Forbes Arnone's Blog, page 10
August 24, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday ~ Fireworks by Lindsey Gray
Fireworks
Release Date: June 20th, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Adult Romance
Sophie McKibbin finds herself back
in Sam Crawford’s life after ten years. Unfortunately, Sam is dating Lola,
Sophie’s high school nemesis. Lola dumps Sam the day before he was supposed to
introduce his mystery girlfriend to his family over the Fourth of July holiday.
With the looming fear of disappointing his mother once again and his long held
feelings for Sophie, he asks her to take Lola’s place. With family feuds, an
old flame, and feelings that have been locked away for a decade, there is bound
to be some fireworks.
• Goodreads
• Amazon
• Itunes
• Kobo
Special thanks to NJ Cole for acting as producer on this project. Thanks to RE
Hargrave, MB Feeney, Ali’s Bookshelf, and Offbeat Vagabond for taking the time
to read and review Fireworks . Your
thoughts make me happy. Last but not least, thanks to the creators of the
perfect song, Happy by Secrets in the
Stereo. The first time I heard the song, I knew it would be perfect for the
trailer.
A mid-west native, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, reading almost anything she can get her hands on, and making life interesting at each and every turn.
August 17, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday ~ Twelve (More Trilogy #3) by T.M. Franklin
Today, we get a sneak peek of T.M. Franklin’s upcoming release – TWELVE, Book Three in the MORE Trilogy…and she has a special guest to help her out.
Well, Bond (James Bond) must be more of a chick-lit guy. T.M. assures us that he was definitely causing trouble, as you could hear in the background, but nothing valuable was destroyed. This time.
Want to get your own SIGNED paperback ARC of TWELVE? Enter now!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
TWELVE
by T.M. Franklin
Giveaway ends August 21, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays
August 10, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday ~ The Land of the Shadow by Lissa Bryan
The Land of the Shadow is due to be released on August 21. It’s the second book in the End of All Things series, but you don’t have to have read the first book to enjoy it. The third, and final, installment will be released next spring.
Summary:
After surviving the Infection and a perilous journey through the wasteland that was once the United States, Carly and Justin have found a safe home in the isolated town of Colby.
Even so, balancing the duties of survival and a growing family isn’t easy. As they emerge as leaders, they face difficult questions about justice in a lawless land, basic human rights, and freedom in a world where strength defines worth. More than ever, they have to rely on one another for strength and support during the darkest of times.
The Crisis is far from over. Their fences won’t keep the world out forever, and a new threat is emerging—a gang of predators who see the town as easy pickings. When danger looms over Colby, Carly must decide how far she’ll go to protect those she loves.
It’s a journey down the long and broken road through The Land of the Shadow.
Excerpt:
Carly held up her hand to indicate Kaden should wait. He nodded. She motioned for him to crouch and pause a few seconds before he followed her. He held up an okay sign to show he understood. To her right, Pearl crept forward, her steps as silent as a cat’s.
Carly took deep breaths to slow and steady her breathing. She forced her muscles to relax and tried to find that cool, calm center. Justin had helped her to learn meditation over the winter, and she used its techniques now. She was ready.
She pushed the door open and scanned the large room, her eyes darting around to take in the gloomy interior of the warehouse. She listened carefully, hearing silence save the sound of her own slow, deep breaths.
Inching forward, Carly picked her way from object to object, staying behind cover, clearing the room bit by bit. She heard Kaden’s soft steps behind her, Pearl on their right flank, silent but visible from the corner of her eye, and then the rest of her team, one by one. At the tail end of the group was Veronica. Carly had objected to it at first, but Justin grumbled that the kid was going to get herself killed if they didn’t include her.
The doorway at the end of the room led to a catwalk that rimmed the sides of a three-story machine room. Cautious, Carly stepped onto the metal frame and scanned the room below before motioning her team forward. Far too late, her eye caught movement on the catwalk above her, and the gun went off before she could even call out a warning.
“Youch!” Carly yelped as the paintball exploded against her arm. Kaden and the others fell back, taking cover behind the crates as Justin’s team swarmed them from the stairs.
“Damn it,” Carly muttered.
“You didn’t look up,” Justin said as he vaulted over the railing and swung down to land beside her.
“Yeah, I sort of realize that.” Carly rubbed her arm. “Am I out?”
“Yeah.” He looked at the orange splatter on her black shirt. “That shot would have taken off half your arm, and you’d be too busy trying not to bleed out to join the fight. But we can play it with you as a hostage if you want.”
“No, I think we’re done.” She heard Kaden yowl as a paintball hit him and the clatter of the guns as they fell from her surrendering team’s hands.
Justin’s team always won, but every player was improving. And he alternated teams so everyone got to be on the winning side once in a while as they learned defense and attack strategies. Last week, they had tried to take the Wall. It had ended in a “paint-bath” as Justin called it. Carly still hadn’t gotten all the orange dye out of her hair.
Her team shuffled forward, all of them scowling. They all wore black shirts, like Carly’s, splotched with paint splatters. Justin’s team wore pristine white, trying to smother victorious grins.
Everyone wore goggles or eyeglasses with plain lenses, taken from the local optometrist’s sample wall, and a helmet. Carly wore the blue bicycle helmet Justin had given her when they first started out from Juneau, but the others were alternately wearing football helmets, hard hats, and a couple bicycle helmets of their own, scavenged from town. The only one Kaden could find that fit him had Hello Kitty on it, so Justin had traded it for his blue one, plunking the pink and white thing on his own head without a word. Kaden hadn’t said anything, but he’d looked very grateful. Later, when Carly mentioned it, he simply shrugged and said, “You know how kids are.”
Yes, she knew how kids were, but at this point, she’d almost welcome teasing. It would be a sign the kids were adjusting, returning to normal. After more than a year on the road, being settled for a few months in Colby hadn’t given them back their equilibrium. Most of them had an aged solemnity, miniature adults with too-wise eyes.
Pearl’s motorcycle helmet had the Harley-Davidson logo on it, and Carly shook her head with a wry twist of her lips when she saw it. Of course it did. But then again, Pearl could wear the Hello Kitty helmet and make it look badassed.
“Great job, everyone,” Justin said, clapping both teams on the back as he headed into the center of their group. “All right, let’s go over the mission . . .”
Before dispersing, they discussed what had gone right and wrong with the attack and what they had learned from it. Afterward, Kaden went off with a small group of young men who were going to try to use the slingshots Justin had introduced to them to catch frogs. Kaden loved fried frog legs, but they were often too fast for the unskilled hunter to catch with nets and Justin wouldn’t waste ammo on them.
Carly lingered with Justin until everyone had gone and helped pick up the rest of the stray equipment left behind. Justin headed for the door and she just couldn’t help herself.
“Ouch!” Justin jumped and whirled around, clapping a hand to his backside. He drew it away, covered in orange paint. “Did you just shoot me?”
Carly nodded, fighting to keep a grin off her face and failing.
Justin grinned, too, but he lowered his head and stared up at her with those dark eyes sparkling with wicked intentions. “I’ll give you a ten second head start.”
Her heart pounding already in anticipation, Carly spun around and took off. She had learned a lot in the last two years, and she was fast. It took a while for Justin to catch her, but oh, when he did . . .
Available to pre-order from:
Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH
Praise for The Land of The Shadow:
“What a ride! Carly and Justin are people that I’d like on my side, and on the side of my community. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a story that will keep you glued to your reader or flipping pages in a paperback just as quickly as you can.” -Kathie Spitz
“Anyone who read my review of The End of All Things knows I loved the first book in this series. Lissa Bryan is a very talented story teller and has a way of pulling the reader in and making them care about her characters in a way I’m sure she does as well.
I was really looking forward to this one. Justin and Carly where just one of those couples I could never really forget about so I was excited to see where their journey had taken them.” -Passion for Pages
If you haven’t already, check out The End Of Things Book I
Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH
Author Bio:
Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist who recently discovered the cure for athlete’s foot…though only in her head. Real life isn’t so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing.
She is the author of three other novels, Ghostwriter, The End of All Things, and Under These Restless Skies.
Connect with Lissa Bryan on:
Facebook, Twitter, Blog and Goodreads
Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays
August 3, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday ~ The One That Got Away by M.B. Feeney
Coming soon from M. B. Feeney
A new romance story
The One That Got Away
There’s something about that one person we date in our teens, yet never become completely intimate with. What is it about the lack of sex in a relationship that renders us unable to stop carrying that person with us into our adult life?
Heidi Johnson’s one that got away is Shane Hughes. The man she could never quite get out of her head as she got on with becoming an adult, a mother, and her own person. Shane has lived a life of regret. Regret that he let Heidi go out of fear and a misguided sense of not wanting to hurt either of them before leaving London, permanently, a move both of them made over the years.
Reconnecting online, they both rekindle the memories they’d tried to suppress over the years, reignited feelings that were never explored ‘back in the day’. How will a school reunion back in their home town, surrounded by school friends who had seen them at both their best and worst help them answer any unanswered questions they’ve been left with? Or will they be left with wanting more?
Connect with M. B. Feeney
Blog
Goodreads
Make sure you check out her other books on Amazon
Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays
July 27, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday ~ Renegade as part of Branded by Jeanne McDonald
Cover Reveal
Renegade
as part of Branded: A Bad Boys Anthology
available August 28th, 2014
Cover Design: Jada D’Lee Designs
A chance meeting between a rookie cop and a common criminal.
An unforeseen circumstance. An instant attraction. A magnetic connection.
Tattooed, pierced, and foul-mouthed, she can’t help but be drawn to him.
Two people entirely wrong for one another, yet so perfectly right.
When their worlds collide, Lucy Diamond will learn the true meaning of love and sacrifice as she embarks on the road of no return with bad boy Jude Wallace.
Like a thief in the night, love will take them both by surprise.
Jeanne McDonald began telling stories at the ripe young age of five, when her mother considered the truth to be a lie due to her extensive embellishment to the retelling of an event. She wrote her first short story when she was twelve years old, and at the age of sixteen she tried her hand at poetry. She reconnected with her love for writing in 2010 thanks to the encouragement of a dear friend.
Her passions include a “mild” Starbucks addiction, music, reading, quotes, movies, and romance. When she’s not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, chatting with her friends or diligently working toward her bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Goodreads | Amazon | Google+
Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays
July 20, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday ~ Crossing The Line (Daniels Brothers #3) by Sherri Hayes
Available September 4, 2014
from Sherri Hayes
Crossing
The Line (Daniels Brothers #3)
“Sorry about last night.”
Megan looked up from the stack of
baby blankets she’d been perusing. Rebecca was holding a bottle with little yellow bears in her right hand, a sheepish look on her face.
“What are you apologizing for? Ditching me, or making so much noise I had to spend most of the evening in the basement?” Megan grinned to lessen the harsh impact of her words. She wasn’t mad at her sister, but she hadn’t relished spending three hours hiding in their basement either. It wouldn’t have been so bad had she been able to talk to Paul the entire time, but she hadn’t. As it was, she’d ended up watching reruns of CSI. It was the only thing decent she could find on television.
Rebecca placed the bottle back on the shelf. “Both, I guess. I mean we didn’t mean . . .”
“You’re still newlyweds. I get it.”
Her sister rubbed a hand over her
growing belly and smiled. “It’s just, ever since I entered my second
trimester I can’t seem to control myself.”
Megan snorted. “And you could
control yourself before?”
“Okay, you’re right. Gage has
always been able to . . . well . . .” To Megan’s surprise, Rebecca
giggled. It was weird, but good, too. Her sister was happy.
“Yeah, I get it.” And Megan did
get it. Those two make-out sessions with Paul had her craving more of his
kisses. She could only imagine what it would feel like to have him
inside her . . . surrounding her.
Walking over to a rack filled
with little socks, Megan sighed. She missed sex. Battery-operated boyfriends had nothing on the
real thing.
Check Out The Rest of the Daniels Brothers Series
Behind Closed Doors (Daniels Brothers #1) Red Zone (Daniels Brothers #2)
About the Author
Sherri spent most of her childhood detesting English class.
It was one of her least favorite subjects because she never seemed to fit into
the standard mold. She wasn’t good at spelling or following grammar rules, and
outlines made her head spin. For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an
author.
At the age of thirty, all that changed. After getting
frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its
characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternate ending and
give the characters their happily ever after. By the time the story finished,
it was one of the top ten read stories on the site, and her readers were
encouraging her to write more.
Seven years later, Sherri is the author of seven full-length
novels and one short story. Writing has become a creative outlet that allows
her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters
through all the twists and turns she can create.
Connect with Sherri
Amazon
Goodreads
Sherri’s Website
Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays
July 13, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday ~ The Prodian Journey by Lorenz Font
The Prodian Journey
First book of Path of the Guardian Series
A Young Adult Novel
Tarot Card “Wheel of Fortune”
Excerpt
Shannon drew the curtain and I found myself trapped in the room, with only Madame Elizabeth as my company for the next God knew how long. I glanced at the woman sitting behind a round table covered with a velvet cloth. A stack of harmless looking cards lay in front of her.
“Hello, young man,” she greeted with an elaborate flair of her hand. “Have a seat.”
I retuned her greeting with a tight smile then, with great reluctance, sank into the chair opposite her. To begin with, I had no idea what the heck this tarot and psychic crap was all about, except the possibility of predicting one’s luck or discovering what might happen in the future. Remaining silent, I rested my clammy palms on my thighs.
“So, what are you looking to see? Love, adventure . . . perhaps happiness?” she queried, spreading the colorful cards across the table in a single sweep. The cards fanned across the surface like fallen dominoes. In perfect sync.
“I do—don’t know,” I stammered. A jerk shot through my tight shoulders before I could stop it.
Madame Elizabeth’s gaze met mine for a brief moment. Although her eyes were hidden underneath red-rimmed glasses, it was obvious she saw my discomfort, and it put me on the defensive. The woman was stunning in a disturbing way. It felt like she could see right through me, as if she knew my secrets, and that in itself was disconcerting.
I studied her while she perused the cards. Her hair was tied in a loose bun on top of her head and she wore a magician type tunic which reminded me of mystical characters. I had the urge to roll my eyes when she began playing the part, momentarily closing her eyes and breathing deep. Hands splayed on the cards, she caressed each one before she finally collected the stack. Shuffling the cards once, she then laid a few back down on the table with quick and precise movements. With utmost concentration, she studied them, choosing one.
She flipped the card for me to check. “What do you see?”
Considering I had no idea what to look for, I stared at the card. “I see a circle with four distinct colors on the edges.”
Nodding, she dropped the card and turned another one. This time, her thin, almost invisible brows furrowed. “With every curse comes a blessing,” she said.
The very moment she uttered those words, the hair at the back of my neck rose and I experienced a ‘what the hell’ moment.
About the Author
Lorenz Font discovered her love of writing after reading a celebrated novel that inspired one idea after another. She is currently enjoying the buzz from her vampire novels Hunted and Tormented, the first and second book of The Gates Legacy trilogy, Indivisible Line, a romantic thriller, and Feather Light, an erotic romance.
Lorenz’s perfect day consists of writing and lounging on her garage couch, aka the office, with a glass of her favorite cabernet while listening to her ever-growing music collection. She enjoys dabbling in different genres, with an intense focus on angst and the redemption of flawed characters. Her fascination with romantic twists is a mainstay in all her stories.
Lorenz lives in California with her husband, children, and two demanding dogs. She divides her time between her full-time job as a hospital office manager and her busy writing schedule.
Connect with Lorenz Font
Twitter , Facebook, Blog, Goodreads
Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays
June 29, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday ~ A Flawed Heart by April Emerson
Coming soon from April Emerson
a new adult erotic romance
from Secret Cravings Publishing
Cover by Jada D’Lee Designs
Release Date: July 21, 2014 on SCP with all buy links available July 29!
Claire Brighton has just finished college and is abandoning her warm, southern home in favor of gritty New York City. She searches for the perfect roommate and finds Lydia Taylor. Lydia lives a life of privilege in her father’s penthouse, but like Claire, she’s ready to go out into the world on her own. Claire and Lydia rent a little apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, not far from Lydia’s older brother, Jason. Claire is intrigued by Lydia’s stories of Jason, who is the black sheep of the family—and a musician. The minute Claire hears him sing, she falls for him. Claire thrives in her new urban surroundings, treasuring her time with Jason and exploring her new found sexuality, but both Claire and Jason carry shadows with them. They’re each fighting to move on from wounds of their past, but they learn that they will need each other to do it.
Jason takes a sharp breath in, flicks his cigarette away and takes a step toward me. The intensity of his eye contact makes me apprehensive. I never talk about my daddy with anyone. I look down at my feet and Jason gently grabs and holds my wrist. The top of my head only reaches the base of his neck. I stare at his fresh tattoo. It’s black, white, and gray. It’s a Lilly with script around it. I can barely read it in the dim light but looking closer I see it says, ‘Never let go’.
“The tattoo. It’s for your mother?” I whisper.
Jason nods and leans down toward me. He presses his forehead against mine. The only sound is our breathing. I feel our pain in my chest. My heart is ripping open, and I want to comfort him and hold him and kiss him. I tilt my
head back and look into Jason’s eyes. The current running between us is palpable. I part my lips and press them to his. The kiss is shy and tentative. His lips are so soft…they taste like beer and peppermint, and they’re warm and strong against mine. I realize how brazen I’m being and pull away. As I move back, Jason’s grip on me tightens and he places his hand on the small of my back so I can’t step away.
I smile and kiss him again. This time he presses my body to his and work his lips over mine, at first gentle and then rough. He lets go of my wrist and I’m free to touch his body. I place one hand over his heart and the other
reaches up to touch his hair. He moans, grips my neck, and tilts my chin up with his thumb. The kiss becomes more desperate, more filled with desire—and warmth spreads through my body. He backs up against the wall and begins to kiss my neck. He tangles his hands in my hair.
I take this opportunity to breathe, but he kisses me again as he slides his hand down to my ass. I wrap one leg around his, craving more contact, wanting to ease the ache I’m feeling. He gets hard as my body rubs against his. He moans as I grind up against him and kisses me harder. I move my mouth to his shoulder and nibble at his flesh. I’ve never felt more aroused or been this forward. I feel as though I could kiss him every day and never tire of the way our mouths and bodies fit together. His grip tightens, and I know he must be feeling it, too.
“You’re so beautiful. You feel so good.” He knots his fingers in my hair and kisses me again.
Just then, I hear the worst possible sound. The emergency door opens and Ben is standing there.
April Emerson moved to New York City after graduating from college with a degree in literature. As a nature lover, living in the city was a culture shock, but she soon began to enjoy being surrounded by so much energy. Submerged in perpetual crowds, April developed a fondness for people watching, which inspired her to start writing. Drawn to both the light and dark of humanity, she strives to tell sexy and romantic stories with exquisitely complex characters. When she isn’t writing, she loves listening to music or reading a good book while enjoyinga glass of wine.
You can find her at aprilemerson.com
Website
Goodreads
Be sure to check out April’s other books!
Purchase a signed copy here
Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays
June 22, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday ~ Soldier On by Sydney Logan
Sydney Logan is celebrating the release of her third novel, Soldier On! Keep reading to learn more about the book, click the buy link to grab your copy at the special introductory price, and be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post!
Release Date: June 20
Genres: Romance/Military/New Adult
Will his call of duty break both their hearts?
Losing her father in Desert Storm has left Stephanie James with a bitter soul when it comes to the military. As a college senior juggling a full course load, Steph’s only goal is to graduate with honors at the end of the semester. She’s focused, determined, and a firm believer in all work and no play. Then she meets Brandon Walker at a New Year’s Eve costume party. Despite his disguise, Steph finds herself attracted to the camouflaged soldier who curls her toes with a scorching midnight kiss.
Brandon is an engineering major and ROTC student from the hills of Kentucky. Growing up as the son of a major general has given Brandon firsthand knowledge of the struggles military families sometimes face. Now that his father’s memory is fading, Brandon is even more determined to make his dad proud and graduate as an officer in the United States Army. Then he meets Stephanie, and suddenly, his focus is less on his military service and more on the pretty brunette who has stolen his heart. When he becomes aware of Steph’s resentment toward the military, he worries their relationship is doomed.
When faced with the realization that she’s fallen in love with a soldier, can Steph’s wounds from the past be healed with love in her present . . . and in her future?
Regular Price: $2.99 (ebook)
Also available in paperback
Sydney Logan is an Amazon bestselling author and holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. With the 2012 release of her debut novel, Lessons Learned, she made the transition from bookworm to author. Her second novel, Mountain Charm, was released in 2013. She is also the author of four short stories – Mistletoe Magic, The Little Drummer Boy, Force of Nature, and Stupid Cupid.A native of East Tennessee, Sydney enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays
June 18, 2014
Where Have I Been?
Well, I had high hopes of blogging more often after the April A to Z Challenge thing I did. But then crap happens.
When I returned from my son’s Navy Bootcamp graduation in mid May, I came down with the flu. Apparently, it wasn’t just the regular flu, it was the Influenza B virus, which was worse. Anyway, I was bedridden and delirious for about two weeks. It really screwed up my schedule. I had a new college course starting, books I committed to reading, and things to do. But noooo… instead I was trying not to die (not literally, but it felt like it).
So, I’m slowly getting back to normal and trying to catch up.
Here’s a pic of me and my son at his bootcamp graduation.
Me and my son at his Bootcamp Graduation.
And here is my little one, he had his 8th grade promotion last night.
Antonio & his principal at his 8th grade promotion.
I have a couple of announcements:
I was on the Hummingbird Blog Talk Radio the other night with a few other Sweet Romance authors. If you’re interested in listening, click here.
Also, on June 21st, I’ll be doing my first real book signing. I’m so nervous. There will even be panels where I’ll have to read an excerpt from my book. I just hope a few people show up for me and that I’m not the only sad soul there with no fans. LOL. So, if you live in the Los Angeles area, please come by and see us. There will be 20 authors in total and panels so you can get to know us. I hope to see some of you there.
Here’s the flyer:
Filed under: Writing
