Meet My Character Blog Tour

For this Meet My Character blog tour I was tagged by N.R. Champagne.

N. R. Champagne has always been something of a gypsy. Currently she lives in Scotland with her husband and no kids, dogs, cats, or birds, where she reads, writes, and rambles in the woods. Her debut novel, Prodigal Angel, is a paranormal fantasy/sci-fi adventure that tells the story of Miranda, an engineer who falls in love with a powerful immortal who is a descendant of the Fallen Angels, and all the trouble this lands her in.

Now, to the questions that are part of this blog tour, and that refer to the main character in one of my works in progress:

1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person? 

Ambrosia is the fictional daughter of the infamous Medusa. In Greek mythology, Medusa had a son, not a daughter...so she is entirely new!

2) When and where is the story set? 

Ancient Greece

3) What should we know about him/her? 

She a prostitute that works in Hercules' brothel, and was raised by the Fates believing that her mother has been slayed by Perseus.

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life? 

She ends up falling in love with Perseus—the man who killed her mother. Ambrosia was raised being told it was her destiny to kill him to avenge Medusa.

5) What is the personal goal of the character? 

This changes a bit...originally, her goal was to find Perseus and kill him. Simple, right? But she finds out he was not successful in killing Medusa, so her interests shift to convincing him to take her to the cave where her mother is kept. The new plan is to free her mother, and then kill Perseus.

6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it? 

It's titled THE SPAWN OF MEDUSA (Book 1 in the Villain's Love series), and youc an read about this (and all of my other books/works in progress) on my website.

7) When can we expect the book to be published? 

Soon! July 4^th!

As part of this blog tour, I have tagged five very gifted authors. You will be able to find their character info on their blogs:

Carole Gill: 

I've always written but life, as it often does, got in the way and I turned back to writing some years ago.  In 2000 I was selected by North West Playwrights of England for further development but found I preferred writing fiction (novels and short stories).  I took up a challenge to write 52 stories this year. I began New Year's Day.  I am keeping up with it.  My publisher, Creativies, will be publishing the stories.

Currently, I have a four-novel series out, The Blackstone Vampires, which is historically based horror.  I have just completed the first novel in a second series.  I'm always writing.  My husband does pry me away from the laptop once a week.  He insists because he doesn't like living with a crazy lady.

 
Bella Roccaforte:  My motto has always been that you can choose to watch life pass you by or your can be the one spinning the world.  You have to get out and live, life won’t come to you!
Writing is just one of my passions that I’m lucky enough to be able to express. I also love music, reading, but most of all spending time with my kiddos. I’m a “chatty Cathy” so be warned if you meet me in person, I might just talk your ear off. I find every person I meet incredibly fascinating, because I love hearing other points of view on life.
The characters in INK are very near and dear to my heart. Some are very closely fashioned after real people in the real world. Many of the experiences that Shay has had actually happened, of course there haven’t been any murders – oh wait there were but not like in the book. That’s a whole other series!
INK is currently slated to be a 6 book series. I hope that you enjoy INK: Fine Lines and fall in love with Aiden and Eli just like I did!
I grew up in New England where my entire extended family lives, but have lived all over the country. I currently call Atlanta, GA home. There’s a reason they call it HOTlanta – good God!

J.M. Northrup: J.M. Northup is an American author with the independent publisher, Creativia. She launched her writing career with her debut novel, FEARS OF DARKNESS (the 1st installment of The Fears of Dakota Series). She then released a novella of poetry entitled, SOUL SEARCHING and a second novel, A PRISONER WITHIN. She continues to research and develop new projects.

Chantal Bellehumeur:  I am a multi-genre author who always loved to write but never thought about publishing anything until a friend of mine told me I should.

Before that, I was more interested in acting. I performed in a couple of amateur stage showed and joined a Youth run Theatre Company. I was also an extra in a few commercials, TV shows and movies.
My love for acting soon got replaced with the love for my son. I... made him my number one priority. I found it easier to write on my spare time than to work around other people's schedules to act. I found that I had to use some of my acting training to write since I had to put myself in the shoes of the characters I created.
I currently have 9 books available to purchase. One of them is a compilation of my family oriented short stories originally published in The Suburban's Online Magazine.
My poem "Hiding in the Wilderness" and short story "Born to Sing" were featured in the 2014 Aspire to Inspire Women Writer's Anthology, which instantly became a best seller.
More of my poetry was featured in the anthology “Words of Fire and Ice,” which quickly reached the #1 Bestseller status on both the Poetry Multi-Author Anthologies and Poetry Anthologies via Smashwords.

My short stories ''Rain or Shine'' and ''the Experiment Gone Wrong'' will be featured in the upcoming anthology ''Summer shorts II: Best Kept Secrets.

While I continue to come up with stories, I encourage my son to so some writing of his own since he is full of good ideas and has a big imagination. He reminds me of myself as a child.
I am a single mom and feel very lucky to have my son in my life. I wrote a memoir of motherhood, which was included in the compilation book “They Call me MamaBear” put together by author Amber Royce.  I will republish the memoir independently this summer.

Kat Daemon:  Kat Daemon grew up in New York where her imagination always seemed to get the best of her. When she’s not hanging with demons, she’s usually armed with a strong cup of coffee and dreaming up her next tormented character. 

 

COLLISION by Kate L. Mary: Blog tour

Title: Collision

Author: Kate L. Mary

Genre: New Adult Romantic Mystery

Publication Date: May 2, 2014

Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions

When eighteen-year-old Kara Jones gets into a car accident on the way home from college, she’s left with more than a few bruised ribs, a busted cell phone, and a totaled car. After a slip-up at the hospital, she’s shaken to discover that her family isn’t all it seems. And now her mother’s strange behavior and willingness to do anything to protect her secrets—including pulling Kara out of school—have Kara floundering in the dark.

Enter Derek Miller, a former classmate who’s dealing with family issues of his own. His nerdy charm is too much for Kara to resist, and she’s even more amazed when he agrees to help her dig into her mother’s past. Together they investigate her mother’s old friends and boyfriends, hoping to discover who Kara really is. Instead, they find disturbing connections to the dark history of Kent State University, and an ever expanding maze of mystery surrounding Kara’s birth.

As Kara and Derek chase secrets, she realizes he’s the only person she can trust. But as they get closer to the truth, the disturbing answers reveal a web of evil far darker and further reaching then they’d imagined, leaving Kara to wish she’d never asked the questions in the first place, and to wonder if some secrets are better left untold…

Kate L. Mary is a stay-at-home mother of four and an Air Force wife. She spent most of her life in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio where she and her husband met at the age of twelve. Since their marriage in 2002, they have lived in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and California.

Kate’s love of books and writing has helped her survive countless husbandless nights. She enjoys any post-apocalyptic story – especially if zombies are involved – as long as there is a romantic twist to give the story hope. Kate prefers nerdy, non-traditional heroes who can make you laugh to hunky pieces of man-meat, and her love of wine and chocolate is legendary among her friends and family. She currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and children.

1. I’ve been married for 12 years.

2. I met my husband in my church youth group when we were 12 years old, but we didn’t start dating until nine years later.

3. I’m a stay-at-home mom of four kids, two boys and two girls.

4. My boys are Carter and Chase, and the names were inspired by doctors from television shows we liked at the time. Carter from ER and Chase from House. Girls are Christa and Corinne, and those names came from people we knew.

5. I can probably quote most episodes of Friends by heart, and my husband and I are a lot like Chandler and Monica. I’m an obsessive-compulsive neat freak, and he can never be serious. Plus, we were friends for years before we started dating.

6. My husband is a C-17 pilot in the Air Force.

7. Since we’ve been married, we’ve lived in 6 states (Ohio, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, California and Oklahoma) and moved 7 times.

8. My all-time favorite move is Aliens. I love it so much that sometimes I just put it on for background noise when I write.

9. I love The Walking Dead. LOVE IT. I even have some of the graphic novels and a few Daryl Dixon shirts. When it’s on things get serious in my house. We are not allowed to talk during the show and I do not answer texts, emails or calls.

10. I’m a huge nerd and I love that about myself.

11. When I was in high school I read classic novels almost exclusively. Jane Austen’s books are some of my favorites, but I also love Gone with the Wind.

12. I set my stories in cities I’ve actually lived in or visited, and love having my characters visit real places. Collision is set in the Dayton, Ohio area, where I grew up, and my characters go to a pizza place that is a popular Dayton chain. (And the pizza is amazing.)

13. I’m a wino. Okay, not really a wino, but I love red wine.

14. And chocolate…

15. And coffee.

16. I think every book should have a little bit of romance in it, but I have a hard time reading a romance novel. I always want more plot than that, and I’m particularly into dystopian or post-apocalyptic stories.

17. My favorite city is Charleston, SC. We were stationed there for almost four years and I had the best friends imaginable.

18. I wrote a zombie series with an awesome female main character that will be available from Etopia Press this year!

19. I have a huge girl crush on Jennifer Lawrence. I’m pretty sure I’d leave my husband for her if she asked…

20. My husband is my best friend and I have more fun with him than I’ve ever had with another person.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateLMaryauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmary0622

Author Website: http://katelmary.com/

Author GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8185415.Kate_L_Mary

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kate-L.-Mary/e/B00K48N5EQ

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ucTJNN

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1s9o1VW

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CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE by Julian Rich: Blog tour

 

Title: CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

Author: Julian Rich

Genre: GLBTQ

Blurb:

Two boys at bible camp. One forbidden love.

That’s the dilemma Jonathan Cooper faces when he goes away to Spirit Lake Bible Camp, situated along Minnesota’s rugged north shore, for a summer of fun. He is expecting mosquito bites, bonfires with S’Mores, and photography classes with Simon, his favorite counselor who always helps him see life in perfect focus.

What he isn’t expecting is Ian McGuire, a new camper who openly argues against phrases like pray the gay away. Ian is certain of many things, including what could happen between them if only Jonathan could surrender to his feelings.

Jonathan, however, tosses in a storm of indecision between his belief in God and his inability to stay away from Ian. When a real storm hits and Ian is lost in it, Jonathan is forced to make a public decision that changes his life.

Amazon † Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

Chapter Seven, CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE by Juliann Rich
All rights reserved.

“Hey, wait up! I’ll join you,” Ian called to me as I walked along the beach later that evening, occasionally stopping to pick up and examine a flat, thin stone. Looking for just the right one. “Whatcha doing?”

“Not much. Just skipping rocks.” Spirit Lake stretched in front of us. The sound of laughing voices carried over the campground.
“Cool. I’ve never done that before.”

“Really? It’s easy. Like this.” I leaned back, arm extended, and aimed low so the stone would skim the surface and skip across it. Except it didn’t. My first attempt flopped and sank.
“Like that, huh?” Ian mocked.
“Not exactly.” I picked up another stone, wafer thin and flat, and let it fly. One...two...three...yes, four full skips and then it too sank and disappeared, but man, it was beautiful while it flew! “More like that.” Pride crept into my voice.
“Okay, my turn.” Ian crouched and examined the rocks. He took his time. Finally he chose one, elliptical and rounded at the bottom.
“Mmm, I wouldn’t—”

He stopped me with one glance.

“Oh, okay. Whatever you want.” I grinned.

Ian wound his arm back like a baseball player and pitched the rock. The splash was even bigger than I’d hoped.

“Excellent form, McGuire. You might have broken a record...for the shot put!”
“Aren’t you just hilarious? Fine, you show me. How did you hold your arm?”
I picked up the thinnest, flattest rock I could find and reached back with my arm, waist high and parallel to the ground. Ian stepped behind me. He slid his body against mine and stretched his arm out, pressing it against my arm. The breath from his mouth, hot against my neck, stirred my hair. A shiver ran down my back when he whispered, “Like this, Jonathan?”
“Yeah, I like...um, I mean, yeah, like this. For skipping stones.” My heart pounded. I stepped away and looked at Ian.
“For skipping stones, huh?” His eyes searched mine, looking for the place I never showed anyone. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re really cute when you’re showing off?”
The rock I’d been clutching slipped through my fingers and clattered onto the beach. Panicked, I looked around. Aaron, Sean, and Sara were sitting with a bunch of kids by the bonfire. Jake and his group were hanging down by the dock. I looked back at Ian. “Excuse me?”
“I asked if anyone has ever told you that you’re cute before. Especially when you’re showing off.”
Sara looked in our direction. A frown passed across her face.
“Ian, what are you talking about? I’m not, you know...” My voice came out like a cross between a whisper and a hiss.
“Gay?” Though a cool breeze blew off the lake, I felt myself flush with heat.
“Yeah. I’m not gay,” I whispered.
“That’s good to know. Thanks for clearing that up.” Ian turned his attention back to the lake. He wound his arm back again like a baseball pitcher, gripping a small boulder in his hand.
“Is that what you meant earlier? That I’d be a great junior counselor except that I’m...” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word. An image of the locked safe in my bedroom flashed into my mind. For my coin collection, I’d said, when I had asked for it for Christmas. No coins, just a couple of books. Rainbow High, The Boys and The Bees. And of course, the copy of Boy Meets Boy.
Reading’s just a hobby. It didn’t mean anything, right?
“Yeah, but it was just a crazy thought that flew through my head. I mean, of course you’re not gay. You spent a whole minute sucking face with Bethany today. What gay guy does that?” Ian’s voice dripped sarcasm. His arm snapped forward. The stone soared through the air and splashed into the lake. It sank deeper and deeper through the layers of water, cutting through the strong current until it probed the bottom of Spirit Lake.
I stared at the place where the rock had hit, shattering the perfect surface. The ripples expanded and drifted toward me. “Are you gay?” I whispered.
“What do you think?”

“I think you’re terrible at skipping rocks.”

“Yes, I am, Jonathan. I definitely am.” He chuckled.

As the ripples eased into the vast lake, I told myself that he was only talking about his rock-skipping skills, but I knew better.
Nothing about Ian skimmed the surface.

About The Author

 

Minnesota writer Juliann Rich spent her childhood in search of the perfect climbing tree. The taller the better! Perched on a branch ten to thirty feet off the ground and surrounded by leaves, caterpillars, birds and squirrels was a good place for a young girl to find herself. Seeking truth in nature and finding a unique point of view remain crucial elements in her life as well as her writing.

Juliann is a PFLAG mom who can be found walking Pride parades with her son. She is also the daughter of evangelical Christian parents. As such she has been caught in the crossfire of the most heated topic to challenge our society and our churches today. She is committed to writing stories that shed light on the conflicts that arise when sexual orientation, spirituality, family dynamics and peer relationships collide.

Juliann lives with her husband and their two chronically disobedient dachshunds in the beautiful Minnesota River Valley.   

Website † Blog † Facebook † Twitter 

 

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Andreas Volume 1, 2, 3 THE BILLIONAIRE DOMS OF CLUB PLUTO by Bella Ross: Book Blitz

Title: Andreas (Vol I, II & III) The Billionaire Doms of Club Pluto

Author: Bella Ross

Genre: BDSM/Erotic Romance

Publication Date: May 16, 2014

Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions

One determined Journalist….

Freelance journalist, Genevieve Parker, has just been handed the biggest story of her career. But there’s one problem…Going undercover as a submissive in one of the most exclusive BDSM clubs in the world was more than she bargained for. But that’s nothing compared to the man she meets there. Andreas Contos. Her assignment. Gorgeous. Powerful. Mysterious. Genevieve is fascinated…intrigued. But does her intense attraction and willingness to go places with him she’s never gone before sexually really have to do with writing her exposé? Feeling confused and overwhelmed, every instinct tells her to run before her professional facade comes crashing down…before she has to choose between obligation and desire....

One elusive billionaire…

Greek billionaire, Andreas Contos, is more than he seems. Between the powerful company he keeps and the secrets that lurk behind closed doors, trusting anyone is out of the question – especially the lush and sensual woman he just met. But there is something different about Genevieve – a guarded nature he’s anxious to penetrate. Unable to resist her, Andreas proceeds in taking her under his wing for the night to show her his world – a world of exquisite pleasure. As the two of them get deeper in exploring the eroticism of mind and body, danger watches them from the shadows….

Bella Ross has many passions, two of which are writing and travelling. It is no surprise then that her 'Wanderlust Series' & 'Club Pluto Series' take place in glamorous capitals or exotic locales around the world. Its the perfect backdrop/setting for her characters to explore and indulge their lusts and passions, loves and desires.

When she's not writing, she's reading, or gallivanting all over seeking new inspiration, or people watching while enjoying a latte at Starbucks and jotting down ideas.

She loves to hear from readers, and looks forward to interacting through her various social media channels. So stop by and say hi!

Facebook - Twitter - Blog - Goodreads

Amazon - Amazon UK - ARe - Kobo

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ZANDERNATIS by Gordon Keirle-Smith: Introducing

Title:  ZANDERNATIS

Author: Gordon Keirle-Smith

Category/Genre: Fantasy/alternate history/conspiracy theory

Blurb:

Facts stifled for 50 years revealed at last! In 1962 a cache of ancient urns was discovered in Antarctica dating back tens of thousands of years. They contained writings proving our ancestral myths are rooted in the history and culture of a pre-glacial utopian civilization...
 “Zandernatis” retells the most fascinating story contained in these texts: “The Song of Gorin”, an epic poem describing what really led up to the “Fall of Man” in “Paradise”. Initially, it reads like a fable – only here it is backed by robust corroborative evidence and endorsements from researchers, the media and eminent experts, despite efforts from the establishment to block publication. 
 Volume One of the trilogy breaks the silence, laying the foundations of this multi-faceted revelation, combining alternative history, conspiracy theory, allegorical fantasy, suppressed archaeology and insider analysis, all in a single work – while defining a whole new literary genre in the process...

About The Author

 

Gordon Keirle-Smith’s current home is Nîmes, in the south of France. His preferred form of expression was always writing, particularly drama, although he has also lived several other “lives”. He was a successful visionary artist in the late 1960s (when his studio was located in a famous London West End theatre). He regularly exhibited - and sold - his work in a top Cork Street gallery.

He moved to France in the early 70s and decided to put all the paintings he would never have time to complete into a book. This became the first version of “Zandernatis” in 1974.
He then worked in tourism, headed a Paris language school’s team of 40 teachers, coached top advertising executives in communications skills, won the Toastmaster’s European Speechmaking Championship (twice), contributed articles to house magazines for market-leading companies (e.g. Oracle and GDF SUEZ) wrote advertising copy for major international brands (Air France, L’Oreal, Renault, Heineken, Delsey, etc.), founded and managed his own highly successful marketing transcreation agency...
All of this experience was then applied to reworking the original version of “Zandernatis” and developing its “meta-realist” aspect with the aim of creating a new kind of reading experience.

Author blog †  Amazon

THE ROSE MASTER by Valentina Cano: Release Day Blitz

Title: THE ROSE MASTER
Author: Valentina Cano

Blurb:  

The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's hardly the most upsetting news  She's being dismissed from the home she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:
There's something wrong with Rosewood Manor.
Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.
As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.
When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it.
Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to admire, or abandon her post while she still can.

REUTS - Goodreads  

About The Author

Valentina Cano is a student of classical singing who spends whatever free time she has either reading or writing. She also watches over a veritable army of pets, including her five, very spoiled, snakes. Her works have appeared in numerous publications and her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Web. She lives in Miami, Florida.

Website – Twitter – Facebook - Goodreads

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TAKING BACK SUNDAY by Cristy Rey: Blog tour w/ Giveaway

Title: Taking Back Sunday (Incarnate Book One)

Author: Cristy Rey

Genre: Supernatural Suspense/ Paranormal Romance

Publication Date: March 11, 2014

Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions

After five years on the run, Sunday has finally settled into a seemingly normal life in Columbia, South Carolina. What her two best friends don’t know is that Sunday has a secret past. She is the Incarnate, a conduit of mystical energy transcendent of the mundane and the divine. For most of her life, she served under Bernadette, the most powerful witch in the Northwest. Her power is terrifying, and what she remembers of her past—and what she doesn’t—haunts her. In the year that she’s been attempting to be anything but the Incarnate, Sunday has fought her abilities tooth and nail, but it’s been worth it. When Sunday joins her friends’ coven for an innocent gathering, Sunday discovers a darkness hidden beneath the blanket of the coven’s magic and she is determined to find out who is behind it and what she has planned.

For the last four years, Cyrus has been the point man on the contract to recapture the Incarnate and deliver her to the Pastophori of Iset. A gifted tracker and a fearless werewolf, he harbors a wild, inexplicable passion for the Incarnate that has driven him to hunt her. He was one of the original captors that brought her to Bernadette when his obsession with her began. Having found her, Cyrus and his pack find themselves torn between two objectives: take her by force and deliver her to yet another group of fanatics, or help her uncover the traitor among her coven.

Indie writer. Reader. Knitter. Short hair-enthusiast. Fairy godmother. Coffee-addict. Pet-parent. TV show marathoner. Ostrich-human hybrid.

Cristy Rey lives in Miami, FL. She is a reader and writer most of the time, and a knitter much less of the time than she was six months before she took up writing again.

Cristy writes the books that she likes to read. Her women are strong and out-spoken (most of the time), and her men run the gamut. Love stories abound in Cristy's work because, really, aren't love stories the best? Her stories also touch upon themes of identity, intimacy, family, and social issues. There's always a killer soundtrack running in the background of her novels - all you need to do is turn to the playlist to know what's up.

If you met Cristy, you’d probably tell her that she’s tall since people seem to think that she needs to become aware of said fact. She and her friends get together to drink tea, eat scones, and talk about Sherlock—they sometimes pretend they’re a book club but that’s just their excuse to get together

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cristywrites
• Author Website: www.cristyrey.com
• Author GoodReads: http://bit.ly/1gsKgPk
• Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/Q4P6IE

• Amazon: http://amzn.to/1eBDhQ1
• Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/Szr5uk
• Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1hM5AuX
• SmashWords: http://bit.ly/NtEUaL

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SECOND ON THE RIGHT by Elizabeth Los: Blog tour w/ review

Title: Second On the Right

Author: Elizabeth Los

Genre: Fantasy

Blurb: 

Spawned from an ancient promise, treachery and intrigue follow the protagonists through our world and one lost to the waves. Bound by an invisible bond, they are thrust into a fantastical world of pirates and demons.

James Benedict is a just man haunted by evil. Pushed to the edge, everything stripped from him, a new man arises . . . a man whose name strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear it: "Captain Hook".

Eileen Davis was a timid woman. Through a fateful cruise she finds herself in the company of the Captain of the Mistral Thief. With his guidance, and the meddling of the local barista, she eventually finds her inner strength.

Will the two of them unite through time to fulfill the promise of their ancestors or will tempers ignite leading all to failure? 

Amazon † Barnes & Nobles † Smashwords † iTunes † Createspace

Review:

My star rating: 3 1/2 stars (as always, rounded up on Amazon and Goodreads)

This one was a little baffling.  Honestly, you could split it down the middle and seem to have two entirely different books!  The first half was a chore to get through.  The pacing was slow, the writing was clumsy, and the characters were bland. My biggest peeve was that there was so much showing vs telling. But then... WHAM! All of a sudden, I couldn't put the book down.  The storyline took off like a shot.  James and Benedict grew leaps and bounds internally, and even though the head-hopping continued and the tense seemed to change mid-paragraph still, I didn't care because I was so engrossed in the story.  The motivations were realistic, and even the solutions to the conflicts were incredibly well thought out, making the reader think, "Yeah, I could see that happening!" 

This was a great take on Peter Pan as the bad guy (I'm seeing this as a new trend as of late), and I loved that Elizabeth poked fun at the twist at the end.  Very funny!  My favorite thing about this book, though, is Elaine's transformation.  She reminds me so much of myself it's scary.  Like her, I started out as a meek little doormat until I was given the incentive (for me, my children) to blossom into the take-no-crap chick you all know today. 

About The Author

 

Elizabeth uses writing as therapy, her release from everyday stress. At night, after work and once the children are finally tucked in bed, for the fifth time, she sits at her laptop and lets her imagination flow.
Elizabeth has produced short stories, one of which will be published in an anthology. She’s had fun writing a Sherlock Holmes fan fiction story, A Case of Need, based on the BBC’s Sherlock. By July 2011, her first novel, Second on the Right, had been completed. She spent several years polishing the story in order to provide a high quality product to the public. Second on the Right is her first professional novel.

Facebook † Twitter † Blog † Goodreads

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I KISSED A GHOST by RobinLeigh Morgan: Review

 

Title: I Kissed A Ghost
Author: Robin Leigh Morgan
Category/Genre:  Middle Grade/Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Mary gets a new classmate named Jonathan who’s a great baseball player and to get on the team, he needs Mary’s help to improve his grades. Six months later when she learns she’s moving, she decides to give him something special--a first kiss.

Moving into her new home she soon discovers it has a ghost named George, her age, who takes her on numerous trips to the past of a hundred years ago. As she meets children her own age, everyone teases her about her house being haunted, but no one will go inside.

Mary likes his help doing her math homework, writing her reports, and taking her back in time. George and Mary’s interaction grows and she eventually gives him a quick peck on his lips while they’re in the past, which is the only place George is a real boy, for having done something special for her.

Can Mary kiss George again at the special date and time he needs to be kissed? What happens afterwards if she does? The answers are all in the book!

Review:

My star rating: 4/5

I have a confession to make.  I love middle grade novels...especially romances.  There is something about that purely innocent time of self-discovery that still makes me all warm and fuzzy.  I Kissed A Ghost did a beautiful job of bringing me right back into that part of my life, and Morgan captures that feeling perfectly.  The relationship between Mary and George is adorable and appropriate for the characters' age.  I couldn't help but love the both of them (and not just because my name is Mary Elizabeth, too!).  The paranormal elements were perfectly sprinkled in, and the time travel was a delightful touch.  I do think this book would benefit from a thorough editing, however.  It was repetitive at times, there were many misplaced words, and it shifted from first to third person mid-paragraph.  This took the reader out of the story at some key points.  

INK: Sketches (Book 0 - parts 1 & 2)

So, the author of my favorite series INK has released (or, kind of re-released with extra content) the prequel to INK: FINE LINES.  It's titled INK: Sketches Parts 1 & 2.  Yay!!  And best of all, for the next few days only you can get it for FREE!  I've got the links for here, so head on over and one-click this! You'll be so glad, I promise!

 

Title: INK: Sketches Book 0 (Parts 1 & 2)

Author: Bella Roccaforte

Category/Genre: Adult/Paranormal

Blurb:

A deeper look inside of Shay Baynes and the events leading up to the start of INK: Fine Lines.

Shay's life was moving along with all the normal hassles and hazards of your typical twenty year old. Then everything changes when her twin sister is possessed by the Specter and kills herself.

We get insight as to why Shay is the way that she is, why she's making the mistakes that she's making and what lead to all of the main players to react the way they have when the Specter starts to take control of everything.

INK: Fine Lines (Book 1) FREE, should be read first. Then this book can be read at any point after that. 

Amazon US † Amazon UK † Amazon CA † Amazon AU 

BLOOD LUST by T. Lynne Tolles: Release Blitz

Blood Lust - Week Blitz

T. Lynne Tolles

New Adult Paranormal Romance

Date Published: June 18, 2014

A surprise visit from Blake and Devon's uncle, Dominic, demanding both vampires, come home immediately to find what is ailing his son Anton, puts everyone on edge. Can vampires get sick? Devon doesn't appreciate Dominic's demands, but agrees to fly back to Connecticut with Darby, since Blake has a job to finish up in California. Excited to meet more of Devon's family, Darby is confused by Devon's distance and coldness since Dominic's visit.

In Connecticut, this only gets worse when a gorgeous Libby, Anton's estranged wife, shows up unexpectedly and seems to have her sights set on Devon. To top it all off, there's seems to be some pent up animosity, Anton and Devon have towards each other.

What is this strange power Libby has over the men in this family? And what's wrong with poor Anton? Why does it seem that Anton and Devon hate each other? These are all questions Darby sets out to answer in this third volume of the Blood Series.

Excerpt

Dominic smiled at her gesture and said, “I’m sorry, miss, this is a private family matter and I just couldn’t possibly stay. You understand, don’t you?” He said this dismissively as if speaking to a servant; polite, but not sincere.

Darby saw that Devon was irritated by his uncle’s rude behavior and was about to say something, when Blake jumped out of his chair and said, “Sure, Dominic. They understand.”

He glanced at the others at the table and gave Devon an imploring look, all the while helping his uncle with his coat. “We’ll speak in the front yard, Dominic. Go back to your meal, enjoy! We’ll only be a minute,” Blake said rather apologetically to Darby still standing, stunned, in front of her seat.

Darby looked at the rest of the people at the table and said, “I’ll get some champagne flutes, to enjoy our lovely gift.” She excused herself as Devon and Blake led Dominic to the front yard.

They were almost to the black limousine, when Dominic turned to the boys. “I’m in need of your help, boys. Anton is terribly sick and I would like you both to come to Connecticut to help me determine what is ailing him.”

“I’m very sorry Anton is sick, but that does not excuse your…” Devon started.

“What Devon is trying to say, Dominic,” Blake interrupted, “is that we are not boys any longer. We have lives here, jobs, commitments, significant others. We can’t just up and leave.”

“Yes, I see you’ve hooked up with a lively bunch of hooligans. Eating at a table with witches and werewolf swine. How could you? So what, you with your Darby girl, and you with the werewolf crossbreed creature? Both witches, I presume?”

“Yes. I am with Rowan, but you don’t understand, Dominic,” Blake said.

Dominic’s eyes grew large. “How despicable, boy! Didn’t I teach you anything? Didn’t you listen to a word I told you? Your mother must be turning in her grave in shame. We are a family of noble vampire blood. What a disgrace to your heritage. Vile. Disgusting!”

“That’s enough, Dominic. You are wrong about werewolves, like many are wrong about vampires. You are mistaken…” Devon defended.

“How dare you? I am a professor of science. I most definitely am not mistaken. I saw, with my own two eyes, the horrific act of a werewolf. They are animals, not people.”

“You’re wrong, Dominic, very wrong. These are good and decent people. They’ve risked their lives for us on numerous occasions…” Blake tried to explain.

“Don’t bother explaining, Blake. He won’t change his mind. He has his view, and that is the only view he’ll ever see,” Devon said.

“I see your manners have been severely degraded by the company you keep. I demand you come to Connecticut immediately. Maybe you’ll find your manners there and remember your place in society.”

“I’m not leaving. Not for you and most definitely not for Anton,” Devon said.

“Oh, grow up, boy. That was ages ago. Let bygones be bygones already. I won’t take no for an answer. You will both march in there, pack your things, and come home.”

“Connecticut is not our home. This is our home, Oljone, California. Right here, with a bunch of great friends who are waiting for us to continue our Thanksgiving feast,” Devon said as he turned and headed back to the house.

“Wait, Devon,” Blake said. Devon stopped and slowly turned. “Dominic, won’t you please join us for dinner. Get to know these people. They are family to us.”

Devon said, “Don’t bother wasting your breath, Blake. Like I said, he’s already made up his mind about them.”

“It’s Thanksgiving. You said yourself, Devon, Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for family, friends and loved ones. Dominic and Anton are our only blood relatives.”

“Fine. You’re right, Blake, I did say that. Dominic, would you please join us for dinner?”

“Thank you for the offer but no. I can’t. No, I won’t sit at a table with two werewolves. I am staying at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco. Here are your tickets. We are leaving at 10:50 AM tomorrow. I expect to see you on the plane.” He handed each of them a first class ticket.

“Whoa, wait a minute. I can’t go, Dominic. I have to work. I have a project due, deadlines, I just can’t up and leave,” Blake insisted.

“Fine, you will join us when you are done with your commitments.”

“I’m not going either, Dominic. This is my home, here with Darby. There is no love lost between Anton and me. I’m sure he doesn’t want to see me any more than I want to see him. I’m sorry he’s sick, but for God’s sake, he’s a vampire, he’ll heal. I’m sure he will be fine.”

“No, Devon. He won’t. He is rapidly declining. You must help me. I demand that you help me.”

“You demand that I help you? There’s nothing I can do for him. I’m not a doctor; you are. I’m a software engineer. So is Blake. What could we possibly do for him?”

“You’re his family. You can be his family. Maybe he will confide in you.”

“Because…you are his age. You speak his language. You’re more understanding, like your mother.”

“Not where he’s concerned,” Devon muttered under his breath.

“You must do this!” Dominic yelled and turned red in the face, pounding a fist into his other hand, tears welling in his ferociously angry eyes.

Blake said, “Hang on, now. You both need to cool off a bit. Dominic, you’re going to blow a gasket. Relax. Devon, if Darby went with you to Connecticut, would you be willing to go and at least talk to Anton? See if maybe he would confide in you? You never know. And if he’s really that sick, don’t you think one of us should be there? We’re family, after all.”

“If Darby were politely invited to come, and treated appropriately, yes, I may consider going to Connecticut.”

“Dominic, would you be willing to accept Darby as a guest in your home, treating her as such, for Devon?”

He mulled this over, taking longer than Devon would have liked, but he reluctantly agreed.

“As long as her mutant sister does not come. Yes, I would accept the witch as a guest in my home providing she behaves in a proper manner.”

“What the he…” Devon started. Blake saw he was about to blow his top and interrupted.

“See, I knew this could be worked out. Now, would you at least join us for a glass of champagne and invite Darby properly, Dominic?”

Dominic grumbled and nodded.

About the Author: T. Lynne Tolles

T. Lynne Tolles can be found most days, juggling one of two cat muses and a laptop, tripping over an ancient Newfoundland dog and washing a never-ending pile of laundry. When life doesn’t get in the way, she writes paranormal romances for new adults.

Her passion for witches, ghosts, and vampires together with a light-hearted wit are reflected in her loveable characters and the adventures of mystery they unravel to find their happily ever after.

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