D.E. Haggerty's Blog, page 40
July 3, 2017
Happy Release Day! Read an excerpt of Heart of Stone #crimefiction from @jamesfantjr #giveaway @RABTBookTours
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Title: Heart of Stone
Author: James Fant
Genre: Crime Fiction
Published: 7/4/2017
~ Synopsis ~
Are the deacons of Shalom Bethel invincible? Legend has it that in the 1940’s, they came out of a gunfight with holes in their clothes but not their skin. Bullets bounced off of them. They walked through buckshots like water. That story is passed down by every deacon. The legend of Stephen Stone. That legend is about to be tested.
On the heels of a nightclub triple murder, a mysterious blizzard hits Shalom, a city normally warm year round. The blizzard brings with it bitter memories and ghosts Deacon Oak East thought were long gone: his prior drug conviction, his on and off relationship with his wife, the gruesome murder of his father and the role he played in it. But it’s not just the past that haunts him. In the present, a homicide detective wants him and the deacons for the nightclub murders. And a gangster named Cap Morgan wants revenge. The snow is falling. But soon, it will be raining bullets. Is the legend true? Are the deacons of Shalom Bethel bulletproof?
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~ Excerpt ~
The early evening air cooled Oak’s skin and caused it to tighten. The sensation was odd, like someone pinching him but all over. Bringing his skin cells closer together? The thought was crazy and Oak traveled back to a biology class in which the teacher was showing a video on mitosis. Cells were dividing, giving rise to two daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes. There were different phases. One in particular where the chromatin seemed to span the two fused cellular bodies. So cool. That’s not what was happening with Oak’s skin. It was tightening…stiffening. And how would that look under a microscope?
He shook those thoughts, jogged up to the duplex and slapped the knocker three times. The door opened and he saw Moody Norco. The man who hated his guts.
“Come on in,” Moody said. “You want something to drink?”
“Nah, I’m working. What’s up?”
“Nothing much. Getting over a cold.”
“No. I mean what’s up?”
“You mean the money?”
“I always mean the money when I ask that question.”
Moody was devious and dangerous. Instead of repelling Oak, this fact attracted him. Pulled him to the man like gravity. An invisible yet powerful force that he couldn’t escape.
He carried the weight of the world into Moody’s apartment that evening. His uncle had kicked him out the house. He had lost the women he loved. And then there was that nagging guilt, the thought that God would never forgive him for what he had done eight years before. Life had burdened him. Perhaps this devious dude was just dangerous enough to remove that burden.
Oak snapped his fingers in Moody’s face. “Come on, man, I don’t have all day.”
“I’m going to warn you right now,” Moody said, “it’s been slow.” He motioned to a half-naked woman who scampered into the back room.
“I don’t care how slow it’s been. You’re delinquent yet again. Frankly, I’m fed up with it.”
Moody’s eyes narrowed. He tightened his fist but nothing more.
“Tell your girl to hurry up with the money,” Oak said.
“C’mon. Let me fix you some Cognac. I know you like that Yack! With Coke, right?”
“Man, you’re trying my patience!” Oak pushed Moody out of the way and stomped into the bedroom, where he figured the woman was counting the money. But there was no woman. Instead, there was an open window, curtains dancing in the breeze and two guys holding sawed off shot guns that were aimed at Oak’s chest.
“You sure you don’t want something to drink?” Moody asked again with a smile as he brandished a silver Saturday Night Special.
“Truth be told,” he said, his pistol pointed at Oak, “I hate you! Why did you all of a sudden get to be boss of the streets? You haven’t put in work. You haven’t done dirt. And what’s worse, if war comes, you’d never be man enough to squeeze a trigger. You’re not a boss!” Moody and his two gunmen backed Oak into the living room. He asked, “You’re not gonna beg for your life?”
“Not at all,” Oak replied.
“Well, I gotta say I’m disappointed.”
Oak shrugged. Sighed. “Well I’ve seen too much evil. Been the cause of too much pain. Being murdered like this is a fitting end.”
“You’re not gonna cry or try to make a deal?”
“Nah. If you’re gonna shoot me, get it over with already.”
Moody chuckled. Smiled. Then his lips straitened. “This wasn’t what I imagined would happen. In my mind, I saw you sniveling, snot dripping over your lips as you begged for your life. Forget about the money. Just don’t kill me, Moody! I would demand that you call me the king. You are the king! Then, I’d make you get down on your knees, your hands folded in prayer and praise. But…”
Oak jumped at Moody like he was going to throw a punch. Moody flinched. His boys flinched too.
“Unbelievable,” Oak laughed. Then he screamed, “Do it!”
Shot guns lifted. Forestocks pumped. Snub nose hammer pulled back. An engine roared and the hood of a SUV came crashing through sheetrock and plaster. It was Sampson, Oak’s bodyguard. Crashing through the wall. Shooting through the windshield.
Shots blazed from every direction. Glass shattered. Sampson took one in his shoulder but served several to Moody and his boys. As they hit the floor, Sampson yelled, “Lay down and stay down!”
“O!” he screamed as he grunted his way towards him. “O.E.!”
“What?!”
“Are you wearing a vest?”
“Huh?”
He patted Oak’s chest and back. “Oh my goodness!” he said. “You’re not wearing a vest!”
Oak looked at Sampson and saw that he was bleeding heavily. He took off his shirt and pressed it against his wounded shoulder. He said, “We gotta get you outta here.” Then he helped Sampson to the passenger side of the SUV, got in the driver’s seat, and slowly backed the out of the rubble.
As he drove to Shalom Memorial Hospital, images of the shootout replayed in his head. The ear splitting pops and mind numbing explosions. He racked his brain for a reason why he was still breathing.
He said, “I’m sorry, Sampson. I should have been the one to get shot back there.”
“You did get shot.”
“What?”
His bodyguard took a deep breath. Winced in pain. “They lit you up, man. You were getting popped left and right.”
“Sampson,” Oak smiled warily, “were you smoking dope while I was in the apartment?”
“I’m serious!” Sampson screamed. “Bullets just bounced off of you. At first I thought it was the adrenaline playing tricks on my mind. But nah. You were just walking through those bullets. I know what I saw.”
~ About the Author ~
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James Fant is an award winning author who lives in Charleston, SC with his lovely wife and two hilarious children. He received a degree in biology from College of Charleston and a master’s in business administration from Charleston Southern University. His love for literature was forged by the works of Eric Jerome Dickey, Walter Mosely, and Stephen King. He also finds inspiration from screenwriters Shonda Rhimes, Aaron Sorkin and Kurt Sutter. Literarily, James has always been drawn to intelligent yet imperfect characters and he writes novels with them in mind.
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~ Giveaway ~
Win an ebook copy of Heart of Stone!
How my Amazon Ad Campaign went #MondayBlogs #Marketing #BookMarketing #AmWriting
[image error]I recently read an article that stated the most successful self-published authors concentrate on Facebook ads and Amazon ads. I’ve tried the Facebook ad thing – ad naseaum – without much success. Amazon recently made it easier for us indie authors to do an advertisement with them. As the vast majority of my books are sold through Amazon, I thought I’d give it a try.
There are two options for an amazon ad campaign: sponsored product or product display ad.
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As far as I can tell, the big difference between the two types of ad campaigns is placement. Sponsored products are further down on the page and may be easier overlooked than the product display ad, which sits directly beneath the purchase buttons.
I chose the sponsored product ad. I’m not really sure why. (Let’s just blame that on lack of sleep and not complete idiocy, shall we?) I try to do a marketing push for one book in my library each month. I spend between $150 and $200 on these marketing pushes with $50 a fairly average amount to spend for one newsletter campaign (Bargain Booksy, Ereader news, etc.) I’ve discovered that spreading a marketing push over three days works best for me.
Amazon allows you to choose a time period in which to run your ad as well as an overall budget. Based on the above, I decided to set a budget of $15 per day for three days. How did I do? Not great.
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I have to hand it to Amazon, they did do a ton of impressions of my ad – 1,450. The problem is the percentage of clicks is less than 1%. Yep, you read that right. Less than 1% of those who saw the ad actually clicked on it. Geez. To be completely fair, Amazon does not include royalties from Kindle Edition Normalized Pages (KENP) Read and my pages read has increased substantially since I ran the ad (although it’s impossible to tell if that’s from my other promotions – I ran approximately 20 promotions over the three-day period – or from the Amazon ad).
My thoughts? Is it worth it? Will I try an Amazon ad again? Sure, I’ll give it another try. The huge advantage is the cost. If no one clicks on your book, there is no cost. Maybe I’ll try a product display ad instead. I’m also planning on keeping track of whether the number of reviews makes a difference in the number of clicks. (If anyone has figured out a way to get more verified reviews, please clue me in.) Stay tuned …
July 2, 2017
Read an excerpt of Underneath the Killing Tree, #mystery #suspense from @marijka_bright
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Title: Underneath the Killing Tree, first in series
Author: Marijka Bright
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Published: 28th May 2017
Synopsis
The year is 1920 and Mary Loxley’s sister has been hanged from a tree in the gardens of Loxley Hall. The authorities have ruled it a suicide, but Mary knows her sister was murdered, and she intends to hunt down the culprit.
One hundred years later, John Quinn is discovered dead on the floor of his factory. Detective Inspector Andy Bliss, from New Scotland Yard CID, leads the murder investigation and as he delves deeper into the life of the victim, he discovers that there is much more to the Quinn family than meets the eye. Inspector Bliss follows the evidence to the outskirts of Sheffield, where Loxley Hall has stood towering for generations, and what he and his team uncover underneath the ‘Killing Tree’, will haunt them forever and horrify the entire nation.
‘Underneath the Killing Tree’ is the bone-chilling debut novel from exciting new author Marijka Bright. This wonderfully intriguing tale spirals between 1920 and the present day. Detective Inspector Andy Bliss and his team must unravel a mystery which has its roots embedded firmly in the past, while Mary Loxley tries frantically to piece together why her sister, Emlyn Quinn, was murdered and she must uncover the conspiracy whose web she had become inextricably entangled in.
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Excerpt
The opening scene of chapter 5:
Whatever will be, will be
During his short 25 years in this world, he had been exposed to so much darkness, so much hatred and despair, that he had thought there was nothing left that could touch him any longer. Nothing that could throw him back into the depths of desolation which he had found himself wading through at the end of the Great War. Nothing which could surpass the torture he had put himself through every single day for the last two years, for sending so many other young men to their violent and decidedly anonymous deaths from the trenches. But all that was war – this on the other hand was something so unexpected, so much out of the blue, that Baden Hope could no longer see any meaning to life; not any of it, none at all.
She was his only reason for still being alive – he had carried the hope of her in his heart all the way through the war. Even when he had received news of her impending nuptial to some stranger – he knew in his soul that Emlyn still loved him. She was the reason he had eventually pulled himself out of the mire and had returned to Loxley from his self-imposed exile. He had returned determined to take back what the war had taken from him. And now that she was gone, she was the reason that he was finally going to set himself free from the tribulations this life had thrown at him.
“We will be together again soon my love,” Baden mumbled to himself as he finished securing the end of the thick rope to the base of the tree.
He wanted to double himself over and scream and squeeze and twist and contort until he could wring all of his rage, all of his feeling out of himself. But he had been doing that for the past week and none of it had worked, and although Baden still felt the fire of emotion searing through every fibre of his body and of his soul, he knew that he had made the right decision. The decision which he had already made peace with many years before.
For someone called Hope, he was certainly running in short supply of it.
He hadn’t washed; not for a week. He could smell it – but he didn’t care. Nothing mattered anymore. He looked up at the branch, the one where she had chosen to put an end to their twisted fates. He picked up his rope and he flung it through the air so that it wrapped around the branch twice. It hung like a python awaiting its prey. He took the end of his rope and he stepped up onto the old, wooden bench. It was a place so familiar to him. It was the place where he and Emlyn were, and he realised how fitting it was that it was the place where they would forever be.
He tied the hangman’s knot and then slid the noose slowly over his head, letting it rest heavily upon his broad shoulders. Standing in the exact same place where she had been, he thought only of her and what she must have felt in her final moments. He had loved her; he still did. But this love was no longer a source of any kind of comfort. Pain stabbed at his heart and anguish burrowed relentlessly into the pit of his stomach. He wanted to vomit. He wanted to rip open his insides and pull them all out, bit by bit, and be free from all of his sorrow.
He yearned for her; he wanted nothing more than to be with her. How could he have ever considered any kind of future without her?
He uttered, “The hand is past, the time has come,” as he collapsed away from the safety of the bench.
As he began his deathly swing through the air towards his final salvation, a desperate cry rang out from somewhere behind him, but he was beyond all of that now.
Time slowed in that moment and he could feel every sensation coursing through his body. The coolness of the breeze against his skin, the strong beating of his heart, the coarseness of the rope which had tightened around his neck and the freedom that only a dying man can possibly know. And then the pain – excruciating pain.
About the author
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Marijka Bright is originally from Australia; however, she has been living in Berlin, Germany, for the past four years. She has degrees in Biomedical Science, Psychology and Accounting and relinquished a very secure job at a large firm, to pursue her dream of becoming an author. ‘Underneath the Killing Tree’ is the first of two novels to be released this year, with her second novel – ‘The Never After’ in the final stages of editing. Marijka had her short story, ‘The Glooms’ published in ‘The Wild Word’ magazine at the beginning of 2017, and she has a collection of short stories which will be released at the end of 2018.
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June 29, 2017
Spotlight on Rarity from the Hollow, #scifi from @roberteggleton1 #GoodCause
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Title: Rarity from the Hollow
Author: Robert Eggleton
Genre: Science Fiction
Published: November 8, 2015
~ Synopsis ~
Lacy Dawn’s father relives the Gulf War, her mother’s teeth are rotting out, and her best friend is murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in the hollow is hard. She has one advantage — an android was inserted into her life and is working with her to cure her parents. But, he wants something in exchange. It’s up to her to save the Universe. Lacy Dawn doesn’t mind saving the universe, but her family and friends come first.
Rarity from the Hollow is adult literary science fiction filled with tragedy, comedy and satire. A Children’s Story. For Adults.
“The most enjoyable science fiction novel I have read in years.”
—Temple Emmet Williams, Author, former editor for Reader’s Digest
“Quirky, profane, disturbing… In the space between a few lines we go from hardscrabble realism to pure sci-fi/fantasy. It’s quite a trip.”
Evelyn Somers, The Missouri Review
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Add to your Goodreads TBR → here
Half of author proceeds are donated to Children’s Home Society of West Virginia for the prevention of child maltreatment
~ About the Author ~
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Robert Eggleton has served as a children’s advocate in an impoverished state for over forty years. Locally, he is best known for his nonfiction about children’s programs and issues, much of which was published by the West Virginia Supreme Court where he worked from1982 through 1997. Today, he is a retired children’s psychotherapist from the mental health center in Charleston, West Virginia, where he specialized in helping victims cope with and overcome maltreatment and other mental health concerns. Rarity from the Hollow is his debut novel. Its release followed publication of three short Lacy Dawn Adventures in magazines. Author proceeds support the prevention of child maltreatment.
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This is my Harry Potter Story #HarryPotter #AmReading #HarryPotter20
Image from Bloomsbury
According to all the news media, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published twenty years ago this week. I had no clue about Harry Potter for years after it was initially published. Twenty years ago, I had just finished my first year of law school and was doing a judicial internship while trying to write a novel. (Don’t worry, that novel was burned and can never see the light of day!) My internship was in Wisconsin, the hubby was flying out of St. Paul, Minnesota. We lived somewhere in the middle and only had one car. I had the car during the day to drive to the internship, while the hubby took the car at night. We had no money. I don’t think we even had a television. The only things I remember from that summer are fifty cent tap beer at the local bar, camping trips, and the dog figuring out how to open the refrigerator and subsequently eating an entire pound of cheese. Harry Potter wasn’t even on my radar.
It wasn’t until my book club chose Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as its September 2000 book selection that I discovered Harry Potter. Just to be perfectly honest here, my book club abandoned a history book about the Great Depression and slotted in Harry Potter instead. I struggled through half of the history tome, while everyone just abandoned it! I was not a happy camper. (Note: The book now serves as the prop to keep my living room window open.)
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Imagine my surprise when I went to the English-language department of the bookstore and discovered an entire table filled with Harry Potter books! There was the British edition, the American edition, and – of course – the Dutch edition. What the heck is all this about? At the time, I had a firm rule. I read every single page of every single book club selection so, despite my annoyance in regard to the history tome, I was reading this book. (I’ve calmed down since then. Blame it on old age or just plain exhaustion with reading books I didn’t like. Whatever.)
I sighed and opened the darn book. To my great surprise, I freaking loved it. Let me rephrase: LOVED IT. I had never read anything like this before. I never read so-called children’s fantasy books. The Chronicles of Narnia? What’s Narnia? The only book in a similar genre I’d read was The Hobbit. And that was because it was the only book in English I happened to have with me while living in Germany some thirty-years ago when English books were hard to find and no one had even thought of the idea of a Kindle yet. Don’t even ask me how many times I read Gone with the Wind in German. It’s embarrassing.
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One of the few books in my life that I’ve lost, and I could not care less.
For me, Harry Potter is escapism at its best. You open one of the HP books and dive into another world. We say that about books all the time, but it’s actually true with HP. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, in fact, let me escape at a moment in time when I really, really needed it. You see in 2000, I was still young and by definition stupid. So, when I ruptured my Achille’s tendon two days before I was to fly to the US for Christmas, I didn’t cancel my trip. See, told you. Stupido!
The flight to the Texas from Amsterdam was horrid. Despite calling the airline in advance and explaining the situation, I did not get a bulkhead seat. Nope, my leg with its heavy cast was stuck on my husband’s lap for the entire trip. I couldn’t leave it down as the foot was severely swollen and flying only makes that worse. Who would have thought the return trip would be worse?
We were flying out of Texas on New Year’s Eve because it’s cheaper and we were pinching our pennies at the time. Unfortunately, Texas had a bizarre snowstorm and – for obvious reasons – wasn’t prepared for it. There was, in fact, only one de-icing machine for the entire airport. First, we had to wait in the departure hall for several hours. Then, we finally boarded the flight only to be delayed again and end up sitting in the plane on the runway for a few more hours.
What does one do when one is in severe pain (the Dutch may have a lot of recreational drugs but they don’t believe in pain killers) and stuck at an airport and then in a plane? Read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, naturally. HP may not have saved my life or anything, but he certainly got me through a tough moment in my life.
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Cover Reveal! Family Matters from Felicia Denise aka @MsFelicia #womensfiction #giveaway
Family Matters
Series: In the Best Interest of the Child, Book 2
Author: Felicia Denise
Cover Design: Jenn Cunningham
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Release Date: August 2017
Add to Goodreads → here
~ Synopsis ~
Olivia Chandler’s journey to wholeness continues as she enters counseling. Her therapy will not be easy, and may not be successful unless Olivia can forgive her mother. But is Sarina Chandler the only one in need of Olivia’s forgiveness?
A Halloween party brings together a surprising group of people, and Bruce introduces Olivia to his adult children. Another Bellamy has a second chance at love – if he can put his old-fashioned ways aside.
The death of someone close to Olivia has her re-thinking the value of emotional connections. She withdraws from everyone, falling back into her old habit of burying herself in work. A surprise confrontation pushes Olivia to her limits and puts her heart on the line.
Her continued avoidance of confronting Sarina Chandler pulls at the seams of Olivia’s new-found love with Bruce Bellamy. Olivia must make a decision. Save them… or surrender to her emotional demons.
Excerpt
“Olivia Chandler? I’m Sandra Riley, Sarina’s case manager.”
The tall woman grasped Olivia’s hand into both of her own, shaking briskly. “We’re so glad you’re here today. This is a big step forward for your mother.”
“Nice to meet you, Sandra, and honestly, it’s a big step for me too.”
“Oh, I’m sure, Olivia. Any questions for me before you visit with Sarina?”
Visit with Sarina. She made it sound so cute and homey, Olivia thought.
“Does she know I planned to be here today?”
“Yes, she does. When Sarina asked about you a few weeks ago, she said she also knew you’d have little or no reason to want to see her, but she’d always hoped you come someday.””
Olivia stared at the woman blankly, not knowing how to respond to the comment.
“I’m sure this is confusing, Olivia, and now isn’t the time for me to explain all that Sarina has gone through, but please know she is fully cognizant of her aging, of you, her late husband”, Sandra paused only for a second, “she even remembers the accident. It’s everything between the accident and a few months ago that’s fuzzy for her. It’s as though a switch was flipped off in her brain that was recently turned back on.”
Olivia frowned but didn’t ask the question on the tip of her tongue.
“May I see her now?”
“Of course! Follow me.”
The case manager’s long legs covered the distance across the sitting area in no time at all, with Olivia almost scurrying to keep up with her. Margot and Randie teased Olivia about her brisk walking pace, but she had nothing on Sandra Riley! Olivia would guess Sandra to be at least six feet tall… and light on her feet.
Reaching an unmarked door in the far corner, Sandra held it open for Olivia, who walked through and found herself standing in yet another sitting room, only this one resembled the average family room. Large, comfy chairs, throw rugs and even a flat screen television graced the area.
“Welcome to Honey Ridge East, Olivia.”
“Honey Ridge East? I don’t understand.”
Sandra pointed to a bulletin board on the wall near the door they’d just come through.
“The residents here are grouped by floor, the severity of mental disorder, and the amount of care and supervision needed. The healthiest, most independent residents reside here in Honey Ridge.”
“My mother is here… in this section?”
She nodded.
Olivia tried to digest the information. Her mother was healthy? Required little or no supervision? Trying to reconcile this new Sarina with the bedridden, incoherent woman she last saw five years ago was difficult for Olivia.
“How long has she lived here?”
Sandra pursed her lips, thinking. Then she nodded.
“I’m pretty sure Sarina was here for the group’s Valentine’s Day dinner dance, so that makes it eight months.” Sandra tried not to laugh at the horrified expression on Olivia’s face.
“Don’t be shocked. We also have Easter Egg hunts and 4th of July barbecues. The residents got a big kick out of the Halloween hay rides.” Sandra leaned in towards Olivia, “ And I hear Santa will visit on Christmas Eve.”
Shaking her head, Olivia was incredulous.
“What kind of mental hospital is this? I mean, um…I thought…”
The case manager guided Olivia past the sitting area while answering.
“River Ridge Meadows is a private care, private pay, voluntary commitment facility. We’re fully licensed by the state and the federal government. Insurance isn’t accepted here, and no resident is here against their will. We currently have one hundred and sixty-one residents ranging in age from seven to eighty-six. Most are from throughout the state, but there are a few from other parts of the country, and even four from Europe. River Ridge has two permanent, board certified psychiatrists, two permanent, board certified medical doctors, six psychologists, and a nursing staff of 40 which includes licensed physical therapists.
The residents here are used to a certain way of life, and we provide that here, within reason. That’s why we also have an event planner and a social activities director on staff.”
Sandra stopped at the top end of a short hallway. “But we have all the time in the world for me to tell you about River Ridge, and even give you a tour, if you like.” She nodded towards the end of the hall. “Your mother is expecting you.”
Olivia pressed her hand against her stomach, the tiny nervous tremors threatening to morph into a full-fledged earthquake. Heat enveloped her body as the familiar tang of bile crept up the back of her throat. Closing her eyes, the nervous woman tried to will the anxiety away.
You’ve come this far, Chandler, don’t you dare freak out now!
About the Author
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A wife, mother, daughter, sister, blogger and indie author, Felicia loves all things book-related and coffee-related. A southern girl by birth, the fifty-something, voracious reader now resides in Arizona (via Michigan and California) with her husband of thirty-three years. Their three adult children also reside in Arizona – with their dogs. Felicia frequently reminds them she is the only one of her parents’ nine children who isn’t a grandparent.
Writing has been a hobby of Felicia’s since grade school, but other than serving as editor and writing for her high school newspaper, she never publicly shared anything until the early 2000s when she began writing fan fiction. At the urging of a good friend, Felicia took on the challenge of NaNoWriMo in 2015, writing what would become her first published book, In the Best Interest of the Child, released in the fall of 2016. Her latest book, Free, a Novella, released May 30, 2017.
Sometimes serious and always sarcastic, Felicia continues her literary search for the ultimate non-alpha, non-billionaire, non-bad-boy hero with a non-sassy, non-feisty, non-bad-decision-making heroine whose relationship exemplifies true romance. Recommendations are always welcome!
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~ Giveaway ~
Enter for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card
June 28, 2017
Read an excerpt of Funny Fairy Tales, #humor from @ReutBarak #giveaway
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Title: Funny Fairy Tales
Author: Reut Barak
Genre: Humor
Published: 13 March 2017
~ Synopsis ~
A long time ago
in a faraway land
there lived a woman
who was allergic to dust.
Her name was Cinderella
Funny Fairytales are a twist on the old beloved Grimm and Disney Fairy Tales. They are fun short stories people can read in a couple of minutes when waiting for the bus or on a train ride. Work just like an app, with story plot changes, new adventurous characters, mysteries and danger.
Funny Fairy Tales 1 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The new Snow White, with the vicious queen Anagrola, the confused and sarcastic mirror Shraga, and the most gifted seven men you’ve ever met.
The traditional tale, with a new development – snow white is not pretty, but smart, the mirror, Shraga has a hate-hate relationship with the jealous queen, and the dwarfs are each craft masters.
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Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Barnes and Noble
Funny Fairy Tales 2 – Cinderella
The new Cinderella, with the mysterious blue fairy godmother, the cunning step-sisters, and a woman, who for the life of her, just can’t stop cleaning!
The traditional tale, with a new development – a new young fairy godmother, cinderella as a neat freak allergic to dust and with step-sisters who are good and desire to save her.
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Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Barnes and Noble
Funny Fairy Tales 3 – Red Riding Hood
The new Red Riding, with the hood that leads to fame and fortune, the mysterious wild wolf, and a grandmother so evil, she could rewrite the history of sin. Red’s not little anymore!
The traditional tale, with a new development – the grandmother is exceptionally vicious and the wolf very wise, red riding hood is a young curious and passionate woman exploring the life of fame, and the topic of false accusation is strong in the book.
Grab a copy!
Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Barnes and Noble
~ Excerpt ~
Excerpt from Cinderella :
A long time ago
in a faraway land
there lived a woman
who was allergic to dust.
She was also allergic to cat hair, pollen, mould, nuts, soy, and latex.
She lived in the attic, which she kept sterile- clean.
She would rarely get out, because the house had a cat and she was allergic to cat hair.
She would keep the windows shut to avoid the pollen.
She tested her food to avoid nuts and soy.
She chased the microbes, and the dirt and the germs and the insects, and walked around with a small broom, ready to use.
In short, she was nuts.
Her name was Cinderella.
Excerpt from Red Riding Hood
When Red finally reached her grandmother’s cottage, it was noon and she had eaten a collection of mushrooms she had never seen before.
She was also seeing colors she had never seen before.
The cottage was quiet, and the door creaked when Red unlocked it.
“Granny?”
There was no answer.
Red walked in slowly. She was dizzy, but she managed to walk straight into her grandmother’s bedroom, and approach the bed.
“Granny?”
Her grandmother seemed somewhat different.
For starters, she had very big eyes.
Red never noticed that before.
Her grandmother also had fur.
Red stopped, confused.
There was something funny going on.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
She thought she might as well say something.
“What big eyes you have.”
Really? thought the wolf, who was lying in her grandmother’s bed. “Well… the better to see you with.”
“What big ears you have.”
“Well… the better to hear you with.”
“What a big nose you have.”
“The better to smell you with.”
“What big…”
“I can tell where this is going, and I’m not interested. No offense.”
~ About the Author ~
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Reut Barak is a freelance journalist, previously published in National Geographic online. She has an MBA from the University of Oxford, and has worked and traveled internationally. This is her first book series.
Well, no not really… The true story is:
Reut was born in Camelot in the year 1201, following the famous explosion of the northern dragon tower.
She has a degree in fantasy and science fiction from the University of Atlantis and this record can be found in the central library, now twenty thousand leagues under the sea.
She likes phoenix riding, dragon fighting and painting the roses red.
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~ Giveaway ~
Read an excerpt of Prom Queen, new #contemporaryromance from @katee_robert #giveaway @Barclay_PR
Celebrate the Release of PROM QUEEN!
A high school reunion is about to get down and dirty and a whole lot more complicated in this new erotic romance from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Katee Robert.
Welcome to Bad Boy Homecoming! Five bestselling authors got together to see what happens when bad boy heroes (and even a bad girl or two!) roll back into a small town in Texas for their High School reunion. Sexy times, angst-filled memories, and second chances abound with this contemporary romance series.
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Add PROM QUEEN to your TBR pile on Goodreads, then keep reading for an exclusive excerpt! Be sure to enter the giveaway for your chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card, a Signed Paperback Set of the entire Bad Boy Homecoming Series, or a Prom Queen themed scented candle!
Title: Prom Queen
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Publisher: Katee Robert
Series: Bad Boy Homecoming
Page Count: 109 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Price: $3.99
Synopsis
Jake Davis had it all in high school—a scholarship to his college of choice, a promising football career, and the gorgeous prom queen for a girlfriend. And then he lost it all when he was injured right after graduation. Ten years later, he’s mostly made his peace with that, and now runs a company that provides women with dates for special events. Imagine his surprise when he discovers that the ex who left him in the dust needs a fake boyfriend for their high school reunion…
Jessica Jackson used to be the mean girl to end all mean girls. But life didn’t turn out like she’d thought it would, and now she’s twenty-eight, single, and works as an insurance agent to A-listers instead of being the A-lister like she’d always dreamed. She can’t go back to her hometown and admit just how thoroughly she’s failed, so she lets her friends set her up with a fake date for the reunion.
The second Jessica realizes that her fake date is Jake, she tries to call the whole thing off. The problem is the chemistry between them is even hotter now than it was when they were teenagers. Against her better judgment she lets herself get drawn into Jake’s arms again—and into his bed. But time doesn’t heal all wounds—sometimes, it actually makes them worse—and if Jessica and Jake can’t learn to forgive each other, their second chance might not last the weekend.
Find out more at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Check out the entire Bad Boy Homecoming Series
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Enter for your chance to win one of these fabulous prizes! One (1) $50 Amazon Gift Card One (1) Signed Paperback Set of the Bad Boy Homecoming Series One (1) Prom Queen themed Scented Candle
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Excerpt from PROM QUEEN
Copyright © 2017 Katee Robert
Taking a fortifying breath that did nothing to fortify, she scrolled through her texts to find the number that had shown up last night. The words were short and to the point.
I’ll pick you up at the airport.
Nothing there to tell what kind of man she’d ended up with, and she’d been too cowardly to text back anything other than a generic agreement. Now there was nothing left to stall with. Jessica hitched her purse higher up on her shoulder and headed through security. The big red line tiled into the floor was a point of no return in so many ways. Why did I think this was a good idea?
Her mama didn’t raise a coward, though, so she lifted her chin and marched forward. No matter who this guy was, she’d faced down worse. She’d been worse. It couldn’t be more horrifying than the Miss Texas Teen USA pageant of 2005 where that little brat Misty Brennan cut holes into her dress and she didn’t realize it until she was out on stage and had her pink polka dot bra showing to the audience and God. Jessica had powered through that and walked out with second place, and she’d power through this, too.
She joined the people from multiple flights crowded around the baggage claim, her body practically vibrating from nerves. The scent of too many people in too little space assaulted her, but she was more focused on the faces she didn’t recognize from the plane. Too many, all filtered in with the travelers—there was no way she’d be able to pick him out of the crowd. Her date had her picture, so he’d have to be the one to approach. What if he doesn’t? What if this is just karma giving me one last kick in the teeth?
Oh, for God’s sake, stop being so dramatic.
“Jessica.”
A thrill shot down her spine, quickly eaten up by a dread so strong, she wished the ground would open and swallow her whole. She shot a look at the nearest exit, but if she took off now, she’d have to admit that she fled instead of turning and facing her Number One Nightmare.
Jake Davis.
Praying she was wrong, she turned slowly to face him. Nope. That was definitely Jake Davis, ex-quarterback, ex-boyfriend, just all around ex when it came to Jessica. And he was definitely way better in real life than he’d been in the pictures she’d seen while she was creeping on him. Her heart picked up and her body sparked to life in a way it hadn’t in far too long.
Something like ten years.
She was staring. She couldn’t stop. Jessica licked her lips, her breath stalling in her lungs when his green eyes met hers. His eyes had always been one of her favorite features—a true green that brightened depending on what he was wearing, framed with thick, dark lashes that had always made her jealous when she was a teenager. Going by those eyes, Jakes would be judged downright pretty.
At least until you saw the rest of his face. His hair had darkened over the years, closer to brown than blond, and his lantern jaw was covered with… “What the hell is that on your face?”
He blinked, the only outward sign that she’d surprised him.
“Nice to see you too, Jessie.” He touched his scruff. “A lot’s changed since you left.”
Her gaze jumped to his right shoulder. There was no outward sign of the injury that had started the end of it all, but then, he was wearing a light-weight black T-shirt, so it wasn’t like it would show. Focus, Jessica. “What are you doing here? Are you picking up someone for the reunion?” There you go. Nice and casual.
“You might say that.” He kept looking at her like he could see the inside of her head. Another new trick.
She glanced around, trying to be subtle. The baggage claim had started to clear out, and there weren’t any conveniently gorgeous men standing around alone. Where was her date? Now would be the perfect time for him to sweep in and do the job she’d hired him for. “I’m here with someone.”
“I know.”
She frowned. “What are you talking about?” On second thought, escaping Jake before she met her date was probably a better choice. She didn’t want to have to deal with meeting this new guy and trying to pretend they’d been dating forever. And how was she going to explain how she’d magically lost him between getting off the plane and the baggage claim.
Cora’s so-called perfect plan was teetering toward disaster.
“Your order from Diamond Dates.” He gave her a slow, knowing grin that she felt all the way to her toes, and offered his hand. “Jessica Jackson, I’m your date for the reunion.”
About Katee Robert
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.” When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.
Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram
June 26, 2017
Read an excerpt of Broken Little Melodies #rockstarromance from Jennifer Ann @naumannbooks #giveaway @Barclay_PR
Star-crossed lover find each other after years apart, can they repair the pieces of their broken relationship for a second chance at love?
Follow the tour and enter to #win $100.00 Amazon Gift Card!
Enter at: a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Title: Broken Little Melodies
Author: Jennifer Ann
Genre: Contemporary Rockstar Romance
Release Date: June 26, 2017
Blurb:
Star-crossed lovers…
Deep among the Jeffrey Pines of Lake Tahoe, Isabelle Martin and Roman Stone find comfort in each other at a summer camp for musically gifted teens where their love grows stronger every year. But they couldn’t be more different. She’s an orphan from the West Coast running with the wild crowd, and he’s a rich kid from New York hiding the scars of an abusive home. When their worlds finally collide, the future they planned comes crashing down around them and Belle is forced to cut Roman from her life without any explanation.
Five years later…
Roman’s on top of the world. His successful rock band is preparing for their first headlining tour, but when he unexpectedly runs into Belle, old feelings for her come rushing back, and his new found bravado fails him.
Belle has learned that some things in life have the power to break your spirit, and trying to forget Roman has made her bitter—she’s merely a waitress headlining a bar-band, and he’s had everything handed to him on a silver platter. Seeing him again makes her question whether time can mend a broken heart.
Their struggles brought them together, and their differences tore them apart, but now that they’re together again, can they repair the broken pieces and get a second chance at love?
Grab a copy!
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Excerpt:
When she spun around to look at me, arms crossed over her already large breasts, I was so nervous that I feared I’d throw up all over her. Her gaze slipped downward, appearing humored by my $10 sundress. Or maybe she was amused by my flat chest.
Part of me wanted to bolt from there and run after my aunt. But the stubborn side of me remained rooted in place, matching the girl’s calloused smile. Looking into her heavily made-up eyes, I was slightly embarrassed that I didn’t even own mascara.
“Are you sure you’re in the right place?” she asked with narrowed eyes. “I would think the entrance for help would be out back somewhere.”
“I’m here to sing, same as you,” I replied, crossing my arms over my stomach. Thankfully, I sounded a lot braver than I felt.
She pressed a manicured hand to her lips. “Oh, my god! You must be one of those welfare cases, here on a free ride! Am I right?”
“Stop being a bitch, Brooke,” a tenor voice snapped behind me.
A lanky boy with sandy colored hair and a wide nose appeared at her side, only slightly taller than either one of us. Though he had a nerdy presence and appeared awkward, as if he had yet to grow into his features, it was glaringly obvious he came from money like the other kids. Even his neatly trimmed haircut looked expensive. He was dressed in khaki pants and a sea green polo shirt the same cool tone as his eyes. They were the prettiest eyes I’d ever seen, surrounded by thick lashes and peppered with a little cluster of golden specks that reminded me of the kind of beautifully starry nights I saw the time my dad took us camping in the Sequoia National Park.
And those mesmerizing eyes were locked on me.
A weird little flush crept over my skin.
“She’s just pissed her parents shipped her out here for another summer because she hates singing,” he told me as his lips pressed into a friendly smile. “I’m Roman, and this is Brooke. We’re from New York. How ‘bout you?”
“Isabelle,” I mumbled in reply. It was obvious he was friends with the bitchy girl the way he draped his arm over the edge of her shoulder. At the time, I really didn’t want anything to do with him.
“Isabelle, from…” He cocked his head, waiting for me to answer.
“Down by Fresno.”
The friendly smile grew. “A California girl. Is this your first time here?”
Brooke laughed with an annoyingly high cackle. I knew then and there she was a first soprano. I also decided that I hated her. “Obviously. Look at her, Roman. She’s as scared as one of those stray kittens you can only get rid of by drowning.”
For a split second, Roman’s eyes warmed with sympathy before he reeled on her. “You know, Brooke, just because my father works for yours doesn’t mean I have to kiss your ass all the time. You could be nice for once in your life.”
“Oh, come on.” She rolled her eyes. “Like you really expect me to be friends with this girl? She doesn’t belong here.”
Roman flashed me another sympathetic look—one that took my breath away. In that moment I saw the type of worldly kindness you didn’t normally see in kids our age, like he knew of my struggles.
“I’ll catch up with you later, Isabelle.” His gentle smile did nothing to erase the pain in his eyes.
About Jennifer Ann
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Jennifer Ann is the author of ten contemporary romance novels with complex love stories. Like her characters, she’s in love with the city of New York, trips on airplanes or the back of her husband’s Harley, and everything rock and roll. Sometimes you can catch her driving a tractor alongside her husband in southern Minnesota while trying to keep up with the madness of their four active children.
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Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads
Follow the tour and enter to #win $100.00 Amazon Gift Card!
June 26th
Bookaliciousbabesblog – Review
Celticlady’s Reviews – Spotlight and Excerpt
For Love of Books4 – Spotlight and Excerpt
KeyReadThat – Spotlight and Excerpt
The Avid Reader – Spotlight and Excerpt
We All Make Mistakes in Books – Spotlight and Excerpt
Port Jericho – Spotlight and Excerpt
June 27th
Readsalot – Spotlight and Excerpt
Amanda’s Book Nook for Adults – Spotlight and Excerpt
Evermore Books – Spotlight and Excerpt
LadyTechie’s Book Musings – Spotlight and Excerpt
Pebble In The Still Waters – Spotlight and Excerpt
The Literary Apothecary – Spotlight and Excerpt
Yearwood La Novela – Spotlight and Excerpt
June 28th
Lisa Book blog @ LEL – Spotlight and Excerpt
Fiona Reads and FoodSpots – Spotlight and Excerpt
Rainy Days and Pajamas – Spotlight and Excerpt
The Silver Dagger Scriptorium – Spotlight and Excerpt
Yah Gotta Read This – Spotlight and Excerpt
Bookishly Thinking – Spotlight and Excerpt
June 29th
My Girlfriend’s Couch – Spotlight and Excerpt
Read Between the Lines – Spotlight and Excerpt
Reese’s Review – Spotlight and Excerpt
The Voluptuous Book Diva – Spotlight and Excerpt
Novels & Necklaces – Spotlight and Excerpt
Books,Dreams,Life – Spotlight and Excerpt
June 30th
Lamplight Review and Promotion – Review
babbling about books and more – Spotlight and Excerpt
I Love Romance – Spotlight and Excerpt
Miss Riki – Spotlight and Excerpt
Romance Book Review For You – Spotlight and Excerpt
The World As I See It – Spotlight and Excerpt
Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess – Review
July 1st
Up ‘Til Dawn Book Blog – Spotlight and Excerpt
nikkis book nook – Spotlight and Excerpt
Romance Reviews Today Blog – Spotlight and Excerpt
underneath the covers – Spotlight and Excerpt
EskieMama Reads & Dragon Lady Reads – Spotlight and Excerpt
Hike2Forty and beyond – Spotlight and Excerpt
Jen’s Reading Obsession – Spotlight and Excerpt
Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Spotlight and Excerpt
Read an excerpt of A Warlock’s Secrets #paranormalromance from @TenaStetler #giveaway
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A Warlock’s Secrets
Demon’s Witch Series
Book Two
Tena Stetler
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: 6-14-17
ISBN: 978-1-5092-1446-4
ISBN: 978-1-5092-1447-1
Number of pages: 332
Word Count: 83,485
Cover Artist: Kristian Norris
Description
Years ago a sacred ceremony at the Dragon’s Moon Coven, turned deadly. Son of the high priestess, Tristian Shandie’s life changed forever. With a price on his head and revenge in his heart, he has no choice but to follow in his father’s footsteps to a profession shrouded in secrets. Now his skills as an enforcer for the Demon Overlord are second to none. But dangerous secrets he harbors are a liability he can no longer afford.
A chance meeting with a woman he finds irresistible flips Tristian’s world upside down. Hannah is a cyber security specialist with secrets of her own. Bad boys never appealed to her until Tristian, who changes everything. In his darkest hours she is dragged into his magical world. If they survive, is she strong enough to heal his heart and tame the warlock? Or will their secrets destroy them?
Grab a copy!
Excerpt
He offered his hand to Hannah as she stood, wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her out of the diner. “How about a ride up the coast?”
“Sure as soon as you explain how you held those teens down without touching them.” She smiled up at him knowingly. “And don’t give me that crap about telling me or killing me.”
A slight grin curved the corners of his mouth. “How about on an as needed basis and you don’t need to know?”
A soft laugh bubbled up from her throat. “If I had to guess, I’d say you’re a warlock with well-honed powers.” She tilted her head up towards his. “Would I be right?”
HIs grin faded replaced with a stormy expression. “Where would you get that absurd idea? They merely tripped and had trouble getting up. I suggested they stay put until the police showed up. Simple as that.”
“Right. Well on that note, I’ll see myself home.” She turned to her car and opened the door.
For a moment, he considered letting her go. Women are more trouble than they’re worth anyway. That’s when the meddling voice of Birch wafted through Tristian’s mind. She’s moved on, so should you. Damn faeries anyway. I’m sure he’s using some kind of magic to do this to me.
“Okay, you win. But only if you tell me why you are disguising your magic signature.” He leaned against the car a smirk on his face.
About the Author
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Tena Stetler is a paranormal romance and cozy mystery author with an over-active imagination. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, Tena sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of paranormal creatures telling her their tales. Colorado is her home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-year-old box turtle. Any evening, you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them.
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Website ~ Authors’ Secret’s Blog ~ My Say What Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Newsletter ~ Pinterest ~ Triberr
Giveaway
2 $10 Amazon Gift Cards
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