D.E. Haggerty's Blog, page 64
October 25, 2016
Read an excerpt from Three & Out from@lchapmanwrites #giveaway
New from Laura Chapman, the third installment of her fantasy football romantic comedy Queen of the League series . . .
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After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
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Read an Excerpt from Three & Out
“You have to talk some sense into J.J. He’s freaking out about this whole redraft thing.”
I roll my eyes at the irritation in Wade’s voice. How like sweet, lovable, but basically helpless Wade to want me to save the day and soothe everyone else’s nerves. Even though I’m two time zones away. It’s my own fault. Back when we all worked together at the car dealership in Lincoln, that’s what I did. I fixed things. Not to brag, I was good at it. Too good, apparently.
I start the brisk walk toward campus. After looking around town, we’d settled on a tiny walk-up a few minutes from campus rather than going for something more spacious in the suburbs. What we pay for in extra rent, we make up for in gas and time savings. Plus, every work day starts and ends with cardio, which is how I’m able to rationalize skipping the gym. I’ve always been bad about going, but now I can do it guilt-free.
“What are we going to do?” Wade asks. “He’s out of control.”
“In his defense, it was a pretty big pain in the butt to find a time when we were all available to draft in the first place. Things are complicated now that we’re on the West Coast and Gio is on the East—”
“It’s not a matter of time zones.”
I imagine myself flipping Wade the bird. “No. I suppose it isn’t.”
“You’re not here every day. You don’t get it.”
Now I have to fight the urge to throw my phone into the street. The only reason I don’t is because I don’t want to have to replace it. Especially not until I back up my music and photos. I have a bunch of pictures of Blitz and my latest crocheting projects on my phone. I can’t risk parting with them in a wave of misplaced fury. I take a deep breath and remind myself that I like Wade. Most of the time. Plus, I have to be patient with him. He’s married to Brook’s sister now, so he’s family.
“What else is going on?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
“Well . . .” Then Wade launches into something that’s a mixture of rant and useful information.
Apparently, J.J. hasn’t been handling the changes to his environment well. First, Brook and I moved in February. Aside from the few months he spent playing in an arena league, J.J. hasn’t been away from his former practice squad wide receiver since they were freshmen in college. Then in May, Gio transferred to the flagship store in Schenectady, New York, so the owners of the dealership—the Donaldsons—could enjoy early retirement and a second honeymoon.
With his most stable influences gone, J.J. spent the summer in a free-for-all binge. There’s more drinking. More one-night stands. More shoving matches with strangers in bars. More illegal substances. It’s all of J.J.’s vices, only on a bigger level. He’s Deluxe J.J.
“Why are you just telling me this now? If it’s been going on all summer, why—”
“I thought we could take care of it. Contrary to what you might think, I usually try to handle things on my own.” I can almost imagine Wade tussling his cropped brown hair on the other side of the line. “But this morning, after we got our messages about the botched draft, J.J. lost it. He threw a chair at one of the cars in the lobby.”
I gasp and nearly run into a woman walking her dog in the other direction. Recovering quickly, I dart an apologetic grin and mouth, “Sorry.” “What did Anderson do?”
“Nothing.”
I stumble again. “He did—”
“Well, not nothing really. He told J.J. to cool down and check our Internet sales. He said it in that voice of his that scares the crap out of you.”
I’m all too familiar with it. “That was it?”
“Well . . . then he asked Dylan to take the car back to maintenance.”
It makes sense. He’d want to make sure there wasn’t any damage to the body. He’d also want to take care of the dents with as little fuss as possible before ripping J.J. a new one.
“Then he asked you to call me? So I could set J.J. straight.”
“Pretty much.”
That figures. It all does. However, understanding the source for this request doesn’t give me any clear ideas on what I’m supposed to do to help. It’s not like I can hop on a plane and smack some sense into J.J. I’m already flying back in October, and I can’t take off that much time from work. A phone call will only do so much. There’s also the chance I could say the wrong thing and make it worse.
It’s not a good situation.
“Look, Wade, I don’t know what I can—”
“Just think of something. Anything. Give him a call and talk some reason into him. He listens to you.”
“Yeah, right. You mean he listens to Brook.” Which is who Wade should have called, come to think of it.
“Brook is my next call if you won’t help. But you’d be surprised by how much stock J.J. puts in you. I know I’m asking a lot—”
“You’re asking for a miracle.”
“Maybe, but please.”
The way he says it—his voice so wistful—is more than a request. It’s a last-ditch plea. Like Princess Leia telling Obi-Wan he’s her only hope. And, man, I need to make some less nerdy friends if that’s the first analogy to come to mind. I’m practically a female version of any given member of the league these days. My heart pings as I think about those guys. They’re more than my buddies. They’re my family. Not just the one’s I’m related to by blood or marriage.
Family comes through when you need them.
“Okay. I’ll talk to him.”
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
First & Goal
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Going for Two
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About the Author
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, Going for Two, Three & Out, and The Marrying Type. Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.
Looking for a hot alpha? Release blitz for Heated Pursuit by @AprilHuntBooks #romanticsuspense #giveaway
Book Title: Heated Pursuit (Alpha Security, #1)
Author: April Hunt
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Publisher: Forever & Forever Yours | Grand Central Publishing
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
Penny Kline didn’t come to Honduras on a pleasure trip. She’s here to rescue her kidnapped niece, the only family she’s got left. What she didn’t plan on was walking into a covert ops mission—or being wrapped up in the hard-muscled arms of Rafe Ortega. The cool-as-ice operative’s touch may get her all hot and bothered, but no man can have a hold on her heart until her niece is home where she belongs.
Even in the tropics, Alpha Security operative Rafe can take down the bad guys without breaking a sweat. Hostage extractions. Clandestine missions. Those are the things he’s been trained to handle. Relationships? Not so much. But one look at this strong, sexy redhead and he’s seized by a fierce urge to protect her at all costs. Now Penny and Rafe will have to up their game because they’re about to go into a master criminal’s lair without backup, and the danger—and passion—is about to explode . . .
“Allow him?” Penny’s gentle tone froze all five men to their spots. Instead of shrinking as she kicked off her heels, her stature grew. She glanced pointedly at each of them before landing on Trey, and never once raised her voice. “If Rafe had insisted on bringing any kind of security, it would’ve made it look like he had something to hide.”
“Yeah, but he didn’t need to agree to letting you tag along,” Trey argued.
She shrugged. “Fuentes likes women. Isn’t that why we thought sending me into the club with Rafe was a good idea to begin with? We got his attention. We got in. I’m not going to question why, and having been after this guy for months, neither should you.”
“We shouldn’t, but we are,” Stone interjected. “Too many innocents have been affected by Fuentes. We’re not eager to add to the tally.”
“My name was added to that list the moment the bastard took the only family I have left!”
As the rest of the team focused on Penny, Rafe’s gaze cut to his best friend. If he didn’t know Trey so well, he would’ve missed the minute twitch of his left eye. Faint, quick, and only happening once before Trey pulled himself back together, the brief flicker was his friend’s only physical show of weakness.
Rafe treaded carefully, clearing his throat. “I think what Stone means, Red, is that playing arm candy for a few hours is a hell of a lot different than having you under Fuentes’s roof—literally.”
“Then I won’t do it.”
“Thank fucking God,” Trey mumbled.
When Penny folded her arms across her chest, fluffing up the already impressive view, Rafe knew there was more. “If you can tell me right now there isn’t the slightest chance Diego will rescind his invite if I back out, then I’ll stay behind.” No one could make that claim, and the grim smile on her face indicated she knew it. “No? Then I’m going.”
Stone perched on the edge of the couch. His gaze was stern, but his voice surprisingly gentle. “You have to understand something, sweetheart. We have no idea where the Fuentes compound is. The entire international alphabet-fucking-soup has been trying to track the bastard down for years. We’re their last line of defense before they have to tuck tails and admit they’ve fucked up.”
She tossed her hands up in the air with a growl. “Which is why it doesn’t make sense that you’d be willing to risk the chance of Fuentes telling us to bug off! You’ve never gotten this close before.”
Trey intervened. “You’d be going into this op dark, Penn—no backup if things go to shit. No support. We can’t send you in with wires or run-of-the-mill tracking chips, because the paranoid bastard has the capability of finding them. It’ll just be you and Rafe. And if things go to hell, it’ll be the two of you and the Honduran rain forest.”
“Good thing I was a Girl Scout, then, huh? I wasn’t blowing smoke up your skirts when I said I’d do anything to get Rachel back. The question is are you going to let me?”
Fuck no. The red-blooded man in Rafe wanted her sweet ass on a plane. Out of sight. Out of mind. And out of danger. But the trained operative grudgingly admitted that she had a point. Her leaving at this juncture in the game would make their job more difficult than if she stayed.
Still, it wasn’t Rafe’s call to make—thank fucking God.
Stone, looking a hell of a lot like a gargoyle, went quiet. That alone wasn’t what alarmed Rafe, because the Alpha head often kept his thoughts under a tightly sealed wrap. What had Rafe holding his breath was the way Stone tapped his fingers against his thigh…as if he was in deep thought.
And then his boss’s gaze shifted to him. Fuckin’ A.
“The decision’s yours, Ortega.” Lips pressed into a thin line, Stone’s expression looked anything but thrilled. “You’re the one going on the inside with her. I know I don’t have to remind you that you’re going into this deaf and blind. Bail enforcement or not, Penny’s not Alpha trained. That means on top of everything else you’re responsible for, you need to add her to the list—and right at the damn top.”
“He doesn’t need to—”
“Yeah, he does. Though you can hit a target and inflict a fair amount of damage, you’re green. You’ve never been on this kind of an op. Hell, even Ortega hasn’t.”
But no fucking pressure. Dealing with Taliban leaders in the middle of the desert had nothing on the expectant stare Penny slid his way. On the exterior, she looked the poster girl for calm and cool. Direct gaze. Back straight. But the subtle bite to her lower lip identified it as a carefully controlled ruse.
He wanted to say what his team expected him to—no fucking way. But the words wouldn’t come.
Though he didn’t have family in the true sense of the word, everyone associated with Alpha was his family—even their ball-buster analyst, Charlie. If he were in Penny’s shoes, he’d turn over every rock in the Afghan desert, search every damn block of ice in the Arctic, and make a deal with the devil if it meant the safe return of his family. That same brand of loyalty was etched on every feminine curve of Penny’s face.
Lives counted on their success, and not just their own, but Rachel’s and the countless others being subjected to Freedom and God only knew what other nasty drugs Fuentes pedaled around the globe.
Meeting Penny’s gaze, Rafe mentally relived the last week—Penny sparring in the training room, the too-close-for-comfort scuffle in the alley, and the professional ease with which she handled the meeting with Fuentes. Hell, she’d been the one who remained casually aloof while he nearly reached across the table and throttled the sick fuck with his bare hands.
He couldn’t believe he was going to fucking say it. “Don’t make me regret agreeing to this, Red.”
April blames her incurable chocolate addiction on growing up in rural Pennsylvania, way too close to America’s chocolate capital, Hershey. She now lives in Virginia with her college sweetheart husband, two young children, and a cat who thinks she’s a human-dog hybrid. On those rare occasions she’s not donning the cape of her children’s personal chauffer, April’s either planning, plotting, or writing about her next alpha hero and the woman he never knew he needed, but now can’t live without.
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October 24, 2016
Read an excerpt of The Blessed Knights by @MaryTing #giveaway #fantasy #romance
Celebrate the Release of THE BLESSED KNIGHTS (The Angel Knights #3) by Mary Ting!
About THE BLESSED KNIGHTS (The Angel Knights Book 3)
Eli, Lucia’s half-demon love interest, has been stabbed with a true-cross dagger and captured by Cyrus, master of the possessor demons.
The Chosen Knights must work together once again not only to save Eli, but also to decipher a clue to find the second missing page of Jacques de Molay’s journal. Meanwhile, Uncle Davin informs Crossroads Divine Elders of the danger ahead and learns there is much more to fear.
Countless children are being taken from all over the world to be turned into demons.
Michael, one of the Divine Elders, has no choice but to intervene. The Chosen Knights track down Mortem, the demon who is the key to finding Cyrus, and learn they must travel deep into the pit of a Hawaiian volcano.
When they astral travel to the past in search of a clue and follow Jacques de Moley to Roselyn Chapel in medieval Scotland, what they find will rewrite history.
Out October 28, 2016
Order this title at these online retailers:
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA
Add THE BLESSED KNIGHTS to your TBR pile on Goodreads!
Teaser of THE BLESSED KNIGHTS (The Angel Knights Book 3) by Mary Ting:
Ikelia leaned back against the door and looked at her fingernails as if she was bored while the other hand stroked the dagger on her belt. “What do you want, Vince? Why bother to come? You know how this will go. You’ll try to capture me, but I’ll humiliate you by kicking you out. Run along to Cyrus and tell him you couldn’t find me, and maybe he won’t butcher you.”
Vince hissed and whipped out his sword, and in a flash he was in front of her. Pointing the tip on Ikelia’s neck, he said, “Don’t mock me, little witch.” He lowered his gaze and the sword. “No necklace this time? What a pity.” He clucked his tongue and raised his hand to show her the same sunburst necklace Eli had around his neck.
Ikelia shoved the sword out of the way and paced toward the broken glass. “You can keep it. It won’t protect you, and it certainly won’t harm me. Besides, you don’t know the spell. You weren’t worthy to have one passed down to you. What a shame. It’s quite useful when you know how to use one.”
After she walked in a complete circle, she bent down on her knees and placed her hands a few inches off the pile of shards. At her mumbled words, blue, red, gold, and green pieces lifted in the air and pressed together, forming a beautiful three-feet-tall vase I had seen earlier on top of a small wooden table. The item had glued itself back together.
“There.” Ikelia clapped her hands two times and strode toward the door. “Good as new.” She smirked. “It’s like you were never here. Your magic is no match for mine. You’re in my domain. Don’t forget that. And I believe you have something that is mine.” She wiggled her index finger. The sunburst necklace Vince held flew into her hands and coiled around her neck.
Vince’s eyes darkened. He trembled with rage, ready to pounce on her, but instead raised his arm toward the glass cases.
The top of one of the glass cases shattered outward, and glass splinters blasted in the air. From inside the case, a small dagger flew toward her as he threw the one from his belt.
I gasped, and then held the breath. Had she seen the second dagger coming for her? I twitched, ready to bolt to her rescue, even though I knew I shouldn’t, but Father pressed his hand on my shoulder, firm and strong. He knew me too well. I had failed Eli, and I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing for his mother. I had enough guilt as it was; I didn’t want to add more.
The first dagger stopped inches from the spot between her eyes, but the second one nicked her leg and dropped to the ground with a loud clang. Blood soaked the dark fabric, but she made no sound. I was pretty sure she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of hurting her.
“Are you bleeding? Pity, I guess you can’t handle more than one at a time. You’ve been warned, but you can surrender anytime.”
Vince raised his hand again. Five daggers bolted from under his cloak fast as lightning. They jabbed her cape and pinned her against the wooden door, two daggers on each side and one between her legs, while some sort of darkness swirled around her. Magic light, only visible to supernatural beings.
“Well, well, well, what will Cyrus think of me now? I think he’ll butcher you instead of me. What do you think?” He took a step toward her with each word. Caressing her cheek, he spoke again. “It’s too bad we’re not on the same side, precious witch. Such a waste of a pretty thing. Now my eyes will be sore from missing your beautiful face. There aren’t many beautiful things that hold my attention in this world.”
“Shut up. Let me go,” Ikelia spat, wiggling herself to set free.
Vince pushed back. “Don’t even bother. Don’t you know about my special daggers? No magic can break my spell.”
Ikelia’s lips spread wide in a smug grin, like she had something up her sleeve, but she did nothing nor said nothing to break the daggers’ spell. “Don’t worry, Vince. You know I always have something handy, even if it isn’t on me.”
Vince whipped his head toward the wall, straight at us. Could he see us? Impossible. Father shielded us. Raising his chin, his nose twitched, like a dog sniffing the air. “I was right. You do have a human—not one, but two?” He beamed a mischievous grin. “Stay right there.” He didn’t look at her, but instead placed his palms flat against the wall just feet from where we looked through. “I feel so much energy coming through the wall. Perhaps someone or some beings are spying on us.”
I stiffened and held my breath as he tapped the wall. Ikelia watched with narrowed, daggered eyes.
“There’s nothing there, idiot. Touch the wall all you wish.” Ikelia scoffed.
“Release the wall, Ikelia, or I’ll hurt you more,” he threatened, eyes cold and unyielding.
Everyone inch of me begged her to do it, only because I had no idea what torture Vince would inflict on her. I already knew she wouldn’t die. Vince had said he was to take her to Cyrus, and I had watched her die when Eli and I astral walked to the day of her death. But then I thought of Jacques and Geoffroi. What took Vince so long to figure out humans were on the other side? Did they come out of the barrels? Oh please, let me be wrong.
When she didn’t answer, a smaller dagger flew out from the glass case and dug into Ikelia’s leg, the same spot she had been nicked earlier. Her body curled inward, but the restraints held her in place. Her face blanched and eyes rolled back, but she didn’t make a sound.
“Release the barrier, Ikelia,” Vince demanded, his tone harder and colder.
When she did nothing again, the dagger twisted, digging into her flesh. That time, she cried out. She must have released the shield unwillingly for Vince to curl his lips to his ears.
“That’s a good girl,” he cooed. “I think I’ll have fun with your pets.” He winked at her, and one of his feet slipped right through the wall.
I panicked. We had to help Jacques and Geoffroi. But before I could mutter a word, Ikelia closed her eyes, and then shot her eyes open toward the clock. The pendulum stopped ticking, frozen in place. As if the clock held the power of time and space inside the store, everything stilled, even Vince, who was almost through to the other side. One heel stuck out.
Check out the entire Angel Knights series!
About THE ANGEL KNIGHTS (The Angel Knights Book 1)
Michael and Claudia’s decision to move back to Crossroads was to keep their children safe, but they can’t escape who they are. Their children, Zachary and Lucia, were destined to be demon hunters—Venators. From the age they were able to hold a sword, they were trained to become the best and to ensure they would become leaders one day. All is peaceful throughout the land until the Fallen and demons’ presences were felt in the between and on Earth. As the Venators investigate these locations, they will quickly learn how dangerous their lives are. Hearts will be broken. Teammates will lose their lives. And they will face obstacles which will test their faith. As danger grows, the fear of fallen angels and demons regrouping has the Divine Elders on pins and needles. Now, Zachary and Lucia, along with Uncle Davin, must prepare themselves—mentally and physically—to live on Earth to investigate where the focal point of evil resides before it’s too late.
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About THE CHOSEN KNIGHTS (The Angel Knights Book 2)
A page turning mystery with a supernatural twist that entertains to the last page! ~InD’tale Magazine When teens go missing in Hawaii, a group of demon-hunters—half human and half angel—disguised as high school students, must leave Crossroads, the place where they reside. In a race against time, they uncover the mystery connecting the missing teens, which dates back to the era of the Knights Templar. However, when they discover one of the Templars passed down a book containing all the secrets and codes to finding a particular treasure, they soon realize this forbidden treasure needs to be found before Cyrus, the lord of the possessor demons, acquires it—a treasure which been safeguarded and hidden from him. There is only one problem: the pages containing the clues leading to the treasure is missing. When the first page is found, Cyrus threatens to kill more descendants of the Knights Templar if it is not given to him by Friday the thirteenth. In the midst of threats and discovery, the demon-hunting angels find they are not alone when supernatural beings begin to reveal themselves. Can they put their differences aside and work together to solve the Knights Templars’ cipher? As they astral travel to the past, they witness a lot more than they have bargained for. And some things are better left unseen.
Order this title at these online retailers:
CELEBRATE THE RELEASE WITH A GIVEAWAY!
1 Grand Prize: $20 Giftcard to Amazon
2 Runner-Ups: Digital Edition of Any Backlist Title from M. Clarke or Mary Ting
Author Bio:
International Bestselling, Award-Winning, Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Connect with Mary:
Facebook | Twitter | Website | Amazon | Newsletter |
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My two cents on Bob Dylan as a Nobel Laureate #MondayBlogs #Music #Poetry
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or just plain don’t care), you’ll know Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”. After the prize announcement, the world promptly lost its freaking mind. To be honest, my Facebook friends lose their minds every time the Noble Prize in Literature is announced. Mostly, it’s because their favorite pick didn’t win. Not this year. This year everyone thinks that Dylan should not have even been considered. Huh.
I used to have a very strict idea of what was and what was not literature. Not unlike some lawmaker’s definition of pornography, my definition was also something like ‘I know it when I read it’. After several years of writing my own novels as well as reading hundreds of other authors for review purposes, my strict definition is now somewhat more fluid.
While I don’t agree with how Dylan has handled winning the prize (although to be honest, is anyone surprised?), I can’t disagree with the ‘writing’ talent that is Dylan. And it’s not unusual for the Nobel Prize in Literature to be awarded to a poet. Dylan is definitely a poet. Sure, his poetry is matched to music, but does that make it less of poetry?
Even before that iconic scene in Dangerous Minds in which the words to Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” is used to teach symbolism and metaphor, I’ve thought Dylan was a poet. Just read the lyrics to “Blowin’ In The Wind” and you can’t deny its poetry.
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, and how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?
More recently, Adele has made poetry (and probably a boatload of money) with these Dylan lyrics in “Make You Feel My Love”.
When the rain is blowin’ in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love.
When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love.
I know you haven’t made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I’ve known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong.
I’d go hungry, I’d go black and blue
I’d go crawlin’ down the avenue
No, there’s nothin’ that I wouldn’t do
To make you feel my love.
The storms are raging on the rollin’ sea
And on the highway of regrets
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain’t seen nothin’ like me yet.
I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
There’s nothing that I would not do
I will go to the ends of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love.
To make you feel my love.
Make you feel my love…
Feel my love…
So go ahead and deny it all you want, but Bob Dylan is a poet.
And Bob? If you’re out there, know this: there is a difference between civil disobedience and being just plain rude.
5 loved-it stars for New Release Credo by @nashodarose #paranormalromance #giveaway
Book Title: Credo (Scars of the Wraiths, #3)
Author: Nashoda Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: October 24, 2016
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
New York Times & USA Today Best Selling Author Nashoda Rose brings a fresh twist to the paranormal romance world with ‘the Scars’.
An unrequited love.
A tortured past.
An unbreakable bond.
Their love was well-known throughout the immortal world.
The powerful Taldeburu Waleron and his Delara.
But tragedy struck and tore them apart for years. One believing the other was dead.
When fate finally brings them back together again it isn’t kind.
It’s cruel and testing. Sacrificial.
Because love has no remorse for its victims.
It doesn’t give you options.
And it won’t be stopped.
This is Waleron and Delara’s story.
It’s not pretty and it’s not kind.
But it’s theirs.
A band of fierce warriors walk in the shadows of the human world with capabilities derived from the senses: Trackers, Sounders, Healers, Tasters, Visionaries and the rare Reflectors. They are known as the ‘Scars.
Scars of the Wraiths Series (Must be read in order)
Stygian (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 1)
Tyrant (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 2)
Credo (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 3) Oct/2016
Excerpt: Copyright © 2016 by Nashoda Rose
“Maitagarri, what was that?” I chuckled, shaking my head. She’d tried to distract me by brushing her hand over my cock just before she crouched and swept her leg out to land me on my ass.
She ended up flat on her back with me straddling her pelvis, her wrists locked above her head.
“It’s not fair. I’ve never won a fight. So, I’m using what I have available to me.”
Delara’s skin glistened with sweat and her chest rose and fell rapidly as she panted. We practiced every morning whenever I stayed with her at the Talde house which, unfortunately, wasn’t as often as I liked. But Delara knew right from the beginning what our relationship would be like. Especially after spending a year apart.
“You want to win, baby then you need to be better.” I smirked. “There’s no point in me letting you win.”
She moaned, closing her eyes. “There is. I’d be happier.”
I tightened my hold on her wrists and leaned over her. “You’re not happy, maitagarri?”
Her eyes opened and she ran her tongue over her lower lip. Fuck, the little wench. My cock jerked and strained against my pants. I never thought a woman could weave her way into my heart, and Delara hadn’t, she’d slammed into it and made herself at home.
She was my home.
I moved around so often, I’d never had a place I called home until her. But it wasn’t a place, it was wherever she was. We were tied together and whenever I left the rope tightened making it difficult to breathe without her.
And when I returned to her there was an undeniable elation. A freedom that I’d never experienced before.
“I’d be happier if you kissed me right now—and even more so if you didn’t have to leave in the morning.” She struggled against my hold on her wrists. “Let me go. I want to touch you.”
“Break my hold and I will give you what you want.”
A snort emerged from her throat and I grinned. She was stubborn as hell and I loved that about her. She never stopped trying to defeat me no matter how many times I put her on her ass. I suspected one day she’d be one of the best Scar warriors we had.
I intended on her being one. Because no matter how much I wanted to protect her, the reality was she had to protect herself and she was fierce and determined enough to do that. She was one of the youngest Scars to ever join a Talde as many trained for years prior to being accepted into one.
Her lips parted and her eyes smoldered with desire as she wiggled her hips, grinding my cock into her. I’d already fucked her several times today, but she was irresistible and I could fuck her a million times and never be done with her.
“Waleron. I need you inside me again,” she whispered.
The way her tongue rolled over my name was the most erotic sound. I’d grown up with a bitch mother who was one of the first Scars, and was accustomed to my name sounding harsh and cruel as she berated me for everything I did. Nothing was good enough for her and she constantly reminded me of why I was on this Earth and how everything could be taken away if I ever swayed from my purpose.
Delara was unexpected. It took that year apart before I was able to convince myself that no matter my purpose here, she was now a part of that.
I ran my hands down her forearms, while using my weight to keep her immobile. Then I lowered and kissed her neck, teeth nibbling then tongue sliding over the silky surface. Her pulse throbbed as I took my time tasting her, enjoying the slight hitches in her breath and her struggle to touch me.
And I wanted her to touch me, but not yet. “Stay still, maitagarri,” I growled against her neck so my voice vibrated on her skin.
She relaxed for a second and then flung her right thigh into my hip to dislodge me. I’d been expecting her to make a move. She never gave up easily.
“You have to do better than that,” I drawled.
She pursed her lips. “I hate you.”
“You win a fight without emotions, maitagarri.”
“How am I supposed to do that with you on top of me?”
“I never said it was easy.” I grasped her nipple with my teeth through her shirt and tugged. She renewed her fight, yanking on her arms and wiggling her body like a snake. But there was no chance she’d escape my hold.
I clasped her wrists in one hand then slid my fingertips down between her breasts to her abdomen then slowly lifted her shift so it was bunched up around her waist. “You’re thinking about what I’m doing to your body instead of how to win.”
The tension left her body and she looked up at me. “Waleron?”
“Mmm,” I murmured while I slid my hand under the lace of her panties. She was so damn wet and I nearly ripped off the scrap of material and sank my throbbing cock inside her.
But I thrived off my control.
And so did she.
“Don’t ever leave me. I won’t survive that.”
My hand on her sex stilled. I released her wrists, but she kept her arms above her head while I ran my thumb over her plush lower lip. “You’ll survive whatever you need to, Delara. Any way you can. But know that leaving you will never be my choice.”
~ My Review ~
I absolutely love the Scars of Wraiths series. I was so excited by the release of Delara and Waleron’s story that I went ahead and re-read the first two books in the series. Although there had been tons of hints and flashbacks in the previous novels, I was dying to hear the entire story. Nashoda Rose did not disappoint.
I love, love, love Delara. She’s tough as nails even though she’s failing apart due to losing Waleron’s love. I was a bit disappointed in the team. Was it just me or could they have supported Delara more?
I have never liked Waleron. He has a classic case of male martyrdom – that all too common disease found in romance stories in which a man thinks by keeping away from the love of his life, he’s protecting her. In reality, he’s hurting her. Apparently, men never learn. Lucky for me, there was a lot more to Waleron’s male martyrdom than simply having been hurt during his years and years of captivity by the Lilac.
As with all of Rose’s novels, the story was full of suspense, heartbreak and twists and turns. Although I figured out who was behind so much of the nastiness pretty much right away, I still enjoyed watching the characters find out who was the culprit. I enjoy how the characters of the previous and future stories play an essential part of the story as well. I’m hoping our favorite Spanish leader will get his own novel. Hint. Hint.
If you love your fantasy with a huge dose of romance and suspense, you won’t be disappointed.
Nashoda Rose is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes romance with a splash of darkness. When she isn’t writing, she can be found sitting in a field reading or writing with her dog at her side, while her horses graze nearby. She loves interacting with her readers and chatting about her addiction–books.
October 23, 2016
Out now! Dragon’s Soul, book 2 of The Dragon Fey Saga, by @MichRabe #fantasyromance
Book Title: Dragon’s Soul (The Dragon’s Fay Saga, #2)
Author: Michelle Rabe
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Release Date: October 22, 2016
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
Crown Prince Killian Rhys’s life has been defined by duty for as long as he can recall.
Duty ties him to a wife he does not love.
Duty separates him from the woman he loves, a woman once believed to be beneath him.
Duty holds him to the people he will one day rule.
Can Killian break free of duty’s chains before his wife binds him with more than vows?
Will he find a path to his true love, or will duty wrap him in inescapable shackles?
A lifelong California girl, Michelle Rabe tried the Hollywood thing but decided she preferred an author’s den to the actor’s trailer. She now lives in the Phoenix Arizona area with her unhelpful author cat. Michelle is the author of the Morgan Blackstone Vampires series and The Dragon Fey Saga.
October 21, 2016
Why I think it’s okay to judge a book by its cover #amreading
I’m fairly certain I’ve heard the words ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ more than a few thousand times in my life. And I’m totally okay with this statement as a metaphor. For example, I think it’s correct – and actually a good idea – to apply this figure of speech to people. We totally shouldn’t judge people based on their looks, size, ethnicity, etc. Taking this figure of speech literally, however? As in not judging an actual book by its cover? Nah, I’m not okay with that and here’s why.
Careless covers. I totally just made that term up. What I mean by ‘careless covers’ are those book covers which look messy and unprofessional. If the cover doesn’t look professional, what’s the writing going to be like? Do I want to find out? Total disclosure here: I’ve made a few covers myself that don’t look entirely professional. Live and learn.
Cover model. I have no problem with a hot cover model. Okay, I really, really like them. The problem occurs when the same hot cover model is used again and again. And that’s it. The cover is just the hot guy from a stock photo and absolutely nothing has been changed to the original picture. I can’t help wondering if the story (usually a romance) will be as clichéd as the photo.
Unfitting for the genre. A cover should fit the genre of the book. As a reader, I think I’ve always known this on an intuitive basis. But now that I’m writing as well, I really pay attention to this aspect. I won’t ignore a book on this basis – as I will for the previous two categories – but I will hesitate before purchasing and spend more time reading through reviews before hitting the ‘buy’ button.
Wrong character. In other words, the person portrayed on the cover looks nothing like the character in the book. This is one of my pet peeves. It seems careless. Don’t you want your book cover to match your character? Or are you just in a hurry? Unfortunately, this is something that I often only discover after I’ve read the book. I’ve drawn this character in my head and then I shut the book in my kindle and see the cover and think “Who’s that?” I will be holding this against the author. What can I say? I like to hold grudges.
I’m also against covers that tell me I’m going to love the book because some top-selling author loved it. I understand an author’s desire to add these blurbs to their covers, though, and try not to be too judgmental. (I’m a work in progress.)
So yeah, I judge books by their covers. Go ahead and judge me.
Promo Blitz! After The Happily Ever After ~ A collection of fractured fairy tales #horror #fantasy #giveaway
Horror/Fantasy/Fairy Tale Anthology
Date Published: December 15, 2016
The happily ever after is never the end. The curtain doesn’t fall once love is recognized or evil is vanquished. Credits don’t roll once the giant is slain or the big bad wolf is boiled alive. Wicked stepsisters, malevolent rulers, and hideous creatures still have lives after their sinister roles play out; heroes, lovers, and dreamers often find their victories lead to more troubles.
Within these pages are more than seventy continuations, retellings, and eldritch stories that explore the dark forests, magical castles, and hideous creatures After the Happily Ever After.
Teasers
“Sweet Revenge” by Charlotte Bond:
The laughter had died and the rumours had grown when they’d found the third dead dog in two weeks; each one had been torn to pieces, the heart gone and the ribcage showing teeth marks.
Outside the cottage, in the dark night, a dog howled.
“Little Red Hunting Hood” by Mary DeSantis:
I halt halfway to getting my red cape off and hung on a hook by the door.
Budding beanstalks, grandma has a visitor. Grandma never has visitors, except for me, Mom, and that guy she met at the Elder Cottage Living group two months ago.
I strain to hear. Whoever’s back there is quiet, which means it isn’t the Elder Cottages guy, and of course, this is the one time Grandma keeps her voice low.
I hang my cape and go back to the basket.
Two sets of footsteps approach. Grandma enters the kitchen. Her white hair is in its signature bun, and she’s wearing her white dress with the red-check pattern.
“Hello, sweetie.” Her face wrinkles with a smile and stays wrinkled as she directs her a glare over her shoulder. “Oh, for giant’s sake, get in here. She doesn’t bite.”
“A Sleeve of Feathers” by Claudia Quint:
It all came crashing down when he found Geileis in bed, nestled between Dylan and Ailill, Oisin cuddling on the left and Ruari at her feet, with Emmet and Cian resorting to floor space when they ran out of room on the bed. Stephen dragged the brothers out one by one, pushing and pulling so they awoke with starts and cries, until she roused, confused and sleepy, to ask him what in the world he was doing.
“Like it’s the most normal thing in the world.” Stephen contented himself by folding his hands to stop fiddling with the cuffs. “To sleep with your brothers and shut out your husband.”
“Step-Mother” by Deanna Smith:
My name is Cindy Charming. I’m not, just so you know. Husband is, but that’s his gig, and if it makes me squeal and giggle and blush when he’s pouring it on, that ain’t nobody’s business but our own. I sure as hell didn’t spawn these three hooligans without some learned interjection from him.
We tied the knot ten years ago. A fabulous fairy tale wedding, of course. A little creepy when the in-laws asked how much torture I’d like to lay on my step-mother and step-sisters, but you’ve really got to hand it to them, they went all out to make sure I felt welcome to the fam.
“Raven, Rose, and Apple Pie” by Jaap Boekestein:
The wind pulls at my hair; my braids are all undone. I can see such a distance from the highest tower of the castle: yellow fields and darks woods, silver rivers and hazy gray mountains with white peaks. It is beautiful. Will this be the last thing I see before I throw myself from the window? What will I think during the fall? Will I feel regret, or fear, or freedom? Will it… will it hurt? God in Heaven, forgive me.
His song saves me. The sound of the lute reaches even the highest tower. His voice…
Beautiful.
A minstrel is at the gate, asking to be let in with a demonstration of his skills. He is young; he is handsome, wearing bright colors.
I step back from the edge.
I have been saved.
“WITCH v. HANSEL, GRETEL, et. al.” by Daniel M. Kimmel:
So the question before us is one of balancing these two compelling but competing claims: Appellant Witch’s insistence that any attempt to curtail or punish her actions would be an infringement of her religious freedoms under the First Amendment versus the desire of the Respondent class not to be baked and eaten.
While there is no precedent that is precisely on point, there are a number of cases that indicate a clear pattern. One such case is Goldilocks v. Papa Bear, Mama Bear, et. al. 516 Goose 749 (1852). In this instance, Goldilocks was in the same position as the Respondents in this case, trespassing on private property while asserting a need that, as was so claimed, overrode any competing rights. In her tort action against the Bear family, Goldilocks asserted numerous injuries, such as from eating porridge that was “too hot” or attempting to sleep in a bed that was “too small.” Nonetheless, the court found for the Bears, upholding the ursine precept that “a bear’s home is his castle” and that being a “cute child” did preempt the rights of the Bear family to the quiet enjoyment of their abode. Indeed, the defense raised by Goldilocks against charges of criminal trespass and unauthorized digestion are precisely those that are asserted by the Respondent class in the present action.
Alisha Costanzo is from a Syracuse suburb. She earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of Central Oklahoma, where she currently teaches English. She’s the author of BLOOD PHOENIX: REBIRTH, BLOOD PHOENIX: CLAIMED, and LOVING RED, and is co-editor of DISTORTED and UNDERWATER. IMPRINTED, her new novel, is undergoing serious edits for its 2017 release. In the meantime, she will continue to corrupt young minds, rant about the government, and daydream about her all around nasty creatures.
Having relocated from Northwest Florida’s lonesome roads and haunted swamps, Anthony S. Buoni now prowls the gas lamp lit streets of New Orleans, playing moonlight hide and seek in the Crescent City’s above ground cemeteries. Anthony is the author of Conversation Party, Bad Apple Bolero, as well as the editor to the Between There anthologies. His stories and articles have been featured in North Florida Noir and Waterfront Living. When not prowling, Anthony keeps it scary, writing dark fiction, editing, and watching horror movies. In his spare time, he DJs, plays music, and conjures other worldly creatures with tarot cards and dreams.
Contact Links
Website
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Purchase Links
Amazon
Kickstarter Pre-Order
Bookmarks and Pre-order Copies
Unpublished stories, personalized poems, and Advance-reader Copies from the Contributors and Editors.
Limited-edition Hard-cover copies of the 550-page anthology.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 19, 2016
Fall Into Cash ~$250 paypal cash to be exact ~ #Giveaway
Fall Into Cash $250 Giveaway
October 15th to November 15th
Enter for your chance to win a $250 Amazon Gift Code or $250 in Paypal Cash.
Thanks to this awesome group of bloggers and authors who have joined with me to bring you one fabulous prize!!
Sponsor List
Kris Bock Romantic Suspense author
Chris Eboch, children’s book author
ACME Teen Books – Kids & YA Too!
Eric Buffington YA Fantasy Adventure
Giveaway Details
$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card
Ends 11/15/16
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
#Review & #Excerpt of Careful What You Ask For from @CandaceBlevins #paranormalromance
Title: Careful What You Ask For
Author: Candace Blevins
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: September 23, 2016
Publisher: eXcessica Publishing
~ Synopsis ~
When a wolf mates with a human, the child is nearly always a wolf. Briana was raised as a werewolf, but then puberty hit and she never changed. She’s persuaded a few wolves to bite her, but it never took. At nineteen, she’s going to give it a final try. This time, she’ll ask someone who was bitten instead of being born to it, to see if it makes a difference.
She grew up welcome in the Pack until she was branded a human. Her developing teenage psyche was wounded by their rejection, and she holds nothing but ill will for the Pack and all it stands for. However, it’s fine for a human to glare at the Alpha and tell him he isn’t the boss of her. Trying it as a wolf is another story. She’s determined to make a go of it as a lone wolf, but Randall — the local Alpha — has other ideas, despite the fact she’s property of his brother’s motorcycle club.
Briana was raised to be a werewolf and she finally feels whole, but the transition is different for everyone. She understands supernatural politics, but she’s going to have to maneuver through the highest levels of them as a brand new wolf still struggling for control.
Grap your copy!
~ Review~
We first met Briana in the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club series. I can’t say I much liked the Briana we met at the club, but I love Blevins’ books and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. Briana is quite a bit different than what I expected. Blevins gives the reader plenty of explanation as to why Briana isn’t just a slut, as we all suspected from our earlier peeks at her. I’m not sure I totally believe Briana’s character, though. She was way too grown-up for the tender age of 19. Yes, I realize she’s been through a lot. I still didn’t buy her level of maturity.
Briana’s love interest, Patrick, was an interesting guy. Completely and totally hot. But also way into the BDSM scene. He’s somewhat of a sadist as well. Most of the sex scenes were hot, but they are also on the edge of what I enjoy BDSM-wise. If you’re not heavy into BDSM, you may want to skip this one.
Aside from the love story, watching Briana and Patrick deal with pack politics was interesting. I enjoyed this part of the story the most. Watching Briana grapple with accepting past hurts and how Patrick struggles to protect her and not undermine his power position kept me flipping impatiently through the story.
If you love shifter romances and haven’t read Blevins yet, what are you waiting for?
~Excerpt ~
Maggie had told me what she expected me to do before she’d changed into her wolf, so now I lay on the forest floor, buck-naked and spread eagle.
I’ve been bitten before so I knew the pain I was about to feel, and it took every ounce of my resolve to remain in place as the medium sized wolf sniffed me all over. My legs wanted to kick and then jump up and run, my hands wanted to protect my face from her, and my heart felt as if it were trying to escape my chest — but I held my breath and forced myself to stay frozen.
If this didn’t work I wasn’t sure I’d try again, but I had to give it one final attempt. I’d been raised knowing I was a wolf. I’d always felt her inside me, but then she never showed herself and I was labeled a human when I’d had my period for a year and hadn’t changed.
But my self-identity never changed. I’m a human who identifies as a wolf, but if this didn’t work — I’d have to find a way to accept my humanity.
I gasped when she bit my left thigh, held my breath while she mangled my right thigh, and couldn’t hold in my screams when her teeth tore into the skin and muscle of my left shoulder.
I’d told her where to bite me, but I hadn’t told her she could just go straight in and out without ripping. The wolf’s natural instincts are to tear as they bite, and fuck it hurt. If this didn’t turn me I was going to be scarred something awful.
She must have realized how bad she’d hurt me, because she was a little more gentle with my right shoulder, but it still hurt like hell.
Finally, Maggie’s wolf backed up a half-dozen steps and went to the ground, her eyes on me so intense it was unnerving, but I already smelled of pain and blood and I wasn’t sure how much control she had, so I tried my hardest not to be afraid.
Everything’s hazy past that point. I remember hurting, remember thrashing in the dirt, but it was days later before I have any memory of being fully in my human brain again.
~ About the Author ~
Candace Blevins lives with her husband of 18 years and their two daughters. When not working or driving kids all over the place she can be found reading, writing, meditating, or swimming.
Candace writes Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary BDSM Romance, and a kick-ass Motorcycle Club series.
Her urban fantasy series, Only Human, gives us a world where weredragons, werewolves, werelions, three different species of vampires, as well as a variety of other mythological beings exist.
Candace’s two paranormal romance series, The Chattanooga Supernaturals and The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club, are both sister series to the Only Human series, and give some secondary characters their happily ever after.
Her Safeword Series gives us characters who happen to have some extreme kinks. Relationships can be difficult enough without throwing power exchange into the mix, and her books show characters who care enough about each other to fight to make the relationship work. Each book in the Safeword series highlights a couple with a different take on the lifestyle.
You can visit Candace on the web at candaceblevins.com and feel free to friend her on Facebook at facebook.com/candacesblevins and Goodreads at goodreads.com/CandaceBlevins. You can also join facebook.com/groups/CandacesKinksters to get sneak peeks into what she’s writing now, images that inspire her, and the occasional juicy blurb.
Stay up to date on Candace’s newest releases, and get exclusive excerpts by joining her mailing list!
Only Human series (Urban Fantasy)
Only Human
An Unhuman Journey
Unhuman Acts (late 2016)
Chattanooga Supernaturals (Paranormal Romance)
The Dragon King
Riding the Storm
Acceptable Risk
Careful What You Ask For
Hallowed Destiny
Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club ( link )
Duke
Brain
Bash Volume I
Bash Volume II
Bash Volume III
Horse
Gonzo
Nix
Ghost (October 2016)
Dark erotica shorts from the world of The Chattanooga Supernaturals
Pride
Indentured Freedom: Owned by the Vampire
Safeword series (Contemporary BDSM Romance)
Safeword: Rainbow
Safeword: Matte
Safeword: Davenport
Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon
Safeword: Quinacridone
Safeword: Matte – In Training
No Safeword: Matte – The Honeymoon
No Safeword: Matte – Happily Ever After
Safeword: Arabesque
Safeword: Mayday (TBA)
