Beyond the Mind Maze

Category: Book Blast

  • 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.

     

  • The Lady of the Pier – The Ebb by Effrosyni Moschoudi (ABNA Q-Finalist)


    LOVE WILL GO ON FOREVER, SEEKING A SECOND CHANCE.

     

    BRIGHTON, 1937
    Laura Mayfield leaves London with her mother Ruth in order to pursue a new life in Brighton. She finds employment at the West
    Pier Pavilion and soon falls in love with Christian Searle, one of the stagehands at the theatre. Laura aspires to a life of riches but this annoys and frightens the proud and insecure Christian, causing rows between them. When she is offered the chance to perform at the theatre, her love for Christian is put to the ultimate test. Charles Willard, a wealthy and arrogant aristocrat becomes fascinated by her and pursues her relentlessly, causing Christian to become enraged. Will Laura’s desire for wealth throw her in the arms of Charles or will her feelings for Christian prevail?

     

    CORFU, 1987
    Sofia Aspioti, a Greek student from Athens, arrives in Corfu for her annual summer holidays at her grandparents’ house, relieved to escape her overprotective parents’ care for a while. She takes on a job at the local water sports pier and when Danny Markson, a larger-than-life British tourist flirts with her, she is initially worried that his advances will cause her trouble with her strict family. Yet, by the time she realises that she’s desperately in love, she finds she no longer cares. When Danny returns home to a village near Brighton, Sofia becomes haunted by a series of dreams about the West Pier and a woman dressed in black. As if cast by a spell, she takes to writing poems about a love that won’t let go. Who is the grieving woman in her dreams and how is her sorrow related to her own feelings for Danny?

    My Review

    After reading the enchanting fantasy tale of The Necklace of Goddess Athena, I marked this author as one whose books I won’t miss. The fact that this second attempt of Effrosyni Moschoudi cleared the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest is a further testament to the writer’s talent.

    Emancipated Laura finds love and her star shines brightly in Brighton in the ‘30s. Insecure Sophia finds love and a modicum of independence from her overbearing parents in Corfu in the ‘80s. Different places, different eras. But what binds the two girls in a common fate? And who is the lady of the pier?

    As with Effrosyni’s previous book, I found myself immersed and mesmerized. The writer has an undisputed talent for creating vivid imagery through her amazing descriptive skills that managed to stay with me long after I’d put the book down. No, this was not one of the books that I speedread, needing to devour the story. Here, I needed to savor. I found myself rereading parts just to refuel a scene’s energy to keep it running in my mind longer, and I got withdrawal symptoms when I finally ended it.

    It’s not just the two enticing stories, the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, the authenticity of the characters or the heart-warming dialogue; it’s what reigns over these. An inner glow, an inherent purity that emanates from the pages to create a sense of completeness, like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.

    I’m so glad I’ll get to live the dream again in the book’s sequel, The Lady of the Pier—The Flow!

    Highly recommended!

    For an exciting excerpt of The Lady of the Pier, head over to my complementary excerpts’ blog by clicking here.

    What other readers said about the book:
    (Excerpts from posted reviews on Amazon.com)
     
    “A passionate pearl”
     
    “Addictively mesmerizing”
     
    “I defy you to put this book down after the first chapter”
     
    “I got withdrawal symptoms when I ended it”
     
    “The writer has an undisputed talent for creating vivid imagery”
     
    “A fantastic read. This author has the ability to draw you into the story”
     
    “If you enjoy romance, take heed: The Ebb makes a perfect summer read!”
     
    “A heartfelt story drawing you in and not letting (you) go until the last page. Fantastic!”
     
    “The book has the same charm and nostalgic character as the Necklace of Goddess Athena, despite the genre difference. The author’s amazing descriptive talents shine throughout the book”
     
    “It’s not just the two enticing stories, the breathtaking beauty of the landscape,
    the authenticity of the characters or the heart-warming dialogue; it’s what reigns over these. An inner glow, an inherent purity that emanates from the pages to create a sense of completeness, like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.”

     

    Purchase Links for The Lady of the Pier-The Ebb

     

    BIO

    frosso pic1 (1)Effrosyni Moschoudi was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She has a BSc in Computer Science and has worked for large companies for twenty years, mainly in the hotel and airline business. She’s been writing since childhood and lives in a quaint seaside town near Athens with her husband Andy and a naughty cat called Felix. She’s passionate about books and movies and dedicates sufficient time on her weekends to enjoy a bit of both.

    Effrosyni’s debut novel, “The Necklace of Goddess Athena”, is a fantasy adventure of Greek myths and time travel that’s suitable for all ages. It’s been described as a “Rare Gem” by the Fantasy & Sci-fi Network and has reached Amazon’s #1 in Mythology and #2 in Fairy Tales. The novel also made the shortlist in 2014 for the “50 Best Self-Published Books Worth Reading” from Indie Author Land.
    Effrosyni’s second novel, “The Lady of the Pier – The Ebb”, follows the lives and loves of two young girls who’ve never met but are connected in a mysterious way. The novel is an ABNA quarter-finalist. It’s the first part of a paranormal romance that’s set in Brighton (England) in the 1930’s and in Corfu (Greece) in the 1980’s. Effrosyni is currently penning the second part of the series (“The Flow”), which she plans to publish in 2015.

    To write “The Lady of the Pier-The Ebb”, the author drew heavily on her experiences as a youngster, holidaying in her grandparents’ house during the summer months in the Corfiot village of Moraitika. To see pictures of the locales that inspired the story, visit this link to Effrosyni’s Blog: http://dld.bz/dmHQp
    In Goodreads.com, you will find downloadable free excerpts from both published novels by this author.

    On her blog, Effrosyni presents the works of fellow indie authors with spotlights, interviews, and book reviews. She also posts her own content of various subjects, such as travel articles, inspiring personal accounts, tips for authors, and even some Greek recipes.

    Connect with Effrosyni

    Purchase Links for The Necklace of Goddess Athena

     

  • 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

  • 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/

  • HOT BOX: 8 Thrillers from 8 Bestselling Authors

    If you want to raise the summer temperature even more, try out these sizzling nail-biters for $0.99 brought to you by the fabulous Wendy Ewurum of Fabulosity Reads Book Tours!

    The Hot Box Set with Karen Perkins

    Sizzling Thriller Hot Box Release: Get Yours Today

    8 Sizzling Thrillers From 8 Best-Selling Authors

    Get Yours Today

    Amazon

    Smashwords (99c)

    Good Reads:

    Steven Bannister – Fade to Black

    John Paul Davis – The Cortes Enigma
    C R Hiatt – Sanctioned Kill
    David Leadbeater – The Razor’s Edge
    Andy Lucas – Race Amazon
    Karen Perkins – Dead Reckoning
    C K Raggio – Heron Park
    Mike Wells – Wild Child

    Steven Bannister – Fade to Black
    Allie St Clair is young and brilliant and today she’s been promoted to Detective Chief Inspector at New Scotland Yard. But the time for celebration is short. Something is wrong in rain-swept London. Very wrong.

    John Paul Davis – The Cortes Enigma
    1581: It appeared in the west as the sun was setting, a distant silhouette like a fire on the water. Twelve hours later it appeared again, this time much closer to the mainland . . . Who was on board or where they came from remained a mystery . . . No trace of the vessel was ever found . . .

    C R Hiatt – Sanctioned Kill
    Destined for Danger. Sanctioned to Kill.

    David Leadbeater – The Razor’s Edge
    Trent, Silk and Radford are the Razor’s Edge and the best spy team in the business – until the government they toiled, served and bled for, disavowed them.

    Andy Lucas – Race Amazon
    James Pace, ex-RAF helicopter pilot and amateur cameraman, is still trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life when a child’s bullet nearly kills him.

    Karen Perkins – Dead Reckoning
    A historical adventure of piracy, love and revenge in the Caribbean in the seventeenth century.

    C K Raggio – Heron Park
    A small Long Island town erupts in a panic when a woman and her dog are found savagely murdered on a popular hiking trail.

    Mike Wells – Wild Child
    A fast, suspenseful thriller with an ending that you’ll never see coming.

     

    Large Hot Box - cover - lr

    Get it today:

    Amazon
    Smashwords (99c)

    Good Reads:

  • Guarding Angel by S.L. Saboviec

    I met Samantha Saboviec through her blog, and I was impressed by her confident writing. Samantha writes dark fantasy as S.L. Saboviec, and her debut novel, Guarding Angel – Falling Redemption #1, is now available through major retailers. (Scroll down for all links.) Therefore, I’m super excited to present this labor of love to you. 

    Guarding Angel Blurb

    Guardian angel Enael can’t seem to keep her human Wards in check. They’re the ones who choose their paths before reincarnating—she’s just there to help make sure they stay on track. But it’s not as easy as it might look.

    When she meets and falls in love with charismatic Kaspen, a fellow Guardian, Enael’s feelings about Heaven, Hell, demons, and the life she’s known are turned upside down. Worse, angel-turned-demon Yasva, Kaspen’s former love, still holds him in her clutches. Even as Yasva works toward obtaining complete control of Earth, she taunts and haunts Kaspen’s and Enael’s lives.

    Now Enael is forced to face her past (which is centuries long and bursting with secrets), her present (which is terribly unfulfilling and full of questions), and her future (which becomes more uncertain as time passes). Armed with a newfound love and fear of losing it all, she must figure out how to save the world—-and the angel she loves. Which side will win? Who will Kaspen choose? Will Heaven and Earth continue to exist, or will everything go to Hell?

    Guarding Angel Links

    Kindle US: http://amzn.to/1jTRde0
    Kindle Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K6ZM372
    Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/ebook/guarding-angel
    Nook: http://www.bn.com/w/1119467162?ean=2940149496204
    Paperback (Amazon): http://amzn.to/1vjDguz
    Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1gby7f7

    Author Info

    Samantha grew up in a small town in Iowa but now lives in the suburbs of Toronto with her Canadian husband and expatriate cat. In her spare time, she reads, writes, and thinks about reading and writing—along with playing the occasional video game or eight.

    Find out more about her at www.saboviec.com.

    Excerpt

     

    My Ward, Daniel, put Thunder in the barn, untacked him, closed the barn door, and made his way to the house. Then it dawned on us that the farmstead seemed unusual. The house was dark. No candle from Lily waiting up for him, no cheery fire from her having stoked the hearth. The only light came from the moon overhead.

    As Daniel walked from the stable, I tried to feel for the presence of humans or gaze through the wall to see who was inside. I couldn’t see or feel anything—it was as though a black curtain veiled the house.

    Something waited for Daniel. Neat lettering in his Book of Life described what was about to unfold—the consequences for sleeping with Miriam a second time.

    Maybe it’s not too late to stop this. My thought was irrational, but I desperately wanted to redeem myself. Perhaps I could convince Daniel to feel guilt, remorse, and contrition when he came face-to-face with death. That should be worth something to the Council of Seraphim.

    I glided into the dining space ahead of Daniel. No lights burned. Upstairs, the bed was made. The pantry cabinet was closed. The hearth had been swept. The spinning wheel sat in the corner, but Lily’s basket of sewing supplies was missing. All the chairs were pushed under the dining table, except—

    Daniel’s wife, Lily, sat at the table, rifle pointed at the door.

     

  • Exciting and stimulating: Paint Me Gone by Molly Greene (Review)

    Genevieve Delacourt’s private detective cases veer from missing pets to misbehaving husbands, so when a mysterious woman knocks on her door asking her to rekindle a cold case, Gen agrees. Sophie Keene was given a painting depicting a woman that bears an uncanny resemblance to her missing sister, Shannon. The catch? Shannon has been missing for twenty years and the painting is unsigned. With Oliver, her cross-dressing, ever supporting friend as her sidekick, Gen hits the road seeking answers to simple questions which, however, make key players squirm. Although she feels danger looming, she presses on. It’s easier to get to the bottom of a life-threatening case than look at the bottom of her heart and let Detective Mackenzie Hackett know where they really stand. Yes, trust doesn’t come easy to Gen.

    I read and rated Rapunzel – Gen Delacourt Mystery #2 with five stars. Now what am I supposed to do with this book? This one is even better! Molly Greene generously offers insight into her heroine’s psyche who we see growing both professionally and emotionally. Together with Oliver they make an unusual but adorable duo whose clashing personalities complement each other in a unique way. Yet again, Mollly has penned a multi-player story, casting shadows of doubt to each one of the players, throwing the reader off more than once. As with the previous books, the tension is slow-building, interspersed with glimpses to Gen’s personal and social life through her relationship with the ever patient Mack and also Oliver (Livvie). I found their bond heart-warming, and I particularly appreciated the delicate way Molly handled Oliver’s growing into his own skin (literally in his case). Add to that rich in detail descriptions of the enchanting city of Carmel-by-the-sea in California, great banter and excellent writing, and you get a fantastic mystery that you won’t be able to put down. I highly recommend it!

    Author’s Bio

    Molly Greene is a blogger, blog coach,  and author of both fiction and non-fiction. Her titles include Blog It! The author’s guide to building a successful online brand, and the Gen Delacourt Mystery series, Mark of the Loon, Rapunzel, and Paint Me Gone. She writes about her life and self-publishing topics at www.molly-rreene.com. Stop by and say hello there, or visit her on Twitter • Goodreads • Facebook and Google+  

  • Book Blast: A Community of Butterflies: Chrysalis

    I caught on to this late, but it’s a worthy cause, and I’m not wasting the opportunity to introduce this amazing book to you.

    A Community of Butterflies: Chrysalis
    by Barbara Shoff

    Proceeds from this book go to a shelter for survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse, which the author is also a survivor of. 

    Back blurb

    A Community of Butterflies: Chrysalis (Published by LilyBearHouse, LLC.)

    On-again-off-again psychic Vay Armstrong has a plan to change the world. Following ten years of domestic violence and abuse, she struggles with post-traumatic stress, paranoia and an inability to trust others. Determined to escape her reclusive life, she enlists the help of other abuse survivors to create a utopian community within Jakesville, Oklahoma. Will Vay be able to overcome family opposition, a romantic entanglement and a homicidal stalker to make her vision a reality, or will her only reality be a cold hole in the ground?”

    Excerpt

    Her eyes flashed opened meeting darkness. She heard loud barking near her head, followed by the cracking retort of gunshots outside her window. Her desire to survive overpowered her exhaustion.

    He was back.

    Reaching across pillows she wrapped her two terriers in one arm. She rolled to the floor, her free hand grasping the .38 from her nightstand. Crouching, she scurried across the hall to her closet sanctuary. She shoved both pets into a single crate.

    “Shhh,” she commanded. They obeyed.

    Bracing herself against the wall, flipping the safety with her thumb, she waited.

    Calls for help were useless. William was never there when law enforcement arrived. She’d remembered the officers’ whispers, “Paranoid. Delusional. Crazy.”

    She made the decision.

    Escape.

    ‘ … just when the caterpillar thought the world was over,

    it became a butterfly … ”

    About the Author

    backpageinsert

    Barbara Shoff began writing before she could write. At the age of five she would make up dialogue for her friends so they could perform plays. They charged a nickle a performance to “the old people” (parents and grandparents) in the neighborhood. The stage was a front porch with a blanket curtain.

    Their group was quite successful which kept them in bubble gum and popsicles most summers.

    In the 1980’s Barbara had a column in a small town Missouri newspaper. It was called, “BJ’s Corner.” She wrote it for free. She became serious about writing and began penning articles for several women’s magazines.

    “I sold my first article for $25. I was so excited I screamed so loud you would have thought it was for 25 million. I have written brilliant ad copy as well as very dull assembly instruction manuals.”

    Severely social media challenged two years ago, Barbara became the accidental Pundit on PolicyMic.

    It was when she had her non-fiction expose’ complete and was looking for a publisher when Barbara decided it was high-time the old dog started learning new tricks.

    As a survivor of domestic violence and abuse she wanted to give back to her community. “Social workers educating survivors living in a shelter about domestic violence and abuse is ass backwards. These women already know better than the social workers what happened. The ‘whys’ research is still sorting out. What survivors need to learn is how protect themselves and support themselves while they heal and transform into something stronger and more beautiful than they were before. To that purpose, I wrote a stalker thriller, A Community of Butterflies: Chrysalis as the first book in a trilogy.”

    Barbara has picked every brain she could find to try to figure out about the ins and outs of developing a “platform” and how social media works for writers. She took a social media for dummies class at a local technology center. “I almost learned some things about Facebook. The next day they changed it.

    “I hired a fifteen year old to teach me asking, how something was done. He would shrug his shoulders and say, ‘Dunno. Let’s try this. Nope, not that, Let’s try this.’ Fifty dollars later a light went on and I decided to try stuff on my own. I watched YouTube videos until my eyes crossed, took a spiral notebook full of notes and finally built a website.

    “I am still learning. Now both books are published. I am signed up on almost every freaking social media site there is and am maybe, kinda, sorta getting an idea of how they possibly work. Mostly I’m praying Oprah or Ellen will ‘discover’ me and I can concentrate on writing my books and going to shelters giving chrysalis building lessons.

    “Oh, yeah. In 2013 I was honored to be a member of the inaugural cast of Oklahoma City’s production of Listen to Your Mother. You can watch me on YouTube by searching, LTYM OKC Barbara Shoff.”

    Contact the Author

    Website

    Facebook

    Blog:

    Amazon:

     

     

     

  • On Sale: Nobody’s Fault by Terry Tyler

    Terry Tyler is an author, writer, blogger and also blogs for the UK Arts Directory. Her first book on Amazon, ‘You Wish‘, was the winner of the ‘Best Women’s Lit/Chick Lit’ category in the eFestival of Words 2013. That was followed by five more novels on Amazon: ‘Nobody’s Fault‘, ‘The Other Side‘ and ‘What It Takes‘ fall into the all encompassing contemporary drama genre, whereas ‘Dream On‘ and ‘Full Circle‘ are lighter and can be placed under the banner of rock fiction/romcom. Her short story collection, ‘Nine Lives’, covers all these and more, with some intriguing twists in the tales… Terry’s latest release, Kings & Queens, is a mirror of the story of the six wives of Henry VIII, taking it into the twentieth century! I’ve already snatched my copy!

    Throughout this week, “Nobody’s Fault” is 50% off at just 0.99c until Sunday, May 11! Don’t miss out!

     

    Book Blurb

    Nobody’s Fault is about a family break up, from the point of view of all the players. It’s also about tragedy, heartbreak, and secrecy…

    Adrienne is the love of Nick’s life. Nick is the love of hers. Six days after meeting her, Nick leaves home. He has no choice; they can’t live without each other.

    Nick’s wife Ria and eldest daughter Cat find various ways of working out their anger and resentment, while fifteen year old Tara is caught in the middle. And then there is Nick’s cousin Caroline, with her own axe to grind when it comes to marital affairs… When tragedy strikes, they are all looking for someone to blame.

    Lonely and trusting Sharon, seeking love and friendship on internet dating and social networking sites, has no suspicion of the part she plays in the drama – or that the people she meets in cyberspace might not be all that they seem…

    Purchase Links

    Amazon
    Amazon UK

    Author’s Links

    Blog
    UK Arts Directory Blog
    Twitter
    Facebook