Babs Hightower's Blog, page 111
March 12, 2015
Flame by Toya Richardson blog tour & giveaway
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$20 Amazon eGift Card
After a
vicious breakup, the ambitious Amberley throws herself into the corporate world
of the family business. Working night and day, she is out to make a success of
her career, even if she can’t see much hope for love. However, even though
Amberley has moved on, it would seem that her ex has different ideas.Living with a secret terror, Amberley’s health begins to suffer, forcing her to
seek refuge from all the London complications by heading down to her childhood
holiday home at the Cornish Coast.
Her stay doesn’t just lead to a recovery of her body, but of her heart and soul
too.
She came back from the kitchen holding
a bottle of the local sparkling wine they’d had before and two champagne
flutes.
‘I thought you’d like this,’ she said
handing him the bottle.
‘The glasses were made locally too,’
she added.
‘You really have put a lot of thought
into things, thank you. I take it you want me to open the bottle.’
She laughed nervously. ‘As long as you
promise me not to take your eye out, or mine… don’t forget, I know your track
record.’
The air was heavy with tension. She
felt heady, almost breathless with anticipation. The way he was looking at her
made her feel extremely feminine and sexy. She wondered what the coming night
would bring.
Greg could feel it too; his hand shook
a little as he attempted to open the bottle. This time, the cork did not come
out as expertly as it had before when he’d opened a bottle. It sprayed from the
bottle like an erupting volcano, most of it going over him.
Amberley laughed. He looked so comical,
with the bottle still in his hand and the liquid dripping off him. He stood up
and placed the bottle down on the table. Amberley stood up too. She bent
forward and held her knees trying to regain her breath. It had been such a long
time since she’d laughed that much.
‘Oh that was so funny. I wished I’d
recorded it on my phone. Your face is a picture, Greg.’
She could feel the mirth bubbling up
inside her again. Raising her head to look at him once more, she could see he
had a twinkle in his eye. A deliciously wicked smile crossed his face.
‘So, Miss Masterson, you think that was
funny do you?’
‘It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever
seen.’ She laughed loudly again.
‘Come here,’ he said, a trace of
authority in his voice.
‘And why should I?’ she replied,
placing her hands on her hips, a look of challenge in her eyes.
‘Because you need to take your
punishment for laughing at me.’
‘And what if I don’t?’ she asked,
raising her eyebrows.
‘If you don’t, then I will just have to
come and get you. So what’s it to be?’
Slowly Amberley backed away from him,
putting the sofa between them.
‘I will not come quietly, so I guess
you’ll have to try and catch me.’
‘Right, you asked for it,’ he said,
edging slowly towards her.
She backed further away and stood near
to the dining table.
‘Well, come on then, I’m only a
helpless female after all… so what are you waiting for?’
He leapt towards her, quicker than she
expected. He grabbed her hand but she managed to wriggle free, squealing with
laughter as she did so.
‘You’ll have to be quicker than that,’
she said with laughter in her voice.
She made a dash for the other side of
the sofa, shrieking as he chased after her. Her toe caught on the mat; she
tripped and fell onto the sofa. She turned and attempted to get up. Greg was
too fast; he pounced on her, pinning her down on the cushions.
‘Gotcha,’ he said panting.
‘Okay,’ she replied, still trying to
control her breathing.
‘Now you’ve got me… what are you going
to do with me?’
Although writing has been a big part of life for many years,
it’s since 2009 that I’ve completed most of my work. Starting off with a
romance/thriller, then fantasy and my most recent work, which is paranormal
romance.
I grew up in Essex, but now reside in Suffolk – with my
husband, grown up son and Masai the cat – where I work part time as an admin
assistant. My other hobbies and interests include; reading, Formula One racing,
darts, listening to music – mainly rock – cinema, live concerts, going to the
theatre, keeping fit, gardening and holidays.
Website | Twitter | Goodreads
The post Flame by Toya Richardson blog tour & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
Love on the Menu blog tour Review and Giveaway
Love on the Menu Summary:
Jago Tanner is a loner. He works up a good hunger at his outdoors pursuits centre in Wales and looks upon each female conquest as just another meal. When he’s sated, he doesn’t go back for dessert. Until Riley shows up. A Londoner hired through an agency to assist him with activities, she isn’t at all what he asked for. For starters, with the name Riley, he expected a man. But Riley is all woman—the sexiest woman Jago has ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately she dresses like a trollop and curses like a sailor. Though ignorant about most outdoors pursuits, she’s a skilled horsewoman, able to calm even his nerviest stallion. And her lively and generous nature enchants his housekeeper Emily and his ancient friend, Tom.
In short, Jago’s new employee is a bundle of contradictions. Which is why, when Jago falls for her, he doesn’t trust his feelings. Riley seems unusually accident prone, and when her brother’s shady friends menace her, she plays the innocent. But how can anyone so self-sufficient and mouthy also be so trusting and naïve? And can a man with Jago’s volatile nature endure the jealousy a woman like Riley provokes just by strolling down the street?
My thoughts:
What a great read and by a first time author for me. Jago is a loner who loves women. He can not get enough that is until he runs into Riley comes along. Funny he was expecting a man not a woman to show up for help. Imagine his surprise.
One minute Riley is excellent at her job and knows what she is doing and the next she is clumsy and naive. The two work together pretty well and things start to heat up. Jago can not trust himself around her or the way others look after her.
The author does a great job with the story and the scenes. I was drawn in from the beginning and wanted to know how the book would end. I did not want to put the book down.
Ellen March‘s Bio:
Ellen March and her husband live on top of a mountain in Wales, which is ideal in the summer but not so much in the winter months or when it rains. She has three grown children, one suicidal cat–it really does have nine lives–and three Alaskan Malamutes. One of her hobbies is showing and working them. Ellen’s first love, however, is reading and writing. Since childhood, she has devoured every romance and fantasy she can get her hands on and enjoys acting out her own fantasies in print. Her body of work includes erotic romance, psychological thrillers, and supernatural fantasies. Fanny Press has published three of her erotic romances–Promises, His Girl Friday, and A Ghost of an Affair–and will be publishing more in 2015 and beyond.
Prices/Formats: $13.95 paperback
Genre: Steamy Cowboy Romance
Pages: 244
Release: February 14, 2015
Publisher: Fanny Press
ISBN: 9781603815680
Amazon buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Menu-Ellen-March/dp/1603815686
Ellen March’s Web Site:
http://ellenmarch.jimdo.com/ Ellen March’s Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ellenmarchauthor?fref=tsEllen March’s Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Ms_ellen_march
Ellen March’s Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5571507.Ellen_MarchLove on the Menu Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24401519-love-on-the-menu
Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186
Love on the Menu blog tour site:
http://loveonthemenublogtour.blogspot.com/
($25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash)
The post Love on the Menu blog tour Review and Giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 11, 2015
No More Regrets by Tamra Lassiter Blog Tour
No More Regrets
by Tamra Lassiter
Publication Date: March 4, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Don’t let yesterday’s regrets control your future.
Rocked by her husband’s infidelity and subsequent divorce, Emmy Bennett is doing her best to keep her children’s lives steady and not repeat the mistakes of her past. Selling her jewelry to pay the mortgage seems like a great idea until she finds herself face-to-face with a gun.
Retired Navy SEAL, Ed Jackson, is captivated by Emmy the first moment he sees her. Her nervous mannerisms get his attention, but when he saves Emmy from an attempted robbery, he discovers that maybe he’s pulled to her for reasons other than his curiosity.
About Tamra Lassiter
I live outside Washington, D.C. with my wonderfully supportive husband and two daughters, one of which is approaching her teenage years. Help us all! If that isn’t enough, we have a Great Dane and an English Bulldog to keep us on our toes. It’s crazy around here and I love every minute of it!
Writing is my third career. I didn’t set out to be a writer, it was just meant to be. My Mechanical Engineering degree from Virginia Tech prepared me well for my first career as an Engineer/Program Manager. My second career was in Human Resources. Long story, but I figured it out. I believe the best start for a writing career is to be a reader first and I’ve been an avid reader my whole life. I’ve loved to read ever since I picked up my first Nancy Drew mystery in the fourth grade. Now I love reading just about everything, but I don’t read sad books and I don’t watch sad movies either for that matter, no matter how many awards they’ve won. Life’s too short and who needs all that strife to bring us down?
Many of my words have been penned late into the evening, which explains why I’ve never viewed whatever television show you recommend to me. I would, however, love to hear your recommendations for a great read!
Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads
The post No More Regrets by Tamra Lassiter Blog Tour appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
In Her Blood blog tour by G.V. Trent & Guest Post
In Her Blood
by G.V. Trent
In Her Blood
File Size: 397 KB
Print Length: 215 pages
Publisher: Devine Destinies (January 7, 2015)
ASIN: B00RYIY9VM
Synopsis:
Alexandra McCormick’s great-grandmother was a brutal serial killer in the early 1900’s. With her mother currently serving time in prison for murdering Alexandra’s stepfather, Alexandra decides to do her college research paper on whether or not the tendency to commit murder or other violent crimes may be passed on genetically.
Her research takes her to Savannah, Georgia, a city built upon its dead. There, she meets Chad Greenway, whose ancestor is Alice Riley, the first woman hanged in the state of Georgia. Alice was hanged for killing her abusive master. As a freelance writer, Chad agrees to help Alexandra with her research provided he can write a story about her quest. Soon it seems everyone Alexandra meets winds up murdered.
About This Author
V. Trent also writes as Gayle Trent and Amanda Lee. She typically writes cozy mysteries, and this is her first foray into the psychological mystery. She hopes you’ll enjoy it. Please visit the author online at http://www.gayletrent.com.
Author Links
https://www.facebook.com/GayleTrentandAmandaLee
https://twitter.com/GayleTrent
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/426208.Gayle_Trent
Purchase Link
Amazon
Guest Post:
A Visit to Savannah, Georgia
G. V. Trent
Have you ever been to Savannah? I hadn’t until a few years ago. We’d got a Great Pyrenees puppy over the summer and took him with us when we went on vacation to Tybee Island in November. At eight months old, Cooper was already at close to a hundred pounds of white fluff. Everywhere we went, people fell in love with him. When my husband would take him out in the mornings, he’d say, “I’m going to walk the rock star.” There was a small nursing home near the condo we rented, and it was the basis for the fictional home in which Ms. Jackson stays in In Her Blood. Those residents, in particular, loved seeing the big, fluffy puppy every morning. I feel confident Ms. Jackson would’ve loved Cooper.
Savannah was only half an hour away from Tybee, so we visited the city more than once. One evening we took a ghost tour, which is where I first heard the tale of Alice Riley. This story niggled at my brain until it became part of a larger concept I’d been toying with of whether or not someone could be genetically disposed to be a murderer. After all, I thought, blue eyes and red hair are genetic. Many diseases are genetic. Could personality traits be genetic too?
But the city itself and its eclectic mix of characters also spurred my imagination. On the Riverfront, we saw a woman sitting on the pavement with bread while birds flocked around and on her for their lunch. Forgive me if you’re a bird-lover; but when I saw her, I wasn’t thinking Disney princess—I was thinking ewww! I have a fear of birds. I like them and will feed them and help them when the cat is trying to attack one or a fledgling has fallen from its nest, but those fluttery things scare the dickens out of me. I would not want several pigeons and seagulls perched on my head and shoulders.
We once went to a safari park in northern Virginia. The camels, the buffalo, the pot-bellied pigs, the zebras, the giraffes, the wildebeests—I was fine with all of those. When the emus and ostriches approached, it was, “roll up the windows so they don’t get us!” Well aware of my fear of birds, my then six-year-old son came running while we were out of our car looking at the kangaroos. He grabbed my hand. “Mom, watch out. They’ve got loose chickens.”
But I digress. The point I’m making is that we never knew who or what we were going to see while strolling the streets of Savannah. Our walking ghost tour guide said her mother ran an antiques shop and bookstore and that once when she was going into the shop to see her mom, Ben Affleck was coming out. She said, “Mom! Do you know who that was?” Her mother said, “No, but I thought he was awfully cute, so I gave him the book he wanted for a dollar.”
Still, you might wonder if a homeless psychologist—like David “Dumpster” Jackson from In Her Blood—is a stretch. Even I thought it might be, although I loved the quirky character, until one early reviewer said she knew a homeless man in D.C. who was a therapist.
Savannah struck me as the type of city where just about anything could happen. And in In Her Blood, it does.
The post In Her Blood blog tour by G.V. Trent & Guest Post appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 10, 2015
Blog Tour – Cowboy Paradise (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 1) by Rhonda Lee Carver
Book: Cowboy Paradise
Author: Rhonda Lee Carver
Genre: Cowboy Romance
Goodreads Book Link
Synopsis
Exhausted with carrying around the weight of a damaged past, Cara is ready to take the ultimate step in finding her old self, before she met and married her evil husband. She needs to get away from the small town where rumors are spinning and people know her. When she visits Nirvana Ranch, an R&R, she realizes life isn’t as bleak as she thought.
Ben is missing something. He doesn’t feel the excitement he once did as a ranch hand at Nirvana, until he meets a guest that turns his world upside down. He has a connection with her that he can’t brush off or deny. Getting to know her breaks every rule in his book, but he is willing to take the risk.
Cara didn’t expect her life to change the moment sexy and rugged Ben walks in. Parts of her are flaming hot for cowboy, and she has an opportunity to break the rules, something her husband never allowed. Ben triggers her every fantasy and every desire. She’s on the ride of her life and it doesn’t require a saddle.What started as a strong urge to take Cara to a new level of passion becomes much, much more for Ben. Cara’s touch destroys the boundaries he’d built—exposing a secret of his own, a past of heartache and guilt.
Warning: Read at your own risk of falling for a cowboy.
My thoughts
This is the first book by this author I have read and so glad I got a chance through the blog tour. Cowboy Paradise is book 1 in the Cowboys of Nirvana Series. A nice quick read with wonderful characters.
Ben and Cara pop in this book their love and show through out the book and the author does not skimp on knowledge to let us see what is going on and what Cara is going through. When she finally leaves her abusive husband she runs into Ben and then immediately have an attraction to each other. You find yourself turning the pages to see what will happen between the two.
The characters pop off the page and into your heart.
Author Bio
At an early, Rhonda fell in love with romance novels, knowing one day she’d write her own love story. Life took a short detour, but when the story ideas would no longer be contained, she decided to dive in and write. Her first rough draft was on a dirty napkin she found buried in her car. Eventually, she ran out of napkins. With baby on one hip and laptop on the other, she made a dream into reality—one word at a time.
Her specialty is men who love to get their hands dirty and women who are smart, strong and flawed. She loves writing about the everyday hero.
When Rhonda isn’t crafting sizzling manuscripts, you will find her busy editing novels, blogging, juggling kids and animals (too many to name), dreaming of a beach house and keeping romance alive. Oh, and drinking lots of coffee to keep up with her characters.
Social Links
Website
Blog
Goodreads
TSU
Rhonda’s Rowdy Readers Street Team
Sign up for Rhonda Lee Carver’s monthly newsletter
Excerpt
“Ben, something’s in my pants.”
He dropped the basket to the ground. “What is it?”
“I don’t know, but…ouch! It stung me!” She froze. “Afraid if she moved an inch either direction whatever it was would sting her again. “I think it’s a bee.”
“What does the sting feel like?”
“Are you serious? A sting! Like someone shot a staple into my butt.” Tears came to her eyes.
“Drop your pants, Cara.” He was beside her in a flash.
The back of her thigh started to throb in pain but she continued to stare at him in confusion. “I’m not dropping my pants.” She was mortified.
“If it’s a wasp, it’ll sting you again,” he warned.
Fear washed over her, but not from the wasp. If she pulled down her pants he would see her panties, not the pretty, lace ones she wore once upon a time. Not the panties she knew men like Ben wanted to see on a woman. Cara’s panties certainly wouldn’t be found in a sexy lingerie shop. These were the comfy panties—as she liked to call them—she started wearing when James continually told her how fat she was getting. They didn’t cover up enough for her liking.
Had she gone mad?
And why did she care one hoot what underwear she was wearing? If Ben didn’t like them, then so what!
She smiled. Wow! She was getting the aggressive thing down. Deirdre would be proud.
“Do you need some help?” he asked.
She smacked his hand away. “No. I’ll do it, but you have to turn your head.”
“Cara, we don’t have time for this. Is it not processing that you could be stung again? This is for emergency reasons only.” The sincerity in his expression made it easier to do what she knew must be done.
Unbuttoning and unzipping her jeans, he was polite enough to keep his gaze on her face as she slowly slid the denim down her hips and thighs, slipping them to her knees. All of James’s cruel and degrading verbal assaults crawled through her mind as she stood there, partially naked. He had been the only man who’d seen her without clothes. And he’d never liked what he saw.
“Where did it sting you, sweetheart?” His gentle voice soothed her—a little.
“On my thigh, the back.”
“Turn and let me take a look.” His gaze slipped past her chest, her stomach and she crossed her, vulnerability easing through her. “If it’s a bee sting you could still have the stinger in your skin, which could cause infection. We can’t let that happen. You’re in Nirvana and that bee just wanted a little taste of honey.”
How did he do that? How did he make everything seem okay? How did he make her concerns seem ridiculous? In actuality, her fears were silly. She was being silly. James was gone and she was moving on. The internal scars were fading.
Reluctantly, she turned and closed her eyes. His breath rushed from his lungs and she jerked. Then he was quiet for the longest time. Was he silently gawking at her large butt or her huge thighs? She’d never claimed to be a supermodel and never wanted to be. She read in a magazine that men liked juicy butts, but what exactly did ‘juicy’ mean? Seconds turned into a minute. She started to turn back but he stopped her with a hand on her waist. “What is it, Ben?”
“It’s definitely a bee sting, darlin’.” His voice was smooth as silk.
“Then get it out fast. This is awkward standing here with my pants down around my ankles.”
“Well, sweetheart, there’s a problem.”
Buy Links
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Giveaway
~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
STIFF PENALTY Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway by Annelise Ryan
Stiff Penalty
by Annelise Ryan
Stiff Penalty (A Mattie Winston Mystery)
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Kensington (February 24, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1617734083
E-Book ASIN: B00M4ASUL0
Synopsis:
Deputy coroner Mattie Winston knows a thing or two about dead bodies. That’s why she’s on the case of Derrick Ames, a high school math teacher stabbed to death with a barbecue fork straight to the heart. Sure, she’s turned up some motives and a few suspects, but nothing adds up. Especially when the evidence points to Ames’s teenage son. Newly pregnant Mattie can’t believe it, even as her own long-estranged father may be following her. But one thing’s certain, she’d better start figuring things out fast, or a deadly perpetrator could be subtracting two more victims from the population of Sorenson, Wisconsin…
About This Author
Annelise Ryan is the pseudonym for the author of three suspense novels and another mystery series. She has written more than 200 published articles, worked as a book reviewer for Barnes & Noble®, and is an active member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She currently works as a registered nurse in an E.R. Visit her at mattiewinston.com.
Author Links
http://www.mattiewinston.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2994644.Annelise_Ryan
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Book Depository
Author Interview
Babs….When did you know you wanted to write?
I’ve wanted to write and have written since I was old enough to know how. I’ve written fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and song lyrics. I loved writing assignments of any kind in school. I kept a diary when I was younger but it got me into trouble so I started making up stories instead.
Babs…..What would you like your readers to get out of Stiff Penalty)?
Hopefully readers will get a few hours of entertainment while they try to solve the mystery, with some good laughs along the way. I’d imagine that by now most of the readers are vested in the characters and their lives, so I hope this next installment moves them along in a way that is satisfying and stimulating. If someone reads STIFF PENALTY as the first in the series, I hope they will be intrigued enough with the characters and the story to read the rest of the series.
Babs….How did the series come to you?
The idea for the series came to me with a thought I had while observing my first autopsy. I was worried about how I would deal with it, and feared I would wuss out and get sick, or faint, or something equally as embarrassing. When the time came, I thought I’d be okay with the sights given that I was a nurse and had seen both dead people and surgeries before. But I wasn’t at all sure about the smells. When that first odor hit me, I thought, Huh, the inside of a dead body doesn’t smell all that different from the inside of a live one. My writer’s brain instantly recognized that thought as a great first line for a novel and the story was born from that. It’s the only novel I’ve written that came about that way.
Babs…..Do you have a current project in the works?
I’m working on the seventh book in the Mattie Winston series: STIFF COMPETITION. It should be done soon, and then I’ll start working on book four in another series I write under a different pseudonym, Allyson K. Abbott.
Babs…..Do you have a ritual when you are writing? ie coffee, music, food etc.
Coffee…always coffee. Sometimes music, sometimes not, but if I do it’s instrumental music only. And I have a love affair with sticky notes. I track all my novel’s key points, characters, and plot ideas on sticky notes. They end up everywhere. I’m thinking of developing a whole new office design centered around the things. I’ve tried using a notebook, but I always come back to the sticky notes.
Babs…..Hobbies outside of writing?
I used to be a competitive Scrabble player, participating in tournaments and such. But my work schedule these days makes it hard to make the tournaments, so I mostly just play online. I also dabble in stained glass.
Babs….What book or books are you currently reading?
At the moment I’m reading AS YOU WISH: INCONCEIVABLE TALES FROM THE MAKING OF THE PRINCESSBRIDE by Cary Elwes.
Babs….If you could be one character from one of your books who would it be?
I’d have to go with Mattie Winston. She is the character who is most like me already, and she gets to say and do things that I only dream about. Plus, I’d love to have her job. And her boyfriend. (Don’t tell my husband!)
Babs…..What is your favorite desert?
If you truly mean desert, I’d have to say the Sahara. If you mean dessert, it’s strawberry shortcake made with real, homemade shortcake, the recipe for which comes from my 1960s era Betty Crocker cookbook.
Babs….What is your favorite Kitchen Gadget?
I love, love, LOVE kitchen gadgets even though I don’t cook all that often. My favorite is a toss-up between a mini food processor I have and use all the time, and a little rubber tube that’s a miracle device for peeling garlic. I use a lot of garlic when I cook.
Babs…Anything else you would like to add? ( links to any blogs/sites to follow etc)
www.bethamos.com
www.mattiewinston.com
www.mattiewinston.com/blog/
GIVEAWAY
The post STIFF PENALTY Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway by Annelise Ryan appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 9, 2015
Sweet Muse Blog tour, Interview & Giveaway
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About The Book:
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SWEET MUSE by Ava Cummings
Release Date: 1.22.15
Pages: 241
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Erotic Romance
Determined to overcome her difficult past, Anna Starr lands a coveted job at the nation’s biggest celebrity magazine in the center of the New York City power scene. She learns early on to make it on her own, and through sheer force of will she does. But frustration sets in when the dark side of tabloid journalism starts to poke through, and she gets duped while dating slicker-than-thou city boys.
Amidst a sea of cocktail parties, Anna meets rising art star Damien Wolfe. Their connection is dangerous, intense, and passionate beyond her imagination.
He sees her in a way that she has never seen herself, setting her on a journey toward self-discovery—
understanding what it means to be truly loved for the first time in her life. But she may lose it all when her blind ambition and his dark past lead to a crisis that changes everything.
Interview Questions:
Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?
Definitely. My grandfather, who is 100 years old and the most incredible person I know, has always been my inspiration. He had an illustrious career as a journalist—a reporter at Time magazine, the Washington Post, and Us News and World Report. He covered The White House, politics, and then eventually Wall Street and the financial world. Seeing him move through his career and hear about his stories inspired me to follow in his footsteps. When I was 16 years old, he set up an internship for me in New York to get a taste of what it was like to be a real journalist. For a week, I worked with his colleagues at CNN, Time, and also spent time at the financial services firm Dreyfus, where he was the CEO’s right hand man and running PR and corporate communications. I fell in love with that world of chasing news and the pace in New York. I was determined to get back there as soon as I finished college and work at a magazine. And that’s exactly what I did!
Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?
It’s torture asking a writer to answer this question!! It’s like asking a chef to pick his favorite food. Oy. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald if I had to name one. God, I loved and still love that book. The glamour, the complexity, the love, the human condition, the tragedy, the city as a backdrop—it had everything! I’ve read it so many times. It shows the highest highs and lowest lows of the human condition. And no book captures the wild and carefree time period better. The character of millionaire Jay Gatsby represents the extremes of 1920s wealth and decadence.
In your book, Sweet Muse, can you tell my community and readers a little about it?
Sweet Muse is best described as 50 Shades of Grey meets The Devil Wears Prada. It’s a contemporary erotic romance set in the glamour of New York City and the center of the tabloid and celebrity magazine publishing world. Determined to overcome her difficult past, my main character Anna Starr lands a coveted job at the nation’s biggest celebrity magazine in the center of the New York City power scene. She learns early on to make it on her own, and through sheer force of will she does. But frustration sets in when the dark side of tabloid journalism starts to poke through, and she gets duped while dating slicker-than-thou city boys.
Amidst a sea of cocktail parties, Anna meets rising art star Damien Wolfe. Their connection is dangerous, intense, and passionate beyond her imagination. He sees her in a way that she has never seen herself, setting her on a journey toward self-discovery—understanding what it means to be truly loved for the first time in her life. But she may lose it all when her blind ambition and his dark past lead to a crisis that changes everything.
For those who are unfamiliar with Anna Starr, how would you introduce her?
Anna Starr is a small town girl with a big dream. She grew up on a farm in the tiny town of Clark, Pennsylvania, but always had bigger aspirations. Her Aunt Sylvie was her inspiration and her guiding light. She was a journalist in New York, and Anna would visit her once a year growing up. Sylvie opened Anna’s eyes to a world she had never known—of glamour, sophistication, arts, and culture. From a young age, Anna knew she had to move to New York and become a journalist just like her.
Anna’s also a funny mix of insecure, klutzy, and awkward—she bites her nails, trips over things that aren’t even there, and says the wrong thing at the wrong time. St the same time, she’s headstrong and is determined to make it in New York—to conquer this unfamiliar world. And she believes people should do the right thing, and when they don’t she feels a moral obligation to call it out, fix it.
She grew up with not a lot and she has always coveted the big, rich life she has seen in magazines and on TV and naively thinks that money will solve all her woes. Her parents were hippies and always espoused a life of less.
At the same time, she’s been unlucky in love. Hasn’t ever experienced it and has only been hurt by guys that do her wrong. Her dad left when she was young and she’s never really recovered from that hurt and lives her life trying to protect her heart, but in the process ends up getting hurt when she stays closed off and picks wrong.
The book is her journey to getting to know herself, coming of age, realizing who she is, and then allowing herself to be vulnerable and open to love—a big love that only comes along once in a lifetime.
What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
I’m starting to plan the next book in the series, figuring out what Anna needs to do next and where her journey will go. There will be another crazy scandal that she’ll uncover, and she’ll need to find her dad and confront him before she’ll finally feel whole. Oh, and let’s not forget Damien. He has some ghosts in his past that are still unresolved that will come to light and may put a chink in their happily ever after. I hope to start writing soon.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating the artist-muse relationship with Anna’s love interest Damien Wolfe?
Anna’s love interest Damien Wolfe, or “The Wolfe” as my fans call him, is not your proto-typical alpha. He’s an up and coming art star. Because he’s an artist, he’s passionate, fiery, creative, and moves and thinks with his heart. He’s pure in some ways, in that he doesn’t care what people think and he’ll do what feels right to him in the moment.
To fuel his creativity, he needs a muse—an inspiration, presence, that fuels his work. I had fun exploring the artist-muse relationship, which is intuitive, private, visceral, and complex. I researched how artists in history used them and became so devoted to them, how they became an essential piece to making their art. Picasso, Manet, Steiglitz, even photographer David LaChappelle, all had muses that drove their creative process. The relationship is intense: Picasso’s muse actually hung herself a few years after his death, so bereft without him. I took inspiration from the power and tension of this relationship and incorporated it into the book with Anna and Damien, and it makes their relationship different than a lot of what’s out there in other romances.
From the very first chapter, you see Damien connect with her and see something in her that he needs, that fuels his creativity, that helps him express himself. But this intensity, this bare need, can become complex and it certainly does with them!
What’s the most memorable summer job you’ve ever had?
Oh my, I’ve had so many. Where do I begin? I’ve been working since I was 15 years old. And that first job when I was 15? McDonald’s. Yup. I worked the register and served burgers. I’ve also been a grocery store cashier—before there were scanners. What a pain finding the price tag on everything! I’ve been a waitress, a hostess. I’ve worked retail. One summer when I was in college, I waitressed at a small family run Middle Eastern restaurant. And the owner and I did not get along. He was curmudgeonly and was always “putting me in my place,” as he would say, as a woman. That is was my job to wash the towels and napkins and fold them because I was a woman! Well, that set me off. I told him that I would fold the towels because he was paying me to, not because it was my duty as a woman. He got so mad one day that he fired me in the middle of my shift! When I got home a little while later, the phone rang a few minutes and guess who called to apologize and begged me to come back?!
Tell me about your first kiss.
My first kiss was from Nicky Letters. Isn’t that the cutest name! It was my 6th birthday party, which was at my house. We were all playing tag in the front yard. Instead of tagging me, he came in and planted a big kiss right on my cheek! I was totally in shock—and completely embarrassed. But there it was. Good old Nicky Letters.
What would be harder for you, to tell someone you love them or to tell them that you do not love them back?
Saying that I don’t love them back, for sure. When feelings aren’t reciprocated, it’s so hard to tell someone. You know you’re breaking their heart. And I hate hurting people. But I will say that telling the truth in this case is important and hurts less if you can do it up front than to string someone along, which I see happen all the time because people are too cowardly to tell the person how they really feel.
When was the last time you cried?
Honestly, I think it was when I was reading a book. The author Jojo Moyes makes me bawl pretty much with all of her books. She creates characters that are so vivid and real, they bring me in and I just get carried into their lives and feelings and there is always some massive crescendo at the end that breaks me up to pieces and I’m lying there in bed with tears streaming down my face and heaving with sobs—and my husband is like what is up!
What is your greatest adventure?
Oh, I think I have to say life, even though I know it’s so cliché. Raising two kids to be wonderful, kind, loving human beings, working full time and pursuing a career, becoming an author and following that journey, being active in my local community, nurturing my friendships, and partnering with my husband, the best guy in the planet, through it all. Everyday is a new adventure, filled with challenges and surprises. I try to enjoy it as much as I can, rise to the challenges and stay positive, motivated, and unafraid of what’s next. Some days I’m more successful than others, but we are all a work in progress!
Where can readers stalk you?
You can find me in all these lovely places:
Website: http://www.avacummingsauthor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/avacummings90
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ava-Cummings/707155562734156?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Good reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13130364.Ava_Cummings
Meet the Author:
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Ava Cummings spent more than 10 years as an editor at some of the biggest and best-known magazines in the world.
She fetched coffee, fell in love with fashion, and eventually became a full-fledged editor, covering Hollywood and bringing in stories about bold women that were making a difference in the world.
She has spun together the sweep-you-off-your-feet happy endings of fairy tales, the unbelievable headlines she reads in the news, and the quirky personalities that she’s encountered in both the real world and on reality TV in her first novel, Sweet Muse.
Ava lives in the leafy suburbs of Boston with her husband and two children.
Social Media Links:
Follow the Tour:
March 2nd – Bookish – Debbie – Guest Post
March 2nd – Chosen One – Review
March 3rd – Forbidden Reviews – Playlist
March 4th– Beauty and the Armageddon – This or That
March 5th – Karin’s Fantasy World – Review
March 5th – Unconventional Librarian – Guest Post
March 6th – Carolyn’s World – Review
March 6th – Reads All The Books – Review
March 9th– Babs Book Bistro – Author Interview
March 9th – Cherry
Mischievous – Spotlight/Guest Post
March 10th – Nicole Alamillo –Review
March 10th – Shell Williams – Review
March 11th– Heather Ann’s Book Reviews – Review
March 11th – All About Books – Review
March 12th – Anna’s Blog – Review
March 12th – The Reader and The Chef – Review
March 13th – Lara’s Reviews – Review
March 13th – Pixie Vixen Book Reviews – Review
What Readers are Saying:
“It’s like Fifty Shades of Grey meets Devil wears Prada meets Girls!” —Carrie Adel
“I couldn’t put it down! Sweet Muse has it all—celebrities, scandal, and steamy romance. Ava
Cummings’ writing invites the reader into Anna’s world, sharing her journey as she discovers the dark side of her dream job at a celebrity magazine and finds a love so powerful it will change everything. Totally captivating!” —Sarah Bagwell
Giveaway:
Event hosted by:
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The Bluebird Bet by Cheryl Harper Blog Tour & Giveaway
A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.
The Bluebird Bet
(Welcome to Tall Pines #2)
Cheryl Harper
Adult Contemporary Romance
March 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming
Winning isn’t everything…
To other people Dr. Elaine Watson never loses. Period. So she won’t miss out on a chance to restore the Bluebird Bed-and-Breakfast. The owner’s son, Dean Collins, seems just as determined as she is. A famous photojournalist, he hasn’t been home in years, so why does he want to turn the Bluebird, a charming old B and B, into a fishing camp?
With just a few weeks to create the winning plan, Elaine has no choice but to spend time with the guy. She’s drawn to the handsome, wounded man, but being with Dean would mean giving up the future she’s been dreaming of… And Dr. Elaine Watson never gives up.
Excerpt
Robert Collins slid off the exam table. “Here’s the thing. It’s a tough decision, but it’s the right time. Someone else can take the Bluebird and make it special again. Martha would want that, and she’d want me to get off my hindquarters and do something with all this time. Running an inn…well, I think maybe it’s a talent a person’s born with. Martha had that gift—it ran in her blood. Without her, the business just…stopped. The place lost its magic, and eventually guests stopped coming. That suited me fine for a while. Now, I’m not sure Dean’s the right choice, but I don’t know if I can let it go to someone else.” Robert blinked slowly. “I understand that letting it fall down around my ears is the worst option. Martha’d hate to see her inn looking like it does.”
Elaine squeezed his arm. “Let Dean take a shot. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Nothing felt comfortable about this whole situation, but it seemed like the right thing to say. She wanted the Bluebird. She should make him an offer. But he wanted the best for his son and for the Bluebird. She would encourage him, even if it went against her nature.
“You surprise me, Doc. Figured a take-no-prisoners winner would seize any weakness.” He raised an eyebrow. “Better not let Wanda Blankenship see that soft underbelly when the Fourth of July half marathon comes around. She’ll knock you out of the top spot.”
Oh, no. She would not. Elaine had placed first in the women’s division every year since she’d moved here. Wanda Blankenship, owner of the town gym, would eat her dust again this year.
Some of her warrior’s spirit must have shown on her face because Robert laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world to put a target on Wanda Blankenship’s back. Good thing he wasn’t racing.
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Harlequin
Cheryl Harper discovered her love for books and words as a little girl, thanks to a mother who made countless library trips and an introduction to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House stories. Cheryl enjoys strong characters that make her laugh. Now she spends her days searching for the right words while she stares out the window and her dog snoozes beside her.
Website – Goodreads – Facebook – Twitter – Pinterest
Tour-Wide Giveaway
- $25 Amazon gift card (open internationally)
- Signed print copies of A Minute on the Lips & The†Bluebird Bet (US only)
- 5 ebooks of The Bluebird Bet (to be gifted through Amazon or B&N)
Ends March 24th
Follow the March Tour!
4:
Launch
5:†My Devotional Thoughts
6:†Wishful Endings
8:†JoJo’s Corner
9:†Colorimetry &†Babs Book Bistro
10:†i blog 4 books
11:†I Am A Reader
12:†Katie’s Clean Book Collection & The Written Adventure
13:†Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima
15:†Paranormal Books
16:†Getting Your Read On
17: Grand Finale
The post The Bluebird Bet by Cheryl Harper Blog Tour & Giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
ICING ON THE CORPSE Blog Tour, Review, Recipe & Giveaway
The Icing on the Corpse
by Liz Mugavero
The Icing on the Corpse (A Pawsitively Organic Mystery)
3rd in Series
Series: A Pawsitively Organic Mystery
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (March 31, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0758284822
Synopsis
Kristan “Stan” Connor is thrilled to be invited to the Groundhog Day festivities in quirky Frog Ledge, Connecticut. Her organic, home-baked pet treats are a big hit at the annual celebration, though an important guest is curiously absent . . .
When Helga Oliver, the town’s elderly historian, is found crumpled in the basement of the Historical Museum, the close-knit town is devastated. But after some tenacious digging, Stan discovers Helga was pushed down the stairs–and that this picture-perfect New England town may hide some dark secrets . . .
Stan’s dogged determination reveals Helga’s ties to an unsolved death in 1948 . . . but how does that connect to Adrian Fox, who’s just arrived in town to shoot an episode of Celebrity Ghost Hunters? Stan is going to have to be very careful in chasing down the killer–if she wants to live to see another winter . . .
My thoughts:
This is the first book I have read in this series. This is the 3rd installment in the series, Pawsitively Organic. Is this story the victim is very close to the family of Jake, her boyfriend and brother of the law enforcer. Stan has got to find out who has done this.
I also like the other story line about Ghosthunters. The story had me turing the pages as I got sucked in to this wonderful Cozy and did not want it to end.
I will be checking out the first 2 books.
Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes!
About This Author
Liz Mugavero is a corporate communications consultant and animal lover from the Boston area, whose canine and feline rescues demand the best organic food and treats around. Her short stories have been published in the UK and Australia, and her essays have appeared in national publications Skirt! and Sassee Magazine for Women.
Author Links
http://www.lizmugavero.com; https://twitter.com/lizmugavero;
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6475412.Liz_Mugavero;
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Liz-Mugavero/329291780446231;
Purchase Links
Amazon Indie Bound B&N Book Depository
Recipe:
Breakfast Bones
2 cups wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 TBLS instant dry yeast
2 dashes cinnamon
1 TBLS honey
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup water
2 TBLS oil (vegetable or canola)
1/2 cup bacon
Mix all wet in stand mixer, add flour and then add other dry ingredients. Lastly, add bacon. Knead in mixer for about 4 minutes. Roll out dough to 1/4″ – 1/2″ and cut with a bone shaped cookie cutter in the size of your choice. 3″ bone cutter is recommended. Convection bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes.
Dehydrate treats for 10 hours for longer-lasting freshness.
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March 8, 2015
WILD HORSES B.J. Daniels! Blog Tour, Q & A + Giveaway
WILD HORSES
By B.J. Daniels
It took only one impulsive moment on an empty two-lane highway to cost Livie Hamilton everything. InWILD HORSES, (Harlequin, $7.99) one fateful mistake isn’t the only secret Livie is keeping from her fiancée, Cooper Barnett—a headstrong cowboy with a talent for taming horses. Victimized during a treacherous blizzard by a man she thought she could trust, she’s pregnant—but unsure who the father is.
When Livie receives blackmail notes threatening to expose her, she must confess to Cooper and trust he’ll still protect her. What she doesn’t know is that Cooper has already made many sacrifices in the name of love. When a stranger’s twisted vendetta threatens the happy ending they should’ve had long ago, their relationship is put to the ultimate test.
B.J. DANIELS, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, wrote her first book after a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist and author of 37 published short stories. That first book, Odd Man Out, received a four and a half star review from Romantic Times magazine and went on to be nominated for Best Intrigue for that year. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense and numerous nominations and awards for best book. Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and two springer spaniels, Spot and Jem. When she isn’t writing, she snowboards, camps, boats and plays tennis. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death and Romance Writers of America.
My Thoughts:
Sorry did not get to finish yet due to strep throat.
Giveaway:
Q & A
Q&A with B.J. Daniels
author of WILD HORSES
WILD HORSES is part of your Beartooth, Montana series and the first book featuring the six Hamilton sisters as the main characters. Have you wanted to write about the Hamilton sisters for a while now or was this a new idea?
I mentioned the Hamilton sisters in earlier books. They were the young women that local men wanted to date, but were reluctant given that the sisters’ father is Senator Buckmaster Hamilton. Not to mention that the young women themselves are…particular when it comes to their men.
What is the significance of the title, WILD HORSES?
I like to believe there is some wild horse in each of us. With the Hamilton sisters, who were raised with the run of the huge ranch, they are definitely free spirits. That’s why I knew it would take a special man to get any of them to settle down.
The family structure of the Hamiltons has all the classic elements of a fairytale (i.e. mother dies young and father remarries a difficult woman). Do you often find yourself revisiting classic fairytale themes in your books?
Not purposely, but I think those themes are so universal that all writers tend to find them in their work. Also, I don’t think that everyone is built to be a stepmother. Angelina Broadwater Hamilton definitely wasn’t.
Will Sarah Hamilton (their biological mother’s) story be explored at all?
The over-arcing mystery in all six books has to do with Sarah, the biological mother who’s been gone for the past twenty-two years. I’m fascinated with her character. She keeps surprising me, which is always good. So, yes, Sarah is in all six books.
Each sister has her own solid identity. Did you create a character sketch of each sister or was it a spur of the moment decision?
Because I am one of those writes-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of writer, I get to know my characters as they show up on the page. It is great fun because the sisters are all different.
Livie Hamilton is the most headstrong of her sisters. Was there a particular reason why Livie Hamilton’s story “spoke to you” first before her other sisters?
The only reason Livie’s story is first is that I saw her driving along a narrow two-lane in the middle of nowhere in the middle of a blizzard. I’ve done that before so I know how scary it can be. You can’t see a dozen yards in front of your vehicle. You often can’t tell where the road is. And if there is no other vehicles around, that often means that the road has been closed to all but emergency traffic. That means if you go off the road, no one will be coming along to help you. I’ve also made rash spur-of-the-moment decisions that I have regretted. Haven’t we all. But this decision is about to cost her everything.
Cooper Barnett is the resident horse whisperer and a determined cowboy – what made you choose horse handling as Cooper’s profession?
I believe men who are good with horses are also good with gentling women. Livie needs to be gentled. She’s headstrong. She doesn’t think she needs a man. But she wants Cooper, who is equally headstrong and independent to a fault. Obviously, they are going to have to work some things out before they can really get together.
What is the dynamic between the Hamilton sisters and their father, Senator Buckmaster Hamilton?
The sisters are very loving toward their father. He has given them free run of the ranch – and anything they’ve ever asked for. He realizes that was probably a mistake, but he only wants them to be happy. He feels bad that they’ve never had a real mother since their biological mother died and their stepmother wants little to do with them. But father and daughters are very close in these books. He’s like all of us parents who look back and wish we had done a few things differently.
The story centers around one small mistake and what it costs the main character. What inspired this theme?
Rash decisions can cost you. Especially if you get angry and take off to get caught in a blizzard on a lonely road in the middle of nowhere.
I’ve been on those roads, in those blizzards, and wished I hadn’t left home when I did. But there is no turning back often because the road behind you is possibly worse than the one you are on. You’re basically trapped because there are no towns to pull off in and often no ranch houses or anything else for miles. Also the snow is often deeper at the side of the road so you can’t even pull off and wait out the storm.
You just keep going and pray you don’t go in the ditch because you could be there for a very long time and if it is really cold out, you might not make it before someone comes along.
You can see why I love writing about Montana and what I know.
You dedicated this book to your father and his love for Montana. How did growing up there influence your writing?
My father was the major influence in my life. He always told me I could do whatever I wanted to do when I grew up. He encouraged me always and got to see me published before he died, something I am very thankful for.
But he also gave me Montana. We moved here when I was five. He loved it and he passed that love on to me. It will always be home.
Here’s a cover art question. Which do you prefer: an illustration of a cowboy or the real thing?
As long as the cover conveys the feeling of the book, I would be happy either way. I have been very lucky to get some wonderful covers. The WILD HORSES cover is beautiful and it has that feel of being away from it all.
Without giving away too much, what is your favorite suspense scene in the book?
I would have to say the opening. What is worse than going off the road in a blizzard in the middle of nowhere, thinking you will freeze to death before morning, and then you see headlights through the falling snow. Someone is coming. But are they really going to save you?
Was this story inspired by any films you’ve watched or books you’ve read?
I don’t think so. As writers everything we see, hear, touch or smell – let alone imagine – can end up in our books and we have no idea where it came from.But my father loved old murder mystery movies and westerns so I’ve watched a lot of them. And I love Hitchcock.
Who would play Livie and Cooper in a movie?
I have to admit I’m not up on the younger actors. So I’d have to leave that up to my readers to decide. I watch a lot of old movies.
What is the steamiest romance scene in the book?
Now if I told you, I’d have to kill you. No, seriously, you’d want to flip to that part of the book. Sorry, no spoilers.
How was the writing process different for this book than for past books you’ve written?
They all seem like they are going to be easy when I start a book. I’m excited and hopeful. But there is always a point where I think I will never finish the book. I swear it is like trying to walk through quicksand at times. I write and write, but the book doesn’t seem to get longer. This one was tough because it’s the first one. Once it is in print, there is no changing any of the setting, characters, past events. So especially with the other sisters, you have to be sure you didn’t say anything you will regret.
How do you deal with the pressure of deadlines?
I treat writing like a real job. Except without weekends. I write every day. It keeps me in the story and makes it so much easier to pick up where I left off the day before. I also write myself little notes when I can see the next scene or two. Sometimes the deadlines get to me when a book is being difficult. But I’m pretty good at meeting them. I think the latest I’ve ever been is two weeks – and that’s after more than 70 books.
What is Flat Cowboy up to these days?
Flat cowboys are the bookmarks to my Cardwell Ranch series for Harlequin Intrigue. One of the lovely editors at Harlequin saw a bookmark and thought I should have a cowboy one like it. That started something. A reader began calling the bookmarks Flat Cowboys and another reader began to take photographs of each Flat Cowboy wherever she went. The first reader put up a site for other readers to post where they’d been with their Flat Cowboys (The Adventures of Flat Cowboy on Facebook)
So yes it took off and it’s been a whole lot of fun!
When can we expect the next Montana Hamiltons story to come out?
LONE RIDER will be out the end of June followed by LUCKY SHOT the end of September. The next three, still untitled, will be out the end of February, June and September in 2016.
What are you working on next?
Right now I am finishing up LUCKY SHOT. I am having great fun with the characters. As I said, the over-arcing mystery deals with Sarah Hamilton, the biological mother of the sisters who vanished from their lives twenty-two years ago. Is she the loving mother she pretends to be? And where has she been the past twenty-two years?
It is all great fun.
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