Gillian Felix's Blog, page 6

Perfect Escape Kickoff Tour

Welcome to the launch of my new book Perfect Escape (Family Portrait Book 4). For a limited time you can purchase Perfect Escape (Family Portrait Book 4)from Amazon for $0.99.

Synopsis:

One person’s perfect escape is another’s perfect hell.

In this coming-of-age story, teen singing sensation Leighann DaCosta tries to find out who she is without her music career. A career that has been part of her life since before the age of ten. When Leighann’s estranged father enters her life, she is caught up...

Fun Facts About the Series

Fun Facts about myFamily Portrait Series.

Meet Singing Sensation Leighann DaCosta

Leighann DaCosta was born in Bristol, Connecticut and became a singing sensation at the tender age of 6after winninga local singing competition. Managed by hermother Savannah (Savi) DaCosta, Leighann and Savi travelled all around the country where Leighann sang and performed at state fairs.

Leighannwas discovered by a junior A&R rep who happened to be at the Ohio State Fair while visiting family. Leighann’s road to stardom was paved when she won a Grammy at the age of 10 for a song she sangon...

Excerpt – Perfect Escape

Seventeen-year-old Zax Banovic was tall, gorgeous and smelled like citrus with a hint of musk. His sandy blond hair, mesmerizing blue eyes, and kissable lips complemented his athletic body perfectly. Leighann DaCosta, like many other girls at Westwood Academy, got an eyeful when he ran out of the boys’ locker room in his underwear chasing some girl down the halls of Westwood Academy. Leighann blushed when she saw his ripped abs, tight ass and generous package filling out his heather gray CK b...

Excerpt – Bastard’s Brew

 

Chapter 10: The Other DaCosta

Kevin watched from the sidelines as L’Wren took a final bow at the edge of the runway as excited onlookers gave her a standing ovation. Her fashion show was a hit. The place was packed, and her designs rocked. Most of the fashion scouts she invited attended. Kevin invited a journalist from the Daily Bruin Mojo and a reporter from The West Post. He knew just a mere mention in LA Fashion could do wonders for L’Wren’s prospects, so he secretly paid a reporter to come to the show.

Their eyes met, and she smiled as photographers unleashed a flash-bulb frenzy. A new hot young fashion designer had emerged, and everybody wanted to be the first to discover her.

L’Wren did her meet and greets after the show, chatting with fashion scouts and receiving compliments from everyone. As the place cleared out, she looked around for Kevin and spotted him assisting with the cleanup.

“Hey, you.” She beamed.

“Congratulations, that was awesome.” He smiled. “How did it go with the scouts?”

“I have two meetings set up for next week!”

“You did it!”

“We did it. This could not have happened without you. All the work you put in and in such a short amount of time.”

“It was fun,” he replied.

“A lot of work,” she pointed out.

“The fun is in the journey,” he replied, and their eyes locked.

“Thank you,” she said seriously, and he nodded.

“I’m gonna grab a broom.” She needed to get away is what she told herself, but really, she wanted to kiss him.

“No, don’t. I hired a couple of high school kids to clean up.” He stuck his hands into his back pockets to curb the desire to pull her into his arms.

“You thought of everything.” She tried to unlock her eyes from his, but for some reason, his eyes felt like a magnet pulling her in. Her phone rang, interrupting the moment.

“It’s Leighann. She’s stuck in her dress,” L’Wren said and turned to walk away. In a moment of courage she turned back around to face him. “You wanna hang out sometime?” She held her breath and waited for an answer.

He studied her for a moment. His silence almost made her regret asking. “No,” came the reply, which stabbed her heart like a blade. Feeling like a fool, she turned away.

“I want to cook you dinner.” His words came suddenly.

She looked at him questioningly.

“I don’t hang out. I’d rather cook you dinner, you and Leighann. Come by the manor tomorrow evening.”

L’Wren was pleasantly surprised; she walked over and kissed him lightly on his cheek and quickly headed to his office/makeshift dressing room to rescue Leighann.

 

Adriana paused for a brief interview with a local indie magazine reporter; he had recognized her from the mobile phone commercial. At the corner of her eye she spotted Carys, who patiently waited her turn to chat with Adriana. Once the reporter left, Carys pounced before Adriana could disappear.

“Hello, Adriana.”

“Do I know you?” Adriana figured it best to pretend not to remember Carys.

“Kevin’s friend,” Carys reminded her, not buying her forgetful act.

“You are not friends with my brother. He barely remembered you.” Adriana turned on her heels to walk away.

“Does Haze know that you are a junior in high school?”

Adriana paused and slowly turned to face Carys. She looked her squarely in her eyes and lied, “Yes, he does. He loves me and doesn’t care.”

“You think Kevin would care if he found out about you and Haze?”

Adriana was amused. “What are you trying to say, Carys?”

“You got my sister expelled from Westwood Academy, messed up her academic record and almost got her thrown in jail,” Carys said sternly, not backing down from Adriana’s glare.

“Who the hell is your sister? That could be anybody,” Adriana said casually. Her tone pissed off Carys.

“You think this is a joke? You don’t care who you hurt. You’re a horrible person Adriana,” she spat.

“I’m bored; you done?” Adriana mocked.

“I know you put the drugs in Astrid’s locker. We have proof.”

“Astrid’s your sister?” Adriana studied Carys. “That’s right, the desperation does look familiar.”

“Insult me all you want, but you’re gonna pay for what you did.”

“What do you want, Carys?”

“Confess, or I go to Kevin.”

“Fine, I did what you said.” Adriana turned to leave.

Carys grabbed her arm. “Not to me, to Principal Johansson. Get them to drop the charges against Astrid so she can return to school.”

“I’ll consider it.” Adriana yanked her arm away. “If I decide to ‘confess’, how do I know you won’t go to Kevin?”

“You’ll just have to trust me.”

Adriana walked away. She hated being blackmailed. She had a lot to lose. If she confessed, she’d be kicked out of a school she didn’t like. If she didn’t confess, she’d certainly lose Haze. She had to figure a way out of this situation with minimal damage.

 

Purchase Bastard’s Brew

Amazon international link | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | iBooks

Amber Hart’s 5 Top New Adult Novels

Plain Talk BM - Art, culture and all the books you can read in 2 minutes

Are you ready to take the plunge? The world of new adult is still in its prime. It’s the perfect time to dive head-first into a sea of novels. Or, if you’re like me, maybe you prefer to get your feet wet first? Try a novel or two? See of it’s your “thing”? Totally understand. […]

The post Amber Hart’s 5 Top New Adult Novels appeared first on Plain Talk BM.

Excerpt – Banovic Siblings

Chapter 19: Cocktails and Dreams

L’Wren entered Bacchanal Jake’s with two of her girlfriends. While their intention was to have fun and enjoy the attention of guys, her mission was to see Kevin Banovic again. She knew he worked there and, without alerting her friends to her plan, casually chose Jake’s as the hangout spot for the evening.

She hated the way they’d left things. Why did she care what he thought of her? He was just some guy—some guy who cared enough to stand up for her and got hurt in the process. She carried around immense guilt, and he’d made her feel worst when she tried to apologize. She had no idea what she was going to say to him. She just knew that she had to see him again.

They ordered drinks and found a booth. L’Wren’s eyes combed the room, her breath unsteady, her palms sweaty and her stomach in knots. Maybe he had the night off.

L’Wren’s friends noticed her distraction.

“Hey, what’s going on with you?” one friend asked.

“Nothing.” She smiled nervously.

A couple of guys came over with drinks for the girls. They began chatting them up. L’Wren was not interested. She just smiled and nodded and kept an eye out for Kevin.

Her hopes began to fade after an hour. L’Wren was about ready to leave when she spotted Kevin. She took a deep breath. The air in the room was getting tight again. She watched as he flirted with a woman at the bar. The scene reminded her of Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail, minus the bar theatrics.

She felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach that surprised her. The guy next to her said something but she did not hear—her mind was focused on Kevin. Mentally she tried to muster courage and find something to say to him.

Her legs felt heavy as she stood and walked over to the bar, with every step her heart pounded harder and faster. As she got closer she straightened her spine, lifted her head and steadied her breath. She walked straight towards the end of the bar where he stood still chatting up a brunette, who looked like she was ready to ravish him. Kevin said something to her and she smiled, then tossed her long mane, retrieved her cell phone and touched hers with his.

Kevin stood up and looked at L’Wren, the brunette shot her a menacing look.

“What can I get you?” He asked as if she was a complete stranger.

“I just thought I’d come over and introduce myself,” she heard herself say. New formed confidence took over. “Hi, I’m L’Wren.” She extended her arm.

The brunette’s eyes switched between them, she eventually walked away without saying a word.

“What are you doing?” Kevin asked.

“Starting over.”

Kevin was unsure where she was going with this but played along, “Kevin, nice to meet you,” he gently shook her hand.

“I’d like a Martini please, shaken not stirred.” She perched herself on the bar stool.

They looked at each other for a moment, and then started to laugh at the obvious James Bond reference.

It was late when L’Wren’s friends said their goodbyes and left her at the bar.

Kevin served drinks then returned his attention to her.

It was last call when Kevin walked her to her car. “You okay to drive or should I call for a cab?”

“Kevin,” she leaned in close to him, “when you weren’t looking I ordered diet Sprite from the other bartender.”

“What about the Martini?”

“I don’t drink Martinis I sent it to my girl friend.”

“Oh I feel so duped, seriously?”

She nodded affirmative.

“Since we’re confessing… I saw you the minute you walked into Jake’s.”

“Liar! You were no where around.”

“I was in the back room… I wanted to see if you were waiting for someone.”

“I don’t believe you. You can’t stand to be duped,” she laughed.

Kevin watched her as she got into her white Prius V and drove away.

L’Wren looked at him in the rear view mirror and smiled. That turned out better than she’d expected.

Purchase Banovic Siblings  

Amazon international purchase link | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | iBook

 

King of Me by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Plain Talk BM - Art, culture and all the books you can read in 2 minutes

King of Me (King Series #3) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff Synopsis: “You’re asking me to…love you?” asked Mia. He slowly scratched his thick black stubble. “I suppose I am.” What if you were asked to love the one man on earth you couldn’t trust, you feared, who betrayed you at every turn? Could you do […]

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Excerpt – Changes

Chapter 8: The Muse

Down the hall, Adriana waited for her turn to audition. The place still had lots of girls even though the process seemed to be going by quickly. She got up to stretch her legs and get some water at the water fountain down the hall.

She noticed a photo shoot taking place in the room adjacent to the water fountain. Curious, she headed toward the window and peered through the glass.

Everything was random, large floodlights illuminated a gray backdrop cloth. The room was divided into two parts by a portable screen room divider with an opening at either end. The dimly lit back room was closest to the room entrance; there was a table with a laptop and camera equipment, story boards, a notebook and other items.

Adriana spotted the photographer, a handsome-ish petite Italian talking to his butch assistant, dressed all in black. She was about to walk away when she spotted Haze. Her eyes fixated on him. He emerged wearing jeans and a graphic tee. Adriana was simply mesmerized by him. He was the handsomest man she had ever seen. She entered the room for a closer look. ‘Was he for real?’

The photographer instructed Haze on the next set-up. At first no one noticed Adriana as she stood in the shadows. She was unable to take her eyes off him. ‘Who is he?’ she wondered.

The photographer received his freshly reloaded camera from his assistant. Just then Adriana noticed a Polaroid of Haze on the floor; she picked it up and stared at it. Her fingers traced his smile. His brown eyes were lit up, and a naughty but sweet smile blanketed his face. Adriana felt her inside get soft and mushy; she felt a flash of heat and excitement. This was new territory for her. Whoever he was, she knew she would never forget him.

The butch assistant interrupted her thoughts with a disapproving tone. “What are you doing in here?!”

Adriana was startled.

“You’re not supposed to be in here. This is a closed shoot! Get out!”

Adriana slipped the picture into her pocket, then left.

Changes Available Free everywhere ebooks are sold.

Introducing Candace Knoebel Book Combo

Plain Talk BM - Art, culture and all the books you can read in 2 minutes

Today I’m doing something a bit different. I am featuring several books from the wonderful author Candace Knoebel. You’re in for a treat if you like paranormal romance, young adult novels. Evernight (Night Watchmen #2)  Publication date: October 31st 2014 Genres: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult Synopsis: The stunning sequel to the thrilling paranormal romance novel Everlasting! One lie will […]

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