Friday, January 31, 2014

The Forgotten Ones



Title: The Forgotten Ones  
Author: Laura Howard
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

On Sale for .99 cents!!!!


Book Synopsis:  Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

About the Author: Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.
Social Media Links: 

Excerpt: Sean jogged over with the bat and held it out for me, grinning. “Pick your pitcher, Allie-O.” The smirk on Ethan's face was a challenge, and I couldn't resist. “Ethan has the ball, he can pitch to me.” He made a big show of stretching and winding up before he finally tossed the ball at me. I smacked the ball over the pool house, and Sean started shouting and cheering, making me smile. Ethan shook his head, but he was smiling. He clearly thought I would be an easy out. I made it all the way to the final round, kicking Sean and Jeff out of the game. I'd played softball and run track all through school to pad my transcripts. “You gonna let her win, E?” Jeff called, winking at me from the picnic table where he sat drinking a beer. Ethan chuckled, showing off those damn dimples. He looked down at the ball in his hands and back up at me with a grin. “If I do, will you let me take you out?” I snorted, trying to look braver than I felt. “Not a chance.” “Wait a sec. I like this. Let's make a wager,” he said. The guys were all hooting and hollering at me, my face was no doubt crimson. “What do I get if I win?” I bit my lip, feeling all their eyes on me. “I'm thinking, hang on,” He held up his finger, his brow furrowed in thought. His eyes widened with excitement, and I knew I would regret whatever he had to say. “If I win, I get a kiss.” If it was possible, my cheeks grew even redder. They were all laughing and making cat calls now. “And, if I win?” I looked up at his face. He looked at me for a second, considering. “If you win, I won't ever ask you out again.” This earned a chorus of “Yeah, right” and “No way” from the guys. My mouth fell open, I had not been expecting that, but his face was sober. The laughing around us fell away for a second, and I could only stare at him feeling the color drain from my face. His expression remained solemn, and he met my gaze head on. I nodded stiffly, and swallowed. “All right.” His grin came back in full force. “Oh, and Al?” I raised my eyebrows at him. “I won't lose.”


Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, January 30, 2014



No More Goddesses by Kim Baccellia
Published by Zumaya Thresholds
Published May 28th, 2013
Genres: YA/Fantasy/Mythology



Jordan Lake discovers an ancient bracelet in her grandmother’s house and uncovers a family mystery that links her favorite actress, Audrey Hepburn, a romantic movie, and an aunt she never knew. Jordan hopes the bracelet will bring her love. Instead, it brings one nightmare after another, unleashing Hathor, the Egyptian love goddess, who decides it’s fun to mess with the McKnight High School social scene. Jordan holds the key to vanquish Hathor, but will she figure out what it is in time to save her school, one of her best friends, and get a date to the Valentine’s Day dance?

About the Author:

I grew up in Sacramento, California, the oldest of seven. I earned an elementary teaching degree from Brigham Young University.I’ve been a telemarketer, library helper at the university, assistant manager, sales clerk, tutor, and bilingual teacher. Now I’m a stay-at-home mom and writer.
I love to read and write!
I am also a reviewer for Young Adults (& Kids!) Book Central.

Excerpt:
Heart-shaped posters announcing CANDYGRAMS! 25 CENTS! were
plastered all over campus. It was here, the day I had anticipated
with dread and hope, although it would probably end in disappointment.

As if the guy I drooled over would ever send me one.
I dreamed of the moment anyway. Every night since the announcement,
I had played it all out in my head. I would be so
cool, so sophisticated—just like Audrey Hepburn in Tessa’s Treasure.

If I closed my eyes, I knew I’d go right to that dream, but then
I’d risk being battered by the throng of students bumping and jostling
in the overcrowded hall. Thank God there had never been a
real emergency. Us lowly freshmen would be floor splatter.

Then, like the parting of the Red Sea, the crowd flowed to the
sides of the hall as the star of my dreams, Ethan Taylor, and his
bunch of basketball friends walked down the center, flipping their
heads as if they owned the place. Who am I kidding? They did.

They were McKnight High.

“There he is,” said my best friend Selena Garza with a subtle
wag of her eyebrows. Lost in all the Candygram stuff, I’d almost
forgotten she was there. “Go talk to him.”

She gave me a gentle shove, and I stumbled forward. Ethan
stopped talking to Coby Jett. I straightened out my dress, all non-
chalant-like, acting as if nothing had happened, before I chanced a
glance at Ethan. He was watching me with two of the most beautiful
blue eyes ever.

Here was my moment. My chance. Say something, dang it!
I felt as if someone had shoved a load of cotton in my mouth. I
tried to say something clever but I only croaked.

My face burned with embarrassment. I nervously rubbed my
sweaty palms on my skirt while a bazillion thoughts and emotions
went swirling through my head. What do I do? Do I look good
enough? Why is it so hot all of a sudden?

“Hey,” Ethan said, his husky voice setting off fireworks inside
me. My gosh, his eyes were so blue and, at this moment—did I
dare admit it?—inviting?

My heart leaped, doing one somersault after another. I opened
my month again, determined to say something, anything.

“He–ey.”

Now I knew my face was on fire.

The other guys snickered. I thought for sure I’d die right on
the spot. Audrey would never have gotten herself into this situation.


Review:

No More Goddesses is a unique story. I really enjoyed the Egyptian mythology, which made the story much more interesting. The friendship between the three main characters is great and I loved Jordan's obsession with Audrey Hepburn. This book is a cute and easy read that would be a good book to pick up for Valentines Day.

A Taste for Killing




Title: A Taste for Killing
Author: HK Sterling
Genre: Adult Mystery/Suspense 18+
Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours


Blurb:
Mystery and Romance blend together when competing detectives Carolyn Woods and Jack Heart are both hired to solve the murder of Pete Wallace, only to realize they are working the same case. To complicate things, Carolyn and Jack have an on again-off again relationship. Then there is Evan Jones, a handsome architect— but he's also a suspect. Can Carolyn manage to solve the case as more and more murders pile up? Will her relationship with Jack hinder their investigations? And what about Evan Jones? He seems like the perfect man, but could he actually be the murderer? One thing is for sure: someone close to both Carolyn and Jack has A Taste For Killing.


Author Bio: H.K. Sterling is an author with Breathless Press known for stories with a kick and twist endings. H.K. likes to focus her writing on suspense, science- fiction, shorts, and anything that is spicy and unexpected. H.K. lives in Virginia with her husband who graciously puts up with her passion for writing. H.K. currently has a Mystery Thriller out: A Taste For Killing; and two short stories in the Breathless Press Anthology: My Bloody Valentine. H.K is currently working on a sequel to A Taste For Killing and a Science Fiction book of short twists. You can contact H.K. on the following social media:
Links:
Twitter: @HKSterling</ div>
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ pages/HK-Sterling/426989014069244?ref=hl
Email: HK.Sterling@aol.com
HK Sterling "Undercover Blog": http://hksterling1.blogspot.com/</ div>

Excerpt:

He had six-pack abs, and I wanted to feel the carbonation. This one dressed 

like the stereotype of a construction worker, down to the handkerchief he used to wipe 

sweat off his forehead. I don't know if he or the hot day brought it out, but sweat poured 

off of me too. He had no interest in me as a person, though. I was invading his territory. 

Still, I enjoyed the view. For my part, I knew my clothes looked crappy. I didn’t have to 

wear uniforms anymore, but my street clothes, well they were very—street. So there I 

stood, a turd in the sun in front of this Adonis. Oh well.

He pointed to a small trailer up a muddy hill. The supervisor I asked to see 

apparently stayed in there. Stayed, as in never left. Great. Mud. Now I'd be a dried turd 

in the sun. Adonis went back to digging and I started the trek up the hill. At least I came 

with boots. Steel toed.

Once I made it to the trailer, I heard an argument going on inside.

"Look, I don't care who you are. The plans are publically filed. Go get them 

yourself!" yelled someone.

Then I heard a voice I knew. Calm, cool, subversive. "Is there any reason you're 

being so difficult? A man did die on your watch."

An encounter I hadn’t planned on. Well, at least not until later tonight. I knocked 

loudly on the door and with my sweetest voice said, "Hello, boys. Am I interrupting 

something?"

"Great," groused the supervisor. "A party." He appeared to me like another 

stereotype, puffing on a cigar over a fat jowl line and rotund stomach that threatened 

to overturn the small desk he was behind. I guess there's a reason for stereotypes. He 

looked about four hamburgers away from a heart attack.

On a wooden chair in front of the supervisor sat Jack. A fellow independent 

detective, an ally at times, a competitor...and my on and off lover.

"Well, well, well," he said smiling, but I could tell he wasn’t happy to see me. Not 

here. It meant we were both working the same case. "Hello, Carolyn. Who hired you?"

"Parents."

"Girlfriend," he answered back.

We stared at each other. Complications.

The supervisor didn’t give a damn and said to me, "Well, missy, I'll tell you 

the same thing I told this guy." He jerked his thumb around to Jack. "The plans are 

publically filed and that’s all I have to say about it."

I tried a different tactic. "That’s fine with me. I have no problem going downtown 

for a copy." I wore my practiced, saccharine smile. "But I wonder, could you tell me the 

name of the architect? Please?" I smiled again. God, this job sucks at times.

The supervisor sighed. "Jones, Evan Jones."

"Thank you so much," I said, smiling my best smile again. "I'll get out of the way 

and leave you two boys to...whatever you were doing."

I opened the door to go and started to shut it only to find Jack following me out.

"Sure, flash your tits and get what you want." Boy was he in a bad mood.

"There was no tit flashing in there. Face it, testosterone was not a good choice in 

that situation."

Jack's response: a grunt.

"Besides," I tried to placate him, "I didn’t get the plans either."

"No, you did one better."

"That's assuming the architect will have anything to do with me and cooperate." A 

thought occurred to me. "So are you going there too?"

"No, I might as well wait and see what you turn up. Besides, I have my own 

leads."

"Are you planning to share?" Just call me hopeful. As in full of shit, because 

that’s where hope always seemed to lead.

"No," he said, still grumpy.

"I see. So it's gonna be like that."

"I guess so."

I felt like such a female. Damn. But I had to ask.

"Are we still on for tonight?"

"Yeah." 

I wasn’t convinced but didn’t push it. God, sometimes I hated myself. But we 

were good together—when it was good—when his competitive edge didn’t get the better 

of him. Though I was one to talk. I did the same thing at times. Hence our on and off 

status. But currently we were supposed to be on. So, I kept it light in the spirit of things 

to come.

"Okay, master detective, I'll leave you to your leads. See ya."

"See ya," he replied, already preoccupied, pondering a piece of paper he'd taken 

from his pocket.

I made my way down the hill in my muddy boots.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Spotlight Tour ~ Find Me by Ella Jade



A love that transcends time…
As her 25th birthday approaches, Riley Sparrow begins to dream of a handsome, intriguing stranger. Each night the dreams get more intense and the stranger starts leaving her clues to his whereabouts. The dreams always end in a whisper…
Find Me.
Riley has denied her birthright her entire life. She descends from a strong line of witches and warlocks, but she's refused her powers up until now. With the help of her estranged grandfather she learns that her mystery man is from the past and his life is in danger. Will her grandfather help her travel back to 1963 to save the man she believes she's meant to be with? A man she knows nothing about but feels a strong connection to.
If she finds him, can she save him from the evil that haunts them both? By securing his past, she knows there can never be a future for them in her time.
Content Warning: contains sensual sex scenes

Excerpt
Riley closed her eyes and let the heat of the water engulf her tired muscles. Resting her head against the bath pillow, she cleared her mind. The steam seeped out from the bubbles and swirled around the room. Soon the mirror and windows were fogged and a scented mist surrounded the bathroom, creating a relaxing atmosphere. A week’s worth of sleepless nights had taken their toll and Riley drifted off.

The squeak of the faucet and the silence that followed distracted her tranquil thoughts. She opened her eyes to find him sitting on the edge of the tub looking at her. For a moment, she felt self-conscious. She glanced down and discovered her body covered in thick, white bubbles. He couldn’t see anything but the tops of her shoulders, neck, and face.
“Sorry,” he said. “I was afraid the water would overflow.”
“Am I awake?”
He shook his head. She noted his green eyes sparkled even in the dim lighting of the bathroom.
“Well, then how—”
“It’s complicated.” His thin, pink lips formed a small smile. “I can’t explain now.”
“Why not?”
“There isn’t enough time to make you understand while you’re in your current state. We need much more time. You can get that for us.”
“Are you real or am I crazy?”
“I’m very real, just stuck between realms. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” He slid off the side of the tub and knelt down on the floor. “I’m afraid I can’t stay very long. I keep trying to figure out how to increase the length of my visits but nothing seems to work.”
“I don’t know you.”
“You will.” He reached for the clip in her hair. “May I?”
She nodded.
Once he’d freed her hair from its confines, he smoothed the damp locks out with his hand. “I like when you wear it down. It’s so pretty.” He continued to stroke her hair. “You’re just as beautiful as I remember.”
“How do you know me?” She shifted her position to face him. She breathed in his crisp scent. He smelled of spice, maybe a hint of cinnamon.
“I…” He trailed off when his gaze caught her exposed breasts. He looked lost in a distant memory.
When she’d turned to face him she’d upset the bubbles shielding her. Her nipples hardened as she watched him take in her flesh. She no longer felt embarrassed.
“I have to go.”
“You keep leaving me. I don’t like it.” Each time he left, he took a small piece of her with him.
“That’s why you need to find me.” He leaned forward. “I know you can. You’re very powerful.” He brushed his lips against her mouth. A rush of warmth coursed through her and settled between her legs. “Find me, Riley.” He kissed the corner of her mouth, lingering a second longer than usual. She took the opportunity to run her tongue along his soft lips. “Find me now.”
“How?” She wanted more than anything to find this man. “What do I need to do?”
“Tucker…” he whispered.
“What?” 
Riley slipped off the bath pillow and under the cold water. She quickly sat up and looked around. The bubbles had evaporated into the freezing water.
Did she turn the faucet off? Or did…
I must be crazy.


She thought for a moment. Her mystery man had left her a big clue tonight. Now she needed to figure out what Tucker Sparrow had to do with any of this. It looked as if she would be paying a visit to a man she hadn’t seen in a decade.

About Ella

Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped. Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
You can connect with her at:

GIVEAWAY

I’m offering a $5.00 Amazon Gift card and some signed swag to one lucky commenter.

I hope you’ll add Find Me to your TBR pile.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, January 27, 2014

Naughty Little Bedtime Stories


Naughty Little Bedtime Stories
By-Tamaria Soana
Anthology of Steamy Short Stories  

Bedtime stories that will heat up your night.
Naughty Little Bedtime Stories contains twelve short stories that will arouse your senses. You’ll find stories that contain light bondage, food play, ménage (m/m/f), and other erotic events. Each story has a different setting and couple who explore all things naughty in and out of the bedroom.
 
Content Warning: adult language, graphic sexual situations.