BLURB:
With a hurricane closing in on Temptation, Louisiana, Michelle Thurston fails to convince her stubborn grandmother to leave her home on the bayou. Sheriff Gator Landry arrives by boat, hell-bent on forcing the elderly recluse to evacuate. He is stunned to find Michelle, who was just 16 years old when he courted her one steamy summer.

Now, at 32, Michelle comes face-to-face with the man whose kisses tempted her to lose control, only this time there is no place to run. Although Gator is not about to leave the two women defenseless, Michelle can’t help but wonder if he is more dangerous to her than anything the storm can do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt One:
“We need to get out of these wet things,” Michelle said, crossing her arms in front of her in an attempt to hide herself. She shivered as Gator continued to stare. He still had the power to make her body go berserk when he looked at her that way. Those glittering black eyes didn’t miss a thing. It was as though he were capable of seeing past flesh and bone to her inner workings, all of which shook at the moment as violently as the tree limbs outside the window. She was certain he knew what that look did to her. He had it down to an art. And if it had had a powerful effect on her at sixteen, it was doubly so now at thirty-two.

“That’s the best idea I've heard all day," Gator said, shrugging out of his shirt. He mopped his brow and chest with it and ran it across the back of his neck.

Michelle wondered if he had any idea how sensual that simple act was. He was all rippling muscles and taut flesh. Goose pimples stood out on his shoulders and his nipples puckered from the chill in the room. His arms were lean and as brown as the rest of him. The room seemed to shrink to the size of a shoe box. Michelle had seen enough male bodies in her job to know that the one before her was one of the best she’d ever laid eyes on.

Gator would have had to be blind not to notice her perusal. The grin he shot her was brazen. “Like what you see, Mic?”

Charlotte Hughes published her first category romance in 1987, a Bantam Books’ Loveswept, titled Too Many Husbands, which immediately shot to #1 on the Waldenbooks Bestseller list. She went on to write almost thirty books before the line closed in 1998.

Although Charlotte is widely known for her laugh-out-loud romantic comedies, she went on to pen three Maggie-Award winning thrillers for Avon Books in the late nineties, before resuming her first love, funny stories about people falling in love. She thrilled readers with her hilarious books, A New Attitude and Hot Shot, the latter of which won the Waldenbooks Greatest Sales Growth Achievement in 2003.

Her books received so many accolades that she was invited to co-author the very popular Full House series with mega-star author Janet Evanovich.  

With that series behind her, Charlotte began her own, starring psychologist Kate Holly; What Looks Like Crazy, Nutcase, and High Anxiety, creating a list of somewhat kooky but always loveable and funny ensemble characters.

To keep current with Charlotte and her projects, please sign up for her newsletter - http://readcharlottehughes.com/newsletter.htm.

You can also visit her website at http://readcharlottehughes.com and follow her on Twitter  @charlottehughes. Her Facebook page is at https://facebook.com/authorcharlottehughes

BUY Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Temptation-Charlotte-Hughes-ebook/dp/B00X1V760W/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1431517229&sr=8-8&keywords=charlotte+hughes


ONLY .99 on Kindle

BLURB:

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

These Mermen Don't Have Tails, They're Deadly as Hell, and They've Got Something He Wants...

INFAMOUS BACHELOR and SELF-MADE BILLIONAIRE ROEN DORAN IS A BASTARD. Yes, he knows it. And no, he doesn't care. He's got money and power, and he depends on no one. But when his estranged father dies, willing him a secret island, Roen will come face to face with an even bigger secret: its occupants. And these savage, sea-obsessed warriors are quick to make their position clear: Leave now or die.

 There's only one problem. Nobody tells Roen what to do. Ever. Oh, and one other thing. He's just met the island's other new "guest" and something about her brings out his possessive side.

 SOLE SHIPWRECK SURVIVOR LIV STRATTON had been adrift at sea for ten grueling days when salvation miraculously appeared: an uncharted island. Only, the deceivingly beautiful men who live there aren't interested in saving her. No, not at all. Because they somehow believe she is their property, a gift from the ocean to do with as they please. This is not good.

Her only hope? Billionaire Roen Doran, of all people. A man who's said to care for nothing and no one. But if he's so heartless, then why is he about to risk everything to help her?
~ ~ ~
NOTE FROM MIMI ABOUT MERMEN: Anyone who has read the Accidental Series or King knows I love to flip things on their heads. Mermen is no exception. THIS IS NOT A FLUFFY STORY ABOUT men with fins and tails who sweep ladies off their feet and make them long to be mermaids. Uh-uh. This is NOT that kind of story. Nobody in their right mind would want to hang out with these very beautiful yet dangerous men (who don't actually have tails, fins, or gills, by the way) NOR would anyone want to be their mates. Well, at least, not me! Run. Away!!

Hope you enjoy the ride. - MIMI

Excerpt Three:
Roen opened the envelope and found a letter paper-clipped to an old map that looked straight out of a ridiculous Looney Tunes episode—a few landmarks and a giant “X” right in the middle of the page. He skimmed the letter—some random garble about an island in the North Pacific. Clearly, his father had been a crazy asshole right until the bitter end. Case in point…

Roen, my boy, this island and its treasures will become yours if you choose to claim it. And I hope you do because there is no greater cause on this earth than protecting it. However, you must always remember, whatever you do, to never turn your back on that which the island asks of you. Never question the island, son, because--

 Roen chucked the letter into the wastepaper basket along with the map. He wanted nothing to do with it or his father. Leave the past where it belongs.

He picked up the stack of insurance papers and began skimming through them before signing. Page after page of affidavits, cargo valuations, waivers, and…

“What the hell?” The report filed by the Coast Guard showed the approximate location of where they believed the cargo vessel went down.

 He dug his father’s map from the trash. There were no lines of longitude or latitude, but the position was the same: approximately two thousand miles west of San Francisco and a thousand miles south of the Delarof Islands, the most southern point of Alaska.

Roen dialed Cherie. He knew she wouldn’t really go home until he told her to leave because she doted on him like a lovesick puppy. No, he’d never laid a finger on the woman and never would. She was under his employ and that meant something to him. Even selfish pricks needed to draw the line somewhere.

“Yes, sir?”

“What ships do we have on the Seattle to Shanghai route?”

“One moment.” Cherie clicked away on her keyboard. “You’ve got one ship departing Chinese waters now and an empty vessel unloading at port.”

“Here in Seattle?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“Tell the crew I’m sailing with them.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling Romance author, host of the radio talk show, Man Candy, on Radioslot.com.

When San Francisco native Mimi Jean went on an adventure as an exchange student to Mexico City, she never imagined the journey would lead to writing Romance. But one MBA, one sexy husband, and two rowdy kids later, Mimi would trade in corporate life for vampires, deities, and snarky humor.

She continues to hope that her books will inspire a leather pants comeback (for men) and that she might make you laugh when you need it most.

She also enjoys interacting with her fans (especially if they're batshit crazy). You can always find her chatting away on Facebook, Twitter, or saying many naughty words on her show MAN CANDY on Radioslot.com !

Find out more about Mimi and upcoming books at www.mimijean.net.


BUY Links:

Book is priced at  $0.99

http://www.amazon.com/MERMEN-Mermen-Trilogy-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00TYNANIS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430433097&sr=8-1&keywords=mermen+mimi+jean+pamfiloff

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mermen-mimi-jean-pamfiloff/1121333650?ean=2940151313155

Tell us about yourself: 
I'm a writer of three fiction books that deal with the life of 21st century actress/heroine Cheryl 'Fifi” Larouche.   I'm semiretired and work part time as a teacher/tutor out here in Santa Maria, California. I taught for a number of years mathematics in the Los Angeles Public School system,  Before that I worked as an engineer in Aerospace,  Living in Hollywood for a number of years inspired me to write the 'Fifi' books which became the trilogy starting with the Hollywood novel Fifi, followed by the anthology Diary of a Mad Gen Yer, followed by Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul.  The last few years I have been a very ardent student of spirituality and that gave me the idea to write the spiritual part for Evolved Soul.   
What was your first book? 
The Hollywood novel Fifi, unlike my 2 preceding books, Diary of a Mad Gen Yer and Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul, is basically a straightforward novel describing Fifi arriving in Hollywood and trying to make it as an actress.  I introduce Fifi and a few other major characters like Biff, her boyfriend, Charles, her obstinate father who thinks she is wasting her time pursuing an acting career, Jerry, her agent, and a Hollywood rival, Kerry Krowley.  Diary and Evolved Soul are anthologies of poems, tweets, and short stories and definitely have more of a fantasy angle than Fifi.

Describe your first break.
 Break?  What Break?  Maybe I'm still thinking why I'm not yet as well known as Stephen King.  All kidding aside the place where I started to receive success in selling my books are the numerous book fairs that my publisher has had me participate in such as the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

What is your favorite genre to read? To write?  
No genre stands out in terms of reading.  I love great suspense, great SciFi, a great crime novel like The Godfather,  or a great adventure like The Old Man and the Sea.  The most important thing in any book I read or any movie I see is great plot, dialogue, and characterization.  That's what I try to do when I write any 'Fifi' story.  As for writing obviously love writing Young Adult genre.   As a kid I a great SciFi came to my mind, maybe one of these days I will write it.

Are Happy Endings a must in your stories?
 Absolutely not.  While it would be nice to always have happen endings I'm more concerned about an interesting ending,  For instance Fifi really doesn't have the perfect happy ending.   Not every great book or movie  had a 'happy ending.'  To me what makes the ending important is for the author to capture the reader's curiosity.  Will there be a sequel?  If something tragic happened to the main character perhaps there is a hint of a prequel? 

What makes a protagonist interesting? 
 OK a Realtor says “location, location, location.”  As a writer I say what makes a protagonist interesting is characterization, characterization, characterization.  I try to make Fifi an interesting as possible with all of her 'quirks.'

What is the best thing about being a writer? 

The sense of accomplishment after you have completed the book, the short story, or even the 'silly poem.'

 What is the worst thing?  
Clearly writer's block.  I wish to mention that at times I could actually create a story while waking up from a dream at 4 am or driving around in my car listening to old 70s pop better than sitting in front of a lap top.  I think a lot of other writers probably would say the same thing.  Stories just don't come easily for me sitting in front of a laptop or typewriter.


Pantser or plotter?
Definitely a pantser.  I get a 'Fifi' story in my head and then I write it.  This is what especially did in Diary and Evolved Soul.  Yes I did some planning and outlining for Fifi but a lot of what I put into that book was also 'spontaneous.'

 What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.
The next project is after three 'Fifi' books I'm looking into writing a screenplay.  It's jut that I need to take some classes in writing screenplays.  Also I'm thinking about a YA adult/children's book involving perhaps Fifi as a kid and her spirit guides Goth and Au.

Just for fun

Cat or dog person. 
Let's see the curiosity of the cat combined with the enthusiasm of the dog?  I still favor dogs, cats are just too sneaky.  Of course I'm a little sneaky.  Fifi sure isn't.  She's hates cats and is definitely a dog person.


Favorite food? 
Yes I am trying to be more vegetarian and couple of days a week

go vegan' but favorite foods?  Come on it's tough, a few candidates and none of them 'rabbit food.'   A juicy porterhouse steak, spaghetti or lasagna and sausage, especially 'my mother's,' spareribs, and I'll never complain about a pizza.  I also love Asian food like sukiyaki, again my mother is pretty good at cooking that.

Favorite book? 
The Godfather, a close second is To Kill a Mockingbird, a close third is The Martian Chronicles, a close fourth is Jaws.
 
Favorite movie?
 The Treasure of Sierra Madre, a close second is The Godfather, a close third is The Exorcist, a close fourth is Giant.Favorite holiday?  By far Christmas.  Family get together s, the best movies of the year are out around that time, the spirit of giving, and of course all my Twitter followers get to read a new 'Fifi' Christmas story or poem.

Would you rather be the princess or the villain? Why?
Do you mean for my gender the prince or villain.  Both?  Just like in Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, there is good and evil in all of us.  I convey that with Fifi.  I certainly don't make her Ms. Perfect Goodie Goodie.  There is a good but also evil in Fifi's persona such as her intense jealousy of successful actresses. 
 
Who has more fun, orcs or hobbits? 
Since the orcs were soldiers and henchman of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings always doing evil deeds it clearly sounds like the hobbits had a lot more fun.

BLURB:
"Fulfill your destiny Fifi, as you wander through the Wilderness," Goth her spirit guide tells her....
Marcus Dino's latest book 'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul', an anthology like it's smash hit predecessor, 'Diary of a Mad Gen Yer.' has 21st century actress/heroine Cheryl 'Fifi' Larouche coming back outrageous as ever introducing new 'Silly Stories,' 'Silly Poems,' and 'Silly Blogs', plus an added new twist using the world of Twitter, Fifi's 'Silly Tweets.'

'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul' is third in a series of 'Fifi's stories following Marcus Dino's top ten Amazon Bestseller 'Diary of a Mad Gen Yer' in addition to his original Hollywood novel 'Fifi.'

Many of the major characters from Mr. Dino's two earlier book are back in 'Evolved Soul' including Fifi's boyfriend Biff, her obstinate father Charles, and her two alien friends from the planet Zatoris, Alocki and Helos. In addition there are some very interesting new characters in 'Evolved Soul' including a long dead Englishman who said he knew great literary figures such as Dickens and Keats called 'The 200 Year Old Great Writer,' and two entities who say they are 'Fifi's Spirit Guides' Goth and Au.

 Both Goth and Au write very inspirational blogs that convey a strong message in the 'Blogs' section of 'Evolved Soul.'

'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul' is both humorous and inspirational and like it's two predecessors will entertain the reader from beginning to end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:

 Excerpt from 'A Midsummer Night's Silliness'

QUEEN LYMPHAMA
This is a night when strange demons and vampires arrive to doth try to steal the soul of the innocent…Tonight oh Neptune after the party we shall call the Royal Apothecary who will doth conduct a potient out of bat wings and garlic and the tongues of TV talk show hosts and politicians and other vile and smelly things…And whoever I praytell drinks of this potient will scare off all evil souls and who ever drinks of this potient will be strong as anyone who drinketh such foul and smelly stuff would have to be strong…and crazy…Now.. Come my good king and my subjects let us now go to the party at the palace to intake in wine and merriment….

 (Image of Ghost from Hamlet appears)

 GHOST

What noblest of misfortunes that hath cursed my son Hamlet partakes thou fair Queen? I praytell that I shalt make amends for my son to be of assistance to thee…My son Hamlet at times hath not believed in me…I praytell thou noblest of Queens believe in me as I was once King Denmark…

 QUEEN LYMPHAMA
I hath no misfortune oh Ghost of the King of Denmark…I praytell that thou may get into the minds of casting directors of good theater and good movies and good TV shows of which there are so few in 2012 and convince them of my acting abilities…Now Ghost of the King of Denmark a place where they doth are well known for changing men into women and women into men I doth praytell thou join us at the palace for an evening of wine, song, and merriment….


AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Marcus Dino has always wanted to be a fiction writer as long as he can remember. Living in Southern California plus his being a die hard movie buff has led him to write stories dealing with the struggles and conquests of heroic up and coming Hollywood actress Cheryl 'Fifi' Larouche.

Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul is an anthology and inspirational book and is Mr. Dino's third 'Fifi' series book. His first book, Hollywood novel Fifi was first published in 2003. His second book in ebook format, Diary of a Mad Gen Yer, an anthology and Amazon best seller in it's category, was published in 2009.

Mr. Dino has a Masters degrees in Education and Engineering and is a graduate of Chapman University.   He has a distinguished career as an electronics engineer working for several Aerospace companies and also as a mathematics teacher in Los Angeles area schools.  He currently resides in Santa Maria, California. 

Website: www.summertimeproductions.net

 'Evolved Soul' can also be purchased on major on line bookstores such as www.amazon.com: 


http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Advice-Evolved-Soul-Marcus-ebook/dp/B008X0803S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422819096&sr=8-1&keywords=Practical+Advice+from+an+Evolved+Soul&pebp=1422819098393&peasin=B008X0803S

  and Smashwords:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/217466

 The printed version of 'Evolved Soul' has just been published and is currently being placed into numerous bookstores.

BLURB:
Quinn McGuire only wanted to lay her mother to rest. She planned to hustle out of Hayden County, Kentucky once it was all done. The town held nothing but bad memories for her. She’d never forget the echoes of children’s taunts calling her poor trash and whispers about her daddy's crimes. With the exception of her best friend, Jack Lassiter, there was no one in Hayden she cared about - and she’d even been hiding from him for the last two years. But in less than 24-hours after her arrival, Quinn’s brother gets arrested for murder, derailing her plans for a quick exit. Quinn has to find a way to clear his name, but shadows from her past threaten her efforts and her sanity. As she moves closer to the truth, she just may be putting herself in the path of the real killer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
Jack was an intentional man who rarely did anything that didn’t serve a purpose. When he trained his shrewd green eyes upward, I realized it had been his aim to touch me. My reaction to his hug earlier hadn’t gone unnoticed.  

 Taking the swing next to him, I pushed off gently and moved back and forth.  

 “How long are you going to be home this time?” he asked. There was no reservation in his voice - no indication there had been a break or shift in our friendship. His easy way belied the fact that we hadn’t spoken in over two years.


Shrugging, I said, “Dunno, a couple of weeks I guess. I figure it will take that long to settle Ava’s affairs - sell the house and do something with the salon.”

 The answer seemed to satisfy him, and an awkward silence settled between us as an afternoon breeze whistled and tossed dry leaves across the yard. We shared the same birth date, but at thirty-eight, there was wisdom in Jack’s face that made him seem wiser than his years.  

I sighed and looked at the sky before speaking. “I’m sorry for not staying in touch.”

He took a sip of coffee and nodded toward me. “And.”

 “And…” I hesitated, “you are… my best friend, and you deserve more than that.”  

 He rolled his eyes. “And... you are going to tell me why you disappeared without a word for two years.”

 Taking a deep breath, I shook my head slowly before looking at him. “No,” I said quietly. “Not yet. I will tell you one day but not right now.”


AUTHOR Bio and Links:
K. S. David lives in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband, their three children and a menagerie of pets.

New storylines are constantly running through her head and she keeps notebooks tucked in pockets of the car, the nightstand and makes voice recordings just about all day long. She's addicted to true life mysteries and crime shows, both of which marry well with a great romance. Some of her favorite things are long walks, reading in bed, baking and of course, writing her next novel.

http://kurdymay.wix.com/k-s-david-romance

https://twitter.com/ksdavidromance

BLURB:
Professor Rebecca Stanley-Wilson is having a very bad season.  The ramifications of one torrid evening with one of the great upcoming painters of his generation, will not only be felt across her life but over the entire art world. Sexy, funny, and very surprising, Permanent Spring Showers is the tale of one very memorable springtime and how it impacts a group of unique artists and dreamers. From the the hopeful Olympian with the failing marriage to the writer who is creating a new literary movement (through outright manipulation) to the romantic wondering what he did wrong to drive away the love of his life, each tale walks the line between reality and fantasy. And waiting at the end of the line is a very important painting... and possibly the revolver used in the Lincoln Assassination.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
“What are you thinking? She’s an escort!”

“I’m in love, Steve. After sitting through the first twenty minutes of this lunch, it’s obvious you certainly still remember what that feeling is like.” He pushed his plate forward.


"But Clark…” I began.

 He interrupted, “And it’s not like she wants to do that her entire life, Steve, if that is what is troubling you. She is doing it to pay for college.”

 I stopped, the car of my mind shifting gears again. “Wait, did you say ‘is’? Do you mean she is still doing it?”

 “Well, times are tough all over,” Clark replied far too calmly for my taste. “Have you seen college tuition rates this year?”

 “And she’s really in college?” I asked, shocked. I began to wonder if I was on one of those TV shows and a camera was hidden in a bush nearby me.

 My shock was perfectly mirrored by the opposite reflection of the casualness of my brother.

 “You didn’t think I would marry an idiot did you, Steve? I need to be mentally challenged, you know that. She is studying education; her dream’s to teach third graders.”

 “You’re engaged to a hooker…”

 “Escort,” he corrected quickly for a third time.

 “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said sarcastically. “You are engaged to an active escort who wants to be an elementary school teacher?”

 “Yes,” Clark said with a dramatic point across the table at me. “And Steve, this is where you come in. You need to help me introduce her to mom and dad.”

Permanent Spring Showers is a fast moving tale of life, frustration, cheating spouses and consequences.  As in real life, everyone seems to want something or someone they don’t have. Cheating is the tool they resort to getting what they think they want. The characters do not foresee the consequences of their actions, which are often long-lasting. More like a rock thrown into a pond that makes concentric circles to the edge.

Most readers will feel sympathetic toward Rebecca as she discovers her cheating spouse and loses her precious books in one fell swoop. They’ll also understand her impulsive need for revenge too. The book is a guilty pleasure for anyone who has wanted revenge on an unfaithful partner.

This serious subject that could turn maudlin is handled in a humorous and page-turning fashion. If all infidelities, heartaches, and divorces could be handled in such a succinct and upbeat fashion, then the world would be a more pleasant place. All that said, it is an entertaining novel, that at times, is also romantic too.

Permanent Spring Showers is a good vacation or weekend book when you want to get away from everything. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Scott D. Southard is the author of A Jane Austen Daydream, Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, My Problem With Doors, Megan, 3 Days in Rome and Me Stuff in addition to his latest release, Permanent Spring Showers. His eclectic writing has also found its way into radio, as Scott was the creator of the radio comedy series The Dante Experience. The production was honored with the Golden Headset Award for Best MultiCast Audio and the Silver Ogle Award for Best Fantasy Audio Production. Scott received his Master's in writing from the University of Southern California. Scott can be found on the internet via his writing blog “The Musings & Artful Blunders of Scott D. Southard" where he writes on topics ranging from writing, art, books, TV, writing, parenting, life, movies, and writing. He even shares original fiction on the site. His blog can be found at http://sdsouthard.com. Scott is also the fiction book reviewer for WKAR's daily radio show Current State.

http://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Spring-Showers-Scott-Southard-ebook/dp/B00T74HH0Q

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/permanent-spring-showers/id964243135?mt=11

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/512831

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/permanent-spring-showers-scott-d-southard/1121151697?

ean=2940149923335  

NOTE: The book will be free on Amazon on May 12, the date of the book blast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Inspired by a true story, The Soul Retrieval is a suspenseful tale of love, loss and healing which follows traumatized southern beauty Henrietta Clayborn as she moves between her home in a small South Carolina town and the New Mexico Native American reservation whose spontaneous healings keep drawing her physician husband back. Tortured by her awful secrets, Henrietta struggles to thrive in either locale, but it is her unlikely friendship with Joe Loco––an eccentric Native American mystic with an Elvis fetish and a gift for healing––that shows her the way to be whole again.

Set in the late 1950s, The Soul Retrieval is richly woven with spiritual insights but also deadly secrets, forbidden healings, a murder mystery, stunning scenery and an unforgettable cast of characters.

 A story of transcendent and inspiring power that is both entertaining and enlightening, readers will be cheering for the uptight woman from South Carolina to push through her fears of the forbidden as she searches for truth and healing, faces great obstacles on the frontier of self and ultimately becomes more than she ever thought possible.

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

Excerpt One:

“It’s just as Bear foretold,” the Apache said. He closed his eyes and moved his hands in small circles with palms out. “The fire’s burning, but no one’s home in your teepee.”

“Excuse me?”

 “You don’t feel like yourself, you’re feeling vacant and disconnected, like something’s missing.” Joe spoke as he opened his eyes.

She gaped at him in stunned silence before whispering: “How … why would you say something like that?” Henrietta’s heart thumped in her chest as she nervously glanced toward the living room. Her husband was still talking on the phone.

 “Your soul speaks volumes through your eyes.”

 “You see something in my eyes?” And she rubbed them again with her handkerchief.

 “I see what was there, what should be there, but is not now.”

 “Don’t be silly. I’m fine. My eyes were just watering, that’s all.” She winced, knowing that it wasn’t true, hating that she’d become such a liar.

 “It’s okay, I’m here to help,” Joe said. He placed his folded hands on the table after sitting down.

 His smile and disarming empathy surprised Henrietta, but she wasn’t going to be moved by what seemed like a sweet and insightful gesture. Joe Loco was absolutely the last person in the world she’d choose to confide in.

“Don’t worry. It’s obvious your soul has fragmented and is in need of repair,” Joe said with a calm certainty, as if it was an everyday matter to be dealt with.

“What?” Henrietta put her hands down and stared into space, bewildered by his words. In the quietude, the sizzle of the frying eggs and bacon filled the room like a choir of rattlers. My soul has what? When she looked again at Joe, planning to demand exactly what he meant, his eyes were closed, and he was whispering and holding his palms up as though in prayer.

So she placed the cooked food on a plate, poured a glass of milk and put both down in front of him. He opened his eyes and smiled up at her.

 “That’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever heard—a soul fragmenting,” she said. “How would something like that even be possible?”

 “It can happen when we believe or experience something bad we don’t want to face.” He took a bite of eggs and grits, closing his eyes again to savor the combination. “Oh, this is yum-yum,” he said.

 When he looked up, it was Henrietta who was staring.

 “The good news is that lost soul fragments can be recovered and healed. It’s not hard, if you know how, if you know the secret,” Joe said.

 “Are you saying you know how to do that? That you know the secret?”

 “The Great Spirit works hitherto and I work.”

 She crossed her arms. “So what are you, some kind of soul repairman?”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ann W. Jarvie has a B.A. in journalism and more than twenty-five years’ experience as an award-winning writer in advertising and public relations agencies, both in South Carolina and Chicago. She now lives near Phoenix, Arizona, where she spends part of her time as a freelance copywriter and the rest writing fiction.

The Soul Retrieval was inspired by Jarvie’s maternal grandmother’s fascinating life on Indian reservations, where she lived with her physician husband until his mysterious and untimely death.

www.annwjarvie.com

https://twitter.com/annwjarvie

https://plus.google.com/104972649617453739149/posts

https://www.facebook.com/ann.jarvie1 

Buy link: Book is free from Amazon on the date of the tour.

http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Retrieval-Ann-W-Jarvie/dp/0692368205/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429907546&sr=8-1&keywords=ann+jarvie+the+soul

Summer's Family Affair

by Cynthia Gail

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

BLURB:

Jenny Cohen defines successful independence: she put herself through college, couldn’t ask for better friends, owns a consulting firm, wears designer clothes, and just moved into her dream home . . . But she’s alone, except for her ailing mother whom she supports in a nursing home. As the marketing consultant for Chester, Dorsey & Tanner, she’s surrounded by male attention. Too bad it’s the overly-protective big-brother type.

 Architect, Craig Stone, hasn’t looked at another woman since his wife passed away four years ago. His time is taken—building a career while trying to be both mother and father to his eight-year-old son. But when his appointment with the largest development firm in Nashville is double-booked with a black-haired beauty, he finds himself reaching for new possibilities.

The attraction sets off more fireworks than the Fourth of July. Yet, their relationship is riddled with issues neither one of them expected. Somewhere in the middle they must find a way to compromise or let go of a chance for love they may never find again.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt One:

 All thought froze, as a beautiful voice cut through the near-silence of the room. Craig stared at the portfolio for just a second more before turning his attention to the front desk. He couldn’t see far enough around the corner to get a good view. What he did see . . . a pair of black strappy stilettos.

 "Better you than me. He’s in an awful mood. Jeffry was out for just three days and his temp messed up the entire week’s schedule.”

 Craig quietly moved down the row of chairs. Though his line of sight was much improved, he still couldn’t see the face behind the voice.

 “You know it’s only going to get worse. It’s just Monday. How bad is it, really?”

 She must be leaning over the desk, because her voice was now a faint whisper and the scene that greeted him was a firm derriere and a pair of runner’s legs that made his heart skip a beat.

 “I’m not sure. I do know that you’re double-booked with the gentleman sitting across the room. Don’t look now.” Someone cleared their throat. “He’s a new architect Nick’s consulting with on the expansion designs. Too expensive to reschedule. Sorry.”

 “Oh.”

 “Brandon’s supposed to be part of their meeting and the temp had it on his calendar for noon tomorrow, instead of nine today.”

 “I guess I can take second place. Only because it puts Brandon at my mercy. Tell Jeffry to come to the lobby and we’ll work it out. I’m always flexible, especially when it gives me an edge.”

 The women laughed, a beautiful melody that rang through his entire being. Craig watched as she straightened and he could now see long, wavy black hair, falling against a ruby-red silk blouse. She reminded him of a Victoria Secrets model—long and lean, with a hint of curve.

 “That’s why I like you so much. It’ll be a few minutes, if you’d like to have a seat.”

 Craig shifted his attention back to the contract in his hand and purposefully read the title five more times. Slowly. He listened as her shoes clicked across the hardwood floor, waiting until the sound stopped before turning in her direction. She’d taken the chair he’d previously occupied and was sliding her phone into a black designer clutch.

 Then she greeted him with a smile that still held a spark of amusement. He took a deep breath and swallowed. She had a hint of summer tan that made her skin glow, a touch of sheer gloss on her lips, and chocolate-brown eyes that instantly warmed him to the core.

 His throat went suddenly dry and his mind raced for something to say. He stared silently, feeling like a teenage boy who’d never spoken to a girl before. Somehow, he found his footing and stood, then walked over to the chair next to hers. “Craig Stone.”

 AUTHOR Bio and Links:

My husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our three dogs. When I'm not working or writing, I can be found with family and friends. I love to bake in the winter, grill in the summer, and on occasion, I sneak away from everyone and curl up with a good book.

Website:  http://cynthiagail.com/

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CynthiaGailBook

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6564818.Cynthia_Gail

Amazon Author Central:  http://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Gail/e/B009WQTTQE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1426743860&sr=8-1

Amazon buy link:  http://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Gail/e/B009WQTTQE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1426743860&sr=8-1

Other Books in the series:

Winter’s Magic   http://amzn.to/1Gsi6OM

Spring’s Surprise   http://amzn.to/1Np002k

 

BLURB:
Bethany Kuiper is drawn to the ocean. She is also 17 and never tasted love. But like the fluctuating tide, things are about to change. Summer in Rhode Island is just a vacation...until she meets Tristan Alexander...who completely takes her breath away...leading her to answers...explanations for the silent beckoning that has been pulling her toward the reckless waves of the sea.

 Everything seems perfect. Until two murders are committed in town, upsetting the quaint summertime community. Disturbingly, much of the evidence points to Tristan. Now Bethany is shaken and confused. And distraught by the knowledge that she is still desperately in love. But will she be able to tread the water? Or will she eventually drown?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
Unexpectedly, I can’t move.

I have to remind myself to keep stepping forward. The others turn to look at me as I approach.

“Oh, hey, Bethany.”  I hear Kate say.  But all I can see is him.

As he hears my name, he too glances my way and we make eye contact for the first time. I feel myself flush as I try to look away, but what I see in his face catches me off guard.  For just a moment, he stares hard at me as if in shock or as if he recognizes me in some way. Not wanting to appear awkward or insecure, I resist the urge to look over my shoulder to see if his reaction is meant for someone else. But almost instantaneously, his initial expression is replaced with his former, more casual one, and I am left to wonder whether I imagined the whole thing.

Don't miss out on this lovely debut novel by Susan K. Flach. It opens with childhood sweethearts building sandcastles together. The question is if they'll ever meet again. Jump forward in time and the teen-aged Bethany is heading for another beach vacation. Only this time the reason is to patch up her family that is falling apart.

It's  all good since she runs into the boy who stole her heart so many years ago. Tristan is everything right that is until two mysterious murders happen and the evidence points to him.  Bethany is determined to save the boy who helped her to learn how to swim so long ago, but will her simple trust will be her own undoing?

Ms. Flach has a great talent for setting vivid scenes.  The dialogue is spot on for the teen characters.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Susan K. Flach has a bachelor’s degree in English and works as an RN at the hospital.  She lives with her husband and two children in Michigan. Reading, exercising, camping, and spending time with her family are some of her favorite things to do. A Song and a Seashell is the first book in her debut young adult romance series. 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Song-Seashell-Susan-K-Flach/dp/160920073X 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7335460.Susan_K_Flach 

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Susan-K.-Flach/e/B00J6OHPKY/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1  

http://www.susankflach.com/    

WAY TO GO

by Mandy Colton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:

 Veronica Lane works in the travel industry in her dream job when she experiences a hellish travel day ending in the loss of her job and stranded far from home. To make the situation even worse, she drowns her sorrows in the hotel bar, and wakes the next morning to a big surprise.

 Gathering up the remains of her dignity along with her travel bags, she returns to her hometown in Peachtree City, Georgia. A community similar to a progressive Mayberry, except with golf cart paths and carts. A lot of them. Her family is kooky. The parents are sexually free and liberal, her brother is a golf cart cop with more good looks and brawn than brains. Her grandparents, one from each side, live in the same retirement community and maintain a constant battle while entertaining the other senior citizens. The Grandmother on her dad's side is stuck in the 1960’s, and the Grandfather on her mother's side served in WWII and thinks that the Japanese are still trying to kill him.

 She calls inquiring about a job in the newspaper, a group escort for a small tour company in Atlanta. She is hired immediately and leaves the next day with her first group to Jamaica. First, she meets a handsome pilot with the charter airline they use, and then there is one unusual group participant that doesn’t seem to belong. He leaves the group for periods of time and when things happen, he uses MacGyver like skills to get them out of the situations. She is aggravated and knows something is fishy and the bad thing is, the man is very charismatic and she’s not just a little attracted to him.

 Upon their return, she finds out that the man is friends with her rather unconventional boss and after a second unusual group excursion to Puerto Rico; she knows for sure that the little tour company in Atlanta is not really what it seems on the outside. When the truth is revealed, she finds herself unintentionally dropped into a new career that she can't exactly add to her resume. 

Veronica finds herself in uncomfortable and hilarious situations, surrounded by crazy tour participants, family, friends, neighbors, and pets. After a long dry spell, she finds that there is suddenly an overabundance of romance, drama, and intrigue in her life. Her life is now a sometimes very bumpy, yet exciting ride.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt Three:
“Hey, guys. What’s up? Is the bar not open?”

 The two elderly ladies in the group walked up next to me. The one named Zelda said, “Well, ain’t that a peculiar-lookin’ bathin’ suit on that man. Looks almost nude.”

 Then the man turned around, and I gasped.

 Zelda’s travel companion, Ruby, craned her neck, blinked a couple of times, and said, “Zelda, is that what I think it is?”

 “Yup, I’m bettin’ my tummy tuck it is. From here, it don’t hardly look like one. Wouldn’t think he’d want the whole world to know God gave him a dinky one like that.”

 O-mi-god! He wasn’t the only one like…that at the beach bar. And they were mostly middle-aged or older. Oh, my poor eyes.


When I was finally able to speak, I squeaked out, “Excuse me, folks. I have to go check something out. Be right back.”

I heard a snigger behind me, and I didn’t have to guess who it came from. I ran past Chuckles to the front desk and asked for the manager again. I had a little trouble getting my breath and was beginning to hyperventilate, so I reached down, grabbed my knees, and stuck my head between my legs. At least blue would be a new color for my face today. Shit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Mandy Colton is from Louisville, KY, and lives a very quiet life with her husband and teenage son. She’s a fan of romance, fun adventure stories, and some occasional sci-fi or paranormal thrown in. Veronica Lane and the idea for her adventures came from her own experiences and career working in the travel industry.

She claims that working in the travel business could be horribly stressful but was equally laugh-out-loud funny at times. She enjoyed many priceless and comical experiences with groups, friends, and peers. Even her clients shared humorous adventures of their own. Her opinion is that there just are no better stories than those that involve true life.


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DREAM GIRL
by S.J. Lomas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
For Christine, dreams have never meant much. Until she meets Gabriel. Everyone thinks Christine should stay away from her new coworker at the library-thanks to his bad reputation-but when her dreams grow more vivid and she becomes entangled in a dangerous dream world with Gabriel every night, she can't stay away. Soon it's clear there is far more to dreams than Christine ever imagined, and now she's on the path to making the biggest, and strangest, decision of her life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
I should have tossed out a welcoming smile and a “Nice to meet you. Gotta run,” but the strong outline of his back did nothing to prepare me for the siren song of his front. Melancholy practically poured off him, nearly visible, yet transient as smoke. His tousled brown hair, square-ish face, Johnny Depp lips and intense brown eyes nearly knocked me backwards. In that brief instant of eye contact, I felt the disorienting fuzziness that comes between sleep and wakefulness. Tiny flecks of autumn amber sparkled in his eyes, beckoning me deeper. My lips parted, as if not under my control, and prepared to utter some sort of greeting but stopped. I noticed the slightest twinge in my brain.

Strange but not unpleasant, it felt like a warm breeze had just blown away a cobweb from my mind. Jarred by all these things happening in an instant, I turned away. Even so, I could feel his eyes on me as I fled. It made the entire length of my spine tingle.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
 
S.J. Lomas is a cheerful Michigan native who writes strange and somewhat dark stories. She is a wife, mother, librarian, and definitely a dreamer. 

Readers can visit S.J. at her website: www.sjlomas.com

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

Twitter: @SJLomasAuthor 

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18133040-dream-girl

Personalized copies available from Blue Frogs Books : http://www.bluefrogbooksandmore.com/book/9780985956295

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Girl-S-J-Lomas/dp/0985956291/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425602607&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=dream+girl+s.j.+lomas
 

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dream-girl-sj-lomas/1117170120?ean=9780985956295


Buy direct from the publisher:
http://scribe-publishing-company.myshopify.com/products/dream-girl

 
REVIEW QUOTES:

 “Told in very short chapters with alternating points-of-view, Dream Girl tells an enticing story of friendship, adventure, and determining one’s path in life.” 

- Randy-Lynne Wach

Review for San Francisco Book Review


“This part-adventure/part-romance will keep readers on the edge of their seats while trying to figure out where it all will end. This will appeal to fans of the Abandon series by Meg Cabot.”