Marlow Kelly's Blog, page 8

Tartan Temptation by Kayden Claremont #Giveaway # Erotic Romance @GoddessFish @KaydenClaremont

​Available from:
AMAZON

BLURB:
 
Financial planner Cora Siegfried has returned to her hometown to settle her late father’s estate. Get in, get out, that’s the plan. When she’s almost run over by a kilt-wearing hottie on a motorcycle, all her well-laid plans go up in smoke, and all she can think about is getting well laid by her childhood crush. But after what she hoped would be a one-night stand, leaving him might not be as easy. Talk about a tartan temptation.
 
With his throne on the line, Brodie Murdock needs to secure his kingdom by taking a bride. When the only woman he’s ever wanted steps right into his path, he knows the legends are true. She is his destiny. The feisty female isn’t hard to seduce into his bed for the night, but she’s proving difficult to convince they are meant for forever. And then there’s the secret that could destroy any chance of their future—a secret he’s not ready to confess. Not until his stubborn soul mate admits she needs him for more than sex.
 
Excerpt:
 
He couldn’t believe his ears. Her dream as a child was to be a mermaid princess. If she only knew that he could make her dream come true.
 
She pulled away from him. “You don’t understand what I’m talking about, do you?”
 
He needed to grasp what the mermaid meant to her. Was it just to be different from the other girls, or did she really want a life as a mermaid? “Why don’t you tell me what it means to you?”
 
“The story goes, a mermaid sees a prince on a ship and falls in love with him. The problem is he’s human. They can never be together. Then the wicked sea witch offers to make her human if she gives up her voice. She decides he’s worth the sacrifice. She becomes a mute human with legs, and they live happily ever after.”
 
“That’s quite a story.” He needed her to tell him more. “Do you believe in happily ever after?”
 
“That’s fiction.” The mermaid on her shoulder appeared to judge him.
 
“Is it?”
 
“Isn’t it?”
 
Brodie touched the mermaid on her shoulder. “Well, I believe in happily ever after, and I think you do, too.”
 
She brushed his hand from her shoulder, as if it were an annoying fly. “That’s for romantics. I live in the real world.”
 
He bent and kissed her shoulder. “How about we compromise on happily for now?”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
 
Kayden loves sexy, well-crafted stories of lust and love.  Her sensuous style drives the characters in lustful romps. When she is not crafting erotic romantic stories, she can be found crocheting or making jewelry.
 
Kayden is a member of Romance Writers of America, Toronto Romance Writers, and Writing Community of Durham Region.
 
She hopes you enjoy her other books, Hell’s Bounty, Timeless Passion, and Red Hot all published by The Wild Rose Press.
 
Kayden loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her on Facebook or at her website: www.KaydenClaremont.com
 
Blog: https://kaydenclaremont.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaydenclaremont
FaceBook: https://facebook.com/kaydenclaremont
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/9136748...
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:

Kayden will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-blast-tartan-temptation-by-kayden.html a Rafflecopter giveaway

On The Run by Izai Amorim #Crimebooks

​Available in ebook
and Paperback
at:
Amazon New York City, early 1990s: a young, rich, and well-educated Central American man on the run from the police and Colombian drug dealers. He is accused of crimes he didn’t commit. Ready to do what it takes to survive, Pablo ironically embraces the very drug trade that threatened his life in the first place. Who is he?
What is he really capable of? The question of identity is at the heart of On The Run. More than a
contemporary story of survival, it’s a journey of self-discovery.
Pablo’s voice is funny, sometimes mean and merciless. He moves with nightmarish ease from recounting his adventures to recollecting his early life. Not always politically correct, On The Run gives you an insightful, twisted, humorous, and often disturbing view of conflicting worlds and beliefs: North and Latin America; black, brown, and white; rich and poor; rational and esoteric—and shows how they mix, match, and clash.

Excerpt:
Everything went smoothly. Yes, the whole plan was sound, and the weeks of preparations paid off. There I went, from office to office, from delivery to delivery, in and out in forty-five minutes. I could pass receptionists and secretaries without problems. No questions, no suspicions.
“Larry is waiting for you....” “Mr. Silverstein will see you soon....” “Please take a seat. Mr. Roberts is on a phone call right now, could take a few minutes....” “Jim is finishing a meeting, said you should wait in his office....”
The clients were all nice. No wonder. I was like Santa Claus bringing them Christmas presents. More than half bought two packages; one even bought three; a lot of unexpected extra revenue. I sold forty-five packages of cocaine that week. Adding the three packages that I had sold to Joe and Peter, the total for December was forty-eight. My income was twelve thousand dollars. It really felt like Christmas.
After one of my deliveries, right after the secretary and I had made the next appointment and I was about to leave, she told me, “You must be very good at your work. Bill sounded so different on the phone right now!
Before you came, he was very anxious and bitchy. Now he sounded like another guy. He hasn’t been this happy and relaxed in days. What did you do to him?”
I couldn’t say that her boss had no more cocaine left when I came, and that was why he was in such a bad mood. He had done a line in front of me. When I left, he was high and happy.
I winked and said, “Coaching works! Happy Christmas!”

Author Bio
 
“Make me think, make me laugh, make my day!”
 
That’s why Izai Amorim reads and writes books. He has great interest in the interplay of media, information, and politics in a globalized world and the quest for identity and borders in a worldwide cultural melting pot.
 
Izai was born and raised in Brazil but spent most of his adult life abroad, briefly in the USA, mostly in
Germany. He was trained as an architect and worked many years in this profession. But his real passion is story telling. At some point in his life he decided to mix storytelling with architecture, changed professions, and became a branding consultant, something that he loves and has been doing to this day.
 
His first novel, The Games (2013), is a humorous but dark, even mean, political thriller. This mother of all conspiracies shows how information is processed to create and spread the stories needed to establish power structures not accountable to anyone.
 
Links
 
My personal site: http://www.izaiamorim.com/
Book site: http://www.izaiamorim.com/ontherun.html
Book on NetGalley: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book/90218
​

The Alliance of Independent Authors Online #Conference #Free

If you are self-published or published through a small press then you are considered an independent author. So you might be interested to know that Alli, The Alliance of Independent Authors, is holding a very exciting FREE online conference today. Successful authors and industry professionals provide the workshops.
Their agenda includes sessions on business advice, promotion, and even legal advice.
If you’re interested in attending just click on the link below:
http://selfpublishingadvice.org/how-to-attend-iaf-1-week-countdown/
​
​The great thing about this conference is that the workshops will continue to be available once the event has ended. I’ve been reading a few of last year’s sessions while I wait for the current sessions to become available in my time zone.
I hope you enjoy this access to free information as much as I do.

Deceiving Bella by Cate Beauman #Giveaway #Amazon Echo

Ethan Cooke Security and their bodyguard team return to action in Deceiving Bella – book eleven in Cate Beauman’s Bodyguards of L.A. County series.
 
With over 7700 reviews and a 4.4 rating for the entire series, see why the Bodyguards of L.A. County is a multi-award winning series.

New to the series? No problem! Each book in the “Bodyguards” series is a stand-alone title. Although reading the books in order is preferred, it is not necessary.  Each title features brand new primary characters and limited overlapping secondary characters.  Don’t hesitate to jump right in.



Buy It Now!

Amazon  |  Kobo  |  Nook  |  iBooks Isabella Colby has always yearned for normalcy. Now that she’s settled in LA, she finally has it. Good friends, a pretty home, and her thriving career as the Palisades’ top skincare specialist are a dream come true. Bella is content until she meets her hunky new neighbor, but her attraction to the blue-eyed cutie is the least of her worries when contacting her long-lost father threatens to destroy her happy life.
 
Reed McKinley is more than ready to forget the past. His seven-year stint as an NYPD detective nearly got him killed. His wounds have healed and he’s starting over as Ethan Cooke Security’s latest recruit. With sixty-hour workweeks and little time to himself, the last thing on his mind is a relationship. Then he bumps into the gorgeous woman next door.
 
Reed and Bella become fast friends. Before long, Reed discovers that Bella is keeping dangerous secrets. Bella may have the answers to decades-old questions he’s been searching for. Reed will risk it all to uncover the truth, but he soon realizes that the deeper he digs, the direr the consequences.
 
 
The Inspiration Behind Deceiving Bella:
It’s no secret that I’m a crime television junky. I love watching anything that might bring about an idea for another story. Several months ago, I found a series on Netflix about La Cosa Nostra—or the five mafia families of New York. I was immediately drawn to the information I was observing. Within minutes, I knew I wanted to weave together an adventure that would bring Isabella Colby and Reed McKinley face to face with organized crime. I hope you’ll enjoy reading Deceiving Bella as much as I loved writing it.
 
Read an excerpt from Deceiving Bella:
 
Should we get started?” Bella gestured to the kitchen.
“After you.”
She walked in front of Reed, hurrying to the table to pull out a chair. “Does this work?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.” He sat down.
She immediately draped him with the black cover, wanting to get to his hair while it was still wet. “So, what are we doing here, exactly?”
“Just a cleanup, especially on my neck.”
“Sure.” She grabbed the sheers and took her place by his side, sliding her fingers though his short hair and stopped. “Oops.”
His shoulders tensed. “What?”
“Just kidding. A little haircutting humor.”
He tilted his head up, meeting her eyes. “A comedian.”
She laughed as he smiled. “I haven’t even started cutting yet.” She gave him a bump. “Try to relax. I promise you’re in good hands.”
“Chop away.”
“Thanks.” She combed her fingers through his hair once more, using small snips to freshen up his look. Silent seconds ticked by as she breathed in the masculine scent that was Reed. He didn’t seem to wear cologne or use any fancy shampoos, but he smelled good just the same. “So, how was your day?”
“Not too shabby.”
She worked her way around his head, finding his cut a breeze to clean up. He easily could have gone another week without any problems. “What did you do?”
“Worked a little. Boxed.”
“Fascinating.”
“I could make up something about stopping a bank robbery in progress or rescuing a cat from a tree.”
She smiled. “The truth is fine, thanks.”
“What about you?”
“It was pretty much a normal day at the office—a second-session tattoo removal, a microdermabrasion, two stretch mark reductions, the usual stuff.”
“What’s the tattoo of? The one you’re taking off?”
“A woman’s name. Genevieve. The relationship didn’t work out.”
He winced. “Ouch.”
“Triple ouch. Tattoo removal is not a pain-free procedure, nor is it cheap—and he went pretty ornate with Genevieve. Hopefully next time he’ll pick a woman with a shorter name or abstain from getting himself tatted up altogether.”
He laughed.
She grinned, loving that sound. Did he have any idea how gorgeous he was when he smiled like that? She picked up the clippers off the table and let her knees rest against his as she leaned in and gently lifted his chin, evening out his sideburns. She swallowed, feeling his breath on her skin and his eyes studying her face. Licking her lips, she met his gaze. “You better hope I get this part right, or you’ll have to tilt your head for the next four days.”
He sent her another one of his pulse-pounding smiles. “You’ll have to help me decide if I should lean more to the left or right.”
Oh, this cutie had the potential to be trouble. Her eyes darted to his mouth mere inches from hers as his five o’clock shadow tormented her sensitized fingers. She took a step back and a steadying breath. It was a good thing they were just friends—currently the only relationship status she was interested in.
 
Did you enjoy the excerpt?  You can read the first chapter on my website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book with the links below!
 
Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBooks
  The Unofficial Deceiving Bella Soundtrack
 
I love music! I can’t imagine a world without catchy tunes playing, especially when I’m writing. Music is inspiration. Melodies, beats, and the mood of each song help me portray emotions and feelings as I tell a story. It’s a rare day when I don’t have my headphones in place, bopping my head, while my fingers race across the keyboard. You can listen to the “soundtrack” for each book on my website www.catebeauman.com.
 
The soundtrack, of sorts, for Deceiving Bella:Favorite Song by Ben RectorLay It All On Me by Rudimental w/Ed SheeranInto You by Ariana GrandeCake by the Ocean by DNCETruth by Steve MoaklerAny Other Name by Thomas NewmanRock Bottom by Hailee SteinfeldAll I Want by KodalineCrash by UsherStand By You by Rachel Platten ​ About the author:
 
International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers' Favorite Awards.
 
Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on her twelfth full length romantic suspense novel.

Follow Cate
 
Amazon Author Page
http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/
BookBub
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cate-beauman
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/catebeauman
 
Social links:
Twitter: @CateBeauman
www.catebeauman.com
www.facebook.com/CateBeauman
www.instagram.com/cate_beauman_author
DO YOU LIKE TO WIN FREE STUFF?
 
SIGN UP FOR CATE’S NEWSLETTER TO BE NOTIFIED OF MONTHLY GIVEAWAY OFFERS
AND NEW RELEASE INFORMATION
 
http://www.catebeauman.com/getmyfreebooks
 
For a limited time: new subscribers will receive a free copy of Morgan’s Hunter and Falling For Sarah, books one and two in the Bodyguards of L.A. County Series!
  Giveaway:
To celebrate the launch of Deceiving Bella, Cate is giving away an Amazon Echo to
1 lucky winner!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

No Conventional Miss by Eleanor Webster

​To celebrate my upcoming release, Married for His Convenience, I'm giving away (5) copies of my first book, No Conventional Miss.  To enter to win, just join my newsletter list!  Five subscribers will be chosen at random on November 1, 2016.

​

​Available Now
 
Amazon
 
Kobo
 
Nook
 
Google Play Amaryllis Gibson is an unlikely debutante. She favors fact over fashion, cares not for “proper” conversation and is haunted by ghostly visions which could land her in the madhouse! Marriage is definitely the last thing on Rilla’s mind…
But when she’s caught in a compromising position with Viscount Wyburn, suddenly she finds herself betrothed! And worse, his powerful presence only increases her visions. By shedding light on the viscount’s past, can Rilla gain his trust and win him round to her more…unconventional traits?

Enjoy an Excerpt From No Conventional Miss
 
“They came earlier. I directed them to change horses and proceed to London as we’re leaving tomorrow.’ Paul sipped his wine.
‘We are? But we were supposed to stay a week.’ Rilla laid down the massive fork with a clatter.
‘I altered our plans.’
‘Without talking to me?’
‘I do not make decisions about my household in committee.’
‘“In committee”? We are not in Parliament. I am your wife and you’re moving me around like so much baggage!’
Anger blossomed, although it was less about his autocracy and more about that tiny unacceptable frisson of relief.
‘I would not use that unflattering description,’ Paul said. ‘But, yes, I will make the travel arrangements for my household as I see fit.’
‘Perhaps I don’t want to go to London.’
‘I thought you’d be glad.’
‘Because…’ Her stomach lurched. The incident sprang huge between them.
‘I thought Wyburn not salubrious to your health.’
His admission made her angrier. She balled her hands to fists. Her jaw tightened. ‘My health is robust. Besides, my parents discussed—’ She stopped. Her parents spoke about everything—village doings, their children, their hopes and dreams.
But this was no such union.
‘We are not your parents.’ His voice, though soft, cut.
‘No,’ she said.
They continued eating in an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the clinking of knives and forks.
Irritation at him and at her own vulnerable relief tangled in Rilla’s mind. She wanted to leave this place. Yet his choice to do so perversely annoyed.
Edison refilled their glasses, cleared the plates and served a sweet, fluffy concoction for their pudding. Then he left and silence again enclosed them.
‘I think I will retire and leave you to your port,’ Rilla said at last, rising from her chair.
Paul stood, but made no effort to detain her. ‘Rest well. We leave after breakfast. I hope that is convenient.’
“She nodded. He offered her his arm and she placed her hand on his sleeve, conscious of taut muscles under the cloth and the smell his cologne.
They moved towards the door, stopping at its threshold and she was suddenly aware of their solitude, of the warmth of his breath and the height and strength of him.
He fastened his gaze on hers, placing his hand against her cheek. She tingled at this touch. Her anger dwindled, turning into something else.
She bit her lip. His breath quickened. With a quick, almost violent movement, he possessed her mouth with heat and power and need.
Stepping back abruptly, he allowed his hands to fall from her. ‘I apologise. That was not appropriate.’
‘We’re married.’
‘And therefore must restrain ourselves in the dining room.’
‘Perhaps you are too ruled by restraint,’ she said softly.
‘Or you are too swayed by emotion.’
She flinched at the words. Was it always to be thus—this guarding of words and actions? This fear of sentiment?
‘Rather that than to be a statue,’ she retorted.
As she left, she glanced back. Paul stood by the fireplace. He gripped the mantel with both hands, his head bowed low, a solitary figure.
 
​About Eleanor Webster
 
Eleanor Webster has a passion for many things, the most ardent likely being shoes.
 
But she’s also passionate about a story well told.  With the help of some debutantes and viscounts and a twist of the unknown, Eleanor’s stories weave a tale of enchantment, hope, and most importantly, love.
 
When not writing, you’ll find Eleanor dreaming of being a world traveler, reading, running, reading, hiking in the wilds of British Columbia, where she makes her home with her husband and two daughters, and – did we mention reading?
 
Connect with Eleanor
 
Website: https://eleanorwebsterauthor.com/
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ewebsterauthor
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eleano...
 
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/eleanorwebs...
 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/eleanorwebs...

More Giveaway Information Enter to Win a Paperback Copy!
 
Eleanor is giving away 5 copies of No Conventional Miss to her lucky newsletter subscribers!  Simply sign up for Eleanor’s e-News for your chance to win! 
 
Five lucky winners will be chosen at random from Eleanor’s newsletter subscribers on November 1, 2016.
 
Sign up today: http://bit.ly/2cb0Rvx

The General's Wife by Sara R. Turnquist

Available at:

Amazon
 
Barnes & Noble

Kobo
 
Smashwords
 
iTunes


​Sara has graciously agreed to answer some of my questions. I hope you enjoy :)

What are your favorite TV shows?
The Big Bang Theory, Once Upon A Time, Face Off…I watch a little of everything
What is your favorite meal?
Fettuccini Alfredo
If you were to write a series of novels, what would it be about?
I am writing a series of novels about the Hussite Wars in the Bohemian lands (where the Czech Republic is now). My debut novel, The Lady Bornekova, was the first book in the series and is set just before and as the conflict starts. The next book, which I’m nearly done with, follows the characters through the first part of the war.
Is there a writer you idolize? If so who?
There are a couple whom I idolize: Melanie Dickerson and Joanne Bischof. I love how they utilize deep point of view – how they really let us into the character’s head and heart. I mean it’s like we’re feeling what the character feels. We’re there.
How did you come up for the title of this book?
The book is really about Ismene and her story through this difficult period in her life. So, it made sense to name the book after her. But I didn’t want to just call it “Ismene”. I wanted to describe it somewhat. So, The General’s Wife seemed to suit the book’s content and what I was going for.
​ BLURB:
 
“Go home!” Ismene is speechless as she reads those words written in blood on the walls of her new home. The young, raven-haired Grecian beauty had traveled all the way from her homeland to marry the Pharaoh’s top general. But she never expected this. The hatred of the Alexandrian mob for their Greek rulers is right in front of her. It is the first of many threats she will receive.

Things are escalating out of control. Damaged crops and horses turned loose at night are one thing. But when Ismene receives a death threat, it becomes clear that there is a spy within her own household. She would turn to her husband to deal with this issue, except he left for battle by order of the Pharaoh. Not knowing whom to trust, she fears for her safety as well as the entire ruling class of Egypt.
 
Excerpt:
 
Once they were alone, he gathered Ismene into his arms. “Love, are you truly all right?”
 
“I am.” She sighed, closing her eyes and just breathing in the scent of him. “Now.”
 
He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back. When he closed his eyes he could still see the scene that he had come upon when he had found her on the balcony, and his blood ran hot. He forced his mind back to the present.
 
“I have a surprise for you.”
 
“Truly?”
 
“I thought I might read to you.”
 
“Oh?” She pulled back to look into his face. “That is a pleasant surprise. I think, sir, that you have found my weakness.”
 
“I think you know mine too, milady.” He said, drawing her in for an intimate kiss.
 
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Sara is originally from middle TN. After a short stint in Memphis, where she earned a degree in Biology and began a career as both a Zoo Educator and a Sleep Technician, she then followed a dream to work for a large zoo in Orlando, FL as an Educator. Once she and her husband started their family, they moved back to Tennessee. Sara and her husband now enjoy a full life with their three beautiful and very active children. Sara enjoys many creative outlets – singing, piano, drawing, drama, and organizing anything. And even though she has enjoyed her career as a Zoo Educator, Sara's great love of the written word continued to draw her to write. She has always been an avid reader and, for many years, has been what she terms a “closet writer”. Her travels and love of history have served to inspire her to write Historical Fiction. Sara has made several trips overseas to the Czech Republic. Her time among the Czech people and the landscapes of the country inspired her and greatly influenced her work on her debut novel, The Lady Bornekova, set in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Sara is also a member of the ACFW.
 
 
How to reach me:
 
Website/URL: saraturnquist.com
Twitter: @sarat1701
Facebook: Sara R. Turnquist, Author - www.facebook.com/authorsararturnquist
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/saravturnquist/
Giveaway:
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
 
Sara R. Turnquist will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
 
https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/09/vbt-generals-wife-by-sara-r-turnquist.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Chevalier by Philippa Lodge Book Tour and a Gift card #Giveaway

Available at:
The Wild Rose Press
Amazon
Kobo


BLURB:
 
Emmanuel, Chevalier de Cantière, youngest son of a baron, is happiest raising horses far from his complicated family. When news comes his mother is deathly ill, he races to her side only to find she has apparently recovered and moved on, leaving behind her companion, Catherine.

Catherine de Fouet blends into the background, saving up so she’ll never have to wait on waspish, scheming old ladies like the baronesse again. She has no interest in a resentful gentleman, estranged from his mother, no matter how broad his shoulders or intriguing the wounded soul behind his handsome face. She just needs someone to escort her back to Versailles.

But Catherine is suspected of poisoning the baronesse. She rebuffs a pushy courtier who tries to use blackmail to make her his mistress, and her reputation hangs by a thread.

The chevalier wants more than anything to protect this woman whose prickly exterior hides sweetness and passion. They need his family to help him through court intrigues—almost as much as they need each other.

Excerpt One:
 
Manu swung down at the front door and hesitated for just a moment, looking up at the gray stone portico. He handed the horse’s reins to a groom and leapt up the stairs. The majordomo opened the door and bowed to him.
 
“My mother?” he barked, sounding angrier than he intended.
 
“She is gone, Monsieur Emmanuel.”
 
“Gone?” His mother had died? He had come as quickly as he could. His knees wobbled.
 
The majordomo steadied him, then apologized for grabbing him. “She left this morning for Paris.”
 
Manu’s spine snapped straight. “Paris?”
 
“Oui, Monsieur. She woke up two days after your father sent for you.”
 
Manu brushed past the servant, the heels of his traveling boots ringing on the marble floor of the entryway. She couldn’t wait for me to come home? She didn’t know I would come? He opened his mouth to say as much but decided against complaining to a servant. “Is my father in residence?”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
 
Philippa Lodge has a hundred stories in her head and a social media addiction. She writes historical romance set in Louis XIV’s France (sometimes with the king himself!); New Adult romantic women’s fiction-type stories set in small-town, small-college, modern America; and contemporary romance with nerdy beta heroes and cranky heroines whose pasts can be healed with the love of a good man. She lives with one husband, two cats, and three kids in the inland valley of California.
 
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPhilip...
https://twitter.com/plaatsch
http://www.philippalodge.com/
http://philippalodge.blogspot.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Philippa will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
 
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/08/blurb-blitz-chevalier-by-philippa-lodge.html
​
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and Our Family Vacation #writerslife

​As my children have grown we’ve moved away from the more traditional family holidays and instead have concentrated on short weekends away.
 
This summer as a special treat we decided to stay in the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. No, we’re not rich, but as residents of Alberta we were given a special rate that made a three night stay within out grasp, and I have to say, it was worth every penny.
 
I’m getting ahead of myself here. We live in Northern Alberta near Edmonton and Banff is a mere five-hour drive from our home. No problem, we have a well-maintained car we should have made it without incident. About an hour away from our destination our Volvo started to shudder. We managed to make it to the town of Canmore before it broke down completely. We were twenty minutes from our destination.
What could we do? My husband being the smart man he is (That’s why I married him.) called us a cab. I swear, with no word of exaggeration, the cab arrived within a minute as if it were waiting in the wings for our call.
We had the car towed to a dealership in Calgary and we proceeded to Banff. 
The view from our hotel room Sunrise from one of the many hotel patios You would have thought that being stuck in a hotel without a car would have ruined our little holiday, but surprisingly the opposite happened. We walked everywhere and as we walked we chatted, joked, laughed and complained. In short, we connected. We didn’t do any of the things that we planned instead we took in the sights around Banff town and explored the Banff Springs Hotel otherwise known as The Castle.
 
Here’s a blurb from the hotel website:
 
“Few hotels in the world can rival the majesty, hospitality and scenery of the Fairmont Banff Springs. Its unique blend of opulence and seclusion has been a symbol of Rocky Mountain magnificence for more than a century. Styled after a Scottish baronial castle, the Fairmont Banff Springs offers stunning vistas, championship golf courses, unparalleled skiing, classic cuisine and Willow Stream, a world class European-style spa. Experience timeless beauty and luxurious comfort in a pristine wilderness.”
 
The castle before dawn A room with a medieval flavor The hotel staff were helpful, courteous and amazing. Visitors are welcome to walk around and explore every inch of the castle. Not once were we told to leave a location.
Here are some of the amenities that I encountered:
I counted 9 restaurants  - there could be more4 ballrooms – once again these are just the ones I explored.A bowling alleyPing Pong TablesPool TablesA small shopping mallA world-class golf course.Magnificent grounds with trails leading to the nearby Bow FallsA fitness center with yoga classes includedA spa2 swimming pools – one indoor and one outdoorA coffee shopAnd my favorite  - patios with magnificent views The Bow Falls One of the many restaurants at the castle Despite the inconvenience of a car breakdown and a hefty repair bill, the Fairmount Banff Springs Hotel provided us with an escape from reality. For a few short days we were surrounded by panoramic rocky mountain views, enjoyed the old world ambiance of the hotel and were treated like royalty. That is something I could get used to :)

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An elk having dinner. It’s not unusual to see wild animals grazing in Banff Town. Snow capped mountains on the day of our departure. Here are a few facts courtesy of www.banff.com
 The Town of Banff has an elevation of 4,537 feet (1,383 metres) making it the highest town in CanadaBanff National Park was established in 1885 as Canada’s first National Park (third in the world) and was the birth of Canada’s vast national parks systemBanff National Park covers 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 miles)Banff National Park is open all year roundBanff National Park’s peak season is July and AugustBanff National Park has in excess of 2,468 campsitesThe Town of Banff has a population of 7,500Banff National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a United nations designation which helps protect over 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 square miles) of the Canadian Rockies 

We Have a Winner

Congratulations to Rachel Freer from Wisconsin. She has won:Sterling silver Tree Of Life Charm$10 Amazon Gift CardI box Lindt Creation Dessert chocolatesPink Heart And Earring Costume Jewelry Set.Three Vanilla Lip BalmsHeart And Key Necklace Set Rachel your prize is in the mail.
For everyone else I will continue to provide my newsletter subscribers with a free digital copy of Murder by Bear and Other Short Stories.

Hathor Legacy: Revelations by Deborah A. Bailey #Giveaway $30 Gift Card

Available on Amazon
 

Deborah has kindly agreed to share her some of her experiences that helped shape her work. I hope you enjoy her post as much as I did.

When I started writing the Hathor Legacy series, I used my experience working in the corporate world as my inspiration. Corporate culture is a world all its own, and I'd worked within that structure for a long time as an IT programmer. In that position, I got to see a lot of what went on behind the scenes, and those experiences helped me to develop the culture for Novacorp Galactic, Inc., the corporation that runs things in the series.
 
It's probably a very good bet that in the future, corporations will be the ones leading space exploration. If so, that means that they'll be looking for resources on other worlds. Their research will be driven by the need to create profits, as opposed to research for the sake of learning. In that type of environment, it's fair to say that corporations will be looking for planets where they can find natural resources they can tap into. Or they might also terraform planets so that they will be able to sustain human life.
 
There's already interest in terraforming Mars, and there are people who have signed up to be colonists once that opportunity becomes a reality! In my series, the planet, Hathor is terraformed to support human life, but in the process, a virus is unleashed that spreads a sickness through the colonies. The survivors develop psychic abilities, and their descendants become the Guardians who lend their formidable powers to provide security for the wealthy corporate managers and other citizens.
 
The neighboring planet, Astarte is what is referred to as a "goldilocks planet." It's already capable of sustaining human life and doesn't need to be terraformed. NASA has already identified similar planets in other solar systems, and it's possible that in the future, colonists from Earth will be able to make the trip within their lifetimes. Right now what's needed is a way to travel that will take months as opposed to years to reach these far-flung worlds.
 
One day it will be possible for humans to leave Earth and colonize other planets. What will that look like and how will it change the culture? I wanted to answer those questions in my series. But it is possible that one day soon, we might find out for ourselves if science fiction can become science fact, and humans can start moving beyond Earth to populate other worlds.
 
BLURB:
 
Hathor Legacy: Revelations – Book Three of the Hathor Legacy Series

An enemy returns to spark new tensions between the Guardians and Novacorp. In the midst of the crisis, Nadira is given information about her parents that threatens to destroy her relationship to the Guardians and to Jonathan.

While Nadira searches for answers, Jonathan is enticed into the hedonistic world of the Novacorp executive class. His entertainment club attracts the elite of Hathor, but his notoriety comes with a price.

The worlds of the Guardians and Novacorp are put on a collision course where only one side may come out on top. Nadira is called on to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the legacy of the First Families, the original settlers of Hathor, while Guardians, Kasema and Deshtu groups are faced with the choice to unite or be brought completely under Novacorp control.

Old scores are settled and long-hidden truths are revealed, and at the end Nadira and Jonathan’s relationship and their world will never be the same.
 
Excerpt:
 
"I just got word from security." The words tumbled out so quickly that Azure had to stop to take a breath. "It's Mikal. He's escaped the penal colony on a ship. Novacorp security lost track of it. They don’t know where he is right now."
 
 
"He what?" It took her a moment to get her thoughts in order to reply. "But how could he? They did the Burn Order. It was supposed to destroy his mental functions, right?"
 
"Not all, obviously. The injection was only meant to destroy his PSI abilities. But he was still able to break out of the colony, steal a ship and get past all the security checks."
 
How had Mikal been able to escape a penal colony? He was supposedly neutralized by the chemical injection he was given after he'd been taken off Hathor. How had he even had the awareness to escape? Yet again, they'd underestimated him.
 
"He might have had help from someone at the colony," Nadira suggested. "Otherwise, how could he escape? Isn't it maximum security?"
 
"My child, I have no idea. We're still waiting for an update from the colony," Azure replied, "But we must be on our guard. I'll stay in Nova City until we receive word of his capture."
 
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
 
Deborah A Bailey's Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance novels include suspense, a bit of mystery and a lot of romantic heat. Her books include the Hathor Legacy science fiction romance series and the Family Pride shapeshifter paranormal romance series.
 
Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and have been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun and are included in, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales. In her "other" life, she's a freelance technical writer and author of non-fiction books and articles for various online publications. http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
 
Links 
Website: http://www.brightstreetbooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CoachDeb
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/Debstyle3
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/DB2233
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/116311578760030921945/

GIVEAWAY and RAFFLECOPTER 
 
Deborah A. Bailey will be awarding a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/06/nbtm-hathor-legacy-revelations-by.html
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a Rafflecopter giveaway