The Star in the Meadow by Carla Kelly Book Tour!

"A romance in the middle of a really good Western novel."
- Roundup Magazine

THE STAR IN THE MEADOW

Carla Kelly

Series: The Spanish Brand, Book 4
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Camel Press
Publication Date: February 14, 2017

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Will Marco choose love or duty?

Marco Mondragón and his wife Paloma are living hectic but happy lives at the Double Cross, on the edge of Comanchería. Five years after the death of Comanche leader Cuerno Verde, cautious diplomacy between the tribe and the colonists is underway to end Comanche raids into New Mexico. Paloma's time has been fully consumed by her two toddlers and newborn son and Marco's by spring planting.

The Seven Year Audit of 1784 arrives and with it comes auditor Fernando Ygnacio. After years of incarceration for a crime he did not commit, Señor Ygnacio is a broken man. Although his daughter Catalina is bitter about his mistreatment by his superiors, her storytelling abilities captivate the household, including a frequent visitor from the nearby presidio, El Teniente Joaquim Gasca, who has been undergoing his own reformation from rascal to leader.

Unknown to him, Marco has peculiar enemies plotting his downfall. When Paloma and Catalina set out on a visit to Marco's sister, meant to give Paloma relief from her busy life, the women are kidnapped. Devastated, Marco is torn between love and duty. He yearns to search for his wife, but feels bound by colonial duties to accompany his friend Toshua to Río Napestle, where Comanches have gathered to debate the region's fragile peace. In his absence from the Double Cross, will Joaquim Gasca and Toshua's wife Eckapeta be able to find the missing women?

Carla Kelly’s writing is masterful, and I can wholeheartedly recommend this whole series, and I believe you would enjoy each book more if you read them all. STAR IN THE MEADOW is a stellar conclusion which will reside on my keeper shelf.
- Roses Are Blue Blog

I love this series... Carla Kelly is my favorite modern author... She writes from accurate historical research and facts…plus the lady knows how to weave romance into her stories for my girly-side!"
- Patti, Goodreads Reviewer

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Other Books by the Author

Don't miss the other books in The Spanish Brand series by Carla Kelly.

	THE DOUBLE CROSS Series: The Spanish Brand, Book 1 In the royal colony of New Mexico, 1780, Marco Mondragón is a brand inspector living next to the fierce Comanche. On a trip to Santa Fe, he meets Paloma Vega and rescues her from cruel relatives. He vows to find out if they stole the brand belonging to her parents. Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords "Carla Kelly's vivid storytelling plunges the reader into a tense, hypnotic tale of love and courage in The Double Cross." - Diane Farr, bestselling author, Regency Romance and Young Adult fiction
	MARCO AND THE DEVIL'S BARGAIN Series: The Spanish Brand, Book 2 Marco and his wife Paloma fight the scourge of smallpox by bravely venturing onto the Staked Plains, stronghold of the Comanche. As part of a devil’s bargain, they must put themselves at the mercy of these dangerous enemies and try to inoculate them. Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords "Though I didn’t read The Double Cross first, I still managed to fall head over heels for Marco and Paloma. That is a good testament to Ms. Kelly’s amazing writing." - Alexandra Anderson, All About Romance
	PALOMA AND THE HORSE TRADERS Series: The Spanish Brand, Book 3 At the end of the 18th century in the Spanish Colony of New Mexico, Marco and Paloma face a new threat to their ranch. To defeat Great Owl, a renegade Comanche, they form a ragtag army that includes a ghost from Paloma’s past. Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords "This book will take one’s breath away with the deep, emotional romance and highly likable characters." - RT Reviews

Giveaway

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Be one of three lucky winners:
$15 Gift Card (Amazon or Barnes & Noble)
2 x print copy of The Star in the Meadow

Contest runs from May 16 - June 5, 2017.

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About Carla Kelly

A well-known veteran of the romance writing field, Carla Kelly is the author of thirty-seven novels and three non-fiction works, as well as numerous short stories and articles for various publications. Carla’s interest in historical fiction is a byproduct of her lifelong study of history. She has a BA in Latin American History from Brigham Young University and an MA in Indian Wars History from University of Louisiana-Monroe.

Official website: http://www.carlakellyauthor.com

Social media links (Camel Press Books): Facebook | Twitter

Tour Schedule

Follow the book tour from May 16 - June 5, 2017.

Get sneak peaks, excerpts, fun facts and other never-before-published info on The Star in the Meadow.

Click here to check the latest tour schedule.

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Bound By Steel by Connie Lafortune Book Tour and Giveaway!

Bound By Steel

by Connie Lafortune

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Lyra Harper

I was driving home to spend the holidays with my family.

But I lost control of my vehicle on an icy mountain road.

I slammed into a tree on the edge of Lake Lucerne.

I barely remember writing my name on the frosted windowpane.

The darkness had swallowed me whole.

I spiraled toward oblivion.

When I awoke from the gloom

I found myself in an old log cabin

With the devil’s eyes piercing fiercely into mine.

Ryker Steel

Up until four days ago, my life was tedious and tiresome.

Until, I rescued a dainty girl with golden hair and hazel eyes.

She looks just like the one I’m trying to forget.

Now my life has turned upside down and inside out.

You see, I inadvertently revealed my true identity.

Now, she can never leave.

We will live in hell, until we take our last breaths, together.

Lyra was the one who insisted on playing the game.

But I have a gut feeling, I will be the one to lose…

Goodreads * Amazon

Connie is a true believer in love conquering all... This being the reason why she loves writing romance novels. She wants to create a story based on strong, believable characters. One's that will make you laugh, cry and feel every emotion under the sun. Connie wants to leave you breathless and begging for more...

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and giveaways!

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The Songbird Novel Collection Blitz!

The Songbird Novel Collection

By Melissa Pearl

Melt your heart romance and sizzling chemistry infused with soul inspiring music. Follow three best friends in this set of coming of age novels that will make you fall in love.

BOXSET #1:

FEVER

When Ella starts at her new college in Chicago, she never expects her morning shower song to be interrupted by a luscious male voice from over the wall. Her solo is turned into a duet that has her questioning everything about her current life and relationship. Can the voice of one mysterious man redefine her future or will she once again let fear win and remain in her secure bubble of safety?

BULLETPROOF

Morgan's and Sean's passion for dance and music will bring them together, but will their relationship be able to withstand the forces determined to pull them apart? As Morgan comes face-to-face with her long-buried demons and Sean decides just how much he's willing to risk for love, these two songbirds discover something...they're not as bulletproof as they thought.

EVERYTHING

Jody and Leo both had big dreams, but life had other plans. Jody must kiss goodbye her chance at singing on a Broadway stage in order to raise her baby, while Leo is forced to wave goodbye to a marriage that had barely begun. As these two burned hearts wrestle to overcome their past struggles, Leo and Jody must decide which dreams are worth clinging to...because, sometimes, everything you want is not everything you need.

HOME

Stuck in small town America, Rachel jumps at the chance of fame when a Hollywood agent offers to make her dreams come true. Leaving behind her boyfriend, Josh, she turns her back on the only constant she's ever known. But Rachel quickly figures out that some sacrifices are not worth the risk. Is she too late? Will Josh forgive her, or has her desire for fame ruined the best thing she’s ever had?

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

BOXSET #2:

TRUE LOVE

When best friends sleep together their relationship is ripped apart, threatening the future of their band. Nessa's escape from Jimmy's “morning after” rejection ends in a tragic motorcycle accident. Trapped in a broken body, she must adjust to life without the one thing she relies on to survive - playing the drums. Meanwhile, Jimmy is on a mission to make up for his mistake and win Nessa back.

TROUBLEMAKER

The prom queen reluctantly takes a job working for the geeky guy who crushed on her in high school. But five years has changed him. It doesn’t take long until she finds herself battling an overwhelming attraction and falling for the one man she swore she’d never date.

ROUGH WATER

A few weeks into their marriage an unforeseen tragedy strikes Justin and Sarah, bringing their lives to a screeching halt. Justin is wracked with guilt while Sarah tries to deal with her own sadness. As the couple silently drift apart, they end up in a situation neither are sure they can recover from. Can they find their way back to the place they were before? Or is wedded bliss just a fairy tale?

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

BOXSET #3:

GERONIMO

Having lost the love of her life in a fatal accident, Jane’s on a mission of self-discovery. She leaves for England to return to the place it all ended, in the hopes of figuring out how to negotiate life on her own. What she doesn’t expect is to meet a hunky Brit who presents her with a surprising proposition.

HOLE HEARTED

When a nephew she never knew existed is dumped in her lap, Cassie ignores her doubts and takes him in. Feeling way out of her depth, she reluctantly enlists the help of her nephew’s assigned counselor…a man who seems impossible not to fall in love with. Can three strangers from completely different worlds create an unlikely family? Or are the hidden holes in their hearts too big to heal?

RATHER BE

When estranged best friends bump into each other four years after their relationship fell apart, they must face the fact neither of them are where they want to be. Can one road trip change their lives all over again? And do they have the power to fight the odds that tore them apart in the first place?

If you like books that can make you laugh out loud, shed a few tears and finish with a dreamy smile on your face then The Songbird Novels are meant for you.

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

GIVEAWAY

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Written In the Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt Book Tour!

Written In the Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt

Publisher: Harper Collins (Nov. 29, 2016) 
Category: Historical Fiction 
Tour Dates: May-June, 2017 
ISBN: 978-0062673688 
ASIN: B01CY3A8X4 
Available in: Print & ebook, 554Pages 

 

"Written in the Ashes is one of those rare novels that sets 'history' afire, to bathe readers in the glow of a greater, hotter truth. Fans of The Mists of Avalon will find this romantic/alchemical/feminist/spiritual epic equally captivating."—Tom Robbins, bestselling author of Tibetan Peach Pie: A True Account of an Imaginative Life, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. and Villa Incognito 

In the bloody clash between Christians and pagans in fifth-century Alexandria, a servant girl becomes the last hope for preserving peace in this evocative and thrilling tale—a blend of history, adventure, religion, romance, and mysticism reminiscent of The Mists of Avalon. After she is abducted from her home in the mountains of Sinai, Hannah is enslaved and taken to Alexandria, where she becomes the property of Alizar, an alchemist and pagan secretly working to preserve his culture. Revered for her beautiful singing voice, the young slave is invited to perform at the city's Great Library, where she becomes friends with the revered mathematician and philosopher, Hypatia, as well as other pagans who curate its magnificent collections. Determined to help them uphold pagan culture and traditions, Hannah embarks on a dangerous quest to unite the fractured pieces of the Emerald Tablet—the last hope to save the pagans and create peace. On this odyssey that leads her to the lost oracles of Delfi and Amun-Ra and to rediscovered ancient cities and rituals, Hannah will experience forbidden loves, painful betrayals, and poignant reunions. But her efforts may be in vain. Returning to Alexandria, Hannah finds a city engulfed in violence, even as her own romantic entanglements come to a head. Now, it's not only her future, but the fate of all Alexandria that is at stake.

Praise for Written In the Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt

“In her captivating debut novel, Written in the Ashes, K. Hollan Van Zandt brings to life a fascinating and forgotten woman of history: Hypatia of Alexandria, who may have been one of the greatest female minds of all time. If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to walk the streets of long ago Egypt, then look no further. You will be enthralled!”– Michelle Moran, international bestselling author of Nefertiti and Cleopatra’s Daughter

“Van Zandt’s vivid description of the Great Library instantly transported me to a lush fifth century Alexandria. Her lyrical writing style and breakneck storytelling kept me riveted to the very last page.”– Robin Maxwell bestselling author of The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn and Signora da Vinci. 

"Going back so far in time leaves an author with little written record to rely on for fact. The burning of the Great Library at Alexandria was a monumental loss to humanity. The facts of the matter aside, this novel was truly arresting and I had a hard time putting it down to get anything done. Ancient history fascinates me. Religion fascinates me. This book manages to tie both together in a story that resonates through time. The book was fascinating. The characters were well developed and I really didn't want to leave this world of ancient Alexandria. The imaginary, magical priests and the beautiful goddesses created by Ms. Van Zandt lent themselves to a mystical world that was quite believable within its context. As the story unfolded I was rooting for Hannah to fulfill her destiny and find peace with her past. I am looking forward to the next chapters in these characters lives."-Patty Woodland, Broken Teepee

WRITTEN IN THE ASHES

K. Hollan Van Zandt

Chapter 2

So.

It was Tarek who bought the girl in the agora.

The slave traders had set her on the block, long dark hair swept in front of her shoulders to hide the ugly gash across her chest, wrists bound so that she could not feel her fingers. The humiliation stung worse than a field of nettles.

Another bidder, an older gentleman with a gilded cane, eyed the girl on the block with her young plump bosom and her long limbs, checking her teeth and running his hand down one of her sinuous arms, then smacking her hip as if she were a horse and clutching her breast in his hand. She spit in his eye. The slave traders kicked her to her knees.

Tarek had been on his way to see a whore, one of the many nameless beauties he preferred. They were to meet beside the city fountain. He had not intended to stop in the market, but he wanted to buy a flute. His was broken. All women love a flute, and he wanted where flutes lead. But instead he saw the trembling girl on the trader’s block, and her eyes reached for him and pleaded beauty he had never seen. He forgot the flute and counted his coins.

He knew Alizar would protest. But those eyes. Perhaps he could purchase her and keep her all the same. The mind that wants can reason anything.

Hannah stood in her soiled clothes before a hungry crowd that surged against the block. She was the last to be sold. Her captors had done well. The pretty girl with brown eyes had gone to the wealthy bawd of a brothel on the wharf. The mother and daughter as chattel to a decorated captain on his way to Rome. Hannah was left. Their prize. She was illiterate, but of extraordinary beauty, and the one was worth twice the other. And then there was her talent. Oh, yes. She would bring them a handsome coin.

Sing, beauty.

She sealed her lips.

A knife was pressed to the small of her back.

Sing.

Her lips parted.

Twenty solidi.

Fifty.

Seventy-five.

Then a skinny boy with a tangle of dark hair dismounted and led his horse through the crowd, waving a bag of coins. One hundred solidi.

Sold.

After surrendering his gold coins to the slave traders, the girl was shuttled from the trader’s block and pushed into the hairy arms of a blacksmith who swiftly bound her neck in a bronze collar that read the name and address of where to return her should she escape. His fiery clamp hissed in her ear as metal found metal, and it was done.

The boy took her hands in his, and the cool dampness of them disgusted her; he had fish where hands should be. She looked away.

“You will come with me,” he said. “My name is Tarek. I will take you to a bath and a good home. My father’s home. Alizar of Alexandria.”

Hannah heard the Greek like some new melody. She did not know the meaning of the words but could feel the warmth within them. If this stranger offered some protection, then she would stay with him until he slept, and then escape to find her father. And so she allowed herself to be led, limping barefoot across the cobbles, her toes swollen and bloody from miles of walking the road.

Tarek’s regret at spending the money gnawed holes in his gut where certainty should have been. This girl would eat and drink and cost his father’s house, and there might be upheaval. The money he had paid for her was to go to supplies for the vineyard: a hundred amphorae, a new grape press. Tarek considered other options: he could have been robbed, there were more and more priests demanding bribes, maybe he was swindled by the ceramicist. Better to say nothing. Hide the girl in his room. Give her mending to do and keep her a secret until, until . . . he found some believable excuse.

Tarek guided her through the market district just outside the Jewish Quarter along the narrow alleys that spiraled around a small hill, atop which stood the skeleton of a massive temple library once called the Serapeum. The ruins were flanked with marble statues of Isis kneeling all along the periphery, most of them missing heads or bearing broken wings. At the center of the courtyard stood a tall black column twenty-six meters in height, six meters in diameter, and crowned with the porphyry statue of Diocletian, a ruler now forgotten. It was a latrine for beggars now.

As they wound deeper into the labyrinth of the city, Hannah began to loose her footing. She struggled to hold her head up as a sudden faintness came over her, and the heat surged upward in her blood. Her limbs became heavy and tired. Then her knees buckled.

Tarek cursed her; she could not cost so much only to die.

About K. Hollan Van Zandt

Kaia Van Zandt is a celebrated author and teacher whose novel, Written in the Ashes, chronicles the events that led up to the burning of the Great Library of Alexandria, Egypt. Kaia’s spiritual journey began at age 14 when she founded the youth division of the Humane Society of the United States. Then as a junior in high school, she traveled to the Earth Summit in Brazil, where she taught meditation, and was given the opportunity to work with world leaders on the challenges facing humanity and the planet today, an experience that profoundly influenced her work. She’s a graduate of Antioch University, where she focused on the intersection between the ancient Goddess traditions and modern culture. Her fascination with healing-both personally and collectively – led her to yoga. During her career she’s worked with thought leaders like Marci Shimoff and Deepak Chopra, actors like Ashley Judd, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Garry Shandling, as well as Sony ImageWorks, UCLA Medical, and the San Francisco 49ers. Her beloved writing mentor is bestselling novelist/humorist, Tom Robbins.

Website: www.kaiavanzandt.com

Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/Kaia-H-Van-Zandt-62326196268/?business_id=1527166044253916 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaiaVanZandt 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaiavanzandt/?hl=en 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbpNRBX9k7z1bJndQ2a4Rgg

Buy Written In the Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt

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Written In the Ashes Web Tour Schedule

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus May 19 Interview & Giveaway

Celticlady's Reviews May 22 Excerpt

Room without Books is Empty May 30 Review

Passages to the Past May 31 Review & Giveaway

Books, Dreams,Life June 1 Review & Excerpt

Second Book to the Right June 2 Review

The Book Diva's Reads June 5  Interview

Rainy Day Reviews June 7 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

History from Woman's Perspective June 8 Review & Guest Post

Between the Beats June 16 Review

Secret Pearl Reviews June 23 Review

Lisa's Writopia June 26 Guest Post

Amazon Reviewer June 27 Review

Caty Amazon Reviewer June 28 Review

The Other Side of Dusk by Cherime MacFarland Release Tour!

THE OTHER SIDE OF DUSK

Eilan Water Trilogy, book 1
by Cherime MacFarlane

Seraphina’s Vengeance by Sheena Hutchinson Book Tour!

Seraphina’s Vengeance
Sheena Hutchinson
(Seraphina #3)
Publication date: July 2017
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

One year ago, Seraphina’s entire world seemed to have dived into a mythical land over night. She’s somehow even gotten used to the madness of it all. But what happens when the craziness stops? Things become quiet… too quiet.
She should have known better, Sera should have known that things weren’t as quiet as they seemed. After one of the best nights of her life, Sera is forced into this treacherous journey to save one of her loved ones.
But following the path of evil begins to take its toll on Sera. As she struggles with her own internal dilemmas, Nate starts to take matters into his own hands. When this unseen world finally begins to affect Sera’s emotions and her relationship. Can she hold it together to save her loved ones? Will love conquer all? Or will it turn her evil… forever?

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Previous books in the series:

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Author Bio:
Sheena is a born and raised New Yorker, even her writing can't seem to hide her hard sarcasm. She claims destiny has lead her back to her true passion for writing.
She constantly strives to be a positive role model and writes stories that empower and inspire. Sheena always roots for the underdog, believes in love at first sight, and that everyone should have their happily ever after.
While God is currently still writing her love story, she continues to put all her effort into her writing as she is constantly getting new inspiration.
For more info, updates, and fun facts visit her website at www.SheenaHutchinson.com

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