Found Innocent by Carolyn Arnold

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Carolyn will be awarding a paperback copy of In the Line of Duty valid in US, Canada and UK to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Sometimes the pursuit of justice becomes personal…

There’s one rule when it comes to the blue wall of silence: never report a fellow officer for mishandling a case. But when a woman’s remains are found in a garden and the investigation seems to be connected to a closed suicide case, Detective Madison Knight may not have a choice. She’s pretty sure that suicide was actually a murder.

To make matters worse, the lead detective on the old case is Madison’s ex-fiancé, and he wants to get back together. The last thing Madison wants to do is lead him on, but for justice to be served, she must risk not only jeopardizing departmental relationships but churning up the attention of an old flame at the same time. Because if she doesn’t, the guilty just may be found innocent.

Read an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Found Innocent (Detective Madison Knight series):

“HE DIDN’T DO IT!”

The hysterical shouting pulled Madison’s attention from her monitor to a woman rushing toward her.

The station was supposed to be quiet today. Sunday. She wasn’t required to be there, and that made it the perfect day to dig into her cold case. She was so close to getting answers.

With one more longing look at her screen, Madison rose from her chair and held up her hands to stop the woman.

“Detective Knight.” She stated this as if they had met before.

Officer Ranson, the female officer who manned the front desk, came up behind them. “Come on—”

Another officer brushed past Ranson and slipped his hands under the woman’s arms. “Let’s go.”

He pulled on her, but she stayed still. Her eyes steadied on Madison.

“Please help me.” She attempted to shake loose from the officer’s grip.

Her frown lines were deep burrows, her eyes were sunken, and the flesh around them was puffy. She appeared to be rough-edged, but there was something desperate about her, and she didn’t seem to be a threat to the lives of anyone here.

“I’ve got this,” Madison said.

“All right, your call.” The male officer let go of the woman, and he and Ranson left.

“I saw your face in the paper.” The woman held up the Stiles Times. “It’s you, isn’t it?” Her lashes were caked with mascara, and she blinked slowly. Madison wondered if the cosmetic had sealed her eyes shut.

Madison passed a glance to the paper. It captured a moment she wished to forget. A day when she had been forced to speak in front of a crowd and to take pride in the job she had done. The thing was, though, a good cop couldn’t care less about the recognition.

The woman sobbed, yet her tears didn’t affect her makeup. “He wouldn’t do this…”

Madison summoned patience. A list of envelope printing companies—which could prove to be a vital link in the chain of evidence against the Russians—would be on her monitor, right now.

She took a deep breath, passed another glance to her computer, and turned back to the woman. “Come with me.”

Madison kept the woman to the side of her. Her first impression was the woman didn’t pose a threat, but she still wasn’t willing to sacrifice her back by leading the way into the room.

Inside, Madison gestured to a chair.

The woman dropped her red bag heavily on the table. It was large enough to serve as a duffel bag. She pulled off her jean jacket, folded it over the back of the chair, and revealed a pink sweater that displayed more cleavage than Madison could ever hope to see on herself. The woman went rooting through the duffel bag and she stuffed a stick of gum in her mouth. She worked at chopping it into a soft, pliable distraction. It snapped in her mouth.

“Let’s start with your name—”

“Vilma with an ‘i.’ Vilma Thorne, well, it would have been. My God, Kev!” She raised her face upward as if calling out to a Greater Being. Her gum chewing paused only momentarily.

“Vilma—” Madison had to tune out the noise and the display of her open-mouth chewing. “Let’s start at the beginning. Why are you here?”

Vilma stuck a finger through one of the large gold hoops dangling from her ears and leaned in.

Madison detected the blend of cheap perfume and cigarettes. Maybe—she inhaled deeper, trying not to be obvious—it wasn’t perfume but whiskey. It was hard to discern. Her eyes appeared normal, except for the abuse of eye makeup. Besides the thick mascara, her lids were weighed with the color purple. Her pupils weren’t dilated or pinpricks.

Still, she didn’t respond to Madison’s question.

“Okay, Vilma, if you need my help, I need you to talk to me.”

Possibly this woman was on a new line of drug that disguised itself behind brilliant colors? Maybe this was a mistake and Madison should have let her get hauled away.

“My family is against what he did. But he didn’t do it!” Her voice rose, tears flowed. She stopped chewing and, sniffling, went rooting in the duffel bag again. She came out with a bunched up tissue and wiped her nose.

Madison’s tolerance level had almost reached its limit. “You keep saying he didn’t do it. Do what?”

A tissue still pinched on the tip of her nose, Vilma said, “He didn’t kill himself…someone killed him.”

About the Author: CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:

Website - http://carolynarnold.net/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

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

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The Forgiveness Soltion by Rev. Misty Tyme

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

All major religions and societies agree forgiveness is a good idea. But what they haven’t taught us is how to forgive. The Forgiveness Solution gives you the how in a proven step by step formula that brings relief from the hurt and puts you on the road to living a happy, healthy life.

Rev. Misty teaches you how to shift your perspective and adjust your expectations of people and situations, so you can move past the pain of un-forgiveness. Rev. Misty draws upon her intensely personal experiences of facing deep sadness, anger, and grief with the power of forgiveness. She meets you where you are and helps you walk through your forgiveness journey.

Read an Excerpt:

I am going to go out on a limb here; you picked up this book because you want to work on forgiveness. Congratulations on being a human with real issues, like the rest of us.

Forgiveness can be very hard. The ugly feelings of un-forgiveness come in all types of situations and relationships. They can range from small misunderstandings to threatening and abusive behaviors. It may be psychological, physical, sexual, or financial. Whatever your situation is, you want to get to a solution.

As the title suggests, this is a book about forgiveness. Not just information on what forgiveness is, but the how to forgive. Every culture faces the challenge of dealing with forgiveness. All major religions and societies agree forgiveness is a good idea, but both have left out the how. Rev. Misty’s Forgiveness Algorithm™ (Forgiveness Algorithm) gives you the how and puts it into a step-by-step formula.

The Forgiveness Algorithm came out of my own forgiveness journey. I will share not only my story but also other life-changing forgiveness stories. Laughter opens your heart when so often sadness can slam it tightly shut. I hope to touch your heart and make you smile.

About the Author:

Rev. Misty Tyme is a forgiveness expert, interfaith minister, author, speaker, and creator of Rev. Misty’s Forgiveness Algorithm™.

Her mission is clear: to bring a forgiveness tool to a world that is craving a way to let go of pain and anger. Armed with the motto that “forgiveness is the link between love and healing,” and a gift for opening hearts through her humorous and touching stories, Rev. Misty is known for uplifting and enlightening audiences across the U.S. through her talks and workshops.

Website: http://www.revmisty.com

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Sacred Stories Publishing.

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Spooning Daisy by Maggie McConnell

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Maggie McConnell will be offering 1) Nordstrom "Daisy" vegan leather clutch, 2) Nordstrom turtle pin, or 3) Rebecca Minkoff star pendant/necklace to 3 randomly drawn winners (US only; international winners will receive a $25 Amazon/BN GC).

Thank you for joining us at It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I write romantic comedy because I love “love,” and love, and the pursuit of love, is often humorous (remember first dates?). Although I’m divorced (that wasn’t very funny), most of my love life has been more comedy than drama, more laughter than tears, more positive than negative. Thank God. If I had the heartache contained in so many romances, I think I’d become a hermit. So, to some extent, I write what I know, but I also write what I think life and love should be—happy.

What research is required?

I’m a stickler for accuracy (and I love detail) so I if I don’t know even the little things, like the interior of a certain make of car that a character might be driving, I find out. For instance, I don’t want my character flicking the key to start the car if the car has a keyless ignition. Most readers may not notice a detail like that, but one might, and if I get it wrong, that sticks in a reader’s mind. I remember reading a romance set in the 1960’s. The writer had a character at the check-out in a grocery store, and the clerk was SCANNING the food. Well, scanners weren’t in use until the mid-1970’s! Those are the kind of details writers should get right.

Fortunately, when it comes to setting (Alaska), I can write from 23 years of experience, although I do occasionally verify my memory, such as sunrise, sunsets, high and low tides, things like that.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

From chef Daisy Moon, I learned the different varieties of mushrooms: chanterelle, cremini, morel, portobello, enoki, shitake, oyster, button, porcini, and maltake. (I hope this doesn’t count as 10 things.)

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

I always include this specific phrase in each of my books. “…like a red neon vacancy sign on a deserted midnight highway.”

And I always include animal characters (thank you, James Herriot). Probably not really a quirk, just a love for animals.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

Pantser! I usually have a basic idea of the story I think I want and a beginning first chapter, and go from there. I may know at the end of one chapter what needs to happen in the next chapter, but not necessarily what my characters will do to make that happen. I believe if I can’t predict what’s going to happen—and I’m surprised—my readers will be. I look at plots as I do life. No matter what you plan for tomorrow, you can’t control outside forces that change plans. Judging by the reviews, I think I (happily) surprise the readers.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

A wall. But a very nice wall. Wainscoting, with a ferns-and-palms wallpaper on the bottom. Above the wood divider is a framed print that one of my art professors did in 1976. (My undergrad is in art.) Titled “Ode to Pan,” and personalized to me. In fact, the whole wall has various photos (taken by me during a trip to Kenya), and prints (from Alaska) and an old poster that I got in Scotland advertising their sleeper train, “the Night Scotsman.” Thank you for letting me share this.

Anything new coming up from you?

Just finished Embracing Felicity. Yay! This is book 2 in the Otter Bite series. The setting is the same, and we see some of the same supporting characters, but there is a new romance. Environmentalist and shop owner, Felicity Arhnaq is part native (Alutiiq) and her romantic interest is oilman Ian MacIntyre, whom we briefly met in “Spooning Daisy” along with his 10-year-old daughter, Emily. Again, a romantic comedy, right from the start when Ian is attacked by Felicity’s ravens, Orville and Wilbur, and then her eagle steals his shoe. Lots of fun with environmental undertones and a bit of education about St. Augustine for whom an Alaskan volcano was named. (That’s my research showing.)

Do you have a question for our readers?

Yes! How do you decide on the books you read (assuming you don’t know the author)? Does the cover catch your interest? Is it the blurb? The reviews? The first few pages? Someone’s recommendation?

Thank you for this interview and for hosting Spooning Daisy!

Read an Excerpt:

Max cocked his head at her. No siree, Bob. Daisy Moon was not easy. She was like a 1500 piece puzzle, where all the pieces are really tiny, and similar in shape and color, but are nonetheless different, and it would take weeks, maybe even months, just to get the edges put together.

"Don't look so surprised," she said. "I know I'm not exactly laid back. Okay, maybe that's being kind," she responded to Max’s smile. "But I'm an incredible cook. And a really good speller. Not to mention having a humongous vocabulary. I came in fourth in the national spelling bee championship when I was fourteen."

Without meaning to, Max pictured Daisy at fourteen, in a prim white blouse and a demure plaid skirt with her hair tied back in a ribbon, triumphantly spelling words like...concupiscence.

"Do I know what men want, or what?" Now Daisy smiled...at herself.

Taking the cue, Max leaned into her and spoke sincerely, but resisted the urge to cup her hand. "Somewhere there is a man who wants a pretty redhead who's difficult and a great cook with a really humongous vocabulary who can spell...and next time it won't be a cross-dressing felon."

About the Author:

Golden Heart nominee Maggie McConnell spent her childhood overseas as the daughter of US diplomats. Attending college in Illinois, she earned a BA in Art and an MBA while working at the local humane shelter. At 26, she packed her dog and cat into a Ford truck and drove the Alcan Highway to Alaska, where she spent 23 years exploring The Last Frontier in a single-engine Cessna. A vegan and animal rights advocate, Maggie provides a sanctuary on her Arizona ranch for all creatures great and small, but her immediate family includes dog Molly, cat Sara, horses Quinn and Teena, and an ever-growing dynasty of chipmunks. Every year, like the Gray Whale, Maggie returns to Alaska.

Website: http://MaggieMcConnellRomance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaggieMcConnellRomance

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

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Beautiful Mess by John Herrick

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. John Herrick will be awarding a Kindle version of Beautiful Mess, plus free Kindle versions of entire John Herrick backlist to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

John Herrick, thanks so much for stopping by. How did you get started writing?

Thanks for letting me stop by! As a third grader, after finishing a class assignment one day, I looked over at a friend and asked what she was working on. She said she was writing a short story. It sounded like fun, so I gave it a try. I became a writer that day. I fell in love with storytelling. Later, I fell in love with emotion and character psychology.

What was the inspiration for your book?

Seven years ago, I read a biography about Marilyn Monroe and learned authorities had locked her away in a mental institution, against her will, for a brief period. Questions struck me: How would that trauma change her life? Would it ignite fear or paranoia toward what others would think of her from that point on? That piece of trivia planted the seed for Beautiful Mess.

Then there’s the inspiration for my protagonist, Del Corwyn: For some actors/actresses, an Academy Award nomination or win seems to launch their career into a new, enhanced phase. But others, especially in the supporting actor/actress categories, seem to fade from the forefront in a year or two. I’ve often wondered about that second group of people. What made their situation different from the first group? Do they simply pursue other avenues? Do they pursue those avenues by choice, or just to survive? Did a poor choice for their next project torpedo their career? Or did they lack better options because of weak agent? Del is an Oscar-nominated actor who made an unsuccessful choice for his next project, which dealt a fatal blow to his career. He’s spent the next 40 years facing the consequences of that choice.

So those two fascinations merged in my head to provide the inspiration for Beautiful Mess.

What’s the one genre you haven’t written in yet that you’d like to?

I’m aching to delve into suspense! That was always my goal as an author, but human heart stories have arisen to the surface, probably because character development and emotion seem to be my strongest suits. Meanwhile, I’ve partially developed several suspense concepts. And I do have a short suspense story available, called Hit and Run. Currently, it’s available in standalone form only as a Kindle exclusive. (However, if you’re a physical book reader, it’s included in the paperback version of Beautiful Mess!)

Are there any genres you won’t read or write in? Why?

Horror. It just creeps me out. The farthest I’ve tiptoed into horror is Stephen King’s Under the Dome, and that was more like horror-lite, if anything at all.

What are you up to right now? Do you have any releases planned, or are you still writing?

I have another romantic comedy ready to go, scheduled for late 2018. Beyond that, I’m in the process of landing on the next idea. A combination of research and trial-and-error. It’s important for the concept to resonate with my heart, if possible.

Alright, now for some totally random, fun questions. Favorite color?
Green
Favorite movie?
Moonstruck
Book that inspired you to become an author?
The Firm by John Grisham. With that book, I fell back in love with novels.
You have one superpower. What is it?
Time travel! (That said, a magic wand to make problematic people disappear would also be nice!)
You can have dinner with any 3 people, dead, alive, fictitious, etc. Who are they?
Jesus, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Candy.

Last question: Which of your characters are you most like and how/why?

You saved the toughest question for last! I believe a piece of the author finds its way into the book, whether as a character, or as an aspect of its mind, or maybe its struggle symbolizes one of the author’s struggles. I’m an self-psychoanalytical guy—whether that’s good or bad, I don’t know—so rather than my characters resembling me, I tend to channel my self-analysis into their struggles and they become a symbol for me. When I wrote The Landing, I was frustrated and felt trapped in my career. My protagonist was frustrated and felt trapped by unrequited love. Two completely different struggles, but that character’s struggle became a symbol for me. But if you want to know how bad that personal psychoanalysis can get, if you want a glimpse inside my mind, you’ll find an excellent example with Hunter Carlisle, my main character from Between These Walls. Hunter and I torment ourselves in similar ways.

That’s all from me, thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!

Thank YOU for the chance to spend time with you and your readers!

A fallen star. Four Los Angeles misfits.
And the Marilyn Monroe you only thought you knew.

Del Corwyn is an aging relic. An actor who advanced from errand boy to Academy Award nominee, Del kept company with the elite of Hollywood’s golden era and shared a close friendship with Marilyn Monroe. Today, however, he faces bankruptcy.

Humiliated, Del is forced to downgrade his lifestyle, sell the home he's long cherished, and fade into a history of forgotten legends—unless he can revive his career. All he needs is one last chance. While searching through memorabilia from his beloved past, Del rediscovers a mysterious envelope, dated 1962, containing an original screenplay by Marilyn Monroe—and proof that she named him its legal guardian.

Del surges to the top of Hollywood’s A-list overnight. But the opportunity to reclaim his fame and fortune brings a choice: Is Del willing to sacrifice newfound love, self-respect and his most cherished friendship to achieve his greatest dream?

A story of warmth, humor and honesty, Beautiful Mess follows one man's journey toward love and relevance where he least expects it—and proves coming-of-age isn't just for the young.

Read an excerpt:

“I have an intriguing prospect for a new film,” Del replied as he took a seat. He tapped the manila envelope tucked under his arm, which contained Marilyn’s script.

He could’ve sworn he caught Arnie in the onset of an eye roll brought to a sudden halt.

“What kind of project?”

“A pop-culture type of thing. You could say it has a retro feel to it.”

Arnie sighed. “Del, I realize you like to relive the past—”

“This is a winner, Arnie. I guarantee it.”

“And what does this winning project involve?”

“Marilyn Monroe. It’s a screenplay.”

“With all due respect, isn’t that a bit clichéd? This would need to be an angle no one else has covered. Many people have done films about Marilyn Monroe, not to mention books and memorabilia and everything else under the sun.”

“You don’t understand. This isn’t about Marilyn Monroe.” Del felt a surge of adrenaline and couldn’t contain himself. He leaned forward and, with great pomp, planted the thick package on Arnie’s desk. It landed with a thump. “It’s by Marilyn Monroe.”

Arnie sat open-mouthed as he tried to follow along. His eyes widened in perplexity. “By Marilyn Monroe,” he repeated.

“That’s right.”

“Del, what the hell are you talking about?”

With a lighthearted laugh, Del eased back into the chair. “Last night, I rummaged through some boxes I’d stored away long ago. Hadn’t looked through them in years. Relics from my heyday. Things I’d forgotten I’d saved. And at the bottom of one of those boxes, I found this.”

He patted the envelope, which crinkled at his touch.

“It’s a script, given to me in 1962.” Del caught Arnie’s eye to make sure the man paid full attention. “Written by Marilyn Monroe.”

About the Author:

A self-described “broken Christian,” John Herrick battled depression since childhood. In that context, however, he developed intuition for themes of spiritual journey and the human heart.

Herrick graduated from the University of Missouri—Columbia. Rejected for every writing position he sought, he turned to information technology and fund development, where he cultivated analytical and project management skills that helped shape his novel-writing process. He seized unpaid opportunities writing radio commercial copy and ghostwriting for two nationally syndicated radio preachers.

The Akron Beacon Journal hailed Herrick's From the Dead as “a solid debut novel.” Published in 2010, it became an Amazon bestseller. The Landing, a semifinalist in the inaugural Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, followed. Publishers Weekly predicted “Herrick will make waves” with his novel Between These Walls.

Herrick's nonfiction book 8 Reasons Your Life Matters introduced him to new readers worldwide. The free e-book surpassed 150,000 downloads and hit #1 on Amazon's Motivational Self-Help and Christian Inspiration bestseller lists. Reader response prompted a trade paperback.

His latest novel, Beautiful Mess, folds the legend of Marilyn Monroe into an ensemble romantic-comedy.

Herrick admits his journey felt disconnected. “It was a challenge but also a growth process,” he acknowledges. “But in retrospect, I can see God's fingerprints all over it.”

Website: www.johnherrick.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnherrickbooks
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JohnHerrick
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/johnherrick

Buy the book at Amazon.

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The Demise by Erica R. Lomelino

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Erica R Lomelino will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Elizabeth Woods and Ian Sweeten had a romance which sparked over a few months. Marriage followed, and with it the couple traveled around the world as he served in the military. After Ian’s deployment, overseas, their young love deepened into something more but with life comes complications, and what Elizabeth comes to realize is that her husband is battling his own demons. Mind games, deceit and abuse become part of the ways Ian seeks to control her. As she struggles to repair her marriage and get back to the love they shared early in their relationship, Elizabeth realizes that holding on to the man she loves may come at a price too high to pay.

Read an excerpt:

The clock ticked loudly in Dr. Carter’s office. Or at least I was more aware of it. This was the same one that sat on the wall behind her desk, an old-fashioned grandfather’s clock that Dr. Carter said was given as a gift to her. I folded my hands in my lap and waited for her to pose the obvious questions.

“After the affair was over, did you feel guilty?” she asked.

“I’ve thought a lot about it,” I said. “I didn’t feel guilty about what happened between Zaiden and me. We had a definite spark between us. He became an addiction, just like the cutting and the pills. It was all too much at once. In a way, the thing I do regret about it were the problems it caused. But we knew what we were doing came with risk.

“I hadn’t given it much consideration, but I had the idea we would quit messing around when Katie got back. I hated thinking about that. It’s hard to quit something that begins to consume your life. The sex between us was too good and I wanted to keep coming back. Once Katie was home, things were more difficult. I’m not even sure what excuses he gave her, but we did sneak off to a motel outside of town a couple times. Once I even came home early to meet up with Zaiden at his place while Katie was at a doctor’s appointment on the other side of town.

About the Author:

Erica R Lomelino, lives in Jacksonville, Florida. In her free time, she enjoys the beach life, painting, reading, traveling and spending time with her daughter. She looks forward to developing her skill at writing and hopes to continue to write books that will put you on the edge of your seat.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thedemise.anovel/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricaLomelino
Buy the book at Amazon.

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The Lawman's Apache Moon by Debra Holt

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly drawn commenter will win a $10 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

“No more detours!” That was the promise Angelina Lord made to herself when she accepted a ride from a wedding in Texas, with the best man to her destination in Santa Fe, New Mexico. What could possibly go wrong?

Angelina is focused on one thing–opening a fashion boutique in Santa Fe. What she really doesn’t need is one full-of-himself lawman with his aggravating air of superiority and soul-searing eyes…not to mention heart-stopping kisses…coming to her rescue. If she lets him get too close to the truth, he could bring down the wall she erected around her well-ordered life and her heart.

United States Marshal Jace Blackhawke holds family and traditions as the center of his life. He isn’t part of Angie’s world and she certainly isn’t part of his. Will their differences prove to be too insurmountable in the face of the truth that will not stay silent?

Read an excerpt:

Her attention was on the pair and her arms rested in front of her on the hood of the car. The part of her body that was visible was not bad. Not bad? Major understatement. He had a feeling that there was a lesson coming his way. He never cared for surprises and this felt like it would be a doozy when it hit. Darn Clay for talking him into coming along. He needed to get a grip on reality and get back to where things were amenable to his control. He pulled his eyes away from the mystery lady and returned to the couple who were definitely in the ‘kiss and makeup’ stage of the argument. Good. Time to get back to sanity and things that made sense.

The woman looked at him once more. His gaze landed on her. And he knew without a doubt that sanity was not going to be an option.

About the Author:

Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers. Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most. She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).

When she isn’t busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure. She read her first romance...Janet Dailey's Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles...and sighs...to all who believe in happily-ever-after’s.

Debra invites you to visit her website at www.debraholtbooks.com. She loves to hear from other aspiring authors or readers via email at debraholtbooks@gmail.com.

https://twitter.com/DebraHoltBooks
https://www.facebook.com/DebraHoltBooks

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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Love on the Risky Side by Mariah Ankenman

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

Falsely accused of the murder of her best friend, Kayla Jenkins is on the run for her life. She ends up lost in dark, snowy woods off some backcountry road in the middle of nowhere. Frightened and colder than she’s ever been in her life, she almost thinks she’s hallucinating when a warrior on a white steed saves her.

In all his years as the sheriff of Peak Town, Colorado, Jake Ryder has never come across a half-frozen woman alone in the woods. She’s terrified…and lying to him, yet something about her calls to him on a primal level.

Even with her trust of law enforcement lower than the harsh temperature, Kayla finds it difficult to keep her secrets hidden from the kind and far too handsome sheriff. But as her faith in Ryder grows, she not only risks the real murderer finding her, but losing the one thing she has searched for her whole life and only just found…love.

Read an Excerpt:

As the shape came closer, she realized it wasn’t Bigfoot—because he doesn’t exist—she reminded herself. It was also not a bear. Her vision finally focused on a large gray horse. Not only a horse, but a rider, too.

The clouds in the night sky dissipated, allowing the moonlight to shine down into the woods. Kayla’s heart skipped a beat as the two towered over her.

The man sat upon the horse like a warrior of olden days. Long, dark hair fluttered about his face in the wind—sharp, high cheekbones, a smooth, square jawline, and thick, dark brows pressed down over a pair of deep, warm brown eyes.

“Hello.”

His voice rumbled over her like a warm blanket. What she wouldn’t give for a warm blanket right now.

“Do you need some help?”

She hesitated at his question, staring into his eyes. They looked so kind and trusting, but a man’s eyes had deceived her before. Until two days ago, David’s eyes had always been normal; sure, the guy had given off the jerkwad vibe at times, but she never suspected the evil hidden behind those eyes. Was this man the same? Could she trust those eyes?

Did she really have a choice?

No. She had no idea where she was and was literally freezing. Yes, she needed help. The only question, would this man be her salvation…or her downfall?

About the Author:

RWA® Golden Heart® Nominated author Mariah Ankenman began writing at the tender age of five. Her first book “George and the Green Glob” received high praise from her mother. Many years, and green glob stories later, Mariah received a playwriting degree from the University of Wyoming. After a few years in Hollywood, working in “the biz,” she came home to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. When she’s not writing Mariah loves to read, crochet, and play her ukulele. She loves to hear from readers.

website: http://www.mariahankenman.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mariahkenmanauthor
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MAsBooks

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or The Wild Rose Press.

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The Wellness Sense by Om Swami

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A randomly drawn winner will be awarded a $25 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Why do certain foods harm some people and help others?

Why do the results of a weight loss programme vary from individual to individual?

And why do some people fall sick more often than others?

The science of Ayurveda holds answers to these questions and many more. Its scriptures took a holistic approach to health by combining our lifestyle with our natural tendencies (which vary from one person to another).

This groundbreaking new work from Om Swami combines the yogic view of food as sattvic, rajasic and tamasic with the Ayurvedic perspective, and further relates it to the modern view of food as acidic and alkaline. This is also the first time Ayurvedic prakriti (vata, pitta and kapha) has been discussed in the context of yogic prakriti (sattvic, rajasic and tamasic) in a truly cohesive fashion.

The Wellness Sense is a simple, step-by-step handbook on how to take better care of yourself. Accessibly written, deeply researched and distilled from Om Swami’s own livid experience, The Wellness Sense puts your health and happiness in your hands.

Read an excerpt:
,br> Let me give you the golden principle, the primordial mantra to stay in the finest of your physical, mental and emotional health. If you adopt what I am going to tell you, you will become a powerful agent, a catalyst in your own transformation. At the root of most ailments, diseases and disorder is clutter. Clutter could exist in your physical, mental or emotional world. Generally, clutter in any one world is a strong indication that it exists in the other two too.

Most people carry a clutter of thoughts, often painful thoughts of the past. They walk around in a mess of negative emotions carrying a bag of unfulfilled desires. Such thoughts and emotions continue to pile up, making us feel heavier and heavier until one day when we can take it no more and break down. This point of break-down starts to manifest in the form of ailments in our three bodies long before it appears in the tests and medical imaging. How do we clean the clutter in the physical world? We organize the necessary stuff and discard the useless. This leads me to the golden mantra — Simplify Your Life. This is truly the yogic sense, the Wellness Sense.

About the Author:

Om Swami is a monk who lives in a remote place in the Himalayan foothills. He has a bachelor degree in business and an MBA from Sydney, Australia. Swami served in executive roles in large corporations around the world. He founded and led a profitable software company with offices in San Francisco, New York, Toronto, London, Sydney and India.

Om Swami completely renounced his business interests to pursue a more spiritual life. He is the bestselling author of Kundalini: An Untold Story, A Fistful of Love and If Truth Be Told: A Monk’s Memoir.

His blog omswami.com is read by millions all over the world.

Amazon Link – https://www.amazon.com/Wellness-Sense-practical-emotional-Ayurvedic/dp/0994002734/
Goodreads Link – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23726933-the-wellness-sense

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A Mortal Indiscretion by Barbra E. Ross

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

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

I don’t feel bound by my genre. Paranormal allows for stretch of the imagination and offers other worlds to write in. I can add, romance and suspense, virtually anything is allowed. I have always felt stories should take us on a journey and I am drawn to the fantastic situations that paranormal genres allow. I guess I have always been a science fiction sort of nerd.

What world-building is required?

I think it is vital to make it believable. I tried to take everyday characters, like Justin, a mortal all- American man and thrust him into fantastic situations. If you can believe that he is real, then maybe you can believe his story. I really wanted the reader to feel as though they took the journey with him.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

I learned the power of forgiveness. Justin is angry with Ambra for lying and fooling him. But under it all, he loved her. He knew he had to forgive if he wanted their relationship to work. That is something I have learned as I have grown older. To forgive others and especially yourself. It is the only way to love. I really think we need a lot more love in the world right now.

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

When I started writing as Justin, I was nervous about portraying him as a man, as I am a woman. I tried researching how men behave, looking through articles and books. But I finally went with what I knew best. I pretended to be him, in my mind, and thoughts. I would drive, thinking, what would he look at? What would he think about?

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I am a pantser. I sit down and write out the entire story. Then, I go back and read it, embellishing as I go. I surprise myself sometimes and come up with entire new scenes and scenarios as I go along. Some of my favorite scenes happened just that way. I read it, went to bed and dreamed a better way it could go.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

My fat black cat, named JB. He and his brother were rescues from a local shelter. But he is always around me. He is my partner in crime whenever I am writing. Even comes up, rubs against my face as I try to type. I am sure he has even edited a few sentences as he walks on the keyboard.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I am working on the third installment in this vampire romance series. I am hoping everything goes as planned and it can be released this year. It is called Zeus. I am really excited about where the story goes.

Do you have a question for our readers?

I would love to know which is their preferred method of reading. On a tablet or reader? Or a good old fashioned book they can hold in their hands.

One night changed everything for bachelor Justin Bertolli. A womanizer at heart, never quite ready to settle down, he meets the woman who would change his life forever. Ambra Taylor is that woman, but is she all that Justin bargained for? When Justin discovers the truth about who and what she is, will he still love her? Will he still want her? Find out, as their hearts collide in this epic tale of love.

The sequel, MARZIO'S REVENGE, is now available.

Read an excerpt:

“Justin, maybe I should leave. I mean… If I am making you that angry…”

“You are not making me angry. It’s the situation…not you,” I said. “Tell me something. When you…I mean, did you really mean it when you said you loved me?

“Yes Justin. I loved you. I still love you.”

“But how? What can I possibly mean to you? I mean, Jesus! You are…you are… I don’t know! What I am trying to say is, what can I possibly do for you?” I was stuttering.

“I do not understand what you are asking me,” she stated.

“Ambra, this is not a normal relationship. I usually know where I stand with a woman, but I have no clue what I can offer you."

“Justin, you have given me what no one else ever has. Unconditional love. You made me feel special, wanted, needed and loved. And I did not make you do it. I never once influenced your mind to make you treat me that way. It was something I had never experienced before. I wanted simply to be with you. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“And the fact that I am not what you are… doesn’t bother you? I feel like I would be a liability, an accident waiting to happen, a burden…”

“Why? Because you are a man and not a monster as I am?”

“Because you are stronger than me. I can’t protect you from harm, not that anything can harm you really, but I am used to being the strong one.” I said, looking down.

“So this is what is bothering you? That I am not some weak, frail woman for you to save?”

“No. Not exactly, but you are close.”

“Justin, I am beyond saving. You cannot change what has happened to me any more than I can. I have learned to accept what I am because the alternative is to stop living. And since I met you, I do not want to stop living. I only wish you could love me, as you did.”

I looked over at her and thought about it. Yes, I was angry. And the thought being without her this past year was enough to drive me mad. But, under all the rage and embarrassment, under all the pain and sadness was the undeniable fact that I loved her. I turned back to the fire and smiled to myself.

“Okay. So… Like, you’re a vampire. Correction. A beautiful, stunning vampire. And I am, well… I am a not so bad looking guy, and… God! This is the really funny part. But I am hopelessly in love with you,” I rambled. There was silence behind me for a moment. The crackle and spit of the fire was all I heard.

“Justin… What are you…”

About the Author: Barbra E Ross lives in Michigan and is a nurse by day, lover of fiction at night. When people ask me what my book is about, I pause a moment because it is not so simple to describe. It is a vampire romance, I say and then, I pray that doesn’t scare them away. Because what are books really? I believe that books are a way to escape the daily routines of life. I wanted to take an ordinary man and put him in fantastic situations. To bring a bit of fantasy down to reality. It is a love story at its heart. If I can take the reader on a journey and give them a laugh, cry, or simply bring a smile to their face, then it is all worth it. This story helped me through rough times in my life, and I can only hope it will do the same for the reader.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbraERoss
Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbraeross
Website: http://barbraeross.com/
Blog: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1223154.Barbra_E_Ross/blog
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1223154.Barbra_E_Ross

Buy the book at Amazon US, Smashwords, Nook, iBooks, Kobo.

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