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Victoria at Sea by M. Kate Quinn – Giveaway $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card

BLURB:Why has no place in what the heart knows for sure.
On the eve of their wedding Victoria Gliden and fiancé Owen Walker call it quits. He accuses her of not being able to get over her deadbeat father’s vanishing act when she was a child and she and her cold feet run and don’t look back.
An interior designer, Victoria, has an important meeting on Cancun that could garner her a promotion and the plan was to incorporate her presentation with the honeymoon cruise that’s journeying to the island. Since she’s sure Owen is on his way to Portland to escape the aftermath of their ruined wedding, Victoria takes the honeymoon cruise anyway. Only Owen has the same idea and they’re stuck with each other for six days, five nights.
Tony Gliden, Victoria’s father, dies in a freak accident and is sent back to earth disguised as a crotchety old man with the mission to convince his daughter to believe in love. So, he, too boards the ship.
At sea, destiny takes a detour when Victoria befriends the quirky old man with kind eyes and together they join forces with a quartet of unabashed women in their fifties who drink pink martinis and flirt with the wait staff but are wiser than they look. While trying to dodge Owen, Victoria’s new acquaintances help her face old wounds and confront new fears.
Most of all, Victoria and Owen both realize it all boils down to one word—why?
By journey’s end will two broken hearts get their answer?
Excerpt:Two figures, a scrawny-assed man and a brittle-looking woman, sat opposite him at a sleek table, the surface a slab of marble. “Who the hell are you?” Tony’s voice pinged foreign to his ears, distant, echoic.
The man’s lanky arms were knobby like twigs, attached to narrow shoulders, but he sat with the authority of a doctor, his pale hands tented on the marble. His face, sunken-eyed, was somber like he was about to lower the boom to a patient. Tony pushed himself forward and stared the guy down.
“Buddy, uh, care to answer me?”
When no response came from the guy, Tony pulled his eyes over to the woman. Her gray hair was long and silky. Young hair. The healthy mane looked odd on a broad who obviously had a few miles on her with skin like tree bark. She had a clipboard in her bony grasp, her knuckles like rocks under taut sallow skin.
“Either one of you going to speak?” The sarcasm felt good, sharp like a seed of jalapeno on his tongue. “Yoo-hoo.” He looked from one to the other as they sat there like mannequins. “And, what’s with those sweaters?”
They both sported white crewneck sweaters with a red “H” emblazoned mid chest like some kind of uniform. Tony’s gaze slid down to his own garments expecting to see the same indigo jeans and blue striped shirt he’d put on this morning. Instead, he was in a black suit that even he, no expert at such things, knew was a piece of crap. He wore no shoes and one big toe poked through a hole in a navy blue sock. He wouldn’t be caught dead in the getup.
“What the hell?” His words boomeranged off the white walls like a crack of thunder. “How’d I get in this pile of rags and what the hell am I doing here?”
The man at the desk pinned Tony with an onyx stare and screwed his lips into a knot.
“Are you always this grumpy?” The man’s voice was gravelly, like his vocal chords were rusted. His head bobbled like a dashboard toy.
The woman looked up from her clipboard and fixed her cloudy gray eyes on Tony, as well. He felt like a goldfish in a bowl on a shelf. The broad wagged a gnarled accusatory finger. “Come on,” she coaxed in a voice that sounded like she was under water. “Give us a smile.”
A familiar zing raced through Tony, the first sign of life amidst the fog in his brain. He didn’t like being chastised and he didn’t like these two clowns dressed like orderlies, or better yet, soda jerks.
He jolted up from the chair like it was electric and somebody pushed the “on” button. “Grumpy, huh? Tell you what, pal. You ain’t seen grumpy. And, unless you tell me the truth about why the hell I’m here, you’re going to get yourselves a good dose of Tony Gliden losing it. So, one last time, what am I doing here?”
“Tony,” the woman’s voice held a gauzy wrap of gratuitous condescension. “There’s no way to sugar-coat the facts, so put simply, you’re dead.”

Guest Post On Critique Partners:One of the decisions I made at the beginning of my journey to becoming a published author was to engage with other writers and to seek critique partners.
Joining New Jersey Romance Writers was the first step and it was there that I came to meet my two critique partners.  The three of us write very different types of romance—my stories are sensual but sweet romances while one of my partners writes erotica and the other is more women’s fiction.  Three different perspectives make for great viewpoints, but can also be a problem unless you “know your audience,” which is a fantastic exercise in mastering that important aspect of your career.
Each of my partners contributes to the success of my books, but it is my interpretation of their critiques that makes for the best book I can produce. For example, after my partners have reviewed pages of my work in progress, if Shari, the erotic writer, tells me that the “heat” between my hero and heroine needs to start sooner, I remember that she’s all about the physicality of the characters’ relationship.  An important aspect in a love story, yes, so I reread my pages from that perspective keeping in mind my personal tone for the story and the uniqueness of my voice. Stacey, who is more reserved and a no-guff type, will sometimes tell me my heroine’s acting too “wimpy” or will laughingly say my heroine needs to “grow a pair.”  So, I reread my pages with that in mind and it helps to round out all sides of my character.
The advice from my critique partners has been a blessing and I wouldn’t be where I am today on this crazy writer’s road without them.  What began as work relationships has evolved into deep friendships.  We are each others’ champions and we are shoulders to cry on when it’s needed.  We are roomies when we attend conferences and it is there that three grown women turn into eighth-grade girls at a slumber party.  Only with wine.
So, if the question about critique partners is should you or shouldn’t you, my answer is a resounding yes!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Born to a feisty Italian mother and a gentle blue-eyed Irishman, I was given the name “Marykate,” inspired by Maureen O’Hara’s character in the movie, The Quiet Man, an old-time favorite love story that co-starred John Wayne. With a grandmother Catherine and an Aunt Mary the name was an obvious choice.
I've been writing stories all my life. There's an old Macy’s box in my attic filled with my writings from childhood, now smudgy-looking pages produced on my portable Olivetti Underwood typewriter, an eighth-grade gift from my Grandmother Catherine.
I am a recent First Place winner of a short story contest sponsored by Reader’s Digest Magazine and write a column entitled “Boomer Humor” that appears monthly in my neighborhood newspaper.
My husband and I are our own love story. We have a slap-happy middle-aged second marriage with a combined total of six grown children, one delightful granddaughter, another precious little baby on the way and one ridiculously spoiled, amazingly handsome cat named Sammy.
Website: www.mkatequinn.comTwitter: @mkatequinnFacebook: Fans of M. Kate QuinnAmazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/M.-Kate-QuinnGoodreads Author Page: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4128663.M_Kate_QuinnBlog: www.mkatequinn.com/blog

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Here Comes The Witch (Main Street Witches #1) by Ani Gonzalez - Giveaway

Here Comes The Witch (Main Street Witches #1)
by Ani Gonzalez
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Age category: Adult
Release Date: September 7, 2016

Blurb:
Jewelry designer Kat Ramos has come to Banshee Creek to break the famous Hagen House curse and, in order to do that, she must marry Liam Hagen. A vengeful ghost with a deadly history isn’t part of the deal, and neither is love. Will Kat be able to handle both? Or will the mystery of the cursed Hagen House remain unsolved?

Excerpt:
They crossed into the foyer, and she peered at the black and white marble floor.No sign of bloodstains.No sign of anything except furniture polish and potpourri, in fact. The room, with its sparkling floors and polished wood staircase, looked pristine. The crystal chandelier was indeed massive, the crystals sparkling in the afternoon glow. It was, she had to admit, a spectacular entry.Liam, however, did not seem impressed. He was staring at the wooden entry door, a concerned look on his face."Did the ghost knock?" she asked, trying to figure out what was wrong.He looked up. "Oh, no. It's just, um, we may have skipped a step.""We skipped lots of them. We still have to see the living room and the upstairs."He shook his head. "No, not that kind of step. One of the wedding rituals."What? She didn't realize there was a checklist for this marriage. They'd gotten the licenses and gone before the judge. Wasn't that enough? They'd had a wedding reception, for Pete's sake. She'd thrown a bouquet, eaten a wedding cupcake, and had her picture taken.What else did the house want?Liam opened the front door and stepped outside. He motioned for her to follow.Oh, crap. "You've got to be kidding.""Nope," he said, laughing. "I have to carry you over the threshold. Yolanda said we had to fulfill all the wedding rituals.""But … I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not exactly skinny." She wasn't obese by any means, but she was, well, healthy. Okay, she was curvy.He frowned. "What are you talking about? You're perfect. Now, come on out so we can get this done."She gave in, following him outside. "Fine, but if you get a hernia, don't blame the curse. It's your own darn fault.He laughed and closed the door behind her. "I think that's highly unlikely. Ready?"She took a deep breath. The afternoon sun washed over the house, making the white paint gleam. A rogue sunbeam hit the brass doorknob, giving her the strange feeling that the house, amused by the spectacle, was winking at her.Great, that was just what she needed, a cursed house with a sense of humor."I'm ready," she said. After all, she couldn't let a building intimidate her, could she?But Liam didn't move, his eyes were fixed on her. She glanced down surreptitiously, checking to make sure she didn't have duck sauce on her cream shirt. Nope, for once she hadn't smeared food on her clothes.Then what the heck was he staring at?The answer dawned on her slowly. He was staring at her. This was the kind of look a man gave to a woman he found attractive.Scratch that. This was more than attraction. The heat in his gaze was unmistakable, and she felt herself blush in response. She hadn't expected this kind of attention."Liam?" she asked, her voice a bit shaky.He blinked, coming out of his stupor. "Oh, sorry." He opened the front door then stepped toward her. "Ready?"She tensed as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, then bent down. In a split second he'd hauled her up, making it look easy. She held her breath as he walked toward the house, holding her in his arms.  She didn't dare breathe until he reached the foyer.He set her down gently. "There we go."A sudden feeling of … joy swept through her. She took a shaky breath, feeling woozy. He steadied her, arms wrapped around her body. She could feel the rough fabric of his sports coat under her hands. He smelled like aftershave and soap, a clean, masculine smell. Was she trembling? Yep, she was. Her left hand, the one that now wore the filigree diamond ring, was shaking. A beam of sunlight hit the chandelier, blinding her."All done now," he said. Was it her imagination or was his voice a bit shaky too?He straightened, his grip loosening around her, but she held on, compelled by a force she could not name. She felt curiously giddy, almost bubbly."No." The word seemed to come from far away, and it was a long moment before she realized she'd been the one who said it. "We still have one thing to do," the alien voice inside her continued, this time in a whisper.She leaned forward, her hands still on his shoulders as if her body—with a will of its own—could not bear to break the contact. He bent down, looking confused.The chandelier rained tiny beams of light, a magical mist of electric snowflakes that swirled around them as she kissed him, finally tasting the forbidden fruit she'd longed for all day long.  The magical embrace seemed to go on forever.Finally, Liam broke the kiss. He stared at her in confusion, then turned toward the still-open door."Did you hear that?" he asked. "It sounded like a car.""What?" The kiss had left a warm afterglow that made it difficult to focus. A familiar noise reached her ears, an odd choking sound like a car motor dying a slow painful death. The metallic groan woke her up. The glutinously warm, happy feeling faded away, and she pulled away from Liam and ran toward the door.A small yellowish-gray car was speeding down the road at an impressive speed. It was old, it was fast, and it was her car.The stupid house had carjacked her baby? How?"I'm calling the police," Liam said, grabbing his phone.Kat ran out of the house, racing after her vehicle and cursing under her breath. Not her car. Why did it have to be her car?She watched in disbelief as the yellow hatchback braked and made a left turn onto Main Street, ignoring the frantic honking of the vehicles around it.What the …?She slowed down, unable to keep up her jog in the heels she was wearing. She turned and saw Liam's truck backing out of the driveway of the Hagen House. He was driving to pick her up.The sun was setting and the oak trees cast a shadow over the building's facade. The house, which had seemed so welcoming a few minutes ago, now seemed dark and uninviting. Liam had left the lights on and the house seemed to glare balefully at her.Kat glared back.The stupid house had messed with her car. This wasn't a business arrangement anymore.This was personal.
Goodreads
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Witch-Paranormal-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01LMMSSQC
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Here-Comes-Witch-Paranormal-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01LMMSSQC

About the Author:
I write paranormal romantic comedy and cozy mystery (whew, that's a mouthful!) set in Banshee Creek, Virginia, The Most Haunted Town in the USA. My books feature feisty funny heroines dealing with a host of paranormal critters (ghosts, cryptids, pagan gods...the sky's the limit) and mysteries. They find magic, love and laughter and readers get to follow them every step of the way.

I love quirky towns with spooky stories, and, thanks to my books, I get to "live" in one year-around. In real life I live in a Minneapolis suburb (which is sadly lacking in ghosts) with my husband and three children and I'm still trying to adjust to the cold.

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Secret Lives by Heather Weidner – Unique Giveaway: Nancy Drew Wine Charms

BLURB:Business has been slow for Private Investigator, Delanie Fitzgerald, but her luck seems to change when a tell-all author hires her to find rock star, Johnny Velvet. Could the singer whose career purportedly ended in a fiery crash almost thirty years ago, still be alive?
And as though sifting through dead ends in a cold case isn’t bad enough, Chaz Wellington Smith, III, a loud-mouthed, strip club owner, also hires Delanie to uncover information about the mayor’s secret life. When the mayor is murdered, Chaz, is the key suspect. Now Delanie must clear his name and figure out why landscaper Tripp Payne, keeps popping up in her other investigation. Can the private investigator find the connection between the two cases before another murder – possibly her own – takes place?
Excerpt:Delanie finished filing a broken nail before she reached for the jangling office phone. “Hey, Robbie,” she said, balancing the headset on her shoulder while continuing to file. “’Bout time you called your baby sister.” Robbie, a bouncer at the trendy Club Echo, kept different hours than the rest of the world.
“Sorry, but you know I work six days a week, and I met someone recently.” It sounded to Delanie that he was calling from his car with the windows down.
“So, do I get to meet this one or is she another Miss Right Now?”
“Very funny. You’re one to talk. Are you dating anyone, or are your dates still pretend because you’re stalking them?”
“Hey, I stalk for a living,” she said, working on the nails on the other hand.
“Okay, so what’s new with you? Anything fun or has it been just all work?” asked Robbie, the athletic sibling. He had a baseball stint in the minor leagues until he blew out his knee, ruining his chances of ever being called up to the MLB.
“One of my new clients is a neighbor of yours, and I wanted to get the buzz on him. His name is Charles Wellington Smith, the third.”
“Oh, Chaz. Run away fast. He’s an idiot. Whatever you do, don’t take the job. He’s been in and out of jail since high school. He’s a trust-fund baby who tries to be a big shot. But I’m guessing, you’ve already taken the job, haven’t you?”
“Uh huh. He seemed okay. He’s having trouble getting permits from the city for the new business he wants to open.”
“It’s a strip club he wants to put in the middle of the Museum district. He’s not popular with respectable folks. Most people avoid him like the plague.” Before Delanie could comment, her brother continued. “He thinks he’s a badass. He throws money around and always has to be the center of attention. He got that stupid face tattoo when he was in juvie jail. I don’t think he ever killed anyone. He’s just trying to look tough and to gain street cred without having to do anything. Be careful. He doesn’t bring out the best in others.”
“I will. You worry too much. It seems like an interesting job, but I’ll be doubly careful.”
“When he goes downtown, he always shows up with a posse. They drive around in a caravan, led by that tacky Hummer. He always travels in a pack, and he likes to make a scene.”
“He seems like a colorful guy.”
“Just remember that I’m the cool brother. If Steve finds out you’re working for Chaz, you’ll never hear the end of it.”
Buy Links:AmazonNookKobo
Q & A with Heather:Thank you so much for letting me visit today. I write mystery novels and short stories. I’ve been a mystery fan since Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew.
What is your favorite genre to read?I read lots of different genres, but my favorites are mystery, thriller, and suspense. Though I dabble in biography and history every once in a while.
Who is your favorite author to read?There are way too many to list. I’ve been reading for what seems like forever. My all-time favorites are Harper Lee and F. Scott Fitzgerald. My mystery favorites are Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, Janet Evanovich, Lee Child, John Berry, John Grisham, and Robert Parker.
What is your favorite book?I love To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. My favorite mystery series are Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple mysteries and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books.
Do you have any favorite quotes?Here are two of my favorites…
"Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astair did, but backwards and in high heels."~ Faith Whittlesey
"Well behaved women rarely make history."~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Heather Weidner’s short stories appear in Virginia is for Mysteries and Virginia is for Mysteries Volume II. Currently, she is President of Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia, and a member of Guppies and Lethal Ladies Write. Secret Lives and Private Eyes is her debut novel.
Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.Heather earned her BA in English from Virginia Wesleyan College and her MA in American literature from the University of Richmond. Through the years, she has been a technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager.
Contact InformationWebsite and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWeidnerAuthorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_WeidnerAmazon Authors: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HOYR0MQPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherBWeidner/LinkedIn: GIVEAWAY:
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