Friday, April 28, 2017

The Flip by Michael Phillip Cash


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michael Phillip Cash will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Five Things You Might Not Know About Michael Phillip Cash


1. My name is Michael Okon and I used to write under the pen name Michael Phillip Cash. I just signed a two-book deal with WordFire Press to publish my novels Monsterland 1 & 2 at the end of 2017.

2. I have a film agent who is shopping around the manuscripts for a film deal. (Just writing that gives me goosebumps).

3. I haven’t eaten bread, rice, pasta or potatoes in 5 years. I have reclaimed my health by going completely zero carb.

4. I research and develop my stories and characters every day. At night, after the wife and kids go to sleep I write my book until the eyes go. I write like this every single day.

5. When I was 19 years old I was driving to pick up this girl I was dating. We had tickets to see Van Halen at Jones Beach. While I was driving, a horse came galloping out of the woods and I hit it head on. It’s OK, the horse was fine, but man that was scary.

Julie and Brad Evans are house flippers. They buy low, clean out the old occupants junk, and try to make a profit. Enter Hemmings House on Bedlam Street in scenic Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Too good a deal to pass up, but with an ominous secret. The old Victorian Mansion has dwellers that do not want to be dispossessed. As the house reveals its past, will the couple's marriage survive The Flip?

Read an excerpt:

Julie started demolition on a bathroom in one of the many bedrooms. She needed to lose herself in some work. She was losing her mind. Images of last night with her husband played like a movie in her head. The bodies were familiar, yet at the same time, they were not. The whole episode had a dreamlike quality, and for now, Julie wasn’t sure what part of what they had done was real or from her imagination. It was better to keep busy, think about things to keep her occupied, so her head wouldn’t explode.

She trudged upstairs and started working in the first of the guest bedrooms. It was an en suite, perfect for a bed-and breakfast. Why couldn’t Brad see that? she wondered. She lifted out the toilet, carefully pulled a rusty medicine cabinet from the wall, and started chopping at tiles on the floor, both of her tiny hands whacking away with a giant mallet. They had decided that nothing was salvageable in this bath. She dragged the fixtures out of the small bathroom to a cleared corner in the bedroom. It was hot. Sweat trickled down her back. She was wearing an oversized T-shirt and yoga pants from Target. She fanned herself, smiling when she thought of the pretty ladies’ fan in her makeshift bedroom. Julie went to the window. The trees surrounding the house were painted amber, red, and yellow. A breeze ruffled the branches, and Julie wanted to air out the stuffy room.


About the Author:
Michael Phillip Cash is an award winning and best-selling author of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels.

He's written ten books including the best-selling “Brood X”, “Stillwell”, “The Flip”, “The After House”, “The Hanging Tree”, “Witches Protection Program”, “Pokergeist”, “The History Major” and “Battle for Darracia” series. Michael’s books are on the Amazon best-seller list and have also won numerous awards. Additionally, he is a screenwriter with 14 specs under his belt. Michael resides on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

“Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island”, “The Hanging Tree”, and “Schism: The Battle for Darracia” has all been named to Foreward Reviews Book of the Year Awards. His newest book, “The History Major”, has been taking readers and reviewers by storm.

If you’d like more information on Michael Phillip Cash, check out his websites:

Website: http://www.michaelphillipcash.com/
Blog: http://www.michaelphillipcash-officialblog.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelPhillipCash
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelpcash
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Phillip-Cash/e/B00CEAC3VS/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Michael+Phillip+Cash?_requestid=111942

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Thursday, April 27, 2017

Rachel's Dream by Lisa Jones Baker



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lisa will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Rachel Kauffman and Jarred Zimmerman seem to have nothing in common. She's the outgoing youngest of a large, close-knit Amish clan, while Jarred is a young veterinarian who trusts the animals he heals far more than he trusts people. However, when Rachel's horse falls ill, Jarred's struggles to save him show Rachel he's a man who cares deeply. And the respect he feels for her gentle warmhearted ways soon becomes an irresistible bond. When Rachel tries to help Jarred reunite with his parents, it's an unexpected blessing..with one complication. If he takes this chance to put his past to rest, it could separate him and Rachel for good. Now, with prayer, love...and her hope chest's small miracles, Jarred and Rachel must find the courage to reconcile their wishes into a joyous life together.


Read an excerpt:

After finishing her chores, Rachel bounded through the open doors and shouted, “Old Sam!”

He looked up from his workbench and smiled. “Rachel, I was wondering how you were. I haven’t seen you for awhile.”

She plopped herself down into the chair opposite him and caught her breath, pushing some loose hairs back under her kapp.

“What’s on your mind?”

She launched into an explanation of her dilemma. As she did so, Buddy whined for her attention, making himself comfortable on her shoes. Automatically, she stroked the canine’s head.

As she related the brief contents of Jarred’s letter, her heart pumped faster to keep up with her desperate words, which started to run together. When she’d finished, she said, “Old Sam, you’ve got to help me. I don’t know what to do.”




About the Author:
Lisa Jones Baker is a multi-published author with Kensington Books. Her debut book of THE HOPE CHEST OF DREAMS series, REBECCA’S BOUQUET, won a Publishers Weekly starred review. A former teacher with a BA degree in French education, Lisa has been on 5 out of 7 continents, is a dog lover. She enjoys positive thinkers, volunteering in her church’s food pantry, and strong female characters.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009288891265
Website: http://www.lisajonesbaker.com



Buy the book at Barnes and Noble, Kensington Press (print, Kensington Press (ebook), or Amazon.

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Claiming the Maverick's Heart by Debra Holt - Spotlight and Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen commenter will receive a $10 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

“He’s back.”

Words Macy Donovan hoped to never hear.

Trace Cartwright was the maverick rodeo cowboy who broke her heart, leaving her on the steps of the church on the eve of their wedding. Now he's returned to build his home and to lay claim to her heart ... again. Macy barely survived the broken heart the first time. Does he think he can walk back into her life and take up where he left off?


Enjoy an Excerpt

All that from just a glance? It was only a swift glimpse, but Macy didn’t need more. The broad shoulders and lean hips hadn’t changed…and neither had the cocky set of the black Stetson. The man was more than a head taller than anyone around him; his straight-backed stature was a distinctive Cartwright trait, as were the green eyes inherited from his Irish mother. Macy couldn’t see his eyes from that distance, but she didn’t need to. They were forever etched in her memory. Wiping first one sweaty palm and then the other on the legs of her jeans, she increased her grip on the steering wheel while her insides continued their gymnastics.

About the Author:
Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers. Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most. She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).

When she isn’t busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure. She read her first romance...Janet Dailey's Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles...and sighs...to all who believe in happily-ever-after’s.

Debra invites you to visit her website at www.debraholtbooks.com. She loves to hear from other aspiring authors or readers via email at debraholtbooks@gmail.com. Twitter is https://twitter.com/DebraHoltBooks and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebraHoltBooks.

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Luke's Redemption by Anni Fife - Guest Blog and Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anni will be awarding $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Five Things You’d Probably Never Guess About Me


I’m a Texas Hold’em Poker Addict
When I lived in the city I was a member of this fabulous poker group. It was made up of ten women, gorgeous, hardworking and loads of fun. The ten of us met monthly, and spent the evening, gabbing, drinking plenty of wine, and playing Texas Hold’em Poker. This went on for several years and most of us became accomplished players. I love the game as much as I love these ladies. It is one of the only things I still miss about living in the city.

I Plot in the Form of Dialogue.
When it comes to writing, I’m a serious plotter and planner. I write detailed outlines, and crazily, fill them with reams of dialogue. Yep, the voices of my characters fill my head and won’t keep quiet until I tap out what they have to say on my laptop. I plan each and every scene before I get down to the real business of writing. The good thing is, most of my dialogue is written, so all I have to do is flesh out the scenes. But the odd thing is, in the middle of writing a scene, a character can stop talking before the scene is finished. Or won’t talk at all. Instead of freaking out, I make efficient use of Cut & Paste, and plop the misbehaving piece of dialogue or section of scene, elsewhere. The spooky thing is, the change is invariably for the better!

I’m Geographically Challenged!

I’m considered a fairly intelligent person and I have an above average IQ, but when it comes to finding my way from one place to another, I’m geographically challenged. I’m not kidding. I get lost in my own back yard. When people try to give me directions on how to get some place, they might as well be talking another language for all the sense it makes to me. The funniest thing is, the more I try and explain this, the more directions they give me, insistent that it’s easy. In the end, I nod and smile, and everything they’re saying floats over my head. Thanks goodness for the arrival of the GPS!

I Like to Meditate
Five years ago I booked a holiday in the rainforests of Thailand. In my excited rush to take advantage of a special promotion, I didn’t realize it was a silent Vipassana Retreat with several hours of strictly scheduled meditation per day. What a shock! But the unexpected can lead us down paths that change our lives in profound ways. After days of meditation, and listening to the song of the gibbons float from the nearby jungle over the lake, my mind stilled. And in this silence I found a clarity of thought hidden from me my whole life. I still meditate today. It keeps me grounded, and forever reminds me of the unique experience gifted to me in the depths of the Thai jungle.

I’m a Sushi Fiend

Another thing I miss from the city are my secret visits to my local Yo Sushi. I loved sneaking out with my kindle, finding a corner table where nobody could accidentally catch sight of me and crash my party for one. I’d order salmon sashimi, avo maki, edamame beans…and a glass of chardonnay. And then a second glass. A good book, a wine buzz, and delicious sushi…my idea of heaven. Or at least one of them!

Chased by her criminal kingpin father, Katya Dalca runs to New Orleans and straight into the arms of Luke Hunter. Sucked into the carnal world of the French Quarter, she succumbs to Luke’s potent sexuality. He not only steals her breath, he steals her heart and the only leverage she has against her father. She is left with no choice except to pick up the pieces and rebuild her life alone.

Undercover DEA agent Luke Hunter thought his newest assignment—recover a stolen flash drive to gain the trust of the Russian mob—was like any other. But his target brings him to his knees, and after one taste of her intoxicating beauty, he's in too deep. Doing his job means walking away, leaving his heart behind with nothing but a promise to reunite. It's a promise he can't keep.

When Katya's past reaches out and her world unravels, her only hope is the one man she is most vulnerable to—Luke.

Read an excerpt:

We pulled into the underground parking at King Security and Luke parked the SUV in line with several other huge black Ford Expeditions. It appeared King Security had its own fleet.

Unable to stop myself, I blurted, “You were with Anna when you were undercover with my father, weren’t you?”

Luke pulled the keys from the ignition. In the deafening silence I didn’t think he was going to answer. Then he turned to me and bit out. “Yes!”

Wow! I didn’t expect him to be so honest. I sat back and folded my arms, tight. Damn, his answer hurt me. “So you make a habit of lying to your women? Being with them while you’re pretending to be someone you’re not? Is that your thing?”

“She wasn’t my woman,” Luke growled. “She was just a woman. She was there, I was there. It was never deep and it sure as hell wasn’t forever. Then it was over, and I made certain she was clear of the investigation. That was it.” He leaned towards me and said impatiently, “That tell you what you want to know?”

“Not even close. You made love to her didn’t you?”

“Hell no!” Luke snarled. “I fucked her. Like I have all the other women in my life. There’s only one woman I ever made love to Katya. And that was you.”

I went rigid, stunned into silence. Luke turned to open his car door. “You didn’t make love to me, Michael did,” I whispered.


About the Author:
Last year, Anni Fife closed the door on a twenty-year successful career in television production, to fulfill her lifelong passion, writing. In the space of one month, she closed her business, packed up her city life and moved to a small seaside village. ‘My writing has always been constrained by client briefs,’ Anni says. ‘Now, I finally have the opportunity to write to the beat of my own heart.’ LUKE’s Redemption is Anni’s debut novel and she hopes you enjoy it as much as she loved writing it. Anni loves to spend hours walking on the beach searching for pansy shells, more hours drinking red wine with her gal posse, and the most hours writing romance novels filled with women you can relate to and men you love to dream about. She is currently working on her second novel, GRAY’s Promise.

Anni is published by The Wild Rose Press.

Join Anni’s Posse and get regular updates and Bonus Treats

Anni’s Website: http://annifife.com/

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Anni’s Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/annifife

EXCITING announcement. New Lower Price for Luke’s Redemption. NOW ONLY $2.99!

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BookStrand, Kobo, iBooks, or The Wild Rose Press.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

The Island Deception by Dan Koboldt


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dan will be awarding a digital copy of the first book in the series The Rogue Retrieval to 3 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Can you tell us a little about the main characters?


I’d love to! The main character is Quinn Bradley, an up-and-coming stage magician out of Las Vegas. At the start of the series, his only dream is to headline for one of the major casinos on the Strip. Then he gets a puzzling offer: half a million dollars for six months on a private assignment. Ordinarily he’d have refused, but they don’t really give him a choice. Luckily, he’s adaptable, and quickly learns that the company’s secret world has a lot to offer. Real magic, if it exists, could give Quinn a huge advantage in his chosen career. And he’s the kind of guy who’s always looking for an angle. He also has a knack for getting into trouble and a slight problem with authority, which keeps things interesting in the other world.

Lieutenant Kiara is the company’s top military official for in-world operations. She also has operational command of the retrieval mission, which is unusual. She’s a veteran with a long history of service to the company, extremely loyal, and sees the world in black and white. Basically, she’s going to get the job done whatever it takes. She comes to the Alissian world with some baggage, since her predecessor – who was lost sea in the early days of the project – was also her older sister.

Ex-Navy S.E.A.L. Paul Logan is Lieutenant Commander’s right hand, and tasked with security on both sides of the gateway. He also trains the mercenary teams who undertake missions in the Alissian world. That means he’s also responsible for Quinn, which he isn’t very happy about. Since the beginning, he’s opposed the idea of bringing a civilian along on what he sees as a purely military operation. He’d never admit this, but part of his reluctance is that he likes Quinn and doesn’t want to see him get hurt.

At the time of his disappearance through the gateway, Richard Holt had headed the company’s Alissian research team for fifteen years. Much of that, he spent in the world itself, studying the people and their culture from the inside out. His intelligence network would impress the American CIA. His defection is not only a loss for the research team, but also makes him the most dire threat they have faced. Because Holt knows Alissia better than anyone.

Veena Chaudri is an anthropologist by training, and she’s just taking over leadership of the research team when the story begins. Richard Holt trained her well, but also left big shoes to fill. Veena has studied the Alissian world for longer than the rest of the research team, but she let Holt handle most of the fieldwork. She must not only prove herself to the retrieval team, but wants to impress her former mentor as well. She’s a more valuable asset than everyone realizes: in all those years that Richard Holt was studying Alissia, Veena was studying him.

What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. But what happens after you step through a portal to another world, well…

For stage magician Quinn Bradley, he thought his time in Alissia was over. He’d done his job for the mysterious company CASE Global Enterprises, and now his name is finally on the marquee of one of the biggest Vegas casinos. And yet, for all the accolades, he definitely feels something is missing. He can create the most amazing illusions on Earth, but he’s also tasted true power. Real magic.

He misses it.

Luckily—or not—CASE Global is not done with him, and they want him to go back. The first time, he was tasked with finding a missing researcher. Now, though, he has another task:

Help take Richard Holt down.

It’s impossible to be in Vegas and not be a gambler. And while Quinn might not like his odds—a wyvern nearly ate him the last time he was in Alissia—if he plays his cards right, he might be able to aid his friends.

He also might learn how to use real magic himself.


Read an excerpt:

Quinn Bradley had finally arrived.

For twenty-six years, he'd dreamed of seeing his name in the neon lights of the Las Vegas strip. Of taking the stage at a major casino there, and joining the ranks of magic's elite. Sigfried and Roy, David Copperfield, Penn and Teller. He'd worked his ass off to get here. Designing his own tricks, performing seven nights a week, building his profile online and on stage.

Even so, as he waited in the shadowy alcove backstage, he fingered the stone pendant on a necklace under his shirt and wished he were more excited about it. Quick fingers and cleverness had taken him a long way, but he couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever have made it happen without help from CASE Global Enterprises. Kiara had made good on her promise, and suddenly Rudy Fortelli was calling--nearly panting with excitement--to tell him that a major casino had a slot open. Just a one-night engagement, but still a big deal. Quinn hadn't even asked what they were offering to pay--he'd just cashed one hell of a big check anyway.

It was the Bellagio, of course. The most iconic casino of them all, the home of Cirque du Soleil and countless other top-notch acts. He should have known. CASE Global never went in for anything but the best.

And now that includes me, I guess.

"Quinn?" a woman asked.

Her voice was quiet, but he'd know the accent anywhere. "Veena! I'll be damned."


About the Author:
Dan Koboldt is a genetics researcher and fantasy/science fiction author from the Midwest. He works for the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he and his colleagues use next-generation DNA sequencing technologies to uncover the genetic basis of pediatric diseases. He has co-authored more than 70 publications in Nature, Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and other scientific journals.

Dan is also an avid hunter and outdoorsman. Every fall, he disappears into the woods to pursue whitetail deer and turkey with bow and arrow. He lives with his wife and three children in Ohio, where the deer take their revenge by eating all of the plants in his backyard.

Website: http://dankoboldt.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanKoboldt
Mailing list: http://dankoboldt.com/subscribe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRogueRetrieval
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dan-Koboldt/e/B00TG5EPOC/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13562729.Dan_Koboldt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dankoboldt

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Thursday, April 20, 2017

Rik's by dhtreichler


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $30 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The entire affair began with sheep brains and falafel -- Saddam Hussein's favorite dish.

It is 1990 and in Baghdad two lovers are separated by the impending First Gulf War. CIA operative Rik Bogart is desperately seeking television correspondent Ingrid Johannson -- but is instead picked up by Saddam’s Secret Police and thrown into Abu Graib -- the Prison of the Dead. Ten years later, he must make a fateful decision after finally reuniting with her -- one that may keep them apart forever. How far would YOU go for your true love?
,br> This iheart-pounding thriller is written by a former international defense contractor who brings incredible realism and thrilling insights into the days leading up to Saddam’s brutal regime downfall and provides a chilling account of life inside the infamous Prison of the Dead.

"It's as much a love story as it is a runaway thriller." Midwest Book Review


Read an Excerpt:

Rik In Abu Graib, the Prison of the Dead -- after 19 months

I fell to my knees and touched the water that beaded up in the dirt of the floor. I set the glass down, carefully and respectfully. I made sure the glass was protected so I wouldn’t spill more accidentally. I then bent down to the water-beaded cup and put my tongue into it. As I broke the tension on the top, real water covered my tongue. I could actually taste the water. It was real! It didn’t taste like mud. It didn’t have the grittiness I’d become accustomed to. How strange such a simple thing could almost overwhelm me.

I heard a voice down the hall. The smiling guard smiled no more. He glanced back at me on the floor. He nodded to me, but the eyes weren’t smiling. I could see the tension around his mouth. My first thought was, he’d just served my last supper.

Maybe Tariq would come tomorrow with the loaded gun to end my days. But the more I thought, the more I realized Tariq wouldn’t waste a perfectly good glass of water. He may have been generous with himself, as evidenced by his favorite charity; but to give someone like me a glass of clean water would have been a total waste of state resources. But like I said, I’d become an expert at analyzing everything from every direction. So, since he wouldn’t waste the water on me, why would he give me clean water but withhold my maggots?


About the Author:
As a defense contractor, award-winning screenwriter and novelist, dhtreichler has wandered the world, visiting garden spots and more. Having lived and worked with our intelligence agents and soldiers, witnessing the conflicts and the turmoil of recent decades, he paints vivid backdrops for his stories. Like him, the men and women he portrays attempt to make sense of our fast-changing world. He has held a lifelong interest in the profound influence of rapidly changing technology on our lives and relationships. Exploring that power (what has changed and what might come) forms an insightful theme of his novels. His stories also reflect the universal desires and fears of real people everywhere.

website http://dhtreichler.com
goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14299861.dhtreichler
twitter https://twitter.com/dhtreichler
facebook https://www.facebook.com/dhtreichlerofficial
Amazon author page https://www.amazon.com/dhtreichler/e/B01CQB45K6/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Buy the book at Amazon.

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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Sheik's Rescue by Ryshia Kennie


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ryshia will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Zafir Al-Nassar knows everything about Jade Van Everett. He's studied the cases she's worked for his family's company and for the FBI. And it's hard not to notice that she's absolutely gorgeous. Teaming up for a routine security detail, Jade is desperate to prove herself and Zafir can't help but admire her determination. But when their assignment turns deadly, it becomes difficult to stay focused on the job. Because although they were hired to protect a Morrocan royal from a trained assassin, Zafir also has every intention of keeping Jade safe and by his side. Forever.

Enjoy an Excerpt

She turned around and walked past him. Zafir watched her and really wished he hadn’t for his gaze couldn’t help but go down to her perky butt that… That was twice he’d been caught by that part of her anatomy. He needed to pull his gaze away, to take his thoughts from the soft, rounded… It took everything he had.

Curves.

He wrapped his palm around the back of his neck as if a stranglehold massage would stop his thoughts. But his hand was only hurting his neck and doing nothing to stop the overwhelming awareness of her as a very attractive female. He wasn’t sure what would help, but physical pain wasn’t doing it. He dropped his hand.

He was unable to drag his eyes from her. Her figure curved in all the right places. He wanted to run his hands over her. He wanted to do so much more.

He couldn’t.

He pushed the thoughts from his mind. They had a case to solve and a client to protect. He turned around, heading for the bedroom. He knew she’d gotten information from Stan, but after what he’d learned, he thought it was time they both sat down and had a long talk with him.

“Damn!”

Jade turned from the kitchen window and as she did, he met the question in her eyes. He stood in the doorway of their client’s room, his fists clenched, all thoughts of passion or attraction forgotten.

“He’s gone.”
About the Author:
The Canadian prairies are my home and while the prairie landscape is blessed with beautiful blue skies, it also has four seasons that come on full throttle – especially winter and because of that I like to travel. Often on those trips, stories are born.

In 2011 I won my city's writing award, and was the first romance writer to do so since its inception. In 2013 my romantic suspense was a semi-finalist in the Kindle Book Awards. Published in historic romance and paranormal romance as well as romantic suspense, in February 2016, my first novel was published by Harlequin Intrigue.

There’s no lack of places to set a story as my imagination and the too long prairie winters may find me seeking adventure. The memories of those worlds both near and far, the words of a stranger, the furtive look one man gives another, often become the catalyst for a suspenseful story with a deadly villain and an intrepid hero and heroine who must battle for their right to love or even their right to live.

When not dreaming of other stories, I can be found scouting out a garage sale or two, dusting off my roller blades or just thinking about the next adventure that may be miles away or in my own backyard.

website: http://www.ryshiakennie.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/ryshiakennie
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.RyshiaKennie/
blog: http://ryshia.blogspot.ca

Buy the book at Amazon, Amazon CA, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, or Harlequin.

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Tuesday, April 18, 2017

The Unlikeable Demon Hunter by Deborah Wilde


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Deborah will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one winner, another winner will win a print copy of the book (International), both are randomly drawn via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Bridesmaids meets Buffy.

The ago-old story of what happens when a foul-mouthed, romance impaired heroine with no edit button and a predilection for hot sex is faced with her worst nightmare–a purpose.

Ari Katz is intelligent, driven, and will make an excellent demon hunter once initiated into the Brotherhood of David. However, this book is about his twin Nava: a smart-ass, self-cultivated hot mess, who is thrilled her brother is stuck with all the chosen one crap.

When Nava half-drunkenly interrupts Ari’s induction ceremony, she expects to be chastised. What she doesn’t expect is to take her brother’s place among the–until now–all-male demon hunters. Even worse? Her infuriating leader is former rock star Rohan Mitra, whose sudden retirement in his early twenties now seems a lot less mysterious.

Convinced that her twin still has a shot at his destiny, Nava hatches a plan to convince the Brotherhood to bring the other Katz sibling into the fold. It’s too bad Rohan’s guarding her so closely that she might not be able to put it into action.

And it’s really too bad Rohan’s exactly what Nava’s always wanted: the perfect bad boy fling with no strings attached, because he may also be the one to bring down her carefully erected emotional shields. That’s as dangerous as all the evil fiends vying for the bragging rights of killing the only female ever chosen for Demon Club–or the one demon in particular out for payback.

Odds of survival: eh.
Odds of having a very good time with Rohan before she bites it: much better.

Enjoy an Excerpt

The maybe-demon from Josh’s alleyway was back, having stopped about five feet away and triggering the motion sensor. What with Josh’s sister trying to kill me and all, he’d fallen off my radar.

Aloe gooped over my fingers, having clutched the frond hard enough to break it, and my terror and an intense curiosity resurfaced. There was no denying his compelling presence. Plus, he had those long lashes that were my Kryptonite. I opened my mouth to scream. Or drool.

He held a finger up to his delectable lips to keep me quiet, circling me with lazy strides, checking me out.

I’d have been offended by the blatant appraisal except under his intense scrutiny, I lit up with an electric zing. I found myself stroking the aloe stalks in an obscene manner. Even knowing he couldn’t see my blush since I was in the shadows didn’t kill my utter mortification at jerking off plant life in not-so-subtextual yearning.

He stalked toward me, his leather jacket rustling with each step.

I held up a hand to stop him, the faintest electric crackle pulsing off my skin.

He didn’t stop, didn’t slow. In fact, he kept up his steady approach until his hand covered mine. My magic shocked us both at his touch. I gasped and shivered as pleasure, not pain, rumbled through me.

Hand still clasped in his, he stared at me suspiciously, instead of in fear, but had I wanted, I could have broken his hold. Not a demon, then? He fingered the thin silver necklace I wore with surprising gentleness, toying with the cute floral pendant dangling off it that read “I will kick you in the balls if I have to.”

“Should I be scared?” Given how he sounded like sex, sin, and salaciousness–the true definition of a triple threat–I decided that yes, he was most definitely a demon.

I met his mocking gaze, my rooted stance and beating heart placing me somewhere between morbid fascination and noping the hell out at warp speed.


About the Author:
A global wanderer, hopeless romantic, and total cynic with a broken edit button, Deborah writes adult urban fantasy to satisfy her love of smexy romances and tales of chicks who kick ass. She is all about the happily-ever-after, with a huge dose of hilarity along the way. “It takes a bad girl to fight evil. Go Wilde.”

website: http://www.deborahwilde.com
twitter: https://twitter.com/wildeauthor
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.wilde1
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16189297.Deborah_Wilde

Buy the book at Amazon.

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Friday, April 14, 2017

Moments by Harmony Kent


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Harmony will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Come.

Take a moment to delve into tales from the dark side, have fun with fantasy, dabble in dystopia, and court danger in a little science fiction.

These tales touch upon death, grieving, war, fresh starts, hope, courage, change, choices, and encouragement.

And then, after all that, you’ll find the poems.

From the lonely echoes of an empty house to the soaring heights of unexpected love and joy and learning to live as free as clouds and water.

For each of us, a moment encompasses a lifetime and, yet, passes in but the blink of an eye. In but a moment, everything can change. And in this very moment, life beckons in all its potentiality.

When the shadows fall, what will you do?

Read an excerpt:

(From the poem Hello)
HELLO?

Sitting at a crowded table
Good food, good friends, good wine
And still a silent tear escapes
The corner of my eye

Surreptitious wipe
Hoping nobody sees
Their sympathy will only
Bring me to my knees

And who could truly understand
This empty chair in which I sit
Or the ache masked by my laughter
Is there anyone there?


About the Author:
Indie Author Harmony Kent is an award winning multi-genre author. Her publications include:

The Battle for Brisingamen (Fantasy Fiction) AIA approved
The Glade (Mystery/Thriller) AIA Approved/BRAG Medallion Honouree/New Apple Literary Awards Official Selection Honours 2015
Elemental Earth (YA Fantasy Fiction)
Polish Your Prose: Essential Editing Tips for Authors (Writing/Editing) New Apple Literary Awards Top Medallist Honours 2015
Finding Katie (Women’s Fiction)
Slices of Soul (Contemporary Poetry)
Interludes (Erotic Romance short stories)
Moments (Short Stories and Poetry)

As well as being an avid reader and writer, Harmony also offers editing, proof reading, manuscript appraisal, and beta reading services. As well as reviewing and supporting her fellow indie authors, Harmony works hard to promote and protect high standards within the indie publishing arena. She is always on the look out for talent and excellence, and will freely promote any authors or books who she feels have these attributes.

For all books available from me, check out my author pages at Amazon UK and Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-Kent/e/B00CO0AR7U

Book Trailer videos: Harmony’s trailers: YouTube
My website: http://harmonykent.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/harmony_kent
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyKentOnline

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Thursday, April 13, 2017

Team Russian by Ally Adams


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ally will be awarding a mobi or ePub copy of Team Russian to 5 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

He’s tall, dark, handsome and athletic and just that little bit mysterious. Star of the Saint’s team, The Russian has had a high profile relationship with a Hollywood director’s daughter for years and now that it is over, he just wants to focus on his sporting career. Due to injury, Carla Brooker’s professional sporting career as a basketballer with the Suns is about to come to an end, but not before she needs a date for her team's gala ball night. When these two sporting hotshots meet, they are more than a good fit, they are made for each other … if they can just file away their history and find a way to be together.

Read an Excerpt

The doors opened and a few of the flight attendants came out, along with a handful of passengers. Buzz was out first and greeted us. He wrapped an arm around Laura and gave me a wink as they left, as though all was forgiven for his prank. Some of the Saints’ crew followed, then the coach, and Lucas who gave Mia a wave and pointed in the direction of the journos. She nodded, knowing he had to give a quick interview first.

Tomás came into sight, greeted us all and left with Alice, and then Nik and The Russian appeared. The Russian’s eyes scanned the area and found mine, and he gave me a smile that would launch ships. He walked towards me, threw his bag over his shoulder and wrapped his spare arm around me, pressing me hard to him, our lips locked. It was so healing, his lips on mine, his skin against mine, just the feel of his strong body encompassing me, and he didn’t stop kissing me. I couldn’t believe it, in front of his teammates and everything!

“Geez, not in public you two, cut it out,” Lucas teased, coming over and giving Mia a showy kiss.

“Get a room, Russian,” Nik added as Sasha threw herself at him, and then we heard the sound of flashes and The Russian released me just a few inches, enough to draw a breath.

“So needed that,” he said. “Hello, Brooker.”

“Hello Russian,” I grinned up at him, admiring his dark eyes and beautiful face. He looked exhausted.

“We need to get home immediately,” The Russian said, slightly breathless. “Let’s go.”

He released me only enough so I could walk, tucking me into his body, ignoring the flashes of cameras. When we got to my car, he threw his bag in the back seat and sat back while I drove, annoying me by rubbing his hand over my leg, and anywhere else he could get access to before I hit him away for being distracting. We hardly spoke, we just wanted to be together, to be near each other.

The Russian hustled me straight into my bedroom, closing my bedroom door with his foot and knocking me onto the bed. When we were settled, he stopped and placed his forehead on mine.


About the Author: ALLY ADAMS is a journalist who lives in coastal Victoria, Australia with her husband and furry friends.

She is a literature major, avid romance reader and writer. Ally freelances for two lifestyle magazines and has just completed her fourth Saints Team novel. She is now looking towards a whole new series!

Ally’s books:

• Team Lucas
• Team Tomas
• Team Niklas
• Team Russian

Connect with Ally at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allyadamswriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/allyadamsbooks

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ally-Adams/e/B00XHS9TJU

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WD7QY53

Reviewers for Ally’s Saint’s books:

“Team Lucas should come with a warning: once you start you won’t be able to put this Saints team novel down until the very end,” Jaymy M

“It was hot, sexy and passionate. I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this novel so much but I did and I love the author even more for doing just that!” Christine, Goodreads

“This is one of the best sports romances I ever read. I have re-read it now a couple of times and each time I fall in love with it a bit more.” Claudia, Goodreads

“So much fun to read. Really, the sometimes funny and witty dialogues between the leads were just amazing. I would have to quote half the book here just to try to give you my favorite examples.” Jeri T. Ryan

“This is a hot, steamy read filled with passion from beginning to end … a great read for readers who love hot guys and hot stories…and women who have a head on their shoulders.” Tonja Drecker

“Ms. Ally had me sold and hostage from the very first page.You need to read the story!” Darlene, Goodreads

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Monday, April 10, 2017

Living in the Shallows by Tani Hanes - Guest Blog and Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tani Hanes will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Five Things You Might Not Know About Tani Hanes


1. I’m fifty-one. And a half lol! Most people think that teen fiction writers are younger, and some are; some are actual teenagers, even. But I’m not. Being a substitute teacher for past fifteen years, however, has kept me “young at heart”, I believe. I still cry over sad songs, and I can still get fluttery when I see a nice photograph of certain beautiful boys in certain boybands. Many people I’ve met online have been shocked to learn my age, which I never try to hide. Anyone can have a teen romance in her. Or him, for that matter.

2. Some of the best moments for me have been when students walked in the classroom and saw that I was there. Their outbursts when this happens include, but are not limited to:

“It’s the sub who swears! Sweet!”
“My favorite sub!”
“My day just got so much better!”
“Oh no, it’s the sub who makes us WORK!”
“Ms. Hanes! Remember me? The one who called you that name that time?”
“It’s the RUBIK’S CUBE sub!”

3. I can solve the Rubik’s cube, as you can tell from above :o)—and I learned back in the dark ages, before the internet; I used a pencil and notebook!! It took nearly four months, and was the best ten dollars I ever spent in my life. I now entertain students of all ages with my prowess.

4. This is not a surprise if you’ve read any of my books, but I LOVE ONE DIRECTION. My students were sometimes surprised by this, as I was known to have cred or whatever, musically speaking; that is to say I knew the words to “The Real Slim Shady”, and was “into” Flight of the Conchords and The Lonely Island. Especially the boys would get sad when they found out I was a major Directioner. The truth is that this says more about the band than it does about me. They are amazing; most of them, anyway. Their music is so good, especially the newer stuff, and unfortunately they’ll never get the credibility they deserve because of the boyband moniker. MITAM should have been nominated for a grammy, not because it was derivative, but because the gestalt of how the songs were written put it way beyond “derivative”. IMHO :o)

5. All seven of the books in the UK Crush series are FINISHED. The later ones need a lot of revising, of course, but the basic story is out there, on paper, so to speak. They poured out of me like water from a pitcher, splashing all over my life and the lives of those around me, unfortunately :o)—so when a reader asks me, “What happens to (insert name)?” I already know, down to details. Not going to tell, of course, but it’s done. And not all of it is good, unfortunately. Into each life a little rain must fall, right? Or a hurricane, in Tink’s case…

Aileen is a bilingual music student with a chronic case of poverty. She gets a dream job as an interpreter for a boy band making a movie in Japan. Having spent her life as a sheltered, shy only child in the rarefied world of classical piano, she is utterly unprepared for this new world, these boys and their frank physicality and openness. Theo, especially, the known playboy and unrepentant flirt of the group, makes her uncomfortable in a way she's never felt before, and ultimately Aileen, or Tinker Bell, as she's known to the boys, has to decide if she's ready to leave the sidelines and become a participant in her own life.

Read an excerpt:

"No, don't do that, little one, not yet."

"I fell, right?" I asked. "Teddy came in, he was drunk, he said—he said some things, you got mad at him—" I looked up at Gethin, "Matty hit him, then I ran over to them and tripped and hit my head on the edge of the table." "What?" Matty exploded. "Tinker Bell, Theo hit you! He was aiming for me, I mean, I assume he was aiming for me—" this with another glare at Teddy, "but he took a swing as he was going down and he hit you in the face, bloodied your fucking nose!"

"Dammit, Matthew, of course I was aiming for you!" Teddy shouted. "Why would I want to hit her? You'd just clocked me in the face! She just got in between us at the wrong moment, and I was going down at the time, that's why I swung so low! Don't you think I'd cut my own arm off before I'd hit her?"

"Actually, I think he hit me in the jaw," I said, again reaching for my face. "Could you take a look?" Geth leaned in, turning my head gently so he could see.

"Jesus Christ, she has a cut, just under her ear, along her jawline, a pretty deep one, too," he said, horrified. "Guess we didn't notice it with all the blood from her nose, but this looks awful." He turned and looked at Teddy, and his silence was worse than any words he could have spoken.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Ronan tearfully to Teddy.


About the Author:My name is Tani Hanes, and I am a 51 year old substitute teacher. Im from central California and am a recent transplant to New York City. The most important things to know about me are that I'm punctual, I love grammar and sushi, and I'm very intolerant of intolerance. The least important things to know about me are that I like to knit and I couldn't spell "acoustic" for 40 years. I've wanted to write since I was ten, and I finally did it. If you want to write, don't wait as long as I did, it's pointless, and very frustrating! FB: http://www.facebook.com/tanihanesauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tanihanes
Website: http://tanihanes.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16028512.Tani_Hanes

Buy the book at Amazon.

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Thursday, April 6, 2017

Never Give You Up by Megan Slayer


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan will be awarding a prize pack featuring a vampire charm bracelet and autographed swag to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Through time, distance and confusion, we will always find each other.

Galen Collins knows who he loves, but the vampire of his dreams, Anders Von, isn’t interested. What’s a vampire to do when he’s been rejected? Go to the clubs for sex. He’ll get Anders out of his mind one way or another. But there’s something wicked on the horizon in the form of a virus meant to wipe out supernatural beings. Forces who hardly know Galen are out to keep him and Anders apart. Will he allow the demons to win, or will he chase Anders to the ends of the earth?

Anders has always had a crush on Galen, but things never worked out right time-wise. Galen is the one vampire to make his emotional heart race. He wants to strip Galen to his core and explore every inch of him. Will Anders take the chance to be with Galen and discover how well they fit together or will the virus take Galen before Anders makes his move?

Read an excerpt:

Anders floored the car and raced to Kynan’s mansion. He followed the directions and couldn’t believe how easily he found the place. At the end of the street named Millionaire’s Row, he located the main gate. He still couldn’t get over how fancy the houses were on the street. He’d never seen such luxury in his entire life.

Once he reached the gate, the doors opened. He hoped the doors weren’t automatic and that someone operated them, but little shocked him now. He drove up the winding paved drive to the house. He gasped when the home came into view.

“Three floors,” he muttered. “Goddess…how many wings? This place is nuts.” He stopped near the front door. “I hope this works.”

A wolf stepped up to the car.

Anders hesitated before opening the door. If Vita trusted them, then he had to move on faith. But he didn’t know the wolf. A vampire joined the wolf, and both stared at him.

The wolf shifted into the form of a man. A very naked man. Anders averted his gaze, although it took everything within him not to stare at the shifter’s dick.

“Hi.” The vampire opened the car door. “You must be Anders.”

“Is this the Laing mansion?” He gripped the handle and didn’t exit the car.

“It is. I’m Padraig. Kynan sent me out here to help you. My partner, Joachim, came along for protection, but he forgot to bring clothes.” Padraig rolled his eyes. “I don’t mind, though. I’d rather him be here in case you pull bullshit.”

“Trust me. I’m not.” He left the vehicle and raced around the back. He opened the passenger door. “Carry Vita. I’ll take Galen. We gotta get them inside.”

“Of course.” Padraig nodded. “We bite, but we won’t bite you.”

Anders glanced over at Joachim. “Thanks?”

Another person stepped onto the porch.

Padraig scooped Vita into his arms. “That’s Kynan. He’s the most powerful of all of us. If anyone can help, it’s him.”

Kynan folded his arms but said nothing.

Anders bit back a groan. He gathered Galen into his arms and hurried after Padraig into the house. He held Galen tighter and winced. The vampire should’ve been heavier in his grasp. His heart bled for Galen. He should’ve been the one with Galen today. He should’ve ignored his better judgement and sucked Galen off at the club. If he’d have done all of that and told Galen he loved him like a friend and maybe more…Galen wouldn’t be sick.


About the Author:
Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

Website http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Blog https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com/
Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

Buy the book at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

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Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Bed of My Truck by Megan Slayer


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The one Carson never thought he’d see again could be the one to save his life.

Carson never expected to see his dog or a man from his past ever again. His ex took Dragon when he left, then carelessly lost the dog. Dragon’s been found and in the last place Carson expected to find him—a vet’s office.

But, the surprises just keep coming.

Carson hasn’t seen Alec since school, but the feelings he had for the man haven’t abated. When he’s reunited with Alec at the veterinary office, Carson’s got to face his feelings.

Includes scenes of spanking, oral sex, anal sex and male-male sex.


Read an excerpt:

The vet turned around and smiled. “You must be Carson Welles. It’s nice to see you.”

I clamped my teeth together to keep from drooling. Eyes the color of the ocean, just enough scruff on his cheeks to cause a light burn during a kiss and those lips. Good thing I had the dog to shield me. I had to get myself under control or he’d call the cops for indecency.

He stuck out his hand. “I assume you can talk.”

I shook my head. “No—I mean, yes I can talk.” My skin crawled. The last man who got to me was my ex, Leon. Fuck. This guy had me forgetting the very manners Mama took years to instill in me.

“I’m glad we got Dragon, here, in when we did. He’s malnourished and needs a dental cleaning.” Dr. Niemi hiked one side of Drag’s jowls up. “He’s been chewing on things he shouldn’t have. I’d like him to come back in for a cleaning and to make sure he’s up to date on his shots. Can you tell me why he was loose?”

I stared at the vet, deciphering his words. I knew he’d spoken English, but I felt so out of sorts. Cleaning… shots... why was he loose? Oh, hell. “My ex took him when we split. Leon wasn’t much for closing doors or gates. My guess is Drag saw an open door and made a break for it. He doesn’t mind being confined if he’s got something to eat or a chew toy to attack.”

About the Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Website: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Blog: https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com/
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

Buy the book at online bookstores.

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Tuesday, April 4, 2017

The Castle by Skye Warren - Spotlight and Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Skye will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Safe in the ivory tower…

Gabriel Miller swears he’ll keep me safe. Enemies lurk outside, waiting to strike. An army held back by these walls.

Except some animal instinct warns me the danger is much closer. It’s already here. Is Gabriel my protector or my enemy? Is this house a castle or a cage?

There’s nowhere for me to go, no one left for me to trust.

No escape from a past determined to capture its prize.

Read an excerpt:

“Still giving orders, little virgin? Is that something you’re born with in the St. James family, or did they teach you that along with your ABCs?”

Rage tightens a knot in my stomach. “I’m not a virgin.”

“No?” he asks, lifting a hand to my face.

I stand very still as he captures my chin between his thumb and forefinger, torn between wanting to wrench away and wanting him to kiss me. How can he make me feel alive when I’ve been sleepwalking for months, years? What sick twist of fate let the hands of this man bring me pleasure?

“You made sure of that.” I mean the words to come out cold, unhurt. Instead I sound breathless and somehow inviting. The white carpet may as well be streaked with red. We’re both back in his bedroom, both flushed and sated and ripped to shreds from what he’s just done.

He lifts my face, almost tender. “I put my cock into your warm little hole. Pushed right through that thin hymen to do it. It felt like fucking heaven to break you open.”

I’m a tuning fork in his hands, and the sound I make is pure arousal. “I despise you.”

“You were so wet,” he says, almost thoughtful. “But some of it was blood, wasn’t it?”

“I’m going to find a way to get my house back.”

He bends his head slightly, enough that our lips are an inch away, the words a tickle of breath against my lips. “I got off on the slide of your blood on my cock. I came that way, spilling salt into the fresh open wound.”

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to him, no line I wouldn’t cross in this moment. My anger takes an unholy shape, rearing back with all the fury and fear of a wild horse ready to trample his enemy. “And God help me, I’m going to ruin you. The way you did my father. I’m going to break you.”

He nudges my chin higher, exposing the vulnerable line of my throat. His mouth drops to the tender skin, a whisper of a kiss. “Do you want to make me bleed, little virgin?”

The violence takes me by surprise. My swing is wild, aimed straight for his face with all my strength. He catches my wrist midmotion, the abrupt stop shooting pain down my arm. We’re frozen that way, him holding me, breathing each other’s air.

“Don’t call me that,” I say between clenched teeth.

“Little virgin.”

“I’m not. You saw the proof of it. You paid a million dollars for it.”

“Actually,” he says, voice deceptively mild. “I paid a million dollars to use you for a month. And as that month isn’t over yet, I think I’d like to collect.”

Shock courses through me, singeing every angry intention. “No.”

“And as for your virginity, there are a hundred ways you haven’t been taken. A thousand ways you haven’t been fucked. A million dollars left to earn.”

“That money’s mine. You sent me away.”

“And yet,” he says, echoing his earlier words, “here you fucking are. This is what you wanted. This is what you came for. Did you really think you’d see me and walk away without my come inside you?”

My gasp sounds virginal even to myself. “Of course I did.”

He uses the hold on my wrist to drag me closer, off balance, almost falling into him. His warmth surrounds me, along with a musk my body remembers. Alarm bells ring more than they did this morning. A strange man could hurt me, but Gabriel—he’s worse. My own kryptonite.

“Here’s the thing about fucking a virgin,” he whispers, breath a caress on my temple. “You gave me your pretty little hymen, the small spill of blood. The first feel of those walls squeezing my cock. And there’s no way to get it back, not ever. No matter who else you fuck. Even if you settle down with some prep-school fucker and let him climb on top of you every single night, I’ll always be your first. You will always be my little virgin.”

The show of possession does something strange to me. It should be offensive. It’s meant to be offensive, but the humiliation turns liquid and hot inside my body. And the worst part is, I can’t even deny the truth. He left an imprint inside me. I can still remember the stretch of him, the burn. The very shape of that heavy thickness I can feel against my stomach now. And anyone who comes after him, they’ll never quite fill the space he carved inside of me.

“That’s right,” he murmurs, soothing now that I’ve acquiesced. “I’ve got you.”

“No, we can’t—”

He releases my wrist only to run a finger along my cheek. “So young. You look so young like this.”

“It’s the makeup,” I say with difficulty. And the hair. And the clothes. In a thousand ways I was different before, the society princess. What am I now? Almost homeless. Definitely scared.

His eyes gentle, more brown than they’ve been before. “You didn’t think you were getting fucked today. You got dressed and took the bus and came up the elevator having no idea.”

“Don’t feel sorry for me.”

A slight smile. “Not enough to stop. Take off those clothes. Let’s see what you look like when you’re just a sweet, innocent college girl and not the toy I bought at auction.”


About the Author: Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance such as the Chicago Underground series. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, two sweet dogs, and one evil cat.

Website: http://skyewarren.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skye_warren
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyewarren
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/skyewarren
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/skyewarren

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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