Veils and Vengeance cover reveal and giveaway!

Love mystery stories? Love weddings? Then Veils and Vengeance is the book for you. Check out the synopsis and cover reveal below. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card.

About the book:
When wedding planner, Adrielle Pyper, goes to Hawaii to orchestrate a destination wedding, she isn't prepared for what she finds.

After the trauma of her previous event, the beautiful isle of Kauai is the perfect place for Adri to unwind and do what she does best – plan. She even lets herself indulge in the attention of the groom’s handsome brother. But just when everything seems to be perfect, an afternoon snorkeling trip turns to murder when Adri discovers the body of a young woman.

Shaken, but unable to let it go, Adri’s sleuthing leads her into more danger than she could imagine. When a number of “accidents” threaten her own life, it soon becomes apparent that someone will do anything to keep Adri from interfering with their vengeance.

 

 Author Rachelle J. Christensen
Rachelle J. Christensen is a mother of five who writes mystery/suspense and solves the case of the missing shoe on a daily basis. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in music. She enjoys singing and songwriting, playing the piano, running, motivational speaking, and, of course, reading.

Rachelle is the award-winning author of six books, including Wrong Number, Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things, and What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know. Her novella, Silver Cascade Secrets, was included in the Rone Award-winning Timeless Romance Anthology, Fall Collection.

Website   Facebook   Twitter

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash. Ends 6/15/15


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Descendants of the Rose author letter and giveaway!

Welcome to the release celebration of Descendants of the Rose by Juliette Harper! This is the first book in the Selby Jensen Paranormal Mysteries series and it's now available for sale for only .99 cents on Amazon! 

About the book:
Selby Jensen’s business card reads “Private Investigator,” but to say the least, that downplays her real occupation. Let’s hear it in her own words:

“You want to know what I do for a living? I rip souls out. Cut heads off. Put silver bullets where silver bullets need putting. You think there aren't any monsters? . . . I have some disturbing news for you. You might want to sit down. Monsters walk among us. I'm looking for one in particular. In the meantime? I'm keeping the rest of them from eating people like you.”

In this debut novel of her new paranormal mystery series, Juliette Harper, author of The Lockwood Legacy books and The Study Club Mysteries creates a cast of characters, most of whom have one thing in common; they don’t have a pulse. The dead are doing just fine by Selby, who is determined never to lose someone she loves again, but then a force of love more powerful than her grief changes that plan.

Join Selby Jensen as she and her team track down a shadowy figure tied to a murder at a girls’ school. What none of them realize, however, is that in solving this case, they will enter a longer battle against a larger evil.

Goodreads   Amazon

Author Juliette Harper wrote a letter to her readers to explain why she decided to "genre hop".

To My Readers,

So where the heck did this book come from? It came from a weekend of writer’s block on another manuscript. Descendants of the Rose had been sitting on my desk for more than a year while I’ve been working on The Lockwood Legacy series. Then I switched gears to the cozy Study Club Mysteries, but this other character -- Selby Jensen -- wouldn’t leave me alone.

As usual, she knew what she was doing since the book debuted on the Amazon supernatural mystery bestseller list this morning.

Selby wanted out there in the world, and that Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago, she told me plainly that she’d waited long enough. I spent the weekend with her, and Monday morning I had a complete draft ready for my beta readers and proofreader.

This might seem like a big genre hop, so I wanted to take a few minutes and talk to you about how and why I write. Creating strong women characters is my primary interest. I don’t want to be confined to or defined by any genre. My goal is to put my characters in interesting, challenging, and often painful situations and explore how they cope -- or don’t cope -- and wade through the fallout and triumphs with them.

From page one of this book, you’ll meet a woman in pain over a tragic loss in her life. She prefers to keep company with the dead, but her commitment to protecting and improving the world of the living is her real reason for existing. Yes, there is a murder that is solved in the pages of this book, but Selby’s journey is only starting.

As I’m writing to you today, I have a plot map on my desk for book two of this series, Lost in Room 636 that centers around a grisly murder that occurred in San Antonio, Texas on February 8, 1965. San Antonio is one of the most haunted cities in America and it’s also Selby Jensen’s stomping grounds, but you may be surprised where destiny leads this woman over the series arc I have planned.

So, while Selby jumped to the head of the line in my project planning, she’s been an integral part of my creative vision for some time. I’m delighted to introduce her to you, and while she’s different from the women of the Rocking L in one way, in another, she’s not. Selby is the kind of woman you want on your side in a fight. She’s never let me down, and I don’t think she’ll let you down either.

Juliette

About author Juliette Harper:
Juliette Harper is the pen name used by the writing team of Patricia Pauletti and Rana K. Williamson. Descendants of the Rose is the first installment of Harper’s debut Selby Jensen Paranormal Mystery series.

Pauletti, an Easterner of Italian descent, is an accomplished musician with an eye for art and design. Williamson, a Texan, worked as a journalist and university history instructor before becoming a full-time freelance writer in 2002.

Juliette Harper is also the author of The Lockwood Legacy, a nine-book chronicle of the lives of three sisters who inherit a ranch in Central Texas following their father’s suicide. Three of the novels are currently available: Langston’s Daughters, Baxter’s Draw, and Alice’s Portrait. The fourth book, Mandy’s Father, will appear in Fall 2015.

And don’t miss her hilariously funny “cozy” Study Club Mysteries, a light-hearted spinoff of The Lockwood Legacy. The books, set in the 1960s, take on the often absurd eccentricities of small town life with good-natured, droll humor. The first book, You Can’t Get Blood Out of Shag Carpet, will be available shortly, with the second, You Can’t Put a Corpse in a Parade, coming in Summer 2015.

Website   Twitter (@jharperbooks)   Facebook 

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (INT), Langston's Daughters, Baxter's Draw and Alice's Portrait in paperback (US) or ebook (INT). Ends May 27

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Slayed on the Slopes releases today!

Welcome to the release day event for Slayed on the Slopes by Kate Dyer-Seeley! This is the second book in the Pacific Northwest Mystery series. Slayed on the Slopes releases today, March 31st, by Kensington Publishing.

About the book:
After talking her way into a job writing for Portland’s Northwest Extreme magazine, Meg Reed may now really be in over her head. Actually, about 8,000 feet over her head...

She’s at Mount Hood’s remote Silcox Hut, covering the seriously hardcore Ridge Rangers—Oregon’s elite high-altitude rescue team–during their four-day winter training. Sure, Meg beefed up her outdoor skills over the summer . . . but she’s still hoping to cover the event with some hot chocolate by the cheery fireplace. Then, during a sudden blizzard, she swears she hears gunshots. No one stranded in the hut believes her . . . until self-absorbed Ridge Ranger Ben Rogers is found outside in a pool of frozen blood. Meg’s now got to find this killer quickly . . . before cabin fever does them all in!

Praise For Scene Of The Climb
“A splendid overview of the greater Portland and Columbia River Gorge region, perfect for travel buffs. Her protagonist shows promise with her determined attitude and moxie.” –Library Journal

Includes Adventure Guides!

Goodreads   Amazon   B&N

Guest post from author Kate Dyer-Seeley:
Welcome to the top of the world. Okay, well maybe not quite. Welcome to the top of Oregon. In the second installment of the PNW Mystery Series Meg Reed is on the slopes of Oregon’s highest peak—Mt. Hood. She’s on assignment for Northwest Extreme to cover an intensive training weekend with the Ridge Rangers, a group of mountain guides who are dedicated to helping novice climbers trek to the summit.

Meg has high hopes for her weekend at high altitude. She plans to cozy up in front of a roaring fire with a cup of hot chocolate. She’s thrilled to be spending the weekend at the historic Timberline Lodge, one of Oregon’s most famed hotels and a national monument. 

The iconic lodge sits at 6,000 feet in elevation and is a testament to American craftsmanship and resolve. It was constructed in just fifteen months as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal. Unemployed workers from all over the country traveled to Mt. Hood to learn a new trade. They carted timber from the surrounding forest to carve out the lodge’s magnificent staircases and wood-beamed ceilings.

Today the lodge houses guests from all over the globe, making it one of Oregon’s most popular tourist attractions. In partnership with the National Forest Service, Timberline maintains the same high-quality craftsmanship as it did back in the 1930s. All the brightly colored Pendleton blankets in each quest room are woven by hand. The lodge is like stepping back in time. Down each cheery hallway you’ll discover Native American artwork, vintage ski photos, wood carvings, and stunning views of the summit and the entire Cascade Mountain Range.

After a long day on the slopes, you can gather in front of the giant basalt fireplace with steaming mugs of hot cocoa to warm your hands, or head to the Blue Ox Bar or Ram’s Head for a pint of Ice Axe Ale. You can soak your toes in Timberline’s outdoor hot tub or take a refreshing swim in its year-round heated outdoor pool. There’s nothing more magical than swimming as snowflakes fall and skiers fly past you.

When Meg arrives at the lodge she learns that the Ridge Rangers are actually meeting at the Silcox Hut, which is located a thousand vertical feet above Timberline and accessible only by snowcat or the chairlift. Meg’s not a fan of heights, so she opts for a bumpy ride up to the remote hut in the snowcat. The SilcoxHut is equally charming and fashioned after the lodge. Maybe she’ll be able to have her relaxing weekend after all… or maybe she’s going to be in way over her head.

Don't miss out on the first book, Scene of the Climb, available now!

Goodreads   Amazon   B&N 

About author Kate Dyer-Seeley:

Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing. The first book in the series, Scene of the Climb, features the rugged landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge and a young journalist who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme.

Her work has appeared in a variety of regional and international publications including: The Columbian, The Vancouver Voice, Seattle Backpacker, Portland Family Magazine, and Climbing Magazine.

Kate lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.

Website   Facebook   Twitter

Giveaway:

Winter warmer package- signed copy of Slayed on the Slopes, Signed copy of Scene of the Climb, Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate Mix, Oregon Chai Tea, 1 Pound of Coffee and Collectable Mt. Hood art coaster (US). Ends April 21, 2015

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Marked (Servants of Fate #1) book review

About the book:
In a broken landscape carved by environmental collapse, Boston paramedic Cacia Ferry risks life and limb on the front lines of a fragile and dangerous city. What most don’t know—including her sexy new partner, Eli Margolis—is that while Cacy works to save lives, she has another job ferrying the dead to the Afterlife. Once humans are “Marked” by Fate, the powerful Ferrys are called to escort the vulnerable souls to either eternal bliss or unending fire and pain.

Unaware of Cacy’s other life, Eli finds himself as mesmerized by his fierce and beautiful partner as he is mistrustful of the influential Ferry clan led by the Charon—who happens to be Cacy’s father. Cacy, in turn, can no longer deny her intense attraction to the mysterious ex-Ranger with a haunted past. But just as their relationship heats up, an apparent hit takes the Charon before his time. Shaken to the core, Cacy pursues the rogue element who has seized the reins of Fate, only to discover that Eli has a devastating secret of his own. Not knowing whom to trust, what will Cacy have to sacrifice to protect Eli—and to make sure humanity’s future is secure?

Review:
The book opens with Cacy's first trip into the portal (veil). Then it flashes years into the future. Eli and his sister and changing cities for new jobs in a dystopian world. Dangers are all around them, but Eli's sister's research causes discord for the Ferrys and Ker. This puts them in even more danger. 

Though I've red stories about reapers, ferrys, psychopomps, etc.,  I enjoyed how Sarah Fine explained their role in her fictional world. Not only did Fine describe their roles, but she took readers into the veil to actually experience it. Even better, readers experience the veil from Cacy's point-of-view as well as Eli's. Cacy's knowledgeable about the veil and knows what dangers are there, while Eli accidentally found his way there. He did not know where he as the first time, and it was fun to see how he interpreted the new dimension/world.

This is definitely geared towards adults. There are several scenes where author Sarah Fine builds the sexual tension between the characters before anything formally happens with Cacy and Eli. It was nice to see a guy turn down the advances of a girl he really likes instead of taking the first opportunity to get with her. It made me like and really respect Eli. However, since this is an adult paranormal romance book, there is sex in it. It's done tastefully and isn't too vulgar.

There were basically three sections of the story. Eli finds out what Cacy is. He accepts that he loves her for who she is, but has to make a difficult choice. (Can't tell you what that is because it would be a spoiler!)  He makes the choice and has to live with the consequences.

There are traitors in the book. There are rouge Kers (the creatures that actually "mark" people for death). He/she/they have marked people before their time. There are traitors in the psychopomps organization too. Though some are discovered in the book, not all are. Readers will have to wait at least until the next book, Claimed, to find out more.

The book was well written. It drew me in and gave a good mix of description and action. The uniqueness of the plot made me want to keep reading. It isn't just a romance story. It has a ton of action and some mystery to it.


About author Sarah Fine:

I’m the author of several books for teens, including Of Metal and Wishes (McElderry/Simon & Schuster) and its sequel, Of Dreams and Rust (coming in August 2015), and the Guards of the Shadowlands YA urban fantasy series (Skyscape/Amazon Children’s Publishing).

I’m also the co-author (with Walter Jury) of two YA sci-fi thrillers published by Putnam/Penguin: Scan and its sequel Burn (which will be published in 2015).

My first adult urban fantasy romance novel, Marked, will be published in January 2015 by 47North/Amazon Publishing, with the sequel, Claimed, coming in March 2015.

When I’m not writing, I’m psychologizing. Sometimes I do both at the same time. The results are unpredictable.

Find Sarah:  Goodreads   Website   Facebook   Twitter   Tumbler   Pinterest

Garden cover reveal

I'm excited to help reveal the cover for Garden by Jane Yates! Garden is a middle grade steampunk that releases in February 2015 by Autumn Orchard. Check out the book info and book trailer!

About the book:
Inspired by the classic novel The Secret Garden, Jane Yates introduces us to a steampunk world of bio-domes, robots and mysteries. Eleven-year-old Aberdeen is so used to being by herself that all she has to fill her thoughts are stories of mighty dragons and grand castles. Aberdeen’s world is soon thrown into disarray however; her parents murdered.

Having no choice, Aberdeen is sent to live with her uncle back on Earth where her fascination into her new surroundings begin to take hold. Untrusting of new people at first, it isn’t long before Aberdeen comes across three other children, and taking a risk, befriends them as she tries to adjust to her new home. And yet, along with Maisy, Peter and Lenard, Aberdeen comes across a riddle – a set of clues to reveal the hiding place of a lost manuscript. A manuscript that forces more questions than answers.

Oh, and there’s Frank too, Peter’s robot dog, who completes this special circle of friendship.

Garden is a journey of self-discovery, of trials and friendship. With adventure boundless, Jane Yates follows up her acclaimed Paradox Child trilogy with a new tale for young fans of steampunk and science fiction.

Amazon preorder   Goodreads

Book Trailer:

About author Jane Yates:
Jane lives in the historic city of Oxford, England with her two spaniels. She works at the Pitt Rivers

museum there too and is amazed and inspired by its wondrous array of objects. Being a museum of anthropology and world archaeology, Jane often finds herself influenced by its exhibitions. And indeed it has helped Jane write a trilogy for children – the Paradox Child series.

Jane is not only a mother, artist and storyteller, but dyslexic too, which only highlights her success even more. Jane refuses to allow the disorder to halt her dreams and continues to enjoy her favourite hobbies. Jane is a lover of steampunk, adventure and children’s stories, which often play a huge role in her own books.

Find Jane: Facebook   Twitter   Goodreads

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Burdin of Choice author interview & giveaway!

Welcome to the teaser tour for Burdin of Choice, book two in the Beasts of Burdin series by Alexander Nader. Burdin of Choice is now out and the first book, Beasts of Burdin, is only .99 cents for a limited time! To celebrate we have Alexander Nader on the blog to talk about the books and himself. Stick with us, there's a giveaway at the end!

 

About Burdin of Choice (Beasts of Burdin #2):
Ty Burdin is back. Back to drinking and back to avoiding demons. He is, of course, the leading expert in his field. In both subjects.

That’s probably why, when a customer offers him way too much money just to locate a missing car and some mysterious cargo, he readily agrees. The dude is human after all—Ty’s prime target client base.

Along with the money comes a slew of disappearances which Ty tries to ignore while tracking down that car, because, of course, those missing people might be demon related, and as he’s said before, that’s agency business. Not his. Period.

Until today.

Ty Burdin is to back drinking as well as everything he vowed never to get involved with again.

Question is, which one will kill him first? The booze, the demons, or the Agency?

Burdin of Choice at J. Taylor Publishing   Goodreads   Amazon

Don't miss out on book one, Beasts of Burdin. Now only .99 cents at Amazon for a limited time!

About Beasts of Burdin:

Demon hunter Ty Burdin hung up his guns, knife, trench coat and fedora a year ago. Bags packed, hands washed of all demon politics, he’s done. Forever.

In fact, to get far far away, he dragged Nora, his rockabilly secretary, from Miami to the Tennessee mountains where he’s lived a life of peace—if peace can be defined as drowning in scotch and taking private eye jobs to keep the lights on. Jobs for real people. Not demons.

No demons.

He’s retired from that. Remember?

Demon hunters aren’t a dime a dozen, though, and when Ty’s brother asks him for a favor—just one—what’s a brother to do? Agreeing to take down one hillbilly demon shouldn’t take that long. In. Decapitate. Out. Favor complete. Back to the office where Nora and his bottle of whiskey are waiting.

Unfortunately for Ty, staying retired doesn’t seem to be in the cards, and an avalanche of bad luck draws him right back to an agency he despises and the career that nearly cost him his sanity.

This time, Ty has no way out and will have to face his own demons just to survive.

 

Also find it at   J. Taylor Publishing   Goodreads

About author Alexander Nader:

Alex lives in the tourist infested hills of east Tennessee with his amazing wife/muse and three superb children. He would tell you more about how awesome they are, but you probably wouldn’t believe him. When he’s not hanging out with them he’s making pizzas. When he’s not doing that he’s working at a bookstore and occasionally he jots a few words down. He’s a big fan of good music, good storytelling, and mixed martial arts.

He once wrote a short story about pirates to his wife via text message that blossomed into a full length novel and never stopped after that.

Find Alex:   Facebook    Twitter    Goodreads   Website


Interview with author Alexander Nader:

Can you tell us about your book in 10 words?

Smart mouthed, alcoholic private eye decapitates dastardly demons with style.

Tell us 10 interesting facts about yourself.

I’m not very interesting. Does that count as number one? No? Eh, I’m counting it anyway. #2 I have a hard time answering questions seriously. #3 I find idiocy to be among the highest forms of comedic gold. #4 I’ve dubbed myself ‘The class clown of word smithery.’ #5 Someone else named my blog ‘Eloquent Until the All Caps Cussing’ after I sent them a particularly profane (yet enlightening) email. #6 My hair is the source of my hidden super powers. What’s that? What super powers? Shoot, I wasn’t supposed to tell, now they’re not hidden. *Waves hand, erasing memory of last three seconds* #7 I consider my wife and kids the greatest accomplishment in my life. No. Really, that one’s serious. They rule. #8 I can only come up with 8 quasi-interesting facts about myself.

What was your biggest obstacle you had to overcome when writing?

My stomach. You see, I write on my laptop which I keep on my lap;portable computers are aptly named like that. So anyway, depending on how many cakes I’ve had that day, my belly sticks up. The thing blocks my view of the bottom part of my screen and I can only suck it in for so long before I blackout. After I blackout, I usually wake up in another state wearing someone else’s fez and that really interferes with my writing. I should probably go on a diet. Maybe low cal. Or low carb. Or…ooohhhhcake.

Where do you get your ideas?

I keep a house elf named Darby. Every time I need a new story I just ask Mr. Darby what he thinks I should write about. You should hear some of the stuff he comes up with. It’s literary gold. Hopefully no one ever finds out that I have him or they might….*Stares suspicious* *Waves hand, erasing 5.3 seconds of memory*

Where do you like to write?

Atop a pile of $100 bills on a beach that never sees anything but slightly overcast days with a temperature of a consistent 73 degrees Fahrenheit while Alton Brown cooks me scientifically correct hush puppies and a Vintage Trouble plays ‘Jezebella’ on repeat. But I usually just settle with my couch.

What kind of research did you have to do for your books?

So much demon research. All of the demons from the Burdin series are real. It took a lot of time to pick out which ones were good to use. You wouldn’t believe how many demons gave me bad directions and misinformation while I was scouring the underworld for perfect candidates. It took a long time, but finally I traded a crossroads demon my soul if he would just write the book for me. I like to think things worked best that way.

What is your writing schedule like? Do you force yourself to write daily?

My writing schedule stays busy. I’m constantly working on writing when I’m not working. As motivation to keep my writing up, I’ve allowed Mr. Darby to kick me in the shin if I go more than 24 hours without writing. It’s the only form of payment I offer the little guy, but he seems to get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Welp, I’d like to say a whole lot. I’d like to say I’ve got a story in an anthology called ‘Memoirs of Dr. Renfield’ coming out December 1st. I’d like to say Burdin 3 comes out in June 2015 and I’d like to tell you about the secret super hero novel I’ve been working on, BUT I made a deal with a crossroads demon and I think my soul is due any minute now. OH MY GOD HERE HE COMES SOMEONE SAVE….

 

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Seventh Grave and No Body excerpt and giveaway!

About the book:
Twelve. Twelve of the deadliest beasts ever forged in the fires of hell have escaped onto our plane, and they want nothing more than to rip out the jugular of Charley Davidson and serve her lifeless, mangled body to Satan for dinner. So there’s that. But Charley has more on her plate than a mob of testy hellhounds. For one thing, her father has disappeared, and the more she retraces his last steps, the more she learns he was conducting an investigation of his own, one that has Charley questioning everything she’s ever known about him. Add to that an ex-BFF who is haunting her night and day, a rash of suicides that has authorities baffled, and a drop-dead sexy fiancé who has attracted the attentions of a local celebrity, and Charley is not having the best week of her life.

A tad north of hell, a hop, skip, and a jump past the realm of eternity, is a little place called Earth, and Charley Davidson, grim reaper extraordinaire, is determined to do everything in her power to protect it.

We’re doomed.

Find on Goodreads   Amazon  Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:
I set Cookie to finding out everything she could on the missing suicide-note victims. There had to be a connection between them somewhere in their pasts. In the meantime, I would go talk to their closests, but first I needed to know if the victims were still alive. If they’d been abducted, this would quickly become a much different case. We would probably have to get the FBI involved, if they weren’t on to it already.

Reyes was still working, so I decided to cut out alone. I knew he’d freak. He wasn’t about to leave me alone for long, and neither would he put up with my running off without him, so I decided to pick up a passenger. Well, another passenger. The one I had at the moment would be of no help in a fight against hounds from hell, should they spot me in a crowd.

Jessica was harping again, this time about how her friends were at the restaurant, fawning over Reyes as though she had never died. She’d called dibs the moment she saw him, and they seemed almost relieved she was out of the way. I refrained from reminding her that (1) I’d had dibs long before that, and (2) she was as dead as the Twizzler I was gnawing on in an attempt to forget about my extreme caffeine depletion. Poor little Twizzler.

“She said that!” Jessica shouted. “Like, she said it. Right to Reyes’s face.”

“Wait, what?” I almost slammed on the brakes, then realized my foot was already on the brake, as we were idling at a stoplight. “Who said what to Reyes’s face?”

“Oh . . . my god. Have you heard a word I’ve said?”

“Not especially. Who said what?”

“She said she’d do anything, any . . . thing, for an interview.”

I turned to her. “Are you telling me you heard what Reyes and Jolene—I mean, that hooch—were talking about?”

“Duh. I was so upset with Joanie and the girls that I started to walk out when that—that ho practically assaulted our man.”

About author Darynda Jones:

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

Find Darynda   Website   Twitter   Facebook

Giveaway:
Enter to win a copy of Seventh Grave and No Body!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet Your Baker cover reveal and giveaway!

 

I'm so excited to help in the cover reveal of Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander. This is a cozy mystery that releases December 30th by St. Martin's Press. This is the first in the Bakeshop Mystery series!

About the book:
Welcome to Torte—a friendly, small-town family bake shop where the treats are so good that, sometimes, it’s criminal…After graduating from culinary school, Juliet Capshaw returns to her quaint hometown of Ashland, Oregon, to heal a broken heart and help her mom at the family bakery. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is bringing in lots of tourists looking for some crumpets to go with their heroic couplets. But when one of Torte’s customers turns up dead, there’s much ado about murder…

"Sure to satisfy both dedicated foodies and ardent mystery lovers alike."―Jessie Crockett, author of Drizzled with Death

The victim is Nancy Hudson, the festival’s newest board member. A modern-day Lady Macbeth, Nancy has given more than a few actors and artists enough reasons to kill her…but still. The silver lining? Jules’s high school sweetheart, Thomas, is the investigator on the case. His flirtations are as delicious as ever, and Jules can’t help but want to have her cake and eat it too. But will she have her just desserts? Murder might be bad for business, but love is the sweetest treat of all…

"Alexander weaves a tasty tale of deceit, family ties, delicious pastries, and murder.” ―Edith Maxwell, author of A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die

Find on Goodreads!

 

About author Ellie Alexander:

Ellie Alexander is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter to learn more.

Find Ellie:   Twitter   Facebook 

 

Giveaway:

Prize package of goodies (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Burning Bright (Ivy Granger #3) Excerpt and Giveaway!

Burning down the house...

Things are not going well at the offices of Private Eye. Jinx is having demon problems, the city is overrun with pyromaniacal imps, and Ivy's wisp powers are burning out of control, attracting the attention of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts.

Along came a faerie queen... It's the worst possible time for the Green Lady to call in a favor, but Ivy's bound by her deal with the glaistig. Too bad there's no wiggle room in faerie bargains.

Ivy must rid the city of imps, keep Jinx from murdering her one solid link to Hell, and fulfill her bargain with the Green Lady--with sidhe assassins hot on her tail.

Just another day's work for Ivy Granger, psychic detective.

Excerpt:
Book Excerpt  (Ivy gets wet)

My first impression of Emain Ablach was that it was wet. Very, very wet. But I didn’t have
much time to think about that fact. I was too busy drowning.

I struggled to swim to the surface—wherever the hell that was—the weight of my clothes, leather jacket, and weapons weighing me down. My lungs burned and my brain screamed at me to find a way out of this wet torment. I needed air, badly.

I forced my eyes open, salt and whatever else was in the water burning like acid, but being able to see my surroundings didn’t help matters. It did, however, make me glad for quick reflexes. At the first sign of my assassin stalkers, back in a Harborsmouth alley, I’d grabbed one of my throwing knives. I may not be able to throw it now, not in this water, but the pressure of the blade in my gloved hand made it easier to face the grinning corpses smiling back at me. There were hundreds of them.

Bloated bodies in every state of decomposition drifted at the ends of seaweed infested chains that rose up from the ocean floor. I would have assumed that the people on the ends of those chains were dead, a warning to anyone foolish enough to trespass here, except for the hands reaching outward and the curve of their rotting lips.

Grins like frightened, blue worms curled up toward vacant eyes. The eyes, or what was left of them, were coated in a white film and looked as though they’d been nibbled on by grazing fish. The chained corpses may not be able to see, but I had no doubt that they could sense my presence. Their hands clawed at the water and their faces were all turned in my direction. Perhaps they could scent me, like sharks on a blood trail.

Now that was a cheery thought.

I kicked away, trying to put more distance between myself and the grasping dead. I recoiled as my boot hit something squishy. Mab’s bones, I didn’t realize there was a chained corpse that close to where I swam. I did not want to touch these things or the chains that bound them. Those were visions I’d never survive.

The delay alone would kill me.

Heart pounding, I propelled myself upward, but I had a nagging suspicion that I wasn’t going to make it. I’d sunk too deep into this watery hell. Already my lungs burned and dizziness sent my head spinning like a ride on an otherworldly merry go round. My limbs were cold and heavy and I could barely feel the knife in my hand.

How ironic would it be to die here, within spitting distance of a tree that grew magical apples capable of reviving the dead?

Air bubbles sprung from my nose and I fought not to breathe. Inhaling water would mean my death. I made one more sluggish stroke through the water and felt strong hands grip my waist and haul me upward. I was sailing through the water, away from greedy hands and the hundreds of faces that grinned hungrily after me.

My rescuer was a strong swimmer and I doubted Torn would have gone to so much trouble to save me. I felt a tingle of energy zing through my system, helping me to hold onto the slippery tendrils of consciousness. Ceff, it had to be Ceff.

I gasped as my head broke the surface of the water, gulping air and choking on a mouthful of water. I coughed up phlegm and who knows what else—with those corpses steeping down below, I didn’t want to think about it—and pushed wet, bedraggled hair from my face. I was alive, but it wasn’t pretty.

I grimaced and pushed the floating evidence of my humiliating coughing fit away. Ceff had a grip on my jacket, still helping to keep my head above the water’s surface.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

With his wet hair slicked back from large, dark green eyes and his chiseled jaw, he looked gorgeous. He was completely in his element here, unlike his half-drowned girlfriend.

“I just swallowed a gallon of salty corpse tea and sea monkeys,” I said, a rueful grin on my face. “I’ve been better.”

About author E.J. Stevens:
About the Author: E.J. Stevens is the author of the Spirit Guide young adult series and the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series. When E.J. isn't at her writing desk she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

Connect with E.J. on Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Pinterest, and on her Blog.

Giveaway Info

Enter to win one of 6 Ebook copies of Burning Bright by E.J. Stevens.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Giveaway begins June 17th and ends July 2nd.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway winners will be chosen by Rafflecopter.

Dark Metropolis (Dark Metropolis #1)

About the book:
Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules. Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.

Find Dark Metropolis: Goodreads   Amazon

Review:
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I received the offer to be part of Dark Metropolis' blog tour, I signed on because of several reasons. I like Cassandra Clare, Cabaret, magic, mystery and Disney. After reading the book, I'm glad I signed up. There were twists and turns throughout the book that made the story very interesting.

This is a unique paranormal story. Yes, there are the magical aspects, but there are also the undead creatures. I don't know whether to call the zombies or vampires. They are both and neither at the same time. Zompires? Vambies? The author never called them a specific name, but I like how it is a bit ambiguous.

Freddy gradually became my favorite character in the book. In the beginning he blindly used his magic without asking too many questions. Then Thea helps his character to grow. He discovers the truth about what's really going on, and decides to forge his own path. It can be scary sometimes to turn your back on the ones you love in order to do what is right. In the end, I admired his courage and integrity.

The book switches points of view. Because characters are all around the city and not all at the same place, the multiple POVs helped to really move the story along. This is very important when Thea and Nan are separated above and below ground.

I wish that author Jaclyn Dolamore would have given a bit more detail about what specifically the people below ground were doing. Readers learn that they were running the city and that Nan had to pull levers. I wish that readers could have learned what those levers actually did in running the city as well as what some other jobs were. These are non-important details and wouldn't change the plot of the story. They could have been edited out, but I would have liked to learn more about it.

One thing that surprised me in this book is that there is a girl-on-girl kiss. I am not for or against this, it was just unexpected since this is a Disney-Hyperion published book. The scene was tastefully done an wasn't vulgar at all. Afterward, one of the girls ponders living her life with the other.

This book had aspects that reminded me of the Pushing Daisies television series (think back to 2007-2009). The book has some mystery, action, romance, violence, and lots of drama. Teens and adults who love paranormal stories should give this book a try.

Want to know what others thought about the book? Check out the rest of the Dark Metropolis blog tour!

About author Jaclyn Dolamore:

Jaclyn Dolamore was homeschooled in a hippie sort of way and spent her childhood reading as many books as her skinny nerd-body could lug from the library and playing elaborate pretend games with her sister Kate. She skipped college and spent eight years drudging through retail jobs, developing her thrifty cooking skills and pursuing a lifelong writing dream. She has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives with her partner and plot-sounding-board, Dade, and two black tabbies who have ruined her carpeting.

Find Jaclyn:   Website   Twitter   Facebook  


Giveaway:
Enter to win a copy of Dark Metropolis.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

First Light

About the book:
On the harsh militant world of Sindorus, where even colours are considered sinful, three people living very separate lives are about to have those lives change forever. As deceptions are torn away, and ancient secrets brought to light, they each must struggle to find the missing pieces to the puzzle...answers that will unlock their true destiny.

Idrith, bitter and trapped in a life he never chose, is the first to discover his own fear-filled mystery. Obsessed with finding the truth behind the lies he turns to the one person he has always tried to avoid -- the mysterious pilgrim, Harmion.

Aztar's military promotion comes with an unexpected burden. A serious problem threatens the security of the entire Northerner regime and it seems that their only hope may lie in the hands of someone he was raised to think of as his enemy and inferior. Each day they struggle together to find a solution, but at night Aztar struggles alone as the secret he's kept hidden since childhood returns to torment him.

In a world where most women have no control over their lives Daen was allowed to grow up unrestricted and far better educated than normal. Now her father's health is failing and the running of their family estate lies in her hands...and with it the security of everyone she loves. Knowing that desperate situations call for courageous action, Daen is about to take a step that will change all their lives forever.

Find the book: Amazon   Goodreads   Shelfari

Review:
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Books with settings in other worlds have so much potential. I decided to read this one because of how colours were/are a bad thing. How can this be? Aren't colours all around us? I was intrigued. I just hoped that the author could write a satisfying story about it. To my delight, the plot was well thought out and it was very believable. I loved how the characters shifted how they saw the world when any illegal colours were brought into their lives. It was as if they went from seeing a tree in black and white to actually seeing it as various shades of greens and browns.

In Frost's world, owning anything colorful can land you in serious trouble. For example, pictures in your home can be pencil or charcoal sketches, but a colorful painting of a bowl of fruit is illegal. But you're not limited to just paintings. Colorful outfits and even stained glass are illegal. If you're caught with any sort of coloured item, you could do some serious jail time, or even be sentenced to death. Why is this? Because colour can corrupt the mind.

Setting up the story takes time so be patient in the beginning. Frost has to introduce readers to each main character and explain their back stories. Then Frost begins weaving in the seemingly innocent pieces of the plot that will be tied together in the end. First Light is a complex story that is well written and executed. This is made more impressive by the fact that this is Frost's first book.

There are three main characters, and four other characters that are all tied together. The three main characters--Idrith, Daen, and Aztar--each have parts of the story told through their point of view since they live in different areas of Sindorous. This was a great decision by Frost. They each interact with Harmion who helps move the story along. In fact, readers will hate Harmion for his actions. There is a reason for what he does though, and by the end of the book, his betrayal makes sense.

The book tells a complete story, but leaves certain threads undone so readers will want to pick up the second book. It should be interesting to see what the group of characters with their special talents can do when the act together to change things in Sindorous.

A special note to potential readers, don't judge this book by it's cover. Yes, I'm one of those people who sometimes selects books because of the cover (and the synopsis), but definitely don't skip over this one. Pick it up and read it.

The writing style is easy to read. Middle graders can easily read this, but the plot is so complex that I recommend it for teens and adults. It can easily be a family book. There's symbolism in the book and of course, some mystery.

About author Michelle Frost:
MICHELLE FROST has written everything from reviews on mustard and shampoo to horoscopes and an astrology advice column for a small South African newspaper. She won second prize in the Klein Karoo Arts festival, 2001, for a short story later published in the book e-rupsie/e-ruption.Michelle has had other short stories and poems published in various publications and countries. This is her first book

Find Michelle: Website   Goodreads

She has Profiles on Goodreads, bookblogs and shelfari.

Scream For Me releases today!

About the book:
Nothing is deeper than the desire they can’t fight—or deadlier than the evil they can’t escape.

They were only supposed to have a professional relationship, but FBI agent Kyle McKenzie has been fantasizing about his sexy partner, Cadence Hollow, from the moment they first moment. It takes the darkest case of their careers to finally bring their hidden desire bubbling to the surface. Once they’re in each other’s arms, though, they swear that nothing short of death will part them. The Night Hunter—a cunning stalker whose four-state, fifteen-year abduction spree began in Paradox, Alabama, with Kyle’s sister—may be only too happy to oblige.

In the small town, Kyle must confront the painful past he’s been hiding from Cadence. Kyle vows to put the Hunter behind bars…or in the ground. But the one thing that obsesses Kyle more than his sister’s grim fate—his furious love for Cadence—is the weapon the Hunter will use to lure his pursuers into the mouth of a murderous trap.

Find Scream for Me: Goodreads   Amazon   B&N   Books A Million   IndieBound

About author Cynthia Eden:

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.

Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil. (Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people). Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.

Find Cynthia Eden:   Website/Blog   Twitter   FB Author Page   Goodreads

Excerpt from Scream for Me:
“We can’t do anything else out here,” she said. “Not tonight.”

She was being so careful with him. Too careful.

“Don’t,” he bit out as he stalked toward her. The others weren’t close enough to overhear, so he could lower his guard and let some of his fury out.

Cadence shook her head. “Don’t what?”

He wanted to wrap his hands around her. To pull her close.

No, I just want to touch her. To feel her.

“Don’t handle me with your damn kid gloves, Cadence.” The words were snapped. “I’m not some victim you have to coddle.”

He’d rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt—like that had done much good. He was covered with grime and sweat and plenty of insect bites.

I fucking hate summers in the South.

Insects were chirping all around them, and he’d had to dodge snakes in the bushes for most of the evening.

“I never thought you were a victim.” Cadence turned from him and headed for the car.

She knew he’d follow her. Wasn’t he always trailing after her?

Wasn’t he the one who always kept the need in check? The desire he damn well knew they both felt.

After today—after this hell—why couldn’t they turn to each other for some comfort and release? Let that desire burst free?

Replace death with pleasure.

Enchantress of Books Blog Tours