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Friday 2 May 2014

Cover Reveal & Giveaway - Roadtrip to Redemption by Laurie Larsen


Roadtrip to Redemption - Cover Reveal
By Laurie Larsen
Inspirational Romance
Date Published: Early May

Book Description:   
It started out a trip to lose old memories.  It became a journey to find her heart.

Leslie Malone faces an empty, lonely summer.  Her marriage is over. Her daughter is overseas, living her dream.  Her students are enjoying a carefree summer break.  What's the purpose of her life if she's not a wife, mother and teacher?  The idea of a roadtrip beckons her.  Aimless wandering? Or inspired discovery?  A woman of faith, she asks God for His guidance, then does her best to follow His direction.

Hank Harrison is a quiet man, good with his hands, but short on words.  He's paid a heavy price for not forgiving his son for horrible mistakes made years ago, mistakes with vast consequences.  Leslie is an answer to his prayers, and together, they begin to mend their futures.

Neither of them plans to fall in love.  Will the worst summer of Leslie's life become the season that redeems them both?


Excerpt from Roadtrip to Redemption

Chapter One

The manila envelope in her hands grew heavier the longer she stood there, her name – Leslie Malone – printed on the front in black magic marker blurring as unwanted tears threatened to erupt.

“Lady?  Excuse me?”

She jolted at the voice.  She gave her head a shake, pulled a brusque hand over her eyes.  “Yes.  Sorry.”

Relief flooding the courier's face was unmistakable.  After all, the last thing he needed was a crying woman when he was just trying to do his job.  He couldn’t really help the fact that he worked for the biggest jerk of a lawyer in town.

He held out a clipboard and a pen and pointed to a line.  She signed her name and handed it back.  He made a quick escape off her front porch, down her driveway and away in his truck.  Were those his tires squealing?  Or maybe that was her imagination.

She sighed and returned to her foyer, closing the front door behind her.  In all fairness, it wasn’t necessarily Tim’s lawyer who was the jerk – Tim himself had that honor.

She stepped into her living room and sank onto the sofa.  No time like the present.  She slipped her finger beneath the sealed flap of the envelope and ripped it open.  She pulled out a small stack of papers and flipped through them before turning back to the front page.  The contents didn’t surprise her.  She’d sat through a full day of court, answered the lawyers’ questions, shared a mountain of documents she’d gathered at her lawyer's request, and listened to the judge’s decisions:

·       Their marriage was over.  Almost twenty years of matrimony -- gone.
·       They’ll sell the house and split the profits.  And they’d split up all the “stuff” according to the inventory they’d both agreed on.
·       They’ll share Jasmine’s college expenses, their contributions proportionate to their incomes.
·       She’ll get half of his 401K when he retires, based on its current balance.
·       He’ll pay child support until Jasmine graduates and gets a job.

She sniffed and tossed the papers on the coffee table.  Her lawyer had been pleased with the settlement, especially that last point.  Leslie would take her word for it. At this moment, she couldn't care less. But was it possible their lives together had resulted in five neat bullet points?  What had once been a loving marriage and family, now was a bunch of legalese.

The phone rang and she jumped.  By habit, she rose and glanced at the Caller ID.  She puffed out a breath and smiled.  “Jaz!   How’s it going?”

“Fantastic, Mom.”

Her daughter’s voice always brought a smile to her face.  From toddler to teen, and now as a young woman.  “Your semester will end before you know it.  It’ll be nice to have a break from school, huh?”

“Well, yeah.”

She caught the slight hesitation but plowed ahead.  “It sure will be good to have you home, Jaz.  The house is awful quiet these days.”

“I bet.”

A tone in the softly spoken words made Leslie scurry to find a new topic.  She knew Jasmine pitied the state of her parents’ marriage.  But today was not a day to delve into it.  Tears were too close to the surface at any given moment to tempt them.

“Have you checked with the diner?   They might need you to waitress this summer, and with me off school, we’ll have a lot of time together.  I was thinking of some fun things to do – plant our garden, try new recipes, maybe we can even plan a vacation, just the two of us.”

Leslie winced at the forced cheer in her tone and bit her lip.  Jasmine would recognize it; she was way too sensitive in general, and too close to the subject of Leslie’s destroyed marriage, to dismiss the subtlety.  The last thing she wanted to do was make Jasmine take sides, or to feel sorry for her at this stage of her life.

Although, with her dad’s full-blown mid-life crisis, complete with a toupe, red Corvette and thirty-year-old divorcee girlfriend, the proper side to take was clear.  At least in Leslie’s opinion.

“Mom, listen.  I won’t be coming home this summer after all.”  She cleared her throat and paused.

“What?”   Leslie heard music playing behind Jasmine’s voice.

“Something really exciting has come up.  An opportunity I don’t want to turn down because although it’s not, um, the best timing … I know I’d regret it later if I didn’t go.”

A little hand gripped Leslie's heart.  She drew a deep breath and forced it out.  “Jasmine, spill.  What are you talking about?”

Her daughter’s words tumbled over themselves.  “A few months ago, I applied for a summer abroad program in Paris.  I never, ever thought I’d get selected because it’s so totally competitive.  It’s a chance for college students all over the world to work in the Paris fashion scene for three whole months.  Go backstage of the runway, work with models, designers, marketers, buyers, retailers.  It’s an unbelievable internship and only the top fashion students are selected.  I really didn’t think I’d have a chance but guess what … I was chosen!  I found out today!”

A weird buzzing filled her ears.  Leslie stood squarely on her two feet and yet, the room was beginning to spin.  She slumped into the chair beside the phone as if her spinal column had become a cooked noodle.  The pause lengthened into an uncomfortable silence.

“Mom?  Are you still there?”

“Yes,” she finally spit out.  “You never even told me you’d applied for a summer abroad, honey.”

“I know.  Honestly, Mom, I didn’t think I had a chance, so why bother?  It’s really an honor.  It’ll be something I’ll remember my whole life, and it’ll be great for my resume.”

“Okay, okay, Jaz.  I hate to be the voice of reason here, but have you thought of the logistics?”

“What do you mean?”
Leslie sighed.  “The biggest one I can think of is, how much does it cost, and how are we going to pay for it?”

“Oh, that’s taken care of, Mom.  Don’t worry about it.”

“You mean, you got a scholarship?   It’s a no-cost internship?”

Jaz cleared her throat again.  “Not exactly.  I mean, there’s a cost, but it’s okay.  Dad said he’d pay for it.  In fact, he gave me his credit card number and told me to charge the tuition and fees.”

A chill crept down Leslie’s spine while goose bumps popped on her arm.  “You called Dad about this before you called me?”

She winced.  Not the most mature of questions to ask – but give her a break:  she was new to this divorce stuff.  “One day” new, in fact.

“Well, yeah, I mean … before I could accept the internship I knew I had to be able to pay for it, so I, you know …”

Leslie nodded.  “Went with your best option.”  Of course Tim would be able to pay for a summer abroad.  His doctor’s salary loomed like the Statue of Liberty, her own teacher’s salary lingering almost unnoticed in the shadows.

“Well …,”

Leslie detested the uncomfortable silence but couldn’t bring herself to say anything cheerful to alleviate it.

“I’m sorry, Mom, but I …”

“No, I understand.  I’m not sure I could’ve helped you anyway.  I would’ve tried, though.”

“I know.”

For the next few minutes Jasmine chattered about the internship, the work, the classes, the travel.  She was excited for her, sure she was.  Of course she was!  She hoped she showed all the appropriate enthusiasm. But when she hung up, reality hit her upside the head.

She’d be alone all summer.

Leslie closed her eyes and sat still, her mind serving up an image of what her summer break would be like.  No husband, no job to go to, no Jasmine to brighten her days.  Long days spanning ad infinitum with no plans.  Or at least, nothing important to do.

What was the purpose of her life now?   What was she put here to do, if it wasn’t to be wife, mother and teacher?  Prayers helped; she’d learned that time and time again.  If nothing else, she usually felt better after verbalizing her requests and getting them out there.

Her spoken words echoed in the empty house.  “Lord.  I know You’re there.  Somewhere in all this mess that my life has become.  It hasn’t been the most stellar of days, and You know that.  But come on, how much can one person take?  My marriage is over, my daughter will be gone all summer.  Not even a job to get up and go to everyday.  Nothing, but my new monotone life.”  She sighed.  “Solitude is completely overrated.  Give me strength to deal with my new reality.  Amen.”

She stood and made her way to the kitchen.  What on earth was she going to do with herself?



About the Author

A Project Manager by day in the fast-paced world of Information Technology, Laurie escapes to her fictional worlds by night.  About to celebrate 15 years as a published author, Laurie has released eight full-length novels and one novella, with plans to release a new series, starting with Book 1, Roadtrip to Redemption in May.  Laurie has written in a number of romance subgenres:  contemporary romance, women's fiction, Young Adult fiction and inspirational romance.  Her 2009 release Preacher Man, won the EPIC Award for Best Spiritual Romance.  Her new series, Pawleys' Island Paradise returns her to her award-winning genre of Christian-themed love stories.  Laurie is known for her tender treatment of everyday life with just a touch of worst case scenario.

Authors Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads



***Giveaway***

ePub or Mobi version of Preacher Man up for grabs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Bookvie: The Hundred Foot Journey - out August 8, 2014


Who's in it:
Helen Mirren, Rohan Chand, Manish Dayal

What's it all about (book blurb from Goodreads):
"That skinny Indian teenager has that mysterious something that comes along once a generation. He is one of those rare chefs who is simply born. He is an artist."

And so begins the rise of Hassan Haji, the unlikely gourmand who recounts his life's journey in Richard Morais' charming novel, The Hundred-Foot Journey. Lively and brimming with the colors, flavors, and scents of the kitchen, The Hundred-Foot Journey is a succulent treat about family, nationality, and the mysteries of good taste.

Born above his grandfather's modest restaurant in Mumbai, Hassan first experienced life through intoxicating whiffs of spicy fish curry, trips to the local markets, and gourmet outings with his mother. But when tragedy pushes the family out of India, they console themselves by eating their way around the world, eventually settling in Lumière, a small village in the French Alps.

The boisterous Haji family takes Lumière by storm. They open an inexpensive Indian restaurant opposite an esteemed French relais (that of the famous chef Madame Mallory) and infuse the sleepy town with the spices of India, transforming the lives of its eccentric villagers and infuriating their celebrated neighbor. Only after Madame Mallory wages culinary war with the immigrant family, does she finally agree to mentor young Hassan, leading him to Paris, the launch of his own restaurant, and a slew of new adventures.

Movie Cast:





Thursday 1 May 2014

Blog Tour Author Interview & Giveaway - The Bellum Prophecy by L. Marie Horton




The Bellum Prophecy
by L. Marie Horton
Release date: December 12th 2013

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Two Wars, One Destiny. Seventeen-year-old Edyn Vella always knew that her strange dreams of the future made her unique, but she never knew what they meant. However, when she fails to stop her aunt's murder by an ominous vampiric creature, Edyn learns that her prophetic visions aren't the only superhuman ability she possesses. 

Following her late aunt's clues, Edyn finds herself in New York City attempting to save her last surviving relative, the powerful and reclusive billionaire, Ethan Roux. Edyn not only discovers Ethan isn't exactly human, but that she is at the center of an ancient prophecy and could determine the outcome of an impending war. 

As Ethan's Omega, his only human descendant, she's thrust into an enigmatic world full of new supernatural creatures where both good and evil vampires and warlocks have waged a centuries-long battle for the fate of humanity. Just as her relationship with the mysterious and handsome Brendan begins to blossom, Edyn's complicated new life quickly spirals out of control when ancient evil becomes determined on making her one of them. Edyn must discover her inner strength while making the choice between a long life without love and a potentially short life full of it. 

The Bellum Prophecy is a dark, suspenseful new novel that explores the loss of innocence while coming of age in the midst of a battle between good and evil. Combining the best elements of vampire legend, the supernatural, and even magic, L. Marie Horton uses exciting action and a cutting-edge story to craft a refreshing new take on young adult fiction.

Buy Links:



Author Interview

1.Tell us a bit about your writing background. How did you get started writing for teens?

I have always loved writing since I was young. I mainly wrote movie ideas, some poetry and random short stories. Naturally for my degrees I had to brief hundreds of cases along with various types of legal writings. After graduating and passing the CA bar exam, I sat down and looked through all of my old movies ideas/ writings. I had the random thought of combining some of them and writing books instead. Once I began writing what would become "The Bellum Prophecy," I couldn’t stop. I still struggle with deciding which book ideas will ultimately become adult books or YA books. I lean more towards writing for teens because I can focus on stretching the bounds of creativity and action. I feel there certain limitations to specifically writing for adults, because surprise, their minds work differently!
2. Who/What were your earliest influences? 

My grandmother Carolie read constantly and I can’t remember a time in my childhood where she didn’t have a book in her hand or one sitting by the couch for her to read before going to bed. She would drive me to the public library especially when they had book sales. During one of those trips, when I was about fourteen, I checked out "In Cold Blood" and it blew me away. When I was seventeen, I found "Sing the Four Quarters" by Tanya Huff at one of the library book sales and it was so imaginative. I fell in love with the characters and the fantasy world she created. 
3. Did you face any early challenges to finding success in writing? 

I have heard that something like 90% of people who write books never publish them. I can see that because it is a big leap to put yourself out there, especially not really knowing what’s going to happen when you do. The biggest challenge for me was telling my family and friends about writing the book. I still get quiet and turn all red when someone is talking about my book to our waiter or person sitting next to him or her in a movie theatre. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.
4. What are your favorite books as a reader today? What qualities in them appeal to you?

I am actually trying to get caught up on the classics. I want to read "To Kill A Mocking Bird", "Catch-22", "Fahrenheit 451", and "Tess of the d'Urbervilles." Other books I tend to gravitate towards lately are legal thrillers and murder mysteries. I love solving the crime or figuring out the ending before I finish the book. It challenges my mind and keeps me sharp as an author.
5. What do you do outside your writing life?

 I am an attorney so I work long hours during the week and sometimes weekends. To keep me on my toes and for stress relief, I enjoy spending as much time as possible with my four-year niece Cass. Seeing her constantly learning and experiencing simple everyday things for the first time has been truly amazing.
6. What encouragement helped you along the way? 

Family and friends. It was hard to announce to them that I was writing a book, because I am a very private person and I was afraid of letting them down. It turned out to be the best thing I ever did, because they were there to offer support and pushed me to get it done! 
7. What advice do you have for beginning writers?
Never stop writing. Find your inspiration, favorite writing spot and whatever else you need to keep writing. Don’t be afraid to open yourself up to editing comments and criticism. As a writer your mind should always be open anyways, so change should be natural, not personal.
8. What's up next for your fans?
Book two of the Vella series. Edyn goes through a huge character transformation in the second book and I really enjoyed writing it. I am also concurrently working on a fantastic YA fantasy and an adult probate thriller.
9. What has been your biggest compliment? 

Word of mouth. I have gotten emails from bookstores asking about my book because a friend of friend was looking for a local copy to buy.
10. Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans and readers? 

Thank you, thank you and thank you for reading. There is so much more to come!


Excerpt from The Bellum Prophecy

Taken from Chapter One

Suddenly, I heard a woman’s voice behind me. “Since when do dracs attack old ladies at night and burn their houses down?” 

Then I heard my rescuer speak for the first time. He had a wonderful voice; it was strong, with a slight French accent. “This wasn’t a random attack, it was planned. Where was the other one?” 

The woman responded, “She killed the other one just before we got here. It looks like a kitchen chair leg to the heart.”

“Resourceful. If she lives, that will be impressive.” I was glad that I impressed someone with my efforts to save my aunt. However, I still failed; Aunt Bethi was dead. My aunt was just murdered and I had killed her murderer. A knot started growing in my stomach. God, my body hurts!

“The cops are coming. We have to go, Kieran,” the woman said.

Kieran. His name was Kieran and I didn't want him to go. I wanted to see his eyes again, those beautiful blue eyes. As I reached up towards his face, he moved swiftly and grabbed my hand with his without hurting me. Oh my God! The instant we touched skin-to-skin, my body started heating up from its very core. He looked down at me, and our eyes made contact. I felt the earth below us rumble like a mini-earthquake, and my own heart pounded along with it. My whole body began to shiver as the sound of thunder echoed above our heads. His eyes widened, just as two lightning strikes came down from sky and hit the ground mere yards from us.

I wondered whether he was feeling the same intense energy consuming his soul, too. We were frozen in time for what seemed like hours, but was only seconds. Suddenly, the woman grabbed him by the shoulders and shook both of us out of whatever trance we were in.

“Kieran...Kieran.... What the hell was that?” she asked in a shaky voice.

He didn't answer; maybe he couldn’t answer. The woman was about to go when she saw my necklace and it stopped her cold in her tracks. “She's a Vella? How is that possible? I thought they were all dead.” 
Kieran looked down at my necklace as well. I had on the same necklace I’ve worn since my father died. It was his, a V for Vella, but in an intricate half-circle, crescent moon design. Kieran’s expression was a mix of confusion and wonder.

“Edyn. Where have you been?” he whispered as he ran his hands down the side of my cheek in an embracing touch. Both of our bodies responded with goose bumps. The moment my Aunt Bethi died, I felt alone in the world. The moment Kieran and I touched, I no longer felt alone, but at peace. Even as I lay there on backyard lawn, probably dying, my soul felt content. It was as if I had known Kieran my whole life, or maybe in another life. The brief, confusing event distracted my mind from the horrible pain my body was feeling. 

“Kieran, seriously, we have to go. The message wasn't clear, so what do you want to do?” she asked hastily. 

He thought about this for a second. “Call Terrin, get a car here right away. We’ll take her to Dr. Bale,” he ordered. She nodded her head and left my sight. Kieran effortlessly picked me up again and started into a sprint. The sirens were getting closer, louder. We reached the alleyway and continued in a sprint away from the house. 

“Is she still with us?” the woman asked. 

Stopping at the street, Kieran looked down on me with those stunning eyes. “Janelle, I think she might just make it.” 

“Why?”

“Look at her cuts, they’re already healing,” he said as he pointed them out to her.

As Janelle came around, I finally got a good look at her face. She had black hair in a really short pixie style, brown eyes, and a well-defined scar on her left cheek. “How can that be...?” she said as she examined my arm.

“Because she’s an Ace,” he replied, and she shook her head in disbelief. 

Just then a black SUV pulled up quickly. Janelle opened the back door and Kieran laid me across the seat. He closed the door, went around, and got in next to me. I couldn't see the driver, so I had no idea if it was a man or woman, or what the person looked like. The SUV accelerated and started swerving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed. Kieran was stroking my hair, and even though it felt good, the pain still became too intense. I groaned and tried to shift my body, trying to ease the pain. Kieran responded by placing his hands on my shoulders, holding me down. “We're almost there. I know it hurts, Edyn.” Tears started to escape my eyes and roll down my cheeks. 

“I can’t believe Gavin’s daughter is alive,” Janelle said with bewilderment.

Kieran responded in a grave tone, “Call Ethan. He needs to know.”

My eyelids began to grow heavy with sleepiness and I gave in to closing them. The car came to an abrupt stop, and I felt the sensation of my body being lifted up and moved quickly. I wasn't quite awake, but not completely out either. I was somewhere in between, only partially fighting to stay awake. Death? Limbo? I didn’t know and honestly? I didn’t care. 

I heard Kieran's strained voice, “Edyn, wake up, don't close your eyes...” His voice trailed off as I finally stopped fighting and let the blissful darkness take me. 


About the Author

L. Marie Horton is an attorney practicing law in Fresno, California. After completing her degrees, she gave the left side of her brain a rest and became devoted to writing fiction. L. Marie is also a photographer, avid speed-reader, and an obsessive fan of movie soundtracks. She has a supportive husband and two fur children, Scottie a.k.a. Daba D and Gunnar a.k.a. da Gun Gun’s.

L. Marie writes YA paranormal romance and fantasy fiction focusing on strong characters trying to overcome extraordinary obstacles in their life. Writing is an extreme passion of hers and she relishes in sharing that passion with her readers.

Author Links:





***Giveaway***

(2) $20 Amazon Gift Cards up for grabs!

Open Internationally.


Blog Tour Organized by:

Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Gatekeeper by J.A. Templeton



The Gatekeeper
by J.A. Templeton 
(Otherworld Series #1) 
Publication date: May 1st 2014
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal Romance

Book Description:
Ever since I can remember, I’ve had strange dreams that always came true, and experienced terrifying powers that set me apart from everyone else.

It’s not until my eighteenth birthday do I begin to understand what those dreams mean. When my grandfather is attacked and left for dead, I am thrust into the Otherworld—a medieval-like land of beautiful immortals with amazing gifts. One of these immortals has stolen the key between the realms, and it is up to me, Brynne Davies, the next gatekeeper, to reach the key before the power struggle that exists in the Otherworld occurs on earth.

Complicating my task are the members of the Royal House of Parthas, especially the king’s brother, the handsome Murdoc, Warlord of the king’s army, and then there’s the charming Fae prince who seems to always be one step ahead of me.

Time is running out for me to find the key and close the door. If I don’t, the world I left will never be the same…because of me.

The Gatekeeper (Otherworld series, #1) is a New Adult Fantasy/Paranormal Romance.


Buy Links:

Excerpt from The Gatekeeper

The smithy was stifling hot. Gareth had thick and curly reddish-brown hair. Wet with perspiration, he was busy pounding out horseshoes as if his life depended on it. He abruptly looked up and his eyes widened. “My lord, I fear I do not yet have the sword ready.”

Murdoc smiled reassuringly. “I am not here for the sword, but rather to make a bracelet for Parthas’s newest arrival.” He motioned to me. “Gareth, this is Brynne. Brynne, may I introduce Gareth.”

Gareth appeared relieved as he glanced at me, and quickly hid a smile. “His lordship is quite skilled with iron and fire, Miss Brynne.”

“Aye, I believe you,” I nearly shouted, feeling ridiculous the second the words were out because Gareth’s brow furrowed. It didn’t help when he and Murdoc shared an amused smile.

To Gareth’s credit, he didn’t let his gaze move past my chin. I wished I could have changed into another gown because I looked a mess. Aside from my appearance, I was glad to be in Murdoc’s company.

“Do not boast of my skills too much, my friend,” Murdoc said, taking a leather apron from a spike on the wall. He tied it around his waist and then reached for my hand, sliding his fingers and thumb around my wrist.

His touch was electric and it stunned me. I felt that casual touch all the way to my toes.

“I need to measure for an accurate fit,” he said, and I looked up at him, at the way his long lashes cast shadows on those model-like cheekbones. I swallowed a sigh.

“Very delicate,” he said, catching me staring at him. He didn’t move, just watched me for a moment before letting his hand fall away.

I had to remind myself to breathe as he took a step away from me.

He immediately set into motion by grasping a set of tongs, then heating a rod of iron over the fire.

I stood watching for a few minutes, then feeling ridiculous, I decided to take a seat on a nearby bench. I had to admit—Murdoc intrigued me. He was a walking contradiction. Everything about him screamed intimidation, and yet here he was—Parthas’s ominous warlord—taking time out of his day to make a bracelet for a girl he had just met. Which made me wonder—did he have a woman? He wore no ring. Then again, I did not know Parthas customs.

Murdoc glanced up at Gareth, who kept his gaze averted, but the blacksmith’s lips quirked nonetheless. Gareth then turned away and made himself busy cleaning up the metal shavings in the work area, humming all the while.

A light breeze rushed through the smithy, and I watched as the wind ruffled Murdoc’s hair. The shirt he’d slid on hung loosely at his waist and over his butt.

And he had a nice butt. Once again, I forced my gaze away from his smoking-hot body.

I couldn’t afford to start crushing on anyone in Parthas. Time was ticking, and I had to get in and get out, and back to Pops.

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy the eye candy while I was here.

Murdoc kept reaching for different tools off of a wooden rack to twist and bend the metal. It was amazing to watch him at work. After ten or so minutes of meticulous detail, the bracelet was finished and Murdoc set it to cool on a rack.

Putting the tools away, he brushed a hand through his hair just as another strong breeze blew through the shop window, and a stray lock fell over his right eye.

I don’t know what possessed me, but I stepped close, reached up, and brushed the strand away. Murdoc’s hand flew up and caught my wrist in a firm grip.

I gasped, surprised by his reaction. “I only wanted to get the hair—”

He immediately loosened his grip. “I apologize, Brynne. I am not accustomed to being touched.”

Not accustomed to being touched? Was he serious? Something in his eyes made me believe he was completely serious…and why did I find that so sad? Maybe because my grandfather had never let me go to bed without tucking me in with a kiss on the cheek and telling me that he loved me.

Murdoc stared at my lips—almost as if he was going to kiss me.

“My lord,” a guard yelled from the door.

Murdoc blinked and took a step away from me. “Aye, Cameron. What is it?”

“There is a caravan coming, and they are flying the colors of the House of Zaphyr.” Cameron flashed a grin. “Your betrothed will be at the castle gate within the hour!”

Your betrothed? As in fiancée?

Murdoc was engaged.


About the Author

I wrote my first young adult novel over ten years ago, and took a slight detour from writing YA to publish nineteen adult romances. Now, I'm following my heart and writing in the genre I've been passionate about for so long, and about characters who don't exactly fit into any specific box.

Aside from writing and reading, I'm obsessed with history, love research, traveling, and riding motorcycles with my hubby, my first and only love, who stole my heart when I was fourteen and he was eighteen (yes, he robbed the cradle). I am also a medium, which gives me a unique perspective when writing about the paranormal and characters like Riley, who can see, hear, and feel spirits.

I'm passionate about books, and I'll never tire of writing love stories.

Author Links:


***Giveaway***

One ecopy of The Gatekeeper up for grabs!

Ends May 19, 2014 (midnight GMT).

Open internationally.

Prize will be sent out after May 26th.

Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 13 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be selected. The winner will be posted on this page after the winner responds. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.


Book Blitz Organized by:

BOTM - The Runaways {Wattpad}

The Runaways
Author: jr0127
Genre: Action / Mystery / Thriller

Wattpad Book Blurb:
Love's a disappearing act, death's an illusion.

When Hailey Anderson, daughter of a dangerous D.C. senator, slams into Caleb Evans, a pretty boy with a million-dollar smile and a million ugly secrets, she figures fate has finally given her an escape from the broken home she's desperate to distance herself from. 

Their seemingly star-crossed encounter results in her being drugged and dragged out of Washington as Caleb's ugly background bubbles to the surface.

Caught between deadly family ties, financial desperation, and an intriguing new hostage, Caleb struggles to walk the line between loyalty and frightening new feelings for Hailey. When his brothers discover Caleb distancing himself from their last chance plan for survival turned federal crime, they stop at nothing to tear the two of them apart. 

When helping Hailey means losing everything, will Caleb stay barbwire-tied to his brothers or hold on to a hostage who's got a hold on him?


Author Links:


Interview

1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.

My name's Jenny! I'm 25 and have my bachelors in English from UCLA. I spent a number of years working in the entertainment industry and now am studying to become a certified ESL teacher overseas! I'm also working towards establishing a partial career in writing.

2. What types of books do you write?

Both new adult and young adult novels. I tend to lean towards writing darker romances with a tinge of thriller/action. 

3. How many books have you written?

The Runaways is my first completed manuscript. I have two others in progress (Velvet Skye & Cheater.Faker.Troublemaker.) along with a smattering of short stories. 

4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

The Fault in Our Stars hands down. I think it'll be the Perks of Being A Wallflower of this year. I love John Green's work so I'm excited about the film adaptation.

5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?

YA & NA Romance. Anything by John Green, Colleen Hoover, Jay Asher and the like. I also love classics. Jack Kerouac, J.D. Salinger, Harper Lee, William Faulkner, and Kurt Vonnegut are some of my heroes.

6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

A functional phone, an awesome first aid kit, and Colin O'Donoghue ;).

7. Are you considering a sequel?

I am! This is the first time I'm mentioning this, but I've spent the last few days pseudo outlining what a Runaways sequel would look like. It's definitely being considered.

8. What inspired you to become a writer?

My grandmother. She worked with quite a few established authors back in her day and so growing up I was surrounded by writers & a wonderful woman who encouraged me to be creative. Writing just happened to be one outlet I took a liking to.





The Runaways Scavenger Hunt

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Wednesday 30 April 2014

Book Blast & Giveaway - The Only Boy by Jordan Locke

The only boy
The Only Boy
by Jordan Locke

Mary is stuck in Section One, living with three hundred women in a crumbling hospital. She wonders what life was like two centuries ago, before the Cleansing wiped out all the men. But the rules—the Matriarch's senseless rules—prevent her from exploring the vacant city to find out.

Taylor's got a dangerous secret: he's a boy. His compound's been destroyed, and he's been relocated to Section One. Living under the Matriarch means giving up possessions, eating canned food and avoiding all physical contact. Baggy clothes hide his flat chest and skinny legs, but if anyone discovers what lies beneath, he'll be exiled. Maybe even executed.

Mary's never seen a boy—the Matriarch cut the pictures of men from the textbooks—and she doesn't suspect Taylor's secret. If she knew, she might understand the need to stop the girls from teasing him. If she knew, she might realize why she breaks the rules, just to be near him. Then again, she might be frightened to death of him.

Taylor should go. The Matriarch is watching his every move. But running means leaving Mary—and braving the land beyond the compound's boundaries.

Buy Links:
Amazon


Praise for The Only Boy

“It’s not a dystopia that does a good job—it’s a great book that happens to be a dystopia.”

Rachel Miller, Editor
“This book is one of the best of its genre I have read, it kept me gripped to its satisfying end.”

Janet Love, Amazon UK Reviewer
“If you like a different take on the dystopian genre then I would highly recommend this unique and amazing book.”

Tamara Bass, The Avid Book Collector


Jordan Locke
About the Author

Jordan Locke lives in Connecticut with his wife, two lively daughters and a well-behaved whippet. A graphic designer by trade, his creativity spilled over into the literary world. After years of writing, reading and learning the craft, his fifth novel, The Only Boy, brought him offers of representation from two well-known agents. Now, after the dog is fed and the kids are in bed, you will find him tapping away at the keyboard.

Author Links:









only boy tou



book blast button



***Giveaway***

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash.

Ends 5/31/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.