Category: Sizzling PR

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Guest blogger: A.M. Griffin

I love writing sci-fi. There are no rules and the possibilities are endless. My characters and worlds are subjected to my every whim. There’s absolutely nothing holding me back but my imagination. In Dangerously Mine, I introduced readers to two different worlds: Sonis, the Moon where our hero Taio is from and Xenaris, the trading planet where Taio finds our heroine, Eva.

Since Sonis will eventually become Eva’s home and where she finds her happily ever after, I wanted it to have the opposite feel from Xenaris. Although Sonis is a desert planet with two rotating suns, the suns represent light and hope. Eva often finds herself looking up at the sky or welcoming the sun’s rays on her skin. Where Xenaris was over crowded, Sonis is a new and growing world. Sonis is filled with bright colors and artwork, suggesting of their relaxing and calm attitude.

In my follow-up releases I’m working on introducing the readers to more of the science-fiction side of the new worlds that my characters find themselves forced into.

 

Ellora’s Cave / Amazon / All Romance Ebooks

After aliens invade and conquer Earth, Eva is transported to a distant slave trading planet. Escape and freedom are her only priority, but none of her martial arts training prepared her for what she faces. She finds herself enslaved to the warrior King Taio. Eva’s drawn to this sexy alien male who ignites her heart and body.

Taio is disgusted with the idea of owning a slave—until now. From the moment he sees her, he knows Eva is his for the taking. Torn between lust and duty, Taio knows nothing will stop him from protecting his little warrior.

Excerpt:

Taio Xochis hated coming to Xenaris. The place was always filled to capacity with traders from all over the galaxy. Everyone knew that if you needed hard-to-find items, go to Xenaris. Right now, he definitely needed a pulson emitter for his disabled vessel.

Their vessel had run into trouble going through the Interplanetary Travel System. Ankon, his pilot, had been lucky to avert a space collision. If anyone could have done it, it was him. In order to return home to Sonis, they needed to get the vessel up to light speed and the only place Ankon could find the part he needed was on Xenaris, the last place Taio ever wanted to be.

Finding what he needed had been easy enough, but it cost as much as a small planet. As soon as the merchants spotted the Sonis Royal Crest on the arm of his black skin suit, they tripled the price.

“How much longer do we have to stay here?” Taio asked. He watched in disgust as a Lorandian thief used his skills to pilfer trinkets off an unsuspecting couple. If the thief had tried that on Sonis, he would have had his hands removed and his lifeless body thrown into the Singha Ocean. With the help of his royal guards, crime was almost nonexistent on the newly developed world.

“Ankon thinks we will be ready to go before nightfall,” Rasha replied.

Although Xenaris was a trading planet, it still held many dangers. This place was no Utopia. Taio and Rasha both kept their senses on high alert.

Taio and his crew members all came from Drazlan, the home planet, and had relocated to Sonis, the moon that rotated around Drazlan. Drazlan was hot, humid, sunny and dry and also one of the three sand planets in the Zaronna System. While many thought Drazlan’s climate was harsh, they thought Sonis’ climate was no better. Because of the harsh climates of the sand planets, the inhabitants all had many of the same characteristics, golden-colored skin, although the tone varied between individuals, dark-colored hair and they were all tall in stature.

“The sooner, the better. This place makes my skin crawl,” Taio replied.

Taio, Rasha and some of the other crew members walked through one of the many overcrowded markets on the small dusty planet. The sun was almost unbearable, even for a male who grew up on a planet that circled two suns. He had his shoulder-length hair pulled off his face and secured at the nape of his neck. Still, the sun’s rays assaulted him. Xenaris had the harsh climate one would expect from a planet that was set too close to its sun.

The crowd of locals and visitors parted, giving him and his crew a wide berth as they took the time to look for goods that would be needed for the journey home. While the merchants saw unlimited credits when they looked at the royal crest, others saw mercenaries, warriors, guards.

Taio knew the effect he and his crew had on everyone, but there was no point getting back on the vessel just yet. It was docked on a space station, undergoing repairs. So while they waited, some of the crew picked up trinkets for loved ones, while others purchased goods for themselves. Taio purchased a gem necklace for his younger sister, Saia. Of course, the price had been exorbitant, but the necklace matched her eyes.

They walked by a crowd that suddenly went from a small hum to an eruption of roars. “The slave market is in full swing.” Rasha noted.

Taio sneered, his lip curled in distaste. He had no desire to stop by the slave markets Xenaris was famous for. In fact, even after forty-one birth cycles, bile rose in his throat at the idea of beings sold as if they were worth no more than an inexpensive trinket or bauble. He could not stand to watch as beings were sold into slavery while others enjoyed the melee it caused.

Slave trading had been outlawed many cycles ago on every planet in this galaxy except for Xenaris. At that time, Xenaris’ ambassadors petitioned the Galactic Council to legalize slave trading on their planet. After all, Xenaris was famous for its trading and hard-to-find items. The request had been granted with certain exceptions. Humane protection must be provided for those being sold.

As he was about to pass the podium where the slaves were being held, his eyes caught what had undoubtedly made the crowd erupt. Standing on the platform was a small female fighting two Tresdonians. They were short in stature, but made up for it in their dense physical make-up. He’d had the opportunity to take one down during a job when he was still a mercenary. He knew from experience they were not easy to fight.

Yet here he stood, watching the small female use her flexibility to outmaneuver her captors and eventually free herself from their grasp. By the condition of her face, the Tresdonians had a hell of a time getting her to the auction block. She appeared beaten, with a multitude of bruises. He forced in a breath and clenched his fists as he noticed that one of her eyes was most likely lost, the swelling and discoloration of it alone was enough to make him cringe. Shame, he thought.

As the crowd roared around him, he stood in awe. Using the muscles in her short legs, she caught one of her captors between them, squeezing her knees around his neck, taking him down. She flipped this way and that, taking full advantage of an arm that was obviously dislocated and useless to unbalance her other captor. With one down, she charged at the other, flipping him over her shoulder. Then she ran.

Taio looked on in puzzlement as the young female ran back toward the slave cage. No one escaped their captors only to run back to captivity. But before she got a chance to reach her destination, the Tresdonian took out a stun gun and shot the fleeing female in her back. She went down with a thud. The crowd went silent.

The Tresdonian advanced. He had to stop this. “Hold your position!”

 

 

Enjoy! Griffin

 

Author Bio:

A.M. Griffin is a wife who rarely cooks, mother of three, dog owner (and sometimes dog owned), a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She’s a hard worker whose two favorite outlets are reading and writing. She enjoys reading everything from mystery novels to historical romances and of course fantasy romance. She is a believer in the unbelievable, open to all possibilities from mermaids in our oceans and seas, angels in the skies and intelligent life forms in distant galaxies.

Now available from Ellora’s Cave – http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10561-dangerously-mine.aspx

You can find out what else I’m working on by visiting: http://www.amgriffinbooks.com

Like my FaceBook page! http://www.facebook.com/amgriffinbooks

Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/AMGriffinbooks

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Interview with Miranda Stowe

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Hi!!  Thanks so much for having me here today.  I’m a Midwest girl. One husband. One toddler daughter. No pets, or obsessive illegal habits, or sad, traumatic background. I’m just a normal, boring every day average woman who works in a university library during the day, and reads and writes whenever I can sneak in the time.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes, pretty much. I can remember wanting to be an author when I was in the first grade!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I can’t write a story in order. I have to skip around to scenes that interest me at that moment. Is that interesting enough???

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Mates Since Birth is an erotic romance shape shifter short story about the kids from the first two couples in the first two books in my Half-Breed Shifter series. See, the hero kind of accidently bonded himself to the heroine when she was like a couple minutes old (oopsie), so now they’re mated for life. This story picks up where he finds her after her father has hidden her from him for twenty years and they try to see if they can break the bond…only to realize, nah, they really don’t want to break it!

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Yeesh, I don’t know really. I went through a Sherrilyn Kenyon stage before writing this story and really, really liked the hook-up scene in her novella Stroke of Midnight. I now have a BIG thing for mated shape shifters ever since!

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I really should be working on my next book in my half-breed shifter series since Mates Since Birth ends in a major cliffhanger, but I keep getting ideas for non-erotic stories. That’s okay, though, since I also publish non-erotic stories under my Linda Kage pen name. So…be on the lookout for some New Adult from Omnific Publishing later on this year!!

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Julia Quinn. I love her stories, and I’ve seen some of her video interviews. She seems really fun and uplifting and inspiring in a romance writing sort of way.  I don’t know if I could meet her one-on-one (I’d be too shy and nervous). But listening to her give a speech in person would be epic!

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Don’t Give Up!

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to see the ocean someday.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout. CAN. NOT. WAIT. It’s those books in a series that get you every time!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Um…thanks again for having me here and for your interest in my story! Happy Reading!

 

 

 

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Interview with Heather Powell

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Thanks so much for having me today! I absolutely love interviews. It’s the only way I can truly enjoy talking about myself.

First and foremost, I’m the mother of three little girls (8, 6, and 3) and a wife to my hubby for over ten. I’m a crazy obsessive reader of all things YA books, a lover of romantic comedies, and a huge, huge fan of chocolate banana shakes. I’m extremely shy, preferring to stay hidden in a crowd, so that means I’m definitely more of an introvert, but with the ability to put my real thoughts on life, down on paper. J

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not really … I think for a while I wanted to write children’s books. But science was my thing, more precisely, the weather. I’m not ashamed to admit that I wanted to be a meteorologist, but the thought of tornados terrified me too much to follow through with that one, LOL.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

My typical writing day? Hmm … I don’t really have a typical writing day, so to speak. I write whenever I can, which is mostly during the three year olds naptime, or when my husband is feeling generous and will take on motherly duties so I can go to Starbucks. But I do try to at least write for a few hours at night, in my bed, on my laptop, with a lot of caffeine next to me too keep me awake!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

The most rewarding part is that moment when I’m reading back over my word count and I shed a tear or two because I realize that I actually did it … I actually completed a book!

The most challenging part? Well, I’ve got a few answers for that one … finding the time, feeling the muse, gaining the will to keep going, when your eyes are shutting at two in the morning in front of your computer screen, and the hardest part is finding balance; balance with my family and my characters.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Resisting Fate is the first novel in my Young Adult, Paranormal Romance series about a sassy red-headed teenage girl, and her struggle with the crazy supernatural world she’s just discovered.  I’ll post the blurb below …

Eighteen Year old Emmy O’Connell is the epitome of a hot mess right now. The supposed love of her life up and left town to attend some ridiculous boarding school, leaving nothing but a vague email in his wake. Her step douche is constantly drunk and badgering her too, and her mother? Well, she’s a just a miserable shell of a woman, and Emmy, along with her four year old brother, are suffering because the lady just can’t seem to get her life straight. And then the elusive Jack Hartman saunters into town. That’s when things go from downright awful … to just plain disastrous.  The jerk cousin of her boyfriend becomes Emmy’s worst nightmare, times ten. He’s cruel and insensitive, but then there’s that strange ability he has over her; the one where he can make Emmy weak in the knees with the single touch of his hand. But no matter how miserable or amazing Jack makes her feel, Emmy can’t seem to deny him, especially when he takes on the role of her protector, otherwise known as her sudo knight in shining armor, riding in on his black Harley.  But then the impossible happens, rearing its head in the shape of a hairy wolf shifter. And the stubborn, unassuming Emmy is thrown head first into the center of it all. Will Emmy be able to handle the supernatural mess that is now considered her life? Or in the end, will she fight against the inevitable fate that her heart keeps insisting she grabs a hold of?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I love to tell this story because truthfully, I can’t take all the credit. I was telling my six year old that I wanted to write a story about teenagers. So she said that I should add animals into the book, and I asked her what kind, expecting her response to be puppies of kittens. Instead, she responded with “wolves of course, Mommy, jeeze!” Then she said “The girl’s name should be Emmy and her boyfriend’s name can be Jack,” hence the birth of Resisting Fate. The funny part is my daughter’s name is actually Emma, and Emmy is her nickname. J

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Currently I am working on book two in my series, called Seizing Fate. I’ve also got another YA paranormal I’m working on occasionally about falling in love with two brothers, but one just so happens to be a ghost who she can’t touch, but will die just to try.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

My favorite authors are Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Kelly Gendron.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

Not the style so to speak; more like given me the inspiration to actually write! Shortly after I began my very first novel, I went to the RT book convention in Chicago, and met Jennifer there. I had a seriously, giddy fan moment and went home refreshed and ready to go to work on my WIP because (and yeah this sounds cheesy) I had officially met my idol.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Well I do book reviews for a website, so I don’t get a whole lot of time to read a lot on my own personal TBR pile … but I am looking for to a few things. Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire comes out in April I believe, and I’m really looking forward to any and all sequels from Jennifer as well.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just wanted to add a big, big thanks to you for hosting me today! And also, I wanted to say thank you to all of my friends and family out there who have supported me along the way! I couldn’t have done this without any and all of you!!

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Interview with Laura DeLuca

 

Hi Laura, Welcome to the blog we  are happy to have you on the blog today.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself. 

In addition to being a young adult author, I am also a mom to four great kids, own a restaurant, and run a product review blog called New Age Mama. I live at the Jersey Shore (no, I don’t know Snooki), and I love spending the summer on the beach. It’s the best place to write.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I knew I was a writer for as long as I can remember. When I was in kindergarten, I wrote a book about bunnies getting married. When I was thirteen, I completed my first novel. I think writing is definitely in my blood, and I’ll probably die with a pen in my hand.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I write like I’m still in the 90’s, when I was a teenager myself. I want to hang Guns N Roses posters on the wall, I have people talking on touch tone phones, and I never think to add in cell phones or computers on my first draft. Those are normally things I edit in on the second or third draft when I realize that I forgot what decade it is…

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)

Destiny is a story of self-acceptance as well as a paranormal battle.  Gabriella doesn’t want to accept she’s a witch. Her friend Monte is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. Darron doesn’t think he’s allowed to have human emotions.  While dealing with all this inner turmoil, they also have to face the evil warlock who murdered Gabriella’s mother.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I started writing Destiny back in 1994. I honestly don’t remember where the idea initially came from. Unveiled was inspired by my friend and coven sister, Donna. I had tossed her name in Destiny and she said I should have Donna come back in the sequel. That sparked the idea for making it into a series.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I have a new fantasy a fantasy novel called Morrigan that was just released. Morrigan is a teenage witch who has been shuffled from one foster home to another all her life.  Now she is about to discover she is a princess from the mystical land of Tír Na NÓg. The handsome werewolf Filtiarn guides her through countless perils to find her mother, Ceridwyn, and grandmother, Hecate. Only together can they complete the magical triad and save their world.

I am also working on a sequel to Phantom based on the musical “Sweeney Todd”.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

I would love to meet Christopher Pike. He was my favorite young adult author when I was a teenager, and he remains my idol to this day. His stories were unique and original. He is still writing today, but has moved on to adult novels.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Learn to take criticism and use it to improve your work. This is a harsh business at times, and I have gotten some rejections that made me want to cry. But when I really listened to what they were saying, I could see where my work needed improvement, and it’s made me a better writer, which has subsequently led to me getting published.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I want to see Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids before I die. I think it would be great inspiration for future novels.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I am dying to read Taking 1960 by Rosa Sophia. She is my editor and her time travelling book sounds amazing. I actually have a copy already, and plan to start it shortly.

Is there anything else you would like to add? Thanks so much for including me on your blog! It’s been a honor to visit with you,

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Guest Blogger: Ashley Nemer

The words on the pages sometimes can be our freedom…even our redemption. They help us express ourselves when we have nothing else, nowhere to turn too. We get locked inside of a fictional creation, a place of safety, inspiration, excitement, love, whatever your pleasure and for those split moments the pain and suffering has vanished. That’s the beauty of literature. It’s one of the reasons that there is nothing else I’d rather do.

What is your favorite thing to read? Is it romances that sweep you away into the dream of prince charming saving the maiden? How about the murder mysteries that go unsolved page after page until the surprising twist at the end? Possibly a mixture of both if you are anything like me. Reading books like these are like watching movies in my head. And that’s the goal I have towards all writing, that my reader can SEE the words jump out of the page and swoop them into the amazing wonderment.

With Blood Purple, it allows just this – at least so I’ve been told. When Zayn and Nikole open the book in chapter one and are testing her skills as a warrior, you can see the battle in the forest, the take down brother and sister have. That sudden moment when Nikole’s dreams are shattered. It’s heart breaking and moving all at once.

My series will take you through many vast arrays of emotions; they focus on what happens between family members, not just lovers. There are times when I’m reading that I think an author might try too hard to cause drama just to fill up the pages, drama that isn’t always believable. That’s why I like the style of writing I’ve seemed to take on. There isn’t an extra need for drama; it’s all built into the dynamics of the characters and their interactions with others.

That’s also what makes me different – the characters. Often times we fall in love with characters in series and they only have one book per couple. In my world, each ‘coupling’ has equal time and equal attention in each of the books. Because that’s life, that’s reality. Just because you and your spouse go off into the sunset and get married doesn’t mean your sibling or best friend are now suddenly nonexistent. My world will always maintain all the players, every character has their say in the books and I think that helps the reader really get attached to not just the good guys but the bad guys as well.

So there is a little bit about me and why I write…now I’d like to challenge you, why do you read? Is it to escape reality and play out fantasy or is it simply for entertainment like going to the movies? Either reason, Blood Purple is for you. If you like romance, vampires and a good plot I suggest you pick it up. The stories won’t be ending with just one book and you don’t want to miss out on the adventure.

Blood Purple, ‘Cause Red is so Twilight.

*****

Blood Purple

By Ashley Nemer

In a world we think we know, live other races entirely hidden from the mortal perspective. Creatures of legend, of fable and myth, their very history and nature have allowed them to walk side by side with humans since time immemorial. They are warriors, they are hunters, and they are Algula Vampire. And in their own midst, a battle is brewing for supremacy, for dominance, that can and will affect all around them. Old hatred never dies and vengeance is a fiery sword that cuts a bloody swath.

Excerpt:

Hamza walks into the room with his guard looking at Nikole’s still body lying on the table. “Is she dead?” he questions.

“No sir, she passed out while we were in the middle of the procedure. We were doing like you instructed and burning her body with the needles when she went unconscious.  We thought it best to come get you right away.”

Hamza looks over her body, placing his fingers to her neck and feeling only a small hint of life.  His lips curve up in excitement as he anticipates what is yet to come. “Good, leave us alone.” He starts to walk around the table staring at her naked and bloodied body.

The room emptied out while Hamza continued to circle the table. He tried to decide what to do with this dead weight prisoner. Leaning over her body, he backhanded her jaw, the cracking of her bones deafening in the silence of the room. He heard her moan in agony while she slowly came to consciousness.

“Nikole, I think it would be best if you just gave me what I asked of you.  As soon as you tell me what we want to know this pain will all stop.” Taking his knife from the sheath on his belt, he placed the cold blade to her cheek. “I will cut your pretty little face apart.  Don’t think I won’t.”  Taking the tip of the blade he breaks the skin at the top of her left cheek and slowly cut lines into her face.  Droplets of blood ran down her cheek staining her flesh as he slashed her face.  Nikole’s voice is gone from all the screaming she has done and all she can do is heave a cry.  Her eyes are still forced open, not even tears can form since she can’t blink.  “Come on little Princess, just tell me where Zayn is so I can kill him. I promise this will all stop.”

 

About the Author:

Ashley is married and lives in Houston with her husband Tony. They have two dogs named Toto and Doogie. They have been together for almost 8 years and he brings her more joy than she could ever imagine as a child. She loves to read and has been hooked on the romance genre ever since her lifelong best friend Laura gave her “Ashes to Ashes’ by Tami Hoag to read when they were younger.

Ashley finds her strength through her family, especially her parents. They always support her in life and they push her to strive for greatness. There once was a motto that Ashley heard in her youth through her Taekwondo life ‘Reach for the Stars’ and that is what Ashley has always done. It was through her upbringing that the values Ashley has and display’s came from. With her Parents always cheering her on in life she was able to grow up having faith in herself and her ability to conquer the world. 

Website  Blog  Facebook  Twitter 

 

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Book Blitz Tour: Kharisma Rhyane’s Knowing Thyne & Having Thyne

 

Knowing Thyne

Buy Links: No Boundaries Press – Amazon – Barnes & Noble – ARe

It’s Thyne & Adison’s 5th wedding anniversary.

Adison has always known that Thyne had an interest in men. She could tell by the way he looked at them. Rather than be offended when he finally told her three years into their marriage, she found it arousing. Now, on their little getaway for their 5th anniversary, Adison wants to make things memorable for her husband. She wants to continue their great sex life and also wants to watch him with another man–hoping that maybe, in the end, he’ll let her join in with them.

Excerpt Knowing Thyne:

Adison smiled as she grabbed the keys from the counter and drug her wheeled suitcase behind her. She had started planning her sixth anniversary only several months after she and Thyne celebrated their fifth.

She’d booked the exact same hotel as last time. Why not? It held some great memories.

Smiling, she remembered the fun and excitement of the last time they were at the hotel. Would Thyne expect the same thing? They’re relationship had flourished since their getaway. And, to her surprise, Thyne hadn’t mentioned a desire to be with another man.

That had been her anniversary gift to Thyne. After five years of marriage, he’d never told her that he was bi. She had assumed it for a while and then suddenly, she had just been positive. It caused her to invite a beautiful gay man named Seth into their anniversary suite.

Even now she could feel herself getting wet remembering Seth and Thyne together.

Hurriedly, she deposited the suitcase into the trunk where Thyne had put his that morning. Always a workaholic, he wouldn’t take the Friday off to start the weekend away early. He had said that his work ethic was why they could take these getaways.

Smiling to herself, she headed back in. Wheels crunched on the driveway. She turned and watched Thyne pull up to the house. Maybe he was looking forward to the weekend as much as she.

****

Adison could tell Thyne was anxious from his chipped greeting and speedy shower.

Much as the previous year, they were silent on their drive to the hotel, simply holding hands. Check in was also went much the same and Adison was pleased to see Thyne’s reaction to the same suite.

“How did you manage the same room?”

“I booked it three months after we were here,” Adison replied with a smile.

When they entered the room, in yet another repeat of their first visit Thyne asked, “Want to go down to the beach before dinner?”

She smiled and shook her head.

“So then, tell me, Adison, what do you have planned for our weekend this time?” Thyne had an amused look on his face, as though knowing her reply would be to bypass the beach once again.

“Oh hell.” Adison tossed her hands in the air. “You know I wanted to wait a bit to get into this part. If you think for a minute I can top last year, you’re going to be very disappointed. You know, you’ve not mentioned wanting to be with another man either. Nor have your brought up Seth.”

Adison watched Thyne for some kind of reaction. No matter what she thought she might see, it wasn’t there. He simply sat waiting for her to continue speaking.

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out the strap on she had brought with her last year. They’d never used it.

“Remember this, Thyne? And how I asked if you’d let me use it on you?”

He gave a slight nod.

 

 

Having Thyne

Buy Links: No Boundaries Press – Amazon – Barnes & Noble – ARe

Another year has passed and Adison has planned an anniversary treat for Thyne that she hopes will surpass the last one. But in pushing her boundaries to outdo herself, will she push the limits of Thyne’s bounds?

Excerpt Having Thyne:

This was the weekend. Tonight she and Thyne would go away for their fifth wedding anniversary. Well, not really away as in exotic location, something had to be saved for their tenth anniversary, but to a beautiful resort hotel about an hour from home. She had them both packed and was ready to enjoy it. Would her surprise be too much?

After what seemed like forever, Thyne finally arrived. Adison had played this out in her head over and over. Now that the time was here, she was nervous. As he loaded their luggage into to the trunk she occupied her mind with different versions of how the weekend might play out. Would he enjoy her surprise?

Suddenly, this weekend gift looked like a huge risk.

Though they held hands all the way to the hotel, they rode in silence. Could her husband feel her panic? Or was it guilt? Was she doing the right thing?

Once in their suite, Adison relaxed. The view was breathtaking. The beach was stunning with its crystal clear blue water. The hot summer weather was perfect, a light breeze flowing into their room from the open balcony doors.

“So, what do you want to do first? Go down to the beach for a swim before dinner,” Thyne asked, snapping her from her enjoyment of the view.

“No, I don’t think so. Maybe in the morning, a day on the beach sounds nice.” Adison’s reply was deep with thought. She fidgeted within her suitcase simply moving items back and forth, even though there was nothing she needed. How would she start the evening?

“Alright then. So, what is it that you do want to do? Maybe we could go to dinner and have an early night?”

Thyne’s brow creased with his confusion. He had her number. That was certain. Normally she’d be dragging him to the beach to get the sand under her feet. She loved the beach; the sand, the sun, the water, time slowing down.

“Thyne, take off your clothes.”

About the Author:

Ten years ago, Kharisma traded in snow, ice and tornadoes for sun, heat, sand and mountains. She now lives in beautiful Arizona with her husband, 4 kids & 9 rescue dogs and 5 goats.

Now, in her eleventh year in Arizona, she is once again braving new terrain and has moved up into the White Mountains.  This will be the first year that she will see freezing temperatures and snow.

Her love for nature and animals is well known and she gets to indulge it in her new home with wolves, coyotes, snakes, and various other creatures as her nearest neighbors. Living in the middle of nowhere is something she wouldn’t change for the world.

Dabbling in writing through Junior High and High School, Kharisma officially got her start writing LGBT, BDSM and erotica. Never one to slow down, she started writing several additional genres including crime, medical, historical and paranormal. Her latest adventure is a dark horror.

When you pick up one of her books, she wants you to walk away turned on and inspired! Come take a stroll into Kharisma’s worlds of ecstasy, love, adventure and fear.

Web – Blog – Facebook – Twitter @KharismaRhayne – Goodreads – Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Blitz: Laura DeLuca’s Player

*****

Player

Laura DeLuca

 

 Amazon / Smashwords

Joshua Handover had it all. He was handsome, rich, athletic, and had always been popular with the ladies. Yet, until he gets paired up with his beautiful but shy lab partner, Rosa, he never allowed himself to fall in love. As the chemistry between them grows, Josh realizes that his player days have come to end. But it seems his change of heart has come too late. Not only is Rosa leery of his bad boy reputation, he has four vindictive ex-girlfriends who are on a rampage. At first he doesn’t take their threats seriously, but then his tires are slashed, someone tries to poison him, and one of the girls turns up dead. Josh doesn’t know who to trust, but one thing is certain. It definitely isn’t worth the price he’s paying to be a player.

 

Excerpt:

Someone else came over to offer Nadine their congratulations, so Josh said goodbye and went to his locker to get his backpack. He figured he would meet up with Andrea and Rosa in the parking lot. He fumbled with the combination before finally getting the door to swing open. Something glittered on the top shelf and caught his eye. He reached for it, and a small scrap of paper fluttered to the floor.

At first he wasn’t sure what he was holding. It was a pink plastic tiara with some big gaudy plastic jewels. It was the type of thing he had seen in dollar stores for little girls’ birthday parties. It was practically broken in half, and the edges were sharp. Josh pricked his finger on the jagged point, and a few drops of blood welled from the small wound. He put his finger in his mouth as he bent to pick up the paper that had fallen. When he read it, the broken crown suddenly made sense and he wondered how he could have been so naïve. He should have realized from the instant he saw it what it meant.

“Josh decided to play around

Now one of his girls is under the ground.

Another has a big bump on her head.

And by the end of the dance, the queen will be dead.”

 

 

About the Author:

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan and Player.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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Book Blitz: Erica Pike

*****

Hot Hands

Buy Links: No Boundaries Press / Amazon / All Romance Ebooks / Barnes & Noble

For weeks, college student Casper has been the victim of sail-by goosing and groping. The problem is that Casper would very much like to get more than groped by those wonderful, big, hot hands. With a journal full of clues, he sets out to discover who his mystery groper is. However, he may be in serious trouble once he discovers the ominous identity, and it’s not because of the light bondage the groper seems to like.

Excerpt for Hot Hands:

I try to act casual as I walk down the empty hallway, plotting a way to counter Joey’s attack. But when I stop by a small dark space ready to twist around and tackle back, I get pushed into the darkness with speed I didn’t know Joey possessed. My school bag drops to the floor with a thud.

“Joey!” I yelp in surprise as my face is pressed against a wall.

“Joey?” a deep voice vibrates from the back of my neck.

I gasp out loud. This isn’t Joey. Joey’s voice is much higher.

“What do you want?” I ask through rattling breaths and a heart that’s ready to pop.

“What do you think I want?” he growls into my ear.

Oh God, when he says it like that, it’s pretty clear. I can’t believe this is happening right here in school. With my mind going numb, I try to escape, but he’s a good six inches taller than me and he’s strong. He pins my wrists to my back and pushes me into a dark room. I’m about to scream for help, when I feel his big hand on my ass. Hot and gentle.

Hot-Hands.

I take a few calming breaths as he pushes me against another wall, his front firm to my back. All I can smell is detergent and his tantalizing cologne mixed with his own unique man-smell. The combination has my mind reeling.

When I try to twist around, he covers my eyes with his big hand.

“I want to see you,” I complain, still panting after my initial shock with the cold wall pressed against my cheek.

“I’m not ready to be seen,” he says in that drool-worthy voice of his, so deep and sensual. “Would you like me to leave?”

“No,” I nearly shout. “Please, I need to know who you are.”

He doesn’t answer, but instead pulls a strip of cloth over my eyes, obscuring the little I could make out in the dark.

“Do you mind?”

His whisper in my ear makes me shudder.

“No,” I try to say firmly, but the insecurities make my voice tremble.

Hot-Hands ties the strip behind my head and brushes his soft lips against my bare neck.

“I’ll need to tie your hands too,” he whispers.

I don’t struggle while my wrists are being secured with the soft fabric.

As he runs his finger from the top of my spine to the small of my back, my body convulses in shudders. Instinctively, I try to free my wrists. I hear his deep chuckle, but there’s no way I can get free.

Hot hell, what have I done? I’ve given a complete stranger permission to tie me up and now I’m at his mercy. I have no way of defending myself. Although the thought sends winged beasts of terror fluttering in the pit of my stomach, my heart is hammering with an odd thrill as well.

*****

Grade-A-Se​x-Deal

Buy Links: No Boundaries Press / Amazon  / All Romance E-Books / Barnes & Noble

When College professor Daniel Corrigan was brutally kicked out of his home after revealing his true sexuality to his wife, he had to make a whole new life for himself. For the first time in two years Daniel’s main heartache isn’t the none-existent relationship with his two kids, but the fact that the grade-A-sex deal with his student Troy Anderson is about to expire. After a whole semester of office fun, Troy has managed to squeeze his way into the core of Daniel’s soul. Daniel, however, is positive he’s nothing more to Troy than a teacher who can modify a grade.

Excerpt for Grade-A-Se​x-Deal:

A light knock on the door brings me out of my misery. The only perk of this job is about to enter, and perky he is indeed.

Troy Anderson pokes his beautiful face into my office, swings his slim, athletic body inside and locks the door behind him.

“Come in,” I say calmly to the young kid who only ever wears skin-tight jeans and sleeveless tops. My guess is that he does it just to tease me. I can’t take my eyes off his thin waist and nicely toned biceps and whenever he catches me ogling, he shoots me a smirk.

“What can I do for you, Troy?”

“You can give me an A on that exam you’re making,” Troy replies in his low, seductive voice. His blue eyes scan the table in front of me. Out of habit I pull a folder over my notes.

“And why would I do that?” I ask in my monotone teaching voice.

Troy’s full lips quirk into a smirk. “Because we have a deal.”

He walks to my desk and traces the edge with a long finger. My eyes follow that finger where it slides off the wood and lands on his growing bulge.

“The deal’s off,” I state matter-of-factly.

An old magazine lies on top of my screen. I grab it and pretend to sink my consciousness in the wonders of the South-American rain forests while everything within me is fantasizing about what he keeps hidden in those jeans.

“No way,” Troy says with a confident smile in his voice. “I haven’t been coming to see you every week for you to bail out now. The exam is next week.”

I count down a full minute before I lower the magazine to answer. “I’m very well aware of that, Mr. Anderson, but you didn’t show up last Monday night. You broke the deal.”

“Oh come on, I was studying,” he says and for the first time I hear a crack in his resolve. It surprises me so much that my eyes fly up to meet his. That gorgeous, sandy-blond hair half covers one of his blue eyes and sweeps the curve of his neck. His slender jaw flexes on his tanned face as he swallows.

“What do you propose?” I ask calmly, trying hard not to reveal how much he affects me. His mere presence is enough to have me jumping hoops. Yes, we do have a grade-A-sex deal, but the more we meet the more I like having him around.

He resumes his calm nature, leaning over the end of the desk with his perky little ass in the air. “Well, I’m here now. You can do me twice.”

He has my undivided attention for a few seconds before I toss away the magazine, grab a pen and start flicking through the Webster’s.

“Oh come on,” he murmurs, edging himself a little farther towards me. “I know you have other guys knocking on your door every night. It’s not like you didn’t have anyone to play with. How many guys have you fucked this week?”

“Several,” I reply with a shrug. “How many teachers have fucked you this week?”

“Several,” he echoes with a carefree grin and adjusts his perfectly shaped elbows on my desk.

Those white teeth, that full, hot mouth around my cock has me gasping for air every time. The reason this Adonis is so skilled at giving head is that he fucks around a lot and has done so for years. Troy’s not even discrete about it. He tells me about his conquests every week after our meetings. Teachers, students, career men, club guys. Basically whoever he thinks is hot – and Troy, being so impossibly hot, can pretty much have whomever he wants. It has always bothered me, even at first, when all I felt for him was deep dark lust.

Looking down at my dictionary, I mumble to myself, “If you used the time to study, instead of fucking, you’d be able to earn your A’s the right way.”

Even if that meant I wouldn’t be having these magnificent hours with him every week. I’d trade it all if Troy would just settle down a little and stop messing around so much. I even find myself glaring at guys in the hallway, wondering if they’ve fucked him.

Troy sighs and rustles with his belt. I glance up from my volume. He buttons down his jeans and slides them off his hips, thrusting his tout ass further up.

I take a few calm breaths before allowing myself to fully rest my eyes on the glory that is Troy’s perfect ass, all without moving my head an inch.

He places his head in the palm of his hand with a smile and uses the other to pluck off my thick-rimmed glasses. I allow him to lean over and press his lips to mine. The feeling of the soft, slippery texture of his skillful tongue is euphoric. My brain is plunged into a cloudy haze. It becomes hard to think straight. I take his face in my hands to pull him closer, diving him into a deep, lingering kiss before breaking for air.

“Please, fuck me, Mr. Corrigan,” he whispers breathless against my lips. “You don’t have to prepare me, just shove it in and take me hard.”

Now, how am I supposed to say no to such a request?

*****

The Walls Have Ears

Buy Links: No Boundaries Press / Amazon / All Romance eBooks / Barnes & Noble

Short and scrawny college student Harley Santos has a strange relationship with the guy on the other side of his bedroom wall. For weeks, the two have been masturbating to each other’s voices, but they have never met in person.

When Harley’s roommate (Ryan) is asked out on a date by one of his neighbors, Harley is devastated that his wall-mate mistook not-hot Harley for super-hot Ryan. Helping Harley through his heartache is Tasha Novokov, the other neighbor, who is tall, dark, and impossibly handsome.

Excerpt The Walls Have Ears:

The walls have ears, or more like, the guy on the other side of the wall has ears…and a lovely voice. His moans are deep and sensual. They drive me nuts every time I masturbate to his grunts, like I’ve been doing almost every night since moving in.

I had been dreading going off to live with some stranger in the deep, dark forest that is Philadelphia. The rustle and bustle of city life was scary for a small-town boy like me. It didn’t help that the people I knew, who’d been to Philly, took great joy in stuffing my head full with stories of serial killers, mobsters, and nasty dorm mates. That last part scared the hell out of me, because I was a green-horned little girly-guy. I was sure I’d be pushed down and fucked by the first guy to cross my path. Of course, the idea of being fucked wasn’t all that unappealing, but I didn’t want to be made into the dorm’s butt boy or anything.

Naturally, nothing of the sort happened and I really hit the jackpot with my roommate Ryan. We don’t really run in the same circles. It’s not that he wouldn’t hang out with me if I asked; it’s just that he’s a very busy guy with his sports and other multiple after-school activities. The guy is so busy he barely stays in our small dorm apartment, so it’s almost as if I have it all to myself, which is another plus.

However, it isn’t Ryan who’s moaning so deeply on the other side of the wall. There’s a whole living room-slash-kitchen area between mine and Ryan’s rooms. No, the neighbor is one of the two smoldering hot guys who live in the apartment next to ours.

On my first night here, I was just about to fall asleep on the wooden bed, under my green comforter, when I heard these low, sexy grunts coming from the other side of the wall. He wasn’t alone. In between his deep groans were low gasps and moans coming from another guy. My cock immediately perked up at the sweet sounds. I jerked off as quietly as I could and came hard just about the time the owner of the deep voice did.

There were more nights like that. The guy had a lot of partners, and sometimes it was just him alone. Lately it’s just been him and me. See, one night, about a month ago, we were both getting off on each side of the wall. When he let out a particularly long and sensual groan, my own voice slipped with a low moan. I practically heard him stop for a few seconds, but then he continued and groaned again, only a little higher this time. I was curious, embarrassed, and thrilled all at the same time. Instead of stopping, I kept at it and let out an experimental moan. My neighbor’s voice grew louder and from the sound of things he was definitely masturbating. We ended up fisting our cocks, vocalizing our pleasures with moans, groans, grunts, and gasps until we climaxed. I hid under the comforter after that with a mind spinning like a hula hoop. I thought he’d want us to talk and that would only get me embarrassed, but he never said anything. We did, however, repeat the game every night after that.

With knees pressed in the thick mattress, I lean my head against the red wall with labored breaths. I yank on my cock so fast my vision goes blurry. He breathes equally hard on the other side. His forehead bumps against the wall, right against mine with only the thin wall between us.

“Fuck,” I whisper when the wonderful tightness in my balls gathers in a knot.

He groans deeply in response, which coaxes out a moan from me just before I cry out my groin-twisting ecstasy. His lovely voice lets out a series of deep grunts as he comes. We know each other’s voices so well now that we automatically tune in on each other’s rhythm and almost always come at the same time.

After my boneless body slumps down on the bed, I reach for tissues to wipe myself off. My neighbor runs his fingers along the wall and rustles about, maybe wiping himself off too or getting comfortable on the bed. When all is quiet again, he strokes the wall and whispers good night to me.

“Good night,” I murmur back just before curling up and dozing off.

About the Author:

As a teen, Erica spent hours at a time lying in bed. Some would have called her lazy (though her very supportive parents never did), but she’d disagree. It’s not like she wasn’t doing anything, she was busy daydreaming! You’d have thought the daydreams would lessen as she got older, but that wasn’t the case. Since these are the kind of dreams that can’t really come true, Erica decided to make them come alive on paper.

She lives in Iceland with her adorable little twin boys, and is happy with what she has. She often says that her real name sounds like Klingon to foreigners. Seriously, if “Eyjafjallajokull” looks like someone fell asleep at the keyboard, Erica’s real name could leave a non-Icelander in a zombie-like stupor for days.

She’s been writing for several years, or ever since reading became an obsession. Aside from a business degree, Erica has taken English courses at the University of Iceland and gulped down anything that might help her in her career as an author. She takes great interest in English, but will break every single grammar rule for the sake of the voice.

Erica loves hearing from her readers. She’s a friendly, easy-going (if a bit silly) person who doesn’t mind talking about herself in third person.

Website

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Book Blitz: Morrigan by Laura DeLuca

Morrigan

Laura DeLuca

  Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords

Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn’t know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity.

Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír Na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.

Excerpt:

“Guardians!” A low snarl emanated from the back of his throat. “What are you doing with Guardians?”

“Stop it! Sit down!”

Morrigan wasn’t sure who she was addressing, the man or the animals. Luckily, they both obeyed her command. She stepped in between them to avoid any further confrontations. The cats took a seat on either side her legs, but their posture hardly relaxed. They still glared warily at the newcomer, even though their hisses died down to an occasional soft growl.

“Dirty, filthy beasts!” Tiarn snarled as he climbed to his feet. “I hate Guardians.”

“They’re just little cats,” Morrigan told him. “What’s the big deal?”

“Just cats! Hah!” He was standing at a careful distance, even though they had started licking their paws nonchalantly. “They are much more than simple cats! Though even those I find distasteful.”

Morrigan narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Never mind. It does not matter.” Tiarn dismissed her question with a wave of his hand. “They are not coming with us.

“They most certainly are coming!”

Tiarn growled again. “I beg to differ with you, Your Highness. They would only get in the way.  Possibly even get killed.”

Danu raised her head from her grooming to hiss at him again, as though she had taken that last statement as a personal threat. The strange reaction of her faithful sidekicks made Morrigan wonder again just how much Tiarn could be trusted. She also wondered why, when she wasn’t sure she could trust him, she still felt the undeniable urge to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him.

“If they stay here alone, they’ll definitely get killed or at least sent to the pound,” Morrigan told him. “I can’t let that happen. So, they’re coming. End of story.”

Tiarn’s eyes flashed dangerously, and he looked like he wanted to argue, but thought better of it. “Very well, Princess. Bring your mongrel felines. Just keep in mind that Guardians and lycans do not mix well.”

“Lycans?” Morrigan repeated.

A sick feeling started to settle in her stomach, as the truth of his words sunk in. It all started to make sense—his hairy arms and chest, his reaction to the cats, even his earlier comment about smelling her out. Her dark knight had a much darker side than she had ever seen in her dreams.

“Why yes, Your Majesty. Did you not realize? You are a witch and a sorceress. And I, your faithful traveling companion, am a lycan—a werewolf.”

 

About the Author:

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan and Player.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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Guest blogger: Sara Walter Ellwood

Drugs, Sex and Abuse—The Life of a Runaway on the Streets

There are two very heavy social issues that affect the hero and heroine in my debut contemporary western release, Gambling On A Secret. The first one is the hero’s PTSD—posttraumatic stress disorder, the other is the heroine’s former life as a runaway.

Charli Monroe has it all. She’s the sole heir to a fortune almost equal to that of the Trumps. She’s beautiful and smart. But she harbors a terrible secret—she’s a former runaway who fell into the vicious cycle of drugs, sex and abuse.

At age fifteen, she leaves a verbally abusive grandfather for the unknown life on the streets of Las Vegas. While coming up with her back story, I had to do some research on the life of a runaway on the streets. And what I found made me sick. Here are a few of the stats that just totally staggered me. I’ll cite my sources at the end.

  • Of the 2.8 million children living on the streets, 1 out of every 3 will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. Most of these kids (85%) fall between the ages of 14 and 17, and approximately 75% are female.
  • Most runaways who become prostitutes ran away from home to escape their abuse, then become prostitutes to survive. Females are more likely than males to have abusive pimps.
  • A pimp typically has 6 girls in his “family” who call him “Daddy” and earn him approximately $500 per night. The selling of a child for sex is a felony that carries a maximum jail term of 15 years, but most prostitutes will not turn in their pimps even if they themselves face jail time.
  • Pimps often subject female prostitutes to beatings and force them into porn and strip dancing.
  • Boys enter into prostitution at age 14 and leave it around age 25.
  • Most prostitutes became addicted to drugs and/or alcohol on the streets. In a study of more than 400 homeless young adults (aged 13 to 23) in Hollywood, CA, more than 70% abused drugs (16%), alcohol (12%), or both (43%).
  • Domestic violence is cited as the number one reason a child runs away.
  • Most prostitutes have considered suicide.
  • A prostitute is raped 19 times, kidnapped 10 times, and beaten repeatedly every year.

I could go on and on, but these are some of the things I took into consideration when I created Charli’s story, and it is this life she wants to so desperately to protect other girls from when she buys a rundown ranch with the dream of opening it as a halfway house to teens like herself.

Sources:

http://www.runawaysthefilm.com/statistic.html

http://www.veronicasvoice.org/statistics.html

http://www.edrugrehab.com/substance-abuse-among-runaways

Lyrical Press | Amazon | B&N | BookStrand

When Charli bets everything on a secret, will she find the deck stacked against her?

Former runaway-turned heiress Charli Monroe is hiding her sordid past and planning a future in Colton, Texas. Attending the local college for a degree in social work, she intends to raise cattle on her newly purchased ranch, which she plans to open as a home for troubled teens. Only a few glitches—the Victorian mansion is crumbling, the barn needs a roof, and her oilman neighbor wants more than friendship. When she meets Dylan Quinn, Charli is willing to take a chance on the town drunk to help her rebuild the rundown ranch.

Dylan has his demons, too. The former Special Forces commander can’t get past his ex-wife’s betrayal and the botched mission that left him with much more than a bad limp. Certain the greedy oilman next door to Charli wants much more than just her heart, Dylan’s even willing to stop drinking in order to protect her.

 When things get dangerous and secrets of the past are revealed, is he only looking out for his new employer, or is she the new start he so desperately needs?

CONTENT WARNING: Details abuse of a minor, drug abuse, alcoholism, swearing, spicy sex, murder.

 

COVER QUOTE: “Full of intrigue, tangled pasts, and raw emotions, this one is guaranteed to keep you turning pages from start to finish and then wishing for one more chapter!”
Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Just a Cowboy and His Baby.

Ms. Brown also named Gambling On A Secret as one of her favorite romance reads in 2012 in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today.

Excerpt:

“Ferguson, what are you doing here?” Dylan barked.

Leon ambled toward them on the stone path. “I’m saving a young maiden from torment. What are you doing here, playing the part of the devil?”

“I’m Miss Monroe’s new manager.” The deadly edge of his voice matched the flintiness of his eyes. “If there’s anyone to save the young maiden from, it’s you.”

“Mr. Quinn, please.” She turned to Leon. “Leon, is there something I can do for you?”

He smiled, showing off perfect white teeth in a face handsome enough to belong to an actor. “I was just passing by on my way home and decided to stop. How are the boys working out?”

Dylan’s stance widened and his hands flexed at his slides. “What boys?”

“Charli and I have entered into a business arrangement.”

She lost the battle with the urge to wrap her arms around herself. As much as she appreciated Leon’s kindness, respected him, and was even a little attracted to him, something about him didn’t sit right with her. He represented her peers in the community. According to Mrs. Pratt, besides the Cartwrights, she and Leon were undoubtedly the wealthiest residents in the county. No one in Colton could learn about her past. It would ruin her, and Leon, no doubt, had the means to dig up the dirt.

“Really?” Dylan stepped closer to her in a protective manner. Whiskey tainted his breath as the warmth of the exhalations tickled her cheek. “What kind of business arrangement?”

She could protect herself. Dylan Quinn wasn’t any safer than Leon Ferguson. Stepping away from him, she forced her arms to her sides. “Mr. Quinn, I can handle this.”

She faced Leon. “I’m amazed by how much the men got done since starting on Monday. The foreman told me last evening they’d be reseeding another fifty acres for hay this morning. And they have the corrals fixed and started on the fencing in the north pasture.”

“Good, good.” He glanced at Dylan. “I’ll be going, unless you need a more reliable exterminator. I couldn’t help but overhear about your snake infestation. I can give you the name of the company that has gotten rid of the snakes in our lakes over on Oak Springs for years.”

Although he presented the perfect solution, she didn’t the like way Leon had looked at Dylan as he said the word exterminator. “No, Mr. Quinn is quite capable of getting rid of the snake.”

“Oh, I’m sure he is.” Leon tipped his hat. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you, Charli.” Dylan’s jaw tightened as his uncle glanced at him. “It’s good to see you up among the living again.”

Leon headed back to his Porsche. With no pretense of lowering his voice, Dylan said, “Now, there’s a snake no one wants in their garden.”

Upon hearing the jibe, Leon’s shoulders jerked in mid-stride.

Rattled by Leon’s attention and the snake fiasco, she turned on Dylan. “You aren’t off the hook. I want those snakes gone.”

“We’ll see.”

“I hate snakes.” She shuddered and put her hands on her hips. “Maybe I should have asked him who the exterminator is.”

 

A little about Sara:

Sara Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel Gambling On A Secret was named by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012. Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.

She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name Cera duBois.

Author links:

Website | Blog | Facebook |  Twitter 

 

Giveaway:

**PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GIVEAWAY**

~One poster from every stop will win a Gambling On A Secret ebook

~One commenter from each stop will win a piece of custom jewelry.

(The winners of these two prizes will be announced the day after the tour stop.)

 

I also have 2 Grand Prizes!

 

~First Grand Prize is a SWAG PACK, including a signed copy of Carolyn Brown’s Just a Cowboy and His Baby. Also included is a copy of D’Ann Lindun’s Shot Through the Heart, a pen, a notebook, a horse themed mini calendar, a patriotic themed day planner, and more all tucked away in a reusable tote bag at the end of my blog tour.

~Second Grand Prize is a $10 Gift Card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If you follow the tour and comment as often as possible, you increase your chances of winning!

(The winners of the Swag Pack and Gift Card will be announced on March 1, 2013.)

(Swag Pack is only eligible for US residents to win. The jewelry and gift card are eligible to US and Canada residents only. The ebook is eligible to anyone, unless prohibited by law.)

 For the GRAND PRIZES:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Book Blitz: Phantom by Laura DeLuca

Phantom

Laura DeLuca

Buy links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashword

The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed.

Excerpt:

The orchestra tuned for its virtuoso, and Justyn stood ready. But no one else was ready for the magical performance he began. Beside her, Carmen was rambling on about something mundane. Rebecca elbowed her to silence so she could listen to the perfectly thrilling tenor. As she listened to the song unfold, the world around her started to slip away. Gone was the high school auditorium. Gone were the rowdy teenagers. The Gothic stranger on the stage had become the embodiment of Erik, and Rebecca watched him in all his dark glory, belting out his tormented love through the words of his song. And she was as breathless with wonder as Christine herself must have been when the masked stranger serenaded her in the candlelit labyrinth of the opera house. In that moment, Justyn wasn’t just portraying the phantom. Justyn was the phantom.

“Let the music touch your soul.

Let the darkness make you whole.

Do not fear what is unknown.

Your true path has now been shown.

Listen to the words I sing.

Embrace the peace that night will bring.”

As he continued to sing in his deep but somehow angelic voice, Rebecca found that she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. With every line, her heart began to beat faster.  She truly felt the arms of night wrapping her in a warm embrace. She could almost feel the hands of the phantom glide along her body as the words poured forth. The music caressed her. It possessed her—mind, body and soul. Each word left her longing, yearning for more.

She was gawking so obviously, it was hardly surprising when Justyn felt her eyes on him and steadily met her gaze. She realized her mouth was hanging open in stunned awe, and she quickly snapped it shut. His lips moved into just a small hint of a smile. He never took his eyes off her while he sang the final verse, making her cheeks flush to the point that she felt almost feverish. But it wasn’t embarrassment but excitement, arousal even, which was sending her mind spinning in so many directions.

When the song was over, and Rebecca had recovered just a hint of her composure, she couldn’t help but burst into a healthy round of applause. A few scattered people joined in, including Debbie and Carmen after she nudged them in the ribs. But only Miss King seemed to truly appreciate the brilliance of his talent as much as Rebecca did.

“That was amazing, Justyn!” the teacher gushed.

“Lord Justyn,” he corrected as he stepped down from the stage.

A few others complimented him as well, but he took in all in stride. In fact, his serious expression never faltered as he stepped down from the stage. He seemed almost bored, like it was all he could do to hold back a yawn, despite the smiles and words of encouragement.

But not everyone in the crowd was pleased as Justyn glided down the aisle, so ethereal in his dark garments that he still resonated the spirit of the Opera Ghost. Miss King might have been excited about the newest male addition to her cast after being limited for many years, but Tom and his group of boisterous companions glared at him as he passed them by.  Jay sneered and tossed a balled up piece of paper in Justyn’s direction, but the Goth was quick, and caught it in his hand without missing a beat.

“I think you dropped something,” he said.

His speaking voice was no less melodic than his singing voice, but something about his tone made Rebecca shiver. He tossed the paper back at Jay, who was nowhere near as coordinated as Justyn. He practically fell off his seat in his efforts to catch it.

“Hey vampire,” Tom called when Justyn went to walk away. “Are you sure you can handle the competition?”

Justyn smiled, a cool, sarcastic half-smile, and crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you?”

Miss King didn’t notice the short confrontation, and Justyn vanished from the auditorium as quickly and mysteriously as he had appeared. Only Rebecca had noticed the very real tension between the two boys. She wondered if it was a bad omen for them to start off the production with hard feelings and envy. That could only lead to trouble. The kind of trouble that could end with someone getting hurt.  The kind of trouble that Rebecca would do whatever it took to avoid.

 

About the Author:

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan and Player.

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