Bonds of Courage by Lynda Aicher - Guest Blog and Giveaway

Lynda will be awarding a $20 Gift Card to the ebook retailer of choice (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Allromance ebooks) to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter below during the tour.

Pro hockey player Holden Hauke has kept his sexual needs buried for years. After a near miss over a picture of him bound to a spanking bench resulted in a mid-season trade, he's kept his image clean. But with the season over, he's ready to surrender control. And he's found just the woman to help him—if only he can convince her to give him a chance.

Bending men to her will is nothing new for Vanessa Delcour, aka Mistress V—she's a full-time rep for pro athletes, a part-time owner of exclusive sex club The Den, and an experienced Domme. But when Holden Hauke comes looking for a discreet partner, Vanessa's concerned about his motives. Touching his training-toned body during a scene wouldn't exactly be a hardship, but taking him on crosses barriers between work and play that she's had in place for years.

From their first intense encounter in Mistress V's playroom, Hauke knows he can't let this chance slip away; he's found the woman he's always needed. Submissive or not, he's willing to push her every limit to prove how good they can be together.

New to The Den? Go back to the beginning with Bonds of Trust.

Now enjoy an excerpt:

Vanessa Delcour winced in disbelief. “You have got to be shitting me.”

“I’m not.

” “Great,” she mumbled into her phone, rubbing her brow. She sank back in her office chair and stared at the pitted sections of the drop ceiling, ones she knew by heart after eight years of running her own PR business. This really wasn’t her problem, but by extension it could become her publicity nightmare if she didn’t intervene. “When did it come through?”

“Last week.” Seth’s reply was crisp and efficient. “Rock finished the background check and everything cleared. My call to the club he listed on his app was also fine.”

“So this is a courtesy call.” She didn’t need Seth’s response to know that was true. She’d been a partner at the exclusive BDSM club, The Den, for the last nine months, but the membership decisions were primarily Seth’s territory. “Have you scheduled the interview yet?”

“No.”

In a quick moment of calculation, she ran through both scenarios. One if she got involved and one if she didn’t. Damn it. “Schedule it for tomorrow. At five. Your office. I’ll do it alone.”

“I didn’t think he was one of your clients.”

“He’s not. But you know his history.”

There was a short pause where she didn’t expand on that statement before Seth agreed, promising to email the man’s files to her. “And don’t forget the other meeting at six tomorrow night,” he reminded her.

“I won’t.” That was precisely why she’d scheduled the interview before it.

Lynda Aicher has always loved to read. It’s a simple fact that has been true since she discovered the words of Judy Blume at the age of ten. After years of weekly travel as a consultant implementing computer software into global companies, she ended her nomadic lifestyle to raise her two children. Now, her imagination is her only limitation on where she can go and her writing lets her escape from the daily duties of being a mom, wife, chauffer, scheduler, cook, teacher, volunteer, cleaner and mediator. If writing wasn’t a priority, it wouldn’t get done.

To learn more about Lynda, you can find her at:

Website: http://lyndaaicher.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/lyndaaicherauthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/lyndaaicher

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5339510.Lynda_Aicher

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Timeless Escapes - An Anthology --Review and Giveaway

(Romance/Anthology)

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will be awarding the following prizes at the end of the tour:

First prize - $50 gift certificate plus ebook Timeless Keepsakes by Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris, Emma Kaye, Nicole S. Patrick, Julie Rowe

Second prize - $25 gift certificate plus 3 ebooks 1) Molly Gets Her Man by Julie Rowe 2) Knight of Runes by Ruth A. Casie 3) Timeless Keepsakes by Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris, Emma Kaye, Nicole S. Patrick, Julie Rowe

Third prize - 3 ebooks 1) Love at Christmas by Lita Harris 2) Time for Love by Emma Kaye 3) Timeless Keepsakes by Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris, Emma Kaye, Nicole S. Patrick, Julie Rowe

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

Escape to the Virgin Islands where the bonds of marriage are renewed, friends become lovers, and new love is given a chance to thrive.

Ruth A. Casie ~ Second Chance by the Sea Married for ten years, she and her husband have grown apart. When they go back to the Virgin Islands for a family funeral, they find their marriage was never registered. Will an impending disaster be the final straw that breaks them up or will it rekindle their love and send them back to the altar for a second chance?

Lita Harris ~ Chasing Fireflies Soured on love by a recent breakup, a travel agent with a fear of flying and open water takes a trip to the U.S Virgin Islands. She meets a boat captain who challenges her fears. Will she survive her breakup and find happiness in the arms of another man?

Emma Kaye ~ In Her Dreams When an author escapes to the Virgin Islands to work on her latest book, she’s swept back in time to Regency England and must decide whether the love she finds with an English lord is real or only in her dreams.

Nicole S. Patrick ~ Poseidon’s Strength A beloved hero’s death leads his sister and his best friend, who have never seen eye-to-eye, to discover that helping family can be their happy medium, and possibly lead them to uncover a love that's meant to be.

Julie Rowe ~ A Pirate’s Vacation A doctor grieving the death of her husband, buys a B&B in the Virgin Islands in need of a lot of fixing. Her old flame arrives to help with repairs, but will she let him heal her shattered heart?

My Review:

What a fun read! This is a volume that is perfect for your own beach escape. There are five stories--each suitable for a single read. Each story is different, but each gives you the promise of Happy Ever Afters for the couples. It's hard to pick out the best story so I'm not even going to try.

These are very talented authors and I'm so going to get their Christmas anthology--and I'm going to look for their individual books as well.

I like a short story for the chance it gives me to check out different authors and their writing styles... take a chance on this one if you've not read any short stories recently. I think you'll be glad you did.

4 Flowers About the Authors:

Ruth Casie: A seasoned professional with more than twenty-five years of writing experience in communications and marketing for a large financial institution, she gave way to her inner muse and began writing a series of historical fantasy romance and contemporary romance novels. Ruth is published by Carina Press and Harlequin Books.

When not writing you can find her home in Teaneck, New Jersey, reading, cooking, doing Sudoku and counted cross-stitch. Together with her husband, Paul, they enjoy ballroom dancing and going to the theater. Ruth and Paul have three grown children and two grandchildren. They all thrive on spending time together. It’s certainly a lively dinner table and they wouldn’t change it for the world.

You can read more about Ruth online at http://www.RuthACasie.com, on Twitter at twitter.com/RuthACasie, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RuthACasie.

About Lita Harris: Lita Harris spends her time between New Jersey and the Endless Mountains region of Pennsylvania, where she writes most of her books. She also lived in Alaska for a short time just for fun. An avid crafter, unused supplies clutter her basement and attempts at making pottery, jewelry, and stained glass are proudly displayed in her house, usually behind a picture or holding a door open. She also makes candles and homemade soap. With enough books to stock a small library she may need to construct a building to store her literary obsessions.

She writes in multiple genres, including women’s fiction, contemporary romance, paranormal, and cozy mysteries. For more information about Lita, please visit her website at www.LitaHarris.com or at twitter.com/litaharris and facebook.com/litaharrisauthor.

Emma Kaye is married to her high school sweetheart and has two beautiful kids that she spends an insane amount of time driving around central New Jersey. Before ballet classes and tennis entered her life, she decided to try writing one of those romances she loved to read and discovered a new passion. She has been writing ever since. Add in a playful puppy and an extremely patient cat and she’s living her own happily ever after while making her characters work hard to reach theirs.

For more information on Emma, please visit her online at www.emma-kaye.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/emmakayewrites, or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/emmakayewrites.

Nicole S. Patrick has always loved to read, and in her teenage years, she “borrowed” her mom’s books to sneak away and become lost in the world of romance. After more than ten years in the corporate world of tech recruiting and HR management, she decided to stay home and raise children. But with so many romantic stories and characters floating around in her head, when the kids napped, she was compelled to put those words on a page and pursue this crazy dream of becoming published. Nicole writes romantic suspense and her heroes are those alpha males in uniform. She lives in New Jersey with her real-life hero, her husband, and her two sons.

For more information about Nicole on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Nicole S. Patrick, www.twitter.com/NicoleSPatrick, or please visit her website at www.nicolespatrick.com.

Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She loves to include medical details in her romance novels, but admits she’ll never be able to write about all her medical experiences because, “No one would believe them!” In addition to writing contemporary and historical medical romance, and fun romantic suspense for Entangled Publishing and Carina Press, Julie has a short story in The Mammoth Book of ER Romance (September 2013). Her book Saving the Rifleman (book one of the War Girls series) won the novella category of the 2013 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her writing has also appeared in several magazines such as Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest (Canada), Canadian Living, and Romantic Times Magazine.

For more information about Julie, please visit her online at www.julieroweauthor.com, on Twitter @julieroweauthor, or at her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JulieRoweAuthor. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shape of My Heart by Kemberlee Shortland - Review and Giveaway

(Romantic Suspense)

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kemberlee will be awarding a plot of land in Ireland, donated by Macroom Land Trust to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Gráinne has moved back to Dublin to get her life straightened out. She dreams of college and a better life. She’s working, but the money isn’t enough to support herself and pay tuition. Moonlighting at The Klub! as an exotic dancer seems to be her answer to fast money.

John ‘JD’ Desmond is a detective working undercover in the Blues Tavern. The Klub!, owned by Jimmy Malloy, is being used as a drug front, headed by the notorious Taylor Wade. JD had intended to get Gráinne to snitch for him, but when he falls in love with her, things get complicated.

When Gráinne witnesses Jimmy’s murder, she and JD are forced to go on the run until Wade can be apprehended. Wade lives up to his nickname, The Hunter, and JD and Gráinne quickly find themselves at the end of a gun and running for their lives.

My Review:

This book is part of a series, but don't let that stop you from picking it up. It's definitely stand alone, although I DO want to read the other books in the series.

We first meet Grainne as her exotic dancer persona, Jett. There was a little disconnect for me between the first and second chapter--it took me a few seconds to realize time had passed and it was the same character. Once I was passed that minor bobble I enjoyed the rest of the book.

I understood her reasons for wanting to "prove" herself to her brother--her backstory is only hinted at but apparently she had a history of making bad choices. Once she realized how slippery the slope was, she tried to back out of it, but it was almost too late.

I really liked JD-- he was sweet, caring, but not beyond telling her the hard truths. The banter between them in the pub in chapter two was fun.

The romance and suspense was well balanced. The sleazeballs were completely sleazy-- but, as in all good romantic suspense books, right prevails. But not without some heartstopping moments beforehand.

Good job, Kemberlee. 4 stars.

Enjoy an excerpt:

“Gráinne, can we talk?”

“Talk?” She put her magazine aside. “About what?”

“I think you know.” He locked gazes with her. He could tell she was nervous by the way she started fidgeting.

Then she turned away, refusing to look at him for longer than a millisecond. “My love life is none of your concern,” she told him, reminding him unnecessarily of their previous discussion.

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Then I don’t know what you mean.” She spun on her heel, intent on leaving the bar area.

He grasped her arm. To his surprise, she didn’t struggle. But something odd happened as he loosened his grasp. He felt something powerful pass between them. His fingers tingled as he touched her. It radiated up his arm and shot through his body.

For the second time today, he felt himself stiffen, and wished that circumstances were different, that she was naked beneath him and gazing up at him with eyes he knew would undo him.

She glanced over her shoulder, but not directly at him. “Let me go.” Her barely audible words shook him back to the moment. It wasn’t a command, but he couldn’t help noticing her words were tinged with pleading.

“Will you stay to talk with me? I think this is important.”

About the Author:

Kemberlee is a native Northern Californian who was raised in a community known as Steinbeck Country; home to author John Steinbeck, as well as Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, and others. With so much literary influence around her, it's not hard to see why Kemberlee fell in love with the printed word.

It was in 1997 while employed by Clint Eastwood that Kemberlee couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend six month in Ireland. While in Ireland, she met a man who eventually became her husband.

Living in Ireland has allowed Kemberlee to study the country's torrid past and unique culture first hand, and has even picked up a cúpla focal . . . a few Irish words.

In recent years, Kemberlee had published several short stories and novels, including the popular Irish Pride Series.

Kemberlee's current work in progress is a time travel romance called The Diary.

Find Kemberlee online —

http://www.kemberlee.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKemberleeShortland
http://www.twitter.com/kemberlee
http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Shortland_Kemberlee

Calculated by Renee Novelle - Spotlight and Giveaway

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

An investigative journalist gets an unlikely tip from a mysterious informant. Dismissing it as impossible, she disregards the information and drops the story. Until the informant turns up dead, as predicted.

Plunged into the murky waters of a seedy underground prostitution ring, this psychological thriller provides twist upon dark twist in a story that would ultimately pin the church and several government officials in the largest murder cover-up the city has ever witnessed.

But is it true, or has the journalist merely been used as a pawn in a greater scheme? And how many people is she willing to sacrifice trying to figure it out?

Enjoy an excerpt:

When she arrived at the little facility her building provided, a quick look around confirmed she was the only one there. Just as she’d hoped, and exactly how she liked it to be. Smiling in satisfaction, she flipped on the television that was perched on the wall, and turned up the music on her iPod as loud as she could handle it. The multiple distractions would help her get through the extra mile she was planning to conquer. With chilled water bottle in place, she cranked up the treadmill to a nice brisk pace.

As her breathing picked up speed and her muscles began to warm, Ana’s eye caught a red flash along the bottom of the screen. Breaking News filled the bar, and the too-chipper-for-their-own-good reporters were suddenly getting serious. Since the volume was still muted, Ana couldn’t understand exactly what was going on, only that they were showing the wide stretch of river that ran along the outskirts of the city. She wiped the first beads of sweat from her brow, and used the remote to turn the volume of the television higher while simultaneously adjusting her music.

As the reporters spoke, home-video footage of something floating in the water rolled before her eyes. The camera zoomed in, the frame ever so shaky, and it became clearly apparent that the “something” was a person - face down with long brown hair spread out like a Catholic halo. It appeared another victim had been pulled out of the water; the count was quickly tallying up. A young woman this time, and possibly one who had gone missing the night before.

Ana’s pulse skipped a few beats as they replayed the video over and over. There was something familiar about the long, lean body. Slowing the treadmill to a stop, she ripped the ear buds from her head to give the segment her entire attention.

...it appears at first glance that the victim suffered from a deep cut to the throat, and received multiple stab wounds to the chest...

The beads of accumulated sweat turned cold on Ana’s brow. She immediately reached for her phone and dialed Kylie’s number.

“What the hell, Ana?” Came her friend’s groggy voice.

“Turn your TV on. Channel four. Hurry.” Ana said, eyes transfixed to the screen in front of her. “Recognize that face?”

...It’s thought the victim may be one of the young girls recently reported missing. The screen flashed candids of three possible women. All brunettes. All tall and thin. All roughly the same age. Among them was a photo of Mara, just as Ana had expected there would be.

But the body was too bloated and disfigured to be absolutely certain, and an autopsy would be needed.

... The body will be taken in for processing where officials hope to shed more light on the case in the near future. In the mean time, they’re cautioning residents to avoid....

“Did you see that?” Ana’s voice escaped in more of a demand than a question. “Please tell me I’m seeing things.”

“Oh my god...” Kylie whispered into the receiver, confirming the dread that was building in Ana’s stomach. “Do you really think it’s her?”

“I know for a fact it is.” Ana declared, the pull in her gut getting stronger by the minute. “The autopsy will confirm it.”

“So, what does this mean exactly now?”

“That maybe I should have been listening a little closer when I was talking to Mara.” She said with regret as she swiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “And maybe I should have asked more questions. There’s a story here, I’m sure of it now.”

“What are you going to do?” Kylie’s voice was decidedly more alert now.

Ana shook her head. “I have no idea.”

Though if she were to be truthful with herself in that moment, she’d already made up her mind. Ana flipped off the television, and left the little gym to get started.

About the Author:

Formerly a freelance journalist, Novelle has found placement of her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008. Additionally, she has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her writing to many non-profit and for profit organizations. She has launched several blogs over the years, which garnered international attention.

In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love – fiction. Writing under the names Renee Novelle and R.S. Novelle, she has a publication schedule that includes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, Paranormal Fiction, Contemporary Women’s fiction, Chick Lit, and New Adult.

Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication, summa cum laude, she considers herself a constant student of the written word. She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and rarely takes “no” as a final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for theater, dance, music and art, and strongly believes that wine is simultaneously the beginning of, and resolution to, all of life’s problems. She believes in following dreams, and that in the end, you always end up where you’re meant to be.

You can find out more about her books and connect with her here:

Website: www.RSNovelle.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/RSNovelle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneeNovelle
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RS_Novelle

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

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The Eye-Dancers by Michael S. Fedison - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michael will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so leave a comment or ask him a question. You can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Seventh-grader Mitchell Brant and three of his classmates inexplicably wake up at the back edge of a softball field to the sounds of a game, the cheering of the crowd. None of them remembers coming here. And as they soon learn, “here” is like no place they’ve ever seen. Cars resemble antiques from the 1950s. There are no cell phones, no PCs. Even the spelling of words is slightly off.

A compulsive liar, constantly telling fantastic stories to garner attention and approval, Mitchell can only wish this were just one more of his tall tales. But it isn’t. It’s all too real. Together, as they confront unexpected and life-threatening dangers, Mitchell and his friends must overcome their bickering and insecurities to learn what happened, where they are, and how to get back home.

The answers can be found only in the mysterious little girl with the blue, hypnotic eyes. The one they had each dreamed of three nights in a row before arriving here. She is their only hope. And, as they eventually discover, they are her only hope.

And time is running out.

Enjoy an excerpt:

He heard the others, still talking behind them. Ryan was telling another of his dumb-blonde jokes. Crickets played their fiddles from hidden places in the grass. A hoot owl called out, and another, farther away, answered. Duss, now a vague form in the dark, still stood at the fence, looking through the gap at the now dormant grill. And he knew, he was certain, that he could talk to Heather, this beautiful girl from a place so far away. She would understand the way he felt about his parents. Maybe she would understand the way he felt about a lot of things.

But it didn’t matter. Because he didn’t want to stumble over his words, his tongue like sandpaper, tripping over syllables. He didn’t need to. Just being with her was enough. He sat there, holding her hand. He no longer felt rushed, no longer desired to leave. Joe would end up making that decision for them, anyway. For right now, he just enjoyed the sensation of her fingers laced through his, the heady fragrance of her perfume, the easy, comfortable silence that hung between them.

He looked up, at the infinite black canvas of the sky, at the stars, which shimmered like precious jewels. She had said that maybe our dreams lived up there, among those stars. All we needed to do was believe, and remember.

And reach.

Michael S. Fedison was born in Rochester, New York, and now lives with his wife, Sarah, and regal cat, Luke, in the green hills of central Vermont. Michael has been writing creatively for as long as he can remember, and has had short fiction published in several literary magazines, including Iconoclast and The Written Word. He works as a full-time technical writer and also is a freelance proofreader and copy editor.

Michael has been a lover of imaginative stories his entire life. He enjoys any story that takes you by the hand, lifts you up, and transports you to another place, a new and creative way of looking at the world around us.

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

How Not To Write a Novel in 30 Days by Becky Wicks - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Becky will be awarding an eCopy of Before He Was Famous to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour, and a Grand Prize of an eCopy of Before He Was Famous as well as a print copy of Latinalicious, Becky's last travel memoir (HarperCollins) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (International winner) Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

HOW NOT TO WRITE A NOVEL IN 30 DAYS

OK writers, and anyone who’s ever wondered what the hell it’s like to try and write a book reasonably quickly. Here are a few tips from my own personal experience. I may not know what to do exactly, but by now I think I know what you should NOT do.

1. Do not sit down at your desk and then remember that oops, you can’t start writing yet because you haven’t folded the end of the loo roll into a hotel style triangle/ensured your bike isn’t on fire outside/plucked your eyebrows/painted each toenail with a different intricate design based on flowers from around the world. Start writing NOW and don’t stop till you’ve done something you’re proud of. Even if it’s just one paragraph.

2. Do not write when you’re drunk or high. Well, maybe write when you’re high because who knows, you might unlock something marvelous within the deep recesses of your tragic mind, which will render you the literary mastermind of your generation and score you a Pulitzer. But chances are you’ll just sound like a wanker and hate yourself when you read it back.

3. Do not stop what you’re doing to read a book that someone says sounds a bit like yours. Chances are it will be better and you’ll feel like shit, or it will be worse and you’ll still feel like shit because now the pressure’s on to write something better. Write your story your way and fuck everyone else. Unless it’s about vampires. Then just don’t bother… please.

4. Do not keep checking your word count. We’re all guilty of this. You might reach 35,099 words and think “yay me!”, how fabulous, I’m a third of the way there, and later realize you have to cut that 5000 words you wrote in one day from the point of view of the hamster who witnessed the murder. Because you were drunk. Or high. Oh dear. You wanker.

5. Do not pitch your top, future award winning novel to every agent you see online (or in the Writers & Artists Yearbook) before it’s finished. Whereas some agents might only ask for the first 30 pages or so, most will want the whole manuscript and the last thing you need is for them to love a 30 page murder mystery told through the eyes of a hamster, only to find you’ve run out of weed and can’t write the rest. Again: Wanker.

6. Do not set yourself a word count per day. Seriously, if you order yourself to write 5000 words every day and then find you’re too tired, or uninspired, or just drunk or high or busy having sex with your muse you’re going to feel like you’ve failed. Unless your muse looks like Ryan Gosling and is offering to build you a house AND take you on an inspirational tour of all the Nicholas Sparks movie locations. In that case, fuck the book. Life has favored you. You’re already winning.

7. Do not distract yourself from the task in hand by spending your entire working day Googling all the luxury places you’re going to go on holiday when the six figure advance for your book comes in. Honestly, on a good day we can get ahead of ourselves and it’s great to be confident in our abilities, but planning that hazy, dreamlike future as a minted fiction writer when you should actually be writing fiction isn’t doing you any good. You’re just a poor, deluded wanker with a laptop. And no weed.

8. Delete your Facebook account. Or if that’s too extreme, set aside some special time with it each day and don’t let it draw you in outside of your appointment.

9. Do not procrastinate by writing lists for other writers about what not to do when writing. You’re wasting your time and everyone else’s. And you sound like a wanker. Just write goddammit. Write write write write WRITE!!!

10. Don’t argue. Go write. Now.


I’m going to fold my loo roll again…

Falling in love with your best friend isn’t always a great idea, especially when he’s Noah Lockton - the sexiest, most famous new talent on the planet. When 21-year-old small-town photographer Chloe Campbell is offered the chance of a lifetime – to join her celebrity childhood friend Noah on tour as an exclusive blogger for a New York magazine – she’s certain both have put what happened four years ago behind them. But his eyes still burn; his voice is still a jackhammer to her heartstrings; all his songs are about her. Is it possible that that night still haunts them both?

The music industry is a machine, spinning hype and rumors as much as his records. It’s not just Noah’s girlfriends who’ve got it in for Chloe (there’s no stopping the Twitter-obsessed, cat-loving pop-star Courtney Lentini for starters). Pretty soon, the jealousy and media frenzy surrounding these so-called-friends takes a life-changing turn and it seems making love means making enemies at every turn. When tragedy threatens to pull the final curtain on their relationship, both Chloe and Noah must make a choice. As much as this world leaves them starstruck, is living their dream really worth living without each other?

A story of lifelong friendships, love and hope, set in a world of celebrity, fame and social media gone very, very wrong.

About the Author:

Becky Wicks is a HarperCollins author going indie! Itchy feet has led her to live and work all over the world since leaving England at age 21, including NYC, Sydney, Bali, South America and Dubai. Right now she’s scribbling the second book in the HotFlush series in Vietnam, and will soon be in Vancouver if any hot Canadian men want to make her a cup of tea?

Becky has also written three funny travel books about her time in Dubai, Bali and South America (HarperCollins). Her first book, Burqalicious - The Dubai Diaries, her second book, Balilicious - The Bali Diaries and her third, Latinalicious -The South America Diaries are out now as ebooks.

Becky has also written a comedy romance with author Sarah Alderson under the name Lola Salt, called The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (not Croft) which should raise a giggle or two... think Bridget Jones if Jackie Collins had written it!

Follow her on Twitter at bex_wicks and her blog www.BeckyWicks.com. Also, Facebook, Goodreads, and Google+.

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Five Things You'd Never Guess About Shawna C. Jones - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Shawna will be awarding the winner's choice of a $50.00 Amazon Gift certificate, a half hour psychic reading of your choice of readers (up to $60.00), or a $50.00 Starbucks gift card to a randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. NOTE: During the tour, the book is available for only $0.99--it's a great time to check it out!

Shawna grew up with a secret that she couldn't share with anyone. She thought of it as her "inner demon" and it shaped her life. When she became an adult, it sent her on a quest to try to find her Real Home. In Paris, she fell in love with a fellow traveler who changed her life, for better or worse. Their relationship was full of discovery and of lessons learned.

How could she come to terms with her "inner demon"? Can we change our fate or karma? Does love really conquer all?

This book is based on a true story of an independent woman's search for her true self and the meaning of life, and how she found answers in unexpected places.

Thank you for inviting me to your blog.

Five things you’d never guess about me: These things could only happen to me, I’m telling you.

1) When I lived in London, I hopped on a train to visit my in laws. This particular car had self-containing areas, meaning the only door to each compartment was to the exterior of the train. Think of each room as being like a stagecoach, where there was no way to move from compartment to compartment. The bench seats faced each other with racks above for storage. I used to like them because I could have the whole place to myself once the train started moving. Well, as we were boarding, some older guy walked by and leered in, then left. I didn’t think much about it. Right as the train started pulling out, he jumped into my compartment. I glanced at him, and he continued to stare at me. I didn’t notice when he took out a paper bag and started doing something naughty into it. I was horrified when I saw what he was doing, but there was nowhere to go, unless I wanted to jump off the train. He leered at me the whole time, and then got quickly off the train at the next stop.

When I told my mother in law about the incident, she remarked, “Well, next time pull the emergency cord.” Now she tells me!

2) While doing a psych RN travel assignment in the southern part of the US, I had a strange experience. I was passing medications to my patients. Because I’m the impatient sort, I went looking for them, rather than waiting for them to come to me. I had my tray with all the medications and was almost done. I had about three patients left. I found the patient I was looking for, but she rubbed her stomach like she was sick. So I helped her to the restroom, but her roommate was in there. By this time, I’m near the two beds in the room. The patient suddenly now tries to vomit on me. And she appears to be doing it deliberately. I’m backing away from her and getting deeper into the room, with no easy way out. I’m now backed into the wall with beds on either side. She sticks her finger down her throat and I freak. I put my hands out to keep her away, and the medicine tray goes flying. I then jump on the bed, and continue with my hands on her head to keep her away from me. A wonderful, older patient comes by and looks in. He shouts out, “We need some help in here.” And I finally got rescued by my co-workers. I later found out that she thought I was trying to poison her with the medications.

3) A couple of years ago, I channeled my inner 21 year old, and put on a backpack and traveled to India by myself. I was staying in an ashram that was more like a hotel. I had a one bedroom apartment for ten dollars a day. I even had a beautiful view of the Ganges River.

One day, I left my French doors open on the balcony. I was in the kitchen and turned around to see a large, red monkey walk in as if he owned the place. They are known to be aggressive.I had no idea what to do. He jumped onto the dining room table and grabbed the banana that was there. When he tried to grab my London shopping bag, I screamed at him, and lunged forward. This scared him away. While closing the doors, I looked at the balcony to see two more monkeys showing up.

I kept the doors closed after that incident. A monkey warning sign would have been nice, don’t you think?

4) My current husband and I got married in a hot air balloon in Arizona, at dawn. I have to say it was the most peaceful, stress free ceremony. Later that same day, after breakfast, we went hiking in the Grand Canyon. On our anniversaries, we watch the DVD of our wedding and relive the whole experience again.

5) I’ve lived in 14 states (which includes travel contracts), and 2 provinces so far (not to mention other countries). Is that all?

Please share your own stories, or let us know what you think about these.

About the Author: Shawna C. Jones lives in the US, when she's not traveling the world. She lives with her husband, and "inner demon" quite peacefully now. She is continuing her mission of helping others, and encouraging young people to travel and follow their dreams.

https://www.facebook.com/ShawnaJonesAuthor
http://www.shawnacjones.com/
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Love is Never Past Tense by Janna Yeshanova - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Janna will be giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

An unexpected passionate romantic beach encounter leads to a hasty marriage, divorce, and the inevitable “if only…” The Soviet Union fades around them, sending their once comfortable lives into chaos. World changing events put their lives in peril, creating memories of what might have been and hopes for what might yet be... A modern epic Russian second-chance romance with unforgettable characters!

Enjoy this excerpt:

She flew one thousand kilometers to rescue him, to rescue them in the name of what—Moscow registration? Bosh! In the name of the preservation of love? And he had not made two steps, though he could easily reconcile both parties. How much could he have done later to save their love, their sincere feelings? In this life, it appears, you need to struggle, fight, and tear with your teeth those who intrude on the sanctity of love between two human beings.

Certainly, tearing his parents with his teeth did not follow. They understood human words, and gradually, their tone began to soften. Janna managed to reduce their negative attitude towards her.

Conversations, already quiet and logically weighed, began. “Where will you live? You have three more years of school. Spouses should live together, but here in our house it is simply impossible. You have a sister who should study too and so on and so on.” The romanticism of relationships was replaced by real everyday questions. When Janna was getting ready to fly home to talk to her mom, though, more pressure was applied.

Serge, Janna, and his mother went outside. “OK Serge, let’s go,” invited Janna.

“He will not take you to the airport,” said his mom.

“He told me he will.”

“I know him better than you. He will do as I say.”

Serge stood dead in his tracks, silent. Janna left by herself.



Enjoy the book video:

About the Author:

Originally from the former Soviet Union, Janna Yeshanova escaped to the United States when persecution became violent during the crumbling of the Soviet state. Arriving in the United States with her mother and daughter in tow, $126 in her pocket and knowing not a soul, Janna’s talent and experiences have helped her become a high end organizational training and development professional. Her exodus story is included in the book.

Founder and principal of Life-Spark, LLC, Janna is a dynamic and powerful life coach, premier trainer and motivational speaker. She leverages her passion and engaging style to help others to overcome adversity and spark the possibilities of their lives.

Love Is Never Past Tense... was published first in Russia and Ukraine, and is now available in English. It is a fascinating adventurous romance based on a true story

Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/loveisneverpasttense
Twitter: @NeverPastTense
Webpage: http://www.loveisneverpasttense.com/
Blog: http://jannayeshanova.wordpress.com
Buy the book at Amazon, Smashwords, or Goodreads.
To buy the book in print: http://www.loveisneverpasttense.com/order

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For the Bite of It by Viki Lyn and Vina Grey - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enter to win a $30 Amazon gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

VINCENT KAMATEROS is an exiled vampire making a routine living as the owner of a cupcake bakery in Arizona. Until a car with a dead driver crashes through the wall of his shop, bringing after it, All-American, closeted cop, JOHN REEDER. Smitten the instant he sees John, but bound to silence by the Vampire High Council, he can never reveal his true self to John. Detective John Reeder can’t control his attraction to the sexy Italian baker. But as addictive as the sex is, John can’t overcome his fear of rejection for being gay, and open his heart to a man with so many secrets.

Enjoy an excerpt:

The front half of a silver sedan decorated his bakery, its nose nudging the counter, glass shards peppering the floor like confetti. Except Vincent Kamateros wasn’t celebrating. Didn’t have much to celebrate, really.

He stepped around the vehicle, and glass crunched under his clogs despite his walking-on-hot-coals strut. The car had nose-dived into his store about an hour ago. His landlord, Mr. Sala, slumped between his seat and air bag. Dead. If it wasn't so serious, the situation could have been a scene from a cure-for-insomnia B grade movie you watched at three in the morning.

“Sir, the crime scene is off limits.”

He took out his irritation on the unfortunate crime scene tech, pinning the man with his gaze. “The entire bakery cannot be a crime scene, surely?” Fine for them to tape off the scene, but he wasn’t leaving his shop.

“I’m sorry, sir. I'll get my supervisor.” The young fellow scampered away.

Ah good, so he could still intimidate with a look. All was perhaps not lost. Except his life as he had known it and his powers. Madre de dios. Enough with this maudlin mood.

Vince pressed his thumbs to his eyes. These humans made him jumpy. Eight weeks without warm, flowing blood had left him as nervous as a caged bird with a cat tapping on the bars.

“Sir, you need to step back.” One of Tempe’s best in a navy uniform held out his hand to stop Vince. The place crawled with them.

He intimidated the human with a forceful glare but a voice from behind distracted him.

“Excuse me, are you the owner?”

The deep tone made him think of fire lit nights and warm sheepskin rugs and bodies twined in lust. Surely, lack of blood would not lead to such a reaction to a male voice. He turned.

Ah, yes. Fire, rug, desire­ – emotions evoked by a voice and the physical appearance of the man before him. He took in the man from his broad shoulders to his polished loafers. He couldn’t help it. Dark sleek pants hugged muscled thighs. A blue polo shirt outlined shoulders embodying the clichéd mile. That cock-sure stance, feet apart, slightly on his toes. This man would tempt a saint buried twenty-feet under.

He pursed his lips to hold back a smirk as the man stepped away from Vince’s scrutiny. Though Vince had to give him credit for not backing off the stare-down.

“Yes, this is my bakery.” Vince scrutinized the man’s body again. A tingle behind his eyes warned him to curb his lust before his eyes changed color. It had been decades since he'd had such a gut reaction to a man. He blinked and mentally willed away his innate response to such a strong emotion.

“I’m Detective Reeder, this is Detective Norman.” The detective indicated a redheaded woman beside him with a flip of his hand. “We need to ask you some questions.”

He blinked at the ID thrust under his nose – J. Reeder. What did the J stand for? Something typifying the boy next store with his clean-cut looks - Jake, John, Joe?

“Sure. Er…where do you want me?” His brain couldn’t swing a more polished response.

Say here, right now, on your knees.

He really had to do something about his abstinence. Maybe, in a less blood-deprived state, this unexpected All-American male wouldn’t tempt him.

“Let’s get out of this mess.” Detective Reeder pivoted on one heel and walked away. Not for a bag of fresh blood could Vince have stopped his eyes from darting down again. The front view had set up the back one perfectly – a begging-to-be-held ass.

The detective glanced over his shoulder. “Unless you want to come back to the station.”

Vince shook his head. This man brought back memories of the thrill of the chase, the enticing two-step when attraction first hit.

“Outside is fine.” His more lustful thoughts came to a halt when he passed the shattered window. The damage to his shop caused a pang in his heart. Who knew when he’d been talked into buying a cupcake bakery he would become so proprietary? Life sure took the strangest twists and turns.

About the Authors:
Viki Lyn: What inspires me - the reality that romance between lovers is a hope more than a guarantee. My stories are an eclectic mix of contemporary and paranormal, but it is always romance that drives the story to its final happily-ever-after. There's nothing better than reading a good book over an espresso, watching a movie or trying out a new restaurant. I'm the author of several gay romances, including Last Chance, Rainbow Award winner for the Best Gay Paranormal/Horror. Viki’s website is http://www.vikilyn.com.

Vina Grey: Vina Grey loves writing about romance. Two people finding each other, the two-step before they get together and the happily ever after, have to be the best story ever. Throw in some paranormal elements and she's in heaven. Vampires and cops, anyone? She loves to jabber away with anyone about books, so drop her a line at vinagrey@gmail.com. Vina’s cyber home is here: http://vinagrey.wordpress.com. FOR THE BITE OF IT IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON NOW.

Just Out of Reach by Belinda Stevens - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Belinda will be awarding a Print copy of Just Out of Reach to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY) Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When high school freshman Katherine Boyd meets David, her life is forever altered. Their romance experiences the turmoil of Mississippi in the sixties, family relationships that keep them apart, and political differences that threaten to destroy them. Through the death of JFK and James Meredith’s admission to Ole Miss, Katherine’s growth means being progressive in a traditional Southern family, accepting the loss of those closest to her, and learning to cope with her family’s darkest secrets. Just Out of Reach is the story of a young woman forged in desperate times and a love that changes her life forever.

Read an excerpt:

There are certain events in life that leave a line of demarcation, the beginning of things, the ending of something else. For me, meeting David was that line.

It all began my freshman year at Lancaster High. What amazed me about the year 1961 was that my feelings for David emerged at the exact moment I became isolated from the soul of my town, my birthplace. I was apart from all that I knew or understood. It all happened so fast that I felt split, like some multiple personality separating into many different identities.

The day we met, it was very cold. The student body had congregated in and around the arcade during morning break to get a glimpse of the falling snow, hoping that the ground would be cold enough for it to stick. Lancaster High was nestled between the canal that separated my town from the residential area and its business district to the north. LHS was made of red brick, with a newly erected concrete arcade leading directly to its front entrance.

As thoughts of a snow holiday raced through my head, Betsy and I noticed a couple at the far end of the arcade. We automatically moved in that direction. I nudged my best friend and whispered, “Who’s the guy with Linda?”

“Don’t know, let’s find out,” responded Betsy. My friend continued to talk but I didn’t hear a word. My eyes were fixed on the boy at the end of the arcade. My heart was pounding so hard, it was all I heard. My reaction was a mystery, even to me. It still is.

Meet the Author:Belinda J. Stevens was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, the gateway to the Mississippi Delta, in 1948. She grew up in the turbulent sixties, and has a true appreciation for the difficulties experienced by Katherine in Just Out of Reach, which is Belinda’s first novel. She is an attorney who currently practices law in Yazoo City and resides in Brandon, Mississippi with her dog, Humprey B.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog
Buy the book at Amazon

The Milestone Tapes by Ashley Mackler-Paternostro - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ashley will be awarding The Book Bag, a Glass Fishing Float, a Keychain, Cassette Tape Note Cards, Mug, Paperback and a digital copy of The Milestone Tapes (US only) to one 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 on the tour.

The only thing Jenna Chamberland ever wanted in her life was to be a good wife and a good mom. In death, she’ll find that she still wants the same things.

With stage-four breast cancer, a terminal diagnosis and six months to live, Jenna fears what awaits her family after she is gone: Her husband, Gabe, will be left to raise their daughter alone, and Mia, only seven years old, will be forced to face a world without her mother.

Ten blank tapes to teach her daughter everything she’ll ever need to know. Dead before Mia ever really got to know her, Jenna exists now only in pictures and watercolored memories, and Mia finds herself struggling to remember her mother in a way that feels real. But on the ninth anniversary of Jenna’s death, she will return to her daughter through a series of audiocassettes. One tape each of the milestones of Mia’s life, and with them, a letter explaining that Mia should only listen to the tapes when the time is right.

With the help of her mother’s long-gone voice, Mia may just learn how to embrace the challenges and triumphs of her ever-changing life with humor, grace and a lot of hope.

Rereleased for its second anniversary, the novel that book bloggers have called “beautiful” and “unforgettable” returns with new content and tapes never before read.

Enjoy an excerpt:

“Today she would untie herself from the last filament of hope that had kept her tethered to the fight. She would watch silently as it away like a balloon slipped from between her fingertips. Today would be what some called the beginning of the end and others called the long goodbye.

Gabe. She could his back, long and warm, thought the thin cotton of his undershirt pressed against her upper-arm as he slept beside her. He was where the story of her began, where the chapters of her life had started to matter. Of course she wouldn’t untangle herself from motherhood now; given the change; it was the same as imagining herself suddenly without her sight or another comfortable, almost given, attribute. Life without Mia was entirely unimaginable. But those childless years they’d once had still made her heart flutter. The lilt of it, the way it had been so simple, so easy. Now that she was facing the end, she’d become a necromancer of the past, dredging it up just to delight in what she saw.” - The Milestone Tapes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ashley Mackler-Paternostro is the author of The Milestone Tapes and the Amazon Best Selling novel In The After. Her shorter works can be found in Holiday Wishes - An Anthology for a Children’s Charity and on the blog www.onepagelovestory.com Ashley lives in a suburb of Chicago with her husband and their three dogs.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AshleyMacklerPaternostro
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AshMP
Website: http://www.ashleymacklerpaternostro.com
Tumblr: http://www.ashleymacklerpaternostro.tumblr.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Milestone-Tapes-Ashley-Mackler-Paternostro/dp/1468150065
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-milestone-tapes-ashley-mackler-paternostro/1108951583?ean=9781468150063

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My Winter by Nikki Young - Book Review and Giveaway

(Contemporary Romance)

This review is done in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nikki will be awarding an eCopy of My Winter to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour, and a signed paperback of My Winter will be awarded to TWO randomly drawn commenters during the tour. (International giveaway) Click on the tour banner to see the other stops in the tour.

At age ten, Leah Anderson was taught a hard lesson about life after the death of her father. Love, happiness and perfection only last so long, so why bother seeking them out.

Jaded by his death and the trauma it caused her family, Leah finds herself detached and indifferent about her life and about falling in love. In a safe and unfulfilling engagement to her demanding, perfectionist fiancé, Ellis, it all begins to wear thin. That's when a handsome stranger comes into her life causing her to second guess everything she's known and believed in.

Abruptly ending her engagement and accepting a date with the stranger, Leah finds herself in a very uncomfortable reality. Knowing that every choice has its consequence, Leah runs from her past and lies to her present to keep herself from falling in too deep.


But in the end, can she live with the choices she makes because they may ruin it all.

My Review:

Leah has a history of self-destructive behavior and bad choices when it comes to men. As she approaches 30, she finds someone "safe"--but the cost is changing who she actually is. It's one thing to give up on self-destructive behaviors because you see what it's doing to to you; it's another to do it because it's what someone else wants you to do. That's what happens with her fiance, Ellis. She tries so hard to please him that she finally breaks out of the mold he's placed her in--and meets a stranger with whom she feels an instant connection that same night.

Adam is everything Ellis isn't--he genuinely likes her for who she is. There's an instant physical attraction and chemistry between the two. However, for some reason, Leah doesn't tell him she's just broken up with Ellis. And, as with all secrets, the longer it goes the harder it is for her to tell him.

I adore Adam. He's a fun, sensitive guy. Leah, I wanted to shake sometimes because I could see the train wreck coming. But, the secret was just another part of her self-destructive impulses--she has a deep need to sabotage relationships before they can go bad and hurt her. Thankfully she has friends like Cori and Jimmy to ground her.

It's a fast moving book and is well-written. There are some beautiful passages--especially when she and Adam are talking about winter and how she reacts to it.

4 stars--and I would be interested in reading more of this author's work. Enjoy an excerpt:

“I definitely need a break,” I mumble to myself as I make my way to the bedroom. I have no idea how I’m going to explain this to him. It all seems so selfish, but in actuality is it? Is it selfish of me to want some time away before I make a life changing decision and marry Ellis? My life has changed so dramatically since I met him and there are times I miss the old me. The one who laughed like crazy, had fun with Cari whether we were drunk or sober, the one who didn’t care what people thought of her. Now I’m constantly wondering if I’m going to set Ellis off with my behavior, the kind of behavior that I now realize will always remain in me somewhere just waiting to come out. I want him to accept me the way I am, not for the way he thinks I should be. I’m a giggler, a laugher, a lover and good time girl, but Ellis doesn’t see those as redeeming qualities and it crushes my spirit. I need to find myself again.

About the Author: Nikki Young was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago where she still currently lives with her husband and two boys. She is a third grade teacher and spends her days forcing her love of reading and writing onto a group of poor unsuspecting eight year olds. She's a lover of books, Irish candy and ridiculously hot weather. And for some strange reason, she has a sick obsession with the Fast and the Furious series of movies. 
Late at night, when all is quiet, she can be found sitting at her computer writing...or facebooking.

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/authornikkiyoung
Goodreads Link: http://tinyurl.com/n85a3du

Purchase Links:

Amazon:

US: Kindle
Paperback
UK: Kindle
Paperback

Barnes and Noble:

Nook and Paperback

Running Home to You by Suzanne Sweeney - Q&A and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Suzanne will be awarding a $25 Visa Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter 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?

Running Home to You is a romance novel with humor and suspense. I have only recently started reading romance, my genre of choice as a reader had always been suspense. Authors like Patricia Cornwell, Michael Crichton, James Grisham, and Dan Brown have been among my favorite go-to's. I decided that it was time to blend my new favorite genre with my first love, and the result is a romance novel mixed with enough suspense to keep the reader turning the pages and enough humor to make the intense moments even more powerful.

What research is required?

My books are firmly set in reality, and as such, it's critical that I get my facts right. I could get so much more writing accomplished if I didn't spend half my time fact checking. My main character is a professional athlete. That means that he finds himself in the company of other celebrities. I take pain-staking care to make sure that when I state that a real celebrity was at a basketball game or social function, that they've actually done these things. When I talk about the main character's contract negotiations, I took time to find actual NFL contracts. The list goes on and on…

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

I'm going to be brutally honest here. The heroine's reaction to adversary is based upon what I would do in a similar situation. I tend to overthink things and perhaps look at things pessimistically. I guess I'm a "glass half empty" kind of person. Some of the readers have commented early in the first book how some of the main character's choices annoyed them. If the character is flawed, that would be because my own character is flawed, too. But I've learned to accept it and try to use it as a strength. I can see things that are about to happen way before anyone else, and sometimes that comes in handy.

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

Yes, I do! My favorite way to write is to find a quiet room in the house, grab my laptop, and put on a movie that I've seen hundreds of times. This way, I can write without being distracted by the movie, but I can take short breaks to watch a powerful scene without missing a beat. Unfortunately, my favorite 'writing-time' movies are all romantic movies that include vampires and werewolves (I'm sure you can guess what I'm talking about), and no one else in the house appreciates this particular genre, so it's definitely best if I spend my time in a space away from the rest of my family.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I'm a plotantser (is that even a word?). Before the first word is written, I plot and plan meticulously, taking pages and pages of notes and combing through the notes from my previous books. But once I begin, a lot of my ideas get thrown out the window. Some of my best ideas are the ones that come spontaneously. I usually know what I want to achieve and what my plot goals are, but sometimes I'm not quite sure how to execute. It usually comes to me when I'm watching a movie, reading a book, or listening to a song. Sometimes a good commercial can generate sparks, too!

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

My husband is sitting alone at the dining room table eating dinner. My computer is in my kitchen, looking out a window into our backyard. Sitting at a computer is a very solitary activity, so by placing it in a place where family gathers is important to me. This habit began when my children were younger and I wanted to monitor their online activities. Of course, now each of us has a laptop, so when we need a quiet place to work, we take our computers with us and find a good hiding spot.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

Running Home to You is the second book in the Running Series. I'm now working diligently on the third and final book,Running Away With You, which should be available this summer. I have a laundry list of ideas for the next book, and probably the next book after that, too!

Do you have a question for our readers?

How many of the readers are genre-hoppers? I find that when I read a good mystery, I want to read more mysteries for a very long time. When I start dystopian fictions, I try to find more and more until I'm satisfied. When I'm on a romance jag, I can't seem to get enough. There's no genre-hopping for me!

Running Home to You: continues the journey of Juliette and Evan that began in “Running Back to You”.

Juliette Fletcher thought she had it all – a strikingly handsome man who adores her, a new business venture with her best friends by her side, and a dream house right on the beach. But appearances can be deceiving and everything comes at a cost.

Evan McGuire has just survived a vicious attack that almost ended his professional football career. He’s on the mends now, trying to piece his life back together again, and build a life with Juliette.

But Evan’s erratic behavior has Juliette worried. She must figure out how to save her struggling restaurant, her fragile friendships, and her now unhealthy relationship with the man she loves. Juliette and Evan find that they’ve placed their trust in the wrong people and the price they pay for that mistake may ultimately cost them everything.

Running Home to You is the second book in the Running Series.

About the Author:

Suzanne Sweeney is a graduate of Georgian Court University where she studied Elementary Education and Sociology. For some time now, she has been sharing her love of literature with the young minds who sit before her in class each and every day. After years of teaching the art of writing, Suzanne has finally taken her own advice and put pen to paper in order to produce her debut novel, Running Back to You. She writes what she lives, residing in the community she loves, Point Pleasant, with her family who provide a constant source of inspiration and support.

Blog: http://suzannesweeney.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Running-Series-Books/595007973866974?ref=hl
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7151235.Suzanne_Sweeney>

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

Timeless Escapes by Julie Rowe and others - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The authors will be awarding the following prizes during the tour:

First prize - $50 gift certificate plus ebook Timeless Keepsakes by Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris, Emma Kaye, Nicole S. Patrick, Julie Rowe

Second prize - $25 gift certificate plus 3 ebooks 1) Molly Gets Her Man by Julie Rowe 2) Knight of Runes by Ruth A. Casie 3) Timeless Keepsakes by Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris, Emma Kaye, Nicole S. Patrick, Julie Rowe

Third prize - 3 ebooks 1) Love at Christmas by Lita Harris 2) Time for Love by Emma Kaye 3) Timeless Keepsakes by Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris, Emma Kaye, Nicole S. Patrick, Julie Rowe

Five Things You Wouldn't Guess About Julie Rowe

So, five things that most people would never guess about me…

1. I don’t have a university degree. I have a diploma in Med Lab Technology from a technical college, but no degree. It always shocks my students at the college where I teach business writing and other communication courses. Then I tell them that writing romance novels is my full-time job and they’re very confused indeed.

2. I drive a standard/manual transmission car. Love it! Automatics have always seemed boring to me. I find it somewhat annoying that men seemed shocked when they discover I drive a stick. I’m good at it, too! Just ask my husband. *wink*

3. I’ve struggled with depression most of my adult life. I was comparing notes with a cousin a couple of days ago and we realized something kind of shocking. Nearly every female relative we had (including each other) struggles, or has struggled, with depression or other mental illnesses. So, I guess that makes me… normal?

4. Watching Big Brother is my guilty pleasure. I have all the seasons recorded and enjoy putting them on as background noise while writing or cooking or doing laundry. My husband has stopped complaining out loud, but he does give me that, “Oh my God, how can you watch that crap?” face pretty often. He he he.

5. I love action flicks, but can’t stand romantic comedies. Give me some explosions, awesome fight scenes and a hero who can’t win, but somehow pulls it out at the last second any day!! My hubby likes thrillers and movies that make you think, so I go to the movies with my best girlfriend instead (who loves to sigh over good abs as much as I do).

Book Description: Escape to the Virgin Islands where the bonds of marriage are renewed, friends become lovers, and new love is given a chance to thrive.

Ruth A. Casie ~ Second Chance by the Sea Married for ten years, she and her husband have grown apart. When they go back to the Virgin Islands for a family funeral, they find their marriage was never registered. Will an impending disaster be the final straw that breaks them up or will it rekindle their love and send them back to the altar for a second chance?

Lita Harris ~ Chasing Fireflies Soured on love by a recent breakup, a travel agent with a fear of flying and open water takes a trip to the U.S Virgin Islands. She meets a boat captain who challenges her fears. Will she survive her breakup and find happiness in the arms of another man?

Emma Kaye ~ In Her Dreams When an author escapes to the Virgin Islands to work on her latest book, she’s swept back in time to Regency England and must decide whether the love she finds with an English lord is real or only in her dreams.

Nicole S. Patrick ~ Poseidon’s Strength A beloved hero’s death leads his sister and his best friend, who have never seen eye-to-eye, to discover that helping family can be their happy medium, and possibly lead them to uncover a love that's meant to be.

Julie Rowe ~ A Pirate’s Vacation A doctor grieving the death of her husband, buys a B&B in the Virgin Islands in need of a lot of fixing. Her old flame arrives to help with repairs, but will she let him heal her shattered heart?

About the Author:

Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She loves to include medical details in her romance novels, but admits she’ll never be able to write about all her medical experiences because, “No one would believe them!” In addition to writing contemporary and historical medical romance, and fun romantic suspense for Entangled Publishing and Carina Press, Julie has a short story in The Mammoth Book of ER Romance (September 2013). Her book Saving the Rifleman (book one of the War Girls series) won the novella category of the 2013 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her writing has also appeared in several magazines such as Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest (Canada), Canadian Living, and Romantic Times Magazine.

For more information about Julie, please visit her online at www.julieroweauthor.com, on Twitter @julieroweauthor, or at her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JulieRoweAuthor.