Margo Bond Collins's Blog, page 111
June 14, 2014
The First Bite Is The Deepest ~ Guest Post by T.W. Piperbrook
I can still remember the day I got hooked on zombies.
On a friend’s recommendation, I went to see the Dawn of The Dead remake in the theater in 2004. I’d always loved horror books and movies—I’d been digesting King and Koontz since I was in elementary school. But for some reason I had yet to experience the Romero films, and I’d yet to have the full “zombie experience”.
Five minutes into that movie, I’d found a new obsession.
The scene I remember most vividly is where Ana (Sarah Polley) wakes up in the morning to find her young neighbor in the house. Within seconds, the little girl attacks Ana’s husband, infecting him, and Ana is forced to make a narrow escape out the bathroom window. She soon finds herself in the middle of the street in broad daylight, where chaos has ensued. Cars are on fire, neighbors are running rampant, and zombies are preying on anything that moves. If anything can be blamed for my zombie addiction, it is that moment in film.
This scene took many of the “tropes” of Hollywood horror and threw them out the window. Gone were the dark attics, the creatures lurking in closets, and the slow buildups. The threat of zombies in this movie was real and inescapable, and it was everywhere.
The idea of a world like that intrigued me.
In the coming months, I would go on to devour anything and everything related to zombies. Although I enjoyed all aspects of the genre, I soon found myself drawn to a certain type of story. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of a “zombie apocalypse”—at least to me—was the reaction of normal people, the banding together of survivors with different backgrounds and experiences. Watching people cope and work together became the most captivating part of the experience.
In my CONTAMINATION series, I attempted to capture some of this same reality, but with a different premise. What if the virus was ingested, and you couldn’t trust anything you ate or drank? How would normal people survive?
You can get the CONTAMINATION Boxed Set (Books 0-3) ON SALE now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and Itunes. Check it out at the links below!
BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/contamination-boxed-set-tw-piperbrook/1117307869?ean=2940148839989
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/contamination-boxed-set-books-0-3-of-the-series
ITUNES:https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/contamination/id575955967?mt=11
The CONTAMINATION Boxed Set is also available in AUDIOBOOK at Audible, Amazon, and Itunes!
For more information, check out my website at http://www.twpiperbrook.com.
Or Facebook friend me at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004797393276
I won’t bite (unless I get infected).
Take care, and happy reading!
-Tyler
* * * * *
The stench of rotting flesh is in the air! Welcome to the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014, with 33 of the best zombie authors spreading the disease in the month of June.
Stop by the event page on Facebook so you don’t miss an interview, guest post or teaser… and pick up some great swag as well! Giveaways galore from most of the authors as well as interaction with them! #SummerZombie
https://www.facebook.com/events/286215754875261/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular&source=1
AND so you don’t miss any of the posts in June, here’s the complete list, updated daily:
http://armandrosamilia.com/2014/06/01/summer-of-zombie-blog-tour-2014-post-links/
June 13, 2014
Introducing Taming the Country Star ~ Book Trailer, Release Party, and Street Team
Hi, all! Next week, my first contemporary romance is coming out from Entangled Publishing! I’ve got a book trailer and an online release party invitation for you.
First:
Check out the book trailer for Taming the Country Star:
Second:
Get ready to join the Bliss Surf & Turf online release party for Taming the Country Star and Making Waves by Ophelia London:
https://www.facebook.com/events/321673504657347/
Third:
And while you’re at it, join The Vampirarchy–my street team–for sneak peeks, first looks, and additional prizes!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vampirarchy/
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June 12, 2014
Spotlight On: Tore Divided Love by KD Ferguson
Tore Divided Love
by K.D. Ferguson
Release Date: 06/06/14
Summary from Goodreads:
A future set in stone.
For eighteen year old Krissa Channing a government ruled pairing with Braiden Connor and a move to Headquarters were her set fate. Until Braiden’s sudden disappearance threatens Krissa’s entire future.
After months of endless worry, Krissa has an unexpected meeting with Duke, a perfect suitor that could offer her the future she’s always dreamed of. Just when she begins to regain hope, Braiden returns.
Now, Krissa must find where her heart truly lies. Torn between two loves, she must decide which of their worlds she belongs in. But is such a decision even possible when the choice rests between freedom and love?
Available from:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Link to Book One:
(cover linked to Goodreads)
EXCERPT:
He took my hands and stared at me with his emerald eyes. “I promise I won’t ever put you through that again. I was an ass. I was selfish. I’ve changed. You are what I want.” He looked around my place. “This is what I want.”
God, I wanted to believe him, but I was so uncertain. I’d been down this road with him before and we didn’t have the best experience. He’d broken me so badly, but I guess I had no other choice but to let him fix me. “I can’t go through that again, Braiden.”
“Do you still love me?”
Like he needed to ask. “I never stopped.”
“I was so stupid. I love you. It took being without you to realize that. I want you, and only you, forever.”
My heart was begging me to believe him while my mind still had reservations. “Please stay true to your word.”
“I promise.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me close to him. I wanted to stay like that forever. He was my home. I felt safe even though I probably wasn’t. I wasn’t happy but I was certain that wouldn’t last. And I felt loved even though that most likely wasn’t true.
About the Author
I have recently released my first book, Torn-True Love, published by Rebel Ink Press. I am thrilled to be a part of the family!
Author Links:
***GIVEAWAY***
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Blitz Organized by:
Spotlight On: Facade of Shadows by Rich Chiantaretto
Title: Facade of Shadows
Author: Rick Chiantaretto
Genre: YA, dark fantasy
>>ADD TO GOODREADS<<
Judas Iscariot (portrayed as the first of the undead), the gods and myths of ancient Egypt, and vampires all play a role in this novel of the clash between good and evil on Earth. In Façade of Shadows, the supernatural beings of Egyptian lore work together with modern-day vampire slayers to wage a pivotal battle against the dark powers of the underworld. A group of young slayers and their immortal Protector, the son of ancient gods, travel through time and space while struggling to save the population of an unsuspecting town—the first target for domination by the vampires—in a conflict that foreshadows the fate of the world. If you enjoy action, humor, tragedy, even romance involving the genre of vampires and their nemeses, this is a riveting read to add to your collection.
Purchase:
Only 99¢
Amazon
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TOUR
Good Choice Reading Blog Tours is currently organizing a review tour for Facade of Shadows from July 21st – 25th. You can sign up for the tour HERE.
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When she got to class, Dominique was glad to find another new student; she always felt more comfortable when she wasn’t the only new one. The teacher seemed nice enough too. Dominique handed her the schedule to prove she was in the class and the teacher, anxious to begin, quickly made seating assignments for the two new students.
“Why don’t you sit over there?” she suggested to Dominique, gesturing to a seat in the back corner. “And you can sit over here.” The teacher pointed out a desk to the other student. Dominique took one step toward her seat and noticed… her. The girl was paying strict attention, even though the teacher wasn’t saying anything that concerned her. Dominique wondered if she was taking notes on the new seating arrangement, as she feverishly moved her pencil. The other new student noticed the discomfort on Dominique’s face.
“Don’t worry,” he said in a calm but confident tone, “I’ll sit there, and you can have the one by the window.”
Dominique felt a wave of relief. There was something about that girl that she just didn’t like. “Thank you,” she said to the student. She felt him brush her arm as he pushed past her; he felt like iron. This was the first time she had been able to get a good look at him. His arms were impressively muscular. He was dressed completely in black and looked back at her with stunning blue eyes.
“No, thank you,” he said.
Maybe this class won’t be so bad after all, Dominique thought, feeling herself melt under his gaze. He smiled, as if he knew what she was thinking.
“I’m Lucas, but most of my friends call me Luke,” he said, pushing his hair out of his eyes with one hand and thrusting his other at her. She took it firmly.
“And may I call you Luke?”
That made his smile widen, “You may call me anything you wish.”
“Well, Luke, I’m Dominique,” she stated with a sheepish grin, slightly embarrassed as she felt her cheeks turn warm.
“I know,” he said, his cold hand penetrating the warmth of Dominique’s own.
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I’ve often been accused of having done more in my life than the average person my age but if I were completely honest, I’d have to tell you my secret: I’m really 392.
So after all this time, I’m a pretty crappy writer.
I have two books published and a bunch half written (when you have eternity, where’s the reason to rush?). I’ve been favorably reviewed by horror greats like Nancy Kilpatrick, and my how-to-write-horror articles have been quoted in scholarly (aka community college freshmen’s) papers.
I enjoy the occasional Bloody Mary, although a Bloody Kathy or Susan will suffice.
Mostly, I just try to keep a low profile so people don’t figure out who I REALLY am.
Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook
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Spotlight On: Calculated by Renee Novelle
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Renee will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to two randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
An investigative journalist gets an unlikely tip from a mysterious informant. Dismissing it as impossible, she disregards the information and drops the story. Until the informant turns up dead, as predicted.
Plunged into the murky waters of a seedy underground prostitution ring, this psychological thriller provides twist upon dark twist in a story that would ultimately pin the church and several government officials in the largest murder cover-up the city has ever witnessed.
But is it true, or has the journalist merely been used as a pawn in a greater scheme? And how many people is she willing to sacrifice trying to figure it out?
Enjoy an excerpt:
When she arrived at the little facility her building provided, a quick look around confirmed she was the only one there. Just as she’d hoped, and exactly how she liked it to be. Smiling in satisfaction, she flipped on the television that was perched on the wall, and turned up the music on her iPod as loud as she could handle it. The multiple distractions would help her get through the extra mile she was planning to conquer. With chilled water bottle in place, she cranked up the treadmill to a nice brisk pace.
As her breathing picked up speed and her muscles began to warm, Ana’s eye caught a red flash along the bottom of the screen. Breaking News filled the bar, and the too-chipper-for-their-own-good reporters were suddenly getting serious. Since the volume was still muted, Ana couldn’t understand exactly what was going on, only that they were showing the wide stretch of river that ran along the outskirts of the city. She wiped the first beads of sweat from her brow, and used the remote to turn the volume of the television higher while simultaneously adjusting her music.
As the reporters spoke, home-video footage of something floating in the water rolled before her eyes. The camera zoomed in, the frame ever so shaky, and it became clearly apparent that the “something” was a person – face down with long brown hair spread out like a Catholic halo. It appeared another victim had been pulled out of the water; the count was quickly tallying up. A young woman this time, and possibly one who had gone missing the night before.
Ana’s pulse skipped a few beats as they replayed the video over and over. There was something familiar about the long, lean body. Slowing the treadmill to a stop, she ripped the ear buds from her head to give the segment her entire attention.
…it appears at first glance that the victim suffered from a deep cut to the throat, and received multiple stab wounds to the chest…
The beads of accumulated sweat turned cold on Ana’s brow. She immediately reached for her phone and dialed Kylie’s number.
“What the hell, Ana?” Came her friend’s groggy voice.
“Turn your TV on. Channel four. Hurry.” Ana said, eyes transfixed to the screen in front of her. “Recognize that face?”
…It’s thought the victim may be one of the young girls recently reported missing. The screen flashed candids of three possible women. All brunettes. All tall and thin. All roughly the same age. Among them was a photo of Mara, just as Ana had expected there would be.
But the body was too bloated and disfigured to be absolutely certain, and an autopsy would be needed.
… The body will be taken in for processing where officials hope to shed more light on the case in the near future. In the mean time, they’re cautioning residents to avoid….
“Did you see that?” Ana’s voice escaped in more of a demand than a question. “Please tell me I’m seeing things.”
“Oh my god…” Kylie whispered into the receiver, confirming the dread that was building in Ana’s stomach. “Do you really think it’s her?”
“I know for a fact it is.” Ana declared, the pull in her gut getting stronger by the minute. “The autopsy will confirm it.”
“So, what does this mean exactly now?”
“That maybe I should have been listening a little closer when I was talking to Mara.” She said with regret as she swiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “And maybe I should have asked more questions. There’s a story here, I’m sure of it now.”
“What are you going to do?” Kylie’s voice was decidedly more alert now.
Ana shook her head. “I have no idea.”
Though if she were to be truthful with herself in that moment, she’d already made up her mind. Ana flipped off the television, and left the little gym to get started.
About the Author:
Formerly a freelance journalist, Novelle has found placement of her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008. Additionally, she has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her writing to many non-profit and for profit organizations. She has launched several blogs over the years, which garnered international attention.
In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love – fiction. Writing under the names Renee Novelle and R.S. Novelle, she has a publication schedule that includes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, Paranormal Fiction, Contemporary Women’s fiction, Chick Lit, and New Adult.
Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication, summa cum laude, she considers herself a constant student of the written word. She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and rarely takes “no” as a final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for theater, dance, music and art, and strongly believes that wine is simultaneously the beginning of, and resolution to, all of life’s problems. She believes in following dreams, and that in the end, you always end up where you’re meant to be.
You can find out more about her books and connect with her here:
Website: www.RSNovelle.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/RSNovelle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneeNovelle
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RS_Novelle
Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, or Smashwords.
June 11, 2014
Trending: Small Town Contemporaries
A Guest Post by Jennifer DeCuir
Many A-list contemporary authors are jumping on the small town series bandwagon. Jill Shalvis writes about Lucky Harbor. Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove has its own TV series. Susan Mallery is well known for her Fool’s Gold series. Robyn Carr with Virgin River and Victoria Dahl with Tumble Creek. So many incredible choices.
Readers like to treat their precious reading time (because, let’s face it – we never have enough reading time) as a mini vacation. So how cool is it to be able to return to that special retreat again and again? One reviewer of my book “Wynter’s Journey”, the third in my Scallop Shores series, asks “I wonder if Scallop Shores has time share options.” I love that people think of it as a real place, full of real people that they visit with and get to know. Because that’s how it feels for me. Real.
Another great thing about all these small town series is that they are spread out all over the country. Have enough time on your hands? You could take a whirlwind tour of Smalltown, USA – without having to spend a fortune on gas, worrying about bedbug infestations or finding alternate sightseeing plans if it rains.
My own series, Scallop Shores, takes place on the southern coast of Maine. Think lighthouses, lobsters and lots of flannel. It’s based on the town I grew up in, York. It’s a place that preserves its historic heritage (it was first settled in 1624). There are zoning laws in place that prevent big-chain type businesses like McDonalds and Starbucks from moving in and disrupting the quiet small town charm.
Small towns come with a cast of characters that readers expect to love (and hate). In Scallop Shores, there are gossip mongers, cranky old cusses who never have a kind word for anyone, matchmakers and people with hearts as big as the town, who would drop anything to help out a friend in need. I try to bring back my favorites and want to make sure that everyone gets their happily ever after.
The great thing about series set in a small town, is that you don’t have to read them in any particular order. At least, with my series you don’t. The same feature characters will show up, and the same town landmarks. You get to explore Scallop Shores in different seasons, depending on the book. The fact that this town is largely tourist-based, means I’ve set more than one book during summer. But being New England, you’ll find mentions of beautiful fall foliage and pristine snowy landscapes.
Whatever your preference, small town contemporaries offer a wonderful escape from the busy day to day of our hectic lives. Check in for an hour, or settle in for a cozy weekend. We’ll be here when you’re ready.
Author Bio:
Jennifer DeCuir writes small town contemporary romances while wrangling two kids, a husband who acts like a big kid and three neurotic pets. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she can’t get enough sunshine or caffeine. Her series Scallop Shores, published by Crimson Romance, is based on her hometown of York, Maine. When she isn’t writing or reading, she is probably adding to her obsessively huge yarn stash and wondering what gifts she’s going to crochet for Christmas this year.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: http://bit.ly/160UYHt
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/HdgQXi
Website: http://bit.ly/1bbkFom
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1aE8XBg
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1k35SPl
Books:
Drawn to Jonah (a RONE 2014 Nominee and 2nd place winner in the 2012 ECO contest)
Quinn finds new purpose in life caring for the local handyman’s daughter and teaching the sexy single dad how to read. He knows he owes her a huge debt, but he’ll start by giving her his heart.
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/1bSSBHr
B&N link: http://bit.ly/1aHR9IP
Five of Hearts
Shannon is a single mom to triplets. Dean is a former boy band member hiding from the latest fake paternity scam. They couldn’t be more wrong for each other. Sometimes falling in love is more about chance than choice.
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/Mp0ahN
B&N link: http://bit.ly/1eK6ypW
Wynter’s Journey (A 2nd place winner in the 2013 ECO contest)
A childhood promise brings Wynter and Sam together again after tragedy ripped them apart over ten years earlier. Fate has given him a second chance to tell her how he feels. This time he’s not going to run.
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/Qlv4cG
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Beyond the Count: A Goodreads Giveaway
Starting today, you can enter to win the Goodreads giveaway of Beyond the Count: The Literary Vampire of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Beyond the Count
by Margo Bond Collins
Giveaway ends June 17, 2014.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
If you don’t want to wait, you can order your ebook copy here:
Beyond the Count: The Literary Vampire of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
June 10, 2014
HIGH STAKES: A not-vampire story
Jacob Maresbeth is just like every other teen—except for one tiny detail: he drinks blood. But given the trajectory of YA novel in the past decade and a half, drinking blood might make him like every other teen. There certainly have been a number of the dark and mysterious bloodsuckers—you can almost spot them by category: vampire-with-a-past, vampire-not-sorry, vampire-wish-I-wasn’t, vampire-hero, vampire-sex-object… Okay, in all fairness, that last one has been around forever. So, you might ask, does the world need one more teenage vampire?
I’ll answer with another question: What exactly is a vampire, anyway? They have quite a history. Supposed vampire graves discovered in Český Krumlov (and dated to 1732). The “vampire debate” of the 1730s concerned an epidemic of this “vampirism,” borrowing from science and from folklore. For instance, according to some of the stories, vampire men would come back not only to attack the living, but to visit women and—well, use your imagination. The scientific community didn’t really believe in vampires like Dracula, but they did think something terrible was happening. They thought vampirism was like a disease, an epidemic, and they desecrated graves in an attempt to quarantine. Sound strange? It shouldn’t. Many diseases we understand today were mythologized and monster-ized in earlier time periods. And that is what caught my attention in the first place. I am a historian. I work at the Dittrick Museum of Medical History—and I used to work as a professor of 18th century literature. Put those pieces together and you end up with an insatiable appetite (pardon the pun) for the history of death and disease in all its guises.
So—I began to imagine vampirism as, in fact, a disease of the blood. What then? Vampire bats must drink blood or they can’t sustain their own; they die within two days. What if our vampire epidemic caused the sufferer to have similar complications? A body without blood isn’t much use to the living or the (un)dead. The more I mulled over the mythology, the more it began to look like symptomology—and in the midst of writing my PhD dissertation, a story began to take shape. I shared some of these ideas, and was dared to write the first installment by a fellow grad student. Roughly eleven hours later, Jacob Maresbeth was born. I continued working with him past the PhD, into my career teaching literature (gothic, of course). When I changed careers, I found Jake came right along, too. And at the intersection of medicine, literature, and history, the story became a 9-part series. Book 1, High Stakes, came out in April with Cooperative Press.
We’ve got a hand on vampires, now, right? So who is Jake? He isn’t brooding. He has the audacity to have a well-balanced home life, supportive parents, and a well-meaning if annoying younger sister. He has friends, a job at the school paper, and aspirations for becoming a journalist. He’s not dark, he’s not mysterious, he’s not even able to get a date most of the time. But despite all the other “norms,” Jake finds himself constantly at the mercy of hospitals, blood tests, and hematologists who’d love to make a living off his rare condition. That’s a lot of pressure for a 16-year-old boy, but lucky for Jake, his doctor-dad has been hiding some of the details about his condition from the wider medical community. Of course, that means Jake has to conceal an awful lot, too, even from his aunt and her (devastatingly beautiful) research assistant. Unfortunately, young Jake will do just about anything to impress her. What could go wrong? (A lot, as it happens). I hope you will join in the adventure of the not-vampire: a differently-abled young adult who is navigating a confusing medical system with grace and style. Actually no, Jake is not remotely graceful and his sister Lizzy will tell you he has no style. But he does have a brilliant sense of humor. Endearingly awkward, Jake isn’t going to take a little blood disease lying down in some coffin somewhere!
(Not on purpose anyway.)
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HIGH STAKES: http://www.amazon.com/High-Stakes-Jacob-Maresbeth-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00KBB51NO/
About HIGH STAKES
“I’m not a vampire,” insists Jacob Maresbeth, teenage journalist for the school paper. But what is a vampire, really? What happens if you have all the right symptoms, but are a living, breathing sixteen-year-old boy?
Diagnosed with a rare disease, Jake can’t help but wonder. After eight years in and out of the Newport News hospital, he’s had it up to here with doctors, diseases and dishonesty. After all, Jake’s father, respected neurologist Franklyn Maresbeth, has been hiding some of his more unusual symptoms for years… particularly that part about drinking blood.
In High Stakes, Jake records his summer vacation in the home of his maiden aunt, the bangled and be-spectacled Professor Sylvia. If that isn’t bad enough (and it is), Jake and his theatre-loving sister Lizzy must keep the “unofficial” details of Jake’s disorder a secret from Aunt Sylvia’s seductively beautiful graduate student, Zsofia. Will Jake survive a whole month pretending to be an invalid? Will Zsofia weaken his resolve with her flirtatiously dangerous Hungarian accent? Will Jake lose his heart–in more ways than one?
About the Author
Author, historian, and adventurer at the intersections, Brandy Schillace spends her time in the mist-shrouded alleyways between literature and medicine.
Brandy grew up in an underground house in abandoned coal mining territory near a cemetery. It does things to you (like convince you to get a PhD). It also encourages a particular brand of fictive output. HIGH STAKES, Book 1 of The Jacob Maresbeth Chronicles, came out in 2014 with Cooperative Trade Press.
Brandy is managing editor of Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry and Research Associate for the Dittrick Museum of Medical History. She is also editor of the Fiction Reboot | Daily Dose blogs. When she isn’t researching arsenic poisoning for the Museum, writing fiction, taking over the world, or herding cats, she teaches for Case Western Reserve University.
Connect with Brandy:
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOSRSk0hW9g&feature=youtu.be
Website: http://brandyschillace.com/
Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20927933-high-stakes
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Brandy-Schillace/e/B00K4EMPEG/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Twitter: @bschillace
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacobMaresbethChronicles
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Cover Reveal: HEART & SOUL by Lee Strauss
AVAILABLE July 7th!
Contemporary Romance
She’s heartbroken. He’s heartless.
Gabriele
Baumann-Smith is deliriously in love with her young husband Lennon.
Except,
it turns out that Lennon Smith isn’t his real name. In fact, he’s full of
secrets: a cottage on the southern British coast, an old girlfriend and… an
identical twin brother.
Callum
Jones—not his real name—can’t believe his brother’s widow came to England. He’d
warned Mick—Lennon—that an inheritance could put the girl’s life in danger, and
he was right.
“Mrs.
Smith” is the last thing Callum needs to worry about right now. She’s
beautiful, sure, takes his breath away at times. But when she looks at him, who
does she see?
Gabriele’s
heart is battered and bruised. Can one brother fix what the other left behind?
And will they live long enough to find out?
About The Minstrel Series:
every love story needs a song
The
Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in
the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared
settings and characters, but each is a complete stand-alone story with a
HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!
The books include MP3 links to original music by talented Indie Artists, so you can hear the characters sing!
Books in the Minstrel Series can be read in any order, but are best enjoyed in sequence.
#1 – Sun & Moon (digital versions Free everywhere!)
#2 – Flesh & Bone
#3 – Heart & Soul (July 7th!)
- Peace & Goodwill (Christmas Novella coming fall of 2014)
http://theminstrelseries.blogspot.com
Lee also writes younger YA fantasy as Elle Strauss.
WEBSITE † FACEBOOK † TWITTER † TUMBLR † GOODREADS
Review: A Mile Apart, by Sarah Jae Foster
In A Mile Apart, Sarah Jae Foster offers an inspirational romance about the power of love in a novel that is primarily geared toward Christian readers, but not necessarily of interest exclusively to that audience. It’s a story of second chances and the value of redemption, and it’s a strong historical romance.
Eden Montgomery is a widow who runs the store that serves a Gold Rush era mining camp. She’s depicted as bitter and angry, having lost her husband in a mining accident. Joseph Benton is the miner who becomes an unwilling parent when his son, Christopher, shows up to announce that Joseph’s wife and daughter have died, leaving Christopher in his custody.
Eden and Joseph must overcome the past to develop a future together—and that includes dealing with the issues of greed and avarice surrounding (and in at least one case, invading) the mining community. The upstanding shopkeeper and the less-than-perfect miner do indeed begin the story at least a mile apart from one another in almost every way. The social disparity makes for a nice contrast, and Foster’s attention to emotional repercussions of investing oneself in the hope of riches is particularly interesting, attached as it is in this book to the historical vagaries of the Gold Rush. Those historical details make for a richly complex background to a book that offers an ultimately satisfying romance.
About the Author
At the age of 12, Sarah Jae Foster found a series by Janette Oke, the well-known and beloved Love Comes Softly series. For the next several years, Sarah Jae unintentionally committed herself to reading historical works written by Christian authors. Having consumed everything possible within the inspirational market, Sarah Jae had to move on to other works and has fallen for fiction from all types of authors.
In keeping with a balance, Sarah Jae has a desire to portray a raw brand of inspirational stories. While she believes there is a purpose for guidelines of inspirational works, she also believes in portraying the reality of life, as it is today. Sarah Jae is a Christian, a wife, and a mother, wholeheartedly yet imperfectly, loving God since she was a child. She wants to share stories about characters with faith who mess up big time due to the seductions in society. In doing so, she’s willing to take a risk and be on the cutting edge of writing for the inspirational market, sharing what’s in her heart and in the world today.
