Knight of Rapture by Ruth A.Casie Spotlight with Gift Card Giveaway!!

Please join Ruth A. Casie as she tours the blogosphere with HF Virtual Book Tours for Knight of Rapture, from March 30-April 10, and enter to win an eBook & $25 Amazon Gift Card.


Publication Date: March 30, 2015 
Self-Published eBook 
Series: Druid Knight Series, Book Two 
Genre: Historical Romance

   

 He crossed the centuries to find her… For months Lord Arik has been trying to find the right combination of runes to create the precise spell to rescue his wife, Rebeka, but the druid knight will soon discover that reaching her four hundred years in the future is only the beginning of his quest. He arrives in the 21st century to find her memory of him erased, his legacy on the brink of destruction, and traces of dark magick at every turn. A threat has followed to take away all they hold dear—forever… Bran, the dark druid, is more determined than ever to get his revenge. His evil has spread across the centuries. Arik will lose all. Time is his weapon, and he’s made sure his plan leaves no one dear to Arik, in past or present, safe from the destruction. But their enemy has overlooked the strongest magick of all… Professor Rebeka Tyler is dealing with more than just a faulty memory. Ownership of Fayne Manor, her home, has been called into question. Convenient accidents begin happening putting those she cares for in the line of fire. And then there’s the unexpected arrival of a strange man dressed like he belonged in a medieval fair—a man who somehow is always around when needed, and always on her mind. She doesn’t know who to trust. But one thing is certain. Her family line and manor have survived for over eleven centuries. She won’t let them fall, not on her watch… in any century.

Buy Knight of Rapture

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More Titles by Ruth A. Casie

Knight of Runes (Druid Knight Series, Book One) The Guardian's Witch

About the Author

Ruth A Casie is a seasoned professional with over twenty-five years of writing experience but not necessarily writing romances. No, she’s been writing communication and marketing documents for a large corporation. Over the past years, encouraged by her friends and family, she gave way to her inner muse, let her creative juices flow, and began writing a series of historical time travel romance novels. When not writing you can find her home in Teaneck, New Jersey, reading, cooking, doing Sudoku and counted cross stitch. Together with her husband Paul, they enjoy ballroom dancing and, with New York City close by, going to the theater. Ruth and Paul have three grown children and two grandchildren. They all thrive on spending time together. It’s certainly a lively dinner table and they wouldn’t change it for the world. Ruth is a Trustee and on the Executive Board of Shelter Our Sister (SOS) in New Jersey. SOS is Bergen County’s only shelter for victims of domestic violence. She frequently speaks at various functions around Bergen County on behalf of the Shelter. For more information visit Ruth A. Casie's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Sign up for Ruth A. Casie's newsletter.

Excerpt

The lingering threads of the night’s mist faded, burned away by the morning sun. Like a cozy down blanket pulled from a bed, the retreating haze revealed the thriving village and farms. The quiet valley would soon come to life as farmers started their daily chores, the villagers opened their shops, and his soldiers took to the practice fields. Arik’s chest swelled. Was it a sin to be proud of all they had accomplished? He would do anything for them, anything to protect their hearths and homes. The thought of his other responsibilities sent the few lingering thoughts of Bran fly out of his mind like a retreating hawk.

He closed his eyes. “As above, so below. As within, so—“ He took a deep breath and caught the faint scent of lavender and roses. The teasing fragrance announced Rebeka was near. Her morning appearance, with his tankard of watered ale, had become part of the ritual. “…so without,” he continued the rite. “May guidance and love mark our way. And bring success for our clan today. So mote it be.” He opened his eyes.

“The day looks promising.” Rebeka’s voice brought a smile to his lips. She tugged her shawl closer around her shoulders. “M’lord.” Soft puffs of breath surrounded her mouth, a testament to the morning’s chill. She handed him his discarded shirt and waited while he shrugged into it before handing him his tankard.

“Yes. It will be a good day.” It was always a good day when it started with her at his side. “Almost as good as last night.”

Her gaze slid over his broad chest up to his face. Her searing expression brought back the warmth of the past evening’s passion. The flush of her skin was her unspoken response.

He returned his gaze to the valley pretending a deep interest in the smoke now rising from a distant chimney. Faith, how he loved sparring with her.

Knight of Rapture Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 30 
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews 
Spotlight at What Is That Book About 
Tuesday, March 31 
Review at Book Nerd 
Guest Post at Mythical Books 
Thursday, April 2 
Spotlight & Excerpt at 
Griperang's Bookmarks 
Friday, April 3 
Guest Post at I Heart Reading 
Monday, April 6 
Spotlight at Genre Queen 
Friday, April 10 
Review at Back Porchervations 
Spotlight at Historical Fiction Connection

Giveaway!

To enter to win an eBook of Knight of Rapture & a $25 Amazon Gift Card please complete the giveaway form below. – Giveaway starts on March 30th at 12:01am and ends on April 11th at 11:59pm EST. – Must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open internationally. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner will be notified via email. 

Knight of Rapture eBook + $25 Amazon Gift Card

Betrothed, Magic Matched Series by Lola White Spotlight!

Betrothed, Magic Matched Book 1

Lola White

Genre: paranormal romance/suspense

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Date of Early Release:  March 27, 2015

Date of General Release: April 24, 2015

Word Count: 93,000

Available at:

Totally Bound: www.totallybound.com/betrothed

Betrothed Synopsis

In witching society, magic and politics are the only things that matter, and marriages are arranged for advantage rather than love.

But neither Ileana Lovasz nor Eliasz Levy are looking for love. Humiliated by a string of broken betrothals, Ileana only wants freedom from her manipulative grandfather. Eliasz simply wants an alliance with Ileana’s brother Silviu, a man rising through the witching ranks. That is, until the Lovasz woman arrives at his home and stirs up emotions he’d never thought to feel.

Silviu has bigger things on his mind than his sister’s marriage. Georgeanne Davenold, Silviu’s betrothed and the key to his rise in power, is back in his life after a ten year separation that left her distrustful of his intentions. Their union is a novelty, spanning the divide between Matriarchal and Patriarchal Families. Their union is also alarming, combining the influence and magic of two witches only heard of in myth and legend.

Ileana, Eliasz, Silviu and Georgie must build an alliance that will help them all get what they want but, with too many lies and too many enemies, the game they’re playing turns deadly. When the two women come under attack, neither Silviu nor Eliasz knows which is the target. They only know they will protect the women their hearts have claimed as their own, even though that means defying the traditions of witching society, risking every goal they hold dear and confronting the dangerous members of their own families.

Magic Matched Synopsis

The Magic Matched series tells the story of Silviu Lovasz and Georgeanne Davenold, two witches with a power only told of in myth. In witching society, there is a strict hierarchy, Family covens are ruled by Mothers or Fathers who hold the bulk of their bloodline’s power and archaic rules are enforced, disregarding modern sentiments. Magic and politics are the only things that matter, and marriages are arranged for advantage rather than love.

Silviu and Georgeanne have been betrothed since the moment of Georgie’s birth. When Silviu’s father learned a baby was to be born under the Bane moon, he reached across the Schism dividing the covens into matriarchal and patriarchal houses to the Davenold Mother, with a bold scheme to place their children at the top of the witching hierarchy. With Silviu wielding the enhanced talents of a Reap witch, he is the perfect match to Georgie, an abomination without magic who should have been killed at birth because of her defects. The only way to protect themselves against those who fear them enough to kill them, is take a position of leadership.

But they can’t reach the top alone. Reuniting after a ten-year separation that left Silviu aching with loneliness and Georgie distrustful of everyone who claims to love her, they begin building strong alliances. Silviu’s siblings, Costel and Ileana, and Georgie’s cousins, Adam and Christiana, are instrumental to their plans. But not all family members are worthy of their trust and the closer they get to their goals, the more dangerous some witches prove to be.

Silviu and Georgeanne must learn to open their hearts to each other in order to unlock their full magical potential. But with all that stands in their way – archaic traditions, murder plots, and a betrayal that threatens all they can be – they will need the group of allies they have built to help them navigate the dangerous world of witches, and the dark magic stalking them every step of the way.

Excerpt

“Georgeanne Davenold is now old enough for me to do exactly as I wish to her, without her Family’s interference.”

Vasile stared at his son for a long moment, leaving Silviu feeling weighed and measured, evaluated in a way he’d grown used to, years before. It still wasn’t easy to keep calm under the silver stare.

“Don’t lose your head, my boy. This isn’t some female to take without consideration.”

Silviu hefted a brow. “I’ve never had any complaints.”

Vasile scowled. “You put your damned heart on your sleeve and you’ll lose every advantage you’re likely to gain with that girl. She’s been molded in Madeleine’s image. Do not underestimate her.”

“That’s exactly what you want, Father. A woman as strong as Madeleine. Her entire life has been arranged by you for that very reason. She was always meant to be Madeleine’s second reign.”

“And your first, but she’s your weakness,” Vasile spat, abruptly leaning forward in his chair. One rigid finger drilled into his desktop, emphasizing his point. “I don’t know what the hell it is about her, but I could see it the moment you met. Do not jeopardize all we’ve worked toward for a female who will never allow you to be her weakness. She has her own agenda and, with the sole exception of that Beltane night, she’s never given us any reason to think she would be willing to put it aside to please you!”

Surprise held Silviu for a breathless moment, a hideous vulnerability sweeping over him at how easily his father had read him. He cleared his throat with effort. “We both want to lead the covens. What makes you think her agenda wouldn’t match mine, if properly explained to her?”

“You won’t win the heart of a matriarchal female,” Vasile countered. “You’re too…male, for any of them. So, don’t even bother to try.”

Silviu hid the fear spearing through him by slouching back in his chair, a deliberate insouciance that was all that ever truly fooled his father. “I know. It’s a political alliance, not a love match.”

Vasile lost some of the tension in his shoulders. “Only Georgeanne can unlock your full potential, only she can provide a conduit for all the magic that should rightfully be yours. Together, you could join the Families, power from both sides of the Schism. Just think! You will rule with your combined power over all the covens.”

“Just as you wanted, Father.”

With one last searching glance, Vasile shifted back in his chair, a crafty gleam sparkling in the depths of the eyes he finally turned on his daughter. “Eliasz wants you.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she scoffed. “He doesn’t even know me.”

Vasile shook his head. “There is no earthly reason why the powerful Levys would want to ally themselves with our Family except Eliasz’s lust. We aren’t politically relevant.”

“But that will change,” Silviu said.

“Yes, but no one in the Levy Family knows the extent of my plans.” Vasile raised a brow at Ileana. “You will do everything in your power to keep Eliasz’s attention and win his heart. Do you understand me?”

Ileana’s eyes went wide. “Throwing me into Eliasz’s bed, then?”

Vasile pointedly eyed the tiny skirt riding high on his daughter’s thighs. “Are you going to tell me you’re a virgin?”

“I won’t tell you anything on the matter at all, Father.” Ileana cocked her head. “What makes you think this time will be any different from before? Grandfather is going to find some reason to pull back from this alliance.”

Vasile’s hard face went rigid. A low growl ripped from his throat. “The old fool has no idea how much he’s cost this Family. He is the reason we have no power in the witching world, but so long as he wields the magic of our bloodline we have no weapon strong enough to bring him down.”

“We need this alliance,” Silviu said, turning to take Ileana’s cold fingers and squeezing gently. He tried to give her comfort, hope. For so long, they’d been each other’s support in the face of their Family’s machinations. “The Levys are no joke, Iley. This one will go through.”

“You can’t promise that,” she argued.

“We’ll do our best.” Vasile rapped his knuckles against his desktop. “But you’ll have to do your part, girl. Wrap that man around your finger. I know you can do it. You can be very charming when you put your mind to it. People naturally like you.”

“Convince him to elope with me, perhaps?”

“If need be, yes.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Silviu glanced at his sister, the sudden calmness in her voice sounding alarms in his skull. She only used that tone when she was about to challenge the archaic, patriarchal rules they were forced to live by.

Vasile seemed unaware as he moved on to his favorite subject—intrigue. “Now, as for the meeting with the Levys, I will expect very specific things from both of you.”

It was nearly the witching hour before they were given permission to leave their father’s presence, lectures and orders still ringing in Silviu’s ears. When he slipped out into the cold hallway, he shut the study door behind him carefully, calmly and with complete control.

Only then did he lean back against the wall, close his eyes and let a shudder born of too many emotions to fully contain roll through him. Tension and intrigue fell from his shoulders, making him feel half his weight, now that his father’s focused gaze was no longer resting on him.

“Now’s your chance, Silver,” Ileana whispered.

He nodded. “And yours. We will both be bolder than we’ve ever dared before.”

“I’ll give it everything I have,” she promised.

Dragging in a deep breath, gathering his cracking armor of calm around him once more, Silviu set off toward his bedroom, making his own plans for Georgeanne Davenold that had nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with pleasure.

Author Bio

Lola White writes what she writes, which is erotic fiction. Sometimes horror, sometimes paranormal, sometimes romance. It’s all sexy, but never predictable because she likes to twist reality at its edges in her stories. She likes delving into the emotions of her characters, finding their strengths and weaknesses, and seeing (and showing) how they get themselves out of whatever trouble has found them—if they can. Don’t try to label her collection of tales beyond the most basic description, EROTICA, because she writes whatever story comes to mind, whatever speaks to her. She’s certain something in her library will speak to you, too.

Find Lola Online

Blog: http://www.lola-white.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lola-white.1690

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorlolawhite

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorlolawhite

Twitter: @steamyreadslist  https://twitter.com/steamyreadslist

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/lolawhite

Tumblr: www.authorlolawhite.tumblr.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/lola-white

Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lolajwhite

Angels at the Gate by T.K Thorne Book Tour!

Please join author T.K. Thorne as she tours the blogosphere with HF Virtual Book Tours for Angels at the Gate Blog Tour from March 23-April 17, and enter to win your own hardcover copy!

Publication Date: March 5, 2015
Cappuccino Books
Formats: eBook, Hardcover
Pages: 368 
Genre: Historical Fiction

   

 Based on historical, biblical, and archaeological research, visits to the Middle East, and a large measure of creativity, ANGELS AT THE GATE is the story of Adira, destined to become Lot’s wife. A daughter of Abram's tribe, Adira is an impetuous young girl whose mother died in childbirth. Secretly raised as a boy in her father’s caravan and schooled in languages and the art of negotiation, Adira rejects the looming changes of womanhood that threaten her nomadic life and independence. But with the arrival of two mysterious strangers – Northmen rumored to be holy or possibly even “Angels” – Adira’s world unravels. Raiders invade the caravan, and she loses everything she values most – her father, her freedom, and even the “Angels.” Caught between her oath to her father to return to her tribe and the “proper life for a woman” and tormented by an impossible love, she abandons all she has known in a dangerous quest to seek revenge and find her kidnapped “Angel.” With only her beloved dog, Nami, at her side, Adira must use the skills she learned in the caravan to survive the perils of the desert, Sodom, and her own heart. ANGELS AT THE GATE is a story of adventure and the power of love, exploring themes about choice – the importance of asking the right questions and walking the fine edge between duty and personal freedom. Based on a simple mention in the Bible, T.K. Thorne has developed a complex and full-bodied character in the wife of Lot, a woman both ancient and modern, who will touch readers’ hearts, and live in their memories for years to come. As Dianne Mooney, founder of Southern Living At Home says, “For all those whose curiosity is piqued by how it might have been in the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, this is a must read!”

Praise for Angels at the Gate

"ANGELS AT THE GATE is nothing short of a masterwork–superbly and eloquently written, solidly researched and a high-speed page-turner. Readers will be swept up in a story they can't put down." –Elsa D. Ruther, editor,The Nifty Pickle “A masterpiece of historical research, interweaving history and theology in a re-visioning of an ancient story from a woman’s perspective. Thorne is a dazzlingly gifted writer.” –Sue Walker, Poet Laureate of Alabama, 2003-2012 “Thorne unspools an ancient adventure with crackling undertones of our contemporary lives. Lean, polished action sequences render a young woman’s life with both intensity and nuanced truth.” –Dale Short, public radio commentator and author of A Shinning, Shinning Path

Buy Angels at the Gate

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About the Author

T.K. Thorne’s childhood passion for storytelling deepened when she became a police officer in Birmingham, Alabama. “It was a crash course in life and what motivated and mattered to people.” When she retired as a captain, she took on Birmingham’s business improvement district as the executive director. Both careers provide fodder for her writing, which has garnered several awards, including “Book of the Year for Historical Fiction” (ForeWord Reviews) for her debut novel Noah’s Wife. Her first non-fiction book, Last Chance for Justice, was featured on the New York Post’s “Books You Should Be Reading” list. She loves traveling, especially to research her novels, and speaking about her books and life lessons. She writes at her mountaintop home, often with two dogs by her side and a cat on her lap. She blogs at www.TKs-tales.com and her web site is www.TKThorne.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads. Sign Up for T.K. Thorne’s newsletter.

Angels at the Gate Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 23
Review at Genre Queen
Spotlight at Flashlight Commentary
Wednesday, March 25
Review at Quirky Book Reviews
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
Thursday, March 26
Review at Room With Books
Review at Unshelfish
Friday, March 27
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Review at Broken Teepee
Saturday, March 28
Spotlight at What Is That Book About
Tuesday, March 31
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Thursday, April 2
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Monday, April 6
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views
Thursday, April 9
Spotlight at I'd So Rather Be Reading
Monday, April 13
Spotlight at Historical Fiction Connection
Wednesday, April 15
Review at Book Nerd
Thursday, April 16
Review at Griperang's Bookmarks
Friday, April 17
Blog Tour Wrap Up at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

To enter to win a Hardcover copy of Angels at the Gate please complete the giveaway form below. Five copies are up for grabs! * Giveaway is open to US residents only. * Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on April 17th. * You must be 18 or older to enter. * Only one entry per household. * All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. * Winners will be chosen via GLEAM on April 18th and notified via email. Winners have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. * Please email Amy @ hfvirtualbooktours@gmail.com with any questions. Angels at the Gate

Rundown by Teresa Michaels Spotlight with Giveaway!

Rundown

Curveball Series #2

by Teresa Michaels

Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

 

Synopsis

Breanne Sullivan never expected to find love again. Allowing herself to move on wasn’t easy, and now it may be too late. Determined to give herself a second chance, she will go to any lengths to prove her love to Drew. If only she could find him.   Desperate to numb his heartache in the wake of Breanne’s rejection, with something other than women and booze, Drew Scott packs his bags for the West Coast. Distance and a fresh start are just what he needs to heal the wounds caused by the only woman to ever captivate his heart.   But when the past and present collide in an unexpected way, Breanne and Drew quickly learn that things aren’t always what they seem. Caught between solving the mysteries that haunt them and getting the happily ever after they deserve, the two once again find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that could destroy them both.   Answers come at a dangerous price. Sacrifices must be made in order to protect the ones they love. Can Breanne prove her love to Drew before its too late? Or will opposing forces interfere and destroy any chance of them having a future together?

Meet the Author

Teresa Michaels lives in the New England area with her husband and children.  Curveball is her debut novel.

 

 

Giveaway

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The Acheron Deception by Patrick F.Rooney Review!

About the Book     

A CIA agent recruits a Wall Street securities trader to help her track down a surreptitious nest of terrorists manipulating the stock market in this decade-spanning espionage thriller.

It begins in 1987, when the prevailing winds of Glasnost have caught the Russian leadership by surprise... catapulting the confusion caused by the impending breakup of the Soviet Union to new levels. For KGB agent Mikhail Volkov, the chaos provides something else altogether-An opportunity to steal four nuclear weapons from a Russian test facility. 

Sean McGowan, a software engineer in the securities industry, has come a long way from the trailer park where he grew up in New Mexico. He leads an exciting life now, with wealth, influence, and the company of beautiful women, until Volkov comes after him to expropriate his ultra-fast derivatives trading program. 

CIA Agent Beate Nicholson recruits Sean to help her track down financiers manipulating the stock markets. But first they must use their computer skills to thwart a massive cyber-attack against the world's banking system perpetrated using a multi-player gaming platform. 

Sean and Beate's collaboration leads them to the doorstep of a rogue's gallery of sinister figures, including white-collar jihadist Rahim Delacroix—who wreaks revenge against the infidels that killed his family; and the mysterious John Napoleon, leader of the Protectorate—an environmental syndicate committed to saving the planet by seizing control of the world's resources. 

Sean and Beate watch in helpless disbelief as terrorists strike Europe. Can they connect all the dots in time to collar the villains before they inflict even more destruction?

About the Author   

Patrick F. Rooney worked as a computer engineer building defense, Internet, business, and marketing solutions for three decades while he pursued his passion for writing. He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and lived in Texas and Virginia for several years before he moved to Colorado. He plays music with friends as a hobby when he isn't writing or traveling.

http://www.patrickrooneyauthor.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Patrick-F-Rooney/e/B00ICNGI0S/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

My Thoughts

Every so often I love to read a good spy kind of novel. A good novel has to have characters that you can relate to, a story that is believable and the writing shows that research was extensively done. I found all of that and more in The Acheron Deception. Someone is manipulatting the stock markets and due to circumstances beyond control, Sean McGowan, a software engineer who works at a securities company is recruited by the CIA to aid in the investigation to find the terrorists who are planning on a cyber attack on the stock market. 

There are a lot of characters in this story, but it is easy enough to follow along as to who is who and who is doing what to whom. A fast paced, page turning juicy novel that will thrill fans of Robert Ludlum or Tom Clancy. Very enjoyable! I loved it for the fast paced suspense that just kept on going until the end. I see a sequel in the making! I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy for review and was not monetarily compensated for said review.

Claddagh & Chaos by Cayce Poponea Spotlight

Claddagh & Chaos

Shamrocks & Secrets Series #2

by Cayce Poponea

Publication Date: April 11, 2015

Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

 

Synopsis

Shamrocks left us with Patrick posing an intriguing question. What exactly happened during those twenty five years? We know that they got their happily ever after, but how did Patrick and Christi get there? Could love have a shelf life?  

Meet the Author

Cayce Poponea currently resides in Southern Georgia, with her three dogs and wonderful husband. A true romantic at heart, she writes the type of fiction that she loves to read. When she isn't setting behind her computer screen, creating yet another heart stopping, page turning novel. You can find her enjoying down time with her family.

 

Visiting the Sins by Melanie Denman Spotlight!

Book Details:

Book Title: Visiting the Sins by Melanie Denman
Category:  Adult Fiction, 244 pages
Genre: Women's fiction, Southern fiction
Publisher: Word Association Publishers
Release date: January 2015 (Second Edition)


Content Rating: PG-13 + Mature (The majority of the content is humorous and suitable for all adult audiences, but it does contain dark themes of suicide, adultery, addiction, an out-of-wedlock birth, and an explicit (but funny) discussion of male genitalia. There is occasional bad language. There are evolving attitudes about race, including use of the "n-word".)


Book Description:

Set in the Bible Belt of Deep East Texas, Visiting the Sins is a darkly funny story about mothers and daughters, naked ambition, elusive redemption, and all the torment it's possible to inflict in the name of family.

Down through the decades, the lofty social aspirations of the feisty but perennially dissatisfied Wheeler women -- Pokey, the love-starved, pistol-packing matriarch; Rebanelle, the frosty former beauty queen turned church organist; and Curtis Jean, the backsliding gospel singer -- are exceeded only by their unfortunate taste in men and a seemingly boundless capacity for holding grudges. A legacy of feuding and scandal lurches from one generation to the next with tragic consequences that threaten to destroy everything the Wheeler women have sacrificed their souls to build.

About the Author:

Melanie Denman is a native of Nacogdoches, Texas and a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University. An eighth-generation Texan, and a former banker and cattle rancher, she currently lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she is working on a second novel.

Connect with Melanie:  Website  ~  Facebook  

Hometown Girls Book Blast!

Life for Marissa Lou was great. She was a popular senior in high school with great friends and an even greater boyfriend. She was on top of the world. That was until she made the greatest sacrifice of her life. Daniel and Katie both loved Marissa Lou but neither of them could deny the intensity of their growing affection for one another, no matter how hard they tried to fight it. Being the selfless person she was, Marissa Lou gave Katie and Daniel her permission to date. Little did she know it would be the first day of a hellish nightmare. One where, in her depression, she falls from grace and gets mixed up in a life she never would have expected. With a growing addiction she fights to right everything that went so wrong, but will it be too late? 

Release date: March 30th, 2015

 Buy on Amazon 
             Crushing Hearts 

About the author:

Tressa Messenger grew up in a very small town in Eastern North Carolina called Reelsboro in a coastal county called Pamlico. Being as it was such a small area Tressa developed an immense imagination at a young age. That is where she harnessed her love for writing. To date Tressa lives in New Orleans Louisiana with her husband, daughter and an assortment of critters.   As a young writer Tressa has overcome adversity of Dyslexia and continues to exceed expectations.

Follow Tressa: FaceBook | Twitter | Website

  The author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card in celebration of the new release! Giveaway ends April 12th at 11:59 EST. Open World Wide.

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Deliciously Savvy Candy Giveaway with Elaine's Toffee Company and INSTACANDI!

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PLUS a Big Thank You To All Other Blogs Working To Promote!

 

1 LUCKY WINNER Will Receive

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1 Lucky Winner will receive a 1 Pound Box of Elaine's Toffee Milk or Dark Chocolate Toffee with Almonds

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Tales to Count On by S.R. Mallery Spotlight and Excerpt!

About the Book

Curl up and enter the eclectic world of S. R. Mallery, where sad meets bizarre and deception meets humor; where history meets revenge and magic meets gothic.  Whether it’s 500 words or 5,000, these TALES TO COUNT ON, which include a battered women’s shelter, childhood memories, Venetian love, magic photographs, PTSD fallout, sisters’ tricks, WWII spies, the French Revolution, evil vaudevillians, and celebrity woes, will remind you that in the end, nothing is ever what it seems.

Praise for the Book

“Brilliant… I stand in awe of S.R. Mallery’s ability to cobble something riveting out of so few words. I can’t recommend this book enough!” ––Dianne Harman, The Coyote Series, The Cedar Bay Cozy Murder Mystery Series

"S. R. Mallery takes you on a truly unique, visual journey through time and place, with her imaginative tales and unusual endings, stirring up the reader's curiosity and compassion."                                                              -- Lasher Lane, Deadlight

“Poetic, startling, S. R. Mallery’s TALES TO COUNT ON will stun you into silence by the outcome of these inventive stories and their elegant endings with a twist.” 

   ––D.K. Cassidy, Spilt Milk, Curious Reality

AUTHOR BIO:

S.R. Mallery has worn various hats in her life. First, a classical/pop singer/composer, she moved on to the professional world of production art and calligraphy.
Next came a long career as an award winning quilt artist/teacher and an ESL/Reading instructor. Her short stories have been published in descant 2008, Snowy Egret, Transcendent Visions, The Storyteller, and Down In the Dirt.

Read an Excerpt

GOOD ADVICE 

When the first call came in that evening, Julia was more than ready. Strategically placed in front of her, her fresh pile of blank intake questionnaires served as the cornerstone to an array of pens, pencils, and resource books. Tools of the trade she called them; open windows to the souls of women crying out for help.

“East Central Women’s Shelter. May I help you?” she asked, glancing at the ‘panic’ button next to her desk. So far, no one had ever had to use it, but being thorough, she had it checked out with the local police once a year anyway, to make sure it still worked.

The voice on the other end had a familiar desperation. “I can’t take it any more! He’s going to kill me!”

Julia assumed her ‘calm’ voice. “First of all, can you tell me your name, address, and phone number?” Taking the correct information was the key. Never rattle the women callers and let them know you’re there for them. Above all, make it clear the shelter is a safe, soothing place.  Continuing, she gently probed and coaxed until she had made complete arrangements for the woman to enter the shelter with her children by midnight.

“God, Julia, you’re amazing!” As always, her intern Barbara was visibly impressed. No one could do an intake like her supervisor. No one.

Julia offered a tight, modest smile and got up to retrieve some coffee from the kitchenette, moving slowly, deliberately, like she had all the time in the world.

“How do you stay so peaceful? I’m so wired when I leave this place,” Barbara admitted.

She enjoyed confessing to Julia; it was a chance to get good advice.  But tonight, Julia obviously wasn’t in the mood.

“Barbara, life’s not perfect,” the therapist muttered as she turned back to her work.

The persistent phone calls swelled into a tsunami of women pleading for their lives. For most people, it could become oppressive, but Julia took everything in her stride. Sympathetic, yet suggestive, she never faltered.

By 12:45 a.m., the needy calls had definitely slowed down. Barbara yawned, and watching her mentor tidy up, said, “Time to go home soon, no?” She had had enough.

“You go on without me. I’ve got a couple of things to do yet,” Julia replied, reshuffling papers on her ultra-organized desk.

In the pitch-black parking lot, Barbara darted to her car. She would have much preferred having Julia walk with her, but her supervisor never went home on time, and tonight was no exception. Sliding into the front seat, her peripheral vision caught something, but when she swiveled left, there was only darkness. I must be getting paranoid, she thought as she shook her head, locked her car door, and flipped on the ignition. Suddenly, images of her comfy bed and a good night’s sleep trumped everything.

Inside the shelter, the clock read 1:12 a.m., and Julia knew it was finally time to go. But it wasn’t until two seconds later when she stood up that she heard the hammer click on the gun.

Pivoting, she faced the man straddling the doorjamb. “Look at me,” he said softly, coldly.

She tried to shift towards the panic button, but her legs wouldn’t move.

“Look at me, Julia,” her husband repeated.  They were the last words she heard.

MY LINKS:

Website/Blog:  www.srmallery.com

Twitter: @SarahMallery1

Facebook:

http://facebook.com/pages/SR-Mallery-Sarah-Mallery/356495387768574

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7067421.S_R_Mallery

Pinterest:  (I have some good history boards that are getting a lot of attention—history, vintage clothing, older films)

http://www.pinterest.com/sarahmallery1/

READERS CAN FIND MY BOOK:

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1x8QqyD

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1121346427?ean=2940151700634&itm=1&usri=2940151700634

Kobo:

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/tales-to-count-on

Skribd:

https://www.scribd.com/book/257903039/Tales-To-Count-On

iBooks:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id974782846

Other works by S.R.Mallery

My Review  http://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/2014/09/unexpected-gifts-by-srmallery-virtual_9.html

My Review: http://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/2014/12/sewing-can-be-dangerous-and-other-small.html