Shadow on the Highway by Deborah Swift Book Blast!

Please join Deborah Swift as she tours the blogosphere with HF Virtual Book Tours for Shadow on the Highway (The Highway Trilogy, Book One), from August 25-September 15, and enter to win your own copy!

Publication Date: July 15, 2014
Endeavor Press
Formats: eBook, Paperback; 200P

Series: The Highway Trilogy
Genre: Historical Fiction/YA (14+)

May 1651. England has been in the midst of a civil war for nearly ten years. The country has been torn in two, and the King is getting ready to make his last stand against Cromwell’s New Model Army.

Abigail Chaplin, a young mute girl, has lost her father to the parliamentarian cause. But with her family now in reduced circumstances, she is forced to work as a servant at a royalist household – the estate of Lady Katherine Fanshawe.

Abi is soon caught up in a web of sinister secrets which surround the Fanshawe estate. The most curious of which is the disappearance of Lady Katherine late at night.

Why are her husband’s clothes worn and muddy even though he hasn’t been home for weeks? How is she stealing out of the house late at night when her room is being guarded? And what is her involvement with the robberies being committed by the mysterious Shadow on the Highway?

‘Shadow On The Highway’ is based on the life and legend of Lady Katherine Fanshawe, the highwaywoman, sometimes known as ‘The Wicked Lady’. It is the first book in ‘The Highway Trilogy’.

Praise for Deborah Swift

“There is no greater compliment than ‘Give me more!’” – Author Susanna Gregory

“realistic dialogue, an author’s obvious love for history, and characters that leap off the pages” – Romance Reviews Today

“genuinely engrossing… with characters you can get interested in” – The Mum Website

Buy the Book

Amazon US
Amazon UK

About the Author

Deborah Swift used to work in the theatre and at the BBC as a set and costume designer, before studying for an MA in Creative Writing in 2007. She lives in a beautiful area of Lancashire near the Lake District National Park. She is the author of The Lady’s Slipper and is a member of the Historical Writers Association, the Historical Novel Society, and the Romantic Novelists Association.

For more information, please visit Deborah’s website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Shadow on the Highway Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 25
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, August 26
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Book Blast at Princess of Eboli

Wednesday, August 27
Guest Post at Reading the Past
Book Blast at Broken Teepee

Thursday, August 28
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Book Blast at Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, August 29
Book Blast at Passages to the Past
Book Blast at What Is That Book About

Monday, September 1
Review at The Maiden’s Court
Book Blast at Reading Lark

Tuesday, September 2
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, September 3
Review at A Bookish Affair

Friday, September 5
Book Blast at Curling Up By the Fire

Saturday, September 6
Book Blast at A Book Geek

Monday, September 8
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession

Tuesday, September 9
Review at Brooke Blogs
Book Blast at CelticLady’s Reviews

Wednesday, September 10
Review at Unabridged Chick
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Thursday, September 11
Review & Guest Post at Just One More Chapter
Interview & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Book Blast at Luxury Reading

Friday, September 12
Review at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Monday, September 15
Review at Historical Tapestry
Book Blast at A Bibliophile’s Reverie

Giveaway

To win a Paperback or eBook of Shadow on the Highway please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Five copies of each are up for grabs. Giveaway is open internationally.

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on September 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on September 16th and notified via email.
Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beast Series by Ella James Part III Special Sale!

http://amzn.to/1welHLt  

RED & WOLFE - PART 1
PUBLISHED MAY 5, 2014
Good Reads | Buy on Amazon

When Sarah "Red" Ryder loses her job as an art critic for a Boston newspaper, she's brokenhearted. Worse than that? She's broke. Her boyfriend recently left her - for a tatted-up hottie with a dick - so she's stuck paying her hefty apartment rent alone. After two months unemployed, there's no money left. With no immediate family to turn to, Red reaches out to her estranged grandmother, a reclusive writer living on an island off the coast of Charleston. Several days later, Red receives $30,000 and an invitation to visit.

James Wolfe is not Red's grandmother. But he beckons her. Red has the ability to give him something he needs. He won't take "no" for an answer, and he doesn't mind screwing her over. He lost his conscience six years ago, when he was tried for the murder of his wife. Since then, life is about him - and the paintings he does under the mysterious pseudonym "W."

Wolfe needs the island to keep painting. To live his life away from prying eyes. To keep up the anonymity of "W."

Once he sees Red, he finds that he needs her, too. And Wolfe will have her. Any way he can.

**The story of Red & Wolfe will be told in three novellas. The next one releases May 21.

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RED & WOLFE - PART 2
PUBLISHED MAY 21, 2014
Good Reads | Buy on Amazon

Return to Rabbit Island for the erotic second installment of Red & Wolfe, the sensual story of exiled playboy James Wolfe and writer Sarah "Red" Ryder. This is an erotic fairy tale inspired by Little Red Riding Hood. The first installment can be found exclusively in the BEND Anthology, for sale on Amazon.com beginning May 5.

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RED & WOLFE - PART 3
PUBLISHED September 8th, 2014 
Good Reads | Buy on Amazon

Return to Rabbit Island with Red & the illusive Rafe for the hottest serial installment so far. I'd bring at least two pairs of extra panties if I were you.

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The Captive Queen by Danny Saunders Virtual Book Tour!

Publication Date: April 24, 2014
CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Formats: eBook, Paperback

Genre: Historical Fiction

Political schemes, religious partisanship and unbridled love shake the Royal Court of Scotland at the end of the Stuart dynasty.

Witness to sordid murders, spy for Her Majesty among the Protestants of the infamous preacher John Knox, forced to give up her one true love, thrown out onto the streets then ruthlessly attacked by a drunkard, Charlotte Gray will do everything in her power to remain the sovereign’s lady-in-waiting.

As for the Queen of Scots, she faces turmoil of a completely different kind: prisoner in a castle under the command of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England, Mary Stuart learns that she is the victim of a vast conspiracy and that her English counterpart has ordered her imminent execution.

Despite their hardships, Mary and Charlotte will keep their dignity throughout the storm. The two women will finally find serenity, one in the arms of a man and the other in the arms of God.

Interwoven with historical facts of the era, the thrilling The Captive Queen saga is worthy of the greatest royal intrigues that still fascinate us several centuries later.

Watch the Book Trailer

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZQvFWzy3L_o

Buy the Book

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CAN
Amazon AUS
Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Danny Saunders is a true European history enthusiast. He has always been keenly interested in royalty. Danny holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and also pursued communication studies at the university level. He has worked as a journalist for various written and electronic media. Of Scottish descent, Danny takes genuine pride in his British roots. The Captive Queen: A Novel of Mary Stuart is his first historical novel.

To find out more about the author Danny Saunders, you can visit his website at www.dannysaunders.com. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

The Captive Queen: A Novel of Mary Stuart Blog Tour 

Schedule

Monday, August 25
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, August 26
Spotlight & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Obsession

Wednesday, August 27
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Thursday, August 28
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Friday, August 29
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Monday, September 1
Review at JulzReads

Tuesday, September 2
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, September 3
Interview at To Read or Not To Read

Friday, September 5
Review & Giveaway at Book Lovers Paradise

Monday, September 8
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Tuesday, September 9
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Wednesday, September 10
Excerpt & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Friday, September 12
Review at Princess of Eboli

Episode 2 of Chronicles of Steele Raven, Free September 8th!

Human life has value. The poor living in the gutter is as valuable as the rich living in a manor. The scoundrel is no less valuable than the saint. Because of this, every life a reaper takes must be redeemed. Raven has lived by this first tenet since she was trained by her father to become a reaper. But since his death, she’s been spending years redeeming the lives she’s taken. By her count, she’s even and it’s time for that life to end. If she settles down and becomes a wife, she might just feel human again. But on the way to the life she thinks she wants, the baron of New Haven asks her to complete a task which she cannot ignore… Just when Raven decides to give up on her life as an assassin, she’s pulled right back in. The Chronicles of Steele: Raven is a steampunk-inspired fantasy set in an alternate universe.

GET IT FOR FREE ON AMAZON

 

Pauline’s Newsletter Sign Up http://eepurl.com/Oe2Fn

Pauline Creeden

Pauline Creeden is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. In her fiction, she creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.

Follow Pauline Creeden: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Blue Effect by Rose Shababy Book Tour!

Blue Brennan is jaded and bitter despite her pinup girl looks and a quick wit. Night after night she scours the Seattle club scene looking for someone or something to fill the emptiness inside. When she meets the mysterious Kasey, her world stops on its axis… literally. He claims she has the ability to control time and stuns her even further when he reveals his own gifts. Blue is inexplicably drawn to Kasey and reluctantly enters his world filled with a new breed of humanity, each with amazing powers of their own. They’re misfits like her, blessed or cursed with powerful abilities, struggling to hide their differences while pitting their powers against injustice. Then the group discovers the existence of a nameless, faceless sociopath with nightmarish powers, and his sights are set on Blue. But Blue and her unique gifts are not only his target, they are also the key to defeating him and saving them all. Now she must race against the clock to harness her own powers and save her new friends. Can she be more than a renegade? Can she be a hero too?

Buy on:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

FaceBook Release Day Party

The best debut novel I’ve read in years. Blue is the type of unique, honest, protagonist usually only experienced in Stephen King novels. The Blue Effect was part Fight Club, part X-Men and sucked me in from the very first chapter to the very last word. Powerfully written with a compelling plot and wicked antagonist. Couldn’t ask for anything more – except the sequel! – Robert Dugoni, NY Times Best Selling Author – My Sister’s Grave

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About the author:

Rose Shababy and her family reside in eastern Washington State. Rose grew up in the Northwest but swears she’s going to move to warmer climates someday. She’s claimed this for over 20 years, however, and has yet to move more than 75 miles away from her mother. Rose has a deep love of all things Star Trek and yearns to travel the heavens, as well as an intense desire to be bitten by a radioactive spider. Unfortunately she sucks at science and math so she hasn’t been able bring her dreams to life, instead living vicariously through books, comics, television and film. She hopes to someday make a million dollars so she can afford to buy her way to the international space station, but she’d settle for being able to fly around the world and leap tall buildings in a single bound. Rose also loves to cook and worked for years in a gourmet Italian grocery and deli where she learned to hone her skills. She prepares culinary masterpieces for her family, but fervently wishes the dishes would wash themselves. Especially now that her dishwashers/children are nearly grown and only one still lives at home. Rose likes to use her free time wisely. For instance, she likes to daydream, will often read for hours until she falls asleep on the couch with an electric blanket and a warm tabby cat curled up on her hip, as well as spending cozy weekend days watching Syfy movies like Sharknado and Mega Piranha with her husband. If Rose were a cartoon animal, she’d prefer to be a wise old owl or a sleek and sexy jaguar, but in reality she’d probably be a myopic mole with coke-bottle glasses. 

 Follow the Book Tour 

 Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Fill out the form below to enter 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Midnight Eclipse by Arial Burnz Spotlight!

Title: Midnight Eclipse (Bonded by Blood Vampire Chronicles #4)

Author: Arial Burnz

Genre: Paranormal Vampire and Shifters

Setting: Historical

Publish Date: November 7^th, 2014

  Book 4 – Shetland Islands, 1734 – Shapeshifting Pirates

 This paranormal adventure contains a sexy vampire and a kick-ass wolf-shapeshifting heroine. It also contains lots of other sexy shape shifters, has strong romantic elements with HOT love scenes, and swashbuckling pirate action.

Broderick MacDougal follows the familiar yearning of his soul to a fierce warrior who is as seductive as a siren at sea – and she is just as deadly. The world of the supernatural opens to Broderick as he not only finds himself in the midst of an ancient war of shape shifters, the devious Cordelia Harley has re-entered his life and has a few of her own surprises.

Born into a hated race of Norse werewolves, Celina Hunter knows all too well the dangers of trusting anyone other than her two brothers. And yet the survival of her family hinges on trusting the strangely familiar Broderick MacDougal, a natural enemy of her kind…yet one her tribe’s Shaman advisors confirm is her soul mate. Enemy or not, Celina slips into the spell of this vampire’s promises of eternal love, gambling with all she holds dear.
 Broderick and Celina are bound by a curse, but having come this far through the centuries, Broderick is not about to risk his chance at having his soul mate for eternity. The price, however, may be more than Celina is willing to pay as there is more at stake than just her immortal soul.  

Add to your Goodreads To Be Read List

 

Learn more about Bonded by Blood Vampire Chronicles

About the Author

Paranormal & Fantasy Fiction Author

I’m an author of paranormal and fantasy fiction, and I love all things magical! My adult stories tend to have strong romantic themes and usually some pretty HOT sex, so I do NOT recommend my adult fiction for anyone under the age of 18. You have been warned! However, my young adult and children’s stories (written as Christine Davies) are more than suitable for younger readers. Those stories are also fantasy fiction. I love to create detailed worlds and very layered plots, creating the type of books I love to sit down before a warm, cozy fire and disappear into another world! I hope you like them, too. Other little tidbits about me that might interest you:

• I am a Desert Storm Veteran – I served 5 years in the US Air Force and was stationed in Germany, England and Turkey. I spent a total of 6 years overseas.
• I am a certified hypnotherapist and the study of psychology is a hobby of mine. (GREAT for character development)
• For a few years I was an actress and did some voiceover work, which I now apply to the podcast I host at pnrradio.com
• I was born in Chicago, Illinois (do NOT pronounce that with an “s” at the end…it is silent! Obviously, that’s a pet peeve of mine…lol)
• My husband and I are planning to retire in Ireland…or at least somewhere overseas.

Connect with the Arial

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads | Google + | Pinterest

Explore Arial’s VIP Club full of extras, discounts and specials.

Click to join Arial’s VIP Club

The Duel for Consuelo by Claudia H.Long Review!

Publication Date: June 2, 2014
Booktrope Editions
Formats: eBook, Paperback

Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: The Castillo Family, Book Two

History, love, and faith combine in a gripping novel set in early 1700’s Mexico. In this second passionate and thrilling story of the Castillo family, the daughter of a secret Jew is caught between love and the burdens of a despised and threatened religion. The Enlightenment is making slow in-roads, but Consuelo’s world is still under the dark cloud of the Inquisition. Forced to choose between protecting her ailing mother and the love of dashing Juan Carlos Castillo, Consuelo’s personal dilemma reflects the conflicts of history as they unfold in 1711 Mexico.

A rich, romantic story illuminating the timeless complexities of family, faith, and love.

Praise for Novels of Claudia H. Long

The Duel for Consuelo: “A fascinating, terrifying window into early 18th–century Mexico and the final throes of the Inquisition. Courage and daring fill every page. The conclusion of The Duel for Consuelo is as heart rending as it is pulse pounding.” -David Perlstein, author of Slick! and The Boy Walker

Josefina’s Sin: “Superb debut. A moving tale of women seeking to balance competing passions of the heart, body, and mind in the lavish setting of a seventeenth-century Mexican court.” -Publishers Weekly

The Harlot’s Pen: “I was in awe of Claudia’s skill with threading such a compelling and captivating story through such a troubled time. She is beyond talented. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this inspiring book. You won’t regret it!” -Kristen @ Pretty Little Pages

Buy the Book

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

About the Author

Claudia Long is a highly caffeinated, terminally optimistic married lady living in Northern California. She writes about early 1700’s Mexico and modern day and roaring 20′s California. Claudia practices law as a mediator for employment disputes and business collapses, has two formerly rambunctious–now grown kids, and owns four dogs and a cat. Her first mainstream novel was Josefina’s Sin, published by Simon & Schuster in 2011. Her second one, The Harlot’s Pen, was published with Devine Destinies in February 2014. Claudia grew up in Mexico City and New York, and she now lives in California.

For more information please visit Claudia H. Long’s website and blog. You can also connect with her onFacebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Other Titles by Claudia H. Long

Josefina’s Sin
The Harlot’s Pen

The Duel for Consuelo Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 25
Review at Book Drunkard
Interview at What Is That Book About

Tuesday, August 26
Spotlight at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, August 27
Review at Library Educated

Thursday, August 28
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Friday, August 29
Interview & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Monday, September 1
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Tuesday, September 2
Review & Giveaway at Beth’s Book Blog

Wednesday, September 3
Spotlight & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Thursday, September 4
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews

Friday, September 5
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

My Thoughts

The Duel for Consuelo takes place in Mexico,  referred to as New Spain, in the 1700's. The Spanish Inquisition had long reaching talons and that is what this book is primarily about, the persecution of Judaism and the people who practiced it. Consuelo is the daughter of Isidro Argenta, Alcade or mayor of Tulancingo who's task it is to take care and protect her mother, Leila. Leila is in the stages of dementia but is also a Jewess who has to practice her faith in secret as Spain persecutes anyone not of the Catholic faith. Consuelo and her father are concerned for Leila's safety.

Consuelo attends the wedding of Joaquin Castillo, a very rich family, mainly so she can see the younger brother Juan Carlos. Of course her father would love to see an advantageous marriage in the Castillo family. Isidro has overextended himself with money lenders and a marriage into this family would help him tremendously. Consuelo is conflicted, duty to her parents or her love for Juan Carlos, which does she choose? She is sent to the Castle of the Carques of Condera to study apothecary with the nuns. While there she not only studies what she loves, but comes under the spell of Leandro de Almidon, in my opinion, a man who is way too arrogant and self serving for his own good. Juan Carlos comes to the castle and Consuelo is conflicted, who does she love? A duel insues, thus the title, A Duel for Consuelo. 

I had not read much in the way of historical fiction that takes place in Mexico and was surprised that the Inquisition and the cruelty of Spain against the Jewish faith was an issue at the time and was not abolished until 1820's. This is a story that is well researched, with political machinations and religious beliefs  being the main part of the story, along with duty, honor and love. This is a relatively short book and quite easy to read. I did enjoy it a lot and highly recommend it.

I received a copy of the book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review. 

Tower of Tears by Rhoda D'Ettore Review!

About Tower of Tears

Publication Date: May 25, 2014
CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Formats: eBook, Paperback

Genre: Historical Fiction

Betrayal. Despair. Murder. Mystery. Romance. Blackmail. “If God be good, Mr. Landon will burn in the eternal flames of hell. If God be bad, he will suffer much worse.” 

In 1820, a young woman and her son leave Ireland for a better life in America. She soon suffers heartache and tragedy, while residing with family whom she has never met. Unbeknownst to her, the family had already set her up with employment in a factory–a factory run by a lecherous man. This is the first book in a series that will follow the McClusky family while they become Americanized while face with the Potato Famine, the US Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution.

READ AN EXCERPT.

National Military Family Association

$1 per sale will be donated, regardless of what format is purchased—ebook, print, audiobook & regardless of site purchased—will be donated to the National Military Family Association. This organization helps families reconnect when the parents return from deployments, as well as helping families with other transitions and keeping the children active while the parents are deployed.

About the Author

Rhoda D’Ettore was born in Woodbury, New Jersey, into a family of 5 siblings–which has provided her with plenty of comical material. She began working at the United States Postal Service at 25 years old, and over the past 15 years has accumulated many humorous stories about situations that the public never gets to know about. Her first ebook, “Goin’ Postal: True Stories of a U.S. Postal Worker” was so popular that readers requested it in paperback. Recently, she published the humorous “Goin’ Postal” in paperback along with another story entitled, “The Creek: Where Stories of the Past Come Alive”. Combining these two into one book may seem strange, as one is humorous and the other is a heart wrenching historical fiction, however, doing so proves to the reader Rhoda D’Ettore’s versatility.

Rhoda D’Ettore received her degree in Human & Social Services while working at USPS, has travelled extensively, and loves history. Over the years she has volunteered for several community service organizations, including fostering abused and neglected dogs for a Dalmatian rescue.

For more information please visit Rhoda’s website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Tower of Tears Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 25
Spotlight & Giveaway at What Is That Book About

Tuesday, August 26
Spotlight & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Wednesday, August 27
Guest Post at Mythical Books

Friday, August 29
Spotlight & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Monday, September 1
Guest Post at Book Babe

Thursday, September 4
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews

Monday, September 8
Interview & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Tuesday, September 9
Review at Griperang’s Bookmarks

Thursday, September 11
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Friday, September 12
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Monday, September 15
Review at WV Stitcher

Tuesday, September 16
Review & Giveaway at Beth’s Book Reviews

Thursday, September 18
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Friday, September 19
Review & Giveaway at Brooke Blogs

My Review

Tower of Tears by Rhoda D'Ettore is  the first  book in the The McClusky Series. As many Irish immigrants in the early 1800's left to seek a better life in America, Jane McClusky and her small son leave Ireland to live with family, while her husband stays behind to save money so that he may join them. Jane was not prepared for what awaits her in America. As soon as she gets there she is told by her cousin Kate that to earn her keep she must work. A job has been procured for her already at the Sparks Shot Tower, which makes lead shot pellets. She finds the long days grueling and she has to continually fight off her employer who wants more than she is willing to give. She is afraid to say anything to anyone about the bosses advances in fear of losing her job. Her cousin Richard also works there and she is also afraid that he would also get into trouble should she say anything. A series of catastrophic events occur where Jane and those around her are thrust into dangerous situations. When her husband does finally join her, he is not the person she knew, he starts drinking and becomes abusive to her. A woman in the 1800's does not have a lot of recourse and must often deal with whatever is her lot in life. In spite of everything, Jane is a strong woman and will fight to protect her and her son. Must be the Irish in her...

This novel has it all, love, family, despair, tragedy, hardship and  even murder to keep the reader turning the pages. The characters are true to life and the plot depicts remarkably how life was for the immigrant leaving all that they have to face the unknown in a strange country. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I received a copy of this book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.