Fibers by Jennifer-Crystal Johnson - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Five Things You Might Not Know About Jennifer-Crystal Johnson

This is a very interesting topic, and since I’ve been doing mostly interviews, I decided that a guest post would be a nice change =). First, I’d like to say thank you so much for inviting me! I hope I’m able to entertain you and that this guest post inspires you to check out my novel, Fibers =).

When I was about 16 and 17, I used to ask people to guess my age and weight, not necessarily together. I did this for the sheer shock value of the truth; while most people thought I looked 25-30 and 120lbs, the truth was that I was 16-17 and 150lbs. You can imagine some of the other shenanigans that have happened because of how much older I looked; the lady at the Department of Licensing thought my dad was my boyfriend, people mistook me for my youngest brother’s mom, and someone even thought that my mom and I were a couple. In the grocery store. Last but not least, a man at church asked me to dinner as I was walking to the car at 15 years old… I asked how old he was and he said 28. When I told him my age and not to freak out… well, he freaked out anyway and walked (extremely quickly) away from me across the parking lot. Yikes!

Did I just love to shock people or do people love to be shocked? It was definitely entertaining for me, but I imagine that some of the people who were subjected to my, “I dare you,” attitude probably didn’t appreciate it all that much. Or maybe I just gave them stories to tell, too ;).

These days, I’ve mellowed out quite a bit, although there are still a number of things that might be considered weird or different or even downright insane, especially when I find myself getting restless. Currently, it feels like my sense of adventure has been stifled for the last few years and I’m finally waking up, like I was in a coma of responsibilities and obligations with no escape. Somewhere along the way I forgot that life is meant to be lived, not survived.

So… five things that people might never guess. Here goes.

1. I’m about 120lbs overweight, but I carry it well. This is one of those things that I’m a little embarrassed about but not enough to fully deny it; after all, if people base their perception of me solely on my weight, then I don’t want them in my life anyway. There’s a lot more to me than the numbers on a scale ;).

2. I’ve been single for four years and a single mom for longer. I don’t know if this is something people would guess about me or not, but there it is =).

3. People have regularly thought that I’m gay even though I’m not. I’m just not desperate. Big difference.

4. “When it rains, it pours,” is the story of my life…. I don’t know if it’s the same way for everyone, but every time things go right, everything goes right. But when things go wrong, it’s like the Great Flood and I have to piece an Ark together out of shattered dreams, broken hearts, illness, stress, depression, death, pain, and broken appliances and vehicles. I make light of this here, but when it’s happening, it’s not fun!

5. I’m an incurable optimist… even when I’m not. In certain circumstances, what usually happens is that so many things go wrong (take last summer, for instance: my mom broke her wrist, my daughter sprained hers, our house was invaded by all manner of bugs including wasps, flies, spiders, and ants; I got stabbed in the bottom of my foot by a stray needle stuck in the carpet, my car broke down with a total of four people in it at 2:00 am 60 miles from home, my parents’ dog died and we were all very attached to him; one of our cats died… it was literally one thing after another) that I have to start laughing about it because the crap piling up is so ridiculous that all you can do is laugh in order to maintain the sanity you need to solve all of those problems. Ridiculous!

Life is life, right? I hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for hanging out with me! Buy Fibers on Amazon for more chaos ;).

Anna Reynolds is caught up in the middle of a secret interdimensional government agreement... and she doesn't even know it.

There's a medical anomaly loosely dubbed Morgellons disease afflicting a number of people. Symptoms include open sores that produce colorful string-like fibers, fatigue, and nightmarish visions of shadowy figures. No one knows where it came from. No one knows what causes it. There is no cure.

When Anna begins having nightmares and waking hallucinations of the shadow people, her uneasiness about her condition grows. Enlisting the help of her doctor and some friends, Anna is determined to find out what's really going on and why Morgellons is such a mystery.

With her health declining and doubts about whom she can trust, is Anna doomed to become a slave to her condition? Or will she and her unlikely group of would-be heroes come through, saving her... and, ultimately, the world?

Enjoy an excerpt:

The twinkling sound of the wind chimes gave an eerie undertone to the night, the wind blowing through the trees and the darkness seeming more intense than usual. Anna wrapped her coat tightly around herself, walking briskly back toward home. She usually didn’t walk anywhere, especially at night, but she’d decided to get some fresh air and needed time to think. Walking was always good for that, even if it was a little cold and getting dark so much earlier.

Reaching into her pocket for her keys, she approached the front door. The porch light was out – she must’ve forgotten to turn it on before she left. Trying to work through feeling alone and fending off paranoia, she rummaged in her purse for her keys and retrieved them just as her foot hit something on her front porch. Of course she couldn’t see, but it sounded and felt like a box of some kind.

She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and turned on the flashlight app to see what was happening. Shining the light on her porch, she saw that it was, indeed, a box. A mystery box, she thought. As if my life couldn’t get any stranger.

She unlocked the front door and flipped the light switch, but nothing happened. Trying to juggle her phone and the box at the same time, she walked into the house, set the box down, and went into the living room to try the light there. Also nothing. Shaking her head and doing her best to quiet her thoughts, she made her way into the garage with her phone and found the breaker box. She flipped the switch and the lights came on without a problem.

Things are getting entirely too weird around here, she thought, cautiously making her way back upstairs to her entry where the box sat. She switched off her flashlight app and stood still for a few moments, listening to see if she could hear anything to indicate that someone was in the house. She didn’t think so because her door had been locked, but she was so scared she could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Everything else was silent.

Satisfied that no one was in her house, she picked up the box and took it into her kitchen. She set it on the counter and inspected it. There was a note taped to the top of it. She unfolded it and read aloud, “Trust no one.”

Abut the Author:

Jennifer-Crystal Johnson is originally from Germany, but was raised an Army brat. She has published one novella under her former last name, The Outside Girl: Perception is Reality (Publish America, 2005 - out of print as of 2013), a poetry book, Napkin Poetry (Broken Publications, 2010), and a collection of poetry, art, and prose called Strangers with Familiar Faces (Broken Publications, 2011). She's also published a collection of short creature horror stories called If You're Human Don't Open the Door (Broken Publications, 2012), a personal development book called The Ten Pillars of a Happy Relationship (Broken Publications, 2014), and a collection of more horror stories (no creatures this time, just people) called Our Capacity for Evil (Broken Publications, 2015). She has several poems and short stories published on Every Writer's Resource and has recently published a science fiction novel called Fibers, the first book in the Infiltration Trilogy. Jen owns and operates Broken Publications (www.BrokenPublications.com) and publishes an annual anthology to raise awareness about domestic violence called Soul Vomit (www.SoulVomit.com). When she isn't writing or editing, she enjoys playing games with her three kids, watching crime shows on Netflix, or reading. She lives in WA State with her three children, three cats, and a crazy puppy named Thor. You can connect with her at http://www.JenniferCrystalJohnson.com, http://www.twitter.com/brokenpoet, or http://www.Facebook.com/JenniferCrystalJohnson.

Video excerpts – watch the author read at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO8dowMb2U8oqkWKuQfkVxw!

Buy the book at Amazon.

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Clementina by Simon Cann - Guest Blog and Giveaway

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

Where Ideas Come From

Where do ideas come from?

Can I let you into a secret?

Promise not to tell anyone?

No writer has ever had an idea, let alone an original idea. Ever.

Alright, maybe I’m being a bit facetious…but not that facetious. At the end of the day there are very few basic ideas—most stories have similar elements. Many, many stories start with “a bad thing” happening. The protagonist then struggles with the consequences of that bad thing until eventually she finds some kind of resolution.

What differentiates one story from another is not the basic idea.

The differences come from the characters and how the stories are told.

Take five different writers, give them the same idea, and tell them to write a story and those five writers will give you at least thirty-eight different stories—just from that one idea.

So for me, an idea isn’t so much about a plot to steal the biggest diamond in the world. Instead, I’m more interested in the human aspect and in particular, what happens to people in adversity. So, to stay with the notion of a diamond theft, I’m interested in the story of the guy who is charged with guarding the diamond and how he reacts after the theft. I’m interested in the woman who is coerced to steal the diamond and why committing a crime is a better option for her.

It’s a small shift but a subtle shift. But it’s also a shift from a newspaper headline to a story. Headlines are great—and they grab our interest—but I’m in the business of telling stories and stories have a depth beyond the hook line. Plus a headline isn’t enough to sustain an 80,000 or 100,000 word book.

I guess your next question is where do those story kernels come from? And again I repeat that no writer has ever had an idea. I just pay attention to the what’s happening—whether that be watching the news or if I’m out—and when I see anything I ask myself about the situation and think about the people involved. And that’s really the key for me—I’m curious about people.

Then if something piques my interest, I write it down—quickly.

I put all my notes into Microsoft OneNote. It’s a great tool which is accessible anywhere and everywhere—on the desktop (for Windows and Mac), on phones (iOS, Windows, and Android), and on tablets. Perhaps more significantly than being available anywhere, OneNote has been supported by Microsoft for years (at the time of writing it’s been around for 13 years)—this gives me some confidence that notes I make today will be available tomorrow.

Having made my notes, from time to time I review them. Some I throw away, some I improve, and some grab me so tightly that they just have to be my next novel.

Leathan Wilkey has been hired to babysit Clementina, a seventeen-year-old whose rich daddy is going through a messy divorce and is over-compensating.

Leathan soon tires of her spending habits, her selfie obsession, and her social media preoccupation as his ward drags him from shop to boutique to jeweler, approaching each with the self-possession that comes from a lifetime of getting her own way and never once having to worry about money.

But when Clementina snaps her fingers and her boyfriend doesn’t come running, something is up. He doesn’t appear because he’s been murdered.

When Leathan investigates, he finds that the boyfriend has no background and met Clementina through a connection made by daddy’s business partner.

Daddy’s business partner who has been slowly and progressively putting daddy in a vice, grabbing more of the business, and who is now menacing Clementina directly to manipulate daddy.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Johnson McElroy and Orville Michael Mallet seemed pleased to have fixed a problem. A problem where I was having trouble understanding what really made it a problem.

The two men—one groomed to look like a logical and rational arguing machine; the other determined to display his individual creativity, which looked exactly the same as everyone else’s individual creativity—shook my hand at the door.

“You know the way out,” I said, as if I had a clue. I only knew how to enter and leave if I was driven by Reece.

The two headed for the elevator and I made my way through the cavernous entrance hall back to the open living space and the kitchen area. The kitchen area, which had more floor space than most apartments I had lived in.

“I should have a word with Clementina,” I said to Angeline Bautista, the housekeeper who had remained invisible while the two company men had been present.

“She’s gone out,” said the housekeeper.

“When?”

“While you talked.”

“Where?”

She shrugged.

“What did Reece say?”

She looked confused.

“Reece—the driver. What did he say?”

The confusion remained. “Nothing.”

“But he must have said something when he came up.”

“He didn’t come up,” she said.

“She went to him?” I could feel the hesitation in my speech as my brain tried to catch up with the situation and make sure my language was unambiguous for the non-native English speaker.

“No. She went out on her own,” said Angeline.

“When?”

“While you talked,” she said with greater emphasis.

“How long ago?”

She tilted her head from side to side. “Ten minutes?” she said. More a question than a statement.

I pulled out my phone and called Reece. “Does Clementina go out on her own?”

“Nope,” said Reece. “Daddy says no.”

“Well, she has.”

Reece swore under his breath. “I’ll be up.”

About the Author:

Simon Cann is the author of the Boniface, Montbretia Armstrong, and Leathan Wilkey series of books.

In addition to his fiction, Simon has written a range of music-related and business-related books, and has also worked as a ghostwriter.

Before turning full-time to writing, Simon spent nearly two decades as a management consultant, where his clients included aeronautical, pharmaceutical, defense, financial services, chemical, entertainment, and broadcasting companies.

He lives in London.

Website: http://simoncann.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/simoncannauthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/simonpcann

The book will be free on Amazon from July 25-29.

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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Swept Away by Kristina Mathews - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kristina will be awarding a digital copy of Swept Away to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Carson Swift may look exactly like his twin brother Cody, but they’re as different as tie dye and camouflage. Reliable, responsible, and usually the designated driver, Carson is also over being his brother’s keeper, but suddenly his plans to break free are complicated by the woman they fish out of Hidden Creek . . .

Lily Price is not your typical damsel in distress. Infidelity, infertility, and downsizing provide a triple threat to her ego, but falling into the swollen river nearly ends her life. If not for the handsome stranger—make that two handsome strangers—she might not have had a chance at having a baby by any means necessary . . .

As Carson helps Lily overcome her fear of the river, she helps him save his rafting business from going under. She also saves him from abandoning all that is important to him in order to get a taste of freedom. Together they find that love is the ultimate adventure.

Enjoy an excerpt:

She struggled briefly, mumbling something, as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. The buzz of adrenaline flooded his system, blocking out the cold, the current, and everything but the need to keep her head above water and bring her to shore. He kicked hard to propel them away from the strongest part of the current. Working with the flow of the river and not against it was crucial in getting them both out alive.

About the Author:

Kristina Mathews doesn't remember a time when she didn't have a book in her hand. Or in her head. But it wasn't until she turned forty that she confessed the reason the laundry never made it out of the dryer was because she was busy writing. While she resigned from teaching with the arrival of her second son, she's remained an educator in some form. As a volunteer, parent club member or para educator, she finds the most satisfaction working with emergent and developing readers, helping foster confidence and a lifelong love of books. Kristina lives in Northern California with her husband of more than twenty years, two sons and a black lab. A veteran road tripper, amateur renovator and sports fanatic. She hopes to one day travel all 3,073 miles of Highway 50 from Sacramento, CA to Ocean City, MD, replace her carpet with hardwood floors and serve as a “Ball Dudette” for the San Francisco Giants.

http://kristinamathews.com/2013/11/03/whats-new/
https://twitter.com/KristinaMathews
https://www.facebook.com/kristinamathewsauthor

Buy the book at Amazon, iBooks, Google, Kobo, or Barnes and Noble.

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Chrysalis by Ann Vanino- Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ann Vanino will be awarding a $25 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.

Five Things You May Never Guess About Me!

I went to a nursery school that was under the FDR Drive elevated highway in lower Manhattan. I was living in an apartment complex just across the street and it did not seem unusual at all. It was in a small “park” – New York City style. My memories are spare, but I do remember that I loved the school, had a great teacher and we had a graduation ceremony where I played a squirrel. I lived my first seven years in Manhattan. As our family grew, we soon had my parents and three children in a one- bedroom apartment. When I was seven, we moved to a seven-bedroom house in the borough of Staten Island – “the country” as far as we were concerned. My mother, who grew up in the Midwest (my Dad was a native New Yorker) said she knew we had to move when she had three crying kids in the back of a station wagon shouting “Mommy, Mommy fly on me”!

In college at the State University of New York, I was President of the student environmental club. As Earth Day approached, we needed a program and it had to be good. Previous years, under other Presidents, we had David Brower, Founder of The Sierra Club and Ralph Nader. When Ralph Nader came, I and other students got to spend quality time with him. We had a late night meal together (he had just a grapefruit) and talked about environmental activism. He came without a speaking fee because he liked what we were doing as activists. Anyway, I had to find a speaker. I had heard of a Native American activist group named The White Roots of Peace. I had always admired the love of our natural world by indigenous cultures and thought they might come for our Earth Day program. Not only did they come, but they set up on campus for several days, teepees and all and ended their visit with a beautiful ceremony for Mother Earth!

I ran New York City’s Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team. I managed a Division that included a team of 8 chemists and chemical engineers who responded with New York City’s police and fire departments to over 600 incidents a year. The first responders were heroes. Managing the team, I was involved in incidents involving chemical explosions and fires, leaking electrical transformers that had hazardous chemicals in their oil, expired chemicals dumped in public spaces or found in illegal drug labs that were oxidized and highly explosive and transportation accidents involving hazardous chemicals.

The reason I am a coach goes back to waiting in line for a pay phone (yes, in ancient times!). I was at a personal development workshop in the Joshua Tree Desert waiting to make a phone call and had a conversation with a woman who told me she was studying to become a coach. I asked, “what is a coach?” and soon became intrigued. I actually could not believe there was such a professional where I could help people create fulfilling lives and make a living from it! The rest is history, I went on to train as a coach and since 1996, have a coaching practice that is now focusing on career and new direction coaching.

I am serving as a volunteer and helping to coordinate a wonderful public art installation being created for the Republican and Democratic Party Political Conventions in the United States. It is titled: Our Common Ground: Vote For the Good Life. Its purpose is to provide a space for respectful dialogue on the issues of our day. The installation will have “Dialogue Dens” every hour where participants will discuss topics such as “Security or Freedom?” “Open or Closed?” (society and borders). It will be non-partisan and use paint, sculpture and light to engage convention-goers and citizens in dialogue and conversation. The creator of the installation is public mural artist, Meg Saligman, whose inspiration is that art and beauty can inspire us to move out of the political polarity we are now experiencing to find our common ground.

We are living in a time of transformation. Old ways are fading. New ways are emerging. There is an increasing focus within. Many of us are feeling a desire to create a new direction for our lives.

Chrysalis: Personal Transformation From The Inside Out uses nature’s process of Chrysalis- a caterpillar transforming to a butterfly – as a guide for our own personal transformation. Each stage of Chrysalis provides a jumping-off point, upon which to reflect about our own experiences as we each transform.

Enjoy an excerpt:

THE QUIET TREE

On a beautiful, open hill, there stood a tree. Day after day it experienced the rain, the sun, the wind, the heat, and the cold. In spring it blossomed; in winter it was bare. Always, it was content with life and was silent and still. This did not mean that nothing was going on. The tree had sprouted from a seed into a sapling, grown to full size and changed with the seasons. But to travelers walking by the tree, it seemed that nothing was going on. The tree was something to look at and then move beyond.

One day, a young girl named Sara sat by the tree to take a rest. As she sat, her eyelids became heavy. She hadn’t realized how tired she was, and she lay down for a short nap. During her nap, she had a dream. The tree had a face and began to speak to her. The tree said, “Sara, there are many languages and nature has one of its own. There are wonderful things to learn from nature, if you can be still and listen.”

Sara awoke with a start! What had just happened? Did the tree speak to her? Oh, she thought, I was just dreaming. She picked up her things and began walking home.

In the following days, Sara could not get the tree out of her mind. It was as if the tree was calling her.

About the Author:

Ann is an author and coach dedicated to collaborating with her clients and readers as they create fulfilling lives and bring their unique gifts to the world.

Connect With Ann Vanino:

Website: http://www.annvanino.com
Connect On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnVaninoCoaching
Follow Me On Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/annvanino
Connect On Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/annvanino
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://www.annvanino.com/newsletter-subscribe
Subscribe To My Blog: http://www.themanagershub.com
The book is FREE at Amazon.

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Sword of Shadows by Karin Rita Gastreich - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Karin will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Karin will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Sisters in magic, Eolyn and Adiana seek to revive a millennial tradition once forbidden to women. When war strikes, their fledgling community of magas is destroyed; its members killed, captured or scattered.

Determined to defend her people, Eolyn seeks to escape the occupied province and deliver to King Akmael a weapon that might secure their victory. Trapped by the invading army, Adiana is taken prisoner and placed at the mercy of the ruthless Prince Mechnes.

Even as their world is torn asunder, Eolyn and Adiana cling to a common dream. Courage and perseverance guide them toward a future where the Daughters of Aithne will flourish in a world set free from the violence of men.

"War propels the story forward, and the characters are at their best when circumstances are at their worst." -Publishers Weekly

This is the second book in THE SILVER WEB trilogy. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, or as the sequel to the first book, EOLYN.

Enjoy an excerpt:

A hush of wings on the windowsill interrupted Eolyn’s thoughts. She looked up to see a Great River Owl, its proud silhouette outlined by moonlight.

Eolyn rose to her feet in surprise, keenly aware of its penetrating gaze, though she could not see its round eyes in the dark. A breeze ruffled its feathers. Its aura was impossibly familiar: intense shades of gold, burgundy, and forest green, shot through with streaks of deepest indigo.

She held her breath and let it go in a whisper. “Akmael?”

More than a question, it was a hope, a fear, an invocation.

A shimmer passed through the owl, followed by a flash of white light. Suddenly Akmael was with her, the heat of his hand upon her throat, the strength of his fingers intertwining in her hair, the demand of his lips upon hers, warm and full of passion. The magic of the South Woods blew through the window in a humid gust, swirling about them, begging Eolyn to remember who she was and what she once meant to him.

Akmael kissed Eolyn until she had no more breath to give. Then he paused and held her close, their foreheads touching as her fingers traced the familiar prominence of his cheekbone, the line of his jaw, the curve of his full lips.

All she could hear was his desire, carried on the rhythm of his heart. She dared not speak, for if she did, she might stumble upon words of caution or prudence or common sense, and none of that had any place here. Not when he was so near, nearer than he had been in such a painfully long time, closer than he might ever be again.

This is a gift from the Gods, Akmael had once said. To deny it would be an insult to them.

“Eolyn, I—”

She hushed him with a kiss.

About the Author:

Karin Rita Gastreich writes stories of ordinary women and the extraordinary paths they choose. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is part of the biology faculty at Avila University. An ecologist by vocation, Karin has wandered forests and wildlands for over twenty years. Her past times include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance. In addition to THE SILVER WEB trilogy, Karin has published short stories in World Jumping, Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, and 69 Flavors of Paranoia. She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency.

Website: http://krgastreich.com
Twitter: @EolynChronicles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eolyn-110814625640244/

Purchase link for SWORD OF SHADOWS, Book Two of THE SILVER WEB: https://www.amazon.com/Sword-Shadows-Silver-Web-Book-ebook/dp/B01G5L1GEG/

Purchase link for EOLYN, Book One of THE SILVER WEB: http://www.amazon.com/Eolyn-Silver-Web-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01B8F4G50

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26 Hours in Paris by Demi Alex - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Demi will be awarding a digital copy of 26 Hours in Paris to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

One day to see the sights.

One night to change your life.

Magazine writer Kathryn Taylor is traveling from New York to Paris for work. But the flirtatious Frenchman she left long ago is waiting at the airport--and he wants to play. . .

No one can guide Kat through the sensual city's delights like Marko Renard. He let her get away once, and now he's determined to make her stay--even if he has to tie her down. He will wrap her in cashmere, tease her tongue with chocolate, and take her to the peak of the Eiffel Tower . . . But can he convince the bohemian beauty she belongs with him, in his luxuriously decadent world? In business, he's the master--but it's Kat's body and soul he truly longs to rule. He has just enough time to show her the pleasures of the boulevards, the boulangeries--and the bedroom. To finally get her to just say oui, he'll have to seize the day--and the night. . .

Read an excerpt:

Kat was a damn good journalist, as was Charlie. She’d worked her ass off and done her time, as had Charlie. But, shit. Kathryn wanted her byline so bad, she could practically see the ink on the paper as their boss proposed the assignment. She had to enter the arena and fight for her career.

“Get out there. Do your research,” Paul said, raising his arm and circling his hand above his head. “Lasso someone that makes your body hum, and write about the perfect place to find love, ladies.”

“Seriously, Paul? Lasso someone that makes our bodies hum?” Kat rolled her eyes. Like those kinds of men were easy to find. With the same amount of exaggeration Paul had exhibited, Kathryn swept her arm through the air and landed the back of her hand across her forehead. “Wait. Hold on a minute. Wait . . . wait. I’m seeing a handsome man, in a far-off and romantic place, sweeping me off my feet.”

Actually, she could envision someone, someone in a far-off place, sweeping her off her feet—in her dreams. But no one in New York fit the bill or compared to that distant someone.

“Paris is romantic,” Kathryn admitted in a low voice.

About the Author:

Demi Alex writes steamy romances, blending emotional fulfillments of the heart and carnal desires in her work. Born in Athens, Greece, and raised in her own version of a big fat Greek life in New York, Demi was infected with book and travel bugs early, and currently admits the only therapy for this condition is to combine the two in fictional stories that allow her characters to let loose and experience all they crave. She attended SUNY at Stony Brook, and after changing her major numerous times, graduated with a degree in Public Policy and International Studies. Her characters are loosely based on people she encounters while she travels or during the time she spends matching homes to owners as a Realtor. She simply has a passion for matchmaking that can’t be put to rest.

http://demialex.com
https://twitter.com/demialex2u
https://www.facebook.com/demialexletsloose

Buy the book at Amazon, Apple, Google, Kobo, or Barnes and Noble.

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The Last Great Race by Mark Morey - Author Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mark Morey will be awarding a $10 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.

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

The Last great race is historical fiction based upon real events which seem too strange to be true, and characters who seem larger than life. What drew me to this genre and story is that fiction couldn't come close to the events and people in this real-life story. However I don't want to be constrained by genre, with my first novel being crime and my second novel being a dark mystery. I have another historical fiction story I want to tell, and then I will see what comes next.

What research is required?

The story of Achille Varzi is well known some of us who follow motor sport. At the peak of his career he may have been the highest paid sportsman in the world, and certainly he was one of the top two or three racing drivers of his era. Fortunately for me I speak and read Italian. I bought a biography of Achille Varzi written in Italian and I also bought the memoirs of Tonino Brivio, who was a fellow racing driver and a friend of Varzi. Both of these books helped me with what really happened to Varzi, and told me a lot about the two women in his life, Norma Colombo and Ilse Pietsch. I understood Achille's attraction for Ilse who was quite beautiful and probably more worldly than her age, but Norma was quite different. I eventually thought of a common ground between Achille Varzi, the deep-thinking introvert and Norma Colombo, the free-wheeling extrovert. They didn't love each other but they did have a strong attraction that lasted many years.

There are a number of websites which outline motor racing in the 1930s, subsequently regarded as a golden era of the sport, and I used those websites to gather information about the cars, the circuits and the races, and incorporated that information into my story where appropriate. I also used online resources to map the path towards World War Two, and used that in the story. My World War Two sequence is set in Naples, Italy, and I bought the memoirs of a British secret service agent who was stationed there when the allies took control of that city. I used online resources to map out the many air raids on Naples, and to describe the way that life in that city slowly ground to a halt. The organised crime gangs of Naples, the Camorra, came to the fore when the Allies moved in and their role had to be explained. And finally I used the Internet to map out the four-day uprising where the locals of Naples drove the German army out of the city. During World War Two many millions were taken away in cattle trucks never to be seen again, but the inhabitants of Naples stole rifles and fought the German army to prevent that happening to them. I thought that was interesting.

There is a lot in The Last Great Race and the story covers a lot of ground. The story is so strange in parts that there was little need to embellish what really happened. My task was to convert those many facts into a flowing story with broad appeal, to tell a tale that seems too unbelievable to be true, only it is.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

The one thing I learned from Achille Varzi was never to let pride consume you, because that can end badly.

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

I don't follow the usual rule of writing something every day, rather I prefer to write when I feel creative. When I'm at a loss for what comes next I take a long walk, and by the time I get home I have the solution to my problem.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I am a plotter, but I also like to let the story and particularly the characters take their own courses within my broad, plot outline.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

My wife

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I'm staying with historical fiction in Italy while I work on a story set in 15th Century Venice, based on a major scandal which happened in 1428. That scandal is intertwined with sub-plots around the discrimination of gay men at the time, and the discrimination of women at the time. This story can be read for what it is, but I hope that it will encourage readers to think about the long history of discrimination, inequality, and especially domestic violence.

Do you have a question for our readers?

If any of your readers have an interesting tale they think may be worth telling, then go to my blog and send me an email about it. I am always on the lookout for good ideas.

This story is based around the life of one of the most fascinating and enigmatic sportsmen of his era, Achille Varzi: multiple race winner, twice Racing Champion of Italy and a hero to his many followers. Told partly through the eyes of Varzi and partly by fictional Italian-Australian racing journalist Paul Bassi, we follow the many triumphs and tragedies of Varzi's life: his passionate love affair with Ilse, his tragic morphine addiction, his recovery from his addictions, his marriage to Norma and his re-signing to race for Alfa Romeo.

Only war intervenes, and Paul and his wife Pia leave Achille to spy for the British at the naval base in Naples. Paul and Pia endure hundreds of Allied air-raids, they join the partisans who fought off the German army until the Allies could rescue them, and then they survive in a near-ruined city as best they can.

By 1946 Italy is still shattered but life is returning to normal, and no more normal is Achille Varzi winning the Grand Prix of Italy that year. Over the next two seasons Achille Varzi scores more successes, until he makes his only ever driving mistake and is killed in Switzerland in 1948. Even though he died too young, Paul and Pia know that Achille Varzi would never have lived in his life in any other way.

Enjoy an excerpt:

“Achille crashed,” she said and drank some more. “I have never seen anything like it. He was the only driver taking the banked curve at the end of the straight flat-out. Each lap I heard the exhaust note of his car never wavering as he took that curve with his typical, stylish precision. And then on lap fourteen a sudden gust of wind came in from the desert, blowing dust and debris. I held my hat and glanced at the Englishman nearby, just as the wind caught the front of Achille's car and lifted the front wheels from the track. The car rose higher and higher like an aeroplane, flying away from the track until the rear of the car hit the ground and then the front, and it rolled over and over with the most terrible noise. Over and over until it stopped on its wheels in the middle of an orchard. There were Arab men dressed in robes and they ran to the car. I was on the wrong side of the circuit and checked that nobody was coming before I ran to it as well, and so did the Englishman.” She drank more water. “I thought he must be dead, nobody could survive a crash like that, but he climbed out of the wrecked car and brushed dirt from his overalls. He looked around and saw me but I don’t think it registered.”

“Is he alright?” Paul asked, worried.

“He’s fine although shaken. He didn’t even light a cigarette, and then he fainted. The Englishman Raymond Mays helped him, and he drove us back here.”

Paul contemplated what he heard, and that would have been a terrible thing to see.

“I have never seen anything like it,” Pia repeated and Paul hoped that Achille really was alright. If he was taking that curve flat-out he must have been doing about 300.

About the Author:

Writing technical documentation and advertising material formed a large part of my career for many decades. Writing a novel didn’t cross my mind until relatively recently, where the combination of too many years writing dry, technical documents and a visit to the local library where I couldn’t find a book that interested me led me consider a new pastime. Write a book. That book may never be published, but I felt my follow-up cross-cultural crime with romance hybrid set in Russia had more potential. So much so that I wrote a sequel that took those characters on a journey to a very dark place.

Once those books were published by Club Lighthouse and garnered good reviews I wrote in a very different place and time. My two novels set in Victorian Britain were published by Wings ePress in July and August of 2014. These have been followed by a story set against the background of Australia's involvement on the Western Front, published in August 2015. Australia's contribution to the battles on the Western Front and to ultimate victory is a story not well known, but should be better known.

Staying within the realm of historical fiction, one of the most successful sportsmen of the 1930s, Achille Varzi, lived a dramatic and tumultuous life. It is a wonder his story hasn't been told before, beyond non fiction written in Italian. The Last Great Race follows the highs and lows of Varzi's motor racing career, and stays in fascist Italy during the dark days of World War Two.

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The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. Please click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn't seem so bad.
Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms--including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora's arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.

With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever.

Enjoy an excerpt:

"Today you will start lessons with me and learn to access your mage powers,” said Uncle Gabriel. “There are a few training exercises I want to start with, which will help you to access and channel your magic. I want you to have an open mind, and follow my instructions very carefully.”

I listened intently, breathlessly awaiting the secret I was so anxious to discover—how magic worked.

“You are still young and so far your powers have been diminished by the amulet, but if you have tapped into your fae magic already by mind bonding with the pegasus, that means that your powers are already manifesting,” Uncle Gabriel said.

He lit a candle and put it in front of me on the table.

“Now, our first lesson is going to be on concentration,” said Uncle Gabriel. “I want you to focus on this candle. Remove all other thoughts from your mind.”

I stared at the candle, my thoughts drifting in and out. Uncle Gabriel had said he was going to teach me to do magic. This was not magic; this was torture. My thoughts flickered back and forth like the flame on the tip of the candle. Finally I looked up.

“This is silly. Nothing is happening,” I said, getting frustrated.

“You are not concentrating,” Uncle Gabriel said, glancing up briefly up from his work. “Block out all other thoughts. If they come, push them away and keep focusing on the candle. Nothing else is of importance; your whole mind and concentration is on that candle.”

I tried again, but my thoughts wouldn’t leave me alone. Every time I looked up, Uncle Gabriel made me try again. He even changed the object of my concentration, from the candle to a smoothly polished stone, to a vase and back. I tried again and again, and every time it was the same, my thoughts came and went, flitting about in my mind, and my concentration was broken.

“Same time tomorrow, Aurora, and please practice. I expect you to concentrate on an object for measurably longer. Holding your concentration is one of the key aspects to working with your magic. You have to learn to channel your powers properly. If you can’t control your mind and will, then when you release your powers, they will be all over the place, and we don’t want that,” he said seriously.

About the Author: Farah Oomerbhoy is a young adult writer with a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Mumbai. Farah loves the fantastical and magical and often dreams of living in Narnia, Neverland, or the Enchanted Forest. Her debut novel, The Last of the Firedrakes, Book 1 of The Avalonia Chronicles started on Wattpad where it received a Watty Award in 2015 and over 1.5 million reads. Since publication, The Last of the Firedrakes has gone on to win a silver medal in IBPA’s Benjamin Franklin Awards, become a finalist in the USA Best Book Awards and become an international bestseller. Farah lives with her family in Mumbai, India where she can be found checking for magical portals in every closet.

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Griff Montgomery, Quarterback by Jean Joachim: Excerpt and Giveaway

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Two people, two tragedies, two deep, devastating secrets…. Griff Montgomery is the headline-making, heart-breaking star quarterback of the Kings – a 6’4”, 33 year old womanizer. Lauren Farraday is a beautiful young interior designer, bitterly scarred by divorce, whose life is falling apart. Though they violently oppose one another in court over her beloved pug (she thinks he’s arrogant and conceited, and he thinks she’s a bitch on wheels), something happens....

These are the bare bones of this sizzling romance, riddled with passion -- the first in a brand new series that’ll tantalize football fans and have readers glued to every page and on the edge of their seats!

Griff looks like a super hero with his tousled, mahogany hair, dazzling smile, dark, sexy eyes, and a body that does something indescribable to a tight pair of jeans. Though Lauren’s sworn off men forever, one look sends shivers down her spine, making her feel lonelier than ever before. Her lustrous, long hair, sparkling green eyes, and nonstop curves make his fingers tingle at the thought of touching her. How do they deal with their cataclysmic attraction? Will they be able to drop their protective facades – his to camouflage his grief over his sister and her family, for whom he was a surrogate father, moving 3000 miles away…. And hers’ to shield her from the incalculable loss of her husband and hoped for child?

For Griff, the thought of falling in love is as foreign as toe shoes and a tutu. For Lauren, it’s like putting on cleats and a helmet and running 50 yards…. Can they, will they, risk it?

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt:

Griff Montgomery stopped on Elm Street in front of The Savage Beast. The sign said “Open.” Creaky hinges announced his arrival as he entered his favorite watering hole. Carla was behind the bar, setting up.

“Not open yet,” she called out.

“Sign says you are.”

“Griff?” She looked up. “Come on in.” She beamed a thousand watt smile at him.

He looked her over with appreciation. Carla’s got it all. Amazing body. Great personality. Her long, black hair swung down to cover her ample cleavage. She tossed it back with a snap of her head. His gaze rested on her breasts as the memory of their last tryst in her apartment upstairs lingered in his mind.

“You’re early.”

He preferred not to explain that he had no reason to be at home. “Got anything special today?”

“Yeah, Roddy’s new drink, the Savage Sunrise.”

Griff lifted an eyebrow. “What’s in it?”

“Same as a Tequila Sunrise, only papaya juice instead of orange. He says it’s healthier. I think it’s bullshit.”

Griff laughed. “Now I have to try it. Bring it on.”

She peeked at him as she mixed the drink. “Got a lot of free time nowadays?”

“You might say that,” he replied, avoiding the question, staring at the suggestive painting behind the bar.

She placed the glass in front of him. “When are you gonna fix me up with one of your hot teammates?”

“What’s wrong with me?” He took a sip and gave her a thumbs up.

“We’ve been bed buddies long enough to know it’s not happening beyond that.”

He seated his tall, rangy body on a stool. “Don’t know ’till you try.”

She wiped her hands on a towel and fixed him with a stare. “You gonna stop running around, whoring across the country and back, just for little ole me?”

“Whoring? Wait a minute…”

“That’s what I thought.” She turned her attention to a dozen wet wine glasses.

“Give me a chance, Carla.”

“To break my heart? No way. Besides, I’d hate to ruin a good friendship.” She dried some of the stemware.

He shot her a one-sided grin. “I knew you were gonna say that.”

About the Author:

Jean Joachim, wife and mother of two sons, is owned by a rescued pug, named Homer. She’d been writing non-fiction for what seemed like forever until she got up the nerve to try fiction. It was love. Now she spends her days in New York City in the company of her characters, with a cup of tea and a secret stash of black licorice.

Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. She writes mostly contemporary romance, which includes sports romance and romantic suspense.

Buy the book: Amazon (ebook) http://www.amazon.com/Griff-Montgomery-Quarterback-First-Book-ebook/dp/B014RQ9RXI/
Amazon (paperback) http://www.amazon.com/Griff-Montgomery-First-Ten-1/dp/1517486696
Amazon (audio) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C6CASBU
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Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/575684

Website – http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com
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Game of Shadows by Amanda K. Byrne - Spotlight and Giveaway

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The girl next door just got deadly.

On the outside, Cass Turner looks like any other beautiful California college girl. But besides studying at UCLA, she’s hiding a shocking secret: she’s a highly trained assassin with multiple kills under her belt. After a year spent avoiding the family business, she takes what she hopes will be her final job and winds up saving her target’s life and getting way more than she bargained for…

As a lieutenant in LA's largest crime family, Dominic Kosta is determined to find out who wants him dead, and he’s convinced Cass can help him. But the longer they search for the truth, the more questions arise…and the deeper their attraction grows. Nick has his own reasons for wanting to resist Cass, but it’s a losing battle. And together, they’re free of secrets and lies. Still, getting involved with Nick has put a target on Cass’ back—and in this game, it’s either kill or be killed.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

He’s why I’m here. I might as well admit it now while I can.

He has this presence that captivates me, even in a photo. Dark hair, dark eyes, a nose, cheekbones, and a jawline that look like they belong on a Greek god.

I’m young and female. Last time I checked, I was alive, and my hormones were functioning on a normal level, thank you very much. I think my reaction was well within the accepted range for someone presented with a visual they found compelling.

It’s not so much that he’s attractive, though. It’s that combined with something else. He looks as dangerous as me. Or the “me” that Turner insists I’m capable of being.

Thoughts like that lead to sloppiness and distraction.

Focus, Cass. Lock it down.

About the Author:

When she’s not plotting ways to sneak her latest shoe purchase past her partner, Amanda Byrne writes sexy, snarky romance and urban fantasy. She likes her heroines smart and unafraid to make mistakes, and her heroes strong enough to take them on. Amanda lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and no, it really doesn’t rain that much. Visit her website at Amandakbyrne.com, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorAmandaKByrne, on Goodreads at goodreads.com/Byrneafterreading, and follow her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amandakbyrne.

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The Dragon in the Garden by Erika Gardner - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Erika Gardner will be awarding off Amazon her book to five-six winners, one per day of the blog tour, to randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Erika 101

Hmm, five things you’d never guess about me? Tougher than one might think. Most of that sort of thing I divulge in my bio: short, loud, lover of heavy metal and spicy food. On top of that the assignment specifically requests that said items be “fun, interesting, edifying or even embarrassing.”

I’m making an executive decision here. Edifying must exit, stage left. That leaves fun, interesting, and, of course, embarrassing.

No pressure.

Okay, let’s give this dog and pony show a shot. I’ll start with DM’ing. Come on, fantasy author? Being a Dungeon Master isn’t too hard to believe, right? Contrary to what The Big Bang Theory would have America believe, women do play Dungeons and Dragons. My favorite character is a chaotic evil half-elf thief-assassin. She’s a kick-ass bunch of fun to play- great at acrobatics. So, yes, I am a Dungeon Master. Or, I should say, I used to be. Nowadays I’m busier than a one-legged gal at a butt kicking contest. D & D is a massive time suckage- super fun though. You should try it. My son is the DM now.

Thing Two? (So Suessian) I have an extreme addiction to traditional San Francisco sour dough. YUM! Forget counting carbs- life is short, eat bread. Real sour dough is one of about a thousand reasons why I’ll never leave the Bay Area and Northern California. Although, I do love to travel.

Third thing… okay, let’s get with the embarrassment. As you might see if you’ve ever read my bio, I am nuts for heavy metal. Iron Maiden, Sabbath, Priest, Dio, Black Label Society, Nightwish, Scorpions, Delain, WASP, Queensryche, the list goes on and on. What was I saying? Oh, right. *hangs head in shame* A few years ago I visited a dear friend in Los Angeles. After deplaning I walk through LAX and I run into the one, the only, Vinnie Appice. Awesome drummer, just massive talent. Love him. (Run, Google him, go. I’ll wait- I have wine to drink. And while you’re at it see if someone can explain why he and his big brother Carmen pronounce their last names differently. Never understood that.) So, although I’m shaking I’m so nervous, I walk over and say (in a fit of sheer brilliance), “You’re Vinnie Appice.” He couldn’t have been nicer. Side note, I did not look very metal that day, cute turquoise plaid shorts, matching blouse and jewelry- NOT metal. He’s super gracious telling me about the gig they’re going to play, etc. I don’t want to keep him, again soooooo nervous, so I wrap things up saying how much I loved him throughout his career- Dio, ACDC, UFO, etc. Now, if you did Google Vinnie you’ll know that the resume I just listed is NOT Appice’s. It’s that of another drummer who also played with Ronnie James Dio, Simon Wright. I was just so rattled. I could see on his face that I screwed up. Again, the man was a class act- could not have been sweeter. That made it worse. I swore a lot under my breath walking away that day.

Vinnie, Mr. Appice, if you ever read this I swear I really do know who you are. I was just having a freak-out moment. *hangs head again*

Moving on with relief to number four. I coach track and cross country for a local middle school under my married name. Other than reading and writing, running and coaching are my biggest sources of joy. It’s a bit like herding cats, but their sheer exuberance and joy is life affirming. I love my adorable turkeys as I call them.

Last thing one might not guess about me? I always wanted to be a marine biologist when I grew up. Never wanted to be married (men are decorative but you don’t keep one), never wanted kids, and planned on being a single career woman. In that alternate life I think I still would have wrote- I can’t help that. I went to UC Davis, got my degree in Biological Sciences, and thought I’d go on to other things. Instead, fate stepped in and brought me the love of my life, three wonderful kids, and a career as a fantasy writer. I am so okay with how events turned out!

Thanks for letting me stop by- super fun!

There is magic beneath the mundane and in The Dragon in the Garden, Siobhan Orsini witnesses it all. No lie can fool her, no glamour or illusion can cloud her Sight. She sees through them all and wishes she could close her eyes. Returning to face her past, Siobhan inherits her grandparents’ house in California’s wine country. She encounters a talking dragon, a hot fallen angel, a demon lord, a Valkyrie, and, oh yes, her ex-boyfriend. And that is just in the first twenty-four hours.

It’s time to find out why she has this power.

Siobhan seeks out the Oracle and learns that only her Sight can help mankind navigate the travails of an ancient war. Our world is the prize in a battle between the dragons, who would defend us, and Lucifer’s fallen angels, who seek to take the Earth for themselves. Using her gift, she will have to make a choice that will decide humanity’s future.

Enjoy an excerpt:

The bright-green dragon lay curled at the foot of the apricot tree, partially covered by vines. My mother called the color jade green—the same shade as my eyes. As a child she talked to all the statues, but I only spoke to the dragon. I named her Daisy. Sitting down next to her now, the tears welled up at last, spilling over my cheeks. I wrapped my arms around my legs, making myself into a little ball of five-year-old misery.

“Child, why are you sad?” said a woman’s voice.

“Who said that?” I asked, wiping my cheek.

“I did.”

“Where are you?” I stood and peered at the plants and statues around me.

“Right here.”

“Are not,” I retorted.

A soft laugh filled the air and the woman spoke again. “Perhaps you are right. Easy enough to fix, I suppose.”

The breeze picked up. The space beneath the apricot tree shimmered. Ripples warped the air like the heat over the barbecue when my father cooked. The sweet notes of wind chimes filled the yard. Grandma and Grandpa didn’t have any wind chimes. I whirled around to find the noise.

Under the branches appeared an enormous green dragon’s head.

About the Author:

Erika is a sixth generation San Franciscan of Irish descent. She attended the University of California at Davis and completed degrees in Medieval History and Biological Sciences. A lifelong lover of books and a scribbler of many tales from a young age (her first story was completed at age five) she turned to writing full-time in 2011.

On a personal level she loves spicy food, twilight, dark chocolate (with sea salt-yum!) and nickel slots at Vegas. Erika lives for time with friends, a nice glass of red wine, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" & "Doctor Who" and good conversation. Her favorite things to do are running, cooking, reading, needlework, gardening... and of course, writing. Erika's music of choice is heavy metal. To pick her out in a lineup you should know that she is very short, fairly loud, and has dark eyebrows. The rest, as her hero Anne McCaffrey once said in her bio, "is subject to change without notice".

Erika resides in Northern California with her incredibly hot husband, their three amazing kids, and their chocolate Labrador named Selkie. To reach Erika regarding her books, wine recommendations, or to debate which Iron Maiden album is the best (clearly, it's Brave New World), you can find her online at www.erikagardner.com.

All Around The Web:

My Website- www.erikagardner.com
My Critique Group’s Blog- https://bbbgals.wordpress.com
Twitter- @Erika_Gardner
Pinterest- https://www.pinterest.com/egardnerauthor
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/Erika-Gardner-Writer-and-Storyteller-423796817705288
Good Reads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14899131.Erika_Gardner

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A SEAL's Vow by Cora Seton - Spotlight and Giveaway

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After fifteen long, dangerous years in the service, Navy SEAL Clay Pickett is ready for his new mission: build a model sustainable community and show the world an exciting alternative to a consumption-based life. If that means he’s got a deadline to find a wife in order to win the reality TV show that’s filming his sustainable adventure, so be it. He’s got just the woman for the job in mind: beautiful, dedicated Nora Ridgeway.

When Nora left her job as a school teacher in Baltimore to live a simpler, Jane Austen style life in Montana with her friends, she was relieved to escape the escalating threats of violence from an unknown student stalker, but she can’t help feeling she’s abandoned the other high schoolers who put their faith in her. She’s torn about Clay’s advances, too. On the one hand she’s never met anyone like the strong, sexy SEAL. On the other hand, life’s taught her to take relationships slow—and Clay’s on a deadline.

When arson strikes and Nora disappears, Clay knows he’ll need every trick he learned in his time with the SEALs to track her down and save her life.

Can two people caught by their pasts have a chance at a future?

Enjoy an excerpt:

Clay wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her to him and explored her mouth with his, deepening the kiss until she clung to him, dizzy with the sensations swirling inside of her.

“We’ve got to take this slow,” Nora gasped.

“Slow?” Clay said. He searched her face. “What does that mean, exactly?” His breathing was uneven. Nora knew he wanted her and knew she was close to giving in to him. She wanted it too. But how would she feel tomorrow?

“Just kissing.”

Clay visibly struggled get himself under control. “That’s a tall order,” he confessed with a lopsided grin.

“I know.” She hoped he had the self-control to pull it off. She wasn’t sure she did.

“Just kissing,” he agreed after a moment. “But a whole hell of a lot of it.”

“That’s perfect.” As he bent toward her, she met him halfway.

An hour later, when Clay walked her to the manor, Nora was practically panting with the need to be made love to. She ached for Clay’s touch—wanted so badly to be with him.

“I’m never getting to sleep,” Clay murmured in her ear when they paused outside the manor’s front door. “Can I at least think of you while I… you know?”

“Only if I can think of you,” she said honestly. She couldn’t even pretend she wouldn’t do the same as soon as she was upstairs alone. No way could she sleep in this state.

“We could help each other,” Clay suggested.

“No, we can’t,” she said sadly.

“Why not?” He pressed another kiss to the base of her neck and Nora felt herself slipping, wanting to give in.

“Because if you touch me much longer, I’m going to beg you to take me,” she confessed.

“I want to.”

“I want you to, too.”

“Nora…”

She knew all that Clay wanted to say. This was crazy. It was agony. It wasn’t fair.

But it was the way it had to be. In the morning light they’d still be at Westfield. Clay would still have to marry within two months. That still wouldn’t be long enough for them to really get to know each other.

Would it?

About the Author:

NYT and USA Today bestselling 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/environmentalist, she ditched her California lifestyle and moved north to laid-back Vancouver Island. Like the characters in her Chance Creek series, Cora enjoys old-fashioned pursuits and modern technology, and is never happier than when planting flowers or creating her next Chance Creek novel. Visit www.coraseton.com to read about new releases, contests and other cool events!

Blog: www.coraseton.com
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