Babs Hightower's Blog, page 113
March 1, 2015
FOLLOW YOUR NEIGHBOR GREAT ESCAPES TOUR
Follow Your Neighbor
by Rosalee Richland
Follow Your Neighbor:
A Darla King Novel (Volume 3)
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Wordsmiths4u (October 15, 2014)
Paperback: 166 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0985012960
E-Book ASIN: B00OC02ST0
Synopsis
When her new neighbor Jake Carstairs is murdered in her driveway, square dance caller and accidental sleuth Darla King has a new mystery to solve. This time, it hits close to home. The mystery, and Jake’s wife, follow Darla to the National Square Dance Convention in Nashville. Darla needs to figure out what Jake’s wife and the killer want before Darla faces more trouble than she can handle. As the tension builds, Darla and her friends from Clearton Squares once again contribute to solving a mystery. Her romantic life tangles up with her professional life and her sleuthing, but eventually Darla figures it all out.
Follow Your Neighbor is the third book in the Darla King mystery series. The first book in the series, Right and Left Grand, found Darla and her friends involved in solving a string of burglaries. The second book, Load the Boat, featured a square dance cruise where Darla encountered a dead crew member, a mysterious man with a satchel, and the return of an arrogant yet irresistible FBI agent.
Interview:
About This Author
Rosalee Richland is the pen name of two square dancers and writers. As Rosalee, co-authors Cyndi Riccio and Rhonda Brinkmann joined forces to create the Darla King cozy mystery series. Darla’s curiosity often puts her squarely in the midst of unusual circumstances, and Darla can’t let go until the mystery is solved. Through Darla and her friends, readers are exposed to the warmth and friendship among square dancers, as well as the enjoyment square dancing brings worldwide.
When not writing, Darla’s co-authors enjoy reading, traveling, meeting readers and fans, networking with other authors, and – of course – square dancing. The first in the series is RIGHT AND LEFT GRAND and takes place at various locations in Texas. The second in the series is LOAD THE BOAT. As you might guess from the title, this one takes place on a cruise ship.
Author Links:
Blog: Darla King Series rosaleerichland.blogspot.com
Goodreads/Rosalee Richland:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6577514.Rosalee_Richland
Rosalee Richland on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosalee-Richland/284946448289065
Purchase Links:
AMAZON : www.amazon.com/dp/B00OC02ST0
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1zp89Bt
KOBO: http://bit.ly/1uaoIii
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February 28, 2015
Cat Tree with House Review
When I noticed the cat tree on Tomoson up for review I had to jump on it for my cat Katie Bell. She has a different cat tree she uses and I thought it would be good idea to get her another one. You can never spoil a cat.
The box came and I admit it was heavy so I dragged it in. Once my oldest son got home we put the tree together it comes with everything you need. It took us about 25 minutes as there are various parts. Easy to put together and looks nice like the picture above . We placed ours in the bedroom up against the wall to make things easier. You need to make sure you brace it well. Ours moves a little but which is to be expected so don’t worry about that part.
Katie likes her new cat tree.
Floor to ceiling cat tree in elegant beige colored Faux Fur comes with sisal scratching posts that will withstand the toughest claws. This tree features 3 cat perches for easy climbing, cozy cat house and plenty of scratching poles. Overall size: 88”-98” H x 38” L x 16” W ; Color: Beige (Faux Fur) ; Board material: Strong Pressed Wood ; The base is: 24” x 16” ; cat house: 11.8”W x 13.8”L x 10.2”H ; 3 perches for climbing up to the ceiling: 11.8”W x 13.8”L ; Assembly of this floor to ceiling cat tower is easy with simple step by step instructions and tools provided. Since this is very tall cat tree, it is better to place at least one side against the wall.
http://www.cozycatfurniture.com/cat-trees/floor-to-ceiling-cat-tree-with-house.htm
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LEGO Minecraft The Cave 21113 Playset Review
My boys were delighted when the mail came yesterday. The opened up the box to find this.
I never seen 3 boys get wild about their Minecraft Legos. The box says ages 8 + so you can see why I had my oldest help the little ones. It didn’t take 5 seconds for them to get the box open and maybe 10 minutes if that to get it put together. It did not stop there the boys decided they were going to get their other legos out and add on. Star wars and Mine Craft came together. Then we ended up with cars and trucks visiting the Minecraft village so to speak.
Since last night the boys have been playing with it non stop and have already picked out what the want to get next from the booklet that shows the other Minecraft they have in the sets.
They really love this and glad I was able to review it. Any child I think would love to put Minecraft Legos together. No matter if you are a girl or a boy and no matter how old.
Product Description
Includes 2 minifigures with assorted accessories: Steve and a zombie, plus a spider
Eatures waterfall, lava fall, coal, iron, redstone, gold and obsidian elements, plus TNT, torch and a ladder
Includes 249 assorted LEGO pieces; Combine this set with others in the series to create your own LEGO Minecraft world.
The post LEGO Minecraft The Cave 21113 Playset Review appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
Monat Hair Review & Giveaway
I had the pleasure of reviewing Monat for my hair. I have thinning hair due to my Thyroid disease. Below is the ones I have been using for two weeks. I can tell a big difference in my hair. It feels and looks fuller and shiner. It is nice to not get comments on how thin my hair is.
Product Description
Thank you for the opportunity to share these amazing salon quality products with you.
Monat is a truly revolutionary product line that has been developed over a number of years and is botanically based. Have you ever pondered why your hair can look and feel wonderful one day, but be brittle and unmanageable the next? Our hair is subjected to abuse day in and day out, not just from products but from changes in the environment, weather and exposure to pollutants. Unless you wear a hat all the time, there was no way to combat these ravaging effects … until now.
All MONAT products are sustainable and naturally based, with active botanicals that have stood the test of time, such as Abyssinian Oil, Red Clover Extract and Pea Extract. These powerful botanicals protect the hair against UV and free-radical damage, and infuse each strand with vitamins and minerals that combat oxidative stress while proactive amino acids repair and replace nutrients at the cellular level. With sustained use of MONAT, you’ll experience noticeable regrowth, decreased thinning and stronger follicles. It’s a recipe for health, regardless of your hair type and damage. MONAT addresses these external stressors as well as the body chemistry that affects hair health and growth. Its unique blend of naturally-based oils works in harmony to promote hair growth, improve follicle strength, and add luster and vitality. Our proprietary formulas seep hair in indulgent moisture, reducing dry and brittle texture to deliver new life and hydration to every strand. Check them out at www.fullthickhairloss.com
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February 27, 2015
BOLT FROM THE BLUE by Tania Spark & Giveaway
Enter to Win
Ebook copy of HEAVEN SENT or
$5.00 Amazon eGift Card
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BOLT FROM THE BLUE
Oblivion on Tour #2
Tania Sparks
Releasing February 27th, 2015
Nikki’s the flamboyant rhythm guitarist of the hard rock band Oblivion. He’s a sexy rock star man-whore who’s accustomed to a life of music, partying and a constant stream of girls that are ready, willing and able!
Trixie’s a feisty party girl who likes to have fun. She makes the most of her single lifestyle and happy-go-lucky attitude. But she’s also a hard-nosed business women who knows what she wants and goes out and gets it. She lives her life by the motto ‘Work hard. Play hard’.
Neither of them ‘do relationships’. But when their frequent hook-ups start to develop into something more they realize that the connection and pull between them is undeniable. The prospect of wanting more than just mind-blowing sex from each other is a total shock to both of them and it hits them like a bolt from the blue.
Can they change their partying ways and give in to the irresistible chemistry that sizzles between them? Do they even want to? And will their past catch up with them to prevent them from giving the whole relationship thing a proper try?
The first thing you need to know about me is that I
genuinely believe in true love and soul mates. I met my wonderful husband when
we were still at school. I was sixteen, he was seventeen, we are high school
sweethearts. Now more than twenty five years later, we are still very much in
love and are happily married with two beautiful children. We live in
picturesque New Zealand and I consider ourselves lucky to live in this
magnificent part of the world.
I do have a full time job, but in my spare minutes I enjoy
spending time with my family, cooking and reading. I’m an avid reader and tend
to chomp through a large volume of books, mainly in the romance genre. And of
course my other major ‘hobby’ is writing steamy rock star erotic romances!
I started writing in early 2014. After spending many years
writing business documentation, and constantly being inspired by numerous
romance novels, I decided to try my hand at fictional writing. After penning my
first scene I discovered that I enjoyed it immensely and so resolved to
continue with the rest of the story that was swirling in my imagination. That
story resulted in my first novel, Heaven Sent.
My Oblivion on Tour Series follows the five band members of
the hard rock group Oblivion. Each book in the series follows a different band
member and their quest for love.
Book 1 – Heaven Sent – Ash and Eve’s story
Book 2 – Bolt From The Blue – Nikki and Trixie’s story
Books 3, 4 & 5 will each tell Cody, Scott and Hansen’s
stories.
I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing
them.
Find Tania Here
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Jump on the Tour TODAY!
The post BOLT FROM THE BLUE by Tania Spark & Giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
The Dance of the Firefly (The Creators) by Kathy Bosman book blitz & Giveaway
The Dance of the Firefly
Print Length: 166 pages
Publisher: Decadent Publishing (February 13, 2015)
Synopsis
Mix together a beautiful ballerina and ballet teacher, a sexy single dad, and a precocious-yet-sweet daughter, and emotions run high. Add racial and cultural differences, work contracts coming to an end, and hurts and memories from the past and sparks fly.
Rowena loves to dance but has ended up teaching ballet instead. When she helps out Cameron’s difficult daughter, a bond develops between the two dancers. Cameron makes Rowena uncomfortable because he stirs up new, unwanted feelings which make no sense when he intends to leave Zambia soon when his contract ends.
Cameron can’t resist sanguine live-wire Rowena who makes his daughter smile for the first time in years. But can he risk his heart again when memories of his late wife come back to haunt him? And Rowena has a lot more at stake in giving her all.
Buy links
Book Trailer
About the author
Here’s a little bit about me for those who may be curious. I’ve been writing for about ten years now. I started off writing children’s books. Then my husband suggested that I try an adult novel. I enjoyed writing it so much, and it turned out to be a romance. That made me realise that I could bring my love of romance into my writing. My writing has evolved over the years from partial romance, to inspirational romance, historicals (which didn’t work at all!) to sweet, contemporary romance.
I’ve also learnt that writing isn’t just about writing – that so much thought goes into it, there’s also the editing process which is actually even more work than the writing process, and lastly, once the book is out, there’s promoting of your book. But I love it!
Besides writing, I keep myself busy by homeschooling my three children (okay one is a teenager), tackling piles of laundry and dishes, making all sorts of food from scratch, and helping out with raising funds for the local Cubs and Scouts. Reading and watching romantic movies help me unwind.
The best inspiration for my writing has been the ROSA (Romance Writers of South Africa) Group. What a fantastic group of writers they are who have helped me get to where I am now.
Follow Kathy Bosman
Giveaway
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Blood Legacy by C.J. Ellisson blog tour & Givaway
Giveaway is at the bottom of the post.
Interview with CJ
Babs….When did you know you wanted to write?
Believe it or not, it was after I started my first book. Before that, writing was just a pipe dream, but when I started it became real. And all of a sudden, I wanted to succeed at it more than anything in my life.
Babs…..What would you like your readers to get out of Blood Legacy and the V V Inn series?
I’d love for them to enjoy a few hours of escapism in the world and characters I’ve created. I never wrote a deep message into the books, or anything like that, just hoped I could spin a good tale that engaged readers and brought them happiness while reading it.
Babs…..Do you have a current project in the works?
I’m working on several: plotting the next V V Inn book, submitting three proposals to my agent, and then plotting the last title in the Walk in the Wild Side series, Vanilla Spice.
Babs…..Do you have a ritual when you are writing? ie coffee, music, food etc
No, not really. Well, maybe more accurately would be I never thought I did! I like it relatively peaceful, with no wilding dogs racing around for attention, and maybe a hot drink by my side. I can write with music or in silence, at my desk or in a car, but I do prefer to not be hungry. A growling stomach and plunging blood sugar never produces good work for me.
Babs…..Hobbies outside of writing?
Reading (gee, no surprise there, right?), gardening, hiking, photography, cooking with my husband or kids (I’m starting to hate the drudgery of cooking day in and day out by myself), playing board, card, and dice games with my kids (and any kids in the neighborhood, too), and going camping.
Babs….What book or books are you currently reading?
I’m working my way through all the titles in Psychic Storm, a ten book anthology Vampire Vacation was included in earlier this month. I’m on my third story now, London, by JC Andrijeski. All the books include some type of psychic character, so if I need a break I pick up another genre in between titles. I started Liliana Hart’s latest JJ Graves mystery, Down and Dirty, right before London.
Babs….If you could be one character from one of your books who would it be?
LOL! I thought that one was obvious. I’d be Vivian, only not so bitchy and controlling. 
Babs…Favorite drink?
I’m on a low-to-no alcohol restriction, but my favorite, whenever I get it, has been an English hard cider called Blackthorn. Yum…
Babs…..What is your favorite ice cream?
Rocky Road! And my next favorite is vanilla.
Babs….What is your favorite food?
Pasta or pizza. Yup, I love those processed carbs way too much. LOL!
Babs…Anything else you would like to add? ( links to any blogs/sites to follow etc)
Thanks for having me! I’m hosting a book reviewer’s giveaway and would really appreciate you mentioning it in your post. Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/C.J.Ellisson...
Excerpt
Chapter One
Vivian
After being almost killed by silver poisoning, I’m recovering nicely. Most people think vampires are immortal, and I can understand why with how long our kind can normally exist. But if you can be killed by any means, then you aren’t technically immortal, right? I prefer the term semi-mortal. Lord knows I’ve certainly killed more than my fair share of vampires, and I can attest that we are not immune to death.
I stretch on the chaise lounge, gazing up at the late afternoon cloud coverage revealed by the clear atrium panels above me. It’s a nice winter day in late June, three weeks after I escaped from capture, off the southeastern coast of Argentina, and a semblance of peace finally fills me.
Drew, one of the vampires in my seethe, or vampire family, strides into the inner garden of our large Spanish-style hacienda and clears his throat. “Vivian,” he says, calling me by the nickname most everyone uses instead of my real name, Dria, short for Alexandria. “Do you really think shipping us home to Alaska is the best idea? We all want to stay and help.”
I glance up at the tall, slender man, noting his healthy hue and the sexually satisfied air about him. Judging by the noises drifting from his suite every night since our return to the island, he and Chelly have been exploring their new relationship status, vampire and servant, every chance they’ve had.
“You’re not strong enough for this fight, Drew, and neither are the others. I appreciate your loyalty and decision to stay to see things through, but I won’t risk your safety for my own.”
Frustration appears to simmer beneath his smooth facade. “I take it there’s nothing I can say or do to prove we’d be an asset?”
I rise from my comfortable spot on the lounge chair. “Think about it—you might be a help, but what about the others? Can you say the same for any of them?” I angle my head and go for a low blow. “Could you live with yourself if your desire to protect your master led to their deaths? Would you sleep well during the day knowing Chelly died before she had to?”
Drew’s handsome face crumples, his noble intent twisting within. “Not fair, Viv. Not fair. Dammit!” He paces away before whipping around to face me again. “Deep down, I know you’re right, but that doesn’t mean I have to accept it without complaint.”
I walk toward him, reaching out a hand in comfort. My grip rests lightly on his forearm as I push my will into him, not quite using my full manipulator traits that can sway any vampire to my way of thinking, but I give him a mental shove past his immediate anger to offer clear thinking. “I know where your heart lies, and I don’t mean regarding Chelly. I know you would fight to the death beside me, without hesitation. But I have need of you elsewhere.” His brow quirks up in question. “You will be the one to protect all I hold dear. You will be the strongest left in Alaska should trouble befall them while I’m gone.”
Irritation at my words spills into his tone. “What good will I be in Alaska during the summer? I’d be living indoors and traveling via the tunnels the entire time.”
“Do you really think a vampire weakened by the sun is still not strong enough or clever enough to protect those who matter to him? Do you think a man, or group of men, could outwit you at your lowest? You are over a century and a half old, Drew. By no means are you on the same level—in any sense—as Paul or the werewolves.”
He smiles. “I see exactly what you’re doing, you conniving woman. Building me up to make me feel important with what you want me to do. All right, I’ll go quietly—whether I agree with you or not about how much good I’ll be while cooped up inside.”
“Good. Now, onto the more important question: Do you trust Paul to share the flying duties home with you?”
“Uh… no, not yet. But either way, we can’t fly during the day.”
I smile, glad the issue of them leaving will be dropped. “Not to worry. I’ve arranged for several top-notch pilots you can pick up in Buenos Aires.”
Once Drew departs, I return to the personal suite I usually share with my human husband, intending to do some yoga. The stretching and muscle work has helped realign my spiritual balance with the physical healing. Thanks to Rafe, I’ve fully regained my strength from the silver trauma a few weeks ago.
The ones responsible for my imprisonment and torture, Coraline and her cohorts, were killed by my husband in a brutal display of his defensive nature. Only one man—Rolando—remains for us to track down in Buenos Aires. Hopefully, finding him will put an end to the hunt for other manipulator vampires like me. As far as I know, I’m still the only one who has escaped extermination over the last few centuries.
While I rested and recovered, Rafe explored the underbelly of the Argentine city extensively, making sure his casual occupation stayed unnoticed by the ruling Tribunal of Ancients. His protective instincts toward me have barreled to the surface, and I’ve found I rather like this side of him.
After the worst of my damage was healed through copious amounts of blood and lots of deep restorative sleep, the dead-to-the-world type only the undead can take, we split up—him staying in the city to investigate, and me journeying back to our island off the coast of southeastern Argentina to tend to the family of caretakers. Their minds needed delicate fixing from the damage done by the same people who tried to kill me.
The island caretakers were not harmed permanently, and I have to admit, what was done to their minds was so subtle it didn’t require much effort on my part to repair. The island hideaway they help keep in tip-top shape is where we spend most of the Argentine winter, only venturing to Buenos Aires when there’s a big Tribunal shin-dig.
But this year was different.
Not only did we initially arrive weeks earlier than normal, with most of our new seethe traveling with us, but now we’re sending Drew, Chelly, and the others home to Alaska during the region’s summer months—which is typically singe and die season for vampires above the Arctic Circle. The extensive tunnels and safeguards built into the resort will keep the returning vampires alive, so I’m not worried on that end. They’ll be safe and—by the end of the long stretches of seemingly never-ending daylight—bored with cabin fever.
I’m sure Asa, the ex-military vampire responsible for the resort’s security, will be happy to have them back. Recently, he’s had his hands full with helping to exorcise ghosts at the inn. The apparitions were of the humans and supernaturals who’d died during the past year’s adventures. By the lighter lilt in his voice during our last conversation, it sounded like Asa may have found a female diversion this summer, too. Good, the man needs to let someone in.
Sending them home while Rafe and I get to the bottom of things here is the smartest solution. I will not let guilt sway me.
In the end, it was the others and not Drew who protested nonstop about returning home last night, tempting me beyond belief to force them to my will, but I managed to resist and smile benignly during their blathering.
Above all, Rafe and I need to focus on finding Rolando and putting an end to this drama. Having the others here, even if they stayed on the island and not in the direct path of my enemies, could be dangerous—not to mention a distraction I don’t want to take on. I’d worry about their safety.
Someone could succeed in finding them again, even on our tiny middle-of-nowhere island, to use against me. In comparison, the inn is more of a secure, secluded fortress than many of them realize. It’s the perfect place to await an enemy, especially when you know the property as well as we do.
Doubt creeps into me and I squash it, determined not to second guess my resolve regarding Jon and our plans to fly him down. As an alpha werewolf, he would be the best choice to stay and safeguard the seethe at the inn. But, whether I like it or not, I need him here by my side, to hunt down Rolando.
What prompted a hidden sect within the Tribunal—one hell bent on tracking and killing manipulators, a rare breed of vampire thought long exterminated—to hunt me down?
Has the story of Coraline’s tampered memories, which I was responsible for on her last visit to Alaska, spread among their supporters? Did I reveal myself unknowingly through another channel? Has my arrogance in always assuming I could handle anything thrown my way with a simple bending of my will finally backfired on me?
How did they know to look for me? Who pointed them in my direction? Have others, vampires older than me, suspected my secret for centuries and yet never acted to eliminate me? And if yes, why? Was it out of fear, or with the hope to someday use me and my skills to their advantage?
I shake my head, eager to dispel the uncharacteristic self-doubt. The wondering of why and how my hidden traits have been discovered is not important. Tracking down those who wish me harm and killing them is.
Resolve swells within me, strengthening with the deep breath I draw into my lungs. I will find those responsible. I will secure the safety of those pledged to me. I will—
My cell rings, cutting off my internal diatribe.
The screen reveals it’s Rafe. I grab the device and answer it. “Yes? Why are you calling me on the phone?” Referring to his choice to use technology rather than connect with me telepathically, as he usually does.
“Your thoughts were all over the place. And growing rather dark, truth be told. I thought calling you might snap you out of it better than rudely barging into your private musings.”
“Fine. I was also thinking of Jon—did you catch those thoughts, too?”
“Yes, and you’re right. We do need him here. He’ll be an asset more than a hindrance, I think. When can he get here? And will you have him fly to the city or the island?”
I bite my lip, ruminating on his questions. “He’s schedule to leave in a few hours, and will arrive late tomorrow. I think having him journey directly to Buenos Aires would be the smartest use of time. I’ve chartered a plane and will fly in tonight.”
“Good. Did the others leave already?”
“Yes, last night, right as the sun went down. They had a brief stop in the city to pick up more pilots.”
“Time to do what we mentioned months ago—‘beard the lion in his den.’”
I snort, unable to contain the sarcasm waiting to escape. “Oh yes, that worked so beautifully for us last time, didn’t it?”
“Hey, things didn’t go as planned, I’ll grant you that, but any battle you can walk away from with your life is considered a win, trust me.” A teasing note enters his voice. “Are you sure you’re not more annoyed that I did most of the killing and maiming this time?”
Flashes of blood and dismembered bodies skitter across my mind, small glimpses of what I recall from when I awoke in the underground rooms beneath the Tribunal headquarters, also known as the Seat of Darkness and the base of all vampire kind.
Rafe’s actions may have surprised our new seethemates who were with him, Drew and Paul, but I’ve known what my husband is capable of for a very long time. “I don’t think that’s it. Or more accurately, I don’t think that’s the only thing.” A sigh escapes me. “I think we walked into a bigger mess than we bargained for, and I’d rather make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“We can’t begin to formulate a plan of attack until we’re well aware of who our enemy is and where they’re located. The basic knowledge of where the Tribunal lies is not enough. Who else is visiting this season? Are all the ancients in attendance or are some traveling? Where do they stay during their restorative sleep—meaning a private residence or in the extensive underground holdings of the Tribunal?”
He’s not saying anything we haven’t discussed before, so I redirect and ask about recent developments. “Have you had any luck in tracking down Rolando?”
“No, none. And it’s damn frustrating, I can tell you that. The big bastard didn’t up and disappear, that’s for sure.”
“What about Justin? Have you discovered where he lives yet?”
“I’ve narrowed the wizard’s location down to a diverse barrio on the outskirts of San Telmo, one of the city’s older neighborhoods. But no set address. The area has lots of herbal shops with hard to find magical ingredients.”
“That sounds more like an ideal location for a coven of witches than a wizard.”
“Well, where would you have me start looking? Should I knock on the Tribunal’s door and ask where they hide their pet wizardling?”
A grunt of frustration seeps past my lips. “No. You’re fine. I almost hate to admit it, but tracking is better suited to Jon’s natural abilities than yours.”
“Oh yes, the furball. Do you plan to have him take his wolf form and sniff like a dog to track?”
“Come now, dear, don’t make this harder than it needs to be. He is a strength. He is a valuable asset to us.”
His voice tightens, showing his inner turmoil and anguish. “Who are you trying to convince—me or you?”
“You, you dork. I know I need him. Now more than ever. Suck it up, buttercup.” My voice deepens, taking on a husky tone. “It’s not like I want him the way I want you. He’s not the one I dream of every time I close my eyes. It’s not his love, his very essence of life, that brought me back from the edge of insanity and darkness,” I say, referring to the moment I nearly died and Rafe’s devotion and love saved me.
“Okay, you’ve made your point. I’ll play nice with the werewolf. Any hint or rumor he may have found a mate during last month’s big game hunting fiasco with all the werewolves?”
I shrug, realize he can’t see my movement, and say, “I’m not sure.”
“What? How can that be? How could you not be sure of what your vampire servant is doing at any given time?”
“You know I gave him distance when we left—and I don’t mean physically, I mean with our mental connection. He’s still there, in the back of my mind. But I’ve given him privacy, not wanting to intrude when he has the chance to be free of my influence for once.”
“Is that the best course of action when you claim to ‘need him’ now?”
“I’ll allow the connection to strengthen when he journeys here, but I want to keep some mental distance in place for him. He needs it. His uncontrollable obsessive desires were overcoming his waking thoughts, he needed the break to heal and find himself again.”
“All right, enough about the poor lost puppy. When did you say he’ll arrive?”
“Tuesday night. We’ll meet him at the airport in the city. How is the house hunting coming along?”
I hear the happiness in his voice. “I’ve found several suitable accommodations,” he says. “You’ll like them, I’m sure.”
A rush of images floods my mind. Stately residences in the posh neighborhoods near the heart of the city, rooms with high ceilings and ornate moldings, and hearths with big roaring fires.
“Good. I miss you, my darling. It’s only been two weeks and I still think it’s too long.”
“You’re just hungry for my blood, aren’t you?”
“Among other things…”
A gentle tingle of sensation indicates my husband’s mind reaching out to mine. And I miss you too, liebling. We’ll be together soon. Not to worry.
The post Blood Legacy by C.J. Ellisson blog tour & Givaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
February 26, 2015
Escucha Means Listen tour & giveaway
Welcome to the blog tour for Escucha Means Listen by Talia Aidens-Nuñez.
Follow the tour and read about the book, read reviews, and make sure to enter the gift card giveaway!!
About Escucha Means Listen:
Take a journey through the world—just listening. Escucha Means Listen helps children discover sounds around them in English and Spanish.
Book information:
Title: Escucha Means Listen
Author Name: Talia Aidens-Nuñez
ISBN-13: 978-1-61937-590-1
Genre: Fairy Tales, Multicultural, Family, Grade School, Animals
Read An Excerpt:
Buzz. Buzz. Qué oyes? (What do you hear?)
Las abejas (The bees) circling the flowers.
Woosh. Woosh. What do you hear?
El viento (The wind) is whistling by.
Shh. Shh. Qué oyes? (What do you hear?)
Las hojas (The leaves) are dancing on the trees.
Purchase Links:
Musa ($.99) Escucha Means Listen
Amazon ($2.99) Escucha Means Listen
About the Author:
Talia Aikens-Nunez wanted to be a meteorologist, a politician and a lawyer. It was raising her bilingual children that inspired Talia to write multicultural children’s books. Her family loves nature so much that she and her husband vowed that they will always try to live close to water, so now they live on a river in Connecticut.
Find Talia Online:
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6581341.Talia_Aikens_Nunez
Amazon Author:
http://www.amazon.com/Talia-Aikens-Nu%C3%B1ez/e/B00AQ91SCE
http://talia-aikens-nunez.vpweb.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/taliaaikensnunezchildrenswriter
Twitter: @Talia_N
Link to Tour Schedule:
http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/blog-tour-kick-off-escucha-means-listen_15.html
Tour Coordinated by:
Enter the Gift Card Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
The Hurricane by R.J. Prescott Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway
Book & Author details:The Hurricane by R.J. Prescott
Publication date: February 16th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
Emily McCarthy is living in fear of a dark and dangerous past. A gifted mathematician, she is little more than a hollow, broken shell, trying desperately to make ends meet long enough to finish her degree.Through an unlikely friendship with the aging, cantankerous owner of an old boxing gym, Em is thrown into the path of the most dangerous man that she has ever met.
Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell is cut, tattooed and dangerous. He is a lethal weapon with no safety and everyone is waiting for the mis-fire. He’s never been knocked out before, but when he meet Em he falls, HARD. Unlike any other girl he’s ever met, she doesn’t want anything from him. Just being around her makes him want to be a better person.
They are polar opposites who were never meant to find each other, but some things are just worth the fight.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23354073-the-hurricane?ac=1
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKeikI58Np4&feature=em-share_video_user
Purchase:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00TGNQEA2
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hurricane-rj-prescott/1121189605?ean=2940151678230&itm=1&usri=2940151678230
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-hurricane-6
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id965693624
Guest Post
How did the story first come to the author.
I’d had the character of Emily in my mind for a while, before I ever thought of a plot. To me, Emily was always the strong one; the dandelion with a stem of steel. At the start of the story, I knew that I wanted readers to see her at her lowest, so that by the end of the book you would know how far she’d come. O’Connell was more difficult. Logically I knew that someone from such a deeply troubled and violent past would need a kind, gentle man like Albie.
When I thought of the leading man that I wanted to write, he was strong, determined and fiercely protective. They were a couple that were totally wrong for one another, but the more I tried to convince myself to write a different lead for Em, the more he came back to me, until I became O’Connell in my head, hearing all of his arguments about why they could work. After that, I started to think about their back story, which led to all of the other characters.
I really struggled with creative writing at school, until my English teacher told me to start by writing what I know. My brother had boxed when I was younger and my husband and his friends had kick boxed for a number of years at a boxing gym in Bristol, so I figured that this would make a home away from home for O’Connell. The cantankerous and abrasive gym owner Danny became O’Connell’s, and eventually Em’s de facto father. Once I had the gym as the central setting I started to think about all of the other characters. In my mind they were always Irish, because we had a close group of Irish friends in Bristol that were fun and boisterous, but very protective. I had so many happy memories of great nights out with them, that these sort of wove themselves into the story line. I worked on the characterisations for a long time before I even started on the bare bones of a plot, which is probably why the characters are all so central to the story. After that, I had a vague idea of how I wanted the book to end, but I would only ever plan one chapter ahead to see where the story took me. After every three of four chapters I would send them off to my beta readers and if they liked it, I’d keep going. The Hurricane was only ever meant to be a standalone novel, but I was around 80,000 words in when I realised that I had a lot more plot to develop and that I wasn’t going to fit everything into one novel. I’m not overly fond of cliff hangers though so I ended the story where I always meant to. I’m now working on the sequel The Aftermath which is set three months after The Hurricane ends and this time is entirely from O’Connell’s point of view.
AUTHOR BIO:I was born in Cardiff, South Wales although I left to study law at the University of Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation I fell in love, and stayed. Ten years later I convinced my crazy, wonderful fire fighter husband to move back to Cardiff with me where we live with our two equally crazy sons. Juggling work, writing and family doesn’t leave a lot of time, but curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a bar of chocolate for family movie night is definitely the best part of my week. “The Hurricane” is my debut New Adult Novel.
Author links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rjprescottauthor
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/prescott2223/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjprescottauth
Website: http://rjprescott.com/
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