Beyond the Mind Maze

Category: Blog Tours

  • The Obsidian Collection – Book Blitz

    Dark-love certainly holds appeal! Yet another great collection brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours. You can read the synopses, all authors’ bios, watch the trailer and read two tantalizing excerpts. If you live in the US or Canada, scroll down and enter the Giveaway for a Kindle Fire HD!

    THE OBSIDIAN COLLECTION

    Nine authors. Nine dark-love novellas.

    The wicked have never looked so good…

    SYNOPSES

    Obsidian Escape by Rebel Adams
    Just one look at the battered form of Whitney Geddings awakens a fierce protective instinct in Detective Jackson Ogden…but at what price?

    Obsidian Liquor by Scarlett Dawn
    Reporter, Elizabeth Forter, never expected one drunken challenge to leave her sexually satisfied and waking beside Daniil – the head of the Russian mafia.

    Obsidian Faith by Bev Elle
    Shanice Bailey’s epic faith in Trevor Kyle, the man she’s loved since they were both wards at the Baptist Children’s Home, is shaken when his sketchy foster father shows up on their honeymoon.

    Obsidian Heart by Nicole Flockton
    Will Erika’s holiday fling with Brandt bring him out of the shadows, or is his heart destined for darkness?

    Obsidian Sky by Lara Henley
    When military man, Brandon Michaels, comes home to a town he no longer recognizes, his salvation may rest in Arabella Knight, a woman who has secrets that no one knows.

    Obsidian Ice by Missy Johnson
    Medical intern Cam Fletcher knew becoming a surgeon would be hard work, but what he wasn’t counting on was falling for his mentor – cocky surgeon Eric Langdon.

    Obsidian Jewel by Angel Lawson
    Professional thieves, competitors, and occasional lovers, Maya Clarke and Malcolm Kent, must work together for the job of a lifetime and try not to kill one another while doing it.

    Obsidian Desire by t.h. snyder
    Can one chivalrous act change Tyler Jones, a coldhearted man, or will desire burn through his soul and change him forever?

    Obsidian Beauty by Emily Walker
    Out of jail and finally ready to confront the man who left her there to rot, Abigail Rivers is upset to learn Benton Sellers has moved on with no regard for the sacrifices she has made for him.

    AUTHORS

    Rebel Adams is writer and lover of good prose, better cigars, well-aged whiskey and fine women– and not always in that order.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter

    Scarlett Dawn is the author of the Forever Evermore new adult fantasy series, which include King Hall and King Cave. She lives in the Midwest, where she loves to ‘people watch’ and daydream. She adores her music loud and her fries covered in melted cheese.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

    Bev Elle is the author of sweet and spicy, contemporary romance. She’s a lover of books–those already written, and those she harbors in her very active imagination. Writing is a passion she’s had for many years, but was unable to act upon. Until now. Bev Elle is the mother of three human children and two canines. She is also the lover of one husband. When Bev isn’t writing in her spare time after work, she is thinking of doing so.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

    Nicole Flockton is an Australian living in Texas. Nicole writes sexy contemporary romances which seduce you one kiss at a time. She enjoys taking two characters and creating unique situations for them. When she’s not busy writing, she’s attempting to keep up with two active children and a busy husband.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

    Lara Henley is originally from Oklahoma, but has lived in several places. She began writing in 2009 when she had a dream about a little girl traveling with her grandmother. That is how Jessie Discovers Christmas was born. She then ventured into YA and adult romance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing and a Masters in Administrative Leadership. She loves all things creative and aspires to have a fulltime writing career.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

    Missy Johnson in a small town in Central Victoria, Australia, with her husband and her confused pets (a dog who think she’s a cat, a cat who thinks he’s a dog…you get the picture). When she’s not writing, she can usually be found looking for something to read.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

    Angel Lawson lives with her family in Atlanta and has a lifelong obsession with creating fiction from reality, either with paint or words. On a typical day you can find her writing, reading, plotting her escape from the zombie apocalypse and trying to get the glitter out from under her nails. She is the author of five books, including the Wraith Series, Serial Summer, FanGirl, and Vigilant. She is the co-author of the New Adult Paranormal book, Odin’s Murder with Kira Gold.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

    t.h. snyder is a 34 y/o single mom of two amazing kids. She lives in Central PA where she works full time for a local business/technical school. Writing wasn’t something she ever thought she’d be doing, but here she is. t. h. snyder started reading like a nut after Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey. Since then she’s read over 300 romance and paranormal books. In June of 2013, she decided to try her go at writing. She had a vision and went with it….hence Touch Me. To date she’s published 6 books and now 2 anthologies…The Touch Series (NA Romance), Pierced Love (YA Romance), Cursed Love, Cursed #1 (Erotic Romance), My Dirty Little Valentine, and the Obsidian Collection.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

    Emily Walker loves creating worlds and stumbling around in them. She is constantly losing her chap-stick, and has an obsession with the color pink. Currently a resident of the mountains and loving the view, she writes mostly paranormal fiction and horror. Her small family consists of her red bearded other half, a rat terrier named Rebel, and a cat named Mr. Creepy.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

    BOOK TRAILER

     

    BUY LINKS

    Amazon: http://ow.ly/yndK7
    Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/yndHN
    Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/ynb9j
    iTunes: http://ow.ly/yv14r
    Kobo: http://ow.ly/ynedZ
    CreateSpace: http://ow.ly/yne9b
    Scribd: http://ow.ly/yv1eI
    Smashwords: http://ow.ly/ynbbs
    Amazon Paperback: http://ow.ly/ynb34

     

    THE OBSIDIAN COLLECTION

    Excerpts

    OBSIDIAN LIQUOR by Scarlett Dawn

    Daniil peered at me.  His stare was a warning.  “What were you doing, Ms. Forter?”

    So he did know who I was.  The jerk had probably followed me after I had bumped him.

    I shrugged and went with the semi-truth.  “Getting a story.”

    “What story might that be?” Stash asked, his gaze roaming me in an assessing way.  We had never met before, so this was my first up close and personal with the man.

    I shrugged again.  “Brent and Cole are big news.  Anything that I can put in print that others don’t have is good business.” Sticking to the truth as much as possible was always key when caught snooping.  And I was press.  They expected it of me.

    “Hear anything interesting?” Daniil asked gently.

    Instinct had me taking a step back.  The man was chilling on a different level.  “Nothing I didn’t already know.”

    OBSIDIAN BEAUTY by Emily Walker

    The bar was pretty much what she imagined, but it had a warm feeling to it. The bartender was a middle-aged woman with an appealing smile; the kind of person you wanted to tell your troubles to and see if she could impart some wisdom on you. At least that was what Abigail was thinking as she took a seat on a bar stool.

    “Let me guess, you saw an ex today and he or she was looking good?” The bartender certainly didn’t beat around the bush. Wow, talk about intuition.

    “Something like that.” Abigail smiled and grabbed a menu to have something to look at instead of the woman who could read her so well.

    “Honey, the food here is shit; you don’t want any of that. You like whiskey?” Abigail was shocked someone would talk about their own restaurant’s food that way, but she nodded.

    “I’m Abigail. I just arrived into town today. You were right; he was looking good, and I want to kill him.” She watched the bartender pour her a shot and a second shot, which she assumed, was for herself. She was pretty, and Abigail could tell she had been a knockout when she was younger. Some lines were starting to form around her eyes, but her high blonde ponytail kept a youthful glow about her.

    “Stella Moet, my husband owns Moet’s, but the cook we have is pitiful. That’s why I wouldn’t eat here until we found a better one. Slim pickings in this town, you know.” Stella set both shots in front of Abigail and winked. “One for luck and one for drunk.”

    Abigail smiled as Stella went off to help some other patrons at the end of the bar. She liked how nice everyone seemed to be in South Carolina. In Florida, it was hit or miss, and up north, no one was friendly, especially when they were hustling in New York. New Yorkers could tell when someone wasn’t from New York, and they let you know it.

    She was totally lost in her thoughts and didn’t notice someone had settled onto the stool beside her. Finally when her eyes met the man who appeared beside, her she couldn’t help but notice him. He was handsome and she actually thought she could feel herself being pulled into his kind, vibrant green eyes. She wanted to say something clever about staring at strangers, but when she opened her mouth, that wasn’t what came out.

    “Hi there,” she said, immediately hating herself. Who says that?

    “Hi yourself. I’ve not caught your eye in this place before. Are you new to town?” For a minute, she debated on telling him her real reason for being there. What the hell was wrong with her, two seconds of eye contact and she wanted to spill the beans?

    “Yes, I just got in today, actually. Do you know of any hotels nearby which aren’t too crappy and take a credit card?” He raised an eyebrow, causing his eyes to crinkle a bit and she felt a little pulse go through her as he bit his lip in thought. She really needed to get it together. It had been awhile, but she was pretty sure before prison a man couldn’t affect her like this at first glance. Well, that wasn’t true. Benton had. Handsome green eyes were talking, and as usual, her thoughts were causing her to miss out.

    “So, I can take you there if you want?” The stranger told her. Abigail nodded, not sure what she was agreeing to. Hoping it was an escort to a decent hotel, she signaled Stella for two more shots. The first two had gone down quite well; this time she had a drinking buddy.

    “Now, deputy, don’t be turning your charm on my new friend here.” The man turned to Stella and gave her a grin. Even his teeth were perfect, staring at them it dawned on her what Stella said. He was a cop! She needed to get away from him before he found out what she was planning.

    “I’m Scott,” he said, holding his hand out to her. She took it timidly, which wasn’t like her at all.

    “Abigail, Abigail Rivers, I just got out of prison.” Why the hell did she say that? There was no good reason to say something like that to a cop, and especially a good-looking cop she just met. “I mean it feels like I just got out of prison.”

    GIVEAWAY
    Blitz-wide giveaway:
    –Kindle Fire HD (US/Can)

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Mad Water by Nicholas C. Rossis (Epic Fantasy) Review

    Yesterday’s crime. Tomorrow’s retribution.

    My Review

    The dictator might be gone, but the aura of Pearseus, if anything, darkens. Cyrus, the new ruler of the Capital, might have a purer heart, but his mind is equally addled. Gella teams up with Theo to fight Jonia, but their outlook couldn’t have been more different. Lehmor wants nothing more than to reunite with Moirah, but his trek takes him to a different realm where he uncovers a threat like no other. And when he spreads the word, instead of unity, deeper rifts are created.

    In a planet rife with passion, ambition, envy and love, everyone has an agenda, feeling quite smug for pushing it forward. If they all knew what lurked in the shadows, they might be able to see the strings attached to all their limbs.

    This is an ambitious series. As I noted in my review of the previous book, Rise of the Prince, it is not just about survival on a foreign planet and co-existing with other races. It’s a study in human nature with philosophical undertones—a thought-provoking tale. But that is not at the cost of the book’s readability. The action here picks up as strong personalities clash and devious plans are put into effect. Heroes of the past turn villains, distrust grows and not just of perceived hidden agendas but of the way their entire world is perceived.

    What I particularly enjoyed in this book is that Nicholas C. Rossis assumes a take-no-prisoners approach in the language he uses. It’s as if the protagonists are finally taking position center stage for a bare-knuckled fight, and the reader can see every muscle twitch while they stare each other down. But what’s super exciting is that we know that the referees of these matches are not only invisible, but they’ve bet heavily on the fights they’re officiating.

    Who will win? Even though foreign worlds with a multitude of characters are not my usual read, I can’t wait for the final installment of this exciting and stimulating series!

    Make sure you head over to my excerpts’ blog to read a fantastic excerpt of Mad Water. Click here.

    What people say about Pearseus:

    “He simply tells a story of corruption, people struggling as pioneers seeking to do with what they have… The measure of this book is that the triumph is not a textbook description, but a sense of a living struggle.”

    “A cross between Game of Thrones and Dune”

    “Astonishing, intriguing, thoughtful”

    “It will be hard to put this book down long enough to eat and sleep, never mind doing responsible things like going to work and taking care of the kids”

    “[It] hits on those big archetypal themes of invasion, loss, leadership, death… and high tech. It gives the reader plenty of material for discussion.”

    “Warning: May cause loss of sleep, lowered work productivity, and missed meals”

    Nicholas C. Rossis bio:

    Author. Avid reader. Web developer. Architect by training, holder of a PhD in Digital Architecture from the University of Edinburgh.

    Nicholas loves to write. Mad Water, the third book in his epic fantasy series, Pearseus, was just published, while his first children’s book, Runaway Smile, is currently being illustrated. He has also published The Power of Six, a collection of short sci-fi stories.

    He lives in Athens, Greece, in the middle of a forest, with his wife, dog and two very silly cats, one of whom is always sitting on his lap, so please excuse any typos in his blog posts: typing with one hand can be hard…

    Book links:

    • Pearseus: Schism, Book 1 in his epic fantasy series is available on http://amzn.to/1aDgXDA
    • Pearseus: Rise of the Prince, Book 2 in his epic fantasy series is available on http://amzn.to/1jlXLj6
    • Pearseus: Mad Water, Book 3 in his epic fantasy series is available on http://amzn.to/1wbajhP
    • You can also read Books 1 & 2 (special edition) on http://amzn.to/RqjNbU and
    • The Power of Six: 6+1 Science Fiction Short Stories can be found on http://amzn.to/1kKVduI
    • Also available: Tao Te Ching (translated into Greek) on http://amzn.to/1ovrc4n

    Web presence:

    • https://twitter.com/Nicholas_Rossis
    • http://www.nicholasrossis.me
    • https://www.facebook.com/NicholasCRossis
    • https://plus.google.com/+NicholasRossis
    • https://www.goodreads.com/nicholasrossis

  • Never Upon A Time by Meredith Jade (Book Blast)

    Never Upon A Time
    Another enticing offer by the fabulous Wendy of Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions!

    Book Description

    You’ve always hated her, but you might not know the whole story. . .

    Edith may not be brazen and enchanted like her twin sister, Ember, but in a world of dying magic, perhaps her simple desires are enough.

    After a Selection Banquet gone awry, Edith is left without a suitor or a plan. Befriending a little white fox and occupying herself with a philanthropic project outside castle walls, Edith soon rebuilds morale and musters enough courage to reach out to her estranged twin sister.

    But Ember’s been harboring an evil secret – and thwarted love and jealous can turn acts of merit into classic tales of wickedness in this new twist on an old tale.

    Never Upon A Time1000(6x9)2

    Book Excerpt

    The twins were ushered to their places alongside their father at the head of the table. Suspicion and unease distracted Edith as she watched her sister’s boisterous entrance, and she completely forgot to tidy herself. She had gotten ready and gone down to the kitchens at sunrise, so whatever primping she had done was most likely melted away, brushed off or wrinkled up. As was life sometimes. Her appearance may have been untended, but every meringue was torched, every cake iced and all glasses and hearts brimming. Regardless of how prepared the dinner was, though, being prepared for blind marriage at a moment’s notice was mortifying, especially for a quiet girl. Because, for pity’s sake, who wouldn’t be a little unnerved by such an orchestrated union as was about to happen? Edith was beginning to be glad she wasn’t a sorceress or soothsayer. Who could possibly face each sunrise with any amount of morale when they knew the exact affliction awaiting them?

    The dinner was a whirling blur of meaningless, superficial conversation. Then, unexpectedly in a most expectant of times, three resounding knocks echoed through the hall. It was the deep, guttural sound that makes a heart quiver behind its cage. The guests, having dropped their utensils and ceased their chewing, slid to the edges of their seats.

    Ember, confidently unruffled, continued cutting her elk steak into dainty, bite-sized pieces. Edith, on the other hand, could have vomited at the sound. An overwhelming feeling of dread suddenly overcame her, its tidal wave effect nearly driving her to run away from the ridiculous scene to the refuge of her garden or her mixing bowls.

    Buy Links

    Format: Amazon Paperback

    Format: Kindle

    Meredith Jade at Fabulosity ReadsAbout the Author

    Meredith Jade was raised in a small town by parents who taught her to love reading. From the moment she could hold pencil to paper, she wrote. After graduating college and traveling abroad teaching English in Uttaradit, Thailand for a year, she came home. Writing was that home. Her writing has a range of inspirations, all a result of her voracious reading as a child and young adult. Anything from Victorian Literature to bird watching guides to NY Times best sellers have served as an agent for her imagination. Never Upon a Time is her first novel.

    Connect with Meredith

    Email: meredith.jade7@gmail.com

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meredith-Jade/648465681892404?ref_type=bookmark

    Blog: http://thereaderproject.wordpress.com

    Twitter: @meredithjade

    Fabulosity Reads TOUR-HOST BADGE 400px

    Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership.

    They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

     

  • Game Changer by Collette West (NA Romance) Cover Reveal

    A cover reveal of an exciting, fresh and sporty New Adult romance brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours. Check the cover out. Perfect branding! I also loved the Author Bio. Original and very readable!

    BOOK & AUTHOR INFO

    Game Changer by Collette West
    Publication date: July 25th 2014
    Genres: New Adult, Romance

    Synopsis:
    Young, rich, and unaware of how seriously hot he is, Brooks Davison is tearing it up as the latest shortstop for the New York Kings, despite his tendency to blush whenever girls scream his name.

    When a health scare forces his best friend, Kyle Roberts, off the team, no one can stomach the thought of replacing him, especially so close to the playoffs.

    Until Kyle’s sister, Sasha, steps in, convincing management to let her take his place. The idea of signing the first female player in Major League history proves too tempting for the Kings to resist.

    Nevertheless, Brooks doesn’t want any part of it. Sasha is Kyle’s little sister, not some sideshow.

    Yet when Kyle takes a turn for the worse, Brooks promises to do everything in his power to help Sasha win a championship for him. Because there’s no way he’s letting either of them down. Not now, not ever.

    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22464513-game-changer

    AUTHOR BIO

    Collette West grew up as somewhat of a jock-nerd hybrid. Entering the world three weeks premature, her dad nearly missed her birth because he had seats behind the dugout for a sold-out, highly-anticipated match-up between two of baseball’s biggest rivals. Not to be outdone, her book-loving mom taught her how to read by the time she was three. A love of the game coupled with an appreciation for the written word were instilled in Collette’s impressionable brain from a young age. No wonder her characters believe in the philosophy: sports + romance = a little slice of heaven.

    Splitting her time between the Pocono Mountains and Manhattan, Collette indulges her inner fangirl by going to as many games as she can from hockey to baseball and downloading every sports romance novel in existence onto her iPad. When she’s not clicking away on her laptop, she enjoys walking her dog in Central Park, satisfying her caffeine craving at the Starbucks on Broadway and keeping an eye out for Mr. Right. But above all, she loves dishing with her readers. Email her at collette_west@yahoo.com.

    Author links:

    https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7539982.Collette_West
    https://twitter.com/Collette_West

  • Black Rook by Kelly Meade (Spotlight)

    Here’s a brief language and cultural lesson: Loup is French for wolf, and garou (from Frankish garulf, cognate with English werewolf) is a man who transforms into an animal. In the Cajun legends, the creature is said to prowl the swamps around Acadiana and Greater New Orleans, and possibly the fields or forests of the regions. Source: Wikipedia

    Intrigued? Brought to you by Rabid PR, this paranormal romance is guaranteed to spike your interest and set your pulse racing! Read more about this first installment of the Cornerstone Run Trilogy, and if you want to read the full first chapter, head over to my excerpts’ blog by clicking right here.

    Black Rook, Cornerstone Run Trilogy #1

    By Kelly Meade

    Available July 15th from Intermix

    ISBN 9780698165441

    Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Penguin | BAM

    GoodReads

    Blurb

    She never saw this coming… 

    Brynn Atwood is a low-level Magus whose unpredictable precognitive powers have made her an outcast among her people—and an embarrassment to her highly-regarded father. After a frightening vision in which her father is murdered by a loup garou man, Brynn decides to prove herself by finding the killer, and stopping them at any cost.

    Her target is Rook McQueen, the son of a small-town loup garou Alpha. Despite being the youngest of three, Rook is first in line to inherit the role of Alpha, a duty he isn’t sure he’s capable of fulfilling. When Brynn finally meets Rook, she doesn’t expect the attraction that draws her to him—and him to her.

    No longer believing him a murderer, Brynn and Rook strike an alliance to find her father’s real killer. But when his older brother is targeted by an unknown enemy, Rook will have to choose between his growing feelings for Brynn and his duty as the future Alpha of his community.

    Cornerstone Run is a paranormal romance trilogy, set in a world of hidden loup garou, their mystical Magi enemies, and the occasional vampire. The small, reclusive town of Cornerstone, Pennsylvania, houses an almost entirely loup garou population—one of only thirteen towns around the country that serve as a sanctuary for their nonhuman inhabitants, where the loup garou are free to be themselves. When a neighboring sanctuary town is attacked by a vicious, unknown enemy, the three sons of Cornerstone’s Alpha must stand together to protect their people—and the women who steal their hearts.

    Cornerstone Run Trilogy:

    Black Rook: July 15, 2014 – http://amzn.com/B00I8R61LY

    Gray Bishop: October 21, 2014 – http://amzn.com/B00I8RB1WS

    White Knight: January 1, 2015 – http://amzn.com/B00I8RB100

    Author Bio

    Raised on a steady diet of Star Wars, Freddy Krueger and “Fear Street” novels, Kelly Meade developed a love for all things paranormal at a very young age. The stealthy adolescent theft of a tattered paperback from her grandmother’s collection of Harlequins sparked an interest in romance that has continued to this day.

    Black Rook is the first novel in her Cornerstone Run series, a paranormal romance trilogy from Berkley Intermix that also includes Gray Bishop and White Knight. It follows three loup garou brothers who will do anything to protect their town, their family, and the secret of their existence—and maybe fall in love in the process.

    Writing as Kelly Meding, Three Days to Dead is the first book in her Dreg City urban fantasy series. The series follows Evangeline Stone, a paranormal hunter who is resurrected into the body of a stranger and has only three days to solve her own murder and stop a war between the city’s goblins and vampires. Additional books in the series, As Lie the Dead, Another Kind of Dead, and Wrong Side of Dead, are available in both digital format and mass market paperback from Bantam. Book five, Requiem for the Dead, is available digitally through all platforms.

    Trance begins the story of the grown-up children of the world’s slaughtered superheroes who receive their superpowers back after a mysterious fifteen-year absence, and who now face not only a fearful public, but also a vengeful villain who wants all of them dead. Trance and Changeling are available now in both digital format and mass market paperback from Pocket Books. Tempest and Chimera are available in digital format only via Pocket Star. All four MetaWars books can also be purchased as a digital bundle.

    LINKS

    Website: http://www.kellymeding.com

    Blog: http://chaostitan.blogspot.com

    Twitter: http://twitter.com/KellyMeding

    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Meding/84164375745

    Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kellymeding

    Tumblr: http://kellymeade.tumblr.com

     

     

  • Strong voice, rich emotion: Struggles of the Women Folk by T.M. Brown (review)

    Genres: African American fiction, historical fiction, women’s issues.
    Themes: family dynamics, romance, perseverance

    My Review:

    This is the coming-of-age story of Georgie, a black woman growing up in rural Virginia in the 1940s. Striving to be good, all she wants is a peaceful life, but all she gets is pain. This becomes a suffocating pattern that she cannot seem to extricate herself from, and when she loses the one good thing in her life, again through deceit, she has no reason to live. But instead of letting go, she uses prayer as a balm to soothe her pain, and soon hope flourishes.

    In a society rife with prejudice, stereotypes and an unabashed display of racism, black women are continuously victimized; not least from their peers. That was an element of interest in this book. And as the title suggest, this story depicts the struggle of all women folk; not only black women. I’m Greek, and around the time Georgie was growing up, my grandmother was giving birth in the fields, child after child, knowing that not all children will survive, a fact that gave birth to “Death shall claim his share”. The cynicism with which their harsh reality armed those women was carried over to their own children—not their cherished sons but their daughters. Maybe it was a way to reinforce them, make them stronger to face their own struggles, but in reality what was reinforced was their lack of conviction in their self-worth, their eternal victimization.

    With a voice strong in its simplicity, T. M. Brown lays out a tale of deceit, betrayal and dark secrets and a young girl’s struggle to navigate in life through them. Although this is historical fiction, the message defies time and is still very relevant: perseverance and never losing hope.

    Even though it’s overwhelmingly harrowing at times, this is a must read.

    Get it now on:

    AMAZON

    SMASHWORDS

    BARNES AND NOBLE

    Excerpt

    “Morning country bumpkins,” she said, same as usual.

    “I don’t know why you have to be so rude to us every morning! What makes you think you so much better than us? How come we always gotta wait for you every morning? We workin in the same shop, doing the same stuff. Why you think you so much better than us?” I said as Miss Hazel and Sharon looked at me wide eyed.

    “Look at you! Need I say more?” Regina smirked.

    “No, you don’t need to say more, but I sure can. Like how you and Mr. Anderson been breaking dem springs on dat bed upstairs almost every night. Iz dat why you think you better than us? Cuz you up dere spreading your legs for dat white man?”

    “Shut up!”

    “No, you shut up! I don’t want to hear nothing else outta you! Not one more mornin! You just common! Messing round with somebody else’s husband foe a few nice dresses. I know your kind.” I didn’t know why I was so mad at her, but I just wanted to snap her head off.

    “Shut up! That’s a lie.”

    “No it ain’t. I hears yawl almost ever night.”

    “You just sayin that cuz you jealous.”

    “Jealous! Jealous of what? You ain’t got nothing I want! You mean, and ya nasty and common on top of it!”

    “Just say one more word and I’ll . . .”

    “You’ll what? Girrl, you really don’t want no parts of me. You take one more step and that’ll be your last! I’m sick of you!” Before I knew it, I was within arm’s reach of Regina. I had every intention of beating her down to the floor.

    “Okay girls, that’s enough,” Miss Hazel interrupted. “Regina and Sharon, why don’t you go back up to your rooms for a minute.”

    What? Why we gotta go? She’s the one causing problems,” Regina said as she began to make her way up the stairs. I guess she could see from the look on Miss Hazel’s face that she better not push it.

    “I’m sorry, Miss Hazel,” I said after they left. “I’m just tired of her picking on me and Sharon all the time. Plus I miss my momma, and . . . and I don’t feel good.”

    “I know it must be hard being so far away with no family around, child.” No one had called me child since I left my momma in Virginia. I missed her so much. I missed Donnie so much. I felt so lonely.

    “You know, everybody has a story. Things aren’t always as they seem,” Miss Hazel said. “Regina has a story to tell as well. That don’t make it right for her to act the way she been acting, but she’s had her troubles too.

    About The Author

    Internationally recognized story-teller with a past that provides lots of material to write from!

    *1st book, “A Life Not My Own”, kicks down the secret door that Tina had worked so hard to lock away her insecurities, heartache and fears.

    *5 STAR rated Just Between Us – Inspiring Stories by Women. TM’s short story is a continuation of “A Life Not My Own”, providing just a tad more about her life as a young adult (not captured in my first book). Expect the unexpected…

    *”Struggles of the Women Folk”, is based on fictional characters with a storyline created from stories that her grandmother shared with her as a child.

    *Military service: 7 years – Enlisted

    *Formal Education

    *Master of Science Degree in System Engineering – Regis University – Denver, Colorado

    *Undergraduate Degree in Psychology – University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

    Visit http://author-tmbrown.com/ and tm.brown35@yahoo.com

    Get it now on:

    AMAZON

    SMASHWORDS

    BARNES AND NOBLE

     

    1fe55-fabreads-blogger-banner

     

    Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership.

    They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

     

  • One, Two, Three… by Elodie Nowodazkij (Book Blitz)

     

    Shattered dreams and learning to love especially one’s own self is what the story of One, Two, Three… by Elodie Nowodazkij brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours delivers. Scroll down for “Choosing my own magic” a guest post by Elodie, an interview and fun facts where the author talks about being French, living in Germany and writing in English, and don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway (US & Canada only) to win goodies!

     

    Book & Author Details:
    One, Two, Three… by Elodie Nowodazkij
    Publication date: June 26th 2014
    Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

     

    Synopsis:

    When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.

    Last year, Natalya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.

    But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.

    At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present, and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell.

    But when upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.

    Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?

    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20656288-one-two-three?ac=1

    Purchase Links:
    —B&N
    —iTunes
    —Kobo
    —-
     
    AUTHOR BIO

    Elodie Nowodazkij was raised in a tiny village in France, where she could always be found a book in hand. At nineteen, she moved to the US, where she learned she’d never lose her French accent. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Modern Language & Linguistics, and later earned master’s degrees in German Cultural Studies and European Studies. Unbeknownst to her professors, she sometimes drafted stories in class. Now she lives in Germany with her husband and their cat (who doesn’t seem to realize he’s not human), and uses her commuting time to write the stories swirling in her head. She’s also a serial smiley user.

    Author links:

    Newsletter: Sign up here

     

    Guest post – Choosing my own magic

    ONE, TWO, THREE isn’t the first book I wrote but it’s the first one I felt like I wanted to share with the world (scary) and that was getting so many lovely reviews by the ones who read it. I got very close to getting picked up by a literary agent several times, I received great feedback from beta readers, critique partners and through contests but…the magic door stayed close. In the past months, I read a lot of books that I know would do so well with readers but for x or y reason haven´t hit the shelves yet. That´s when I realized that I could choose my own magic.

    That doesn’t mean I didn’t have to work hard on my book, or that it didn’t have to go through several editing rounds, copy editing, proofreading…That doesn’t mean I am guaranteed for my book to do well.

    It would be a lie to say I´m not scared because I totally am. People are going to read my book(s). People are not going to read my book(s). People may hate my characters. Others may love them.

    But mainly I´m excited. And happy. And looking forward.

    Yep, lots of emotions. Luckily I have a very patient and supportive husband 🙂

    I cannot wait for you all to get to know Antonio and Natalya!

    Four questions to Elodie Nowodazki

    1.  You’re French and live in Germany…but you write in English. How come?

    I lived in the United States, in Maryland, for quite a few years, first as an “au pair” and then as a university student. I’m a proud Retriever and a proud Terps J, having received a BA from the University of Maryland at Baltimore County and my first Master’s from the University of Maryland at College Park. Writing in English just seems to be more “natural” for me. But maybe one day, I’ll write a novel in French too.

    2.  What was your inspiration for ONE, TWO, THREE?

    I used to love dancing ballet as a kid, and I won a writing contest to go see the Opera de Paris. We saw the dancers train, it was magical. Those moments stayed with me.

    Then, one day, I was talking about the movie Center Stage on Twitter and Natalya’s voice came into my head. At first, all I knew was that she was seventeen and an accident had killed her hope of becoming a professional ballerina…The accident turned into a car crash that also took her father’s life.

    Natalya’s voice was sad and broken, but full of want.

    From there on, it became her story.

    3.  The family from Natalya, the main character in your novel, originally comes from Russia. How did you do your research?

    The name of my main character was actually inspired from my mother-in-law, who moved to Germany from Russia about 20 years ago. My husband, who was born in the Ukraine, still speaks Russian with her, and I learned a lot from them. His family is the one who taught me there’s a Russian proverb for every situation, and some of Natalya’s favorite food is also mine.

    4.  Can we expect more books to come with Natalya & Tonio?

    Yes. But I’m not planning a sequel. There will be at least two companion novels to One, Two, Three. The first one will be published in November 2014. It will focus on Emilia, Nata’s friend at the School of Performing Arts. It’s entitled ALWAYS SECOND BEST, and you can already find it on Goodreads. The second companion novel will be focusing on Becca, Nata’s best friend. Publication will be in early 2015.

    Little facts about One, Two, Three & Elodie Nowodazkij

    1. Little fact: I wrote this book (mostly in the train) in 6 months back in 2012. And it has gone through several revisions since.
    2. Little fact: Like Natalya, I love pelmeni – but my favorite Russian dish is stuffed blinchiki (mostly with mushroom and mashed potatoes) yum!
    3. Little fact: I got the inspiration of my main character’s name – Natalya – from my mother-in-law
    4. Little fact: Like Natalya’s father, my favorite composer is Chopin.
    5. Little fact: My book is officially coming out on June 26th 2014 because it’s my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary
    Blitz-wide giveaway
    Open to US/CAN – Ends July 8th
    -1 signed copy + $50 to either Amazon or B&N + $25 donation to the literacy project of their choice in donor.org

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Just Another Maniac Monday by Jennie Marts (Blog Tour)

    Just Another Manic Monday

    Who said that the sight of a man making a woman’s pulse race is age specific? Meet Edna who might be way past her prime, but she can’t deny the effect John has on her although he was supposed to be dead for decades and comes back threatening more than her heart. This blog tour is brought to you by the fabulous Wendy Ewurum and Fabulosity Reads Book Promotion.

    Book Synopsis

    Is finding your long-lost love worth losing your life?

    Edna Allen’s Monday goes from mundane to murderous when she opens the front door to find the love of her life standing there. A man she thought had died years ago… after being accused of murder.

    John Collins is back, bringing with him a charming smile, a dog named Havoc, a second chance at love…and a threat of death. Danger surrounds this former bad-boy, and even after a lifetime apart, he still ignites a spark in Edna. A spark she thought she’d buried decades earlier.

    As Edna relives their summer romance, where more than the weather was hot and steamy, she falls in love all over again and evokes memories filled with drama, passion, action, and murder. Now these soul-mates must face the truth about what happened in the past and find the killer hunting them in the present. And Edna, with her sarcastic wit, a pocket stun-gun, and a few hare-brained schemes, is ready to fight for the man who still makes her pulse race.

    But does she dare risk her heart again to now protect the man whom she couldn’t save back then?

    —————————————————-

    A Word From The Author

    Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today! I am excited to introduce you to the Page Turners Book Club.

     

    I write romantic comedy and my series is set in the small town of Pleasant Valley, Colorado. It’s centered around a wonderful group of women in a book club. The women range from their teen years to their eighties and each book features a different woman and her story.

     

    Every book has romance, friendship and mystery because in Pleasant Valley, dating can be deadly. These women are easy to fall in love with as they search for romance and clues while eating really great desserts!

     

    Just Another Maniac Monday- Book 3 in the Page Turners series released this week. It’s Edna’s story and this character is a funny, sassy eighty-year-old who considers herself an expert on murder due to her extensive knowledge of CSI and crime-show television episodes. She gets the surprise of her life when her Monday morning game shows are interrupted by the arrival of John Collins, the love of her life…a man she thought had died years ago after being accused of murder.

     

    John Collins is back, bringing with him a charming smile, a dog named Havoc, a second chance at love…and a threat of death. Danger surrounds this former bad-boy, and even after a lifetime apart, he still ignites a spark in Edna. A spark she thought she’d buried decades earlier.

     

    This book flashes back to the sultry summer of 1955 as Edna tells the love story of her and Johnny and more than the weather gets hot and steamy. But the past has a way of catching up to you and a deadly threat has followed John to Edna’s door. Edna, with her sarcastic wit, a pocket stun-gun, and a few hare-brained schemes, is ready to fight for the man who still makes her pulse race.

     

    Falling in love all over again, Edna must choose to risk it all to save the man she loves. But is finding your long lost love worth losing your life?

     

    You can find Just Another Maniac Monday and all of the Page Turners books on Amazon:
    I am so excited to share an Edna’s story with you.

    —————————————————-

    Profile Pic Reading book -croppedJennie Marts loves to make readers laugh as she weaves stories filled with love, friendship and intrigue. She writes for Entangled Publishing and is the Kindle Bestselling author of the Page Turners series, which includes the romantic comedies: Another Saturday Night & I Ain’t Got No Body, Easy Like Sunday Mourning, and Just Another Maniac Monday. Reviewers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and full of great characters that are “endearing and relatable.” She writes from the mountains of Colorado where she lives with her husband, two sons, a golden retriever named Cooper and a Sheltie puppy named Maggie. Jennie enjoys being a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Colorado Indie Authors, and Pikes Peak Writers. Jennie is addicted to Diet Coke and adores Cheetos. She loves playing volleyball and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes or friends. Jennie loves to hear from readers.

    Follow her on:

    Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership.
    They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

  • Crossing The Line by Nicola Marsh (Book Blitz)

     

    If you enjoy romance with an athletic background, Crossing the Line by Nicola Marsh aces it! (Yes, that’s a tennis metaphor). Scroll down for enticing content served to you (yep, I’m on a roll!) by Xpresso Book Tours and go grab a copy! But before you do, read Nicola’s guest post on Fantasies, and let some steam by writing your own (clean one!) in the comments below.

     

    Book & Author Details:
    Crossing the Line by Nicola Marsh
    (World Apart #1)
    Publication date: May 8th 2014
    Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

     

    Synopsis:

    Laying it all on the line for love…

    Mia Cresswell is tired of being good.
    Achieving geek status at college doesn’t equate with fun. So when she heads home to her dad’s tennis academy in Santa Monica on spring break, she’s determined to be bad. And hot Aussie tennis star Kye Sheldon is just the guy to help her do it.

    However, Kye’s troubled past continues to dog him and attending the Cresswell Tennis Academy is his last chance at the big time. He can’t afford to screw up…by screwing the boss’s daughter.
    But Mia and Kye’s relationship is much more than a vacation fling.
    Will it be game, set, match, when the truth is revealed?
    Or will Mia and Kye have a real shot at love all?

    FIVE FOR FIVE WITH KYE SHELDON

    1. Sydney or Santa Monica?

    Sydney: sun, surf, sand. Though considering Mia’s a native Californian, Santa Monica sure does hold some appeal.

    1. Vegemite or peanut butter and jelly?

    Please, there’s no comparison, Vegemite every time. In Australia, jelly is a wobbly dessert, not jam. And we don’t mix peanut butter with jam, ever.

    1. Nadal or Federer?

    The Fed is my idol. Though if I could play half as well as the top 10 seeded players I’d be happy.

    1. Clay court or grass?

    Neither. I don’t mind faking it when it comes to an artificial surface. More predictable.

    1. Backhand or forehand?

    I have a more lethal forehand but if I had my way, I’d prefer both my hands free for Mia. Go on, ask her. She’ll agree.

     
    AUTHOR BIO

     

    USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with flair for adults and spooky, supernatural fiction for young adults.

    She has published 45 books with Harlequin, Entangled Publishing and indie, and sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

    Her first mainstream contemporary romance, BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD (Entangled Publishing) released to rave reviews, including a nomination for RWA’s RBY, Romantic Book of the Year 2012.
    Her first indie-pubbed contemporary romance CRAZY LOVE released September 2012, is a Barnes & Noble bestseller, and was nominated for a 2012 ARRA award.

    Her young adult debut, BANISH, a supernatural thriller featuring Wicca, spirits and murder, released August 2013 with Harlequin Teen. Her young adult fantasy series with Month9Books launched November 2013 with SCION OF THE SUN.

    Her debut new adult novel BEFORE was released in December 2013.

    She’s also a Waldenbooks, Bookscan and Barnes & Noble bestseller, a 2013 RBY and National Readers’ Choice Award winner, is a multiple finalist for awards including the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More than Magic and has won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

     

    Author links:

    FANTASIES

    Why do I love writing so much? Because I get to live in a fantasy world.

    I’m lucky that my characters take me to some pretty wild places and do some equally wild things…

    But I’m also an avid reader.  I devour books; have ever since I was a kid.

    I read widely, across genres and could happily spend a day/week/month curled up with my nose in a book.

    For me, part of the appeal of reading is getting engrossed in another world, being so absorbed in the characters’ lives that I’m almost there alongside them, laughing and crying and feeling their pain.

    It’s sheer pleasure to be swept up in the fantasy as I turn the pages, eager to reach the end yet reluctant to do so because I love the story so much.

    In CROSSING THE LINE, Mia gets to live out one of her fantasies: geek girl turns bad. And thanks to Kye, the sexy Aussie bad boy, the fantasy just gets better and better!

    Embracing fantasies can be liberating and exciting. But it’s those deeper fantasies, the emotional ones we crave like security and love and recognition that can be the most challenging of all.

    At least, that’s what Mia and Kye discover…

    Now it’s over to you.

    Share a fantasy (keep it clean, please!) in the comments.  It could be a fantasy date, fantasy dinner, fantasy destination, fantasy celebrity. 

    Go ahead, use your imagination. J

     

  • Taming the Country Star by Margo Bond Collins (Blog Tour)

    Glitter-and-guitar

    Another offering, this time in the romance category, brought to you by the fabulous Wendy Ewurum and Fabulosity Reads Book Tours. Check it out!

    Blurb:

    He’ll do anything to win her heart. She’ll do anything to keep him away.

     

    Country star Cole Grayson is in town, and Kylie Andrews is less than thrilled. As if months of changing the radio station and tearing down his posters weren’t bad enough, now she has to deal with a town of fans swarming toward the man who deceived her the year before. But when Kylie’s eyes meet Cole’s again, she can’t deny the electric chemistry that drew her to him the first time around.

    Cole Grayson is on a mission. Ever since Kylie left him, he hasn’t been able to forget her sweet country smile. After writing a song just for her, he sets off for her hometown to prove he’s not the player she thinks he is. But as much as Cole can’t forget her, Kylie wonders if she can forgive him…

    ______________________________

     

    TamingtheCountryStar

    Excerpt:

    Kylie Andrews’s Texas-themed gift shop, Cowbelles, sat on the very outer edge of Fort Worth’s Stockyards District, not far from Jimmy’s Honky Tonk. And much to her dismay, no matter how often she cleared it, the wall adjacent to her store remained covered with announcements for local events.

    Like, for example, concerts.

    She stared at the latest layer of advertisements.

    From the topmost poster, Cole Grayson stared out at her, leaning against the edge of an old barn door, guitar at his feet. One booted foot was kicked up against the wooden wall behind him. His dark-blond hair curled around behind one ear and fell down across his eye on the other side. A cowboy hat rested on the ground next to the guitar.

    Her hand drifted up toward the image, hovering several inches from the picture of his face. She glanced around. None of the other shopkeepers were outside. No one was watching.

    “Bastard,” she whispered to herself, and ripped the poster off the wall.

    At least, she tried to. It was thicker than she had expected, attached more firmly, and it resisted her pull.

    Chewing on her lip, she took another look around, dropped her bag to the ground, and reached up to grasp the edge with both fists, jerking at it in opposite directions. A tiny tear opened up along the side, and she yanked harder. Finally, the poster ripped—right across Cole Grayson’s lying eyes.

    She tugged at the image some more, glancing around surreptitiously every few moments and dropping ragged pieces of paper on the ground at her feet, until there was nothing left on the wall but a few fluttering strips.

    Gathering the mutilated shreds together, she opened her bag and shoved them inside until they overflowed, bright ribbons of color in the morning light.

    ______________________________

    About the Author

    Margo Bond Collins is the author of contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of novels, including Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead, Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas. She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and villains, and the strong women who love them. She currently writes for Entangled’s Red-Hot Bliss line.

     

    ______________________________

    Glitter-and-guitar

    Connect with Margo

    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins

    Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com

    Website: http://www.MargoBondCollins.net

    Blog: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin @MargoBondCollin

    Google+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902

    Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy

    Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins

    Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/