Sunrise Over Brasov by Stephanie Burkhart - Spotlight and Giveaway

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

Rosa Getzi lives a life of intrigue at Poiana Brasov with Clement, a werewolf, and Cassandra, the witch. Her past doesn't matter to her – until she discovers what it holds.

Prince Michael Sigmaringen joins his sister-in-law, Caroline, and the vampire prince, Darius, in a daring rescue, igniting Rosa's desire to find her family. However, all is not as it appears. Rickard, Rosa's friend, escapes with her. Clement will go to any lengths to get Rosa and Rickard back.

At Darius' fortress, Michael soon discovers Rickard is a new breed of werewolf – one who can control the change, and Clement hopes to exploit Rickard's abilities.

Michael's courage, strengths, and convictions will be tested like never before. Can Michael and Rosa find true happiness and the rid the lupine haunting of the Sigmaringens once and for all?

Enjoy an excerpt:

Some inner voice encouraged her to leave with him. It was the right thing to do. "Turn around," she said quietly. "Why?"

"So I can change."

"I don't trust you." His reply was quick. "Leave your chemise on." He walked to the window and glanced outside, then checked his pocket watch.

Rosa figured that was the most privacy he was willing to afford her and unfastened her robe. Quickly, she stepped into the winter dress without putting on a corset. "I need you to lace up the back."

Michael approached and tied up the stays with familiar ease. There was that word again -- familiar. Rosa shivered. What did it mean? How was he familiar when she couldn't recall seeing him before? She found her boots and slid them on. They were lined with fur and went up to her knees. She couldn't articulate her compliance, but could say an instinctual desire drove her to do his bidding. Yes, there were clues, but no easy answers.

He was a witch, like her. She responded to his kiss, enjoying it far too much, though she wouldn't admit that to him. He hadn't hurt her, and he knew her mother. The thought of finding her mother filled her with a sense of comfort. In all honesty, Rosa, however, couldn't remember her life before coming to Poiana Brasov, but she hated to think that Clement and Cassandra, who had been so kind to her, had deceived her. Rosa wouldn't deny her instincts and decided to follow the clues. When there was a minute, she intended to get her answers from Michael.

Her boots secure, she slid her arms into her winter coat. Michael grabbed a scarf and gloves from a shelf in her closet, presenting them to her. His face betrayed nothing -- not one hint of pleasure or dissatisfaction. Instead, he grabbed her gloved hand and led her out of the room.

Rosa noticed the noise continued outside of the fortress. Just on the other side of her door, Andrei lay crumpled on the ground. His chest rose and fell. Thank Corvinus he appeared to be sleeping.

Michael moved with unnatural speed. His grasp on her hand was tight, tugging her behind him. They proceeded down the hall toward the servants' staircase.

The inner fortress remained quiet. Several candles in wall sconces had burnt down to the stubs, casting long, inky shadows over the stone walls.

Reaching the staircase, Rosa paused. "I need to check on Rickard."

"There's no time. We delayed too long as it is." Michael dragged her down the stairs.

About the Author:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

Website: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Desert Breeze Publishing.

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Twilight Over Moldavia by Stephanie Burkhart

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

Romanian unification is on the horizon and the spirited Crown Princess of Carpathia, Caroline, would prefer to ride horses and archery to embroidery and dancing. Complicating her life is her recent discovery that she's a witch.

Prince Stefan Sigmaringen travels to Carpathia to meet Caroline. He discovers he has much in common with her. He also learns that a strange man, Timon, has an unnatural interest in him.

Upon Stefan's engagement, he overhears his mother confessing to a horrible secret – she cursed him in order to conceive him and Stefan will become a werewolf when he turns eighteen. There is a condition to overcome the curse, but it will require Stefan to draw on all his inner strength and Caroline, her courage. Can they break the foul enchantment and secure their future or will Stefan give himself over to the lupine curse that haunts his family?

Read an Excerpt:

He ground his teeth and tugged her so close her lips crushed against his. His manhood pressed her thigh, and it thrilled her. Yet she was afraid. Is this how it was for a married couple? This insatiable craving that couldn't be tamed?

A howl broke through the night air, shattering the intensity of the moment.

Stefan pushed Caroline to the ground and covered her with his body. His lips brushed her ear. "Use your senses."

She nodded.

Wood cracked, and she glanced at the old wooden gate. The hinges snapped, and the door flew off its frame into the courtyard. Two men walked through, their yellow eyes giving away their presence in twilight's gray shadows.

Juris and Timon.

"Damn," Stefan muttered. He stood, fisting his hands. "Run, Caroline."

She sat up and adjusted her dress, not prepared to abandon the man who had given her such pleasure. A powerful connection existed between her and Stefan. She wouldn't turn and run at the first sight of danger.

"Feeling a little lusty, are we? So sorry to interrupt." Timon's voice was edged in steel. "Juris wants to watch."

Thank God Caroline had nistal root with her. She plunged a hand into her pocket, pulled out a small pouch, and dug out some of the powder. She threw it on the ground. "Flame to life!"

A bright light rose in the air and quickly flamed out. No way could Michael miss it. They needed his help.

Stefan pounced on Juris, and the two of them tumbled over each other. Caroline was unsure what to do next. Timon crossed his arms as Stefan and Juris fought. Juris forcefully shoved Stefan away, and he struck his head on the wooden barrier. His eyes glazed over.

About the Author:

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor
GOOD READS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Desert Breeze Publishing: http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/moldavian-moon-book-two-twilight-over-moldavia-epub/
AMAZON: http://amzn.com/B006RQ7LU8
BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moldavian-moon-book-two-stephanie-burkhart/1113645168?ean=2940013822177
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-moldavianmoonbooktwotwilightovermoldavia-667833-162.html
KOBO EBOOKS: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/moldavian-moon-book-two-twilight-over-moldavia

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The Secret Door by Stephanie Burkhart - Spotlight and Giveaway

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

It's 1927 and Lord Zoltan Kristos, Hungary's Minister of the Interior, takes great pains to hide the fact he's a werewolf from the world. Despite his efforts, he's recognized when he goes to the Austrian-Hungarian border to inspect the area for damage from a recent rare earthquake.

Zoltan is accused of stealing Kurt Meklau's witch, Inna, and is recklessly followed to Volturn Manor, a residence belonging to another werewolf family, the Vargas. After a fight with Meklau, Zoltan barely escapes and his adversary is found dead.

Sophia Varga and Tomas Martin find Zoltan. Sophia is determine to attend to Zoltan's injuries and protect her home, but when Kurt's father, Marcus, comes seeking revenge, Sophia is tested like never before. As Zoltan and Sophia work together, attraction and desire flame between them.

Will the secrets Volturn Manor harbors offer Zoltan and Sophia the clues they need to defeat Marcus and give them the opportunity to explore their feelings for one another?

Enjoy an excerpt:

He looked her over seductively. His heart skipped a beat with desire. She rubbed the lotion into her hands and placed them on his stomach. He groaned, reaching out with his left hand and threading his fingers into her hair, jerking her head back so they were eye-to-eye. She set her jaw. His pulse pounded. Something intense flared between them, yet she kept her hands on his abdomen. Encouraged, Zoltan tugged her toward him, pressing her chest against his. Her nostrils flared and her brow furrowed in confusion.

He stopped, reminding himself he needed to offer a choice. "Do you want me to kiss you?"

"No." The sound of her denial was weak. He held her close.

"Do you want me to release you?"

"No."

"How should I solve my predicament?"

"I don't know."

"I do." He leaned close, her sweet fruity scent sending his senses into overdrive. He placed his lips on her jaw and kissed her.

About the Author:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.


http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart

Buy the book at Desert Breeze Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or All Romance eBooks.

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The Green Rose by Stephanie Burkhart - Spotlight and Giveaway

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

On the continent of Gaia, evil is brewing. Turncoat wizard, Balthyser, kidnaps the kings of Dahaka and Tapin. He wants the green rose, a source of powerful magic.

Princess Sonia of Tapin is forced to hunt down the rose in exchange for her father's life. It's the ultimate betrayal of Gaia's peace, but she has no choice if she wants to save her father.

Prince Ivánstan of Dahaka accompanies her on the journey. Both face challenges and obstacles that test their strength of character during the hunt for the rose. Dare Sonia put her trust and faith in a man she hardly knows to secure Gaia's peace or will the continent's harmony be shattered forever?

Enjoy an excerpt:

Sonia stepped into the alley. The stark shadows sent a chill down her spine.

"Hiro?"

"Don't--"

A strong arm wrapped around her neck, tugging her back against a thickly muscled chest.

She dropped her supplies. Her hand went for Broadwing, but powerful fingers grasped her wrist. There was no mistaking his citrus scent.

"Gabriel."

"Aye."

Hiro descended, talons extended.

Gabriel pinned Sonia's arm next to his body, shifting his arm and weight. Sonia struggled, but stopped when she felt the steel of a dagger against her throat. Her body felt immobilized by the upward twist in her trapped arm, forcing her free arm to hang limply at her side.

"No further, bird, or I'll slice her throat."

Hiro slowed his descent and circled overhead, never letting his gaze leave Sonia. Thank Nyla Hiro was here. Never had Gabriel caught her so unaware. How had he found her?

"What can I do?"

"Bring Ivánstan."

Hiro flew away.

"What did you tell that foul bird?" Gabriel hissed next to her ear.

"I urged him to leave."

"You were never a good liar."

"Unhand me."

His loud chuckle filled the air. "Nay, not yet, you have something I want."

Sonia struggled, turning her face toward the shadows to avoid his stench, but Gabriel held her firmly. A fresh bout of pain lashed up her arm. "Release her!"

Sonia directed her gaze toward Ivánstan's voice. Hiro was perched on his shoulder, his eyes blazing with anger. Sonia gasped. Hiro had never perched on another's shoulder before.

"Well, if the bird didn't fetch good Prince Ivánstan."

About the Author:Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

Website: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/



Buy the book at Desert Breeze Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or All Romance eBooks.

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The Green Rose by Stephanie Burkhart - Spotlight and Giveaway

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

On the continent of Gaia, evil is brewing. Turncoat wizard, Balthyser, kidnaps the kings of Dahaka and Tapin. He wants the green rose, a source of powerful magic.

Princess Sonia of Tapin is forced to hunt down the rose in exchange for her father's life. It's the ultimate betrayal of Gaia's peace, but she has no choice if she wants to save her father.

Prince Ivánstan of Dahaka accompanies her on the journey. Both face challenges and obstacles that test their strength of character during the hunt for the rose. Dare Sonia put her trust and faith in a man she hardly knows to secure Gaia's peace or will the continent's harmony be shattered forever?

Enjoy an excerpt:

Racing forward, he spotted her near Tapin's tents surrounded by three beasts. Tall and slender, she possessed a strong, wild beauty he found intriguing. Long chestnut brown hair flowed down her back. Her eyes were golden yellow with obsidian irises. She'd been bonded! Only the noble bonded. Her high, exotic cheekbones and patrician features were steeled in courage and determination. The primal urge to mate with her made his heart pound in his chest.

A falcon, the heraldic symbol of Tapin, was prominently displayed on her tunic.

A bird screeched. A wyldebeast craned its neck upward and the descending falcon slashed its talons over the creature's face, spraying blood.

"Well done, Hiro!" exclaimed the woman.

A second wyldebeast lashed at her. She stumbled backwards, tripping on a rock. Her wrist struck the ground hard, sending her sword sprawling several feet away from her, leaving her vulnerable.

"Draco, defend the Tapin noblewoman!"

Ivánstan's dragon, now overhead, shot a blast of flame from his mouth, scorching the fur of an advancing beast. The creature collapsed and rolled over, attempting to use the ground to extinguish the flames on its body.

The remaining wyldebeast raised his hand, its fingernails moist, poised to strike the noblewoman. Ivánstan lunged forward and sliced off the creature's wrist just inches in front of her face.

"Thank Nyla!" she cried.

The beast howled in pain and spun to face Ivánstan. Draco latched its thorny claws into the creature's shoulders, lifting it into the air.

About the Author:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks. She's also an assistant den leader for her son's Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

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2014 Autumn Collection by Gerald Costlow, Markee Anderson, Cecilia Corona, Nan O'Berry, Vincent Nutt, Stephanie Burkhart - Spotlight and Giveaway

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

Six complete sweet to sensual romances from six multi-talented authors in settings that are sure to keep you spellbound with tales about young magic, charming reunions, and new beginnings. Enjoy the darker side where witches cast spells, vampires exist, and zombies walk the earth. There's a story for everyone.

Man of Her Dreams by Gerald Costlow

Anise and Charlene are living the busy lives of young Goth women trying to juggle college and jobs and – in their case – training as apprentice Sherritt witches under the tutelage of Anise's mother, Annabel.

Then over Thanksgiving break, the girls encounter a young man named Donnie who claims to be running from a demon – a demon sent by the Devil himself. They might have dismissed the man as deluded, but Anise recognizes him from her dreams. He is the perfect lover she's been dreaming of night after night.

Now the witches are involved in a deadly game of hide-and-seek, discovering they have only days to figure out how to help Donnie. Are even the famous Sherritt witches up to the challenge? Third in the Modern Day Sherritt series.

Under the Harvest Moon by Markee Anderson

Victoria Sommerfield is the maid of honor at her neighbor's wedding, the day after the Harvest Festival. She's also very fond of Kirby, her best friend from high school, who's also in the bridal party. Victoria's forced to make a few decisions thanks to a crime in town. At least Kirby can save the day, for now. But can she take the next step with him?

Day of the Dead ~ (Dia de los Muertos) by Cecilia Corona

The Day of the Dead takes on a new meaning, when the dead don't stay dead. Dr. Valentina Bellmonte, a cancer survivor, is the new coroner at Hope Memorial. Her faith is put to the test when a body arrives at the morgue drained of blood and the man responsible for the crime is sporting fangs. Could vampires be real?

Her good friend, Dr. Xander Carlisle seems to know the truth, but he's unwilling to confide in her. He has a secret of his own and it's not just how he feels about her, but something else entirely, something he's forbidden to reveal.

Apple of His Eye by Nan O'Berry

Callie Dalton's truck runs out of gas on the road to her family's fruit stand. When a forestry agent Marshall Albright comes to her rescue, little does she know that he is the grandson of her grandfather's worst enemy, Brice Huntington. It seems the Dalton's and Huntington's have been waging a feud for the past twenty-nine years, ever since Laura Huntington left Stephen Dalton at the altar.

Falling in love was the easy part; the hard part is going to be keeping their grandparents from confronting one another. Can their love bring these two warring factions together?

Alive by Vincent Nutt

A mutated form of Cholera infects the world, creating zeeks, zombielike creatures in every respect. The group I'm with has traveled far. We've all lost those we've held dear along the way, but when life is unpredictable, anything can happen... This Thanksgiving brings new friends into our lives, and a fresh look at what tomorrow may bring.

Young Witchcraft by Stephanie Burkhart

Rachel's secret would have Cotton Mather rolling over in his grave. She's been raised from an early age to use magic for good, despite her temptation to cast a spell against Phil the bully who can't stop teasing her.

Joe thinks Rachel is cool, especially when she weaves her healing magic spells on him, but he's got his own problems. It's not easy keeping Rachel safe from Phil's constant threats.

When Phil poisons Rachel, can love and a little young witchcraft bring Rachel and Joe together or has years of Phil's bullying ruined their relationship for good?

Enjoy an excerpt from "Man of Her Dreams"

"Oh, good grief," said a woman's voice from nowhere. "The old 'naked in public' dream. You sure this is him? This is the man in my dreams? Where's the wild mare he rides across the moor, and the kilt, and the windswept hair, and the—all right, so he's got the washboard abs, and the...the rest of the package. But still..."

"The spell doesn't lie, Sis," responded another woman's voice from nowhere. "This is the man of your dreams. Anyway, a kilt? I think it's time you got rid of that Braveheart poster. The symbolism of his dream is obvious, according to your Psych 101 textbook I doubt you ever read—about as obvious as your man riding a wild mare. Does your kilted dream lover whip the mare into a lathered frenzy?"

"He d-doesn't...you've got a dirty mind. So what's this guy's problem? A fear of being locked out of motel rooms?"
,br> The second voice sighed. "He's unhappy with his life and searching for something better. Being naked means he's broke, so don't count on lavish gifts or expensive honeymoons from this guy. How many of the good catches had insomnia, for the spell to settle on this loser?"

About the Authors: Markee Anderson makes her home in northeast Wisconsin, surrounded by Packer fans, snow, and cheese. Along with her husband, they have three adult children and two Boston terrier babies. She writes under different pen names, all at: www.sweettalebooks.com

Come visit her at: http://markeeanderson.com

Stephanie Burkhart was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. After graduating from Central High, she joined the U.S. Army. She spent eleven years in the military, seven stationed in Germany. She left the Army in 1997 and settled in California. Stephanie has been married for over twenty years and has two boys, Andrew and Joseph. She now works for LAPD as a 9-1-1 Dispatcher.

Come visit her at: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

Gerald Costlow lives in Michigan and has published several novels and numerous short stories and novellas over the years. He's currently publishing a romantic-supernatural series with Publishing by Rebecca Vickery.

Cecilia Corona is a massage therapist by day and enjoys the adventures of writing by night. When she's not sitting at her computer plotting her next tale, she's enjoying the Southern California weather. She loves movies, animals of all kinds, especially her three dogs, and she's a big fan of mermaids. When she was young and saw the movie Splash for the first time, she believed sprinkling salt in the bathtub would magically allow her to grow a tail. She was sadly disappointed when the experiment didn't work. If she can't be a mermaid, then maybe she'll just have to write about them.

Please visit Cecilia's website at: http://authorceciliacorona.blogspot.com

Nan O'Berry lives on a small farm in western tidewater with her family and pets including a Black Angus cow named Esmeralda. A graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in education, she taught elementary school for several years before turning her attention to writing romance. She loves hearing from readers.

Please feel free to contact her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-OBerry-Romance- Author/161753103856411

When Vincent Nutt isn't fighting off zeeks, he's going to school and working toward his BA in Video Game Design.

You can find Vincent online at: http://vincentnutt.blogspot.com/

Buy the book at Amazon or Smashwords.

Smashwords Publisher Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/victorytalespress

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The Count's Lair by Stephanie Burkhart - Review and Giveaway

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Stephanie will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Count Anton Varga is haunted by the curse of the moon. It tugs on his emotions, ravishing his soul. Anton abhors the beast he must learn to tame if he is to find peace.

Lady Amelia Andrassy is an accomplished pianist, but her life in Budapest has been filled with heartache. When Amelia faints in the Duma's bookstore, it's Anton's strong arms that cradle her fall. His unusual eyes spark with hers, replacing their individual loneliness with the promise of feral passion.

After a two-month separation, Anton is ready to walk into Amelia's life again, but is Amelia ready to fan the spark they shared into a flame?


My Revivew:

This is book two in the Budapest Moon series. I haven't read book one, and I did feel like I missed a bit of the story. I was able to catch on, but I think I would recommend that readers start with book one to get the full experience of the story.

The message of this story is all about trust. Both our hero and heroine suffer from trust issues. Unfortunately, Anton has a secret he's loathe to share with Amelia, lest he lose her forever, and she suspects he's hiding something so really struggles with their relationship. There is no denying the physical attraction between them, but both want more. It's two steps forward, one back for many chapters.

The author does a wonderful job with her description of Hungary, its people, setting and many traditions. The setting also made this book have a pretty dark feel, which was a bit atypical of the usual romance. I've read other books by this author, and have always admired her writing skill. This book was a departure from the other in terms of tone. I also suspect this may be one of her first published works as the writing and plot weren't as tight or well created as some of her others. I still enjoyed this, and she certainly did a bang up job with the characters who were so real and clear.

The last portion of the book moved much more quickly than the start, when Amelia finds herself in great danger. I wish the whole book had been more like this! I think it would have made a more "un-put-downable" read.

That said, I liked the book. The setting was a character all its own, and the rest of the ensemble kept me interested. I'm glad I had a chance to read this book and look forward to more from the author.

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

Here's an excerpt:

"Amelia, to be honest about my intentions, I want to court you."

"Court me?" She stepped back.

He grabbed her wrist, as if desperate to keep her near him. His eyes impaled her, making her breathless. Was it too soon to think of always and forever with him? Had he really changed? Her heart believed so. Now, she just had to convince her head.

"I have no one to ask for permission, but you. Search your heart. I care for you deeply. I want to explore this, Amelia, but only if you do. I swear I'm ready for this."

Her lips trembled as she stepped forward, moved by the conviction in his voice. Dare she fall in love again? The chance was worth it. "Yes."

"Thank you." He wrapped his arms around her, infusing her with his warmth. She melted against the length of his body, savoring the contact. It felt right.

He parted from her, placed his hands on her upper arms, and looked at her. "The feelings I have when I'm near you are nothing like I've had before, but--"

"Go on." She prompted when he delayed too long.

"But I have a secret, too -- a secret that chokes me when I think of telling you."

"Anton--" A secret?

He held up his hand. "Let me finish. I promise to tell you, but I can't right now. I can only give you clues." "Really?"

"You must accept this, Amelia. I know it may be unusual, but it's the only way I can think of to be honest with you."

Taken off guard, she faced him. Anton's full lips and smoldering eyes riveted her to him. In fact, his looks were everything she was attracted to in a man, but it all came down to trust. Could she trust him? If she said yes to him right now, then she was giving him her trust, which included his secret.

"How many clues do you have?"

"Three. Once you know my secret, if you want to break our courtship, you can. I'll understand."

Her body shivered. Was his secret dangerous? Even if it was, did she care? A part of her just wanted to throw herself into his arms and let come what may. Another part of her told her to keep her feet firmly on the ground.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Counts-Lair-Budapest-Moon-Book-ebook/dp/B004LLIEMK

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/budapest-moon-book-two-the-counts-lair-stephanie-burkhart/1029218357?ean=9781612529509


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A Gentleman and a Rogue by Stephanie Burkhart - Review and Giveaway

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Stephanie will award a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Lady Keira Russell is destined to bring compressed natural gas to Britain. Her inner courage and mental toughness rarely falter – except when Prince Edmund Windsor is involved.

Edmund of Wales is from the future. His last jaunt through history muffed up the time line. Now, he's here to set it straight and win Keira's heart.

For Keira, if it isn't one obstacle, it's another. Queen Victoria has sponsored a competition to find a cleaner fuel source than coal. Keira's father is trying to build a windmill and the Ridgecrofts are working with gasoline. Then there's Edmund, whose sensual kisses and heated stares distract her down to her bones.

Keira has a choice: trust Edmund's notorious mischief-making or put her faith in Queen Victoria to make the right decision, but if Keira makes the wrong choice, the future of Great Britain will be changed forever.

My review:

This is the second installment in the adventures of the Windsor cousins. The review of the first book is here.

Their last foray into the past had managed to change their present, so they go back to try to change things back. Only this time, they aren't alone.

Edmund's brother, Richard, has followed them back in time to bring them home--you see, they had been forbidden to go back again. But, along with needing to repair the time line (which, of course, their family doesn't believe has been changed), for Edmund there's the little matter of the love of his life being in Victorian England. Richard is not the only extra, though, Jonas has also gone back for purposes of his own.

I definitely recommend reading this series is order. So much of what happens in this second book depends on book one. Not only the relationship between Keira and Edmund, but the entire situation surrounding the competition. New people are introduced to us who will play an important part in the upcoming book three.

Once again, Ms. Burkhart has given us just a fun quick read involving very likable people and an engaging storyline--not to mention in this particular volume quite the ending.

3.5 flowers.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Richard pursed his lips. "All right, then. I have orders to take you, Alice, Grayson, and Jonas back immediately."

"That ought to be fun -- especially Jonas. He's helping Keira's father build a windmill."

"Petrol and electricity are the future."

Edmund grimaced. "No, they aren't. Alice and I tried to tell you -- Keira's compressed natural gas powers our future." His voice filled with conviction.

"Ever since we were children--"

"History changed when Grayson came with Alice. He's here to fix it now."

Keira held up her hands. "Now, boys, let's not raise our voices. I have a feeling you've had this conversation before and came to no resolution."

"That's true," Edmund conceded.

Richard nodded.

Edmund glared at his brother. "I'm not leaving. Alice and I have every intention of setting history straight." Richard sighed.

"Besides, the only way to get back to the future is for us to warm our coin necklaces in our hands. You can't do that for us."

"Ever heard of an override switch?"

"No." Edmund's eyes narrowed. He didn't like the sound of that.

"Professor Byron gave me one."

A sinking feeling descended into the pit of his stomach. "What other tricks do you have up your sleeve?"

"That's telling."

Exasperated, Edmund raked a hand through his hair. "Think this through, Richard. No, better yet -- listen to your instincts."

His brother chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"I had an interesting conversation about instincts today with Jocelyn."

Keira tilted her head slightly, a curious expression crossing her face. "Do you know Jocelyn well?"

"I'm staying with the Dunkirks."

"I can't imagine Lord Ridgecroft meeting the suitable test with his goggles and cigars," said Edmund.

"Actually, I find Jocelyn and her father very refreshing."

"So, Richard, what are you going to do?" Edmund asked.

About the Author:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. After serving 11 years in the US Army she currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks. She's also an assistant den leader for her son's Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

WEBSITE: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor
GOOD READS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Buy the book at Desert Breeze Publishing, All Romance eBooks, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon.

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Victorian Scoundrel by Stephanie Burkhart - Review and Giveaway

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Stephanie will be awarding a $25.00 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

It's 2011 and compressed natural gas has taken over from the coal producing steam machines of the Victorian Age. Alice Windsor, Princess of York, follows her mischief-making cousin, Edmund of Wales, back to 1851 where Prince Albert is hosting Britain's Great Exhibition.

Alice soon finds herself over her head in trouble. Edmund is determined to help Prince Albert build a dirigible and the prime minister appears intent in preventing her from stopping Edmund. Alice knows it's too early for the massive flying machine to take to the air. Complicating matters is the passionate Grayson Kentfield, Earl of Swinton. Alice can't stop her pulse from pounding when she's near him.

Can Alice give her heart to a man from the past while working to stop Edmund from changing history?

My review:

What a fun read. Stephanie Burkhart has brought us a time travel romance that combines elements of steampunk (love the idea of scent-mail). It's not a long book and is an easy evening's read.

The main characters, Alice and Edmund, are cousins who are actually more like brother and sister. When Alice discovers Edmund going back in time, she follows him to try and keep him out of trouble, because where Edmund goes, trouble seems to follow. And, she finds out that what Edmund is attempting could very well change the future/their present so Alice has to try and stop him. Add to that the complication that both Alice and Edmund fall in love durint their time in the 1850s and you have the essence of the story.

There were some very neat elements of steampunk scattered through the story-- the Victorian age Alice and Edmund find themselves in is just a little different from what historical England not to mention the current time for Alice and Edmund where things are powered by compressed natural gas and glasses exist to help dyslexia.

I was hoping for a little more characterization -- I liked the characters, but I didn't feel like I connected with these characters as much as I have with other characters the author has penned. It was more like reading about what was happening to them rather than being drawn into and becoming a part of it myself. However, this is just the first book of a series, so hopefully we will see the characters grow and develop in the future books.

I could easily see this book as a series--it reminded me in tone a bit of the original Wild Wild West--fun banter between the main characters, some interesting inventions, and a problem to solve. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. 3.5 flower rating: This was a good book. I liked it.

Enjoy an excerpt:

She nibbled on her lower lip, a curious habit she had. When she was indecisive, perhaps? Then she drew the necklace over her head, giving it to him. He placed the coin flat in the palm of his hand, and let the chain dangle through his fingers. It was bronze or brass, with a strange sequence of numbers and letters. He furrowed his brow. Alice bent over and used her finger to push her glasses firmly back onto the bridge of her nose.

"It's some type of alpha-numeric code," Grayson mused out loud.

Alice looked on, a murky expression on her face. "Perhaps."

Grayson looked up. "I've seen a similar code on the datamancers they introduced in Parliament."

"What's a datamancer?" she asked.

He tried not to get lost in those soulful cerulean eyes of hers. "You don't know what a datamancer is?"

"No."

"It thinks for itself--"

"Grayson, what's in your hand?"

Grayson and Alice turned in the direction of the door. Sir John briskly walked toward them escorted by a soldier and another gentleman Grayson recognized as the prince's secretary.

About the Author:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. After serving 11 years in the US Army she currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks. She's also an assistant den leader for her son's Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

WEBSITE: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor
GOOD READS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance eBooks, Desert Breeze Publishing, or Kobo. a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Green Rose by Stephanie Burkhart - Review and Giveaway

Fantasy Romance

This review is done in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Stephanie will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. You can see the other stops on the tour by clicking the tour banner.

On the continent of Gaia, evil is brewing. Turncoat wizard, Balthyser, kidnaps the kings of Dahaka and Tapin. He wants the green rose, a source of powerful magic.

Princess Sonia of Tapin is forced to hunt down the rose in exchange for her father's life. It's the ultimate betrayal of Gaia's peace, but she has no choice if she wants to save her father.

Prince Ivánstan of Dahaka accompanies her on the journey. Both face challenges and obstacles that test their strength of character during the hunt for the rose. Dare Sonia put her trust and faith in a man she hardly knows to secure Gaia's peace or will the continent's harmony be shattered forever?

My review:  I read this book cover-to-cover in one afternoon.  I was honestly surprised that I did, and it's a credit to the author's voice because, honestly, it's not a deep book, nor does it have a particularly challenging conflict.  However, I was fully engaged in the honestly written characters, once I got everyone sorted out -- there are a LOT of people here and, especially in the beginning, I found myself having to go back and figure out just who was who and how they all fit together!

The story is pretty simple and involves a quest of sorts as do most fantasies.  Ivan and Sonia are instantly attracted, and other than a difficulty in trusting men and the chance that their fathers may not give them permission to marry, there wasn't much keeping them apart.  I honestly never worried that they'd not be together, but I really enjoyed Ivan's straightforward behavior -- I'm certain that's why he was able to win Sonia's trust fairly easily.

The quest, too, wasn't particularly fraught with danger or worry.  Things seemed to be fairly simple for them, despite their footsteps being dogged by Sonia's ex-fiancé.  Still, again, it was engaging and so smooth to read. 

This is the second book by this author that I've read, and I'm truly impressed by her ability to craft characters that I care about.  Her plots may not be the most nail-bitingly suspenseful or particularly complex, but they're strong enough to keep my attention and the time I spend reading her books just flies by.  I wasn't a fan of the few words she used quirky spelling on, like "myles" instead of "miles" and "fyte" for "foot".  It wasn't necessary and was one of the few things that really distracted me as I read.

All-in-all, though The Green Rose was a book that engaged me, entertained me, and left me with a smile. What more can I ask?

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

 

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks. She's also an assistant den leader for her son's Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:
http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

BUY LINKS FOR THE GREEN ROSE:
PUBLISHER'S SITE
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-280/The-Green-Rose-Stephanie/Detail.bok

AMAZON KINDLE:
http://amzn.com/B007QUBU2E

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1109853031

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thegreenrose-769936-143.html

SONY EBOOKS:
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/stephanie-burkhart/the-green-rose/_/R-400000000000000673505

Sunrise Over Brasov by Stephanie Burkhart -- Review and Giveaway

Romantic Suspense

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding A Sunrise Over Brasov Coffee and Chocolate Basket (which includes a Coffee Mug, Starbucks gift card, Andes Chocolate, magnets, and Lori Powell original book bag) to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Rosa Getzi lives a life of intrigue at Poiana Brasov with Clement, a werewolf, and Cassandra, the witch. Her past doesn't matter to her – until she discovers what it holds.

Prince Michael Sigmaringen joins his sister-in-law, Caroline, and the vampire prince, Darius, in a daring rescue, igniting Rosa's desire to find her family. However, all is not as it appears. Rickard, Rosa's friend, escapes with her. Clement will go to any lengths to get Rosa and Rickard back.

At Darius' fortress, Michael soon discovers Rickard is a new breed of werewolf – one who can control the change, and Clement hopes to exploit Rickard's abilities.

Michael's courage, strengths, and convictions will be tested like never before. Can Michael and Rosa find true happiness and the rid the lupine haunting of the Sigmaringens once and for all?

A romantic suspense that's heavy on the suspense, Sunrise Over Brasov is a thrilling read that kept me guessing.

It starts at a gallop and, though is slows down here and there, the tension is high throughout. I thought I knew who our villains were, but then as time went on, I wasn't as sure. Who's good? Who isn't?

Our heroine, Rosa, has no memory of her past -- doesn't really even notice that lack -- until she's rescued from where she was kept a willing prisoner. She, and a werewolf named Rickard, were drugged until they never gave a second thought to their circumstances until they were forced to. Theirs is a strong friendship, formed in adversity, and adds much flavor to the story.

It's heartbreaking to see Michael come to realize Rosa has no memory of him. How awful it must be to feel so much for a person who doesn't remember you!

Once the rescue happens, though, the chase is on. Clement and Cassandra (a werewolf and a witch) aren't about to let their prizes go that easily.

Ms. Burkhart has woven an interesting and unusual historical tale of suspense and romance here. It's part of a series, but easily stands alone with backstory peppered throughout to aid the new reader in understanding. Well done!



Enjoy an excerpt:

Some inner voice encouraged her to leave with him. It was the right thing to do. "Turn around," she said quietly. "Why?"

"So I can change."

"I don't trust you." His reply was quick. "Leave your chemise on." He walked to the window and glanced outside, then checked his pocket watch.

Rosa figured that was the most privacy he was willing to afford her and unfastened her robe. Quickly, she stepped into the winter dress without putting on a corset. "I need you to lace up the back."

Michael approached and tied up the stays with familiar ease. There was that word again -- familiar. Rosa shivered. What did it mean? How was he familiar when she couldn't recall seeing him before? She found her boots and slid them on. They were lined with fur and went up to her knees. She couldn't articulate her compliance, but could say an instinctual desire drove her to do his bidding. Yes, there were clues, but no easy answers.

He was a witch, like her. She responded to his kiss, enjoying it far too much, though she wouldn't admit that to him. He hadn't hurt her, and he knew her mother. The thought of finding her mother filled her with a sense of comfort. In all honesty, Rosa, however, couldn't remember her life before coming to Poiana Brasov, but she hated to think that Clement and Cassandra, who had been so kind to her, had deceived her. Rosa wouldn't deny her instincts and decided to follow the clues. When there was a minute, she intended to get her answers from Michael.

Her boots secure, she slid her arms into her winter coat. Michael grabbed a scarf and gloves from a shelf in her closet, presenting them to her. His face betrayed nothing -- not one hint of pleasure or dissatisfaction. Instead, he grabbed her gloved hand and led her out of the room.

Rosa noticed the noise continued outside of the fortress. Just on the other side of her door, Andrei lay crumpled on the ground. His chest rose and fell. Thank Corvinus he appeared to be sleeping.

Michael moved with unnatural speed. His grasp on her hand was tight, tugging her behind him. They proceeded down the hall toward the servants' staircase.

The inner fortress remained quiet. Several candles in wall sconces had burnt down to the stubs, casting long, inky shadows over the stone walls.

Reaching the staircase, Rosa paused. "I need to check on Rickard."

"There's no time. We delayed too long as it is." Michael dragged her down the stairs.

About the Author:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

WEBSITE ~ TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ GOODREADS ~ YOU TUBE CHANNEL ~ PINTEREST

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Desert Breeze Publishing.