Souls For Sale Blog Tour

Hell To Pay Synopsis:

The contract was destroyed and Tom's soul saved from Hell.

Or so they thought.

Demon deal-maker, Saul, and his mortal lover, Thomas Ives, find themselves on the run when the other demons take none too kindly to Saul's bending of the rules. With the denizens of Hell on their heels, Saul and Tom must fight to stay one step ahead, knowing that if they're caught there's only one direction they're headed: down.

When Heaven decides to get involved, Saul's actions are no longer a mere bureaucratic misdemeanour but the basis of a factional confrontation. And now only one question remains: to whom does Tom's soul truly belong?

21^st Century Demon Synopsis:

It should have been an easy job: a contract signed and a new soul earmarked for Hell. But when suave demon deal-maker Saul chooses nerdy Thomas Ives as his next target, events take an unexpected turn. The lines between business transaction and pleasure blur, and Saul must decide whether he cares more for his professional reputation or the soul he just condemned to eternal damnation.

Buy Links

Don’t miss the Amazon Sale – 30% off for the first 48 hours after release.

WIP     |     Amazon US     |     Amazon UK

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Hell-Fire & Golden Gates—World Building in Hell to Pay

The bulk of A Twenty-First Century Demon was set on Earth in our current age, so little world-building was required, except in so far as I created a back story for Saul and his daily routine. However, once I commenced work on Hell to Pay, I knew I needed to go beyond that and take the characters to Heaven and Hell.

Hell was my main focus, since it was the more important of the two to the story. I’d briefly established the idea of Hell-Fire, and the demons’ connection to it, in the short, but I expanded that in the novella and envisaged Hell as a hot, desolate place: rock face and roaring flames. Its mortal inhabitants are not having a great time—think constant screams—but the demons like to indulge in the odd luxury brought down from the human realm above. In my version of Hell, all the demons are ex-humans, though some have served longer than others. Mirroring Earth, Hell has become very bureaucratic over the years, and it’s all about the paperwork and following procedure.

Heaven is similar in that respect; each realm has its rules. We don’t spend a lot of time in Heaven, but when we do, I wanted something quintessential, so it is a land of fluffy clouds and golden gates, and, unlike the melting pot that is Hell, all its inhabitants are uniform: white-winged, blue-eyed, and sporting halos of golden curls.

Perhaps some may feel my realms are too closely tied with traditional views of both places; nonetheless, I did it that way on purpose. I wanted to create something instantly recognisable that readers could relate to and then forget, because this story, to my mind, is a character piece. It’s about these two guys who shouldn’t fall in love, shouldn’t be together, and yet here they are, each unable to let the other go.

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About the Author:

NICKI J. MARKUS was born in England in 1982, but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her husband. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages.

Nicki launched her writing career in 2011. She published works through Wicked Nights Publishing and Silver Publishing before both companies closed their doors. She is now self-publishing some of her works, including the novella Time Keepers and the fantasy novel The Ragnarök Chronicles.

Nicki also writes M/M fiction under the alternate pen name of ASTA IDONEA and has had several short stories published by Wayward Ink Publishing. She is currently working on her first M/M novella.

Nicki works as a freelance editor and proofreader, and in her spare time she enjoys: music, theatre, cinema, photography, sketching, and cross stitch. She also loves history, folklore and mythology, pen-palling, and travel.

Social links:

Website     |     Facebook     |     Twitter

Home from Coastal Magic Convention...

I just got home from Coastal Magic Convention, where I had an awesome time this weekend. I have a lot of homework to catch up on, so I will keep this post short for now. I am going to be writing a longer post and doing a giveaway of some awesome swag I brought home with me. However, I want to share some of the con love with you, my wonderful followers. Several of the authors from the convention have books on sale either for free or for 99 cents and I want to share those books with y’all. So here are the books, the dates they are on sale, and where to buy them. Enjoy!

Free:

Feb. 5 - 9:

Dark Hope by HD Smith
Nightshade by Evelyn Lederman

Feb. 6 - 8:

The Ryn by Serena Chase

  

Feb. 22:

The Seahorse Legacy by Serena Chase -- (Amazon, B&N, or Smashwords)

Unspecified length of time:

Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens

Game Changer by Rene Folsom

Shuttered Affections by Rene Folsom

Voices of the Soul by Rene Folsom

For 99 cents:

Feb. 5 - 12:
Dark Forsaken by HD Smith

Dark Awakened by HD Smith

Unspecified length of time:
A Titan for Christmas by Aria Kane -- (Amazon and Smashwords)

Way Out West Romantic Candle Set Review

Valentine’s Day is coming up next week, so in light of that, I wanted to share a great gift idea with you. I had the opportunity to review a set of romantic candles made by a small company called Ocotillo Southwest. I think these would make the candle lover in your life happy or be a great addition to a romantic dinner/night.

More about the candle set:

This set contains two candles with the scents Romantic Rose and Raspberry White Chocolate. These beautiful mason jar candles last longer than a dozen roses and make a great wedding, anniversary, or Valentine’s Day gift.

Each candle burns for 40-45 hours each. The non-metal, natural cotton wicks, natural soy/paraffin wax blend, and premium fragrance oils come together to make clean, fragrant (but not overwhelming), long lasting candles.

Comes with a wick dipper for smoke free candle extinguishing. The wick dipper can also be used with most other candles (except Woodwick & flameless candles).

My Review:

4 stars

These are gorgeous candles that would make a great romantic gift. To start with, they were well packaged, to the point where I would feel comfortable sending this straight to someone as a gift. The candles themselves are in nicely decorated containers, and the colors nicely complemented each other. The candles also came with easy to follow instructions for prime usage, as well as a nicely designed metal wick dipper that I now use to extinguish all my candles with little to no smoke.

My only issue with the candles were the scents. I liked the Romantic Rose, but I wasn't a fan of the Raspberry White Chocolate. The candle didn't smell anything like raspberries or white chocolate in my opinion, and while I can't really describe the scent, I didn't like it at all. However, my roommate liked it, so I ended up giving that candle to her, so I guess it's just up to personal preference when it comes to the scents. They also are not very strong or overly perfumey, which I greatly appreciated, but others who like more strongly scented candles might not like it. Overall though, I liked these candles and would highly recommend them for candle lovers (or those looking for a fun, romantic gift).

*I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review.*

Making Headlines VBT

Blurb:

Working as a TV reporter has its challenges, but when Rachael Bentley decides to aim high and become a newsreader, she faces a whole new minefield of explosive scenarios.

Rachel's path sees her pitched against egos in the newsroom, office politics and corrupt politicians, not to mention rampant sexism, and a mystery stalker. Juggling a messy personal life doesn't help, nor does the emotional impact of reporting on life's tragedies and when it all takes a toll and Rachel starts partying too hard, she finds herself making the headlines instead of reading them.

Will she survive a world where dreams are shattered daily and will she find the man who can help her keep her soul?

Excerpt:

‘Then whack! He slams that cricket bat smack down on your desk, missing your hand by a whisker!’ Julia slapped her hands under Rachel’s chin.

Rachel jumped, vibrations ringing in her ears. ‘And this is the man you think could be our new boss?’ she said, spinning her chair around to switch on her computer. As she reached for a notebook a growing unease began to fester. Her fellow reporter had an uncanny knack of being spot-on with rumours.

‘Yep,’ grinned Julia, leaning back in her chair. ‘That’s Helmut Becker for you. Bit of a nut job, but they say he gets results. And it is all about the ratings after all.’

Beyond their desks the usual pandemonium reigned. Early-morning rush hour — TV monitors blaring, phones ringing and people shouting, and Rachel didn’t want the glue that held it together leaving. She stared towards the news director’s office. ‘I wish I could change Tony’s mind.’ It was like the plates beneath her feet were shifting. Too much change, too soon.

‘Fat chance. The media release is already out. And stop looking like that. Anyone’d think you had a boss-crush.’

Rachel turned back to Julia. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just sad he’s leaving. I mean, he gave me my big break and has always been so supportive. Are you sure this Helmut character is taking over?’

‘That’s the word on the office grapevine. It’s a hundred per cent gossip guaranteed.’

‘Damn. Just when I thought I had a career plan mapped out, a bat-wielding crazy guy comes along …’ She paused as a striking man with shoulder-length dirty-blond hair strode past their desks towards the edit suites at the back of the newsroom.

‘And don’t get hooked on him either.’ Julia rolled her eyes. ‘That’s the new head editor, Mitch. Really rates himself, and hates working with juniors, so steer clear.’

‘You crack me up,’ said Rachel, shaking her head. ‘You know I’m taken.’ She turned back to her computer, inhaling deeply. The editor had left a scent in his wake and it wasn’t aftershave. It was like he’d just shaken the surf from his hair after riding a wave into work. An absurd thought. Who’d go surfing in the middle of autumn? She snuck another look as he walked away, taking in his strong physique. As if feeling her eyes graze the back of his neck, he turned, giving a lopsided grin as he caught her out.

Embarrassed, she smiled back stupidly and sucked in her breath. Damn, he was good looking. She wondered what he was doing at work so early. Surely as head editor he could take his pick of the shifts and leave the early stints for the juniors? She shook her head. She had to stop this. No flirting. That’s what had landed her in enough trouble already.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD – Or not?

Writing a book is a bit like a pregnancy. Often you think about it for quite a while before you get on with it.

Then there’s the long gestation period, the hard work you put in trying to make it the best it can be, and finally, the long-awaited arrival of your carefully nurtured baby. With the actual birth, there can be debate about the best way for this to happen. A c-section or a natural birth? An epidural or go natural?

Likewise with publishing, there are also plenty of options. However, it’s becoming more difficult to have a book produced in hard copy – REAL PAPER –  with publishers unwilling to take risks on untested authors.

With the eBook business booming, it would seem more and more established publishing houses are moving with the times and looking to the internet for success. Whether you like the book or not, E.L. James Fifty Shades of Grey made it’s incredible leap to the top of global best-seller lists – selling more than 125 million copies worldwide – starting off life as an eBook.

Of course authors have choices. If you can’t find a publisher, you can always opt to self-publish – whether it be hard-copy or online. For myself, while I’d love a hard-copy version of my own book MAKING HEADLINES – to have and to hold – it seems for the moment, I’m going to be marching forth into the world as a new author – waving the PLATFORM PILGRIM flag.

(Thanks to my ever-encouraging writer friend Lisa Bigelow for coming up with that innovative tagline!)

Yes, thanks to Harper Collins Publishing, I am about to become a Platform Pilgrim. My eBook will be launched this Thursday, February 4. And that’s because I would much prefer my book be given the tick of approval from a recognised publisher that has a wonderful heritage as Australia’s oldest and one of the most respected companies in the business, than do this on my own.

Sure, in the long run I’d love nothing more than to have a REAL book in my hands – but for the moment, I still consider my eBook to be an achievement of which to be proud.

My biggest dilemma with becoming a Platform Pilgrim was deciding whether to host a book launch or not. Would people think it was over-the-top and silly – given they couldn’t leave with a signed copy of the tome itself?

In the end, after much debate with Fletch (mu husband) and friends, I have decided to go ahead and have a party. After all, it’s the end of a VERY long and arduous road and I think I deserve to celebrate my baby’s birth.

Harper Collins have also kindly agreed to provide ‘Book Samplers’ on the night of the launch, so guests WILL leave with a couple of chapters in a small printed mini-book, as a taste of what’s to come in the novel. So yes, there will be REAL PAPER given out on the night.

It’s taken many years AND tears to finish MAKING HEADLINES and I am so delighted and relieved that it is finally making its way into the world. All up, it’s more than eight years since I started thinking about this project. Now that’s one helluva long pregnancy.

Bring on the champagne!

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February 1: Rogue's Angels
February 2: Erin Cawood/Beyond my writing space
February 3: Sharing Links and Wisdom
February 4: Long and Short Reviews
February 5: Please Pass The Books
February 8: Welcome to My World of Dreams
February 9: BooksChatter
February 10: LibriAmoriMiei - review
February 11: Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
February 12: The Book Connection

Author Bio and Links:

JENNIFER HANSEN is best known to TV audiences as the former co-host of Channel Ten’s 5pm news. These days Jennifer works in radio as part of Smooth FM’s breakfast show where she reads the news and chats with Mike Perso about all things Melbourne. In between media gigs, Jennifer went back to ‘school’ - taking up the ‘Professional Writing and Editing’ course at RMIT. That has helped her complete her first novel and two screenplays. Occasionally she remembers to look after her family - including husband Neighbours actor Alan Fletcher (aka Dr Karl Kennedy) and their two children, Veronica and Tom.

Website     |     Twitter    

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3 Wishes VBT

Blurb:

Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her three wishes.

Excerpt:

At about five minutes of ten I was almost ready to turn the Closed sign on the door when it opened. I heard Janie’s breath hitch and turned from where I was sweeping up. Staying open late is always a risk, with the thought thieves will invade at the end of the day.

If the guy standing at the door glancing around the shop was a thief, then Dio mio, I wanted to be robbed.

About six foot, his hair was the color of a deer’s pelt, with autumnal golds and browns shot together in a glorious patchwork that grazed the collar of his jacket and curled a little at the ends. He wore a faded brown bomber jacket over a shirt I couldn’t see, but he had shoulders almost as wide as my doorway. A pair of well-worn jeans covered his mile long legs, and the fabric on the stress points at his knees was practically white.

“We’re about to close,” I heard myself say. “Can I help you?”

         

It was at that moment he looked over at me.

His face could have been sculpted by Da Vinci or Michelangelo. A broad, smooth, forehead housed naturally arched eyebrows I knew some of my gay guy friends would have paid a fortune to have on their own faces. His cheeks were carved from marble, high, smooth and deep. And his mouth, mother-of-God, his mouth. Full, thick beautiful lips sat perfectly over a chin with a dent you could shove a button into and have it stay put.

“Sorry,” he said, those fabulous lips pulling up a little shyly at the corners. “I got stuck at work and couldn’t get here until now. I’ll be quick. Promise.”

So here’s the thing: the guy was gorgeous. But even if he’d looked like a frog with raw antipasto smothering his face, I would have dropped to my knees when he opened his mouth. Warm honey, a shot of raw whiskey, and a little hot puff of smoke wafted from his mouth like a fine and rare brandy being decanted.

Growing up as the “fat” kid in school, you can be fairly certain I never received any Valentine’s Day cards from my peers that weren’t prompted by teachers. I was that girl in school: bigger, shyer, smarter, and my last name was different from my mother’s during a time when divorce was a scandal and not the societal norm it is today.

As I matured – and thinned out – things didn’t really change until I went away to college where no one knew me. And even then, the fact I was still slightly different from the other girls in my nursing program, due to a lifetime of trying to be invisible, didn’t make things much better in my social scene.

One thing that got me through the long days of my childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood was reading and writing, romance stories in particular. I could escape into a world where it was okay to be different, because someone – SOMEONE – would always find you and know they were your soul mate.

When the opportunity arose to write a Valentine’s Day novella for the Wild Rose Press’s Candy Hearts Romance line, I leapt at it. I wanted to write a humorous piece about a girl looking for her own soul mate, and who, approaching that societal benchmark of 30 and unmarried, looks back to her idea of the perfect mate. 3 WISHES is my homage to all the girls of a certain age and background who want to find that one person they can bond to for life, and who will love them with the same passion, dedication, commitment and freedom that they give to their love.

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February 1: Harps Romance Book Review
February 1: Two Ends of the Pen
February 2: Christine Young
February 2: Sharing Links and Wisdom
February 3: Romance Novel Giveaways
February 4: Marlow Kelly History and other Ponderings
February 4: LibriAmoriMiei - review only
February 5: jbiggarblog
February 8: The Reading Addict
February 9: Theresa Stillwagon
February 9: Lampshade Reader - review
February 10: Nana Prah
February 11: Erin Cawood/Beyond my writing space - review
February 12: Read Your Writes Book Reviews - promo

Author Bio and Links:

Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance author who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can't live without them.

Her current titles, available now, include SKATER'S WALTZ and THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, and FIRST IMPRESSIONS books 1 through 3 in her 6-book The MacQuire Women Series, published by The Wild Rose Press.


Peggy holds a master's degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer's Disease during her time running an Alzheimer's in-patient care unit during the 1990s.

A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.

Website/Blog     |     Twitter     |     Facebook     |     Pinterest

Amazon Author page     |     Goodreads     |     Instagram

A Separate Heaven Series Book Tour

Blurb:

Step into a world of riveting drama.  Enter A Separate Heaven, a story comprised of power, wealth, and romance, multifaceted characters, and complex relationships.  A novel by Alex Disanti.  From Long Island to the shores of the Mediterranean, this exciting series spanning twenty five years in the lives of the Gianelli and Hamilton families will hold you spellbound.

Excerpt:

On Friday he told her that if he could have half the day, he would be through with work and he would be hers exclusively from then through the honeymoon. 

Mid-morning she brought him fresh coffee and asked if somewhere there was an old tarp or paint shroud available, something that could be thrown away. 

Engrossed in reviewing a spreadsheet, he answered distractedly, "Look in that large wooden storage chest in the garage.  There should be several things in there.  It has a hasp on it, but it isn’t locked."

After putting on a jacket and gloves, she went to the garage, found a hammer, and retrieved an old blanket from the chest.  She took them to the patio off the kitchen, spread the blanket, then returned to the garage for a large box and carried it outside.

*     *     *     *

It was close to noon when Dominic cleared his desk and mentally declared everything done.  He called to Paige, and getting no response, went upstairs to look for her.  Not finding her there, he went downstairs to the kitchen.  He spied her on the patio, sitting cross-legged, her back to him.

It took him a moment to comprehend what was taking place.  Careful not to startle her, he opened the door and walked outside.  With a hammer, she was calmly, methodically smashing the crystal punch bowl her mother had given her.  Judging from the pile of glass on the blanket, she had already disposed of the cups.  The bowl was in several large segments now.  She would take a piece, lay a corner of the blanket over it, then pulverize it with the hammer.  He could see her only in profile, but she looked composed, tranquil.

He cleared his throat, and said softly, "Everything okay, Sweetheart?"

She turned to him and raised her eyes slowly to meet his. Her gaze was wary, questioning, as if she were fearful he might be disturbed by what she was doing.  He made it clear he only wanted to know if she was all right. 

Her relief was apparent. "Yes, I’m almost finished.  I’m sorry.  I thought I could...take care of this while you were still in your office."

He lit his cigar.  "Not a problem.  Do me a favor, please.  Let me know when you’re through and I’ll dispose of things for you, okay?"

"Of course, thank you."

She went back to the business at hand, and he watched her for a minute before going inside, and he thought, "Tell someone else you don’t remember, Sweetheart, tell it to someone else."

Personal 5X5 Fun Favorites: 

Authors:    Karen Blixen (Isak Dinsen), Nicholas Evans, Marguerite Duras, Chaim Potok, Robert Ludlum

Television: Ray Donovan, The Affair, The Good Wife, Nashville, Shark Tank

Movies:      Absence of Malice, Out of Africa, The Godfather, Giant, Unfaithful

Must Haves:        Sunglasses, Coke (not diet!), lip gloss, my laptop, my own pillows

Other loves:         Ballet, bluebonnets, music, starry nights, pumpkin pie

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January 18: Long and Short Reviews

January 19: Independent Authors
January 20: Author B. L. Blair
January 21: Christine Young
January 22: Room With Books
January 25: Two Ends of the Pen
January 26: LibriAmoriMiei - review only
January 27: T's Stuff
January 28: Emma Weylin
January 29: Romance Novel Giveaways
February 1: Sharing Links and Wisdom
February 2: Writer Wonderland
February 3: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
February 4: Reviews By Crystal
February 5: Let's Get Ready to Romance
February 8: Queen of All She Reads
February 9: The Avid Reader
February 10: It's Raining Books
February 11: BooksChatter
February 12: Louise Lyndon

Author Bio and Links:

Alex Disanti lives in the Texas Hill Country.  While writing has been a lifelong love for her, A Separate Heaven is her first novel.  Early works were mainly poetry and short stories.  As A Separate Heaven progressed from thought to paper, friends and family began reading the manuscript.  Then, in an effort to test the marketability of the material, she enlisted the aid of what she calls her “test readers.”  These readers vary in age, occupation and background.  It simply grew from there.  Alex’s rich detail brought the characters to life, and the ensuing chapters could not come quickly enough for her readers.

Author's Facebook     |     Facebook

Twitter    |     Website/Blog

A Separate Heaven Book 1
A Separate Heaven Book 2
A Separate Heaven Book 3

Loves of our Lives Book Blast

Blurb:

For Katie Benjamin, finding the perfect soul mate was just a fairy tale until a chance encounter on a train changes everything. What she discovers takes her on a journey that spans lifetimes.

Excerpt:

“I had this commissioned for you to have. I want you to wear it close to your heart and know my heart is now and will always be yours.” He opened the case and displayed a gold locket. She gasped at the beautiful locket within the case. It was a white cameo in a pale pink background.

“Turn it over,” he said.

She did and read the words he had engraved on the back. Forever in my heart, forever in my soul.

She felt tears running down her face as she looked at the beautiful words and then into Jonathon’s eyes. She looked deep into his eyes and felt her own soul connecting directly to Jonathon. He said to her, “Forever in my heart, forever in my soul. I will find you again.” He then wrapped his arms around her and took her lips in a passionate kiss. Her heart was hammering in her throat as she kissed him back. To her it felt a bit like a good-bye kiss, but a kiss filled with the promise of reuniting in time.

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For the other stops on the tour, click here.

Author Bio and Links:

I am a CPA, CGA and live in Southern Ontario. After working for many years in the high pressure worlds of banking and IT, I decided that it was time to have a change in pace. Leaving Toronto behind I embarked on a new career in retail sales. The change was wonderful, but I felt something was missing.

Then, the unthinkable happened, and I was widowed at 46. That was a truly life altering experience. In time, I was introduced to the books and work of Dr. Brian Weiss. I discovered in his research a new purpose in life, and was driven to start writing, something I had always enjoyed, but never thought of as a career choice.

And now here we are in 2015, and my first novel is ready to be published. My second, also in the Past Lives series, will follow shortly.  I continue to write and dream of a future that I had never even considered in my wildest dreams.

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