Monday, April 28, 2014

Book Blitz + Excerpt and Giveaway: Blood Magic by T.G. Ayer


Blood Magic
By: T.G. Ayer


My name is Mel Morgan and I’m a Tracker. I find people for a living. The people I help have no idea I know exactly how they feel because I’ve lost someone too. If only I could have found the one person I’ve been looking for all these years.

My current case is no ordinary abduction. Before long I’m neck deep in blood magic – the worst kind. I need the help of a necromancer if I’m to free the kid. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.

When sexy djinn Saleem asks for help things get a little hot to handle. But how can I say know? Dodging demons and sorcerers are just part of my day job.

Purchase:

Excerpt
      Missing people can be found. Not all missing people are found. 

      I was good, maybe even the best I knew of. I find people for a living. My business is 
dependent on people losing people. The idea didn't sit so well with me but it was what it was. Not that I needed to find people for a living. I could very well choose to find things. Finding cutting edge nuclear warheads stolen from the government, locating lists of undercover cops within drug cartels – I can do that. Do the job, find the target, no questions asked. But things held no interest for me. People did. 

     I find people. And I didn't play to lose. 


AUTHOR BIO:
I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each other's loves – it works wonderfully…

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.

Book Blitz + Author Q&A and Giveaway: Ransom by Rachel Schurig


Ransom
By: Rachel Schurig


**The first book in a brand new series from USA Today bestselling author Rachel Schurig. This New Adult Contemporary Romance novel is a complete story with no cliffhanger.**

Daisy Harris has no reason to suspect that her day will be any different than usual. She’ll go to class, alone. She won’t speak or make eye contact. She’ll spend her entire day doing her best to go completely unnoticed. That’s what life is like for Daisy now—an endless cycle of loneliness and fear. A life lived hiding behind the walls she so faithfully maintains.

Then she sees it. A magazine, left behind in class. A simple picture—just his face. And it changes everything.

It’s been a year since she’s seen Daltrey Ransome. A year since he and his brothers left town to pursue their dreams of rock and roll superstardom. A year since he left Daisy behind—left her to watch as everything she knew crumbled around her. She’s been running from Daltrey ever since, desperate to keep her secret.

But she can’t run anymore. And now that Daltrey has found her—the girl he’s loved his entire life, the girl he’d give up everything for—he’s determined never to let her go again.


Author Q&A
What was your inspiration for writing Ransom? 

      I’ve wanted to write a rock star romance for a long time. When I was in college some 
friends and I spent a few months following our favorite band on tour. It was one of 
the best times I’ve ever had! There’s something about a good road trip with good 
friends—add in the thrill of live music and it can’t be beat! I wanted to write about 
girlfriends going on an adventure like ours—and finding love along the way. Who 
doesn’t want to fall for a rock star??
What can you tell us about Daisy? 

     Poor Daisy’s had a rough year. After her best friend, Daltrey, left to hit it big with his 
band, Ransom, things went south for Daisy. The victim of some pretty vicious online 
bullying, she began to withdraw from the world around her. Severe panic attacks 
brought on by the trauma make it very difficult for her to interact with her peers as 
she starts college. By the time she meets Ransom fans Karen and Paige, she’s almost 
forgotten what it’s like to have friends. Karen and Paige help her regain her 
confidence and find the strength to rekindle her friendship with Daltrey. 
What about Daltrey? 

     Daltrey is one of my favorite characters I’ve ever written. In many ways he’s your 
classic rock star—sexy, kind of dangerous, very talented, a little cocky. But he’s also 
incredibly sensitive and emotional. He never got over losing Daisy and now that 
she’s back in his life he’s determined not to lose her again. His dedication to the girl 
he’s always loved is pretty swoon worthy! 

Can you give us three random facts about Ransom? 

1. I plotted this entire book, right down to the names of all the characters, in one 
afternoon. In fact, I was waiting in line for a ride at Disneyland when inspiration 
struck. I was so glad I had my cell phone to take notes! By the time I reached the 
front of the very long line I had all the details squared away. 
2. Daltrey and his brothers are all named after famous rock stars who influenced 
their father. I spent a lot of time choosing the names; I wanted the most influential 
musicians I could think of but I also needed to make sure the monikers sounded 
good as first names. 
3. Music was a very big part of my writing process with this story. I created a 
playlist as I wrote, adding more songs as I went along. By the time I was finished I 
had a huge list, and I listened to it every time I worked on the book. 

AUTHOR BIO:
Rachel Schurig lives in the metro Detroit area with her dog, Lucy. She loves to watch reality TV and she reads as many books as she can get her hands on. In her spare time, Rachel decorates cakes. Her THREE GIRLS series is available now from Amazon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Cover Reveal: Ready For You by J.L. Berg

RFY Amazon GR SW
Title: Ready for You 
Series: Ready #3 
Author: JL Berg  
Release Date: May 26, 2014 

Summary
Eight years ago, Garrett Finnegan’s world shattered the day Mia vanished from his life. He’s been struggling to pick up the pieces ever since. Haunted by memories and ghosts of the past, he chooses a solitary existence rather than risk his heart again.
Mia Emerson has made one wrong decision after another but none worse than walking away from the boy who stole her heart so long ago. When her new life is turned upside down, she finds herself returning to her roots and the hometown she left behind. Maybe now she can find a way to heal from the devastating mistakes of her past.
When a chance encounter brings these former lovers together, passion reignites in a way neither is prepared for. Can Garrett move beyond his anger and find a way to forgive? Will Mia’s insecurities and fears cause her to once again flee the life she’s destined to live?
Garrett and Mia will soon discover that they must journey into the past to find their way home.



Author Biography: J.L. Berg is a California native living in the South. She's married to her high school sweetheart and they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you can find her with her nose stuck in a romance book, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.

Website: www.jlberg.com 
Twitter: @authorjlberg 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Cover Reveal: Tryst by Cambria Hebert

Tryst by Cambria Hebert 
(Take It Off Series - can be read as a stand-alone) 
Publication date: May 16th 2014 
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
Sometimes all a girl needs is a little fling…

Talie Ronson needs a vacation.

From life.

Since she caught her cheating, loser husband in bed with his assistant, her life has been on a steady spiral—right into hell. Her car’s a junker, her job sucks, and her perfect, gorgeous sister likes to brag about her wonderful life every time they “do” lunch.

In an effort to salvage what’s left of her life and her sanity, she takes the advice of her kooky best friend and takes off to Topsail Island. A week at the beach, alone, is exactly what she needs to recharge, regroup, and relax.

Only, her alone time is about to get derailed.

Gavin Palmer’s favorite activity is walking around in his boxers and eating junk food. He and his neighbors have an understanding. They stay out of his business and he stays out of theirs. He lives at the beach, not for vacation, but for isolation. He’s had enough of people to last him a lifetime.

Gavin’s isolation is interrupted when his normally quiet neighbor starts disturbing his peace. He stomps across the sand to give the guy a piece of his mind… only it isn’t a guy.

It’s Talie.

She’d maddening, nosy, and talks too much.

But she’s hot and her bedroom eyes have him thinking maybe he’s had enough solitude. Maybe a week of company is exactly what he needs.

Maybe what they both need is a no-strings-attached tryst.

Author Bio:
Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series, the new adult Death Escorts series, and the new adult Take it Off series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry) where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com 

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Book Blitz + Author Q&A and Giveaway: Beyond the Reach of Judgement by Jo Bissell


Beyond the Reach of Judgement
By: Jo Bissell


“Did we leave any sin out?” she replied with a forced weak laugh.

“No. Between the two of us, I think we have managed to cover them all.” he mumbled as that uncomfortable lump in his gut returned.

Julien Rene Durant was once a good man. Born in France, he took the oath as a Jesuit Priest in the 1600s. He dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel. Now, he was a monster surviving off the blood of others; killing for survival even as he wished for nothing other than for his own extinction. After almost four centuries of guilt and hopelessness, he encounters someone who might just be able to rescue the good man trapped within the monster, but will his judgements deny him a second chance?

Mary Ruth Jacobson-Ryan is nothing special; a small town girl stuck in a rut. Married to the local Iraqi War Hero who turned out not to be the perfect guy she fell in love with before the war, she is desperate for a way out. When things turn from bad to worse, she runs with plans to never look back. She quickly finds, however, that her search for a better future may lead her down a path with no future at all.








Author Q&A

What inspired you to write this novel, Beyond the Reach of Judgement?

            To be honest. I read Twilight several years ago and found myself in love with the concept., many of the characters, and the genre, but overall disappointed in what I felt was a lack of “steaminess,” a weak central female character who drove me insane, and some questionable ideas about relationships and love. For years I thought about how things would have been different had I had control of the story. Then I read several more short stories, novellas, and novels with vampire/human relationships and found myself engrossed with shows like True Blood and Vampire Diaries. Finally, I decided I had to try it myself. Thanks for the 30K words I wrote during NaNoWriMo 2012, I had a good start. It took some time, many beta-readers, and a good editor do the appropriate research and to polish the story, but finally I felt I had something worth sharing.

What are some challenges you faced while writing Beyond the Reach of Judgement?

            I find it difficult to step out of the story and see it from a readers' perspective. Many of my beta-readers have opened my eyes to just how much I tend to assume readers know when I haven't yet told them. I also find it hard to capture some of the details I know about my characters that make them real to me but aren't necessarily crucial to the plot. Thankfully, the novel has come a long way since its first draft and the characters have found ways to distinguish themselves with each new draft.

What do you do when you are not writing?

            I spend the majority of my time working as a full-time physician caring for hospitalized adult patients. I love my job, but I find writing helps me unwind and explore emotions, problems, and themes that I can't allow myself to explore or simply don't have time to explore while at work.

            When I have long breaks, I like to travel. The places I've been often end up as settings for my writing. During my travels, I spend time experimenting with photography  and often do volunteer work. I enjoy snowboarding, archery, and hiking as well as watching movies. I occasionally post film reviews on my blog.

Do your experiences influence your writing?

            Most definitely, but probably not the way that many would think. I know I've been very fortunate in my life, having an excellent family, an excellent support system of friends, and some good luck. In my job, I see so many people that aren't so fortunate and often wonder how things would be different if I faced such adversity and challenges. Often, these thoughts become central themes in my writing and are my way dealing with these questions.

Why do you write paranormal romance and urban fantasy?

            Mostly I write these genres because I enjoy reading them. I think they have exciting and unique characters and allow just the right combination of escapism and guilty pleasure. I like the way using unreal creatures and settings with ties to reality allows me to work with complicated themes and ideas without having to weighed down the “rules” of reality. I find that using non-human creatures actually accentuates and highlights what it means to be human and magical elements are often representation of real life problems but can be manipulated and viewed in ways that the “real world” just does not allow. Plus, who doesn't enjoy fantasizing a little?

What's next for you?

            I am currently working on an Urban Fantasy surrounding the mystery of The Black Angel grave marker in Iowa City, IA, which I am very excited about. After that, I hope to write a sequel and/or a spin-off of Beyond the Reach of Judgement. I also have outlines for a mermaid adventure/romance and a gargoyle paranormal romance I have yet to start writing.



AUTHOR BIO:
Jo Bissell started writing in middle school with fantasy stories inspired by books such as The Hobbit, and in fact once turned in a journal project written entirely in Dwarfish Ruins. She then explored fanfiction and short speculative fiction writing. Now, after many years of study, she spends most of her time working as a full time physician caring for hospitalized adults. When she is not writing or doctoring, she enjoys reading, watching movies, traveling, archery, thrift store shopping, and snowboarding. She currently resides in the Iowa City, IA area with her husband and two cats.

Beyond the Reach of Judgement is Jo Bissell’s first original novel which evolved out of a 2012 National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) project. She also has a short speculative fiction piece, His Eyes, available for Kindle. Future planned novels include a sequel to Beyond the Reach of Judgement, other works of urban fantasy and paranormal romances, and a science fiction novel. She continues to participate in NaNoWriMo.


Links:





Friday, April 18, 2014

Review: Clarity One by Loretta Lost

Clarity One by Loretta Lost

Fiercely independent Helen Winters was born completely blind, but she vowed never to let her disability keep her down. She did not expect a traumatic event to devastate her life and force her to drop out of college. Disillusioned by the cruelty of people, Helen retreated from society to live by herself as a reclusive writer in the woods—where no one could ever hurt her again.

When a brilliant young doctor shows up on her doorstep, promising her that his new research can give her the ability to see for the first time, Helen stubbornly refuses. She has learned not to trust anyone, and to rely only on herself. But Dr. Liam Larson will not take no for an answer. He makes it his personal mission to rescue Helen from her loneliness, and bring joy into her world once more—the joy she has denied herself for so long.

When Helen’s demons come racing back into her life, threatening to rip her apart and destroy the strength she has carefully rebuilt, Liam is the only one who might be able to save her.

Can he reach the broken girl in time, helping her to heal and see the world in a different light? Or will Helen’s grief send her spiraling out of control, lost to him forever?


Pages: 162
Format: Ebook (also in Paperback)
Published by: Createspace
Genre: YA Contemporary

Rating:

Review:
Clarity was a stunning story that held me captive until I turned the very last page. Every time I HAD to take a break, I had an almost uncontrollable desire to drop what I had to do to pick the book back up and just continue reading. I liked how Liam had a "fanboy crush", because it's good to hear that men can get all emotionalish (I mean he is still a guy) over someone he's a fan of. I loved Owen with his easy banter, humor (let's just say, I was definitely laughing out loud a lot whenever he was talking), and charm (well at least I thought he was charming), along with Liam with his persistence and gentleness. It was easy to see how Owen and Liam were friends, because of their personalities that went so well together. There are two quotes in the book "But I like to think that even when we're gone, the soul retains some of that wisdom - some of that feeling. What I do is simple science, but what you do is... magic" and "Books are medicine for the soul. They heal the eternal parts of a person" which are talking about how a book forever remains with you even after you have long put down the book. That is what this book did to me! Helen's struggles and pain felt real to me, and that's why I couldn't put this book down and why it has lingered within me. I cannot wait to read the second book in the series.

Note: I received this book free from Loretta Lost and Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Release Day + Giveaway: Falling For Autumn by Heather Topham Wood

 
Autumn Dorey had no problem leaving her hometown of Newpine and the friends there who’d betrayed her. Everyone thought they knew what happened the spring night Autumn’s world fell apart. Vicious rumors about the incident circulated, and she had to be homeschooled the last year of high school to escape her tormentors. All she wants now is to get away from it all and start over at Cook University. She leaves everything but the memory behind—something she swore she’d never forget—and sets off to rebuild what was broken.

Blake Preston is precisely the type of guy Autumn wants to avoid. He’s gorgeous, arrogant and the college’s beloved football star. As much as she believes he’s someone she should steer clear of, avoiding him proves to be impossible. He shows up everywhere around campus, offering her a no-strings attached friendship. 

Autumn can’t deny Blake stirs up emotions she thought fled years ago. But things he’s been hiding begin to emerge and collide with her past, leaving her heart ravaged in their wake.
 
 
 

Monday, April 14, 2014

Review: Falling For Autumn by Heather Topham Wood

Falling For Autumn by Heather Topham Wood

Autumn Dorey had no problem leaving her hometown of Newpine and the friends there who’d betrayed her. Everyone thought they knew what happened the spring night Autumn’s world fell apart. Vicious rumors about the incident circulated, and she had to be homeschooled the last year of high school to escape her tormentors. All she wants now is to get away from it all and start over at Cook University. She leaves everything but the memory behind—something she swore she’d never forget—and sets off to rebuild what was broken.

Blake Preston is precisely the type of guy Autumn wants to avoid. He’s gorgeous, arrogant and the college’s beloved football star. As much as she believes he’s someone she should steer clear of, avoiding him proves to be impossible. He shows up everywhere around campus, offering her a no-strings attached friendship. 

Autumn can’t deny Blake stirs up emotions she thought fled years ago. But things he’s been hiding begin to emerge and collide with her past, leaving her heart ravaged in their wake.
 
 


Pages:  248

Format: E-Copy (Also in Paperback)

Published by: Createspace

Genre: NA Romance

 

 
 
 
 
 
Rating:


Review:
Heather Topham Wood has written a wonderful and sad story (which kept me up to all hours of the night crying) about a girl who overcomes her fears from the past with the help and love of the guy she met at college. Their love story as woven itself into my heart - sweet, innocent (well until the last chapter ;) if you get what I mean), beautiful, and most importantly true.
 
I found myself wishing that there was a guy out there that I knew that was just like Blake, who did have his secrets, but couldn't stop himself from falling in love with Autumn. Their love wasn't rushed, and it wasn't instant love... if anything they both wanted to stay away from each other when they first met. Autumn was kind-hearted and grew so much through the story and finally was able to fully deal with what had occurred in the past.
 
This story was not only about the love that Autumn shared with Blake, but there was also a very strong message about the loyalty of friends, displayed through the actions, thoughts, and words of her two friends that Autumn had just met that year. Friendships that were stronger than any of the friendships that she had had throughout high school.
 
Note: I received this book free from Heather Topham Wood in exchange for an honest review.