B.L. Blair's Blog, page 31

Reading

I love the Savannah Martin Series by Jenna Bennett. Romance and Mystery! I read a lot and very often re-read books I have read before. She had a new book coming out in March so I am re-reading the other in preparation.
There is sex, humor, and mystery in the books. This is just the type of book I enjoy. There are fourteen books and two novellas in the series:A Cutthroat BusinessHot PropertyContract PendingClose to HomeA Done DealContingent upon Approval - novellaChange of HeartKickout ClausePast DueDirty DeedsUnfinished BusinessBusman’s Honeymoon - novellaAdverse PossessionUncertain TermsScared MoneyBad Debt – due out March 7th
If you like a light but good read, this is a great series. If anyone knows of other series similar to this one, please let me know.

Release Day!

Alex is hired to find a lost Savannah, a rare and expensive cat breed. She quickly learns the cat isn’t just missing. The cat was stolen. The main suspect is the next door neighbor who is obsessed with Savannahs and the game of golf.
Soon Alex discovers a black market ring in the world of fanatic Savannah cat breeders. She has to dust off her rusty investigative skills to solve the mystery of the lost Savannah.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Savannah-Found-Pets-Novella-ebook/dp/B01NACBGC6/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lost-savannah-b-l-blair/1125257844?ean=2940153883755
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-lost-savannah/id1180673884?mt=11
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-lost-savannah
Smashwords:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/685667

Melancholy Ghost by Kat Mayor - Giveaway

This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs February 21-27. You can see the blitz schedule here.

Melancholy Ghost
By Kat Mayor
Genre: Paranormal
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 14 February, 2017

Blurb:
From ghost hunter to ghost, haunted.

Barrett has a plan—help Austin regain his memory, surround him with his friends and loved ones, and lead him into the light. Unfortunately, the tragic investigation of a melancholy ghost derails everything.

As new lead investigator, Thai struggles to maintain the high ratings SCI has always enjoyed. After a few subpar investigations, the network execs demand results, even if it means the team must put their lives on the line for a house more deadly than its dead occupants.

There are worse things than being dead.

Austin knows something is wrong. Most people ignore him, time eludes him, and his hands are basically worthless. If only he could remember what happened, he would have the answers he so desperately seeks. He’s sick of Barrett’s lies and Casey’s deflections. Austin will have to figure this one out on his own. Will the truth set him free, or destroy his soul?

- Amazon
- Amazon Paperback
- Goodreads


Excerpt:
“So, why are you here, bothering the living? Why haven’t you crossed into the light?”The ghost chuckled, as if amused. Then his gaze turned dark. Before Barrett could stop him, the angry ghost transformed into a white mist and dove into Barrett’s nose and mouth. One moment Barrett was a casual observer of a long ago family squabble, the next, he was part of the action, lying on the floor peering up into Theodore’s hate-filled eyes.You think you can come in here and steal what I built, Ernst? Is that it?Theodore was standing over Barrett with a pistol pointed at his forehead. Barrett’s heart hammered in his chest. He thinks I’m his brother, Ernst. He’s really going to shoot me. This is real. Barrett’s lips formed words that were not his own. It’s mine, you bastard. You took it from me. Then Barrett spit on the ground.The loud concussion of the gun firing was the last thing Barrett heard before the spirit vacated his mind and body. Barrett found himself curled in a ball against the wall, drawing in deep, frantic breaths. Teddy stood, chuckling at the pathetic clairvoyant he’d taken down in a matter of minutes. You are a simple-minded medium, aren’t you? Theodore said, as Barrett slowly pulled himself up. Gary stared at the space the ghostly voice inhabited. The light doesn’t want me, and I don’t want it. I made my choice; I’m judged. I will remain here. Keep Ernst’s thieving bastards from taking what doesn’t belong to them.Gary gave Barrett a hand up. It was then that Barrett noticed the ghosts had chosen sides. Before, he thought the ghosts were all clustered around Theodore. Actually they were divided in half. One group was surrounding Theodore on one side of the room, and a second fright of ghosts stood on the opposite side, glaring at them. Front and center in that group was the brother, Ernst, who Theodore shot and killed over a hundred years before.Barrett made a move to climb the staircase when Theodore appeared directly in front of him. Not a step farther. Barrett started to shove past the spirit when the walls creaked and the staircase rumbled under his feet. He reached out, grasping the railing. Without even closing his eyes, Barrett slipped into a trance-state. His physical body was on the first riser, holding the banister. But someone or something had hijacked his mind for the second time this evening, taking him to a place he didn’t want to be.It was pitch-black, and Barrett was alone. After his eyes adjusted to the dark, he realized he was in an inner part of the house, like a crawl space inside the walls or, more likely, a basement. A plink, plink, plink echoed against the stone walls as water from a leaky pipe dripped down on a hard surface in a distant room. There was a loud, electric, hum in the background. Up ahead, he heard the clank of the furnace firing up. He placed his hand against the wall and yanked it back quickly, blowing on his fingers. “Son of a bitch!” The cinderblock was glowing hot. Were the stones melting? Sweat rolled down his cheek and he wiped it away. Just a moment ago it had been a cool forty degrees in the house. Now, it had to be at least ninety. He pulled off his hoodie, not that it helped much. Sweat stained his T-shirt around the collar and under his arms. If he didn’t figure a way out of this, he was going to die of heat exhaustion. The house creaked and shifted. Every hair on his body stood at attention. Correction. If I don’t get out of here, the place will fall down on top of me.A voice he hadn’t heard in over a year spoke to his mind. Run! Barrett’s eyes flew open and he gasped. He was back in the Stanton’s living room with Gary staring at him like he had grown three heads.“Let’s go.” He grabbed the sleeve of Gary’s shirt and pulled him toward the front door and onto the front lawn, to what Barrett deemed a safe distance from the house.“What the hell happened in there?” Gary asked Barrett. “You were standing there with me, but you were in some kind of altered state. I tried to talk to you, wake you up, but it was clear nobody was home.”Barrett opened his mouth, then closed it. He had no answer. His mind was still processing all the paranormal shit that had been thrown at him in such a short time period. “How long … was I out of it?”“About five minutes. Your eyes were wide open, but you weren’t seeing me.” Gary’s eyes were drawn to the psychic’s shaking hand as he twisted his silver ring. “You need a break before we do the rest of the walkthrough?”“We’re done,” Barrett told him. He was intensely aware of his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear the blood throbbing in his ears. After taking a deep, steadying breath, Barrett turned and power walked to the tech trailer.Gary ran to catch up. “What’s wrong, man? That ghost must’ve really shook you up.”“Not the ghost. The house.” He turned to look back at the twin windows flanked by black shutters on the second story. In the dark, they looked like menacing eyes, daring him to return. Bile rose in his throat. “There is something way wrong with this house.”
Start this series with The Spirit Chaser! Only 0.99$!

Some places are too evil. Some places should be left alone.

The Spirit Chaser is only 0.99$, so you can start this series for cheap. You can buy The Spirit Chaser on Amazon.

About the Author:
I am a native Texan, wife, and mom. In addition to The Spirit Chaser, I have written a young adult series, The Circle. I’m a full-time reader, part-time writer, and when I’m not kicking a story around in my head, I love to read and review books on Goodreads.

- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads

Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Melancholy Ghost. This giveaway is open international. These are the prizes you can win:
- One 50$ Amazon gift card and paperback copies of The Spirit Chaser and Melancholy Ghost.
- One 25$ Amazon gift card and e-books of The Spirit Chaser and Melancholy Ghost.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Personal Note

Last time I wrote a little about my childhood. This time I thought I would write a little about my hobbies. I live a pretty quiet life but have three hobbies.
First I love to travel. My goal is to see as much of this world as I can. I usually travel with my sister, but occasionally I travel with a friend. The first real trip I took (other than camping with my family or visiting my sisters) was to Europe. Yes, I jumped right in. A friend and I took a tour to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It was an incredible time. We saw some beautiful places and met some interesting people.
Second I love to watch sports. You will note I said watch. I’m not very athletic, but I loved to watch others. As I live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in Texas, my teams are the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Mavericks. I also enjoy watching tennis. On one of my trips, we went to the US Tennis Open. It was a lot of fun.
Third I collect teapots. I had a friend in grad school who loved to have an “English Tea.” Once she invited me to join her, and it was a lot of fun. After that I tried it a few times myself, but it wasn’t as much fun when you do it more often; however, my sister had given me a tea set. It was a lovely floral design. After that I started looking for them. I have about fifty teapots today, and each one is a memory. Here's a picture of that first one.

Chocolate Mint Day

According to https://www.daysoftheyear.com/, February 19th is chocolate mint day. Russell Stover makes the best Mint Dream candy. Yummy!

Snippet from The Lost Savannah

My new book, The Lost Savannah, will be released next week.
Blurb:The Lost Savannah is the second novella in the Lost and Found Pets series. Alexandra Prescott opened Lost and Found Pets because she loves animals. Reuniting pet and owner is more than just a job.
Alex is hired to find a lost Savannah, a rare and expensive cat breed. She quickly learns the cat isn’t just missing. The cat was stolen. The main suspect is the next door neighbor who is obsessed with Savannahs and the game of golf.
Soon Alex discovers a black market ring in the world of fanatic Savannah cat breeders. She has to dust off her rusty investigative skills to solve the mystery of the lost Savannah.
Here is a snippet:The housekeeper led me through a formal living room into another room where Grace was waiting with a boy who appeared to be about twelve years old. This room was a family room and much more tastefully decorated. The furniture looked comfortable and went well with the dark, thick carpet. The only pictures on the walls were family portraits of a seemingly happy family of four.“Thank you for coming, Ms. Prescott,” Grace said as Hero and I walked into the room. She turned to the boy who was sitting on a chair next to the couch. He didn’t look at Hero or me. He was swaying just a little, and tapping his right hand against his leg in a constant, repetitive motion. “This is my son, Brian. Brian, this is Ms. Prescott. She’s going to try to find Sammie.”“Hi Brian,” I said. “This is Hero.”Hero sat up straighter when I said his name. Brian didn’t seem to notice. Usually I get along pretty well with children. Unlike adults, they don’t feel the need to make small talk. My default communication style works just fine with them. But it was obvious to me that Brian wasn’t your average child. He showed no interest in Hero.“Don’t like dogs,” Brian said, and the tapping on his leg increased.“Brian…” Grace started.“No problem,” I said, speaking over her. This was my area. Brian wasn’t the first client who had a negative reaction to Hero. “Lots of people don’t like dogs, but Hero knows how to search for other animals. He’s going to search for Sammie.”“Sammie’s gone.” The anguish in his voice was palpable. It tore at my heart.“Well,” I said sharply. “We’re going to try to find her.”
Preorder on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords.

Quote for the Day

Spooning Daisy by Maggie McConnell - Giveaway

BLURB:It’s a long way from Seattle to Otter Bite, Alaska. But if one woman can survive the trip-and the locals-she just might find what her heart has been searching for. Her mango chutney is exquisite; her blueberry sauce is to die for. But right now, Chef de Cuisine Daisy Moon is a woman without a kitchen-and without a fiancé. Unceremoniously dumped from her place of business and her relationship, Daisy sells her belongings, plus a few of her ex’s, and packs her bags. Maybe smashing all the china in her former restaurant was a bad move. Stripped of her Golden Spoon for “un-chef-like” conduct, she is now blacklisted all over Seattle. Her sole job offer is from Wild Man Lodge…in Otter Bite, Alaska. Too bad Daisy can’t even get out of Dodge without incident. By the time she boards a ship for Alaska, she’s got a trail of new troubles behind her, and suddenly Otter Bite is sounding pretty good. But the vessel turns into her own personal Titanic when a series of close encounters confirms her terrible taste in men-including one very good looking bad luck charm named Max Kendall. She vows to dedicate the rest of her days to chowders and brulée. Yet even Alaska isn’t far enough away to shake the memories of the sexy shipmate who rocked her cabin-and her world. Thank goodness she’s done with surprises-but they may not be done with her…
Excerpt:His laugh was immediate. Daisy realized how ridiculous her allegation was. Max Kendall's particular brand of woman didn't need lies to motivate her into his bed. His women were fun and adventurous and, unlike Daisy, didn't have impossible expectations.
"I thought we were talking about you," he said with a dying chuckle. "But if you think you're helping the enemy..." With his good leg bearing the brunt of his weight, he rose from the bed. Grabbing the handles on his duffle bag, he slowly stepped toward the bathroom.
"If the lights were dim and the music soft and the wine expensive."
Max turned at the door. "And?"
"And what?"
"I don't believe for one second that you, Daisy, would be undermined by lights, music, and wine."
"And… if I thought you were...special."
"And what makes a man special?"
Daisy hesitated at the fork in her road. She could give Max an honest answer or… "Well, for one thing, he's very forgiving--"
His eyes crinkled as his grin returned.
"--And he would never use all the hot water just to prove some ridiculous point."
"I guess I'm not the only one who has trouble giving a straight answer. See you when the water runs cold." The bathroom door clicked shut.
"And he makes me smile," Daisy murmured, smiling.
Purchase LinksAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/Spooning-Daisy-Otter-Bite-Romance-ebook/dp/B015VA3O10Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spooning-daisy-maggie-mcconnell/1122713766?ean=9781601836861
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Golden Heart nominee Maggie McConnell spent her childhood overseas as the daughter of US diplomats. Attending college in Illinois, she earned a BA in Art and an MBA while working at the local humane shelter. At 26, she packed her dog and cat into a Ford truck and drove the Alcan Highway to Alaska, where she spent 23 years exploring The Last Frontier in a single-engine Cessna. A vegan and animal rights advocate, Maggie provides a sanctuary on her Arizona ranch for all creatures great and small, but her immediate family includes dog Molly, cat Sara, horses Quinn and Teena, and an ever-growing dynasty of chipmunks. Every year, like the Gray Whale, Maggie returns to Alaska.
Contact InformationWebsite: http://MaggieMcConnellRomance.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaggieMcConnellRomance/

GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading

I am currently reading the BIGTIME PARANORMALROMANCE SERIES by Jennifer Estep. It is a fun series but very different than her Elemental Assassin series which I like a great deal. I haven’t read any of her Black Blade or Mythos books. I don’t really enjoy young adult.
The Bigtime books are lighthearted and fun. There are five books and one novella in the series:Karma GirlHot MamaJinxA Karma Girl Christmas – novellaNightingaleFandemic
I am currently on Nightingale and will read Fandemic next. I have enjoyed them all although some more than others. So far I like Nightingale best although I haven’t finished it so that may change. From the reviews I saw on Amazon, most people seem to like Jinx the least. I actually liked that one better than Hot Mama. I give all the books so far 4 stars.

Personal Note

I have realized that I don’t share a lot about myself on social media. In general, I’m a pretty private person, but I enjoy learning more about the authors I read so this year I’m going to try to share a little more.

We’ll start with something simple. I was born and raised in a small town in south Texas the youngest of six children. My five older siblings (my brothers are twins) are very close in age – all born within four and a half years. Yes, my mother was a little crazy. I was a “surprise” arriving over six years after my brothers.

My oldest sister left for college when I was seven. I don’t really remember ever living in the same house as her, but I got to go visit her and my second oldest sister often. During school breaks, I would spend a week or so with one of them. We would go to movies, zoos, parks, or just hang out.
When my brothers left for college, it was just my parents and me. They divorced about a year later so it was down to just my mom and me. In some ways, I was also an only child.
Both of my parents are gone, but I live with two of my sisters. I know I was lucky. I was cared for and loved. My parents struggled to make ends meet, but I never went hungry or lacked clothes. There were times I didn’t get what I wanted, but I always got what I needed. It was a good childhood.