Twinkle (Sugandha) Varshney's Blog, page 408

Just Series By Riley J. Ford

   Title: Just Us Author: Riley J. Ford Genre: New Adult Romance Publication Date: July 6, 2014 Cover by Sarah Hansen Okay Creations Organized by Literati Author Services ~ Synopis ~Before I ever fell in love with Bryce, there was Hayden. Hayden was my first love, the kind of love that takes your breath away and you remember forever. My love story with Bryce came later. Much later, after everything had happened.Avery Hill and Hayden Stuart are high school sweethearts and each other's first true love. When Hayden is accepted to college in Los Angeles, Avery intends to follow him so they can build a life together. After a tragic chain of events ruins their plans forever, Avery is left to pick up the pieces. Will she survive all that was lost? And will she forgive the man who destroyed her and Hayden's dreams forever?   Buy the Book Click to Buy on Amazon Click to Buy Click to Buy
     Title: Just You Author: Riley J. Ford Genre: New Adult Romance Publish Date: July 6, 2014 Cover by Sarah Hansen Okay Creations ~ Synopsis ~Before I ever fell in love with Bryce, there was Hayden. Hayden was my first love, the kind of love that takes your breath away and you remember forever. My love story with Bryce came later. Much later, after everything had happened. Bryce Humphrey has never forgiven himself for his actions five years ago. Nor can he forget the two lives he ruined, or the girl he secretly loved. When he runs into Avery, the person who has haunted his dreams since that fateful night, his life is sent into a tailspin. As he gets to know her again after all these years, he realizes she has never gotten over the past. Will their shared pain bring them closer? And will they forge a new beginning built on healing, forgiveness, and love?
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About the AuthorRiley J. Ford is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She graduated UCLA graduate with a degree in English and taught at both the high school and college levels for a number of years before turning to writing full-time. Her non-fiction books are used in college classrooms around the country, and her essays have been featured on such websites as MSNBC.com. She is the author of seven fiction books, INTO YOU, a new adult mystery, CARPE DiEMILY, a romantic comedy caper, FIFTY SHADES OF FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, a satire, CIRCUS OF LOST SOULS, a thriller, SIMONE: ADVENTURES IN DATING, a romantic comedy series, JUST US, a contemporary romance, and JUST YOU, a new adult romance. When on vacation, she enjoys running with the bulls in Pamplona and downhill skiing. Connect with the AuthorFacebook | Twitter | Website GiveawayEntry-Form

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Beauty and the Brit by Lizbeth Selvig

Title: Beauty and the Brit
Author: Lizbeth SelvigGenre: Contemporary RomancePublish Date: September 2, 2014Publisher: Avon Impulse an imprint of HarperCollins SynopsisTough and self-reliant Rio Montoya has looked after her two siblings for most of their lives. But when a gang leader makes threats against her sister Bonnie, even Rio isn't prepared for the storm that could destroy her family. When their dreams are shattered in one dangerous moment, Rio seeks refuge for them all at a peaceful horse farm in the small town of Kennison Falls, Minnesota.Rio should feel safe in Kennison Falls, but her budding romance with the stable's owner, handsome British ex-pat David Pitts-Matherson, feels as dangerous as her past. The incredibly sexy David is as far from her type as any man could get, yet he tempts Rio in a way she never expected. But Rio knows that her time in Kennison Falls is limited, that her family is still in danger, and that she and David come from completely different worlds–a recipe for disaster.David has his own secrets, and even the sparks he feels flying with the fiery and beautiful Rio may not be enough for him to let her into his heart. Can the beauty and the Brit ever find common ground? Or will their pasts stand in the way of true love?
Click to add to Goodreads Buy the Book Click to buy at Amazon Click to Buy Click to Buy About the Author Lizbeth Selvig lives in Minnesota with her cradle-robbing husband and a border collie that inspired the character Dug (”Squirrel!”) in the Disney movie Up.After working as a journalist and editor and raising an equine veterinarian daughter and a talented musician son, Liz entered and won RWA’s Golden Heart® contest in 2010 with her contemporary romance T he Rancher and the Rock Star. In her spare time, she loves to hike, quilt, read, horseback ride, and play with her nearly twenty four-legged grandchildren.   Connect with the AuthorFacebook | Twitter | Website

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One Last Kiss (Affair Without End #1) by Susan Ward

           Linda is on a mission to find her father. Her journey to locate the gifted musician who abandoned her before she was born takes her through the steamy and drug fueled world of the LA music scene where she is rapidly climbing the ranks as a prime groupie sought after by the brilliant and talented men of rock music. Jackson Parker is a living music legend from the ‘60s. But hard living, the death of his wife, private tragedies, and a personal life in shambles sends him on a downward spiral into despair. On a lonely night on a Santa Barbara beach the last thing either expects is to find the one person they absolutely need to make their lives complete. Will Linda’s chance meeting with a drunken Jackson change both their lives forever? Together these two broken and desperate souls collide in a passionate affair that is impossible for either of them resist. Together they each find the solace they need: a man searching for peace and a girl searching for closure. One thing is certain, their chance meeting has kicked off an affair without end… * AMAZON *            I'm addicted to writing. I've written 26 romance novels in 25 years, but I just started releasing them in May 2014 because frankly there are some things inside them I wasn't sure I wanted my daughters to read. The nest is empty, my girls all grown, so now I'm letting loose. I believe in the adage; Don't judge a book by it's cover! Definitely the case with The Girl on the Half Shell. Perfect looking lives are not perfect. We all have our own challenges to overcome! It's a theme in the books I've written and I cover a wide range of contemporary issues in stories ranging from raw and steamy, to gut wrenching, to happy happily ever after. My first release The Girl on the Half Shell is my most intense novel, the first in the Half Shell Series and the one I had to wait until I had no kids at home to release. My Perfect Forever Series is definitely happy happily ever after! The first in this line of books was released June 2014 with The Signature. My soon to be released first novella of the Encounters books, are short, steamy, and fun reads. And in September I'm starting to release my first in The Deverell Series with When the Perfect Comes, a fast paced, plot twisting historical! I've been in love with the Romance novel since I read my first Kathleen Woodiwiss book, and it seems to me that beyond a steamy fun read, a good romance novel is so much more: it's women empowering women. We share. We learn. So about me? I'm as eclectic as my books. A mom. A business owner. A writer of romance. An advocate for clean air and the environment. A wife and an animal lover. The best way to explain me is that once in a talent contest I played classical piano followed by a chopsticks duet with my toes. That pretty much sums up how I've lived my life! For future releases and other books www.susanwardbooks.com Drop me an email. I love to hear from readers.   * AMAZON AUTHOR * GOODREADS * TWITTER * FACEBOOK * WEBSITE *

The Manhattan Puzzle By Laurence O'Bryan

 Title: The Manhattan Puzzle Author: Laurence O'Bryan Genre: Thriller Publish Date: August 26, 2014 Publisher: HarperCollins ISBN: 9781847562906 SynopsisAn international cover-up that could change the course of history…
Sean has been tracking a symbol from another age. It provides a clue to a barbaric conspiracy. A puzzle with an answer feared for millenia.
When Isabel wakes to find Sean hasn't come home she doesn't worry. At first. But when the police turn up on her doorstep wanting to interview him, she has to make a decision.
Does she keep faith in him or does she believe the evidence?The symbol Sean and Isabel have been chasing will finally be revealed in Manhattan as one of the greatest banks in the world totters. Can Isobel uncover the truth before time runs out…or will she too be murdered?
A thrilling, high-octane race to save civilisation that will engross fans of Dan Brown, David Baldacci and James Patterson. Buy on Amazon
     The Manhattan Puzzle Excerpt  1‘Go for it. The rougher the better, girl.’ The man had a black silk blindfold tied around his head. He spoke slowly, his voice thick with desire. Xena went to the door and unlocked it. ‘What’s that? Getting your toys out? Wow, this is even better than you promised.’ Lord Bidoner walked into the panic room. He closed the door behind him and pressed the button to turn on the air management system. The scrubber in the roof could remove the smoke from a blazing fire and turn the output into a vapour trail. The man, spread-eagled and handcuffed to the stainless steel bed frame, had an expectant smile on his face. ‘Go on, do it,’ he said. The navy Calvin Klein silk suit hanging from the stool beside the bed gave an indication of who he was. Lord Bidoner examined the man’s wallet. His bank ID card, a credit-card-sized piece of aluminium with an embedded proximity chip and his family name, Hare, embossed on it, confirmed what they already knew. The head of global security at BXH, one of the world’s few truly global banks, was lying face-up and naked in front of him. ‘Don’t keep me waiting, girl.’ ‘I won’t,’ purred Xena. She stroked his leg, then his inner thigh. He quivered in anticipation. The man’s wife would surely appreciate photographs of this event, but Lord Bidoner had more pressing concerns. He nodded at Xena. She was dressed in a low-cut skin-tight black catsuit that fitted her thin frame perfectly. The man laid out in front of them was expecting something memorable from the woman he’d met in the champagne bar opposite Grand Central, two weeks before. Xena’s story, about being an Ethiopian diplomat’s daughter, and her eager smile, had captivated him. She ran her finger down the man’s stomach. It trembled under her touch. ‘Don’t stop, honey. Don’t stop.’ With her other hand Xena clicked on the silver Turboflame blowtorch, the most expensive model in the world with its 1500C flame. She held the gently hissing blue, inch-long flame up and watched it glow brighter as her fingers moved slowly down his stomach. ‘What’s that?’ he said. She didn’t reply. Hare’s voice was still confident when he spoke. ‘Was that your sister who just came in? Is she gonna join us?’ ‘We have a surprise for you,’ said Xena. The man pulled on the handcuffs, which began to cut into his skin. It had taken a bit of persuasion, since this was their third meeting, for Xena to get him to go this far, but he trusted her now. And he’d made it clear that he wasn’t going to put up with any crap. He’d break the bed if she didn’t release him when he gave the password. She’d smiled, hugged him and agreed. They’d even laughed about making a written contract. ‘What’s the surprise?’ He shook the bed, testing its resilience and the strength of the handcuffs. He’d assumed they were easily breakable toys, like a previous pair she’d shown him. But he was wrong. And he didn’t know that the bed was bolted to the reinforced slab of the panic room floor, either. Though he might have guessed that there was something wrong when it refused to move under him. ‘Just a friend of mine. We have a little question for you,’ said Xena. ‘Yeah?’ He was still curious, still expectant of further delights. ‘What is the password for the security system at BXH?’ The man didn’t reply verbally. He shook the bed from side to side, trying to break free. He didn’t know that his only hope was if his thrashing managed to separate his hands from his wrists, and his feet from his ankles. And very few people have strength enough to do that. Xena waved the blue flame, raised it, as if offering it up. It flickered higher. The odour of the burning butane gas filled the room like bad perfume. The sound of the blow torch was a threatening hissing now. Xena placed the tip of the flame against the top edge of the whiskey tumbler the man had been drinking from. The glass turned blue. ‘Wait until you feel this. Then you will tell me,’ said Xena. Her tone had changed. It was demanding now. ‘What? Fu . . .’ The end of that confident word was bitten off by the piercing scream that came from deep within his throat. Xena had touched the flame against the pale skin of his shoulder. He began thrashing. Like a fish flailing. He moved from side to side, squirming away from the skin-blistering heat. But he couldn’t move fast enough. And his legs and arms were stretched out tight. Easy targets. The smell in the room changed and the atmosphere with it. Pain and whimpering, sizzling and guttural roars filled the air. The man had become a dog. Then Xena asked him again. ‘The password, please.’ She spoke softly, as if they were still playing a game. ‘If you give it up, I will release you. You can explain these little burns to your wife. But the ones I will inflict next will require hospital treatment. Or the services of a morgue.’ She clicked the flame off, then pressed the hot tip hard and fast into the biggest blister she had inflicted, near his ankle. ‘What do you say, Mr Hare?’ The man answered with a defiant, animal roar. He shook the bed under him. The last vestige of his pride in working at BXH bellowed out of him. Xena lit the flame again. She reached forward, touched it to his chest, and ran it fast down the middle until smoke from his burning body hair filled the room with a sickly odour. ‘Stop, stop!’ he screamed. His body squirmed to escape the heat. ‘It’s #89*99,’ he shouted. ‘Please! Stop!’ Bidoner keyed the password into his phone and pressed send. ‘I hope you’re not lying,’ said Xena. ‘I want all this to have a happy ending.’ She squeezed his thigh with her hand, then stroked it. Tears streamed from under his blindfold. His cheeks were red. It was good he couldn’t see the weals on his body, because he would know immediately that he wouldn’t be able to explain any of them to his wife. ‘Please, let me go. I promise not to tell anyone. I swear, on my children’s lives.’ Lord Bidoner’s mobile beeped as an incoming message came in. He nodded at Xena. The code had worked. ‘I believe you,’ she said. ‘But there is one more thing I must do for you.’ She put the Turboflame down and went to the fridge. She took out a six-inch-long serrated knife, honed with care to a perfect blade, from the freezer section. She held it in the air, admiring its cold edge. ‘Now you will find release,’ she said. The man’s body went still. His toes, which had scrunched up, half straightened. The only sound was his pain-filled whimpering. The panic room in the apartment on Fifth Avenue, overlooking the skyscrapers of Manhattan, was soundproof. It was why they used the room. Xena flicked the blade across the man’s pale skin, once, then twice, fascinated by how quickly blood gushed, how fast it flowed from a few simple cuts. ‘This is for my brothers,’ she said. ‘Don’t,’ he whimpered. Fear trembled in his voice. ‘I have two children, a wife.’ She growled, psyching herself up. ‘Prima quattuor invocare unum,’ she said, as she grabbed him, jerking him upwards and castrating him with one swinging motion. She held the bloody remains up in the air. His screams of terror and pain vibrated through the room as blood spurted two feet high. A foul smell followed and the man’s words became a babbling. Lord Bidoner held his nose. He’d seen enough. He went out to the main room of the apartment, with its view towards the glittering Jazz-era spire of the Empire State Building. ‘You did good, my dear. The first offering has been done correctly,’ he said, when Xena joined him. She was panting. ‘Come here.’ He pushed her up against the inch-thick glass of the window, as Manhattan glittered behind them. Afterwards, he handed her a balloon glass containing a large shot of Asbach 21. She sipped the brandy, then downed it in one gulp. Then she lay down on the sleek oak coffee table that dominated the room. The canyon of lights stretching into the velvet Manhattan night reflected all the way along the length of the table and onto her ebony skin. He reached down and stroked her shoulder. It was trembling. ‘Three more before the moon rises again. That is what the book says. That is what we will do.’ She smiled up at him. Her white teeth shone as she leaned her head back and stretched.   Video Trailer About the Author Laurence was born in Dublin. He studied business, then IT at Oxford University.After going to England he paid for his own courses and began rising at 4AM so he could study and work at the same time. One early job was as a kitchen porter near the Bank of England cleaning the plates of the well connected. Laurence was first published by a school newspaper when he was ten, for a short story about aliens getting lost. Thirty-five years later, he attended an authonomy workshop and not long after was offered a publishing contract for three books. The Manhattan Puzzle is his third novel.   Connect with the AuthorFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Website GiveawayEntry-Form Follow the Tour

Justice Falling, Falling Series Book 3 By Audrey Carlan

Title: Justice Falling, Falling Series Book 3Author: Audrey CarlanGenre: Adult Contemporary Romance (Erotic)



Sweet and naïve in the ways of the world, Camille “Cami” Johnston has done whatever it takes to survive in New York City. Unbroken by her tumultuous past, she is pursuing a stable and secure future that doesn’t include worrying about where the rent money will come from. Little does she know, a full-time position at Jensen Construction will do more than pay the bills, it will bring her everything she ever dreamed of having, but didn’t believe she was worthy of.
Known ladies’ man, Nathaniel “Nate” Walker, has never had a problem securing a date. As a widely successful lawyer and business owner, he knows exactly how to get what he wants, when he wants it, in and out of the courtroom… until he meets Camille Johnston.
Nate’s overly confident, alpha male tendencies toward Cami have her thoughts and emotions in a jumble of uncertainty and lust. But once the sparks fly between the cheeky lawyer and his precious Camille, the resounding flames are unstoppable.
As the couple try to find their way toward a future they both yearn for, secrets from Camille’s past and present start piling up into a vortex of half-truths and lies of omission. Now the instant connection that brought Nate and Cami together is held together by a tenuous thread.
With a little help from their friends, Camille and Nate’s steamy, romantic, breathless journey finishes off the third installment of The Falling Series.
Each book in the Falling Series can be read as a standalone but are better when read together. All three books are intended for readers 18+ due to language and graphic sexual content.
Reading Order:
Angel Falling – Book 1 London Falling – Book 2 Justice Falling – Book 3













Audrey Carlan is a professional fundraiser for an international healthcare related charity by day, and a sensual and erotic contemporary romance writer by night. She lives in the sunny California Valley two hours away from the city, the beach, the mountains and the precious…the vineyards. She has been married to the love of her life for 10 years and has two young children that live up to their title of “Monster Madness” on daily basis. When she’s not raising money, sipping wine with her “soul sisters”, three incredibly different and unique voices in her life, she can be found with her nose stuck in book or her Kindle. A hot, smutty, romantic book to be exact!
In life she believes that all things have their purpose even if we are unable to determine the purpose immediately.
Connect with Audrey Carlan:
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.com/e/B00JAVVG8UFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/audrey.carlan.1Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7831156.Audrey_CarlanEmail address: carlan.audrey@gmail.com
Website: www.audreycarlan.com



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A special thank you to the following blogs and reviewers who have made this tour possible.

August 25
Trina's Tantilising Tidbits   |  Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog   |  Drue's Random Chatter   |  K&S Book Blog   |  Naughty Smutty Book Blog   |  Alicia Fortuin   |  Heather White   |  Karen Roma   |  Tome Tender   |  All Things Romance   |  Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog   |  Trina's Tantilising Tidbits   |  Here Is Some Of What I Read   |  Reading Is My Superpower   |  Storm Chase Romance   |  Drue's Random Chatter   |  Sue Cover Reveals & Book Promotions   |  Love Bites And Silk   |  A Wanton Book Lover   |  Rock Out With Your Book Out

August 26
Sbm Book Obsession   |  Pinky's Favorite Reads   |  Jen's Reading Obsession   |  We Stole Your Book Boyfriend   |  A One-Click Addict's Book Blog   |  Book Bangers Blog   |  Jennifer's Book Obsession   |  Confessions Of A Book Whore   |  Beautifully Broken Book Blog

August 27
Sizzling Hot Books   |  Bibliophile Reviews   |  Crystal's Sweet Reads And Reviews   |  Cruising Susan Book Reviews   |  Yoloforaliving   |  Ramblings Of A Book Lunatic   |  Evocative Book Reviews   |  Traci Hayden   |  A Good Book Can Change Your View For Life   |  Mixed Emotions Book Blog

August 28
Cheekypee Reads And Reviews   |  Underover Book Reviews   |  Amanda's Blog!   |  Sportochick's Musing   |  A Book Addict's Delight   |  Kirstie's Passionate About Reading   |  Hooked On Books Forever   |  Amazeballs Book Addicts   |  The Pleasure Of Reading Today   |  Book Pimpers   |  Deal Sharing Aunt   |  Books And Bindings   |  Naughty Book Eden   |  Book Nook Nuts   |  Breaking That Kindle Budget Book Blog

August 29

Cover To Cover Book Blog   |  Books And Friendz   |  Suspending Reality   |  Iheart Books By Milo18   |  Sexyways Of Reading   |  Elaine And Tami's Jb3 Blackbirds   |  Ms. Me28   |  Page By Page Inside-Out Reviews & Promotion   |  Tsukime Reads And Reviews   |  Romance Of Daydreams   |  Shannon Hopkins  |  Headtripping Books   |  Babbling Chatter Reads   |  Dowie's Place   |  Sweet And Spicy Books   |  Books Are Love   |  Lisa Zeigler   |  The Book Nuts   |  Smut And Bonbons   |  Jackie's Book Reviews   |  Twin Opinions   |  Short And Sassy Book Blurbs

A Beautiful Thought By Alicia Rae

    Title: A Beautiful Thought   Author: Alicia Rae   Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance   Publish Date: July 14th 2014   Cover Design: Okay Creation Sarah Hansen
~Synopsis~  As a physical sports therapist, Gail Bennett is accustomed to working with gorgeous athletes every day, but after falling for a few of these attractive men, she has been left heartbroken one too many times. When Gail’s hours at work are unexpectedly cut, she must find a way to continue helping her parents pay for her sister’s education. Reluctantly following her best friend’s advice, Gail takes on a roommate with the one man she has been avoiding since the first time she laid eyes on him. Damon Johnson loves a challenge, and he is not the type of man to back down when he wants something. From the first moment he meets Gail for dinner, he feels an inexplicable pull between the two of them. In his determination to have her, he finds himself helping her in any way he can. Can Damon break through all the barriers Gail has so carefully placed around her heart and prove that he’s different? Or will Gail’s reservations keep her from falling in love? One thought could change everything.GoodreadsPurchase Links                About the Author Alicia Rae is a Contemporary Romance Author who lives in Dekalb, Illinois, with her husband and three beautiful boys. Alicia has a passion for reading all types of romance, writing to bring a story to life, and photography. Thank you to my dear sister, Kels, who showed me a few years ago how much I truly missed reading. And to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing into my mind. I am forever grateful. Xo Readers, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you. Believe in yourself and follow your dreams...
Connect with the Author: Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads | Pinterest~ Giveaway ~  Readers - Kindle Paperwhite Signed paperback of A Beautiful Thought Entry-Form   

Chained To You, Chained Series Book 2 By SK Fordham

Title:  Chained To You, Chained Series Book 2
Author:  SK Fordham
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Release Date:  July 31, 2014
Hosted by:  Drue's Random Chatter








Stella Howard is chained, chained to her past and chained by her present. Dean quests to save Stella, to show her that he loves her and wants to be in her life. But Deans’ own past catches up to him and threatens to destroy all that he now cares about before he has the chance to love freely.

 Will others cruel intentions stop love from growing? Or will love conquer?

















SK Fordham is a wife, mother and nurse. SK grew up in an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne Australia.

SK loves handbags, chocolate, dancing and all forms of hot drinks.SK would love to hear from her fans.
Connect with SK Fordham:
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.com/e/B00JHW6OCAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sk.fordham.7Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/SK_Fordham







Amazon  *  Smashwords  *  B&N  *  Kobo



Amazon  *  Smashwords  *  B&N  *  Kobo





August 18
Bibliophile reviews  *  Drue & Sassy's Reviews  *  Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog  *  Here is some of what I read  *  Naughty Girls of Romance  *  Once Upon a Crush  *  Pinky's Favorite Reads  *  Smile Somebody Loves You  *  Storm Chase Romance  *  The Review Crew  *  Trina's Tantilising Tidbits August 19
A Book Addict's Delight   *  Author Sandra Love  *  Book Nook Nuts  *  Book Worms United  *  Crystal's Sweet Reads and Reviews  *  Dreamer talks books  *  Evocative book reviews  *  Jen's Reading Obsession  *  Jennifer's Book Obsession  *  Love Bites and Silk  *  Rock out With Your Book Out  *  Sue Cover Reveals & Book Promotions  *  This Girl Loves Books  *  Traci Hayden  *  Two Sassy Chicks

August 20 A One-click Addict's Book Blog   *  Beautifully Broken Book Blog  *  Confessions of a Book Whore  *  Cruising Susan Book Reviews  *  Deal Sharing Aunt  *  iHeart Books by MiLo18  *  Page By Page Inside-Out Reviews & Promotion  *  Room With Books  *  Sassy Southern Book Affair  *  SBM Book Obsession  *  The Book Fairy Reviews  *  The Pleasure of Reading Today  *  YOLOFORALIVING

August 21
Amanda's Blog!   *  BabyCakes Book Blog  *  Book Pimpers   *  Breaking that Kindle Budget Book Blog  *  Cajun Book Lover  *  Cheekypee reads and reviews  *  For The Love Of Books  *  Ramblings From Beneath the Sheets  *  Reading Is My Superpower  *  Smut and Bonbons  *  Sweet and Spicy Books  *  Twin Opinions  *  Undercover Book Reviews  *  We Stole Your Book Boyfriend  *  Words Turn Me On

August 22
A Closet Full Of Books   *  A Good Book Can Change Your View For Life  *  Babbling Chatter Reads  *  Cover to Cover Book Blog  *  Crazy Daisy Book Whore  *  Garside's Book Bets  *  HeadTripping Books  *  Hooked On Books Forever  *  K&S Book Blog  *  Lisa Zeigler  *  Mean Girls Luv Books  *  Short and Sassy Book Blurbs  *  Sizzling Hot Books  *  Summer's Book Blog  *  The Chronic Romantic  *  The Truth About Fiction Book Blog  *  Tsukime Reads and Reviews  *  Two Chicks and Their Lit

An Interview with DL ATHA Author of Blood Reaction & For The Sake Of Revenge

Today I am posting An Interview with DL ATHA Author of Blood Reaction & For The Sake Of Revenge.


DL please tell us about yourself in no more than 15 words.I'm a doctor turned writer, mother of three, with some crazy stories in my head.
We are promoting your two books on this blog, can you tell us a little about one of them?Blood Reaction is the story of a single female physician who suffers a supernatural home invasion.  In order to survive, she has to dig deep inside of her self and her medical training to save not only her own life but her only child's as well.  It's a story of the love of a mother for her child as well as betrayal and the budding of romance.
Blood reaction is a vampire novel that has a very strong medical theme, what made you decide on that route?As a physician, I see things first as a scientist and I can certainly see the possibilities of what is "paranormal" now as "science" in the future.  Plus it's easier to write about the familiar.
Blood Reaction is also the first in a series, what can we look forward to next?Annalice, the main character, has to face her new future in the second installment.  She was somehwat judgemental in some ways of Asa, the vampire. She's about to find out that this life is not as easy as she thought.  Plus she meets a hot new vampire!!
One of the things I loved most about your writing is how tightly knit the plot is, you introduce just the right amount of detail at just the right time and your characters used sparingly for a specific purpose and the result to me is an uncluttered novel.....I’d like you tell us a bit about your writing style.With Blood Reaction, I really wanted the reader to feel the isolation of the main character.  To feel as though they were right there in that farmhouse.  I never truly described her physical  appearance so that they reader would picture themselves or someone to whom they could relate.
I know that you not only enjoy writing vampire novels but reading them as well, what is it about this genre that appeals has such appeal for you?The legends of the vampire are deep and have long historical ties.  I find them fascinating on all levels.  I've done extensive research and the more I learn about the legends, the more I want to learn.
What other styles do you write in?I also write some medical non-paranormal thrillers but paranormal is my favorite
How do you deal with writer’s block?When I have writer's block, it is essential that I have time to myself.  Just to think and imagine.  I do a lot of verbal role playing out loud with my characters, which I'm sure sounds strange, but it really helps.
Answer the following:One of my happiest memories is......My happiest moment was my first horse ride.  Such freedom, such liberation!
My singular eccentricity is......I have to leave one swallow in my glass of whatever I'm drinking.  I have no idea why.
I am most productive when......I'm stressed and sleep deprived.
I can’t stand.....Seeing food go to waste.
Writers who have influenced my life and writing are (and why)....
I have always wanted to have the ability to make a character be so memorable that the reader would feel like they actually knew that person.  Margaret Mitchell only wrote one book but after I read it, I would have sworn Scarlett O'Hara had been my next door neighbour.  That is talent!!

About DL Atha:DL Atha, having the good fortune to have been raised in rural western Arkansas, resides there still with her husband and three children where together they enjoy the farm life.
She earned her MD in 1999, and currently enjoys the practice of hospital medicine and wound care which she performs full time in a nearby town.
She is currently working on the sequel to Blood Reaction.For the Sake of Revenge was her first venture into non-medical fiction.
A few of her favorite things are chocolate, anything old but especially old houses, gardening, and horses.
Her least favorite things are getting up early, anything that happens before nine a.m. and constricting clothing.

Get in touch with DL ATHA:
https://twitter.com/DLAtha2http://boo...

Purchase DL ATHA's books:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...

 Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership. They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

Blood Reaction & For The Sake Of Revenge By DL ATHA

I became a doctor because I loved science and wanted to save the world.  Not because I enjoyed dressing up, was good at public speaking or even had nominal social graces.I was the geek girl at the front of the class in elementary school, the charter member of the band club in high school, and as nerdy in college as I was in high school.  I’m sure you’ve seen my type and so can understand how I loathed this yearly night of torture. The other ladies at the table were all in their evening gown regalia. I had been very careful to not wear the same dress by accident or repeat a dress from a few years before. Such an accident could lead to months of embarrassment. My heels were right and reasonably comfortable and I’d even managed to stay upright as I walked in. My hair was still decent after a long day of call and for once, even my make-up fit in with the evening’s format. And to make the night even smoother, I’d as of yet to make a Star trek joke or snort when I laughed. I was feeling optimistic. And that’s when it happened.Dr. Stiff, the cardiologist, (the names have been changed for the sake of privacy) leaned slightly in my direction and said. “Dr. Atha, I’ve been told you dabble in writing.” He smiled politely and waited for my response.
I could feel the corners of my mouth lift at his remark. I smiled nervously and excitedly at the same time. I couldn’t help it. The mere mention of writing makes me giddy! But then I realized the inevitable. I started to sweat. I gripped the stem of my wine glass tightly in my fingers. I became mildly tachycardic. My breathing picked up.
“Yes. I write a little in my free time,” I answered but then I broke eye contact and studied the band. I looked over his head and waved to someone I didn’t even know at the back of the room. They raised their eyebrows and smiled hesitantly but politely waved back. The room was loud and I desperately hoped Dr. Stiff would drop it and not disturb the rest of the conversation going on at our table.  I signaled the waiter for another glass of the bubbly.
“What you do you write about? Do you have a pen name?” He asked as I cursed the innate curiosity of cardiologists around the world.The waiter didn’t come and my glass remained empty. I reached for my husband’s glass. After all, he didn’t need it as bad as I did. The CEO of the hospital was looking at me now and two of the wives were waiting expectantly as well. The nun had leaned forward to listen better. The pit of my stomach dropped to my knees.Avoidance wasn’t possible. I was trapped.I took one more sip of the champagne and cleared my throat. “Vampires,” I say. And then my cheeks flamed and all the air conditioning in the world wouldn’t have lessened the deep red that colored my face.‘Doctors do not write about vampires,’ my mother had told me. ‘This is not a good career decision.’ Her words burned in my ears. I was mentally pleading with the band to play louder. I was beseeching the Good Lord for help. Knock the electricity out! I begged. Let some drunken dancer fall! I prayed internally. Desperately, I glanced towards my husband but his mouth was full of salad and he’s a firm believer in the ‘chew each bite 32 times club.’ I could expect no help from him.
My best friend, another vampire lover and doctor but with far more suave than myself, was seated next to the CEO. He had strategically set by her with the hopes of recruiting her to our group. I glanced desperately her way, mentally wishing her to fake a seizure, but her expression looked more like the proverbial deer in the headlights. I was on my own.“What was that?” Dr. Stiff repeated, his hand to his ear.I leaned forward and whispered it again. “Vampires.”The middle-aged cardiologist raised his eyebrows and shook his head at me. He still hadn’t gotten it. Perhaps he was in denial.“Vampires,” I speak louder this time. “I write vampire novels.”Just my luck, the band ended their riff at that exact moment and my voice broadcasted across our entire section. Dr. Stiff stared at me wordlessly, shocked clear down to his plaid underpants. I could almost see his brain spinning as he wondered if he’d heard me correctly. Looking quizzically at his wife, she nodded in affirmation and turned her back to the table, finding a sudden and new interest in the band but not before I could see the smirk on her face.“Like Twilight?” the neurosurgeon next to me questioned. “My twelve year old daughter loved Twilight. I guess there’s probably a lot of that stuff out there right now.”“Not exactly like Twilight,” I said. “More Stephen King-ish or Anne Rice-ish,” I offered.“Maybe I’ll buy a copy for my daughter. She loves all this vampire stuff,” he answered back obviously not hearing what I was saying.



The entire table froze, their forks and spoons held eerily in midair. The nun’s hand grazed her Crucifix.“Oh. No. Um. My stuff isn’t really appropriate for twelve year olds.” I choked out a little too loudly. The“You mean it’s for adults?” he questioned.Now I really had their attention. Even the next table over was listening in. Everyone including Dr. Stiff’s wife, Ima Stiff, was looking at me incredulously. The band was only a distant buzzing in the background. My head was spinning. My blood pressure was at stroke level and my husband was consuming his salad at a rate of 5 chews per mouthful. His face was crimson with the effort.“Yeah,” I stammered. “I was looking for realism. What I was really trying to do was to convey the sheer terror of meeting a vampire face to face...”“Is there a lot of violence?” the good doctor interrupted.“It’s a horror story, so yeah,” I answered.“And a LOT of sex,” my progressively inebriated friend across the table piped up. The stress had finally gotten to her. I forgave her instantly knowing she was trying to help.The occupants of the table were still staring at me as if I had sprouted black wings from my back and was about to begin levitating when my husband pulled me to my feet and motioned to the dance floor. He just had to dance the cha-cha, he explained to the table. “We love the cha-cha,” he said again as I, red-faced and sweaty, smiled nervously to the table. And then we escaped onto the dance floor and put the entire experience to our backs.
I’d like to say we went back to the table after our awkward dance interpretation ended but I’d be lying. Instead, we cha-cha’ed to the other end of the dance floor and escaped out a side entrance. We didn’t even bother to stop and get my wrap. Instead, I texted my friend to grab it for me.Well okay, I embellished the story a little. We really didn’t cha-cha. It was more like a drunken two step mixed with a waltz that got us out the door but I’m sure you get the picture.That was a year ago and luckily, I still have a job at the ultra-conservative Catholic hospital where I’m employed. The nuns look awry when I pass them in the hospital but otherwise, I’ve suffered only the occasional laughter behind closing doors and the too large smiles when someone mentions my writing career like its really funny joke.
The point, you ask?If you’re a struggling writer (like me) and haven’t, as of yet, managed to land a major publishing deal (like me), you are probably still working. And even more likely, you are working in an environment where being a little different (such as being a writer at all) sticks out like a sore thumb. Write paranormal romance or horror? Odds are you might even be considered strange!And I can nearly promise you that somewhere and at some time, someone is going to bring up your writing when you least expect it.So you’ve got to learn to coexist in the real world and the writing world. This co-existing is very difficult for emerging authors in part because he or she is dependent at first on the local support that they receive from family and friends. Their first sales are usually from people they know and it is those sales that begin to boost you up in the ratings on sites like Amazon and other e-book sites. So how do you maintain some type of professional distance at work and still manage to engage the people you know?
Here are a few pointers from my own experiences:
Get a pen name. 
It really does help and I personally don’t think it’s a cop out. I’m not selling enough books to support myself yet so I still have to work. Most likely you will too. If you have a professional career and you write on taboo subjects, it will help to keep your two worlds separate. Imagine someone being treated for cancer and they Google the doctor’s name only to find links to vampire erotica or horror stories. I think it’s acceptable to want to keep these different parts of your life separate. It doesn’t mean you’re ashamed of your second career or of your writing, only that you respect your current employer enough not to bring any undue criticism onto their business as well.The point of a pen name in today’s world is so that it cannot be traced back to you and in the age of Google that can be very difficult. I’ve relaxed my standards a little these days as I’ve grown accustomed to being connected at work to my writing but if you choose your name correctly, it can be done. Set down at the computer when you’ve chosen a suitable name and Google the name every way you can think of. Google it with the full pen name and then with just the initials. Then try it with the pen name and half of your real name. Type in every combination you can think of and see if you are able to trace it back to yourself.

Don’t ask your co-workers to be your beta readers. 
It puts them in a difficult position. These men and women have to work with you routinely. It’s not their job to tell you that your latest literary work is not up to your usual par.  Even worse, they may tell you the work is good when, in fact, it is not. That is a travesty!  I can promise you it is much better to find out your writing is only so-so before it hits the press than afterwards. Find true beta readers who do not know you and are impartial. In my experience, there are many such readers on a variety of networking sites who would be willing to help you. Start by setting up an author Facebook page and forming a circle of readers who are interested and willing to help.
Find some friends apart from your work environment who can appreciate your outside interests. As I mentioned before, I work in a Catholic hospital as a physician and most of my fellow doctors have absolutely no interest in the paranormal. I can see their eyes glazing over when I start talking about my research into vampire lore.  Boring them with such details will only widen a gap that I don’t want to exist.  So I save my vampire discussions for the paranormal readers that I’ve met at book signings and other functions.

Join some writing groups or a book club in your area. 
Try to find a local successful author that you can connect with. If nothing else, their success will inspire you and inspiration is a commodity you can’t live without if you’re going to try to break into the writing world.  If you’re a romance writer, join a romance writing club. Don’t join a horror novel club if you write romance and vice versa.  If you write horror, you will not likely be well received in a romance group. It’s possible that the confounding stares could scar you for life. I made that mistake once and it was ugly!Writing clubs are a great place to find beta readers who have an interest in your genre. They know what works in that genre and what doesn’t. A few authors are able to cross genres but it’s truly hard to do, especially when you are first starting out.

Don’t pimp your books out to your co-workers. 
No one likes high pressured sales and no one enjoys feeling obligated to read a book that they would never normally read just because they know you. If a co-worker asks about your work, happily give them the names of your books and where to find them but then resist the urge to ask them if they got your book and if they liked it. Trust me; you do not want to know if they didn’t!And when all of the above fail to keep your writing career and the career that actually pays the bills separate and it will fail at times, try the following:Be confidant in what you wrote and take pride in your accomplishments! Nearly everyone thinks to write a book at some point in their life but most people never take the time to do so.If someone makes a snarky remark or laughs at your attempts at writing (and they will), just smile politely and walk away. It will only add to your air of mystery! Grow a really thick skin. Remember, you’re a writer. You’re supposed to be a little odd!



About DL Atha:DL Atha, having the good fortune to have been raised in rural western Arkansas, resides there still with her husband and three children where together they enjoy the farm life.
She earned her MD in 1999, and currently enjoys the practice of hospital medicine and wound care which she performs full time in a nearby town.She is currently working on the sequel to Blood Reaction.For the Sake of Revenge was her first venture into non-medical fiction.
A few of her favorite things are chocolate, anything old but especially old houses, gardening, and horses.
Her least favorite things are getting up early, anything that happens before nine a.m. and constricting clothing.
Get in touch with DL ATHA:
https://twitter.com/DLAtha2http://boo...

Purchase DL ATHA's books:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...

 Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership. They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

Blood Reaction & For The Sake Of Revenge By DL ATHA

Book Blurbs

BloodReaction
Annalice, a single mother and physician, is ready to immerse herself in the mundane chores of her farm as a diversion from her hectic professional life. But she becomes the victim of a home invasion, the supernatural kind. Vindictive and cruel, Asa, a century old vampire, takes brutal control of her life and home.

Forcing her to strike a bargain in exchange for her daughter's life, Annalice must not only accept his presence but also bow to his depravity. Facing threats to her only child, she relies on her skills as a physician to unravel the clues to the vampire's existence, attempting to beat him at his own game.


Caught in a race against a genetic timeline, Annalice struggles to survive the Blood Reaction.



For The Sake Of RevengeHow far was Tamara willing to go for the sake of revenge? And who would pay the price? She didn’t know as she tipped the bottle of vampire blood up to her lips but she was about to find out. 

Stepping off the ferry in Sitka, Alaska was bittersweet for Tamara Semenov. A decade earlier she had abandoned her mother and high school sweetheart, Peter, to marry a man she hardly knew only to find herself in an abusive relationship. Now ten years later, she had escaped with her life but at what cost. Her mother was dead. 


Although the police had ruled her mother’s death an accident, Tamara was convinced her estranged husband was to blame and to make matters worse, she knows she is his next target. 


While putting her mother’s affairs in order, Tamara finds the blood of a vampire named Adrik, who as a human was falsely accused of raping a wealthy Russian heiress and excommunicated from the Church. For the sake of revenge, he willing condemned himself to vampirism. 


Learning that the blood could tie the living to the undead, Tamara seeks out a connection with the long buried vampire in hopes of striking a deal, his freedom for her revenge. Will he be the edge she needs to out maneuver her estranged husband or will she become entangled in a two century old web of revenge?


For The Sake If Revenge Excerpt:Chapter 1“Uppyr.” I breathed the word out between sips of steaming hot tea as I squinted down at the aged label clinging to the ancient bottle I held in my other hand.Have I read that right? I questioned myself. It had been a few years since I’d read any Russian writings, but as I studied the word again, I was certain of its meaning.“Vampire,” I spoke aloud this time, translating from Russian to English, hoping it sounded less insane.I gave it a few seconds to let the syllables sink in, saying it over a few times in my head.No, it still sounded insane.A second word was elegantly scrawled onto the label, but in the dim lighting, I couldn’t make it out. Casting a sideways look at the cold fire burning in the hearth, I scooted as far forward on the couch as I could without leaving the coziness of the blanket I’d wrapped up in and focused all my efforts on reading the label; my face screwed up with the effort.“Krov,” I sounded it out, searching my mind for the meaning.Blood. Grandmother had used the word from time to time, usually in some ancient reference to a curse—or when hunting. Occasionally, these two strangely different subjects had collided in her world.“Uppyr krov. Vampire blood,” I spoke aloud to the empty house. Then I laughed, but only a little. I am of Russian descent after all, and we don’t limit ourselves to the normal thoughts of traditional Americans; hence always keeping a broom visible in the corner of the living room and the horseshoe over the doorway. The horseshoe isn’t an Alaskan custom. Mom had just borrowed the idea from her southern friend Gloria, but in her world, you could never be too careful.With the exception of a date on the label—January 26, 1808—there were no other markings on the bottle. No serial numbers or expiration dates stamped into the glass to suggest it was modern; the vial was slightly misshapen with an old and withered cork stuffed deep into the neck of the glass.Despite the date written on the bottle, the contents flowed freely. No dried remnants clung to the sides of the vial; no clots stuck to the bottom.It looks very fresh for two-hundred-year-old blood,

About DL Atha:DL Atha, having the good fortune to have been raised in rural western Arkansas, resides there still with her husband and three children where together they enjoy the farm life.
She earned her MD in 1999, and currently enjoys the practice of hospital medicine and wound care which she performs full time in a nearby town.She is currently working on the sequel to Blood Reaction.For the Sake of Revenge was her first venture into non-medical fiction.
A few of her favorite things are chocolate, anything old but especially old houses, gardening, and horses.
Her least favorite things are getting up early, anything that happens before nine a.m. and constricting clothing.

Get in touch with DL ATHA:
https://twitter.com/DLAtha2http://boo...

Purchase DL ATHA's books:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...

 Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership. They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.