Wednesday, February 27, 2019

#FREE romance from best-selling author Donna Fasano, RETURN OF THE RUNAWAY BRIDE


Donna Fasano is celebrating her birthday with a FREE book! 
Feb 26 – March 2 for Kindle Readers.

RETURN OF THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
She ran away from the perfect wedding, the perfect man.
Now she’s back to explain why. Will he listen?

Interview with Rachel Brimble, A REBEL AT PENNINGTON'S

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
A Rebel At Pennington’s is book 2 in my Pennington’s Department Store series (both books can be read stand alone) and I have two more I want to write. The series theme is ‘female empowerment’ and in each book I tackle a women’s issue in the early 20th century. In book 1 (The Mistress of Pennington’s), I focused on women in business, A Rebel At Pennington’s is set against the backdrop of women’s suffrage and book 3 (coming in the Autumn) is about women and divorce.

In A Rebel At Pennington’s, Esther Stanbury (the heroine) is estranged from her father for deciding to continue her dead mother’s mission to do all she can to secure the vote. She is the head window dresser at Pennington’s and uses her creativity and passion to bring all she can to her suffragist campaigning. The story is about tenacity, equal rights, Esther’s personal growth and, of course, finding love.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Yes! In fact, Esther started as a secondary character in The Mistress of Pennington’s (book 1) but it wasn’t very long before I knew I had found the star of book 2. I love writing series, and this is usually what happens as I write. A secondary character in a previous book always seems to capture my attention more ardently than others and my instinct is to listen hard to that character because they have something to tell me which almost always leads to my next book idea.

How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?
I was very blessed to have my first ever novel accepted for publication by The Wild Rose Press – since then I have had at least one book a year published over the last 14 years. I am currently working on novel number twenty- four which is unbelievable!

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
All my books are traditionally published, and I hope that continues into the future! I am currently under a four-book contract with Aria Fiction (for the Pennington’s series) and have one more book to write. I also have a contemporary romance currently under consideration with a different publisher. The only reason I haven’t considered self-publishing is because it terrifies me, lol! Lots of my writer friends are self-published and love the control it gives them so it’s definitely something worth pursuing if an author wants to go that route.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
I have worked with the same three critique partners for years now and they are invaluable. I truly believe it is vital for every author and inspiring author to have at least one critique partner they trust and respect. It sometimes takes a while to get the right fit but having someone else look at your book as you write helps so much with plot holes, continuity and many other aspects.

My partners and I exchange a chapter at a time during the first draft stage – I love working this way as it means any weaknesses can be spotted early and ironed out.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
A little of both – if I’m working on promotion tasks or emails, I tend to have the radio playing through my laptop, but if I’m working on my novel, I need complete silence. Which sometimes proves incredibly difficult when my daughters are home!

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I am a total plotter! I start each book trawling the internet for pics of my hero, heroine and villain (if I have one) and then write out their character sketches. This usually provides their goals, motivations and conflicts. After that, I write a paragraph or two for each chapter and a 3-4 page synopsis. I then write the first draft from start to finish without stopping – the hard part comes in the following drafts!

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?
I love social media! Probably too much, if I’m honest, as I spend WAY to much time on it that should be spent working. I would say Instagram is my favourite these days, but I also have a Facebook author page and a Twitter account. Any of these platforms are my preferred way to connect with readers and authors because it’s so instant.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
I have a process that really works for juggling my time between books – As I’m lucky enough to write full-time, I split my days (Monday to Friday) to certain tasks and find that I am a lot more productive. For example: Monday – blog posts/interviews/social media planning Tuesday – Novel writing Wednesday – Novel writing, Thursday – blog posts/interviews/critiquing and so on.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer –
dogs or cats? Dogs
Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Talk or Text? Text
Day or Night? Day


BLURB:

1911 Bath. Banished from her ancestral home, passionate suffrage campaigner, Esther Stanbury works as a window dresser in Pennington's Department Store. She has hopes and dreams for women's progression and will do anything to help secure the vote. 
Owner of the prestigious Phoenix Hotel, Lawrence Culford has what most would view as a successful life. But Lawrence is harbouring shame, resentment and an anger that threatens his future happiness.

When Esther and Lawrence meet their mutual understanding of life's challenges unites them and they are drawn to the possibility of a life of love that neither thought existed. 
With the Coronation of King-Emperor George V looming, the atmosphere in Bath is building to fever pitch, as is the suffragists' determination to secure the vote.

Will Esther's rebellious nature lead her to ruin or can they overcome their pasts and look to build a future together?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Rachel lives with her husband and their two daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. Since 2007, she has had several novels published by small US presses, eight books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical.

In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a new Edwardian series set in Bath’s finest department store. The first book, The Mistress of Pennington’s released July 2018 with book two coming February 2019.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America and has thousands of social media followers from all over the world. To sign up for her quarterly and new release newsletter, click here to go to her website: https://rachelbrimble.com/
Amazon Author Page:
Goodreads:
Bookbub:

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Tuesday, February 26, 2019

#Excerpt: BELIEVE IN ME by Ella Quinn


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ella Quinn will be awarding a $50 gift card - Amazon or iTunes (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


Even the Worthington least likely to wed may find her perfect match

. . . Marriage has worked out quite nicely for her older sisters, yet Lady Augusta Vivers is certain it would end her studies in languages and geography, and stop her from travelling. But when her mother thwarts her plan to attend the only university in Europe that accepts women—in Italy—she is forced to agree to one London Season. Spending her time at parties proves an empty diversion—until she encounters the well-traveled Lord Phineas Carter-Wood. Still, Europe awaits . . .

Phineas has studied architecture all over the world, yet Augusta is his most intriguing discovery yet. How can he resist a woman who loves maps and far-off lands? But her longing for all things foreign hinders any hope of courtship. When he learns her cousins have offered a trip to Europe, he secretly arranges to join their party. For he is determined to show Augusta that a real union is a thrilling adventure of its own. And when their journey is beset by dangerous obstacles, he gets far more opportunity than he bargained for . . .

Excerpt:

“Italy!” Her brother’s bellow could probably be heard all over the town house and in Berkeley Square. Possibly even farther.

From her position on the sofa, Lady Augusta Vivers stifled a sigh. She refused to allow her posture to sag or disappointment to show on her countenance. She had known her campaign to be allowed to attend university was not going to be easy. Perhaps she should have started her scheme earlier. Or given her brother a hint to temper his shock.

“It is not as if Padua is some unknown place in South America or Africa,” she pointed out calmly.

“Where on earth did you come up with such an . . . idea?” Her mother paled a bit and her faint voice pierced the deadened air.

“I wish to further my studies.” Augusta fought to keep the exasperation from her tone. Why else would she want to go to university? Not only that, but traveling there and living in Italy for a time would allow her to see a little of the world she had been studying. “As educated as Miss Tallerton and Mr. Winters are, they long ago exhausted the limits of what they can teach me. Which is the reason I have been corresponding with professors in Europe and taking lessons from visiting scholars, hoping to learn more. It is no longer enough.” In fact, her thirst for knowledge had grown to the point that she needed to attend university as much as she needed food or air. “Yet it has become clear that the only way I am going to succeed is by studying with experts. For that, I must attend university.”

“But, my dear”—her mother paused for a moment as if to gather her thoughts—“do you not wish to wed?”

Of course she did. Just. Not. Now. “I do not recall anyone asking Charlie if he was forsaking marriage simply because he wished to attend Oxford.” She wished Grace’s brother, properly called the Earl of Stanwood was here. He’d be able to help. Augusta turned her gaze back to Matt. As her guardian and Earl of Worthington, he was the final decision maker. “If I were a boy you would allow me to go.”

About the Author: 

USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn's studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.

She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, and a Great Dane. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She's currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement.

Ella loves when readers connect with her.

Author Contact and Social Media:

Website: https://www.ellaquinnauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor
Twitter: "https://twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7044274.Ella_Quinn
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ella-quinn
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ella-Quinn/e/B00CAE0FSQ

Buy Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2kBb73b
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2HbSxgb
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2MbKRcD
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2H8ecFY
BN: http://bit.ly/2HUgIuC
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2xtw0GN
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2sjC2VE
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2lfQCJQ
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2Cn79nm
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2RRaMeM

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Monday, February 25, 2019

#Excerpt: LOST SOULS by Chelsea Mueller


Lost Souls
Chelsea Mueller
(Soul Charmer, #3)
Publication date: February 25th 2019
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Get out of Hell free card? Not for Callie Delgado, Gem City’s newest soul charmer. Sin and salvation collide in this gritty and action-packed urban fantasy.
Callie’s magic is finally her own. She and Derek dispatched Ford. They should have been able to breathe, but layers of sin run deep beneath Gem City. Another mob boss quickly rises, and his sights are firmly set on Callie—and her family.
Mobile soul rental shops begin to bite at the Soul Charmer’s business. His retribution is wicked, but the blowback threatens to crush Callie. If she can’t maintain the tenuous balance of souls in Gem City, more lives will be lost.
Only the more magic she uses, the more danger finds her. A break-in, pools of blood, and bare shelves at the Soul Charmer’s store force Callie to choose the fates of others. But which can she live with? Losing her city, her love, her family …or her very soul?

EXCERPT:
“I’ve worked security at four other buildings.” Benton held up as many fingers. His nails were short and black. Whether from blood or dirt, Callie didn’t care to guess.
She stood behind him and leaned forward to speak into his ear. Stale cigar stench clogged her nose. “You’ve worked jobs, but haven’t paid the Soul Charmer.”
Benton surged closer to the bar. His whiskey sloshed over the lip of the glass and onto his fingers. He slammed his shoulder backward and shifted to face Callie. The wide, milky eyes and taut tendons in his neck eased. Idiot. He licked the spilled liquor from his fingers. “I have experience, but they still won’t even let me take their exam.”
She gave two fucks about his ability to get a job. “That must suck. You owe the Charmer.”
“What do you mean?”
That’s not how this worked, and he knew it. “Cash or souls.”
“I ain’t got anything on me.”
“How are you paying for that Wild Turkey?”
Benton shot scattered looks in either direction. “It just you?”
It was, and normally she hated that. Her boyfriend Derek typically made these collection calls. He looked the part. Hulking and covered in leather and scars. She hid her wounds on the inside, and wielded dark eyeliner as war paint. Not exactly scary mofo material. Callie needed more from Benton than a simple rented soul, though, and that information need to be acquired alone.


Author Bio:
Chelsea Mueller writes gritty contemporary fantasy. She founded the speculative fiction website Vampire Book Club, blogs about TV and genre fiction for numerous websites, and is co-chair of SF/F charity Geeky Giving. She loves bad cover songs, dramatic movies, and TV vampires. Chelsea lives in Texas, and has been known to say y'all.

For the latest updates, visit ChelseaMueller.net or follow @ChelseaVBC on Twitter and Instagram.

GIVEAWAY!
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Friday, February 22, 2019

#Excerpt: BOOK OF ENCHANTRESSES by Mary Ting


Book of Enchantresses
Mary Ting
(Book of Watchers, #2)
Publication date: February 21st 2019
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult

Keira is convinced her guardian, Ezekiel, knows more than he shared about her biological parents, and she will do everything she can to find out who they were.
She secretly meets the powerful witch Awan at a nightclub and is promised the answers she seeks on one condition: she retrieves the legendary Book of Enchantresses. Keira, along with Uriel, Samyaza, Jonah, and her Nephilim friends, must travel to another realm in Gotjawal Forest on Jeju Island to recover the spell book.
But nothing is free, and actions have consequences. When Keira’s team returns to their world, vampires attack a demon stronghold. No one knows who to blame, but the fragile peace has been rocked. And it’s about to get worse—Lucifer has escaped Hell.

EXCERPT:
Kiera’s point of view
“Would you like something to drink?” a man with a long beard asked, wiping a glass with a white towel.
The bartender was dressed in all black and wore a black metal bracelet that reminded me of a Fitbit. Not a human.
Ezekiel had told me about those bracelets. The vampires who wore them owed a debt to a master, most of the time to the master who had created them. If he tried to escape, the master only needed to push a button on a device and the vampire would incinerate.
“No, thank you. I’m waiting for someone.” I waved a hand and flashed a glance at the other three bartenders. Two of them were female vampires, both wearing a black metal bracelet.
I was just about to turn when he leaned closer.
“I’ve never seen you here. Is this your first time?”
Do I tell him the truth? He’s probably been working here for a long time. Best not to lie.
“Yeah, my first time. I’m here to meet someone.”
“Would you like to leave?”
I blinked in confusion, and something in my stomach knotted. “Why would I leave? I already told you, I’m meeting someone.”
He placed down the glass, flung the towel over his shoulder, and leaned forward to show me his sharp canines. “You’ve come to the wrong club, lady.”
My skin tingled. A warning. “No. I know where I am. Perhaps you need to keep your opinions to yourself. Do I need to speak to the manager?” I made a point to look at his bracelet, which flashed a tiny red light.
He glared. “My master won’t care. I know what organization you work for. Do you know what we do with your kind?”
Lie. Deny it.
I crossed my legs so I could easily access the weapon tucked inside my boot. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Do you think I would come alone and start something to get myself killed? You’re a fool. I have no idea who you think I am, but I am just a lowly Nephilim.” Who will kick your ass if you touch me.
“Perhaps. Then can you explain the crowd standing behind you with death written across their faces?”
I flicked my gaze to the mirror behind the bar. It was now packed with supernatural beings.
Shit. This is a set-up. I’m going to kill that bitch witch.



Author Bio:
International Bestselling, Award-Winning Author Mary Ting writes soulful, spellbinding stories that excite the imagination and captivate readers all over the world. Her books run a wide range of genres and her storytelling talents have won her a devoted legion of fans and garnered critical praise.
Becoming an author happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she had in high school. After realizing she wanted to become a full-time author, Mary retired from teaching after twenty years. She also had the privilege of touring with the Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book: No Bullies Allowed.
Mary resides in Southern California with her husband, two children, and two little dogs, Mochi and Mocha. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry.


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Wednesday, February 20, 2019

#Excerpt: ANYWHERE by Riley Lory


Anywhere
Riley Lory
(The Red Oak Bay Series, #1)
Publication date: February 13th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Alyx
My life is a mess.
I’m only twenty-two years old, and it’s been a mess for four years already. Every plan I had made for my future fell apart the day tragedy hit. Every dream I had found a new place in the smallest, most hidden corner of my mind. Responsibilities replaced them, and now it seems like that’s all my life is made of. And I’ve come to accept that reality. I don’t like it, but I accept it.
Until Noah drops anchor in the small town I never left and gives me a taste of what my life could be.
His smile and his intensity have my heart begging me to get closer, even though I know that I have no business wanting him. He makes me feel alive again, but I can’t let my heart lead the way if I don’t want to experience any more heartbreak. The problem is, I’m not sure that just one taste of this man will be enough.
Noah
I swore off relationships a long time ago.
The painful heartbreak brought on by the betrayal of the person you worship isn’t worth years of love, if you ask me. Especially when it turns out that that love was nothing but a lie all along. Now, I live on my boat, travel around and write my songs, and that’s all I need.
Until one of my stopovers. When I cross paths with her.
I look into Alyx’s beautiful, sapphire eyes and see the tinge of sadness despite the smiles easily brightening her face. She’s gorgeous. She’s also so sweet that I could let myself get attached without a second thought, if I didn’t know better. It’s always been easy for me to leave any town I’ve dropped anchor in, and I keep reminding myself how easy it will be to leave at the end of the summer. But it doesn’t matter how many times I repeat that thought to myself, I already know it won’t be. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting her.
Are you a book reviewer?
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EXCERPT:
I turn on the faucet, and the gush of water cascades down the burn. Alyx’s gaze is rooted on our joined hands. Mine is painfully torn between doing the same and drifting to her slightly flushed face, reddish lips, and beautiful eyes. The second one prevails over the first eventually. When Alyx returns my stare with her shining sapphires, all the torturous fighting I’ve done for the past ten days to not overstep the boundaries written in capital letters on her forehead stops right here, losing the absolute importance it seemed to have so far.
And my lips taste hers.
I finally get to find them, but only with the slightest of pressure, waiting for her to push me away. But she doesn’t, and I run my tongue along her luscious lower lip, feeling like achieving another victory when her mouth slightly opens. The faintest sigh leaves her as I push my tongue in her mouth, meeting hers.
Soft. Wet. Warm.
Perfect.
She still doesn’t back away. Instead, the fire I’ve often caught blazing silently, in her eyes and straight from her soul, since I met her comes alive as she kisses me back. And I’m instantly lost in a sensation as new as if it was the first time I’ve ever kissed a girl.
Since Kate left me, I’ve compared every kiss random girls gave me to hers. It didn’t seem to matter that she ripped my heart out of my chest and reduced it to a pile of shreds. Didn’t seem to matter that I swore, the very day I left my hometown, that she wouldn’t own the smallest corner of my mind ever again. Because every single time a girl’s lips brushed mine, I remembered the softness of Kate’s mouth. Their warmth. Their hunger. Her pale skin would intrude my mind, and her brown eyes would look at me through it. Every time, I wished it was Kate who was kissing me.
Not right now.
Right now, my closed eyes are seeing whose mouth is dancing with mine with clarity. The face taking shape behind my eyelids is made of full reddish lips, long dark hair, expressive blue eyes, and golden skin. I know that the lips devouring mine, the tongue exploring my mouth like there’s a treasure to find, are softer than any I’ve tasted. Warmer. Hungrier. All I’ve ever tasted before fade in a heartbeat, expunged from my memory. Only one thing remains.
Alyx.

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Monday, February 18, 2019

#Excerpt: MILLIONAIRE B&B by Robin Daniels


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Robin Daniels will be awarding a $50 mazon 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.


Sadie is a successful romance author. She can write a swoon-worthy man with the best of them but can’t seem to find one for herself. Miles is the cute and wealthy heir to Copeland Press, Sadie’s publishing house. It’s hard to find a woman in his social circle who appreciates a down-to-earth book nerd.

When a twist of fate has Miles and Sadie double booked in the same vacation rental, they decide to share the cabin. Even though Miles isn’t Sadie’s type, she can’t deny the chemistry between them. Sadie’s down for a flirty fling, but Miles has other plans. He’s got a huge crush, and just one week to convince Sadie they were meant for a happily ever after.

BOOK LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MWHP4PY

Excerpt:

SADIE

“What’ll it be?” I looked at Miles after grabbing Ethan’s beer and a Diet Coke for myself.

“What do you have?”

I leaned over and hung on the refrigerator door, surveying its contents. “Corona Light, some cheap boxed wine, orange juice, Diet Coke, Dr Pepper, milk, water.” Miles hadn’t answered, and when I turned back, I caught him dragging his gaze away from my butt. “French vanilla creamer…” I teased, boring my eyes into him. He knew he was busted, but he played it off smoothly.

Miles chuckled. “I was going to say Dr Pepper, but you may have just sold me on the Coffee-Mate.” I grinned at his witty comeback, and his face lit up. Then he winked, and my heart skipped a beat.

There are all kinds of winkers in this world: the squinty winker, the rapid winker, the slow-motion winker, the blinker, the can’t-get-my-eye-closed-all-the-way half-blinker, and my least favorite, the over winker. Like Goldilocks, I decided Miles’s wink was just right.

“I’d have pegged you for a beer man,” I replied, handing Miles a Dr Pepper.

“I’m actually more of a wine guy. But I’ve just learned that wine with hamburgers is gross, and I’m trying to impress you.” I pressed my lips together. Was he teasing me or flirting with me? Because it sounded like a little of both.

About the Author:

 
 
Robin is an overgrown child who fancies herself a bit of a comedienne. She loves to laugh, crack jokes, create flirty characters, write witty banter and believes in happy endings. Robin lives outside of Phoenix with her wonderful husband, five crazy kids and naughty labradoodle puppy. Millionaire B&B is her first adult rom-com, but she has six YA titles that are equally fun.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robindanielsbooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robindanielswriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobinD_writer
Website: https://www.authorrobindaniels.com/

 

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Friday, February 15, 2019

Interview with Janell Rhiannon, SONG OF SACRIFICE


Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
The Homeric Chronicles is a chronological retelling of Trojan War mythology, including the Iliad and Odyssey that raises the heroines’ voices alongside the heroes. The major storylines follow Clytemnestra, Helen, Andromache, and Penelope, as well as the familiar heroes like Achilles, Hektor, Paris, and Odysseus. Song of Sacrifice is the first book in a planned 4 book series.

Do you have a favorite character?
Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon and Queen of Mycenae. She is calculating, yet relatable. Here’s a link to her video autobiography on You Tube: https://youtu.be/GvFx4Xc7F9w

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?
I decided to go indie from the beginning. I enjoy the process of learning things and it seemed the logical choice as digital publishing is becoming more main stream. There was a time when you had to buy a physical book (which I still prefer) but many readers today rather the convenience of reading on devices and phones.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
Yes I’ve had a critique group for each book. We make a private Facebook group and I send everyone a draft, digital or a physical ARC. They read and comment in the group. This allows them to also communicate with each other, not just me. I post specific questions I have about plot, scenes, characters, etc. and they comment back or message me if they want to keep it private. I love doing it this way. I value the feedback and several times recognize when I need to change course on the manuscript. My current group for Song of Sacrifice (SoS) helped me get to the conclusion I needed to change the title and supported me on the scary journey of actually doing it. I’ll be looking to form a group for book 3, Rage of Queens, if anyone reads book 1 and 2 and wants to be a part of the next group. Message me on social media :)

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I always listen to music when I write. I prefer soundtracks that touch the feelings I’m trying to convey in the story. I listen to Game of Thrones and the Tudors quite a bit, also some medieval and fantasy compilations.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I’m a big outliner with this series, because without that there are too many characters and storylines to keep track of. But, even so, characters still surprise me and end up doing things differently or arrive at a place the way I didn’t originally intend.

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?
That it takes a long time to get it all together, to build your village of creatives. I’ve found great success with Regina Wamba, Nadege Richards, and Melissa Ringsted as my publishing team. I probably made all the mistakes someone can make. I think my fear of not being able to write a “big” book hampered me in the beginning. It wasn’t until I wrote Song of Sacrifice that I realized I could.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
iBook
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Smashwords

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?
I’m doing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Amazon Ads to promote Song of Sacrifice. I also started a podcast called Greek Mythology Retold to help get the word out about my writing, while I talk about the characters of Greek myth. I’m planning a series of YouTube videos, as well. I just need to get over my fear of seeing my face in a video!

What’s next for you?
First of all, getting the second book Rise of Princes of to a good start via preorder. Then back deep into writing cave to finish book 3, Rage of Queens. After that, I have a dragon book and a pirate book in mind. I’m going to keep podcasting because I love it. Hope to see you on social media!!!

Thank you for giving me the space to talk about my books. Hope you enjoy reading them.


Song of Sacrifice
Janell Rhiannon
(Homeric Chronicles, #1)
Publication date: December 26th 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Historical

The heart of the Trojan War belongs to the women.
Mothers and daughters; wives and war prizes, whisper to us across time…
…remember our songs alongside the mighty men of myth.

As the Age of Heroes wanes, the gods gamble more fiercely with mortals’ lives than they ever have before. Women must rely on their inner strength and cunning to survive the wars men wage for gold and glory.
Clytemnestra of Mycenae struggles for control of her life after Agamemnon ruthlessly rips it apart. Leda of Sparta survives a brutal assault by Zeus, shouldering a terrible secret in silence. Penelope raises Ithaka’s sole heir alone, praying for Odysseus’ swift return. Thetis, the sea nymph, despairs of her son’s destiny and resorts to forbidden magic to save him. Hecuba of Troy mourns the loss of her second son to a dark prophesy. And Shavash of Pedasus prepares her daughter to marry the greatest warrior who ever lived.
In a world where love leads to war and duty leads to destruction, the iron hearts of heroines will conquer all.
Sing, Muse, sing their song of sacrifice…
Replaces Song of Princes as the first book in the Homeric Chronicles.

Author Bio:
In graduate school, Janell focused on the ancient history of Greece and Rome. Hooked by the “sword and sandal” world, she studied everything she could about mythology and Alexander the Great.
The Homeric Chronicles series is dedicated to merging dozens of Greek myths, including Homer’s epics, with plays, history, and archaeology. Her intent is to raise the heroines’ voices equally alongside the heroes, opening up a traditionally male focused genre to a female audience.
She lives in CA and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. She has a pack of two big dogs and two cats.


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Thursday, February 14, 2019

#FREE Romance: THE ACCIDENTAL WEDDING by Debra Elizabeth



The book is FREE: February 14-18, 2019.

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?



What customers are saying:

"This book made me go Squee! This was a wonderful quick read that gave me warm fuzzy feelings. Keira and Cade are just perfect." - Certifiable Wenches

"This was one of those uplifting sigh-worthy stories that put a smile on my face and reminded me why I enjoy romances so much and I look forward to reading more delightful stories by this author." -
 Amazon customer

"My, my.  Royals, a marriage of convenience and relatives that are justvile.  Love it.  It's catnip to me.  I love royals and the trope of a marriage of convenience but I've said that already.  What makes this one special are the characters themselves.  Keira and Cade are just the hero and heroine that I like." -
 Harlie's Books

"I loved this book, it was beautifully written and kept me interested until the end of it." - Amazon customer

"This is truly a Great old fashioned love story that is easy to read and enjoy! Debra Elizabeth is an excellent author." - Amazon customer 



#Excerpt: APOCALYSPSE 5 by Stacey Rourke


Apocalypse Five
Stacey Rourke
(Archive of the Fives, #1)
Publication date: February 12th 2019
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Good luck and have a pleasant apocalypse.
The end of the world is coming. How or when, scientists can’t agree upon. For decades, Earth’s best line of defense has been a team of young soldiers known as the Apocalypse Five, forced into virtual reality simulations to train for Doom’s Day. But, this is no game. Death on the grid is brutally final and calls up the next in a long line of cadets.
Stationed aboard the AT-1-NS Starship, the A5 are celebrities thrust into the limelight by a calling they didn’t choose. All it takes is one unscheduled mission, showing seventeen-year-old team leader Detroit a harsh and unfathomable reality, to shake the A5’s belief in all they thought they knew. After questioning people with the power to destroy them, the team is framed for a crime they didn’t commit and marked for death. Now, the hunt is on.
Can the Apocalypse Five expose the truth the starship would kill to keep hidden? Or, will their bravery end in a public execution?


Excerpt:

Adjusting his oxygen mask, Augusta eyed the structure. “You wouldn’t happen to have a rocket launcher under that Lycra, would you?”
“It just so happens that I do.” The corners of her eyes crinkling, Juneau pulled two vials from the utility belt slung around her hips, careful to keep them far from each other. “Of the chemical sort.” 
Before any of them could question her further, Juneau palmed a vial in each hand and sprinted in the direction of the dam. 
“Anyone else bothered by the fact that she keeps explosives on her like lip balm?” Reno’s face folded in frustration as he begrudgingly took off after her.  
So, we aren’t discussing these things anymore?” Augusta shouted after them, squinting to see through the billowing smoke. To the others, he mused, “The plan now is just to follow the suicidal redhead without question?” 
“Oh, there will be a whole slew of questions. Count on that.” Jerking her head for the rest of the team to follow, Detroit darted after the twins.  
Stone steps had been carved into the right side of the rocky elevation, leading up to the towering crest. Taking the stairs two at a time, the three elder team members sped to close the distance between them and their baby-faced counterparts. They caught up to the twins at the precipice. A descent to a fiery death loomed on one side, a watery grave on the other.     
“You got us here. Now, what’s the plan, kids?” Houston demanded. Hands on his knees, he sucked in a greedy lungful from his oxygen pack. 
Seated on the edge of the dam with her legs swinging carelessly against its face, Juneau clipped her grappling belt around her brother’s waist. 
She said something, but what it was, Detroit couldn’t say. The team leader tuned out, lost in the scene splayed out before her. Not the rampaging flames, but all that lay beyond it. Beneath the water, enormous turbines churned energy back to the nearby civilizations. Detroit couldn’t help but wonder why simulation designers would put such detailed focus into a part of the mission they couldn’t be sure the team would even see. It played no real part in their scenario. Yet, there it was.  
“Detroit!” Augusta’s shout snapped her from her reverie, whipping the team leader’s head around. “Would you please talk to her? Or kick her off the dam before she kills us all? Honestly, at this point I would settle for either.”  
“No one is going to get killed!” Juneau batted the suggestion away like a bothersome insect. A beat of hesitation and she reconsidered, “Or, at least, we shouldn’t.” 
Auggie tossed his hands up in the air, then let them slap to his sides in frustration. “That’s very reassuring. Thank you.”
Juneau’s stare swiveled in Detroit’s direction, the corners of her heart-shaped lips tugging downward. “It’s not that risky! I’m just going to rappel halfway down the dam, then mix this tube with the other one …” She demonstrated by holding up one vial then the other. “Together, they make a liquid explosive equal to TNT. It makes the dam go boom, the water gushes over the flames, and POOF! We have ourselves a successfully completed mission.” 
Detroit cast her stare toward the blaze that was devouring the landscape with merciless intent. “What happens when you set that thing off with you dangling beside it? We watch you spiral into a backdraft of waiting flame?” 
“That’s not how a backdraft works,” Houston chimed in. Squatting down, he double checked Juneau’s grappling hook. 
“Not the point,” Detroit spat to silence him. 
Juneau offered her team leader a toothy grin. “That’s the part where you all are going to need to hurry and pull me up.” 
Catching Juneau by the elbow, Detroit dragged her to her feet. “You need to stop this. We will find another way, or we’ll abort mission and suffer through a week of punishment exercises.”
“Yeah, that’ll be great. I haven’t run until I puked in quite a few moon cycles. I could use the cleanse.” Auggie nodded in mock exuberance, the tips of his short dreads bobbing with the motion. The A-5 helmets were fastened on with straps to allow their hair to always look its best. After all, what was the point of saving the world if you didn’t look fine as hell for the cameras? 
“They’re right, June-bug.” Despite his argument, Reno held tight to the nylon rope his sister had thrust into his white-knuckled grip. “This is a stupid risk you don’t have to take.”   
Shouts rang out in the distance, rising up in a nightmarish chorus coming from the village they were sworn to protect. 
“Hear that?” Holding up one finger, Juneau’s head tilted as she listened. “Those people think otherwise.” 
“Those people aren’t real!” Detroit countered, jamming her hand in the direction of the panicked ruckus. “All that’s out there is digital programming meant to train us or kill us. Don’t give them a chance on the second option. They will take it. I’ve watched it happen.” 
Her eyes flashing with challenge, Juneau’s stare lobbed from one to the next of her teammates. “They may not be real, but tomorrow’s victims could be. That could be the day when we’re all called in for the real thing. It could be this exact type of situation, and we’ll have no idea what to do because we were too scared to try. On AT-1-NS, my special instruction has been in chemicals and explosives. Let me use what I’ve learned. Imagine this is real. Pretend it’s the one. The fate of the Earth lies with us. Isn’t a little risk worth the lives of all those trusting us to protect them? The mission before all else, right?” 
Houston glared at the vials, resenting anything or anyone that dared threatened his team.  He could practically hear their audience back on the starship hooting their approval for the selfless ginger. “What lesson are we teaching them if you die? If they watch you make a reckless choice, which gets you killed, it will shake their confidence in all of us.” 
“Well, then I guess I’ll have to do my best not to die.” Taking a casual step back, Juneau threw her arms out wide and fell back in a reverse swan dive off the dam’s edge. 
Sucking in a shocked gasp, Reno braced his footing and seized the rope tight. It skimmed over his skin, rubbing angry red gashes in his flesh until the grappling hook caught with a lurch. 
The tendons of his neck bulging, Reno’s expression remained neutral. “Check on her.” 
While Auggie grabbed the rope to take some of the strain off Reno, Houston and Detroit darted to the drop-off. Peering over the side, they found Juneau swinging back and forth mid-way down the dam’s stone face, beaming up with a victorious grin. 
“I would stand back if I were you,” she called. She tapped a button on the side of her oxygen mask, and it hissed out into a full protection helmet. 
Juneau didn’t wait for them to move before pouring one vial into the other. The chemicals reacted on contact, foaming and bubbling in an expanding eruption. Slapping it against the dam, she kicked herself off the concrete blockade, swinging at a sharp angle to the right. “Pull me up! Pull me up!” 
“Oh, now she’s worried about her own well-being,” Detroit grumbled under her breath. Clasping a hand onto Juneau’s rope, she tugged her toward the stairs. “This way! Move!” 
Footsteps pounded over trembling rock as the team bolted toward their escape. There was a high likelihood they were bouncing Juneau off the rock wall as they ran. Oddly enough, they were okay with that.  
As if noticing that very same thing, Juneau’s voice wafted up from below. “Things are about to get really loud down here! Now would be the time to quicken pace!”
“Look who’s suddenly concerned about being close to the explosion,” Detroit barked in response. 
The nylon rope snagged on the edge of a jutting rock, forcing them into an abrupt halt. It took the combined force of the entire team—four pulling, one throwing her weight—to pop it free.  
“Don’t try to insert logic into her thought pattern,” Reno grunted, face reddening to match his hair. “It’s pointless. Like blowing up a dam while we’re standing on it!”  
The first explosion furthered his point, ripping the ground from beneath their feet in a stomach-lurching buck. Stumbling to regain their footing, they bent their knees to absorb the shock and waited a beat. When no aftershocks followed, they sprang back to immediate action. 
Mid-stride, the second strike hit. Rock cracked with a thunderous boom, water spraying from a divot webbing through the foundation. 
“Get off the rubble, or become the rubble.” The muscles of his chest rippling with strain, Houston gave Juneau’s tether a forceful yank. Hooking the slack around his elbow, he sprinted toward salvation. 
Like a sand castle caught in the rising tide, the middle of the dam washed away, exploding out in a gush of rushing water and rock. The ledge lurched, threatening to topple under the weight of the A-5. Pumping their legs for all they were worth, the team got within range and dove for the stairs. 
When a second rockslide claimed more of the dam, it took the braided nylon line with it. The force ripped the cable from their hands, bulleting its reckless passenger toward the ground. 
“Oh, hell no,” Houston grunted through his teeth. He threw himself at the plummeting line, sliding on his stomach to catch it. It hissed through his hands, burning through layers of flesh without slowing. A scream tore from his throat as his upper body disappeared over the ledge. Hooking his feet on the top stair was all that prevented Houston from doing a nose dive into the torrential storm below. 
Augusta unclipped the grappling hook at his waist and fastened it to Houston’s belt. He held tight to the line, assuming a wide-legged stance to brace them both. “I’ve got him. Help pull her up.” The flare of his nostrils was the only outward sign of his struggle. 
Scrambling on their hands and knees, Detroit and Reno edged up alongside Houston. All that remained of the ledge of the dam was the roughly three by three perch they stood on, leading down the teetering stairs. Tendons of his neck strained in thick ropes beneath his purpling skin, Houston bellowed a potent war cry. Using every ounce of strength he possessed, he lifted the rope battling against him. Catching hold, Reno and Detroit bared their teeth and joined the fight. Palms bloodied in a matter of seconds, their feet scraped against their narrow pedestal in a hunt for traction. 
Inch by torturous inch they raised dead weight. The line swung like a pendulum counting down to heartache. 
“Juneau, I need you to talk to me!” Houston demanded, his tone tight with equal parts concern and exertion. 
Silence. Not so much as a whimper floated up from below.  
“She’s okay, right?” The panic in Reno’s voice dialed up a few desperate octaves. Blood dripped from the folds of his fist, yet his grip didn’t loosen. “She has to be!”      
His face paling, the skin of Houston’s hands hung in flayed ribbons as he continued to pull. “There’s too much dust and debris. I can’t see anything.” 
“She could be under water! Keep pulling!” Throwing his slight frame into the task, Reno leaned back against the rope and pulled in a steady hand over hand rhythm. 
Knowing Houston would need time in the regeneration tube before he would ever be able to squeeze anything again, Detroit picked up his slack and joined Reno’s efforts. “Houston, we’ve got this. Let go of the rope and just watch for her.” 
He needed no second invitation to release his battered hands from the bite of the rope. “Nothing yet. Just a thick cloud of dust.” 
Her gaze drifting to the landscape, Detroit watched as the freed water squelched what was left of the spreading blaze. Their mission would officially be labeled a success, but at what cost? 
“There’s still weight on the rope,” Auggie whispered, primarily for Reno’s benefit. “Had it broken, we would know.”
A slight nod was the only response the fretting boy could manage.  
“Wait!” Hopping to his feet, Houston pointed down. “She’s there! I can see her!” 

Author Bio:
RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel,
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012 Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal Winner for Crane 2015.
Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Reel Romance Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.



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