to all of you wonderful and supportive readers than a recommendation of an inspiring, heartwarming tale for your young ones—or the young at heart!
I’ve just read and reviewed Runaway Smile, wrtten by my author friend Nicholas Rossis whose best-selling epic fantasy series, Pearseus, I’ve enjoyed immensely, and I truly loved it! Nicholas has uploaded the story here where you can read it for free! The fantastic illustrations are the work of Dimitris Fousekis.
My Review
I picked this title up as I’m a fan of Nicholas Rossis’ epic fantasy series (Pearseus) and I was curious to see how a fantasy writer tackles the challenge of writing for kids. Smoothly, apparently. This isn’t a happy-go-lucky fairytale. The boy of this story is on a quest. Unlike Alice, this little guy is used to the bizarre world he lives in, and takes milk-surfing ants and complacent monsters in the closet at a stride. What he can’t deal with, though, is the loss of his smile. On his way to school, he comes across colorful characters with huge smiles plastered on their faces, but although they vy for the little one’s attention, they can’t seem to listen to him. They’re grown ups after all; self-serving and self-centered. Each and every one, although full of promises, fails to bring happiness to our little hero. But in the end, he finds what he’s after in the sweetest possible way, and he knows how to keep it forever.
This story is layered with thought-provoking semiotics that will attract parents as well. Fantastic illustrations make our boy’s trek to school come to life, and the summary in verse at the end is a touch of genius and extra proof of the author’s diverse talent. This is one book you won’t regret reading to little ones, but even if there aren’t any around, just go for it. You’ll love it.
Avid reader. Web developer. Architect by training, holder of a PhD in Digital Architecture from the University of Edinburgh. Now, author.
Nicholas Rossis loves to write. Runaway Smile is his first children’s book, out of a total of six. The next one is currently being illustrated.
Except for his epic fantasy series, Pearseus, he has also published The Power of Six, a collection of short sci-fi stories, and the Greek translation of the Tao Te Ching.
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. Mercifully, all his books are professionally edited!
About the Illustrator Born in 1966 in Tripoli, Libya to Greek parents, Dimitris grew up in Rome, Italy and Athens, Greece. He studied Geology at the University of Athens. During his studies, he illustrated various Paleontology-related theses and projects. Between 1992 and 1997 he worked for the Ministry of Culture, illustrating the objects unearthed during the Athens Metro construction.
Since 1997, he has freelanced with various design agencies, advertising companies and publishing houses. He has also illustrated for two musems â one in Papigo, Pilio (WW F) and one in Tinos (Marble Museum).
He is a member of the design group Parachute Font and collaborates regularly with Yalos Branding. His latest projects include the co-creation of Fuzzylon. Since 2003, he has increasingly focused on childrenâs books illustrations. He has already published a number of childrenâs books (nine so far, with a number of further titles currently under work).
Since 2010 he has lived permanently on the island of Hydra, where he teaches painting and has had his first exhibition.
I’m quite busy promoting Fate Accompli, and writing Fate Captured, so I have stopped actively seeking out authors for the WIP column. But when I saw the cover of Jessica’s debut novel, I just wanted it on my blog!
Jessica Cale is a journalist and author currently based in North Carolina. She is the author of Tyburn, her first novel for Liquid Silver Books. Tyburn is a dark historical romance set in Restoration London and is the first book in her new series, The Southwark Saga.
Jessica , welcome to MM Jaye writes. Before we talk about your WIP, why donât you tell us a few things about yourself?Â
Iâm originally from Minnesota, but I lived in Wales for seven years and earned a BA in Medieval History and an MFA in Creative Writing at Swansea University. My husband and I both studied history in Swansea and we met when I crashed a beach party there back in 2005. Now we live in North Carolina with our Welsh rescue cats and life is good. I have a full-time day job as well as writing, but itâs for a great non-profit organization and I work with a lot of lovely, supportive people, so Iâm very lucky in that respect. I collect tea cups, history books, and I bake macarons on the weekends. Iâm always trying to come up with new flavors!
*Ignoring the saliva influx in my mouth*Exercise in lean writing: give us a synopsis of your current WIP in under 200 words.
Lady Jane Ramsey is ruined.
Valiantly rescued from her kidnapping by a gorgeous highwayman, she thanked him as enthusiastically as her imagination allowed, only to find her marriage prospects greatly reduced when she returned home. She doesnât mind. All she can think about is her highwayman, and she is determined to find him again.
As the daughter of an earl and one of the wealthiest heiresses in England, she is expected to make the best match possible before her reputation is damaged beyond repair. Her father accepts an offer from the repulsive Lord Lewes and expects Jane to comply.
Jane has other plans.
Intriguing! And isn’t that cover a study in perfection? Compelling! What are you working on right now?
I am working on the second book in The Southwark Saga, which picks up immediately where Tyburn leaves off. This book follows Lady Jane Ramsey, a supporting character in Tyburn. Itâs nice to work on something so close to Tyburn because Iâm still so immersed in that world, and I can spend more time with the characters. Itâs great to be able to check in on Nick and Sally, too.
I know exactly what you mean. The best part about writing a series is that you can interact with all the characters you’ve nurtured in every book. Are you happy with the pace of your work? Do you aim at a specific word count each day?
Iâd like more time to write. I work full-time, but I start unbelievably early in the morning (you donât want to know) so I have more time to write when I get home. I usually work on writing, editing, research, or promotional things until I have to go to sleep for the next day. I donât get time off, and I donât get a lot of sleep. Itâs still worth it, and my husband and friends are very supportive. On a good writing day, Iâm happy with anything over 1,000 words. On my best writing day, I made it to 9,000. That was a long day. I ended after midnight and went downstairs to find my husband and friends having a party. I hadnât even noticed it was going on. I was still pretty energized, so I made everyone crepes!
And we have the picture to prove it! Plotter, pantser or both?
I plot the absolute heck out of everything. I have a notebook for ideas, and about a thousand post-its stuffed into it from when I thought of something away from the house! Itâs difficult to plot on demand, though, so the books evolve slowly over time in pieces. They usually start with a scene or two, and I try to fill in everything else from there.
Whatâs your worst enemy in getting that first draft finished?
Time and work. I get so into it that I donât want to stop, but of course I have to. The ideas keep coming, though, and thatâs where the Post-Its come inâŚ
Have you ever experienced lack of inspiration or drive to write? If so, how do you motivate yourself?Â
Definitely. When I was doing more journalism in the UK, I went for a few years without writing any fiction, just because I didnât have time between the journalism and working in the day. I was doing mostly music journalism then, so Iâd work all day and then have shows to review at night. It was crazy. I didnât want to give it up, but it was either that or fiction, and fiction is what Iâve always wanted to do. It was a little tricky getting back into fiction after the break, but music helped. Music continues to be a great way to beat writerâs block for me. When Iâm thinking of ideas for a book, I imagine the whole thing in vivid scenes like watching a movie, I cast the characters, and the songs are the soundtrack. itâs not the lyrics themselves, but the mood. Thereâs something about music that taps into that creative part of my brain and makes everything work a little bit better. If Iâm really having trouble or a project just isnât working, Iâll write something completely different, like horror or satire, just to switch things up a bit. That usually works, too.
That usually does the trick, yes. Could we take a look at your workspace? Is there a particular place you find inspiring for writing?
One of your Welsh rescues I presume? Now your workspace pic is pinned on my Featured Writers’ Workspace Pinterest Board. Apart from Word and Google, do you use any other writing or research tools and apps?
I actually really like using Pinterest as a sort of idea board. I have secret boards of photos and pieces of research for future stories, plus fun public boards for possible characters, locations, and costumes to help readers to picture the Restoration world. This is a work in progress, but itâs a lot of fun. I also use Google Sheets to organize my characters, chronology, research, and outside commitments and obligations. I color code everything, because things are less intimidating when theyâre in pastel.
Google Sheets as an organizing tool is definitely something I’ll have to look into. How do you intend to celebrate writing âThe Endâ on your draft?
I probably wonât. By the time I finished Tyburn, I was already halfway through Janeâs book (the result of a lot creative exercises to beat writerâs block — they are worth doing!), and then I was worried about editing and pitching it right away. I edit everything I write several times before Iâll show it to anyone, so I never really feel like Iâm done. I did celebrate signing the contract by going out to dinner with my husband, his parents, and our friends, and that was great. Thereâs just so much to do and itâs such a continuous cycle of work that itâs hard to pick one time to stop and celebrate anything. Iâm usually too busy! The first draft of Janeâs book is done, but now Iâm working on rewrites. Maybe Iâll celebrate when that one gets published!
Which book publishing processes are you going to outsource and which are you confident enough to undertake yourself?
Iâm very lucky to have a fantastic publisher and they help so much with the editing, layout, cover, and marketing. Apart from that, I undertake a huge proportion of the promotional duties myself. Iâm doing the line edits and layout for the print version myself, and if I could physically print and assemble the books myself, I probably would. I would be a lot happier if I outsourced more, but I come from a very DIY background (I published an independent zine for ten years), so I tend to just do things myself if I know how, and if I donât, I figure it out. I would get a lot more sleep if I could learn to outsource!
Do you have any marketing tips or favorite promotional sites youâd like to share?
Iâm very new to the whole marketing side of things, so Iâm still learning. From my very limited experience, I would recommend befriending other authors (of any genre/subgenre) and learning from them as much as you can. Be nice to each other — youâre all in the same boat! — and thank people for their time and help. Be grateful, and be mindful of others: when someone helps you, return the favor. Also, be on the lookout for new opportunities. The Marketing For Romance Writers Yahoo group is a fantastic source of continuous opportunities for networking and promotion. I would definitely recommend checking it out.
I’ll second that. MFRW has taught me so much in such a little time. That’s how we got in touch! Is dark fantasy the genre you will stick to or do you see yourself branching out in the future?
Tyburn is very dark, but Janeâs story has a completely different tone — itâs almost a comedy! The third one will have more of a mystery element to it, but the whole series will still be historical romance. Someday Iâd like to branch out to try some other things, but for now, Iâm very much rooted in the seventeenth century.
Fun stuff now: Letâs do a rapid fire round.
Flavored sorbet or chocolate ice cream? Chocolate ice cream! My favorite is So Delicious chocolate ice cream made with soy milk.
Pizza or sushi? Pizza with anchovies, olives, and capers. Yum!
Twilight or The Hunger Games? The Hunger Games.
Ryan Gosling or Benedict Cumberbatch? Benedict Cumberbatch
Trek in the Andes or snorkeling in Tahiti? Trek in the Andes. I love a great view.
Ugg boots or red-soled designer stilettos? I have a pair of black Converse ballet flats I wear everywhere. They go with anything! (I’ll have to Google these!)
Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights? Wuthering Heights
London or Paris? London
Beatles or the Rolling Stones? The Rolling Stones!
Finally, please share with us links where we can find you and your work.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and everyone’s mind (at least on the other side of the pond) are thinking about turkey, yams and all sorts of treats. Well, Kryssie Fortune, author of To Mate a Werewolf (Scattered Siblings Book 3)
wishes to add extra yumminess to your Thanksgiving table with her Cherry and Almond Cupcakes. Scroll down for an enticing excerpt of the book as well. Kryssie?
Hi, Kryssie Fortune here. I’ve popped over to share one of my latest heroine’s recipes. She’s spent the last two year running the Lykae armies’ mess, and she’s cooked her way into their werewolf hearts. I thought you might like a peak at one of their favorites.
Recipe for Cherry and Almond Cupcakes.
Ingredients (Makes 1 dozen)
For the cupcakes
5 oz softened butter
5 oz caster sugar
3oz self-raising flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs â beaten with 1 teaspoon milk
2oz ground almonds
1 tablespoon milk at room temperature.
For the icing
8oz icing sugar
Strained lemon juice (Roughly 3 tablespoons)
12 glace cherries â rinsed and dried.
Muffin tray and lined with cup-cake cases.
Method
Preheat oven to 190C or gas mark 5
Beat the butter in an electric mixer until creamy
Add the other cupcake ingredients and mix again.
Once the mixture turns creamy, spoon into the case.
Bake for 15 to 20mins. V.
Once the cupcakes have cooled, mix the icing until smooth. Spread over the cupcakes and add a cherry to top of each.
While you are here, please take a look at my book.
Happy baking!
Kryssie Fortune
Â
Excerpt
She welcomed him with a smile and retied the turquoise ribbon in her hair. âI thought you were going to sponsor Ellie into the Tundra Tough pack. She might not be a shifter, but once the unattached males taste her cooking, she certainly wonât lack for suitors.â
Joel growled, angry at the thought of his pack mates pawing Ellie. His guilt hit him like a battering ram. He didnât want her, but he hated the idea of other malesâand most of them were all-right guysâcourting her either.
Brotherly protectiveness, he supposed. Yeah, right. Who am I kidding?
Breathe. Smile. Get Pamela on my side. Sheâd make him a good lieutenant when sheâd served her two-year stint in the forces. He shook his head. âShe going to open a cake shop in the mundane world instead. She bribed a recruit with an apple pie, on condition he took her back to Whitby. I need someone to keep an eye on her, and it looks as though youâre it. Of course, Iâll pay you for your time.â
âDo I detect a guilty conscience, sir? Iâve been tight with Ellie. Sheâs got guts, and I certainly donât need paying to be her friend.â
âReport to me as soon as you hear anything. Dismissed.â He saluted and returned to his quarters.
She grinned and flashed away. Whitby was a hotbed of otherworld connections, but without magic Ellie couldnât use them. Much as Joel hated the new cook for pushing Ellie away, he hated himself more. If it wasnât almost the new moon, and Ellie hadnât run, heâd have kept his hands  to himself. . . maybe. Theyâd both enjoyed their steaming-hot sex, but he couldnât sponsor one of his cast-off lovers into this pack. His unknown fiancĂŠe would be justifiably teed-off if he did.
A charming take on The Beauty and The Beast, this historical romance, the fourth in New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Boyle’s “Rhymes with Love” series, will leave fans of the genre truly satisfied. Make sure you enter the rafflecopter giveaway below for a chance to win one of ten print copies of the book, courtesy of the author. Also, scroll down for a sample of Ms Boyle’s excellent writing.
The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane
Rhymes with Love # 4
By: Elizabeth Doyle
Releasing October 28th, 2014
Avon Romance
Laura Tempest is a disaster magnet. And Lavinia, her identical twin, is even worse! But when they are offered a sponsored Season in London full of social life among the best of the ton, Lavinia drags Louisa with her. While Lavinia is set on finding a respectable husband, Louisa’s practical mind knows that their family’s tarnish won’t be covered with pretty frocks and intricate hairdos. She’s not the marriage sort, anyway. So she brings Hannibal, her devilish one-eyed tomcat with her. With him at hand, no one will bother her.
All Viscount Wakefield wants is his thick drapes shut and his bottle of Madeira full. After the retreat to Corunna, amidst the Peninsular War, that shattered his leg and his heart, he resents still being among the living. But when a cat from hell wreaks havoc in his household and his tempestuous mistress (Miss Tempest, indeed!)Â decided she wants to put everything to rights, including his life, he bans both cat and lady from his house. So she starts working on his garden. And suddenly that demmed drape insists on letting sunshine creep in even when he’s sure he left it hermetically shut. Just like his heart.
This historical romance was a delight! The language was as authentic as it gets, the plot, although not highly original, delicious, but what made the difference for me were the characters. True to themselves down to the bone, they never falter, and that’s including pets! From the elderly butler and the impertinent new cook to the two kids that are hired as extra help, and Hannibal the cat (unforgettable Hannibal) they all get memorable, fast-paced scenes that often made me think that I’m watching a farse on stage.
The dialogues are witty, the settings well-rendered (although maybe a bit underdescribed) and the main characters set so many obstacles along the way, I really wondered how the HEA would come about. If I must complain about something that would be that the final reconciliation scene was too easy, and there are loose ends concerning other characters, but Ms Boyle has promised that everything will be sorted out in the next installment where we’ll learn what Lavinia is up to. I’m surely picking that one up!
All in all, I truly enjoyed this delightful historical romance. In terms of character development, I would say that Ms Boyle is among the best. This new version of The Beauty and The Beast put a smile on my face–not an easy task with a swollen cheek after a wisdom tooth extraction. đ
Excerpt
London, Hanover Square
November 1810
âWhat is it, Haley?â Lord Charleton asked, sparing a glance at the door of the breakfast room where his secretary stood, hovering about like a nervous sparrow. âIs it Rowland? Tell me he hasnât landed in the suds yet again.â
âNo, my lord.â
The manâs brow furrowed a bit. âCouldnât be Wakefield.â
âCertainly not, my lord.â
The baron glanced up. âWouldnât mind if it was. Demmed waste having him mope about, locked up in that house of his.â
âIndeed,â the secretary replied, and if Charleton wasnât mistaken, there was a note of irony to the manâs declarationâone he chose to ignore, instead pinning a glance on the impudent fellow.
Under the scrutiny, Haleyâs jaw worked back and forth as if the words were stuck there in his craw.
âWell?â Lord Charleton prodded. âOut with it. Before my kippers grow cold.â As it was, the baron shoved his plate forward and set down the paper heâd been reading.
Mr. Haley cleared his throat and held out a letter. âIâve come across a small debt your wife owedââ
There it was. That cold stillness that came every time someone had the nerve to mention Isobelâs name. How Lord Charleton wished he could forget her passing so this wrenching pain would fade from his heart. Yet, still, even a year after her loss, it was a sharp ache he woke up with, one that haunted him even after he closed his eyes at night.
Now here was his secretary bringing her up when heâd quite forbidden the matter.
âPay it,â he ordered in a tone that said he wanted nothing further to do with any reminders of her.
âBut, my lordââ Haley shuffled about.
Lord Charleton removed his glasses and slowly cleaned them. Then once they were perched back up on his nose he stared coldly at the fellow. He was a good man, Haley. An excellent secretary, but why the man continued to bring up Lady Charleton, the baron could not understand. Speaking slowly and deliberately, so there was no mistaking the matter, he said, âYou know what to do. Take care of the matter and leave me be.â
âIf you insist, my lord . . .â Haleyâs voice trailed off tentatively. It wasnât so much a reply as one last prod.
Truly? He was going to ask yet again? If he wasnât the most thorough and honest fellow the baron had ever hiredâwell, actually Lady Charleton had found him and insisted he be hired, but that wasnât the point. Haley had become rather cheeky of late and Charleton wanted nothing more than to fire him on the spot.
But Isobel wouldnât have approved, and so Charlton inclined his head, reined back his ire and said with a final note, âJust see to it as Her Lady- ship would have wanted.â Then he went back to his paper and ignored Haley, who stood for a few more moments in the doorway.
And if the baron had looked up, he might have seen the wry, wily smile that had led Lady Char- leton to hire Mr. Haley in the first place.
CHAPTER 1
London
Six months later
Areowwwwww! The unholy complaint filled the
carriage.
âYou should have left that foul creature back in Kempton, Miss Tempest,â Mrs. Bagley-Butterton complained for about the hundredth time.
Which equaled the number of times Hannibal had let out that ear-piercing yowl from the basket in which he was trapped.
âHe doesnât like being penned up so,â Miss Louisa Tempest said in defense of her cat. âAnd I couldnât leave him behind.â
There was a sigh of resignation from beside Louisa. Miss Lavinia Tempest, Louisaâs twin, made a very deliberate show of looking out the window. She wasnât about to rise to Hannibalâs defense.
Never would.
Louisa suspected her sister shared Mrs. Bagley- Buttertonâs exasperation and wished poor Hannibal back in Kempton as well.
âI only hope your godmother is an understanding sort,â the matron continued, shifting in her seat in the carriage and eyeing the large basket on Louisaâs lap with an air of disdain and suspicion. She had protested vehemently against the cat being brought along, but she could hardly prevent the matter when the carriage conveying them to London belonged to the girlsâ father, Sir Ambrose Tempest. âI know I wouldnât have that cat in my house.â She sniffed loudly.
Elizabeth Boyle was an antipiracy paralegal for Microsoft before settling down to write full-time. Her first novel, Brazen Angel, which won Dell’s Diamond Debut Award in 1996, also won the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Best First Book, and was a finalist for Best Long Historical Romance. She lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington. She is also the author of Brazen Heiress.
Thank you so much for being here. Before we talk about your WIP, why donât you tell us a few things about yourself?Â
Iâm a married mother of one and love to spend my time making traditional Louisiana dishes like jambalaya and pralines. I probably watch more television than I should and think obsessively about my writing.
By the way this is a fantastic cover! Excellent branding! Exercise in lean writing: give us a synopsis of your current WIP in under 200 words.
When Leena Williams suspects that thereâs something other worldly about her sonâs new stepmother, she goes digging for answers and discovers a little too late that some secrets are better left buried.
That certainly is gooseflesh-inducing! What are you working on right now?
Well, right now Iâm really focused on promoting The New Mrs. Collins.
And when Iâm not doing that, Iâm tinkering with an outline for a novel that feels like itâs going to be paranormal. Without giving too much away, it looks like itâs going to be about this girl who, after a traumatic experience, learns something shocking about herself.
Are you happy with the pace of your work? Do you aim at a specific word count each day?
Generally, yes. Some days are better than others. I donât aim for a specific word count because what matters to me is, âHow good is this particular scene when I leave the computer?â Sometimes a hard scene can take up pretty much my entire writing session. And I do try to stick to a writing schedule: the first two hours when I get up in the mornings.
Even after the arrival of the little one? I admire you! Plotter, pantser or both?
Plotter! I outline extensively before I write. I have to know where Iâm going before I start writing. But even with an outline, there are plenty of surprises along the way. Characters really know how to surprise you!
Whatâs your worst enemy in getting that first draft finished?
Fear that what Iâm writing isnât good enough so why even finish it when the work is going to be terrible? I battle with this the entire time Iâm writing. I donât think it ever goes away.
Have you ever experienced lack of inspiration or drive to write? If so, how do you motivate yourself?
I think that happens when something Iâm working on feels like a chore (when itâs a work in progress, thatâs how I know that something about the story isnât working or that itâs a story that I probably need to abandon). I get over this by giving myself some tough love: your writing career is your responsibility. Now get your behind in gear and write!
Could we take a look at your workspace? Is there a particular place you find inspiring for writing?
My writing desk is in front of two windows that overlook our front yard (but sometimes, Iâm guilty of just opening the blinds and daydreaming as opposed to writing!)
I can totally understand why you choose the blackout! Now your workspace pic is pinned on my Featured Writers’ Workspace board on Pinterest! Apart from Word and Google, do you use any other writing or research tools and apps?
I donât. Iâve considered using Scrivener but havenât gotten around to trying it.
 How do you intend to celebrate writing âThe Endâ on your draft?
With a nice big glass of wine!
Which book publishing processes are you going to outsource and which are you confident enough to undertake yourself?
Oh, wow! I am definitely going to outsource the book cover (if I did my own book cover it would look like something a kindergartener did, or probably worse!), the proofreading, and definitely the formatting. The only thing Iâm confident about is my ability to tell a story!
Do you have any marketing tips or favorite promotional sites youâd like to share?
Iâm no marketing expert but I think it helps if you actually tell people you wrote a novel. For some reason, I was so shy about telling people that I was a novelist! Not sure why that is. And blogging is a great way to meet other authors and potential readers (but building those relationships takes time. Itâs not an overnight thing).
Your blog is quanietalkswriting.com. Do you follow a specific branding pattern with your posts or is it a free writing platform?
Not at first. I kind of just started blogging because I read that all writers should have a blog, but lately Iâve been trying to tackle issues that all authors deal with, but in a humorous way. I try to talk about issues that are conversation worthy so that they encourage people to either comment or share the content.
Is paranormal the genre you will stick to or do you see yourself branching out in the future?
I also write comedy. Initially, I thought I needed to choose between paranormal and humorous fiction since theyâre polar opposites but I imposed those boundaries on myself. I donât think people care about genre as long as the story is entertaining.
Fun stuff now: Letâs do a rapid fire round.
Flavored sorbet or chocolate ice cream? Dude! Chocolate!
Pizza or sushi? Pizza, of course, (although, I do get a craving for a California roll or tempura every now and then!)
Twilight or The Hunger Games? The Hunger Games!
Chiwetel Ejiofor or Idris Elba? Idris. Hands down! Oh, yes!
Trek in the Andes or snorkeling in Tahiti? Oh, Lord. UmmmâŚIâll say snorkeling since this seems to imply warm weather.
Ugg boots or red-soled designer stilettos? Iâll say stilettos, but hopefully theyâll have a low heel! Yeah, gimme a pair of those! đ
Finally, please share with us links where we can find you and your work.
His Road Home is an original love story, both heart-warming and heart-rending, that brings together an unlikely couple. Read on for my review and an excerpt from the book.  If you’re US-based, make sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway, as the author will make a $50 DONATION to The Fisher House Foundation in honor of a veteran of the winner’s choice. The virtual tour is organized by Tasty Book Tours.
A marine biologist, Grace Kim, is more into her whale expeditions than into complex people relationships. Yet she finds herself engaged—with all the unwanted family hoopla over her finally settling down—when she doesn’t even know the guy! The fact that he’s just returned from Afghanistan seriously injured after a heroic effort complicates the situation even more. Demanding answers from a speech challenged double amputee, when everyone expected her to play the part of the fiancee, took Kim on a guilt trip on top of her frustration when all she wanted was to go back to her single, quiet life.
But after sweet texting each other while Ray was on a tough rehabilitation program, and she’s deployed to Alaska, Kim starts feeling a lot more toward him than guilt. And when she accompanies him on his cross-country drive back home, their faltering friendship turns sizzling hot. But can Kim be strong enough to support Ray, or is she again stereotyping?
His Road Home is a jolting read. So much for the heroine to deal with here until she settles for unconditional love: prejudices, guilt, objective practical difficulties, social demands … that’s one hell of a tough road to take. And Kim is by nature untrained to be that kind of tough. But Ray is such a sweetheart—on top of being dark and handsome—he makes everything fall into place without exerting any emotional pressure.
There are amazing heart-warming moments in this book as there are painful, heart-wrenching images. From Afghan war-zones and the Gulf of Alaska to a cross-country road trip, this one is quite a ride. The writing is no-nonsense, fitting the bill perfectly. The character development is expertly done, and the HEA while bumpy is right there; uplifting and empowering. What I felt, though, was that this was a story that needed more space to naturally evolve. It seemed that it was squeezed into a small book, giving some scenes a rushed, choppy feel. There were aspects that I’d like to see more of. Like get to know Kim’s traditional Korean parents and their ways more. Or have a better feel of Grace’s role on the Alaska expedition.
That aside, I enjoyed this original and thought-provoking story. It blows many cliches into smithereens, but what’s left standing—proud and tall—is true love. ‘Cause love is all you need, right?
EXCERPT: Grace Arrives at the Hospital
Chapter 2
The rose-tinted stone buildings and immaculate landscaping of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, reminded Grace of a university campus more than a military hospital. On the parking shuttle route, signs pointed to the Warrior Center and celebrated Warrior Pride, and she half expected men in blue paint and kilts to swarm the bus.
The massed display of flags inside the main lobby pressed home the weight of her false pretenses. The closer she drew to reception, the harder the fictions she hadnât created but had been too obedient or timid to unravel squeezed her stomach. Five feet from the front desk, her charade bit more uncomfortably than the airplane seatbelt sheâd worn all night.
âMay I help you, maâam?â
No one else was behind her. She was the maâam.
The man on the other side of the desk smiled at her. âAre you here to see someone?â
Although sheâd read his name in dozens of news articles, she hadnât said it aloud. Her first attempt was a whisper. âReynaldo Cruz.â
The keyboard clicked as he asked, âAre you Sergeant Cruzâs next of kin?â
âNo.â Her stomach somersaulted as another lie rose to the surface to join so many others.
âWhoa, maâam.â He reached across the desk as if to catch her. âSergeant Cruz arrived yesterday from Landstuhl, but we have to ask because sometimes people pretend to know soldiers whoâve been in the news.â
That was her, a pretender. She clutched her jacket over her chest, chilled even inside the building, and hoped the airplane bagel didnât revisit the scene.
âName and photo identification, please.â
âGrace Kim.â Her driverâs license shook until she dropped it on the counter.
More clicking and peering before he said, âI donât have you listed.â
If she couldnât find out why Reynaldo Cruz had turned her life upside down, sheâd never put it back together. Her chest expanded with bottled frustration.
âHold on, Iâll call the ward to get permission.â
While the receptionist muttered into the phone, she willed the hot ball in her throat to dissolve. If she had to leave, this farce would end without an explanation to share with her family, her boss, her co-workers. The reporters calling her parents would change their tone, and people in Pateros would stop eating at the restaurant.
Relief snapped through her, even as the label made her squirm.
âPetty Officer Boichek will escort you. Visiting hours until twenty-hundred.â He clarified, âThatâs eight tonight. Iâll add you as a permitted visitor. Hereâs your temporary badge.â
Her escort was a woman, younger than her. âMorning, maâam. This way to the elevators.â
As they left the lobby, Graceâs clogs clomped on the gleaming bare floor. At least her escort wouldnât hear her thudding heart.
âNo matter what, when you see your warrior, smile.â
Author Info
Anna lives with her quietly funny Canadian husband and two less quiet children in a century-old house in Seattle. Like the heroine of her debut paranormal romantic suspense novel, First to Burn, Anna joined the army to pay tuition, a decision that led to a career on four continents.
She donates a portion of her book proceeds to two charities: the Fisher House Foundation, which provides free accommodations near military hospitals for families of wounded soldiers in the US and Great Britain, and Doctors Without Borders, which delivers emergency medical care in more than sixty crisis zones world-wide.
To sign up for Anna’s newsletter and find out about her next release, The Second Lie (The Immortal Vikings, Book Two), visit her website at www.annarichland.com
An ocean retreat in Main where the beauty meets the beast and makes him love her. But where love comes easily, trust seems as elusive as a handful of sand…
This review tour is brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win the following goodies (ends Oct 27):
4 ebooks of Beneath the Scars (INTL)
2 signed Paperbacks of Beneath the Scars (US/Canada only) with book marks
1 package of Into the Storm/Beneath the Scars Paperbacks with bookmarks â both signed (US/Canada only)
Megan’s life has turned into a nightmare. Having her boyfriend humiliate her in such a destructively public way—the person she trusted implicitly—makes her flee Boston. Her friend’s ocean house on Cliff’s Edge in Main is just the place for her to regroup and maybe even start writing again. She is certain she will be left in peace what with her only neighbor being a renowned recluse. Soon, she discovers he’s also a misanthrope. So why is she drawn to him so much?
Zachary’s only companion is his art. And his shaggy golden retriever; the only being he touches anymore. Until the stupid girl next door needs his rescuing. So he is forced not only to touch her but to also hold her, feel her against him. And now all these buried needs rush forward.
With the only currency he was used to dealing in—his face—partially destroyed along with his faith in people and their motives, is there a chance for him and Megan to work out? And when her ex’s deceit spins out of control, and the first thing thing that crashes is their fragile trust, will Megan have the strength to give Zachary a second chance?
This novel starts out in a quiet, lulling manner in sync with the soft waves breaking on the shore—the main setting of the story. The soft, sweet, well-rounded writing reminded me of older romances, and having read lots of choppy, vibrant New Adult stories recently, I was worried my interest might wane. But the plot is surprisingly strong. When the main conflict comes about, I was stunned at the ferocity of the situation and left wondering of how this mess will be resolved.
Zachary’s backstory is well presented, making his disposition plausible and his reaction to events more or less predictable. The good kind of predictable. I also appreciated how Melanie Moreland builds up her story gradually; two thirds into the book and the reader still doesn’t have vital info on both the main characters’ past. Another positive aspect was the slow road to the book’s HEA. The way things turned out, a rushed embrace with the ocean’s horizon as a backdrop would have been eye-roll inducing. But this one takes its time, so the beautiful epilogue is worth the wait.
The only thing that slightly got to me was that Megan is too sweet—bordering on naive. She’s an angel-like character; a somewhat old-fashioned romance heroine. Of course, Zachary makes up for any excess sweetness, so things are nicely balanced. Also, while used to crass language in romances, the F-bombs here seemed a bit forced.
If you enjoy classically romantic stories in an idyllic seascape setting with a strong plot Beneath the Scars is just right for you.
Official synopsis
The sound of the ocean, the crash of the waves as they kick up against the sand and rocksâthese are the only sounds Megan Greene wants to hear. She wants to leave the rest of the world behind, and find some peace.
The offer of a private house on the beach, set in a small town in Maine, is perfect. Time to thinkâto be by herself. Itâs all she wants. Itâs the escape she needs.
Until she stumbles across the painting that seems to echo her own chaotic mindset.
Until she meets the unfriendly artist behind the stormy painting and discovers his secrets.
All Zachary Adams wants is to be left alone. His canvases, and the unending scope of the ocean and sand, are his life. They direct himâfill his hours. Bring him focus.
Until she enters his life.
She dredges up memories of the pastâthe haunting images he has hidden for years; the fears he has never shared.
A story he keeps buried below the surface.
Can she make him see what he is missing? Can he trust her enough to believe?
Together they embark on a journey where their pasts collide and threaten to tear them apart.
Will their fragile bond hold or wash away with the ebbing tide?
AUTHOR BIO
Melanie Moreland lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her husband and fur children. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
Known as the quiet one with the big laugh, Melanie works for the sporting teams of a local university. Her (box) office job, while demanding, is rewarding as she cheers on her team to victory.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and somewhat challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties and socialize, and also enjoys travelling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie delights in writing a good romance story with some bumps along the way, but is a true believer in happily ever after. When her head isnât buried in a book, it is bent over a keyboard, furiously typing away as her characters dictate their creative storylines, to her even more inspired tales, for all to enjoy.
A steamy sports romance, starring a bad-boy NHL star might be just what the doctor ordered for October. This one packs powerful psychological portraits of adults dealing with childhood abuse. Read on for my review and don’t forget to enter the Giveaway for an Alex Crossman/Cold Fury team jersey! This review tour is brought to you by Tasty Book Tours.
Alex is a machine. He plays hockey like a machine, he beds women like a machine (I used the other word in my Goodreads review) he socializes like a machine–as in not at all. Fans of Cold Fury, his team, love to hate him. He’s the MVP, as in the Most Valuable Prick.
But the team’s management want their star player to work on his social profile. Or else. Alex now has to deal with some social worker on a drug prevention outreach program. Life sucks. But the surprisingly young and beautiful social worker doesn’t, so he decides to show her both spaces he owns: the pitch and the bedroom. He even resorts to showing her his gentleman side: he warns her that he’s going to break her heart. Because that’s all he’s capable of, right?
Sutton Price knows very well what she’s getting herself into. But Alex’s abusive background, bits and pieces of which surface especially during their post-coital bliss, hit very close to home: she’d been there herself, only she chose the path of acceptance and forgiveness, and she wants more than anything to help Alex involve more emotions than anger, hatred and apathy. But when he gets there, fear and insecurity also creep in and mire everything. With his father always devastatingly present in his life, and a career with an expiry date he needs to focus on, how can Alex give Sutton what she needs?
This sports-themed NA romance had some surprising elements. First of all, it offered the male point of view as well. In the case of a damaged, withdrawn hero, especially if he’s in the star (rock or sports) category, it is not often that we get to see his mind at work with extra insight into his childhood; the source of all evil. Usually, his behavioral pattern is explained in the final stages of the plot through dialogue or revelations of a third party. In the case of Alex, however, not only he knew exactly what mindset he was in and what caused it, but we get a front-row seat to vivid scenes of his hair-raising childhood in the hands of a father destroyed by alcohol and his own demons.
The other element I appreciated was the presentation of the two different paths an abused child can follow in life: Sutton shared experiences with Alex, but she embraced her past in an empowering, creative way. But Sutton’s way, although acknowledged by Alex, causes further rift between them, as self-doubt and even envy tipping towards jealousy manage to further distance him from her. These subtle psychological insights made the book stand out from the lot.
The sex scenes are frequent and steamy, but they’re not there just to underline the hero’s prowess; they also help to move the plot forward as that’s where Alex’s psyche is gradually revealed.
Ms Bennett’s writing is efficient, adeptly delving into the characters’ true essence. The only thing that got to me was big chunks of narration revealed in the form of thoughts during an on-going scene, inevitably using past perfect. For example, someone would wake up and start getting ready for the day, thinking about what happened the day before. Quite a number of scenes were presented that way. Other than that, this was a smooth read.
If you enjoy reading sports romances with seriously hot, seriously damaged heroes, but want a deeper portrayal than just of their physical attributes, you should consider picking Alex up—pun intended đ
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett is a snarky Southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesnât have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
Professional hockey in Seattle by a bestselling sports romance author? Plus a hot giveaway? Game on! This Book Blast is brought to you by Tasty Book Tours.
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$20 Amazon Gift Card, Swag Pack &
Winner’s Choice Backlist Romance
Jami Davenport presents Game on in Seattle, a new series featuring Seattle sports teams, hot men, and strong women.
He trusts his gut, she trusts her numbers, and neither trusts the other, as a billionaire’s mission to bring hockey to Seattle clashes with his passion for the woman who holds his heart.
Ethan Parker, a billionaire determined to bring a professional hockey to Seattle, will stop at nothing to realize his dream. After signing an agreement to purchase another city’s team, Ethan is anxious to make the move to Seattle, but a gag order by the League forces him to keep the sale a secret until the season ends, leaving him no choice but to go undercover as a consultant to study his team during the playoffs.
Lauren Schneider, Assistant Director of Player Personnel for the Giants hockey team, gets no respect from the team’s testosterone-loaded staff. When Ethan bursts onto the scene, full of charm and genuinely interested in her opinions, she shares the team’s weaknesses and discovers a weakness of her own–for Ethan. But when his true identity is revealed, and he starts cleaning house based on her unwitting input, his betrayal cuts deeply on both a professional and personal level.
Bound by an employment contract, Lauren reluctantly moves to Seattle to work for the newly christened Seattle Sockeyes and her sexy, infuriating boss. Lauren and Ethan must come to terms with their passions–for the team, for hockey, and for each other.
Will their situation build a frozen wall between them, or will their love burn hot enough to melt the ice shielding their hearts?
An advocate of happy endings, Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary and sports romances, including her two new indie endeavors: the Game On in Seattle Series and the Madrona Island Series. Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Green Beret-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland cross with a tennis ball fetish, a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat, and an opinionated Hanoverian mare. She works in computer support in her day job and juggles too many balls, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
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 goodâŚ
SYNOPSES
Obsidian Escape by Rebel Adams
Just one look at the battered form of Whitney Geddings awakens a fierce protective instinct in Detective Jackson OgdenâŚbut 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 â the head of the Russian mafia.
Obsidian Faith by Bev Elle
Shanice Baileyâs epic faith in Trevor Kyle, the man sheâs loved since they were both wards at the Baptist Childrenâs Home, is shaken when his sketchy foster father shows up on their honeymoon.
Obsidian Heart by Nicole Flockton
Will Erikaâs 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 wasnât counting on was falling for his mentor â 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 womenâ and not always in that order.
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 âpeople watchâ and daydream. She adores her music loud and her fries covered in melted cheese.
Bev Elle is the author of sweet and spicy, contemporary romance. Sheâs a lover of booksâthose already written, and those she harbors in her very active imagination. Writing is a passion sheâs 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 isnât writing in her spare time after work, she is thinking of doing so.
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 sheâs not busy writing, sheâs attempting to keep up with two active children and a busy husband.
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 bachelorâs degree in Fashion Marketing and a Masters in Administrative Leadership. She loves all things creative and aspires to have a fulltime writing career.
Missy Johnson in a small town in Central Victoria, Australia, with her husband and her confused pets (a dog who think sheâs a cat, a cat who thinks heâs a dogâŚyou get the picture). When sheâs not writing, she can usually be found looking for something to read.
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, Odinâs Murder with Kira Gold.
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 wasnât something she ever thought sheâd be doing, but here she is. t. h. snyder started reading like a nut after Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey. Since then sheâs 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 itâŚ.hence Touch Me. To date sheâs published 6 books and now 2 anthologiesâŚThe Touch Series (NA Romance), Pierced Love (YA Romance), Cursed Love, Cursed #1 (Erotic Romance), My Dirty Little Valentine, and the Obsidian Collection.
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.
Daniil peered at me.  His stare was a warning.  âWhat were you doing, Ms. Forter?â
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.  âGetting a story.â
âWhat story might that be?â 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.  âBrent and Cole are big news.  Anything that I can put in print that others donât have is good business.â Sticking to the truth as much as possible was always key when caught snooping.  And I was press.  They expected it of me.
Instinct had me taking a step back.  The man was chilling on a different level.  âNothing I didnât already know.â
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.
âLet me guess, you saw an ex today and he or she was looking good?â The bartender certainly didnât beat around the bush. Wow, talk about intuition.
âSomething like that.â Abigail smiled and grabbed a menu to have something to look at instead of the woman who could read her so well.
âHoney, the food here is shit; you donât want any of that. You like whiskey?â Abigail was shocked someone would talk about their own restaurantâs food that way, but she nodded.
âIâm Abigail. I just arrived into town today. You were right; he was looking good, and I want to kill him.â 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.
âStella Moet, my husband owns Moetâs, but the cook we have is pitiful. Thatâs why I wouldnât eat here until we found a better one. Slim pickings in this town, you know.â Stella set both shots in front of Abigail and winked. âOne for luck and one for drunk.â
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 wasnât from New York, and they let you know it.
She was totally lost in her thoughts and didnât notice someone had settled onto the stool beside her. Finally when her eyes met the man who appeared beside, her she couldnât 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 wasnât what came out.
âHi there,â she said, immediately hating herself. Who says that?
âHi yourself. Iâve not caught your eye in this place before. Are you new to town?â 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?
âYes, I just got in today, actually. Do you know of any hotels nearby which arenât too crappy and take a credit card?â 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 couldnât affect her like this at first glance. Well, that wasnât true. Benton had. Handsome green eyes were talking, and as usual, her thoughts were causing her to miss out.
âSo, I can take you there if you want?â 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.
âNow, deputy, donât be turning your charm on my new friend here.â 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.
âIâm Scott,â he said, holding his hand out to her. She took it timidly, which wasnât like her at all.
âAbigail, Abigail Rivers, I just got out of prison.â 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. âI mean it feels like I just got out of prison.â
GIVEAWAY
Blitz-wide giveaway:
–Kindle Fire HD (US/Can)
Born in 1966 in Tripoli, Libya to Greek parents, Dimitris grew up in Rome, Italy and Athens, Greece. He studied Geology at the University of Athens. During his studies, he illustrated various Paleontology-related theses and projects. Between 1992 and 1997 he worked for the Ministry of Culture, illustrating the objects unearthed during the Athens Metro construction.
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This week’s author guest is a beautiful southern girl, Quanie Miller. Hi Quanie!
and
now available on Amazon. You can find me blogging at 
About the Author
SYNOPSES
Beyond the Mind Maze 