D.E. Haggerty's Blog, page 75
June 12, 2016
Excerpt of The Black Sheep Shadow by @dang3rouzvixen #memoir
Title: The Black Sheep Shadow
Author: Ashley Terrell
Published: April 19, 2016
Genre: Non Fiction / Self-Help / Memoir
~ Synopsis ~
The city lights blind your amazement. The sound of the traffic challenges you to be alive. Families ask bystanders to make magic and capture the moment with photographs. Newly engaged couples seal their union by kissing under shooting stars while loving by crossing their hearts.
But if your heart was under arrest, wouldn’t you want to embrace something to feel like others?
Go insider the world of one courageous sheep as she discovers that her heart was under attack by darkness. As she travels on a spiritual journey to understanding her purpose, overcoming the undertones of low confidence, self-acceptance, and the importance of inspiration, she rose against the odds with forgiveness and strengthening her faith.
~ Excerpt ~
Your past does not define your future.
In the dark, we do not have shadows.
In the light, we do.
Even me.
Even you.
Even sheep.
It is time out for hiding the scars and pain.
It is time out for disguising when we need help.
It is time to stand up and embrace yourself.
Regardless of violence.
Regardless of opinions.
Regardless of loneliness.
Regardless of beauty.
You are who you are.
Your future is what you want it to be.
You have a shadow. You have an identity.
Even black sheep have shadows.
God’s sheep are only black because society locks us in a room with the light off.
What’s going to make you determined to turn the light on?
Here is my story.
~ About the Author ~
Ashley Terrell is the founder of Stella Bistro Foods and Black Sheep Inc. Terrell is the host and co-director of Cooking with Stella (2016). She resides on the East Coast where she enjoys blissful sunsets and sounds of ocean waves.
Contact Links
June 9, 2016
Author interview with @authoramymetz, author of Rogues & Rascals #cozymystery #giveaway
Today I’m welcoming Amy Metz, author of Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction, to the Readsalot Blog. She graciously agreed to answer a bunch of quenstions.
Goose Pimple Junction. Now there’s any interesting name. Is this a real place?
Yes and no! There is a real Goose Pimple Junction, Virginia, which is where the name comes from, but my books are set in Tennessee.
Caledonia Culpepper and Wynona Baxter aren’t the most ‘normal’ of names. How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning?
I think names are extremely important. A lot of times a name will just pop in my head when a character shows up. I have no choice—that’s what it will be. Every so often, I have to really think about a name. Which is why I keep a list of names I like. I had a real problem with a new character who’s introduced at the end of Rogues & Rascals. I don’t know why, but his last name had to be Pepper. It just did. I didn’t really like that, because Pickle’s family name is “Culpepper,” and this new character will interact with Caledonia Culpepper, but his last name had to be Pepper. I did have trouble with his first name though. Nothing sounded right. I tried Frank and Henry and a whole slew of others. I even had typed Frank into the manuscript. Then one night, I was riding down the road with a friend and I just kept calling out names. Billy Pepper. Tom Pepper. Beau Pepper. When I said Virgil Pepper (I have no idea where it came from) we both said, “That’s it!” So I guess the answer to your question is I choose names that go with the character.
Describe Caledonia Culpepper in 1 word.
Oh man! Caledonia is way too complex for just one word! Since you insist, I’m going to have to cheat slightly and say Southern belle.
Describe Wynona Baxter in 1 word.
Now that’s even harder! I’m going to go with unpredicatable.
Describe Rogues & Rascals in 140 characters (also known as a tweet).
You’ll be grinning like a possum eating a sweet tater when u #read Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction: goose pimples with a giggle.
What’s the most amusing thing that happened to you while writing Rogues & Rascals?
Oh, gosh. I had a ton of unamusing things happen, but amusing? Hmmm . . . I guess it goes back to your first question. Last year, my oldest son and I were on our way home from visiting my youngest son at a music festival, and we took a different route home than the we took going down there. I started seeing signs that Abingdon, Virginia was coming up. Whoa! I looked at my son and said, “Do you realize how close we are to Goose Pimple Junction, Virginia?” He said, “We have to go.” So we took about an hour detour and went to Goose Pimple Junction. It was great.
What inspired you to write cozy mysteries?
I actually set out to write a mystery and didn’t realize I’d written a cozy mystery until I submitted it to a publisher and got a letter back telling me so. When I started writing Murder & Mayhem, I wanted to write a humorous mystery, and I wanted to keep it clean so my sons and my dad could read the book. I’m not a fan of blood and gore, violence, or a ton of swearing, so writing a cozy mystery was the result. Maybe it was fate?
What’s your favorite part about the writing process?
I love the second stage—the one right after the rough draft is finished. I love going back and adding layers, making the characters come alive, adding details, and really living in the story.
Rogues & Rascals is the fourth book in the Goose Pimple Junction series. Is this the last of the series? If so, what’s next?
Heavens no! As long as I have readers who buy the books and people who message me asking when the next book will be out, I’ll keep writing.
Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog!
Title: Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction
Author: Amy Metz
Published: May 15, 2016
Publisher: Souther Ink Press, A Division of Blue Productions
Genre: Cozy Mystery
~ Synopsis ~
Like any good Southern belle, Caledonia Culpepper was raised by her mama to be gracious, charming, witty, and above all, a devoted mother and loving wife, so she’s baffled when her marriage falls apart.
Wynona Baxter is a master of disguise but is often a ditzy airhead. A hit woman wannabe, when she’s hired for her first job in Goose Pimple Junction and things don’t go as planned, she’s forced to resort to Plan B. She’ll also need Plan C and D.
Crooked lawyers, restless husbands, a teenaged hoodlum – it seems there are rogues and rascals everywhere you look in Goose Pimple Junction.
When Caledonia and Wynona’s paths cross, they prove there isn’t a rogue or a rascal who can keep a good woman down. Mama always said there would be days like this . . .
~ About the Author ~
Amy Metz is the author of the Goose Pimple Junction mystery series. She is a former first grade teacher and the mother of two sons. When not actively engaged in writing, enjoying her family, or surfing Facebook or Pinterest, Amy can usually be found with a mixing spoon, camera, or book in one hand and a glass of sweet tea in the other. Amy lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
Author Links
Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon Author page
~ Giveaway ~
June 8, 2016
City of Hope and Ruin by @KitCampbell & @Siri_Paulson #Fantasy #excerpt #giveaway #LGBTQ
Title: City of Hope and Ruin
Author: Kit Campbell and Siri Paulson
Genre: Fantasy (with LGBTQ romance)
~ Synopsis ~
Every night the monsters hunt. A city that is the whole world: Theosophy and her companions in the City militia do their best to protect the civilians from the monsters, but they keep crawling from the Rift and there’s nowhere to run. Theosophy knows she’ll die fighting. It’s the best kind of death she’s seen, and at least she can save lives in the meantime. They say the Scarred carve you up while you’re still alive. A village in the shadow of a forest: Refugees from the border whisper about the oncoming Scarred, but Briony can’t convince her brother to relocate his children to safety. Briony will do anything to protect them. She owes them that much, even if it means turning to forbidden magic. When Theosophy and Briony accidentally make contact across the boundaries of their worlds, they realize that solutions might finally be within reach. A world beyond the City would give Theosophy’s people an escape, and the City’s warriors could help Briony protect her family from the Scarred. Each woman sees in the other a strength she lacks—and maybe something more. All they need to do is find a way across the dimensions to each other before their enemies close in.
~ Excerpt ~
Briony edged out from behind the tree, shuffling slowly backward, making sure she hadn’t attracted anything’s attention. There was another crack. She took refuge behind a sizeable bush as a large group of something moved out of the dark and mist. Briony put one hand on Poes to calm him and pulled him closer. Poes’s light coat sometimes made him painfully obvious.
As the group got closer, Briony could tell they were human. She narrowed her eyes, keeping hold of Poes. People, this deep in the forest? Hardly anyone came in here, especially not this deep. Her mother had made sure she and Jael knew the forest’s ways, but their land backed up to it and Briony needed it for her medicinal draughts. Most people in Westenaedre avoided it unless absolutely necessary.
There was something unnatural about their movements. As they got closer, Briony could make out their features through the gathering dusk. Her breath caught in her throat. People they were, yes, but their faces were covered by some sort of horrific mask that hid their features and gave them insect-like appearances. Tubes twisted from the masks into metallic canisters on their backs. Now she could hear their breathing as well, rough and much too loud. Every whispered tale from the refugees flitted through her head. The Scarred. But they shouldn’t—couldn’t—be here. They were still at the border.
What did it mean that they weren’t?
~ About the Authors ~
It is a little known fact that Kit was raised in the wild by a marauding gang of octopuses. It wasn’t until she was 25 that she was discovered by a traveling National Geographic scientist and brought back to civilization. This is sometimes apparent in the way that she attempts to escape through tubes when startled.
Her transition to normalcy has been slow, but scientists predict that she will have mastered basics such as fork use sometime in the next year. More complex skills, such as proper grocery store etiquette, may be forever outside her reach.
Kit can be found cavorting about the web at her blog or website, on Pinterest, and even occasionally on Twitter.
Siri Paulson writes all over the fantasy and science fiction spectrum, including (so far) secondary-world fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, Gothic, historical paranormal, and YA with spaceships. She is also the chief editor at Turtleduck Press. Siri grew up in Alberta, Canada, but now lives in an old house in Toronto. By day, she edits non-fiction for the government. Her other current passion is contra dance, a social/folk dance done to live Celtic and roots music. Her favourite places in the world are the Canadian Rocky Mountains and a little valley in Norway.
Siri’s short fiction and the anthologies she has edited can be found on Turtleduck Press. She blogs and tweets.
Multi-region buy link for ebook: http://authl.it/B01DYSR7QE
The book is on sale for $0.99 on Kindle or Nook the day of the tour.
~ Giveaway ~
June 7, 2016
Blog tour stop ~ So Far Away by Dakota Madison #bookreview @karenmbryson
Title: So Far Away
Author: Dakota Madison
Published: April 9, 2016
Genre: Romantic Comedy
~ Synopsis ~
After being at the center of a sex scandal that made national headlines a former nanny tries to rebuild her life by becoming a personal assistant to a reclusive writer.
What happens after your 15-minutes of fame are over?
Find out in SO FAR AWAY, a romantic comedy novella by USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Dakota Madison.
Maddie Malone is the nanny who made national headlines. She’s the temptress who broke up the marriage of two of Hollywood’s most beloved movie stars. She’s the girl everyone in America loves to hate.
Now two months after the Nannygate sex scandal Maddie is desperate to rebuild her life.
She accepts a position as a personal assistant to the reclusive writer, Jackson Drake. He’s fired every one of the assistants his manager has sent him within the first few days of employment, but Maddie is determined to do whatever is takes to make her new job work.
Maddie is able to follow every one of Jackson’s eccentric rules to the letter. That is until Emerson Drake shows up for Spring Break. He’s Jackson’s son from an affair he had with Bahamian creative writing student when he taught at UCLA. He’s the son who Jackson has somehow managed to keep hidden from his fans for all these years.
Maddie finds Emerson incredibly attractive…and Jackson has forbidden Maddie to date him.
WARNING: This book contains foul language, insta-love and a little bit of hanky-panky. Buyer beware.
~ Book Review~
Okay. I’m going to be perfectly and painfully honest here. I think I’m too old for this book. A 20-something woman who refers to a famous author who is in his 50s as an old guy? Yeah, I’m too old. Maddie seemed superficial and not very smart, despite the two Master’s degrees the reader had to hear about over and over again. I expected some depth from her after enduring the Nannygate scandal. It can’t be easy to survive paparazzi following you everywhere and becoming unemployable. Between the horoscope references and her immaturity, I didn’t warm up to Maddie. Frankly, until Emerson showed up, I was a bit bored.
Maybe it’s that age thing, but I wouldn’t categorize the book as romantic comedy. I didn’t find it funny. There were a few passages that were nearly funny, but the writing was too explanatory for the joke to work. For example, there was no need to explain the term Facetwat in detail. Without the explanation, Jackson’s use of the word is kind of funny.
I’m giving this one three stars. With some changes to the synopsis and genre so that readers are clear with what they are getting before purchase, it could be a four star read.
~ Excerpt ~
“That’s her.”
If I had a dollar for every time I heard those two words in the last three months I’d be wealthy and not so desperate to find a job.
Even though I’m wearing a baseball cap and dark sunglasses I’m still recognizable. Somehow the paparazzi always manage to find me. Today is no exception. They snap photos of me as I dash into the corner market.
I selected Gino’s, a small neighborhood grocery store, because I thought it would be safe. Or at least safer than some place like Trader Jay’s Whole Foods Organic Gluten Free Market where the paparazzi expect to see celebrities.
Not that I’m famous…more like infamous. I’m the Naughty Nanny. That’s the moniker I was given by the press following Nannygate.
“That’s her.” A young blond girl elbows her friend and points in my direction. The two whisper and snicker as they gawk at me.
People aren’t subtle when they stare. And they often say rude things about me, right to my face. I’ve even had a woman spit on me. Obviously she was a big fan of America’s Sweetheart, Annabelle Miller.
I had only worked for movie stars, Daniel Robinson and Annabelle Miller aka Dannabelle, for a few months before all hell broke loose.
Annabelle accused me of screwing her husband and immediately filed for divorce.
When two of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood split up it’s big news, especially when there’s another woman involved.
And I just happened to be the other woman.
I do my best to remember the few items I had intended to pick up at the market.
Tomatoes, pasta, mushrooms…I can’t remember the fourth item.
It’s difficult to keep my mind on my grocery list while every other customer in the place gapes at me.
Olive oil. I snap my fingers. That’s the final item on the list.
The older woman at the cash register doesn’t seem to recognize me. I consider that a small miracle. She just asks me for my twenty bucks then bags my items.
When I step out of the store there are still several photographers waiting to snap shots of me.
How many people are able to completely ruin their lives by the time they’re 26 years old? I’ve certainly done an excellent job of it.
I wave to the guys snapping my photo and then give them the finger. I’ve got nothing to lose. Everyone in the English-speaking world already hates me.
Of course no one knows the real story, and oddly enough no one seems to care. The scandal took on a life of its own and I became the target of hatred and scorn.
Two months have gone by since the story made national headlines. I thought the media attention would eventually fade, but it hasn’t yet. With the world watching Daniel and Annabelle go through an ugly divorce, my name continues to be dragged through the mud.
I realized very quickly that I would never be able to get another gig as a nanny. No woman wants the Naughty Nanny anywhere near her husband and kids. What I didn’t anticipate was that no one would hire me to do anything ever again. I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs, for which I’ve been qualified, everything from marketing to retail management. Mostly I’ve gotten thanks-but-no-thanks letters. The few interviews I have managed to snag have gone sideways the moment the interviewers realized why they recognized me.
I guess I could pose for a nude magazine and complete the cycle of public humiliation and degradation.
At least it would pay the bills that are starting to pile up.
The paparazzi follow me as I begin the walk back to the condo where I’ve been staying. Luckily my best friend, Nellie Berg, and her boyfriend, Roscoe, have an extra bedroom and have graciously allowed me to use it for as long as I need to.
I realize I’m like the rusty third wheel, and I won’t be able to stay with them indefinitely, but I really don’t want to have to move back in with my mother and husband number six.
Or maybe it’s number seven.
Honestly I’ve lost count.
Either it’s a very slow news day, or something else has happened in Daniel and Annabelle’s ongoing divorce saga and they need some new photos of the nanny to go along with the breaking story.
When did Americans become so obsessed with celebrities and scandals? Why does everyone love it when celebrities are torn down and ripped to shreds in such a public way?
Nellie is watching Hollywood Exposed when I enter the condo.
The place is very upscale, and I’m sure very expensive. It’s easily three times the size of the shitty apartment that Nellie and I shared when we lived together. That was before I become a nanny and before she met Roscoe.
Nellie never told me the entire story, but apparently Roscoe inherited quite a bit of money when his mom passed away. Enough to afford a place that easily cost three quarters of a million dollars.
Nellie and Roscoe are both screenwriters, but Nellie is a little further along in her career than he is. She’s already had one of her scripts optioned by a producer.
“What’s up?” I shout over the television.
She quickly shuts it off when she hears me. “Sorry!”
“Let me guess. More breaking news in Daniel and Annabelle’s divorce case.”
Nellie scrunches up her button nose. “A former stripper now turned model-actress claims she has a sex tape featuring you, her and Daniel in a threesome.”
I roll my eyes. “I wish I had as much sex as the tabloids claim.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to hire a lawyer? Maybe a publicist? Something?”
I shake my head. “What’s the use? Everyone is already convinced I’m a conniving whore who came between Daniel and Annabelle. Everyone loves Annabelle Miller. She’s America’s Sweetheart. No one wants to hear that she’s a mean, crazy bitch who just didn’t want to be married to her husband anymore. It’s easier to believe a gigantic lie than it is to believe the truth. Especially when it’s a truth you don’t want to hear.”
~ About the Author ~
USA TODAY Bestselling author Dakota Madison is known for writing new adult, love in midlife, and contemporary romance with a little spice and lots of heart. Dakota is a winner of the prestigious RONE Award for Excellence in the Indie and Small Publishing Industry. When she’s not at her computer creating spicy stories Dakota likes to spend time with her husband and their bloodhounds. Dakota also writes under the pen names SAVANNAH YOUNG, SIERRA AVALON and REN MONTERREY.
Contact Links
Website ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Twitter
June 6, 2016
Blog Tour Stop ~ From Fake to Forever by @JenniferShirk #romance #excerpt #giveaway
Title: From Fake to Forever
Author: Jennifer Shirk
Genre: Contemporary Romance
~ Synopsis ~
Sandra Moyer’s preschool is struggling, so she reluctantly agrees to let super-famous actor Ben Capshaw research a role there. Ben’s always joking around, never serious, but there’s something about the buttoned-up, beautiful Sandra and her young daughter that makes him want to take life more seriously. But Sandra won’t trust him—what if it’s all an act, research for the role? As the lines between make-believe and reality blur, Ben will have to decide if love is worth casting aside the role of his life for a new role…that could last a lifetime.
~ Excerpt ~
From the corner of her eye, Sandra Moyer noticed a tall, bearded man leaning against the playground fence and automatically tensed. Because she was a single mom and alone, her paranoid nature already labeled him a felon, although technically he was doing nothing wrong. In fact, come to think of it, he had a pretty nice body with those real-life Hulk arms and broad chest. She didn’t know what that made her for noticing something like that about a man she assumed was on some Family Watchdog list, but the phrase “cheap and desperate” came to mind.
Since when did I start ogling the physiques of strange men?
Her shoulders wilted as she brooded over that question. She obviously needed to get out more. She needed to just get out. The problem was she didn’t see herself doing that any time soon. Her self-esteem had hit rock bottom and hadn’t been able to locate its way back up since the day she’d found Steve cheating on her with one of his costars.
An unpleasant picture of her ex-husband lip-locked with a Julianne Moore–type redhead popped into her mind, and she shuddered.
Actors. Did their profession ever mesh with reality?
The answer to that was a resounding no. Unfortunately, she’d learned that one the hard way. Steve had even thought she’d understand the main reason he had the affair was for the publicity and what it could do for his career and income. Like that was supposed to make her feel so much better about it.
“Mommy, I want to play in the sandbox.”
Her daughter’s voice pulled her from those depressing thoughts, and she gratefully looked down. “Okay, honey. Just five more minutes, though.”
Hannah squealed and dashed through the playground as fast as her little legs could run. Sandra couldn’t help but smile. Life was so simple when you were four. The little things kept you happy. And why not? Four-year-olds didn’t think about paying the rent or overdue bills. Things that were constantly on her mind ever since she’d opened the preschool with her sister. No, the only thing you worried about at that age was whether Mommy would give you ice cream if you didn’t eat your string beans.
She’d kill for that kind of stress again.
Unfortunately, the thought of homicide had her eyes traveling back to the well-built man she’d been ogling earlier. He was tossing around a football with a young boy now. Nothing illegal, but something was off. She had a sixth sense when it came to protecting her daughter, and right now it was telling her something big. Like he’d just gotten out of prison. It must have been a whopper of a sentence, too, judging from the long, scraggly hair and the kind of beard and mustache Santa Claus would envy. She never made a habit of associating with men who looked liked convicts, but there was something familiar about him…
She doubted he had a child enrolled in her preschool. Story time at the public library? She highly doubted that, too. He didn’t exactly look like the loving Father Knows Best type, considering that fire-breathing skull on his calf wasn’t designed to instill tenderness. At least he was out spending time with his son, which was a lot more than what her daughter was getting from her own father.
As if her thoughts had been telepathically sent out, the man in question cast a lingering gaze over in her direction. And he smiled.
Oh. My. Goodness.
Oh, no, don’t even think about it. Don’t you dare come over here. She fumbled to put her sunglasses back on and almost punched out a lens. Please stay where you are. He’d better be a jolly person being his usual overly friendly self and not just leering at her. But she laid odds on the latter.
What was it with her? She could attract a creep from the next state over without even trying. A talent she’d gladly relinquish.
She flopped down on a bench. Opening her purse, she yanked out a book and hid her face behind it. If she pretended to be engrossed in reading, maybe the man would reconsider trying to strike up a conversation. Yeah, that’s all she needed—some ex-con cozying up to her.
Confident her glasses hid her eyes, she lowered the book a half inch and sneaked another peek. Tall, Dark, and Scraggly had his back to her now. Relief enveloped her. Thank goodness, she thought, slowly letting out a breath.
One deadbeat per lifetime was enough.
~ About the Author ~
Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy-which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.
She writes sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Samhain Publishing, Avalon Books/Montlake Romance and now Entangled Publishing. She won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC’s Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her first book, THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME. Recently, her novel SUNNY DAYS FOR SAM won the 2013 Golden Quill Published Authors Contest for Best Traditional Romance.
Lately she’s been on a serious exercise kick. But don’t hold that against her.
Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter
~ Giveaway ~
Jennifer will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
June 4, 2016
Cover Reveal ~ The Reaper Rises by Kristen Taber #fantasy #giveaway
Today we’re excited to share the cover reveal of The Reaper Rises by Kristen Taber! This is the fourth book in the Aerenden series and releases this summer. This is a high fantasy and the first three books are available on Amazon for only $2.99. They are also available in audiobook and are narrated by Karen Savage. Check them out and sample them here. If you buy the book for your kindle you can get the audiobook for only $1.99!
Check out the cover of The Reaper Rises!
The Reaper Rises (Aerenden #4):
In the months following Meaghan’s reported death, her kingdom has chosen to reestablish villages, hiding behind the protection spells Garon continues to breach. Nick barely holds the Æerenden people together as he prepares them for the final battle.
Meanwhile, the Shadow Guard still thrives. Their spies have infiltrated every part of the kingdom, working to eliminate the royal family and a power they believe will destroy everything good.
Hope and trust have given way to fear and despair. Death seems imminent. And a senseless voice from the past offers the only clue for survival. Keep a fire burning…
Goodreads
About the previous books:
The Child Returns (Aerenden #1):
After witnessing her parents’ brutal murders at the hands of red-eyed creatures, Meaghan narrowly escapes the same fate. Her best friend, Nick, tells her the creatures are Mardróch. They come from another world and so does she. Now that the Mardróch have found her, she must return to her homeland of Ærenden or face death.
Left with little choice, she follows Nick into a strange world both similar to Earth and drastically different. Vines have the ability to attack. Monkeys freeze their victims with a glare. Men create bombs from thin air. Even Meaghan’s newly discovered empath power turns into a danger she can’t control.
But control becomes the least of her worries once the Mardróch begin targeting her. When Nick confesses he knows the reason they want her, she learns the truth behind the kingdom’s fifteen-year civil war–a long-buried secret that could cost Meaghan her life.
Goodreads | Amazon
The Gildonae Alliance (Aerenden #2):
Several months after Meaghan’s return to Ærenden, the kingdom’s war has taken a turn for the worse. The Mardróch army hunts the new King and Queen, destroying villages in its wake. And Meaghan and Nick, training for battle in their remote section of wilderness, are far from safe. Danger hides in shadows and behind innocent faces. Allies become foes. Each day is a fight to survive. But in the end, only one threat matters. And it’s a threat they never see coming.
Goodreads | Amazon
The Zeiihbu Master (Aerenden #3):
Separated and on opposite sides of the kingdom, Nick and Meaghan face different pursuits which could change the balance of power in Ærenden forever.
While Nick trains the villagers to be soldiers, Meaghan and a small rescue party venture into Zeiihbu to find Faillen’s young son, before Garon can use the boy’s power to destroy those still fighting against his rule.
Everyone knows Meaghan could be on a suicide mission, but when Nick stumbles upon a secret concealed in one of the southern villages, he realizes that Garon might not be Meaghan’s greatest foe. The enemy most likely to kill her is someone who has also promised to keep her safe.
Goodreads | Amazon
About the Author:
Kristen spent her childhood at the feet of an Irish storytelling grandfather, learning to blend fact with fiction and imagination with reality. She lived within the realm of the tales that captivated her, breathing life into characters and crafting stories even before she could read. Those stories have since turned into over a hundred poems, several short tales, and seven manuscripts in both the Young Adult and Adult genres. Currently, Kristen is completing the five-part Ærenden series from her home office in the suburbs of Washington D.C.
Author Sites
GIVEAWAY:
One (1) winner receives the first three books in audio (through audible download)
One (1) winner receives the first three books, gifted through Amazon for Kindle.
Three (3) winners receive a Kindle copy the first book, The Child Returns.
Open Worldwide (where Kindle and Audible are available.)
Ends June 22
Prizes provided the author, hosts are not responsible in any way. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.
June 3, 2016
Guest Post by @RyanJoSummers, author of Upon the Tide #romanticsuspense #giveaway
Today I’m welcoming Ryan Jo Summers, author of the romantic suspense novel, Upon the Tide, to the Readsalot blog. She’s talking to us about rejections and turning a no into a yes.
Rejections. Every writer gets them. They’re a part of our rite of passage. Most of us—me included—have collected enough rejections to sufficiently wallpaper our home. Naturally we all hope we won’t be rejected. After all, we just wrote the next 52 straight week bestseller. Right? We dream of sending our literary baby to our first picked publisher where it will be exclaimed over like our bundle of manuscript joy rightly deserves. After much attention, they will send us a contract and a hefty advance check. Ah… this is so cool.
Yes it is, and it’s also seldom—almost never—played out that way. The reality is we write our best (not necessarily the best) story and send it out to a whole list of agents, editors and publishers—and wait anxiously. If we’re lucky, we hear something back with a polite form letter. Thanks but no thanks. Sometimes we don’t even get that much. If we are really lucky, we might receive a short note alongside the standard rejection form. If you get this—rejoice, dear author. Yes, rejoice.
There are many ways to view rejections. Here is my method: First, I see it as an inevitable part of this job. Like a doctor who unavoidably loses a patient or the lawyer who occasionally loses a case, bad things will happen in every career. This is one that happens with being an author. Next, I don’t take it personal. This is nothing more than one person’s opinion. And didn’t I ask for their opinion by sending my manuscript to them?
There could be a myriad of reasons why it was rejected. Maybe it was full of typos, bad grammar and other issues I didn’t catch through ten rounds of edits and proof reading. (Yes, it happens) Maybe the hero’s name was the same as the editor’s significant other that just unceremoniously dumped her last night. Maybe it’s really a bad story. Maybe it’s a genre she doesn’t accept. Maybe she just listed one very similar to mine. Maybe this kind of story just isn’t selling anymore.
However, if I get a rejection with an extra note included, I take notice. Someone took a few additional minutes to write me a special thought. Perhaps something I can work on improving. It’s even better if it’s an invitation to either rework the story and resubmit or to submit something else. Yes, it has happened.
Here’s the thing about rejections—every writer get them, even the master artists. Smart writers collect them in a pile and keep plugging away, knowing one day we’ll get an acceptance instead of a rejection. It just takes time.
When I first submitted my debut contemporary romance “Whispers in her Heart”, it was rejected over a dozen times. Mostly because it was a horrible story. Years later, I re-wrote it and sent it back out. The third publisher sent me an acceptance offer and contract. That was seven books and three more contracts ago. And I still get occasional rejections. That’s okay, because there is usually something to learn from each one.
~ About the Book ~
Title: Upon the Tide
Author: Ryan Jo Summers
Published: May 18, 2016
Genre: Romantic Suspense
~ Synopsis ~
Tossed together by happenstance, fleeing for their lives and finding love under the Caribbean sun as paradise turns deadly.
New York fashion designed, Piper Kincaid, just wanted to have a pleasant visit with her cousin down in Florida. That was before she and handsome beach bum, Kade Wyatt, become the targets of a gang of robbers and killers. Fleeing for their lives, aboard Kade’s big boat, they experience risk, surprises, mystery and romance during the Great Caribbean Boat Chase. However, the biggest surprises are waiting for them back at port.
Grab a copy! Amazon
~ About the Author ~
Ryan Jo Summers is a North Carolina writer who likes to pen romances with a twist. Love stories blended as inspirational, with paranormal, suspense or time travel–or several at once. She also writes non-fiction for regional periodicals. Her dad is a songwriter and his aunt wrote poetry, so Ryan came by the writing gene honestly.
Her hobbies include poetry, bird watching, houseplants and gardening, gathering with friends, hiking in the forest, painting canvas and ceramics, and working wiggly word find puzzles, mah johngg or chess. She lives in a 1920 cottage with a menagerie of pets. She often daydreams of the shore and frequently uses water as settings and several animals in her stories.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog ~ Romance Reviews ~ Goodreads
~ Giveaway ~
June 2, 2016
Happy Release Day! Big by @emmerollins #eroticromance #giveaway
Erotic Romance, New Adult, Military, Romantic Suspense
Date Published: June 3, 2016
Publisher: Fido Publishing
He’s big. He’s bad. And he only wants one thing.
Revenge.
Ric Ryker spent years being called “Big Dick.”
Ridiculed for his weight, shunned by all the pretty girls, snubbed by all the cool guys.
But after a secret journey of transformation, he’s back—ready to take over leadership from his father at Ryker Arms—with an impressive new physique and a plan to prove them all wrong.
Especially her.
The one woman who hurt him the most.
Annalesa—smart, sassy, stunning.
And his stepsister.
The girl he could never have.
The girl who wouldn’t look twice at him anyway—especially in front of her stuck-up friends.
Now he’s going to make her want him.
Show her just what she was missing.
And hurt her, just like she hurt him.
He’s got the weapon and he’s taken aim—but he didn’t count on his own heart getting caught in the crossfire.
EXCERPT
“Leesa, I’m still not so sure this is a good idea…” Ric looked down at her, a frown turning the corners of his perfect mouth down just slightly. “I don’t know what to think.”
“Please trust me.” She kissed his chest, rubbing her cheek there, her voice almost a whisper. “I should have tried harder. I should have told you how I felt. I should have been brave then, I know.”
“Oh Leesa.” His lips brushed the top of her head.
“But I wasn’t brave then. And I’m sorry, Ric. I’m so sorry. I’ve been sorry every single day we’ve been apart, every minute that you were out of my reach.”
“Oh Christ.” He sighed.
“But you have to understand something.” She lifted her face and met his eyes, squaring her shoulders. “There are only so many times I can explain, only so many ways I can apologize. I know what happened… it made you feel awful, and I’m sorry you were hurt. But Ric—I never did any of it on purpose. I never, ever set out to hurt you.”
“I know.”
She felt weightless as he lifted her onto the ledge of the booth, feeling the warmth of his palms through the thin cotton of her top as he kept his hands around her waist.
“So you forgive me?” She knew the question was in her eyes as she put her arms around his neck.
“If we do this…” His thumbs stroked her belly, on either side of her navel, a delicious distraction. “I need to trust you. Completely.”
“Okay.” She nodded, her heart soaring at the possibility. She wouldn’t have admitted it to her closest friend or even confessed it to a priest on her death bed before this moment, but this, with Ric, was what she wanted, what she’d always wanted.
“We’ll have to keep it secret.” His thumbs brushed beneath her top, stroking her bare skin. He looked over his shoulder, checking they were alone. “At least, for a while.”
“Yeah.” She winced, not relishing the thought of telling their parents.
“Leesa, I really need to trust you.” His grip tightened, his fingers digging into her sides so hard it almost hurt. He was so strong! “I imagine our relationship’s going to be tested. A lot.”
“I know.” She nodded vigorously, agreeing, the word ‘relationship’ from his mouth secretly thrilling her. “Ric, I promise, I—”
“I mean it. This isn’t a joke. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” His harsh words jarred her senses but he didn’t let her go. His hands were under her shirt now, fully on her skin, his big palms spreading heat through her whole body. “Because, I may ask you to prove it, Leesa.”
“I will,” she breathed, straightening her spine so she could get her lips closer to his. “I swear, I’ll do whatever I have to, to prove my feelings for you, this time.”
“Good.” He gave her a slow, weary smile, and then he kissed her, his mouth soft and open, not demanding anymore.
“What now?” she breathed as they parted. If he’d wanted to take her right then, right there, she would have done whatever he asked.
“We take it slow.” He rested his forehead against hers. “And keep us a secret.”
“Us.” She smiled at that.
“You up for more target practice?” He smiled, too, glancing down at her gun as he took a step back.
“I’ll probably miss the target entirely.” She grinned, sliding off the ledge and putting her hands to her flushed cheeks. “But it’s probably a good idea for me to cool down a little before we leave.”
Ric helped her relax into her stance and, with the weight of their conflict gone, she went on to make six bullseyes out of ten shots on the next two targets, and the remaining shots clustered close around the center.
“Damn, girl.” Ric clapped. “I’m impressed. Remind me not to give you any reason to shoot at me.”
“You’re the last person I’d want to shoot at.” She smiled and emptied the last cartridges out of the magazine, handing them back to him, along with the gun. “At least, most of the time.”
“Except when I’m being a dick?” He snorted and she laughed as he led them back to the armory to check in their weapons.
About the Author
Emme Rollins is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of New Adult/Mature Young Adult fiction. She’s been writing since she could hold a crayon and still chews her pen caps to a mangled plastic mess. She did not, however, eat paste as a kid.
She has two degrees, a bachelor’s and a master’s, one of which she’s still paying for, but neither of which she uses out in the “real world,” because when she isn’t writing, she spends her time growing an organic garden to feed her husband and children (and far too many rabbits and deer!) where they live on twenty gorgeous forested acres in rural Michigan.
She loves tending her beehives, keeping up with her daily yoga practice and going for long walks in the woods with her boxer dog, who loves chasing squirrels almost as much as Emme loves writing!
Emme loves hearing from fans, so feel free to use the contact page on her site (emmerollins.com) to connect with her.
Contact Links
Website
Blog
Newsletter
Goodreads
Google Plus
Purchase Link
Amazon
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 1, 2016
Competing With the Star by @KrystenLindsay #teenromance #giveaway
Competing with a Star by Krysten Lindsay Hager
Hadley Daniels’s life seems perfect…
Before the beginning of sophomore year of high school, Hadley and her family move to a beautiful beach town, where she makes amazing new friends and lands the boyfriend of her dreams—Nick Jenkins. He’s the kind of guy every girl swoons over, and it isn’t long until Hadley discovers some are still swooning.
A famous ex-girlfriend makes matters more complicated…
After some time dating, Hadley and Nick form a deep bond. But insecurity sets in when Hadley discovers her boyfriend once had a huge crush on her friend—who just happens to be the beautiful former teen TV star, Simone Hendrickson.
The past is the past—or so they say…
Hadley confronts Nick, who confesses about his history with Simone. Though he claims to only have eyes for Hadley now, it’s hard to believe—especially when she’s blindsided with the news that Nick and Simone kissed after school.
Now Hadley must determine who is telling the truth. Love, betrayal, friendship…who needs soap opera drama when you’re busy competing with a star?
~ Praise ~
“Hadley our teenage heroine has many of the insecurities, which inflict most of us at this young age…A lovely story, with some good lessons about friendship, self-esteem and relationships, perfectly pitched for teen/young adult readers.” From author Jane Hunt.
“…Hager’s main character is representative of every teenage girl. The author really nailed the reality of a young girl’s early high school years. I think this is a valuable read for girls ages 12-18.” Review from Readers’ Favorite book reviews.
“…The story gives you so much insight into the minds of teenage girls and makes you realize that deep down, everyone has the same insecurities and everyone goes through the same things in life. Despite these insecurities and fears, the main character stands up for herself. This is such an important message for teen girls!” Amazon customer review
~ Excerpt ~
Two days passed and Nick hadn’t called again. I couldn’t blame him. After all, I had pushed for him to be honest and then had bailed on him. I’m sure he was mad at me for telling him he could tell me the truth and then I punished him for it—and he would be right. I couldn’t handle the icky feelings, and instead of being a big girl and dealing with them, I came home from school and retreated into the world of books. A world where people were kidnapped, jewels were stolen, but nobody’s heart ever got broken because in my favorite series, The Raven Chronicles, Raven’s boyfriend, Fernando, was ever faithful and loyal and would never even look at another girl. He was the perfect book boyfriend. In other words, he was fictional and didn’t exist.
I saw I had a text from Simone. Oh great, maybe she was asking for my blessing to go out with Nick, or if I was still planning to go to Watson High School next year so she could make out with him in a different hallway from my locker.
Simone: Are you mad at me? Nick said you’re upset because you found out he used to like me.
Oh fabulous. He told her the whole gross story. Well, of course he did, seeing as how he was always over with her clique and he could tell the love of his life anything.
Me: Whatever. It’s not important.
Simone: He said he hasn’t talked to you in days because you hung up on him and won’t return his messages.
Me: It’s not a big deal.
Simone: It is to him. You hurt him. You know I don’t like him, right?
Me: Did you ever?
Simone: Can we talk about this on the phone? I’m calling you.
I had no choice but to pick up. “Okay, I’m going to be honest with you,” Simone said after I answered the phone. “He was super crazy about me and honestly, it freaked me out a little. And did I think about going out with him? Not right away, but yeah. I thought about it, but he only started to look cute to me once he was with you. I know that sounds super bad, but I didn’t notice him until you guys were a thing.”
“What?” I asked. It felt like my stomach plummeted several stories down.
Author Krysten Lindsay HagerKrysten Lindsay Hager writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, Next Door to a Star, Landry in Like. and Competing with the Star (The Star Series: Book 2). Her work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Bellbrook Times, and on Living Dayton.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Instagram
~ Blog Tour Giveaway ~
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 6/12/16
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
May 31, 2016
To all the haters of #socialmedia ~ You’re wrong
Wow! That sounds a bit harsh, doesn’t it? But let me tell you a little story in which I reveal just how freaking old I am. It was 1987 the first time I got onto a plane and flew to a foreign country. Gosh! How exciting! Only 17 years old and living in Germany as a foreign exchange student. Of course, it was totally awesome, eye-opening, and an all-around great experience, but that’s not what I’m here to talk about today. Nope. I’m here to tell you just how unbelievably difficult it was to keep in touch with friends and families in the 1980s when you lived across the pond (that’s the Atlantic Ocean in case you’re confused).
For those not in the know, we had to use actual mail (the paper stuff that comes in the mailbox and is usually full of advertisements) to keep in touch. Sure, the telephone existed. But it was expensive. This was a time when people still complained they were calling ‘long distance’ and couldn’t talk long. Long distance? Try another country across the ocean! That’s what they call expensive. And the internet? Oh sure, it existed. But except for some super geeks, no one knew about it – yet. So yeah, it was hard to keep in touch. Friendships slowly slipped away and connections were lost.
And then came email. Whoo! Hoo! Now that was some exciting times. Email, internet with a dial-up connection that took flipping forever, oh yeah baby. Unfortunately, email still requires a human being to actually sit down and write a letter. Because when email first came around, us oldies used it a bit like the regular ‘ol mail. We wrote letters. And let’s face it, humans are lazy. Like, really, really, lazy. And hey! Isn’t it just easier to hang out with the friends and family another street over? Okay, maybe a few hours drive away for the holidays, but let’s not push. Unfortunately, email wasn’t the answer to keeping connected to friends and families when living far, far away.
But then this thing arrived called social media. First (for me at least), it was Facebook. (Aside – this is not a paid advertisement for Facebook, but due to my age and friend group, that’s the website I use the most as do my connections.) Facebook is so easy. Like, seriously easy. Even for super-duper lazy people (you know who you are!). You can keep in touch with barely any effort. Just post a picture of yourself drinking beer and everyone responds with likes and greetings. It takes almost no effort to hit that like button and keep that connection from high school, that Summer job or whatever, going. Heck, you don’t even have to post. You can be a secret Facebook stalker (trademark pending).
Sure, social media can suck you in and steal hours of your life away. But don’t blame the websites for that. I don’t blame the breweries when I have a hangover either! Instead, be thankful that you can keep in touch with all those wonderful (and some not so wonderful) people from your past. As the Dutch say ~ Alles met mate. In other words, use moderation. I haven’t figured out how to do that yet, but I am still a diehard Facebook fan. And now you know why.
