Five Things You'd Never Guess About Catherine Castle - Guest Blog and Giveaway

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

Five Things You’d Never Guess About Me

1. I’ve been married longer than I’ve been single... and it’s been to the same guy I started dating in the summer of my junior year of high school. I won’t say how long ago that was though, because I want you think I’m younger than I really am.

2. I have a dish fetish. I own ten different sets of dishes and continually lust over more every time I walk through houseware departments. In fact, my hubby won’t let me go into the dish department when he shops with me. I could describe the dishes for you, but just writing down the fact that I own so many seems outrageous.

3. I’m a crafty person. I can knit, crochet, quilt, draw, sew (which has been recently limited to mending my daughter’s clothes—guess I need to teach her how to sew), and I dabble in paper crafts (card making, card recycling crafts). I haven’t taken up sculpture, weaving, or pottery yet, and probably won’t unless we get a bigger house and I learn how to live without any sleep.

4. I collect nativities. I currently have 23 different nativities, not including paper ones, and I’m working on making a knitted nativity right now. I especially like different themed nativities like southwest, Celtic (my latest addition—they look like Stonehenge boulders with faces carved in them), Eskimos, Native American figures and so on.

5. I’m techno challenged and not allowed to touch the hubby’s computer because I crash things. I’ve crashed twice as many computers and phones than the normal person. I always say it’s my electric personality. Hey, it makes me seem less clutzy and more mysterious. :-) That’s a good thing, right?

What about you? What’s something no one would guess about you?

Enjoy an excerpt from The Nun and the Narc:

“Why don’t you tell me, Miss . . . whoever you are?”

“Margaret Mary O’Connor. Sis—“ Her introduction changed into a scream. “Look out!”

Jed’s head whipped around just as the car plowed through a market stand of live chickens. Poultry, wooden cages, and feathers scattered over the car. An angry hen dropped through the car’s open sunroof, squawking and flapping in front of Jed, beating his head with its wings.

Margaret reached over, grabbed the bird, and threw it back out the sunroof opening. But it was too late. The car glanced off an adobe wall into a second market stand and careened toward another building. Jed jammed on the brakes. The car spun three hundred and sixty degrees before screeching to a stop.

The impact threw Margaret sideways against the passenger window. She hit her head on the glass, the blow blinding her for a second. Jed’s body slammed into the steering wheel setting off the horn. The wail echoed in Margaret’s head as she struggled to remain conscious. Warmth trickled down the side of her head. Margaret managed to focus her eyes as the noise stopped. Two Jeds leaned toward her, in slow motion. She blinked to clear her vision.

“You all right?” he asked.

“I think so.” Something warm and sticky seeped down her face. She reached up and wiped her temple. “I’m bleeding,” she said as she stared at her fingers. The words sounded slurred. At the sight of the blood on her fingers, her stomach rolled.

About the Author:

Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. Besides writing, Catherine loves traveling with her husband, singing, and attending theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.

Her debut inspiration romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing was an ACFW Genesis Finalist and is a 2013 EPIC finalist.

Catherine’s website: http://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com
Catherine’s blog: http://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/
Catherine’s Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/author/catherinecastle
Catherine’s Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7085414.Catherine_Castle
Twitter: @AuthorCCastle
Facebook: http://facebook.com/catherinecastleauthor

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Freedom of Love by G.S. Carr - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card, a swag pack with bookmarks, bracelets, key chains etc. related to Freedom of Love, and two paperback copies of her favorite romance novels, to a randomly drawn commenter. (US ONLY) Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Five Things You Would Probably Not Guess About G.S. Carr

First, I would like to say thank you so much for having me today. I’m looking forward to connecting with the many awesome readers out there. So, five things you would probably never guess about me:

1. I generally march to the beat of my own drummer in most aspects of my life, especially my fashion. One year when I was in high school I received a pair of knee high rainbow socks from an aunt. I had no idea what to do with knee high socks but I didn’t want to make her feel bad for giving me a gift I would never wear. So in the middle of January when I went back to school I cut a pair of jeans into shorts that stopped at the knee and wore those rainbow knee highs out in the freezing cold. People either thought I was crazy or bold. I think it was a mix of both.

2. I once had a Christmas tree that I kept until April. It was the first plant in a long time that I was able to keep alive for so long and I was super excited about it. I even kept the decorations on it because they were so beautiful and it made me feel happy just looking at it.

3. The song that I will walk down the aisle to when I get married will either be Beyonce “Diva” or Rhianna “Rockstar”. I intend to have to aisle look like a runway and I am going to strut down in like I am a supermodel.

4. My youngest brother was born when I was 17 years old. Once, when he was about 2 years old I was tasked with watching him during the day over my summer vacation. Like most teens I stayed up on the phone the night before and attempted to sleep in until noon during the day. I laid on the sofa and would occasionally open an eye to make sure he was still breathing. At one point it got very quiet. I went looking for him and found him covered from head to toe in blue marker. I had to spend the evening explaining to my mother why my brother looked like a Smurf.

5. I have a day job as an accountant. One day (with the help of the amazing readers out there) when I have a few bestselling novels I would like to quit my job and be a vagabond. I want to travel around the world with nothing but my tablet and write and eat.

About the Author:

Raised in Charlotte NC, G.S. Carr has always enjoyed indulging in her imagination. At a very young age she had a thirst for reading and the many possibilities it helped come alive in her mind’s eye. She consumed books like they were the air she needed to survive. It seemed inevitable that her love of reading would transcend into a desire to create her own stories. She began writing poetry and stories at the age of 10. By the time she was thirteen she found her passion in the romance genre and has not looked back ever since.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/G.S.CarrBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GS_Carr

The stunning daughter of the French nobleman Dominique, marquis d’Chartes and the African beauty Imani Marsan, Soleil is captivated by everything during her first trip to America including Alex. She loves him almost from their first meeting. However, their love is interrupted when she is abducted and sold into slavery. Alone and scared she only wishes to regain her freedom.

Alexander couldn't help but love the exotic beauty with the caramel skin that made him want to taste it. Losing her was the hardest day of his life. After years of searching she appears as if conjured by his deepest desires. But she returns far from the same. Can they rekindle their love or will they never find the freedom only love can bring.

Buy the book at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

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His Wicked Dream by Adrienne deWolfe - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

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

Via the Rafflecopter, below, Adrienne will be awarding a $20 Amazon Gift Card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, a $15 Amazon Gift Card to another randomly drawn commenter during the tour, a TIN-STARS AND TROUBLEMAKERS (4 full-length ebooks in a box set by best-selling Western Historical Romance authors Adrienne deWolfe, Patricia Rice, Sharon Ihle, and Patricia Hagan) will be awarded to one randomly commenter during the tour, another randomly drawn commenter will win the best-selling WILD TEXAS NIGHTS series by Adrienne deWolfe (3 books, total) during the tour, and last but not least, the award-winning VELVET LIES series by Adrienne deWolfe (ebooks 1-3) will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Haunted by scandal, Eden Mallory is determined to start over in a small Kentucky town. But she won't soon forget the sexy, rugged doctor who rescued her from an outlaw, then rode off into the storm.

After losing his kid-brother to consumption, Dr. Michael Jones is obsessed with saving lives. He has no room for love or a wife. But the nights are lonely, and Eden haunts his dreams.

When Eden becomes his backdoor neighbor, she turns his world upside-down with her unconventional healing skills and sweet temptations. Then outlaws return, forcing Michael to confront his past if he is to save the most precious life of all.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Eden Meets Michael

"Mister?"

Her voice was a breath, a sigh, and far too husky for her own good. Michael rolled to his side in the hay of the stall and drew his knees to his chest, pretending not to hear.

An uncertain scrabbling followed. A horse stomped; another nickered.

"Mister?" the young woman whispered again, more insistently this time.

He cracked open a swollen eye. On a line with his chin, he glimpsed dusty boot toes, a touch of lace, and the thrice-turned hem of a faded green skirt.

"Go away."

The skirt moved closer. "Um... are you hurt?"

"No."

"You're bleeding."

"Doesn't matter," he snapped.

Those contrary skirts billowed about twelve inches from his nose. "You don't look so good."

"Yeah, well, I had a rough day."

"Were you in a fight?"

"More like a massacre," he muttered. Hoss was lucky he had any teeth left.

"Pardon?"

Michael forced his eyes back open. She was kneeling beside him now. She appeared to be about 17.

"Why are you still here?"

His growl didn't have the desired effect. She leaned over him, a gleaming strand of auburn curling over the swell of her bodice.

"It's raining. I can't leave the stable ‘til storm's over." She sounded apologetic. "Besides, you saved me and my horse."

Great. Now he had a babe in bloomers batting eyes at him, thinking he was some kind of hero.

"I always stable Valentine during storms," she prattled on. "He's afraid of thunder."

"Well, I'm not. Go away."

Her palm, smelling faintly of leather, hovered, trembled, then resolutely touched his brow. He wondered if she was ornery or just hard of hearing. When she reached for his ribcage, he flinched and grabbed her wrist. "What the hell are you doing?"

She blinked at him. Green eyes, he noted fleetingly. Curious and innocent.

"Seeing what hurts."

"You don't listen so good."

"Oh. Did you already tell me?"

"Look." He struggled to sit again. "I'm a bad man. An evil man. And if you don't get away from me, you're going to regret it."

"Papa says there's no such thing as evil men. Just frightened ones."

Michael ran an exasperated hand through his hair, found a tender spot, and winced. His head hurt. Every blasted inch of his body hurt.

She sat back on her heels. "Wait here."

Suspiciously, he watched her rise and turn. Russet ringlets cascaded down her sleek little spine; hair ribbons bounced against her shoulders. She had enough patches on her skirt to quilt a blanket; still, she didn't have the manner of a cracker. And her accent wasn't southern white trash, either. He wondered fleetingly where she came from. Not this Tennessee border town, that was certain.

"I'm back."

He started. Had he dozed? She was standing above him again. He heard a snap; something woolly and musty fluttered over his head. The next thing he knew, she was kneeling, tucking a horse blanket around him.

"You don't want to catch your death of cold," she explained.

He might have laughed if he weren't so certain the pain wouldn't be worth the attempt. He didn't give a damn about his own health. Living didn't have much appeal to a physician who was a failure.

To the best of his ability, he screwed his features into a frightening expression. "I told you to go away."

"You didn't mean it." She dipped the hem of her apron in the bucket of water.

"The hell I didn't."

"Talking Raven told me sick people always say things they don't mean."

"Ow!" He jerked away as she dabbed at the gash above his eyebrow.

"It wouldn't hurt," she retorted matter-of-factly, "if you'd stop fussing."

"God almighty. When was the last time you had a spanking?"

Adrienne deWolfe is a #1 best-selling author and the recipient of 48 writing awards, including the Best Historical Romance of the Year for Texas Wildcat (Book 3, Wild Texas Nights) and Doubleday’s Book of the Month Selection for His Wicked Dream (Book 2, Velvet Lies.) Adrienne is excited to announce that she will be donating a portion of her royalties from the Velvet Lies Series to urban reforestation efforts.

Fascinated by all things mystical, Adrienne writes a weekly blog about dragons, magic, and the paranormal at http://MagicMayhemBlog.com to help her research her upcoming paranormal romance series. She also writes a weekly blog featuring tips about the business of writing at http://WritingNovelsThatSell.com. She enjoys mentoring aspiring authors and offers professional story critiques with her book coaching services.

Follow Adrienne deWolfe

• Facebook
http://facebook.com/Writing.Novels
• Good Reads
http://www.goodreads.com/Adrienne_deWolfe
• Pinterest
pinterest.com/AdriennedeWolfe/boards/
• Twitter (Fantasy Fiction)
http://Twitter.com/SolMage
• Twitter (Writing News)
http://twitter.com/AdriennedeWolfe

Purchase Adrienne deWolfe’s Books:

Velvet Lies Series

http://ebookdiscovery.com.p8.hostingprod.com/AdrienneDeWolfe.html

Wild Texas Nights Series

http://ebookdiscovery.com.p8.hostingprod.com/AdrienneDeWolfe.html

The Secrets to Getting Your Romance Novel Published (Series)

http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/the-secrets-to-getting-your-romance-published/

Tin-Stars and Troublemakers

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CBMZT10/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00CBMZT10&linkCode=as2&tag=writincom01-20

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tin-stars-and-troublemakers-box-set-patricia-rice/1115105000?ean=9781614174110

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A Shadow on Merrimack River by Daniela Alibrandi - Review and Giveaway

(Thriller)

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Daniela will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A year in the United States, a fantastic opportunity to forget the events of the past. Then Diana will return to Rome, but if life in the United States will be a positive experience, she will be able to return. And Diana strongly hopes she will come back. In an evening of early spring, however, while with her friend Jenny, an obese girl, she is enjoying to skate on the Merrimack River still frozen, she doesn’t realize she has reached a point where the ice is breaking. In the fierce struggle that she engages with the force of the river waters, that with the beginning of the thaw are moving, Diana understands the plate is too thin, and may not hold up. And below, after hearing a thud, Diana realizes that glides silently a human body, a corpse from which she could be sucked into the river deepness. It’s the beginning of a nightmare in which Diana will live during the months that remain until her departure from what she had considered a quiet and peaceful little town. Until the solution of the mystery which will take place with a breathtaking end.

The events take place in a small town in the Northeast of the United States in the middle 60ties. Many are the descriptions of the places related to the nature and landscapes as well as to the complexity of American society. There is no lack of historical references.

My review:

This thriller set in New Hampshire in the 1960s looks at one girl, her family, and the shadows of her life that are revealed. The author has done a wonderful job at portraying American life as seen through the eyes of a visitor to this country and the mystery behind the shadow on the Merrimack River is one that's not easily solved by the reader.

The phrasing was a little hard to understand at times--it's translated into English from Italian, and obviously by someone whose first language is not English. I would suggest that the author look for a translator who is American and is fluent in Italian for her next book, rather than an Italian who is fluent in English. I believe that would help with the ease of reading.

This issue did not reflect on my enjoyment of the book, however, and I look forward to the next book Ms. Alibrandi has for us.



About the Author:

The author Daniela Alibrandi, was born in Rome, Italy while she has lived a meaningful period of her adolescence in the United States of America, where she attended the St. Francis School of Manchester, New Hampshire. Returned to Italy, she ended the classical studies. In her professional life she has experienced different contexts that have enriched her personal baggage. Working in the public sector she dealt, besides, of International Relationships and Cultural Exchanges with the foreign Countries, within the European Union and the Council of Europe, taking care of the Italian edition of some official texts as, for instance, "Illiteracy, a European Comparison", edit by Italian Ministry of Education. Daniela has also completed cultural exchanges and has realized the "Peace Program" with the state of N.Y. In the private life, she is married and has two children.

Always prone to the writing she took part in various literary contests. In 2010 she won the national literary contest Pegaso Flight with the novel "The Bitter Companion", published in the contest harvest edited by the Italian Superior Institute of Health. With the story "Her Light Steps", in January 2011, she reached as finalist the literary contest The Memory. This award, banished by Gutenberg Laboratory and addressed to Italian and foreigner authors, was developed with the patronage of Rome Commune and Libraries, in cooperation with the XI Town hall in Rome, the House of the Memory and the Roman Jewish Community. The story "Her Light steps" is published in the volume "Micol." In December 2010 she published the Book "No Steps On the Snow", Laboratory Gutenberg Editor, a psychological thriller of great emotional impact. This book, soon reaching its first reissue, was inserted in the publishing necklace Over the City. It has been selected by the XVII Town hall of Rome for a literary event in the Roman Summer 2012 and presented in the gardens of S.Angel Castel in the magic of Roman monuments and summer night. "No Steps On the Snow", on July 5th 2013, has won the important literary award Circe, assigned by readers and famous writers and journalists. This book was presented successfully with the patronage of Rome, Santa marinella, Cerveteri, Bracciano and Ladispoli city halls, for its historical and cultural value. The theme treated by the book has been the object of various interviews, among which the one of the important Italian newspaper “Messaggero”, of radio broadcasts and local T.V. telecasts.

In December 2011 Daniela won the national literary prize The City and the Sea, with the short novel "The Last House" awarding a publishing contract with the publishing house Apollo Edizioni. The contest was banished by the Italian Pro Loco Union, patronized by the Ladispoli City Hall, in cooperation with Apollo Edizioni, Etruriain.tv and Centromareradio. The story "The Last House" is published in the volume The City and the Sea, related to the contest.

In June 2012, thanks to the award she won in The City and the Sea contest, Apollo Edizioni published her book "Rachel's Child", successfully presented to the Calabrian Book Fair in Lamezia Terme. The book has aroused much interest in its treated matters and has received good critiques. It was even object of the telecast “Literary Appetizer" 2012 and a broadcast "Everything in an hour" in the summer 2012. It remains memorable, on August 31st 2012, the public conversation with the Facebook readers, organized to speak about the themes treated in the thriller. In less than a few minutes, in fact, more than 100 comments were totaled. Since September 2012, the Italian Magazine Friday’s Nettle has published each month a short novel written by Daniela Alibrandi. The following are the novel successfully published: The Bitter Companion, Her Light Steps, The Last Home, Once Upon a Time There Was a Beautiful Woman, The Reunion, The Kiss of Old Ones, Nobody’s Land, The Epiphany’s True Story, The Mild Wind of April, Those Four Minutes, The Missing Generation. In November 2012 her thriller "A Shade on Merrimack River" has been published at the beginning in the Italian Edition “Un’Ombra sul Fiume Merrimack” as an e-book on Amazon, then in March 2013 it was edited as a hard copy by Youcanprint, to satisfy those readers who wished to have a traditional edition. In August 2013 the book has been published in the English Edition on Amazon. com, .ca, .jp, .uk etc… This thriller is set in Manchester, N.H. in the middle 60ties and threats a delicate matter. Relevant the descriptions of New Hampshire nature. In Italy it has already received good literary critiques and it is the first one of Daniela Alibrandi’s books to be translated into English.

Daniela Alibrandi has a big literary production. Her work particularity concerns the themes treated in her stories, of social relevance, usually set in contemporary historical periods. Italian literary critics have spent many words emphasizing her fluid and involving literary style, as well as her literary work great essence.

Website: www.danielaalibrandi.joomlafree.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniela-Alibrandi-Autore/108488582556510
A page devoted to the English Edition “A Shade on Merrimack River” https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Shadow-on-Merrimack-iver/1424294097784048
And an email where you can contact her : daniela.alibrandi@gmail.com
She is also on Linkedin and Twitter with her personal profile Daniela Alibrandi

Taming Jenna by Charlene Raddon - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlene will be awarding an e-copy of one of her books from her backlist at each stop to a randomly drawn commenter, and a Grand Prize of a $30 gift card will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

THE WRONG MAN

Deserted by her father at the tender age of seven, Jenna Leigh-Whittington had taught herself to ride, shoot, brawl…and steer clear of the opposite sex. But now, in a lonely Utah canyon, the Pinkerton agent has drawn her gun on a rugged stranger—only to discover that, far from the dangerous outlaw she’d been tracking, he is Branch McCauley, hired gun…and the most irresistible rascal ever to tempt and torment a woman!

THE RIGHT WOMAN

If there’s one thing McCauley trusts less than a female, it’s a female who packs a six-gun. But what a woman! Vowing to bring the sensuous hellcat to heel, McCauley has no inkling that their passionate battle of wills has just begun. Taming Jenna will be the most seductive—and satisfying—job he’s ever taken on.

Enjoy this excerpt:

Something touched her face, something as light as a mist or a lover's kiss. She put her hands to her cheeks and felt the moisture. Mist. Her fingers found grit the fine spray couldn't wash off. She took a step, then another. Water pounded her feet, her calves. She reached out, only to have her hands smacked away by the force of the waterfall. She longed to stand under it, to strip off her torn, dirty clothes and wash away the grime and the soreness and the fear of trying to find her way through that pitch black mine tunnel.

How she longed to see the falls. She lifted her face toward the source and perceived moving shades of grayness among the black. There had to be a hole up there, yet she could not see it. Had night fallen outside?

Somehow the movement of the falls, the fresh scent, the liquid gurgle, made her feel less alone. She had a strong feeling some other live being occupied the dark, musty catacombs besides herself. Something besides rats and nasty dwarfs.

Her spirits climbed. No question now as to where she was—the old Murphey mine. She would follow the water's flow, and she would get out.

Above the muted roar of the small waterfall came another sound, sharp and loud like the crack of thunder on a stormy night, followed by rolling reverberations. Angry. Ominous. Her mouth quirked at the thought: Rainstorms deep inside the bowels of the earth. Obviously, her grip on sanity was still tenuous.

She did an about-face and splashed her way down the drift. The voice of the falls followed, like a jealous lover. She attempted to laugh. At herself. At her fears. Hysteria tainted the sound.

Water swirled about her ankles and rose higher. She kept walking. Her heart caught the urgency of the torrent and thudded tumultuously inside her breast. She trembled in the wet chill of the clammy garments plastered to her body. Her hair had come loose and tumbled about her shoulders in a wild array. She pushed a wet strand out of her eyes and thought of Maura's Irish stew. Her stomach growled.

As the stream swirled and raged about her knees, threatening to suck her into its depths, terror seized her. Two men had drowned in this mine, she remembered. Rembrandt had told her. A storm had caused a flashflood, and the men had been caught in it.

Rainstorms underground no longer seemed laughable.

She bolted blindly forward, groping at the walls with her hands to keep from falling, letting the current of the water guide her. Perspiration dripped into her eyes, in spite of the freezing temperature.

She lived now in a world without sight, without color, a world where perception came only through the senses, magnified by terror and desperation: The coarse, granular hardness of granite walls; spongy moss on splintered wood. Wetness. The smell of water, sweat, and fear. The ragged gasp of her own breath. And the roar—always the deafening roar—of the raging torrent that seemed bent on expelling her from this underground sepulcher of hell.

As the water rose to her hips, she had to move slower and more carefully. She took the Starr from its holster and tucked it inside her waistband to keep it dry. Her feet stumbled. She caught herself, stumbled again. The roar had become so much a part of her that she barely noticed the difference when the volume suddenly increased.

Her awareness of impending doom was strictly intuitive. She could see no danger approaching. But her imagination was excellent. Rising water and an indefinable change in the sound created visions in her mind that closed off her throat and sent her heart tumbling like boulders down an unstable incline.

A new sound came to her ears—her own choked whimper.

Tension mounted, keeping pace with the water's depth and the thunderous din. A scream ripped upward from her diaphragm to lodge in her throat as she plowed clumsily forward, waiting with increasing dread for a disaster she could not see, only sense.

A sudden deluge poured over her, whipping her hair into her face, stealing her breath, snatching her feet out from under her. Her arms flailed as she sought to regain her balance. She went down. Water rushed over her and into her open mouth, her hands scraped against the floor, and silence replaced the angry thunder in her ears.



About the Author Charlene Raddon began her fiction career in the third grade when she announced in Show & Tell that a baby sister she never had was killed by a black widow spider. She often penned stories featuring mistreated young girls whose mother accused of crimes her sister had actually committed. Her first serious attempt at writing fiction came in 1980 when she woke up from a vivid dream that compelled her to drag out a portable typewriter and begin writing. She’s been at it ever since. An early love for romance novels and the Wild West led her to choose the historical romance genre but she also writes contemporary romance. At present, she has five books published in paperback by Kensington Books (one under the pseudonym Rachel Summers), and four eBooks published by Tirgearr Publishing.

Charlene’s awards include: RWA Golden Heart Finalist, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award Nomination, Affair de Coeur Magazine Reader/Writer Poll for Best Historical of the Year. Her books have won or place in several contests.

Currently, Charlene is working on her next release.

@CRaddon ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Website ~ Goodreads

The Author's Guide to Working with Book Bloggers by Barb Drozdowich - Book Review and Giveaway

(Nonfiction)

This review is done in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Barb will be awarding a $20.00 GC for Amazon or Barnes & Noble to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Do you feel out of your comfort zone when dealing with book bloggers? They are the New Gatekeepers to book publishing success – but how can you tap into that source of free promotions by putting your best foot forward?

The Author’s Guide to Working with Book Bloggers combines the advice of 215 blogging professionals collected in a survey covering all aspects of communication between authors and Review Blogs. Whether you are a new author, or have many titles under your belt, let us demystify the promotion of your book on a book blog.

You’ll learn about whom and where book bloggers are, and the following:

The Query,

The Review,

The Giveaway,

The Author Interview,

The Guest Post,

The Book Blurb Excerpt and Cover Reveals and more!

My review:

As a book blogger, I'm pleased there's a book available for authors like this one.  Admittedly, much of what's in here seems like common sense, but having worked first hand with authors, I know it really isn't. There seems to be an abundant lack of reading directions out there -- and that's one of the first things she mentions in the book.  Follow directions. Best. Advice. Ever. Sounds simple and obvious, but trust me and my experience with working with authors, it isn't.

The author, Ms. Drozdowich, breaks everything down into incredibly small pieces, covering even the tiniest detail. That's fantastic for the new author who's uncertain how to begin marketing her book with bloggers.  It does make for dry reading for those of us who aren't so new.

I think there's a niche for this book with authors who aren't overly familiar with promotional opportunities provided by the blogging community.  This clearly outlines what is available and how to pursue them.  It's comprehensive and well written and should be supplied to every newly published author. 

4 Flowers - This was a very good book! I'd recommend it to my friends.

Here's an excerpt:

The Guest Post

What is a guest post and how can it promote your book?

As we have discussed before, book bloggers are the new slush pile. They are inundated with review requests. Their email inboxes seem to magically fill up with emails from publishing houses, PR people, authors, and their assistants. Book blogging is a hobby, and while I personally feel that it’s the best hobby a person can have, it shouldn’t take over a person’s life.

Some bloggers read faster than others, so posting 4 or 5 reviews a week is doable. Some blogs have multiple reviewers and they can post 10 or 15 reviews a week, as they post multiple times a day. We can assume that most book bloggers post reviews because they want to share their love of books! But there are other ways to publicize your book.

In today’s publishing environment, readers want to get to know authors. Well, we want to get to know the public persona of the author. We don’t really want to know the day to day minutiae of the author’s life, but we want to know what they are like as an author, what their interests are, how they research the books they write, and how they come up with ideas (especially totally non-creative people like myself). I’m continually fascinated by the over-used question of where do your ideas/inspiration come from? We want to know what books they’ve written, and what’s coming up next. Many of us want to go to book signings or author chats. We want to be able to get a feel for their writing before we spend money on a book.

One way we can do this is by reading a guest post the author has written. Guest posts are a little window into the thoughts and ideas of an author. And to the addicted reader, they are a source of fascination and entertainment.

About the Author:

Social Media and Wordpress Consultant Barb Drozdowich has taught at University, trained technical personnel in the banking industry and, most recently, used her expertise to help dozens of authors develop the social media platform needed to succeed in today’s fast evolving publishing world. She owns Bakerview Consulting and manages the popular blog, Sugarbeat’s Books.

Bakerview Consulting (Business Site)
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Marriage by Arrangement by Anne Greene -- Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anne will be awarding a digital copy of Masquerade Marriage – book one in the series, to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour, and a Grand Prize of a 20.00 GC to the Pelican Book Group website to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A special thanks to Anne Greene for stopping by and being willing to answer a few of our questions. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I love history. I can add suspense and mystery and I do add them to each of my historical romances. I can set my stories in any setting. I can sprinkle in real historic figures that might have been forgotten, but who performed heroic or evil deeds. History in romances adds knowledge painlessly to the reader. Also the reader can enter a simpler time with no electronic gadgets to interfere with face to face conversation.

What research or world-building is required?

I create an entirely different world from our present day one. I use horses and carriages, huge homes or slave quarters, different fashions than todays from the skin up. It’s a world where people are excited about such modern inventions as gas lights, fabric airplanes, steamships, plows, telegrams, crank-starting automobiles, ice boxes, victrolas, and where women stay at home and raise their family. I show the progression of how women gained independence and self-reliance.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

I’ve learned that people are much the same today as they were in the past. They have the same desires, heartaches, failures and successes. I’ve learned that love comes in surprising ways and at inappropriate times and in strange places. Men still strive to protect their women. Women still fall in love with the wrong man. The comedy of life was similar then as it is now. The world was smaller in past eras, and there was less opportunity to change your status in life, but heroic men and women overcame great obstacles to gain their heart’s desire.

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

My family all think I’m odd to spend hours and hours at the keyboard alone, except for the company of the people inside my head. But those people are real to me, and I love spending time with them. Also, I’m one of those writers who doesn’t enjoy talking about her work in progress. Some writers love talking about their stories to anyone who will listen. I think discussing my story before it’s completed waters down the excitement of creation. I like everything to be fresh when I sit down to write.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a definite pantser. Watching a story unfold like a movie makes the entire process of writing exciting for me. If I plotted out the story I’d be making my characters behave in ways that would not be natural for them. I like to watch them perform and hear what they say. That’s when the story becomes exciting.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

My room is stacked with papers. My circular desk is to my right. And my printer. Actually I have two printers, one is for color. Then comes a bank of windows that overlook the golf course. Not that I spend much time gazing out those windows. I don’t. Then comes my corner nook where I keep my art supplies and occasionally I set up my easel and paint a picture. Four tall bookcases are scattered around my room and then comes my desk with my computer. It’s a really nice room. Pictures of my children hang from the walls. My husband and I were professional photographers.

Anything new coming up from you?

Yes, I’m currently working on two books. br>
What?

I’m working on a book called Murder In Istanbul. This is a 90,000 Word Romantic Suspense expected to be the first book in a SERIES Titled: CIA Operatives – Other Books in the Series: Murder in Tel Aviv – Murder In Tuscany.

In a single day, an archeologist discovers her brother’s been kidnapped, her purse stolen, and she’s alone in a foreign city with only a mysterious stranger to help. And someone wants the secret she hides…enough to kill her.

Nicole Phillips’ husband died in a mysterious plane crash. She fears falling in love again with the reckless, danger-loving type like her late husband.

Josh Bainbridge, the CIA analyst using her as bait to track the kidnapper, is just such an adventurous man. Besides living on the edge, he’s bitter about women and questions God. The kidnapper murdered Josh’s brother, and he seeks Nicole to use her to force her brother to reveal the secret that leads to fortunes in antiquities. After the kidnapper learns the secret hidden in the map, he will kill both Nicole, her brother, and his old enemy, Josh.

I’m also working on Cupid Goes Barnstorming, a 70,000 word historical.

What happens in the roaring twenties when a wing walking flapper falls in love with a daredevil confirmed bachelor?

1925 – Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Wing walker, Gloria Richards, lives in her cousin’s beach house. After her partner dies in a barnstorming crash, Gloria sweet-talks her cousin’s husband’s younger brother, Rand Maitland, a World War I combat pilot turned stunt pilot, into hiring her as his wing walker. Within days Gloria falls for Rand. Being a confirmed bachelor and short of his life goals, Rand keeps Gloria at a distance. He doesn’t want to be tamed by a wife like his older brothers. But Gloria’s all he’s ever dreamed of in a woman—with the added asset of being a never-turn-down-a-dare adventurer. Yet, to find love, both must surrender their dream.

Do you have a question for our readers?

Yes, I have lots of questions, but I’ll only ask a few. What type of story do you like to read best? What do you look for in your favorite books? What makes a particular character real to you?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage, won the New England Reader Choice award, the Laurel Wreath Award, and the Heart of Excellence Award. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement released November, 2013. A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. She makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. View Anne’s travel pictures and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.PelicanBookGroup.com. Or at http://www.Amazon.com. Visit http://www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com for information on writing an award-winning novel. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. Visit Anne’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/annewgreene?fref=ts.

A MARRIAGE COVENANT

Why does a handsome, powerful noble of the highest rank in England stoop to marry a mere Lady of Lowland Scotland?

A GREAT SECRET

Are the whispered stories about him true? With his shadowy past and strange behavior, what awful secret does he hide? Each change of clothes transforms him into a different man.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE

Can Lady Cailin keep her vow to make her marriage happy and successful, unlike that of her parents, or must she arrange for the Duke's accidental death?

Ruby Heart by Cristelle Comby - Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Cristelle will be awarding a signed paperback of Ruby Heart plus a signed copy of book 1, Russian Dolls, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (US ONLY) 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?

As a child, I loved jigsaws. Then I had this phase, where I wanted to be a magician, and I was obsessed with finding out how tricks works. I guess it’s no wonder I’ve been drawn to mysteries and detectives stories. I love a good mystery: solving the puzzle, finding out who did it and how.

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

It’s pretty straight forward actually. One of the biggest challenge for me is making my London look like the real London. Luckily, I’ve been there several times… and for the rest, there’s Google Maps ;)

The second challenge is the blindness of one of my main character. It’s a tough thing to write; it keeps me on my toes from the first page to the last.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

Patience. You better have the stuff in stock when you’re on a tough case to crack, or when you’re a writer planning her next story.

Any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

I have found that I cannot write out of order. I know some people can write one scene here and one scene there, and, at the end, somehow patch it all up together. I just can’t. I have to start from the beginning and always move forward.

Plotter or pantser?

I plan everything carefully, spend a long time working on my outline. I find it’s the most efficient way to avoid the blank page monster.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

A large window. The blinds are half-open to let the sun in, without it blinding me.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I’m working on the next title in the Neve & Egan series, Danse Macabre. It will be available later this year. I’m actually taking a break from writing the last chapter to do this interview ;). Then there will be the epilogue left, and a few months of editing.

Do you have a question for our readers?

What did you think of the story? What did you like, or not like? I love getting feedback; it’s so helpful. Please write down a review or send me an email, or a tweet to let me know what you thought of it.

About the Author:

Cristelle Comby was born and raised in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, in Greater Geneva, where she still resides.

Thanks to her insatiable thirst for American and British action films and television dramas, her English is fluent.

She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting.

Ruby Heart is her second new-adult novel, and she’s hard at work on the next titles in the Neve & Egan series.

Website: http://cristelle-comby.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cristelle.comby
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Cristelle,br> Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Cristelle%20Comby&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CristelleComby

When elderly client Doris Hargrave informs private investigator Alexandra Neve that her beloved antique ruby heart necklace has gone missing for the second time in a period of over sixty years, Alexandra knows this is no ordinary jewellery theft. The ruby heart is a family heirloom and the only thing that connects an ailing Mrs. Hargrave to her parents, who were murdered during the Holocaust.

To solve the case, Alexandra and her business partner, blind history professor Ashford Egan, must sift through obscure Holocaust documents to find out the truth. It’s that way that they learn of a secret World War II-era love affair which could hold the key to all the answers they are looking for. Meanwhile, Egan is under immense pressure from the university to quit his private investigating business, and Alexandra is afraid that a man she trusts will leave her. Again.

When Alexandra begins to receive anonymous threats and her flat is vandalised, this all becomes personal. Knowing that there is someone out there to hurt her, Alexandra vows to find that elusive ruby heart if it’s the last thing she ever does.

Buy the book at Amazon.

Cassie Scot Series by Christine Amsden - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $50 Amazon or BN GC to one randomly selected commenter. Click on the banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Book One - Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

Book Two - Secrets and Lies

Cassie Scot, still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.

To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness.

Enjoy an excerpt:

My parents think the longer the name, the more powerful the sorcerer, so they named me Cassandra Morgan Ursula Margaret Scot. You can call me Cassie.

I've been called a lot of things in my life: normal, ordinary, and even a disappointment. After the Harry Potter books came out, a couple of people called me a squib. Since I haven't read them, I have to assume it's a compliment.

Personally, I prefer normal, which is why the sign on my office door reads: Cassie Scot, Normal Detective.

You have to understand that around here, when your last name is Scot, people are easily confused. Not only are my parents powerful practitioners, but I have six talented brothers and sisters. Plus, my family hasn't always been known for its subtlety. When weird stuff happens around here, the people who are willing to believe in magic are prone to suspect the Scots.

The day I opened for business I got a call from an old woman who swore her cat was possessed by the devil. She also swore she'd read my web site, which clearly stated the types of work I did and did not do. Exorcisms were on the No list, and while I hadn't specified pet exorcisms, I would have thought it was implicit.

About the Author:

Award-winning author Christine Amsden has written stories since she was eight, always with a touch of the strange or unusual. She became a “serious” writer in 2003, after attending a boot camp with Orson Scott Card. She finished Touch of Fate shortly afterward, then penned The Immortality Virus, which won two awards. Expect many more titles by this up-and-coming author.

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Fatal Trust by Diana Miller - Spotlight and Giveaway

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

Stepping her perfect Jimmy Choos into place beside Ben Gallagher’s wounded Nikes, straitlaced Philadelphia lawyer Catherine Barrington is surprisingly unable to resist the disarming small-town mechanic’s charm. He’s one of the heirs to the vast fortune left by his eccentric grandfather Max, a bestselling horror writer, and she’s there to carry out Max’s last wishes. Routine enough…except that inheriting comes with a catch: none of Max’s heirs will get a penny until they’ve lived together for two weeks in the shadow-filled rooms of his mansion in the wooded hills near Lake Superior.

From beyond the grave, a letter from Max insists that his death was no accident, sending Catherine undercover—and way out of her comfort zone—to catch the killer. Posing as Lexie, Ben's cocktail waitress girlfriend, Catherine soon finds herself trapped with the feuding clan at the sinister Nevermore manor. To save her own life, she’ll have to confront the murderer, as well as her growing attraction to Ben—a top suspect.

Enjoy this excerpt:

Ben draped an arm around Catherine’s shoulders, pulling her against his side. He smelled like pine soap, which surprised her. She’d expected some men’s cologne with a virile name and an overdose of spice and musk. “Why don’t you get me another drink, Lexie? She’s a cocktail waitress,” he told Cecilia.

That’s right—she was supposed to be Lexie the cocktail waitress. Catherine gave him a tight smile. “I’m off duty.”

“I promise I’ll make it worth your while,” Ben said, his voice lowered suggestively.

She was also supposed to be crazy about him, so instead of telling him where to stick it, she raised her chin. “I came out here to give you emotional support. Not to wait on you.”

“Good for you, Lexie,” Cecilia said. “Ben always dates twits who do whatever he wants. He needs someone who’ll stand up to him.”

Ben sighed as if he’d been ordered to haul stones across the Sahara for a new pyramid rather than his own glass across the room for a refill. “With the two of you ganging up on me, I guess I’ll get my own drink.”

“Bring me a glass of cabernet while you’re at it,” Cecilia called after him.

“They got me.”

The words came from the man who’d just stumbled into the parlor. His light brown hair was all wild wisps and spikes, one sleeve of his suitcoat was torn, and his shirt had been pulled from his trousers.

And he was covered with blood.

“They came out of the trees,” he wheezed out. “I couldn’t stop them. I tried, but I couldn’t.”

“Help me.” His voice was just above a whisper. “Please.”

Then he collapsed in a bloody mess on the parlor floor.

About the Author:

When she was eight, Diana Miller decided she wanted to be Nancy Drew. But no matter how many garbage cans she dug through, conversations she “accidentally” overheard, and attics she searched, she never found a single cryptic letter, hidden staircase, or anything else even remotely mysterious. She worked as a lawyer, a soda jerk, a stay-at-home mom, a hospital admitting clerk, and a conference host before deciding that the best way to inject suspense into her otherwise satisfying life was by writing about it.

Diana is a five-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award, including for Fatal Trust, and won a Golden Heart for her debut novelDangerous Affairs. She lives in the Twin Cities with her family.

Website: dianamillerwriter.com
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Trust-Kindle-Serial-Miller-ebook/dp/B00FX7SLLA/ref=zg_bs_5044445011_8
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dianamillerwriter

Five Things You'd Never Guess About Nana Prah - Guest Blog and Giveaway

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

Five things you’d never guess about Nana Prah

1. I’m pretty sure one of my cousins thinks I’m a lesbian, but I’m not. Back in college a friend of mine and I used to frequent a homosexual dance club to get our grove on. I could dance to some awesome music and not worry about a man trying to pick me up because, well, they were gay. I projected heterosexual vibes so the women left me alone, too. I ran into my cousin at this club. He was in the closet at the time, but I knew he was gay long before he came out. We never spoke about our encounter, but I have a feeling he presumed about me, what I knew about him.

2. I love the drama of being a teacher. When I stand up in front of a class, I consider them to be my captive audience and the actress I should have been comes out. Sometimes my jokes or imitations bomb big time, but when I’m hot, they sometimes get too lost in the entertainment to remember that they’re learning. Don’t think I’m soft when it comes to exams, though. I’ll make them laugh in class, but if they don’t study, they’ll be crying during the assessment.

3. I used to annoy my mother with my negativity, yet at the same time I would trust everyone I came into contact with. Over time I’ve become a more positive person, but I’ve learned to trust less easily.

4. Take a look at my picture. Aren’t I adorable with my chubby cheeks? Do I look like a black belt in karate? Well I am and I’m pretty good. Unlike my heroine, Jasmine, in Love Through Time, I’ve never had to use my skills outside of my imagination and the training center (dojo), and I hope I never have to, but I would. My friend tells me that’s what makes me so dangerous. I look too sweet to be able to beat the crap out of someone with my bare hands. By the way black belts don’t have to register their hands as a lethal weapon.

5. I loved the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Loved it! So much that I mentioned it in my book. The conversations in that show were so snarky that I learned a thing or two. Plus Buffy could kick ass. There is nothing I enjoy more than reading about or watching the strength of a woman displayed.

About the Author:

Nana Prah was born in Ghana, West Africa, raised in the US and currently resides back in Ghana where she loves her job as a writer and nurse educator. She has been writing since she can remember (in her journal) and has been an avid reader of romance novels since the eighth grade. She has finally been able to utilize the years and years of inadvertent research into writing her own romance novels where love always conquers all.

Blog : www.nanaprah.blogspot.com
Facebook: Nana Prah, Author
Twitter: @NanaPrah

Defending her family – no problem. Recalling past lives – maybe just a small problem. Taking a chance on love again – well…

Jasmine Gibson has her world turned upside down when she meets gorgeous Sean Taylor. He’s the first man she’s been attracted to since her fiancé dumped her two years ago. But when the disturbing daydreams start, Jasmine begins to fear that her actions in a past life may have finally caught up with her.

Sean finds it impossible to stay away from Jasmine even though he can’t shake the inexplicable feeling of betrayal, simmering deep inside him every time he sees her.

To complicate things, someone is out to hurt Jasmine and every time she and Sean are together, the police have to be called. Even if Jasmine can make Sean trust her, the two of them may not stay alive long enough to enjoy their love this time around.

Buy the book at Black Opal Books, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, ARe, or Kobo.

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Always and Forever Love by Lynn Crandall - Review and Giveaway

(Romantic Suspense)

This interview is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lynn will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The presence of a ghost in her life doesn't alarm Lacy Aegar, in fact it makes her happy. Two and a half years ago when her dead husband Nicholas reappeared in her life as a full-bodied spirit, she questioned her sanity. But with Nicholas' explanation that there are things about life that are not as she's always believed, she settled into a pleasant routine of working with her sister at their private investigation business and enjoying home life with her now 10-year-old son – with Nicholas never very far away.

Lacey's complacency and sense of stability is sent topsy-turvy when she runs into Jackson Carter, the son of powerful and influential business tycoon, William Carter. Typical of the Carter reputation, Jackson's slick new private investigating business is siphoning off clients from the Aegar sisters' business, creating financial difficulty. It's a recurring nightmare for Lacey, who has already seen damage done by the Carter family, and when she encounters Jackson, she wants nothing to do with him.

But things are not what they seem when it comes to Jackson Carter, either. Unbeknownst to Lacey and her sister, Jackson is fighting a battle to preserve his business, too, and his integrity. For him, it's a fight for his soul, and he enlists Lacey's help because of her unique investigative skills and open heart. When she uncovers a mole in his business, she also discovers that one of his clients' drug trials has been given the green light to go to the next phase based on falsified data. As they work together to save both their businesses, Jackson and Lacey not only face death, they come to grips with their feelings about love and life. With Nicholas's help, Lacey comes to understand that love is always and forever, but in choosing Jackson, she chooses a full life, a life worth living.

My review:

I started reading this expecting a typical love story. Was I ever mistaken. This is a romance, but is totally unique. It even has a mystery and a ghost thrown in for good measure.

It was exciting for me to follow the hero and heroine through the story. I never knew how it was going to end, which I loved. It was not predictable, and this in itself was unique.

There is mayhem, romance, mystery and excitement throughout the story and yet, through it all, I had a feeling of tenderness, kindness and love.

I don't want to go into any further details. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. I just want to say, "I LOVED IT"

I am giving it 5 flowers.




Enjoy this excerpt:

Noting that the receptionist’s desk was empty, Lacey glanced at the wall clock and casually wondered why Michelle wasn’t at her desk by 10:30 a.m. But the thought was quickly forgotten when sounds of anguish spilled out from behind the door of the private office she shared with Sterling.

“I can’t believe it!” Sterling fumed.

“Can’t believe what?” Lacey walked to her desk and tossed her purse in a nearby chair, slightly alarmed by her sister’s dismay.

“Oh, when it rains it pours, I guess.” Sterling’s sleek, chestnut hair fell over her face as she leaned her head on her hands.

“If it weren’t for bad luck we’d have no luck at all?”

“We’re between a rock and a hard place,” Sterling came back with from under her hair.

“Well, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” It was a common game for the sisters, something to test their edge and sometimes to relieve stress. But Lacey knew this time something was serious. “Wanna tell me what’s up?”

Sterling lifted her head but didn’t meet Lacey’s eyes. “I just got off the phone with my husband. Ben said the word from the higher-ups is keep the overtime down.”

“I see. Well, that will give you more time together. He’s been working an awful lot of hours lately. Homicide work can be very taxing. It’ll be good for him to have more time with you and the family.”

Sterling sighed, shifting back into her seat, before turning a sad face to her. “Always looking on the bright side, aren’t you, sis. Well, there’s more. The city is negotiating with the police union, but so far it looks like the cost of health insurance is going to go way up.”

“Oh, more out-of-pocket expenses.” Lacey knew that Sterling and Ben wouldn’t scrimp on health care for one-year-old Joshua—the namesake of Sterling and Lacey’s father—but with the agency’s dwindling income, the couple had already tightened their belt. “A few more macaroni-and-cheese dinners?” she offered halfheartedly.

Then Sterling delivered the final blow. “Lacey, this building’s being sold and the new owners are announcing a raise in the rent.” She grabbed the rental agreement papers from her desk and shook them in the air. “It’s the curse, all over again.”

Lacey knew exactly what her sister was talking about. It was something they jokingly attributed life’s challenges to—the Aegar Curse. It had been haunting them since their father’s death when they were young girls. In moments of lightheartedness or when no other explanations made sense of things, they joked that the curse was handed down from their mother’s side. A great-great-great-grandfather spit on somebody’s grave and— voila! The Aegar curse was born and now signified the sisters’ only inheritance from their maternal side.

She knew that neither one seriously believed in a family curse. Their father had been a cop and it was a criminal who took his life. When their mother had become clinically depressed, it was the loss of her husband that was to blame, not a curse. And when Lacey’s husband was killed by the same crime family that stole their father’s life, it was a perverted mind that pulled the trigger. Still, in the deepest parts of her heart, sad questions remained, stabbing her like hot steel and wondering, why?

“I don’t know what to do, sis.” Sterling shook her head and slumped into the couch that stood against the far wall of the office. “I love what we do. I love this office. I love this couch, the file cabinet. But we’ve lost too many clients to Carter, Inc. He’s like a vacuum sweeper, sucking up all the work. He’s the shiny new thing in town so he’s attractive, but it’s not fair. We’ve worked hard for what we’ve built and we are good at what we do.”

“Hello?” Lacey’s heart leapt into her throat as speak-of-the-devil Jackson Carter poked his head through their office door.

“Can I help you?” Sterling stood and walked toward the man.

“I didn’t see anyone at the front desk and I heard someone was looking for a vacuum sweeper.” Jackson’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

Lacey blinked hard. Words stuck in her mouth. This ubiquitous devil was starting to make a habit of taking her off guard. Deliberately, she turned to her sister. “Sterling, this is Jackson Carter. Mr. Carter, this is my sister and partner, Sterling.”

“Aka, vacuum sweeper.” Jackson stepped forward, his eyes a little too merry, and offered his hand.

As Sterling, looking more than a little awkward, stuck out her hand to the wise guy and acknowledged the introduction, Lacey heard the outer door open and close. Why didn’t I hear that a minute ago? A little warning would have been nice? Where are those keen PI skills when I need them?

About the Author:

Bio: Lynn Crandall lives in the Midwest and writes in the company of her two cats. She has been a reader and a writer all her life. Her background is in journalism, but whether writing a magazine or newspaper story or creating a romance, she loves the power stories hold to transport, inspire, and uplift. In her romances, she focuses on vulnerable, embraceable characters who don't back down. She hopes that readers discover, over and over, stories of ordinary people who face ordinary life challenges and are transformed by extraordinary love.

https://www.amazon.com/author/lynncrandall
www.lynn-crandall.com
@lcrandall246

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