Catching Bubbles by Mav Skye - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mav will be awarding a $35 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner and a signed paperback copy of Supergirls (interntional) will be awarded to another randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Catching Bubbles
by Mav Skye

Well, I’m not sure if this would surprise people about me or not, but I am terribly, terribly absent-minded. I’ve left my keys hanging in the car door more times than I can count. I’ve locked them inside the car even more than that. I’ve had to break into my house multiple times, and it’s truly amazing how small a window I can wiggle through at one AM. I tend to bump carts with people in the grocery store, and instead of saying I’m sorry. I say hello and ask them how they are doing. I told the librarian in Texas that her library smelled like books, and was forever branded bimbo. I write by the seat of pants, and I never know what will happen next. And true story, I was recently writing an essay about forgetting, and I forgot to put in the part about forgetting. Basically, my highest aspirations should be catching bubbles with a butterfly net. Fortunately for me, that’s what story telling is. Thank goodness.

Now that you know a little about me, let’s see how well you can guess!

Below are six true things about me. One is false. Write which you think is NOT true in the comments below. The first ten people that guess will receive a free ebook of Supergirls!

#1 I jumped out of trees for the thrill, off the shed for curiosity, off the cliff for the dare, and off the second story balcony because I was Supergirl.

#2 Once, I was almost abducted by a man in a pig mask with a knife.

#3 When browsing a book store, I always read the first and last line. If I can figure out the story, I put the book back.

#4 I was 14 when I received my first marriage proposal.

#5 I’ve skinned many animals.

#6 I have moles that shape the little dipper on my left arm.

#7 I still have the lips of the first boy who kissed me. In a jar. In the back of the freezer.

Sisters Jenn and May have finally found their golden ticket out of the slums. Pervy sugar daddy, Frederick Bells, promises to be an easy score with a big payoff—millions are hidden within his mansion.

The plan is simple: tie up the pig, steal his cash, and skip town. But fate has a different plan, including a villain with a wicked imagination. The sisters resort to playing their childhood game SUPERGIRLS to battle their fears in Bell’s den of horrors.

Will the SUPERGIRLS find their prize or will their heads join the pile behind the black cellar door?

Enjoy an excerpt:

A narrow door with a brass knob catches my eye. It blends into the wall. “The closet,” I whisper.

We both walk to it, look at each other. I open the door. It is dark. A lone pull string hangs from a bulb. It tick-tocks back and forth like a grandfather clock tongue. I watch it a second, willing it to stop ticking, but it moves anyway in its own ghostly rhythm. I hesitate. Do I really want to see? Not just inside the closet, but see our lives clearly: May and mine, always looking for the next 7-11 job to get screwed at, flip a trick to pay rent, grab a buck burger for dinner, never having a real boyfriend, the weight of paying for May’s meds. What is the price for a dream, for peace? Our mother’s price (her face appears in my mind, navy blue eyes and a pale pretty mouth, a scar the shape of a kiss on her cheek) was running away. The price, I know, is always hefty and… complete. What would my price be?

The string tick-tocks on.

“Maybe we should just leave,” whispers May.

Her statement reflects my thoughts, but in her voicing it out loud, I feel angry. Running away. It’s what we’ve always done, what our mother did. We aren’t going back to that life. No way.

Tonight everything is going to change.

“Not without the money,” I say, and grab the string.

About the Author:

When Mav Skye isn't turning innocent characters into axe murderers, refinishing old furniture, chasing around her spring ducklings, or reading the latest horror novel, she's editing at the almighty Pulp Metal Magazine.

She adores puppies, pirates, skulls, red hots, Tarantino movies and yes, Godzilla.

Especially Godzilla.

She is the author of Supergirls and The Undistilled Sky. Look for her wicked horror romance, Wanted:Single Rose, this fall and the second book in the Supergirls series, Night without Stars, early 2015.

Find Me:

Website: http://www.mavskye.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MavSkye
Facebook Page: http://on.fb.me/1qPcFVK
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1mtblVa

Supergirls is available in print or ebook at: Payhip, Amazon US or Amazon UK.

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Charlesgate by Dina Keratsis - Spotlight and Giveaway

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

Ever since Zylla Berry first saw the dilapidated mansion in Boston’s Back Bay, she’d become enchanted. When she walks by one day to find that someone is renovating the old beauty, she walks through its open door and meets Jabe Thayer.

Determined to restore The Charlesgate to its former splendor, Jabe is thrilled to meet Zylla, who shares his passion for the building and knows its history. As they get to know each other, they find that their love for The Charlesgate is not a coincidence and as supernatural forces intensify, they begin to uncover a sinister secret that will threaten their future.

From the piratical seas of the seventeenth century, to Boston’s Gilded Age to the present, The Charlesgate is a haunting novel of ancestry, fate, and the unfailing power of love.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Zylla trotted up the steps into the cool darkness of the alcove and lovingly gazed at the gold-green ceramic tiled walls. Along the ceiling, the glossy tiles sported figures of knights, cherubs, flowers and heraldic crests. She ignored the chunks where tile was missing, just as she overlooked the broken lantern that hung from the ceiling on a rusted chain.

As always, Zylla wrapped her fingers around one grubby brass handle, closed her eyes, and pulled. And as always the padlock didn’t magically fall off to allow her entry into the Charlesgate’s realm.

About the Author:Dina Keratsis is an award-winning author of romance fiction in which all roads lead to illumination and magic is found in the mundane. A New England girl, she has a penchant for punk rock, Scottish tea rooms and a mad crush on Sirius Black. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.







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The Face Transplant by R. Arundel - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A $50 Amazon/Barnes and Noble gift card will be awarded at the conclusion of the tour--enter via the Rafflecopter at the end of the post. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Dr. Matthew MacAulay is a Facial Transplant Surgeon at a prestigious New York hospital. His friend and mentor, Tom Grabowski, dies under mysterious circumstances. Matthew is forced to investigate. He uncovers his friend’s secret. A new technique that allows perfect facial transplants. No incisions, no scars. The surgeon is able to transplant one person’s face to another with the perfect result. Tom was able to accomplish this monumental feat with the help of Alice, a supercomputer robot with almost human abilities. While trying to find the people responsible for murdering his friend Tom, Matthew realizes he is the prime suspect. Matthew must flee for his life with the help of Dr. Sarah Larsson, a colleague and reluctant helper who has a secret of her own. Alice helps them make sense of a baffling series of seemingly unrelated events. Matthew is forced to undergo a facial transplant to hide his identity and help to uncover the truth. The clues carry Matthew and Sarah around the world. Matthew stumbles onto a sinister plot of monumental proportions, the real reason Tom was murdered. This discovery leads Matthew all the way to The White House with a dramatic conclusion. Matthew never wavers in his quest for the truth and perseveres against all the odds. He must race to stop a major catastrophe, ratcheting up the excitement until the thrilling conclusion. The Face Transplant is a powerful medical suspense thriller of the first order. The novel was written by a surgeon. The novel has a realism that only a surgeon can bring. The plot weaves politics, medicine and espionage into a tightly paced, intelligent thriller. The novel crescendos page by page to a totally unexpected conclusion.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Guaarrr. It sounded like water draining from a very large bath tub, through a very large hole. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a warm relaxing bath? Sit. Soak. However, in the fraction of a second that it took that thought to go through Matthew’s head, a more powerful thought pierced his mind. I just killed myself. I just killed the patient. Most likely a criminal anyways. He looked down on the operating room table at the very gaunt, greying man. Dr. Matthew MacAulay quickly scanned the operating theater. In his peripheral vision he could clearly see the short, wide man in the observation area. I just killed myself, Lars, and Marcia. Matthew looked across the operating room table at Marcia Lopez, forty two, an American of Spanish ancestry. She had been his scrub nurse, assisting him in the operating room for the last 3 years. Divorced, one child.

It would take a few more seconds for the monitors to tell everybody what Matthew already knew. Soon the monitors would alarm and all would know. But Marcia already knew. She was right across the table. She saw him use the robotic arm to dissect the vessel and mistakenly cut the large artery in the neck. An operating room nurse of Marcia’s experience has seen it all. When Matthew looked into Marcia’s eyes they flashed ever so quickly an acknowledgement that it was all over. Instead of any words she quietly unclamped the suction. Now a dull hiss filled the air. To the casual observer, or the short wide man holding a 9 mm Glock pistol in his fat stubby hands, nothing really had changed.

About the Author:Robert was born in London, United Kingdom. His early formative years were spent in Toronto Canada. Robert attended the University of Toronto Medical School. After obtaining his Doctor of Medicine degree he completed surgical training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Toronto and obtained certification from the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Robert Mounsey practices surgery in private practice in Toronto.

R. Arundel studied Film Studies at Ryerson University, after this he began writing screenplays and novels. The Face Transplant is his debut novel.

R. Arundel is married and lives in Toronto, Canada. When not writing or practicing surgery Robert can be found cycling.

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A Darker Rain by Claudine Kapel - Book Review and Giveaway

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

“It’s definitely not a good time to be going into the woods of Hawkley Ridge.”

When a red-eyed wildcat starts threatening ranchers in the Pacific Northwest, Ryan Cole recognizes the danger is far more menacing than the ranchers realize. Cole specializes in tackling unconventional security threats, particularly those with alien origins.

His investigation puts him in the crosshairs of Antoine Drake, an international arms dealer with a penchant for weapons from other worlds. Both men are hot on the trail of powerful alien artifacts known as guardian stones.

Cole and his team of investigators embark on a dangerous quest to recover the guardian stones before they can be assembled into the ultimate alien weapon. To succeed, Cole must also decipher the wildcat’s deadly secrets.

But in the woods of Hawkley Ridge, it’s easy for the hunter to become the prey. A Darker Rain is the first book in the Ryan Cole series.

My review:

A very welcome addition to the world of Science Fiction/paranormal investigations and investigators. This book reminded me in tone of Kay Hooper's Bishop/SCU series meets NCIS meets Stargate. There are psychics, aliens who look human, mysteries to solve, bad guys to win again, a treasure to find--with a touch of romance. What's not to like?

The author has done a wonderful job at drawing memorable characters with some of the secondary characters being my particular favorites. They work together as a team and each of them are fully drawn, with faults and foibles that they strive to overcome.

The plot is cohesive... with just the occasional info-dump as the author gives some backstory relevant to the situation. But it was not enough to ruin my appetite for the book.

All in all, it was an excellent debut and I look forward to seeing more stories and adventures from the Sigma Corporation. 4 flower. Enjoy an excerpt:

“We now have two stones and the amulet,” said Jackson, barely containing the excitement in his voice. “And you know what they say—you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.” “Yeah, and you know what they say about good intentions and the road to hell,” Cole countered. “Our goal is to collect all the stones so we can make sure no one parlays them into some sort of ultimate weapon. That includes us. The last thing we want to do is unleash a weapon like that ourselves.”

“The Rajan understood how the amulet worked, and they decided to take it apart and scatter the pieces across two continents,” Ashcroft added.

“Yeah, but that was hundreds of years ago,” argued Jackson.

“And we’ve evolved so much as a species that we can handle that kind of power now?” countered Cole.

“You’re right,” agreed Jackson. “But as scientists we have to learn more about the stones and how they work.”

“Far be it for me to get in the way of scientific inquiry,” said Cole. “I’m not saying you can’t study the stones or the amulet—just that we’re not putting them all together.” That had been a longstanding rule. Cole wasn’t about to create an unprecedented weapon and unleash it on the world.

“I know what you’re saying, Cole,” said Jackson. “But that’s like saying we should study the atom but not try to split it.”

“Good analogy,” said Cole. “That’s my point exactly.”

About the Author: A Darker Rain is Claudine Kapel’s first novel. She lives in Toronto and enjoys books, music, and travel. When not working as a consultant, she can be found writing, reading, or contemplating what else may be out there.

The second book in the Ryan Cole series is planned for release in 2014. Claudine loves to hear from readers. You can reach her by e-mail at claudine@claudinekapel.com.

Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-darker-rain-claudine-kapel/1117923653
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Darker-Rain-Ryan-Cole-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00HHF4E8U

Dinner for Two by Drea Stein - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Drea will award a $25 Starbucks card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. This book is FREE on Amazon --get your copy now.

Sean and Darby love food - but is their relationship a recipe for disaster - Or a chance to make kitchen magic?

Find out in Dinner for Two, Book 1 in The Queensbay contemporary romance series

Sean Callahan was a hot shot big city chef whose high handed ways got him into trouble one too many times. Now he's in a small town hoping for another shot at the big leagues.

Darby Reese is a big city lawyer who can bake like an angel. Unfortunately, a life lived according to the law has left her burned out. So when the chance comes to run her family's deli in the small town of Queensbay, Darby's happy to take it.

But when Sean, the former chef du jour walks into her kitchen, she's definitely not prepared for sparks to fly. Will the two of them be able to find the recipe for happily ever after?

Book one in the Queensbay Series, a contemporary romance series.

Enjoy an excerpt:

“I’m Sean Callahan.” He stuck out his hand.

She looked at it, shrugged and said. “We met already, remember?”

He did his best to keep smiling, but her hostility was wearing him down. “Yeah, about that.”

“I assume your mushrooms worked out for you?” Her tone was frostily polite as she turned and began to walk.

Surprised, he had to move quickly to keep up with her. “You know, I have plenty more,” he said, “if you need some. I didn’t mean to send you back to the store.” Friendly. If you were friendly, then someone else was supposed to be friendly back, right? Apparently, this one wasn’t going to give him an inch.

She looked at him, and he noticed that she had a small smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose and cheeks. “I managed to improvise.” Her tone was clipped, and it didn’t take a genius to deduce that she was pissed at him.

He ran a hand through his hair. Usually he didn’t have to work this hard to get a girl to like him. Women seemed to find him charming, at least at first. Until they got pissed off when he decided it was time to move on. Unfortunately, Darby seemed to have moved straight on to the pissed stage, without even giving him a chance. Okay, so he’d not been on his best behavior that morning, at least until he’d gotten a good look at her.

He turned on his high-wattage smile, the one that always worked, and tried his best bad-boy-turned-sorry look. “Sorry, sugar, it was a bit of a crazy morning. I hadn’t had my coffee yet. You know how that goes, right?”

About the Author: Drea Stein is the author of the Queensbay contemporary romance series. She lives in rural New Jersey – yup, there really is such a thing – with her family and writes in an old barn. Visit her at www.DreaStein.com or https://www.facebook.com/DreaSteinAuthor. Buy the book at Amazon. a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Cowboy Earns a Bride by Cora Seton - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Cora be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Wedding bells are ringing on the Double-Bar-K and Luke Matheson is determined to make his move on his favorite bridesmaid—sweet, sexy Mia Start. Though she's shared his house for more than two months, she's remained elusive. Luke's ready to cross that divide, and win her love for good.

Mia would give anything to marry Luke, but he won't want her once he knows the truth; she’s four months pregnant with another man’s child. It's time to find a real home—and a real job—so she can raise her baby alone.

When a nosy neighbor exposes Mia’s pregnancy at his brother's wedding, Luke sees his chance to finally get what he wants. He lays claim to the baby—and to Mia—but their happily-ever-after lasts barely a day. When Luke's pride clashes with Mia's need for independence, Mia calls the wedding off.

Can Luke convince her to change her mind? Or will these wedding bells sound the death knell of their relationship?

Enjoy an excerpt:

Mia hunched miserably in the corner of the front seat, as far away from the furious man at the wheel as she could get. She’d never seen anyone as angry as Luke was now. She wished he would scream at her, rage at her, even throw things at her; anything but the grim silence that filled the cab like a living thing.

When they reached the Double-Bar-K, she nearly dashed from the truck before it stopped moving. Her dress in her hand, she ran up the steps, barreled inside Luke’s parents’ house and almost knocked Hannah over.

“What’s wrong?” Hannah raced up the stairs after her to the bedroom that had been designated for the bridesmaids on the second floor. As Mia slammed the door shut behind them, and threw herself on the bed, Hannah rushed to her side. “Was it Autumn? The birth? Did something go wrong after all?”

Mia shook her head, her sobs making it impossible to speak. “She’s…fine. The baby is…beautiful.”

“Then what’s wrong? Are you in shock?”

“It’s…Luke. He knows.” Mia’s sobs stormed out again. Hannah sat down hard on the bed beside her, understanding perfectly. She was the only one besides Fila who knew about Mia’s pregnancy. She’d urged Mia to tell Luke long ago.

“And he isn’t happy.” It wasn’t a question.

Mia only sobbed harder. “He hates me. He couldn’t even speak to me. I knew this would happen.”

To her credit, Hannah didn’t say she told her so. Only sighed and patted her on the back. “I’m sorry. I think you and Luke would make a great couple. Maybe you still will. Give him time—the news has to have come as a huge shock. Don’t you think?”

Mia nodded, knowing that Hannah was trying to the help. But it was easy for Hannah. She was so beautiful with her white-blond hair and competent ways. Everyone admired her for going back to school to become a veterinarian, and her new husband, Jake, was head over heels in love with her—enough to change the whole course of his life and go back to school, too. If only Luke loved her like that.

But why should he when she was carrying another man’s child?

About the Author:

Cora Seton loves cowboys, country life, gardening, bike-riding, and lazing around with a good book. Mother of four, wife to a computer programmer/eco-farmer, she ditched her California lifestyle nine years ago and moved to a remote logging town in northwestern British Columbia.

Like the characters in her novels, Cora enjoys old-fashioned pursuits and modern technology, spending mornings transforming a neglected one-acre lot into a paradise of orchards, berry bushes and market gardens, and afternoons writing the latest Chance Creek romance novel on her iPad mini. Visit www.coraseton.com to read about new releases, contests and other cool events!

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Three Black Boys: Tomorrow After Supper by Zangba Thomson - Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Zangba will be awarding a print copy of Three Black Boys: Tomorrow After Supper or a Bong Mines Clothing T-shirt (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. (US ONLY)

Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre and what draws you to it?

Hip-Hop influenced me to become an author, and the closest book genre to Hip-Hop music is Street Lit (or Urban Fiction). So when I made the transition from being a songwriter to a novelist, I began as a Street Lit author, and gradually through time—I evolved into different genres like—Urban Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi and Drama.

What research for Urban Fantasy/Street Lit/Sci-fi is required?

I don’t know if you ever heard the expression, “There is nothing new under the sun?” I believe things that are happening now have happened before, so doing a deep research—by reading books that cover the topics that you plan on writing about—could help you tremendously. But knowing is only half the battle—the other half is using what you know—to formulating the right words to express your story.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

The three black boys and Salome McBryant taught me the meaning of unselfishness—that it’s cool to go out of your way to help someone in need.

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

When I am writing a book, I kinda use the same rhythm and beat formula that I would use when writing a song. First I develop the soul of the story, which is the main ingredient; and then I establish the rhythm or melody; the hook is elusively placed in the plot, and oftentimes I find myself using rhyming words to construct sentences, and while I’m writing—I’m also putting together a musical soundtrack in my mind. It’s quite interesting and different, but through song—I can dictate the story’s mood or emotion and naturally anticipate what scene I should write next.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

In regards to writing novels, short stories and scripts, I am definitely a plotter, but in regards to writing blogs and articles—I am a pantser.

Look to your right—tell us what you see?

On the wall in my recording studio—I see a big, black and white photograph of Tupac Shakur, a painting of me and Nas—with Nas holding the original Three Black Boys book, my Do Right Do Good Appreciation Award plaque, Stevie Wonder’s Hotter Than July album cover and my Godson’s ukulele. And on the bookshelf, I see copies of my published books—Three Black Boys: Tomorrow After Supper, The Hotep Brother Manuscript and Do Right Do Good; and sitting on the floor, I see a refrigerator, a chest of drawers and a stack of old vinyl records from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Are you working on anything new, and if so—what?

I am co-authoring an exciting new relationship guidebook (with five other authors) entitled Single Man Married Man, which will explore the psyche of single, married and divorce men about their views on the state of men and women relationships. It’s gonna be wonderful because whenever you get a chance to do an interactive project dealing with men and women’s relationship issues—the outcome and response will always be great, especially if the advices given within the book are genuine and inspiring. There are many single, engaged and married women out there—women who are having relationship problems, and those who are looking for a man that they can call their own, but they just don’t know how to obtain Mr. Right. Well, ladies, look no further—the advices written in Single Man Married Man will show you how to obtain a man or keep you in the arms of the one you already have. It’s a win-win situation for all parties involved.

Do you have a question for our readers? No, I can’t say that I do, but I do want to thank It’s Raining Books—for hosting this wonderful blogging event, and also I want to thank Goddess Fish Promotions—for organizing this magnificent “Virtual Name Before the Masses Tour” for Three Black Boys: Tomorrow After Supper. (PEACE) and always remember that (P) Positive, (E) Energy, (A) Always, (C) Creates, (E) Elevation.

Teenagers spring into dangerous action to obtain financial aid for a woman who has only a month to live. The setting is Queens, N.Y., home to Babita Harris, an Indian immigrant plagued with the deadly black fever disease. With a couple of months to live, Babita only hope of survival is a costly liver transplant. But with no health insurance, the chance of a surgery is slim. What she needs is a quarter of a million dollars in cash. Barnes, her only son, along with his two friends, Demus and Baker, spring into dangerous action to get the money. Although their road is paved with good intentions, the brothers in arms will experience more than they have ever experienced before.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Ego, a creative God, sees the gardeners’ departure as an opportunity to do his dirty work. He wind surfs down below the clouds and lands between two rows of cosmic trees. He walks on dried leaves while reading the names of the cosmic trees as he passes by them. “At last,” he says with a giant smile, after finding what he is looking for, “the Melatonin cosmic tree. The main ingredient I need to permanently destroy their human creation.” Out the corner of his eye, he sees a fountain flowing with miracle water. Unable to resist the temptation, he makes his way over to the fountain, and drinks enough water to satisfy his thirst. “Damn, this is good water,” he says before pulling out a small metallic container from his waistband. He fills the container with miracle water, closes the lid, and inserts the container back inside his waistband. He walks back over to the Melatonin cosmic tree and tries to uproot it, but his efforts are in vain. He closes his eyes to mediate, and a short while later, the color of his aura changes from light gray to dark red. Now, much more powerful than before, he tries again to uproot the cosmic tree and succeeds.

Suddenly, the sky becomes dim and darkness covers the fourth dimensional sun. The moon ascends up to its highest peak, but instead of its normal glow, it shines a black fluorescent ray of light. The ground shakes thunderously, and steam erupts from an underground lake.

About the Author:

Zangba Thomson is the Creative Director at BME LLC, the author of Three Black Boys: Tomorrow After Supper, co-author of Do Right Do Good (a self-help guide book towards vision fulfillment and entrepreneurship), a recording artist, and New York Life Coach Examiner. Zangba balances his career and family time on the scale of hard work and dedication, and his main areas of focus include his real life experiences, metaphysics, and spirituality. Zangba's work reinforces the basic idea that goals are fulfilled when right decisions are made. Please visit his website at www.zangbathomson.com.

Blog: http://www.examiner.com/user/5407421/1792266/subscribe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/zangbathomson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iLikeZangba
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1903880.Zangba_Thomson
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Lieutenant Henry Gallant by H. Peter Alesso - Book Review and Giveaway

This review in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In an era of genetic engineering, Lieutenant Henry Gallant is the only Natural (non-genetically enhanced) officer left in the fleet. Many of his superiors, including rival Anton Neumann, have expressed concern he is not up to the challenge. However, his unique mental abilities have proven essential to the defense of the United Planets in its fight against the Titan invaders.

Serving on the first FTL prototype, the Intrepid, on its maiden voyage to Tau Ceti, Gallant finds a lost colony on the planet Elysium. Cyrus Wolfe and his son, manipulate planet politics against the democratic opposition led by James Hepburn and his granddaughter Alaina. Wolfe has allied himself with an ancient Artificial Intelligence which had lain dormant on the planet for millennia, but is now willing to protect the colonists against the Titans.

With Alaina’s help, Gallant discovers the ancient AI has a sinister ulterior motive and he matches his unique and exceptional mind against the complexity of machine intelligence to escape the ultimate trap and prevent the extermination of humanity.

In Lieutenant Henry Gallant, one man pits the naked human mind against the perspicacity of machine intelligence.

Review:

H. Peter Alesso does it again with his second entry in the Henry Gallant series. Gallant is now a Lieutenant serving on the Intrepid on its maiden voyage. The book can also be read as a standalone, but the reader will have a better understanding of what is going on if the first book is read. It's a great combination of space opera/action/drama/early Star Trekkiness.

The book does not flow linearly, but starts off with an action sequence and travels back to show how Gallant wound up in that situation-- so you are really getting two stories in one: the non-stop action in the present and the story in the past which led to it. The characters are all three-dimensional and this new book introduces a new female interest for Gallant.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series to see what other adventures Mr. Alesso has for our hero. 4 flowers.

About the Author:

As a scientist and author specializing in technology innovation, H. Peter Alesso has over twenty years research experience at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). As Engineering Group Leader at LLNL he led a team of computer scientists and engineers in innovative applications across a wide range of supercomputers, workstations and networks. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. and served in the U.S. Navy on nuclear submarines before completing an M.S. and an advanced Engineering Degree at M.I.T. He has published several software titles and numerous scientific journal and conference articles, and he is the author/co-author of seven books.

You can visit his Web site at: http://www.hpeteralesso.com/Default.aspx

Goodreads Address: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/413852.H_Peter_Alesso
YouTube trailer for Henry Gallant Saga: SciFi Book Trailer: Midshipman Henry Gallant
Facebook for Henry Gallant Saga: https://www.facebook.com/MidshipmanHenryGallantInSpace
Author Blog Address: http://cosmologysymmetrybreaking.blogspot.com/
Amazon link for Volume 1 of the Henry Gallant Saga: http://www.amazon.com/Midshipman-Henry-Gallant-Space-Volume/dp/1482640325/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Book Reviews for Volume 1:

Past Reviews of the first volume: Midshipman Henry Galant @2013

"The author has created a wonderful piece of work with his first novel in the Henry Gallant Saga. Between Henry Gallant beginning his new life on the United Planets' battle cruiser Repulse and trying to save the world the author has came up with it all. Henry Gallant is an admirable character with many wonderful features such as courage, intelligence, humility, kindness and special powers. ... the odds stacked against him pretty high. But maybe through it all, Kelsey will see the remarkable things about him." Ashley Patts, Teenage Rush teenagerush.blogspot.com

"This story moves along at a swift pace, with interesting character development and plot surprises. The characters are complete and engaging. This could develop into a good series." Rae

"Its style and flavor reminded me of The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell." - JJH

"Space Opera at its finest. Rousing read, introverted young man against impossible odds, a girl to win or lose, an enemy or is he? Way too much fun...can't wait for the next one." - vrzepka

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Kate and the Kid by Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks - Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anne and Kenneth will be awarding a $40 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Hi, Ken and Anne. Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

Ken: Uh oh. I knew it! We’re going to mess up the very first question.

Anne: What are you talking about?

Ken: We don’t have just one genre. KATE AND THE KID, is mainstream; MIND ME, MILADY is a mystery; THINGS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM, is a ‘tween novel. Darn it!

Anne: It’s okay, Ken. It just shows that we find a story first and then use the genre that is right for the story.

Ken: You’re a genius, Anne. Instead of looking stupid, you make us look smart.

Anne: You’re half right.

What research is required?

Ken: Let me handle this one. We regularly fly off for wild and wonderful weekends to the capitals of Europe to research scenes.

Anne: Ken, we never have done that. Ever.

Ken: I know, but it’ll make us look so cool!

Anne: Ken, all three of the books you mentioned take place totally in New York City. Our readers have remarked on how realistic all the descriptions are because of that. Don’t you think people will realize that you are telling a fib?

Ken: (Pouting). Maybe.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

Ken: You can take this one. (Grinning because he thinks it’s really hard).

Anne: Thanks. We learned that it is very important to do what your heart is urging you to do. Kate’s friends and her boyfriend, Roger, all tell her that she should not be taking care of Jenny because Jenny’s mother is just using her and no good will come of it. They were all wrong. By helping six-year-old Jenny through a very bad time in her life, Kate was able to come through a crisis as well, and she learned things about love and giving that she might never have learned otherwise.

Ken: Have you got a tissue? I think there’s something in my eye.

Handing Ken a tissue. Any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

Ken: I usually write standing on my head in front of the computer. It keeps the blood flowing.

Anne: Will you stop? We have no quirks, habits or superstitions.

Ken: Oh really? What about our writing together? Isn’t that a little quirky? Huh? A little odd-ball? How many people write together and, among those, how many would have stayed together for over forty years?

Anne: (Sighing) Precious few, I’m sure.

Ken: Exactly!

Plotter or pantser?

Ken: Take it away, Anne. I have no idea what she’s talking about.

Anne: She wants to know how we plan a novel. Do we have a detailed outline or do we make things up as we go along.

Ken: Yes.

Anne: It’s an either/or question, Ken.

Ken: But we’re not either/or people. We do a little outlining, then a little making things up, and a little more outline, and maybe another making it up session. We’re plotting pantsers!

Anne: Next question, please.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

Ken: Nothing is sitting there but a rug. Then there is another desk and a wall and on the other side of the wall is a bookcase and beyond the bookcase Anne is sitting in her chair.

Anne: What Ken is trying to say is that he writes at a desk in our bedroom. I sit in a chair in the living room where I do most of my work.

Ken: I’m glad you didn’t tell them about me sitting by the window and looking out all the time. It can give a wrong impression.

Anne: I wouldn’t want to do that!

Anything new coming up from you? What?

Ken: She doesn’t mean lunch, does she?

Anne: No, Ken. She means new novels, like our suspense novel, PRAISE HER, PRAISE DIANA, being published in September by Melange Publishing. It is available in paper and in digital format. It involves a woman who seeks revenge for a rape by killing men and turns New York City upside down.

Ken: Oh boy, another genre.

Do you have a question for our readers?

Ken: Yes! Have you read our books? Why not? What are you waiting for?

Anne: I think she may mean questions that have a little more substance, like “What do you think of the fact that we write in different genres? If you liked one book, would you take a chance and read another book in a different genre?

Ken: I’m very glad you’re my partner, Anne.

Anne: Yes.

KATE AND THE KID is about a young woman (Kate) who has just lost her job and had a major fight with her boyfriend (also arising from the trauma of being fired). At this very low point in her life, Kate is tricked into taking care of a sweet but emotionally damaged six-year-old girl (Jenny) who only communicates with adults through a doll she calls “Miranda.” As a result of an eventful night of babysitting, Kate begins to bond with Jenny, which causes a whole new set of complications with the people in Kate’s and Jenny’s lives. This book tells the story of how Kate and Jenny help each other to heal, grow, and navigate the difficult and sometimes dangerous world of New York City.

Enjoy an excerpt:

She began to press all the buzzers on the panel in the building’s foyer, one after the other, hoping that some kind soul among her neighbors would let her in. The headache that had started in the cab settled in for the night, pounding just above her right eye. At that exquisite moment, Kate saw the kid -- that ghostly, smudge-faced kid -- sitting on the staircase inside. A one armed Barbie doll was on the step beside her.

"Hi, Sweetie!" Kate said through the wired glass, exaggerating the enunciation of the words to make her meaning clear. "Would you come and let me in, honey? You remember me, don’t you? I live on the third floor?!"

The girl did not budge, apparently still trying for the grand prize in a zombie look-alike contest. At first, Kate felt a twinge of concern for the girl. Why on earth was she out in the hallway so late in the evening? Kate leaned her forehead against the cool glass and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, Jenny took the doll into her lap, whispered something into her plastic ear, walloped her twice across the bottom, and started up the stairs.

"Hey! Hey, where are you going?!" Kate shouted. "Hey you better come back here you little... Hey! Hey, did you hear me?!"
>br> And with the little darling thus doubly emblazoned on Kate's mind, if not yet on her heart, their second encounter ended.

About the Authors:

Anne Rothman-Hicks was born in New York City and, except for a brief exile to the suburbs imposed by her parents, she has lived there all of her life, the latter part of which she has shared with her co-author, Kenneth Hicks, and their three children.

Website: www.randh71productions.com
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kenneth-Hicks-and-Anne-Rothman-Hicks/622272714477979y
Buy the book at Amazon

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The Kidnapped Bride by Heather Hiestand - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Heather will be awarding a $20 GIFT CARD to AMAZON OR BN (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Pursuing this elusive heiress will be the ultimate temptation…

Lady Elizabeth Shield is used to saving herself from trouble. And even if dashing private inquiry agent Dougal Alexander just rescued her from white slavers, she’s definitely not returning to her stifling aristocratic life and unsuitable suitors. Not when there are other women in danger—and a secret promise to keep in Edinburgh. But outwitting Dougal’s tactics to return her to London and her family will be easier than staying away from his intoxicating kisses…

He’s a baron’s second son accustomed to making his own way and uncovering the truth. Now Dougal must keep Lady Elizabeth close for her own protection, but her spirited wiles are proving scandalously irresistible. His most difficult case yet will be showing her that he’s everything she truly desires—and that love is the greatest of adventures…

“Before I realized it, the unusually strong and well-developed characters of The Kidnapped Bride had sneaked up on me and captured my full attention. This is one of the best shorter books I have ever read.” --Delle Jacobs, author of Lady Wicked

Enjoy an excerpt:

“Look here, eh?” Dougal said. “Enough about your damned family. Our concern here is Lady Elizabeth. Ye turned her into your maid-of-all-work, right? Payback for whatever you think Lord Judah here did tae your sister? That was Lady Elizabeth answering the door at your flat last month, right?”

Manfred pressed his lips together and looked surly. Lord Judah’s expression was a mixture of horror and bewilderment.

“How could you do that to a gently bred girl?” Hatbrook demanded. “She must have loved you, to follow you like that. What did you do to make her run away from us?”

Manfred shrugged. “Beth’s headstrong, you know that. No one was more surprised than I to find Beth sneaking into my room in the border inn where I staying.”

“Why didn’t you bring Beth back, as a gentleman would?” Hatbrook shouted.

“I wasn’t about to marry her,” Manfred snarled. “She ain’t my sort.”

Hatbrook slapped the boy openhanded across the cheek. “That’s my sister! You’ve ruined her life! Whatever you want to say about your sister, my brother has given her an honorable marriage and an excellent home.”

“Beth bloody ruined it herself,” Manfred said, standing as his cheek bloomed red. “She followed me. I made her no promises. She refused to go home. So I set up house in Edinburgh, found a way to make money. But I didn’t marry her.”

“No, you just made her your whore,” Hatbrook said.

“I never touched her,” Manfred said, more quietly.

About the Author:

Heather Hiestand was born in Illinois, but her family migrated west before she started school. Since then she has claimed Washington State as home, except for a few years in California. She wrote her first story at age seven and went on to major in creative writing at the University of Washington. Her first published fiction was a mystery short story, but since then it has been all about the many flavors of romance. Heather’s first published romance short story was set in the Victorian period, and she continues to return, fascinated by the rapid changes of the nineteenth century. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she has achieved best-seller status at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. With her husband and son, she makes her home in a small town and supposedly works out of her tiny office, though she mostly writes in her easy chair in the living room.

For more information, visit Heather’s website at http://www.heatherhiestand.com. Heather loves to hear from readers! Her email is heather@heatherhiestand.com. Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kensington, Kobo, or Google. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make Me Crazy by Codi Gary - Q&A and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Codi will be awarding a signed copy of Make Me Crazy to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop (US ONLY) during the tour, and a Grand Prize of a $25 Amazon/BN GC plus a signed copy of Make Me Crazy (US ONLY) will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Hi Codi, we want to know about you. Would you tell us some things about you?
I am a major Joss Whedon fan!

As an author, I’m sure you’re also a reader. How much do you read in a year?
Lately I haven’t had a lot of time, but I’m up to three books a month from one every three! LOL

What are your expectations about being an author?
My expectations? Well, I hope to write the kind of books readers go crazy for, and to someday see “best-selling” attached to my name. :-)

Are you hanging out in any social media? Which ones are you using mostly?
I’m usually on Facebook and Twitter most days. When I feel creative, I skip on over to Pinterest and Tumblr.

What are your all-time most favorite and least favorite books?
My favorite is For the Roses by Julie Garwood and my least favorite is The Red Badge of Courage.

What is your inspiration source?
Country music, caffeine, and growing up in tiny towns. :-)

I’ve been writing stories on my own since I was a child. What advice would you give new authors like me?
When you have your manuscript spit shined and know what you want to do with it, go for it and put yourself out there. Cause if you don’t try, you’ll never know.

Do you have/have you had another job besides being an author?
I’m a full time mom and I was a Veterinary Technician for 7 years.

What do your family and friends think about you being an author?
They are proud of me. My dream came true and they are very supportive.

Write one sentence about your book(s) and that makes me want to buy your book(s).
I write smexy small town romance with laughs, grand-gestures, and blush-wortymoments.

Miranda “Rand” Coleman has seen the way love can wreck a person and wants absolutely no part of it. When her granddaddy dies suddenly, he leaves a clause in his will that has her married in three months or she loses her inheritance. Unwilling to give up the Double C Ranch, she starts to set her eyes towards the eligible men in town, with little luck in finding a man she can stand for a minute let alone a year. Until she sets eyes on the new veterinarian and enlists the help of her womanizing best friend, Jake, to help.

Jake Hansen is a single guy who likes his women pretty and uncomplicated, with no plans to settle down anytime soon. When he decides to help Rand hook her man, he has no idea the effect watching Rand change would have on him. Especially when she starts letting her gorgeous brown hair down and showing off a body he didn’t even know she had. Before too long, Jake isn’t just lusting after his best friend, he’s feeling downright possessive. But when it comes down to the wire, will he get over his issues and step up to the alter…or lose the only woman he was ever meant to love?

Enjoy an excerpt:

Surprising himself, he reached out to brush a piece of hair from her forehead and said sincerely, “There are a ton of men in this town who would be lucky to have someone like you.”

He barely had time to dwell on the softness of her skin before, in true Rand form, she started making gagging noises. “Alright, if we’re done with the touchy feely moment, can I start this movie? Disembowelment I can handle, but this sappy chick talk is nauseating.”

“How is it you can be more of a guy than I am?” he asked, watching her get up and head towards the DVD player, silently cursing himself for his craziness. Whatever weird glitch was going on with him, he needed to nip it in the bud. For a brief moment, he was thinking Red wasn’t so nuts to consider marrying Rand. If she was willing to give her future husband some kind of financial help, as long as he stayed out of her business, why not him? He’d been wanting to buy Loco Tack and Feed for several months, had planned on applying for a loan, but with the money from Rand, he wouldn’t need to deal with the bank.

And it wouldn’t be like it was a real marriage.

“I don’t act like a guy.” Rand said, twisting around after putting the DVD in. “I’m just not one of those prissy girls you and Red seem to think are sooo wonderful.”

Red’s idea about fluffing up Rand’s femininity popped into Jake’s head. “What if you dressed up a bit? Put on some make up? Maybe you’d catch someone’s attention.”

She gave him a dubious look as she sat next to him. “Because I don’t believe in false advertising. Now, hush up. I want to watch this guy get sliced up.”

“Morbid.”

“Entertaining,” she contradicted.

About the Author:

An obsessive bookworm for twenty years, Codi Gary likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family. Visit her website www.CodiGarysBooks.com for latest news, social media, or just to say hi! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CodiGarysBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CodiGary
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583366.Codi_Gary

Buy the book at Amazon, iTunes, or Barnes and Noble.

Waiting for Dusk by Nancy Pennick - Q&A and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nancy will be awarding a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a PDF or mobi copy of Waiting for Dusk to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

So far my young adult novels are the only ones that are published. I like writing in that genre and also reading it, too. Going back to a time in everyone’s lives where we all make mistakes, can be self-absorbed and sometimes easily influenced has great potential for story telling. The teen years are the growing up years, shedding childhood and forming new ways of looking at the word.

I have a few Middle Grade/Preteen in the works and would like to write some New Adult. The fun of writing is that you can let your mind go anywhere you wish. You can stay in reality, time travel in science fiction, have elves battle trolls in fantasy…the world is yours for the taking. I enjoy writing what I like to call fantasy or magical realism. I hope the reader can picture themselves in the every day world I create and then all of the sudden…a fantasy life happens.

What research (or world-building) is required?

All of the places Katie visits are real. If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon, you expect it to be accurate. I have visited twice. The second time I checked my story facts. Every author is entitled to artistic license where they can bend the facts or truth. It wouldn’t be fun to write, if you couldn’t!

Katie is a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar restaurant. I did research on Harvey Girls and found it interesting. Fred Harvey brought well-educated girls out west to be servers in his restaurants. They had to be eighteen so that’s where I used the license because Katie is only sixteen. El Tovar is a hotel at the Grand Canyon. You can stay overnight and still eat there. In 1927 a person had to pay to use the Angel Bright path to the bottom of the canyon. Readers will learn a little history, but not too much that it overpowers the story.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

Sometimes you can’t do everything on your own. You have to reach out to others for help. You have to trust their judgment and be able to let go of the reins. That can be hard for me at times.

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

Since I don’t drink coffee or smoke cigarettes I can’t paint you a picture of my desk filled with those things. No coffee rings or a collection of half-filled mugs surround me. A cup of tea is more my style. Picture me sitting at a computer desk with clutter around me…necessary clutter that is.

I love writing in the mornings but life gets in the way. Sometimes I have to break away and finish up in the late afternoon. I have no set goals. I write what’s stored in my head for the day--if that makes sense. I’m not happy until I get it on the printed page.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

A combo? I found I do not like outlines. I tried, I really did. Then I discovered I was trying to think up things for each chapter just to jot it down on the outline. I can’t start with just an idea either. Sitting in front of my computer waiting for the plot, dialogue to come to me doesn’t feel quite right either.

I plot the story out in my head—beginning, middle, end. I research, if needed, and usually name my main characters before I start. After that, I can sit and start writing.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

Another desk. We have turned a downstairs bedroom (off the kitchen) into a computer room. There is messy clutter everywhere, necessary clutter. If you knew me, you’d laugh, because I like organization. My house is kept in order except for this room for some reason.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

Two things actually. I have a prequel coming out this winter for the Waiting for Dusk series. It is not a fantasy romance novel, no time travel. It will be historical romance that tells about Anna’s journey from boarding school to the Grand Canyon. Her best friend, Lucinda, is also in the story. When they get to the canyon, things don’t go too well for the girls. A cowboy comes between them.

The second project is a short story I’ve written for an anthology of holiday stories. The book, Frozen, will celebrate the season of winter with sweet love stories. My publisher put a call out to her authors and asked for stories. That should come out in October/November sometime.

Do you have a question for our readers?

First a statement. If you read all the way to the bottom and got to this question, thank you!

My question is – Are you willing to try new authors? Ones not recommended by the news media/friends/social media? If you are, you are an author’s best friend. Thank you for taking a chance.

Read a book.

Fall asleep.

Meet a boy.

Is it real or just a dream?

Katie's everyday life suddenly turns exciting when she travels back in time and meets the boy of her dreams. Thinking of nothing else, willing to leave the real world behind, she's determined to find out if it's all a dream or not. Returning again and again, Katie almost has her answers until one day her precious book goes missing.

Enjoy an excerpt:

At that moment, there was a tap at the window. The girls grew quiet and all turned toward the window. It was nearing dusk and hard to see.

“Probably some creature,” Ruthie said casually.

Then there was a tap, tap, tapping sound again.

“Unless it knows how to make a rhythmic tapping sound, I don’t think it’s an animal. I’m going out there to see,” said Katie.

“Not a good idea!” Lucinda shouted after her.

By then Katie was down the hall and out the door. The warm night air hit her face. It felt good to get out of Lucinda’s room. It was closing in on her, especially after the strange attack on Anna.

Katie was deep in thought, when she heard a sound. A footstep? She spun around to see Drew standing there. “Oh, I didn’t mean to startle you, Miss Kathryn. You did say you were staying at the boardinghouse and I thought I’d come to see if you are comfortable. If you have everything you need.”

That’s a good line, Katie thought. He was so handsome in the moonlight she could have stayed in that spot forever. Drew walked over to her. “I have never seen anyone as beautiful as you.”

“Lights out!” Mrs. Johansson called in the distance.

Katie couldn’t help it. It was her dream after all. She fell into Drew’s arms and kissed him. He kissed her back. They seemed to melt into each other as one. Right then and there Katie wished that it was not a dream and that it would never end.

About the Author: Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Nancy currently resides in Mentor, Ohio with her husband and their college-age son, plus a delightfully entertaining lovebird. Her writing is influenced by all the years of working with young people as a teacher and raising her own son. When not writing, Nancy loves to travel with her husband and enjoys a good cup of tea. Waiting for Dusk is the first in her three book series. Call of the Canyon and Stealing Time continue the story of Kate and Drew.

@npennick
Facebook
Blog ~ Amazon Author Page

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Publisher, Smashwords, or Kobo.

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Blondie and the Hitman by Kathy Shaw - Spotlight and Giveaway

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

If Dead Men Could Talk…

When a busty Blonde with amnesia barrels into Private Investigator Darla Bodecker’s life, Darla decides to help a bimbo out. She must use all her unique PI skills to discover Blondie’s true identity before the Russian Mob captures her.

Come along for the wild and crazy ride when Darla uses a big dose of humor and a little dash of romance to solve Blondie’s mystery.

Enjoy an excerpt:

“Where the hell are you?” Pete roared into my cell phone.

“Did you get Blondie out of there before the cops showed up?” I asked, purposefully ignoring his question.

“No, I served her up to them with a side order of fries.” His sarcasm oozed from my phone thick enough to run down my arm. “What the fuck do you think I did?”

“Fine. You don’t have to get testy.” I watched the gunmen get out of their car and then go into the Russian deli they’d just parked in front of. “How is she?”

“A hellva a lot better than you’re going to be when I get my hands on you. Now, where are you?”

“On the corner of You-don’t-want-to-know and No-way-in-hell-I’m-going-to-tell-you.”

“Cute, Darla, real cute. Now get your smart ass back here!”

“Dial back the attitude, Pete. It’s not winning you any brownie points.” I dipped my phone away from my mouth then took a deep breath before slowly letting it out. We both needed to take things down a notch.

Either Pete picked up on my vibes or he’d finally popped that purple blood vessel in his temple that always protruded when he got really pissed at me. It could go either way.

Pete sounded beyond pissed. He’d sounded—well, um—way beyond pissed.

Finally, he spoke, his anger replaced with more surly sarcasm. “When do you think your Highness might grace me with your presence?”

I felt myself grin. Only Pete could make me smile after I’d lied my ass off to a grieving widow, been shot at and then played hide and seek whilst breaking land speed records.

About the Author:

Kathy Shaw is a female version of a true Southern-bred good ol' boy. Her first love is her family, but her writing comes in a close second. She is multi-published in romance, but is currently working on a zany new mystery series.

She writes romantic comedies, humorous mysteries and playful erotica. The common thread in her writing is hands-down her humor.

She attributes a goodly amount of her success to her killer critique group. Her husband, however, credits it to her wacky--sometimes warped--sense of humor. But he's an Aggie, so what does he know?

Buy the book at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or Kobo. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Intoxicated by Jeana Mann - Guest post and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jeana will be awarding a $40 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Jeana has shared five things about her we might not guess or already know. Welcome, Jeana!

Wow! This is a great topic (and a little scary too). Well, I’m brave so here goes.

First, I am incredibly near-sighted – to the point that I can barely find my way around the house without my glasses or contacts. And now that I’m getting older, I wear contacts AND reading glasses. How embarrassing is that!

Second, I have a secret collection of hats. Some of them were acquired through my travels (sombrero from Mexico, straw hat from Hawaii). Others are remnants from showing horses as a teenager (bowler, derby, cowboy hats). Some were purchased at rummage sales and antique shops. My favorite is a leather cap worn by a little boy back in 1902. It came in a box of miscellaneous junk purchased from an estate sale along with a picture of the boy. I like to imagine the lives of the people who wore them and the stories those hats could tell.

Third, I don’t like clowns. At all. Stephen King’s book It nearly sent me over the edge and I have never looked at a clown the same way since. Even Ronald McDonald gives me the creeps!

Fourth, I have a “thing” about keeping my food separated on the plate. Those disposable plates with the dividers? Love, love them! I avoid eating pancakes and syrup because the syrup might escape and touch something else. Some people call that a control issue. I call it organized eating.

Fifth, I love old black and white movies. Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lana Turner, and Katherine Hepburn are some of my favorite actors. When I was a kid, I would stay up late at night to watch reruns. Back then, movies were larger than life and so melodramatic. I think those movies shaped a lot of my imagination and storylines that I use today.

Okay, I just read through my answers and realized that I sound like a total lunatic. I hope you enjoyed the craziness. It’s been great fun sharing a few of my secrets with you. Thank you so much for stopping by!

Love is intoxicating, but the hangover can be agony...

Conservative, straight-laced Ally Taylor has the perfect life – successful fiancé, beautiful home, great career – until she catches her fiancé and best friend in bed. Desperate to shake off the sting of rejection, Ally heads to Felony, a notorious heavy metal club on the bad side of town. Even more dangerous than the bar is Jack Jameson, the hunky alpha male bartender whose smoldering dark eyes and dimpled smile turns her common sense to mush and her knees to noodles. After eight long years in a failed romance, the last thing Ally wants is to hook up with someone like Jack, but she can’t help wondering if he’s really as good in bed as his reputation suggests.

Jack Jameson has had his eye on Ally for months, drawn to her smart mouth and tightly wound self-control. When Jack finds Ally sitting on a barstool in his club, heartbroken and miserable, he’s more than happy to offer a little heat between the sheets to distract her. Too bad Ally’s not interested in his “hit-it-and-quit-it” philosophy. If only Jack could convince Ally that he’s tired of the endless parade of girls through his bedroom, she might see him in a different light.

When Jack and Ally get together, everything goes wrong and it’s more than either of them bargained for. Ally’s got serious trust issues and a need for control that makes Jack crazy. Jack’s got more baggage than an airline carousel; the constant stream of women from his past stirs up all of Ally’s insecurities. Can Ally overlook Jack’s womanizing past and learn to trust him? Will Jack be able to commit to just one woman or will a secret from his past ruin everything?

Enjoy an excerpt:

Miss Ponytail had taken up residence in Jack’s Seat of Shame. The girl had one hand on Jack’s arm, rubbing the swell of his tattooed bicep with a sly smile on her crimson red lips. Upon seeing Ally, Jack deserted the new girl, grabbed two shot glasses and a bottle of Jack Daniels from behind the bar, and took up the empty barstool next to her.

“That’s some crazy shit, them showing up here like that,” he said as he filled both glasses and pushed one towards her. “I admire your control. I probably would’ve punched one of them in the mouth.”

For the millionth time that day, she withered with embarrassment. She decided to pretend indifference to cover her shame. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

“That. Over there.” He jerked his head in the direction of the happy couple. “They’re having a bit of a disagreement over whether to leave or stay. Seems your presence has shaken them up a little. Wanna know what they said?”

The question gave birth to a dozen more emotions that she didn’t want to face. A flush crept up her neck and into her face. The heat of it burned her cheeks. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you that eavesdropping is impolite?”

“She did,” he admitted with a flash of dimples, “but I learn the most interesting things that way.”

About the Author:

Jeana Mann is the author of sizzling hot contemporary romance. Her debut release Intoxicated was a First Place Winner of the 2013 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest and a finalist for the 2014 Carolyn Readers Choice Award.

Jeana was born and raised in Indiana where she lives today with her two crazy rat terriers Mildred and Mabel. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Speech and Hearing, something totally unrelated to writing. When she’s not busy dreaming up steamy romance novels, she loves to travel anywhere and everywhere. Over the years she climbed the ruins of Chichen Iza in Mexico, snorkeled along the shores of Hawaii, sailed around Jamaica, ate gelato on the steps of the Pantheon in Rome, and explored the ancient city of Pompeii. More important than the places she’s been are the people she has met along the way.

Be sure to connect with Jeana on Facebook or follow along on Twitter for the latest news regarding her upcoming releases.

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