Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Starfish and Coffee Review Tour


Blurb:
On the island where they first met, two lovers from opposite sides of the tracks are reunited. Now jaded and broken, Alex and Matt still can’t deny their sizzling connection or the memories of one perfect, uninhibited year together.

At twenty-two, Matt Tarrington is rich, good-looking and destined to be powerful, but behind that confident exterior lurks a man who resents the life his family thrust upon him. Wanting an escape, Matt heads to Mirabella Island off the coast of Florida for a year of relaxation and a few wild nights with vacationing party-girls.

Matt never expected to find real passion in the arms of Alex Hunter, a handsome, laid-back local. Alex is gay, but closeted. Knowing Matt should be off limits, Alex finds the deeply-in-denial rich boy too tempting to ignore. Especially when a bet has them working together, fighting the heat in the rundown, beachside cafe where Alex sweats for every dollar.

Their love felt inevitable until youth left them vulnerable to hatred and greed. After six years of hating the lies they live to make others happy, they will have to risk it all for the second chance they both desperately need.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Review:
Review to come this afternoon!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:
“So if we hook up”—Alex walked up to the king-size bed in the master bedroom—“do I get mistress benefits?”

“What are mistress benefits?”

“A car, a bank account, shopping sprees, and trips to the French Rivera.” Alex fell back against the neatly made bed, leaning on his elbows as he put himself on display. “It’s a small price to pay for all the forbidden things I can give you that a wife can’t.”

Matt stood there staring at Alex, spread out on the bed, that black shirt showing off his beautiful body, those tight jeans clinging to all the right places. More frustrated as the seconds ticked by, Matt was almost inclined to agree.

Instead he smiled back. “You think I can’t find some other guy free of charge to give me what you’re offering?”

“That’s the truth.” Alex got up and looked Matt over for one hot moment. “Baby, they’d be paying you.”


The compliment caught him off guard, as did the endearment. Matt’s cheeks heated to the point he turned away to save his dignity. He wasn’t sure why Alex could do that to him when he’d never been shy or reserved when it came to sex.

This whole situation was throwing him off, and half of him couldn’t understand why he’d invited Alex over to begin with when he’d been resolved to his straight, conservative upper-crust lifestyle that would probably end with him marrying a woman like his mother and hating life like any good Tarrington man should. The other half of him—the bottom half—had been hard since Alex arrived.

“You blush too easily, Matty.” Alex went back to exploring the house. “You gotta stop that.”

Matt winced, hating that he was being so obvious with his nervousness, still he asked, “Why?”

“’Cause it gets my dick hard,” Alex said from the master bathroom and then added,

“Very nice. Italian marble. Dual showerheads. This shower has hot sex written all over it.”

Matt needed more to drink—lots more.


Kele will be awarding a $25.00 Amazon Gift Certificate to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

January 28:  Shh Moms Reading
January 29:  Love To Read For Fun
January 30:  A Little Bit of Naughty
January 30:  STOP 2  Sharing Links and Wisdom
January 31:  BadBarbsPlace
February 1:  Viviana, Enchantress of Books
February 4:  PROMO  Three chicks and their books
February 5:  Long and Short Reviews
February 6:  Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
February 6:  PROMO  Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
February 7:  Where's My Muse?
February 8:  EvolvedWorld



Bio and Links:
A freckle faced, redhead born and raised in Hawaii, Kele Moon has always been a bit of a sore thumb and has come to enjoy the novelty of it. She thrives off pushing the envelope and finding ways to make the impossible work in her story telling. With a mad passion for romance, she adores the art of falling in love. The only rules she believes in is that, in love there are no rules and true love knows no bounds.

So obsessed is she with the beauty of romance and the novelty of creating it she’s lost in her own wonder world most of the time. Thankfully she married her own dark, handsome, brooding hero who had infinite patience for her airy ways and attempts to keep her grounded. When she leaves her keys in the refrigerator or her cell phone in the oven he’s usually there to save her from herself. The two of them now reside in Florida with their three beautiful children who make their lives both fun and challenging in equal parts–They wouldn’t have it any other way.
Website
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Book Buy Links:
Amazon
Loose Id
Barnes & Noble
All Romance Ebooks

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Revenge of the Mad Scientist Super Book Blast


BLURB:
When Lady Arabella Trunkett’s father, the High Lord Minister of Urbannia is kidnapped, all clues point to the mysterious country of Gandiss and the world is thrown into political upheaval.

Arabella is convinced the more sinister nation of Carabarras is to blame, urged on by a mad scientist seeking revenge. So, she sets out on a perilous airship journey across a variety of exotic locales to save him, and halt the potential world war.

But airship pirates, secret assassins and slave traders aren’t her only trials. The fickle hand of fate has made the captain of the only airship available for charter, the man who left her at the altar. For eight years she's wished him dead. Now he's her only hope.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

“Oh!” She jumped up, put a hand in her purse and withdrew the handkerchief. “I forgot to tell you about this. I found it on the floor in the room from which Father was taken. I’m positive he left it as a clue but I’m not sure what it means.”

Benji took the piece of cloth with the stick pin and his youthful face screwed up in concentration as he examined it, then he bolted to his feet “D, d, dash it all, Belle. Do you know what this is?”

She shook her head and her heart raced at his tone.

“It’s a ceremonial j, j, jewel given to the Sarcs of Carabarras.”

Her eyes widened. She’d heard of the secret group of assassins but didn’t know any more than the general public. She hoped her adopted boy genius had more details. “You’d better explain.”

“The Sarcs are t, t, taken as children and trained within the secret organization. When they finish their t, t, training, they’re given a task to fulfill. Usually that means k, k, killing someone. If they're successful, they’re given the t, t, title of Sarc and one of these.” He held up the gold and ruby pin. “They wear it on the inside of their c, c, cloaks and never take it off until they die.”

“Or until it falls out of their cloak while they’re kidnapping someone…or…that someone steals it as a clue.” Belle hadn’t really examined it, so she reached out and took it from him. She turned the pin around seeing it in a new light. The golden head resembled some type of flower and the large ruby was planted in the middle of the
blossom. She looked up at Benji.



Grand prize necklace
Newsletter giveaway
necklace
Lara will be awarding an autographed original map of Arabella's steampunk world to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop, and a $50 Amazon gift card and an original steampunk necklace to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. So the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Also a steampunk necklace will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.

If people sign up for her newsletter on her website from Jan 29 - Feb 3, they will be entered for an autographed copy of her book as well as an original steampunk necklace.

1:  Wicked Readings By Tawania
2:  Welcome to My World of Dreams
3:  It's Raining Books
4:  Hywela Lyn (Romance That's "Out Of This World")
5:  My Devotional Thoughts
6:  Sharing Links and Wisdom
7:  Sexy Adventures, Passionate Tales
8:  Fresh Pot of Tea
9:  Journey of a Bookseller
10:  Paranormal Reads

Host giveaway
necklace
11:  Tina Donahue Presents
12:  Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem
13:  The Divas of Desire
14:  Sandra's Blog
15:  Melissa Keir's Blog
16:  Wickedly Wanton Tales
17:  Of Kink, Romance, and Writing
18:  Beyond Romance
19:  Paranormal Book Club
20:  Bea's Book Nook
21:  Wake Up Your Wild Side
22:  My Reading Obsession
23:  You Gotta Read Reviews - Guest
24:  Full Moon Dreaming
25.  Book 'Em North Carolina
26.  Booked and Loaded
27.  Reviewing Shelf
28.  Frankie Blooding's Bookshelf
29.  Author Raine Delight's Blog
30.  Stitch Read Cook
31.  Racing To Read
32.  Out of the Lockbox
33.  EvolvedWorld
34.  LizaOConnor
35. Long and Short Reviews
36.  The Darker Side of Romance
37.  Mom With A Kindle
38.  Loose the Hounds




AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Lara Nance grew up and lived in many cites throughout the South. She loves to write in a variety of genres, but the basis of all of her stories is a great tale that will take you on an adventure of imagination.

If you want to escape and lose yourself in a novel, you've come to the right place. Choose your genre and settle in to be entertained. From thrilling mysteries and steampunk tales, to paranormal romance and adventure, she's willing to explore a variety of compelling stories full of danger and suspense, along with a touch of romance.

Having been on the fencing team in college and now living on a sailboat convinces her that she was a pirate in another life, or possibly kin to Errol Flynn… However, due to the unfortunate demise of the romantic pirates of the past, she lives out her fantasies, thrills and adventures in her stories. Lara loves to weave interesting true historical tidbits into her fiction which invite the reader to explore further after the novel is finished.

Currently docked in Norfolk, Virginia (until the wind changes) Lara enjoys living on her sailboat and spends time reading, of course writing, indulging a variety of artistic endeavors, cooking and sailing with her husband, Joe and their Yorkie, Rio.


Website
Twitter
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Buy link at Amazon

Monday, January 28, 2013

Shameless Blurb Blitz

I'd like to share with you a wonderful, moving book that I highly recommend. It's currently free on Amazon, so get your copy and read the start of a great new series.


BLURB:
Trey Turner may be topping the country music charts, but his life has been going downhill since his wife left him five years ago. He's desperate to make amends for the mistakes he's made and convince Sierra their love deserves a second chance.
Sierra Brooks is happy for the first time since her divorce. She has a career she loves, and a man who loves her. Unfortunately, the man she intends to marry isn't the only one professing his love for her. He may be able to offer her safety and security, but will she decide to risk everything for another chance with the man who broke her heart?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
Chapter One

Trey Turner tipped the plastic bottle and watched the little white pills scatter across the desktop. One would take the edge off; twenty would end it all. He considered his options. He wasn’t ready to give up; he couldn’t do that to his family.


He put one of the pills on his tongue and swallowed it with a mouthful of scotch as the phone rang. He knew it was the morning radio show calling to interview him. His manager, Luc Spencer, had arranged it and, despite his protests, Luc insisted it was necessary. The public was demanding answers; it was time to end the speculation.


He checked the call display and pushed the button to activate the call. “Hello.”


“Trey, Johnny Madson, KX790 in Nashville. How the hell are ya this mornin’, buddy?”


Trey rubbed his eyes, willing the pill to take effect. “I’m good.”


“We’re going live in three minutes. Stand by.”


Trey endured the longest three minutes of his life as he waited for the radio host to return. He glanced at the list of questions and answers his publicist, Avery, had provided. He’d been doing this long enough to know they always surprised you with questions they knew were off-limits. He hoped he was sharp enough to dodge the bullets this morning.


“Trey, we’re live. Our listeners are anxious to hear about what’s been happening with the king of country music. Where’ve you been, man?”


“I’ve been in the studio working on the next album.”


“That’s what we like to hear. Tell me, when do you plan to release it?”


“By early next year, I hope.”


“Can we assume you’re planning a world tour to promote the new album?”


In his current state of mind, just the thought of a tour was overwhelming, but he owed it to his fans and his label. “That’s the plan, Johnny.”


“Good stuff. I know your fans are looking forward to that. We get calls and emails about you every day. People want to know what you’ve been up to. They’re dying to know when the new album’s coming out.” He laughed. “The pressure’s on, man.”


“Yeah, I know. I plan to deliver the goods.” If only he could figure out how to break through the mother of all creative blocks and write a song he wouldn’t be embarrassed to attach his name to.

“So why did you decide to sign with a new record label, Trey?”


Because my old label was putting pressure on me to get off my ass and produce a record, he thought, considering the fall-out if he came clean. He was tempted to tell the truth and accept the ramifications. He was so tired of living a lie, pretending to be the man, the musician, everyone expected him to be. “There was just a difference of opinion with the old label. No hard feelings.”


“Are you expecting this album to go platinum like all the others?”


Platinum, hell he would be satisfied if it didn’t end his career. “We’ll see what happens, Johnny. It’s up to the public to decide.”


“So, you’ve been spotted around town with some of the most beautiful women in Nashville. Is there anyone special in your life right now?”


He clenched his jaw in frustration. He had come to expect this question, but he still resented it. “No, not really.” Megan would take offense, but he didn’t care.


“You are one of the most eligible bachelors in the world. Think you’ll ever marry again?”
“No.” The only woman he wanted to call his wife was determined to forget he was alive. He’d had his one chance at forever and he blew it. He sure as hell didn’t deserve another one.


“Can you tell us about the car wreck you were involved in last year, Trey? We understand a woman and young child were killed. Your Hummer and their mini-van were hit by the driver of a tractor trailer who fell asleep at the wheel, right? Rumour has it you were lucky to escape with your life. That would have been a hell of a loss for country music, man.”
Trey wanted to tell him the loss of life that occurred was much more valuable than his, but he kept his mouth shut. He could imagine the headlines: Country Superstar Trey Turner Wishes He Had Been the One to Die in Fatal Crash.


“I’d rather not discuss that, Johnny.”


“Sure, I understand. We’ve all heard you’ve fallen off the wagon after three years of sobriety. Is that true, Trey?”


He glanced at the highball of scotch to his right. “I’d rather not get into it.” Which he knew was akin to admitting guilt. His manager and publicist would go ballistic, not to mention his record label. He had to end this call or risk digging himself a deeper hole. “Look, man, it’s been good talking to you, but I gotta roll.”


“Yeah, sure. Thanks for talking to us, Trey. We’re all looking forward to the new album, so don’t keep your fans waiting too long.”


“I’ll try not to. Thanks, Johnny.” He pressed the button to end the call.


His hand shook as he reached for the crystal glass. He took a long swallow of the amber liquid, savouring the familiar burn on the way down. He knew it was toxic, eating him alive from the inside out. He hated that he needed it, hated the fact that alcohol was the only thing that seemed to take the edge off and calm the fear and anxiety so he could get through another day.


He looked up at the ceiling. “What the hell am I gonna do?” he whispered. He needed help, was desperate for guidance, but had no idea where to turn. His faith had been tested to the limits, and he couldn’t face the idea of admitting the truth to his friends and family. He had never felt so alone.


He knew that every day he lived without creative inspiration was another day closer to sealing his fate. He couldn’t stall his manager and record label forever. They expected answers and he knew he had to tell them the truth; his career was over. But every time he tried to tell his best friend and manager, he panicked. He was terrified that, without music, he was looking into the abyss of a dark, empty, meaningless future. His music was the only thing he had left.


He pulled the newspaper clipping out of his desk and stared at the black and white photo of the little girl who had died in the fiery crash. Six years old, the same age his daughter would have been. Trey couldn’t comprehend why he had been spared when a little girl with her whole life ahead of her had been taken. If he could, he would have traded places with her in a heartbeat, given her a chance at the life his daughter deserved.  A knock on the door of his studio interrupted his reverie and he silently wished he could escape. Escape the questions and expectations of a world where he no longer felt he belonged.


“Come in.”


His sister poked her head in the door. “Hey, just heard you on the radio, big shot.”
He smiled. His sister was one of the few people who could still make him smile. Perhaps because she didn’t see him as Trey Turner, money machine. She simply saw him as her over-protective big brother.


He and his sister had always been close, especially before and during his marriage. Marisa and his ex-wife had become fast friends, bonding like sisters soon after they met. She tried not to take sides, but he knew she blamed him for the marriage falling apart. Marisa made the effort to maintain contact with him, but their relationship hadn’t been the same since his divorce. Nothing in his life had been the same since his divorce.


He sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face. He rubbed his eyes and stroked the two-day growth of beard. He knew he must look like hell, but he couldn’t summon the energy to care. “What’s up, Marisa?”


“I could ask you the same. You look like you’ve been on one hell of a bender.” She eyed the highball of scotch on the desk. “Have you?”


“No, just not sleeping much.” Truth be told, he felt like he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in years.


She glanced at the glass again, sighing. “Isn’t it a little early for that, Trey?”


He chuckled, the sound unfamiliar to his own ears. It had been a long time since he’d had any reason to laugh.  “Honey, it’s gotta be five o’clock somewhere.”


She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him, but he could see the fear and disappointment lurking beneath the anger.

“Damn it. It’s not funny, Trey.”


Her expression softened and he saw the pity. God, he hated to be pitied almost as much as he hated feeling useless, inept, and washed up.


“I’m worried about you. So are Mama and Daddy. You haven’t been the same since the accident.”


He slid the newspaper clipping under a stack of documents. He didn’t want her to know he’d been obsessing about the past again. Why couldn’t he just let it go, look to the future? Maybe he could stand the thought of a life without music if he wasn’t facing it alone. He sighed. No sense wishing for the impossible.


“Nothing to worry about, sis. I’m fine.”


“Prove it.” She claimed the chair across from him. “Come to Jimmy’s tonight. You and I haven’t spent any time together in months.”


He shook his head. He hadn’t been back to his old haunt since the night of the accident. He had been on the wagon that night, not a drop to drink, not that it mattered. Two innocent people still lost their lives and he lost what little remained of the life he’d known. If he hadn’t gone to the bar that night, he wouldn’t have been on the road at two a.m., wouldn’t have rushed to the aid of the minivans’ passengers. He wouldn’t have been holding the hand of that little girl as he watched her slip away.


“Sorry, not interested.”


Marisa reached across the desk and put her hand on his arm. “Trey, please do this for me.”
“That’s the last place I want to go tonight.” He glanced at the date on his phone, a neon reminder of that fateful day exactly one year ago. Not that he needed to be reminded. The visions were burned in his memory like a bad horror flick on perpetual rewind.  


“I think you need help.”


He knew he needed help, had for years, but the only person who could help him wanted to forget he was alive. “Spare me your dime-store psychology, Marisa. Stick to what you know best, clothes and shoes.” He knew that would hit a nerve, piss her off enough to drive her away.


“Do you think we’re going to sit by and let you self-destruct again, Trey?”


Again.  Like he had five years ago when Sierra left him and he lost his will to live.


“You were sober for almost three years. Why the hell are you doing this?  You’re punishing yourself for an accident that wasn’t even your fault.”


He saw the tears in her eyes and hated that he was causing the people he loved so much pain. He knew they would be better off without him. Maybe he should just disappear. Hole up somewhere far away and drink away the past six years of his life.


“This may not have been my fault, but what about the other accident?” The accident that 
took my baby girl and the woman I loved, he thought.


“You have to stop punishing yourself for that. It wasn’t your fault.”


He wondered, was it an accident or divine intervention? Maybe God was punishing him for every thoughtless, selfish thing he’d ever done. Maybe He disapproved of his tactics, trampling anyone and everyone on his mission to dominate the country music industry. It was never enough. No matter how many awards he’d won, records he’d sold, or millions he’d made, it had never been enough. He had worked longer and harder every day in his quest for supremacy until he finally wound up alone.

He propped his elbows on the desk, dropping his head in his hands. “Maybe it was an accident. I don’t know. What I do know is that my stupidity, my recklessness, caused Sierra to go into labour ten weeks early. If I hadn’t been arguing with her, I wouldn’t have been distracted. I would have been able to stop in time.” He swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the grief blocking his airway.


“We lost our daughter because of me, Marisa.”


She reached out to him, but he pushed her away. He didn’t want her sympathy, didn’t deserve it.


“Sierra has forgiven you, Trey. I think it’s time for you to forgive yourself.”


“Never,” he whispered.


To forgive himself would dishonor Callie’s memory. He had come to terms with who he was: a self-indulgent, power-hungry, control freak, and because of his failings, his angel had died before she had a chance at life. He wasn’t worthy of forgiveness.


She leaned back in her chair, staring at him like she was looking at a stranger. “Is that why you haven’t been able to get past this accident? Because it reminded you of what happened back then?”


He got up and crossed the room, feeling trapped, like a caged animal desperate to escape the confines of a life behind bars. Only he was trapped by gaping wounds that time and booze couldn’t heal and mistakes that he couldn’t make up for, no matter how much he wished he could.


“I don’t want to talk about this anymore, Marisa. Please, just go.”


She hesitated and he knew she wanted to object.


“Fine,” she said softly. “I’ll leave, but only if you promise to come to Jimmy’s tonight.”
He just wanted to be alone, alone with his misery and memories. “I’ll be there. Just go now, please.”


“Sierra, please tell me you’ll talk to him.”


Sierra Brooks turned her back on her former sister-in-law. She couldn’t allow herself to get drawn in to her ex-husband’s world again, not when she had spent the past five years fighting to rebuild the life he had worked so hard to destroy. She loved Marisa, loved her parents, but her love for Trey had cost her everything. She couldn’t go back, not when she’d worked so hard to move forward.

“I can’t. Please try to understand.”


Cheryl will be awarding: two(2) - $20 Amazon Gift Cards to randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and one(1) - $20 Gift Card to a randomly drawn host. Also, Cheryl will be awarding ten(10) trading card/cover flat packs to randomly drawn commenters during the tour (US/Canada), ten (10)digital books from the Nashville Nights series (winner's choice) to randomly drawn commenters during the tour and two(2) Swarovski crystal necklaces to randomly drawn commenters during the tour (US/Canada). So, the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Blurb Blitz Tour:
January 7:  Sugarbeat's Books
January 8:  Bodice Ripper Novels
January 9:  Wicked Readings By Tawania
January 10:  Wickedly Wanton Tales
January 11:  MeganJohnsInvites

Virtual Book Tour:
January 14:  Loose the Hounds
January 15:  Rachel Brimble Romance
January 16:  All I want and more
January 17:  Christine Young Romance Writer
January 18:  Krystal Shannan - Where Love and Destiny Collide

Review Only Tour:
January 21:  SnifferWalk
January 22:  Harlie's Book Blog
January 23:  My Reading Obsession
January 24:  Reader Girls
January 25:  Welcome to My World of Dreams

Blurb Blitz Tour:
January 28:  Sharing Links and Wisdom
January 29:  Andi's Book Reviews
January 30:  TBQ's Book Palace
January 31:  United By Books
February 1:  Mimmi's Musings

Virtual Book Tour:
February 4:  Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
February 5:  Book 'Em North Carolina
February 6:  Wickedly Sexy Writers
February 7:  Dawn's Reading Nook
February 8:  Jersey Girl Book Reviews

Review Only Tour:
February 11:  Kaisy Daisy's Corner
February 12:  Long and Short Reviews:  Romance
February 13:  It's Raining Books
February 14:  My Devotional Thoughts
February 15:  Saucy and Sinful blog




AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Cheryl began her professional career as a nutritionist, but her love of books started at an early age. She studied writing for many years before she decided to pursue her passion as a full-time career. After receiving constructive criticism from several well-known authors, Cheryl finally had the confidence to write her first romance novel.

The first book in the Nashville Nights series, Shameless, was a book that had been dwelling in Cheryl’s subconscious for years. For her, the surprise came when the manuscript began taking on a life of it’s own. Characters came to life, secondary characters became more prominent, outlines were forgotten, and a single title evolved into an eight book series, and another eight book spin-off series entitled Nashville Nights, Next Generation.


One word would aptly describe Cheryl: workaholic. She lives and breathes her writing, when she’s sleeping, watching TV, driving, reading… it’s always in the periphery of her mind. Her imagination rarely takes a holiday, even when she escapes to a sandy beach with her husband and son, she’s planning, plotting, outlining, and daydreaming.


Cheryl feels blessed to be able to get up every day and do something she loves. The thousands of fans who have embraced the Nashville Nights have made that possible. She writes for the readers who ask for more, she writes to satisfy the muse residing inside of her, but most of all, she writes because she couldn’t imagine doing anything else with her life. It took her thirty-seven years to decide what she wanted to be when she grew up, but now that she knows, she’s convinced she’s found her purpose.


Book Information
Book Title: Shameless (Book One, Nashville Nights)
Book Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Publisher: Self published (Douglas Publishing)
Release Date: Currently Available


Buy Links for Shameless:
Amazon

Barnes and Noble 
All Romance Ebooks


Other Links
Website
Facebook