at: Fire and Ice Book Tours!
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