Beyond the Mind Maze

Category: New Release

  • 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

     

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

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

    BOOK & AUTHOR INFO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    AUTHOR BIO

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

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

    Author links:

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

  • Black Rook by Kelly Meade (Spotlight)

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

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

    Black Rook, Cornerstone Run Trilogy #1

    By Kelly Meade

    Available July 15th from Intermix

    ISBN 9780698165441

    Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Penguin | BAM

    GoodReads

    Blurb

    She never saw this coming… 

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

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

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

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

    Cornerstone Run Trilogy:

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

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

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

    Author Bio

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

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

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

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

    LINKS

    Website: http://www.kellymeding.com

    Blog: http://chaostitan.blogspot.com

    Twitter: http://twitter.com/KellyMeding

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

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

    Tumblr: http://kellymeade.tumblr.com

     

     

  • 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.

     

  • Profound meaning in a fun package: The Power of Six by Nicholas Rossis

    Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Nicholas C. Rossis’ bestselling Pearseus series, I picked up this anthology, knowing that the short story format would make the book even more readable. I was right. I read the stories in one sitting (Simulation Over I had already read on Wattpad).

    An all-powerful computer, an Adam Sandler-esque remote that enables time traveling, a real life/video game mesh, a willing host to an alien form of life, a haunted house/portal to the multiverse and a David-Goliath metaphor are Nicholas’ vehicles to portray his version of the Cartesian doubt: the fallibility of sensory perception. His main themes—ambition, greed, the need for human contact—all lead to questioning pure knowledge. What we see and feel is not necessarily the truth.

    But if this concept sounds profound and philosophical, its delivery is anything but. The stories are very well written with surprising twists, rich detail (where needed) and a general light feel that makes moving from one to the next smooth and easy. What I particularly appreciated was that the main concept interconnected the stories, making this a seamless read. The writer’s choice not to bog the reader down with dozens of names for his stories’ characters also helped. All in all, I found this anthology a fascinating read, and I highly recommend it.

    You can download The Power of Six here: http://amzn.to/1kKVduI

    __________

     About the Author

    Nicholas Rossis was born in 1970 in Athens. Greece. He got his BSc in Engineering from the Technical Institute of Pireaus in 1995, before moving to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he received his PhD in Digital Architecture from the University of Edinburgh.

    In 1995 he founded Istomedia, a web design company that has created some 450 websites todate. He also taught various publishing courses at Napier University between 1997 and 2000.

    In 2000, he moved back to Greece where he has continued working as web designer and teaching design and publishing at various colleges and universities. He has written a score of children’s books, through Niditales, his ongoing collaboration with illustrator Dimitris Fousekis. He has also had numerous SF short stories published in Greek magazines and in Invasion, a SF anthology. Finally, he has written Pearseus, a SF novel.

    Nicholas lives in a forest outside Athens with his lovely wife Electra, beautiful dog and two remarkably silly cats.

    Author Links

    Blog: http://nicholasrossis.me
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nicholas_Rossis
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicholasCRossis
    Site: http://www.nicholasrossis.com
    Pearseus Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Pearseus
    LinkedIn: http://gr.linkedin.com/pub/nicholas-rossis/0/b7b/122/ 
    Google+ http://google.com/+NicholasRossis

  • Poignant and raw: Dusk and Summer by Joseph Pinto

    Does Heaven await beneath the waves? One man needs to know.

    When his dying father whispers a cryptic message to him, he has no choice but to summon his courage and begin the quest of a lifetime. It’s a race against time to realize his father’s wish and fulfill his own destiny; it’s a discovery of the unbreakable bond between father and son. It’s a journey of the heart that unfolds where only the Chosen exist – in the moments between Dusk and Summer.

    ___________________

    My review:

    Parents are a child’s lifelines. Even when it grows into its own skin, defying their role in its life, they remain vital points of reference; a mainstay. Losing a parent can make even a strong grown man lose his bearings. If it’s the father a son loses, and the loss is untimely and unjust, the immeasurable pain makes the path to acceptance difficult to find and even more difficult to tread.

    This uphill trudge is presented here by Joseph A. Pinto who lost his father to pancreatic cancer. A “tough son-of-a-gun,” a seemingly indomitable presence in the author’s life. It is an emotional account; raw and harrowing. But it is also a magical road trip with soul-lifting pit stops that miraculously guide the traveler—otherwise completely lost and deeply wounded—to a glorious destination, known only to his father, pointed to by bits and pieces that he could have easily dismissed as just incoherent ramblings of a dying man. Thankfully, he didn’t.

    The writing is excellent and delivers in a unique albeit heart-rending way. Known for his unique horror-writing prose, Joseph seamlessly presents his experience through some of the strongest, most poignant similes I’ve ever encountered in a book.

    “Before me, the parkway yawned endlessly toward a shimmering horizon. Each weary glance into the rearview mirror revealed splintered, black asphalt crumbling off into the bowels of the earth. The sky above seemed to buckle, and I tensed, expecting at any moment for it to fracture like a thin pane of glass.”

    Even though the subject is sensitive and painful, I highly recommend this book because the endnote is essentially optimistic, and it once more proves that although life is perishable, true love never is.


    AUTHOR BIO:

    Joseph A. Pinto is the horror author of two published books and numerous short stories; he is a member of the Horror Writers Association as well the founder of Pen of the Damned, a collective of angst and horror driven writers. Indulge in his unique voice on his personal blog josephpinto.com and PenofhteDamned.com. You can follow him on Twitter @JosephAPinto. Joseph hails from New Jersey where he lives with his wife and young daughter.

    DONATION:

    The author will be donating a portion of the proceeds from this book to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research

     

    LINKS:

    Lustgaren Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research:http://www.lustgarten.org/

    Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JCHFWK0

    Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JCHFWK0

    Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00JCHFWK0

    Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00JCHFWK0