Monday, March 31, 2014

DUKE CITY SPLIT by Max Austin - Review

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pic and description taken from GoodReads


Description:

A cool, calm, and collected bank robber—with two kids at home—heads a fascinating cast of characters in Duke City Split, the first in a trilogy of white-knuckle thrillers from Max Austin.
  
Bud Knox isn’t your average bank robber. He’s happiest fixing a nice lunch for his wife on her lunch break or watching his two young daughters play soccer. He leaves the boldness and brawn to his partner, Mick Wyman. In the past fourteen years, they’ve hit nearly thirty banks all over the West—everywhere but “Duke City,” their hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

So when Mick calls him about the perfect job, Bud is less than convinced, because the target is on their own turf. But with the potential to haul in millions, Bud simply can’t say no. If they do this job right, Bud may never have to work again.

As it turns out, the heist is the easy part. Holding onto the money while evading everyone from the FBI to the Mafia to the low-life criminals who want a cut will be the hardest thing Bud Knox has ever done—and it might just cost him his life.

My Review / Thoughts:

This book was so good.  I was sucked in right at the very beginning.  When Bud and his buddy Mick decide to add a "third" person to their heist in their hometown, things only go wrong.  Which reminded them why they never hit in the place they lived.

It was interesting to see how things connected.  It was great.  Bud I liked from the very beginning.  Yes, he is a bank robber, but he's a nice bank robber..hehe.  He seems to be a nice guy (aside from being a thief).  It's so hard to like a guy you know is doing the wrong things, but he is a pretty likable guy :).  His friend Mick on the other hand was such a tool.  He made me so mad the whole time.  None of them would be in the mess they were in if Bud had the balls to stand up to Mick.  Their "third" person Johnny was dumber than dumb can be, and only caused problems.  So frustrating to read.  I guess that is part of what kept me reading.  

When the heist is done that is when life gets really exciting for these three men.  More thugs are introduced and its interesting to see how they all connect. There were times when I was like "whaaat".  I love it when a book does that to me.

I don't want to give anything away, but this is a great read.  It's interesting, exciting, and action packed.  When you get involved with robbing banks, and Casinos, the whole world gets interesting.  This book brings real meaning to "don't poop where you eat"..hehe.  sorry for the description..hehehe.  

There are so many great characters in this book.  The author did a great job of making me "feel" what was going on in the book.  I found myself holding my breath at a few points in the book.  I kind of laugh at myself when that happens.  My husband always tells me "it's just a book".  Ya, well when a book can do that to me it makes me happy.  I really enjoyed the writing.

Content:  There is language in this book.  I have a hard time saying that sometimes, because what I think is a lot of language is very different from what other people think.  

Source:  I received this book from  Random House Publishing-Alibi and Netgalley in return for an honest review.   I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

My Rating:

Where to Pre-Order


About the Author:

Steve Brewer
pic and bio taken from GoodReads

Max Austin aka Steve Brewer

STEVE BREWER is the author of more than 20 books, including the recent crime novels A BOX OF PANDORAS, PARTY DOLL, LOST VEGAS and CALABAMA.

His first novel, LONELY STREET, was made into an independent Hollywood comedy starring Robert Patrick, Jay Mohr and Joe Mantegna. 

Under his new pen name Max Austin, Brewer is writing a series of hard-boiled crime stories set in Albuquerque, NM. The first, DUKE CITY SPLIT, will be published by Alibi/Random House in April 2014.

Brewer's short fiction appeared in the anthologies DAMN NEAR DEAD, THE LAST NOEL and CRIMES BY MOONLIGHT, and he's published articles in magazines such as Mystery Scene, Crimespree and Mystery Readers' Journal.

Brewer has taught at the University of New Mexico, the Midwest Writers Workshop and the Tony Hillerman Writers Seminar. He regularly speaks at mystery conventions, and was toastmaster at Left Coast Crime in Santa Fe, NM, in 2011.

He served two years on the national board of Mystery Writers of America, and twice served as an Edgar Awards judge. He's also a member of International Thriller Writers and SouthWest Writers.

A graduate of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Brewer worked as a daily journalist for 22 years, then wrote a syndicated weekly column for another decade. The column, called The Home Front, produced the raw material for his humor book TROPHY HUSBAND.

Married and the father of two adult sons, Brewer lives in Albuquerque, NM. 



WHAT GOES ON TOUR - by Claire Boston Launch

A themed tour with Prism Book Tours...

It's time to launch The Rock Star Tour for
What Goes on Tour
By Claire Boston


What Goes on Tour
What Goes on Tour
by Claire Boston
Adult Contemporary Romance
Ebook, 282 pages
February 11th 2014 by Momentum Moonlight


What goes on tour, stays on tour … or does it?

Few people know that socially awkward Adrian Hart is actually rock god Kent Downer, and that's the way Adrian likes it. His privacy is essential, especially now that he has guardianship of his orphaned, ten-year-old niece, Kate. But when the nanny quits in the middle of his tour Adrian finds himself in a bind.

Until Libby Myles walks into his life.

Libby has only ever wanted to become a full-time author and prove to her parents that she can make it on her own. On the surface, the temporary job as the nanny for Kent Downer's niece looks perfect—the pay is fabulous, the hours are short and Kate is a big fan—it's the rock star that's the issue.

Arrogant and way too attractive for anyone's good, Kent Downer has enough swagger to power a small city. But when he's out of costume he's different—shy and uncertain. For Libby it's a far harder combination to resist. She needs to find a balance between work, writing and ignoring her attraction to the rock star, because if she falls for him, it could mean the end of her dream.

But when a horrible scandal is unleashed—putting young Kate in danger—there's more heat between Libby and Adrian than just sexual attraction. Libby must figure out if Adrian ever cared for her, or if it was all just part of the show …

   
 


Here's some background on What Goes on Tour and the author:

What Goes on Tour is single title novel and the idea hooked me right from the beginning. I liked the thought of writing about a rock star who wasn’t like the normal party hard singer with a full entourage that you see in many novels and TV shows these days. 

I’d love it if readers enjoyed the novel and maybe took with them that people are often different from their public persona.

One of my favourite scenes is probably the dancing game scene because I had a lot of fun writing it.


Something unique about me… I’ve recently taken up vintage motocross and I’m the passenger on a sidecar. I’ve attached a photo because people often think that a sidecar passenger just sits on the side but it’s a lot more work than that!

- Claire


Claire Boston was a voracious reader as a child, devouring anything by Enid Blyton as well as series such as Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, The Baby-sitters Club and Sweet Valley High. Then one school holidays when she’d run out of books to read her mother handed her ‘Hot Ice’ by Nora Roberts and Claire instantly fell in love with romance novels.

The love of reading soon turned to a love of writing and she struggled to keep within the 1500 word limit set by her teachers for her creative writing assignments. When she finally decided to become serious about her stories she joined Romance Writers of Australia, found her wonderful critique group and hasn’t looked back.

When Claire’s not reading or writing she can be found in the garden attempting to grow vegetables, or racing around a vintage motocross track. If she can convince anyone to play with her, she also enjoys cards and board games.

Claire lives in Western Australia, just south of Perth with her husband, who loves even her most annoying quirks, and her two grubby, but adorable Australian bulldogs.



Tour-Wide Giveaways
March 31 - April 20

$50 GC & ebook of What Goes on Tour

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10 ebooks of What Goes on Tour


Prism Book Tours
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FORTUNE COOKIE BOOK BLAST by Josi S. Kilpack


Fortune Cookie

Fortune Cookie 

Sadie Hoffmiller has always liked things to be just so. A place for everything and everything in its place. Order over chaos. And of all things Sadie should be able to control, her own wedding is at the top of the list. With the big day just three weeks away, Sadie is busily adding the final touches to her wedding plans but the arrival of a mysterious letter from San Francisco changes everything. The only person Sadie knows in San Francisco is her older sister, Wendy, whom she hasn’t seen since their mother’s funeral nearly fifteen years ago. Sadie has faced off against murderers and criminals in recent years, yet the possibility of reconnecting with her sister is both overwhelming and frightening. Sadie soon discovers, however, that the letter is just the beginning when Wendy’s world turns out to be a place of unanswered questions, twisted truths, and more than one person with a motive for murder. The more Sadie digs into her sister’s past, the more she places her own future at risk.
Culinary Mysteries
Fortune Cookie Tour
Josi


Author Josi S. Kilpack
Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense. Lemon Tart, the first book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series was a finalist in 2009. Josi currently lives in Willard Utah with her husband, children and super-cute cat.


book blast button
     

Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/30/14 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.
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Sunday, March 30, 2014

THE GOLDEN APPLE BOOK BLITZ - By Michelle Diener



We're celebrating the release of Michelle Diener's second fairy tale retelling:
The Golden Apple
An Adult Fantasy Romance based loosely on the Princess on the Glass Hill


The Golden AppleThe Golden Apple
by Michelle Diener
Adult Fantasy/SciFi
March 24, 2014

Kayla's world has been turned upside-down...

Her father has made her the prize in a deadly, impossible tournament, and Kayla has retaliated in the only way she knows how; by choosing her champion beforehand. But taking control of the outcome changes the game completely, and when the real reason behind the strange test becomes apparent, Kayla realizes not just her life, but her entire kingdom is at stake.

Rane's honor is torn in two...

In order to save his brother, Rane will do whatever he has to--including deceive and betray a princess. He knew nothing about this tournament would be easy, but when it turns into a deeper, far more sinister game, Rane is forced to see it through to the end, or leave his brother at the mercy of their enemy.

Now their fates are entwined, and they must venture into the deep, dark forest together...

Kayla and Rane are bound to one another by an enchantment and Kayla's actions. But the sorcerer forcing them to do his will may have miscalculated, because no-one comes out of the Great Forest unchanged. No-one.



The inspiration for The Golden Apple

The Golden Apple is loosely based on the Norwegian fairy tale The Princess on the Glass Hill. The original tale is more about the hero than the heroine, and it is a very straightforward quest story, with the hero becoming more and more accomplished, until at last he succeeds against the odds. But there were a few things in this fairy tale that stood out for me and made me take notice. The first is the very unusual situation of the king holding a contest for his daughter’s hand by putting her on top of a glass hill with a golden apple in her lap. Knights from all over are invited to race a horse up the smooth glass sides of the mountain and the one who can pluck the golden apple from the princess's lap wins her hand and is heir to the kingdom. As usual in fairy tales, there is no explanation as to how the king came by a glass mountain, but I wondered where he got it, and that sparked the starting point of the story. It is really the inciting incident that starts the story off, rather than the focus of the story, as it was in the fairy tale.

Secondly, the crux of the tale, for me, is that the hero cannot win the princess's hand without help from the princess herself. That part of the original tale is one or two lines long, but for me, it's fascinating. The feminine power determining and choosing which masculine power will prevail. This really made me interested, because the princess doesn't just sit there and take whoever it is manages to accomplish the (impossible) task set by her father, but actively chooses who it is she wants to win and helps them. I wanted to write a story about the consequences of her taking that power and using it and The Golden Apple was the result -- far, far more heroine-centric than the original, and I really had fun with it.
- Michelle Diener


LAST CALL FOR REVIEWERS!
Are you interested in fantasy romance?
Do you love fairy tale retellings?
Have you read Michelle Diener and enjoyed her work in the past?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you can request a review copy of The Golden Apple! The Golden Apple is up for review by invitation only on NetGalley. Reviewers with book review sites can apply for a limited number of pre-approved copies. Book reviewers who post their review on their review site, Amazon, and Goodreads can enter a Rafflecopter draw to win one of ten copies of any Michelle Diener book of their choice, or a $10 Amazon gift card. (Instructions in sign-up form.)

Sign up HERE


Image of Michelle DienerMichelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout & John Parker series, set in the court of Henry VIII, includes In a Treacherous Court, Keeper of the King's Secrets and In Defense of the Queen.

Michelle's other historical novels include Daughter of the Sky, The Emperor's Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies (loosely connected to The Emperor's Conspiracy).

Michelle's first fantasy novel, Mistress of the Wind, is set for a December 23, 2013, release.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

Blitz-Wide Giveaways:

1 - Enter to WIN one of ten ebooks of The Golden Apple.
- March 30 - April 7.
See Rafflecopter for restrictions.

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2 - For book bloggers: Review The Golden Apple by April 1, 2014 and enter to WIN one of 10 prizes:
- Choose any one of Michelle Diener's books or $10 Gift Card!
- March 24 - April 7

Request an early review copy using the form. Instructions on entering the second giveaway are included!


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Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.

Friday, March 28, 2014

RIP VOL. 1 CHOICES AFTER DEATH by Daniel Sherrier - Review

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picture and description taken from GoodReads


Description:

Ghosts are people, too, but not all choose to be good people.

Rip Cooper must overcome his fears and kill dead people to prevent them from corrupting the living. This young loner learns he can perceive ghosts with his five senses as if they were flesh and blood, and he's just as solid to them -- pretty much the only solid thing, in fact. He works alongside an impure “angel” and his ex-best friend's ex-girlfriend as they teach him how love can lead to strength.

RIP vol. 1: Choices After Death features the first four novelettes in this coming-of-age and redemption story: “Touch,” “Alone,” “The Crazy Line,” and “Point B,” plus the short story “Strength.”


My Thoughts/Review:

I started reading this book last night.  I was sitting in my house around midnight, it was dark and the first few pages scared the jeepers out of me.  So, I was SUPER excited.  Growing up there was a window at the top of our stairs, and I always was afraid I would see someone standing outside the window.  Well....Rip experiences this kind of thing in the very beginning.  His is even more creepy to me though.  A dark basement, and then BAM something is in front of him.  I had to turn my lights on while I read :).

I wish the book would have kept up the "scary" for me.  I LOVE scary.  It turned out to be quite a hilarious read actually.  Rip's one of the "Seven" on earth who are here to send "ghosts" back to heaven or Hell.  Serissa is ghost assigned to Rip to help him fight the ghosts.  She is a crack up.  Kalli is his friend that is a girl, that seems to be there for him at all times.  I do think it was a little unrealistic when Rip told Kalli about what he does for her to just "accept" it right away.  It worked, but it seemed a bit fast.  Then Rip asks her out right after a fight with a ghost.  It seemed a little out of place.  I do wish that there was more "love" story between Rip and Kalli, but the story worked.  

I still don't quite understand how the ghosts were able to hurt Rip, but I did like how the "feelings" came into it.  Some of the ghosts could bring on "good" feelings like Serissa and some of them brought on feelings of "fear".  It was interesting.  People couldn't see them, but they could see the after math of what the ghosts were making the people see.  Made them look a little crazy.  It was interesting.  I liked how Kalli couldn't "see" the ghosts but she was willing to help and could "feel" Serissa.  She could tell if it was a good or a bad ghost by the feelings she was having.  I like how she seemed to be connected without actually being connected.  I would have found it quite entertaining to see some guy talking to himself all the time.  It seems that Rip was doing that quite often because no one else can see the ghosts.  The pulling out of his phone and talking was quite clever :).

I found this book to be quite entertaining.  Not at all what I expected it to be.  Especially after reading the first few pages.  I thought I was in for a "scary" ride.  I would have loved that, but this turned out pretty good.  It's such a different take on ghosts than I have read before.

Source:  I was given this book by the Author in return for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for this review, and these are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

My Rating:

Where to Buy:


About the Author:

Daniel Sherrier
pic and bio taken from GoodReads

Daniel Sherrier is a writer based in central Virginia. This is the guy who writes the Earths in Space and RIP series, which you've doubtless heard much about. Occasionally, a play he's written gets performed somewhere. He graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2005, where he earned a degree in the ever-lucrative fields of English and Theatre. Recently, he achieved his black belt in Thai kickboxing. And there was that one time he jumped out of an airplane, which was memorable.

Authors Website:  Sherrierbooks.com






Tuesday, March 25, 2014

SHATTERED EMBRACE PROMO BLITZ



Shattered Embrace - PROMO Blitz
By PR Newton

Contemporary / Women's Fiction
Date Published: 3/14/2014

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Bethlehem took her first breath as her mother took her last.

Left to survive in overcrowded Ethiopian orphanages, she developed survival skills rivaling a warrior - a fierce, independent fighter before she could walk or talk. As she approached her second birthday, Bethlehem lived her days guided by two rules: everyone leaves and trust no one.

A world away in Canada, Tory Witcraft is trying to adopt from Ethiopia with her husband, Matt, when her adoption agency goes bankrupt, threatening her dreams of becoming a mother. Against the advice of many, including government officials threatening to revoke the adoption, she goes to Ethiopia, and her new daughter, Bethlehem.

When they finally meet, both mother and daughter struggle to connect, each trapped by their own fears and demons. Emotions and tempers run hot. Hearts and dreams collide, shattering a family before it could fully form. 

The adoption journey was difficult, but no one expected the hardest part of the journey would begin once they met.


EXCERPT

An itty bitty little thing of a girl came running into the room. Bouncing high with each step as she flew at them and promptly threw herself into Matt’s lap. Tory’s hand clutched her face, her breath stopped in her chest as she watched Matt draw the little girl close. His body rocked as he held her, his face split into a smile of pure joy.

“Daddy!” she cried out in a squeaky voice. She grabbed Matt’s face kissing each cheek with a big, slimy, open mouth kiss.

“Bethlehem!” Matt breathed out as he hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

“Bethlehem,” Tory whispered the name, as if saying it for the first time as she took in the face of the little girl she had studied through pictures for months. Blowing up the pictures until she could examine every facet of the the little girls features. Seeing her up close, face to face, finally close enough to touch left Tory breathless. Her skin itched to touch her. With a tentative hand she stroked her back.


About the Author:

P.R. (Piper) Newton is a proud geek mom of two little boys, one through birth, one through adoption. She has a background in psychology and continues to take post-grad courses in childhood trauma and development. In her writings she loves to explore the human mind, putting her characters through unthinkable things, just to see how they react. She is a full-time author, who believes in the magical, creative inducing powers of arm warmers and stripy socks.

Author Links


Giveaway

$10 Amazon Gift Card


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Monday, March 24, 2014

IMPERFECT LOVE BLOG TOUR & REVIEW

Imperfect Love Tour


Imperfect Love
Imperfect Love

Lauren Wilson is well on her way to her happily-ever-after. She has a career she loves, a husband she adores and a baby on the way, but a devastating diagnosis changes everything. The life she's built suddenly crumbles around her when her husband insists she choose—the baby or him. Returning to her small hometown to rebuild her shattered life, Lauren crosses paths with Ethan Campbell, the man who stole her teenage heart. The old attraction is still there, but Lauren won't admit it to anyone—least of all herself. Her only priority is providing a life for her child, and she can't afford to get it wrong. Ethan is confusing everything, including stirring up feelings she’s not prepared to face. Will she spend her life raising her baby alone or is the family she's always wanted finally within her reach?  


My Review / Thoughts:

This is such a sweet story.  I enjoyed reading it so much.  It also hit a little close to home on a few issues.  

Lauren is an amazing woman/character.  The author did a great job of making her so lovable and so beautiful.  Paul, Lauren's husband is a jerk...I mean jerk of all jerks.  I think the author did a great job of making him a jerk :).  That sounds funny, but there always has to be someone you don't like right?  I think so.  Well Paul was my DO NOT LIKE in this book.  He brought the meaning of "jerk" to a whole new light.

When Lauren finds out she is pregnant she is so excited.  She and Paul had been trying for two years, and had been unsuccessful.  When she finds the positive lines on her pregnancy test she cannot wait to share the news with Paul.  Soon after finding out she was pregnant she finds out that the baby will be born with a birth defect.  Her looser husband cannot deal with it and wants her to terminate the pregnancy.  When Lauren decides she cannot Paul leaves her.  Seriously..PIG.

Lauren moves back home with her mother and runs into an old crush she had in high school by the name of Ethan.  Let's just say Ethan makes up for the jerk ex-husband.  He is kind, and handsome and loving.  He is just what every woman needs in a man :).  

I found this book a little hard to read at certain times.  I had a very hard time getting pregnant, and reading her struggle, brought back a lot of memories.  I ached for her, and she isn't even a "real" person.  I also have a nephew with the same birth defect her baby has, and he is one of the most beautiful human beings alive.  The fact that her husband leaves her because of it breaks my heart.  Kids with downs are amazing children who are beautiful, and love unconditionally.  They deserve all good things.  Just like any child, but a child with special needs deserves just a little more love because life is hard for them.  I thought the author did a great job of helping me feel the struggle Lauren was going through after she finds out about her baby.  

Raising a child with special needs is difficult, and takes a very special person to do it.  When the option for termination came up, I thought I would throw my book.  When is it ever okay to abort a child, just because they didn't turn out like you wanted them to.  My heart ached.  It really did.

This book is such a beautiful book, about love, healing, kindness, friendship, and learning to do hard things.  It was a clean, sweet book.  The beauty of a special needs child is such a wonderful thing.  Lauren is a beautiful character.  I loved her family in this book.  She had such a great support system.  I know how important that is when you have a new born, special needs or not.  This book is such a great example of unconditional love.  I cannot even tell you how much I loved this book.  It was just so sweet.  It was heart breaking at times, but in the end it wraps up in a pretty little bow, which is what I ALWAYS want in a book.  This author did not disappoint.  

The writing is beautiful.  The story is beautiful.  The characters are beautiful.  This book is just plain good.

Source:  I received this book as part of a blog tour stop, in return for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for my review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

My Rating:
Although I believe it deserves more than five.  This book touched me so deeply!  It is just beautiful!

Excerpt:
The door out to the garage opened into the dining area. “Mom, I can’t find the—”

“Ethan, come in here,” Mrs. Campbell said with a strained voice.

Ethan stepped into the house. His black hair was a bit longer and his shoulders were broader since the last time Lauren saw him. He still easily earned the nickname of Adonis. Ethan smiled and said, “Hello,” as he strode across the room.

“You remember Emily and—”

“Lauren.” Lauren was surprised he remembered. “Yes, of course I do.” He stuck out his hand. “Mrs. Van Allen. You are looking very well. How are you?”

Lauren’s mom shook his hand. “I’m good. How are you? It’s been years.”

“Yes, it has.” He turned to Lauren and extended his hand. For a moment, she wasn’t sure if she should shake it, because it was if she’d fallen into a time warp, and she was still the awkward teenager who couldn’t string two words together in front of him. She then reminded herself that she was a mature adult, and her silly crush was a lifetime ago. She reciprocated and shook his hand. “How are you, Lauren?”

She was struck by the sincerity in his tone, as if he actually cared how she was. “I’m great. You?”

“Doing well.”

“Ethan’s here for a few days to help me with some things around the house.” Mrs. Campbell’s pride was evident.

“I’m not really the handyman she thinks I am.” He smiled the same million-dollar smile that had driven the girls at Durango High School crazy. Ethan had been a celebrity back then, and girls talked about him all the time.

Ethan sat in a chair next to his mom. He laid his hand across hers. In a tender voice he asked, “Can I get you anything, Mom?”


rebecca



Author Rebecca Lynn Talley 
Rebecca Lynn Talley grew up in the gorgeous seaside city of Santa Barbara, CA. She met, and married, her husband, Del, while attending Brigham Young University. She graduated from BYU with a degree in Communications. She currently lives in rural Colorado on a small ranch with a dog, too many cats to count, and a herd of goats. She and Del are the proud parents of ten wildly-creative, multi-talented children. Rebecca is the author of a children’s picture book, Grasshopper Pie (WindRiver 2003), a children’s chapter book, Gabby’s Secret (DuBon Publishing 2011), four novels, Heaven Scent (CFI 2008), Altared Plans (CFI 2009), The Upside of Down (CFI 2011), and Aura (DuBon Publishing 2012). She has also authored numerous children’s stories and articles for both print and online magazines. When she isn’t writing, Rebecca loves to date her husband, play with her kids, swim in the ocean, and dance to disco music while she cleans the house. She has folded at least one million loads of laundry, baked hundreds of batches of chocolate chip cookies, and eaten 5,478 gallons of ice cream.


Blog Tour Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/10/14 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 and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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FIREFLY HALLOW - BY T.L. HADDIX BLITZ



Firefly Hollow - WEEK BLITZ
By T. L. Haddix

Romance w/ Light Paranormal Elements
Date Published: 9/23/2012

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The mysterious recluse…

Owen Campbell holds himself apart from other people. Badly scarred from emotional wounds that have never healed, he doesn’t expect to find true love or happiness. He remains isolated in a prison of his own making, determined to not let anyone close enough to hurt him again. But his willpower is shaken to the core when Sarah Browning enters his world.

The girl next door…

Sarah Jane Browning is three years into her college degree when a call from home changes everything. Back at the family homestead in the heart of Appalachia, she’s forced to reevaluate her hopes and dreams for the future.

Distraction from her heartache comes in the form of her parents’ neighbor. Whispers about “odd Owen Campbell” abound in their small community, and Sarah’s curiosity is aroused. When she breaks the rules and trespasses onto his land, what she finds is beyond her wildest imaginings.

As Sarah struggles to overcome tragedy and loss, her burgeoning relationship with Owen is sorely tested. Will love conquer all, or will the secrets from Owen’s past tear them apart forever?

EXCERPT

Checking back over her shoulder after a few steps, Sarah frowned when the deer continued to mimic her path. Dismissing the incident as the curiosity of a wild young deer that hadn’t yet learned humans were the enemy, she let her mind drift. Before long, she heard the sound of water trickling rapidly over rocks, and as she rounded a curve, she saw a small stream curving through the mountainside. The branch of water cut into a shallow hollow, one side protected by a higher ledge of earth that was full of mountain laurel.

Sarah stopped to take in the sight and drew in a cleansing breath. As she looked around, she realized the deer had followed her and stopped a short distance away. The bench of land it stood on converged with the deer path alongside the stream.

If Sarah hadn’t known better, she would have sworn the deer wore a look of consternation. The animal bent its head to nibble at some greenery on the ground, but kept its eyes on her. It almost seemed to glance between her and the water, as though weighing the danger of coming closer for a drink.

“Maybe if I turn away, you’ll feel bolder.” The deer path crossed the branch at a narrow point, and she decided to go a bit further. The water cascaded down a small waterfall above the narrow point, pooling in a shallow area that would be the perfect spot for a thirsty deer to get a cooling drink. Hopping across the water, Sarah followed the trail. To her surprise, the path didn’t continue to the flat bench on the other side of the small ridge, but climbed up and around the rocky outcropping. Curious, she climbed the incline. The sight took her breath away, and for a moment, she didn’t believe what was in front of her was real.

The rocky outcropping the water cascaded down was a sort of natural dam. On its other side, a large pool of water had collected. Fifteen feet across and nearly that wide again going in the opposite direction, the pool was surrounded by sloping granite on all sides except the front, where the water dropped over the edge. The water was blue-green, going from light aqua to deeper cobalt, and the banks of rock and earth protected it on all sides.

On the opposite side, a craggy granite cliff rose about ten feet out of the water, overhanging slightly to form a shallow cave. The mountain seemed to curve around the pool and, mesmerized, Sarah continued around, crossing the branch once more at a point above the pool. From there, she was able to climb on top of the granite boulder that created the cliff. Easing to the edge, she carefully sat down, her legs dangling over the side.

When the curious deer appeared at the edge of the pool below, Sarah laughed. The deer gave a small jerk at the sound, eyeing her warily.

“I’m sorry.” She felt utterly insane, carrying on a conversation with a deer, but it had followed her like a curious puppy. Sarah realized that keeping quiet would feel even more absurd. “It’s so beautiful here. I had no idea any place like this existed.” She looked around, noticing that the trees didn’t arch out over the pool the way she thought they would have.

“I’ll bet it’s really hot here in the summer, and that water feels so good and cool. Or does the pool dry up, I wonder?”

For a while, she just sat, braced back on her hands, her face lifted to the sky. The peace imbued in the place washed over her. When she felt ready, she let herself remember Kathy’s words to Paul, and their laughter. The memory made Sarah sad and still made her cringe with embarrassment, but she realized that she didn’t feel quite as angry about it as she had.

“Thank you, God, for letting me hear that today. At least I don’t have to face Paul until Monday,” she said to the sky. “And… and maybe, if that’s what he likes, then maybe he’s not as special as I thought he was. Let him have his buxom girls. At least I don’t look like a milk cow, unlike someone I could name.”

A snort came from below, and Sarah jumped. She’d forgotten the deer. Looking down, she saw that it had moved to the edge of the exposed granite and settled down on a soft patch of leaves.

“What are you snorting at?”

When the deer shook its head, Sarah laughed. Even though she knew it was probably batting away flies with its ears, the deer acted almost human.

She glanced down at her watch and was shocked when she saw the time. She was going to have to run in order to make it home in time for supper. With a muted curse that she’d heard her father say when he hit his thumb with the hammer, she scrambled to her feet and looked around. Another bench ran down from the side of the boulder opposite where she’d come up and fell naturally into the one the deer had been on when she’d first seen it.

“That saves me a little time.” With one last look at the deer, which had gotten to its feet when Sarah did, she headed down the bench. “I’ll come back someday,” she promised over her shoulder. “Try to not get shot or anything.”

For a day that had gone so badly, she thought as she ran, things had turned out to be okay.

* * *

For a long time after the girl had gone, Owen stood on the edge of the pool, looking after her. With his enhanced hearing, he could follow her progress down the trail and back onto Browning land.

He didn’t know what to think. He’d never encountered another human in all the time he’d been exploring the woods. His parents had seen to that over the years; no one dared come onto Campbell property without his father’s permission. Now that the property belonged to Owen, he guessed he was the one who’d have to do something about trespassers.

He bent his neck, taking another sip from the water. As the girl had guessed, it was cool and delightful.

Owen sighed, a sound that came out in deer form much as it did when he was human. The pool was one of his favorite places to roam, one of his safe places. If the girl came back as she promised, he didn’t know what it would mean for him. He couldn’t risk being caught, and he wasn’t willing to give up his solitude. If the girl threatened that… he hated the thought of having to go to her parents, but if it came to that, he’d do it.


T.L. Haddix

T.L. Haddix was born in Hazard, Kentucky, a small town in the center of the Appalachian coal fields. Taught to read by her grandmother, T.L. has had a life-long love affair with books, devouring whatever she could get her hands on. From childhood favorites such as the Trixie Belden series and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House” books, to her current favorites from authors like Tami Hoag, Alex Kava, J.A. Jance and Lisa Kleypas (among many others), T.L. still finds refuge in the written word.


“Growing up, I wanted to be everything – astronaut, police officer, doctor, teacher, reporter, psychologist – there was no clear choice for me. I wanted to do it all. Becoming a writer has allowed me to do just that, because I can live vicariously through my characters.”



A resident of eastern Kentucky, T.L. is hard at work on her next book, when she isn’t chasing after her three cat-children with her husband.

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