Breathless Press New Releases - Virtual Tour and Giveaway!

Breathless Press is celebrating the release of six awesome Romance stories with a virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions and we're helping to get the word out.

Every comment on this post (and all the others during their one week tour, click on the banner above to find out all their tour stops) earns you an entry to win a $20 Breathless Press Gift Certificate! So comment here, and all the stops -- and tell a friend. A deal like this is too awesome not to share!

Breathless Press is an e-book publisher specializing in Romance and Erotic(a) stories.

Our mission statement is simple: To provide the opportunity for readers to connect with romance authors through the purchasing of quality e-books at a low price.

Starting in the summer of 2009, Breathless Press came into existence. Since then, we have been producing top end romance and erotic stories for valued readers to enjoy.

Our Goal?

Breathless Press is an electronic publisher of paranormal, erotic, and mainstream romance, releasing one to three e-books a week in a variety of downloadable formats. It is Breathless Press' mission to provide readers with quality romance books in electronic formats and to raise the standard in e-publishing.  http://www.breathlesspress.com/

Rogue Scandals by Raven McAllan

Beneath the prim and proper surface of the ton, intrigue and scandal was only a gossiping word away. For many men and women, the fear of ruin and worse accompanied them at all times. Some defied propriety, took hold of their happiness and hoped for the best.

Meet Ivo, Auberon, Ranulf and Ashley; prepared to defy convention to win their ladies. But are Serena, Arabella, Hermione and Adriana prepared to let them have it all their own ways? Of course not. For their partnerships were as unconventional as the ladies themselves.

No excerpt available

For the Love of a Gypsy Lass by Juliet Chastain

Joanna Daniels is a widow who wants a father for her son. Tem Lovell is a widower hoping to find a mother for his children. They are perfect for each other except for one thing: she's a destitute English gentlewoman who is being courted by a wealthy lord, while Tem is a Gypsy laborer who lives hand-to-mouth.

As the ardor she shares with Tem grows stronger, Joanna is forced to decide between the financial security the cold and controlling lord can provide and the uncertainty of the open road coupled with the passionate love Tem feels for her—that is, if Tem is willing to take an English gentlewoman as his bride.

EXCERPT:

He lifted her as though she weighed no more than a small child and she twined her arms about his neck. He looked down at her and he moved as though to kiss her—oh God, how she wanted him to do so. But he pulled back, shaking his head slightly and the moment passed. He carried her to the door of her house, which he opened with one hand and brought her inside.

The door closed behind them, and Joanna reached up and brought his head down so his lips met her own.

Tem felt his blood heat as their lips touched. He had dreamed of this, but always believed it could be nothing but a dream. Could it be that she wanted him as he wanted her—or was she a wanton as his fellows had suggested?

He pulled his head back and studied her face. His very heart and soul cried out for her as much as his body, but he would not be a plaything, a casual amusement for a Gadji. He placed her gently on a sofa and knelt beside her as she reclined against the pillows. Her amber eyes and black lashes stood out against her milky pallor and some of her deep golden hair had escaped its tie and curled against her neck.

She reached out and took his hand. A flush crept into her cheeks. "Do you not want to kiss me?" He thought her voice shook slightly.

He could not keep himself from bringing her hand to his cheek for an instant, although he knew he should not. "I do not make love with every woman who wishes it, not even when I myself wish it. "

"Do you wish to make love to me?"

"With all my heart I do, but there is no future for us and I care far more for you already than I should."

She ran her fingers softly, tantalizingly, through his hair. "And I feel the same for you. I—I think of you so often. I so often have dreamed that you would touch me or kiss me. I long for it." She lowered her eyes as the flush on her cheeks turned darker and spread across her face, her neck. "We would harm no one."

He frowned and released her hand. "No one except ourselves, if indeed you feel as I do. I am already pained that I shall have to leave in a few days when our work is done here, perhaps sooner if Sir Edward does not pay as agreed. If you and I do what we wish to do, the pain of parting will be worse."

"I don't care," she cried. "I would willingly suffer later if that is the price I must pay."

Her lower lip trembled, and she bit it as though to still it. He could resist no longer, and he brought his lips hard against hers, his arms tight around her. He felt as though the floodgates controlling his pent-up desire for Joanna opened, and he drowned in his passion for her. He wanted nothing but to kiss her, to caress her, to love her in every way a man can love a woman.

The Ulfric's Mate by Leona Joy Bushman

Nolan and Alexandria fight their sexual attraction, but can't deny the pull of being mates, despite a serial murder investigation.

Nolan Littlebull is the alpha of the Wahpawhat pack of Werewolves and the lead detective on a series of murders of pregnant women from his pack. Torn between human justice and were justice, he travels deep onto the Yakama Reservation tracking the ones responsible. He is attacked by one of the rival pack, only to be defended by another from the rival pack.

Alexandria George is the healer for the Lupins. She defends the mysterious wolf in their territory from her pack's bully and escapes with the stranger.

Nolan and Alex face the complications of being mated and together they must find and identify the killer while facing an uncertain future.

EXCERPT:

"Thanks," he said, his voice muffled through the shirt. "For the rescue as well," he added quietly after pulling the shirt she had dug out from behind his dirty truck seat.

"You're welcome," she replied as she stepped off the truck's running board. "Lead me to my room. I'm exhausted and need my beauty rest." As she came around the front end of the truck, she smiled.

"From where I'm standing, you get plenty of that."

Her face heated as a blush crept along her cheekbones. "Thanks." She walked up the front steps to his two-story home. It looked like a phantom rising out of the ground. The windows reflected the mesmerizing moonlight and the glow made her think of stars in the predawn just before the sun rises to take away their backdrop.

He unlocked the door, opened it, and waited for her to precede him. Gentleman? Or the training of law enforcement to never have their backs turned to a criminal? She tried to read his mind, but he held it carefully blank.

"Main living area is upstairs. You keep going right as you get up the stairs, and the bathroom is at the end of the hall. The guest room is the last one on the left. My room's on the right if you need anything." Even his voice was neutral.

She looked at him curiously for a moment before heading to the bathroom. When she stepped under the shower's stream, she sighed in relief. Her skin itched and felt over tight from the dried gunk left on her skin and in her hair after the shape-shifting.

As she relaxed under the spray of warm water, pictures of her in the shower started playing through her head. She was washing her hair and lathering the soap across her breasts when Nolan arrived. Her belly quivered with lust which pooled, then spread as she envisioned him in there with her.

When her daydream reached the point of him entering, she realized it was his thoughts in her head. The fantasy abruptly stopped as if someone had switched the channel. She tried to feel annoyed that his fantasy had intruded on her quiet moment, but the heat in her abdomen kept her from lying to herself.

She wanted him as much as he wanted her. She was aware of his struggle to control his thoughts and appreciated the attempt at valor. However, she knew that a single, healthy man with a woman he found attractive using his shower was bound to have sensual thoughts.

She finished, dressed in the clothes provided by him, and walked out to the main living area. He stood by a large bay window, looking out at the mountain in the distance. He turned toward her slightly, then shifted his gaze back to the picturesque view.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly and with dignity. "I've always judged other men for how they seemed to objectify every woman they see. Then I go and do it with a woman in my protection. I'm aware that you saw what I was thinking. I—"

She put a finger on his lips. "I too have read men's thoughts regarding women. Regarding me. You tried to keep yours in check. We saved each other's lives. We're coming down off the adrenaline high of battle combined with the lust of our animal sides. It's natural and healthy for you to see me as desirable. It's also honorable of you to stop them when you realize what you're doing."

Nolan looked at her intently, and she could feel him in her mind probing her for truth. She thought he didn't even know he was doing it. It was probably a technique he had employed since childhood. She smiled at him and kissed him softly on the mouth.

Samhat's Tale by Ric Bern

From the cradle of human civilization comes the story of a woman caught between duty and desire; an erotic interpretation of the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh is the greatest warrior on earth. He has slain every enemy that has come against him. Many believe he is the physical embodiment of the Bull God. He rules as a king from the rich, walled city-state of Uruk. His body is uniquely flawless and his visage is fresh and wholly masculine. Yet he is troubled and this lends his countenance a scowl which nearly spoils his looks as much as it corrupts his demeanor. Since his rivals have all accepted vassalage he has no more battles to win. He has grown bored with matters of state. His mood has soured. Those he rules suffer most from his melancholy.

Stories come from the edges of his realm; tales of a wild-man that runs with the antelopes. Some say it is half man and half beast. Others posit it is a different kind of animal all together. He sends a newly acquired plaything to investigate and charges her to bring the mysterious creature to his court. Gilgamesh instructs her to seduce the beast with her voluptuous body. The tablet’s name her Samhat. This is her tale.

EXCERPT:

I stood alone in a darkened room for some while, my hands tied above my head. A rope was knotted among the laces of my wrist bindings. Appan-Il had seen to that. The cord had been tossed over a support beam above my head and pulled taut so that I was forced to stand on my toes. The High Priest had gazed on me longingly as he wound the slack about a copper cleat mounted in a cedar post in the corner of the chamber. When he left a dim light had been blazing in a large brazier. It quickly reduced to mere embers. I had been relieved of even the flimsy strip that covered my sex. I shivered in the blackness. My fate was unknown and a thousand and one horrors crept into my mind.

When Gilgamesh came he was not alone. On either side of him was a voluptuous, dusky skinned girl. His heavy arms draped about their waists, their silhouettes entered first, lit by the coruscating sconces in the passageway behind them. Once inside he tossed several hefty wedges of wood upon the copper fire pit and puffed life into the coals. The fragrant wood ignited, and the chamber was illuminated by leaping flames. As he did so, the girls crawled upon his sleeping mat with the fluidity of motion normally confined to felines. In fact, their eyes were heavily painted and very nearly resembled those of a cat. With long, slick, dark hair, the pair appeared very much alike.

"Ah yes, the girl who would tell her king how to conduct himself," Gilgamesh said softly as he stepped before me. "Don't think I have forgotten you. Were you a man I would have killed you on the spot for striking me."

I looked down to the floor, but Gilgamesh would not allow it. He placed a firm finger under my chin and titled my face up to gaze on him. I felt my cheeks burning with a blush, and I tried to turn away, but he held me transfixed.

The Virgin Huntress by Victoria Vane


Lady Vesta Chambers is accustomed to getting what she wants…and what she wants is Captain Hewett DeVere…

Coddled and pampered since her mother's death, Lady Vesta Chambers is beside herself when her father goes to London to prepare for her come-out and returns with a young bride of his own. With her world turned upside down, Vesta accompanies her godmother, Diana, to town where she is smitten the moment she lays eyes on a certain captain of the Seventeenth Light Dragoons.

But when the object of her passion has eyes for another…

Captain Hewett DeVere, younger brother and heir to Viscount Ludovic "The Devil" DeVere, has returned from the American war scarred, disillusioned, and looking forward to settling down to a quiet and respectable life. But when the handsome and straight-laced captain turns his eyes toward the widowed Diana, Vesta is prepared to take devilish measures to prove just how wrong he is.

And the Devil DeVere looks after his own…

Recruiting the aid of her godfather, Vesta vows to prove to Hew once and for all that she is no longer a little girl, but a woman with the passion of…a huntress.

EXCERPT:

While Vesta tried her best to keep her mare in step with Hew and Diana, she had to keep circling her mount that jigged and frothed with nervous energy. Laughing and chatting about some race Hew had once rode on Diana's horse, they seemed to hardly take any heed of Vesta at all. How dare Aunt Di monopolize him like this!

"Are you aright wi' the mare, miss?" Pratt asked her with solicitude not forthcoming from any other quarter.

"I am fine, Mister Pratt. It's just that she has been deprived of her normal gallop since leaving Yorkshire over a sennight ago. She is accustomed to frequent and vigorous exercise and can be a handful when denied."

Vesta continued to fume. Although she could handle her mare just fine, she wondered how they all would feel if some horrible accident befell her. They would both be sorry then!

That's it! Vesta couldn't believe the answer was right before her eyes. It only wanted the proper timing and a distraction for Pratt. Determined to put her plan into action, Vesta held back, letting the others ride farther ahead. When Pratt's head was turned, she saw her chance.

Whispering a prayer of supplication to her mama, her ever-diligent guardian angel, Vesta plucked out her hat pin and tossed the riding cap to the ground. "Oh dear, Mister Pratt," she exclaimed. "I've lost my favorite hat!"

"Ne'er fret, my lady," the elder jockey said, dropping to the ground with surprising agility. In that precious, desperate moment when he knelt to retrieve the hat, Vesta dropped her reins and spurred her mare.

Artemis, who never needed strong incentive to begin with, took off down Rotten Row like a bolt of dappled-gray lightning. Vesta hung over her mare's neck, clutching the mane as if fearing for her very life, but all the while whispering sweet endearments to her most cooperative conspirator. She knew it would be a mistake to look back. Instead, she urged and cooed and waited for the sound of thunder, for her knight in that lovely, crimson crested helmet to come to her rescue and prayed fervently that her savior would not be the grizzled, little Pratt.

When she saw Captain Hew's big bay stallion gaining on the right, Vesta once more thanked her watchful mama. Knowing he would try to grab the bridle to bring her horse to a halt, Vesta nudged the mare, urging more speed, with the cue of her left heel concealed by her voluminous and billowing petticoats. Her hair had fallen in a wind-whipped tangle about her face and neck. She felt the flush in her cheeks and her blood roaring with excitement. It was the most gloriously wild ride she'd ever had, and it was all she could do not to laugh aloud!

"Can you reach the reins," Captain Hew cried, coming upon her.

"No. I'm afraid!" Vesta whimpered.

They approached the entrance to Kensington Gardens with its myriad hedgerows. "Hell and the devil!" he exclaimed, surging forth, but still unable to claim the bridle. "Trust me, Vesta," he commanded. "Let go of the horse!"

Trust him? He was a god among mortals. She would trust him if he said she could fly! And that's exactly what she felt when he swept her off her horse and onto his own. Throwing her arms about him, Vesta burrowed into his neck and simply breathed in the heavenly essence of Captain Hewett DeVere.

The Devil You Know by Victoria Vane


Who can find a virtuous woman… Beautiful, respectable, and dutiful, Lady Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley, has long resigned herself to her twelve-year loveless and childless marriage to a feckless husband…until his gambling pushes them to the brink of financial ruin.

Sometimes the devil is in disguise…as a gentleman… Viscount Ludovic, "The Devil DeVere," is a man accustomed to taking what he wants, according to his whim and heedless of the cost…until he encounters a woman who won't be had at any price.

When dealing with the devil, it's easy to be burned… When Diana discovers a secret that shatters the carefully built façade concealing her private pain, she seeks aid and comfort from the most unlikely place…the devil's arms. But will a single night of heavenly passion damn them both forever?

Home Fires by Jana Richards - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway!

Today we're welcoming author Jana Richards to the blog on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for the historical WWII romance, "Home Fires".  I admit, I was pretty clueless about the war brides, so have added this story to my TBR pile.

Jana is giving away a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour, so comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops)! The more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

In the meantime, Jana was kind enough to share five things about her that we might not have guessed, so settle in for some deep, dark secrets (or maybe fun, informative ones):

1. I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada. Back when I was growing up, things were pretty basic on the farm. We didn’t have running water in the house until I was in my teens, and the summer I moved away from home, my parents got a flush indoor toilet.

2. I love country music. Carrie Underwood is one of my favorite singers. I get some flack from my office mates about my choice in music, but I don’t mind. I think a romance novel is like country music; both get little respect, yet each is tremendously popular. I’m glad to listen to music, and to write in a genre, beloved by so many.

3. I love animals. I had pets from the time I was a little kid on the farm, though in those days, my mom wouldn’t let me bring any of the dogs and cats into the house. After we got married, my husband and I had cats for many years, but then in 2004, our family adopted a dog for the first time. We absolutely adore her. I have a story on my website called A Dog Named Lou. It’s all about how we came to have her in our lives. To see a picture of Lou, go to my Biography page and scroll down to the end.

4. I enjoy canning and freezing food from my garden. Must be my farm roots! I usually can tomatoes and make salsa or spaghetti sauce that we eat all winter. We don’t have a huge garden, but we have fresh vegetables in the summer and some canned and frozen things that we can enjoy through the fall and winter.

5. Like many people, I struggle with my weight. In the last couple of years I’ve made a concerted effort to get more exercise. I go to yoga and Pilates classes once a week, and to the gym for cardio and weight training two to three times a week. A writer spends a lot of time sitting on her butt, so unless I want my butt to expand even larger, I’ve got to keep moving!

Do you share any of my 5 things? I’d love to hear an interesting fact about you. Don’t forget that every comment you make gives you a chance to win the random draw for a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

To receive bonus entries for the GC, like me on Facebook, follow my blog at http://janarichards.blogspot.com or sign up for my newsletter and then email me at jana.richards@hotmail.com  to let me know. Winner of the gift certificate will be notified by July 15 and their name will be announced on my Contests page on my website. You can see a complete blog tour schedule here. Thanks so much for your support!

The fun doesn’t stop there. I’m having a special promotion between July 4 and July 18. If you buy a copy of “Home Fires” or any of my other titles, you will receive a free PDF copy of my romantic comedy “Rescue Me” as a bonus gift. All you have to do is email me at jana.richards@hotmail.com with the receipt number of your purchase and I’ll send you the book. It’s just that simple! You can find a listing of my titles at http://www.janarichards.net/Books.html To read a blurb and excerpt from “Rescue Me” please click here.

Anne Wakefield travels halfway around the world for love. But when she arrives in Canada from England at the end of World War Two, she discovers the handsome Canadian pilot she’d fallen in love with has married someone else. Heartbroken, she prepares to return to London, though she has nothing left there to return to. Her former fiancé’s mother makes a suggestion: marriage to her other son.

Badly wounded and scarred during the war, Erik Gustafson thinks he’s a poor substitute for his brother. Although he loves Anne almost from the first time he sees her, he cannot believe she would ever be able to love him as he is – especially as he might be after another operation on his bad leg. Anne sees the beauty of his heart. The cold prairie winter may test her courage, but can she prove to Erik that her love for him is real?

EXCERPT:

She whirled around to glare at him, her eyes blazing. “No! I’m not a child! I don’t have to be molly-coddled and baby-sat. I spent six years in a war zone, hiding in bomb shelters, never having enough to eat. I worked in a hospital treating blitz victims with wounds so horrendous grown men would gag to look at them. I faced those horrors every day. Sometimes things were so bad I thought I couldn’t go on. But I did. Because I had to. And I’ll face things here too. So don’t tell me to give up because I won’t!”

Erik pushed himself out of his chair to face her, awed by her spirit and courage. She lifted her chin as if defying him to contradict her, her hands clenched at her sides. Her dark hair curled in wild abandon as it dried, framing her pale oval face like a halo. Her beauty and ferocity were magnificent.

“I think you’re the strongest woman I know.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, her hands unclenching. He caught the quiver of her chin as she fought to hold back tears.

He opened his arms and she stepped into them, wrapping her arms around his waist and clinging to him. He held her tightly, inhaling the sweet, clean scent of her, never wanting to let her go.

“Don’t cry. Everything’s all right now.”

She lifted her head to look into his face, her dark eyes shiny with tears, her lips slightly parted. Erik stared at her mouth, wanting desperately to kiss her, to capture her sweetness. He slowly lowered his mouth to hers. To his surprise, she didn’t run off, or turn away in revulsion. He was so close her breath mingled with his, her breathing swallow and erratic. His heart slammed against his chest, his body thrumming with need. For the first time in over three years, he felt alive.

Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.

When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.

Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.net

Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A. Rothman - Virtual Review Tour and Giveaway

(Full length, middle grade fantasy from  M & S Publishing)

This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. Michael will be awarding a $50Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter on the tour, so comment today AND follow the tour (if you click on the tour banner above, it'll take you to a list of his tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!


The Riverton family had been enjoying a simple summer vacation when, through a fluke of nature, they found themselves in a strange new land.

The Riverton brothers quickly realize that in this world, they have gained unusual powers. Powers that their parents fear will attract the attention of Azazel himself – the merciless wizard who brutally controls this world.

The two brothers soon learn that an ancient prophecy has finally been initiated by their arrival in Trimoria. As the heirs of this prophecy, they are destined to lead the armies of men, dwarves, elves, and even a misfit ogre against the prophesied demon horde.

Only one thing stands in their way.

The evil wizard who has learned of their presence, and has sent assassins to wipe them from existence.


When the Riverton family is suddenly transported to the land of Trimoria, their lives were utterly changed.  Not only is the way of living there completely different, but the members of the family gain strange and unusual powers.

They must learn quickly to master their powers and the ways of the world they now occupy, because they have set a prophecy into play and will soon be leading an army against an evil, merciless wizard.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The plot was good, was well paced and had a good ending (even if it did leave us with a bit of a cliff hanger).  It was filled with love and caring between family and friends, but also with strife and conflict, both between the local villagers and with the wizard and his envoy.

I can't say I have any particular part that was my favorite, because I liked it all!  I admit, the beginning is a bit slow, but it doesn't take much time at all before the pace quickens and then seldom stops.  The author does a great job with description, and I could really "see" Trimoria and its inhabitants in my mind.

I couldn't wait to read book two when I finished this one and really hope there will be a third book in the series.  I'm not ready to leave Trimoria any time soon.

I'd recommend this book to kids of nearly any age who love fantasy.  This would make a good "read aloud" book for the younger ones, and the older kids will love to read this one on their own (and then share it with their parents).  It truly is a book for all ages.

5/5 Flowers

I am an Army brat and the first person in my family to be born in the United States. This heavily influenced my youth by instilling a love of reading and a burning curiosity about the world and all of the things within it. As an adult, my love of travel allowed me to explore many unimaginable locations. I participated in many adventures and documented them in what will be a series of books, the first of which you have just read.

Some might put these books in the Fantasy genre, and I never had issues with this label. After all, the adventures were, without any doubt in my mind, fantastic. I simply quibble with the label of “Fiction” that some might put on these tales. These tales should be viewed as historical records, more along the lines of a documentary. I’ve learned one thing over the years. Magic is real. Keep exploring, and you too will find your magic.

Michael’s Website: http://michaelarothman.com/
Michael on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5778499.Michael_A_Rothman
Follow Michael on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MichaelARothman
Michael on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MichaelARothman

The Four Books of Etretat by Matt Chatelain - Virtual Tour and Giveaway!

(Full length, contemporary thriller/suspense, self-published)

This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. Matt will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter on the tour, so comment today AND follow the tour (if you click on the tour banner above, it'll take you to a list of his tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

The Secret of Immortality Revealed.

In 'The Caves of Etretat', Canadian bookstore owner Paul Sirenne was thrust into a quest for answers in the town of Etretat, France, on the trail of a hundred year old mystery hidden in the pages of 'The Hollow Needle', by Maurice Leblanc. Together with Leblanc's great-granddaughter, Sirenne unearthed puzzles, codes and historical mysteries, exposing a secret war for control of a cave fortress in Etretat's chalk cliffs.

In Book Two, 'The Four Books of Etretat', Sirenne discovers the reason for the hidden war: the secret of immortality. The Abbey, a thousand-year old organization, dedicated to chasing the oldest immortal on earth, known as the Greyman, has given Sirenne control of the caves and its secrets, apparently preparing him for a confrontation with the Greyman. Unfortunately, the serial killer who killed Sirenne's father, Weissmuller, has discovered this knowledge before Sirenne. Now an immortal and constantly dogging Sirenne's steps, Weissmuller seems to be playing a game of his own.

'THE FOUR BOOKS OF ETRETAT' is the second in a four-book epic adventure following Paul Sirenne, an average man unknowingly manipulated into becoming the key in the final phase of a complex conspiracy spanning millennia. Inextricably woven into history, the series re-writes everything we know in a non-stop rollercoaster of a ride where nothing is ever as it seems.

The Saga Continues



After reading Book One ("The Caves of Etretat") and loving it, I could hardly wait to read Book Two. The puzzle of the story you are introduced to in the first book continues, with each page making the story more complex than I could have ever imagined. But as I read, I was pulled further and further into the story. I had to know all the answers. At first it was just looking at all the questions, then suddenly it became an exciting action story. I was on the edge of my seat as I read, and many times I had to put the book down and take a deep breath before I could continue.

Paul Sirenne, the main character in the story, has been informed that what he does will affect the fate of the world. Needless to say, he is stunned. It is then, I believe, that he realized this whole thing was not a game. He had to find out the secret of the caves.

Many other groups have been looking for the answer to the caves for years, and now, he and his group are all in danger.

I will not go into too much detail, because each reader has to find the puzzle pieces for himself. As I read, I tried to figure it out, and was, invariably, wrong. One statement in the book was extremely powerful. “Focus on what the game is about before you play the game.”

If you are looking for an easy read, one you can easily figure out, where you aware of the villain early on, this is NOT the book for you.  The only thing I had difficulty with the story was the way it switched from group to group, often using people’s names and not identifying the group. There were so many names, that I was frequently confused for a bit.

I'm so glad I read this book (and am looking forward to the next one). This was a terrifically exciting, frightening but wonderful story.
4.5 / 5 Flowers

Born in Ottawa, fifty-two years ago, I have been the owner of a used bookstore I opened in Ontario, since 1990. I have been writing since I was ten. Beginning with poetry, I quickly moved on to short stories and non-fiction pieces. I stayed in that format for many years, eventually self-publishing a franchise manual, as well as a variety of booklets.

Having semi-retired from the bookstore, I embarked on the project of writing my first serious novel, which I expanded to a four-book series after discovering an incredible mystery hidden within a French author's books.

My interests are eclectic. I like Quantum Physics, Cosmology, history, archaeology, science in general, mechanics, free power, recycling and re-use. I'm a good handyman and can usually fix just about anything. I'm good with computers. I love movies, both good and bad, preferring action and war movies. I can draw and paint fairly well but am so obsessed with perspective and light that I cannot think of much else. I am too detail-oriented.

I have been around books all my life. In my mid-forties, I decided to focus on writing as my future job. It took me five years to learn the trade. Now I know how fast I can write and how to develop my story and characters. I always wage an internal war to decide if my next story is going to be a mild mystery or a big stake epic. So far the big stakes are winning.

My website: http://www.mattchatelain.com/
Facebook: http://www.blogger.com/goog_1928871190

The Sundered by Ruthanne Reid -- Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway!

Today we're welcoming author Ruthanne Reid to the blog on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for the science fiction novel, "The Sundered". I can't rave enough about this book in my review, here.  It was amazing.

Ruthanne is giving away a $5 Amazon GC to one random commenter at every stop and a $50 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour, so comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops)! The more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

Ruthanne was nice enough to let me pry into her business. Sit back and learn about this interesting and incredibly talented author.

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

I've never actually been a big sci-fi lover, at least not when it comes to hard science-fiction. For me, some supernatural element had to be present, or else the story felt cold and impersonal. Cutting my teeth on movies like Star Wars and authors like Stephen King made for a wild combination. Throw in a little classic Dr. Who (Tom Baker all the way) and a healthy dose of Dracula movies, and you have a sense of what drives me.

I love stories that combine reality and mystery, paranormal and everyday life. My first novel-length story was actually a fanfiction (not that I knew the term – this was long before we had internet access) involving J. R. R. Tolkien's Luthien Tinuviel, time travel, reincarnation, SAT scores, and gods of death with telephones. Also, I drew characters on the backs of the pages.

No one will ever see this manuscript.

What research (or world-building) is required?

Oh, my word. A metric ton.

The thing about inventing your own world is you're INVENTING your own WORLD. Economy, religion, politics, education, social pressures, cultural "norms" and acceptable behaviors are all up for grabs. Here's the thing: nothing we write is completely original, because then it would be incomprehensible. We write from a variety of influences, and that means when someone reads our stories, they can relate.

World-building is a dangerous balance between the familiar (including what your readers will assume, based on what they've already read) and the unfamiliar (making it yours, special, unique). The characters have to be interacting in a society the reader can understand – even if the reader will not like it, disapprove of it, or hate it (which, if they do, was hopefully your goal to begin with).

As an example, in The Sundered, part of that balance involved studying how people handled slavery throughout history. Yes, slavery is not acceptable to us now, but in Harry's world, slavery leading to the death of those slaves is completely normal – and this has happened in the real world. Harry's reasoning had to make sense, and so I studied the past. It frightens me just what human beings are capable of.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

To let go of bitterness.

Harry Iskinder has reason to be bitter. His job stinks, his family isn't much of one, and his so-called friends aren't worth much – but he's a lot less bitter than he was in the first incarnation of this story. I was working through a lot of my own issues at the time, and that came out in poor Harry. It took a couple of deep, soul-searching edits before I realized that he didn't appear vulnerable at all, and that made him unlikeable.

Harry's redeeming qualities – his tender heart, his twisted optimism, his blind but intense faith in his fellow travelers – weren't clear. It was impossible to sympathize with him.

Helping Harry's thoughts move in a direction to reveal those things while staying true to his dark situation helped me with my own. I have to say, it was an interesting journey.

Any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

No superstitions. Writing quirks? Well, there's this: if there are other responsibilities waiting to be done, I have trouble concentrating. I'm far from a good housekeeper, but I tend to put pressure on myself, with plenty of false guilt.

Happily, my husband is helping me to stop doing that. He says it makes me grouchy toward myself. I say he's right, and grouchy-toward-self doesn't help anyone.

Plotter or pantser?

Panster, with plotting along the seams. My ideas come out of the wild blue yonder, and usually, they're big enough that I don't have to plot anything out. In fact, when I try the good-old-outline method, the story promptly deviates from my plans and delves into unknown territory. While I can (and often must) plot on the scene-level, for overarching stories, pantsing definitely works best for me.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

An empty water bottle, my cell phone, and my plushy white bathrobe. It is soft and warm and awesome.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

Well, a book launch, obviously. A family reunion. Also, my sixth anniversary. You know what? These next two months will be FABULOUS.

Do you have a question for our readers?

I do, indeed! Who's your favorite Harry Potter character and why?

Harry Iskinder knows the rules.

Don’t touch the water, or it will pull you under. Conserve food, because there’s no arable land. Use Sundered slaves gently, or they die too quickly to be worthwhile.

With extinction on the horizon and a world lost to deadly flood, Harry searches for a cure: the Hope of Humanity, the mysterious artifact that gave humans control over the Sundered centuries ago. According to legend, the Hope can fix the planet.

But the Hope holds more secrets than Harry knows. Powerful Sundered Ones willingly bow to him just to get near it. Ambitious enemies pursue him, sure that the Hope is a weapon. Friends turn their backs, afraid Harry will choose wrong.

And Harry has a choice to make. The time for sharing the Earth is done. Either the Sundered survive and humanity ends, or humanity lives for a while, but the Sundered are wiped out.

He never wanted this choice. He still has to make it. In his broken, flooded world, Hope comes with a price.

"Do not assume we are as your tiered system would have you believe," he murmurs. "We are broken, not stupid. You can fracture and heal. We cannot. We are the Sundered."

That freaks me out, the way he says that, and I don't even know what he's saying. Like a child, I press his buttons to make him stop. "So I guess we're just superior, huh?"

That look says I just sat on his last nerve.

I keep pushing. "We heal. You don't. Your words. I'm just being logical here."

"You heal because you are less," he hisses. "Your little breaks and scrapes are nothing more than bruises and paper cuts! You are not superior. You are less. You are unaided, individual, and only have the power to heal from that which is pathetic!"

We both go still.

Aakesh's gaze burns into mine, his hair stirring in a non-existent breeze. I don't know what he means, and I don't move. Not yet. We're balanced on a knife's edge, and whatever's below us is something very bad.

"He is nice," says Gorish suddenly. "Nice, not mean. He doesn't know, doesn't understand." He presses even harder against my belly.

We stare at him instead. The knife's-edge moment passes, and I'm so tired I'm only relieved.

Ruthanne Reid was raised in the woods, but fortunately, her isolation was offset by regular visits to New York City. She pursued music for years before realizing she wanted to tell stories rather than sing them.

Ruthanne writes in and around Seattle, owns dust-covered degrees in music and religion, and is generally considered dangerous around household electronics. Her favorite authors tend to be dramatic (J. R. R. Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, Patrick Rothfuss), but she doesn’t see this as a bad thing. She belongs to a husband, a housemate, and a cat, respectively.

The Sundered is her first novel.

Author Links:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RuthanneReid
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ThisReidWrites
Site/Blog: http://ruthannereid.com/

Review: The Sundered by Ruthanne Reid

(Full Length, Science Fiction novel published by 4th Floor Publication)

Harry Iskinder knows the rules.

Don’t touch the water, or it will pull you under. Conserve food, because there’s no arable land. Use Sundered slaves gently, or they die too quickly to be worthwhile.

With extinction on the horizon and a world lost to deadly flood, Harry searches for a cure: the Hope of Humanity, the mysterious artifact that gave humans control over the Sundered centuries ago. According to legend, the Hope can fix the planet.

But the Hope holds more secrets than Harry knows. Powerful Sundered Ones willingly bow to him just to get near it. Ambitious enemies pursue him, sure that the Hope is a weapon. Friends turn their backs, afraid Harry will choose wrong.

And Harry has a choice to make. The time for sharing the Earth is done. Either the Sundered survive and humanity ends, or humanity lives for a while, but the Sundered are wiped out.

He never wanted this choice. He still has to make it. In his broken, flooded world, Hope comes with a price.



Wow. Just ... wow.

I can't remember the last time when a book grabbed me from the very start and wouldn't let go. What's really interesting about that little fact is that I can't really explain what it was that made the story so incredibly appealing.

That sounds like a negative, but it isn't. The author did her job with great skill and was completely unobtrusive. We're plopped down in Harry Iskinder's world with little knowledge of ... anything, really. Yet I never felt lost or frustrated by my lack of knowledge.

This is truly a one-man story, where the secondary characters are a bit fuzzy and out of focus. We see them, know who they are, but really it's all about Harry. Well, and his "first tier" (I feel as though I must add: "He has a name.") Sundered.

To summarize this book would be both difficult and laden with spoilers. But let me say that not one word was wasted, every single page was worthwhile and I'm planning on reading it all over again to see if I missed anything tasty because after a while I was just desperate to know how it was going to end I'm sure I must have skimmed it, at least a little. I loved Harry. I loved his Sundered (both of them). I wanted a happy ending, but was absolutely certain there couldn't be one. The author instead gave me the right ending; an ending that was surprising, ironic and while, not exactly "happy", wasn't sad either -- and I'm a HUGE happy ever after kinda gal. If it satisfied me, it will satisfy anyone.

When I finished the book, I was asked by a relative, "What was it about?" to which I answered, "I can't tell you... not won't, but truly can't." Because, while the book felt simple and basic it was deceptively complex and defies every try I make at explaining its plot.

I will say this: It was good. Amazingly, incredibly, surprisingly good. And if this is a sample of Ruthanne Reid's talent, then I hope she continues on releasing books. I'll be first in line to pick them up, no matter what the blurb or genre. She's gained herself a fan.

If I could, I'd give this a ten ... but since the top of our scale is five, that's what I'll assign it. With bells on.

5/5 flowers



Disclosure: I received this book from the author and Goddess Fish Promotions in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tangled Ties to a Manatee by Kalen Cap - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway

Today we're welcoming author Kalen Cap to the blog on his tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for the humorous crime thriller, "Tangled Ties To a Manatee". The premise sounds fascinating, and I hear we even get to be in the POV of the manatee!  I'm intrigued!

Kalen is giving away a $25 Green Gift Card from http://green.icardgiftcard.com -- redeemable for GCs from hundreds of your favorite merchants to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment today AND follow his tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of his tour stops)! The more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

Kalen was nice enough to let me pry into his business.  Sit back and learn about this interesting author.

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

Regarding the humorous crime thriller genre, I backed into it. I landed on the genre after developing story ideas around certain themes.

I find my ideas that I can fully develop into novels stem from themes I'm interested in first, such as themes of environmentalism and nonprofit service. I also have an affinity for college-aged or twenty-something characters. So, after the interplay of themes and characters, storylines develop.

One thing well-known about nonfiction writing in the environmental movement is that it usually focuses on the serious downside. Fiction offers an opportunity for adding some humor about such themes to the mix and people have responded well to my sense of humor in writing, particularly with my earlier plays.

Humor also works well in crime thrillers, in my opinion. The contrast of light and darkness in humorous crime thrillers is something I enjoy. So with the themes, characters involved, and a desire for light humor, a humorous crime thriller simply worked for the emerging storyline threads.

I explored the genre and found I liked it. But, genre wasn't where I first started.

What research is required?

For Tangled Ties to a Manatee, I did some research on manatees and investigations. I've had experiences with environmental groups, nonprofits, and working at colleges, so only a little research was needed in some areas.

Location and historical research were also involved as fictionalized settings were blended into actual locations.

For a new project, more research is needed, particularly historical. Since I enjoy research, I have to temper the amount of it I do. Otherwise, it can become a distraction from the writing.

Name one thing you learned from your protagonist.

One of the things I learned from the character Jerry is you work with whoever will work with you for a situation. I can be an idealist and hesitant in that regard. Being developmentally disabled, Jerry doesn't over-think matters for the situation at hand.

I'll give an example of how that lesson applies in my life. Historically in this country, advances in the protection of parks and wildlife spaces have only happened when "sports hunters" and "treehuggers" collaborate, both pushing for the protection of spaces from commercial development. As an animal protection activist, I haven't always sought out cooperation with hunters for mutual objectives when we'd be at odds over other matters. But, I'd more reasonably consider that now.

Jerry doesn't worry about that. He can't afford to. He'll work with anything or anybody - even to the point of the lowest form of rat around.

 Any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

I can be walking along quietly with a friend and suddenly gesture while thinking of how a character might respond in a scene. To a friend that obviously looks like I'm gesturing suddenly out of nowhere. So far, my friends haven't called the folks with the straitjackets on me ... yet.

Plotter or pantser?

For novels, I'm a plotter. I was more of a "pantser" for playwriting, especially one-act plays. There's some of that "pantser" dynamic in my novel writing process, but I find plotting and outlining important for full-length novels.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

A coffee shop window.

Coffee shops are great for me creatively. There's enough background noise and movement to keep me focused on the writing task at hand. Places that are too loud and chaotic, and places that are too quiet and staid, both of those I find distracting. In coffee shops and the like, my mind stays focused more readily on the writing than on an excess or lack of other things happening.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

My newest work-in-progress, also a crime thriller, has the working title of "The Peace Cipher." Artifacts are stolen from a museum, and the primary college-aged protagonists become embroiled with those responsible for stealing the artifacts. The primary modern day setting is along coastal Lake Erie in Ottawa County, Ohio.

Do you have a question for our readers?

Currently, the publishing industry emphasizes the initial hook, or first five pages, or something like that. The idea is that readers won't continue to read if they aren't enthralled in a work immediately. As a reader, I find I'll go along much longer before forming a strong opinion about a work, and sometimes find artificially loading a story too early to be off-putting.

My question is -
For a genre that you usually like to read, as long as you aren't strongly put off by the writing style, how far will you read before deciding a book's just not for you once you've started? Also, do you find any novels to be front-loaded with too much excitement for the type of novel written?

A pregnant manatee is rare at any zoo, and a first for the Grove City Zoo in Ohio. Ankh is a delight to zoo patrons, a concern to its staff, and the unintentional victim of two con men. She has no idea how many human relationships, problems, and dreams tangle around her.

Jerry is a young developmentally disabled man who happily follows Ankh's pregnancy on the zoo's webcam. He has a shy crush on Janelle, a pretty college student who volunteers for his group home’s outings to the zoo.

Jerry's Aunt Vera also loves nature and runs an environmental retreat center. But all is not well, with Vera or the center. The center needs money and is under investigation as a cult.

Amid their college studies, Janelle and her friend Cecily try to help. Instead, Janelle re-awakens an old obsession in Vera when an innocent tarot reading hints at how the center might be saved.

Two bumbling con men are attempting to sabotage the region’s electrical grid as part of a lucrative scheme. But Jerry accidentally gets in their way and becomes their captive.

When the con men surprisingly succeed in bringing the grid down, it spells danger for Ankh, her unborn pup, and the many people tied to them both. With investigations of their own, Cecily and Janelle try to untangle it all to find Jerry, save a manatee’s life, and rescue Vera from herself. Tangled Ties to a Manatee is a humorous crime thriller with environmental themes that is revealed through multiple points of view. The novel emphasizes college-aged characters, though not all, such as the developmentally disabled ones, are in college.

Kalen Cap is a writer living in Columbus, Ohio. Active in a variety of causes, particularly with regard to the environment, he often brings such concerns into his fiction writing.

Tangled Ties to a Manatee is his debut novel.

He has had poetry published and several plays, both one act and full-length, produced locally. Two short stories have been published as well. "Feral" is a short story published in Off the Rocks, v. 14, ed Allison Fradkin, NewTown Writers Chicago, 2010, pp. 119-126. "Transforming Oracle" is a self-published short story available at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/29507

Kalen’s website is http://www.kalencap.com

He can be readily connected with through the following social media profiles –
Twitter: @kalencap
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KalenCap
Google+ : http://gplus.to/Kalencap

Thanks for visiting with us today!

The Gasquet Princes series by Sherry Gloag - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway

Today we're welcoming author Sherry Gloag to the blog on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for her contemporary romances, "From Now Until Forever" and "His Chosen Bride" -- both part of her The Gasquet Princes series.

Sherry is giving away a hand crafted book thong to one commenter here today and a hand crafted selenite pendant to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour -- it's an international giveaway, folks, so no matter where you live, you're eligible to win!

So comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops)! The more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a a really cool prize!

Sherry graciously answered all my questions, so sit back and get to know a really neat lady.

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

I have always loved romances, whether it be Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, or just all the romance books I acquired growing up. My books are friends, and I always want the best for my friends, which pretty much excludes anything that fails to offer a HEA ending. I also enjoyed reading detective stories, and some tales of mystery, but romance stories took me to exotic and foreign climes, and introduced me to professions and jobs I’d never heard of.

When I started writing, I assumed my stories were contemporary romance, but so many people talked about how much they enjoyed the suspense in my stories, I had to take another look at what I wrote. It made me take stock and experiment. After all if I was already writing suspense without knowing, what other genre within the romance umbrella could I have a stab at? From Now Until Forever, book one of the Gasquet Princes series, intermingles suspense and action with romance, while with His Chosen Bride, the 2nd book in the four book Gasquet Princes series focuses more on internal challenges and dialogue, plus a dash of paranormal. While books three and four in the series are still in progress, action and adventure seems to predominate. I have also just completed a Regency romance which has a projected release date of August.

What research is required?

Since research is not my strong point—I get so frustrated when I fail to come up with answers to what seem to me like pertinent questions that I allow myself to become easily distracted with other topics! Mind you, I have often discovered another and quite unrelated use for some of that research at other times, so perhaps I should quit feeling so frustrated with research!

If I encounter circumstances that I cannot get round without detailed research then I get stuck in, as was the case with the method of the hero and heroines’ escape in From Now Until Forever. In His Chosen Bride, I had to ensure the timing for the hero’s brush with death was absolutely accurate; in this instance there was no room for author license about the survival time when the hero, Prince Henri became lost in a snow blizzard.

Name one thing you learned from your heroine.

In From Now Until Forever, Melanie, the heroine was such a surprise, I’d never met anyone like her so was constantly amazed how her story simply flowed onto the pages. In His Chosen Bride, I deliberately wanted a completely different type of heroine for Henri, and Monica ‘arrived’ before I even knew she was going to be Henri’s heroine. While Monica may show the world a placid face, beneath the surface she has had to become strong enough to survive the knocks life’s thrown at her, and thus makes her an ideal wife for the eldest princely brother.

Any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

I don’t know that I’d say it is either interesting or quirky; I’d say it is more ‘irritating.’ I find I can write for days, sometimes weeks, at a certain time of day, then just as suddenly my routine is thrown and I find myself writing at another time altogether. As if that wasn’t annoying enough, there are times when writing becomes a succession of pages filled with gobbledygook and I sometimes begin to wonder whether I’ll ever string two intelligent sentences together again!

Plotter or pantser?

For my sins, I’m a pantser. Most of the time that’s wonderful, but there are times—when the muse takes a hike—I wish I’d plotted my story out sufficiently to manage to continue writing something worthwhile. :-)

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

To my right is a pile of papers and a calendar, plus a book I started reading then had to abandon because of other commitments. There’s also a box of business cards which, because there is no space on the shelf where they should go, is still sitting on my desk. Behind all that is my printer. On the wall behind that is a photograph of a wild squirrel that had great fun taming us and gave us hours and hours of pleasure.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I have a full-length Regency romance novel coming out later this year, and another to complete before the autumn/fall, as well as books three and four in the Gasquet princes series, plus another novella which may end up as an unexpected fifth book in the series or a spin-off in its own right. So for the time being I’m quite busy. :-)

Do you have a question for our readers?

Oh, thank you for this opportunity. Yes please. If a favourite author switches sub-genre would the reader follow them and give the new title a chance? (Such as - for example, Nora Roberts, romance author and J. D. Robb crime/suspense author.)

For Prince Liam, families meant bad news, unwanted commitments, and the loss of his personal freedom. Love spawned white picket fences, slippers at the hearth with a wife and kids making demands, so why did those images disappear when he met Melanie Babcot?

Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window?

Prince Henri Gasquet is happy to let his father, the king, choose his bride for him until he meets Monica Latimer.

Monica Latimer is not prepared to risk letting any man close enough to learn about her Gift. A gift that normally has men running for the hills when they find out about it.

EXCERPT “From Now Until Forever”:

Liam Fitzwilliam Gasquet stared in amazement at the blooming patch of red milliseconds before the pain exploded in his arm. Some trigger-happy idiot had fired in his direction. Indignation didn’t have time to take root before another bullet kicked the dust at his feet.

Not ‘trigger-happy’.

Intentional.

The rebels had found the fourth and youngest son of Jean-Phillipe Gasquet, ruler of the tiny kingdom adjacent to the Swiss border. When had they discovered his whereabouts?

With a reluctant sigh, he faced the truth of it. They hadn’t ‘found’ him at all. They’d followed him.

Multi-published author, Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England. She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel. While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.

Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office. She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.

http://www.sherrygloag.com/
http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=689789287

Buy Links for “From Now Until Forever”:
Astrea Press
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble

Buy Links for “His Chosen Bride”:
Astrea Press

Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A. Rothman - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway

Today we're welcoming author Michael A. Rothman to the blog on his tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for his middle grade fantasy, "Heirs of Prophecy". I've read this folks (my review will post in a week or so), and it's one of those books both young and old fantasy lovers will enjoy!

Michael is giving away a $50 GC to Amazon to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment today AND follow his tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of his tour stops)! The more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

Michael graciously answered all my prying questions.

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

It seems like I always had bouncing around an idea about writing an Epic Fantasy tale for my boys when they were old enough to appreciate it. In my mind, I'd always liked the "Fish out of water" type of story, similar to Alice in Wonderland - but I wanted a modern setting that illustrated what it would be like to have an entire family suddenly find themselves in a new world, and try to make it as "realistic" as possible regarding their reactions, how they adapted, and eventually triumphed in a world that was "out to get them".

However when I think about my earliest reading, one book probably influenced me more than any others.

The one classic that stands head and shoulders above them all was J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series.

The Hobbit – my first Fantasy book, and by far the one that set me on the road I’ve walked in this genre. It established a variety of archetypes that I believe many authors since have followed whether purposefully or accidentally. The concepts and behaviors introduced with the character races as stereotypes are certainly things that have influenced my view on writing. For instance a reader might find my elves somewhat stoic and serious and the dwarves a touch boisterous and hard-working. As it was the first book in the genre I read, it was the measuring stick by which all future books were compared against.

I think the thing that draws me to Fantasy is that the genre doesn’t really limit what you can do as long as you make it believable. Your setting could be on the Jelly world of Blignartz where everyone is made of Peanut Butter. (Okay, maybe that one is a bit odd – but illustrates my point.) *G* Or your setting could draw from the now classic archetypes set by Tolkien and have some elves, dwarves, etc all thrown into an otherwise pastoral world called Trimoria.

It then is up to the author to add his or her own storyline and break any perceived rules if it seems right.

What research, or world-building, is required?

As I noted in the worlds I noted from the previous answer, I referred to that instantly made up Jelly world of Blignartz and Trimoria. I think there is one element that is paramount when doing any kind of world building, and that is consistency.

If the world of Blignartz is composed largely of strawberry jelly, and peanut butter grass grows on the jelly, you shouldn’t change that paradigm elsewhere unless you have a good explanation for it. This is akin to the blue-peaked mountains of Kalamanjoor later being described as green-peaked, and later as blue again without an acceptable explanation of why the change in color.

For Trimoria, I did model several elements against our own world, or at least took some liberties with it. For instance, some of the camping tricks that people use to determine direction when lost in the woods are used and work nicely in the world of Trimoria (e.g. Moss tends to grow thicker on one side of a tree than others).

I also did leverage in this novel and others that are yet to be released a variety of different technologies such as smithing, smelting of ore, etc. All of these things need to be consistent and if there is an analogy in our world – you as an author best get it right or you’ll hear about it. ;-)

Name one thing you learned from your protagonist.


I think Azazel what one of the characters that was a great learning experience for me. His role as the "bad guy" in Trimoria, or at least the biggest of the bad buys gave me a lot of opportunities to express some depth into his character. As a villain, most villains are not motivated to be bad "just because". Rarely do characters do things without thinking they are doing the right thing in their own eyes. Ultimately when Azazel was completed, and the threads of the story unwind, you would learn that Azazel's motivations were not quite what you thought they were in the beginning. In the end, Azazel ends up being a flawed characters that allowed me as an author to let the story unfold around him and will ultimately illustrate how those mixed motivations lead to a continuing story.

Things are never what they initially seem - and as I wrote the villain, I learned just how much he served as the skeleton framework for the first book and how strongly the motivations the villain followed were absolutely necessary for a believable story to progress from beginning to end and reach into the next book in the series.

Any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

I happen to really like to eat chocolate covered raspberry jells and Good & Plenty when I am in a “writing zone” In other words, when I find myself settling in for what I know will be hours of continuous writing – I want some of those sweet things nearby. Oddly enough, otherwise – I am not a big fan of sweets.

Plotter or pantser?

Oh very very very much a plotter. Before I write the first word of a novel, I have an outline that I am happy with created and revised umpteen times.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

A cat. If he had his preference, he’d be sitting on the keyboard.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

Released this summer with be the second book in the series, TOOLS OF PROPHECY. I put the final words down on a prequel to the same Prophecies series just now. I am now in the editing phase and hopefully you’ll see this novel near the end of the year.

Do you have a question for our readers?

When it comes to what you choose to read, do you prefer reading Epic tales that span across multiple books, or stories that start and end in a single book.

The Riverton family had been enjoying a simple summer vacation when, through a fluke of nature, they found themselves in a strange new land.

The Riverton brothers quickly realize that in this world, they have gained unusual powers. Powers that their parents fear will attract the attention of Azazel himself – the merciless wizard who brutally controls this world.

The two brothers soon learn that an ancient prophecy has finally been initiated by their arrival in Trimoria. As the heirs of this prophecy, they are destined to lead the armies of men, dwarves, elves, and even a misfit ogre against the prophesied demon horde.

Only one thing stands in their way.

The evil wizard who has learned of their presence, and has sent assassins to wipe them from existence.

An excerpt:  when the family first encounters some wildlife that is clearly not from their world…

Looking to the top of the hill to the west, Aaron spotted a single four-legged figure outlined against the darkening sky. He raised his arm to point it out to his family, but before he could say anything, the animal vanished. Confused, Aaron lowered his arm.“Huh?” he said.

Just as the sound escaped his lips, the creature returned, closer this time. Aaron was alerted to its presence by a loud popping sound. Startled, he turned toward the animal, finding it standing a mere twenty feet away. From this distance, he could tell that it was a wolf-like creature. Its fur was matted and its face crusted with dirt. The wolf looked the family over in turn, an unnerving intelligence behind those yellow eyes.

Dad calmly motioned everyone behind him. “Don’t make any sudden moves…”

The creature sniffed once at the air, growled, and then blinked out of sight with another sharp popping sound. The sound echoed in Aaron’s head as he pondered in awe what he had just seen.“It just…It just…,” he stammered. “It just disappeared.”

“Where did it go?” Mom asked, her voice quavering.

Dad shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“What the heck was that, Jared?” Mom growled, sounding fearfully angry. “Tell me you’re going to explain where in the world you’ve seen what we’ve just seen.”

Dad strode forward and crouched where the wolf had been. He seemed to study the ground for a time before breaking into a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry, but I can’t explain any of this. What we just saw shouldn’t be possible.”

“Maybe he didn’t disappear,” Ryan offered. “Maybe he just camouflaged himself. You know…like a lizard.”

Dad shook his head. “No, I see his paw prints here and nowhere else. It’s like he teleported away.”

“Teleporting wolves, giant cats, and I’m sparking everywhere on demand.”

“Yeah,” Aaron chimed in, “and hollow rocks.”

“Dad, are we even in our world anymore?”

Aaron couldn’t help but note how at a loss his father seemed.

I am an Army brat and the first person in my family to be born in the United States. This heavily influenced my youth by instilling a love of reading and a burning curiosity about the world and all of the things within it. As an adult, my love of travel allowed me to explore many unimaginable locations. I participated in many adventures and documented them in what will be a series of books, the first of which you have just read.

Some might put these books in the Fantasy genre, and I never had issues with this label. After all, the adventures were, without any doubt in my mind, fantastic. I simply quibble with the label of “Fiction” that some might put on these tales. These tales should be viewed as historical records, more along the lines of a documentary. I’ve learned one thing over the years. Magic is real. Keep exploring, and you too will find your magic.

Michael’s Website: http://michaelarothman.com/
Michael on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5778499.Michael_A_Rothman
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Summoned by Susan Leigh Noble - Virtual tour and Giveaway

Today we're welcoming author Susan Leigh Noble to the blog on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for her fantasy novel, "Summoned". I have such amazing love for this cover!!

Susan is giving away a $15 GC to Amazon to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops)! The more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

Susan was brave enough to share five things about her that we might not guess.  Take it away, Susan!

Must say that I love the title of your blog! Let’s see five things about me that you might not guess about me…

1.) I love roller coasters! This is most unusual because I don’t like heights. And I hate the slow climb some coaster do up the tall first hill. I absolutely can’t wait for it to be over. I don’t want to look at the scenery. I am waiting for the speed. Once that hits I am fine. For a few years before we had kids, my husband and I were members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts who host roller coaster riding events. The best one was in Cedar Point in Ohio and featured 15 roller coasters.

2.) During college, I was into rock climbing - again, not something for the person who doesn’t like heights. And I am not talking about in a gym but out in nature climbing the side of a mountain. I did fine as long as I didn’t look down. You really have to trust the person on belay (the person holding the rope in case you fall).

3.) I am a petite 5’ 2” woman and a black belt in Aikido. My husband particularly likes telling people I am a black belt as no one really expects that. He likes telling people I can kick their butt while wearing heels. *G* Actually we are both black belts. We signed up for Aikido as an activity we could do together.

4.) I worked two weeks at a dairy in Lubbock, Texas. It was a temp job while the receptionist was on vacation. I did get to tour the facility and see them putting milk into the cartons. I was responsible for handling all the ice-cream truck orders. It was an interesting experience.

5.) I chose my minor in college based on how easy I found the subject (Economics). I don’t know why but even when I forgot to study for a test, I still did well. I had people wanting to study with me for the exams because it came naturally to me. But I could never see myself as an economist - too boring.

Lina wants an ordinary life in the Grasslands of Zena. But she isn’t ordinary at all. At the age of four, she discovered she could start fires with a mere thought - an ability believed to have died out long ago. Cautioned by her telepathic cat, Tosh, she keeps this Elemental power a secret in fear of how the outside world would react. There is something else different about Lina - she feels a strange force compelling her to go north.

Before she can decide whether to give into this mysterious urge, she is kidnapped by gypsies and wakes in a foreign land. The desire to travel north is as strong as ever. When a strange raging fire prevents her return home, Lina realizes she must find out once and for all what or who is summoning her.

On her journey, she befriends an odd assortment of allies including the son of a High Council member, a thief, a former guardsman and a large sarcastic black dragon. Together they battle mystical creatures and unnatural forces, although such magic had ceased to exist over 800 years ago. During each battle, Lina must use her innate Elemental power as she becomes more certain that someone is using magic against her. When she discovers the shocking truth, it will change her life in ways she could never imagine.

EXCERPT: 

Then he saw one of the men break away from the battle. His sword held ready, the man set his horse directly toward them. Tosh lashed his tail angrily against the saddle. He had succeeded in getting her out of the danger of the initial attack but that lone rider would soon be upon them, and Lina had no weapon. He considered his options. He only saw one clear choice. He lifted his paw, claws outstretched.

Lina, hold on.

He prepared to slash the mare again, but as he raised his paw, he caught a glimpse of her face. She was staring intently at the man racing toward them. Her face held a determined look as the wind began to blow her hair. The long honey-colored locks whipped around her face as the wind began to blow harder. The force was so strong Tosh had to dig his claws into the saddle in order to stay on the mare. He whirled around in time to see the full force of Lina’s gust of wind hit the attacker. The man fell backward, his arms outstretched as if to grab the saddle. But his fingers missed and continued backward. Then Tosh heard the sickening sound of the man’s head hitting his horse’s rear hoof. The man hit the ground with a deadening thud and lay motionless. Lina cringed, a look of shock on her face.

“I didn’t mean...” she whispered in a sick voice. Her eyes had a haunted look, and she shook her head slightly as if in disbelief over what had happened.

You had to stop him, Lina. He leaned against her, tucking his head into the crook of her arm.

Lina hung her head down. Her honey-colored hair fell around him like a curtain. “But I only meant to stop him.” She stared at the motionless man before her. “Not to kill him.”

Susan Leigh Noble has always loved dragons and magic so it is no wonder that she became an author of fantasy novels. As a cat lover, she also threw a telepathic cat into the mix for her The Elemental Series. The first two books, Summoned and Quietus, have already been released in e-book format. She is currently working on the third and final chapter of the trilogy.

When she isn’t writing, Susan is an active volunteer in her neighborhood and at her children’s schools. She lives with her husband, two children and three cats in Texas.

She loves to hear from readers: susannoble@satx.rr.com
Check out her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Leigh-Noble/200225396700412
Follow her on Twitter: @SusanLeighNoble
Author website: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/susan-leigh-noble.html