When It's Right by Jeanette Grey - Excerpt and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jeanette will be awarding a $25 gift card to the winner's choice of Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour via the Rafflecopter at the end of this post. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops and for more chances to win.

Still licking his wounds after a messy breakup, Nate is at loose ends for New Year’s Eve and itching for a wild and crazy adventure to jolt him out of his rut. Now if he could only convince his best friend, Cassie, to break away for an impromptu road trip to Times Square.

Fun as it sounds, Cassie is reluctant to accept Nate’s invitation. Little does he know, she’s made resolutions of her own—resolutions about finally getting over her long-standing crush on him. Telling herself this trip will be the perfect “last hurrah”, she packs her bag.

The trip is a fiasco from the outset. A car that won’t start, a freak storm that strands them on the side of the road, and a long drive with too much time for true confessions. Cassie’s rocks Nate to the core, leaving him wondering if the best thing that ever happened to him has been right in front of him all along.

Warning: Contains two best friends, a secret crush, and a road trip that leads to tow trucks, unexpected hotel-room sharing, epiphanies, sex, and more.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Dropping her bag on the floor, she buried her face in her hands and sank to sit on the edge of that stupid, stupid bed. The corners of her eyes prickled, and her cheeks burned as she stuttered out a shaking, “This is wrong. Everything is so, so wrong.”

The room and his presence, his mocking desire for a new start and a new opportunity for love. The broken wreck of her car and the road spinning out beneath them. The clicking silence of his engine and…and everything.

She should never have come. Should have stayed at home where she could nurse her broken heart and mourn her unrequited love alone. Should never have let herself be so closed or opened herself up again. Should have should have should have.

For too many long, aching moments, there was no sound but for her ragged gasps for air and the lingering echo of how wrong this was. But then there was motion. The gust of wind and the closing of the door, a thud as another bag hit the floor. Footfalls. Nate’s hands on hers and everything about him too close.

Making quiet shushing noises, he peeled her fingers from her face, then curled his hands around hers, holding them between their bodies. He was kneeling on the floor before her, so close she could feel his breath against her lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

His eyes blazed, but his hands and voice were so, so soft.

“Cassie. I will go to that office and I will change this room.” He paused, and something in his expression seemed to melt. “But…”

Her heart went cold and hot inside her chest. “But?”

“But what if it’s not wrong?” With his thumbs, he caressed the centers of her palms. “What if it’s not wrong at all? What if it’s right?”

About the Author:

Jeanette Grey started out with degrees in physics and painting, which she dutifully applied to stunted careers in teaching, technical support, and advertising. When none of that panned out, she started writing. In her spare time, Jeanette enjoys making pottery, playing board games, and spending time with her husband and her pet frog. She lives, loves, and writes in upstate New York.

Website: http://jeanettegrey.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jeanettelgrey
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeanettelgrey
Blog: http://www.badgirlzwrite.com
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18293472-when-it-s-right

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Samhain.
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Love for the Holidays by Noelle Adams, Samantha Chase, Rachel Curtis, and Zoe York -- Excerpt and Giveaway

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

From fake relationships to secret affairs to best friends falling in love, everything changes at Christmas.

This holiday bundle includes five stories, from steamy to sweet, including two new, exclusive stories from New York Times bestselling authors.

HOLIDAY HEAT by Noelle Adams - After being hit with heartbreaking tragedy, Carrie has thrown herself into a hot, secret relationship with Matt. With Christmas approaching, she realizes she might want even more from her sexy, damaged artist, but the boundaries around their relationship make anything deeper than sex impossible. A new, steamy romance.

MISTLETOE BETWEEN FRIENDS by Samantha Chase - Lily and Cam have been friends all their lives, and their relationship has never been romantic. But when they pretend to be dating so they can spend the holiday with their families in peace, they realize their fake romance might actually be real. A new, sweet romance.

THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE by Samantha Chase - Spending the night trapped by a blizzard in a romantic Christmas cottage with the man she's loved for years has Lacey wondering if fairy tales really do come true. A sweet romance.

EIGHT CHRISTMAS EVES by Rachel Curtis - One Christmas Eve, Cyrus Owen, the over-indulged teenage son of a wealthy businessman, finds ten-year-old Helen on the side of the road. Eleven years later, he is desperately in love with her. This is how it happens... A mostly sweet romance.

WHAT ONCE WAS PERFECT by Zoe York - For Laney, the worst part of returning to her hometown for Christmas is confronting Kyle, the man who broke her heart twelve years ago. When they rediscover their perfect chemistry, Kyle has to convince Laney to let him back into her heart. A steamy romance.

Enjoy this book video:



From Holiday Heat by Noelle Adams

“Why is it so hot in December?” she wailed, forcing herself past a faintly tender pull at the sight of his sated eyes and relaxed body.

“Heat wave. Some sort of tropical front. It’s moving up the east coast, from—”

“Oh, shut up.”

Matt’s lips quirked at her grumpy tone, but he didn’t continue his discourse on the unseasonable December weather.

She shouldn’t enjoy his company so much. She shouldn’t like him. She certainly shouldn’t trust him with her body—or anything else.

There was no future with him. He’d told her the first night they met that a real relationship was impossible for him, and nothing about that had changed.

Being with him wasn’t anything like being with Henry. It didn’t feel safe and familiar, even after three months. She had no delusions about a future with Matt. She never would have had sex with him at all if there had been any possibility of a future.

“Next time, I’ll pick the hotel,” he said, his eyes resting on her with a gaze that was almost soft.

“No, I told you before. When you’re involved in a sleazy affair, then you pick a motel that’s appropriate for the occasion.”

He cocked an eyebrow, obviously amused. “Is that what we’re doing? Having a sleazy affair?”

“Of course.”

“Neither one of us is married. I’m not sure ‘affair’ is the correct term.”

“Of course it is. You don’t have to be married to have an affair. It just needs to be secret.” No one knew that Carrie was regularly screwing Matthew Lynch, and she intended to keep it that way.

“I see.” He looked eminently unconvinced. And still amused. And definitely superior.

“Don’t be an ass.” When he opened his mouth to respond, she spoke over him. “You know exactly what ass-like behavior I’m referring to.”

Since that first night, they’d gotten together at least once a week for sex, although recently they’d been getting together more often.

Matt was her hot secret. Her shameless indulgence. Everyone thought she was quiet and withdrawn—keeping to herself, working in her coffee shop, never taking risks. No one would dream she’d have a casual affair with a gorgeous, notorious, wounded artist.

About the Authors:Noelle Adams, Samantha Chase, Rachel Curtis, and Zoe York are four bestselling authors of fun, smart, and contemporary romance, from sweet to sexy, who are collaborating on this holiday anthology.

Starting today, Love for the Holidays will be on sale for just $.99! Buy it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or All Romance eBooks.

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Blood and Gold by Hawk MacKinney - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Hawk will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banners to see the other stops on the tour.

Blood and Gold, the third book in The Craige Ingram Mystery Series, once again tests the instincts and skills of retired Navy SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram. Lust, greed, body parts and unrestrained wild sex parties are what await Craige Ingram when he leaves the comforts of his South Carolina home to visit his former SEAL buddy, Detective Spinner Krespinak. Set in the Colorado underbelly of a sordid sable and faux glitz ski mecca, Detective Spinner Krespinak suspects drugs have made their way to the snowy playground that is Aspen. An Olympic ski hopeful is brutally murdered, Spinner vanishes, and Craige Ingram is shot as events spin out of control with a Catch-22 no one anticipates.

Here's an excerpt for you to enjoy:

Wilhelm Hans “Ski” Janoski lived fast. His reckless ice-blue wildfire eyes ready for any thrill…snow-covered mountain, sunny beach, his latest bedmate, or two or three. So many bodies, so little time. He pointed his ski pole up toward the high peaks they'd traversed, “That portion across the ridge drifted more than I thought.”

She licked his neck and ears; gave him a wicked purring simper. Christy liked the fast lane; hunted any novel untried thrill…fast living…faster men. She loved the wild streak in Ski…the wilder the better. “It wouldn't have taken much for those cornices to break loose.”

“You knew those upper slopes were closed before we took those trails.”

“Sure I did.” He coughed; spit. “Why let virgin deep powder go to waste just because some college jock puts on a ski patrol parka; marks boundaries he don’t know shit about? Not the kind of skiing this Olympic gold medalist likes. Ski boundaries and groomed slopes are for weekender fat cats who sit by the fire; guzzle martinis and margaritas; fat-up on chips and guacamole dip.” Peacock bluster...Ski Janoski’s trademark. Guffed, “All their BS about avalanches…gimme a break! Even a half-assed skier can outrun an avalanche. Avalanches are nothing but big balls of snow. “No mountain ever bested hot-dogger Janoski.” Ski howled his challenge at Mother Nature. “…no mountain ever will!”

About the Author: With postgraduate degrees and faculty appointments in several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem. In addition to professional articles and texts on chordate neuroembryology, Hawk has authored several works of fiction.

Hawk began writing mysteries for his school newspaper. His works of fiction, historical love stories, science fiction and mystery-thrillers are not genre-centered, but plot-character driven, and reflect his southwest upbringing in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his serial protagonist in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series… murder and mayhem with a touch of romance. Vault of Secrets, the first book in the Ingram series, was followed by Nymrod Resurrection, Blood and Gold, and The Lady of Corpsewood Manor. All have received national attention. Hawk’s latest release in the Ingram series is due out this fall with another mystery-thriller work out in 2014. The Bleikovat Event, the first volume in The Cairns of Sainctuarie science fiction series, was released in 2012.

"Without question, Hawk is one of the most gifted and imaginative writers I have had the pleasure to represent. His reading fans have something special to look forward to in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series. Intrigue, murder, deception and conspiracy--these are the things that take Hawk's main character, Navy ex-SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram, from his South Carolina ancestral home of Moccasin Hollow to the dirty backrooms of the nation's capital and across Europe and the Middle East."

Barbara Casey, President
Barbara Casey Literary Agency

www.HawkMacKinney.net
Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Rising Flame by Elaina John -- Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Elaina will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Lily Malloy’s life changes forever the night a dark stranger shows up at her door. She soon finds herself growing increasingly attracted to this mysterious man. When Lily is forced to rely on him to find her sister after she goes missing, Lily discovers a secret that could mean life or death.

When Dex’s planet, Jheta, is destroyed, he and his people travel to Earth for a new home. By chance, he stumbles upon fascinating, beautiful Lily. Haunted by the truth of his identity, Dex knows he can never have her. Yet that doesn’t stop his attraction to her. When a threat jeopardizes the lives of Lily and the Jhetans, Dex must fight to protect them, even if it means his own life.

Here's an excerpt to enjoy:

Lily had never been punched before. That didn’t stop her from feeling as if she had. Right in the chest by her very own twin. She did everything for that girl and this was how she repaid her.

Shay practically skipped out the door to her meeting, leaving Lily and Dex alone. At present, they were riding in her car to the store, not saying a word. However, his presence was all too noticeable even though she tried to ignore it. It was like standing next to a fire and pretending she couldn’t feel the warmth.

When they’d first gotten into the car Dex had ran his long, nimble fingers over the dashboard and leather seats. He rolled the window up and down and changed the radio station again and again. It was almost as if he’d never been inside of a car before. Perhaps it was her 370Z that enthralled him. Men liked cars. It still fascinated her though she drove it every day. She and Shay received new cars from their parents for their most recent birthday. The perks of having well off parents.

“Do you have any idea where you’d like to shop?”

He turned his head to look at her, those dark eyes boring into the side of her face like laser beams. “No. I thought I would leave it up to you. I know little of appropriate fashions.”

She snorted. “Yeah, because you prefer to wear nothing at all.”

“I apologize for frightening you last night. It was not my intention to do so. I sought shelter from the rain and your home was the first I saw.”

Yeah, like she believed that. She was far from gullible.

About the Author:Elaina John is an author from Chicago. She began writing after graduating college and discovering she’d rather write books than work in the corporate world.

Along with Rising Flame, the first book of the Jhetan Chronicles, she is also the author of the States Trilogy and a couple short stories.

www.ElainaJohn.com

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
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Q&A with Raven McAllan, author of Miss Simpkins' School: Flora

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $10 Breathless Press GC to one randomly drawn commenter, 5 eBooks from Breathless Press (publisher's choice) to one randomly drawn commenter, and 2 eBooks from Breathless Press (publisher's choice) to one randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Hi, Raven, and thanks for being brave enough to answer some of our questions. Hopefully, we won't be too rough on you! First, what do you like to do when you are not writing?

Drink Fine wine (preferably Champagne), eat chocolate, and travel with DH.

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your books?

That I can do it.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

If you include stories in Anthos, well over 50. My favorite is always the next one.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

At a funeral, when someone asked me where my mum had gone and I said to the loo, she was dying to go!

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

An out and out pantster. I did try to plot once… ARGH, never again. What a waste of time and 15K

Ebook or print? And why?

Both have pros and cons. I have to be careful not to drop an eReader in the bath. Then a print book is heavy. I read print as the plane takes off and lands, and often in the bath. eReader so I can have lots of books to hand, and space in my suitcase for clothes! If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed to have five modern conveniences with you, what would they be?

Sun cream, MacBook and unlimited battery life, Chocolate, champagne, and a fridge (with an ice cube tray). I'm assuming electricity or a generator.

About the Author: Raven lives in Scotland, along with her husband and their two cats—their children having flown the nest—surrounded by beautiful scenery, which inspires a lot of the settings in her books.

She is used to sharing her life with the occasional deer, red squirrel, and lost tourist, to say nothing of the scourge of Scotland—the midge.

Her very understanding, and long-suffering DH is used to his questions unanswered, the dust bunnies greeting him as he walks through the door, and rescuing burned offerings from the Aga. (And passing her a glass of wine as she types furiously.)

Why Raven? EASY!

The Raven is the harbinger of change. My Raven was around a lot after I sent Wallflowers Don't Wilt off to Breathless Press. And then, I was offered a contract. Thanks Raven.

McAllan? EASY!

I live in Scotland. McAllan is a variation of the name of the BEST single malt in Scotland. What else could I pick?

So O.K. It's a pen name, but one with deep meaning for me. I hope you enjoy reading Raven's books.

Why don't you drop me a note and say Hi?

Looking forward to meeting you.

http://www.ravenmcallan.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/RavenMcAllan
http://www.ravenmcallan.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/ravenmcallan
http://pinterest.com/ravensramblings/
http://www.amazon.com/Raven-McAllan/e/B00694RHJI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1384299829&sr=8-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/raven-mcallan
http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=99

Miss Simpkins' School. Where seduction's the game, and success is the aim. Let your classes commence.

Ex mistress to an Earl, who better than Molly Simpkins to show Flora how to ensure she gets what she needs from her marriage?

Flora's intended has an idea she doesn't agree with. Angus thinks she should be happy to live at their Scottish estate while he spends his time in London. It may be the way of the ton, but it isn't going to be Flora's way. This is her chance to show Angus what he'd miss if he leaves her alone. There's only one thing—she doesn't know how.

Luckily Miss Simpkins does.

Compromising Miss Tisdale by Jessica Jefferson - Excerpt and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enter via the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner's choice). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Ambrosia Tisdale is the very picture of propriety and the epitome of what a respectable young lady should be. Haunted by a memory and compelled by her family, she pursues perfection to a fault.

The Earl of Bristol, Duncan Maddox, has returned to London after years of familial imposed exile. As the second son, he has led a life filled with frivolity, leisure, and a healthy dose of debauchery. Now his older brother has died, leaving the family’s flailing legacy in Duncan’s unwilling arms.

At the behest of his uncle, Duncan is advised to do the one thing that could provide instant fortune and respectability – he must marry. But there is only one prospect who meets the unique requirements to solve all the Earl’s problems – the lovely Miss Ambrosia Tisdale. But securing the prudent daughter of a Viscount’s hand proves to be more challenging than this scandal ridden second son of an Earl has bargained for.

With scandal, extortion, treachery, and even love itself threatening to keep him from his goal, will Duncan succeed in compromising Miss Tisdale?

Enjoy an excerpt:

He stepped forward, a twig snapping under the force of his right boot.

She startled and turned.

She had been crying. Even in the shadows he could see that her eyes were red and face blotchy from the trails of tears. For once, Miss Tisdale did not look her best, and in that imperfection he found her to be the most enticing she had ever been.

Duncan fell into her eyes, endless pools framed with wet clumps of black lashes that drew him towards her. And then her lips, already full, now swollen from her sobbing, parted slightly.

He was lost. God help him, he was no longer intoxicated by brandy alone, but rather the beauty of one woman.

Duncan reached up and cupped her face in his hands. Without any words or pretense, he simply swooped down and kissed her. It wasn’t a gentle kiss, nor was it rough. It was certain and decided. He kissed her ardently, holding her face and savoring the salty taste of her tears still wet on her lips.
,br> He waited for it to stop, for her to slap him or push him away. But then she did something totally unexpected. She grabbed his arms and kissed him back. The action left him disarmed and completely infatuated. This was the woman from the library whom he had come to remember. And her kiss was not tentative as it once was - but now firm and without trepidation.

About the Author:

Jessica Jefferson makes her home in northern Indiana, or as she likes to think of it – almost Chicago. Jessica originally attended college in hopes of achieving an English degree and writing the next great American novel. Ten years later she was working as a registered nurse and reading historical romance when she decided to give writing another go-round.

Jessica writes likes she speaks, which has a tendency to be fast paced and humorous. Jessica is heavily inspired by sweeping, historical romance novels, but aims to take those key emotional elements and inject a fresh blend of quick dialogue and comedy to transport the reader into a story they miss long after the last page is read. She invites you to visit her at JessicaJefferson.com and read her random romance musings.

Like her at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Jefferson/.
Follow her at https//twitter.com/authorJessicaJ
Buy the book at Amazon.

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The Girl from Long Guyland by Lara Reznik -- Excerpt and Giveaway

EXCITING NEWS: Tomorrow only this book will be on sale for 99 cents on Amazon---now's your chance to get a bargain!


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

Laila Levin enjoys a successful marriage and a thriving career as an I.T. executive in Austin, Texas, but she can't quite shake her lifelong sense of not truly belonging anywhere.

When her company announces a major layoff, Laila finds herself caught between an unscrupulous CEO and her promiscuous boss. Then news of her college roommate's suicide stirs up a dark secret involving three devious friends from her past. One has betrayed a vow, another wants to rekindle their romance, and the third is out for revenge.

Suddenly for Laila, it's 1969 again. She's only seventeen, and she's left her sheltered home in Long Island for college in Connecticut. Amid protests of the Vietnam War, she's tempted by the sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll that rule her generation. Laila gets swept up in a deceptive love triangle with two older locals and initiated into their unethical hippie family. Too late she realizes her search to belong has led to tragedy.

Laila must now juggle the demands of her perplexed husband and her baby boomer past forcing her to make choices that endanger her survival and challenge her conscience.

She learns that the lines between right and wrong are often blurred, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself.

Here's an excerpt from the book:

Austin, TX 2012

We both rise and hug. The cigarettes and beer on his breath jet me back in time to Bridgeport. I want to scream at him but suppress my anger. I remind myself it’s important I stay calm and collected.

“Ben was right. You look awesome,” he says.

He’s definitely changed a lot. The cute blonde guy I remember has vanished. His face has the bloated look of an alcoholic with his veiny red nose and blanched skin. In comparison, Ben looks much better for the wear.

He gestures to the waitress who drops off menus and a Budweiser for him. I order a glass of Chardonnay.

“So, tell me about yourself, Laila,” he says.

Should I commence with what a creep I think he was for deserting Katie and me thousands of miles away from home? Or how furious I am that he broke the pact and deflected Juanita Bonita’s investigation from him to me?

No, best to let the past go and mine as much information as I can about his conversations with Juanita. If it means acting friendly, then so be it. I’m a lot older and wiser now and can play his game. While I don’t like it one bit, I’ll do what it takes to survive.

I provide a brief synopsis about Ed, the boys, and my I.T. career, ending with the recent visit from our new board member. The part about Ivy is a test to see how he responds.

About the Author:Lara Reznik grew up on Long Island but escaped to New Mexico in 1970 in a Karmann Ghia that she and her boyfriend jump-started cross-country. As an English major at the University of New Mexico, Lara studied under esteemed authors Rudolfo Anaya and the late Tony Hillerman. She also attended a summer program at the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop.

Ambidextrous from birth, Lara preferred her right-brained creative side, but discovered she could make a better living with her left-brain skills, so entered the I.T. field in 1985.

Lara published her first novel, The Girl From Long Guyland in November 2012. The novel ranked #1 during its recent Amazon Kindle promotion and has over 115,000 Kindle downloads. In addition to her novels, Lara has written and optioned three screenplays that have garnered semifinalist and finalist wins in the Austin Heart of Film, Southwest Writers, TV Writer, Chesterfield and Writer's Digest contests. Currently, Lara is working on a new novel based on her screenplay, The M&M Boys.

Buy the book at Amazon.

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The Girl from Long Guyland by Lara Reznik- Excerpt and Giveaway

This post is a part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly drawn commenter will win a $50 Amazon gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Also, The Girl from Long Guyland will be on sale for 99 cents tomorrow only---now's the time to buy it!

Laila Levin enjoys a successful marriage and a thriving career as an I.T. executive in Austin, Texas, but she can't quite shake her lifelong sense of not truly belonging anywhere.

When her company announces a major layoff, Laila finds herself caught between an unscrupulous CEO and her promiscuous boss. Then news of her college roommate's suicide stirs up a dark secret involving three devious friends from her past. One has betrayed a vow, another wants to rekindle their romance, and the third is out for revenge.

Suddenly for Laila, it's 1969 again. She's only seventeen, and she's left her sheltered home in Long Island for college in Connecticut. Amid protests of the Vietnam War, she's tempted by the sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll that rule her generation. Laila gets swept up in a deceptive love triangle with two older locals and initiated into their unethical hippie family. Too late she realizes her search to belong has led to tragedy.

Laila must now juggle the demands of her perplexed husband and her baby boomer past forcing her to make choices that endanger her survival and challenge her conscience.

She learns that the lines between right and wrong are often blurred, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself.

Here's an excerpt from the book:

Austin, TX 2012

We both rise and hug. The cigarettes and beer on his breath jet me back in time to Bridgeport. I want to scream at him but suppress my anger. I remind myself it’s important I stay calm and collected.

“Ben was right. You look awesome,” he says.

He’s definitely changed a lot. The cute blonde guy I remember has vanished. His face has the bloated look of an alcoholic with his veiny red nose and blanched skin. In comparison, Ben looks much better for the wear.

He gestures to the waitress who drops off menus and a Budweiser for him. I order a glass of Chardonnay.

“So, tell me about yourself, Laila,” he says.

Should I commence with what a creep I think he was for deserting Katie and me thousands of miles away from home? Or how furious I am that he broke the pact and deflected Juanita Bonita’s investigation from him to me?

No, best to let the past go and mine as much information as I can about his conversations with Juanita. If it means acting friendly, then so be it. I’m a lot older and wiser now and can play his game. While I don’t like it one bit, I’ll do what it takes to survive.

I provide a brief synopsis about Ed, the boys, and my I.T. career, ending with the recent visit from our new board member. The part about Ivy is a test to see how he responds.

About the Author:Lara Reznik grew up on Long Island but escaped to New Mexico in 1970 in a Karmann Ghia that she and her boyfriend jump-started cross-country. As an English major at the University of New Mexico, Lara studied under esteemed authors Rudolfo Anaya and the late Tony Hillerman. She also attended a summer program at the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop.

Ambidextrous from birth, Lara preferred her right-brained creative side, but discovered she could make a better living with her left-brain skills, so entered the I.T. field in 1985.

Lara published her first novel, The Girl From Long Guyland in November 2012. The novel ranked #1 during its recent Amazon Kindle promotion and has over 115,000 Kindle downloads. In addition to her novels, Lara has written and optioned three screenplays that have garnered semifinalist and finalist wins in the Austin Heart of Film, Southwest Writers, TV Writer, Chesterfield and Writer's Digest contests. Currently, Lara is working on a new novel based on her screenplay, The M&M Boys.

Buy the book at Amazon.

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Strange Jobs by D. Melhoff -- Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Leave a comment or ask a question for a chance to win a $25 Amazon/BN gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Top 5 Strangest Jobs that Supported My Writing Career
By D. Melhoff

It’s no secret that artists have to make sacrifices for their art. On top of living in less-than-five-star accommodations, forgoing expensive dinners for Ramen noodles, and choosing whether or not prescription medications are really worth it on a case by case basis, we often end up with a weird assortment of jobs just to pay our bills.

Which brings me to the topic I’ve been asked to talk about today: the top five strangest jobs I had while writing Come Little Children.

P.S. If you’re a writer or actor or any other artist, feel free to add your own resume in the comments. If nothing else, it’ll give someone else a laugh.

5. Bank Teller

For a few months, I worked as a teller on the floor of a local Credit Union. The glorified title was actually “Member Service Representative”, but let’s call a spade a spade here. Also, you should know that being able to see how much money other people make is in no way comforting to a fledgling author.

4. Hockey Scorekeeper

No, I do not mean a referee (that would be a lot more fun and pay better). I merely worked the clock and kept track of goals for a minor league hockey division.

3. Assistant Meat Packer

This is a bit of a stretch, but I used to help my grandmother and grandfather cut up buffalo carcasses on the family farm. We would spend one day a year carving up the different cuts of meat and filling their two deep-freezers, and at the end of it all, my payment would be a carload of take-home steaks, ribs, and pot roasts. Magnificent.

2. Projectionist

For a few years I was a projectionist at the local movie theater. This was before the days of digital projectors and all this 3D crap when the job still entailed lugging around two-ton canisters of film and splicing the reels together, then winding them onto platters, threading the machines, and flicking the motors to life. Those were the good old days.

1.Game Show Host

Without a doubt, this is the strangest job I’ve ever had. Two winters ago I found myself hosting a game show called “Face The Music” at corporate Christmas parties for companies like BMW and KFC. I was pretty good too, if I don’t say so myself, because by the end of the night I usually had everyone dancing on the tables and galloping around the room to songs like “Mony Mony” and “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy”. The money was good and the travel was exciting, but the season was short, so that only lasted something like five or six weeks. If you’ve got any jobs that top Game Show Host, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

About the Author:

D. Melhoff is the author of Come Little Children, a supernatural thriller about a family of morticians who are connected to a string of paranormal murders in the town of Nolan, Yukon.

Official Website: www.dmelhoff.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dmelhoff
Twitter: @dmelhoff
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/dmelhoff

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Five Things You Might Not Know About Mechelle Morrison - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mechelle will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour and a unique, hand-crafted bookmark to one randomly drawn commenter at each stop. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Five Things You Might Not Know About Author Mechelle Morrison

1—When I was fifteen I spent a month in Europe with a study abroad students’ group. We stayed in youth hostels, university dorms, a convent and a few hotels. I bought mostly tee-shirts as souvenirs (Paris! London! Rome!), though they’re long gone now. But from each hotel or train or youth hostel I collected six sheets of TP. I still have them; they range in color from tan to blue to cream. I’d written the place the paper came from on the top sheet, which I think is cool, now. Some of that toilet paper is as rough as sandpaper!

2—I skated in the 2002 Olympics—as an opening ceremonies cast member. Being one of dozens of whirling, spinning ice crystals is as close to being an Olympic athlete as I will ever get. For three months prior to the games we rehearsed, sometimes as much as eight hours in a day. The rehearsing was brutal, and so were the costumes (the ice crystals costumes were seven-foot diameter circles of fabric held taut by PVC piping and fitted to our ankles with wide leather bands). But the night of the games, when I took my place with hundreds of other skaters on the floor of a stadium packed with 60,000 people, something in me transformed. It was such a clear moment of connectivity—I felt one with the entire universe. I wish everyone could experience it.

3—My childhood bedroom had a sprayed on, glitter-infested ceiling. When I had alone time (which wasn’t often—I was one of six children) I would go into my room, close the door, place a chair on top of my desk and plot the glitter into my own private constellations, planets and comets. Sometimes I wonder if, after we moved, the next owner of our home ever noticed my faint pencil marks connecting all those shiny gold pieces of glitter . . . .
,br> 4. My first book was called “Little Bug,” and I wrote and illustrated it when I was seven. I still have it! Someday I want to illustrate it for real and then publish it, just to satisfy my child-self.

5. I’ll give up my most embarrassing memory from middle school because, well, it’s no longer embarrassing. I mean, now it only makes me cringe.

Eighth grade, (seriously, who of us would go back to that year?) and I was still knee-deep in braces and glasses, zits and goofy hair. My mother made all my clothes from double-knit fabric she bought on sale. Think Hillary Clinton’s outfits during the 2008 primaries, only on a dorky fourteen-year-old. Ultra navy-blue pants suits. Christmas green pant suits. Tan pant suits. Zippers in the back of everything. Hook-and-eye waist band closures. And my parents wondered why I started working that next summer . . . .

Anyway, my girlfriend and I had fantasy crushes on the same boy. He was cute and popular and a student body officer. Wavy blonde hair. Dark blue eyes. Always laughing. I was a classic nerd; our social circles were so different it was like he had his own lunchroom. One weekend my girlfriend and I wrote pretend love notes to him. She stole my note and gave it to him. *sigh* I can only hope he’s since forgotten.

About the Author:

As a child, Mechelle filled her journals with someday-my-prince-will-come fantasies. Then one day her prince arrived, driving a silver Tundra, and they adopted a fine daughter. Life got busy—work, family, daily cooking—but she still spends her evenings giving voice to the stories inside her head. Only now, instead of locking them away, she publishes them.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Mechelle_Morrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MechelleMorrison
Website: www.mechellemorrison.com
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When her father drags her to a new life in Wyoming, Aspen Brand doesn’t expect to fall for a cowboy named Kyle Thacker—but she does. Aspen and Kyle share unexpected ground: guitar, running, physics. And guilt. Aspen blames herself for her mother’s car accident, while Kyle can’t find a way past his brother’s suicide.

On their first date they open up to each other, forging an unbreakable bond between them. But Kyle has spent two years living with a vicious secret—one his ex-girlfriend will do anything to protect—and sharing his truth with Aspen makes her a target. Now if Kyle is to be her love story, Aspen must first win the fight of her life.

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Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder by MaryAnn Kempher -- Excerpt and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. MaryAnn will be awarding an autographed print copy of the book (international giveaway) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Instead of feeding her late-night appetite, a midnight food run nearly gets 28-year-old Katherine O’Brian killed. She’s the only person to see the man who brutally murdered a local woman, and the killer is hell-bent on making sure she doesn’t talk.

Scott Mitchell left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno, and the last thing he needs is more melodrama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a college project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. Together, they try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the murderer. Passion flares, but with Katherine’s life in danger, romance seems like more than a bad idea.

Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date.

Here's an excerpt to enjoy:

The following night, Katherine got a call from Scott.

“Hey, I did some research on the lady who got killed.”

“Oh, good.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. I probably didn’t find out anything you didn’t already know. I’m gonna come over.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit.”

Five minutes later, Scott arrived. He walked to the kitchen table where Katherine was sitting.

“Hey,” he said, “so here’s what I have so far. The woman’s name was Jeanette Churchill. She’d lived in the house for twenty years. She worked for a company called CTS. The police say it’s being treated as a robbery gone badly.”

“That’s it?”

“No. I know a few people who work where she did, reliable people. They say there were rumors she was embezzling from the company.”

Katherine sat forward, her elbows resting on the table. “Do you think the police have heard those rumors, too?”

“Well, they wouldn’t have heard them from the people I know, but yeah, it’s likely they have.”

“Sounds like a motive for murder to me.”

“Sure, but she’d worked for that company twenty years, so I’m not sure I’d believe she was stealing. Plus, if she was, it seems like the obvious killer would be the owner, and he’s a real big shot. The people I’ve talked to seem to think he’s the person most likely pulling in favors and putting pressure on the police to find her killer.”

Katherine looked skeptical. “But if that’s the case, wouldn’t it be kind of risky to fund an investigation into a murder you committed?”

Scott sat down across from Katherine. He pulled his coat off before answering. "This isn’t the movies. I don’t know if she was stealing or not, but I think the police are probably right. Someone tried to rob her and something went wrong. I have a friend who’s a cop. Not in Reno, but maybe he can find something out.”

“Amy said they have a suspect. Did you hear anything about that?”

“No, I didn’t hear anything like that.”

“Thanks for all this, Scott.”

“Aw, I didn’t do anything. So, you and Michael—you two hitting it off?” he said, trying to sound casual.

“So far. He does wear me out, though.”

“Please, no details—you’re like a sister to me.”

“That’s not what I meant, you perv. I just mean when we get together, it’s usually for something active.”

“When are you going to buy a bike? It’s great weather right now for biking, not too hot, not too cold. I go out as often as I can, which isn’t often enough.”

“I can’t afford a nice bike right now. Maybe when I get my tax refund back. I get out plenty enough as it is. You know, Michael actually talked me into going kayaking on the Truckee River.”

“Are you nuts?”

“Hey, it’s nearly April.”

“In two months!”

“Close enough, and it’s been warmer than usual this year. We did go to see a show downtown. At least that was indoors.”

“Again? Didn’t you two go see a show not that long ago?”

“Yes, we’ve been twice now, and I don't know how many more half-naked people wearing feathered headdresses I can take.”

“Feathered headdresses, huh? You haven’t gone kinky on me, have you? Please say yes, please say yes.”

“Yeah, real kinky. We even have safe words. Mine is sugar cookie. Who has time to be kinky anyway? Except for the shows, we hardly spend any time indoors. How’s Verna?”

“Fine. She likes to read those real-life crime books, so if I mysteriously kick the bucket—”

“I'll thank her,” said Katherine, laughing.

About the Author:

MaryAnn Kempher's writing is infused with romance and mystery. Her love of romance stories goes back to her teen years spent living in Reno NV where Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is set. MaryAnn's travels have taken her to beautiful cities in Italy, Southeast Asia and the sultry desert country of Qatar. She met her husband on one of her romantic misadventures. She has two children and currently lives in Florida where she and her family share their home with two dogs and a cat. Her writing influences include favorite authors Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. She's also a huge fan of the Hercule Poirot mysteries.

Her guilty pleasures include any and all sweets, including a good cup of Mocha.

For more about MaryAnn Kempher, visit mkempher.com
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Between Land and Sea by Joanne Guidoccio - Interview and Giveaway

Joanne Guidoccio stops by to answer a few of our questions today as part of her virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. Joanne will be awarding a $75 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on her tour for more chances to win!

Thanks for coming by, Joanne. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I never intended to write fantasy. For most of my adult life, I enjoyed reading contemporary women’s fiction, cozy mysteries, historical fiction, memoirs and self-help books. And while I dabbled in these genres, I didn’t take myself too seriously until I attended a series of workshops facilitated by science fiction writer Sarah Totton. Impressed by her work ethic and persistence—she entered the “Writers of the Future Contest” seventeen times before winning—I listened attentively to her writing advice. After several sessions, I started to play around with different scenarios. My primary objective was to write light and breezy fantasy that would appeal to boomer women—Fantasy Hen Lit.

What research (or world-building—for fantasy/paranormal/Sci-fi) is required?

Unlike other fantasy and science fiction writers, I did not have to research extensively before writing Between Land and Sea. Determined to shatter the stereotype of the young and beautiful mermaid, there was no need to borrow from the “mermaid” literature.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

From Isabella, I learned that we must write our own reinvention stories. Not with ink, but with our choices. And we must not waste too much time and energy bemoaning the supposedly “perfect” life we left behind.

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

I am controlled by a bird clock. Each hour, one of my feathered friends, among them the Downy Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, and Great Horned Owl, chirp and remind me to stretch, switch gears, take a break or stop writing for the day.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I am a plotter and enjoy the planning stage of each novel. I start with a list of characters and include details about their appearance, careers and relationships. Location is next. In Between Land and Sea, I wanted Isabella to end up in Canada, but needed her to have a short stop in London. Once the logistics were complete, I created a rough synopsis (500 to 600 words) and started writing.

Look to your right—what’s sitting there?

A copy of The Four Doors by Richard Paul Evans. Whenever I need a jolt of inspiration, I turn to the self-help literature. I like to keep a small, pick-me-upper near me at all times. This month, I’m enjoying Richard’s latest book, chock full of wonderful advice and insights.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I am working on The Coming of Arabella, the second book in the Mediterranean trilogy. Another mermaid rises from the depths and wreaks havoc in Isabella’s life. On the back burner, I have A Season for Killing Blondes and a memoir of my cancer experience, When It Comes Out of Nowhere.

Do you have a question for our readers?

Reinvention is a recurring theme in all my books. A self-help junkie, I am open to different points of view and out-of-the box suggestions.

What advice would you give someone facing a do-over or reinvention in his/her life?

About the Author:

In high school, I dabbled in poetry, but decided to wait until I had more life experiences before writing a novel. The original plan was to get a general arts degree and take a few years off to travel and write. Instead, I gave in to my practical Italian side and obtained degrees in mathematics and education.

While I experienced many satisfying moments during my teaching career, I never found the time and energy to write. In 2008, I took advantage of early retirement. Slowly, a writing practice emerged and my articles and book reviews started appearing in newspapers, magazines and online.

My debut novel, Between Land and Sea, a paranormal romance about a middle-aged mermaid, was released by Soul Mate Publishing on September 18, 2013.

I live and write in Guelph, Ontario.

Where to find Joanne…

Website: www.JoanneGuidoccio.com
Twitter:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BetweenLandandSeaJG
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jguidoccio/
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio

After giving up her tail for an international banker, Isabella of the Mediterranean kingdom is aged beyond recognition. The horrified banker abandons her on the fog-drenched shores of southwest England, leaving her to face a difficult human journey as a plain and practically destitute fifty-three-year-old woman.

With the help of a magic tablet and online mermaid support, Isabella evolves into the persona of Barbara Davies. Along the way, she encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, among them former mermaids, supportive and not-so-supportive women, deserving and undeserving men, and several New Agers.

Enjoy the book video:


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Intent to Kill by Ryshia Kennie - Review tour and giveaway

This review is done in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Leave a comment, or ask the author a question, for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A ruthless band of smugglers will stop at nothing to strip Cambodia of its priceless ancient artifacts, even if it means using and killing female tourists. Journalist Claire Linton knows she’s on to the story of a lifetime. But for Claire, it’s personal too: long before her “Uncle Jack” came to the U.S., he was held captive in the nightmarish killing fields of Cambodia, and Claire senses there might be a connection between that long-ago bloody history and the dark crimes plaguing the country today.

Simon Trent is a burnt-out Interpol agent who disappeared after his last case turned fatal. But with the resurgence in smuggling and all signs pointing to the man who once escaped his grasp, he comes out of hiding to finish the job that’s haunted him for years. What he doesn’t see coming is Claire, the beautiful and headstrong reporter who may be a threat to his case—and to his heart.

As Claire and Simon reluctantly join forces to unravel a mystery that reaches deep into her family history and may be his only chance at redemption, they must fight to stay one step ahead of a brutal killer—and one step away from the dangerous feelings building between them.

My review:  Intent to Kill starts off with a bang -- hooking me right away, but then slows down immediately following the first chapter. I have to admit, if I hadn't been reading this book for a review, I might have stopped reading... and that would have been a mistake.

We spend the next few chapters setting up the dominoes for the rest of the book. We meet the players, Claire, Simon and our villain and we delve into the country of Cambodia.  I admit to being a bit frustrated that Simon and Claire spent next to no time together for quite a bit of the beginning -- when I read romantic suspense, I'm looking for the romance to start almost immediately.  Again, though, I'm glad I stuck it out because holy smokes, once the ball gets rolling, it's a fantastic story.

I understand why things started as they did, as things needed to be set up in order to work. It's a pretty complicated story with a lot going on, and most of the characters have some pretty significant skeletons in their closets.  It makes for an intriguing read.  Thankfully, once Claire and Simon do start spending time together, the romantic in me was plenty satisfied.

I've never read a book set in Cambodia before, and knew little about its history, so I was edified along with entertained. 

If you're a fan of romantic suspense, I can recommend this book -- just be patient at the beginning because the payoff is well worth it.

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

The Canadian prairies are where Ryshia Kennie makes her home with her husband and one opinionated and slightly geriatric, Irish Terrier. The winner of her city’s Writing Award in 2011, her novels have taken her characters from the depression era prairies in her first book “From the Dust” to the ancient stones of Angkor Wat in her latest book, “Intent to Kill”. There’s never a lack of places to set a story as the too long prairie winters occasionally find her with travel journal in hand seeking adventure on foreign shores. While facing off a Monitor Lizard before breakfast or running through the Kasbah chased by an enraged Water Carrier aren’t normal travel experiences and might never find a place in one of her stories, they do make great travel stories. But it’s the memories of those exotic worlds, the smell of the spices, the words of a stranger, the furtive look one man gives another, that often become the catalyst for a suspenseful story with a deadly villain and an intrepid hero and heroine who must battle for their right to love or even their right to live, in a place that neither may call home. For more, visit her website at http://www.ryshiakennie.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Ryshia-Kennie/135659506621696?ref=hl

Website: http://www.ryshiakennie.com/

Blog: http://ryshia.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/1400598.Ryshia_Kennie
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Intent-to-Kill-ebook/dp/B00FXXYXC0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1382032743&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/intent-to-kill-ryshia-kennie/1117165254?ean=2940148404996

Rosamanti by Noelle Clark - Excerpt and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Noelle will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and a Grand Prize of a $20 Amazon gift card will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. You can see the other stops on the tour by clicking on the tour banner.

Sarah seeks solitude and fresh pastures in the wake of her husband’s early death. She answers a newspaper advertisement and takes up residence in Villa Rosamanti, a gorgeous 400 year-old dwelling nestled into the hillside of Monte Tiberio, on the Island of Capri, Italy.

She soon discovers a strong resonance with the house, the gardens, and the quirky pets. As the sun-filled days pass in the gorgeous old house, she builds a deep liking for, and rapport with, Elena Lombardi, the deceased owner. But it’s when she meets Pietro, Elena’s grandson, that she finds it’s not just the villa that she’s falling in love with.

Handsome, charming, and the epitome of a passionate Italian, Pietro lets the magic of Rosamanti work its wonders on Sarah. Together they search for ancient treasure, and end up finding each other, their love blooming like the rampant bougainvillea blossoms in the garden at Rosamanti.

What about an excerpt?

Soon they beached in the little patch of sand near the cave where he kept the boat. Jumping out, he stood knee deep and guided the dinghy to the water’s edge. Holding out his hand, Pietro helped her balance as she climbed out. He pulled the boat up onto the beach above the high tide mark, then reached in and got their clothes and backpack.

She spread out the beach towels. At home, she was used to soft, white sand, so fine that it was lovely to walk and lay on. This sand was more like roughly crushed shells and coral, sharp underfoot. He sat down next to her and opened the bag, taking out some containers of olives, cheese, and pastrami. Next, a bottle of wine and two plastic cups. She sighed loudly. He glanced up.

“Che?”

She impulsively reached over and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him warmly. When she looked at him, she felt her heart melting.

“Pietro,” she began, her voice thick with emotion, “you are the sweetest, kindest man in the whole world.”

About the Author:

Noelle Clark is an Australian author who weaves romance, suspense and adventure into colorful and often exotic locations around the world. Widely traveled, Noelle uses real life experience of places, culture, and people, as a backdrop to her stories, giving the reader an authentic taste of the location. Her novels feature strong, mature, heroines and heroes, who - often without knowing it - are ready for new beginnings. Noelle’s characters, like her, believe that love can be sweet at any age.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NoelleClark.Author
Website: www>NoelleClark.net
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7046284.Noelle_Clark
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Noelle-Clark/e/B00CENUDLC
Twitter: https://twitter.com/noelle_clark
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/NoelleCBooks/boards/

Like Mom by Cheryl Robinson - Excerpt and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Cheryl will be awarding a $50 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Determined to lose weight, Nevada Pearson participates in a twelve-week clinical trial for a new diet pill. Nevada thinks if she’s slim, her life will be so much better. She won’t have to wear dark clothes to hide her big belly and can kiss the plus sizes good-bye. Her husband will stop ogling every skinny woman in sight, and she’ll stop accusing him of cheating. She won’t have to worry that he’ll leave her the way her dad left her mom. She can stop ranting on her YouTube channel about being fat. She’ll get promoted at work. Her fifteen-year-old daughter will want to lose weight, too, instead of staying holed up in her bedroom eating junk food and surfing the Internet for a cure to her social anxiety. But Nevada isn’t prepared for what happens next and how quickly her life changes—and it has nothing to do with her amazing weight loss.

Enjoy an excerpt from Nicole's POV:

I stared across the booth at my mom with a blank expression on my face and told her what I felt she needed to hear, what I’d never heard her husband say. “You look pretty.” And she did—prettier than I’d seen her look in a long time. She looked like she’d lost a few pounds. Either that or bought a better girdle. And I had an instant vision of my mom losing half her size, like the people on The Biggest Loser.

We were at Red Barrel, celebrating their three-year wedding anniversary on Halloween with a bunch of people dressed up in costumes. Who gets married on Halloween? Better question: Why did they get married at all?

Mom was wearing a long-sleeved purple and black dress that she got from Macy’s. I remembered when she got it last year, because as soon as she came home, she tried it on and asked me a bunch of times if I liked it. Each time I told her I did, but she didn’t believe me, so she took it off, put it back in the bag, drove to the store, and returned it. The next week she saw it on sale online and ordered it, but this was her first time wearing it. I wanted a more glamorous mom, one who looked like she could be my sister. Someone who could teach me how to put on my makeup and do my hair and had a sense of style I admired—someone like Beyoncé.

About the Author:

Cheryl Robinson is a native Detroiter currently residing in Central Florida. She started her literary career as an independent author, publishing two books before eventually landed a publishing deal with Penguin/NAL Trade. She published six novels with NAL Trade and two more novels as an independent author. She is currently working on her next novel. Visit her Website at CherylRobinson.com, where you can read her blog and enter her monthly blog contest.

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One Bite by Jennifer Blackstream - Excerpt and Giveaway

< This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jennifer will be awarding one eCopy of Before Midnight (book one in the series) to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop and a Grand Prize of a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Seven dwarves. A poison apple. A glass coffin. It's a strange and terrifying world when events can take a turn for better or for worse with just...One Bite.

Irina is determined to continue her fight for freedom. Freedom for her from her evil sorceress stepmother, and freedom for every faction in the kingdom of Dacia. Unfortunately, her stepmother isn’t about to let that happen and she’s got a poisoned apple and a glass coffin with Irina’s name on them…

Kirill is a vampire prince determined to be a vampire king. Unfortunately, his vampiric father has no intentions of vacating the throne anytime soon and the prophecy Kirill found hinting at a “Great New Kingdom” is proving tricky to translate. It doesn’t help that the beautiful woman he found unconscious in the woods seems determined to undermine his authority at every turn. He’d kill her himself if she didn’t have the strangest gift for soothing his bloodthirsty spirit.

Even an undead mastermind can’t foresee everything. Seven dwarves. A poison apple. A glass coffin. It’s a strange and terrifying world when events can take a turn for the better or worse with just…One Bite.

Enjoy an excerpt:

The beginning of realization dawned on her face and her jaw dropped slightly. “You aren’t thinking of biting me, are you?”

“Eventually, yes,” Kirill agreed. He fixed her with the full intensity of his gaze, stopping just short of pushing his powers on her. Irina had so much spirit, so much fire. How much sweeter would his victory be if she succumbed to him willingly? He stepped forward again, keeping his movements calm and slow, maintaining her dagger in his peripheral vision. “But first, I would like to kiss you again. You have a most exquisite taste, you know.” He stared at her mouth. “Such tender red lips to speak such blasphemous words. And surely we could find a better use for that wicked tongue of yours?”

Murder glowed in her eyes like an ethereal light, but the unmistakable scent of arousal filled the air. Her heart pounded and just the hint of a blush colored her delicate cheeks. Oh, she wanted him. But she was going to fight it. How delightful.

“You—you—you,” she sputtered.

“Irina, you stormed up to my castle and demanded entry. I don’t know how you charmed the guards, but you made your way into my chambers easily enough. You stood here, in my personal space, and challenged me, got my blood…rather hot.” He let his voice grow deeper with each word, measuring her increased heart rate, the flutter of her pulse in her neck. He took another step forward, slowly. “I have been very agreeable, Irina, and I look forward to our…arrangement.” Dragging his gaze up and down her body, he took extra time admiring the soft swell of her hips and breasts before fixing on her face again. Her lips had parted slightly and her chest rose and fell more rapidly than before. “Irina,” he whispered, taking another step. “I am so very hungry…”

About the Author: Jennifer Blackstream is a psychology enthusiast with both a B.A. and M.A. in Psychology. Her fascination with the human mind is most appeased through the study of mythology and folklore as well as all of Terry Pratchett’s novels.

Jennifer enjoys listening to Alice Cooper, trying new recipes (to which she will add garlic whether it calls for it or not), watching television with her family, and playing with her woefully intelligent four year old son.

Jennifer spends most of her time drinking coffee from her X-Men mug and desperately trying to get all her ideas written down before her toddler can find that all magical button on her laptop to make all her work vanish.

Website ~ Mailing List ~ Goodreads ~ Blog
Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, AllRomance, Kobo, Smashwords.