Always a Booklover

The magic of books just enchants me. I love reading, what more can I say?

Loving Lady Marcia by Kieran Kramer

Hey guys! Welcome to today's review blitz! Wow, first review I've posted in a long time! And I wanted to apologise for the late post, I kinda just finished the review, so yeah! It took a while to get it up, I'm having major writer's block now, can't think:/


First Published: 28 August 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 368
Format: Ebook/Paperback
Finished Date: 18 August 2012

Synopsis

Marcia gets schooled…

Of the three Brady sisters, Lady Marcia has always seemed the girl most likely to lead a perfectly charmed life. But after a handsome cad breaks her heart, she swears off love and devotes her life to teaching girls at a private school. In spite of her family’s wish for a London debut, Marcia is happy where she is—until terrible news sends her back to the Brady clan…and into the arms of an unexpected suitor.

On the subject of love

A dark and dashing earl who knows Marcia’s past, Duncan Lattimore is surprised by what a fascinating and independent woman she’s become. Marcia, too, is surprised—by the fiery attraction she feels for Duncan. But why—why—must he be the brother of the scoundrel who broke her heart? Why must Marcia’s rival at school forbid her from seeing him? How can this lady possibly resist this fellow—when they know that it’s much more than a hunch…?





Kieran Kramer


Double Rita®-finalist and USA Today bestseller Kieran Kramer is the author of the lighthearted Regency historical romance series, The Impossible Bachelors, published by St. Martin’s Press. She has a new six-book contract with St. Martin’s for another
Regency series called The House of Brady, premiering in August 2012 with LOVING
LADY MARCIA. A former CIA employee, journalist, and English teacher, Kieran’s also
a game show veteran, karaoke enthusiast, and general adventurer. Without doubt her
greatest adventure, which she’s taken hand-in-hand with her husband of 23 years, a
commander in the US Navy Reserves, has been mothering their three children.


My Rating

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My Review

Loving Lady Marcia was a good read. I really enjoyed it. The plot was simple and rather straightforward but it kept me hooked from start to finish. I literally could not put the book down. The characters were entertaining and I really liked reading about them. The pace was also great for the book, not too fast but neither was it too slow!

Alright, shall we talk about the characters? I loved Duncan. He wasn’t what I expected at all. He wasn’t as jaded as I expected but he was so damn sweet to Joe. You can’t help but love a hero that is so nice to children. Furthermore, I loved how he continued to chase after Marcia. Everything he did showed his love for her.

As for Marcia, I felt that she was a very interesting heroine. While she tried to be practical and all, there was always a little part of her that wanted to let go of everything and just fall in love. Most importantly, she was real and that made her all the more likable to me. I liked the fact that she had a mind of her own and yes, that she was stubborn. It gave her more character and I do enjoy that about a person. I loved how she is so strong, and how she managed to stand up even after what had happened all those years ago.

Plot wise, I really did enjoy it. It was the perfect pace and the tone was good too. I enjoyed meeting the characters and while I didn’t exactly have the personal connection to them, I could relate to them and that’s usually good enough!

However, I felt that the book didn’t make much of an impact on me. Sure, it was great reading it. But now, a couple weeks later, as I’m writing this review, I realise that I don’t remember much of the story. Then again, this could be just me. There were some parts that were really sweet!

Also, I didn’t really enjoy the last few bits of the book. I felt that it didn’t give a proper ending to the book. I’m a stickler for such things, given that it’s my final impression of the book. The final plot twist was also a little awkward to me. I didn’t really see the point in putting it in there. Some plot turns didn’t really make sense either, it felt forced. For example, meeting the duke. It could have been a little better conceived, I felt.

All in all though, I really did enjoy this book. Though there were parts that I didn’t really enjoy, the rest of the book certainly did make up for it. And I want to apologise for this review. I don’t know why, but the words aren’t flowing, I know I’m certainly not giving a very good review, or at least, it isn’t up to my usual standard!

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received.



Giveaway 40 Super Swag packs
• 1 Loving Lady Marcia mini book wine charm
• 1 pink Loving Lady Marcia pen (
• Romance Trading Cards (Loving Lady Marcia and Impossible Bachelors)
• 1 Kieran Kramer post-it notes
• 1 signed bookplate
• 1 Impossible Bachelors bookmark
• 1 Loving Lady Marcia bookmark

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Orangeberry Summer Splash: Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K Tyler - Guest Post


Hey guys! Welcome to my stop on the Orangeberry Summer Splash! Today, I'll be featuring Pavarti who wrote Two Moons of Sera with a guest blog.


Two Moons of Sera

In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one?

All the Fun of YA written for Adults

Two Moons of Sera is a Fantasy/Romance being released in serial format. This Book includes Parts 1 and 2. Watch for Book Two in March 2012.


Buy it from Amazon


Pavarti K Tyler


Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number-cruncher who has been committed to causing trouble since her first moment on this Earth. Her eclectic career has flirted with Broadway, Teaching, Law Firms and the IRS.


Pavarti K Tyler's novel Two Moons of Sera is a Fantasy/Romance and is being released in a serial format. Her next novel Shadow on the Wall is scheduled for release early 2012. Shadow on the Wall is the saga of Recai Osman — businessman, philosopher, Muslim and . . . superhero.





And now, let's welcome Pavarti to the blog!


The Importance of Labeling

The Young Adult Revolution is underway! There are so many books targeted to this demographic it gets hard to know which ones are worth reading. It's exciting though, when I was a teenager there was nothing like this available. It was Roald Dahl or Lord of the Rings, there was no in-between.

The problem though is that no one seems to be monitoring what is labeled YA and what isn't. Thanks to the popularity of Twilight and The Hunger Games, more and more adults are choosing YA books than ever before. Unfortunately the result of that is Authors are writing to appeal to the adults reading YA.

My daughter is nine and reads well above grade level. When she wants a new book from the library or we're in a bookstore the appropriate place for her to look is the YA section. Most bookstores don't have a Middle Grade section, although I think they should. Her current favorites are The Red Pyramid and The Sisters Grimm.

I wish I could let her just browse and flip through books and loose herself in the glory of finding a new fantastic tome. But I can't. I can't because she's just as likely to come upon some Vampire psudo-sex scene as she is to read Mr. Popper's Penguins!

Especially in the Self-Publishing World, more and more authors are taking some serious liberties with the definition of YA. Everyone certainly gets to have their own opinion but to me, if it's YA there should be no explicit descriptions of genitalia.

This is why in the marketing of my new serial novel Two Moons of Sera, I have decided not to list it as a YA book. The first part definitely reads like YA but I know what is coming and for me, its material more geared toward adults or teens who can handle adult themes, and therefore adult novels. I'm not one to censor and would never say a teen shouldn't read it, but I think it's only fair for them to know what they're getting into.

So the tagline I've adopted for 2MOS is "All the fun of YA written for Adults." Hopefully that will entice readers more than just having it shelved next to Twilight.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the Orangeberry Summer Splash! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too, many books are on tour during this amazing event! :D

Blog Tour: The Days Before by Nichola Moffat and Lubowa M.Planet - Spotlight

Hey guys! Welcome to today's post! The Days Before is a fantasy novel by Nichola Moffat and Lubowa M.Planet. It is 41,188 words long, therefore it is a relatively short novel. It really looks good and I can't wait to read it! I hope you'll enjoy it too:)


The Days Before

The days before is a novel of Fantasy and mystery.

In this novel, Ollie Connor is a man with many answers, but his very existence raises many more questions, just as Emylya is about to find out.

When Emylya has an accident which brings her close to losing her life she ends up in Ollie's world, a place between death and life. Back on Earth her body is in a deep coma which she may never wake from. Ollie can change that. He's an Angel of Death and one with an offer to make.

To get the offer means you’ve missed an opportunity, one that could have brought you untold happiness. Emylya can, if she chooses, go back to Earth for thirty days, and try to find her opportunity on the condition she forfeits her life entirely afterwards. Or she can lay back in her coma, and wait. It all comes down to how much she values her forever.

Enter Sam Fisher; he’s smart, handsome and about to burst into Emylya’s life in a riot of colour, taking her on a journey that will change both of their lives forever.


Buy it from Amazon

Nichola Moffat and Lubowa M.Planet


Nichola first started writing at the age of fourteen when she was entered into a local essay competition through school. Out of nearly three hundred entrants she came first, her prize being having her work published and receiving a laptop, and having caught the writing bug she has not stopped churning out words since.

By the age of seventeen she'd won another two competitions, had a short story published, won an award for her work and self-published two novels. Despite having a deep love for fiction she has also published press releases, submitted several articles to a variety of websites and aided the company she previously worked for with business letters, press releases for both newspaper and radio and in-store posters.

Nichola Moffat was born in the United Kingdom where she currently lives at Cornhill on Tweed, Northumberland




So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting! :)

Blog Tour: Panic Button: Lighthouse Island by Gilbert M. Stack - Spotlight‏


Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! I apologise that its so late, its actually the next day here in Singapore. I crashed last night before I could even use the computer to post this and I was out the whole day! Do forgive me! In any case, here is the post! :) Enjoy!


Panic Button: Lighthouse Island

When Angie Specter won a slot on the Reality TV show, Panic Button: Lighthouse Island, she promised herself she wasn't going to be involved in a showmance. She’s a serious contestant and wants that $250,000 prize. Showmance contestants are weak and foolish, and Angie has no intention of being used by some handsome guy.

That is, until she meets Hank. Not only is Hank Cross very handsome, he's as strong and capable as Angie. When the show's crazy host begins using terror to drive contestants off the island, Angie and Hank quickly figure out that if they don't help each other, they may not live long enough to push their Panic Button.



Gilbert M. Stack


Gilbert M. Stack has been creating stories almost since he began speaking and publishing fiction and non-fiction since 2006. A professional historian, Gilbert delights in bringing the past to life in his fiction, depicting characters who are both true to their time and empathetic with modern sensibilities. His work has appeared in several issues of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and is also offered at Red Rose Publishing. He lives in New Jersey with his wonderful wife, Michelle, and their beloved son, Michael.



Time for a short excerpt!

At the bottom of the stairs he turned to look at them and grinned. “Are you coming?” he asked.
Hank was the first to step forward and follow him down the stairs.
“It’s funny, but he’s actually got me nervous about going down there,” Ronnie confided in a hushed whisper.
“It’s just a cellar, right?” Angie said.
“Sure,” Ronnie whispered back. “It’s just a dark and lonely cellar, probably covered with critters—rats and bugs and—”
“Shut up!” Heather snapped before hugging herself. “I hate spiders!”
“I’m waiting!” the Keeper told them.
Angie stepped forward after Hank thinking that—sexist stereotyping or not—it would have been nice if Rook, the other big strong man, had volunteered to take the lead with Hank.
The cellar smelled dank and moldy and it was definitely far too dark with only the one lantern eliminating its very weak light. She moved closer to the Keeper so she could see better. “Can you make the light in that lantern brighter?” she asked. “I can hardly see anything down here.”
The Keeper smiled and Angie immediately wished she’d kept her mouth shut. Of course, not being able to see was part of the atmosphere he was trying to create.
Hank put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and Angie instinctively moved closer to him. His hand slid around her back and pulled her slightly closer yet. It felt good to have that little extra assurance that she wasn’t alone down here.
The Keeper waited, apparently patiently, while the other contestants filed down the stairs. When they finished congregating, he started to speak again. “This is John Lamb’s cellar. When he was alive and in control of this Residence, I’m quite certain that it was packed with supplies and perhaps some of the items he’d scavenged from the wrecks of ships. Unfortunately, the British took everything he had after they murdered the man.”
He angrily shook his head from side to side, then looked up and smiled most unpleasantly. “Well, almost everything I should say.”
He stepped away from Angie and Hank to stand in front of Rook, staring closely at him for several seconds before moving on to Ginny. “Can you imagine what they left behind, Miss Freeze?”
Ginny looked far more frightened than any of the rest of them, and all she could do by way of a response was to jerk her head from side to side.
The Keeper moved on, stopping in front of Ronnie. “In 1752, four years after John Lamb first took up residence on this island, the slave ship, Madrigal, was breached on those evil shoals out there. Somehow—and I really don’t know how it happened since all of the slaves should have been chained in the hold of the vessel—two of those savages actually survived the wreck to wash up on the shores of this island. Lamb captured them, of course, and sold them to a friend in Charleston for a very tidy profit.”
He stopped talking and tried to stare Ronnie down, but she glared back at him so ferociously that he decided to move on to the professor. “But the incident made the first Keeper think about the future. He was alone on the island with only his servants, his wife and his young daughters.
“What if there had been six savages instead of two? What if they were more physically recovered when he had discovered them? What if they hadn’t been broken by their journey in the dark holds of the slave ship? What if they had tried to harm him or his little girls? Lamb decided that it would be prudent to use some of his profit on the savages to make preparations in case he should be blessed with a similar bounty in the future.”
Tobias’s face clearly showed his revulsion at the story, which made the Keeper almost cackle with glee. He stepped away from the professor and went to the nearest wall where Angie could now see a pair of two foot chains had been affixed to the stone floor about two and a half feet apart. At the end of each chain was an ugly iron manacle.
“Oh no,” Ronnie whispered. In the deathly silence of the cellar she might as well have shouted the words.
The Keeper looked in her direction. The lamp wasn’t bright enough to illuminate her clearly, but he could obviously make out her shadowy shape. “Unfortunately, the sea can be a most stingy lover and she didn’t gift Keeper Lamb with any more slaves.” He sighed and shook his head as if this were truly a terrible thing. Then he knelt down beside the chains and picked up one of the manacles. It was a large, ugly, barbaric piece of steel.
“They were quite expensive, you know. They have locks actually built into them. They were made in London and shipped here to help the king’s governor with his constabulary duties, but then items always have a way of going missing from government inventories, don’t they?
“But they remained down here with the rats and mice and no new savages came to require their services. But Keeper Lamb was an enterprising sort of man—gifted in finding uses for all of his resources. And it occurred to him one day when he was beating one of his daughters that this was a much better way to discipline the girl than sending her to her bedroom.”


So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting! :)

Blog Tour: The 5 Moons of Tiiana by Paul T. Harry - Giveaway, Spotlight

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Hey guys! Welcome to another blog tour! Sorry for this late post again, I had training earlier, it was an extremely tiring day! The 5 Moons of Tiiana is a science fiction narration on a soldier caught in the middle of an interstellar war, faced with rescuing the princess he loves, and solving an ancient alien mystery that might bring peace to the galaxy.




The 5 Moons of Tiiana

Rez Cantor is a captain in the Imperial Army’s Shadow Guard, and the personal attaché to Leanna, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the Emperor, and sole heir to the Melelan throne.

On the eve of a treaty signing ending a twelve-year war between the Relcor and the Empire, Rez Cantor learns that the Imperial family has been slated for death.

Under orders from his Queen, Rez is given a final command–save the Princess at all costs. Unprepared, bewildered, and overwhelmed, Rez has only hours to formulate a plan, break into the Imperial Palace, and whisk the princess away before the Relcor learn of the deceit.

Not to be stymied, Rez is partially successful in his efforts. He steals Leanna away, and the two flee Melela in a spaceship, along with others of the Imperial Guard, including Rez’s arch nemesis, Philip Golan—but at the edge of space tragedy strikes. Their ship is nuked as it enters warp, and what happens next transcends all Rez knows or understands. Knocked unconscious during their tumultuous escape, Rez awakens to find himself on a beach–alone–without the princess and no idea where he is. His predicament worsens as he begins to experience his new environment–an alien moon that harbors new hostilities and challenges at every turn, including a metal-eating cloud that appears to be both alive and deadly.

So begins the sojourn of Rez Cantor upon the Moons of Tiiana.






Paul T. Harry


Paul T. Harry attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas as an English major with a theater arts minor before beginning his career as a writer and music producer. He also worked as an editor with Second Avenue Songwriter’s magazine and has spent the last 30 years writing novels, screenplays and short stories. Paul is married with four children and resides in Gold Canyon, outside Phoenix.



Here's what the author has to say about the book!

Theme: Much of my book follows the Hero’s journey as laid out by Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a thousand faces. My hero is an ordinary man, given a horrendous task, whereupon he is sent into an unknown universe where he has to face a series of tasks and challenges which force him to face and conquer his own fear and prejudices, eventually saving himself and the universe.

Genre: Science fiction

Target Audience: I’m not sure readers of science fiction can be lumped into a particular age group or single gender. If I had to choose though, I would lean toward young-hearted individuals with open and active imaginations—ones who are seeking an adventuresome read.

Tone: Adventure, mystery, romance, and excitement mixed with drama and humor.

Inspiration: I love the creative process–weaving the tale, building the plot and characters.

Distinguishing features: My book is written in the first person narrative which I believe is more difficult and interesting, as it requires the author to weave the story in such a way that is does not become repetitive or entirely singular in its approach to the reader.

Perception: I want the reader to experience this story as a rollicking good yarn.


And now, its time for an awesome giveaway!

Enter here:)

a Rafflecopter giveaway



So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting!

Blog Tour: Viking Witch by Kelli A. Wilkins




Viking Witch

Scotland, 803 A.D.

About to be burned at the stake by her fellow villagers, Odaria does what any betrayed witch facing certain death would do. She calls down a curse. Within seconds, rampaging Norsemen raid the village, capturing everyone except her.

But her reprieve is short-lived, and Odaria lands in the clutches of the Norse leader Rothgar. Can she remain true to herself and fight her growing attraction to this domineering man, or will she fall under his influence and be used for his ambitions?

After Rothgar witnesses Odaria’s powers firsthand, he strikes a bargain with her. The raven-haired beauty will use her magical abilities to help him with his quest in exchange for safe passage off the isle. But can this cunning woman be trusted, or is she using him to exact vengeance on her village?

Together they must fight bloodthirsty villagers, battle a mutinous band of Norsemen, find a missing Norse ship, and learn to trust each other . . . before time is up.




Kelli A. Wilkins


Kelli A. Wilkins developed a love of reading and writing while growing up in a small upstate New York town. Kelli enjoys writing in different genres, and her speculative fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including The Sun, The Best of the First Line, What If? andWeird Tales.

Kelli is a member of Romance Writers of America and has published several historical/fantasy romances with Amber Quill Press. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband. Readers are invited to visit Kelli’s Web site, www.KelliWilkins.com, to catch up on all her writings.




So yep, that's about it for today! Sorry for the late post!

Blog Tour: Deadly Image by Tamelia Tumlin


Hey guys!

Welcome to today's blog tour! First up, let me start off with apologising for this late post, my computer was lagging like crazy! So today, let me introduce you to Deadly Image by Tamelia Tumlin.

Readers may go to her website www.tameliatumlin.com to enter to win one of two $10.00 Amazon gift cards she'll be giving away at the end of the tour.


·                     Print Length: 113 pages
·                     Publisher: Steel Magnolia Press (July 6, 2012)
·                     Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
·                     Language: English
·                     ASIN: B008IJ5FPA



Deadly Image

Gone without a trace ...

Lexi Yates knows she hasn’t harmed her three-year old daughter, yet the Louisiana town of Gator Bayou seems to think she’s guilty. With her daughter missing, the evidence stacking up against her and her faith in God tested to the limit, Lexi must find a way to convince FBI agent Ace Valdez she’s innocent before she becomes the next target.

Ace Valdez doesn’t trust easily, and he certainly knows better than to fall for a case, yet there’s something about the widowed mother that makes him want to believe she’s innocent, but evidence doesn’t lie. Or does it?

Long Novella - about 36,000 words



Buy it from
Amazon


Tamelia Tumlin


Tamelia Tumlin sold her first story to Dogwood Tales Magazine many years ago while taking a creative writing course in college. The short story titled "The Traveler" was the feature story for that edition. After graduating college in elementary education, life, a teaching career and a wonderful son consumed most of her time. However, in the past couple of years, the yearning to pen fabulous romantic tales of to-die-for heroes and spirited heroines has taken over. Ms. Tumlin has worked with several online publishers, but she is now writing for Steel Magnolia Press. Juggling motherhood, teaching and writing is a challenge, but one she welcomes to pursue her passion. Her novels range from sweet and sassy to dark and dangerous.



And now, let's welcome Tamelia to the blog for an author interview!



AB: Tell us about yourself…
          I’m a mother, teacher, writer and one day hopeful world traveler.  Motherhood is my first love and priority, but my passion is writing and traveling.  I write in several genres, but my latest book is a Christian suspense novella entitled Deadly Image.

AB: What genre do you write and why?
          I write strictly romances, but I do vary a bit in the sub-genres of that category. I’ve written books that range from sweet and sassy to dark and dangerous.  The genre I write depends on the mood I’m in and the characters who wish for their story to be told next.

AB: Tell us about your book….
          Deadly Image is the first book in my Inspirational Intrigue line.  I plan to eventually write more in this genre. This book is about a mother who is desperately trying to clear her name and find her missing daughter.  The evidence is stacking up and my heroine is the only suspect in her daughter’s disappearance. The setting of my story is the fictitious town of Gator Bayou, Louisiana where most everyone seems to think my heroine has harmed her own daughter in some way.  Everyone, except my hero who is an Hispanic FBI agent  with a  few issues of his own to overcome while he’s trying to find the missing child.  Luckily, he is very thorough in his investigation and doesn’t automatically assume the heroine is guilty.

AB: Why did you write this book?
        Well, I can’t sing. I can’t dance. But, I can write. Since this is my talent I wanted to use it to glorify God.  This is my second Christian novel. The first one was published a few years ago by White Rose Publishing. I love to watch Criminal Minds, NCIS and Law and Order, so naturally writing a suspense novel seemed like a good idea. The idea for the book came to me a few years ago, but I never had time to write the story until recently. Incorporating the Christian theme into the novel was quite easy and came naturally. Not all of my romances are necessarily Christian, but I do feel we should use our God-given talents for Him as well when we have the opportunity.

AB: The heroine in your story has a medical condition. Can you tell us more about it and why you chose to give her one?
        Yes. Lexi had a traumatic childhood. This left her with an anxiety disorder. I chose to give this condition to her for several reasons. One, there are many people under severe stress or who have also had traumatic experiences and they require medication to control their anxiety. Giving my character this issue made sense with her past and it also can help readers who have experienced this medical issue relate to her.  The other reason is because I too have experienced anxiety attacks.  I don’t take medicine for them since, thankfully, they are few and far between, but from personal experience I can tell you they are very frightening. You really do feel as if you can’t breathe, your body starts shaking and you can become very nauseous. Not to mention a few other not so pleasant symptoms. These attacks can come out of the blue and without warning. I’ve even had them while I was sleeping and woke feeling like I was suffocating.  For me, the worst is feeling as if you can’t get enough oxygen. Very frightening, indeed. After sharing my attacks with other, I’ve learned this is not an uncommon problem and many people have or have had a panic attack at one or more times in their life.

AB: Since your book is a suspense, did you have to do any research?
        I did have to do a bit of research on police procedures. I also had to contact the FBI for a bit of information regarding their CARD branch.  The most difficult part was making sure the evidence and timeline of events were correct and made sense.

AB: What are you currently working on?
      At the moment I’m working on a roman tic fantasy series called the The Gatekeepers. This is not a Christian series, but rather a cross between paranormal and fantasy. The Gatekeepers are dragon shifters who guard the portals to their home realm. The first novella, A Dragon’s Seduction, has already been released through Steel Magnolia Press. I’m working on the next novella in the series and hope to release it by late August or early Septemeber.

AB: Where can we find you? (facebook, twitter, blog, website, etc)
       I’d love for my readers to connect with me on the social media!  I’d be honored to be added to their social circles.

       www.tameliatumlin.com





AW: Where can we find your book?




So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting! :)

Blog Tour: The Syrenka Series by Amber Garr - Promo + Giveaway


Hey guys! Today, I will be hosting a stop on the blog tour for The Syrenka Series. Before I even start, can I just say how beautiful the book covers are? It really took my breath away.

First, let me introduce you to the series. The first book is Promises, the second, Betrayal and the third, Arise.

I really can't wait to read the books and I think from the excerpts, you can see why! :) Enjoy the post! Oh and do stick around to enter the tour-wide giveaway at the end!



Promises

Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.
When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé, would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.

A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life she so adamantly tried to escape.


Time for a short excerpt!

I barely heard her parting words as the screen door slammed shut. My head spun in desperation as the anger coursed through my bones. “Get back in here Eviana!” she continued to scream at me. “We are not finished with this conversation!”

I was already racing down the deck stairs toward the sandy beach, kicking off my shoes and unbuttoning my blouse. We are for now, I thought as my blood boiled with rage and resentment. I was going to be trapped! How dare they? This was not the eighteenth century anymore! I had rights!

I stumbled onto the sand, taking just a brief moment to savor the warmth and the feeling of the grains massaging my toes. My shirt came off and I started to unzip my jeans. No one was around. But I wouldn’t care anyway. The water was calling me and it was the only voice that I could hear now. With one pant leg off, I hopped along in my forward progression until the other one was free. My oasis was so close now that I could taste the salt in the air. The sun broke free of a cloud, stopping me for a moment. It was late afternoon with sunset still a few hours away, but the sky had already turning multiple shades of pink and orange. The coloration reminded me of the inside of a brilliant conch shell.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I knew there would be hell to pay when I returned to the house. Marguerite, my mother, had tolerated my rebellious behavior when I was younger, giving me more freedom and second chances than anyone in our clan. But apparently now, at seventeen, I was an adult. Adult enough to bear children. Adult enough to participate in clan gatherings. Adult enough to navigate our youth through their transition period. But not adult enough to choose who to love.

A slight breeze wafted off the ocean, bringing with it scents that filled my gut with longing. The freedom of the ocean. Why couldn’t I just stay there forever? A gull called overhead, beckoning me to join him. The splashing waves calmed my inner rage as they ebbed and flowed in a hypnotic pattern. A distant moan of a shipping vessel reminded me of our history. I opened my eyes to see that I was standing alone along miles of sandy beach interlaced with large rocks and cliffs emblematic of the northern California coast. So beautiful. I stripped off the rest of my clothes and ran into the ocean.

As soon as I was under the water, I could feel the transition begin. My lower body ached as the bones adjusted from a life on land to one at sea. Both legs began to fuse together and work as one. My foot bones elongated while I prepared for the agony. I was accustomed to the changes now, but it was still a struggle of mind over matter. Breaking through the surface of the water, I grabbed one last breath before the final jolt of pain ravaged through my body. I bit my bottom lip and squeezed my eyes shut, willing the moment to be over. At last I felt an electric tingle move from my hips to my toes as the hardened iridescent, scales appeared on my tail. I opened my eyes to find that the internal transformation was complete as well. My vision cleared. My lungs expanded. I could hear for miles. I was free.

So I swam. I swam away from the shore and the house that I lived in. I swam away from my fears and obligations as though they could disappear with the distance. I would temporarily forget my responsibilities, my duties, and the argument with my mother. In here, I wasn’t trapped. The sea was my true home. I was a mermaid and this was my world.


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Betrayal

Life as a mermaid can be suffocating.

Eviana Dumahl has returned home as a clan leader, an orphan, and a heartbroken teenage girl. Her parents are dead and her boyfriend, Brendan, has decided that he needs some time away. While battling her inner turmoil, Eviana is forced into the war that Lucian Sutherland has incited amongst her own kind. With the help of Kain, her friend and formally betrothed, the two work together to prove that they deserve their birthrights as young merfolk leaders.

When The Council requests a demonstration of Eviana’s mermaid powers, she finds herself with an opportunity to win back Brendan’s heart. But her orders to train with a repulsive merman and the presence of an attractive new suitor challenges Eviana to embrace her leadership and resist temptation. Lucian is after her, and no one seems to understand why. Loyalties are tested as the casualties increase, showing Eviana that sometimes it is impossible to delineate between friends and enemies.


Read a short excerpt here!

I wanted to punch him in the face.

For at least the hundredth time today, I swung my fist towards his infuriating smirk. He easily dodged it, of course, and proceeded to look down at me like a child. “You’re getting closer,” he teased.

Throwing my arms down in frustration, I shook my head. “How am I supposed to learn if you won’t even let me get a hit in?”

He laughed and resumed a fighter’s stance. “How are you supposed to learn if I just stand still and let you pummel me? That’s not ever going to happen in the real world. Now, try with your legs.”

I rolled my eyes and shifted my feet so that my stronger right leg was in front. Ideally, I’d be having this battle underwater where my legs were not an issue.

“Protect your face,” he yelled at me and I lifted my fists up to nose level. I could do this. He’d taught me how to incapacitate my enemies. Just go for the knee.

I faked a few smaller kicks, pretending to hesitate. Then, like a ninja, I struck. The underside of my right foot was directly on target and I expected it to land a perfect hit to the side of his left knee. Only it didn’t happen.

Out of nowhere, he grabbed my ankle and I was suddenly airborne. The world spun around me once before I landed with a thud on my back, effectively knocking the air from my lungs. I even saw some stars floating by. My training sessions were getting harder every day, and after this debacle, I decided that it was time to quit.

A shadow moved above me and I used my hand to block out the rest of the sun. Looking up at his ominous figure I said, “I’m done.”

I heard another laugh rumble through my trainer’s chest as he reached down and grabbed my arm. In one swift motion, he pulled me up off the ground.

“You would have broken my knee with that kick, Eviana. I had to stop you.” I glared at him. “What?” he continued. “I’m not going to let you hurt me. But you did well. I knew that you’d learn eventually.”

I jumped towards him as fast as I could, intending to get him in a choke hold. My arms slipped around his neck, but my body kept rolling over him as he bent forward and used my momentum to toss me towards the ground. In less than two seconds, I was on my back again with a forearm pressing against my throat and my pride seeping away into the dirt.

“Ahh!” I screamed in frustration. The annoying grin on his face told me that I would never beat him in a fair fight. Palmer was my cousin, my trainer, and also one of the numerous protectors now living at my house. We’d been practicing for the past two weeks and although I couldn’t hurt him yet, Palmer reassured me that I was improving.


Buy Betrayal from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords



Arise

With power comes the responsibility to accept its consequences.

After the betrayal of those closest to her, Eviana Dumahl struggles to cope with her new reality. Kidnapped, broken, and confused, she is forced to engage in a war that will alter merfolk politics forever. With her estranged father leading the charge, Eviana has no choice but to stand by his side. Her continued existence hinges on the acceptance of the power growing inside her, even when that means embracing the family’s dark lineage.

Kain Matthew will sacrifice the world for Eviana. And he is not alone. As time runs out, her friends fight to save her life and theirs. An unlikely alliance gives them the edge they need to take a stand, although it keeps Eviana’s heart trapped in the past. A new discovery explains some of her previous mistakes, but it may not be enough to stop her father’s plans. Merfolk, selkies, and water sprites work together to save their kind, only in this final battle, not everyone will survive.

In the striking series conclusion, Eviana will learn the true meaning of power, sacrifice, and love.


Here's a short excerpt!

Kain

I finished packing up the duffle bag full of knifes, hand grenades, and a couple of Japanese short swords. It was Julian’s weapon of choice, but I preferred to stick with my natural abilities. I’d been practicing my compulsion and my water control seemed to improve every day. It was like a switch had been turned on and I suddenly knew exactly how to manipulate the element with very little effort. The compulsion I would save for a few choice selkies if needed.

As if listening to my internal thoughts, Brendan appeared on the beachside deck and knocked on the door frame. Neither of us acknowledged his presence, so he walked inside and sat down next to Daniel.

“I need to talk to Marisol,” Daniel said and quickly jumped out of his chair then disappeared around the corner. I would thank him for that later.

“Do you need any help?” Brendan asked.

“Nope.”

After a full minute of silence, he spoke again. “Abhainn will find her, right?”

I stopped filling the snack bag I was working on and took a deep breath. Do I respond or do I stay silent? I decided to listen to my heart. “Do you really care?”

As though I stabbed a sword through him too, Brendan recoiled in shock. “Of course I care! I love her more than anything in this world!”

“If you truly did love her, you would have left a long time ago.” My voice wavered with anger and a thousand other emotions. Apparently we were going to have this discussion and I wasn’t fully prepared to filter my words.

Brendan jumped to his feet and leaned across the table toward me. “You would have loved that, wouldn’t you? Having her to yourself. Going through with a marriage she never wanted. It would have been perfect for you if I would have stayed in Washington, right?”

“Yes,” I said through gritted teeth. “She would have had a chance to choose me.”

“She always had that chance. I never stopped her.” He moved around the edge of the table so that we were looking at each other eye to eye. I could see the lines around his face and the grey tone of his skin.

 He looked like hell and I smiled. “What’s so funny?” he snapped.

Ignoring his question, I stared into his eyes. “She doesn’t want you now.”

He sucked in air then turned away from me. “But I need to help her.”

“No, you don’t. We have this under control.”


Buy Arise from Amazon | Smashwords



Amber Garr


Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.



Enter the tour-wide giveaway here!

Stand a chance to win:

  • One paperback package: All three signed books plus SWAG (US only)
  • Three ebook packages: All three books in series via coupons (US and international)


a Rafflecopter giveaway


So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting! :)

Blog Tour: Relentless by Cheryl Douglas - Author Interview


Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! I do apologise for the late post, I fell asleep before I could post this! In any case, do you remember back in early July, I took part in a tour for the very same author? Well, that was for Reckless, the 4th book in the series. This is the 5th. It is 192 pages long! So yep, without further ado, let's begin! OH yes, and Cheryl will be joining us for an author interview at the end, do stick around for it! :)


Relentless by Cheryl Douglas

Nikki Spencer is all grown up, but the world still sees her as the little girl she used to be. She's ready to prove to her adoring public, and a certain rough riding rodeo champion, that sweet little Nikki isn't as innocent as everyone seems to think.

J.T. McCall has a reputation as a rough rider, both on the bull-riding circuit, and in the bedroom. So what's he to do when an innocent, like country crooner, Nikki Spencer, sets her sights on him? He plans to do what any good old country boy would do, save the lady from herself. But who will save J.T. when this little firecracker sets his world on fire?


Buy it from Amazon


Cheryl Douglas


It took me thirty-seven years to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. I thought I'd found my calling. In fact, I worked as a nutritionist for twelve years before I finally admitted to myself that while I enjoyed my work, I couldn't imagine doing it for the next thirty years.

My sub-conscious knew that I wanted to be a writer long before the conscious part of my mind decided to get with the program. While my sub-conscious was hard at work creating character profiles, plots and storylines, my conscious mind was telling me it was crazy to give up a successful business on the off-chance one of my manuscripts might rise to the top of someone's never-ending slush pile. After years of listening to that negative voice, I was finally ready to stop making excuses, face the fear and follow my dream of becoming a full-time writer, no matter the outcome. I'm so thankful I did.

I love bringing my characters to life and I am so grateful to have readers who love those characters as much as I do.
When I take a break from writing it's to spend time with my husband (a.k.a. my real life hero), my son, and my writing partner, Tia, a spirited Havanese who enjoys tapping her paw on my keyboard whenever I need a little comic relief.




And now, let's welcome Cheryl to the blog to join us for a short interview!


Author: Cheryl Douglas
Series: Nashville Nights
Book: Relentless, Book Five  
Topic: Frequently Asked Questions About the Nashville Nights Series

1.      What is the Nashville Nights Series?
Nashville Nights is a contemporary romance series that begins with the first book, Shameless. This book is about country music singer, Trey Turner, and his former wife, Sierra. Trey has battled addiction and tragedy while building a successful music career. He is finally ready to face the fact that his career has cost him everything, including the love of his life. This story is about redemption, the journey back from the brink of despair, and making amends for past mistakes.

2.      How many books are there in the series?
There are eight books in total.

3.      How did this evolve into an eight book series?
Shameless was a book I’d had in the back of my mind for years. When I finally sat down to write it, the book took on a life of its own. The secondary characters became so strong that it became obvious they each deserved their own story.

4.      Who was your favorite character to write and why?
I fell in love with all of the characters, but I was probably was most intrigued with Luc Spencer, the hero in book three, Ruthless. By the time I had finished writing the book, his character was nothing like the character I had outlined. As I wrote him, I realized there was more depth to him than I first realized, and there were more underlying issues than I ever would have expected.

5.      Is it important for readers to read these books in order?
I introduce all of the characters in previous books, so I think readers will gain better insight into the characters if they read the books in order.

6.      What is the most difficult part of writing a series?
It would have to be staying true to the voice of the characters throughout the series. A time or two my editor has said to me, that doesn’t sound like something the so and so we met back in book number two or three would say. The other thing is accepting that once a character is written a certain way in a previous book, it’s a done deal. You can’t change facts to suit the current story you’re working on, as much as you might like to.

7.      Would you have to be a fan of country music to enjoy this series?
No, the series isn’t about music. It’s about the trials and tribulations of couples who are falling in and out of love. The focus of every book is always the couple’s relationship. In fact, in several of the books, the characters are not even musicians. They are just on the periphery of the music scene, whether it be as a bodyguard, publicist, or stylist.

8.       What inspired you to write this series?
I love country music, and I love to read about cowboys, though I wasn’t necessarily interested in writing an entire series about either. Writing a series with an underlying country music theme that takes place in Nashville seemed like a great way to combine two of my passions while mixing it up, so I could introduce a variety of characters with different interests and backgrounds. 

9.      Have you finished all of the books in this series?
I am currently working on the last book in this series, Careless.

10.  When will all of the books in the series be released?
The final book will be available October of this year.

11.  What’s next, after Nashville Nights?
I often say this series took on a life of it’s own, but it really did! Book eight is not the last readers will see of these characters. Fast forward a decade or more. It’s time for their children to begin finding their HEA in Nashville Nights, Next Generation! This is another eight book series, and the first book will be released November 2012.

12.  Where can people go to learn more about the Nashville Nights series?
People can visit www.cheryldouglasbooks.com to read about all of the books in this series,  find specific release dates, and read about the upcoming series.
Readers can also visit me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cheryldouglasbooks.com.

So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting!

Blog Tour: Waking Up in the Wrong Bed by Natalie Anderson - Guest Post


Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! Today, Natalie will be joining us for a guest post and there's a scene from the book so do stick around to read it!


Waking Up in the Wrong Bed by Natalie Anderson

When film location scout Ellie Summers sneaks into a colleague's hotel room with seduction in mind, she's thrilled by her own daring!



But the smug morning-after glow morphs into red-faced mortification when she wakes in the arms of a total stranger! Ruben Theroux might be fine with the situation, but a flustered Ellie most definitely is not.



Ellie's only defence against this very attractive guy is to insist they're friends only--strictly no benefits! But Ruben isn't a successful businessman for nothing--they'll be good together, and he's happy to play dirty to get what he wants....



Natalie Anderson


USA TODAY bestseller Natalie Anderson writes fun, frisky, feels-good contemporary romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon and Entangled. With over twenty books published, she’s also been a Romantic Times Award nominee & a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year). She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband, four children and what feels like a million ducks. Find out more at her website and be sure to sign up for her newsletter there as she often has subscriber only eTreats!



Time for a short excerpt!

[In this scene, it’s the morning after and Ellie has just realised the guy behind her in bed isn’t who she thought it was…]

Ellie struggled to hide her breathlessness. Shock still had her lungs in a tight grip, but so did desire—she was seconds from orgasm and, frankly, that doubled her shock.

She stared at the complete stranger only a couple of feet from her. The stranger that she now knew so intimately. And just looking at him sent her heart rate through the ceiling.

“You’re okay?” The soft query delivered between dangerously curved lips. That gorgeous smile was as natural to him as the stripes were to the tiger. Oh yeah, he’d been blessed with beautiful lips, upturned at the ends so he looked like he was always in good humour. Which, given all his other assets, he probably was.

She clutched the sheet closer. Only her action dragged the sheet completely off him and yeah, this was definitely not Nathan. And his natural assets were… sizable.

“I’m so sorry this happened,” she said again, determined to ignore the savage desire rippling through her like some internal beast that refused to be tamed. What kind of depraved animal had she turned into?

“I’m not.”

She hardly heard him as she apologized another ten times, interspersing the phrase with a few more choice words beneath her breath. Clutching the sheet to her with one hand she put her now freezing hand to her face.

He sat up, resting his weight on one hand behind him and spoke more forcefully. “You didn’t do anything I didn’t want you to.”

That silenced her for all of a second. “You didn’t have much choice.” She looked across the bed at him. “I seduced you.”

And now, let's welcome Natalie to the blog!


Movies & Mayhem: creating a fun career for my heroine

In recent times New Zealand has gotten something of a name for providing the scenery for some fantastic movies (thank you Sir Peter Jackson). Yes, I really do live in Middle Earth and yes, our country really is that beautiful. But it’s not just the landscape we can provide, but also amazing digital and technical skills. So our capital city, Wellington, is sometimes referred to as ‘Wellywood’ – the film production capital of the South Pacific.

I was thinking about this when it came to plotting my next romance. I thought about all the side industries that benefit from the movie industry and thought it would be fun to explore that with my characters. I love trying to come up with interesting occupations for my heroines and I usually give them a job I’d love to do in another life. And I’d love to be involved in the movie business in some sense—not in front of the camera, nor really behind it, but on the fringes—as a fan. So that was the kind of job I gave Ellie Summers, heroine of WAKING UP IN THE WRONG BED. She’s a tour guide—showing film buffs around former sets and the countryside where epic battle scenes were enacted. It’s a lot of fun—she loves meeting her tourists and sharing in the fandom—but it’s also very hard work and of course not everything goes to plan all of the time! And never when she’s being pursued by a gorgeous rogue like Ruben Theroux!

Here’s a scene where Ellie is on a tour with some fans of the (fictional) fantasy duo:
Ellie grinned as she took photos, photos and oh yes, more photos for the tourists as they posed outrageously in front of the mother of all rocks that had been used in the penultimate scene of the mock Greek-myth movie franchise.

Yeah, she too was the kind of girl who’d want to dance in the Sound of Music summerhouse if she ever got to Salzburg. She’d go to Tiffany’s and eat breakfast with her nose pressed to the window pane… so she totally got where her attendees were coming from. And she wanted them to have that experience of their lifetimes, for it to be worth the massive journeys they’d taken. They were die-hard fans, and die-hard fans did not like to be disappointed.

“Okay, random dialogue time – spot prize to the person who answers this,” she broke into a speech, one of the less famous quotes that eventually led into one of the film’s greatest scenes.

One guy stepped up immediately, answering her bit part player’s throw away comment with the hero’s ‘impassioned plea’. She continued the scene – taking another character’s part, wanting to see how far he’d go and whether he could achieve UFS – Ultimate Fan Status. She set the bar super high so not many did, but she had a good feeling about this guy.

As she’d suspected, her tour ‘hero’ kept the exchange up for the entire scene – and when it ended, the rest of the group clapped and whistled. Laughing Ellie took his hand and guided him to take a bow. Yeah, it really was the best job ever.

She checked her watch to ensure they weren’t getting behind on time. The movie reenactment had gone on longer than she’d expected when he’d made it to UFS. “Okay everyone, you’ve got another fifteen here, I’ll be at the bus finding Kenny’s prize.”

Back outside the rain had eased – slightly. She bent her head, getting ready for the dash across the carpark.

“You can’t tell me you don’t want to be an actress.” A drawl, right in her ear. “Diva.”

She jumped, dropping her clipboard as she clutched her chest – stopping her heart from literally leaping out of it.

“Ruben,” she puffed as she turned. “You’re here because…?”

He handed her the clipboard he’d already retrieved. “I was visiting the cave. Lucky coincidence, huh?”

Ellie wasn’t convinced – not when his eyes twinkled like that.

“You’re amazing,” he continued, ignoring her astounded snuffle. “You have them eating out of your hand. They’re loving it. Even in the sodding rain they’re loving it.”

He’d been watching them in there? Oh that wasn’t embarrassing at all.

“It’s not me,” she rushed to snuff that burn in his eyes – and douse the roaring inferno that had combusted in her belly at the mere sight of him. “It’s because they’re such fans of the film. Doesn’t matter what I do, they’re still going to be blown away by being here.”

He shook his head. “No, you do everything for them and more. No small hassle too much trouble. Your patience with the camera posing is phenomenal.”

He’d been watching a while then? She giggled – and immediately cringed at her girlishness. “I’m gritting my teeth over some of it. There are always one or two more difficult clients.”

“And one or two desperate to get into your pants.”

“Oh that’s not true.” But she blushed.

“That guy Kenny was all over you.”

“He was acting the part.” And she hadn’t let him end that scene with the kiss that had happened in the movie.

“No, you’re his leading lady now,” Ruben teased, stepping nearer. “He’s over his comic book heroine crush and fixed on someone real for the first time in his life.”

“He’s just being friendly.”

“He’s just being unsubtle.”

“And you’re not?” She raised her brows at the way he’d moved in on her while speaking.

“Naturally I’m being as unsubtle as possible to let him and the rest of them know that you’re not available.”

She glanced over his shoulder, panicking that some of her charges might come out of the cave and see her standing unprofessionally close to a random stranger. “But I’m not available for you either.” A breathless rush of determined denial.

“I’m conveniently forgetting that for this moment.”

Hadn’t she known he’d be difficult to handle? Totally the kind to tumble a girl to her back, and have her breathless and delighted before she’d so much as blinked. “This isn’t a good time,” she began.

“It’s a perfect time. You have fifteen minutes before you have to round them back up on the bus.” He took her hand and led her across the carpark, to the shelter of the trees on the far side. Out of anyone’s view. “Fifteen minutes…”

“Ruben…” Oh this was not a good idea, but her heart was skipping and her limbs already sliding towards that warm, supple state. She inhaled deeply and valiantly strove for sanity. She was at work.
What does Ellie do? Does she handle Ruben? You’ll have to read the book to find out!


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

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