Margo Bond Collins's Blog, page 126
April 17, 2014
Spotlight On: A BABY FOR EASTER by Noelle Adams
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
Noelle will be awarding the following prizes via the Rafflecopter at the end of this post:
* One winner will receive a $25 GC to Amazon or BN
* Two winners will receive signed paperbacks of Married for Christmas and A Baby for Easter
* Ten winners will receive their choice of ebook of any title from Noelle’s backlist.
Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Alice Grantham lost her fiancé and her job, so she’s had to come home to Willow Park to live with her parents. To recover some sense of independence and security, she’s cobbled together different part-time jobs, including one as assistant to the pastor of her hometown church. Nothing seems to be going right for her. Even Micah, the pastor’s brother and the first boy she ever loved, is standoffish with her now.
Micah has always been a prodigal son, but now he’s trying to put that lifestyle behind him. Then a five-month-old daughter he never knew existed is dropped on his doorstep, the result of one of his many one-night stands. He needs help from Alice to care for his daughter, but he can’t let himself hope for anything more from her than that. He can’t help but want it, though…
Enjoy an excerpt:
“Well, how is it supposed to go?” Micah demanded. “Don’t you know how to work a car seat?”
“Why would I know? I’ve never had a baby. You’re the one who’s supposed to be mechanically inclined. Why can’t you figure it out?”
“I sure wouldn’t have designed this ridiculous contraption in a way that’s impossible to hook in the car.”
“Oh, wait,” Alice gasped, remembering something she should have recalled earlier. “I think it’s supposed to face the other way.”
“That can’t be right.” Micah turned the carrier as she’d indicated. He was bending over into the car, and he looked just as hot and frustrated as she felt. “Why would they make the poor babies look at nothing but the back of the seat?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s safer or something. Let’s just try it. Maybe the belt goes through like this.”
Micah fed the belt through the grooves, and the buckle got stuck at one point. “Shit,” he muttered, trying to free the belt. “Shit.” Then he glanced up at her. “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to keep saying sorry,” she replied, slightly snippy. “I’ve heard worse, you know.”
“I know that. But do you really think I should be teaching her bad language this early?”
“She can’t even talk yet.”
“Well, she can hear.”
“Fine,” Alice grumbled, tilting the carrier slightly to make room for Micah’s run of the belt. “Watch your language then.”
He gave her a cool glare, but it changed when Alice was able to snap the seatbelt closed.
They both tested the carrier to make sure it was stable, but they couldn’t get it to move more than an inch, no matter how they tugged on it, so they assumed it would do for the short ride to Micah’s house.
Alice sighed in relief as she finally climbed out of the car and walked around to the driver’s side.
Micah was leaning against the car, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He looked exhausted, defeated somehow.
Despite her annoyance just the moment before, she felt another pull of sympathy. She reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s going to be all right.”
“Is it?” he asked, opening his eyes to meet hers.
“Yeah. We’ll figure this out. We don’t know anything yet.”
“But what if she’s mine? What if her grandparents really doesn’t want her? What if I’m the only parent she has? I can’t even manage to get her strapped into the car.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
Social Media:
Website: http://noelle-adams.com/Home_Page.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoelleAdamsAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoelleAdams3
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6572847.Noelle_Adams
Book Trailer for A Baby for Easter:
http://youtu.be/HkL8asd5StU
A Baby for Easter will be offered at a special release price of $.99 through Easter day! Regularly priced at $2.99.
April 16, 2014
4th Annual Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop!
Welcome to my stop on the 4th Annual Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop!
On this stop, I am giving away a bundle of Easter-themed e-books, specifically romance and mystery novels–my two favorite genres to read and write–but like any good Easter-egg hunt, you won’t know what you’ve gotten until you open up that prize egg! But I promise it will be good . . . :)
So be sure to enter to win, then HOP to the rest of the participating blogs!
But before you go, tell me: what is your favorite thing about Easter? Mine is the appearance of Cadbury Eggs in the grocery stores–I can never resist them! It’s a good thing they only show up once a year!
ENTER TO WIN:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
HOP to the rest of the blogs:
http://www.iamareader.com/2014/03/hoppy-easter-eggstravaganza-giveaway-hop-sign-ups-2.html
This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Read Now Sleep Later–many thanks to them for setting it up!
April 14, 2014
Top 5 Books, a Guest Post by Marie Hall, author of All Hallows Night
All Hallows Night
by Marie Hall
Series: Night Series, #2
Publication Date: March 8, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy
What are your top 5 favorite books in the genre you write, and why do you like them?
Well, I’m going to have to go by series, because I’m a hardcore series reader and I cannot pick and choose. So top 5:
1. The Hunger Games – It took me a while to jump on board with this one because the thought of children killing children didn’t seem like something I’d enjoy at all. And then under great duress I saw the first movie and was stunned by how many layers there are to that story. The books are deep and speak to a type of societal breakdown that I found to be fascinating. Not to mention the love story was so profound, grown from a cancer basically. Two people who may never have otherwise found each other, but forced to work together and eventually fall in love. Wow, I could wax poetic about that series forever.
2. The Mageri Series by Dannika Dark – She took all my favorite tropes. Fated mates, a believable and tough heroine, an awesome alpha male in Logan Cross and combined it all into one amazing world.
3. KMM’s Fever Series – C’mon, KMM anything is good, but two words: Jericho Barrons. How could I not fall in love with that world?
4. Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson Series – Combines amazing storytelling with wondrous magical creatures set in our real world. She has to be one of my favorite Urban Fantasy writers ever.
5. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. There’s really not much more to say about that one, I think we all know why it would be at the top of my list. :)
Synopsis:
Secrets and truths, lies and red herrings… which is which? That’s what Pandora’s trying to figure out. Ever since the death of her best, and probably only friend by her own hands, she’s not sure who to trust anymore. The Priest is dead. The Gray Man is… she’s not even sure what. Luc, well, Luc is Luc.
The Order has sent her deep into the heart of Mexico to investigate a potential zombie uprising. She arrives at the start of the Dia de los Muertos festival—a celebration for the dead and immediately things don’t feel right to her. For one, bodies (the living kind) keep disappearing. They’re not being kidnapped, no, if only things were that simple. Literally there one second, gone the next, she’s not sure what to make of it. On top of that mum’s are floating all over the place. Is that merely symbolism associated with the festival, or is it a clue of something far more sinister?
In this explosive sequel to the USA Today Bestselling, Crimson Night, an old ally returns and a shocking truth is revealed. One that will turn her investigation into The Order’s duplicity on its head and make Pandora question everything she ever thought she knew…
I’d meant to ask around town, see if any of the locals knew of or had heard about any recent or strange deaths, but I was a stranger to them. A gringa (white face), they wouldn’t trust me enough to answer me.
Part of Lust’s glamour was that I could turn myself into the walking embodiment of anybody’s deepest desire, but doing so also required that I had sex recently. A sort of tit for tat kind of arrangement.
But since that night and the possession of my third soul, Lust wasn’t working so well for me anymore. My desire for sex was practically nil. Luc was the first person I’d slept with since waking from my semi-coma, and even that had left me empty and cold.
I knew I should be a lot more worried than I actually was—I dunno, maybe Lust was still in shock after our stint in Hell. Meeting Wrath had done things to Lust, screwed with her head. She was like a whimpering, terrified dog tucking tail and hiding in a corner, and there wasn’t much I could do to bring her out.
So I had to do this sleuthing thing the good old-fashioned way. Being as old as I am, you get a feeling for people. The outer shell might be different, but the inside was always the same. If I wanted to find what I was looking for, I had to go someplace designed to loosen tongues and get men talking. Get a man drunk enough and he’ll tell you anything you want to know.Opening the door to the first dive I found in town, I entered and stood just inside as my eyes slowly adjusted to the dim lighting.
Get book 1, CRIMSON NIGHT Free wherever ebooks are sold.
Marie Hall is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who loves books that make you think, or feel something. Preferably both. And while she’s a total girly girl and loves glitter and rainbows, she’s just as happy when she’s writing about the dark underbelly of society. Well, if things like zombies, and vampires, and werewolves, and mermaids existed. (Although she has it on good authority that mermaids do in fact exist, because the internet told her so.)
She’s married to the love of her life, a sexy beast of a caveman who likes to refer to himself as Big Hunk. She has two awesome kids, lives in Hawaii, loves cooking and occasionally has been known to crochet. She also really loves talking about herself in the third person.
Blog ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Spotlight On: An Element of Time by Bebe Knight (+ Giveaway)
BOOK BLURB
“A vampire and a slayer walk into a bar… Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but for Veronica and Mackenzie, it’s the beginning of the rest of their lives… “
The world has seen its fair share of evil, but Veronica Chase had no idea such monsters truly existed. Werewolves, poltergeists, witches… even vampires. Ignorance was bliss. But her reality was crushed on that horrid day her family was taken away from her. Now, Veronica has devoted her entire life to hunting those very creatures, searching for the werewolf pack that murdered her parents in hopes of finding her abducted sister. Nothing will get in her way of settling the score for the hand she was unjustly dealt. That is until her newest assignment brings her to her knees.
After one hundred and eight years on earth, Mackenzie Jones thought he had seen it all. With the exception of daylight of course, but that’s what comes with the territory being a vampire and all. Perpetually damned to live his life as a bartender in the shadows of the night, nothing has sparked his interest lately. Just once he wished something exciting would happen in his mundane life. Little did he know, his wish was about to come true. Walking through the door to his bar, and into his heart, Mackenzie allows love to take the wheel for the first time. There’s just one slight problem. She’s there to kill him.
BOOK EXCERPT
The delectable scent of meat searing on the grill hit his senses as he made his way into the kitchen. Daniela was making his favorite meal; filet mignon. Mackenzie hadn’t realized how long he’d gone without food until now; his stomach growled in response to the sizzling steak, ready to eat it raw if he had to. Daniela turned off the blender and poured the concoction into some glasses.
“I thought this might cheer you up,” Daniela said, handing a glass to Mackenzie. “Drink up!” Her attention went back to the blender as she sang, “You put the lime in the coconut, and drink them both up.”
Daniela had a way of making all the troubles in the world just disappear, even if it was as simple as making his favorite meal or whipping up a tasty drink. Mackenzie sat at the head of the table and gulped down the contents in his cup. But for some reason, it didn’t work this time. He was still as depressed as he was before. Maybe even more so.
Smacking the glass down on the table a little harder than he intended, the crystal chimed delicately in response. One drop of blood from the Type O cocktail escaped the lip of the glass and started to slowly slide its way down to the base. Mackenzie stared at the liquid ruby and couldn’t help but image it being the warm blood of a lover, descending down her neck after a fresh bite. His fangs released in response. How he longed to hold a woman with soft, beautiful skin in his arms. Maybe Daniela was right, maybe he did need a companion. Instead, the opaque crystal goblet sat lifelessly in his palm. He picked up the glass and slowly licked the droplet in one upward flick of the tongue. The action, as harmless as it was, opened a flood gate of instincts Mackenzie had to try to repress; he had to push back into the coffin where he stashed them years ago.
“You okay?” Daniela asked, sitting down next to him. “You look a little pale, like you’re going to be sick.”
“Of course I’m pale. I’m a vampire.” Mackenzie smiled, showing off his protracted fangs. Daniela chuckled in response and went back to finishing the meal.
Lucky for him, she bought his lame excuse when in actuality he was scared. Scared that his vampire nature would spring to life and drown him in blood lust for all the years he suppressed the urge. He barely knew what it was like to be a vampire, but his instincts were rushing back to him. Now, after visualizing that tantalizing temptation, he had to try not to be one again.
Shit, Mackenzie thought.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bebe Knight is the author of the paranormal romance series, The Eternal Flame Books. She lives in Upstate NY with her husband and son. Writing has always been a part of her life whether it be books, plays, or handwritten letters to friends and family. It’s a dream come true for her to be able to share her stories with others.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR
http://www.bebeknight.com
(Blog) http://www.readinguntilifallasleep.com
https://www.facebook.com/BebeKnightAuthor
http://www.goodreads.com/Bebe_Knight
http://www.twitter.com/Bebe_Knight
http://www.cafepress.com/theeternalflameseries
BUY LINK: http://amzn.com/B00HQNKNNS
Rainy Day Reads Blog Hop
Welcome to the Rainy Day Reads Blog Hop!
One of the things that I missed most when I lived away from my native Texas were the huge, crashing thunderstorms that we got every spring. Now that I’m back home, I love listening to the rain patter on the roof (or sometimes pound away at the roof) when I’m curled up inside with a good book and there’s a storm outside.
Recently on this blog, I’ve been giving away a lot of romance books–it’s the genre I’ve been reading and writing in the most this spring–so I decided to change it up a bit.
For this hop, I’m going to give away one of my favorite books in your favorite genre. There’s hardly a genre I haven’t read (and loved) something in, and I want to share those favorite books.
So before you leave, tell me in the comments: What is your favorite genre to read on a rainy day?
Next, enter to win in the Rafflecopter giveaway
Then HOP to the rest of the posts for more great giveaways!
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Spotlight On: Destruction by Sharon Bayliss
Introducing a new dark wizard family drama, Destruction by Sharon Bayliss, Book One in The December People Series.
BUY NOW
THE BOOK SPOT
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BOOK PEOPLE
A locally owned book store in Austin, Texas.
AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE
David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn’t a choice.
Eleven years ago, David’s secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without.
Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David’s wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.
Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.
The Author
Sharon Bayliss is the author of The December People Series and The Charge. When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and playing in the mud (which she calls gardening). She only practices magic in emergencies.
www.sharonbayliss.com - @SharonBayliss - https://www.facebook.com/authorsharonbayliss
April 13, 2014
Love Tea? Check out my Steeped Tea party! :)
Hi, all!
Okay. This isn’t exactly a writing-related post–except for the fact that pretty much all my writing is fueled by tea.
I’m hosting an online party for my friend LeeAnn, who has recently become a consultant for Steeped Tea. LeeAnn is offering some prizes, and I’m giving away at least one beautiful porcelain teacup and saucer set to someone who places an order. (The picture below is one possible prize–there may be several!)
You can participate in the Facebook party here to learn more about the products and how to brew the best possible cuppa: https://www.facebook.com/events/1447390105498246/
Or, if you simply want to place an order, you can do so here: http://www.mysteepedteaparty.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E2602&from=DIRECTLINK
If you order, be sure to enter to win the cup and saucer: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDc2NDEyMTFiMWVhMDg4MzE4NzZlNDdkNjZhMTgxOjMz/
April 12, 2014
Interview with A.R. Von, Author of Lady’s Destiny
About AR Von
A.R.
was born and raised in Bronx, NY and is the oldest daughter of two girls. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science and Information Technology, which was only briefly used. She’s a mother of two entertaining teen boys (as well as a lovely fawn Chihuahua, whom she considers her furry daughter.) She’s also a wife to a delightfully handsome and amazingly funny man-beast. She loves anything dragon and fantasy related. In her free time she enjoys exercising, writing, listening to music, hiking, cooking, dancing and reading. She also loves a great adventure in and out of a book!
She writes to free her mind of its constant wondering and clutter. She thrives
on the fact she can share some of it with readers that have the same passion for
a great story.
She also loves to hear from her reader’s and chat away, so feel free to reach
out to her any time.
Links
Website:
http://ar-von.com
https://www.facebook.com/ARVon2
https://twitter.com/ARVonDreamZ
http://www.amazon.com/A.R.-Von/e/B00B...
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Lady's Destiny (Destiny Series)
Spotlight On: The Angelmen Series by TC Slonaker
The Angelmen Series
The Angelmen Series chronicles, the discovery of four leaders of the long forgotten race of the Nephilim who have just been identified by the enemy. Satan wants to activate his army of old to boost his chances in the final battle against all that is God. God is determined to rescue his people, who, although originally propagated by the meeting of demons and women, became more human than angelic other than a few latent powers activated in the presence of one another. God will not save them without the obedience of a sacrifice. Will the leaders work together to save their race from Satan’s regime? Who will be the sacrifice?
Excerpt from Amity of the Angelmen
“The man turned his attention from the worried teacher. “Now, Amity, why are you here? Are you just going to confirm the story?”
She tried to speak, but her voice had dried up.
Mrs. Jones was quick to jump in. “Amity got a good look at the man. I thought if she were able to describe him for you, you could have security look around for him.”
“We don’t have security staff here, Mrs. Jones.” His answer raised the concern of both females in the room, so he quickly added, “But perhaps that falls in the job description of the vice principal. I’ll have Mr. Harris come in to listen to Amity’s description and search the grounds for us. Would that be suitable?”
Both Mrs. Jones and Amity let out a deep breath, the teacher’s a little more relieved than the student’s. Amity somehow knew the man wouldn’t be found.
Amity was waiting…and waiting. And getting nervous. She was good at doing both those things, as often as she did them. She was almost always punctual to a fault. As soon as the final bell rang, she picked up what she needed from her locker and hurried to meet Mallory and any of her other friends at the front doors.
Mallory wasn’t punctual, to her fault, which drove Amity crazy, but she reminded herself it wasn’t the worst quality a best friend could have. Mallory had to put up with plenty in Amity, she was sure. Amity’s nerves only increased as she watched the number of students in the hall decrease, making her more visible to any stranger who might be seeking her. And Mallory was nowhere to be seen.
She didn’t like the idea of walking home alone; she rarely did it. Another great thing about Mallory was she lived only a block away from Amity, so the two almost always walked together. Amity guessed she shouldn’t have asked her to round up some others to join them. Who knew where that took her so-easily-distracted friend?”
Amity of the Angelmen: T.C. Slonaker: 9781937273859: Amazon.com: Books
About the Author ~ TC Slonaker
After finishing a career as a teacher to stay at home raising children, T.C. Slonaker found herself with many hours of to fill with thoughts and books. She began filling those hours by running outside on the trail with books on her iPod. After completing the Chronicles of Narnia books, she was determined to also give light to God’s story through allegorical writing about curious creatures. The idea came to her to start a series about the Nephilim to show a story of God’s redemption.
http://www.amazon.com/T.C.-Slonaker/e/B00AX8Q7AQ/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6883683.T_C_Slonaker
Spotlight On: Synchrony
Synchrony (Destiny #2)
by Cindy Ray Hale
Release Date: 2014
Summary from Goodreads:
When her parents discover she’s been sneaking out with Isaac Robinson the forbidden Baptist boy, Mormon girl Destiny Clark decides it’s time to keep their relationship quiet. As their relationship moves to shakier ground, Destiny discovers that Isaac has a terrible secret, and she is left completely shattered.
The moment Destiny feels all hope is lost, Preston Nelson, her longtime church friend and Isaac’s bitter rival, arrives like a beacon of light. It isn’t long before two separate disasters strike for Preston and Destiny’s best friend, Hannah. As Destiny helps them through their issues, she discovers that sometimes the best way to forget about your own problems is to help a friend in need.
Just as her heart begins to mend and her friendship with Preston begins to heat up, Isaac walks back into her life, threatening to rekindle the feelings she’d hoped to bury forever. Will Destiny and Preston find the synchrony they so desperately need, or will she find a way to forgive Isaac and return to his outstretched arms?
_____________
Excerpt
My scattered emotions continuously wove themselves around each other chaotically, growing from a few errant threads of thought into a tangled mess, snagging tighter and tighter until I was ready to explode.
I began wailing, and Preston grabbed me by the shoulders, pulled me back, and said, “Destiny, stop.” But I couldn’t. The tears kept coming. Living without Isaac was like being held underwater and being told to breathe. I would take water into my lungs, and it would burn. And eventually, everything would grow dimmer until it became black.
Preston shook my shoulders, jarring me from my despair. “Look at me, Destiny.” I cracked open my eyes and peered into his trustworthy green ones. They were so full of concern. “He’s not worth your tears. Do you hear me?”
I stared back at him. Not worth my tears? Did he have any clue what Isaac really meant to me?
“Don’t let him hurt you worse than he already has. It’s going to be hard for a long time, but you’re going to survive this.”
“How can you possibly know that?” What did he know about getting his heart ripped out? He’d never even had a girlfriend.
A corner of Preston’s mouth quirked up. “Because the Destiny Clark I know is a fighter.”
_____________
About the Author
Author Links:
***GIVEAWAY***
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