Babs Hightower's Blog, page 108
March 29, 2015
Garden of Death blog tour, review & giveaway
Garden of Death
by Chrystle Fiedler
Garden of Death:
A Natural Remedies Mystery
Series: A Natural Remedies Mystery (Book 3)
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books (March 24, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1476748917
E-Book ASIN: B00LD1OTJS
Synopsis:
PHYSICIAN, HEAL THYSELF?
Murder is unearthed when an outspoken surgeon turns up dead in Willow McQuade’s medicinal herb garden.
When a local doctor is found dead in Willow McQuade’s medicinal garden, she must find the killer to clear her boyfriend’s name in this third clever book in the Natural Remedies Mystery series.
Dr. Willow McQuade, owner of Nature’s Way Market & Café, has put the finishing touches on a new medicinal plant garden for Greenport’s annual Maritime Festival and is ready for the festivities to begin. But it’s not all flowers and sunshine at the grand opening, when Willow discovers the body of another contestant, Dr. Charles White, face down in her garden.
Willow’s hunky boyfriend, Jackson Spade, immediately becomes a suspect due to a recent fight with Dr. White. Willow knows she has to remedy the situation, but it won’t be easy with the other applicants’ vendettas and vandals wrecking her garden at every turn. And when she finds buried treasure in her garden that just might belong to the legendary Captain Kidd, the stakes become even higher. Was Dr. White searching for that treasure? Did someone kill him to get to it first? With the help of Jackson and her eccentric ex-boyfriend, Willow follows the clues to uncover the truth that someone wants buried…
But can she dig up enough evidence before she becomes the killer’s next victim?
My thoughts Due to being sick for the last 2 weeks the review will be late.
About This Author
I love natural remedies and I’ve been using them for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, my mother practiced natural cures such as tea bag baths for sunburn, homeopathic remedies for colds and allergies, arnica oil for sprains and bruises and, of course, chicken soup with garlic was always a staple.
My interest in natural remedies continued after I graduated from Boston University with a degree in communications and subsequently dabbled in various vocations including advertising and television production in Hollywood. In 1998 I moved back to my hometown, Greenport, NY and set up my own writing business. I’d always wanted to be my own boss and write full-time.
My focus was, and is, health, and in particular alternative medicine which includes natural remedies. As a freelance journalist, I’ve written about natural cures for Natural Health, Mother Earth Living, Spirituality & Health, and Vegetarian Times, as for over five years I was the Good Nature columnist for Remedy magazine.
You can see my writing work here: https://chrystlefiedler.contently.com
Author Links
Links to your webpage: www.chrystlefiedler.com
Blog: http://chrystlefiedler.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chrystle-Fiedler-Mystery-Author/297115840304756
Twitter:@ChrystleFiedler
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/wwwgoodreadscomChrystle_Fiedler
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 18 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
March 19 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
March 20 – deal sharing aunt – Review
March 21 – Girl Lost In a Book – Review, Giveaway
March 22 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Guest Post, Giveaway
March 23 – dru’s book musings – Guest Post, Giveaway
March 24 – Marie’s Cozy Corner – Review
March 25 – Lilac Reviews – Interview, Giveaway
March 26 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
March 27 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview
March 28 – readalot – Review, Giveaway
March 29 – Babs Book Bistro – Review, Giveaway
March 30 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – Interview, Giveaway
March 31 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Giveaway
The post Garden of Death blog tour, review & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 28, 2015
The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress blog tour , Review & Giveaway
The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress
Captain Xavier Grey’s body is back amongst the beau monde, but his mind cannot break free from the horrors of war. His friends try to help him find peace. He knows he doesn’t deserve it. Just like he doesn’t deserve the attentions of the sultry bluestocking intent on seducing him into bed… Spinster Jane Downing wants off the shelf and into the arms of a hot-blooded man. Specifically, the dark and dangerous Captain Grey. She may not be destined to be his wife, but nothing will stop her from being his mistress. She could quote classical Greek by the age of four. How hard can it be to learn the language of love?
My thoughts:
Erica Ridley: Q&A for Guest Post
Tell us about the Dukes of War, and The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress!
The Dukes of War historical romance series features roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.
Captain Xavier Grey returned from the Napoleonic Wars a hairsbreadth away from catatonic. No one knows what happened but him, and Xavier isn’t saying a word. He flees London for the countryside, intending to spend the rest of his days alone in his small cottage.
Jane Downing is a wallflower with a serious book habit and well-honed inner snark. She’s tired of being invisible, and sets out to turn the man of her dreams into her real life lover. She lands on Xavier’s doorstep just in time for the snowstorm of the season.
Captain Grey suddenly finds himself snowbound with a bluestocking. And she has an unbelievably tempting plan for heating up the winter nights…
What is your favorite romantic story?
I’m not sure I can pick a single book, but I can pick an author. Some of the first historical romances I ever owned were written by Julie Garwood, and I bet I read every one of them at least six times. The heroes were strong, determined, and very alpha, and the heroines were just as strong and determined, and never failed to drive the heroes batty until they ended up in love. I really enjoy stories with humor.
What’s the best thing about being a writer?
For me, the best thing about being a writer is that I’m finally doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I never wanted to be anything else. I feel like the luckiest person on earth to be able to do what I love, every single day.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
If I’m blocked because a scene isn’t working or I literally have no idea what should happen next, that usually means I’m way too close to the project and need to take a step back. More often than not, going on a long walk will jog something loose in my brain and let me see where the story needs to go.
Other times, taking my mind off of the problem completely—such as going on a Netflix or TBR binge—provides me with the right amount of distance to find my own answers.
However, if I know exactly what I need to do next but I just don’t “feel” like writing, that is not an excuse to spend the next four hours with someone else’s characters. I sit myself down in front of the computer and force myself to keep going, no matter how slow and painful it might be. It might take minutes or it might take days, but eventually I’ll get my mojo back.
Sometimes the only trick to keeping going is just not stopping.
If you weren’t a writer and could be anything you want, what would it be?
I love to travel, and I love languages, so my non-writer dream job would be traveling the world, learning and teaching other languages. I have a friend who was born in Italy, studied in Spain, then moved to the United States, and now teaches French. My kind of lady! I would happily be a fry cook, if it included travel around the globe. 
What was your nickname growing up or now?
Fraggle, based on an unfortunate resemblance to “Red” Fraggle on the first day of 7th grade!
What’s next for Erica Ridley?
Next in the series in The Major’s Faux Fiancée, which releases in June. Major Blackpool returns home to play pretend beau to the girl next door to save her from an unwanted betrothal. But once they’ve announced their faux engagement, neither one can cry off without doing damage to the other’s social status.
Daphne intends to remain a spinster, so she plots to make the major jilt her first—without realizing he’s busy plotting the same thing! With both of them on their worst behavior, neither expects their fake betrothal to lead to love…
Excerpt from The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress
When Captain Xavier Grey finds himself snowbound with a sultry bluestocking intent on seduction, he does what any honorable soldier would do: He tries to make her think of him as “just a friend.” Unfortunately, the absence of servants means the gruff ex-soldier is force to act as lady’s maid…
Miss Downing had moved the stool before the fireplace, and sat with her back toward him. A cinnamon-colored dress gaped below her nape as she tilted her head to one side and struggled to drag a pearl comb through her long, wavy hair. Each curl glimmered in the firelight, then nestled back against the curve of her breast and the small of her spine.
He had never seen anything more erotic in his life.
“Would you like me to—” He clapped his chest when his voice came out far too husky. After clearing his throat, he tried again. “Shall I lace your stays?”
“Only if you wish to.” Rosy firelight—or perhaps a light blush—colored her exposed neck.
“I have to,” he answered, not bothering to hide the strangled desperation in his voice. “For both of us.”
“You don’t have to.” She turned around and looked him square in the eyes. “You wish to.”
A surprised laugh burst from his throat. His bluestocking might be exceptionally well read, but she knew very little about men.
“No. What I wish to do are acts so unapologetically carnal, the ink would catch fire if I attempted to commit my ideas to paper. But what I’m going to do is lace up your stays, toast some breakfast, and put you on the first coach back to London. You will thank me later.”
“I will think of you later.” The tip of her tongue ran along the bottom of her upper lip. “Just as I did last night.”
He clutched the doorjamb and held his position. If he went to her right now, it would not be to lace her stays. They were playing with fire.
She turned back to the hearth and resumed teasing the knots from her curly hair. “I don’t suppose you’ve any skill with a comb? My lady’s maid is the only one who could ever vanquish these tangles, and I fear I’m only making the matter worse.”
His jaw worked. He was profoundly grateful she couldn’t witness the naked desire writ upon his face.
Yes, he wanted to run his fingers through that long, silken hair. To touch it, to comb it, but mostly to have its softness be the sole blanket above their hot, twined bodies.
Which was simultaneously the best and worst idea to have ever crossed his mind. He liked her too much to let her throw away her future on a tryst with someone like him.
“We can’t be lovers, Miss Downing. Now or ever. You think me someone I am not.” As she met his gaze, he infused his tone with cold finality. “Your vision of me is flawed. A romanticized, idealized knight who saves the day and wins his lady’s favor. I am no knight. I do not deserve your favors. I will not be your seducer.”
She lifted a half-bare shoulder. “Right now I think you’re someone who doesn’t know how to unknot curly hair and doesn’t wish to come out and say so.”
“I know how to comb hair.” Against his better judgment, he stormed forward and snatched the pearl comb from her fingers. “Stand up. Not another word until you’re properly laced.”
She rose to her feet as docile as a lamb.
Xavier wasn’t remotely fooled.
With the comb between his teeth, he cinched her stays and buttoned her gown as quickly as possible. When she settled back on the stool, he lifted her hair in one hand and began to gently tease the tangles free, starting from the ends.
The firelight caught each curl as it released, turning the long brown waves into rippling gold.
When a little, contented sigh escaped Miss Downing’s throat, the tension in his neck muscles softened. Her eyes were closed, and a half-smile curved her lips. The corners of his mouth quirked in response.
His seductive bluestocking was a far better cat than that devil creature she’d brought in a basket. He could comb her hair for hours, just to listen to her relaxed sighs and watch the blissful expression upon her pretty face.
His fingers froze in place. He could do this for hours? Just because she liked it?
“Good enough.” He tossed the comb into her lap and stalked out the door before her big brown eyes and sweet-smelling skin domesticated him any further. She would be gone in the next two hours. He would see to it personally.
Author Bio
Erica Ridley learned to read when she was three, which was about the same time she decided to be a writer when she grew up.
Now, Erica is a USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels. Her latest series, The Dukes of War, features roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip- lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
Website: http://www.EricaRidley.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EricaRidley Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EricaRidley Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/EricaRidley
Need more?
See http://www.ericaridley.com/extras/ for downloadable headshot and author fact sheet, or email erica@ericaridley.com with any questions, or to schedule an interview.
The post The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress blog tour , Review & Giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 27, 2015
ONE TRUE HEART Blog Tour
Welcome to ONE TRUE HEART. Like waiting for fine chocolate, this book is one you will not want to miss. For me the story is always about the people and I loved writing this story.
This one started at a real place I know well, the Amarillo airport where one night a man and a woman meet by accident. She’s exhausted and on crutches. He offers her a ride to Harmony. She’s a trained soldier and sees this professor type in glasses as no threat. Only, while she sleeps, he steals a kiss. When he drops her off at Winter’s Inn, the bed and breakfast, the inn keeper thinks he’s staying the night. For the first time in years, Drew is tempted to get involved.
When you step into ONE TRUE HEART you’ll step into Harmony where the lives of the people in the town blend together. You’ll meet Millanie McAllen and Drew Cunningham. Both hiding out from life for different reasons. In their love story the gentle, loving man wins out. As they face the truth about real love they also must both face their fears.
Drew, who is always organized and calm has, what he believes, is the craziest sister on the planet. She dances in the moonlight and tells fortunes. In her first session with Johnny Wheeler, he’s arrested for killing his ex-wife. Kare knows Johnny didn’t do it. She didn’t see murder in his lifeline. Johnny thinks she’s nuts, but she’s determined to help him even if she has to draft her big brother to help.
Another story threads its way through the book. Beau Yates comes back to town for a few days. He’s a successful singer in Nashville, but deep down knows that all his love songs are about one girl. He doesn’t even know her name, he simply calls her Trouble. She used to pick him up after work. She’d every dream he’s ever had about love.
This story has people who will come to life as you read. You’ll fall in love with a first love and fall in love for the last time with a forever love. I hope my characters will walk off the pages for you as they have for me.
Now and then I get a letter or e-mail asking me where Harmony, Texas is. It’s in my mind. It always has been. It’s the small town where people care about each other. It is as alive as any town I’ve ever lived in and I hope it will come alive for you also.
Happy reading,
Jodi Thomas
My Thoughts : I am still reading and and will be posting soon.
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The post ONE TRUE HEART Blog Tour appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 25, 2015
Blog Tour – Fake Boobs by Ryan Ringbloom & Giveaway
Fake Boobs – Does size really matter?
Title: Fake Boobs
Author: Ryan Ringbloom
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Cover Designer: Tugboat Designs
Editor: Hot Tree Editing
*Contains mature content
Tori Albert is eighteen, her confidence level is zero. Her life experience…also zero. She’s a girl lost in the shuffle, hiding in the shadows, craving attention. If only someone, anyone, would notice her, maybe life would improve.
Grant Donovan can’t stop noticing Tori, but she is young, inexperienced and naïve. She is also his best friend’s younger sister. Grant knows the best thing he can do is just walk away. So why the hell isn’t he walking away?
When a late night knock lands across her bedroom door, Tori knows what stands behind it could end in disaster…but how many time does opportunity come knocking?
Just when she thinks her luck is finally changing, things take an unexpected turn for the worse.
With new assets and a new goal in sight, Tori will soon learn her new found confidence isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Unfortunately, some things you just have to learn the hard way.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon
Ryan Ringbloom is a YA/NA author who lives for anything Romance. The passion, love, angst, awkwardness… she loves all of it. When Ryan needs a break from reality she sneaks off to read a romantic story or write one of her own. Drinking coffee, reading Tweets and hugs from her six year old are the best part of her day.
You can follow her on Twitter: @RyanRingbloom or visit her website at www.RyanRingbloom.com . Feel free to contact her, she would love it!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Rafflecopter Share Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ea80a6ed48/
The post Blog Tour – Fake Boobs by Ryan Ringbloom & Giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 24, 2015
Part Time Cowboy Tour & Review by Maisey Yates
Part Time Cowboy
Maisey Yates
(Copper Ridge #1)
Published by: Harlequin
Publication date: March 31st 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
A one-time bad girl comes home to small-town Oregon in the first in a sexy, heartfelt new series from USA TODAY bestselling author Maisey Yates…
Sadie Miller isn’t expecting any welcome-home parades on her return to Copper Ridge. Least of all from part-time rancher, full-time lawman Eli Garrett. The straight-laced, impossibly hot deputy sheriff glares at her like she’s the same teenage hoodlum who fled town ten years ago. But running from her demons has brought Sadie full circle, ready to make a commitment at last. Not to a man, but to a B and B. On Garrett land. Okay, so her plan has a tiny flaw…
Eli works too hard to let a blonde ball of trouble mess up his town. But keeping an eye on Sadie makes it tough to keep his hands off her. And if she’s so wrong for him, why does being with her feel so right?
My thoughts:
Every single one of my books has a playlist. Setting the mood with music is really important to me. Part Time Cowboy is no exception! Here is my Part Time Cowboy playlist!
I Feel A Sin Comin On — The Pistol Annies
Not Over You — The Voice performance by Cassadee Pope
Safe and Sound — Taylor Swift & the Civil Wars
Boys Round Here — Blake Shelton
Hell on Heels — The Pistol Annies
Cowboys and Angels — Dustin Lynch
Better Dig Two — The Band Perry
Wasting All These Tears — Cassadee Pope
I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes — Dierks Bentley
I Hold On — Dierks Bentley
Breathe You In — Dierks Bentley (I don’t have a Dierks Bentley problem. YOU have a Dierks Bentley problem!)
Love Grows Wild — Dierks Bentley
Say You Do — Dierks Bentley
Born To Fly — Sara Evans
Landslide — The Dixie Chicks
Country Strong — Gweneth Paltrow
Save A Horse (Ride a Cowboy) — Big & Rich
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.
In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
WEBSITE
GOODREADS
The post Part Time Cowboy Tour & Review by Maisey Yates appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 23, 2015
GRANNY SNOWS A SNEAK Blog Tour & Guest Post
Granny Snows A Sneak
by Julie Seedorf
Granny Snows A Sneak
(Fuchsia, Minnesota Book 3)
Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (November 6, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-1939816559
E-Book ASIN: B00PSYBB3S
Synopsis:
Granny may be retired as Fuchsia, Minnesota’s one-woman undercover sleuth for the Fuchsia Police Department, but that doesn’t mean she still doesn’t need a trusty weapon. Her weapon of choice? A pink snow shovel. When Granny runs over a dead body with her snowmobile, she unwittingly sets off a chain of events that involves mislabeled corpses, empty graves, and stolen money––lots of it! Who’s at the bottom of this years old crime? Granny has an idea, but she has little time to investigate, when in just days she’s scheduled to marry the love of her life, Franklin Gatsby, in a post-Christmas ceremony. So, Granny decides to enlist the help of her friends and neighbors. Add in Christmas holiday excitement and the arrival of Granny’s family, who are all there for her wedding, and mayhem ensues. Of course, Granny can always count on her many furry friends to provide her with moral support, but it’s quite possible that Granny––that is, Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt––has a secret or two of her own, which may very well be revealed as GRANNY SNOWS A SNEAK.
Guest post:
IT’S A DREAM
I am an author. I am an author. Occasionally I have to pinch myself to remind myself while sitting at my computer all day, weaving fantasy, that I am not wasting time or playing when I should be doing something else. Writing has actually become my career.
It wasn’t easy to quit my day job and go for my dream. Life’s circumstances and events brought me to the reality if I didn’t take the leap now I never would. I listened to the naysayers. I read the words in newspapers and books that advised people to keep your day job while pursuing a career in writing because most writers cannot make it with a writing career in the real world.
Opening my eyes one morning, I couldn’t explain the feeling, but I knew it was time to take the leap. I made the snap decision. Scared, I told my spouse. I was surprised when he said he would have my back.
With fear in my heart, I immediately closed my business.
I already had a contract with Cozy Cat Press for my Fuchsia, Minnesota Cozy Mysteries. I already wrote a column once a week for area newspapers. During the day I ran my own computer repair business. Writing was my hobby. I would be giving up a good income for a feast or famine income. My friends, though supportive, were scared for me because in their world it was imperative to bring home an exact pay check every week. It was almost as if I had told them I was running away to Hollywood to become an actor. I was living in a dream world.
They were right, writing is a dream world, and it is my dream world. My writing takes me to places that are frivolous and silly. I weave tales of old women that are very different from the way society sees senior citizens in our world today. I create fake communities that defy the rules and regulations we have in our communities.
I look at the world around me and see cloned houses and neighborhoods. I bristle at the neighborhood rules that are in place today. I bite my tongue when the commercials portraying senior citizens as old and decrepit pop up on my television screen. I look at what is portrayed in the news on any given day and wonder, “Why wouldn’t we be stressed and depressed?”
I realize now, if I immerse myself a dream world which takes me away from reality for a short time, I am a better, happier person when immerging from my fantasy state. I can then confront cloned houses, young people’s views of old age and bad news of the day.
I have been accused of writing drivel. One review said I had scrambled eggs for a brain. But I love writing drivel and having scrambled eggs for a brain. I love being able to take my readers away from reality for a short time and take them into the world of Fuchsia, Minnesota and the lives of Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt and her family and friends.
There is a little lesson I would like people to learn from my Fuchsia Minnesota books and from Granny. It might be best explained in Granny’s voice. “Let your little shine, be true to thine. Don’t let yourself become old, it’s a myth that you are told. That little child inside of you still knows how to come out and say boo. Someday it may be the wrinkle farm, today kick up your heels, it’ll do no harm. Never give up your dream, if you do you might want to scream. “
About This Author
Author Julie Seedorf is a columnist, author and dreamer. She lived her live as a wife and mom, experiencing various careers including that of computer technician, retiring from her computer repair business in January of 2014 to follow her dream and transition to that of full-time writer.
Beside her Fuchsia, Minnesota Series, she is the author of the Granny’s In Trouble Series bringing mystery to the life of young readers along with sharing who Granny is under the wrinkles, so her grandchildren will always know that Granny can be forever young. Her column Something About Nothing, is written with the idea that under the nothings we all talk about there is a hidden something waiting to get out.
Julie is a longtime Minnesota resident who shares the tough Minnesota winters with her Granny character. Outside of writing she likes to read, try new hobbies and scurries to keep up with her social media. She lives with her husband and has two shysters of her own, Borris and Natasha. Her favorite moments are those she spends with her friends and family, especially her grandchildren.
Author Links
http://julieseedorf.com
http://sprinklednotes.com
http://www.facebook.com/julie.seedorf.author
http://www.facebook.com/grannyfromfuchsiaminnesota
@julieseedorf
Tour Participants
March 23 – Babs Book Bistro – Guest Post
March 24 – Community Bookstop – Review
March 25 – Tea and A Book – Review, Interview
March 26 – deal sharing aunt – Guest Post
March 27 – readalot – Review, Giveaway
March 28 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Guest Post
March 29 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review
March 30 – Back Porchervations – Review
March 31 – Christa Reads and Writes – Review
April 1 – EditingPen – Interview, Giveaway
April 2 – Celebrating Authors – Spotlight
April 3 – A Blue Million Books – Interview
April 4 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post
The post GRANNY SNOWS A SNEAK Blog Tour & Guest Post appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 22, 2015
KILLER GETAWAY Blog Tour & Guest Post
Killer Getaway
by Amy Korman
Killer Getaway: (Killer Wasps Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
• Publisher: Witness Impulse (March 10, 2015)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• 195 Pages
• ASIN: B00L1AAFCG
Description: Spunky crime-lite and the glitterati detail of a society column combine to shake up the Florida in KILLER GETAWAY, from former Philadelphia Magazine senior editor Amy Korman.
With a storm brewing in Bryn Mawr, PA, the Killer WASPs head south to Palm Beach, FL. And what could be better than fabulous friends, Lilly Pulitzer beachwear, frozen cocktails, and high society drama?
Kristin Clark, and her basset hound, Waffles, are ready to escape the doldrums of winter to bask in the warm Florida sun and dine at her friends’ new restaurant, Vicino. But when a rival restaurant undergoes a HGTV makeover and attempts to steal Vicinio’s spotlight and their patrons, the town is abuzz with gossip and Kristin and her friends–Bootsie, a nosy reporter, Holly, a chicken nugget heiress, and Sophie, the soon-to-be ex-wife of a mobster-have parties to attend.
Everything is going swimmingly in the glitz and glamour of Palm Beach until a bad batch of clams threatens to shut down the Vicino and their vacation for good. When it becomes clear that the clams may be more than an innocent mishap, the ladies must unravel the mystery before there are deadly consequences.
Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series!
Guest Post
Recipe from Killer Getaway
The characters in Killer Getaway are on vacation in Magnolia Beach, Florida, and naturally, tropical drinks are on the menu for this winter escape. (Between trying to solve the crimes that keep cropping up everywhere they go in this beachfront town, that is.)
When decorator Joe Delafield gets a job decorating an outdoor dining room for Magnolia Beach heiress Adelia Earle, the Killer Getaway characters soon realize that a perk of working for Adelia is her round-the-clock margarita bar, open from morning til way past midnight.
Adelia’s Perfect Margarita
The juice of 4 limes
6 ounces tequila (Adelia likes Patron)
2 ounces Triple Sec
2 tablespoons sugar
A few generous scoops of ice ce
Stir or shake the ingredients thoroughly, and serve on the rocks or in a margarita glass (rimmed with salt if desired), garnishes with a slice of lime.
About This Author
About the Author: Amy Korman is a former senior editor and staff writer for Philadelphia Magazine, and author of Frommer’s Guide to Philadelphia. She has written for Town & Country, House Beautiful, Men’s Health, and Cosmopolitan. Killer Getaway is her second novel.
Author Link:
Purchase Link:
Amazon
Tour Participants
March 17 – Musings and Ramblings – Guest Post
March 18 – readalot – Review
March 19 – A Blue Million Books – Guest Post
March 20 – Lori’s Reading Corner – Guest Post
March 21 – View from the Birdhouse – Interview
March 22 – Babs Book Bistro – Guest Post
March 23 – Frankie Bow – Interview
March 24 – Omnimystery News – Interview
March 25 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – Spotlight
March 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review
The post KILLER GETAWAY Blog Tour & Guest Post appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 21, 2015
Tiger Lily by Amelie S. Duncan blog tour & Giveaway
Win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card w/ Ebook
or Additional Ebook Prize
Tiger Lily
Tiger Lily # 1
Amélie S. Duncan
Released February 10th, 2015
Self-Published
What
started as an assignment became more than Lily could have ever hoped for...
Lily
Salomé has encountered more challenges than the average twenty-four year old.
After a horrendous crash killed her parents, an abusive relationship was all
she needed to calcify her broken heart to stone. So when Lily’s boss comes to
her with a challenge most girls would balk at, she knows there isn’t much left
in this world to be afraid of.
The
target: Jonas Crane, a brooding business mogul who hasn’t smiled once since his
divorce. Dark, dangerous and mouthwatering, Crane has written a book about life
in the fast lane and with the recent publicity, Lily’s boss wants the rights.
Problem is, Crane won’t return a phone call, let alone agree to a meeting. But
if a pretty publishing assistant happens to run into him at the Waldorf, with a
business card and a smile…what could go wrong?
A
lot, it seems. Lily thinks she’s going to the Waldorf to meet a rich jerk, or
worse, a playboy, but the truth is way more challenging. Jonas Crane is smart,
engaging…and devastatingly out of her league.
BUY NOW
I managed to not stare in awe
at the murals, and walk confidently inside the softly lit lounge of Sir
Harry’s.
The sleek mahogany bar with
porcelain snack bowls dotted along the top took up a prominent portion of the
room, and thereby was the first thing I noticed upon entry. Searching for a
place to stand or sit, I zeroed in on one of the empty Japanned leather bar
stools, and briskly made my way to secure the seat before someone else. With
luck, I captured the vacant seat and swiveled around. Eyeing the eclectic mix
of patrons, I stared over the high-fashioned starlets, middle-aged tailored
gentlemen, and nouveau-riche designer clad tourists and wondered where I fit
in.
Not sure, but I patted my
back on arriving with ten minutes to spare before Jonas Crane was due to
arrive. Jonas! It finally dawned on
me I didn’t have a plan for approaching him. Knitting my brows, I tilted my
head down and tried to focus on making an impromptu plan. What would be a good
opener? Hello, yes. Jonas? Can I call you
Jonas? I’m Lily Salomé from Arch Limited, and I’m your publishing house
stalker, nice to meet you.
Fidgeting and inward gazing
didn’t mix. At least not when holding my satin handbag with sweaty palms.
Unfortunately, this realization came too late and my bag took flight, sliding
across the floor.
Shit. I had
barely made it inside the bar and hadn’t even ordered my first drink or eaten a
pistachio nut without embarrassing myself. Straightening my shoulders and
ignoring the burning of my cheeks, I lifted my chin and eased over in the
direction of my bag, doing my best to pretend I was bored and didn’t care, or
that I had maybe even purposely tossed it around. Spotting the bag, my insides
winced at the polished leather shoes it had bounced against. I hastened my
steps, but paused as a pair of large tanned hands with a golden ring on the
left ring finger picked it up.
Gazing up further, I met the
most luminous eyes I had ever seen. They were a rare combination of blue and
turquoise like a tropical sea. He had black wavy hair that hung a little longer
on the top and sides. Some lines around his eyes, but boasted of an otherwise
flawless face. With a smooth angular jawline, straight nose, and well-defined
cheekbones most women would die for, he was divine. Not to mention, full
sensual lips were flashing a perfect set of teeth.
My hand trembled a little as
I took my handbag from him, and recognition finally set in. He was not only
gorgeous, but he was the man I had come here for, Jonas Crane. Serendipitous or
cliché, it didn’t matter. My “accidental on purpose” encounter with him had
taken place.
Amélie S. Duncan writes contemporary, erotic romances with a
dark edge. Her inspiration comes from many sources including her life
experiences and travels. She lives on the West Coast of the United States with
her husband.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
The post Tiger Lily by Amelie S. Duncan blog tour & Giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
If You Believe Blog Tour by May O’Malley Blog tour & Giveaway
If You Believe
By Mya O’Malley
Blurb:
Sometimes love only comes once in a lifetime. For some lucky people, it is possible to love again.
Melody and Jack had shared an unforgettable love story that abruptly came to an end. Melody, left picking up the pieces, finds herself alone years later, with no hope or desire to date again. With the holiday season approaching, Melody finds it particularly difficult to get Jack out of her thoughts.
Jack isn’t sure if he’s an angel or a ghost, but his mind is set on one thing only, finding a new love for Melody by Christmas Eve at midnight. Easier said than done, with many obstacles to tackle, Jack underestimates how difficult the task is. With conflicting emotions, Jack takes it upon himself to find a man for a woman he still loves.
With the clock ticking as the holidays approach, this charming story of finding love the second time around will have you laughing and crying, but ultimately, it will have you believing in true love.
Book Trailer
Excerpt
He
stood, watching her, feeling every ounce of her pain, her anguish. He was
probably the only one who understood what it was like to lose the person you
loved, the person who was everything in the world to you.
If
only he could just touch her, reach out to her, make her feel happy again. But
that was just selfish on his part, wasn’t it? It wouldn’t be fair to Melody.
Anybody could see that even three years later, she was still struggling. Hadn’t
he always told her that if something happened to him, he would want her to fall
in love again? It saddened him to think that if she continued down this cold
and lonely path, she would be alone forever.
Melody
had wanted it all, a home filled with children, a loving marriage. Thinking
back to how happy they had once been, it broke his heart to see her this way,
and it was always saddest to see her like this around the holidays, which were
quickly approaching.
Jack’s
mind was whirling with ideas, if only…He wished that he could talk to her
just one more time, but alas, that was against the rules. If only there was
some way, if only he could help her see the light. The corners of Jack’s mouth
crept up as his mind took hold of an impossible thought. Would he be able to
pull this off? If he did, could he ever be the same again? …
The
electricity was undeniable. It was something that he should have considered,
knowing how powerful their attraction and love had been in life. The look on
Melody’s face was shock, confusion and curiosity all rolled into one. He would
have to remember not to touch her again, it was simply too much of a risk to
take. He knew that if his cover was revealed, the rules stated that he could
never make contact with her again.
“What
was…did you feel?” Poor Melody peered at him with those gorgeous light brown
eyes of hers. There was something different about her eyes now; once they had
been filled with spark and mischief, but now they were sadder, as if the light
had somehow gone out. The same eyes that had looked at him with varying degrees
of emotions for all those precious years they had shared together. The same
eyes that held him spellbound right now. Jack didn’t know what to expect; he
had no way of knowing how hard it would be to not reach out and touch this
woman who was his wife, the love of his life. She evoked so much emotion in him
that he had to turn his head before she saw the tears that sprang from his
eyes. He had known this would be hard, but Melody took his breath away. Melody
was always beautiful, but now she also appeared slightly sad and fragile.
Looking down at her so many times before, he knew of her sadness, of course,
but standing right here beside her, Jack could practically feel her strong
emotions within his own heart.
Since
he had gone to great lengths to disguise his true identity, Jack would have to
do better than this. There was no way that she could recognize him by his
appearance. He was once tall,
standing
six foot three inches tall, maintaining a trim physique with messy light brown
hair. He now stood barely five foot seven with wavy dark hair and a stocky
build. The only thing about his appearance that Jack wasn’t able to change was
his eyes. Nobody could change their eyes, because it was a fact that eyes were
the windows to the soul.
Melody
stood before him, her mouth gaping open as if she were caught in a spell. Think
of something, quick, he told himself.
“Melody.
I heard great things about your store. You see, I’m new to this area and I was
just walking around and I figured I’d come check out your store.”
Melody
appeared as if she had composed herself slightly. Clearing her throat, she
finally spoke. “Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking.”
He
really should have been more prepared, how could he have forgotten how inquisitive
Melody was?
“Um,
I’m from down south, Florida.”
“Whereabouts?
I have a friend from the Orlando area.” He should have also remembered her old
college roommate from Orlando. Was Miami far enough away to field off further
questions?
“Miami.”
“Miami?
What brings you all the way up north to the New York area?”
Wow,
she should have been a lawyer instead of owning a business. “My job. I work in
the city now and live here in the suburbs.”
“What
do you do for work?”
Thinking
quickly on his feet, Jack steered away from his real occupation in life,
working for an insurance company.
“I
work for a pharmaceutical company. I’m in sales.” That ought to do it. He was
reminded of a time when Melody had quizzed him nonstop when they had first met,
he had felt like he
was
interviewing for a job. They had laughed many times together over that memory.
“Oh.
Well, who is it that recommended you to my store?” Her eyes peered cautiously
through her striking auburn hair. The long hair that was always slightly out of
place, always in her eyes. Wishing that he could reach out and touch her
beautiful hair just once more, he reeled himself back in.
“Just
some guy at a diner recently. He raved about the selection of books and the
coffee. Hmm, if I recall, he also said that you have the best cheesecake in
town.” That should do it. Melody loved to bake and could go on and on about her
desserts.
And
that she did, thank goodness for the distraction of a good cheesecake. When
Melody had stopped gushing about how she prepared her cheesecake, she caught
herself and chuckled.
“You
must think I’m something, rambling on like this. I’m sorry, I just realized
that I didn’t catch your name.”
My
name, my name. Something unusual perhaps, but fitting for a friend. “Oliver.” Where did that
come from?
“Oliver.
Well, Oliver, I don’t usually do this because we are closed, but would you like
to try some of the cheesecake? We happen to have some left over.”
“Oliver”
could tell that he had gotten on Melody’s good side. She wasn’t a particularly outgoing
person. As a matter of fact, she was usually pretty shy, but he was delighted
to see that he had made an impression on her. Or perhaps it was just good
business sense. Either way, Oliver had succeeded in completing the first step
of his mission: meeting Melody.
****
Melody
couldn’t recall the last time that she had felt so comfortable with a total
stranger. It wasn’t like she was even physically attracted to him, Oliver
wasn’t her type at all. He was
the
complete opposite of Jack in every way. Well, in every way except for those
captivating blue eyes. It was uncanny how much Oliver’s eyes reminded Melody of
Jack’s eyes. It wasn’t just the color or the shape, but it was the intensity of
his gaze. That was probably why Melody had felt so comfortable with him from
the start.
“I
know that you’re going to think this is forward, but would you mind showing me
around town sometime?”
Melody
sucked in a breath and inwardly panicked.
“My
girlfriend is coming up in a few weeks and I wanted to show her around a bit.”
He finished.
Melody’s
shoulders visibly dropped as she let out a sigh. “Sure, yes, Oliver, I think
that would be fine.”
Two
finished slices of chocolate cheesecake and decaf coffees later, Melody
realized this was the best evening she’d had in, well, just about three years.
About The Author
Mya O’Malley was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, daughter and three step-daughters. The family also consists of two boxers; Destiny and Dolce and a ragdoll cat named Colby. Mya earned an undergraduate degree in special education and a graduate degree in reading and literacy. She works as a special education teacher and enjoys making a difference in the lives of her students.Mya currently has several releases: At First Sight, a contemporary romance about dating in the modern world, published by Astraea Press, and Where There is Love, a contemporary romance in which a woman struggles with past obstacles, ultimately faced with whether or not she will open her heart to love. Where There is Love is published with Solstice Publishing. Mya is excited to say that Astraea Press recently released her contemporary holiday paranormal romance titled If You Believe. Mya’s first Young Adult book is now available. Miranda’s Choice is a young adult fantasy novel published by Solstice Publishing. Coming soon is The Calm After the Storm, published by TouchPoint Press. This novel is a contemporary romance taking place in the setting of Hurricane Sandy. The story revolves around the idea of a utility worker from Georgia falling in love with a woman in New York.
Mya’s passion is writing; she has been creating stories and poetry since she was a child. Mya spends her free time reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She is a romantic at heart and loves to create stories with unforgettable characters. Mya likes to travel; she has visited several Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Costa Rica. Mya is currently working on her sixth novel.
You can find Mya at
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