Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Book Blast and Giveaway - Burn on the Western Slope



Burn on the Western Slope
by Angela Smith

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BLURB:

On the ski slopes of Montana, deception turns deadly and seduction becomes more hypnotic than jewels.

Reagan McKinney is on a mission to discover more about a deceased uncle who mysteriously left her a sizable inheritance, a condo in the mountains, and a stash of stolen jewels.  With both her graphic design career and her love life in shambles, the opportunity to begin a new life couldn’t have come at a better time.  When she becomes involved with the sexy FBI agent next door, she finds her struggle is not only to keep her heart intact, but her life.
         
Grief stricken after an undercover investigation ends in the tragic death of his partner, FBI Agent Garret Chambers goes home to find solace in the arms of his mountain home.  That is, until his boss assigns him to investigate the spirited brunette staying in the condo next door.  He is assigned to investigate Reagan’s involvement with a large jewel fencing organization, but his investigation becomes comprised when his attraction to her heats up.  Will his discovery destroy everything he has come to love, including Reagan?



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EXCERPTS:

“Wait,” he said, settling his hand over hers. He didn’t know what he would say to keep her here, didn’t know if he should kiss her again. Had he insulted her in some way? “Do you have a boyfriend back home?” he asked. A stupid question at a time like this, but he had to know. For Buchanan, who would call sometime tonight, and for himself.

Silence stretched among them. He fought to soften his breathing, but his heart only pounded harder as he tried to convince himself she was not his to possess.

When she looked at him, dead in the eye, she didn’t flicker. The strength she’d shown on the mountain today, pushing herself when most women would have cried and complained, and the snappy comeback with Tanner made Garret realize she was the kind of woman who could stand up to a man like Javier Mass. The type of woman Javier—or Nelson, either one—would prize. Garret’s world capsized.

Shaking her hand from his, she said, “Shouldn’t you have asked me that before you kissed me?”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:



During my senior year in high school, I was dubbed most likely to write a novel because I
always had my nose stuck in a book.   I would hide my romance novels under my history book until my teacher called me out on it.  Writing has been my dream ever since my mother read Brer Rabbit to my sister and me so often that we were able to recite it back to each other before actually learning to read.  I love reading about the adventure of love, and getting involved in the legal field developed my love of suspense. I believe love is a mystery that most people have trouble resolving.  While I don’t expect we’ll ever solve that mystery, I love to read and write about characters who work to solve their love’s mystery.  See more about me at my website www.loveisamystery.com or tweet me @angelaswriter
.

Publisher Website: www.crimsonromance.com



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GIVEAWAY:




Angela will be awarding one of three prizes: a car mirror hanger or key chain (a seashell as a tie-in to her book), an mp3 album by Pretty Little Blisters, a $10 Amazon gift card, to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 




Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Review - One Hot Knight

Stupid curse!
Yves Sucat was a Crusader trapped in a canine body…until a beautiful twenty-first century dog groomer offered the missing link to break his spell. But Regina Patterson was no fluffy-headed female who would instantly melt at Yves' silvery seduction. The more time he spent with the tender-hearted blonde, the less he was able to keep his paws—hands!—off of her.

Regina was much more comfortable with dogs than men, and the stunningly handsome – stunningly male – knight who now shared her apartment was no exception. She’d hoped to find a man as loyal as the pooches she pampered day after day, but would Yves’s broken curse end with her own broken heart?




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My review:

This was a fun, light paranormal with great moments of humor.  Just from the setup alone - a crusader trapped in a dogs body in the 21st century - you hope the story ends up making you laugh.  And Im happy to say it did not disappoint.  

Yves has been cursed for 900 years by a witch who misunderstood a situation she caught him in.  Sadly even though he did not do what she thought she would not believe anyone and remove the curse.  He has spent centuries trying to find the one person who can remove it.  When Regina finds him in the park and takes him to her shop where she runs an elite dog grooming business, he starts to hope again she might be the one to break the curse. Once Regina finds out what happened to Yves she is determined to help him find a way. 

This is definitely more of a light paranormal and it works perfectly that way.  The darkest thing in the story is the evil witch and the curse.  Watching the two main characters get to know each other and Yves adjust to modern living is fun to watch along with the stories Regina has to invent to not only explain this dog she found and keeps but also this man that starts coming with her everywhere.  You really root for them to find a way to break the curse and keep Yves in human form.

This was just an awesome, fun story that I recommend to anyone looking for a light paranormal.  I personally am looking forward to whats next from this author.

Monday, July 29, 2013

VBT and Giveaway - Saving Faith

Fate rides on the wings of life, steering life along its unforeseen journey, thus fulfilling one’s destiny. Fate can also bring two paths to cross, though traveling in opposite directions, lives that had once ran parallel. So it was in the lives of Trevor Logan and Faith Thomas, two paths traveling parallel, destined to be one at a young age. Then came a sinister plan, painted with pictures of deception, sending their lives reeling in opposite directions. But after over twenty years, fate caused their paths to cross once again, by way of an unusual chain of events. Their paths crossed just when Faith’s life was in danger, leaving Trevor to risk his own to save hers, thus keeping a strange promise he had made to her father—over twenty years before.






GIVEAWAY

Wes will award a $20 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/name-before-masses-saving-faith-by-wes.html

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Coastal Magic Author Spotlight - Suzanne Johnson



What made you decide to go to Coastal Magic in 2014?
In 2012 and 2013, I tested out some smaller reader-oriented conventions and some of the mega-conventions, and decided I really love the ambiance of the smaller ones. I love being able to talk to readers and relax and chat, so when I heard about Coastal Magic, I knew it would be ideal. Plus, it's in the Southeast, which means an easier travel time for me. AND...Daytona Beach in February? Seriously, that's pretty awesome!

What are you looking forward to the most while there?
The chance to talk to readers who've read my books, and to readers who maybe haven't been introduced to them. And all of them are fans of the paranormal/urban fantasy genres. I know some folks who've read my Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series under the name Suzanne Johnson don't realize I also write paranormal romance under the name Susannah Sandlin, and vice-versa. So I get to be "both of me." Authors are doing things like having breakfast with readers every morning, and doing smaller gatherings, so it should really be fun!

Will you have a new release or be promoting any specific book or series at the convention?
Elysian Fields, the third book in my Sentinels of New Orleans series, came out in mid-August and should be coming out in paperback about the time of Coastal Magic. I also have a couple of things in the works, such as Deliverance, the fourth book in my Penton series (under the Sandlin name), but am not sure of the timing yet.

Is there anything you would like to share with the attendees before they get there?  Or anything you want to share with those still deciding if they want to go?
I think it's going to be a lot of fun. There are a lot of great authors who'll be there (I might do some fangirl stalking myself), and it's a chance to talk paranormal with other people who love it. And, uh, did I mention it's at Daytona Beach in February?

For more info on Suzanne and her books, check out her website.

About Coastal Magic Convention:

Formally Olde City New Blood in 2014 it will be a fun weekend in Daytona Beach happening in February.  Full of great events for lovers of Paranormal and Urban Fantasy.   With plenty of chances to meet and talk to some of your favorite authors.  This is an event you don't want to miss.  And did I say Florida in February!  There couldn't be a better time of year for such an awesome gathering.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Review - The Night is Alive

MIDNIGHT IN SAVANNAH

It's a city of beauty, history & hauntings. And one of the most haunted places in Savannah is a tavern called The Dragonslayer, built in the 1750s. The current owner, Gus Anderson, is a descendant of the original innkeeper and his pirate brother, Blue.

Gus summons his granddaughter, Abigail, home from Virginia, where she's studying at the FBI Academy. When she arrives, she's devastated to find him dead. Murdered. But Abby soon learns that Gus isn't the only one to meet a brutal and untimely end; there've been at least two other victims. Then Captain Blue Anderson starts making ghostly appearances, and the FBI's paranormal investigation unit, the Krewe of Hunters, sends in Agent Malachi Gordon.

Abby and Malachi have a similar ability to connect with the dead;and a similar stubbornness. Sparks immediately begin to fly; sparks of attraction and discord. But as the death toll rises, they have to trust each other or they, too, might find themselves among the dead haunting old Savannah!


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My review:

For anyone that knows me they know I love Heather Graham's books and while this one is no exception it is also one of my favorites so far.  I think all the Krewe books are great and interesting.  But this one drew me in more than the others.  I loved the backdrop and background she included and the setting was well detailed and described so it almost became its own character in the story.  Along with pieces of the history that has taken place in Savannah you could really envision the locations where the story took place.

The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing.  I thought the main characters had a great history and development.  And watching them learn to trust each other and learn to get along and work together provided a great piece to the story.  The secondary characters as well were interesting and some played a key part in the story.  Also it was nice to see some of the other Krewe members make an appearance. 

As I said the mystery was well developed and played perfectly with the setting.  We were kept guessing with the characters as to who did it all the way up to the end.  And it was definitely a complete surprise.

The Krewe books are some of my favorites and I look forward to the next one.  Anyone who hasn't read them yet should definitely start.   And you can start anywhere with them, while characters might reoccur, the current story is completely contained in each individual book.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Book Blast - Green River



Aidan watched the girls cower on the bed as their father, in a drunken rage, beat on the bedroom door.
 

Drawn to the girls by some unknown power, he was irrevocably intertwined in their lives against both his tribe and his parents’ admonitions to “leave them to their own", but Aidan knew his mission was to safeguard Charlotte and Missy from the darkness that stalked them.
 In her new Shifter series, author Elizabeth Loraine draws you to the seamy underside of Seattle and to the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest as Characters Aidan, Charlotte and Missy explore their complex bond, the mysteries surrounding their separate cultures and a common enemy. 
I grew up in a small northern Minnesotan town married my high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children and as soon as we could we moved to a warmer climate. I have worked with my husband building and decorating custom homes for years.
After loving every kind of vampire book, movie and series since I was a child, I decided that I wanted to know more. I can write a book I thought, how hard can that be? Well....it wasn't as easy as I thought, but I stuck to it, and finished my first book Royal Blood Chronicles Book One in August 2009. I now have six books in the series and am about to release book two of my new series Phantom Lives.  
My parents always told me that I could do anything that I wanted, work hard, and do it right. I believe that, and live that every day.
I started writing this new vampire series for teens and their moms because I wanted something different to read. I was tired of all the modern versions of vampire books, there had to be more to these long lived beings. Where had they been, what had they seen? I wanted, no I NEEDED to know more, so Royal Blood Chronicles was born!  As in Royal Blood Chronicles, Phantom Lives features strong female characters and action and adventure mixed with romance, friendship and a historical backdrop. I hope you enjoy them.

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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Review - Lions, Tigers, and Sexy Bears Oh My!

A Montana town where no one is who they seem....  Everything about runaway heiress Ainsley McLeon screamed trouble—from her luscious midnight locks to her Louboutin-clad toes.  Yet sexy, stoic bar owner Luc couldn’t deny the instant connection he felt to the tempting stranger…or the long-dead feelings she evoked.  She could work in his pub until her truck was fixed but after that she had to leave town for good.  Ainsley traveled with her own emotional baggage and there was no way she'd fall for the bear-tempered Luc...no matter how many passionate nights she spent in his bed or how safe she felt in his muscular arms. Can these two opposites find love in the middle of a blizzard, or will Luc's darker side and Ainsley's past catch up with them?





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This is one of the funniest and most enjoyable books I have read so far this year.  I really just loved it and couldnt put it down until I finished.
 
The characters are total opposites and watching them interact is pure enjoyment.  Ainsley belongs in a city setting but after some pretty serious family drama ends up crashed in a small town in Montana.  Luc has his own secrets as well as the secrets of the town.  He doesnt want her to be there, but he cant get rid of her either. Both have pasts and even current issues and watching them deal with them and each other makes for an enjoyable evening.

Its more of a novella than a full length novel in length, but there is plenty packed in to the pages.  The action keeps moving and there are no lags in the story or progression.  The only issue I had was I thought the ending seemed rushed.  It felt like there was a page or two missing or a small section skipped to get to the resolution.  However as I said the rest was impossible to put down.

Im looking forward to more of her books and hope that one day we get to visit this interesting town again.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Book Blast and Giveaway - The Vigilante



The Vigilante
by Jacqui Morrison

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BLURB:

It isn’t safe for men who work in the porn business in the city of Toronto.

When porn producer Sal Turbit is found dead in his apartment, no one seems to care. No one, that is, except Detective Lynette Wilton. Lynette has been a homicide detective for only three months, and has yet to earn her stripes.

Murder is murder no matter who the victim is—and Lynette is out to catch a killer. 

Could the killer be Wanda Chambers, a mentally ill woman who hates the “scumbags” who prey on the vulnerable? Wanda’s beloved sister, Cathy, was one such woman. Cathy became a porn actress and then took her own life when her sleazy manager/boyfriend, Gil Lee, wouldn’t let her go.

Lynette’s sergeant doesn’t think it’s possible. Wanda has a debilitating illness. But Lynette believes that Wanda’s hatred and harsh childhood make her a prime suspect, and she proves it by catching Wanda in the act of attempting to shoot Lee.

Renowned defense lawyer Maxine Swayman takes on Wanda’s case; Maxine has a different view of the accused. She wants to help Wanda get the help that she needs, and it’s not going to happen in a prison cell.

As the trial proceeds, will Maxine prevail and save Wanda, or will Lynette be able to tie Wanda to Turbit’s murder as well? 


"Morrison knows how to create suspense! She brings readers on a roller-coaster ride that leaves you breathless from start to finish!" —Trey Anthony, star and producer “Da Kink in Da Hair”

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EXCERPTS:

Chapter 1
“Hey,” Sal said, “come on in. You’re right on time. Good to meet ya.” He left the visitor in the living room of his shabby apartment in a grungy, low-rent building, and slipped into the kitchen. The metallic pop of a beer bottle opening echoed in the other room. Then another.

Six empty beer bottles, a heaping ashtray, and assorted marijuana paraphernalia were already strewn across his table. The grandfather clock struck four times. Sal stumbled back into the room. “I got you a beer.”

Glassy-eyed, Sal said, “I’ve got lots of great products for you to move today.” He showed the visitor the cover of a DVD. “This one is new. It’ll sell out. She’s a real sweet thing. Told me she was eighteen ’n had the ID to prove it. Likely just some little tramp from nowhere-ville. Came to the big, bad city for excitement––”

The metal felt cool as the visitor pulled out a gun.

“What the hell?” Sal screamed, just before the bullet penetrated his skull.

He fell onto the sofa, blood oozing out the back of his head. His face was contorted, almost angry looking. Certainly surprised.

The spent cartridge from the handgun ricocheted against a metal garbage can––reminiscent of the pop of a beer cap––and then landed on the carpet.

The murderer studied the victim’s splayed body, feeling a sense of elation and satisfaction. Out came a Swiss Army knife, and the killer wordlessly hacked off a section of Sal’s hair, stuffed it into a small plastic bag, and then threw it into a knapsack. The killer then picked up the half-spilled beer that Sal had been handing over when the shot was fired. Perfect. Grinning, the murderer chugged the beer, retrieved the spent cartridge, and smugly looked at Sal Turbit’s still body, now surrounded by pooling blood.

Still wearing leather gloves, the murderer put the beer bottle and hot metal bullet charge into a knapsack and fled, smiling, into the dense night.



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I am Jacqui Morrison. I started writing poems and short stories as a child. I also enjoyed
public speaking in elementary school and at University. In High School, a great teacher, Lenore Hawley, inspired me and in 1995 I pursued my life-long passion for writing.

 My career is a complicated web and includes: owning an ice cream parlour and fine food shop, teaching life-skills management to adults, teaching computer applications, social service work and marketing.

From 1994 to 2003, I assisted survivors of domestic violence in both criminal and family court as a support worker. I’ve always had a strong interest in law and justice.

I love to write and I am happiest writing or encouraging others to fulfill their writing dreams. I facilitate writing seminars for Canadore College and various agencies.

I live in northern Ontario, Canada with my daughter Alison, my husband Wayne, and a three-legged dog named Willow. Our daughter has convinced us to adopt four cats so Felix, Sasha, Nikke and Angel round out our family. Angel, at four-months-of-age was abandoned by its owner and we rescued her in -15 degree weather.

Alison has a future in politics, animal rescue work or sales … because I’m not really a cat person and she’s persuaded me to adopt four.

My parents are the late Drs John and Irene Morrison. Mom was a family physician and a competitive swimmer. My father worked for the Provincial Parole Board. Dad enjoyed to write fictional stories in his spare time. He was my mentor, my editor and my hero. I have one sister named Trish. She is a competitive swimming coach. Trish resides in southern Ontario with her husband, four children, two dogs and a cat.

In our spare time we like to cruise Georgian Bay on our boat or spend quality family time.




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CONTEST:

Jacqui will be awarding Loose Tea and Chipnuts to two randomly drawn commenters during this tour and the Virtual Reviews Tour combined.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: