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My Name is Thank Your Tour Stop, Interview & Giveaway

10/31/2014

BLURB:
My Name Is Thank-You allows us into the worlds of two very different thirteen-year-old girls. Each girl’s voice carries its own unique tone, as the girls beckon us to follow magically into their lives. One is a joyous story of hope against all odds, the search for acceptance, and the longing for unconditional love; the other a sad tale of unspeakable abuse, constant rejection, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Thank-You and Josephine create around us a world rich with emotion, one that will leave you inspired, breathless, and yearning for more words.

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

"They say that a child’s imagination is one of the most powerful forces on this planet. As children we are able to tap into the mystery that exists outside of the walls of our minds. We are free from the cage of reasoning and ignorance. We are able to look beyond what is directly in front of us and see the path that lies ahead. As we grow, we begin to lose sight of these things. The mystery becomes overshadowed by the wall that grows bigger with each human experience. Eventually, we forget the magic and wonder that we once found in the belief that anything was possible, and the word impossible becomes the box that we use to shove God into. " (My Name Is Thank-You)

OCTOBER 31: Interview at Writer Wonderland

URL: http://writerwonderland.weebly.com

Tell us about yourself:

I am thirty years old, and live in sunny South Florida with my gorgeous Fiancé and writing is my creative passion.

What was your first book?

My debut novel is titled "My Name Is Thank-You" and it is about two thirteen-year-old girls, one being named Thank-You, and the other, Josephine. We follow their stories as each chapter alternates between voices. We follow as they face abuse, fear, rejection, and loneliness. We learn with them as they discover what it means to forgive, love unconditionally, and ultimately become a light.

Describe your first break.
I don't have a lengthy back-story filled with struggle and heartbreak, when it comes to agents and publishers. I wrote a novel, and decided to publish it myself. It was one of the most fulfilling moments in my life.

What is your favorite genre to read? To write?
I love great stories. The genre isn't so important to me as long as I can fall in love with the way the writer uses his/her words. I also don't think I have a favorite genre to write. I allow my characters to go, do, and become whatever they choose.

What makes a protagonist interesting?
An interesting protagonist is one who has something to say. I love characters that are rich in depth and wisdom. It makes any book all that much better for me. I love to pull out my highlighter and mark my favorite quotes.

What is the best thing about being a writer?
I love the creative freedom; being able to express myself and use my imagination. There is almost nothing cooler than getting paid for what you love doing.

What is the worst thing?
The worst thing would have to be those times when you don't get paid. Life can be a bit difficult to maneuver without a steady paycheck, although not impossible!

Pantser or plotter?
I am definitely a pantser. I don't think I've written an outline since college.

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.
The next novel that I am working on is a cross between a romance, and a journey of self-discovery. Like "My name Is Thank-You" it will have many twists and turns, and hopefully a surprise ending.

Here is a little taste:
My toes always feel nice in the sand. But today, today is different. The sand is wet, and I am cold. There is no warmth here today. I have loved the ocean all of my life. It is she who brought me here. My mother trusted her with my life, and she did not break that pact. I have been walking along her shores for my entire life, using her as a bridge to my past. I often come to visit her when I am troubled, when life stops making sense, and everything in my path seems more like an obstacle than a blessing. I have not come to visit the ocean in many years; at seventy-eight the sand is much harder to maneuver with my sore knees. But, I felt as though I needed to be here today. I have questions that I need answered, and only she can help.

In many ways, she is my guardian. When I was an infant my mother gave her that task when she handed my tiny life over to her brother as he boarded a cargo vessel en route to America. I was only three days old, so it may seem impossible to have a memory, but I do. Like most new mothers, mine was afraid, hopeful, and in love with the life that she had created. I can feel her swaddling my infant body, pressing me up against her chest; the smell of uncertainty, fear, and incense filling the air that fought its way between us. I can hear her whisper, "California, so you will know where you are going, and Calcutta, so you will never forget where you come from". That is all I know of my mother, she gave me my life, my name, and my journey.

Each one of us is put on this earth for a reason. I am not a religious man, although I enjoy a good conversation on philosophy now and again. But, I do believe with my entire being that we are not here by some divine accident. We are born to discover, to create, to imagine, to seek wisdom, to change, to grow, and to love, the most important of them all being love. I have lived a life filled with all of these things, so I speak from experience; I am not just the sad old man struggling to walk through the sand, I, like you, and like the homeless man sleeping in the distance, are divine beings with the potential to change the world right where we stand. I learned this many years ago, from the wisest soul I have ever met. Her name was Flo.

Just for fun

Cat or dog person?

Both!

Favorite food?

Pizza

Favorite book?
"Living Buddah, Living Christ" by Thich Nhat Hanh

Favorite movie?
The Notebook

Favorite vacation destination (you just have to want to go there)
New Zealand

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kaizen Love is an up and coming writer, spinning words into a beautiful web that should enrich the lives of all who read them. She has a positive and fresh take on life, and has mastered the art of storytelling. She grew up reading books by authors from every style, race, nationality, culture, and religious perspective; drawing inspiration from each one. Her greatest mission is to share love.

Amazon Link:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LPLHQ3W

Website: http://kaizenlove.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaizen-Love/1387506034846336?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaiZenLove

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads

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The Heart of Christmas Tour Stop & Giveaway

10/28/2014

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Follow the tour by clicking on the banner or cover to improve your chances of winning the $100 Amazon Gift Card.

BLURB:
Just call her Christmas Eve…

Eve Harmon has always enjoyed Christmas, but this year it reminds her of everything she doesn’t have. Almost all her friends are married now, and that’s what Eve wants, too. Love. A husband and kids of her own. But the B-and-B she manages and even Whiskey Creek, the small Gold Country town where she was born and raised, suddenly seem…confining.

As Eve turns thirty-five, she’s worried that her future will simply be a reflection of her past. She’s dated all the eligible men in the area. There’s no one she could even imagine as a husband—until a handsome stranger comes to town. Eve’s definitely attracted to him, and he seems to have the same reaction to her. But his darkly mysterious past could ruin Eve’s happily ever after—just when it finally seems within reach. Just when she’s counting on the best Christmas of her life!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt Three:
She stopped trying to act as if discovering him in her bed was no big deal. “This whole situation embarrasses me,” she admitted. “I’ve never taken anyone home from a bar before and, unlike you, I won’t be leaving this town any time soon. That means I’ll have to face all the people who witnessed my licentious behavior.”

He raised one eyebrow. “Licentious?”

“Promiscuous, debauched. Whatever you want to call it. Waking up with a total stranger isn’t something that’s normal for me.”

He studied her, his gaze…thoughtful. “Last night you told me it was your birthday.”

“And?”

“Quit being so hard on yourself. From what I could gather, it was a rough one. And with the holidays coming up, and knowing you’re going to spend another year alone, you said it wasn’t likely to get any easier.”

Damn. She’d shared that? Hadn’t she revealed enough when she took off her clothes? “My birthday was fine. Spending another Christmas as a single woman is fine. Everything’s fine.” How could she complain when she’d always had it so good?

She could hear the scrape of his beard growth as he ran a hand over his chin. “What’s that saying about protesting too much?”

“I’m not protesting.”

“If you say so.”

Holding the sheet in place, she slid a few more inches away from him, but she couldn’t go far. She was about to fall out of bed. He wasn’t bulky, but he had wide shoulders and he didn’t seem to be concerned about giving her space. “If you know it was my birthday, you remember more than getting dropped off here,” she said.

“It’s coming back to me.”

Bits and pieces were coming back to her, too. How she’d noticed him watching her from where he sat alone at the bar. How she’d danced for him in such a seductive manner, reveling in the appreciation she kindled in his eyes. How he’d eventually gotten up and walked over to join her. How he’d danced with her, so cautiously and respectfully even though the sparks between them felt like they were about to burn the place down.

How she’d slipped through the crush of bodies on the dance floor to catch her breath outside and he’d followed….

There were still things she couldn’t recall, however, and his name was one of them. Had he ever told her what it was?

“Who are you?” she asked.

Without even a stretch or a concluding peck on the cheek, he climbed out of bed and started to dress.

At least she wouldn’t have to ask him to leave, she told herself. It looked as if he planned on walking into the sunset—or sunrise since it was early—as soon as possible. But this wasn’t New York or Los Angeles. He couldn’t just hail a taxi. She lived in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California in one of the many mining towns along Highway 49 that had sprung up when gold was discovered a century and a half ago. It was a community that hadn’t changed as much as one might expect in such a modern, technologically advanced world. And if the lack of urban conveniences in Whiskey Creek wasn’t enough of an obstacle, she lived several miles outside town. There was very little traffic out here and no buses or other public transit.

He’d have a long hike if he intended to make his way back to Whiskey Creek without catching a ride from her.

Or maybe he planned to call someone. He had a cell phone and, for the most part, there was service.

“You won’t answer?” she asked.

“What difference does my name make?” he finally responded.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak is the author of more than fifty books. A four-time Rita nominee, she has won many awards, including the National Reader’s Choice, the Bookseller’s Best, the Book Buyer’s Best, the Daphne, and the Holt Medallion. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com (her youngest son has this disease). To date, she’s raised over $2 million. For more about Brenda, please visitwww.brendanovak.com.

links:
www.brendanovak.com

https://www.facebook.com/BrendaNovakAuthor

Amazon Barnes & Noble iTunes

Don't miss this one!
The 12 Days of Christmas Contest:

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Say Nothing of What You Seen Tour Stop

10/24/2014

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Christy will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Improve your chances of winning by clicking on banner to follow the tour.

BLURB:
When her aunt steps off a grain elevator into the emptiness of a prairie evening, Mira Piper loses her one protector. Chloe, her flighty mother, impulsively drags her daughter to Bramblewood, an isolated spiritualist retreat in northern Michigan, run by the enigmatic Dr. Virgil Simon.

Chloe plans to train as a medium but it's Mira who discovers she can communicate with the dead. When her mother abandons her, Mira discovers a darker aspect to Bramblewood: the seemingly kind doctor has a sinister side and a strange control over his students.

Then one winter's day Troy Farrington arrives, to fulfill his mother's dying wish and deliver her letter to the doctor. But calamity strikes and he finds himself a captive, tended by a sympathetic Mira. Haunted by her dead aunt and desperate to escape Bramblewood, Mira makes a devil's deal with Dr. Simon. But fulfillment comes with a steep cost...betrayal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
“You are absolutely stunning, Mira.”

I stole another glance in the mirror. The material was a rich, shimmery gold that fell from my shoulders in folds of liquid light. It looked like something a Greek goddess might wear. Oh, how I wished the girls from Amberville High School could see me in this dress!

“When you came here,” said Dr. Simon, “I had a vision of you like this. I looked at the girl before me, but I saw the woman you are now.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, gesturing toward the piles of clothes on my bed. “You’ve been so generous. I know you’ve spent a good deal of money on me—”

“Money means nothing,” he interrupted abruptly. “I have more than I could ever spend, more than I know what to do with. Don’t consider the cost.”

His tone was brusque, and I wondered if I had offended him.

But the next moment Dr. Simon smiled. “I think of you as my charity case. You were like a doll thrown out in the garbage. I simply rescued you from the trash, cleaned you up, and dressed you in something decent. But the beauty was present all along.” He touched my cheek. “Here.” Then he touched my forehead. “Here.” Then he touched my chest. “And here.”

I knew he was referring to my heart, but even so, his hand on my chest made my face warm with discomfort.

“You blush so easily,” he laughed. “You’ll never be able hide anything, Mira, with such a transparent face.”

“That’s all right,” I said, taking a small step back. “I don’t have anything to hide.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Christy Effinger’s poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in various print and online publications. She lives near Indianapolis. Her website is www.christyeffinger.com.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/christyeffinger

Twitter: http://twitter.com/christyeffinger

Tumblr: http://christyeffinger.tumblr.com

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/christyeffinger

The Wild Rose Press:
http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_177_139&products_id=5772

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Say-Nothing-What-You-See-ebook/dp/B00MW5HTZ0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1409

BN.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/say-nothing-of-what-you-see-christy-effinger/1120219553?ean=2940150511323

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Project Firebird Tour Stop & Giveaway

10/23/2014

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nick will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Don’t ask Leo Lloyd-Jones. Ask him how to steal a car, or why he got excluded from every school in Salford, but don’t come to him for help. This whole thing must be a daft mistake – and if anyone finds out, he’s done for.

Earth is on a deadly collision course that nothing can prevent. The only real hope is Project Firebird, deep inside a blast-proof bunker that shelters the brightest and bravest young people. Leo has got mixed up with the likes of Rhys Carnarvon, the celebrated teenage polar explorer, and other child prodigies chosen to keep the flame of civilisation.

Among them is the streetwise Paige Harris, a girl Leo likes a lot (but not in that way). Paige is desperate to rescue her little sister from London before the catastrophe strikes. But no-one is crazy enough to try that. Almost no-one.

Enjoy an excerpt:

‘Some of the brightest young people on the planet. Yet not one of you can make a cup of tea.’

Paige twitched into life.

‘That ain’t true! We’re not all useless around the house. I’ll do it.’

‘Thank you,’ said David. ‘One cup of tea, please. But you must make it all by yourself. No-one can help.’

Paige rolled her eyes – as if! David called after her.

‘I do mean no-one, Paige. No-one at all. Anywhere or anywhen.’

She turned. ‘You what?’

‘Tea,’ said David. ‘Let’s go. First you’ll need water. Clean water. I don’t want to get diarrhoea. So find some. Remember, no help. Not from water companies, or plumbers, or bottle manufacturers. Just you. There’s a lake a few miles away, but streams might be safer. Either way, you’d better start walking now. Maybe take some food along.’

A few uneasy sniggers trailed off. Paige stopped halfway to the door, her face daring David to make fun of her. He continued, counting on his fingers.

‘Something to carry the water in, you’ll need that. A sturdy vessel to boil it in. Pottery is good. Hunt for some clay while you’re out. Enough for a water pot, a teapot and a cup. Plus fuel of course. Wood for the fire. A bow-and-drill, or some other way of lighting it –’

‘This ain’t fair!’ Paige exploded. David held up a hand. Now his smile was kind.

‘It’s all right, Paige. You can sit down. Sorry to put you on the spot.’

About the Author: Nick Green lives in the UK. He is the author of seven fiction books to date, including the middle-grade CAT KIN trilogy published by Strident. His other books include THE STORM BOTTLE, a fantasy adventure about the dolphins of Bermuda, and most recently the FIREBIRD trilogy, a YA science fiction epic.

www.nickgreenbooks.com
https://www.goodreads.com/nickgreen_catkin

Buy the book at Amazon.

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BAR V5 DUDE RANCH SERIES tour & Giveaway

10/22/2014

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Melissa will award a $25 Amazon Gift card and a Mini Swag Goodie Bag to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour (international giveaway.) Click on the banner to increase your chances of winning.

Bar V5 Dude Ranch Series

by Melissa McClone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURBS:

Three couples. Three stories, where you can follow one pair from meeting to wedding day!

1. Mistletoe Magic – short story – $0.99 for Kindle and Nook, FREE at Smashwords

2. Kiss Me, Cowboy – eBook novella — $0.99 on Kindle Oct 17 - 22

3. Mistletoe Wedding — eBook novella — New Release! Only $2.99

Mistletoe Magic

Spending a quiet Christmas housesitting and reading novels about hot cowboys sounds perfect to Caitlin Butler. Until a stray kitten brings her face-to-face with Noah, her crush from college. Watching the handsome vet in action melts Caitlin's heart and brings back long forgotten emotion. She would be safer back at the house lost in the pages of a book. But a toe-curling mistletoe kiss tempts her to stay. Maybe she won't be spending this Christmas... alone.

Veterinarian Noah Sullivan isn't a Scrooge, but the Christmas Eve tradition of hanging mistletoe in the clinic's waiting room annoys him. Kissing doesn't belong at the Copper Mountain Animal Hospital. Noah rethinks his position when Caitlin arrives with a stray kitten she found freezing in the snow. All he wants now is to maneuver the pretty preschool teacher under the mistletoe. If he's not careful, he'll wind up on Santa's naughty list.

Kiss Me, Cowboy

She didn’t mean to kiss him…

When dude ranch wrangler Charlotte – aka Charlie – Randall kisses Zack Harris in an act of empathy, she falls hat over spurs for the handsome military veteran turned cowboy. Zack has too many demons, however, and refuses to get involved. A year later, he's still stonewalling, and Charlie needs to move on with her life so she can find a fulfilling relationship, not frustrating unrequited love. Putting distance between them seems the best way to get Zack out of her head and heart...but that means quitting the job she loves and accepting a position in Colorado.

He didn’t mean to kiss her back…

Growing up, Zack longed for a real family, and had one with his squad while deployed in Afghanistan. Now, he's back in the States and doesn't want anything messing up his new ranch family, no matter how much he's attracted to the sexy, hard-working Charlie. She could break his heart and ruin the comfortable working relationship they and the other wranglers enjoy. Besides, her friends claim she's looking for the perfect guy, and perfect he's not.

A kiss is just a kiss…or is it?

When Zack learns Charlie's thinking about leaving the ranch, he decides to find her a boyfriend — someone so good, so perfect, she has a reason to stay in Montana. Until he realizes too late that the only cowboy he wants her kissing is him. Can he commit to love and convince Charlie not to leave? Or has she made up her mind to put the past, and the kiss that started it all, behind her and move on without him?

Mistletoe Wedding

Longer: Event planner at the Bar V5 Dude Ranch, Meg Redstone is dreaming of a white Christmas with twinkling lights, sparkly decorations and strategically placed mistletoe. She loves making dreams come true for others, whether planning a holiday wedding or giving her young daughter the best Christmas ever.

Ranch foreman Tyler Murphy loves the holidays, but his newest employee has taken over his barn with her over-the-top decorations. He admires Meg’s desire to give her daughter the perfect Christmas while planning a winter wonderland wedding, but he wants to show her that a Montana Christmas is more than glitter and lights.

After raising his younger sister, an instant family is not on Ty's Christmas wish list. But he finds himself falling hard for the single mom and her little girl. Meg, however, is not interested in a romance with a cowboy like Ty, or any man. Getting her under the mistletoe is going to take a Christmas miracle . . . or a little help from Santa.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt

MISTLETOE MAGIC

The clinic’s front door opened.

A woman in a puffy powder blue down coat entered. Her hat pushed long strands of brown hair over her face. She carried something bundled in a black and white checked fleece blanket. “Please help me.”

The crack in her voice and pale complexion sent him into action. Two long strides, he was at her side. “I’m Noah. A vet.”

Worried green eyes met his. Familiar eyes, except these weren’t as young and innocent as the ones he remembered. These eyes were wary and concerned. But they still reminded him of that girl he’d just thought about, the freshman with cute freckles and twinkling jade-green eyes.

Her gaze widened with recognition. “Noah. It’s you.”

His heart crashed against his chest. His world tilted.

“Caitlin.” His arm reached forward, as if touching her would assure him this —she—was real. That of all the vet clinics in Montana, she’d walked into this one. “I can’t believe it.”

“Me, either.” She gave her head a shake, then lifted the blanket toward him. “I found a kitten in the snow. Something’s wrong with him. Or her. I don’t know which. Can you help?”

Noah remembered where he was, what he was. He took the bundle, ignoring the million questions racing through his mind. Talking could wait.

KISS ME, COWBOY

A few minutes later, Charlie stepped out of the barn. Two copper braids hung down from her hat. The only time he'd seen her wear make-up had been at Nate and Rachel's wedding. Charlie had worn a dress showing off long, toned legs no one expected, east of all him. He'd had to keep his distance that night and keep the other wranglers away from her, too.

She might act like a cowboy, rough and tumble, ready to jump into a fight if called upon, but she was girl-next-door pretty, with blue eyes that sparkled and a generous mouth that readily curved into a smile. He didn't let himself think of her as a woman often. Treating her like a guy kept him from focusing on her soft lips, sweet scent, and sexy curves.

She rubbed the back of her neck. "Thought you'd be at the bunkhouse by now."

He shrugged. "Was waiting for you."

She inhaled sharply.

Ty was right about them not getting along. She seemed more pissed off today. He jumped off the fence and closed the distance between them. "Got a few minutes?"

"For?"

The blues of her eyes reminded him of two tempting, deep pools of water. Perfect to jump into when he was hot and sweating. Truth was, drowning in her didn't sound like a bad way to go. The reason that would be a mistake poked at him like hungry mosquitos.

"I want to talk," he said.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
With a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, Melissa McClone worked for a major airline where she traveled the globe and met her husband. But analyzing jet engine performance couldn’t compete with her love of writing happily ever afters. Her first full-time writing endeavor was her first sale when she was pregnant with her first child! Since then, she has published over thirty romance novels with Harlequin and Tule Publishing Group. She’s also been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her driving her minivan to/from her children’s swim practices and other activities. She also sends care packages to deployed service members and fosters cats through a local no-kill animal shelter. Melissa lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house. They do!

Website: http://www.melissamcclone.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaMcCloneBooks

Twitter: www.twitter.com/melissamcclone

Buy links:
1.         Mistletoe Magic

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Magic-Copper-Mountain-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00GUZ195O

Smashwords:

Mistletoe Magic is FREE on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/380641

2.         Kiss Me, Cowboy

http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Cowboy-Montana-Born-Rodeo-ebook/dp/B00NF0LNFI/

3.         Mistletoe Wedding

http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Wedding-Montana-Born-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00NPMPNE8/

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Good Faith Tour & Giveaway

10/21/2014

5 Comments

Click on the cover to follow the tour and increase your chances of winning a preloaded Kindle & Amazon gift cards.

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes will be awarded via Rafflecopter as follows:

GRAND PRIZE: Kindle Fire pre-loaded with all Liz Tri-Desitny titles
FIRST PRIZE: $50 Amazon Gift Card
SECOND PRIZE: $25 Amazon Gift Card
THIRD PRIZE: full ebook set of STEWART REALTY SERIES up to Good Faith (8 books in all including the prequel House Rules)

Strong personalities—volatile marriages—stressful careers—conflicting goals—difficult children.

Contemporary challenges facing close-knit families form the crucible that forges a new generation.

Brandis, Gabriel, Blair and Lillian emerge from the entanglement of their parents’ longstanding emotional connections, but one’s star will burn brighter – and hotter – than the others.

With a personality that consumes everyone and everything in its path, Brandis Gordon struggles to maintain control as he ricochets between wild success and miserable failure. His life proves how even the strongest relationships can be strangled by the ties that bind.

Brandis and Gabe Frietag are as close as any brothers, bound by both loyalty and fierce rivalry. The strength of their ultimate alliance is tested time and again by Brandis’ choices.

Companions from birth, Blair Frietag and Lillian Robinson share loner tendencies, but come to rely on each other through adolescence. As they mature, both are forced to confront their feelings for the men they knew as boys.

Somewhere between the tangle of good memories and bad, independence and addiction, optimism and despair, the intertwined destinies of the new generation finally collide, leaving some stronger, others broken, but none unscathed.

As a chronicle of three families navigating the minefields of teen years into the turbulence of young adulthood, Good Faith holds up a literary mirror to contemporary life with joys and temptations unflinchingly reflected. Its fresh, real-life voice portrays the sheer volatility of human nature, complete with the hopes, dreams, and unexpected setbacks of marriage, parenthood and “coming of age.”

Enjoy an excerpt:

That morning his father had roused him from a sound sleep. He’d blinked, confused, by the angle of the sunlight. He rarely slept much past eight since he usually had some sort of training or the other.

“Let’s go son. Time for lunch.”

Brandis had dragged himself up, his limbs feeling like they weighed a thousand pounds each. His brain buzzed with a strange sort of energy, his typical state, and not at all welcome considering it normally didn’t hit him until later in the day. The conversation his father began as soon as they were seated at their usual diner did not help.

“So, listen, Brandis. These girls…Katie’s friends from college….”

Brandis sipped his ice water, waiting for his father to finish the thought. His heart pounded, and his face flushed hot with embarrassment.

Jack sighed, as if exasperated that Brandis didn’t pick up the thread on his own, leaving him to carry on with the awkwardness about to ensue. Then he leveled his gaze, his face open, not angry or judgmental. “I think that you may be in for some…I mean, they’re…shit.”

“If you are gonna tell me where babies come from again,” Brandis said, after deciding to ease his father’s obvious distress. He cocked an eyebrow and half a smile. Jack seemed to relax somewhat as Brandis continued. “Don’t bother. I already know.”

He flashed his brightest smile up at the middle-aged woman who stood at their table, coffee pot in hand. She blinked rapidly at him, and at that precise moment, Brandis got his first flash of…something…about his power. Up until now he’d merely been “Brandis the trouble maker, the causer of strife.” Suddenly, he felt strong, amazingly so, stronger than even the man sitting across from him, a taller, older version of himself. His body tingled all over, as he tested the smile out again on the woman, making her slop some coffee out onto the table. His father frowned, but then chuckled as the woman walked away after they gave their orders.

“Son,” he said, leaning back and cradling the coffee mug to his chest. “Your adventure has only just begun.”

“Huh?” Brandis picked up his cup but didn’t drink any. He hated coffee, but had ordered it in a burst of need to be more like Jack. As he sipped the bitter stuff, he was transported back years before when he and his dad would spend every single Saturday morning together, eating breakfast at this very diner. He had adored the man, he remembered distinctly. His chest hurt at the simplicity of their relationship then. He looked away from Jack’s deep blue, knowing gaze.

The subject changed of its own accord, and Brandis let it. Although part of him wanted to ask for advice, a much bigger part would not allow the words past his lips.

They ate, discussing the upcoming football season and Brandis’ part in it. The recruiting company Jack had contracted last year to video his every move would start up with the first game. He’d made varsity again, technically as backup quarterback to a senior boy. Brandis didn’t see this as a setback and had every intention of starting under center by the second or third game.

Finally, when they pushed their empty plates back and sat looking at each other, Brandis felt more comfortable in his father’s presence than he had been in a long time. Jack said, “I am pretty sure at least one of those girls sleeping in the basement is determined to change the status of your virginity for you probably as soon as tonight.”

Brandis choked on the last sip of lukewarm coffee. His face burned, and his body tingled again. “I’m…it’s…uh….” He clutched the napkin in his lap unable to meet his father’s eyes.

“No need to say anything. Let’s just say your mother is an astute reader of female intent. While I was busy admiring your sister’s friend’s ass, she apparently read the girl’s mind or something.” Brandis’ face flushed even hotter.

He resisted the urge to protest, to proclaim his innocence of such things. Because he wanted it back—those mornings between them, father and son, man and boy, not this awkward, man and almost-man bullshit. Because while the thought of one of his sister’s college friends popping his cherry remained a pleasant fantasy, it also made him feel older than he wanted to be right then.

“So, I bought a box of condoms this morning,” Jack went on. “Put some downstairs in the side table drawer and the rest in your room. Use them please.” He sipped the last of his coffee, looked as if he were about to get up, then leaned forward, touching Brandis’ wrist. “Have fun. Don’t be an asshole to women. Let every experience teach you…something. Because you are nothing as a man if you don’t learn from every woman you…love.” Jack looked out the window onto the nearly empty parking lot. Then he turned back, tightened his grip on his son’s arm. “God, you are so…young.” His face fell a moment, then he perked up again, his eyes twinkling. “Okay, so, your mother told me to tell you not to let them corrupt you. But all I’m gonna say is this: always wear protection, no matter what, no matter how much you don’t want to. And don’t let your mom catch you in the act. I’ll handle her otherwise.”

Then he let go, stood and smiled, draping a friendly arm around Brandis’ shoulders as they exited the restaurant.

“You really didn’t tell me you were admiring Katie’s friend’s ass, did you, Dad?”

“No, son. I most certainly did not. You obviously misheard me.” Jack winked as he stood by the passenger’s side of his classic Corvette convertible and tossed the keys to Brandis. “Remember what I told you. Don’t ride my clutch.”

About the Author:

Amazon best-selling author, beer blogger and beer marketing expert, mom of three, and soccer fan, Liz Crowe lives Ann Arbor. She has decades of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as a three-continent, ex-pat trailing spouse.

Her early forays into the publishing world led to a groundbreaking fiction subgenre, “Romance for Real Life,” which has gained thousands of fans and followers interested less in the “HEA” and more in the “WHA” (“What Happens After?”). More recently she is garnering even more fans across genres with her latest novels, which are more character-driven fiction, while remaining very much “real life.”

With stories set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch, in successful real estate offices and at times in exotic locales like Istanbul, Turkey, her books are unique and told with a fresh voice. The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight, frustrate and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished.

www.lizcrowe.com
www.brewingpasssion.com
www.facebook.com/lizcroweauthor
www.facebook.com/groups/lizcrowefans
www.twitter.com/beerwencha2
www.a2beerwench.com
www.amazon.com/Liz-Crowe/e/B00573TC7M

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, iTunes

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Among Giants Author Interview & Giveaway

10/16/2014

3 Comments

Jesse will be awarding a signed Deuce Brand watch to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on cover to follow the tour and improve your chances of winning.

BLURB:
The sound of the basketball slapping the floor echoed hollowly in the gym, as I began working it playfully with my hands. Planning my next move, I locked eyes with my opponent. I noticed small beads of sweat beginning to form in the furrow between his eyebrows. My heart was pounding, and my nerves tightened in response . . . but slowly a smile formed on my lips. Here I was, 5’8” Jesse LeBeau, going one on one with basketball superstar Kevin Durant . . . and I was making him sweat! As I started to make my move on him, I briefly wondered, "How did a skinny kid from a small town in Alaska ever get the chance to do this?" Here I was, involved in the filming of the 2012 Warner Brother's basketball movie Thunderstruck, playing against the NBA scoring champion! It shouldn't have happened. I didn't fit the profile and anyone would have told you that. But I did make it, despite the odds. And here is my story . . .

Growing up as an undersized white basketball player on a remote island in Alaska, Jesse had nearly every chip stacked against him. Yet despite his size and circumstances, he managed to rise above it all and make it to the big screen in Hollywood. With only the love of the game of basketball and the tenacity to follow a dream driving him, Jesse’s persistence has led him to star in national commercials and movies with some of the most recognizable celebrities and professional athletes in the world. More importantly, he found a way to tweak the system and alter his dream and get paid to do what he loves to . . . every day! Be inspired by his story and learn the keys to successfully creating a life that is uniquely yours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
dear reader,

The giants i fought against in my life were not just the physical players in the game, but also the obstacles i had to face each time i slid my feet into a pair of gym shoes and walked out onto the court. my lack of height, lack of bulk, and seeming lack of intimidating presence all fueled the dismissive bias i routinely faced when the competition took their first look at me. How i met that challenge, how i drove myself with a determination fueled by a love for the game of basketball, and where that has all ultimately led me is what this book is about.

i hope Among the Giants encourages you to:

•    never give up on your dreams.

•    never let the odds stacked against you make you a  quitter.

•    learn the lessons life gives you along the way.

•    look for new opportunities and avenues in which  to “tweak” your dreams and create something that is fresh and uniquely yours.

as you read the pages of this book, take a new look at yourself. you may have to face different giants than the ones that i struggled with, but you can still overcome your obstacles, just as i did. my greatest hope for you as you read my story is that you will have a new energy and desire to pursue your dreams with everything that’s in you. you, too, can create a life that you will love. when it’s all said and done, you just might find, as i have, a bigger and better dream than you started with . . .

Good luck! —Jesse
AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Tell us about yourself:
I grew up on a little island in Alaska called Pennock. On Pennock Island, there was no roads, stores or cars. It was just my house, surrounded by the woods filled with wild dogs, deer, and bears! Every day just to get to school I had to hop into my families boat and take it to town. All I wanted to do growing up was be a basketball player but I was always the smallest kid my age and people told me I would never be a basketball player. Now, basketball has allowed me to make a living by starring in commercials and movies and playing all over the world! I get to travel the country sharing my story and speaking at schools now.

What was your first book?
Among The Giants: How One Underdog Pursued His Dreams & You Can Too!

Describe your first break.

I don’t really believe in breaks. I think we need to take action and create our own success. For me that meant moving to Hollywood, learning how to do basketball tricks, finding an agent and then I started getting ‘breaks’ that allowed me to be in a lot of fun commercials and movies. Then I took action and wrote a book because I wanted to inspire young people to chase their dreams and then I got a ‘break’ and got a publisher. Taking action has created ‘breaks’ and allowed me to do some fun things.

What is your favorite genre to read? To write?
I enjoy reading self-help books because I feel like there is always room for improvement in my life and I’m constantly wanting to be better.

What is the best thing about being a writer?
Being able to have an impact on people all over the world is what excites me about being a writer. I want to change the world and writing books allows me to influence more people on a grand scale.

What is the worst thing?
Writing a book is a lot of work and it can be time consuming but when it’s all said and done it’s definitely worth it.

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.
I have more books in me waiting to get out! My work is mean to inspire, motivate and equip young people with the tools necessary to be successful in life so that is what you can continue to expect from me.

Just for fun

Cat or dog person?
Cat. I know. But only if it acts like a dog.

Favorite food?
Pizza

Favorite book?
The Success Principles by Jack Canfield.

Favorite movie?
Back To The Future 1-3

Favorite vacation destination (you just have to want to go there)
Hapuna Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii!

*You can follow me online @JesseLeBeau and on my website www.JesseLeBeau.com

**If you want a FREE download from my book and from my DVD all you have to do is text the word “Giants” to 58885!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Over the course of the last couple years, Jesse has propelled himself from a small, alaskan fishing town to the Hollywood big screen, being seen by millions all over the world. By leveraging his love of the game of basketball and making the most of every opportunity, he has suc- cessful created a life all his own. at 5’8”, he may not be an nBa player, but by tweaking his dream, he has been able to use his passion (basketball) to star in national commercials and movies, work with pro athletes and celebrities, and even give back on a regular basis as a motivational speaker for youth. His un- derdog story, outlined in his book, Among the Giants, serves as an inspiration to anyone who has ever been told they can’t make their dream a reality.

Jesse was born and raised on Pennock island, alaska, where his mother worked as a school teacher and his father was involved in the logging industry. Jesse played basketball growing up, but no one wanted to take him seriously, and coaches told him he was too small and would never make it. despite his critics, he believed not only in himself but also in the plan God had for him. Jesse has experienced big wins and frustrating losses, but both triumph and defeat helped him grow as a leader and a person, and helped deepen his faith.

Today, he uses his message to motivate and inspire young people around the world as a speaker and author. combining his love of basketball, speaking, and entertaining, Jesse founded the fab4 Takeover, which brings celebrities into schools to teach and impact students. He also released an instructional dribbling dVd titled Dribble Like a Star. for a free download from the dVd visit www.JesseleBeau.com or text the word ‘dVd ‘to the number 58885. you can find more information, read news in the press, watch highlight video foot- age, and follow Jesse on a more personal level at the following websites:

www.JesseleBeau.com

www.fab4streetball.com

www.twitter.com/jesselebeau

www.facebook.com/jesselebeau

www.instagram.com/jesselebeau

To purchase Among The Giants on Amazon visit: http://amzn.to/1gg7apn

To get a free download from his DVD visit: http://bit.ly/U9w32m

To get a free download from his eBook "What Allen Iverson Taught Me About Life" visit: www.JesseLeBeau.com

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The Count's Lair Review Stop & Giveaway

10/15/2014

13 Comments

Stephanie will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Follow the tour by clicking on side banner to improve your chances.

BLURB:

Count Anton Varga is haunted by the curse of the moon. It tugs on his emotions, ravishing his soul. Anton abhors the beast he must learn to tame if he is to find peace.

Lady Amelia Andrassy is an accomplished pianist, but her life in Budapest has been filled with heartache. When Amelia faints in the Duma's bookstore, it's Anton's strong arms that cradle her fall. His unusual eyes spark with hers, replacing their individual loneliness with the promise of feral passion.

After a two-month separation, Anton is ready to walk into Amelia's life again, but is Amelia ready to fan the spark they shared into a flame? 

Excerpt:
Amelia went inside. The room was cast in obsidian shadows by a single candle burning
on her dressing room table. The air was laced with the scent of mulberries. She grew warm. Her heart beat faster. Her defenses cracked.

"Anton?" she whispered.

He stepped out of the darkness behind her, placing his hands on her upper arms, pressing his chest against her back. His lips brushed against her ear, sending a shock wave through her. "You look wonderful tonight, Amelia."

She dared to close her eyes and enjoy his embrace. "Anton."

"Yes, it's me."

Warm feelings of longing stirred within her, only to be quickly doused by the sting of anger at his sudden departure. She stepped out of their embrace and spun to glare at him.

"How dare you."

He backed away, confusion pooling in his unusual eyes. "I thought--"

"You thought what?"

"That you'd want to see me."

"It's been two months since I last saw you, and you didn't even try to seek me out. I had no idea if you were dead, alive, or just too busy with your life to think of me."

"I'm sorry." His expression softened. "I had hoped to avoid the cool look in your eyes just now."

Exasperated, she let out a quick breath. "You're infuriating."

"So I've been told."

**** Review ****
The Count’s Lair is the second installment in the Hungarian series. The first book is The Hungarian and introduces both the mysterious count and Amanda. The two hit it off, but the count disappears for a few months leaving Amanda bewildered at his behavior. The second book reunites them. This time he wonders if the elegant Amanda can accept him secrets and all. If you’re wondering, he’s not a vampire.

This tender love story unfolds in historic Budapest at the turn of the century. There are several period touches including the food to the architecture that allows the reader to feel as if she too is strolling back in time.

The Count is not a predator, but a romantic, who falls for the talented Amanda. Part of his struggles are internal as he wrestles with his very nature. This lovely tales reminds me of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s early vampire novels. Two thumbs up for this period paranormal romance with a touch of Gothic to it.

AUTHOR Bio and Links: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE: TWITTER: FACEBOOK: GOOD READS:

YOU TUBE CHANNEL: PINTEREST:

Buy Links:
Amazon: Barnes & Noble:

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Intoxicated Interview & Giveaway

10/15/2014

11 Comments

Jeana will be awarding a $40 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour

BLURB:

Love is intoxicating, but the hangover can be agony...

Conservative, straight-laced Ally Taylor has the perfect life – successful fiancé, beautiful home, great career – until she catches her fiancé and best friend in bed. Desperate to shake off the sting of rejection, Ally heads to Felony, a notorious heavy metal club on the bad side of town. Even more dangerous than the bar is Jack Jameson, the hunky alpha male bartender whose smoldering dark eyes and dimpled smile turns her common sense to mush and her knees to noodles. After eight long years in a failed romance, the last thing Ally wants is to hook up with someone like Jack, but she can’t help wondering if he’s really as good in bed as his reputation suggests.

Jack Jameson has had his eye on Ally for months, drawn to her smart mouth and tightly wound self-control. When Jack finds Ally sitting on a barstool in his club, heartbroken and miserable, he’s more than happy to offer a little heat between the sheets to distract her. Too bad Ally’s not interested in his “hit-it-and-quit-it” philosophy. If only Jack could convince Ally that he’s tired of the endless parade of girls through his bedroom, she might see him in a different light.

When Jack and Ally get together, everything goes wrong and it’s more than either of them bargained for. Ally’s got serious trust issues and a need for control that makes Jack crazy. Jack’s got more baggage than an airline carousel; the constant stream of women from his past stirs up all of Ally’s insecurities. Can Ally overlook Jack’s womanizing past and learn to trust him? Will Jack be able to commit to just one woman or will a secret from his past ruin everything?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She didn’t want to believe him, but one look into his dark eyes and she had no doubt that he spoke the truth. Eyes like that didn’t lie. The clarity of their brown depths spoke volumes about his sincerity. He stared back at her with one eyebrow cocked as if daring her to challenge his answer. She cleared her throat and tried to look away but couldn’t. No, if there was one thing she knew for certain, Jack didn’t lie. He didn’t need to.

She shook her head to break the spell. A few more minutes of his heated chocolate stare and she’d be flat on her back with her legs in the air. Then the office gossips really would have something to talk about. “Thanks for lunch.”

“We aren’t done yet.” He glanced at the brass and mahogany grandfather clock behind her. “I still have another ten minutes of your time.” She stood and he rose with her, a lithe and graceful motion. “You want to know what I think?”

“Does it matter? I’m sure you’re going to tell me anyway.” She took a step backward and he moved with her, herding her backwards in a seductive dance until the backs of her thighs came up against the desk, so close that her skin prickled with a sudden rush of heat.

“I think that if you were really into Brian, you would’ve made the time for him. I think that you’re secretly relieved to be free of him and feeling guilty about it. I think that deep down inside you’re dying to break out of this cage you’ve built for yourself with someone who knows how to give a girl what she needs.”

***** REVIEW*****

Intoxicated by Jeanna Mann is part of the Felony Series. It reads as if a good girl’s unmentionable fantasy. Ally is a sharp, capable accountant with a straight-laced life and a boring fiancé. That is until the man she wasted eight years of her life dumps her. Her refuge is a rough and tumble bar that she her fiancé frequented when they went ‘slumming.’ The main attraction of the bar besides the rough clientele is a tattooed bartender named Jack. Before she enjoyed visiting the bar because she liked to pretend she had a wild side, but now she’s not sure.

Women are easy for Jack. In fact, he has a steady stream of females willing to use the backroom for a fast, no strings hookup. Past history keeps Jack clear of relationships. His talent with women is notable, but business comes harder. The bar, which has always been his dream, proves to be the ultimate demanding mistress who shows signs of slipping away.

Ally throws herself at Jack wanting a taste of what the other women had. Jack tries to discourage her knowing the type of woman she is. He finds himself drawn to the prim and proper accountant, only to discover there’s another woman under the façade. A woman with a skill set that both he and the bar need. Unfortunately, his past returns with one more punch to ruin both his and Ally’s budding attraction.

This steamy tale features the repressed Ally along with embittered Jack as they cautiously circle one another in a hormone-induced tango. Ally wants her one night as a bad girl, which she has to beg Jack for her, using her newly discovered sexual charisma. There’s plenty of steam between the two, but the evolution of the characters made the story for me. Too often new authors think stringing a bunch of sex scenes together makes a story. It doesn’t. Ms. Mann doesn’t do that. Both Jack and Ally have complicated back-stories and reasons for being the way they are. Life is seldom easy. Ms. Mann doesn’t allow her characters to take the paved road either.

Intoxicated is a fun, sexy read. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who likes romance with a shot of sizzle. Make that two shots.

INTERVIEW

Tell us about yourself:
I live in a tiny town in the middle of cornfields and cow pastures. Church bells ring in the afternoons and there aren’t any stoplights in the whole town. Even though I love the quiet, I also love to travel to the big cities for a taste of the fast lane. I studied Speech Pathology and Audiology at Indiana University, but chose a different path after graduation. If you see me out and about, I will probably have my two terriers, Mildred and Mabel, in the car with me. My favorite thing in life is writing and I spend every waking minute at my laptop or dreaming up a new idea for a story.

What was your first book?
Intoxicated came out last year. It’s my first and the first book in the Felony Romance series. I wrote it several years ago, but didn’t have the nerve to publish it until recently.

Describe your first break.
I entered and won the Cleveland Rocks contest with Intoxicated. It gave me the courage to move forward and pursue publication. I also made some great friends through a local RWA chapter. Those lovely ladies gave me the encouragement to take a chance.

What is your favorite genre to read? To write?
I love to read anything and everything, but recently I am stuck in the new adult genre and that’s what I prefer to write. Wait a few minutes and that might change though. For most of my teen years, I devoured historical romance and I still enjoy a good story about a feisty southern belle.

What makes a protagonist interesting?
The most interesting protagonists are those with the most flaws. Imperfections make a character relatable and sympathetic. I find myself drawn into their lives and rooting for them to succeed in their journey.

What is the best thing about being a writer?
I love the complete freedom of creating a story from start to finish. Putting a fantasy world onto paper is the ultimate enjoyment. I can control everything from the setting to the clothes worn by the characters. Does that make me a control freak? I just know that writing has changed my life and I can’t imagine a day without it.

What is the worst thing?
Sometimes writing makes me crazy. Especially when the words don’t want to flow. I have agonized over one sentence for hours, searching for exactly the right words to paint the picture in my head. When it works, it’s the greatest feeling in the world, but when it doesn’t work, it’s like agony.

Pantser or plotter?
I am definitely a pantser. For me, part of the joy in writing comes from the unexpected twists and turns that show up along the way. I think being a pantser slows up my writing process, however. I end up cutting a lot of content because it wanders away from the theme of the book. My goal for the next year is to become more of a plotter while keeping the freshness of being a pantser.

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.
I have a novella and three more novels planned for the Felony Romance series. I also have a contemporary romance and a paranormal novel on the back burner. Once I get through the Felony Romance series in 2015, I plan to work on those for a while. After that? Who knows! That’s the exciting part.

Just for fun
Cat or dog person? Dogs

Favorite food? Fettucini alfredo

Favorite book? Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Favorite movie? Gone With The Wind

Favorite vacation destination (you just have to want to go there) Highlands of Scotland

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jeana Mann is the author of sizzling hot contemporary romance. Her debut release Intoxicated was a First Place Winner of the 2013 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest and a finalist for the 2014 Carolyn Readers Choice Award.

Jeana was born and raised in Indiana where she lives today with her two crazy rat terriers Mildred and Mabel. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Speech and Hearing, something totally unrelated to writing. When she’s not busy dreaming up steamy romance novels, she loves to travel anywhere and everywhere. Over the years she climbed the ruins of Chichen Iza in Mexico, snorkeled along the shores of Hawaii, sailed around Jamaica, ate gelato on the steps of the Pantheon in Rome, and explored the ancient city of Pompeii. More important than the places she’s been are the people she has met along the way.

Be sure to connect with Jeana on Facebook or follow along on Twitter for the latest news regarding her upcoming releases.

Links:
Website:   Facebook:   Twitter:   Amazon author page: Goodreads:

Intoxicated available on:

            Amazon:   http://amzn.to/1d8XTAJ

            Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1lQ6Ulf

            All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/O3EGYM

            Google Play: http://bit.ly/OIBgei

            iTunes: http://bit.ly/1gcECRo

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One Shingle to Hang Giveaway

10/13/2014

8 Comments

Click on cover to follow the tour and increase chances of winning.

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A commenter will win a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Everyone knew Lil Wentfield would never marry. What man would want her? Granted she was a real beauty.

A woman with too much knowledge was at risk for insanity. Their fragile mind couldn’t handle it. That’s what Lil had been told when she went against convention and became an attorney. The 1800’s had fewer women lawyers than women doctors. Her pride knew no bounds when she hung her shingle—L.M. Wentfield, Attorney At Law.

Drew was a struggling cattle rancher, building a fledging Hereford empire. He was working toward that goal when he was accused of rustling and faced possible hanging. He needed a lawyer—a good one—a man. Chesterfield had one lawyer—a new one—L.M. Wentfield. He wasn’t prepared for a beautiful blonde with a sharp tongue and fiercely won independence.

Lil had no homemaking abilities. Her love was the law. And if the thoughts of the gray-eyed cowboy, who had the audacity to refuse her legal help stayed in her mind, she’d push them aside. She had nothing to offer a rancher . Even her wealth wouldn’t be considered an asset to a prideful man. And Drew Jackson was proud. So proud, he knew he couldn’t ask a woman of Lil’s stature to share his life—but he wanted to—from the moment he’d stolen that first kiss.

Enjoy an excerpt:

A loud knock broke into her thoughts. “Come in,” she called out.

Nothing happened, then another knock. “Please, come in,” she called again.

Getting no response, Lil came around her desk and, with some irritation at the interruption, jerked open the door, nearly toppling the tall man who held the doorknob on the other side. He muttered something under his breath, and tried to regain his balance only to bump into Lil, throwing her off stride. She stumbled backwards and would have fallen if not for the man’s quick reaction. He grabbed Lil and, wrapping both arms around, pulled her to him. Then, in a parody of the two-step, he danced her to safety.

Lil felt herself falling, then rescued by two strong arms. Not only was she pulled up short, but she was wrapped tightly against a rock hard chest, her nose buried in the man’s damp shirt. A very pleasant smell greeted her nose. The scent of summer rain and witch hazel. She found the masculine odor intoxicating.

Neither moved. Then Lil raised her head and looked into a pair of dancing gray eyes. His arms never relaxed their grip; in fact, they seemed to tighten around her as his mouth twitched, then broke into a smile.

“Didn’t expect to end up with a beautiful woman in my arms. For a moment there, I expected to land on the rug, Ma’am. With you alongside me,” he added with a chuckle.

He loosened his grip and gently pushed her away from the warmth and safety of his chest. Lil stepped back, feeling as though she’d just had something precious taken from her. She realized her hands still gripped his arms. Like a hot potato, she dropped them and turned away from the man’s disturbing presence. Like a fox heading for her den, Lil scurried behind her desk and gratefully lowered her trembling body onto the waiting chair.

With the desk between them, she was once again in charge. “May I help you?” she asked coolly, hoping the tremble in her voice went unnoticed. “I called come in not once but twice.”

“Sorry, Ma’am. Guess I didn’t hear you. I was just fixing to open the door when you did just that. Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Lil answered with no desire to elaborate. “I—I appreciate you catching me. Now,” she hurried away from that topic, “to repeat myself, how may I help you?”

He smiled, as if knowing her thoughts. Walking over to the desk, he removed his hat and stood with it in his hands. “I apologize for dripping on your floor, but it’s raining like hel—, uh, like heck out there.”

Lil tried not to look at how the ends of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. She focused instead on his hair, black and shiny with rain drops glistening on the wavy strands not covered by his hat. She didn’t realize she was staring at him until he shifted from foot to foot.

“Ma’am?”

“Yes,” Lil answered, pulling herself back to reality.

“What I’m here for is to see L.M. Wentfield, Attorney At Law.” He pointed at the window, in the direction of the sign.

Lil nodded. “Yes,” she said again. At this rate, he’d think she only had a one word vocabulary.

The man tilted his head to one side. “Could you direct me to L. M. Wentfield, Ma’am?”

“Of course I can. How may I help you?”

Two small furrows appeared between the man’s eyes. He peered closer at her. Perhaps he needed to try another approach.

“Ma’am, could I speak with your husband?”

“There is no husband,” Lil said with a hint of asperity.

About the Author:

I live in Colorado with my husband and my two Yorkie kid dogs: Stormy, four pounds, and Eli, six pounds. I’m a native of Colorado, but I’ve lived several years in Wyoming and Montana. I draw from these beautiful states for most of my books. My Western Historical Romances are: Montana Star, Sapphire Blue, Unconquerable Callie, Wyoming Heather and One Shingle To Hang. Tears In The Wind is a contemporary romance. Then I changed genres from my beloved romances and wrote, under the pen name of D. M. Woods, my first suspense/thriller: Death Crosses The Finish Line. The second book in this ‘death’ series, Death Is A Habit, came out January 8, 2014. I am currently working on the third book in the ‘death’ series, Death Walks C Dock. I am also working on another Western Historical Romance, Montana Man. It features the characters readers came to know and love in Montana Star. Truly, I mean it when I say my greatest pleasure next to writing is having my books read and enjoyed. There are many more stories just waiting to be written.

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My Name is Thank Your Tour Stop, Interview & Giveaway

The Heart of Christmas Tour Stop & Giveaway

Follow the tour by clicking on the banner or cover to improve your chances of winning the $100 Amazon Gift Card.

Say Nothing of What You Seen Tour Stop

Christy will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Improve your chances of winning by clicking on banner to follow the tour.

Project Firebird Tour Stop & Giveaway

BAR V5 DUDE RANCH SERIES tour & Giveaway

Melissa will award a $25 Amazon Gift card and a Mini Swag Goodie Bag to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour (international giveaway.) Click on the banner to increase your chances of winning.

Good Faith Tour & Giveaway

Click on the cover to follow the tour and increase your chances of winning a preloaded Kindle & Amazon gift cards.

Among Giants Author Interview & Giveaway

Jesse will be awarding a signed Deuce Brand watch to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on cover to follow the tour and improve your chances of winning.

The Count's Lair Review Stop & Giveaway

Stephanie will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Follow the tour by clicking on side banner to improve your chances.

Intoxicated Interview & Giveaway

Jeana will be awarding a $40 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour

One Shingle to Hang Giveaway

Click on cover to follow the tour and increase chances of winning.

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