Friday, November 30, 2018

#SALE .99: THE ACCIDENTAL WEDDING by Debra Elizabeth




Blurb:
Has Keira made the worst mistake of her life?
Unemployed Keira Callahan decides to try her luck at the casino before delving back into job hunting. As she walks through the casino, she bumps into the most handsome man she’s ever seen. When he asks her to dinner, she doesn’t hesitate. As she learns Cade Tyndale’s story—he needs to wed or lose his British estate, her impulsive nature rears up and she agrees to marry him and move to England for one year. What does she have to lose except her heart to the impossibly handsome Earl of Barrett?



Excerpt:


Cade put his glass down on the side table and pulled her into his arms. “Please don’t be alarmed. He will not succeed,” he said.
Being in his arms felt so right. Keira sighed. “I just hate the thought of Edward being so nasty to you.”
Cade lifted her chin. “That’s very sweet of you,” he said, brushing his lips against hers.
His lips were soft and inviting. Desire scorched through her, leaving her breathless. She let him take the glass from her and stepped closer to him, pressing her body to his. Her curves fit perfectly against his solid muscles.
His hand caressed her cheek, and she moaned with pleasure. “Have I told you lately how beautiful you are?” he whispered.
Keira’s lips parted, and Cade deepened their kiss, setting her heart on fire. This wasn’t part of their deal, although there was nothing in the contract that said they needed to avoid all physical contact. This was want she wanted. This and much, much more. Her body was on fire, and she longed to know what it would be like to lie next to him. To have his hand trail up her body. To feel him fill her completely.
As if reading her mind, Cade abruptly broke contact and stepped back. “I’ve overstepped the boundaries of our agreement. Please excuse me,” he said, stalking from the room.
Keira stood speechless, staring at his retreating back. She missed the warmth of his body, and without it, she felt adrift. One minute, he was kissing her senseless, and the next, he was gone. What had just happened?

 

Thursday, November 29, 2018

#Review: THE EARL AND THE RELUCTANT LADY by Robyn DeHart


  4 of 5 stars

From the moment Fletcher Banks, Earl of Wakefield, sees Miss Agnes Watkins, his stomach does a flip-flop and he's enchanted with her. When he kisses her out in the garden, he's pretty sure, he'll never want another woman for the rest of his life, but life has a way of interfering. It turns out Agnes is his boss's sister and Christopher has forbidden Fletcher from ever touching her again or else he'll lose his position with the home office. With only a courtesy title, Fletcher has no choice but to back away from Agnes. He has no idea that she is captivated with him as well, but his cool behavior toward her in the years that pass convinces her, what she felt when Fletcher kissed her, was only in her mind. Can these two ever work past everything keeping them apart and finally declare their love for each other?

I truly enjoyed this book. Ms. DeHart writes wonderful characters full of heart and soul. There was enough saucy banter back and forth between Fletcher and Agnes throughout the book, but the fact that Agnes does not truly trust him lands her in all kinds of trouble. The plot moved along well, but I thought the villain was kind of dumb in the end. I won't say how because I don't want to spoil the book for any other readers. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Maybe we'll finally learn the identity of the mysterious Lady X.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review and was not obligated to leave a review.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

#Excerpt: THE VIKING'S CAPTIVE by Quinn Lofts


The Viking’s Captive
Quinn Loftis
(Clan Hakon #2)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: November 27th 2018
Genres: Historical, Young Adult

Prophecy spoken.
Alliances broken.
Will duty come before love?
The Viking’s Captive is the exciting sequel toThe Viking’s Chosen by USA Today Bestseller Quinn Loftis.
Two worlds collide in this epic historical fiction centered on an undeniable chemistry that smolders against the odds. Richly written and injected with moments of humor, this action-packed romantic tale will leave you breathless.

Novels in The Clan Hakon Series Include:
The Viking’s Chosen (February 12, 2018)
The Viking’s Captive (November 27, 2018)
The Viking’s Consort (Fall 2019)


EXCERPT:
“If you vomit on my lap, I will most likely throw you overboard,” Dayna, my incredibly helpful sister, told me for the fourth or fifth time.
“If you hadn’t come running after me like a sodding fool, you wouldn’t have gotten yourself captured. Then you wouldn’t even be on this boat, and you wouldn’t have to worry about me vomiting on you, now, would you?” I asked as I clutched my midsection. My stomach seemed to think it should take its cues from the ocean upon which we sailed. It rolled and flipped just like the waves.
“First, if I hadn’t come after you, then that would make me a coward and not much of a sister, so that was never an option. Second, if I hadn’t gotten captured, then you would be all alone with no one to hold your hair while you vomit, now, wouldn’t you?”
“Do we have to use the term vomit in every sentence?” Hilda, the Hakon clan Oracle, healer, and Torben’s mother, asked dryly.
“Apparently, we do since you just used it yourself,” Dayna pointed out.
Hilda shot me a sly grin, with one eyebrow raised, asked, “You don’t mind if I just put a small hex on her, do you?”
“She is my sister, so I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Thank you,” Dayna said a bit smugly.
“But if you feel it’s absolutely necessary, I guess I could overlook it,” I added, earning me a pinch from said sister.
I had no idea how long it had been since Magnus, Torben’s jarl, had captured us. On one hand, he’d done me a favor. I certainly wasn’t going to have to marry Cathal now. On the other hand, my sister and I were now the prisoners of a man who was slowly losing his mind. I wasn’t sure which was worse, being married to a madman or being stolen by one. For whatever reason, I seemed to have suddenly become a hot commodity to lunatics. I chuckled to myself.
“Pray tell, sister, what is so funny?” Dayna asked.
“Madmen want me,” I said as I groaned and shifted my head, which was indeed lying in my sister’s lap, where I very well might have been sick at any second.
“Do you think she’s already delirious from being at sea?” Dayna asked Hilda.
Hilda snorted¾a most unladylike sound. “We’ve only been at sea for half a day at most. If she’s already delirious, then we are going to need to shore up her constitution.”
I was just about to tell her where she could shove her shoring up when I quickly covered my mouth and sat up. I refused to vomit. If I did, it would feel like Magnus was winning in some bizarre, silent game between the two of us. Once I was sure I could open my mouth without anything but words coming out of it, I addressed Hilda. “I am feeling more than just my own illness, worry, and fear.” I pressed my hand to my heart and rubbed it as if that could somehow remove the ache. “There’s a pain deep in my breast.”
Hilda nodded. “That would be the anchor bond between you and my son. You are feeling his worry and fear as well as your own. And knowing how deeply Torben feels anything, I imagine he is in quite a bit of distress, though he won’t show it on the outside.” She shook her head. “No, he’s a warrior through and through. On the outside, he will look as though he could slit your throat without a second thought. But on the inside, he is frantic to get to you.”
“Is that why you weren’t wailing about the possibility of Torben being dead when Magnus said he was?” Dayna asked.
“I would know if he were dead. A part of me would die inside as well.” I looked back to Hilda. “Will he kill Magnus?” I asked.
She nodded. “It is his destiny to become jarl of the Hakon clan, as it is your destiny to rule at his side. For that to happen, the old jarl must die. Magnus will never relinquish power willingly. Our two nations will grow stronger, not only because they embrace one another’s differences, but because they need new blood. Your offspring will be strong.”
The boat gave a mighty heave, and Dayna and I both nearly fell off the small bench upon which we were perched. Hilda didn’t appear bothered at all by the motion. She noticed the expression I was giving her and shrugged.
“I’ve lived at sea a long time. She and I are well acquainted.”
“Forgive me for speaking out of turn,” Dayna said, gripping the seat beneath her as though it might try to toss her into the bottom of the boat, “but your life has been about as fun as a house rat’s on cleaning day if you’ve spent that much time on the ocean.”

Author Bio:
Quinn is an award winning author who lives in beautiful Western Arkansas with her husband, two sons, Nora the Doberman, and Chewy the Cat who thinks he's a dog.
She is the author of 17 novels, and 2 novellas, including the USA Today bestseller, Fate and Fury. Quinn is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her.
Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid imagination it takes to write.


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Tuesday, November 27, 2018

#Review: SKILLS TO KILL by Brian Drake



5 of 5 stars
  
I want more of Ex-CIA agent Steve Dane and his lady love, ex-FSB (formerly KGB) agent Nina Talikova!!!! Steve and Nina are freelancing agents these days working hard to foil as many bad guy plots as they can. Their latest target is The Duchess who wants to buy a portable nuclear weapon and Steve is determined to bring her down. There's a major problem when Steve discovers his ex-30-30 partner, Sean McFadden is her #2 man. Steve has a mission to accomplish and he can't allow any sentiments for former friends to get in the way. 

The action is non-stop as Steve and Nina track The Duchess across Europe, Mexico and the United States. The prose is clipped and to the point, keeping the plot moving forward at a fast pace. Mr. Drake knows his weapons and it enhances the storyline without overpowering it. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was not obligated to leave a review.

Blurb:
Lovers. Spies. Killers.
Steve Dane should never have set foot in Italy. After witnessing a young woman's kidnapping, the former agent turned rogue mercenary is hired to get her back by the girl's father and soon finds himself drawn in to the decades-old vendetta behind the crime.

Racing against time as her life hangs in the balance, Steve battles the mafia who want him dead and the police and international agents who want him out of the way. With the help of his lover, former Russian spy Nina Talikova, he rushes down a path that leads into an ever-more complex world of deception ruled by a powerful and mysterious woman known as The Duchess.

Life, it seems, is getting cheaper by the minute. And The Duchess has put a price on the ultimate weapon that will make it all but worthless. Only Steve and Nina have the power to stop a clock that is ticking away the life of the missing girl--and the world.

Amazon buy link:

Excerpt:
“Will you shoot him already?”
Steve Dane laughed and shifted in the bed. The accordion down the hall continued blaring. Nina rolled away from him and pulled the covers over her.
Male and female laughter mingled with the noise. The party had been going on since midnight.
“Laugh all you want,” she said. “You won’t get any of my goodies until that man is dead.” Her words were dusted with a soft Russian accent.
Dane said, “Other than the noise, it’s a nice hotel, right?”
“It is not. I get to pick next time.”
“This is one of the nicest hotels in Italy. This is what you wanted.”
“Next time we’ll go to Geneva.”
The downstairs staff had acknowledged receiving many complaints, but they were powerless to help. The accordion player was a pop star, whose name Dane had forgotten, who had lots and lots of money that he spent at the hotel and surrounding establishments, and they were not going to disturb him lest he start breaking things and decide to spend his lots and lots of money elsewhere.
“It’s too late for polka,” Dane had told them. “It’s the wrong century for polka.”
The appeal had been ignored. This was no way to start a vacation.
Dane drifted off to sleep and started to snore. He jerked awake for a moment when Nina punched him in the arm. 
Dane rose before Nina, who lay on her stomach, arm dangling over the side of the bed. Her snoring sounded like a chain saw stuck in a log. After a hot shower, he scraped whiskers off his face and pulled from the closet a set of clothes he’d had the hotel dry-clean and press the day before.
The long-sleeved Sedona Silk shirt with pearl buttons fit perfectly, covering the warped and puckered flesh on his right arm. Years ago, Dane had been in a helicopter crash while on a CIA mission in Central America. The ruptured fuel tanks splashed gasoline onto Dane’s clothes and the clothes of a friend trapped in the wreckage. Dane pulled his friend out. The chopper exploded, and they went up like Roman candles. Dane hit the dirt and rolled back and forth like a madman and put the fire out. He’d been lucky. Only his right arm, part of his side and chest, and a portion of his right leg had been affected. His friend Len Lukavina had not been so lucky.
To Dane the scars had become a symbol with its own motto: “You’ve survived the worst. Everything else is easy.”
But the scars also symbolized a darker truth: “You are not invincible.”
After cutting loose from the CIA, Dane had formed a mercenary unit called the 30-30 Battalion. A skirmish in South Africa netted him several million dollars’ worth of diamonds, and he disbanded the unit. It was time to fight the battles he wanted, to bring a fight to the predators who sought to exploit the defenseless who had nobody to turn to. Idealistic, yes. He could afford to be idealistic. And he could afford the luxurious lifestyle that came with such independence.
Plenty of action, plenty of rough spots, and he’d always come out on top. Then he almost died in a fire. And then came a betrayal so close to home that he turned his back on that home and took off for the wild pastures of the world.


#Review: I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU by Ella Quinn


  3 of 5 stars

Gerald, Lord Elliott is finally willing to settle down and search for a wife this Season. When his good friend, the Duke of Rothwell, asks him to watch over his sister, Lady Lucinda Hughlot, Gerald thinks it will be a good way to see if any of the debutantes catch his eye. What he doesn't expect is that he likes Lucinda more each time they spend time together. Lucinda's mother is determined to have her marry her friend's son. Can Gerald win Lucinda's hand without offending either Rothwell or Lucinda's mother?

This was a very quick read. I did enjoy it, but after some leisurely scenes with Gerald and Lucinda, I felt the ending was very rushed. There was no real obstacle except for Lucinda's mother disapproval preventing them from being together and when the storyline jumped ahead a few weeks, Lucinda and Gerald were declaring their love for each other. There was a quick sex scene and the book was basically over. I would have liked more in the second half of the book. I realize this was a novella, but the ending left much to be desired.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review and was not obligated to leave a review.


Monday, November 26, 2018

#Excerpt: VALIANT by Merrie Destefano


Valiant
Merrie Destefano
Published by: Entangled: Teen
Publication date: December 4th 2018
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

The Valiant was supposed to save us. Instead, it triggered the end of the world.
Earth is in shambles. Everyone, even the poorest among us, invested in the Valiant’s space mining mission in the hopes we’d be saved from ourselves. But the second the ship leaves Earth’s atmosphere, our fate is sealed. The alien invasion begins. They pour into cities around the world through time portals, possessing humans, forcing us to kill one another.
And for whatever reason, my brother is their number one target.
Now the fate of the world lies in the hands of me, a seventeen-year-old girl, but with the help of my best friend, Justin―who’s suddenly starting to feel like more―maybe if we save my brother, we can save us all…

EXCERPT:
There’s a pain in my chest as I remember the first time I stumbled across a man with fists lined with metal spikes. I was walking through downtown Santa Ana with Justin, and it was one of those times when I thought, He’s totally going to kiss me tonight. It was back before I began traveling through time, before I found out just how dark the world could be. We were laughing and heading toward a frozen yogurt shop, and he slid his arm around my waist.
It might have been the first time I thought, This guy is it; he’s the one I could fall for. I knew he was a Genetic and that nobody wanted us to be together. But I didn’t care. He was sunshine on a dark night. He was heat when the cold winds blew.
I put my head on his shoulder.
It was only natural.
It was exactly right.
Then I saw the metal man, his brow furrowed as if his heart held all the anger in the world. He was chaos and destruction and he was walking toward us, eyes like fire, like he wanted to kill us both.
Maybe he was looking at Justin. Metal men hate Genetics, because in a real battle, Genetics win. It doesn’t matter how much metal you’ve grafted onto your skin or bones—it might make you stronger, but you’re slower, too. Nobody can match the speed and natural strength of a Genetic. So, this guy might have been looking at Justin and challenging him, but it felt like I was going to be collateral damage.
One swing of his spike-covered fist and I’d be dead.
But I didn’t have to worry about it for long, because Justin pushed me behind him. I couldn’t see his face, but I could see the metal man. Doubt flickered in his eyes; he paused and glanced to the side. He was probably looking for a way out.
Justin took a step forward, his hands curled in fists. When he spoke, his voice came out like thunder, a loud, low growl that rumbled through my spine.
“Don’t even think about it,” Justin said. “Take one more step and I’ll rip out your metal implants, one by one. They hurt going in, so you better believe it’ll be a mother when I pull them out.”
He paused to laugh, but I’d never heard him laugh like that before. It was chilling, like he was a different person. He continued to warn the metal man. “Especially when I twist those implants sideways and the roots tear off chunks of your flesh.”
The metal man narrowed his eyes, and there was a split second when I thought he was going to tackle Justin.
Maybe he would have.
But he didn’t get a chance. It was like Justin knew the metal man’s plan, like it was an open football playbook. Justin rushed him, grabbed the guy around the waist, and slammed him against the brick wall of a local tattoo parlor. It took the wind out of the metal man’s lungs, and he was temporarily stunned. Justin could have slugged him; he could have broken the guy’s arms; he could have killed him.
All he did was lean close enough to whisper in the guy’s ear.
Then Justin stepped back and let the thug slide to the sidewalk in a heap. The metal man caught his breath, his eyes flickered, and he glanced up at us. Then he floundered to his hands and knees and crawled away as fast as he could. By the time he got to his feet, we were surrounded by a Friday-night club crowd, most of them drunk and all of them laughing at the metal man as he ran away.
Justin didn’t even hit the guy.
Sometimes you can win by intimidation alone.
So, do I melt every time I see this boy, who was willing to fight to protect me?
You better believe it.


Author Bio:
Born in the Midwest, former magazine editor Merrie Destefano currently lives in Southern California with her husband, two German shepherds, a Siamese cat, and the occasional wandering possum.
Her favorite hobbies are reading speculative fiction and watching old Star Trek episodes, and her incurable addiction is writing. She loves to camp in the mountains, walk on the beach, watch old movies, and listen to alternative music—although rarely all at the same time.

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#Excerpt: PARADIGM SHIFT, FUTURE COMES FROM BEHIND by STK Chang


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


Fighting what we've become.
An ancient dimension of dark echoes from the past.

Lisa and her family barely manage to escape an invasion from the Rebel army in their home of Malta. Shortly after this episode, she discovers Exo, the ancient dimension she cannot understand until her late 20s. Exo is made of memories of the past; it brings forth all the strong echoes we leave behind. Lisa desperately wants to resolve the conflicts of this inner world peacefully, but quickly learns she must fight the shadows in people's hearts, materialized through battle re-enactments, warfare and emotional turmoil.

Excerpt:

Soon the windows revealed smaller buildings and less crowded streets. The train grew emptier too. Lisa heard the monotonous hum of the wheels more clearly; it slowed her heartbeat down to a peaceful pace. In a flash, as she had done many times before, she crossed into what she believed to be a dreaming state of mind.

A dense forest surrounded her. It was cold, and patches of snow covered the ground.

It feels so real… But I wanted a nice view of wild, untamed mountains. And a waterfall. And why can’t I better control the season or the clothes I’m wearing? Lisa wondered, shivering a little. There! She finally spotted an exit from the curtain of trees.

Below, a large lake covered with floating sheets of ice lay at her feet. She was indeed on a mountain. The fresh air was freezing, but she breathed it in eagerly, ignoring the abundant vapors of her warm breath.

What could this resemble? Canada? Alaska? Lisa had learned that, by focusing very deeply with closed eyes, she could sometimes change her clothing or some of the details around her.

This time, only a long scarf appeared on her shoulders after she opened her eyes. “Not enough,” she said, shivering, but proceeded to walk along the cliff regardless. Minutes later, she stopped to take a better look into the distance. A boat? I don’t want to come across any other people this time...Ah, it’s just a log. She could not stand the cold any longer, so she thought about getting back.

Greg raised an eyebrow when he noticed her repeated blinking.

“Your lucid dreams again?”

Lisa nodded in confession.

“Where did you go this time?”

“Far…far from these many babylons.”

“Just another reason why we are a perfect match.” He smiled.

“They are so real. And they feel so long, though they really last just a fraction of a second.”

“Do you meet any people in there?”

“Yes, but I avoid them. It scares me to death how intense and unpredictable they are. Last week I met a tribe in Africa and before that I was in the middle of a medieval city.”

“Lucky you,” said Greg. “It’s a strange yet blissful anomaly, to escape reality like that.”

About the Author:
A fan of nourishing SF&F fiction. Seeker of essential truths in historical non-fiction. Exploring life for almost half a century. Delivering action and matters of the inner self. "Chan has license to be more philosophical and issue-oriented, and on the whole he blends together different genres well." (John Staughton, SPR)

Website: http://stkchan.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18365677.S_T_K_Chan

The book is $0.99 during the tour.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PARADIGM-SHIFT-Future-comes-behind-ebook/dp/B07GVNH3GQ
Other book venues: http://stkchan.com/#shortcode-88edda7ce3603c2b9a964b5f0f2b8d1e

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Friday, November 23, 2018

Interview with Jill Ramsower, THE FAE GAMES DUET

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
The Fae Games Duet is two books but essentially one story that didn’t fit in a single volume. I love all things romance and fantasy--I particularly enjoy legends and mythology so I decided to intertwine the Fae with Arthurian legends. The duet focuses on an American girl named Rebecca who moves to Ireland for a new job and discovers the world of the Fae. She has a sassy BFF who helps her along the way and encounters a couple of mysterious Fae men who complicate her life. (No love triangle, phew!)

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Yes! I don’t want to give anything away for anyone who hasn’t read the books, but one of the supporting characters in book 1 makes a reappearance in book 2 that wasn’t originally planned. A beta reader friend of mine insisted the character was crucial and needed to be brought back. I’m glad I listened because she was right!

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
Nope. I’m forty years-old and had no desire to jump through the hoops required by traditional publishing. I knew that I was competent enough to handle finding an editor and marketing my books on my own so I never really considered spending years getting rejections just to be able to say I had a publisher.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?
I use a wonderful woman by the name of Rena Hoberman who owns The Cover Quill. I am very involved in the process—when you put your heart and soul into a book, it feels vitally important that the cover accurately reflect the feel of the story. Not only that, but readers 100% judge a book by its cover so having an appealing cover is crucial to marketing a book.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I don’t have a critique group but man would that be nice! What I do have is an amazing support group of family and friends. My husband, parents, and best friend read my work first and give me loads of amazing advice on the basic story. Once I’m happy with the foundation, I send the book to my editor and let her do her thing. Then I make rewrites according to her suggestions, have my husband read the book AGAIN, make more tweaks, then send the book to my dad for a proofread. (We have an unspoken agreement not to discuss any of the steamy scenes in the books.) So far the system has worked out beautifully and I’m so grateful for all of their help!

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I outline the outlines of my outlines. As far as I’m concerned, there is no such thing as too much outlining. I have no idea how the uber creative types free-form a book. I want to make sure there is consistency and flow in my stories and the only way I can do that is to have the whole thing fleshed out first before I start writing.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
Absolutely! As I’m writing this answer, I also need to be getting my ARC for my next book formatted, and I’ve got a fourth book in the writing process that I’m dying to work on, and a fifth book that came to me over the weekend that needs to be outlined. Not to mention social media posts, planning Amazon deals, and promotion company listings. Self-publishing is no part-time gig if you want to truly make a career in the business.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
Reach out to individuals already in the business and ask for advice. There is so much to learn, and as much as I researched the field, what I learned was just the tip of the iceberg that is self-publishing. Every day I learn more and one of my best sources is my PA that I hired. She’s been working with authors for many years and is a wealth of information.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?
I like both but probably prefer cats
CHOCOLATE
Neither, yucky
Text, dear Lord please don’t call me
Day—I’m all early to bed, early to rise!

What’s next for you?
Shades of Betrayal will be out December 1, 2018 and I’m super excited about it. I brainstormed and discussed the Duet with friends and family, but this book just took shape so quickly on its own that not a single person knew anything about it aside from myself. The book is set in The Fae Games world and tells Ashley’s story, basically picking up where Twilight Siege left off. Ashley is sarcasm and wine and everything fine—early readers are loving her character and I’m excited to share her with the world!


The Fae Games Duet
Jill Ramsower
(The Fae Games #1 & 2)
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

When Rebecca Peterson walks away from everything she knows to follow her dreams in Ireland, she never expects to be thrown into a world of vicious Fae and deadly secrets. On the dreary streets of Belfast, her terrifying nightmares are rekindled, and this time they aren’t confined to her imagination. Complicating her life further, Becca crosses paths with two mysterious strangers—both alluring in different ways, but are either of them to be trusted?
Her journey takes her deep into the treacherous Shadow Lands, where both her knowledge and courage will be tested. Navigating this new landscape of deceit and manipulation is paramount if she is to stop hordes of blood-thirsty Faeries from invading Earth. With time running out, will her limited training be enough to take on a centuries old enemy hell-bent on death and destruction? To keep those she loves safe, Becca is willing to risk it all.
In this captivating duet, Jill Ramsower takes her readers from the streets of Belfast on a harrowing journey to the most dangerous corners of Faery, where fear is a lethal enemy and trust is a luxury few can afford.

Author Bio:
Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she’s an attorney, travel junkie, and voracious reader.


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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving 2018

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. Take time to be with your family and friends and let them know they are loved. Let's try to put aside whatever differences we have and try kindness instead. 2018 has been a tumultuous year thus far and here's hoping politics will calm down so we can all enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving.

For all the service men and women who won't be home this year, I thank you all for your service. You serve so we can be protected and enjoy our freedom. There is no greater sacrifice in my book. So, an extra big 'THANK YOU' to you.



Wednesday, November 21, 2018

NEW #Romance Release: ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS by Christina George


Blurb:
Is it ever too late for happily ever after...?

Callahan is one of the hottest guys to move into Harper’s Corner in a long time, partly because he’s also a complete mystery. 

He keeps to himself and leads a quiet life, rumors swirl around that he used to be in the military...but no one knows where he came from, or what brought him to their small town. 

When Stevie’s parents have a health crisis, she’s forced to take leave from her very New York existence: including a high-powered job at a big publishing house and explosive sex life with her wealthy, handsome and appropriately pretentious boyfriend, to step in and ensure the preservation of the family’s longstanding bookstore.

With the first order of business being to fire Callahan, the unqualified shop assistant her dad hired. 

Though as many women from Harper’s Corner can tell you, things change when you come back home.

So firing this attractive, brooding, secretive man turns out to be much harder than she originally planned…

And when his past comes back to challenge him, he can’t keep hiding from what happened. 

I invite you to tuck into another Harper’s Corner story about finding love when you least expect it…once upon a time in a bookstore…

Purchase link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GJYQWJY 



Excerpt:
Stevie looked at her phone for probably the fifth time in as many minutes. The text string remained unanswered.
Where areyou?? she tapped quickly into her phone, then looked up at the woman sitting opposite her, reading glasses perched on her nose, a pad in her hand. She appeared deep in thought while writing something down.
“I’m so sorry about this,” Stevie tried to sound calm rather than annoyed, as though she was not at all aggravated that her boyfriend was missing their therapy session.
Again.
Not surprising that the edge in her voice was unmistakable.
Dr. Ruth Ann Wilson, therapist extraordinaire although wildly unconventional, was one of the best therapists in New York. Stevie met her a few years back, when the good doctor released her first book. They’d become somewhat friendly, and when Stevie’s boyfriend suggested therapy, Ruth Ann Wilson was the only therapist who came to mind.
Ruth Ann looked at Stevie and smiled. “Stevie,” she said, “what does your boyfriend call you?”
The question caught her off guard. Stevie slipped her phone back into her purse, having officially given up on waiting for him to text her back.
As she did, a message pinged in.
I’m so sorry Stephanie darling, I got busy at work. I’ll call you later.
Stevie let out a sigh and held it up for the therapist. “He’s held up at work.”
“His job must be very important to him,” Ruth Ann observed, setting her notepad down. “This is the third session he’s missed.” The reminder was unnecessary. Stevie was painfully aware of how many sessions her boyfriend had missed.
Stevie could only nod. Her boyfriend, Gable Pierce, was beyond busy. Stevie got up and paced over to the tall windows lining the wall of Ruth Ann’s office. Down below, the New York city streets were teeming with people.
What am I doing here? She really had no idea. Not that the doc wasn’t helpful, but these sessions weren’t her idea to begin with.
She tried to ignore the tendrils of a headache gathering around her temples, and she unpinned the bun at the back of her head—the style Gable preferred—and shook out her light brown hair.
“Isn’t he the one who suggested these sessions?” Ruth Ann asked.
Stevie nodded.
“But he’s been unable to show up for any of them,” Ruth Ann added gently.
Stevie started to say something, but the therapist held up her hand. “It’s time to stop making excuses for him, Stevie. He’s not interested in these sessions, and, I need to tell you, I think the same goes for you, my dear.”
Stevie blinked and let the reality of what the doctor was saying sink in.
“I’m sure that’s not true. I know him.”
Ruth Ann only nodded, “Maybe it is true, but tell me, what does he call you?”
That damned question again.
What the hell did it matter what Gable called her?
“Stephanie, he calls me Stephanie,” Stevie finally answered.
“Why is that? Doesn’t everyone else call you Stevie?”
Stevie shrugged. “He prefers it, I guess.”
Ruth Ann leaned closer.
Stevie knew that lean well. It meant Ruth Ann preparing to deliver some bit of earth-shattering wisdom. Or maybe it was semi-wisdom. Stevie still wasn’t sure.
She already had two prior sessions with Ruth Ann, which Gable had pushed her to set up to help “further their relationship.” Further to what Stevie wasn’t sure, but Gable kept pushing, and she finally agreed. Not that she had anything against therapy, per se. Stevie just wasn’t sure they needed it. They never fought. In fact they agreed on most things. But, as the good doctor had helped her discover during therapy, those were mostly things Gable wanted anyway.
“Stevie, when you first came to my sessions, I asked you to call me Ruth Ann, and you complied. During that session, I also asked you how you preferred to be addressed, and you told me. I call you Stevie, and you call me Ruth Ann. It’s basic mutual respect.”
Stevie narrowed her eyes and looked away. “So you’re saying Gable doesn’t respect me?”
Ruth Ann let out a braying laugh. “I should think that’s pretty damned obvious. I mean, he hasn’t showed up for three sessions he suggested and paid for, and he calls you by a name none of your friends use. Sorry, dear, but what would you call it?”
When Stevie didn’t answer, Ruth Ann forged on. “Listen, therapy is all about helping a patient discover things on their own, but sometimes ‘things’ need a little nudge, if you know what I mean.” Ruth Ann gave her a small wink. “So here’s your nudge: people will tell you how they feel about you, but you have to be willing to listen. I think Gable is telling you, in the loudest passive-aggressive voice that he can, that he’s not really interested in you. Well, except as a social trophy, given your job and how established and respected you are in the industry. Gable wouldn’t associate with anyone who didn’t have chops, and I’m sure he wouldn’t be caught dead with mere arm candy.”
As Ruth Ann’s insight sank in, Stevie felt the splash of cold truth hit her. Despite her protests, despite having invested two years of her life in this relationship, she had a creeping conviction that Ruth Ann was right.
Gable didn’t care.

About Christina George:
I’ve worked in publishing for twenty years and I sincerely love books and authors. I started this journey with my own books planning to write just one, and then well – all I can say is the stories kept coming. My original series The Publicist, follows Kate, Mac, Nick, Vivienne and a host of other awesome characters as they make their lives in New York, amidst the chaos that publishing often brings with it.

I am now exploring a fictional small town called Harper’s Corner. This series is so fun, because there are so many characters in this town, from sexy firemen and hot Army guys, to an awesome group of women that I affectionally call “the coven.” These books will explore each of these characters, and their journey to finding the loves of their lives.
I love writing, and I love reading and if I’m not actively writing a book, I’m probably dreaming of what I’ll write next.

Please feel free to email me at authorchristinageorge@gmail.com with your thoughts on any of my books. 

And if you'd like to connect on social, here are my details:
Instagram: Publicistgal
Twitter: Publicistgal 



Monday, November 19, 2018

#Excerpt: FALSE MEMORY by Meli Raine


False Memory
Meli Raine
(False Memory, #1)
Publication date: November 15th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

It all started with the bereavement flowers with my name on them.
Not the best way to wake up, right? I work in a flower shop. I know a funeral arrangement when I see one.
I know a killer when I see one, too. And one is standing in my hospital room right now, straight behind the man who saved my life.
I can’t tell anyone the truth, because that’s the fastest way to really die. So I do the next best thing. I “lose” my memory. I fake my amnesia.
Pretending not to remember a brutal attempted murder has its perks. The killer is backing down, spending less time around me, loosening the noose.
The less I claim to recall, the more my rescuer, Duff, works to help me “remember.” I hate lying to him. But he doesn’t understand that my memory is dangerous. To me. And to him.
Fooling everyone isn’t easy. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Except it’s starting to look like I’ve been fooling myself. In more ways than one.
Read Book 1 in the newest series from USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine.

Author Bio:
Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes — and the women who love them. Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.


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