03 May 2017

Magick & Mayhem (An Abracadabra Mystery) by Sharon Pape Book Tour and Giveaway

Magick & Mayhem (An Abracadabra Mystery)
by Sharon Pape


Magick & Mayhem (An Abracadabra Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Publisher: Lyrical Underground (May 2, 2017)
ASIN: B01JWDZSQQ

Synopsis

What’s in a murderer’s bag of tricks?
Twenty-something Kailyn Wilde has learned to embrace her unpredictable life as a descendant of small-town New Camel’s most magickal family. She just didn’t expect to inherit her mother and grandmother’s centuries-old shop, Abracadabra, so suddenly. The surprises keep coming when Kailyn goes to finalize the estate at the local attorney’s office—and stumbles over the body of her best friend Elise’s husband . . .
As a brash detective casts the blame on Elise, Kailyn summons her deepest powers to find answers and start an investigation of her own. What with running a business, perfecting ancient spells, and keeping up with an uninvited guest of fabled origins, Kailyn has her hands full. But with the help of her uncanny black cat Sashkatu and her muumuu-clad Aunt Tilly, she’s closing in on a killer—who will do anything to make sure she never tests her supernatural skills again!
 About The Author
I started writing stories as soon as I learned how to put letters together to form words. From that day forward, writing has been a part of my life whether it was my first attempt at a novel in seventh grade or the little plays I wrote for my friends to perform for neighbors and family. After college, when I was busy teaching French and Spanish to high school students, I was also writing poetry — some of it in French.
After several years, I left teaching to be a full time mom, and when my two children started school, I went back to writing. To my delight I found that the muse was still there, still waiting patiently for me to come around. My first novel, Ghostfire, was published at that time. It went on to be condensed in Redbook magazine (the first paperback original the magazine had ever condensed.) Then came The God Children and The PortalRedbook also published my first short story, which was subsequently sold to several foreign magazines. With two great kids, a golden retriever and a loving, supportive husband (whom I’d met at the beach when I was fourteen — but that’s a story for another day), I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be in my life. But fate had another plan for me, and it went by the name of “breast cancer.”
Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was that the cancer was discovered at such an early stage, but at the time it was all very overwhelming. Once I was back on my feet, I wanted to help other women who were newly diagnosed, worried and afraid. I became a Reach to Recovery volunteer for the American Cancer Society and went on to run the program for Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. A number of years later, with the help of my surgical oncologist and two other volunteers, I started Lean On Me, a nonprofit organization that provides peer support and information to breast cancer patients. When Lean On Me celebrated its tenth anniversary it no longer required as much of my time, and I once again found myself free to pursue my first love — writing.
Author Links
Webpage – Facebook –  Pinterest – Twitter
Purchase Links

Amazon B&N
Giveaway is for (2) E-COPIES Magick & Mayhem (An Abracadabra Mystery) by Sharon Pape. Enter at link below.

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Tour Participants
May 1 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW
May 1 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
May 2 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
May 2 – Books Direct – SPOTLIGHT
May 3 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 3 – Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf – INTERVIEW
May 3 – Bubble Bath Books – REVIEW
May 4 – Readsalot – SPOTLIGHT
May 4 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
May 5 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT
May 5 – The Broke Book Bank – REVIEW
May 6 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
May 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
May 7 – Nadaness In Motion – REVIEW
May 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
May 8 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
May 9 –  A Holland Reads – GUEST POST
May 10 – Book Babble – REVIEW
May 10 – Varietats – REVIEW
May 11 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
May 11 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 12 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW
May 13 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
May 13 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT
May 14 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW
 Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

The Half Wives by Stacia Pelletier Blog Tour and Giveaway!


Publication Date: April 4, 2017Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Hardcover & eBook; 336 Pages
ISBN-10: 0547491166

Genre: Historical Fiction


Over the course of one momentous day, two women who have built their lives around the same man find themselves moving toward an inevitable reckoning.
Former Lutheran minister Henry Plageman is a master secret keeper and a man wracked by grief. He and his wife, Marilyn, tragically lost their young son, Jack, many years ago. But he now has another child—a daughter, eight-year-old Blue—with Lucy, the woman he fell in love with after his marriage collapsed.
The Half Wives follows these interconnected characters on May 22, 1897, the anniversary of Jack’s birth. Marilyn distracts herself with charity work at an orphanage. Henry needs to wrangle his way out of the police station, where he has spent the night for disorderly conduct. Lucy must rescue and rein in the intrepid Blue, who has fallen in a saltwater well. But before long, these four will all be drawn on this day to the same destination: to the city cemetery on the outskirts of San Francisco, to the grave that means so much to all of them. The collision of lives and secrets that follows will leave no one unaltered.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Kobo

Praise

“Pelletier’s second novel unfolds a complex story in the span of 24 hours… [The author] expertly fills in the back story—introspection and memories mingle smoothly with the present… Well-crafted characters struggling alone with shared grief furnishes a coursing river on which this intriguing story effortlessly flows. Tough to put down.” —Kirkus Reviews
The Half Wives is a profoundly hypnotic and mesmerizing work. The characters do not capture you as much as claim you, as the writing—languid, heartbreaking, and hopeful—pulls you deep into their world. The backdrop of Old San Francisco comes gloriously alive, as though the mist of the city itself rose from every page.”—Kathy Hepinstall, author of Blue Asylum and others
“Stacia Pelletier’s The Half Wives is set in the past, but it is a story for any time: a poignant, sometimes heart-rending, beautifully crafted, always gripping tale of loss and love, and the human need to try to set things right. A great read.”—Kevin Baker, author of The Big Crowd

About the Author

Stacia Pelletier is the author of Accidents of Providence, which was short-listed for the Townsend Prize in Fiction, and the forthcoming The Half Wives. She earned graduate degrees in religion and historical theology from Emory University in Atlanta. A two-time fellow of the Hambidge Center, located in the mountains of North Georgia, she currently lives in Decatur, Georgia, and works at Emory University’s School of Medicine.
For more information, please visit Stacia Pelletier’s website.

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, April 4
Kick Off at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, April 5
Spotlight at Just One More Chapter
Thursday, April 6
Review & Giveaway at Rainy Day Reviews
Friday, April 7
Spotlight at What Is That Book About
Tuesday, April 11
Review at West Metro Mommy
Friday, April 14
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Tuesday, April 18
Review at Books, Dreams, Life
Wednesday, April 19
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
Thursday, April 20
Review at A Bookaholic Swede
Monday, April 24
Interview at Author Dianne Ascroft’s Blog
Friday, April 28
Review at Reviews by Room With Books
Tuesday, May 2
Review, Guest Post & Giveaway at Brooke Blogs
Wednesday, May 3
Giveaway at CelticLady’s Reviews
Thursday, May 4
Review at Book Nerd
Review at Clarissa Reads It All
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Friday, May 5
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Giveaway

Passages to the Past has two copies of The Half Wives up for grabs! To enter, leave a comment below. Please include your email address or alternate way to contact you should you win.

Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on April 21st. Good luck to all!

02 May 2017

The Sweet Life by Sharon Struth Cover Reveal!


The Sweet Life
by Sharon Struth
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 19, 2017
In Italy, the best attractions are always off the beaten path . . .
Mamie Weber doesn’t know why she survived that terrible car accident five years ago. Physically, she has only a slight reminder—but emotionally, the pain is still fresh. Deep down she knows her husband would have wanted her to embrace life again. Now she has an opportunity to do just that, spending two weeks in Tuscany reviewing a tour company for her employer’s popular travel guide series. The warmth of the sun, the centuries-old art, a villa on the Umbrian border—it could be just the adventure she needs.
But with adventure comes the unexpected . . . like discovering that her entire tour group is made up of aging ex-hippies reminiscing about their Woodstock days. Or finding herself drawn to the guide, Julian, who is secretly haunted by a tragedy of his own, and seems to disapprove any time she tries something remotely risky—like an impromptu scooter ride with a local man.
As they explore the hilltop towns of Tuscany, Mamie knows that when this blissful excursion is over, she’ll have to return to reality. But when you let yourself wander, life can take some interesting detours . . .
Novelist Sharon Struth believes you’re never too old to pursue a dream. The Hourglass, her debut novel, is a finalist in the National Readers' Choice Awards for Best first Book. Her next release, SHARE THE MOON-Book one in the Blue Moon Lake Novel Series-is published by Kensington Books/Lyrical Press.
She writes from the friendliest place she’s ever lived, Bethel, Connecticut, along with her husband, two daughters and canine companions. For more information, including where to find her published essays, please visit sharonstruth.com or visit her blog, Musings from the Middle Ages & More at www.sharonstruth.wordpress.com.





The Opening Bell Three Seconds to Legend Book 1 by J.B. Garner Book Tour and Giveaway!


The Opening Bell
Three Seconds to Legend Book 1
by J.B. Garner
Genre: Sports/Wrestling Romance, Adventure
WHEN THE OPENING BELL RINGS, A NEW RING LEGEND BEGINS!
Leilana Ito always knew her family had a long history in the wrestling world but she never knew how much had been kept secret from her. Wanting to continue her family's legacy in the ring, she was shocked when her father adamantly refused to let her proceed. Unable to deny the fighting spirit in her heart, Leilana did the unthinkable and defied her father's wishes, having no idea what terrible series of events she had begun.
Dana Harding was in the twilight of her wrestling career, striving for one last chance at glory in the regional circuit. Despite juggling two children as a single mother and the hard life of the road, Dana had one last chance to win championship gold and thought she would do anything to attain that. Every dirty trick in the book was on the table, as long as it took place in the squared circle.
Now, in the heart of Oklahoma, the rookie with an unknown past hunting her and the veteran heel with nothing to lose are about to meet in the ring. Their clash will bind them and wrap them up in corporate machinations, family rivalries, and secrets of the past coming back to life to threaten both women and everything they hold dear.
In the midst of it all, will Leilana succumb to her family's past or find the strength to follow her dreams? Will Dana stay the infamous heel or discover something in her heart she didn't even know she had?

The Tale of the Tape
Three Seconds to Legend Book 2
LOST LOVES AND DEADLY LABORS, ALL ARE TOLD BY THE TALE OF THE TAPE!
Nothing remains constant in the tumultuous world of pro wrestling! On the eve of their victory over the most powerful family in the wrestling world, Leilana Ito and Dana Harding look forward to a bright future but that perfect ending is snatched away when Leilana disappears. Desperate to find her, Dana starts a country-wide search, spurred on by both friendship and something stronger: love!
Meanwhile, Leilana faces a gauntlet of rigged matches, hidden spies, and psychological torture as a 'guest' of the Von Richters in Los Vegas. Trapped in a city where anything goes, money talks, and no one asks questions, Leilana puts it all on the line in a ring where each match could be her last.
The clock is ticking. Can Dana find the woman she loves before it's too late? Can Leilana endure each deadly labor long enough to be saved? Even if they find each other, will Dana find her love to be reciprocated or unrequited?

The Twelfth Labor
Three Seconds to Legend Book 3
At the end of the championship quest, there lies the final match: The Twelfth Labor!
Hardened by a gauntlet of challenges, wrestler Leilana Ito is a rookie no longer as she nears her ultimate goal: completing her labors and winning freedom from the Von Richter sisters, mistresses of the wrestling world.
However, the storm is fiercest before the calm and Leilana's most dangerous challenges lie ahead. Fearsome opponents, devious traps, and lies from all sides threaten to put an end not only Leilana but her friends and family. Joined by fellow wrestler and newfound love, Dana Harding, and a motley alliance of allies, Leilana struggles on towards her greatest fight, the final duel, the Twelfth Labor!
The Twelfth Labor is the no-holds-barred conclusion to the pro-wrestling action/adventure drama of Three Seconds to Legend!
J. B. Garner was born in Baltimore, MD on December 1, 1976, the youngest of three children. While still young, the family moved to Peachtree City, GA. His parents always encouraged his creative side and J. B. began writing and drawing from an early age. Though considered talented by his teachers, he never fully applied himself and bounced through high school and into college at the Georgia Institute of Technology. During his freshman year, his father died suddenly.
Grief and lack of purpose caused J. B. to drop out of school. If not for a few close friends, he might have dropped out of life as well. Taken in by his friends and given a second chance, J. B. matured, applied himself, and finally, after over a decade of hard work, is now back to doing what he loves the most: writing.





#LearningtoBreathe #EllieMasters Learning to Breathe by Ellie Masters is now available!

LTB Teaser 1

☆¸.•*¨*★☆The Collective ☆¸.•*¨*★☆

Learning to Breathe is now LIVE!!!

Learning to Breathe - A second chance at love story

#EllieMasters #LearningtoBreathe

★☆ Buy Link ★☆

books2read.com/LearningtoBreathe

★☆ BLURB ★☆

WORK. EAT. SLEEP. REPEAT.

Since her husband’s death, Sally Levenson’s life has become dull and monotonous. She’s the county Coroner, and while the dead reveal their secrets on the exam table, she hides from the living. But hiding isn’t working anymore. Sally is trapped in a bland, colorless existence. She can't breathe! She's suffocating and wants more, whatever that might be. When the dark and mysterious Derek Lemark enters her world, he opens doors to new possibilities, reveals dark desires, and challenges her to take a second chance on life. He dares her to breathe again, and promises...more. But what he offers comes at a price. Sally must choose: take the next step, or speak the one word which will end everything before it even begins.

☆¸.•*¨*★☆ Bonus Content ALERT! A newsletter mini-series will unfold in The Collective Newsletter. To see how the story unfolds you must sign up for the newsletter. ☆¸.•*¨*★☆

http://eepurl.com/cBkqKn Teaser 1

★☆ What readers are saying ★☆

"You know that book that you are all into and you can't turn the pages fast enough? That is this book." - Amazon Reviewer

"WOW, this story..... I felt my heart pound faster and I couldn't catch my breath throughout the book." - Amazon Reviewer

"Have you ever experienced grief? Grief so tremendous it paralyzed you in fear at the thought of moving on? Living day to day going through the motions but knowing there had to be something more? In Learning to Breathe, Ellie Masters tells the captivating story of Sally, a woman who has suffered great loss and has hidden herself from the world, her feelings, and life – and Derek, a confident, rich man who knows exactly what and who he wants. Derek opens Sally’s eyes to new, exciting, sexy and unconventional things. Their relationship taps into passion and hidden desires deep within Sally that she never knew existed. But it all comes at a cost. Will she choose this new life that brings her great pleasure or retreat once again to the familiar, safe, mundane, and unimaginative life she led before? As part of The Collective, Ellie has written a beautiful story with strong characters. I loved this story –a definite must read." - Amazon reviewer

Teaser 2

★☆ Excerpt ★☆

YOU WANT A SNEAK PEEK AT " LEARNING TO BREATHE"??
The light streaming in from the hallway dimmed and a man’s chuckle drifted to her ears. It did strange things to her insides. Yummy things.
She spun around. “Derek!”
He spread his arms out, welcoming her into his embrace, and his expression was one of wonderment. “My God, you’re stunning.”
Heat filled her cheeks. She was hoping for a good but stunning would do. Then she smiled, shifting her eyes down and to the left. She couldn’t look at him and speak at the same time.
“You look pretty amazing too.” But she did peek, lifting her gaze up to take him in.
Decked out in a tuxedo, the immaculate suit barely contained his muscular frame. Crisp and pressed, the bow tie wrapped snuggly around his neck. He carried himself with ease, as if he’d been born in the elegant attire. Incredibly brilliant blue eyes flashed with mischief.
“You’re staring, Miss Levenson.”
And she was. She couldn’t help herself. He was a magnet, an irresistible force she couldn’t resist, but his words had her lowering her eyes again, as if she didn’t dare stare upon his brilliance.
“Don’t make fun of me,” she said.
He closed the distance, and placed one finger under her chin. Lifting, he forced her to meet his eyes. “I’m not laughing, my dear. I’m simply enjoying the fact I’m not the only one caught breathless. I’ve missed you.”
Derek placed his hands on her bare shoulders, steadying her in the too high heels. Two glasses of wine shouldn’t have her weaving on her feet. Or was that him making her weak in the knees?
He took her lips, smothering her in a kiss, taking her breath, and making it his. Her tiny gasp gave him the opening he needed to slip his tongue inside, and like any other invader, he plundered and ravaged, taking what he desired. She bent before him, conquered by his power and more than willing to sacrifice herself to his need.
Tracing the hardened muscle under his tuxedo became her sole purpose in life. As wonderfully intoxicating as the kiss was, it frightened her because of how uninhibited her response was. It didn’t make sense. While the rational side of her brain said slow down, her hand fluttered, and her fingers gripped the buttons of his shirt, pulling him closer rather than pushing him away.
This was what she wanted. Right? Unrestrained passion? But, she needed to play a little hard to get. Otherwise? How would he ever respect her?
Derek groaned, a deep throaty rumble of desire. The noise made her heart race, or maybe it was the kiss. His tongue darted around her mouth, teasing and tasting. He nibbled her lower lip, eliciting a moan from her, and sucked it into his mouth.
Wine had nothing to do with her knees giving way. Derek wrapped an arm around her waist and held her against him, making her feel safe. He didn’t even break the kiss, continuing the pillage of her mouth. Damn, he had this kissing thing down.

★☆ STALK LINKS ★☆

Follow Ellie Masters
Sign up for the Ellie's Newsletter
for special announcements and EXCLUSIVE bonus content.
Teaser 3

★☆ The Collective ★☆

☆¸.•*¨*★☆Welcome to The Collective ☆¸.•*¨*★☆
Riley Edwards, Erin Trejo, Ellie Masters, Elias Raven, Chris Genovese, Carver Pike
"This crossover series is a huge win for all the authors involved. Don’t miss any of the releases. Each book will pull you in, leave you wanting more while you teeter on the edge of your seat with suspense." AmazonReviewer
We’ve set the stage, created the characters, and fashioned a world full of twists and turns. Now it’s your turn to sit back and immerse yourself in this incredible series. Each episode weaves the characters and storylines of five standalone novels together to give you an epic crossover series. We’ve left you breadcrumbs, tidbits of information intertwined throughout our stories. Can you find them? Can you collect the clues we’ve left behind? Will you become part of The Collective and help solve the case?

★☆ Collective Links ★☆

Email – thecollectivenovels@gmail.com
Newsletter sign up – http://eepurl.com/cxCJFb
*Featured authors in order of appearance- AVAILABLE NOW
Riley Edwards –http://bit.ly/UnbrokenPartOne Erin Trejo – http://bit.ly/IronClawMC Ellie Masters – http://bit.ly/LearningtoBreatheOne PRE ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW Elias Raven – http://bit.ly/ShadowandFlame Chris Genovese –http://bit.ly/QuillandDaggers
*Release Schedule and Series order
Episodes 1 - 5
LIVE: Riley Edwards –http://bit.ly/UnbrokenPartOne LIVE: Erin Trejo – http://bit.ly/IronClawMC LIVE: Ellie Masters – http://bit.ly/LearningtoBreatheOne May 16th: Elias Raven – http://bit.ly/ShadowandFlame May 30th: Chris Genovese –http://bit.ly/QuillandDaggers Episodes 6 - 10 Riley Edwards 6.13.17 Erin Trejo 6.27.17 Ellie Masters 7.11.17 Elias Raven 7.25.17 Carver Pike 8.1.17

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