Category: Book Spotlight

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: And then he was Gone by Joan Hall Hovey

10/11/2018

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joan Hall Hovey will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

WHERE IS ADAM?

Julie Raynes’ husband is missing. Devastated and confused, she refuses to believe that he would leave her voluntarily, though her best friend thinks differently. However, her Aunt Alice, a psychic, tells her Adam has been murdered, and when she reveals how she knows this, any hope that Adam is still alive, dissipates.

The police also believe that Adam Raynes was murdered. And Julie is their prime suspect. Her life in ruins, Julie vows to hunt down whoever is responsible for Adam’s murder and make them pay for their crime.

In the meantime, David Gray, a young man who was pulled from a lake by a fisherman when he was 9 years old, wakens from a coma after nearly two decades. Unknown to Julie, Adam and David share a dark connection, a darkness that threatens to devour them both.

Read the first chapter at http://www.joanhallhovey.com/432547197

About the Author:

Writing gives me a sense of achievement and satisfaction that nothing else does. (Except having my babies.) And that's not a bad analogy, if not an original one. Holding your published book in your hands, (especially that first one), running your fingers over its smooth cover, tracing your name there - is heady stuff! These days of course, knowing my readers are downloading my books onto their Kindles and ipads and Kobos, and so on is just as great. For me, a dream come true, even though it's been awhile since I wrote my first book.

I am drawn to explore the dark side of humanity, and my intention is to give the reader a roller coaster ride that will resonate long after the last word is read. I know that I am truly blessed to be permitted to work every day at what I most love and need to do. I think you appreciate it even more when you've had to go to those awful 9 to 5 jobs you hated, because the bills have to be paid. And I've had my share of them over the years -- hulling strawberries, waiting tables, grading eggs... (top that one). A couple of those jobs have left scars. I've been stalked by a psychotic customer when I was selling 'CAA'. (Canada's version of 'AAA'.) I've been chased around the desk by a so-called pillar of society while working as a secretary. But while I wouldn't want to repeat it, I wouldn't take back a single moment of any of it. All is 'grist' for the writer's mill.

The next best thing is hearing from my readers. You have been so generous in your comments, so kind to take the time in your own busy lives to write to me. Telling me that my novels kept you up all night, or that you couldn't put the book down is music to my ears, and keep me going in the dark times that come to all writers, while I find my way about in the unknown, unlit territory of that next book.

***

In addition to her critically award-winning suspense novels including And Then he was Gone and The Deepest Dark, Joan Hall Hovey's articles and short stories have appeared in such diverse publications as The Toronto Star, Atlantic Advocate, Seek, Home Life Magazine, Mystery Scene, The New Brunswick Reader, Fredericton Gleaner, New Freeman and Kings County Record. Her short story Dark Reunion was selected for the anthology investigating Women, Published by Simon & Pierre.

Ms. Hovey has held workshops and given talks at various schools and libraries in her area, including New Brunswick Community College, and taught a course in creative writing at the University of New Brunswick. For a number of years, she has been a tutor with Winghill School, a distance education school in Ottawa for aspiring writers.She is a member of the Writer's Federation of New Brunswick, past regional Vice-President of Crime Writers of Canada and International Thriller Writers.

Her books are available at most online book stores, including Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and more. Check out her website at http://wwwjoanhallhovey.com

She lives in Saint John, NB, in an uptown building over 100 years old, with her cat Bella. Aside from writing (and reading of course) She enjoys playing piano and spending time with her grandson. She is presently at work on her latest suspense novel.

Her novels include:

And Then he was Gone
The Deepest Dark
The Abduction of Mary Rose
Tragic Spawn
Night Corridor
Chill Waters
Nowhere To Hide
Listen to the Shadows

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Then-He-Was-Gone-ebook/dp/B01NBANC1Q

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Breakdown

10/7/2018

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

BREAKDOWN is a unique and groundbreaking four-book suspense series that will keep you turning pages until the killer is finally exposed.

In this explosive new miniseries, the idyllic community of Shutter Lake, nestled in the peaceful Sierra Nevada Mountains, is rocked by a shocking murder. Four women, friends who moved to the area to find healing and solace, must now dig deep and overcome the scars of past troubles to find a ruthless killer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So Many Secrets, BREAKDOWN Book 2 by Vicki Hinze

THE BREAKDOWN DEEPENS... Seven years ago, Dr. Dana Perkins came to idyllic Shutter Lake seeking safety from a traumatic experience in Phoenix. She became the principal at Shutter Lake School--and found her refuge… until Sylvia Cole was killed and one of Dana's best and brightest students, Vinn Bradshaw, confessed to the murder. A murder Dana is certain he didn't commit. But who is he protecting? Why? Seeking the truth shatters Dana's safety. Yet who could have predicted proving Vinn innocent would jeopardize her friends and neighbors… and expose so many secrets?

Read an Excerpt:

Five days.

Impossible to believe but that’s all it had taken for the idyllic vision of Shutter Lake, California, lauded by Country Living as the most perfect town in all of America, to prove perfection is a façade and all the safety and security sought and found in it had been an illusion.

One murder. Illusion shattered.

One murder, and so many secrets…

A shiver crept up Dr. Dana Perkins’s backbone. She stiffened against it, determined to reclaim her sense of security here. At the deli counter inside Stacked, a block off downtown’s main square, she ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad and a bottle of Evian berry-flavored water, then glanced over to the cluster of two-dozen tables. About half-full. A lot of people were having a late lunch today.

Dana took a table surrounded by empties then settled in and reached for a sheaf of papers from her tote. She had been through the school records at least a dozen times, but maybe in the sandwich shop, she would be more objective, gain some new insight, and see something she had missed.

Oh, but she needed to be certain she hadn’t missed anything. After Phoenix, to retain her sanity she had to be absolutely certain she hadn’t missed any warning sign.

There had to be a reason this year’s best and brightest student had confessed to murder. Some logical, rational reason that Vinn Bradshaw, gifted future nanotechnologist, studious, popular basketball player, who exhibited nothing short of fantastic leadership skills, confessed. Vinn could not have killed anyone much less a prominent Shutter Lake founder’s daughter like Sylvia Cole.

Nolan Ikard, about thirty, tall and lean with sandy blond hair and a handsome man’s confident swagger, paused at her table. Nolan owned The Grind, a coffee shop sharing a common wall with Stacked that Dana frequented every morning on her walk from home to the school.

“How’s our favorite principal?” Nolan asked. “Things settling down any at S.L.S.?”

Many students, current and former, referred to Shutter Lake School as S.L.S. “Getting better,” she said because it was expected and not because it was true. “The students are still rattled, but then aren’t we all?”

He nodded and avoided her eyes, his own gold-flecked ones clouded and troubled. “Guess the kids won’t settle down until their parents do. Maybe we will all get back to normal soon.”

“Maybe we will.” Dana smiled.

He walked on to his favorite table beside hers and next to the front window. How many times in the last year had she seen him staring out that window as if he had lost his last friend? She’d been tempted often to ask if he was okay, or to offer to listen if he needed to talk, but something had held her back. She couldn’t say what, but she always followed her instinctive urges on things like that. In his case, she hoped she didn’t live to regret it.

About the Author:

Raised in New Orleans, Vicki Hinze began writing before Kindergarten but her journey to writing books included a lot of corporate pit-stops. Eventually, she settled in and her first novel landed an array of awards and on the bestseller list. With nearly 40 books published, she's been back many times with awards in multiple genres and appearances on multiple bestseller lists, including USA TODAY. Vicki is recognized by Who's Who in the World as an author and an educator and is best known for chilling suspense, trailblazing, and creating series that genre-blend. Her works include suspense, mystery and romance. Since 1994, this former VP of International Thriller Writers has written heavily about military and military families and in nearly all genres except horror. Hinze is a Floridian married to a former Hurricane Hunter/Special Operations Officer. She constantly pushes the boundaries on existing genres, opening the door for new novel blends.

https://www.vickihinze.com/
http://facebook.com/Vicki.Hinze.Author
https://twitter.com/vickihinze
https://www.pinterest.com/vickihinze/
Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FLD4513

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Hidden Cargo by Sarah Marsh

10/3/2018

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No good deed goes unpunished, or at least it doesn’t for Cassie Decker. Helping someone on the side of the road changed her life—and left her stranded on an alien planet. Lucky for her, two large, green rescuers offer her a second chance at a new life. Now all she has to do is find the courage to reach out and grab it.

Officers Deryc and Gage have a comfortable life on the island of Ilya. It may not be perfect, but they enjoy their work and they have each other. When fate reveals an unauthorized female has been hiding right under their noses, they know they must do their duty—but can they hand her over to an unknown future when she just might be the perfect female for their clan?

The Goddess works in mysterious ways, but will Cassie and her officers realize what they have found before someone tries to alter their paths forever?

Cassie washed up and changed into a nightgown as Dax settled comfortably at the foot of her bed. She turned out the light and walked over to open a window, letting the fresh air in. She’d always loved falling asleep to the sound of the ocean. Two deep voices entered on the breeze along with the sounds of the surf, causing a shiver to run up her spine, and she realized that Deryc and Gage must still be on the patio enjoying the evening. Cassie sat on the window ledge and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness outside. When they did, the sight before her was nothing short of decadent.

Both men were lounging on one of the large patio chairs. Deryc’s arm was around Gage’s shoulder, and his other hand cupped the other man’s cheek as he took his mouth in a slow and sensual

kiss. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched Gage’s hand move leisurely up his partner’s thigh until he rubbed along the thick, hard ridge of Deryc’s arousal.

I shouldn’t be watching this, like some kind of pervert…. . . I’m invading their privacy, but holy hell, I think this is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.

Knowing it was wrong and willing her eyes to close were two very different things, and Cassie had to bite her lip as Deryc’s deep voice came to her on the night breeze.

“I believe you owe me a proper show of gratitude, my mate.” Deryc growled as Gage’s fingers freed the thick cock from the confines of his partner’s pants. “Or did you forget you promised me that this morning?”

“Hmm.” Gage lazily kissed along Deryc’s jaw, his hand now slowly stroking up and down his lover’s cock. “Did I say that? I can’t remember now…”

Deryc’s response was immediate, and it made Cassie gasp as he pulled away and moved to cover the other man until Gage’s wrists were held above his head in each of his strong hands, and Deryc was now straddling his mate’s hips. In the moonlight, Cassie could see his cock jutting straight from his body, the thick length an even darker shade of grey than the rest of him. He towered over Gage like an avenging god.

“Keep your arms above your head, boy.” Deryc’s tone was unforgiving now, and by the look of the large bulge in Gage’s own pants, he enjoyed this game of dominance as much as his mate did. Cassie had never experimented with any BDSM play with Peter, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t thought or fantasized about it before, and now that she had a front-row seat, her body flooded with heat at the idea of being on the submissive end of Deryc’s firm authority just like Gage was now.

Deryc’s hands released Gage and began to undress, revealing his muscular body, the dark skin seeming to almost sparkle in the moonlight. Then he began the same process of removing Gage’s clothing, and the other man bit his lip, but left his arms where they were.

“Cassie could still be awake.” Gage’s words turned into a groan as Deryc’s hand now closed around his shaft, rubbing a glistening bead of moisture over the plump head. “What if she sees?”

“Mmm, think about that, my love.” Deryc’s hand moved faster on his lover’s flesh. “Just imagine those stunning blue eyes, her gaze roving over your hard and aching flesh like a caress. Perhaps she would like to join us even? I see now why you were so enamored with her when you first spotted her. She is quite remarkable.”

Gage only moaned louder at Deryc’s words, his hips pushing harder into the other man’s grip, causing a warm chuckle to escape his mate’s lips. “I see how much you like that idea, love. I can feel your cock buck in my grip as if it were trying to get inside of her even now.”

Holy fuck! Were they fantasizing about her? This time Cassie couldn’t stifle the groan as her pussy flooded at the idea of being out there on that couch with them, and it was so loud she startled herself, jumping back from the window in case her hosts heard it as well.

She needed that shock back to reality. “Jesus, Cassie, what is wrong with you?”

She didn’t want to think she was the kind of person who couldn’t control her own urges, but the fact that she hadn’t been able to help herself from watching Gage and Deryc’s intimate display meant they had much more power over her than she’d thought. Good grief, all she could hope for at this point is that they hadn’t heard her at all.

Pervy, sex-starved human . . . table for one, please.

Purchase Here

Giveaway:

Ms Marsh is generously giving away a $15 gift card to Evernight Publishing!

The TBR Pile is giving away 2 books from our prize list (1 each).

TO ENTER: Comment below on why you want to read Hidden Cargo. Have you read Sarah Marsh before?

For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below.

WINNERS

$15.00 gift card: Tammy
Prize List book: Linda and Ashley

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Book Spotlight: His Girl by Megan Slayer

9/11/2018

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan will be awarding a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Mary Allen’s never been a guy magnet. Most men are put off by her confidence in the workplace. Not Sebastian. He kindles a passion she thought was long dead. After one scene, she’s ready to jump back into the lifestyle. But can a workplace romance really work?

Sebastian Paul came back to the Underground after time away to figure out what he wanted from his life. He can’t escape the desire or the need for the scene, but he hasn’t found his perfect sub—until he spots Mary. He never expected to see her at the club. She works with him, and although she oozes confidence, he notes her desire to submit. He wants Mary as his girl. No question. But will she want him in return?

When passion ignites, love will find a way.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“If by it, you mean the fumbling, confusing start of something with Seb, then yes. Don’t sell yourself short. Give him a chance, too. He’s not like the other guys,” Andi said.

“You sound like a motivational poster.”

“Sorry.” Andi giggled. “Just trying to help.”

“You are.” She sighed. “I need to go. I’m working a six-to-two tomorrow and need to get some sleep.” She’d never be able to settle down, but still.

“Blech. That’s too early.” Andi stood. She left the room with Mary. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” She hugged Andi. “I know you’re not a morning person, but you’re awesome. I’m going to lean on you.”

“I expect it.” Andi waved. “See you.”

Mary waved and left. She headed to her car. Her brain buzzed from her session with Sebastian and the pep talk from Andi. She liked being on display, and Sebastian knew how to make her feel alive while giving her release. Many other Doms had given her orgasms and played to her needs, but they hadn’t scratched the exact itch within her.

She drove home and sang along with the radio. Once at her apartment, she unpacked her bag, downed a glass of water, then brushed her teeth. She noticed her reflection in the mirror. She gasped. Damn. Her hair was a mess and her makeup smudged. She hadn’t checked her look before she played with Sebastian. He probably thought she didn’t care about her appearance.

Oh well. She didn’t have time to think about her ridiculous hair and makeup. She’d probably mussed herself during her shower. That had to be the case.

She finished brushing her teeth, then washed her face before falling into bed. She needed sleep or she’d be crap at work.

Mary prided herself at being at the top of her game at the air traffic control center. Lives depended on her doing her job. To do the best she could, she needed to settle down.

Within a few minutes and white noise playing in the background, she managed to fall asleep. For the first time in a long while, she didn’t dream and managed to relax.

About the Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Website: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Blog: https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com/
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/megan-slayer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendizwaduk/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

Buy Links: Available from Evernight Publishing: https://www.evernightpublishing.com/his-girl-by-megan-slayer/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G913ZYG
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/bwYB8v
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07G913ZYG/
Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B07G913ZYG/
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07G913ZYG/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07G913ZYG/
Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07G913ZYG/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07G913ZYG/
Amazon MX: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B07G913ZYG/

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Margaritas, Mayhem and Murder by Mary Cunningham

7/19/2018

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mary will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Andi’s step-mother is a real piece of work! But is Ruby a murderer?

Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent/amateur sleuth, puts aside her resentment of her father’s widow and books a 60th birthday cruise to Cancun for Ruby and three friends. Never does Andi imagine the cruise will lead to the murder of a has-been lounge singer—or that Ruby will be the main suspect.

Flirting with more than danger after arriving in Mexico, Andi connects with the charming local sheriff, Manual Rodriquez. After an embarrassing night involving the sheriff, too many margaritas, and a Mariachi band, a chance to check out an eyewitness to the murder leads her to Las Vegas.

In Vegas, a mysterious meeting in the Bodies Exhibition, a body preserving in the prep-room, and an evasive owner of a dance studio, give Andi clues to help Ruby. But when Andi is mercilessly drugged and locked in a storage room, she realizes dear old step-mom isn’t the only one in jeopardy.

Read an excerpt:

“Señorita Jones?”

I know that voice. I was stupidly listening to the still-ringing phone when a tall man in a uniform slid a pair of aviator sunglasses to the top of his head and stepped toward me. I locked onto smoky hazel eyes. “Ye-yesss. I’m Miss Jones. But, how did you know?”

“Oh, we have our ways.” The corners of his mouth turned up as he pointed to his badge. “I’m Sheriff Gonzales. We spoke on the phone.”

I got nothing. Total loss for words. Even my wildest dreams couldn’t have pictured this square-jawed, golden-skinned, Aztec god, straight out of GQ Magazine. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ruby.

“I was already in the area on official business, and finished in time to meet your flight. I’m parked at the curb. May I take your bag?”

I blinked a couple of times. “What? No, thank you, Sheriff, I can handle it myself. I appreciate the ride, but I could’ve taken a taxi, you know,” I lied and disconnected the phone call to Ellie.

“Considering the stressful nature of the situation, I thought it best someone pick you up. Finding transportation into the city can be confusing. I wanted to blurt out, you might be the most handsome man I’ve seen in my life, but I said, “That might be true for the average tourist, but I’m a travel agent, perfectly capable of finding my way through the city.” I adjusted the strap of my carryon bag, tossed my head, and walked into the side of a trashcan.

About the Author:

Author, Mary Cunningham, grew on the northern side of the Ohio River in Corydon, Indiana. Her first memories are of her dad’s original bedtime stories that no doubt inspired her imagination and love of a well-spun “yarn”.

Childhood experiences, and a recurring dream about a mysterious attic, inspired characters, Cynthia and Augusta Lee, for her award-winning middle-grade series, Cynthia's Attic. The setting is in her childhood home in Southern Indiana. Family stories and ancestors comprise the storylines. There are currently five books in the series: The Missing Locket, The Magic Medallion, Curse of the Bayou, The Magician’s Castle, and Legend of Lupin Woods.

Through a horrifying stint as a travel agent, the character, Andi Anna Jones, travel agent/amateur sleuth, inspired her latest adult mystery series. Book # 1, Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder was released Nov. 30, 2017. The author is currently writing Book # 2 of the series, along with another middle-grade series, The Adventures of Max and Maddie, a historical time-travel, and the biography of a former Army brat/University of Connecticut women’s basketball player who started a non-profit foundation to create scholarships for children of deployed veterans.

Cunningham is a member of The Georgia Reading Association, and the Carrollton Writers Guild.

When she gives her fingers a break from the keyboard, she enjoys golf, swimming and exploring the mountains of West Georgia where she makes her home with her husband and adopted, four-legged, furry daughter, Lucy.

Review Blurbs for Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder!

“If Evanovich's Stephanie Plum were a travel agent, she'd fit right in working this case alongside Andi, a wanna-be detective readers are sure to love.” —Regan Black, USA Today bestselling author of the Escape Club Heroes and Knight Traveler novels.

Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder...WOW. Snappy dialog, quirky characters, opens with a curious bang and yanked me through the pages. A fun, fantastic read. —Jean Rabe, USA Today Bestselling author, Piper Blackwell Mysteries.

“Grab a margarita and hold on tight; you're in for a wild ride.” —Karen MacInerney, Agatha Award nominee and author of the Dewberry Farms Mysteries

“Charming, lively, and unpredictable, Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder excels in a vivid story mystery fans will relish.”—Diane Donovan, Senior Editor Midwest Book Review

Purchase Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076N6KBM3
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/margaritas-mayhem-murder-mary-cunningham/1127355519?type=eBook
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/756600
Google Play: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/margaritas-mayhem-murder

Find Mary on Social Media:

Website: https://www.marycunninghambooks.com
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/marycunninghambooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MaryCunningham
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycunningham1/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/367223.Mary_Cunningham
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLNEK4

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Freaking Fast by David Pereda

7/9/2018

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. David will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The city is Asheville, North Carolina, and the year is 2066. As renowned mathematician Alexandra Martin travels in her self-driving car to assassinate the love of her life, she reminisces about how they met and fell in love fifty years earlier in middle school when she was a thirteen year old poor math whiz and he a wealthy teenager. Alex recounts her struggles to be admitted to the best private school in the county, her happy teenage years running track, and her close relationship with three handsome and charming boys: Xavier, the intellectual; Andrew, the golden boy; and Vitali, the suave foreigner. One by one, she visits the three boys of her youth, now successful professionals in their sixties, one of whom is her intended victim.

Read an Excerpt:

The road curves away but Andrew keeps the car on a straight line, riding on the well-manicured lawn, heading at dizzying speed toward the trees. I glance at the speedometer. We are going at 135 miles an hour already and gaining speed. We’re going to crash. My heart is beating so fast I think it’s going to break through my ribcage.

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry, I’m thinking. I’m never going to carry out my plan. In a few more seconds I’m going to be dead, together with Andrew.

Fifty meters from the trees, Andrew pulls on the stick shift and, suddenly, we are flying. What? Wings have sprouted from the door panels and a tail has emerged from the rear. Andrew pulls hard on the stick, so we can clear the trees. I quickly calculate the angle of ascension as my head flattens against the back of the seat. Estimating the distance to the tree line and the height of the trees, I use the Pythagorean Theorem to gauge the hypotenuse: the angle of ascension is forty-five degrees, maybe even a tad more. That’s steep.

Are we going to make it?

We do, barely, but we do.

‘Yeah!’ Andrew yells with excitement as he steadies Kitty. ‘Was that a rush, or what?’ He glances at me and starts laughing. ‘You look pale, Alex.’

I don’t remember Andrew being this crazy. He was always a little bit on the wild side, but this is not a little; this is a lot. I gasp for air and try to recover my composure. I can’t talk just yet. We are flying at about 500 feet above the ground. The lake looks beautiful below us. I check the speed – 220 miles an hour. Kitty is slicing through the air with hardly a sound, like a gust of wind.

‘This baby has a cruising speed of 300 miles an hour,’ Andrew says, as if reading my mind. ‘And a top speed of 400. This is the latest prototype.’

My heartbeat has slowed down enough for me to speak.

‘Impressive.’

About the Author:

David Pereda is the award-winning author of nine novels, including Havana Blues and However Long the Night, as well as the Havana Series of thrillers featuring the dashing Doctor Raymond Peters and the beautiful but deadly Cuban assassin Marcela. He has traveled to more than thirty countries and speaks four languages. Before devoting his time solely to writing and teaching, David had a successful international consulting career with global giant Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Peru and Qatar, among others.

A member of MENSA, David earned his MBA from Pepperdine University in California. He earned bachelor degrees in English literature and mathematics at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

He lives in artistic Asheville, North Carolina, with his youngest daughter Sophia, where he teaches mathematics and English at the Asheville-Buncombe Community College. He loves sports and is an accomplished competitor in track and show-jumping equestrian events.

Author’s Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/David-Pereda/e/B002BML17Q
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Freaking-Fast-David-Pereda/dp/198750061X/ref=la_B002BML17Q_1_1

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: You Never Forget Your First Earl by Ella Quinn

5/28/2018

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ella will be awarding a signed copy of the book (International Giveaway) to 5 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

With her three good friends all recently married, Elizabeth Turley is ready for some husband-hunting of her own. One gentleman in particular sparks her interest. Geoffrey, Earl of Harrington is tall, handsome, and dashing. He’s also just a bit too sure of himself. But Elizabeth has observed enough about the rules of attraction to pique the earl’s attention. Yet once she has it, the discovery of a troubling secret taints her future happiness . . .

Lord Harrington must marry or lose a prestigious position in Brussels, and pretty, well-connected Elizabeth fits his needs admirably. But could it be that he has underestimated his bride? She doesn’t bat an eye in the face of the danger they encounter overseas. She’s strong-willed, intelligent, and more enticing each day—yet also more indifferent to him. Now Geoffrey faces his greatest challenge: to woo and win his own wife, or risk losing her for good . . .

Read an Excerpt:

“It would not be only you pretending you might be interested in me,” Lord Littleton explained. “I would be seen to be interested in you as well.”

This still seemed unnecessary. Either Lord Harrington would want her for herself or not. She did not like to engage in deceptions. “To what purpose?”

“My dear lady.” Lord Littleton possessed himself of her hands, his gaze capturing hers.

Good Lord, the man was dangerous. She sent a prayer of thanks to the deity that she was not affected by him. “Do you do that on purpose?”

He shook his head and stared at her. “Do what?”

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him. “Look into a woman’s eyes as if she were the only lady on earth you wished to be with.”

“Ah, no,” he said a little sheepishly. “It just happens. I can’t seem to stop myself.”

“It’s like this, Lizzy”—her brother cut in—“any gentleman who’s interested in a lady don’t wish to see another man making up to her.” He gave his friend a disgusted look. “Littleton agreed to help, but you can see how dangerous it is for him to be in Town. He truly can’t help himself from flirting, and he’ll soon find himself in a bumble-bath if he remains too long. He’s not ready for a leg-shackle yet, but he’d be bound to raise some lady’s expectations and that won’t do.”

“That’s it exactly.” Lord Littleton must have realized he was still holding Elizabeth’s hands and released them. “But that’s not the only reason Turley and I thought I’d be the best one. You see, Harrington and I never got on well together. That will give him the extra incentive to court you properly.”

“And,” Gavin added, “Littleton is so full of juice that he is just as eligible as Harrington. Other than the title that is.”

Her brother and Lord Littleton focused their gazes on her, and she glanced from one man to the other. “I understand.” Or she thought she did. Men were such strange creatures. She wondered why Lord Harrington did not like Lord Littleton. He seemed amiable enough. “Very well, then. How do we begin?”

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them. She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, and a Portuguese Water Dog. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She's currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement. Website: http://www.ellaquinnauthor.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor
Blog: http://ellaquinnauthor.wordpresscom/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Forget-Your-First-Worthingtons/dp/1420145185/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-never-forget-your-first-earl-ella-quinn/1127062571?ean=9781420145182#/

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Torch by Harley Wylde

5/15/2018

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Isabella: I was seventeen when my daddy gave me to Torch, who inked me, kissed me, then watched me walk away. I was supposed to return after I graduated, but instead I ran. Now I'm back, ready to face whatever fate awaits me. He's probably pissed, and rightly so. It was only supposed to be a short separation, but three years have passed. I expected yelling, maybe some public humiliation. It never occurred to me he'd kiss me so deeply, so passionately that I'd be begging for more. He'll be my first, my last, my only... because I'm his, and he's never going to let me forget it.

Torch: For years, I've kept my distance, watching over the girl I claimed as my own. She wears my brand, and I know it's only a matter of time before she comes home. I remembered a stunning young woman, but it's a siren who walks back through my door, all luscious and curvy. There may be about thirty years between us, but fuck if I care what people think. I want her. She's mine, and I'm going to remind her of that. I'll take her any way I can, as often as I can, and when I'm done, she'll never again think of walking out the door. Because what she doesn't know is that she's done the impossible... she's claimed the heart of a man who didn't think he had one. Now that she's worked her way deep inside, I'll rain down hell on anyone who tries to keep us apart. No one's going to come between us, especially not the man who gave his daughter to me -- not even if he has the entire cartel army on his ass.

Interview with Harley Wylde

What made you write about bikers?
My family is full of motorcycle enthusiasts, and while none are part of an MC, I did grow up listening to the growl of a Harley Davidson. My great-aunt was part of the Motor Maids and I remember her coming to visit on her motorcycle when I was little. She used to travel cross-country with my great-uncle on their bikes, and they had several including an old Indian or two. My dad had a Harley Davidson when I was little and he would push me around the yard on it. Even today, if I hear a motorcycle coming, I have to stop and look.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I didn’t think of making it a career until about ten years ago. I’ve always written for fun, and the creative writing assignments in school were my

favorites. But I finished my first book in 2008, and it was accepted for publication (under another name). I guess I became a little addicted after that because I’m almost always writing now.

Do you plot when you write?
No. I have a general idea of what will happen in a story, just a broad picture. The details come to me as I’m writing, and sometimes a twist will happen that I didn’t even see coming. I’ve tried outlining an entire book before, and it didn’t really work out for me. I like creating as I go. I guess there’s a certain freedom to it. With a detailed outline, I felt like the walls were closing in on me. It’s definitely more fun to make it up as I go along.

What can you tell us about your Dixie Reapers MC series?
It’s a mix of men from different backgrounds, and different ages. The ones who have a story written already are older men, but that won’t be the case for the entire series. I do have a tendency to pair younger women with older men, but I think that’s just because it’s my personal preference. My husband is quite a bit older than I am, and I’ve always been attracted to older men. As I’ve told my readers before, if I weren’t married, I totally date the guy on Torch’s cover. I’m not even 40, but he’s a sexy silver fox.

Would you like to share a snippet from Torch?
I’d love to! This is from the beginning of the book and it’s in Isabella’s point-of-view:
…
“Open the gates,” I demanded, trying to sound tougher than I was.

He licked his lips, apparently thinking he was getting his fondest wish. The gate slid open, and I strolled through on my heeled boots that hugged my calves and stopped just below my knees. The gate closed behind me, and the Prospect placed his hand on my waist. I quickly removed it.

“Why don’t you get on your knees and give my cock some attention?” he said, starting to unfasten his belt.

“Or you could keep your pants zipped and your dick attached,” I said.

“Did you just threaten to remove my dick?”

“Oh, I won’t be the one removing it. Torch will.”

He sneered at me. “And why would Torch give a shit about some whore who showed up uninvited?”

I held up my forearm, the brand that said Property of Torch clearly on display. I’d been marked when I was seventeen. My dad hadn’t wanted to take a chance Torch would back out of the deal later. Because I’d been underage and a virgin, Dad had refused to let Torch claim me in any other way, but I was his just the same. And I’d damn sure never told my dad about the kiss I’d shared with Torch. That kiss had remained with me all these years. I still could taste him when I closed my eyes.

Dixie Reapers MC

Giveaway:

The TBR Pile is giving away 2 books from our prize list. Reader's choice! (1 each).

TO ENTER: Please comment below on why you want to read about the Dixie Reapers MC by Harley Wylde!

Winners:

Prize List Book: Tricia and Shanon

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Upon Broken Wings by E.L. Reedy and A.M. Wade

5/10/2018

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Bound by a dark act of hate and despair, high school freshmen, Andrew and Kiernan, learn that their untimely deaths did not bring an end to their pain, but only began the suffering of those left behind. While his lost memories return, Andrew must master seemingly impossible feats, both spiritual and physical.

As a dark spirit stalks Kiernan through the borderlands of life and death, he must also face the pain his actions have caused his loved ones. To save both their souls, Andrew must convince Kiernan to return to life and open his eyes to the love and beauty which had always been there.

14+ due to adult situations

There was more to Maroth than she let on. She had many secrets, but she kept each of them hidden well. When she had spoken with Andrew, he had sensed her pain and loss from an event she had yet to share. He may have been surprised or even proud to know that from a nearby clearing, she smiled with the warmth of a proud parent, as she watched him and Angelo vanish deeper into the forest.

She stiffened as the light around her brightened. She felt a vast presence, that of one who had never been mortal—he was and always had been a spirit. “Raphael,” she greeted the Arch Angel reverently, “you saw? But of course, you did.”

Raphael was ebon skinned, broad of shoulder, and he carried himself

with the confidence of a warrior supreme. A silver sword hung sheathed at his side and a ball of light hovered over his open hands. His voice was light and airy, and yet, hinted at the nearly limitless power within him. “The Light was a sign of redemption,” he said. “The boy is forgiven his second failing.”
Maroth curtseyed and lowered her eyes in quiet respect and she listened with a hopeful heart to his every word.

“But his first failure, his greatest,” Raphael continued, “that is something between him and the Maker. And the one upon whom his actions brought great harm.”

“And if he fails?” Maroth stammered. “He’s still just a boy.”

“You know better,” Raphael said. “He made the damnable choice of his own volition.” He clapped his hands, causing the ball of light to wink out. “And so, be his path one into the Light or through the depths of Shadow, it rests now upon his own broken wings.”

Maroth regarded Raphael with a mix of fear and understanding—should Andrew fail or fall again, he would come to know only the emptiness of Hell. Not the fire and brimstone assumed by man, but rather a state of utter desolation.

Raphael saw through to the heart of her. “But know this,” he said with a small nod and a much kinder voice. “Love is the white rose of heaven, greater than any foe I’ve encountered since the beginning of time.” He began a slow walk out of the clearing and into the forest proper.

With a touch of hope in her eyes, Maroth followed a step behind. “What’s to be done?” she asked. “Can I… Am I… How might I help him?”

Raphael rested a hand on her shoulder. “Dearest Maroth. Did you know that in one of the ancient tongues your chosen name means perfect grief?”

She nodded, blinking rapidly and looking down, as a sunbeam fell over them, moving back and forth with swaying branches above them, an act whose purpose Raphael did not miss, to hide her tears.

“Dearest mother, you truly define it.” He touched her chin gently and raised her head until their eyes met. “Have you ever seen sunlight shimmer on rippling water? The colors. Hues. They’re magnificent, even breathtaking.” He produced a white rose out of the empty air and offered it to her. “Andrew must come to understand the Great Truth.” As her fingers curled around his gift, he looked toward the sky. “Then overcome the same failure shared by so many—those that give up on life before their appointed time.”

She raised her brow. “Your words carry many meanings. And they bring great fear to one who has already lost all.”

“Not all.” Raphael folded his hands and they continued their walk through the woods. “Pray on this. Understanding will come. Keep your eyes and heart open.” Raphael vanished, leaving the echo of his last words to drift along with Maroth. “Dearest lady of light, your sorrow need not last forever. Go to the bridge at the appointed time, for there is one who waits.”

Evernight Publishing Buy Link

We have taken numerous classes with my friend and mentor, Joey Tuccio, (owner and director of Roadmap Writers) some of them at a Master Level, covering the writing of screenplays–outlining, plotting, and the art of dialogue. In a word–storytelling.

…Having lost numerous friends, associates, and even children from our home town over the years to suicide, we wrote Upon Broken Wings. Told from the point-of-view of a young witness, the story teaches that suicide is not an end to suffering, but rather the beginning of unimaginable pain for those left behind and that there is always hope if we

choose the path of life.

With focusing on LGBT teen suicide in our novel, Upon Broken Wings, a link to The Trevor Project is a must. And with a protagonist who lives within the Autism Spectrum, we felt we should also help to raise awareness of the everyday struggles faced by Autistic youth. Autism Awareness.

GIVEAWAY

The TBR Pile is giving away 2 books from our Prize List, reader's choice! (1 each)

To ENTER: Comment below on why you want to read Upon Broken Wings. Have you read any M/M young adult before?

Winners

Prize list book: Linda and Lisa

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: His Wicked Love by Anya Summers

5/7/2018

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anya will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Mason Stewart is in a pickle. He and his brother are the co-owners of the Black Elkhorn Lodge and Resort. Their dream stands at the precipice of utter ruin because their previous chef embezzled every last dime of savings they had for the lodge. In a last ditch effort to save his business from the brink of annihilation, Mason hires a new chef for their restaurant; sight unseen.

Nothing can prepare him for Emily, the red-haired siren who waltzes into his resort, carting a set of chef knives and demanding to see her new kitchen. She challenges his authority. She inflames his every wicked desire. She is everything he has ever wanted. And he can’t touch her. He’s her boss. And it would be wrong to give in to the incendiary heat between them… wouldn’t it?

Read an Excerpt: “If you want to lug a heavy suitcase, be my guest, sweetheart. I think we need a demonstration, a sample of your skills, before we go any further. Don’t you?” Mason challenged, letting his annoyance creep into his voice. She’d accepted the position without the clause of needing to see the kitchen first. So she thought she could toss in an extra demand, put a wrench in his plans to bring the lodge back from the brink, test who was in charge? It wasn’t her. Miss Fox could try but she would fail. This was his place and he would fight like a rabid dog to save it, to protect it further from outside harm. He wouldn’t ever allow the lodge or himself to be overrun by a pretty face.

She smiled. The air was charged between them, electrified, as she stared him down, then said, “Cowboy, once you’ve had my cooking, you will be my slave and beg me to stay.”

An image of Emily, collared, naked, and on her knees begging him to take her flashed through his mind. The unbidden thought unleashed a windfall of lust and it roared through his bloodstream. Mason tensed, beating back the unsolicited desire. Compartmentalizing the unwanted, erotic images, he narrowed his gaze. “Doubtful. I could take my pick from twenty line cooks today from one of the restaurants in town.”

She rolled her eyes in an exasperated fashion and asked, “Then why did you call me?”

“That’s what I’m beginning to wonder,” Mason retorted, not admitting that he wanted a chef at the top of their game. That he believed if they offered culinary delights not found at other resorts or restaurants, they would attract customers, and maintaining the current menu that was a crowd favorite was paramount.

She was their Hail Mary Pass, even though she didn’t know it. Nor would he tell her that. She already had an overabundance of confidence.

Cole intervened, severing the electric livewire connection as he stepped between them. Mason finally inhaled a deep breath while Cole gave him a brief glance with his brows raised high enough they nearly disappeared beneath his Stetson, and a ‘what the hell?’ expression. Then Cole shifted fully toward Miss Fox, his face calm with the pleasant smile he typically used to win over a sub, and said, “Emily, why don’t I take you over to the restaurant and you can see if it’s to your liking? We updated the kitchen two years ago and have all the latest equipment. Not that I have any idea what all those gadgets do.”

It was the gamine grin, the spread of her pale pink lips exposing her straight, white teeth, and transforming her face into breathtaking. And it was directed at his brother. It shoved Mason toward caveman status. He wanted to snarl at Cole to back off, not to touch her, that she was his. Which was fucking asinine, and only fueled his internal engines to near record levels. “That would be fabulous. Thank you. Is he always like this?” she asked Cole, indicating Mason with a jaunty tilt of her head. Her hair shifted, making it shimmer.

A half grin spread over Cole’s face and he replied, “No. Sometimes he’s worse.”

Emily’s full-bodied, sexy laugh sucker-punched Mason in the sternum. The sound skittered along his spine and pooled in his groin. The throaty, jazz singer sound made him wonder what she sounded like when she came. It made him yearn to discover whether she was a screamer or issued almost silent, throaty moans. There was a part of him that wanted to bend her over his desk and fuck her until his legs buckled.

“Good to know,” Emily responded with another shake of her head which made the waterfall of red tresses shift and move like flames. The color was so vibrant, Mason ached to feel the strands in his hands. Would they be as soft as he imagined, or would they singe his flesh?

“It is; better to be armed and prepared. If you’ll follow me,” Cole murmured, diffusing the situation and ignoring Mason.

“Honey, I’d follow you anywhere,” Emily flirted. With his brother. Jealousy gripped Mason, which was idiotic at best. He couldn’t want Emily. Wouldn’t allow himself to desire her. One, she was his employee and there were some roads that were better left untraveled. Two, he wasn’t sure he liked her. She was brash and mouthy, and most likely as vanilla as they came.

But that didn’t seem to matter to his dick, who liked the thought of playing boss and naughty secretary with her a little too much.

Except then Cole picked up the ball Emily had lobbed his way and responded, “Likewise, sweetheart. Mason, you coming?”

Almost.

And from a damn fantasy. He shook his head, attempting to distill the lust raging through his veins. He bit out, “I’ll be right behind you two.”

About the Author: Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.

Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher http://www.maggiemaegallagher.com/. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.

Visit her website here:

http://www.anyasummers.com
Visit her on social media here:

http://www.facebook.com/AnyaSummersAuthor
http://www.twitter.com/AnyaBSummers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15183606.Anya_Summers
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Anya-Summers/e/B01EGTVRKC/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anya-summers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anyasummersauthor

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: And then he was Gone by Joan Hall Hovey

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Hidden Cargo by Sarah Marsh

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Book Spotlight: His Girl by Megan Slayer

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Margaritas, Mayhem and Murder by Mary Cunningham

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Freaking Fast by David Pereda

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: You Never Forget Your First Earl by Ella Quinn

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Torch by Harley Wylde

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Upon Broken Wings by E.L. Reedy and A.M. Wade

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway: His Wicked Love by Anya Summers

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