Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Spotlight: Oath of a Scottish Warrior by Sky Purington

Oath of a Scottish Warrior
The MacLomain Series
Later Years
Book 3
Sky Purington


Genre:  Time-travel Fantasy Romance
Date of Publication: February 23, 2016
Number of pages:  280
Cover Artist:  Tamra Westberry

Book Description:

Haunted by childhood memories and the fact she is likely going mute, Erin embraces a quiet life in Vermont away from all the mistakes she has made and the people she’s hurt. A peaceful existence with her horses. A cynic by nature, she doesn’t buy into what she soon learns. Apparently she’s part of an unending connection between twenty-first century Broun women and medieval MacLomain men. When a Claddagh ring crosses her path, she’s compelled to steal it. A bad move because the ring is meant to find true love. Something Erin feels she stopped deserving a long time ago.

Of dragon blood, Chieftain Rònan MacLeod is by birth, half MacLomain. While raised to protect the future King of Scotland, he lives life with an open mind. The idea of a ring binding him to one lass seems far-fetched. However, when a woman named Jackie calls to him from the dark edges of the Celtic Otherworld, he swears an oath to save her. That means traveling to the future to protect her before she’s taken by the enemy. The only problem? She is not where she should be. Instead, he finds a beautiful, defiant lass named Erin. Now he must make a choice. Continue seeking out Jackie or protect the one he’s with.

Thrust back in time to ninth-century Scandinavia, Rònan and Erin find sanctuary with his Viking ancestors. With help from not only King Naðr Véurr Sidgir but his offspring, they learn more than anticipated. Something that will either damn them or set them free. Drawn to one another, heat flares. A fire neither could have imagined. Scorching. Searing. Unavoidable. One they must fight if they want to save those they care for most.

Will they be able to protect wee Robert the Bruce from evil when they end up back in Scotland? Or will their repressed feelings be their ultimate doom? After all, it’s supposed to take the oath of a Scottish warrior to save a future king. Not the oath of a warrior who ended up forsaking all because he lost his heart along the way.

Amazon  | iTunes | Kobo  | BN

About the Author:


Sky Purington is the best-selling author of over twenty novels and several novellas. A New Englander born and bred, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.

Author Links:
Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at:
EmailWebsite | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Newsletter



Tour giveaway: 

$25 gift card to winner’s choice of Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Spotlight & Guest Blog: Secrets of Successful Virtual Book Tours by Roxanne Rhoads

Secrets of Successful 
Virtual Book Tours
Quick Tips for Authors Guide
Roxanne Rhoads


Book Description:

Are you considering a virtual book tour?

Not sure where to start or exactly what an online tour will entail?

Roxanne Rhoads, book publicist and owner of Bewitching Book Tours, shares her virtual tour expertise in this Quick Tips for Authors Guide.

Secrets of Successful Virtual Book Tours will guide you in utilizing the best marketing tool available- a virtual book tour, which can create online exposure for your book, jumpstart your book sales, help build your author brand, and expand your network.



In this guide you’ll learn:

·       what you should do before a tour
·       the components of  a great author website
·       the best social media outlets for authors to utilize
·       tips for building your author brand
·       how to write great guest blogs
·       what to expect from an online book tour
·       the secrets of successful book tours
·       how to schedule your own virtual book tour

And you’ll receive in-depth details about what to do during a virtual book tour to guarantee success.


I've worked with Roxanne for several years. In addition to being an awesome lady, she is professional, hard working, and dedicated to all facets of her craft. She is tireless in helping and promoting fellow authors, and is a great author in her own right. I'm happy to host her today, and look forward to gleaning from her wisdom.
Thank you for joining us today, Roxanne!
~Cary Morgan

Quick Tips for Authors- Guide to Using a Pen Name
By Roxanne Rhoads

Many, many professional writers use pen names. Kim Harrison and Nora Roberts are two NYT Bestselling Authors that instantly come to mind.
For years I wrote under both my real name and a pen name. At times it was really confusing, especially in the beginning when I had no idea when I should use both names and when I should just use my pen name.
Throughout the years of operating Fang-tastic Books, a book review and promotion site for paranormal authors, I found that many new writers are just as confused as I was in the beginning.
One time an author, who is man but writes as a woman, sent me all his promo info for his book under his pen name and his bio under his real name. His email and web sites were also under his real name. So I assumed that he had no problem with both names being used to promote his book (since he didn’t specify otherwise). As a reviewer and promoter I publish what authors send me, I don’t change their words except for misspellings.
Well, the author contacted me a few days later very upset because I used his real name and the pen name. I explained to him the problem and suggested a few ways to stop any confusion in the future.
The things I suggested to him are ways to keep writing names separate while making your professional life much easier.
First of all, set up an email account in your pen name. Many email servers like gmail offer this for free. Use this email account for all writing transactions and submissions under your pen name.
Create a signature line for your email. For a long time I wondered after I sent an email if I accidentally signed the wrong name. Now I use signatures with my email accounts that include my name, email address, and web addresses so I never have to worry about signing the wrong name.
Create a bio for your pen name. This bio should not include any writing credits, jobs, degrees or memberships that are under any other name. When someone tries to verify the info in your bio and can’t find anything under your pen name you’ll look like a liar. So keep your names and bios separate unless you have no problem with both names being linked or being public knowledge. Some authors use different pen names for different genres, not because they are “hiding” or trying to keep their real name from the public eye. In that case you can include something like this at the end of your bio: “Suzanne Case also writes as Susannah Monroe”.
Set up separate social media accounts for your pen name. That way all your promotion can be done through those networking sites under that name alone. This is extremely helpful when you want to remain anonymous plus it helps build your author brand.
Set up a blog using only your pen name. This is extremely easy to do, especially with Blogger, WordPress or Weebly and it will help with promotion as you can publish all your book covers and publishing information on the blog, entertain readers and draw people in. Try to get the URL with your pen name in it, such as www.JadeDesire.Blogspot.com or grab a custom domain name from GoDaddy.com and point your blog to the domain www.JadeDesire.com.
The last and most important thing to remember when using a pen name…don’t ever give anyone your real name unless absolutely necessary. Book reviewers, bloggers, book promoters- none of these people have any reason to know your real name. Publishers and agents are the only ones that ever need to know your real name and sometimes there are ways around that as well.
In some localities you can file a DBA (doing business as) under your pen name. This is the same as filing for a business name. Some cities/counties/states won’t allow you to file a DBA under a person’s name while others do. If you can, this will allow you to legally use that name for all transactions. You can even open a bank account using your business/pen name. To get around the use of a social security number you can file for a taxpayer id number.
The only drawback to going this route is that it leaves a paper trail that anyone can have access to if they know where to look but you won’t have to give your real name to publishers, editors or agents.
Decide which route works best for you then stick to your guns and keep your names as far away from each other as possible.



Amazon | BN | Kobo  | Scribd  | iBooks Smashwords | Inktera | Createspace



About the Author:

Roxanne Rhoads has been working in the world of online book promotion since 2005. She has worked as a freelance writer, author, book reviewer, book blogger, editor, self-publisher and book publicist. She has a unique advantage of knowing how multiple sides of book publishing and promotion operate.

Roxanne understands how book bloggers work and what they want to make their jobs easier while also understanding that authors need promotion to be streamlined, easy, and less time consuming.

Roxanne shares some of her knowledge in her latest release, Secrets of Successful Virtual Book Tours.


Author Links:
Website | Bewitching Book Tours | Bewitching Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Blog


Tour Giveaway:





Goodreads Book Giveaway

Secrets of 

Successful Virtual Book Tours by Roxanne Rhoads

Secrets of Successful Virtual Book Tours

by Roxanne Rhoads

Giveaway ends March 28, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Spotlight: Traveller by Abigail Drake

Traveller
Abigail Drake






Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: February 26, 2016
Number of pages: 250
Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor





Book Description:

Former Junior Miss Kentucky Emerson Shaw won pageants using martial arts as her talent and Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” as her guide, but a painful secret leads her to the University of York, and puts her in the path of tattooed and pierced bad boy, Michael Nightingale.

Michael is a Traveller, part of an ancient line of mercenary gypsies who protect the world from vicious monsters called the Moktar. When Emerson gets attacked, she has no choice but accept Michael’s offer of protection or face certain death.

Traveller society, full of outdated rules and ridiculous superstitions, isn’t a good fit for the headstrong Emerson. Traveller women aren’t allowed to fight. Traveller women aren’t allowed to win. Traveller women aren’t allowed to leave. But Emerson will do what she must, even if it means losing the one person who matters most.


Excerpt:
“Who are you and what do you want from me?”
I took a deep breath. It probably wouldn’t be a good start to tell him he occupied my every waking thought and most of my dreams, too. I decided to go with a more conventional approach.
“You’re here every morning, and I thought I’d say hello.” I stuck out my hand. “Emerson Jane Shaw.”
He surprised me by reaching for my extended hand and holding it firmly. His hand, large, warm and rough, had cuts and bruises all over the knuckles. He had faint bruises on his face, too, and some small wounds still in the process of healing. He’d been in some kind of fight recently.
It didn’t surprise me. He had the look of a warrior about him, the lean strength and watchful eyes of a predator, and he was lethal. Sun Tzu would have seen it, too. He would have recruited him without a moment’s hesitation.
“Michael Nightingale.” He stared at me with those hypnotic eyes as he continued to hold my hand, using it to pull me nearer to him.
“I know. Mrs. Burke told me.” I couldn’t focus on what I was saying while he touched me, not that I’d done such a great job up until now with my witty repartee.
He tilted his head to one side, studying me the way a lion studies a gazelle before he eats it. His face was only inches away from mine.
 “Do you like to flirt with danger, Emerson Jane Shaw?”
“Not usually, but today I can make an exception.”
The touch of his hand sent an electric current through my body that made my heart speed up and my brain slow down. He was intoxicating. I almost had to fan myself.
Abruptly, Michael let go of me and stood up, shoving his books into his backpack. I stood up, too.
“What’s wrong?”
Michael glared at me, threw some bills on the table and stomped out of the shop. Like an idiot, I grabbed my backpack and followed him.
He walked quickly through The Shambles, dodging pedestrians and umbrellas with ease. I wasn’t quite as lucky. The rain poured down, filling the street with puddles. Michael wore combat boots and jeans. I had on a useless pair of flats and no jacket. It only took seconds for me to be soaked to the skin and miserable. In minutes, I looked like a little blonde drowned rat.
I’m pretty fast, even in slippery shoes, and I was motivated. I kept him in my sights until he reached a side street at the end of The Shambles that led down a narrow lane. I was only half a block away when he turned and looked at me, his eyes locking with mine, and disappeared.
He hadn’t walked away. He hadn’t moved. He’d been there one second, and gone the next. Running as fast as I could, I reached the spot where I’d last seen him and looked down the lane and on either side of the street. My ribbon flew out of my hair, blowing away in the wind as I slid on the wet cobblestones and nearly fell. I skidded to a halt, realizing I hadn’t been fast enough. It was a dead end, and he was gone.


Amazon  | Barnes and Noble | Kobo  | The Wild Rose Press


About the Author:


Abigail Drake has spent her life traveling the world, and collecting stories wherever she visited. She majored in Japanese and International Economics in college and worked in import/export and as an ESL teacher before she committed herself full time to writing. She writes in several romance genres, and her books are quirky, light, fun, and sexy. Abigail is a trekkie, a book hoarder, the master of the Nespresso machine, a red wine addict, and the mother of three boys (probably the main reason for her red wine addiction). A puppy named Capone is the most recent addition to her family, and she blogs about him as a way of maintaining what little sanity she has left.

Author Links:
Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter  | Pinterest


Tour giveaway: 
Sign up for Abigail’s newsletter and be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Spotlight: The Asset by Anne del Mar

The Asset
Wounded Warrior Series
Book One
Anna del Mar


Genre: Romantic suspense,
Contemporary romance,
Military romance, SEAL romance.
Publisher: Carina Press
Date of Publication: Feb 22, 2016
Number of pages: 336 pages


Anna del Mar’s explosive, sexy debut novel in the Wounded Warrior series, perfect for fans of Lisa Marie Rice and Lora Leigh—the story of a woman desperate to escape her dangerous past and the navy SEAL who would lay down his life to save her.

Book Description:

Ash Hunter knows what it is to run. A SEAL gravely injured in Afghanistan, he’s gone AWOL from the military hospital. Physically and mentally scarred, he returns home to his grandmother’s isolated cottage—and finds a beautiful, haunted stranger inside.

Like recognizes like.

Lia Stewart’s in hiding from the cartel she barely escaped alive, holed up in this small Rocky Mountain town. Surviving, but only just. Helping the wounded warrior on her doorstep is the right thing to do…it’s loving him that might get them both killed.

Soon, Ash realizes he’s not the only one tormented by the past. Pushing the limits of his broken body, testing the boundaries of her shattered soul, he’ll protect Lia until his last breath.

Amazon  | Carina Press | Barnes and Noble | Kobo  Google Play

About the Author:

Anna del Mar writes hot, smart romances that soothe the soul, challenge the mind, and satisfy the heart. Her stories focus on strong heroines struggling to find their place in the world and the brave, sexy, kickass, military heroes who defy the limits of their broken bodies to protect the women they love. She is the author of The Asset (Carina Press), the first novel of her Wounded Warrior series and three other novels scheduled for release during 2016.

A Georgetown University graduate, Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and the sea. Writing is her addiction, her drug of choice, and what she wants to do all the time. The extraordinary men and women she met during her years as a Navy wife inspire the fabulous heroes and heroines at the center of her stories. When she stays put—which doesn’t happen very often—she lives in Florida with her indulgent husband and two very opinionated cats.


Author Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Spotlight: Magic Moment by Angela Adams

Magic Moment
Angela Adams


Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Amazon Encore
Date of Publication: August 5, 2015
Number of pages:  264

Book Description:

When the FBI brings Laura Roberts - a quiet, reserved bookkeeper - in for questioning regarding activities at the warehouse where she works, an uneasy Laura resigns her job - only to be attacked by thugs.

Chase Donovan intends to spend a few peaceful days on his boat getting his head together - and finds a woman being assaulted by two men who say his father told them to do it.

Chase doesn't want to believe his father could hurt anyone. Laura doesn't understand why she's a target. Can they learn to work together to discover the truth - before someone dies?


Excerpt:
Laura is having lunch at the local diner when two FBI agents approach her and insist she come down to headquarters and answer a few questions. A bewildered Laura finds Chase Donovan, her boss’s son, coming to her aid.
“Laura works for my father,” Chase said. “If I don’t see some identification, she’s not going anywhere with you.” To prove his point, his hand moved downward and his fingers wrapped gently around her forearm.
Chase also worked for his father, although what his role was within the business was generally debatable among the clientele. This was so embarrassing. In the three years Laura had worked as Dick Donovan’s bookkeeper, her conversations with his son had been work-related or cordial exchanges about the weather. If there was any chance of the floor opening up and swallowing her, she considered now the perfect time.
She turned to Chase. “Thank you for your concern. I’ve seen their identification.” She didn’t mention the hasty badge flip. “They have me confused with someone else. I’ll take care of the error, and get back to the office as soon as I can.”
“Let me go with you.” Chase tossed the men a wary glance. He still held her arm. “You should have an attorney.”
Laura winced, truly mortified. There was no need for an attorney or involving Chase Donovan in calling one. She had done nothing illegal. “I’m fine.”

Amazon

About the Author:

Angela Adams writes and reviews contemporary romances. Her work has appeared in Romance at Heart, Oysters and Chocolate, Whipped Cream Reviews and The Long and Short Reviews. Her short story, "Burgers and Hot Chocolate" appeared in the Whimsical Publications' anthology, Winter Wonders.  Magic Moment is her first novel.

Angela is a member of Romance Writers of America, and its chapters From the Heart Romance Writers and Elements of RWA.


Author Links:

Facebook | Blog | Google+

Tour Giveaway:
$25 Starbucks Gift Card



Thursday, February 18, 2016

Spotlight: A Hold On Me by Pat Esden

A Hold on Me
Dark Heart Series
Book One
Pat Esden





Genre: New adult gothic/paranormal romance
Publisher: Kensington Books
Date of Publication:February 23, 2016
Number of pages: 320





Book Description:

She never wanted to return.

He wants nothing more than for her to leave.

But the fire between them is as strong as the past that haunts them.

Annie Freemont grew up on the road, immersed in the romance of rare things, cultivating an eye for artifacts and a spirit for bargaining. It’s a freewheeling life she loves and plans to continue until her dad is diagnosed with dementia. His illness forces them to return to Moonhill, their ancestral home on the coast of Maine and to the family they left behind fifteen years ago, after Annie’s mother died in a suspicious accident.

Once at Moonhill, Annie is shocked when her aunt separates her from her father. The next time Annie sees him, he’s a bizarre, violent shadow of his former self.

Confused, she turns to an unlikely ally for support Chase, the dangerously seductive young groundskeeper. With his dark good looks and powerful presence, Chase has an air of mystery that Annie is irresistibly drawn to. But she also senses that behind his penetrating eyes are secrets she can’t even begin to imagine. Secrets that hold the key to the past, to Annie’s own longings and to all of their futures. Now, to unlock them, she’ll have to face her greatest fears and embrace her legacy...


Excerpt:

Chapter 1

“There are things darker than night, darker than the souls of wicked men or a woman of unchained passions. Believe me, for I have known them well.”
Josette Savoy Abrams
Beach Rose House. Bar Harbor, Maine

Most people went to church to save their souls, but not Dad and I. We went there to see the priest about treasure.
It was a cold day in February and the church was an abandoned stone chapel on a back road near our home in Vermont. With its gloomy stained-glass windows and carvings of gargoyles under its sagging eaves, the chapel was exactly the kind of place where antique pickers like Dad and I could find the weird treasures and the gothic furniture our customers loved to buy. And, as luck would have it, the bishop had given the local priest permission to sell the entire contents as he saw fit.
The priest glanced once more at the grungy pews and the statue of St. Anthony with its chipped fingers and peeling paint. “Now that you’ve seen everything, are you still interested?”
Dad gave my shoulder a squeeze. “What do you think, Annie?”
“Ah--” I let my voice crack as if my jitteriness was nerves instead of excitement, then I met the priest’s eyes.  “One price for everything, right?”
“For all the contents. That doesn’t include anything that’s part of the structure. No windows, attached light fixtures, doors, none of those sorts of things.” His tone left no room for debate.
Dad looked down, scratching his elbow while I took a scrap of paper and a pen from the turned up sleeve of my bulky sweater. I jotted down the offer he and I had covertly agreed on when the priest had turned away for a moment, then handed it to the priest.
The priest’s brow furrowed as he studied the paper.  He ran a finger under his collar, cleared his throat, and finally glanced at Dad. “Perhaps you should look at this before we agree?”
Dad waved off his suggestion.  “This was her idea. The offer is hers to make.”
“All right, then,” the priest said. “We have a deal.”
I counted out a thin stack of hundreds and gave them to him.  In turn, he passed Dad the church keys, all neatly labeled.  The truth was, he wasn’t the sort of person who would have ever believed a twenty-year-old girl with ripped jeans and a stud in her nose could know the first thing about valuing antiques—as Dad and I had hoped.
“Sorry I can’t stay and help,” he said, “but I have to get back to St. Mary’s in time for Mass. When you’re finished taking what you want, leave the keys in the box outside the door. I hope you find enough to make this worth your effort.” 
“I hope so too,” Dad said, without cracking a smile. But, as soon as the priest went out the front door, he did a little victory dance and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Perfectly played. If I’d given him an offer that low, he’d have thought I was up to something for sure.”
Every inch of me tingled with anticipation. “So, where do you want to begin?” I asked.  
Dad jangled the keys. “It appears the priest neglected to give us one very specific key. The one to the only room he didn’t take us into or even mention.  I don’t know about you, but that makes me curious.”
“The sacristy?”  I said.
“That would be the one. Did you notice how he fidgeted with his collar, too?”
“I figured he thought everything was junk—that he was nervous I’d offered too much and that you’d back out.”
“That’s possible. But don’t ever underestimate your opponent. There could be something else behind his uneasiness. Perhaps he hid something in the sacristy, something of value he hoped the diocese would forget. Priests are men, after all. They come in all shades of honesty, like the rest of us.” He stroked his chin, a sure sign that he was about to launch into one of his home-brewed tales. “You remember the story about my wicked great-uncle Harmon and the Canary Island sirens? He always claimed to be a spiritual man, forthright and faithful to his wife. . . .”
I loved listening to Dad’s crazy stories. But, as he began an abridged version of a tale that easily could have gone on for an hour, the word faithful sent my mind veering in a different direction--to me and Taj and a matinee of Romeo and Juliet, to his practiced fingers slipping under my skirt, up my inner thighs. The rush of desire. His words hot and moist against my neck:  “Oh, baby, c’mon. I want you so bad.”
Men come in all shades of honesty for sure.


Indiebound  | Amazon  | BN  | Books a Million



About the Author:
Pat Esden would love to say she spent her childhood in intellectual pursuits. The truth is she was fonder of exploring abandoned houses and old cemeteries. When not out on her own adventures, she can be found in her northern Vermont home writing stories about brave, smart women and the men who capture their hearts. An antique-dealing florist by trade, she’s also a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and the League of Vermont Writers. Her short stories have appeared in a number of publications, including Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, the Mythopoeic Society’s Mythic Circle literary magazine, and George H. Scither’s anthology Cat Tales.

Author Links:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr | Pinterest 


Tour giveaway:
 $20 Amazon gift card
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Friday, February 12, 2016

Spotlight: The Strength of Love by G.L. Ross

The Strength of Love
G.L. Ross




Genre: Contemporary Romance,
Inspirational Romance, General Fiction
Date of Publication: December 14, 2015
Number of pages: 224
Cover Artist: James at GoOnWrite.com




Book Description:
Thankfully, some love stories are so strong they never die. "The Strength of Love" is a tale of love, loss, and second chances. This inspiring love story shares how several men influenced one woman’s life and showered her with love in different ways. Experience love, friendship, faith, suspense, tragedy, humor, and a super-natural element...always and forever.

A tale of love, loss, and second chances. This inspiring love story shares how several men influenced one woman’s life and showered her with love in different ways. Experience love, friendship, faith, suspense, tragedy, humor, and a supernatural element…always and forever.

Always the bridesmaid, but never the bride, Rachel Thompson is ready to give up on love, before rodeo cowboy Brooks Reynolds rides into the arena and lassos her heart. His smoldering looks and strong yet tender nature sweep her off her feet.

Life is pinch-worthy and picture-book perfect, except on the eve of her wedding Rachel’s love story is ripped from the pages. After two months of grieving, she discovers her nightmare is never-ending. In order to escape her heartbreaking past, the middle-school counselor relocates to a new city for a fresh start and a second chance at happiness and perhaps even love. Through her faith and the support of her family and friends she discovers sought after answers during an unexpected journey.

Amazon  | Kobo  | BN  | iTunes  | Smashwords

Review:

“As a blogger I read a lot of books, but I can honestly say that I have never read a more compelling and beautiful story than this one." ~
Tabitha Stokes, Amazeballs Book Addicts.



Excerpt:
More teams compete, until finally team ten enters the starting box.
“This is them, Rachel. Oh, my gosh, aren’t they smokin’?”
Rachel’s eyes shoot in the direction of the commanding man sitting tall in the saddle. His jet-black hair curls slightly against the collar of his royal blue western-style shirt. The short sleeves are rolled to fit snugly against his massive, bulging biceps. It’s obvious where he spends his free time, from the fine-tuned muscles and the dark tan encompassing his fit frame. Oh my, she mumbles as he sits his buck-colored hat firmly on his head. He secures his boots in his stirrups. His long fingers toy with the coiled rope. Sam acknowledges him with a nod and the steer is released. They’re off. Like bullets the three of them skillfully dart one after another. The steer runs for its’ life as Sam’s rope lunges into action. He twirls his lasso with the style and grace of a ballerina demonstrating pirouettes. As if he has mind reading skills, Brooks instinctively releases his rope. The twisted twine skims perfectly under the steer’s hooves and is brilliantly tightened to prevent the two hundred plus pound animal from moving forward. The two riders face each other backing their horses until the steer is air born. Everything is magically timed and over-the-top exhilarating. The ladies are on their feet screaming as the announcer exclaims team number ten has the best time of eight and a half seconds, with only one more team left to compete.
Sam waves his hat at Courtney who shouts and blows him a kiss. Brooks’ eyes dart toward the high-pitched squeal. Even from the distance, Rachel notices the brilliant blue eyes aimed her direction. Her chest heaves as though she ran a half-marathon. She catches her breath and continues applauding the skilled ride. How could a sporting event be so exhilarating and sexually satisfying? Brooks tips his hat toward her, with a crooked grin, and follows Sam to the exit.
With bated breath, Rachel and Courtney watch the next ride. The team is quite skilled, but can’t beat team ten’s ride. The guys are victorious. All eleven teams enter the arena. Team ten smiles proudly as they are awarded their trophy and belt buckles. Sam hurdles the wall and makes his way into Courtney’s welcoming arms. Brooks laughs at his exuberant teammate and hollers for him to get his ass back to the stables. Once again the announcer broadcasts congratulations to team ten the new Smith County team-roping champions. Rachel enjoys the view of the faded jean clad butts exiting the arena. She’s savoring one fine set of firm ass cheeks when the beholder glances back over his shoulder catching her in the act. He winks. She blushes, prior to catching her breath and smiling. Brooks relishes catching her in the act. He turns and tosses an arm over his partner’s shoulders. Sam lifts the trophy into the air. They turn the corner and disappear. Courtney proudly exclaims, “Team ten wins!”
Rachel smiles and says, “A ten—yes, he definitely is a ten. 

About the Author:


G.L. Ross is a proud, sixth generation, native Texan. As a true Southern Belle, G.L. has always dreamt of the “happily ever after,” the prince riding in on the white horse sweeping her off her feet. She hasn’t found “Prince Charming” – yet (always an optimist) – but finds him every time she writes about her characters’ “happily ever after” endings.

Her motto in life is to “always find the good” in every person and situation. Whether through laughter, prayer, music, or a glass of wine or vodka, G.L. finds the good in life and shares her sense of humor, love, faith, and adventure in her stories.

Experience family, faith, and love in The Strength of Love. Take a steamy flight with Lance & Lisa in Turbulent Passion, and continue their sexy journey in Burning Desire. Crosswind, book three, in the Flyboy Trilogy will release in 2016. You must also meet hunky rancher, Graham Gaskin, in A Rose Has Thorns…He’s smokin’ hot!


Author Links:
Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Website



Tour giveaway: 
1 Heart bracelet and a heart candle open to US Shipping
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Spotlight & Giveaway! The Deepest Well by Juliette Cross

The Deepest Well
Age of Gray
Book 1
Juliette Cross



Genre: historical paranormal romance
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Date of Publication: Feb 2, 2016
Cover Artist: Kanaxa



Love can stand the test of time. Can it rise above the taint of Hell?

Book Description:

Lady Katherine Blakely is married to a monster. On the same night she witnesses how low her husband can sink, she meets a charming stranger, a gentleman from top to toe. Yet even her gallant rescuer is possessed of a dark side.

Lord George Draconis Thornton, commander of the Dominus Daemonum, is on a mission to expel the demon prince Damas back to the underworld. But a golden-haired beauty derails his plans and stirs an attraction he’s never felt before, not even for his centuries-dead wife.

Discovering Lord Blakely is in league with Damas, George sweeps Katherine away from the chaos and devilry threatening her life. With every touch, their love grows by joyful leaps and bounds.

Sensing his enemy’s vulnerability, Damas kidnaps Katherine to his hellish lair, where he wages a sensual assault on her defenses. As George tears at heaven and earth to find her, he is painfully aware of only one way to save her soul. The cost will break her heart…and destroy his own.

Warning: Contains wolves in gentlemen’s clothing, a precipitous descent into Hell, and a frightening glimpse of a post-apocalyptic world where angels and demons wage war for dominion on earth.



Excerpt:
 “How do you know about the world of demons, George? How did you move as they did? I thought I had fainted by the pond and awakened beside the barn, but I didn’t, did I?” 
Had she imagined being transported from the horses to the barn in a long blink? 
“No, you didn’t faint. It’s called sifting. A power of the angels, to move from place to place at will.” 
“But they weren’t angels.” 
“They were once.” 
Fallen angels. Could this be possible? What did that make the man standing before her? He inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Perhaps I should define the two realms for you.” 
“That would be lovely.” 
His mouth quirked at her sarcasm, though he chose not to comment. “There is the Flamma of Light and the Flamma of Dark.” 
“Flamma?” 
“Fire, in Latin, which is the common tongue between the heavenly and demonic hosts.” 
She pulled her hand from his and stood, staring into the flames. “Why fire?” 
He joined her and removed his wet coat. “I asked the same question once.” He winced as he peeled the coat off his right arm. A pool of red had soaked through his undershirt. 
“Oh God, your arm, George. You’re bleeding.” 
“It’s nothing.” 
“It’s not nothing.” 
Just as he had unbuttoned her jacket, she swiftly unfastened his waistcoat, then his shirt and peeled them off him. Steering her gaze away from his finely sculpted chest and broad shoulders, she examined the cut more closely. She bent over and, with a quick rip, tore a long strip from her shift. 
“You needn’t do that, Katherine.” 
“Be still and let me mend you as best I can.” 
He held his arm straight so that she could wrap the fabric around his arm. 
“Why fire?” she asked again, busying herself with the makeshift bandage. 
“Flamma are all touched by fire, an otherworldly power given to each of us.” 
She remembered the way he moved, the way the demons moved, with supernatural speed and agility. A drop of rain dripped from his tousled hair, landing on his shoulder before rolling forward. She followed its path as it slid down and over his pectoral. Trying to regain her composure, she inhaled a deep breath, which was a mistake. She breathed in the heady scent of rain and beautiful man, her agitation amplified by his proximity and the undeniable power surging through his body. She longed to touch him, to know what all that strength would feel like under her fingertips, but she was paralyzed by her own desire and wavered on a dangerous precipice. When she’d cinched the bandage into a neat knot and finally chanced a glance at him, his smile nearly buckled her knees. 
“There,” she whispered. “That will stop the bleeding.” 
“I’m not so sure.” 
“What do you mean?” 
His shoulders went rigid as if he were holding himself in tight control. Katherine knew his thoughts had wandered away from the wound in his arm. She asked again, “What do you mean, George?” 
His eyes slid closed. “I love to hear my name on your lips.” He opened his eyes again, his jaw set in grave lines. “What I mean, my lady, is that I am bleeding inwardly, and I know of only one way to stop it.” 
Katherine was well aware of the tension filling the room, of the rise of her heart rate, of the longing in his gaze, which surely matched her own. She realized she was tumbling over that cliff. And she didn’t care, quite content to drown in his aquamarine gaze. 
“How can I stop it, George? Tell me.” 
“I’d rather show you.”

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About the Author:


Juliette is a multi-published author of paranormal and urban fantasy romance. She calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home, where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance--brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more books set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.

Author Links:
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Tour Giveaway:

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Signed Print copy of FORGED IN FIRE

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