Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Release Blast & #Giveaway for My Lady Gloriana by Sylvia Halliday

 

Welcome to my stop on the Release Blast, presented by Tasty Book Tours, for My Lady Gloriana by Sylvia Halliday.  Please leave a comment or question for Sylvia to let her know you stopped by.  You may enter the tour wide giveaway, where Sylvia’s publisher will award a print copy of My Lady Gloriana to five (5) randomly chosen commenters, by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.  


MY LADY GLORIANA
Sylvia Halliday 
Releasing Nov 24th, 2015
Diversion


In this twist on the Pygmalion story, a duke makes a wager that he can bed the uncouth Lady Gloriana. But the bet takes on a life of its own...

The year is 1725. Lady Gloriana Baniard is a beautiful fish out of water. Brought up on the mean streets of London, she is a brash, blunt, obscene force of nature. But thanks to a brief marriage to a disgraced aristocrat, she is forced to live with his noble family and endure the humiliating process of learning to be a lady. Rebelling, she runs away to Yorkshire, where she intends to be a blacksmith, a skill at which she excels. She knows she’ll need a manservant to front for her. When John Thorne appears, she hires him, stirred as much by his irresistible attraction as by his strength.

John Haviland, Duke of Thorneleigh, is an arrogant, indolent gambler and womanizer. Having seen Gloriana just once, he yearns to make her his own. When he learns she has run away from her family, he makes a wild bet with his wastrel companions―he will find the lady and bed her. Disguised as a humble servant, he becomes her assistant, learning the blacksmith trade. The clash of wills between these two proud people creates more sparks than a blacksmith’s anvil, as Gloriana learns to be a lady, Thorne learns humility―and desire deepens to love.

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(Setting:  John Haviland, Duke of Thorneleigh, has gone for a midnight walk in the country.)

The night was more glorious than he would have imagined. The sweet scents of new grass and spring flowers filled the air with their delicate perfume, soothing his troubled soul. Impulsively, he rolled up his sleeves, then laughed and pulled off his shirt completely. He half-expected to hear the voice of his long-ago nursemaid, chiding him for common behavior that didn't suit the heir to an ancient dukedom. Gentlemen didn't go around half-clothed. 

“Rest in peace, Nurse,” he murmured, recalling her with tenderness. He'd stripped naked many a time since those days—and for far less innocent reasons. It was a mild night. Maybe he'd further scandalize Nurse’s memory by going for a swim. 

He felt young, adventurous, free—yet strangely sad and melancholy. What had happened to the carefree lad he once had been? What had turned him into this idle dissolute? Surely there was a moment he had missed—a turning point that might have taken him in a different, more satisfying direction. 

No. Tonight, with the earth wrapped in silvery moonlight, was for magic. He felt as though something extraordinary was about to happen. Something that would change his life, lead him to a path more splendid and glittering than the moon-dappled one he now followed. 

He pulled off his shoes and stockings and stripped off his breeches. The sensual night air caressed his nakedness like a harlot’s hand; he felt a quivering and stirring in his groin. He suddenly ached for a woman. But not a clumsy slattern, like the innkeeper’s wife. Nor even a perfumed beauty who strolled St. James’s Park by day and slept on satin sheets by night. He wanted a goddess, as magical and lovely as this moon-kissed midnight. 

He heard the soft whinny of a horse, the gentle thud of hoofs upon packed earth. The sounds seemed to be coming from the far end of the clearing. He shrank back against the tree trunk, concealing his naked body, and waited. The woman galloped onto the sand, magnificent upon her horse—a vision of perfection that took his breath away. 

His longed-for goddess.




Award-winning author Sylvia Halliday’s first historical novel, written as Ena Halliday, was chosen by Pocket Books to launch their Tapestry line. She subsequently wrote for Popular Library/Warner and Harlequin Historicals under the pen name of Louisa Rawlings, the name of her maternal great-grandmother. She has written for Kensington/Zebra under the pseudonym of Sylvia Halliday. She has published 14 historical romances. Her FOREVER WILD earned 5 stars from RT Book Reviews and Affaire de Coeur, and was a RITA finalist for the Romance Writers of America. Her latest offerings, published by Diversion Books, are MARIELLE (The French Maiden Series, #1), LYSETTE (The French Maiden Series, #2), DELPHINE (The French Maiden Series, #3), DREAMS SO FLEETING, GOLD AS THE MORNING SUN, THE RING, and SUMMER DARKNESS, WINTER LIGHT. FOREVER WILD, STOLEN SPRING, and PROMISE OF SUMMER, written by her as Louisa Rawlings, are available from Samhain Publishing.


Teaser Tuesday for I'll Be There by Samantha Chase


I'LL BE THERE
Montgomery Brother's #6
Samantha Chase
Releasing Dec 1st, 2015
Sourcebooks Casablanca



Book #6 in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Samantha Chase's popular Montgomery series

This Montgomery Has a Head for Business

Working for Zach Montgomery is challenging on many levels-coming from a wealthy and powerful family, he lives by his own rules and doesn't answer to anyone. But Gabriella Martine has no intention of backing down. She's used to handling stubborn men, and it doesn't hurt that Zach is smart, charismatic...and gorgeous.

And a Heart for Adventure

Zach's perfect world is turned upside down when a climbing accident leaves him broken, angry, and maddeningly dependent. In his slow quest for recovery, Gabriella is always there to help...but as Zach comes to see his beautiful assistant in a new light, he is forced to re-evaluate what it really means to be a man worthy of Gabriella's love.

Pre-Order Today


Reaching across the table, Zach took one of Gabriella’s hands in his and just marveled at how soft it was. He always wondered what her skin felt like and now that he knew, he wanted to feel more. “Don’t leave me. Please.”

Her blue eyes filled with tears and she used her free hand to quickly wipe them away before they fell and then studied their hands on the table. “Zach,” she said softly, “we’ve been over this.”

“I know, I know,” he replied just as softly. “I need another chance, Gabriella. I need a chance to make things right.” He looked up, his gaze meeting hers. “I need you.”

Deciding to be bold, he turned her hand over and twined their fingers together and gently squeezed. He was surprised she didn’t pull away and thought maybe—just maybe—they were making progress. “I know I can’t erase the things I’ve said and done, but if you’ll give me one more chance, Gabs, I promise not to screw up. If I do anything to upset you, you can walk away. Hell, you can slap me in the face, kick me in the shin or throw something heavy at me and I’ll take it. I just…I can’t do this without you.”

Her eyes never left their joined hands.

“I don’t want to do this without you,” he said quietly.

“I’m afraid to…believe you.” He barely heard her words, they were uttered so softly.

Everything inside of him clenched with pain. His always confident, ever-efficient assistant was now distrusting and uncertain—because of him. “I don’t know what to say to make you believe me. Tell me. Tell me what I need to do. Anything. Anything you need from me to gain your confidence, and I’ll do it.”

She looked up at him. “It’s not that easy. Every day I walked into the office, I gave you another chance. Every time you berated me or made me feel like I screwed up and I came back, I gave you another chance. From my standpoint, you’ve had two years’ worth of second chances. I think I’ve been more than generous.”

His other hand reached out to cup her hand in both of his. “I know you have and you have no idea how much I appreciated it.” She looked at him with disbelief. “It’s true! I know I never said it but every morning you were there, I was thankful. Every time you walked into my office, I was thankful. Please. I’m begging here, Gabs.”




New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.
When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Haven't Started the Series?
WAIT FOR ME/TRUST IN ME 
are now available in a duo!




Monday, November 23, 2015

Virtual Tour & #Giveaway for Space Cadets by Laurence Moroney


Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Tour, presented by Goddess Fish Promotions, for Space Cadets by Laurence Moroney.  Please leave a comment or question for Laurence to let him know you stopped by.  You may enter his tour wide giveaway, where Laurence will award one (1) randomly drawn commenter, US Only, a print copy of his book, by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.  You may also follow all of the stops on his tour by clicking on the banner above.

Space Cadets
By Laurence Moroney


Publisher:  Booktrope
Release date:  November 15, 2015
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Format: eBook/Print
Length:  209 Pages
ISBN:  978-1513705576
ASIN:  B0181MO9QY

Buy Links:  Amazon | B&N  


About the book:

After conflicts in Korea, Pakistan and the Middle East turned nuclear, the world stood on the eve of destruction. Realizing that we only have this one precious planet containing all of humanity, the United Nations pulled us back from the brink, and started a new, multinational effort to conquer space. Many years later, the peak of achievement for any young person is to be admitted to the Space Academy. Previously available only to a precious few, it has recently opened enrollment to anybody who can meet their strenuous entry criteria.

Space Cadets is the story of the first African-American girl, Aisha Parks, to enter into the academy, where she learns that the more some things change, the more they stay the same, and despite the honorable intentions of the academy, there are some dark secrets being kept – secrets that could be the end of us all.


EXCERPT

Chapter 5. A Name with Meaning

For the rest of the day, the work was hard but it was joyous. Drill after drill on the ship, learning and understanding its systems. At first they were tedious, but once they became second nature, Aisha and the others were able to relax a bit more and even enjoy them.

David hadn’t spoken much since their walk on the lunar surface. He almost seemed embarrassed around Aisha. Like a very private thought of his had surfaced, and he didn’t want people to see him ‘like that’. She made a point of working closely with him, and referring to him in conversations, but that seemed to put him in his shell all the more.

Their quarters were tiny, barely bigger than the bunk bed and the small shared bathroom. They looked more like a prison cell. But it was a refuge from outside, and Aisha was happy to be sharing with Soo-Kyung again. She wanted solace more than anything, but Soo-Kyung’s discretion was the next best thing.

However, discretion wasn’t on her mind. As soon as they were alone, Soo-Kyung spoke up. “What happened out there? David hasn’t been the same since our walk on the surface this afternoon.”

“He shared something from his past,” Aisha said, trying to keep as neutral as possible. “And I think he’s a bit embarrassed about it. Like he doesn’t know why he shared it, and he doesn’t want me to know what I know.”

Soo-Kyung sat on the bed. “Is it bad?”

“It’s sad. But he did nothing wrong. He is angry though.”

“I can’t ever see David being angry.” Soo-Kyung’s eyebrows furrowed. “It’s just so not him. One of the things I really like about him is how calm and controlled he always is.”

“Don’t let Seamus hear you say that,” Aisha teased.

“Seamus?”

“That there are things you like about David.”

“But there are.”

“You don’t know guys, do you?”

Soo-Kyung slumped on the bed. “No,” she said quietly. “I don’t.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Think about where I came from. Think about who I am. Do you think a guy my age could ever possibly be honest with me? Those that would claim they liked me were probably prodded into doing so, and maybe some that really did like me were afraid to speak up, so I never really got guys.”

“You’re probably better off,” Aisha smiled.

“Am I? It leaves me in such doubt, I mean Seamus--”

“Seamus is one of the good guys,” said Aisha, sincerely meaning it. “One of the really good guys.”

“How do you know?”

“Because it’s clear that he knows how to love. And he loves you.”

“How can you tell?”

Aisha sighed. “I’m not exactly an expert, but there are guys who would say anything, and don’t match it up with what they do. And there are guys who would do anything, but don’t match it up with what they say or who they are.”

“And neither of these types are sincere?”

“Exactly. To be honest, most of the time, when you see a sincere guy it’s because he’s already with someone else. When they aren’t with someone, you have to be sure that they are right, and it’s really hard to tell.”

“So how do you tell?”

“When their words are backed up by their actions,” Aisha said. “And when they’re willing to wait.”

“Willing to wait?”

“As in, not just trying out every girl that they can. Not just basking in the attention that relationships give them, or not just getting into one because everyone else is doing it.”

“I see. And if they are willing to be patient in that, they’ll be patient in many other, more important, things too?”

“Yes.”

“And you think Seamus is like that?”

“I know he is.”

“And you really think he loves me?”

“For sure. The question is, do you love him?”

“I think so. I don’t know, but I think so.”

“Then you probably do.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“It’s obvious,” Aisha smiled. “Because you hesitate. You are thinking of his feelings, you are considering him. You don’t want to declare that you love him when you might not, because that would possibly hurt him. And you never want to hurt someone you love, right?”

“Can’t I just be compassionate?”

“Something tells me you’re passionate. I’m not sure about the ‘com’ part!”

They laughed, and hugged a little.

Soo-Kyung asked quietly. “Patrice is like that a little bit too, isn’t he?”

“I think so, but, I can’t tell for sure right now.”

“And how about you?”

“Like you, I think I love him, which probably means I do love him.”

“I can see why. When Seamus talks about him, I see his eyes light up. They were really good friends, and he’s hurting to see Patrice the way he is, but also proud of him for what he did.”

“Yeah, me too.”

They sat in silence a while longer.

“So,” said Aisha. “I have a very important question for you.”

“Yeah?”

“Did he kiss you?”

“On our walk?”

“Yeah. You guys went off alone for a while.”

“We were wearing spacesuits. It’s not exactly possible.”

“But did he try?”

Her only answer was a smack in the face from Soo-Kyung’s pillow, which despite the moon’s lower gravity, still hit her with some force.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Laurence Moroney is the author of more books than he’s prepared to admit. After several best selling programming books, his first Young Adult novel “The Fourth World” became a #1 book on Amazon Kindle, spawned two sequels “The Million Year Journey” and “The Legend of the Locust”, and is currently being shopped around studios for a potential movie. “Space Cadets” is his latest, a cutting edge science fiction novel, based on real science that starts a new series charting out humanity’s course to the stars. He’s presently working on the sequel “The Quiet World”, which he hopes to finish in 2015. For his day job, Laurence works as a Developer Advocate for Google, where he is constantly counting his blessings for being part of the best workplace in the world…

Find him here:
Space Cadets Website: http://www.join-the-cadets.com/


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Virtual Tour & #Giveaway for The Case of the Defunct Adjunct by Frankie Bow


Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Tour, presented by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, for The Case of the Defunct Adjunct by Frankie Bow.  Please leave a comment or question for Frankie to let her know you stopped by.  You may enter her tour wide giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.  You may also follow all of the stops on her tour by clicking on the banner above.  My review will post later today.  

The Case of the Defunct Adjunct
By Frankie Bow
Molly Barda Mysteries, Book -

Publisher:  Hawaiian Heritage Press
Release date:  November 23, 2015
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: eBook
Length:  238 Pages
ISBN:  9781943476008
ASIN:  B015U1NM4O

Buy Links:  Amazon | B&N | Kobo



About the book:

A forbidden kiss. A death in plain sight. And the faculty meeting’s just begun.

Forced to attend the Student Retention Office’s summer retreat, Professor Molly Barda brings her game of buzzword bingo to fend off boredom. But when the lecherous Kent Lovely, Mahina State’s one-man hostile work environment, collapses face-first into his haupia cheesecake, the afternoon goes from dull to disastrous. Now Molly has to fight to keep an innocent out of prison—and herself off the unemployment line.

The Case of the Defunct Adjunct is the spoiler-free prequel to the Molly Barda mysteries, a cozy mystery series set in remote Mahina, Hawaii. If you like Dorothy Parker, Sarah Caudwell, P.G. Wodehouse, or E.F. Benson’s Mapp and Lucia stories, you’ll enjoy this tale of passion, pilferage, and petty politics.





About The Author

Like Molly Barda, Frankie Bow teaches at a public university. Unlike her protagonist, she is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, a loving family, and a perfectly nice office chair. She believes if life isn’t fair, at least it can be entertaining.

In addition to writing murder mysteries, she publishes in scholarly journals under her real name. Her experience with academic publishing has taught her to take nothing personally.

Author Links
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Frankie_Bow



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Virtual Tour for Wrong Crowd by Richard Godwin

Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Tour, presented by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, for Wrong Crowd by Richard Godwin.  Please leave a comment or question for Richard to let him know you stopped by.  You may follow all of the stops on his tour by clicking on the banner above.

Wrong Crowd
By Richard Godwin

Publisher:  Down and Out Books
Release date:  September 29, 2015
Genre: Crime/Mystery
Format: eBook/Print
Length:  198 Pages
ISBN:  978-1937495992
ASIN:  B014Q19HM0

Buy Links:  Amazon | B&N 



About the book:

A sultry novel in which an art thief finds himself out of his depth in a criminal maelstrom when he meets a beautiful woman with no past.

When Claude meets Maxine in the Caribbean he falls for her. He does not expect he will start an affair with her back in London, then again he does not expect to have to call on the help of his old mate Spike, nor that will they become embroiled with Russian gangsters Vladimir and Grigory.

But then Claude will do anything to hold onto Maxine.


Peopled with thieves, hustlers, gangsters, gun runners and pimps, Wrong Crowd is a slick and action-packed ride into London’s low-life. East End villains and the Russian Mafia collide in a fast-paced novel of deceit and criminal obsession that sparkles as it speeds towards its astonishing conclusion.



About the Author

Richard Godwin is the author of critically acclaimed novels Apostle RisingMr. GlamourOne Lost Summer ,Noir City Meaningful Conversations Confessions Of A Hit Man , and Paranoia And The Destiny Programme.

He is also a published poet and a produced playwright. His stories have been published in numerous paying magazines and over 34 anthologies, among them The Mammoth Book Of Best British Crime  and The Mammoth Book Of Best British Mystery , alongside Lee Child, as well as the anthology of his stories, Piquant: Tales Of The Mustard Man. His novels have sold numerous foreign rights.

Richard Godwin was born in London and obtained a BA and MA in English and American Literature from King’s College London, where he also lectured.

Author Links



When I first read the description for Wrong Crowd, I wasn’t sure it was going to be my kind of book but I wanted to read something a bit darker than the cozy mysteries I’ve been reading lately so I thought I would give it a try.  I have to admit it wasn’t quite what I expected.  Colorful characters, a gripping plot and curiosity kept me turning the pages from start to finish.  A dark, dialogue driven crime thriller, Wrong Crowd by Richard Godwin is not for the faint of heart.

Recently divorced and on a much needed vacation in the Caribbean, Claude meets Maxine, a stunningly beautiful younger woman, on the beach.  Quickly obsessed by her beauty and the idea of what being with her would represent, Claude becomes involved with a woman who will force his return to a life of crime.  Will their involvement, and the actions Claude must take to give Maxine the life she wants, lead to a future together or will his actions drive them apart?

Mr. Godwin does a good job developing his characters right from the start.  While we know a little bit about Claude, from his own viewpoint, we know almost nothing about Maxine.  Claude’s instant sexual obsession with her is intense and when they are reunited in London, he works quickly to become the only man in her life – regardless of what it takes to do so.  As the story develops it becomes clear that Maxine has plans of her own which leads to their involvement in darker, more brutal elements of crime.

The secondary characters are colorful and contribute a dark and occasionally a very brutal element to the story.  I especially liked Alain, aka Al, Claude’s brother, and Yarrow, a business associate of his, who both turn out to be quite important in Claude’s life.  I thought the author did an excellent job with his portrayal of “Spike”, an associate of Claude’s we meet early in the book, and Vladimir and Grigory, the Russian mobsters Claude becomes involved with, three characters who provide the dark and more brutal elements in the story.  I thought the story was well paced, and while I thought some of the author’s frank and explicit language was a bit much, it was true to the “low-life” criminal element his characters portrayed.
 
Will Claude’s involvement in a darker element of crime destroy the man Maxine has fallen for?  Will his obsession with Maxine lead to more danger than Claude can handle?  You’ll have to read Wrong Crowd to find out, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Mr. Godwin’s work.

My Rating:   4 out of 5 Crowns   



FTC Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour for a fair and honest review.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Virtual Tour & #Giveaway for The House at Homecoming Cove by Ginny Baird


Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Tour, presented by Goddess Fish Promotions, for The House at Homecoming Cove by Ginny Baird.  Please leave a comment or question for Ginny to let her now you stopped by.  You may enter her tour wide giveaway, where one (1) randomly drawn commenter will be awarded a $5.00 Amazon/BN GC, by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.  You may also follow all of the stops on Ginny’s tour by clicking on the banner above.  The more stops you visit, the better your odds of winning. 


The House at Homecoming Cove
By Ginny Baird
Romantic Ghost Stories, Book 3

Publisher:  Winter Wedding Press
Release Date:  October 4, 2015
Genre:  Contemporary Paranormal Romance
Format:  eBook/Print
Length:  256 Pages (2559KB)
ISBN:  9781942058106
ASIN:  B011W13P52


Buy Links:  Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes



About the book: 

Seeking out solitude in which to work, New York City music composer Melissa Carter rents a century-old farmhouse on the Virginia Eastern Shore. There, she meets a loner with rugged good looks and smoldering gray eyes, who has long-term ties to the property. When strange things start occurring at the historic home, the handsome groundskeeper comes to her aid, but is Melissa really safer in his arms?

When Stone Thomas meets a pretty northerner with a musical gift, he's immediately drawn to her. He's also determined to protect her from the increasingly odd happenings at the fifty-acre farm where he's employed. Soon, Stone finds himself wondering whether he and beautiful Melissa might share a future. Yet the secrets of Homecoming Cove threaten to drive them apart.

EXCERPT


Her words came out in a whisper. “Thank you for everything. For coming to my rescue, for…” She was saying goodbye, yet her chin tilted toward his and she took a step closer, her lips barely parted, inviting. She peered up at him and met his gaze with a look that was surprisingly heated, decidedly predatory. There was no mistaking it. Melissa wanted him too. That was all the encouragement Stone needed to take her in his arms and bring his mouth down on hers with a hungry desire that surpassed all expectations.

Melissa gasped with delight and sighed into his kiss. Stone’s empty mug slid from her grasp and landed somewhere on the sofa. Stone pressed his eager body to hers and ran his hands up her back, threading his fingers through her hair. She was glorious, beautiful, her gaze sparking with reciprocal passion. Stone groaned and kissed her again, savoring the taste of her, delighting in the sweetness of her body molded to his, as his blood pumped harder and his heart beat like a kettledrum gone out of control. It was more than a kiss; it was like coming home.

“Stone,” she said breathlessly. He opened his eyes to find his cheeks nestled between her palms.

She looked up at him her face flushed with longing. “I think you’d better go.”

“Yeah,” he said, his pulse pounding. “I’d better go.”

Thunder boomed and rain slapped the windowpanes, while the fire hissed and moaned.

Neither one moved.

“Melissa,” Stone whispered, brushing his lips over hers. “You and me… It’s like… I don’t know.”

“I know,” she replied, meeting his kiss. “I feel it too.” 

 AUTHOR Bio and Links:

NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author Ginny Baird has published novels in print and online and received screenplay options from Hollywood for her family and romantic comedy scripts. She writes touching, often humorous, contemporary romance about single women facing everyday challenges. Known for featuring holidays and family themes in her work, Ginny frequently portrays the struggles of single parents or others who've given up on finding true love.

Ginny has two novella series, The Holiday Brides Series (holiday romance) and The Summer Grooms Series (summer romance), as well as additional single titles available. She is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author, a Top 10 Best Seller on Kindle, NOOK and iBooks, and a #1 Best Seller in several Romance and Women's Fiction categories. Visit Ginny's website www.ginnybairdromance.com to learn more about her and her books.

Author Links:








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