Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Giveaway and Review: A Gift for Emily by J.P Galuska



Title: A Gift for Emily
Series: The Emily Stokes Series #2
Author: J P Galuska
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Suspense
Publisher: Self-pub.
Format: Ebook, Paperback
Length: 67,000 words
Buy Links: Amazon |

Book Description: 
A Gift for Emily picks up right where A Kiss for Emily leaves off. She is discovering that dating a ghost, solely composed of dense water molecules, has more challenges than she ever imagined. And when a bouquet shows up on the doorstep from an unknown suitor, life really gets complicated.    

About the Author: 
J P lives in Minnesota with her family, a crazy dog, and the world's best cat.
The Emily Stokes Series Facebook | Author Facebook | Website | Twitter: 


I didn't get  a chance to read book 1, but I had no problems following along with the story.  I mention this because I'm hooked and would love to know the story in its entirety of how these two met.  I love ghost stories because there is always the bittersweetness of longing and an eternity of what-ifs.  The story ended on a massively exciting cliff-hanger and is sure to leave you wanting more.  I really enjoyed Sam and Emily's characters, but I must admit to liking David as well.  It seemed that he got the short end of the stick. But this book leaves so much open.  In the ending scene I'm not even sure who is left alive.  That's the beauty of a cliff-hanger...always sure to bring you back in for more!!  This an excellent book for a suspense/paranormal read.  I can't wait for the conclusion.

1/2

GIVEAWAY INFO: The giveaway is tour-wide.

A $15 Amazon gift card, magnets, pen and coffee mug.
Ends May 1st 2013

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Saturday, April 27, 2013

Giveaway and Release Day Party for Tarah Scott and her book: My Highland Lord

Happy Saturday CEWTNK!!  I have the lovely Tarah Scott partying down with us, and revealing a special sneak peek into her fabulous addition in her Highland Lords series.  She is also giving away a copy of this book and book 1!!!  Let's take a look at the books:

Blurb:
London Heiress kidnapped by the Marquess of Ashlund, read the headlines. Yet no one tried to save her. 
Phoebe Wallington was seven years old when a mass assassination attempt rocked Regency England. Her father was the only accused traitor to elude capture. Now as a grown woman and a British spy, she is no closer to learning what really happened that day.
Phoebe's quest for the truth takes a sudden turn when she's kidnapped by a suspected traitor. But Kiernan MacGregor, the Marquess of Ashlund, may not live long enough to stand trial. Someone wants him dead. And Phoebe stands in the killer's way.
Excerpt--
Edinburgh, Scotland
The criminal was alive and well. Yet, the one man who could have exposed him was dead. Phoebe stared at the clipping of the obituary notice printed in The Times five days ago. The knowledge of his death settled around her as black as the darkness surrounding her carriage. The lantern flickered with the sway of the carriage as she slid her gaze over the paragraph that extolled Bow Street Sheriff John Stafford’s criminal expertise, and past the mention of his involvement in The Cato Street Conspiracy. A man’s life reduced to two paragraphs. For the hundredth time since she'd first read the obituary, she settled her gaze on the final line.
September 1837, John Stafford died in his London home.
Phoebe refolded the clipping, set it on her lap, and pulled another document from her reticule. She ran her fingers along the age-yellowed edges of the only letter her father had written to her mother, the letter she had shown John Stafford when she'd visited him in his home five years ago. She unfolded the foolscap and, with a deep breath, began reading. Her lips moved in tandem with the words she'd long ago memorized.
May 20, 1820
My Dearest Amelia,
Please forgive this letter so long overdue. I am well and I have found safe haven—at least for the moment. You have, no doubt, heard the news that I am wanted for high treason, and now you know that my suspicions were correct. Amelia, you cannot know how my accusers make even the most abhorrent criminal look like one of God’s angels. I sorely underestimated the depth of their deceit. Fool that I am, I did not anticipate being branded a traitor in their stead.
I know your heart is heavy, my love, but no more so than mine. It is shocking to learn that one’s leaders are willing to sacrifice their countrymen for money and power. Ironically, had I known then what I now know, I would be guilty of their accusations. Do not shudder. I know I speak treason, but you cannot comprehend the fine line between reason and desperation when all choices have been eliminated.
Would it shock you to hear that I relish the day I shall destroy my accusers? They have taken all I hold dear: you, our darling Phoebe and, lastly, my freedom. While I cannot like Arthur Thistlewood—his motives are not pure as he would have us believe—in one thing he was right: those few rich and powerful men who rule supreme in our society have stolen our rights.
I have a plan, which, of course, I cannot elaborate upon here, but I must uncover the truth. Otherwise…well, otherwise, I am no better than Thistlewood—or those men who brought him to justice.
I do not know when I will have another opportunity to write. Give Phoebe my love, and do not despair. I have not.
Your loving husband,
Mason
It wasn't until her mother's death ten years ago that Phoebe learned her father sent this letter. The letter, hidden amongst her mother's personal correspondence, had been folded with a newspaper clipping dated February 24, 1820, the day after the Spencean Society's planned assassination of the Cabinet. The newspaper clipping, a statement made by Lord Sidmouth to the London Gazette concerning the charge of high treason against Thistlewood and his murder of bow street runner Richard Smithers, also mentioned the bounty on Thistlewood's head. The paragraphs were framed by a note written in her father's hand on the sides.
Sidmouth could not have yet known that Thistlewood killed Smithers. Here is proof positive the noose had been put around Thistlewood's neck before he even planned the assassinations.
"Why?" Phoebe whispered. Why had her father been falsely accused and why had he cared that the government ensured Thistlewood's capture? Thistlewood was a known murderer, a man—a sharp sideways jostle yanked Phoebe back to the present.
“What in—”
Another jolt cut short the exclamation.
Phoebe yanked back the curtain and peered into the darkness. No lights dotted the countryside as they should have and the moonlit sky revealed open fields beyond the road.
She quickly refolded the letter and clipping, stuffed them into her reticule, then opened the door an inch and called, “Where are we, Calders? I don’t recognize this road.”
“Taking a shortcut, Miss,” came the muffled reply.
“Wha—" The coach listed, and she slammed the door with the force of the movement, tumbling back against the cushion. "By heavens."
Phoebe seized the handle again. The door was yanked from her grasp and flung open. A man filled the doorway. Phoebe jerked back as a rush of air guttered the lantern flame. Her heart jumped when she lost sight of the intruder for an instant, then the light flared to life again. The man gripped the side of the open doorway of the slowing carriage, one leg braced on the floor. She took in eyes bluer than any she'd ever seen, an angled face, and a fit body leaning forward on one powerful leg—a leg clad in finely cut trousers. Thievery paid well these days!
She cut her gaze to his and he grinned. Phoebe pooled her strength. Understanding flickered in his eyes the instant before she kicked his shoulder with a slippered foot. With a loud grunt, he toppled from the coach. She lunged forward, caught hold of the flapping door, and hung her head out the doorway, scanning the road behind for the brigand. The coach was slowing even more, and her heart leapt higher in her throat when he jumped to his feet and starting toward them.
“Calders,” she yelled, “lay whip to the horses. Quickly!”
The coach halted and she tumbled through the door, and landed on her side. A dull pain throbbed deep in her shoulder. She pushed onto an elbow and fingered the tender place on her arm. No blood. Thank God she'd worn a cloak.
The carriage creaked and Phoebe looked up to see the murky form of her coachman as he dropped to the ground. She scrambled to her feet and turned in the direction of the highwayman. He wasn’t hastening to them as expected, but strolled forward while dusting off his trousers. She turned on unsteady feet to face Calders and her eyes came into sharp focus upon the face of a stranger.
She recoiled, then narrowed her eyes on him. “Where's Calders. What have you done with him? If you harmed him—”
"Never fear, madam, he is unharmed."
Phoebe whirled at the sound of the velvet, deep voice belonging to the highwayman.
"I promise," he said, "Calders was simply delayed.”
A sudden pounding of hooves riveted her attention onto the distant shadowy forms of four approaching horsemen.
“There!” one of the newcomers shouted. “There she is.”
She looked back at the highwayman in time to see him step toward her. He seized her arm. She tried to yank free, but he began dragging her toward the carriage.
“Mather,” he said in a low voice, “get this coach underway. Now."
Phoebe dug her heels into the ground and was abruptly hauled over his shoulder. She cried out, but he didn't slow his pace. 
“Release me, you fool!" she shouted. His shoulder dug into her stomach with each long, hurried stride he took. Phoebe kicked, despite the pain.
"Be still" he ordered, and clamped his arm down on her legs.
She thrashed harder. A shot rang out. She jerked her head up, but found herself tossed onto the cushions of the carriage. 
The highwayman jumped into the carriage after her. “Damnation.” He slammed the door shut. “They mean to put a ball through me.”
He pounded on the coach roof and it lurched into motion. Phoebe clutched at the door handle, but pitched forward despite the effort. Her captor shoved her back against the cushions, holding her firm as he pulled back the curtain and peered out the window.
“Bloody hell.” He looked at her. “Fine time for shenanigans.”
She frowned. “Perhaps you should keep a tighter hand on your band.”
“They are not my band, madam.” His gaze was still fixed out the window. “They are, however, a persistent band and will reach us momentarily.” He twisted to look in the direction they were headed, then pounded on the carriage roof and shouted, “Mather, make for that abandoned farm up ahead.”
The carriage veered and Phoebe bounced left and right despite his hold on her. Stories of runaway carriages conjured pictures of broken necks and twisted bodies, and she envisioned herself pitching forward head first into the opposite seat. The arm pinning her to the cushions suddenly encircled her waist. Another jolt of the carriage, and her unwanted companion yanked her tight against his chest.
Her senses flooded with the aroma of wool and musky sandalwood. They listed when the carriage swayed perilously to one side. Phoebe seized his lapel and buried her face deeper in his chest. If there was a God in heaven, she would land on the brigand when the carriage rolled and he would break his neck while saving hers.
The carriage halted. He threw back the door and jumped to the ground, dragging her with him. The farmhouse stood a few feet away. Phoebe scanned the distance. The riders approached at a gallop and would soon reach the barn that sat sixty feet from the house. The highwayman grabbed her hand and started around the side of the ramshackle farmhouse. She started to yank free, but hesitated. Two bands of extortionists? Why—and which was the more dangerous?
They rounded the building, then he pushed her against the wall, and demanded, “Which of your other admirers am I dealing with?”
Other admirers? Phoebe flushed. Adam.
This was a phenomenal read!!!  A must have for all Historical romance readers!!   As well as book 1:
How does a woman tell her betrothed that she murdered her first husband? 
Shipwrecked in the Scottish Highlands, American heiress Elise Kingston quietly plans revenge for the deaths of her daughter and the brother who sacrificed his life to save her. 
When Marcus MacGregor, Marquess of Ashlund, returns to his Highland home to discover a stunning American woman has been taken in by his clan, his attraction is instant and he resolves to make her his--no matter what secret she's keeping. 
Elise is shocked by her need for Marcus and, too late, discovers that her feelings make him a target of her enemy--a man powerful enough to destroy even a Scottish nobleman

To celebrate the release of Book 2, Tarah is giving away a copy of each!!  Just fill out the rafflecopter to enter!!  Good luck!!
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Friday, April 26, 2013

Review: Games of Fate By Kris Austen Radcliffe

Book BLURB:

 GAMES OF FATE  
Contains Adult Sexual Content and some violent imagery.
Rysa Torres misses information.  Loses concentration.  Her attention problems randomize her life but she pushes forward anyway, doing the best she can—until monsters activate a part of her she didn’t know she had. 
As visions of the future whip inside her head, Rysa realizes the truth:  She’s a Fate. 
And she will set fire to the world.
All her options explode.  Her family ripped away, what little control she had destroyed, Rysa is left with one choice:  Will she die to stop the coming flames, or will she allow the man and the dragon she loves to die in her place?

 Games of Fate begins Fate ~ Fire ~ Shifter ~ Dragon, a new Urban Fantasy series with Strong Romantic Elements by Kris Austen Radcliffe.  Set in the open spaces of America, the series takes Rysa and Ladon—and Ladon’s companion beast, Dragon—through a landscape punctuated by unfamiliar creatures:  Fates with the ability to see past, present, and future.  Ghouls called Burners who devour with fire and acid.  Shifters who shape much more than their bodies.  And two dragons who speak with color and pattern.
 It starts here, now, with one young woman’s fight against a burning future—and against the death of the man she loves. 

Also available:  Prolusio: Three Stories of Fates, Fire, Shifters and Dragons
PROLUSIO:
Contains some violent imagery.
Three short stories set in the Fate ~ Fire ~ Shifter ~ Dragon universe, Prolusio sets the stage for Games of Fate, also available now.
In Texas, a struggling rock star attempts a comeback.  Fire, though, has other ideas. 
In Wisconsin, Shifters do what they do best—anger a dragon. 
And in Minnesota, a mother struggles to free herself from the bonds of a fate she cannot escape.



BIO:  As a child, Kris took down a pack of hungry wolves with only a hardcover copy of The Dragonriders of Pern and a sharpened toothbrush.  That fateful day set her on a path traversing many storytelling worlds—dabbles in film and comic books, time as a talent agent and a textbook photo coordinator, and a foray into nonfiction.  After co-authoring Mind Shapes: Understanding the Differences in Thinking and Communication, Kris returned to academia.  But she craved narrative and a richly-textured world of Fates, Shifters, Burners, and Dragons—and unexpected, true love. 

Kris lives in Minnesota with her husband, two daughters, an Handsome Cat, and an entire menagerie of suburban wildlife bent on destroying her house.  That battered-but-true copy of “Dragonriders”?  She found it yesterday.  It’s time to pay a visit to the woodpeckers.

ONLINE LINKS:
·         Website:  http://www.sixtalonsign.com/novels/
·         Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKrisAustenRadcliffe or my profile account, if you want to see the snarkier me:  http://www.facebook.com/kris.austenradcliffe
·         Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KrisRadcliffe
o       It’s best to use Facebook to contact me.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/krisradcliffe

BUY NOW LINK:
·         Amazon   http://www.amazon.com/Games-Fate-Fantasy-Shifter-ebook/dp/B00B7PI158/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1362593701&sr=8-2&keywords=Games+of+Fate
·         Barnes and Noble   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/games-of-fate-kris-austen-radcliffe/1114675526?ean=2940044288362

Kris also has a street team...which after you read this book?  I am so sure you will join!!  Its fantastic!!
http://www.sixtalonsign.com/novels/fate-fire-shifter-dragon-street-team-info/

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This was my first experience with Kris Austen's writing, but I can guarantee it will not be my last.  I completely connected with Rysa and her struggles with ADD...lol.  Even though it was set in a fantastical world, the characters were very realistic.  This book literally sucks you in from the first paragraph and refuses to release you until you finish it.  I was fortunate (or unfortunate for my sleep..lol) to begin my journey into this book at night when my babies were in bed.  It is a book you will not want to put down.  It has everything you would want in a fabulous book:  dragons(caught that I put that first ehh?), adventure, romance, violence, and a roller coaster ride of fabulous that doesn't release, even when the story is through!! It's a great mix of urban fantasy and paranormal romance.  After all:  Rysa is a Fate, and her journey into becoming one was not easy, and proved to by an extraordinary adventure!!  I can't wait for the next book!!  Excellent Read!



Thursday, April 25, 2013

Review: Silencing Breath by Joanne Brothwell


Silencing Breath, book two in the Stealing Breath series.

Just as Sarah Ross is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an Indigo Child and settling into a normal life with her beloved Evan, her entire world shatters when Evan disappears without a trace. 

Desperate to find him, Sarah’s search leads her to a sadistic serial killer who confirms her worst fears are true; Evan has been kidnapped, and he is once again in the clutches of his abusive family of necromancers. 

Sarah uncovers not only Evan's dark past he tried so desperately to protect her from, but also The Key of Solomon, an ancient text for summoning the dead.

Knowing her abilities are limited in the face of this ancient power, Sarah is forced to face the Malandanti in order to save him. However, one question remains: once he is found, will Evan be the same man she fell in love with?
My Review:

This was truly a phenomenal  sequel to the action-packed introduction Stealing Breath.  We begin with our star-crossed heroes settling into their now comfortable lives.  It had been two years since the last attack and Evan and Sarah have stopped looking over their shoulders and started rebuilding their relationship.  They should have known better.  Evan's evil brother is bent on revenge and has resurrected a shocking ally from the grave.  The work together to not only kidnap Evan, but begin the "cleansing" process to bring him back to their side.  The throw unimaginable tortures upon him and allow his spirit and body to slowing die.  Is there no hope for our hero?

Sarah gathers her friends together again and researches every angle for possible clues.  How did this happen?  There are some surprising developments inside her circle of friends and some lives are lost.  When they finally free Evan, he is no longer the man she fell in love with and their connection to each other is severed.  Can Sarah find a way to bring him back?

This book ends on a horrible awesome cliffhanger!!  I was so mad, but it was a happy mad.  I desperately begin searching for book 3 and found to my immense relief that it was out and is now in my possession!  I simply must know how this story concludes!  It was that good!!  I really enjoyed the suspense, the build-up, the plot twists, and the character changes.  This definitely keeps you on your toes!!  Excellent read and I am still loving the unique concepts behind the story.  This is a must read for paranormal lovers!!

 

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Giveaway and Guest Post with authors Laura Wright & Alexandra Ivy and their series Bayou Heat

INK AND METAL

Yup. We’re bringing you ink and metal with the next Bayou Heat duology! Well, Jean-Baptiste is. This Pantera male has a reason for all the tats and piercings he has on his spectacular body. Of course I can’t share that with you without ruining the book. But picture this: Tall, dark, broad, and waves of muscle with ink running over it. Still with me? GoodJ Silver hoops through his plump lower lip. Hoop through one tight nipple. Gone? No? GoodJ
Jean-Baptiste is growling with approvalJ
So, what’s your pleasure – tats or no tats?


New Year. New World. New Species.
LEGEND OF THE PANTERA
Hidden in the depths of the Louisiana bayous, the Pantera, have become little more than a legend to most humans. It’s rumored that in the ancient past twin sisters, born of magic, had created a sacred land and claimed it as their own. From that land was born creatures who were neither human or animal, but a mixture of the two. Faster and stronger than humans, they have hyper acute senses, and when surrounded by the magic of the Wildlands they’re capable of shifting into pumas. It was also whispered that they possess other gifts. Telepathy, witchcraft, immortality, and the ability to produce a musk that could enthrall mere mortals. Mothers warned young girls never to roam alone near the swamps, convinced that they would be snatched by the Pantera, while young men were trained to avoid hunting anywhere near the protected Wildlands. Not that the warnings were always successful. What girl didn’t dream of being seduced by a gorgeous, mysterious stranger? And what young man didn’t want to try his skill against the most lethal predators?
As the years passed, however, the sightings of the Pantera became so rare that the rumors faded to myths. Most believed the entire species had become extinct. Sadly they weren’t entirely mistaken...




Raphael & Parish
Book #1 and #2 in the Bayou Heat Series
Available Now:
ONLY $0.99
The brilliant and dangerous diplomat of the Pantera shapeshifters, Raphael has devoted his life to discovering the key to the infertility that is threatening the extinction of his puma race. Creating a vast network of spies worldwide, he never expected to discover that the answer might be beneath his very nose. But when Ashe, a beautiful human female, crosses his path, his most primitive instincts are stirred.
Unable to resist, he takes her to his bed, and is shocked when she becomes pregnant with his child. It’s a miracle that might prove to be the salvation of his people, but only if he can keep her safe from the mercenaries determined to kill her.
Untamed and undeniably sexy, Parish, leader of the Pantera hunters, rarely leaves the magic of the Wildlands to deal with the humans he despises. But with the prized and risky Pantera birth on the way, puma shifter, Parish must travel to New Orleans to find and bring back a human doctor. The moment he sees the lovely, talented and all too human Dr. Julia Cabot he cannot resist the wild, potent drive to make her his. Betrayed and destroyed by love, Julia will not let her heart choose her path again. But as she and Parish fight to save the life of an unborn child, a fierce and overwhelming bond develops between them, threatening her frozen heart with the secret hope and ultimate temptation of love and family.



Bayon & Jean-Baptiste
Bayou Heat Series, #3 and #4
Available now for Only $0.99
The fight continues in the Wildlands. Facing extinction, the Pantera have been given a miracle. A child. The first one in over fifty years. But even as they prepare to celebrate, the enemy strikes, putting at risk the fragile female who carries the hope of their people.

BAYON
Charming, drop-dead gorgeous Hunter Bayon is thirsting for revenge on the enemies who slipped into the Wildlands and attacked Ashe and her vulnerable child. Pledging to track down the cowards, Bayon goes on the hunt, pursuing the humans to a nearby town. But searching their shabby hideaway, he makes a discovery that shocks him to his very soul and might very well destroy the heart of the Pantera.

JEAN-BAPTISTE
Tattooed and pierced, sexy Nurturer Jean-Baptiste has been living in utter isolation. His cat is out of control, and the only thing that soothes the beast is a rare mineral he keeps inking into his skin. Until he meets her: Genevieve Burel. The beautiful and buttoned-up female puma is unlike anyone he’s ever met. She makes his cat purr, and he knows he must possess her, mate with her. But the secret she's keeping might threaten not only their unbridled passion for one another, but the very future of the Pantera race.




Alexandra Ivy & Laura Wright Bio's
About Laura:

Author of the Bestselling Mark of the Vampire series, Laura Wright spent the early years of her life immersed in the worlds of singing, acting and competitive ballroom dancing. But when she started writing, she knew she’d found her true calling. Laura lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband, two children, three dogs, two frogs and two fish. She’s been thrice nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and loves hearing from her readers. 

Connect with Laura: 

About Alexandra: 



Alexandra Ivy is the New York Times bestselling author of the Guardians of Eternity series, the Immortal Rogues series and the Sentinels. 


Alexandra graduated from Truman University with a degree in theatre before deciding she preferred to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She currently lives in Missouri with her extraordinarily patient husband and teenage sons. 


Connect with Alexandra: 




Bayou Heat II Tour Schedule 



























4/23- GraveTells





































Giveaway Details:
Alexandra and Laura are giving away the following prizes on their tour:
Grand Prize:  $50.00 gift Card to Amazon or B&N
Runners-Up:  FIVE Runners-Up will receive an eBook of Bayon/Jean-Baptiste and a Bayou Heat SWAG Pack
(If you haven't read the first book Raphael/Parish you can substitute for that book)
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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Giveaway and Review of Aphrodite's Secret by Samantha Ketteman


Title: Aphrodite’s Secret
Author: Samantha Ketteman
Series: The Forgotten (Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Publisher:  Self Published
Release Date: Feb 28 2013
Edition/Formats Available In:  E~book  & Print
Synopsis: 
  Kaira, still reeling from the loss of her younger sister in a tragic boating accident, lives in the dark world of exotic dancing for survival. When one man enters her life, her world is turned upside down and inside out, where reality and fantasy seem to intertwine.
Kaira feels the eyes of a striking man watching her every move on stage. Zane is a scarred man with many secrets, one of which is the knowledge of who and what Kaira really is and the danger she will face.
While Zane fights a subconscious battle about what to tell her and whether he cares enough to get involved, another has noticed her as well. An Ithacan, sent to destroy her for what she is and take her powers to the God that has commanded all Forgotten be exterminated. The God intends to absorb her powers and rule absolutely.
Before Kaira realizes what is coming for her, she finds herself tumbling into a world where a scarred man that she is inexplicably attracted to will become her only hope. A hideous creature, one such as she’s never seen, is hunting her and trying his best to destroy everything and everyone she knows to get what he wants for his Master, and only Zane knows why.
While Kaira thinks it coincidence that Zane shows up at the club the girls like to frequent after work, Zane uses the planned interception to explore the pull that he feels towards Kaira, when he has cared for no one but himself for so many years. After finally meeting, Zane notices that the Ithacan has also followed and as their eyes meet, they both know that the battle for her soul will come; who will win is less important as the insistence Zane feels to tell Kaira who and what she is before she ends up like her sister.
Links
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Aphrodites-Secret-Novel-Forgotten-ebook/dp/B00BLVB9M0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362676963&sr=8-1&keywords=Samantha+Ketteman
Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17458055-aphrodite-s-secret

Author Information
  Samantha Ketteman has resided in southern Illinois for 7 years, (though still claims to be an Alabama girl), with her husband and three crazy demon children. She started reading novels at a very young age and decided two years ago to write for herself. She is working on The Forgotten series, as well as two others. She is a caffiene addict, insomniac, and general basketcase most of the time. When she's not writing, she's thinking of writing, much to the chagrin of her husband who has to listen to her paranormal ramblings.
Social Media Links
Amazon Author Page
http://www.amazon.com/Samantha-Ketteman/e/B00BM30CUW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Blog 
http://samanthaketteman.blogspot.com/
Facebook Author Page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-Ketteman-Author-Page/334974643286916
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/samantha.ketteman.9
G+
https://plus.google.com/105666303084567030732/posts
Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6970009.Samantha_Ketteman
Twitter
https://twitter.com/SamKetteman
Excerpt 
  Kaira smiled, gave Ronnie a little hug, and hurried in the back door of the club,
down the hall, and into the dancers’ dressing room. Great, I get to follow Honey, she
thought. Honey had never liked Kaira, was downright mean and hateful to her. Not a
great way to start off the night. When she had to follow Honey, she worked hard not to
get too many tips, even going as far as pretending not to see the money waving at her
from the end of the stage. If she made too much in tips, it would further enrage Honey
and she would have to hear the woman’s tirade about how she was offering special
services after hours in order to gain more tips during her show. Everyone knew that
Jonathon, the owner of Diamond Darlins, would never allow such activities, but it never
stopped Honey from insinuating it before.
  Kaira sighed, placing her knock-off designer bag on the top of her assigned
vanity and sank into the overstuffed but still comfortable zebra patterned seat. Just
another night, you can do this, she thought. This was one of the best clubs she had ever
worked in, and she had always had to deal with women like Honey in every club. The
difference was, in those clubs, the rules weren’t nearly as strict and the customers weren’t
nearly as monitored either. What kind of name is Honey anyway, she thought. There was
always some version of the name Honey, or something similar that women seemed to
automatically associate with exotic dancing. Couldn’t they come up with something
original, she mused?


COMING SOON!!
There is a tour wide giveaway!!!  Fill out the rafflecopter for your chance to win some fabulous prizes!! Good Luck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners!!!




Let's give out some prizes!!


And the winner is Nay Nay!!!


and the winners are:  Shadow, Latochia Bell, and Wanda Flanagan!!


And the winner is....Pommawolf!!


Truly, you are all winners on this blog and I thank you so much for your support!!!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Dianna Hardy Guest Post with her book Cry of the Wolf

A Different Kind Of Werewolf Story
by Dianna Hardy

If I’m writing a series, book two is always when things take off. No, often you’ll have no idea what book two will be like based on book one (that also happened with The Witching Pen series) and the same can go for books three and four. It’s not just a “writing development” thing – it’s actually how I choose to write. I get bored easily (really easily), and I’m often bored writing (and reading, actually) unless there is something happening in every chapter, or some important emotion or thought process being played out. I like – need –  my characters to surprise me too, therefore, they will probably end up surprising you.

Cry Of The Wolf was always going to be “different” to book one, but in my head it’s not that different, because in my head book one always led to book two – I always knew what the story was going to be and if you read book one again, after reading book two, you’ll see the hints.

I like my book series to play out like a TV series – always. Fast-paced, action-packed, with unexpected turns; also, new characters and many layers introduced at once.

Cry Of The Wolf follows that formula.

How do you like your book series to play out?



Excerpt

On impulse she grabbed his folded shirt, scrunched it up to her nose and breathed it in. Her heart ached. Did he not know? Did he not know it was his scent, him, that had saved her life … his scent on her blouse?
No, because you never told him…
Damn it.
Selfish idiot. There you go, shutting people out again.
She whipped off the top she’d just put on and slipped his shirt on instead without bothering to button it up, the way it smelled – all green and musky – taking her back to that night she’d been so confused, and in so much pain… “Your scent was the only thing that kept me sane,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
She all but screamed as she turned to face the door.
Taylor stood there, naked, hands and feet muddied, smudges of dirt all over his body, brown hair tousled, green eyes shining in apology.
“I didn’t hear you.”
“I was quiet.”
“I didn’t smell you.”
“Because you’re wearing my shirt.” Desire darkened his eyes at those words, but only for a second, and then he was back to apologetic.

Cry Of The Wolf is now available in eBook format, and will be published in paperback on 25th April. All info: http://www.diannahardy.com/cry-of-the-wolf.html


Dianna Hardy is a multi-genre author of paranormal things, dark things, poetic things, sexy things, taboo things, and sometimes funny things. Writes about witches, demons and angels … and now werewolves. All info can be found on her website DiannaHardy.com

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Giveaway and Guest Post by the Sandra Bunino


Location, location, location!

Three of the most important words in real estate also apply to writing. While some authors subscribe to the notion of ambiguity regarding the location of their stories so readers can form their own opinion as to exactly where the story takes place, the actual location is as important as the main characters in my books.
                                                   
Why? Locations are sexy. They set the tone without having to describe the setting in great detail. Allow me to show you...

What do you think of when you picture New York City?

Bustling, Cosmopolitan, Imposing, Intense, Energized

These five adjectives describe my BDSM-lite series, The Satin Rose Experience (SRE), perfectly! SRE is an elite members-only BDSM club in the heart of Manhattan. The club contains ten uniquely themed suites, each with its own story to tell. Sexy-as-Sin Dom Asher Cane heads the SRE operations. He has everything except what he craves, the sub-curious Mia Lavender.



Here’s a snippet from MIA’S SUBMISSION (SRE, Book 1)...

            Suite Five couldn’t have been any more different from the warmth and luxury of Suite Eight where Asher fulfilled a fantasy she’d only dreamed about before last night. After she was blindfolded, he’d secured her wrists and ankles with silky restraints. Warmth flooded her pussy when she recalled the slow tracings of the riding crop over her sensitive skin. Mia sensed her first real training session would be a different experience. She shivered as her gaze darted around the small windowless room, settling on the large, black-framed bed dominating the suite. A simple, stark white quilt covered the bed. The half dozen fluffy pillows lining the black wooden headboard were the only indication of luxury. Two small side tables with matching lamps flanked the bed. A floor-to-ceiling armoire completed the set. The only color in the room was another red envelope taped to one of many mirrors on the pale eggshell walls. She peeled the envelope from the largest mirror; her name was written neatly on the front.
            She slid her index finger under the flap to break the seal and unfolded the page.
            Mia,
            Welcome to training.
            You’ll find clothing hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Wear your hair in a tight bun at the nape of your neck. You have thirty minutes to get prepared. Stand in the far corner facing the wall and do not move or speak until you hear further direction from me.
            Asher
            PS ~ Don’t forget our safe word.


Okay, let’s travel south to...South Beach, Miami, Florida

Hot, Sultry, Sexy, Hurricanes, Get-Away

South Beach is the setting for the first half of my new release, Marooned with the Millionaire. Jason and Stephanie are “marooned” in a boutique style hotel during a fierce Miami storm. It was the perfect setting for this scene...



            Stephanie sipped her martini while glancing over to the window. The storm showed no signs of letting up. In fact, it seemed to grow even more fierce. As if on cue, a violent crack of thunder ripped through the lounge as the rain angrily batted at the window. Carlos poured her yet another martini and she lost count of how many times he’d refilled her glass. Was this the third or the fourth? She knew one thing for sure: Jason Royce was sexy as hell. The way his blue eyes sparkled, as the candlelight flickered shadows against his tanned features, rocked her to her core.
            Stealing a glance at his strong, muscular build beneath his sports jacket caused her breath to catch in her throat. Until today, she hadn’t thought of another man this way, not since before she was married. As if in a trance, she couldn’t break her stare. However, she quickly became aware of his smile. He watched her drink him in, which made her blush and turn her head in embarrassment.
            Jason moved closer and spoke slowly in his silky voice. “I wonder if you might dance with me.”
            “I’d like that.” Whoa. What the hell am I doing?
            He led her to the dance floor illuminated only with candlelight and the occasional flash of lightning. Placing one hand in his and the other on his back, their bodies started out a respectable distance apart. Before long, Jason’s warmth drew her in, and she couldn’t ignore the electricity forming between them. Tentatively, she stepped closer and lightly rested her head against his neck. Jason took this as a cue to guide her hand up and over his shoulder. Suddenly, his strong hands urgently pulled her against his rock hard body. The force of his embrace awakened a passion that lay dormant inside her until now. Stephanie couldn’t fight the fire building within her. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, inhaling his musky scent while caressing his neck with her fingertips. Her face grazed up the side of his neck, stopping at his jawbone. Jason’s touch seared her skin as his fingertips skimmed up her side to her neck and came to rest on her chin. With his thumb and finger, he guided her face upward and she opened her eyes. His smoldering gaze burned a trail down her body. Uncomfortable with the intensity of his stare, she looked away.
            “Stephanie.”
            Her eyes shifted back to meet his gaze as he lowered his mouth and softly brushed his lips against hers, questioning her, awaiting a response. Accepting his invitation, she parted her lips and moaned softly. His lips were soft and enticing. It had been a long time since she was kissed like this. She surrendered her tongue to his and felt desire fill her belly as an overwhelming passion grew by the moment. Breathlessly, she pulled away, embarrassed by her body’s reaction to the kiss. She looked down and pressed her forehead against his chin.
            “I don’t know why I did that. I need to go sit down.”


Last one, pack your bags because we’re going to Vegas, baby! I get excited just thinking about this locale.

Risk, Gamble, Glamour, Money, Opulence



Sin City is the place Jason and Stephanie end up reuniting in Marooned with the Millionaire. One of my favorite things to do in Vegas is to watch the music choreographed fountains of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. So of course, I had to include a fountain scene...



            “Are you ready for surprise number one?” Jason asked as the server removed their dinner plates.
            He rose and walked to her side of the table. She closed her eyes as a finger grazed the nape of her neck before he pulled her chair out and took her arm in his. She trembled in response to his sizzling touch on her bare back as he lead her through the doorway to the outside terrace. The maître d handed Jason and Stephanie each a glass of port as they walked onto an outdoor patio that jutted over the edge of the building. A cool breeze blew through her hair but she was instantly warmed by a sip of the rich liquid.
            “It’s beautiful. I’ve seen the fountains at street level before but never this high up,” Stephanie said, walking up to the railing. She couldn’t actually hear the activity on the busy boulevard from their location high above The Strip, but the intensity in the air was evident. She gazed down at the famous fountains of The Castillo Hotel & Casino.
            Jason took the port from her hand and placed the glasses on a nearby table. Stephanie instinctively leaned into the warmth of his palm on the bare small of her back. A sigh escaped her lips as his hand slipped inside the fabric of her dress and ventured lower until his fingertips brushed the top of her ass. The lights on the terrace dimmed and music began to play. A flash of light from the water below signaled a single long spray from the middle of the lake. It multiplied and set off a continuous line of water in the air that moved forward and back with the music. As the water danced in the air, the music’s volume increased. Stephanie placed both hands on the railing. He moved behind her and ran his fingers up the planes of her back and down both of her arms. Continuing his assault of warm kisses down her neck and between her shoulder blades, the tip of his tongue followed the trail back up her neck and stopped at her ear. Stephanie gasped and leaned into his body for support. His arms provided the stability she needed to remain standing.
            “My self-control is giving out,” Jason whispered in her ear as his hand inched upward taking her dress hem along with it. Stephanie felt the evidence of his arousal pressing firmly against her back. She tilted her head up to meet his gaze.
            “Let’s go,” she said with a coy smile.

See what I mean? Location is key! Where are my characters going next? I’m venturing outside of the United States and currently have two works-in-progress set in Paris. I also have a Vegas trip booked, so I think it’s time for Asher to open a second Satin Rose Experience in Sin City. I can’t think of a better location for a posh BDSM club, can you?

Bio:
Sandra Bunino is a numbers crunching business professional by day who stays up past her bedtime thanks to her oh-so-sexy imagination. Who needs sleep, anyway? Sandra is constantly searching for different ways to achieve a heart-pumping, stomach-flipping, breath-catching reaction from her readers.

Her books include Marooned with the Millionaire and The Satin Rose Experience series including Mia’s Submission, Brooke’s Wish and The Submission of a Mafia Princess.
These days, Sandra lives on a wooded mountaintop not far from New York City with her family. She always looks forward to hearing from her readers and she may be contacted at sbunino@gmail.com. As a social media junkie in need of a ten-step program, you can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@sandrabunino).


Follow Sandra here:


Remember, following is sexy!




Thanks for having me on Close Encounters with the Night Kind, Nikki! I’d love your readers to escape to a sexy locale with a great book so I’m giving away one “Reader Escape Package” ($5 Amazon & $5 Starbucks GCs) to a randomly chosen commenter. Just tell me the sexiest location you can think of. Don’t forget to leave your e-mail address so we know how to contact you!


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