Devika Fernando's Blog, page 75

Featured - Cover Reveal of She Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Zeenat Mahal

Cover Reveal
She Loves Him, He Loves Her Not Stripped of her illusions, Zoella creates her own twist in the fairy tale, beating him at his own game.

by  Zeenat Mahal 
Blurb 


Zoella’s been in love with Fardeen, her best friend’s gorgeous older brother, since she was ten, but he’s always seen her as a ‘good girl’—not his type—and he can barely remember her name. Besides, he’s engaged to a gorgeous leggy socialite, someone from the same rarefied social strata as the imposing Malik family.
Zoella has no chance with him.
Until a brutal accident leaves Fardeen scarred and disfigured, that is. Suddenly bereft of a fiancee, Fardeen is bitterly caustic, a shell of the man he used to be, a beast that has broken out of the fairy tale world he once lived in. And a twist of fate lands him his very own princess—Zoella.
The beast, however, is a far cry from the Fardeen of her dreams. Stripped of her illusions, Zoella creates her own twist in the fairy tale, beating him at his own game.

About Zeenat Mahal 
Zeenat Mahal (@zeenat4indireads) is an avid reader and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She has an MPhil in English literature from Government College Lahore and holds a MFA in creative writing from Kingston University, London. She won a BBC short story competition in 2001 and has been a regular contributor to newspapers. Zeenat has eclectic tastes and an insatiable desire to learn. Her romances are a heady mix of the traditional and the contemporary, old world values face the challenges of a shrinking globe that impinge upon and help shape South Asian sensibilities.
‘Haveli’ is Zeenat’s first published novella. Currently she is working on a literary novel with elements of magical realism, while continuing to write romances. She can be contacted on her FB page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zeenat....
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Featured - Release Blitz for Making Magic by Donna June Cooper

Making Magic by Donna June Cooper Series: Books of the Kindling, #3
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Cover Designer: Kanaxa Genre: Contemporary Romance with a touch of Magic Release Date: January 20, 2015


Books of the Kindling, Book 3

Sticks and stones may threaten bones, but her words can conquer both body and soul.

During his law enforcement career, Sheriff Jake Moser has been called to Woodruff Mountain a few times to deal with some rather weird situations. Now, recovering from a bullet wound that should have killed him and fending off his mother’s ravings about the evil that lurks on the mountain, he’s making alternate career plans.

Just as those plans begin to take shape, someone starts kidnapping newborn babies, then returning them unharmed. To make things even more interesting, an irritating adversary from his past has returned to bedevil him in a whole new, delightful way.

After her erratic psychic gift forced her to abandon her home and a promising musical career, Thea Woodruff has spent years trying, unsuccessfully, to atone for the death of Becca Moser, Jake’s sister. Once she has mourned those she’s lost and apologized to those she’s failed, she intends to flee her mountain once again.

Jake would rather she stay to compose a new tune—with him. But their complicated harmony reveals a guilty secret that threatens not only their future, but their lives…

Warning: A temperamental flute-player returns to torment an old flame, but he has other ideas, and the music they make together is combustible—and magical.



Thea caught movement at the edge of her vision and braced herself for another automobile groupie, but it was only a dirty mop head lying on the ground next to the wall. In her exhausted state, she must've imagined it. She opened the door and put her bags on the console. Before she put the coffee in the drink holder, she took a long sip of the scalding brew. It wasn't too bad, but it made her eyes water. She blinked when she saw the mop head move again. Probably a rat or raccoon under there.

Then the mop head lifted its ears and gazed at her with big dark eyes.

She gasped and spilled yet more coffee on her blouse.

A dog.

A horribly-matted, filthy gray dog that might've once been white pushed up on skinny legs and backed against the wall, watching her with suspicion. Then she saw the battered aluminum pan and cracked bowl full of water beside it. Someone was feeding the poor thing, but not really taking ownership.

A stray. Like her.

She almost took a step towards the pitiful creature, but what would she do with a dog?

Thea hadn't thought much beyond getting home for the wedding, except that she couldn't stay. Grace had a husband now, a baby on the way and probably planned to fill the house up with children. Daniel was moving into the old Taggart place with his new bride. And she needed to follow her plan to go off and teach music somewhere. There was no room for the prodigal daughter on the mountain, much less a grimy, smelly dog. She looked down at herself and smiled. They were a matched set, weren't they?

The dirty mop blinked at her as she sipped her coffee.

"What's your name, pooch?" she asked.

The head cocked sideways and one eye disappeared behind its unkempt hair. The other eye glared at her as the dog tried to sink back into the wall.

She thought of the interstate and the busy highway only yards away and shuddered. The poor thing had probably been left behind by some traveling family or a trucker. At least someone here was feeding it. She wondered how long it had been here, waiting for its owner to return. Her heart clenched. Swallowing hard, she shut the car door, walking back into the truck stop.

The woman who had waited on her before looked up and smiled. "Back for a refill, hon?"

"No, ma'am." Her voice felt rusty, as if she hadn't used it in a long time. "I was wondering about the dog out in the parking lot."

The woman frowned. "Poor thing. Someone dumped her here a couple of months back."

Months would feel like years to a little one like that. Years waiting for someone to take you home. Years waiting to go home. Thea felt tears threatening at the symmetry.

"No one came for it? No one here wants to take it home?"

"Hey, we tried. She won't come and no one can catch her. Sly little thing. We figure she's holding out for her real owner."

"How do you know it's female?"

The woman, whose nametag said "Jenny", leaned over conspiratorially. "The way she pees, but we might be wrong. The boys do that sometimes too."

Thea mulled it over. Surely Grace had room for another dog. Or maybe Daniel would take her. Someone would.

She reached for her wallet and pulled out one of her cards. "Do you have a pen?" Carefully scratching out her business number, she wrote her cell number on the card in its place and handed it over.  "If her owner comes back, you call me."

Jenny looked at the card and gave her an assessing look.  She could imagine how she appeared to the woman—pencil thin skirt, stained silk blouse and expensive heels.

"Oh, hon. You ain't gonna catch her."

Thea smiled. I just gave a powerful multinational the one finger salute. I can save an abandoned dog. "Watch me. I'll have an order of bacon to go, please."

Jenny shook her head, but went back to the kitchen and brought back a napkin wrapped around several pieces of bacon. "On the house. If you can catch Bailey, I'll give you a hamburger for her lunch. And one for yours as well."

"Bailey? After Baileyton?"

The woman nodded.  "Works for a girl or a boy, I say."

The name fit. Taking the bacon, she walked back out front with Jenny close on her heels only to find Bailey gone.

"She's probably out raiding the garbage. She hides out back there under the skips sometimes. But you'll never be able to get to her."

Thea handed Jenny her coffee. "If I do, I want another hot cup to go instead of that second burger. I'm a vegetarian."

The woman laughed and followed her, carrying the coffee. "This I gotta see."

Sure enough, they spotted the walking mop sniffing around one of the garbage skips at the back of the building, far enough back to make it impossible to reach her.

Thea got as close to the skip as she could get without going under it, then squatted down, or rather tried to. She finally gave up, hiked up her skirt and knelt on the dirty pavement.

"Here, Bailey girl!" She leaned in under the skip and held out a piece of bacon. "Come on, baby girl," she cooed.

The dog crouched in the shadows, her ears back and her tail tucked under, growling.

It was a good thing Thea's nose was stopped up. What little she could smell was bad enough.

"What's goin' on back here?" came a man's voice. Thea jumped, whacking her head on the side of the skip.

"This lady's trying to get Bailey," Jenny said.

"Like that's gonna happen. You're the one with that red Beemer from Pennsylvania, ain't ya?"

Thea looked over her shoulder at a man in a white apron who had leaned down to grin at her. He said every single syllable of Penn-syl-va-ni-a, as if it were an unpronounceable contagious disease. And his eyes spent far too much time lingering on her rear end, which was sticking up in the air at the moment.

She felt her temper start to rise. She hated it when people, especially men, tried to tell her what she could and couldn't do.

"Damn it, Bailey," she hissed. But those big eyes looked terrified and the dog had cringed even closer to the pavement.

Crap. "Bailey, come here," she said quietly, but the voice rang off the metal of the skip.

Bailey immediately crawled forward, right onto her lap. Thea slid sideways and heard her skirt rip at the kick pleat as she turned to sit beside the garbage skip with the filthy dog in her arms.

"Well I'll be," Jenny exclaimed, clapping her hands.

The man seemed to be reassessing his opinion of Thea. "Shit. You some kinda dog whisperer or somethin'?"

Thea smiled. "Or something." She looked at Jenny. "Now, how about that hamburger for my friend here?" She broke off little pieces of bacon and fed them to Bailey.

"Oh you bet, honey. And I'll get you some wipes for your hands and—" Jenny looked Thea over and sniffed, "—for your hands." She ran back into the restaurant.

"Hell, I'd say both you and the dog need to use the showers, but we don't let no dogs in there," the man said. "You need me to help you up, honey?"

Thea smirked at him and put Bailey down at her feet. "Stay." Bailey waited, motionless, as Thea stood then reached down to scoop her back up.

"That's weird," the man said. "Spooky, even."

Thea was tempted to make him do something embarrassing, to get back at him for the shower comment, but her head was already aching. Besides, she did need a shower. She bit her lip and marched past him around the side of the building with Bailey in her arms.

Lovely. Now she had an audience. They seemed to be the regulars, truckers mostly and some staff, standing outside the doors watching as she carried the dog to her car. One of the waitresses started clapping. Then the rest joined in, until even the grumpy cook cheered the little dog's rescue.

Smiling at them, Thea lifted Bailey's paw to wave goodbye to them and opened the car door to slide in, dog and all.  She shut it firmly and quickly pushed the button to start the car, struggled to fasten her seat belt under the dog and wondered if she should fasten it over the dog instead. She knew next to nothing about dogs.

Jenny came running out with a sack and a cup, grinning.  When Thea rolled down the window, she leaned in. "Here you go. Fresh coffee, a nice hamburger for Bailey and some hashbrowns for you. There's utensils and hand wipes. Don't take this the wrong way, but I think what both of you'll need is a long hot soak. And you need some meat on your bones if you're going to keep up with this 'un." She cautiously stroked Bailey's ears and Thea noticed a glint in her eyes. Jenny was probably the person who'd been feeding the poor thing. "She'd never let me touch her."

Thea tensed when Bailey turned and licked her cheek. She could not get attached to a dog she had just met. "Do you want to keep her?" she asked.

"Oh, my. No! My Larry would have my hide. I already have four at home. One more and I end up in the pound. No, I think our Bailey's real owner finally showed up." She sniffed. "You come back and visit us, baby doll," she said to Bailey. "I want to see you all cleaned up and pretty."

"Cleaned up, we can do. Not so sure about pretty," Thea said, unable to picture Bailey as anything but a mop.

"Here." Jenny pulled the white towel off her shoulder and handed it to Thea. "Make her a place over there next to you. You don't wanna drive with her in your lap like that."

Thea braced her flute case against the passenger door and pushed the junk on the passenger seat around to make a nest.  She curled the towel in the seat and sat Bailey on it.

Bailey immediately walked back across and lay on Thea's lap again.

Jenny gave Bailey's head one more stroke. "Definitely found her real owner."

Thea's smiled. "Thanks, Jenny. You were a good foster mom."

Jenny nodded and backed away, wiping at her eyes, then waved as Thea drove out of the parking lot.



Book 3: Making Magic Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Google Play Books
All Romance ~ Samhain
Book 1: More Than Magic
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Google Play Books
All Romance ~ Samhain
Book 2: Mostly Magic Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Google Play Books
All Romance ~ Samhain

When she’s not being dragged down the sidewalk by her Jack Russell (if you know Jacks, you understand), Donna June Cooper is belly dancing (shiny!), reading (three books at once), writing (of course!) or complaining about the heat (no matter the temperature). A child of the Appalachians who was transplanted to Texas by her Italian husband, Donna returns to her mountain roots as often as possible, and takes her readers with her in her Books of the Kindling.


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Featured - La Contessa and The Marquis by Lindsay Downs

I have already featured quite a lot of books by Lindsay Downs on my blog, and I don't think I'll ever tire of it. Firstly, his covers always rock, secondly his stories always sound fascinating. And thirdly, he's a very successful author friend of mine. So let me hear a round of applause for his latest novel!
La Contessa and The Marquis by Lindsay Downs About the Book
Thank you very much for having me visit you and your blog to introduce my newest regency cozy mystery series, Rogues and Rakehells Mystery. The first book in the series, La Contessa and The Marquis, is currently available for preorder with its release set for Monday, Jan 19, 2015.
As I’m not sure where you, the readers of this post, live in the world I’ve included all the Amazon buy links for your convenience.

Blurb-
When Bianca Maria Ledford Goretti, La Contessa de Massa, flees back to her homeland and the safety of her godmother, The Duchess of Gorham, little does she realize who’s arms she lands in.
Lord Rainer Cross, Marquis of Hathaway, is a well-known and dangerous rakehell within the ton. Little does he suspect his godmother has set him up to halt his skirt chasing days.
Over time the reason for Bianca’s return comes to light which has Rainer deeply concerned. Not sure who he can trust Rainer turns to has several of his more interesting staff. He has them use their talents to ferret out the truth.
Everything get more complicated when they learn a friend might not be who he claims to be. Not sure who to trust, except Rainer and the duchess, Bianca learns several startling facts which could protect her from harm.
Once everything is revealed the duchess steps in with a surprise, something neither could have ever seen coming.

Excerpt-
Rainer Cross, Marquis of Hathaway, settled his shoulder against a pillar where he’d ensconced himself so he could overlook the ballroom. A warning glare to several want to be rakes was all that was needed to send them scurrying back to their mommas.
With a renewed resolve, to search down one particular individual, his piercing blue eyes studied the throng of ladies. Some too old but searching for a lover, even if for a brief tryst. Others on the hunt for a husband of which he had no interest, at least with them, as he already had his sights set on one person in particular.
Granted, he’d not seen her, except from a distance, but if the reports were to be believed she was, without a doubt the most beautiful lady, the truest diamond, to ever grace the ton.
Then, as if Venus rising from the ocean, she appeared at the top of the grand ballroom vestibule. He could feel the air rush from his lungs, something he’d never experienced before, as he fixed his gaze on her.
Seeing her in the flesh, as it were, he knew all the whispers circulating about had been true. Without a doubt she was the most beautifully, enchanting and mysterious woman he ever set his eyes upon.
He was pleased to see she was conversing animatedly with an elderly, heavily bejewelled woman. From where he was standing and the angle of the matron, Rainer wasn’t able to see her face.
“As long as she’s not my godmother, then I most assuredly will gain an introduction to the Contessa,” he mumbled to himself.
Due to the loud voices, so everyone could be heard over the musicians, he didn’t hear their presentation. His only concern was the woman accompanying the contessa as he already knew her name- Bianca Maria Ledford Goretti, La Contessa de Massa. Levering himself off the pillar he started toward them, still unable to see who her chaperone was when a friend, another fellow rake, stopped him.
“Rain, I do hope you’re not going after that delicate morsel, as I’ve it on excellent authority she’s eaten up and spit out several lords,” Tony, or more precisely Anthony Fuller, Earl of Wyatt, his friend from their days at Eton then university, informed him.
“My dear friend if she does, then I’ll die a happy man for la Contessa is a gem whom I wish to possess.”
“Ah, and that’s the rub. After she dismisses you she’ll then tread over your heart leaving nothing but a shell of a man. Trust me on this for I’m sure you’ve heard the rumour her first husband died mysteriously.”
“Tony, the only lady I fear is my godmother. If you’ll excuse me I’m going to attempt an introduction,” Rainer told him. With a pat on Tony’s shoulder he stepped around his friend and started for the divan where both ladies had settled.
As he made his way forward he wasn’t surprised to see both women had already collected a small group of young ladies around them. What he found amusing were several swains on the outskirts, all trying to be noticed by either lady.
Upon seeing a frontal assault was out of the question Rainer selected to attack from the rear. Stepping into an adjourning, but linked, alcove he easily approached them and came to a halt within feet of his object.
“Damn. I thought she wasn’t in town,” he mumbled on spying his nemesis, best known as his godmother, The Duchess of Gorham.


Buy Links-
Amazon US- http://tinyurl.com/pyw2lba
Amazon UK- http://tinyurl.com/nhp3oph
Amazon CA- http://tinyurl.com/kwf494z
Amazon AU- http://tinyurl.com/q6ssryz
Amazon DE- http://tinyurl.com/pcmhkgm
Amazon FR- http://tinyurl.com/ms85q3a
Amazon BR- http://tinyurl.com/m8849d6
Amazon IT- http://tinyurl.com/jwy7524
Amazon MX- http://tinyurl.com/lwqv3c9
Amazon NL- http://tinyurl.com/msfmqj2
Amazon ES- http://tinyurl.com/mch56nh
Amazon IN- http://tinyurl.com/m4bqqfu

About the Author
I’ve been an avid readers ever since I was old enough to hold a red leather bound first edition copy of Sir Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake in my lap.

So it only seemed natural at some point in my life I take up pen and paper to start writing. Over time my skills slightly improved which I attribute to my English teachers.

My breakthrough came about in the mid 1970’s when I read a historical romance written by Sergeanne Golon, Angelique. This French husband and wife team opened my eyes to the real world of fiction. Stories about romance, beautiful damsels, handsome heroes and plots which kept me hooked. Of course, being a man, I had to keep my reading hidden from others as that wasn’t appropriate reading for men.

With this new found appreciation of the written word I took up other books and devoured them as a starving person would a plate of food. I them attempted to write again. I still wasn’t satisfied so I put it aside for years as other events entered my life.

Finally, in the early years of the new millennium I tried again to write and once again met with limited success. At least now I was able to get past the first page or two. Then, in 2006 a life changing event brought me back to my love, I took a job as a security officer. This allowed me plenty of time to read different genres.

My favourite was regency. As I poured through everyone I could get my hands on I knew this could be something I wanted to attempt.

Since 2012 when my debut regency romantic suspense released I was hooked and have, except for a few contemporaries, focused on this genre.

Since 2012 I’ve lived in central Texas. I’m also a member of Romance Writers of America and their local chapter.

Where you can find me-

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/lindsay.downs.7

Facebook Pages- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lindsay-Downs-Author/325132754200597?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Regency-by-Lindsay-Downs/421654731286944

Twitter- @ldowns2966

LinkedIn- http://www.linkedin.com/home

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3210224-lindsay

Lindsay Downs-Romance Author- http://lindsaydowns-romanceauthor.weebly.com/

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Lindsay-Downs/e/B007NQAIIS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2

Lindsay Downs

Featured - Chained Freedom - Guest Post by Natasja Hellenthal

I love learning what inspired a book or which messages the author has hidden in the story. So I'm really happy I can share this guest post by Natasja Hellenthal with you. She shares her insights on the symbols in her latest novella "Chained Freedom", and sheds some light on the background story.
Guest Post by Natasja Hellenthal
“This is not a fairytale, but a true story,” storyteller Tana Woodwolf tells the audience at the start of ‘Chained Freedom’.

This is some more information, symbolism and random thoughts about ‘Chained Freedom’, a thought-provoking fantasy. I’ve written the story some years ago whilst being stuck in a rather, suffocating relationship. I always had the choice to step out sooner than I did, but I didn’t feel ‘free’ enough, or ‘ready’ enough, or even ‘strong’ enough to do so but moreover full of guilt.
Instead, I wrote this story, as all my stories are based on my own life and experiences to some degree. I’m not Tana, mind you, but I feel like I know her really well!
But it’s not just relationships, of any kind, we can relate this story to, and apply it to our lives; it’s any kind of loss of freedom really. Freedom; everyone’s birthright, but so very fragile and easily swept away from us, whether we let it happen consciously, or more than often not. It could also be through religion, our upbringing, conditioning and social dogma’s that we get trapped without giving it a second thought.
When are we really free?

‘Chained Freedom’ is a short story featuring Fay Comyenti, first daughter of Sula and Felix from the first book in a Fantasy drama series, ‘Call Off The Search’ (Comyenti Series), and how she helps a woman break free from a magical entrapment.
Fay is not the main character, but an important side-character, who reminds the main character of Chained Freedom, Tana Woodwold, of her own inner strength.

Short synopsis:

Tana Woodwolf wakes to find herself trapped within a strange land. She learns quickly from the faces of the others that this is no paradise she has been transported to; it is a prison.
Unable to escape, Tana soon discovers that a dark and malignant force is dragging them, one-by-one, to unreachable higher rooms of the tower from which they never return.
If she is to ever escape from there then she will need to use all the guile and strength she has within her. Does one of the others hold the key? Or is it something else within the prison that she needs to study?
As the darkness comes nearer, a strange voice whispers, ‘Look and be free… You have to let go of what you know.’
Should she trust the voice? Should she trust the others? Does she even have a choice?
As despair and terror closes in around them all, only one person can discover the truth and save them...


Symbolism of Chained Freedom (spoiler alert!)

Tana, once free, is determined to also help free the other slaves. She won’t rest until she has found a way to do so. She cannot be completely free, until then she is still chained. Little does she know that the Wizard is the very embodiment of Evil and can never be defeated. It’s the balance of life, of light and dark, of right and wrong. It is more than that: as long as men continue to do evil, hurt other people, the Wizard will live. Only people with dark thoughts are being transported! That’s the first rule.
As for the other slaves, they are people like Tana, who cannot be broken free from the outside, but themselves will have to try to find a way from the inside.
Some people aren’t ready yet and live with a curtain (the magic wall), closed over their eyes. Others, like Tana, with a little help, can see an opening and find a way to lift the veil to let the light in again; a way to see the world in its true light and find goodness. Hope is the key that can open the heart which is the way. Compassion and love are the door(s).

Tower: Patriarchal dominance and world-leader ship. The prisoners end up there (close to the evil wizard) as a first warning and to actually been given a second choice. Not the real criminals are being put here, as they get a harder punishment, but people, like Tana, with minor crimes.
Prisoners: that’s what we all are unless we break through. Also a reference to ‘free range’ animals, or caged domesticated animals, who can’t escape at all. The prisoners know, like farmed animals, that they will end up dead and live in fear (both have been proven).
Wizard: Pure evil. But really it’s not about him, he is just a symbol. That’s why he has no face, no name, no voice and no real role in the story, because it’s about the slaves and their own inner wizard, their own evil inside of themselves. You can choose to do either good or bad. But you cannot be good to others if you’re not good to yourself first.
Disbelieve of their fate: What have they done wrong to deserve this? That’s a real life question of many people in ‘chained’ or difficult situations.
The Magic wall: the curtain or veil that is drawn over our eyes, making us forget our innocence and to be in touch with the real world around us.
Fay: the helper, someone who believes in Tana, for we all need someone to have faith in us; to do what seems the impossible.
Chains: invisible, but they’re still there. Also our responsibility to help others. We can never be truly free unless the whole world is. Until then we are still half-chained or with
one hand.

The message that Tana is trying to give to other people is: Be good, do good, be kind to one another. If you don’t, you’ll end up in the tower. Because she had found kindnees and a love in her own heart, hope and a lightness in her being, maybe by doing good, helping others, she found a way out and the wizard ‘let’ her escape, because she was changed and no longer evil.
I believe that with the right mind-set and help people indeed can change.
This story to me is the ultimate story of good and evil, right and wrong and how we can all fight our own evil in ourselves and help others. Surely by helping others you reduce the evil in your heart. The opening in the wall in the end was bigger and felt easier for Tana to find.

Quotes:

“You’re only chained if you allow yourself to be chained. Your soul cannot be put in shackles and will always be free.”

“If you cannot change a situation why not improve the quality of life around you?”

“You see, you’re only chained if you allow yourself to be chained. Your soul, the real you, cannot be put in shackles and will always be free.”

“You can’t possibly make holes in the wall for everyone. I don’t think it works that way,’ Fay said. ‘You’ve seen it with your own eyes. They have to, like you did, create their own doorway.’
        ‘So, I’ll show them how. I can teach them how to escape, I’m sure I can.’
        I had a feeling she didn’t agree with me.
        ‘I’m not saying you can’t, but how does the old saying go; prevention is better than a cure?”

“The other prisoners and I had one thing in common: our enslavement, chains or not, and there surely would be more people after my leaving, perhaps I had been replaced already.
Am I free?
Even though I could have easily walked away and forgotten all about the mysterious evil wizard and his slaves, I just couldn’t. Until then, my freedom was still in chains.”

End Note:

After nearly ten years of being thrown backwards and forwards, of living in doubt and insecurities, of a life half lived in freedom, half in chains, I managed to free myself from my own forged shackles. But, complete freedom is of course a big word. I will always have my responsibilities as we do, some I created, but since then I’m much stronger and aware and am no longer shackled. The chains I wear these days or made of invisible soft silver cords.
I’m even more conscious of the meaning of freedom and what we are all doing with it once we have it, or what we do to get it back when we don’t.
Every day in freedom is a gift. Many don’t have it and are still fighting that struggle, some have lost their lives.
We are all bound to each other through invisible, silver lines as I call them. They are not just those attached to our family and friends, but to everyone. I believe we owe it to others who are less fortunate and need our help, even if we don’t know them.
We cannot help everyone, but everyone can help someone.

‘Chained Freedom’ is available here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK4OWXE

Listen to the book here: http://www.booktrack.com/read/d9408688c713442e8476cf3a46693f5a
 

Featured - Release Day Blitz - Falling for Emma by Alix Nichols

Welcome to my Release Blitz stop for Falling For Emma by Alix Nichols. This is a heartfelt romance novella set in a quaint cafe called "Bistro La Boheme" in Paris.

Be sure to check out the Review schedule for the book to read the reviews by some very talented reviewers.

About Falling For Emma: Rising star of French chanson Cyril falls for Laura—the charming groupie who waltzed into his life one sweet summer afternoon.Their story could have been pretty straightforward except…  He’s blind. And she isn't who she claims to be.
Release Date: 15th January 2015 Genre: Romance No. of Pages: 120
This is a prequel to the Bistro La Boheme series.


a prequel to the Bistro La Bohème series
Teasers: "Oh, how she loved that unrestrained laugh of his. It was better than a bowl of rum raisin ice cream or a scented hot bath in the middle of January or an afternoon on the beach with a great book. It was simply the best thing in the world..."  
"He could no longer deny how he felt about her. Not just the part where he craved her right down to his bones, but also the part where he had let her take up residence in his empty heart and was still reeling from the glow that filled it..."
"She drew her mouth away and took a ragged breath. 
When Cyril leaned in to renew the kiss, she planted her hands on his chest and pushed gently. “Let me look at you for a moment.”
He straightened and gave her a panty-dropping smile.
His unseeing eyes were as handsome as ever. His complexion had darkened with desire, and the bulging muscles of his chest flexed under her touch. Through the thin cotton of his T-shirt and through the air between them, she could feel the heat emanating from his body. There was something feline—graceful and hard—about his posture.
Like a wild cat before a bound.
He was magnificent..."
Buy the Book:
Amazon US{99c only!}| Amazon IN {Rs. 60 only!}| Amazon UK | Kobo {FREE}|iTunes {FREE} | Nook {FREE}
About The Bistro La Boheme Series: If you’ve enjoyed “Amelie” and “Friends” and like smart heroines, sexy heroes, witty dialogue and heart-stopping romance, then give this series a try. It will delight you with an unforgettable cast of imperfect and charming young men and women who work or frequent an ordinary yet special Parisian café. They fall in love, cope with heartbreak and chase their dreams with a passion that makes them endearing even when in the wrong.

Welcome to the Bistro La Bohème! Take a seat by the window, order your café crème and lose yourself in these deeply romantic and heart-warming tales of love, friendship and finding out where you belong.

The books are interconnected, with a recurring setting and characters. But each story is self-contained, and you can read it as a stand-alone.
Buy the books in the series: Book 0.5: Falling For Emma by Alix Nichols Amazon US{99c only!}| Amazon IN {Rs. 60 only!}| Amazon UK | Kobo {FREE}| iTunes {FREE}| Nook {FREE}   Novella: Your're the One by Alix Nichols  Amazon US | Amazon IN 
Book 1: What if it's Love? by Alix Nichols Amazon US | Amazon IN 
Book 2: Under My Skin by Alix Nichols  Amazon US | Amazon IN 
The Bistro La Bohème series
If you’ve enjoyed Amelie and Friends and like smart heroines, sexy heroes, witty dialogue and heart-stopping romance, then give the Bistro La Bohème series a try! 

It will delight you with an unforgettable cast of imperfect and charming young men and women who frequent an ordinary yet special Parisian café. They fall in love, cope with heartbreak and chase their dreams with a passion that makes them endearing even when in the wrong.

Welcome to the Bistro La Bohème ! Take a seat by the window, order your café crème and lose yourself in these deeply romantic and heart-warming tales of love, friendship and finding out where you belong.
                                 
The books are interconnected, with a recurring setting and characters. But each story is self-contained, and you can read it as a stand-alone. - See more at: http://www.alixnichols.com/books.html... The Bistro La Bohème series
If you’ve enjoyed Amelie and Friends and like smart heroines, sexy heroes, witty dialogue and heart-stopping romance, then give the Bistro La Bohème series a try! 

It will delight you with an unforgettable cast of imperfect and charming young men and women who frequent an ordinary yet special Parisian café. They fall in love, cope with heartbreak and chase their dreams with a passion that makes them endearing even when in the wrong.

Welcome to the Bistro La Bohème ! Take a seat by the window, order your café crème and lose yourself in these deeply romantic and heart-warming tales of love, friendship and finding out where you belong.
                                 
The books are interconnected, with a recurring setting and characters. But each story is self-contained, and you can read it as a stand-alone. - See more at: http://www.alixnichols.com/books.html... The Bistro La Bohème series
If you’ve enjoyed Amelie and Friends and like smart heroines, sexy heroes, witty dialogue and heart-stopping romance, then give the Bistro La Bohème series a try! 

It will delight you with an unforgettable cast of imperfect and charming young men and women who frequent an ordinary yet special Parisian café. They fall in love, cope with heartbreak and chase their dreams with a passion that makes them endearing even when in the wrong.

Welcome to the Bistro La Bohème ! Take a seat by the window, order your café crème and lose yourself in these deeply romantic and heart-warming tales of love, friendship and finding out where you belong.
                                 
The books are interconnected, with a recurring setting and characters. But each story is self-contained, and you can read it as a stand-alone. - See more at: http://www.alixnichols.com/books.html... About the Author: Alix Nichols is an avid reader of chick lit, romance and fantasy, caffeine addict and a badge-wearing Mr. Darcy fan. She released her first romance at the age of six. It had six pages stitched together and bound in purple velvet paper. The book was titled “Eliza and Robert” and featured highly creative spelling. Some words were written in mirror image. Unintentionally.

Decades later, she still loves the name Robert and the genre romance. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Lists numerous times, climbing as high as #1. She lives and works in Paris, France.
Links: Amazon author page | Blog |Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:
$20 Amazon GC. Open INT.

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This event was organized by Njkinny Tours & Promotions

Featured - Release Day Blitz - Crumpets and Cowpies by Shanna Hatfield

Crumpets and Cowpies by Shanna Hatfield Series: Baker City Brides, #1 Genre: Historical/Western Romance Release Date: January 15, 2015


Rancher Thane Jordan reluctantly travels to England to settle his brother’s estate only to find he’s inherited much more than he could possibly have imagined.

Lady Jemma Bryan has no desire to spend a single minute in Thane Jordan’s insufferable presence much less live under the same roof with the handsome, arrogant American. Forced to choose between poverty or marriage to the man, she finds herself traveling across an ocean and America to reach his ranch in Oregon.



“I agree, Weston. The longer we wrangle with this won’t make it any easier.” Thane looked to Jemma and she gave an almost imperceptible nod for him to continue. “I’ve taken into consideration Henry’s wishes, the needs of the children, and what would be most beneficial to all parties involved.”

When Thane paused, Jemma leaned forward, waiting. “And…?”

“I think Weston’s idea holds merit. In the vein of doing what is best for the children, I’m requesting the honor of your hand in marriage, Miss Bryan.”

“You are what?” Jemma rocked back so hard in her chair, it nearly tipped over. A most unladylike grab for the edge of the table is all that kept her upright. “How could I possibly marry you? I don’t love you. I can’t even claim to like you, Mr. Jordan. You are quite possibly the most maddening man I’ve ever met.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, honey. I sure didn’t take one gander at you and fall madly in love. You’re the most opinionated, obstinate, razor-tongued woman I’ve had the misfortune of encountering.” Thane held up a hand to silence her when she opened her mouth in rebuttal. “However, you love my brother’s children with a fierce devotion and I don’t want to take them away from you. What I propose is a marriage of convenience, in name only. Your sterling reputation will remain untarnished. As my wife, I’d provide for you, protect you, and share whatever I have with you. Everything except my bed.”

Jemma drew a deep breath, prepared to lambast him, but Thane’s stoney glare held a warning.

“Before you insult me further or push my patience beyond endurance, I encourage you to think over your next words very carefully. If you need time to consider my offer, I plan to spend the day at Henry’s office, going over his accounts. You can give me your answer this evening.”

Without waiting for her response, Thane rose from the table and strode from the room.


Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU

A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a best-selling author of clean romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor. In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.


Facebook Friend Page ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Website Sign up for Shanna's Newsletter

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Featured - Rekindled Desires Book Tour - Cover Reveal

About the Book

Title: Rekindled Desires

Author: Debbie Macarter

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Anticipated Release Date: February 7th, 2015

Book Links: Goodreads

Book Blurb: On her best friend’s wedding night, Becca Lawson becomes distressed when she runs into the man who once held her heart and shattered it completely. One night of intense emotions and daring confessions is all it takes to rekindle long-lost emotions. Fearing another heartbreak, Becca shuts herself off completely, denying herself a chance at true love. On the surface, it seems Austin Blackstone has it all. He’s rich, young and strikingly good-looking; but deep down, his heart aches for the unforgettable girl who slipped through his fingers. When a serendipitous encounter places them together on a tropical paradise, all of his deepest and darkest secrets threaten to spill over. He’s willing to forsake everything he has built to finally get what he truly desires. Rekindled Desires is a touching love story of second chances and new beginnings. Can two vastly different people forget their rules and take a chance at love? Fans of Deborah Bladon are sure to love this sweet tale set on a beautiful, Caribbean island. Rafflecopter Giveaway: Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Club Blog Tour: Ri - Homeland of Uncertainty by Paulami Duttagupta

Ri - Homeland of Uncertainty by  Paulami Duttagupta 



The Blurb Ri- Homeland of Uncertainty is adapted from the National Award Winning Khasi film by the same name.

Trapped in the limbo between ideology and conscience, Manbha finds him himself part of a terror outfit. An unexpected opportunity, anger, squalor and disillusionment - followed by and armed combat and injury lead to the soul- searching that form the substance of this moving tale. Buy @
 Amazon.in | Flipkart | Infibeam | SapnaOnline 
Watch It 


Meet the Author





Born in Shillong, many moons ago, with schooling at Loreto Convent, and an English Honors from St. Edmunds College, Paulami Duttagupta started her career with All India Radio Shillong. She had written and also given her voice to a few shows there. Later she came down to Kolkata and got a post graduate degree in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University. She had also taken up a fancy to learning Spanish, but today confesses that she has forgotten most of it.
She has written for ‘The Times of India’ in the ‘Guwahati-Shillong plus Edition’ and also ‘The Shillong Times’. Television had always attracted her and was connected to the Bangla TV industry for about 6 years. She was associated with ETV- Bangla, Akash Bangla and Sony Aath in this period.
Having left her day job in 2012, Paulami took up full time writing. Her first novel, “Pinjar” released in early 2012.
Her second novel “Unplanned Destinty” released in 2014. She is also the screenplay writer of the national award winning Khasi film – “Ri Homeland of Uncertainty”.

“Ri” has been adapted into a novel and was released on September 14,2014

She is currently working on her next project as movie script writer.

Apart from writing full length novels, she has written several short stories and articles. She has also contributed to the “Minds@work Anthology” and the “Family Matters International Anthology” in 2013.

Recently she has contributed to the “Learning and Creativity Anthology” , “Her Story Anthology”, and “Celebrating India – Love across Borders Anthology”.

When she is not writing or watching movies, Paulami is either reading biographies or classic pieces of literature. Cricket, food, cinema, books and music are an integral part of her life. 

You can stalk Paulami Duttagupta  @

                             
                   

Check out The Book Club Tour Schedule 
A Giveaway 
The Prize 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Some extra Info on the book 
This book is an adaptation from a movie. Why? The author will answer that in one of our blogs which we will post soon. Stay tuned !!!


This Tour is Hosted by 
Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Pinterest | Linkedin

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Thank you so much, Marie Lavender, for nominating me for another Blog Award. You already passed on the Liebster Blog Award to me, and now you honour me again. :-)
Readers, do me a favour and check out Marie’s wonderful blog here. She’s a successful romance author who can weave a special magic with her books, and on top of that she allows many of us to share our thoughts on her blog Writing in the Modern Age, be it with interviews, poems, spotlights or guest posts.

Now let’s move on to “business”. There are a few things connected to the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Here are the rules. Read them carefully and follow them if I have tagged you to carry on with this nice tradition.

• Display the award on your blog
• Link back to the person who nominated you
• State 7 things about yourself
• Nominate 15 bloggers, link to them, and notify them about their nominations


So here we go, I’m sharing 7 facts about myself:

1) I love animals, which is one reason why I’m a vegetarian.

2) I know 8 languages (more or less), and I’d love to learn some more.

3) Although I look rather like a Sri Lankan, only my mother comes from this island in the Indian Ocean. My father is from Germany. I’m a German citizen – and proud of it.

4) If I could change one thing about myself, I’d get rid of my motion sickness so I could travel all over the country and the world.

5) I don’t have a single bookshelf at the moment, but once we move to our own new house, I’m planning to have as many as I can. My dream would be a whole library of my own.

6) I wrote my first story when I was 7 years old. It was with my German grandmother until she died in 2013.

7) The book I have read the most times as of now is “The Tale of the Body Thief” by Anne Rice.


Now it’s time to choose 15 bloggers to pay it forward. I have so many fabulous friends with fantastic blogs, not all of them authors, so this is a tough decision. If I haven’t nominated you but you’d like to participate, please feel free to do so. :-)

My nominees are:

1. Carly Compass – http://www.carlycompass.com/sample-page/
2. Deepti Menon - http://www.deepties.blogspot.com/
3. Ina Tales - http://inatales.weebly.com/ramblings
4. Inderpreet Kaur Uppal (Eloquent Articulation) – http://www.inderpreetkaur.blogspot.in/
5. Mike Wells – http://mikewellsblog.blogspot.com/
6. Sundari Venkatraman (Flaming Sun) - http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.in/
7. Christina Cole (Seasons of Love) – http://christinacoleromance.com/
8. Njkinny’s World of Books - http://www.njkinnysblog.com/
9. Liza O’Connor - http://www.lizaoconnor.com/
10. Christina Caeliss (Aphrodite) – http://unleashingaphrodite.com/
11. Tea Cooper - http://www.teacooperauthor.com/blog
12. Alisha Guenzel - http://alishaguenzel.blogspot.com/
13. K.M. Weiland (Helping Writers Become Authors) - http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/
14. Mia Epsilon - http://miaepsilon.blogspot.com/
15. Jami Gold - http://jamigold.com/blog/

I can’t wait to see your posts!

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Featured - Fight for Dawn by Komali da Silva

It's time to celebrate the release of my author friend Komali da Silva's latest book, "Fight for Dawn", the sequel to "Angels Dawn". Do read on because you have a chance to win! Leave a comment telling me what you associate with the word DAWN, and I'll pick a lucky winner who'll receive a free copy by the author! :-)
About the Book
Fight for Dawn by Komali da Silva
Publisher: Crushing Hearts & Black Butterfly Publishing

Blurb:

The eagerly awaited sequel to Angels Dawn

She should've known better than to hope her life could be normal after losing her best friend Nate. It’s hard enough to deal with the loss but now she “sees” him everywhere. Add that to meeting Gabe, the new guy who sends her heart racing and Dawn is certainly spinning. It’s almost enough to make her forget the demons that lurk in the shadows.

Unfortunately the many distractions aren’t enough to purge Angelo from her broken heart. Her hopes of ever being with him again have been dashed. He’s moving farther away and there is nothing she can do to stop it.



Soon the demons Dawn wanted to forget about will remind her of their presence and she’ll have to abandon everything else. Not only is her life in danger, but the lives of everyone around her as well.


Buy Link:
http://smarturl.it/FightforDawn-BK2
About the Author
Author Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23805686-fight-for-dawn
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Komalis.book.wall
Twitter: @KomiDasilva
Website: www.komalidasilva.com
Buy Link ANGELS DAWN: smarturl.it/AngelsDawn