Floats the Dark Shadow by Yves Fey - Review and Giveaway

(Mystery)

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Yves will be awarding a Hardback copy of Floats the Dark Shadow (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Floats the Dark Shadow is the winner of four Indie awards in both mystery and historical categories.

Young American painter Theodora Faraday struggles to become an artist in Belle Époque Paris. She’s tasted the champagne of success, illustrating poems for the Revenants, a group of poets led by her adored cousin, Averill. When children she knows vanish mysteriously, Theo confronts Inspecteur Michel Devaux who suspects the Revenants are involved. Theo refuses to believe the killer could be a friend—could be the man she loves. Classic detection and occult revelation lead Michel and Theo through the dark underbelly of Paris, from catacombs to asylums, to the obscene ritual of a Black Mass. Following the maze of clues they discover the murderer believes he is the reincarnation of the most evil serial killer in the history of France—Gilles de Rais. Once Joan of Arc’s lieutenant, after her death he plunged into an orgy of evil. The Church burned him at the stake for heresy, sorcery, and the depraved murder of hundreds of peasant children. Whether deranged mind or demonic passion incite him, the killer must be found before he strikes again.

Read my review:

Floats the Dark Shadow is a mystery set in the Belle Epoque era in France. Theodora Faraday is an American artist living in France. Children she knows begins to go missing, and she is very afraid that her cousin, Averill, or one of the other Revenants is involved.

Inspector Michel Devaux is suspicious of the Revenants. Over the course of time, Theo and Michel team together to solve the mystery and uncover a darkness in Paris that stands in stark contrast to the beauty of the era.

This story was one that was hard to put down. The characters are fully drawn and believable, and the mystery kept me guessing up to the last few pages. I loved the descriptions of the city and the period, and while the scenes involving the children were hard to read, they were also well-done (maybe that's why they were so hard to read!) I especially liked the way the relationship was changing between Devaux and Theo. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and seeing where the author takes these two oh-so-different people next.

About the Author:

Yves has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Oregon, and a BA in Pictorial Arts from UCLA. She has read, written, and created art from childhood. A chocolate connoisseur, she's won prizes for her desserts. Her current fascination is creating perfumes inspired by her characters and by Paris. She's traveled to many countries in Europe and lived for two years in Indonesia. She currently lives in the San Francisco area with her husband Richard and three cats, Marlowe the Investigator, and the Flying Bronte Sisters.

Buy the book at Amazon

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Bittersweet Rescue by Coleen Kwan - Excerpt and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Coleen will be awarding a $10 Amazon giftcard to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

She rescued him, and saved herself.

When Ellie Sherwood rescues her boss from drowning, she never anticipates the consequences. For three years she’s existed in an emotional limbo after a catastrophic family tragedy, but now she’s awake and ready to seize life with both hands. And that includes the sexy boss she’s been secretly infatuated with for some time.

Drake Crawford is about to achieve his lifelong goal when a car accident plays havoc with his life. Not only is his plan for revenge delayed, but his once demure personal assistant is now shockingly, irresistibly forward. Drake is against office affairs, and Ellie is vital to his success, but he can’t get her out of his mind, and besides, he does owe her...

His solution—a two-week break with Ellie at his wilderness hideout. They’ll indulge in a scorching, private affair, and when it’s over they’ll return to their normal lives. But as Drake discovers more about Ellie, he realises her quiet exterior hides a backbone of steel. When she asks him to walk away from his ultimate goal, he knows it’s time to let her go.

Read an excerpt:

Ellie’s face was a tight mask. Her skin was blanched, her eyes shadowed, and her jaw clenched. She looked just like that the night they’d crashed into the harbour. Holy shit. It hit him with renewed vengeance what she’d achieved that night. She’d been petrified, immobilised with horror, and yet somehow she’d managed to save them both. She’d singlehandedly pulled him from the sinking car and hauled him out of the water. How had she done that when she was just a slip of a girl and scared out of her wits?

A lump wedged in his throat as he stared at her with renewed awe and respect. Ellie was unique, special in every way.

“How did you do it, Ellie?” he asked softly. “How did you save my sorry arse?”

She blinked, shook her head, and squeezed her eyes shut as if trying and failing to block out the memories.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it,” he quickly added. “I know it can be difficult to—”

“Everyone thinks I’m a hero because I rescued you.” Her eyes flew open, and their tormented depths made him start. “But the truth is, you rescued me.” She stopped short.

The waves crashed endlessly. “I don’t understand,” he said when the silence got too much for him.

“You see, if you hadn’t been there—” Using the cuffs of her oversized jacket, she scrubbed at her eyes, then stared blindly out to sea. “If you hadn’t been with me in the car, I would have...I would have let myself drown.”

About the Author: Coleen Kwan has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing. She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance.

Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching Criminal Minds.

Website ~ ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, or Amazon UK.

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Catch Me by Katherine Grant - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Katherine will be awarding a $25 Amazon giftcard to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Adam. Enigmatic. Arrogant. Unwilling to take no for an answer. Everything about him threatens my carefully constructed life. Everything about him makes me want him more.

Isabelle Jennings has it good. She’s a self-proclaimed guys’ girl (football, beers, and kicking back with her “bros”) who has worked hard for everything she’s gotten. And she’s succeeded. Only twenty-six, she already has a startup company – one that helps her atone for past sins. She has (well, had) a healthy sex life, a great apartment and an even better group of friends. No romantic entanglements. No mess. Just how she likes it.

Enter Adam Weston, a young, ambitious businessman in Chicago. Between his money, looks, and charm, he’s never had a problem with women. Until Isabelle.

Overwhelmed by her attraction to him, Isabelle does everything she can to avoid the charismatic playboy. But Adam won’t give up that easily. He dares her to be with him, promising sex sans strings. Isabelle’s burdened with a nightmarish guilt she can’t outrun. And Adam won’t settle for less than everything. He’s breaking down her walls, one touch, one look, at a time.

** Due to language and strong sexual content, this book is recommended for readers who are 18 and older. **

Although Catch Me is the first book in a series, it is a standalone novel.

Enjoy an excerpt:

There was blood everywhere.

On the sink, on the fluffy brown towels. Dripping down white porcelain and onto the bathmat. The smell of it – iron and salt and fear – threatened to choke me.

It covered his arms, his hands, turning his jeans brown in some spots. He slumped over the sink.

I screamed, screamed and screamed until my throat went hoarse, but no one came. The tiled walls with their dizzying black and white design pushed in on me, making the room smaller and smaller. I was trapped.

Couldn’t move.

Couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t escape.

I tried to staunch the bleeding, but it only got worse. Forcing my gaze away from blood soaked terrycloth, I looked into his pale blue, accusing eyes.

“Your fault,” he said as he sank to the floor. “Your fault, Isabelle. It’s all your fault.”

About the Author: Katherine Grant is a 28-year-old avid reader, writer and soon to be author in Southern California (who likes to talk about herself in the third person in bios because it makes her feel important). Raised in a town in Michigan so small you've never heard of it, Katie used books as a way to travel. As a child, she talked so much that her family suggested she started writing her thoughts down. And thus, a lifelong dream and career was born. She has been everything from a short-order cook to a teacher to a music journalist. She's finally embarking on being a novelist full time, and she couldn't be more excited.

When not hard at work, Katie enjoys hanging out with her dog, lying on the beach, promising herself she'll one day learn how to surf (although it will never happen), making her boyfriend crazy by refusing to do the dishes, and getting lost in books. Also, cookies. She really, really likes cookies.

Blog ~ Twitter: @comecloserbooks ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

More Than a Feeling by CJ Carmichael - spotlight and giveaway!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding an E-copy of "Frost Family Christmas Anthology" - which includes the first 3 books in the Frost Family & Friends Series as well as a bonus short story - to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Remember, the more stops you visit, the more chances you earn to win.

NOTE: More Than a Feeling is on sale for only $0.99 at Amazon! Pick up your copy today by clicking here.

A dangerous twenty-year-old secret is about to be uncovered in the quaint Vermont town of Carol Falls, where not everyone is who they seem to be.

At first meeting, Spencer Frost appears to be a simple farmer who enjoys reading and quoting poetry. In fact he’s a criminal law attorney from Boston on sabbatical at Frost Family Farm. When he meets Robin Redmond, the lovely new sales clerk at the local independent bookstore, he has no idea he’s about to step into a drama to rival even his toughest legal case.

Robin moved to Carol Falls in pursuit of the man who destroyed her sister’s life. Driven to face him—as well as her own guilt about her sister--falling in love with Spencer is not part of her plans. But as they partner up to unravel the twisted truth behind the crime, she discovers love is the strongest weapon of all.

This is the fourth book in a small-town romance/cozy mystery series that began with The Frost Family Christmas trilogy. These three titles are:

Book 1: What Child Is This by C.J. Carmichael

Book2: Home For Christmas by Roxy Boroughs

Book 3: The Holly & The Ivy by Brenda M. Collins.

Now enjoy an excerpt:

(From Chapter Two)

Robin turned on the radio. Loud.

She did not want to think about the magical evening she’d just had. The wagon ride, the stars, the nice Frost family, Spencer whispering poetry in her ear, then looking at her like he wanted to kiss her when they were finally alone.

Worst of all had been the seedling of hope that had awoken in her heart. That she could be happy. Maybe even, one day, loved. And, most of all—normal.

It was like an early April Fool’s joke. She’d been completely taken in. Despite the signs to the contrary—his upper crust accent, his unhardened hands—she’d thought Spencer was a poetry-loving farmer, a modern-day Robert Frost.

Only to find out he was an advocate for the sort of criminal who had stolen her family from her. He defended the bad guys, getting them off, twisting the evidence to try and make victims look guilty, fighting for shorter sentences and arguing mitigating circumstances.

He was the champion of men like the one she hated most in the world.

Intellectually Robin understood that the justice system required those charged with a crime to have an advocate and a fair hearing. But emotionally, she simply couldn’t deal with it.

Robin pulled over to the side of the road. She must have been driving in autopilot. Somehow she’d passed the heart of Carol Falls, traveled over the covered bridge, down Red Bridge Avenue to the Fix-It Shop.

It was a narrow, two-story wooden building on the south side of the highway, hemmed in on one side by a pawn shop and a vacant building on the other. Further down the strip was a glass repair shop, a garage and a car dealership.

Beyond the strip of shops was a residential area with small homes on small lots for people who couldn’t afford the more expensive homes in Carol Falls proper.

She’d already figured out that there was an apartment over the Fix-It Shop where the McGuires lived. At least one light was on up there now. She could imagine Alistair in an overstuffed chair, feet up on a stool, reading The Brothers Karamazov. Maybe he’d be sipping a cup of tea, or a brandy, with classical music playing softly in the background.

But what about his brother?

The other McGuire, she simply could not imagine. Since she’d arrived in Carol Falls, she hadn’t caught a glimpse of him. Did he ever leave the apartment? Surely his years spent in prison must have made him yearn for his freedom. But so far she’d seen no sign of him enjoying it.

No sign of him at all. The only reason she knew he was living here was because, as she was the sole surviving family member of his victim, the authorities had notified her of Allan McGuire’s release and intention to live and work in Carol Falls with his brother.

If Robin had been a normal person with a life of her own, she probably would have filed the information under “better off forgotten.” But she wasn’t “normal.” And she didn’t have much of a life, either. Since her mother’s death in September, she’d been barely hanging on to her job at the big chain bookstore in the mall near her home. She had zero social life. And no interests other than running and cycling—both solitary pursuits.

She wished she could have found the strength to leave Vermont. Strike out someplace totally new, with her only concern being making the most of the future before her.

Instead, the idea of Allan McGuire, free to start over when her own family had been destroyed, had festered in her brain. She thought of him constantly, wondering if he had regrets. Did he ever think of Faye? Of the rest of them?

Most importantly of all—was he going to hurt another innocent child?

National bestseller, CJ Carmichael, has published over 35 novels and has twice been nominated for a RITA award. She likes to write stories about romance, family and intrigue, usually in small town or rural settings. She’s currently working on the next book in “The Carrigans of the Circle C” trilogy for Tule Publishing, as well the next “Frost Family & Friends” cozy mystery/romance for a multi-author series set in Carol Falls, Vermont.

When it’s time to take a break from the computer, she heads to the Rocky Mountains near her home in Calgary where she lives with her partner Michael. If you’d like to learn more about her books, sign up for her newsletter on her website: http://cjcarmichael.com . (C.J. likes to reward her loyal readers on this list with regular draws for free, autographed books.)

Facebook: authorcjcarmichael

Twitter: cj_carmichael

Amazon Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Feeling-Family-Friends-ebook/dp/B00J6NGPIS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397035113&sr=1-1&keywords=more+than+a+feeling

Kiss the Enemy by Dianna Love - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dianna will be awarding EITHER the ebook box set of the first 3 Slye Temp OR a signed copy of ONE of the first 4 Slye Temp books. (Print Books are Continental US Only - Amazon/iTunes/Nook ebook equivalent for international) to one randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour, and a GRAND PRIZE of Signed copies of all 4 Slye Temp books – LAST CHANCE TO RUN, NOWHERE SAFE, HONEYMOON TO DIE FOR – plus a MONOGRAMMED SLING BACKPACK, and swag pack of surprise goodies. (Continental US only for print books - Amazon/iTunes/Nook 3 ebook box set for international) will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Her only hope is in the hands of her enemy. Slye Temp operative Margaux Duke is chasing an international terrorist who murdered the last of her family. But her plans go up in smoke when her agency is in the crosshairs of the dangerous killer, forcing her to turn rogue to protect the only family she has left - her team. This is no time to get involved, especially with an enemy who steps between her and the terrorist she has to stop.

Logan Baklanov has been known by many names in the underbelly of international terrorism and will do whatever it takes to shield those he loves from the treacherous world he lives in. When his brother’s life is in jeopardy, Logan takes on a role that places him at the top of the most-wanted lists of government security agencies in every country. He accepts the no-win situation, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice until a long legged beauty draws the attention of his deadly target and screws Logan’s carefully planned mission.

Margaux and Logan must join forces in a dangerous game to save a major city from a powerful psychopath, but their ruse escalates out of control when the heat smoldering between them threatens to explode.

Enjoy this excerpt:

 Margaux gazed around the elegant room, taking in the mundane, wealthy men shopping for an expensive party girl for the night. All of the clients here were middle aged and ordinary. On the other hand, Dragan’s bodyguard was anything but uninteresting. He stood off to her right, with Secret-Service-looking eyewear and a coal-black designer suit that had to be custom-tailored to fit shoulders as wide as his. That was one big man. Just her flavor, if she had any interest in a taste.

Surprisingly, he still managed to blend into the shadows, motionless as a tiger waiting for his dinner to stroll by. Power rolled off him in silent waves. She couldn’t tell much about his face with that thick, but neat, black beard and his eyes hidden. Handsome was too simple a word to describe him, too civilized. Like admiring a wolf for its lush coat or a shark for its grace in the water, a woman would find this man attractive in a deadly way. A woman who enjoyed playing with fire or dancing with lightning. A woman who was a fool. Nothing about that man invited sexual banter, which she found even more appealing. No, he was not one to play with and that presented a problem. Because right now she had to get to Dragan and that bodyguard was her only route.

  About the Author: New York Times bestseller Dianna Love once dangled over a hundred feet in the air to create unusual marketing projects for Fortune 500 companies. She now writes high-octane romantic suspense, thrillers and urban fantasy.

Her new Slye Temp romantic suspense series launched its first four books in 2013 to rave reviews and more will follow in 2014. Her books are available in print and ebook.

 On the rare days she’s not in her writing cave, Dianna enjoys touring the country on her BMW motorcycle. She lives in the Atlanta, GA area with her motorcycle-instructor husband and a tank full of unruly saltwater critters. Read excerpts of her books at www.authordiannalove.com or join her Dianna Love Street Team on Facebook and get in on the fun!

Website ~ Street team ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, or Google Books. For other buy links, to read an excerpt, or to purchase an autographed copy, visit the KISS THE ENEMY page on Dianna’s website: http://www.authordiannalove.com/bookshelf/77/kiss-the-enemy---book-4. a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Maggie Ryan Series by PM Carlson - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stop on the tour.

WARS, ASSASSINATIONS, AND FLAKY DUDES

Why do people turn to violence against each other? What effects does violence have on survivors? How can we respond helpfully? These questions intrigued me as a psychologist and as a writer when I was working on the Maggie Ryan mysteries, and they continue to haunt me today as I see wounded veterans or traumatized survivors of school shootings attempting to rebuild their lives.

The Maggie Ryan books are set in the Vietnam era, and the war and the social upheaval of the times loom over the characters in the series. Civil rights marches, peace marches, riots, the universal draft,showed angry divisions between Americans who believed in the causes and those who were opposed. Even people in supposedly peaceful academic settings, such as AUDITION FOR MURDER (set in 1967), MURDER IS ACADEMIC (1968), MURDER IS PATHOLOGICAL (1969)–– had to deal with the war and the shifting social situation.

In MURDER IS ACADEMIC, Maggie is running from bad memories, immersing herself in her graduate studies. But the chaos of the times forces itself into the ivory tower. In 1968, many academics believed the Vietnam war harmed US interests more than it helped them. As time went on everyone became more and more frustrated–– supporters of the war because the US was not winning, anti-war marchers because the war still went on.

Women had a new frustration, too. They began to notice that, whether they supported the war or protested it, in both camps they were treated as less than equal. In the military they couldn’t officially be front-line soldiers, so they were denied the promotions open to men who served. Even in the peace movement, they weren’t supposed to be the leaders, just the coffee-fetchers for the leaders. Soon women too began to organize for their rights.

Besides the devastation in Vietnam and the clashes at peace marches and civil rights demonstrations, there were assassinations. President Kennedy had been assassinated in 1963; in 1968, when MURDER IS ACADEMIC is set, his brother Bobby Kennedy was assassinated too, and Martin Luther King Jr.

And of course the everyday non-political crimes continued. Whether there are wars and social upheavals or not, crimes are committed by people who fear losing jobs or money or prestige or loved ones, or by people who have not dealt with trauma in healthy ways. In MURDER IS ACADEMIC, a serial killer is raping and murdering women on the highways near Maggie’s university–– including a fellow student. She and a group of women ask a woman psychology professor for help:

“Professor Freeman, can’t we do anything?” Terry Poole was vivacious, black, intelligent, usually smiling but today very grim.

“You mean for a memorial?”

“Hell, no!” said Maggie. “We want to find out how to stop guys like that. Why do they do it? How can we fight back?”

“Right!” agreed Terry. “This is just the last straw. Vietnam and assassinations and riots, maybe we can’t do anything about those. But why the hell can’t we stop just one flaky dude?”

They form a group called Women Against Rape to study the psychology of rapists and the police and court responses to rape. They begin to study self-defense, practising with each other. Maggie asks her brawny actor friend Nick O’Connor to play the villain for a few moments. Despite the lessons and her determination and athleticism, he’s able to win the first rounds, and she wants explanations. Nick says:

“You can try a feint to the eyes or the throat first to distract him, then grab. But don’t just stand back and kick. You can be flipped back off balance.”

“Yeah, I know, you just demonstrated.” Maggie looked at him resentfully. “Where did my sweet, pacific Uncle Nick learn all these dirty tricks?”

“Contact sports. Army. Stage combat lessons. Working as bouncer in a bar.”

“All the things women aren’t supposed to do. Because we might get hurt.”

“Yep.”

“All right, then.” Maggie bounced to her feet resolutely. “Private Ryan reporting to Parris Island, sarge. What’s lesson three?”

As I wrote these mysteries, I didn’t find out how to abolish violence. But as I investigated how good people attempt to deal with it, facing it to increase their understanding and skills, my hope and admiration for human resilience grew.

In the book, Maggie and her friends don’t stop the war, or assassinations, or riots. But they do figure out how to stop one flaky dude.

MURDER IS ACADEMIC (Maggie Ryan 1968)
An Anthony Award nominee

Vietnam, assassinations and riots. In the spring semester of 1968, a series of brutal attacks draws campus women together to study self-defense and the psychology of rape. Graduate student Mary Beth Nelson struggles to keep the Lords of Death at bay by immersing herself in researching Mayan languages. Her new housemate, Maggie Ryan, has her own secrets. When murder strikes close to home, Maggie investigates with a little help from her friends.

About the Author:

P.M. Carlson taught psychology and statistics at Cornell University before deciding that mystery writing was more fun. She has published twelve mystery novels and over a dozen short stories. Her novels have been nominated for an Edgar Award, a Macavity Award, and twice for Anthony Awards. Two short stories were finalists for Agatha Awards. She edited the Mystery Writers Annual for Mystery Writers of America for several years, and served as president of Sisters in Crime.

Author Website: http://www.pmcarlson.net
Publisher Website: http://www.crumcreekpress.com/carlson

Buy the book at the publisher(print, Kindle, Nook, other e-books).

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Cooking Up a Seduction by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions Jenna will be awarding $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Love never tasted so sweet...

Sexy venture capitalist Cameron Price takes the helm of the Seattle branch of the firm to prove he has what it takes to lead the entire company. Unfortunately, his boss thinks what it takes for a workaholic like Cam is a wife!

To fend off the matrimonally inclined, Cameron has to think fast. Inspired by the dazzling green eyes of the gorgeous caterer, he proposes the kind of innovative arrangement he's known for. If Lauren Brody will spend a few weeks on his arm networking at events, she'll be able to raise the profile of Come For Dinner catering and book more clients than she ever dreamed.

But Lauren has a plan of her own and tempts Cameron to play along. She convinces Mr. Buttoned-Up-Tight they can have some serious fun on his piano, in his kitchen, and behind closed doors. But it's dangerous to keep a lid on something so hot. And a relationship was never on Cameron's agenda...

WARNING: Indulge at your own risk! Cravings for exotic fruit, decadent delights, erotic fashion & steaming hot nights of pleasure have been reported.

Enjoy the excerpt:

“Why are you doing this?” Cameron refilled his wine glass and took a long sip as if her answer didn’t matter, when really, her response could change the way his world rotated.

“Playing along as your girlfriend or offering to be an orgasm donor?”

Cameron barely managed to grab his napkin as he choked on his wine. Once he contained his sputtering he looked at her through his watering eyes. “You did that on purpose.”

“Of course.” The feline quality to her grin set his blood on simmer.

“I need to know why.”

Lauren tasted her own wine before answering. “I agreed to play along because it sounded fun, and you are very handsome.”

“And now?”

She pushed her half eaten plate aside and leaned forward. “I’m getting lapped in the dating pool by my friends. Following the dating regulations has burned me, and thought it best to be more direct. Neither of us has the time nor desire to dance around the subject. You want me, I want you, and everyone thinks we’re together anyway. Why not give it a shot?”

About the Author:

College confused me. I went in determined to become an orthopedic surgeon, and came out with a triple major – Psychology, Religious Studies, and English. Thank goodness organic chemistry mystified me, or my life might have turned out completely different. Or not. I always wanted to write, it just seemed like a far away goal – a someday not a today.

After managing department stores and executive recruiting, I got lucky and had my first of three children. After two years of fertility treatments, I wanted to be with him as much as I could and opted to stay home. I started writing then, and developing recipes for magazines like Cooking Light and Better Homes & Gardens.

After my second son was born I had a health crisis, and as I lay in the ER I worried about what my boys would make of the things I’d left behind. Stories started and never finished, notes on novels never written, not to mention the rolls of film I’d yet to develop and put in albums. Grateful for life and high on pain meds, I was making some brave decisions. Like writing a book in a month for National Novel Writers Month (NaNoWriMo).

That book (after much editing) became my first romance novel, JUST ONE SPARK, published by Mills & Boon in 2006. COOKING UP A STORM followed, as have a series of single-title romances from Samhain Publishing (HER CINDERELLA COMPLEX, PAR FOR THE COURSE, COMPROMISING POSITIONS, PRIDE & PASSION, PRIVATE SCANDAL, FOR KICKS, and DRIVE ME CRAZY).

COMPROMISING POSITIONS will always hold a special place in my heart, not because it sat atop the Amazon Bestseller list for two weeks, but because it was the story I was writing when I got sick, the half-finished book I worried my boys would find and wonder why I hadn’t completed it. Nothing compares to showing my kids that when you have a dream you chase it, catch it, hold on with both hands, and never let go.

Website: http://www.jennabayleyburke.com/
Blog: http://jennabayley-burke.blogspot.com/
Buy the book at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble. a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Baby for Easter by Noelle Adams - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Noelle will be awarding the following prizes via the Rafflecopter at the end of this post:

* One winner will receive a $25 GC to Amazon or BN
* Two winners will receive signed paperbacks of Married for Christmas and A Baby for Easter
* Ten winners will receive their choice of ebook of any title from Noelle’s backlist.

Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Alice Grantham lost her fiancé and her job, so she’s had to come home to Willow Park to live with her parents. To recover some sense of independence and security, she’s cobbled together different part-time jobs, including one as assistant to the pastor of her hometown church. Nothing seems to be going right for her. Even Micah, the pastor’s brother and the first boy she ever loved, is standoffish with her now.

Micah has always been a prodigal son, but now he’s trying to put that lifestyle behind him. Then a five-month-old daughter he never knew existed is dropped on his doorstep, the result of one of his many one-night stands. He needs help from Alice to care for his daughter, but he can’t let himself hope for anything more from her than that. He can’t help but want it, though…

Enjoy an excerpt:

“Well, how is it supposed to go?” Micah demanded. “Don’t you know how to work a car seat?”

“Why would I know? I’ve never had a baby. You’re the one who’s supposed to be mechanically inclined. Why can’t you figure it out?”

“I sure wouldn’t have designed this ridiculous contraption in a way that’s impossible to hook in the car.”

“Oh, wait,” Alice gasped, remembering something she should have recalled earlier. “I think it’s supposed to face the other way.”

“That can’t be right.” Micah turned the carrier as she’d indicated. He was bending over into the car, and he looked just as hot and frustrated as she felt. “Why would they make the poor babies look at nothing but the back of the seat?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s safer or something. Let’s just try it. Maybe the belt goes through like this.”

Micah fed the belt through the grooves, and the buckle got stuck at one point. “Shit,” he muttered, trying to free the belt. “Shit.” Then he glanced up at her. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to keep saying sorry,” she replied, slightly snippy. “I’ve heard worse, you know.”

“I know that. But do you really think I should be teaching her bad language this early?”

“She can’t even talk yet.”

“Well, she can hear.”

“Fine,” Alice grumbled, tilting the carrier slightly to make room for Micah’s run of the belt. “Watch your language then.”

He gave her a cool glare, but it changed when Alice was able to snap the seatbelt closed.

They both tested the carrier to make sure it was stable, but they couldn’t get it to move more than an inch, no matter how they tugged on it, so they assumed it would do for the short ride to Micah’s house.

Alice sighed in relief as she finally climbed out of the car and walked around to the driver’s side.

Micah was leaning against the car, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He looked exhausted, defeated somehow.

Despite her annoyance just the moment before, she felt another pull of sympathy. She reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s going to be all right.”

“Is it?” he asked, opening his eyes to meet hers.

“Yeah. We’ll figure this out. We don’t know anything yet.”

“But what if she’s mine? What if her grandparents really doesn’t want her? What if I’m the only parent she has? I can’t even manage to get her strapped into the car.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.

Social Media:
Website: http://noelle-adams.com/Home_Page.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoelleAdamsAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoelleAdams3
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6572847.Noelle_Adams

Book Trailer for A Baby for Easter:
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Savage Deception by R.T. Wolfe - Review and Giveaway

(Romantic Suspense)

This review is done in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $100 Amazon or BN gift card (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Enter via the Rafflecopter at the end of the post, and you can see the rest of the stop by clicking on the tour banner.

Busy juggling loan sharks and Amber Alerts, Detective Nickie Savage makes time when the FBI seeks her expertise with a child trafficking ring. But when Nickie discovers that the men running the ring are the same ones who abducted her as a young teen, the case gets personal.

Risking her badge, Nickie goes rogue. Luckily, she has Duncan Reed, along with his wire tapping and surveillance expertise. But Duncan also wants to take their relationship to the next level.

Now, Nickie must choose: break her own rules and risk her heart or forge ahead alone.

My Review:

Some time ago, I read a book by this author in what seems to be a similar series.  She impressed me then, and she's still impressing me.  While I've clearly missed something previously (Duncan and Nickie are already a couple, and there's some backstory I didn't have and it took me a little while to catch up), I still dug right in to this book and really enjoyed it.

Nickie acts tough, but she's soft when it comes to Duncan, and no wonder. The man is crazy for her.  She's my favorite kind of heroine: smart, sassy, strong but one with heart.  I really enjoyed watching her do whatever it took to catch the bad guys, even when it was incredibly hard for her emotionally.

Duncan's awesome, too. I remember him from my other story about his brother and am glad he finally found his own love.  He's hot-headed, but loyal, smart and loving.  I don't think Nickie would have made it through this book without him, since she discovered something things that were pretty rough.  And Duncan's family is wonderful to behold.  Actually, all the secondary characters in this book really added flavor and fun.

The author is incredibly talented.  Her writing is strong, descriptive and nearly perfectly clean.  It's the kind of writing that essentially disappears and instead creates a movie in your mind.  I lost track of time with this book, once I figured out what was what.  It's exciting, interesting, nerve-wracking ... but it also touched my heart.  Clearly, I need to go back and grab her entire backlist because she writes the type of romantic suspense I really enjoy.

I'm so glad I got a chance to read this book.

4.5 Flowers - This was a very good book! I'd recommend it to my friends.

Enjoy an excerpt:

“This is our hotel.” Those were the only four words Nickie had spoken since Duncan picked her up at Vegas Metro. He’d expected her to be shaken after the day she’d had. He didn’t expect her to be shaking.

Heading for the elevator, he realized they were retiring to their room as the rest of the town was beginning their evenings. He heard them before the elevator arrived. Loud, drunk and male. The doors slid open to a small group of young men. They reeked of marijuana and alcohol. One did a double take at Nickie.

“The cop stripper!” he slurred. “I got your card in here somewhere.” He patted his pockets.

Nickie wore what she usually did. Button-down blouse, this one raspberry-pink, and black slacks … both tighter than most wear. She was never afraid to use her sexuality when it suited her. Her black boots had heels. Her gun was secured on her belt, along with her badge and cuffs.

Duncan saw it all through an angry haze of red.

The one patting his pockets took out some cash. The others whistled as they pulled out more Duncan stepped in front of Nickie.

“Come on, dude. Share!” they boy said to Duncan.

He wasn’t sure whose arm it was, but before he knew it a hand cupped her breast. As quickly as the arm reached her, Nickie twisted and had it wrenched behind the man’s back. “That’s assaulting a police officer, you stupid piece of shit.” Her voice was eerily calm.

“Hey!” another one defended, landing a hand on her shoulder. Duncan took it, bending it back until he heard a crack. The boy bellowed in pain as his friends stepped in to help.

Fists flew and heads bobbed. They were drunk and young. That excuse wasn’t going to help them. Duncan ducked easily taking two down with solid hooks as he heard the soft heels of the security officer running toward them.

About the Author: R.T. Wolfe enjoys creating diverse characters and twining them together in the midst of an intelligent mystery and a heart encompassing romance. It's not uncommon to find dark chocolate squares in R.T.'s candy dish, her Golden Retriever at her feet and a few caterpillars spinning their cocoons in their terrariums on her counters. R.T. loves her family, gardening, eagle-watching and can occasionally be found viewing a flyover of migrating whooping cranes.

R.T. Wolfe Website: http://www.rtwolfe.com
R.T. Wolfe Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/RTWolfe2012
R.T. Wolfe Twitter Handle: http://www.twitter.com/RT_Wolfe
R.T. Wolfe Pinterest Page: http://www.pinterest.com/RTWolfe

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Four Novellas: Ethan, Storm, Frankie, Marina by Lashell Collins - Cover Reveal and Giveaway

This post is part of the Cover Reveal Blog Tour for the first four books in Lashell Collin's Kelly Family Series. These four novellas will all be released on April 30, followed exactly one month later on May 30 by a full length novel in the series. Lashell will be awarding a $15 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The other stops on the tour can be seen by clicking the tour banner.

Ethan: A Kelly Family Novella

Officer Ethan Kelly is a nice guy. That’s what all the girls say, right before they toss him aside for one of those bad boys. But when he meets rookie officer, Heather Moss, Ethan is determined to show her that a nice guy knows how to treat a real woman.

But Heather isn’t interested. Or at least, she doesn’t want to be. She swore off men a long time ago, and focusing on her career leaves zero room for romance. Even with someone as sweet and sexy as Ethan. But when she saves his life on a robbery call, Heather realizes that he might just be the man to save her from herself.

Storm: A Kelly Family Novella

Bad boy cop Storm Kelly is on the prowl for some action. And the way he’s feeling, he doesn’t much care if it comes in the form of a bar fight or a smart, sassy woman. So when he gets off his Harley and walks into a biker bar, he’s in his element when he finds both … barroom brawl, check. Rescue the damsel in distress, check. And with any luck, that sexy damsel might just turn out to be the perfect sub he’s been searching for.

Nina Fitz is in a world of trouble when the sexy stranger comes to her rescue. Never one to resist a hot guy on a motorcycle, she quickly decides to invite this one home. And when the jerk from the bar decides he’s not through with her, Officer Storm Kelly becomes her protector. But after one night of passion with Storm, Nina is left wondering if she can handle his dark dominant side.

Frankie: A Kelly Family Novella

Frankie Kelly has fought her whole life to prove that she is just as capable as all the men in her testosterone-driven family. And now her hard work and dedication to the police K-9 program is finally beginning to pay off. But when her secret, sexy romance with her sergeant culminates in a marriage proposal, Frankie is thrown for a loop wondering if she’s ready to go public with their clandestine relationship.

John Myles is sure of two things in life - one, that he is dedicated to the K-9 program he leads at the police department. And two, that he loves Frankie Kelly more than life itself. But when she hesitates to accept his proposal, John is rattled. Especially when the job gets in the way, forcing him to send her and her K-9 partner out into the dark night in search of a dangerous murder suspect.

Marina: A Kelly Family Novella

Marina Kelly is sick to death of cops! That’s all she’s known her entire life - her father is a cop, her uncle was a cop. All of her cousins are cops. Even her two brothers and her big sister … all cops. So Marina decided early on that her life would take a much different path, getting as far away from that lifestyle as she could get. And dating a cop is totally out of the question!

Levi Hawks is well aware of Marina’s ‘no cops’ dating rule, so when a supposed chance meeting brings him face-to-face with the sexy shop owner, Levi is determined to hide the fact that he’s a police detective from her for as long as he possibly can. Or at least until he can get her to agree to go out with him!

About the Author:

Lashell Collins spent the last twenty years of her life working in Veterinary Hospitals and Garden Centers. But whether she was surrounded by the adorable puppies and kittens she helped care for, or by the beautiful flowers, trees and shrubs, she constantly pursued her favorite pastime – reading romance novels and imagining herself as the heroine in each and every one of them. She began writing as a way to work through her grief after the loss of a few people who were special to her, and she found it to be cathartic, so she kept at it. She self-published her first novel in 2013. Since then, Lashell has self-published ten titles across two series – the Pierced Trilogy (romantic suspense), and the Jagged Ivory Series (contemporary romance) – and is hard at work on another seven titles for this year. All of Lashell’s stories are full of heart and romance, with smart dialogue and spicy sex scenes.

When she’s not writing, Lashell enjoys reading, shopping, eating Chinese food, and riding on the back of her husband’s Harley-Davidson. She loves watching General Hospital and Grimm. She is a huge music fan and is completely obsessed with Slash. Lashell is a member of the Romance Writers of America. Drop her a line; she loves to hear from readers.

Website: http://lashellcollins.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LashellCollins
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LashellCollinsAuthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lashellcollins1/

All of the books are available for prepurchase at Barnes and Noble:

Ethan - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ethan-lashell-collins/1119059178?ean=2940045799034
Storm - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storm-lashell-collins/1119059179?ean=2940045799041
Frankie - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frankie-lashell-collins/1119059181?ean=2940045799065
Marina - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marina-lashell-collins/1119059183?ean=2940045799096

Home Run by Bernadette Marie - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bernadette will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In one moment Christian Keller’s life was changed. Now as he picks up the pieces he wonders if he can possibly recoup what he lost.

Victoria Lincoln had a promising future with Christian until an accident took the life of her sister and left her as guardian to her two small children.

Their lives have gone in different directions, but Christian and Victoria’s paths will cross again. It will take a lot of change to pick up where they left off—if either of them can.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Scott reached for her hand and interlaced their fingers. He ran his thumb over hers in the most intimate of gestures and Victoria thought of how sweet they must look—this family dressed in their best, very cozy in Scott’s Lexus.

She let the tension roll out of her shoulders.

Scott gave her a glance and then turned his eyes back to the road. “So how long did you and Christian Keller date?”

The tension was back, but this time it stiffened every muscle in her body. The weight in her stomach was back too and it literally made her sick. She knew she’d tightened the grip she had on Scott’s hand.

“What makes you think we dated?”

He chuckled and continued to stroke her hand with his thumb. “The way he complimented your dress without looking at it. The grip he used when shaking my hand. The awkwardness you didn’t have with anyone else. Should I go on?”

“Please don’t.” She rolled her head to the side to look at him. He was handsome—more rugged than Christian with strong features and a dark completion. He was a natural in a suit—where she’d seen Christian squirm. There was an athletic build under that Armani and she’d seen it. They’d taken the kids swimming at his condo building last week. It had been the first time she’d been in a swim suit in over a year, but he hadn’t looked at the scars that riddled her body. He’d made her feel secure in her own skin.

Victoria took a breath. “We dated up until about eight months ago.”

He nodded and guilt plagued her.

“Okay, we didn’t just date. We were engaged.”

About the Author:

Bernadette Marie has been an avid writer since the early age of 13, when she’d fill notebook after notebook with stories that she’d share with her friends. Her journey into novel writing started the summer before eighth grade when her father gave her an old typewriter. At all times of the day and night you would find her on the back porch penning her first work, which she would continue to write for the next 22 years.

In 2007 – after marriage, filling her chronic entrepreneurial needs, and having five children – Bernadette began to write seriously with the goal of being published. That year she wrote 12 books. In 2009 she was contracted for her first trilogy and the published author was born. In 2011 she (being the entrepreneur that she is) opened her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, and has released contemporary titles and has begun the process of taking on other authors in other genres.

Bernadette spends most of her free time driving her kids to their many events. She is also an accomplished martial artist, working her way to her second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. An avid reader she loves to meet readers who enjoy reading contemporary romances and she always promises Happily Ever After.

5 Prince Publishing: http://www.5princebooks.com/bernadettemarie.html
Website: http://www.bernadettemarie.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorbernadettemarie
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/writesromance
Blog: http://www.authorbernadettemarie.blogspot.com/

The Zoastra Affair by Victoria Pinder - Book Review and Giveaway

(Science Fiction Romance)

This review is done in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Victoria will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

A hundred years from now, Earth has trading partners with alien beings, mostly humanoid. However, going into space brought forth an unknown enemy who attacks Earth at will.

The Zoastra is part of the Earthseekers, an organization originally designed to go into space. Its new mission is to find Earth’s enemies.

Ariel is stuck on a Victorian planet and steals Grace’s body and life to get off the planet. Grace must get her body back before Ariel bonds with Grace’s husband, Peter. Then there is Cross, the man on a mission to find those who killed his family. Ariel is attracted to Cross, but she’s stolen someone’s life.

My Review:

The Zoastra Affair concerns a small group of Earthseekers who are on a mission to find earth's enemies--because Earth has been attacked and they really don't know who the enemies are. The destruction on Earth plays a pivotal part in one of the main character's life--Major Cross. He lost his entire family and now is determined to avenge their deaths--cutting himself off from any personal contact in the meantime.

The story starts off right in the action with Ariel making up her mind to get off the planet she's been stranded on the past several years. And, when Grace, a member of the landing crew, comes along and is treated to a massage, the opportunity presents itself.

I've always enjoyed shows where one character swaps places with another. It works very well in movies and I could see The Zoastra Affair being made into such a show. There were little things that Ariel did that sent up warning flares that something was not quite right--and I give kudos to Peter for not being deceived for long.

There are two main couples involved in this love story..and it's much more of a romance than it is a science fiction tale. It reminds me of some of the Star Trek shows--with the emphasis on the characters. It would be interesting to see these same characters in another book. I actually want to know more about these enemies of earth and find out if there is a way to destroy them.

3.5 Flowers: This was a good book. I liked it.



About the Author:

Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston before moving to the Miami sun. She’s worked in engineering, after passing many tests proving how easy Math came to her. Then hating her life at the age of twenty four, she decided to go to law school. Four years later, after passing the bar and practicing very little, she realized that she hates the practice of law. She refused to one day turn 50 and realize she had nothing but her career and hours at a desk. After realizing she needed change, she became a high school teacher. Teaching is rewarding, but writing is a passion.

During all this time, she always wrote stories to entertain herself or calm down. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, and Victoria spent too many years living other people’s dreams, but when she sat down to see what skill she had that matched what she enjoyed doing, writing became so obvious. The middle school year book when someone wrote in it that one day she’d be a writer made sense when she turned thirty.

When she woke up to what she wanted, the dream of writing became so obvious. She dreams of writing professionally, where her barista can make her coffee and a walk on the beach, can motivate her tales. Contemporary romances are just fun to write. She’s always thinking whose getting hurt and whose story is next on the list to fall in love. Victoria’s love of writing has kept her centered and focused through her many phases, and she’s motivated to write many stories.

Member of Florida Romance Writers, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal chapter of RWA, and in Savvy Authors.

Visit Victoria online at:

Authors Website: http://www.victoriapinder.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victoria-Pinder-also-writing-as-Greta-Buckle/294685373900979
Twitter: http://twitter.com/victoriapinder
Tumblr: victoriapinder.tumblr.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/victoriapinder/
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=200859737&trk=hb_tab_pro_top
Google+ https://plus.google.com/105161432419802350109/posts/p/pub

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Second Chance Bride by Trish Morey - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Trish will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Remember, the more you comment, the better your chances to win.

Scarlett Buck has always been flaky in comparison to her sensible twin sister Tara, so nobody is really surprised when Scarlett spends all her money on a one way ticket to Australia to be with the man she’s met on the Net. But she hasn’t reckoned on the guy already being married, or her mom getting sick, and now she needs money for a flight home to Marietta, MT—quick. Signing on with Bella's Belles in Kalgoorlie isn't be the proudest moment in her life but it will get her home fast. After all, it's just sex.

Or is it?

Mitch Bannister's ex is about to marry his best friend, and he could really do with a cold beer and a hot woman. But the cowgirl he takes a shine to at Bella's is surprisingly skittish, and in the end he leaves without hooking up.

Later, when Mitch spies the cowgirl in the local pub begging for a job, he shrinks into the shadows--he's not looking for complications, and something tells him that Scarlett Buck is a whole handful of them. But soon it's clear she's not just trouble, she's in trouble, and like it or not, he's not about to turn his back on this stray from the States. Especially if she can do him a favor in return. After all, it's just a helping hand.

Or is it?

Now enjoy an excerpt:

“You look amazing,” he said, and it wasn’t his words that warmed her through and through, it was the husky quality to his Aussie drawl and the raw heat in his eyes. If she’d had any qualms that he was dressing her to make his ex feel bad, they were banished before they could take root. He was dressing her for him.

She’d never thought blue was a warm color, not until now, not until she’d felt this slow, warm glide of his eyes over her form leaving a smoking trail of heat.

So sex wasn’t part of this deal?

Didn’t mean it wasn’t going to happen.

Shoes and accessories were next. He took his time, not rushing and not checking out the sale items like she was, but going for top shelf every time.

She wondered whether he was as attentive a lover as he was a shopper.

And then she remembered that first encounter in Bella’s, and the hot stroke of his tongue against her breast.

Oh yeah!

USA Today Bestselling Author, Trish Morey has written thirty romances for the internationally bestselling Harlequin Presents line and her stories have been published in more than 25 languages in 40 countries worldwide, including being published in Manga comic book form in Japan, and as Trish Moreyova in the Czech Republic. Trish was awarded Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year Award (the Ruby) for short, sexy romance In 2006 and again in 2009, as well as being a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Awards in 2012.

A qualified Chartered Accountant by trade, Trish was employed as financial manager at a major business school prior to her first sale.

Trish lives with her husband, 4 daughters and assorted menagerie in the beautiful Adelaide Hills.

Author links:
Website: http://www.trishmorey.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trish.morey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoreyTrish

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Trish-Morey/e/B001H6WU8G/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1396183952&sr=8-2-ent

BN Author Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/trish-morey

Tule Publishing page: http://tulepublishing.com/product/second-chance-bride/

Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte by Susan C. Muller - Review and Giveaway

(Paranormal Romantic Suspense)

This review is done in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Susan will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A frantic phone call leads Detective Remy Steinberg racing through the night toward the one place he vowed never to return. With the life of his kidnapped daughter at stake, he willingly faces shotgun-wielding drug dealers, corrupt law-enforcement officials, and a raging hurricane.

Scouring the seedy back alleys of New Orleans for information, he goes undercover at a sinister voodoo ceremony, and struggles to understand the forces of black magic that hold his daughter hostage.

With time ticking down, he battles for his life against a high voodoo priest, but can he face the two things he fears most: the swamp that terrorized his childhood, and the ex-wife he’s never stopped loving?

My review:

Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte is Ms. Muller's third book in her Occult series, but it can certainly be read as a standalone. I'm looking forward to picking up the first two books of the series to read more about the other characters I've met in this book.

This was an exciting book... from page one to the last page of the book, the author kept the action going--and my heart was in my throat during the hurricane. Even knowing this was a romantic suspense, the author kept me on tenterhooks until the final resolution--I was THAT involved in the book and with the characters.

Remy and Gabby both had a lot of growing up to do...and it was wonderful to see them both see each other with adult eyes and to be able to appreciate the others' positive qualities.

I hope this isn't the end of the series. I really like these characters and would like to see them in other books and other situations.

Four flowers. Enjoy this excerpt:

Remy gritted his teeth and turned off his flashing light bar as he crossed the state line. His badge might carry some weight in Texas, but not in Louisiana. Those guys resented against everything from Texas except the money that rolled in.

Well, too bad. He felt the same about their whole state. Had since the day his mother dragged the family there from New Jersey.

He understood, forgave her even. When his father died, she needed some place that felt like home. Only it never felt like home to him. In fact, it felt more like purgatory. And he got out of there as fast as he could.

Unfortunately, that meant dragging Gabrielle and Adrienne to Texas with him. And Gabby had refused to do that. She’d given him an ultimatum. Come back or get a divorce. Well, he’d never much liked ultimatums. And he sure didn’t plan to ever live in that state again.

He’d gone to Texas in search of work, sure that if Gabby loved him enough, she’d follow. Only she hadn’t, and he’d refused to give up a good job and return to a hand-to-mouth existence, sponging off of family, and feeling like a failure because he couldn’t support his new baby and his wife.

The same wife who hadn’t loved him enough to come with him.

His hands tightened on the wheel until his fingers went numb. Would things have been different if he hadn’t been so bullheaded? Was Adrienne paying the price for his stubbornness?

He could beat himself up later for rash decisions. All that mattered now was his daughter’s safety.

And every minute that passed, the knot in his gut grew.

He stopped for gas, a quick burger, and to study the map. Nothing had changed. A few more fast-food joints, a few more casinos. But the swamp was still only feet off the road in places.

Another hour of driving, and he turned off the interstate, into bayou country. The lights fell away and he was left with only his headlights poking a hole in the darkness. Even the air felt heavy, like the weight on his shoulders.

How he hated this place. And now it had taken his daughter.

About the Author:

Susan C. Muller is a fourth generation Texan. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University where she majored in Business Administration. She started her first novel at age eleven, but it wasn’t until after she had worked many years and raised a family that she returned to her first love, writing. She is a member of Northwest Houston RWA, Kiss of Death online RWA, and The Houston Writers Guild. Her novel, The Secrets on Forest Bend, has won several awards.

Susan and her husband, Sid, live in Spring, Texas with their rescue dog, Buster, a 120 pound black lab of advanced age. They have two children and four grandchildren. They love to travel and have been fortunate to see much of the world. Her favorite places include Kenya, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands. When not writing, she can be found doing volunteer work at a local hospital. She loves to read, travel, snorkel and take long walks.

Website: http://susancmuller.com/
Twitter: @SusanCMuller
Facebook: Susan C Muller Author

Buy the book on Amazon.