This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Christina Ann Gist 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.
Mer Harbor is a small, coastal town in Southern California. Everyone knows everyone, and nothing is a secret among Mer Harbor residents. Some hope to escape someday, while others find the charm of the town enticing, and never leave.Everley Romero and Heath Mitchell had always planned to take on the world together. To leave Mer Harbor and pursue their dreams. It all seems to crumble when a tragic loss sends them in different directions. Almost ten years later, Everley finds herself on the receiving end of a bitter divorce, leaving her no choice to return to the home - and past - she'd hoped to leave behind for good. Heath is building a good life for himself in Mer Harbor. When he crosses paths with Everley, he learns that they'll both have to face a past full of heartbreak and loss that they've both tried to bury.
Read the Excerpt
“Why the hell did you even bother?” Benny was shouting again, this being what seemed like their millionth fight this week. “It's obvious you don't love me, so why didn't you just stay in Mer Harbor?”
“I do love you!” she shouted back, “I don't know how else I'm supposed to prove it to you!”
“Get over him!”
“Screw you!”
It was always the same argument, and it happened every year around her daughter's birthday. Why couldn't he see her sadness was about the child she’d lost and not his high school rival?
Running away had been a mistake, but Mer Harbor had become so suffocating that she saw no other option. Besides, she usually had fun with Benny. How could she have predicted he'd forever be jealous of a relationship that had ended years ago?
“Six years, Everley,” he started up again. “It's been six damn years and he hasn't come looking. He doesn't care about you anymore.”
She knew he wasn't looking, and she knew exactly where he was. Heath had returned to Mer Harbor shortly after she left, and he wouldn't look for her, because he hated her.
Mistake or not, she was determined to make what she had with Benny work. She owed him that much. “What do you want from me?”
“Be with me,” his expression softened, and he stopped shouting, “and I mean really be with me. Stop putting it off and marry me.”
About the Author:
Telling stories before she could even write, Christina grew up knowing she wanted to be an author. She “published” her first stories with construction paper and handwritten pages for her family and friends. Now, with the magic of technology, she’s able to share her characters and stories with the world.
When she’s not writing, you can find her dabbling in her other favorite hobbies such as photography, stargazing, and of course: looking for her next adventure.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Russell Archey will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?
I’ve always had difficulty pinning down why I prefer fantasy over sci-fi, when I do enjoy both. I think I enjoy the historical-based influences on fantasy over the science-based influence of sci-fi. However, if you get a good “science-fantasy” setting like Star Wars or Warhammer 40K, you’ve really got me hooked!
I came to this decision when I realized a lot of my favorite fantasy is that which has obvious historical basis. My favorite parts of A Song of Ice and Fire are the political intrigue and inter-house wars, same with The Witcher. I enjoy fantasy video games of all kinds but am very particular towards Kingdom Come and others that are very low-fantasy.
That, and who doesn’t love dragons???
What research (or world-building – for fantasy/paranormal/Sci-fi) is required?
I think that entirely depends on the type of setting you’re writing in. I base some of my names, locations, and even languages on actual examples from history or mythology (especially in The Seven Spires).
I think if readers catch on that you have some sort of historical or mythological basis to your writing, they’ll take notice and have certain expectations. But, I also think that most readers know they’re reading fantasy or sci-fi or horror and take creative liberties into account.
Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.
As some of my characters are female, I always hope that I can make them feel like the strong female characters I go for. And when I try to make them empathetic, that they sound appropriately emotional and not just like a damsel in distress.
Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?
I try way too hard to edit as I write. I’ve recently, under advisement from certain parties, tried to align my way of thinking to the philosophy of “write without fear and edit without mercy.”
Are you a plotter or pantser?
I love this topic and I’m totally a pantser! I do have certain key plot points that I use to guide my writing, like points of interest on a map. But, what happens to my characters in-between and how they get to those points are very much up in the air. I think this helps me avoid writing myself into corners, as I know where I’m trying to go, I just need to get my story there.
Look to your right – what’s sitting there?
A wall. I hope this isn’t metaphorical…
Anything new coming up from you? What?
I have several books and stories in the pipeline! I’m currently working on a novel consisting of interweaving short stories set in a fantasy realm that’s been opened to cosmic horrors as a result of a clandestine cult (I think it’s best described as “Lovecraft meets Tolkein”). I’m excited to finish this book so I can move onto a dark urban fairy tale that involves a creature stalking the streets and stretches back to the days of witches in the northeastern U.S. After that, I have a new dark fantasy trilogy I really can’t wait to get to that’s based on my love of settings like Bloodborne, The Witcher, and even Supernatural. It has some fantasy, religious horror, and a Victorian-era vibe to it!
Do you have a question for our readers?
What draws you to a book for the first time? Is it a compelling cover? Interesting synopsis on the back? Certain genres or buzzwords about the themes or content?
An incredible high fantasy adventure set in a world based on familiar fairy tales, folklore, and mythology, "The Seven Spires" is an epic story of dragons, magic, conquering evil, and discovering magnificent new places.
When a fearsome creature known as Wyvern begins terrorizing Emrallt, one of the seven realms of the continent of Septer, a group of heroes are brought together seemingly by fate to rally against him. A prince, warrior, wizard, and mysterious, sorceress-like sybil try to discover why a common maiden could be the best chance their kingdoms have against Wyvern’s growing forces that threaten to dominate each and every one of the ancient, arcane spires that bind their kingdoms, and world, together.
Read an Excerpt
She reached for his leg, wanting to observe the wound. She gently cupped the bandaged appendage in her hand and steadied it with the other. The bandages were caked with blood and made for a sorrowful sight. It was only a few moments, however, before she felt a tingling in her hand. It wasn’t painful or uncomfortable—just a light prickling sensation all along where her skin made contact with the Prince’s wound.
She looked on as the color slowly returned to the Prince’s leg and, eventually, his face. His sweating stopped and his breathing returned to normal. What just happened?
The Maiden began to unwrap the bandages and then suddenly stopped for fear of hurting the Prince or exacerbating his wounds. She looked up quickly to see him slumbering peacefully. She continued to unravel the sticky bandages until they fell away.
The Prince’s shin was covered in the blood from his wrappings. It was difficult to see much at first. Then the Maiden saw…nothing. No wound, nor scar, nor scratch. There was nothing beneath the blood, except for a leg that was as whole and healthy as it had ever been. His wounds had been completely and unquestionably healed by her own hands.
About the Author:
Russell Archey has been writing since he was old enough to hold a pencil. His love for narratives, world-building, and story-telling has fed into nearly every aspect of his life: from his video and board game hobbies to pressing his most cherished books onto his unfortunate children (who will, one day, read the Lord of the Rings trilogy whether they like it or not). When he's not creating new worlds and horrifying things to threaten them with destruction, he's bringing other author's fantastic works to life as an audiobook narrator, spending time with his two children, and pressing his dear wife's eternal patience with his quirky habits.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nancy Fraser 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.
When Matthew McAlister pulls a nearly-drowned woman from the mucky waters of the Mississippi, he has no idea what's in store for him. Or, how easily he'll willingly give up his carefree, love-em-and-leave-em lifestyle for a chance at real happiness.
Kathryn (Kate) Lowell can't believe her bad luck. Or the fact she's somehow been transported from the twenty-first century back to the post Civil War south. Worse yet, into the arms of the one man she grew up hating. The man she blames for her father's recent demise.
Can these two off-kilter and infinitely stubborn individuals fight their mutual attraction? Or, will they give in to the inevitable? And, when the time comes, will Kate choose to stay with Matt in the past, or return to her former life?
Read an Excerpt
Kate moaned softly, and lifted a heavy hand to her aching forehead. “Where am I?”, she wondered aloud.
“Just rest. You’re safe, everything is fine.”
The muffled sound of a man’s voice penetrated the throbbing in her head and she struggled to open her eyes, to identify the source. A dim light shone on the man’s handsome features and Kate realized she’d come face to face with the devil. His intense expression, an expression she felt certain could stop rush hour traffic in Times Square, seemed to mock her. Haunt her.
I must be dreaming. That’s it, I’m dreaming. I didn’t really drown, I’m just asleep.
Kate closed her eyes and waited, certain that at any moment she’d awaken. Until then, she’d allow this ridiculous dream to run its course. She’d let this man who looked suspiciously like Matthew McAlister sit at her bedside without so much as a single complaint. After all, it was only a dream, a dream most likely resulting from the trauma of her father’s death. A dream in which her subconscious had conjured up a man who’d been dead himself for nearly a hundred years.
Cautiously, she reopened her eyes and met the man’s darkened gaze.
“Oh my gosh, it is you. And just like my father’s sketches, and the way he described you, right down to the scar above your left brow.”
Unconsciously, Kate suspected, he reached up and ran his finger across the scar. “Someone described me?”
As soon as he spoke, Kate recognized the voice from her dreams. Either she had totally lost her mind or, like Matthew McAlister, she was dead. “I’ve got to be dreaming. This can’t be real. And, you can’t possibly be Matthew McAlister.”
Nervously she scanned her surroundings, taking in the beamed ceiling, the heavy wooden furniture and the brocade coverings. The dim light, she realized, came from an oil lamp on the bedside table.
“Lady, I don’t know who you are, or where you came from, but I can assure you, I am definitely Matthew McAlister.”
She shook her head in disbelief, regretting the quick motion when a shooting pain radiated from back of her head forward. “Where am I? Never mind, don’t answer that. I’m dead. I must be dead because that’s the only way I could be seeing you.” She scrambled for the edge of the bed, saying, “I’ve got to get out of here. I can’t…”
Rather than free herself, her legs tangled in what seemed like yards of bed linens. In her haste to get away, Kate slipped unceremoniously off the edge of the bed and landed flat on her backside, the thick carpet cushioning her embarrassing attempt at escape.
“Are you all right?”, he asked.
Bracing himself on the foot rail at the end of the bed, he reached out and offered his free hand. His gaze settled on her bare legs. A man’s shirt, most likely his Kate realized, rode high on her thighs, exposing far more than she was willing to show.
“All right?”, she repeated nervously. If being insane is all right, then I’m fine.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m not hurt. I’m just in a room that looks like something off the set of Maverick, and any minute now a young and rakish Mel Gibson will burst through that door with someone shooting at him, and I’m talking to Matthew McAlister. Other than that, I’m fine.”
Matthew McAlister looked positively baffled by her insane rambling. Yet, when he spoke, his voice held firm conviction rather than confusion. “First of all, you are not dead. And second, who is this Mel Gibson fellow who’s going to burst into my stateroom at any moment?”
About the Author:
NANCY FRASER—Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.
Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.
Published in multiple genres, Nancy has published over thirty-five books in full-length, novella, and short format.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. J B Glazer will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?
I like to write the kind of books that I read. While I enjoy a variety of genres, Chick Lit and Contemporary Romance are my favorites. As an eternal optimist, I love writing uplifting books that take people away from the stresses of daily life. Now more than ever, we are inundated with news of tragedies and loss. I like books that offer a brief escape and provide a guaranteed happily ever after. It’s nice to live the fairy tale once in a while.
What research is required?
My research is often destination based. If my characters are going somewhere I haven’t been, I want to make sure the experience feels authentic. In some of my past books I’ve looked into vacation spots such as Aruba and Aspen. I like to get a feel for the destination, accommodations, nearby attractions, and culture. In Into the Fire, Veronica and Rob go on a hot air balloon ride and to a Chicago Symphony Orchestra performance. I’ve never done either, so l looked into what’s involved and used my imagination for the rest.
Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.
Veronica has inspired me to be more open to trying new things. Growing up in a political family, she was governed by a set of rules that revolved around preserving her father’s reputation. She never made a decision for herself or let her emotions reveal her true feelings. When she meets Rob, she discovers parts of herself she had long buried. With him, she wants to test her boundaries and rediscover the woman she once was, and perhaps who she is meant to be.
Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?
I can't think of anything that unusual. I do most of my writing at night. There's something about the ambiance that puts me in the right mindset. I'm sure it helps that there are less distractions. And I always carry a notebook around with me. That way I'm ready whenever inspiration strikes.
Are you a plotter or pantser?
I’m a little bit of both but definitely lean toward plotter. I start with an outline and know the general story arc. I can’t just sit down and write without having some sort of plan. For the most part my books are mapped out in my head before I even put pen to paper. I don’t write in any particular order from the outline. I prefer to write about whatever section inspires me at the time. I definitely leave room along the way for plot changes and will pivot based on where the characters lead me. It’s always fun to discover something unexpected!
Look to your right – what’s sitting there?
My puppy, Daisy. She’s a 10-month old toy poodle and my shadow. She follows me around the house and often finds her way into my lap. She likes the keyboard and I have to be careful because she often adds her contributions to my writing.
Anything new coming up from you? What?
I'm working on the next book in The Elements Series: Into the Light. This book follows Jeremy McAllister, Rob Ashford's closest friend and business partner. Readers learned he has a stormy past. They'll find out more about it and why he's so jaded when it comes to love.
Do you have a question for our readers?
How do you discover new authors?
I have been hiding my whole life. Doing what’s expected has become who I am. Until I met Rob Ashford. With just one look into his stormy blue eyes, I knew I was lost. I’ve come to realize he gets what he wants. And what he wants right now is me. As much as I want to succumb to what he’s offering, I’m not sure if I’ll lose myselfꟷor find who I was meant to be. I’m not strong enough to refuse him. I give him everything, and even though he’s given me nothing in return, I still love him. He ignites a fire and passion that burns so bright I fear I’ll combust. The thought of leaving him terrifies me, but I know more than anyone that when you play with fire, someone always gets burned.
Read an Excerpt
Rob br>
Veronica is the first woman I’ve met since Eva and I ended our relationship who has stirred something inside me. And now that’s it’s been awoken, it’s taken on a life of its own. With every touch, every taste of her skin I crave more. When she yells my name as she goes over the edge it only fans the flames. Each time is a new challenge that I welcome. I want to take her higher and farther than before. Like a wildfire, this insatiable need is spreading and taking down anything in its path. It’s becoming harder to control. br>
I have this fierce need to possess her. br>
To mark her. br>
To own her pleasure. br>
I want to push her limits. br>
To test her. br>
To take her to the brink and back. br>
To go where no man has gone before. br>
I want to break her so no man will measure up afterward. br>
I want her to only need me. br>
As I said, I’m a selfish bastard. I could claim it’s all for her pleasure. But that would be a lie. Because her agreeing to our arrangement and putting her blind trust in me to unleash her passion reaps the greater reward. And while I know our time together is finite, I’ll be damned if I don’t make her mine.
br>
About the Author:
J B Glazer is a Chick Lit and Romance author who writes fun and flirty books with a little bit of heat and a whole lot of heart. She believes in creating characters that are aspirational yet relatable and that a daily dose of chocolate is one of life’s necessities. She’s also a wife, mom, blogger, chauffeur, referee, short-order cook, maid, chocoholic, shopaholic, and multitasker extraordinaire. J B has a thing for big, dramatic endings because that’s the fun of getting to happily ever after.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan Slayer 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.
Can an accident and a rim job lead to lasting love?
Aiden Connor isn't looking for a date. Sure, he wants one, but relationships seem to be too difficult to maintain. He's an ER doctor and doesn't have time for commitment...that is, until he runs over a curb and needs a new rim for his sports car. The mechanic isn't anything like he expects, but could be the one man he needs if he's willing to open his mind and heart.
Matt Phillips equates dating with disaster, but sees himself as an eternal optimist. When he catches sight of Aiden, he wants to give relationships a try. Every cell in his body screams to get the sexy doctor naked and in his bed. But Matt has demons and addictions he's still working through. Will he fall prey to his past or learn and move forward with the hot doctor?
Read an Excerpt
"Do you have a tow truck?”
“We do. What happened? Usually people come here in a vehicle. You seem to be without one.” The man smiled. The five o’clock shadow darkened his cheeks and his blue eyes sparkled. He’d combed his hair into a short mohawk and the inch-long spikes glimmered in the pink light of the neon sign.
Aiden read the man’s name tag. Matt. Funny, the guy didn’t strike him as a Matt. More like a Roscoe or a Boss. He smoothed his palms over his thighs. Blood rushed through his body and his nerve endings tingled. Each time he swept his gaze over Matt, his pulse reacted. Either he needed a date and sex, or he’d lost his mind from sleep deprivation. He straightened his shoulders. He wasn’t there for a date. “I ran over the curb down the road. I ruined my tire and probably more.”
“If you hit the curb on Walker Road, then you jacked up more than a tire. If the rim isn’t a mess, I’d be shocked.” Matt disappeared into the garage bay, then stepped back out again without the rag. He snorted. “Most rims are a mess and if you did one hell of a job on it…” He whistled, then grinned. “Nice.”
Aiden swayed on his feet. Go figure, he’d found the one mechanic in town to make a lewd joke about rim jobs. “Can you fix it?”
“I’ll get the truck. I doubt I’ll be able to get to it today because I need to find the right rim to fit your car. That’ll take me at least a couple of hours tomorrow to locate. The tire will be easy—unless you did more damage. I won’t know that until I get a look at the car.” Matt tugged a set of keys from his overalls. “Where did you leave it?”
“Where I collided with the curb.” He pointed down the road. “You’re sure it’ll take that long?”
Matt narrowed his eyes. “Guessing from your outfit, you’re late. For a date or your wedding?”
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Three randomly drawn winners will receive a $10 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
The secrets must be kept, or the body count will rise...
Are you ready for the eighteen deadly crime thrillers that will keep you up all night?
Shrouded in mystery, these thrillers by eighteen Wall Street Journal, USA Today and International Best-selling authors, will keep you turning the pages for weeks. It’s a limited time collection that will introduce you to your new favorite writers.
What made the art thieves kill? Why does the old case haunt the detective? Can the assassins be stopped?
From Los Angeles to Scotland to Prague, the twists and turns will leave you in a cold sweat, needing to know what happens next with page after page of the deadliest crimes you can imagine.
This mystery, thriller, and suspense boxset is perfect for fans of David Baldacci, James Patterson, Chris Collett, Angela Marsons, and Lisa Gray.
Read an Excerpt from Mortuary School
“You picked this,” Rochelle waved away a twig that had sailed toward her head, “all by yourself?”
“Yeah.” I said the word slowly, making two syllables of it to give myself more thinking time.
I knew what the next question would be, because everybody asked it: Why? Why did I want to go into Mortuary Science?
“Why?” Rochelle said on cue.
There was a long answer. Last year, I’d been asked to do the hair and makeup for a deceased client, and it had turned into a murder investigation. In the process of stumbling onto the killer, I’d also stumbled onto the answers to some of life’s big questions like: Why was I taking up space on the planet? Was there a purpose to my existence? What did I want to be when I grew up?
I gave Rochelle the short answer. “I used to be a beautician, but business was too up and down.”
She shot me a look. “The dead are more reliable?”
“Exactly. How about you? What did you want to do before you got hijacked into the family business?”
“History. I have an undergraduate degree. My goal was to write long, boring books about the Peloponnesian war and the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. And, I wanted to teach at the university level.” She sighed heavily. “But it was not to be.”
I was curious. Why would such an intelligent girl allow herself to be coerced into studying for a career she didn’t want? But she sounded so sad, I decided not to pry. When we came to an
open green belt flanked by the two buildings that had been featured on the website, I changed the subject. “This must be part of the original estate.”
“It looks old enough,” Rochelle said.
About the Authors: Books by: Judith Lucci, Fiona Quinn, Sandra Woffington, Michelle Medhat, Dan Petrosini, Greta Boris, David Berens, J.D. Weston, Tom Fowler, Chris Patchell, L.K. Hill, Gavin Reese, K.C. Sivils, Tom Schneider, Elleby Harper, Dwayne Gill, James Harper, Jay Tinsiano, and Jay Newton
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nicole Flockton 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.
After surviving a terrifying tornado, Cerise Robinson has re-evaluated her life goals. Her focus now is on, Finn, her foster son and following her dream to adopt him so that she can call him her own. A relationship is the last thing she’s looking for, yet Brodie is not only handsome and sets her heart racing, he’s also wonderful to Finn. He’s almost too good to be true.
Volunteer fire fighter, Brodie Spelling is as happy on the back of horse working on a dude ranch as he was at creating code for the very successful app he and his college buddies developed. So maybe he’s a tech millionaire. No one else needs to know. He’s finally found the balance his life needed—yet something is missing. When he meets Cerise, he discovers an attraction he isn’t expecting. Nor the connection he quickly develops with her foster son. Does he now have the lost piece to complete his puzzle?
As their relationship develops, danger lurks in the shadows waiting to take what Cerise wants most. She will stop at nothing to save Finn, even if it means putting her life on the line…and losing Brodie.
Read an Excerpt
Brodie glanced at Cerise again as she gazed out the window at the passing scenery. Her disappointment about the outcome of the meeting was palpable and he wished he could do something to make it better.
His stomach dropped to his feet. Had he made it worse by suggesting they turn up at the meeting as a couple?
Yes, doofus, of course you made it worse.
He flexed his fingers around the steering wheel. “I’m sorry, Sparkles.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry that instead of making the adoption process better, I’ve made it more difficult for you. I should never have suggested we be a couple for Finn’s adoption. I should’ve let you go alone.”
Her sigh sounded around the cab of his truck, making him feel like a class a jerk. “It’s not your fault. I was mad and disappointed at first, but Elena is right. Perhaps it is best if I do take a step back and think things through properly.”
Dread balled in his stomach. She wasn’t about to take a step back from him, was she?
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling author Nicole Flockton writes sexy contemporary romances that sparkle. Nicole likes nothing better than taking characters and creating unique situations where they fight to find their true love.
Apart from writing Nicole is busy spreading glitter all over social media, looking after her very own hero – her wonderfully supportive husband, and two fabulous kids. She also enjoys watching sports and, of course, reading.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M. Glenda Rosen will be awarding a $30 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Jenna Preston is used to investigating cheating spouses, fraud, and even a murder or two in her role as a private investigator. But she’s never consulted on a case quite like the one at Darcy’s Salon in East Hampton. A killer has struck and left behind a woman’s head in the upscale salon’s shampoo sink.
As Jenna struggles to make sense of the what’s happened, she comes up against entitled and badly behaved beach dwellers, greedy parties with motives all their own, and the billion dollar beauty industry. With her loyal dog Watson at her side, Jenna pieces together clues and tracks down a killer who claims victims that are dying to be beautiful.
Read an Excerpt
This was not the first time the salon would find itself in the news. Almost ten years ago, another summer, a different disaster. Jenna remembered it well. She had been an investigative reporter at the time for the local daily paper. With its senior editor, she had worked the story for weeks.
The headline read: “Salon Stylist Arrested For Child Endangerment.”
“Fifty-four year old Zachary Kline, hair stylist at Darcy’s Salon in The Hamptons, was arrested after police found dozens of photos of underage children at his home and on his computers. He is alleged to have made arrangements for many of them to have sex with older men, several accused of indecency with minors. His checking account showed huge deposits from an undisclosed source. A serious criminal offense, he is facing felony charges that could get him a long jail sentence.
“The salon’s owner, Darcy Monroe, had no comment. The local police have said it’s an active investigation and can’t provide any more details at this time. It is known that one of the children, a young boy, told his parent what happened, which is what put this investigation into motion.”
“We did a number of in-depth stories including background pieces on the subject of child endangerment. Plus I interviewed Kline, but he refused to say who his clients were, which is why he ultimately got a ten-year sentence after being found guilty. Only thing that saved him from more years were a few locals saying positive things about him. The story of the case went on for several weeks. All of us reporters were nagging you for comments or information you might have on this Kline guy.”
“My attorney told me to keep saying, ‘No comment.’ Eventually, it all died down in the media, but it cost me a summer of headaches and maybe a dozen customers leaving my shop.”
“I know, Darcy, and now this!”
“Jenna, I need your help. The body has to be found before the salon has another full-blown disaster hanging over its business in the middle of ‘the season’.”
About the Author:
Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen) is author of ten books including The Senior Sleuths and Dying To Be Beautiful Mystery Series and The Gourmet Gangster, Mysteries and Menus (with her son Jory Rosen). She is also author of The Woman’s Business Therapist and award-winning My Memoir Workbook. Marcia was owner of a successful national marketing and public relations agency, received numerous awards for her work on behalf of business and professional women and has given many presentations, now as Zoom Events, such as: Encouraging the Writer Within You, Writing A Mystery...Not A Mystery, Book Marketing with Zoom and Podcasts, Writing From Your Soul, Memoir Writing and The Senior Sleuths & Dying To Be Beautiful Mysteries. Member of Sisters In Crime, Southwest Writers, Central Coast Writers and Public Safety Writers Association. Board Member, 2021, National Association of Independent Writers and Editors.
Sample of Scheduled Zoom Programs: The National Steinbeck Center (6 week program on About Being an Author), Shelter Island Library, an hour marketing presentation. Public Safety Writer's Association Encouraging the Writer Within You, Central Coast Writers “About Being an Author,” Podcast Marketing for Southwest Writers, Murder on The Beach bookstore, Memoir Writing Sessions, Shelter Island and Westhampton Beach Library, “Writing Mysteries…Not A Mystery,” and other venues and topics for 2021.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bernadette Marie will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Welcome to It's Raining Books. When did you decide to become a writer? When I was 13.
What are your ambitions for your writing career? I’ve been a published author since 2010, and each year I learn a little more. My ambitions are to continue to learn and to enhance my writing. Of course, I’d love to carry those big titles like NYT Bestseller within moments of releasing a book, and I think with hard work, that will come my way.
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? Kennedy Devereaux owns a boutique and it is filled with femininity. She is strong and feminine, embracing pink as her signature color.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured? Most of my writing is done at 6am. I try to write 2000 words before I workout and go to the office. Some days this is easier than others. During the day, I usually log a few more words.
Where do the ideas come from? I am blessed to find inspiration in everything. Ideas come to me from song lyrics, stories people tell me, and just looking at objects. Seriously, I know how lucky I am that stories are everywhere for me.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you? Yes, this is how I work. I say that because I come up with an idea, and I have an idea how it will go. If I try to plot it out, it doesn’t usually work out the way I plot it, so in the end, I see where it goes.
Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? Journal. Write every day, even if it’s a recount of what you did that day. Look up journal prompts for ideas, and focus on those. Keeping your mind active and putting words to the page will help get over that block.
What can we expect from you down the line? More and more happily ever after romances. Kennedy Devereaux is my 41st book, and the first in a new family series. The final three books will release monthly through February. After that, I think I’ll keep writing more family sagas. I plan to put out more holiday books next year as well.
Kennedy Devereaux, owner of Kennedy Devereaux Designs, is a sight to behold in her signature pink colors, accented with custom designed jewelry. Intriguing enough that Joel Kingsley, the man building the new business next door, can’t help but keep coming around, just to get to know the woman in the designer clothes. He finds she’s not such a mystery, and his charm easily wins her over--until she finds that he’s forgotten to let her in on the secrets of his past.
Read an Excerpt
“Who’s smitten with me?” Oliver asked as he set his box on the table. “Oh, tell me it’s that gal next door.”
Joel discarded the rest of the bar mix in his hand into the bucket they’d placed for trash under the table. Oliver’s words had felt like a kick in the gut, and Jeff must have noticed. Without hesitation, he kicked again.
“Which gal next door?” his brother asked. “The blonde in the pink and heels?”
Ouch, Joel thought as Oliver took a seat.
“Are you kidding me? Too pretentious. Too stuck up. I’ve been snubbed by the cheerleading squad and the prom queen before.” He began to unload the box he’d set on the table. “I’m talking the other one. Not the pregnant one either,” he said holding up a finger in objection before one of the mentioned her. “The leggy one with the mess of auburn hair. Sexy as hell. Like maybe, she was the wannabe jock that fit in with the pretty girls and balanced them out. You know.”
They all howled in laughter at his analogy, except for Joel who was able to finally breathe. Good, he thought. No one had their sights set on Kennedy except him. But Jeff was right. If she ended up hating him, it could be bad for them.
As Oliver cracked open the first growler and passed around the plastic cups, Joel decided he couldn’t afford for Kennedy to hate him.
About the Author:
Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie is known for building families readers want to be part of. Her series The Keller Family has graced bestseller charts since its release in 2011. Since then she has authored and published over thirty-five books. The married mother of five sons promises romances with a Happily Ever After always…and says she can write it because she lives it.
Obsessed with the art of writing and the business of publishing, chronic entrepreneur Bernadette Marie established her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, in 2011 to bring her own work to market as well as offer an opportunity for fresh voices in fiction to find a home as well.
When not immersed in the writing/publishing world, Bernadette Marie and her husband are shuffling their five hockey playing boys around town to practices and games as well as running their family business. She is a lover of a good stout craft beer and might have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 or $100 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Welcome back to It's Raining Books. Can you describe your dream home?
Big walk-in closet with a house built around it!
If we were to come to your house for a meal, what would you give us to eat?
Look at the spread I had for Christmas - Does the photo below answer this question????
Tell us about the best fan letter you have received?
Last year a man I sold 3 Cadillacs to wrote a letter to my boss. A few quotes are written below. It’s too long to write the whole thing.
I am a retired Cadillac salesman having been in the business over 30 years.
I have stumbled across a salesman I consider to be quite different.
His name is Glenn Painter.
I have bought 3 new Cadillacs from Glenn this past year and I have recommended him to many others.
I live about 20 miles from the dealership, but Glenn is well worth the driving time.
He has gone out of his way to make my wife and myself totally satisfied with our new Car purchases.
He speaks very articulate and is very knowledgeable.
If I owned a dealership today, I wish I had a Glenn Painter as one of my salespeople.
I found out when I bought my cars from Glenn that he is also an author.
My hat's off to Glenn.
Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
I would want to go wherever the contents of the book took place i.e./ the book I am working on now took place in a small town in the State of Washington, so that’s where I should go to do research and talk with people who might have any knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the event that took place.
Who designed the book cover for the book touring?
Actually, I designed the book cover with great ideas and input from my mother. We both did research on the internet until we came up with what we thought ‘fit the story line’ the best.
Christian Romano lives his life as a con-artist, burglar, drug dealer, and a ladies' man, using his good looks to con wealthy women out of jewels and money. When he is arrested and jailed in one of the most violent jails in the U.S. (Cook County in Chicago), a steamy affair begins with a nympho female jail guard. When he loses control of the romance, Christian must end the affair by reporting her to Internal Affairs. It turns out that she is already under suspicion for supplying drugs to various gang members inside the jail. He has to decide if he is "rogue" enough to help set her up for arrest. Meanwhile, the FBI wants to recruit Christian to gather information against a sadist ex-cop, Scott Mason, who has been arrested for murder. The risk? Christian must wear a wire and testify. The reward? Witness protection for Christian and his girlfriend and a modification of his prison sentence. Will Christian risk his life for a chance at freedom? Will the female sheriff "get even" with him? Or will his life end at the hands of the jail's drug lords or a lunatic former cop?
Read an Excerpt
Something’s wrong, my intuition told me, as I stepped out of the stairwell and into the chaotic frenzy of the main hallway running under Division One of the Cook County jail.
Sergeant Ricky Walsh opened the heavy, rusted steel door leading to the death trap—that is A-B stairwell—then turned to me. “Romano, take the stairs down four flights to the bottom, I will meet you there.”
There are four sets of stairs that lead to the main boulevard on the first floor. They are legendary for the infamous men who have been butchered there, the bloodstained walls are a testament to the violence that is the norm in this building. As I begin my descent down the narrow and poorly lit stairwell, the thought hits me: At least half a dozen men have been stabbed in this exact place. The words taunt me as I step slowly down the stairs so that Walsh will have time to beat me to the first floor in the old, decrepit elevator.
When I finally make it down, I breathe a sigh of relief. But it is not Walsh waiting at the huge, steel door I am to exit. Instead of the old mick—who looked and walked like a bulldog with his perfectly groomed hair and mustache—it was one of the lackey guards. They would often hang out on the main floor waiting to proposition some poor woman coming to visit her man. I open the door and step through quickly, not wanting to arouse suspicion. But my heart hangs in my throat.
During my trip down the stairwell, the heavy steel recorder slid down my pant leg, stopping on top of my right foot. The ACE bandage, meant to hold it in place, was also dangling and ready to pop out for everyone to see. Panic set in as my mind processed a million thoughts, but I couldn’t break my stride.
It was common knowledge that this is where inmates often came out stabbing when sent to attack a guard by one of the gang bosses. Looking past the guard, I saw Sergeant Walsh bearing down on us as fast as his stubby legs would carry him.
“Hey Walsh,” I said, “the food poisoning is getting worse, I’m gonna puke all over this guy.” These guards tolerated zero bull, especially from a smart-ass like me.
I decided that it was quicker and easier to shove the recorder under the waistband of my jail pants and pray it would stay. After splashing water on my face, I poked my head out.
Walsh fell right in line with my cover. “We’re going to the hospital, come with me!” he bellowed.
I exited the closet, pushing the recorder into my torso as we walked past another guard. We traveled down the long hallway. Once we were far enough out of earshot, Walsh found an unoccupied attorney visiting room. As he opened the door, I scurried to the far corner.
“The hallway is clear!” Walsh yelled.
I pulled the recorder from my waistband and looked at it with disdain. Then I wrapped it tight with the ACE bandage. Although the long recording wires had to be reconnected and it only took a few moments, it felt like forever.
Then it hit me: I’m wearing a wire against one of the most violent hitmen Chicago has ever known, and this prick had been a Chicago cop. He probably knows every person who works in this jail. Getting whacked in a place like this costs less than a carton of cigarettes. What the hell have I gotten myself into? But there was no backing out, and I still had to get back to my tier.
Walsh looked at me, his brow furrowed. He quietly asked, “You alright, kid?”
“I better be. I signed a deal with the devil, and it’s time to pay up.”
I drew in a deep breath as we headed to the hospital, so we could sign in and make it look legit.
How did my life get to this point? I wondered as I followed Walsh. Growing up in Chicago, I was exposed to police corruption, murder, drugs, gangsters, and sex, oh yes, lots and lots of sex.
I had no clue of what awaited me, but my unsavory legacy was about to go down in history like crap down a toilet.
About the Author:
Glenn Painter is single and lives in Central Florida. He became interested in writing at an early age but did not make it his career until 2014 when he published his first book, Beyond the Sentence.
Glenn has written this story from the notes by the man who actually lived it. However, extensive research was also require in order to make the story factual.
Glenn has also founded a company, ‘Prisoner Civil Right Services.’ He is an advocate for incarcerated individuals who have had their rights violated. He is in constant contact with these individuals, their families and the council. Most of his stories are inspired by ‘factual events’ that have happened to these individuals. This makes his stories both fiction and non-fiction.
Glenn says that writing is very challenging, and you must love the trials and tribulations that come with it. He believes that patience, perseverance and determination are required essentials to see a book through to being published. The journey is just as important as the destination.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlotte Hubbard 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.
Founded by five enterprising Amish maidels, the new Morning Star Marketplace is a joyous success. What’s even more remarkable is the gift the business bestows upon each of these unmarried women—the unexpected blessing of love . . .
Leaving Flaud’s Furniture to teach at the community’s new school is a joy for Lydianne Christner. Old Order Amish, but new to Morning Star, she’s grateful that the congregation trusts her with the position—but she panics when handsome Bishop Jeremiah Shetler asks about the life she left behind. If anyone discovers the secret she’s hiding, she would, quite rightly, be shunned.
A widower, Bishop Jeremiah admires young Lydianne’s youthful energy and skill with the children. He’s also curious about her past, and the burden he senses on her heart. When his request to court her is refused, he’s stung, and lonelier than ever. It isn’t until a crisis prompts a tearful Lydianne to confess to him that Jeremiah is faced with a choice that requires all of his faith—and teaches them both that love and forgiveness go hand in hand.
Read an Excerpt
“Miss Christner, we’re pleased to offer you this teaching position,” Bishop Jeremiah said as he grasped her hand, “and if you need time to consider your answer—”
“Oh, no, I’ll be happy to accept!” Lydianne interrupted gleefully. “Denki so much for considering my application. What I lack in experience, I’ll make up for with careful preparation and my love of learning. I won’t let you down.”
“That thought never entered our heads,” the bishop put in. “And with Lorena Flaud and Clarence’s Lucy being in their final year of school—and with their sisters right behind them—you’ll have plenty of eager assistance as you teach the youngest ones the basics of reading and arithmetic. I anticipate a productive—and fun—year for our scholars.”
“This is so exciting!” Lydianne said as she shook each man’s hand in turn. “Maybe this sounds silly, but I still love the smell of fresh packages of notebook paper and new bottles of glue, and the joy of opening a fresh box of crayons—thinking of all the drawings and reports and projects that lie ahead of us.”
As she left the schoolhouse and drove down the road, Lydianne floated on a cloud of euphoria. After she turned off the main county highway to head for home, she paused at the sight of a little blond girl chasing a butterfly on the front lawn of Tim and Julia Nissley’s place. With the sunshine shimmering on her golden hair and upturned face, six-year-old Ella Nissley looked for all the world like a little angel. Her laughter rang out as she ran and reached eagerly for the butterfly, followed closely by a little brown puppy that yipped and yapped.
Lydianne’s heart overflowed with a wave of emotions. Her dream had come true: she would now be Ella’s teacher. But she would have to be very, very careful. Ella was the apple of her adoptive parents’ eyes, and Lydianne had no intentions of interfering with their happy family.
No one else, including Tim and Julia, knew that Ella was the newborn baby Lydianne had given up when she’d been an unwed mother.
About the Author:
In 1983, Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. She wrote around 70 of those confession stories, and she’s sold more than 50 books to traditional or online publishers. A longtime resident of Missouri, she’s currently writing Amish romances set in imaginary Missouri towns for Kensington. She now lives in Omaha, NE with her husband of 40+ years and their Border collie, Vera.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sunayna Prasad will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Thanks for stopping by It's Raining Books. What is your favorite part of this book and why?
Any scene where my MC’s godfather comforts her after something terrible has happened. I also love the part where she accidentally conjures a robotic bee in English class and gets detention for it. I found both to be fun to write.
If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?
If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
Probably Harry Potter
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
They’re all from my imagination or inspired by other fictional characters. Some are developed like real people, though.
What made you want to become a writer?
When the idea of my MC now struck me 11 years ago while in the shower. I wanted to develop her from that point on.
History, like magic, has a habit of repeating itself
It’s been six months since thirteen-year-old Alyssa McCarthy left magic behind for good. Or so she thought…
Then the enchanted objects that protected her disappear. Now a skeleton named Errol has cursed her with magical powers that keep getting her in trouble. Suddenly strange things are happening with disastrous effects, and if Alyssa can’t remove the magic, she will lose everything she holds dear.
In order to get rid of her unwanted wizardry, Alyssa will have to boost her bravery and confidence and determine who Errol really is. But every time Alyssa uses an enchantment, Errol is one step closer to getting his flesh back and becoming alive, and he will do anything to achieve his goals…even if it means destroying Alyssa’s happiness.
Originally published in 2016 as “Wizardry Goes Wild” and “The Unruly Curse” in 2019, “A Curse of Mayhem” is book two in the exciting and suspenseful “Magical Missions” series.
Read an Excerpt:
Several hours had passed. It was now ninth period, the last one before school ended. Only twenty minutes remained until the bell rang.
However, thanks to the library closing because two classes had occupied it, Alyssa hadn’t gotten to hone her presentation skills. Even the teachers monitoring the hallway had forbidden her to practice there.
Today through Wednesday, the students would present on different literary elements in the last novel they’d read, Angelica: A Whale Princess. Alyssa had been assigned to discuss the themes and morals of the book.
Mr. Godfrey, the teacher, had picked students randomly to read their brief speeches today, tomorrow, or Wednesday. Alyssa had been assigned for today. So, her stomach made several knots as she watched Sydney present on the characters from the book.
Usually, Mr. Godfrey had a more easygoing attitude toward the class. On his birthday last month, he hadn’t given homework. For the first assignment of the year, he’d played a game with the class to help them prepare for a quiz.
Alyssa wished that he’d let her and everyone else pick when they’d wanted to go—or he could’ve at least chosen the bravest speakers for today. She assumed that Mr. Godfrey knew that many children stuttered, hesitated, or got words wrong when having to present in front of crowds.
About the Author: Sunayna Prasad enjoys writing fantasy books for children, as well as cooking, creating artwork, watching online videos, and blogging. She has also written The Frights of Fiji, formerly titled as From Frights to Flaws. She is passionate about modern life, fantasy, and world-building. Aside from her website, she also has a blog about different creative and entertaining topics, including fiction and writing, called “Sunayna Prasad’s Blog”.
Sunayna has graduated from college in May 2017. She lives in Long Island, NY.
